06.10.14
MONDAY
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
Years
No. 2,268
N150
NIGERIA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPER
Chibok DAY Diary
175
Leadership Newspapers
@leadershipNga
5 DAYS TO GO... Sallah Celebration: Emotions Take FIRST GRADUATION CEREMONY OF 20 Over At BBOG Group Meeting > Page 2 baZe uNIVerSITY, abuJa
2015 guber race
ambitious Ministers await Jonathan’s Declaration 5
Some ministers such as Labaran Maku, Wogu, Bala Mohammed, Obanikoro, Ortom and Wike are ready to quit the cabinet to pursue their governorship ambition, but they may have to wait until President Jonathan publicly declares interest in the presidential election
Bala mohammed
Labaran maku
Emeka wogu
Nyesom wike
Samuel Ortom
musiliu Obanikoro
Glo Introduces Mobile Tutor For Students ByChima akwaja, Lagos Globacom has made learning easier for primary and secondary school students in the
country as it launches a unique educational app called Glo Mo-
bile Tutor. It said at the demonstration
of the offering in Lagos at the weekend that Glo Mobile Tutor
Insecurity: Sultan backs State Police > Page 4
is a mobile-based educational application that provides a more convenient and easier way for students at both junior and ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 6
How Air Force Stopped Boko Haram In Konduga > Page 6
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chibok diary 175
Monday, October 6, 2014
DAY
Chibok TweeTs @IamPrincezza
what happend to #BringBackourgirls campaign?? The silence. @EiENigeria
By oct 31st, our #Chibokgirls would have been in captivity for 200 days! as a country, as a people, we can do better! #BringBackourgirls #Members of BringBackourGirls (BBoG) group, looking forward to the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls, in abuja.
@Chichaaay_
Twitter patriotism only lasts for 3.7 seconds. No one really cared rT @qham_qham1 what
happened to the girls? #BringBackourgirls
@toyinquest
I haven't demanded for my sisters today. gEJ #BrINgBaCkoUrgIrLS Now and alive
@rescueourgirls
174 days since Esther ayuba taken from #Chibok. will she ever come home? Never forget. #BringBackourgirls @spillaneda
abubakar Shekau appears in video a week after having been allegedly killed. where are remaining Chibok girls? #Bokoharam #BringBackourgirls @Scouse_Banana
#wearredEveryday upping the game on this now as its dropping off radar. #BringBackourgirls
@etinmagbe our hearts are crying and aching with pain! Is there anyone listening?? #BringBackourgirls #BringBackourgirls @gbengasesan You can’t find what you’re not looking for. Ìwákùwá là nwá nkan tó sonù. To #BringBackourgirls, the task has to be a defining priority. Compiled by Iroka UgoChUkwU
PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO
Sallah Celebration: Emotions Run High At BBOG Group's Sit-out By Chika Mefor aND ejike ejike, Abuja
Emotions ran high at the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group’s sit-out yesterday as the Sallah celebrations continued without the Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted since April 14, 2014 by the Boko Haram sect. The group, which meets everyday at the Unity Fountain, Abuja for its usual sitting protest as part of its campaign for the government to bring back the abducted girls to their families alive, decided to observe its sit-out yesterday instead of enjoying the celebration like others. Some members of the group who came out for the usual sitout stated that the Chibok girls are more important to them than any other thing, adding that this was the reason they decided to attend the meeting instead of celebrating at home with their families and friends. One of the members who is also the chairman of the Chibok community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea-Abana, was on phone with LEADERSHIP, stating that it was unfortunate that over 170 days have passed and the abducted girls are still in the hands of their abductors, even as he expressed grief over what the girls might be passing through. “We celebrated the Independ-
ence without the girls. Now, we are celebrating the Sallah without them too. The people who are holding them say they are Moslems but they are not. I am wondering what the girls are passing through and I pray they will be back soon,’’ he said. Members of the group who celebrated the Sallah lamented the anguish and pain the abducted girls are experiencing in the hands of their abductors, adding that the Moslems
amongst them who had enjoyed Sallah with their families every year would now have to celebrate with the enemies. The group also mourned Wing Commander Chimda Hedima who was said to have been killed by the Boko Haram sect, saying that he died serving the nation. “The truth and nothing but the truth is what we deserve from the military and the government. It is not good to bring in narratives about his death.
Let’s respect the dead and mourn with the family. The soldiers that have lost their lives are victims of Boko Haram like the Chibok girls. “It doesn’t have to happen to us for us to feel it. A lot of people are so detached from the truth. They are all living in denial. It has reached a point where we all should feel more connected with what is happening. The death of one Nigerian is the death of every other Nigerian,” it said.
Members of #BringBackourGirls (BBoG) advocacy group during a protest in abuja. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO
3
our stand Monday, October 6, 2014
Pass The National Building Code Bill Now
A
six-storey guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations recently collapsed, killing over 100 people, most of them foreigners. The building, according to reports, was originally a two-storey building said to be less than four years old, which the church decided to expand. It was also reported that the building had no approval from relevant agencies of the Lagos State government. Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), in the wake of the incident told journalists that the collapsed structure had no approval, but the church fired back, saying that no contravention notice was served on it before the collapse. This is just one incident. There have been several cases of building collapse in the country, with the attendant loss of life and revenue. According to the Nigeria Institute of Building (NIB), 84 buildings have collapsed in Nigeria in 20 years, with most of them occurring between 1999 and 2009, claiming at least 400 lives. In a study conducted in 2012, Dr Adedeji Adeniran quoted the NIB as saying that
investigations into cases of building collapse had revealed that at least 50 per cent of the incidents were due to design fault, 40 per cent to construction fault and 10 per cent to product failure. Another study, according to him, also revealed that 37 per cent of building collapses can be traced to carelessness and greed on the part of construction professionals. Building collapse leads to loss of life, money and investments, and is also not good for the image of the country. Each time a building collapses, building plan approval, the professionals who worked on it and the quality of materials used are some of the issues that come up.
Editor Sadiq Abdullateef Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards Aniebo Nwamu, Director ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director
A National Building Code is before the National Assembly waiting to be enacted into law. The bill will make the building code operational. The Senate recently mandated its committee on public housing to organise a sensitisation public hearing on the matter. This, however, is not enough. The code specifies minimum acceptable standard for the final product. All professionals in the sector, namely builders, architects, estate surveyors, quantity surveyors, town planners and engineers, argue that there is the need to make the code operational, as this will eliminate quacks. When the law is passed, all persons involved in the building process will be registered and licensed and can have their licences revoked if negligence on their part caused a building collapse. However, it is pertinent to point out that the problem in Nigeria is not the absence of laws, but their enforcement. We, therefore, call on professionals in the sector and regulatory bodies to ensure that the law, when operational, will be effective enough to enable professionals to undertake their duties appropriately.
Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Divisional Directors Iyobosa Uwugiaren Ademola Oladosu Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Abdulmumin Balogun Zipporah D. Tanko Joy Adekanye
Leadership Holdings
Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase
LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital. We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed. We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!
4 news extra
Monday, October 6, 2014
Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo Former NNPC GMD Mobilises Support for Jonathan In Kaduna Former group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Andrew Yakubu has canvassed for the support of Southern Kaduna people for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general elections. This is even as he declared that he is not nurturing any political ambition for 2015, stressing that the speculations making the rounds in that regard should be ignored by the people as he has no political ambition for now. Yakubu stated these at a grand civic reception and thanksgiving service in his honour in his village, Angwan Wakili by the Atyap Traditional Council of Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State. He said having worked for President Goodluck Jonathan, he is convinced that the president means well for Nigeria with deep patriotism and determination to serve the country. He further said that throughout his tenure as GMD of NNPC, he enjoyed working with President Jonathan, who gave him every opportunity and support to discharge his responsibilities to the best of his ability. Yakubu said: “It must be noted that I enjoyed working with Mr President throughout my time as GMD of the NNPC and that enabled me to discharge my responsibilities to the best of my ability. That ultimately, is my greatest joy, my reward and satisfaction above all else. “Having worked with the president, I have no doubt in my mind that he means well for the country. Therefore, I urge us all to give him our support in his bid for a second term,” he said. He said he faced enormous challenges during his tenure at the helm of affairs at the NNPC, particularly the politics, sleepless nights and pressure. “This is no time to tell the story of my time as GMD - the enormous challenges, the politics, the sleepless nights, the pressure, the successes, achievements and prospects. “I stand here neither to itemise my achievements or challenges nor rate my performances as I cannot be my own judge. The best I can say is that I went, I saw, I did my best and left the rest to time, posterity and God, who rewards every man or woman according to their work. “I wish to use this opportunity to state clearly that I have no political ambition whatsoever at this time at the state or federal level; and the allegations that I am sponsoring persons or groups of persons in pursuit of their political ambitions are untrue”, he said. By Midat Joseph, Kaduna
President Goodluck Jonathan (right) being welcomed by PDP women at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY STATE HOUSE
Firm Wants Court To Reopen N6.5bn Wuye Market For Business By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja
An Abuja High Court has been asked to order that full-scale business transactions be commenced at the newly built N6.5billion Wuye Ultra-modern Market in the Federal Capital Territory to avoid dilapidation of the buildings. The market which has 1,700 shops could not be used for business transactions after it was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan due to an order of the court in February 2014, issued in Suit No: CV/440/2012 and motion No: M/864/14, restraining the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), All Purpose Shelters Limited and Abuja Property Development Company, who are defendants in the case, “from allocating any of the
offices in the market pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.” The market was built on 7.3 hectares of land under the public-private partnership (PPP) and Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement. The plaintiffs, numbering over 370, under the aegis of Wuye Ultra-modern Market Owners, dragged the defendants to court to challenge the allocation of shops in the market. But the 3rd defendant in the matter, All Purpose Shelters Limited, in its amended statement of claim, begged the court to dismiss the case of the plaintiffs and order the reopening of the market for business. After being given letters of provisional offer of allocation of shops/open space, the
plaintiff demanded keys to the shops. But the 3rd defendant said that they have no right to use and occupy shops at the market without paying for the shops because the All Purpose Shelters Limited built the shops with its own resources and bank loan. The plaintiffs had said in their case before the court that the offer letter was released to them because they had met the terms of their allocation. But the defendant told the court that it was untrue that they met the terms of agreement. “The letters released to the plaintiffs were clearly marked “Letter of Provisional Offer of Allocation of Shops/Open Space” which is dependent on other conditions stipulated in their letters of provisional of-
fer”, the company said. The 3rd defendant stated that it built the market with bank loan and interest on the money is running on a daily basis. It also said that the time within which it ought to recoup its investment has started running since 6th February, 2014 when the market was commissioned. “The 3rd defendant humbly urges the honourable court in view of its investment to hold that the plaintiffs are not entitled to shops at Wuye Ultramodern Market, order that the shops be allocated to people who have paid for the value of development, and order that full-scale business transactions be commenced to avoid dilapidation of the buildings”, it said. The case has been adjourned to Thursday.
Insecurity: Sultan Backs State Police BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Apparently disturbed by the worrisome insecurity in the country, the Sultan of Sokoto and president general, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhamamd Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday declared support for state police. The Sultan, who based his position on the rate at which most state governments are providing logistic support for the various security agencies in their states, further stressed that it has become
necessary to create state police. Speaking at the Sokoto Presidential Lodge when he paid Sallah homage to Governor Aliyu Wamakko, the Sultan said there is need for state police to bring an end to the seemingly endless security challenge in the country. According to the revered royal father, the state governments are already spending large chunks of their budgets on the provision of vehicles and other security gadgets for all arms of secu-
rity agencies in their states. He said, “Most state governments, if not all, provide one form of assistance or the other for security agencies. They build or renovate offices for them; they make vehicular provisions and provide all manner of assistance for them. The time for the creation of state police is now. “We are fully in support of the creation of state police in order to bring an end to the seemingly endless security challenge in the country.” Supporting the Sultan’s position, Wamakko noted that
the creation of state police will certainly enhance state security because of their adequate understanding of the terrain in which they operate. He further said that state police would reduce the difficulties presently faced by policemen transfered to states they are not familiar with. “State governments have continued to suffer so much as a result of the security challenge. Therefore, security at the state level will be enhanced if state police is created,” Wamakko submitted.
NEWS 5
Monday, October 6, 2014
LIVING LIVING TOTO BE BE 100100
One health tip daily Minimize Your Exposure To Indoor Emfs
Keep the TV and computer screens at a reasonable distance. Place beds and chairs six to eight feet away from domestic sources of EMFs like electricity meters and TV s, and keep bedside electrical or battery-
operated appliances at least two feet from your head. Don’t keep electric blankets on while you sleep, and also unplug all electrical devices in your bedroom at night (like TVs, telephones and computers).
Glo Introduces Mobile Tutor For Students Jonathan
FROM FRONT PAGE
Ambitious Ministers Await Jonathan’s Declaration By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan will not let go of any of his ministers eyeing the governorship seats in their individual states until he declares interest in next year’s presidential poll, a presidency source has disclosed. Although virtually all the stakeholders of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have endorsed his sole candidacy, the president has not come out to officially declare his readiness to join the race for the country’s top job, and this is why some ministers who are interested in the governorship election are not allowed to go yet. If the information got from the presidency is anything to go by, not fewer than six serving ministers are ready to quit the Federal Executive Council (FEC) once the signal is given. On the lists are the ministers of Information, Labaran Maku; labour, Emeka Wogu; Federal Capital Territory, Bala Muhammed; education (state), Nyesom Wike; Defence (state), Musiliu Obanikoro, and Samuel Ortom who is the minister of state for trade, industry and investment. They are eying the governorship seats in Nasarawa, Abia, Bauchi, Rivers,
Lagos, and Benue states in that order. “It is true some ministers such as Labaran Maku, Wogu, Bala Mohammed, Obanikoro, Ortom and Wike are ready to quit the cabinet to pursue their governorship ambitions but they may have to wait until President Jonathan publicly declares interest in the presidential election. Once that is done, I am sure they would be allowed to go,” the usually credible presidency source disclosed. Speaking further, the source said, “Although President Jonathan has been endorsed as the sole candidate of his party, don’t forget that there is still a need for the presidential convention where he would be officially adopted, with INEC in attendance; otherwise, he is not qualified for the race. “Also, some of these ministers are playing prominent roles in their various ministries and since we are in the election year, the process of replacing them may take some time and President Jonathan wants every ongoing project to be completed before the campaign begins.” The source also disclosed that some senior presidential aides are also nursing similar ambitions and would be allowed to go but, unlike the ministers, such aides may not be replaced .
secondary schools to learn and successfully prepare for examinations. It comes with full junior and secondary school curricula that have been specially designed to provide instant knowledge and prepare students for examinations. The application is rich in content such as live video lectures, timed mock exams, structured assignments, revision videos and talk to counsel. In her address during the launch, sales director, Glo 1 Enterprise, Bolanle Ogundogba, said “Globacom is committed to the development and education of the Nigerian child. The Glo Mobile Tutor provides instant knowledge and puts the power of education within the reach of every child in all the 774 local government areas of Nigeria.” She explained that Glo, having realized that there is a relatively low literacy rate in Nigeria and Africa, due to deficits in educational infrastructure and insufficient manpower needed to impart knowledge, found the
Adenuga
need to introduce this service with the application and contents provided by Roducate.” The innovation is loaded with both West African and British curricula and has been endorsed by the relevant educational bodies such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), the National Educational Research Development Council (NERDC) and Federal Ministry of Communication Technology Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Segun Raheem said, as the system is phasing out paper work, “this application will help our students study on the go.”
Jonathan Arrives In Lagos By OLAolu Oladipo, Lagos
President Goodluck Jonathan was in Lagos yesterday in what State House officials described as a private visit. The president, who was accompanied by some of his aides, came into Lagos in a presidential aircraft but did not entertain any questions from journalists waiting at the airport.He simply went into a helicopter and left with his aides
Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, had flown to Lagos before the arrival of the president. He also did not answer questions from journalists. Signs that the president may be on his way to Lagos emerged when some women besieged the presidential wing of the airport to await the president and were singing and dancing before he eventually arrived late in the day.
6 NEWS
Monday, October 6, 2014
How Air Force Stopped Boko Haram In Konduga By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja But for the superiority displayed by the Nigerian troops through incessant air strikes and the complementary effort of ground troops, the Boko Haram terrorists would have hoisted their flags in Konduga and then march on Maiduguri, LEADERSHIP can now authoritatively report. It was a fierce battle of several days between the wellarmed insurgents and the troops but the troops eventually won in the end, killing no fewer than 600 members of the outlawed sect, including the one posing as their late leader, Abubakar Shekau. On its side, the troops had some injured soldiers and a missing fighter jet. Giving a vivid account of how the battle was fought and won, a top military officer, who was heavily involved in the operations, commended the bravery and professionalism displayed by some Air Force officers who were rained bombs on the terrorists before they could reach Konduga on their way to set-
ting upon Maiduguri. “Each time we read or heard people claiming the terrorists were better armed than us, it saddened us if only you knew how we stopped them from taking over Konduga in their bid to take over Maiduguri. The moment we heard of their coming, we alerted the air troops who covered the land, attacking terrorists from the air and this helped us to move in unhindered and we put them where they belong. They were killed in hundreds, because they were many but we had superior firepower both in the air and on the ground. That was where that fake Abubakar Shekau was caught during the exchange of fire,” he said. Speaking further, the officer explained that but for the air attacks, “our troops would have suffered untold casualties, but that was prevented; instead, it was our troops that were killing those who resisted arrest, while most of them either fled or surrendered. There is the AJet and F-7 fighter aircraft for air cover and ground at-
Minimah
Badeh
tacks. They also made use of the powerful M-24/35 attack helicopters for tactical and ground attacks. That was how we were able to rout them from their camps.” Speaking in the same vein, a very senior officer of the Nigerian Air Force attributed the victory recorded by the troops to the sophisticated Jet fighters that are being used in the ongoing counterinsurgency operations coupled with the patriotism, courage and the professionalism of the NAF officers. “We have a set of well-
trained officers whose sense of patriotism and dedication to duty is never in doubt. Not only that, the Chief of Air Staff (Air Marshal Adesola Amosu) released all the needed fighter jets to us. “There are C-130H and G-222 for airlift of troops and logistics, DO-228 for medical evacuation and light transport. ATR 42 and Beach craft mounted with cameras for surveillance and reconnaissance. There is the A-Jet and F-7 fighter aircraft for air cover and ground attack. Finally, we have the dreaded
Oyo Was A No-Nonsense Journalist – Nta Boss Burial rites begin Oct. 16 – Widower By nan
The Director General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr. Sola Omole yesterday urged young journalists to emulate the excellence in the profession as was demonstrated by the late Mrs Remi Oyo. Omole said that Oyo, the immediate past managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), never compromised on her profession. He spoke while on a condolence visit to the Ijegun residence of the Oyos in Lagos. He said, “She has accomplished the dignity of the profession, she should be celebrated for her exclusive excellence, she never compromised her grounds on policies. “Remi demonstrated superb expertise in journalism, she was an exceptionally bright woman, which elevated her to being the first female journalist to be a spokesman at the presidency, and first NAN Managing Director.” According to Omole, the deceased combined journalism with her active participation in the church and became a Papal Dame.
The Assistant Parish Priest, Saints Joachim and Anne Catholic Church, Ijegun, Rev. Fr. Paul Amenaghawon, also described the late Oyo as a philanthropist. “We have lost a great woman who was the immediate past Vice-Chairman of the church; she impacted the lives of many people, irrespective of where they came from,” he said. In her contribution, the president, Christian Mothers of Saints Joachim and Anne Catholic Church, Ijegun, Mrs Josephine Eguavoen told NAN that the late Oyo was an exemplary model to women. “We saw her as a humble wife and mother. Despite her class, she found time to mix and listen to the plight of women who approached her,” she said. Meanwhile, the widower, Mr Vincent Oyo, has disclosed that late Mrs Oyo’ s burial rites would begin on October 16, with a Christian wake and Requiem Mass in Abuja. Other activities include a Requiem Mass on Oct. 22 at Saints Joachim and Anne church-- her home church-and a Christian wake on Oct. 23 at NAN media centre, Lagos.
Ebola: Nantap Chairperson Urges Nigerians To Maintain High Level Hygiene By nan
The late Oyo
The funeral Mass comes up at Saint Dominic Catholic church, Yaba, Lagos, on Oct. 24, to be followed by interment at Atan Cemetery, Yaba. NAN reports that over 150 sympathisers have signed the condolence register at her Ijegun residence since her death in a London hospital on Oct. 1.
M-24/35 attack helicopters for tactical and ground attack. All these are employed one time or the other as the need arises”. When asked to comment on the missing aircraft, the officer explained that it was painful that the aircraft used immensely in the victory at Konduga was still missing and expressed hope that the two pilots and the aircraft would be found. “I pray we locate the missing aircraft. The two pilots played heroic and courageous roles in the battles at Konduga. Whenever we heard that those criminals were coming, these guys moved in, bombarding the terrorists’ camps, killing them in hundreds. I have read the new spokesman of Boko Haram claiming they were the ones that shot down the aircraft. If they did, they would have broken the news immediately. We are still studying their claims and the man they claimed was Wing Commander Chimda Hedima. Those two pilots were the heroes of the victory at Konduga,” he said.
Chairperson, National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Lagos chapter, Ms Faith Eboigbe,yesterday urged Nigerians not to relax even though the country had become free of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Eboigbe spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos as the NANTAP organised an EVD sensitisation programme for artistes at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. “Some people are of the view that EVD has been overflogged, and that it should be allowed to rest. “I believe that as far as people travel from one place to another, we are not yet safe. “We should still create awareness and make people to be hygiene conscious and do the needful to prevent it,” she said. According to Eboigbe, the aim of the sensitisation programme is to make Nigerians and artistes aware that ``it is not yet time to sing Haleluyah”. Prof. Fidelis Njokanma, a Pediatrician and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Lagos State University (LASU), said that sensitisation of Nigerians needed to continue. “We must continue to protect ourselves and make sure that no-
body imports the disease into our country again. “We must maintain a high level of hygiene,” he said. Njokanma said that health and other authorities in Nigeria fought gallantly to rid the country of EVD but ``we should not get careless about it.” In her contribution, Mrs George Omowunmi, Deputy Director, Health Education, Lagos State Ministry of Health, said that the ministry would collaborate with NANTAP to organise stage plays that can send messages quicker. “When the messages on Ebola are sent through plays, they will stick and people will not forget them easily. “That the country was able to contain Ebola does not mean that something might not happen again. “We should be on our toes and keep on fighting; we want to raise a lot of awareness through songs, plays, hand bills and other means possible, for the information to stick,” she said. NAN reports that the late Mr Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American, imported the virus into Nigeria on July 20. It resulted in seven deaths in the country but the virus has now been contained with no one having it presently in Nigeria.
news extra 7
Monday, October 6, 2014
Entertainment Blogger Unveils Abuja Hits Website A popular blogger who focuses on promoting musical and other entertainment artistes in the FCT has officially unveiled his new website to further promote the entertainers industry. The unveiling of the website yesterday drew entertainment stakeholders in the FCT and also attracted sponsorship from a major telecom operator, Airtel. The content provider and chief executive officer of the AbjHits Media, owners of the new website, www.abjhits.com, Mr John Okala, said the www.abjhits. blogspot.com has been rebranded as an official website to promote entertainment, lifestyle, fashion and trending entertainment news. Okala said the development will positively boost the transition to digitization of the broadcast industry and affirmed that the artistes would be better off for it since the website will provide a platform for further their career. “The event has to do with the unveiling of a music and entertainment website called www.Abjhit.com it is basically to promote entertainment in Nigeria and give platform to artistes both within Abuja and other parts of the country. “The idea of the event is to get all the key stakeholders here and do the unveiling before them. The website is meant to promote them and we work hand in hand.” By Chika Otuchikere, Abuja
Hon Dabiri Erewa Expresses Shock over Remi Oyo’s Death Chairperson of the House Committee on Diaspora, Hon Abike Dabiri, has expressed shock over the death of Mrs Remi Oyo who passed on last week. The Lagos lawmaker has expressed her condolence to the family of the deceased former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). In a condolence letter to the family of the deceased, the lawmaker, who represents Ikorodu constituency in Lagos State, said she was left in deep despair by Oyo’s death. ”I received the news of Mrs Remi Oyo’s death with shock and despair. Mrs Oyo was a role model, not only for female journalists everywhere, but for everyone who believes in the ideals of integrity, selflessness, dedication and passion for one’s profession. “Mrs Oyo set very high standards for us all and was ever so jovial, friendly and humble. She was a consummate professional, a caring friend, a loving wife and a devoted mother. May her gentle soul rest in peace,” the letter read. By Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta
A tricyclist carrying wood in Gwagwalada, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH.
Ebola Containment: PDP, APC Tussle Over Success By Bayo Oladeji, and George Okojie and Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja
The ripples left by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is yet to settle as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday traded banters over who should take the credit for the successful containment of the deadly virus. The APC has outrightly asked President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP to stop taking credit for the successful containment of the virus, describing the decision by the president to make the Ebola success story a campaign issue at recent rally in Benin as cheap and shameless. But the PDP fired back, taking a swipe at the APC for attempting to discredit and relegate the efforts by the federal government in containing the virus and denied the allegation that the president politicised its containment.
Nigeria, specifically Lagos and Port Harcourt, was hit by the dreaded Ebola virus but it was successful controlled, unlike in other West African countries where the virus continues to ravage the populations. However, a statement by APC’s national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said President Jonathan and his party were wrong to have appropriated the credit for the successful containment of the EVD without giving due credit to the real heroes of the successful battle: Dr. Stella Adadevoh and her colleagues at the First Consultant Hospital; officials of the Ministries of Health in Lagos and Rivers States and other patriotic Nigerian volunteers, among others. APC added that while indeed health minister Onyebuchi Chukwu exhibited the kind of professionalism and purposefulness that is not common with the Jon-
athan administration during the battle against Ebola, it will be uncharitable for the PDP-led federal government to pretend as if the governments of the two affected states did nothing. The party reminded President Jonathan that the two states hit by Ebola, Lagos and Rivers, are APC states, and that the promptness, purposefulness, doggedness and determination shown by the governors of the states contributed largely to the successful containment of the virulent disease. ‘’But the ever dogged and determined Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers States employed the same winning strategies that have stood their states out of the pack and quickly rose to the occasion, putting in place measures that ensured a quick curtailing of the EVD spread. “Unlike the President and
the PDP, we will also like to give credit to the minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, for acting out of character with the do-nothing Jonathan Administration. We hope President Jonathan and his party will stop making the Ebola success story, in which opposition states were the main actors, a fulcrum of their campaign for the 2015 general elections. They cannot and should not take credit for the containment of Ebola in Nigeria,’’ APC said. Replying, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh stated the national success recorded on Ebola was because President Jonathan refused to politicize the issue but took the bull by the horns through an aggressive multi-sectoral approach for treatment, awareness and control to the admiration of all Nigerians and the international community.
Over 4m Teachers Needed To Meet Deficit By 2015 Globally – UNESCO Nigeria to spend over N1bn on additional teachers By Ruth Tene Natsa,
Maiduguri
A policy paper prepared by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics (UIS) and the EFA Global Monitoring Report (GMR) shows that at least 93 countries have an acute teacher shortage and need to recruit some four million teachers to achieve universal primary education by 2015. The paper published on World Teachers Day 2014 shows a chronic lack of trained teachers globally, re-
vealing that in the rush to fill the chronic, global shortage of teachers, many countries are sacrificing standards and undermining progress by hiring people with little or no training. It adds that “without action, it will be impossible to get all children into school by 2030.” UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova, said: “Teachers are the core of any education system. Hiring and training new and already established teachers is fundamental to protecting children’s ability to learn in school.” She however noted that “quality universal primary education will remain a distant dream for millions of children living in countries with-
out enough trained teachers in classrooms,” The report asserts that “countries under pressure to fill gaps recruit teachers who lack the most basic training, and that in one-third of countries with data, fewer than 75 percent of primary school teachers were trained according to national standards in 2012. The report stressed that all countries must ensure that all new teacher candidates have completed at least secondary education. Yet the GMR shows that the numbers of those with this qualification in many countries are in short supply: eight countries in subSaharan Africa would have to recruit at least 5 per cent of their secondary school grad-
uates into the teaching force by 2020. Nigeria would need to recruit up to 30 percent, it said. The country breakdown for Nigeria shows there are 38 children for every teacher in primary school, but 57 children for every trained teacher in primary school. However, in the poorer northern state of Kano, the pupil-per-trained teacher ratio exceeded 100:1 in 2010. In more than one-half of local government districts, the situation was even worse, with at least 150 pupils per trained teacher in the most disadvantaged 25 per cent of schools. The policy document asserts that should current trends continue, there will be more children needing prima-
ry teachers in 2030 than today in Nigeria,adding that “Nigeria needs to increase the rate at which its training teachers by almost 10% by 2020 to keep up to standards and have only 40 children for every trained teacher.” While sub-Saharan Africa will have to spend an extra $5.2 billion per year to pay the salaries of the additional teachers the region requires by 2020. Nigeria alone accounts for about 35 percent of this required additional spending on salaries. The paper suggest that “with the greatest number of children out of school, Nigeria will have to allocate an extra $1.8 billion per year to cover the salaries of additional teachers”
8 News north-central
Monday, October 6, 2014
Saraki Blames Ilorin Flood On Non-completion Of Asa River’s Channelisation By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin
The chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki has blamed the recent flooding of some residential houses in Ilorin, Kwara State on the failure of the federal government to complete the channelisation of the Asa River. Saraki lamented that the noncompletion of the project has led to the loss of properties worth millions of naira by residents along the course of the river. Contract for the work was awarded during the administration of late President Umar Yar’Adua but actual work did not begin until about three years ago. The former governor of Kwara State who visited some of the affected areas over the weekend
said his committee will invite the minister of environment and the Ecological Fund Unit in the Presidency to come and shed light on the matter once the Senate reconvenes after its current holidays. But he insisted that there is no excuse for the current state of the project, just as he called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to the aid of those who have been displaced by the flood. He added: “If the job had been done according to the programme, we would have avoided the destruction of over 300 houses. Non-completion of the contract according to schedule has been responsible for the displacement of the occupants of the flooded houses and some people are responsible for that”.
short news
Why Ibeto Is Best For Niger PDP – Niger Gov Group Mourns Consensus Project, Remi Oyo Niger a political pressure group Niger State governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has described the late Oluremi Oyo as a distinguished media practitioner who is a role model for women in the profession. Governor Aliyu, in a press statement signed by his chief press secretary, Israel Ayegba Ebije, said the late Mrs Oyo, who was the managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and former media adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, will be remembered for her role in repositioning media practice in Nigeria. Dr Aliyu urged women journalists in Nigeria to emulate her exemplary lifestyle of hard work, discipline and determination. By Abu Nmodu, Minna
based in Niger State, has said that the Niger State deputy governor, Hon Ahmed Musa Ibeto is the best person for the state governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of his honesty and loyalty. The group’s spokesman, Aliyu Mohammed Gambo, said at a news conference over the weekend, that Ibeto has shown a lot of maturity and administrative prowess that should earn him the PDP ticket. “Ibeto is the right person for the job because he has proved himself to be a trustworthy, honest and loyal person who can carry the activities of government to the next level especially Vision 3:2020; he has the love and support of the people of the state as a person who can lead the state to the promised land”. He added that the deputy governor is an experienced grassroots politician who gave his maximum support to the success of Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu’s administration in the state. By Abu Nmodu, Minna
short news
Cleric Stresses Importance Of Arabic/ Western Education
The chairman of Kwara State Board of Arabic Education, Sheikh AbdulKadir Oba-Solagberu, has urged Muslim parents to give their children and wards both western and Islamic education. The mixture of religion and Western education, he opined, will help the youths to be useful to themselves and the nation in general. The cleric who is also the national president of Shehu Alimi Islamic Foundation (SAIF) made the call while speaking with journalists in Ilorin. He urged parents to monitor the educational exploits of their children at all times in order to make them good ambassadors of the family and nation in general. By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin
Kogi State deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi (right), his wife, Halima (middle) and managing director, Angie’s Place, Toru Ogbeha (left) during the commissioning of Angie’s Place in Lokoja, Kogi State, yesterday. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI
Over 5,337 LG Staff Retrenched In Kogi BY Sam egwu, Lokoja
Over 5,337 council staff were retrenched by chairmen of 19 out of the 21 local governments in Kogi State between May 2013 and September this year. The Kogi House of Assembly ad hoc committee constituted in November 2013 to investigate massive retrenchments in the councils revealed this in its report to the House at plenary on Thursday in Lokoja. Chairman of the 11-member ad hoc committee, Alhaji Sulei-
man Babadoko, who presented the report, said additional 27 council staff retired from service during the period. He added that apart from Lokoja and Kogi local governments that did not retrench their staff, the remaining 19 councils laid off their staff. The 21 local councils in the state now have a total of 24,671 out of their 30,035 workforce, having laid off 5,337 while 27 retired. Babadoko said that though the
council chairmen claimed to have embarked on the retrenchment exercise following dwindling allocations from the Federation Account and over-bloated wage bills, the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) claimed ignorance of the retrenchment. He said the committee also discovered that with the exception of Lokoja local government, councils in the state were indebted to their staff over percentage payment of salaries between May 2013 and May 2014.
