Nigeria observer 02 10 2013

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 38 NO. 323 •WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 20 13 . N100.00 ARTS Page 18

Comedy, Comedians And Nigeria’s Rebirth

Independence: FG holds special ABUJA - The Federal Government yesterday marked the 53rd i n d e p e n d e n c e anniversary celebrations with a special presidential change of guard and signpost ceremony at the

change of guard

fore-court of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The parade replaces the flamboyant anniversary which usually hold at the Eagle Square before

2011.

Newsmen reports that the ceremony was conducted by 136 officers and men of the Nigerian Army under the

command of Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe.

The ceremony, which lasted for about an hour, began with the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The President, on Continues on page 2

53rd Independence

National dialogue at Last!

NATURAL MEDICINE Page 19

Do Plants Have Feelings?

ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday constituted an advisory committee to set up modalities for national dialogue or conference.

“Fellow Nigerians, our The President, who administration has taken of constituted the cognizance committee in his 53rd suggestions over the Independence Day’ years by well-meaning national broadcast, said Nigerians on the need for the committee would a national dialogue on the establish modalities for a future of our beloved national conference aimed at resolving issues that currently caused friction in the polity.

He said that the committee would have Dr. Femi Okurounmu as its Chairperson and Dr. Akilu Indabawa as Secretary.

The committee, according to the president, is expected to complete its assignment within one month.

. Jonathan constitutes advisory C’ttee . ACF not opposed to dialogue - Spokesperson to come together way forward, I have decided to set up an to discuss. . NLC commends FG parties committee “In demonstration of advisory country.

“When there are issues that constantly stoke

tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested

my avowed belief in the positive power of dialogue in charting the

whose mandate is to establish the modalities

Continues on page 2

Gov eulogises Oba Erediauwa

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR

BENIN CITY – As the nation marks its 53 rd I n d e p e n d e n c e Anniversary, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has paid glowing tribute to the Benin Monarch Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa for being a father to all, particularly in the state.

Oshiomhole made the remark at a reception held in Benin City to mark the 53 rd Independence Anniversary of the country.

The reception had the State Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Egberamwan Odubu and his wife, Deaconess Endurance in attendance.

Comrade Oshiomhole appreciated the Benin Monarch for his fatherly

role, describing him as a unifying figure in the state.

Meanwhile, Nigerians from all walks of life who converged the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City earlier in the day to mark the 53 rd i n d e p e n d e n c e anniversary of the nation expressed divergent views on the nations 53rd independent anniversary.

Those who spoke with the Nigerian Observer on the state of the nation appreciated God that the country “is still standing as one, in

INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION: Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State, with his Deputy, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu and wife, Deaconess (Mrs.) Endurance Odubu, during the Independence Day Celebration at Sam Ogbemudia Stadium yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

Oshiomhole calls for industrial policies

Continues on page 2

BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has urged leaders in the three tiers of government to

formulate industrial policies that would encourage production rather than importation as a panacea to youth unemployment.

The governor in his address to mark

YENAGOA - Former Transport Minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, on

Tuesday, said democracy has stabilised Nigeria.

Babatope said in

Yenagoa that the positive impact of democratic rule in

By ADAMS OYIBOKE/ OYENMWEN OMOROGBE

Nigerians’ 53 rd I n d e p e n d e n c e Anniversary yesterday in Benin City said

Democracy has stabilized Nigeria - Ebenezer Babatope

governance had helped the country to stabilise the

Continues on page 2

unemployment has become a global problem which government at all levels must devise ways and means to tackle.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen, his wife, Endurance, state legislators and judiciary staff as well as members

of the state exco.

Oshiomhole said the difference is that in all those countries, national leaders and local leaders take into account the extent of unemployment and formulate industrial policy that would encourage production rather than importation.

“I think on this occasion, all of us in government must renew our commitment to our people that our primary

Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

News

FG holds special change of guard Zaria.

Continued from page 1 arrival, inspected the Guards Brigade before moving to the podium where he received general salute, followed by rendition of the National Anthem.

Prayers was subsequently offered by the President of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritshejafor, and the Deputy Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Dr Ibrahim

To cut the cake, the President was supported by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Senate President, David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, also

gave a helping hand to the President.

The President subsequently released the flock of pigeons, which signifies peace and freedom.

Newsmen further reports that the ceremony was witnessed by serving ministers, ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, high profile politicians and members of the organised private sector.

ignored, and no resource will be left untapped in the quest to enable our people live without fear.

“I implore every Nigerian – wherever you are, whatever language you speak, whatever your religious persuasion, whichever political party you support – let us join together to fight this evil of extremism,” he said.

The president rededicated himself “completely” to the service of the nation, assuring Nigerians that the country will not fail under his leadership.

He charged all political leaders to continually focus on service, duty and responsibility.

He said that politicians should act as statesmen who focused on “next generation” and not the “next election.”

He said that those who were elected to govern at all levels must focus on improving the lives of the people and not selfish ambition.

The president also cautioned against harmful clutches of parochial sentiments and the politics of bitterness, impunity and

arrogance.

He said politicians must guard their utterances and ensure they promote things that united the nation.

“We must stand as one, with absolute commitment and resolve to resist any force that threatens us and the sanctity of our union,” he said.

The president urged Nigerians to remain fully committed to building a strong, united, progressive and prosperous nation in spite of present challenges.

“In truth, Nigeria is still a work in progress and we are challenged everyday to keep building in spite of the various obstacles we face.

“History has proven that nations take time to evolve.

We should rejoice in our democracy because it enables us to be united by our differences, not destroyed by them,” he said.

The president noted that the threats the nation faced might be real and immediate but the country was not alone in that regard.

He said what should be of concern were the lessons

Nigerian to be able to attain his potentials, self-actualisation and to contribute to the growth and development of the nation.

“The vision was to ensure that when the people are in charge of their own resources, when national patriotism is the only consideration, those whom we have entrusted with leadership position will creatively managed resources to deliver welfare to citizens,” he stressed.

While commending the efforts of the founding fathers

who led the struggle for Nigerians Independence from the colonial masters, Government Oshiomhole expressed hope that Nigeria remains a strong nation.

He said while urging Nigerians to remain committed to the promise of the country he said, “no nation has grown because his people choose to wallow in lamentation.

“Our responsibility is to do differently today, what we failed to do right yesterday.”

learnt, the wisdom demonstrated, and the victories snatched from the jaws of possible defeat.

“This is a time to pull together behind the national cause: the cause of our freedom, and our future.

“We must rekindle the spirit of Nigeria, to ensure that every democrat and every lover of peace in this great nation continues to live in a free, peaceful and secure Nigeria,” he said.

Jonathan congratulated all Nigerians as the nation marks 53 years of independence.

He noted that looking back over the years, Nigerians could confidently say that they had reasons to celebrate.

The president thanked every Nigerian who had stood by this administration in the midst of mounting challenges and enormous expectations.

“I recognise that it is not easy to keep believing in the possibilities of our greatness when our faith is constantly challenged.

“But let me assure you that, if we do not despair, we shall reap the reward of our labour in due season,” he said.

The president reiterated the commitment of the administration to lead the country to greatness.

Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday said it would support any dialogue that would bring about the strengthening of the Nigeria Project.

Mr. Anthony Sani, the ACF National Publicity Secretary told newsmen in Kaduna while reacting to the announcement

by President Goodluck Jonathan on the setting up of an advisory committee on National Conference.

“The ACF has made it clear long ago that it is not opposed to any national dialogue that can calm nerves and bring about the strengthening of the Nigeria project, provided such national dialogue would not take the form of a Sovereign National Conference.

“This is because a sovereign national conference amounts to vote of no confidence on our democracy and its institutions, which nobody or group has the right to do.

“So national dialogue through national conference, yes; through sovereign national conference, “There is therefore nothing wrong in setting up a committee by the Federal Government to work out the form or modality of the proposed national dialogue.’’

Sani, however said that the ACF would take a final stand, when the “the form and content” of the committee was unveiled to Nigerians by the federal government.

The presidential change of guards was performed by the soldiers with military display, foot and arms drill and rhythmic and calculated steps.

Their weapons and uniforms were inspected to ensure tidiness.

After the ceremony, the President signed the anniversary register and proceeded to cut the anniversary cake.

National dialogue at Last!

Continued from page 1

for a national dialogue or conference.

“The committee will also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism of the process.

“The full membership of the committee will be announced shortly.

“I expect its report to be ready in one month, following which the nation will be briefed on the nomenclature, structure and modalities of the dialogue,” he said.

