Wednesday

23.07.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

WEDNESDAY

No. 2,227

N150

NIGERIA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPER

How was Jonathan able to look a parent in the face and declare that his government existed to protect citizens like the girls from danger?

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Editorial Pages 3

Chibok

DAY

Story Telling Of Schoolgirls Abduction

International Community Response

Timeline Editorial FG’s Action Interviews Quotable Quotes & Tweets

Origin Of Hashtag Photographs 2-10

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DAY

CHIBOK TIMELINE April 14 ➔ Up to 276 schoolgirls are abducted in Chibok village of the State-ofEmergency ruled Borno State in the night raid. Although the number remained controversial and many sources put it at 234.

Story Telling On Abduction

100 Days Of Chibok Girls In Captivity

BY ABDULKAREEM HARUNA AND OBED MINCHAKPU

16 April: day 2 ➔ Nigeria's military says most of the girls managed to escape or were freed and releases a statement saying only eight girls are still missing.

17 April: day 3 ➔ Several victims manage to escape from the captors and recount their ordeal.

Locals say many remain unaccounted for and parents of the missing girls head into the Sambisa forest near the Cameroonian border to search for them. On their return they say they did not see any Nigerian soldiers in the forest.

18 April: day 4 ➔ Major General Chris Olukolade, a military spokesman, says a report stating that most of the girls had been freed was incorrect but was "not intended to deceive the public."

Parents insist that more than 200 girls are still missing. The military has not rescued any of the girls.

19 April: day 5 ➔ Asabe Kwambura, headmistress of the school in Chibok, appeals to the government to do more to save the girls and calls on the kidnappers thought to be members of the Boko Haram group - to "have mercy on the students." ➔ Footage showing the school in Chibok emerged a week after the attack

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor: “Boko Haram are muslims, it is a war against Christians and the church.”

Sounds of gunshots broke the silence of the night, forcing the students out of their beds. Shaking like one possessed by demons, Patience Bulus, one of the students in the hostel, jumped out of her bed, scampering from one part of the room to the other. This is just as her colleagues, other female students in the hostel also in panic state, scrambled to the entrance of the hostel. And just then, armed gunmen dressed in military camouflage broke into the hostel, ordering them out of the hostel.

“We are here to assist and protect you,” one of the gunmen told the now frightened female students. “If you do as we instruct you, no harm shall come to you; but if you disobey us, surely, you will die,” one of the gunmen,

85

Killed in Kawuri

January 26, 2014

100

Chibok

28

Killed in Izghe

February, 2014

300

26

➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE ??

COMPILED BY UGOCHUKWU IROKA

speaking with a baritone voice told the girls.

Patience, 18, and the other students were herded out of the hostel by the gunmen and made to sit under a big tree in the school compound. They then went round the school, setting fire on

OTHER ATTACKS IN AND AROUND CHIBOK

22 April: day 8 ➔ Ms Kwambura tells the BBC that at least 190 girls are still missing, contradicting a local state governor who said that around 80 of the students were yet to be found. Footage emerges of the school shortly after the attack, showing the classrooms after they were set alight by gunmen.

A government source tries to explain the discrepancy, saying it was initially thought only science students had been seized ahead of their exam but there were also 105 art students in the hostels at the time, which the authorities had not realised.

UPCOMING EVENTS TODAY: Candlelight vigil in New York City, USA; Rally in London, UK TOMORROW: Rally in Saltlake City, Utah, USA; Vigil in Swansea, Wales

Chairman of Chibok community in Abuja Mr. Hosea Abana giving report on the outcome of their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and the parents of the abducted girls in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

Killed in Gwoza

June 2, 2014

Killed in Koronginim

June 21, 2014

Killed in Kerenua

June 20-23, 2014 INFOGRAPHICS BY Matthew Akhabue

the hostel, classrooms and other buildings.

This is not a scene from a movie, but a true story of how over 300 female students were kidnapped at gunpoint in Chibok

by Boko Haram insurgents in the night of 14th April, 2014.

It is 100 days today since the kidnap of these students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, North-eastern part of the country, yet, they’ve not been rescued, and this is despite the public outcry that greeted the incident within and outside the country.

The girls were final year students brought together from the various secondary schools in and around towns and villages close to Chibok town, to write their WAEC examinations in the school. Since the kidnap of these girls, dozens of them have escaped from Sambisa Forest where they are being held captive, but more than 200 of them still remain in captivity. Their continuous detention by Boko Haram insurgents has continued to be a thing of concern not only to the Nigerian public, but also to the international community.

Patience, one of the girls who escaped from the Boko Haram gunmen on the night of their kidnap, told LEADERSHIP in an exclusive interview that: “It was on Monday, 14th April, 2014, when Boko Haram gunmen came into our school at about 11:30pm.

They wore military camouflage and we thought they were soldiers who had come to assist us but we later realised that they were Boko Haram gunmen.

“They ordered us to move out of our dormitories and to the school administration block ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 4

Jonathan: “Anyone who gives you the impression that we are aloof and that we are not doing what we are supposed to do to get the girls out is not being truthful.

Our commitment is not just to get the girls out, it is also to rout Boko Haram completely from Nigeria.”

When all of us were inside the vehicles, the trucks drove through bush roads and paths that lead to the Sambisa Forest for about 30 minutes, and then some of them broke down along the way

3

our stand Wednesday, July 23, 2014

100 Days Without Our Girls

A

pril 14 came with both shock and disbelief. Boko Haram terrorists had bombed Nyanya in Abuja early in the day, killing more than 100 innocent souls.

When the news of missing girls came about 15 hours later, not many, including those in the Presidency, believed it was true.

But, like thieves in the night that they are, the terrorists did steal 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on 4-14. Initially, the school authorities said the missing girls were 120. The number kept climbing with more discoveries until it hit 276. About 57 of the captives have so far been able to escape from the evil men that have been spreading blood and tears across the country.

That over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped 100 days ago are still held captive in an evil forest named Sambisa must remain one of the greatest tragedies that have happened on the Nigerian soil. All that the military authorities and even President Jonathan have told the nation is that they know where the girls are being held and are being careful to not hurt them through rescue operations. All the technologies that have been invented, all the advanced na-

tions that have offered to help and all the funds voted for security have not been able to snatch the captives from the claws of the terrorists.

When President Jonathan met with the parents of the abducted girls in Aso Villa yesterday, how was he able to look a parent in the face and declare that his government existed to protect citizens like the girls from danger? Who among the parents could have believed him? This motion without movement from the Presidency and the politicisation of the girls’ abduction can only show the stuff of which we are made as a people.

Those who claim to know where the girls are held have not told us the conditions under

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

which they live inside Sambisa forest. What do they eat? What do they drink? What protects them from the elements – rain and sunshine? And mosquitoes?

And the sex maniacs among the unwashed dogs claiming to be Boko Haram? The magnitude of this tragedy is simply unimaginable.

We must not fail to appreciate the efforts of civil society organisations, churches, mosques, the mass media and international organisations in the struggle to rescue the girls alive. The #BringBackOurGirls movement has been wonderful. But all these efforts have been dwarfed by the non-achievement of the ultimate prize: return of the girls.

Have we not prayed enough?

How much longer should we fast? The terrorists hiding behind religion to commit evil against innocent people seem to be deaf ostensibly because they belong to the devil. They cannot listen to the voice of reason because they have been condemned already and seek to go down with everything and everyone on their way.

It is not time for mourning yet. But, after waiting for 100 days, the nation would be justified to take desperate measures.

Our girls must return home.

Dead or alive!

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!

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Story Telling On Abduction

DAY TWEETS

@obyezeks Our President can start to REWRITE ALL WRONGS today if he succeeds in CONNECTING with the AGONIZING PAIN of our #Chibok families&community. @Bar_Baric Na wah O! 100 days, not even in custody of ordinary kidnappers.

Full scale terrorists and confirmed mass murderers! #BringBackOurGirls @aligthebaptist #BringBackOurGirls is one tragedy we v been unable to unravel, the political cry for #BringBackOurGirls seems to be louder than the true cry @omojuwa Day 99. The Goverment has been very dedicated to the cause. The cause of silencing citizens who insist on speaking for #BringBackOurGirls @ogundamisi It is clear that the non-violence method of the Nigerian #BringBackOurGirls Movement is becoming too powerful to the MIGHTY Nigerian Govt COMPILED BY UGOCHUKWU IROKA

100 Days Of Chibok Girls In Captivity FROM PAGE 2

where they ordered us to sit on the ground, after which they began shooting and burning down school buildings.

Having set fire on the school buildings, they moved us to a big locust bean tree and forced us to enter some trucks they brought with them. Some of the trucks had food items that were taken by the Boko Haram men from the school’s food store. So, they asked us all to either enter the trucks or get killed. We were all scared and had to enter the vehicles.

“When all of us were inside the vehicles, the trucks drove through bush roads and paths that lead to the Sambisa Forest for about 30 minutes, and then some of them broke down along the way. At that point, the gunmen brought out the girls in the vehicles that broke down and forced them into the others even when they could not contain us.

Initially, they had nine vehicles, but three had faults. So, after forcing the girls in the three vehicles to join us, the three vehicles with faults were burnt by them,” said Patience, a student in Senior Secondary 3A of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok.

Musa Bulus, 33, brother of Patience, told LEADERSHIP that it was heart-warming that his sister was able to escape from her captors and praised God for this. But he said their joy is not complete knowing that there are many other innocent girls out there in the Forest suffering and who need to be rescued immediately. He also expressed displeas-

Ali Maiyanga, a Chibok parent whose two daughters are still being held by Boko Haram

Lawan Yamta, one of the Chibok parents whose daughter is still with Boko Haram

Chris Smith, US Congressman during his interaction with the Chibok girls and parents in Nigeria

Musa, brother to Patience, one of the kidnapped Chibok girls

Patience, one of the escapee Chibok girls

Some of the escapee Chibok school girls, during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, yesterday.

ure with the way the kidnap of these girls has been handled by the government of Borno State.

“There has never been any assistance given to my sister. When this incident happened, the principal of the school called us and told us that she wanted to ask my sister questions. So, I took my sister to the school and when we got there, the principal interviewed her, after which she was asked to go back home.

Prior to the principal’s interview, Musa said their district head had interviewed his sister about what transpired on the night of their kidnap. “Before the principal interviewed her, I took

her to our district head who also interviewed her. Now, after these two interviews with my sister, nobody has visited our family.

Shortly after this, I was called to take my sister to the school to enable her fill a form and a few days later, we were asked to take her and her friend to Chibok in preparation for their trip to Maiduguri as the state government wanted to meet with all the girls who escaped from Boko Haram after their abduction.”

“There in Chibok, they had a list of just 11 girls who they said escaped from Boko Haram. My sister’s name, Patience Bulus, was third on the list. And as the

officials who came from Maiduguri were calling the names, my sister came out and suddenly, one of the officials said he had to phone them in Maiduguri first to be sure that my sister would be among those going. After making the phone call, the man said he was instructed to delete my sister’s name from the list, and that he did.

“I protested against this and asked why my sister would not be taken to Maiduguri when she was the first to report to the school authorities after her escape from Boko Haram. But I was ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

CHIBOK TIMELINE 23 April: Day 9 ➔ Nigerians take to social media to show their anger at the government response and Ibrahim M Abdullahi, a lawyer in Abuja, sends the first tweet using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.

30 April: Day 16 ➔ Hundreds march through Abuja to protest at government “indifference” to the mass abduction. A community leader from Chibok warns that the girls may have been taken to neighbouring states and forced to marry militants.

He says that 230 girls are missing another increase in the figure.

1 May: Day 17 ➔ Desperate parents in Chibok stage a protest calling on the government to do more in the search for the missing girls. Protests are also staged again in

towns and cities across Nigeria.

2 May: Day 18 ➔ Nigerian police say militants are holding 223 girls, after 53 of the initial 276 girls who were abducted managed to escape. He explained the higher figure by saying pupils from surrounding schools had gone to Chibok to take exams, as it was believed to be safe.

The President sets up a fact-finding committee, “in view of the inconsistent and contradictory information available to government on the Chibok abduction.”

4 May: Day 20 ➔ President Goodluck Jonathan make his first public comments since the abduction, saying his government is seeking assistance from the US and

other world powers to tackle Nigeria’s “security challenge”.

5 May: Day 21 ➔ In a video statement, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau says his group were behind the abduction of the girls and threatens to “sell” them in the market as “slaves”. The US says it has information that the girls may have been moved into neighbouring countries but Chad and Cameroon deny the girls are being held on their soil.

6 May: Day 22 ➔ Barack Obama says the “heartbreaking” abduction” may be the event that helps to mobilise the entire international community” to finally act against Boko Haram. He says US experts are being dispatched to help find the girls. Eleven more girls are abducted by gunmen

from nearby areas of Borno state.

7 May: Day 23 ➔ The #BringBackOurGirls hashtag hits 1 million tweets and US First Lady Michelle Obama joins the online campaign, posting a picture of herself on photo-sharing site Instagram holding a piece of paper with the hashtag on. Nigerian police offer 50 million naira (£180,000; $300,000) for information that could help track the girls down.

8 May: Day 24 ➔ Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived a shooting

by Taliban insurgents, joins the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and says the world must not stay silent over the abduction.

9 May: Day 25 ➔ Experts from the US and UK arrive in Nigeria to help with the search for the missing girls.

Amnesty International accuses Nigeria’s military of ignoring warnings before the abduction. The human rights group said credible sources told it that the army were notified of an impending attack four hours before it happened but did nothing. The government says it doubts the report but will investigate.

11 May: Day 27 ➔ The governor of Nigeria’s Borno State says he has information on the whereabouts of the girls and has passed reports of possible sightings to the military. He says he does not think they have been taken across the border to Chad or Cameroon.

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Story Telling On Abduction

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QUOTABLE QUOTES “Government is making efforts. We know where they are but we don’t want to endanger their lives. That is the truth. We want to take it gradually and release them at the appropriate time. We know where they are. You can go to bed with that.” ...Director-general of the SSS, Ita Ekpeyong, addressing journalists after a National Security Council meeting.

“It is our fervent hope that they are rescued once and for all, without necessarily clocking 100 days of being held in the captivity of the Boko Haram.” …A parent of a victim, Mr Lucky Chibok, in an interview with LEADERSHIP three days ago.

FROM PAGE 4

told that since this was the first batch of escapees being taken to Maiduguri, my sister would be included in the second batch.

So, only seven girls were moved to Maiduguri as the first batch.

Now, this happened just three days after the kidnap of the girls.

“Prior to this, a day after the kidnap of the girls, an official of the Borno State Ministry of Education came to the school in Chibok and was surprised that in spite of the attack on the town and the kidnap of the girls, there were still no security men in the school. And because of lack of se-

curity, the education official just met the principal and her vice, and then he entered his vehicle and drove off,” Musa said.

Ali Maiyanga, 50, from Askira Uba, a town 30 kilometres from Chibok, had two of his daughters among the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok. The girls were among those brought from other towns and villages to write their exams at the GSS, Chibok.

Maiyanga said, “Two of my daughters, Maryam, 17, and Halima, 16, are among the girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram insurgents. Both girls are still being held captive there in Sambisa Forest.

“On the day of the incident, that is Monday, 14th April, I was in my house throughout the evening, watching movies up to about 11:30pm. Some few minutes to midnight, Maryam, my daughter, phoned her mom from the school, telling her that Boko Haram gunmen were attacking the school and they were holed up in the hostel. Maryam’s mother was confused and was asking her, ‘what are you girls going to do now?’ And in the midst of this, the phone went off.

“Soon, one of our neighbours too heard the news about the attack going on in the school and rushed to my house to tell

us what was happening. It was difficult for us to do anything at that time of the night. More so, we live in Askira Uba, about 30 kilometres from Chibok. So, in the morning I left for Chibok and went straight to the school.

There, I found that the school had been burnt down, and all the students’ belongings were destroyed with nothing valuable left.

“The incident left me devastated. I did not know what to do about the situation, so I went back home. For one week after the incident, I kept returning to ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

“It is sad that a girl like me would be taken by strangers to an unknown location.” …Blessing Akanfe, a secondary school girl, who also participated in the protest in Osogbo, Osun State on May 8, 2014.

“I think it would be unfair to say our government was slow to react because no one knew whether they reacted or not.” …Renowned Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, in an interview.

COMPILED BY BODE GBADEBO

CHIBOK TIMELINE 12 May: Day 28 ➔ Boko Haram release a new video claiming to show around 130 of the abducted girls at an unknown location.

In the video, the group’s leader says he will not free the girls until authorities release all imprisoned militants. He also says the girls have converted to Islam.

May 25: Day 41 ➔ The Nigerian authorities are said to have started but then called off the deal of swapping the girls for Boko Haram prisoners, as it was previously offered by Shekau. Presidency is under attacks from all the sides.

May 26: Day 42 ➔ Defence claim they have located the whereabouts of the missing girls, but insist they will not use force to rescue

the girls.

Throughout May the President calls for international help, and gets a flood of offers of military and intelligence assistance from around the world. He also attends a high-profile security summits on Boko Haram in Paris (May 17).

June 20: Day 67 ➔ The presidential committee submits its report, confirms the kidnap, saying 219 girls are still in the hands of the captors.

June 26: Day 73 ➔ News breaks that the President’s aides have hired an international PR agency to rescue his battered reputation, arising from his government’s poor handling of the crisis.

June 27: Day 74 ➔ UN Security Council blacklists Boko Haram terrorist group leader, Abubakar Shekau.

moment. Goodluck Jonathan blames #BringBackOurGirls campaigners for whisking away the parents who were to visit him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

July 12: Day 89 ➔ Pakistani human rights activist Malala Yousafzai visits Abuja and meets, first with five of the girls who escaped (July 13), and then with the President (July 14). She persuades Jonathan to meet the devastated Chibok parents.

July 16: Day 93 ➔ Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the President, uses the American PR firm, Levick to accuse the Bring Back Our Girls Movement of “playing politics with the situation and the grief of the parents and the girls and of manipulating the victims of terrorism for their own benefit, and engaging in psychological terrorism.”

He also appears on Channels TV to attack Oby Ezekwesili, one of the leaders of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, accusing her of being the one who ordered the Chibok community to not see the President.

The Chibok parents issue a statement

July 15: Day 92 ➔ The meeting fails to hold as the parents reportedly cancel it the very last moment. Goodluck Jonathan blames #BringBackOurGirls campaigners for whisking away the parents who were to visit him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting fails to hold as the parents reportedly cancel it the very last

absolving the #BringBackOurGirls movement of blame and saying that: July 17: Day 94 ➔ Presidency sends another letter to the girls’ parents and the event gets rescheduled to the next week.

July 21: Day 98 ➔ Leader of #BringBackOurGirls movement, Oby Ezekwesili is briefly detained and delayed by officials of the state security service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on her way to London.

July 22: Day 99 ➔ Parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and some of the escapee girls were received by President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President David Mark at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Retrospect

DAY

Chibok Girls Today marks 100 days since over 200 girls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, were abducted by members of Boko Haram on April 14, 2014. The abduction of the schoolgirls has witnessed global outcry with people worldwide condemning the act with a hashtag #BringBackOurGirls which went viral on social media, with world leaders joing in the campaign.

WORLD LEADERS CONDEMN ABDUCTION

May 8, 2014

Obama: “This may mobilise the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous

May 8, 2014

Cameron: “This is an act of pure evil. It’s united people across the planet to stand with Nigeria to help find these children.”

Members of the #Bring Back Our Girls group protesting at the Borno Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

Ki-Moon: “I share the anguish of the families of the girls and the people of Nigeria at this traumatic time.”

Jonathan: “I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of the end of terrorism in Nigeria.”

May 8, 2014 Michelle: “Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families. It is time to #BringBackOurGirls.”

May 13, 2014

May 13, 2014

Malala Yousafzai: “Girls in Nigeria are my sisters.”

May 13, 2014

Clinton: “It’s abominable, criminal, an act of terrorism and merits the fullest response from the government of Nigeria.”

Keqiang: “On behalf of China, I offer satellite and intelligence services to aid the rescue of the schoolgirls.”

1. Agnes Gafane. 2. Saraya Stober. 3. Hauwa Bitrus. 4. Hajara Isa. 5. Na’omi Philimun. 6. Hauwa Abdu (1st Speaking). 7. Magret Yama. 8. Shitta Abdu. 9. Jummai Muta. 10.Ladi Paul. 11. Roda Peter. 12. Filo Dauda. 13. Godiya Bitrus. 14. Saratu Tauji (2nd Speaking). 15. Ross Daniel. 16.Hauwa Ali. 17. Hajara Isa (Amira 3rd Speaking). 18. Luba Afga. 19. Na’omi Luka. 20. Saraya Emos Ali. 21. Bilkisu Abdullahi. 22. Mairama Ali. 23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga.

24. Dabora Abbas. 25. Kabu Mala. 26. Halima Ali. 27. Yana Bukar.

Members of Solid Women Initiative for Development, protesting over the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls in Abuja. PHOTO BY NAN.

Identified names of Chibok schoolgirls Rouhani: “This inhumane act is unacceptable and we hope action will be adopted to prevent operation of extremist groups.”

Mahama: “All of us are fathers, and I could just imagine that my daughter could be one of them.”

28. Solomi Pugu. 29. Lydia Emmar. 30. Luba Sanda. 31. Saraya Samuel. 32. Comfort Habila. 33. Rejoice Shanki. 34. Gloria Yaga.

35. Mary Nkeki. 36. Moda Baba. 37. Hauwa Isuwa. 38. Patience Jacob. 39. Ladi Jajel. 40. Abigel Bukar. 41. Fanta Lawan.

42. Zainabu Yaga. 43. Aisha Lawan Zanna. 44. Dokas Yakubu.

45. Kabu Mala. 46. Maryama Bashir. 47. Hauwa M. Maina. 48.

Mary G. Dauda. 49. Susana Yakubu. 50. Maryam Abbas. 51. Laraba John. 52. Hanatu Nuhu. 53. Na’ omi Bukar. 54. Rifkatu Galang.

The Expendable 3 cast supporting the #BringBackOurGirls worldwide campaign.

COMPILED BY EBRIKU JOHN FRIDAY

CHIBOK DIARY 7

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

ok Chiby Diar

Story Telling On Abduction

DAY

CHIBOK BY THE NUMBERS

276

GIRLS kidnapped from Chibok, Borno state by Boko Haram Militants on 14 April 2014

99 16 59

DAYS gone by since the girls were kidnapped

AVERAGE AGE of the girls kidnapped

Number of girls that had ESCAPED from the terrorists as at 2 May, 2014

4

FOUR hours advanced warning of the kidnapping was given to the Nigerian Army but their overextended forces were unable to mobilise reinforcements

15

Number of DAYS President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly kept mum about the kidnapping of the girls for 15 days

N2,000

MONEY the girls were reportedly being sold for by Boko Haram terrorists

16

Number of MILITARY PERSONNEL from the US African Command sent to assist the Nigerian army locate the girls

$200,000

DONATION by the Malala Yousafzai Fund for scholarships for the kidnapped girls and their education COMPILED BY BOBOYE ONDUKU

FROM PAGE 5

Chibok, hoping to hear some positive news about our daughters but all was a futile exercise as the officials of the state government kept telling us to return each day we went there. At a point, I got so frustrated that I decided to resign my fate to God.” Lawan Yamta, 54, another parent of one of the kidnapped Chibok girls, on his part, told LEADERSHIP that his daughter was a student of Government Secondary School, Chibok. “My daughter, Maryamu, is a student at the Government Secondary School, Chibok. She is among the girls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents”.

“The news that Boko Haram insurgents would be attacking the school was rife earlier on the day of the incident and no serious effort was made to ensure the safety of these students. The news spread in Chibok at about 4pm, before the actual attack took place at about 11:30pm. The unfortunate thing is that the principal of the school was not in town on that day; only the vice principal was in the school, yet nothing was done to protect the girls or even ask them to leave the school.

“We don’t know why they were not asked by the school management to vacate the school. I was told that when some of the students got wind of the impending attack, they were packing their valuables to leave the school, but the vice principal and other teachers forced them to remain in the school,” he added.

Yamta believes that the wrong decision made by the school authorities in Chibok is responsible for the girls’ present predicament.

“I think it was an issue of wrong judgement by the school authori-

ties in Chibok. They had assumed that when Boko Haram gunmen attacked a school in Mungono, they left the girls in that school but killed the boys. So, the assumption by the teachers in Chibok was that even if Boko Haram gunmen came to the school, the girls would be spared, hence, it was only the girls that were in the school that night. It was a wrong decision that has caused us our girls. While the girls were in the school, the school’s main gate was locked and the girls became more of prisoners,” Yamta said.

Boko Haram confirms kidnap Shortly after the disappearance of the girls, the Boko Haram Islamic sect claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. Abubakar Shekau, leader of the sect, in a video circulated to media organisations within and outside Nigeria, threatened to “give their hands in marriage because they are our slaves. We would marry them out at the age of 9. We would marry them out at the age of 12.” However, last week, Shekau in a new video message, said that he is prepared to negotiate a prisoner swap for the girls with the Nigerian government.

The reaction of the Nigerian government to the kidnap of these girls at the initial stage was that of denial of such incident.

The blame game between the federal government and Borno State government contributed immensely to the prolonged sojourn of the Chibok girls in Sambisa Forest.

In fact, the blame game was the catalyst for the inaction of the Nigerian government in rescuing the girls, and as a result, fears have been expressed that some of the girls might have died or been taken out of the country to other neighbouring countries like Cam-

eroon, Chad and Mali.

Malala’s Response To cap it all, Malala Yousafzai, the teenage campaigner for girls’ education in Pakistan, was in the country last week where she met President Goodluck Jonathan on the plight of the Chibok girls.

President Jonathan on his part, assured her that the abducted Chibok girls will be freed soon.

Malala Yousafzai, was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for campaigning for girls’ education. She met parents of the Chibok girls also within the week where she told them that: “I can see those girls as my sisters ... and I’m going to speak up for them until they are released.”

Malala assured that she was going to participate actively in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign in order to ensure that the girls are rescued and allowed to continue with their education. “I can feel the circumstances under which you are suffering,” Malala said.

“It’s quite difficult for a parent to know that their daughter is in great danger,” she added.

However, while the pressure has been mounted by these organizations and groups, for the release of these Chibok girls, nothing tangible has been achieved in this direction, as the Nigerian government seems helpless in the face of the Boko Haram onslaught and grandstanding. The fight against the Insurgents seems to be an overwhelming task for the Nigerian Armed forces.

But then, going by the prayers of wailing parents of the Chibok girls, the goodwill shown by the international community, and the prayers of other God-fearing Nigerians, there is hope that freedom for the Chibok girls is feasible and may come the way of these girls soon.

The news that Boko Haram insurgents would be attacking the school was rife earlier on the day of the incident and no serious effort was made to ensure the safety of these students

8 NEWS

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

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DAY

FG's Response

FG Actions Over Rescue Operation Of The Chibok Girls

BY GEORGE AGBA, Abuja

The president has initiated a number of strategies which have generated international solidarity over the rescue of the Chibok girls and the war against terrorism

Compelled by the national and international embarrassment following federal government’s earlier denial that the Chibok Girls was kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect, President Jonathan set up and inaugurated a Presidential Fact-finding Committee on the Abduction of the Chibok Schoolgirls. In its report submitted to the president on June 20, 2014, the committee noted that 276 female students were abducted after 119 female students had escaped from the school during the attack by Boko Haram. It added that 57 female students escaped from the deadly nest of the insurgents after the abduction, while 219 female students remained unaccounted for.

While government has not been very open on what it is doing to rescue the girls after the committee confirmed that the girls were indeed abducted, within the period government has achieved a lot of successes in the war against terrorism in general.

Government is developing an advantage in weapons and reconnaissance capabilities. Two divisions of the Nigerian army are so far focused on the fight with troops on the ground. These divisions have captured some senior-level Boko Haram commanders used by the sect as spies and treasury officials. The arrest of the kingpins have yielded valuable intelligence which has further unearthed armouries retrieved recently in Balmo Forest used as one of its strongholds in Bauchi.

In mid-July alone, the federal government forces apprehended three top-level Boko Haram targets. One of the masterminds of the April 14 bombing of the Nyanya (Abuja) bus station that killed about 100 civilians, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche was arrested

by Nigerian officials after securing his extradition from Sudan. Ogwuche is also accused of leading recruitment efforts for Boko Haram from his base in Sudan. Nigerian Intelligence officials have long been monitoring Nigerian extremists training with Islamist groups in both Somalia and Sudan, where al-Qaeda has a strong presence.

Ogwuche is now in Nigerian custody and will face prosecution.

A Boko Haram chief of intelligence was picked up and is now helping investigation. Mohammed Zakari, a Boko Haram leader known as the “Chief Butcher” was captured during the Nigerian forces raid on Balmo Forest, an operation that ended up expelling Boko Haram insurgents completely from the area, effectively denying the terrorists a notorious haven and launch point for attacks.

The federal government is also cooperating with and empowering local

populations across Nigeria in the battle against the insurgents, with the recent security forces’ successes resulting from this government-citizen collaboration. It was this synergy that led to the uncovering of Boko Haram threat against the Abuja transportation system. The public was alerted and casualties were avoided. Similarly, following a tip-off, Nigerian police uncovered and prevented a bomb attack near a school in Gombe.

Aware of the fact that soft power is crucial in the battle against Boko Haram and that force alone will not defeat the insurgents, the Jonathan Administration is implementing a comprehensive programme of assistance to support, protect, and empower local communities, with a special focus on the most vulnerable areas of the country. These programmes include the Safe Schools Initiative developed to safeguard school children in states under emergency rule by strengthening the security of educational facilities.

These measures include providing perimeter fences, housing for teachers, community policing and school guards, alarm systems, and communication equipment. The federal government is also working with state governors, community leaders, teachers and parents to identify and remedy the vulnerabilities that put school children at risk.

The Safe Schools Initiative is a collective effort in which the federal government’s spending is being matched fund for fund by the private sector to the tune of $20 million. While the overall goal is to create a fund of $100 million to support this programme, pledges already received so far include support from the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and other donors.

The Presidential Committee on Victims Support called “Nigeria Terrorism Victims Support Foundation” inaugurated by the president last week is also a case in point. It is essentially targeting to raise $1 billion from a public private partnership in funding.

The presidential initiative will mobilise resources and administer appropriate support to victims of insurgency and Boko Haram terror activities across the country.

The committee is chaired by General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) who himself is an accomplished business man, philanthropist and patriot with similar public causes adjudged to be resoundingly transparent and enjoying enormous goodwill. While inaugurating the committee last week, Jonathan noted that there is no hiding place for the insurgents because their days are numbered.

He said, “For those who take pleas-

ure in seeing innocent human beings in pains, to see limbs being shattered and blood flowing in all direction after terror attacks, we say, you shall have no hiding place. Nigerians will expose you. The people of conscience around the world have rejected you.

“We appreciate the support we are getting from foreign countries and the co-operation we are getting from our neighbours. This has given us more fillip and we are confident that the days of Boko Haram are numbered. It is now just a matter of time”.

Claiming that the nation’s war against terrorism had been gathering momentum, the president lamented, however that the activities of the sect had been receiving prominence in the media than that of the federal government. Jonathan urged all Nigerians to stand together in support of security agencies against terrorism, adding that security agencies were working night and day under difficult circumstances.

He said, “It is unfortunate that when our security personnel prevent 1000 attacks, it is the one attack that succeeds that makes headline news and tends to portray our security agencies as not doing enough. It is part of the realities we have to deal with. We owe Nigerians nothing but victory over terror.

“The life of every Nigerian is precious and we will continue to work round the clock to put an end to this insurgency.

For those who have been victims, they need comfort. They need succour.

We cannot replace the life of a child that has been snuffed out. We cannot replace the lives of men and women who have been killed. We cannot return broken limbs to their original state. We cannot take away the trauma that people have been put through.

“Their memories are scarred, some for the rest of their lives, over what they knew nothing about. The best we can do in this circumstance is to offer them a shoulder to lean on and to stretch out our hands of fellowship to them and tell them we feel their pains and share in their sorrow”.

