Leadership saturday cont

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

Top Airlines

Inspirational All Nippon Airways All Nippon Airways is a Japanese airline headquartered at the Shiodome City Centre in the Shiodome area in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It operates services to 49 destinations in Japan and 32 international routes and has about 33,000 employees as of August 2013.

ANA’s main international hubs are at Narita International Airport outside Tokyo and Kansai International Airport outside Osaka. Air Transport World named ANA its 2007 ‘Airline of the Year’ while in 2006, the airline was recognised by FlightOnTime. info as the most punctual scheduled airline between London and Tokyo for the last four consecutive years, based on official British statistics.

In addition to its mainline operations, ANA controls several subsidiary passenger carriers, including its regional airline, ANA Wings and charter carrier, Air Japan.

Additional smaller carriers include

Air Do, a low-cost carrier operating scheduled service between Tokyo and cities in Hokkaido, Vanilla Air, a low-cost carrier serving resort and selected international destinations, and Allex Cargo (ANA Cargo), the freighter division operated by Air Japan. ANA is also the largest shareholder in Peach, a low-cost carrier joint venture with First Eastern Investment Group. All Nippon Airways is currently an official sponsor of Japan Football Association. On 29 March 2013, ANA was announced as a 5-Star Airline by Skytrax. Many of its planes feature slide-forward-style reclining seats that increase overall privacy, as well as power and USB outlets even in economy. In May 2010, ANA’s total passenger traffic is up year-on-year by 7.8%, and its international services grew by 22% to 2.07 million passengers in the first five months of 2010.

Improved Garuda Indonesia After being deemed unsafe to fly into the European Union from 2007 to 2009, Garuda Indonesia has experienced a dramatic turnaround in recent years. The Indonesia flag carrier has undertaken extensive fleet renewal and service-improvement measures to regain the trust of both fliers and safety regulators. Economy fliers have raved about the airline’s comfortable seats and selection of Southeast Asian cuisine. Garuda is today a full-fledged member of the Skyteam global airline alliance.

Named after the mythical giant bird Garuda of Hinduism and Buddhist mythology, Garuda Indonesia is headquartered at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta. The airline operates flights to a number of destinations in Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia. Garuda is currently the official partner of Liverpool FC. In 2010, the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA)

named Garuda Indonesia as Asia’s leading service quality airline. Skytrax awarded the airline the World’s Most Improved in 2012. Roy Morgan survey named Garuda Indonesia the Best International Airline surpassing several distinguished airlines, such as: Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Air New Zealand with 91% of respondents gave a ‘very satisfied’ rating. In July 2012, Garuda Indonesia was recognised as the World’s Best Regional Airline by the global airline review and ranking consultancy, Skytrax. In 2013, Skytrax awarded Garuda Indonesia the world’s best economy class for its service and product at the Paris Airshow 2013. In July 2014, Skytrax also awarded Garuda Indonesia ‘The World’s Best Cabin Staff’ recognition. The award was based on a global customer satisfaction survey conducted on 18 million passengers between the period of August 2013 and May 2014.

Top AfricAn Airlines South Africa Airways

The premier carrier of South Africa, it is publicly owned by the government. The airline has been in existence since 1994, when it was formed. Headquartered in OR Tambo International Airport, the airline has a fleet size of 57 and operates in 38 destinations. At the 2011 Skytrax World Airline Awards held in the French Air and Space Museum at the Paris Air Show, South African Airways was named the Best Airline Africa. It is also listed as one of the safest airline according to ‘attainment of IOSA Certification, number of accidents per flight and fatalities per passenger kilometres.’ It started a major rebranding process in 1997 through 2005; this also led to its joining the Star Alliance, making it the first African airline to join the world’s

biggest airline alliance.

Air Seychelles

Air Seychelles is the national airline of the Seychelles, with its head office on the property of Seychelles International Airport on the island of Mahé. It operates inter-island services and international flights. Its main base is Seychelles International Airport. The airline is currently 40% owned by Etihad Airways.

Air Mauritius

Owned by the government, Air Mauritius of Mauritius, the airline operates out of its main base in Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The airline has an important standing in the European, African and Indian Ocean regional market; operating just off the southeast coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean the airline is

headquartered at the Air Mauritius Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. With a fleet size of 12 and operations in 26 destinations, Air Mauritius also performs a range of services for international airlines and regarded as one of the safest airlines in Africa – this was confirmed by Aviation Safety Network as the airline has not suffered any accident or incident leading to fatality. The airline also placed second at the 2011 World Airline Awards, but retained the “Indian Ocean Leading Airline Prize” for the seventh year it a row in 2011.

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines is a wholly-government owned airlines and serves as the country’s flag carrier. Headquartered in Bole International Airport, Ethiopian Airlines is listed as second in the top ten safest

airlines in Africa ranking. A proud member of the Star alliance since December, 2011, Ethiopian Airlines operates with a fleet of 42 passenger and 6 freighter planes and offers services to 62 international and 17 domestic destinations. The airline has 3 stars from a five-star ranking criteria by Skytrax.

Kenya Airways

The largest airline of Kenya, Kenya Airways was founded in 1977 and has its headquarters at the hub of East African air travel – Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The airline was privatised in 1996 and is currently a public-private entity, with private shares trading on the NSE, DSE and USE. Kenya Airways has a fleet size of 33 and offers services to 56 destinations.

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

Top Airlines

Environment-friendly, Asiana Airlines Asiana Airlines has its headquarters in Asiana Town building in Seoul, its domestic hub at Gimpo International Airport and its international hub at Incheon International Airport. As a member of Star Alliance, it operates 14 domestic and 90 international passenger routes, and 27 cargo routes throughout Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. As of December 2012, the company employs 9,595 people.

Asiana began to focus on being an environmentally friendly company in the mid-90s and has put its efforts ever since in this regard, such as completely banning in-flight smoking and cigarette sales in 1995. In 2001, Asiana Airlines was recognised for being the ‘first environmentally friendly company within the service industry’ by the ministry of environment. Some of Asiana’s other environmentallyminded programmes include an emissions measurement and reduction system, reducing pollution from

ground facilities and partnering with the Rainforest Alliance for coffee served on board. Asiana Airlines serves destinations on four continents with a well-developed Asian network that includes important cities in the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Southeast Asia and Central Asia. The airline serves a number of gateway cities in North America and Europe while retaining a limited coverage of Oceania. It is the first airline that has developed regular passenger routes between Seoul and Tashkent, Almaty, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Koror. One of two major South Korean airlines, Asiana has had to weather a wave of controversy after one of its Boeing 777s crashed upon landing in San Francisco. Though the official cause of the accident is under investigation, emergency services have heaped incredible praise on Asiana’s heroic cabin crew whose brave and efficient performance saved the lives of countless passengers.

Prestigious Etihad Airways Etihad Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Arab Emirates established by royal decree in July 2003 and based in Abu Dhabi; the airline commenced operations in November 2003.The name derives from the Arabic word for ‘union’.

Etihad operates more than 1,000 flights per week to 96 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas, with a fleet of 101 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. In 2012, Etihad carried 10.3 million passengers, a 23% increase from the previous year, delivering revenues of $4.8bn and net profits of $42 m.

Etihad Airways is the fourth largest airline in the Middle East and it is the second largest airline in the United Arab Emirates, after the Dubai-based airline Emirates. In addition to its core activity of passenger transportation, Etihad also operates Etihad Holidays and Etihad

Cargo. The airline is based at Abu Dhabi International Airport and its head office is in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi. In May 2009, it was announced that Etihad would be the official sponsor of Premier League side Manchester City. Part of the deal included the renaming of Manchester City’s stadium to the ‘Etihad Stadium’.

Etihad Airways has received over 30 awards since its inauguration in 2003. It has won the World Travel Awards (WTA) designation for having the best Business Class in the world in 2009. In 2010, Etihad Airways won the World’s Best First Class’ award by Skytrax at Hamburg. Etihad also received awards for ‘Best First Class catering’ and ‘Best First Class Seat’ as well.

In 2013, Etihad Airways received all three awards in the First Class Category at the 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards – ‘Best First Class’, ‘Best First Class Seats’ and ‘Best First Class Catering’.

World’s most beautiful airports Beijing International Airport

Opened in time for the 2008 Olympics, the vast Terminal 3 (two miles long and one of the largest buildings in the world) is supposed to represent a dragon.

Architects Foster + Partners color-coded the ceiling a dizzyingly complex mesh that allows sunlight to filter in with red zones and yellow zones. Not only does the traditionally Chinese colour scheme heighten the building’s drama, it also helps passengers navigate the building.

Barajas Airport, Madrid

Designed by Richard Rogers Partnership, Terminal 4, Barajas Airport opened in 2006. Its colourful pylons supporting an undulating bamboo-lined roof create a series of daylight-filled canyons in which

both arriving and departing passengers pass through one spectacular space, albeit on different levels. The terminal, designed to handle 35 million passengers a year, is Madrid’s bid to become Europe’s dominant air-hub. T4 is easy to understand because it’s linear. ‘Rogers puts you inside a rainbow that stretches for half a mile,’ says architecture critic Paul Goldberger.

Kansai International Airport, Osaka

Architect Renzo Piano’s most remarkable achievement in this case may have been winning a design competition in 1988 for an airport that would sit on a man-made island that did not yet exist. Located 25 miles away from Osaka, Japan (and three

miles off the coast), Kansai airport was completed in 1994 and can handle air traffic 24 hours per day. The island is now connected to the mainland by a 2.5 milelong, two-level bridge.

King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah

Completed in 1981, Skidmore, Owing and Merrill’s design of the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah seems to capture the essence of Saudi Arabia’s nomadic tradition. The firm developed tent-like structures using little energy to keep the space cool in the desert.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport, North Carolina

Often overlooked as an example of good

airport architecture, Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s Terminal 2 was designed by Fentress Architects of Denver and completed in 2011. Inspired by its Southern roots and its service to the Research Triangle hub of companies and universities, it’s a terminal that has a lot of wood and glass inside, a nice alternative to steel and glass.

Aeropuerto de Carrasco, Montevideo

Seeking to modernize and expand the airport serving Uruguay’s capital, airport operators turned to native son and world renowned architect Rafael Vinoly.

Completed in 2009, the Carrasco airport’s structure seems inspired by the rolling dunes along the country’s coastline.

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

GADGETED

GAMETROPIC

Homefront, a video game released in early 2011, based on a war against North Korean global power, has so far successfully predicted both the year of Kim Jong-Il’s death (2011) and North Korea’s nuclear test in 2013.

If there is one major drawback about smart watches, it would definitely be the rather limited battery life in comparison to a regular timepiece. The No Charge Smart Watch consumes very little energy. This means you only have to charge it one a year!

TechLifE

Is Jack Ma the most bizarre billionaire ever?

When he floated the giant online shopping company he founded on Wall St for $22bn, Alibaba’s Jack Ma was catapulted into the public eye in the West. But, while investors in America were getting their first glimpse of Ma, 50, a study of him in his native China reveals a larger-than-life figure who performs karaoke on stage for thousands of his employees - and even marries them. Ma, who founded Alibaba from a tiny flat in China in 1999, showed some of his personality to investors as the company floated, declaring on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange that his hero was Forrest Gump. But back on Chinese soil the man behind the internet giant, which, dwarfs Facebook and Amazon with its $230bn valuation and has reportedly made him China’s richest man, lives an even more bizarre lifestyle.

New footage of the billionaire on home soil, taken by CBS’s 60 Minutes over the past year, shows Ma appearing on stage in glam rock gear in front of massive crowds, as well as conducting mass wedding celebrations for more than 700 of his employees. According to Ma himself - who seemed bemused to discover this is not typical CEO behaviour - it is all to boost the happiness of his employees, who adore him and crowd round for photos at every opportunity. At one point, the businessman is pictured in outlandish punk rock gear, including a leather jacket, sunglasses, nose jewellery, a white wig and a, red Mohawk-style headdress serenading a huge crowd to celebrate a company anniversary. After entering the stage to the theme tune from Disney’s Lion King Movie, he is later heard singing You Are So Beautiful - to rapturous applause.

Click! Click!!

Apptitude Packing for long journeys is made easy with Packing Pro app Anyone who says there’s no exact science to packing has obviously never tried to cram a pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos into the same suitcase as a giant inflatable beach ball. Thank the lord, then, for this.

Tell it where you’re going, how long for and who with and it’ll spit out a suggested list of what you might need, split up into essentials (passport, currency), clothes, gadgets and more, with separate lists for additional family members.

Jack ma in costume performing for his employees

film him on smartphones and tablets, cheering at every opportunity. When told that American CEOs are not in the habit of presiding over weddings, Ma told his interviewer: ‘They should learn - and they should make their employees happy.’

He said the tradition stems from the 2003 outbreak of SARs in China, when he and many of his employees were quarantined for more than a week. Ma said that his relief on being allowed to leave made him appreciate living so much he started throwing parties for his workers. He said he told himself: ‘Life is so short, so beautiful - don’t be so serious about the work, enjoy the life.’ Ma himself is thought to have made some $14bn - enough to put him in the 71st spot on Forbes’ list of global billionaires, ahead of media mogul Rupert Murdoch ($13.5bn) and fashion designer Giorgio Armani ($9.9bn).

Ma, who saw the internet for the first time in 1995, and returned to China determined to make it a viable business there, has made his company the biggest online retailer on earth, and himself one of China’s most powerful men. It is a far cry from his humble beginnings, where had grew up in rural Hangzhou with not enough to eat, and failed two college entrance exams in his hometown. Before he came up with the idea to found Alibaba, he taught English, but was rejected for more than a dozen other jobs, including a post at KFC. Ma also revealed another bizarre tradition at the company - mass wedding celebrations for his employees, which bring together as many as 700 couples for a huge celebration. The founder is filmed marching onto a pink stage, surrounded by heart motifs and a giant screen, congratulating his employees on their marriages as they

The weird world of Alibaba strange offerings. One company in particular, Zhongshan City Elephant Sculpture Art, is leading the way with its silicone-wax celebrity statues.

A popular piece is the life-size, obese statue of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The sculpture is completely naked, apart from shotgun and sunglasses, and it could be yours for $16,800.

In the event you need the services of a camel, then you can purchase 500 for around £350 ($600) each.

With many of the items bulk buy, you will need to order 24,000 pieces to get your hand on what is described as ‘lovely used panties’.

But if beauty products are more your

The website, which aims to connect companies with wholesalers, is known for selling everything - including some

for the upwardly mobile

thing, then Alibaba has some intriguing offers.

The female electric nose lifter, for instance, promises to give you a firmer, higher nose by zapping it with vibrations for just three minutes a day.

Not to be left out, there is also a wide array of male grooming products for sale.

Lovers of Apple products, who also happen to have an embarrassing ear wax problem can get their hands on a Steve Jobs-banded ear cleaner tool set.

The pack contains eight items for ear cleaning and manicuring and is priced at 50p ($0.8) at a minimum order of 2,000 sets.

Air Sharing turns your iPhone into a wireless hard drive In the cut-throat world of business, time is money. Thankfully, just because your laptop’s packed away, doesn’t mean you can’t keep your eyes on the prize.

Essentially, this app turns your iPhone into a wireless hard drive, allowing you to quickly and easily load it up with documents at the airport, then browse and amend on the move throughout your trip.

Perfect World Clock provides easy access to the time Does pretty much what it says on its headline, this one, providing easy access to the time in hundreds of cities and therefore averting arithmetic-induced stress your jetlagged brain could really do without. Nothing revolutionary, but still an essential download, especially considering the rather nifty option of adding several clocks as home-screen widgets.

WorldMate app organises your itinery with ease The closest thing most of us will ever have to a personal assistant, albeit a hell of a lot cheaper. All you have to do is forward your various confirmation emails for flights/hotels/hire cars/restaurant bookings etc. to trips@worldmate.com and the app instantly generates an itemised itinerary covering your entire trip. Better still, upgrade to the premium version and the app will keep you in the loop in real time.

New social network Hello Ello! allows anyone sign in with a fake name

Facebook has been criticised for suspending the accounts of drag artists and other performers who don’t want to use their real names on their profiles. And now users fed up with this policy are flocking to a social networking site, dubbed ‘Hello Ello’, which allows anyone to sign using a fake name. The site is invitation-only and recent reports suggest requests to join have increased from 4,000 to 30,000 in just one week. Ello looks like a cross between Twitter and Tumblr, using the @handles more commonly associated with former.

It was created by California-based

designer Paul Bundnitz who came up with the design after feeling ‘fed up with other social networks.’ To sign up, users are instructed to enter their email address, or an existing user has to invite them. The criteria for being accepted are unclear. The site itself has a black-and-white colour scheme and a clean, scroll-down layout that lets users post status updates, upload pictures and comment on each other’s posts. Those invited into the network are only allowed to invite five to 10 new people and the website’s homepage states they will keep user data and privacy safe. ‘Your social

network is owned by advertisers,’ the site reads. ‘Every post you share, every friend you make and every link you follow is tracked, recorded and converted into data. ‘Advertisers buy your data so they can show you more ads. You are the product that’s bought and sold.’ Unusually for a social network, the site is ad-free in the hope of enticing users away from Twitter and Facebook. However, Jason Duaine at Complex points out that sites such as Diaspora and App.net built themselves around an add-free model, without much success.

But Ello intends to make its money

by offering users themes and services that can make the social networking site better. While the increase in user requests is yet to be explained, many are claiming it is due to Facebook’s naming policy, which requires all users to go by their legal name. The policy was criticised, earlier this month, as several drag performers and activists said they had been locked out of their accounts for breaching the policy. After San Francisco city officials got involved, Facebook agreed to temporarily give individuals affected by the policy back their accounts, the social network has so far not changed their

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

CultuRed! CultuR CultuRe

CULTURE

for the uninformed & clueless

SHOCK

Pregnant Latin American women have the culture of waiting near the US border until their water breaks so they can make a run for it and have their babies born on US soil and so get automatic US citizenship.

Superstitions

Dresssense

Britney Spears reveals more than intended in sheer black tank She has been working hard so has earned the right to show off her assets. And that’s exactly what Britney Spears did as she strolled through Thousand Oaks, California on Wednesday en route the gym for an exercise session. The 32-year-old Gimme More hit-maker perhaps revealed a little more than intended in a sheer black tank.

The thin fabric of the form-fitting garment clung to the star’s chest, giving a cheeky hint of what was beneath. There was not a single ripple on Britney’s washboard abs. She added a minuscule pair of grey and pink gym shorts, which covered only as much as

was necessary before showing off her impeccably well-toned and tanned legs beneath. The Toxic singer wore black and pink runners and hid her eyes behind blue reflective aviator sunglasses, with her cropped blonde tresses flowing naturally. Britney was sure to add an interesting accessory in the form of a silver pendant necklace looped twice around her neck. Making sure that she was well hydrated on the snug Fall day, the pop star carried a chilled bottle of Smart Water in one hand and her mobile phone in the other. She did have a burly man on hand to carry her handbag, however.