The president reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to taking all necessary action to bring the war against domestic terrorism to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible.

He condoled with the families of all those who have fallen victim of those dastardly acts, and assured that the administration would not rest until every Nigerian was free from the oppression of terrorism.

“I reassure you that no cost will be spared, no idea will be

Oshiomhole calls for industrial policies Continued from page 1

duties in government is to create the environment to enable young people to find jobs, create wealth and live their lives.”

“Any policy which leads to joblessness, favours importation, any policy that leads to industrial closure, such policy must be reviewed and must put Nigeria first.

He said, “We must consciously work to change our consumption pattern away from import base to production base.

“When the consumption of a people is more sophisticated than the ability to produce, there is no question, unemployment will result,” he warned.

According to him, though government has not been able to solve all the problems, but a great majority of the youths have been given employment through the state youth empowerment scheme.

He said government is into mechanized agriculture, taking advantage of the presence of arable land to ensure that the state becomes the food basket of the nation.

Governor Oshiomhole assured that inspite of the many challenges facing the country, there is hope.

According to him, “This day is worth celebrating and it is worth marking.

“And I am happy when I see our children, Primary School pupils, secondary schools students, all marching, showing that they have faith and hope and that Nigeria remains the greatest country in the planet.

He said the promise of Independence was basically to build a free, democratic nation, one that would enable every

Democracy has stabilized Continued from page 1 Nigeria polity.

He made the remark at the 17th Anniversary Public Lecture organised by the Bayelsa government, in commemoration of the 17 years of the state’s creation.

The anniversary lecture has “Good Governance as Panacea for Promoting Stable Democracy and Sustainable Development” as its theme.

The ex-minister said that in spite of its challenges, Nigeria recorded great feats as a nation under democracy.

“Nigeria is a multi-tribal and multi-religious nation. Our delicate balancing of the operations of these essential features of our socio-political lives had helped tremendously in ensuring the triumph of democracy in our nation.

“Though we have conflicts, our nation has not gone under because no matter our faults, we have not allowed the basic tenets of democracy and democratic governance to be subverted in our country.

“Democracy, therefore, has gone a long way to stabilise our nation.”

Babatope noted that the current challenges facing the country centred on how to make democracy work and survive.

According to him, it is clear that democracy is the only form of government that can guarantee the survival of Nigeria as a nation.

He said: “democracy not only permits the freedom of choice and movement, it equally ensures that the fundamental rights of Nigerians are respected.

“I have always been amazed when I hear people say that the military may instigate a coup simply because we have some problems in our political arrangements.”

The former minister, who reiterated his belief in the survival of democracy in Nigeria, said that the Nigerian military had grown in professionalism and had shown the required maturity in attitude toward the political affairs of the country.

Nigeria @ 53: Let’s do things

that unite us - Mark

ABUJA - President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has for the umpteenth time urged Nigerians to strive to do only those things that can unite the country even as he craves for an egalitarian nation of equal opportunities where no man is denied or oppressed.

Speaking at the 53rd independence church service at the St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo , Abuja yesterday, Senator Mark reflected on the journey so far and harped on the need for love and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

“We also ask God to give us a glorious future. A nation where no one is oppressed.

Where those in positions of authority will do it to the best of their abilities and with the fear of God”, he stated.

He noted that very often Nigerians craves for positions but sometimes undermines the huge responsibility of service to the people saying “ we must strive to work for the people and make progress as a nation”.

He reminded Nigerians especially those in positions of leadership that leadership is a divine mandate that demands humility, service to God and society and not in the reverse order.

Senator Mark condemned in a very strong terms the perpetrators of violence in the country saying “these heartless and mindless killings are disheartening and inhuman. It cannot be a way of life”.

In a manner akin to calling for a psychiatric test for perpetrators of violence he stressed:” Both those who are perpetrating it and all those behind it need to reexam themselves . They are insane and truly abnormal.

“As we mark the nation’s 53rd independence, we pray for peace, unity and love among Nigerians”.

Earlier in his homily, Parish Priest, Rev. Father Innocent Jooji, noted that Nigeria is a divine project and must not in any circumstances be destroyed .

ABUJA - The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday commended the move by the Federal Government to hold a national conference.

Mr. Chris Uyot, the NLC Secretary-General, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

“President Jonathan should be applauded for the new step; we want to commend the president for seeing the need for a conference because we believe in participatory and inclusive government.”

“Any form of dialogue discussion points to a positive and an inclusive government and we support it.

“We think it is a good idea which should be encouraged,” Uyot said.

Mr. David Balami, the National President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), also told newsmen that the association was happy with government’s move, adding that it had waited “patiently” for such a programme.

Balami said if the national conference was done without

any sentiment, it would go a long way to solve the nation’s problems.

“Without sentiment, it will go along way in re-shaping our future. Our concern is the calibre of people that will be in the committee.

“We need to be sure also that whatever issues raised will be implemented too.”

Balami, who is also the spokesperson of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), advised the president to ensure that youths were included in the dialogue.

Mr. Yemisi Bamigbose, the National President, Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), also commended the proposal and described it as “democratic”.

He said that it would strengthen democracy in the country.

“As long as we want democracy to stand, dialogue is key and it is so everywhere in the world.

“If he, (president) feels we should talk as a country, there is nothing bad about it; it will only strengthen our democracy.”

Labour commends FG’s proposed National dialogue

Gov eulogises Oba Erediauwa

Continued from page 1

spite of the numerous challenges that could have put an end to its existence”.

Some prominent citizens of the state, including Hon. Itohan Osahon Ogbeide, Hon. Joseph Akerejela, Barr. Jimoh Ojegbai, Prince Julius Asemota noted that the nation has cause to celebrate.

They remarked that Nigerians should not give up, noting that with good planning and proper execution, Nigeria will get to the promised land.

Miss. Mirabel Oboh, a student of Asoro Grammar school, and Master Etinosa Arasomwan a student of Edo Boys High School, both in Benin City, called on leaders of the country to be more sincere in

their doings and give due attention particularly to the infrastructure development in all sectors of the economy.

The duo similarly appealed to the leaders to encourage youths of the country to go into meaningful ventures and in the process give them a sense of belonging in the scheme of things.

In the same vein, comrade Odion Olaye of NURTW, Tony Kabaka of Akugbe Venture and Comrade Aideyan of Edo State Drivers Welfare Scheme, identified with the nation on the independence anniversary.

Comrade Tony Kabaka and comrade Lucky Aideyan however stressed the need for youths to be carried along by government, especially in the area of employment

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Inside Edo HIV/AIDs

Council Boss Inspects project.

Projects He stated that the present AGENEBODE – The Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua has inspected the construction of a four classrooms block at Egbepui Primary School, Iviegbepui, Agenebode.

The Council Chairman who expressed satisfaction with the level of work, said that the project is being done to specification, saying that it is near completion.

He noted that the project will be completed within two weeks, promising to provide chairs and desks for the school pupils, before commissioning the project.

Speaking on behalf of the community an indigene, Mr. Lawrence Akhigbe appreciated the Local Government the

structures were built by the missionaries in 1955 adding that successive government never saw the need to pay attention to the school.

He however promised, that the community would continue to support the comal boss in his quest to bring the dividends of democracy to the people.

Meanwhile, Hon. Afegbua has inspected the construction of four classrooms and Headmaster’s office at Ebua Primary School, Iviebua, Agenebode.

The council chairman said his government inherited the project from previous administration, and was almost abandoned.

He stated that his administration will not allow for any abandoned project, including those he inherited.

Edo SACA Adopts New Strategy

L-R: Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu, his wife, Deaconess Endurance Odubu and Chief Tom Ikimi at the reception to mark the 53rd independence anniversary of Nigeria in Benin City, Edo State yesterday. PHOTO: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

2015: Don’t Break Nigeria, Archbishop

By OSE EHEBHA EKPOMA-As Nigeria marks her 53 years of independence, politicians in the country have been cautioned against utterances and “acts capable of causing division among citizens of the country”.

The Archbishop of Bendel

Security:

Cautions Politicians

Province, Anglican Communion, Most Rev’d Friday Imaekhai who gave the charge in his independence message, advised politicians aspiring for political position in 2015 to be decent in their utterances. While respecting

the views of others.

“We strongly advise that Nigerians, especially those aspiring for political positions to be decent in their utterances and respect other people’s views.

“They should desist from

acts capable of breaking the nation into pieces and emphasize more of those things that unite us together and de-emphasize those things that tend to tear us apart.