On the long term, the federal government is developing a comprehensive economic empowerment plan for the north-east region tagged the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE). The need to focus and support girl-child education and other educational initiatives has also received tremendous global support. 125 almajiri schools have been established under this initiative targeting millions of out-of-school children who are currently disadvantaged.

In addition, the president has initiated a number of strategies which have generated international solidarity over the rescue of the Chibok girls and the war against terrorism.

Jonathan

Gusau

Badeh

For instance, at the instance of the president, a meeting of presidents of Chad, Cameroun, Niger Republic and Benin Republic was held in Paris. This has successfully created strong regional cooperation in the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism, which is also to ensure that the girls are not taken out of Nigeria as widely rumoured. It also led to the establishment of Regional Intelligence Unit for the purpose of information sharing and joint security operations in the area. Similarly, a multi-national Joint Task Force was established as a fall-out of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Partnership.

NEWS 9

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

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Interview

DAY

We’ll Not Relent Until Chibok Girls Are Rescued – Ezekwesili

Chairman Chibok Community Association, Mr Tsambido Hosea-Abana

With the abducted Chibok schoolgirls still in captivity for 100 days, a former minister of education and one of the arrowheads of the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, speaks to EJIKE EJIKE and CHIKA MEFOR over pressure to sustain the release of the schoolgirls.

Why are you still campaigning for the rescue of the Chibok girls despite the attack on your personality?

I will continue to stand for the Chibok girls up until the girls are rescued and I am not afraid of whatever attacks the government or any other person is meting out to me either through physical means or through social media. I fought hard for my pedigree and integrity and no one can take that away from me. Whatever it takes within the law for me to campaign for the rescue of the remaining 219 girls in the Boko Haram camp, I will do, provided that the girls are returned safe and alive.

What have you to say on the accusation by the federal government that the BringBackOurGirls group has been politicised and is being sponsored by some oppositions to the federal government?

I am not in the group for politics. I am with the group because I believe that no human being has a right to abduct our girls simply because they wanted to be educated. What crime did these girls from Chibok actually commit? They never insulted anyone, neither did they go against any law.

The only thing they did was seeking education, which could better their lives. Let us have it in mind that these girls could have been any person’s children.

What if some of these girls were my biological children? Would anyone say it was political if I protested?

We are beyond the old Nigeria when one would need something to affect him or her directly before you react.

If you sit down and do nothing when your neighbour is affected, you will not know when the same harm will affect you. This is the new Nigeria and in this new arrangement, we cry when our neighbour is crying.

Is there any hope for the rescue of the girls as the abduction enters its 100 days?

I honestly do not pray that we see the Day 100 of the abduction of these girls because it affects the whole faith of the citizens in the security situation of the country.

I strongly believe that these girls

Hosea-Abana

We Are Still In Pain: “The feeling of the Chibok community is still sore. We are still in pain, just the way it was the first day the girls were abducted because every time the story is being narrated, we all break down in tears. The only difference is that then, we were still strong and vibrant, and filled with hope, but now we are all weak and full of doubt as to whether our girls will ever come back and if the government is really doing anything to rescue them.

Vice Chairman of the Association, Mutah Nkeki BBOG Keeps Our Hope Alive: “We didn’t expect that we would stay this far without the girls coming back. What is sustaining our brothers at home is this group.

The BringBackOurGirls group (BBOG) has sustained us. Without the group, we would have been empty. We are thanking them for giving us courage and giving us hope.

More than one-third of the residents of Chibok are no longer there. Everybody has run away.

The remaining people are living in fear.”

Ezekwesili

will be rescued alive. This is why we come here every day after our day’s job to keep the hope alive. I believe in the unity of this group and I strongly believe that these girls would be brought home alive and well.

Why is the group still sitting despite the lengthy period of the abduction?

We cannot forget about these girls and move on as if nothing has happened. We cannot move on from the issue of the abduction and insecurity in the Northeast because the pains of insecurity are still being felt both in Chibok and other parts of the country. We can only keep quiet when the girls are rescued. The price for the silence of the BringBackOurGirls group is the rescue of the Chibok girls.

Why would I be alive and behave as if nothing is happening when these girls are still in the hands of the sect members? I strongly want to keep going on with the campaign up until these girls are rescued even if it takes longer than we thought.

#BringBackOurGirls: Origin Of Hashtag The origin of #BringBackOurGirls started when Oby Ezekwesili tweeted #BringBackOurDaughters and was later reframed by a lawyer, Ibrahim Abdullahi to #BringBackOurGirls on April 23, 2014.

Following the kidnap of these students a #BringBackOurGirls movement emerged globally bringing together persons of good will across the world, all working with a common purpose of pressuring for the rescue of the Chibok girls.

A hashtag was created on twitter, a social media platform, where the campaign for the rescue of the Chibok girls has been boosted. As at Sunday this week, the twitter account of this movement had about 9,769 followers and 6,852 tweets all in support of and about the plight of the Chibok girls.

The #BringBackOurGirls Twitter campaign is supported by Michelle Obama and the movement has continued to mount pressure on the Nigerian Government to act fast in order to save the girls.

On Facebook, the #BringBackOurGirls movement has recorded about 226,258 likes and about 13,930 persons talking about this. The movement is being spear-headed by Nigeria’s former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala Usman, the daughter of the former fiery Radical Marxist University Don at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Bala Usman. The members of the movement on a daily basis, meet at the base of the Unity Fountain near Abuja’s Transcorp Hilton.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

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DAY

We Are Being Careful For The Safety Of Chibok Girls – DHQ The director of information, Defence Headquarters, Major General Chris Olukolade speaks to our Defence Correspondent, BAYO OLADEJI, on the efforts being made by the military to rescue the schoolgirls alive.

Since the abduction of those innocent students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, some 100 days ago, what efforts are being made to bring them back alive?

The entire military establishment and security agencies, as you are aware, are so concerned about these girls; like all Nigerians, we have a stake in the situation; aside from being concerned professionally, we are also emotionally concerned as parents. Our plan is to have these girls back. The priority of this mission is that we have them back alive and well, and all hands are on deck to ensure their safety.

All our patrols have been airborne, and our foot patrols as well as the vehicular patrols are aimed at securing the vicinity of where we believe these children are being kept. We have air patrols that are airborne regularly to keep surveillance over the entire area. All our communication facilities are being committed to coordinating the activities of over 2,000 men that have been tasked to watch out for these girls. The entire communication facilities of the Army, Navy and the Air Force have been committed to this; and the multi-national task force and the neighbouring countries have also been on the lookout should anything happen.

We also have the active involvement of our foreign partners, the US, Britain, France, and Israel. We have been exchanging ideas and intelligence together; there is a concerted effort to establish a unit for the coordination of all the intelligence required for the operation.

These are some of the activities going on to ensure that these girls are brought back alive. It is our priority to have them back alive and well. Every other thing is geared towards that. We are still hopeful it would bring result.

An average Nigerian cannot not understand why

it is taking the military this long to free these girls. Any explanation for this?

The issue of hostages is always very complex to resolve, and where it happened and it was not well managed, it has led to fatality which we do not want. Hostages on some occasions took years to resolve; however, that is not our wish, but we still need extraordinary caution to ensure that all we have back are the girls alive and not their corpses.

This is why it appears as if we are slow, but definitely, they will be brought back alive. I understand their concern and we are equally concerned, but let me assure you that those girls would be brought back alive and well.

Why are the terrorists still attacking despite the presence of the troops? What effort is being made to stop them?

We would continue to step up the robustness of our patrols which have been very effective all along; we are increasing the involvement of the intelligence in the affected states, and the essence is to restrict their movements in carrying out the attacks and assaults. As time goes on, more efforts will be added towards that and they will be forced to stop the attacks.

Few days ago while speaking during the Chief of Army Staff Conference, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah disclosed that the military had lost some officers and men in the counter-insurgency operation. What is the number of the casualty to date?

Well, at the right time, we would make this known to the public. It is just enough to disclose that men have been lost, but for policy and strategic reasons, it is premature to disclose that now. We would keep the figure to our chest for now.

International Response

United States

The American government sent a team consisting of military and law enforcement offi- Obama cers, specializing in “intelligence, investigations, hostage negotiation, information-sharing and victim assistance.”The US is not considering sending armed forces.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has sent experts to Nigeria to assist in the search for the students. The Brit- Cameron ish experts will be drawn from various governmental departments including the Foreign Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence, and will concentrate on planning, co-ordination and advice to local authorities.

France

France also offered a specialist team. French President Francois Hollande hosted a sumHollande mit in Paris on May 17 with Nigeria and its neighbours to tackle the issue.

Israel

Olukolade

The initial expectation of the people was that the coming in of the developed nations would hasten the freedom of the Chibok girls and put to an end the terror attacks.

But this has not been so.

What is happening?

A lot is happening in terms of interaction with our foreign partners over exchange of intelligence and ideas; actually that is what normally drives operation. The level of intelligence gathering that is available matters a lot in any military operation. It is helping us in achieving our original goal which is to reduce the casualty considering the fact that we are dealing with terrorists who are irrational.

Is Nigeria getting any support from our neighbouring countries like Cameroon and Chad?

Situation is changing of recent.

This would depend on treaty, international relations, and

agreement between Nigeria and our neighbours, but as of today, it has come to the understanding of everyone that terrorism is a global threat and nations are working together to put an end to it. At different levels, talks are ongoing and this would translate into securing the sub-region and the entire continent from the terrorists.

What message do you have for the parents of those Chibok girls as they spend 100 days in the captivity of the terrorists?

We are with them; we share their pains; we are committed to the task of bringing back their daughters home alive and well. All things being equal, they would soon have their children back. And all of us will have cause to rejoice.

We know what they are going through and they would soon have cause to have a reunion with their children.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered assistance to the Nigerian President in locating Netanyahu the missing pupils on 11 May 2014. “Israel expresses its deep shock at the crime committed against the girls.

We are willing to help assist in locating the girls and fighting the terror that is afflicting you,” he said. According to an unnamed Israeli official, the Prime Minister sent afterwards a team of intelligence experts to Nigeria.

China

The Chinese government announced its intention to make available “any useful informaHu Jintao tion acquired by its satellites and intelligence services.

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged that Canadians have joined Harper the international effort to free the schoolgirls. Details about the extent and duration of the involvement remain secret.

COMPILED BY UGOCHUKWU IROKA

news extra 11

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo FG’s $1bn Loan Request: APC Demands New Thinking To Tackle Boko Haram The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that what is needed to effectively tackle the Boko Haram menace is new and imaginative thinking, instead of sticking to the same old way of doing things - which is what the FG’s $1billion loan request represents.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said while no reasonable person will argue against procuring modern weapons and other needs for the military, it is absolutely important to complement the military campaign against Boko Haram with political, social and economic measures, especially because a sustained military campaign dating back to 2009 has failed to end the crisis.

“Between 2010 and 2014, a total of $14 billion has been allocated for defence, security and the police.

“This year alone, the total sum is $4 billion. Now, if $14 billion has not clipped the wings of Boko Haram in five years, what difference can $1billion make if thrown into the crisis in the same old way?

“If the $14 billion FG allocated to security, defence and police in the past five years has not done much in upgrading military and security facilities in five years, what impact can $1 billion suddenly make?” the party queried.

By George Okojie, Lagos

Malaria Treatment: Nigerians Spends 1.3trn Annually Nigerians spend about N1.3trillion on the treatment of malaria annually as a result of the failure of government at all levels to address the issue of environmental health-related issues, the registrar, Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), Augustine Ebisike, has said.

According to the registrar, at least one person treats malaria three times in a year at the average cost of N3, 000, adding that if such amount is multiplied by 170 million people the bill is on the high side.

The registrar, who stated this at the 4th Kaduna State annual conference/scientific workshop tagged “Dubagari 2014”, held in Kaduna, frowned at government’s insincerity in its campaign against malaria in the country, saying government would have dealt with mosquitoes, the causal organism, instead of rolling away malaria programme that has been designed to siphon public funds.

If there is no mosquito in Nigeria today, can we have malaria? So let us roll away mosquito and malaria will die a natural death,” he stressed.

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

L-R: Parade Commandant, Friday Luka, and Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, during the parade inspection by the latter at the pull-out and farewell parade for him in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI

99 Days After: Jonathan Meets Escaped Chibok Girls, Parents Says FG is doing everything to rescue schoolgirls

By George Agba, Chika Mefor and Ejike Ejike, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday told the parents of the abducted Chibok girls that his government was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the over 200 girls still held captive in the Boko Haram nest are rescued.

The president, who met with some parents of the abducted girls, about 51 of the Chibok girls who escaped from their abductors and leaders of the community at the presidential villa, Abuja, urged them to be a little more patient as well as show some level of understanding and cooperation.

After the opening ceremony of the meeting which was also attended by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and Senate president David Mark, Jonathan entered into a closed-door session with the over 200 people

from Chibok.

He said, “Anyone who gives you the impression that we are aloof and that we are not doing what we are supposed to do to get the girls out is not being truthful.

“Our commitment is not just to get the girls out; it is also to rout Boko Haram completely from Nigeria. But we are very, very mindful of the safety of the girls. We want to return them all alive to their parents. If they are killed in any rescue effort, then we have achieved nothing.”

The president noted that even though he was yet to visit Chibok since after the abduction of the girls, his heart was constantly with its traumatized people, adding that his desire was to visit them when their daughters had been freed and they could receive him with smiling faces rather than with tears of anguish.

On appeals from the community leaders for more help in overcoming some of the challenges imposed on Chibok and neighbouring communities by the Boko Haram insurgency, the president said that the National Emergency Manage-

ment Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Medical Agency would intensify their efforts to provide them with additional relief aid and assistance.

He told them that Chibok and other communities in the three north-eastern states most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency would be the first beneficiaries of the Victims’ Support Fund, the Presidential Initiative for the North-East, the Safe Schools Initiative and other developmental programmes which the federal government is evolving to address the damage, losses, setbacks, economic and social dislocations caused by the Boko Haram sect.

While Dr Pogu Bitrus presented the Chibok community’s address to the president, other speakers at the meeting included a district head, Mr Zannamadu Usman; a member of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Foni Chibok; parents of the abducted girls and three of the girls who escaped from their captors -- Godia Simon, Dorcas Musa and Joy Bishara.

Also present at the meeting were security chiefs, ministers and other

senior government officials.

Journalists were barred from talking to both the escaped Chibok girls and the parents.

100 Days: Pro-government Group Returns, Takes Over Unity Fountain Ahead of the plan by #BringBackOurGirls group, BBOG, for a massive programme to mark the 100 days of the abduction of over 200 girls at Government Secondary School, Chibok, a pro-government group, #ReleaseOurGirls, yesterday resurfaced at the Unity Fountain, demanding the release of the Chibok girls.

The pro-government group, which was fully decorated in white T-shirts with the inscription #ReleaseOurGirls, took over the sitting positions of the #BringBackOurGirls group with their musical equipment and was shouting for the release of the girls by the Boko Haram sect.

However, the #BringBackOurGirls group was not deterred as they headed far away toward Transcorp Hilton to hold the daily sitout.

Enugu Assembly Begins Impeachment Of Deputy Gov Over Poultry Farm, Others

By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu

The Enugu State House of Assembly has commenced the process of impeachment of the deputy governor of the state, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi, over his alleged gross misconduct in the performance of the functions, of his office including ownership of a poultry farm inside the premises of Government House.

In a notice of impeachment, entitled “Notice of Allegation of Gross Misconduct in the Performance of the Functions of the Office of the Deputy Governor: Re: Mr Sunday Onyebuchi” signed by 22 out of the 24 members of the state House of Assembly, Onyebu-

chi was accused of wrongfully deploying the resources of his office and exercising the powers thereof to resist and ridicule the implementation of a public health policy of the Government of Enugu State between February 2013 and February 2014.

The 22 members of the House claimed that by a resolution of the Enugu State House of Assembly at its plenary on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, the House prohibited the maintenance and operation of a commercial livestock and poultry farm within residential neighbourhoods in Enugu metropolis in promotion of public health standards.

They alleged that, despite the

said resolution, the deputy governor continued to maintain and operate a commercial poultry farm within the premises of his official residential quarters, and further refused to carry out the directives of the relevant officials of the government who visited his official premises to monitor compliance with the said resolution.

The 22 lawmakers also alleged that the deputy governor habitually refuses, fails and or neglects to carry out and perform the functions of his office as directed by the governor without any excuse.

Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP has gathered that the ordeal of the deputy governor might be connected with his alleged romance

with the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as his alleged ambition to contest the 2015 senatorial position in Enugu East district.

A source also told our correspondent that the state government was not comfortable with the deputy governor’s romance with the deputy Senate president, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, who is regarded in Government House as the leader of the opposition against Governor Chime.

The chief of staff to Governor Sullivan Chime, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo, who hails from the same senatorial zone as Onyebuchi, is allegedly interested in the senatorial seat of the zone. The House will reconvene tomorrow.

12 news

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Majority Of Borno Lawmakers Loyal To Shettima – Speaker Says Majority Leader is alone haruna abdulkareem, Maiduguri

The speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkareem Lawan has declared that the leadership and more than two-thirds of members of the Assembly are fully behind Governor Kashim Shettima, saying that the Assembly’s concern at the moment is how to reclaim peace across the state and put an end to the killings rather than politics.

Speaking from Makkah in Saudi Arabia where he is performing the lesser hajj, the speaker said that the claim by the House majority leader, Idrissa Jidda, published by a national newspaper on Monday that most members were defecting to PDP with former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff was his own personal opinion and does not in any way reflect the position of any of the remaining 27 members of the assembly including the leadership.

Former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff was reportedly said to have been given a mandate and resources to plot the outright impeachment of Governor Shettima and also force Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State into PDP from the APC or also have him impeached by the Yobe Assembly.

Majority leader of Borno Assembly, Idrissa Jidda, who is an in-law to Sheriff, had reportedly said that most members of the assembly were defecting to PDP from the APC in obedience to Sheriff.

But, the speaker of the Borno Assembly said Jidda “told a big lie”, saying that “this is just his opinion”.

The speaker further said, “As we speak right now, I am with 19 members of the assembly here in Makkah and all of us are not happy with the majority leader’s

false claim. Other members have been calling me from Nigeria expressing their unhappiness. We all have the same position which is to fully stand by the governor, Kashim Shettima. The leadership and members of the Borno State House of Assembly are 100 per cent behind Governor Shettima; we are not moving an inch to anywhere. We are fully behind him.

“I know the opinion of more than two-thirds of the members; I don’t know the opinion of the leader and he is free to go to any party of his choice; we are in a democracy but he shouldn’t speak for others; he should speak for himself; if what I read in a national newspaper (not LEADERSHIP) is what the leader actually said, then he told an outright lie, this I can say.

“The issue he referred to is not even in our mindsets; what dominates our minds as members is how to support the state and federal governments to restore peace in Borno State.

“We are far more worried about the killings and destructions in Borno State and not politics of 2015. Most of us are here in Saudi Arabia and we are seriously praying for peace in Borno and for the stability of the state; this is what we have been doing since 2011 and this is what should agitate the mind of any true Borno man or any true Nigerian.

“What we want is stability. We have worked very closely with the governor; we have supported him with the right appropriations to take measures that have helped in bringing relative peace to some parts of the state and we are working round the clock with the governor, always creating the legislative framework that the executive arm needs in our joint effort to address the insurgency problem.”

ramadan timing Day 26 Towns

Magrib

Alfijr

Abuja

7.00

5.03

Aba

6.56

5.04

Abakaliki

6.53

5.05

Abeokuta

7.10

5.22

Akure

7.03

5.14

Ankpa

6.57

5.08

Argungu

7.12

5.12

Auchi

7.02

5.12

Awka

7.03

5.07

Azare

6.50

4.50

Bama

6.39

4.36

Bauchi

6.51

4.55

Benin

7.05

5.13

Bichi

6.58

4.58

Bida

7.05

5.08

Birnin Gwari

7.04

5.06

B/Kebbi Gwandu

7.13

5.12

Biu

6.42

4.43

Calabar

6.50

5.03

Damaturu

6.42

4.42

Daura/Kazaure

7.01

4.43

Dutse

6.52

4.55

Enugu

6.54

5.05

Funtua/Malumfashi

7.02

5.01

Gembu

6.47

4.49

Gombe

6.45

4.47

Gusau

7.01

5.04

Gwadabawa

7.12

5.05

Hadejia

6.50

4.50

Ibadan

7.14

5.17

Ife

7.09

5.14

Ilesha Baruba

7.11

5.13

Ilorin

7.07

5.15

Jalingo

6.42

4.47

Jere/Suleija

6.59

5.02

Jos

6.56

4.56

Kabba

7.04

5.08

Kafanchan

6.58

4.59

Keffi/Nasarawa

6.58

4.59

Kaiama

7.13

5.16

Kafin Maiyaki

6.58

4.56

Kaduna

6.57

5.02

Kano

6.53

4.57

Katsina

7.01

4.59

Kontagora

7.07

5.11

Lafia

6.53

4.59

Lagos

7.12

5.20

Lokoja

6.57

5.11

Maiduguri

6.35

4.40

Makurdi

6.54

4.58

Minna

7.01

5.09

Missau

6.47

4.49

Monguno

6.38

4.32

Mubi

6.37

4.39

Nguru

6.47

4.47

Ningi

6.51

4.54

Okene

7.07

5.09

Ogbomosho

7.12

5.17

Onitsha

7.00

5.12

Oyo

7.14

5.19

Port Harcourt

6.59

5.16

Potiskum

6.45

4.45

Saki

7.06

5.19

Al-Makura Returns To Nasarawa From Abuja

Shagamu

7.07

5.25

Sokoto

7.07

5.10

Umuahia

6.58

5.04

Buhari, Tinubu, others to pay solidarity visit to him today

Warri

6.57

5.19

Wukari

5.45

4.59

Wurno

7.11

5.05

Yenagoa

6.39

4.42

Yola

6.36

4.42

Zaria

6.58

5.03

Cotonnou-Benin

7.16

5.22

Ndjamena-Chad

6.27

4.29

Niamey-Niger

7.22

5.21

Zinder – Niger

6.59

4.48

Younde-Cameroun

6.40

4.48

Garoua – Cameroun

6.34

4.41

BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia

Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-Makura, yesterday returned to the state after a week’s stay in Abuja following the resolution of the state House of Assembly to serve him impeachment notice.

When the news of his return filtered into Lafia town in the early hours of yesterday, a mammoth crowd in jubilation who endured a rainy afternoon, congregated around the Nasarawa State College of Agriculture, about 10 kilometres from the city centre to give him a rousing welcome.

As early as 9am, a combined team of soldiers and policemen was seen patrolling the streets to avert a breakdown of law and order.

At about 6:30pm, however, the crowd of supporters retreated to their homes as the convoy of the governor’s aides and media crew arrived the town without him.

The same scenario was recorded in Karu, Keffi, Kokona, Akwanga and Nasarawa-Eggon local government areas where Al-Makura’s supporters came out in their numbers to demonstrate their support and solidarity in the midst of the ongoing political turmoil.

LEADERSHIP, however, gathered from a reliable source that the governor was scheduled to return by air in preparation for today’s visit

by APC leaders.

Some of those expected to pay Al-Makura a solidarity visit today include Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC governors and the national leaders of the party.

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

Recommended DU’A for Day 26 Pray an 8 Raka’ah Salaat, In every Raka’ah recite Surah Al-Fatiha and recite Surah Al-Ikhlas 100 times each.

Then say: ALLAAHUMMAJ-A’L SA-E’E FEEHI MASHKOORAA WA D’ANBEE FEEHI MAGHFOORAA WA A’MALEE FEEHI MAQBOOLAA WA A’YBEE FEEHI MASTOORAA YAA ASMA-A’S SAAMI-E’EN. Meaning: O Allah render my efforts, made in this months, worthy of appreciation, my sins forgivable, my deeds acceptable, and my shortcomings coverable, O the Best Hearer.

Compiled by Al-Amin Ciroma

Ramadan Q and A

with Muhammad Usman musman@kindasa.com

Question: If a man did the marriage contract at a time when he was not praying, and the husband and wife, the wife’s father, and the two witnesses also were not praying, and the one who did the marriage contract did not do it in the correct manner, rather he did it in a language other than Arabic and he did not recite the Shahaadatayn (twin declaration of faith) or say the words of the marriage contract, what is the ruling on this marriage?

Is this marriage regarded as legitimate or not? If they have repented from not praying and have begun to pray, should they do a new marriage contract, or is the old marriage contract regarded as Islamically acceptable?

Khadija Mukhtar, Bauchi Answer: If the one who does not pray does not do so because he is denying that it is obligatory, then he is a kaafir according to scholarly consensus. But if he does not pray because he is heedless and lazy, then he is a kaafir according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions.

Please see the answer to questions no. 5208 and 2182.

If the husband and wife were not praying at the time of the marriage contract, then they repented and began to pray, then they remain married on the basis of the original marriage contract, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) ruled that people remained married on the basis of non-Muslim marriage contracts, and he did not instruct them to repeat the marriage contract after they became Muslim,. Also, the Sahaabah did not instruct those who came back to Islam after apostatising to renew their marriage contracts.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The marriage contracts of the kuffaar are valid and approved if they become Muslim … there is no need to examine the form of their marriage contracts or how they were done, and they are not subject to the same conditions as Muslim marriages, namely the presence of the wali (wife’s guardian) and witnesses, and the proposal and acceptance, and so on. There is no difference of opinion among the Muslims concerning this matter. Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: The scholars are unanimously agreed that if the two spouses become Muslim together at the same time, they remain married on the basis of their original marriage contract, so long as they are not mahrams through blood ties or breastfeeding. Many people became Muslim at the time of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), as did their wives; their marriages were approved and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not ask them about the conditions of marriage or the nature of their marriage contract.

This is something that is well-known from mutawaatir reports, so it is certain.

End quote from al-Mughni, 10/5 It says in Mataalib Ooli an-Nuha (5/13): Note: if an apostate marries a kaafir apostate woman or the like, or an apostate woman marries a kaafir man, then both spouses become Muslim, what should be said in this case is that we accept their marriage, just as in the case of the harbi (non-Muslim whose people are in a state of war with the Muslims), if his marriage was not done properly, then they (he and his wife) become Muslim. The matter is the same. Apostates came back to Islam at the time of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his successors (i.e., the Rightly Guided Caliphs) and they were not instructed to renew their marriage contracts. This is a good analogy, and was stated by Shaykh Taqiy adDeen (i.e., Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah). End quote.

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked: I used to pray only rarely, and during that period of my life I got married. Now, praise be to Allah, I pray regularly and I have done Hajj and have repented to Allah, but I do not know what is the ruling on my marriage, is it valid or not? What should I do if it is not valid? Please note that I have five children from my wife.

news NATIONAL13

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Stop Politicising Security Matters, Oshiomhole Cautions Politicians Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has urged politicians to resist the temptation of playing politics with security matters in the interest of the nation.

Speaking at a Security Management Workshop organised by the Department of State Security Services in Benin City, yesterday, he said playing politics with sensitive security matters will only encourage perpetrators of insecurity to do more.

He added: “Nothing else matters when we are not safe. I also want to advise those of us holding political offices who have cause sometimes to make public statements that we must resist the temptation of politicising security issues. All politicians, whether of the ruling or opposition party, must not join in the madness of politicising security issues.”

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

Katsina Distributes 30,000 MT Of Fertilisers

Katsina State government has procured and distributed 30,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers to farmers for this year’s farming season, state commissioner for agriculture, Musa Adamu Funtua has said.

Funtua told newsmen that the state expended about N3billion on the procurement of the commodity which will be sold to farmers at subsidised rate of N1, 700, stressing that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure judicious distribution.

“Government expended over N2,000 on each bag but sold it to farmers at the subsidised rate of N1,700 as part of measures to encourage farming and provide the needed support to our teeming farmers.”

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

Impeachments: HURIWA Calls For National Truce Worried by the tension the recent gale of impeachments and attempted impeachments of state governors is generating across the country, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Nigerian political class to declare a general period of national truce.

In a statement jointly signed by the national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the national media affairs director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, the association also called on national party leaders and other stakeholders to convoke a self-funded national political peace conference to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the enforcement of the national period of peace and quiet to be moderated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

96,000 Graduates To Be Mobilised In 2014 Batch B Orientation – NYSC DG

By Chika Mefor, Abuja

The director general of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi has disclosed that over 96,000 graduates will be mobilised in the 2014 Batch B Orientation which will commence on 26th August, 2014.

Olawumi, who was speaking during a media chat with bureau

chiefs and editors, also stated that security challenges in the country have continued to put pressure on the deployment and relocation process of the scheme, adding that the scheme will not force corps members to serve in the troubled states but will rather relocate them automatically when they apply for it.

He added that the requirement for relocation or rede-

ployment is on health or marital grounds, and warned corps members that procure fake medical papers for the purpose of effecting relocation to desist from the act as medical papers submitted for that purpose will be subjected to scrutiny and any case of forgery will be punished in line with the NYSC Bye-Laws.

The DG said that in order to increase the relevance and im-

pact of the scheme and expand its value to critical stakeholders, he has come up with a fourpoint agenda including improving the service content of the scheme, enhancing the welfare and safety of corps members and staff, expanding partnership for greater impact, funding and support and increasing the visibility and relevance of the scheme.

short news Dickson Justifies N40bn Cargo Airport Loan Request

The Bayelsa State governor, Hon Seriake Dickson has justified last week’s request to the State House of Assembly on the proposed bid by the management of the state-owned Bayelsa Airlines to secure a loan of N40billion to complete the Airport project in the state.

Governor Dickson, who was represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah, L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, Borno State governor Kashim Shettima and minister of education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, at a during the monthly transparency initiaspecial meeting of the president with parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN. tive briefing for the months of April, May and June, in Yenagoa, said the loan is not a bad decision as it is tied to a specific

By Olugbenga Soyele, Lagos tice Funmilayo Atilade, Justice tions that he wrote against some project which is the J. E. Oyefeso and Justice Oluso- Lagos judges, and thus violated his Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Feder- la Williams. completion of the fundamental rights as guaranteed al High Court in Lagos will on July Cargo Airport.

Alhaji Tijjani in his Motion on under Section 17 of the 1999 Con31 rule on a fundamental human Notice wants Justice Buba to is- stitution of the Federal Republic He said though rights suit filed against the Chief sue a declaration that the NJC and of Nigeria. the repayment of Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Jus- the CJN cannot escape the sancloans and bonds He also wants the court to issue tice Mariam Mukthar Aloma, the tion of the law wherein their of- a declaration that the judges that entered into by past Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice ficial capacity allowed his funda- he reported of their alleged misadministrations will Ayotunde Phillips and three oth- mental rights to be compromised conduct to the first respondent, end by 2017, the er judges of the Lagos High Court. in the way and manner they han- that is, the NJC, need not be tried state government is Other respondents in the suit dled his complaints against the in a court of law but that Section standing surety for filed by an elder statesman, Alh- judicial officers from the Bench of 158 (1) of the Constitution proa state-owned comaji Abdul Rauf Tijjani, in which he Lagos State judiciary. pany established vides that the NJC has the power is trying to enforce his fundamenby Law and with a The plaintiff submitted that the to make appointments or exercise tal rights to fair hearing are Jus- NJC glossed over a series of peti- disciplinary control over them. repayment plan.

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

Alleged Rights Abuse: Court Rules On Case Against CJN, Others July 31

Northern Groups Want DSS To Release Detained Northern Leaders In Abia

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano

The Joint Civil Society Front of Northern Nigeria (JOCSOF) has said that the detention of the two prominent northern community leaders in the South South zone by the Directorate of State Services (DSS) is unjustifiable and an impingement on their fundamental human rights.

The group, comprising 300 civil society groups and a coalition of NGOs from Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states, which said this in a press statement jointly signed by them, added that the two men arrested are Alhaji Halliru Imam (Sarkin Malamai) and Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, the South South zonal chairman of Miyetti Allah.

It said the arrested persons have been in detention for the past one month simply because they visited the 486 northerners arrested by the Nigerian military in Abia in June 2014, being northern community leaders residing in Port Harcourt.