Indulge

the million dollar toyota worth every dime It is not a Ferrari, a Bugatti or a Lamborghini. It is a Toyota, yet it is worth a million dollars. RM Auctions sold a Toyota 2000GT to a US collector for over a million dollars. The question that immediately comes to mind when you hear this is whether the car – a Toyota – is really worth the money. To see why it is the million dollar Toyota sports car, you need to go back in time and to the basics. There are several reasons why it is a sought after car: The car is rare Only 351 pieces of this Toyota 2000GT sports car were ever produced between 1967 and 1970. The car was created to counter the Jaguar E-Type and the Porsche 911. These two were the sports cars that had defined the decade with their power and ability to cover many miles. They were also a delight to look at. Japan introduced Toyota 2000GT as their first supercar.

The car is powerful and enchanting Toyota 200GT is powered by a 2.0 litre engine. The engine has six cylinders. Its top speed is 217km/h. When it was built, Japan was becoming increasingly known for its cheap cars. These cars were largely considered inferior in quality to cars

Proverbs No matter how fast the poplar grows, it will never reach heaven.

- Lebanese proverb It’s not enough to know how to ride – you must also know how to fall.

- Mexican proverb A strawberry blossom will not moisten dry bread.

- Ugandan proverb

excusez-moi Helpful hints when visiting Czech Republic Ask your Czech hosts to show you their favourite outdoor recreation areas. Be prepared, though, if you have asthma or other breathing problems. The Czech Republic’s air quality is poor.

When you pay for items in stores, put your money on the counter instead of handing it to the cashier.

In many establishments, people pay for their items first, get a receipt, and use the receipt to pick up their items.

Stores aren’t often open weekends and evenings, although some stay open Thursday evenings. Don’t bargain in stores.

Get an approximate fare before you get into a taxi. Some drivers try to cheat foreigners. Ask your host or hotel concierge for reputable taxi companies.

made in the United States and Europe. As Japan fought for its footing in the world of automobiles, the 2000GT gave Japan a chance to showcase its technology to the world. Several things about the car caught the attention of the automobile world: its aluminium body, its seven-main-bearing, its 5 speed manual transmission, its rackand-pinion steering, its unequal-length independent suspension, its 2.0 litre DOHC as well as its four wheel disc brakes.

The car was simply refined. Its inside

uncommon history of common things Contemporary American men have raised bachelor party standards to new heights-or brought them to new lows, depending on whether you’re invited to the party or you’re the bachelor’s intended. However, while today’s bachelor might be extravagant in throwing a full weekend-getaway bash before his nuptials, he can cite ancient tradition as inspiration for his festivities.

In Malay, one should not open an umbrella in the house; a snake will enter the house if you do so.

Bachelors have been feted by their friends since ancient Sparta, when a group of men would gather to toast a comrade who was about to be married. The practice proved popular, no doubt because most cultures believe that marriage means a more responsible, staid, and practical lifestyle. Being married means being answerable to another person. Men decided that one final night of revelry was

was comfy and had beautiful rosewood trimmings.

It was featured on a James Bond movie It was a huge boost for the car when two convertible versions of it were specially built for use in the James Bond 1967 movie, You Only Live Twice. Road and Track magazine sealed the deal when it said the car was enjoyable and exciting to drive. The car magazine compared the 2000GT to the Porsche 911.

Bachelor Party

important for the groom. Over the centuries the bachelor party has grown from a toast to a fullon party. The modern version might have been born during the Victorian era, when a young manabout-town might have had friends unsuitable to invite to the dinner table in his future married life. A last party with rakes and loose women was supposed to be his way of saying ‘Thank you, and farewell.’

Always check your coat if possible. In restaurants, the wait staff will assume you want beer unless you indicate otherwise.

Be sure to check your restaurant bill carefully. Restaurants must prevent a written statement, and don’t hesitate to question unrecognized items. Keep in mind that many restaurants charge separately for basket of bread or rolls.

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

TRAVELOGUE Tune into your average wildlife television programme and you can’t fail to be dazzled by Antarctica’s majestic icebergs, calving glaciers and unexplored mountain ranges. Good news is that you can also stroll there to enjoy the scenery for real.

DESIRABLES

THE MUSTREADS AND LINGER-ONS

Narendra Modi

India’s ‘divisive’ leader More than any other politician in recent memory, Narendra Modi, India’s newly elected prime minister, has generated hope for the economic prospects of his nation.

Things you need To know abouT

narendra Modi

Modi

That hope was present on Sunday 28th of September 2014 during Modi’s speech at Madison Square Garden, part of his visit to the United States, in which two of the world’s largest democracies aim to build a better relationship. With his reputation for quick action, encouraging the private sector, and good governance, India’s prime minister also hopes to reinvigorate US interest in the country’s economy. Although Modi is seen as a divisive figure in India for his Hindu nationalist tendencies, he had no trouble galvanising the New York crowd. More than 18,000 people packed Madison Square Garden, watching live music and dance performances, before the prime minister arrived on stage. And while those performances received plenty of cheers, they paled in comparison to the roar Modi received.

Speaking in Hindi while standing on a slowly rotating platform at the centre of the stadium, Modi’s speech touched on India’s economic opportunity and

the potential of its youth.

He also called on Indians living in America to consider the potential benefits of returning to their country of origin.

The fanfare before Modi’s speech easily outdid the average reception to a Western politician, and #ModiAtMadison shot to the top of Twitter’s worldwide trends. The prime minister thanked his American supporters before launching into a speech that focused heavily on building better businesses in India to drive economic development.

Modi acknowledged that many international companies have been hesitant to open Indian branches because ‘red tape’ prevents businesses from developing into successful corporations. But ‘those days are over,’ Modi said, as he pledged to eliminate hurdles between ideas and final products.

‘I know this very well, that all those who are sitting here have a lot of expectations from India,’ he said. ‘A country that has this talent, a country that has that

potential, can cross many heights.’

‘I have the intention to do big things for small people,’ Modi said. The prime minister frequently spoke about Mahatma Gandhi, who is considered the father of Indian independence. He said Gandhi spent years in South Africa before returning to lead India’s nonviolent movement for independence from the United Kingdom.

Modi’s implicit message was this: Gandhi returned home and became the father of our nation, so opportunity may also await others who return to India.

Modi’s visit is seen as something of a personal victory, as he was denied a visa to the U.S. as recently as 2005. Riots in Gujarat, the state he governed from 2001 until earlier this year, resulted in the deaths of around 1,000 people in 2002, most of whom were Muslim. Some accuse Modi of instigating the religious riots, or at least of being a leader who turned a blind eye.

Those riots were still on the minds of several protesters, though the anti-Modi crowd

1. Narendra Modi is India’s 15th prime minister, winning the largest democratic election of all time, and securing the largest mandate any Indian prime minister has won since 1984.

2. Modi is a Hindu nationalist whose political and cultural ideology stem from ‘Hindutva’ – a hard line brand of Hindu nationalism – followed by his party, the BJP. 3. Narendra Modi is seen as probusiness and pro-development.

Modi has modelled himself as the ‘Development Man’ and has been endorsed by some of the world’s richest Indian businessmen. He has attracted huge investments in his home state of Gujarat where the economy has grown 10% a year, higher than the Indian average, for much of the last decade.

4. Modi’s approach to women’s issues is unclear.

Modi’s personal and political approach to women is ambiguous.

His wife of 46 years was kept a secret until now, his top aides are all men, he has only two women in his state cabinet of 19 ministers, and his state’s record on women’s issues is at best, mixed, and at worst, dismal.

5. Modi was denied a visa to the United States in 2005, but has been granted one since being elected Prime Minister.

The US government denied Modi a visa for failure as a leader of the state of Gujarat to stop deadly communal riots which killed over 1,000 people, mainly Muslims.

6. Modi loves technology, Twitter, and selfies.

Social media and technology played a large role in Modi’s campaign. He is an avid tweeter with nearly 6 million followers. He joined the election selfie trend, he blogged, and he appeared as

comprised a small minority.

Modi has been labelled by the media and some articles in peer-reviewed journals as a controversial, polarising and divisive figure, but British economist Jim O’Neill, author of the BRIC report, wrote on his blog that Modi is ‘good on economics’, one of the things that ‘India desperately needs in a leader’. He is also a social media savvy politician and since September 2014 is the second most followed leader in the world with over 6 million followers on Twitter.

A U.S. federal court issued a summons to Modi on Sept.

25 over the 2002 riots, just

a hologram at several rallies in his efforts to portray the BJP as a progressive, technocratic party that can lead India into the 21st century.

7. Modi’s party thinks homosexuality is ‘unnatural.’

While Modi has been resolutely silent on the issue of homosexuality and LGBT rights, the BJP is the only major party to support the Indian Supreme Court’s decision of recriminalizing homosexuality.

8. Modi is a powerful orator and an articulate speaker.

Modi’s provocative speeches and impactful delivery make him one of India’s most effective public speakers in politics. In interviews, he is measured and articulate.

Although he understands English, he is not comfortable speaking it.

9. Modi admires China and vice versa.

Modi visited China four times during his tenure as Gujarat’s chief minister and has successfully courted Chinese investments in the state. China expects Modi to be ‘pragmatic’ and have a ‘more flexible’ economic policy toward the country.

10. Modi has a thrilling backstory: from tea seller to prime minister.

John Oliver recently spoke about Modi’s incredible rise to power, while berating the US for ignoring the Indian elections: ‘Modi sold tea in a railway station, and now he’s the most popular man in the country’ 11. Modi has become a cult-like figure, revered and reviled in equal measure.

Modi has been India’s most divisive prime ministerial candidate. He is idolized by the majority of Hindus who form 80% of the country’s population and is well-respected for his decisive, business-like approach to politics.

ahead of his visit this year.

Although the summons indicates that India’s prime minister has not escaped his past, it likely won’t affect his visit, given that Modi holds immunity as a head of state.

But just as Gujarat represents a dark spot in Modi’s history, the state’s economic rise can be charted alongside the rise of its former governor. Under his leadership, Gujarat became an economic force in India; citizens of the world’s largest democracy recognized that Modi could potentially do the same for the entire nation, whose economy has faltered in recent years.

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

MiNDFUL

RANDOM

for the LeISUreLY-MINDeD & thoUGhtfUL

FACTS

LAST WEEK'S

CROSSWORD

CROSSWORD

1. Requested the presence of someone (7) 5. Prominent (5) 8. Closest (7) 9. Compete for something (3) 10. Expressed mirth (7) 11. Scope (5) 12. Started (5) 14. Mentally responsive (5) 19. Inexpensive (5) 21. Imaginary creature (7) 23. Pasture (3) 24. Bulwark (7) 25. Pay out (5) 26. Proposition deducible from basic postulates (7)

WORDSEARCH

WORDSEARCH

SUDOKU CLASSIC Put each of the numbers 1-9 once in every row, column and 3x3 box

Can you climb the ladder and find the missing numbers?

?

118 ?

56 28

SUDOKUCLASSIC

26 13 9 6 4 See solution below

HOMEWORK FOR GROWN-UPS 1 What has been the commonest name for Popes through the years? a) Paul b) John c) Peter 2. In which country was actor Keanu Reeves born? a) Lebanon b) Syria c) Israel 3. Which country invaded Afghanistan in 1979? a) USA b) USSR. c) China 4. Findel international Airport is in which country? a) Luxemburg b) Liechtenstein c) Latvia 5. John George

Diefenbaker was once Prime Minister of where? a) Austria b) Canada c) Germany 6. Which country did Idi Amin go to when he fled Uganda? a) Oman b) Yemen c) Saudi Arabia 7. Adona international Airport is in which country? a) Turkey b) Tahiti c) Bahrain

WORDLADDER SOLUTION

HOMEWORK

8. Which US President was inaugurated in 1969? a) Richard Nixon b) Barack Obama c) George Bush Answers

b) John a) Lebanon b) USSR. a) Luxemburg b) Canada c) Saudi Arabia a) Turkey a) Richard Nixon

BRAIN CHEEKS CHIN EARS EYEBROWS EYELASHES EYELIDS EYES FOREHEAD HAIR LIPS MOUTH NECK NOSE SCALP SKULL TEETH TONGUE

WORDLADDER

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. Models of excellence (6) 2. Speculation (7) 3. Impart skills or knowledge (5) 4. Is afraid of (6) 5. Actual (7) 6. Corvine bird (5) 7. Cricket team (6) 13. Had a lofty goal (7) 15. Adult male chicken (7) 16. Weighing machine (6) 17. Pinnacle (6) 18. Apprise (6) 20. Efface (5) 22. Visual representation (5)

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS

4(+2)=6(+3)=9(+4)=13(x2) =26(+2)=28(x2)=56(+3)=59 (x2)=118(+4)=122

DOWN

Rubbing banana peel on mosquito bites will help stop the itching.’

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

a la carte

95%

hOW tO ...

THE LOTS TO CHEW ON AND REGURGITATE

Pecentage of people who have dropped their phones on their face while texting in bed.

71%

Apply Lipstick Percentage of breakups that happen because of mood swing.

lady'S WORdS When a lady must break a social commitment…

She does not say: “I’m sorry, Anne, but I won’t be able to make your party.

Something more important has come up.”

“Sorry, Chuck, we’ve got to reschedule dinner.

Robby just called with tickets to Hairspray.”

But she does say: “I’m sorry Ann, but we can’t make it tonight. I just received a deadline for Monday, and it means no playtime this weekend. I hope you’ll let me have a rain cheque.” There are times when a lady must change- or cancel-her plans. In no case, however, does she cancel a social obligation simply because something more appealing

has come up. When she calls to express her regrets, she clearly states her actual reason for bowing out, such as an unexpected work deadline, a death in the family, or an unexpected illness. She apologizes straightforwardly and, if appropriate, attempts to reschedule the outing.

When it is necessary for a lady to make an apology…

She does not say: “I understand you think I owe you an apology.”

“Sorry if I hurt your feelings.”

“Sometimes people just don’t know when I’m joking.”

But she does say: “Millie, I’m sorry if I offended you the other evening when

I commented on your leather pants. I’d had too many glasses of wine and said something I shouldn’t have.” A lady makes it clear that she understands an apology is in order--even if she truly meant no offense. She does not act as if she is being coerced into apologizing; neither does she attempt to downplay any embarrassment or discomfort she might have caused. Once she has apologized, she does not raise the subject again. To do so is to reopen a gradually healing wound.

change yOuR WORld Give thanks for your food One of the biggest reasons that we are so wasteful in today’s society is that we have become almost completely divorced from the effort that goes into food production. If you’ve spent a day and a half chasing an eland through Kalahari savannah,

you’re likely to be a little more thoughtful with your leftovers than if you picked up a burger at your local all-the-un- gulateyou-can-eat drive-through. At every meal, take a second to quietly give thanks; for the lives of the animals that went into

the meal, and the effort and energy expended to get it from the farm to your table. It may seem a bit new age and you absolutely don’t need to do it out loud, but by eating consciously, we automatically start making choices that are greener .

Plan your meals each day to avoid the last-minute takeaway run About 90% of eating right is being organised. The whole reason we have got to rely more and more on pre-packaged everything is that we are buying our food from convenience shops and takeaways in the mad dash home after. Things like fresh stir fry, summer salads

and winter soups hardly take any longer to make from scratch than a ready- made meal does, and they are much nicer and better for you and the planet.

The hassle is arriving home with great intentions and discovering that you’re out of fresh tomatoes.

Plan your weekly meals in some

detail each week- end and shop accordingly. And budget for an extra helping in each meal so that you’ve got something to take to work for lunch the next day. That’ll kill off the corner shop pie and Coke dash that is the beginning of every office worker’s middle-age spread.

laugh–Out–lOud Office Jokes Bubba was bragging to his boss one day,‘You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name anyone and I know them.’

To call his bluff his boss named Tom Cruise.‘Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it.’So Bubba and his boss fly to Hollywood to Tom Cruise’s door, and Tom Cruise shouts,‘Bubba!

Great to see you! You and your friend come join me for lunch!’

Although impressed, Bubba’s boss is still sceptical. After they leave Cruise’s house, he tells Bubba that he thinks Bubba’s knowing Cruise was just lucky.‘No, no, just name

anyone else,’Bubba says.‘President Clinton.’‘Yes,’Bubba says,‘I know him, let’s fly out to Washington.’

And off they go. At the White House, Clinton spots Bubba on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying,‘Bubba, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let’s have a cup of coffee first and catch up.’

Well, the boss is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced.

After they leave the White House grounds, he expresses his doubts to Bubba, who again implores him to name anyone else.‘The Pope,’

his boss replies.‘Sure!’says Bubba.

Off they fly to Rome. Bubba and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Bubba disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican and soon emerged with the Pope on the balcony. By the time Bubba returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.‘What happened?’His boss looks up and says,‘I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, ‘Who’s that on the balcony with Bubba?’

Lip stick is the quickest and easiest way to instantly look pulled-together. And it’s the perfect way to test the waters if you’re a makeup novice. Start by finding a basic shade that looks great on you even when you’re bare-faced. For most women, it’s a shade that looks like the natural colour of their lips taken up a few.

Start with clean, smooth lips. If they’re chapped, smooth some eye cream onto your lips, then use a toothbrush or a washcloth to gently exfoliate them and get rid of dry skin.

Lipstick comes in a handful of formulas with different degrees of coverage and wear. Pick the formula based on your needs and your style. Matte: This has the most coverage and the longest wear. Some matte formulas can be drying, so look for a semi-matte version that’s creamy. Shimmer: This formula combines colour with light-reflecting pigments. Look for sheer finishes and stay away from overly frosted formulas. Stain: Transparent colour that’s practically mistake proof. A good bet for beginners.

Neutral colours and sheer formulas can be applied directly from the tube. Start at the centre of the top lip, working your way out to the corners. Repeat with the bottom lip. Finish by blotting lips together to blend.

A lip brush is your best bet for darker or brighter colours and especially matte formulas-that require precise application. The bristles of the lip brush should be firm, but bend easily as lipstick is applied.

Look for a brush head that’s flat and comes to a slight point.

Using the lip brush, apply lipstick on the centre of the top lip and work your way out to the corners.

Use short strokes, brushing colour in thin, even layers. Make sure to follow the natural shape of your lip. Repeat with the bottom lip. If you want more intensity, apply a second layer of lipstick to both top and bottom lips.

To make lipstick longer wearing, line and fill in lips with the lip pencil, then apply lipstick.

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

BONUSPACK $92.2 247 kmh billion

THE TAKE-AWAYS THIS WEEK

KEEPSAKES

FASTFORWARD

Top speed of the Helios 2 orbiter, one of the fastest manmade objects ever made.

