Leadership news

26.11.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY

No. 2,299

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Dwindling Oil Price: CBN Devalues Naira, Raises Lending Rate

By Nse Anthony-Uko, Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has taken a holistic monetary palliative aimed at ensuring Naira exchange rate stability

and forestalling the potentially dangerous impact of the falling oil prices in the international oil

market on the economy.

The CBN has finally bowed to pressure to devalue the Naira

after several months of battling to defend the exchange rate against demand pressure using the nation’s

Kebbi Deputy Governor, 17 Others Defect To APC Today > Page 8

Chibok Diary DAY 226

foreign reserves.

It reduced the official naira-todollar exchange rate to N168/$1, forcing down the currency down ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 5

BBOG Group To Storm Chadian Embassy Over Alleged Complicity With Boko Haram > Page 2

monday market attack

Female Suicide Bombers Kill 45 In Maiduguri 5

Cameroon closes 130 schools over Boko Haram

An injured victim of the Maiduguri Monday Market twin suicide attacks at the Maiduguri General Hospital, yesterday. PHOTO BY kareem haruna

Again, Senate Fails To Approve Emergency Rule Extension > Page 8

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chibok diary 226

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

DAY

Chibok TweeTs

@rescueourgirls 225 DAYS since Rebecca Joseph from #Chibok.

Will she ever come home? Never forget. #BringBackOurGirls #NOWANDALIVE

‫@‏‬abdulmuizzx Femi Kuti's Wonder reminds me of our #Chibok girls. Will these girls ever come back again? Wonder.

Till you turn to wanderer.

@WePushNews General-Overseer of Elyon International All Christian Praying Ministry, Apostle Babatunde Oyidi says #Chibok girls will soon be released.

@abugu_nonso #Maiduguri suicide bombers said to be two female teens in full hijab. Hope that our #Chibok girls have not been brainwashed n conscripted.

@bracciano1984 Now is the tym for deep reflection bcos a governor daughter nor president daughter can go missing for months ...u know #Nigeria #chibok.

@BabajideFadoju Silence is not always golden please lend a voice for our sisters from #Chibok. We need our government to #bringbackourgirls.

Compiled by Tunde Oguntola

Members of #BringBackOurGirls group during a protest to demand the rescue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in Abuja. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

BBOG Group To Storm Chadian Embassy Over Alleged Complicity With Boko Haram

BY EjikE EjikE, ABUJA

The #BringBackOurGirls group will today storm the Chadian Embassy in Abuja to protest against the alleged supply of weapons by its government official.

The group, which has been advocating for the rescue of the remaining 219 school girls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, seven months ago, wondered why the government of Chad has always been fingered in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

BBOG further listed issues such as the botched ceasefire deal which was celebrated

across the country and handled by the Chadian President, Idriss Déby, and now the report of Mr Mahamat Bichara Gnoti, his close associate, as very implicating of the Chadian government.

The group noted that with the ceasefire deal, the Nigeria government and the Nigeria people relaxed and put their trust in the Chadian president, only for the Boko Haram to capture more towns and fail to release the Chibok girls.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Mr Gnoti was reported to have been apprehended on the Chadian-Sudan border with 19 SAM2 missiles,

which he allegedly purchased from the Sudanese army for the Boko Haram terrorists.

An online media, Saharareporters quoted a Cameroonian investigative journalist, Bisong Etahoben, via his Twitter, as saying that Mr Gnoti claimed that President Idriss Déby gave him “the funds to purchase the weapons, waved a presidential pass issued to him by Mr Deby’s office in order to get past border guards, but was stopped and searched by the guards who found the deadly weapons on him.”

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan had also on Monday paid an emergency visit to Chad where he

held a closed-door meeting with the country’s president, Déby.

After the closed-door, President Jonathan reiterated the need for Nigeria and her neighbours to intensify joint actions and cooperation to win the war against terrorism and insurgency.

The president, according to Reuben Abati, told reporters that Boko Haram had a lot of external influence from outside Africa and it had become even more imperative for all countries in the region to work together to overcome terrorism and other criminal activities across their borders.

Pastor Okotie Dedicates Charity Event To Chibok Girls

BY EjikE EjikE, Abuja

The founder of Household of God Church, Pastor Chris Okotie, will dedicate the church’s annual charity programme to the missing Chibok schoolgirls.

The sect abducted 276 school-

girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, on April 14, 2014 but over 200 of them are yet to be rescued after over 50 of them escaped from captivity..

He also dedicated the Karis award to his late mother, Beatrice Ibeneme who died in Sep-

tember 2014 at the age of 82.

The annual charity event tagged ‘Grace’ according to Encomium Weekly, is being planned to be memorable for everyone.

Grace 2014 scheduled to hold on Sunday, December 14, will also feature the presenta-

tion of the Karis award to the first woman to enlist in the police force - his mother late Mrs. Ibeneme.

The Grace annual charity programme was created in 2006 by Pastor Okotie to celebrate and financially reward distinguished Nigerians.

3

our stand Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The Rise Of Vigilantes

M

ubi, one of the biggest towns in nor th-easter n Nigeria was recently taken over by Boko Haram. The insurgents overran the Nigerian troops who were deployed there to check their advance towards Yola. Having captured Gwoza, Michika, Gulack, Bama and some small villages close to our borders with Cameroon, the insurgents seemed unstoppable, but last week the nation was shocked when news filtered out that hunters and vigilantes had greatly aided the army in the emancipation of Mubi. It was the first time since the birth of Nigeria that a people militia played a significant role in a battle where the military was thoroughly overwhelmed. Although later developments indicated that the victory was not complete, Nigerians however hailed and saluted the courageous efforts of these hunters and vigilante militia.

The rise of the people’s militia started about four years ago after Boko Haram threatened to sack Maiduguri; youth in that city organised themselves and began to assist the military joint task force. They were given the

moniker “Civilian Task Force.”

With their help, the mayhem of the insurgents has reduced to a large degree in the city. Gradually they spread to other parts of the battlefield: Gwoza, Chibok, Michika, Bama, Damboa and Biu. They recorded relative success in Damboa and Biu, but the success of the group in Mubi was unprecedented.

The efforts of this group of people are highly commendable.

The fact that they dare confront the enemy armed with bows and arrows, spears, clubs and dane guns, at great risk to their lives, is an indication of their bravery and desperation to resist the invaders and liberate their homeland. However, there are

Editor Sadiq Abdullateef Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director

several unforeseen dangers and disadvantages that must not be overlooked. First, because they are poorly armed and ill trained they might easily be killed in battles with insurgents. Secondly, since they are not trained and have not taken the oath that every military man takes, they can easily switch loyalties. Thirdly, and perhaps the most likely danger of all, is that after Boko Haram is finally defeated, the vigilantes might constitute another form of danger and nuisance to the state if they are not properly accommodated.

The president and commander in chief of the armed forces recently called for the vetting of vigilante groups; though this was not well received in some quarters, we believe in this case, that the president does have a point worth considering.

One way out would be to integrate them fully into the Nigerian army; make them undergo the necessary training and oath taking like all servicemen. They must be carefully vetted too.

With an integrated militia within the Nigerian army, we are of the view that victory against the insurgents may yet be swifter than expected.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah

Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Divisional Directors Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Abdulmumin Balogun Zipporah D. Tanko

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

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo Dwindling Revenue: Nigerians To Pay More For Police Services As part of the fallout of the current global economic recession and downward slide of price of oil in the international market, Nigerians may have to pay more for police services. This, LEADERSHIP learnt, is part of measures to bail the federal government out of its impending economic woes.

Indication of the move by government to employ the Nigeria police in its revenue generation drive came to the fore yesterday, during a 3-day workshop on ‘Improving Federal Government Internally Generated Revenue, IGR: Nigeria Police Services in focus,’ put together by the Ministry of Police Affairs.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelil Adesiyan, in his opening remarks at the stakeholders’ conference, alluded to what he termed consistent downward trend of revenue accruing to government coffers which he said had made many nations to look inward to improve revenue generation.

“Our country is not left out in the global struggle for economic stability. This is especially the case given that earnings from crude oil which had been the major source of the nation’s revenue is suffering from challenges such as declining production, crude oil theft and price instability in the international market.

By Chika Otuchikere, Abuja

3, 436 Called To Bar No fewer than 3,436 successful candidates were yesterday called to the Nigerian Bar in Abuja, among them the grandson of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Adedamilotun Oluwapelumi Aderemi.

They are those who passed the August 2014 bar final examinations of the Nigerian Law School.

The director-general of the Nigerian Law School, Olanrewaju Onadeko, in his address at the call to bar ceremony held at the International Conference Center, Abuja, said four of the successful candidates came out with first class, 96 in second class upper division, 620 placed in second class lower division while 2,697 were in pass grade.

He announced that the law school had taken pro-active measures to safeguard its campuses in Kano and Yola by installing high perimeter walls with security barbed wire on top with arrangement concluded for the installation of CCTV cameras in all campuses of the school in view of the daunting challenge of insecurity in the country.

According to him, the problem of over admission by law faculties in the country has almost been surmounted following the potent synergy between the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Council For Legal Education.

By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja

L-R: Nasarawa State governor Tanko Al-Makura welcoming the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal at the Government House, Lafia, yesterday. PHOTO

BY SPEAKER’S MEDIA OFFICE.

No Going Back On LG Autonomy – Tambuwal

BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal has said there is no going back on National Assembly’s resolve for constitutional reform aimed at granting autonomy to the local government administration in the country.

The Speaker made this declaration on Tuesday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, at the sixth quadrennial national delegates’ conference of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

He lamented that the absence of autonomy for local governments had continued to stretch service conditions and stifled growth at the grassroots, promising that when granted autonomy local government funds would no longer be appropriated by state gov-

ernments.

“There shall be in Nigeria a fullfledged third tier of government with complete complement of structures including the legislative council who shall henceforth appropriate local government funds,” he stated.

If granted autonomy, Tambuwal stressed that only local governments with duly elected officials would be receiving grants from federation accounts, adding local governments across the country would have a harmonized tenure of office which would be for a period of four years.

“We shall have uniform tenure for local government elected officials of four years and all local councils shall draw their funds directly from the federation accounts and not state Joint accounts,” he told the conference.

The speaker allayed fears being

entertained that the case for autonomy is only a ploy by the National Assembly to take over the oversight functions of state assemblies and a means of fighting a group of individuals.

He said such insinuations were meant to pollute the minds of state lawmakers and other stakeholders, stressing that all the National assembly was doing was “to strengthen the institution of governance at the local government level”.

In his submission, Governor Umaru Tanko Al Makura said he was convinced that attaining a virile society through sustainable growth and development at the grassroots was hinged on an autonomous third tier of government in Nigeria, especially “when there is a well-articulated mechanism of checks and balances by the state with the active participation

of NULGE”.

He said it was in this connection that his administration recognised the role of local governments in reaching out to the people at the grassroots, saying “in this regard, local government areas in the state are, to a large extent, operating with autonomy because they are given the free hand to provide the desired leadership to their areas in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the people”.

The national president of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel Abdulkadir, accused state governments of relying on sections 7 and 126 of the constitution to justify their ulterior motive of frustrating every move to strengthen local government administration especially through inadequate funding, over-deductions, diversion of funds under various guises among others.

How I Was Cured Of Cancer – Soyinka

By Kazeem Akintunde, Abeokuta

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on Tuesday revealed how he contacted and got cured of deadly prostate cancer.

He told journalists in Abeokuta that he gave the health information to encourage those with the condition that it was not a death sentence.

He made this at a press conference tagged ‘Beyond Ebola And Beyond Reign of the Silent Killer.’

Soyinka disclosed that he had been diagnosed of cancer last year December and was cured October this year.

“In December last year, I discovered that I had cancer, we were making sure that, that was what it was before going for the other test and once it had been decided that I did have

cancer and I was sure because in my family, we had an uncle, at that time he died we did not have all the sophisticated way of knowing how he died.

“What killed him was attributed to a lot of things. From the little things I know about cancer, I came to a conclusion that he died of cancer, maybe we have it in our family. ”Let me emphasize this and a lot of people know this. I am a private person, I believe every certain territory of every individual should be private to themselves and to their family, colleagues and it is only when it is of public interest that you probe into people’s hut. ”For me, it is not a decision that I am happy with, but I felt I have all obligation being a member of Af-

rica Cancer Center and also having donated during the festival of fund raising for cancer, I felt I owe people obligations to make it known and also to de-mystify cancer many people feel it’s death sentence. ”Family, friends and colleagues begin to look at you as if you are a ghost just because you have cancer.

No cancer is death sentence, it is curable and I have undergone treatment and I am able to tell you that, even I have a medal to show for it,” he said.

Soyinka, however, appealed to the Federal Government to release the fund already budgeted for cancer treatment and construction of research centres in the country. ”There are many ways of treating cancer just like there are different types of cancer. Even, diet forms an

important part of cancer, diet is critical, the most difficult in the middle of treatment of cancer in fact, was a diet which was prescribed.” ”I have to drink a lot of water. The most painful part of it as many of you know is that water and I are not very good friends at least on inside. ”There are many ways of preventable actions for any individual. One of the major reasons why I decided that I would come and make this personal appeal, I happen to know that certain amount of money had been approved for cancer center under Yar’Adua and I want to make a personal appeal that this money be released, not all of us can go round everywhere where we can stop over and have the necessary treatment,” he added.

NEWS 5

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Female Suicide Bombers Kill 45 In Maiduguri

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri, Mutassir Usman , Abdullahi Umar with agency reports; Bayo Oladeji, Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja and Abu Nmodu, Minna

Two female suicide bombers yesterday caused massive explosions at a crowded market in Maiduguri killing 45 people and injuring several others, witnesses and security sources said.

The two teenage girls, according to first witnesses, walked into the One-way area of Maiduguri’s main market at about 11:20am and one of them blew herself up killing about three women.

LEADERSHIP reporter learnt that the second girl waited for sympathizers to gather at the scene before detonating the deadly device hidden under her garment, killing about 30 persons.

Borno State coordinator of Civilian-JTF, Abba Aji Kalli, who spoke to our reporter on phone said: “I am right here at the scene and I have before me 11 corpses that have not been evaluated. Many have been taken away by relatives, while others were taken to the state specialist hospital. We have many people that are seriously injured after the two blasts.”

The Civilian-JTF chieftain explained that “from what one of the survivors told me while being helped to get to the hospital, the bombers were two girls dressed in full hijab.

One of them detonated herself and about three persons all women were killed, and minutes after that when people came round to see what happened, another bomb went off after a girl screamed and many people, over 30 of them, got killed. We cannot say the exact figure for now because, even before our arrival here, some of the corpses had been taken away, while some, including that of the bombers, were mangled beyond recognition.”

Security operatives, comprising soldiers and police officers, cordoned off the area while rescue workers helped victims to get to the hospital.

Yesterday’s blast was the first to be recorded in Maiduguri since the last one that killed 56 people in the same market area on July 2, 2014, when a car laden with explosives blew up in the midst of traders coming out for their daily businesses.

The police authorities were yet to issue a statement on the blasts at the time of going to press, while the phone line of the police spokesman, Gideon Jubrin, was switched off.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but suspicion will likely fall on militant group Boko Haram.

The market attack came a day after the Boko Haram militants took over another border town of Damasak in Mobbar local government area of the state.

Hospital officials say 54 victims admitted Hospital officials in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, have confirmed admitting 54 victims brought in from the scene of the twin blasts.

The executive secretary, Borno State Hospital Management Board, Dr Salisu Kwaya Bura, told Governor Kashim Shettima during his visit to the victims at the State Specialists Hospital that 54 people were on admission, “Out of this number, 14 of them who were critically injured have been referred to the

University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) while 20 have been discharged,” Dr Bura disclosed.

The permanent secretary in the state’s ministry of health, Alhaji Sanda, had earlier briefed the governor that 24 bodies were brought to the hospital’s mortuary.

But security sources who got to the scene much earlier said that some corpses had been taken away from the scene by the relatives even before the rescue workers arrived.

Governor Shettima described the bombers as “wicked, barbaric and heartless,” and wondered why “they have chosen the poor traders and children as targets.”

Boko Haram kills 20 villagers in two Chibok communities At least 20 villagers in communities around Chibok town of Borno State were on Monday evening killed by suspected Boko Haram gunmen who sacked the residents and burnt down their houses, security sources said.

Kamtahi and Galtimari villages under Chibok local government area came under attack when the gunmen invaded the town shooting and setting homes ablaze in the two neighbouring villages not far away from Chibok town.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Vigilante Group in Borno State, Muhammed Abbas Gava, told LEADERSHIP that “virtually every house in the two villages were burnt to ashes, while a total of 20 persons were killed in both villages of Kamtahi and Galtimari.”

Gava said his vigilante members from the area informed him about the attack yesterday when he made it to Maiduguri to intimate their state office about the unfortunate incident.

“The villages were totally burnt down as resident fled for their lives, some with injuries,” he said.

Chibok local government, which is the closes part of Borno State to Sambisa Forest, has suffered series of attacks of late that led to the desertion of villages, hamlets and farming settlements around the area.

The police and military officials in the state have not issued any statement concerning the latest attacks.

Police public relations officer in Borno State, Gideon Jubrin, told LEADERSHIP on phone that the command headquarters was not aware of the incident at the time of filing this report.

Cameroon closes 130 schools over Boko Haram Cameroon officials have said that at least 130 schools have been closed as a result of Boko Haram attacks on schools near its northern border with Nigeria.

The country’s secretary in the ministry of Secondary Education, Monouna Fotso told Voice of America (VOA) that regular crossborder attacks had virtually halted academic activities along Cameroon’s 500 kilometre boundary with Nigeria’s Borno State, the stronghold of the militant group.

“Schools are a favourite target of Boko Haram, whose name means ‘Western education is sin,’” Fotso said, adding that due to insecurity, the country’s authorities have advised students and teachers to relocate.

“If there are some localities where the situation is so bad, at the level of the government we will relocate some schools. ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

LIVING LIVING TOTO BE BE 100100

One health tip daily

Eat organic whole foods and opt for locally grown, seasonal organic produce Pesticides have been implicated in many illnesses, including infertility, cancer, birth defects, skin irritations and impotence.

Organically reared stock fed on grass (what they’re meant to eat), not grains, and organic produce not only contains substantially more of

the basic nutrients than intensively farmed varieties, but also up to 10,000 secondary nutrients essential for human health. As organic bacon and sausages may still include nitrates (carcinogens), purchase them from sources that guarantee nitrate- free products.

Dwindling Oil Price: CBN Devalues Naira, Raises Lending Rate FROM FRONT PAGE

by N13 down from N155/$1 as the country struggles to reshape its fiscal policies in response to dwindling oil price which has taken its toll on the foreign reserves and raised the benchmark interest rate.

The monetary policy rate (MPR) was raised by 100 basis points from 12 per cent to 13 per cent, a move that will see a major increase in the cost of capital as banks increase their lending rates to reflect the change. It also increased the cash reserve ratio (CRR) for private sector deposits from 15 per cent to 20 per cent while retaining public sector CRR at 75 per cent.

Rising from the two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting yesterday, CBN governor Godwin Emefiele said the decision to lower the value of naira against the dollar was taken to strengthen the currency.

Emefiele said the decisions were taken after critically considering the options open to the regulatory institution to stem the tide of declining external reserves, ensuring Naira exchange rate stability and sustaining inflationary rate at single digit as well as ensuring credit to key sectors of the economy, The naira has come under intense pressure in recent months following continuous slide in oil prices, forcing the CBN to step into the currency market defend the exchange rate. But with depletion in foreign reserves, it has only been able to temporarily sustain the exchange rate from time to time. Though speculations of devaluation have been rampant, the CBN had not taken any step in that direction until yesterday.

Describing the emerging developments at local and international economic environments as calling for serious fiscal and monetary palliative measures at the domestic level, Emefiele explained that the Nigerian situation demanded that the CBN confront the issue of declining external reserves, financial system stability and inclusive growth of the economy head-on in order to consolidate the recent achievements of adopted policies.

While assuring of the committee’s commitment to these measures in order

to sustain the credibility of the Bank’s policies and anchor the expectations of core stakeholders, the CBN governor defended the committee’s stance for a more flexible naira in the face of non-existent fiscal buffers as the most viable policy option at a time of heightened demand pressure for foreign exchange and falling oil prices.

Reacting to media enquiries on how Nigeria can effectively cope with the pricing uncertainties in the oil market, the CBN governor, who described the $73 oil price benchmark for 2015 budget as good but not pessimistic enough to protect the downside of the economy as an interim measure, said he foresaw that the tightening measures will continue unless there was an improvement in the global economy, particularly in the area of oil price which is currently exposing the Nigerian economy to some vulnerability.

On the dwindling foreign reserves and what could be done to mitigate the pressures, Emefiele noted that the only viable longlasting option for the country remained the diversification of its economic base and reduced importation of goods and services, He said: “I think what could have been done is that we could have taken measures to diversify our economy. We have certain infrastructural issues that we need to deal with. There is a need for us to diversify. Why should we be importing rice? Why should we be importing fruit juice into the country?

Why should we be importing milk? In fact, before I was born, milk was being imported into this country, what rocket science do we need to produce milk?

“It is just for people to get committed and embrace agriculture. We need to refocus, we need to look inwards, there are so many countries today that started their drive towards industrialization many years ago just like us and they have made progress; they have transformed their economies from being import-dependent economies to economy that can be seen to have embraced import substitution.

“I must confess that at this stage, we don’t have a choice, we must embrace import substitution before we talk of export➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

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8 NEWS

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Again, Senate Fails To Approve Emergency Rule Extension

By Adesuwa Tsan, Edegbe Odemwingie and Jonathan NdaIsaiah, Abuja

The question of whether the Senate will approve the request of President Goodluck Jonathan to extend state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states remained unanswered yesterday at the lawmakers failed to take a stand on the issue even after meeting with service chiefs yesterday.

Though the Senate said that the extension of emergency rule was not on the agenda of the meeting that held yesterday, the lawmakers, however, stated that the military insisted on a state of emergency to effectively carry out the war against insurgency.

The Senate had last Tuesday and Wednesday begun debate on the request, before resolving to get a briefing from security head of all security agencies in the country.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Kenneth Mininmah, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun and the director-general of Department of State Services, Ita Ekpeyong, were present at the meeting. The inspector general of Police (IGP), Abba Suleiman, was absent.

His representative, a deputy inspector-general, Operations, DIG Makama, was earlier sent out by the senators who insisted that the IGP appeared in person.

The meeting started at 11:13pm and lasted till 6:05pm with the service chiefs taking turns to brief the lawmakers on the matter.

Speaking after the meeting, Senate president David Mark described discussion during the meeting as robust” with the focus being on the challenges and progress made by the armed forces in the fight against insurgency.

Mark announced that the invasion of the National Assembly by police last week and related matters would be discussed today in an open session, and thereafter mandated the spokesman of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, to brief the media on the discussions held behind closed-doors.

In his briefing, Sen Abaribe said the interaction “was very, very frank and very detailed”.

Though he said the Senate did not discuss the request of Mr President, he however said the military had insisted that they need the state of emergency to be able to effective-

Mark

ly curtail the insurgency ravaging the region.

“We discussed the constraints of the Nigerian army in dealing with the insurgency. We also looked into the budgetary provision for them and what has been done so far in containing the insurgency and I can tell you the Senate was very, very impressed by the response from the military and, like I said, the military has shown itself to be capable of dealing with the insurgency.

“The fact that they are capable of dealing with the insurgency means that the Senate will do all it needs to within its power to support the military so that we can bring this insurgency to a quick resolution. “We also found from their briefing that we have some problems which have to do with the troop levels and the level of equipment and, of course, all the other ancillary problems where you have to fight an asymmetrical war - not a formal conflict, and we are very glad that that the military is at this moment gearing up itself to be able to deal with this asymmetrical conflict in the north east of Nigeria. As of today, we can assure Nigerians that the military is up to the task of dealing with this matter.”

Abaribe, however, revealed that that “the question of state of emergency was not what was on the table today (yesterday) and we are going to also wait until it is brought to the floor of the Senate before we discuss it.”

Police, DSS continue National Assembly blockade A combined team of fully armed

mobile policemen, riot police and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday continued their blockade of the National Assembly.

The development comes barely five days after the police and the DSS’ blockade of the National Assembly apparently to fence out the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal failed.

LEADERSHIP reports that a major fallout of the fracas are heightened moves and counter moves by the camps of the Speaker and that of President Goodluck Jonathan to impeach the other.

The presidency has denied involvement in the National Assembly fracas.

While the House remains on recess till December 3, the Senate sat at an executive session over President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to extend emergency rule in the three North East states ravaged by the Boko Haram-led insurgency.

A senior DSS operative attached to the National Assembly, when contacted on the heavy security presence, described the operation as a ‘routine’ exercise.

The acting National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Ibrahim Ndako declined comments.

It was learnt that Ndako’s refusal to speak followed queries he received after he informed newsmen that the mace - an authority symbol of a Legislative House and its Speaker - was safely under lock and key.

Last Wednesday, reports filtered around the National Assembly that the Mace had been taken out of the National Assembly.

CBN Devalues Naira, Raises Lending Rate FROM PAGE 5

oriented industrialisation. We must move away from importing these goods that are creating a lot of pressures on our reserves. If we do this, our reserves will get stronger,” he said.

Emefiele also advocated the

need for the states to rev up their Internally Generated Revenue drive by exploring non-oil productive activities within their domains in view of the uncertainties of distributions from the Federation Accounts in the months ahead.

In addition, he also pointed out the need by the National

Assembly to fast-track the ongoing deliberations on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, with a view to passing into law and using it as legislative instrument for attracting investments into the upstream subsector and improve transparency and accountability in the subsectors’ operations.

Female Suicide Bombers Kill 45 In Maiduguri FROM PAGE 5

At that moment also, we will bring the staff and students to new sites.

The objective of this Boko Haram is to traumatise our citizens,” Fotso added.

The border areas which have been hardest hit are Amchide, Fotocol, Kolofata and Kiti Matari.

Ashigashia reported 30 percent of their schools had to close two months ago when Boko Haram occupied the town for three weeks before being dislodged by the Cameroon military.

Despite dispatching troops and cooperating with the Nigerian government, Cameroon has increasingly become both a staging ground and a casualty of Boko Haram’s five-year violent campaign to create a caliphate in northern Nigeria.

The country’s minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, also told the agency that the Boko Haram threat is choking the country.

He said Cameroon is suffering the collateral effects of a conflict that does not directly concern it, and that every day Cameroonians living along the borders with Nigeria are subjected to Boko Haram atrocities, including assault, rape and murder.

Displaced persons build new town in Adamawa Meanwhile, thousands of displaced citizens from the Borno town of Gwoza have founded a new town in Adamawa State called Daware in Fofure Local Government Area, an online media, PRNigeria, has reported on its website.

With this new development, there are indications that many of these may never return to their original homes.

Gwoza, a vast local government in Borno State, has been consistently under attack since April this year when Boko Haram members fleeing from Sambisa Forest moved into their towns on motorcycles.

On May 30, 2014, the Emir of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, was killed along with the Emir of Uba, Ismaila Mamza by armed men in Hawul LGA on their way to attend the funeral of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar.

And during the second week of August, the a son of Timta, who was installed after his father’s murder, fled the town after the terrorists finally overran the town, sacking the Police Mobile Force training school and declaring Gwoza the headquarters of their newly founded Caliphate.

A village head in Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Lawan, who is now a resident of Dawari following his displacement, told our correspondent in an interview that a majority of those who fled

to Daware are no longer thinking of returning to their original homes.

Lawan told members of Journalists Against Disaster Initiative (JADI) on a mission to evaluate the condition of internally displaced persons in Adamawa State how the town of Daware came to habour the Gwoza natives.

According to him, a resident of Gwoza had fled to Daware and after a month he returned home. On his way back to his new place of abode, about 300 others followed him and the population has swelled to over 3,000 since then.

Although Daware had existed as a hamlet before now, the over 3,000 fleeing residents of Gwoza and its environs have now turned it into a small town.

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Adamawa State government only recently discovered the now sprawling community located off Yola-Mubi highway following the invasion of Mubi by the terrorists and a search was conducted to discover where the residents had fled to.

Insurgency will soon fizzle out, caused by ignorance – Governor Aliyu Niger State governor Dr Babangida Aliyu has said that the insurgency in some parts of the country was caused by ignorance of the teachings of the two major religions in Nigeria.

He also asserted that that the insurgency is a temporary setback that would soon be over.

Aliyu who made the above comments when the Egyptian Ambassador in Nigeria Mr Asraf Salama paid him a courtesy visit at Government House noted that if the people committing violence were conversant with the teachings of their religion, they would know that no religion teaches violence but peace.

Sheathe your sword, Ohaneze begs Boko Haram Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos chapter, has begged the Boko Haram sect to lay down its arms for the progress of Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its president, Chief Fabian Onwualu, stated that no group or region was born to permanently rule the nation.

