Monday

21.07.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

MONday

No. 2,225

N150

NIGERIA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPER

Nasarawa Assembly May Impeach Al-Makura From Abuja

By Edegbe Odenwingie, Abuja and Donatus Nadi, Lafia

Indications emerged yesterday that the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has hatched plans to impeach Governor Tanko Al-

Makura from Abuja.

A credible source, who craved anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter,

revealed the development to LEADERSHIP last night, saying that the lawmakers resorted to operating from Abuja to avoid

distraction following public outcry by Nasarawa citizens against their plot to remove the governor.

$1bn Loan: Corruption Behind FG’s Request – APC > Page 4

Chibok Diary DAY 98

When reminded that the Supreme Court had ruled that a governor’s impeachment proceedings must be carried out in the state’s assembly ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

We Hope Our Girls'll Not Spend 100 Days In Captivity - Parents > Page 2

Boko Haram Dares FG, Erects Tollgates Extorts cash from commuters Attacks power station, plunges Maiduguri into darkness 6

ramadan timing Day 24 The inspectorgeneral of police, Mohammed Abubakar, dressed in traffic police uniform and controlling traffic at the busy Ministry of Finance junction, central Abuja.

Dangote Donates N30bn In Two Years

Abuja Magrib - 7.00 Alfijir - 5.02 Kano Magrib - 6.53 Alfijir - 4.56 Kaduna Magrib - 6.57 Alfijir - 5.01 Full table on page 5

> Page 6

2

chibok diary 98

Monday, July 21, 2014

DAY

CHIBOK TWEETS @obyezeks • 14h #BeforeDay100 On Wednesday, Oh Lord WE pray in Churches today, give our FG the wisdom to FOCUS on the BEST ACTION to #BringBackOurGirls. @ogundamisi .@LEVICK Your client would rather the world believe BokoHarram did not kidnap those girls, than act to #BringBackOurGirls alive & now @blcompere There are several stakeholders in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. I suggest that @LEVICK comes up with a new strategy that will ensure ROI. @Gidi_Traffic "@metronaija: #BringBackOurGirls "We cant just draw a mat & move on. We shall stand 4 our #ChibokGirls @vepromo @rescueourgirls We fight over oil but allow women to be kidnapped, rapped & killed. What is wrong with us??? #bringbackourgirls @obyezeks Learning EMPATHY @ the impressionable age will help build their own future Nigeria where people BOND. @BBOG_Nigeria for record purposes, #BringBackOurGirls or its leaders have not hired any PR firm, we don't need one. we thank everyone who've supported us @fanigrande En esta cuenta de Twitter hacen seguimiento de todo lo relacionado con #BringBackOurGirls

We Hope Our Girls’ll Not Spend 100 Days In Captivity – Parents

BY KAREEM HARUNA, Maiduguri

Parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls have said that even though it is 98 days since their daughters were abducted from their school by Boko Haram gunmen, they still hoped they would not have to spend 100 days in the captivity of the insurgents, before being rescued.

Speaking from Chibok, one of the parents of the abducted girls, Mr Lucky Chibok said he would continue to burn his

candle of hope, even though the rescue efforts had at all times tried to quench the flame of optimism that he would ever be reunited with his daughter again.

“As long as I am alive, I will not give up my prayers and my hope that my daughter and her colleagues would one day walk back to Chibok, because that is not beyond the doings of the Almighty God,” said Lucky.

He further said that when the news first came to him that his daughter and others

Damboa Massacre: BBOG In Emotional Sit-out Session

BY BY CHIKA MEFOR, EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja

The BringBackOurGirls, Abuja family yesterday broke down in tears following the horrible description of the recent attack in Damboa and other parts of the Northeast, where it was reported that gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect attacked the village, killing many and causing residents to flee for their lives.

Narrating the reality of the situation in the area, Dr Wakil Chibok told how his son was abducted and later released, after being tortured by the sect for distributing relief materials in the affected areas.

He also stated that the entire Damboa village had been sacked and more then half of the buildings burnt down in the last attack.

The group members, who were obviously affected by the story, broke down in tears, thereby suspending most of the major issues that were to be discussed ahead of the Day 100 of the Chibok schoolgirls in captivity sit-out session.

It would be recalled that over 100 people, includ-

ing women and children, were reported to have been killed during an early morning attack on Friday, while more were later killed in the evening of the same day as the bereaved locals were burying their dead.

Damboa Town, where Boko Haram has now also hoisted its flag, is 85km south of Maiduguri and is the closest the insur-

gents have come to the capital city of Maiduguri in recent times.

The BBOG group members, who were touched by the incessant killings in Borno, wondered when it would all be over and called on government to act fast to rescue the nation from the savage insurgency.

BOKO HARAM VIOLENCE NIGERIAN DEFENCE SPENDING 2010 2014

$0.6bn

$6.3bn 2,053

JANUARY

TO JULY

2014

CIVILLIAN DEATHS BY YEAR, TO DATE

1,109 1,051

Members of the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group in a meeting at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

342 55

UPCOMING EVENTS Tomorrow 100 days rally in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA COMPILED BY UGOCHUKWU IROKA

had been kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect, it was like a dream.

“If anyone tells us that we would have to wait for over three months, I for one would not believe that the girls could stay alive with these dangerous men without any yielding. But here we are, still waiting and waiting.

“It is our fervent hope that they are rescued at once and for all, without necessarily clocking 100 days of being held in the captivity of the Boko Haram,” he said.

BringBackOurGirls protesters at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

3

our stand Monday, July 21, 2014

Stop Rail Line Vandals

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta recently sentenced two people to two years in prison each for vandalising railway lines. The men had been arrested by officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. But they were not alone: Last month, several cases were recorded in the south-east. On several occasions, the vandals removed the clips used to hold the slippers on the railway line to hold the tracks and reduce vibration, for a length of more than 15 kilometres. The Nigerian Railway Corporation has now resorted to welding clips and bolts to the tracks at great cost, and it will eventually make repair works in the future very difficult. Also, the new rail line being built from Abuja to Kaduna is experiencing similar difficulties. The company handling the construction work, CCECC, has been hiring security guards to man the long-winding line at great cost.

Within the last decade, the federal government has made conscious effort to rehabilitate, update and even expand the rail system by constructing new lines. But the activities of vandals and other criminal elements may sabotage the system and reverse the gains already

made. Yet, the role of railways in national development cannot be underestimated. For more than a century, the Nigerian Railway Corporation has been in existence. The rail system was a vehicle of development during the colonial period and after. It was not until the early 1980s that it started declining.

The real mass transit is the one operated by the railway company, not 18-seater buses. If the system is restored, millions of Nigerians will have greater opportunities of moving from one end of the country to the other. The rail system is capable of igniting commercial hubs in remote locations across the country. For instance, the NRC is credited with the growth of some of Nigeria’s peaceful towns

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

with well-blended cultures and communities: Nguru, Gusau and Funtua are known examples.

These towns were at their most glorious when the railways were functional because of the trade in various produce and the jobs created then. The railway can do even better with new technology.

Any attempt by criminals to cause delay or attempt to stop its functioning must treated as an act of economic sabotage.

The federal government is fully aware of this. The sooner it recognises vandalism as a serious security threat the better.

There should be a serious and conscious effort by the NRC to holistically address the situation. It can start by overhauling the total security apparatus of the corporation to conform to modern-day best practices. The management of the corporation should modernise and utilise electronic security such as the application of close-circuit television monitoring system and alarm system. National security agencies that have the responsibility of tackling these problems, especially the Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police, should be alive to their responsibilities. Economic saboteurs must be stopped before they do more damage.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser Abdulhaleem Amin Divisional Directors Abdulmumin Balogun Ademola Oladosu Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Zipporah D. Tanko Joy Adekanye

Leadership Holdings

Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase Business Manager Bilkisu Mohammed Rimi

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital.

We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed.

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!

4 news extra

Monday, July 21, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo Nyako: APC, Tinubu Lost Focus After Losing Ekiti – Presidency The Presidency yesterday ascribed the accusations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leader, Bola Tinubu, against President Goodluck Jonathan over the travails of former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, to a loss of focus caused by their defeat in the Ekiti State governorship election last June.

Political adviser to the president, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, who responded to the allegation over Nyako’s removal, also said APC will continue to lose elections because its leaders have failed to accept the principle of popular democracy where the electorate have the right to choose who should lead them.

APC leader, Bola Tinubu, had accused President Goodluck Jonathan of orchestrating the impeachment of the former governor of Adamawa State.

However, Alkali noted that it is absurd for any political party that wants to win the presidencial election to denigrate the same office that it wants to occupy.

The political aide said it is “pathetic” that Tinubu, who contributed immensely to the struggle for a return to democratic governance, has joined the league of those engaged in acts that are likely to truncate the same institution he fought for.

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

Stop Dividing Nigerians, Atiku Tells FG, PDP

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar yesterday accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party-led federal government of exploiting fault lines in the country to divert attention from its ineptitude and apathetic posture to corruption and insecurity.

He expressed surprise that a PDP administration that has a moral burden of accounting for billions of dollars of national revenues mysteriously missing should divert public attention by seeking refuge in the pastime of accusing the opposition leaders of harbouring extremists or sponsoring terrorism.

Atiku was reacting to a report in a weekly paper, alleging that a former Russian spy has linked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to terrorists and extremists.

He further said no responsible government should seek to create division, suspicion and animosity among its citizens by linking the opposition leaders with terrorist activities or accusing them of harbouring extremists.

L-R: President, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Hafsat Abiola – Costello, former Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited (celebrant), Chief Ajibola Ogunshola and President, Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, during 70th birthday of Ogunshola in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI.

APC May Drag Ribadu Into Adamawa Guber Poll

By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

There are indications that the founding chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu may be dragged by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the coming governorship poll in Adamawa State.

Despite its determination to challenge the impeachment of Admiral Murtala Nyako, the APC has expressed readiness to participate in the fresh election to be held within the next 90 days as prescribed by the Constitution.

This position was made known last week by the nation-

al vice chairman, North East of the party, Engineer Babachir David Lawal at a press conference where the party spared no word in condemning the impeachment.

Said he, “The constitution directs that elections be held within 90 days from the date of impeachment, so while we are preparing to challenge the impeachment in the courts, the party is also preparing for an early election.

“The national leadership of our great party has assured us that they will assist us in the process of selecting and presenting a very fearless, honest, people-focussed and credible candidate for the elections. In our

choice of the best candidate, we should not dwell much on tribe, religion or sect. Let us leave such to PDP, which is a well-known apostle of tribal, religious and divisive politics. We should rather dwell on demonstrated competence, honesty, integrity and ability to unite our people, qualities we have in abundance in the state chapter of the APC”.

But another chieftain of the party who did not want his name in print has disclosed that the party leadership in the state would be happy if the former anti-graft czar would contest the poll under its platform because of his enviable credentials.

“It is true we are preparing for

the governorship election within the next 90 days. We are even hearing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants the election to be held in August, thinking we would not have elected our candidate, but let the election be held tomorrow, APC would beat PDP hands down because the good people of Adamawa State are solidly behind our party”, he said.

When asked who might likely be chosen as the candidate, he explained that although consensus is allowed by the APC constitution, the same law calls for election of YES or NO voting, and expressed optimism that someone like Ribadu would be interested in the race.

Massive Corruption, Lack Of Accountability Behind FG’s Request For $1bn Loan To Fight Boko Haram – APC

By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja and George Okojie, Lagos

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the National Assembly to properly scrutinise the puzzling request by President Goodluck Jonathan for a $1billion loan to fight the Boko Haram insurgents, saying the federal government would have had no business borrowing money if it had accounted for US$20billion in oil funds or plugged the official stealing of 300,000 barrels of oil per day.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said even if the missing oil fund is only between 10 and 12 billion dollars as admitted by the FG, the amount represents more than 10 times the fund which the FG is now seeking to borrow unBy Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja der conditions that are yet un-

known.

It described as disingenuous and sheer blackmail the argument that the money is for national security or that it would facilitate the release of the over 200 schoolgirls who were abducted about 100 days ago.

“That argument is hollow. In the first instance, trillions of naira have been allocated yearly - in the past few years - for security and defence, yet the fight against the insurgents rages on with deadly consequences. Secondly, the only reason the schoolgirls have remained in captivity is the sheer cluelessness and incompetence on the part of the Jonathan administration, which waited for all of 19 days before even admitting that the girls were kidnapped in the first instance.

“Therefore, putting more money in the hands of an incompetent and massively corrupt administra-

tion can only encourage more incompetence and corruption. That is why we are asking the National Assembly to put national interest above all other considerations by taking a dispassionate, non-partisan look at the president’s request.

“What we are saying in essence is that the National Assembly must summon security and military chiefs to explain how the huge funds allocated to the security sector in the past have been spent, before more funds can be pumped into the sector. They must be asked what happened to the military equipment said to have been procured in recent years.

“They must also inquire from the administration why it should be borrowing $1billion when it is yet to account for the missing 20-billion-dollar oil money, plug the daily stealing of 300,000 bpd and unravel the massive frauds

that have hallmarked the tenure of this administration (pension fraud, oil subsidy scam, Malabu fraud etc). If after all the scrutiny, the National Assembly still feels it must approve the loan, so be it, but it (National Assembly) must know that its own integrity and credibility are on the line,’’ APC said.

The party also reminded Nigerians that the Nigerian civil war, which lasted three years, was prosecuted by the government without resorting to any external borrowing, due to competent and transparent management of the nation’s economy.

“On the contrary, trillions of naira have been pumped into the Boko Haram war in the past five years, and Nigerians still do not have any indication of how soon the insurgency will end or what happened to the huge allocated funds.”

news 5

Monday, July 21, 2014

Fashola Vows To End Apapa Gridlock

Blames FG’s agencies

managers.

“The bridge coming into Apapa is threatened. It is just incomprehensible to me. I have never seen a nation that behaves like this in its commercial capital.

“We won’t give up; this is our job. It is a problem created by men and must be solved by men. So, we won’t give up, we will continue to flush the traffic. We are working on inner roads in Apapa, about seven to eight inner roads are undergoing construction even for contractor working on the roads cannot move equipment to site because of the failure of federal government.

“We won’t abdicate our responsibility. We will continue to work with stakeholders and hope that the Federal Government will listen.”

ramadan timing Day 24 Towns

Magrib

Alfijr

Abuja

7.00

5.02

Aba

6.56

5.03

Abakaliki

6.53

5.04

Abeokuta

7.10

5.21

Akure

7.03

5.13

Ankpa

6.57

5.07

Argungu

7.12

5.11

Auchi

7.02

5.11

Awka

7.03

5.06

Azare

6.50

4.49

Bama

6.39

4.35

Bauchi

6.51

4.54

Benin

7.05

5.12

Bichi

6.58

4.57

Bida

7.05

5.07

Birnin Gwari

7.04

5.05

B/Kebbi Gwandu

7.13

5.11

Biu

6.42

4.42

Calabar

6.50

5.02

Damaturu

6.42

4.41

Daura/Kazaure

7.01

4.42

Dutse

6.52

4.54

Enugu

6.54

5.04

Funtua/Malumfashi

7.02

5.00

Gembu

6.47

4.48

Gombe

6.45

4.46

Gusau

7.01

5.03

NLC Chief Faults APC Govs’ Impeachment

Gwadabawa

7.12

5.04

Hadejia

6.50

4.49

Ibadan

7.14

5.16

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Ife

7.09

5.13

Ilesha Baruba

7.11

5.12

Ilorin

7.07

5.14

Jalingo

6.42

4.46

Jere/Suleija

6.59

5.01

Jos

6.56

4.55

Kabba

7.04

5.07

Kafanchan

6.58

4.58

Keffi/Nasarawa

6.58

4.58

Kaiama

7.13

5.15

Kafin Maiyaki

6.58

4.55

Kaduna

6.57

5.01

Kano

6.53

4.56

Katsina

7.01

4.58

Kontagora

7.07

5.10

Lafia

6.53

4.58

Lagos

7.12

5.19

Lokoja

6.57

5.10

Maiduguri

6.35

4.39

Makurdi

6.54

4.57

Minna

7.01

5.08

Missau

6.47

4.48

Monguno

6.38

4.31

Mubi

6.37

4.38

Nguru

6.47

4.46

Ningi

6.51

4.53

Okene

7.07

5.08

Ogbomosho

7.12

5.16

Onitsha

7.00

5.11

Oyo

7.14

5.18

Port Harcourt

6.59

5.15

Potiskum

6.45

4.44

Saki

7.06

5.18

Shagamu

7.07

5.24

Sokoto

7.07

5.09

Umuahia

6.58

5.03

Warri

6.57

5.18

Wukari

5.45

4.58

Wurno

7.11

5.04

Yenagoa

6.39

4.41

Yola

6.36

4.41

Zaria

6.58

5.02

Cotonnou-Benin

7.16

5.21

Ndjamena-Chad

6.27

4.28

Niamey-Niger

7.22

5.20

Zinder – Niger

6.59

4.47

Younde-Cameroun

6.40

4.47

Garoua – Cameroun

6.34

4.40

By GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola has vowed to end the perennial Apapa traffic gridlock that has turned the roads in the axis to a nightmare for motorists.

Fashola, who said this yesterday during his third visit to the Apapa area in two weeks in a bid to find a lasting solution to the problem, decried the role of the federal government agencies in the traffic snarl in the axis.

He said, “This is clearly a multiagencies’ problem involving the agencies of the federal government: Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Ministry of Works and ports

The National Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Isa Aremu, has cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan against using his office to torment governors in opposition states.

He said that impeachment and threats of impeachment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors in the country is suspicious.

Aremu, who is a member of the national constitutional conference, made this comment during a radio programme in Ilorin, Kwara State.

“The one that is worrisome to me is the one of Nasarawa. The impeachment notice was served just at the time the president who comes from another party was visiting the state. I mean we should not give it the impression that the president is using his office to torment a governor in an opposition

state, I don’t think this is the intention of the President.

“What I am saying is, even the timing alone makes it suspicious.

I want President Jonathan to use his office to re-direct our political discourse along the line of statesmanship. He has done it before and I think he can do it before. Several times, he was threatened with impeachment and Nigerians stood up to say no. I am not a fan of some of these governors. Some of them are known for recklessness, a lot of executive impunity, but whatever the case maybe, even if we don’t like any governor, our constitution is clear: a governor that is elected has the mandate to be in office for four years after which we go for election.

If the electorate want him or her, he or she is given another mandate for four years, if the electorate don’t want the elected governor, they can vote him out.”

A/Ibom Lawmaker Decries Killing Of Bakassi Returnees By Cameroon Gendarmes

By Bernard Tolani Dada,Oyo

The lawmaker for Okobo state constituency in Akwa Ibom , Hon. Efefiong Antigha, has condemned the killing of four Okobo natives and the unwarranted abduction of 11 others by Cameroonian agents.

Antigha, who stated this yesterday in Uyo while briefing newsmen, expressed displeasure at the incident.

He explained that the magnitude of inhuman treatment meted out to the returnees while fishing on the high sea by the Cameroonian gendarmes could better be imagined.

The Assembly man, who said that he was very passionate about the plight of the people, called on the Nigerian government to investigate the matter with a view to calling the Cameroonian authorities to order.

He also called on the federal government to ensure that citizens of the country doing legitimate businesses on the territorial waters are not molested.

One of the returnees, Mr Etim Sunday, said 11 of them with valid papers were arrested by agents of Cameroon, who took their fishing nets, including outboard engines, and kept them in custody without food or water for many years.

According to him, while in detention, they were asked to pay tax and sundry fines before they could regain their freedom. In the process , some of them were killed, those who could pay were released while and those who could not are still being held.

He therefore called on the federal government to intervene and prevail on the government of Cameroon to release those still in their custody.

(Source: Timing Committee, Islamic Research and Timing Organisation Kaduna)

Recommended DU’A for Day 24 Pray an 8 Raka’ah Salaat, In every Raka’ah recite Surah Al-Fatiha and any other Surah.

Then say: ALLAAHUMMA INNEE AS-ALUKA FEEHI MAA YURZ”EEKA WA A-O’OD’U BIKA MIM MAA YUWD’EEKA WA AS-ALUKAT TAWFEEQA FEEHI LI-AN UT’EE-A’KA WA LAA AA’-S’EEKA YAA JAWAADAS SAAA-ILEEN Meaning: O Allah I beseech Thee (to make me do) that which pleases Thee, in this month. I take refuge with Thee from that for which Thou may treat me with contempt. I beseech Thee to arrange my life in such a manner that I obey Thee and never break or tamper with Thy laws, O He who liberally gives abundantly to the beseechers.

Compiled by Al-Amin Ciroma

Ramadan Q and A

with Muhammad Usman musman@kindasa.com

Question: If a calamity befalls a Muslim, how can we know whether it is a punishment for his sins or a test to raise him in status?

Nasib khalifah, Kano Answer: Praise be to Allaah.

According to the Qur’an and Sunnah, there are two direct causes for calamities and trials, in addition to the wisdom of Allah, may He be exalted, in what He wills and decrees.

The first reason is: Sins and acts of disobedience that the person has committed, whether they constitute kufr or are no more than regular sins or are major sins. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, will test the one who committed them with calamity by way of requital and immediate punishment (i.e., in this world).

Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “…but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself” [an-Nisa’ 4:79]. The commentators said: i.e., because of your sin.

And He, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much” [ash-Shoora 42:30].

End quote from Tafseer al-Qur’an al-‘Azeem, 2/363 It was narrated that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “If Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in this world, and if He wills bad for His slave, He withholds from him (the punishment for) his sin, until He requites him for it on the Day of Resurrection.”

Narrated and classed as hasan by at-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi.

The second reason is: That Allah, may He be exalted, wants to raise in status the patient believer, so He tests him with calamity so that he will bear it acceptance and patience, then He will be given the reward of those who are patient in the Hereafter, and will be recorded with Allah as one of the victorious. Calamities befell the Prophets and the righteous persistently, and Allah, may He be exalted, made it an honour for them by means of which they attained high status in Paradise. Hence it says in the saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “If a certain status has previously been decreed by Allaah for a person, and he does not attain it by his deeds, Allaah afflicts him in his body or wealth or children.”

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3090; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah, no. 2599.

It was narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Great reward comes with great trials. When Allah loves a people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it attains His pleasure, whereas whoever shows discontent with it incurs His wrath.”

Narrated and classed as hasan by at-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah, no. 146 The two reasons are mentioned together in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), according to which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Nothing befalls a believer, a (prick of a) thorn or more than that, but Allaah will raise him one degree in status thereby, or erase a bad deed.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5641) and Muslim (2573).

Moreover, in most cases these two causes exist together rather than either of them occurring on its own.

Do you not see that if Allah tests a person with calamity because of his sin, and he bears it with patience and gratitude, Allah, may He be exalted, will forgive him his sin, raise him in status in Paradise and give him the reward of those who are patient and seek reward with Him? When Allah tests a person with a calamity so that he will reach the lofty status that He has decreed for him in Paradise, his previous sins are expiated and it is regarded as requital for those sins in this world, so the requital will not be repeated for him in the Hereafter. This is what happened to some of the Messengers and Prophets, such as Adam (peace be upon him) and Yoonus (peace be upon him): Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, tested Adam with expulsion from Paradise.

6 NEWS

Monday, July 21, 2014

LIVING LIVING TOTO BE BE 100100

One health tip daily formula for enduring youth passed down in our family medical tradion contains such essence-building herbs as Chinese wild yam, ligustri fruit, schisandra berry, sesame seed, eucommia bark, ho shou wu (fo ti) root, and cistanches root. Studies of all these plants confirm their positive effects on the hormonal, immune, and metabolic systems.

Nasarawa Assembly May Impeach AlMakura From Abuja FROM COVER

complex and not otherwise, the source added: “All I can tell you is that the impeachment will be executed in Abuja for certain strategic reasons.”

The Nasarawa lawmakers had on Monday, July 14, 2014, sat for 15 minutes and passed a resolution to serve an impeachment notice on the governor. It further directed the clerk of the assembly to serve the governor with the notice, directing that if he was unable to serve Al-Makura personally, he should do so through the media.

No going back on Al-Makura’s impeachment – Nasarawa Assembly Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State

House of Assembly has declared that it will not reconsider its resolve to impeach Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura if he does not give satisfactory answers to the allegations of misappropriation and constitutional breach levelled against him.

The chairman, House Committee on Information and Security, Hon. Mohammed Baba Ibaku, who stated this yesterday in Lafia, said no amount of demonstration and protest would deter the Assembly from carrying out its constitutional obligation.

“We are not going to reconsider our decision because it is not based on any sentiment,” he stressed, adding “the fact that he (Al-Makura) paid people to dance on the streets is far from

Dangote Donates N30bn In 2 Years

By Kingsley Alu, Abuja

Africa’s richest person and the continent’s top donor, Aliko Dangote, has doled out about N30billion in humanitarian gesture within two years, a statement issued by the Dangote Group has revealed.

According to the statement, the business mogul would be upping his philanthropic works across Africa, starting from his home country Nigeria.

The group which has made whopping donations across Africa said, “Africa must begin to take responsibilities by shaping the condition of its people.”

The statement quoted Alhaji Dangote as saying, “About this philanthropy, I think from this

year, I personally want to take it very seriously. I want to be much more aggressive than what we have had in the past.

“We already have a foundation which will do all these things, but I am trying to see what we can do to encourage not only Nigerians but other Africans.”

He added: “I am not going to give all my money to charity, but I am going to try my best and give part of that money to charity. I am working hard on it.”

The statement said in Benue State alone, the group has been running an annual scholarship scheme worth 10million to indigenes of Gboko communities.

It said that, in Benue State, 15 villages were electrified at ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri and Abdullahi Umar, Abuja with agency report

Ancient Formula Strengthens Your Essence According to Chinese longevity philosophy, jing, or essence, is the basic substance of life. Innate essence is inherited from parentage and can be refined through practices such as tai chi, qigong, and meditation, while a second kind of jing, acquired during your life, can be replenished through diet, nutrition, and longevity herbs. A

Boko Haram Dares FG, Erects Tollgates

Dangote

With most parts of northern and central Borno State under their control, gunmen of the Boko Haram have been mounting tollgates on major international highways within the state where they collect fees from passengers and drivers who are lucky to be spared, eyewitnesses and government officials said.

Apart from collecting tolls from travellers, the gunmen would also screen every passenger, and any person who speaks Kanuri or found to be a resident of Maiduguri would be shot dead, witnesses added.

In the last three weeks the gunmen had laid siege on the roads to Maff, Dikwa, Ngala and Gamboru, where they would ambush travellers and dispossess them of their goods. Most of their targets were vehicles conveying rice and sugar supplied by government to be delivered to villagers for their use during the ongoing Ramadan fasting.

The route from Maiduguri to Gamboru, a border town near Cameroon, is about 185km and it is usually busied by heavy trailer trucks ferrying various commercial commodities to and from Nigeria.

But that commercial engagement that has provided jobs to hundreds of young men and older ones has now been slowed down due to the incessant attack by the Boko Haram gunmen.

Modu Air, a truck driver, told newsmen in Maiduguri, “Only a few of us are now plying the road. Many of our colleagues have changed routes because of the attacks that occur on the roads every day. I have witnessed instances where some passengers were shot dead either because they speak Kanuri and live in Maiduguri or because you come from one village where their members were killed or arrested by the vigilante.”

Confirming the attacks on the highways, Hon. Idrissa Jidda, a member of the Borno State House of Assembly representing Gamboru-Ngala, said “the insurgents have absolute control of the road since the past one month. No day passes without a case of attack along the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru road and, in most cases, innocent people are being killed”.

Jidda, who is also the majority leader of the Borno State House of Assembly, told newsmen that “the insurgents stop vehicles at various points and forcefully collect money from passengers”.

“In most cases, they would carefully select some passengers and promptly execute them;

Jonathan

they also kidnap girls at will and sometimes forcefully snatch vehicles that are loaded with assorted food items. The attacks are now rampant in Gamboru and Ngala to the extent that most of our people have fled to safer places like Maiduguri while many others have crossed over to Cameroon.

We really need the intervention of the federal government,” he said. ...Attacks power station, plunges Maiduguri into darkness For three weeks running, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and its neighbourhoods have been plunged into total darkness following the reported damaging of major electricity installments around Damboa town by Boko Haram terrorists, security sources said.

For about 21 days now, the entire city of Maiduguri has not enjoyed electricity coming from the national grid.

Many residents of Maiduguri who were unaware of the development thought the power outage may have been caused by some ongoing upgrade of the 33KVA lines which the minister of state for power, Hon. Muhammed Wakil, said would be carried out to boost supply to the state.

But recent findings revealed that the suspected situation was not so but was as a result of an attack on major installations of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

A military person who spoke to LEADERSHIIP in Maiduguri confirmed that the Boko Haram insurgents had detonated bombs that affected the high-tension installations around Damboa and has since left the about two million residents of Maiduguri in total blackout.

Many residents now have to depend on power plants while major business outfits and even government offices depend solely on generators throughout the days.

The power outage has since caused residents some serious economic hardship as most businesses that depend on electricity now hike the prices of ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

NEWS 7

Monday, July 21, 2014

Boko Haram Dares FG, Erects Tollgates FROM PAGE 6

their products.

Many households that used to depend on the few hours of electricity supply from the national grid to produce their iced blocks needed for the Ramadan fasting period now have to buy from hawkers at expensive prices.

“We now buy iced sachet water for N25 but before it used to be sold for N10 each or, in some cases, two sachets of iced block for N15,” said Bashir Mustapha, a resident of Maiduguri.

An official of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company, who spoke off the record because he was not allowed to speak on such matter, confirmed the development to LEADERSHIP even as he said it may take some time before power would be restored due to the recent takeover of Damboa area by the Boko Haram insurgents.

Boko Haram has, in the past three years, vandalized public infrastructure like telecommunication masts that had hitherto cut off various parts of Borno State from the rest of the word. The group had also used bombs and fire to destroy schools, hospitals, police offices, barracks and even cratering of roads. Their most recent attack on public infrastructure was the bombing of an ultra-modern drilling rig procured by Borno State at the cost of over N300 million at the site where it was mobilized to drill water for rural dwellers of the northern part of Borno State.

Damboa: Over 3,000 fleeing villagers camp in Biu About 3,000 villagers displaced from Damboa town of Borno State where Boko Haram terrorists had on Friday hoisted its flags are now being camped in

Biu town, officials have said.

A local government official from Damboa, Sheriff Muhammed, who is one of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) being camped in Damboa, said they had to flee far from Damboa because the insurgents still chased them to some of the nearby villages where they had run to take refuge to kill them.

Speaking on phone from Biu, some 100km away from Damboa, Muhammed said: “We are presently being camped at the premises of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Biu. “As at today (Sunday) many of our people who ran to Fori and Koiri villages, near Damboa, have been traced there and slaughtered by the Boko Haram gunmen.”

Borno State deputy governor Zannah Mustapha, who had been visiting most of the attacked villages in the southern part of the state, had yesterday relocated

to Biu where he was organising the reception of the IDPs. Herdsmen attack Benue village, force residents to flee, kill 1, injure 3 Fulani herdsmen have attacked Owukpa community in Benue State, killing one person and injuring three in an early evening attack. Some residents of the community have taken refuge at the neighbouring Enugu State.

An online medium, DailyPost, has reported that the three people who were injured were presently in critical condition. A report says a man’s hands were completely chopped off by the herdsmen.

The problem was said to have started when the Owukpa people got tired of the herdsmen’s continuous stay on the land and told them to kindly relocate.

Apparently angered by their refusal to go, some youths

mobilized themselves and confronted them to leave the community immediately. In the process of the argument, one of youths snatched one of their motorbikes and fled.

In a quick reprisal, the herdsmen invaded Atamaka and its neighbouring villages and destroyed some houses as well as farm produce.

Confirming the incident, a councillor representing Ehaje Ward II in Ogbadibo LGA of the state, Fred Apochi, said everything was calm until Sunday evening when the herdsmen returned to Ankpa to attack the villagers.

“I’m the councillor representing Ehaje Ward II and, as the chief security officer, I can confirm to you that everything is under control. The Benue State police commissioner would be in Ugbugbu with his men tomorrow (today),” he said.

Middle Belt Can Reposition The North – TY Danjuma

By Donatus Nadi, Lafia

The diverse ethnic nationalities that constitute the middle belt have been charged to promote cultural harmony as a means of evolving a veritable platform for repositioning the north which is in dire need of socio-political reengineering.

Former defence minister Gen. Theophilus Y. Danjuma made the call yesterday at NasarawaEggon local government area of Nasarawa State at the foundationlaying ceremony of Eggon House as part of activities marking this year’s Azhili Day. He called on

minority ethnic nationalities to assert their cultural identities for greater social harmony and peace in the region.

Danjuma, who was represented

by Dr John Dara, said as an apostle of middle belt ascendency “the re-engineering of northern Nigeria is an urgent imperative which can only happen if the middle belt takes her rightful place in the affairs of this nation”.

He called on the Eggon nation and other numerous ethnic nationalities in the region to assert their confidence and readiness to assume leadership roles through building bridges of

cultural conciliation.

Calling for dogged determination, he observed that “in northern Nigeria we have seen some parts which have exhibited cultural arrogance and they were so effective that some of our people are already exhibiting cultural inferiority”. He stated, “You should not be intimidated or feel inferior to any people.”

The retired general, who regretted that one of the factors that slowed the pace of development in the nation is our collective inability to manage our cultural diversity, said only unity and internal harmony can make

the middle belt unstoppable in the attainment of its dream of redefining the north for collective prosperity.

He reminded the Eggon nation that, as the 2015 general elections approach, the whole nation is watching them and other middle belt states with keen interest, noting that “the crisis in Nasarawa today presents you with the opportunity to take your rightful place as leaders, but if you mismanage it posterity will not forgive you”.

The Abonta of Wukari urged the Eggon nation to work in harmony with other ethnic

Danjuma

nationalities towards ensuring that they produce a governor for Nasarawa State come 2015.

Robbers Attack Sambo’s Wife’s Vehicles, 2 Killed

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

Suspected armed robbers yesterday took control of the Kaduna-Abuja expressway and unleashed terror on motorists and passengers. Two people were killed in the process.

One of the vehicles attacked by the robbers was an official car marked ICARE Women and Children Initiative, belonging to a nongovernmental organisation owned by the wife of the vice president, Hajiya Amina

Sambo.

The incident was said to have occurred in Doka village, Kaduna State, about 4pm.

The robbers were further said to have dispossessed passengers of their belongings.

The robbery led to multiple

accidents, as vehicles plying the highway crashed into one another in a bid to escape.

The Kaduna State police public relations officer, Aminu Lawan, attributed the accident to panic on the part of motorists who attempted to

escape to avoid being robbed by the bandits.

Although he said there was no official report of casualties, he added that “the police also helped in putting out the fire and conveying some of the injured to the hospital”.

The statement said that, last month, the Dangote Cement, Ibese, through the Dangote Foundation, announced a scholarship for 50 students of various secondary and tertiary institutions in Yewa community.

It further disclosed that the foundation donated $500,000 to victims of explosion in the Republic of Congo and contributed a staggering $2million to flood victims in Pakistan and another N120million to cushion the effect of famine in Niger Republic.

It said that, two years ago, the foundation made a staggering donation of N2.5billion to

cushion the effect of flooding in Nigeria, the single highest donation by a private body in the history of Nigeria. The Foundation also donated N430million to flood victims, unemployed youths and women in Kogi State in the same year.

It further emphasised that, three years ago, the Foundation gave out about a billion naira for the economic empowerment of women in Kano State, just as it recently donated N540million to vulnerable women as a result of insurgency in the north-east of Nigeria.

The statement maintained that the Foundation has also

pumped over N1billion into the rehabilitation of some Nigerian universities, as part of its contribution to the education sector.

“Two months ago, the Dangote Foundation donated 12 trailer-loads of relief items worth N40million to support the government in bringing succour to victims of communal clashes that displaced people,” the statement noted, adding that the group had also donated N100million to victims of Lagos flooding, another N100million to those in Sokoto and N60million to victims of flooding in Oyo State, two years ago.

Dangote Donates N30bn In 2 Years FROM PAGE 6

the cost of N115million, adding that 14 blocks of classrooms have been constructed for the community around the company at the cost of N84billion.

It added that 19 boreholes were constructed for the communities and that an earth dam valued at N50million was also constructed.

The statement said that apart from the monthly payment of allowances to traditional rulers, a vigilante contract to ensure N2million regular income to the community was also instituted.

“We have also donated

N15million to the community’s development foundation, and we are helping through the community empowerment scheme, while our 100-bed hospital has been approved for construction within the community,” it added.

It in addition to N78million compensation paid during the takeover of the company, an additional N60million inconvenience allowance has been paid to families.

This is including the Dangote Academy that is worth about N1billion, through which manpower is developed across various disciplines.

8

stories of the Monday, July 21, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

MURDER: Man Kills Friend Over N500 Gift

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A man identified as Justice (surname withheld) allegedly killed his friend over disagreement in sharing of a N500 gift from a local politician at Onyobru Inland, Idjerhe Kingdom in Ethiope West local government area of Delta State following a sharp disagreement over the sharing formula.

On the fateful day, the suspect, Justice was with his friend, Ogheherona, when they sighted a local politician and former councillor in the area driving by. When Oghenerona greeted the ex-councillor as he drove past, he dropped a N500 for the two friends.

According to sources, Oghenerona promised to give his friend N200 and take the remaining N300, since he was the one, who not only greeted the politician but also collected the money, but this did not go down well with Justice, who vowed he would not accept it.

Justice rushed into the house and returned with a cutlass and allegedly stabbed Oghenerona to death.

He was said to have escaped from the community but was later arrested by men of the vigilante group including some angry mob who ambushed him.

Accident: Man Sues Company Over Loss Of Left Eye

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Abuja

A middle aged man, Mohammed Lawal from Nasarawa state, who lost his left eye in the line of duty, has dragged his former company to the National industrial Court over unlawful termination of his appointment.