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COuNtRy/HEIgHt (M)

Burj Khalifa UAE/828 m Shanghai Tower China/632m Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel Saudi Arabia/601m One World Trade Centre USA/541.3m CTF Finance Centre China/530m Taipei 101 Taiwan/509m Shanghai World Financial Centre China/492m International Commerce Centre Hong Kong/484m Petronas Tower 1 Malaysia/452m Petronas Tower 2 Malaysia/452m Zifeng Tower Nanjing China/450m Willis Tower (Formerly Sears Tower) USA/442m KK100 China/442m Guangzhou International Finance Centre China/440m Trump International Hotel and Tower USA/423m Jin Mao Tower China/421m Princess Tower UAE/414m Al Hamra Tower Kuwait/413m 2 International Finance Centre Hong Kong/412m 23 Marina UAE/395m CITIC Plaza China/391m Shun Hing Square China/384m Central Market Project UAE/381m Empire State Building USA/381m Elite Residence UAE/380.5m Tuntex Sky Tower Taiwan/378m Central Plaza Hong Kong/374m Bank of China Tower Hong Kong/367m Bank of America Tower USA/366m Almas Tower UAE/363m The Pinnacle China/360m SEG Plaza China/356m JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Tower 1 UAE/355m JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Tower 2 UAE/355m Emirates Office Tower UAE/355m Aon Centre USA/346m The Centre Hong Kong/346m Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower Vietnam/345m John Hancock Centre USA/344m Ahmed Abdul Rahim Al Attar Tower UAE/342m Mercury City Tower Russia/339m Hefei Feicui TV Tower China/339m Tianjin World Financial Centre China/337m The Marina Torch UAE/337m Shimao International Plaza China/333m Rose Tower UAE/333m Modern Media Centre China/332m Minsheng Bank Building China/331m China World Trade Centre Tower 3 China/330m Ryugyong Hotel North Korea/330m The Index UAE/328m Al Yaqoub Tower UAE/328m Longxi International Hotel China/328m The Landmark UAE/324m Deji Plaza Phase 2 China/324m Q1 Australia/323m Wenzhou World Trade Centre China/322m Burj Al Arab UAE/321m Nina Tower Hong Kong/319m Chrysler Building USA/319m New York Times Building USA/319m HHHR Tower UAE/317m Bank of America Plaza USA/317m Moi Centre China/311m US Bank Tower USA/310m Menara Telekom Malaysia/310m Ocean Heights UAE/310m Sky Tower UAE/310m Pearl River Tower China/310m Fortune Centre China/309m Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel UAE/309m Eurasia Russia/309m Burj Rafal Saudi Arabia/308m Franklin Centre USA/307m Cayan Tower UAE/306m One57 USA/306m East Pacific Centre Tower A China/306m The Shard UK/306m The Address Downtown Burj Khalifa UAE/306m JPMorgan Chase Tower USA/305m Etihad Tower 2 UAE/305m Northeast Asia Trade Tower South Korea/305m Baiyoke Tower II Thailand/304m Two Prudential Plaza USA/303m Moi City China/303m Leatop Plaza China/303m Wells Fargo Plaza USA/302m Kingdom Centre Saudi Arabia/302m Gate of the Orient China/302m Moscow Tower Russia/302m We’ve the Zenith Tower A South Korea/301m Aspire Tower Qatar/300m Arraya 2 Kuwait/300 m Gran Torre Santiago Chile/300m

please cut along this line and keep

SEEN & OVERHEARD

Amount of money overseas buyers have invested in buying properties in the US.

ENGLISH PHRASES Odds

Law & lawyers

If law school is so hard to get through, how come there are so many lawyers?

CALVIN TRILLIN Sign your lawyer is incompetent: As he is questioning you on the witness stand, he keeps asking you if you realise you are under oath.

DANIEL GRAY Sign of an incompetent lawyer: Won’t confer with you without his lawyer present.

M. LILLY WELSH please cut along this line and keep

buILdINg

JUST UNBELIEVABLE

Charity

Maris is the soul of generousity.

Just last week she donated all her cocktail dresses to a homeless shelter.

NILES CRANE I’d like to help you out. Which way did you come in?

HENNY YOUNGMAN The Big Issue would sell a lot more copies if they made their vendors smarten up a bit. Most of them look like tramps.

TIM WOODS

Shakespeare

I thought I’d begin by reading a poem by Shakespear but then I thought, why should I? He never read any of mine.

SPIKE MILLIGAN Romeo and Juliet? Ain’t Romeo in the So Solid Crew?

BRAIN BELO A new book says Shakespeare was gay. In fact, his gay partner was the first guy to do Shakespeare in the park.

DAVID CORRADO

Holiday

We can go away right now. I pack light. Everything we need is right here in my pants.

RYAN HARRISON No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one.

ELBERT HUBBARD

Ask no odds North American, informal to seek no favours. ‘Set me free, is all I ask: growled Moody. ‘And thou wilt seek my aid no more!’ returned Luther. ‘I never did seek it’, grumbled Moody; ‘and once free again’ I will ask no odds of any.’

At odds with somebody/something In disagreement or at variance with somebody or something. This is not a distinction without a difference. It is not like the affair of an old hat cocked – and a cocked old hat, about which your reverences have so often been at odds with one another – but there is a difference here in the nature of things.

By all odds By a long way. For not only are whalemen as a body exempt from that ignorance and superstitious hereditary to all sailors; but of all sailors, they are by all odds the most directly brought into contact with whatever is appallingly astonishing in the sea; face to face they not only eye its greatest marvels, but, hand in hand to jaw, give battle to them.

Give/lay all odds To be sure that something is the case: in betting, giving or laying odds denotes odds that are favourable to the person making the bet. I will lay odds that, ere this year expire; we bear our civil swords and native fire as far as France.

It is/makes no odds It does not matter, it makes no difference.

Odds and ends Miscellaneous items and remnants. Hers, however, was but a harmless vanity; and, poor woman, she needed all manner of graces to set her out, for she was made up of odds and ends, and had but one good eye, the other being blind, and just like a blue bead.

Odds and sods Informal in services’ slang, men attached to a battalion for miscellaneous duties; now used generally as a variant of odds and ends. These are the odds and sods among the gods, the other ranks, the omnipresence, tea-men, chairmen, male midwives.

Over the odds More than is right, fair, or acceptable.

Thirty years ago, Jim had been Sergeant Woods, the chap you did well to know if you wanted some over-the-odds bit of kit, travel warrant, repair.

Shout the odds Informal to speak loudly and in an opinionated manner: originally services’ slang. Some say he was born shouting the odds, in full parade kit, with a pacing-stick under his cherubic little arm.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

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Saturday, October 4, 2014

INTERVIEW 51

Saturday, October 4, 2014 me. I am sure God laughed at me. I was willing to work for God. But I didn’t know how to tell my wife or even my father. My wife was excited about marrying an engineer. My father spoke about my being an engineer with pride. I worried over what their reactions would be. And like I feared, my wife expressed sadness over my decision to quit a full time job in FCDA after being an applicant for a year. I wasn’t surprised at her reaction because we already where parents at that time. My boss at the FCDA kept asking me how I would feed my family. He even offered to cover up for me for sometime so I could feed my family. But I didn’t accept his suggestion. My father died in 1986 when I went into full time ministry that’s why he couldn’t stop me. I went back to God to pray and after some time, my wife came and apologised for her response. She promised not to stop me from doing God’s work. I thanked her and we have been doing God’s will. .

You mentioned that the late archbishop Benson Idahosa is your mentor and it is quite noticeable that he influenced you. Why did you choose him as your mentor?

Daniel

I Feel Sorry For Pastors With Marriage Troubles – Archbishop Daniel Recently, the president of the Dominion Chapel International Churches (DCIC), Archbishop John Praise Daniel, was elevated to the rank of metropolitan archbishop DCIC and Pentecostal prelate of northern Nigeria. In this interview with WINIFRED OGBEBO, the Kaduna-born man of God who has never failed to speak out for northern minorities, speaks on the salient issues concerning the Christendom.

Aside from being the Pentecostal Prelate of northern Nigeria, you were also elevated to the rank of archbishop. How did it feel being ordained as an archbishop?

I thank God for the elevation. It took me five years to accept the elevation to Arch-Bishop because of my personality. I like being simple. Recently, I even told friends when I preached at Maryland, USA that I prefer to be simply called brother. I want people to still be able to relate with me. I don’t want a title to put me above my brethren. I would not want people to be intimidated to reach out to me. For me, the greatest privilege I can have is to be called a brother, one who has the honour of serving God and mankind. I remember in the words of my mentor, the late Arch-Bishop Benson Idahosa, a High Priest who cannot be touched by the feelings of the infirmities people, is a low priest. So I don’t want to become this high ranking pastor who cannot be reached by brethren. I was ordained pastor by Bishop

David Oyedepo.

Many years ago, it was considered a Herculean task to convince ladies to marry pastors, so, was it easy convincing your wife to marry you?

I met my wife in 1982 at a Christian conference. I taught a Bible study class and she was a member of the class. We got talking because we had a special attraction. I was 24 and she was 21 when we got married. We had no idea we would end up as pastors. All we knew was that we loved the Lord. When I came back from my NYSC and I was convinced that I had to face the ministry full time, I had this encounter that meant that I had to resign my appointment as a staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). I wept and I felt sad because I has worked to qualify as an engineer. And God reminded me of John 12-24. So I told God I was willing to give the rest of life to him.

But I asked Him if He would be able to pay

I picked the late Arch-Bishop Idahosa as my mentor because he is a father to all. He was very plain. He was sincere. When I was with him, I felt free and confident, just like when I am with my biological father. From afar, some people feared him thinking that he is difficult. But I am glad I knew him because he was generous with everything. You hardly will leave Arch-Bishop without a gift.

He was always willing to assist me because I am a northern Christian. He raised many more like me and he loved assisting people. I am who I am today because that man raised me. And because of this, I work hard to assist pastors, widows, orphans as well as widows of pastors. He made me a bishop when I never dreamt of being one. I went to Benin on Monday and by Thursday after breakfast, he announced to me that I would be ordained bishop. I had to accept to be ordained bishop because I headed a college of over 50 bishops. I am a voice especially in the north here. I have a passion to uplift young people especially those in the vineyard of Christ. So when he insisted that I be ordained I accepted. He even helped me arrange for my family and church members to attend my ordination ceremony. I didn’t know he would die about a year after my ordination. When he died I thanked God that I didn’t miss that blessing.

Do you support the idea of female ministers, especially those who take over from their husbands?

We have a college, the International College of Charismatic Churches (ICCC). It was the leaders of the ICCC who kept encouraging me to step into the office of Arc-Bishop.

This is why I contacted mama (Arch-Bishop Margaret Idahosa) as one of the elders in ICCC. Besides she is my mother. Each year I ensure that I visit Benin City. On the issue of wives taking over the ministry on the passage of their husband, I will say that if the woman has the grace like mama and the mantle falls on her, she can take over. Many will agree with me that mama has taken the Church of God Mission to a higher level. But in my 32 years of ministry, I have learnt that each church has to go for what works for it.

You take the case of the R.C.C.G where Pastor Enoch Adeboye has taken the ministry to unprecedented heights. The founder of the church didn’t pick his child as his successor.

In recent times, Pentecostal preachers have had to struggle with their marriages with some resorting to divorce. How have you kept your marriage intact and what is your advice to young pastors?

In the early stage of my marriage, I came up with a formula I tagged: ‘I am sorry plus you are forgiven equals to peace’. No man must ever feel too big to say sorry to his wife and no woman must feel she is too important to apologise to her husband. No matter how highly placed a woman is, she has to take care of her husband. For my wife and I, our coming from the north also helped. We treasure simplicity, honesty and sincerity.

I am not perfect. We cover up each other’s weaknesses. We believe that we were brought together by God to achieve a common goal of a good marriage. Over the years of counseling, I have discovered that most problems in marriages are caused by bad friends and the poor advice they gave. Because of this, couples must be honest to each other and they have to build a level of trust.

Like what we say about God’s steadfast love being new every morning, couples have to start afresh each day. They shouldn’t bring back problems from the past. As a couple heading a church, people have to emulate God who forgives your sins and throws it into the sea of forgetfulness. We just celebrated 30 years of marriage in April and we are blessed with four children, one of who is married and we are looking forward to having grand children. Talking about pastors’ marriage break ups, we the older generation must continue to be role models.

I feel sorry for pastors with marriage troubles and even their members who often are affected by such situations. But to be honest with you, I don’t subscribe to divorce. I always say, you cannot get a better wife or husband because there is no perfect human being for you to remarry. So why don’t you adjust and find means of making your marriage better? Every good marriage is worked for.

How do you react to growing complaints that a large number of pastors have become materialistic with flagrant display of their wealth, while their members live in lack?

Let’s look at it from the perspective that a pastor heads a flock and many members of his congregation give towards his welfare.

You therefore can imagine a situation where about 1000 or 500 people give the little they have to say thanks to their pastor and by the end of the month, the pastor may seem to be living better than the congregation.

But this isn’t always the case. Also bear in mind that the people will only give to a pastor who impacts on their lives positively.

People have accused Pentecostal preachers of living big but they fail to take into cognisance how much charity work we do; like the road that leads to our church was constructed by us at N10 million. In my house, I have 10 adopted children living with me. I have tasted poverty and I have experienced what it feels to live in comfort. Because of this, I will always support brethren in prayers and otherwise in order for them to progress in life. God has always blessed mankind. He doesn’t want us to live in lack. Remember He said that His plans is for us to prosper and be in good health even as our souls prosper.

The bible further said that Christ though he was rich, was made poor that we may be rich. Let’s not pretend about it, God wants us to prosper.

But after we prosper, we must give back to society.

52 Feature

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Talatu: Hodgkins Lymphoma Patient Battling For Survival Life is full of trials, some of which cause the course of a person’s life to be altered.

However, there are some persons who have received what can be said to be more than a fair share of life’s trials. CATHERINE AGBO writes on the plight of one of such persons, Talatu Kaga, diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma

T

here is a popular saying that“man proposes but God disposes”. As humans, we go about our lives, making plans of what we want to do at every given time and how we intend to go about it. We practically give ourselves time-lines on when we hope to accomplish each of those things. But there is a supreme being who knows even before you begin to plan, what will happen, when and how it will happen. So it must have also been for 36-year-old Talatu Kaga before her present predicament. All the plans she had are now at a standstill. She is in a battle to save herself.

The ebullient and beautiful Talatu, a library and information science graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, enjoyed very good health until two years ago when she started having some health challenges, which have put her in her present state. She is presently battling a health challenge diagnosed as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin’s disease. It is a type of lymphoma which is a cancer that originates from white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Talatu who is also a staff of a private international school in Kuje area council, Abuja, is also at the verge of losing her job if her condition does not improve enough to enable her resume work as her employer is eager to get a replacement for her.

She requires about N4.79 million to undergo treatment for her condition in a foreign hospital.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend on her hospital bed at the Katameya Firstcall Hospital, Kado-Kuchi, Abuja, Talatu summed up the experience of the last two years of her life as everything but enjoyable.

The Kaduna North local government indigene of Kaduna State said the struggle for her life began in September 2012 when she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospi-

tal, Abuja. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart’s function as a pump is inadequate to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the body. It can be caused by diseases that weaken the heart veins, diseases that cause stiffening of the heart muscles and or diseases that increase oxygen demand by the body tissue beyond the capability of the heart to deliver adequate oxygen-rich blood.

Speaking amid intermittent groaning, she said she continued managing the condition till August 2013, when she relapsed and had to go back to the hospital.

When she went back to the hospital in August 2013, she was diagnosed with pericardial effusion. (Pericardial effusion is the presence of an abnormal amount of and/or an abnormal character to fluid in the pericardial space. Because of the limited amount of space in the pericardial cavity, fluid accumulation leads to an increased intra-pericardial pressure which can negatively affect heart function).

She said when the result of the second diagnosis was confirmed, there was need to drain the water which had collected in her pericardial space and this was done.

“Then in May 2014, I became very ill again and went back to the hospital. This time, I was diagnosed with pleural effusion (a condition in which excess fluid builds around the lung). I had to undergo another procedure to drain the water and this was done,” she explained.

She further stated that despite draining the excess water from the pleural cavity, she continued to have general body pains and a swollen face and it was then that the doctor recommended that she did a biopsy (a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, or an interventional cardiologist involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination.

It is the medical removal of

Talatu

tissue(s) from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease) and it was the result of the biopsy that revealed that she was suffering from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Since the last diagnosis in May, precisely four months ago, Talatu’s life has been hanging in the balance. She has been in three hospitals so far, battling for her life and has undergone one chemotherapy session which left her with sores all over her body. Over 80 per cent of her body is now swollen and covered with sores.

Research by LEADERSHIP Weekend indicated that Hodgkin’s Lymphoma may be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with the choice of treatment depending on the age and sex of the patient and the stage, bulk, and histological subtype of the disease.

Talatu confirmed this, saying that her doctor has assured her that her condition is treatable.

She however said funds to access the treatment have been a major impediment, emphasising that her condition has put a strain on the finances of family and friends who have been supporting her financially to this point. She added that she is already owing medical bills even as her condition is yet to improve.

She said it is on the basis of this that she is appealing to the Kaduna State government and all Nigerians to come to her aid to raise the sum of $28,500 (N4,788,000) required for the

treatment.

“We contacted Max Super Specialty Hospital in India and they have given us a financial breakdown of the cost of treatment which amounts to $28,500 (N4,788,000).

“I didn’t have the sores on my body before the first chemotherapy. My doctor says the sores are a reaction to the chemotherapy. I can’t sit or lie down properly; my entire body is in pains. Water comes out of the pores of my skin endlessly; my feet are swollen. I can neither walk nor breathe properly when I lie down and sitting is even more challenging because of the sores on my buttocks. I can’t even ease myself when I feel pressed; it’s usually a big challenge to do so. My life is miserable right now but I have hope that by the grace of God and with the help of my brothers and sisters, fellow Nigerians, I shall conquer this ailment,” she stated.

Talatu who is due for another session of chemotherapy by October 14, said she may miss the session unless something drastic happens in terms of finances, and missing the session will cause her condition to deteriorate further.

Anyone touched by Talatu’s plight and is willing to assist her raise the money for her treatment can do so by paying directly into her Guaranty Trust Bank account number, 0023100085 with the account name, Talatu Kaga. You can also reach her on the following GSM numbers: 08054521554 or 08035146373.

I can neither walk nor breathe properly when I lie down and sitting is even more challenging because of the sores on my buttocks

Feature 53

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Cooking gas cylinders

How Police Directive Is Affecting Sale Of Cooking Gas In Abuja Since the directive by the FCT Police Command to dealers of cooking gas in the FCT to register their businesses with divisional police officers in the areas where their businesses are domicilled, the sale of the commodity has not been the same. DAVID ADUGE-ANI reports that dealers of the commodity are gradually complying with the policy, in the interest of the city’s security .

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ecently, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command gave a directive to gas dealers in Abuja to obtain permits from the closest divisional police officers (DPO) to their areas of business. FCT Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Altine Daniel, explained that the policy was targeted at gas sellers in the city and adjoining suburbs. According to her, the directive was for gas sellers to register with the DPOs closest to them so as to checkmate the sale of gas cylinders to those who use them to perpetuate insecurity in the territory.