“We must not forget the role

NSCDC Commends LG Boss

SABONGIDDA – ORA: The Chairman, Owan West Local Government Council, Edo State, Hon. (Barr) Godwin Aigbodion has been commended for his efforts at reducing the activities of criminals in the area.

State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), Pharm.

Chike Alpha Ikpeamonu made the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to the council chairman Sabondda-Ora the council boss was represented by the council chairman, Hon. Reginald Okun.

Pharm Ikpeamonu informed the chairman that he was on a familiarization tour to the local government area so as to appraise himself with the performance and welfare of his officers in the area, and to interact with the chairman and his executive on security situation in order to have a first hand information for strategic security planning.

He further informed that the corps mandate, apart from complementing other security agencies, includes protecting government facilities, like pipelines, against vandalism, licensing private guard companies, monitoring as

well as assisting them in the training of their personnel.

Responding the council

boss thanked the commandant and his team for the visit and urged them to continue to

contribute their quotas to the growth and development of the Local Government Area.

Trado-Medical Doctor Urges Govt however appealed to other To Establish Clinics tradomedical doctors to be

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM

ABAVO (DELTA) - A trado medical doctor, Dr. Jude Okafor has appealed to the state and federal government to as a matter of urgency establish tradomedical clinics that would enhance efficient and effective tradmedical practices in Nigeria.

Dr. Okafor who stated this in an interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER disclosed that traditional medicine has the ability to cure various sicknesses including HIV/AIDS, yellow fever, diabetes, stroke and epilepsy.

He said any attempt to allow tradomedical practice go into oblivion would be disadvantageous to the Nigerian people.

He also appealed to the three tiers of government to partner in ensuring that the practice of tradomedical medicine is encouraged and

sustained as a means of protecting the lives of the people.

The tradomedical doctor

well focused, faithful, prayerful and dedicated to the practice of tradomedicine in Nigeria.

of God in the choice of leader; so, let us not kill ourselves because of struggle for power and political patronage”, he cautioned.

Archbishop Imaekhai implored Nigerians to use the independence celebration to reflect on their common life, and also celebrate the patriotism, selflessness, commitment and resourcefulness of heroes past.

He equally appealed to the media to allow overall interest of the country guide their reportage, while endorsing the just as he gave nod to convocation of national conference, if it will engender lasting peace.

The religious leaders stressed the need for Nigerians to confess their private and collective sins and ask for God’s pardon, adding that “God is still interested in the Nigeria project”.

BENIN CITY - The Edo State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, said it is adopting the bottom-top approach, to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.

The Project Manager of SACA in Edo, Hajia Harriet Binkola, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Benin City.

Binkola said that the bottomup approach was part of the HIV Programme Development Project (HPDP- 2), which involved focusing on HIV/AIDs activities in rural communities.

“The main focus of HPDP 2 is on the prevention of new infections. It is bottom-top because we have to go to the grassroots and work up to the state level. ‘’This is unlike what was obtainable before now where the activities were flowing from the state to the community level.”

She said that the agency was currently giving out grants to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) involved in HIV/AIDS prevention activities, to work in Local Government Areas in the state.

Binkola said further that the agency had organised sensitisation campaigns for students, artisans, members of the National Youth Service Corps and other social groups in the state to enable them change behaviour.

The project manager said that the current HIV prevalence rate of 5.3 in the state was high.

She said that the agency would continue to collaborate with CSOs and relevant ministries, to check the spread of the disease in the state.

Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe (right) with wife of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Deaconess (Mrs) Endurance Odubu, during the independence day celebration. PHOTO: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

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News Alenkhe Bags Peace Ambassador Award

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in a handshake with the representative of the Oba of Benin (Chief M.N. Ozigbo-Esere, the Osuma of Benin kingdom at the reception to mark Nigeria’s 53rd independence anniversary in Benin City yesterday. PHOTO: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

BENIN CITY- Benin Bases Broadcast Journalist, Mr. Festus Alenkhe has been presented with an International Peace Ambassador Award.

The presentation which was at the instance of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) took place at the Police Officers Mess in Benin City and was attended by a cream of the society.

Introduction the Award before the Presentation, the State Coordinator of Universal Peace Federation, Mr. Osasu Usenbor said the organization has carefully and keenly been following

NUC Set To Tidy Up Varsity System - Okojie

ABUJA- The National Universities Commission (NUC) said it was set to tidy the university system to enable it stand the test of time.

The Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, stated this in Abuja, when he declared open the Nigeria University Doctorate Award Scheme (NUDTAS) assessment.

“We are set to tidy up the university system. And I can assure you that the system is now better than when I was there. The

system still has something to be proud of.

“In spite of the various challenges that Nigeria’s university sector was facing, there was hope for the system because it is better now than how it used to be in the past.’’

According to him, two neighbouring African countries have sent requests to the commission to share ideas on

running the sector.

“Specifically, Cameroon Minister of Education and his Sierra Leone counterpart have written to NUC to guide them on how to establish an equivalent of the commission in their respective countries.

He said that this was a proof of the high quality of the country’s education system, especially at the university level in Nigeria.

“This is to tell you that there is

Jehovah’s Witness Convention priority for Jehovah’s Begin Oct 4 Witnesses, adding that “each

By MATTHEW OKAGHA

BENIN CITY- The annual conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses will formally begin on Friday, October 4, 2013 and run through mid-December.

The convention which will hold world-wide are in accordance with’ declaration in John 17:17.

The term of this year’s conventions is “God’s word is truth”.

According to a statement by the News Service Department of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the first three-day conventions will hold at the Assembly Hall, Kilometre 11, Benin –Agbor Road, from Friday October 4 to Sunday 6,2013.

Thereafter, the programme will hold subsequently every weekend, from Friday to Sunday.

Special features will include talk-show and drama plays to bring Bible stories and their lessons to life.

The statement explained that the convention theme this year is significant because it underscores a core family

value of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“Witnesses families embrace the Bible as the most trustworthy guide and source of advice in these trouble times, and we are confident that the public will like benefit from it and enjoy the varied and practical programmes”, the statement explained.

It further stated that personal Bible study is a

week, Witnesses families will devote an entire evening to Bible study and research designated as “family worship”.

The statement further explained that the convention will provide families and individuals with fresh resources for family and personal Bible study.

still something good in the sector, though some Nigerians don’t seem to appreciate our efforts in the sector.

“Outsiders are seeing our efforts and they are encouraged by what we are doing hence the request for the partnership.

“The Nigerian University sector has the capacity and capability to move the nation forward. Don’t get discouraged about what is going on in the system.

“Our university system is working and it would continue to work and we can’t sit down in our house and say our graduates are unemployable, when they are winning laurels abroad,” he said.

Okojie said that Nigerian graduates were among the best in the world as the system back home had prepared them for any challenge outside the shores of the country.

The executive secretary, therefore, called on universities’ management to endeavour to access the funds in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for development purposes.

Cross section of local government chairmen during the independence celebration.

PHOTO: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE AND MOSES OBOH

Festus Alenkhe’s public activities and found him worthy of the award.

He stated that the U.P.F., an Inter-religious and NonGovernmental Organization believes in peace and unity.

Mr. Usenbor urges the new International Peace Ambassador, Festus Alenkhe to see the award as a genuine public acceptance of the weekly Crime Watch programme in Edo Broadcasting Service.

He commended him and wished him success and good luck in all his endeavour.

Performing the presentation, a Pioneer Peace Ambassador, Chief Emmanuel Igiebor noted that the award is meant for those who have the patriotism and zeal to contribute meaningfully to nation development.

Chief Igiebor described Festus Alenkhe as a journalist of high repute whose security news reports have touched the lives of the people and urges him to see the award as good thing to come in this future career.

Responding, the Peace Ambassador Awardee, Ambassador Festus Alenkhe dedicated the award to God,

His family and Staff of Edo Broadcasting Service.

Ambassador Alenkhe said the award came to him as a surprise and commended Universal Peace Federation for finding him worthy of the honour.

He promised to justify the confidence reposed on him, adding that the award will spur him to greater heights.

The ceremony was attended by a cream of the society, including a former Chief of Staff to Edo State Government, Hon. Isaiah Osifo; State Chairman; National Union of Road Transport Employers Association, to Police Officers and Journalists in the state.

BENN CITY- The death has occurred in Benin City of Deacon William Uyi Ogbonmwan, father of Miss Joy Ogbonmwan Staff of Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, Publisher of Observer titles.

He was aged 62 years.

Late Deacon Ogbonmwan died on August 13, 2013.