While on a visit to Chief Edwin Clark, the group also pledged their support to Goodluck Goodluck Jonathan’s second term in office, saying that the entire Igbo community in Lagos had pledged their unalloyed support for the president because of the many developmental projects he had have embarked upon.

“We have been observing very keenly the trends of what has been happening within Jonathan’s administration and we have come to a conclusion that the president has performed,” he stated.

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

NASS Fracas: NdaIsaiah Condemns Blockade, Seeks Reform Of Police A presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC and founder of LEADERSHIP Group, Mr. Sam Nda- Isaiah has condemned the recent blockade of the National Assembly by the police.

Nda-Isaiah also said the police who are officers of the law should be at the forefront of upholding the law and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians no matter how highly placed, to serve their political interests.

A statement by the spokesman for the Sam4Nigeria Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr David Chinda, also quoted Nda-Isaiah as calling for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force so as to ensure that the top leadership of the force are not beholden to the executive, the judiciary or the legislative arm of government.

That, he said is the only way they can be truly impartial and do their jobs to the letter of the law. The police he said should uphold the law and not uphold politicians.

The presidential aspirant said as the largest democracy in Africa and the Middle East, so many countries look up to Nigeria’s leadership and it was a shame that pictures of our lawmakers jumping over the National Assembly fence to enable them do their duties is trending all over the world.

Nigeria, he said does not need such divisive, dictatorial actions but needs the highest concentration of our energies for a rapid transformation of the country into a First World Nation.

He further said it was a shame that Nigeria has become a laughing stock within the international community and the dispatches from their foreign embassies would further depict our country in bad light due to the actions of a few selfish politicians.

Nda-Isaiah said he wondered why duly elected members of the National Assembly would be denied entry into their places of work to do their constitutionally assigned responsibilities to the people of Nigeria.

He went ahead to say that this is not how we should nurture the democracy that was fought by so many people, some of whom lost their lives in the process.

He further said the issue of the speakership of the House of Representatives was an issue that was easily determined either by members of the House of Representatives at their plenary or by a competent court of law.

By Christiana Nwaogu, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) accompanied

by Kebbi State governor Saidu Dakingari, acknowledging cheers from the crowd on arrival in Binin Kebbi, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN.

Reps Scaled Fence To Save Democracy – APC

By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the police invasion of the National Assembly last week is the equivalent of a coup as it congratulated members who jumped the fence to save Nigeria’s democracy.

In a statement issued yesterday by its national publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC called for an independent investigation with a view to stopping a reccurrence.

The party congratulated the members of the National Assembly, especially those who scaled the high gates of the National Assembly, for the sacrifices they have made to defend the nation’s democracy.

It said the lawmakers, by their action, risked their lives for the survival of Nigeria’s democracy,

hence they are heroes.

The APC said, “The lawmakers who united across party lines last week to restore the integrity of the House of Representatives and prevent an attempt to truncate our democracy are heroes, because if they had not done what they did, no one could have imagined the consequences of the orchestrated police action against the National Assembly.

“The senators who stormed the House in sympathy and solidarity with their colleagues, including Senate President David Mark, should also be commended by all for resisting tyranny and for facing up to anti-democratic forces.’

The party said using weapons to attack an arm of government and preventing it from carrying out its functions are tantamount to a coup, adding

that the tear gas that was fired into the National Assembly by an invading force of policemen is a chemical weapon.

“We are demanding the independent inquiry in view of the seriousness of the armed attack on the National Assembly and the danger it poses to our democracy. We are also alerting the international community to the happenings in Nigeria and urging them to show interest because of their investment in the country’s democracy,’’ it said.

The APC said the tepid denial by the presidency of its involvement in the senseless attack is not enough to stop the fingerpointing at it, especially because no one, not even the Inspector General of Police, will have the temerity to stop the nation’s number four citizen from entering the National Assembly

without an express order from the president.

“This is why we have continuously held the president responsible for last week’s show of shame,’’ the party said, noting that the IGP is just a tool in the hands of a president that has perhaps done more than any other president before him to truncate the nation’s democracy.

“We make bold to say that President Jonathan has worked assiduously to put Nigeria’s democracy in jeopardy, whether in Rivers State where he backed a misguided police commissioner to usurp the constitutional duties of an elected governor or in Ekiti State where he has so far refused to condemn the so-called impeachment of the Speaker by seven PDP members in a 26-member House of Assembly,” the party added

We’ll No Longer Tolerate Attacks On Jonathan, Democracy – PDP

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it will no longer condone sustained vicious attacks on the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan, the institutions of democracy and the unity of the nation by the opposition party.

The PDP national publicity secretary , Olisa Metuh, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the ruling party will no longer fold its hands while the desperate desire of the APC for power poses a threat to the very survival of democracy and the nation.

He said, “The PDP has been watching carefully as the rank and file of the APC, the governors, party leaders, presidential hopefuls and even sidekicks run amok, competing in a heavily subjective castigation of President Goodluck Jonathan with incendiary utterances, signposting its plans for the dastardly when it loses in next year’s general elections.

“However, patriotism, the cardinal value of our great party, indeed, the price of our custodianship of the mandate of over 160 million Nigerians calls for vigilance, maturity and responsibility, hence our restraints in the face of the naked lies and recklessness of the APC. “We had thought that the silver

hair of its top leaders would caution the thoughtless delinquency of its youngsters. Unfortunately, the recklessness of the old is in competition with the imprudence of the young. What a shame the APC has turned.”

The PDP noted that its decent political campaigns focusing on the achievements of the party at various levels of government should have served as a pointer to the opposition party to maintain political decorum and primacy of national interest in the buildup to the forthcoming elections.

The PDP said, “This disposition has led the APC to work in cahoots with the enemies of Nigeria in an attempt to wreck our

democracy and throw the nation into chaos, hence the urgency of the need to warn that ‘enough is now enough’.”

The ruling party further alleged that “the aim of the APC is to set the stage for violence, instill fear in Nigerians, discourage them from actively participating in the electoral process thereby giving room for them to perpetrate all manners of electoral malpractices (as evidenced by their cloning of the Permanent Voters Cards) which is the only way they may hope to achieve political power in Nigeria. This position is reinforced by their constant threat to cause violent pandemonium when they lose the elections.

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stories of the Wednesday, November 26, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

ROBBERY: Lawyer Vows To Fight On

By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja

About five days after armed robbers visited a law firm and stole some documents filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja to challeng the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 Presidential election, the plaintiff in one of the suits Wahab Olatoye has vowed that the attack on his office would not stop the ongoing suit.

Men suspected to be armed robbers last Friday night broke into the law office of Olatoye at Suit 33, Manga Plaza, Garki, Area 11 and carted away most of the files containing documents to be used in the eligibility suit and other vital documents.

Olatoye alongside one Adejumo Ajagbe had approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja seeking an order restraining the INEC and the AGF from allowing Jonathan and Sambo to seek re-election for their respective offices in 2015.

Olatoye said the attack would not deter him in the pursuance of sustenance of constitutional democracy.

“It is quite unfortunate for this type of thing to happen. For people to break into my office, destroy my cabinet, ransacked my office, destroy my computer system and steal vital documents.

“I leave them in the hands of God, but as a lawyer and a citizen of Nigeria, I am not bothered. Allah is in control.

“I can’t be suppressed or intimidated.

We all have our roles to play to sustain constitutional democracy premised on principles of service delivery to all Nigerians that have the final say to determine who governs them vide their political sovereignty which the lasting power.”

DIVORCE: Housewife Drags Husband To Court Over Death Threat

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A 32- year-old house wife, Mrs. Amaka Uwah in Okpanam Community near Asaba, Delta State has dragged her husband, Mr. Kingsley Uwah, to Okpanam District customary Court, seeking the dissolution of their marriage on the grounds of alleged lack of love, incessant fighting, threat by her husband to kill her if she gets pregnant, among other claims.

The marriage was contracted according to Okpanam native law and custom in Okpanam Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, on April 28, 2012, with a dowry of N200 paid by the respondent.

According to the affidavit in support of the suit, the plaintiff said he visited the respondent, Mr. Kingsley Uwah who resides at Amachi quarters Okpanam, on several occasion between the hours of 6am to 6pm but was unable to effect personal service upon the respondent because he did not meet him at home.

A man sleeping beside his pepper at Kuje Market, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH.

Acquitted: Court Frees Man Who Hid Mother In Wardrobe For 10 Years

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

A High Court sitting in Imo State in Oguta judicial division yesterday discharged and acquitted Dr Chimezie Osigwe who was alleged to have killed and embalmed his late mother, Mrs Lucy Osigwe, and locked her corpse up in his wardrobe for 10 years.

Justice Goddy Ahunihu, in his udgment in the suit number HOG/23C/2013 held that the prosecuting counsel lacked evidence to prosecute the defendant who was alleged to have murdered his mother in August 2004 in his compound at Nzurume, Umuagbu, Ejemekwuru in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.

“No proof that he killed his mother, since a witness and report have said that she died as a result of the earthquake allegedly caused by the disturbance from the activities of the oil company.

There is no proof of any harm on the body of her mother, therefore no intent or guilt; the accused is hereby discharged,” Ahunihu stated.

Addressing journalists shortly after the judgement, Osigwe described the verdict as a landmark and epoch making in his life.

“We have now seen justice exhumed from injustice. As a member of Sat Guru Maharaji, I want the entire world to know that it is a dirty calumny, the truth was covered but it has been defended by Guru Maharaji.

“The faith of Maharaji does not eat human flesh, how can people who don’t eat meat and fish eat human beings as they alleged?” Osigwe asked.

Osigwe further denied killing his mother.

He narrated that his mother died as a result of the activities of an oil company, which he noted cracked the wall of the external bathroom of the house where she went to ease herself.

“I did not kill my mother; she went outside the bathroom to ease herself and the wall fell down on her as a result of the earthquake caused by the oil company. I reported the matter to the police and autopsy was conducted on her. I embalmed her because I wanted to sue the oil company.”

PROTEST: 4 UNIJOS Students Shot

BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, ,Jos

No fewer than four students of University of Jos were shot by yet to be identified security operatives during a peaceful protest over increment in the development levy that led to the closure of the institution by the school authorities yesterday.

The managment of the school shut school following the protest. As at the time of filing this report, about 11 students have been injured in the crisis.

The spokesman of the Special Task force (STF) code nane operation save haven, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the news to our correspondent in Jos.

According to him “four students were shot by yet to be identified security operatives while protesting “.

The injured students are currently receiving treatment at the STF clinic at the Headquarters “ “We had to rush them to our clinic for treatment because government hospitals are currently on strike “.

“The injured students are responding to treatment” He said.

He denied the involvement of the STF in the shooting .

Similarly the Men of the state Police Force also denied the involvement of its personal in the shooting .

BRIEF WAR: Police Arraign Lawyer Over Assault On Colleague OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos

The Police in Lagos yesterday arraigned a female lawyer, Nina Lawani before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly assaulting a colleague at the court premises over a brief.

According to the police, Lawani, who resides at 6 Shomolu Road Dolphin Estate Ikoyi, unlawfully slapped one Barrister Helen Ibeji on the right side of her face during an argument over who has the right to represent a client in a case.

The lawyer, who was arraigned before Magistrate O.M Ajayi on a one count charge of assault, allegedly committed the crime at about 11:12am at Igbosere Magistrate Court on November 18, 2014.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against her.

The prosecutor Sergeant Daniel Ighodalo, told the court that the offence is contrary and punishable under section 170 of the criminal law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.

And section 170, prescribes one year imprisonment for any offender convicted of assault.

After the arraignment, counsel to the defendant Vincent Usman urged the court to grant his client bail, on self-recognition.

He submitted, “I pray that the court should grant the defendant bail on selfrecognition because she is a member of the legal profession who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991.”

In her ruling on the oral application,Magistrate, O.M Ajayi expressed sadness over the action of the lawyers, describing their behaviour was disgraceful to the profession.

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

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Photo News

CULTISM: Police Nab 9 Students, Recover Arms

BY Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police command has arrested nine suspected cultists in Okwuzi community of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area.

Some others were also, arrested near Eagle Island in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

A statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammed, said seven of the suspected cultists were arrested at Okwuzi community following a tipoff on planned battle of supremacy between two notorious cult groups, Deygbam and Deewell.

Muhammed gave the names of the arrested suspected cultists as Chinazo Amaechi, Nna Chisom, Solomon Ossai, Regimus Igwelatu,

Monday Jackson, Chinonso Fordima, and Tony Amanya He said another two suspected cultists were arrested at the back gate of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) while initiating new members when policemen swooped on them.

The police image maker gave the names of those arrested to include, Joel Ozekume, a final year student of RSUST, and Princewill Brown, a graduate of the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH).

Muhammed stated that items recovered from the seven suspected cultists included one pump action gun, four live cartridges, one double barrel gun, a Honda jeep, a Toyota Camry saloon, two laptops, and assorted charms, while one Beretta pistol and three rounds of .9mm ammunition were recovered from the two arrested at RSUST back gate.

Former vice president and APC presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar congratulating his wife, Dr (Mrs) Jennifer Jamilah Douglas-Abubakar, after her call to Bar in Abuja, yesterday.

THIRST: Water Scarcity Bites Harder In Kaduna

BY MIDAT JOSEPH, Kaduna

Residents of Kaduna State have been placed under untold hardship following a severe water scarcity that hits the State metropolis and suburbs.

Our correspondent, who monitored the situation, gathered that communities within the state metropolis such as Hayin Danmani, Television, Kabala West, Sabon-Tasha, Barnawa, Kakuri, Angwan Boro, Angwan Pama, Angwan Romi and Angwan Sunday have not had water supply for nearly one month to months respectfully.

The situation has brought untold hardship to many residents.

A traditional ruler in Angwan Boro, Haruna Goni said the situation has gone worst, even as he called on government to intervene on the situation.

According to Haruna Goni “my community has not used pipe burn water in the area since October 7th this year,” a situation he

said was unacceptable.

“I’m speaking on behave of my community about this water. We have serious problem about water. Since October 7th, a single of water has not passed here. And my people are worried,” he said.

Acrss section of the rsidents who lamented to LEADERSHIP their ordeals, said appealed to the tState government to wake up to its responsibility of meeting the needs of its citizenry.

Contacted Kaduna State water Board management said Mother-Cat and other water consultants company have already been involved in the matter when internal efforts to restore the fault failed to yield positive result.

In a one paragraph message by the District Manager (DM) Barnawa water Board, Engr. Mukhtar Yusuf who spoke on behalf of the General Manager of the Board at the sight in Kamazo said the breakdown of Butterfly Valve was responsible for the short-

RELIEF MATERIALs: NEMA Deploys Personnel, Water Tankers, Ambulance To IDP Camps

BY Ejike Ejike, Abuja

As a result of the findings from a detailed assessment of the operations of internally displaced persons camps conducted in Adamawa state by the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNCHR), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Nigerian Red Cross, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, NEMA have deployed more personnel, water tanks and Ambulances to improve the welfare and management of IDPs in camps within the state.

According to the spokesperson of NEMA, Sani Datti, the Director General, Muhammad Sani Sidi stated that the

personnel deployed to the state would help in maintaining proper and modern camp management and camp coordination while the mobile intensive care unit ambulance would be stationed to respond to emergencies in any of the camps.

He said the Agency in collaboration with Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross, were doing all they could to identify those IDPs living in host communities so that they too could benefit from the relief items provided.

An ad - hoc committee set up by NEMA, headed by Sa’ad Bello has already commenced operation, even as IDPs are being re-registered and issued with identity numbers, new camps have been identified in Bekaji area of Jimeta, Numan and Shelleng, and host communities are being accessed and relief items have been deployed to those new areas identified.

L-R: INEC chairman, Prof Atahiru Jega; minister of women affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina and minister of state for education, Mrs Viola Onwurili, during the public presentation of INEC Gender Policy in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH.

Principal, Government Secondary School (GSS), Garki, Abuja, Okoronkwo Vera (left); public affairs advisor, Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN), Clement Iloba (second right); representative of education secretary, Salihu Yahaya (right) and a JSS 3 Student , Edo Isaac, during the distribution of school backpacks to the students of the school

by Julius Berger in Abuja.

L-R: Permanent secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Ezekiel Oyebola Oyemomi; minister of women affair and social development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, and programme officer United Nations Women, Mrs Adekemi Ndiale, during a press briefing in commemoration of the elimination of violence against women, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

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14 News north-central

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

2015: Kumuyi Admonishes Nigerians On Parties’ Manifestos

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Leader of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi yesterday urged Nigerians to critically examine the manifesto of those seeking elective offices to determine their suitability or otherwise for election in 2015.

Kumuyi, spoke with newsmen shortly after arriving in Ilorin, Kwara State for the take-off of a three-day crusade by his ministry at Eyenkorin, on the outskirt of the state capital.

The cleric described as ‘mere speculations’, insinuations about the possible break-up of Nigeria after the elections.

He asked Nigerians to separate pronouncements from prophecies about the future of the country.

Kumuyi said in 2015 Nigerians must put hands together to elect people who will do the will

short news Ahmed Flags Off Construction Of N7.9bn KaiamaKishi Road The Kwara State governor, Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday flagged off the reconstruction of federal government owned 64km Kaiama-Kishi road.

The project will gulp the sum of N7.9billion.

Speaking at the event in Kaiama, Kwara North, Ahmed said the reconstruction of the road which links the state with Oyo State was aimed at enhancing socioeconomic development of the people of the area.

He said he would soon flagoff construction of Ilesha-BarubaGwanara road.

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin.

of the majority while those who eventually get elected must understand that they come into office for the good of the people.

He described his visit to the north central state as beyond religion and ethnicity, saying he was sure God loves the people of Kwara and had seen what they might be passing through either as individuals or groups and was ready to bring his supernatural power to intervene in their affairs.

He added, “Let there be enlightenment; let the media tell us this is where Nigeria ought to be. For instance, we all want an economically stable Nigeria, we all want security so let everyone become conscious of that and let all of us know that the task of doing it is not for just a few people.

“We should look at the manifesto of politicians and pick the ones that will deliver.

Group Commends Suswam Over Senate Screening Benue Youth in Diaspora Association has commended the governor of Benue State, Governor Gabriel Suswam over his successful screening as a top contender for the Benue North East senatorial district.

The national secretary of the group, Comrade Torkuma Asongo made the commendation yesterday in Abuja after its plenary on the state of the nation.

Asongo called on all Benue stakeholders to support Governor Suswam, maintaining that the PDP will continue to win elections in the state if it fields credible candidates like Governor Gabriel Suswam who is dear to the largest population of the people in the state through his selfless service delivery to the grassroots.

The group also maintained that the screening of the aspirant is already causing some aspirants to beat a retreat knowing fully well that he has done his home-work to win any individual no matter how highly placed across the state and urged such persons not to see themselves as losers but conduct themselves peacefully after the elections.

By Jerry Emmanson, Abuja

short news Labour Party Woos Youths With 50% Elective Slots Ahead of the 2015 general elections and in a bid to woo Nigerian youths into its fold, the Labour Party said it has allocated 50 per cent of its elective slots to the youths across the country.

The national chairman of the party, Abdulkadir Salam, stated this when he, along side the national publicity secretary and the national treasurer of the party, Ebere Ifenche and Oluchi Opara, respectively received a delegation of #30PercentOrNothing Movement, led by its national coordinator, Mr. Hashim Suleiman.

By Ebriku John Friday, Abuja

L-R: Egypt ambassador to Nigeria Ashraf Salama and Niger State governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu during a courtesy visit on the governor by the ambassador, in Government House, Minna. PHOTO BY GOVT HOUSE

Nasarawa: 95 % PVCs Ready For Distribution – REC

BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia

The resident electoral commissioner (REC) in charge of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Ahmad Makama, yesterday stated that 95 per cent of permanent voter cards (PVCs) have arrived the state and are ready for distribution to voters from 28th-30th November in all the 1,495 polling units in the state.

Makama who stated this during a stakeholders meeting held in Lafia preparatory to the distribution exercise and continu-

ous voter registration, said the remaining five per cent is also ready for collection in Abuja.

He said those whose PVCs have not come either due to reasons of multiple registration and incoherent fingerprint or blurred facial image should endeavour to register again promising that PVCs would be provided to those who for any reason cannot be issued with it in the forthcoming exercise.

The electoral boss also stated that designated centres would be provided in areas that have been

ravaged by communal clashes in the southern senatorial zones, adding that distribution desks would be provided in three local government areas of Lafia, Keana and Obi at the local government headquarters so that those displaced from their homes can obtain their cards.

He however warned that no cards would be issued by proxy and any member of the public or political party trying to coerce or entice the commission’s staff into compromising would be arrested and prosecuted.

Malaria: Niger To Get 2.7m Treated Mosquito Nets

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) is set to distribute 2.7 million treated mosquito nets across the 25 local government areas of Niger State.

The leader of the state support team of NMEP, Mrs. Adaeze Aidenagbon, disclosed this yesterday during a media orientation programme organised

by Society for Family Health in Minna to acquaint the media of the knowledge of the consistent use of the Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN) While saying that the LLIN reduces malaria incidence by 50 per cent, Aidenagbon, said that the (LLIN) campaign is aimed at replacing insecticide treated nets as part of proactive measures to reduce malaria prevalence in the country.

“The last distribution of mosquitoes nets in Niger State was in 2009, and there is need for replacement of these nets after a period of four years.The last distribution of these nets was one net card to two nets for an household, the system has changed now to one net card to one per 1.8 persons, that is maximum of four net cards per household,” she added.

2015: I’ll Defeat Smart Adeyemi For Kogi West Senatorial Seat – Melaye

BY PAUL UWADIMA, Abuja

Anti-corruption crusader and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dino Melaye has assured his supporters that he would defeat the incumbent senator representing Kogi West senatorial district of Kogi State in the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi in 2015 general elections.

Melaye who is aspiring for the Kogi West senatorial seat in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gave the assurance in Abuja yesterday while speaking with LEADERSHIP. He said that the incumbent senator has failed woefully to represent the senatorial district in the last eight years saying that the senator has failed in all indices of as-

sessing the performance of a senator.

He said, “Every legislator has three primary responsibilities, the first is the act of representation, making sure your people enjoy their fair share of the national cake, as I speak to you in eight years there is no single federal presence in the length and breadth of Kogi West senatorial district, not one.

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business

10th Edition the 10th Edition of Abuja National Carnival organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation witness poor turnout of participan.

Insecurity Mars Abuja Carnival As 30 States Stay Away

BY Chika Okeke, Abuja

In view of the ongoing security challenge that has crippled the entire sector of the economy, the 10th Edition of Abuja National Carnival organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation witnessed poor turnout of participant with 30 States of the 36 States of the Federation including FCT Shunning the event.

However seven states including Kogi, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Niger, Akwaibom, Kano and FCT including

Ijaw Cultural troupe displayed their carnival float at the event without the presence of any foreign participation.

The Carnival with the theme, ‘Building an Enduring Creative Nation’ was almost cancelled due to insecurity but was poorly publicised by the Carnival committee in the Ministry, despite the budgetary allocation mapped out for the event.

Declaring the event open, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan represented by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo praised

the Creative and Tourism sectors for contributing immensely to the country’s rebased Gross Domestic Product adding that the sectors provided economic development options such as poverty alleviation and wealth creation.

He maintained that despite insecurity that Nigeria has recorded remarkable progress in the creative sector even as he called on the private sector to contribute its quota to the development of the sector in line with President Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

In his address, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke expressed regret at the continued bombings rocking the nation, noting that the carnival would have been suspended till next year but had to take place since it was listed in the International calendar.

While thanking the Federal government for constantly preaching unity through its programmes, he noted that the carnival would be low - key due to the mood of the nation.

L-R: Chairman, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr. Wale Doherty; Wife of GMD/ CEO, FirstBank, Mrs. Helen Onasanya; GMD/ CEO FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya; winner, Best Gross, Mr. Monday Eze; and captain, golf section, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr. Ted Iwere at the 53rd FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship Banquet and Dinner Awards held in Lagos recently.

Investment In Renewable Energy Key To Solving W/Africa Power Challenges

BY Chika Izuora, Lagos

Eaton Nigeria industries has identified renewable energy as an answer to addressing the challenges of power demand in the West Africa utility network.

Addressing a panel discussion at the West African Power Industry Convention, which held recently in Lagos, Charles Iyo, regional sales

manager, West Africa stated that African countries have excellent solar radiances, dependable wind areas and land for renewable power plants capable of providing the energy demand for the region.

Speaking on the topic ‘Options for increased access to electricity in West Africa: The case for a regional electricity market,” Iyo said the demand

for electricity in the region is outstripping supply and therefore said that the solution is to provide a source of power that is cost effective and requires little maintenance.

“Today’s utilities are under extreme pressure to improve reliability, drive operational efficiencies and reduce costs.

Therefore, the Eaton solutions for managing power demand

lies in an adaptable, secure and responsive infrastructure, consistent distribution of reliable, efficient and high-quality power, enhanced safety to protect people, property and the environment,” Iyo said.

According to Iyo, the economics of rural electrification systems are competing with other government programmes for funding with the former often being neglected.

BUSINESS QUOTE Ten minutes are not just one-sixth of your hourly pay.

Ten minutes are a piece of yourself.

Divide your life into ten-minute units and sacrifice as few of them as possible in meaningless activity.

Ingvar Kampard, founder of IKEA (1926-)

NCC To Host Industry Consumer Advisory Forum Today

BY Nkechi Isaac, Abuja

In a bid to protect the interest of telecom consumers , the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), will today, November 26, 2014, hold a parley with key stakeholders in the industry in Abuja.

A statement by NCC’s director of public affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the 4th quarter 2014, Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) meeting/open forum with the theme, “Consumer Rights and Obligations in the Telecom Industry’’ would provide an avenue for consumers to interact with key players in the industry.

The statement read in part: “The meeting promises to be informative and interactive, as the forum acts in advisory capacity, and makes recommendations to the commission regarding the interests and concerns of the consumer of ICT products and services.

The interests and concerns of physically challenged and the elderly, ensure that consumers are protected from unfair practices, as well as submit memoranda on and facilitate the review of the Consumer Code of Practice regulations.”

16 NEWS/BUSINESS

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Split PIB To Speed passage Process – Owan

BY Chika Izuora, Lagos

The Group Managing Director of Aiteo Power Mr. Ransome Owan has expressed worry over the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) just as he expressed concern over its consequences in the development of the oil and gas

sector.

Owan emphasized on the need for the law makers to fast track the process of its passage to help deal with the seeming challenges in the industry Owan, who gave the advice during his paper presentation titled “The emerging investorowned electricity industry

in Nigeria and prospects for economic boom” in West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) in Lagos, said that the bill which appear to be complex for a country like Nigeria should be split into a manageable state to have an easy passage by the National Assembly.

According to him, both

government authorities and policy makers should look at the bill carefully and find a way to split the it for easy passage into law.

According to him, “The bill as a whole is too complex for passage and this gives room for delay which hamper economic development growth of the

energy industry.”

“It would have been better to break it into a manageable state to allow it move forward.”

Owan said that the PIB aims at unifying all the necessary legislations in one law and provide a clear framework for investment in Nigeria’s energy sector.

BoI Appoints 122 Business Development Service Providers To Support SMEs

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Bank of Industry (BoI) has appointed 122 Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to assist small businesses in accessing its credit facilities.

Speaking during the signing of the agreement in Lagos, the managing director, BoI, Rasheed Olaoluwa explained that the move became necessary in order to ensure that viable medium and small enterprises access long term finance that would further aid their contribution to job creation and the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to him, the BDSPs, who were shortlisted

out of 311 applications received nationwide based on their capacity and preferred areas of coverage, have a mandate to collaborate with BoI to identify credible SMEs that require finance, while assisting them to develop bankable business plans and proposals to facilitate their access to finance.

“Furthermore, they will be supporting the SMEs to develop synergies and sustainable relationships with large enterprises, industrial buyers, and suppliers along the value chain,” he stated.

Olaoluwa pointed out that the bank has identified specific performance benchmarks to ensure that the BDSPs meet their obligations.

NSE Finally Delists Starcomms, Big Treat, Afroil, Pinnacle Point

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has finally delisted Starcomms, Afroil, Big Treat and Pinnacle Point Plc from its Daily Official List for failing to regularise their listing status despite being given five months to do so.

According to a statement on the NSE website, the exchange published a notice of its intention to delist 24 listed companies from its Daily Official List, arising from their non-compliance with provisions of the Listings Rules of The Exchange and pursuant to Clause 15 of the General Undertaking on Monday, 23 June 2014.

“The notice provided a three month window for each of the affected listed companies to regularize its listing status with the Exchange. Subsequently, a final delisting notice was published on October 14, 2014. As of today, one of the affected companies has fully regularized its listing status, while 19 companies have taken some steps to regular-

ize their listing status,” the NSE said. It stated that the Exchange will continue to engage these 19 companies with a view to bringing them into compliance with their post listing obligations.