What this directive means, is that dealers in cooking gas must obtain police permits from a location close to them if they want to remain in business. However since this directive, many dealers are of the opinion that the order, which was the concept of the immediate past FCT commissioner of police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, is affecting their business negatively. Initially, there were misconceptions concerning the order, as many people believed that the order also included buyers of the commodity.

The speculation was that the police commissioner had directed both sellers and users of gas to register with Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in their local areas, to enable authorities regulate and monitor the use of the highly- inflammable commodity. But the police command lat-

er clarified its position, stating that at no time did the commissioner of police issue a directive for users of cooking gas to register with the police.

Worried by the new order, the FCT Gas and Allied Gas Products Association recently cried out to the FCT commissioner of Police on the treatment they are subjected to by Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) since the announcement of the ban on gas cylinders in the territory.

Speaking on behalf of the association at the CP’s office, Barrister Obutea Morris explained that since the introduction of the policy in Abuja, gas selling business has been on the verge of collapse.

“The divisional police officers in the FCT lock up gas dealers shops and it has not been easy for them, as the means to support their various families is affected. They are ready to work with the police to do what is required of them by law instead.

There is no need to lock up their shops, leaving them jobless and hungry,” he said.

Responding, then FCT commissioner of Police, Mbu, told the association that part of the measures they are trying to put in place to curb terrorism in FCT is to look into the movement of gas in all forms. He said the command started by banning the sale of gas, especially by compelling allied gas and gas accessories to register with the divisional police officers in their areas to control the movement and sale of the

productin every part of Abuja.

“This is to allow us know who are legally allowed to sell gas, and those involved in it. The association wrote us wanting me to grant them audience. There are more than 300 of them and the divisional police officers were instructed that all the dealers must comply with the rules and regulations in FCT,” The FCT police boss also said that they have to regulate the movement of gas in the territory, saying, “We understand the need for them to do their business but we need public support to control them and curb terrorism and other criminal activities in FCT, the same way we banned scavengers in Abuja.

The police commissioner maintained that the police can’t go from home to home checking gas cylinders, urging the public to buy their gas cylinders from registered dealers. He warned that where a user could not give good explanation where he got his gas from, he would be arrested as a potential terrorist.

A gas dealer at Kado Village, Kingsley Oha, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the number of gas buyers visiting his shop since the directive have reduced because many are now afraid to take their gas cylinders to the shop to buy the product, for the fear of being arrested by the police. He disclosed that what many buyers now do is call him and he would supply gas to them at their homes. According

to him, since registering with the divisional police officer in his area, the level of harassment from the police has reduced. “In complying with the police directive, I and many other dealers in this area have registered with the police divisional officer. This has reduced the level of harassment from the police, especially when we supply the commodity to our customers at home,” he said.

Another gas dealer in Wuse, Abel Njoku, told our reporter that apart from the police, the major problem many dealers face is harassment from the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB). “AEPB has been coming to harass our members for selling the commodity outside the filling stations in town.

We have told them severally that there are not enough filing stations in the city to accommodate all our members, but they will not listen.”

However the FCT PPRO, Daniel told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the level of compliance with the police directive on sales of gas in FCT by gas dealers has been very impressive, judging from the report she gets from the police stations. She said the dealers have no option than to comply with the directive in the interest of peace and security in the city. She however told our reporter that the FCT police command is not yet in a position to disclose the number of registered coking gas dealers in the FCT.

He warned that where a user could not give good explanation where he got his gas from, he would be arrested as a potential terrorist.

54 Feature

Jonathan

The Pains And Gains Of Nigeria At 54

Nigeria has against all the odds, stuck together as one indivisible nation for 54 years, since she got her independence in 1960. In this piece, JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo, GBENGA ADEBOYE, Abeokuta and ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan, write on the trajectory so far.

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here is no doubt that it is only the people who have had the experience of being in bondage that will better appreciate freedom. Therefore, those people who had ugly experiences of second citizenship in their fatherland will better appreciate what being independent from the tyranny of the colonialist is.

However, for Nigeria to achieve independence 54 years ago from the British colonial masters, some Nigerians paid the ultimate price with the hope that freedom would pave way for managing the resources God endowed the nation with for the betterment of the citizenry.

On October 1, 1960, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, was agog in celebration. Fireworks lit the sky.

The Union Jack, symbol of imperialism, was lowered and in its place, the green white green flag of the new nation, Nigeria, was hoisted, proclaiming her independence.

Hopes were high. The nationalists: The Sadauna of Sokoto, Sir Ah-

Saturday, October 4, 2014 madu Bello; the prime minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa; the president, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe and the leader of opposition party, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, among other leaders, took over the destiny of the new nation with the largest population in Africa.

The independent constitution had made their job easier. It was a federal constitution that gave political autonomy to the regions; no friction. It was a situation of developing the regions at their own pace.

However, healthy competition was the order of the day.

On the economic front, things were looking bright. Before independence, the economy was characterised by agriculture exports and even after independence, agriculture continued as the mainstay of the economy.

We had the groundnut pyramids in the north, cocoa in abundance in the west and palm products in the east. During this period, the rates of inflation, unemployment and productivity remained relatively acceptable.

Then the oil boom of 1970s came and contribution of agriculture to GDP, which was 63 per cent in 1960, declined. The oil boom rather than being a blessing overshadowed and destroyed the real economic base of Nigeria - agriculture.

Unfortunately, things on the political front too degenerated and climaxed with the crisis that engulfed the western region with the declaration of emergency rule in 1965.

Many coups have been staged against the nation. The military’s excuse was that, the old politicians were corrupt. The first coup which brought Major General Aguiyi Ironsi to power was short-lived as he too was shot six months after but he had already altered the Nigerian system with the unification decree that abolished federalism and forced Unitarianism on Nigeria in tradition with single chain of command characteristic of the military. Since then, Nigeria has witnessed eight military coups, bloody or otherwise. The military leaders were guilty of exactly what they accused the old civilians of, which was corruption.

In between military and civilian rules, Nigeria fought an internecine civil war that claimed millions of lives but at the end of the bloodshed, Nigeria still remains a nation.

There is no doubt that independence brought succour to the oppressed in governance while the masses that are supposed to benefit from the dividends of independence were oppressed by their leaders through bad leadership that has pauperised them.

A peep into what has become of the nations that attained independence at about the same time Nigeria was left off the hook of her colonial master shows that most of them have been liberated and are now categorised among the developed countries in the world while Nigeria though underdeveloped is being rated as a developing country, The infrastructure required to make live worth living such as good roads, electricity, potable wa-

ter among others are not available thereby making life unbearable for the people who are wallowing in abject poverty.

Because of the total mismanagement of the nation’s resources by the leaders, unemployment becomes endemic and this has encouraged social vices such as kidnapping, robbery, terrorism, thuggery and lack of respect for constituted authorities, among others.

A school principal in Osun State, Elder Abraham Ogunjide, listed access to governance, right to choose who rules over them, resource control among others as gains of independence but expressed reservation at how the gains are being utilised to benefit the populace.

Also, a trader in Osogbo, Alhaja Simiat Adeyemi, identified self-centredness, lack of initiatives, greed, insensitivity to the plight of followers and lack of the fear of God by leaders as bane of independent Nigeria. She viewed that God blessed the country with what all that is required to make life comfortable for the citizenry and urged Nigerian leaders to have a rethink.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, a crosssection of Nigerians lamented the backwardness of Nigeria despite her potential human and natural resources. Those who spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend lamented that it was unfortunate that the country at her 54 was still crawling when her mates are not only walking but running. They argued that most of the countries that got their independence almost at the same time are doing better than Nigeria.

A staff member of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ibrahim Rasak Oluwadare identified selfishness, bad leadership and corruption as factors militating against the country’s political and socio-economic development.

Oluwadare added that lack of trust and love among the citizens have been a clog in the wheel the country’s development.

He recalled that the First Republic government loaned some countries in the world some money to assist in their development but now “Nigeria has become a beggar nation.

“Sincerely speaking, this is not the dream of the country’s founding fathers,” he added.

Also speaking, the chairman of the conference of Nigerian Political Parties in South West, Alh Yinka Olona said, despite her security challenges, the country has recorded achievements in the areas of politics, economy and social spheres.

While noting that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, he said that unlike in the past when the country witnessed coups and counter coups, nobody is prepared to truncate the system now. He expressed optimism that despite the challenges, the country’s future is brighter and better.

On his part, the secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), Alli Balogun, noted that the country is on the right path saying that “politically, economically and socially, the country has no regret becom-

ing independent 54 years ago.”

Balogun noted that Nigeria had in the past assisted some African countries to achieve their dreams but regretted that they remained silent while the country is facing challenges.

While charging the leaders to properly utilise the country’s resources for the benefit of the people, he charged the followership to ensure that only responsible leaders are allowed to rule the country.

However, the journey has not been all gloom and doom. For instance, analysts are of the opinion that the fact that the nation has survived up till now, in spite of all the invading forces, is an achievement.

Her new economic status as the 1st in Africa and the 26th in the world suggests that the country was nearing being among the nations with largest economies by the year 2020. As such, it is not out of place to say that the country’s economy has improved tremendously over the last 54years.

However, the general belief is that the economic improvement has no positive impact on the living standard of average Nigerians since it was badly managed. The activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the north-eastern part of the country is a major worry for the country leaders.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend on Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary, the former governor of the old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua said, Nigerians have cause to be thankful to God. He however lamented the neglect of natural resources that abound in the country which governments failed to tap for the development of the country.

He said, “God has blessed Nigeria with a lot of resources but our governments have failed to use all that we have abundance as a nation to provide for what we do not have.” He praised the federal and states governments for curtailing the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease through their quick action and reactions.

Foreign investors, according to him, are being discouraged in setting up industries in the country due to erratic electricity supply in the country.

He said the rate of unemployment is on the increase as graduate were being turned out by higher institutions without securing employment.

Insurgency is also bedevilling the nation a great deal; though state of emergency has been declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to check the insurgency, their operations go unabated resulting in the death of thousands of innocent Nigerians.

Another sorry event that put the nation in the oddity was the abduction of over 200 students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014.

The unemployment rate is also high but there has been improvement in foreign investment.

A peep into what has become of the nations that attained independence at about the same time Nigeria was left off the hook of her colonial master shows that most of them have been liberated

Feature 55

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Sudden Death: The Need For Routine Medical Check-ups

Many Nigerians hardly go for medical check-ups. While some predicate their stand on faith, others regard routine medical check-ups as waste of time and resources. But how far can these beliefs go? BUKOLA IDOWU and CHISOM EZE write

Doctors during a theatre session

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rs Charles who is in her mid 50s is a vice principal in a public school in Ibadan. She had returned from school, prepared and ate lunch but while returning the plate to the kitchen, she slumped and died at the spot. A postmortem conducted on her showed that her weakened heart had stopped working. Until her death, she never knew the state of her heart.

A middle-aged man, dressed in suit with a tie to match and on his way to work had collapsed and died while waiting to board a bus on a Friday morning in Abule Egba area of Lagos, but the cause of his death is unknown.

Although, there is no concrete statistics to prove it, it has been revealed that about 60,000 Nigerians die annually from unexplained causes. A consultant neurologist and electro-encephalographer, Dr Seyi Roberts, defined sudden death as unexpected death occurring within minutes or hours, usually within 24 hours of onset of symptoms in apparently healthy young or middle aged individuals.

Also, earlier in the year, the

acting Chief Medical Director (CMD), Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State, Prof Peter Okokhere, stated that there is an increase in the incidence of sudden natural deaths (SND) among Nigerians. He had named the main causes of unnatural sudden death to be road traffic accidents, homicide from violent crimes and natural causes.

Named among the top 10 causes of death in Nigeria are road injuries and stroke which account for five and three per cents respectively. Sudden death has been on the rise though life expectancy has improved from 49 years as at 1990 to 54 years in 2012, according to World Bank statistics.

Dr Murtala Muhammad Umar of General Hospital, Zurmi, Zamfara State while explaining the causes and effects of road accidents in Nigeria, categorised road accident causes into human, environmental, and mechanical factors. While noting that human factors such as reckless driving, drunk-driving, speeding, poor eye-sight among others are avoidable, he said it contributes not less than 90 per cent of annual road accidents.

Aside accidents, health conditions such as stroke diabetes, among others, also contribute to the high number of sudden deaths in the country. According to Umar, high blood pressure, smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, high level of cholesterol, diabetes high alcohol intake, stress, depression and heart disorder are major contributors. He noted that a bulk of this is triggered by what is consumed.

“High blood pressure for instance is caused by build-up of fat in the arteries which narrows it thereby causing the blood to move in the body at a high speed acting abnormally. A simple way to avoid this is by imbibing healthier food consumption.

Most importantly, ground-nut oil should be substituted by soya beans or olive oil.

“Another cause is diabetes which is caused by high sugar in the body. The high intake of sugar and starchy food are veritable sources of excess sugar in the body. The consumption of carbohydrates in Nigeria has skyrocketed. Rice and Garri are the commonest among them and statistics prove that majority of Nigerians consume these ev-

ery day.

“Apart from stroke caused by food, there are those caused by other consumable such as smoking and alcohol consumption. This is a lifestyle disorder which is indeed a global challenge. However, most smokers and drinkers in Nigeria blame the government and the economy for driving them into consuming them. They believe that smoking and drinking take away worries,” Umar explained.

To avoid cases of sudden death, Roberts had recommended routine medical check-up. He advocated comprehensive medical tests noting that from researches, not doing this cause more harm than the money people always try to save by not going for tests.

While explaining the importance of routine medical checkup in defeating sudden deaths, he said that the major causes of sudden death are health conditions that may not be known because there may be little or no symptom to show.

However, many Nigerians seem to undermine the importance of routine medical checkup. A simple survey showed that a good number of people in the upper class do check-ups but not as regular as they should; some do it annually, others once in two years.

Also, those who have lost someone to the horror of sudden death are usually more conscious and dedicated to it. On the other hand, most of the middle and low class people who have no connection to health related sudden-deaths often ignore it.

Many claimed that they are simply too busy to think of medical check up. This was also supported by Pharmacist Nonso Egbulue of Medplus at Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Surulere. According to him, Lagosians are simply too busy and tired for regular check-ups, saying they don’t have the time.

A youth corps member in Ogun State, Mr Kpakpando Nwazota, stated that he has not taken any medication since he gave his life to Christ in January 2013. Dismissing the need to get medical check-up, a magazine publisher, Mr Kelvin Lotana, said he has never done medical check-up, saying “something will eventually kill everyone anyway.”

She had returned from school, prepared and ate lunch but while returning the plate to the kitchen, she slumped and died on the spot

56 OPINION

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Pastor T. O. Banso Faith 08155744752

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com

Using Your Gifts Faithfully (3)

P Did you see what will happen to those who use their gifts well and those who’re unfaithful in using their gifts?

raise the Lord. I’m glad to bring you the third part of this series. For some weeks, I’ve been talking about using your gifts faithfully. I want to continue from where I stopped last week. May the Lord bless you as you read.

The parable of the talents In the parable of the talents (money) that Jesus told in Matt 25:14-30, the problem with the servant condemned wasn’t that he wasn’t given any talent but he refused to use what he was given. Each of them was given talents “according to his own ability.”

(Verse 15) The servant given five talents invested them and made profit of five talents and the one given two talents invested them and made a profit of two more talents. But the servant given one talent dissipated his energy to dig the ground, and hid the money he was given. The same energy he wasted in digging the ground, he should have channeled into a productive and profitable venture of investing his money. But rather than doing this, the lazy and foolish servant was accusing his master when he returned from his journey and the master re-

quested him to give account of the money he was given. “Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is” (Verses 24-25 NLT).

This unworthy servant got from his master what he rightly deserved since he wouldn’t use what he had been given. “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate? Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Verses 26-30 NLT).

Did you see what will happen to

those who use their gifts well and those who’re unfaithful in using their gifts?

The story of ten servants There’s a similar passage in Luke 19:11-27 – the story of the minas or the story of the ten servants given ten minas. The first and the second servants made ten times and five times profit respectively and were each given corresponding ten cities and five cities to govern. “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘I hid it and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant” (Luke 19:20-21NLT). Why did he hide the money given him when his colleagues were making profit using theirs? He said he was afraid – afraid of his master who trusted him and gave the same amount like he gave others? Why were others not afraid? He described his master as a hard man to deal with, taking what wasn’t his and harvesting crops he didn’t plant.

What an allegation! Only this servant described his master this way.

This odd man out of the servants got what he deserved. Just

like the other servant we saw earlier who didn’t use his own talent, he was condemned, and the minas was collected from him and given to the servant who had earned the most. The king went further to say, “those who use well what they are given, even more will be given.

But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away” (Verse 26 NLT).

Again, did you see what will happen to those unfaithful in using what they’re given?

I’m going to stop here today and continue this message nest week.

I urge you to obey the voice of the Lord to you in this message. Use your gifts faithfully.

Take Action!

If you want to be born again, kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today.

I know I’m a sinner and I cannot save myself. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today.

By this prayer, I know I‘m saved.

Thank you Jesus for saving me .

Friday Ebinyi Impactful View impactfulview@gmail.com

Tel: 08150741383 (text only)

Validity Of Christ’s Resurrection Various historians and biblical expositors and philosophers like Flaviials Josephus (37-101AD), Cornelius Tacitus (65-117 AD), Simon Greenfield (1783-1853), Thomas Arnold (1795-1842) and Lord Caldecott, a former Lord Chief Justice of England, majority of who were not followers of Jesus supported the validity of the resurrection. They arrived at their position after painstaking exhaustive researches. Royal Professor of Law at Harvard University, one of the most passionate critics of the resurrection said, ‘it is impossible that the apostles could have persisted in affirming the truths they narrated, had Jesus Christ not actually risen from the dead’. In his conclusive remark, he admitted that the resurrection of Jesus was the best supported event in all human history. The most prominent among

them was Professor Thomas Arnold, the author of volumes on Roman history and former chair of history of Oxford University who wrote “ I have never been used for many years to study the histories of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirers than the great sign which God had given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead”.

Needless to say that the resurrection of Jesus is an indisputable fact and truth that Emperors, Kings, militaries, Dukes and Satan cannot win in confrontation. Moreover, denial of the fact and truth of the resur-

rection is synonymous to deliberately walking one’s way to the lake of hell without remedy. In a related report, Edward Clarke, a Lawyer declared: ‘I have made a prolonged study of the evidences for the events of the first Easter day; to me the evidence is conclusive and over and over again’. Jesus, the Centre focus of the resurrection did not keep silent on this seemingly controversial cardinal issue. He confirmed his resurrection through his appearances to many groups of people in Jerusalem such as eleven disciples, Simon, the disciples, Mary, Saul of Tarsus, Stephen, Paul the Apostle, Cephas, John the Beloved and above 500 saints at once.