According to a statement by the children, funeral commence on the October 4, 2013. Attain the corps taken from the Time Hospital in a motorcade to his residence at No 9 1st Agbonma Lane off Agbonma Street, off Ekehuan Road, Benin City Edo State for lying –instate.

This will be followed at 3pm with service of Songs at the same venue.

On Saturday October 5, 2013, beginning at noon there will be social dance at Owegie primary school

compound, Owina street Uzebu quarters, the burial ceremony will climax with a thanksgiving service at the Christ Apostolic Church of God Mission, No16 Obakpolor street, off 2 nd Cemetery Road, Uzebu Quarters, Benin City.

Late Deacon William Ogbonmwan is survival by seven children and 10 grandchildren.

Festus Alenkhe

Deacon Ogbonmwan For Burial Oct 4

Late Dcn. Uyi Ogbonmwan

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Across The Nation Essay Competition

Bank Presents Award

Mrs Olabowale-Oluyide Nnohoibuk, (left) The Bank Manager, congratulating Dr (Mrs) H.E. Atekha-Odemwingie, Proprietress Oghosa Education Centre, after an award won by Master Monarch Edokpayi (2nd left) for emerging second runners-up in national essay competition organized by the bank for secondary schools in Nigeria. With them is his father, Mr Joshua Edokpayi

BENIN CITY – A Commercial Bank has presented an award to Master Monarch Uyinmwonmwan Edokpayi an SS2 student in Benin City for emerging second runners –up in the bank’s essay competition organized for secondary school students nationwide.

Presenting the award to Master Edokpayi, the bank’s Manager, New Lagos Road Branch, Mrs. Olabowale-Oluyide Nnohoibuk, commended him for his outstanding performance in the competition, while urging him to sustain it.

In his acceptance speech, Master Edokpayi appreciated the Bank Management for organizing the essay competition.

He urged the bank to sustain the competition, as it serves as avenue for students to showcase their talent.

Flood Destroys Property In Umuahia UMUAHIA - A heavy downpour in Umuahia and its surrounding villages in Abia, has destroyed many houses and other structures worth millions of Naira newsmen, who visited some of the affected areas, observed that traders’ wares were also washed off.

It was also observed that many people missed Church services as they were busy sorting out valuables from the debris of

collapsed structures.

Mrs. Victoria Ijeoma, of 46 Lagos Street, Umuahia, told our correspondent that she lost more than N100,000 to the flood that “swept out everything in the house’’.

“My room was submerged by the flood; I lost my clothes, money and other household items.

“At the moment, I don’t have anything to eat because the flood

carried my pot of soup and the other food items I have in this house. That is why I did not go to Church today,” she said.

Mrs. Chinansa Oluchukwu, a widow and mother of four, said that she also lost everything in her room, including her children’s school books and uniforms.

“We want the government and other good people to help us because we have lost our means of livelihood.

“We also want the government to relocate us to a better place to avoid a repeat of this flood because we don’t have money to help ourselves.

“Since I lost my husband, I have tried to raise these children alone, so this tragedy is a huge set-back,’’ she said.

Oluchukwu, who attributed the flooding to a poor drainage system in Umuahia, said that she had initially concluded that the

end of the world had come.

Mr. Chukwuma Owunwanne, of 55 Bawas Street, described his experience as terrible and prayed against a repeat.

He claimed that residents of his compound lost “more than N2 million to the flood.”

“We lost everything in our compound to the flood; fridges, television sets, radio sets, rugs and pots of soup were all swept off.

Army Renders Healthcare To Rural Communities ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) No fewer then 500 rural dwellers in two communities in Anambra West Local Government Area, have benefited from the 302 Artillery Regiment’s medical outreach activities.

Reports say that the free medical service, provided Umuoba Anam and Mmiata Anam communities, cover medical check-ups, various medical tests, injury dressing, drug dispensing and health counselling.

Col. Taritimiye Gagariga, Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, said the exercise was in furtherance of the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, of transforming the Nigerian Army to professional and highly service oriented force.

Gagariga noted that with the support of Maj.-Gen. Adebayo Olaniyi, General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, the army in Anambra had undertaken several humanitarian services in remote areas of the state.

“Just recently, the army, in collaboration with the RIISE Foundation, USA, provided medical service to the densely populated areas in Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka.

“The Nigerian Army, in the conduct of its constitutional mandate, must be seen by the general public as professional.

“In providing aid to the civil authority, the Nigerian Army must have the capacity to win the hearts and minds of the populace.

“Humanitarian activities such as medical outreaches, distribution of relief materials and confidence visits, are among the numerous ways by which the Nigerian Army aims to endear itself to the populace,’’ he said.

NAN reports that most of the rural dwellers were diagnosed with malaria and high sugar level, while some had their open injuries, dressed.

New Era College during march past to mark the Independence Day

Zamfara Confirms Death Of Female Pilgrim

GUSAU - The Zamfara State Government, has confirmed the death of Hajia Halimatu Idris, a Muslim pilgrim from the state.

Zamfara deputy governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala, told newsmen in Gusau that the female pilgrim from Shinkafi Local Government Area, died in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and had been buried there.

Wakkada, who is also the Chairman, Zamfara Task Force on Hajj, said that the family of the deceased, had already been informed.

“The deceased, a middle-aged woman, left her home and the

country in good health but doctors confirmed that she died as a result of shock and excitement when she saw a large crowd of pilgrims beyond what her capacity could take,” Wakkala said.

He also disclosed that two other pilgrims - Muhammadu Mande and Rabiatu Aminu, had been hospitalised after the former was hit by a car in Makkah, while the latter, a female, had severe bleeding after a miscarriage in

Madinah.

“But both patients are responding to treatment and will soon be discharged,” he explained.

He said that the task force had made adequate arrangement to ensure the comfort of the 4,088 pilgrims from the state, adding that 10 medical personnel accompanied them to the Holy land.

Wakkala stated that all the 64 winners of the National Qur’anic

recitation competition, held in March this year, were rewarded with Hajj seats.

Reacting to reports that some people missed the opportunity to perform the exercise last year, even after they had paid, he said that the matter was being tackled as the officials, who defrauded them, were being “handled by the state government”.

He said that the Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, had since released N132 million, to enable those affected to travel to Saudi Arabia this year and perform the pilgrimage.

According to him the award was even more special to him because it came two days after he celebrated his birthday.

He used the opportunity to express his appreciation to his parents, Mr and Mrs. Joshua Edokpayi, as well as Management of Oghosa Education Centre for the opportunity to participate in the competition.

On her part, the proprietress of Oghosa Education Centre Dr. Mrs. H.E. Atekha-Odemwingie commended Master Monarch Edokpayi for doing the school proud and therefore urged him to keep the flag flying.

She also commended the bank for organizing the competition.

It would be recalled that Master Edokpayi, last year emerged winner of a similar essay competition organized by the bank for secondary school students in SouthSouth Zone of the country.

Orphanage Ogun To Review Policy

ABEOKUTA - The Ogun Government said that it would soon review its policy on the establishment and operation of orphanages in the state The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi, stated this in Abeokuta at a meeting with operators and proprietors of orphanages in the state.

Somubi said the recent passage of the amended Child Rights’ Bill in the state and some undesirable developments in some of the orphanages, had made the review necessary.

“The state government is planning to review the operational policy for the establishment and smooth dayto-day running of orphanages and motherless babies’ homes in the state.

“The review of the existing policy guiding the operations of orphanages and children homes, will address recent anomalies in some of the homes,” she said.

She stressed that the government had already intensified its monitoring activities to check the excesses of some operators across the 20 local government areas of the state.

“It is pertinent to deliver first class services to the vulnerable children in tune with best international practises,” she warned.

In her remarks, Rev. Sister Reindlis Lajar of the Anthonietta Farani Children’s Home, Ijebu Ode, commended the Ministry for convening the meeting.

She noted that the meeting had created an avenue for the proprietors to learn and exchange ideas for improved services.

Lajar urged the operators to show love and care to the vulnerable children, adding, “ make the fear of God and sincerity of purpose, your watchword.”

THE NIGERIAN

7

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Lagos

New Number Plates

Lawyer Sues FRSC LAGOS - A lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Ofoegbu, have filed a suit before the Federal High Court, Lagos, against the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), challenging its issuance of new number plates.

The applicant is seeking a declaration that the threat by the respondent to arrest and impound the vehicles of motorists who failed to acquire the new number plates from October 1, was “unconstitutional“.

In his statement of facts, the applicant averred that the old number plates were issued under the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR), 2004.

He said that the NRTR 2004 is a subsidiary legislation made under the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act, Laws of the Federation, as revised in 2004.