“However, the four affected companies have failed to take any appropriate steps to regularize their listing status and the Exchange has proceeded to delist them, effective from November 24, 2014,” the NSE said.

Meanwhile, equity transactions closed on a positive trend yesterday as market capitalization gained 79 billion to close at N11.263 trillion from N11.184 trillion at which it opened. Similarly the NSE All-Share appreciated by 240.58 points or 0.71 per cent to close higher at 34,115.84 against the 33,875.26 achieved on Monday.

Total topped the gainers’ chart, gaining N10.07 to close at N157.47 per share. Nestle came second on the gainers’ chart with N4.99 to close at N865, while Forte Oil rose by N4.20 to close at N204.20 per share.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

L-R: Managing director/CEO, UBA Foundation, Ijeoma Aso; 2nd runner up, Nuku Darko Dorcas; Ghana’s deputy minister of education, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; winner, Paulina Boadiwaa Mensah; and first runner up Makafui Ama Tse Esther, at the grand finale of the maiden edition of the UBA Foundation’s national essay competition for Senior Secondary School Students in Ghana, held in Accra-Ghana, on Monday.

Fuel Subsidy Biggest Corruption Platform – LCCI

BY Chika Izuora, Lagos

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has described the ongoing retention of fuel subsidy in the 2015 federal government budget as a conduit -pipe to siphon public resources.

The chamber did not see any reason why government should continue to create such avenue to steal public money.

Reacting to the austerity measures announced by government recently to cushion effect of the sliding oil prices, Mr. Remi Bello, president of the LCCI stated that the biggest platform for corruption in the economy today is the management of subsidy on petroleum products.

Bello said the pressure it exerts on the government treasury is enormous and therefore pointed out that an accelerated reform of the oil and gas sector and the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would mitigate the challenge the subsidy management poses for government finance.

This will also facilitate the restructuring and diversification of the economy, he remarked.

“Changing economic

circumstances presents challenges and opportunities.

There will be losers and winners.

In the current economic conditions, some segments of the economy will profit,” Bello said.

Commenting on the cost of fuel Imports the president opined that it was expected that fuel imports cost would drop which he said would reduce the pressure of fuel subsidy payment on government. “ It is also expected that cost of diesel imports would reduce, depending on the degree of impact of the exchange rate on imports. Indeed, some of the policy actions are long overdue.

The present economic situation has again underlined the critical imperative of economic diversifications. An economy that is diversified has a better capacity to withstand shocks” he argued.

Speaking further he said, “at every turn in our advocacy activities, we have canvassed the need for the creation of an enabling environment to enhance the productivity of enterprises and consequently ensure economic diversification.

He said the LCCI noted the

fiscal and monetary policy measures government had taken to stabilise the macro-economic conditions and minimise dislocations.

He listed some of the measures to include reduction in international travels and trainings by federal government officials, tax on luxury items, review of oil price benchmark to $73 from $78 in the 2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF); renewed commitment to fiscal prudence, upward revision of revenue target for FIRS and the Nigeria Customs Service, among others.

He further noted that on the monetary policy front, some items had been excluded from the official foreign exchange window and they include, electronics, finished goods, information technology, generators, telecommunications equipment and invisible transactions among others.

“The implication is that transactions involving these items will be funded from at a higher exchange rate from either the interbank foreign exchange market or parallel market,” Bello stated.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

17

18

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

HAT Transformation Agenda for Grassroots Movement for Jonathan 2015

EXTENDING SUCCOUR TO INSURGENCY VICTIMS IN YOBE

S

aturday, the 22nd of November 2014 was a different day for the people of Yobe State. It was a day of relieve to thousands of lives that are worst hit by Boko haram insurgency in the state.

Although it was not the first time that similar gestures were extended to the victims, but the nature and number of people that thronged the venue in support and received the good will provided by HAT Transformation Agenda for Grassroots Movement for Jonathan in 2015 to cushion their suffering had clearly indicated that a wave of change is already waiting to consume the APC maladministration that is insensitive to the people`s plights.

Obviously, the enthusiasm that people showed last Saturday despite threats and intimidation by the ruling APC in the state, demonstrated the fact that they are seriously yearning for change. Throughout the period that the occasion lasted, the people were chanting song of praises for Peoples Democratic Party.

Many of them referred to the good thing that Yobe state benefited under the leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan while others who are optimistic of his returned come 2015 called on the President and his Principal Secretary P.S Alhaji Hassan Tukur as well as National Coordinator of Hat Transformation

Men and women and the disabled, waiting to receive the rice and wrappers

A beneficiary of the HAT Transformation Agenda who has gained a bag of rice

Agenda for Grassroots Movement Jonathan 2015. Alh (Dr) Ado Adamu Bomboy to do more of such projects to Yobe especially in infrastructural development and youth empowerment, However, “We want Mr President to continue and we will campaign for him because we as a state have benefited from President

Three women on their way home with there share of the rice, maize and wrappers beneficiaries irrespective of religious or political Goodluck Jonathan Sure-P transformational party affiliation, and with about 70 percent projects, roads construction, Federal University discount to arrest youth restiveness in the state.

Gashua, You Win initiative among many other Again, as women empowerment becomes a developmental projects. And he will return”. We center stage in the HAT Transformational will not relent on a spade a spade. Our Agenda, sufficient quantities of sawing machine displaced people from Gujba and Galani Local were distributed to them free to make them selfGovernment Areas have been naglated and reliant. As the saying goes “He who empowers denied basis need by APC lead government in women empowers all” the state.

However, rather than pursuing court case At the venue, the distribution of the relief alone over the twenty thousand 20,000 civil materials were made purely apolitical, 300 servants accusing APC led administration in the metric tons of Maize, 300 metric tons of rice state for serving them with sacked letters after have been shared to people free, guinea wax, casting their votes to PDP during the 2011 brocades, vegetable oil and detergents were general election, Hat Transformation Agenda also freely distributed to the targeted population for Grassroots movement for Jonathan has including Orphans, Blind peoples, Cripples and placed them on N18,000 and above monthly Widows. We will never relent in supporting and stipends each to ameliorate their suffering and standing by the side of our people at these trail make them self-reliant. Dr Ado Adamu have moment s and always. Our responsibility is to help our people with always continue. In bringing supports to them we have faced a lot of sabotage, but we are not discourage, our support is political, we don't discriminate base on political affiliation or religion, we gave our assistance to all those that deserve it.

In additional to this, the giant effort of National Coordinator of HAT. Dr Ado Adamu Bomboy also, over 500 tricycle machines (Keke Napep) were distributed A cripple holding tight to his bag of rice on soft loan basis to

Continued on next page...

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

HAT Transformation Agenda for Grassroots Movement for Jonathan 2015 Continued from previous page

A group of women waiting to collect there share of rice and maize extended to the state government workers who have been relief of their work becouse of political differences and are paid Five hundrend and sixty million four hundred and fifty thousand naira monthly to reduce their hardship (564,050.000 The physically challenged that received notice from Yobe State Ministry of Environment to quit street begging without proper arrangement have been supported also with the palliates to ameliorate their decade of suffering under the APC led administration in the state, they have received foodstuffs, clothes and the weaker were also placed on monthly stipends.

It’s of great concern to HAT Transformation that the Internally Displaced Persons were left to their fates, most of them are now living in various host communities who are themselves poor, thus severely over stretching the already scarce resources, as well as aggravating the poverty levels of the affected host communities.

were they will be given basis amenities, Health care and also a plan for their children Education.

Hat Transformation Agenda for Grassroots Movement for Jonathan 2015 has also concluded arrangement to construct Primary and Secondary schools on free education scheme in each of the three senatorial zones of Yobe state to encourage school enrollment, and accord much priority to the welfare and security of the students.

According to the National Coordinator of Hat Transformation Agena for Grassroots Movement for Jonathan in 2015, (Dr) Ado Adamu Bomboy, the gesture would be extended to Borno and Adamawa with a projection to sink in million of Naira monthly on each state to

women on their way home with there share of rice, maize and wrappers reduce the hit of insurgency in the three most affected states.

Over the last three years, Yobe PDP under Youth leadership of (Dr) Ado Adamu Bomboy, had seen some of the eventful moments that history has written in golden pen. As a businessman that always spent in the interest of his party, Pundits are of the opinion that the rapid changes Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had witnessed within his tenure underpinned the massive decamping of APC supporters to the largest political party in Africa.

As a person with little to give, the records are glaring for all to see. First from his little earning

Part of the three tones for distribution to the citizenry

In view of that, foodstuffs, clothes, and toiletries were distributed to them. As worse hit two Local government areas in the state by crisis, the least expected of the state government is to give them shelter by providing at least IDP camps,

A group of Men waiting to collect there share of rice and maize from Madalla Groups of company, he was able to empower over 500 youth in the company`s payroll and sponsor more than ten (10) Yobe indigenes to study abroad.

In an effort to take youths off the streets and idleness, he empowered over 350 youths under ride and own your car transport sector scheme, which as at today over 350 family heads and youths can boost of owning cars and making ends need with the cars, and more are about to follow suit.

In the moments of crisis, he gives free and temporary houses to over 100 households, and provided them with foodstuffs to rely on before they could find something doing in the host communities.

He employed over one thousand (1000)

Alh. (Dr) Ado Adamu Bomboy

National Coordinator, HAT Transformation Agenda for Grassroots Movement for Jonathan 2015

A display of bags of rice and maize ready for distribution

people in Damaturu alone where he established a business that includes block factories, orchards raising, petrol station and many other businesses that people can patronize comfortably to meet the ends of the targeted population.

Concern citizens in Yobe state will forever remain grateful to our PDP Youth leader and a l s o t h e N a t i o n a l C o o r d i n a t o r, H AT Transformation Agenda for grassroots Movement for Jonathan in 2015, Alh (Dr) Ado Adamu Bomboy The result of 2015 general election will determine how grateful we the genuine

Officials of HAT Transformation Agenda for Jonathan 2015

electorates are, if truly the votes will be allowed to count in Yobe.

With two Local Government Areas displaced at the moment, there is IDP Centre in the state of which importance to build housing estate is not allocated and yet your people are sleeping in motor parks or having difficulty to feed or temporary place to reside.

Why is the state government reluctant in giving our displaced people shelter? We will always remain resolute in our determination to help our people, we will never be discouraged. It is time the people of Yobe State should stand firm and to elect representatives that will live up to their promises, we condemn blame games in terms of attending to crisis. The people of Gujba and Gulani are immediate responsibility of the state government before any other person; neglecting any part of the state because of suspicion of affiliation to P D P i s uncalled for a n d condemnable.

Signed: Engr. Sadiq Abubakar Tijjani

National Secretary, HAT Transformation Agenda for Grassroots Movement for Jonathan 2015

20

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

REPORT OF THE

TRANSFORMATION

AGENDA

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

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LEADERSHIP in a bid to provide a true and objective picture of the successes and challenges of the Transformation Agenda is publishing THE REPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA as told by the key actors themselves in their own words unedited.

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The Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan has been hailed as successful in several areas like agriculture, power, roads, macro-economic stability, foreign-direct investment inflow, and the health sector, among others. Critics cite poverty, youth unemployment, insecurity and the contracting middle class as evidence that the Transformation Agenda is not working. So who and what do you believe? Welcome to the Situation Report.

Ministries, Paratatals and Agencies who have made impactful contributions to the Transformation Agenda are invited to tell their success stories in the REPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA. Private sector companies and contractors who have successfully executed Transformation Agenda projects are also invited to show and tell their success stories in the historic REPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA.

To participwaithteph:otographs, charts and graphs and call

ng nisation’s achievements90alo2, Henry Ubimago: 08068640944, Simply compile the orgaUw 3143 Iyobosa ugiaren: 08:03 Allen: 08052116707 sin To 6, 76 52 45 06 07 in Adebayo Benjam ent newspaper d si re ja u b A t n a the domin Show and tell it in

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Environment

Feature

Curbing Desertification Through Great Green Wall Programme

Housing As Catalyst For Economic Development

Page 22

Page 23

News Building Collapse: SON, Moulders Set Benchmark For Blocks KHI’s Luxurious Resdential Apartment In Abuja Soon Expert Calls For Building Of Environmental Supply Chain

22 HOMES & PROPERTY

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Curbing Desertification Through Great Green Wall Programme

By Evelyn Okoruwa, Abuja

Curbing Desertification Through Great Green Wall Programme

The programme is also aimed at encouraging the use of alternative sources of energy other than firewood

By Evelyn Okoruwa, Abuja The persistent increase in the degradation of the environment has been attributed to human activities and failure to adhere to simple environmental practices such as proper disposal of waste, removal of stagnant water, etc.

Stakeholders have said that the country must evolve deliberate efforts at actualizing environmental sustainability to achieve its developmental agenda.

Research has shown that when human population was smaller, people lived in smaller communities and the effect on the environment was small and localised but with the rapid increase in human population and standard of living, there has been a huge damage to environmental resources. Increase in population has lead to the depletion of raw materials. More waste is also being produced, which result in pollution. Humans are destroying habitats and reducing the amount of land available for other organisms.

Furthermore, modern day farming has also affected the environment in many ways.

Farmers now use pesticides to kill pests such as weeds, insects and rodents. While trying to increase food production they kill other wildlife in the process.

While pesticides may be washed into water supplies and contaminate drinking water, food for human consumption is also contaminated.

Also, the unrelenting felling

of trees, both for domestic and commercial purposes has resulted in desertification. Lack of adequate cooking energy especially in the rural areas led to the use of alternative source of energy, resulting in the felling of trees for fuel. Also disturbing is the fact that smokes from burnt is harmful to health and ecosystem. According to a world health report, results in the killing of 95,300 women and children.

In order to solve the issue of desertification, Nigeria conceived the Great Green Wall (GGW) programme and was endorsed by the Africa Union. The Green wall programme cuts across 11 countries namely Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Mali.

The GGW is a desert impact mitigation programme designed to afforestate desertifiBy NAN cated areas of the Sahel region on the African continent, enTwo witnesses on Monday testified and presented evidence in a case courage the use of green African instituted by a woman, Mrs Bathsheba Halid, challenging the demolition continent, encourage the use of of her N17.7 million house by Kaduna State Government. green energy and provide some The case was filed in 2013 against the Kaduna State Urban Planning and means of livelihood for affected Development Authority (KASUPDA). communities.

The plaintiff is asking the court to declare KASUPDA an illegalentity, as it was In Nigeria, the programme is not established by law and therefore, its operations and actions were also illegal aimed at increasing the counThe plaintiff also wants a declaration that the demolition violated the Kaduna try’s forest cover, checking deState Urban Planning and Environmental Protection Agency Edict of 1991. sertification in the northern The first witness, Sunday Adamu, told the Kaduna High Court II, parts of the country, improvpresided over by Justice Dogara Malam, that the land on which the ing the livelihood of rural comproperty was built belonged to his family and was sold to the munities in the affected areas, plaintiff at N1 million. generating employment for our He said the transaction for the transfer of ownership was formalised teeming youths as well as conafter the payment of the money. tributing our quota to global acAdamu tendered the document for the transaction, which was admitted as tion against climate change. exhibit by the court as evidence of land purchase and sales agreement.

The GGW target eleven frontThe second witness presented by the plaintiff, Abdullahi Mohammed, a line states, including Sokoto, Principal Partner of Alternative Action, a quantity survey firm, said Zamfara, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, he was the quantity surveyor during the construction of the building.

Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, He also confirmed the document forwarded to the court as endorsed by his firm.

Adamawa and Borno states.

Mohammed said the property was billed to cost N22.9 million on The minister of environcompletion but by the time it was demolished, it had gulped over N17.7 ment Mrs. Laurentia Mallam million. speaking on the programme

Witnesses Testify In N17.7m Property Demolition Suit

HOMES & PROPERTY 23

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

11

the project is a 11-storey building comprising a 89 apartments/ rooms

2.2bn

Housing As Catalyst For Economic Development GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

This huge proportion of public housing among the citizenry completely eradicated the social stigma that is often associated with public housing

A major topic that has formed the fulcrum of public discussions in the last one decade is how the housing sub-sectors of the nation’s economy can be revamped to boost economic development.

This is informed by the fact that several attempts by successive governments at addressing the problem have failed, owing to so many factors ranging from land, finance , government bureaucracy , mortgage and policy implementation challenge.

Amid the GDP rebasing indices that saw the country emerging the biggest economy in Africa, the fact remains, Nigeria’s mortgage market is just N224 billion, which is less than 1 percent of the country’s GDP. Thus, when the Faculty of Housing of the Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers converged on Lagos recently for its third National Housing Summit serious commitment was shown on how to harness the available resources to solve the problem.

Speaking at the forum , Mr. Bode Adedeji , the 19th president of the of NIESV said it is high time government at the highest level summoned the political will required for rigorous implementation of all the policies and programmes on housing sector.

He pointed out that in advanced economies the housing sector has been developed, structured to play crucial role in the overall economic development, adding that the multiplier effect of housing and construction sector are huge, verifiable and transformational.

Adedeji said, “These include tangible and measurable impact on GDP, employment generation, wide range social –political benefits.”

“So finalization of the amendment of the Land Use Act is very important. Difficult and expensive access to land has been a leading bane in Nigeria’s housing deliver system. It is therefore crucial for the various amendments proposed for the Land Use Act to

be finalized and enacted without wasting time,” Adediji said.

“There is need for enthronement of sustainable mortgage regime. The current culture of cash and carry has continued to frustrate effective housing delivery system in Nigeria. It is therefore crucial to roll out mortgage institutions and practices which will enable Nigerians of all classes to have access to mortgage loans for their houses and projects.”

For Dr. (Mrs.) Hikmot Koleosho, Nigeria can explore the Singaporean home ownership initiatives to develop its economy, saying over four decades ago Singapore consisted of villages made up of shanties, squatter huts, single storey sheds constructed with cardboards, zinc sheets, sticks and poles with unhygienic conditions, such as we have in the slums of Lagos e.g. Makoko and Maroko .

Ironically she noted that “As a result of the innovative public housing policy of the nation it as today, evolved into a fully developed and sophisticated city, invariably making it a model for public housing globally.

“Singapore’s housing policy has served as a major catalyst for the nation’s economic development.

Also by making majority of the citizen home owners, it has enhanced the sense of nationhood, level of productivity and social stability invariably engendering the city’s evolution into one of the world’s most friendly business hubs,” said Koleosho.

“The Singapore government rightfully recognized a home as a tangible asset in the country, a means of financial security and a hedge against inflation. As a result, it focused on housing provision for the citizenry in the form of home ownership such that by the year 2012, the volume of Singapore’s rental houses had become quite low.

“As a matter of fact the proportion of home ownership was over 90% (International Federation for Housing and Planning, 2012).

This is said to be the highest in the world (Housing and Development Board, 2012). This huge proportion of public housing among the

New apartment

citizenry completely eradicated the social stigma that is often associated with public housing.”

She pointed out that the Singapore proved a point with design strategy, stressing that at the commencement of the scheme, the housing designs were simple and focused on utility.

According to her, “It included blocks with variations of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom flats which came with basic amenities such as pipeborne water and electricity. Although they could be considered quite basic by today’s standards, the reality is that they met the needs of the people at that time and were far better than the slums and rural huts which was all that the majority of the populace could afford at this time.”

“The units were also designed to occupy minimal spaces which again although small, provided significantly bigger space than what most had in the various squatter huts that they occupied,” she added.

Another area Singapore revolutionised its housing for economic development, Koleosho pointed out, was one of the major reasons

for the widely recognised success of the Singapore Public home ownership scheme has been the level of its innovativeness.

According to her, its financial strategy was robust, noting that improved housing is relevant only if it is affordable, especially if more people in the lowest income cadre are captured in the housing scheme.

Koleosho said, “The Singapore government provided significant subsidy to make the homes affordable. Invariably, the pricing of the apartments whether for purchases or rental has always been done with an eye on affordability, rather than on cost.”

“In this vein HDB has been able to encourage participants even with low income to purchase their apartments rather than to rent them. As a result, about 90% of those who occupy the units do so, as home owners,” sad Koleosho.

“In the understanding that most people would not be able to afford the initial down payment an essential requirement in the purchase of a home, the Singaporean government came up with an ingenious solution.

the cost of the project has been estimated at N2.2 billion.

24

news

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

KHI’s Luxurious Residential Apartment In Abuja Soon

Ongoing construction of Ambassador Heights Luxury apartments

Building Collapse: SON, Moulders Set Benchmark For Blocks GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

As part of efforts to curb the menace of frequent building collapses in the country, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria(SON) and the Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria have reached an agreement that only 24 blocks should be produced from a 50kg bag of cement as against 42 presently being produced.

Speaking at a media briefing held in Lagos , the President of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Alhaji Rasheed Adewale said his group has agreed to henceforth use the prescribed 42.5 grade of cement for moulding blocks, and 32.5 grade for plastering.

To drum the message into their ears, he said the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) gave block moulders in all the geo-political zones of the country extensive lessons on the critical role cement blocks play in stabilising buildings and in construction work.

For the moulders, who are members of National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, he said they were taught the correct mixes needed to achieve particular strength of blocks ,adding that they in collaboration with SON decided on what should be the national standard of cement blocks to be produced for the construction of buildings in the country.

Consequently, he said they

arrived at a particular mix in ratio of other additives which would produce 24 blocks from a 50kg bag of cement, stating that the 42 blocks being produced from the same quantity of cement are substandard.

The fallout of the reduction in the number of blocks per bag is that the price of a block will move up from between N120 and N130 to between N200 and N250.

According to Adewale, “I sell a block for N220 and the strength is exactly what we agreed upon with SON,” adding that quality block is between N200 and N250 as anything other than this is substandard.

In his address, ‘Re: Open Letter to President Goodluck

Ebele Jonathan: A Plea for Urgent Intervention to Save the Construction Industry from Possible Enslavement’ Adewale said that the other group in their publication in a national daily accused them of presenting “deliberate lies” as cries of a victim to the president.

“First, we reject the efforts of desperate persons, who have no stakes in the block moulding industry, to drag us to a squabble that those directly concerned are capable of solving by themselves,” said Adewale.

“The working together of any industry is paramount or the players may shoot themselves in the foot – which is one challenge block moulders have faced over the years.”

Expert Calls For Building Of Environmental Supply Chain GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

President of the Harrington Group, Lisa Harrington has urged governments and corporate organizations to activate a dramatic increase in environmental supply chain to reduce carbon emission.

In the paper, titled “Closing The Loop: Building the Environmental Supply Chain” written by Lisa Harrington and commissioned by DHL, the world’s leading logistics

company, Harrington noted that such environmental procedures cannot be ignored.

In the paper, Harrington insisted and urged businesses to think differently about their Environmental supply chains and the ‘costs’ attached to going green, adding that best-practice businesses - such as P&G, which recently reported nearly $1billion in cost savings from its environmental supply chain.

According to him, “A great shift in attitudes is currently

underway across industries.

Gone are the old and dated misconceptions that ‘green’ means higher costs where the environmental supply chain model is executed correctly.

“The recipe for success is to get the four principles right. The principles include reduce, reuse, recycle and recapture. Reduction is all about eliminating waste by injecting efficiency, reusing involves product refurbishment, while recycling is ensuring that your waste becomes opportunity.

“ Recapturing is the process of breaking down end-of-life products to harvest residual value such as precious metals.”

Faced by driving market trends such as escalating consumer pressure, he noted that the need to improve efficiency and reduce cost, the compliance squeeze enforced by legislators, and rising expectations of corporate responsibility; companies are reevaluating their approach to environmental supply chain management.

Kingdom Heights Investment, owners of the Moevenpick Ambassador Hotel and Ambassador Heights Ghana has disclosed intention of building a replica of the luxurious hotel and residential apartment in Abuja.

Briefing the press in Abuja on the intention, the sales manager Mr. Robert Davis disclosed that there are ongoing talks with prospective development partners for a potential Moevenpick hotel and residential project on Jabi Lake.

“I’m here because we are received a great demand from the Nigerian market. I’m here to meet with prospective development partners in Abuja to develop in the days ahead a movenpick hotel in Abuja with residential component. That development if it pushes forward will be in Jabi Lake. We are still exploring opportunities. What we are doing in Accra we are now bringing it to Nigeria,” said Davis.

He also disclosed that many of the Nigerian are buying into the Moevenpick Ambassador Hotel and Ambassador heights Acrra because it is associated with the hotel and they want luxurious home in Accra anytime they are here for business they want security, the location is why the Nigerian buyers are buying into the project.

The Accra project which is situated in the central business district comprise the 5 star Moevenpick Ambassador Hotel and the ongoing construction of the luxurious 18 residential homes. Each home will have direct access to the services and amenities of surrounding complex such as world class dinning, shopping and fitness center, meeting and event facilities, 24 hours electricity and water supply, amongst others.

Mr. Davis said, “The project which commenced March this year is progressing rapidly and is due for completion for the fourth quarter of 2015. Other packages available to home owners include the provision of custom designed furniture packages which is currently created to compliment the exterior facades and to further enhance the luxury throughout.” While adding that the homes are going for an average of $1.5m. He further added that the Abuja offering will be bigger than Accra which has just 18 homes.

By Evelyn Okoruwa, Abuja

Issues 25

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Al-Makura: The Triumph Of Peace Over War (1)

by Yakubu Lamai

Martin Luther King once said that: “the triumph of lies over truth is only temporary!”, but true to human nature, our energy level gradually dissipates and our souls get weary, when the truth we seek seems too far and unreachable, in times when lies, propaganda and distortion of facts hold sway. The nine days from 15th to 24th November 2014 can be likened to “days of temptation in Nasarawa State” when the strength and tenacity of peace wrestled and finally triumphed over the storm and tempest of violence.

November 15th, which coincided with the birthday of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, was declared “The Day Of Peace In Nasarawa State” to show respect and honor all people who have lost loved ones or have been displaced as a result of the incessant communal clashes in the state.

To lead by example and implore citizens to collectively renew the ageold trust and friendship that has always existed between them, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura delivered a statewide broadcast at 8am in the morning on radio and TV and issued a ‘Special Letter of Peace’ which was published in various newspapers on that same day. At 8.30am prompt, the governor wore his track suit and accompanied on foot by the state First Lady Salamatu Al-Makura, he led citizens on a 7 mile ‘Peace Walk’ which began from Stadium Junction along Jos Road in Lafia, all the way to Presidential Lodge on Shendam Road.

It was a soaring carnival of sorts, as hundreds of thousands of residents joined the governor’s procession of peace as he walked waving at people. No greater picture could have aptly captured the stirring spectacle of the truism: “Vox Populi, Vox DeI”(Voice of the People is the Voice of God) as this unprecedented procession comprising men and women of goodwill poured out into the street to join the Peace Walk.

After the 7 mile walk, Al-

Al-Makura

Makura climbed the back of a Hilux van to address the mammoth crowd in an emotionally charged speech where he said, the reason he wanted citizens to trek with him under the harsh sun for 7 miles, was “so that we can collectively feel a little of the pain and agony that is visited upon innocent people who are suddenly forced to flee from violence, so as to save their lives.” From AlMakura’s Peace Walk of 15th of November 2014, the following nine days in Lafia saw a macabre twist in storyline from a governor’s sincere effort to water the fruits of peace to spiraling into violence, followed by heightened fear and tension among the people, such that government had to be proactive and impose a “restriction of movement” on citizens (not full blown curfew), before normalcy finally returned to Lafia.

Investigations affirm that it all started with violence which broke out in Alakyo village where some Fulani herdsmen had traced their stolen cattle and in the ensuing siege to retrieve the stolen cattle, a violent altercation broke out. The aftermath of the siege on Alakyo spurred sporadic reprisal attacks at Shabu and outskirts of Lafia town where some houses were burnt and lives lost. So now as the storm settles down and normalcy returns, the critical question still remains: “what could have turned the happy afterglow of a birthday Peace Walk to spurts of deadly violence and finally a lockdown of Lafia town, which showed palpable signs of being combustible?”

It has been said that

people join wars for many reasons. Either to fight for the cause of terrain, tribe, religion or politics or even for personal gain. Through the ages violence has always held a strong appeal and remained an attractive, persuasive and persistent ideology to man. But then many people involved in violent clashes do not care to understand the reason why they are fighting.

Everything is usually swept by the tidal wave of emotion and bandwagon effect.

That is how the political elite grabbed and engineered the masses with the opium of far-fetched conspiracy theories, tribal sentiments and sometimes they kindle the embers of religion. In most situations of conflict, ignorance is the principal tool used by perpetrators to ignite and often escalate the crisis. Chairman Mao of China had once said that; “if you want peace, prepare for war!” This dictum is what Umaru Tanko AlMakura countered in his letter of Peace, published on November 15th 2014, when he said:” “I don’t believe in the maxim: “If you want peace, prepare for war!” “I believe that if you want peace, always prepare for peace and you will surely have it!” Which is why it defies logic when a vocal section of the Eggon people called for a world press conference a few days later and accused the peace-loving governor of “importing Fulani mercenaries” to attack Eggon villages and kill Eggon people!