Lawal, an ex-staff of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc,accused the company of unlawfully sacking him shortly after the accident.

Lawal, through his counsel, Chris Nkem Ekweozoh, told the court that his client had an accident on June 12,2008 while working for the defendant.

He said, “I had an accident at the defendant’s site and after several several treatment, the eyes that was involved in the accident has been rendered blind.”

He further said, “That on the fateful day, the accident that occurs was that a watercement-mix entered my left eye which had rendered me permanently blind in spite of several treatment”.

He said that at the end of September 2008 when he went to collect his salary, he was asked to sign off as a staff of the company and all working tolls retrieved.

He said he was being laid off with permanent scars and damage to his left eye in the cpurse of his duty with the company.

Lawal is asking the company for N50million as compensation for the pain from the accident, his termination of appointment from the company and permanent blindness on his left eye.

Air pollution by commercial vehicles at Oshodi, Lagos yesterday. PHOTO

BY Gbenga olajobi

BUILDING COLLAPSE: 3 Children Killed In Edo

BY Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

It was tears all through in Urora community, a suburb of Benin City, the Edo State capital at the weekend when three children lost their lives following a collapsed building.

Two of the deceased children are sons of the Edo State chairman of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Mr Osamudiamen Osagiede. The girl among them, who equally lost her life in the incident, was the daughter of Osagiede’s sister.

It was learnt that the children, who are 15, 12 and 8 years respectively, went to the building to repair their bicycle when the incident happened.

The incident caused pandemonium in the area as residents made frantic effort to rescue them.

Two other children in the compound and the bicycle repairer sustained serious injuries and are currently in the hospital. Unfortunately for Osagiede’s children, they lost their lives before they could be rescued.

The devastated Osagiede, who was away for a youth competition described the incident as shocking. “ I was away when i received a call to come back. I was shocked that two of my sons died in the incident. You can imagine. I have six children, four girls and two boys but now I have lost the two boys”.

He wept uncontrollably as sympathisers thronged his residence to console him and the collapsed building wondering what could have led to the collapsed building.

It was learnt that the building was old and may have collapsed following the persistent rainfall.

RITUAL CONSPIRACY: Police Moves Suspect To Psychiatrist

BY MATTHEW DIKE, Lagos

Lagos State Police Command has moved the suspected kidnapper of a seven-yearold- child to a psychiatric hospital, in the metropolis.

Lagos State police public relations officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the story on phone, told LEADERSHIP that the suspect, Rosemay Chukwu ,was taken to a psychiatric hospital in Lagos to ascertain her mental state after she claimed that the Pastor of Holy Family , Happy Ministry, Prophet Ernest Nwankwo, sent her to abduct a child for alleged ritual purpose.

Pastor Nwankwo had since debunked her claim, claiming that Chukwu may be deranged.

The pastor who had thousands of members in his church, said he did not know Chukwu ,and had never in his life engaged

or discussed such ‘satanic’ issue with anybody.

Chukwu was apprehended by people when he allegedly kidnapped a primary school pupil, Emmanuel Emeka, in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Braide said the police found it necessary to do that because the pastor, Nwankwo insisted that he did not know the woman because he had so many members in the church.

Braide said since the pastor denied ever having any illegal deal with the suspect, the police want to know whether she is deranged or not.

The police spokesperson said Nwankwo who hails from Nsugbe in Anambra State, has debunked the story doing the rounds that he sent Chukwu, a mother of four to abduct a 7- year- old primary school pupil, Emmanuel Emeka in Ikorodu area of Lagos State for a fee.

MURDER: Police Arrest Civil Defence Operative Over School Teacher’s Death

BY CHIKA OTUCHIKERE, Abuja

Operatives of the Osun State Police Command have arrested a civil defence operative, Assistant-Inspector Lasisi Kabir Iyanda, who allegedly stabbed an Islamic religious knowledge teacher, Kamaldeen Muritala to death during an argument.

Police spokesman, ACP Frank Mba, who made this known yesterday in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP said Muritala died at Baptist Hospital Ejigbo from complications arising from fatal stab wounds inflicted on his neck with a jack-knife by Iyanda during the argument .

“A member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant-Inspector Lasisi Kabir Iyanda, has been arrested and detained in Police custody over the brutal murder, on 27th June, 2014, of a 32-year-old Kamaldeen Muritala, an Islamic Religious Knowledge teacher attached to Titilope Islamic Comprehensive High School, Ejigbo, Osun State.

“Preliminary enquiry by Police detectives from the Osun State Police Command, Osogbo reveals that the victim, Kamaldeen Muritala died at Baptist Hospital Ejigbo from complications arising from fatal stab wounds inflicted on his neck with a jack-knife by the NSCDC member during an argument close to the entrance of an examination hall where National Examination Council (NECO) examination was taking place.

“Following the demise of the deceased Islamic teacher, students of the school attempted to raze down office structures belonging to the NSCDC as well as those of other government establishments in the area, but the timely intervention of the Police prevented further breakdown of law and order,” Mba said.

Mba further revealed that the timely intervention of police operatives from the Osun State command prevented jungle justice meted on 30-year-old Iyanda whom the residents descended upon. He enjoined the citizens not to take the law into their hands.

day

STORIES OF THE DAY 9

Monday, July 21, 2014

photo news

FIRE OUTBREAK: Ketu Police Station’s Armoury Razed

BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

There was pandemonium at the Alapere Police Station in Ketu area of Lagos, as a result of a major fire outbreak that gutted the weapon store of the station..

Our correspondent gathered that the fire which occurred yesterday afternoon started from the arsenal of the station consuming the weapons.

As the fire billowed and spread to other sections of the station, witnesses said there were several explosions from the arms store fuelling the inferno at the station.

Eye witness said it took the intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service to stop the fire

from spreading to other sections of the police station.

The Lagos State fire service responded with two trucks to put out the fire Police officials who restricted movement of people to the station declined to comment on the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Lagos state Police Command, DSP Ngozi Braid, who was contacted for confirmation said she has not been briefed on the incident but promised to find out and get back.

Meanwhile , a police officer at the station who spoke on condition of anonymity, told newsmen they were still investigating the cause of the fire incident.

L-R: Vice president, Retail Business, Schneider Electric Tonye Briggs and Country President Marcel Hochet ; National President, Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN) Otunba Dele Akintola, and national vice president LECAN Engr Abdullahi Edochie, during the presentation of the Merit Award plaque to Schneider Electric during the award dinner organised by LECAN in Abuja weekend PHOTO byPHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI

SLAIN: Gunmen Kill Health Technology Lecturer

BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

Unknown gunmen at the weekend killed a lecturer, Ishiaku Garba at his residence in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The victim who lectures with Shehu Idris College of Health Technology, Makarfi, was, according to family sources, killed at about 9pm on Saturday at his Kinkinau GRA residence shortly after returning from Asham prayers.

The source disclosed that “ Mallam Garba rushed home to attend to a call from his family member that some ‘visitors’ were waiting for him, but unknown to him, the ‘visitors’ turned out to be the gunmen who had gained entrance to his house and held his

wife ransom, seized her phone which was used to place the call after collecting unspecified amount of money and other valuables from the wife.

“Mallam Ishiaku ran into the ambush situation and was made to surrender his phone and money before he was finally shot dead by the assailants in his room.

It would be recalled that just last week, the General Manager of the New Democrat, a Kaduna- based newspaper, Uztaz Yunus, was also killed at his residence by yet- to- be identified gunmen.

Meanwhile, the District Head of Ungwan Muazu and Cikasauron Zazzau, Alh Ahmed Aliyu Idris, while confirming the incident of the killed lecturer, described it as unfortunate the way and manner human life is devalued.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, FCT, Mr John Chukwu, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Macjohn Nwaobiala, director-gender, Development Department, FCTA, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, during the 5th speech/ prize giving day/graduation ceremony 2014 of Doveland International School in Abuja. PHOTO

BY PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI.

ROBBERY: Taraba Police Kill One, Arrest 7 Others

By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo

A joint patrol team of army and police, has gunned down one suspected armed robber and arrested a gang of seven other notorious bandits that have been terrorising motorists and passers-by in Garba Chede, Bali Local Government of Taraba State.

Confirming the incident to LEADERSHIP in a telephone interview on Sunday in Jalingo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joseph Kwaji, said the notorious armed robbers, were said to have attacked one Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar of the Central Mosque area of Garba-Chede, threatening to kill him

if he refused to offer them a ransom.

“The Alhaji managed to escape and quickly informed the police and a join team of police and army operatives went to the house and in the cross-exchange of guns between the armed robbers and security operatives, their ring-leader, one Danladi Lasisi, was shot dead and the seven others were were arrested” Kwaji said.

It was gathered that the armed robbers numbering about eight were said to have blocked the major highway in Garba Chede and robbed residents and travelers alike for several hours before the arrival of the security operatives.

L-R : Chairperson of the occasion and dean, Faculty of Science, Uniabuja, Dr Rebecca Ndana; principal, Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Dukpa, Mrs Halima Suleman and representative of director, Secondary Education Board, Mr Robert Order, at the 3rd graduation of Government Girls Secondary, School, Dukpa in Abuja

ASSASSINation: 80-yr-old Victim’s Mother, Wife Killed By: Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Suspected hired assassins on Sunday killed an 80-year-old mother and a 40-year-old wife of a land speculator (name withheld) in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The suspected assassins had stormed the house of the land speculator at Olorunsogo area in the state capital and decided to kill the people when they could not find him.

Eye witness said that the alleged assassins stormed the eight- room bungalow of the land speculator about 3.00am, demanding for him.

The wife was said to have been killed first by the assassins who believed the man was hiding somewhere in the house as

they reportedly thought their action might provoke him (the man) to come out.

The source added that the man’s mother was also killed by the assassins after she reportedly came out of her room to inquire what the matter was when she heard loud cries of the housewife and the commotion in the house.

The assassins were said to have thereafter left the house without picking any item.

Although efforts at getting the duo’s real names were unsuccessful as emotion was still high in the house by press time, sources revealed that the assassins killed them in anger for missing their target, the land speculator.

L-R : High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Nigeria, Lulu Louis Mnguni, presenting a gift to one of the award winners in the Nelson Mandela Children Art & Writing workshop, Master IIerioluwa Abayomi, organised by 2014 Mandela International Day Celebration held in Abuja weekend.

10 News north-central

Monday, July 21, 2014

Why I Agreed To Contest Niger-East Senatorial Byelection – Umaru

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The governorship candidate of the defunct ANPP and senatorial aspirant in Niger-east zone, Barrister David Umaru has said that he is contesting the senatorial seat for the love of the people.

Umaru, who said he formally yielded to the pressure on him to contest the senatorial byelection following the death of Senator Dahiru Aweisu Kuta last month, spoke while addressing his supporters at the end of his consultation over the weekend in Minna.

He said his acceptance was based on his discussions with the late Dahiru Aweisu in his lifetime and the dreams the late senator had for the people, as well as the need to usher into Niger State people-ori-

short news Council Trains 50 Farmers On New Technique Of Growing Vegetables The chairman of Kanam local government of Plateau State, Hon Ado Yusuf Danboyi has disclosed that the council has approved the training of over 50 farmers by the Agriculture Service Training Centre (ASTC) on new techniques of farming vegetables and other food crops to boost agriculture in the rural areas.

Danboyi made the disclosure while speaking to LEADERSHIP in Jos yesterday.

According to him, about 80% of the population of Kanam council area are farmers.

By Achor Abimaje, Jos

ented politics.

He added that in honour of the late senator and in order not to let down the people who had been pressurising him to contest the by-election since the death of Senator Dahiru Kuta, he had accepted to work for the people.

“Wherever late Senator Dahiru is today, he will be happy that I have accepted the call of the people because based on our discussions when he was alive, I know he would have supported the decision to go after the desire of the people,” he stated.

While admonishing his supporters to take the contest as their own, Barrister Umaru said that Niger State is in the threshold of people-oriented politics and all should embrace it.

Boko Haram: Group Seeks Security For Schools, Villages The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has called on the federal government, the military and the police to provide security cover for all schools and villages in the troubled North-eastern states.

This, it said, is necessary to save innocent lives and properties.

The group in a statement by its coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim acknowledged the effort of the government and security agencies so far in fighting the insurgents, but said that “practical strategies need to be evolved to save more lives by implementing our recommendations.”

It urged President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgency pay a solidarity visit to Chibok, Borno State to see the parents of the abducted students in addition to the good promises he has made on their education and welfare.

“The Presidential visit will convince not only the parents but also the entire Nigerians whereever they are that Mr President cares for them. This is in line with our valued culture as empathy and sincere concern is manifested through such act”, the group noted.

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

short news UNDP, Youth Ministry, YIAGA Call For Youth Inclusion In 2015 Elections The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Democratic Governance for Democracy (DGD) have supported a brainstorming session of the Ministry of Youth Development and Youth Initiative For Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) towards ensuring youths’ participation in the 2015 and 2019 elections.

The two-day programme which began in Keffi, Nasarawa State on July 17 was sponsored by the UNDP/ DGD with support from the UKaid, CIDA, UNDP and the EU, as a platform towards ensuring youth participation in the 2015 democratic process.

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

L-R: Former Kogi State first lady, Aisha Emeje, Director of Policy and Implementation, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Aina Emmanuel, and proprietress, Tophill Schools, Kate Nomwhange, at the dinner and launch of a magazine, ‘The Search Light,’ in Abuja weekend. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI..

DPP Youth Wing, Tarok Nation Condemn Attack On Gen JT Useni

By Achor Abimaje, Jos

The youth wing of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Plateau State chapter, and the entire Tarok Nation has condemned in totality the attack on the residence of their leader, Gen. Jeremiah Useni, describing it as unwarranted and condemn able by all law abiding citizens of the country.

Addressing journalists in Jos yesterday, the youth leader, Mr Oscar Nanmwa recalled that the PDP government in Plateau State had imposed a chairman on them who did not win the February 25 Langtang North local government election and was sworn in after PDP had gone to court to seek an order of mandamus which was thrown out for lack of merit by the court.

“Despite this open and unwarranted provocation by not allowing the will of the people as expressed during the election to prevail, we remain calm and law

abiding and heeded the appeal of our leaders, especially Gen. JT Useni, Gen. JN Temlong and Chief Dan Dul, who urged us to remain calm since the matter is before the election petition tribunal and we should not do anything that will jeopardise the course of justice.”

The youths stressed that they were shocked and saddened by the unwarranted attack on the house of their leader last Wednesday, and expressed the hope that it was not an attempt to silence the opposition by cowardly intimidating them in the state.

“We will resist any such attempt and will not be intimidated by whatsoever means as we urge the state government to take immediate steps to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.”

DPP youth wing further appealed to the government to resist the attempt of giving tacit or passive acquiescence to those who believes they are above

the law and can do anything to achieve their aims adding that this will not augur well for our attempt to entrenched Democracy and good governance in the country, but a sure recipe to anarchy.

Meanwhile the Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council, Hon.Godwin Nanmwa Kumzhi has dismissed insinuation in some quarter that it was PDP that carried out the attack on the residence of Gen. JT Useini in Langtang North LGC. He also condemned the assassination attempt by unknown gunmen in the area describing its as undemocratic and uncivilized stressing the commitment of the Local government in pursuing of peace, Justice and equity for all.

Hon Kumzhi who stated this while speaking to newsmen in Jos said such act was capable of plunging a local government into crisis.

236 PDP Members Defect To APC In Kwara

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Two hundred and thirty-six members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The decampees attributed their decision to move en masse to APC to PDP leaders’ insensitivity to their plight.

The defectors, mostly youths from Ajanaku ward in Ilorin South local government area, claimed to be members of Solidarity Oba Abu Youth Vanguard.

Professor Oba AbdulRaheem is the chairman, Federal Character Commission and a leader of PDP in

the state.

The former PDP members were received into APC by the chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Sulaiman Yusuf.

The decampees noted that the PDP “lacks organisation, team work, credibility and service to humanity which are core values that keep Senator Bukola Saraki’s team soaring high”.

They lamented that the party’s leaders “lack sincerity and do not have our interest at heart. They only make empty promises to gain popularity and followership amongst the youths of the community”.

While declaring support for Dr Bukola Saraki, the group’s chair-

man, Usman Olaiya explained that they have nothing to show for their support for PDP leaders.

“They are so self-centered and greedy; they only want to benefit from us and care less about the situation of our group or the ward we represent, and we are made to put a stop to this by declaring for Sen Abubakar Bukola Saraki,” they stated.

The woman leader of the group, Fatimoh Jimoh, pointed out that the party has not work out programmes that would benefit the youths and the women of her ward.

Receiving the decampees, Alhaji Yusuf, assured them of complete integration and fulfillment of their aspirations.

11

Monday, July 21, 2014

OSHIMILI SOUTH PDP STAKEHOLDERS ASABA, DELTA STATE National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, National Secretariat, Plot 1970 Wadata Plaza, Michael Okpara Street,.

Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

1st July, 2014

Sir,

FORGERY, IMPOSITION, DISENFRANCHISEMENT AND FRAUDULENT MANIPULATION OF ELECTORAL PROCESS FOR THE FORTH COMING DELTA STATE OSHIMILI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL PRIMARIES We the concerned stakeholders and PDP members of Oshimili-South Local Government Area hereby wish to write on the above subject matter.

1.

That the Oshimili-South Local Government Area PDP Executive list is suspected to have been altered and or forged as the names at No.2 of the original list Miss Nkem Eboka placed as Vice Chairman was found in the altered or forged list but presently holds the position of Financial Secretary. b.

At No 5. of the original list Mrs. Bridget Makwe who was replaced as the Woman leader with Mrs. Ngozi Nwabuonwor c.

At No. 6 of the original list Mr. Afam Okpunor was replaced with Mr. Uche Onuorah as Youth leader d.

At No. 8 of the original Iist Mrs Elizabeth Obi was placed at the forged list as Asst. Publicity Secretary instead of Asst Financial Secretary e.

At No. 18 of the original list Mr. D.O Ijeh placed as Financial Secretary was placed as Ex-officio in the forged list While Sunday Ikechukwu Nwosa whose name neither appeared on both lists now holds the position of Ex-officio at the Local Government PDP. irregularities/ forgery perptuated.

2.

That we were shocked and dismayed as Party members and concerned stakeholders of OshimiliSouth Local Government to note that OshimHi-South Local Government Area PDP Chairman Mr. Ebialim Maduemezia aka (Apki) connived with some individuals and hijacked and or bought all the Local Government Chairmanship and Fourteen (14) Councillorship nomination forms meant for aspirants for the forth coming Local Government elections, thereby disenfranchising aspirants access to the forms for primaries and inferentially from contesting the election.

That the Local Government chairman Mr. Ebialim Maduemezia had previously tendered the altered/ forged Oshimili-South Local Government PDP Executive list with which he obtained judgement in a civil matter in court.

We attach the original and suspected forged copies of Oshimili South Local Government PDP Executive list supposedly from the PDP National Headquarters Abuja, for your perusal and marked annexure “A” and “B” respectively.

Prayers: That the neferou s criminal activities of Mr. Ebialim Macluemezia in the act suspected forgery of Oshimili-South Local Governm ent Area PDP Executive list should be investigated and culprits brought to book.

That the suspected forged party Executive Iist which had been used to secure judgement in favour of Mr. Ebialim Macluemczia should be viewed as perjury as he deposed to an affidavit with the said forged list, knowing sa me to be false.

That these brazen acts of reckless impunity, arrogance nd imposition by the local Government PDP chairman which have sent wrong signals to political stakeholders and the community at large, tend to mar the transparent agenda of our National Chairman.

3.

4.

2.

3.

4.

It should be recalled that the protracted Intra Party problems that subsisted for years in Delta State are similar to the aforementioned acts of indiscipline exhibited by Mr. Ebialim Madumezia. Furthermore the reconciliation process achieved and the existing unity now can be put to test if these issues are not swiftly and properly addressed in concert with the position of National leadership of the Party advocating an all inclusive level playing ground for all political Aspirants for elective offices, as the 2015 election is by the corner.

Accept the best wishes and assurances of our Peace Loving PDP Members.

12

PDP Behind Impeachment Plot – Oyo APC

The chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke, has described reports of the purported impeachment move by the lawmakers as one of the antics of the PDP to set the state on edge and return it to its “eight years of PDP reign when life was nasty, brutish and short.”

The party chairman, in a statement yesterday, said that the 18-member APC caucus in the state House of Assembly was a team of principled politicians, reliable party ambassadors and responsible representatives of the people.

According to him, the lawmakers who are members of the party representing various constituencies in the State House of Assembly have proved to the world that they are indeed working for the people by rising in unison to discredit a sponsored story published by a national daily earlier in the week, ostensibly to forge an alliance against the APC and Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Monday, July 21, 2014

Erosion: FG Visits Devastated Edo Community, Promises Assistance

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

Relief came the way of victims of last week’s devastating flood in Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo local government area of Edo State as the federal government has promised financial assistance to victims.

This was made known by the assistant zonal coordinator, South-South of National Emergency Management Agen-

cy (NEMA), Godwin Tepikor who was led on an on-the-spot assessment of the area by the senator representing the area, Domingo Obende and Peter Akpatason representing Akoko Edo Federal Constituency on Saturday.

Tepikor, who was conducted round the sites of the flood disaster, assured the victims of government’s assistance. “It is a natural disaster and when

you say natural disaster, it is not within the control of human beings. It has happened and that is why we are here as an intervention agency to see for ourselves and do an on-the-spot assessment and report back to the government. As soon as we are through with the paper work, they will hear from the government,’’ he said.

Obende stated that records were being taken to ensure

that those who lost houses and properties were adequately compensated.

He led the team to victims still in the hospital where he paid their bills and also offered financial support to the families of the dead for burial expenses.

“The agency is right here with us going all over the place to see the extent of damage done by the flood and to know the financial cost”.

APC, PDM Members Defect To PDP In Katsina

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

No fewer than 5,000 members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC ) and the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) have dumped the parties for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mashi council area of Katsina State.

The decampees were received over the weekend by the Katsina State PDP chairman, Rabiu Gambo Bakori and the chief of

staff in the Katsina Government House, Salisu Yusuf Majigiri during the presentation of PDP flags to councillorship candidates in the area ahead of the forthcoming council elections.

Receiving the decampees, chief of staff in the Katsina State Government House, Salisu Yusuf Majiri, a former chairman of Mashi council area, said the PDP remained the only national party that has linkages across the length and breadth

of Nigeria.

“PDP has no ethnic, regional or religious affiliations. It is the party for all Nigerians and the fact that we have succeeded in delivering dividends of democracy in the state and the nation in general is a clear indication that the PDP has solutions to Nigeria’s problems.”

Majigiri insisted that the PDP is the party to beat and expressed optimism that it will clinch all the chairmanship and

also be 80 this year. My dad was particularly close to the late Malam Turi Muhammadu who was also his editor and managing director after Mamman Daura. There was a particular kind of kinship between him and Malam Turi. I remember that it was Malam Turi that got me into Government College, Kaduna.

When I was a little boy, my father always entertained every visitor to our house with my school report cards. That was so particularly when I was in Government College, Kaduna, where I took first in class from my first examination in Form 1 to my finalyear examination in Form 5.

Whenever any visitor came in, he would scream my name and ask me to go and bring my report card. My card became the equivalent of drinks

for the visitors. He did this so subconsciously that, I think, he might have offended a few of his friends. But he was too proud a father to notice. He didn’t choose a career path for me, however. He left that to me and I did it all alone.

There are two attainments my father remains very proud of. The first is understandably my becoming a newspaper proprietor; I think this should go without saying.

And the second is the conferment on me of the traditional title of Kakaki Nupe by the Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr Yahaya Abubakar.

At 80, he is now frail, weakened the more by arthritis.

But he has never been afflicted by most of the other oldage sicknesses like high blood pressure, diabetes and back

councillorship seats in the state ahead of the forthcoming council elections, even as he lauded the developmental strides of the PDP government in the state.

Earlier, leader of the APC decampees, Zayyana Lawal Mashi and his counterpart from the PDM, Salmanu Marke said their decision to join PDP was in appreciation of the developmental strides recorded in Mashi council area and the state in general.

My Father At 80 FROM BACK PAGE

as managing editor before he was poached by his friend, Dr Haroun Adamu, who had been given an assignment by the then governor, Abubakar Rimi, to start The Triumph, the national newspaper out of Kano during the Second Republic. In The Triumph, he was the managing editor and acted as managing director on occasion. In 1983, Governor Solomon Lar called him and offered him the job of managing director of the Standard newspaper in Jos, then a national newspaper out of Jos. Lar was to make the announcement of the appointment in the New Year, but that was not to be as the military terminated the life of the Second Republic on the last day of the year.

My father remains a newspaperman till today.

His main preoccupation these days is going through all the pages of LEADERSHIP to fish out errors. He sometimes gets quite upset at the kind of flaws he sees and, a few times, he has threatened to march on LEADERSHIP to take over the job of editing the paper himself.

For politics, my father “swears” by Malam Adamu

Ciroma who was also his editor and managing director at the New Nigerian. Ciroma, who is now the Galadiman Fika, was in fact the first indigenous editor and managing director of the New Nigerian. Dad still speaks glowingly of Malam Adamu Ciroma’s leadership qualities and integrity. In 1979, he was pained that Ciroma did not get the NPN presidential ticket and I remember him telling all his friends then that Nigeria had missed a good president. Subsequent events were to prove him right. Up until very recently, he still believed that Adamu Ciroma was the best material on offer for the presidency. When I told Malam Ciroma about this, he simply laughed and said they (he and my father) knew themselves very well. Adamu Ciroma will

My father during his early days in the New Nigerian

pain. He remains mentally and intellectually sound.

I tease several 80-year-olds that they are doing a third term. As my father clocks 80, this is one third term that I gladly approve of. Thank you Dad.

Choosing Between A Corrupt But Competent President And An Incompetent President FROM BACK PAGE

ernors or even give the governors the option of declaring for the PDP if they wanted to escape impeachment, as was done to Governor Murtala Nyako. And a president would need to be extremely incompetent to think that he could encour-

age the impeachment of all opposition governors and nothing would happen, even if that was obviously dumb. It takes extraordinary incompetence to think that you could organise the impeachment of governors Nyako, Al-Makura, Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Okorocha, Oshiomhole, AbdulFatah and Ajimobi, all of

them opposition governors, and nothing would happen. As I write this, members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, who should be answering questions from the EFCC if the country were working for their role in the N30 billion bond, are being prepared to impeach Governor Al-Makura from Abuja.

news north-East, north-west 13

Monday, July 21, 2014

New UNIMAID VC Visits Skekarau

Impeachment: Jigawa Assembly Reiterates Support For Lamido BYMUH’D ZANGINA KURA, DUTSE

As some of the state assemblies across the country are at loggerheads with their governors over impeachment, the Jigawa State House of Assembly has reiterated its support for Governor Sule Lamido.

This was disclosed by the speaker, Jigawa State House of Assembly, Adamu Ahmad Sar-

awa while delivering his speech at Ramadan Breakfast organised by the Jigawa State government at Government House, Dutse.

He said that under any circumstance they would stand by their governor who they believe is a patriotic and exemplary leader.

Sarawa described as unfortunate the crisis rocking their col-

leagues in some states and their governors which is halting the development of the affected states as well as jeopardising the future of the country’s democracy.

He said, “In Jigawa State this can never happen as the House is in cordial relationship with our capable and able governor who transformed the state within a short period of time.

“Our governor deserve all necessary support and respect particularly looking at how he is allowing the state assembly to exercise its statutory duties without any interference.

“Therefore I want to assure you that Jigawa State Assembly is in support of our governor 100 per cent and we will keep supporting him to deliver Jigawa State to the Promised Land.”

L–R: Mallam Mai Ungwan Yanman Barnawa, Malam Bashir Ibrahim, Head Shagari Low Cost, Barnawa, Alhaji Mohamend Abubakar, Director, Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) Mr, Abel Adejoe and Programe, (NSRP), Mr Hanatu Essien, at the lauching of Peace Club in Kaduna yesterday, photo by gbenga

short news Taraba Acting Gov Promises To Deal With Troublemakers The acting governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar has vowed that his administration was ready to deal with any individual or group found engaging in any act that is capable of causing destruction of lives and property in the state.

Umar, who stated this yesterday in Jalingo during a security meeting with security chiefs, religious leaders, local government chairmen and traditional rulers, noted that government would do everything within its power to strengthen security agencies in the state.

By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo

Emir Sanusi Begins Special Palace Sitting At Night

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano

The emir of Kano, His Eminence, Muhammad Sanusi II, has on Thursday, begun a historic traditional palace sitting at night which allow the people of Kano to meet with the emir and pay their respect.

It was an old tradition that at every twentieth of Ramadan, a special palace sitting will be held at night from 10:00pm.

This palace is located inside the emir’s house and it takes the emir a few walks from his apartment to

the palace that is at the south end of the house.

It has also been a practice that the emir will sit for two hours in that palace to receive different types of group of people, common men and special people who were in the palace to extend their greetings to the emir for the special period of fasting.

This palace sitting is different from others simply because the emir was attending night sitting to meet with his subjects and friends and not the usual palace work.

Emir Sanusi II, didn’t hesitate

to continue with all the traditional functions that are in place and even revisited ones that were abandoned such as visiting ‘Babban Daki’.

LEADERSHIP was reliably informed that many quarters have the belief that Emir Sanusi will spearhead the continuous influence of the Kano palace and take it to new levels.

Our reporter who visited the palace observed that late Ado Bayero was a flamboyant emir like, the present emir, Muhammad Sanusi.

Nyako’s Removal Shows Democracy In Action, PDP Insists

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

The uproar over the removal of former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, continued yesterday as the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maintained that Nyako’s removal was an act of democracy, exonerating the presidency or PDP national leadership from any involvement.

They however accused the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) which had accused the presidency and national leadership of PDP of masterminding and bankrolling Nyako’s impeachment, of

suffering from the realisation that their perceived dominance of the political space has collapsed.

PDP further said it was unfortunate that the APC having claimed to be championing the rights of the people had turned against the constitutionally guaranteed right of the people to withdraw legitimacy through impeachment and recall.

The spokesman of the PDP, Oliseh Metuh in a statement said, “The impeachment of the former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako is an act of democracy.

It is a constitutional right granted exclusively to the people of Ad-

amawa State and no other. This, they exercised through the votes of the overwhelming majority of the elected members of the State House of Assembly who also accorded rule of law and due process the rightful place in removing Nyako.

“Therefore, allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC), linking the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan to this are purely escapist and can only come from revisionists and reactionary forces, the unmasked pretenders to democracy.”

short news Bauchi Govt Urges Wealthy Individuals To Establish Private Schools Bauchi State government has charged businessmen and well to do individuals to establish more private schools in the state so as to complement government’s efforts in revamping the education sector in the state.

State commissioner of education, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammed Aminu gave the charge over the weekend during the first speech and prize giving day and launching of appeal fund for a boarding private secondary school in Bauchi, Giwo Science Academy.

By Najib Sani, Bauchi

The new vice chancellor of University of Maiduguri(UNIMAID), Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, has visited the new minister of education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, in Abuja.

Njodi and his team were received at the Federal Ministry of Education by the permanent secretary, Dr. MacJohn Naismith, and the director, Human Resources, Dr. M.B. Umar.

The vice chancellor’s mission was to congratulate the minister on his appointment which took place only a few days earlier.

The vice chancellor said Shekarau’s appointment as minister of education, would revolutionise the education sector in Nigeria and declared his readiness to work with the minister for the development of education in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the minister of education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekaru, thanked Njodi for the visit and said that it would require much work to transform the country’s education sector.

To achieve the objective, the minister disclosed that “We need comfort and peace of mind, knowing that whatever happens in the ministry will definitely affect learning in the classroom”.

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

I’m In APC For Development-Ex – Naval Chief Former chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibrahim Ishaya Iko has said that he was in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the purpose of development in Kaduna State.

This is just as he also stated that the APC was not a Muslim party but a political party that has all Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliations in its fold.

The former naval chief insisted that his desire for the development of Kaduna State forced him into the APC. In an interview with our correspondent in Kaduna, the former navy chief said the APC remained the avenue through which he can contribute immensely to the development of Southern Kaduna.

“I am used to hearing that but the world knew it is not so. There is no religious party in our polity, because religion is not a pre-requisite for registering political party. I am a Christian and I don’t know what that entails, I have people here of different religions and it is not our focus, all we want is to free our communities and some people are talking religion.

“We are gathered here in love, unity of purpose to move our state forward and my interest again is to help develop Southern Kaduna in several ways and take our destinies in our hands as a people and not talking about religion and ethnicity.

By Midat Joseph, Kaduna

14

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NEWS/BUSINESS 15

Monday, July 21, 2014

business news

Local Content: DPR Lauds Indigenous Firms Participation In Oil, Gas

By Juliet Alohan, Abuja

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has expressed satisfaction over the increased involvement of indigenous firms in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

The department made this position known when it threw its weight behind the forthcoming Upstream and Downstream (U&P) Oil and Gas Exhibition organised

by an indigenous company, West Africa Exhibition and Conferences (WAECON).

The DPR noted that WAECON, which was in its fourth series, was a laudable initiative and effort which was in line with the Nigerian Local Content Act of 2010. A statement signed on behalf of the director, DPR, by Mrs P Maseli, while urging the organisers to build on the success so far achieved, noted that

by doing so, more international investors could be attracted to the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

In his reaction, WEACON director of events, Kune Igoni, pointed out that DPR’s endorsement of the event reaffirmed the strong conviction that indigenous firms were able to organise major events in the industry successfully like their foreign counterparts.

Poor Corporate Governance Sinks N32.7bn Capcom Telecom Merger

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos

The crash of the (N32.70bn) $210 million telecom merger that would have transformed Starcomms Plc, Multi-Links Ltd and MTS First Wireless into Capcom, Nigeria’s largest Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) data operator has been blamed on poor corporate governance and investors’ cold feet after financial mismanagement of injected funds.

A fortnight ago, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) introduced a code of corporate governance to guide

and protect telecom operating companies from failure, which if the key players in Starcomms deal had adhered to, would have averted the collapse of the Capcom merger.

Capcom had planned to invest $210million consisting selected assets of Multi-Links and MTS, two Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators valued at $112million and $98million in cash into Starcomms as part of the proposed transaction.

Starcomms issued shares representing 90.5 per cent of the total new share capital to Capcom in exchange for its investment before the deal went sour.

Lady Mechanics Urged to Key Into Spare Parts Manufacturing Policy Of Govt

By Kingsley Alu, Abuja

Lady mechanics in the country have been urged to key into the manufacturing policy and the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan(NIRP) of the federal government.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga stated this during the visit of the group managing director of Sandex Car Care (Lady Mechanic Initiative),Mrs Sandra Aguebor-EKperouh to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

“You can diversify into spare part manufacturing business based on the fact that, the skills you acquire in the auto industry can be used in so many areas, that is why the auto industry is known to be the beginning of industrialisation,” he said, while assuring that the ministry would provide necessary support to the association through its agencies to train more lady mechanics through the programme of ITF, NAC and SMEDAN. He added that SMEDAN, NAC would be on hand to provide the enabling environment for trainees to have access to loans under 10 per cent and bankable plan that would enable them create more employment and wealth in the country.

“What you are doing is very important and commendable. You are doing a terrific job and something that is unique in the world which had made you a big ambassador of Nigeria. We admire you and your ladies,” he added.

Earlier, the founder of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, Mrs Sandra Aguebor-Ekperoun, had pointed out that the target of the association was to increase the number of ladies training, opening of modern auto workshop in strategic states of the federation and partnering with government in some area of needs to achieve their aims.

“We need the assistance of government to acquire equipment, space to build our workshop and access to the grant/loan of BOI through NAC,” she said.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

L-R; Managing director/chief executive officer, lnternet Exchange Point of Nigeria, Mohammed Rudman; Ag. National Coordinator, Office for Nigerian Content Development (ONC), Mr. lnye Kemabonta; President, lnternet Services Providers’ Association of Nigeria, Mr. Sunday Folayan and Chief Operating Officer/Secretary, Nigeria lnternet Registration Assocition (NIRA), Mrs Edith Udeagu at the Stakeholder Consultative Forum on lCT Services in Lagos. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA

Afam’s TAM To Cut Power Supply By 415MW

By Juliet Alohan, Abuja

The shutdown of the 415 megawatt (MW) Afam power plant will result in a 10-day nationwide power rationing, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has said.

The TCN in a statement yesterday explained that the shutdown became necessary due to routine maintenance work at the Okoloma Gas Plant which supplies gas to Afam Power Plant.

Okoloma Gas Plant is operated

by Shell Petroleum Development

Company (SPDC).

“The TCN wishes to inform the general public that due to unavoidable drop in the quantity of power available for TCN to transmit to the distribution companies, there will be nationwide load shedding for 10 days, from 6am, Sunday, July 20 to Wednesday, July 30, 2014,” the statement said.

“The expected reduction in power generation will result from the shutdown of the 415MW Afam Power Plants, following routine

maintenance work at the Okoloma Gas Plant, which supplies gas to Afam Power Plant,” the statement added.

While expressing its regrets over the inconveniences the development would cause to the federal government and its esteemed customers nationwide, the TCN added that it was however expected that the power plant would commence generation on Thursday, July 31, 2014, when gas supply from Okoloma Gas Plant would have resumed.

FG, Bayelsa Sign MoU To Reduce Telecom Levies By 50%

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos

The federal government through the ministry of communication technology and Bayelsa State government at the weekend signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reduce the telecommunication levies charged operators in the state by 50 per cent as part of the initiative to make Bayelsa a smart state.

The ministry and the Broadband Council is promoting a “Smart State’’ initiative geared at engaging governors and relevant authorities at the state and federal levels to address the issue of multiple taxation

impeding the acceleration of the roll out of critical infrastructure across Nigeria.

The main aim of the Smart State initiative is to ensure that effective measures are adopted to remove arbitrary charges and eradicate multiple taxation across the nation.