Plateau 2015: Jang Won’t Impose Candidate From Plateau North – Lar BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos
A governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State and senator representing Plateau South senatorial district, Victor Mainasara Lar, has said that contrary to speculations, the incumbent Governor Jonah Jang will not impose any candidate from Plateau North senatorial zone in the forthcoming PDP primaries in the state. Lar, a two-term House of Representatives member representing Langtang North and South federal constituency and a former governorship candidate of ANPP, made the disclosure at the weekend in
Jos, the state capital, when he visited the PDP Secretariat to express his desire to contest as well as his readiness to pick the nomination form. “The right to contest is everybody’s right. Governor Jonah Jang will not produce another aspirant from the Northern Zone, but any person from the zone is free to run. “The point is that the unwritten law of equity and justice in the subconsciousness of the Plateau people will determine how the majority of the voters will vote. “I have come to intimate my party leaders of my noble intention to present myself for the service of our state by seeking the state PDP governorship ticket”, Senator Lar
submitted. The lawmaker, who revealed that his political journey started 32 years ago, stated that the dearest need of the people of the state is “restoration of peace through enhanced security and good governance”, which he would provide if elected. Responding, the acting state PDP chairman, Raymond Dabo, commended Senator Lar for following the right process by informing the party leadership in the state of his intention. Dabo who was represented by the zonal vice chairman, Central, Hon Yusuf Tokkit, guaranteed a level playing ground for all aspirants.
Ex-Gov Idris Condemns Defection Of PDP Members BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja
The former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris has described the defection of some members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state as selfish and greedy. The former governor, who was speaking with journalists at his country home at Abejukolo, head-
quarters of Omala local government during the Sallah celebration, noted that Kogi State PDP has come to stay and no fraction of the state would be ceded to any other party. He called on youths of the state not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians who want power at all costs, pointing out that
it would be out of place if power is achieved and the people are gone. Reacting to the purported rift between him and Capt. Idris Wada, the member of the Board of Trustees of Northern Elders’ Council said the rumour is the figment of the imagination of those peddling it, adding that he would work day and night for Wada to succeed.
Monday, October 6, 2014
news north-East, north-west 9 Sen Bagudu Seeks Help For Displaced from state’s allocation by the Debt “We have implemented differPeople In North East
My Administration Did Not Borrow Any Funds – Shema By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina
Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema has insisted that from the inception of his administration to date, he has not borrowed either within or outside the country stressing that one of the legacies of his administration was that it has not incurred any debt. Speaking yesterday when he recieved the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, during the
traditional Hawan Sallah, Shema said though some states had incurred debts running into millions and billions of naira, his administration had prudently utilised federal allocations and internally generated revenue in running the state. He admitted that the state had a pending debt which was owed several decades ago before the birth of his administration, stressing that the debt was being deducted
Management Office. He said the debt was what some critics had assumed his administration had incurred, but that contrary to their opinion, his government was paying for something it never incurred during his tenure. While assuring that he would bequeath a legacy of service delivery to the in coming administration, Shema said he had made the state better than when he met it.
ent people-oriented programmes and policies in all the sectors of our economy,” Shema said, and called for prayers for a worthy successor who will continue with the transformation drives put in place. The governor was emphatic in urging politicians not to stoke the embers of violence or promote religious or sectional sentiments ahead of 2015 polls and beyond.
District Head of Kankia in Katsina State, Alhaji Musa Hassan (on a horse), acknowledging cheers from admirers during a traditional Sallah homage (Hawan-Bariki) at the Government House, Katsina, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN
short news HIV/AIDS: Katsina Disburses N64m To NGOs
Katsina State Agency for the Control of Aids (KATSACA) has disbursed N64m to 25 NGOs under the World Bank funded HIV/Aids Funds (HAF), executive secretary of the agency, Dr Muntari Hassan Kankia, has said. Kankia noted the money was disbursed to the NGOs for treatment, care and support to persons living with HIV/AIDS as well as prevention of new infection, stressing that the disbursement was aimed at expanding private sector response.
Boko Haram Still Killing Michika People Every Day – Hon Ganama By Pembi Stephen-David, Abuja
The representative of Madagali/Michika federal constituency, Adamawa State, Hon Titsi Ganama,m has called on the relevant authorities to save his constituency from the grip of the dreaded Boko Haram sect which has held the areas captive and has been killing the residents for more than three weeks. Speaking to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Abuja, Ganama said his constituency was in real danger. “It is really an issue of humani-
tarian crisis; people are dying and nobody to bury the dead because everybody has run to the mountains. People are now dying of hunger while the insurgents are still in control of the town. They have fully occupied the place and killing people and burning houses. The situation is worse than what it was.” On way out, Ganama said, “the solution to this is for the federal government to mobilise troops to free that place so that people can start returning. As long as the place is not freed there is virtual-
ly no other way. The only way out is for the federal government to mobilize and deploy troops to free that place.’’ He added that he had made some contributions to alleviate the sufferings of his people: “I have in my own little way sent some relief materials. I visited Yola but visited a few key stakeholders and commiserated with them. My people should continue crying to call for the attention of government and all relevant stakeholders and, above all, we should keep on praying for them.”
Emirs Task Katsina Elite On Growth, Development By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina
Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, and his Daura counterpart, Umar Faruk Umar, have asked the elite class in the state to forge a formidable front for the development of the state. The Emirs gave this task when members of Katsina Consultative Forum paid them courtesy calls in their respective palaces. Emir Usman specifically noted that Katsina people were once respected the world over because the By Muazu state was ahead of others in the area Elazeh, Katsina
of education, politics and business. “Time has come for all of us to come together and ensure that Katsina reclaims its rightful place not only in the north but in Nigeria as a whole,” he said. Speaking in a similar manner, Emir of Daura, Umar Faruk Umar thanked members of the forum for putting aside political differences and working in the interest of the state, and gave assurance that his emirate would support their mission in the overall interest of the state. He commended the forum for the
initiative, describing it as a needed move to correct things for the development of the state. Earlier in an address, chairman of the forum, former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, said the forum was essentially aimed at providing a formidable direction of progress for the state. Coomassie said the forum had commenced consultation with prominent citizens of the state in a bid to ensure the emergence of a credible governor ahead of the 2015 election irrespective of political party differences.
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Jigawa LG Okays N75m For Infrastructure Gwaram local government council in Jigawa State has awarded contract worth over N75 milion for the execution of developmental projects across the area. The chairman of the council, Alhaji Hannafi Yakubu, announced this while speaking to newsmen in his office He explained that N8.25m was approved for the drilling of 11 hand pumps in some communities to ensure constant supply of drinking water. Another project to be executed with the money include construction of culvert at Sumangara town. By Muh’d Zangina Kura, Dutse
The Senator representing Kebbi Central senorial district of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Atiku Bagudu has called on people, especially Muslims, to offer assistance to the displaced people of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states with food, clothing materials and money in order bring succor to their lives. Senator Atiku, who who made this remarks yesterday in Birnin Kebbi as part of his sallah message to the people of his constituency, highlighted the importance of brotherhood in Islam especially to people in distress. “Let us use this period to remember, pray and assist our fellow brothers and sisters displaced by insurgency who could not celebrate the sallah in good mood with their families. There is great need for our collective humanitarian assistance in terms of food , clothes and even money “ , he said. Bagudu also prayed for the safe return of all pilgrims from the holy land and for peace, tranquility and development in Nigeria. By Yahya Sarki, Kebbi.
Taraba 2015: Group Rallies Support For Acting Governor Ahead of the 2015 governorship election in Taraba State, the Northern Patriotic Front (NPF) has called on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to give priority to the acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, in the contest for the state’s governorship election. The group made the appeal in Abuja yesterday while briefing the media on internal democracy in the political parties as a major challenge in 2015 elections. In a statement jointly signed by the National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Abacha and the Zonal National Vice Chairman (N/East), Hon. Manga Asha, the NPF said that there was a need for the ruling PDP and the people of Taraba state to allow Umar to clinch the party’s ticket for the race. They noted that since his assumption of office, the acting governor has made remarkable achievements in the areas of education, health, youth empowerment and general infrastructural developments among others. They further stressed the need for the acting governor to be given the opportunity to run on the party’s ticket to consolidate the good work he is doing in the state. “The acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, has shown purposeful leadership in directing the affairs of the state since he assumed office. He has also introduced an open-door policy which has made for better interactions between the people of the state and the government,” they said. By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna
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stories of the Monday, October 6, 2014
...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE
CULTISM: Police Arrest 37, Kill 3 Robbery Suspects By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba
The police in Bomadi community in collaboration with Bomadi Vigilante Group, Delta State, have arrested no fewer than 37 suspected cult members of various cult groups in the area and killed three robbery suspects in the last two weeks in an operation tagged, ‘operation flush out criminals’. Reports said that the suspects were arrested in their hideout during the initiation of new members when the police who got wind of their activities moved into the base to round them up. It was reliably gathered that Bomadi communities have been under siege of bizarre activities allegedly perpetrated by various cult group members, in most cases leaving the residents to sleep with one eye opened. But DSP Celestina Kalu, the police public relations officer in the state, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, disclosed that some of the suspects were apprehended after a fierce clash between rival cult group in the community, warning parents and guidance to be wary and monitor activities of their children particularly cultists to avoid the wrath of the law.
Crisis: 10 Injured, Vehicles Damaged During Sallah Fracas
By Matthew Dike, Lagos
Lagos State police command has arrested not fewer than two suspects who engaged in violence that led to the injuring of 10 people and damaging of three vehicles in Ajegunle area of the metropolis, on Sallah Day. LEADERSHIP gathered that two gangs engaged themselves in battle leading to the injuring of several people including innocent ones. The fight which began on Saturday evening lasted for some minutes because the divisional police officer of Ajegunle police station, CSP Abayomi Agbana was alerted and he led a team of policemen to Bale Aiyetoro street where the incident took place. The police operatives arrested three persons during the operation. The gangs were armed with cutlasses, iron rods and other dangerous weapons. While the fight was going on some of the members of the gang robbed innocent passersby and looted shops too. Hoodlums were said to have inflicted matchet cut across the face of a man suspected to have shattered the windscreen of a car. Three vehicles were said to have been damaged at Bale Aiyetoro street. An eye witness and victim, Uzodinma said some group of boys armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons rounded him up and stole his two mobile phones and N15,600 he had on him.
Cows grazing on the railway line at Iju, Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI
MURDER: Son Stabs Mother To Death While Asleep By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu
There id high tension in Ubiekpo Abor in Udi local government area of Enugu State following the brutal murder of Mrs. Eunice Ugwuozor by her son. A source told LEADERSHIP that the suspect, identified as Uchechukwu Ugwuozor, stabbed her to death while she was sleeping. It was gathered that the suspect, who according to sources close to the family, has a psychological problem, abandoned her mother’s remains and ran away after carrying out his wicked act. The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the sad development. He disclosed that investigations to unravel the mystery surrounding the sad development had commenced even as he stated that the suspect had been arrested. “Operatives of the state criminal investigations
of the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, have commenced a full scale investigation to unravel the mystery and circumstances surrounding the alleged stabbing to death of a woman by the son in the state. “It was gathered that on that fateful day 2/10/14, around 5am, suspect identified as Uchechukwu Ugwuozor had allegedly gone to the bed where the mother also identified as Eunice Ugwuozor was lying down and stabbed her to death over a yet to be identified reason, abandoning the lifeless body of the mother and escaping to an unknown destination. Sources close to the family hinted that the alleged murderer is linked to an unresolved psychological problem. “Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased is now deposited at the hospital mortuary of Our Saviour, located at 9th mile corner Ngwo Enugu just as the suspect has also been apprehended by the operatives,” he stated.
CONFUSION: Lunatic Causes Pandemonium By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo
There was a mild drama yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital when a mentally ill man with a blood stained machete went after a middle-aged man, causing pandemonium in the city. The mad man, according to eyewitnesses, was controlling traffic on the road around the popular plaza area, causing commotion and disrupting free flow of vehicular movement. A middle aged man driving an SUV Jeep who could not tolerate the impunity of the lunatic, came out of his car and ordered him to leave the road but the mad man was adamant. The lunatic whose identity could not be
ascertained now upset instead of leaving the road, turned his anger on the man in a ferocious attack. Suddenly, the driver of the SUV Jeep went into his car, brought out a machete and inflicted several wounds on the lunatic. The mad man visibly enraged in the scuffle that ensued, over powered the man, seized the cutlass from him, and ran after him. The development caused panic in the area as passers-by, traders and fun seekers around the Ibom plaza took to their heels for safety. It took the intervention of security agents stationed in the area to overpower the lunatic and took him and his attacker to the police station.
OKADA BAN: Delta Councils Boil, 3 Dead By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba
Following the ban on the activities of motorcycle, popularly known as Okada in Ika North East and Ika South local government areas of Delta State, for commercial purposes, fresh protests have erupted in the areas, leaving three persons dead over the weekend. Reports said that residents of the areas are protesting what they described as man’s inhumanity to man in the ban of ‘Okada businesses’; but the state government through the commissioner for Transport, Mr. Benson Igbakpa, described their protest as a ruse, saying that the ban on the motorcycle will alleviate all forms of criminal activities allegedly perpetrated by Okada riders in the areas. Eye witness said that the protesters, mainly Okada riders, some octogenarians were seen in various streets in Ika North and South local government areas especially in Agbor town, armed with placards with the inscription: “All we are saying, provide us employment opportunities; this is the only source of our livelihood and means of our income; we have no other jobs; it is this okada business we feed our families”. They were said to have matched on various streets in Agbor town for several hours before security agents moved in to maintain peace and order. It was reliably gathered that the three victims that were feared killed were protesting with a vehicle number AA 136 XX in reckless driving, chanting war songs, and subsequently, drove into gutter where the vehicle was badly damaged. The three victims were said to have sustained inexplicable injuries before they were rushed to a nearby hospital unconscious.
STORIES OF THE DAY 11
Monday, October 6, 2014
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Photo News
BRUTALITY: Soldier Shoots Aged Woman At Checkpoint By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo
A soldier attached to a military checkpoint at Zing local government area of Taraba State has allegedly shot a passenger while on her way from Yola to Jalingo. Confirming the incident, the Taraba Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Joseph Kwaji, said the victim, Ummi Mohammed was shot at the waist region while returning from a wedding ceremony she attended at Yola, Adamawa State on September 6. He said one Suleiman Abba, a DSS personnel attached to Jalingo Headquarters who reported the matter to the police, explained that he was the one driving the victim when the incident occurred at about 10 pm that fateful day.
Kwaji said the bullet pierced through the woman’s ribs and was rushed to the Specialist Hospital Jalingo for treatment. According to him, the soldier that allegedly carried out the act was amongst those drafted from 23 Armoured Brigade, Yola. He said the Military Head in charge of Zing was contacted over the matter by the Zing Divisional Police Officer and confirmed that ‘one of his soldiers was responsible for the incident’. Kwaji noted that the military officer in-charge of the soldiers in Zing, however, refused to surrender the soldier involved to the police for investigation, adding that effort is still on to reach the 23 Armoured Brigade for possible identification of the culprit.
escape: 4 Inmates Escape Hanging In Delta kola eke-ogiugo, Asaba
It was a happy 54th independence anniversary celebration for a 77-year-old man, Dickson Umukoro, and three others as the Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, granted them state pardon seven years after they were sentenced to death. The governor granted the four men state pardon as part of activities commemorating Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary. The governor also commuted the jail terms of nine others from life imprisonment to between 15 and 10 years respectively in line with his prerogative powers as contained under Section 212 of the 1999 constitution. Those released by the governor along with
Umokoro were a 53-year-old Monday Tom and an unnamed adolescent. who were on the hangman’s noose. Others are Dele Mokwunye, Ufuoma Paul Eto and Moses Orakpor, Uche Dike, Jonathan Igbi, Chukwuemeka Igwebuike, Chijioke Edeh and Augustine Okoroh. He commended Governor Fashola for putting in place very solid security architecture, adding that, “We have all the logistics to work with. We have all the enablement and we have all the support. “All we need to do is to work hard to ensure that this state is peaceful and open to investments and continues to serve as a melting point where every Nigerian will have a sense of belonging.”
TRAGEDY: WAEC/NECO Candidate Poisons Exam Syndicate By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba
What appeared to be a melodrama at the weekend reared its ugly head when a WAEC/NECO exam student, identified as Julius (surname withheld) in Asaba, Delta State, who solely depended on passing his exams via miracle centres, allegedly poisoned the exam syndicate who was said to have introduced him to the miracle centre. Reports said that Julius, a dropout from one of the popular secondary schools in Asaba (name withheld), in his quest to make his school certificate and become a graduate, was said to have been introduced to the operators of the miracle centre who allegedly gave him a
bill of N80,000 for both exams with 100 per cent assurance. But this was not to be when Julius who had reportedly lost both parents and has been living with an uncle, after selling off some of the properties to pay the bills, had the two results in F9s. It was further gathered that in the wake of the exams, the miracle centre operator who was alleged to be a ‘friend of the police, following his illicit and involvement in various crimes, was said to have enrolled over 60 candidates from Asaba and its environs from where the state government through the task force on examination malpractices as well as miracle centres, descended on him before he ran to Benin City.
L-R: Pro-Chancellor, Baze University Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, Baze University Prof Michael Hodd and the registrar, Mr David Ogbonna, during the school pre-convocation briefing in Abuja. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN
L-R: Deputy speaker Emeka Ihedioha in a chat with Hon Chris Okewulonu and Hon Gerald Ironna during the deputy speaker’s consultation with PDP stakeholders in Ohaji/Egbema LGA Imo State on his guber aspiration at the weekend. PHOTO BY SPEAKER MEDIA OFFICE
L-R: Chief ophthalmologist Dr. M. Lasisi, HOD Ophthalmology department, Dr A. Danfulani; C.M.D. Kubwa General Hospital, Mrs J. S. Ogar; local government inspector, Kubwa Area Office, Dr Agbonlahor Osazee Joseph; optometrist and CDS supervisor, Kubwa area office, H.O. Amodu; senior optometrist, Kubwa General Hospital, Dr Kelechi Ikedum, at the Community Development Project Service organised by Dr Joseph.
L-R: Prof Kolawole Raheem of University of Education, Ghana, chief promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams, and committee member, Prince Lambert Dike, during a press briefing on 2014 edition of Olokun Festival organised by Olokun Festival Foundation in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI
12 news south-west Group Faults Legal Action Against Fayose
Monday, October 6, 2014
We’re Ready To Tackle Cultists In Ogun – CP
A socio-political group, the Coalition of Democracy Vanguard in Ekiti State, has described the legal action instituted against the election of Mr Ayodele Fayose in the June 21 Governorship poll as “a coup against democracy and the people of the state”. The body, while condemning the alleged move to subvert the will of the people through a suit filed by proxy, said any subterranean effort to nullify Fayose’s election would be resisted. In a statement by its president, Mr Femi Omoya, made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the body claimed that the suit filed by a group named e-11, contesting Fayose’s eligibility on account of his October 16, 2006 impeachment, was part of the alleged illegal strategies lined up by detractors to deprive the governor-elect of access to the governorship seat. Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti
BY Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta
The commissioner of police, Ogun State command, Ikemefuna Okoye, has assured the people of the state of the command’s resolve to continue to tackle cultists and their illegal activities. Okoye made this known yesterday while addressing senior officers of the command in Abeokuta on the general security of the state with specific focus on Ijebu Ode axis where the com-
mand has recorded some killings amongst cult members in recent times, coupled with the plan to have a hitch-free Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode today. The commissioner confirmed the arrest of some cult members of Eye (Air lords) and Aiye (Black Axe) confraternities who have been attacking one another in Ijebu Ode axis where two members of the cult groups have been confirmed dead, with particular emphasis on the clash
between Eye and Aiye groups that occurred at Aleke Okesopin, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State yesterday. Dangerous weapons recovered from the groups include cutlasses, pairs of scissors, two guns, some expended and live cartridges, their groups’ paraphernalia and some charms. The corpses of the deceased members, Abiodun Adeniye, 28, and Taiwo Yusuf, 24, have been deposited in a mortuary in Ijebu for
post-mortem. Okoye directed all relevant anti-crime teams in the command to relocate temporarily to Ijebu axis for adequate protection of lives and property and to curtail any cult clashes and other social vices. He also appealed to the people of Ijebu Ode and Ogun State in general to collaborate with the police and other security agencies for them to succeed in the war against cultism in the state and accord security to all.
Eid-el-Kabir: Sen Hussein Sues For Peace In Osun Senator Mudashir Hussein, representing Osun West Senatorial District has urged Nigerians to pray for peace and unity of the country during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. He spoke at a programme to mark the celebration in Ejigbo, Osun State, where he called on Nigerians to ignore their differences in ethnicity, opinion, politics and religion, among others, to promote the unity of the country. He said Nigerians must learn to tolerate one another, pray for the stability of the nation and support the leaders. He added that with tolerance, patriotism, prayer and commitment to nation building, the country would develop. By NAN-
Sallah: Mimiko’s Wife Donates Rice To Muslim Women The wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs Kemi Mimiko, yesterday donated 200 bags of rice to the state chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN). Mimiko made the donation in Akure through the state commissioner for women affairs and social development, Ms Yemi MahmudFasominu. She said that the women had been supporting the state government through their prayers and the gesture was to enable them enjoy the celebration. Mimiko reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of the people as demonstrated in different programmes including free health care and free shuttle buses for the primary and secondary school students in the state. By NAN
Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Olufunso (middle), pose with children during the Ileya Kiddies party at the State House of Assembly Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, yesterday. PHOTO BY GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Osun Speaker Wants Islam Separated From Terrorism By joshua dada, Osogbo
Against the backdrop of the link between Islam and Boko Haram insurgency, the speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon Najeem Salaam has stressed the need for Islamic leaders and Muslim faithful to raise their voices against the wrong notion that the sect members are Muslims. Besides, he charged them to do everything within their power to wage war against insurgency in Nigeria until the name of Islam is separated from terrorism. Speaking shortly after the prayers to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration at Ejigbo, Hon Salaam advised Muslim faithful to use the celebration of
this year’s Eid-el-Kabir to re-establish the pillars of love and tolerance among their neighbours for which Islam is known and shun all acts of violence. The speaker enjoined Muslim faithful to emphasise the importance of religious tolerance, noting that religious tolerance remained a vital ingredient for peace and development to thrive during and after the Eid-el-Kabir. Salaam, while describing the celebration as a day of thanksgiving, urged Nigerians to follow the path of peace for the stability and progress of the nation. According to him, peace and stability will enable the country to attain its goal of sustained socio-economic development in all spheres of human endeavour.
Also speaking, the senator representing Osun West Senatorial district, Mudashir Hussein urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration, irrespective of their ethnic and religious differences, to embrace peace and tolerate one another. Senator Hussein noted that it is only under the atmosphere of peace that Nigeria can prosper. Earlier, the chief imam of Ejigbo, Sheikh Sulaiman Omotokese, while delivering the Eid-el-Kabir sermon, urged Nigerians to live in peace and harmony to overcome the country’s challenges. Sheikh Omotokese called on politicians, especially those holding executive positions, to help in ensuring the security of the country.
short news Atiku To Commission Oba Adejugbe Hospital In Ekiti The Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi will today lead other eminent personalities in the country to commission the Oba Adejugbe Hospital Complex in Ado-Ekiti. The event is part of activities marking Governor Fayemi’s fourth anniversary in office. Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who is the special guest of honour at the occasion, will commission the ultra modern 300-bed Oba Adejugbe Hospital. Also billed for commissioning today are the renovated general hospitals in Ijero and Okemesi. They will be commissioned by former governor of the Old Western State, MajGen Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd). The first civilian governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, will also tomorrow commission the renovated hospitals in Ikole, Ijesa Isu, Otun and Ifaki. By Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti
‘Poor Representation, Bane Of NASS’ By Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta
A group, the Ogun Central Vanguard for Good Governance and Professionalism, has identified poor representation at the National Assembly as a reason Nigerians are denied quality legislation. The group, comprising youths across the professions, in a statement yesterday, is rooting for Lanre Laoshe to vie for Ogun Central senatorial seat, saying he rep-
resented Abeokuta South federal constituency well at the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 under the platform of Alliance For Democracy. Both the convener and chairman of the group, Femi Ajayi and Abdul Ganiyu Sobande, said lawmaking is a sensitive responsibility that should not be ceded to bench-warmers and passive souls. “The bane of our country for so long a time has not only been
bad leadership, but also bread and butter followership which must get stipends before exercising its civic responsibility; we say no to that.” “As we approach the electioneering period, preparatory to the general elections next year, we have observed that all manner of characters have been angling for elective offices; we have no issues with that; it is democracy; but we should field our first 11.”
“We have looked at the pre-office and post-office profiles of Hon Lanre Laoshe and found him as a worthy senatorial material for a nation as dynamic and sophisticated as the Egba nation.” In the statement entitled “The futility of squaring a round hole,” the group advised the electorate to search the background of aspirants to offices as elections beckon to avoid electing “political liabilities as representatives.”
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f o t s e i p p a h e Th
S Y A D H T BIR
ABUJA MARKETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED 39 David Ejoor Crescent, 2nd Floor Adisa Plaza, Gudu District. Email address: info@abujamarkets.com Website: www.abujamarkets.com
to the
PEOPLE’S
! R E T S I N MI
On behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of Abuja Markets Management Limited and the entire FCT Market Men and Women, we felicitate with our dear Hon Minister, Federal Capital Territory Administration Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON (Kauran Bauchi) on his 56th Birthday anniversary. This special day offers us an opportunity to celebrate a rare gem who as the FCT Minister has continued to build and develop the FCT as one of the top Federal Capital cities of the world; a man who has a mission to build and administer a Federal Capital Territory in compliance with the Master Plan through the establishment of an effective and enduring service-oriented Administration that can respond to the needs of all residents and other stakeholders. Through your core values of Patriotism and Dedication to duty; Integrity and trust through transparency and accountability; respect for due process and rule of law, equal opportunity regardless of gender, age or religion; commitment to highest ethical standards and professionalism; you have been able to achieve your set goals and even surpass the expectations of the residents and visitors to the FCT. We therefore join your family, friends and well wishers as well as the good people of the FCT to rejoice with you on this occasion and to pray Almighty Allah to grant you many more fulfilled years ahead. As direct beneficiaries of your sterling performance, we are persuaded that for the people’s Minister, the best is yet to come.
Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON
(Kauran Bauchi) Hon. Minister, Federal Capital Territory Administration
Kauran Bauchi, Na Our Own! Signed:
Abubakar Usman Faruk Managing Director/CEO
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business
N1bn
Tecon Oil Services Nigeria Limited is owing over N1billion from accrued taxes between 2008 and 2012
Bureau Directs Fayemi, Others To Declare Assets By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja
The director, Code of Conduct Bureau, Ekiti State, Mr Akinfolarin Feyisola, has directed Governor Kayode Fayemi, to declare his “end of tenure assets” unfailingly before the expiration of his tenure. Feyisola said the directive also affected the outgoing deputy governor and other political office holders. He said that all the affected public officers had been duly informed. Feyisola said that it was mandatory for every political office holder in all parts of the country to
declare their assets when coming and leaving office. He said that defaulters would be dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for going against the law. He said that some of the officers had started collecting the assets declaration forms after receiving the reminder of the constitutional provision. The director, however, said the current closure of all courts in the state was a challenge for those who had filled their forms but have nowhere to swear affidavit or do other court processes.
L-R: Marketing manager Colas Coca-Cola Nigerian, Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi; managing director, Nigerian Bottling Company, Ben Langat; marketing director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, Patricia Jemibewon, and brand manager, Colas Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, Olufemi Ashipa, during the company’s Studio Unilag Coca-Cola Concert at the institution’s premises in Lagos. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA
Tax Remittance: FIRS Goes Tough On Defaulters BY Olushola Bello and Abiodun Sivowaku, Lagos
Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) has expressed dissatisfaction over non - compliance in tax remittance by some firms operating in the country. This according to the agency, informed its decision to carry out an enforcement exercise to clamp down on companies who were yet to reconcile their accounts with the FIRS and were having huge unremitted tax status. Speaking with journalists over the weekend, FIRS director, Large Tax, Oil and Gas, Mrs Olaitan
NIMC Seeks Recognition Of National e-ID Card As Valid Travel Document By NKEM OSUAGWU, Lagos
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is pushing for the use of the new National e-ID Card as a valid travel document, as an alternative to the International
Adediran, said the enforcement activity became necessary for the agency when companies failed to file in their reports as at when due to evade tax payment. According to her, there won’t be any enforcement if operating firms within the economy showed responsibility by complying with their tax schedules. She explained that before the exercise, FIRS has written several letters to these companies either for meeting or account reconciliation which they turned down. Adediran stressed that firms had to realise that defaulting in tax payment was a criminal and passport for certain types of travel. The new National eID Card issued to Nigerians on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a bonafide Machine Readable Travel Document (MRTD), recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). One of the 13 applets embedded in the chip on the card has similar content usually found in Nigeria’s e-passport and it is known as ICAO Applet, so it could easily be used as a travel document subject to approval of the international community.
punishable offence which they should avoid as corporate entities adding that more of the exercise would be carried out in the nearest future if they continued with the attitude of non-remittance of taxes. She noted that tax liability attracts penalties and interests which must be settled before companies’ accounts could be cleared. Baker Hughes, an oil service company, who hasn’t remitted tax for 3 years made a commitment of N50 million in cheque, Heyden Petroleum, who was also owing millions of taxes gave a cheque of N15 million to the
The head, Card Management Services at NIMC, Mr Tunji Durodola, explained that the back of the NIMC e-ID Card contains three lines called Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) Lines just like the Passport and the same as other national identity cards that have ICAO support. Its development was as a result of NIMC’s conformity to the ICAO Document 9303 parts 1 and 2 Rigorous testing by international agencies ensured that the contents of the chip met or exceeded the standards set by the internationally recognised body.
FIRS enforcement team with a commitment to be paying in monthly till they complete it. Tecon Oil Services Nigeria Limited is owing over N1billion from accrued taxes between 2008 and 2012, the amount was put at N600 million after reconciliation, but the company didn’t agree to pay such money as tax to the agency. It was revealed that the N600 million after series of meetings with the FIRS officials was again reconciled to stand at N318million which Tecon agreed to be remitting at N20 million per month for a period of time but only fulfilled the pledge once in March, 2014.