Umaru Tanko Almakura is a man with a long-standing relationship with the Eggon and a drum major for the cause of Eggon people. In good faith, Al-Makura has also appointed prominent Eggon into critical portfolio of his cabinet and taken his massive infrastructural strides into areas populated by the Eggon.

Governor Al-Makura has been so close to the Eggon that at the outset of the tragic killing of 74 security officers, rumors were peddled that he was a “member” of the Ombatse cult. But then facts have since proved otherwise. to be continued

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E N T E R TA I N M E N T S P O R T s

Pass On The Baton: Stars Taking After Their Fathers' Profession

LEISURE

Don Jazzy Performs With World Stars On Child's Rights

‘Young Incredible’ Unveils New Video ‘Murda’

By Tunde Oguntola, Abuja

By Patience Ivie Ihejirika, Abuja

Don Jazzy

P-Square

P-Square Loses Dad

By Patience Ivie Ihejirika, Abuja

The enigmatic duo of Peter and Paul Okoye, famously known as PSauare have lost their father, barely two years after losing their mother.

Reports say Mr Okoye died in Lagos on Monday, November 24th, a few hours after he fell as he was about going for a

Davido Celebrates Birthday In Las Vegas

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

OBO crooner, David Adedeji, popularly known as Davido was in high spirit last Saturday, November 22 as he dragged family and

session of physiotherapy.

Late Pa Okoye had earlier undergone a successful knee surgery.

It will be recalled that the duo lost their mother, Mrs. Josephine Okoye, barely two years ago, to a heart illness.

She reportedly died five hours after a heart surgery in an Indian hospital.

As the music stars join the club of orphans, may the soul of Pa Okoye continue to rest in perfect peace.

As part of celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the convention on the Rights of the Child, Marvin king, Don Jazzy, joined world stars like Hugh Jackman, Katy Perry, Angélique Kidjo, Priyanka Chopra, Yoko Ono and David Guetta to sing John Lennon’s Imagine and help raise awareness of children’s rights The event is aimed at creating a unique moment in music history that will highlight the tremendous challenges children face in the world over.

UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake,

said “the Convention on the Rights of the Child asked us all to imagine a better world for children and calls on all of us to make that vision a reality.

“The #IMAGINE project gives people across the globe a chance to join a global movement for children, lending their ideas, their visions and, not least, their voices to advance the rights of every child, everywhere.

“A dream you dream alone may be a dream, but a dream two people dream together is a reality,” said Yoko Ono.

friends to his birthday bash in US. The singer who adorns his wardrobe with multiple awards this year clocked twenty-two years on Saturday and to celebrate the achievement, Davido jetted out to the city of Las Vegas in Nevada, US along with HKN crew-Shina Rambo, B-Red and others to celebrate.

Abuja-based fast-rising rap artiste widely known as YoungIncredible (real name David Samson) has unveiled his new music video titled "Murda" produced by Mr. Lekki.

The video which showcases high energy, fantastic beats, and lyrics that touch the heart, has within its first week of release already become fans’ favourite.

Young Incredible last year beat other rappers to be crowned Abuja’s “Rapper Of The Year" at an event at the Spit16Bars anchored by Ruggedman and Terry The Rapman.

Speaking at the launch of the video in Abuja, the 16-year old versatile rapper said he started professional music at the age of 12 and had tried to remain focussed with God leading him.

He was recently discovered and signed on by an international record label, Black Wall Street Records, a hip-hop recording company founded

by Westcoast Compton rapper "The Game" in 2004.

The CEO, Black Wall

Young Incredible

Street, Suni Osorun, who doubles as the manager of the artist said: "YoungIncredible stands out, he has a very good voice control and diction. He has carved a niche for himself by proving his critics wrong as he continues to roll out blazing music contents. I don't see anyone competing with him for now.

"He is an exceptional young man, YoungIncredible is a gifted rap artiste and his style earned him the respect of music lovers and music industry stakeholders.

"Music lovers should watch out for YoungIncredible. He has good songs, nice videos and so much talent and creativity. He has come into the industry and we feel that he has what it takes to succeed in this industry.

His new single "Murda" is already enjoying massive airplay and downloads; this is just the beginning of what YoungIncredible has to offer. He is aiming for the stars and nothing is impossible," he added.

FilmHouse Cinemas Presents Benvenuto Cellini

By SOLOMON NDA-ISAIAH

Wizkid

Wizkid, Wande Coal, Oritsefemi For Lasgidi AllStars '14

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

Davido

Korean Film Festival Berths In Lagos

Lovers of good music are in for an exciting time come December 5 as the annual Lasgidi All-Stars 2014 holds in earnest.

MTV Base VJ, Ehiz and Cool FM OAP, Shine will both anchor

the event holding at Vantage Beach Resort, Lekki in Lagos. Artistes billed to thrill the audience are Wande Coal, Wizkid, Olamide, Oritsefemi, Orezi and Chidinma. Others are Cynthia Morgan, Rayce, Erigga, K-Switch, JJC, Mr 2Kay and Solid Star, Akpor Donell Gbemure, executive producer of Lasgidi said more established artistes would be confirmed as performers with time.

Just like some other notable figures in the world, Benvenuto Cellini, the legendary 16th century goldsmith and sculptor, now has a movie in his memory and FilmHouse Cinemas will be showing his autobiography on November 28, 2014 in all its outlets.

This stunning visual extravaganza was shot in multi-camera HD, and performed by the world class English National Opera. Benvenuto Cellini is poised to create a unique cinematic experience for the viewing audience.

Cellini is reputable for creating some of the celebrated works of his time such as the bronze

figure of “Perseus holding the Head of Medusa and Ganymede on the Eagle”.

Benvenuto Cellini tells the story of Balducci, the papal exchequer, who is angry about the Pope’s decision to make Benvenuto Cellini create a bronze statue of Perseus instead of Fieramoscad.

His daughter Teresa is entranced with Cellini but he wants her to marry Fieramoscad. Before he leaves to answer a late summons to the Pope’s presence, he warns Teresa to be cautious of men’s attention, especially during the present carnival season. Teresa experiences conflicting emotions: duty to her father on the one hand, her love for Cellini on the other.

30 INTERVAL IT’S NOT

OVER OMENESA ORUMA AKOMOLAFE

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M

any people murmur a n d grumble about how they don't like the pattern their lives are taking. It drives them bonkers as they look at themselves in the mirror, wondering where all the time went to, and they look older, with an empty bank account staring back at them.

These people are not blind, deaf or dumb. They are not lame. One would call this category of people "Lazy".

I don't think they are lazy, I just think they are not desperate enough. They keep complaining, begging people for money, accusing God for their fate... the fate they created with their own hands, a destiny that they carefully carved out with presumptuous thinking, nonchalance to the highest heavens.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Get More!

I can't really judge these people. I used to be like them.

Though I have an impeccable passion and drive for what I do career wise, but there was a time in my life when I just thought everything will pan out fine, simply because I fasted, prayed and paid my tithes... yea right.

I'm an only child, and being an only child becomes a responsibility when you are older. Having to watch my parents get older has been quite challenging and very painful. They are still very much hearty for their age, and my dad still preaches like a young boy.... however, their grey is whiter, their steps are slower, and their glasses are ever so near. It is scary. You mean life can be this short? You mean things can just change in a twinkling of an eye? Wow! This has become a signal to me that there is no time to waste. The one who sent me to earth has me on a timer, and since I don't know when my time will be up, I need to work like

I'm dying. I seriously need to keep my eyes open and not blink. It is not enough to have a dream or an idea.

You have to have the passion and drive to sustain it.

When you long for more, you will not only get more, but you will become more.

Some dreams are tough to attain, but when you think of the 'More' factor, you'll regain your strength. I'm not talking about a financial thing, though that will come when you get hungry.

I'm talking about a deep need for you not to remain stagnant. Nobody can show you this revelation. You will have to have this epiphany for yourself. I told myself that once I clock 30, I will never work a 9 to 5 EVER again. I decided that at the age of 30, I will be selfemployed. A few months after my 30th birthday, I marked the last exam sheet of one of my almost 300 students, and I walked out of the exam room. Yes I did!

I was one of their favourite teachers, but my time for

sentiment had run out. I was done with where I was, and nobody could stop me.

When you desire more, you no longer think with your heart, you think with your head. You have to desire to be more than who you are presently. You have to want to be richer than you are right now. Happier than you are now. More successful than you are now. You have to have the pangs to GET MORE! Every year, my church, Abuja Breakthrough Chapel has an annual conference themed Get More Convention. It is usually the last weekend of November. Everybody from far and near comes, seeking God to get more. Do you think they are stupid? They could be in Hawai chilling.

However, when it is the end of November, and you are still where you thought you'd never be, you have to get tired at some point and seek to Get More!

December is drawing nigh, at a very fast speed. Are you satisfied with this? Have you reached your goal? Will you

be smiling come Dec 31st, or will you be attempting suicide for not having pushed harder? That's what I'm doing these days. When I wake up in the morning, I'm not tuning to Telemundo, or checking out the new shade of lipstick I will wear that week. I'm not filing my mails or fighting someone on my blackberry. These days, I have grown tired of the status quo, and I have decided that before I lay me down to sleep, I must have acquired more than what I had in my hand earlier that morning. Oh Yes! No more games.

When you cheat life, it is not life that suffers. It's you.

Life is an entity of itself. You are just an inhabitant of it, and when life gets tired of you taking up unnecessary space, not being effective, causing problems and being a very bad tenant, it will evict you... sometimes without notice. Please stop embarrassing yourself, and make up your mind to GET MORE! Soar High.

Nigeria Dubai Campaign Leadership NP 18 H X 26 AD 1.ai

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INTERVAL 31

2:21 PM

Niyi Osundare Wins NNOM 2014 Award

By anthony ada abraham, Abuja

The 5th Korea Film Festival in Nigeria, organised by the Korean Cultural Centre, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria with the Association of Korean Community in Nigeria and Samsung Electronics were in Lagos to thrill fans and guests .

Korea has in its own rights has joined the 'Wood' family with the introduction of 'Hallyuwood' just as America has Hollywood, India has Bollywood, and Nigeria has Nollywood.

This newly-coined word combines the meanings of the word "han (hal)," for Korea, and "ryu (lyu)," which means wave. When these two Korean syllables are put together, we have a new word meaning "Korean Wave." What is the Korean Wave, then?

The Korean Wave is a trend of increasing popularity for Korean pop culture, including TV dramas, films, and music in Asia and around the world. This phenomenon began in the latter half of 1990s and is still growing and spreading worldwide, including the Middle East and South America.

Since 2010, the Korean Cultural Centre has hosted this film festival through which it shows and shares the lifestyle and culture of Koreans with Nigerians, thereby deepening understanding of both peoples

By Kuni Tyessi, Abuja

Guests at the cinema during one of the movie premiere in Lagos

Korean Film Festival Berths In Lagos through films. Similarly, some Korean TV dramas have been introduced to Nigeria, many of whom have been shown on AIT, NTA and other TV channels in Nigeria. For this year's Film festival, four selected Korean films were shown at the Genesis Cinema in Lagos from November .

The movies screened include "200 Pound Beauty," "The Taoist Wizard," "Christmas in August,"

and "Bronze Medalist." It is hoped that Nigerians will be able to enjoy these films during the Korea Film Festival and compare them with Nollywood movies.

According to the Director of Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria Mr. Kwon Yong Ik, he said Silent motion pictures were first introduced to Korea in 1903, and the first movie with sound was produced in 1935.

"We are happy to always have people work with us in Nigeria.

And our cultural exchange programmes are to aid us in sharpening our thoughts on how the two countries could benefit from each other. The film festival is one of those many programme lined up to tell more about Korean culture to Nigerian audience. " he said.

Some dignitaries present at the occasion included:

After a rigorous and thorough scrutiny for the National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) 2014, Prof. Niyi Osundare, a poet, dramatist and essayist has been selected by the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) board to be the lone recipient of the award this year.

The award which was established by Act No. 53 of 1979 and amended by Act No. 96 1992, Cap 122 LFN, 2004 and is restricted to mostly Nigerian intellectuals and academics both at home and in the diaspora will honour Osundare for his immense contributions in the field of humanities.

The chairman, governing board of the NNMA, Prof.

Etim Moses Essien who disclosed this at a press conference to herald the line-up of activities for the award, said Osundare was chosen "through outstanding scholarship, researches and services to humanity in the field of humanities and has successfully carved his name in gold in the hearts of the people of this nation and many nations of the world.

32 INTERVAL

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Sunday Omobolanle aka Papi Luwe and son, Sunkanmi Omobolanle He is one of the founding members/fathers of Nollywood. He is a Nigerian actor popularly known as ‘Aluwe‘. He is one of the Nigeria’s famous comedians.

He is also a director, producer and a prolific writer and he's the father of Sunkanmi Omobolanle – a young dynamic actor who has been keeping it real with his father in the industry.

Though not as famous as his father, the young man has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the movie (Yoruba) industry. And it's certain that he will keep the pace of honour.

Adebayo Salami aka Oga Bello and children Veteran Nigerian actor Adebayo Salami popularly called Oga Bello insisted that it was the choice of his children to take to acting, dunking the rumour that he forced his children, Femi Adebayo and his younger brother Sodiq into acting.

Oga Bello believes that since his children have the kind of passion he had about 49-years ago when he started acting at age 12, he can't stop them, because it's their wish to keep the family legacy going.

Unlike Papi Luwe, Oga Bello has more children in the movie industry.

Just like he said, his children graduated from the university before coming into theatre.

For example, Femi is a lawyer, producer and actor.

Tope is a computer scientist, actress, producer and marketer. Sadiq is a geologist, actor, producer and director, while Rilwan who also studied computer science is an editor and producer.

So with a big family of movie stars, it's sure that they will keep that name going.

Pete Edochie and sons, Linc, Yul When it comes to acting in Nigeria, there is no way the name Pete Edochie won't ring bell because he is still very relevant in the industry.

When he visited LEADERSHIP newspapers sometime ago, he said he chose the kind of movie he would star in because not all movies were really worth it.

In one of his recent interviews, the veteran actor revealed that two of his sons had joined him in the movie industry and "they are doing very well.”

Would they keep that name going? Yul Edochie has carved a niche for himself. Even if his dad decides to call it quit today, he will keep that name going

Late Fela Anikulapo and sons, Femi and Seun

Pass On The Baton: Stars Taking After Their Fathers' Profession ... how well do they fit?

Nigeria is blessed with lots of talented people in all spheres of life. While some of these stars have died and left their children to continue with the fame, others are still around, competing favourably with their children. In this piece for Interval Mid-Week Magazine, Anthony Ada Abraham and Aderibigbe Tolulope take a look at some of these personalities. because he is getting roles and producers and other movie makers within and outside the country are falling in love with his power of interpretation.

He can be said to be a worthy son of his father. Linc, his brother is also not doing badly.

Justice Esiri and Son, Dr.

Sid Justice Esiri was one of the famous Nollywood actors.

He was popular for his role as ‘Headmaster’ in the popular 80s sitcom, 'Village Headmaster' . Esiri contributed in no small measure to the growth of Nollywood. His numerous movie roles made

him one of the most respected actors and interpreters of movie roles of his time. He was a force to be reckoned with.

Though Esiri died of a prolonged ailment, his son who is one of the strongest men of Mavin Records led by Don Jazzy has continued to keep the family legacy in the entertainment industry. His songs are receiving massive airplay and rumours also have it that he should be testing his acting ability soon. So has he been able to keep that family fame? Yes, no doubt.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti and sons Femi and Seun From the gritty streets of Los Angeles and London to

Mushin in Lagos, Fela conjured up potent rhythms and revolutionary lyrics, laced with the antidote to the poisonous military regimes that were methodically murdering the spirit of Nigeria during his lifetime, he ignited the spark of a dormant revolution through his willingness to sacrifice his life — and the lives of his loved ones. And the remnants of the wildfire he created still smolders through the musical genres of soul, funk, jazz, blues, hip-hop and African highlife.

Since the death of their father, the children have kept the shrine going and many all ➔ CONTINUES ON the PAGE

INTERVAL 33

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 ➔ CONTINUED from the previous page

over the world have identified with their father. Though not as charismatic as their late father, the son, Femi and Seun have made the world focus on Nigeria with the Fela on Broadway which featured people like Jay Z and Beyonce.

Also Femi has been nominated twice for the Grammy Awards.

His songs were sometimes refused airplay because of the strength of their contents.

Seun has been a strong force in making a change with his songs. He was once a guest on Aljazeera where he spoke on issues that affect the masses in Nigeria. And without mincing words, he tells it as it is, exactly what the dad would say. On twitter, when I sent him a reaction on the interest in people, he replied that youths of today are focussed more on money and they are not really ready to speak out which has made them a laughing stock around the globe. He believes that the legacy of his father would continue even after their death.

Though Esiri died of a prolonged ailment, his son who is one of the strongest men of Mavin Records led by Don Jazzy has continued to keep the family legacy in the entertainment industry

Art Alade and son, Darey Modupe Arthur Alade, popularly known as Art Alade was a famous Nigerian highlife/jazz artiste in the sixties and seventies. Born in Lagos on December 14, 1937, he attended the London TV College and was the amiable presenter of the late 1970-80s popular NTA programme, the Bar Beach Show.

His multiple award winning son, Darey adopted his father’s stage name which at the start of his career helped him tremendously. In an interview with The Punch last year, he admitted that “when I was still trying to cut my teeth, looking for any music group to join, some older persons who were younger during the days of my father’s music career would ask me if I was his son or related to him”.

Darey started gradually and to limelight when he emerged as 2nd runner-up on Project Fame 2004, then global fame in 2008 also at Project Fame West Africa. Presently, he has 3 successful albums and over 10 awards to his credit.

Adeyemi Josiah Afolayan, sons & daughter, Kunle, Aremu, Gabriel & Moji Sir Adeyemi Josiah Afolayan, also known as AdeLove was a renowned Nigerian artist of the second half of the 20th century. He specialised in travelling theatre and later veered into film- making.

Ade Love’s first son, Kunle is a renowned producer, director and actor that ventured into the film industry fully in

Life and Super Story from Wale Adenuga Production.

Justus Esiri and son Dr sid

Papi Luwe and son Sunkanmi

2005. He recently premiered the ground breaking movie, October 1 that has once again illuminated Nollywood as a force to reckon with globally.

He has several award winning movies to this credit like Phone Swap and The Figurine.

Ade Love’s second son, Aremu is a talented actor that has several Yoruba films that he has featured in. Gabriel is the last son of the family and the baby of the house that has shown his worth severally. He is a graduate of Theatre Arts from one of the prestigious universities in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan. Apart from being a wonderful actor, he also sings with an angelic voice. He has featured in several soap operas like Because You Loved Me

by Wale Adenuga Production.

Madam Dearest with Tade Ogidan brought him fully into the national eyes.

Moji also followed in her father’s footsteps.

She’s married to veteran Yoruba actor, Ojapagogo and has featured in several Yoruba movies. She has been out of the movie scene for a while

now.

Jide Kosoko and daughters, Sola and Abidemi Jide Kosoko is a successful veteran actor, director and producer who has been in the limelight since the 1980s.

The former president of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), he has produced more than 30 Yoruba movies and featured in countless others.

His elder daughter, Sola Kosoko-Abinna graduated from Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State where she studied sociology. She has been acting since 1986 and kicked off professionally in 2001 in a movie produced by her father, Omo Olorire which actually aided her into limelight. She has been in the film industry for a long time and acted in several English and Yoruba movies.

Abidemi is Kosoko’s second daughter. She is also a Yoruba actor like her father but has featured in three English soap operas from Papa Ajasco, This

IK Dairo and son, Paul Play Dairo I.K. Dairo's musical career entered the fast lane when he founded a ten piece band called the Morning Star Orchestra in 1957. In 1960, during the celebration of Nigeria's independence, the band was called on to play at a party hosted by a popular Ibadan based magistrate. With a lot of prominent Yoruba patrons at the venue, I.K. Dairo showcased his style of jùjú music and earned attention and admiration from other Yoruba patrons present, many of whom later invited him to gigs during cultural celebrations or just lavish parties. In the early 1960s, he changed the band's name to Blue Spots and he also won a competition televised in Western Nigeria to showcase the various talents in jùjú music. During the period, he was able to form his own record label in collaboration with Haruna Ishola and achieved critical and popular acclaim and fame.

Paul Play Dairo, (IK Dairo’s son) has finally fulfilled his childhood ambition to act one day. And the rave of the moment actress, Bukky Wright is making this possible by featuring him in her new movie.

Feran Mi, a new flick from the Economics graduate of the prestigious University of Lagos, has Paul Play Dairo taking the major role. Though not much is known about the whole scenes in the movie, the few scenes promoted on air allowed us to know Paul was Bukky’s heartthrob in the flick.

Flashing back, Paul Play whose late father was one of the foremost pillars of musical entertainment in Nigeria, was set to study Dramatic Arts in 1986 at the then University of Ife now OAU, but the ambition was short-lived due to some reasons. Rather than stay at home doing nothing, he ventured into Engineering and worked as a contract staff with an oil company in Lagos.

The successful outing of his first album jerked him up, making him to become the toast of entertainment lovers especially the youths. Paul does not play same music with his father, but he was able to remix some of old hits as well as inject new tracks into it.

There are others like Shina Peters, the afro juju king whose prowess in the industry shone like stars. His legacy is kept by his son, Clarence Peters who is one of the best video directors in Nigeria today.

34 news north-East, north-west

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Jonathan In Kebbi, Commissions New Airport

By Yahya Sarki and Jamil Gulma, Birnin Kebbi

President Goodluck Jonathan was in Kebbi yesterday as part of his one-day official visit to the state to commission the Kebbi International Airport and to officially flag off the Federal Government’s afforestation programme ‘The Great Green Wall Project’ in Bachaka village of Kangiwa Local Government.

The presidential aircraft touched down at the Binin Kebbi International Airport at ex-

actly 11:05 am. The president was accompanied by the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, and his counterparts in environment, Mrs.Laurentia Malam and special duties, Kabiru Tanimu (SAN).

In his speech, at the commissioning ceremony of the airport, named Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Jonathan commended the foresight of Governor Dakingari in constructing an airport with state of the art aviation facilities, assuring the federal government would Keb-

bi in developing the aviation industry.

He said the airport would facilitate air travel linkages with francophone countries, improve commerce and other economic activities which will help boost the economy.

“The federal government has taken keen interest in the development of not only Sir Ahmadu Bello Airport but all the airports because aviation is an important sector,” he said.

Jonathan explained that five PDP states of Delta, Akwa Ibom,

Jigawa, Kebbi and Kogi had built standard airports while the Federal Government built an international airport in Enugu.

Governor Dakingari of Kebbi State, said the airport which was upgraded to international standard for the landing of Boeing 747 aircraft would generate N2.3 billion annually to the Nigerian economy, boost commerce, tourism and movement of agricultural products.

The emirs of Gwandu, Argungu and Zuru as well as politicians and other important dignitaries

Bauchi State governor Isa Yuguda (left) presenting the state’s 2015 budget to the Speaker, State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yahya Miya in Bauchi, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN.

short news

Taraba: Group Protests Probe Of Umar

The Taraba People’s Assembly has told the new acting governor of the state, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi to face issues of governance rather than his planned probe of his predecessor, Alhaji Garba Umar.

The acting governor had on Monday night set up a thirteenman panel to probe Umar who was sacked last Friday by the Supreme Court.

By Edegbe Odemwingie, Abuja

Be United, Guber Aspirant Tells Kaduna APC Members

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

The gubernatorial aspirant in Kaduna State, Alhaji Salihu Mohammed Lukman has pleaded for unity among All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the state so the party can form the next government in the state in 2015.

The aspirant, who is the directorgeneral of the Progressive Governors Forum said as desirous as a change in the state and country at large was because of the failure of

the present PDP leadership, only a united APC will defeat the ruling PDP in 2015.

He spoke yesterday during his consultation tour of the local governments ahead of the party’s primary in December, saying he decided to join the race of governing his home state because the ruling PDP had failed to deliver on its mandate.

Lukman said there was dire need for urgent change to salvage the situation, adding only an APC government would give that desired

change and provide dividends of democracy to Kaduna people.

He called on members of his party in the 23 local government areas to support him so that he could deploy his wealth of experience to rescue the state from the maladministration of the PDP government.

“It is obvious by every standard that the PDP has failed but for us in the APC to defeat them in the 2015 election, we must be united and focussed or else it will be difficult for us.

Customs, NAFDAC Destroy N350m Drugs

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

The Kaduna/Katsina Command of the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday handed over drugs with duty paid value of N347.9 million to NAFDAC for destruction.

The latest destruction is coming a few months after the command destroyed drugs valued at a little above N227 million.

Speaking shortly before handing over the seized drugs to NAFDAC for joint destruction, Customs Area Con-

troller, Muhammad Suleiman Ndako listed the destroyed drugs to include tramadol, cough syrup and mixagrip.

He said the drugs were seized through the combined efforts of men of the Federal Operations Unit and staff from the headquarters of the service, assuring that strident measures would be put in place to discourage smuggling of illicit drugs and other goods.

Ndako said the seizure underscored customs determination to halt importation of dangerous sub-

stances and illicit drugs.

He decried that “Katsina State being one of the frontline border states in the country and the most peaceful is about to be tainted by some bad elements in the society” adding the customs was not just determined but was doing everything possible to block influx of drugs.

Ndako who appealed for public support in the struggle to halt importation of illicit drugs warned smugglers to “desist from the act or face the wrath of the law”.

short news Zazzau Emirate Cautions Subjects Against Rumour Mongering In view of the security situation in the country, the Zazzau Emirate Council yesterday warned people of the area to shun rumour mongering, describing it as detrimental to societal and national growth.

This is contained in a communique from the emirate council signed by the Tafarkin Zazzau, Alhaji Dalhatu Musa made available to Leadership in Zaria on Tuesday.

By Aliyu Yusuf, Zaria

ICAN Constructs 250-Capacity Lecture Theatre In Kano North-West University The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, has laid foundation for the construction of a lecture theatre with a capacity for 250 at the permanent site of the North West University, Kano, a newly established state-owned university.

In his address at the construction site in Kabuga/BUK road, yesterday, the president of the institute, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu said ICAN was partnering the university in accountancy education more than any other existing universities in the country.

He said the professional body was glad to see the university running accounting education to Ph.D level and urged it to try to enrol more accounting students from the already 200 undergraduates in the university.

He advised the university to accord its undergraduate students the opportunity to take West Africa chartered accountant professional examination, which he said remained the fastest and easy way to producing professional accountants.

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano

Miyetti Allah Removes Leader For Supporting Jonathan Members of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio Cultural Association (MAKHSCA) has removed its first national leader, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Badejo from office over his role in the purchase of nomination form for President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it was a breach of trust.

They accused Badejo of playing politics with the association’s name and running the association as a personal business at the expense of the welfare of its members.

A statement jointly signed by the acting executive national chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi and interim public relations officer, Malam Aliyu Iliyasu Ardido in Kaduna, stated that the embattled leader had contributed N20 million belonging to the association to Jonathan’s reelection bid, insisting that the association was purely apolitical.

According to the aggrieved members, it has been four years since the association was registered, and its constitution stipulated that election should be held after 3 years, which has not been done.

By Midat Joseph, Kaduna

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

East- West Road : Eket Youths Allege Sharp Practice By Contractor The last may have not been heard of the multi-billion naira East-West road project awarded during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the youths of Eket local government of Akwa Ibom State are spoiling for war with the contractor handling the Eket section of the road, Gitto Construction Company over alleged attempt to cut corners as against the accepted design of the road project.

The youths under the aegis of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, the apex sociopolitical organisation are accusing the contractors of refusing to develop and construct the road through a by –pass from Ikot Uso Ekong portion that will link the Eket –Onna area of the road. The company chose to develop and rehabilitate the existing road as a single lane road.

By Bernard Tolani Dada Uyo

news south-South south-East 35

Rivers Guber: PDP Panel Disqualifies 13 Aspirants, Okays Wike, 5 Others

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

The panel set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to screen governorship aspirants on the platform of the party in four states of the South-South geo-political zone has disqualified no fewer than 13 of the aspirants in Rivers State.

Those disqualified were former vice-chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Don Baridan; Hon. Oseleye Dennis Ojuka, Mrs. Abietedoghu Bob-Abbey Hart,

Hon. Gabriel Pidomson, Hon. Atamuno Atamuno, and Dr. Silver Opusunju, Chief Sampson Ngerebara, Major Lancelot Anyanya, and Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja.

Other governorship aspirants who were also disqualified from contesting in the forthcoming primaries of the party in the state include, Prince Tonye Princewill, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack, Engr.

Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, and former minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Odein Ajumogobia.

Those cleared to contest in the PDP governorship primaries in the state are, the immediate past minister of state for education, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, former senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Lee Maeba, and former commissioner for works, Pawariso Samuel Horsfall. Others are Captain Sunny Nwankwo, Hon. Bernard Mikko and Ibinabo Michael-West.