The statement said that rather than explaining to these community leaders the reason for the de-

tention of the 486 northern traders, they were arrested and have been in DSS custody, inaccessible to their families for the past 30 days.

“What was the crime of the two community leaders that led to their detention and when will they be taken to court or when will their right of access to a lawyer be respected?” it queried.

14

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

business news

Transcorp’s Profit Rises By 177% In 6 Months

BY Olushola Bello, Lagos

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has recorded a 177 per cent increase in its profit after tax for the half year ended June 30, 2014.

Its unaudited result released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that its profit which had stood at N2.484 billion a year ago, rose by N4.40 billion or 177.25 per cent to N6.887 billion in 2014.

The result also showed that gross revenue for the group stood at N21.21 billion from N7.67 billion, increasing by 177 per cent, while the group’s total assets for the group grew by 6 per cent from N149.64 billion in June 2013 to N158.18 billion, June 2014.

Commenting on the result, the chief executive officer, Transcorp, Mr Obinna Ufudo, said, “Our half year results for 2014 consolidates

the significant growth achieved in the first quarter 2014, and firmly sets us on course for the attainment of full year, 2014 financial targets.”

He added that the company remained focused on achieving its medium-term objectives to develop new hotels, expand available power generation capacity, diversify and increase scale of its agribusiness and exploit opportunities within the oil and gas industry.

Part-time Legislators ‘ll Reduce Cost of Governance – PAMDI

By EZRA IJIOMA, Abuja

Legislators at all levels of government should be compelled to work on part-time basis as a way to reduce the burgeoning cost of governance in the country.

This was one of the resolutions in a communiqué made available to newsmen yesterday by the Public Administration and Management Development Institute (PAMDI) after a two-day conference it held in Abuja.

In December 2010, the then Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and now Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi Lamido, disclosed that the National Assembly gets N136.3 billion, which is 25 per cent of the federal government’s overhead of N536.2 billion. This caused an outrage in

the nation with strident calls to reduce the cost of legislation in the country.

PAMDI in the communiqué signed by its director-general, Elijah Ogbuokiri, called on the federal government to effect far-reaching restructuring in its ministries, agencies and departments since many of them were duplicating functions and some have since gone moribund though they were still receiving allocations from government.

On issues of security and corruption, the Institute called on the federal government to “look inwards in providing solutions to corruption by using leadership by example” and come up with policies that will address growing concerns of insecurity in the country.

NERC Plans Revision Of Fixed Charge Order As Discos Kick

By Juliet Alohan, Abuja

Indications emerged yesterday that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) may revise its earlier order requesting electricity consumers not to pay the monthly N750 fixed charge in cases where they had power outages for up to 15 days in a month.

Recall that NERC issued an order on May 1, 2014, directing that “a customer who has not received continuous or cumulative electricity supply for a period of 15 days in a month shall not be required to pay the Fixed Charge, provided that the disruption is not due to non-payment of electricity bills or customers action.”

But the owners of the Distribution Companies (Discos) have contested this policy which they claimed was adopted without due consultations with them.

NERC chairman, Mr Sam Amadi, while speaking at a public hearing organised by the commission on the matter in Abuja yesterday, concluded that the commission would consider all stakeholders’ submissions which could either result to expunging the order, keeping it, and/or revising it to make for clarity.

Speaking earlier at the hearing, the AGM, Regulatory Affairs, Reuben Okoye, who represented Enugu Disco stated that the order was made without due consultations with the operators.

Okoye, who noted that it would be difficult to independently determine customers that had outages in a period insisted that the penalty for outages should pass across the entire value chain as outages were not caused by Discos’ fault alone.

His position was supported by the representative of Abuja Disco, Engr Abimbola Odubiyi, who urged NERC to look into the order to ensure sustenance of market financial progress as well as to extend the rule to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Generation Companies (Gencos) and gas suppliers in the case of similar defaults.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

Lead Economist, Nigeria Country Office, World Bank, Mr John Litwack (left) and Communications Associate, Africa Strategic Communication,World Bank, Mr Dele Oladokun, during the presentation of World Bank, Nigeria Economic report in Abuja, yesterday. Photo By Nan

Emefiele Leaves Policy Rates Unchanged At First MPC

BY NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, yesterday, kept the benchmark interest rate, the monetary policy rate (MPR) and other major rates unchanged in his first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, while promising to lower borrowing costs gradually as price pressures ease.

Emefiele, who briefed journalists at the end of the two-day meeting in Abuja, yesterday, emphasised the need for the federal government to sustain and deepen tax revenue and enhance efforts aimed at fast-tracking

the structural transformation of the economy with a view to making it resilient to adverse shocks as well as creating the necessary platforms for reducing unemployment, income inequality, and poverty in the country.

According to him, the committee decided by a unanimous vote to retain the current stance of monetary policy as follows: retain the MPR at 12 per cent with a corridor of +/- 200 basis points around the midpoint; retain the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent; retain the public sector Cash Reserve Requirement at 75.0 per cent; and retain the private sector Cash Reserve Requirement at 15.0 per cent. Only

one member voted for an asymmetric corridor around the MPR. Emefiele said the committee also noted the potential of the power sector to stimulate output growth through enhanced investment and the spillover effect in employment generation if the challenges confronting the sector were effectively and appropriately addressed.

“Specifically, gas-to-power has remained a binding constraint in reaping the benefits of the recently concluded power sector reforms; urging for the collective efforts of government, private investors and the banks to resolve,”Emefiele said.

SON Issues New Regulations To Cement Manufacturers

by Olushola bello, Lagos

In a bid to address the lingering issues in the cement industry as well as check the incidence of building collapse, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has unveiled new guidelines to regulate the activities of manufacturers in the industry.

Going by the new guidelines, cement manufacturers are expected to indicate the batch numbers, best-before date and product application information on cement bags within the next 60 days.

Furthermore, the agency harped

on manufacturers adhering to requirements for storage condition of cement, especially in the distribution chain in order not to compromise quality of the product.

The move, which is expected to enhance traceability in case of product default, also places a responsibility on cement manufacturers to ensure that their products met required guidelines and health and safety requirements.

Furthermore, cement manufactures in the country are also expected to submit their advertisements and commercials for pre-approval by the

SON before they are sent to the media while processes should be initiated to ensure that products are properly stored by distributors and retailers to avoid a compromise of the product’s integrity.

Addressing cement manufacturers and journalists in Lagos, the directorgeneral of SON, Mr Joseph Odumodu, noted that the agency in line with its mandate of protecting consumers from products that may harm them, has taken into consideration a lot of factors and has decided to address the growing concern.

NEWS/BUSINESS 15

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

World Bank Cites Positive Trends, Progress In Poverty Reduction

BY NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja

World Bank in its new Nigeria Economic Report (NER) said Nigeria’s short term macroeconomic outlook improved in the first half of 2014 relative to 2013, even as the country also made progress in poverty reduction.

The report launched in Abuja, yesterday, indicated that revenues to the federation have increased, foreign reserves have stabilised, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) has been augmented, and prospects for growth are stronger than last year.

The re-based gross domestic

product (GDP) estimates reveal a larger, more dynamic and complex economy than did previous statistics.

The report, however, stressed that macroeconomic risks remain due to uncertainty about future oil output, oil prices, and short term capital flows. The NER analysed new data from household surveys in 2010/2011 and 2012/2013 to reassess poverty and living standards in Nigeria and concluded that poverty rates in Nigeria are likely significantly lower than previously believed, and progress toward poverty reduction may be stronger.

According to the report, poverty reduction in Nigeria appeared to be primarily an urban phenomenon with poverty rates in rural areas higher and poverty reduction slower. While recent panel surveys indicate that the per capita national poverty rate based on the official poverty line may now be as low as 33.1 per cent, a large share of the Nigerian population is still not far above the poverty line, indicating vulnerability.

“The combination of the new GDP and poverty estimates are valuable in giving us what we believe to be a clearer picture of development and poverty

reduction in Nigeria. Both sets of numbers indicate the prime importance of urban areas for growth and poverty reduction,” said the lead economist and acting country manager of the World Bank, John Litwack.

The NER also highlights continuing differences between Nigeria’s regions in poverty reduction. The South and North Central regions show progress in poverty reduction between 2010 and 2013, while the North-west witnessed little change, and the North-east experienced an increase in the poverty rate along with a general decline in living standards.

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DurosinmiEtti Hands Over To Oguntayo At Skye Bank

BY FRIDAY ATUFE, Lagos

The former group managing director/chief executive officer of Skye Bank Plc, Mr Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, has formally handed over the mantle of leadership to his successor, Mr Timothy Oguntayo, at a ceremony in Lagos.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Durosinmi-Etti said the event demonstrated the existence of sound corporate governance in the bank which makes succession seamless and rancour-free.

He said having served as chief executive officer of three different banks for a total of 11 years, he felt it was time to leave for another person to come and take the bank to another height.

He described the years he spent at Skye Bank as the hallmark of his banking career, which he described as interesting.

He said with change, there would be a new way of doing things and called on the staff to support the new helmsman.

Durosinmi-Etti said he would continue to work for the success of the bank as well as serve as its ambassador at all times.

In his remarks, the group managing director/CEO, Oguntayo, thanked his predecessor for his leadership and guidance in the past and wished him success in his future endeavours.

Oguntayo said his aspiration for the bank was to make it a catalyst for economic growth for the country by assisting and funding the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and developing specialised products for them.

He said he would work to reduce operating cost and lead by example in that respect. In addition, he promised to motivate the workforce by rewarding performance so that the bank would grow.

16 NEWS/BUSINESS

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Lukeman’s Exit: Industry Operators React

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

The death of one of Nigeria’s longest serving oil ministers, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, has thrown the country’s oil and gas sector into mourning with stakeholders including international bodies paying him tribute.

Since the news of his death was made public, tributes have continued to pour in for the departed former minister of petroleum resources and ex-president and secretarygeneral of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Lukman passed on in the early hours of Monday at the age of 76 in an

undisclosed hospital in Vienna, Austria of a yet to be disclosed ailment.

Tributes have come from Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, OPEC Secretariat, Mr Funsho Kupolokun, erstwhile group managing director of the NNPC and former assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on petroleum matters, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, the International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy (IIPELP), among others.

In a statement issued by the presidential

special adviser on media and publicity, Mr Reuben Abati, President Jonathan condoled with the deceased’s family, the government and people of Kaduna State as well as his friends, associates and those he mentored both in the Nigerian and international oil industry.

Describing the former minister as a brilliant engineer, technocrat and administrator, he noted that he spent almost all his life serving Nigeria and the international community in various capacities.

“As Alhaji Lukman’s soul returns to its maker, President Jonathan joins all who knew him in giving thanks to God

Almighty for bestowing him on the nation and for the great intelligence, integrity, competence and humility with which he distinguished himself in all his national and international assignments,” the statement read.

It added, “Nigeria, the president firmly believes, will always owe a huge debt of gratitude to the late petroleum minister for his very significant contributions to the development of the country’s oil and gas industry, and for serving with acclaimed distinction as the nation’s representative at the helm of OPEC affairs over many years.”

‘P&G Leading In Race For Increased American Investments In Nigeria’

by OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The United States Consul General to Nigeria, Jeffrey Hawkins, has said that Procter & Gamble (P&G) Nigeria Limited is leading the race for increased American investment in the Nigerian economy.

Hawkins stated this while visiting the brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant of the company in Agbara Industrial Estate in AdoOdo, Ota, Ogun State recently.

He said, “The United States has interest in the Nigerian market and economy as an

investment destination which has led to active involvement in driving more American investment in Nigeria.”

According to Hawkins, he was satisfied with the growing interest of US businesses in the Nigerian investment climate adding that P&G has boosted the

BananaRepublic RESTAURANT

confidence of American investors in the Nigerian economy.

He said that the company was strategically leading the industrial revolution that Nigeria so much desired adding that it was also a confirmation of the renewed American interest in the Nigerian investment climate.

ABUCCIMA Set To Develop Mining Trade Group

By Kingsley Alu, Abuja

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) has stated its readiness to develop its mining trade group and also strengthen the chamber’s relationship with the umbrella body of miners in Nigeria in order to enhance the business of its members engaged in mining.

The president of ABUCCIMA, Solomon Nyagba, made this known when the chamber signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) yesterday in Abuja.

Nyagba said the MoU was informed by the need to harness Nigeria’s vast solid mineral potentials and also enhance the business profile of artisanal miners in the country.

The MoU among other things covered the establishment of a framework for cooperation for successful partnership in developing the sector.

Both parties are also

expected to engage in national and international trainings, seminars and capacity building workshops in the solid minerals sector to boost the businesses of their members involved in that area of commerce.

While describing oil as a volatile and exhaustible commodity with possible future substitutes which could end its competitive edge, Nyagba assured of the chambers’ readiness to help the mining sector increase its contribution to the economy by 2015, from its current level of 0.5 per cent.

In his response, the national president, Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Sani Shehu, identified paucity of fund among others as a major impediment to the growth of the sector.

Shehu further advocated the establishment of a solid minerals development bank to finance activities within the sector by giving loans to millions of active players within the industry and expressed optimism on the outcome of the agreement.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

17

18 HOMES & PROPERTY

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

FG Installs 307 Flood Warning Systems Nationwide stories By Evelyn Okoruwa

Also the sum of N17 billion was released to states affected by the flood and other relevant stakeholders to help mitigate the devastating consequences that characterised the 2012 experience

Environmental degradation has become a reality due to the activities carried out by humans that distorts nature. In the process, life span is shortened because it devalues health and well-being. The consequence of degrading the environment are made visible in the flooding that has been occurring.

The advent of the rainy season every year is always greeted with great enthusiasm particularly by farmers. This usually marks the prelude to the farming season and prospects of bumper harvest of agricultural produce around the country.

However, the hope of bumper harvests by farmers is sometimes dashed by flood which over the years has hampered the efforts of government and farmers to improve on agricultural production, thereby, resulting in serious economic hardship in the country.

Whenever flooding is mentioned, the 2012 floods always come to mind. The year 2012 was greeted with excessive rainfall aggravated by the release of water from a Cameroonian dam by the authorities of that country which flowed into Rivers Benue and Niger causing uncontrollable flooding. The impact of the flood was disastrous. People where made homeless, farmlands which were the major sources of livelihoods of many communities were destroyed, drinking water was contaminated and much more.

The terrible and pathetic conditions inflicted on the people especially from the frontline states of Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Rivers and Bayelsa among others remain indelible in the minds of Nigerians.

Recall that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) estimated the loss and damage caused by the 2012 flooding to be N2.29 trillion which is equivalent to about 2.83 per cent of the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of N81trillion for 2013.

The washing away of homes, farmlands and the resultant loss of hundreds of lives gave the federal government reason to worry.

With the rains coming fully in July and august, the need to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians becomes pertinent so that the 2012 experience will not be repeated.

Taking this into cognizance, the Ministry of Environment has installed 307 web-based flood warning systems nationwide. It has also installed community-based flood early warning systems in Ondo, Niger, Cross River, Imo, Anambra, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara, Akwa-Ibom, Abia and Enugu states. The Ministry has also acquired and installed four stand-alone automated functional flood early warning facilities along rivers Alamutu, Eruwa and Owena river Basins. Similarly, the minister of environment Mrs. Laurentia Mallam is intensifying the campaign for a Clean Nigeria in all the 36 states and the FCT. Also massive environmental campaign messages are expected to hit the airwaves in the coming days and months in order to galvanise all efforts aimed at averting possible flooding in 2014 and ensuring a clean and healthy environment for sustainable development.

In addition, the federal government has equipped the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and put it in a position to ensure accurate weather forecast in order to alert the public on imminent dangers of flooding. Also the sum of N17 billion was released to states affected by the flood and other relevant stakeholders to help mitigate the devastating consequences that characterised the 2012 experience.

Kashimbilla/gamovo multipurpose dam, Ose Dam and Hydropower Project in Taraba state which were constructed to accommodate the excessive flow of water from Cameroon whenever it occurs, are among the measures by the government to avert a reoccurrence of the 2012 flooding.

The Dams will not only curtail flood but will also generate electricity, enhance irrigation, create employment and boost agricultural production as well as contribute to self-sufficiency in food production in Nigeria.

Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Faskari (right) and others during the tree planting exercise

Great Green Wall: Mallam Tasks Stakeholders On Sustainability The minister of environment, Mrs. Lawrentia Mallam, has tasked stakeholders on the need to explore ways of sustaining the Great Green Wall programme.

This she said in a statement signed by the press officer project implementation unit Great Green Wall Mrs. Larai Daze while launching the Great Green Wall (GGW) Tree Planting for the Year 2014 at Daje Baure Local Government Area of Katsina state.

The minister who was represented by the Afforestation and Capacity Building Officer of the PIU/GGW, Alh. Saminu Ado said that collaboration needs to be strengthened, information shared widely and activities such as the tree planting exercise should be launched frequently. She said in doing so, results of synergies from the investments from individuals and organizations shall be realised which will in turn allow the GGW programme to address degradation and provide jobs to the teeming populace of the communities.

Mallam further stressed that the

GGW programme is a key approach of addressing the issue of desertification.

She also expressed appreciation to Katsina State Government on its sustained contributions towards the realization of the objectives of the GGW through sensitization, field activities and management of the planted stock.

On his part, the Katsina State Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema, who was represented by his Deputy, Barr.

Abdullahi Faskari stated his administration takes issues of environment seriously and as such has established a department of Forestry under the office of the special Adviser on forest matters who reports directly to the Governor’s office and department of Drought and Desertification control under the state Ministry of Environment. He said the state also provide 2.5 million seedlings every year.

The governor further disclosed that in addition to the over N30m released by the Federal Government, the state has complimented N7m to see to the success to the GGW programme.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Agency Assures Of Role Works Minister, Professionals To In Nuclear Power Project Discuss On Architectural Practice Today

By Evelyn Okoruwa, Abuja

The director general of NESREA, Dr Ngeri Benebo has assured that the necessary Environmental Laws are already in place to guide the installation of Nuclear Power Plant in the country.

Dr Benebo made this known when she received the Director General of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Franklin Osaisai in her office in Abuja.

She disclosed that the required regulation to control operation of a Nuclear Power Project was couched in the National Environmental (Energy Sector regulation). She however advised that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be taken seriously before and during any construction to meet health and safety standards and in line with International Convention and welcomed further collaboration to ensure the overall success.

by GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

As a way of tinkering with practice of architecture in the country, the minister of works, Mike Onolememen, an architect and other frontline professionals are billed to attend the maiden edition of ASAFEST 1.0 organised by the Architecture students of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu.

According to the president of the association,

Mr. Chika Maduako, the works minister is expected to deliver a keynote address on the “Future of Architectural Education and Practice in Nigeria,” at the event.

He said, “Also expected at the event is the Enugu State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Architect Victor Okolo.

The four-day event which commences on Wednesday, July 23 will end on Saturday July 26.

“It is organized by the Architecture Students Association (ASA) of the Department of Architecture of the University; it is expected to draw practising architects, other professionals in the built environment, other related professions as well as manufacturers and distributors. It will also feature lectures/ discussions, exhibition, product presentations and quiz competition.”

news

19

Group Faults Reps Over Cement Standardisation

A group, the Alliance Against Monopoly (AAM), has criticised the anti-people stance of the House of Representatives, as manifested by the house’s adoption of “the bogus, contradictory and antipeople recommendations” of its Ad-Hoc Committee on Investigation on the composition and pigmentation of cement in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its president, Chief Ike Omife, AAM said, by adopting the committee report, the house had tacitly supported the much criticised Cement Standardisation Policy enunciated by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). It insisted that a more people-friendly House of Representatives would have jettisoned the “patently wrong-headed recommendations which run contrary to public good”.

It noted that the findings and conclusions of the House Committee Report were at variance with the submissions of most of the experts who testified on oath during the public session.

By Christiana Nwaogu, Abuja

Resort Launches Mortgage Account For Nigerians In Diaspora The managing director of Resort Savings and Loans Plc Mr. Abimbola Olayinka has said the launch of Resort Mortgage Account for Nigerians in Diaspora (R-MAND) will cater for the needs of Nigerians who are economically empowered but have no means of accessing mortgage in Nigeria.

He also said the new product will give information about mortgage products in Nigeria which before now is not readily available to the Nigerians in Diaspora even as he added that the product has unique features and affordable interest rates based on affordability test conducted on Nigerians in U.K. Also reiterated the main drive for bank which is the provision of Mortgage to finance houses back home in Nigeria for the purposes of home ownership advantage for Nigerians in Diaspora.

“The Bank is set to make an introductory product presentation during the Nigeria Trade & Investment Summit/Exhibition which is holding in Reading, UK. Some notable organizations will also be part of this event and it will draw participation from the investors who are inclined towards pitching their investment tent in the growing economy of Nigeria.”

By Christiana Nwaogu, Abuja

20 HOMES & PROPERTY

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

6 30 Interview The FCT gets only about N30 billion from federal allocation for projects.

people should be made to pay fines if they leave completely developed property unoccupied for six months.

Abuja Land Swap Policy Needs Legal Backing For Sustainability– Olajide Alhaji Saka Olajide is the former chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and Chairman/CEO, Fola Konsults Ltd. In this interview with PAUL UWADIMA, Olajide speaks on Abuja Land swap policy and other town planning issues in the FCT and Nigeria in general What is your assessment of the land swap policy as a professional town planner?

Since government cannot continue to develop Abuja from its normal statutory allocation it is better to bring in private funds to move the city forward. It is about 10 districts that are currently under the programme of land swap. We expect that each district will consist of nothing less than 2,000 plots minimum, 2 to 3000 minimum , so you expect in the nearest future nothing less than about 30,000 plots to be available in Abuja to accommodate the growing population. The idea is that the districts cannot be developed at the same time, some of them will be in phases, some of them will be developed fast depending on how they were able to raise their funds from the open market , so within the next five years or thereabout this thing would have taken off fully and the result will be felt and we hope that it would led to some reduction in the prices of land because there is a lot of competition instead of the one that everyone has to wait for government to allocate land to them. The public can source for their lands from this private people, it is faster , better and less fraudulent.

What was your role in the Abuja Land Swap policy implementation?

As you know, Fola Konsults is essentially an urban and regional planning outfit. We do consultancies for both the public and private sectors. When the government came with the idea of the land swap programme which is essentially a process to fast track the development of Abuja using the public private partnership(PPP), we worked as consultants to the authority, that

is the FCDA and at the same time worked as consultants to the investors in the land swap programme. Ours is to see that they followed the guidelines of the Abuja master plan in their design so that they don’t cut corners. We try to ensure that the infrastructure is provided, the roads, and other services like schools, place of worship and health centres are properly located and adequately provided in their design. Left to the investors they would like to maximize on what they want to do , if they want to build only houses they want to sell the land to make more money on their investment but definitely we won’t allow that, they have to make sure that they balance the land use composition within the districts, so that the district mapped out for land swap will not be different from the existing districts within the city. We are not building a separate city we are building a harmonious city, so you expect the design to be in conformity with what the master plan recommended and that is exactly what we have been trying to do and we have worked with some of the investors and we have assisted them to design their districts in line with the Abuja master plan.

From what you are saying the land swap policy is a timely policy which can help in easing land application in Abuja?

We believe that it is a realistic scheme provided that there is sincerity of purpose, provided there is no policy somersault because the fear is that government will implement one policy when a minister is there and once the minister leaves someone may come and now say ‘we don’t want that kind of policy again’ then the investors who have spent a

Olajide

lot of fortune or fund in this programme will be disturbed and the trust for this kind of programme in future will be jeopardised , so we hope that they will put necessary policy in place so that the scheme will not be reversible and will not be dependent on the current administration, so that it can outlive them. They can have that kind of policy in place so that people can have confidence in the programme of the government.

You realise that between 1988 and 1993 phase two of the capital city was designed with about 40 districts and you have only three of them that are under implementation, they are not even fully implemented, so the pace of development is very slow compared with the demands of the populace so the private people coming in now will fast track the development of Abuja in organised way, otherwise if you don’t do it people will be forced to develop in the bush to accommodate the people. Look at areas like Durumi , Wuye , Katampe and Mabushi, all these districts have been designed but there are no infrastructure because there is no fund. With this kind of scheme infrastructure will be provided and we can develop the city as it

was initially conceptualised . So if you leave it only to government and government budgetary allocations only, you cannot continue to develop Abuja . Look at the security challenges we have in the country now, nobody envisaged it, so a lot of fund that would have been earmarked for our development will go into meeting the security challenges of the country with that it means the city cannot continue to grow based on government alone. So the land swap programme is a welcome initiative but there must be sincerity of purpose, there must be consistency in government policy so that people can key into it and be able to trust it. The only thing government should do is to monitor it to make sure that the investors do not turn round and charge the people exorbitantly in order to make maximum gain.

This must be moderated just like what is happening in the power sector now , somebody is there , a commission is there monitoring to make sure that the tariff is moderated , so that the investors will not come out and say you must pay so and so money without consideration of the interest of the public. We hope in the next ten years if the land swap policy

materialises everything will now be stable in Abuja in terms of pricing of land.

Is there any law backing the land swap policy and do we need such law?

Presently there is nothing like that in place but it is our hope that as soon as this become more realistic in terms of its implementation government should make it a permanent feature for development not only in Abuja but the whole country. The Senate should make a new legislation to backup this kind of scheme and regulate it because the investors can arbitrarily gang up to cheat the public, so somebody must regulate it.

I don’t think that it is within the capacity of the FCDA alone to do it, or FCTA, there must be a mediator that has group of experts who are knowledgeable in this field to monitor and regulate it, and it has to have the backing of the law. If this is not done before you know it the investors will become shylocks and it will defeat the initial aim of the land swap.

Once the title is in their hands and they know the land belong to them government can hardly do anything about it.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

11

the project ia an 11-storey building comprising a 5-star 89 apartments/ rooms and 23

2.2bn

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

Raising Housing Supply To Meet Demand Of Mass Home Ownership GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Though there is growing cynicism

by Nigerians that the government and private sector are not making meaningful contributions to bridge the estimated 17 million housing deficit, it is widely believed that sustainable mass housing delivery could make the difference.

For instance, the Lagos State Government housing output which has continued to leap on a month-on-month increase has been widely adjudged to be treading the growth path in housing delivery to bridge the deficit.

To meet the growth vistas in the mounting demand for homes in Lagos State which has since acquired the status of Africa’s modern mega, the government came up with an all-inclusive home ownership scheme through a robust mortgage to accommodate various segments of the society.

The novel idea that catches the attention of observers and analysts is derived from the fact that under this arrangement, there is a monthly supply of 200 housing units by the state government and it gives to residents who subscribe to the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) irrespective of their ethnic, religious or social status.

Feelings often expressed by the beneficiaries can be easily understood because home ownership had become a rite of passage in the country. Speaking about the scheme, a Lagos resident who emerged winner of a home through the LagosHOMS, Mr. Aina Oluwafemi said he was happy that his dream of owning his own home had been achieved through the scheme.

He said the transparency involved in the scheme has assured him that there was hope for his children in the country, urging other states of the federation to come up with such schemes to meet growing demand for housing units by Nigerians.

According to him, “If this is happening in Nigeria, there is

hope for our children. I had applied online and was expecting it prayerfully by faith when I received a mail that I am qualified for the draw, and as the draw was going on, I heard my name as one of the lucky winners.”

He said his earlier intention was to save money and build a property in the state, until he heard about the scheme.

“My thought was to gather money and buy a house and move in, but when this came up, I applied. The whole process was transparent and I am lucky to be one of the winners.”

For Mr. Obi Mordi, another winner the initiative is laudable , “I had plans to buy a property but there was no funds to develop it, but when my colleague won a flat in Shogunro and he told me it was free and fair, I tried it and here I am.

“It is a good initiative and it shows that things can work in this country if we have the right leadership and the right ideas.”

Basking in the euphoria of suddenly becoming a home owner, Miss Rotanna Onyedi said winning a home gave her the personal feeling that her tax and government were working for her.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has continued to assure of the sustainability of the housing scheme, saying the state government will not fail to provide a minimum of 200 housing units for the residents every month.

Interestingly, he affirmed that ethnicity and religion were not conditions for benefitting from the scheme.

The governor added that the scheme “does not ask religious questions. It does not ask ethnic questions. So, tell those who want to divide us by religion that they will fail. This housing scheme has further bound us together.

“It is free from bribery and man-know-man syndromes. Applicants do not have to know any government official at any level to benefit from the scheme.

“I do not know any state in the

Ongoing construction of Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (HOMS) Housing Estate, Egan-Igando being built by the Lagos State Government

federation in the country where two hundred homes are put in the market every month. I do not even know any country in West Africa where two hundred homes are put in the market every month. This is happening in Lagos.”

The governor said the state government did not borrow from any bank locally or internationally to fund the housing projects, noting that the housing projects “are being executed 100 per cent by the state government”.

He said, “We have not borrowed a dime from any bank. So, there is no bank charge on this scheme. It is executed with the tax payers’ money. The state government is not paying interest to any bank because of this scheme”.

To make the scheme accessible to different strata of the society, he added that,” a rent-to-own housing programme has been introduced to capture junior public servants, artisans, tradesmen and those who cannot afford 30 percent equity contribution now. It will allow people in this category pay rents, which forms the basis for their mortgage in the long run.”

Fashola, who expressed satisfaction that the Scheme is achieving its purpose, explained that the Rent-To-Own scheme was necessitated by the fact that some people who cannot afford a mortgage now if given more time would be able to do so listing such

people to include teachers and junior public servants.

According to him, “We have run the mortgage for some time and we are seeing that there are some people who cannot yet afford a mortgage but if we give them more time, we think they can.

“What we expect is that you pay rent for a period. After that period we now invite you to make you an offer to buy the house. During that period we would have saved some of your rent for you as your equity to pay for your mortgage.

Then from there you transfer and become a mortgage holder. We are working on it and we are hopeful that very soon we are going to do something about that.

Throwing more light on what informed the idea of such a scheme, Fashola noted that in most advance countries of the world it is not everybody who owns a house, saying some people still rent houses under tenancy .

He added that over time affordability was likely to increase as a result of likely fall in cost of building houses.

As the government intensifies efforts to meet supply of the housing units, they also carried out several researches on what the income of the average transporter and artisan was and had realized that many of them fall within the income brackets that could very well afford to participate in the mortgage scheme.

My thought was to gather money and buy a house and move in, but when this came up, I applied.

The whole process was transparent and I am lucky to be one of the winners

22 THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

RCCG Rehabilitates Kurudu Police Station

By Michael Oche

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) FCT province 3 has carried out the rehabilitation of a police station in Kurudu area of Jekwoyi, an Abuja Suburb.

Speaking during the handing over of the rehabilitated police station to the police, the national secretary of RCCG, Pastor Samuel Macdallys, said that the church decided to carry out the rehabilitation exercise to ensure that police officers work in a conducive environment.

He said the Church has an important role to play in ensuring that peace and security was maintained in the society.

He assured of the Church’s determination to complement efforts of the government in alleviating poverty through provision of developmental projects for national growth and stability.

According to him, the Church will impact its immediate environment through the provision of developmental projects in line with the mandate of Christ.

In his response, DSP Odual Juliet represented the DPO of Jikwoyi police division, Mr Mohammed Bala, thanked the church for its kind gesture.

He said, “many people view the Nigeria Police Force with negative perception but police officers are hardworking people. Citizens find it difficult to give the police necessary supports for effective crime prevention. So, we find it hard to tackle crime.

“The public have an important role to play in crime fighting and detection. That is why I want to specially thank the RCCG who have rendered this very important help. This gesture will go a long way in ensuring that officers of this police post carry out their job effectively”

Residents Seek Rapid Development Of Satellite Towns Chika Mefor

Residents of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have emphasised the need for a corresponding development in the satellite towns as was obtainable in the Federal Capital City (FCC).

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, residents lamented the unfortunate development of a rich looking FCC as against squalor looking satellite towns with little or no developmental initiatives.

A satellite town resident, Bukky Iro, said that satellite towns were being left behind when it comes to the issue of development, stressing that development should not only be concentrated in the city.