According to the applicant, the NRTR 2012, in Regulations 230 (2), provides that the revocation of the 2004 Regulations, shall not affect anything done, or purported to be done pursuant to that Regulation.

Ofoegbu averred that there was no law made in accordance

with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which prohibits the use of the old number plates, or declares its use as an offence.

He also averred that the threat by the respondent to impound vehicles and arrest motorists who failed to comply with the October 1 deadline was a gross violation of the provisions of Section 36 (12) of the constitution, which guarantees the rights of individuals.

He, therefore, wants the court to declare as unlawful, the threat by the respondent to arrest motorists using the old number plates, because there was no law validly made in accordance with the constitution, prohibiting their use.

The applicant also seeks a court injunction restraining the defendants from impounding vehicles or otherwise arresting or harassing motorists who fail to acquire the new number plates.

Reports say that the suit number FHC/L/CS/ 1332/ 13, had yet to be assigned to a trial judge.

Flood on Sulaimon Shoderu Street, Power Line, Ikorodu, in Lagos recently.

A Landlord draining water from his room on Okeyemi Street, Off Power Line, Ikorodu, in Lagos after a down pour.

NGO Urges Nigerians To Invest In Children LAGOS- Ms Ita Hozaife, the founder of Ink Marks, an NGO on children’s development, has urged Nigerians to invest more in the development of children.

Hozaife told newsmen in Lagos that not much time and investment were being given to children by parents and caregivers.

According to her, it is obvious today that parents and guardians have little or no time for their children.

“And, this is unhealthy for us as a nation, because the future of Nigeria belongs to these children.

“We are not investing enough time or creating the right environment for their upbringing and growth.

“Rather, parents are busy with their businesses and other social engagements.

“If we want to have these children as our future leaders, then, we need to wisely invest in them and give them the attention they deserve.

“It is not just enough to give them money and leave them to themselves, without having time for them,’’ she said.

Hozaife said that creating more time for our children would give them confidence and hope to enable them to become responsible citizens of the Nigeria of our dream.

She said that the NGO had organised skills development programmes for no fewer than 200 children in Lagos State.

Hozaife said that the

programmes were aimed at educating the children on how to discover and develop their talents.

Authur Mbanefo Centre To Aid

LAGOS - Mr. Olajide Alex-Oni, the Chief Executive of Arthur Mbanefo Digital Resource Centre (AMDRC) in Lagos, has said that the centre would serve as a veritable tool for researchers.

Alex-Oni made the observation in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He said that the library, which is a NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organisation, would also assist to develop research culture in the country.

Alex-Oni said that the library was established to contribute to research efforts in Africa aimed at alleviating socioeconomic challenges of the continent.

“Sixty-eight per cent of research done in Africa is from South Africa and Egypt, while Nigeria only commands 19 per cent.

‘The library is a research tool that will allow researchers direct access to some of the world’s best online publishers on

multi-disciplinary subjects of science, technology and medicine.

“We have over a million articles, 7, 500 e-books, 7, 000 peer-reviewed articles, 28, 000 journals, audio, video and images, “ he said.

Alex-Oni said that the library would make a difference by helping to produce best quality higher education teachers and fully equipped professionals who would ensure the development of relevant human capital.

The AMDRC Chief Executive said that the

Research

library, whose doors were opened to the public on the 1st of July, would be launched officially next year.

He said that the library had started marketing its brand by undertaking what he called “open house“ in which the academic community and intellectuals were engaged.

Alex-Oni said that the library had recorded hundreds of participants at its open house, adding that the management targeted about 1000 participants before the

end of the year.

He expressed displeasure over the dearth of research materials in the country, saying that researchers were either not seriously engaged or they lacked funds.

“The digital centre has also felt the impact of the funding deficit as many organisations do not know or do not want to fund research.

“In our bid to raise funds since the library is privately owned, we wrote to many institutions, individuals and corporate bodies to partner

with us.

“But because they do not understand the kind of partnership we are looking for, they are quick to turn us down.

“These organisations will now turn around to fund social, entertainment and fashion ventures to the tune of tens of millions of naira, “ the AMDRC CEO said.

He said that the library could help ease some of the challenges that power, Internet facility, infrastructure and broadband, among others, pose to researchers in their efforts.

3 Men Arraigned Over Possession Of Indian Hemp

LAGOS - The Police in Lagos has arraigned three accused persons before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court over the alleged possession of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

The three accused, Kehinde Ahmed (21), Musa Ramon (35) and Shehu Bamidele (40), all of No. 30, Akosile St., IjoraBadia, Lagos, are facing a onecount charge bothering on unlawful possession of Indian hemp.

The police prosecutor, Insp.

Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that on August24, at No.30, Akosile St., Ijora-Badia, a team of policemen arrested the accused persons.

“The accused, when caught, were in possession of a large quantity of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp, which contravened Section 327

of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 327 of the Criminal Law stipulates a six-month imprisonment, if found guilty.

All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against them.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Oluyemisi Adelaja, granted N100,000 bail to each of the

accused, with one reliable surety each, in like sum.

She ordered the sureties to show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the prosecutor.

Adelaja also ordered that each surety must attach a passport photograph to the bail bond.

The case was adjourned till October. 14, for mention.

THE NIGERIAN

8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

South-South DBIR Ends Induction Course For New Staff

By BETTY IDIALU WARRI- The Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) has ended a five day induction course for its new staff in Asaba, with a projection to rake in N8Billon as from December this year.

In repositioning itself for better service delivery, especially as the major agency spearheading the state government’s revenue drive in line with its Delta Beyond Oil Initiative, the DBIR recently engaged over 200 staff, drawn from all the local government areas of the state.

The closing session of the induction which held at Nelrose Hotel, Asaba, on Friday, featured lecture and question and answer session before culminating in presentation of certificate to inductees.

Barrister Frank Nwugo in a member of the board in his paper title, “Delta Beyond Oil: The DBIR perspective,” said that the DBIR would soon begin to generate enough revenue for the state to pay salaries.

He opined that if the Board could up the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state from N1.2 billion when the Joel Onowakpo Thomas-led Board took over to the current N5.7 billion, “we can as well begin to generate up to N8 billion before December.”

Barrister Nwugo stressed that improved IGR was the only “viable alternative to oil”, hence the need for the state government to take seriously its revenue drive.

He told the inductees that taxation is the major source of income for government and “that is why you have been engaged to carry out this crucial assignment.”

Barrister Nwogu who is also a former House of Representative aspirant harked on integrity and admonished them on the need for good conduct, character and dressing, .

According to him,“ensure that you are of impeccable character; let your character speak.”

The Executive Chairman of DelState Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR), Hon. JoelOnowakpo Thomas has called on staff of the revenue board to keep to the tenets and operational Framework of the board by shunning sharp practice in all its ramifications.

Thomas who made the call yesterday while declaring open a five-day induction course for the newly recruited 200 junior staff of the DBIR at Nelrose Hotel in Asaba, said that the call had become necessary as it would go a long way in enhancing the revenue generation capacity of the board for the state government.

He told the inductees that the DBIR places high premium on dedication and commitment to duties in its determination to actualize the Delta Beyond Oil initiative of the state government.

According to him, the inductees must shun touting, truancy, lateness to work and other forms of indiscipline to enable them build a successful career in the board and in the Delta State civil service, adding that anyone who indulges in any unethical act would be

disciplined accordingly.

While saying that their recruitment was to boost the revenue generation drive of the board towards contributing her quota to the diversification of the state economy, he urged the inductees to discharge their duties dispassionately in order to justify their employment.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the member representing Delta North in DBIR, Chief (Barr.) Frank Nwugo who is, also, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for Training and Manpower Development of the board, expressed appreciation to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for approving the recruitment of the 200 junior staff including 10 physically challenged persons.

Marginalisation

A/Ibom Disagrees With Oil Producing Communities

PHCN workers protesting the take over of the company by investors without paying their severance benefits and settlement of other labour issues by federal government in Abuja recently.

Students of Model Secondary School Maitama performing during the financial literacy school outreach programme in Abuja recently.

UYO - Akwa Ibom government says the oil producing communities in the state have more representations in the administration, than their non-oil producing counterparts, contrary to their cry of marginalisation.

Mr. Anietie Ukpe, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor.

Godswill Akpabio, made the clarification in an interview with newsmen in Uyo. Ukpe spoke against the backdrop of agitation by the communities for the establishment of a development commission for oil bearing area of Akwa Ibom.

“People from the oil producing area occupy priority positions in this administration. They have more opportunities than others.