Bayelsa is one of the smart states selected by the Broadband Council to facilitate ICT infrastructure roll out critical for development. Others selected by the Broadband Council include Anambra, Gombe, Katsina and Ondo. Lagos has already reduced Right of Way (RoW) charges by 85 per cent.

The MoU was signed during

the Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum held over the weekend in Bayelsa.

The minister of communication technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, at the BSIEF 2014 forum in Bayelsa made a presentation on ‘Technology Infrastructure & e-commerce Growth.’ She highlighted the current scenario and future opportunities in the Nigerian ICT Industry, the growth prospects, primary drivers and factors influencing adoption of e-commerce in Nigeria and the communication technology ministry’s role in facilitating ICT development and e-commerce growth in Nigeria.

16 NEWS/BUSINESS

Monday, July 21, 2014

World Bank Raises Infrastructure Heirs Holdings To Develop 10,000 Leading African Entrepreneurs Mr Tony Elumelu, chairman continent.

Spend To $24bn of Heirs Holdings disclosed Elumelu, who was fielding

BY Friday Atufe, Lagos

BY ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New York

The World Bank Group yesterday announced that its financing commitments in roads, bridges, energy, clean water, and other critical infrastructure projects grew by 45 per cent to $24.2 billion in the fiscal year 2014, up from $16.7 billion in the previous year.

The jump in financing was due to increased demand from developing countries, a statement obtained from the global bank by our correspondent in New York said.

According to the statement, the increase comes against a backdrop of an overall decline in private sector investment in infrastructure across the developing world.

Such investments–including through public-private partnerships–are considered critical in reducing poverty.

Commitments to publicprivate partnerships (PPPs) and fully private projects declined by nearly 20 per cent, from $181 billion in 2012, to $146 billion in 2013, according to World Bank Group estimates.

The increase in World Bank Group financing marks the highest level of infrastructure-related lending by the World Bank Group since 2011, with the bulk of investment focused on energy and transport projects. Reacting to the announcement, World Bank President, Dr Jim Yong Kim, said that it was clear developing countries badly needed more infrastructure, stressing that the bank was stepping up with more financing to provide clean drinking water for families, electricity so that children could study at night, and better roads so that farmers could get goods to markets.

Apparently concerned about the dearth of committed and disciplined entrepreneurs to harness the vast resources in the African continent, Heirs Holdings Limited, a leading PanAfrican proprietary investment company has concluded plans to develop 10,000 strong Africa entrepreneurs such as the likes of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) at about $100 million in the next 10 years.

this in Lagos at the weekend while addressing journalists at a breakfast interactive session.

The 10,000 entrepreneurs would be mentored, trained and developed at African Capitalism Institute through a landmark entrepreneurship programme.

Entrepreneurship has been identified as one of the challenges facing small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria among other countries in the

questions from senior business journalists identified three key areas under his Africapitalism initiatives: Touching lives through shared prosperity, creating an enabling environment for African business to thrive and grow and his desire and commitment to create and develop 10,000 leading entrepreneurs in a bid to leave a strong and lasting legacy on the African continent.

ICAN Raises Alarm Over Proliferation Of Foreign Accountancy Bodies

BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has raised the alarm over proliferation of foreign accountancy bodies operating in Nigeria without the required enabling Act from the National Assembly.

The Institute in a statement signed by its senior manager, Corporate Communications Mrs Bunmi Owolabi, made available to Journalists said only two bodies were chartered in the country by the legislature to license professional accountants.

According to the statement: “These bodies are The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).

“Students who sit the examinations of foreign professional bodies cannot practice in Nigeria without being admitted as members of ICAN or ANAN. In the public interest, ICAN will still test candidates in subjects peculiar to the Nigerian

market and assure that required experience is obtained before candidates are licensed to practice.”

ICAN stated that under the 2014 examination syllabus of ICAN, holders of ACCA and many other foreign professional accountancy certificates would still be tested in Business Law (BL), Advanced Taxation (ATAX) and Public Sector Accounting and Finance (PSAF), while CIMA holders would in addition, be tested in Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA).

According to the institute: “The examination syllabus and education requirements of ICAN are guided by International Federation of Accountants’(IFAC) International Education Standards for Professional Accountants issued by the International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB).

The statement added that ICAN as a legal entity was also a signatory to IFAC’s Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs).

Nigeria To Produce 22mts Of Food By 2015

BY Ruth Tene Natsa, Ajaokuta

The minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said that Nigeria would surpass its target to produce 22 million tonnes of additional food by 2015.

He also revealed that integrated rice mills had grown

from one to 18 in the country with lots of small -scale millers also processing the commodity.

According to him: “As at the end of 2013, 17 million tonnes of additional food had been produced since 2011 and by 2015, 22 million tonnes of additional food would be produced.’’

L-R: Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Mr Jibril Aku, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and Country Head, Personal Banking Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs Olukorede ‘Demola-Adeniyi, at the launch of Ecobank Premier Banking in Lagos. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH

BoI Tasks SMEs’ Over Contribution To GDP

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Bank of Industry (BoI) has said that emphasis would be accorded small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that add the most value to the Nigerian economy irrespective of the size of the business.

Addressing members of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) who paid him a courtesy visit over the weekend, the managing director of BoI, Rasheed Olaoluwa, noted

that SMEs had a role to play in improving Nigeria’s GDP. “We are placing a lot of emphasis on the genuine SMEs and businesses that add value to Nigeria through processing and developing the made-in-Nigeria brand. That is how we can help improve the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the GDP which is currently 6.8 per cent when those we are trying to compare ourselves with such as Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa are in the region of 15-20 per cent,” he said.

He stressed that priority support would be given to cottage industries and those SMEs that have factories which create jobs no matter how small they are.

“We have an arrangement where we lend to micro finance banks and they in turn, lend to SMEs at the bottom of the pyramid that require N100,000 - N200,000 to carry out their activities and we are calling on more micro finance banks to come on board on the scheme,” he said.

MTN Nigeria Repackages Cloud Business With New Services

by Chima Akwaja, Lagos

MTN Nigeria through its MTN Business has enhanced its cloud offering with the addition of five new services to the MTN Cloud bouquet. The services, which range from marketing tools to security and accounting products, aim to simplify and improve how customers run their businesses.

Among the new Cloud services on offer are marketing automation tool which would enable businesses to send customised messages and

campaign information to up to 1000 contacts, a financial accounting service, which will enable businesses to manage customers, suppliers and inventory items online. Both services are available in English and French languages.

The other new services include is a lightweight customer relationship management tool, enabling businesses to perform actions including sales tracking, a collaboration tool which allows individuals in the business to share files and a security tool

which provides encryption and lightweight packet inspection services.

The five new services are available in all nine markets where MTN offers Cloud services i.e.

Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Cameroon, Guinea Conakry, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Swaziland. The MTN Cloud services bouquet also includes MTN Cloud Email, which allows businesses to access their email accounts from anywhere via the desktop application or online via web access.

BUSINESS/insurance 17

Monday, July 21, 2014

New Wave Of Piracy, Kidnapping Threatens Marine Insurance Stories By Chika Izuora, Lagos

Security challenges along Nigeria’s territorial waters is raising concern in the insurance industry with fear that piracy might wreck the industry’s marine portfolio.

As a result of the new wave of piracy and kidnapping, the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) is taking steps to widen the scope of its members’ understanding of marine insurance business

to be on top of the situation.

The association advised that one of the ways to face the challenge is to be professional, exhibit best practices and adopt scientific models of pricing insurance products.

The chairman of the NIA Marine Offices Committee, Mr Charles Nwanze, in his 2013/2014 committee report also charged marine insurers to address the increasing wreck removal costs and the associated

insurance implications in the context of the economic and regulatory challenges facing both shipping and the insurance industries.

Nwanze stressed the need for marine insurers to adopt prudent underwriting, risk assessment and appropriate pricing initiatives.

He also noted with concern the flow of marine insurance business which is predicted to shift to Asia /Pacific in 2020 with China most likely to dominate

the Asian market in view of the profitability of cargo insurance in that market as against Latin America and European markets.

According to him, by the year 2020, Asian- related trade would account for 52 per cent of the total global container flows. He identified five key success factors to this effect as risk skeleton, international footprint, claims management, competence development and service/critical size.

Nwanze, therefore, pointed out that for the Nigerian marine insurance market to be sustainable, the need for adequate training and exposure of marine underwriters in the international world for proper skill acquisition has become expedient. He said insurance underwriters should develop scientific models for adequate insurance pricing in line with the recommendations of the International Union

of Marine Insurance (IUMI).

He advised that appropriate steps should be taken to encourage thorough policing of the territorial waters to combat piracy and kidnapping currently threatening marine insurance portfolio, adding that underwriters should have proper understanding of the risk that they underwrite and that risk assessment should be taken seriously.

AIICO Insurance Grows Gross Premium By 11% AIICO Insurance Plc, offering life, non-life insurance and pension management, has announced robust balance sheet despite huge industry challenges The company which also offer health insurance and asset management said it recorded gross premium written income of N23.6 billion in the year ended December 31, 2013.

The figure represented a growth of 11 per cent while net income also rose by 13 per cent to close at N18.2 billion, a performance that show strong ability for income generation.

Despite the growth in net premium, the company regrettably recorded a loss of N739 million in the period under review due to writeoffs and impairments. The write-offs and impairments were necessitated by a need to strengthen its balance sheet, its business model and build on AIICO’s competitive advantages in this rapidly changing operating environment, the company said.

The growth in premium, the company said, was impressive given the environment in which these growth levels were achieved as 2013 was a year in which the revenue generating ability of insurance operators significantly dropped following the implementation of the “No Premium No Cover policy” policy in the industry.

The policy which has been largely commended required that insurance companies only recognise revenues materially on a cash-andcarry basis, a policy which has changed the face of insurance business for good.

18 BUSINESS/insurance

Monday, July 21, 2014

Takaful Insurance Vs Conventional Insurance From the onset Takaful insurance is like mutual insurance, the only difference is that there is investment condition and Shariah compliance in Takaful operation whereas there is none in mutual insurance. The whole idea of Takaful operation is borne out of the objective of Shariah (Maqasid al Shariah) which suggest that a Takaful participant is consciously fulfilling a moral obligation for the betterment of the society in order to achieve public good (Maslaha) regardless of the religious backgrounds of participants in the scheme.

This idea also means that Takaful operation has some basic attributes that are at variance with conventional insurance practice. Therefore, the main differences between conventional insurance and Takaful practice are described as follows: (1) Contract difference: Takaful operation is based on mutual assistance agreement and a combination of donation (Tabarru), agency (Wakala) and or profit sharing (Mudaraba) contract between the operator and participants which is unlike the conventional insurance operation that is entirely based on sale and purchase contract between the insurer and the insured. However, a typical Takaful contract is determined by the chosen business model as described below. (2) Mutual Contribution and Donation (Tabarru): Takaful is also a contract based on mutual contribution by the participants rather than the conventional idea of sale or purchase contract between policyholders and insurers. The aspect of donation is treated in the Takaful contract agreement where each participant willfully relinquishes a certain proportion of his contribution to assist others in the scheme.

(3) Ownership of Contribution by the Participants: Takaful operators make use of participants contribution only for the intended purpose of “joint guarantee” while in conventional insurance the operator use the premium paid by policyholders in investments in order to suit his shareholders needs. (4) Share in Profit and Surplus: Takaful participants have a share in the surplus and profits of the risk and investment funds respectively based on a pre agreed ratio between the operator and the participants while in conventional insurance policyholders have no share in the business of the company.

(5) Moral obligation to the

focus on insurance

By Ahmad U. Kollere

society: Takaful participants contribute to the scheme as part of fulfilling or adhering to the injunctions drawn from the Qur’an that says “Help one another in goodness and piety but help not in sin and transgression” (Holy Quran 5:2) while in conventional insurance the insurer is driven by the desire to make profit for his company without any moral restrictions. (6) Investment of Funds: Takaful operator is strictly guided to invest his funds in accordance with the provisions of Shariah and that of prudential requirements whereas the conventional insurance operator is guided by prudential requirements only. This further indicates the existence of multiple regulatory layers. Hence, a Takaful Operator is both regulated by the appropriate government authority in the country of its operation in terms of technical soundness and also the advisory council of experts (ACE) to ensure or guide its operation towards adhering to the business ethics of Commissioner for Insura nce, Fola Daniel Islamic law (Shariah), while a conventional insurer is only regulated by in accordance with Islamic the laws of the country of its law. This rule is only applied to operation without adhering to Muslim participants whereas any divine laws. (7) Treatment non Muslim participants are of Risk: Risk is always free to appoint their chosen shared by the participants of recipient(s).

Takaful contract as opposed Takaful Business Models to the idea of risk transfer It is interesting to note practiced by the conventional that this year marks the 30th insurance. This makes it anniversary of the advent even difficult to differentiate of the pioneering Malaysian between an insurer and the Takaful Act which gave insured in Takaful scheme credence to the emergence since the risk fund is owned of the first full pledged by the participants whereas Takaful operator Syarikat the operator is only a fund Takaful Malaysia (STMB) in manager and not a risk bearer.

1984. Since then Takaful is (8) Classification of Business: increasingly taking the center The classification of Takaful stage of the interdependency business is on Family and circle of global financial market General rather than Life and players. It is on record that by General Businesses as practiced the end of 2013, the global in the conventional type. The Takaful market players have idea of applying the concept rapidly grown to constitute of Family class of Takaful more than 200 operators. business as opposed to the Takaful operations are Life business is to inculcate widely centered on four family solidarity investment business models as follows: strictly in line with the Shariah (1) Mudharaba Model (Profit provisions on inheritance. sharing business): According Therefore, the beneficiaries to Maulana Taqi Usmani of family Takaful scheme “Mudaraba is a special kind of should only be the rightful partnership where one partner inheritors of the participant gives money to another for

investing it in a commercial enterprise.

The investment comes from the first partner who is called Rabb-ul-mal (owner of fund or asset) while the management and work is an inclusive responsibility of the other, who is called Mudarib (fund or asset manager)” However, in Takaful business operation, the entire investment is provided by the participants as contribution from the owners of fund (Rabb-ul-mal), while the Takaful operator manages the investment as fund managers (Mudarib) in a Shariah complaint manner.

In this model profit is shared among the two partners (both Takaful contributor and operator) while loss is only borne by the contributors alone. If there is deficit in the risk fund, the Takaful operator is expected to inject money through an interest free loan (Qard Hasan) arrangement to settle claims. (2) Wakala Model (fee based agency): This model is somewhat similar with Mudaraba only that in wakala the investor (Rab-ul-

mal) pays a performance fee to the Takaful operator without sharing in profit nor loss in the Takaful business. This means that the operator is only acting as agent to the contributors for a fixed fee. Similarly, in Wakala model the operator also provides interest free (Qard Hasan) loan to the deficit in the participants fund but only receives administrative charges for the loan (3) WakalaMudharaba Model (Hybrid Takaful business): This is also referred to as the mixed model where the operator receives a moderately low agency fee from contributors for managing underwriting operations and also acts as the fund manager for investing participants Takaful Fund where he shares in the profit gained from the investment. (4) Waqf Model (Endowment trust business): This is a type of model where both the operators and the contributors are totally not expecting any profit because the idea of Waqf is same with public foundation directed and targeted for a particular purpose or segment of the society. However, the participants in the endowment have to employ the expertise of the operator for a fee on the basis of agency (Wakala).

The participants in this type of model are entitled to share in the surplus from the risk fund and the profits derived from the investment fund.

However, this is depended upon the initial agreement reached between the operator and the participants. It is worthy to note that the hybrid (Mudaraba-Wakala) type of model is the most preferred because it encourages the operator to exert all his energy in executing his role for the betterment of all participants and the investments of the business.

It also encourages participants from contributing to the business, unlike in Wakala where the operator knows exactly what he earns whether the investment yields profit or not or in pure Mudaraba where the operators sees the other contributors as “sleeping partners” in the business. But in the hybrid model because of the double role of the operator and of course double share in terms of receiving agency fee and sharing in the profit gained from the investment fund.

Naturally, this arrangement gives encouragement for the Takaful operator to put his best into action in order to protect and safeguard the business interest of all participants.

Monday, July 21, 2014

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Monday, July 21, 2014 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY

Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, Illegal / Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number – 08091626747.

Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

KANO STATE GOVERNMENT

158th KANO STATE EXECuTiVE COuNCiL MEETiNG PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

of N80,441,092,00 for the cited purpose via Council Extract No. SSCA/CA/EX/7/1/228 dated 15th April, 2013.

The funds were appropriately disbursed to the affected land owners from which complaints were received that the following verified omissions existed. Viz; i.

Twelve (12) Farmlands/nine (9) Plots – N3,015,900.00. ii.

Economic Trees – N1,458,000.00.

Total = N4,473,900.00.

Therefore, Council was requested to approve the release of the sum of N4,473,900.00 to enable the State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning pay the stated omitted compensations.

ENGR. RAbi’u MuSA KwANKwASO, FNSE Executive Governor, Kano State

Maintaining its commitments to serve as well as deliver dividend of democracy to the State citizens, Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE presided over the one hundred and fifty eighth (158th) sitting of the Kano State Executive Council. Today Wednesday 16th July, 2014 (19th Ramadan, 1435 AH).

Thirty eight (38) memoranda from eleven (11) MDAs were tabled for deliberation by Council of which eighteen (18) were approved for execution with an expenditure of Four Hundred and Forty Six Million, Six Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty six Naira, Forty Five Kobo (N446,676,766.45) covering sixteen (16) projects while the remaining two (2) were on policy issues. Thus; 1. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT The Secretary to the State Government submitted fourteen (14) memoranda for deliberation by Council on behalf of the Chairman and some MDAs where Seven (7) were approved for execution as follows; a) Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Feeding Cost in Respect of 500 and 600 Cadets of Fourth (4th) Batch Course for Ninety (90) Days and Sixty (60) Days at Zakirai in Gabasawa and Karaye LGCAs Conducted by the State Corporate Security Training Institute:The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the cited request from the authorities at the State Corporate Security Training Institute and presented it to Council for consideration. Details were presented along with the financial implications to the tune of N52,650,000.00 which was requested for release by Council for the stated purpose.

Council acknowledged the presentation and approved for the release of the requested sum of N52,650,000.00 to the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the authorities at the State Corporate Security Training Institute to cater for the following incurred expenditure. Viz; SN Number of Students i. 500 (Gabasawa) ii. 600 (Karaye)

Number of Days 90 60

Feeding/ Total cost (N) Head (N) 650 29,250,000.00 650 23,400,000.00

Total = N52,650,000.00. b) Presentation and Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation to Owners of Plots Affected by the Extension of School of Environmental Studies Gwarzo:Council was politely reminded, through contents of this memorandum of its approval granted for the release of the sum

report and presented the summary to Council for consideration and noting. i. Kwankwasiyya City consists of fifty three (53) Road Network System of 23,357.50M length; 593 residential plots of size 30 x 45M; sixty four (64) Commercial Plots; one (1) Governor’s Lodge; one (1) Central Mosque; one (1) Fire Service Department (Unit); five (5) Islamiyya Schools; six (6) (five (5) daily prayer mosques); one (1) Neighbourhood Market; Nursery School; five (5) Play Grounds; Police Station, two (2) Primary Schools; seven (7) Refuse Collection Centers; Secondary School; Resource Center; Five Star Hotel; three (3) Filling Station; Amusement Park; two (2) Parks and a Garden.

Similarly, the project include two (2) Shopping Malls; Hospital; three (3) Bridges; 2 – Lane dual carriage and single carriage way; Close and Link Roads; Reinforced Solid Filled Block Work Drainage on both sides; Box Culverts with Crossing and Access; Cover Slabs; Median and Street Lightning; Provision of Electrical Power Supply; Pipe Borne Water and Networking System.

c) Presentation and Request for Funds for the Upward Review of Monthly Operational Fund for the State Drainage Committee:The Senior Special Assistant/Chairman Drainage Committee submitted the cited request which was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for ii. consideration.

Specifically, the request was for the upward review of the monthly operational fund for the State Drainage Committee from iii.

N1,231,150.00 to N2,407,880.00 considering the additional two (2) Tractors allocated to the Committee.

Council noted, considered and approved an upward review from N1,231,150.00 to N1,500,000.00 as monthly operational fund for the State Drainage Committee and directed the release of the sum of N2,353,460.00 to cover understanding two months for iv.

May and June, 2014.

That the Contractor has mobilized to site with all the necessary equipments.

That clearance of roads and filling/removal of unsuitable material and filling are completed and most of the roads are at the sub base/base level as well as priming of six (6) roads has commenced. That the excavation for the construction of drainages and culverts were substantially completed.

List of the Contractors and payment made to each Contractor with level of completion of the project was presented to Council for consideration. d) Request for Funds to Enable Conduct of a 2 – Days Council acknowledged the presentation, approved and directed Capacity Building Workshop for Community Based the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to instruct and follow Associations in Kano Metropolis Scheduled for (30th – 31st up on the Contractors to speed – up work at Kwankwasiyya City for its timely completion.

July, 2014) at Mumbayya House:The Sustainable Kano Project (SKP) submitted the cited request which was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government g) Request for Funds to Enable the Kano Pillars Basketball Team Participate in the 2014 National Final – 8 (10th – and presented to Council for consideration.

19th July, 2014), Lagos:Details on the fifteen (15) requirements costed to the aggregate The Kano State Sports Council submitted the request through the sum of N740,000.00 were recommended to Council for Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture consideration and approval for release for the stated purpose as which was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration. substantiated.

Council noted, considered and approved as requested.

Details on the requirements were presented along with the e) Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Three (3) Months request for the release of the sum of N7,558,500.00 for the stated Sitting Allowances to the State Steering Committee on purpose.

Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the Investment Climate Programme (ICP):The State Steering Committee on Investment Climate Programme trimmed sum of N5,000,000.00 to the Sports Council to enable comprises seven (7) Members entitled to a sitting allowance of participation of the Kano Pillars Basketball Team at the National N30,000.00 each monthly. The allowances accrued to the tune Final – 8 schedule to hold from (10th – 19th July, 2014) in of N630,000.00 in three (3) months (April – June, 2014) (i.e. Lagos.

N30,000.00 x 3 x 7 = N630,000.00) and was requested for 2. MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT release by Council.

Council acknowledged the Statutory Nature of the request and The Ministry submitted five (5) memoranda for deliberation by Council. Three (3) of them were approved for execution as follows; approved as follows; i. Release of the sum of N630,000.00 to the Secretary to the a) Request for Funds to Enable Payment for Diesel (AGO) State Government for disbursement to the seven (7) Member Supplied to the Taskforce Committee on Installation/ Committee as their sitting allowances for three (3) months (April Repairs/Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights for the Month of April, 2014:– June, 2014). ii. That the seven (7) Member Committee cited be dissolved The good work undertaken by the Committee on the continuous provision of lighting on our major streets need no emphasis. The henceforth.

Committee relentlessly sources the supply of electrical energy f) Presentation of the Eighth (8th) Progress Report required from standby electricity generators powered by diesel Forwarded by Senior Special Assistant Kwankwasiyya (AGO). The supply for the month of April, 2014 was presented to Council for consideration at the sum of N83,519,260.00. Council City:The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the cited progress noted, considered and approved as requested the release of the

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Monday, July 21, 2014 stated sum. b) Request for Funds to Enable Payment for Diesel (AGO) Supplied to the Taskforce Committee on Installation/ Repairs/Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights for the Month of May, 2014:The Urban Beautification Policy of the present administration was profusely applauded especially the continuous provision of Street Lighting on our major Streets despite the epileptic supply from PHCN. Such is only possible by using standby electricity generators powered by diesel (AGO) regularly supplied to the Committee for which the month of May, 2014.

Council was requested to approve the release of the sum of N92,562,360.00 enable payment for the diesel (AGO) supplied to the Taskforce Committee for the month of May, 2014 according to the details presented.

Council acknowledged the authenticity of the suppliers and approved as requested.

3. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION One (1) of the two (2) memoranda submitted for consideration by Council from the Ministry of Education was approved for execution.

Thus; Request for Funds to Enable the Construction of a Perimeter Wall Fence at Tahafizul Qur’an Boarding Secondary School Gaya:Cognizant of the resolve by the present administration to secure and fortify all Government owned buildings and facilities from unlawful trespass and pilfering, the Ministry of Education submitted the request for consideration by Council.

Details were presented for consideration along with the request for the release of the aggregate sum of N31,008,081.11 by Council to enable execution of the following projects at Tahafizul Qur’an Gaya; i.

Construction of perimeter wall fence – N29,371,556.98. ii.

Construction of one (1) Gate – N1,003,761.31. iii. Construction of one (1) Security Post – N632,762.82.

Total = N31,008,081.11.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the requested sum of N31,008,081.11 to enable execution of the stated three (3) projects at Tahafizul Qur’an Gaya on Contractual Arrangement to be supervised by the State Ministry of Education.

4. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE a) Request for Funds to Enable Provision of Empowerment Package to the 275 First (1st) Batch Trainees of the Institute of Horticulture, Bagauda, Kano:Pursuant to the laudable policy of the present administration to provide take – off empowerment package to each of the graduating trainees from any of the established Skill Acquisition Institutes, the request was submitted from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources for consideration by Council.

Details were presented along with the request for the release of the aggregate sum of N36,363,750.00 for the undertaking.

Council deliberated upon, appraised the request and approved for the release of the sum of N50,000.00 in respect of each of the 275no. first (1st) Batch Trainees of the Horticulture Institute, Bagauda aggregating to the sum of N13,750,000.00 for the 275no trainees. b) Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Revive the Operations of KNARDA Media Center:Agricultural Extension Services were presented to Council as the cardinal activities of KNARDA and its personnel. The Communication Support Services provided by the Media Center at KNARDA keeps farmers in Kano State abreast with developments in agricultural endeavours.

Reportedly, the Media Center requires revival with the requirement for the release of the sum of N8,322,000.00.

The details presented prompted Council to approve for the release of the requested sum of N8,322,000.00 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to enable KNARDA revive its Media Center according to the details presented.

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR/HONOURABLE

COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS This Office submitted two (2) memoranda for consideration by Council. Only one (1) was approved for execution as follows; Presentation on the Need for Amendment to the State and Local Government Harmonized Rates and Levies Law 2014 Bill: Boards, Advertising and Signage:The Deputy Governor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government submitted the presentation for consideration

by Council.

Council was politely reminded of the passing of Kano State and Local Governments Harmonized Rates and Levies Law of 2014 in respect of taxes payable by Entrepreneurs and Private Companies and all taxes collectable by Local Government Councils.

Further, Council was notified that Chris Parks Marketing Solution (CPMS) Nigeria Ltd. was commissioned as Consultant for the collection of revenue on Bill Board, Advertising and Signage in eight (8) Metropolitan LGCAs in 2012 and 2013.

The Consultant studied the Bill and made the following discoveries; • Some fundamental omissions were made in some sections of the Bill.

• Some grammatical errors were discovered.

• Some revenue was lost for the State and Local Governments due to omission of revenue base related to outdoor advertisement.

• The Consultant identified and Incorporate the missing areas and rates and forwarded harmonized rates and levies for the Urban, Semi – Urban and Rural areas in terms of payment of revenue by Private Individuals and Corporate Organizations.

More details were presented to Council for consideration along with the request to effect the proposed nineteen (19) amendments on the content of the Bill.

Council acknowledged the presentation and approved as requested. c) MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable Emergency Repair/Renovation of Outlet Canal at Kafin Chiri Dam:The presentation was submitted for consideration by Council sequel to an earlier submitted emergency report on the dilapidated condition of the outlet canal at Kafin Chiri Dam. Details on the assessed condition of the site were presented to Council for consideration along with the scope of works required estimated at the cost of N6,860,497.87 for the stated purpose.

Council acknowledged the project as appropriate and approved the release of the sum of N6,860,497.87 to the Ministry of Water Resources for its execution. d) MINISTRY OF HEALTH Request for Approval and Release of Funds to Commence the Education of General Nurses and Post Basic Midwives at the Schools of Nursing Madobi and Post Basic Midwifery Gezawa:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Health notified Council, through contents of this memorandum that, the Board of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has approved the award of provisional accreditation status to the Schools of Post Basic Midwifery Gezawa and that of General Nursing Madobi, Kano State. The two (2) Schools are to commence the Education/ Training of Post Midwives and General Nurses with effect from May, 2014.

Nevertheless, the Post Basic Midwifery training will commence in September, 2014 while that of General Nursing will commence in November, 2014 at School of Post – Basic Midwifery Gezawa and General Nursing Madobi respectively.

Details of the requirements and financial implications to the tune of N5,250,000.00 which was requested for release were presented to Council for consideration.

Council considered the request as appropriate and approved the release of the requested sum of N5,250,000.00 to the Ministry of Health for the stated purpose. e) MINISTRY OF FINANCE Presentation and Request for Funds to Enable Payment of the Liability Incurred on the Provision of Erosion Control along Sharada Road:-

Office of the State Accountant General was presented with the cited issue for advice. The case was critically studied and the following two (2) recommendations were proffered to Council for adoption; i.

That certificate No. 4 to the tune of N12,182,725.42 be paid to the Company from the Ecological Funds as it relates to erosion and flood control. ii.

That retention to the tune of N2,473,461.89 should not be paid as Certificate No. 5 does not relate to retention.

Council acknowledged the presentation and approved the release of the sum of N12,182,725.42 as recommended to effect payment for the stated liability. f) MINISTRY OF LAND AND PHYSICAL PLANNING Request for Funds to for the Construction of Sharada Road (Phase II): Link Road:Cognizant of the resolve by the present administration to provide qualitative infrastructure for use by the citizenry in the State, the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted the cited request for consideration by Council.

Sharada Road Phase II (Link Road) project was presented to Council at a distance of 900.00M (0.9KM) and was estimated to cost the most responsive Contractual sum of N121,406,068.05 which was requested for release to enable execution of the stated purpose.

Accordingly, Council considered the importance of the link road among the roads network in Sharada Industrial Area and approved as requested. g) MINISTRY OF RURAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Request for Funds to Enable Procurement and Installation of Electricity Relief Transformer at Hauren Yan’ Wanki, Gwale LGCA:The cited request was submitted in response to the reported predicament of the people in the area regarding the almost total absence of electricity supply for a long period of time.

The State Rural Electrification Board assessed the problem and proffered solution in the provision of a relief electricity transformer at the cost of N5,968,414.00.

Congruence of the project to the policy of the present administration to provide qualitative infrastructure for use by the citizenry in the State, prompted Council to approve as requested.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITES OF THE 158TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING 1. SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE E-TRANSACT ON THE PRODUCTION OF ID CARD TO TRADERS AND BUSINESSMEN IN THE STATE Council witnessed the signing of an agreement for the production of ID Cards for the Traders and Businessmen in Kano State between the State Government and E-transact to meet the global banking and other business transactions.

2. MEETING BETWEEN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT FINANCE ON MID-TERM REVIEW/ ASSESMENT OF THIRTY SEVEN (37) MICROFINANCE BANKS IN THE STATE Council noted the meeting between the Government and the Director Development Finance on Mid-term Review/Assessment of thirty seven (37) Microfinance Banks where the delegation in company of BRAK from Bangladesh commended the Government of Kano State and assured their support to uplift the socioeconomic wellbeing of the State and the Country in general.

Accordingly, Council acknowledged the commencement of the construction of under – pass way at Gadon Kaya. Therefore, appeal to the General public to abide by the traffic rules/ regulations.

3. PLACEMENT OF METERS AT THE STREET LIGHTS GENERATORS INSTALLED BY THE GOVERNMENT Council noted the placement of meters at the street lights electricity generators installed by the Government to ensure effective use of the diesel supplied to the Generators.

Signed:

Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture

www.kn.gov.ng/new

22 money market/BUSINESS

Monday, July 21, 2014

money MARKET REPORTS

CBN To Sanction Banks Over Employees’ Rights Violation

By Olayemi Sowunmi, Lagos

L-R: Managing director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa; deputy president, South, National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Prince Segun Agboade and NASME deputy president, Finance, Mrs Lizzy Okereke during a courtesy visit of the NASME executives to the BOI Headquarters in Lagos. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA

Rising Inflation: MPC To Keep Rates Stories by Bukola Idowu, Lagos

Although the headline inflation figures for last June as released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) increased to a 10-month high at 8.2 per cent, analysts are optimistic that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will not raise benchmark rates at its meeting today and tomorrow.

These figures released by the NBS last week showed that consumer price index (CPI) which measures inflation rose for the fourth straight month in June to hit 8.2 per cent, a 10-month high driven by higher food prices, the biggest contributor to the headline index which rose to 9.8 per cent year-on-year (yoy) in June after rising 9.7 per cent the previous month.

The meeting is the first for the new CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, who had said in his maiden speech that the apex bank will work towards reducing benchmark interest rates to engender increased lending to the real sector.

While many analysts believe that rates cut will be much later, they are of the opinion

that the MPC is less likely to raise rates at today’s meeting.

Analysts at the FBN Capital say they expect the MPC to maintain status quo at the end of its meeting tomorrow.

“Emefiele restated the CBN’s commitment to price stability and stressed the need to maintain the current tight monetary stance. He has effectively ruled out rate cuts before the elections in February 2015. We would expect no change in stance when the MPC meets on Monday and Tuesday.

“The CBN has now achieved a single-digit inflation for 18 successive months. This is the longest sequence since June 2006 to June 2008. The objective for 2014 is between six and nine per cent, which in our view is attainable provided that the CBN is able to hold the line on the naira exchange rate and growing conditions for agriculture do not deteriorate,” the FBN Capital analysts stated.

Likewise, analysts at the Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), stated that with inflation rate recording its fourth consecutive increase, “we do not believe it will lead to a change in the monetary policy stance at the meeting.

“Inflation is likely to become a concern to markets in the second half as our forecasts suggest a 8.7 per cent peak in inflation in August, close to the upper band of the central bank’s target,” analysts at the Vetiva Capital said in a note.

“With the recent compression in fixedincome yields as short-tenor maturities head south below the 10 per cent levels, the risks of negative real rates on Nigerian assets will again resurface,” analysts at the Vetiva said, noting that they expect the monetary policy rate to remain on hold at 12 per cent but the tightening cycle could resume if the inflation outlook worsens Headline inflation in June rose from 8.0 to 8.2 per cent yoy, with food inflation increasing marginally from 9.7 per cent to 9.8 per cent yoy. Core inflation accelerated from 7.7 per cent the previous month to 8.1 per cent yoy, its highest level since December 2013 and a source of concern to the monetary authorities.

The NBS commentary attributed this to the monthon-month increases in the prices of electricity, jewellery, furniture repairs, clocks and watches.

The objective for 2014 is between six and nine per cent, which in our view is attainable provided that the CBN is able to hold the line on the naira exchange rate and growing conditions for agriculture do not deteriorate

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it would sanction any financial institution that violates the fundamental human rights of its employees.

The apex bank in a letter to all banks, discount houses and development finance institutions in the country signed by the director, Banking Supervision, Tokunbo Martins, said finance institutions respect the rights of their employees as part of compliance with the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBP).

Principle three of the NSBP which bothers on human rights states that “we will respect human rights in our business operations and business activities.” The principle further states that “sustainable banking approach recognises and respects human and labour rights in a bank’s business operations as well as its business activities.

“A bank’s approach to human rights should be consistent with promoting the requirements, and improving the enforcement of the Nigerian Constitution, the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, and other international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

“Key policies and requirements should include recognition of employees’ entitlement to safe and fair labour conditions and to exercise collective and individual rights to associate and speak freely as allowed by national law.”

Keystone Bank Receives PCI-DSS Certification

Keystone Bank has received a Certificate of Compliance on the successful completion of the Phillips Consulting assessment on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS).

The PCI-DSS is an extensive set of guidelines developed by five of the top global payment card brands and adopted worldwide by card services providers – card issuers, banks, transaction switching companies and merchants – to better protect customers’ payment card information from compromise and fraud through increased controls around the storage, transmission and processing of card data.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the executive director, Operations and Technology, Keystone Bank, Mrs Yvonne Isichei, who stood in for the managing director and chief executive officer of the bank, Mr Philip Ikeazor, stated that “Keystone Bank had engaged the services of the PCI-DSS qualified security assessors, Phillips Consulting Ltd, to guide it through the implementation of the standard and conduct the final certification assessment.”

50 MONEY

Monday, September 3, 2012 leadership

CAPITAL MARKET/BUSINESS 23

Monday, July 21, 2014

CAPITAL MARKET REPORTS

‘Why We Launched Bancorp e-Trade’

By Friday Atufe, Lagos

Quoted Insurance Companies Miss Results Submission Deadline Stories By Olushola Bello, Lagos

Insurance companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are still finding it difficult to meet up with the bourse’s deadline for filing financial results.

This has been linked to challenges they are facing with implementing of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted by Nigeria on January 1, 2012.

To avoid insurance companies lacking behind in the rendition of results to the NSE, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) directed them to commence implementation of the IFRS with their 2011 financial accounts as a test run to the full implementation.

Post-listing rules at the NSE required quoted companies to submit their earnings reports not later than three months after the expiration of the period. For example, the NSE’s regulatory filing calendar for companies, with December as full year, indicates that the deadline for submission of annual report for companies is March 31. The sub-sector has the largest number of companies in any sub-sector on the NSE with 28 insurance stocks listed, contributing 0.82 per cent to the total NSE market capitalisation.

After two years of adopting the IFRS, the insurance companies are still having challenges in releasing their results on time. So far, 13 companies have released their audited result for 2013 while 15 companies, representing 53.6 per cent are yet to submit their results to the NSE. An analysis of the released results showed that Custodian and Allied Insurance and Mansard Insurance are the two that submitted their results on time in April, while the other

11 companies are just releasing their results to the NSE now.

In the beginning of the year, International Energy insurance was fined N5.4 million for not releasing its 2012 financial report, while Regency Alliance Insurance and Wapic Insurance were fined N600,000 and N700,000. Also, Oasis Insurance, Aiico Insurance, Niger Insurance Continental Reinsurance and Law Union & Rock Insurance were fined N700,000, N800,000, N1 billion, N900,000 and N600,000 respectively for late submission of their December 2013 accounts.