She said, “development should be centralized.

If the satellite towns are being developed the way the city is developed it will solve a lot of problems for both the FCT Administration (FCTA) and residents alike.”

Another resident, Hassan Ibrahim said that most of the development in the satellite towns is those gotten from little resources from the communities, adding that satellite towns also needs infrastructural development like the capital city because it has more population than the city.

According to him, “the development from the satellite towns is hard development. There are only few projects from the federal government or from the FCTA. Most of the developments on ground are those put down from little resources we could get.’’

A wheel-barrow pusher at the Wuse Market, yesterday. Photo By Ogoh Joseph.

Insurgency: LG Boss Wants Tight Security In Schools

By Igho Oyoyo

The chairman of Abaji area council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Garba, has called on operators of Private and Public Schools in the metropolis to beefup security in their various schools to ensure the safety of their students.

Garba made this call during a security meeting with school principals; head teachers; private school owners and security agencies in the council.

According to the council boss, the meeting became imperative following the security challenges currently plaguing the nation with particular

emphasis on the abduction of Chibok girls, adding that there was the need for every stakeholder to synergize and ensure the safety of school children.

He urged school proprietors to ensure a 24 hour security in school premises, while calling on security agencies to provide surveillance on

school environments to checkmate the movement of people with negative intention.

In his remark, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, called on proprietors to ensure the security of school children by taking adequate security measures to forestall abduction of pupils.

Doctors’ Strike: Abuja-based Hospital Offers Free Services

By Victor Okeke

In a bid to cushion the effect of the on-going doctors’ strike in Nigeria, an Abuja based private hospital has commenced a four days free medical services to financially incapable Nigerians.

Recall that the Nigerian Medical association (NMA) had directed its members across the country, in public health facilities, to embark on indefinite strike to press home its demands since July 1st.

Speaking to journalists during the flag- off of the initiative in Abuja yesterday, a medical doctor at Alliance Hospital, Abuja, Okorie Ogbonnaya, said that the services would be very extensive as it would cover general primary care conditions and specialist care conditions like radiology, pediatrics, obstetrics

and gynecology, dentistry, ophthalmology, urology and orthopedics.

He said, “we hope this initiative will alleviate the suffering of Nigerians because of the on-going dispute between medical doctors and the federal government.”

Ogbonnaya said that the services would cover admission and treatment up to the carrying capacity of the hospital.

“Although the free medicare runs for four days, from Wednesday to Saturday, once we admit you, we are going to continue the medical care until we find you fit enough to go home.”

He, however, expressed the hope that the face-off between the federal government and the NMA would be resolved speedily.

In his remarks, the national

coordinator of Bellvicks Global Aid Initiative, who is partnering the hospital in the exercise, Mr.Victor Ibrahim, said that the programme was

for those who will not even go near private hospitals because of the misguided assumption that their services are exorbitant.

23

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE 15 SOKODE CRESCENT, WUSE ZONE 5, P.M.B 33, GARKI, ABUJA, NIGERIA www.firs.gov.ng

PUBLIC NOTICE

FIRS IS NOT RECRUITING The attention of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been drawn to text messages, claiming that the Service is currently recruiting and accepting applications for employment into the Service.

This is to inform the general public that the FIRS is not recruiting.

Whenever the FIRS is recruiting, it will be advertised on our website: www.firs.gov.ng and in the national dailies.

Anybody submitting his/her CV, responding to sms, texts or applying through any website, online medium, social media platform, for employment into the FIRS, is doing so at his or her own risk.

Members of the public are hereby strongly advised to avoid being deceived or defrauded by unscrupulous and dubious characters.

Wahab Gbadamosi Head, Communications & Liaison Department For: Acting Executive Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) ‌it pays to pay your tax

24

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

online

reactions

23/07/2014

100 Days Of Girls’ Abduction: Security Operatives Mount Surveillance On BBOG Group Zakariah Milaham May God help them! Nigeria is going through trying times!

Edache Gideon It is a pity that we are still talking of these girls 100 days

Keep up with updates on these stories @ www.leadership.ng You Can Follow Us On Twitter: @LeadershipNGA Facebook: Leadership Newspapers Google+: Leadership.NG Linkedin: Leadership Newspaper Blackberry PIN: 7530EC8C

‘Stop Politicising Security Matters’

after. God will intervene!

Ismail Muhammad What a shame! Constitutionally, peaceful protests are allowed under democratic setting.

Jonathan Has Declared War On Nigeria – Buhari Wudira Goyit John Can you hear what an elder statesman is saying?

be talking of peace, not war, at a time like this.

Briggs Tomi Frank Buhari is not talking like an elder statesman. He should

Muhammad H. Bello If I were Buhari, I would keep mum!

BringBackOurGils Group

Adamawa Acting Governor Meets Jonathan, Insists Nyako Looted The State

Fintiri

Buhari

Magani E Yakubu Let him carry his cross!

enough for you, but posterity will judge you.

Ismail Musa Yerima Fintiri, it is now your turn to loot, and three months is just not

Idris Mahmud Naturally, he will meet the President to give him situation report.

Ezekwesili Detained At Abuja Airport, Released Ikenna Uyanneh Why are we making Oby so relevant? She tweeted that she was detained by the SSS. Would SSS detain someone and allow them access to Twitter? Rou-

tine questioning is different from detention.

Joel Onewem Tell her to stay out of trouble, so that she won’t be detained again!

Ezekwesili

‘Nigeria Spend N1.3trn On Malaria Annually’

Subscribe to LEADERSHIP Newsletter today for your daily news highlight.

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25

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

PrOf IBrAHIM NJODI

Vice chancellor, university of Maiduguri

congratulatIonS! On behalf of Kalarin people of Kaltungo, Gombe State, we congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment as the ViceChancellor of the University of Maiduguri. We express our heartfelt gratitude to God, the Federal Government and the UNIMAID community for their support as we wish you a fruitful tenure in office. “Ka wa yazo tom uk pid Kanje, ka ayam uk pid Kunji, ka ya anam bid ki, uk pan Kilan�

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Alh Ahmed Abdullahi Japhet Maida Dr Arnold Ardo Lt Cmdr(rtd) Musa Dogos Elisha Samson Obed Paul Shehu Uthan Bartha Haruna Kerengs

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Mrs Eglah Kassim Lt. Julius Iliya Palasu Samson Joseph Silas Mrs Brenda J Dahwa Lt Habila Jobbo Elisha Maida Benjamin Dala

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Dr Bala Shamaki Zubairu Adamu DSP Zubairu Maina Dr Danjuma Kalba Mrs Jeyestu A. Jaji WO II Dahiru Aliyu Hon Adamu Gora Hon Abubakar Danzaria

26 BUSINESS/BANKER’S BANK

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Standardising Information Technology In Nigerian Banking System Impact of technology to the banking industry is one that cannot be overemphasised as banking halls have over time been transformed from ledgers and tally numbers to state-of-the-art solutions.

This has not only made banking easier for the banks and their customers but also reduced drastically the time and resources spent needlessly.

However, there is need for Nigerian banks to hold same standards that is obtainable at the global level.

This need prompted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to work on developing an Information Technology (IT) Standards and Governance for the Nigerian financial industry. The CBN released the IT Standards Blueprint document, presenting the framework for the adopted IT Standards and Governance for the Nigerian financial services industry to ensure quality service delivery in the banking system.

According to the circular issued from the IT Department of the CBN to all banks, the apex bank said the standards were in pursuant to the need to identify and adopt global IT standards for Nigerian banks.

The standards and the framework, which had been defined and released for adoption pending the completion and launch of the Bankers’ Committee IT Standards Portal, were expected to serve as reference points to ensure quality IT service delivery through infrastructure transformation programme.

Also, the apex bank said

an IT Standard Council, comprising of seven selected banks would be constituted and reconstituted after a tenure of two years and would drive the adoption, implementation and

By Bukola Idowu compliance to IT standards in the banking industry.

The mandate of the IT Standards Governance Council is to drive the adoption, implementation and compliance to Industry IT standards in the Nigerian financial services industry, and will report to the Bankers’ Committee Sub-committee on Shared Services on a periodic basis on the status and compliance of the financial services industry to approved IT standards The functions and responsibilities of the council include, although not limited to, the promotion of IT Information technology equipment standards for Nigeria’s financial services level, derivable benefits, industry and setting strategic requirements for compliance, direction on IT standards and consequences for for the industry. The council deviations. will also determine the IT Also, contained in this standards to be implemented blueprint is the IT standards across the industry, review governance model and and update of industry IT processes, which details standards as well as monitor the binding framework of compliance to IT standards processes and procedures that and determine response for will guide the introduction deviations of new standards, review This document also or modification of existing contained the adopted ones, and complete standards by the council for withdrawal of obsolete or each defined standard. The irrelevant standards, thereby documentation includes maintaining relevance and the objective and intention, ensuring continuity by description, minimum both the CBN and other acceptable maturity stakeholders.

banker’s bank

The implementation of these standards is expected to provide an increased up-time/ availability of banks leading to increased cost savings as well as the establishment of a reference point for objective assessment of the IT function leading to improved IT performance measurement.

Likewise, the IT standards is expected to bring about improved data integrity and electronic information exchange, increased efficiency and productivity of staff due to interoperability of IT systems, business continuity/ recovery and reduced risk

of prolonged downtimes and improved data security assurance to customers leading to increased customer confidence.

The IT standards have been prioritised based on effort (ease of implementation of a standard is a function of the efforts required to implement, the implementation costs as well as the duration and risks of implementation) and benefits (the impact of implementation on the business and on the end user, the benefits derivable as well as the time it takes to begin deriving value from the implementation of the standard).

The IT standards areas of prioritisation include service management, interfaces, IT security and application reporting for priority 1 standards, while priority 2 standards include IT governance, strategic IT alignment, project management and workforce and resource management For priority 3 standards, data centre, business continuity management, enterprise architecture, health, safety and environment as well as application development will be the major focus.

According to the apex bank, the standards shall be implemented using a continuum approach such that initial implementations would target the agreed maturity level three and subsequently improve to include certifications and higher maturity levels.

Foreign Reserves Rises To $40.2bn As Exchange Rates Record Stability

BY NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja

Nigeria’s gross external reserves improved by 7.7 per cent within one month since the assumption of office of the current Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, recent reports have indicated.

This is even as the exchange rate of the naira recorded relative stability in all segments of the foreign exchange market.

According to latest data on external sector developments, the foreign reserves rose to $40.20 billion as at July 18, 2014, up by US$2.89 billion or 7.74 per cent from $37.31

billion at end-June 2014.

According to the CBN governor, the increase in reserves was mainly due to increased accretion and moderation in the rate of depletion. Emefiele, while briefing the media on the decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting yesterday, in Abuja, also noted that the naira witnessed a considerable degree of stability in all segments of the foreign exchange market the period.

He noted that the exchange rate at the retail-Dutch Auction segment (rDAS) of the market was flat at N157.29/ US$ in the review period.

At the inter-bank market, the selling rate opened at N162.20/US$ and closed at N162.95, representing a depreciation of N0.75 or 0.46 per cent. Conversely, at the BDC segment, the exchange rate opened at N167.00/US$ and closed at N168.00/US$, representing a depreciation of N1.00 or 0.6 per cent.

Reviewing the performance of financial market in the last two months, Emefiele noted that the developments in the aggregate price level suggested an underlying inflationary pressure since January 2014.

The year-on-year headline inflation steadily inched up marginally from 7.9 per cent

in April to 8 per cent in May 2014 and further to 8.2 per cent in June. The up-tick in June was, however, largely attributed to the rise in food inflation which rose from 9.7 per cent in May2014 to 9.8 per cent in June while core inflation, on the other hand, rose from 7.7 per cent in May 2014 to 8.1 per cent in June.

Further review showed that broad money (M2) rose by 1.66 per cent in June 2014, over the level at endDecember 2013, indicating an annualised growth rate of 3.31 per cent. The rate was considerably lower than the growth benchmark of 15.52 per cent for fiscal 2014.

Emefiele

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

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

19- Year-Old Miss Akwa Ibom Emerges 2014 Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria

Persistent Pain Of Nigeria’s Youths

LEISURE

Jimmy Jatt Becomes Movie Producer Genevieve Nnaji Announces Top 3

By OLAYEMI SHOWUMI, Lagos

As DJ Jimmy Jatt celebrates 25 years on stage, the entertainer has delved into movie making becoming a movie producer.

The legendary disc jockey is set to premier his first ever movie titled 'Next Door' anytime soon. The

movie is about a 20 yearold girl who tried to save her mother from a violent relationship involving their neighbourhood friend in a suspense-filled story.

The cast of the movie include actress Lilian Esoro, Sound Sultan and Minjin among others. Rapper A-Q wrote the script of Next Door.

Studded Birthday Party For Wizkid

Burna Boy

Self-styled hip hop singer, Burna Boy has parted ways with the record label, Aristokrat Records that brought him to limelight.

According to a source, the 'Yawa Dey Oh' crooner is no longer with AR as revealed by his new video, 'Don Gorgon' which does not have AR imprint.

To add credence to this notion, AR in-house producer, Lenq didn't produce the song and Burna Boy's debut album

L.I.F.E was entirely produced by Lenq. There may have been no love lost between the duo as the record label has removed everything about Burna on its social media.

The friction may have stemmed from Burna Boy's lifestyle and his mother's deep involvement in his career.

Recently, Damini Ogulu (his real name) who came into the music scene with 'Like To Party' hit single fired his mum as manager.

Wizkid, TeeBillz and Timaya

By SOLOMON NDA-ISAIAH

Premium cognac, Hennessy brought some of the biggest names in the music industry last week to celebrate Nigeria’s youngest StarBoy, Wizkid.

The event which held at the newest club in Lagos, Escape in Victoria Island Lagos, had Wizkid party with close friends, family and colleagues throughout the night as he turned a year older on Wednesday, July 16, 2014.

Wizkid who came to the party with his girlfriend,

By SOLOMON NDA-ISAIAH

Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji has announced the top three acts in ‘Act The Part’ online contest for a chance to spend one exciting day with her.

The two-week long online competition received thousands of entries of the good, the bad and the hilarious from enthusiastic fans, who tried to re-enact a role from any movie of their choice.

After a grueling selection process, three interesting acts made it to the top three positions from which only

Genevieve

one winner will emerge via popular votes and have the opportunity to hang out with the stunning Amstel Malta brand ambassador.

The winner will also win a fab makeover, courtesy Amstel Malta.

9ice Goes Into Politics, Eyes Reps Seat

Burna Boy Quits Aristokrat Records

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

Acts In ‘Act The Part’ Contest

Tania Omotayo and his EME colleagues Banky W and Shaydee received a massive 3 litre bottle of Hennessy from Moet Hennessy Brand ambassador, Sam Okwandu as well as free Hennessy drinks for his friends and well-wishers.

Other faces at the Hennessy party include Timaya, D’Prince, Ice Prince, Skales, TeeBillz, Seyi Shay, Moet Abebe, Stephanie Coker, Kay Switch, Fade Ogunro, Maria Okanrende, DJ Spinall, DJ Caise, Eniola Badmus among many others.

By OLAYEMI SOWUNMI, Lagos

The Gongo Aso crooner 9ice is set to combine music and politics. That is if he wins the primary election in his yet to be declared party of choice for the House of Representatives election for his Ogbomoso north constituency.

The singer has made this known on several occasions through social platforms, interview sessions and even at the industry nite he hosted sometime in March this year in celebration of his birthday. The Gongo Aso

9ice

crooner used the weekly Industy Nite gig to clear the air on various issues on his person and failed marriage.

But some have speculated that perhaps 9ice is broke that's why he's taking a shot at politics.

This indigenous lyricist born Abolore Akande made his emergence into the music industry in the early 2000s with his sting-like hook on 2shot's hit track, "Make dem talk".

‘No More Brazillian Hair’

A lady boarded the vehicle somewhere after Nyanya and, just as she was about to sit down, she shook her hair Hollywoodstyle and some of her expensive-looking braids got into the eye of some guy

just seated behind her. She didn’t know; perhaps, she did not know. Perhaps, she didn’t care.

“Ayoooooo, sister mi, your Brazillian hair don enter my eye o,” lamented the fellow.

The whole bus erupted in laughter.

The lady ignored him, as if she didn’t hear him.

“Sister, I’m talking to you,” insisted the male passenger, moving to tap her on the shoulder.

Finally, she smiled and said, “Sorry, no vex”, without turning around.

It would have been all about it, had a flippant man who sat far away from the incident said aloud “bros, no blame her, na Brazillain hair she carry.”

More laughter, as a few wondered under their breath, “who call this one

for the matter now? Some men na war o”.

“The lady finally answered him. “Oga, you be woman? Why you no let the matter finish as e start.”

“See her Brazillain hair,” the man said sarcastically, ignoring her. “Asa nwa, asampete nwnayi oma.”

“This one na fool oh,” said a younger fellow who sat somewhere on the last row of the bus.

“You carry your Brazillain hair put inside person eye, yet you no fit tell am sorry.

This world na war o. Some women no get regards for

men again. Which men and women come be equal na?”

“When dem start to marry themselves, muntula,” said a woman who looked like a matron. She dared the man to speak out of turn again with her metallic stare.

“Oga, it was just an accidental incident. Forget am now,” cajoled another fellow with some fairness.”

He was wearing his steelrimmed spectacles.

“No o, I no go forget am o. You see ehn, this Brazillain hair no dey let women cook o. You see, even when person wan do for night,

dem go tell am say dem no go do, make dem for no spoil their hair.”

“I sorry for your wife,” intoned the lady whose Brazillian hair started all the trouble.

“No, me, I sorry for your husband. As I see you kuma, I know say you never marry. E dey show for your hair.” A few people found this assault on the innocent lady funny. Others gave themselves stares, as if they couldn’t believe the matter had actually become a full-blown campaign against Brazillian hair-wearing ladies.

32 INTERVAL

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

34 Celebrities Star In New Glo Campaign

P-Square

BY SOLOMON NDA-ISAIAH

Miss Iheoma Nnadi being crown MBGN 2014 by outgoing beauty queen, Miss Anna Ebiere Banner

19 Year-Old Miss Akwa Ibom Emerges 2014 Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

19 year-old Miss Akwa Ibom, Iheoma Nnadi weekend emerged winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant 2014 and went away with a cash prize of N3 million and a brand new car, amongst other gifts.

The event, which was held at the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, produced Miss Edo as first runner-up and Miss Osun, represented by Endurance Akpoyibo as second runner-up.

Other awards presented at the pageant were Miss Photogenic, which went to Erica Nlewedim of Kogi, Chinyere Adogu of Kwara won Miss Charismatic, Miss Delta, Fortune Woko clinched Best Traditional Costume, Miss

Gombe, Precious John got MBGN Model and Miss Amity went to Queen Celestine of Edo State.

Miss Edo, Kwara, Osun, Akwa Ibom and Abuja made the list of the top first 5from the 30 contestants that participated in the pageant.

Delivering a welcome address, the state governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson represented by the geputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, expressed delight that Bayelsa was hosting the event for a second successive year, an indication he said that the state was peaceful and open for investors and tourists.

He said efforts were being put in place to diversify the state’s economy through tourism and other sectors, pointing out that operating a monolithic

economy hinged on oil revenue was no longer sustainable.

The governor urged young girls across the country to show interest in the pageant to enhance their status in life and expressed the belief that next year’s edition would be more competitive.

In her remarks, the directorgeneral of the state Tourism Development Agency, Mrs. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown announced that in next year’s edition of the MBGN, the audience would be given an opportunity to participate in determining who wears the crown.

The high point of the ceremony was the crowning of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria by the outgoing beauty queen, Miss Anna Ebiere Banner.

Telecoms giant, Globacom has featured thirty four entertainment celebrities in its new theme campaign “Go Ahead’ which depicts the essence of the network and also communicates the dynamism of its services in voice, data and fixed lines.

The showbiz stars include Sunday Omobolanle, widely known as Aluwe, legendary Chika Okpala, Zebrudaya alias 4:30 and his tellywife, Lizzy Eveome, Ovuleria of New Masquerade series. Others are Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr. Latin, Madam Ibidun Allison known as Amebo, an actress in rested television series, Village Headmaster and Madam Kofo Abiola who, as an actress, is popular for her accurate sculpting of sky-scraper headgears.

Also in the project are Saheed Mohammed (Funky Mallam), Morocco Maduka, Charles Awurum and Victor Osuagwu.

The list also includes Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, another Fuji act, Saheed Osupa, former Super Eagles striker, Daniel Amokachi and King of Galala Beats, Daddy Showkey.

Chief Executive Officer of Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu and Delta State both represent the upwardly-mobile new aristocrats on the list.

Four of the celebrities, namely John Okafor (Mr. Ibu) and Bishop Ime, (Okon Lagos) both comics

IT’S NOT

I Am Not A Witch

ORUMA AKOMOLAFE

boils over, they say, "didn't you know what was going on? How couldn't you know? Didn't you notice something was wrong?..... this conversation of course is taking place after the unnerving punishments, insults, mind games, manipulations, whatever you may choose to call it. There is only one name for such people. I call them COWARDS! Yes! You are a coward.

You are too insecure to let

OVER OMENESA

BB Pin: 2B2DA0B0 08176324382 (SMS)

Lately, I have been having re-occurring cases of people expecting me to read their minds.

Do you have someone like that in your life? He/she gives you a cold shoulder or punishes you for something you have no idea about.....then when the water

out your emotions and have a peaceful conversation with someone, but you are BOLD enough to hurt someone else, simply because you are hurting.

SAD! Those of you who don't talk, it is not a compliment. Your kind have unpleasant marriages and insane work environments.... caused by you. Whatever position you are in, you owe it to people to tell them how you feel, how they offended you, and how you 2 can

make things better.

Making people read your mind is witchcraft. I used to fall for that nonsense. I was always the kind to apologize for things I didn't do, and things I didn't even know about, simply because someone was angry with me by looking at me a certain way, or yelling at me, or giving me the "Silent Treatment". Those who do that are "Control Freaks". They are so stinking insecure that they have

in the nation’s theatre industry, Chinwetalu Agu, a veteran Nollywood actor and comedienne and television presenter, Helen Paul were designated as brand ambassadors.

As brand representatives, the 34 celebrities are vested with the responsibility of positively motivating their followers from all strata of life not only to join the Globacom network but to recommend its products and services to others in their circles of influence.

Evergreen entertainment stars who are still savvy on the buttons are King Sunny Ade and Sir Victor Olaiya, both world-renowned masters in Juju music and Highlife respectively are also on the list.

The stars have been appearing on television commercials, on billboards, lamp posts and fliers of the network, and will complement the efforts of existing ambassadors like Bisade Ologunde (Lagbaja), Bezhiwa Idakula (Bez), Bright Okpocha (Basket mouth), Jude Abaga (MI ),Wande Coal, Chinedu Okolie (Flavour), Peter and Paul Okoye (P-Square), Waje Iruobe, Omawumi Megbele, Funke Akindele (Jenifa), Chukie Edozien (Lynxx), Sammie Okposo and Ego Ogbaro.

The ‘Go Ahead’ campaign encourages subscribers to believe in themselves and in the uniqueness of their talents, dreams and goals.

to control you to make themselves feel ON-TOP! I beg you! Stop it. If you are the coward here, please grow up, and confront your issues. Don't bully your staff, your spouse, your siblings, your relationships, Just TALK! If you are the victim here....Biko, don't fall into the trap of placating. That's the 'high' a coward needs to stay afloat... they ride on your weaknesses and inability to stand your ground.

INTERVAL 33

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

N

every Nigerian youth wants to be responsible and work hard to earn a good living.

But is there a conducive atmosphere to engage the youths and encourage them to shun violence? This is what the president and his adviser on youth matters, Amb. Obi Adim, should look at

igerian youths are considered jobless, docile and, sometimes, homeless touts worthy only of making pittances from doing extremely menial jobs. When they are educated, they are termed ‘half-baked’.

Recent developments in the country are pointed at the youths.

From cases of theft to insurgence, kidnapping, vandalism or any other form of vices, young people are incorporated to be a part of it.

Young people are so vulnerable that they can be used to perpetrate any crime in our society today.

Proof of this can be seen in the role they play during elections – as thugs, to cause violence and wreak havoc, as urchins to terrify people and snatch ballot boxes and as law breakers who take laws into their hands, all for pittances from evilminded politicians with ungodly aims.

It won’t be any more surprising if Nigeria has graduates of transport planning and management who manage full-time jobs as bus conductors. The fact that many doctorate degree holders vie to become truck drivers for the Dangote Group is more proof that Nigerian youths are now taking their chances, refusing to write off themselves like others have done.

In the wake of the disaster which greeted the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise earlier in the year, one was looking forward to huge, nation-wide protests, to see young people (both the employed and the jobless) unite to state their displeasure at being taken for granted by a government that should know more. One expected a lot of things, but the embarrassing outcome was not one of them; no true protest, no young people asking the government how it could have been so careless, no one asking why the government cannot provide jobs for the living but can afford compensation and jobs for the dead and the families of the dead. Instead, the elderly and civil society groups took it upon themselves to ask questions instead of the youths. It was shameful; but it did not mean that the nation’s young people were not pained. No. Nigeria’s young people have lost hope in their leaders. The present generation of youths have long waited to take their chance and since it was never given them, they are now poised to take it through their belief in corruption and the quick gains it brings. The result: the Nigerian youth is up for the highest bidder.

"This is not the time for us to [be] slack because we must make that money. I don't have N100, 000 but I will look for how to get that job in the oil company," a National Youth Service Corps member, Bulus Anzaqu (not real names) said.

"I just obtained this certificate (certificate of completion of service) to be able to work in any oil company in the Niger-delta, because that is where the money

A young Nigeria taking a nap close to the Civil Service Club, Utako, Abuja after a stressful work

Persistent Pain Of Nigeria’s Youths Gone are those days when jobs awaited the Nigerian youth immediately they were done with university education or education of any other form for that matter. Today, getting a job, graduate or no, is almost luxury. Does anyone care to know how the 21st century Nigerian youth feels? ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM writes. is. I must work there. Who wants to teach or work in banks or even the media? I want to work in an oil company," another NYSC member, Joseph Bomadi, said.

The oil industry has become the only source of revenue for the country, while other huge solid mineral deposits lie fallow or are being wasted by artisanal miners.

Ironically, if well regulated, the solid minerals sector can employ more than half of the nation’s unemployed population. The continued over-dependence on oil has not only hampered the progress of the country; it has also led to large-scale poverty in the country.

Since the nation returned to democracy in 1999, the future of the Nigerian youth has become bleaker. Though the streets are flooded by millions of graduates in search of white-collar jobs, one must ‘know’ someone higher up the ladder of authority before one must get the job. Very little is gotten on merit.

According to Haruna James, another youth corps member serving in Plateau State, there is “no hope for the future generations, because no matter one’s certificate, there are people who have jobs waiting for them, because they ‘know’ someone higher up.

"Most Nigerian youths are hopeless; that's why you see graduates doing the job of bus conductors and, sometimes, roam the streets because menial jobs are even difficult to come by. Whether you like it or not, you must know someone.

"I know a colleague of mine who

already has a job waiting for him in Kaduna immediately he is done with his NYSC orientation. These are people who have connections in high places. It is not helping the youths of the country. What about [those of] us who don't have people in high places? What will happen when we are done with our service, then? Should we continue waiting on God as Nigerians usually say?

"Our leaders should sit down and think about their lives and the lives of millions of Nigerian youths they are destroying because of their selfishness. This selfishness is the cause of insecurity in the country. I pray God will send his wrath upon those who are inflicting these pains on us if they refuse to change," he stressed.

Around the Federal Civil Service Club in Utako, a young, vibrant man was seen lying on the bare ground. Everyone who saw him thought he was mad or destitute.

Many wondered what must have prompted him to find solace on the ground?

When he was accosted by Interval, he revealed that he was one of a gang of men recruited to construct a huge building in the area, but got to thinking about his next move during his break and fell asleep while doing same.

He spoke clearly as if he had some form of education. Upon enquiry, he revealed that he holds a higher National Diploma.

Bus Stop Today, in every motor park, 99 per cent of the people you find are young people, the supposed work force of the nation, all moving

with the wind. They have become agberos, always willing to do the bidding of their ‘masters’.

No one loves suffering, having an uncomfortable life or being caught in a disgraceful act; every Nigerian youth wants to be responsible and work hard to earn a good living. But is there a conducive atmosphere to engage the youths and encourage them to shun violence? This is what the president and his adviser on youth matters, Amb. Obi Adim, should look at.

Way Forward The president once said he feels the pains of the Nigerian people, especially the youths, when he claimed to have had no shoes as a young pupil." The belief is that, as someone who had no shoes, he should align himself with the needs of the down-trodden and those who ‘have no shoes’, instead of the sea of hypocrites who are eating out of his hand just to obtain favours.

The president still has time to write his name in the good book of Nigerians. He can filter his cabinet and pay an unscheduled visit to rural communities around the country without the media hype and long convoy. He guards the egg; he can continue to protect it or destroy it.

If he does love the youths, as he wants them to believe, he should take charge of youth development and job creation and not hand it over to sycophants who will always tell him how much they are doing while, in truth, the pain which Nigerian youths suffer persist.

34

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

On Apc’s Fallacious Claims

By Tanko Dada

As the 2015 election year draws near, one expects to see political parties using all kinds of underhand tactics to get votes.

Insinuations, outright fabrication and malicious rumours are employed to slander the opposing camp in the hope that the people may be swayed into believing these lies.It is obvious that the dirty game has started. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has in a desperate attempt to woo converts began to make unverifiable claims, spreading wicked rumours against the most influential party in Nigeria today, the Peoples Democratic Party.

It is particularly galling that in the APC’s miserable efforts to shore up support for its party, it had now resorted to spreading fallacious stories against the state governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu. It is just a pathetic attempt to clutch at straws in a bid to cling to straws and delay it’s inevitable demise.It is on record that this is the same party that months ago failed to present to the public it’s leadership structure after a botch state congress that should have been the beginning of any hopeful venture in the political firmament of the state.

Unfortunately, owing to the “robbery” that masqueraded as congress elections in the state, and the disaffection that attended that fake internal election, the party quickly lost the modest support it had garnered. The matter was not helped by the fact that the

Aliyu

legacy party (CPC) chairman was barred from attending the dubious congress and some of the results for the ward and local government congresses remain contentious.

This is the fiasco that the party is trying to cover up by concentrating it’s attacks on the leadership of other parties. It probably hopes that by not raising the issues surrounding the botched primaries and distancing itself from the internal leadership crisis, it can thus throw wool over the faces of Nigerlites.

In the latest twist, it is desperately trying to rob the PDP government of Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu in

It is galling that in the APC’s efforts to shore up support for its party, it had now resorted to spreading fallacious stories against the state governor

a borrowed gown, throwing distortion, and scandalous lies about the worthy programmes and policies of the governor.

It is interesting that the APC leadership’s misunderstanding of the issues raised by the Chief Servant during the swearingin-ceremony of special advisers recently is the latest instrument being used by that party to whip up public sentiments. The governor has employed a metaphor to illustrate the quality of advise he desires from his aides saying that he didn’t just want mere advise but a proactive way of thinking, a system that can advance his administration’s singular determination and ensure better service delivery to the people.

It is on that note that Governor Aliyu cited the examples of some special advisers who not only gave him solid advise but even arm twisted him into executing some projects all in the best interest, of the state. Such good people included the special advisers on politics, infrastructure, mobilisation, girl child and the special adviser on lands and housing.

For the avoidance of doubt, only two special advisers were retained since 2007 by the current administration: Hajiya Kaka Wabi owing to her special project on girl child education which had recorded tremendous success in the state, with more girls been enrolled in schools across the state.

– Dada is director-general, Public Affairs, Niger State.

Ali: A Senator’s Passion For Performance By musa wada

For our legislature, times are changing even as our entire polity is standing at the dawn of a new era. For President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan transformation agenda, government business and politics are not quite as usual. Creating the desirable new national order calls for experience, sacrifice and determination. In these times, it is all about what we can do, for Nigeria and not so much what the nation can do for us.