A source close to the PDP zonal secretariat in Port Harcourt, where

the Ambassador Obed Wadzani-led screening panel sat, told LEADERSHIP that the governorship aspirants were disqualified based on allegations that they were not cardcarrying members of the party.

Meanwhile, one of the disqualified governorship aspirants, Prince Tonye Princewill has alleged that his disqualification was the handiwork of the former minister of state for Education and governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike.

Royal Father Urges Opposition To Shun Negative Criticism The Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe 111, has admonished the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State to also commend the state government in areas where they have done well so as to encourage those holding political offices rather than frequent criticism.

He stated this while commissioning the Afaso Primary School project, one of the 42 constituency projects executed by the majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr Philip Shaibu.

According to Otaru, who commended the projects executed by the APC lawmaker, “We should learn to stop playing politics with everything and I want to say that the PDP in the state should learn to appreciate success like the one we are seeing today and not only criticising the state government.

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

2015: CAN, PFN, Lead Prayer For Nigeria Following what it described as the tensed political environment in the country ahead of the 2015 general elections and the killing of innocent Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect in the North East part of the country, there will be an inter-denominational service that will be presided over by powerful men of God in Nigeria this Thursday in Benin City.

The event which is geared toward praying for Edo State and Nigeria as a whole is tagged “The Great Christian Festival.” It will kick off on Thursday 27th Nov and end on Sunday 30th November 2014.

The men of God expected at the event includes the Catholic Arch Bishop of Benin, Arch Bishop Augustine Akubueze, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of the Nigeria, Rev. Dr Felix Omobude, Bishop Fred Addo and others.

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

L-R: Vice chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof Benjamin Ozumba and Abia State governor Theodore Orji when the vice chancellor led principal officers of the institution on a courtesy visit to the governor in Umuahia.

We Join APC To Get Back Our Oil Wells – Amaechi

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) so as to get back oil wells belonging to the state that were handed over to Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom states.

Amaechi disclosed this yesterday when he visited the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) for an interactive session with students

of the university and sensitise them on voter registration and collection of permanent voter cards which is scheduled to commence on Friday, November 28.

He said, “Our oil well in the Kalabari area, they have taken, so the basic quarrel is that the federal government is not addressing our problems.

So, we said to the federal government, if you have not done those projects and you have done nothing for Rivers State, why do we need to remain in PDP and work with the feder-

al government? So we left PDP and joined APC. “We joined APC because we need to get back our oil wells.

So, one thing you owe us is to go and collect your card. When you collect your card, you must help us do one thing - don’t vote for PDP. “Now, the reason why there is a disagreement between us and the federal government is one question we have always been asking in public – can a federal government led by our own brother who comes from Bayelsa, show us one project that

they have done in Rivers State.

And I said again to the federal government, if you can’t show us one, show us half, that is, the one you started and you abandoned and you forgot it; none, and Rivers State gave our president the highest vote in the country, 1.8 million votes.

“If nothing else, repair our airport. What have we done against the president that an airport they started the same time with Abuja, with Lagos, with Enugu has not been finished. They have finished Lagos, they have finished Abuja.

APC Storms Uyo As Okon Umanah Dumps PDP Tomorrow

By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo

All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential aspirants of the party, all governors of APC and many other dignitaries of the party are expected in Uyo tomorrow for the declaration of a former sec-

retary to Akwa Ibom State government, Mr Umanah Okon Umana, for the party .

Umanah, a leading governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State will declare for the APC so as to actualise his governorship ambition, following the PDP’s decision to zone the

state’s governorship ticket to Eket senatorial district.

A statement by the spokesperson of APC in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Uyinme Ekwere said the event which will take place at the Ibibio traditional meeting square, Assan Ibbibio, promises to be epoch making as all sons and daughters of Ibibio race will

attend.

Umana, two times commissioner for finance will be defecting with more than 10,000 PDP supporters including current House of Representatives and Assembly members, local government chairmen, commissioners and numerous associates.

36 OPINION

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Western Sanctions And Rise Of Sino-Russian Trade Relations

By Lawal Sale

The annexation and subsequent reunification of Crimea by Russia and the Kremlin’s alleged support for the separatists in the Donbass region of Eastern Ukraine marked the end of the ``cold war honeymoon” between Russia and the West.

The development gave birth to multiple sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union (EU) and the United States which included ban on transfer of technology, energy, finance and agricultural products.

This compelled Russia to tilt towards Asia in general, and China in particular, in search of a new partner in trade and investments.

Analysts observe that even before the present strained relations between the two blocs, Russia had for decades been mulling plans to strengthen ties with its Asian neighbours.

China appears to be the major beneficiary of the souring relations between the West and Russia, even though Kremlin is also shoring up its bargaining ties with South Korea which like China, refused to impose sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine stand-off.

Russia is also leaning towards Japan whose sanctions against it are largely ``symbolic” despite the Kuril Island issues.

Similarly, Russia’s decision to establish close industrial cooperation with China is not only the consequence of the sanctions but it is also due to the need for the Russian industry to toe that path.

However, the peculiarities of the Chinese market and the fact that Russia already had long-standing ties with Europe weakened its willingness to change.

China, like Russia is a member of many regional and economic

Putin

organizations such as APEC, ASEAN, G8, G20, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and it is also a former ally during the hey days of Communism.

This put China in a vantage position to harness the new opportunities opened by the Western sanctions against Russia as many of its businessmen and its ever-energy-hungry industries are warming up for big- time business.

Russia is the second-largest producer of oil and natural gas, while China is one of the biggest consumers of energy; so, the two nations can immensely benefit each other in trade and investment.

In his address at the annual gathering of the Valdai Club, a group of international Russian experts in October in Sochi, President Vladimir Putin affirmed that “Asia is playing an everincreasing role in the world, in the economy and in politics, and there is no way we can afford to overlook

Asia is playing an everincreasing role in the world, in the economy and in politics, and there is no way we can afford to overlook these developments

these developments.”

Putin said: ``Everyone is doing this, and we will do so, too; all the more so as large part of our country (Russia) is geographically in Asia.”

Just as the Russian public approval of China had risen to alltime high of 77 per cent, the overall Russia-China trade investment value was put at $59.3 billion in 2010, and this figure rose to $89.2 billion in 2013 with the expectation that it will surpass $200 billion by the year 2020.

On gas supply, the two countries have signed a 30-year-deal in May 2014 in Shanghai by which Moscow is to supply gas worth $400 billion to Beijing, and Russia is set to deliver up to 38 billion cubic meters of gas annually to China after the construction of the pipeline that will go through western Siberia.

The agreement, which is between the state-controlled ventures, Gazprom, and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), is said to be the biggest in the history of oil and gas sector of the former USSR. The project which will be the biggest construction project in the world will be financed by Russia with about $55 billion, while China will invest at least $20 billion.

Rosneft, the Russia’s biggest oil producing company was reported to have given China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) an equity stake in an oil field in eastern Siberia.

There are also over 30 other deals and projects lined up by Chinese firms, and once the gas deal is done, China will shift its focus to areas such as telecommunications and transportation, particularly the construction of high-speed railway.

– Sale is a foreign affairs analyst and wrote in from Abuja

2015 And Aliyu’s Support For Nasko

by DIPO LALEYE

There are six or more stars shinning in the skies of Niger State. They all brighten the horizon to the extent that it is difficult to determine which of these stars shines more. Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu was however able to single out which of these stars shined most and which will continue to shine better for Niger state.

Only leaders with vision and those that have the interest of their people

at heart can see what others cannot see. The identification of this star and its recommendation to the people of the state indeed showed that Governor Aliyu is a visionary leader who sees what others may not see.

This shining star is no other person than the former Chief of Staff Government House Minna, Alhaji Mohammed Umar Nasko the Jarma Kontagora, a selfless, dynamic, hardworking young politician who has declared to run for the

governorship of Niger state on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP This prophet, Umar Nasko is already accepted by his own people because virtually all those that run the political machine of the state attended his declaration ceremony and threw their weight behind his candidacy.

For instance 23 out of the 25 members of the state Assembly (one was away on official assignment) have given their 100% loyalty and support to

Umar Nasko and will campaign for him in their constituencies. Similarly Malam Mohammed Abacha who represented the 25 local government council caretaker committees, serving commissioners, directors-general and special advisers were all unanimous that they will not leave any stone unturned to ensure Umar Nasko wins the primaries of the PDP and the election proper next year.

– Laleye is snr. special assistant to Niger State governor

Rights Watch Emmanuel Onwubiko www.huriwa.blogspot.com

Xmas: Lets intensify The War On Ebola

With the Christmass only few weeks away, there is clearly no discernible anti-Ebola strategy to check a possible resurgence of the deadly disease from re-afflicting Nigeria.

Most Nigerians have understandably raised the alarm that there are no visible evidences by the ministries of health and interior to wade off possible re-emergence of the Ebola virus—an ailment which was first brought in by a foreigner from Liberia who actually escaped detection by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Services at the International Airport in Lagos.

President Jonathan and the ministries of health at both the federal and state levels in Lagos, Rivers, Anambra and Enugu played strategic roles which culminated in the defeat of this seemingly deadly and yet incurable disease. Sadly, basking in the euphoria of defeating the disease, the then minister of Health Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu capitalised on his sudden opportunistic popularity to dabble into the political arena in his home state of Ebonyi where he was made the consensus candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Whilst he is busy swimming the foggy waters of divisive partisan politics in his home state, there is clear evidence that ensuring that Nigeria remains Ebola-free is not the top priority of the new man manning that ministry in Abuja.

The supervising minister of Health is not known to be in the highest motivational level to keep the tempo of national momentum against any possible resurgence of the Ebola disease. Apart from the fact that the supervising minister (Health) is not a well known health technocrat, even though he is a medical doctor, he is also a rookie in administration haven just been appointed as junior minister from Sokoto State few weeks before the virous visited our shores. Like the way our public office holders always behave whenever anything is said to have been brought under control, it will be businessas- usual and there will be no back up national strategy to stop a return to the days of fear and national apprehension which the introduction of the Ebola virus represented in Nigeria until it was checkmated.

The federal government must think about the repercussions should this disease be allowed to sneak right back into Nigeria especially at this time that almost all major political actors are paying more attention to campaign to retain their juicy positions in next year’s election. Nigerians must remain vigilant so that politicians are not allowed to disappoint us by allowing this disease to stage a comeback. it would be the greatest tragedy at this time that Nigerians ought to be rejoicing for the very reason of the yuletide season.

Most commentators and even the medical guild of Nigeria have also reminded us all of the need to be vigilant because vigilance is the price of liberty that we all must pay to remain Ebolafree in Nigeria.

To underscore the renewed apprehension of Nigerians that this disease may resurface, an online medium cable online has alerted the Nigerian authorities to be vigilant because this season is a time when such an opportunistic disease may sneak into Nigeria from the multiple routes through which travellers will come into the country especially from the West coast.

The best way out is for the federal and state ministries of health and Internal affairs to form a synergy among themselves and set up strong monitoring and screening points at all international and inter-state borders so travellers are thoroughly screened and certified Ebola-free.

politics today Wednesday, November 26, 2014

37

REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

T

he last emergency extension request earlier in May this year didn’t sail smoothly as northern senators rejected the extension, but were later swayed by the leadership of the Upper House to give their approval, but not without some conditions.

The event that played last week over the emergency rule debate was no different, as they have again kicked against an extension of the emergency rule in the three states, saying activities of the insurgents have heightened in the affected states despite military presence.

According to them, the military can go on with its activities without any emergency proclamation.

The president has said in the request letter to the lawmakers that the extension became necessary following the continued insurgency in the affected states.

“It is important to state that despite concerted efforts by this administration to stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in the affected states, the security challenges that necessitated the proclamation are yet to abate. Consequently, it has become imperative to request the approval of the Senate for extension of the period for the state of emergency for a further period of six months”, the letter read in part.

The request is the third extension the presidency will be seeking. The first proclamation of emergency rule in the three states was approved on May 13th, 2013, the first extension was in November of the same year and the second in May this year.

But expressing the view of most lawmakers from thsat region, Sen Ali Ndume (Borno South) said the emergency rule imposed in the states has failed to yield any progress in the fight against insurgency as more areas have been captured

by Boko Haram sect and more violence reported since then. ”Approving another six months will be like moving from frying pan to fire. Before the approval in May, most of the villages were not captured by the insurgents then.

Emergency rule has given the insurgents an edge over the civilians. By 6, you will not see

Jonathan

Mark

Senate, FG On Collision Course Over Emergency Rule Extension The federal government’s request for an extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States is facing stiff opposition in the Upper House as most senators are turning down President Godluck Jonathan’s request.

JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH writes on the impasse.

In the midst of it all, a rumour started making the rounds that the presidency had moved in with financial inducement for the senators to back the extension

anybody on the streets and the insurgents will be using the opportunity to attack people and capture territories . If there is no emergency people will be more alert. The people I represent are against the extension of the emergency rule. Elections is not the issue right now, according to the constitution, the principal duty of government is the protection of lives and properties of its citizens and not elections”, he stated.

Senator Ahmed Lawan ( Yobe) also said; “I can assure you that we will not approve

the emergency rule extension because the president can deploy the military to any part of the country without declaring state of emergency.

“We have a very strong military in Nigeria and nobody can doubt their capacity to handle this insurgency except if the government is telling us that so many things are fundamentally wrong.

“Discussions on it will definitely continue but I want to tell you that I am totally opposed to it. I believe that after 18 months of the state of emergency, we should look

at other avenue.

“What we need at the moment is the massive deployment of troops to quickly launch serious attacks because we had lost so many territories already.

“The request for the extension of the state if emergency is only a waste of time because we had it for 18 months which ended in total failure.”

After two days of consideration, the Senate summoned security chiefs to appear before it in plenary on Thursday last week.

Similarly, the president of the Senate, David Mark, is to communicate with governors of the three states to get first hand information from them on the state and progress of emergency rule in their territories.

The Senate also explained that it needed to be briefed “because many of us want to hear from the horse’s mouth about what the real situations are...all we need to know is where we are, where we are going and where we will be in future”.

In the midst of it all, a rumour started making the rounds that the presidency had moved in with financial inducement for the senators to back the extension.

This was swiftly debunked the spokesman of the Senate, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, who said any rumour of any kind of settlement to speak for or against the approval of the request is utter rubbish and an allegation that is merely the figment of the imagination of anyone who decided to concoct it.

However, the planned meeting with the service chiefs on Thursday did not hold due to the invasion of the National Assembly by policemen who teargassed the speaker of the House Of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in a bid to stop him from entering the chambers and presiding over plenary in the lower House. In reaction to the incident, Senate President David Mark ordered for the shutting down of the National Assembly in protest against the invasion by the police.

Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor ojogodonald@yahoo.com

38 POLITICS TODAY

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Abians Have Suffered Under Pdp Rule – Apugo Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Prince Benjamin Apugo, member, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in this interview with MIKE UBANI, appeals to Abia electorate to install an APC governor. He also accuses the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of failing to provide dividends of democracy in the last 16 years just as he debunks the existence of an Abia Charter of Equity that provides for zoning in the state.

Can one say that the leadership crisis in the Abia State chapter of the APC has been settled?

Yes. The national leadership of the APC ordered for a fresh congress to elect the state executive and that congress was held peacefully. The congress unanimously elected officers to oversee the state chapter of the APC with Mr. Donatus Nwankpa as the state chairman.

With the crisis over, what is the party doing to take control of Abia in the next general elections?

I have no doubt that the forthcoming APC national convention will be free and fair because the leadership of the party is fair-minded and we have true democrats in the party

We are trying to make sure that we field credible candidates, particularly a credible gubernatorial candidate, for next year’s general elections in order to remove the ruling PDP government in the state.

Everybody in Abia is yearning for a change and change will come through fielding credible candidates at all levels of elections. We have suffered for almost 16 years in the hands of the PDP which has ruled this state for 16 years without anything to show for the number of years. We don’t have industries in Abia. We don’t have a stadium. You can see the international stadium that Governor Akpabio built in Uyo. We don’t have an airport, we don’t have good roads, water and electricity. Our people have suffered tremendously in the last 16 years in the hands of PDP. We hope that Abians will respond to our prayers for them to vote for APC in the next general elections. Nobody should deceive anybody; the PDP cannot make it here in 2015.

So you are not counting on the power of incumbency?

What do you mean by incumbency when the incumbent is not behaving like one? You talk about the power of incumbency when the person occupying the position

is retrogressive. Wherever you come from in Abia State, you are free to contest any elective position.

Don’t you think it will be fair for APC to zone its governorship slot to Abia South senatorial zone, considering the fact that the zone is yet to produce a governor since 1999?

We don’t believe in zoning of elective political offices here. If you are talking about equity and fairness, I can tell you that in 1999 and 2007, aspirants from Abia South and Abia Central took part in the gubernatorial contests in this state. And so there is no way you can talk about equity.

of governor has proven to the people that he is an incumbent.

What form do you want the forthcoming APC national convention to take?

I have no doubt that the forthcoming APC national convention will be free and fair because the leadership of the party is fair-minded and we have true democrats in the party. We don’t believe in the principle of imposition of candidates, we are going to Abuja to elect our presidential candidate through democratic means.

Don’t you think that the number of APC presidential aspirants is unmanageable?

I don’t think so. Even if they are one hundred aspirants, it is only one person that will emerge as the presidential candidate. I believe strongly that when one person emerges, the rest will queue behind him.

So, you don’t see the need to prune the number of presidential aspirants by asking some of them to step down?

Is that still democracy? That is what the PDP has done by making one person a sole presidential aspirant, and in my view, that is not in accordance with the tenets of democracy.

I think the best thing to do is to give all our presidential aspirants the opportunity to contest the primaries and whoever emerges will be the choice of the people and he will be supported by the other aspirants who couldn’t make it.

What kind of country would an APC administration build?

I envisage that an APC administration will be interested in the welfare and security of the people. If you have a government that is interested in the welfare of the people, social vices like kidnapping, armed robbery,

Are you saying that there is no provision for zoning in Abia Charter of Equity, or that it does not exist?

Apugo

terrorism and even corruption would be minimised to the barest minimum. And when you achieve all this, the administration would now focus on integrated development of the country.

It will be difficult to move this country forward in the face of the growing insecurity, kidnapping, armed robbery and corruption. So, what we need is a president that will cater for the welfare and security of the people, and only an APC president can do that, given the failure of PDP administration at the centre to do that since 1999.

What is your message to citizens of Abia State?

I am appealing to every Abia citizen to join APC. We are not going to discriminate against anybody. We asking people to come forward and pick the expression and nomination forms to contest for any elective office of their choice.

We are not going to impose any candidate on the party like what you see happening in PDP, particularly in the Abia State chapter of the PDP. So Abia APC has not zoned governorship slot to any particular senatorial zone?

I don’t support zoning. The APC in Abia State will never introduce zoning of elective political offices because the idea

Most of the people who are today talking about Abia Charter of Equity were not there when Abia State was created.

They are just saying that one exists in order to deceive the people and collect money from their sponsors. Can they tell me who signed the Abia State Charter of Equity? I personally delivered the document for the creation of Abia State to the then military authorities in Abuja. Dr. Agbara, who was then secretary of the committee for the creation of Abia State, was the last person to append his signature on that document and that was done in my house in Umuahia. You cannot find the signature of all those people who are today parading themselves as elders of the state in that document.

So, are you saying that there is nothing like that?

There is nothing like that. You get power through democratic means; through the will of the people.

What are the chances of APC in Abia state in the next general elections?

Several thousands of Abians are yearning for the party.

APC means change and change is not the name of one man, neither is it the name of a human being. Change stands for the betterment of the living standards of all Nigerians.

Everybody from Abia State needs change, and even before the next elections, we have already achieved that change by getting PDP out of the way.

THE NATION’S CAPITAL 39

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

FCT Act: Senatorial Aspirant Reiterates Commitment

By Igho Oyoyo

A senatorial aspirant, on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Musa Panya-Baba, has said that he will initiate a bill for the reform of the FCT Act, if elected into the senate.

Panya-Baba disclosed this while speaking to journalist after picking his nomination and expression of interest forms at the FCT State Secretariat of the APC in Abuja.

He said that the FCT Act is due for reform, promising that if voted into office he will initiate a bill for the reform of the governance structure of the FCT, including that of land administration, resettlement and compensation of FCT native lands, compulsorily grabbed by the federal government.

According to him, “the 38- year-old FCT Act has not functioned to the expectation of Abuja natives and residents. We need a new legislation and I will initiate an FCT Act reform bill if elected.”

Panya-Baba also urged the federal government to ensure the full implementation of the five recommendations of the National Conference on FCT, saying, “The federal government needs to start implementing those aspects of the National Conference recommendations that do not require constitutional amendments like the appointment of a substantive minister for FCT indigenous people.”

The senatorial aspirant advised the Head of Service of the Federation to immediately fill the vacant Permanent Secretary slot and other unfilled quotas for FCT people in the Federal Civil Service.

Addressing APC state party officials and members, Panya-Baba said, “the near absence of a credible opposition in the past affected fortunes of FCT natives and residents in the present democratic set up but the entrance of APC is a game-changer. The party now presents the best platform to bring about alternative ideas in government.

“If elected, APC will deliver on its mandate as it is about issues rather than personalities. It is not about naira and kobo but about the collective will of our people which I represent.”

Kuje Boss Tasks Staff On Punctuality

By Igho Oyoyo

The chairman of Kuje area council, Shaban Ishaku Tete, has advised the staff of the council to be always punctual and dedicated in the discharge of their duties.

Tete, who visited all the offices in the council’s secretariat on Monday, made it clear that any staff member who failed to show seriousness by coming early to work to discharge his or her duties would definitely feel the impact of the civil service.

According to him, the present administration was always determined to ensure the welfare of its staff, according to the dictates of civil service rules and regulations, irrespective of grade levels.

“Although, as the council chairman who is at the helm of affairs, I feel it is important to lead by example. That is why I decided to go round all offices to see the level of seriousness among staff in the discharge of their duties, especially in terms of coming to work at the right time,” he said.

“I have also directed the council’s head of administration to see that we pay the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members their monthly allowance,” he added.

The chairman assured staff of the council of training/workshops as soon its allocations improve, while urging them to continue to support his administration in order to provide more dividends of democracy to residents of the council.

Carnival participants from Kogi State on show during the road show in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH.

‘We’ll Provide Alternative To NyanyaKeffi Road Through Land Swap’

By Catherine Agbo

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has disclosed that as part of efforts to check vehicular traffic on the Nyanya-Keffi road, the territory’s administration was considering using the land swap policy for the construction of an alternative road along said the axis.

Specifically, the minister said the administration

plans to fund the GitataAbuja road project through the use of land swap system whereby the contractor would be given land in exchange for road construction.

Mohammed expressed hope that the road when completed would help to reduce pressure on the ever busy Nyanya-Keffi express road.

According to a statement by the special advicer media to the minister, Nosike Ogbuenyi, the minister

noted that the land swap policy which he introduced about two years ago had helped to accelerate development through triggering of the process for the opening of over 10 districts within the next four years.

“He explained that he embarked on the globally acceptable programme to catalyse infrastructural development and generate funds for the FCT as a response to dwindling budgetary allocations from

the Federation Account.

“Beside acceleration of physical development, he listed other benefits of the land swap initiative to include the curtailing of sharp practices in land transactions, creation of jobs and employment opportunities for thousands of youths, solving of resettlement and compensation challenges and elimination of the problem of land freezing among others,” the statement added.

AEPB Act: Task Team Seeks Review Of Penalties

By Catherine Agbo

The FCT Task Team headed by the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu has advocated a review and strengthening of the fines and penalties in the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) laws to ensure that it has more severe penalties to complement the AEPB Act. The task team also said area councils, particularly, AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada should be encouraged to enact Bye-laws which can also complement the act.

The commissiober who disclosed this during the

FCT operations briefing yesterday, said, “this is quite necessary to assist the FCT administration realise its objective in this regard.”

Also at the briefing, FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed that the special task team on city cleaning and management had recently secured the conviction and sentencing of 25 commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada riders to jail without option of fines.

The minister revealed that the task team to date had prosecuted 41 offenders at the mobile courts, which culminated in the conviction

and sentencing of 25 Okada riders to jail without option of fines and the discharge of 4 persons while the cases involving other offenders were still on going.

Mohammed further disclosed that the task team has within the period arrested 492 commercial sex workers and 128 miscreants/ urchins as well as 17 mentally ill persons, adding that all the arrests made were followed with prosecution under the environmental mobile courts.

He said the complaints by the task team that some of the penalties which most of the offenders receive often

ranging between N3,000 to N5,000 only were light would be addressed.

On non-usage of pedestrian bridges and destruction of barricades, the minister warned residents disobeying to henceforth use the overhead bridges for crossing the highways or face the full wrath of the law.

Mohammed directed the security agencies particularly the police and the VIO to deploy personnel to some critical points to enforce compliance with the usage of the pedestrian overhead bridges in critical areas such as Area 1, 3 Garki, Kubwa, Lugbe and Dei-Dei.

40

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

ADIEU! To Our

DISTIngUISHED SEnaTOr anD caPTaIn The Management and Staff of Nigerian Shippers’ Council announce with heavy heart the death of the outgoing Chairman of the Cargo Defence Fund, Senator Capt. Cosmas Niagwan OBSEQUIES Wed. 26th November, 2014 SErvIcE Of SOngS: venue: Lawn Tennis Court UPDC Estate (Formerly ELF Estate), off Oriru Street (ELF Bus Stop) (1st turn on the right after Second Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lekki Expressway), Lekki,Lagos.

Time: 5.00pm Monday 1st December, 2014.

LyIng In STaTE: venue: Senator Capt. Cosmas Niagwan Residence,State Lowcost New Layout (Extension), Jos South Local Government, Jos. Time: 12 noon.

Senator Capt.

cosmas c

niagwan 1942 - 2014 (72 years)

TUESDay 2nd December, 2014 fUnEraL SErvIcE anD InTErMEnT vEnUE: Sacred Heart Catholic Church Shendam Plateau State.

TIME: 10.00 am (Shendam is 2 hours drive from Jos, please travel through Jos, Plateau State, use Bukuru – Mangu Road to Shendam) Interment follows immediately at his residence 3, Poediel Road Shendam, Plateau State.

SUnDay 14th December, 2014 EvEnIng Of TrIBUTE: vEnUE: 20B Wole Olateju Crescent BICS Gardens, Admiralty Way,Lekki Phase 1,Lagos.

Time: 4.00pm – 6.00pm.

Signed: Managemet

news Lagos 41

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Court To Hear PENGASSAN’s Suit On Feb 19

National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos yesterday adjourned hearing on fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) till February 19, 2015.

Justice Kenneth Amadi fixed the date after the lawyer to PENGASSAN, Festus Aifeyodion, prayed the court for more time to regularise his client’s originating motion.

The association through two members of its Chevron branch, John Nwanosike and Jonathan Omare had filed the suit for an alleged breach of their rights.

The plaintiffs also name the Chevron branch of PENGASSAN; Frank Esanubi and Kio Ayanate as co-defendants to the suit.

They are asking the court for an order, restraining the respondents from holding any delegates’ conference, pending the determination of the suit.

They also seek an order, mandating the defendants to include their names as delegates and an order of perpetual injunction, restraining them from holding the conference until the illegality occasioned by their removal was redressed.

Fashola Hands Over Area ‘C’ Command Hqts To Lagos CP

By Matthew Dike, Lagos

Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola has handed over the new Area ‘C’ Surulere police command headquarters to the state police commissioner, Mr. Cornelius Aderanti, yesterday.

The three-storey building situated along Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere has almost all the facilities the police needed to carry out their activities,

effectively.

The facilities include CCTV, forensic room, finger print room, interrogation room with cameras, cameras office, sufficient communication equipment, gym, area commander’s quarters, separate and beautiful male and female cells, among others.

In his address to the audience, Fashola said as a lawyer he had been visiting the old area command and saw the condition

in which the police were working and felt disappointed.

Fashola said he had been releasing suspects from the command long time ago but never had the premonition that he would become a governor.

He described the event as symbolic because it is the kind of dream he had for the state and Nigeria.

The governor showered encomium on policemen and

appealed to Nigerians to give them their maximum support.

He asked how many Nigerians both Christians and Muslims remembered to give ram and rice during Christmas and Sallah celebrations to the police.

He said while people were sleeping in the night in their rooms devoid of mosquitoes the police would be awake on the roads and streets to secure lives and property.

short news

‘We Must Address Challenges In Informal Sector ‘

By Olugbenga Soyele, Lagos

N4.7b Money Laundering: EFCC Asks Court To Compel Babalakin, Others To Take Plea

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday asked a Federal High Court in Ikeja to order the chairman of BiCourtney Limited, Dr Wale Babalakin and his co-defendants to enter their plea in a 27 count charge of money laundering its file again them.