Also in 2013, 24 insurance companies were fined a total of N70.2 billion for non-compliance with post listing requirements.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the head, corporate affairs department of NAICOM, Mr Rasaq Salami, said, “In accordance with the Insurance Act, insurance companies are expected to submit their financial reports to the NAICOM on or before June 30. We recognised that the NSE gave them a deadline of March 31 for all quoted companies to turn in their accounts; so it is left for these companies to ensure their accounts are submitted early to the NAICOM for its review and approval before they are submitted to the NSE.” He said that this is what some of the companies are not doing, adding that it must be made clear that the commission will always look through every account it received in line with best practices before granting any approval. He added that the delay is from the insurance companies, saying, “if their financial year ends on December 31, they should be able to submit their audited accounts

by January or February if they are sincere with their figures.”

In January this year, the chief executive officer (CEO), NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema, said the exchange was aware of the challenges and was working with the NAICOM as well as the companies to resolve the issue.Capital market analysts are of the view that the delay would further erode the confidence of the insuring public and the investors in the industry. On the implications of delayed results of the insurance companies, the managing director of Lambeth Trust Limited, Mr David Adonri, said that the capital market is driven by information.

According to him, if companies failed to render fundamental information to the capital market as and at when it is due, investors will have no basis for assessing their viability. He noted that several insurance companies whose balance sheets are poor as a result of their excessive exposure to the equities market during the meltdown have started to recover, adding that investors are getting attracted to the insurance sector.

The managing director of Compass Investment & Securities Limited, Sam Willie Ndata, frowned at the continued disregard of rules and regulations by insurance companies listed on the exchange, urging the NSE to find a lasting solution to the issue.

Also speaking, the president of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, also frowned at the long delay by insurance companies to render their annual financial returns to the commission considering the fact that the commission had made a series of efforts to ensure that they adopt the IFRS like other operators in the financial services industry.

A dealing member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Capital Bancorp Plc, has attributed its launch of a stock trading portal, Bancorp e-Trade, to the need to revive the interest of local investors in the Nigerian stock market.

The chairman of the company, Mr Olutola Mobolurin, stated this at the launch of the platform at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last week.

“Capital Bancorp on July 23, 2013, blazed the trail in the market with the launching of the online trading platform to enable prospective investors buy and trade their shares or bonds with ease from the comfort of their homes or offices,” Mobolurin said.

Also speaking at the presentation of the platform to the stock market community, the managing director and chief executive officer of Capital Bancorp, Mr Aigboje Higo, said, “the Bancorp e-Trade platform is an inventive retail stockbroking online service offering, carefully crafted to provide access to stockbroking services for busy executives and upwardly mobile young adults.”

Wema Bank Records N1.447bn Profit In 6 Months Wema Bank Plc has declared 289.3 per cent increase in its profit after tax (PAT) for the second quarter of the year ended June 30, 2014.

The bank’s six months result, which was submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that its PAT rose to N1.447 billion from N371.746 million in the corresponding period of 2013, representing a growth of 289.3 per cent.

The bank’s total assets also climbed to N334.2 billion as against the N330.9 billion recorded in December 2013, while its loans and advances to customers as at June 2014 stood at N115.5 billion compared to N98.6 billion as at December 2013.

However, its customer deposits declined marginally to N216.3 billion as at June this year from the N217.7 billion as at December 2013 while its operating income was N12.5 billion, up from N10 billion as at June 2013.

Issuing Houses Pledge Support For Market Devt

If their financial year ends on December 31, they should be able to submit their audited accounts by January or February if they are sincere with their figures

The newly elected chairman, Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN), Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi, has said the association would continue to introduce initiatives aimed at transforming the Nigerian capital market.

Ogiemwonyi, who was elected as chairman of the association at its annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos, recently, explained that beyond embarking on advocacy for the industry, it would focus on developing operators to position the AIHN to effectively handle new and sophisticated issues.

He said, “The truth is that the AIHN is very important to developing the market quickly because we are the primary source of securities coming into the market. As the market gets more active and the economy becomes more responsive to ensuring that capital market products are what people use to fund their businesses, we are going to find more and more of the involvement of the AIHN in ensuring that more issues are coming into the market quicker and that the skills needed to drive the process are available.”

24 feature

Monday, July 21, 2014

Boosting The Nation’s Economy And Intra-African Trade

by Ukel Ofem

A 2004 data shows that roughly 60 per cent of non-oil exports from Nigeria consisted of cocoa and rubber – primary products as well

No Nation grows its economy without a corresponding trade alliance with communities, states and countries for exchange of goods and services as well as established trade institutions that will drive the intense growth on trade volume.

Nigeria’s trade with European Union (EU) before and during the colonial era experienced a boost and continuous growth until the Nigeria Civil War, and after the devastation caused by the war, trade volume with other nations declined.

Fundamentally, Nigerian economy after the rebasing, shows that Agriculture was largely subsistence farming, which used to contribute 35 per cent to the GDP now contributes 22 per cent. The oil and gas sector which used to account for 32 per cent of the GDP now contributes 14 per cent.

Manufacturing, which had accounted for approximately 2 per cent of the country’s GDP jumped to 6.8 per cent. From 0.9 per cent, the contribution of the telecommunication sector has expanded to 8.7 per cent.

The biggest leap was made in the services sector with a rise in contribution from 29 per cent to 52 per cent.

However, statistics showing the boost of the economy and trade increase may not be wrong, but Nigerians and even experts in the finance sector are of the opinion that the country and relevant authorities concern should help translate this to employment and effective production sector to create wealth.

Nigeria Export Import Bank is said to have created 24, 000 jobs for unemployed Nigerians in the last four years through financial intervention; According to the Managing Director of the bank Mr. Robert Orya” the support that we are giving to non-oil sector, we have been able to give about N35.46 billion from August up to date and then we have given guarantees of $27.3 million. If you convert everything, it has come to N39.5 billion. This has created over 24,000 direct jobs for Nigerians and that is capable of generating estimated foreign exchange earnings of $320.12 million annually to the economy of Nigeria.

Data provided by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the period 1981 – 2010 shows structural rigidity to Nigeria’s external trade. In 1981, crude oil accounted for 96.89 per cent of the country’s exports. All through the 30-year period, there was no noticeable change in the trade pattern; oil export stood at between 95 per cent and 98 per cent of total export merchandise.

A 2004 data shows that roughly 60 per cent of non-oil exports from Nigeria consisted of cocoa and rubber – primary products as well.

In this period, the country’s very narrow export goods base invariably meant that Nigeria was trading with very few countries.

Indeed, the United States received about 50 per cent of Nigeria’s oil export. A handful of developing economies, mainly China and Brazil also received Nigerian oil export. Nigeria’s imports are mainly in finished products. Thus, our imports are mainly from the industrialized world, again principally the United States and China, and from few countries in the European Union.

With this trend, Nigeria was not able to lift intra-Africa trade. Trade within the continent has been very low. At 11 percent of total trade volume by African countries, trade within Africa has been the lowest compared with trade within other regions of the world.

An assortment of policy, tariff and non-tariff barriers to intraAfrica trade has been identified. In addition to this, lack of political will to integrate the economies of Africa beyond fruitless policy engineering to aid trade has been cited.

However, many African countries have exactly the same economic structure as Nigeria; they export primary goods to the leading industrialized nations while they import finished products from the same countries. For this reason, the most knotty of the issues that constitute barriers to intraAfrica trade is the narrow base of economic activities of scale on the continent. This issue then expresses itself in the narrow external trade channels.

The possibility that Nigeria will now influence a new trade scenario within Africa is established in the far-reaching structural adjustment in our domestic economy, as revealed in the new GDP data. The trade influencers are tied in both the absolute size of the country’s $509.9 billion GDP (which is by a wide margin the biggest in Africa), and the structural diversification that is revealed in the recent GDP rebasing. For example, the Nigerian services sector is now worth $265 billion. With the banks accounting for significant part of this economic value, little wonder that over the past few years, Nigerian banks have been playing big in international trade in banking services in Africa. Like it played out for the South African external sector performance, the widening footprint of Nigerian banks across sub Saharan Africa will pave the way for other Nigerian goods and services in Africa.

Financial market infrastructure is a facilitator of international trade. With the linkages the banks have established with other SSA markets through the operations of their subsidiaries, a key facilitator of Nigeria’s external trade within Africa has gained ground.

However, a unidirectional

trade flow from any African country cannot, mainly because of geopolitical concerns, lift intraAfrica trade. What is now seen with the Nigerian services sector’s value of $265 billion is that it will accelerate on foreign participation.

While trade flows in the Nigerian services sector will be led by the Western countries because they are more able to tap the Nigerian opportunities, the sheer size of this sector leaves enough head room for other African countries to come in. We also expect the export of services from other African countries into Nigeria. Cross-border trade in research and legal services are immediately contemplated to influence trade flows into Nigeria.

Several foreign acquisitions which Nigerian businesses are expected to make in Africa makes this quiet imaginable.

The Nigerian manufacturing sector, now worth $35 billion and constituting 6.8 per cent of GDP, has also assumed scale. Gradually, and begun to see the outflow of Nigerian manufactured products into our sub-regional markets.

From cement, sacks to biscuits, Nigerian manufactured products are making a showing outside our borders. Now that the sector has become recognized again with its 6.8 per cent contribution to GDP, coupled with the consumption profile of Nigeria’s over 170 million population, Nigeria will evolve to be a major manufacturing hub, attracting investments as well as merchandises from other African countries, thus maintaining desired two-way directional trade flows.

The most important structural adjustment to note in the Nigerian economy is that it is now dominated by the private sector. Indeed, further transfer of public sector assets through the ongoing privatization programme, including the power sector, will unlock resources, accelerate growth and broaden the economic base.

Therefore, policies supporting private sector development and broader economic base are critical

to opening the clog in intraAfrica trade pipelines. As we look to leverage Nigeria’s diversified economic base to boost trade within the continent, the example Nigeria purport to have set is worth emulating by other African states.

Nigerian Export-Import Bank is the designated trade policy bank of the Federal Government of Nigeria. As a development finance institution, NEXIM Bank has been supporting the process that is leading to the more diversified Nigerian economy. In the last five years, NEXIM Bank has pushed forward, through its communication programme, the policy agenda which accentuated the big sectoral gainers in the structural adjustment that was revealed by the GDP rebasing.

Through our “MASS Agenda”, we have presented Manufacturing, Agro-processing, Solid Minerals and Services as the key sectors for economic diversification and job creation. This being the case, the bigger contribution we now see from services and manufacturing, as well as the strong showing of the entertainment industry in the Nigerian GDP basket, is a big plus for this Administration.

While policy support for economic transformation is very important, it is not enough. Accordingly, the Bank and other DFIs in the Nigerian space have received institutional reinvigoration and financial backing from the Federal Government so as to be able to effectively intervene in the sectors that made good showing in the GDP data.

Moving forward, financial intervention in SME manufacturing, services and the other areas of focus at the Bank will be critical to maintaining growth momentum. As best understood lower cost credit, which development banks provide is important for lifting businesses in these sectors to the point where they can afford and therefore attract commercial credit.

Miss Kadri Zaharat Olamide (2nd position, University of Ibadan student) being presented with a cheque by Dr Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC during the prize-giving ceremony of the nationwide essay competition on Mobile Number Portability organised by the NCC.

Monday, July 21, 2014

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Monday, July 21, 2014

health

27

Monday, July 21, 2014

100m

40m

Over hundred million women in the world today who are interested in spacing or limiting their Statistics indicate that there is a high sickle cell pregnancies, lack knowledge of, or access rate in Nigeria with 40 million patients to family planning

F E AT U R E S N E W S T I P S I N T E R V I E W

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Hydration rate 87% with more than 100% of DRV for vitamin c

Effects Of Nigeria’s Family Planning Burden On National Development With a population of over 170 million, Nigeria is no doubt the most populous country in Africa. Experts say a huge population without good family planning can be a huge burden on a country with attendant high maternal and infant deaths. VICTOR OKEKE writes

Top 3 Headline ➊ How To Manage Diabetes During Ramadan With Natural Foods

➋ 243m People

Consumed Illicit Drug In 2012-Report ➌ Open Defecation Is A Criminal Offence- Ominyi

According to the World Health Organisation, family planning allows individuals and couples to anticipate and achieve their desired number of children and spacing and timing of their births. It is achieved through the use of contraceptives and the treatment of involuntary infertility.

Experts say that low fertility has a positive effect on the health and economy of families.

A woman’s ability to space and limit her pregnancies has a direct impact on her health and well-being as well as on the outcome of each pregnancy.

With an estimated 36,000 women dying in pregnancy

or childbirth each year, Nigeria ranks among top 10 countries of the world with maternal death burden (13 percent).

Medical experts say that more than 70 percent of the maternal death is due to just four conditions- hemorrhage, eclampsia, sepsis, and abortion complications with over 5,500 of these deaths being recorded among adolescents.

Analysts say that government’s effort in tackling the deaths of mothers is not yielding the desired result as only 9.8 percent of Nigerian women use modern family planning methods as at 2013. Meeting only 25 percent of the unmet demand

for family planning by supplying 1.0 million additional women with access to family planning would reduce the number of unintended pregnancies by 370,000 and the deaths and abortions by about 1,300.

Another family planning problem plaguing Nigeria according to participants at a recent stakeholders’ family planning meeting is child marriage.

According to Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) 2014, Nigeria has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world. On the average, about two out of five girls will be married before they are 18.

While child marriage is common in Nigeria, prevalence is highest in the North West (76 percent) followed by North East (68 percent), North Central (35 percent), South South (18 percent), South West (17 percent), and South East (10 percent).

Once girls are married, very few (3 percent) use contraceptives

in spite of the need to space their child bearing.

According to Prof. A.O. Ladipo of the University of Ibadan, “education for the girl child should be made free and compulsory for all at least to the secondary school level.” He said the years a girl spends in school will invariably delay her marriage and empower her to make wise family planning decisions in the future. Child marriage occurs more frequently among girls who are the least educated, poor and living in rural areas.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says urgent action is needed to prevent the thousands of girls in Nigeria today from being married in the next decade. In 2010, 2,814,000 women aged 20-24 were married before age 18. If this trend continues, the UN says 4,615,000 of the young girls born between 2005 and 2010 will be married before age 18 by 2030. This becomes a prob-

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28 HEALTH/NEWS

Monday, July 21, 2014

Family Planning Burden On National Development 29

lem because of the high fertility but low survival rate of mothers and children in Nigeria.

Women’s health is also hindered by gender-based violence, lack of adequate nutrition during pregnancy and female genital mutilation. Available data shows that as many as 800,000 Nigerian women live with obstetric fistula as a result of early pregnancy and obstructed labour.

Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by obstructed labour and it is considered a disease of poverty because of its tendency to occur in women who do not have access

to basic healthcare. This problem can largely be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy, cessation of harmful traditional practices and timely access to quality obstetric care.

According to Moji Odeku of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), providing women with the required maternal health medicines and supplies would prevent an additional 19,000 deaths, reduce the annual number of deaths to about 16,000, while enabling Nigeria to not only reach but significantly attain its MDG goal of 300. He said “these interventions would

have a significant impact on newborn mortality.”

Though a lot of efforts have been in place towards promoting family planning programme, it is however believed that the potential of contraceptive practice in preventing maternal and child deaths warrants more commitment from the government.

The government is encouraged to increase investment in family planning as an integral part of the integrated maternal, newborn and child health and as a national priority while sustaining its free contraceptive policy.

States and local governments should adequately fund and support family planning programmes, while encouraging public-private partnership in family planning services.

Ladipo, who is also the chairman of National Reproductive Health Working Group said “our population as it currently stands is not an asset for development until we start to plan our families.” He listed access to quality education, health, workforce population structure, good economic policies and governance as the only ways by which we can achieve the desired family planning ratio in the country.

Contraceptive practice in preventing maternal and child deaths warrants more commitment from the government

Ramadan: How To Manage Diabetes With Natural Foods For some people with diabetes, fasting during Ramadan can cause problems to their health. If one is able to fast, VICTOR OKEKE writes on how to keep good diabetes control throughout the fasting period

Remember that Ramadan is also about selfcontrol and discipline

Ramadan this year started on July and the length of fast is very long (17 hours +). Long fasts according to experts, put one at higher risk of hypoglycaemia and dehydration, which can make one ill. High blood glucose levels can also occur if somebody fasting eats excessively at Suhoor or Iftar.

According to Drs Sarah Ali, Sufyan Hussain and Shuja Shafi of the Muslim Council of Britain Diabetes Advisory Group, diabetes is a health condition where the amount of glucose in the blood gets too high. This happens if the pancreas doesn’t make any insulin or enough insulin to help the glucose enter the body cells.

Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it’s used as fuel for energy so we can work, play and generally live our lives. Glucose come from digesting carbohydrate and it’s also produced by the liver.

The experts said, “When we don’t eat during a fast, at about eight hours after our last meal, our bodies start to use energy stored to keep our blood glucose (sugar) levels normal. For most people, this is not harmful.”

This year, the fast is long and the risks of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose level) and dehydration (lack of water) are high in diabetes. They added that aAnother problem that can occur if you have diabetes, is the risk of high glucose levels following the larger meals that we eat before and after fasting (at Suhoor/Sehri and Iftar).

High glucose levels and dehydration can be dangerous for people with diabetes. The medical experts say that ‘most people with health problems, such as diabetes are exempt from fasting. “Choosing to fast is a personal decision that you should make with advice from your diabetes team. For some people with diabetes, fasting can be dangerous or cause problems to your health.”

Certain people and circumstances are exempt from fasting. For example: children (under the age of puberty) the elderly, those who are sick or have a certain health condition, those with learning difficulties, those who are travelling, pregnant, breastfeeding and menstruating women.

Remember, says Hussain, “if you cannot fast, you can complete your duties by offering charity or providing food to the poor. Speak to your local Imam for more information about this. You must speak to your doctor or diabetes nurse about your diabetes treatment as early as possible before Ramadan.”

“Yes, testing your blood glucose levels regularly is important and will keep you safe while fasting.

This will not break your fast.”

Long hours without eating increase the risk of hypoglycaemia.

So he advised that people must try to eat a meal at Suhoor just before sunrise and not at midnight, as this will help to keep the glucose levels more balanced through the fast.

At Suhoor, Shafi said people fasting should eat starchy carbohy-

drates which release energy slowly, such as multigrain bread, oatbased cereals, rice together with beans, lentils and fruit and vegetables. “Other foods which will keep your blood glucose levels more stable through the fast include pitta bread, chapattis and semolina. As with all meals, eat sensibly, do not over eat and remember to drink plenty of water.”

He added, “Remember to eat sensibly and healthily all year

round but also in Ramadan.”

Overeating and eating the wrong foods (such as fried foods, foods high in fat and sugar) in large quantities will not only make one put on weight but will also lead to big increases and imbalances in the blood glucose levels. Keep portion sizes moderate. Remember that Ramadan is also about selfcontrol and discipline.

Please see your dietitian for further advice.

NEWS /HEALTH 29

Monday, July 21, 2014

Smoking campaign, Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, (NTCA) campaigning against the smoking of Tobacco and advocating for the passage of the Bill in front of the National Assembly in Abuja. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

243m people Consumed illicit drug in 2012-report

BY WINIFRED OGBEBO, Abuja

This year’s World Drug Report shows that 243 million people aged 15 to 64 consumed an illicit drug in 2012.

Out of this report, problem drug users, those who have the most profound difficulties with drug consumption, account for around 27 million, or one in every 200 people.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Representative in Nigeria, Mariam Sissoko, who gave the disclosure yesterday in Abuja during the dissemination of the 2014 World Drug Report and the 2013 INCB Report, raised the alarm at the initiatives aimed at legalizing cannabis globally.

She observed that one important aspect which the report highlights is the fact that

there are 12.7 million individuals who inject drugs, and of this number, some 1.7 million are living with HIV, while 52 per cent have Hepatitis C. She said, “Those figures reinforce the need for better access to evidence-based HIV prevention, treatment and care services. “ Sissoko said, more importantly, those suffering from drug use disorders need to be accorded the same rights to treatment and care as anyone suffering from any disease.

She stated, “I am pleased to report that UNODC in Nigeria, has engaged with the federal Ministry of Health and key national institutions, with financial support from the European Union, to increase service provision for drug addiction treatment.”

“We have conducted nation-wide assess-

ment to identify some 11 national and private medical facilities that have the potential to become model drug treatment centres, and to also double for some of them as regional training hubs for those health practitioners engaged in the treatment of drug addiction, “ the UNODP representative.

Also in his remarks, the chairman/chief executive, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA), Alh Ahmadu Giade, stated that drug production, trafficking and abuse represent one of the biggest security challenges confronting humanity today.

According to him, the situation is so frightening that an urgent intervention is needed for a guaranteed global peace and development.

He said, “Most criminal acts are perpetrated under the influence of drugs.

unity of Health Workers Key To Viable Health – Cmd 40m

BY ARONKE OLAYIWOLA, Lagos

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof Wale Oke has charged all health care workers to live harmoniously with one another in order to move the health sector forward.

Oke gave this charge at the maiden Pharmacy Week of the hospital with the theme: Expanding Roles of Pharmacy: Towards improved Patients’ Quality of Life.

Oke said, “key players in the sector need to work together to ensure that

patients get quality care. Besides, the health team should see themselves as partners in progress and not “competitors” as the case is presently.

“The pharmacist in medical practice, he said, has evolved over time from supplying drugs to focusing on caring for patients through discriminate drug dispensing, to comfortably adapt to the current demands of the profession as an addition of service delivery.”

He further stated that “Modern pharmacists should be equipped with adequate knowledge of modern technology and practices to be able to con-

tain and withstand any challenge from the patients and their job.”

The chief medical director further charged Nigerians to frown at selfconviction in the area of self-diagnosis and self-medication because all sicknesses do not have the same symptom.

“Headache in two different individuals may not necessarily mean the same condition,” he said.

Guest lecturer and member of LASUTH Board, Mr Lere Baale, while speaking, said people die from medical errors than clinical errors, adding that care must be safe, timely and ef-

Ebola Virus deadlier Than HiV/aids- Experts

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

Ebola virus is the most difficult health challenge confronting the third world countries and is deadlier than HIV/AIDs,medical experts have declared.

A Professor of Epidemology and Community Health Science,University of Ilorin, Tanimola Akande, and a one time Clinical Virologist at Hoston Texas,United States of America,Dr.Olajide Agbede, made the declaration in Ilorin, Kwara State, during their seperate lectures delivered at an

awareness campaign on Ebola virus sponsored by Chairman, LUBCON Group of companies,Alhaji Jani Ibrahim.

The duo identified fruit bats as the major courier of Ebola virus which later spread it to other animals and man.

Akande, specifically advised Nigerians to shun the consumption of bush meat as a preventive measure against contacting the viirus.

The don who is the national president, ,Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, said “Ebola is a very deadly disease.

We have been talking about HIV/AIDS but Ebola is more deadlier than HIV/AIDS. It’s an African Problem. Mostly in Central and West Africa Republic” He said the virus which “thrives in their natural host of fruits bats had so far killed 580 out of the 930 people diagnosed with the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Seira- Leone and Ghana”.

The medical expert said “any contact with an effected person is almost a death sentence because the virus has no vaccines,no drugs ,we only give palliative management”.

No fewer than 40 graduates were inducted into the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria by the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan last week

7

Eating just seven shelled walnuts a day may be all it takes to take advantage of their beneficial properties

48% The Gap Report released by the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) says that Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda account for 48 per cent of all new HIV infections in 2013

OVERWEIGHT People ‘Less Likely To Die From Heart Problems’ Carrying excess weight has long been known to increase the risk of heart disease.

But overweight people with heart problems may actually live longer than their thinner counterparts, new research suggests.

U.S. researchers found the risk of heart attack and death from cardiovascular complications is highest among underweight patients - with death rates the lowest in heavier people.

While obesity is linked to higher levels of insulin, higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol and diabetes, the new figures suggest there is an ‘obesity paradox’.

Paradox: While obesity is linked to a host of health problems such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, overweight people with heart problems may actually live longer than their thinner counterparts One explanation may be that overweight patients are more likely to be prescribed medication to control high blood pressure and cholesterol levels than slimmer people - and in higher doses.

They are also more likely to undergo procedures such as bypass surgery - and traditionally been considered to have a worse recovery rate because of their size.

EYES- How To Keep Them Healthy Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. Follow these simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden years.

Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages.

Source:www.google.com

30 HEALTH

Monday, July 21, 2014

Open Defecation Is A Criminal Offence- Ominyi

Nigeria is among the top five countries with large number of people lacking access to water sanitation and where the practice of open defecation thrives. In this interview with WINIFRED OGBEBO, a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) specialist, Job Ominyi sheds more light on this and suggests a way forward for the country

they must do something about it. They make plans for changing that and they begin to allocate responsibilities and set timeline for themselves.

We used to have sanitary inspectors, can they be brought back?

Actually there are still sanitary inspectors. But they are so few that they’re no longer having any impact. Most of them are old and they are not employing new ones. As a result of this, if you look at sanitary inspectors all across Nigeria, the few that I have met in some of the environmental health officers meetings, most of them are like senior level people. They no longer have the will conducting house to house inspection that will be calling attention to issues like this. So that when we were challenged by not being able to achieve open defecation free (ODF) in small towns, it became an issue that the environmental health officers needed to complement the gentle persuasion that we engaged using CLTS by the enforcement of the environmental public health laws.

There’s an arm that is promoting and persuading gently and there is an arm that is invoking the law because shitting actually in the open is a criminal offence.

How about enforcing the building code to ensure strict compliance with having latrines in buildings?

Ominyi What are the dangers involved in the practice of open defecation?

short BIO OF Mr job ominyi

Job Ominyi is a Water and Sanitation Hygiene specialist with UNICEF

You see a fellow man squatting and because you haven’t done a latrine for your wife, she is squatting in the bush and a man is watching her and this is happening probably in places you have wine tappers, even hunters and things like that. These are some of the real life experiences that people in the communities have expressed to us as some of their reasons wanting to embrace the construction and use of latrines.

But before you can get to this, you ask questions like: what is wrong with open defecation?; how does it affect your life?; when people shit in the open, where does the shit go?; when you go to shit yourself where people have shit in the open, what happens? They complained we step on the shit and we bring back the slippers, some of our crawling children carry the slippers and start chewing. So they really feel disgusted and said

As a matter of fact, when a building plan is submitted, some of the things that should be checked when you are checking the appropriateness of the building plan will be the area that is available to be built to par and the area that the building is supposed to be taken, the adequacy of the facilities compared to the number of bedrooms which we can use to appropriate the number of persons they plan to live in that house. That means that having toilet facilities is supposed to be a significant thing to check and if they add, there should be recommendations to amend that plan to include adequate toilet facilities to meet the projected number of persons that should be living in such a house given the number of living rooms that have been put in.

Do you see Nigeria attaining ODF status in 2025?

That is about 11 years to come.

There’s a possibility that this can happen but if we follow the current trend, it’s not likely to happen. Reason being that we are making good progress in some of the selected states but these are

states that external support agencies are providing concentrated resources, where we are providing support, and they are actually rapidly moving from open defecation communities to open defecation free communities. About ten years ago, we had less that 2,000 ODF, but as of this month, we have close to 3,500 ODF communities cutting across many states.

But the most significant contributors to this are Benue, Cross River, Osun, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi and Ekiti. Like I said, it may be because of the amount of attention those states are receiving.

What are you proposing to the government?

What we are proposing is that government should in recognition of the fact that community led total sanitation (CLTS) has proven to be a very effective approach to improving community sanitation, scale this up, put funds in annual budget that will help relevant agencies to undertake CLTS. UNICEF has supported in some of these states, even in local governments they are not working in, to support other local governments in those states to develop road maps and prepare ODF action plans. To support this, technical people from the non-project LGAs have also been trained so that they could actually do this but UNICEF does not have the funds to support the community level activities that may translate into these changes taking place in the non-project LGAs. So if government made money available to the non-project LGAs to sort of replicate the good practices that are happening in project LGAs, we think we can actually make ODF by 2025. The way forward is for government to take over this and run with it.

I thought we were making progress in the water-related MDGs?

On a general note, there is progress in the direction of access to improved water sources but am not going to be able to say yes or no we are going to be able to achieve it in 2015.

What are the effects or challenges to water sanitation implementation in Nigeria?

As you may have observed, the statistics of under- five morbidity and mortality is glaring, It has been proven that Nigeria is among the top countries that are contributing to under- five mortality and this is a direct reflection of how well or not our sanitary and hygiene habits are, including the availability of safe water.

Surgeon’s Turf Dr Biodun Ogungbo MBBS, FRCS, FRCSEd, MSc. Consultant Neurosurgeon

08122221616 (SMS only)

I Am So Happy I Could Die Right Now! Today was a colossal day. It was just that kind of day. I woke up feeling great and prepared to have a fabulous day. Usually, I wake up early, either by myself or due to the impertinent call to prayer from the loudspeakers of the local mosque. I woke up feeling like a Billion dollars (No, not 20B). It clicked in my head that I had indulged the day before and so needed to go for a run and lose some fat. I thought I should lose some fat around my stomach as my belly button is slowly disappearing. So, I grabbed my running clothes and trainers, my mobile phone and the house keys and stepped out. On the phone, tuned to 96.9FM was the fabulous DJ TTB spinning some great Naija tunes.

What a delight!

The Nigerian music industry is blessed with some great talents right now. I almost started dancing on the steps just loving Davido, Savage and the like. The weather was crisp, air fresh and the music delicious. The mix interchanged smoothly, banging from ‘I am looking for my Johnny’ to ‘Personally, I rock your body’.

Where are my patients with back pain, hypertension, diabetes and stress? Where are the fat people, I wondered? They should be out here jogging and making some effort to lose weight. All I see on my runs usually are slim people with the exception of one lady.

She has a lot of front and back packed into a tight T-shirt and body hugging jogging bottoms. She should not have been out this early, I thought! Surely, someone should have kept her under arrest. Anyway, I quickly reprimand myself, remembering my dear wife and her admonishing demeanour.

Anyway, early morning sex is also touted as a good form of exercise and another way to brighten up your day. It releases feel good hormones and puts a smile on your face. It can also help with blood pressure control, but, do not forget to take your prescribed drugs. Exercise leads to better control of blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and therefore reduces the risks of stroke and heart attacks. Regular walks, runs or jogging is guaranteed to keep you awake, refreshed and alive for longer. It is also fun and can be painless if you wake up with a great DJ on the radio station.

So, let me get to the point of this article.

You need to get off your backside and do something. You can walk, jog, run or crawl to keep fit. However, I would recommend jogging to some great beats at your own pace. I would also recommend dancing at home or out. Dance with your wife and kids or with friends as we do at Lifebridge Diagnostic Centre, in Abuja. Do it regularly, do it with a smile and be happy. It will increase your life span.

I so enjoyed my early morning run, I could die right now and die a happy man. So, I enjoin you today to do something different and do different things with your life!

28 HEALTH/NEWS

Monday, July 21, 2014

Family Planning Burden On National Development 29

lem because of the high fertility but low survival rate of mothers and children in Nigeria.

Women’s health is also hindered by gender-based violence, lack of adequate nutrition during pregnancy and female genital mutilation. Available data shows that as many as 800,000 Nigerian women live with obstetric fistula as a result of early pregnancy and obstructed labour.

Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by obstructed labour and it is considered a disease of poverty because of its tendency to occur in women who do not have access

to basic healthcare. This problem can largely be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy, cessation of harmful traditional practices and timely access to quality obstetric care.

According to Moji Odeku of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), providing women with the required maternal health medicines and supplies would prevent an additional 19,000 deaths, reduce the annual number of deaths to about 16,000, while enabling Nigeria to not only reach but significantly attain its MDG goal of 300. He said “these interventions would

have a significant impact on newborn mortality.”

Though a lot of efforts have been in place towards promoting family planning programme, it is however believed that the potential of contraceptive practice in preventing maternal and child deaths warrants more commitment from the government.

The government is encouraged to increase investment in family planning as an integral part of the integrated maternal, newborn and child health and as a national priority while sustaining its free contraceptive policy.

States and local governments should adequately fund and support family planning programmes, while encouraging public-private partnership in family planning services.

Ladipo, who is also the chairman of National Reproductive Health Working Group said “our population as it currently stands is not an asset for development until we start to plan our families.” He listed access to quality education, health, workforce population structure, good economic policies and governance as the only ways by which we can achieve the desired family planning ratio in the country.

Contraceptive practice in preventing maternal and child deaths warrants more commitment from the government

Ramadan: How To Manage Diabetes With Natural Foods For some people with diabetes, fasting during Ramadan can cause problems to their health. If one is able to fast, VICTOR OKEKE writes on how to keep good diabetes control throughout the fasting period

Remember that Ramadan is also about selfcontrol and discipline

Ramadan this year started on July and the length of fast is very long (17 hours +). Long fasts according to experts, put one at higher risk of hypoglycaemia and dehydration, which can make one ill. High blood glucose levels can also occur if somebody fasting eats excessively at Suhoor or Iftar.

According to Drs Sarah Ali, Sufyan Hussain and Shuja Shafi of the Muslim Council of Britain Diabetes Advisory Group, diabetes is a health condition where the amount of glucose in the blood gets too high. This happens if the pancreas doesn’t make any insulin or enough insulin to help the glucose enter the body cells.

Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it’s used as fuel for energy so we can work, play and generally live our lives. Glucose come from digesting carbohydrate and it’s also produced by the liver.

The experts said, “When we don’t eat during a fast, at about eight hours after our last meal, our bodies start to use energy stored to keep our blood glucose (sugar) levels normal. For most people, this is not harmful.”

This year, the fast is long and the risks of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose level) and dehydration (lack of water) are high in diabetes. They added that aAnother problem that can occur if you have diabetes, is the risk of high glucose levels following the larger meals that we eat before and after fasting (at Suhoor/Sehri and Iftar).

High glucose levels and dehydration can be dangerous for people with diabetes. The medical experts say that ‘most people with health problems, such as diabetes are exempt from fasting. “Choosing to fast is a personal decision that you should make with advice from your diabetes team. For some people with diabetes, fasting can be dangerous or cause problems to your health.”

Certain people and circumstances are exempt from fasting. For example: children (under the age of puberty) the elderly, those who are sick or have a certain health condition, those with learning difficulties, those who are travelling, pregnant, breastfeeding and menstruating women.

Remember, says Hussain, “if you cannot fast, you can complete your duties by offering charity or providing food to the poor. Speak to your local Imam for more information about this. You must speak to your doctor or diabetes nurse about your diabetes treatment as early as possible before Ramadan.”

“Yes, testing your blood glucose levels regularly is important and will keep you safe while fasting.

This will not break your fast.”

Long hours without eating increase the risk of hypoglycaemia.

So he advised that people must try to eat a meal at Suhoor just before sunrise and not at midnight, as this will help to keep the glucose levels more balanced through the fast.

At Suhoor, Shafi said people fasting should eat starchy carbohy-

drates which release energy slowly, such as multigrain bread, oatbased cereals, rice together with beans, lentils and fruit and vegetables. “Other foods which will keep your blood glucose levels more stable through the fast include pitta bread, chapattis and semolina. As with all meals, eat sensibly, do not over eat and remember to drink plenty of water.”

He added, “Remember to eat sensibly and healthily all year

round but also in Ramadan.”

Overeating and eating the wrong foods (such as fried foods, foods high in fat and sugar) in large quantities will not only make one put on weight but will also lead to big increases and imbalances in the blood glucose levels. Keep portion sizes moderate. Remember that Ramadan is also about selfcontrol and discipline.

Please see your dietitian for further advice.

NEWS /HEALTH 29

Monday, July 21, 2014

Smoking campaign, Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, (NTCA) campaigning against the smoking of Tobacco and advocating for the passage of the Bill in front of the National Assembly in Abuja. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

243m People Consumed Illicit Drug In 2012-Report

BY WINIFRED OGBEBO, Abuja

This year’s World Drug Report shows that 243 million people aged 15 to 64 consumed an illicit drug in 2012.

Out of this report, problem drug users, those who have the most profound difficulties with drug consumption, account for around 27 million, or one in every 200 people.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Representative in Nigeria, Mariam Sissoko, who gave the disclosure yesterday in Abuja during the dissemination of the 2014 World Drug Report and the 2013 INCB Report, raised the alarm at the initiatives aimed at legalizing cannabis globally.

She observed that one important aspect which the report highlights is the fact that

there are 12.7 million individuals who inject drugs, and of this number, some 1.7 million are living with HIV, while 52 per cent have Hepatitis C. She said, “Those figures reinforce the need for better access to evidence-based HIV prevention, treatment and care services. “ Sissoko said, more importantly, those suffering from drug use disorders need to be accorded the same rights to treatment and care as anyone suffering from any disease.

She stated, “I am pleased to report that UNODC in Nigeria, has engaged with the federal Ministry of Health and key national institutions, with financial support from the European Union, to increase service provision for drug addiction treatment.”

“We have conducted nation-wide assess-

ment to identify some 11 national and private medical facilities that have the potential to become model drug treatment centres, and to also double for some of them as regional training hubs for those health practitioners engaged in the treatment of drug addiction, “ the UNODP representative.

Also in his remarks, the chairman/chief executive, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA), Alh Ahmadu Giade, stated that drug production, trafficking and abuse represent one of the biggest security challenges confronting humanity today.

According to him, the situation is so frightening that an urgent intervention is needed for a guaranteed global peace and development.

He said, “Most criminal acts are perpetrated under the influence of drugs.

Unity Of Health Workers Key To Viable Health – CMD 40m

BY ARONKE OLAYIWOLA, Lagos

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof Wale Oke has charged all health care workers to live harmoniously with one another in order to move the health sector forward.

Oke gave this charge at the maiden Pharmacy Week of the hospital with the theme: Expanding Roles of Pharmacy: Towards improved Patients’ Quality of Life.