One man who stands true to the challenge of this new dawn is Senator Atai Aidoko Ali, Ochai Attah of Igala and vice chairman, Senate committee on Navy and senator representing Kogi East in the National Assembly.

Senator Aidoko has shown an increase obligation to his constituents and dedication to legislative performance. His show of ambition and strength to move the legislature ahead on a sustainable course of

improvement is remarkable and attention grabbing.

Senator Atai Aidoko is a man with a larger than life image. He is a man who has been everywhere and into everything but never puts a foot wrong. I once read a piece which described him as a man of destiny. That is not far from the truth. Or what else could have moulded his personality, energy and resilience for the roles he would play in our society. There are few Nigerians who are like him, but among this few, Aidoko stands out because of his calculated calmness and uncanny humility amidst the graces and grandeur of his life.

Whenever Senator Aidoko would have his say on any issue, they are usually burning, correct, true, and just. Reflecting on Senator Aidoko achievements both in his private and public life, the essence of the adage that deep rivers flow with silent majesty while shallow brooks make the most noise becomes visible.

Senator Aidko is unarguably, a distinguished Senator. His consistent sterling performance in his administrative career, admirable self-carriage and effective presence in the National Assembly has earned him many prestigious national and international awards and accolades, and several leadership distinction awards conferred by many groups and bodies.

Senator Aidoko in the National Assembly is intelligent, articulate and accessible to reason even in the face of sanity-threatening discourse on the floor. At a time when ability to shout and usage of high-faulting language seems to be the hallmarks of legislature, Senator Aidoko would keep a bemused countenance while making his points in an articulate yet economically eloquent manner, standing by his principles and altruistic spirit, he produces a calming influence in the

Senate . His loyalty and sync with the intents and ideals of the Senate president and moderating effects of his centrist opinion provide a stability as never before experienced in the Nigerian senate.

Senator Ningi is a consummate politician and an accomplished leader admired and respected by all in his constituency and beyond for his live-changing values and passion for performance.

Despite all these, an alert observer is wont to see senator Aidoko as a highpotential personality who will never linger in the lowlands of complacency and partial fulfilment. For, indeed, residents in Kogi East, high potential personality is a world of possibilities waiting to find vent and be channelled towards some great good for Kogi state and for the nation.

– Wada can be reached at muswady@yahoo.com

Rights Watch Emmanuel Onwubiko www.huriwa.blogspot.com

For The Chief Servant’s Ears Only

O

n Monday July 21 2014 as I prepare to put pen to paper for my weekly column, my attention was drawn to a mail dropped at our office by a coalition of civil society groups based in Kaduna regarding a story that concerns a certain Muslim community based in Lapai, Niger State, a state headed by a scholar who prefers to be called ‘chief servant; Dr. Babangida Aliyu.

Based on my knowledge of the leader of the groups, one Comrade Umar Farouk, I have decided to run the excerpts of this position paper addressed to the governor of Niger State hoping that as a responsive and receptive chief servant, he will direct the appropriate authority to redress the alleged infractions.

The letter goes thus; “We write as civil society, pro-democracy non-state actors concerned with zero tolerance for arbitrariness and human rights violation in every part our dear country Nigeria.

“It has come to our notice that Abuja human rights community among others, have written a formal letter to the Niger State governor, Dr. Mua’azu Babangida Aliyu to lodge a complaint on the recent campaign of calumny, assault and alleged violations of the fundmental human rights of members of Madinatu Muhaeenu Hamdallah Islamic Centre Lapai, by some allegedly sponsored thugs.

“It has come to our notice that series of allegations against the law abiding members of the group were concocted to give a dog a bad name in other to hang it. The entire exercise was thus a frame-up and a ploy to forcefully take over their legally acquired land. We strongly believe that neither your good self, security agencies and the chief servant is aware of this fact. All of you were simply hoodwinked, deceived and misled by the oppressors”.

This incident, according to these groups, was undoubtedly a clear case of human rights violation and that of the United Nations’ Universal Declarations of Human Rights; and African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

The coalition argued that the rights of these persons to protection from cruel and inhuman treatment was violated when they were unlawfully ejected and denied access to their legally acquired land their properties and even as means of livelihood were destroyed.

On further inquiry I was told that these persons were accused of staying in a secluded community and may be plotting to stage sectarian violence against the Nigerian state but on closer look, I could decipher that one of their leaders was among those officials appointed into the state-controlled religious agency and therefore I started asking why a state government could have offered such a high profile assignment to that man if indeed the community in which he lives in Lapai is plotting against the state or nation?

My suspicion is that the apprehension about the future game plan of this Islamic community hitherto located in Lapai, Niger State may have been generated out of the national hysteria and panic which the deadly activities of Boko Haram have created among the populace in Nigeria.

It is therefore imperative that the Niger state government and the National Human Rights Commission should step into these damaging allegations of human rights violations as made by this group with a view to ascertaining the veracity or otherwise of their claims so that the state government will ensure that justice is not just done but must be seen to have been substantially done.

politics today Wednesday, July 23, 2014

REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

No Alternative To Okorocha’s Govt In Imo – Commissioner Imo State commissioner for information and strategy. Hon Theodore O. Ekechi, in this interview with Mbachu Godwin Nnanna, speaks on Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration and insists that the administration has performed better than previous governments in the state. medical delivery system in the state. He is the governor that has taken power back to the people, all these have made the governor become the most beautiful bride sort after by all political parties in the country.

If you tell me that these parties are making moves to bring him in to work with them that will not be a surprise to me, but whether the governor has any plan to leave the APC today I can tell you categorically, no!

The PDP has alleged that the free education policy in the state is a fraud, that indigenes are now made to suffer to get admission in their state schools as non indigenes are given 60% of the slots while the indigenes have 40%, is it true?

Ekechi

He is the governor that has taken power back to the people

There are unconfirmed reports that your governor is talking to the leadership of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) with the view of dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015, what is your reaction to this?

Well, I am not aware of that. I can tell you that authoritatively as the commissioner of information, Imo State. But I can also tell you that what I

am aware is that the governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has set standard for the last three and a half years, what many governors in the state have not been able to achieve for 12 years.

The transformation; massive road construction that has taken place and infrastructural development in the state; the free education that has taken place for the last three years; and the repositioning of the

The problem I have with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition in the state is that these are people who have been dislocated from the state, and because of the frustration they have they are very desperate and will only see and say negative things in order to run government down. When you talk about free education why would people concentrate on tertiary institutions? Why don’t they talk about the primary and secondary schools where we supply free lockers ,desk , stockings , free uniforms , exercise books ,canvass , and paying feeding allowance periodically to encourage them.

Why don’t they talk about the enrollments in secondary schools that have doubled since free education was announced , these are people that were hitherto selling pure water in the streets of Imo, who cannot afford education. Why talk about Imo State University as if it is the only tertiary institution in the state. We have the College of Agriculture at Umuagwo, College of Medical Sciences at Amaigbo, College

of Nursing Education also in Orlu, why didn’t they talk about that? Education there is free in all its ramifications.

Right now IMSU is admitting at two to three times more indigenous students than ever before . What happened is that people seeking admission from neighbouring states now rush to IMSU because of the free education and the number tripled. We brought the vice chancellor of the university on live programme and he refuted their allegation.

The former governor, Ikedi Ohakim had claimed that he left N2.3 billion in the state coffers and that it was squandered by the present regime, what is your take on this allegation?

The records are there , the major debts we are still paying till today are the debts incurred by Ikedi Ohakim administration.

I don’t know Ethelbert Okere and the figures he is talking about. The records have been published by the government and they have not been disputed , the banks are there , the negotiation between the government and Zenith and UBA over the debt was in the public domain in the first few months of the administration. I don’t think he knows what he is talking about , if actually he said that , that is very unfortunate.

But to the contrary , the word, squandering should not be the word any body can use.

This is the state where Okigwe and Orlu used to be known as the relics and have been transformed. It a state where free education was never contemplated by previous administrations. This is a state where five bridges have been completed .If there is any word to ascribe to us, it is, prudence.

There is outcry that the governor has refused to conduct local government election since he came to power , when are we expecting the ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 36 Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor

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36 POLITICS TODAY

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

No Alternative To Okorocha’s Govt In Imo – Commissioner by this administration. The Akachi road, that is a bye pass linking Wetheral road to Naze for those going to Aba has been completed. Why are they concerned with the ones that have not been completed?

Who say that this man must complete everything in four years?

➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 local government election in the state?

I can assure you as soon as the opposition allow us to hold election, local government election will hold the next one minute. You will recall that attempt to hold local government election has been on for three times. Three times these detractors have gone to court and obtain court injunction. Definitely, if the governor decides to hold the election they are going to be the first people to run to the floor of the Senate to say that the governor does not obey court order. Right now there is a subsisting court order restraining the state government from conducting any local government election in the state, and we are respecting that. With the support of the House of Assembly the government has appointed transitional council chairmen which is consistent with the provision of the law ,so the day opposition allows us to hold election in the local government the next day we will hold elections in the state.

What is your take on the alleged deduction of local government funds in the state?

Before now the local government funds are used in such a way that fund the luxury and excesses of political godfathers, these people have feasted on the common wealth of the state

I am not aware of any illegal deductions or unjustifiable withdrawals, but I know that is what is allowed by the constitution which we inherited from the previous government , that is the joint allocation account between the state and the local government . So I am aware that the account is still existing and is not changed but we have perfected it and blocked some of the lopholes that allow for leakage. Before now the local government funds are used in such a way that fund the luxury and excesses of political godfathers, these people have feasted on the common wealth of the state. You see houses being built here and there by political office holders who hitherto have no source of livelihood .It shouldn’t be.

We have blocked that , that is what they call political Unwu (political famine ) in the state.

This is why these political stakeholders or godfathers are at daggers drawn with the governor , it is not because the governor has taken their wives or daughters.

What really went wrong between Governor Okorocha and the son of late legal luminary Charles Oputa (Charley Boy)? He was said to

Was there a directive from the state government to register Northerners in the state in view of the security challenge in the country?

Ekechi have snatched microphone from the governor at his father’s burial ceremony.

If I have my way this is an issue we don’t like talking about because that will be bringing the state to disrepute and the towering image of late Justice Oputa. But you know that for every twelve there must be a Judas. We know Charley Boy and what he stands for, we only pray that now that Justice Oputa is no more alive that Charley Boy will grow and become a man and maintain the legacies his father has left behind. Like you know , Charley Boy never took away the microphone. I must clarify clearly that Charley Boy never snatched microphone from the governor and he dare not but what he did was that in the full glare of the people communicated to the bishop to stop the governor from making his speech. Because we respect the late Justice Oputa so much nobody want to make an issue out of that.

Do you suspect that Charley Boy’s behaviour was influenced?

We not only suspect PDP’s hand in Charley Boy’s behaviour, we suspect PDP’s hand in a bomb planted in the church at Owerri , we suspect their hand in every negative propaganda. You can see their hand very clearly in the floor of the Senate where they carried false rumour that the governor of Imo State has taken measures that insinuate that he was discriminating against his brothers from the North , just because his popularity is growing higher in

the North. With PDP nothing is impossible, they are desperate.

There are allegations that your governor has penchant for abandoning projects , what do you make of this?

The thing is that this governor has done so much that our standards has risen high and our expectations and value system has also changed. Let me remind you that this administration is just three years old, show me any hospital in the South East that was built within the period of one year; show me any magnificent hospital built

by Ohakim before he left office ; show me one built by Udenwa for eight years before he left office and I will agree with you that we are abandoning project ; there is none . The point is that projects that normally take ten years to complete we have been completing in one year. The opposition are overwhelmed by the number of projects that are coming up day after day .Tell me what has not been completed, is it the 4 kilometres dualised road leading to Owerri from Aba? Dualisation of road leading to Owerri from Okigwe has been completed. We have done eight roundabouts. Ohakim spent four years without completing one. We have done seven pedestral bridges, Heros Square has been completed, magnificent primary school in Owerri has been completed ,the only bridge between Nwaorie and Nnekede which was started by Ohakim and abandoned has been completed

First of all there was never a directive from the state government or the governor to register any Northerner in the state or to be identified with identification card for what ever purpose in Imo State. It never happened . What really happened was that the governor alerted the state on the ploy of some wicked people who are very jealous of the security situation in the state.

It was through intelligence report that the bomb at the church was foiled.The governor used the opportunity to launch what we called ‘knowyour-neighbour’ campaign in the state. But it was the Hausa community on their own that said they want to know themselves to avoid any infiltration. They have gone on the air to say that they never had any discussion with the governor or any government official. It is unfortunate that the Senate hurriedly passed a resolution without seeking clarification.

Your governor recently said that he may not be seeking re-election to the Government House . The opposition said the governor knows that he will fail if he contest , what is your take ?

Well, I am not the governor that I will speak his mind but I know that since he declared his ambition for the presidency , Imolites are protesting against the move asking him to remain in Imo State. Now he has committed himself by telling Nigerians that he was coming to rescue Nigerians too, because he has the capacity using the experience he had in Imo State.

Nigerians are urging him to run , now Imolites are saying you cannot leave us , he is in a dilemma. As of popularity come back to Imo State and know who is popular. If the governor decides to contest today , he needs not a poster. There is no contest if the governor decides to run. Even if the governor decides to nominate any of his own for the governorship it is automatic victory because the people believe in his vision.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

zonal watch

OYO STATE OGUN STATE LAGOS STATE ONDO STATE EKITI STATE OSUN STATE Academic Staff Of Osun Tertiary Institutions Suspends 5-Month Strike

BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Five months after the closure of four tertiary institutions owned by Osun State government as a result of strike action, the academic and nonacademic staff of the institutions have agreed to suspend their action.

The unions suspended the action after the state government agreed to meet some of their demands.

The chairman of the Academic

Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and public relations officer of Council of Academic Staff Union of Osun State Owned Tertiary Institutions, Mr. Dotun Omisore disclosed the decision of the union to newsmen in Osogbo.

It would be recalled that the nonacademic staff union of the tertiary institutions had returned to work recently while the academic staff

resumed academic duties this week.

The affected institutions are Osun State Polytechnic, Ire, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State College of Education, IlaOrangun and Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.

Omisore said that the state government and the unions had agreed on some of the demands of the union and “we believe that we have to move on”.

He noted that the state government had signed into law the elongation of their retirement age from 60 to 65 years as it is obtained in the university system, adding that on the issue of contributory pension scheme, the state government has set up a ministerial committee to look at the problems associated with its implementation and members of the unions are part of the committee.

Kinya ‘Chidoka’s Appointment As Minister Won’t Affect FRSC’

BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan

Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle), deputy governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, special adviser to the governor on lands, Dr Ayo Owoade (right), during the commissioning of buses for public schools by Aregbesola’s administration at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.

Lagos: Fashola Vows To End Apapa Gridlock

BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

As Apapa traffic gridlock seems to defy solutions, Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has vowed to end the perennial vehicular congestion that has turned the roads in the axis to nightmare for motorists.

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

He said , “This is clearly

a multi-agencies problem involving the agencies of the federal government: Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC), Federal Ministry of Works and ports 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 as 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.”

He said concessioning of the ports is more than signing paper saying it requires people.

Aregbesola Launches 30 School Buses For Students

BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

A day after the landmark commissioning of 100 units of Handheld Ultrasound Scanners, four units of 3D Colour Doppler Scan machines and splashing of N370 million welfare scheme on women empowerment, the governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has added another feat in the chain of wel-

fare programmes as he launched 30 new civilian buses for students of public schools in the state.

Tagged “Omoluabi Scholar Bus”, the newly purchased civilian buses are meant to convey students from their respective homes to schools and back every school-day.

Aregbesola said if the government’s quest for enduring socio-economic progress is to be

achieved, government’s commitment to education and the future of the children cannot be superficial.

The governor said his administration embarked on this laudable programme because it was dangerous to play politics with the education of children.He highlighted the importance of education to the development of human capacity.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO) for Zone 11, Osogbo, assistant corps marshal, Sambo Kinya, has said that the appointment of the corps marshal and chief executive officer, Osita Chidoka as a minister would not affect the operations of the corps.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP at the official commissioning/dinner of FRSC’s Officer Mess Oyo State Command in Ibadan, he said whoever would take over from him, would have to improve on what is on ground.

He said the newly appointed minister had put in place a legacy that would be difficult for anybody to destroy.

According to him, as the corps marshal and chief executive officer of the FRSC, Chidoka has paid his dues and written his name in gold.

“Though, he came on board as underdog, within a shortest possible time he transformed the corps and makes things workable.

“So whoever is coming after him will have to improve on the service and manage the corps effectively,” he said.

Also speaking, the state Sector Commander, assistant corps marshal, Godwin Ogagaoghene said his appointment would not create vacuum, adding that it behooves on the leader to improve on what Chidoka left behind.

“There is no doubt that the CEO has left behind good legacy. He has contributed to the development of the FRSC and brings it to international standard. The leader has to build on this,” he said.

The two officers advised the management of the FRSC Officers’ Mess not to allow the love for money jeopardise the vision for the project adding that they should allow transparency and honesty to be their watchdog.

According to them, the idea is to provide an enabling environment for the officers to relax their brains after the day’s job and interact positively among themselves.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

news behind the news

Why Fashola Introduced Paternity Leave For Lagos Civil Servants

by GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Fashola led administration has provided the right to a 10-day job protected paternity leave for male workers in the state

There is no doubt in the hearts of the populace of Lagos State that Governor Babatunde Fashola has recorded an excellent performance as the state’s helmsman in the past seven years.

To further qualify his excellent performance beyond the rhetoric of political propaganda, he has continued calculatedly to implement the concepts of his administration transformation agenda not as a mere slogan but with assiduous speed and commitment.

Though these achievements recorded in various sectors in the state under his watch, to say the least are quite modest and sufficiently robust to justify the confidence of Lagosians, he recently left many tongues wagging when he tinkered with parental leave policies of the state.

The Babatunde Fashola led administration has provided the right to a 10-day job protected paternity leave for male workers in the state, thereby blazing the trail in family parenting policy in the country.

In the state’s previous policy, female officers were only entitled to twelve weeks (three months) maternity leave, while their male counterparts were not considered for paternity leave.

Fashola’s decisions attracted people’s attention because in spite of the fact that maternity leave policies were introduced more than a century ago as a way of protecting the health of women and children, men were never considered worthy of paternity leave.

As a way to encourage good parenting among its workforce, the Lagos State government has now extended the maternity leave of its female employees by three months bringing it to a total of six months, to enable them give the required attention to their new born babies in their first few months of life.

The policy which is in line with the state’s policy of exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of a baby’s life, will enable mothers take proper care of their babies and recover well from the stress of child birth before resuming work .

According to the head of service, Mrs. Josephine Oluseyi Williams, the Lagos Executive Council led by Governor Fashola approved the policy, “So that both the mother

and the child would have been strong enough to withstand the expected temporary separations that would be witnessed when the mother goes back to work.”

For the first time in the country, government has granted a 10working days paternity leave for male employees who may want to join their wives to achieve good parenting.

However, both the extension of maternity and the 10-day paternity leaves will apply only for the first two births of the couple after which the female employees revert to the old three months while the male employee ceases to enjoy such privilege.

Williams said the review of the leave policy was informed by government’s conviction that the inability of parents to adequately fulfill their parental role due to extensive work life account for some social ills in the society.

The head of service pointed out that the paramount consequences of extensive work life of career officers in the public service has been the reduced attention by such parents to the basic developmental needs of their infants especially during the first six months of their life.

She added that medical science has proved that the first few months of a child’s life play a very great role in the physical, mental and emotional development of the child.

The new leave gesture by government, she explained was further informed by the fact that nursing mothers leave their children in the hands of daycare nannies at such tender age of six weeks, adding that the level of concentration of such a nursing mother at her desk has always been less productive.

“However, at six months (i.e.

24 weeks), a baby is considered strong enough to be left in a decent crèche for proper care having gone through close affection and nurturing by the mother for those very important and delicate first few months of his/her life”, she said.

She urged all nursing parentemployees in the state public service to utilise the privilege to devote full attention to their children, “Thereby promoting emotional bonding between them and their children when it matters most.”

Williams appealed to other employers of labour in the state to emulate the gesture of the state government “In order to advance a balanced family work life with

Fashola

the ultimate intent of having future leaders who, as neonates, had enjoyed parental care and affection.”

On the health benefits of the new policy, special adviser to the governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina said aside the opportunity it presents for mother and child to enjoy emotional and social bond, the fathers will equally have the time to attend to his family needs.

She added that the advocacy for six months exclusive breastfeeding can now be achieved without any hindrance.

“Mothers will also have no excuse not to take their child for the regular immunisation within the period and also monitor the health of their babies adequately.

“It would allow the mothers stay with their children so that they can sense when they are having a fever, when they are feeding well and seek intervention early, this will go a long way to check the cases of maternal and child mortality. With the policy, both the babies and mothers are winners.”

Given the, physical, emotional and financial constraints that families with new children often face, civil servants who appraised the policy said the newly approved ten day paternity leave will help to manage whatever situation parents find themselves within the period.

Martins Alabi a civil servant

said, “This is a people oriented policy and we commend the governor and his team for reasoning in this direction, especially by considering the fact that the man of the house at the heat of the moment of his wife’s child birth are more or less not stable too and needs few day to put things in order.”

Another civil servant, Akande Taiwo who also spoke on the policy noted that, “ It is good policy. The governor is a clever person. What he did was just to legitimise the two weeks leave.

You can’t expect a man whose wife has put to bed to be 100 per cent focused on his job. His colleagues will always sort out ways to excuse him from official duties.

“Again if you look at it from a health perspective, especially as it concerns mothers, it is not surprising that these policies provide for sufficient time off from work for a woman to recover from childbirth and to be home breast-feeding.”

Although there is no consensus internationally as to how long parental leaves should last analysts say that Lagos State government by this policy has joined league of great nations now experimenting with ways to induce fathers to take more leave.

Canada for instance offers more than six months of childbirthrelated leave of 17 weeks maternity leave, plus 10 weeks of parental leave.

zonal watch (South-West) 39

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

project report

Apete: A Community Cut Off By Flood

by Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

The rain lasted for only four hours, but by the time sunshine returned to most parts of Ibadan in Oyo State, the people of Apete, to their consternation, discovered that they have been cut off from the rest of the state.

This is due to the fact that the only bridge that linked the community with other parts of the state had been washed away by flood.

After the disaster, the state government put in place a palliative pedestrian bridge to allow people have access to the rest of the state, pending the completion of the main bridge under construction.

However, following another heavy downpour, few days after the make shift bridge was put in place, it was again washed away with several lives reportedly lost.

Though, the state government debunked claims that lives were lost, residents who spoke with LEADERSHIP said the state government had not been fair to them.

They lamented that it was unfortunate that three years after the area recorded the first of such disasters, the government had refused to complete the main access bridge.

According to them, the idea to construct the Apete Bridge was mooted before that of Awolowo Way and Mokola over-head bridges, both of which has been completed.

They alleged that the huge money spent on the Mokola Bridge by the state government could have been spent on the Apete Bridge thereby saving lives that had been lost.

Though, the government had since then embarked on the reconstruction of the bridge as well as the rehabilitation of the road linking the Ijokodo junction along Sango/Eleyele road with the community, the slow pace of work had not helped the residents of the community.

People now have to pay N100 to motorcyclist to get to the bank of the bridge as against the old rate of N50.

With 2015 general elections fast approaching, politicians are now cashing in on the situation to woo voters by providing palliatives to their plight. Already, the state government has earmarked some buses to ferry the people across the make shift bridge while a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Seyi Makinde and the Accord Party were also not left out as they have also provided buses to convey people of Apete community.

But it is like a drop in the ocean as the vehicles are not enough to serve the community effectively.

Osoba

News Behind The News Those wishing to make use of the buses now have to queue for hours at both Apete and Sango terminals, while those who could not wait and have enough money make use of motorcycles.

Though, construction work is ongoing on the bridge, most of the residents wondered how long it would take the company handling the project to complete it.

They argued that the quick completion of the bridge would go a long way in alleviating their sufferings and probably restore their confidence in the state government.

One of the residents, Alhaja Risikat Alowonle. who spoke with our correspondent said, “We are back again on another agonising moment as residents of Apete because our movement in and out is now hampered”.

The woman, a private business owner in the community told our reporter that the concern of the residents “Is about quick completion of the bridge and not about palliative. Unfortunately, there seems not to be that seriousness as well as eagerness on the part of government to complete the job.

“Why are my saying so? Since the so-called pedestrian bridge has collapsed, nothing concrete could be said to have been done on the real bridge, yet, the government boasted that by September this year, the bridge would be completed, but, I don’t see that happening”, she said.

Makinde Abiodun, a motorcyclist plying Sango-Apete road, said that since August 26 last year, the community has been under siege of flood which has defied state government’s solution.

Abiodun who claimed that he had been plying the road for the past eight years, said the situation since last year had continued to degenerate.

According to him, both human and vehicular movements have been hindered as a result of the collapsed bridge which links the community with other parts of the state.

He said since the made-shift bridge collapsed, residents of the community have been suffering as

The Proxy War In Ogun

By Kazeem Akintunde, Lagos

Those who go on commercial motorcycle spend between N400 and N600 going in and out of the community

both social and economic activities in the area have been affected.

He explained that the ‘new’ road, Ajibode-Apete road which is about 15 kilometres makes the journey far too long and costly, saying “Those who go through the road are running at loss as there is no business to sustain what they spend on transportation on daily basis.

“Those who go on commercial motorcycle spend between N400 and N600 going in and out of the community. The most affected are school children whose schools are located outside the community as some of them who could not afford the transport fares have had to forfeit their terminal examinations,” he said.

While noting that state government cannot do it alone, he said the vehicles brought by the government; Accord Party and Seyi Makinde were not enough to convey the people, as there were many people queuing for the free ride.

He added that many of the school children would not get to their schools until 10am or 11am.

He lamented the failure of the government to quickly complete the bridge to alleviate the sufferings of the residents.

Also speaking, Ponle Adebayo, an estate manager, said most of the businesses in the community have been paralysed while people have continued to groan under high cost of transportation and living.

Meanwhile, the state government has assured the people of Apete community that another pedestrian bridge would be constructed for their use.The state commissioner for works, Mr. Bimbo Kolade noted that the second pedestrian bridge, on completion, would serve both pedestrians and commercial motorcyclists.

On Tuesday last week, the former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba clocked 75.

Though the birthday ‘boy’ deliberately stayed away from his Abeokuta residence due to his decision not to mark the day with fanfare, his fans and followers still turned his residence to a Mecca of sort.

A faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, loyal to the former governor converged at his residence to mark the day and to send a strong signal to the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun that they are solidly behind Osoba.

Indeed, at the birthday party, a member of the House of Representatives, Prince Adekunle Adeyemi, said the APC in the state had lost three of its four legs and that the party is only walking on one leg.

Adeyemi who represents Ifo/Ewekoro federal constituency insisted that the APC was now a one legged party that was no longer stable in the state. The deputy governor of the state, Prince Segun Adesegun, Senator Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka and the state chairman of the APC loyal to Osoba, Chief Olu Agemo were among the prominent people that attended the birthday party.

Since the crisis rocking the state APC began, Osoba had provided leadership to a faction of the party. And he has vowed to lead his group to “the promised land.”

LEADERSHIP investigation however revealed that the war in Ogun APC is more or less a proxy war as the actual combatants are Osoba and one of the leaders of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Sources told LEADERSHIP that Osoba was not happy with the way Asiwaju imposed Amosun on the leadership of the party in 2011 and has vowed to get his pound of flesh.

Already, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is aiming at benefiting from the crisis as Osoba and his group are now being courted to dump the APC for the PDP in the state. In fact, 10 APC members in the state House of Assembly and some in the House of Representatives have already concluded arrangement to dump the party for the PDP. The Social Democratic Party, SDP, is another political party waiting in the wing to benefitfrom the crisis as the leadership of the party has promised to make available its platform for the Osoba group.

A senior party official however said that the leadership of the party is working hard to resolve the crisis in Ogun.

‘What is happening there is more or less a proxy war. The real issue is between Asiwaju Tinubu and Aremo Osoba. They are now talking and I can assure you that the crisis will soon be over.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Iyobosa Uwugiaren Wednesday Periscope 08033143902

iyobosa@leadership.ng

Jonathan, Let The War Continue

A

s a journalist and a writer for over 20 years, I am very familiar with a trendy behaviour of a segment of the media audience or readers: they want you to, at all times, reflect or share their views. They don’t see anything wrong with this fashion. The day you coincidentally do that, it is all good; they will praise you to high heavens. But the day you do otherwise, they will label you as a hack writer or somebody doing the bidding of his/her paymaster.

And trust me: I have developed a hard skin for this behaviour; I don’t care any longer.

To be sure, by the time some perpetual cynics finish reading this piece, they would reason, unwisely, that somebody somewhere has paid me to do this piece or that I am defending President Goodluck Jonathan foolishly. A few of them might even reason that I am looking for a job from the Presidency.

But, like I said earlier, I am used to this foolish and senseless talk.

As a columnist with strong interest in current or burning issues, I know it is absolutely impossible not to be part of the ongoing debate about “the season of impeachment”, especially with the recent stand of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Confirm it: In the last few days, members of the opposition party have roundly blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and, by extension, President Jonathan for the impeachment of the civil war-mongering former governor of Adamawa State Murtala Nyako and the fear gripping other governors in the All Progressives Congress (APC) who, rightly or wrongly, believe they might be the next targets of Jonathan’s ongoing war against the opposition. To many members of the APC, Jonathan’s action in Adamawa State is treason and a dangerous road to anarchy. In fact, one of the owners of the party, Gen. Buhari, was more direct in his attack on Jonathan.

He described his action as declaration of war on Nigerians: “Our country has gone through several rough patches, but never before have I seen a Nigerian president declare war on his own country as we are seeing now. Never before have I seen a Nigerian pres-

Jonathan

Oyegun

ident deploy federal institutions in the service of partisanship as we are witnessing now. Never before have I seen has a Nigerian president utilize the common wealth to subvert the system and punish the opposition, all in the name of politics. Our nation has suffered serious consequences in the past for egregious acts that are not even close to what we are seeing now.’’

Hash and rash the criticisms against the president may have sounded, I can swear that Jonathan’s men are currently enjoying the musical sound - at least, it has proved that their boss cannot only bark but can also bite. But, for me, the immoral behaviour of the leaders of the APC is very pronounced in the matter. They are not telling members of the public that the impeachment process against Nyako was actually kick-started by one of their leaders, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, because he wants to have a strong base to launch his quivering and wobbling presidential ambition; and that the process was only hijacked by the PDP when there was suffocating pressure on Atiku to settle with Nyako. APC is very well known for propaganda in its political game and the party is living up to its expectation; their leaders have continued to present Jonathan as the devil in the current game. But, if this is what Buhari has called a declaration of war on Nigeria, I like the war; let it continue. The opposition may be thoughtless not to think that even when they have huge tags of “clueless”, “weak” and others around the president’s neck,

those who know the dirty game very well – including some of his personal staff members -- would not tell him to change the dance because the music has changed.

In line with the body language of the president who has been widely described as very “humble”, his political strategists may have thought in the party’s days that the only way to relate with the opposition -- in their propaganda -- was to unleash the truth about what their boss was doing relentlessly but positively to transform the country economically, politically and security-wise. They may have thought this method could help bring back the many people that have been seduced by the opposition in believing that Jonathan is Mr President-Do-Nothing.

However, events in the last few days have shown that the president’s men are more creative now. Their reasoning could be this: With the opposition controlling much of the traditional media, we need to use alternatives to wage our political war without shedding blood; and open media confrontation and argument with the opposition may be a waste of time.

Like it or not, one of these strategies, impeachment, is working very well; and let no self-acclaimed and partisan elder statesman see it as a declaration of war. If the opposition see it as a war, then, it is a war being waged without shedding blood, and it is good for Jonathan. As students of politics, we understand clearly the way the opposition think and reason – and their tactics: they are perpetually

at “war” with the ruling party and its values. They use politics as the means for their objectives. And, within this context, it is not expected that Jonathan’s men will continue to talk solely about the transformation agenda of the president – they must also be at war. So, let the war continue!