Besides Apostle Paul’s experiences for defending the resurrection doctrine, all the apostles wrote profusely about the resurrection of Christ. Based on the

endurance of the suffering saints and the preservation of the resurrection gospel, it is evident that the resurrection theology is beyond human philosophy. Otherwise, if the apostles, majority of who were fishermen, tax collectors and illiterates had fabricated falsehood about the resurrection of Jesus, the Roman Government, the power brokers and the religious leaders of the day would have reacted more violently. An African writer further stated that since Jesus Christ was killed and buried under the supervision of the Romans and Jewish political and religious leaders, if Jesus did not resurrect, his body (dead or alive) at whatever cost and sacrifice would have been recovered and paraded and dragged throughout the streets and hills of Jerusalem to prove to the world the lies of the apostles about

Moreover, denial of the fact and truth of the resurrection is synonymous to deliberately walking one’s way to the lake of hell without remedy

SPORTS 57

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Martins Wins MLS Player Of The Month Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins, has been voted the Etihad Airways Player of the Month in the Major League Soccer (MLS) for September.

According to a statement on the official website of the MLS, Martins won the award for the month of September by polling 58.48 percent of the total votes by fans. The former Inter Milan man beat LA Galaxy forward, Landon Donovan to second place. Donovan got 13.56 percent.

Portland Timbers playmaker Diego Valeri, Columbus Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark and Lee Nguy-

en of New England Revolution finished in third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

“In the fan vote, Oba’s 58.43 percent comfortably out-polled LA Galaxy icon Landon Donovan, August’s POTM (player of the month) winner, who finished at 13.56 percent, followed by Portland Timbers playmaker Diego Valeri, Columbus Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark and New England Revolution standout Lee Nguyen,” announced the MLS. In the month of September, Martins scored five goals and had an assist in five MLS matches.

Martins

The former Newcastle striker’s partnership with Clint Dempsey, who won the award in April, has helped Seattle Sounders to the top of the MLS Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings.

Contempt: Danagogo, Maigari, Others To Appear In Court

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

The Jos Federal High Court has ordered the Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Tammy Danagogo, former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, NFF general secretary, Musa Amadu and State FA chairmen to appear before it to explain why they should not be thrown into jail for going against its order.

According to a fresh order contained in Form 49, released on Thursday by the court, they are to appear before Justice A L Allagoa on Wednesday, October 8 to explain why they went against the order of the court released on the 19th day of September.

A copy of the order obtained by LEADERSHIP Weekend Sports, read: “Take Notice that the plaintiff will on Wednesday the 8th day of October, 2014 at the hour of 9 0.clock in the forenoon apply to this court for an or- Danagogo der for your committal to prison for having disobeyed the Order of this Court made on the 19th day of Sep- extra general assembly of the NFF and or tember, 2014, enjoining and restrain- conduct or hold election into the executive committee of the NFF pending the determiing you and severally from…”

Recall that the Jos Federal High nation of the case before it.

Maigari and his board were particularcourt had ordered that Aminu Maigly restrained from parading themselves as ari and Musa Amadu should not convene or hold a general assembly or the president and members of the executive

Maigari

committee of the NFF. The Minister of Sports was also ordered not to give recognition to Aminu Maigari and his board members. The minister was specially ordered to give recognition to the general assembly meeting of the NFF held on the 26 August, 2014 and the election into

the executive committee of the NFF conducted at that meeting.

The order concluded by saying that, “Take notice that you are hereby required to attends the court on the first mentioned day to show why an order for your committal should not be made.”

Bankers Games Hall Of Fame Induction Heralds 2014 Edition Three new members joined the prestigious Corporate Nigeria Hall of Fame as they were inducted last Saturday as part of activities to mark the flag-off of the 2014 Nigeria Bankers Games (NBG). Nigeria’s first ever Hall of Fame recipient, Vivian Ezenwoko of Fidelity Bank, a dominant personality in the NBG Athletics events led the roll that also had Segun Babatunde of Sterling Bank and Ebenezer Joseph of Skye Bank.

All three who expressed delight at their appointment and induction were presented beautifully crafted crystal plaques and giant portraits to commemorate the oc-

Leon Balogun Joins Darmstadt

casion.

Fela Bank-Olemoh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MediaVision Limited, organisers of the tournament, described all three recipients as worthy ambassadors of Corporate Nigeria Games and urged them to continue to pursue excellence both in their professional career and in sports.

“Corporate Nigeria Games is a platform to keep our ever busy professionals healthy through friendly sports engagements and also expand the network base that is very important in career development.

“We will continue to enrich the tournament that is competitive and yet cordial”,

Nigeria international, Leon Balogun has joined Bundesliga 2 side, Darmstadt and is set to return to action after a long injury lay-off.

It is the dream of any professional footballer to play for his country and in March 2014 in Atlanta, United States, Leon Balogun got

declared Bank-Olemoh.

The day had commenced with a colourful march past which had all the participating banks on parade but it was again the football champions, Skye Bank that stole the show, winning the prize for the best contingent. Skye Bank went ahead to pip Stanbic IBTC through an Ismaila Sani solitary strike at 52 minutes in a keenly fought opening game of the tournament.

It was a free kick from the edge of the box which he planted beyond the goalkeeper.

In the second game, Fidelity also ran away with a 1-0 win, thanks to Oladimeji Oyefeso’s penalty on the 7th minute.

that opportunity to play for Nigeria in a friendly match against Mexico.

That match in which Balogun made his debut as a second half substitute set off a chain of events that have led to him just finally signing for newly promoted Bundesliga 2

Bankers in a novelty match which preceded the final match during the Nigeria Bankers Games 2013

side SV Darmstadt.

Speaking exclusively to supersport.com Leon Balogun says “am thrilled to finally have a club to play for after a very difficult close season. I must say that I commend and appreciate greatly the efforts of the management of this club - Darm-

stadt. They first contacted me in August but I was already speaking to other clubs at the time and I told them so” The other clubs Balogun was speaking to included Blackpool in the Championship in England “that club had a lot of issues I have to say.

58 SPORTS

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Udoh Rues Absence At Heartland Tie Kano Pillars centre-back, Kingsley Udoh is an unhappy man over his certain absence in the side’s clash at former side, Heartland. The former Nigerian junior strongman is yet to recover 100 per cent from the left knee injury he sustained in his side’s 2-0 home win against Lobi Stars last Sunday in Kano and will not be available for the clash at Heartland in Sunday’s Glo Premier League match day 30 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

Udoh said ruefully that he feels terribly bad missing the tie after he has waited anxiously to play a decisive role in the epic clash at former side, Heartland.

“I sustained a knee injury in our last home game against Lobi Stars that’s yet to heal completely so, I won’t be available for the clash at Heartland.

“It’s really painful knowing suddenly that I’ll play no part in the game. I’ve waited pa-

Udoh

tiently for the match day.

“It’s an encounter I would’ve loved to play decisively as it’s always a refreshing experience engaging the former side.

“Well, man proposes while God disposes, it pains me too that about four, five key players will miss the tie due to injuries.

“However, I quite believe my teammates who’ll be taking the places of the injured players understand the importance of the game to our names as well as ambition,” he lamented.

Shobowale Eyes NPL Title With Pillars Former 3SC of Ibadan star, Azeez Sobowale has said he hopes to win his first Nigeria Premier League championship with Kano Pillars.

‘Little Messi’ Shobowale was the man of the match when champions, Pillars, beat Lobi Stars 2-0 at home recently. He scored a goal and he was brought down for the penalty from which Pillars took the lead.

“The game against Lobi was one of my best games this season because they really gave a good account of themselves, but determination saw us through,” said the former Shooting Stars winger.

“I won a penalty for us and then scored the winning goal.

I must commend all the players for a job well done.

“We are still leading on the league table and we are not ready to surrender this lead all the way till the end of the season. We all know what we are fighting for.

Shobowale

“We still have some clubs like Warri Wolves and Nasarawa chasing us closely for the league title. But they will only be following us because the boys are really working towards making history this

season by winning a third straight title.

“We are not ready to drop any points in our home games and we will also battle to win some important points in our remaining away games.”

No Sallah Break For Nigeria Premier League

Brown Ideye of West Bromwich moves away from Jake Wright during the Capital One Cup

Ideye, Anichebe Out Of Liverpool Clash Nigerian forwards, Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe have both been excluded from West Bromwich Albion’s squad for today’s game against Liverpool.

Both forwards are currently injured and the West Bromwich Albion manager, Alan Irvine confirmed during his pre-match press conference that they will both sit out the trip to Anfield.

Ideye, the club’s record signing, has not played since rolling his ankle while scoring his only goal for the club, in the 3-2 League Cup win against Hull City at the Hawthorns on September 24.

The Super Eagles striker was tipped to make his return from injury in the game against Liverpool but Irvine has now moved to quash any such lingering hopes of the former Dynamo Kyiv man making a swift return.

“Brown has an ankle problem.

He’s just not quite ready yet. He’s not at the stage where he’s running at a certain level and we can’t get him to top speed. So he’s not been able to join us in training.

“We just feel it will be too difficult to make it for this weekend but we certainly feel he’ll be ready for the Manchester United game (on October 20),” Irvine said.

The WBA trainer also revealed that Anichebe had already commenced full training but noted that he decided to exclude the big forward from the Liverpool party as a precautionary measure.

“Victor was training but I said then we would see what kind of reaction to that problem he has, and unfortunately he had a bit of a reaction but this game will come a bit too soon.

Nigeria league players will not get a chance for merriment during the Sallah celebration as Week 30 games will be played as scheduled on Sunday. The Chief Operating Officer of League Management Company (LMC), Salihu Abubakar, announced the league will go on as scheduled.

“There won’t be Sallah break for the league, the games of week 30 will be played across the nation on Sunday, October

5,” he disclosed.

Week 30 Fixtures Bayelsa vs Sunshine Gombe vs El Kanemi Taraba vs Wolves Crown vs Enyimba Sharks vs Nembe Nasarawa vs Kaduna Abia Warriors vs Dolphins Akwa vs Rangers Heartland vs Pillars Lobi vs Giwa

Nigeria league action

Bubagha Bullish On Bayelsa Survival Bayelsa United coach, Richard Bubagha, has said his side will not only escape relegation but pick one of the continental tickets available in the ongoing season.

The Restoration Boys sit precariously in the 19th spot on the 20-team Nigerian topflight table on a poorly 33 points from a possible 87 at the end of week 29 matches.

Bubagha said though no coach will be happy to see his side sit almost at the bottom of the league table, he is confident that in the next three matches, the side’s fortune will improve greatly.

“I feel really bad as no coach worth his onion will want to be where we’re on the league table right now, especially when one realises that the side start-

ed the race brilliantly only to be experiencing a free fall midseason.

“However, I know for certain that Bayelsa United will not only escape relegation but grab a continental ticket.

“It looks daunting but we’ve our game plan well spelled out, more so as we’ll be having double home matches in the days ahead.

“Once we’re able to maximise the opportunities we’re certain to improve our rating as well as go ahead to take our rightful position on the log.

“No team is a write off at the moment as virtually all the teams will witness varying fortune as the season inches to the end,” said Bubagha to supersport.com.

Bubagha said the Sunday’s

Glo Premier League match day 30 tie against Sunshine Stars at their adopted home in Benin will be the take-off point to show their resolve to stay alive.

“We understand quite well that Sunshine Stars are good travellers but they’ll fall heavily on Sunday.

“My team is intact, there are no injury worries among the players and we’re prepared to confront Sunshine Stars for the points.

“Of course, we won’t allow the golden opportunity to improve our fortune slip out of our hands.

“We’re determined to win convincingly and fairly in order to serve the notice of our intention to reclaim our rightful position,” said Bubagha.

SPORTS 59

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Stoke Play Down Move For Moses Barclays Premier League outfit, Stoke City have declared there are no discussions of making Victor Moses loan spell at the Britannia permanent yet.

Potters chairman Peter Coates said the club are happy with Moses’s impressive start to the season but talks on a permanent deal re-

mains too “early into the season.”

“Although we are delighted with the start he has made for us, it is still very early days and so where that one goes I have no idea.

“We haven’t even discussed it yet because we are so early into the season and such a lot can happen, so there is no sense of urgency.

“I’m just pleased with what he has produced so far and pleased that we have him for the whole season.

“He’s hard-working, quick, clever and looks a very good player.

He’s not played a lot of games, so who knows, he could improve. But it’s certainly nice for him as well to

have got off to such a good start with us,” Coates said to The Sentinel.

Moses has been impressive this term for Mark Hughes’s team after disappointing spells at his parent club Chelsea and then on loan at Liverpool last season.

The 23-year-old Nigerian in-

ternational has made four league appearances for Stoke City and has two assists.

Victor Moses

Newcastle: Pardew Vows To Fight On

N Danny Welbeck of Arsenal breaks from midfield during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Arsenal FC and Galatasaray

Welbeck Slams Manchester United Over Wing Exile Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has aimed a barb at former employers Manchester United by suggesting they hampered his development by playing him out of position on the wing.

A succession of United managers – Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal – opted to use Welbeck as a wide forward, with Van Gaal explaining recently that he did not score enough goals.

But Welbeck has hit form since his £16 million switch to Arsenal and has now scored four goals in five games after his hat-trick against Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“Nobody can really criticise my finishing because they don’t really see me playing in a forward position too often,” said Welbeck.

“But now I am getting into these positions, I want to be sticking the ball in the back of the net. I am sure it’s the same with every other striker.

“Obviously people can say I have not scored enough goals, but you stick the best strikers on the wing in a four-man midfield and see if they score goals.”

Welbeck’s teammate Aaron Ramsey likened the England striker to Arsenal great Thierry Henry following his hat-trick against Galatasaray, telling talkSPORT radio that one of his goals had been “very Thierry Henryesque”.

Similarly to Welbeck, Henry began his career as a winger before being converted into a prolific centre-forward, but Welbeck said comparisons with the former France international were premature.

ewcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, will continue to fight against his critics and has no intention of quitting the struggling Premier League club amid prolonged and hostile fan reaction. Newcastle sit just one point above bottom-of-thetable Burnley with three points and no wins from six games in what has been a horror start to their Premier League campaign.

The 2-2 draw against Hull City at St James’ Park last month was played against a backdrop of deep unrest with many supporters in the 50 000-strong crowd brandishing posters reading ‘Sack Pardew’.

“I’m a manager that’s thick-skinned. I don’t ignore it and it’s not that it doesn’t penetrate me because of course it does,” Pardew said. “It makes me want to prove people wrong. I need to win games, it’s quite simple really. After the games it becomes difficult because we haven’t won.

“The most important thing is that I’m putting the fight in the players and they’re showing the fight on the pitch.”

The north-east club’s only victories this season have come in the League Cup but last week’s 3-2 cup victory against Crystal Palace, a result Pardew had been keen to build on, was followed by a 1-0 league loss to Stoke City on Monday.

“I don’t think anyone who watched the

Pardew

Stoke game would say their wasn’t fight in the team,” the defiant 53-year-old added. “(We needed) a bit of quality and a bit more flamboyance in the team, and a few more chances created.

“There’s the fight though and we need to carry that to every game to the end of the

season. I’ve had one game to go, two games to go from the start of the season. I have to ignore those sort of thoughts.

“I spoke to the chief executive and we discussed ways of trying to help the team and trying to find a solution to get this team to its capacity.”

Fabregas, Pochettino Battle Old Friends Cesc Fabregas will play against his old club, Arsenal for table-topping Chelsea while Tottenham Hotspur boss, Mauricio Pochettino will try to halt the progress of his former club Southampton, who are second, in the Premier League this weekend.

Harry Redknapp will also be renewing acquaintance with his first club West Ham United when he takes his struggling Queens Park Rangers side to Upton Park, needing a win to get them out of the bottom three. But one reunion that has been put on hold, on the pitch at least, is Wayne Rooney’s with Everton.

It will be 10 years and two days on Sunday since Rooney, who was then 18, made his league debut for Manchester United against Middlesbrough after leaving Everton in a 27 million pounds ($43.70 million) transfer a few weeks earlier.

But the United skipper starts a three-match suspension after being sent off in a 2-1 win over West Ham last week in which he scored.

With six matches played, Chelsea, who beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, lead the standings on 16 points, three ahead of Southampton, five clear of champions Manchester City and six clear of fourth-placed Arsenal.

In March, Chelsea crushed Arsenal 6-0 in manager Arsene Wenger’s 1 000th match in charge of the Gunners and he goes back to Stamford Bridge, a few days after his 18th anniversary as the Arsenal boss, determined to avoid a repeat of that humiliation.

The only league points Chelsea have dropped this season were in their 1-1 draw at Manches-

ter City on September21 when their former player Frank Lampard scored against them.

Now Fabregas, 27, playing close to Lampard’s old position as an attacking midfielder, is determined to lead Chelsea to glory and says he has no problem facing the team where he spent eight years before moving to Barcelona.

“Changing clubs is part of the game and people must remember Cesc Fabregas it was Arsenal who didn’t take up the buy-back option for me,” he “Arsenal are still very close to told The Sun last month. me. I still have friends there and “I wanted to keep playing foot- have a really good connection ball, enjoying myself and my ca- with them but in football things reer and I felt that joining Chel- change. I left Arsenal for a reason sea was the best option for me. and didn’t go back for a reason.”

English Premier League Fixtures

Time

Today’s Matches

Time

Sunday’s Matches

16:00

Hull City Vs Crystal Palace

13:00

Manchester United Vs Everton

16:00

Leicester City Vs Burnley

15:05

Chelsea Vs Arsenal

16:00

Liverpool Vs West Brom

15:05

Tottenham Hotspur Vs Southampton

16:00

Sunderland Vs Stoke City

17:15

West Ham United Vs Queens Park Rangers

16:00

Swansea City Vs Newcastle United

-

18:30

Aston Villa Vs Manchester City

-

-

60 / SPORTS

Saturday, October 4, 2014

McIlroy Back To Earth After Cup Heroics Rory McIlroy suffered a Ryder Cup hangover as he struggled to an opening round of 73 in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday.

The world No 1, who helped Europe ease to victory over the United States last weekend, made one birdie and two bogeys at Carnoustie, one of the three Scottish courses hosting the tournament.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher, who lost both his matches at the Ryder Cup, found his form with a four-under-par 68, four shots behind leader Oliver Wilson of England.

Victorious Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley had to settle for a 72 on his return to action after masterminding the win over the United States at Gleneagles.

Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, who contributed 2½ points to Europe's victory as a rookie, opened with a 71, three shots better than another struggling

Alhaji Suleiman Gora is the president of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSC). He spoke to SALIFU USMAN on the recently concluded 8th Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics and development of scrabble in the country. Excerpts.

Mcilroy

Ryder Cup teammate, Martin Kaymer ofGermany.

Former British Open champion Padraig Harrington carded a 66 to climb to joint third place on the leaderboard, level with fellow Irishman Shane Lowry, one stroke behind Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and two adrift of Wilson.

The other two courses hosting the tournament are St Andrews and Kingsbarns.

Kimetto Sure Of Setting New Records Just a few years ago, Dennis Kimetto was working on his family's farm in Kenya's Rift Valley highlands, growing potatoes, maize and taking care of livestock.