Oke said, “key players in the sector need to work together to ensure that

patients get quality care. Besides, the health team should see themselves as partners in progress and not “competitors” as the case is presently.

“The pharmacist in medical practice, he said, has evolved over time from supplying drugs to focusing on caring for patients through discriminate drug dispensing, to comfortably adapt to the current demands of the profession as an addition of service delivery.”

He further stated that “Modern pharmacists should be equipped with adequate knowledge of modern technology and practices to be able to con-

tain and withstand any challenge from the patients and their job.”

The chief medical director further charged Nigerians to frown at selfconviction in the area of self-diagnosis and self-medication because all sicknesses do not have the same symptom.

“Headache in two different individuals may not necessarily mean the same condition,” he said.

Guest lecturer and member of LASUTH Board, Mr Lere Baale, while speaking, said people die from medical errors than clinical errors, adding that care must be safe, timely and ef-

Ebola Virus Deadlier Than HIV/AIDS- Experts

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

Ebola virus is the most difficult health challenge confronting the third world countries and is deadlier than HIV/AIDs,medical experts have declared.

A Professor of Epidemology and Community Health Science,University of Ilorin, Tanimola Akande, and a one time Clinical Virologist at Hoston Texas,United States of America,Dr.Olajide Agbede, made the declaration in Ilorin, Kwara State, during their seperate lectures delivered at an

awareness campaign on Ebola virus sponsored by Chairman, LUBCON Group of companies,Alhaji Jani Ibrahim.

The duo identified fruit bats as the major courier of Ebola virus which later spread it to other animals and man.

Akande, specifically advised Nigerians to shun the consumption of bush meat as a preventive measure against contacting the viirus.

The don who is the national president, ,Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, said “Ebola is a very deadly disease.

We have been talking about HIV/AIDS but Ebola is more deadlier than HIV/AIDS. It’s an African Problem. Mostly in Central and West Africa Republic” He said the virus which “thrives in their natural host of fruits bats had so far killed 580 out of the 930 people diagnosed with the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Seira- Leone and Ghana”.

The medical expert said “any contact with an effected person is almost a death sentence because the virus has no vaccines,no drugs ,we only give palliative management”.

No fewer than 40 graduates were inducted into the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria by the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan last week

7

Eating just seven shelled walnuts a day may be all it takes to take advantage of their beneficial properties

48% The Gap Report released by the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) says that Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda account for 48 per cent of all new HIV infections in 2013

OVERWEIGHT People ‘Less Likely To Die From Heart Problems’ Carrying excess weight has long been known to increase the risk of heart disease.

But overweight people with heart problems may actually live longer than their thinner counterparts, new research suggests.

U.S. researchers found the risk of heart attack and death from cardiovascular complications is highest among underweight patients - with death rates the lowest in heavier people.

While obesity is linked to higher levels of insulin, higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol and diabetes, the new figures suggest there is an ‘obesity paradox’.

Paradox: While obesity is linked to a host of health problems such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, overweight people with heart problems may actually live longer than their thinner counterparts One explanation may be that overweight patients are more likely to be prescribed medication to control high blood pressure and cholesterol levels than slimmer people - and in higher doses.

They are also more likely to undergo procedures such as bypass surgery - and traditionally been considered to have a worse recovery rate because of their size.

EYES- How To Keep Them Healthy Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. Follow these simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden years.

Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages.

Source:www.google.com

30 HEALTH

Monday, July 21, 2014

Open Defecation Is A Criminal Offence- Ominyi

Nigeria is among the top five countries with large number of people lacking access to water sanitation and where the practice of open defecation thrives. In this interview with WINIFRED OGBEBO, a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) specialist, Job Ominyi sheds more light on this and suggests a way forward for the country

they must do something about it. They make plans for changing that and they begin to allocate responsibilities and set timeline for themselves.

We used to have sanitary inspectors, can they be brought back?

Actually there are still sanitary inspectors. But they are so few that they’re no longer having any impact. Most of them are old and they are not employing new ones. As a result of this, if you look at sanitary inspectors all across Nigeria, the few that I have met in some of the environmental health officers meetings, most of them are like senior level people. They no longer have the will conducting house to house inspection that will be calling attention to issues like this. So that when we were challenged by not being able to achieve open defecation free (ODF) in small towns, it became an issue that the environmental health officers needed to complement the gentle persuasion that we engaged using CLTS by the enforcement of the environmental public health laws.

There’s an arm that is promoting and persuading gently and there is an arm that is invoking the law because shitting actually in the open is a criminal offence.

How about enforcing the building code to ensure strict compliance with having latrines in buildings?

Ominyi What are the dangers involved in the practice of open defecation?

short BIO OF Mr job ominyi

Job Ominyi is a Water and Sanitation Hygiene specialist with UNICEF

You see a fellow man squatting and because you haven’t done a latrine for your wife, she is squatting in the bush and a man is watching her and this is happening probably in places you have wine tappers, even hunters and things like that. These are some of the real life experiences that people in the communities have expressed to us as some of their reasons wanting to embrace the construction and use of latrines.

But before you can get to this, you ask questions like: what is wrong with open defecation?; how does it affect your life?; when people shit in the open, where does the shit go?; when you go to shit yourself where people have shit in the open, what happens? They complained we step on the shit and we bring back the slippers, some of our crawling children carry the slippers and start chewing. So they really feel disgusted and said

As a matter of fact, when a building plan is submitted, some of the things that should be checked when you are checking the appropriateness of the building plan will be the area that is available to be built to par and the area that the building is supposed to be taken, the adequacy of the facilities compared to the number of bedrooms which we can use to appropriate the number of persons they plan to live in that house. That means that having toilet facilities is supposed to be a significant thing to check and if they add, there should be recommendations to amend that plan to include adequate toilet facilities to meet the projected number of persons that should be living in such a house given the number of living rooms that have been put in.

Do you see Nigeria attaining ODF status in 2025?

That is about 11 years to come.

There’s a possibility that this can happen but if we follow the current trend, it’s not likely to happen. Reason being that we are making good progress in some of the selected states but these are

states that external support agencies are providing concentrated resources, where we are providing support, and they are actually rapidly moving from open defecation communities to open defecation free communities. About ten years ago, we had less that 2,000 ODF, but as of this month, we have close to 3,500 ODF communities cutting across many states.

But the most significant contributors to this are Benue, Cross River, Osun, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi and Ekiti. Like I said, it may be because of the amount of attention those states are receiving.

What are you proposing to the government?

What we are proposing is that government should in recognition of the fact that community led total sanitation (CLTS) has proven to be a very effective approach to improving community sanitation, scale this up, put funds in annual budget that will help relevant agencies to undertake CLTS. UNICEF has supported in some of these states, even in local governments they are not working in, to support other local governments in those states to develop road maps and prepare ODF action plans. To support this, technical people from the non-project LGAs have also been trained so that they could actually do this but UNICEF does not have the funds to support the community level activities that may translate into these changes taking place in the non-project LGAs. So if government made money available to the non-project LGAs to sort of replicate the good practices that are happening in project LGAs, we think we can actually make ODF by 2025. The way forward is for government to take over this and run with it.

I thought we were making progress in the water-related MDGs?

On a general note, there is progress in the direction of access to improved water sources but am not going to be able to say yes or no we are going to be able to achieve it in 2015.

What are the effects or challenges to water sanitation implementation in Nigeria?

As you may have observed, the statistics of under- five morbidity and mortality is glaring, It has been proven that Nigeria is among the top countries that are contributing to under- five mortality and this is a direct reflection of how well or not our sanitary and hygiene habits are, including the availability of safe water.

Surgeon’s Turf Dr Biodun Ogungbo MBBS, FRCS, FRCSEd, MSc. Consultant Neurosurgeon

08122221616 (SMS only)

I Am So Happy I Could Die Right Now! Today was a colossal day. It was just that kind of day. I woke up feeling great and prepared to have a fabulous day. Usually, I wake up early, either by myself or due to the impertinent call to prayer from the loudspeakers of the local mosque. I woke up feeling like a Billion dollars (No, not 20B). It clicked in my head that I had indulged the day before and so needed to go for a run and lose some fat. I thought I should lose some fat around my stomach as my belly button is slowly disappearing. So, I grabbed my running clothes and trainers, my mobile phone and the house keys and stepped out. On the phone, tuned to 96.9FM was the fabulous DJ TTB spinning some great Naija tunes.

What a delight!

The Nigerian music industry is blessed with some great talents right now. I almost started dancing on the steps just loving Davido, Savage and the like. The weather was crisp, air fresh and the music delicious. The mix interchanged smoothly, banging from ‘I am looking for my Johnny’ to ‘Personally, I rock your body’.

Where are my patients with back pain, hypertension, diabetes and stress? Where are the fat people, I wondered? They should be out here jogging and making some effort to lose weight. All I see on my runs usually are slim people with the exception of one lady.

She has a lot of front and back packed into a tight T-shirt and body hugging jogging bottoms. She should not have been out this early, I thought! Surely, someone should have kept her under arrest. Anyway, I quickly reprimand myself, remembering my dear wife and her admonishing demeanour.

Anyway, early morning sex is also touted as a good form of exercise and another way to brighten up your day. It releases feel good hormones and puts a smile on your face. It can also help with blood pressure control, but, do not forget to take your prescribed drugs. Exercise leads to better control of blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and therefore reduces the risks of stroke and heart attacks. Regular walks, runs or jogging is guaranteed to keep you awake, refreshed and alive for longer. It is also fun and can be painless if you wake up with a great DJ on the radio station.

So, let me get to the point of this article.

You need to get off your backside and do something. You can walk, jog, run or crawl to keep fit. However, I would recommend jogging to some great beats at your own pace. I would also recommend dancing at home or out. Dance with your wife and kids or with friends as we do at Lifebridge Diagnostic Centre, in Abuja. Do it regularly, do it with a smile and be happy. It will increase your life span.

I so enjoyed my early morning run, I could die right now and die a happy man. So, I enjoin you today to do something different and do different things with your life!

Monday, July 21, 2014

zonal watch

31

EDO DELTA BAYELSA RIVERS AKWA IBOM CROSS RIVER Edo: NBC Secures $22m Loan To Support Businesswomen

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

The Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) has said that it secured a $22million loan facility from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support women owned businesses in Nigeria.

Managing director, NBC, Mr. Ben Langat, who disclosed this in Benin City, the Edo State capital, during the graduation ceremony of Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI), said the loan facility was part of commitment

by the Coca-Cola Company to facilitate the economic empowerment of five million women globally in its value chain by 2020.

Langat, who was represented by the regional logistics director (East and Central Region), Mr. Ademola Richards, stated that in Nigeria, opportunities were being expanded for women in the area of distribution and retailer-networks and supporting them with business skills, training as well as access to affordable financing.

Bayelsa: 400 Medical Practitioners Benefit From Chevron Scholarship

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

Multi-national oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited has said that about 400 medical practitioners from Bayelsa State, were beneficiaries of the company’s curent foreign scholarship scheme.

The general manager of Chevron on Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr Deji Haastrup, made the announcement when he led a delegation from the firm on a courtesy call on the Bayelsa State commissioner for health, Dr Ayibatonye Owei, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Haastrup said that medical

and engineering professionals were the most beneficiaries of the scholarship, adding that it was one of the highest offers currently in the country.

He said, “So far, over 400 Bayelsans have benefitted and this is basically to strengthen healthcare delivery system for the people.”

The manager stated that the visit to the commissioner of health was to give an overview of the areas Chevron Company has impacted positively in the state.

Haastrup said, “We have come to strengthen our relationship and to strategise plans with the

Ministry of Health to improve healthcare system; Chevron Company is working hard to promote the livelihood of peoples.

Our areas of focus are basically three; the first is health and I must say that most of our social development goes into health.

“The second one is education and third is economic empowerment; we chose these three areas because they are the greatest areas of need of our people here in Nigeria.We have gone a long way to reduce the incidence of transferring of HIV/ AIDS virus from mother to child in the state.

Bayelsa Signs N25bn Economic Partnership With Banks, Others

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

HEADS FROM THE ZONE

➔ Senator Liyel Imoke, Imoke, the Executive Governor of Cross Rivers State, last week began the construction of 200 housing units at Golf Estate, one of the offerings of Summit Hills project, intended to add value to the Tinapa Leisure Report in Calabar. ➔ Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, last week unveiled a scientific device – the Automated Road Analyser (ARAN) that would monitor and ensure that road projects are done according to specification. ➔ Hon. Seriake Dickson Dickson, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State last week signed economic partnersip agreement with banks and other firms to boost SMEs in the state

BOC Gases Air Separation Unit (ASU) in Port Harcourt

BOC Launches Multi-million Naira Air Separation Unit In Rivers

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

In an attempt to display its long-term commitment to expanding the Nigerian industrial gas market, the BOC Gases Nigeria, and its sister company, Afrox, has officially launched its multimillion naira state-of theart air separation unit (ASU) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, managing director of BOC, Mr. Johnson Idowu, stated that the Port Harcourt ASU, is entirely air cooled and consumes minimal energy, adding that the new compact and highly modularised ASU was for bulk nitrogen production.

Idowu said, “This plant will supplement existing capacity and significantly strengthen our position as a

leading supplier of industrial gases in Nigeria, which is a major growth region. This investment is also crucial to our strategy of growing and expanding our operations throughout West Africa.”

Also speaking, Afrox project manager, Mr. Jabulani Nkosi, explained that the plant components of the ASU were designed and manufactured in the USA, before being shipped to India for assembly.

Delta: JTF Arrests Businessman, 10 Varsity Students Over Cultism

BY KOLA EKE-OGIUGO, Asaba

Operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, combing Ogwashi-Uku-Ughelli axis of Delta State, have arrested a businessman identified as Emeka (surname withheld) and 10 students of the state owned Delta State University and the Anambra State University, suspected to be members of

various cult groups.

It was gathered that the suspects were arrested during routine search by the JTF operatives, who had, in the last two weeks, arrested some persons allegedly involved in cultivating Indian hemp.

Police public relations officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Celetina Kalu, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects yesterday, disclosed that the suspects,

upon interrogation denied involvement in cultism, while the businessman confessed to being leader of the Aye confraternity.

It was also gathered that men of the JTF, attached to the Agbor community, had last week pounced on some persons believed to have indulged in nefarious activities after receiving information that a gang of cult members had converged in Abavo community.

The Bayelsa State government rounded off its threeday investment and economic forum in Yenagoa, the state capital, with the signing of a N25 billion small and medium scale enterprises (SME) development fund partnership agreement with the Bank of Industry, Main-street Bank and the Bank of Agriculture.

Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) were also signed with Ostertrade, Proton Energy, and Banner Energy, for the establishment of ceramic tiles, glass, tomato paste, and beans canning industries; the construction of a 500 megawatts power plant; and for the siting of a gas plant and a mini Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the state, respectively.

The state government equally signed memoranda of understanding with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology and four media organisations, comprising; Channels Television, Africa Independent Television (AIT),Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Silverbird.

The minister of communication technology, Dr. Omobolaji Johnson, signed on behalf of the federal government, while secretary to the state government, (SSG), Professor Edmund Alison Oguru and information commissioner, Deacon Markson Fefegha signed on behalf of the state government.

Speaking at the forum, Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson said SMEs remained a critical sector in implementing the economic diversification policy of the state government.

While urging the people of the state to key into the SMEs programme for the creation of wealth and job opportunities, Dickson stated that, the era of dependence on political patronage was no longer sustainable.

The governor, who also signed and presented some copies of certificates of occupancy (C of O) to Julius Berger Plc and other individuals, underscored the importance of the land title document in addressing the issue of access to business finance.

He assured the partners of the judicious use of the funds, saying that the state government has put in place measures to closely monitor the would-be beneficiaries of the SMEs for effective management of the fund.

In her remarks, the minister of communication Technology, Dr. Omobolaji Johnson stated that the state was chosen for what she described, as a smart state, to increase its level of internet connectivity.

32 zonal watch (South-South)

Monday, July 21, 2014

news behind the news

2015: Apc And The Battle Over Impeachment Plots

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Indications of dangerous signs ahead of the 2015 general elections, especially in states controlled by the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), was manifestly demonstrated with the successful impeachment of former governor of Adamawa State, Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-dominated Adamawa State House of Assembly. This is as same dagger of impeachment is currently hanging on the governor of Nassarawa State, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, following an impeachment notice served the embattled governor.

The fall of Ekiti State to the PDP, during the June 21, 2014 governorship election, may have set the stage to perfect plots for the party to reclaim lost states controlled by the APC back to the PDP, ahead of the 2015 elections.

The crisis rocking the Houses of Assembly in Rivers and Edo states, both in the South-South geopolitical zone, was a pointer of a grand plan using the lawmakers to oust governors.

In Edo State, where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole holds sway, the State House of Assembly is completely polarised with the PDP and APC lawmakers holding separate sittings, following the slamming of suspension on four APC members who defected to the PDP; their defection brings the PDP lawmakers in the House to 9 while the APC controls 15 members majority.

The suspended lawmakers were accused by Oshiomhole of decamping to the PDP, after being induced from Abuja with a whooping N75 million each, while they were also contracted to woo other APC members to the PDP, thereby giving the PDP the majority which will set the stage for the eventual impeachment of the governor. However, the arrow head of the renege group, and the impeached deputy speaker, Hon. Festus Ebea, had repeatedly denied the allegations.

Disturbed by the trend of events in APC controlled states, the national leadership of the party recently stormed Edo State Government House in Benin City, in an apparent show of solidarity with the comrade governor, where they declared their support for the sustenance and continuity of his administration even in the face of what the leaders described as the “Show of impunity and political rascality by members of PDP

Oshiomhole

controlled federal government.”

The APC delegation on the solidarity visit were Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; former governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu; former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki; minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajamila; former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El Rufai; the APC national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the party’s national secretary, Akabu Kali; among others.

The national chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, who led national leaders of the party to Oshiomhole, declared, “After due considerations at a meeting held on Friday, we decided that it was immediate and urgent that we pay a visit to you, to come and tell you and of course the legislators that we know what you have been passing through, we understand and we are glad with the way you have been managing what you have been going through. This kind of rascality and indiscipline must not be seen to be rewarded. Against all odds, you have remained firm and this is the spirit of the new APC.” Apparently referring to the orchestrated impeachment plot against APC governors, Oyegun said, “Besides the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, you are the most current target of attack in their quest to destabilise APC governors. For this simple reason you are not alone.

“What the party, APC has come to realise is a properly mapped out war by the PDP to destabilise the APC. The APC has decided strongly that it is time that this rascality of

What the party, APC has come to realise is a properly mapped out war by the PDP to destabilise the APC

the PDP should have consequences.

So, we are not going to sit back any more and roll over and accept what is being dished out to us because the level of impunity is becoming totally unacceptable.

“The rate at which institutions of state, especially security institutions, are being undermined and destroyed can no longer be accepted and tolerated. We read in newspapers, the way the police have been used to protect eight or nine people against lawful decisions of court, against lawful and majority-controlled House of Assembly.

The APC national chairman urged the comrade governor to continue with the provision of good governance to the people of the state, stressing that the leadership of APC will continue to give him their support.

Responding, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, on behalf of the state and leadership of the state legislature, thanked Oyegun, and other members for leading a high powered delegation of APC on a solidarity visit to Government House.

Oshiomhole said, “Let me thank you sir, for your decision to pay us a visit and all that you have said.

Of course, this is your state; you know the actors and all that are involved. You are very familiar with the environment and you are one of the leaders of Edo Community. I think what people refer to basically as crisis in Edo State is something so described because we are not English people and we do not have the right words to use.

“My view is that, the refusal by four suspended members of the PDP of a 24 member House would be a decision validly taken by their own House on the basis of rules governing the House that they are a part of, so, their insubordination has not in any way translated to a crisis. Ordinarily, this should be seen as the internal affairs of the House that should bother only the members of the House”.

Continuing, the governor said, “Whether the House chooses to suspend a member or appoint a member on assignment or whatever, given the principles of separation of powers, that should not have anything to do with anyone but members of the House, particularly when it has become traditional that various Houses of Assembly at one time or the other either for the right reasons or the wrong reasons, at the state and even at the national level have had cause to suspend their members.

Imoke

News Behind The News

2015: Undp, NUJ Train South-South Journalists On Electoral Reporting

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), have organised a two-day training workshop for journalists in the SouthSouth geo-political zone of the country.

The workshop, which has the theme; “Reporting Electoral Processes for Nigeria’s 2015 Elections”, was held on July 14, and July 15, 2014, at the prestigious Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, Cross River State, with resource persons drawn from the media, academic and civil society organisations.

Some of the resources persons were Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos; Mrs. Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, a media expert; and executive director, Institute for Media and Society (IMESO), Nigeria, Akin Akingbulu,.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the training, the workshop identified a culture of impunity; winner takes it all approach; widespread poverty and high population of jobless youths and religious and ethnic polarisation as some of the basis for electoral violence, while emphasising the need for the media to be conflict sensitive.

The communiqué noted that the media should avoid use of hate language; examine a story from all angles, prevent manipulation of the media by politicians and political parties; give aggrieved parties or persons the opportunity and the right to reply and; promptly correct mistakes where they are made.

It said, “The media is considered an important electoral actor because of the obvious fundamental role society bestowed on it as the watchdog of society. Journalists are therefore charged to live above board and ensure that the interest of the nation and the general public is placed above personal considerations at all times.”

The workshop, which also noted that imbalanced reports lead to loss of integrity, trust and litigation, instructed journalists to use all techniques to achieve balanced reporting in the light of truth, equity and fairness. It enumerated social inequality; economic hardship; weak governance structure; poor and irregular remuneration; technological advancement and ownership influence as some of the factors that drive unethical issues.

The communiqué, which observed that large number of political parties and candidates in elections pose logistical challenge for fair allocation of airtime in the electronic media and space in the newspapers, stated that ethics and professionalism are factors in the outcome of reporting elections and advocated truthfulness, refusal of bribe, avoidance of plagiarism, moral responsibilities, accuracy and confidentiality.

zonal watch (South-South) 33

Monday, July 21, 2014

news behind the news

Bayelsa: Dickson’s Giant Leap In Business And Investment Restoration

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

According to the data provided by the state government, the two years of the present administration’s investments have shown that at inception, the state was generating N50million as internally generated revenue (IGR) per month, but now it has shored up to N1billion monthly, representing about 1000% increase

When the Bayelsa State governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson described Bayelsa State as Nigeria’s best-kept secret and investment destination, many winked and struggled to understand such confidence from a state not known for industrial activities.

But the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson has succeeded in raising the profile of the state as a business and investment destination through the establishment of the Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC), the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA) and the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

In the last two years, the efforts of these agencies, ministries, and parastatals, to convince potential and non-briefcase-carrying investors have been backed by a clear effort by the state government to provide needed infrastructural development and security in most parts of the state.

Also put in place are the show of transparent spending of government funds, and consistent hosting of high profile events such as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), the African Academy Movie Award (AAMA), the African Fashion Reception (AFR) and many others.

All these, according to the officials of the state government, are to convince the world that with the existing peace and rising infrastructural development, the state is indeed the secret of business and investment in Nigeria.

According to the data provided by the state government, the two years of the present administration’s investments have shown that at inception, the state was generating N50million as internally generated revenue (IGR) per month, but now it has shored up to N1billion monthly, representing about 1000% increase.

While speaking during the recent opening of the London office of the BDIC, Governor Dickson said his administration’s strategic vision is to attract the private sector, both within and outside the country, to open businesses in the state in order to create job opportunities, as well as create alternative sources of revenue for the state.

He said; “Government would provide the enabling environment for the private sector, which has the capacity to grow the economy and create job opportunities in the state.”

The governor explained that the

Dickson

opening of the BDIC’s international office, as well as the upcoming Bayelsa Economic and Investment Forum (BEIF), scheduled to hold between July 16 and July 18, 2014 in Yenagoa, are to underscore the fact that the state is safe and secure for investment.

Dickson noted with delight that with the opening of the London office, the state was making a bold statement to the world and the investing public that it is ready for business and eager to promote the excellent bilateral relations with Britain and the Commonwealth in general.

The BDIC’s London office is principally intended to complement the efforts of the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom, by promoting the trade and investment potential of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.

The governor, who led a highpowered delegation from the state including the first military governor of the old Rivers State and Amanayabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-spiff, the former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Timi Alaibe; Major Lancelot Ayanya, chairman, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA); Barr. Kamela Okara, commissioner for trade and investment; Tam Alazigha, deputy managing director of BDIC, Barrister Funkazi Koroye–Crooks, secretary, BDIC London office, and Cyril Akika, special adviser to the Bayelsa State governor on investment.

Akika said; “This office shall be

the international headquarters of the corporation and shall deepen and strengthen our collective resolve as a government and as a people to promote wealth and prosperity in the state.”

In his remarks, the special guest of honour and Nigeria’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, commended the Bayelsa State government for the bold initiative in opening an office in the UK, noting that the state is one of the youngest and smallest states in Nigeria, but one of the most enterprising in the country.

Tafida stated that the event marked the first time a state in Nigeria has opened such an office in the United Kingdom, and pledged the full support and assistance of the High Commission.

Also speaking, the special guest, Lord Marland of Odstock, who is also the chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), lauded Governor Dickson for his initiative and commitment to attracting investors to the state and pledged the CBC’s resolve to complement the efforts of the state at stimulating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and to diversify the economy from oil and gas.

The event had in attendance members of the diplomatic community, business leaders, including the chairman of Westminster Business Group, Mr Lawrence Robertson.

On the proposed hosting of the global business leaders at its maiden investment and economic forum with the theme; ‘Unlocking Bayelsa State’s Economic Potential’, the

state commissioner of trade, industry and investment, Barrister Kemela Okara, said the forum is aimed at showcasing the state’s economic potential to the rest of the world.

Okara, accompanied by the chief press secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson; the director general, Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency, Freda Murray-Bruce; special adviser to the governor on investment, Cyril Akika and the director general, Bayelsa Partners Initiatives, Mrs Iniye Ambakederemo-Ukpeh, said the forum is in line with the present administration’s economic blueprint, which is a private sector driven economy, adding that many foreign investors have tapped into this vision.

Aside from oil and gas, the commissioner disclosed that the state is blessed with other natural resources that, if properly harnessed, will be of great economic benefit to the would-be investors and the government.

He said; “The forum will focus on oil and gas, agriculture, information and communications technology (ICT), tourism and hospitality and power. These are some of the potential that the government is ready to showcase to the world.

“We are hoping that this forum will create an opportunity for more investors to come and invest in agriculture, aquaculture and farming, which will expand to agro-allied industries. Our expectation is to have potential investors from different parts of the world, within Nigeria and Bayelsans in the diaspora to come and take advantage of the various opportunities that exist.”

In line with the administration’s vision of making the state, the Dubai of Africa, the government has provided the enabling environment, which includes adequate security, infrastructures and the legal framework that will be of economic benefit.

Some of the ongoing projects in the state, which are aimed at providing necessary platform for investors include the Agge Deep Seaport, Cargo Airport, the opening up of the three senatorial districts, the world class diagnostic centre, multi billion naira 5-star hotel and a host of others. These projects, when completed, will be of economic benefits to the investors and the state.

On the incentives for the investors, the commissioner explained that “the main incentive for investors is the free trade zone we are planning to establish. To establish a free trade zone, there will be nonapplication of local taxation”.

34 OPINION

Monday, July 21, 2014

Scholarship Payment System: The Niger State Model

BY DIPO LALEYE

One sector in Niger State that has witnessed a lot of development since Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu assumed office over seven years ago is the educational sector.

Investment in this sector has been total and all encompassing. From renovation and construction of school buildings to furnishing of the institutions and provision of laboratory equipment as well as delivery of basic needs for basic and tertiary institutions which has improved the quality of teaching and learning in the state. Injection into the sector has also been aimed at building tomorrow’s Niger State today since education is the bedrock of any development.

Before the advent of the present administration, the government had put basic and tertiary education management under one administration, that is, the Ministry of Education but for effective planning and focused leadership, the ministry was split and Dr Mohammed Bashir Nuhu was made commissioner for Tertiary Education.

Since the split of the ministry, there is no doubt that tertiary education in the state has received tremendous boost in both physical and non physical areas The tangible achievements of the government in this sector are available for all to see especially when the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University recently turned out its first set of graduates with one of the graduands performing exceedingly well that he has been offered automatic admission for a ph.D programme,

Aliyu

joining the very few universities in the country to perform this rare feat.

Only recently, the Niger State government approved special salary scales for all categories of staff in the state College of Education – a policy that will gulp N468 million annually. Though this decision will take effect from next January because the amount involved was not captured in the 2014 budget, Dr Bashir Nuhu who said the unions in the College were carried along before the approval of the policy believes that the new salary scale will bring lecturers in the college at par with their colleagues in other parts of the country and bring about industrial peace in the institution.

However one area where the Ministry of Tertiary Education has performed brilliantly is the sanitisation of payment of scholarship and other allowances

At the end, not less than 7,000 ghost students were discovered on the scholarship payment lists with these “ghosts” denying the state a whopping N126m over a period of three years

to students of the state origin in institutions of higher learning within and outside the country.

Before the creation of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, payment of scholarship to these category of students had been a herculean task. It was such huge fraud where unpatriotic officials and students defrauded the state and left nothing for genuine students to use for their upkeep.

This is why the government and in particular the ministry had to take the bull by the horn to sanitise the scholarship payment process. It is pertinent to state here that officials of the National Association of Niger State Students NANISS were carried along and even participated in the clean up exercise.

At the end, not less than 7,000 ghost students were discovered on the scholarship payment lists with these “ghosts” denying the state a whopping N126m over a period of three years.

The result of the clean up exercise is payment of scholarship and other allowances to all categories of students from the 2011 academic year to that of 2013 session while arrangement for the payment of that of 2014 has been completed and payment also commenced For the avoidance of doubt, in the 2011 academic year N296,850,790 was paid to 23,669 students while for the 2012 academic calendar, N236,300,000 was paid to 20,028 students while in 2013, N170,480,000 was disbursed to 14,741 students.

–Laleye is snr special assistant (media) to Governor Babangida Aliyu

Pension: Human Rights And The Nigerian Situation

BY UGOCHI IZUAGBA

But for those with hearts of stone who would rather give their babies live snakes rather than delicious fish, it is a shock to hear the heart rending rendition of live stories of hundreds of thousands of Nigerian aged pensioners who have so far been dispatched to their early graves by those thieving bureaucrats in government offices who corner the pension entitlements of retirees.

As far back as two decades ago, I grew up in a neighbourhood with children of some retired Nigerian Railway Corporation workers and even police retirees who were subjected to the horrendous ordeals of traveling from Kafanchan in Kaduna State to the so-called pension offices in the then federal capital of Lagos

in search of their pension and entitlements.

Some of these patriots who dedicated their youth to the service of humanity and the Nigerian nation were left desolate by the system and allowed to die miserably without enjoying the fruits of their labour.

Sadly, it is unlikely that there is any rational Nigerian who has not read about the sad experiences of retirees in this country who have been made to stand in the heat of the scorching sun and other elements of the hot temperate weather for many hours even in their fragile condition just so that those who run the corrupt pension scheme in the various government offices can verify their identities. Many were known to have collapsed and died before it was their turn.

These miserable tales of

Nigerian pensioners received even much more notorious rating and further tarnished the global image of Nigeria when it emerged few months back that a serving permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service in Abuja; a director in the office of the Head of Civil Service of Nigeria among other accounting officers in the pension office allegedly stole over N30 billion belonging to the Nigerian police pension.

Public outrage swelled when the Abuja High Court slammed an apparent slap on the wrists on one of the notorious convicted pension thieves charged before his court with a pronouncement of few months jail sentence or an option of fine running to few hundreds of Naira.

This erstwhile top civil ser vant who allegedly cornered mind blowing and/

or humongous public fund from the police pension was reported to have immediately paid the paltry fine and was on the verge of regaining his freedom when public protests compelled powers-that-be to order his re-arrest for retrial.

That Abuja High Court Judge was dragged before the National Judicial Council [NJC] and slammed with a year suspension from duty without salaries for this spectacular official indiscretion of setting a big time pension thief almost free of sanction for his monumental crime against pensioners.

The Nigerian National Assembly has also intervened in the series of scandals trailing the federal pension office in the recent time.

– Izuagba is a reseach assistant with the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria

Every Monday With IBRAHEEM A. WAZIRI iawaziri@yahoo.com, 08035167963 (SMS only)

Social Relations Among Indigenes Of Kaduna State Being text of speech I delivered at the Hamdala Hotel, Kaduna on the occasion of the Youth Leadership Retreat, organised by the Global Peace Foundation, July 14, 2014 y appreciation goes to the conveners of the retreat and for the wonderful opportunity to have been so nominated to be the lead presenter in its sessions.

This indeed reflects the selflessness of its leaders and the strength and coherency of their vision.

Certainly, the future of Kaduna State and Nigeria in general, lies in their teaming youth population.

It is therefore imperative that the youths be put at the center stage of debates and social policy developments in the nation.

The subject of discussion is Kaduna State.

Premised on the present turbulent moments of our history, I understand, I am expected to speak about social relationship among its indigenes, that is, the persisting tension and mistrust between the largely Muslim indigenes of the Northern part of the state, and the largely Christian indigenes of the Southern part of the state.

When the issue is about social relations in the past, present and for the consideration of the future, there are basically two approaches. The first is the usual, comforting to our feelings and pandering to the spirit of the moment. It hovers around the concept of political correctness, since a gathering of this nature is largely taken to be a platform for asserting or figuring out a political advantage. The discussion then tries to paint a rosy view of the past, ceding to the demand of the human drive to carve a perfect image of the past.

Stories are told of how an uncle, a cousin or Muslim friend from the Northern part of the state was born or lived or schooled in the Christian Southern part of the state, and vice versa, in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

Then a hasty move is made to acknowledge, that things are not the way they used to be now.

Then, blame is rightly or wrongly apportioned to politicians and religious clerics for mismanaging the circumstances that led to this. We then clap for ourselves and go home feeling important and believing that a milestone has been recorded into a not so clearly defined journey.

The second approach is most discomforting, tortuous, philosophically engaging and most likely to bring forth the best of fruits. It suggests that the past was not as rosy as we want to believe it was. In fact, depending on how far into the past we went, the present may even be better and holding more positive promises for our future.

Talk about the whole 19th century where the basic definitive index of the relationship between the many ethnic and non-Muslims religious group of the Southern parts of the state and their Muslim counterparts in the Northern part, was basically economic. Not economic in the sense of buying and selling of commodities or service delivery, but rather in the sense of stealing or trading or trafficking in human beings for keeps or for sale at the shores around old Lagos. Not mentioning the wars and killings that were associated with those moments, certainly it was not a past those of us of ruminative minds and living conscience will find pride or consolation in.

M

ISSUES 35

Monday, July 21, 2014

Bauchi State And Yuguda’s Succession Blues by ahmed mo Joe

The battle of succession in states where incumbent governors would vacate their seats on May 29, 2015 is fiercely raging on. It is causing ripples in Akwa Ibom State where the zoning arrangement put in place by incumbent governor Godswill Akpabio is vigorously being challenged by interest groups and gubernatorial hopefuls.

While it remains a battle of sans merci in Akwa Ibom State, the same can not be said of other states like Benue, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Abia, Lagos, Sokoto, Rivers, Cross River, Delta and Bauchi. However, it is not to imply that the afore-mentioned states are not on a silent boil.

For instance, Governor Imoke’s decision to zone the guber office to the northern zone has not gone down well with the southern gubernatorial district whose leadership claim there exists a gentleman’s agreement with the Central senatorial district that power would automatically revert to them after the expiration of Governor Imoke’s tenure.

However, while the Central zone has not denounced this assertion energetically, it appears Governor Imoke’s argument for zoning the guber seat to the North is anchored on moral political expediency. It is the same argument Governor Akpabio is floating in Akwa Ibom State. However, his argument that the next governor emerges from Eket has seemingly caused a political hurricane. His detractors have variously described Governor Akpabio as a vicious dictator who

Yuguda

While some state gubernatorial hopefuls are at daggers drawn, Bauchi State, home of Mallam Isa Yuguda remains unbelievably quiet believes Akwa Ibom State begins and ends with him.

In Benue State the state’s deputy governor has indicated his willingness to contest. He has flaunted his gubernatorial credentials and his suitability for the job. No body denies his impressive pedigree, but can he break the jinx that over the years have impeded a deputy governor from replacing his principal? Only February 2015 can answer this

puzzle.

In other states, notably Bauchi, Sokoto, Katsina, in the North, and Abia, Lagos, and Cross River States, the race for their respective Government Houses pales into comparison with what obtains in Akwa Ibom and Delta States.

For instance, the Ijaw Deltans have vowed to produce the next governor of the state. They allege that they have since the creation of the state remained passive on

lookers while their political rights have been undermined.

In Bauchi State, the thrust of this piece, an eerie silence still permeates the gubernatorial landscape, except for the imposing bill boards of notable guber hopefuls fighting for space in strategic positions in towns and villages.

While the succession jigsaw is causing ripples and doomsday scenarios across the nation, while some state gubernatorial hopefuls are at daggers drawn, Bauchi State, home of Mallam Isa Yuguda remains unbelievably quiet.

Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim (Chikasoron Bauchi), newly appointed Chief of Staff (CoS) to the governor made allusion to the peculiarity of Bauchi State. Hear him: “People should not forget that Bauchi State is reputed for its conservatism and politics of maturity and pragmatism, and our governor known for his astuteness is only yielding to those well established political impulses.

He would not succumb to any bandwagon effect. He would refrain from rocking the boat, and stir the state out of unnecessary succession squabbles. “Governor Isa Yuguda in his wisdom still considers 2015 as a real distraction considering that he believes between now and the February 2015 elections, more socio-economic gains can be achieved to ameliorate the welfare of the downtrodden. That is why he refuses to be drawn in to this succession saga that has almost brought governance to a standstill in many a state.”