BUSINESS QUOTE If you think your boss is stupid, remember: you wouldn’t have a job if he was any smarter. John Gotti, gangster (1940-2002)
The first generation of cards have the SmartCard chip, but future generations would be dual-interface (chip and contactless) for a truly robust solution. But for other countries to recognise the use of the National e-ID card for cross-border travel, its usage must be included in bilateral agreements among countries that partner with Nigeria and this agreement must be recognised by the countries’ immigration and border control agencies, and such countries must have inspection devices NIMC boss, Chris that could read the cards, which Onyemenam most currently do.
Monday, October 6, 2014
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Monday, October 6, 2014
World Bank To Provide Jobs For 2,000 Youths In Delta BY NAN
The coordinator, World Bank State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) in Delta, Mr Benson Ojoko, said the project would employ 2,000 youths in the
state. The coordinator said in an interview yesterday in Asaba that the youths would be engaged in refuse disposal techniques in different parts of the state. Ojoko nonetheless, stressed
that the project was being executed in conjunction with the state government. He said the local government areas in the state were grouped into 160 zones, consisting of 800 households each. According to him, 320
graduates of tertiary institutions would also be engaged to supervise the youths. He said the youths would be deployed to work in Oshimili South, Uvwie, Udu, Sapele and Warri South local government areas. Ojoko said the beneficiaries
would be engaged for 12 months, while SEEFOR project would continue for five years. Besides the current programme, he said SEEFOR had earlier engaged 2,000 youths in the state who would be enroled soon in skills acquisition centres.
FG To Develop Tourism Potential Of Kashimbila Dam BY Kingsley Alu, Abuja
The federal government is set to develop the tourism potential of the multi-purpose Kashimbila Dam in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State by setting up a Project Delivery Team of Kashimbila Resort Project. The inter-ministerial committee of the Project Delivery Team is made up of the officials of the federal ministries of water resources, Niger Delta Affairs, mines and steel development and tourism and culture and the national orientation agency. The committee is charged with the responsibility of carrying out the feasibility study of the dam in order to explore its tourism potentials. According to the chairman of the committee who is also the director of Dams and Reservoir Operations in the ministry of water resources, Reginald Ikpeawujo, stated that the Kashimbila dam which
was started in 2010 and which is to be completed before the end of 2014, has hydropower component of about 40 megawatts, irrigation potentials of about 2000 hectares of land and a capacity to contain 500 million cubic meter of water. Conducting the team round the project facilities over the weekend, Ikpeawujo stated that because of the multipurpose nature of the dam, it was ideal for other uses apart from hydropower generation and irrigation. “The dam should be able to combine modern projects and ecotourism which include nature scenery, conferencing and creation,” he explained. Briefing members of the committee, the project manager of the construction company, SCC Nigeria Ltd, Micheal Rolben, said that the proposed Kashimbila Resort Project when completed, would include, visitors’ centre for ticketing, exhibition gallery and gallery of arts and crafts.
2015 Election: LCCI Calls For Stable Political Climate
BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
As the 2015 elections draw close, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said investors were expecting a stable climate and needed assurances of a level playing ground to circumvent matters that may be detrimental to their investments and economy in general. Speaking at a forum entitled: ‘Making Democracy Work for the Private Sector,’ held over the weekend in Lagos, the president of LCCI, Remi Bello said, “Investors need to be assured that elections would be free and fair and also be assured that the major institutions of state managing the electoral process will not be partisan.” According to Bello, a strong economy driven by the private sector was imperative for wealth creation, employment generation and stable democracy. Nigeria’s senate president,
David Mark, asked the private sector to get more interested in the activities of the National Assembly, saying the current level of private sector’s interest in legislative activities was not encouraging. According to him, the legislature needed to be guided by the private sector on the kind of policies that could improve private sector productivity and capacity to create jobs. He said the National Assembly fully appreciated that the role of government was to provide a conducive environment for business to flourish, stating that government had not fared better in the management of institutions such as NITEL, M-TEL, NIPOST and Nigeria Airways. “The emphasis of government should be on the provision of public goods, social services, security and some vital infrastructure as well as the creation of quality and stable democratic institutions.
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L-R: State secretary for economic affairs, Switzerland, Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, minister of industry, trade and investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, and CEO, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Segun Awolowo , during the visit of Swiss business delegation to Nigeria.
Kano Inaugurates ID Card Project BY Chima Akwaja, Lagos
Kano State Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, the Emir of Kano State, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II and other northern leaders have inaugurated the Kano State identity card and eCommerce business improvement and empowerment project, a first its kind in the region. The event which took place at the Government House in Kano State was launched in collaboration with eTranzact International Plc, one of Africa’s provider of mobile banking and payments services, and Bizi Mobile. The project will kick off with a comprehensive registration of all the traders in Kano State, identifying their type of business, products, etc. eTranzact will provide technology and business services that will create active participation of the private sector in economic development, create new job opportunities, empower the
citizens and alleviate poverty in Kano State and northern Nigeria. The next phase will see a gradual migration of traders to e-commerce in line with state government’s drive to be the leading electronic payment/ transaction state to align with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless policy initiatives. In order to ensure that this project continues after the exit of the present administration, the governor announced that an edict of law in the state; Law No. 4 of 2014, mandates every trader to register his/her business in Kano State. An electronic traders identity card from the eTranzact team was also unveiled and certified by the governor at the ceremony. The ID card will be compulsory for all traders and businesses in the state, and will also serve as a transaction card duly accepted on POS, ATM and the internet, and a companion for a Kano state customised version of eTranzact’s mobile money solution, PocketMoni.
Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, speaking at the unveiling of the project, said, “Education and health are the key areas that every responsible government should pay attention to, and inadequate focus on these sectors is responsible for the current security and economic challenges facing the country.” He lauded the Kwankwaso-led administration for embarking on employment generation and infrastructural development programmes, assuring that the Kano Emirate Council would continue to work hand-in-hand with the government to achieve the set goal. Giving a closing speech, governor Kwankwaso explained that the biometric identity card was introduced for all business operators in Kano to enhance security, provide government with a database on business operators and enable traders to migrate to e-commerce, in line with best practices in the global business environment.
Monday, October 6, 2014
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LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES LIMITED (A SUBSIDIARY OF LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPERS GROUP)
2014 ANNUAL
CONFERENCE & AWARDS CEREMONY Chairman MR. SAM AMUKA Publisher, Vanguard Media Limited Keynote Speaker MR. BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, SAN Executive Governor, Lagos State STAR AWARDS 2013
LEADERSHIP PERSON OF THE YEAR General Yakubu Gowon GCFR LEADERSHIP GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan
LEADERSHIP POLITICIANS OF THE YEAR The G-7 Governors Dr. Babangida Aliyu (Niger) Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) Alh. Sule Lamido (Jigawa) Alh. Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) Alh. Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) LEADERSHIP BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR Mr. Olatunde Ayeni
AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2013 LEADERSHIP CEO OF THE YEAR Simdul Shagaya CEO, Konga.com LEADERSHIP COMPANY OF THE YEAR Chi Limited LEADERSHIP BANK OF THE YEAR Diamond Bank LEADERSHIP ICT COMPANY OF THE YEAR Jumia LEADERSHIP BANKER OF THE YEAR Mr. Philips Oduoza GMD, UBA LEADERSHIP GOVERNMENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) LEADERSHIP AUTHOR OF THE YEAR Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai
LEADERSHIP PRODUCT OF THE YEAR Nagari Farm Yoghurt LEADERSHIP MICROFINANCE BANK OF THE YEAR LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited LEADERSHIP TELECOM COMPANY OF THE YEAR Swift Networks Limited LEADERSHIP PUBLIC OFFICER OF THE YEAR Dr. Akinwumi Adesina Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development LEADERSHIP BRAND OF THE YEAR SAMSUNG LEADERSHIP ARTISTE OF THE YEAR Ice Prince LEADERSHIP YOUNG PERSONS OF THE YEAR The Golden Eaglets LEADERSHIP SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR Stephen Okechukwu Keshi
Venue: ThisDay Dome, Abuja Time: 9:00am Date: October 14th, 2014
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Monday, October 6, 2014
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES LIMITED (A SUBSIDIARY OF LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPERS GROUP)
2014
ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AWARDS PROGRAMME
9:00am
Arrival
9:05am
National Anthem
9:10am
Opening Prayers
9:15am
Introduction of conference theme and dignitaries by conference comperes
9:25am
Welcome address by the Chairman, LEADERSHIP GROUP, Hajiya Ireti Kingibe
9:35am
Opening remarks by the Chairman, Mr. Sam Amuka, Chairman, Vanguard Newspaper
10:05am Lecture by the Executive Governor, Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN Title: “Rebuilding the Nation: Lessons from other Lands” 12:25pm The Awards Ceremony 12:45pm Responses 1:15pm
Vote of Thanks
1:20pm
Closing Prayer
1:25pm
National Anthem
Date: Tuesday, October 14th, 2014
Venue: ThisDay Dome
Signed: ABDULMUMIN S. BALOGUN Director, Conference 0806 972 7798
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Monday, October 6, 2014
CELEBRATING BAZE UNIVERSITY’S Baze University, a world class private university in Abuja holds its first graduation ceremony on Saturday October 11, 2014.
FIRST GRADUATION CEREMONY
The visioner and Pro-chancellor, Senator Baba Datti Ahmed Phd, invites friends and well-wishers to witness the making of history. LEADERSHIP, the official newspaper of the university, will publish a special pull-out on the landmark achievements and defining impact of the school. It’s an inevitable platform for your adverts and congratulatory messages!
www.bazeuniversity.edu.ng
Please contact the following numbers for adverts placement:
HENRY on 08068640944 e-mail: henro101@yahoo.com MR. IBE REGINALD on 08037880164 e-mail: ibereginald@yahoo.com
YOU CAN’T BEAT THIS!
CAPITAL MARKET/BUSINESS 21
Monday, October 6, 2014
CAPITAL MARKET REPORTS
NSE Targets Integration With Direct Market Access
Capital Market: Operators Predict Mixed Performance In Q4
STORIES By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
Operators of the Nigerian capital market have said that the equities market in the fourth quarter would experience mixed performance following the consistent fluctuation recorded in the last nine months. They also noted that the market may not experience significant growth at the end of the year due to the 2015 general elections as foreign investors, who are the drivers of the market, are skeptical of the likely outcome of the elections. A review of the stock market performance showed that in the first quarter, the market recorded a negative return of 6.25 per cent and made a reverse to post an increase of 9.64 per cent in the second quarter while it recorded a loss of three per cent in the third quarter. So far, from January to September, 2014, the market capitalisation of the Exchange appreciated by N381 billion or 2.88 per cent from N13.226 trillion to N13.607 trillion on September 30, 2014. Also reviewing the sectoral indices year-to-date showed that the NSE 30 Index, which tracks the performance of large cap stocks, declined by 1.65 per cent. NSE Banking, Insurance, Consumer Goods and Islamic Lotus went down by 4.32, 2.92, 7.71 and 5.84 per cent respectively. While Oil and Gas went up by 35.73 per cent and Industrial Goods up by 7.56 per
cent. The market operators have attributed the low performance in the stock market to the uncertainties surrounding the preparations for the 2015 elections, tapering of quantitative easing by United States Feds, further tightening of monetary policy, weakening of the naira, among others. However, the stockbrokers have said that investors’ expectations for third quarter results of companies would impact positively on the equities market this quarter. According to the managing director of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, judging by the political situation as the general election draws near, the market may remain sluggish throughout the fourth quarter. However, he noted that the Market will reward stocks with good third quarter performance, saying “the expectations of good third quarter results may drive the equities market”. He pointed out that so far, the equities market has year to date declined, while attributing the decline to rising political risk as general election draws near, tight monetary policy, declining value of naira, rising insecurity, Ebola crisis and tapering of quantitative easing in America among others. A stock analyst with Golden Securities Limited, Mr. Tunde Oyediran, said “Third quarter is always marred with bearish market situation. It is usually caused by low expectation within the period, which culminate into
low patronage by both local and foreign investors.” Oyediran stated that market in the last quarter of the year will be upswing as levels of activities will increase in volume and values, saying that the major factor that will trigger this performance is increased expectation for better third quarter and end of the year results. He foresees an in increase activities in the market in the fourth quarter, saying that there will be renewed interest in the market in the last quarter of the year as investors would invest in anticipation of better performance and reward from the companies. The financial analyst with InvestData Consulting Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omodion said that the capital market would remain cautious and undecided, although it may not witness a major decline. According to him, the outlook for the market is unclear as the market has so far failed to respond to a number of impressive corporate financial announcements of listed companies. He noted that current developments in the country such as insecurity, economic instability and uncertainties over 2015 elections were discouraging investment. According to him, numerous investors were still withholding their investments in Nigeria due to uncertainties and lull in economic activities following the forthcoming elections.
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has said it would support Direct Market Access (DMA) to enable stockbrokers in the West African Capital Market Integration (WACMI) to trade securities and settle on the Nigerian capital market. According to the statement released by NSE, the Direct Market Access is to enable brokers that are not registered market operators in Nigeria to participate in the market by granting them remote access to the NSE’s trading facility through a local Dealing Member Firm. “With DMA, a Dealing Member Firm can allow a Sponsored Participant to submit orders to the trading system under the member firm’s trading codes via the member firm’s order management systems (OMS)”. NSE said “In order to support WACMI based applications for the DMA program, the Exchange has established a comprehensive internal process to ensure seamless integration”.
Goldlink Strategises To Forestall Delisting
Following plans by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to delist some companies from the daily official list in line with its listing rules, the interim Management of Goldlink Insurance Plc said the company has put strategies in place to forestall delisting from the Nigerian capital market. The management gave this assurance during a media briefing over the weekend in Lagos that with strategies being put in place by the company they are optimistic of better return on investment to shareholders. The managing director/CEO, Mr. Gbolahan Olutayo said that the management set up by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has taken steps to address all challenges confronted by the company when they assumed office. He stated that the management has taken steps to address all regulatory concerns as to forestall final delisting by the NSE, saying that the effort to address all issues of statutory compliance to the part of normalcy are being pursed.
Unity Bank Grows Profit By 859% In Q3
There will be renewed interest in the market in the last quarter of the year as investors would invest in anticipation of better performance and reward from the companies
Unity Bank plc has posted its third quarter result ended September 30, 2014, growing its profit after tax by 858.98 per cent. A review of the result posted by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the profit grew to N11.057 billion in 2014 as against the N1.153 billion declared in 2013. The gross income of the bank stood at N48.141 billion up 6.05 per cent from N45.395 billion in 2013, while the Earnings Per Share (EPS) went up to 28.76 kobo from 4.40 kobo in 2013. In the same period, the Bank grew its total income from N28.541 billion in 2013 to N35.065 billion, representing 22.86 per cent increase. It would be recalled that in June, the bank raised a sum of N20 billion through Rights Issue to reposition its operation. During the offer exercise, the chairman, Unity Bank, Nu’uman Barau Danbatta, said “The more fundamental is the underlying changes we are making in the bank. A complete restructuring is going on. Considering where we are coming from and the challenges environment, the bank is ready to run, in terms of corporate governance structure and management expertise.”
22 INTERVIEW /BUSINESS Nigeria is having a third term as chair of AMERC, what does it mean to you and the country? First and foremost, I think the starting point should be IOSCO, which has 200 members that cover 95 per cent of the capital markets around the world. So first to have qualified as Nigeria, we have been over the years as an IOSCO member is very important. The way that we work as IOSCO is to organise ourselves through technical committees and also by regions. There is an American region, their is an Asia Pacific region, there is a Europe region and then there is an Africa Middle East region which potentially has 70 capital markets, but there is 24 of us today regulators who have met the requirements to become members of IOSCO. First being members of IOSCO means we have met the requirements to abide by global best practises so when domestic or international investors look at our markets, they can feel comfortable and confident that these are markets that operate on the basis of global best practices, that are world class. When you look at Africa and Middle East, they are two regions that have contrasting socio and economic factors, how easy is it to draw a common narrative for both regions when you have them together? Actually, my perspective is different and I think it also comes from having led the AMERC committee of IOSCO, I think that there is a lot that we share. There are lots of common narratives. I think the level of poverty, the youthful population, the traditional cultures are worth looking at. We have very traditional societies that have cultures that have come from several thousands of years, we fortunately are countries that have a high number of people who are very poor, whether in africa or the Middle East. We have a youth population which is a positive if managed properly and a time bomb if not managed properly. We are basically the future of the world. If you look at some of the fastest growing economies in the world are actually in these regions. The opportunities for the world basically exists in Africa and the Middle East. What that means is that you can leverage the capitals markets which I believe is an opportunity for any country to try and realise the potentials of any of these countries. Some of the things that the capital market can do is provide funding for large companies or small companies or for governments for infrastructures. The countries in Africa and the Middle East have huge needs for infrastructure, setting up Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, to be able to create jobs. Jobs is an issue not only for Africa and the Middle East, but
Monday, October 6, 2014
interview
Bank Financing Cannot Address Long-term Funding Needs – Oteh Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission Ms Arunma Oteh has just been re-elected Chair of the Africa and Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) for another two years. She spoke on the significance of the reelection and efforts by IOSCO and AMERC to restore investor confidence, provide long term funding for infrastructure among others. NSE ANTHONY-UKO captured it for LEADERSHIP
Oteh
With banking finance being short term, with some of the more difficult regulatory requirements that banks are facing, the alternative is basically to structure different kinds of vehicles that allow you to go to the capital market and raise money
also for all countries of the world. Being able to support SMEs is also important and the capital market can do that. The capital market can also ensure that as these countries that are building systems based on the best corporate governance practices because funds are directed at entities that merit it, the entities that deserve it, the higher performance entities. The third thing which is very important is the issue of creating wealth. I think for many of these countries ensuring that the living standards of the people is rising is important and capital markets create wealth either through enabling young people or older people who have ideas to be able to promote these ideas, raise money for those ideas but also to have people participate in the success of those companies. So those are wealth distribution and income distribution characteristics of capital markets. So I think that those things are important particularly for any country in the world, but more so for these newer economies that in my opinion are the future of the world. What comments do you have on this year’s IOSCO conference? First the theme for the conference is market based financing, global
growth looking ahead. I think there is a general realisation all over the world that banking finance is not going to help us address some of the challenges that we face. One is the stronger and stricter regulations of banks particularly with the entrance of the requirement where they are supposed to put up capital for loans that they make and this is something that has come out on the heels of the global financial crisis as well. I think it is a challenge, it is also a challenge because governments no longer have the resources that they had to support the development of their economies and so there is a greater emphasis, if you look at what the Financial Stability Board is looking at, what the Bank for International Settlement, if you look at what G-20 is looking at, everyone is looking at what are the alternatives. And the alternative is market based finance because there is a lot more that can happen in that fore. Therefore it is pertinent that IOSCO is focusing on this theme now. And that is why we are having the discussion on how we can scale up the support to SMEs across the world, what are the lessons from around the world that we can learn, how can we make sure that infrastructure financing is available while ensuring that the
environment controls the risks that investors have to face by focusing on infrastructure. What are some of the lessons from around the world, what are some of the alternative approaches, which is why there are discussions within IOSCO about the benefits of non-interest financial products and Islamic finance? How do we begin to look at the capital market as a viable source of funding for infrastructural development? It is interesting that you bring up infrastructure. SME financing and infrastructure are two areas that IOSCO feels that market based financing can help tackle. With infrastructure, it is clearly an area that is important to the development of any nation. Some of the statistics show that Africa’s GDP shrinks by two per cent because of some of the the weakness and infrastructure. We know that our needs in terms of infrastructure in Nigeria is over $3.9 trillion over the next 30 years. The Africa Development Bank says in the next 10 years we would need about $350billion. Therefore the issue is with the challenges government are facing, with banking finance being short term, with some of the more difficult regulatory requirements that banks are facing, the alternative is basically to structure different kinds of vehicles that allow you to go to the capital market and raise money. So you can either have project finance where the specific structure that is set up, where the flows that are received from that particular infrastructure project are used to meet the obligations from that particular structure. So you can have securitisation, you can have project finance, you can have a variety of options which are available in the capital market. Just as SME finance needs patient capital, it also needs you to match the requirement of certain investors with the different structures that infrastructure can provide. It can be structured such that you can have predictable cash flow which is what some investors require, it can be structured such that you can match long term liabilities with long term assets. So it also gives you an opportunity that other kinds of vehicles may not give you, it is great that we are focusing on infrastructure as well. Talking about SMEs, how is this going to be improved using the capital market? There is recognition globally about the importance of SMEs because they are the ones who create jobs. There is a greater focus on how SMEs can be supported. In Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebelo Jonathan recently set up an SME council, he set up a job board, all of that is focused on how we can practically address the challenges we are facing with SMEs. Our capital market is an absolutely important solution for a number of reasons. The first one so that we need economies of scale. We need to provide funding at reasonable cost.
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Monday, October 6, 2014
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
MISSING VEHICLE This is to notify the general public that a white-coloured Hyundai Sonata saloon car with registration number BWR 642 AH and chassis number KMHEB41BABA097759 belonging to LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group Ltd is missing. The vehicle was last seen with Hajiya Mariya Ibrahim Baba. Any person with useful information regarding the missing vehicle should please contact the nearest police station or LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group Ltd through this phone number: 07035782552 Signed: Management
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Monday, October 6, 2014
UNIVERSITY OF JOS OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR TETFUND YEAR 2010 SPECIAL (BATCH 4 & 5) The University of Jos intends to execute the under-listed projects: PROJECT 1 – Procurement and Installation of Teaching and Research Equipment for Centre for Theatre, Film and Communication Arts at Naraguta Campus. PROJECT 2 - Furnishing of Classrooms, Lecture Hall and Offices for Centre for Theatre, Film and Communication Arts. PROJECT 3 - External works for the College of Medicine at JUTH Permanent Site -: LOT 1 – Construction of Storm Water Drainage, Walkway and Pavements. LOT 2 – Construction of External Electrification including provision of 33/11KV HT line Extension and distribution to sub-stations. LOT 3 – Construction of External Water Supply, including Storage Tanks, Borehole, Piping and Fire fighting Pipes. PROJECT 4 - Furnishing of Offices and Seminar rooms for the Centre for International Law and Diplomacy at Naraguta Campus. SCOPE OF WORKS 1. Teaching and Research Equipment: provision of varied professional equipment for Studios and Indoor Theatre for the Departments’ of Theatre & Film Arts and Mass Communication. 2. External Works: Construction of Storm Water Drainage, Walkway and Pavements; Electrical connection to 11KVA line and construction (& connection to) external Water Supply including Storage Tanks, Borehole, etc. for the College of Medicine at JUTH Permanent Site. 3. Furnishing: provision of furniture for Offices, Seminar, Board and Classrooms; and Moot court. 4. Construction and Furnishing of Research Laboratories. The University is therefore inviting reputable contractors with proven competence and experience for Pre-qualification. Interested contractors are requested to submit prequalification documents as follows: MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS 1. Evidence of Incorporation and Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) 2. Company’s Tax Clearance Certificate for the preceding three (3) years i.e. 2011 – 2013. 3. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three years including annual turnover. 4. Evidence of payment of ITF employer’s contribution. 5. Evidence of Registration with Pension Administrator. 6. The contractor bidding for Project 3 Lot 2 must show evidence of registration with any of the electricity distribution company in Nigeria. OTHER REQUIREMENTS (i) Evidence of Financial Capability to execute the project, Bank reference and a letter of credit facility from a reputable commercial bank with a commitment to provide loan facility for the execution of the contract if eventually the contract is won. (ii) List of similar verifiable and successfully completed or on-going projects. Enclose copies of letters of award, interim payment certificates and practical completion certificates, in the last five years (i.e. 2009 to date only). (iii) List of key managerial, technical and Administrative staff of the company. This should include names, qualifications, curriculum vitae and copies of certificates and professional registration certificates.
(iv) Have fulfilled all its obligations to pay taxes, pensions and social security contributions as contained in section 16, subsection 6 (d) of the Public Procurement Act 2007. (v) List of equipment owned or to be leased by the company for the execution of the project showing evidence of ownership. (vi) VAT registration with evidence of remittances in the last three (3) years. (vii) A sworn affidavit indicating that all documents submitted are genuine, verifiable and that, no Officer of the University of Jos has a pecuniary interest or is a former, present director or shareholder in the company. (viii) Evidence of community social responsibility (if any). Please come along with original copies of the documents submitted for sighting on the day of the opening of pre-qualification documents. All claims are subject to verification. Take notice that any false claim shall be a ground for disqualification. COLLECTION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS The Pre-qualification document is to be collected in the office of the Director, Directorate of Physical Facilities, University of Jos, Naraguta Campus (Permanent Site) on payment in the Bursary Department of a non refundable processing fee of N50,000.00 (fifty thousand Naira) only for each project/lot. SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS The Pre-qualification document should be spiral bound, packaged in an envelope and clearly marked “Pre-qualification for Project 1,2,3 (Lot 1,2,3) or Project 4” at the top left hand corner of the envelope. The name, address of the company and telephone number should also be clearly written on the reversed side of the envelope. All documents are to be addressed to the Head, Procurement Unit, University of Jos and submitted in the Tender box provided in Room 94 of the Registrar’s Office, Administrative Building, University of Jos, Bauchi Road Campus, not later than 10.00 am, on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. OPENING OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS The Pre-qualification documents will be opened on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 10.00 am in the Senate Chambers, University of Jos, Bauchi Road Campus. Contractors are to attend the meeting for the opening of the pre-qualification documents. The list of successful pre-qualified companies will be displayed on the University Notice Boards at the Administrative Building and Directorate of Physical Facilities. Only prequalified contractors shall be invited to tender for the projects accordingly. PLEASE NOTE: 1. A submission of pre-qualification documents to the University of Jos is neither a commitment nor an obligation to award contract to any contractor or his agent. 2. All claims are subject to verification. Take notice that any false claim shall be a ground for disqualification. 3. The University of Jos may reject all bids at any time prior to the acceptance of a bid, without incurring any liability to the bidders as provided under the Public Procurement Act, 2007. 4. The University of Jos may also cancel the procurement proceedings in the public interest without incurring any liability to the bidders in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
Signed:
Jilli-Dandam D. Esq. For: Registrar
Monday, October 6, 2014
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EDO DELTA BAYELSA RIVERS AKWA IBOM CROSS RIVER Bayelsa: Court Fixes Nov 18 For Ex-Militants Suit Aganist Kuku, Amnesty Committee BY OSA OKHOMINA, YENAGOA
A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has fixed November 18, 2014, for the commencement of hearing into the suit filed by 18 former militants from Bayelsa and Delta states, seeking an order compelling the special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and chairman of the Amnesty Implementation
Committee, Hon. Kingsley Kuku and the Amnesty Committee to honour an agreement reached with the federal government on their inclusion in the amnesty programme. The suit with number, FHC/ YNG/CS/102/2013, and filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo, claimed that the aggrieved exmilitants were former militants that had accepted amnesty under the third phase of the programme
and surrendered their weapons to the federal government through the Amnesty Office in 2011, under the peace initiative of the federal government. The suit, which was earlier slated for hearing on October 2, 2014, was adjourned at the instance of the counsel to the aggrieved exmilitants, Barrister Korkor Sariki, due to application for amendment into two out of the three motions sought from the court.
The aggrieved ex-militants, including Asenekir Oyile, Angiama-Owei Oyindoubra, John Government, John Sawyer, Trydy Okpeke, Dollor Motor, Selebi Ayowei, Bobra Angese, Richman Oyindoubra and Henry Gomeromo, claimed that the Amnesty Committee erred by refusing to include them in the ongoing amnesty programme after series of resolutions from meetings with the past and
Rivers Guber Race: Etche People Tell Wike To Contest
Heads FROM tHe ZONe
➔ dr. Goodluck Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan was at the weekend endorsed for a second term in office by the Peoples democratic Party in the south-south zone of the country.
L-R: Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Davies Ikanya (Centre) flanked by members of the Kwankwaso 2015 Contact Committee, during their visit to the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Community Writes shell Over NonPayment Of Royalties For 55 years BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt
➔ Prof. Joseph ajienka ajienka is the vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt. He announced last week that the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences of the university has formulated hand sanitisers to check the spread of ebola Virus disease.
➔ annkio Briggs Briggs, a Niger delta activist, at the weekend warned she will mobilise against the PdP in Rivers state if they end up fielding a candidate from Ikwerre ethnic nationality in the 2015 governorship election.
present National Security Advisers to the president, Late General Andrew Owei Azazi and Col. Sambo Dasuki, respectively. The aggrieved militants claimed that instead of respecting the resolutions and directives from the NSA, Dasuki, the Amnesty Committee turned down the call to include the ex-militants and adopted a divide and rule tactics with the inclusion of three out of the 22 persons.
The people of Opuoma community in Ohaji Egbema local government area of Imo State, have written to oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited (SPDC), over the refusal of the firm to pay royalties to the community for 55 years, as well as pipeline rent and other benefits for 25 years. This is as they have called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to pay compensation to them for their properties destroyed to give way
for the commission’s reclamation and shore protection project in the community. In a letter addressed to the managing director of SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sumonu, the community said since the oil firm established its presence in the community in 1959, where it operates Well-22, it had not paid royalties to the host community. The letter, which was signed by Talbot Obaye-Ekine, on behalf of the solicitors to community’s attorney, Economic and Logistics Services Limited, said the last
time the multi-national firm made payment for its pipeline rent to the community was on June 3, 2001, pointing out that since then, no payment has been made. The letter reads in part, “Your company owns oil pipelines and oil well in Opuoma known as Well-22. It is our information that Shell made oil pipeline rental payment to the community on June 3, 2001 in the sum of N11.9 million. Since then, no payment has been made.
Cross River: Groups Endorse Rickket For Central Senatorial Seat BY LANRE AROTIMI, Calabar
Two groups, the Value Added Leadership Forum (VALF), and Youth Volunteer Movement (YVL), a pro-Kwankwasiya 2015 organisation, have endorsed the aspiration of a technocrat, Comrade Yinka Rickket to contest for the Cross River central senatorial district seat in the 2015 general elections. Leader of the two groups, Sam
Atasia Oburu, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen, shortly after a joint meeting of VALF and YVL in Calabar, the state capital. Oburu described the Ugepborn technocrat as a detribalised cosmopolitan grassroots man, who can give both the party and the citizenry value added leadership when elected to the Senate in 2015. He said, “We have decided
today to throw our weight behind this grassroots man, Comrade Yinka Rickket to represent Cross River central senatorial district in the Upper Chambers of the National Assembly in 2015. “We see him as a detribalised cosmopolitan grassroots man, who can give both the party and the citizenry value added leadership when elected to the Senate in 2015.”
...Back Jonathan’s second term bid BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt
The people of Etche ethnic nationality in Rivers State, have called on the minister of state for education, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike to resign from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and contest for the governorship election of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015. They also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his aspiration to contest for 2015 presidential election. An opinion leader in the ethnic nationality, and chieftain of the PDP, Prince Emma Anyanwu, who declared the position of the Etche people, while speaking at a rally organised by the party at Okehi, headquarters of Etche local government area of the state, described Wike and Jonathan as most fit for the respective positions. Anyanwu stated that the PDP would win the 2015 general elections convincingly, judging from the support and enthusiasm being enjoyed by the party across the state, adding that Jonathan was most qualified to lead Nigeria again come 2015 in view of his numerous achievements spread across every sector of the economy. He said, “President Goodluck Jonathan is eminently qualified to lead Nigeria again. He has done well to transform every sector of the economy. He is our son, brother, and in-law; we must join the winning train to endorse him. “My heart is filled with joy and I will continue to make contributions that will move Etche forward. I told you in 1979 that NPN will win. I stood alone in Etche and I told you that NPN will win and I didn’t have this kind of crowd at that time. PDP will win in 2015. I stay in Abuja and I can tell you that the four walls of Abuja smell Jonathan.” The elder statesman called Wike to declare for the governorship race of the state, hinging his call on the minister’s experience and untiring efforts to build the party in the state. Anyanwu said, “Wike is the lion of the moment. He is the only sellable candidate for Rivers governor. He needs your support. When he gets there, all of you will be there with him. It is not just about endorsement, you must use your votes to vote in Jonathan and Wike. Any endorsement without the voice of Etche ethnic nationality is incomplete.” He disclosed that people from the other camp have been coming to him in the night begging to come back to PDP but that in the day time, they speak another language.