“I know that His Excellency has reached out to them; they have been a part of this administration more than they had been under past administrations,” Ukpe said.

The governor’s spokesman said that the agitation for the establishment of oil producing areas development commission in the state was not justified.

The South-South Coordinator, Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN), Mr. Friday Udoh, had argued that there was urgent need for the establishment of such a commission in the state.

Udoh told newsmen that because of the environmental degradation in oil producing communities, a development commission was needed to rejuvenate the affected areas.

Expert Urges Nigerians To Prevent Heart Diseases

BENIN - Dr Christopher Eigbe, a Consultant and Chest Physician, Central Hospital, Benin, Edo State has urged Nigerians to adopt a healthy life style in order to prevent heart disease.

Eigbe told newsmen in Benin that the heart works all day and should be kept healthy for it to sustain its circulatory function.

“People must learn to eat the right food and avoid oily foods like fried eggs, pizza, meat pie and pastries.

“Oily foods have high cholesterol content which narrows the blood vessels and make circulation of blood by the heart difficult,’’ he said.

He said that fruits and vegetables protect the heart and also reduces blood pressure.

“People who do not take fruits and vegetables as part of their diet are at risk of their hearts ageing than their true age.

“They are also more at risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and heart failures,’’ Eigbe said.

Eigbe said that smoking of tobacco and alcohols intakes were also detrimental to the heart.

“Tobacco is one of the risk factors that make the work of the

heart very difficult.

“It reduces blood supply to the heart muscles and predisposes the heart to attacks.

“Alcohol is a toxin and it

Bayelsa:

weakens the ability of the heart muscle to contract and causes heart failures.

“It also makes blood pressure go up suddenly and over work the

heart,’’ he said.

The consultant said that people should avoid sedentary life styles and exercise regularly to maintain a healthy heart.

According to him, “daily walks or brisk walking for 20 minutes or rigorous exercise once a week could be helpful to the heart.’’

He also advised people to do regular checks to prevent heart disease.

“It is advised that individuals who are above 35 years should do regular blood sugar check, blood pressure checks and on a yearly basis do cholesterol checks.

Property Owners Seek Compensation

YENAGOA - Residents of Kaima in Bayelsa, whose properties were acquired by the state government for the construction of Kaima Model Secondary School, have appealed to the state government to compensate them.

Mr. Alawei Basuo, Coordinator of the affected property owners in Kaima, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, decrying the delay in paying the compensation.

Basuo said that since their lands were acquired and their houses demolished, they had suffered untold hardship following the nonpayment of the compensation.

He said that government notified the affected land owners of its intention to acquire the land for the school project in January, and urged them to submit claims for assessment.

The coordinator said that the state government promised to pay them compensation within two weeks of the submission of the claims.

“We all complied and our claims duly verified by the ministry of lands and surveys, but

we have not been paid even after our houses have been demolished.

“It is unfair to mobilise and pay the contractors when the land owners who gave up their lands for the projects have not been paid,” he lamented.

He said that they were now homeless and had become liabilities to their relatives who harboured them as they could not afford lands elsewhere to build new houses.

Benin Residents Want Moat of Victor Owaifo BENIN - Residents of Benin, Developed Manager Revelation Tourist Palazzo, said Edo State, have urged the state government to recover the historical Benin moat and develop it into a tourist site.

The residents, who made the call in separate interviews with newsmen in Benin, decried the present condition of the moat, and called for urgent government’s attention to it.

The moat, also known as the

Walls of Benin was built as a city fortification against neighbouring rivals.

They lamented the encroachment into the moat by some people and vandalism of the moat which was once the pride of the ancient Benin Kingdom.

Mr. Chris Osa-eburu, the

that the moat should be seen as an important monument and persevered for future generations.

“The Benin moat is in a poor condition and it needs to be recovered.

“When I was growing up in Benin in those days, the moat behind our house was so deep, but today it has been abandoned.

THE NIGERIAN

9

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Abuja PIB: Senate To Resume

Public Hearing

L-R: Achadu-Attah Igala, Alhaji Yusuf Ameadaji; Attah Igala, HRM Agabaidu Idakwo Amen Oboni II and President Goodluck Jonathan, during the visit of the Attah Igala and members of his cabinet to the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently.

ABUJA - The Senate says it will resume another round of public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on October.

9 following allegations of exclusion of some key stakeholders.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), among others, had alleged that critical stakeholders were prevented from participating in reforms of the oil sector.

To this effect, four Senate Standing Committees: Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), Gas and Judiciary, Legal and Human Rights were mandated to conduct the hearing.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Chairman of the joint Committee, Sen. Emmanuel

NEPC Gets Acting Executive Director ABUJA - Mr. Aliyu Lawal, the Director of Trade Information Department, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has been appointed as the Acting Executive Director of the agency This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja and signed by Mr. Joe Itah, the Head, Public Relations Unit of NEPC. It stated that Lawal, the most senior director in the council was

ASUU:

directed to oversee its affairs following the expiration of tenure of the former Executive Director, Mr. David Adulugba.

According to the statement, the outgoing executive director has served the council in various capacities within a period of 21 years when he joined the organisation.

It stated that Adulugba was appointed as director general of the organisation on July 17, 2009.

Jonathan Calls For Review Of Labour Laws ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan has advocated a review of labour laws to curtail the excesses of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other labour unions.

The President, who made the call during a Presidential media chat in Abuja, urged the striking members of ASUU to return to work in the interest of their students and the education sector.

The President also said it was inconceivable that lecturers in state-owned universities would go on strike over issues concerning the allowances of lecturers in federal universities.

He said such a situation would not occur if well-guided and wellthought out laws were in place regulating labour union activities.

Jonathan also said that the N79 billion Earned Allowance arrears, which was the major reason for the ASUU strike, was not supposed to be paid from the federation account.

According to the President, earned allowances ought to be paid from the Internally Generated Revenue of the universities, if a good labour law is in place.

Jonathan called on the striking ASUU to reconsider its stand by accepting government offer, and call its members back to the classrooms.

The President reiterated the commitment of his administration to adequately fund the universities and provide the necessary infrastructure to aid the

education sector Jonathan said that the PDP-led administration had done quite well, despite all the odds and challenges According to him, Nigeria is better off in the past years of the PDP-led government with improved standard of living, building of more federal universities, improved telecommunication, railways and roads.

The President assured that with the commitment of his administration to the privatisation of the power sector, electricity supply would become stable by the end of the first quarter of 2014.

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); Vice President Namadi Sambo (4th left) Attah Igala, Agabaidu Idakwo Amen Oboni II (4th right), with others, during the visit of Attah Igala and members of his cabinet to the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently.

Independence Day

IG Places Police On Alert

ABUJA - The InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has placed operatives of the force on red alert nationwide to ensure a hitch-free Independence Day celebration.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by CSP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) and made available to the newsmen.

It said that the I-G specifically directed all Zonal Assistant

Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands and maritime to ensure adequate and effective deployment of operational tools and manpower in their areas.

Nigeria Is Not Bankrupt ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja debunked insinuations in certain quarters that Nigeria is insolvent, saying Nigeria is neither broke nor bankrupt.

The President, who stated this during his Presidential Media Chat, said “the claim that Nigeria is broke is politically motivated.”

He explained that the misunderstanding between the Federal and States’ Ministries of Finance during FAAC meeting was not because federal government could not afford allocations due to States.

He said the misunderstanding was misconceived by the

Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa) said the decision of the senate to resume the hearing was to ensure that the new oil law was an aggregate of opinions in the oil and gas industry in the country.

Paulker, who is the Chairman of the Petroleum Resources Committee (Upstream), said: “This time around, the joint committee decided to involve all stakeholders in the oil sector.

“We want to do this before the report is presented to the whole Senate for consideration so that at the end of the day when the new law is passed, nobody will complain that they were left out.’’

The bill seeks to create conducive business environment for petroleum operations and to protect health as well as ensure safety of the environment in the course of petroleum operations.

It also seeks to enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources in Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerians.

It would be recalled that a two-day public hearing had held on the PIB. It will also be recalled that the joint committee is expected to resolve some of the contentious issues in the PIB such as the high tax regime highlighted by the International Oil Companies (OIC’s).

The IOC’s had threatened to leave Nigeria by divesting from the sector because of the new laws.

The Senate President David Mark had, however, charged the joint committee not to entertain “parochial views’’, adding that “Nigeria should be utmost in the minds of the oil and gas players.’’

opposition to label the country as being bankrupt.

According to him, the nation’s economy is witnessing tremendous growth with the right policies put in place by his administration.