The assertion of the Chief of Staff notwithstanding, speculation

have been rife for several months that Barr Ibrahim Maidada Dandija, the former long serving Secretary to the State Government was Governor Yuguda’s heir apparent. Insinuations making the rounds were that he carried himself around as such and his body language sold him away as a potential governor in waiting.

However, his recent sack seems to have unsettled even the most optimistic political watchers of the succession game in the state.

For instance, nobody doubted his closeness to Governor Yuguda, but what close observers noted was his style. Some thought he was down right arrogant and not a team player.

That notwithstanding, Bauchians were astonished by his fall from grace, and his fall was simply taken in stride. The take of most Bauchians after his exist from that exalted office seem to have been accepted as good riddance to bad rubbish.

Bauchians accustomed to Isa Yuguda’s seriousness, style and benevolent spirit were ecstatic in discussing the fate that had befallen the rising political star, and graciously equated it with the Biblical maxim, “How art the mighty fallen”.

When discussing Governor Isa Yuguda on a personal and political level, his detractors still concede that his political shrewdness is unrivaled in the history of the state. They describe his cool headedness as those with the instincts of South American’s most lethal reptile – the rattlesnake.

– Mo Joe, a public affairs analyst wrote from Abuja

New Corps Marshal: The ‘Insider’ And ‘Outsider’ Campaign

By Jackson T. Oruata

With the nomination of Osita Chidoka, outgoing FRSC Corps Marshal as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the battle line is drawn for a new helmsman. As speculated in the media few days back, the contenders are a British -trained combatant infantry officer but now retired Major General Lawrence Onoja against serving eight Deputy Corps Marshals (DCMs) namely; Yemi Oyeyemi, Adeyi Abu, Demola Lawal, Ojeme Ewurujakpor, Chidi Nwachukwu, Danjuma Garba, A.K. Hassan and Yemi Omidiji. Onoja belongs to what a school of thought acclaimed to be an “outsider”, while the eighth contestants are the “insiders”.

Onoja was a two-time military governor and served under President Ibrahim Babangida as his first Principal Staff Officer and was later General Sani Abacha’s Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) and a driving force in the regime’s think tank that created the six geopolitical zones. As PGSO, he was in charge of

the 36 military administrators and the 774 LGAs. In addition, Onoja who commanded troops during the Nigerian civil war, has three degrees namely; Bsc. Political Science, Masters in International Relations and a Ph.D in International Law and Diplomacy. The co-contenders are said to have mostly civil service experience and none with paramilitary or military training. Does this give Onoja an edge over them?

Only Mr. President has the final say.

As customary in African politics, leaders vacating their offices would always want their stooges or cronies to take over in case of future investigations especially if it involves fraud or maladministration. No case of financial scandal has been said about Osita, but as a human being, he is likely to have a candidate who might be an insider. Of course seeing the tone of the media hype over the “Insider” factor and their arguments, it is my opinion that somebody has something to hide.

My basis of this opinion is premised on the facts that some

schools of thought are saying anybody emerging as corps marshal, being it the speculated general or anyone else that is not a staff of the corps must be disallowed to emerge. In the view of this group, one of the newly promoted DCMs or their assistants should emerge as according to them that standard obtains in other paramilitary agencies. While this argument sound very tenable to the unsuspecting public, do the advocates of this theory remember how most of these DCM, ACMs got to their present status? If they were in the core civil service, could they all be permanent secretaries by now? I disagree.

It might interest Mr. President to know that 95% of the serving top brass of the corps were people that came from other agencies of the federal government on transfer of service and not premier staff of the FRSC. Can anybody from a government agency transfer his service to the Customs, Prisons, Immigration, Nigeria Police etc without going through their

rigorous and professional trainings?

Could they have by now become Deputy Controller Generals, Deputy Inspector General of Police, etc?

From pioneer Wole Soyinka, all past including the outgoing Corps Marshal was appointed from outside, yet the heaven never fell.

Why would some funny Nigerians be sponsoring an unnecessary campaign tagging any contender as an outsider?

I am of the view that the issue of an insider as corps marshal is a myopic argument and should be thrown to the dustbin. Rather Mr. President should consider anyone including the reported general if his academic, professional and command qualifications are

I am of the view that the issue of an insider as corps marshal is a myopic argument and should be thrown to the dustbin

outstanding. It is pertinent to note here that those clamouring for an insider corps marshal are not telling Mr. President the truth that the personnel of the agency are jubilating over the exit of Osita and would prefer an outsider that would put right what has gone wrong under the outgoing regime.

Mr. President should note that staff morale has fallen to the lowest ebb in the agency right now. This is without sentiment.

It is my candid opinion that for Mr. President to achieve result and restore the lost glory of the FRSC, a new helmsman outside the agency be appointed. Such officer must have a career record of unequal pedigree in the Nigerian military or paramilitary in the past. After all, section 7(1) of the FRSC Establishment Act clearly stated that appointment should be based on merit and not sentiments. Mr. President should ignore this misleading sentiment of an outsider dichotomy, so that FRSC will recover its lost glory.

– Oruata wrote in from Warri , Delta State

36 ISSUES

Monday, July 21, 2014

By Ken Eluma Asogwa

The just concluded governorship election in Ekiti may have come and gone but the undercurrents therein will continue to reverberate around the political circles for a long time.

A number of pundits have tried to postulate on why the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, failed the election. Having taken an in-depth look at Ekiti, and having closely monitored the election and the chances, or otherwise, of all the dramatis personae involved, I would try to hazard two reasons that led to the defeat of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi in the election.

One, it has been a widely held view that Fayemi is too elitist to govern a rustic Nigerian state like Ekiti. Even though Ekiti, more than any other state in Nigeria, parades the highest number of university professors, it should not be lost on us that in as much as hunger still pervades the land such elitist world view would hardly sell. Peter Ayodele Fayose whose populist posturing ruptured Fayemi’s chances understood this, and used it effectively to his advantage.

Fayemi lost the connection with the people, if truth be told. Even though he may have had some long term visions for Ekiti people, he failed to understand that a hungry man is not known to have any iota of patience.

Two, what I consider as the most potent reason Fayemi lost was the PDP’s avowed resolve to jettison zoning in their quest for a suitable flag bearer. They did not allow primordial sentiments to becloud or dictate their choice of candidate.

In analyzing this, I would want to give a little background to the power structure in Ekiti since 1999.

Otunba Niyi Adebayo of the then Alliance For Democracy (AD), from Ekiti Central Senatorial District, governed Ekiti till 2003 and lost his re-election bid to Peter Ayodele Fayose. Fayose, also from Ekiti Central, succeeded him and ruled till 2006 when he had some issues with then President Olusegun Obasanjo. After Fayose, came former Governor Segun Oni from Ekiti North. Oni held sway until 2010 when he lost his seat through a Court of Appeal verdict that returned the incumbent Dr. John Kayode Fayemi as the duly elected candidate. It is instructive to note that Fayemi is from the same Ekiti North as his predecessor.

What is deducible from the above, therefore, is that Ekiti South is the only senatorial zone yet to produce a governor since the return of democracy in 1999. In the buildup to the 2014 PDP gubernatorial primaries in Ekiti, a number of

Letter

PDP Zoning: Like Ekiti, Like Imo

Fayose

candidates signified their interests to clinch the state’s number one position on the platform of PDP. From Ekiti North came names like Sen. Ayo Arise, Hon. Wale Aribisala and Dr. Obafemi Peter.

The Central had names like Peter Ayodele Fayose, Bodunde Adeyanju and former Police Affairs Minister, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (Rtd).

Ekiti South had some zoning protagonists like the former deputy governor of the state, Chief Abiodun Aluko, former Wema Bank managing director, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, Hon Femi Bamisile and Amb. Dare Bejide, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada.

Prior to the intervention of the PDP headquarters, the sentiment amongst some party top notches from Ekiti South was for the candidate to emanate from their zone, in the spirit of treating the gander the way the goose was treated. Abuja reasoned that defeating incumbent Gov. Kayode Fayemi was a hard nut that could not be left in the hands of any political minion. Having taken a look at all the persons that lined up for the ticket from the South, the party was of the view that none had such grassroots base as Fayose who is from the Central. Bearing in mind the growing influence of the APC in the South West, the party reasoned that sticking to zoning, rather than merit could cost them the seat. As a result, the party was politically deft in ensuring that Peter Ayodele Fayose emerged the PDP’s flag bearer in the just concluded election. And, that to me, was a political masterstroke that

Okorocha

eventually paid off. It is noteworthy that PDP moved swiftly to unite and pacify all the aggrieved party men as soon as Fayose emerged winner of the party primary. This was done to forestall any form of sabotage arising from the aftermath of the party primary.

It is pertinent to note that part of the reasons PDP lost some states in the South West in the 2011 elections was because of its internal wrangling in most of the states.

This was evident in Ogun and Oyo states. It was equally palpable in the last Anambra elections. As a friend would put it, PDP seems to be the problem of PDP. Throwing their weights behind Fayose, it was only natural that he was going to win given his popularity amongst the voting population in the state.

Having highlighted the above, it is very crucial at this point to bring to fore the Imo scenario. PDP should, as a matter of urgency, move to address the growing animosity amongst governorship aspirants in Imo State. A critical look at the two scenarios will reveal the inherent nexus between Ekiti and Imo. The analogy cannot be overlooked given that the two states share a number of similarities in their power balancing and equation. Imo, just like any other state in Nigeria, has three senatorial districts fashioned along cultural zones. The zones are Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri zones.

Since 1999, Owerri zone is yet to produce a governor. Former Gov. Achike Udenwa from Orlu zone ruled from 1999-2007. Thereafter, Chief Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe zone came on board and served for a single tenure and vacated the stage in 2011, after failing in his re-

Just like Ekiti, most of the gladiators in Imo who want to unseat the current governor are in the PDP. Imo is PDP state, no doubt, but defeating the governor will largely depend on who emerges as their flag bearer election bid. The incumbent Gov. Rochas Okorocha, also from Orlu zone, came on board in 2011. Chief Okorocha came on the platform of APGA but has since jumped ship to APC where he hopes to seek reelection in 2015. Imo situation is, therefore, very similar to that of Ekiti in many respects: In Imo, there is a growing sentiment amongst the people of Owerri zone for the next governor to come from their zone. Amongst the zoning agitators here are Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Ifeanyi Ararume and Sen Chris Anyanwu.

Ekiti scenario is playing out here in the sense that the three leading contenders from the zone have one form of baggage or the other. For Chief Ihedioha, PDP is yet to forgive him for the events leading to his emergence as the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. His past standoffs with the presidency are well profiled and are waiting for the day of reckoning. For Chief Ararume, his altercations with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the build-up to the 2007 elections have not helped

matters for him. He may not be all that were ascribed to his person, but the former President portrayed him as a brutal fellow who had some questionable history. Chief Ararume could not have been any of that but he is yet to extricate himself from such allegations. For Sen. Chris Anyanwu, her being a woman is a great limitation for her in our male-dominated society.

Just like Ekiti, most of the gladiators in Imo who want to unseat the current governor are in the PDP. Imo is PDP state, no doubt, but defeating the governor will largely depend on who emerges as their flag bearer. Both states have produced plethora of intellectuals.

While Ekiti unarguably parades the highest number of professors in Nigeria, Imo arguably has the largest number of professors in the South East.

Imo, just like Ekiti, has a governor who has lost touch with the people. While this piece is not about Chief Okorocha’s personae, one cannot pretend to be oblivious of the maladministration going on in Imo State. A man who trivialises governance issues and makes comics of serious issues of state policies should not be allowed to stay one day longer than May 29, 2015.

Having crucially drawn the analogy, it is trite to state here that PDP could be PDP’s problem if Abuja does not wade in to give Imo the Ekiti treatment. To do this, the party has to be vehement in doing away with zoning if it wishes to reclaim Imo from the clutches of the APC. This is vital, given the fact that most of the heavy weights who could wrest power from Gov. Okorocha are from the same Orlu zone as him. Apart from Okorocha, the zone boasts of such political heavyweights like Sen. Francis Arthur Nzeribe, Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Hope Uzodimma and Chief Tony Ezenna.

What an average Imo citizen needs today is a governor who will assuage their pains, place food on their table and serve them the basic necessities of life. Zoning is an elitist concoction which is alien to the needs of our people. Our people across board are interested in who can deliver the goods and not where the courier of the goods is from.

Finally, while this intervention is not about image laundering, one cannot resist the temptation of calling a spade a spade in this matter. Once PDP gets it right, internally, Chief Rochas Okorocha will be history in Imo. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

– Asogwa, a lawyer, wrote in from Abuja

Keep Up The Good Work, Comptroller Maina Gambo

by Suleiman Shuaibu

Like in every other paramilitary organisation in Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service, no doubt, requires the services of young credible Nigerians that will help position it and make it

rank with its counterparts in other parts of the world.

The quality of human resources in any organisation is clearly one factor that is critical to its success.

Such personal attributes as humility, obedience to constituted authority, punctuality to work,

loyalty are some of the qualities we need to encourage in our youths if we ever hope to transform Nigeria and take it to the promised land.

It is for this and other reasons, that one needs to commend the efforts of one Maina Gambo, an assistant Comptroller of Customs

in charge of anti-smuggling, North West zone whose commitment to excellence has marked him out as one credible Nigerian who is set to do the Customs service proud.

Another inspiring thing about this young man is that he is incorruptible. No doubt,

through honesty of purpose and steadfastness, he has been able to reduce the level of criminal activities of smugglers in Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi which all fall under his jurisdiction of service.

– Shuaibu, wrote from Kano

politics today Monday, July 21, 2014

REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

Nigeria’s Real Enemy Is Boko Haram, Not Jonathan – Tonye Princewill not resolve this matter. This matter can be resolved either in court or in-house between parties.

The Rivers State government has been embroiled in a widely reported political tussle with the federal government, by extension the presidency.

You faulted, the decision by Governor Amaechi to defect from the PDP to the opposition APC. Why is that?

For a host of reasons, you have to remember my little history.

I am coming from the Action Congress which eventually metamorphosed into the ACN and into what we see today as the APC. I understand their motivations too well. I also understand the motivations of Amaechi himself having worked closely with him.

What are those motivations?

Princewill

After much speculation on his political future, Prince Tonye Princewill has indicated his interest to succeed the current governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi in 2015 (a second attempt). The Kalabari prince speaks on political developments in Rivers, the security situation in the country and Jonathan’s touted presidential bid. EDEGBE ODEMWINGIE presents the excerpts:

I think as far as APC is concerned, it is power at all costs. It’s power for the sake of power and it’s power without any direction of how it is going to be utilised. If given the choice between APC and PDP, I will be choosing PDP any day

Controversy recently trailed the appointment of what the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) called an administrative Chief Judge for Rivers State, Daisy Okocha. What in your opinion is development?

Well, thank you. For me, it is rather unfortunate. There is no doubt that in the current context, you have a scenario where the governor is saying that it should be one person and the NJC is saying that it should be another. And both sides are quite confident that they are on the right side of the law. What saddens me more than anything else is the fact that Amaechi himself was a major beneficiary of the judicial system. But what baffles me more than anything else is that the relationship has gone completely sour. I would never have thought for one minute at the beginning of his tenure we would find a scenario

where our governor would be in conflict with the NJC. What I am looking for really is that when both parties are talking about who is right or who is wrong, what really should be foremost in everyone’s mind right now is not about who is right or who is wrong, but the people of Rivers State. They are the ones who are suffering. I guess the best way to describe it is they are pedestrians in a fight between two elephants.

That is most unfortunate.

If the NJC has taken a position that is completely in conflict with what the Rivers State government has done, then the only way that this can be resolved is in the courts of law.

And until that interpretation comes through, we are going to remain in this kind of a crisis. It is unfortunate, but what I want to remind both sides, especially Rivers State government that demonstrations in the state will

Well, for me, the quest to seize power in 2015 is very useful motivation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But I will love to see them doing it the right way and for the right reasons. I think as far as APC is concerned, it is power at all costs. It’s power for the sake of power and it’s power without any direction of how it is going to be utilised. If given the choice between APC and PDP, I will be choosing PDP any day.

The APC uses these same words to describe the PDP

Of course. But I will tell you why it is different in this case.

The difference is simply that political parties don’t have ideology in Nigeria. The same applies to the PDP and APC. It is so unfortunate. If you are in power, the only thing you want to see is what is the difference between the two parties. The difference between PDP and APC is Jonathan. If you are looking at ideology, if you are looking at what one person or party believes in, everything is imbibed in the leadership. In other words, Jonathan’s ideologies, Jonathan’s policies are what will pervade within PDP. If he is not there tomorrow, it will be the policies and ideologies of whoever takes over.

So for me, I have very clear indication of what I am getting

from the Jonathan presidency, I have very clear indication of what I am getting from the PDP. But with the APC, I don’t have that clear indication.

I spend enough time with both Amaechi and the President looking at the issues between them and I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the options Amaechi chose should not have been the options he would have taken. There are several other options that could have been exhausted. Plus, as a state, Rivers State, if you ask, in my opinion, the majority of the populace. If you ask my opinion, the majority of the populace believes that supporting Goodluck Jonathan should be our major matter.

So I would have thought that the governor will reflect on the wishes of the citizens as opposed to taking the road he has taken.

You are very clear therefore in your support of the president and believe he should run for a second term in office. Is that correct?

I do. I believe he should run and I hope that is the decision he takes. I described him as the first democratically elected president because I saw the huge numbers of people that came out to support him. I must confess that my expectation was not high, but you aim this high and he performs a little bit higher, you are impressed.

I have always felt deep in my heart that 2015 is not about change; 2015 is about preparation for change. I believe very strongly that the real change for Nigeria will be happening in 2019; and what I will be looking for is a president that would usher in that change. I think the youth of Nigeria have been led astray.

I think the generation prior has let them down. And I believe very strongly that if you look across the political divide, the crop of politicians you see are not the crop of politicians that would lead us into prosperity. What I think we should expect from our leaders, is that they would give us a chance to lead. So I’m looking at a crop of leaders that would be coming up from now, leading up Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 38

37

38 POLITICS TODAY

Monday, July 21, 2014

Nigeria’s Real Enemy Is Boko Haram, Not Jonathan – Tonye Princewill collective way forward.

I complained about Obasanjo and complained bitterly. He levelled Odi, over 5000 people killed, razed to the ground.

We didn’t see any of that from Jonathan. We saw it from Yar’Adua, Yar’Adua also levelled another community. He levelled Gbaramatu, an incident which made me resign from my position as the chairman of the Niger Delta sub-committee on vision 20-20. People can point a finger at the presidency; I am not saying they shouldn’t, but the alternative is far worse.

➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

to 2019 who can actually move Nigeria forward. Now if Jonathan goes in in 2015, he has just one term. If anybody else, from the APC for instance comes in, he has a very strong possibility of going two terms. I can’t wait for the prosperity and the future of Nigeria that long. I want to see it happening in 2019.

But you can elect that person, who could begin to usher that prosperity from 2015.

Why do we have to wait till 2019?

The difference between politicians and activist or idealists is that they actually think things just drop down from the sky. A political process is what will allow such a person emerge.

I don’t see that person emerging from the APC’s framework; I don’t see the person emerging from the PDP framework.

What has Jonathan achieved in your opinion that makes him the man for the job come 2015?

I didn’t support Jonathan in 2011 primaries, I supported Atiku. But what we need to do is when the buck has been passed to someone; give him an opportunity to perform

I think if I start speaking I probably would not end, but let me start by saying very quickly; he has surpassed Obasanjo and Yar’ Adua, in pretty much every facet. So many things. I can talk to you about something as simple and basic as Foreign Direct Investment. I could talk about railway infrastructure; I could talk about airport infrastructure.

I could talk about about security as well. Unfortunately for many people, they don’t have much to compare against. I have a lot to compare against. I was in the Niger Delta. I saw insecurity.

I saw federal forces going after known militants, known criminals, and not being able to catch them. I am not talking about unknown like Boko Haram, I’m talking about known and not being able to catch them. We talk about the incompetence of the security forces, we talk about the ineffectiveness of the security agencies; I am baffled, because I have seen it firsthand. I have seen communities suffering, I have seen communities dying, and I have seen communities leveled by federal forces. So when we talk about insecurity; of course, when you’re talking about 276 plus girls missing, it is horrible, there is no explanation that can be used to justify it. But I want to get people to thing just a little bit deeper as to what insecurity really means, how long it’s been with us, and how ineffective security agencies have been, over the years. It didn’t just start today. Unfortunately the president is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and the buck must stop with him.

I don’t think people are euphoric. Critics of the presi-

Will you definitely be seeking the PDP ticket to run for election in Rivers State as governor next year?

Princewill dent have tagged Jonathan a very divisive president

I could interject in so many ways in what you’ve just said, but you kind of remind me of the woman who was raped and is accused of being raped for what she’s wearing. I don’t think there is any excuse for the ethnicity and the religious divisiveness that is on display right now. I think we can if we want, point the finger at Jonathan, but we would be shying away from the fact that it’s actually us as a country that needs to be looking within, and examine ourselves. It’s most unfortunate; I didn’t support Jonathan in 2011 primaries, I supported Atiku. But what we need to do is when the buck has been passed to someone; give him an opportunity to perform. I think that Jonathan in spite of the issues, in spite of the divisions, and in spite of the divisiveness that is on show, has done, I think, tremendously well.

What really baffles me amongst everything else is that in 2011 people came out, we voted for him. At times like this when most countries join hands and say, ‘we have a problem here’, the problem is Boko Haram, it’s not Jonathan. It preceded him, and more than likely, if we carry on at this rate, it will be there after he’s long gone. At times like this, what you expect the country, politicians especially to do… you said that no one is euphoric, that’s not true, there are people that are quite happy about what’s going on. They’re quite enjoying the fact that the president looks bad in the international stage.

And it baffles me that true lovers of Nigeria, true lovers of the country, are actually quite comfortable at watching Jonathan fail. What they fail to realize is that Jonathan’s failure is the failure of Nigeria. And what Nigerians need to ask themselves is, have they truly in their heart of hearts, done their little best to help the president? And if

they have, then fine, but I think that many of us would be looking back to say we’ve not done our bit to help the president. In spite of your disagreements with the president, in spite of your issues with what you think, he should and should not have done, as regards security, as regards Chibok and Boko Haram; we need to remember that the real enemy is Boko Haram, not the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

There are people who are not happy with him and will clearly not vote for him, there are people who are thinking about it, and there are people like myself who having looked at it are still thinking that this is a man that we can work with. This is a man we can support. This is a man that we can help. So what I am trying to do is to get you to understand that what the Jonathan presidency needs right now is for people to proffer solutions, offer help. He could have responded sooner, absolutely, there is no doubt about it; he could have been a lot more sensitive in the way he handled it, absolutely.

What of a large section of the country that believe the security situation in the country is worsening?

There are lots of successes that have been achieved by the security agencies. Even in Borno state there a lot of successes that have been achieved. Like I said it depends on how you want to look at it. If you want to focus on the negative, then of course you’ll be seeing it as completely negative, but there have been positives and what we want are more significant positives. We want no negatives.

If we could avoid any negative stories, of course we’ll love to see that. But I want us to say that in this scenario, like any country that I know, my experience, from the UK and the IRA conflict, we know that, in times like this, what you’re looking for is for all hands to come together to look for a

Look, you used the word definitely, and I am a little cautious about absolutes. It is very likely. Currently, I have an exploratory committee working on that. They are going to be advising on the viability of my candidacy. When they do so, I will let Rivers people know as well as the Nigerian public what my final decision would be. But it’s beyond just my ambition. What I am interested in really is what is the ambition of Rivers people.

What kind of Rivers State do they want? Do they want a Rivers State that is factional, driven by party political rancour or are they looking for a Rivers State where people are looking to bring people together and move the state forward?

Is that the Rivers that you want to lead?

Tonye: Absolutely. I think that what will happen in 2015 would probably be a shift from the norm and people will not be looking at parties.

They will be looking at candidates, and they will be looking at where the person is going as opposed to where the person is coming from. So that’s the Rivers State I want. I think it is the right time. In 2007, it was probably a test run. A lot of lessons have been learnt from 2007.

Articulate your vision for Rivers state

My vision for Rivers state is for a place where people have opportunity galore, where jobs are created, visitors feel at home and citizens feel safe and secure, where mediocrity does not reign, and where effort is rewarded, a just society, fair society. There are a couple of phrases people know me by in Port Harcourt, one of them is ‘politics is too important to be left in the hands of politicians’. Politics in Nigeria in my opinion is the easiest career that you can get involved in. You don’t have to be super intelligent, you don’t have to wake up early in the morning and you don’t have to do much reading.

senate diary Monday, July 21, 2014

Media Sensationalism And Boko Haram

QUOTES of the WEEK

The Media has been accused in some quarters of fuelling the Boko Haram crisis by the way they report activities of the sect. JONATHAN NDA -ISAIAH writes.

F

ive to six years ago, terrorism was a word alien to most Nigerians as it is often associated with nations in the middle east. As a result, Nigerians vehemently denounced the attempt by Umar Mutallab to bomb a US commercial air plane on Christmas day in 2009 on the premise that terrorism is strange and abominable.

However some years down the line, Nigerians have woken up to the harsh reality that terrorism may have unfortunately come to stay.

So far, the insurgents have reportedly killed over 5000 Nigerians since the beginning of its dastard activities. The terror group is not letting go, at least not anytime soon.

The group shot into international notoriety lately with the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno state. The associated sadness made a cross section of Nigerians accused the government of failure in the area of security.

They averred that the security of lives and properties is supposed to be the primary objective of any government, moreso as Nigerians especially in the north east and Abuja live in constant fear of an imminent bomb blast.

However, critics say the fear of insecurity and the demi-god status of the insurgents are nothing but a creation of the media.

The fourth estate of the realm has been blamed for heightening the propaganda of Boko Haram through their reportage of their activities .

Media sensationalism at its best is said to be the order of the day in the fight against the insur-

gents . On the contrary, the Media have been severally accused of often down playing the successes recorded by the Nigerian military while playing up the carnage carried out by the insurgents.

“Boko Haram kills 200 in Chibok, Gunmen Kill 300 in Zamfara, Herdsmen kills 50 in Katsina,”. These are often front page stories in most Nigerian dailies in recent times.

Against this backdrop, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu appealed to Nigerian journalists to play down on the activities of the sect.

He hinged his appeal on the premise that the media reports have created fear in the mind of most Nigerians.

Ekweremadu made the appeal on Wednesday night while delivering a lecture organised by the Senate Press Corps in Abuja. According to him,terrorism is a mind game which primary purpose is to instill fears in the minds of the people by carrying out acts of destruction of human lives and property to give the impression that they are in charge.

He called on the media to desist from promoting the sect and instead celebrate the victories recorded by the military in the fight against terrorism.

“That is why even when a gas cylinder explodes in any part of the country, the insurgents claim responsibility for it all in their desperate bid to assert themselves.

“If there is an encounter in which they lost 100 men and the military loses 4 men, they strive to upturn the story to sell to the nation a false story of invulnerability on their part.

Mark

He called on the media to desist from promoting the sect and instead celebrate the victories recorded by the military in the fight against terrorism “It is against this backdrop that I sincerely wish to call on their media to see through this propaganda and refuse to help them market their falsehood.

“The battle we face is for the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the safety of her people. Our story line, headlines, and analyses should reflect that overriding national interest.

“At a time like this, the press is expected to boost the confidence of the nation, the morale of our gallant soldiers and security operatives in the war fronts, and celebrate the superiority of our firepower.”

“We must join hands to build our nation into a prosperous, secure, and peaceful land. Above all, in times like this, let us always bear in mind that one with courage is

majority.”, he added.

Corruption according to Ekweremadu is one of the factors responsible for the insecurity in the country as human lives as human lives has become too cheap in the country “as we move from one gory tale of thoughtless waste of innocent human lives and property to the other.”

He said: “Corruption, both financial and political, is responsible for the poor state of the nation and its continued inability to live up to the potentials it held at independence. We see it all around us- in poor socio-economic infrastructure, broken down industries, broken and deprived education system, poor per capita income, and mind-boggling looting in the system.”

On corruption in the judiciary he said:“if the foundation of justice is destroyed, what then can the righteous do? How does a nation or continent grow under such weight of corruption? We are already reaping from the dangers thereof in the forms of terrorism, militancy, kidnapping, etc.

But even worse is that our future is even more gravely endangered should the trend be allowed to persist.”

SENATORIAL Senate Press Corp Award For Excellence The Senate Press Corps organized it’s maiden award for excellence last Wednesday. Governor of Ekiti State Kayode Fayemi made a surprise appearance in the awards ceremony and gave an insight on why he lost the state gubernatorial elections last month. This was even as he said the National Assembly is the last hope of democracy in the country.

Governor Fayemi had a day after the election, conceded defeat to the declared winner, Mr Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and congratulated.

However, on Wednesday night while making a remark at the Parliamentary Excellence Award presentation to some Senators among whom, was Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi who represents Fayemi’s (Ekiti North) Senatorial District in the Senate, he made some disclosure on why he lost.

According to Fayemi, intellect is not reckoned with in Nigeria now but rather grassroots posturing, a situation he added has made anybody seen to be an intellectual to be considered as an elite that must be thrown into

39

the dustbin. “ I know that intellect is not supposed to be popular in our country now. What counts to be popularity is what I hear is grassroot. If you are an intellectual, you are perceived to be an elite and an elite is what should be thrown into the dustbin, not to be associated with.

“There is so much about our democracy that is very frustrating. There are times that you have to ask yourself if you are a politician , whether it is worth all the troubles at all”.

Aside Adetunbi, other Senators that bagged

the awards at the ceremony where the Deputy Senate President, Ike EKweremadu , gave a lecture on the need for courage among Nigerians in the face of Boko Haram insurgency , are the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, the Senate Committee Chairman on Rules and Business, Ita Enang.

Others are Senators Domingo Obende, Jummai Alhassan and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa who received Parliamentary Administrative Excellence 2014 Award.

➔ ”You are no doubt cognizant of the ongoing and serious security challenges which the nation is facing, as typified by the Boko Haram terrorist threat. This is an issue that we have discussed at various times” “ For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1b including government to government arrangement for this upgrade “ “ While counting on the steadfast support of the distinguished members of the Senate as always, please accept, distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration “ President Goodluck Jonathan Seeking Senate’s Approval For a $1b loan to fight Boko Haram “Again this budget is coming in rather late.

I hope that the FCT will implement this budget.

“I hope that the FCT Committee will carry out effectively supervise implementation of this budget.

“What all of us would want is to see a model Capital City. So no amount of development is either too fast or too much for Abuja.”

Senate President David Mark remarks after the passage of the FCT budget

40 issues

Monday, July 21, 2014

Who Shot Down Malaysian Airlines Flight MH 17?

By Femi Fani-Kayode

Why, unlike others, did the Malaysian Airlines plane fly at 33,000 feet over a war zone where other airlines refused to fly? Were they given assurances by someone or some people who actually sought to set them up?

Whoever it was that shot down Malaysian Airline flight MH 17 which was carrying innocent civilians through the skies of eastern Ukraine whilst on it’s way from Amstersdam to Melbourne on 17 July 2014 has indulged in an act of exceptional barbarity.

This was a horrendous act of pure savagery and evil. The consequences of indulging in such a course of action for those that were involved in it will be far -reaching and devastating. As far as the unfolding and ugly events in Eastern Ukraine are concerned this episode is a real game changer.

The question that is on everyone’s lips is who was behind it? The western and particularly the American media and international news networks have already provided an answer to that question and they would have us all believe their own version of events and accept their understanding of the narrative.

Yet things are never as simple as they appear to be when it comes to such matters. As Count Von Clauzwitz once said, ‘’truth is always the first casualty in war’’.

Concerning the shooting down of this plane I urge everyone to think deeply about who was really behind it and I urge them not to accept what they are being fed by the western news agencies and western governments blindly.

There are a number of relevant and pertinent questions that still need to be answered before we can come to any definitive position about who the culprits really were. For example who stood to gain the most from shooting down the plane and why is the fact that the plane had been escorted by Ukrainian fighter jets been unreported by the western mainstream news networks.

Why, unlike others, did the Malaysian Airlines plane fly at 33,000 feet over a war zone where other airlines refused to fly? Were they given assurances by someone or some people who actually sought to set them up?

Why did they change their original flight path at the last minute and venture dangerously into troubled and what were clearly dangerous skies? Was this really due to bad weather or was it because they were advised to do so by some external force or authority?

What about the very serious allegation that is consistently being made on Russian, Chinese and Iranian television that the target of the ground to air missile was actually President Putin who was flying somewhere close to the area at the time and that the whole thing was actually an assassination attempt against Putin by the Ukrainian government and their

American allies.

Why is that aspect of the whole episode not being reported on the western international news networks? What does the Spanish Air controller have to gain by lying when he asserted that the plane was actually shot down by the Ukrainian government, which is America and Europe’s ally and the arch enemy of the pro-Russian Eastern Ukrainian separatists and the Russian Federation.

The motive would simply be to discredit the Russians and the East Ukrainian pro-Russian forces and create a pre-text for greater NATO involvement in the unfolding events in Eastern Ukraine. Simply put this whole episode brings us one step closer to a full scale war in the Ukraine and eastern Europe between Russia and her allies on the one hand and America and her allies on the other.

According to many conspiracy theorists, like the respected David Icke, who believe that the Illuminati’s goal is to use America to control the entire world and that the ultimate objective is to eventually establish a ‘’new world order’’ with a ‘’one world government’’ such a war is actually what many of the more powerful covert forces that are secretly operating behind the scenes in the west and particularly America actually want.

There are so many unanswered questions in this matter. Again is there any link between this tragic episode and the one involving the missing Malaysian Airline MH 370. This was the plane which apparently vanished into thin air from the skies with no trace whlist it was on it’s way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing just a few months ago?

Can one airliner be so unlucky and is it just a coincidence or is there more to it? Eventually the truth will unfold and all these questions will be answered. It is at that time that the world will see for themselves who the real deceivers, butchers and monsters are in this and so many other matters.

It is the same people that tried to convince us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, who told us that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against it’s own people and who created Osama Bin Ladin and who used and funded him to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan for many years.

It is the same people who shot down an Iranian passenger plane ‘’by mistake’’ in the 1980’s killing hundreds of innocent civilians, who killed over 200,000 people in Baghdad in three days of bombing, who fought an illegal war against Iraq, who destroyed Egypt, Libya and Syria, who dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who fought an unnecessary and illegitimate war

Fani-Kayode

in Vietnam, who assisted in the undermining and removal of a democratically-elected President in the Ukraine, who set up a puppet regime in Georgia and who looked the other way as 800,000 Tutsis were slaughtered in three months in Rwanda.

It is the same people who installed and supported many brutal military dictatorships in South America and Africa for many years, who orchestrated a terrible war between Iran and Iraq, who prop up undemocratic feudal systems and governments in the Arab Gulf states, who tolerated apartheid in South Africa for many decades.

It is the same people that were secretly behind 9/11 and that used that horrific event to justify their intention to institute regime change Afghanistan, to invade and corner the oil fields of Iraq and to threaten the borders of Iran. It is the same people that secretly orchestrated and covertly organised the cold-blooded murder, in the most brutal circumstances, of Muammar Ghadaffi, Patrice Lumumba, Sylvanus Olympio, Thomas Sankara, Murtala Mohammed, Salvador Allende, Robin Cooke, Princess Diana, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin, John F, Kennedy, Anwar Sadat, Martin Luther King, MKO Abiola, Sani Abacha and many other leaders and notable individuals that in one way or the other offended their sensibilities.

It is the same people that refused to designate and label Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation up until late last year even though that evil organisation had butchered over 15,000 innocent Nigerians as at that time. It is the same people that have manipulated the ugly events in Pakistan and Afghanistan and that have killed more innocent civilians in secret drone attacks than they care to admit.

It is the same people who, through their ally and puppet Saudi Arabia and their salifist friends, covertly supported islamist terror and barbaric islamist militias like the Al Nosra Front and ISIS more than anyone else and who have brought sheer chaos and destabilised and removed more governments in north Africa, eastern Europe and the Middle East than any other in world history. It is the same people that have consistently undermined the security of the State of Israel in the most subtle and deceitful manner whilst pretending to be a friend and ally of the Jews.

It is the same people that believe in and support homosexual marriage and same-sex unions and that have sought to impose their patently anti-Christ and humanist values and philosophies on the rest of the world in the name of ‘’yes we can’’ and liberalism. It is the same people that believe that the world does not need God, that have banned prayer in their public schools and that believe that they are now the new gods of this strange and unfolding new world.

It is the same people that believe that the end justifies the means and that they can do anything to further their evil agenda no matter how horrendous and no matter what the cost is in human lives.

It is the same people that tell you that they don’t believe in barbaric behavior, butchery, human sacrifice and the systematic and well-orchestrated massacre of innocent civilians but that actually indulge and encourage it in various parts of the world on a regular basis.

Need I say any more? May God save the world and humanity from these demons that are working for the dark forces.

– Fani-Kayode is the former Minister of Aviation

Monday, July 21, 2014

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42 news

Monday, July 21, 2014

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: FRSC Corps Marshal Mr Osita Chidoka, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Hon. Charles Odedo after Chidoka’s confirmation as minister, at the National Assembly in Abuja.

L-R : South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Lulu Mnguni; author, Mr Andy Nkemnene and a guest at the 2014 Mandela International Day celebration and presentation of a book, “Letter To Mandela,” written by Mr Nkemnene in Abuja on Saturday.Photo By NAN

Students of Ofe-Aran Comprehensive College, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, entertaining the audience during their school’s annual speech and prize giving day ceremony in Omu-Aran yesterday. photo: NAN

Eggon Anzalu dancers at the foundation laying of Eggon House, yesterday. photo by nan

Injured Palestinians arrive at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on July 20, 2014. Israel’s army said it was expanding its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, as the bloodiest conflict since 2009 entered its 13th day with a death toll of over 360. PHOTO BY AFP. Photo nan

news Lagos 43

Monday, July 21, 2014

Lawmaker Condemns FG’s Request For $1bn Loan To Fight Insurgents The minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila has criticised the federal government over plans to seek $1 billion loan to fight insurgency in the country.