The EFCC made this demand while opposing an application filed

by Babalakin and his companies, challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the competency of the charge against them.

Babalakin (SAN), Stabilini Vision Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited, Alex Okoh, and his company Renix Nigeria Limited are standing trial before justice Lawal-Akapo on an alleged N4.7 billion fraud brought against them by the commission .

The EFCC alleged that Babalakin and his co-defendants fraudulently assisted convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori to transfer huge sums of money through various parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase of a plane.

The 27 count charge borders on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action.

Olugbenga Soyele, Lagos

Motorists pushing out a car from one of the bad roads at Ilepo Oke Odo in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL OBASA

PDP Clears Jimi Agbaje For Lagos Guber Primaries GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Leading governorship aspirant in Lagos State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has said that he has collected his clearance certificate from the party’s Screening Committee in Ibadan capital of Oyo State.

Agbaje, who faced screening like other aspirants from Lagos State has collected the document confirming him to com-

pete in the PDP primaries.

The Pharmacist turned politician in a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Felix Oboagwina said, “Securing clearance is the least of my problems. I am more concerned about the general elections.”

He also dispelled rumours making the rounds that he may have been barred by the PDP Screening Committe According to Agbaje, “That I was disqualified or that I failed

screening is news to me, although I also got a few people calling me to say that they heard the rumours too. But no problem, I have collected my Clearance Certificate. I have been cleared.

“The screening exercise began on Saturday. But most of us from Lagos were screened Sunday. Monday the certificate was handed over to us at the PDP Secretariat in Ibadan, which served as venue for the exercise.”

The permanent secretary, Ministry of Health in Lagos State, Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi has said that there is need to address some identified gaps observed in the informal sector.

Such gaps include lack of health and safety knowledge in their apprenticeship training, very long working hours and health neglect, amongst others.

He disclosed this at the SOEHPON 2014 annual conference held at Best Western Hotel in Lagos.

Part of the problems mentioned were lack of use of Personal Protective Equipment, lack of optimal housekeeping in the work environment, poor personal hygiene, misuse/ mishandling of chemicals and substance abuse.

By Taiwo OgunmolaOmilani,Lagos

Lagos Guber: Why PDP Should Field Obanikoro – Group By george okojie Lagos

As Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) concludes arrangement to pick its governorship candidate for February 28, 2015 governorship election in the next few days, a group of human rights activists in the state under the aegis of Save Lagos Group(SLG)

has urged both the national and state leadership of the party including the elders to ensure that the immediate past minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is nominated to contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

The group also urged President Goodluck Jonathan, national chairman of the PDP ,

Alhaji Adamu Muazu and leaders of the party in Lagos State, Chief Olabode George to prevail on other aspirants to allow Senator Obanikiro to be the candidate of the party through harmonious resolution among the aspirants in such a way that it would not cause rancour and disaffection within the party in the state.

SLG gave reasons for urging the party in Lagos State to field Obanikoro as its governorship candidate, in a statement by its convener, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman and made available to newsmen in Lagos State yesterday. It stated that it was also due to his (Obanikoro’s) political experience, sagacity, courageous and acceptability.

42 news south-west Fayemi Congratulates Osundare Over NNOM Award Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated renowned poet and academic, Prof. Niyi Osundare for emerging the winner of the 2014 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award.

The award which is the highest and most prestigious prize for outstanding intellectual and academic attainment, will be presented to Osundare by President Goodluck Jonathan on December 4 in Abuja.

In a statement by his chief press secretary, Yinka Oyebode made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, Fayem described Osundare as one of the most respected Ekiti ambassadors, adding the works of the renowned professor of literature, which are rich in African imagery and satire, distinguished him as one of the very best in the field of literature.

The former Ekiti governor who said Osundare’s latest award did not come to him and the poet’s numerous admirers as a surprise, said Osundare’s works were highly engaging and thought-provoking.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Ekiti Crisis: Monarchs Sue For Peace As Fayose Urges APC Lawmakers To Return Home

By Alo Abiola, Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, has appealed to Governor Ayodele Fayose and the embattled speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Adewale Omirin to give peace a chance.

The monarchs who met yesterday in Ado-Ekiti to discuss the crisis in the state assembly said the development was unnecessarily heating up the polity.

The traditional rulers expressed regret that the parties in the matter externalised what supposed to be a domestic affair.

They however said that the coun-

cil will soon summon the parties involved to a meeting to resolve the matter.

Meanwhile, Governor Fayose has urged the embattled speaker and other All Progressives Congress(APC) lawmakers to return home and work with him to develop the state.

The governor who restated the commitment of his administration to the security of lives and property of all the citizens, said the the claims by pro-Omirin lawmakers that their lives are in danger in the light of the crisis rocking the Assembly was not true. Fayose said, “It is my duty to guarantee the lives and property of all Ekiti citizens as the chief securi-

ty officer.

“What Omirin and his supporters are saying are mere political statements. That they are not save cannot be true.

A communiqué issued at the end of the Council’s statutory meeting and read by its Chairman and the Onitaji of Itaji, Oba Adamo the Council said: “As major stakeholders and leaders of our people, Council has decided to intervene by calling the two parties to order in the overall interest of Ekiti State.

“Council is of the view that the whole matter is purely domestic and ought not to have been externalized as it is currently being done.

By Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti

Your Election Is A Call To Duty, Badmus Tells Aregbesola As Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is inaugurated for a second term in office tomorrow, the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Olatunde Badmus has urged him to see the renewal of his mandate as a call to bring more democratic dividends to the people of Osun State.

A statement signed and made available to newsmen in Osogbo by his special assistant on media and public affairs, Alhaji Dawood Ajetunmobi noted that Aregbesola redefined the meaning of governance in the public sector by bringing about the real and sustainable interventions that have enhanced the quality of life of every citizen of the state.

Badmus said since the creation of Osun State on August 27,1991, the people of the state had never had it so good until the coming of Aregbesola’s government which he averred had transformed the state in the areas of good road network, qualitative education, support for agric business and good health care among many other developmental projects.

He admonished residents of the state to continue to support the governor just like they did in his first term in office so the dividends of democracy could spread to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

L-R: Assistant director, head development finance office, Mr Adebisi Adedeji; acting director, development finance department, CBN, Dr Mudashir Olaitan CBN; Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola; special adviser to governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on development finance, Mr Paul Nduka; assistant director, CBN Abuja, Amina Umar; State commissioner for finance, Dr Wale Bolorunduro and secretary to the state government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, during a courtesy visit by the CBN team to the governor in Osogbo, Osun State. PHOTO BY GOVERNMENT HOUSE

short news LAUTECH Takes Delivery Of Quadruplets Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, (LAUTECH) Osogbo has delivered a woman of a set of quadruplets.

A team of doctors led by Dr. Johnson Komolafe, a consultant gynaecologist handled the delivery through a successful Caesarean section at the hospital.

According to the chief public relations director of the institution, Mr. Ayodele Adeyemo, the feat that was the first in the hospital was accomplished in a one and half hours operation.

Speaking on the development, the chief medical director of the hospital, Prof. Solomon Olufemi Fadiora commended all the personnel involved, while giving thanks to God for making it possible.

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

Gov Fayose Restores Ex-Gov Oni’s Privileges

BY ALO ABIOLA , Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has ordered the restoration of all privileges due to the former fovernor of the state, Olusegun Oni which were shalted by the immediate past administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

A statement by the chief press secretary nto the governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi in AdoEkiti yesterday, said the step was taken by Fayose in appreciation of the contributions of past leaders to the development of the state.

According to him, “Governor Fayose is re-

storing all the privileges of former Governor Segun Oni. His portrait among those who have led the state that was removed from the Governor’s Office by former governor Kayode Fayemi has been returned.

“All those who served with him and whose portraits and other souvenirs were removed by the past administration such as former chief press secretaries among others, have been returned.

“It was the Fayemi administration that even stopped their financial entitlements when it made the House of Assembly to pass

a bill that Oni and Fayose were not due for such.

“The excuse they gave was that Fayose did not complete his tenure and Oni’s tenure was unknown to law because the court removed him from office.

“The Fayose administration appreciates the contributions of those who have led the state in the past and would not in any way rubbish such. We are ready to acknowledge all and would not because of political differences rubbish what people have done in the past,” the statement added.

Osun Declares Tomorrow Public Holiday As Aregbesola Begins Second Term

BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Osun Sate Government has declared tomorrow a work free day to commemorate the inauguration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the public holiday was declared to allow people of the state partake in what he called the cel-

ebration of the “Triumph of the Peoples’ Will.”

The second term inauguration of the governor comes up at the Osogbo Township Stadium. according to the statement, the governor urged the entire citizens of the state to pray for continued peace and sustainable development of the state as the current administration enters it’s second phase.

He also urged civil servants to reflect on their commitment to duty while reiterating on his administration’s determination to drive the state to a prosperous height, Aregbesola assured citizens ahead of his second term in office the best of governance in the state above what was witnessed during his first term.

He said, “We hereby declare Thursday November 27 th, 2014 a

work-free day to enable our people take part in the celebration of the triumph of their will. We have offered ourselves for service for the good of the people.

“As often been repeated, the best way to pursue our objectives about governance is to run the whole hub of the mandate provided by the constitution that will give us enough time to meet all our aspirations for the people.”

news NATIONAL 43

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Rivers: Supreme Court Dismisses Agumagu’s Appeals

Adamawa PDP: Madaki Dares NWC Over Suspension

The Supreme Court has dismissed appeals filed by the suspended chief judge of Rivers State, Justice P.N.C. Agumagu.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) suspended Agumagu after he was sworn in as the chief judge of Rivers State by the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

According to NJC, Agumagu was not recommended to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the state before he was sworn-in by the governor as the chief judge.

Not satisfied with his suspension, Agumagu filed an application for a judicial review of the NJC’s directive suspending him.

In the appeal, Agumagu said the Court of Appeal was wrong in its interpretation of the provisions of the Court of Appeal Practice Direction of 2013.

As the internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens, the suspended Adamawa state chairman of the party Chief Joel Madaki has yesterday dared the national leadership of the party over his suspension saying that the Exco still remains in office and their suspension remains null and void.

Madaki, who made the statement during a meeting he convoked with his supporters and some party chieftains in Yola in-

BY MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Yola

sisted that he and the suspended Secretary of the party, Barr. A T Shehu are still in charge of the affairs of the party as he has not received any formal communication in respect of sacking of his led exco.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had ast week suspended Madaki and Shehu, over allegations of indiscipline and undermining the national leadership of the party.

While maintaining his leadership of the party, Madaki told the party stakeholders that attend-

ed the meeting which consist of some party executives at the state and local government levels, that he is only recognises the power of the party’s members in the state in deciding his status, saying no other person or group can kick him out of office.

He also assured the people whose names have been published as delegates by the state chapter of the party under his leadership that they will be the ones to participate in the primaries, as he urged them to kick against any delegate list

that will be brought from the National Secretariat of the party.

According him, his leadership of the party will overcome what he called machinations of some party leaders in Abuja, “in spite of the intimidations”.

In the wake of the sack of the Madaki led exco, the NWC of the party said took the action it took was sequel to Madaki’s unauthorized compilation and publication of purported delegates list contrary to the provision of the party’s constitution.

short news ‘Centenary City Will Provide 87, 000 Jobs’

By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja

PDP Clearance Confirms We Are On Right Path – Emetulu

Immediate past commissioner for Power and Energy in Delta State and frontline guber aspirant, Charles Emetulu, has described his clearance by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) screening committee as a confirmation that his guber ambition is on the right path.

Emetulu said he represents the future of Delta State, stressing that he has fresh ideas on governance.

Whatever future Deltans deserve is what we represent,” he said.

Emetulu said his campaign is all about the people “because at the end of the day, governance is all about the people; whether male, female, young or old”.

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

I ‘m Not At War With Gov Suswam-Sen Gemade

Senator Barnabas Gemade yesterday stated that he is not at war with the governor of his state, Gabriel Suswam, over a return ticket to the Senate.

In a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the senator said a report on Thisday Newspaper published on Sunday, 23rd November, 2014 on page 85, with the caption, “Bid for Benue North Senatorial Slot sets Suswam, Gemade on war path”, is false.

Gemade said he “cannot be on war path, or at daggers drawn with Governor Gabriel Suswam or any other person for that matter, over the picking of tickets under Peoples Democratic Party, and the contesting of elections, as he is not a desperate personality”, and that he “has not, and will not engage in battle with anybody with regards his election returning to the Senate in 2015”.

By Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The executive director, Eagle Hills Africa, Mr Jaimal Shergrill, has said the centenary city under construction in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 100 years of existence will provide 87, 000 when completed.

Shergrill, who addressed journalists yesterday L-R: Ogun State governor Ibikunle Amosun; Yeye Odua, Hannah Idowu Awolowo and Delta State governor Emmanuel Uduaghan when a group of during the church service to commemorate the 99th birthday of the nonagenarian at the Efunyela Hall in Awolowos’ residence, selected media Ikenne, Ogun State, yesterday. PHOTO BY GOVERNMENT HOUSE outfits toured the city, noted that the project will cost about $18.6 billion and take about 10

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja the next step by participating in the “We know all too well that there are years to complete. political process and the civic respon- those who still dispute the importance While explaining Project director of Democratic Gover- sibilities of their communities for the of women in their country’s progress the ‎reason for nance for Democracy (DGD), Mourta- betterment of their nation. and its governance, yet the evidence is building a modern da Deme, has said the declining particHe added, “ as we plan for the 2015 irrefutable. There is a mountain that city in Abuja to ipation of Nigerian women in politics elections,the challenges are great, Ni- shows that investment in women corcommemorate 100 is a great challenge as they now rank gerian ranking in women’s political relate positively to a country’s prosyears of Nigeria 102 globally . participation has declined consider- perity, poverty alleviation and ecoformation, Shergrill Quoting from the World Economic ably. It now ranks 102 in the world”. nomic growth.” noted that with the Forum Annual Gender Gap Report of He however said that “on a brightThe conference was organised by fast development of 142 countries, he said this is a signif- er note, Nigeria’s ranking for women’s the Ministry of Women Affairs and Nigeria’s economy, icant slide from the 89th position in over all economic participation and Social Development, in collaboration there is bound to be just five years. opportunities has improved by more with the United Nations Developincreased populaSpeaking at a two day national than 30 slots, now ranking 55th in the ment Programme (UNDP)Democratic tion in the future conference on Women and Elections, world,down from 89th in 2009.”

Governance for Development (DGD), and hence, the need with the theme “Enhancing OpportuThe coordinator passionately as- to address the disparity and imbalfor world class city. nities for Women candidates in 2015”, serted that investing in women was ance of low representation of women

By Ejike Ejike, he said, “ It is time for women to take equal to economic progress. He said, in governance and decision making.

Abuja

Nigerian Women Rank 102 In Political Participation Globally

Gov Imoke Condemns Attack On PDP Secretariat

By Lanre Rotimi, Calabar

Cross River State governor Liyel Imoke, has condemned the attack on the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Calabar on Monday.

A minor explosion had rocked the state secretariat of the party as the party was getting set to conduct its fresh ward congresses across the state, following the cancellation of the November 1 exer-

cise.

Imoke, who bemoaned the incident, vowed not to allow political desperados take the state back to its inglorious past that was characterised by political thuggery, all in their attempt for political power.

A statement by the governor’s chief press secretary quoted him as saying, “In my almost eight years in office, I have always stood for peace, from when I contested as gov-

ernor and had my elections annulled twice, Cross River has been the most peaceful state, as I never promoted violence or thuggery. I have always believed that no political office or position is worth the precious blood of any Cross Riverian.”

While decrying the unfortunate incident, Imoke said, “So, this new dimension by criminals and new entrants into our politics to import violence into our state is totally alien to

the very ideals and values we stand for as a people and must be stoutly resisted by all of us.”

The governor gave the marching orders to the state police high command to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act and make them face the law, while pledging that his administration will do everything within the law to sustain the peace and harmony enthroned in the state since his assumption of office in 2007.

44

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

速

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

zonal watch

45

OYO STATE OGUN STATE LAGOS STATE ONDO STATE EKITI STATE OSUN STATE

Osun Hosts Investors From Latin America

BY JosHuA DADA, Osogbo

A delegation of investors from some Latin American countries have held talks with officials of Osun State government as part of efforts to diversify the economy of the state to mitigate the effects of the dwindling revenue from the federation account.

The investors, who are from

Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, were led to the state by the Nigeria Ambassador to Brazil, Chief Chive Kaave.

During the discussion held in Osogbo, the state capital, both parties resolved to partner in areas like agricultural mechanisation, egg, rice and fish production, cassava processing, cooling storage and processing.

The director general, Office of Economic Development and Partnership, Dr. Charles Akinola, who led the state delegation to the session in his address, explained the economic plans of the government under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and how investors from the three countries can key into the Six Point Integral Action

Plans of the government meant to banish hunger, poverty and engender massive employment of the youths.

Akinola, who also spoke on the availability of favourable climate conducive for many agricultural produce, stressed the importance of rail line to support industrialisation of the state. He added that the present

administration is interested in establishing mid-regional market at Dagbolu to further industrialise the state through agriculture.

He said, “We are interested in all season farming and we need to do so because the state government plans to supply at least 10 per cent of the food consumed in Lagos and we need to go into commercial agriculture.

Ekiti Govt To Collaborate With Development Partners

L-R: Economy and management expert, Professor Patrick utomi; founding partner at iamaCHAMP Limited, Abiola salami, and pro-chancellor of Pan-Atlantic university and chief host of the GAME 2014 Conference, Dr. Christopher Kolade, at the 2014 edition of the Goal Attainment Made Easy (GAME) conference.

BY ALo ABIoLA, Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose has expressed the resolve of his administration to continually synergise with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and other relevant development partners to better the lots of the state.

The governor stated this in Ado Ekiti while declaring open the 2014 two-day annual high level meeting of the network of State Secretariats for Aid Coordination.

Governor Fayose who spoke through the State Head of Service, Mr. Olubunmi Famosaya said the state has keyed into the structure of the one-stop-shop aid coordination, adding that his government will embrace all sincere efforts aimed at developing the state.

Stressing that the concept of the stomach infrastructure in the state encompasses planning,comfortability of the people, salary payment as and when due, remittance of deductions without negatively affecting the welfare of the people as well as seeing to the general wellbeing of the populace, he said total poverty eradication in the society would not be negotiated.

The governor who lauded the seriousness displayed by the development partners at tackling the challenges militating against development of the states, said that the presence of representatives of eight other states including, Sokoto, Gombe, Niger, Kogi, Rivers, Delta, Anambra and Ondo as well as the National Planning Commission and UNDP at the meeting must also be commended.

He expressed hope that the participants would be painstaking in their deliberations.

Obanikoro Joins Lagos Guber Race

BY GEoRGE oKoJIE, Lagos

Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana and immediate past minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is set to officially declare his aspiration for the Lagos State governorship election tomorrow in Lagos.

In a statement issued by his special adviser on media strategy, Ohimai Amaize, “Senator Obanikoro is ready to unveil his plans of a ‘Greater Lagos’ for the people of Lagos State come November 27.”

“Senator Obanikoro has answered the call of his people to rescue Lagos State from political and economic bondage and we are very confident that based on his overwhelming goodwill among the people of Lagos, especially the downtrodden masses, as well as his impeccable record in public service, he is the best prepared for the job”, the statement said.

The declaration event with the theme “Walk With Me” will be attended by hundreds of thousands of Senator Obanikoro’s friends, supporters and special guests from all over the world.

NGO Donates Drugs To Osun

By Joshua DaDa, Osogbo

an NGo, hope for Family Development Initiative (hFDI), has donated 190,000 vitamin a supplements and albendazole tablets to osun state government.

Presenting the drugs to the government, the NGo said the donation was part of its social responsibility of ensuring healthy living in the state.

Executive director of the hFDI, Mr stephen aremu, who presented the drugs to the state government said the drugs would assist in the care of

children in the state. he said the assistance was in support of the state government’s free health programme, adding that the organisation appreciates the efforts of the Governor Rauf aregbesola-led government at ensuring healthy living. aremu said the gesture would go a long way at preventing eye defects, anaemia, diarrhea and measles among the children. he stated that the NGo collaborated with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to procure the drugs. speaking on behalf of

the state government, state commissioner for health, Dr Temitope Ilori, lauded the NGo for the gesture and assured that the drugs would be given to those it was meant for.

The commissioner, who was represented by Mr James oloyede, a director in the ministry, commended the NGo for the gesture.

While advising parents to ensure that their children benefit from the gesture, the commissioner stressed the need for all parents in the state to benefit from the health care system of the state government.

Lagos: Child Thief Nabbed, Beaten

BY MATTHEW DIKE, Lagos

A child thief escaped death by the whiskers in Ajeromi/Ifelodun local government area of Lagos State.

The thief was said to have stolen a two year old baby girl recently.

He was said to be playing with the baby girl identified as Mercy who sat on the laps of her aunty, Abigael, beside the local government council secretariat where the mother of the baby was

frying yam and baked beans.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the alleged thief left the baby Mercy and walked towards where her mother, Blessing was making baked beans few meters away, only for him to return and lied to the baby’s aunty, Abigael that the baby’s mother told him to carry the baby to her.

According to the baby’s mother, Blessing, her younger sister innocently handed the child over

to a stranger who flagged down a commercial motorcyclist and wanted to escape with the baby using motorcycle.

Luck ran out on the thief when Blessing sighted the man leaving with her daughter on motorcycle and raised the alarm. People stopped the motorcycle on the way and the thief took off with the baby and wanted to escape but some people held him back and he was slapped and punched.

46 zonal watch (South-West)

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

project report

Lighting Up Lagos For Economic Growth, Transformation

by GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

The zeal Lagos State government has deployed in recent times in the various Independent Power Plants(IPPs) it has built and the different street lighting projects has unequivocally shown the state’s appetite for power sector development.

Aware of the fact that without reliable power, businesses cannot develop and factories cannot meet orders, the state government within the ambit of the provision of the laws of the country embarked on the building of IPPs and street lighting projects across the Lagos metropolis.

Its concerns over the fact that lack of access to reliable supply of electricity means that school children cannot do home work and women will continue to give birth with candle lights, informed its decision to light up hospitals , schools and some other vital areas.

As the nation’s economic nerve centre the state government felt there is need to have constant electricity supply in the state for the majority of private and public businesses to survive.

It discovered that it cannot shy away from the reality that the state is home to about 2,000 industrial complexes, 10,000 commercial ventures and 22 industrial estates.

Available statistic shows that the state presently accounts for over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s industrial and commercial activities; 70 per cent of national maritime cargo freight, over 80 per cent of international aviation traffic and over 50 per cent of Nigeria’s energy consumption.

Thus, tackling energy poverty formed part of the Babatunde Fashola developmental agenda aimed at providing the citizens with energy, while attracting investors to the state.

To make impact in this regard, the state had since created an electricity department to meet the state’s growing power need.

In its drive to provide power supply, the state government initially conceived three power projects at Ikorodu, Akute and Lagos Island. It later pursued and delivered the Alausa and Ikeja GRA IPP, while the Lekki, Matori and Imota Industrial Schemes are in the offing.

Obviously in a hurry to deliver the states’ power project before the expiration of his tenure in office, the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who had earlier in the week commissioned a 11.8 km Muritala Mohammed Way in Yaba area of the state also

Fashola

formally commissioned the 8.8 megawatts Mainland Independent Power Project.

Speaking on the imperative of electricity power to the people, Fashola described the successful completion of the Mainland Independent Power Project as a demonstration that the present government is one that makes a public commitment and is duty bound to ensure that it stands by it.

According to him, the Mainland Independent Power Project would serve agencies like the Lagos State Electricity Board, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Area F Police Command, the High Court, the Office of the Chief Judge, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the State Water Corporation, the Old Secretariat complex, the State Ministry of Housing and Eko Engineering Limited.

Others include street lights covering a stretch of 20 kilometres from the Old Secretariat, the Ikeja Flyover, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Agege Motor Road, Ikorodu Road, Jibowu to Maryland, Palm Avenue in Mushin and Ikeja GRA. Fashola stated that as it is currently constituted, the state government has operated within the limits allowed states and has clearly demonstrated that steady power supply is indeed deliverable to the people.

According to him, “If tomorrow, the National Assembly legislates that states should generate and distribute power, a state like Lagos will conveniently generate its own electricity and distribute same to its residents.”

As the nation’s economic nerve centre the state government felt there is need to have constant electricity supply in the state for the majority of private and public businesses to survive

He reiterated that when the administration gave a commitment that the Mainland Independent Power Project would be commissioned in 2014, it was conscious that this must be accomplished adding that the promise was made then from an informed position.

He reasoned that transformation in this sector cannot be sustained if the government failed to refocus the attention of young people to power the energy sector, saying the present administration is committed to harnessing the undying spirit of the young people to develop the sector.

The governor said, “In the same month of October, which is now the Lagos Energy Conservation month, I flagged off the programme for this year by commissioning the Lagos Energy Academy where young people are already being trained in energy and electricity technologies.

“They will learn about energy generation in the traditional and renewable way. They will learn about transmission and generation as well as meter repairs and fault diagnosis.

“By the time the first batch graduate in March 2015, they will receive a Siemens certificate that makes them employable in any part of the world where energy and electricity technicians and engineers are required.

“My hope is that they will choose to remain and work here to solve our energy problems because we will not give up on power.”

Part of the process to light up the state he said informed the full design of the Solar Power kit that will be deployed to all the state schools to provide them with renewable and reliable energy to facilitate learning.

He also harped on the need to also conserve what is being generated, “Nigerians as a people must also agree on the fact that there is a need to conserve energy because it is practically impossible to have unfinished energy.”

The state commissioner for energy and mineral resources, Taofiq Tijani, said the Mainland Independent Power Project is the fourth power plant to be commissioned by the present administration.

He also informed that the ongoing Conserve Energy, Save Money (CESM) campaign has run on full steam throughout the month of October , saying people could now download the first ever consumer focused household energy calculator from mobile App store.

Ogunmola

News Behind The News

Ogunmola: A REC’s Explanations For INEC’s Bungling Of PVCs’ Distribution

By Olaolu Oladipo, Lagos

The atmosphere at the Yaba office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was apprehensive as the leaders of the various political parties assembled to listen to the chief electoral umpire for the state, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola.

The day was on a Thursday and the talking point was the briefing Ogunmola was going to make to the parties’ stalwarts regarding the preparations the commission had made towards the distribution of permanent voter cards.

To the numerous party chieftains, the occasion was very crucial as the cards that are expected to be disbursed to voters are important document needed for the electorate to cast their ballot at the forthcoming general elections tentatively scheduled for February next year.

Ogunmola told the gathering which also had in attendance scores of media practitioners that owing to logistical hiccups, only residents of 11 local governments will take part in the exercise scheduled for between Friday the 9th and Sunday 11th.

The Oyo town born academician however stated that the remaining local governments would be accommodated in Batch B of the exercise scheduled to hold between 28 and 30th of this month.

“As I speak to you now, we are in custody of PVC in 11 out of the 20 local government areas of the state. In spite of the shortfall, we have decided to go on with the distribution exercise as planned. It is regrettable but we see it as a blessing in disguise as we hope to use the opportunity to concentrate efforts on the 11 councils to ensure that the exercise turn out well,” Ogunmola said.

Hardly had he finished his briefing that the state chairman of the APC, Chief Henry Ajomale rose to express the displeasure of his party, saying the misgivings perceived by the leadership might necessitate a boycott of the exercise by his party.

A visibly angry Ajomale stated that, “I am here to register the displeasure of my party. A decision would be taken on the issue but let it be known that we might boycott this exercise but that move would be taken by the leadership of the party later today.

“It (the incidence) is the beginning of the near mismanagement of the exercise. Assurances were given that the exercise will be foolproof. I foresee a danger here because of the short time frame with which to communicate the decision to our people who have been properly mobilised.”

Ajomale stated.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

47

48

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, & FAITH PLATFORM

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

SPECIALISED CLASSIFIEDS PAGES WISDOM OF GOD’S WORD EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

GLORIOUS CROWN CATHEDRAL FIRE MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRy has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1of 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRy has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Nnadiaso Promise jomo 2. Pastor Mrs. Nnadiaso joy ofuma 3. Sis. Agbanusi Nchedo 4. Bro. Emeka onyeji 5. Sis. ojinnaka Ngozi Ann

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. josiah Sunday ogheneobrozie 2. obarhua Benedit Tuwra 3. Ejebe Stella ovanomo

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To propagate the gospel of jesus Christ.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To propagate the gospel of jesus Christ through selfless services using all structural means in consonance with the holy scripture under the guidance of the almighty God.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

ANy oBjECTIoN To THIS REGISTRATIoN SHoUld BE foRwARdEd To THE REGISTRAR – GENERAl, CoRPoRATE AffAIRS CoMMISSIoN, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, off AGUyI IRoNSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUjA wITHIN 28 dAyS fRoM THE dATE of PUBlICATIoN.