He said: ‘’Nigeria is now an investors’ haven in sub-saharan Africa and the GPD is growing at appreciable rate.’’

The President said that oil theft which hitherto was at alarming rate was being brought under control adding that government was building a robust security architecture to check the crime.

He said that some arrests had been made and prosecution of the

offenders were on course.

Jonathan likened oil theft to Boko Haram insurgence and said ‘’it is a cancer that must be crushed.’’

He called on the international community to label oil theft an international crime and assist in arresting the perpetrators when such crude got to their soil.

The President also noted that government was winning the war against corruption and said the menace was not the country’s Number One problem.

On the recent killing of seven suspected Boko Haram members at Apo, a suburb of Abuja, Jonathan said that his

- Jonathan

administration would continue to safeguard all citizens from terrorist attacks.

According to him, the preliminary security report on the incident shows that there was element of Boko Haram at the uncompleted building. ‘’It is my duty as a President to stop the killing of innocent people by militant groups across the country.’’

The President also dismissed the assertion that the Federal Executive Council had been turned into a contract awarding council, saying the council was not violating the nation’s constitution by approving the award contracts.

He also directed them to pay special attention to shopping malls, parks, beaches, highways and other critical infrastructure and sensitive areas to guarantee the safety of the citizenry.

He assured that the police would provide safe and secured environment for all, particularly during the anniversary.

Abubakar congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s 53rd independence.

He commended the courage and determination of Nigerians to build and sustain a strong, indivisible and virile nation, in spite of the challenges confronting the nation.

The I-G urged Nigerians to put their differences aside and continue to support the police in the face of current security challenges facing the country.

He also urged them to provide useful information to the police, especially with regard to the ongoing fight against terrorism and other forms of crimes.

THE NIGERIAN

10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

STATE EMPLOYMENT AND EXPENDITURE FOR RESULTS (SEEFOR) PROJECT. AND EDO STATE RAPID RESPONSE AGENCY CREDIT NO: 5022 RFQ NO: ED/SEEFOR/NS/PW/2013/LOT1-8

REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS

1. The Federal Government of Nigeria has received World Bank board approval for a credit from the International Development Association towards the cost of State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project. Edo State is one of the beneficiary States participating in the project implementation and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this credit to payments under the contract of Road Maintenance in Benin City, Ekpoma, Ubiaja, Jattu Auchi and environs.

2. The SEEFOR Project, now invites sealed quotations from eligible and qualified bidders for the maintenance of roads ( Road cleaning/Sweeping, cleaning/disiltation of drains, maintenance of street lights and lawns, vegetation control and earth road maintenance) in Benin City, Ekpoma, Ubiaja, Jattu Auchi and environs.

LOT

DESCRIPTION

COMPLETION PERIOD

NO. 1.

2.

3.

Road Cleaning/sweeping, cleaning/disiltation of drains, maintenance of street lights and lawns along Sapele Road, Benin City (6.60km) Road cleaning/sweeping, cleaning/disiltation of drains, maintenance of street lights and lawns in Dawson Road, Benin City(2.9km),New Lagos Road, Benin City(2.65km),Vegetable Market Road, Benin City (0.241km),Golf Course Road, Benin City. (1.09km).

Road Cleaning/sweeping, cleaning/disiltation of drains, maintenance of street lights and lawns in Airport Road, Benin City(5.0km) and Akpakpava Road, Benin City(3.25km) Road cleaning/sweeping, cleaning/disiltation of drains, vegetation control, maintenance of street lights and lawns in Oba Market Road, Benin City(3.0km), Sokponba Road, Benin City (1.80km), Siluko Road, Benin City(3.10km) .

Road cleaning/sweeping, cleaning/disiltation of drains, vegetation control and earth road maintenance of Ataga Road, Ubiaja (0.893km), Old Ilushi Road/Market Road, Ubiaja(2.78km) and Uromi-Ubiaja Road(Through Sacred Heart College) Ubiaja (3.5km).

4.

5.

Road Cleaning/sweeping, cleaning/disiltation of drains, maintenance of street lights, vegetation control and earth road maintenance in Compassion Avenue/Ogbebor Street, Ekpoma (0.451km), Ujoelen Extension(Through Okpebho Clinic) Ekpoma (0.43km),Anglican Way, Ekpoma (1.10km), Ujoelen Extension(Through living soul church), Ekpoma (0.43km), Ujoelen Road Extension, Ekpoma (0.87km),G2 Road, Ekpoma (0.60km), Eromon Street, Ekpoma (0.93km),Royal Market Road, Ekpoma(1.70km).

6.

7.

8.

Road Cleaning/sweeping, cleaning/distillation of drains and maintenance of street lights in Auchi-Jattu Road(From Polytechnic Gate to Okene- Benin Express Way(3.10km) and Auchi- Jattu Road(from Okene- Benin Express way to Afowa Junction(2.90km).

Road Cleaning/sweeping, cleaning/distiltation of drains, vegetation control and earth road maintenance in Clem Agba Street, Auchi (0.735km), Ashippa Street, Igarra (0.492km) and Produce Road/Upper Iyamho Road/Iyamho-Iyora Road(Up to Police Barrack Junction) 2.90km.

12 months

12 months

QUOTATION VALIDITY PERIOD 45 days

45 days

SITE LOCATION

Benin- City

Benin- City

12 months

45 days

Benin City

12 months

45 days

Benin City

12 months

12 months

12 months

12 months

45 days

45 days

45 days

45 days

Ubiaja

Ekpoma

Auchi and Jattu

Auchi, Igarra and Iyamho

3. Bidding will be conducted through the shopping procedures specified in the World Bank Guidelines: Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits, and is open to bidders resident in Edo State only.

4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from The Project Coordinator, State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project, 8th floor, Palm House, Sapele Road, Benin City, Edo State, E-mail address: edoseefor@gmail.com and inspect and obtain the bid document at the address given from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, Mondays through Fridays. Bidders are to pay a nonrefundable fee of N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira)only payable to State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project Account before obtaining the bid document.

5. Qualifications requirement include: Evidence of business registration, Evidence of experience in execution of similar project and registration with the Edo State Rapid Response Agency (EDRRA).

Additional details are provided in the Quotation Solicitation Document.

6. Quotation must be delivered at the address below before 2.00 pm Thursday, October 16, 2013. Late quotation will be rejected. Quotation will be opened in the presence of bidders representatives, who choose to attend in person at the address below immediately after the deadline for submission i.e 2.00 pm Thursday, October 16, 2013.

The Project Coordinator, State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) Project, Ministry of Budget and Planning and Economic Development, 8th Floor, Palm House Sapele Road, Benin City, Edo State.

E-mail address: edoseefor@gmail.com

THE NIGERIAN

11

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Nigeria @ 53

President Jonathan’s Speech

BEING an address by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR On the Occasion of Nigeria’s 53rd Independence Anniversary Tuesday 1st October, 2013.

FELLOW NIGERIANS, 1. Today marks 53 years of our Independence as a nation. First and foremost, I would like to say congratulations to us all. Through thick and thin, we have built this country together. Through triumphs and trials, we have developed a Nigerian identity in our own way.

2. In truth, Nigeria is still a work in progress and we are challenged everyday to keep building in spite of the various obstacles that we face. Our strength has been in our diversity. If we look back over the years, we can say confidently that there is every reason to celebrate.

3. Today’s Independence anniversary is unique because it is the last before we mark our centenary. On January 1, 2014, Nigeria will be 100 years old as a country, following the amalgamation of the Protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria in 1914.

4. Beloved country men and women, traditionally, the Presidential address on this symbolic day has served two purposes. It has, quite rightly, been used to remind all Nigerians about our heritage. It has also allowed my predecessors and I to comment on our stewardship to the nation and make political capital out of a state occasion.

5. But this year, I will not. Because, today of all days, we should not be scoring political points. On the contrary, in this last year of the first century of our Union, we should be addressing our future as a Nation and a people!

6. I admit that these may not be the best of times for our nation.

Our people are divided in many ways – ethnically, religiously, politically, and materially. I cannot hide from this reality. I cannot hide from my own responsibilities.

7. As we prepare to mark the centenary, therefore, today offers us an opportunity to reflect on our long journey to nationhood and the progress we have made so far. Whatever the challenges that we may face, we have every reason to be proud of our national accomplishments; we have every reason to remain proud and optimistic. Our collective national journey has witnessed great watersheds, thanks to our spirit of endurance, perseverance and sacrifice. Getting the rest of the job done with determination and courage is just a matter of time. We are Nigerians, a nation of talented people, endowed with resources, potentials, and Divine Grace.