He would watch from the fields as groups of runners sped by in their pursuit of international stardom, before an opening with a local training group set him on a course that on Sunday saw him smash the marathon world record and become the first man to break the 2hrs 03min barrier.

"I used to watch a lot of athletics on television, I was inspired," he told AFP, hours after returning home from Berlin to a hero's welcome.

Family hardship meant Kimetto had to drop out of school at 14 to help on the farm and at the local market, but he eventually struck up a conversation with Geoffrey Mutai – already one of the world's fastest road racers.

"I was invited to join the athletics training camp at Kapngetuny, which is only a few kilometres from my home," the quietly-spoken 30-year-old recalled. Through running with Mutai's group he gained access to running kit and shoes, which cost a small fortune in Kenya, and an overseas manager and agent.

Long-inspired by Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie and Kenyan Paul Tergat's epic 10 000m duel at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Kimetto threw himself into the group training regimen that – when coupled with their unique physiology – puts Kenya's runners on a level above the rest.

Living in humble dormitories, eating simple food – Kimetto recommends plenty of fruit, vegetables, fermented milk and ugali, the local maizeflour mash – and running huge

Scrabble Builds Youth Intellect For Development – Gora

Kimetto

training volumes of close to 250 kilometres (160 miles) a week, his talent soon became evident.

His first major win came in Nairobi's Half Marathon in 2011, and he went on to finish second behind mentor Mutai in the Berlin Marathon in 2012 – his 2:04.16 was the fastest debut in history.

Kimetto's performance was also notable because he represented a new breed of Kenyan road racers – who one coach has described as "turbo diesels" – who have no track pedigree, modest top-end speed yet have the speed endurance to excel on the roads.

In 2013 he won the Tokyo Marathon, setting a course record of 2:06.50, and then the 2013 Chicago Marathon, where he set another course record of 2:03.45.

On Sunday, on the fast-andflat Berlin course, he raised the bar even higher, taking 26 seconds off the marathon world record of his neighbour and training partner Wilson Kipsang.

His 2:02.57 also made him the first man to break the 2:03 barrier, and has again prompted fresh debate over whether a sub2 hour marathon may one day be possible.

What is your impression about the recently concluded 8th Godswill Akpabio International scrabble classics?

I feel elated because it was the first major tournament I would oversee since I assumed office as president of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSC). Though I had Lagos Classics, it wasn't of this magnitude because Akpabio Classics is the biggest scrabble tournament in the world as at today.

I feel honoured to be at the helm of affairs and see it conducted successfully. I thank God for His mercy and the support of the sponsor, our members, the media and other people that worked tirelessly for the past two to three months to make the event a huge success. It was keenly contested and for us as a country, it is good for our players who are now well prepared to face other African countries in the African Scrabble Championship (ASC) from 24th to 28th of this month in Cape Town, South Africa. From South Africa, we will proceed to London for the World Championship in November. So, you can see that it was a very good training opportunity for our players. They have proved themselves though the winner was not a Nigerian.

The winner was a world champion, Nigel Richards, who came here last year and he couldn't win, but went back home to prepare very well for this year's event and he won.

He is the best scrabble player the world has ever produced.

It was not surprising that he won considering his pedigree, composure and exposure as the best player in the world. Nigerian players fought well and gave him a run for his money. So, it was a well organised, attended and keenly contested tournament.

One of the highlights of this year’s edition was the inclusion of the underage players like the 8-year-old Angela, from Lagos State.

What is your take on this?

This is one of the things we have been saying to governments both at the

federal and state levels that we need to get to the youths and harness their potentials.

Scrabble is one of the things that take youths from all the evils we are facing today as a country. Apart from the fact Gora that it takes them away from evil and social vices, it also years. But we didn't know prepares them intellectually that they have developed. All for their development. That I know was that, the Kenyans girl, Angela you saw, when keep saying that Nigeria has she came preparing for the dominated Africa for quite a championship, I was shocked long time and the only people when a master player was who are close to Nigeria are playing and he had tags on the Kenyans. They have been his rat, but before he could doing all that is possible proceed to play the bingo, he within their power to catch was supposed to play, the girl up with Nigeria or even had already seen it. Out of surpass us. excitement that she knows This is a wakeup call for our the word, she quickly said it. master players to know that Secondly, she went to the in as much as they thought world championship in Dubai they know, others are also when she was not even up working hard to surpass to 8 years then and won her them. So, they need to work category. That goes to show harder to maintain our the level of development status as the best scrabble we are getting in terms of play nation in Africa. It is a scrabble in this country. The continuous learning process beauty of it is that we have a and you can't say you know lot youth championships in it all. the country now and we have also succeeded in establishing When will Nigeria host the youth academies with world championship? scrabble players as coaches We bided for the world under various schools across championship but the Ebola the country. Last year, we crisis was the only reason for had a similar thing and this our losing the bid. We had the year, we had it in Abuja best bid review, presentation and Lagos. Three months and prize money. The whole ago in Akwa Ibom, we had package was considered the first scrabble to school superb by the 11-man review championship where we had committee of WESPA. over 800 entries. When I went A lot of players who didn't to Thailand, I saw scrabble come for this year’s Godswill students in both primary and Apkabio International secondary schools playing Scrabble Classics because of scrabble. This is a country Ebola complained that they that hardly speaks English. may not be able to play in But, because of scrabble the world championship if it it is now easy for them to is taken to Nigeria. We had communicate in English and a letter from the WESPA they have mastered it and are chairman telling us that he now used to it. prays and hopes we will not be discouraged by the fact that Two Kenyan players put up the hosting right was given to marvellous performances Australia. He assured us that during the Akpabio by next year, when things Classics. Don’t you see might have stabilised and the that as a threat to Team fear of Ebola is completely Nigeria going to the African eradicated in Africa, he would Scrabble Championship? ensure that we get it if we It is good for us because endeavour to make another when you think that you have fresh bid. conquered Africa, you may I am very sure that in not too think nobody will challenge distant time, we will host the you again. The young men world scrabble championship you are talking about, we in Nigeria. We are not only have been playing together going to host, we will produce with them for the past 10 world champions.

news 61

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Ekiti 10sun Poll: Young Democratic Party Want Elections Quashed Over Omission

By Stanley Nkwocha, Abuja

The Young Democratic Party (YDP) has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and five others before the Federal High Court in Abuja over its omission in the just concluded elections in both Ekiti and Osun State elections.

In a suit with reference number FHC/ABJ/CS/709/14 instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the party, through its counsel, K.C Nwufo, SAN, sought a declaration by virtue of the provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly Section 78 (4), that the party (YDP) being a registered party had no reasons to be excluded by INEC. The YDP, among others, is seeking a declaration by virtue of extant laws that the INEC had no powers to ‘whatsoever exclude the applicant and its nominees/candidates in the conduct of any election in Nigeria especially the gubernatorial elections that took place in

Ekiti State on June 21, 2014 and in Osun State on August 9, 2014 and the gubernatorial election that will take place in Adamawa State on October 11, 2014.”

The YDP is further seeking a declaration “ that the 1st respondent (INEC) has no reason whatsoever to unduly exclude the applicant and its candidates from the general elections in 2015 by refusing to issue the applicant its certificate of registration whereas the applicant has been deemed duly registered by the operation of law, that is to say , Electoral Act 2010.

The YDP is seeking “An order of this honourable court nullifying the gubernatorial election held in Ekiti State on June 21, 2014 on the ground that the applicant was unduly excluded from the said elections.

“An order of this honourable court nullifying the gubernatorial election held in Osun State on August 9, 2014 on the ground that the applicant was unduly excluded.”

Taraba Acting Gov Tasks Citizens On Religious Tolerance

BY Andrew Ojih, Jalingo

The acting governor of Taraba State, Alh Umar Garba, has called on citizens of Taraba State to eschew religious differences and work towards the unity of the state in all ramifications.

He stated this when he commissioned the Jalingo branch of Bar Centre of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Garba commended the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Josephine Tukur, for donating a field for the building of the Bar Centre, adding that the action reflects the unity of purpose existing between the Bench and the Bar in the dispensation of justice in Taraba State.

Garba declared that his administration was committed to the equipping of the centre’s library

with relevant materials and commended the Bar over its renovation of a mosque at the centre.

“I have observed that the Bar went beyond just building a Bar Centre, but also went the extramile to renovate a nearby mosque that has been in existence. This is an excellent display of social responsibility by the Bar which is neither sectarian nor faith-based.

The Bar in Taraba State, just like our beloved Taraba State, is multiethnic and multi-religious. I sincerely look forward to when the Muslims would build places of worship for Christians and Christians would also build places of worship for Muslim. We must embrace love and unity as a state, nation and business group and professional ethos,” he said.

Witchcraft: Imo Community Deserted Over Killing Of 60-year-old Man

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Residents of Umube village in Ilile autonomous community of Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State are on the run following the killing of a 60-year-old man, David Umar, who was allegedly maimed and subsequently buried alive by angry youths who accused him of witchcraft.

The victim who was said to be abducted to a nearby bush by aggrieved youths who accused him of killing one Mr Celestine Ofurum, a prominent son of the community, was killed and buried in a shallow grave.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that inhabitants of the village were the incident occurred have deserted their homes for fear of pos-

sible reprisal attacks by relatives of the victim who have threatened to avenge his death.

However, when contacted, the Police PRO, Andrew Enwerem, said the victim was not buried alive as speculated but was tortured to death by the youths and buried in a shallow grave for allegedly using witchcraft powers to kill his younger brother.

“A group of youths abducted the victim, 60-year-old David Umar and took him to a nearby bush and tortured him to death for killing his younger brother through witchcraft. When the Police learnt about the incident, we quickly moved into action and recovered the corpse from where it was buried. Some useful arrests have been made and investigations are on,” he said.

L-R: Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Chief Of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah and others at the funeral service in honour of Brig. Gen. Benjamin Adekunle in Lagos, yesterday. Photo by nan

How 6-man Nigerian Gang Robbed Dubai BDC Of N13m

By Catherine Agbo with agency report

Facts have emerged about how a sixman Nigerian robbery gang allegedly attacked and robbed a money exchange in Ajman, a city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of the sum of Dh275,000 (approximately N13 million) in various foreign currencies.

According to UAE’s online newspaper, Gulf Today, five members of the six-man gang who have been arrested by the police, allegedly carried out the crime using toy guns.

The sixth gang member is currently on the run. The suspects entered the country on visit visas, which expired a long time ago and were staying in

the country illegally.

The robbery was reportedly carried out at Al Mustaqbal money exchange on Shaikh Rashid Bin Humaid Road in Ajman.

The suspects according to the report have confessed to their crimes and the case has been referred to the department of public prosecution for further action.

LEADERSHIP Weekend findings revealed that if found guilty of the crime after trial, the suspects may pay with their lives. According to Wikipedia, armed robbery is one of the five crimes that carry the death penalty according to the UAE law and no pardon can be given for the

crime.

According to the report published on the newspaper’s website, details of the robbery were announced by Deputy Chief of Ajman Police, Brigadier Shaikh Sultan Al Nuaimi and Director General of Criminal Investigation Department Ajman Police, Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Saif Al Matroushi, during a press conference held at the Ajman Police Headquarters.

Brigadier Al Nuaimi said the incident took place last week, when the six entered the exchange and assaulted employees, threatening them with a toy gun before taking all the cash on the premises and fleeing.

2015: We Must Stop Politics Of Ethnicity, Religion – Gen. Abdulsalami

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has asked Nigerians to rise against and above wrong politicking of religion and ethnicity that have taken over the politics of Nigeria. He called for politics based on decorum.

Gen Abdulsalami spoke with journalists after he was conferred with the Grand Honorary Foundation Fellow of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University, Lapai, by the vice chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo. He noted that

things are not good in the country as expected from the politicians.

Abdulsalami who was reacting to the question of whether he was satisfied with the conduct of politicians based on the fact that he gave Nigeria the democracy the country is enjoying today especially ahead of 2015 said “things are not as we expected them to be, I hope and pray that our politicians are learning but I hope they learn to rectify the problems before the 2015 elections”.

While stating that all Nigerians have a role to play for effec-

tive nation building, he bemoaned a situation whereby the politics is getting into ethnic and religious agenda.

“It is very sad now that whenever we are talking about politics, people bring in ethnicity and religion into the issue. We are all Nigerians regardless of our religion, so let us join hands together and build this country for the betterment of our children yet unborn,” he admonished.

“Every one of us has a role to play in maintaining making sure that there is peace,” he added.

More Adamawa Villages Annexed By Insurgents

BY MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Yola

Despite deployment of more soldiers to the northern part of Adamawa State, Boko Haram insurgents have continued to gain grounds as reports indicated that the insurgents have taken over more towns and villages.

Report from Garta, one of the villages overtaken by the insurgents said members of the sect started their onslaught on the villages by setting houses ablaze and killing trapped residents, mostly the aged and children.

A fleeing resident of the area who simply identified himself as Mr Bugi said the insurgents have destroyed many houses as they allegedly stole the belongings of the residents adding that reports reaching them indicated that major shops and business centres have been burgled and set ablaze.

“For now I can’t say the number of casualties as we are still in the bush and we learnt that the attackers just left the village this morning”, Bugi said. An unconfirmed report also indicated that the insurgents attacked Kuburshosho village

where they burnt the family house of former governor of the state and current minister of Youth Development, Mr Boni Haruna.

The insurgents however could not occupy Kamale, one of the neighbouring villages, as they could not cross the river adjoining the villages due to the increase in volume of the river as a result of torrential rainfall witnessed in the area recently.

Meanwhile, a former deputy governor of the defunct Gongola State, Barr David Barau, said over 10,000 of Higgi community indigenes have been displaced and facing hunger.

62 news eid el - kabir Leaders Must Make Sacrifices For Nigeria’s Progress – Saraki The former governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki has urged Nigerian leaders at all levels to reflect deeply on the theme of sacrifice and embrace the courage to deny selfish interests for the sake of Nigeria’s progress.

Saraki in his Sallah message to Nigerians said, “as we reflect on the symbolic reason behind this season, I oblige every one of us to reflect on the lessons’ of obedience, perseverance in total submission to the will of Almighty Allah as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son.”

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Saturday, October 4, 2014

2015: What I’m Considering Before Seeking Re-election–Jonathan Preaches against selfish political interest, sectional agenda at EidEl-Kabir

BY George Agba and Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday harped on the platform provided by the Eid-El-Kabir celebration to inform Nigerians of certain considerations he had been grappling with before yielding to calls by some Nigerians to contest the

2015 presidential poll.

“In deciding on an appropriate response to such calls, I will place the greater interests of national harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice and fairness above any personal ambition or sectional agenda”, he stated.

In his Sallah message to Nigerians contained in a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan enjoined pol-

iticians and other Nigerians to eschew personal interest and divisive sectional agenda in the the forthcoming 2015 general polls.

He thanked “the many individuals, stakeholders, groups, associations, non-governmental organizations, unions and political leaders from across the country” who, according to him “have, in recognition and appreciation of our efforts and commitment to repositioning our dear nation for more rapid growth

and development, urged me to seek a second term in office.”

Let’s Be Our Brothers’ Keeper, Mark Tells Nigerians The Senate President, Senator David Mark, has again reminded Nigerians of the necessity of maintaining a harmonious relationship with one another irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations.

This he said is the needed elixir for maintaining peace, unity and progress in the country.

short news

Yero Urges Muslims To Promote Peace, Unity Kaduna State governo,r Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Has called on all Muslims in the state and indeed the entire country to use the period of Edi-el-Kabir festival for the promotion of peaceful coexistence with adherents of other faiths.

In a goodwill message by his director-general on media and publicity, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki, the governor emphasized on the need for all Nigerians to forge greater unity at this critical point of the nation’s history saying “most Nigerians believe in the oneness of God either as Muslims or Christians.

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

Oshiomhole Preaches Sacrifice Governor Adams Oshiomhole has congratulated the Muslim community in Nigeria as they join their counterparts the world-over to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir. He urged them to imbibe the lessons of sacrifice which the festival signifies.

In a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, the governor said “I rejoice with our Muslim brothers and sisters on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration. On this occasion, I urge the Muslim faithful to remember that obedience to Allah and uprightness are some of the virtues of a true worshipper.

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

Fintiri Tasks Muslims On Peace The acting governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has tasked the entire Muslim Ummah on the need to be God fearing, peace loving and patriotic during this period of Ed-el-Kabir.

In a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Solomon Kumangar, which was made available to LEADERSHIP Weekend, the acting governor urged the Muslim community to follow the tenets of Islam. The statement reads in part, “while seeking Allah’s bounties, every citizen should pray for God’s intervention to bring an end to insurgency.”

By Pembi David-Stephen, Abuja

NACA Advocates Abstinence, Love The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), has urged faithful to reLivestock flect on the signifitraders at cance of the celebrathe ram tion and its lesson as market in Gwagwala- it relates to HIV/AIDS da, Abuja, prevention, treatyesterday. ment and care.

Photo by In a message to ogoh commemorate the joseph. celebration, the NACA director general, Prof John Idoko stated that if Nigerians obeyed the command of God, the HIV epidemic in

By Edegbe Odemwingie, Abuja, for love, caring, and promotion of es threatening her fledgling democNigeria would beGEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos and ALO ABIOLA, peace in line with the teachings of racy, especially the challenge to secome a thing of the ADO-EKITI Prophet Muhammad. curity. past, as pre-mariFayose Sues For Peace Fashola Preaches Harmonious The speaker of the House of Repre- Co-existence tal sex, extra-mariThe Ekiti State governor-elect, Dr sentatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tamtal affairs and casuAs Nigerian Muslims today join Ayodele Fayose, has urged Muslim buwal, has urged leaders at all lev- their counterparts worldwide to cele- faithful and non-Muslims in Nigeal sex among people, els to make necessary sacrifices that brate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, the La- ria to embrace peace and the spirespecially the young would enhance unity and national gos State governor, Mr Babatunde it of brotherliness as they celebrate ones, will not be encohesion. couraged.

Fashola, has urged Nigerians to re- Eid-el-Kabir festival.

According to him, the period of turn to the values of peaceful co-exBy Winifred OgWhile noting that Islam was a reEid-el-Kabir provides a new oppor- istence, brotherly love and personal ligion that laid much emphasis on bebo, Abuja tunity to show love and compassion and environmental hygiene. peace, Fayose said, “I am seizing this especially for the less privileged.