The lawmaker who is under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) said this in a statement issued by his media aide, Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart and made available to journalists yesterday.

Gbajabiamila argued that rather than borrow such a huge sum, the federal government should explore trade by barter option in its effort to step up military hardware and train military personnel instead of piling up debts for the country.

The leader of opposition in the House of Representatives expressed dismay at what he said was President Jonathan’s penchant for loans when the country has sovereign wealth fund, reserve and excess oil revenue.

He said, “the federal government, by setting an illegal benchmark, has been creaming off about $ 30 per barrel of our crude oil sales which it puts in an illegal excess crude account. If it insists on cash, it should reach into that illegal account.

George Okogie, Lagos

Lagos To Youths, Be Good Ambassadors Of Nigeria The Lagos State Government has urged Nigerian youths to shun vices that tilt them towards restiveness and be good ambassadors of their fatherland.

The state commissioner for Information & Strategy, Lateef lbirogba who said this while hosting executive members of the Leo Club District 404 that paid him a courtesy visit in his office pledged to encourage any programme that is designed to empower the youths towards securing a better future for them.

Ibirogba, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the establishment, Mrs. Oluranti Odutola said the state government is passionate about efforts aimed at reducing youth restiveness and produce responsive, self reliant adults.

He added that government is desirous of assisting the youth, especially in the area of youth empowerment and provision of an enabling environment in securing a better future.

Responding, the newly elected 2014/2015 president, Leo Tosin Akinwale said the club is seeking sponsorship and partnership with the ministry for effective reportage of their activities and event as a way of encouraging other youths in the society.

By George Okojie, Lagos

Nyako’s Impeachment Did Not Follow Due Process-Lawmaker

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

A member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ifako-Ijaiye constituency 1, Hon. Saka Fafunmi has expressed concern that most impeachment processes in Nigeria, including that of Murtala Nyako, do not follow due process.

He disclosed this in an interactive session with newsmen over the weekend.

Fafunmi, while reacting to the

impeachment of former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako said, “It is very unfortunate that despite our 15 years of democracy, our people have not learnt their lessons.

“Most of the impeachments done in Nigeria were not done according to the law. Section 198 of the Nigerian Constitution dwells on how you can remove a governor from office, but which governor has been validly removed in Nigeria? They would serve

notice and within two days, the governor is out of office.”

The lawmaker, who is the chairman of the committee on Public Accounts (Local) also stressed that removing a constituted authority should be done according to the law.

“Section 198 states that to remove a governor, the first thing is to give notice, and this must be signed by at least 2/3 of the members of the state house of assembly. The notice would then

be given to the speaker of the House, who would transmit it to the governor or whoever they want to impeach.

“The speaker has seven days to do this. Later, the members would read through and there must be a motion whether they should continue to investigate the allegations and they have 14 days to do this. The motion must state that the House wants to remove a particular person from office and 2/3 of the members must vote.

short news Legislator Describes Defection As Lack Of Vision

L-R: Director for Gender Issues, United Nations of Youth Network Nigeria (UNOY), Princess Adaora Obionwu, President, Campaign for Democracy & guest speaker, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and former Minister of Information, Chief Alex Akinyele, during a symposium in commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day, organised by Artkingdom Culture International Initaitive, at the Afe Babalola Hall, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, at the weekend . PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA

Lagos PDP Woos Aggrieved APC Members, Denies Hand In APC’s Crisis

By Olaolu Oladipo, Lagos

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on aggrieved members of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressive Congress (APC) to join it.

A statement from the PDP signed by its state publicity secretary, Mr. Taofeek Gani, obtained

by LEADERSHIP on Sunday denied claims by the APC that it was sponsoring some factions within the party to destroy it.

Reacting to an assertion by his

counterpart in the APC, Mr Joe Igbokwe, who claimed recently that PDP is sponsoring a division in the party, Gani said the claim is diversionary.

“Igbokwe had down played the relevance of a group in its fold known as “New Lagos Movement”, asserting that the members of the group are PDP members sponsored to cause confusion in Lagos APC. “It would be recalled that consequent upon the outcomes of elected party officials of APC at ward, local government and state levels,

the New Lagos Movement filed a Suit at the Lagos High Court challenging the outcomes, whilst also periodically go on street protests to condemn the processes and results of the said congresses.

Though the PDP denies involvement in the activities of the group, it however welcomes the development and salutes the group for exposing the just as it described them as true agents of change who are indeed welcomed in the PDP in the quest to displace the APC in the 2015 general elections”, he stated.

A Lagos lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency 1, Dr. (Hon.) Ajibayo Adeyeye has described cross carpeting of politicians from one party to another as an act of indiscipline, lack of focus and lack of vision.

He disclosed this in a programme tagged ‘Time Out with newsmen’ in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Adeyeye, who is also the leader of the House said, “cross carpeting in our society amounts to indiscipline, lack of focus, no vision, you don’t have any idea about what you actually want the society to look like. It means you associate with anybody just because of selfish reasons not because you have any particular thing that attracted you to a group of people.”

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

Alariwo Shooting: Musicians, Fans Weep For Alariwo

By Matthew Dike, Lagos

The fans of popular musician, Alariwo Of Africa, over the weekend wept in Ajegunle area of Lagos State when they heard the news about his shooting by suspected armed robbers.

LEADERSHIP gathered that Alariwo who was supposed to be one of the guests at the birthday bash of a popular disc jocker and

TV presenter, Ben Omage, popularly called Grand Master Lee (GML), was shot in the stomach in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Friday.

GET TV presenter, Grand Master Lee (GML) announced at Candlewood Hotel, Ugbenwankwo Street, Ajegunle, the venue of his party that his special guest artiste, Sunny Neji would not return to the event because he went to sympathise with his friend and music

colleague, Alariwo who was shot just few hours ago.

The musicians and mammoth crowd at the event was said to have screamed, praying that the victim survives the gunshot wound.

Alariwo was also one of those expected to grace the occasion with his friend, Sunny Neji.

A man who identified himself as Dapo disclosed that Neji was at Candlewood Hotel and had to

leave immediately he heard that his friend was shot in Ibadan.

Among the musicians who prayed for the survival of Alariwo are Solid Star, Jay dee, Paparella, Yellow Banton and Sunny Boy. Explaining the incident, Grand Master Lee said bullets were extracted from Alariwo’s stomach in a hospital and prayed that God should perform a miracle in his (Alariwo’s) life and keep him alive.

44 news south-South south-East

Monday, July 21, 2014

Uduaghan To NBA: Be Ready To Defend Nigeria’s Democracy, Rule Of Law

‘Why Military Needs To Replace 25-year-old Ammunition, Equipment – Obanikoro

Delta State governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has asked newly elected executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to brace up to defend the country’s democracy and uphold the rule of law.

In a congratulatory statement issued in Lagos by Felix Ofou, his press secretary, the governor noted that the election of the new NBA executive took place at a time when men of goodwill must be ready to ward off threats to Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.

“There is no doubt that forces of evil in the form of terrorists and unpatriotic politicians are congregating against our democracy and seeking to destroy the nation.

The election of the new NBA leadership was therefore coming at a time when good men must stand up to resist their ominous desire to decimate the country,” he said.

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

The minister of state for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has explained why the federal government needs to acquire new equipment, arms and ammunition for the Nigerian military, saying the new acquisition of military hard ware will put a quick end to insurgency.

Obanikoro, who said this over the weekend, also noted that though the Nigerian military was well motivated to fight oil

theft and the Boko Haram insurgency, the need to upgrade the equipment level of the military and put a quick end to insurgency made it expedient to acquire new equipment.

The minister who spoke during a familiarisation tour of the headquarters of the Central Naval Command, Bayelsa State, said the failure to acquire new and modern equipment for the military was part of the reason the security action against Boko Haram insurgency was difficult.

He was received at the command by the flag officer commanding, CNC, Rear Admiral Peter Agba and other senior officers of the command, after which he dismissed insinuations that the military were not well motivated in the fight against terrorism and oil theft in the Niger Delta as President Goodluck Jonathan stood out as one president that had done much in terms of military motivation.

Obanikoro said, “It is not true that the military is not well mo-

tivated. We must recognise and appreciate the effort of President Goodluck Jonathan since he came on board. I can tell you that in the last 25 years, we have not made major acquisitions in terms of platforms for the Navy, ammunition and equipment generally for the military.”

“It is Jonathan that has started doing that now and it is as a result of neglect that we are suffering today. But that we are also trying to overcome with this new acquisition.”

short news NYCN Leaders Demand Arrest Of Ijaw, Arewa Youth Leaders Over Calls For War

Ojukwu’s Shoes Too Big For Iwuanyanwu – Ohaneze Youths Contrary to a recent claim by a group of persons purported to be working towards the good of Ndigbo in the media that Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu can rightly fit into the big shoes of the late Eze Ndigbo, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, the youth body of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC) has disagreed.

In a press statement signed by the national president and secretary general of the OYC, Comrade Anachuna Chukwudi and Comrade Nebo Obinna respectively, the council described the action as mere praise singing by “uncoordinated and disgruntled” members of the group “who end their activities in the various offices of politicians giving out unmerited awards just to enrich themselves.”

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

No Bomb in Enugu, Police Insist The Enugu State Police Command yesterday insisted that there was no bomb explosion in any part of the state.

The statement from the police followed the rumour making the rounds that there was an explosion inside Eke market in Ogurute Enugu Ezike of Igboeze north local government Area of the state last Friday that caused the death of a little baby.

According to the statement issued by the state’s police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, the command’s Anti bomb Operatives who swiftly went to area discovered that the alarm was false.

By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu

Chairman, Governing Board of Rangers Football Club of Enugu, Mr Festus Oshaba (left) in a handshake with leader of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Enugu Chapter, Mr Ossy Ogbosso, and other members during SWAN’s condolence visit to the chairman on the death of his mother, Madam Theresa Oshaba, at Aji Community of Enugu-Ezike, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN.

Rivers: APC Woos 6 Anti-Amaechi Lawmakers

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the six members of the Rivers State House of Assembly opposed to the administration of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to join other members of the House to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This is just the party assured the people of Rivers State that the

plot to impeach Amaechi before the 2015 general elections will fail in the state, saying that the governor remained very safe as the chief executive officer of the state.

The APC, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, called on the six anti-Amaechi lawmakers, led by the member representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency in the House, to toe the line of the other 25 lawmakers who recently declared for the party before it is late.

Other anti-Amaechi lawmakers include the chief whip of the House and member representing Andoni Constituency, Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani; member representing Obio/Akpor I Constituency, Hon. Michael Amaewule; member representing Obio/Akpor II Constituency, Hon. Michael Chinda; member representing Port Harcourt III Constituency, Hon. Victor Ihunwo, and member representing Omuma Constituency, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu.

Travellers, Maritime Workers Decry Sea Piracy, Killings In Bayelsa

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

Hundreds of travellers and members of the Maritime Workers Union (MWU) in Bayelsa State have cried out over rising cases of armed attacks and indiscriminate killings by suspected sea pirates along the waterways of Nembe and Brass areas of the state.

While this took place over the

weekend, boat drivers under the MWU disclosed plans for an emergency meeting to review the situation and possibly down tools over what they described as “poor” security situation, the indigenes of coastal communities of Brass and Nembe area of the state are helpless and are killed by sea pirates.

Leadership gathered that though the Marine component of the state

security outfit known as Door Akpor were deployed to the waterways and creeks by the state government, they have resorted to escorting passenger and market boats leaving the business district of Twon brass.

It was gathered that due to the shortage of logistics and personnel to the state security outfit, the sea pirates are having a field day by attacking passenger boats and kill-

The leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) yesterday faulted the threats of war and dissolution of the country by the umbrella body of Ijaw Youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and the Northern Youths under the umbrella of the Arewa Youths Forum over the contentious issues of derivation formula and the 2015 re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying they are enemies of the country.

NYCN president Yakubu Shendam, made the call at the end of the emergency national executive committee meeting held yesterday in Yenagoa.

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

ing innocent travellers including the Friday killing of three persons including the aide to the former state commissioner for Information, Awoinigha Iyabi.

Sstate coordinator of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA),Comrade Morris Alagoa, said the incidents are rife along the Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw area of the state.

45

Monday, July 21, 2014

The President & Commander -in- Chief Federal Republic of Nigeria Aso Rock- Abuja Your Excellency Sir,

REQUEST FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE PENSION REFORM TASK TEAM AS PENSION FUNDS LOOTING ERA HAS COME BACK AND NIGERIAN PENSIONERS ARE SUFFERING Prior to His Excellency’s assumption in office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2010, pension problems reached the extent that nobody was sure of regular and proper payment of pensions. Thousands of retirees suffered untold hardship and many died. All these predicaments were due to large scale of corrupt practices in the system.

His Excellency’s sincere determination and commitment to the transformation of Nigeria compelled the inauguration of the Pension Reform Task Team, which comprised officials of lCPC, EFCC, NIA, SSS, OAGF, OAuGF, OATGF, PCC, and other paramilitary agencies under the leadership of Dr Abdulrasheed Maina to restructure and sanitize the old pension system.

The Task Team succeeded in meritoriously executing its assignment. Consequently, the Task Team traced and recovered stolen pension funds/ properties running into Billions of Naira from corrupt government officials. It cracked down on the notorious pension cartel, caused their arrest and prosecution, which is the first of its kind in the history of governance in Nigeria.

While the restructuring was successfully ongoing, the Senate Pension Committee abruptly came in and stopped it without reason; but only for false allegations against the Task Team.There was no reason for the disbandment of the PRTT as no culpability was ever established against the Team. This is evidenced by the Federal High Court Case (Maina versus Senate) Ruled in favour of the Chairman PRTT. Sir, it is so sad to inform you that the looting era is boldly resurfacing and bringing back the pension offices to the dark gloomy days of corrupt practices with no restraint.

Hence, I earnestly implore His Excellency to reinstate the PRTT for the following reasons: • The President should reclaim these most impressive transformation achievements of the pension system, because it is the only permanent solution to the pensioners’ plights in Nigeria.

• If the disbandment of the PRTT was due to the indictment by the Senate Committee report, which is now publicly known and as reported largely by the media that the Chairman of the Senate Pension Committee, Senator Aloysius Etuk has a questionable reputation. First, for his role in faking the signatures of his colleagues to pass a Bill on the Pension Reform Act 2004 and for his alleged collusion with the pension thieves to collect Billions of Naira from them as bribe, to discredit the Team by creating a false report that misled the Senate. (See Daily Trust dated 31st Oct, 2013).

• The Pensioners’ authentic Biometric database of which the Federal Government has so far expended a lot of resources with the combined selfless effort, patriotism and vigilance of the Antigraft and security agencies, is not in use because it is in the custody of the Task Team.

• The Smart Cards produced by the PRTT with the intention of stopping the incessant verifications that caused the death of many pensioners; and equally will

•

•

•

•

serve as proof against further stealingof pension funds through bogus verification claims is still in their custody.

There are over 142,000 pensioners’ files painstakingly produced and converted into electronic filing system by the Team. These are very important assets without which the pension system could not be documented for efficient management.

The Electronic Pension Management System (e-pms) developed by the PRTT is a platform through which the Pension’ funds could be transparently monitored by EFCC, ICPC, SSS, Police and equally serves as an effective mechanism against corrupt practices has not been concluded by the PRTT. The record of pension arrears payment for over 52,320 pensioners of which without referring to it, the Pension Transition Arrangement office may repeat payment is with the PRTT. It is important to note that a successful pension transition would never be achieved without the PRTT conclusion of the restructuring of the pension offices because the dependable ways and means of managing the affairs of old pension system is at the disposal of the Task Team.

•

PRAYERS 1.

In view of these commendable efforts already put in place by the PRTT, We respectfully request His Excellency to direct the PRTT under its capable Chairman to immediately resume duty and conclude these assignments.

2.

His Excellency should please provide PRTT with all necessary resources to finish the pension restructuring of the entire pension system.

3.

His Excellency should kindly confer National Honours on the entire members of the PRTT for the unusual selflessness and sacrifices they have offered to this country.

Thank you Sir. In the Name of God give us what has practically worked in Pension Management.

Yours faithfully, for and on behalf of the AFPSR

Chief Emmanuel Omoyeni PRESIDENT

CC: Senate President Speaker of House of Representatives Chief Justice of Nigeria Chief of Staff to the President Secretary to the Govt of the Federation, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Director General, NIA Director General, SSS, Inspector General of Police Chairman, EFCC Chairman, ICPC, Chairman Public C.C Dr Abdulrasheed A. Maina.

46 NEWS

Monday, July 21, 2014

2014 Guber Poll:

OsunDECIDES

Saturday, August 9

Aregbesola Reiterates Commitment To Omisore Promises To Re-visit Aregbesola’s Good Governance Education Policy

To ensure that Osun State becomes the economic hub of Nigeria, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has once again reiterated his commitment to further develop infrastructure that will encourage investment both at the urban and rural communities of the state.

Speaking through the chairman, Aregbesola Campaign Committee in Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, Aregbesola assured the people that if voted into office for another term, rural-urban migration will become a thing of the past.

Bolorunduro who is also the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning disclosed that government, in an attempt to encourage small scale investors, has set aside N4billion as soft loan

due for assessment by the people.

The campaign chairman, who led the door-todoor campaign trail of the federal constituency to Ilahun-Ijesa, Iwoye Ijesa and Ijebu Jesa said Aregbesola commitment to Agriculture informed his ‘O’ REAP programme, adding that to ensure easy transportation of farm produce, government will further open up rural communities with access roads.

He, however, charged the electorate to ensure that their votes count, adding that the presence of security agencies is not to intimidate but protect them.

Responding to Bolorunduro’s team visit to his palace, the Alahun of IlahunIjesa, Oba Lawrence Ajayi, Ilufemiloye 1, pleaded with government to complete

Aregbesola

the Primary Health Centre under construction and assist the community in building a befitting palace and town hall.

While pledging the support of his subjects to the continuity of Aregbesola’s administration, Oba Ajayi said Governor Aregbesola had performed well and deserves to continue and accomplish his mission and vision for the state.

Three weeks to the August 9 governorship election in Osun State the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore has vowed to revisit the education policy of the present administration and reverse areas that constitute hardship to the people of the state.

Addressing his supporters at station road in Osogbo, the state capital, Senator Omisore promised to embark on people-oriented programmes that will improve the living condition of the people.

He promised to separate schools that were merged by the present administration and equip them with functional facilities while students in higher institutions will enjoy robust scholarship and bursary

if elected into office.

The former deputy governor under Chief Bisi Akande’s administration also assured that avenue for job creation will be created for the youths and artisans operating in the state.

He urged the people to come out enmass on the election day to cast their votes for him, stressing that the presence of security agencies was not to intimidate them but to protect against violence.

Chairman of the PDP in the state, Alhaji Ganiu Olaluwa, charged electorates to be very vigilant on election day and ensure that their votes count.

Also at the rally, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Professor Adekunle Lawal, formally de-

Omisore

fected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Professor Adekunle said he left APC because he was desirous of joining PDP to bring progress to the state, adding that as an indigene of Osogbo, it was imperative to be part of the ruling party at the national level in order to attract development to the state.

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

SOUTH-WEST Ekiti: APC At Tribunal To Strenghen Democracy – Afuye The Commissioner for Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs in Ekiti State, Hon Funminiyi Afuye, has clarified that the decision of the All Progressives Congress to challenge the outcome of the june 21 election was to strengthen democracy.

Afuye who spoke against the insinuations that the petition filed by the party was designed to distract the incoming administration said it was actually to entrench people’s belief in the credibility of the electoral system.

The former majority leader in the state House of Assembly gave the clarification in Ikere Ekiti while speaking with newsmen during the referendum organized by the state government as part of the constitutional processes for the establishment of the newly created local government council areas.

He said the party was out to prove that it was possible to employ technology and electronic device to rig election, having allegedly been used in some advanced climes to perpetrate electoral fraud.

By Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti

Residents Berate Oyo Over Collapsed Apete Bridge

BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan

Residents of Apete community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State have berated the state government over the collapsed Apete bridge.

The residents, in different interviews with our correspondent, described the government’s attitude to their plights as unfortunate.

They noted that since the August 26 flood disaster which claimed lives and property worth billions of naira in the affected areas, including Apete community, nothing tangible had been done to forestall future occurrence.

According to them, despite assistance from various individuals, governments and organisations, including the N400 million from the federal government, the menace had continued unabated.

While noting that the Apete bridge ought to have come before Mokola and Awolowo bridges, they argued that the money spent on the Mokola bridge was not to put an end to flood in the area.

Following the collapse of the make-shift pedestrian bridge and the loss of lives, the state government had insisted that the bridge was still intact and that no life was lost.

Angered by government’s reaction, the residents, Mrs Modupe Ajala, Adewale Akanji, and Oluwasegun Ajala said government was playing politics with the situation at Apete community.

“How can government claim that the make-shift bridge is still intact when actually the community has been cut off from the rest of the state?

“How can government claim that no life was lost when at a particular time no fewer than 50 people are passing through the bridge.

This is the least expected from a government which claims to be working for the masses,” Akanji.

Osun: 29 Promoted Prisons Officials Urged Over Service Delivery

BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Twenty nine officers of the Osun State Command of Nigerian Prisons Service recently promoted have been charged to fulfill the expectations of the authorities of Nigerian Prisons Service.

Speaking at the Prison State Command Headquarters, Osogbo, venue of the decoration of the newly elevated officers, the State Controller of Prisons, Elder Ba-

balola Kunle Akanni, challenged the officers to be dedicated, loyal and diligent in their service to their country.

While calling them to appreciate God for counting them worthy of the promotion, Babalola informed the officers that the essence of their elevation was for motivation.

The officers decorated with their new ranks by Elder Babalola Akanni, assisted by the State

Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Maishanu, and other service chiefs in the state include 4 Deputy Controllers of Prisons (DCP), 4 Assistant Controllers of Prisons ACP, 3 Chief Superintendents of Prisons (CSP), 2 Superintendent of Prisons (SP), 6 Assistant Superintendent of Prisons 1 (ASP1), 5 Deputy Chief Inspector Prisons (DCIP), 1 Assistant Chief Inspectors of Prison (ACIP), and 4 Principal Inspectors of Prisons (PIP).

SHORT NEWS O’Meal, Ondo Natives Endorse Aregbesola For 2nd Term The second term bid of the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, received another big boost at the weekend as the O’Meal vendors, Oranmiyan Sunshine Movement (OSM), which is an association of natives of Ondo resident in Osun and the Polythene Dealers Association of Nigeria (Osun Chapter) came all out to endorse his continuation in office.

The three groups hinged their adoption of Aregbesola on the huge turn-around of the state in the last four years.

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

news NATIONAL 47

Monday, July 21, 2014

Registration Of Northerners: My Motion In National Interest – Sen Ningi

Doctors Have No Right To Compulsorily Discharge Patients – Nurses

Senate majority leader,Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi has said that his motion on the floor of the Senate condemning the alleged plans by the Imo State government to register northerners in the state was done in the national interest and no more.

Senator Ningi was reacting to an advertorial placed by the Imo State government in some major newspapers where he was accused of being lured to move the motion.

“At my age and as a ranking senator in the National Assembly nobody can lure me or push me to do anything against my wish, to be candid that reaction was nothing but myopic.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), has condemned what it described as unethical behaviour or practice of doctors whereby in-patients are compulsory discharged against their wish since their strike began.

Many health care seeking pa-

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

Wamakko Best Governor In Health Care Delivery – WACP

Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has been conferred with the Best Governor in Health Care Delivery Award by the Nigerian Chapter of West African College of Physicians (WACP).

The association, while giving the award during its annual conference in Sokoto also submitted that, the governor deserves the award in view of his achievements in the health sector as well as man power development.

Speaking on behalf of the association, its president, Prof Jiya extolled the governor’s overall impressive achievements, just as he described Wamakko as a tremendous achiever.

Prof Jiya said the governor’s transformation of infrastructure was commendable as well as construction of a general hospital in each of the 23 Local governments and the completion of the Murtala Mohammed Hospital.

By Ankeli Emmnauel, Sokoto

19 Nigerians Get Australian Scholarship Awards – High Commissioner Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Jonathan Richardson at the weekend disclosed that as part of the scholarship programmes of the Australian government, a further 19 Nigerian candidates have been selected for Masters level award for 2015.

The High Commissioner who disclosed this at the launching of the North West and North East zones of the Australia Alumni Association in Nigeria held in Kaduna, also added that between 2010 and 2014, more than 200 awards have been awarded in Nigeria, including 86 postgraduate scholarships.

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

By Winifred Ogbebo, Abuja

tients who were on admission have been leaving in droves since almost three weeks now since doctors across the country in public hospitals embarked on industrial action.

However, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Abuja, the general secretary, NANNM, Yusuf-Badmus, said the public are encouraged to

attend and patronise the hospitals because other health professionals such as midwives, the accident and emergency (A & E) nurses, intensive care nurses, orthopedic nurses, pediatric nurses etc, including the medical laboratory scientists, medical record officers, the radiographers, the physiotherapists and pharmacists etc are on ground to attend to their

health needs.

Noting that doctors have no moral nor ethical justification to compulsorily force them (in-patients) out of the hospital to make the hospital empty because they are on strike, he said that most in-patients are in the hospital for comprehensive healthcare (physical and psychological) and are being taken care of by the nurses.

short news ‘Yakowa Ran Open Government’ The former principal private secretary to late Kaduna State governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Mr. Timothy Barau Gandu has given his late boss a clean sheet, saying that his late mentor ran an open government devoid of sentiments. Gandu also stressed that his former boss never touched public funds.

The late L-R: Wife of newly promoted Corps Commandant, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs Adejoke Kazeem, her husband, Bisi Kazeem governor’s private and Deputy Corps Marshal, FRSC, Omidiji Ayodeji during the decoration of Kazeem in Abuja at the weekend. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI. secretary who spoke in Kaduna while conducting journalists round a newly constructed leadership centre, has a manifesto and only an occupied by vice chairman, SenBy Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Abuja Jheyah Educational elected PDP candidate can im- ate Committee on Health, Senand Entrepreneurial President of the Senate, Sena- plement it.” ator Margery Chuba-Okadigbo Resource, ahead of tor David Mark has dismissed Addressing PDP stakeholders has been negotiated out to APGA its commissioning as a ruse rumours making the in Anambra State at Nteje, Oyi for 2015. slated for 31st July, rounds that the Peoples Demo- local government area alongside But the senate president who 20014, praised cratic Party (PDP) has traded off the Deputy Senator Ike Ekwer- is a member of the PDP National Yakowa’s astuteness some Senatorial and House of emadu against the backdrop of Executive Committee (NEC) and in governance and Representatives’ seats to oppo- rumours that National Assem- Board of Trustees (BOT) clarified administration. sition parties ahead of the forth- bly seats in the state have been , saying, “Nobody has negotiatHe also revealed coming 2015 general elections. traded off to the All Progressive ed out any position to any oppohow he often In a press statement issued Grand Alliance(APGA) in an al- sition party. I am not aware of it weep any time he by his chief press secretary, leged accord to get the party’s and I am not a party to it. PDP remembered the Paul Mumeh, he said, “There is support for 2015, he said it was- is steady and stable. We have no ex-governor whom no such deal with any opposi- false and unfounded. need for that”.He however counhe described as tion party any where. Nobody Rumours making the rounds seled the party faithful to remain most experienced should deceive you into believ- in the state that National As- united and work as a team saygovernor in the hising that PDP has an agreement sembly seats including Anambra ing “There are many warlords in tory of Nigeria. with any opposition party. PDP North Senatorial seat presently Anambra State PDP.

2015: PDP Has No Pact With Opposition Parties – Mark

Retirees Want Maina Reinstated, Allege Fresh Pension Looting

By Christiana Nwaogu, Abuja

The Association of Federal Public Service Retirees (AFPSR)have appealed passionately to the federal government to reinstate the Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina Pension Reform Task Force Team (PRTT), saying it is the only credible body that can salvage the sector from what it described as the alarming increase in the looting of funds

originally earmarked for pension payment.

The group, in a letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan with reference number; AFPSRADM2/72 and dated July 17, 2014 by its national president, Chief Emmanuel Omoyeni , said, from its records and from observations, it is only the Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina led- Task Team that can again, clean up the fresh

mess, by cracking down on the notorious pension scam cartel in the interest of the nation.

According to the letter obtained by LEADERSHIP, in Abuja, Omoyeni said, they realised that there was no tangible reason for the disbandment of the PRTT which he said had provided permanent solution to pensioners’ ordeal and succeeded in tracking down and recovering

By Midat Joseph, Kaduna

stolen pension funds/ properties which ran into billions of naira.

The group, which further called for the immediate reinstatement of Dr. Maina expressed worry that the looting era has suddenly resurfaced and regretted that while the Maina led PRTT was successfully ongoing, the Senate Pension Committee abruptly came in and disbanded the result oriented team.

48 THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Proprietor Harps On Teacher Training

By Chika Mefor

The executive director of Doveland International Schools, FCT, Mrs Tina Chukwu, has emphasised the need for the training and retraining of teachers in order to get the best in them.

Chukwu disclosed this during the fifth speech, prize giving day and graduation ceremony of the school, saying that when teachers are not properly trained, it affects the way they interpret and communicate to the pupils.

She said, “there can be no efficient or effective communication between teachers and students without training and retraining of the teachers.

We invest so much in professional training of our teachers because we know the importance of such exercise. It helps the school’s success too. The commitment of our teachers and support staff is what enables the school to have diverse success.’’

Chukwu explained that 42 pupils graduated from nursery two to grade one; 23 from prekindergarten to kindergarten and six pupils from grade six to

secondary school.

She urged the six graduating students to continue to soar in the excellence and be good ambassadors of the school as they move on to attain greater knowledge.

While delivering his speech, the guest speaker of the event, Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala, commended the school for its tenacity and passion for excellence and urged the management to take stock and come out with strategies that will take the school to greater height in the next session.

Nwaobiola who is the permanent secretary, Ministry of Education added that schools must recruit and invest on teachers who can communicate the curriculum effectively to the teachers, emphasising the importance of professional support, tools and remuneration for them.

He called on schools to also invest on standard infrastructure and provide enabling environment for quality education, adding that schools should also develop linkages and partner with each other for cross fertilization of ideas and learning from each other.

Monday, July 21, 2014

‘FCTA Evacuates 199 Tonnes Of Waste Annually’

By Nkechi Isaac

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed that it evacuates an estimated 199,425 tonnes of wastes from the Federal Capital City (FCC) annually, since 2012.

This was disclosed by the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, while receiving a delegation of the Botswana Defence Command and Staff College, Course 7 that visited FCTA on a study tour.

The minister represented by the FCT permanent secretary, Engr. John Chukwu, said that the FCTA engaged 18 companies for the daily collection of these wastes.

He said the FCC has been subdivided into 21 lots, in addition

to the 35 housing estates to ensure effective waste collection of the city.

He further said that the administration has awarded contract for 3 waste transfer stations at Mpape, Kubwa and Gudu districts.

According to him, construction of perimeter fencing of the 90.8 hectares waste disposal site at Goza was concluded, with 35 per cent completion of transfer station project and 60 percent completion of the perimeter fencing.

He added that there are additional three waste transfer stations being planned for Kuje and Nyanya/Karu axis to complement the on-going three Waste Transfer Stations.

On strategies for development, Chukwu said that the administration opted for private sector infrastructure finance called the Abuja Land Swap Initiative.

He stated that the initiative has given birth to 15 private sector enabled projects providing infrastructure in two sector centers and eight districts in the phase IV (South) of the FCC. He emphasized that development in this area is based on contractual agreement with 15 private Investors on the basis of the land-for-infrastructure swap framework.

Speaking earlier, the head of the delegation, Brigadier Shadrack Mokoi, thanked the minister for the warm reception accorded the team.

Female Commercial Drivers Want 150 Sure-P Taxis

By Igho Oyoyo

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) female commercial drivers association has demanded that the FCT Administration should include members of the association in the Sure-P Taxi scheme like their male counterparts.

This was made known by the spokesperson of the group, Miss Eunice Odeghe, when they approached the FCT Administration for the approval and release of 150 taxis to the association to enable its members benefit from the Sure-P transportation scheme.

Odeghe who led other members of the association and the leadership of the National Council of Women Society (NCWS) to the office of the Transport Secretary noted that despite the fact that women are regarded as the weaker sex members of the association are poised to make a difference in the transport sector in the FCT. She assured the FCT transport secretary that if the taxis are released, the association would be in a better position to empower other women and youths in the territory, saying, “when you empower a woman, you have empowered the nation.”

According to her, the association was poised to establish micro economic project for the overall benefit of women and youths irrespective of tribe or religion through their “Female drivers’ project”.

According to her, “this project is basically one of our pet projects aimed at preparing and empowering especially women and youths in the area of commercial driving business venture. We believe this venture has the capacity to enable the beneficiaries to cater for their individual needs and that of their various families.”

Odeghe commended the secretariat for checkmating road transporters in the territory, adding that the implementation of the new transport policy that restricted the activities of mini bus operators to the satellite towns has brought sanity to the sector.

In his response, the transport secretary, Engr. Jonathan Ivoke, noted that the request by the leadership of NCWS to fathom the female commercial drivers into the Sure-P taxi scheme is in line with the administration’s blueprint of involving every segment of the society in its policy drive.

He commended the leadership of NCWS for not taking the back seat in the development of the territory, stressing the need for collaboration with the female drivers, who he said are more careful in carrying out critical duties.

Ivoke, however, stressed that the group must undergo certain requirements before the approval would be granted even as he assured the female drivers that their request of 150 taxis would be forwarded to the FCT minister for consideration.

A cross section of the federal medical team writing the 2014 examination at the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission at the weekend. Photo by adefemi adewuyi

Flood: Council Urges Residents To Clear Drainages

By Chika Mefor

The head of environmental department in Bwari area council, Ahmed Haruna, has called on residents to clear drainages close to their homes and shops to prevent flooding which may result in the loss of lives and properties.

Haruna who made this call during an exclusive interview with LEADESHIP expressed displeasure over the negative attitude of residents who refused to clear their drainages, saying that environmental sanitation was not the exclusive responsibility of government but everyone’s responsibility.

He noted that blocked drainages would not only lead to flooding but was also responsible for the collection of stagnant water

which breeds mosquitoes and aid the spread of malaria in the community.

Haruna said, “It is very bad that residents keep waiting for the government to take on the responsibility of sanitizing their environment for them, which is very bad. We want to educate people on the need of taking immediate care of their environment by clearing the drainages instead of waiting for the government.”

He added that though the council was committed to the clearing of drainages. He, however, noted that the narrow nature of the drainages in some areas has made it difficult for it to be maintained, while highlighting the need for residents to take up the responsibility of daily sanitation.

“The issue of drainages has

become a problem in the area council. The problem we have is that most of the drainages in Bwari town are narrow. Comapred to drainages in other area councils, what we have in Bwari are very small and narrow. When you don’t have wide drainages, the moment it rains, it is always difficult for refuses to pass through. It is not like this in Kubwa; when we clear the drainages it gets filled up easily,’’ he added.

He expressed hope that when the construction of township road starts, larger drainages will be constructed which will make work easier for the department.

According to him, “the area council had wanted to construct larger drainages but we had to stop because of the construction work that is to take place.

49

Monday, July 21, 2014

SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, & FAITH PLATFORM

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

SPECIALISED CLASSIFIEDS PAGES ASSOCIATION OF COSMETOLOGIST, HAIRDRESSERS, AND BEAUTICIANS OF NIGERIA This is to inform the general Public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under part 59 laws of the federation of Nigeria 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Sir (Otunba) Ayodele Oluwole Elesho 2. Alhaja Basirat Lawal 3. Mrs Adeola Adeyinka 4. Apostle Dr. Mathew Abiodun Adebayo 5. Mrs Idayat Sodiq 6. Mrs Shadiat A. Bello 7. Mrs Adeola Daodu

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT ACCESS IN AFRICA The general public is hereby notified that the above named ORGANISATION, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for change of name of the organisation from CENTRE FOR LAW AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT to SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT ACCESS IN AFRICA under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES 1. Sokari Obene 2. Fyne Gimbiya 3. Elizabeth Wodi 4. Ibiye Briggs

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote and maintain peaceful co-existence among members.

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate affairs commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

- Chairman

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr Mohammed Nasidi 2. Dr. Hadi Bala Yahaya 3. Mrs. Fauzia Ahmed Mohamed 4. Sudhir Rathure 5. Martin Anthony Chike Aghaji THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide help and assistance to people living with blindness.

2. To provide medical and financial assistance to blind patients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the registrar general, CAC, Maitama Abuja FCT within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: BAR. AIGBE MATHEW JUBILLE 08036508780

Signed: SECRETARY

UNITED TO CURE AND PREVENT BLINDNESS FOUNDATION

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

Signed: S. M. ABBA, ESQ; 08035339654

SYBIL-GODDY IKPE FOUNDATION

EAGLES-NEST TABERNACLE

AFRICAN CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE & EDUCATIONAL VISION ENGAGEMENT

This is to notify the general Public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja under the Part ‘C’ of Company and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named CHURCH has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES 1. Ikpe Uche Godfrey 2. Ikpe Chika Sybil 3. Ikpe Ody Ezechi 4. Ikpe Chiamaka Sybil Anne 5. Ikpe Chidozie Regis 6. Ikpe Chuzy Valentino

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Daniel Mbonu 2. Victor Inyang 3. Dennis Inyang

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev. Fr. Isidore Nnamdi Obi 2. Dr. Ngozi Egbuna 3. Barr. Desmond Ukah 4. Mr. Joseph Obi 5. Dr. Mary Arumemi

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To care for the widows, widower, orphans and less privilege in the society.

2. To care for those living with HIV and empowerment for the needy.

Any objection to the above should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To promote a bette realtionship betwen God and man.