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Monday, October 6, 2014
news behind the news
FG Seeks Local, Foreign Investment In Infrastructure BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City
The federal government has stressed the need for adequate local and foreign investments in infrastructure to boost the nation’s economy. The minister of works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, disclosed this in Benin City, in a keynote lecture at the 2014 Professor Ambrose Alli Distinguished Annual Leadership Lecture Series, organised by the Visionary Leadership Services. Onolememen, whose lecture was entitled, “Leadership, Good Governance, and Infrastructure Development in Nigeria,” stated that good and sustainable infrastructure was necessary in the country to serve as a catalyst for economic growth and generate wealth for the country. Recalling the state of infrastructure found in the nation’s rail lines, power sector, sea and airports decades ago, the minister noted that the federal government had focused its attention on infrastructural development in the last few years following the realisation that it holds the key to the actualisation of government’s transformation agenda and Nigeria’s vision 20:2020, under the leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He said, “Infrastructure stock in Nigeria today is far from being adequate. This is even more evident when compared to countries such as Brazil, Turkey, India, and South Africa. A look at some of the statistics indicates the inadequacies of infrastructure in Nigeria. “In the road sector for example, Nigeria has a total of about 200, 000 kilometres of roads, out of which only 65, 000 kilometres are paved in bitumen. For Nigeria to be among the first 20 economies in the world, our road infrastructure needs to grow from 200, 000 kilometres to about 300, 000 kilometres.” While calling for more private sector funds through Public Private Partnership(PPP) to supplement the increasingly limited resources of the government, Onolememen disclosed that the federal government had provided an enabling environment for investors, in form of enactment of laws and reforms, which
Adesina
News Behind The News
Give Us Inputs, Not Money -Farmer Tells FG BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt
Onolememen
had accounted for the success recorded by some domestic and foreign investors. The minister said, “The federal government of Nigeria is willing to forge a healthy collaboration between the private sector and the public sector to create a mutually beneficial ‘win-win’ relationship in the development of key national infrastructures that will aid economic growth in our country. “Specifically, the Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a number of steps not only to ensure that direct foreign investment (DFIs) and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) thrive in the development of infrastructure and the real sector in Nigeria, but also to guarantee transparency and accountability, the hallmark of good governance in the process.” Onolememen also lauded the virtues of the late Professor Alli, whom he described as a “transformational leader”, whose leadership was grounded in moral foundations and based on “idealised influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individual consideration.”
The federal government of Nigeria is willing to forge a healthy collaboration between the private sector and the public sector to create a mutually beneficial ‘win-win’ relationship in the development of key national infrastructures
He said, “Clearly, the late former governor who came to power under the banner of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was a servantleader, who delivered on his party’s manifestos - the four cardinal programmes of free education, free healthcare services, integrated rural development, and full and gainful employment.” Earlier, the president of the Visionary Leadership Services, Mr. Joseph Anetor, explained that the lecture series was organised to immortalise the late former governor of old Bendel State, since his demise 25 years ago, and provide solutions to Nigeria’s leadership challenges and raise the consciousness of Nigerians to demand good governance from their leaders. Anetor said, “As an organisation, this is one of the ways of making our contributions towards the development of our country. It is a commitment we have made. We remain resolute in this, and will continue to put more vigour to ensure that we continue to deliver on this mandate, in spite of the daunting odds.”
A Rivers State based farmer, Chief Mike Elechi, has appealed to the federal government to provide inputs, seedlings, uninterrupted power supply, and good roads to farmers and entrepreneurs in the country, instead of giving them loans. Elechi, who made the appeal while speaking to newsmen at his farm at Elele in Ikwerre local government area of the state, said such inputs will create the enabling environment for farmers to sell their produce. He said, “If the federal government wants to add value to agriculture to increase capacity, they should provide inputs, not money, they should provide inputs, like seedlings to farmers, create enabling environment for farmers to sell their produce. Government should also give entrepreneurs electricity and good roads to assist farmers to market their produce. “Farmers need these inputs to increase production. Farmers have problems in point of sale while others have problems of production. Some of the farmers who seek for loan do not use them properly.” Elechi, who is the chief executive officer of Vintage Farms, stated that the major problems of entrepreneurs are lack of input, electricity, and human capacity, pointing out that most entrepreneurs in the country lack the technical know-how to manage their firms. He said, “I believe that the major problem of entrepreneurs is lack of input, electricity, and human capacity. Most of the entrepreneurs lack the technical knowhow to manage their firms. Government should assist them in these areas. Government should also assist farmers in the purchase of tractor and equipment.”
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Monday, October 6, 2014
news behind the news
Bayelsa: PHEDC And Controversy Of Fraudulent Billing BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa
Members of the Assembly said, though the power reforms of President Goodluck Jonathan is a necessary one to end poor power generation, distribution and supply, the sudden increase in the billing system at a time the people are experiencing epileptic power situation is unfortunate
In Bayelsa State, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) is fast becoming the number one enemy of the people of the eight local government areas of the state over issues relating to provocative billing system, and poor services. A check into the application of the billing system by the PHEDC in the state showed an unsecured system of price implementation that opened room for fraud and illegal enrichment of staff of the firm and members of the local light committee along the streets and communities in the state. Most business outlets, government offices and organisations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and its Federated Correspondent Chapel unit, are affected by the poor and fraudulent billing system of the PHEDC. While many consumers cry out over a systematic and unexplained fraudulent billing system which is between N20,000 and N65,000 to homes and offices in the state capital, the street billing system ranges between N600,000 and N1 million without evidence of payment from PHEDC officials. In his explanation last year during a similar protest over poor billing system, the former business manager of Yenagoa Business Unit of PHEDC, Mr. Godwin Orovwiroro, said though at the arrival of the company in the state, the government was paying electricity bills for citizens, unfortunately there was no continuity in terms of payment in electricity bills by government. According to Orovwiroro, “There was a huge debt pile up. When we came it was a huge challenge between the state government and the PHEDC but we were able to manage that. Somewhere along the line we brokered a truce and the state government gave the PHEDC the approval to manage the network. To date, we have over 11,000 customers in our customer database. We deal with customers. Every bill generated by PHEDC is addressed to either an individual or corporate entity. We have three billing systems in Bayelsa State. One is billing based on metering, we have pre-paid meters, we have over 5,000 of them.” He noted sadly that the Bayelsa consumer market was not supportive of any billing system and recorded a huge case of bypass of the meter billing systems, saying, “We brought in these meters as soon as the units that came with them got exhausted, most people refused to comply.
These meters were by-passed, some of them were damaged, and some were removed and thrown into creeks for whatever reasons. Now we have the second billing system that has to do with those on direct connection. “They don’t have meters but they are getting bills from our computer centre. These are the customers that are said to be on estimation. Usually they are on fixed consumption. We use some scientific method to determine their load. The third kind of billing method is the bulk billing. In that billing system, we see the transformer, the substation that supplies the light to a group of people - a cluster, as a body to be billed through an account number. “And usually that bill is addressed to the CDC chairman of that community. It is his responsibility to ensure that the bill is paid on behalf of his community. The CDC chairman has structure on ground that he uses to collect the bill. We are not part of that structure. We hold him accountable when the bill is paid and not paid. We don’t have middlemen. Our operations are well-structured. “We have only one team for prepaid. That vehicle they use, they use a bus for pre-payment monitoring. Then we have three other vehicles for forth-clearing and other jobs. The people who did the installation of the pre-payment meters came from Port Harcourt. They were not based here. We do not have people who have that expertise. There are so many people who are involved since it only takes a layman to simply cut the wires and simply bypass the meter. “So it is a divisionary thing and there are so many people involved who masquerade under the name gas turbine, local electrician, PHCN etc. So we have told the different communities that if they see such people they should apprehend them and hand them over to law enforcement agents. Let them go there and declare their identity. If they call our attention we can go there and identify them if they are our staff or not. “You see, a customer has a right, once you pay your bills as at when due, you have the right to demand for service. Yes, our people can go to a substation, remove the fuse under disconnection. If the people that are benefiting from a particular transformer are not paying their bills, we can go there and shut down the transformer by removing the fuses. It is authorised by law.” But, the people of the state including the members of the State House of Assembly and civil society groups led by the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) are not satisfied. They have resolved to shut
Dickson
down the business activities of the electricity company pending the review and reversal of the alleged wicked billing system. Members of the state House of Assembly were the first to blow the whistle on the staff and management of the PHEDC over the unexplained and unnecessary increase in tariff due to the epileptic power supply in the state. Members of the Assembly said, though the power reforms of President Goodluck Jonathan is a necessary one to end poor power generation, distribution and supply, the sudden increase in the billing system at a time the people are experiencing epileptic power situation is unfortunate. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Kombowei Benson, while speaking on the issue, under matter of urgent public importance, described the development as unfortunate, saying, “We are tired of this billing system. We are billed N.8million every month. There is no meter reading on how much we incur every month and if we don’t pay they come to disconnect us.” Some lawmakers, who spoke on the issue, equally decried the high billing system, stating that their constituents were complaining bitterly about the situation. A commissioner designate in the state, Chief Jim Ogbolo, who has several years of experience in the power sector, suggested the need for every consumer to be provided with private meters. Ogbolo said, “I don’t believe in this group metering. At times people do not even consume
anything, yet they have to pay high bills. At least I have worked for 35 years and I know. The best way is for you to have your own meter. Whatever you consume is what you are going to pay.” The leadership of CLO in the state however took it further with a threat to shut down the business activities of the PHEDC over rising cases of illegal and fraudulent billing systems to electricity consumers in state. According to the organisation, though the people of the state are ready to abide by the provisions of the new electricity tariff regime, the billing system of the officials of the PHEDC is fraudulent and provocative through the unequal estimation of service charge. Leaders of CLO in the state, led by the state chairman, Alabo Nengi James, the secretary, Comrade Timi Igoli and former state secretary, Comrade Alagoa Morris, said the activities of the PHEDC officials have shown that it lacks agreed standards of payment and has created fraudulent wealth among officials of the company. According to the organisation, “The result of an independent investigation among consumers showed a dangerous trend in which consumers are billed indiscriminately. The report showed that the light committees, on the streets of Yenagoa were formed and made to collect money as light bills and pay to the company without evidence of payment. We want the company to provide the people with metre and charge according to services rendered.
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Monday, October 6, 2014
Anopheles mosquito
. . . C O N D U C I V E TO G O O D H E A LT H O F B O D Y O R M I N D
The E Secret To Long Life?
By Madlen Davies for MailOnline
ighty per cent of men could avoid a heart attack with just four simple lifestyle changes • Not smoking, taking exercise and drinking in moderation key to reducing risk • Healthy diet and having a waist measuring below 37 inches also crucial • Giving up each individual bad habit lowers the risk of heart attacks • Reduced risk was observed even in men who took medication Four out of five men could avoid a heart attack if they give up cigarettes, cut back on alcohol, eat a healthy diet and exercise, a new study has warned. Adopting a healthy lifestyle may could dramatically reduce the risk of early death - and giving up each individual bad habit lowers the risk. The younger the men change, the more protection against heart attacks they accrue, Swedish researchers found. Men with the optimum lifestyle were non-smokers who walked or cycled for at least 40 minutes per
day, exercised at least one hour per week and had a waist circumference below 37 inches. They also drank moderate amounts of alcohol, and ate a diet packed with fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, reduced-fat dairy products, whole grains and fish. The study followed 20,721 healthy Swedish men aged 45 to 79 over 11 years. Their belly fat was measured and they were questioned about their lifestyle. The study found a clear reduction in risk for heart attack for each individual lifestyle factor the participants tackled. For example, having a healthy or low-risk diet, together with a moderate alcohol consumption, led to an estimated 35 per cent lower risk of heart attack compared to the high-risk group, who adopted none of the low-risk behaviours. What Men Should Be Aiming For Men with the optimum lifestyle: • Didn’t smoke • Walked or cycled for at least 40 minutes per day • Exercised at least one hour per week • Had a waist circumference below 37 inches • Drank moderate amounts of alcohol • Ate a diet packed with fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, reduced-fat dairy products, whole grains and fish Men who combined the low-risk diet and moderate alcohol consumption with not smoking, being physically active and having a low amount of abdominal fat, reduced the risk by 86 per cent. Researchers found similar results in men with hypertension and high cholesterol levels. Professor Agneta Akesson, from the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said: ‘It is not surprising that healthy lifestyle choices would lead to a reduction in heart attacks. ‘What is surprising is how drastically the risk dropped due to these factors.’ The study also found even in those who take medication, an additional reduction in risk for chronic heart disease has been observed in those with a healthy lifestyle. Professor Akesson said: ‘It is important to note that these lifestyle behaviours are modifiable, and changing from high-risk to low-risk behaviours can have great impact on cardiovascular health. ‘However, the best thing one can do is to adopt healthy lifestyle choices early in life.’
Lowering Blood Sugar
Carb-Cutting
Top 7 food nutrients to make your skin look great
➊
oats have a natural plant chemical that helps prevent damage to skin cells and soothes skin irritation
➋
orange is an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps make collagen -- and that, in turn, helps keep your skin supple
➌
Avocados are filled with a healthy type of fat, monounsaturated fat, which helps your skin stay hydrated
➍
Lean beef such as top sirloin, is a great way to get high-quality protein
➎
Brussels Sprouts are an excellent source of the skinfriendly vitamins A and C, as well as folate
➏
Salmon This fish is one of the best ways to get healthy omega-3 fats in your diet
➐
Grapes Resveratrol, which comes from the skin of grapes, counters inflammation
If you want permanent control over blood sugar, you are going to have to cut some things out of your diet. You are going to have to control your carbohydrate intake. No, you will not need to do away with all carbs. That would be unwise, unhealthy and just plain stupid. Our bodies need some carbohydrates daily for optimum health. It is not that our bodies need no sugar; they most definitely do. They simply don’t need nearly as much as we are shoveling into them. Many nutritionists believe a glass or two of red wine at each day may be healthy for you. But drinking a dozen glasses of wine at each meal will destroy you. So it is with carbohydrates. A thin slice of whole-grain bread with an otherwise low-carb meal is no problem. A small portion of brown rice, along with some grilled chicken and a salad is reasonable. But a breakfast of a large bowl of sugary cereal, a couple of slices of bread, and a big glass of orange juice is dietary suicide. You are throwing so many carbs at your abused and overworked pancreas it has no idea where to even start. All it can do is dump out as much insulin as it can possibly manage. If your pancreas hasn’t yet being severely damaged by your abuse, it will provide enough insulin to eventually get the job done most likely you will experience a blood-sugar spike initially and then miserable sinking toward dangerously low levels. If your pancreas is no longer capable of providing sufficient insulin, your blood sugar will stay elevated for many hours, damaging organs and nerves. When this goes on for years it will eventually take an enormous toll on your health and your life. If you are starting to show rising blood sugar you need to start making some changes, and the first change on the list needs to be a significant reduction of high-carb foods. It is not spinach or cucumbers or tuna that are making your blood sugar soar; it is sugar smacks and doughnuts, and chocolate cake and lasagna and Dr. Pepper, and cinnamon rolls and…well, you get the idea! There are so many offenders in the high-carb category, but here are some of the worst: Potatoes, bread, rice, desserts and sugary foods and drinks. If you ever plan to get your blood sugar under control you are going have to cut back on eating those kinds of foods. Culled from 60 ways to Lower Your BLOOD SUGAR
HEALTH 101 29
Monday, October 6, 2014
200
The united Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has said the Ebola virus disease kills more than 200 people every day
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Anopheles mosquito
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has identified 12 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory as HIV endemic states in the country
Routine Pap Test Does More Harm Than Good
How to deal with an abnormal pap smear
Some doctors are still offering women an annual Pap smear test for cervical cancereven though they’ve been told the test can do more harm than good. The test throws up too many false positives‘seeing’ cancerous or abnormal tissue that is actually healthy-making an annual test an outdated practice, say researchers. Instead, American doctors are advised to carry out a smear test only once every three years in women aged 21 to 69 years. But a study has discovered that doctors in the US are still offering an annual test mainly as a way to encourage women to visit the office
Oil refinery toxins Cause Blood
Light drinkers Live Longer Than Abstainers Is drinking alcohol good for you or not? On the face of it, it is, because people who drink occasionally live longer than abstainers-but it gets complicated. People who drink heavilydowning more than three glasses a day-are 58 percent more likely to die prematurely than a light drinker, someone who averages less than one drink a day. And the light drinker lives longer than either the abstainer or ‘infrequent’ drinker, who drinks fewerthan 12 glass-
Coffee Helps Ward Off Depression And Suicidal Thoughts Drinking two or more cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of suicide by around 45 percent, say researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health. They think that caffeine boosts mood hormones in the brain and stops us from feeling depressed. Butthe benefits seem to stop at around three cups-or around 400 mg of caffeine a day-they say. And caffeine’s benefits extend only as far as prevention. The researchers don’t believe caffeine would help someone who is already depressed.
so that other checks can also be performed. An abnormal smear test result triggers a series of further, more invasive tests. A colpos copy, where the cervix is examined more closely, and a biopsy; where a tissue sample is taken, are often the next steps. A biopsy can cause pain and bleeding, and the woman has to live for months with the stress of a possible cancer diagnosis. Researchers from the University of North Carolina say it’s enough for women 21 years old and over to have a test once every three years, while those between the ages 000 and 65 may have one every five years.
Cancer In Local Population
es a year. But abstainers and infrequent drinkers are a motley crew, and include in their number people who don’t socialize, former alcoholics and religious fundamentalists. Aside from their drinking habits, very little binds this group, although they seem to be in a lower socioeconomic stratum than drinkers, so other aspects of their lifestyles, such as diet, could be affecting their longevity, say researchers at the University of Colorado.
People living near oil refineries and production plants are more likely to develop blood cancer. The plants release benzene, a cancercausing chemical that increases the risk of nonHodgkin’s lymphoma. Researchers made the association after analyzing the rising number of cases of this form of cancer in the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah in Georgia. They discovered that for every mile further away from an industrial plant, the number of cancer cases fell by 0.31 percent.
healthful Q &A
Walnuts Are The Healthiest Nuts Of All
Not Tonight-I’ll Get A Headache Eating nuts-and especially walnutsthree times a week will lower your chances of dying from either cancer or heart disease. Nut eaters reduce their chances of dying prematurely by 39 percent, and those who eat walnuts cut their risk nearly in half-by 45 percent -compared with nonnut eaters. The reduction increased to 55 percent in those who ate one 1-oz serving of nuts (28 g or about a handful) three times a week. Of course, it’s hard to know which came first: do nuts make us healthier or do healthier people eat nuts? Certainly, nut eaters seem more likely to follow the fruit-and-vegetable-rich Mediterranean diet, have their weight under control, are less likely to smoke and are physically more active. Walnuts also raise levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol, and walnut oil helps to maintain strong blood vessels. People with cardiovascular disease should take a sip of walnut oil after meals, say researchers from Penn State University, and everyone should eat a few walnuts every day.
Culled from what doctors don’t tell you
I sometimes get a headache during sexual activity. Your re- port on special imaging tests mentioned that as one reason to see a doctor. Why? To rule out the unlikely possibility of a brain tumor or Arysrn, which can cause headaches during certain types of exertion, such as coughing, bending over, straining during a bowel movement, or having sex. More likely, though, your headaches re- fleet muscle tension or vascular changes that occur as orgasm nears. “Benign sex headache,” as it’s called, most often strikes when the victim is tired, under stress, or having repeated intercourse. Some people first notice a dull ache at the back of the head. If your headaches follow that pattern and a C’I’ or MRI scan shows nothing wrong, you may be able to avoid trouble by taking a breather when you suspect an impending attack or by skipping sex during susceptible times. The prescription drug propranolol (lnderal and generic) can usually prevent sex headaches, but it can also diminish potency or impair orgasm. Some people are helped by migraine medications.
Culled from Guide to Better Health
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40%
1.4
A new research published in The Lancet suggests that with international efforts, the number of premature deaths could be reduced by The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) 40 per cent over the next says that Nigeria requires 1.4 million units of 20 years. blood annually.
F E AT U R E S N E W S T I P S I N T E R V I E W
Top 7
Pregnancy Foods Dried ➊ Beans & Lentils: They’re high in fiber, which helps to combat constipation. Nonfat Milk: ➋ Since most of us get too little-
calcium to begin with, drinking more nonfat milk is a smart move.
Bananas: ➌ They are rich in potassium and offer quick energy to fight off pregnancy fatigue. Lean Meat ➍ Your daily iron needs
Time To Halt Incessant Strikes In Health Sector Strikes by the various professional unions in the health sector have become a regular occurrence in Nigeria. In this piece, VICTOR OKEKE examines the issues at stake
Top 3 Headline ➊ Palm Kernel Oil
Can Also Cause Skin Rashes
➋ CBN Signs
N220b Empowerment Fund With Albino Foundation
➌ Government
Not Giving Undue Attention To Polio Eradication – Etsano
To ensure improved health care delivery in the country, health care providers must work as a team. As Taiwo Oyewumi of the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapy puts it, “Professionals need to make the acronym ‘team’ as an action word by ensuring that together everyone achieves more.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that clients/patients’ care must be at the centre of health care delivery. This means that practitioners assign value to patients above budgets, regulations, self and any other important issue that the system puts forward. A vision for health care must start by adopting an intentional, arbitrary standard of putting patients first.
The problems bedeviling the health care sector in Nigeria are enormous: ranging from poor funding by government, with resultant poor equipment and lack of specialist medical personnel to brain drain and lack of industrial harmony among the workers in the field. Analysts say the sector has been literarily brought on its knees by inter-professional bickering and struggle for supremacy. While the doctors contend that they, by virtue of their training and responsibilities, are the natural heads of the sector, other health workers including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians/technologists, radiographers, and practically every oth-
er non-physician staff argue otherwise. While this rages on, the health care sector continues to suffer. This year alone, there have a plethora of industrial actions by the different health care groups under their various unions. In a memo addressed to the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu this January, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) said government had failed to address its long standing demands which necessitated its industrial action. The association’s chairman said “there is no sign of sincerity and commitment on the part of the Federal Government to address the long-standing injustices against our members, which has resulted in legitimate discontent and deepening industrial conflict.” Issues under contention include government’s failure to pro-
mote deserving members from CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors in line with the approved schemes of service; failure of the Federal Government to issue circular for the proper placement of intern medical laboratory scientists on CONHESS 8 step 2 and CONHESS 9 post- NYSC, since 2007 despite due approval by the National Council on Establishments since March 2011. The government is also accused of non-compliance with the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) judgment on consultancy status and specialist allowance as consultants; failure to issue a circular and enforcement of the abolition of the position of deputy CMAC being illegally created by some tertiary hospitals and illegal and lopsided composition of boards of management of teaching/specialist hospitals/ federal medical centres. “The selective and discrimi-
double during pregnancy , so it’s important to include plenty of iron-rich foods now. Eggs: Eggs ➎ are good protein source, since they contain all the essential amino acids your body needs. Whole➏ Grain Bread: They are better than white bread
Oranges: ➐ They’re packed with vitamin C, folate, and fiber, and since they’re nearly 90 percent water, they’ll also help you meet your daily fluid needs.
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Time To Halt Incessant Strikes In Health Sector 30
natory increases in wages and allowances of one group in a multi-disciplinary sector without commensurate treatment to other members of the sector are worrisome,” the union added. It would also be recalled that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 embarked on a 55-day long industrial action. The then NMA president, Kayode Obembe said the decision followed the expiration of a two-week ultimatum it gave the Federal Government to meet its 24-point demand. “The NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted,” he said. The NMA had contended that “the post of Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC) has been circularised and operational and that rather than abolish it, four (4) DCMACs for teaching hospitals and three (3) for the Feder-
al Medical Centres be appointed forthwith to assist the CMACs whose statutory responsibilities are too heavy for any single individual to handle.” The NMA is opposed to the appointment of directors in the hospitals. This position, according to them, distorts the chain of command in the hospital, induces anarchy and exposes the patient to conflicting treatment and management directives with attendant negative consequences. The group also demanded that grade level 12 (CONMESS 2) in the health sector must be skipped for medical doctors insisting that no medical/dental practitioners should be on that grade level anymore. It also argued that the title “consultant” in a hospital setting describes the relationship between the specialist medical doctor and his patient. “It will be a source of confusion if the title is applied to any other health worker who statutorily does not own patient. NMA, therefore, de-
clares with unmitigated emphasis that if “non-doctor consultants” are appointed, it will lead to chaos and anarchy in the health sector,” it said. Other issues include the appointment of surgeon-general, clinical duty, specialist, rural posting, teaching and hazard allowances. While the NMA applauds President Goodluck Jonathan on his decision to appoint a surgeongeneral of the federation whose roles, it said would undoubtedly help to address some of the problems confronting the Nigerian state, including the address of the burgeoning negative impact of medical tourism on Nigeria, amongst other responsibilities, the Professionals and Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) are strongly against the creation of that office. JOHESU says “the justification for the position of a surgeon-general in contemporary publications
and reflections is hinged on the need for such a public officer to be saddled with the responsibility of coordinating public health. This assertion on face value is ridiculous and certainly most unconvincing because the basic tenets of medical training positions any registered medical practitioner to undertake the responsibility of driving processes that border on public health.” According to the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, the causes of the incessant strikes in the health sector could be attributed to issues bordering on conditions of service, establishment and rivalry between medical doctors and other health care professionals. “All these are within the negotiating skills and competences of the associations but the underlying word in industrial relations is compromise,” he added. Wogu said ‘”arties must be willing to let go and come back to renegotiation.
The causes of the incessant strikes in the health sector could be attributed to issues bordering on conditions of service, establishment and rivalry between medical doctors and other health care professionals
Palm Kernel Oil Can Also Cause Skin Rashes Researchers are divided over the use of palm kernel oil in treating skin ailments, convulsion and stomach problems. While Nigerian researchers say palm kernel oil can be used as ointment on the body to minimize infections by microorganisms, Cameroonian researchers say they can actually cause skin rashes. VICTOR OKEKE looks at this.
Health education should be given to the population to dissipate their ignorance and to stop the use of palm kernel oil
Palm kernel oil called Udeaki in Igbo has been traditional used by different tribes in Nigeria for treating convulsion and skin diseases in children and poisoning but a Cameroonian study has linked the local therapy to skin rashes in children. The Cameroonian study said it has established that there is a causal relationship between skin rashes in children and palm kernel oil. The skin rashes observed on children attending infant welfare clinic (IWC) at St Mary Soledad Health Centre Alakuma – Mankon and the Sub Divisional Medical Centre (SDMC) Nkwen in Bamenda, Cameroon are caused by Candida albicans present in the palm kernel oil that mothers rub on their children. It is therefore imperative that an intensive health education should be given to the population to dissipate their ignorance and to stop the use of palm kernel oil. Stopping the rubbing of palm kernel oil on children is guaranteeing the right of children to better health care and better health status. Until now, mothers in South
East Nigeria use palm kernel oil as rubbing oil for their children to prevent and treat skin rashes and convulsion. It is produced from seeds inside palm nut of the Palm tree. According to Chukwuma Muanya there are two types of palm kernel oil- white palm kernel oil obtained by compressing palm kernels in factories; and black palm kernel oil obtained traditionally by frying the palm kernels in a pot until the oil is extracted. They are all crude palm kernel oil. According to the Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa by H.M. Burkill, the uses of palm kernel oil as conceived by the community are: apply on the body of the child to prevent and treat skin rashes, rub and give the child to eat to treat high fever and convulsion; eat to treat abdominal pain; it is a good and cheap rubbing oil that smoothens the body of the child; it is used to make bread sandwich, to prepare traditional medicine concussions and to oil the head hair. The lead researcher and medical consultant at Bamenda,
Palm Kernel oil
North West Province, Cameroon, Dr. Daniel Mfonfu said the skin rashes observed in this research is a fungal dermatitis due to the Candida albicans in palm kernel oil, presenting clinically as: brown, red, or intensely red and shiny patches of various sizes on the body of the child; sometimes ulceration of lesions occur especially at the genitals. However, Nigeria researchers led by Ugbogu had in 2006 demonstrated that, in vitro, palm kernel oil samples showed noticeable inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species. While
no significant inhibitory effect was observed on Candida albicans and concluded that palm kernel oil can be used as an ointment for the body to minimize infections by microorganisms and this may justify its usage amongst the populace in some parts of Nigeria. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that causes cause a range of illnesses, from minor skin infections. Streptococcus species are responsible for many cases of meningitis, bacterial pneumonia, endocarditis, erysipelas and necrotizing fasciitis (the ‘flesheating’ bacterial infections).
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Monday, October 6, 2014 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY
Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, Illegal / Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.
KANO STATE GOVERNMENT
169th KANO STATE EXECuTiVE COuNCiL MEETiNG PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.
Government. Training of over 6000 Youths on Lafiya Jari/Barbing across the State. iv. Training of over 2000 women on soap making, embroidery design etc. v. Training of sizable number of youths/women on livestock farming at Livestock Institute, Bagauda. vi. Provision of 100no. Tricycles to the Meat Haulers Association to ensure sanity and hygienic distribution of meat across the State. It is imperative to note that the Executive Council today considered and approved the following memorandum on empowerment; a) Third (3rd) Batch Three – Weeks Training of 500 Female Youths for the Establishment of Small Scale Home – Based Enterprises in Home Baking, Herbs/Spices Production, Sweets/ Sugar Craft who were selected from the eight (8) metropolitan Local Government Councils to be supervised by the Community Reorientation Council (CRC) at the total cost of N20,955,000.00 iii.