Baraje Charges In his goodwill message signed by holy period of celebration to call on In his Sallah message issued in his special adviser on Media, Mr Ha- all Nigerians, Muslims, Christians Muslims On Peace Abuja by his special adviser on me- keem Bello, Fashola said the nation and other faiths, to allow peace to A Chieftain of the All dia and public affairs, Malam Imam needs brotherly love and harmoni- reign. There is no way progress and Progressives Congress, Imam, Tambuwal urged Muslim ous co-existence among her citizens development can be the lot of any naAlhaji Kawu Baraje, faithful and indeed all Nigerians to to overcome the numerous challeng- tion that is devoid of peace,” he said. has appealed to Musview the Sallah celebration as a call lims in the country to seek peace, strengthen their faith in Allah and be submissive to

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo, Igho Oyoyo, Abuja for the country to move forward, add- residents of the territory, urged the Mus- His instructions. ing that now is the time to contribute lims to use the occasion to reflect on the Speaking on the The governor of the State of Osun, Og- their quota to its progress so as for all lessons of the festival and the teachings significance of slaughbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has called on Mus- and sundry to benefit from a prosper- of the doctrine of Islamic faith, which tering rams after the lims to use the Sallah period to reflect ous nation. are premised on sacrifice and peace re- two congregational on the state of the nation. Quoting the Use Salah To Pray For 2015 Elec- spectively. He enjoined the residents to prayers, he appealed tradition of the Holy Prophet Muham- tions – FCT Minister pray for the nation to overcome its cur- to people that are camad which said ‘the love of one’s nation The minister of the Federal Capital rent security challenges in some parts pable of doing so to is part of one’s belief,’ the governor said Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, of the country as well as the successful do it as a divine direcNigerians must resolve on how to move has urged Muslim faithful in the coun- conduct of the forthcoming general elec- tive from Allah and the nation of out its current multifarious try to use the occasion of this year’s Eid- tions and to continue to support the fed- Sunnah of Prophet challenges and take it to a greater height. el Kabir to pray for the successful con- eral government in its desire to make the Muhammad.

He said both the leaders and the duct of the 2015 elections. general elections free and fair through- By Abdullahi Oleled have a task that must be performed The minister in a Sallah message to out the country. sin, Ilorin

Tambuwal Calls For Unity, National Cohesion

Aregbesola Tasks Muslims On Nation Building

news 63

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Court Frees AIT Reporter As SNC Calls For Mbu’s Sack 2015: Nigeria Needs

BY Kunle Olasanmi and Ruth Tene Natsa , Abuja

A Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja has discharged the Africa independent Television (AIT) journalist, Amaechi Anakwe, who was arrested on Thursday on the order of AIG in charge of Zone 7, Joseph Mbu, over an allegation of defamation of character.

When the matter was called yesterday, the defence counsel, John Kalu, urged the court to oblige him a copy of the first information to enable him know the offence Amaechi

was being charged for.

Prosecution counsel, Chijoke Okezie, in an oral application told the court that the plaintiff had withdrawn the case and that the accused person was brought to his office for further clarification.

The application was not opposed by the defence counsel, rather, he begged the court for an order preventing the plaintiff or its privies from further harassing or arresting Amaechi.

In a short ruling delivered by the Chief Magistrate, Anthony Ogboi, the court discharged the accused.

Meanwhile, a coalition of activists on the platform of the “Say No Campaign” has called for the sack of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Joseph Mbu, for the unlawful detention of Amaechi Anakwe The coalition said the unlawful detention of the journalist who was doing his job and speaking for the benefit of democracy is “abuse of power on the parts of security agencies whose sole responsibility is to protect its citizens.”

Speaking with journalists yesterday at a media briefing organised by the SNC in Abuja, the co-convener,

Ezenwa Nwegbu said they were disturbed by the various acts of impunity carried about by various government bodies and people in power without any form of repercussions saying “no lessons have been learnt from the unfortunate inhuman and ultimately fatal commercialisation of recruitment into the National Immigration Service (NIS) on March 15, 2014.”

Mr Ezenwa also decried “the silence of the National Assembly over the seizure of $9.3m by the South African Government ferried in a private jet to the country”.

short news Lawmaker’s Mum: Kidnappers Demand 50 million Ransom Kidnappers of the mother of Ogun Assembly member, Hon Remmy Hassan, have made a ransom demand of N50m.

According to the lawmaker, the abductors contacted him on Thursday and made the demand.

“The kidnappers contacted me on phone at 5:25pm on Thursday, to make the demand”, he said.

Mrs Hassan was kidnapped on Wednesday at about 8:30pm from her residence in Omu Ijebu in Odogbolu local government area of Ogun State.

Hon Hassan said the kidnappers initially contacted his younger brother and told him that they wanted to speak with his elder brother and negotiate with him.

Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta

Prayers To Survive – Women Clergies

Women Pastors in Nigeria under the auspices of Nigerian Women in Clergy have said Nigeria needs serious intercession for the country to survive the challenges of the 2015 general elections. They said the nation is at a crossroad and that the power tussle for 2015 presidency is more of spiritual than political.

In a press statement jointly signed by WIC president, Prophetess Nonnie Roberson and the vice president, Pastor (Barr) Rose Mary Archibong, the women also admonished Nigerians to thread the path of caution by allowing God to judge the cases that have to do with Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other men of God, instead of dragging the body of Christ to the mud.

According to the women in clergy, the body of Christ is under attack physically and spiritually world-wide and Nigerians must focus on the issue at hand as in a few months, the elections would come up. And those who will assume leadership will directly rule and decide on Nigerians’ faith for the next 4 years.

The statement read, “This is the time for the watch-men to arise and take the battle spiritually. It is time to seek the face of God, know his choice and back it up in prayers, ensuring no wrong person takes the sceptre.

By Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

L-R: African Independent Television (AIT) presenter cum correspondent, Mr Amaechi Anakwe, accused of referring to an AIG of Police as ‘controversial’ and his counsel, Barr Nwoke John Kalu, after he was discharged at the Wuse Zone II Magistrates’ Court Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

Why I Ended My Marriage – Ini Edo

BY Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Popular Nollywood actress, Ini Edo has confirmed rumours that her marriage to her US-based husband, Philip Ehiagwina, has broken up.

The couple got married in November 2008 at a ceremony held in Houston, Texas, USA. But contrary to the rumour that her husband had opted out of the marriage and demanded a refund of the dowry paid on her from her parents, which had already been refunded, citing allegations of infidelity, the actress said she it was who actually asked her exhusband for a divorce.

She cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for her action.

The young thespian who has made a mark in the nation’s movie industry, with over 50 flicks to her credit, took to her twitter page Thursday October 2, where she cleared the air on the rumour.

“I asked for a divorce from my exhusband cos of lots of irreconcilable differences. I never cheated on my husband. There is a conscious n malicious attempt at tarnishing my image. This whole saga is familiar let’s not forget de past. Thanks n God bless,” she said on her twitter account in two separate tweets.

Expectedly, the news of the divorce has elicited reactions from fans of the actress who has a huge fan base, boasting over 300,000 twitter followers.

Some of her fans are asking if she will change her handle, @Ini4phil, Phil being the short form of her ex-husband’s name Philip. One of her followers, Alpacino, tweeting from the handle, @Alpacino_Jay asked, “as una don divorce, are you changing your handle or nah?”

Some other fans maintained that she owed no one any explanation and her reason for opting out of the marriage was no one’s business. Tweeting from the handle, @Its_Lacute, one Lacute H. said, “dear Ini Edo you do not and i repeat, you do not owe anyone any explaination about your private life.

Whether u cheated or not... its really none of our business, its between u and ur hubby. Stop the defense explanation and live your life abeg.”

Bayelsa: Gunmen Kidnap 64-year-old Brother Of Monarch

By OSA Okhomina, Yenagoa

Armed men yesterday abducted 64-year-old Engr Mozilla Agara, a former staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the younger brother to the paramount ruler of Kolokuma Kingdom in Koklokuma/Opokuma local government council area of Bayelsa State.

The abducted Engr Agara is the younger brother of the Ibedaowei (King) of Kolokuma Kingdom King Mozi Anya Agara.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the gunmen, numbering about five, disguised as respectable politicians and stormed his residence in Olobiri and whisked him away to an unknown location.

A relative of the victim, Am-

aran Suoyo, who confirmed the incident, said the victim’s vehicle was later found abandoned at Odi area of the local government council.

When contacted on the incident, the Police public relations officer in the state, DSP Akighbe Alex, said the men of the police force, acting on a tip-off, chased the kidnappers to the Odi water-

front where the gunmen escaped through a waiting speed boat.

Akhigbe said the vehicles used by the gunmen had been recovered by the police.

The Bayelsa Police spokesperson assured that investigations have commenced, adding that the police have swung into action to rescue the victim and bring the perpetrators to book.

2015: Why We Prefer Buhari As President – S’South, S’East Youths Youths from the South-South and South-East geo-political zones of the country have said they prefer General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to be elected as president in 2015, than to support the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from the South-South zone. Buhari is a former Head of State and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The youths under the auspices of Team GMB, insisted that President Jonathan, who is the sole presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general elections, is part of the group of leaders that have failed in their promises to Nigerians since 1999.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt, the coordinator of Team GMB, Chapp Jumbo Jonathan, urged Nigerians not to make mistakes in the forthcoming general election, saying that the 2015 election is about credible and responsible change in the country’s leadership.

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

64 news across the states

Plateau: 12 Killed By Suspected Fulani Gunmen

By ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

About 12 people were killed in four villages of Bachit district of Riyom local government council of Plateau State by people suspected to be Fulani armed men.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the family house of the late Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantong who was also killed in 2012 by suspected Fulani gunmen was burnt down by the killer gunmen and his father and other family members narrowly escaped.

Recalle that Senator Dantong who represented Plateau north senatorial district at the National Assembly and Hon Gyang Fulani, majority leader of the Plateau

State House of Assembly lost their lives when they went to attend a mass burial of their people killed by suspected Fulani armed men.

Our correspondent further gathered that about three vehicles; one belonging to the late senator's younger brother and several houses were also burnt by the rampaging gunmen in the area.

Confirming the development to LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday in Jos, the member representing Riyom State constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly and majority leader, Hon Daniel Dem said 12 people were killed by the attackers as more corpses were discovered in some nearby bushes in the area.

Sallah: ACF Urges Security Operatives To Dislodge Insurgents

By ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

As the nation celebrates Eid-elKabir, the apex northern sociocultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday applauded the gallant efforts of the Nigerian security forces in combating the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East but called on them to sustain the onslaught to dislodge

the terrorists from the occupied territories of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

ACF in its Sallah message signed by its national publicity secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, also called on the insurgents to heed the call

by President Goodluck Jonathan in his anniversary broadcast to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

New Boko Haram Video Shows Beheading Of Nigeria Pilot – AP Military urges Nigerians not to despair

By BAyO OlAdEJI, Abuja with agency report

Boko Haram, the extremist Islamic group in Nigeria, has published a video that shows a charred plane wreckage and the beheading of a man identified as a pilot of a missing Nigerian Air Force jet, bolstering the group's claims that it shot down a fighter plane.

The video also allegedly features Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, a man Nigeria's military twice has claimed to kill – first in 2009 and again last year. Two weeks ago the military said they had killed a Shekau lookalike who had posed in the group's videos.

"Here I am, alive, and I will remain alive until the day Allah takes away my breath," the man said in the Hausa language. "Even if you kill me ... it will not stop us imposing Islamic rule ... We are still in our Islamic State, reigning and teaching the Quran."

The United States still has a $7 million bounty on Shekau's head. The video was made available to The Associated Press through the same channels used

previously and seems to show the same man. Nigeria's Defense Headquarters suggested in a blog that the insurgents had manipulated images and cloned "another Shekau."

In the video, the man identified as Shekau said Boko Haram is implementing a strict Shariah law in northeast Nigeria under its control. Examples were shown, including the stoning to death of a man apparently accused of adultery; the amputation of the hand of a young man accused of theft; the lashings of a man and what appears to be a girl covered in a hijab.

The video ended with the show ing of burnt plane parts in a rugged bush. Two pilots and an Alpha jet have been missing since September 11 when it left the northeastern town of Yola on a bombing mission against Boko Haram.

The video shows a kneeling man in a camouflage vest with his right hand in a sling, with a fighter hovering over him with an axe which was later used in the beheading.

Speaking in English, the victim identified himself as a wing commander in the Nigerian

Air Force and said he was undertaking a mission in Kauri area of northeast Borno State.

"We were shot down and our aircraft crashed. To this day, I don't know the whereabouts of my second pilot," he said.

The insurgents have stolen military hardware from Nigerian forces, probably including antiaircraft weapons.

However, the Nigerian military has shrugged-off the purported beheading of a pilot in a video currently trending in cyberspace as a common antic of terrorists to show extreme violent acts to demoralise citizens.

In a tweet by the director of defence information, Major General Chris Olukolade, the military declared that the act would not deter troops from comprehensively routing terrorists from their hideouts.

The military assured Nigerians that no level or amount of barbaric display of bestial atrocities would distract the Nigerian military from sustaining the tempo of on-going operations to decimate, degrade and bring the remnants of the terrorists already in disarray to justice.

CELEBRATING BAZE UNIVERSITY’S Baze University, a world class private university in Abuja holds its first graduation ceremony on Saturday October 11, 2014.

FIRST GRADUATION CEREMONY

The visioner and Pro-chancellor, Senator Baba Datti Ahmed Phd, invites friends and well-wishers to witness the making of history.

LEADERSHIP, the official newspaper of the university, will publish a special pull-out on the landmark achievements and defining impact of the school.

It’s an inevitable platform for your adverts and congratulatory messages!

www.bazeuniversity.edu.ng

Please contact the following numbers for adverts placement:

HENRY on 08068640944 e-mail: henro101@yahoo.com MR. IBE REGINALD on 08037880164 e-mail: ibereginald@yahoo.com

YOU CAN’T BEAT THIS!

65

weekend politics Saturday, October 4, 2014

Politics Editor Weeklies: UCHENNA Awom

Intrigues Of PDP’s Move To Reconcile Govs And Predecessors As the National Integration Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gets to work, it is yet to be seen how it would handle the lingering friction between former governors and incumbent governors elected on the platform of the party. Chibuzo Ukaibe writes on the intrigues.

T top on the minds of the party leadership is the resolution of the simmering face-off between the incumbent governors of the PDP and class of 1999-2007 governors of the party who are desirous of returning to the party’s mainstream

he setup of the National Integration and Reconciliation committee by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was instructive and strategic, particularly for a party that often prides itself for the ability to resolve thorny issues within its flanks.

But the long strained relationship between past and incumbent PDP governors in states it controls ahead of an intense election in 2015, provides a fresh and delicate challenge for the leadership of the party.

The national chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, while inaugurating the National Integration Committee, headed by PDP board of trustees chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, postulated that the committee would see to repositioning of the PDP “so that it remains the party to beat ahead of the 2015 general elections.”

The terms of reference of the committee include: to reach out to all estranged members of the party and resolve issues affecting them; work out a harmonious re-union between subsisting members and new or estranged members

in a synergic engagement; mobilise new members to join the party as well as obtain the buy-in and commitment of old members to become advocates of the party’s vision.

Other chairmen in the committee are Senator David Mark (South West); Sen. Ahmadu Alli (South East); Prof. Iya Abubakar (South South); Dr Bello Aliero (North Central) and Sen. Ken Nnamani (North East).

Underscoring the import of the assignment, Mu’azu charged the committee thus: “You have been assembled as great party leaders with great party spirit; men and women of high strength of character who, by your wealth of experience, are well-equipped and disposed to create value, add value and protect values within the PDP family.”

But party insiders posit that as much as the membership drive and poise to reposition the party is crucial, top on the minds of the party leadership is the resolution of the simmering face-off between the incumbent governors of the PDP and class of 19992007 governors of the party who are desirous of returning to the party’s mainstream.

The thorny rivalry between the incumbent governors and their predecessors

Muazu

(which soured in some cases immediately after 2007 and in other cases at the turn of 2010) has lingered on, which is ironic, considering that the baton of governorship was passed to the serving governors by these set of former governors.

Naturally, incumbent

governors sit pretty at the helm of the party, dominating the political space in the states and in most cases stretching to the federal level, on account of the crucial role they play in ensuring the PDP retains the presidency.

But party watchers, like Micheal Obiekwe, observe

66

This Week On Backlash

Questions over early campaigning have been reverberating, given the heavy advertorials and messaging as seen in rallies and seminars by supporters of political parties. The activities of groups have heightened the debate over the appropriateness of their actions with regards to commencement of campaigns much earlier than the 90 days stipulated by the Electoral Act (2010), as amended. The chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Tanko Yinusa, which embodies 25 political parties in the country, believes its about time stiff sanctions are slammed for such activities which he describes as third party campaigns but countering his claims, national coordinator, Goodluck Initiative For Transformation (GIFT 2015) Engr. Chinedu Okpalanma, sees the scenario differently.

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66 weekend politics

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Backlash

Third Party Campaigners Flouting Electoral Laws on Early Campaigns - Dr Yinusa

‘’A number of political parties have started campaigning using the third party group in violation of the Electoral Act that provides a 90 day window before elections’’

C

hairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Tanko Yinusa, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sanction what he describes as illegal third-party election campaigns by political groups in order to stop its escalation in the polity.

He argued that the actions of political parties that use third parties to campaign are against the letters of the Electoral Act. Yinusa while speaking at the quarterly meeting of INEC and registered political parties in Abuja condemned the new system of campaign whereby political parties use third party machinery to carry out campaigns.

He also lamented that senior government officials in power are behind the violation of the electoral guidelines, which he explained stipulates that election campaign must start 90 days before the election.

Dr. Tanko alleged that a number of political parties had started illegal campaigns using rallies, processions, fund raising activities and public advertisement on land, air and waterways.

He also alleged that such parties were using public places to display posters, billboards and handbills to canvass for certain candidates before the 90 day window to the general elections as provided by law.

He said, ‘’A number of political parties have started campaigning using the third party group in violation of the Electoral Act that provides a 90 day window before elections’’.

He added, ‘’High public servants are seen on the rostrum making speeches while INEC watches helplessly. INEC must call them to order,” he said.

Dr. Yunusa therefore called on INEC to wake up to its responsibilities and put an immediate end to third party campaigning.

Yinusa

Intrigues Of PDP’s Move To Reconcile Govs And Predecessors 65

that it is no fault of the governors that they wield such influence. “The way the party is structured recognises governors as leaders of the party in the state just as it recognises the president of the country as the leader of the party in the country, projecting them as the final authorities in their sphere of dominance,” he said.

But at the heart of the long battle is the scramble for political hegemony and the soul of the party in each of the states, which emerged with the moves made by incumbent governors trying to step out of the shadows of their predecessors who, in most cases, single-handedly ensured their emergence into office.

As it stands, the political friction between governors and their predecessors is more intense in states like Abia, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Plateau, Ebonyi; while in other states like Kebbi, Jigawa, Cross Rivers, Niger, there is a silent yet measurable distance maintained between

incumbent governors and their predecessors.

While Bauchi State appears to have so far sidestepped the traditional squabble between an incumbent governor and national chairman of the PDP, states like Bayelsa, Kaduna, who have the president and vice president, respectively, as former governors have followed in the path designed by the predecessors. In Kogi State the romance still blossoms while Taraba faces a different scenario with the internal wranglings, after the accident of the substantive governor.

Governors of Katsina, Benue, Gombe, Adamawa, Delta are spared these concerns as their predecessors have either defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), serving time abroad or passed on.