Signed: SECRETARY

SIGNEd: SECRETARY

CITIZENS EMPOWERMENT FOR NATION DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

ENTERPRENUERSHIP AND TECHNOLOGICAL EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foUNdATIoN has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Uzozie Henry 2. Adams Momoh 3. Momoh Ehilaro Prince 4. Augustine Arokamoni 5. Eromini Chukwuka 6. Barr. Nosike Nicolas

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ugha Simeon Njoemene 2. Abubakar yahaya 3. Isah d. Usman 4. Vincent joel Katu 5. obi Nicodemus Chukwudi 6. dele omole 7. Aisha Usman 8. Akabundu Blessing onyekaibu

- President/Chairman - Secretary

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To carter for the welfare of its members ANy oBjECTIoN To THE 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: BARR. SOLOMON OYAKHILOME UDUEBOR 08036411184

UNIQUE LIFE IN CHRIST OUT REACH This is to informed the general public that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration under Part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act no 1 of 1990.

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. joyce oduah 2. Queen oduah 3. Nnenna oduah AIMS AND OBJECTION: 1. To propagate and preach the gospel of jesus Christ.

2. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide.

3. To organise outreaches, crusades, seminars, workshops and revival services for the works of the gospel.

4. To win souls for the kingdom of God. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tiger Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi, Maitama, Abuja within twenty eight 28days of this publication.

Sign: SECRETARY

- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary - Assistant Secretary - Provost - Pro - Treasurer - financial Sec.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. Promotion of technical skills and enterprenuership.

Any objection to the 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 BARR. MOSES B. BATURE 08067744354

ARK OF MERCY AND LIFE MINISTRY This general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRy has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ademuwagun Ademola 2. Ademola Maina oyemowo 3. Eriobuna Uzo Promise 4. okoro lawrence ogheneochuko 5. okere George Nwaneri 6. Gbenga david omotoshop

- Chairman - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To propagate and preach the gospel of jesus Christ.

2. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide.

3. To organise outreaches, crusades, seminars, workshops and revival services for the works of the gospel.

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: SECRETARY

CATHDIZA WIDOWS AGRO EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE

PERCULIAR WIDOWS FOR CHRIST AND ORPHANAGE FOUNDATIONS

NEW LIFE FOR ALL NATIONS MINISTRIES

this is to inform the general pubkic that the above named association has applied to the corporate affairs commission to be registered as an incorporate trustees under the part “c” of the companies and allied matters Act 1990

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 company and allied matter Act 1990

This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRIES has applied for change of trustees to Corporate Affairs Commission under part“C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Most Rev. Bishop dr. George j. dodo 2. Rev fr. Michael Pius Kagarko 3. Mr. Titus john 4. Mr Simon Bakut 5. Mr Barrister jacob A. Madaki

THE TRUSTEE ARE. 1. Princess Nma olikagu 2. Mr. Patrick Chukwuemeka Mbonu 3. Mr. George Chigozie Solomon 4. Mrs. Uju C. ohabuike 5. Mrs. josephine Ngozi Eze

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To empower widows and youth in zaria and environs with means of self sustainability training in modern agriculture skills and management and provision of soft loans.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE. 1. To assist the less privilege with free health care 2. To give the indigent of the community free drugs and medical care 3. To establish health care centres for the community 4. To encourage the indigents to study medicine and other health care programs

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 the day 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 from the day of this publication.

Signed: JACOB A. MADAKI

Sign: ST AVEN ATABOR Solicitor

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REVERENd lAwRENCE olAdEjI - lATE 2. REVERENd EZEKIEl SolA ARIyo - lATE 3. BRo. olABAyo TUSI 4. EldER S.o AjANI - lATE 5. BRo. SAMUEl oGUNfolAjI - lATE 6. PASToR SAMUEl IyIolA 7. PASToR MATTEw AKINBoAdE 8. REVERENd GABRIEl oGUNdIjI 9. PASToR EZEKIEl AdENIyI AdEoyE THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASToR EZEKIEl AdENIyI AdEoyE 2. PASToR SUNdAy fARoTIMI EdoKPAyI 3. PASToR SAMUEl olUMIdE oREKoyA 4. PASToR BAMIdElE TAjUdEEN lASISI 5. PASToR MATTHEw AMUlEyE BAyodE 6. PASToR MATTHEw olUTUNjI AKINBoAdE 7. PASToR KEHINdE olABAyo TUBI 8. PASToR MoSES olUSolA odURolE 9. PASToR ABRAHAM TITIlAyo fATolA AIMS ANd oBjECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME 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: LAWYER AYODELE ROTIMI; 08139368066

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

HEALING STRIPES HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

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

This is to notify the general public that the above name foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT

MARyAM BASHIR INEC

Bashir Mammam guardian to Zainab Bashir

wHo dIEd oN THE 11th oCT., 2014 dATEd AT ABUjA THIS 21st dAy of NoVEMBER, 2014

No. 4 Malabo street wuse 2 Abuja.

The widowe and daughter of the said deceased

SIGNEd BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ foR: PRoBATE REGISTRAR

For booking or inquiry call

> HENRY UBIMAGO 08068640944

DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS UMEH joSEPH

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT CHUZZy UMEH ANd CHUKwUdI UMEH

joS, PlATEAU STATE wHo dIEd oN THE 6TH june, 2013 dATEd AT ABUjA THIS 25th dAy of NoVEMBER, 2014

APo Mechanic Village, fCT, Abuja The brothers of the said deceased

SIGNEd BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ foR: PRoBATE REGISTRAR

> AUGUstINE 08032325988

> GLORIA OKwUM 08038722368

> ABIGAIL sAMBO 08064382438

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Idowu Iluyomade 2. Mr. Trevor Akindele 3. Mr. Emeka Ndu 4. dr. Ayo oluokun 5. Mr. Chinedu Chigbu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: a. To establish hospitals that will provide subsidised health care for the less privileged. b. To promote healthcare in rural areas.

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 the day of this publication.

SIGNEd: MIKE IBEZIM ESQ; SOLICITOR

> GLORIA RAPHAEL 08061356519

> GLORIA ODIO 08034285851

> GRACE OJO 08035054444

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Political Parties Must Break Hindrances Against Women Participation In Politics – Jega

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday charged political parties to break all existing barriers and open their doors to women participation in politics.

The INEC chairman, who stated this at the public presentation of INEC Gender Policy in Abuja, said with the number of women in the country, they must be actively involved in the

legislative and governance processes.

Jega said “All hitherto, existing barriers which have blocked access for the inclusion of women in our political process need to be broken and removed”.

He further explained that the policy objectives include ensuring that INEC policies, plans, process and operations were gender responsive, adding that the objectives are also to encourage gender equity and balance within political parties.

He said, “It is also aimed at increasing budgetary provision and mobilising partners to effectively provide funding for gender sensitive actions within their purview. ``The policy is also aimed at supporting an enabling legislative environment to achieve gender equality and bridging gaps in political representation in elective posts at all electoral level,’’ he said.

Jega, who stressed that the INEC gender policy

was not an isolated document as it was drawn from the National Gender Policy (2006) and the Vsion 20:2020 document, enjoined political stakeholders to collaborate with the commission to ensure full implementation of the policy.

He said, ``It is not enough to produce an excellent working document, what is much crucial is to ensure its full implementation and we have to work together to ensure that.’’

FG May Review JAMB Admission Policy

By Kuni Tyessi, Abuja

The federal government may consider review of the process of admissions into tertiary institutions conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB. Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who gave this indication in Katsina State on Tuesday, said there

was the need to review the admission processes in order to adequately cater for Colleges of Education and other tertiary institutions.

He said the federal government would do all it could to attract more young Nigerians into teaching profession.

The minister was responding to earlier remark by the provost of the

olalere

togun

I formerly known as miss akinwale yetunde funmilayo, now wish to be known as mrs olalere yetunde funmilayo. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please note.

Annabelle

I formerly known as Miss Unyime David Akal, now wish to be known as Miss Annabelle Unyime Akal.

All document valid. University of Abuja and general public to take note.

YAHAYA

Benice

He said: “A major challenge is the decline in students population. With the unified JAMB examination, Colleges of Education were left with students who could not gain admission into the universities.

“It is hoped that a policy will be developed to guarantee the colleges enough students to be admitted”, he said.

Igwe

I formerly known as Miss ajayi winifred folasayo omobola, now wish to be known as togun winifred folasayo omobola. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please note.

I, Formerly known as Idongesit Anthony Eneh now wish to be addressed as Benice Idongesit Anthony Onyeka. All former documents remain valid National Examination Council (NECO) Abuja, University of Abuja and the general public should please take note

I, Formerly known as Mrs David Rachael Eniola now wish to be addressed as Mrs Igwe Rachael Eniola. All former documents remain valid. Head of Service, Office of Accountant General of Federation, ANAN and the general public should please take note.

Igbinomwanhia

ADEBAJO

OKORO-IGWE

I formerly known as Miss Inneh Nosayana Sandra, now wish to be known as Mrs Igbinomwanhia Nosayana Sandra. All document valid.

General public to take note.

jatto

I formerly known as JOHN ABUBAKAR, now wish to be known as YAHAYA ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please note.

I formerly known as jatto daniel ikekhua, now wish to be known as jatto daniel ibhagbemien. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

ESTHER

JOSEPH

I formerly known as ESTHER OJOMA ALLI, now wish to be known as ESTHER OJOMA JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

I formerly known as MOBODO CHUKWUDI, now wish to be known as JOSEPH NDUDIM EMEREMADU. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Immigration Service and the general public to please note.

DIGWU

OLATAYO

I formerly known as EZE IFEOMA JOSEPHINE, now wish to be known as MRS. DIGWU IFEOMA JOSEPHINE. All former documents remain valid. RMRDC and the general public to please note.

Federal College of Education, Katsina, Prof. M.A. Wasagu, that there has been a decline in population of students at the college owing to the UTME conducted by JAMB. Wasagu had noted that only the dregs of candidates who sit for UTME annually and fail to gain admission into universities are left for the colleges.

I formerly known as MISS FANIRAN OPEYEMI OLUWAKEMI , now wish to be known as MRS ADEBAJO OPEYEMI OLUWAOKORO. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please note.

I formerly known as OKORO DANIEL OBINNA, now wish to be known as OKORO-IGWE DANIEL OBINNA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

OLUBATO

CORRECTION OF NAME

I formerly known as ADELEYE KEHINDE DEBORAH, now wish to be known as OLUBATO KEHINDE DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

The general public is hereby notify that my name which was mistakingly written as Okechukwu Dennis Okoli on my documents has been corrected to Ufelle Junior. General public to take note.

news NATIONAL 49

UPN Accuses Police Of Harassment, Illegal Detention

By Chika Otuchikere, Abuja

The national secretariat of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN has accused the Nigeria Police of harassing national officials of the party as well as illegally detaining a staff of the secretariat.

The party, which made the allegation yesterday in a statement signed by the UPN national secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Sokoto and made available to LEADERSHIP, alleged that operatives of the force were harassing the national officials of the party at the behest of their former national chairman, Dr Fredrick Fasheun.

Sokoto said the operatives stormed the national secretariat of the party on November 18, claiming that they were investigating alle-

gations of crime levelled by the former chairman against the party’s leaders.

The accused leaders include Dr Manzo Abubakar, acting national chairman, Alh Abubakar Sokoto, national secretary, Dr, Ola Olateju, national organising secretary, Alh. Bari Salau, national publicity secretary, and Mr Godwin Odey, administrative assistant.

According to Sokoto, the operatives arrested one Mohammed Madawaki, an office cleaner and have refused to release him, thereby detaining him beyond the statutory 48 hours without being charged to court.

Meanwhile, the acting national chairman who attempted to secure his bail was equally detained but later released on bail.

Gabriel Afolabi and Florence Bukunola Ojo Foundation The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Prof. Gabriel Afolabi Ojo 2. Prof. Chief (Mrs.) Mojisola Tiamiyu 3. Barrister Anthony Kolade Ojo 4. Mr. Olagoke Christopher Ojo 5. Mrs. Olayemi Okikiolu 6. Mr. Olakunle Gregory Ojo 7. Dr. (Mrs.) Modupeola Olapeju Kuteyi Aim and objectives 1. To cater for the welfare of its members.

2. To provide for the less privileged.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: Olufunsho Isaac

Ndisak Educational Endowment Foundation The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Mr. Uko Samuel Orok (Chairman) 2.Hon. Smart Okon Ben 3. Mrs. Amabel Uko Orok 4. Mrs. Tracy Smart Ben 5. Mr. Ayankop Samuel Orok Aim and objectives 1. To assist in educatnal development of Ndisak youth in higher institutions.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: Chairman

I formerly known as AFOLABI KHADIJAT ADEBOLA, now wish to be known as OLATAYO ADEBOLA KHADIJAT (MRS.). All former documents remain valid.

General public to please note.

IZUWA NWOGU RESCUE FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

LOSSOF loss OF ofDOCUMENTS DOCUMENT document LOSS This is to inform the general public of the loss of the originals of the following documents belonging to Mr. Sabo Ayara:(1) NECO School Certificate dated November, 2006 (2) First School Leaving Certificate(Primary) (3) National Diploma Certificate issued by Kaduna Polytechnic, dated 1999 (4) Higher National Diploma Certificate issued by Kaduna Polytechnic dated May, 2004.(5) Professional Diploma in Purchasing and Supply Certificate(6) Birth certificate (15) NYSC Discharge Certificate issued September, 2005.

All efforts to trace the missing documents proved abortive. If found please return to the nearest police station

The Trustees Are: 1. Hon. Izuwa Kelly Nwogu - Chairman 2. Solomomi Weaith 3. Chijioke Onwumere - Secretary 4. Victoria Abraham 5. Ibukun Nwogu Aim and objectives 1. Youth empowerment through skill aquisition, poverty alleviation and scholarship.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: HON. IZUWA NWOGU, Chairman

50

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

DIVINE- MIRACLE GALORE MINISTRY

GLOBAL LIFE-TOWER BUILDERS FOUNDATION

ISADA TRAVEL AND TOURS LTD ABUJA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

APPLICATION FOR AIR TRAVELS ORGANISER LICENCE (ATOL)

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR IFEANYI JAMES OKPE 2 . PASTOR LAWSON IFEANYI NWAKUNA 3. MR JOSEPH OBINNA EZE 4.CHIJIOKE MARTIN NNODUMELE 5. TOCHI GRACE OKORIE

- GENERAL - MEMBER - MEMBER - MEMBER - SECRETARY

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. TO ENGAGE IN MISSTIONARY WORK (REACHING THE UNREACHED) 2 .TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHIRST 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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UWAKOLAM GODWIN CHUKWUDI 2. UWAKOLAM BRIGHT CHUKWUEMEKA 3. OKANUME CHINWEOGO HOPE 4. NKEM EGBUTA 5. STANLEY WILLIAMS 6. AZUKA OKAFOR CHANH

-

PRESIDENT SECRETARY MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. Giving scholarship to students 2. Delivering Primary Health Care Services/ Free Medical Aids 3. Provision of food items for the less privileged 4. Provision of relief material to the displaced 5. Liaising with relevant Public Agencies, Corporate Firms and Individuals to promote Entrepreneurship among the youths 6. Youth Empowerment Workshop and Training Programmes 7. Spiritual Counseling/Empowerment 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

The above Travel Agency has applied for Air Travels Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to participate in Hajj and Umra operation.

Should there be any objection to this application, please direct such objections to N C A A , Aviation H ouse , M urtala Mohammed Airport Ikeja, Lagos.

ISADA TRAVELS AND TOURS LTD Management

SACRA FAMIGLIA FOUNDATION

PRESTIGIOUS WOMEN OF AKWA IBOM ASSOCIATION

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND JUSTICE FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION 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. Obiozor Christian Osita 2. Nwagbologu Henrrietha Chineze 3. Obiozor Maryjane Alice

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS. CELESTINA UKI (JP) 2. MRS. ENO ARCHIBONG 3. MRS. BLESSING BASSEY 4. MRS. GRACE SAMSON 5. PARAWA (ELDER) NSEBOT WILLIAMS 6. PASTOR ABRAHAM AKPABIO

This is to notify the general public that the above name FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To help the less privileged.

ANY OBJEC TION 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: SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To educate Akwa Ibom women residing in Lagos on the need to participate in politics in Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria at large.

2. To cater for the welfare and progress 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 OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ezeani Henry Chibuzo 2. Ejike Peter Okeke 3. Edeh Jonas Sopuruchukwu

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote productivity among youth in Nigeria 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 the day of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

OLYMPIA ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

THE SOAR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

NOBLE DEED INITIATIVE

This is to notify the general public that the above name ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

This is to notify the general public that the above name INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

This is to notify the general public that the above name INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ofiyai Harrison Ebizimor 2. Diop Oumar (Senegalaise) 3. Ciroma Joseph Almajiri 4. Ndjaga Ghislain Joseph 5. Egbuna Joseph Ikechukwu

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To protect the interest of bonafide members of the association.

2. To co-ordinate security of lives and property within the estate.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mrs. Adaeze Aja 2. Mr. Mba Kalu Aja

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To organise seminars and symposium that will provide mentorship and training for our youths.

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 the day 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 from the day of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: BARR. EMMANUEL JARIKRE 08036657857

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mohammed Umaru Mallam - Chairman 2. Olukoju Caroline Omobolanle - Secretary 3. Dairu Wada 4. Emem Akpabio 5. Mohammadu Bagudu Audu 6. Augustine Alegeh 7. Ali Garba Fagge 8. Capt. Okpara Enyinna (Rtd)

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To indentify competent and capable organisation/individuals, both public and private, who are willing to partner with the foundation in mobilizing financial and material resources for alleviation poverty in the society.

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 the day of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

WORLD ROYAL QUEENS INITIATIVES

GLOBAL PEACE AND REVALATION OUTREACH

MICRONUTRIENT INITIATIVE NIGERIA

This is to notify the general public that the above name INITIATIVES has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

This is to notify the general public that the above name INITIATIVES has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

This is to notify the general public that the above name INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Atomori Ifeoluwa Sylvester 2. Olawale Olaniyi Ogundare

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prophet/Pastor Holyman Isaiah Samuel 2. Prophetess Ruth Tamarabrakaemi 3. Samuel Tamarabrakaemi 4. Prophetess Goodnews Ebitamaralayefe Emmnauel 5. Prophet/Pastor Moses Tamaraomomoemi Samuel

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Richard Bakali Pendame - Chairman 2. Mr. Banda Ndiaye 3. Dr. Lovett Lawson

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Support provision of Mineral and Vitamin supplements for children and less privileged people in the society through various delivery mechanisms.

2. Support efforts at all levels to improve Mineral and Vitamin supplements supply chain, and design cost-effective approaches to reach hard-to-reach children and the less privileged.

3. Increase coverage for the needy by supporting fortification of wheat, maize flour, sugar, vegetable oil and other selected foodstuffs.

4. To cater for people suffering from vitamins deficiency in the society.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To protect, promote and sustain traditional values and cultures around the globe especially as relates tot he institutions of traditional rulers and queens.

2. To set up and builds on humanitarian vision and legacy all over the world through international programmes that promote education, cultures and traditions, leadership and economic empowerment.

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 the day of this publication.

Signed: POPOOLA GRACE ESQ 07030889391

LOSSOF loss of OFDOCUMENTS document DOCUMENT LOSS

This is to inform the general public of the Loss of Original Right of Occupancy for Plot No: 667, Cadastral Zone B12, Duboyi, Abuja, with file No: SO 60420 belonging to Hassan Ahmed Danbaba of 17, Magajin Gari Road, Sokoto. All effort made to trace the said missing document proved abortive. If found kindly return to Garki Police Station, Abuja. General public to please take note.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the undiluted world of our Lord Jesus Christ and saviour of mankind to the utmost part of the world.

2. To organise crusades, seminars, etc.

3. To promote the gospel of peace and reconciliation in Jesus Christ and demonstrate His healing power.

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 the day of this publication.

Signed: ISRAEL GABRIEL ABAH (ESQ)

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 the day of this publication.

SIGNED: OLUMUYIWA OLOWOKURE ESQ

loss OF LOSS of DOCUMENT document

loss of LOSS OF DOCUMENT document

The general public is hereby notified of loss of the Original copy of the Certificate of Occupancy in respect of plot 207, Cadastral zone A00, Central Area, Abuja covered by file No. MISC. 55204 granted to INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. Please return to AGIS, Abuja if found.

The general public is hereby notified of the loss of the Original copy of the Certificate of Occupancy in respect of File No.KW.30171, Garki 11District, Cadastral Zone/plot No: A03/121, Dwelling plot No/floor 2142/01, Dwelling Unit: Block J, Flat 7 granted to OLUBUNMI GBEMISOLA OYEBANJI. Please return to AGIS ,Abuja if found.

Signed: Barr.Chidi Jude Akunnakwe

Signed : Barr. Chidi Jude Akunnakwe

51

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 GREAT PEOPLE OF VISION ASSOCIATION

ERIMOPE-EKITI MUSLIM COMMUNITY

This is to notify the general public that the above name INITIATIVES has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Olukayode Aiyenuyo - Chairman 2. Miss Adia Ukoyen 3. Oliver Okeke Esq 4. Mr. Ravon Jerratt - Secretary 5. Mr. Joe Onumaegbu 6. Mr. Adeyemi Amao 7. Mr. Charles Okite 8. Mr. Mustapha Mohammed 9. Mr. Adekola Owoade 10. Mr. Adekunle Jegede

TRUSTEES: 1. ABOLARIN MUSTAPHA SALA 2. AKEWUSOLA ABDULATEEF ABE 3. SALAMI GANIYU 4. KAREEM LASISI ADIGUN 5. AGBAJE MUSTAPHA 6. AYOADE WAHAB OLAGOKE 7. JIMOH ABDULYEKEEN OLAYINKA 8. SIKIRU OLANREWAJU AJENIFUJA 9. FATIMOH AZEEZ KAREEM 10. AGBAJE TAWAKALITU

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide a forum for members to interact in pursuit of good friendship and to exchange reasonable ideas on any subject whatever for the benefit of all the members and the society at large.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote Islamic activities in our society.

2. To support and maintain a strong missionary force for the purpose of correctly interpreting and propagating the true teaching of Islam in Nigeria and throughout the world.

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 the day of this publication.

Signed: BARR. OLIVER OKEKE 08034004730

This is to notify the general public that the above name has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) Dr. Otefe Edebi (2) Odih vera Linda - Secretary (3) modo Sunday Benjamin Chairman (4) Ajayi Ernest (5) Monye Joseph Onyebuchi THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ 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 the day of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ALH DAHIRU WAZARI 2. MUHAMMAD MUHAMMAD 3. ABUBAKAR OSHODI 4. UMAR DAHIRU WAZARI 5. PETER ONOVOH 6. ISYAKA ABDULLAHI 7.ABUBAKAR BELLO 8. IDRIS ALIYU BILAL 9. ALH SANUSI ABBAS 10. ABBAS ABDULLALI

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. President Sunday Okon 2. Secretary Ukpong Umoren 3. Aniekan Charles 4. Friday Akpan 5. Anietie Edmon 6. Emmanuel Lnyang THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To foster unity peace and progress among the entire members of the association.

2. Promote te interest of all members of the association.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To encourage small scale and large scale business.

2. To promote unity among 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 the day of this publication.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Amendment of Constitution, remover of trustees and apointment of new trustees under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

Change/Appointment of Trustees

The proposed section of the above named foundation’s constitution to be ammended are as follows

The remover of Trustees of the Foundation are: a. Alhaji Bamanga Mohammed Tukur - removed b. Prof. Walter Alhassan - removed c. Madam assetou kanoute - removed d. Dr. Eugene Terry - removed e. Dr. Daniel Mataruka - removed The Newly appointed Trustees are as follows: a. Kwame Akuffo-Akoto - appointed b. rory radding - appointed c. Larry Ray Beach - appointed d. Jikun Huang - appointed e. Mariame Maiga - appointed f. Idah Sithole – Niang - appointed g. Stanford Blade - appointed h. Mclean Sibanoa - appointed i . Justin J. Rakotoarisaona - appointed j. Gordon Conway - appointed k. Denis Tumwesigye Kyetere THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Signed: Barrister Godson Chinedum esq., 08039328606 / 09099672367

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.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. MRS. OYEBOLA OLABIMPE ADESOLA 2. MRS. FUNKE ABIMBOLA OGUNBEKUN 3. MS. OLUWATOYIN IBIDUNNI ADESOLA 4. DR. MICHAEL ILEKA 5. PROF. YEMI MOSADOMI 6. BARRISTER OLABISI ADEWALE ADERIBIGBE 7. OTUNBA YINKA LAWAL SOLARIN

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EZEM CECIL OSAKWE - PRESIDENT 2. VELERIE UZOAMAKA OSAKWE 3. EGBOMA XTO ONI 4. BARR. ABDULLAHI DAHIRU - SECRETARY 5, CHARLES IFEANYI NEBOLISA

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 1. To promote research in health and education in Nigeria.

2. To support the maintenance of the e-library that was set up at the department of surgery, college of medicine, university of Lagos for the exclusive use and education of the medical students.

3. To give specified support to the educational activities taking place in the e-seminar room at the department of surgery, college of medicine, university of Lagos.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROMOTE THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS. 2.TO CREATE THE ENEBLING OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED AND ALLEVIATE POVERTY IN THE SOCIETY.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, 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, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

Signed.

Osmond Eleojo Adejo Adroit Solicitors

Emilia

WISDOM BROTHERS SOCIAL CLUB OF NIGERIA ENUGU

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

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.

I formerly known and addressed as Emilia Tolulope ADEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as Emilia Tolulope SEGUN-AJAO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Signed: SECRETARY

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO FOSTER UNITY AND LOVE, MUTUAL CO-OPERATION,SOCIAL INTERACTION AND DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE CLUB. 2. TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC VENTURES, SO AS TO ENHANCE EFFECTIVE OPERATION AND PROGRESS OF THE CLUB

EZEM AND UZOAMAKA OSAKWE FOUNDATION

Chimera

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 the day of this publication.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHINONSO OBUEKE 2. CHIKE GEORGE A. 3. UGOCHUKWU ANEKE 4. LAMBERTH UDOCHUKWU

CHAPTER i, SECTION 3 AND 4 CHAPTER II, SECTION 6 PARAGRAPHS A, B, C, D, Fi & F ii CHAPTER V, SECTION 9 (2) CHAPTER vi, section 12 CHAPTER X, 1, 2, 3 & 4

PROFESSOR AKIN ADESOLA FOUNDATION

I formerly known and addressed as Chimera Don Nwokecha, now wish to be known and addressed as Chimera Dan Innocent. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Signed: SECRETARY

This is to notify the general public that the above name association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

SIGNED: CAN Nwachukwu Solicitor

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 the day of this publication.

This is to notify the general public that the above name association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

AFIRCAN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO GATHER WOMEN TOGETHER TO BE USEFUL TO THEM SELVES AND TO THE SOCIETY.

peoples choice development association of akwa ibom state

J G VANG-UARD DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

Aim and objectives 1. To equip youths with skills 2. For self employment

- President - Secretary - Members - Members

ALABA RAGO INTERNATIONAL MARKET ODE REMO DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Signed: SECRETARY

The Trustees Are: 1. Engr. Emem Coffie 2. Mrs. Obiageli Emem Coffie 3. Mr. Chukwudi Udechukwu

This is to notify the general public that the above name INITIATIVES has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Hon Mrs Onyeanisi Uju Benedeth 2. Mrs Anereobi Tochukwu Gloria 3. Agbani Chinwe Augustina 4. Hon. Ezenwaka Agatha

SIGNED: SECRETARY

Super abundant life tabernacle

ADAUGO LADIES INITIATIVE

UZOANYA

Ojutiku

I formerly known and addressed as Adewoye Funke Oluwaseun, now wish to be known and addressed as Ojutiku Olufunke Grace. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Aji

I formerly known as Mr Danji A Aji, now wish to be known as Mr Aji Danji Adamu. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Commerce and Industry Jalingo and the general public to please note.

Yoke

I formerly known as Yoke Matthew, now wish to be known as Yoke M. Ondoma.

All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1.Bola Martins -President 2. Kings Chukwu Akuma -Vice President 3. Oluseyi Macaulay -Secretary 4. Funmilola Martins - Treasurer 5. Segun Iroko -Member Aim and objectives 1. To empower the youth economically and agro matters.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: President

SIGNED: ABDULLAHI DAHIRU SECRETARY

I formerly known and addressed as MISS EGBUFOR KELECHI VICTORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UZOANYA KELECHI VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADVOCACY FOR YOUTH AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT FOR GOOD LIVING INITIATIVE

Talatu

I formerly known as Talatu Abubakar Dauda, now wish to be known as Talatu Abubakar Jen, All former documents remain valid. Taraba State Judiciary, First Bank Jalingo and the general public to please note.