ENGR. RAbi’u MuSA KwANKwASO, FNSE Executive Governor, Kano State
It is comprehensively on record that since inception of the present administration, it has pursued various tangible projects/ programmes evident in all Sectors. No doubt, this administration is committed to deliver on its campaign and inauguration promises made by the Chief Executive in the person of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE whose resolve is provision of good governance and copious leadership in which prudence and transparency are the main guiding principles in the utilization of resources. It is apparent that the hopes and aspirations of people are being salvaged in the State with an unsurpassed vigour and steady momentum. The quantity and quality of Government services have improved across all Sectors especially agricultural production, education, provision of social amenities, health care delivery, road construction/rehabilitation, beautification of Urban Kano, etc. Indeed Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE has proved pundits wrong as he has vigorously strived to emancipate the welfare of the citizenry of Kano with his exemplary leadership style of simplicity and dedication to developing the State. The Executive Council held its One Hundred and Sixty Ninth (169th) meeting on Thursday 2nd October, 2014 (8th Zhul – Hajj, 1435 AH). During the deliberation, twenty four (24) memorandum were approved for execution, out of the fourty three (43) submitted by twelve (12) MDAs with an expenditure of Seven Hundred and Thirty Million, Eighty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty One Naira, Seventy Two Kobo (N730,089,421.72), based on sectoral allocation as per the following breakdown:1. EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME SECTOR It is quite amazing that with the coming of the present administration under the able leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE various empowerment programmes have been executed across the State. This is with a view to enhancing the socio – economic well being of the citizenry, such programmes to mention a few include the following; i. Training of over 3000 women on modern fish farming at the Fisheries Institute, Bagauda. ii. Training of over 5000 women on poultry farming/ hatching at Poultry Institute Tukwui in Makoda Local
1000MM and 600MM Ductile Pipes over 250 kilo meter to boost and improve water supply at various location such as; i. Bagwai to Mil Tara ii. Bagwai to Tsanyawa iii. Challawa to Gwauron Dutse iv. Joda to Yankaba to Gezawa v. Tamburawa to Hadejia Road
Request for funds for the supply of Diesel to Challawa and Tamburawa Water Treatment Plants. Similarly, and in consideration of the need to address the incessant power failure from KEDCO which hampers the provision of water supply at the Regional Water Plants, the Ministry of Water Resources submitted a request for as increase of the sum of N30,790,000.00 for the supply of diesel to Tamburawa and Challawa Water Plants to maintain steady water supply at full capacity. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the requested sum of N30,790,000.00, in addition to the sum of N89,988,533.33, which now brings to the total of monthly release of the sum of b) Government Sponsorship in respect of two (2) Kano State N120,778,533.33 for the commitment. Indigenes under 504 Programme to pursue their studies at Hariot Watt University in the sum of N9,160,450.00 as their 3. INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR In general term, the advent of the present administration had tuition fees and other logistics. remodeled Kano into a befitting/excelled State among other c) The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport submitted a States in the Nation which featured the construction of three (3) request for funds for the provision of package to be issued to flyovers, construction of underpass at Kabuga and Gadon Kaya, first (1st) graduating students of the Kano Driving Institute, construction of the three (3) Mega Cities of Kwankwasiyya, of which the sum of N1,729,560.00 was considered by the Amana and Bandirawo, the installation/maintenance of the street and traffic lights within the metropolis and the Council to be expended as follows; i. Driving license for all the graduants at the cost of construction of Ring Type Drainage and Culverts with Walkways Interlocks and expansion of major roads (i.e. Hadejia Road, Zaria N1,421,200.00. ii. Issuance of certificate to each graduants at the cost of Road, Gwarzo Road and Sheikh Ja’afar Road) in the metropolis. N50,000.00. iii. Purchase of T – Shirt, Face Cap and Hijab at the cost of a. Provision of Street and Traffic Lights Beautification of Urban Kano is among the cardinal resolutions N208,360.00. iv. Printing of programme booklet at the cost of of the present administration in Kano State under the leadership of the second incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa N50,000.00. Kwankwaso, FNSE. Provision of Street lights along major d) Request for Funds for the Conduct of 2014/2015 State roads in the metropolis is one activity that predominates for the dual purpose of beautification and provision of security. Qur’anic Recitation Competition. It has been a tradition that the State Musabaqah Competition is Considering relevance and congruence of the project to the being organized annually to acquaint the participants to be well laudable policy of beautifying Urban Kano, Council approved prepared for the National and International Qur’anic Recitation release of the requested sum of N155,512,238.00 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable the Task Competition. In this respect the State Sharia Commission submitted a request Force on Installation, Repairs/Reactivation of Street and Traffic in the sum of N10,000,000.00 as transport allowances, Control Lights execute the projects cited below; Installation of New Single Arm Street Lighting Covering feeding, printing of vital document, public sensitization and i. Gwarzo Road Bye - Pass totaling (2.8KM) at the cost of other logistics to cater for the conduct of the programme across N63,987,451.40. 44 Local Government Areas of the State. However council noted Installation of New Street Lighting Along Ashton Road contribution of good spirited individuals and organizations who ii. from Airport Junction to INEC/Hajj Camp Junction strive in good deeds and as well contribute in supporting the Through Air Force Base to Close Up with Sani Abacha Way event. totaling (3.5KM) at the cost of N91,524,876.60. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the trimmed sum b. Construction and Installation of Advance of N5,000,000.00 for the smooth conduct of the exercise. Road Signage Gantry Extension on the Existing Four (4) Structures (Zaria, Gwarzo and Hadejia Roads) and 2. PROVISION OF POTABLE WATER Since the inception of the present administration efforts were Additional One (1) at Malam Aminu Kano International made towards improvement in the provision of portable Airport Exit. drinking water across the 44 Local Government Areas of the Equally, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport having State, through the rehabilitation/overhauling the twenty eight examined the importance of the Advance Road Signage Gantry (28) Regional Water Schemes including the Tamburawa and to the general public as an inscription to the road users while Challawa Water Treatment Plants, the supply and laying of driving along the way, submitted a request in the sum of
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Monday, October 6, 2014 N51,324,629.90 for the execution of the project, Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. c. In another development, a request for Funds for the Construction of Ring Type Drainage and Culverts at Kadawa Lemu Avenue (Layin Gidan Kankara), Gwale Local Government Area in Collaboration with Zaman Lafiya Alheri Association was submitted by the Sustainable Kano Project. Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N7,548,960.82 for the construction works in order to prevent the occurrence of annual devastating flood/ attendant with loss of lives and properties. d. Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) It could be recall that Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) was established by the present administration with the aim of ensuring strict compliance of traffic rules and regulations along the major roads within the metropolis. It is against the foregoing development, the Agency through the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport submitted the following requests. i. Request for Funds for the Personnel Training and Re – Training for Kano Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA) with a view to improve the quality of service and enhance their capacity. Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N5,336,500.00 for the programme. ii. Request for Funds for the Continuation of Enforcement of regulations on the Street Decongestion/Illegal Motor Parks in Metropolitan Kano in order to pave way for easy movement along the roads was submitted for Government consideration. Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N11,403,960.00 for the measures. iii. Request for Funds for the Public Sensitization and Awareness on the Activities of KAROTA through the Media and Publications for the enlightenment of the general public especially road users was also submitted for consideration. Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N3,844,840.00 as requested. e. Supply of Diesel to Street/Traffic Lights Committee and MDAs. It is important to point out that the good work undertaken by the Taskforce Committee on Street and Traffic Lights on the continuous provision of lighting on our major streets and MDAs need no emphasis. The Committee relentlessly sources the supply of electrical energy required from standby electricity generators powered by diesel (AGO). The supply was summarized and presented to Council for consideration as follows; i. Request for Funds for the Payment of Diesel Supplied to MDAs for the Months of March, May, June and July, 2014 which, Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N53,502,000.00 for the commitment. ii. Request for Funds for the Payment of Diesel Supplied to the Taskforce on Street/Traffic Lights for the Month of August, 2014. Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N109,529,200.00. f. Request for Funds for the Routine Maintenance of Metropolitan Roads. By KANO URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (KNUPDA) Council acknowledged with appreciation the level of work undertaken for the repairs and maintenance of major roads in the metropolis which was aimed at providing easy movement of motorist and beautifying the city. Accordingly, Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the sum of N100,000,000.00 to enable the continuation of the Routine Maintenance of Metropolitan Roads. 4. HEALTH SECTOR The present administration resolved to transform the health sector in Kano State has yielded positive results such as the
establishment of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, creation of Lafiya Jari Programme where more than 1600 indigenes were trained on health related issues and after the training, a capital of N150,000.00 was given to each beneficiary to start their chemist business both within and outside the State. Distribution of drugs of over N500,000,000.00 to health facilities in the State, establishment of the permanent site of Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency at Kwanar Madobi, procurement of ten (10) emergency response ambulances at the cost of over N119,000,000.00 which is aimed at reaching to grass – root people and hard to reach areas where minor medical activities and therapeutic cases are carried out and each ambulance is assigned to cover some Local Government Areas in the State. In addition to above the six (6) memorandum submitted to Council by the Ministry of Health were approved for execution as follows; a) Request for Funds for the Repair of Existing X – Ray Machines at Twelve (12) Selected Health Centers (Hospitals):In consideration of the dire need to provide X – Ray Services in all our Hospitals for effective Health Care Service Delivery as a key part for medical diagnosis/investigations and to achieve the cardinal objective of the present administration towards total reinvigoration of the State through provision of quality Health Care Services to the teeming people of the State, the Ministry of Health submitted a request to Council for the repairs and rehabilitation of existing X – Ray Machines/Lead Lining works second (2nd) phase at the twelve (12) additional selected Hospitals in the State. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the sum of N28,817,880.00 for the repairs and rehabilitation of X – Ray Machines at the twelve (12) additional selected Health Facilities. b) Request for Funds on the Needs for the Establishment of Dental Unit in Each of the Eight (8) Referral Centers and Procurement of Ultra – Sound Scanning Machines for Twenty Eight (28) Hospitals:In its effort to decongest the recently rehabilitated and equipped State Referral Dental Center situated at Zaria Road, the Ministry came up with a proposal for the establishment of a Dental Unit in each of the eight (8) selected Referral Centers and the procurement of Ultra – Sound Scanning Machines (with various specification) to twenty eight (28) selected Hospitals to the tune of N153,960,000.00. Council considered and approved the release of the sum for the stated purpose. c) Request for Funds on the Need for Procurement of Additional Four (4) Kwankwasiyya Medical Outreach Ambulances:In its effort to expand the Kwankwasiyya Medical Outreach activities to other areas/Communities associated with non – medical facilities close to them, the Ministry submitted a proposal to Council for the procurement of four (4) additional Hospital Ambulances. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the purchase of two (2no.) ambulance at cost of N25,763,798.00. d) Request for Funds on the Need to Pay Registration Fees and the Conduct of Professional Final Qualifying Examination – School of Nursing Kano, Scheduled 3rd – 8th November, 2014:The significance of examination fees paid by the students during the period of their studies and the need for reimbursement of the expenditure incurred cannot be over emphasized. Having noted the above, the Ministry submitted a request in the sum of N4,359,000.00 for the conduct of professional qualifying examination in respect of eighty two (82no.) students at School of Nursing were Council approved as requested. e) Need to Set Up Kano State Management Team for HIV/ AIDS. The Ministry of Health submitted a request on the need for the establishment of a Management Team for the control of HIV/AIDS that would be responsible for the comprehensive/ implementation plan for the epidemic disease in the State. Council considered and approved for the setting up of the Management Team.
5. JUSTICE SECTOR It is a well known fact that the exits cordial relationship between the Justice Sector and the present administration, in which the administration implemented many laudable project/programmes in order to boost the administration of Justice in the State. Such as:• Construction of twenty seven (27no.) additional Sharia Courts across the State. • Construction of twenty seven (27no.) additional Magistrate Courts in the State. • Renovation/rehabilitation of the existing Courts across the State. • Provision of funds for training and re – training of both Senior and Junior in the Sector. • Procurement of vehicle to the Sector. In a nutshell, the administration has achieved a remarkable progress in the Sector. Request for Funds to Enable the Team to Commence the Implementation of its Programmes. In its bid to continuously implement the laudable programmes, the Justice Sector Reform Team is requesting the release of the sum of N20,000,000.00 for the successful implementation of its programmes in the identified areas as follow; i. The criminal case tracking system. ii. Sensitization of general public on rape and other criminal cases. iii. Pursuance of alternative dispute resolutions through Communities mediation centers. iv. Payment of State Briefs for less privilege members of the society. Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the trimmed sum of N10,000,000.00 for the commitments. UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 168TH SITTING 1. COMMENDATION ON CONFERMENT OF NATIONAL HONOURS Council noted the conferment of National Honours to three (3) reputable indigenes of the State who have contributed to the development of the State and the Country in general. Those honoured are; i. The Deputy Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (OFR) ii. Justice Abubakar Wali (CON) and iii. Professor Hafiz Abubakar (MFR) Similarly, Council wishes to felicitate with the recipients of the ward and called on them to do more to ensure the progress and further development of the State and the Country. 2. MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE Council noted the successful conduct of the monthly sanitation exercise and thanked the general public for the co – operation given during the exercise where 107no. defaulters were arraigned before the Mobile Court and the sum of N362,650.00 was realized as fines. 3. CONDOLENCE MESSAGE Council wishes to extend its condolence message to the families of Late Galadiman Kano Alhaji Tijjani Hashim who died in the early hours of Monday 29th September, 2014. Furthermore, Council prayed to the Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant the deceased Jannatul Firdaus and the Family the Fortitude to bear the loss, Ameen. 4. RECRUITMENT OF A PRINCIPAL AND CLASSROOM TEACHERS OF SCIENCE/MATHEMATICS FOR THE NEWLY FIRST LADY’S COLLEGE (KANO) FROM EGYPT Council noted the recently conducted recruitment of a Principal and Science Teachers for the newly established First Lady’s College (Kano) who were from Egypt and will report to duty ending of October, 2014. Signed:
Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture
www.kn.gov.ng/new
34 NEWS /HEALTH
Monday, October 6, 2014
NAfDAC’s Director of Special Duties, Dr Abubakar Jimoh receiving the honorary fellowship award of Chemical Society of Nigeria conferred on the Director general of NAfDAC, Dr Paul Orhii from the National President of the society, Dr Shettima Abdulkadir Saidu during the annual conference of the association in Uyo...recently
CBN Signs N220b Empowerment Fund With Albino Foundation By vICTOr Okeke, Abuja
In a bid to empower persons living with disabilities, the federal government through the Central Bank has signed a N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) fund with the Albino Foundation. At the occasion, the President of Albino Foundation, Dr Jack Epelle
said it was a great disservice to person with albinism not to be included as persons living with disability. ‘We are not ashamed to say that. We have a disability in our skin and eyes. It takes a person with albinism 10 minutes to burn in the sun but 1:30 minutes for a normal person,’ he said. In his speech, Central Bank depu-
ty director for development finance said access to finance has been the most critical challenge of small and mediums scale enterprises in Nigeria. ‘In recognition of this, the CBN launched the N220 billion MSME fund to provide long term affordable funding for the sub-sector,’ he said He explained that two per cent of the fund shall go to the economically
active persons with disabilities as the CBN has put in place a robust medium enterprise strategy to ensure compliance guidelines for the operation of the fund. The Albino Foundation is partnering with CAFON microfinance bankone of the participating financial institutions to access the fund for its over thirty thousand members.
Fg Collaborates With Neimeth In Fight Against Ebola By WINIfreD OgBeBO, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Health is set to generate actionable points that will make room for better collaboration with Niemeth Pharmaceutical Company in their fight against ebola and disease prevention and control. The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu stated this in when he received a donation of NPC antiseptic products from the management team of the company. The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary,
Mr.Linus Awute, said that Ebola threat has brought out the best from Nigeria going by the interest shown by individuals and organisations to partner with the Federal Government in fighting the scourge. In his words,” Ebola has pulled out the spirit of leadership and patriotism from Nigerians that is why Nigeria is on top of the situation today”. He expressed optimism that Nigerians have now cultivated the habit of personal hygiene particularly hand washing which will mitigate their
chances of contacting diseases most especially the ebola virus. Responding, The Managing Director of Niemeth, Mr. Emmanuel Ekunno, said that the company is set to join hands with the Federal Ministry of Health to effectively promote hand washing and hand hygiene. While calling on Nigerians to take hand washing seriously as most diseases can be prevented through regular washing of hands, he promised to provide public enlightenment materials towards the fight against Ebola disease.
Medical Consultants Flay Health Workers Strike Threat By WINIfreD OgBeBO, Abuja
Following the two weeks ultimatum by the Joint Health Sector Union, (JOHESU) to proceed on yet another strike if the federal government does not honor the contents of their agreement, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, (MDCAN), has reacted, by condemning the action. A statement signed and made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Abuja, the MDCN president, Dr. Steven Oluwole, described the action of JOHESU as ridiculous and reactionary fresh demands on the
government. He said, “ From these demands, JOHESU has again presented itself as a conglomerate of rabble rousers! No ideological viewpoint designed to improve health care delivery or development is represented, but reactionary viewpoints that can only set the health system back. ‘’Residency training is not designed for popularity contest between medical and non-medicals. The request is an absurdity, when put into context of job description. I expect the response of government to be non-political and professional’’.
It would be recalled that JOHESU had last week given the Federal Government two week ultimatums to meet its demands or risk withdrawal services by the Union. It had among others demanded for a Federal Government circular defining functions and powers of Honorary Consultants, Residency training for other health professionals, Issuance of guidelines on appointment of Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Autonomy for teaching Hospitals and the removal of university lecturers as heads in some clinical departments.
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Two people have died and 56 hospitalised in a cholera outbreak in Dutse, Jigawa.
2.5
People taking the commonly used drugs known as statins were also 2.5 times more likely to be discharged home or to a rehabilitation home or to a rehabilitation facility, a study reports.
52% In May, a survey by NOI Pulls Limited revealed that 52 per cent of adult populations are unaware of causes of heart diseases in their locality
back pain Why Women are prone Millions of people in the UK suffer from back pain, but women are more prone to lower back trouble - as a result of a combination of factors including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and large breasts. But this pain is often easily curable by performing stomach exercises, says GP Dr Claire Rushton, vice chairman of the Family Doctor Association. She says: ‘People don’t realise that when the stomach muscles are weak, it can lead to back pain. The stomach muscles actually support the back; if their tone is poor, you tend to sag and your back then takes the strain.’ A simple exercise performed ten times each morning and evening will strengthen your tummy muscles. Go down on all fours, keeping your back straight, then pull in your belly button as far as you can and hold for a count of ten. ‘After a week you should start to feel better,’ she says. Dr Rushton also recommends pulling your tummy in if you’re bending forward to pick up something, as this also protects your back. Back to basics: Women can protect themselves from backache by toning their tummy muscles.
pre-Menstrual Syndrome The irritable moods and water retention that affect many women the week before their period can be helped by taking more magnesium, says Dr Ann Walker. While it’s not known exactly how the nutrient helps, it’s thought to boost the production of dopamine, a brain chemical which may be linked to mood. Do you want to know a secret? Too much sunblock could be bad for us Magnesium may also help prevent the inflammation which causes water retention. Dr Walker, who runs a herbal medicine clinic in Berkshire, says: ‘Many people don’t eat the foods which contain magnesium, such as wholegrains, beans and green leafy vegetables, so supplements may help. You need about 270mg a day, and look for magnesium citrate, which is easier to absorb than magnesium oxide.’
HEALTH 35
Monday, October 6, 2014
Government Not Giving Undue Attention To Polio Eradication – Etsano
Many people have expressed the view that the federal government is giving too much attention and funding to the eradication of the wild polio virus to the detriment of other diseases in the country. But in this interview with WINIFRED OGBEBO, the chief medical officer and the incident manager of the National Polio Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Andrew Etsano says the country stands to benefit from this.
short BIO OF Dr Andrew Etsano
Do you see us having a success story by the end of this year 2014 as President Goodluck Jonathan has assured?
Etsano is the chief medical officer and the incident manager of the National Polio Emergency Operations Centre. The centre is a unit uner the executive directors office of the National Primary Health Care development
Yes. From where we are coming from, when you make a statement, you must have looked at the trend, the data before you which we presented to the president. The trend that we have is in line with the declaration of the president. We have five cases in the data compared to about 38 cases this time last year. When you look at the extraneous factors not under your control, just like the insecurity issue that you cannot predict, it is beyond human control. But give or take, we are making progress in that direction. We are hoping that the five cases we have presently, will be the last that we will have and hopefully by December, we will stop polio transmission in the country.
Dr Biodun Ogungbo MBBS, FRCS, FRCSEd, MSc. Consultant Neurosurgeon
08122221616 (SMS only)
How A Little Infection Can Kill You? Here is a poem about a young girl. Let us call her Miss Chidiogo Because that apparently is her name She was in coma when we first met Very calm and worryingly so She was not responding to touch or pain Not to calls by mum or dad Not to injections as we had to give And many injections we did give She was hot to touch and sweating Her face swollen and eyes bulging She was in shock when we met And close to death as it seemed Unless we did something quite quickly
How is the polio virus transmitted?
The thing is, polio virus is passed through stool. So that stool, children play around and they can pick it up again. So its faeco-oral, from the mouth to the anus, then you eat something, you didn’t wash your hand and it goes in again. It affects children 0-5 years. Now, if the virus is in the environment and you’re not picking children that are paralysed by it, it means that it is in the stool that is being passed, is somebody sharing it, like what is happening in Israel. So it’s like saying somebody has malaria parasite in his or her blood but the person is not visibly sick. That is what it means. So if there are no children victims of polio, they are not picking them, maybe we are missing something. But in the environment, is the virus in the environment at all? And if they are, how do we prevent children from getting it? That is what it means, not that there is a case in Kaduna. It’s in the stool. So it only tells us that we should be more careful, we should prevent children and promote health education.
Surgeon’s Turf
So we offered her the knife In theatre for surgery we did rush To remove the pus that was on her brain As shown on the MRI scan Dr Etsano
Many are of the opinion that the country is giving unnecessary attention to polio. What is your take on this?
It’s just like the guinea worm, have we not successfully eradicated it now? So you can imagine how many millions of naira that have been saved from that. The next disease to be eradicated that you have the tools to do is polio. Most of the countries in then world have eradicated polio and money saved is now put into other areas like measles to fight other diseases or other sectors. So as we are eliminating these diseases, we are saving money. Somebody paralysed and not be able to do anything in life is traumatic. If you look at what the person is passing through, how do you quantify the problem in terms of not being able to work, not go to school, the burden on the family, the society and all that. If you have the tools to eradicate a disease, why not? Like malaria, we don’t. Among all the diseases for routine immunization, you have a disease you can remove from the list. They are about seven and if you remove polio, you’re left with six. The argument that attention is on polio to the detriment of others is because the polio programme has been on for too long. We started with Ghana, Liberia and all that but they left us behind because of the challenges we are facing in the country. But are we saying we should abandon and leave the programme because of what is happening in the country so far. We should face the challenge square-
ly. There’s no challenge that is insurmountable. It depends on your perseverance and finding the right solution to it. So we don’t want Nigeria to be the only country in the world with polio. This is a disease that affected very high people in the society even in the USA as far back as in the 50s. Routine immunization is something that has been going on but it’s not everywhere we are working on routine immunization. We are concentrating on 11 states and within these 11 states, we are working in about five states that are still transmitting. Some of them have stopped transmitting. But in the south and even north central states, we are not doing the exercise in those areas as frequent as we used to. We only do twice a year in the country, then we stopped. We now concentrate on the areas transmitting the virus. Now the routine immunization in those areas is going up. The coverage is rising. So when people are saying that polio is here because of poor routine immunization, the argument is not totally true because it’s just twice a year we conduct national polio programmes in for example, Plateau or Nasarawa from the middle belt. The remaining 10 months, the states are focusing on routine immunization. The challenge we are having with our routine immunization is supply chain, getting the vaccines to the health facilities which currently has improved. Vaccine is being imported, it’s stored at the national stores and it’s moved to the zones, states and all that. But you know you can have relative scarcity when the flow does
And day by day she returned to life Turning corners to good health Until today when I saw her again Looking radiant in braids and a nice frock All the coma was forgotten till we reach a full stop (.) The story Of course, there is more to this story than a simple poem. Our heroine woke up one day with a swollen red eye. This followed a bout of flu, cough and catarrh the previous week. The cold had all but gone when this new problem started. So, off she went to the ophthalmologist who diagnosed an eye infection and started antibiotics. It did not get better and she was taken to see another ophthalmologist (Dr Stephen Ume) for a second opinion. By this time, the forehead was involved and she was not quite right. Her head hurt and she had a fever. Dr Ume recognised that this was not just a simple eye infection and referred her for neurological evaluation, admission and care. This turned out to be the life saving decision because shortly afterwards, she stopped talking and went into coma. An urgent brain scan revealed that she had infection of the eye and the sinuses extending through the bone into the brain. The brain was swollen and under pressure due to copious amount of pus from the infection. This condition is called an acute subdural empyema. It means pus on the brain for short and could lead to seizures, stroke, coma and death if not properly treated. Early recognition and effective treatment with surgery and antibiotics save lives. Delay could lead to permanent injury, disability and death. In view of the seriousness of the condition and the fact that she was already in coma, there was little option but to operate. The operation entailed removing the bone over the forehead and washing out the pus on the brain and in the sinuses.
36 OPINION
Monday, October 6, 2014
Nigeria @ 54: Prospects And Challenges Of Nation Building By Abdulbaqi Aliyu Jari
Nigeria last week marked its 54th anniversary since its independence from the British colonial government in 1960. Moreover, it is this same year that Nigeria clocked 100 years since its creation in 1914. Nigeria, a country to over 170 million people is undoubtedly the giant of Africa as it constitutes nearly 1/5 of the population of the whole continent. Nigeria is a home to over 300 ethnic and cultural backgrounds across the country. Nigeria also has many religious believes; among which Islam and Christianity are the two major religions. The country has witnessed a lot of developments and challenges in its quest for nation building. The peak of its development is the independence and self rule. Its golden time was during the first republic, while its most challenging period is the current insecurity. Our dear nation is yet to take its rightful place in the comity of nations. Corruption, electoral malpractices, rigging, bribery,
Jonathan
bad leadership, immorality etc still remain key impediment to our aspirations. Economical development and industrialisation is gradually staging a come back like in the 1960s. Literacy and educational development are fast becoming more acceptable. A lot of young Nigerians now have masters and doctorate degrees in various fields both in Nigeria and abroad with quite a good number of them having the best results
A stable and prosperous youth remain the answer to Nigeria’s peace and security
in the foreign schools they attended. A lot of associations and NGOs are now legally opened in Nigeria. A lot of them are contributing positively to the development of the country. However, we still have a lot of challenges to overcome if we truly want to be a nation to reckon with. Literacy and education must be made free and accessible. Since Nigeria is a mixed economy, basics like education must remain in the hands of the government. No to privatisation of the education sector. With over 90 million representing the youth population, employment and jobs opportunities should be made top priority by both the federal and the state governments. A stable and prosperous youth remain the answer to Nigeria’s peace and security. We need to remain in prayers and support to our beloved fatherland (Nigeria) and our leaders, that God guide them right and protect us. –Comrade Jari wrote from Katsina
Now That Arthur Eze Has Spoken, What Next? by Emeka Oraetoka
Engineer Prince Arthur Eze na Ukpo, (OzoIgbondu), in terms of character and sense of purpose, could be likened to Frank Fanon, the Algerian born French intellectual who could be described as the main arrow head of Algeria independent/ liberation struggle against French imperialism. Two famous quotes of Frank Fanon aptly described what Arthur Eze demonstrated at the last Abia Day Celebration on the 27th of August, 2014. He reacted in the fashion Algerians responded to Fanon’s clarion call on them to sustain the struggle against French resistance to Algeria’s independence. In one of the quotes, Fanon said: “Every generation has got a mission, it is either they fulfill it, or betray it” In the other of his quotes, he said: “every onlooker is either a traitor or a coward” In clear terms, Arthur Eze’s mission as his title [OzoIgbondu] suggest, is to defend the wellbeing of the Igbos and fulfilling it is a task he is accomplishing in life.
By forcefully speaking out on the terrible shape of Abia State, no matter whose Ox is gored, he showed absolutely that he is not an onlooker. OzoIgbondu epitomises what Fanon had in mind when he came out with the two quotes. Prior to Arthur Eze’s tour of Abia State, attempts have been made by well meaning Nigerians to bring to the fore the bad shape of this state, but the formidable propaganda machinery of Theodore Orji stubbornly marketed the opposite of what is obtainable in terms of poor infrastructure and environmental decadence and tarred those calling for improvement in the state of roads within the state capital and Aba, the commercial hub of eastern region in bad brush. Already, experts in advertising estimated that Abia State government has spent more than N2 billion on television alone in showcasing non existing roads in the state over the last six [6] months. A little addition to this money wasted on frivolous but political advertisement, would have taken care of most
roads in the commercial city, Aba. I could remember when one Theodore Orji’s spin doctors appeared on Channels Television last year to defend the governor over accusation of neglect of roads in the same Aba. The only evidence he showed was some glossy pictures of roads he brought to the studios of Channels Television. As the anchors of the program, Sun Rise Daily tried to make him respond to fresh evidence of poor road network in Abia State, he was busy showing them pictures of the same roads purportedly constructed by Governor Theodore Orji. At a point, Governor Orji’s spin doctor accused the program anchors of taking side with political opponents to the governor. On the 1st of September 2014, OzoIgbondu told Governor Orji to his face that Abia State is in bad shape, infrastructure wise and that environmental degradation of the state may spiral to epidemic situation if care is not taken. More than two weeks after Prince Arthur Eze’s bold and frank comment on the state of Abia, no
official reaction has emanated from government house in Umuahia. The inference to be drawn from the silence of Abia State government is that Arthur Eze was right in his assessment. But could Abia State government afford to join issue with Prince Arthur Eze? The answer to this poser is NO. The reasons for this position are legion; suffice it to mention few here. In the first place, Arthur Eze is an accomplished business man of international repute, stupendously wealthy that he can never go to Abia State cap in hand. Secondly, Arthur Eze is not a man of frivolity; he says things as they are no matter who is involved. Above all, his involvement in philanthropic activities makes him distaste injustice and oppression of the masses wherever they exist. Feeble attempts at excusing the inability of Governor Theodore Orji at fixing the roads in the state by his sympathisers on the pages of some national dallies have only succeeded in making mockery of the governor. –Oraetoka wrote in from Garki, Abuja
Guest Columnist DAHUNSI IBIROGBA
Who Is Afraid Of FRESH Party?
T
he juggernauts who dominate Nigeria’s political landscape have had five decades of Nigeria’s existence in their hands to master their brand of crony democracy. By virtue of their access to power, they have held the system by the jugular, appropriating the machinery of government for their selfish ends. Those years offered them the opportunity to perfect this arrangement which takes the worst of every form of the world’s political systems, concocted in the cauldron of Nigeria’s unique socio-political environment. It is into this milieu that Rev. Chris Okotie’s political ambition must be viewed along with his FRESH paradigm shift philosophy. The party has altered the paradigm of politicking in Nigeria, by showing that politics can transcend mere grandstanding. It’s therefore not strange that FRESH should be at the receiving end of the ruling class and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which is playing politics with the de-registration of the party. But why does Okotie want to be President, and what can he offer that could make a difference in this corruption-infested country? Now as 2015 general elections approach, he has again signified his intention to run for the office of President. Undoubtedly, FRESH with its burgeoning popularity stands squarely behind the leading parties and those represented in elective offices. The party has altered the business of politics in Nigeria by introducing a paradigm shift which truly challenges the status quo, and can create a certain future for the nation as a competitive force in global economics. It is also arguably the fastest growing party in Nigeria in terms of prospect, respect, love and credibility. It is, therefore, ironic that this should be the party fighting for its right of existence. FRESH has in the span of its short existence brought a splash of ideological distinction into our politics, and has set the tone for something greater than just winning election for the sake of office. Why then is INEC insisting on snuffing out a party like this? Maybe because the Commission cannot envisage the possibility of a Nigeria on an equal footing with the best in the world, a Nigeria where the rich-poor disparity is reduced to the barest minimum; where the rich are not threatened by the prosperity of the common man. Irrespective of how FRESH’s demand on the agency to obey the rule of law may be viewed, the corky mien and imperviousness being demonstrated by the Commission will eventually come to naught. The Agency must understand its role as electoral umpire and not a judicial arbiter, deciding who is fit to stand for public office or not. It is not in its place to make a summation of that nature, as it is an arrogation of unilateral powers on itself. If party’s existence is to be revoked, it devolves upon a competent court of jurisdiction to decide such. That is what Justice G. O. Kolawole of the Federal High Court 5, Abuja Division did on July 29, 2013; when he delivered a judgment voiding the de-registration of FRESH. But in trying to frustrate the party, INEC deliberately held back from pursuing the case for an appeal of the judgment as it had signified. This delay is intended to stall the party as 2015 approaches, but pushing FRESH’s case under the carpet with its delay tactics will not make the problem go away; the cadaver of this intrigue just won’t stay dead. It is not also within the scope of the National Assembly, a co-defendant in the suit, to decide the verity of a court decision by re-amending the prickly section of the Electoral Act 2010 as it has done to literarily re-empower INEC to de-register parties which fail to win an electoral seat.
politics today Monday, October 6, 2014
REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS
Oshiomhole
Ikimi
PDP Rally As Wake Up Call For Edo APC Since the political misfortune which befell the once ruling party in the state, the PDP has learnt its lesson in very a hard way and is not taking any chances to reclaim the state
Last week, the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by President Goodluck Jonathan, converged in Benin, the Edo State capital for the south-south zonal unity rally. In this report, PATRICK OCHOGA writes that rather than strengthening the party to the disadvantage of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state, the gathering appears to have brought out the need for the APC to be more vigilant.