I am one of those who have severally criticised Jonathan for not firing his political foot soldiers and replacing them with fresh troops that are well-trained and ready to face the opposition or political enemies frontally with the right intensity and tactics to win a political war. My reason has been that, in the face of political terrorism by some voracious members of the opposition, Machiavelli’s debate on the place of morality in politics is justifiable. In The Prince, Machiavelli puts the case for political practicality in its starkest, most thrilling form. For those who do not know, the great political philosopher is associated with the separation of politics from conformist morality - the explanation of all means even the most unprincipled in the quest for political power. Forget the fact that Machiavelli has been denounced as a man enthused by the devil, as a morally wrong writer, an antiChristian, a supporter of unkindness and dictatorship and a “deliberate teacher of evil”. I share the view of many political thinkers who see Machiavelli as a practical person who recognises the unsympathetic realities of political life. In spite of criticisms of his academic works, he is praised as the first person to recognise the true nature of “reasons of state” and the place of “necessity” in political conduct. As documented by experts in political theories, in the doctrine of “reasons of state” what is essential to safeguard are the interests and security of the state, which take priority over all other considerations. “Necessity” knows no laws and morality has no place when the interests of the state are a stake.

Within the context of the ongoing propaganda by the opposition and their allies in the media, it is not democracy that is at stake. What is at stake is political terrorism that is being championed by some political extremists. And no weapon is too big to crush them.

However, events in the last few days have shown that the president’s men are more creative now.

Their reasoning could be this: With the opposition controlling much of the traditional media, we need to use alternatives to wage our political war without shedding blood

news NATIONAL 41

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Delta PDP Moves To Stop Ahmadu Ali’s Wife’s Senatorial Ambition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in Delta State are seem to be making secret plans to stop the senatorial ambition of Dr. (Mrs.) Mariam Ahmadu Ali, who wants to represent Delta North in the National Assembly.

This follows an alleged public show of shame between her and the state party chairman, Barr.

Peter Nwaoboshi.

Expectedly, the party’s secretariat was filled to the brim with senior women of the party, especially those from the Delta North Senatorial District, some party chieftains and other supporters who pledged their loyalty to another aspirant, Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi.

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Aregbesola Relocates 1,300 MDS Traders In Osun The Osun State government has relocated 1,300 displaced traders and shop owners whose structures were separated on MDS road, Osogbo, to a permanent site to cushion the effect of their displacement Besides, government has earmarked a sum of N2billion as compensation to the victims affected by the ongoing urban renewal programme of the state government.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who made the disclosure while handing over the land and the covering certificates to the victims at Osogbo, said he was overwhelmed by the achievements of his administration in the last three and half years.

He admitted that he was aware of the effect of the displacement on the traders and shop owners and counselled them to know that there is no gain without pain.

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

Umar Not Plotting Against Taraba PDP State Chairman – Aide The senior special adviser on political affairs to the acting governor of Taraba State, Senator Ibrahim Goje Gassol, has debunked insinuations in some quarters that the acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, was plotting a coup with some elements to destabilize the party and scuttle President Goodluck Jonathn’s 2015 presidential ambition in the state by removing the state party’s chairman, Mr. Victor Bala Kona.

Senator Goje, who stated this yesterday in Jalingo during an interview with LEADERSHIP at Government House, said Governor Umar had no plan to either remove the state party chairman from office.

By Andrew Ojih. Jalingo

Late Lukman, Most Respected Technocrat – ACF

BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has mourned the former minister of Petroleum Resources, the late Dr Rilwan Lukman, describing him as a nationalist and one of the most respected technocrats in the global oil industry whose wealth of experience in the sector will be greatly missed.

A statement issued by the national publicity secretary of the forum, Muhammad Ibrahim, and made available to LEADERSHIP in Kaduna yesterday said, “ACF learnt with grief and total submission to the will of Allah the passing on of Alhaji Dr. Rilwan Lukman, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, former OPEC President and former OPEC Secretary General.”

It describe the late Lukman as a trained mining engineer, oil economist of repute, a nationalist, an elder statesman, and a doyen in the global oil industry whose wealth of experience was a stabilizing factor in the oil industry.

“Dr. Lukman made an indelible footprints in the petroleum sector and promoted the Nigerian oil industry to global recognition

through hardwork, oil diplomacy, accountability and transparency at all levels. Nigeria and indeed the world have lost one of the most respected technocrats in the global oil industry.

“ACF, the North and, indeed, Nigeria have lost an illustrious citizen who dedicated his life to the service of Nigeria and the world,” it said.

short news Niger Connects 100 Villages To National Grid Niger State government has connected over one-hundred communities in the State have been connected to the National grid by the Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu led administration.

The Director, Mechanical and Electrical Services in the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructures Development, Engr.

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Bar Yinka Farounbi, Executive director, Women Arise and Documentation Centre Ishaq Mohammad (WARDC), Dr. Biola Akiyode-Afolabi and President, Women Arise Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, during Bamidele Aturu colloquium Lapai stated this in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA. while giving the analysis of the activities of the service yesterday in Minna.

He stated that as Accirding to him, government

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina He lauded the support of the parts of improving has been consistent in the free Gates Foundation and charged The Bill and Melinda Gates Foun- drugs programme and distribu- health personnel to ensure the electricity supply in dation has donated anti-malarial tion of free long lasting insecti- drugs were judiciously utilised for the state obsolete drugs worth hundreds of thousand cide-treated nets. transformers in purposes they were meant. of naira to Mashi local government most areas in the Majigiri, a native of Mashi, In an interview with our correarea of Katsina State. state were replaced urged nursing mothers to vis- spondent, the Mashi LGA malaria The drugs were for seasonal ma- it health centres where the drugs prevention officer, Suleiman Sani with new ones. laria chemo prevention and would would be distributed in order to Mashi, said the Gates Foundation Lapai said be administered to babies between access them upon payment of a also provided training and equipgovernment is the ages of three months and 59 token. working assidument worth N700, 000 to health months. ously to complete He insisted that the donation personnel in the area.

Speaking during the distribution and support given to the state by other electrification “This is a boost to the sustained of the drugs, Chief of Staff at Katsi- the Gates Foundation and other fight against malaria and we will projects across the na Government House, Salisu Yu- development partners were in line ensure that the drugs are adminstate. suf Majigiri said the state was win- with the state government’s deter- istered properly so as to derive the Abu Nmodu ning the war against malaria. mination to reposition the state. maximum benefits,” he stated.

Minna,

Bill Gates Donates Anti-Malaria Drugs To Katsina

2015: Amaechi’s Aides, NASS Members Lead APC C’ttees

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

Aides of Rivers State governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and members of the National Assembly were yesterday inaugurated as chairmen of working committees of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in preparation for the 2015 general elections in the state.

The governor’s aides include the commissioner for Information and Communication Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the attorney-general and commissioner for Justice Wogu Boms, commissioner for Lands Ezemonye

Ezekiel-Amadi and the aole Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, are chairmen of Publicity /Media, Legal Matters, Electoral Matters, and Finance Committees, respectively.

Also, members of the National Assembly, including the senators representing Rivers South East and Rivers West districts, Magnus Abe, and Wilson Ake as well as the members representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro and Asari-Toru/AkukuToru Federal Constituencies in the House of Representatives, Dakuku

Peterside and Dawari George, are heading the Research/Planning, Disciplinary, Contact and Monitoring Committees of the party, respectively.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi urged the leadership and members of the committees to work assiduously to ensure the APC liberates the state in 2015, so as to bring in the much needed change.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Tele Ikuru, said: “Because, we have special-

ly selected each and every one of you, the livewire of this party has been given into your hands. Individually and collectively, the success of this party from this moment on is in your hands.

“What you will do, will determine if we are going to succeed or if we are going to fail. If your responsibility is to raise resources, please, do it as if it is the last job you have to do on earth, and as much money as possible. If your job is to mobilise the people of Rivers State, put everything into it as if your life depends on it.”

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stories of the Wednesday, July 23, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

SMUGGLING: 2 Killed As Customs Men, Smugglers Clash

By Abdullahi Olesin , Ilorin

Two people were feared killed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital yesterday, during a clash between men of the Nigerian Customs and smugglers .

It was gathered that the incident occurred when Customs men were pursuing a vehicle allegedly carrying smuggled cosmetics products into the city having evaded arrest.

Sources said that the driver of the vehicle was chased to Saw Mill area of the metropolis where firing of gun shots filled the area.

According to eyewitnesses, two people were killed by strayed bullets fired by the men of the Customs.

When contacted, the spokesman of the state Police Command, Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the death of one person, adding that the corpse had since been taken to a hospital morgue.

Okasanmi, who said no arrest had been made on the incident, also said that normalcy had returned to the area.

Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II (centre), entertaining orphans at the Kano Nassarawa orphanage home when he paid them a visit, yesterday.

MURDER: Man In Police Net For

Stabbing Wife To Death Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta

KIDNAP: 4 Suspects Invade Ibadan Girls’ School, 1 Arrested Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Four suspected kidnappers on Monday invaded Onireke Girls’ High School, Ibadan, Oyo State, thereby bringing academic and non-academic activities to a halt.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspected kidnappers, who were said to have dressed like mad persons, have been terrorizing students and staff of the school in the last few weeks.

They were again sighted on Monday by a food vendor and some students of the school inside a bush located at the back of one of the classroom blocks within the premises of the girls college.

This consequently led to confusion as students of the school, including those sitting for the Junior Secondary School (JSS) examination, reportedly scampered for safety.

It was gathered that some of the students rushed to inform the vice-principal of the school (name withheld) of the presence of the hoodlums within the school premises.

The vice-principal reportedly followed them to the scene to confirm the report, but on getting there, one of the suspected kidnappers came out of the bush and attempted to attack him.

This situation made the vice-principal to alert the school’s gate-keeper and some male teachers, who immediately chased the hoodlums to their hideout.

The brave teachers and the vice-principal, were, however, able to capture one of the hoodlums, while their hideout was thoroughly combed.

Detectives attached to Ishara Division of the Ogun State Police Command, have arrested one Gbenga Ogunfolabo, 47, at Ishara in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State, for stabbing his wife, Bosede Ogunfolabo, to death with broken bottle during a fight.

According to a statement by the Command’s PPRO Muyiwa Adejobi, the incident occurred on 16th July but no one reported the case to the police as the families concerned wanted to sweep the matter under the carpet as a result of pressure mounted on the deceased’s family by the family of the suspect but one of the relatives of the deceased decided to report the matter to the police.

Upon investigation, it was gathered that the couple had eight children but lost two of them to sickness and that the husband, who is a farmer, has been maltreating the deceased, a

petty trader, before he eventually stabbed her to death.

Adejobi further stated that the Commissioner for Police in the state , Ikemefuna Okoye, has directed that the case be transferred to Eleweran, the Force headquarters in the state.

“The Commissioner for Police, Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye, has directed that the matter be transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation; and has advised the general public to always report cases of this nature or any other crimes to the police,” Adejobi said.

According to him, this would allow the police to have records of crimes committed in the state and to allow justice have its way.

The commissioner for police also assured the general public of the command’s commitment in making sure that every case reported to the police would be adequately investigated and offenders prosecuted.

BUSINESSMAN’S ARREST: Police Deny Involvement Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

The Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adebayo Ojo, yesterday said his ministry had nothing to do with the arrest of the Ibadan businessman and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Pelly Foam Industry, Mr. Dapo Davies.

Following a bench warrant issued on him by Justice Aderonke Aderemi of the Oyo State High Court, Davies was arrested by men of the Oyo State Police Command about 12 days ago and still being detained at the state CID, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

The bench warrant issued on him by Justice Aderemi was in reaction to petitions written by the businessman against the Judge to the Chief Judge of Nigeria, Aloma Mariam Mukhar; the Chief Judge of Oyo

State, Bolajoko Adeniji and the National Judicial Commission(NJC).

Counsel to the detained Ibadan businessman, Akin Ladipo, had expressed disappointment at the development, saying it was unfortunate that police could still go ahead to arrest his client despite the fact that an application for a stay of proceeding, had been filed before the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan .

According to Ladipo, a date has already been fixed by the Appeal Court for hearing on the application, and both the Oyo State Commissioner for Police and the Court were properly served with the papers.

But speaking in a telephone interview with newsmen in Ibadan, Ojo maintained that the Ministry of Justice was not a party in the matter.

INTERNET SCAM: Delta Records 211 Cases In 6 Weeks

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Hoodlums operating in major cities across Delta State, have shifted their operations to the Internet, with no fewer than 211 fraud cases recorded by the police in the last six weeks.

Sources say while Internet fraud booms in Warri, Asaba, and other major towns in the state, the hoodlums in their modus operandi, have perfected unsuspecting skills to rip-off huge sums of money off unsuspecting users.

Expectedly, bank customers in Ibadan, Lagos and Asaba, Delta State, have urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to devise ways of stemming Internet fraud in order to kindle people’s confidence in the cashless policy recently introduced by the CBN authorities.

Some bank customers who spoke to our correspondent on the prevalence of Internet fraud in the banking system, disclosed that the situation might make it difficult for a number of people to embrace the cashless policy.

One of the customers, Mrs. Esther Ogbeide, a business woman in Asaba, however, expressed pessimism over the level of acceptability the policy would have among Nigerians, saying, “Personally, I do not support the cashless policy and I will not do so unless the CBN can guarantee that if we embrace it, we will not experience online banking fraud”.

A trader, Mrs., Anwulika Ezeuchu, who also spoke on the issue, explained that the CBN should ensure that the policy would be operated smoothly and effectively in ensuring that cyber crime and theft were adequately checked.

She, however, admitted that the policy would discourage improvement of physical cash and reduce the rate of robbery in the country, saying that when it is properly implemented; the high quality of services should be sustained.

STORIES OF THE DAY 43

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

day

photo news

Drugs: Navy Arrests 20 Illicit Drug Dealers

By OKECHUKWU OBETA, Anambra

The Navy have arrested about 20 hard drug peddlers in Anambra State and have promised to make every part of the state, especially, Onitsha, the state’s commercial city, inhabitable for both the dealers and those who patronize their illegal trade.

The navy acted on intelligence report and arrested the illicit drug dealers at Nsugbe near Onitsha.

The Commanding Officer of Navy OutPost, Onitsha, Navy Capt. Mike Oamen, who briefed newsmen yesterday about the arrest of the drug dealers said that it was only by fighting hard drug that the war against criminals and their syndicates could be won.

He stated that those arrested were essentially selling and smuggling bags of hard drugs such as cannabis and other body/ brain stimulants in the community.

Oamen said,``So, what we have done is to make sure that we begin to deal with the root causes of criminality. ``After exhaustive discussion, especially at the Security Council meeting, we decided that we should begin to look at how to reduce to the barest minimum, the availability of illegal drugs in Onitsha, Obosi; so that it would also have an impact on the level of crime and criminality within the state. ``We try to work on getting intelligence, credible intelligence, actionable intelligence so that we can swoop on them.

L-R: Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Dauda; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and deputy Inspector-General of Police, Atiku Yusufu during the maiden AIG Medical Conference 2014 in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY OKEKE JANE

ACCIDENT: Tipper Crushes Housewife, 2 Others

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A tipper driver, identified as David Ofor, in Okpanam Community, near Asaba, Delta State, who claimed to have lost control after his brake failed, killing a housewife and two others, on the spot, is currently helping the police at the state CID, the state police command.

Reports said that that the incident which occurred on Monday afternoon attracted hundreds of passers- by including sympathizers where the tipper-lorry driver allegedly crushed the victims to death.

Eye witness said that one of the victims, a mother of one, and two others where by the

road side waiting for commercial taxi to Asaba when the tipper-lorry crashed into them killing them on the spot.

But police public relations officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed that the suspect upon interrogation confessed that he lost his brake while in motion and could not control his speed rate, thereby crashing into the victims.

She added that he would be charged to court on completion of investigation.

Expectedly, residents of Okpanam community, including the husband of the victim, have been thrown into mourning and confusion over what they described as mysterious death of the housewife and two others.

L-R: Representatives of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)/Special assistant to the President, Office of the SGF, Mr Ferdinand Agu; director-general, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr Chris Onyemenam, and permanent secretary, Ministry of Communication, Dr Tunji Olaopa, during the harmonisation meeting of the NIMC in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH

Stolen Babies: Police Arrest Traffickers In Abia

by MATTHIAS NWOGU, Umuahia

Abia State Police command have arrested three persons from Adamawa State as they attempted to sell two babies.

Two women, who claimed to be the mothers of the babies were also arrested.

Briefing newsmen in Umuahia yesterday the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Geofrey Ogbonna said the lid was blown open when one Amarachi Uchendu of Umuode village reported to the police the suspicious movements of the suspects, who were said to be returnees from Adama-

wa State.

The PPRO, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adamu Ibrahim, said Uchendu had reported, “That one Prince Onyeukwu Onyeze in the company of Chinwendu Mbogu and her sister Uzoamaka Mbog, who reside in Adamawa state came with two female babies aged 8 months and three weeks old.

According to the police, the two women had claimed that they were the mothers of the babies and were brought to God’s Favour hospital at 8 Umunkwuocha street, Umuode Aba for treatment because they sick.

Drugs: NDLEA Nab Unemployed Graduate

BY NKEM OSUAgWU,Lagos, Benin City

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a graduate of Business Administration with 2.185kg of substances suspected to be methamphetamine.

The seizure was made at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

He was to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Malaysia when the drug was detected in his bag.

NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspect was found in possession of the illicit substance.

According to Hamza, “We have arrested one Ifeanacho Somadina Victor with

substance suspected to be hard drugs.

He had parcels of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine. The case is under investigation”.

The suspect said that he smuggled drugs out of frustration. “I am a graduate of Business Administration but have been jobless since I graduated in 2008. After several years of joblessness, I became a commercial bus driver in Lagos. I am single and live in Badagry. A man I met at an hotel promised to assist me in getting a job in Malaysia. I was happy to travel out of the country even with drugs out of frustration but I was arrested in the process. They promised to pay me $3,500 but I regret everything now because I feel empty inside”.

L-R: Member, Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Ambassador Theophilus Shodipo; chairman of the council, Gen Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), and director, office of the minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sola Enikanolaiye, at the 17th brainstorming session in Lagos, yesterday. Photo By Nan

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Berger Paints, Mr Jatin Madan; outgoing chairman, Mr Clement Olowokande, and managing director, Mr Tor Nygard during Berger Paints’ conference in Lagos. PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI

44 news NATIONAL INEC Sets August 4 Deadline For Distribution Of PVC In Osun The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has fixed August 4 as deadline for the distribution of permanent voter cards (PVC) to give room for concentration on the August 9, governorship election in the state.

The state resident electoral commissioner, Mr Olusegun Agbaje stated this yesterday at an interactive session held with Christian and Muslim leaders in the state at Osogbo, the state capital.The interactive session which was part of the commission’s efforts towards ensuring peaceful governorship election in the state were led by the chairman of the state Muslim community Sheikh Salahudeen.

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

EFCC Declares Nyako Wanted

Barely a week after his impeachment, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the former Adamawa State governor Murtala Nyako wanted. the leadership of the commission was said to have decided to declare Nyako wanted after he failed to honour the commission’s series of invitations after his removal from office.

EFCC head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, also told of a Lagos-based newspaper during a telephone interview in yesterday that the commission took the decision to declare Nyako wanted because was been elusive.

Uwujaren said, “Since Nyako, was removed, he has been elusive. So the commission has devised a strategy to declare him wanted”.

By Bode Gbadebo, Abuja

Group Postpones Late Gen Hassan Katsina Memorial Lecture A group, the Gamji Members Association of Nigeria, has announced the postponement of the late Gen Hassan Katsina Memorial Lecture scheduled for July 26.

The postponement was disclosed yesterday in a statement signed by the association’s national president, Alhaji Abdullahi Bala Isa, who stated that the postponement was informed by the preparation and celebration of the Idel-Fitr.

The association said that a new date for the event, which will be chaired by former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, would be communicated to the general public in due course.

Isa added that the association regretted any inconvenience the postponement would have caused invited guests and other Nigerians.

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Marwa Declares Guber Ambition, Promises To Rescue Adamawa He’s not qualified to contest on PDP platform- Ardo

By MOHAMMED ISMAIL,Yola

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Adamawa State and former military administrator of Borno and Lagos states, General Muhammadu Buba Marwa (rtd) has declared his gubernatorial ambition following the impeachment

of Governor Murtala Nyako and resignation of his deputy, Bala James Ngillari, respectively.

Marwa, who made the declaration at the Conference Hall of Lelewal Motel in Yola took time to tell the delegates and party leaders of Adamawa Central Senatorial District his reasons for entering the race saying he wants to salvage state.

He said, “You are aware of the development in our state

as the governor was impeached while his deputy had resigned and the speaker is acting governor necessitating the conduct of an election in the next three months as stipulated by the constitution.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the PDP in the state and a former gubernatorial aspirant, Dr. Umar Ardo has declared the aspiration of Marwa null and void, saying the party will never ac-

cept his aspiration as he remains a fugitive and prodigal son having defected to the APC before defecting back to the party recently.

He said the party’s constitution on people who defected out of the party and later come back to its fold was clear as any affected party member would have to wait for a year before contesting for any office or has to be given waiver.

short news PDP Faults APC Attacks Miffed by the barrage of attacks by leaders of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) over impeachment incidents in Adamawa and Nasarawa states, the the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the opposition party of ”Being on a march to truncate the nation’s democracy” citing their attacks against critical institutions in the country.

The ruling party L-R: Nigerian businessman, Alhaji Ibrahim Nasidi, Saudi Arabian official, Vice President Namadi Sambo and Nigeria’s Ambassador to also described leaders of the APC who Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Abubakar Shehu Bunu, performing lesser hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Monday. PHOTO BY NAN. have accused the PDP and presidency of instigating the impeachment as crying more than the

BY ALIYU YUSUF, Zaria al Peace Foundation in Zaria to unite for the future of our chilbereaved. said ,the Holy Quran and Bible dren, their future is at stake unThey specifically A former vice chancellor of the had not encouraged quarrel be- less something is quickly done to noted that comments Ahmadu Bello University(ABU), tween adherents of the two reli- save their future,” he said. by the former Zaria, Prof. Ango Abdullahi has gions but to his dismay only the He urged the followers of the head of state, Gen appealed to Muslims and Chris- followers have conflicts. two religions to utilise this opMuhammad Buhari, tians to live in peace and unity According to him “My cul- portunity to practically demonover the state of for the purpose of socio-econom- ture and background teaches strate the article of their faith affairs in the country ic development. me to work with one another ir- by promoting peace, unity and were weighty but Professor Abdullahi who spoke respective of tribe, religion and tolerance for the advancement baseless. at an Interfaith youth leaders back ground.” of the north and the country at retreat organised by the GlobBy Chibuzo “Therefore we all have a duty large.

Ukaibe, Abuja

Ango Abdullahi Appeals For Peace, Unity

Doctors’ Strike: Reps Mull Privatisation Of Government Hospitals By

Edegbe Odemwingie, and Abu-

ja, Adesuwa Tsan

With the federal government’s inability to meet striking doctors’ N13 billion wage demands for 2014, the House of Representatives Committee on Health hinted it will be recommending the privatisation of medical centres and hospitals maintained by government.

The hint was dropped at the third reconciliatory meeting be-

tween the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry convened by the Ndudi Elumelu-led House of Representatives Committee on Health.

At the meeting, Elumelu called for alternative ways of funding the country’s health sector which according to him has been paralysed by incessant strikes.

Nigeria’s finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was represented by the direc-

tor-general of the Budget Office of the Federation, Bright Okogu reported that government was presently battling with general wage bill which has risen from N857 billion in 2009 to N1.8 trillion in 2014.

Okogu however cautioned the House Committee against privatisation of government hospitals insisting that such policy will be detrimental to poor Nigerians.

He said government’s presence was needed in the health sector,

same as education.

He said, “I have my personal view on this matter which necessarily I don’t have to bring here, but professionally, I believe that you do need the presence of the government in the health sector, same as education.

“The extent of it is really the issue, I don’t think we are advocating 100 per cent absence of government in respect to the health sector, that is not my own position.

NEWS 45

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

2014 Guber Poll:

OsunDECIDES

Saturday, August 9

Aregbesola’s Performance Sufficient To PDP Govt Will Focus On Welfare Of Osun Guarantee Re-election – Ajimobi People – Fadahunsi

Oyo State governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi has said that the landmark achievement of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State is sufficient to guarantee his reelection.

Addressing a mammoth crowd of APC supporters at the mega rally held at Unity High School, Ejigbo, Governor Ajimobi said the people of Osun were aware of the laudable programmes and projects embarked upon

by Aregbesola’s administration and would want the good works to continue.

Ajimobi, however, enjoined electorate in the state to ignore the alleged threat of intimidation of the electorate with security agents by opposition party, adding that security agents would be on ground to ensure a hitch -free election Also speaking, Gover-

nor Aregbesola described as false the rumour making the rounds that he had a plan to impose a burden in terms of tax and levies on private schools in the state.

According to him, Aregbesola’s commitment to education as demonstrated in his people-oriented education programmes and projects should be enough to show people that he could not embark on things that will adversely affect childeducation in the state.

On the alleged threat of intimidation by security agents, Aregbesola said he was not scared of police arrest over the August 9 governorship election.

Governor Aregbesola said that all the chieftains of APC in the state were ready for police arrest, adding that the arrest of APC leadership will

Aregbesola

not prevent people from casting their votes for the party.

He also called on the people not to be intimidated by the threat of arrest by the police, stressing that they were available for police arrest “if that is what the PDP led federal government want to do with the deployment of heavy soldiers and other security operatives to the state.”

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in South West, Chief Francis Adenigbagbe Fadahunsi has said that a PDP-led government in Osun State will focus the welfare of the people of the State.

Addressing PDP supporters drawn from IkinyinwaIjesa, Iponda, Ilowa-ijesa, Ibala-Ijesa, Eesun, Idoka and Idominasi at Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun local government, Chief Fadahunsi assured the people that a Senator Iyiola Omisore-led government in Osun will develop rural communities.

While identifying the needs of the communities as the provision of roads, potable water, electricity, market and town halls among others, Fadahunsi noted that Omisore was aware of the need to provide infrastructure that

would tackle rural-urban migration.

The retired deputy controller of Customs charged the electorate in the communities to vote massively for the candidate of the PDP on August 9 to open door for dividend of democracy in the area.

He also stressed the need for Osun State to fall in line with the states that are controlled by PDP so that they will enjoy a direct link with the federal government.

Fadahunsi enjoined the people to ensure that they collect their permanent voter cards at the appropriate quarters and not only vote but ensure that their votes count.

He counselled the electorate about the imminent presence of security agents before, during and after the election, explain-

Omisore

ing that they were coming to ensure a hitch-free election, and not to intimidate voters.

According to him, the distribution of 66,000 litres of kerosene by his foundation to the people of Ede, irrespective of their political affiliation, was to demonstrate PDP’s commitment to the welfare of the people.

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

NATIONAL NEWS Niger Connects 100 Villages To National Grid Over 100 communities in the state have been connected to the national grid by the Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu-led administration.

The director, Mechanical and Electrical Services in the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development, Engr. Ishaq Mohammad Lapai, stated this while giving the analysis of the activities of the service yesterday in Minna.

He stated that as part of improving electricity supply in the state, obsolete transformers in most areas in the state were replaced with new ones.

Lapai said government was working assiduously to enhance speedy completion of other electrification projects across the state before the expiry of the administration.

Also, as part of effort to improve in Minna metropolis, he said that 33kv injection room had been installed at Zarumai and Maikunkele National Independent Power Plant (NIPP) whereas solar-powered streetlights were installed on major roads in Minna town.

He, however, lamented the activities of vandals, reckless motorists and miscreants who are in the habit of sabotaging the good intention of the government.

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

Thugs Assault Ebonyi Female Lawmaker

BY OBINNA OGBONNAYA, Abakaliki

Thugs suspected to be loyal to the former Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Chukwuma Nwazunku, yesterday attacked the lawmaker for Ohaozara East State constituency, Hon Amaka Nwene along Lawrence Onoh Street, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

Narrating her ordeal, the female lawmaker told journalist that she was attacked while on her way to the residence of Hon Ikechukwu Ogbu where members of the House were holding a meeting with the new Speaker, Hon Helen Nwoboshi.

According to her, “It happened while I was on my way to the residence of my colleague, Hon Ikechukwu Ogbo, where we were expected

to hold a crucial meeting to iron out some issues concerning the impeachment of the former Speaker. On getting to the junction leading to his house along Lawrence Onoh Street, some boys approached me and waved down my car.

“I stopped to know what was happening, they beckoned on me to wind down my glass which I did; I was not suspicious of anything. They asked me that I had the courage to join the group that impeached Hon Nwazunku, then I knew I was in danger; as I tried to reply to their question, immediately one brought a bowl of dirty water and poured it on me.

“At that point my driver had to immediately zoom off to avert further attack. It was a harrowing experience. The way the boys of the for-

mer speaker are carrying on with the matter is not just barbaric, but uncivilized.”

Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly yesterday gave the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Chukwuma Nwazunku, till tomorrow to provide the N120 million given to him for members of the House by the state government to pay up the amount for the purchase of their official vehicles. He denies any wrongdoing.

A lawmaker Hon Frank Onwe said that members of the House, including those loyal to the former speaker, were shocked when, during their meeting, the governor asked the Speaker if he had released to the lawmakers the N120 million released to them through him.

Fayemi Reversed Victory Concession Over APC Petition – Fayose

BY ALO ABIOLA, Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said that Governor Kayode Fayemi’s concession reversal to his victory at the June 21 election is to give a little bite to the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against his election.

He also promised not to interfere in the selection of the PDP candi-

dates in the state for the 2015 general election.

Fayose, who stated this while featuring on a local radio station programme in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, yesterday, said, “APC and its leaders felt that by accepting defeat, Fayemi has shot their suit in the leg, but they are still wrong”.

“APC won in only 16 wards out of 177 wards in the state during the

election. Fayemi called me by himself for a meeting after the poll and congratulated me and promised that we will work together for a smooth transition.

“We submitted names for the membership of the Transition Committee and we are yet to hear anything from them. If one is inconsistent he will end up making himself a jester,” he said.

SHORT NEWS Why We Want Olejeme As Delta Governor – Itsekiri leaders Prominent Itsekiri leaders on sunday advised Deltans at home and abroad not to focus on gender but to look at the individual’s qualities and what he or she has to offer.

They also described the chairman, Board of Directors of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr Ngozi Olejeme as an honest, simple and accomplished administrator.

They said: “Dr Olejeme has the knowledge and the skills to succeed in the state. So we are mobilising our people, friends and in-laws across the state. We are quite confident that she would become governor in 2015.”

By Kola EkeOgiugo, Asaba

46 news NATIONAL

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Fear Of Boko Haram: Soldiers Deserting Force – Army chief

By Matthew Dike and George Okojie, Lagos

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Kenneth Minimah has revealed that some army personnel have abandoned the force due to the fear of the terrorists group Boko Haram.

Minimah, who gave the warning during a working tour of Lagos and its environs yesterday, condemned the actions of some soldiers who deserted the Force for fear of engaging in battle against the terrorist group Boko Haram.

Minimah said such actions by the soldiers vividly showed that they joined the force for the wrong reasons.

“Sometimes, journalists ask me questions, saying soldiers are deserting their jobs because they don’t want to be killed in the North East. I tell them yes, it is true. Desertion is part of war. A real soldier is known when he is put in the warfront. The one who is not a soldier would run away and abandon his job.

Our soldiers are recruited from the Nigerian society and, today, most people are not called to be soldiers,

they joined because they are desperately in need of jobs. “ As long as there is war, there would continue to be desertion and there would continue to be recruitment. Since Alexander The Great, soldiers have been deserting.

In the Second World War, there was desertion and even in the Nigeria Civil War, people deserted. It is only in peacetime that you don’t see people deserting.

But those who volunteer to fight and defend their nation do not desert; they fight until there is victory.”