JOHNSON

I formerly known and addressed as MISS JOHNSON MARY NNEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JOHNSON MARY NNEKA NDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

LOSSOF loss of OFDOCUMENTS DOCUMENT document LOSS This is to inform the general public of the LOSS OF ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY IN RESPECT OF PLOT B07/2142 LOCATED IN CADESTRAL ZONE KATAMPE DISTRICT ABUJA BELONGING TO MUSA. K. AHMED. All efforts made to trace this document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station or call: 08035883273

52

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

world

news ➊

➍

➌ ➏ ➎

➐

➋

➎ UN: Deadline To Curb Ebola Will Not Be Met

A deadline of December 1 to contain the Ebola virus will not be fully met due to escalating numbers of cases in Sierra Leone and elsewhere, the UN Ebola Emergency Response Mission

which had set the target, said.

The mission set the goal in September, seeking to have 70 percent of Ebola patients under treatment and 70 percent of Ebola victims safely buried.

➏ Deadly Building Collapse Hits Cairo Suburb

At least 13 people were killed and several were feared trapped after an eight-story building collapsed in the western Cairo suburb of Matariya, Egyptian

police officials said.

The officials said that eight residents of the building were also injured when the building fell in early yesterday.

Two Colombian soldiers captured

by FARC rebels earlier this month have been released by the armed group.

Paulo Rivera and Jonathan Diaz were taken during clashes on Nov 8 near the town of Tame, Arauca on the border with Venezuela.

➊Tunisia’s Essebsi ➋Ebola Outbreak: Wins First Round Sierra Leone Workers Dump Bodies Of Poll

Tunisian secularist leader Beji Caid Essebsi has beat incumbent President Moncef Marzouki in the first round of the country’s landmark presidential election, but the two men will now have to stand again in a December run-off, early results show.

Essebsi, from the Nidaa Tounes party, received 39.46 per cent in Sunday’s poll, short of the overall majority needed but ahead of Marzouki, who got 33.4 per cent.

Burial workers in the Sierra Leonean city of Kenema have dumped bodies in public in protest at non-payment of allowances for handling Ebola victims.

The workers, who went on strike over the issue, left 15 bodies abandoned at the city’s main hospital.

One of the bodies was reportedly left by the hospital manager’s office and two others by the hospital entrance.

➌ Pakistan Says 20

➍ Pope Francis

At least 20 suspected members of the Haqqani network and fighters loyal to local rebel leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur have been killed in air strikes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan, officials have said.

Yesterday’s attack came in the Doga Madakhel area near the Afghan border after some of the bloodiest incidents in neighbouring Afghanistan were linked to the armed group.

Pope Francis has warned that the world sees Europe as “somewhat elderly and haggard” during a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The Pope said the continent felt “less and less a protagonist”, in a world that regarded it with mistrust.

He also called for a “united response” to the help the boatloads of migrants arriving in Europe.

Fighters Dead In Air Complains Of ‘Haggard’ Europe In Strasbourg Strikes

➐ 2 Colombian

Soldiers Released By FARC

Business/WORLD neWs 53

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

US Economy Grows Faster Than First Forecast

The US economy grew much faster in the third quarter than first reported, official figures have shown.

It expanded at an annualised rate of 3.9 per cent between July and September, up from the 3.5 per cent first estimated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The rise, which follows a strong second quarter, means the US has seen its strongest two consecutive quarters of growth for a decade.

Consumer spending was the biggest driver of the raised estimate.

It grew by 2.2 per cent according to the latest estimate, which was

higher than the initial calculation of 1.8 per cent.

Consumer spending is closely watched as it accounts for 70 per cent of US gross domestic product (GDP).

The data suggests the US has shrugged off the slow start to the year when heavy snow saw the economy shrink.

“The question of whether the economy is accelerating or will accelerate is no longer a question; we can say somewhat definitively that the economy has already accelerated,” said Dan Greenhaus, chief strategist at BTIG. Meanwhile, a separate survey,

showed US house prices rose by more than expected in September.

The closely-watched S&P/Case Shiller index jumped 4.9 per cent year-on-year.

The index, which measures single-family home prices in 20 cities, showed that prices were up 0.3 per cent month-on-month on a seasonally adjusted basis.

“With the economy looking better than a year ago, the housing outlook for 2015 is stable to slightly better,” said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

Capital Economics economist Paul Dales said the strong GDP upgrade underlined his expectation that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates as soon as March next year.

“Most people were expecting a downward revision so this was a real surprise,” he added.

At the end of October, the US Federal Reserve said it would not raise interest rates for a “considerable time”.

It also ended its quantitative easing (QE) stimulus programme of buying financial assets and creating new money to pay for them, aimed at stimulating the economy.

insurgency: ‘nigeria needs Multi-dimensional Approach’

By Raliat ahmed-yusuf, Abuja

Pakistani High commissioner to nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammad Ashraf saleem has said that for nigeria to be able to tackle terrorism completely, it requires a multidimensional approach. saleem in an exclusive chat with lEADErsHiP posited that the issue of terrorism is comparatively recent when compared to what they had seen in his country, Pakistan. “it is a highly negative social and politico-economic phenomenon which is multi-dimensional in nature and requires multi-dimensional approach/solutions to tackle it,” he said.

The retired Army officer turned diplomat said that although nigeria is doing a lot on the issue of terrorism, it needs to build more capacity of its law enforcement infrastructure and armed forces to face this new kind of threat.

He noted that the issue of bokoharam was originally a local manifestation which has now assumed a much larger dimension with regional connotations and draws support from external players and factors as well. There are both external as well as internal dimensions to it, he added.

The envoy who stated that the rest of the world and nigeria should take a cue from the Pakistani example disclosed that his country was able to overcome terrorism after the armed forces was re-organised ,equipped and trained for conventional threat. “once we were able to create the capacity through induc-

tion of suitable equipment, reorientation of training efforts and overall rehashing of operational and tactical concepts and doctrines, fighting terrorism became much effective affair, he said.

Pakistani High commissioner to nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammad Ashraf saleem has said that for nigeria to be able to tackle terrorism completely, it requires a multidimensional approach. saleem in an exclusive chat with leadership posited that the issue of terrorism is comparatively recent when compared to what they had seen in his country, Pakistan. “it is a highly negative social and politico-economic phenomenon which is multi-dimensional in nature and requires multidimensional approach/solutions to tackle it,” he said.

The retired Army officer turned diplomat said that although nigeria is doing a lot on the issue of terrorism, it needs to build more capacity of its law enforcement infrastructure and armed forces to face this new kind of threat.

He noted that the issue of Boko haram was originally a local manifestation which has now assumed a much larger dimension with regional connotations and draws support from external players and factors as well. There are both external as well as internal dimensions to it, he added.

The envoy who stated that the rest of the world and nigeria should take a cue from the Pakistani example disclosed that his country was able to overcome terrorism after the armed forces was re-organised ,equipped and trained for conventional threat.

Yemen Troops Free al-Qaeda Hostages Yemeni security forces have freed seven Yemeni hostages and a foreigner in a raid in which seven alQaeda kidnappers were also killed, the country’s supreme security committee said.

The committee did not disclose the nationality of the foreign hostage, but a Yemeni government source said he was a US military instructor who worked at al-Anad air base in Lahej province, about 60km north of the port city of Aden.

The source said the rescue mission took place near the base, but there was no immediate confirmation of this from the security committee. The US embassy in Sanaa declined to comment on the report.

Colonel Steven Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, later told the AP news agency that “there were no US personnel rescued” in the operation.

“We applaud the government

of Yemen’s hostage rescue,” Warren said.

The committee said in a statement that one member of the Yemeni security forces was lightly wounded in the operation.

Yemen, which borders the world’s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, is home to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded

by Washington as one of the most active branches of the network founded by Osama bin Laden.

a man throwing back tear-gas to protest us police brutality by their department on monday morning.

FErgUson rUling sparks ‘Worst’ riots, scores Arrested The US town of Ferguson reportedly sees its worst rioting yet after a jury decides not to bring charges over a black teenager’s killing by police.

At least 61 people have been arrested in Ferguson and surrounding areas overnight as protests grew violent after a grand jury decision in the US against indicting a white police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, in August.

Police in St Louis County, Missouri, released the arrest records early yesterday, which showed charges including burglary, trespassing and unlawful possession

of a firearm.

Wilson shot Brown 12 times according to evidence presented to the grand jury, with witness reports differing as to whether and when Brown had raised his hands.

Angry protesters overran barricades and taunted police in Ferguson, with some chanting “murderer” and others throwing stones and bottles, as police car windows were smashed and protesters tried to set vehicles ablaze.

Officers responded by firing smoke and pepper spray into the crowd, as some onlookers tried to stop others from taking part in the violence.

VisA ProcEssing: Us Makes changes

By Raliat ahmed –yusuf, Abuja

The United States has announced new changes in its non-immigrant visa procedure.

Briefing journalists at the Embassy in Abuja yesterday, Consular Chief, Stacie Hankins disclosed that from November 8, 2014, the document and distribution partnership expanded to include a new location in Port Harcourt, while applicants can now collect their visas from any of the three locations -Abuja, Lagos or Port Harcourt.

Similarly, applicants who qualify for the drop box renewal can also submit their passports and applications to the Port Harcourt

DHL collection centre, she said.

Hankins also said that the processing time for Port Harcourt will take one additional day as against that of Abuja and Lagos which usually takes two days.

She, however, stated that the embassy in its bid to make application processing faster and more efficient, all potential nonimmigrant visa applicants must henceforth include the correct confirmation number from their DS-160 online application form as part of the required information to schedule interview. Effective December 1, 2014 applicants who fail to abide by this new instruction will not be allowed to interview, she added.

Aid: EU Donates €5 Million For Humanitarian Assistance

By OguntOla tunde, Abuja

In a swift response to support surge in violence resulting in large population displacement in North-east Nigeria, the European Commission has donated €5 million to step up its humanitarian assistance to the people displaced by the conflict in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

A statement made available to LEADERSHIP signed by Yassine Gaba, head of office, European commission humanitarian aid and civil protection department, it said ‘’The conditions in

informal settlements are particularly dire. Tens of thousands of newly arrived displaced people are in urgent need of the basic assistance such as shelter, food, water and health care.’’

It said ‘’The total number of displaced in Adamawa state is estimated at 500 000 with another 350 000 people around Maiduguri in Borno state. In Adamawa alone, European Commission’s humanitarian partner organisations estimate at 200 000 the number of displaced people spread over more than 40 informal settlements where little or no assistance is being provided.’’

54

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Jonathan Branded Balls For Distribution In 774 LGAs

BY BODE GBADABO and EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja

The National Organizing Committee (NOC) of the Nigeria Unity Football Tournament in collaboration with United Summit Friends Development Association, has launched President Goodluck Jonathan branded footballs, which will be distributed as no cost to the youths in the 774 local government areas across the country.

The launching which took place at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Cen-

NPFL Clubs Face Stringent CAF Rules CAF has laid down “the minimum required criteria” for clubs that will participate in the Champions League and Confederation Cup next year. The African apex body sent out official word to the various national federations, including the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), affiliated to it on the criteria for their clubs to meet ahead of next year’s Champions League and Confederation Cup. CAF stated in its letter in October

to the NFF that clubs must “fulfil the minimum required criteria at the national level for the Club Licensing System. They must obtain their licenses from their federations prior to their participation in those competitions.”

Supersport.com learned that CAF, having revised club licensing documents submitted by the different national federations, including the NFF, demanded that teams participating in its club

competitions must have stadium certification not older than two years at the start of the season and must also have a head of youth development programme.

“All clubs engaged in CAF inter-clubs competitions shall fulfill the minimum required criteria at the national level for the Club Licensing System. They must obtain their licenses from their federations prior to their participation in those competitions.

Gyang Celebrates Record Timing Emmanuel Gyang made the long trip from Obudu after winning the Mountain Race to also claim the men’s professional race of 2nd Lucozade Sport Lagos City Fun Run on November 15 in a time of 28.41.67 seconds and revealed it has been the best ever personal time of his career. Gyan, from Plateau State finished ahead of Williams Kefas of the Nigerian police and Saka Sanusi of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps to go home with the N150, 000 cash prize.

“This happens to be my personal best time in the 10km race since I started running the marathon and my appreciation goes to the organizers, Lucozade Sport who made it possible”, remarked Gyan after the presentation ceremonies at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. “I feel good and happy because this second edition of the Lucozade Sports Lagos City Fun Run was very tough and brought out the best in me. I also com-

sport, especially the long distance races and argued that “if other corporate bodies could sponsor marathon as has been done by Lucozade Sport in collaboration with athletics bodies and governments, there would be rapid development of the sport and more gainful benefits for the youths and adults alike”.

Supreme Court FC Lauds Saleh’s Appointment

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

Saleh

The Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Supreme Court FC has hailed the appointment of Barrister Ahmed Gambo Saleh as the acting Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court.

While conveying the club’s congratulatory message to the new Supreme Court Boss, the general manager of the club, Mr Tolulope Oguntimehin, whose stay with the team saw the club garner promotion from Nigeria Nation-wide League (NNWL) to NNL noted that the appointment of Barrister Saleh would go a long way in stirring the club to great-

who is also the chairman of Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Unity Football Tournament, said that the project is timely and an avenue for the youths to use the power of football to promote peace and unity in the country instead of being used as instrument of violence to destabilize the nation.

He added that President Jonathan is in support of any organization that promotes peace and unity of the country and will always give his necessary support when necessary.

“Stadium Certification must not be older than two years at the beginning of the new inter-clubs competition season. You are also requested to provide us with your confirmation regarding the person within your administration that will focus on the implementation of the Club Licensing System and who will act as the point of contact with CAF,” the African football governing body stated in Hayatou its letter.

GOtv Boxing Night: Winner Says Glory Days Are Back

Emmanuel Gyang

mend the Lagos State government for collaborating with the Lucozade Sports company, GSK to make this possible which has helped us improve on our timing and with time and more of such competitions, we will compete well with the world’s best”, Gyan continued. He called for increased corporate support for

tre at the weekend in Abuja was graced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Pinnick Amaju, who expressed satisfaction with the unity tourney, promising necessary support to the organizers.

Amaju, who was represented by the chairman of all chairmen of FAs in the 36 states of the Federation, Alh Ibrahim Musa, who is also an executive member of the NFF. For his part, chairman of the occasion, Senator Ibrahim Mantu,

er heights.

“We wish to congratulate our new chairman and pray that during his tenure, Supreme Court FC will gain promotion to the Nigeria Premier League. “He is a nontribalistic goal getting personality who we believe will turn around the fortunes of the club. We are indeed fortunate to have him at this point in time,” he stated. Until his appointment, Barr Saleh, who became Special Assistant to the former Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Hon Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, was the Deputy Chief Registrar 3 of Supreme Court. He succeeded Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi as the new acting

Waidi “Skoro” Usman, the new National Featherweight boxing champion, has predicted a bright and rewarding future for boxers and boxing fans in Nigeria with the advent of the GOtv Boxing Night which debuted last Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos. Shortly after being decorated with his new title, Usman who came with fans adorning T-Shirts with his face etched on the front said the event marks the return of professional boxing in the country and expressed appreciation to the sponsor for making the event possible. “We can now confidently declare that boxing has returned to Nigeria because we have seen live boxing for real here and I see exciting time for boxing in the country again”, decalred Usman, popularly called Skoro by admirers. The 22-year old, who knocked out Dare “Fighting Machine” Oyewole in the fifth round of their ti-

Skoro

tle fight at the GOtv Boxing Night on Sunday, said without the opportunity provided by GOtv and the other sponsors, he would not have been a champion today. ‘‘I have to thank GOtv, 1960 Bet, Custodian Life Assurance, SuperSport, MultiChoice, other sponsors and Flykite Productions for making this happen. Without them, I would not have the opportunity. God will bless them for what they are doing for boxing,” he said after his crowning at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos, venue of the GOtv Boxing Night.

Etsu Lapai FC Gets New Coordinator HRH, Etsu Lapai, Alh. Umaru idate the successes recorded by Bago, has appointed Gen. Usman the team. The club qualified for Abdulkadir (rtd) as the coordi- the finals of the ongoing third nator of Umaru Bago Football edition of the Shekarau NationClub, Niger State. Etsu Lapai, al U-20 football competition in the proprietor of the club, rep- Kaduna. resented by his secretary, Alh. The palace secretary reiteratAhmed Jantabo disclosed this to ed the emir’s commitment to the officials of the team when they welfare of the club, urging them paid a courtesy visit on the Emir to keep up the good work. The in his palace. Jantabo, who said club manager, Mallam Sani Muthe appointment takes effect im- hammed, commended the emir mediately, stated that the coor- for the appointment, saying it dinator was appointed to consol- was a wise choice.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports

sports 55

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Elite Referees Secure Entry Visas Into United Kingdom

L-R: Director, PMO and operational strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Ndidi Okpaluba; winner, Men’s Singles final, Michael Moses; and Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola during the finals of the Etisalat-sponsored 14th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Tournament on Saturday. PHOTO BY

Football referees pass out instructions before the start of a game

Nigeria’s 11 elite referees listed for a two –week capacity –enhancing programme in England have been granted entry visas into the United Kingdom. The referees, constituting the first batch of arbiters to be afforded capacity –enhancing opportunities with a view to improving officiating of the domestic League, are Ferdinand Udoh, Shuaibu Abdullahi, Usman Isah, Samuel Pwadutakan, Tope Orow-

ole, Egudia Efosa, Peter Ogwu, Paul Umuago, Musa Dung Davon, Olayinka Olayide and Ukah Ndubuisi. The delegation, to be led by President of Nigeria Referees Association, Alhaji Ahmed Maude and Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, will depart for London on Sunday, and will be at the English FA High Performance Training Facility at St. Georges Park, Burton-on-Trent on Monday and Tuesday.

‘Enyimba Good For CAF Champions League Glory’ Enyimba striker Chimezie Amanfor has assured his side will not disappoint Nigerians in the lucrative Caf Champions League competition. The Peoples Elephant finished as runners up in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season behind champions Kano Pillars, which qualified both sides to represent the country in next year’s Africa’s elite clubs competition. And on Sunday in Lagos they successfully retained the Federation Cup title against Dolphins. Amanfor said his side are determined to recreate the side’s finest moments that saw them win the Caf Champions League title back to back in 2003 and 2004.

“I want to promise the teeming supporters of Enyimba and Nigerians that we’re going to do well in the Caf Champions League.

“I’m particularly not happy that the Super Eagles didn’t qualify for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea but that could somehow help our league to start off earlier as we’re not going to feature in the

Supreme Court FC

championship. “If we’re to start the league season on time it’ll help the continental teams to do well in the continent. “I strongly believe we’ll do better than previously, perhaps go as far as recreate the glorious performances of 2003 and 2004,” said the former Akwa United hitman to supersport.com.

Amanfor said winning the Federation Cup trophy back to back with Enyimba is a memory that he will cherish for a long time to come. “Winning the Federation Cup back to back with Enyimba has always been my dream and now we’ve achieved the feat its memory will remain ever fresh in me.“Dolphins have not beaten us for the past three seasons. I’m quite happy we’re able to keep the tradition despite a stiff challenge from the Garden City side,” said Amanfor.

In addition to Enyimba and Pillars in the Caf Champions League showdown, Federation Cup runners up, Dolphins and Warri Wolves will compete in the Caf Confederation Cup competition.

BENEDICT UWALAKA

Why We Are Enhancing Referees Capacity – Pinnick President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick has disclosed that the new NFF administration is striving to enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s referees in order to be able to improve the lot of football on the domestic front. “We fully appreciate the position of the League as the bedrock of our football.

That is why we are determined to improve every facet of the game. “We want to start with

the referees because they are critical to the matches. Referees have the power to influence the course and complexion of games, for good or for bad. If the referees are firm and incorruptible, we would be on the road to sanity.” Pinnick added: “We are not only aiming to enhance the capacity of referees; we intend to enhance their remuneration as well.

In England, referees indemnities are paid by one company.

Pinnick

NFF Appoints Ebikagboro U-23 Media Officer The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed hardworking broadcast journalist, Timi Ebikagboro as the Media Officer of the U-23 National Team, otherwise known as Dream Team.

Respected among his peers around the country for his

energy, resourcefulness and forthrightness, Ebikagboro has worked at the Delta State Broadcasting Service, based in Warri, for the past 15 years. Ebikagboro will resume immediately with the U-23 squad that has started a screening programme

at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja under. Head Coach, Samson Siasia. The team’s immediate assignment is an 11th All –Africa Games qualifying fixture against Gabon, with the first leg away in Libreville in February 2015.

Federer Backs Aussie’s Fast Tennis Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt will clash in a new shortened, faster form of the game ahead of the Australian Open that organisers on Tuesday said they hope will revolutionise tennis.

In a world first, the 17-time Grand Slam champion will play his long-time Australian rival in a Sydney exhibition to showcase the new concept developed by Tennis Australia. They will face off in a best-of-five sets match on January 12 that will feature four rule

variations – no advantage scoring, no service lets, tiebreakers at three games all and sets of first-tofour games. It is expected to last about half as a long as a normal five-setter. The format has been piloted at clubs across Australia and is being billed as the Twenty20 of tennis, a reference to the fast and furious form of cricket that has proved a huge hit. Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley said he was delighted Federer was involved in promoting a new way of

playing the game. “The new format is a game changer and is set to revolutionise the game of tennis, particularly at club and social levels,” he said. “Time today is precious and this new fast format is perfect for any player who wants to fit their tennis matches into a busy lifestyle. “To have Roger and Lleyton, our own great Australian champion, showcase the format for the first time is not only special for Sydney and Australia, but for the sport around the world.”

Kimetto, Mutai Record Settled World governing body IAAF has ratified the men’s marathon and 30km world records set by Kenyan duo Dennis Kimetto and Emmanuel Mutai at September’s Berlin Marathon. In a brief statement on its website, the IAAF confirmed the usual ratification procedures had been finalised and the 2:02:57 winning time clocked by Kimetto as well as the 1:27:37 achieved by runner-up Mutai at the 30K mark are standing world records.

Kimetto, 30, succeeded his Volare Sports teammate, Wilson

Kipsang (2:03:23), as the record holder over the ultimate distance while Mutai, who ran a lifetime best of 2:03:13 at the finish supplanted Patrick Makau’s 1:27:38 mark set at the same Berlin course in 2011 when he ran to a then world record of 2:03:38. The newly confirmed record holders have expressed interest in competing for their nation at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

Kimetto lost the IAAF World Male Athlete of the Year to French pole vault record holder

Dennis Kimetto and Emmanuel Mutai

Renaud Lavillenie at the World Gala in Monaco last Friday having made the final-three shortlist alongside Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim.

AMUSEMENT PARK

the only reason some people get lost in thought is because it’s unfamiliar territory

26.11.14 No. 2,299

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

Overcoming This Madness Of Insurgency

Hannatu Musawa

M

ore than any other issue in Nigeria today, the greatest concern is the security condition of the country. The problem of insecurity in Nigeria, which used to be one of the lowest in the pecking order of social problems facing our nation, has undoubtedly assumed alarming and disturbing proportions. Literarily on a daily occurrence, there are accounts of several security threats arising from assassinations, kidnappings, armed robberies, armed militancy, banditry, and insurgency. Thus far, our country has suffered plagues of crisis, each leading to scores of lives lost and the destruction of properties.

Perusing various reports pertaining to the insurgency in the Northeastern region, between July 2009 and June 2014, the insurgents have killed more than 8,000 civilians, including at least 2,000 in the first half of this year. They have abducted more than 1000 women and children, including the infamous kidnapping of 276 teenage schoolgirls from Chibok in April this year. By August of this year, over 650,000 people had fled the area of conflict and reports suggest that there is an unprecedented increase of displaced citizens.

A recent report by the Internal Displaced Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council stated that the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria is approximately a third of the IDPs in Africa and 10% of IDPs in the world, making Nigeria (with 3.3 million IDPs) the largest population of persons displaced by conflict in Africa.

Thus far, the insurgents have spifflicated hundreds of schools and government buildings anddevastated an already ravaged economy in the North East.

The violence has consequently overstretched federal security services and apparatus. And with no end in sight, the violence seems to be spreading at an

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— Paul Fix

hannatu@leadership.ng alarming rate over to other parts of the Northern region. As at the last count, the insurgents had captured about 9-LGAs in Borno State, 5-LGAs in Adamawa State and 2-LGAs in Yobe state. For a sovereign nation like Nigeria, this is preposterous, deplorable and highly unacceptable.

The current insurgency in the Northeastern region is both a serious security challenge and manifestation of more profound threats to Nigeria’s security.

Unless the federal, state and local governments, as well as the affected region, develop and implement comprehensive and holistic plans to tackle, not only insecurity, but also the injustices that drive much of the troubles, such groups or religious sects will continue to undermine and subvert large parts of the country.

While insurgency in the region can be attributed to the high levels of poverty, unemployment, education, religious extremism, other social ills and, perhaps more sinister covert agendas, curbing the problem of insurgency in the region would involve proffering both short-term and long-term solutions. The short-term approach involves improved security collaboration and intelligence sharing in order to arrest security breaches in addition to recruiting local vigilantes, hunters and those in the community who have a stake in the affected areas (as we are already witnessing).

Reflective of the points that the presidential committee on the insurgency in the region made, security lapses, inter-service rivalry and lack of collaboration are factors that have encouraged the proliferation of security crises in the Northern part of the country. The government must build and enhance its inter-agency cooperation, harmoniously sharing information and intelligence, collaborating in forestalling and preempting any likely security threat that would have lead to scores of casualties.

Also, the government via diplomatic channels and pacts should seek international intelligence and collaboration to ensure that crime of whatever scale is nipped in the bud. On their part, the citizens should cooperate with the security agencies by supplying them with prompt, useful and relevant information on likely security breaches. According to reports and as a matter of fact, there have been heroic instances by locals and indigenes within the troubled “hot spots”, successfully defeating and thwarting the advances of the insurgents with crude and local weapons. The military should immediately collaborate with such individuals or groups, formally conscripting them, albeit temporarily, in an attempt at further thwarting the advances of the insurgents. Thus being an indigene or local of such hot spots, these groups of people know the terrain and topography of the community very well. And more than anyone, they have a direct interest in ensuring that the violence in their locality is quelled.

Accessing their knowledge and collaborating with them is vital if we really want to win the war against the insurgents.

Similarly, there have also been “unofficial” reports that the military lacks motivation in fighting the insurgents, perhaps due to the widely alleged lack of ammunition and weaponry.

However, one way the military can motivate its soldiers is by instilling the notion of patriotism in them, increasing their pay and remuneration and handsomely compensating the families of any soldier who dies during battle.

Such compensations should involve huge cash rewards, scholarship for one or more of a family member up to tertiary level and an ownership occupier housing scheme, whereby the next of kin of a deceased soldier who died in battle would automatically assume ownership of the house.

This would go a long way in positively boosting the psyche and

morale of a soldier, as he knows, in the event of his death during battle, his family would be taken care of.

In addition, the government should cease heavy-handed military and police methods that risk pushing yet more restless, jobless and frustrated youths into violence and extremism.

The long-term solutions involve a complete overhaul of the traditional method of Quranic education. Public enlightenment campaigns discouraging the custom obtainable in the North of sending very young children to neighbouring and far away towns with the aim of acquiring Quranic education has got to be stopped in the light of this current crisis we find ourselves in. The Almajiri children are primarily catered and cared for by their Imams and religious tutors and minders. In most cases, their sheer numbers overwhelms their tutors and they are left to fend for themselves and beg on the streets. Some of these children hardly return home; they are vulnerable and provide a potential breeding ground for ill intentioned extremists.

The formal registration of all Quranic schools within the northern parts of the country should be done immediately. It may be necessary for a regulatory authority for a religious school or learning facility (both Christian and Muslim) directly linked to one of the arms of government to be established. Mandatory, rather than voluntary registration, curriculum reform, and financial control mechanisms for religious schools and learning facilities should be imposed. The tutors in these learning facilities should also be accordingly registered and known by the authorities, enabling government to keep track of activities and numbers of Muslim and Christian schools throughout the country.

Officials have got to be trained and security monitoring systems have got to be updated so that authorities can link the necessary

The government must build and enhance its interagency cooperation, harmoniously sharing information and intelligence, collaborating in forestalling and preempting any likely security threat that would have lead to scores of casualties information together; including the individuals involved with the mandatorily registered religious schools, declaration of financial assets of the institutions, implementation of standardized curriculum and all financial gifts donated to registered religious centers. This would be vital in spotting a red flag and potential threat when necessary before it becomes a danger to Nigerians.

The reform of the religious educational system should also be encouraged throughout the country, by introducing a dual curriculum, presently introduced in Kano State. While acquiring religious education, these children should also be exposed to formal education, enabling them be more learned, enlightened and primeplaced to carve out a optimistic future for themselves.

GHANA MUST GO Most naval officers can’t swim — Navy

Like their ogas at the top!

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