3. To propagate the endtime message according to Bible prophecies.

4. To care for the wellbeing of her members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. CHIKA FAVOUR BEN 07035498696

SIGNED: BARR. ONUZURIKE SIMON C. THE NOBLES CHAMBERS

- Chairman - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote the cause of children to work together to support the basic needs of children, especially health and education.

2. Bridging the gap between the primary health care and the fundamental education of the African child.

3. Making that link between the health and education of the African child.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: DESMOND E. UKAH 08033154779

CITIZENS ADVANCEMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

DIVINE GLOBAL APOSTOLIC AND EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

XAVIA-PRISTINE ESTATE HOUSEOWNERS ASSOCIATION LEKKI LAGOS

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Kelechi Chukwuemeka 2. Marvelous Kelechi C. 3. Israel Elochukwu 4. Victor Ojeifo 5. Osahon Iwenamen 6. Ogbonna Mba 7. Emma Ojeifo 8. Uche Mba

THE TRUSTEE ARE: 1. Rev. Dr. Asakpoku Clestus Afezino Lucky - President 2. Pastor Mrs Asakpoku Faith Akpezi 3. Pastor Egwatu Victor Nnandi 4. Elder Asakpoku Moses 5. Pastor Esseh Sunny 6. Maytor Mrs Stella Ezimobor

THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Adedayo Ogungbe - Chairman 2. Mr. Anse Agu Ezetah - Secretary 3. Mrs. Funke Titilayo Shodeinde 4. Mr. Oluremi Olufemi Olatidoye 5. Mahood Ali Balogun

AIM AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To empower the less privileged.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Irosi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: AFOLABI SUNDAY OLAWALE; 08058119877

AIM AND OBJECTIVES 1. To endorce a uniform architechtural development and building of the onehouse-one plot with low fence and front-garden-policy.

2. To ensure long term quality and sustainable services and management of the estate.

3. To provide good drainages, central water system, central power.

Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Irosi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

CHRIST THE WAY DELIVERANCE EVANGELICAL INTERNATIONAL CHURCH

THE HEALING CHURCH OF CHRIST EVANGELICAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

IGBEAGU ELITE CLUB OF NIG

The general public is hereby informed that the above named CHURCH has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990

The general public that the above named CLUB has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Adeleke Aderemi 2. Adeleke M. Olajumoke 3. Emmanuel Olaide Yusuff 4. Mosobalaje Sunday Bimbola

TRUSTEES: 1. Pastor Olarewaju James Kayode 2. Elder (Dr) David Oni 3. Elder Elisha Baiyere 4. Elder Arogbonlo Julius Bamidele 5. Elder Ezekiel Eseyin

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Nwovu Alexander 2. Nwadaonwe Ndukwe 3. Iduma Sunday 4. Nwakpu David 5. Agbom Fidelix

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To protect the interest of members

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general. Corporate Affairs commission, 420, tigris crescent, off aguyi ironsi street. pmb 198, matiama, abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. To raise a godly congregation.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. MICHAEL O. OLORUNMOLA

SIGNED: SECRETARY FOR BOOKING OR INQUIRY CALL

> HENRY UBIMAGO 08068640944

> AUGUSTINE 08032325988

> GLORIA OKWUM 08038722368

> ABIGAIL SAMBO 08064382438

- Chairman

Signed: SECRETARY

> GLORIA RAPHAEL 08061356519

> GLORIA ODIO 08034285851

> GRACE OJO 08035054444

50

Monday, July 21, 2014

THEATER OF DREAMS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

INITIATIVE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CULTURE HARMONY AND VALUES IN NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CENTRE has applied to the corporate affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the corporate affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990

The Trustees are: 1. Ambrose Oghale Obe 2. Mirabel Erute Obe 3. Ojo Abayomi Kolawole 4. Kingsley Ikuni 5. Gabriella Osumawei 6. Hyelda Chafi Apollos 7. Joy Anwili Eboibi 8. Okonkwo Collins

The Trustees Are: 1. Prof. Bart Nnaji 2. Prof. Ngozi Chukwuka Ugo 3. Col. Justin Okey Ezeoke (Rtd)

The Aim and objective 1. To organise and facilitate projects that helps youths discover and develop their potentials.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Creating an internationally recognized centre of excellence in entrepreneurship research, innovations and development.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, Corporate Affairs Commission,plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street, Maitama, p.m.b. 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

The Trustees Are: 1. Mr. Raheem Dauda Ajadosu 2. Mr. Odunlami Razaq Oluwaseun 3. Mr. Odeh Evans Adikwu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To promote Nigerian culture.

2. To inculcate cultural pride into young Nigerians.

3. To promote harmonious living and peaceful co-existence of Nigerians.

4. To promote, among Nigerians, friendliness and appreciation of one another.

5. To promote good values among Nigerians.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission,plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street, Maitama, p.m.b. 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: BARR. CHINWE OKWUONU

Signed: BARR. L. O. HASSAN SOLICITOR; 07066573618

ZAWRAM ISLAMIC GLOBAL FOUNDATION

GOD’S HOUSEHOLD OVERCOMERS TABERNACLE

GLOBAL PEACE FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

The general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990.

The general public that the above named CHURCH has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990.

The general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990.

Trustees Are: 1. Ehi-Okoebor Osemwonyenmwen 2. Okoebor Emmanuel Ehidiamen 3. Omoregie Gumwendia

Trustees Are: 1. Amb. Ewenike Ndubuisi - Chairman 2. Alh. Kareem Lateef 3. Chief Nwokolo Darlington 4. Mrs. Ewenike Oluchi 5. Barr. Chisom Ajaero

SIGNED: BARR. DAYO G. ASHONIBARE (08033661414)

Trustees Are: 1. Zainab Marwa 2. Hadiza Yahaya 3. Abdulkadir Abubakar 4. Mariam Marwa-Abdu 5. Abubakar Marwa 6. Muslihu Afisi 7. Khadija Ilavbare 8. Dur-E-Shahwar 9. Yakubu Nasir 10. Amina Shehu Fodio

- Chairman - Secretary

Aim and Objective 1. To preach the gospel of Christ.

Aim and Objective 1. To care for the welfare of Muslim Umma.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general.

Corporate Affairs commission, 420, tigris crescent, off aguyi ironsi street. pmb 198, matiama, abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general. Corporate Affairs commission, 420, tigris crescent, off aguyi ironsi street. pmb 198, matiama, abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Aim and Objective 1. To empower youths, to make youth change agents.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general. Corporate Affairs commission, 420, tigris crescent, off aguyi ironsi street. pmb 198, matiama, abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

PECULIAR BROTHERS CLUB OF NIGERIA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

The general public that the above named CLUB has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990.

SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT

SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS APPLICANTS FOR GRANT

TONY ORJI Patience Orji guardian to Emmanuel Orji IBRAHIM USMAN Muhammed Ibrahim and Inuwa Ibrahim Setraco Construction Company Ltd Nigeria Prisons Service WHO DIED ON THE 18th October, Paulosa Opposite Primary School Suleja WHO DIED ON THE 27th February, Market Square Nyanya Gwadara Karu 2013 Niger State 2011 Nasarawa State

The widow and son of the said deceased

The sons of the said deceased

DATED AT ABUJA THIS 18th DAY OF JULY, 2014 DATED AT ABUJA THIS 18th DAY OF JULY, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SODIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR

SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SODIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR

CHRIST FAITH CHURCH, NIGERIA

TIPPER DRIVERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION, UZUAKU, ABIA STATE

The general public that the above named church has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990.

This is to notify the general public that the above named Association has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees Are: 1. Bishop Abasiakan Daniel Otong 2. Dr. Oko Akpan Udo 3. Rev. ( Engr.) Diana-Abasi Daniel Otong 4. Evang Uyobong Richard Udo 5. Elder monday Akpan Unwaka 6. HRH (Dr.) Jim Jeremiah Umoren 7. Chief Lawrence O. Ojor

The Trustees are: CHUKWUMA CHUKWUDI KINGSLEY CHIGOZIE SUNDAY MATHEW ENEARU UKWU OKWUDIRI CHUKWU JAMES MICHAEL AKWUOLE DURU KELVIN EMEKA LAWRENCE OGBONNA IKE PRINCEWILL CHIMEZIE UCHECHI UGADA

Aim and Objective 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and Win Souls for God. 2. To promote spiritual growth and fellowship consciousness among members.

3. To establish religious institutions to enhance spiritual development.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general.

Corporate Affairs commission, 420, tigris crescent, off aguyi ironsi street. pmb 198, matiama, abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: Aniekan Ibanga & Associates

Trustees Are: 1. Chidiebere Nwosu 2. Alex Ude 3. Cyril Okafor 4. Ifeanyi Anyanwu 5. Ikechukwu Okafor Aim and Objective 1. To foster unity, peace and progress among members.

2. To cater for the welfare of its members.

3. To advance community development through collective efforts.

4. For recreation and social interaction.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral. Corporate Affairs commission, 420, tigris crescent, off aguyi ironsi street. pmb 198, matiama, abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: O. C. EZE, ESQ

3X2 SPACE FOR SALE

AIMS/OBJECTIVE: To promote the welfare of members To promote unity and love among members.

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barr. C. C. AMADI

loss LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT PUBLIC NOTICE

LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT loss LOSS of document

This is to inform the general public that the plot N0.

1663w-fe15z-67f1r-1199a-10 file N0. IM 30625 of Block 62, Harper Street Wuse Zone 7, Abuja belonging to ORLANDO JEREMAIAH AGUOCHA, title documents of which are in possession and safe custody of the family, is not for sale.

NB: Further note that publications relating to this property of 14th July 2014 and 18th July, 2014 in this newspaper were made in error and should hereby be disregarded. General public should please take note.

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original offer of statutory right of occupancy with file N0: NS60460 in respect of plot N0: 713 of 1895m2 in cadastral zone C03 gwarimpa II Abuja bearing MUSUSA MUSTAPHA ISA. All efforts made to trace the said certificate proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station. General public to please take note.

2X2 SPACE FOR SALE

51

Monday, July 21, 2014

ROYAL PEOPLE’S GRACE MINISTRY

LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (L.C.D.O)

SMILE SURGICAL FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby informed that the above named Ministry has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named DEVELOPMENT has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named foundation has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV’D FRANCIS IBIAM 2. PASTOR MRS TAIWO RACHAEL IBIAM 3. MRS ISHOLA IBUKUN 4. MR ADESINA ISHOLA 5. MR SIMON IBIAM 6. MR DOMINION IBIAME AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST 2. TO ESTABLISH CHURCHES WORLDWIDE 3. TO WIN SOULS INTO KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. .

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.OGBONNAYA KINGSLEY - PRESIDENT 2. MADUBULUM CHIDIMMA - VICE PRESIDENT 3. CHUKWUKELU AND ORIENTED LEADERS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO BUILD SOCIAL AND INTER HUMAN SKILL ACQUISATION Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. .

1.TO ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CLEFT LIP AND PALATE RELATED ANOMALIES AND OTHER RECONSTRUCTIVE ISSUES. 2.TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE TEACHING,RESEARCH INTO THE AETIOLOGY,PREVENTION, NATURE, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CLEFT LIP AND PALATE DISORDERS AND OTHER AESTHETIC. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: GABRIEL ONOJA ESQ 1,ISOLA CLOSE,IWO ROAD, IBADAN OYO STATE. (08074820824,0814022403)

SIGNED : TRUSTEES

SIGNED : TRUSTEES

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PROF. OLUWATOSIN ODUNAYO MOROUNFOLUWA 2. DR. OSINAIKE BABATUNDA BABASOLA 3. DR. OLUSANYA ADEOLA ADENIKE 4. DR. MICHEAL AFIEHARO IGBIBIA 5. MRS ADEJO YETUNDE CAROLINE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

SHARIF PLAZA TENANTS ASSOCIATION OF ABUJA

Foresight Youth Empowerment Initiative

JUSTICE AND TRANSFORMATION SUPPORT INITIATIVE

The general public is hereby informed that the above named initiative has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named initiative has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named initiative has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Jude Oguta 2. Stephen Olumide Omojuyigbe

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIEF THOMAS CHUKWU 2. MRS NGOZI CHUKWU 3. CHIMEREME EZE THOMAS 4. CHINENYENWA NKEMAKOLAM 5. AUGUSTINE NWAFOR

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.YAHAYA MORMONI BASHIR - CHAIRMAN 2.CECILIA B.AKU - VICE CHAIRMAN 3. CHIOMA MOMAH - TREASURER 4.WISDOM OKPARA - P. R. O 5.YUSUF ALI BUAL 6.OLUWA SHEYI MOSES 7.KEHINDE ADEGBITE - SECRETARY 8.CHUKWU CHRISTIAN - LEGAL SECRETARY. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.To create an enabling environment for member participation.

2.To provide an umbrella for common causes of action and welfare of members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Chukwu Christian & Co

God Covenant Miracle Church of Unity The general public is hereby informed that the above named church has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. IBRAHIM MERCY FOLORUNSHO (G.O) 2. KOLAWOLE TIMOTHY ADEWALE (SECRETARY).

3. IBRAHIM FAVOUR OLAITAN ISRAEL (ASSISTANT G.O) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.To preach and spread the Gospel of Jesus christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Barr Seun Ojo

LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT loss LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of Original (R of O) Right Of Occupancy with file N0: KD 21946 Plot No: 337 Cadastral zone B08 at Jahi Abuja measuring about 1000 square meters, belonging to HASSAN JALLO of Plot G11, Jallo Road unguwan Kanawa, near Nda Kaduna, Kaduna State.

All effort made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station, AGIS, FCTA or call 07083784148. General public to please take note.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.To help youths plan their future- Career, Finance, Academics and Retirement.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT loss LOSS of document THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WITH FILE NO. MISC 80851, C OF O NUMBER 1b44w-4287z-7083rd6e2u-30 DATED 8/3/2010 IN THE NAME OF PYRAMID COLOUR LAB LTD OF PLOT 689, AGADEZ CRESCENT, WUSE II, ABUJA WHO DONATED IT TO SERENA FINE FOODS LTD OF KM 10, GUNDUWAWA DISTRICT, HADEJIA ROAD, KANO BY A POWER OF ATTORNEY AND DEED OF ASSIGNMENT DULY EXECUTED BY BOTH PARTIES IS MISSING. ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE SAID CERTIFICATE HAS PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.

NKECHI

I formerly known as OPARA NKECHI THELMA, now wish to be known as OPARAONUGHA NKECHI THELMA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ESTHER

I formerly known as MISS ANARI ESTHER IDEBA, now wish to be known as MRS NTUYANG ESTHER LAWRENCE. All former documents remain valid. NIMC and the general public to please take note.

AMAMCHUKWU

I formerly known as MRS EBEKUE CHIZOBA MICHELLE, now wish to be known as MISS AMAMCHUKWU CHIZOBA MICHELLE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

PERPETUA

I formerly known as miss CHUKWUEMEKA PERPETUA ANULI, now wish to be known as MRS PERPETUA A. ANTHONY ELECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

OLAGUNJU

I formerly known as OCHEPO PAUL QUEEN, now wish to be known as OLAGUNJU OCHEPO QUEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

NINA

I formerly known as MISS NINA NGOZI NDUKA, now wish to be known as MRS NINA NGOZI ONUBANJO. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROPAGATE THE NEED FOR A PERFECT SOCIETY Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR.GABRIEL ARIKPO 08098389118

DIAMOND VALLEY ESTATE LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION, PORT HARCOURT This is to notify the general public that the above named Association has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. ITEKENA DAGOGO ZAC 2. SAMSIDEEN BELLO 3. ELDER OSIMA ISOKARIARI 4. ASAI JUMBO 5. FRANK OSAMADE OBASOGIE 6. OJUKWU EMEKA 7. BAR. INYE GEORGE 8. OTELEMATE ELIJAH 9. VICTOR ETUK 10. PRECIOUS IYALLA AIMS/OBJECTIVE: To come together, and work for the general welfare of the landlords/residents of the estate.

To promote the spirit of peaceful co-existence and co-operation among all Landlords/residents.

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barr. C. C. AMADI

LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT loss LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of original ALLOCATION PAPER in respect of Plot N0: EA 12 Cadastral Zone 06-06 bearing NULIK NIG LTD. All efforts made to trace the said certificate proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station. General public to please take note.

ACHINBEE

2X2 SPACE FOR SALE

2X2 SPACE FOR SALE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS WILLIAMS FOLAKEMI CHRISTIANAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ACHINBEE FOLAKEMI CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the general public should please take note.

CLARKSON

I formerly known as MR PAUL SUOBO, now wish to be known as MR CLARKSON DAUEBI PAUL. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

IMRAN

I, formerly known and addressed as MURANA OMUYA YUSUF now wish to be known and addressed as IMRAN OMUYA YUSUF. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

USAR

I formerly known as MISS SAKA COMFORT VIVIAN, now wish to be known as MRS USAR JOHN. All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Immigration Service and the general public to please take note.

52 WORLD NEWS

Monday, July 21, 2014

world

news ➐

➍

➎ Israel Steps ➏

➌ ➊ ➋➎

➊ Fighting Rages

➋ Afghan Elections:

The battle for control of Libya’s main international airport has resumed, reports say, as a truce agreed between rival militias two days ago broke down.

“The airport was attacked this morning with mortar rounds, rockets and tank fire,” Jilani alDahesh, an airport security official, told AFP on Sunday. “It was the most intense bombardment so far.”

Afghanistan’s election commission has suspended an audit of votes from June’s hotly-disputed presidential run-off.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said this was due to a “misunderstanding”,without elaborating.

Both candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah accuse each other of electoral fraud.

At Libya’s Main Airport

down less than an hour after it was announced on Sunday.

Thousands of people fled the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip as heavy bombardment by the Israeli army continued overnight, with the Palestinian death toll over the last 13 days reaching 410.

The biggest typhoon to hit southern China in 40 years has killed 17 people, after wreaking death and destruction on the Philippines.

Typhoon Rammasun killed at least eight people on the island of

Hainan, with others missing, and nine in the Guangxi region, state media say.

It made landfall on Friday with winds exceeding 200km/h (124mph).

Pro-Russian separatists say they have loaded a train with 196 bodies recovered from the crash site of the Malaysian airliner shot down in eastern Ukraine.

News agencies said on Sunday no bodies remained at the crash site, a day after the AP reported rebels putting bagged bodies onto trucks

and driving them away. No armed separatists were seen at the site.

Al Jazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from the Grabovo site, said observers from the European security body, the OSCE, were present at a nearby railway station where the bodies were being stored in frozen carriages.

Audit Of Disputed Run-off Halted

BEST TIME TO DRINK Beer is good if you are searching for an initial idea

Up Eastern Gaza Bombardment

At least 60 people have been killed in Gaza’s Shujayea district in the heaviest barrage of tank shells since Israel launched its ground offensive.

The reports of the Palestinian deaths came as a two-hour humanitarian ceasefire broke

Coffee is good if you‘ve already got an idea and you just need to focus on the work

➏ Typhoon Rammasun: Monster Storm Buffets South China

Although Drink too much of either and you’ll loose the benefit of both

Everything in moderation folks!!!

➌ Tunisia Shuts

➍ US Widow Awarded

‘Unlicensed’ Media

$23.6bn Tobacco Payout

Tunisia has closed a satellite television channel and a radio station for promoting “jihad”, a few days after armed fighters killed 15 soldiers, according to the government statement.

The decision came after fighters on Wednesday attacked two army posts in the remote Mount Chaambi region near the Algerian border, killing 15 soldiers in the worst attack in the Tunisian army’s history.

Florida jury has awarded the widow of a chain-smoker who died of lung cancer punitive damages of more than $23bn in her case against the RJ Reynolds Tobacco, the nation’s second-largest cigarette maker.

The judgment, returned on Friday night in a Pensacola court, was the largest in Florida history in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by an individual, according to the woman’s legal team.

➐ Ukraine Rebels

Take Bodies From Crash Site

53

Monday, July 21, 2014

Former Eaglets Charge Present Wards

BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

Chidiebere Nwakali and Kelechi Iheanacho, the two protagonists in the 2013 FIFA World Cupwinning Golden Eaglets, have made an appeal to the present set to keep the flag flying and ensure qualification for the 2015 African Under-17 Championship to be

hosted in Niger.

The duo that moved to Manchester City after the World Cup conquest in the United Arab Emirates made the clarion call in a telephone conversation with an official of the team on Sunday.

“How are the boys doing sir?” began Nwakali whose junior brother, Kelechi is the captain of

the present set.” I hope they are pushing hard in training, please let them know that they have to fight their way and qualify for the African tournament.

“Is Kelechi doing well too?

Please, give my best wishes to the entire team,” he added before allowing his roommate and compatriot, Iheanacho.

Kano Pillars Are Super 8 Champs

BY ISHAKU KIGBU, Abuja

Kano Pillars basketball club have retained the title it won last year in the prestigious DSTV sponsored Nigeria basketball league decided in Lagos.

The final match played between two Savannah Conference top clubs, Kano Pillars and Markmentors of Abuja ended 89-88; with only a point separating the two rival clubs at the end of the game. But the finalists proved the strength of the game up north. Mentors which

debuted in the premier league last season with an American trained coach, Joe Toumou failed to get this far last season and this season as runners up have booked a continental ticket.

Kano Pillars’ Abubakar Usman who again emerged the Most Valuable Player in the league scored 38 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals.

Markmentors’ Abdul Yahaya led the Abuja based team with 35 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.

The 3rd place match was

won by Dodan Warriors with 81 to 71 points over Gombe Bulls in over time with Azuoma Dike scoring 26 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists while Bulls’ Yakubu Istifanus had 26 points and 6 rebounds.

At the end of the tournament, winners pocketed N1m, Mentors went home with N750,000.00 and 3rd place Dodan Warriors smiled home with N500,000.00.

Abubakar Usman of Kano Pillars emerged the MVP and highest scorer while highest rebounder was Abdul Yahaya of Mark Mentors.

L-R: Mathew Onmonya, Kano Pillars’ Captain, receiving the 1st place trophy from Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma; Mark Igoche and Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Tijjani Umar, during the final of 2014 DStv Basketball League Championship held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos at the weekend

My God Is Fighting For Me – Lulu

BY SALIFU USMAN, Abuja

Honestly, I don’t know what really caused this problem.

But when you punish person for no sin, and he cries to God, at the appropriate time his God will fight for him Alhaji Sani Lulu, Former NFA President

Former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sani Lulu Abdullahi has revealed that his God could have been fighting for him since he was illegally impeached by the Animu Maigari led board. But insisted he has no hands in the current crisis rocking Nigeria football, instead he said government has the power to protect and project the image of the country at whatever level.

A section of Nigeria football followers are of the view that his letter to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan over his unlawful

impeachment from office exactly four years ago and that the leadership of the NFF should account for the N2.8billion he left behind at the time of his impeachment was responsible for the ordeal facing by the Aminu Maigari-led executive committee of the NFF. But Lulu said he wrote to the President primarily to convey the high level of injustice, falsehood and blackmail meted on him and his colleagues. “We all know what has been happening.

In 2010, I was illegally impeached and it was vacated by the same group. So, I have no hands in what is happening in NFF. Though, I was

Fabregas Wanted Blues – Wenger

Fabregas

Arsene Wenger believes Cesc Fabregas was never interested in returning to Arsenal, claiming the new Chelsea signing “landed where he wanted to go”.

The Gunners were believed to have had first option on re-signing their former skipper, who departed the Emirates Stadium for Barcelona in 2011, although the Spain international ended up penning terms with the Blues at the beginning of the current transfer window.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho recently claimed it was an “easy job” convincing the 27-year-old to snub the north of London in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge,

and Wenger feels that could be close to the truth.

“I think people came out and said he wanted to go to Chelsea,” said the Frenchman.

“I don’t know who tells the truth here or not. He landed where he wanted to go.”

However, despite failing to land Fabregas, Wenger is still working on bringing in new additions, having already signed Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy this month.

“I’m happy with the business I’ve done until now but it’s not over,” said Wenger.

“There is still a long way to go and I’ll bring in another goalkeeper for sure.”

seriously aggrieved because all the allegations against me were not true. I have been writing for the past four years to relevant authorities, reminding Nigerians that I have done nothing wrong.

So, it is not impossible that Mr President may have seen the truth because I have written to him severally.

“Honestly, I don’t know what really caused this problem. But when you punish person for no sin, and he cries to God, at the appropriate time his God will fight for him. May be that is what is happening because I know God is doing something.”

Lulu

Prison FC Fans Molest Ranchers Bees Players

BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

It was a scary scenario at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, in one of the week 20 Division A National League match between Prisons FC and Ranchers Bees fc of Kaduna as the fans, some players and officials of Prison FC attacked players and officials of Ranchers Bees FC and the match officials.

Commenting on the incident to LEADERSHIP Sports, Media Officer of Ranchers Bees, Vincent Akinbami, said that while the game was still on in the second half with the score-line at 0-0 and the medicals attending to an injured Ranchers player, two supporters of Prisons invaded the pitch to attack the referee, while some other fans attacked Ranchers Bees players who had to run for their dear lives.

“It was one of the worst scenarios I have seen in a long time. One of the assistant referees had to run a long distance to escape being battered. The second assistant referee and centre referee did not escape through the crowd so they got the beating of their lives before security came to their rescue.

“Our players where worst hit as they got battered with all sought of instruments. Ladan Mohammed escaped being assaulted with a nail at the back as the nail tore his jersey, the team manager Ali Nayara and curator, Daddy did not escape the brutal attack as Daddy fell face flat after a hit.

“The fans of Prisons where asking for home advantage, they felt the officiating should not be 50-50,” he explained.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports

54 sports

Monday, July 21, 2014

Umar Clears Basketball Referee Over Last Minute Super 8 Call

BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

Suarez

Suarez Needs A Psychiatrist, Not Fifa Sanctions – Uruguay President Uruguay president Jose Mujica has slammed Fifa for their treatment of Luis Suarez, claiming he needs help from a psychiatrist rather than a ban from football.

Suarez received a nine-game international suspension and a fourmonth ban from all football-related activity - along with a fine - after being found guilty of biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in Uruguay’s 1-0 win on June 24 in the group stages of the World Cup. President Mujica was scathing in his assessment of Fifa in the immediate aftermath of the punishment, calling

football administrators “a bunch of old sons of b******,” and has now added that the new Barcelona signing would be far better off with psychiatric help, rather than a widespread ban.

“He comes from a poor background and his main intelligence is in his feet,” the Uruguayan leader said in an interview with Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.

“It’s better to take him to hospital and once there, see a psychiatrist.

“I’m not disputing the sporting sanctions, they’re fine. What I’m disputing is that there are certain things that shouldn’t have anything

to do with the ban.

“The fact he can’t go on any football pitch, that he can’t be with any of his team-mates in the national team, he can’t go to a football stadium or even support a charity event linked with football.

“It’s crazy! Not even a government can prohibit someone from entering a football stadium, without the signature of a judge.

Then Fifa come along and say he can’t do that for four months… without even a legal tribunal.”

Mujica, once dubbed ‘the world’s poorest president’ due to his austere lifestyle, added that Fifa has displayed an old-fashioned attitude

over the course of the affair as the world waits to see Suarez play for Barcelona following his €88 million move from Liverpool.

“I believe Fifa have a mentality of old people,” the 79-year-old added.

“They want to appear as though they’re learning from their mistakes, but never do. The only thing they generate is hatred and resentment. What this lad needs is someone to give him a helping hand.

“Now we’ll get to see [Suarez] playing alongside Neymar and [Lionel] Messi. We don’t know when that will be, though.”

President of Nigerian Basketball Federation, Tijjani Umar during the weekend at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium cleared umpire Tunde Popoola of any wrong doing over the decision to cancel the final basket scored by Mark Mentors basketball club of Abuja right at the nick of time during the finals of the DSTV Premier Basketball League Final 8 which Kano Pillars won by a point.

He said after he and the chairman of Markmentors Mark Igoche took time to view the replay at the OB van to review the dying seconds of the epic final match, they discovered the call was right. “From the replay it was clear that Musa Usman still had possession of the ball as time expired. The referee dully indicated that, and

from the video footage I and the Markmentors chairman saw, the referee got the decision spot on”.

Controversy struck at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium in Lagos when referee Tunde Popoola cancelled Markmentors guard, Musa Usman’s basket at the end of the game on Saturday.

Markmentors were leading by 4 points with 21 seconds of the game to spare but dramatically Pillars took the lead by one point, 8988 with 5 seconds left on the clock courtesy a 3 points shot from Abubakar Usman after team mate Adeolu Olaiya’s dunk reduced the deficit to 2 points earlier. With the championship title still at stake, Mark Mentors pushed to score within the 5 seconds left. They did score, but it was a tale of too little too late. As time expired before they could get the ball in the basket.

DStv League action

Brazil To Name Scolari’s Successor Tomorrow

Brazil won the 2013 Confederations Cup, but lost in the semi-finals of the 2014 Fifa World Cup

Brazil’s new coach will be unveiled at a news conference on Tuesday after Luiz Felipe Scolari’s resignation.

Scolari, 65, guided the hosts to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, but Brazil suffered their joint heaviest ever defeat, losing 7-1 to Germany.

Former boss Dunga, who managed the team from 2006 to 2011, could return.

Other contenders include Corinthians boss Tite, Sao Paulo manager Muricy Ramalho and Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the national manager from 1998 to 2000.

On Thursday, Brazil’s football federation, CBF, appointed Gilmar Rinaldi as Brazil’s general co-ordinator, with responsibility for all levels of the national team.

He said: “The most important thing is to define what we want and the profile of the person we want. We must recognise that we need to change.”

After their defeat against Germany, the Selecao were beaten 3-0 by the Netherlands in the third-place playoff as Brazil suffered consecutive home defeats

for first time since 1940.

Scolari, who guided Brazil to World Cup victory in 2002, and his entire backroom staff have all left their posts since the tournament finished.

Meanwhile, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella, 59, will decide his future next week after his side lost 1-0 to Germany in the World Cup final.

Members of the squad have said they want Sabella to remain in charge for the 2015 Copa America in Chile.

“It’s down to whether I feel strong enough to give 100%,” said Sabella.

sports 55

Monday, July 21, 2014

Lambert Thrilled To Be Liverpool’s No 9

Vidal and Pogba

‘High Bid’ Would Force Juventus To Consider Vidal Or Pogba Sales – Nedved Juventus director Pavel Nedved admits that a “high bid” for the likes of Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba would force them to consider a sale.

The Italian champions saw coach Antonio Conte resign on Tuesday, to be replaced by Massimiliano Allegri, with some reports

claiming that the outgoing boss was unhappy with the club’s transfer policy this summer.

Goal understands that Manchester United remain interested in signing Vidal despite the huge funds likely to be necessary, while Chelsea have been circling Pogba

despite being put off by his price tag, but Nedved is adamant that the Bianconeri want to keep their stars.

“Our strategy is clear; we want to keep all our best players, including Vidal and Pogba,” he told Tuttosport. “We don’t want to sell anyone,

Rickie Lambert has admitted he is overjoyed at being handed the No. 9 shirt for Liverpool after making his debut in a preseason friendly win at Preston North End. The 32-year-old striker follows in the footsteps of the likes of Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres and Ian Rush in wearing the iconic shirt and, as a boyhood fans, says he would have been happy with any number after joining the club from Southampton.

“I’ve always seen myself as a No.9 as it’s the type of player I am, and to get it at Liverpool is unbelievable,” the close-season signing told Liverpool’s official website.

“I would have been happy with any number because as long as that badge is on the front I would have been happy with any shirt, but to get No.9 is special for me.”

Goals from Suso and Kristoffer Peterson in the space of three second-half minutes

changed for the game for Liverpool at Deepdale following Josh Brownhill’s opener.

Lambert played the first half in his first game since representing England at the World Cup and admitted it was an emotional experience.

“It was special,” he added. “I had to get a few moments in check at the beginning, but it was special.

“Obviously I’m professional, I’m 32 now and I’m able to get my emotions in check, and now it’s all about my fitness.

“That’s all I was concentrating on, trying my best and trying to get a goal. I was a little bit disappointed not to get a goal but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I was nervous before kickoff and I probably haven’t been that nervous for a while.

“I’ve played in a lot of big games in my career and that’s the most nervous I’ve been before a game for a while, but it was a special moment for me and one I’ll remember.”

especially Vidal.

“Certainly, if there were a high bid for them, we’d have to think about it but we don’t want to sell our champions.

“We want to be competitive in the Champions League and the only sales to be players who are not part of our plans.”

Redknapp ‘Would Have Retired’ If QPR Promotion Bid Failed Harry Redknapp has said he would have retired from management if QPR had failed to earn promotion to the Premier League last season.

The Hoops were widely tipped to win the Championship but

had to battle through the play-offs to return to the top flight after relegation in 2013.

Redknapp, 67, said: “If we hadn’t gone up, I would have turned it in.

“I wouldn’t have gone back and done another year in the Champion-

ship, it didn’t appeal to me any more.”

Former West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp took over at Loftus Road in November 2012 on a two-and-ahalf-year contract but could not save QPR

from the drop.

The Hoops secured an immediate return to the Premier League but only after edging past Derby 1-0 in the playoff final at Wembley in May 2014, courtesy of a late strike from Bobby Zamora.

Monaco Can Replace Rodriguez – Germain Valere Germain believes that Monaco would be able to bring in the right replacements if Real Madrid agree a deal for James Rodriguez.

The Colombia star enjoyed an excellent World Cup in Brazil, ending the tournament with the Golden Boot after scoring six times as los Cafeteros reached their first ever quarter-final, prompting heavy speculation that Carlo Ancelotti could look to bring him to Santiago Bernabeu in a €90 million deal this summer.

James joined the principality outfit last year for €45 million from Porto, scoring 10 times in 38 games as his side finished as Ligue 1 runners-up, and while Germain feels that they would miss his influence he is confident the club have the financial muscle to replace him.

“All the players have faith in the club’s offiRodriguez cials,” the 24-year-old told L’Equipe.

Wilshere

Las Vegas Smoking: Wenger Wants Talks With Wilshere

Arsene Wenger insists that he is “not deeply concerned” after Jack Wilshere was pictured smoking but says that he will speak to the midfielder about the incident.

The 22-year-old was photographed smoking a cigarette while on holiday in Las Vegas earlier in July, behaviour for which he had already been criticised by the Arsenal manager following a similar incident last season.

Wilshere has returned to pre-season training following England’s World Cup campaign but did not feature in the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Boreham Wood on Saturday

afternoon.

“I haven’t spoken to him so it’s very difficult for me to make any statement,” Wenger told reporters.

“I know what you can make of pictures. I have to speak to him to see what really happened before coming out publicly.

“I’m not deeply concerned by it but I just want to know what happened but, before I know what happened, I don’t want to talk too much about it.”

When asked how important the new season is to Wilshere’s development, Wenger replied: “Well, he’s at an age where you want him to [move] forward.

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his weekend, my father Clement Ndanusa Isaiah will clock 80 years.

That is some cool four scores – 10 years longer than the proverbial three scores and 10. Only the very few favoured by God attain this age. It shall, therefore, be a time of celebration for friends and family members. Even though dad has asked for only thanksgiving in church, and not much of a celebration, this is one instruction that I feel certain will be disobeyed.

If I may sound funny, I cannot remember the exact day I first met my father.

Was it at the maternity ward on the day I was born? I am not very sure. But one memory I still have is of my father visiting Minna regularly from Zaria where he worked with Gaskiya Corporation, and, as a child among a group of cousins, I looked forward to his visits in those days. My cousins and I were all living with our grandparents then.

All my life, I have known my father only as a newspaperman. He has not done any other job all his life and all my life. In the very early days, he worked with The Nigerian Citizen and Gaskiya Corporation in Zaria, and then The Mail, the Northern People’s Congress (NPC)-owned newspaper in Kano. He was a pioneer staff member of the New Nige-

My Father At 80

sam@leadership.ng

rian in 1966; my father loved to speak about the power and authority of the New Nigerian of those days. The story of his entry into the New Nigerian is one he still enjoys to tell.

Most northerners of those days who had anything to do with newspapering (and they were very few in those days) moved into the New Nigerian as a matter of course, as the newspaper promised to be bigger and different from all those before it in Northern Nigeria. The managing director then, Mr Charles Sharp, a Briton, was only interested in the appointment of the very senior editors at the time. My father and several others were left looking for what to do within the organisation. The first week, he did what he thought was a very good story on sports and sim-

ply signed off as sports editor even though nobody had appointed him sports editor. Because the story was very well researched and well written, Mr Sharp didn’t complain and, from then, started calling him sports editor himself.

That was how my dad became sports editor. He simply appointed himself and did an excellent job of it. Malam Mamman Daura, who was his boss in the New Nigerian at a time, first as the newspaper’s editor and subsequently managing director, once told me that my father was one person he depended on as editor to do his work thoroughly. He didn’t for once have cause to super- My dad Clement Ndanusa Isaiah vise him. Mamman Daura reeditor, then associate editor mains one of the best think- have him as a role model. ers and writers this country My father was subsequent- (north). He was to move over has had and I remain proud ly promoted to the position of to New Nigerian, Lagos office, to be very close to him and to news editor, then chief sub➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

GHANA MUST GO

Choosing Between A Corrupt But Competent President And An Incompetent President Sometime ago, I had a very unproductive argument with some friends. I was asked to choose between a corrupt but competent president and an incompetent president. I refused to choose either. But, seriously, an incompetent president would bring down the whole house without even realising what he had just done.

It’s only an incompetent president that would withdraw policemen from a governor because the governor has appointed someone he didn’t like as Emir of Kano. It is only an incompe-

tent president that would send policemen to take over the Emir of Kano’s palace because he didn’t like the Emir, preposterous as that may sound. It is only an incompetent president that would shut down an airport because he wanted to truncate the activities of opposition governors. It is only an extremely incompetent president that would think he could bribe members of the houses of assembly of opposition states to impeach opposition gov➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

Jonathan seeks $1bn loan to fight Boko Haram — News

To fight Boko Haram or for his 2015 re-election?

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