But as the integration committee sets out to do its work, in some of the states visited so far, incumbent governors have given a rather cold reception to the committee.

But this was expected it would seem. With the emergence of Dr Adamu Mu’azu as national chairman of the PDP, a member of the 1999-2007 set of governors, there was little doubt that his mates would see him as a rallying point for their return to the party.

For the incumbent governors, who had a more pronounced fight with their predecessors, they vehemently expressed their objection (during their solidarity visits to the new chairman, Mu’azu) to the planned return of their predecessors to the mainstream of the party, particularly at the state level, referring to them in certain instances as “viruses”.

Specifically, the chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) and Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, had while expressing the desire of the governors to cooperate with the national chairman, however urged the new national chairman to recognise the governors as party leaders at state levels

while the president remains the party leader at the national level.

Assurances by Mu’azu that the party was big enough for all of them, didn’t sway the incumbent governors, who were not ready to shift ground.

For instance, Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, reportedly gave a cold reception to the committee on grounds that the state party is not ready to admit new members, in spite of the insistence by his predecessor, Sen. Joshua Dariye, in a chat with LEADERSHIP, that he is bent on returning to the party and no one can stop him.

In Abia State the back and forth between Gov. Theodore Orji and his predecessor, Orji Uzor Kalu assumed new levels despite the emergence of the committee. Kalu, who has repeatedly declared his membership of the PDP, despite the steady resistance by the party in the state led

by Orji, was not able to attend ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 67

At the heart of the long battle is the scramble for political hegemony and the soul of the party in each of the states

weekend politics 67

Saturday, October 4, 2014

the lashback

We Have Not Flouted Any Laws – Engr. Okpalanma

N “We have never held programmes or made representations via posters or television adverts asking people to vote for the president in 2015

ational coordinator, Goodluck Initiative For Transformation (GIFT 2015) Engr. Chinedu Okpalanma, has however insisted that the activities of most groups have not flouted the provisions of the Electoral Act with regards to early campaigning, noting that as responsible organisations, they are fully aware of the electoral laws and provisions for political campaigns.

Engr. Okpalanma, who said he could speak for most of the groups, noted that they have never held programmes or made representations via posters or television adverts asking people to vote for the president in 2015.

He said, “In all our programmes, we have been careful about the messages we push out. If you remember well, we were the first organisation that came out to agitate as far back as march this year for our president to run in 2015, and that has been our message since, with the 682 groups and or-

ganisations registered under us.

“We have never held programmes or made representations via posters or television adverts asking people to vote for the president in 2015.

“All we do is support this administration, highlight the achievements of the transformation agenda, show the world the massive support Nigerians have for what he’s doing, and use it as a yardstick to call on the president to please declare to run in 2015. Besides, how can people be campaigning for someone who has not even declared that he is running for an office yet? We are merely expressing our wishes that Nigerians want him in office again in 2015, and we will continue to do that until he declares.

“The moment he does, then the dynamics will change because then anything we do after that becomes a campaign for his candidacy. We will then go back to underground sensitisation until such a time that it becomes legal to officially launch our campaigns for his

Okpalanma

Intrigues Of PDP’s Move To Reconcile Govs And Predecessors ➔ FROM PAGE 66

the committee’s session when it visited the state as he was out of the country.

But Jang, Orji, their Enugu and Ebonyi States counterparts, Sullivan Chime and Martins Elechi, respectively were absent at the inauguration of the committee, perhaps a subtle objection to the reconciliation idea some party members aver.

Perhaps, the threat the former governors could pose to the continued dominance of the incumbent governors was quite instructive.

Still, Mu’azu would readily want to show that with the scenario in Bauchi State, it is possible to have a former governor back in the mainstream of the party (even at the state) and alongside the incumbent governor the party can still function, with both parties understanding the rules of engagement.

Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda had endorsed Mu’azu

as PDP national chairman at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, after they had had a bitter face-off.

Yet, Mu’azu has never pretended not to recognise the importance of the governors as he has promised not do anything to jeopardise their control of party structures in their states.

Nevertheless, the challenge for Mu’azu’s leadership is to ensure that the reconciliation process does not pose a threat to the 2015 chances of the party.

President Goodluck Jonathan, himself a former governor, had upon the emergence of Mu’azu, attributed his choice as national chairman of PDP to Mu’azu’s ability to build bridges, still there is no telling how far the president would back a move that may upset the governors who are very crucial to 2015 chances of the party.

Jonathan said of Mu’azu, “We needed someone who can build the party, who can reach

out to the people and who is friendly with the people.

Someone who can bring the party together, someone who can build bridges.

“I knew you as a governor and I can say to some extent that I know you. We need somebody who can build the party and who would not resort to fighting every time.”

But Jonathan underscored the import of having a fractured house going into elections.

He tasked Mu’azu to reduce the tension among PDP members, saying it was not easy deciding on him as the party chairman, because many of the party’s governors did not want the next chairman to come from their states, in order to reduce friction between them and the chairman, as had happened previously.

Clearly, the incumbent governors are not ready to accommodate any potential threats to their territory, like the ones they perceive in their predecessors. This is more so that the governors are poised

to ensure their candidates succeed them in office.

For those heading to hibernate in the senate, they wouldn’t want the hassle of facing any opposition as they already have serving senators to contend with.

Yet, it is hard to assume that the former governors will be able to resist the pull to enter the mainstream; a challenge the party national leadership will have to deal with if the reconciliation project succeeds.

Moreover, how much threat the former governors can pose to the PDP in the states, particulary when they join forces with a relatively more streamlined All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to be seen.

In any case as the party waits for the committee to be done with its assignment, following the three week mandate it was given, the outcome of the process, if well managed, holds a lot of promise just as it could spell disaster if the aura of suspicion is not dispeled.

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October 4, 2014

Quitting Smoking: Combating The Menace of Withdrawal Symptoms Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health but many addicts are often blamed for lacking the willpower to overcome their addictive behaviours. However, in quitting smoking, some people suffer smoking withdrawals symptoms which basically can feel so horrible, while for others withdrawals don’t feel so bad.

The salient point you need to know here is that, nicotine is a stimulant, it keeps your brain alert and your body is now learning how to stay alert without smoking. In this piece TUNDE OGUNTOLA writes on how to manage smoking withdrawal symptoms as they really don’t last forever.

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uitting smoking can be difficult but reminding yourself why you’re undertaking such a challenge can prove extremely useful.

Many people know that smoking can cause lung cancer but few realise it can also cause cancers of the mouth, voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), esophagus, breast, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, and colon.

The dangers of smoking in men have been associated with decreased sperm count and abnormal sperm morphology, motility and fertilising ability, while women who

Did you know?

are exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy have 20 per cent higher odds of giving birth to a low birth weight baby than women who are not exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy.

According a medical practitioner, Dr Adegboyega Johnson, “the best thing you can do to your health is quitting smoking.

Mothers who smoke put their children at an increased risk of SIDS and colic and women over 35 who smoke and use birth control pills are a higher-risk group for heart attack, stroke, and blood clots of the legs.’’ ‘’Most of the physical symptoms and feelings that result from quitting nicotine is that overtime, more and more nicotine is required to produce those old feelings and when the body doesn’t receive the nicotine it craves, then uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can set in. These typically include intense craving for nicotine, tension, irritability, headaches, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness and trouble sleeping, increased appetite and weight gain,’’ he explained.

He added that smoking increases the risk of heart attack, thyroid disease, blindness, impotence, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis and more superficial problems, like wrinkling of the skin, bad breath, and yellow fingernails and hair.

Sun rays can burn even through thick glass and under water. Up to 35 per cent of UVB rays and 85 percent of UVA rays penetrate thick glass while 50 per cent of UVB rays and 77 per cent of UVA

Speaking to an ex-smoker, who is a civil servant in Abuja, the man who craved anonymity, said, “at first, I was having a breathing problem and difficulty sleeping, then a friend of mine who is a traditional doctor advised me to constantly drink warm water. Just after a week, I got better and happy.”

Experts opine that almost all smokers who quit suffer some form of nicotine withdrawal and it’s generally more intense for people who have used tobacco for a long time. Luckily, the discomfort of withdrawal is often short-lived.

Perhaps, if you’re not interested in using nicotine replacements or other medications during withdrawal, some experts say that acupuncture, hypnosis, yoga or meditation have helped them quit. As for the issue of gaining weight, think about ways to include physical activity in your daily routine and pay extra attention to eating healthy meals and snacks. Overall, a few extra pounds put on while quitting are less harmful than continuing to smoke.

Scientists however advise that it might be helpful at least in the beginning, to keep these suggestions in mind when thinking of quitting smoking: • Avoid people and places where you are tempted to smoke. This may mean taking a different route to work or school or going for

rays penetrate a meter of water and wet cotton clothing. Which means you’ll need sunscreen while driving your car on holiday and water resistant block if you’re swimming.

a walk at breaks instead of going to the area where people smoke.

• Replace cigarettes with oral substitutes such as sugar-free gum, carrot or celery sticks or sunflower seeds and drinking warm water.

• Exercise more, which can help you reduce stress and avoid weight gain.

• Delay. If you feel that you are about to light up, tell yourself you must wait at least 10 minutes. Often this simple trick will allow you to move beyond the strong urge to smoke.

• Breathe deeply. When you were smoking, you breathed deeply as you took a drag. When the urge strikes now, breathe deeply and picture your lungs filling with fresh, clean air and remind yourself of your reasons for quitting.

The good news is that in one to nine months after quitting smoking, food tastes better and your sense of smell returns to normal.

Ordinary activities such as climbing stairs and housework no longer leave you out of breath. Coughing and shortness of breath decrease, regaining normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs and reduce the risk of infection. And one year after quitting, the excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Jonas Agwu Road Safety Column 08077690055 122 FRSC Toll-free emergency number jonasagwu@yahoo.com

The Ten Commandments CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

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he report also showed that drivers making hand free calls had slower reaction times than those who were slightly over the drink limit. This case is similar to the incident in Abuja, except that no life was lost and nobody jailed although the Act cited above in section 20 now provides a 7-year jail term for anyone who causes death by dangerous or reckless driving.

In the United Kingdom, around 30 death on the roads each year are linked to mobile phone use even though the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPS) believes this is “just the tip of the iceberg” because so few drivers admit to using mobile phones when they cause crashes. Back home, the scenario is not different. However, statistics available to the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos Sector Command indicate that in year 2008, a total of over 372 offenders were arrested for driving and phoning. As at December 22,

2009 the figure was 381. Under the new FRSC Regulation it is now illegal not to report an accident. It is hoped this would improve date collection with respect to crashes caused by phoning and driving.

Ninth Commandments: Thou shall familiarise thyself with road signs What do you think of road signage on Nigerian roads? Inadequate? Bastardized by hawkers, villagers? Do you know that some drivers are ignorant about road signs? Do you also know that a good number are conversant with these signage’s but have developed a non challant attitude towards these signs.It is important that you obey these signs always to avoid possible crashes or arrest What did you think about transportation safety generally? Well, reflect on America’s assessment of safety and transportation in Nigeria – Safety of public transportation: poor, Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: poor Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance : poor Availability.

The Demon Of Ember

Last year Ember month’s recorded avoidable crashes and deaths

It is about five weeks now since the Ember months started. I don’t know what your experience has been like. I don’t know if you have been following my write up in the last month. I don’t also know if you did read my piece on the Ten Commandments. If you didn’t, I suggest you kindly do because I have chosen to treat some of the issues differently today with a heading that I borrowed from my editor, hoping that the choice will trigger you to read and hopefully take corrections. Last year’s Ember month’s recorded avoidable crashes and deaths.

There were deaths last year and there would still be deaths this year.So would be injuries with some maimed for life, unless we do something drastically different like is being done with the Ebola virus.These would be the scenario inspite of the numerous initiatives introduced by the Federal Road Safety Corps for 2014, especially with a theme that should remind us of our various responsibilities in keeping the death rates at bay. The theme, ‘Road Safety is a Shared Responsibility: It depends on you’ was deliberately

chosen to awaken our consciousness on the road dangers.

This is why I have chosen to remind you that within this period,there would be all kinds of vehicles; rickety, sound; all kinds of drivers, licensed, learners, drunk, sane and insane.Vehicular and human traffic would increase as motorists fight the urge to team up with families to savour the joy of the season.

Road violation or better put,bad driving habit would be on the increase leading to avoidable crashes. All this would happen because in every road crash, the predominant factor is the human behavior. Human behaviour makes a direct contribution to crash risk, through the knowledge and understanding of traffic systems, driver experience and skill and the relationship between risk and factors such as speed choice and alcohol consumptions .The road, the weather and the vehicle will no doubt play their roles too.

To some, the Ember months are jinxed as too many road traffic crashes occur. Too many deaths.

Too many injuries.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

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04.10.14

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FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

No. 452 N300

The Weekend Column Capt Daniel Omale

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It is not that EADS doubts the market potential for such an aircraft or has reservations about its competing against existing aircraft in its portfolio.

But even if the financing seems feasible, engineering resources could cause a problem

urboprop manufacturer ATR has rebounded remarkably after its near-demise more than a decade ago. Now it is keen to take the next step and build a 90seat turboprop aircraft, but one of its shareholders is balking.

Launching the proposed 90-seater is of “fundamental importance” to ATR, CEO Filippo Bagnato says.

“We have been able to sell more than 800 aircraft since the launch of the [upgraded ATR 42 and 72] -600 versions. The market pays attention to manufacturers that renew their aircraft.”

Technical details and a business plan for the 90-seat turboprop were developed and submitted to ATR shareholders Finmeccanica and EADS (50/50 shareholders in the joint venture) at the end of last year.

Now ATR is waiting for approval of what it estimates to be a $2billion project. Finmeccanica is in favour of ATR’s plans, in spite of its own woes. “If EADS is not interested in developing the aircraft with us, we will find alternatives,” Guiseppe Giordo, CEO of Finmeccanica’s civil aircraft subsidiary Aienia Aermacchi, says. “There is a huge market potential for a turboprop larger than the ATR 72.”

It is not that EADS doubts the market potential for such an aircraft or has reservations about its competing against existing aircraft in its portfolio. But even if the financing seems feasible, engineering resources could cause a problem. Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier has made clear internally that he cannot devote hundreds of aerospace engineers to the regional affiliate at this time.

Because it has not developed a totally new aircraft in almost 30 years, ATR would have to rely on external engineering resources, to a large extent, for what would likely be a multi-year development cycle.

External in this case means drawing on Airbus and Alenia engineering know-how.

And that is where things become difficult; Airbus does not want to be distracted from its higher-strategicvalue projects, namely the stretched

Conflict Of Interest: Atr And Eads daniel@leadership.ng

A350-1000 and the A320NEO. These aircraft are arguably derivatives of platforms that already exist. But in light of a painful experience, Bregier has followed a culture of caution at Airbus that emphasises fully clearing one set of milestones before tackling the next. This was the approach of his predecessor, Tom Enders, who postponed the launch of the NEO until he was sure Airbus would have enough engineers to deal with the work. He agreed to launch the aircraft only after he was convinced this was so.

However, EADS's official position does not sound totally negative.

“Airbus is, together with its partners, studying the developments in the regional market,” says Kiran Rao, ATR chairman and Airbus executive vice president of strategy and marketing. “The most likely outcome will be a new generation of turboprops with increased size, greater comfort and significant improvement in efficiency.”

However, Giordo has made clear that Alenia and Finmeccanica do not want to waste too much time waiting for Airbus and EADS to move. He is pushing for a decision to go ahead with the project by the end of the year.

The turboprop manufacturer argues there is a market of up to 1,300 units for the proposed aircraft. The demand will partly come from airlines eliminating some jets from their fleets in favour of turboprops, ATR believes. “The jet manufacturers are moving toward 100 seats. To break even, they need to fly in regional markets with larger aircraft.” That could open up a niche that can be filled with a newly designed turboprop. Bagnato also believes that its existing customers will switch to bigger aircraft.

Unlike ATR, Bombardier has no plans for a turboprop larger than its Q400. It notes its customers have not indicated interest in a larger version.

But as always, the two turboprop rivals’ positions have to be weighed.

Bombardier is struggling to keep its new large CSeries jet on track.

It has just pushed out first flight by another month and the relatively

small company cannot afford any major programme delays; these have caused fiscal pain to other manufacturers. It can also not afford to run another multibilliondollar development programme concurrently. The Canada-based manufacturer is struggling to sell its Q400. The backing is a mere 48 aircraft.

ATR, by contrast, sees a key strategic advantage in launching a new turboprop. Not only would it provide customers the opportunity for more capacity at low unit costs, it would also gel the manufacturer’s competitive position as the dominant builder of regional 50-90 seat turboprops. A broadened ATR portfolio, and what would likely be a much-lower-unit-cost larger turboprop, would make it even tougher for Bombardier to sell the Q400 in significant quantities.

The ranks of ATR’s competition have swelled, though. China has proposed to build an aircraft of similar size in the next five years and South Korea has hinted about building a new turboprop, too. From a strategy and commercial point of view, ATR would be wise to be able to offer its product ahead of the new competitors.

As for the incumbents – Boeing and Airbus – although the behemoth manufacturers would never openly admit it, the launch of Bombardier’s CSeries with Lufthansa played a role in the decision to launch the 737 MAX and the NEO. Their market success seems to demonstrate that timing is not always crucial (the CSeries is planned to enter service next year, NEO is due in late 2015, and MAX is slated for 2017).

While ATR has briefed its shareholders about the proposed aircraft, little is publicly known. The 90-seater is understood to be a new aircraft, not a derivative of the -72. It is to be equipped with new engines, avionics and wings. And while it is reported to be a little faster than the current ATR models, the company does not want to compromise efficiency for speed, which is one of the problems Bombardier is facing with its much faster Q400.

ATR has recorded 173 orders and

08054102747 (text only) commitments so far this year, 83 of which are firm. A big part of the airframer’s success is due to the fact that it made inroads in the leasing market. Nordic Aviation Capital placed orders for up to 91 aircraft (36 firm) and Air Lease Corp. bought five ATR 72-000s at the Paris air show.

The manufacturer’s firm backlog now stands at 270 aircraft, significantly more than the 223 units recorded two years ago. As sales increase, so does market coverage. Danish regional operator Jettime will fly an initial fleet of six aircraft in Sweden, a country where ATRs have so far not been operated.

Last month, Avianca took delivery of its first ATR 72 and the airframer is following up with more support infrastructure in Latin America.

ATR is opening a training centre in Bogota, Colombia, in cooperation with Avianca.

The focus on Latin America is underlined by the decision to move the North American activities to Miami “to be closer to our Latin American customers,” as Bagnato explains.

The ATR fleet in the Asia-Pacific area has doubled since 2005 and is expected to triple by 2016. The manufacturer claims a market share, as measured in new sales, of 66%.

Source: AW&ST, July 2014

GHANA MUST GO 2015: Igbo haven't adopted Jonathan — Ohanaeze

Even with his fake Azikiwe name?

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