I
t was the turn of the South-South geopolitical zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to host the leadership of the party in the series of rallies currently going on in the country. Expectedly, the Edo State capital, Benin, was agog with heavyweights of the PDP who thronged the city to catch a glimpse of the action that took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium. The choice for Edo State, which is under the firm control of the All Progressive Congress,
APC, as the venue of the rally may not be unconnected with the public boast by top echelon of the PDP in Edo to capture power from Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in the 2015 general elections and the 2016 governorship election in the state. The occasion had served as a booster to PDP faithful in the state who lost the state to APC via a court verdict of an appellate court in 2008. Since the political misfortune which befell the once ruling party in the state, the PDP has learnt
its lesson in very a hard way and is not taking any chances to reclaim the state. The colourful event had in attendance, the crème de la crème in the political circle of the state including Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, former governor Lucky Igbinedion, minister of Works, Architect Mike Onolemenmen, former chief of staff to President Goodluck, Chief Mike Ogiadohme, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu, former minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, Captian Nosa Okunbor, PDP governorship aspirant, Barrister Ken Imansuagbon, Prince Ehenede Erediauwa and retired Major General Charles Airhiavere, among others. The occasion was also used by President Goodluck to serve a quit notice to the Oshiomholeled APC administration when he publicly declared that Edo and Rivers states will fall to the PDP in the forthcoming
elections. The pronouncement ruffled some political feathers among APC chieftains in the state. Jonathan declared, “Elections are coming and we have different interests so we are using this platform to appeal to our people at every level of election; from the state assemblies, House of Representatives, Senate, governors and others, that so many people will be interested in these positions but only one person will go at a time because we belong to the same party so when we are struggling to get to these positions. “We must do it decently so that we don’t create enemies among ourselves, if we don’t create enemies among ourselves and we continue to unite, we will surely get all our states back. For South➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 38 Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor
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38 POLITICS TODAY
Monday, October 6, 2014
PDP Rally As Wake Up Call For Edo APC ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37
The president and the national chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu, boasted that with their defections, the APC in Edo State has collapsed completely
South, at the beginning of this democracy in May 29, 1999, when I took the oath of office as a deputy governor, the whole South-South was PDP. From Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Delta, we were all PDP but today two states have ‘K’ legs but from 2015 to 2016, we will get all our states back. “You have listened to Chief Tom Ikimi that for Edo State, with him and his people coming back to their original party, the only stable party, the party that nothing has changed from the name to the motto to the logo, everything is the same, there is no other stable party in Nigeria. “For them to come back to their party they left because of some things that were not too good, now we have corrected all that, every party member is treated equally, no discrimination, no imposition, no godfathers, no godmothers. This is the only party that gives you the freedom and the opportunity to climb to the highest without any interference, they have come back to work with us. So Edo State will fall to PDP.” Continuing he said, “For Rivers State, we know that the only party there is PDP, others are only on signboards, so allow their signboards to stay but we know the party that is controlling Rivers State. All what we need is unity and that is why we are here for a Unity Rally. Former minister for Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, who had dumped the APC, was officially received into the PDP by the president and the national chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu, boasted that with their defections, the APC in Edo State has collapsed completely. Ikimi stated, “Today is a great day for me that this very great occasion gives me the opportunity to formally declare that I have withdrawn my membership of the APC that I have now adopted and reintegrated into my original family, the PDP. “I led the group of persons that came to Edo State in 2007 to take away the mandate of the PDP and installed the A C N. Mr President, let me tell you that as we now join the PDP, the APC in Edo State is clinically dead. As we move away from the stadium, we will unplug the last bottle of oxygen that we gave to them. Those who we worked with in 2007 are now back to the PDP.”
Anenih
Igbinedion
However, angered by the threat to capture the state ahead of the 2015 and 2016 elections in the state, Governor Oshiomhole of Edo State has described the PDP assertion as a “tall dream to think that Chief Tom Ikimi who recently joined the PDP will win Edo state for him”. The governor who spoke through his political adviser
and a member of the state APC caucus, Charles Idahosa, reminded the president that the Binis, who constitute over 50 per cent of the population of Edo State, have been marginalised in his government, therefore it will be a “tall dream to think that the Esan godfathers will win Edo for him”. “It is unfortunate that the
president is being deceived by the PDP leaders here and people like Ikimi who recently defected to the PDP because he lost out in the chairmanship of the APC. It is just a dream they can never deliver. Tom Ikimi who spoke during the rally, how many people decamped to PDP with him? “Ikimi said he left APC because after cooking the food people came and stole both the pot and the food away but in this case, he forgot that it was Ize-Iyamu who cooked those that left the APC for PDP but he went at the stadium to hijack the show by introducing Ize-Iyamu instead of IzeIyamu introducing Ikimi to the president. “Ize-Iyamu, who did all the cooking, was now a spectator. The only people who spoke at that rally on Benin soil were two Esan people, Anenih and Ikimi and that is the continuation of the subjugation of the Bini by the minorities. Dr Ogbemudia was never mentioned there, former governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion was seated there, his father, Esama, was seated, none of them was asked to speak, yet President Jonathan is boasting that PDP will win Edo. That is laughable. “We will deal with them in February. As we speak today, there is no single Bini man or woman who is a minister, permanent secretary, CEO, so what is the PDP going to tell Bini people that will make them vote for PDP? And the days of rigging are over. We are going to deal with them. Every appointment is in Esan, Uromi in particular. It is a wild dream to say they will win Edo. “The APC government in Edo State shared all the positions equally without any discrimination, so PDP will never win here, we the Binis decide where the votes go. For Ikimi to come here to be ranting is a shame. Let them continue to undermine the Binis, they will pay dearly for it come February,” he declared. In a similar vein, Senator Domingo Obende, representing Edo North, said in spite of the fact that he is not from Rivers State, the APC in the state is very much on ground. “APC today is the party to beat in Edo State. Did you see any serious person of substance politically on the field the day Mr President came? When we talk about seriousness, it must be with people who know their value and hold on to it. You cannot put political prostitutes together and say you want to win Edo State, a prostitute remain a prostitute.”
POLITICS TODAY 39
Monday, October 6, 2014
Battle For Okorocha’s Seat Unsettles Imo PDP
Okorocha
Ohakim
MBACHU GODWIN NNANNA reports that the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s silence on zoning of the party’s flagbearer ahead of the 2015 gubernatorial race is raising tension and threatening the peace of the party.
U The battle to unseat Okorocha within the PDP fold appears to be caused by the clamour for the number one seat to be narrowed down to the Okigwe and Owerri zones
narguably, the relative peace being enjoyed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in Imo State may be short lived if the leadership of the party does not move fast to address the contentious issue of which senatorial zone will produce the next flag bearer of the party . There is palpable fear among the party’s leadership over how to handle the litany of credible aspirants that have put themselves out to represent the party in next year’s election. The party parades the highest number of aspirants to the office of the governor. According to our investigation, about 24 persons across the three senatorial zones are jostling for the party’s ticket, a situation political observers say may tear the party apart if not well handled. The battle to unseat Okorocha within the PDP fold appears to be caused by the clamour for the number one seat to be narrowed down to the Okigwe and Owerri zones. Orlu zone, they argue, should be left out of the equation as they are currently occupying the seat. The two zones are said to be feel short-changed in the political equation of the state as they have lost political relevance over the years.
In the bid to secure the party’s endorsement of its zone to produce the party flag bearer for next year’s gubernatorial election, the Owerri zone, which only had the privilege of producing the governor of the state once under Chief Evans Enwerem, which was short lived because of the military incursion of late General Sani Abacha in 1993, had pushed for the implementation of the Imo Charter of Equity which is a document purportedly entered into by the Imo people on how to rotate power in the state among the three senatorial zones. A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and national chairman , Imo State Stakeholders Forum , Nze Elvis Agukwe, who incidentally hails from Orlu zone, is leading the group clamouring for power rotation. He insists that power should rotate in line with the Imo State Charter of Equity. Agukwe, who is also a member of the Federal Radio corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) board, told our correspondent that the only way the party can win the 2015 gubernatorial election is by zoning the party ticket to Owerri Zone. According to him, that will give the zone a sense of belonging since Orlu and Okigwe have taken their turn.
Araraume “We insist that the governorship ticket of the party in 2015 be given to Owerri Zone, I think so because since 1999, other two zones have had the opportunity to produce governor of the state, we believe that by doing that we have opened up the political space. “Every zone should be given equal opportunity to govern the state. In terms of the large number of aspirants, we don’t believe in printing posters, after every aspirant has picked forms with N10,000,000 we will subject them to primary and a candidate will emerge. I don’t believe in consensus,” he said. The zone has the highest number of aspirants which includes deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Chris Ayanwu, Humphery Anumudu, who won the party ticket in 1999, Chief Mike Ahamba, president PanAfrican Parliament, Hon Bethel Amadi, Professor Jude Njoku, among others. But critics of Agukwe’s Charter of Equity argue that the principle of rotation and zoning was no longer fashionable and adhered to as previous governors like Achike Udewnwa and Ikedi Ohakim contested with other people outside their zone. Special assistant to Senator Uzodinma, representing Imo West in the National Assembly, Hon. Emelu Mba insists that there was no such document like the Imo Charter of Equity as canvassed by Nze Agukwe, saying he was promoting propaganda. He noted that the best candidate has always emerged among the
contestants. He dismissed the clamour for implementation of the Imo charter of Equity, describing proponents as cowards who are afraid of standing the party’s primary election. The Okigwe zone is not left out in the common chorus of “ it is our turn to produce governor.” The zone ,which incidentally has six local government areas and produced the first civilian governor in the state, Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe (19791983) and Chief Ikedi Ohakim (2007-2011) has come up with the agitation that it be given a chance to complete their tenure that was abridged as a result of the removal of Ohakim in 2011 by Governor Rochas Okorocha. The zone has lined up and array of prominent aspirants which include Senator Ifeanyi Ararume who won the party’s ticket in the 2007 gubernatorial election , former governor Ohakim who is staging a comeback, Sir Ike Ibe, Chief Ebere Udeagu, former deputy governor, Chief Tony Chukwu, among others. But Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanu, a BoT member of the national PDP, while allaying the fears of members, said that the party was working hard to resolve the controversy. Iwuanyanwu, who spoke to our correspondent, said there was no cause for alarm as the party will overcome it. “There is no alarm on this issue; the PDP will handle its affairs very well and come out strong to win back Imo State for the development of the people and the state in general”, he said.
40 THE NATION’S CAPITAL
Monday, October 6, 2014
Eid-el-Kabir: Aduda Harps On Peace By Igho Oyoyo
As Muslim faithful celebrates Eid-el-Kabir, the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Phillip Aduda, has called on Muslims in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to pray for peace in the nation. Aduda made this call when he distributed over 1,000 bags of rice and cash to FCT residents for the Sallah celebration at the weekend in Abuja. Represented by his chief of staff, Mr. Dabara Audu, Aduda advised Muslims not to forget the lesson learnt from Prophet Mohammed with regards to the celebration, which has to do with sacrifice and urged them to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice. Among the beneficiaries were Mrs Aishatu Mohd, who expressed gratitude to Aduda for making it a routine to remember the poor in the territory.
Abuja Set To Host Taste Of Africa Food Festival By Igho Oyoyo
In a bid to promote Africa food and provide employment opportunities for graduates in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a nongovernmental organisation, Ver-Annies Concepts has concluded plans to host the African premiere food culture exhibition taste of Africa in Abuja. Speaking to journalists, the principal partner of the organization, Ms. Ann Adinkwuye, said that the annual food festival seeks to promote the importance of Africa food to the western world. Adinkwuye said the event targets at creating a level playing ground for small and medium scale businesses in the food, agriculture and hospitality sector, saying it aims to empower more youths and create more job opportunities in the FCT and the entire nation. She said, “In 2012 the food festival was known as “Flavour of Abuja” and was also hosted in Abuja with an overwhelming attendance by both local and international guests. The event was a huge success. In a bid to make this memorable event even bigger it has been rebranded as Taste of Africa Food Festival (TAFF). “TAFF 2014 is starting up this year with the festival carnival which will be held on Tuesday, 30 October, 2014 at the Art and Craft Village, Central Business District (CBD), Abuja. The event will feature the women association, youths; partners; stakeholder’s; sponsors and exhibitors.” According to her, TAFF has partnership and endorsement agreement with reputable ministries and organisations like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Export Promotion Council(NEPC) and the National Investment Promotion Council (NIPC). Others are the National Council For Arts and Culture (NCAC), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the National Institute For Hotel and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). Adinkwuye listed participants expected at the festival exhibition to include confectionaries, dairy products, farm produce , honey, fruits and vegetables, beverages, spices, wines, restaurants, hotels, pastries, meat, fishery, cookware’s, utensils, regulatory bodies, among others.
Security officers with the lifeless bodies of a woman and her son electrocuted at Kuje at the weekend. Photo By Nan
Sallah: Kwali Chair Calls For Peaceful Co-existence Among Residents By Chika Mefor
The chairman of Kwali area council, Ibrahim Daniel, has called on residents of the council to continue to love one another and live peacefully irrespective of their religion for lasting development and progress. Speaking during his Sallah message to residents, Daniel tasked them to be obedient to elders and the constituted authority like Prophet Abraham. Daniel who said that residents and the nation have
a lot of lessons to learn from the Eid-el- Kabir celebration, congratulated the Muslim faithful in the council. Meanwhile in his congratulatory message to the nation and residents of the council during the nation’s 54 years independent anniversary, the council boss urged them to shun all forms of vice and continue to live in peace with one another. He said, “we should endeavor to live in peace with one another and shun all vices. As we celebrate the 54th anniversary, I call on the residents of the
council to always preach peace wherever they go as we cannot make any meaningful progress without peace.” He urged residents to direct their thought towards contributing their quota to the development of the council and the country at large. The chairman noted that the nation has achieved so much and has made tremendous progress since it attained independence in 1960, urging residents to pray for the leaders to be able to combat the current security challenges plaguing the
nation. “At 54, I will tell you that the nation has progressed as a nation. Though the nation is facing tremendous challenges we need to continue to pray so that the security challenges the country is presently facing will be a thing of the past,” he added. Daniel who also charged the residents of the council and Nigerians to continue to pray for peace and progress of country urged them to also pray for the leaders of the nation so that they will lead according to the will of God.
De-Royal Rewards FCT Customers With Cars, Tricycle By Igho Oyoyo
De-Royal Mills and Foods Limited, producers of Royal noodles and water, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has rewarded its customers with three cars and four tricycles, at weekend, for meeting their target in three months. Speaking during the flag-off of the ‘distributors promo season two’, the executive director of the company, Mr. Tunde Olaleke, said that the distributors were the brain behind the success it has recorded so far. Olaleke said, “we have
seen what partnership can do between an organisation and its distributors. we are celebrating teamwork here today. “Royal Noodles is unique in its own way, we are strictly home grown, strictly Nigeria and proudly so.” He said the distributors deserve better than the company gave them because they believe in the company’s dream. “they bought into the dream and are willing to drive the dream forward,” he added. Olakeke said the promo was going to be a continuous event as
season three has already commenced and the people are already logging on. One of the winners, chairman, Benona Ventures Ltd., Mrs. Nosike Ann, who was a beneficiary of a Kia Car, said the reward was as a result of her loyal patronage and partnership with the company for a year. According to her, Nigerian consumers have accepted the brand due to its mark of quality and value for money, adding that De Royal noodles and water would be the number one brand that consumers would reckon with in the
next three years. She urged unemployed graduates to look beyond government jobs and do away with pride as there are many things they can do to better their lives. The company’s sales and regional manager of North Central, Mr. Samuel Ajiboye, said the company can achieve little without its teeming customers. He said, “there is little that we can do without bringing in our customers. These people were not just invited for doing nothing. They have made us proud with their excellent performance.”
Monday, October 6, 2014
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42 news Lagos $9.3m: People Involved Must Be Punished – Lawmaker A lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, has said that those behind the alleged laundering of $9.3 million to South Africa through a private jet should be brought to book. Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP, he emphasised that the act is against international charter to which Nigeria is a signatory and that it also contravened the Money Laundering Act and Cashless Policy of the Nigerian government. Balogun, who is representing Ajeromi-Ifelodun 2 stressed that it was wrong for the Nigerian government to have allowed such transaction, while accusing PDP lawmakers in the National Assembly of supporting the perpetrators of the act. “We are talking about a transborder transaction of $9.3 million to purportedly buy arms for Nigeria. Is it the right for an individual to buy arms for Nigeria now? Can’t the money be sent through money transfer from bank to bank? Was the South African government aware of the transaction.” By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos
Monday, October 6, 2014
Mimiko’s Defection: NLC Calls For Suspension Of Labour Party’s Convention By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, , Lagos
Sequel to the defection of Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the national executives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and NLC to suspend the proposed convention
of the Labour Party scheduled to hold in Ondo State forthwith. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the NLC state secretary, Comrade John Odigie and chairman, Political Committee, Ismail Bello respectively over the weekend. According to NLC, “We know that Governor Mimiko opted to host the convention of the Labour Party on October 4, 2014 but
shifted it to October 8, 2014. His official defection along with the members of the legislature and members of the party to PDP makes it unethical and immoral for him to host and bankroll the convention of the party as he is no longer a member of the party.” The statement reads in part, “We urge the National Political Commission to convene a stakeholders meeting with core
leaders of the national/state leaders of the party from the labour movement with a view to return the party to its ideals of social democracy”. NLC also urged all politicians particularly in Lagos State and nationwide who conceptualised Labour Party to steer clear of their resources, as the party is not a cash and carry political party or an appendage to any political party.
ASUU Laments State Of Education Sector The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has lamented over the current education system in Nigeria, saying that it is dysfunctional to make the nation a fore-runner in the global education system. Former president of the union and chairman Local Organising Committee of National Education Summit put together by the four unions in Nigerian Universities, Dr Dipo Fashina who disclosed this in Ibadan yesterday while briefing newsmen on the forthcoming summit holding in Abuja between October 27 and November 1, 2014, said that the national education summit will x-ray the current education system in the country with a view to restructuring it to liberate Nigerians. He stressed that the current education system in Nigeria will continue to make Nigeria an appendages to Europe and America. According to him, Nigeria education system is one sided, promoting the interests of the world powers that colonised Africa making the need to develop an education system that can serve the interests of Nigerians a necessity. “The four main union in Nigeria tertiary Institutions are jointly organizing a national education summit the purpose of which to look for what will be a liberating education system to Nigeria. we want look jointly at the education system whether it is university, colleges of education, Education teaching institutes, polytechnic, primary and secondary schools and all levels of education. By Matthew Dike, Lagos
Director-general, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr Sola Omole, signing the condolence register at the home of the late Mrs Oluremi Oyo In Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN
Report Criminals To Police, Lagos CP Tells Residents by GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos
The new commissioner of police, Lagos State Command Mr. Kayode Aderanti, has appealed to Lagos residents to make the job of policing the state easier by volunteering information to the police. Fielding questions from newsmen after the State Security Council meeting presided over by Governor Babatunde Fashola, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Aderanti said the police and other security agencies are ready to make
sure that every where is secure in the state. He said security measures have been put in place to ensure that crime is reduced to the barest minimum in the state. The commissioner said his command and other security agencies would be proactive in putting in place all the security measures to ensure that there are no hitches during the Ember months. He added that, “So far the state is relatively peaceful and we hope and believe that we can sustain it
in these coming days”. The CP urged residents to be security conscious wherever they are emphasising that security is a collective responsibility with every resident as a stakeholder in the security architecture of the state. “This is the only way to reduce crime rate to the barest minimum”, he said. Aderanti declared, “All of us should be stakeholders in the security architecture of this state. When you see something, say
something; we should try to do things accurately, we should not indulge in excesses during this festive period. “We have also put measures in place to ensure that all the good people of Lagos State enjoy the holidays. They are free to go to the malls to go to the beaches and to the Cinema houses because adequate security will be provided in all these places.” He commended Governor Fashola for putting in place very solid security architecture.
APC Accuses FG Of Complicity In Attacks On Ekiti Judiciary By GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos
The Conference of All Progressives Congress (APC) State Publicity Secrataries has accused the federal government of aiding and abbeting attacks on the judiary in Ekiti State. The APC scribes in a statement they jointly signed and made available to journalists said federal government’s response to the attack On Ekiti State judiciary was “tardy and tacky”. According to them, “The response of the federal government to the brazen attack on judges and the judiciary in Ekiti State is char-
acteristically tardy and regrettable, and in the considered view of Conference of APC State Publicity Secretaries (CAPS). “There cannot be any other explanation except that the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP)-controlled federal government is interested in perverting justice in the South West state. “Our position is further reinforced by the fact that the sitting governor of the state was on Monday September 29, 2014, at a ceremony presided over by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria officially addressed
as “the former governor of Ekiti State’ without the intervention of the president, or any of the highly placed government functionary in the ceremony.” CAPS noted that the action shows PDP’s disregard for decorum, protocol and orderly conduct in preference to its whims and caprices. They said: “It shows the PDP has no regard for law and order and are ruled by the same selfish interests that have wrecked the country in its sad 15 years in power. “Never before in the chequered history of this nation has a lawful
judicial tribunal of three learned judges been disrupted by known persons who have been allowed to freely walk the streets and literally celebrate their high crime. “Never before has a High Court judge, no less a chief judge of a state, been physically brutalised by private persons with high-stake political interests linked to that of the PDP-controlled federal government and the security agencies controlled by the same government feigned helplessness, while the federal government simply listed the chief judges of neighbouring South West states for ‘national honours.”
news south-South south-East 43
Monday, October 6, 2014
Bayelsa’ll Not Succumb To Political Thuggery – Dickson The Bayelsa State governor,Hon. Seriake Dickson weekend vowed to put a stop to cases of sea piracy, crude oil theft and other violent crimes,saying the state will not succumb to crimes and criminality ahead of the 2015 general elections. According to Dickson, though the security agencies in the state have collaborated with different apparatus of state to maintain peace and security, the institutions of the state will not succumb to partisanship and undue pressure. Seriake Dickson, who gave this assurance, while opening the 21st State Security Council meeting at Government House in Yenagoa, maintained that the days of militia and gun running were over, stressing that the institutions of the state will not succumb to partisanship and undue pressure. The Bayelsa State governor, who used the occasion to formally welcome the new state commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, commended the security agencies in the state for collaborating with different apparatus of state to maintain peace and security. By Osa Okhomina,Yenagoa
Amaechi To Rivers People: Vote Out PDP, Secure Your Future
BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt
Rivers State governor and chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has urged the people of the state to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government in the 2015 general elections so as to secure their future. Amaechi made the call at Degema, the headquarters of Degema local government area of the state, after commissioning an 8,000 capacity football stadium, built by the local government council. The governor said the PDP has nothing to offer to the people of
Kalabari Kingdom, as the only way for the people to regain their lost oil wells and benefit from democratic governance was to vote out the PDP. He explained that President Goodluck Jonathan was taking sides in the Soku oil wells matter, as he narrated the president’s reaction during a meeting with Kalabari chiefs, adding, “In that meeting, before Kalabari chiefs, Mr. President said to us, ‘you people call it Soku, we from Bayelsa call it Oluasiri’. ‘Is Soku Oluasiri? “As President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is not supposed to take sides. The moment he said it is called Oluasiri, he is
taking sides and we have no faith in Mr. President returning our oil wells. They have taken the (Soku) oil wells, they are spending the money because they have the presidency. “The only way you can get back your oil wells is to vote out Mr. President. The only opportunity you have now is your vote. Vote him out, he is not Rivers, He is from Bayelsa. He has not and will not serve us and I have said here, let Mr. President tell us what he has done for us.” Amaechi noted with regret that his efforts to build Trans-Kalabari road in the state and reconstruct the Emohua-Abonnema federal road already in deplorable condi-
tion was frustrated by President Jonathan. The governor said, “When I was coming here (to Degema), I saw the Emohua-Abonnema road, it’s a federal road and it’s going bad. When I met the President with Kalabari chiefs and I told the president ‘that road is going very bad, if we don’t intervene now, that road will soon be impassable. And I then asked, ‘Mr. President, can the Rivers State government reconstruct that road? Because that is the only road by which Kalabari people come out to town’ but Mr. President said no and said he (federal government) would do it. One year plus, he has not done it.”
short news Ihedioha Pledges Completion Of N23.5bn Elele/Owerri Road
Ex-Militant Leader Petitions Army Over Raids
Authorities of the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff have been petitioned by a former Niger Delta militant leader, Ojuemi Prediseghabofa (aka Lukelueke) of Ajakurama community in Ovia South-West local government area of Edo State over alleged arbitrary raid on his property including his hotel and the houses of his wives’ family members by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF); Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta over what he termed “frivolous, baseless, biased, ill-motivated, mischievous and unsubstantiated covert reports given flippantly to the JTF.” A copy of the petition from U. Kurumah & Co., signed by Ugha Kurumah (esq), and made available to LEADERSHIP Benin City yesterday, said the raids had been consistent since 2012. He explained that before heaccepted amnesty on February 28, 2013, he had a confrontation with another former militant identified as Felix Odowu who had accepted amnesty on December 17, 2009 who, he alleged, “wilfully shot and murdered our client’s nephew sometime on Novermber 21, 2010.” He gave the name of the victim as Master John Gbekure Okorokpo Umujo. The petitioner said the alleged murder case is still being investigated by the police in Edo State, adding that since the altercation between the two former militants, his client had been harassed by the JTF over unfounded allegations. By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City
Some dancers during the Imo carnival in Owerri, yesterday. Photo by NAN
2015: DSS Mops Up Small Arms In Akwa Ibom By Bernard Tolani Dada,Uyo
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Akwa Ibom State Department of State Services (DSS) has said operatives of the service on undercover operations have been mopping-up small arms and light weapons from criminal elements. Speaking at the weekend in Uyo, the state capital, the director of DSS in the state, Mr. Toma Minti, said the morale of his men was high with full determination to take on some criminal elements in the society. He warned that those that foment
trouble would be made to face the full wrath of the law. Ahead of the polls, Minti, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Fubara Duke, said operatives of the service on undercover operations have been mopping-up small arms and light weapons from criminal elements. Working with other security agencies in and outside Akwa Ibom State, Minti said the Department has been busting several criminal operations, adding that such intense fights by operatives of the service have made the state one of the safest in Nigeria. “As we arrest them, we retrieve
arms from them”, he said, adding that policing the state effectively requires collaborative efforts by the security operatives and the civil society and urged the public to always volunteer information on crimes in their neighbourhood to the DSS, even as he assured of identity protection of the informants. While warning the youths against being used by the politicians to orchestrate violence during the polls, the DSS chief was also quick to impress it on the politicians to play by the rules to avoid being confronted by the law.
The deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha has assured the residents of Imo State of federal government’s commitment to complete the Elele/Owerri/Port Harcourt road which he said is awarded at the cost of N23.5billion after the rainy season. Ihedioha disclosed this during his consultation visits to the people of Ohaji/ Egbema at the weekend pointing out that as a facilitator of the road in the state, he would ensure its completion. By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Conduct Bureau Threatens To Stop Erring Politicians From Delta LG Poll By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba
Delta State Directorate of the Code of Conduct Bureau, a federal government body which verifies assets of public officers, has said that it will stop all politicians who had served in either the civil or public service but failed to declare their assets during their service years and now preparing to contest the October 25 local gov-
ernment poll. Revealing that the conduct bureau has uncovered 126 erring politicians, the state director of the agency, Mr. Tony Onyibe, gave two options to such aspirants; to either declare their assets before contesting the election or forget the idea as the bureau would apply all legal means to have them removed from office after winning the election.
Onyibe, who described such individuals as criminals, said the bureau was set for a showdown with the unscrupulous politicians, hence, he said it would pay them more to declare their assets before the election than being removed from office after winning elections. He said, “Assets declaration is a necessary criteria for working for government, whether in the federal, state or local government ,
public officers must declare their assets before assuming office and at the end of the tenure. Anybody that did not comply with the Code of Conduct Bureau having been in office before, you have breached the code and you are a defaulter, you have not complied with the extent regulation on existing laws on the conduct of public servants both political and public servants and you cannot hold office”.
44 PHOTO NEWS
Monday, October 6, 2014
Local drummers entertaining people at the Millennium Park during the Sallah celebration in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO
Cross-section of family members at the Abuja Park and Zoo, yesterday.
PHOTO BY REMI
Children catching fun at the Central Mosque roundabout in Bauchi, Yesterday PHOTO BY NAN
AKUNLEYAN
Children enjoying themselves at the Millennuium Amusement Park during the Sallah celebration in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO
Some children celebrating at the Wonderland Park, Abuja, yesterday. Photo by REMI AKUNLEYAN
news NATIONAL 45
Monday, October 6, 2014
‘Nigeria Has Under-achieved’ A coalition of concerned Nigerians under the “Say No Campaign” has said that the most charitable thing that can be said about national development and the stewardship of the ruling elites is that Nigeria at 54 years of Independence has under achieved and underperformed given the immense potential at its disposal. The coalition convened by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre(CISLAC), Centre for Policy and Leadership Development(CPALD) and United Action for Democracy (UAD) is a platform of concerned Nigerians, committed to the fight against corruption, impunity and violence. demanding government accountability and transparency. Speaking at a media briefing on trending issues currently disturbing the nation in Abuja Yesterday, Co-convener Samson Itodo said” as our country attains 54 since gaining independence and begins its 55th year as an independent nation, we are again worried about the prostrate and parlous state to which it has driven by its retinue of unaccountable and patriotic leadership” At 54 one expects a nation with such quantum of promise, one brimming with immense potential at independence to have laid solid foundation for the collective security and we’ll being of its citizens. By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja.