Lt.-Gen. Minimah also warned soldiers resident in Lagos to obey the laws of the state and be of good behaviour.

He said: “As a disciplined institution (Army) we have an image to protect.

I would admonish you to be of good conduct whether in uniform or not. Conduct yourselves very well.

Do not be involved in any questionable movement.

“Respect the rule of law.

Respect the laws of Lagos.

Lagos State has laws that are made by legislators, you must respect those laws. I am also talking about the BRT lanes. Try and ensure

that you don’t use the BRT lanes. The essence of BRT lanes is to encourage the use of public transportation by car owners so as to reduce traffic on our roads.

“The other time a soldier was mistakenly killed and hoodlums took advantage of the incident to attack buses. I want to say that it was not the army who destroyed those buses.”

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday urged the Lt.-Gen Minimah lay off bad eggs in the Nigerian Army who are tainting the nation’s military institution.

Fashola who said this when the Lt. General Minimah paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Marina noted that like other institutions in the country, there are bad eggs in the Nigerian Army and everything must be done to purge them out.

“Nigerian Army has done very well for Nigeria as a body but like every institution, there are bad eggs within the institution.

They are in the minority and we must continue to do everything possible to show them up for who they are,” he said.

Doctors’ Strike: Private Hospital Offers Free Services

By Victor Okeke, Abuja

In order to cushion the effect of doctors strike on health seeking Nigerians in the country, a private hospital in Abuja is offering free medical services to indigent Nigerians.

The Nigerian Medical association (NMA) had directed its members across the country in public health facilities to embark on an

indefinite strike to press home its demands since July 1.

Speaking to journalists yesterday to flag off the initiative, a medical doctor at Alliance Hospital, Abuja, Okorie Ogbonnaya, said that the services would be very extensive as it would cover general primary care conditions and specialist care conditions like radiology, paediatrics, obstetrics

and gynaecology, dentistry, ophthalmology, urology and orthopaedics.

He said, “We hope it will alleviate the suffering of Nigerians because of the ongoing dispute between medical doctors and the federal government.”

Ogbonnaya said that the services would cover admission and treatment up to the carrying capacity of the hospital.

STF Restores 180 Rustled Cows To Owners In Kanke LG

By Achor Abimaje, Jos

The Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis, code- named ‘Operation Safe Haven’, has reiterated its readiness to respond to any act of criminality and all forms of threats reported to it STF spokesman, Captain Ikedich Iweala, who made this known in a press statement made available to journalists in Jos yesterday, assured citizens of Plateau of their safety at all times.

The statement reads in part. “At about 0100hrs on

July 19, personnel of the STF at Kuba checkpoint in Bokkos local government area intercepted a gang of armed robbers and, in ensuing shootout with its members, four of the robbers lost their lives while four of the robbers were arrested, including two women “ Two locally made pistols, one locally made revolver, 1 AK 47 rifle, six rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a box containing assorted documents were recovered from them.”

According to the state-

ment, men of the STF in Barkin Ladi also intercepted and returned to their owners about 1800 rustled cows, on 8 July 8.

It said that armed youths had rustled the 188 cattle and killed three herdsmen in Kanke LGA, but on receiving information, troops conducted an aggressive search of the area leading to the recovery of the rustled cattle and the arrest of a suspect while efforts are on to arrest other members of the syndicate who are on the run are on top gear.

ISSUES 47

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Power Sector, One Regulatory Agency Too Many By okezie r. okezie

The indication came a few weeks ago when the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale was guest to the Ray Power morning radio programme – Political Platform – through which he informed the public that, as part of measures to ensure improvement in electric power delivery, a new bill was in the works in the National Assembly; that such a bill will establish another agency which “will regulate the technical aspect” whilst the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) “will regulate the intellectual aspect” of the power sector.

At first, I got nonplussed: two regulatory agencies for the provision of electricity in Nigeria – one regulating the “intellectual aspect” and the other regulating the “technical aspect”? Later, I resigned myself to the belief that I heard Hon. Ikhariale wrongly. But I was wrong on the letter as the Bill for the establishment of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority (NEMSA), 2014, has actually gone through first and second readings and is presently at the House Committee stage.

And for this, a public hearing has commenced.

The questions that agitate the mind are: Is another government agency – NEMSA – desirable in the face of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)?

If it is different from NERC, is it or will it be different from the defunct NEPA? What is the wisdom underlying the dissolution of NEPA with the attendant huge severance / emolument bills to the taxpayer while establishing a fullscale agency that will be assigned the responsibility that the law empowered NEPA to undertake and discharge? How sincere and sensitive is the National Assembly (NASS) to its oft-deprecation of recurrent expenditure gulping almost the whole budgetary provision? Is NASS mindful of the

dilemma the federal government faces in the face of the Steve Oronsanye Committee Report? Is the creation of an additional agency for the regulation of activities for the provision of electricity in Nigeria very compelling at the moment?

Let’s see some of the functions of NEMSA as assigned under Section 6 of the Bill (which provisions are not only too verbose but highly repetitive).

To specify conditions for installation of meters for transmission systems, distribution networks and supply of electricity; to regularly monitor the compliance level of the regulations, standards and specifications; to enforce all statutory technical electrical standards and regulations, in particular, but not limited to, Regulations No. S.L 5 of 1996 (Electrical Installation Regulations) and Regulations No. S.1. 6 or 1996; to carry out electrical inspectorate services; to ensure all electrical materials and equipment used in Nigeria are of the right quality and standards; to ensure that the power systems and networks put in place have been properly executed before use.

Others include to ensure such systems are capable of delivering safe, reliable and sustainable electricity supply to consumers nationwide; to specify technical standards for electrical plants, electric lines and connectivity to the grid to provide sustained technical inspection, testing and certification of all electrical materials, equipment, power systems, networks (generation, transmission and distribution), electrical installations, etc to be used in the power sector; to ensure a stable system to deliver safe, reliable, regular power supply, guarantee safety of lives and property and avert loss of lives and property; to regularly carry periodic inspection, monitoring and assessment of existing power plants/stations, installations, extra high voltage

Nebo

The questions that agitate the mind are: Is another government agency – NEMSA – desirable in the face of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)?

(EHV) and high voltage (HV) transmission lines with associated transmitting or switching stations and distribution networks to ensure that they are in regular fitness to generate, transmit, distribute and deliver reliable and safe power supply to the electricity consumers nationwide; to promote research on matters affecting the generation, transmission, distribution and utilisation of electricity; to provide non-core and ancillary services for commercial opportunities etc. opportunities, Now any person with the slightest knowledge of the NEPA Act and functions will not but be left in a haze as to the reason behind this agenda. For 40 per cent of these functions was performed by the dissolved NEPA, the rest are comprised

in Section 32 (e) of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005 which mandates NERC “to ensure the safety, security, reliability and quality of service in the production and delivery of electricity to consumers” among other duties. With all respect, the “ingenuity” in the NEMSA Bill, particularly Section 6, finds eloquence only in verbosity and grandiose repetition perhaps, to cloak it with importance. As is obvious, the functions intended to be achieved under this Bill were largely the reason NEPA was established in the first place. Why dissolving NEPA at a huge cost to the tax payer and making a U-turn to establish another “NEPA” in a new name ?

On the surface, the NEMSA Bill appears as a private member

bill, but industry observation reveals clearly that it is an overt transmutation of Electricity Management Services Ltd (EMSL) into a full fledged “NEPA”. The EMSL was one of the successor companies incorporated under Section 8 of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005, to assume the transient assets and liabilities of the holding company, PHCN, and whose activities are to be regulated by NERC. The minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo inaugurated the management team of EMSL on the 10th of September, 2013, to provide ancillary and non-core operational services. It is interesting to note that EMLS derives recognition and empowerment through the metering code developed by NERC. Specifically, under Section 4 of the Grid Metering Code (GMC), testing and certification of meters by EMSL or any other body are according to the standards approved / accredited

by NERC. It is this same EMSL and I repeat, one of the successor companies whose activities are to be regulated

by NERC, that the promoters of the NEMSA Bill want to crystallise into an agency (see Section 1 (3) of the Bill) and invest it with omnibus powers akin to those of NEPA. Our system is already profuse in needless duplication of statutory bodies with attendant high wage bills that inhibit infrastructural developments. NERC is a technical, economic and commercial regulator for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Nigeria. I think the right course of action should be to revisit and amend the EPSR Act, 2005, with a view to strengthening the technical department of NERC if it was found deficient. It would appear that NERC at the moment is poorly staffed in terms of number and sufficiency of requisite personnel perhaps owing to funding constraints. The response to this lies not in duplication but in strengthening NERC. – Okezie writes from Umuahia

AY Lawal: Tribute To People’s Benefactor

BY BODE GBADEBO

Late Lawal

He had many virtues. He was a family man, very hard working, generous and God-fearing, among others

Many called him Mr. Lawal, others called him Malam Lawal and only few called him Alhaji Lawal. He was named Ajibola Yunusa Lawal, which he shortened to AY Lawal in his lifetime. He lived a pious and simple life before he was murdered in the night of Thursday, July 17, 2014, along Doma-Lafia road, just 21 days to his birth anniversary on another Thursday of August 7, 2014.

He was born in Iseyin town of Oyo State. Available information as posted by him on his Facebook page showed that he attended Iseyin District Grammar School and he was a member of 1982 Class. He later attended University of Lagos where he studied Physics and graduated in 1987 with a B.Sc. I remembered I got to know

that he returned to his alma mater for his Master’s degree in the same field.

He served his fatherland in Gboko, Benue State in 1988 and thereafter got appointment with the Federal Ministry of Education as a classroom teacher. He was posted to the Federal Government Girls’ College Bakori, Katsina State, where he rose through the ranks to become vice principal (administration).

Our paths crossed in the year 2000 when he invited me to join his company Bitech Computers Ltd. He actually invited to upgrade my skills from an analog printer to a digitalised printer. I learnt computer studies under his tutelage.

Around 2009/2010, he was transferred to the newly established Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Dayi in the neighbouring Malumfashi LGA of

the state. As a pioneer vice principal of the new school, Lawal unarguable singlehandedly organised the school from the scratch. I remembered being invited by him to help conduct the maiden entrance examination for prospective pioneer students of the college in 2010.

FSTC Dayi’s popularity today is a living testimony of his innovative policies.

Meanwhile, in addition to helping me, he helped employed three of my friends as teachers of the school, among which one is a confirmed staff now. That was the reflection of a generous man who was always interested in helping others.

On a weekend day sometime in 2012, I ran into him in company of his former colleagues, Deacon Elijah Alagbe and Mr Olajide Oladipo, who are well known to me. I met them in a convivial mood and

later heard them saying “congratulations sir” to him. On enquiry they told me my boss has been promoted to a position of principal to another relatively new school – FSTC in Doma, Nasarawa State. I was happy for him and also congratulated him on his promotion, which I believed was a result of hard work and commitment.

I remembered sometime in August 2013, he called me to enquire one or two things from me. He had many virtues.He was a family man, very hard working, generous and God-fearing, among others. Adieu my boss as I pray that Aljannat Firdaus be your final resting place while God grant your family and people that knew you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

– Gbadebo wrote from Abuja.

48

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, & FAITH PLATFORM

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

SPECIALISED CLASSIFIEDS PAGES HOPE REVIVAL MOUNTAIN MINISTRY This is to inform the general Public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under part 59 laws of the federation of Nigeria 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Gbenga Pase 2. Gloria Pase 3. Seun Pase 4. Gbemisola Olatunji 5. Kayode Pase

NEW TRANSFORMATION EVANGELICAL MINISTRIES INC

WORLDWIDE EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for change of trustees 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 Matters Act 1990.

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev. M. O. Ugege 2. Pastor (Mrs) R. I Ugege 3. Deacon Ibhasuote Jude 4. Deacon Moral Okoduwa 5. Deacon Henry Osunde

- Retained - Retained - Retained - Removed - Removed

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Evang Joshua Francis 2. Evang Praise Francis

THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Michael Edose Ugege 2. Pastor Michael Ehichioye 3. Deaconess Dora Akhigbe 4. Prof. Ambrose O. O. Ekpu 5. Professor G.R.A Okogun 6. Saturday Iyoha

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach good tidings unto the meek.

2. To proclaim liberty to the captives.

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.

Signed: LEVERAGE & NETWORK SOLICITORS

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

REASONS FOR CHANGING 1. Reason being that they have change location 2. We need more hand and members fill in the post and improve the growth of the ministry Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the registrar general, CAC, Maitama Abuja FCT within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: RAPHAEL ORIGHO; SOLICITOR

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

UNITED BISHOPS AND EMINENT CLERICS INITIATIVE

CHAPEL OF LOVE EVANGELICAL MISSION WORLDWIDE

AFRICAN CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVE & EDUCATIONAL VISION ENGAGEMENT

This is to notify the general Public that the above named INITIATIVE 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 MISSION 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. His Eminence Dr. Julius Ediwe 2. Pastor Mrs. Precious Ediwe 3. Bishop Dr. Joseph Effiom 4. Rt. Rev. Moses Katty 5. Evang. Joshua Paul Francis

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. His Eminence Dr. Julius Ediwe 2. Pastor Mrs. Precious Ediwe 3. Rev. Aron Ibe

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote unity, love and fear of God among its members.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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.

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

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev. Fr. Isidore Nnam Di Obi 2. Dr. Ngozi Egbuna 3. Barr. Desmond Ukah 4. Mr. Joseph Obi 5. Dr. Mary Arumemi

- 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

TRUE WILL OF GOD HEALING MINISTRY

ST GREGORY’S COLLEGE LAGOS, OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION, ABUJA CHAPTER

UDOKAMMA FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The 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 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 Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEE ARE: 1. Chief Tom Nwakalo - President 2. Jude Ezeobi, Esq - Secretary 3. Chief Emeka Eze 4. Ms. Yetunde Akinjolire 5. Hon. Tam Birisibe 6. Engr. (Barr) Goddy Egbuji 7. Mr. Princewill Amadi 8. Mr. Ibikunle Grillo

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Barr Agu Uche Dominic 2. Agu Ifeoma Lilian 3. Onodu George 4. Agu Ikechukwu George 5. Okpa Moses Chimereze 6. Ukanwa Chioma Bernadette

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Peter Ikeji Abisi 2. Mr. Chris Obi 3. Charls Nwaobodo THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To preach the gospel of Jeus Christ.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

SIGNED: BASIL AGUNWA 07038780894

AIM AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote peace and unity among members.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES 1. Giving financial assistance to indegent patients in the hospitals.

2. Rendering medical services to women and children at the remote rural communities.

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.

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: JUDE EZEOBI, ESQ

Signed: BARR. CHIOMA IGBOKWE

EAT N GO FOUNDATION

DITAT DEUS FRIENDS CLUB

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.

WECANDO WELL EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM 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 general public that the above named INITIATIVE 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. Olivier Meyer 2. Jean Claude Meyer 3. Charbel Antoun

TRUSTEES: 1. Monday Michael 2. Izuchukwu Ezenwobodo 3. Kingsley Enemmuo 4. Chekwube Okpara 5. Chibuike Mmadu

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Abiola Ogunrinde 2. Oladipo Damilade Ogunrinde

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To educate, train and empower and under-privileged within Nigeria by providing basic educational training, vocational and moral guidance.

2. Acquire and construct a performance site for the foundation to provide its education and training center and equally serve as an orphanage and home for orphans as well.

3. To help with an orphan’s and under-privileged minors transition to a productive life style, once the child leaves the institution.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To maintain and support a valuable future for all tis members.

2. To mold its members behaviour and maintain good name and reputation of the club.

3. To foster unity, love and peace among 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.

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: SOLICITOR 07033219522

SIGNED: BARR. CHIDI; 08035914838

FOR BOOKING OR INQUIRY CALL

> HENRY UBIMAGO 08068640944

> AUGUSTINE 08032325988

> GLORIA OKWUM 08038722368

> ABIGAIL SAMBO 08064382438

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To empower the youth through skill acquisition.

2. To help the less privileged in the society.

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: GABRIEL EYEMONYE ESQ O706967744

> GLORIA RAPHAEL 08061356519

> GLORIA ODIO 08034285851

> GRACE OJO 08035054444

49

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

ZAWRAM ISLAMIC GLOBAL FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

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 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

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

CAVEAT EMPTOR

This is to notify the general public of the loss of the following documents: 1. Bwari Area Council receipt for porcessing, development and form fee on Plot 96 (N14,000.00) 2. Bwari Area Council receipt for payment of certificate of occupancy on Plot N0: 96, (MISC. 3483) 3. AGIS Acknowledgement for Plot N0: 96 Kubwa Commercial layout in favour of Bintash Nigeria Limited.

4. Conveyance of porvisional approval of Plot N0: 96 Bwari commercial layout in favour of Bintash Nigeria Limited belonging to Chief Isaac Iwuoha were missing.

All effort made to trace the said documents/items proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station. General public to please take note.

PROPERTY AT PLOT 4, EFUNLEKE OMO OGA FAMILY LAND OFF UGBA ROAD, IMAOGBON IKORODU, LAGOS This is to inform, caution and warn the general public that Deacon Oyelakin B. Arogundade is the legal owner of the property situated at Plot 4, Efunleke Omo Oga family land off Ugba road, Imaogbon, Ikorodu, Lagos and more particularly delineated and described on survey plan N0: PAF/1062/134/2006.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE: that any person or group of persons purporting to purchase, mortgage or transact in any form whatsoever or howsoever in respect of the porperty described above with any thirth party not being Deacon Oyelakin B. Arogundade does so at his or her own peril. be warned: Signed: Deacon Oyelakin B. Arogundade Baiye I. Gloria & Co Suite 61, 2nd floor trinity house mabuchi, abuja; 08036798825

ANNANG CHRISTIAN INTERCESSORS ASSOCIATION

SOCIAL CLUB OF IJEBU-IGBO

NEUTRAL ADVOCACY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOOD GUIDANCE

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 Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB 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 has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees Are: 1. Hon. Justice Godwin Jack Abraham 2. Hon. Justice (Mrs.) Philomena Simon Etim 3. Mr. Mfonabasi Isaiah 4. Mr. Ime Peter Udoweren 5. Rev. (Dr.) Moses Elijah Udoka 6. Apostle Goddey Stephen Udoidung

Trustees Are: 1. Alh. Waliu Ishola Hassan - Chairman 2. Mr. Taiwo Tijani - Vice Chairman 3. Prince Ade Odukoya - Treasurer 4. Mr. Bankole Adekoya - Secretary 5. Otunba Olaide Oshifeso - Member

Trustees Are: 1. Mr. Sunday Douglas - Chairman 2. Elder Noble Karibo - Secretary 3. Mr. Jeremiah Nelson - Member 4. Mrs. Gladys A.W. Nelson - Member 5. Tamunosaki Jacob - Member

Aim and Objective 1. To promote the social welfare of Ijebu-Igbo 2. To assist the citizens of Ijebu-Igbo 3. To develop Ijebu-Igbo township

Aim and Objective 1. To advocate for peace and good guidance within the children and youth of our society.

Aim and Objective 1. To intercede for Annang land and the people.

2. To mobilize Annang people to seek God and pray in order to actualize the plans and purposes of God. 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: INEMESIT FELIX 08032092200

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: SECRETARY

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: SECRETARY

INDIGENOUS ARTISANS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

GREAT ELEVATION CARE INITIATIVE

CAREFREE AND SAVE INITIATIVE

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 Matters Act 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 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.

Trustees Are: 1. Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye (CHAIRMAN) 2. Mrs Sholape Gbenga Elegbeleye 3. Dr. Bunmi Kolawole 4. Harris Elegbeleye 5. Grace Abebi Aruwajoye Adeniseun (SECRETARY)

Trustees Are: 1. Gloria Njiowhor 2. Nwaozuru Chidi Vincent 4. Osarobo Olungwe Osarobo

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS. JOSEPHINE WASHIMA MWUESE 2. AMB. DR. AISHA AUDU EMEJE 3. COMRADE EMINENCE TIYEINABESO 4. BARR. AKPOFURE OBATARE 5. MS. LOIS NGI IORVIHI

- CHAIRMAN - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO COORDINATE, MONITOR AND EMPOWER ALL NIGERIAN ARTISANS Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

SIGNED: Secretary

POSITIVE PROGRESSIVE WOMEN ASSOCIATION PORT HARCOURT This is to inform the General Public that the above named 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. VICTORIA SHEIDUN OJO 2. ROSE IIOBEKEMEN EGBELE 3. ANGELA CHIMA 4. JUSTINA OSHOKEDE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To foster unity among women.

2. To bring about empowering women in life.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Bassey Akpan

LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT loss LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of Original Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy situated at Cadastral Zone C06 of NBORA, Abuja Nigeria with plot No: 2307, Size 1416.43M2 and file No: EK60099 belonging to Mr Peter Kehinde Odebunmi of N0: 23, Oke-Eso Street, Ado-Ekiti, is missing. All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station. General public to please take note.

Aim and Objective 1. To empower and uplift the needy in the society.

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: Solomon Tunyan, esq (Solicitor)

KAYARA FOUNDATION This is to inform the General Public that the above named 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. Ada Stella Apiafi 2. Mimie Oshodin 3. Tosan Julia Anthony - Nwosu 4 . Samuel Sodienye Apiafi 5. Ese Abamba AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To care for the less privleged in the society .

2. Humanitarian Assistance and disaster relief .

3. To encourage human rights, good Governance and grass root advocacy.

4. To encourage education, positive norms and values of good citizenship, agriculture as well as youth and societal development.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Tosan Julia Anthony-Nwosu (Secretary)

LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT loss LOSS of document

This is to inform the general public of the loss of R of O with Plot N0: 141, Sector Centre A, Bis MISC 53875 belonging to RELIABILITY INTERNATIONAL, NIGERIA LIMITED. 1 Bank Avenue, Kontagora, Niger State Nigeria is missing. All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station. General public to please take note.

- President - Secretary

Aim and Objective 1. Reaching out and providing succor to the vulnerable and less privilege of the society (widow and orphans, etc).

2. Providing educational and medical support to the orphans and less privilege in the society.

3. Providing training and skill acquisition (empowerment) to the vulnerable in the society 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: SECRETARY

AKIN SOWORE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. MR. SOWORE AKINWUMI 2. MRS. SOWORE ALICE ABO - OLUWA 3. DR. ADETIPE ISAAC Aim and Objectives 1. To provide free health services to the people of rural communities.

2. To help the less privileged people in the larger society.

Any objection to this registration 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: MR. SOWORE AKINWUMI

LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT loss LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of R of O with Plot N0: 650, cadastral zone A09 Guzape and file N0: MISC 56281 belonging to BUKONZA NIGERIA ENTERPRISES is missing. All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station. General public to please take note.

50

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

ATUNSE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE 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.

Trustees Are: 1. Sanyaolu Adeniyi Oluwole 2. Oyedeji Adebayo Bukola 3. Aigbedion Edna Enehiwe AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To empower youths through training and award of scholarships.

2. To mobilize and assist young people to be focused and engage them in community development.

3. To imbibe advocacy for positive change in young people.

4. To promote young people’s empowerment, enlightenment, education and motivation toward becoming national leaders imbued with the qualities of hard work, honesty and integrity.

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.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT LOSS OF DOCUMENTS OF RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY AND AGIS RECERTIFICATION OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LETTER The General Public and Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) is hereby notified that the above mentioned documents belong to CHIEF CHUKU KALU UDENSI, a director in ZENIKS NIGERIA LIMITED and the said company acquired a landed property from MRS. AMINA NWORIE on 20/08/2009. The Original Copy of the Right of Occupancy issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration Urban and Regional Planning Dept., BAC Zonal Planning Office Abuja and AGIS Re-Certification Acknowledgement Letter to Mrs. Amina Nworie dated 15/02/2007, were handed over to the Managing Director after the purchase.

Right of Occupancy is Plot No. A166, Measuring 700Sqm, Federal Government Layout at Mpape, Federal Capital Abuja dated 22nd February, 2007.

Since 30th June, 2014 the Directors of the Company have been looking for the original copy of the Right of Occupancy and the AGIS RE-CERTIFICATION ACKNOLWEDGEMENT LETTER and every effort to recover them have proved abortive. If found please return to:

NGAS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 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 Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. HRH (The Ngolong Ngas) Nde Joshua Yilzaka’a Dimlong 2. Prof. Nenfort Gomwalk 3. Prof Sylvester Shikyil 4. Prof. Zachariah Goshit 5. Justice Philomena Lot THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To empower the youths in Ngas Communities Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

Signed: Nasseh Solicitors & Attorneys

Signed: CHIEF CHUKU UDENSI. 08023145410 AGIS should please take note.

AVIATION VILLAGE ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, ABUJA

THE UNLIMITED POWER OF GOD CHURCH INT”L

THE POSITIVE MATES FOUNDATION

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 Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church 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 Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

SIGNED: Secretary

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Micheal Ezekiel Adeyemi 2. Damilola Caleb Adekoya 3. Mr Akintobi Sampson Olusanmi 4. Mrs Stella Modupe Olusanmi

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Philip Sola Osanyinlusi (Chairman) 2. Hon Justice Mohammed Mustapha 3. Dr. Fedrick Musa 4. Hajia Zainab Bello Saidu 5. Barr. Garba Ibrahim THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To cater for the welfare and well-being of residents Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

SIGNED: Secretary

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD 2. TO ESTABLISHE A CHURCH CALLED THE UNLIMITED OWER OF GOD MINISTRY Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

SIGNED: Secretary

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FETUGA OLUMIDE 2. ADEBISI FIYINFOLUWA STEPHEN 3. ABIMBOLA OJOSIPE 4. IBUKUNOLUWA KEVIN-ISRAEL 5. TEMITOPE-AJAYI MARY OLUWAFUNMILOLA 6. EKANEM ETIM ASUQUO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO SUPPORT THE NEEDY AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED 2. TO FOSTER SOCIAL ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF MEMBERS, ORPHANS AND/OR THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN OUR SOCIETY 3. TO GIVE ENTERPRISE SUPPORT SERVIVES INCLUDING COUNSELLING, CONTINOUS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, REFERALS AND OTHER SUCH FACILITIES IN THE SOCIETY Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

JUSTICE AND TRANSFORMATION SUPPORT INITIATIVE

LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (L.C.D.O)

ASSOCIATION OF HOSPITAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PHARMACISTS (AHAPN)

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 ORGANISATION 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 ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.OGBONNAYA KINGSLEY 2. MADUBULUM CHIDIMMA 3. CHUKWUKELU VITUS 4. EJIOFOR VICTOR 5. OBI PRISCA 6. ONWULIRI JOHNBOSCO 7. NJOKU SIDNEY 8. ELUWAH VALIANT

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pharm. Yakubu Maj-Isah 2. Pharm. Oyewole Martins O. 3. Pharm. Abdullahi N. Ameh 4. Pharm. Musa Orenyi 5. Pharm. Margaret O. Adedayo 6. Pharm. Nwakego Ugochukwu 7. Pharm. Hafiz O. Akande 8. Pharm. Luka Wetben 9. Pharm. Elechi Oyim 10. Pharm. Alege O. Amid

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.CHIEF THOMAS CHUKWU 2.MRS NGOZI CHUKWU 3.CHIMEREME EZE THOMAS 4.CHINENYENWA NKEMAKOLAM 5.AUGUSTINA NWAFOR 6.TOCHUKWU NKEMAKOLAM 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.

VIVIAN

WHITWORTH

I formerly known as MISS GIWANSON SHUKURAT OYEPEJU now wish to be known as MRS WHITWORTH ADENIKE OYEPEJU. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

JUBRIN

I formerly known as MRS UMAR ISMAILA BINTA now wish to be known as MISS JUBRIN ABBAS BINTA, due to divorce. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ANYANIME

I formerly known as MISS ANYANIME BENNETT JAMES, now wish to be known as MRS ANYANIME MICHAEL NWEKPO. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

THERESA

I formerly known as MRS. ORITSEWEYINMI THERESA OBOT, now wish to be known as MS ORITSEWEYINMI THERESA EGBE-OBOT. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO EMPOWER THE YOUTHS TOWARDS SELF AC TUALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT. 2. TO BUILD REPUTABLE INTEGRATED AND ORIENTED LEADERS. 3. 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.

SIGNED: 1. OGBONNAYA KINGSLEY - PRESIDENT 2. CHUKWUKELU VITUS - SEC 3. ROTR ELUWAH VALIANT - PRO

SIGNED: BARR.GABRIEL ARIKPO 08098389118

I formerly known as NWARIHI VIVIAN CHIZOBA, now wish to be known and addressed as IWUAMADI VIVIAN CHIZOBA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

- PRESIDENT - VICE PRESIDENT - SECRETARY - ASSTISTANT SECRETARY - SECRETARY ON SPECIAL DUTIES - TREASURER - FINANCIAL SECRETARY - PRO

BLESSING

I formerly known as UMEAFUNANYA BLESSING OGADIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as LAZARUS BLESSING DIMMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ABIP PATIENCE NKAKPA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS EBOR PATIENCE EBFULU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

KINGSLEY

okpobrisi

I formerly known as adedayo olukemi veronica, now wish to be known and addressed as okpobrisi olukemi veronica. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

matey

EZIOLISA

ADEYEMI

OLUWAFUNMILOLA

EBIMOMOTIMI

I formerly known as UDEMEZUE NNENNE AGNES, now wish to be known as EVANS-UZOARU NNENNE AGNES. All former documents remain valid. NSCDE and the general public to please take note.

ifeacho

I formerly known as miss ihetu azuoma chibuzo, now wish to be known and addressed as mrs ifeacho azuoma chibuzo.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Akintola

AMARACHI

I formerly known as TAMUNOIBIM AMARACHI EZEBUIRO, now wish to be known as AMARACHI TAMUNOIBIM DOUGLAS. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

I formerly known as MISS BANGUDU ITUNU ADESOLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEYEMI ADESOLA ITUNU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

I, formerly known as Miss Akindehin Temitope Adetola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akintola Temitope Adetola.

All documents bearing former names remain valid. All concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

I formerly known as EBIMOMOTIMI ESTHER CLARKJESSA, now wish to be known as EBIMOMOTIMI ESTHER CLARK. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

EZIOLISA

I formerly known as MISS IWOBI OGOCHUKU CHINWENDU, now wish to be known as MRS. EZIOLISA OGOCHUKWU CHINWENDU. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To maintain a high standard of professional ethics and discipline among members.

2. To protect, project and harmonize the interest of members, providing leadership that will enable Pharmacist care.

3. To conduct and collaborate with Government and Non-governmental organisation in the field of operational reasearch, particularly in the areas of practice.

4. To pursue with vigour all matters relating to the welfare of its members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

I, formerly known as miss essiet mabel Alfred now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs matey,mabel Iva-egbai. All documents bearing former names remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known as MISS IKUBOR JULIANA now wish to be known as MRS KINGSLEY JULIE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary - Asst. Secretary - Treasurer - Financial Secretary - Publicity Secretary - Auditor - Un-Oficio Member - Un-Officio Member

I formerly known as OLUWAFUNMILOLA MODUPE ADEBOWALE, now wish to be known as OLUWAFUNMILOLA MODUPE IJILADE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

GLORIA

I formerly known as ONAH LAMI GLORIA, now wish to be known as MANZO LAMI GLORIA. All former documents remain valid.

Uni-Jos, Uni-Abuja and the general public to please take note.

MARIA

1. I formerly known and addressed as MISS MARIA DANJUMA. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MARIA DANIEL FADASON. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, other concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

otorkhinde

I formerly known as miss ekeinde blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as mrs otorkhinde blessing. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

Maryann

I, Formerly known as Maryann Matawal Mafwil, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Maryann Nanjwan Yale Damap. All former documents remain valid NYSC and the general public should please take note.

RITA

I formerly known as RITA UCHE AMADI, now wish to be known as RITA UCHE SHABA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CHIOMA

I formerly known as CHIOMA ADAEZE UNEGBU, now wish to be known as CHIOMA ADAEZE AJALA. All former documents remain valid. Uni-Abuja and the general public to please take note.