JOHESU Gives FG Ultimatum, Threatens Indefinite Strike Activities at the 56 federal medical centres and other tertiary health care institutions across the country may be paralysed soon as Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, an umbrella body covering all professionals in the health sector in the country, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government to implement all agreements reached with the union or face indefinite strike action. The ultimatum was issued at a press briefing by the leadership of the union in Abeokuta over the weekend. According to Alani Adeniji, president of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, who read a statement signed by the national secretary of JOHESU, Yusuf Badmus, the union had been patient enough with the federal government. saying all but one of the 15 demands of the union has been pending for years. “In view of the inability of the Honourable minister of health Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu to meet our demands, the federal government intervened through the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.” Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta
APC: Group Accuses Oyegun Of Double Standard Bayo Oladeji, Abuja
As some chieftains of the leading opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) set to contest for the presidential ticket of the party for the next year’s general elections, things are no longer at ease for the leadership of the party as some members are pointing accusing finger at its national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun accusing him of partiality. A group with the name, Southern Mandate which is accusing
the chairman of “a double standard”, is threatening to stage a mass protest to demand for his sack over his alleged preference for General Muhammadu Buhari at the expense of their preferred aspirant. Speaking on behalf of the pressure group, a strong member of the group who disclosed that their leader is a senior aide to Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, told some journalists in Abuja that they have discovered plot by the party chairman
and some other national executive members to impose General Buhari on the party as the party’s sole candidate for the presidential race in 2015. The group claimed to be made up of chairmen and secretaries of defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) in 17 southern states, disclosed that it had held series of meeting at the weekend in Abuja and Edo State where they have reached an agreement to support a younger presidential aspirant, Governor
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The source said, “Our 2011 experience has shown that Buhari is not a good product we can market in the southern states, the few elites backing him does not have followers anywhere in the south. We have successfully secured leaders of all the legacy parties in the south, even leaders of ACN are already buying our idea. We are going to do everything possible to scuttle Buhari’s ambition this time around,” he said.
short news Cleric Counsels Nigerians Over Indegenious Languages Nigerians have been urged to make the speaking of their indigenious languages compulsory for their children. The chairman, Title and Culture Chief Nursing officer, Mrs Josephine Amodu (left), attending to eye patient during a two-day Aro Bamgbose Free Health Care Commission of the Programme in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN Catholic ArchDiocese of Onitsha, Rev. Fr. Fidelis Onwudufor made the call yesterday while speaking at BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna it clear that I have not endorsed any sive support in 2015.” the 2014 edition of Also speaking on behalf of the member for any position. All memNew Yam Festival As the 2015 general elections gath- bers of the party are free to contest delegation from Zangon Kataf of the Igbo Catholic ers momentum, Kaduna State gov- whatever position they are interest- LGA, Mr. Kantiok said the people Community held at ernor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan ed, in the end only the will of God of Southern Kaduna have no alterthe Catholic Church Yero has tasked members of the rul- Almighty shall prevail.” native to PDP adding that “You may of the Ascension, ing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Leaders of the PDP from all the hear comments from here and there Asaba, Delta State. to remain united towards ensuring 23 LGAs also use the medium to in zone three, but in 2015 Zangon “It is your resounding victory for the party at unanimously endorse the gover- Kataf as the LGA with highest vote language that all levels. nor to contest on the platform of will lead the way and others will folidentifies you Speaking when stakeholders of the party in 2015. low.” and singles you the party from the 23 local governLeading delegation from Jema’a Kantiok assured the governor of out,” he said, ment areas of the state paid Sallah LGA, Senator Babale Maikarfi said massive support in Southern Kaduadding, “when homage to the State Government “Our local government has been a na in the 2015 governorship elecyou suppress your House, the governor said members stronghold of the PDP since 1999, tion saying the zone has benefitted language, you of the party should stop internal I want to assure you that the same immensely from its support of the suppress your wrangling as all aspirants are free people that voted overwhelmingly PDP since 1999. people.” to contest positions of their choice. for the party in 2011 are the same In his response, Yero cautioned Yero said, “Most of the problem is people that are going to vote in politicians in zone three not to deBy Kola Ekefrom within the party, let me make 2015. We are promising you mas- rail from supporting PDP. Ogiugo, Asaba
2015: Gov Yero Tasks PDP Over Unity
Enugu Guber: Chime Defends Ugwuanyi Over Consensus Candidate By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu
Enugu State governor , Sullivan Chime has defended the issue of consensus candidacy, saying it was democratic if the people approved the arrangement. Chime, who was reacting to the recent emergence of Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the consensus governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the 2015 elections said he did not see why any party at any level should be against negoti-
ation. “I do not see why any party at any level should be against negotiation. It cannot, under any circumstance, be described as undemocratic. “This is the most democratic thing, this is what lobbying is all about. We are not running contrary to the rules of the party; we are doing what the party encourages — dialogue. “In Enugu, we do not anoint candidates, we allow the people to speak. What we did was
a feat. We achieved a feat,” he said. The governor, however, disclosed that Ugwuanyi would, nonetheless, go through party primaries to validate his choice as a consensus candidate. According to him, when Ugwuanyi was nominated, there was no dissenting voice. Chime said all the stakeholders from the zone, including retired and serving public servants, attended the meeting, where Ugwuanyi was endorsed.
“Everybody was given the opportunity to speak and the two people who moved and supported the motion to endorse Ugwuanyi were aspirants as well,” he said. He, however assured that despite the development, other aspirants would not be prevented from purchasing forms for the primary elections of the party and urged the people to support the endorsement of Ugwuanyi in the interest of peace and unity of the state.
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Monday, October 6, 2014
SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, & FAITH PLATFORM
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
SPECIALISED CLASSIFIEDS PAGES PISTIS eMPOWeRMeNT FOuNDATION
LeARNING NeeDS SuPPORT INITIATIVe
This is to inform the General Public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1 of 1990.
This is to inform the general public that the above named INITIATIVE has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. Mr. Godman Akinlabi 2. Mr. Adebowale Omotunde 3. Mr. Omololu Akinyemi 4. Mrs. Ogochukwu Bello-Osagie 5. Mrs. Doyin Femi-Johnson 6. Mr. Tunji Iyiola AIMS AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1. To empower the needy. 2. To create and develop empowerment initiatives for the less privileged in the society which shall include but is not limited tot he provision of shelter, skills acquisition, healthcare and scholarships. 3. To develop empowerment initiative for the less privileged. 4. To be involved in advocacy for the less privilieged. 5. To provide support to entrepreneurs. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from this publication. Signed: SeCReTARY
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. Akinsola Akinfenwa 2. Dr. Olubukola Dosunmu 3. Emmanuel Isima 4. Mrs. Ayobisi Osuntusa 5. Mrs. Angela Ajala 6. Alhaja Folake Akanbi 7. Mr. Oluwaseun Dosunmu 8. Gombe Ibrahim Haruna
GBARI DRAMA ASSOCIATION
- Chairman - Secretary
This is to inform the General Public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1 of 1990. The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. Halidu Abdulrahman 2. Muhammed Musa 3. Yakubu Leda Abdullahi 4. Etsu Joshua
AIMS AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1. To grant educational aid such as scholarship, bursary to orphans and needy. 2. To assist the less privilege. 3. To embark on charitable works. 4. To reach our to the children in need in any capacity we can. 5. To promote the interests of its members. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: SeCReTARY
- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary
AIMS AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1. To promote welfare of members Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from this publication. Signed: BARR. IBRAhIM eTSu SeCReTARY; 08065094360
SOCIAL WeLFARe AND DeVeLOPMeNT CeNTRe
PeRFeCT FAITh TABeRNACLe eVANGeLICAL ChuRCh
eAGLeS IDeNTITY SOCIAL CLuB OF NIGeRIA
The general public is hereby notified that the above CENTRE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990
The general public is hereby notified that the above CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. HRH OBA ADEDOKUN ABOLARIN 2. MR BABATUNDE ODESOLA 3. DR. OYEBADE OLOWOGBOYEGA 4. REV. FR. THADEUS AJAYI 5. ALHAJA SADIAT OLADAPO 6. MR. OLAYINKA IBRAHIM 7. CHIEF (MRS) LUCY EMIOLA AFOLABI
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. PASTOR AWE RAHEEM KOLAWOLE 2. BRO. DAYO AJIBORO 3. BRO. BANJO ODIMAYO 4. BRO.TEMITOPE EKUNDAYO 5. BRO. EMMANUEL OLUWASEUN ABE
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. AGBO HENRY 2. ONUH KINGSELY 3. ODOH EMMANUEL 4. OKONKWO CHIELOZONA 5. MMADUBUOGHU OLIVER 6. OGUAMA OBIORA 7. IBEKWE NNAEMEKA 8. OGWUDILE AJURUCHUKWU
AIMS AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1To promote, assist and encourage in education social and economic development of the society 2Provide community support/services to public schools 3To promote sincere love, peace and mutual respect among members 4To provide facilities including seminaries for morals spiritual education. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja Within 28 days of this Publication. Signed: TRuSTeeS
AIMS AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ 2. To establish Missionary/Bible/Seminary schools that will produce able and God fearing people for the future of our country and world at large 3. To teach believers on how to demonstrate God’s righteousness 4. To provide assistance for the needy in the society.
AIM AND OBJeCTIVe: 1. TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF HER MEMBERS
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja Within 28 days of this Publication.
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION
Signed: TRuSTeeS
SIGNED: TRuSTeeS
BINuKONu FOODSTuFFS MARKeTeRS ASSOCIATION OSuN STATe
COLD ROOM OWNeRS AND FROZeN FOOD DeALeRS ASSOCIATION OSuN STATe
WORD OF COMFORT MINISTRY
The general public is hereby notified that the above ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990
The general public is hereby notified that the above ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990
The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. CHIEF RAIMI OGUNPARI 2. ALH. AYANWUYI SALAWUDEEN 3. CHIEF ALH. AYORINDE BABATUNDE 4. ALH. ABDULAHI OBA BAKARE AIMS AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1To promote, peace and unity among members. 2To promote, restore and encourage brotherhood. 3. To instil discipline among members as the case may be. 4 To train, empower and encourage youth entrepreneurship at all level Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja Within 28 days of this Publication. Signed: TRuSTeeS
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. MR OLADEJO MOSHOOD 2. ALHAJI RAIMI ADEOYE 3. MR TAIWO SAMUEL 4. ALHAJI KAMORUDEEN ADEBAYO 5. MR. ADENIYI JONES ADEBOLOJO 6 MR ADELEKE ADEWALE 7 ALHAJI ISIAK TIJANI ADEBAYO 8 HON. OLIJE GODDEY 9 OLADEJO ELIZABETH MODUPEOLA 10 MR GODDY AFRICA
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1.REV. KELECHI DANIEL NANIMUNACHISO 2. MRS. CHIDINMA KELECHI NANIMUNACHISO 3. MISS. NKECHI UNAMBA
- PRESIDENT - SECRETARY - TREASURER
The AIM AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1. REACHING THE UN-REACHED THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 2. EMPOWERING PEOPLE THROUGH GOD’S WORD AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.
AIMS AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1To promote, peace and unity among members. 2To promote, restore and encourage brotherhood. 3. To instil discipline among members as the case may be. 3To train, empower and encourage youth entrepreneurship at all level Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja Within 28 days of this Publication.
Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication. SIGNED: ReV.KeLeChI DANIeL NANIMuNAChISO
Signed: TRuSTeeS
LeGAL NOTICe
LeGAL NOTICe
GOD’S OPeN hOuSe OF PRAISe ASSeMBLY
IN The hIGh COuRT OF JuSTICe OF The FeDeRAL CAPITAL TeRRITORY, ABuJA
IN The hIGh COuRT OF JuSTICe OF The FeDeRAL CAPITAL TeRRITORY, ABuJA
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCheDuLe
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCheDuLe
The general public is hereby notified that the above ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990
DeCeASeD NAMe AND ADDReSS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Barnabas Thomas Barnabas S. Dauda and Janet Thomas guardian to Prisca Sunday Jemima Thomas
DeCeASeD NAMe AND ADDReSS
APPLICANTS FOR GRANT
Dauda Makadas
Sunday Dauda guardian to Monicah Dauda
Kuja Area Council, Abuja
Kuje Area Council Abuja
Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Kwaturu Kachia LGA of Kaduna State
WHO DIED ON THE 7th March 2014.
The brother, widow and daughter of the said deceased.
WHO DIED ON THE 22nd January 2012.
The Son and daughter of the said deceased.
DATED AT ABUJA THIS 5th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014
DATED AT ABUJA THIS 5th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014
SIGNED BARR. hAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
For booking or inquiry call
> HENRY UBIMAGO 08068640944
SIGNED BARR. hAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
> AUGUstINE 08032325988
> GLORIA OKwUM 08038722368
> ABIGAIL sAMBO 08064382438
The TRuSTeeS ARe: 1. DR. CHINEDUM OVY ORLUIDEYE CHUKWUMA - PRESIDENT 2. PASTOR MRS. TONYE CHUKWUMA - VICE PRESIDENT 3. SYLVERNUS MARCUS SUNDAY - SECRETARY 4. MAXWELL UKAME OKPARA - TREASURER 5. JEMIMA OVY CHUKWUMA - MEMBER AIMS AND OBJeCTIVeS: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja Within 28 days of this Publication. Signed: DR. ChINeDuM OVY ORLuIDeYe ChuKWuMA
> GLORIA RAPHAEL 08061356519
> GLORIA ODIO 08034285851
> GRACE OJO 08035054444
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Monday, October 6, 2014
LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Haruna D. Zaki Yusuf Haruna and Iliyasu Haruna Chief Palace Gwagwa village FCT, Abuja FCT Local Education Authority amac, Abuja WHO DIED ON THE 7th June 2013.
The sons, of the said deceased.
DATED AT ABUJA THIS 5th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
TWINNING FOR HEALTH SUPPORT INITIATIVE, NIGERIA The general public is hereby informed that the above named initiative has applied to the corporate affairs commission for the alteration of article 4(b) of its constitution and appointment of additional trustees under part “c” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990. THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR JUSTICE ULUNTA - CHAIRMAN 2. MS KELECHI EMEGHARA - SECRETARY THE NEW ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR SILAS ALEXANDER GREGORY GOLD FRANK 2. MR EMMANUEL NNAEMEKA OKEKE 3. MR OKALA UCHE Article 4(b) of its constitution which limits trustees to two (2) is altered to limit trustees to not less than two (2) and not more than ten (10) in number Any objection to the above alteration of Article 4(b) of its constitution and appointment of additional trustees should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, garki, abuja within 28 days of this publication.
LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Adeleke Abiodun Nigeria Army
Omagbemi Olufunmilayo Adeleke guardian to Adeola Ayomide Adeleke 20 EFAB State Lokogoma, Abuja
WHO DIED ON THE 29th April 2013. The Widow and daughter of the said deceased. DATED AT ABUJA THIS 5th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014
SIGNED: MS KELECHI EMEGHARA SECRETARY
SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
LEGAL NOTICE
NICK JOINT FOOTBALL CLUB
LEGAL NOTICE
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
The general public is hereby notified that the above CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Ogbonna Akpu Nigerian Police Force
Akpu Chinedu Plot 62 Coppa Cabana Estate Apo Abuja
WHO DIED ON THE 8th April 2014.
The Brother of the said deceased.
DATED AT ABUJA THIS 5th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Nick Chukwuemeka Ndive - Chairman 2. Mrs. Joy Nkiruka Ndive - Secretary 3. Mr. Anthony Ndive - Member Aims and Objectives: 1. Discovering of youths and developing their talent in sport and football industry. 2. To assist and support members and upcoming football players in football skill acquisition. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja Within 28 days of this Publication. Signed: BARR. CHIDI EZIHE (SOLICITOR) SUITE 13, ESTATE OFFICE, NNPC QUARTERS, AREA 11, GARKI, ABUJA +2348055381384
OREE-YEYE FOUNDATION
LEGAL NOTICE
THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. SOKOWONCI SAMUEL 2. ABANIWO AKALE 3. FATOMILOLA PETER 4. BOYESOKO SALLY 5. CICINSOKO SHARON 6. AMORI POPOOLA 7. ABANIWO NIMMA 8. ZUBAIRU MUHAMMED JIMOH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGE. 2. TO SHOWCASE, PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE AFRICAN EITHICS, VALUE, CULTURE AND HERITAGE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.
Change of name We formerly known and addressed as elugbadebo ifeoluwakitan pelumi and elugbadebo ibukunoluwa eniola, now wish to be known and addressed as Taiwo ifeoluwakitan pelumi and taiwo ibukunoluwa eniola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
AGBO
DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Haruna D. Zaki FCT Local Education Authority amac, Abuja
Yusuf Haruna and Iliyasu Haruna Chief Palace Gwagwa village FCT, Abuja
WHO DIED ON THE 7th June 2013. The sons, of the said deceased. DATED AT ABUJA THIS 5th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
SIGNED: BARR. EYEE BLESSING 08032573457
I, formerly known and addressed as MADU Nwakaego Charity, henceforth wish to be known and addressed as AGBO Nwakaego Charity. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE
ADEBUKOLA
I, formerly known and addressed as Miss ADEBUKOLA OLUWASEUN JEJELOWO , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ADEBUKOLA AYOOLA-OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.
JOHNSAMOPEYEMI
I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEDIPE FUNMI FAVOUR, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs JOHNSAMOPEYEMI FAVOUR ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.
Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication. SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Solomon Paul
Paul Felicia and Sidi Buhari
Customary Court, Abuja Gyani Kachia LGA Kaduna State WHO DIED ON THE 12th May 2014. The Widow and brother of the said deceased. DATED AT ABUJA THIS 5th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR
LOSSOF loss OF ofDOCUMENTS DOCUMENT document LOSS This is to inform the general public of the Loss of Original Right of Occupancy (R of O) with Ref. No. FCT/ABU/MISC 10,755 in respect of Plot No. 963 Cadastral Zone B7, Katampe, Abuja, bearing LUBEKH (Nig.) Ltd.. All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive. If found kindly return to the nearest police station. General public should please take note. UGOCHI
I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGOCHI HAPPINESS ONYEMEKARA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGOCHI HAPPINESS UDONSI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
PAUL
I, formerly known and addressed as JOSEPH MOSES or PAUL ALIU or PAUL MOSES, now wish to be known and addressed as PAUL MOSES. All former documents remain valid. My Bankers, all Government Parastatals and the general public should please take note.
DIGWU
I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZE IFEOMA JOSEPHINE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. DIGWU IFEOMA JOSEPHINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
OGBONNAYA-AJAH
I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGBONNA JUDITH ONYINYECHI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGBONNAYAAJAH JUDITH ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
3X2 SPACE FOR SALE 2X2 SPACE FOR SALE
IRENE
I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IRENE NNEKA IHEMEBIGE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IRENE NNEKA CHINDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.
3X2 SPACE FOR SALE
48
Monday, October 6, 2014
world
news ➌
➊ ➋
➐ ➏
➍➎
➊ Al-Shabab:
➋ Police Find Mass
Somali government troops and African Union (AU) forces say they have surrounded the last coastal stronghold of the al-Shabab Islamist group. AU spokesman Major Deo Akiiki said his troops were not meeting any resistance outside Barawe, about 200km (125 miles) south of Mogadishu.
has been found outside a town in Mexico’s Guerrero state where violence last week resulted in six deaths and the disappearance of 43 students. Inaky Blanco, Guerrero’s prosecutor, said on Saturday the grave site was on the outskirts of Iguala, about 200km south of Mexico City.
➎ Hong Kong Government Vows To Clear Streets
A Monday deadline for protesters to clear Hong Kong’s barricaded streets loomed as the territory’s Beijing-backed leader claimed the disorder risked “serious consequences” for public safety.
Chief Executive Leung Chunying said late on Saturday that the government was determined to “take all necessary actions to restore social order” and allow residents to “return to their normal work.”
➏ Brazil Votes In
Millions of Brazilians are heading to the polls to choose the country’s next president, in one of the most unpredictable election campaigns in decades. More than 142 million Brazilians
are voting in presidential and legislative elections on Sunday in a vote expected to force a threeweek runoff between incumbent Dilma Rousseff and one of her two top challengers.
British teacher David Bolam has been released after being held hostage by militants in Libya since May. The Foreign Office said Mr Bolam, who taught at the nowclosed International School
Benghazi, was “safe and well” and had been reunited with his family. Mr Bolam’s MP in Craven Arms in Shropshire said he was “delighted” that the 63-year-old was back home safely.
Somali Troops Grave Near Mexico Town ‘Surround Key Port A clandestine grave site with multiple burial pits holding an Town’ undetermined number of bodies
Presidential Election
Citizens running to find shelter as they are battered by heavy rains brought about by Typhon Phanfone.
➌ Mexico Mass Grave ➍ ISIL Shells Besieged Found Near Iguala After Protests
A mass grave has been found on the outskirts of the Mexican town of Iguala, where 43 students went missing on 27 September, officials say. It is not clear whether the bodies found in a pit are those of the missing students, who were last seen being forced into police vans.
Kurdish Town In Syria Fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are within a kilometre of Kobane and US air attacks will not halt them, a Kurdish leader has said, as the group continued to bomb the Syrian-Kurdish town. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said ISIL fired at least 10 rockets into the town, on the border with Turkey.
➐ British Hostage
David Bolam Freed In Libya
Bussiness/WORLD NEWS 49
Monday, October 6, 2014
US Unemployment Rate Hits A 6-year Low In September
The US unemployment rate dipped to 5.9% in September, a six-year low, official figures have shown. The rate fell from 6.1% in August and is the lowest recorded since July 2008. US Labor Department also said that employers added 248,000 jobs last month, and the job growth figures for August and July were revised upwards. The jobs figures are seen as a significant gauge of the health of the economy and there has
been much debate over when US interest rates will rise. The US Federal Reserve has kept interest rates close to zero since the financial crisis in 2008. US markets cheered the news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising over 100 points. The US dollar was pushed higher as expectations rose that interest rates would go up sooner than previously predicted. “The most important item in this report is the drop in the
unemployment rate below 6%. (Fed Chair Janet) Yellen has said there is only so much slack if the unemployment rate falls below 6%,” said Christopher Low, chief economist at FTN Financial in New York. The Federal Reserve’s stimulus programme, known as “quantitative easing”, is due to end this month. Its aim was to keep long-term interest rates low using the purchase of bonds, and thus to boost spending. The Federal Reserve has indicated it will raise short term interest rates if the economy continues to grow. Janet Yellen has given no firm date for the rise, but the Fed has said the move will come a “considerable time” after the stimulus programme ends. “This (jobless) number will continue to support the notion that the economy is growing,” said Paul Nolte at Kingsview Asset Management in Chicago, “and it isn’t so strong that the Fed will raise rates anytime soon”. —BBC
US, EU ‘Make Progress’ In Free Trade Area Talks
Officials from the United States and the European Union say they have made progress as they seek to sweep away trade barriers. Teams from the two sides have held a week of discussions in Chevy Chase, Maryland. If successful an agreement would create the world’s biggest free trade zone. The chief US negotiator Dan Mullaney said the ultimate goal is to “create opportunities for job creating trade and investment”. They are trying to do that by eliminating tariffs (taxes on
imported goods) and removing what Mr Mullaney called “non-tariff obstacles”. This was the seventh formal round in an exercise that began last year. Mr Mullaney said they have “progressed from discussing general approaches to the spadework of reviewing the many proposals that each side has put on the table.” The planned agreement is known as the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or TTIP. At a closing press conference, the chief negotiators from the two sides declined to give a timetable for finishing the exercise, insisting that it’s important to get it right. But while trade officials get on with detail, some of the general principles continue to generate vocal opposition. Perhaps the most controversial area is the provision for foreign investors to go to an international tribunal for compensation if a government breaks the rules in a way that harms the company’s interests. The EU has held a public consultation on the provision and is currently analysing the responses. The Chief European negotiator, Ignacio Garcia Bercero said there was no discussion of that during the latest talks. —BBC
Greece 2015 budget Surplus Close To Bailout Target Greece will aim to achieve a primary budget surplus of 2.9 percent of output next year, just shy of the 3 percent target set out under its bailout deal, its deputy finance minister said in an interview published Saturday. The target is part of a 2015 draft budget that Athens will submit to parliament on Monday amid a bailout review by the “troika” of inspectors from its international lenders, the European Union and International Monetary Fund. A finance ministry official had told Reuters on Friday that Athens would lower the 2015 primary surplus target only marginally, sticking “close to” the 3 percent figure. In an interview with the weekly To Vima newspaper, Deputy Finance Minister Christos Staikouras also said that a “solidarity tax” introduced at the height of Greece’s debt crisis will be cut by 30 percent next year. Athens said last month that unpopular taxes,
including the solidarity tax and a heating oil consumption tax, will be lowered to show that four years of austerity is nearing an end. Staikouras also said that Athens was expected to beat this year’s primary budget surplus target of 1.5 percent of GDP. “Based on current data, the primary surplus (of 2014) is estimated at around 2 percent of GDP, considerably higher than the target,” he said. The budget surplus has been viewed as an indicator of Greece’s progress in putting its finances in order during an economic crisis that wiped out almost a quarter of its GDP and sent unemployment to record highs of nearly 27 percent. Greece topped its fiscal targets and achieved a budget surplus in 2013, a year ahead of schedule, paving the way for some form of additional debt relief from its euro zone lenders. Talks on further debt relief will start later this year.
Duncan at a 2011 wedding in Ghana
Ebola: First US Case Thomas Duncan ‘Critical’ The first person to be diagnosed with Ebola within the US has deteriorated from a serious to a critical condition, doctors in the state of Texas say. Thomas Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia, is being treated at a Dallas hospital in isolation. Earlier it emerged that the flat where he lived is being cleaned by hazardous materials specialists and its remaining four occupants moved to a private home. Earlier his condition had been described as serious but stable. Ebola spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of someone who has the virus and the only way to stop an outbreak is to isolate those who are infected.
There have been nearly 7,500 confirmed infections worldwide, with officials saying the figure is likely to be much higher in reality. Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have been hardest hit. Celebrations in West Africa for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha are being badly affected by the Ebola outbreak, with many public places deserted this weekend. Meanwhile, a French nurse who got the virus in Liberia has recovered after having experimental treatment in Paris, it has emerged. And a Senegalese medical expert who was infected in Sierra Leone has also been discharged from a hospital in the German city of Hamburg.
Bulgaria Votes To End Political Deadlock Bulgarians have started voting in a parliamentary election, hoping a new government will end a political stalemate, revive the economy, and find ways to ease Moscow’s grip on the country’s energy supplies. Opinion polls predict the biggest vote winner in Sunday’s election will be the centre-right GERB party led by a former prime minister, Boyko Borisov - who resigned after mass anti-corruption protests in February 2013. The rival Socialists and the Turkish minority party MRF both backed the previous technocrat government. The survey also predicted that
GERB may fall short of a majority in the 240-seat parliament. Polling stations in the Balkan country with a population 7.4 million were due to close at 7pm local time (16:00 GMT), with exit polls due shortly afterwards, AFP news agency reported. Bulgaria has been in the hands of a caretaker government since August, following the collapse of the Socialist-led administration. Over the last two years, the country has seen large-scale protests topple a previous GERB administration and nearly fell its successor. —Al Jazeera
Terrorism: Suicide Bomber Kills 5 Policemen In Russia’s Chechnya A suicide bomber killed at least five police officers and wounded 12 others yesterday during festivities for a local holiday in Grozny, the capital of Russia’s troubled North Caucasus region of Chechnya, Russian news agencies reported. The site of two separatist wars and a festering Islamic insurgency, Chechnya has seen a period of relative calm under the strongarm rule of Moscow-backed leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and suicide bombings have been a rare occur-
rence in recent years. The attack took place at the entrance to a concert hall where festivities were planned to celebrate Grozny’s city day holiday, which is also Kadyrov’s birthday. “Police officers who were manning metal detectors at the entrance of the concert hall noticed a suspicious young man. When the police officers decided to check the individual, the man blew himself up,” a local police officer told reporters. —Reuters
50 Analysis
Monday, October 6, 2014
G
ang Byung Hyun, a bespectacled 65-yearold man, has visited the ongoing Gwangju Biennale held in this South Korean city several times. He usually spends around three hours at the contemporary art exhibition, but mainly goes to see one work, which spans the bustling, concrete square out the front, and occupies two rooms within the gallery halls. He watches the nearly 45-minute video installation in its entirety. But what he mostly gravitates towards is the artwork’s two dusty shipping containers with locked doors that occupy the busy courtyard. Inside these containers lie the remains of people executed during the Korean War. The main reason Gang returns to the biennale and to those containers is because, he said, “My father might be in there.” The 10th edition of the Gwangju Biennale, which takes its title from the Talking Heads’ 1983 song “Burning Down the House,” is a boldly curated politicised show featuring 103 artists from 38 different countries, and will run through November 9. With works ranging across five galleries, the biennale’s art director, British curator Jessica Morgan, formerly of the Tate Modern in London, has brought together an collection of international artists with the largest group coming from Asian countries, and in particular, from South Korea with 20 artists. Asia’s leading biennale was created as a commemoration to the pivotal 1980 democratic uprising in Gwangju, which saw the brutal killing of protesters, with estimates of the deaths ranging from 200 and running into the thousands.
American military power is unmatched, but this can’t be America’s fight alone
Art uniting stricken communities Gang was a participant in South Korean artist Minouk Lim’s powerful work Navigation ID, for which Lim brought together communities who lost family members in massacres that occurred 30 years apart - in the events of 1980 in Gwangju and during the Korean War, in which an estimated two million people died. While the events of 1980 have become enshrined in documentation, films, and even the biennale, far less is known or acknowledged about how, during Korea’s civil war of 1950 to 1953, South Korean forces killed an estimated 100,000 people for being suspected communists and sympathisers by summary execution. Before Gang was even born, his father, a farmer, was rounded up with other suspected communists and executed. Over the decades the truth about these massacres was suppressed. In 2005, under liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which lasted five years, investigated
The two shipping containers contain the remains of people executed during the Korean War.
Highlighting Atrocities With Art In S/Korea these killings, and families received compensation. For years, Gang, who is the president of the Jinju Civilian Massacre Family Association, has tried to draw proper attention to the tragedy, and agreed to participate in Lim’s project so that people might know about this chapter in South Korea’s history. Gang said he believes his father belonged to the Bodo League, a socalled re-education programme under South Korean President Syngman Rhee, whose members were massacred. He only learned this from hearing his neighbours gossip when he was about 10-years old. His mother never spoke about this and for decades refused to believe her husband was dead. Gang said his mother left food outside their home every day for 30 years, hoping her husband would return, until one day she lost hope. Gang’s neighbours called him “Bbalgangyee”, a slur meaning “communist”, and he said this stigma stayed with him. He was ostracised and even after coming to Seoul for a time, struggled for years to get a job because of his perceived communist ties. “I was looking at what was the origin of this kind of labelling,” said Lim, speaking at her studio in downtown Seoul. She started looking into the pre-war Bodo League. “It is still untold history, still unsolved history and we all think we know this story,” she said. The ‘sacredness of human beings’ At the biennale opening, two shipping containers were brought to the pavilion. Family members
of the Korean War victims wore blindfolds and, led by the youth in their family, carried human remains to the shipping containers. Many of the families had excavated the remains themselves. The blindfolds, said Lim, alluded to that fact that they are “still hostage to the tragedy”, and can’t properly bury their families not knowing to whom the remains belong. Lim, who grew up in Seoul and spent a decade studying and working as an artist in Paris, often questions society, politics, and the tensions between community and individual, place and memory, through her interdisciplinary practise. A professor at Korea National University of Arts, Lim’s works regularly feature collaboration and elements of protest. “I think what he lived [through] is so cruel, so unbelievable, so impossible to believe,” she said. “He’s still looking for the human beings in the forest … this is my logic as an artist.” Killing innocents In the documentary, Navigation ID - From X to A, the Gwangju mothers listen to testimonies, and how, when the army came to kill, the pro-communists had already left, and instead innocent people were slaughtered. At a cobalt mine, the mothers learn about the military, trying to conserve bullets, tied people in groups of eight, and shot one man whose fall was enough to pull the others into the mineshaft. After a visit to a Jinju container, one woman is heard saying she’s lived there for 25 years and had no idea about any of this.
Sung Hoon-han, a professor at the Institute for History and Space at Yonsei University in Seoul, has researched these massacres since 1999. He worked with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission during its five-year operation, and advised Lim on her project. He said the killing of suspected communists, mostly civilians, during the civil war has never occupied a place in public discourse - it’s a “distorted history”. Sung said he sees Lim’s work as pioneering for the discussion and questioning of these massacres, and allowing a platform for the communities to share their pain. “The fundamental role of art is opening eyes of people about the problem,” he said. Lim said her motivation for this project is to bring dignity and understanding to these two groups. “I want to insist,” she said, on the “sacredness of human beings”. When Gang goes to the biennale, he watches the two-channel work and the containers, observing people’s reactions from a distance. He notes how many people look. Not enough people watch the entire video, he said, and they only spend about five, or at the very most, 10 minutes with it. “It is not enough time to understand the whole story,” he said. For Lim, the issue is an urgent one as the victims’ family members are now old and are disappearing and with them the testimonies and memories. She said she wants to alert people to this disappearance. “If we do not remember the tragedy,” she said, “it happens again.” —Al Jazeera
Analysis 51
Monday, October 6, 2014
For India’s Child Police, Work Trumps School
T
he women affairs office in Taloqan, the capital of the northern Afghan province of Takhar, remains busy as distressed women and family members line up for help. One such woman is Sadia whose husband, a militiaman, recently cut off her genitals. She left her husband’s home after the horrific incident. “The women affairs office here has guided this case every step of the way,” Razmara Hawash, who is in charge of the office in Takhar told Al Jazeera, referring to Sadia’s case. “If we had not, then they would have used either money or power to get her back. Her husband and his family are powerful people.” Sadia quietly entered the room, lifted her burqa and took a seat. She’s thin, almost emaciated, and old beyond her years. “It was the second night of Ramadan,” Sadia recounted, and she woke her husband up for suhoor, the morning meal served just before dawn. “I prepared food and I told him to get up. When he got up he asked me why I didn’t make milk tea. I told him I would go make it, but he didn’t listen. He just started beating me.” Beatings were frequent over the course of their two-year marriage. Two months in, her husband and his family stopped feeding and giving Sadia clothes. They would shut all the windows and doors of the house and take turns beating and strangling her. “When they beat me, they would tell me, ‘You’re all alone, scream as loud as you want, there is no one here to hear you.’”
When they beat me, they would tell me, ‘You’re all alone, scream as loud as you want, there is no one here to hear you
“I asked from God to die.” Sadia returned to her family home three times because she was beaten so badly. At the husband’s family’s request, she was sent back, with a promise that the abuse would end. Afghanistan’s traditional justice system, one deeply woven into society, seemingly functions on a three-times rule. If, after the third time, a woman is still being abused by her husband, then elders, who often preside over the cases, will typically allow for a divorce. Some families, however, intervene immediately so there is no second time. Others, not at all. Mohammad Islam, Sadia’s father, a poor daily labourer, admitted to seeing his daughter being beaten by her husband - not once, but several times. However, Sadia’s husband, part of an armed group, sometimes known as arbakai, is led by a well-known, powerful local commander named Noor Mohammad.
Sadia
Local armed groups have flourished in order to counter the threat from the Taliban as the central government’s control barely runs beyond the capital, Kabul. “The commander and his men put pressure on Sadia’s family, who then come here and tried to pressure us to send her back. They have gone to the hospital and told the doctors to say this incident never happened,” said Razmara. “They also told the prosecutor to not touch the case. They have tried every means possible to get Sadia back.” Before passing out on that second night of Ramadan from the beating, Sadia recalls her husband getting on top of her, sitting on her face and then withdrawing his knife. “I don’t know how much time passed, but when I woke up he started beating me again. His brother’s son came to the window and asked what was going on. I got up and walked to the window, my husband followed and continued to beat me. I crawled out of the window and my husband also followed.” When Sadia arrived at the hospital the following morning, according to Dr Safi, the director of public health, and Razmara, they found out that the right side of her major labia (outside fatty tissue covering the vagina) had been severed off by a knife. Her pelvis was mutilated and “abused” by hand, and her vaginal canal had been penetrated - with parts of her insides torn out. “Violence against women is increasing day by day,” Safi told Al Jazeera. “Today we even have a case of a woman with her ear cut off.” “In order for her to fully recover she needs plastic surgery. We can’t do this in Afghanistan, she would need to go outside the country. We were also not able to give her a
proper checkup, so we don’t even know the full extent of the damage.” “They can kill me first,” he said, “but I will never give my daughter back to them.” Penalty to divorce Sadia’s husband is in jail. Provincial women affairs, which operates under Afghan ministry of women’s affairs in Kabul, assigned a prosecutor to represent her case. However, if she wants to divorce her husband, according to her family, she must pay 500,000 Afghanis or $9,000. “Crimes committed by these militia and their abuses against civilians have gotten worse,” said Razmara. Most here agree. The rise in crime and proliferation of armed groups, many of whom purportedly support the government, have been a direct result of the political instability in recent months. “One of the worrying trends we saw during the elections, is the widespread reporting of strongmen distributing weapons to their followers,” said Graeme Smith, a senior analyst at International Crisis Group in Kabul. “It is not clear how strong of a trend this was. They just opened the stockpiles they already had and gave out the guns to their men. Numerous political players observed this during the political transition.” “It’s hard to put the genie back in the bottle.” In an unprecedented case in August, families driving back to Kabul, from a wedding in neighbouring Paghman district, were stopped by armed gunmen - who proceeded to rob, beat and gang rape four of the women, one of whom was pregnant. Seven of the men were sentenced to death. Over the past four months,
the women affairs office in Kabul told Al Jazeera that violence against women has gone up six percent nationwide compared to the same period last year. However, it is unclear whether the number of cases is increasing or if more women are seeking out government institutions for help. “Despite evident gains in Afghanistan, such as a significant increase in government and public awareness and focus on women’s rights, violence against women remains a grave concern and a huge amount still remains to be done to protect and realise women’s rights,” John Hendra, the assistant secretary-general and deputy executive director for policy and programme, UN Women, said in an email to Al Jazeera. “Up to 87 percent of Afghan women have experienced some form of violence, and 62 percent have experienced multiple forms of violence. Incidence of violence remains under-reported and women continue to face significant difficulties in seeking justice as their cases are often handled through informal or traditional justice mechanisms that may not protect their rights.” “The litmus test of the human rights situation in Afghanistan going forward will be the extent to which the gains made by women and girls are protected, and further accelerated.” Sadia is recovering from her wounds, both physical and emotional, at a women’s shelter in Taloqan. She said she would like to see the same thing that happened to her, happen to her husband. “We asked him, ‘If this was your daughter, what would you do?’” “He said, ‘I would kill the husband.’” —Al Jazeera
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Monday, October 6, 2014
FCT’s YSFON Removes Chairman By Salifu uSman, Abuja
The tenure of Alhaji Ibrahim Amidu Gaube as chairman of the FCT chapter of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) has ended after he was impeached for incompetent and negligence of duty by members of the executive committee of the association. In a seven points communiqués signed by the secretary of the association at end their of the emergence meeting, they accused
their chairman of make the activities of YSFON dormant in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by not organising grassroots competitions since assumed office. The members unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on his leadership and called on the national executive committee of the body to in due course constitute a viable executive committee that will reinvigorate the FCT chapter to regain its lost glory. “The chairman has utterly
neglected his responsibility as the head of all the activities of the chapter. That having failed to perform the meeting considered it a desideratum by passing vote of no confidence on the chairman. The chairman should seize to function as the chairman of the chapter and the national body should be informed of the decision of the executive members and due course inaugurate a visable Exco that will re-invigorate the chapter to its former standard,” the body stated.
Mourinho, Wenger Clash As Chelsea Win The managerial rivals clashed during the first half of Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, with Wenger laying his hands on the Portuguese’s chest. The spat was sparked by Gary Cahill’s forceful challenge on Alexis Sanchez, which Wenger felt deserved a red card. Referee Martin Atkinson showed only a caution to the England international defender and the official then called Mourinho and Wenger over following the fracas in an attempt to calm tempers. However, it was Mourinho, once again, who had the
last laugh as leaders Chelsea enjoying a routine 2-0 win over Arsene Wenger side. Mourinho is yet to taste defeat when up against Wenger, winning seven and drawing five of their clashes. Chelsea were not at their best but for all Arsenal’s possession they rarely looked like replying once Hazard had earned and converted a 27th minute spot kick. The hosts appeared content to sit back in the second half until former Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, up against his old club for the first time since returning to the Premier League
from Barcelona, sent Costa clear with 12 minutes remaining to wrap up the points. Costa had been quiet throughout but took his tally to nine league goals in seven matches for the Blues. The only worry for Chelsea was a first-half head injury to keeper Thibaut Courtois who soldiered on for a while before being replaced by Petr Cech. After a 15-minute delay caused by an incident with a flare outside the stadium, the opening half proved a feisty affair. Arsenal began in confident fashion with Alexis Sanchez having the first shot in
anger. The Chilean was in the thick of the action minutes later when stretching to reach a Jack Wilshere through ball he accidentally clattered into Courtois. Sanchez was then on the receiving end of a hefty challenge from Gary Cahill that had Wenger incensed and storming into Mourinho’s technical area. When Mourinho confronted the Frenchman, Wenger offered a two-handed shove into the chest of the Portuguese who last season described his rival as a “specialist in failure”.
arsene Wenger of arsenal and Jose mourinho of Chelsea confronting each other
China Open: Djokovic Destroys Berdych To Clinch Title Djokovic was seeing the ball early and returning with tremendous length as his opponent struggled to stay with him.
Novak Djokovic
World No 1, Novak Djokovic was in a league of his own as he took Tomas Berdych apart, winning 6-0 6-2, to claim the China Open title yesterday. The top seed sealed victory in just 66 minutes, firing 19 winners and taking six of the eight break points offered to him. He produced a perfect opening set of tennis to bagel the Czech after 29 minutes of brilliance and was on course for a rare ‘double bagel’, leading 6-0 5-0, before a relieved Berdych staged a brief fight back. Djokovic was seeing the ball early and returning with tremendous length as his opponent
Moses’ Injury Gives Keshi Sleepless Night
moses
Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi has expressed worry over the recent injury picked up by Stoke City winger, Victor Moses. Moses pulled up injured in Stoke’s 1-3 defeat to Sunderland in the Barclays English Premier League at the weekend. He had provided the assist for Stoke’s solitary goal at the Stadium of Light, dispatched by Charlie Adam, before he was forced off with the injury. He is now a huge doubt for Nigeria’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Sudan. Speaking to supersport.com, Keshi expressed concern about the injury and expressed hope that it is not as serious as is feared in some
struggled to stay with him. The Serb won 11 games in a row when Berdych took his second break point opportunity of the 12th game to raucous applause inside a sold-out National Tennis Center in Beijing. Czech hopeful Berdych, who reached the final of the tournament he won back in 2011, held serve to love in the next, but the relentless seven-time grand slam champion was not to be denied his fifth title of the year and 46th of his career after serving out the match. Victory helped Djokovic improve his unblemished record at the tournament to 24-0.
Djokovic
Ogbeche Bags Brace In Cambuur Win quarters. “I was naturally worried to see him (Moses) get injured (on Saturday). He’s been in good form and I just hope that the injury is not that serious because we need him for those important games against Sudan,” Keshi said. Meanwhile the Stoke City manager, Mark Hughes says the extent of Moses’ injury is not yet clear. He suffered a recurrence of the tight thigh he injured in Monday’s win over Newcastle, but Hughes defended the decision to start the on-loan winger against the Black Cats. “Victor had a bit of tightness after the Newcastle game (on Monday). But he felt discomfort and we weren’t going to take a risk.
Former Super Eagles striker, Bartholomew Ogbeche scored twice for Eredivisie club, SC Cambuur in the 4-1 win over Dordrecht on match day eight of the competition. Ogbeche’s goal in the sixth minute of the contest decided on Saturday at Cambuurstadion was down to a pure poacher’s instinct. He latched on to Sander van de Streek’s cross on the left which he expertly steered past the Dordrecht goalkeeper, Filip Kurto from an acute angle. His second goal arrived in the 53rd minute and this time, Daniel de Ridder was the provider of the assist.
Ogbeche has been in great form this season and has now scored five goals in eight league matches this term. It follows strikes for the Leeuwarden club against Excelsior, Groningen and Vitesse earlier in the campaign. He is now in fourth place in the goalscorer’s standings with Michiel Kramer (ADO Den Haag), Luc Castaignos (FC Twente) and Memphis Depay (PSV) the only players ahead of him in the classifications. The 30-year-old, who scored two league goals for Cambuur last season, has been capped 20 times by Nigeria at senior level.
Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports
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Monday, October 6, 2014
Sharapova Ends Title Wait Maria Sharapova secured her first title since she claimed victory at Roland Garros earlier this year as she outlasted Petra Kvitova to win the China Open. It was a battling performance from the Russian world No 4, who will rise to number two in the rankings following a hard-fought 6-4 2-6 6-3 wins in Beijing. Victory came just five months after the Russian was one defeat away from dropping out of the top 10 for the first time since 2011. Kvitova beat Eugenie Bouchard to win the Wuhan Open last week, but she could not make it back-to-back tournament wins as she suffered her first loss in nine matches. Fourth-seeded Sharapova, who
Sharapova
captured her fifth grand slam title at the French Open in June, was made to work hard by the reigning Wimbledon champion. The Czech ace broke her opponent in the very first game but Sharapova showed greater intensity towards the end to prevail in a contest that lasted two hours and 28 minutes. Sharapova broke her opponent twice to claim the first set but Kvitova unleashed 15 winners in the second to force a decider. The 27-year-old raised her game in the third set to lead 5-3 before serving out the match and secure her 33rd career title after Kvitova buried her return into the net. “It was a bit of an up-and-down match I’d say - maybe not the best
out of the tournament,” Sharapova told the official WTA website. “But it’s never easy playing against Petra. You don’t always quite get a good rhythm. She goes for a lot of shots, very deep, and she’s a very good, confident player. “I knew she’d been on a roll in the last couple of weeks. It’s probably the toughest opponent you can face in a final, that’s had that success, yet you just want to focus on your side, what you do best. “She became the more aggressive player in the second set. I think I took a few too many steps back and let her play that way. But I was able to lift my game again in the third and come out with a win.”
Falcao Clinches Manchester United Win Louis van Gaal secured backto-back wins for the first time since taking charge of Manchester United as Radamel Falcao’s second-half finish clinched a 2-1 victory over Everton. United started brightly as Falcao and Robin van Persie threatened in the early stages at Old Trafford, before Angel di Maria fired them into a 27th-minute lead, curling into the bottom corner after being found inside the area by Juan
Mata. Van Gaal’s side were in control for the majority of the first half, but they had David de Gea to thank for preserving their lead at the break as he denied Leighton Baines from the penalty spot after Luke Shaw had hacked down Tony Hibbert. Everton did manage to get on level terms 10 minutes after the restart as Baines found Steven Naismith unmarked inside the six-yard box which a superb delivery to head beyond
the helpless De Gea. But United found themselves back in front just seven minutes later as Di Maria’s strike from range fell kindly into the path of Falcao, who was able to guide it past Tim Howard for his first goal since arriving from Monaco this summer. De Gea then produced stunning late saves to deny substitutes Leon Osman and Bryan Oviedo as United were made to hold on for the three points.
Kano Pillars Slip At Heartland, Enyimba Held In Ibadan
Chibuike On Target In Turkey Nigerian striker, John Chibuike scored his first league goal of the season in Turkey at the day as Gaziantepspor lost 2-4 to Kasimpasa on match day five of the Süper Lig. Chibuike did not start the game but only came on as a second half substitute in place of teammate, Mustafa Durak. He took little time to assert himself though and smacked home his debut goal for the just 10 minutes after being thrown into the fray. Chibuike was not the only Nigerian who featured in the rip-roaring contest at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadyumu as compatriot, Gbenga Arokoyo played the entire first half.
Chibuike
Arokoyo, who has played all five of Gaziantepspor’s league games this season, is however yet to get off the mark for the club he joined from Swedish club, Mjäll-
by in the summer. The 21-year-old defender scored three league goals from his withdrawn position for Mjällby last season.
IAAF Award: Harting Wants To Be Removed From Award Olympic discus champion Robert Harting wants to be removed from the shortlist for the 2014 athlete of the year award, because former banned sprinter Justin Gatlin has also been nominated. US sprinter Gatlin, 32, was banned from 2006 until 2010 after failing a doping test and Harting, who won Olympic gold in London in 2012, has asked the International Association of Athletics Federa-
tions (IAAF) to cross the German’s name off the list. Gatlin ran a world year’s best time 100m time of 9.77secs last month in Brussels, but world and European champion Harting does not want to be associated with the American. “I asked the IAAF to remove me from the list,” Harting said. “I find the nomination great, yet I stand for it alongside a known former doping offender and for that reason I asked
Falcao
to be removed from the list.” Harting says the nomination alongside Gatlin is an insult “not only for me but also for my fans” and says the IAAF should “use honesty in their evaluation” for the award. “If the IAAF doesn’t fully understand the difference, then they should just forget about it,” added the 29-yearold, who is currently out injured with a torn knee ligament.
Defending champions Kano Pillars remained top of the Nigeria league despite losing 1-0 to Heartland on yesterday in a Week 30 clash. Pillars now have 50 points from 30 matches. Bobby Clement scored the only goal of the game in the first half. Former Shooting Stars striker missed a glorious chance in the fifth minute when he fired over the bar from a promising position. Another miss by Heartland was from Emeka Ogbugh when his goal-bound shot was deflected away by a defender. In the 75th minute, Adamu Murtala prevented the hard-running Clement from grabbing a brace. However, Enyimba failed to close the gap at the top of Nigeria league as they were held by hosts Crown FC to a goalless
draw at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Enyimba now have 45 points, five points shy of league leaders Kano Pillars. Crown FC goalkeeper Ayo Ojo was the hero of the day as he made no less than four daring saves.He denied Mfon Udoh goal in a one-on-one situation and also prevented Andrew Abalogwu from hitting target. Glo Premier League Week 30 Results Lobi 2, Giwa 1 Heartland 1, Pillars 0 Bayelsa 2, Sunshine stars0 Gombe 0, El Kanemi 0 Taraba 3, Wolves 1 Crown 0, Enyimba 0 Sharks 3, Nembe 0 Nasarawa 3, Kaduna 1 Abia Warriors 2, Dolphins 1 Akwa United 0, Rangers 0
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Monday, October 6, 2014
Nick Young
Lakers’ Young Out For 8 Weeks Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young is set to miss up to eight weeks of action, including the season opener, after tearing a ligament in his right thumb, the team announced on Friday. Young was injured on Thursday in practice while trying to steal the ball from Kobe Bryant and will undergo surgery on Monday, before facing between six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
An MRI exam indicated Young had a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament. The 29-year-old averaged a career-high 17.9 points last season, playing in 64 games, including nine starts. He signed a four-year, $21.5-million contract extension with the Lakers in July and is likely out of their first regular-season game on October 28.
Nasarawa United Close Gap On Leaders Pillars Nasarawa United yesterday closed the gap between them and leaders Kano Pillars on top of the Nigeria league after a 3-1 spanking of Kaduna United. Nasarawa United are second on the league table with 47 points, just three points adrift of leaders Kano Pillars. On-form striker Ugo Leonard scored a hat-trick to see Na-
sarawa United win in fine style. He has now scored eight goals in the league this season. El Kanemi Warriors secured a valuable point at Gombe United when they battled their hosts to a barren draw. El Kanemi now have 41 points from 30 games, while Gombe United have 36 points from same number of matches.
Udoh Rues Draw With Rangers Akwa United technical adviser, Patrick Udoh has described as huge setback his side’s goalless draw against Enugu Rangers. The Promise Keeper failed to achieve their touted reversal of the 0-3 thumping suffered in the hands of the Coal City side in the first fixture in Enugu as they were held to a barren draw yesterday’s Glo Premier League match day 30 clash at the Uyo Township Stadium. Udoh said his wards played badly to have chanced winning the encounter against a more resolute side like Enugu Rangers. “We didn’t play well to chance
Udoh
a win in the encounter, the motivation and zeal to win the tussle weren’t there among the players. “Actually Enugu Rangers are a good side, not push-over but the bottom line is that my players showed no hunger to win the game possibly because the motivation wasn’t there. “However, I still thank God that we’re able to pick a point as it would have been disastrous if we had lost the whole three points. “The draw is a huge setback for us as a win would have taken us to 46 points and further up the ladder.
(L-R) Second placed Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP, race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP and third placed Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing stand on the podium whilst the national anthems are played during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on October 5, 2014 in Suzuka, Japan.
Hamilton Wins Halted Japan Race Lewis Hamilton won a heavily rain-hit Japanese GP but the Suzuka race was stopped nine laps early following a serious accident involving Marussia’s Jules Bianchi. Hamilton had built up a comfortable lead ahead of team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg after passing the German earlier in the race when the Safety Car was called for the second time of day on lap 44. A recovery truck was already attending to Adrian Sutil’s Sauber after the German had crashed into the barriers at Turn Eight when Bianchi lost control of his Marussia and went off at the same point of the track, the Frenchman travelling across the run off area and hitting the tractor. The FIA has confirmed that Bianchi was unconscious after the accident and transported to a local hospital by road ambulance.
He has since undergone surgery for ‘serious’ head injuries. After the operation the 25-year-old will be moved into intensive care and monitored by doctors at the Mie General Hospital. Marussia’s Jules Bianchi has been taken to hospital after crashing during the Japanese GP. Bianchi’s accident understandably immediately overshadowed the result of the race as a sombre air swiftly descended at Suzuka as the paddock awaited for news of the young Frenchman’s condition with muted celebrations following on the podium. “Obviously it’s a real anti-climax to hear that one of the drivers is seriously injured,” a sombre Hamilton told Sky Sports News HQ afterwards. “I was going through that sector and I could see there was a tractor lifting away one car, it was until when it was red-flagged that I could see
there was another car in the mix there. I’m just hoping for him and hoping he will be okay.” For the record, the Briton’s first career victory at the sixth attempt at Suzuka increases his advantage over Rosberg in the championship fight by ten points with four rounds remaining. Rosberg finished second with Ferrari-bound Sebastian Vettel third for Red Bull on countback, the German promoted to the final podium position ahead of teammate Daniel Ricciardo having pitted under the Safety Car for fresh tyres. With his future in the sport under threat amid the prospect of Fernando Alonso arriving at Ferrari for 2015, Jenson Button claimed a fine – and timely – fifth place, although the McLaren driver could have finished on the podium had a slow second pitstop not intervened.
Gabby Backs Smashers Title Bid Surrey Smashers travel to Milton Keynes Badminton in one of two National Badminton League opening fixtures on Monday, and Gabby Adcock believes her new side has what it takes to go all the way in the competition. “We’ve got a great squad of players and we’ve already got a great team spirit,” said Adcock. “I believe we can push the other teams all the way to win the league and we’ll be looking to start with a good performance at Milton Keynes on Monday.” Adcock is no stranger to success after winning gold, silver and bronze at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games over the summer, but she is excited for the inaugural NBL to get underway. “For badminton this is absolutely huge. We’ve been trying to get a national league setup for a while now,
Smasher
and all the players are so excited to finally get going on Monday,” she added. Adcock also hopes that the new league and increased exposure will help inspire the young badminton players of the future and encourage more people to get involved in the sport.
“For the next generation of young badminton players it’s great that they’ll get to see this competition live on Sky Sports and get the chance to taste the atmosphere in person at NBL fixtures near them,” she concluded. Coach Hayley Connor has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose
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Lewton
Lewton Takes First Asian Tour Title In Taiwan Overnight leader England’s Steve Lewton carded one-under-par 71 Sunday for a total of 283 to snatch his first Asian Tour title at the $650,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Lewton, who held a three-day total of 212, was able to retain his lead throughout after firing five birdies against four bogeys at the challenging Taiwan Golf and Country Club’s Tamsui course. “It’s strange that I didn’t feel any pressure during the round, maybe because I didn’t get to see a lot of scoreboards out there... It’s just amazing to win this kind of stressful event,” said the 31-year-old. An emotional Lewton dedicated the much-anticipated victory to his late father, who had helped him through difficulties.
“It’s been quite a tough year for me. I lost my father at the start of the year. He was diagnosed with bile cancer about two years ago and passed away earlier in January. He was my best friend and he was also an avid golfer,” said Lewton who took home a prise money of $130 000. “He kept me going in golf when I was struggling in the past few years. It’s a real shame that he’s not here anymore to witness this but I’m sure he will be happy for me wherever he is.” Two shots behind were Adilson Da Silva of Brazil and Filipino veteran Antonio Lascuna, who shared a second place. Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and Unho Park of Australia both fired a 72 for a total of 286 to settle for the fourth place.
I Have Huge Respect For Arsenal--Fabregas Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas insisted he still had huge respect for Arsenal fans despite getting a hostile reception from some of them as he helped condemn the Gunners to a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. Fabregas put in a fine performance against his old club in the Premier League contest and provided a wonderful pass from which Diego Costa notched the hosts’ second goal. Asked afterwards if the victory had been sweeter given the negativity aimed towards him by some Arsenal supporters, the Spain international told Sky Sports 1: “Not at all. I have huge respect for Arsenal -- they gave me eve-
Fabregas
rything when I was little. Without them I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t have won what I have won. “I have huge respect and I take it in a positive way. I know they love me and it is all because we were together once. Sometimes, circumstances mean these things can happen. But I have always said it -- I am not scared. They will always be in my heart forever. “But this is football, I am in this fantastic football club now playing with great players, a great coach and great fans and I want to win everything. “I am hungry and really want to do well for this club. I hope I can make it in the future.’’
Messi
Court Refuses Messi’s Appeal For Tax Fraud Barcelona star Lionel Messi moved closer to facing trial over alleged tax fraud after a Spanish court rejected his appeal against being named in the case and ordered the probe to go ahead. The Argentine forward and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, were accused last year of not paying €4.16 million in tax on earnings from the player’s image rights from 2007-2009 through the creation of a web of shell companies in Belize and Uruguay. Both Messi and his father, who is also the player’s manager, denied wrongdoing and pointed the finger instead at a former agent of the player when they were quizzed at a court in Gava, the Barcelona suburb where the player lives, in September 2013.
Based on the Messis’ testimony, public prosecutors called for the case to be shelved. But the court in July ruled that there was “sufficient evidence” to believe Messi “could have known and consented” to the creation of a fictitious corporate structure to avoid paying taxes on income from his image rights and ordered the prosecution of the case to go ahead. Messi’s lawyers appealed but on Friday the court said it had “dismissed entirely” their petition and upheld its earlier ruling. “In this type of crime, it is not necessary for someone to have complete knowledge of all the accounting and business operations nor the exact quantity, rather it is sufficient to be aware of the de-
signs to commit fraud and consent to them,” the court said in its ruling. Messi and his father have five days to appeal the court’s ruling. If the court rejects that appeal, prosecutors will have to formally ask the court to send him to trial -a move which Messi’s legal team can again appeal. If the court agrees there is enough evidence to send the player to trial, it will then set a date. Messi can appeal this decision as well. The player’s father made a payment of five million euros in August 2013 to cover alleged unpaid taxes, plus interests. That was thought likely to significantly reduce any sentence should they be found guilty.
Guardiola Happy With Improving Bayern Pep Guardiola says Bayern Munich are improving from game to game after opening a four-point lead in the Bundesliga on the back of their perfect UEFA Champions League record. Bayern secured their second Champions League win on Tuesday with a 1-0 win at CSKA Moscow then enjoyed a 4-0 romp at home to Hanover 96 in the German league on Saturday with Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben both scoring twice. Bayern were rarely troubled at home and dominated Hanover even with Thomas Mueller and FIFA World Cup™ winner Mario Gotze left on the bench, as well as Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger out injured. Guardiola’s side have now not conceded a goal in their last seven games in all competitions as they look to win a third straight German Bundesliga title. “We’re happy with the result,” the
Bayern coach, who is in his second season in Munich. “Hanover were third or fourth in the table (before kick-off) and played with five at the back, which wasn’t easy. “We scored four, but it could have been more. The most important thing is that every game we’re playing a little better than before. We’re
playing more and running less, so I’m happy with that.” Munich were 2-0 up after just 13 minutes as Lewandowski chested down a long ball and drilled his shot into the bottom corner, then Robben added a second after a trademark run through the heart of the Hanover defence.
AMUSEMENT PARK to lose one parent... may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both — Oscar Wilde looks like carelessness
06.10.14
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
MONDAY
www.leadership.ng
No. 2,268
N150
Guest Ebola: Fashola’s Columnist Impressive Leadership
T
Fashola’s visit was admittedly daring
C. Don Adinuba
he public officer who profoundly touched the hearts and minds of the Nigerian during the 54th independence anniversary on October 1 is, of course, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State. He stirred and lifted the soul of our citizens with his anniversary broadcast which will go down in history as one of the finest speeches by any Nigerian leader. Written with poetic density, the speech interpreted Nigeria’s often unflattering engagement with history uncannily, in a way that made any person who heard or read it stop for a moment to think again about some popular assumptions about our nation. The outbreak last July of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), a biological weapon of mass destruction imported into Nigeria by a Liberian American national, Patrick Sawyer, tragic as it may have been, did provide an opportunity to galvanise Nigerians as one people and move in a new direction. For once, we did not underachieve. The result is the global acknowledgement of a national emergency well handled. From the World Health Organisation to The New York Times, the story is the same: Nigeria did brilliantly in containing the Ebola pandemic. The governor of Lagos State, the real theatre of action, in particular did provide inspiring leadership. Unknown to most people, Fashola was in Mecca on a spiritual retreat when First Consultants Hospital, a high profile hospital in Lagos patronized by embassies, reported the matter to his government, and the next day he flew into Lagos. His health commissioner, Jide Idris, was also out of the country, and he, too, cut short his visit to return to his base within hours so as to take charge of events. An Ebola centre sprang up overnight, complete with telephone hotlines, vehicles, medical personnel, etc. It was far from the characteristic Nigerian way
of handling emergencies. Other states, plus the Federal capital Territory of Abuja, followed suit by announcing similar centres. Yet, when cases of Ebola disease were reported in Enugu and Port Harcourt, the victims were not treated in their states or neighbouring states or even the FCT, but sent all the way to Lagos. They were treated successfully in Lagos with WHO’s assistance. Symbolism is a critical component of leadership. In confronting the Ebola challenge, Fashola demonstrated more than symbolism. Apart from the Lagos State health commissioner, he is the only political appointee who visited the Ebola centre. The visit went a long way to lift the spirits of the medical volunteers and the patients, the way American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan felt any time top American leaders visited them on special occasions like Christmas, New Year and Thanksgiving Day. Fashola’s visit was admittedly daring. It was at a time doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital were running away from their female colleague, a female registrar at LUTH, who volunteered to treat Ebola patients at the centre in Yaba, Lagos. Such was the fear of contracting EVD even by medical experts at a leading teaching hospital. Yet, Fashola, a nonmedical professional, dared visit with his closest personal aides! Even with the commendable Ebola containment in Nigeria, LUTH doctors are still scared of going near the female volunteer, according to the LUTH chief medical director, Akin Oshibogun. But such fear could not prevent the governor from receiving all Ebola survivors in his office on Thursday, September 18, where he spent considerable time chatting with them, enabling the victims to recount their ordeal in a detailed manner. Among the survivors who visited is Dr Morris Ibeawuchi, the first doctor to treat Sawyer, the index case. Also on the delegation is Dr Ad-
aora Igonoh of First Consultants Hospital who attributed her survival and that of her colleagues to the gallant effort of Fashola and the Lagos State government. Not to be forgotten are the wife of the late Dr Kelechi Enemuoh, who furtively treated Sawyer’s companion in Port Harcourt, and Dennis Akagha, whose wife, a staff nurse at First Consultants, tragically attended to Sawyer. To stop the stigmatization of these heroic Ebola disease survivors, Fashola ensured that as many top officers of the state government were around with him when the victims visited. The meeting was well publicized and it achieved the purpose, as the survivors have been testifying. First Consultants has reopened, but quite a number of patients are still sceptical about its environmental integrity. Fashola recognizes that this fear is exaggerated. To restore public faith in First Consultants, one of the country’s very best, he visited the hospital on Friday, September 21, and spent a long period inspecting the state of the art facilities in the place and speaking to the staff and management. He expressed satisfaction with the intensive and extraordinary effort by the hospital, led by Dr Benjy Ohaeri, a highly regarded Americantrained medical expert, made to ensure that the hospital is absolutely free of EVD contamination. Ohaeri explained how, under supervision by the WHO, Centre for Disease Control and other key institutions, all the sewage in the hospital was removed and all the hospital’s personnel and equipment de-contaminated in a special way. The governor’s visit must have had a salutary effect on public psychology vis a vis First Consultants Hospital. Fashola’s management of the Ebola virus challenge is exceptional. And through words he was able in his October 1 broadcast to fire the imagination of all Nigerian people. The broadcast was a call to arms, a call to ser-
vice, irrespective of class, status and every other cleavage in society. Calling by name each and everyone who “saw and defeated the Ebola Virus Disease”, including cleaners, nurses , nursing aides and other categories of people often forgotten when any pandemic on the EVD magnitude is fought successfully, the governor described them as true champions of public and humanitarian service and heroes of the independence anniversary being celebrated without any more EVD case in Nigeria. He instructively left himself and other high political office holders in Nigeria out of recognition. This is not very Nigerian. We invite all those Nigerians obsessed with all manner of sectional, ethnic and religious cleavages to reflect on Fashola’s uncanny management of the EVD outbreak in Nigeria and see if these parochial Nigerians, always driven by paranoia, do not represent a veritable anachronism, a throwback, a breed out of touch with realities of a new Nigeria. Babatunde Fashola is the face of an emerging nation. The nation needs more Fasholas. — Adinuba is head of Discovery Public Affairs Consulting, Lagos.
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