AYENAJEI

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AYENAJEI LUKA ATTABU BIJIMIH. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AYENAJEI ATTABU BIJIMIH. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

yisa

I formerly known as yisa aweda amoo, now wish to be known and addressed as yisa aweda salami. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

christiana

I formerly know as miss christiana bala now wish to be know as christiana john ogah, all former document remain valid, general public, kaduna south local government area to please take note.

TEMITOPE

I formerly known as MISS TEMITOPE ELIZABETH ADELANI, now wish to be known as MRS TEMITOPE ELIZABETH FILANI. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

HAUWA

I formerly known as PATIENCE DUNOMA, now wish to be known as HAUWA DUNOMA KWAIZA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

AHMED

I formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED AHMED GIWA, AHMED MOHAMMED, MOHAMMED GIWA. Now wish to be known and addressed as AHMED MOHAMMED GIWA. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Police Force, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), other concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

WORLD NEWS 51

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

China’s President Xi Jinping Signs Venezuela Oil Deal development bank alongside the other emerging powers of the Brics group - Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa - at a summit in Brazil.

The new bank is intended to create an alternative to the Western-dominated World Bank.

Chinese trade with Latin America has grown rapidly. It is now the second-largest trading partner in Argentina and Cuba, and Malaysian officials examining the black boxes after they were has been Brazil’s largest since 2009. handed over, yesterday.

China is the second-largest market for Venezuelan oil after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Venezuelan President Nicolas the United States.

Maduro after signing the oil deal, yesterday.

Analysts say the underlying purpose of the visit has been to Chinese President Xi Jinping has has now departed from Venezuela secure more natural resources The rebels also announced a signed a series of oil and mineral and will visit Cuba next. from Latin American countries to A senior separatist leader, Aleksander Borodai, has handed over ceasefire within a 10km radius deals with Venezuela.

In Argentina the Chinese leader fuel China’s long term economic black boxes from an airliner shot around the crash site to allow inThey include a $4bn (£2.34bn) agreed to an $11bn currency swap expansion. down over eastern Ukraine to ternational investigators to safely credit line in return for Venezuelan providing much needed money The Chinese president is now on for the government of President his way to Cuba where he will meet Malaysian experts in the city of access the vast area where the Macrude and other products.

Donetsk. laysia Airlines flight was shot down, The agreements came on the Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

President Raul Castro.

“Here they are, the black boxes,” AFP news agency reported. latest stop of a four-country visit Argentina has been locked out of The Communist-led island and The move came after a Unitto Latin America. the international capital markets China are long-term close political Borodai told a room packed with ed Nations Security Council resjournalists at the headquarters of Mr Xi has already signed key since a default in 2001. allies and China has given Cuba olution condemned the shooting his self-proclaimed Donetsk Peodeals in Argentina and Brazil. He Mr Xi also helped launch a new generous trade credits in the past. ple’s Republic, as an armed rebel down of the plane and demanded that armed groups allow “safe, seplaced the boxes on a desk.

Both sides then signed a doc- cure, full and unrestricted access” ument, which Borodai said was a to the crash site.

The 15-member council unanprotocol to finalise the procedure. imously adopted an AustralianColonel Mohamed Sakri of the said Andre Bakhos, managing director at Janlyn drafted resolution demanding Malaysian National Security CounCapital in Bernardsville, New Jersey. those responsible “be held to accil said the two black boxes were “in Pro-Russian rebels agreed to hand over the count.” good condition.” black boxes from the Malaysian plane shot down last week near the Ukraine-Russia border and the Malaysian government announced it also negotiof the day ated the release of the remains of nearly 300 victims.

The European Union threatened Russia with harsher sanctions over Ukraine, but France’s presiABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New York ed girls were brought back safely. dent signaled the disputed delivery of a warship The US official pressed further US stocks rose yesterday as inflation data was seen to Moscow would go ahead.

As the abducted Chibok girls are that the government of her counkeeping the Federal Reserve in an equities-friendTraders will also keep an eye on the Middle East spending their 100 days in the cap- try would support its Nigerian ly tone, while hopes rose for an easing of tensions as Israel pounded targets across the Gaza Strip tivity of men of the Boko Haram counterpart but wanted Nigeria to in Ukraine. and said no ceasefire was near.

Top U.S. and UN Sect in Sambisa forest today, the take the lead in the search. “Nige➔ Joko Mixed earnings have been pouring in since diplomats pursued talks to stop fighting that has world continues to cry for their ria must take the lead in the search Widodo safety, asking the federal govern- and we will support them with all Monday’s closing bell, allowing the positive bent claimed nearly 600 lives, an overwhelming majorThe governor ment to intensify its efforts in the the resources that are required to to spread. US consumer prices rose in June as the ity from inside Gaza. of Jakarta has rescue mission. cost of gasoline surged, but the overall trend conThe Dow Jones industrial average rose 81.3 been declared ensure that the girls are returned Reacting to the plights of the back to their families safely” she tinued to point to a gradual build-up of inflation- points or 0.48 percent, to 17,133.03, the S&P 500 the winner of over 270 abducted female students said.

Indonesia’s ary pressures - allowing the Federal Reserve to gained 12.55 points or 0.64 percent, to 1,986.18 during a query from our correhotly continue to slowly take the foot off the stimulus and the Nasdaq Composite added 38.70 points or Also speaking, Congressman spondent, Ms. Jen Psaki, a spokes- Donald Payne said that the level of contested pedal.

0.87 percent, to 4,463.41. person of the Department of State, insecurity in Nigeria was becoming presidential An index of homebuilder stocks rose 1.3 perVerizon’s shares edged 0.2 percent higher after election. said that the United States gov- a threat to the United States and cent after separate data showed U.S. home resales its revenue topped estimates and Chipotle Mexiernment was so much concerned the entire world, noting that the rose in June at their fastest pace in eight months. can Grill jumped 12 percent to $660.75 a day after about the security condition of Goodluck Jonathan-led govern“Evidence of inflationary fear is not there. For it reported a nearly 26 percent jump in quarterly Nigeria, adding that the Ameri- ment should not turn the search the most part, the market is riding high on the profit. ca would ensure that the abduct- to political affairs.

Reuters of the day earnings and ignoring the geopolitical message,”

MH17 Ukraine Rebels Hand Over Plane Black Boxes

Wall St. Up On Data, Mixed Earnings

Winner

Chibok: 100 Days After, World Cry Out For Victims’ Safety

LOSer

Delta, United, US Airways Suspend Flights To Israel ➔Obamacare A US appeals court threw out a federal regulation implementing key subsidies of the healthcare law, jeopardising health insurance for four million low and middle-income people.

US airlines Delta, United and US Airways have suspended all service into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

Delta said it was doing so “to ensure the safety and security of our customers and employees”.

Delta said a flight from New York City to Tel Aviv was diverted to Paris on Tuesday after Israeli police confirmed that a rocket landed near the airport.

The move comes amid heightened scrutiny over flights into or above conflict zones.

United and Delta both said they had consulted with the US Federal Aviation Administration when making their decisions to suspend all service.

United said in a statement: “We are working with government officials to ensure the safety of our customers and our employees and will continue to evaluate the situation.”

US Airways said on Twitter that it had cancelled its daily flight from Philadelphia to Tel Aviv on Tuesday but did not say whether it had suspended further flights.

The halt in service comes less than a week after Israel began a ground operation in Gaza, and as airlines around the world re-think their flight paths over conflict areas in the wake of the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine.

—BBC

TRAFFICKING ECOWAS, Others Seek Action To Tackle Menace

By Tunde Oguntola, Abuja

The Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and other consortium partners has called for urgent action to put an end to human trafficking as women and children all over the world suffer from deprivation visited on them by human traffickers.

Speaking at the joint ECOWAS/ ICMPD annual review meeting on implementation of the ECOWAS plan of action to combat trafficking in persons The Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs of

ECOWAS Commission, Dr Daniel Eklu, stated that action plan on human trafficking must include ‘’The protection plan aligned with the 3 P’s of prevention which might be structural as in the case of system strengthening, provision of education, direct preventive action including public enlightenment and community action.’’

He said protection includes the establishment of national referral mechanisms ensuring appropriate capacity and capability for institutional and non-institutional care of victims care of victims and and protection support and assistance to witness.

52 Analysis

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

The Child Soldiers Of South Sudan

T

They had food and officers promised him money. He thought life was better in the army than in the camp

hese days, soldiers are the only people loitering around the market in this oncebustling oil town.

They loaf about in plastic chairs, wander bored or drunk and lean against the skeletons of abandoned beds and buildings.

Others ply the goods that now absent shopkeepers used to trade, although these wares are looted from former residents.

Machine-gun-mounted pickup trucks pull up and spit out more soldiers. The Rubkona market near Bentiu, capital of South Sudan’s oil-rich Unity State, is not just a place for grown men. Children wear the uniforms of the national army, the SPLA - and it isn’t just dress-up.

A boy with bloodshot eyes one who looks like he has seen too much - has upgraded from playing soldier to becoming the armed bodyguard of a commander. He asks for a cigarette, but refuses the one proffered, because it won’t get him high. “No, not a cigarette,” he says with disdain. “I’m a smoker.”

The SPLA is waiting for the next fight. Rumours that rebels plan to attack Bentiu make the soldiers edgy. Since war broke out in December in the world’s youngest nation, Bentiu has changed hands several times as both sides vie for the black gold that accounts for 98 percent of the South Sudanese government’s revenues. There are 46,000 people seeking refuge inside a UN peacekeeping base nearby, representing only a fraction of the 1.5 million people nationwide who have been forced to flee their homes.

According to UNICEF, both sides are using children to fight. They have become pawns in a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his deputy-turned-rebel-leader, Riek Machar, that has largely broken along ethnic lines. Last month, the government of South Sudan promised for the third time to implement a UN action plan to protect children from recruitment and put an end to the use of children in the army.

SPLA spokesperson Philip Aguer admitted in a phone interview that there might still be child soldiers in the army, but added that “because of the current situation in South Sudan, it’s impossible to verify”.

Both sides have denied recruiting children. Mabior Garang Mabior, a spokesperson

Boy soldiers

for Machar, stated that the rebels “don’t have a policy on recruiting child soldiers.

But testimonials from child soldiers and their families paint a different picture”.

One of these children, James, is spending time in Rubkona market. At 12 years old, he is barely taller than a rifle. He says only that he is from Rubkona before a military officer comes by and speaks on the child’s behalf.

“If he doesn’t wear a uniform, they will hurt or even kill him.

It’s for his own protection,” he says. Who “they” are remains unclear. The same officer races through the market to cut off questions put to 13-year-old Simon, who is sitting among other soldiers in a tea shop again stressing that the uniform was Simon’s only protection.

‘Why should I go back?’

Just a 10-minute drive from the market, former town dwellers live like refugees inside a UN camp. One of them is 48-year-old Marya. The mother of eight runs a tea shop inside the camp, fretting about the fate of her 13-year-old son.

He has been missing for four months, and she found out through her customers that he had joined the army.

“All his life he would rather play outside than go to school,” she says. “He’s a clever boy, but too young to think about his own future.” Six days later, she went to town to convince him to come back, but Marya was only able to watch him from

a distance as he underwent military training. She felt helpless watching her son fall to the ground while marching.

Instead of rushing to help him, she had to leave her son suffering. “The soldiers did nothing. They just left him there. I couldn’t go any closer to help my boy. Soldiers could grab, torture, and rape me.”

A month later, Marya’s son was shot in his left wrist during fighting in Bentiu and joined his mother in the camp. For a moment, Marya hoped that he was home for good, even though he would socialise with former comrades in the town.

“They had food and officers promised him money. He thought life was better in the army than in the camp. Even his father tried to talk to him, but he just doesn’t listen.”

Thirty-four-year-old Sara, a fellow camp dweller, has a similar story. Her 15-yearold son was recruited by an officer but doesn’t want to come back. “There’s no food in the camp and people are dying there. ‘Why should I go back?’ is what he answers.” Sara even begged an army commander to free her son, but was rebuffed.

“If he doesn’t want to leave the army, he can stay. It’s his own decision,” he said.

The rebels do it, too Child soldiers are also swelling rebel ranks. In January, when Machar’s forces took Bentiu for the first time, 16-year-old Matthew was in a maths class. A group of armed men stormed the school and

gathered all the boys. They told 300 pupils that they would now be fighting against the government as revenge for the killing of their clansmen from the Nuer ethnic group in the capital, Juba. Rebel leader Machar is a Nuer, whereas Kiir comes from the country’s largest ethnic group, the Dinka.

At first Matthew refused, but relented when rebels threatened to kill his family and take their entire wealth in cows. “They took us up north for military training, close to the border with Sudan. I learned how to march, to find cover and shoot,” he says.

One night, the commanders sent some of the boys to collect firewood in the bush. Matthew and three of his friends left their guns and military clothes behind and ran to the UN camp. Now inside, Matthew is trapped by the fear that if he goes out to tell his family he is alive, he might be recognised by soldiers and pay with his life.

“If they find me, they will kill me or my family.”

Garang, the Machar spokesperson, says he knows nothing about the abducted Bentiu children. But he isn’t especially sympathetic towards their plight. “It’s in the nature of war that children are caught up in the conflict,” he says, “and sometimes have to fight”.

“We can’t demobilise them now because we’re in the middle of a war. When there’s a peace agreement, we can think about these things.”

—Al Jazeera

53

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

El-Kanemi Defender Warns Opponents Ahead 2nd Stanza

BY ISHAKU KIGBU, Abuja

As the 2nd stanza of the Glo Premier League begins this Sunday, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri rugged and reliable defender Kabiru Sarki Adewale has warned premier league teams in the league against having it easy in Kano the home of El-Kanemi Warriors.

The player who is bouncing back after being sidelined by an injury for sometime gave this warning when he resumed training last week in Maiduguri. “It has been a hard time staying without playing due to the injury I sustained in a league match against Nasarawa United last season. I must thank the Coaches and management of

ElKanemi for truly believing in me while nursing my injury to the present state”.

Fondly referred to as the defender “King” by fans in Maiduguri said he is now fully fit and ready for action, pointing out that El-Kanemi has been reinforced and balanced after the first stanza for the second lap challenges.

Hopes For Team Nigeria As Commonwealth Games Begins Today

By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

The 2014 Commonwealth Games begins today in Glasgow, Scotland, with an opening ceremony of scores of athletes including Team Nigeria.

It is expected to have a potential television audience of 1.5 billion viewers tune in from across the globe.

Meanwhile, in spite of delays in delivery of Team Nigeria’s kits, manufacturers have given assurance that the kits would be delivered ahead

of the opening ceremony and Nigeria will be well kitted .

The assurance was given by a member of the National Sports Commission (NSC) delegation to the Games, Dr. Ademola Are while reacting on phone to media reports that described Nigeria’s representatives as orphans, as a result of delays in delivery of kits.

He said that the reports were not factual because even though the kits

have not been delivered, the athletes have been adequately kitted by their individual federations.

“We should have gotten our kits before we came but unfortunately there were delays but we are optimistic we would be proudly dressed in the kits at the opening ceremony tomorrow (today),” he explained.

Speaking further, he assured Nigerians that the athletes are in the right frame of mind to make the nation proud.

Some Team Nigeria athletes on arrival at Glasgow

Club Owners Want Changes At NFF Board

BY SALIFU USMAN, Abuja

The NFF board as present is not properly constituted. The board has no second vice president and Premier League board is completely absent Barrister Isaac Danladi, Acting chairman, Nigeria League Club Chairmaen and Managers

The Association of Nigeria Premier League Club Chairmen and Managers (club Owners) have called on changes at the football house insisting that the executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as presently constituted is not proper, saying the board has no second vice president as representative of the premier league clubs.

The body made the declaration yesterday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Sports and chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Tammy Danagogo in his office at the National Stadium, Abuja.

Acting chairman of the association, Barrister Isaac Danladi said the clubs who are the bedrock of the country’s football have been disenfranchised from voting in the federation elections and congress decision and also denied managing their own affairs by allowing a privately owned company to run the league contrary to the provisions of FIFA and NFF statutes.

The body while noting that lack of respect for the statutes for political and selfish reasons are responsible for the mistrust amongst the stakeholders and several litigations in the conventional courts, urged the minister to ensure the NFF and

Commonwealth Games: Oshonaike Predicts Good Outing For Team Nigeria

BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

Oshonaike

Nigeria’s top table tennis player and part of Team Nigeria to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Funke Oshonaike has predicted that the country would have a good outing at the Games which opens today in Glasgow, Scotland.

According to her, all the athletes are prepared and from feelers she is receiving from the camp, are all out to win medals at their individual events.

Speaking on phone from Glasgow, she told LEADERSHIP Sports that Glasgow has been wonderful so far, and the athletes are in high spirit.

“Glasgow’s been wonderful;

we have been eating good food, good training and good accommodation. Though we experienced little lapses in terms of the arrival of our kits, but every other thing has been great. We believe that when our kits arrive, our joy would be complete and we would be okay. For now, it’s all good and no one’s been complaining,” she stressed.

Speaking further, she said that the Nigerian spirit is a strong one that makes them forget problems back home at the moment and focus on their events.

When asked of the health condition of athletes in camp, she said there was no record of sickness or injury.

various stakeholders abide by the provisions of the statutes of football as sanctioned by FIFA and adhered strictly to FIFA’s electoral code in the general conducts of elections into the various boards of the federations and affiliated leagues.

“The NFF board as present is not properly constituted. The board has no second vice president and Premier League board is completely absent (rather a privately owned company is managing our league which is contrary to the provisions of FIFA and NFF statutes.

“Clubs have not been allowed to set-up their own electoral committee to elect the league board.”

Aminu Maigari, NFF President

Telecom Games: Airtel, Etisalat In Winning Starts

BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

the goal to every one of us that worked for the victory. I hope Airtel Nigeria stormed to a sur- to score more goals and take us prise winning start against for- to the top”, Alaba said after the mer champions, MTN Nigeria on game.

Match Day 1 of the Nigeria TeleBut the defending champions, communication Games at the Leg- Etisalat Nigeria also started on acy Pitch of the National Stadium high striking twice past LM Erin Lagos. Adelaja Alaba netted the icsson in the days opening game. only goal of the tie which was the Ayokunle Ayeni and danger man, second fixture of the day to con- Solomon Ajala registered their firm their pre-match boast of in- names on the scorers’ sheet with tent to win the tournament on superb goals that delivered all their second try. three points to the 9iaja boys.

Alaba dedicated his goal to the “We are determined to retain team members and promised to the title at the end of the tournashoot their ‘Come Alive’ team to ment and we will approach the resuccess this term. “I am glad to maining the games as though they have netted the goal but it was a were the finals” remarked Ajala at team effort and I am dedicating the end of the encounter.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports

54 sports

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Bewarang Wants Unity, Discipline Among Coaches

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

Nigeria Rugby team in action against Swaziland. PHOTO BY GOOGLE.COM

Zaria Rugby Team Dominate Northern League

BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

After three rounds of matches at the oldest Rugby Union league in the country, the Zaria rugby is at the top of the northern league with only 3 points separating the top two.

Zaria Rugby Football Club have remained unbeaten so far with three wins out of three. They sit at the top of the log with 13 points followed closely by Barewa RFC with 10 points. Kano Rugby Football Club is at the bottom of the log with no point. The Northern

league is the oldest, most consistent and highly competitive league in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation technical director, Olatunji Fasimoye hailed the efforts of Friends of Rugby and the new board for ensuring the spread of the sport across the country as the Inaugural South-South/South East League kicked off with four teams vying for the championship. The first ever league game in SouthSouth/Eastern Nigeria took place at Michael Okpara

University Stadium in Umahia between Bufalo RFC from Abia and Imo Wild Cats RFC from Owerri.

Both sides performed well but it was the Wild Cats who edged an end to end encounter against the home team 15-10. Delta RFC will hit the road to play against Edo RFC in the next fixture.

Imo Wild Cats currently sits on the Log with 4 points.

At the South-West League Cowrie beat Racing in league thriller when the South-West Rugby Union League resumed over the weekend following a 2

month break. Cowrie Rugby Club enjoyed themselves on Saturday afternoon despite spirited opposition from Racing Rugby Club running in four tries on their way to a 26 – 8 victory.

Hawkster Athletics RFC hung on for a hard fought 5-0 win over Lagos Rugby Club. In other games, Royal Stallions Rugby Club beat Eco II Rugby Club 50-3. Police Machines out muscled Gosar Rugby Club 19-3 in the last match of the day.

Cowrie are now 6 points clear at the top.

Coaches in Niger state have been charged to be disciplined and united for the ultimate goal of the Nigeria Coaches Association to be achieved.

The national president of the association who is also the General Manager of Plateau United FC of Jos, Bitrus Bewarang gave the charge when he interacted with youth football coaches in the state, recently.

He stated that for the association to achieve its objectives there must be unity among the coaches and that discipline must be the coaches watch word, urging them to go back to school to acquire modern techniques in the round leather game. ‘‘We need to be united and disciplined if we must achieve the aims and objectives of our association. Our main objective is to ensure that we continue to develop our skills in order to lift the

standard of our football,’’ he stressed.

Bewerang who witnessed his team’s elimination by Lobi Stars of Makurdi in the round of 16 Nigeria Federation Cup and subsequent defeat by Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna by a lone goal in the week 20th game of the Nigeria National League all in Minna within a space of four days, hinted the coaches on the things that make up a good coach as well as the secret of success in coaching job.

He told the coaches that the association was working tirelessly to get sponsorship for the association’s programmes and that better days lie ahead for the members of the association.

Responding to some questions raised by some coaches during the interaction, he said that the association was already working out a new constitution that will take care of their numerous problems.

Bewarang

Continental Glory Is Our Target – Coach Ahmed

BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

Omoniyi Kolade of Nigeria Immigration trying to dribble Abubaka Usman of Kano Pillars

Coach of Kano Pillars Basketball Club of Kano Sani Ahmed has set his sight on doing the state proud when his team files out in the African club championship.

He attributed hard work together with concentration as the reason for the fifth consecutive victory in DSTV/NBBF Super 8 Premier league won at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National stadium, Surulere Lagos.

Pillars defeated its arc-rivals Markmentors Basketball Club of Abuja by 89 to 88 points to win

the league and the coach told LEADERSHIP Sports that planning for the African club continental championship is their next step. But said the full commencement towards the Africa Club Continental will starts when the right date for the tournament s given.

“We will make sure to curb what happened to us in last year’s inter club FIBA tournament in Tunisia not happen again, because beating the defending champions Agusto de Premiro basketball of Angola got into the players’ heads.

They were praising themselves on the social

networks like Twitter, facebook and before it was known to them they lost concentration.

“We hope to win the next FIBA Africa Club Continental but it is not going to be easy, most of the team that came for that competition brought some foreigners, players from NBA but you know one thing we don’t have money in Nigeria to bring any foreigner but we went with local players and we played well which is a good experience for them. At the continental tourney we will try to do well at least to get a medal.”

sports 55

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Sneijder Valuation Scared Off Man Utd, Monaco – Galatasaray

Mourinho

Chelsea Will Challenge For Trophies – Mourinho Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea are capable of taking the Premier League title from Manchester City while also competing in the latter stages of the Champions League this season.

The Blues finished third in the league last season, four points behind eventual winners City, while Atletico Madrid ended their run in Europe’s elite club competition at the semi-final stage.

Mourinho spent most of the campaign managing public expectations of his young team, at one stage even labelling Chelsea the “little horse” in the Premier League title race.

But the high-profile additions of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Thibaut Courtois and Filipe Luis to an already formidable squad have prompted Mourinho to be much more confident in his team’s chances this time around.

When asked if Chelsea were capable of taking the title off City during the club’s pre-season training camp in Austria,

the Portuguese replied: “If I didn’t think that way I would go home and let somebody else take charge of the team.

“People can speak about other leagues but England is the only country where five or six teams can win the title.

Football is about competitiveness every weekend and that only happens in the Premier League.

“When you have the two Manchester clubs, the three clubs from London – Tottenham, Arsenal and ourselves – plus Liverpool, that’s six top teams, where all of them can win the title. That’s why everybody loves the Premier League.

“At Chelsea, if we didn’t think we could win the league, or didn’t think we had the quality to do it, we wouldn’t be here working so hard. We respect our opponents and their ambitions, because they have the same ambitions as us, but we want to win the Premier League and we are ready for that.”

Mourinho also believes the

Blues will be able to put up an even stronger showing in the Champions League this season with their new signings and January purchases Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah available.

“Last year we reached the semi-finals and it was a transitional season,” he added.

“A team which has been a winning team for 10 seasons is changing step by step, we’ve bought new players and we are trying to build for the next decade. We had a very young team at the time but, even so, we reached the semi-finals and were playing to win the competition.

“This season we think we are going to be stronger, the younger players are more experienced, they are stable and better adapted to fighting for titles. You look around, to Spain, Germany and elsewhere in England, teams are getting stronger, spending big amounts of money and trying to sign the best possible players.

Galatasaray have scared off reported suitors Monaco and Manchester United for Wesley Sneijder, according to club president Unal Aysal.

The playmaker’s coach under Netherlands at the World Cup, Louis van Gaal, has taken over at Manchester United - whom have long been linked with a move from the 30-yearold - but are rumoured to have baulked at Sneijder’s €22 million release clause.

Monaco are hardly short on cash, however, and their bank accounts will be newly lined with the €80 million they received from Real Madrid for James Rodriguez on Tuesday.

But Aysal confirmed that offers have not yet been tabled for Sneijder or his Galatasaray team-mate Fernando Muslera, who was Uruguay’s goalkeeper at the 2014 World Cup, this summer.

“With regards to Muslera and Sneijder we have not received an offer for either player,” Aysal told reporters. “Both of these players are very important to our team and as a result we val-

ue them accordingly.

“We won’t release these players for any less than our asking price and that has scared a few interested parties away.

“If a club wants either of these players they are going to have to pay up as we are obliged to listen to any offers which meet their release clause.

If their release clause is activated there is nothing we can do.”

New Galatasaray coach, Cesare Prandelli, stressed that Sneijder is part of his plans and says he is working towards finding the perfect balance to form a championship-winning team.

“I consider Sneijder a very important member of my team,” he told reporters. “In training, all of the players are proving very helpful, which makes me very happy.

“Our goal is to build a winning team - we want to have the right balance between defence and attack, and to build a team that will do well against any opponent. I am convinced I made the right choice coming to Galatasaray.”

Xavi

Barcelona Convince Xavi To Stay We Will Improve For NPL Promotion – Tornadoes Coach Xavi has performed an U-turn with the club’s younger players.

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The Technical Adviser of Niger Tornadoes of Minna has stated that he will continue to improve on the team to ensure that the team gains promotion to the premier league this season.

The team defeated Plateau United of Jos over the weekend at home through a 82nd minute own goal by Emaka Awaziem to collect her maximum three points against the Jos based club.

Technical Adviser of Tornadoes, Godwin Uwua said the Week 20 victory was well deserved with the maximum points collected an opportunity to keep his team on track to remain in the race for promotion into the elite league come next season.

“We will continue to improve our team and correct where we are not good,” he said.

Niger Tornadoes players

and will stay at Barcelona next season after productive talks with coach Luis Enrique and president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Tuesday.

The veteran midfielder had in June indicated his preference to leave Camp Nou after failing to receive assurances from new boss Luis Enrique on how much playing time he would receive.

But after mulling over offers from Qatari club Al-Arabi and new MLS franchise New York City, he has decided to extend his spell in Catalunya.

The news will be welcomed by club chiefs, who are keen for the 34-year-old to remain and share his extensive experience

The situation could have been different, however, had Xavi received more attractive offers. But, having initially been intrigued by the financial rewards available in the Middle East, he cooled on the idea of moving to Qatar and instructed his agent to explore other proposals.

New York stepped forward - indeed they still have a deal on the table - but failed to convince the player it was the right move at this stage of his career.

It means Xavi is set to be a member of the Barcelona squad which attempts to reclaim the title from Atletico Madrid in 2014-15.

AMUSEMENT PARK

IT WAS A PERFECT MARRIAGE— SHE DIDN’T WANT TO AND HE COULDN’T

— Spike Milligan

23.07.14 No. 2,227

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

N150

The Guest Column

WEDNESDAY

www.leadership.ng

Re: Clement Isaiah At 80 baiyeclem@gmail.com

Clem Baiye

D

Mr Isaiah at New Nigerian was truly an amiable man. He saw everything, knew everything, but spoke sparingly

ear Sam, if you were a less outgoing personality, your father’s 80th birth anniversary would have passed with only a few knowing, let alone celebrating the momentous occasion. But, thank God, I just read your column. Your father would obviously be very proud of you. I would appreciate if my comments here are passed on to your dad for whom I have fond memories since our paths crossed each other at the New Nigerian in Kaduna. In writing this memo, I feel I might not do justice to him, but not to even try to toggle my memory and write a few words would be unfair.

Sometime early in 1973, I received a letter from New Nigerian asking me to report for an interview. I had nursed the ambition to work for the newspaper for what seemed like ages then.

After several false leads, I finally had my hopes raised with the arrival of the letter.

I could not have been more excited, given my ambition to be trained as a journalist.

The interview was conducted by your father and his colleague, Mr Adeleye Fagbemi (now of blessed memory). Fortuitously, they decided to ask me questions about current affairs ranging from the Middle East, the Soviet Union and Latin America. Mercifully, the issues were right up my street and so I took advantage of the opportunity to make a positive impression on my assessors.

To my great delight, a couple of weeks later, I got a letter of appointment as a trainee sub-editor duly signed by Malam Mamman Daura, the editor of the newspaper.

When I joined, I was working closely with the late Mr Fagbemi and your father. A little digression here. The letter inviting me for an interview had been signed by the editor’s personal assistant, Mr Clement Bontur. Need-

Mr Clement Ndanusa Isaiah

less to add, on taking up the offer of appointment, I would have to contend with being the third Clement in the editorial department. And being the most junior in rank and obviously the newest and the youngest of the threesome, I had to respond to many calls of “Clement!” that were not directed at me.

So, while thinking about it, I chose to adopt the diminutive Clem as my first name. Among other things, it lifted the weight of expectations from my shoulder. Mr Isaiah was a well-respected sports editor with friends far and wide. I still remember that each time I met his acquaintances they would ask in jest why I chose to use my senior’s first name.

Nonetheless, my change to Clem did not stop the friendly comments from his many friends, and, in a few years’ time, it helped me, as they would say something like, “Well, I will grant you an interview because you are my friend’s namesake!”

In my early days at the New Nigerian, I worked closely with Mr Isaiah and the late Mr Fagbemi.

While we looked up to Malam Daura for his incomparable grasp of syntax and vocabulary, it was to the aforementioned duo that I learnt the technical aspects of newspaper production such as how to cast headlines and plan the pages. I still remember the day I was taught “bastard measure” in page planning! While I had reservations about the name, I felt proud to be in an advanced mode so much so that I nicknamed it “advanced measure”, but only behind their backs!

A few months into my training, I requested that I be transferred to the newsroom so I could join my friends Abba Kyari and Sully Abu as trainee reporters. But there was a little problem. Mr Isaiah wanted me to be on the sports desk. While I did not mind working with him as he was a genial, if understated, gentleman, I preferred general reporting. True

to his nature, he did not impose his will on me.

Mr Isaiah at New Nigerian was truly an amiable man. He saw everything, knew everything, but spoke sparingly. His smile was broad but fleeting. The cynical part of him could manifest on occasion but he was unfailingly gentle and considerate to us the younger elements in the newsroom. I always wondered if he ever lost his cool as he seemed so equable no matter the provocation. He was approachable but never too familiar and, if he cracked a joke, he never went below the belt. A good listener, he would listen patiently before he let you into his inner world: his encyclopaedic knowledge of peoples and events that shaped our country. Those events were recounted in his soft voice with accurate dates.

Sam, you remarked in your write-up that your dad is a lifelong newsman. Yes, he is. Though I have not seen him in a very long while, you could not take the newsman out of him, no matter how hard you tried.

This is wishing Mr Isaiah many happy returns.

Mr Baiye was chairman of Cornerstone Insurance Ltd.

GHANA MUST GO No vacancy in Aso Rock — Interior minister

Bloody clown!

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