8. In our journey to greatness as a nation, we have built an economy that is robust and erected enduring infrastructure and institutions of democracy. Our social system is now more inclusive, open and compassionate. We are waging a steady battle against poverty, unemployment, and corruption. Our sense of community, solidarity and shared expectation is strong and capable of withstanding the present social, economic and political challenges that still confront us.

9. In saying this, I am reminded of the comments I made a week ago to a cross-section of Nigerians in New York during the 68th United Nations General Assembly. I declare now as I declared then: we have a duty as Nigerians, whatever may be our differences or prejudices, to always put Nigeria first.

10. Our politics should be an art of patriotic labour and selfless service to the community, particularly by the political elite who are placed in positions of great trust and responsibility. Politics has its own high moral principles which abhor distracting and divisive rhetoric. As men and women in leadership, we must continually focus on service, duty, responsibility, and the next generation. Those who are elected to govern at all levels must focus on improving the lives of our people, not selfish ambition.

11. In the words of the American theologian and author, James Freeman Clarke, ‘a politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation’. Whether we are Muslims or Christians; rich or poor; from the North or the South; East or West; regardless of our political affiliations, this is the time for every one of us to be a statesman!

12. My clarion call therefore, on this special day, is that we should begin to align our political utterances and conduct solely to the nobler passions that unite our people. Politicians do not make a nation; ordinary folks do.

13. Our nation is made great by the big and small efforts of regular citizens. These are the teachers and men and women in academics who inculcate the knowledge and wisdom that transform into tomorrow’s wealth; the traders and market women who tend to our everyday needs; the farmers whose labour feeds the nation; the artisans whose work ensures that our homesteads are well maintained; the doctors, pharmacists, nurses, accountants, bankers, engineers, and other professionals who add value to our lives; the sportsmen and women and those in the creative industry who bring honour and fame to our nation; 14. And the men and women of our armed forces and security services who toil day and night so that you and I may live in a safe and secure nation.

15. It is the individual and collective heroism of these regular folks that has placed our nation on the path of greatness. Politics and politicians sometimes distract the people and create unnecessary tension.

16. But our independence celebration is about the same people, the people of Nigeria: their industry, sense of mission and purpose, and

their patience and perseverance as we navigate historical turns in our march towards prosperity and self-sufficiency. Today, I salute the people of Nigeria.

17. My Compatriots, history has proven that nations take time to evolve. We should rejoice in our democracy because it enables us to be united by our differences, not destroyed by them. And, there is no more crucial time for us to be united than now.

18. The threats we face may be real and immediate. But we are not alone in this regard. It is a difficult season for much of the world: industrialized or developing; rich or poor. What matters are the lessons we learn, the wisdom we demonstrate, and the victory we snatch from the jaws of likely defeat.

19. And I tell you, more than anything else, there are lessons to learn, and every cause to be thankful. If I must cite one example, take Syria. As we all pray and work for a return to normalcy in Syria, it would be helpful for us to reflect on the fact that Syria was once a peaceful, thriving, multi-cultural nation which played host to a mosaic of religions and ethnicities.

20. But that once idyllic nation has today become a theatre of human

President Goodluck Jonathan misery of unimaginable proportions as a result of the activities of extremist forces.

21. Fellow Nigerians, the spectre of extremism haunts every democracy in every corner of the globe. While we celebrate our independence and good fortune, our hearts must grieve for those who have lost loved ones in numerous terrorist activities around the world.

22. Back home, I admit being overtaken by deep feelings of grief, whenever news reached me of the appalling atrocities in some of our States, especially the North Eastern part of our country. Just two days ago, terrorist elements attacked the College of Agriculture in Gujba, Yobe State killing a number of innocent students of the institution and other residents in cold blood, most of them in their sleep. This act of barbarism is a demonstration of the extent to which evil forces will go to destabilize our nation. But I assure you, they will not succeed.

23. My heart goes out to the families of all those who have fallen victim of these dastardly acts. Our Administration will not rest until every Nigerian is free from the oppression of terrorism. I reassure you that no cost will be spared, no idea will be ignored, and no resource will be left untapped in the quest to enable our people live without fear.

24. On this day, I implore every Nigerian – wherever you are, whatever language you speak, whatever your religious persuasion, whichever Political Party you support -: let us join together to fight this evil of extremism.

25. On behalf of us all, I commend our Armed Forces and security agencies for their dedication and bravery in the face of grave danger, and in the name of our collective liberty.

26. Fellow Nigerians, this is a time to pull together behind the national cause: the cause of our freedom, and our future. We must rekindle the spirit of Nigeria, to ensure that every democrat and every lover of peace in this great nation continues to live in a free, peaceful, and

secure Nigeria.

27. On my part, I re-dedicate myself completely to the service of this great country. I was elected President to continue the process of building a prosperous nation where hopes, dreams and aspirations would be fulfilled. Nigerians, home and abroad, want a country they can be proud to call their own. I am pleased to affirm that, no matter the challenges we face, we are on the right path to greatness.

Our Transformation Agenda, which is part of the overall vision of making Nigeria a land of greatness, has been delivering positive and encouraging results.

28. On May 29th this year, I presented to the nation a mid-term report of my Administration’s Transformation Agenda. This was conceived as an integrated policy aimed at reconstructing not only institutional governance for effective and efficient service delivery, but also a re-orientation of national norms and values. The document captured the essence of our agenda in relation to core objectives and achievements.

29. I have been consistently mindful of the weight of public expectation to find solutions to the challenges that confront us because the mandate we have is a free and sacred one. In all that I have done, I have been guided by this sacred obligation, to work hard for the good of Nigeria and to make life better for Nigerians. I want to assure everyone that Nigeria, under my leadership, will not fail.

30. Exactly 53 years ago today, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa urged us to ‘move with quiet dignity to our place on the world stage’.

I am sure that there have been times when every one of us must have questioned how closely we have followed that injunction.

31. But again, I can reassure you that Nigeria’s place on the world stage today is strong and safe, and it is certainly a place of dignity and respect. We must continue to build on this by remaining a nation and a people committed to ideals, the noblest humanitarian values, and the rule of law.

32. Our Constitution is anchored ultimately on the idea of freedom and fundamental rights: freedom of expression; freedom from discrimination; freedom to vote and be voted for, and the right to human dignity. These are the core values of a true democracy. These are the values of which we must never lose sight.

33. In my address to the UN General Assembly last week, I emphasized the crucial role of democratization in improving the fortunes not just of this country, but of our entire continent.

Democratic values encourage diversity. They encourage discourse.

They encourage disagreement. This is the joy of democracy.

34. It enables us to have an opinion. And ultimately, the ballot box gives us all the opportunity to instigate change. When democracy works, it does not destroy a nation. It unites and defines it.

35. Fellow Nigerians, our Administration has taken cognizance of suggestions over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved country.

I am an advocate of dialogue. When there are issues that stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss.

36. In demonstration of my avowed belief in the positive power of dialogue in charting the way forward, I have decided to set up an Advisory Committee whose mandate is to establish the modalities for a National Dialogue or Conference. The Committee will also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism of the process.

37. The Committee will be chaired by Dr. Femi Okurounmu while Dr. Akilu Indabawa will serve as the Secretary. The full membership of the Committee will be announced shortly.

38. I expect the Report to be ready in one month, following which the nation will be briefed on the nomenclature, structure and modalities of the Dialogue.

39. Fellow Nigerians, the past 53 years have seen Nigeria evolve on an epic scale. Our progress since independence has not always been smooth. This is, after all, our Fourth Republic; but despite all its flaws, it has lasted longer than all the previous three put together.

That is progress and it proves that, our differences – real and imagined - notwithstanding, we are, in every sense, a united nation.

40. This is no time for the harmful clutches of parochial sentiments and the politics of bitterness, impunity, arrogance and unhelpful indiscipline. We must stand as one, with absolute commitment and resolve to resist any force that threatens us and the sanctity of our union.

41. I want to thank all our country men and women who have stood by this Administration in the midst of mounting challenges and enormous expectations.

42. I recognize that it is not easy to keep believing in the possibilities of our greatness when our faith is constantly challenged.

But let me assure you that, if we do not despair, we shall reap the reward of our labour in due season.

43. It is my prayer that, another 53 years from now, our children and grand-children will look back on our effort and be thankful that we kept the faith.

44. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

45. I wish you all a very happy 53rd Independence Celebration.

46. I thank you.

THE NIGERIAN

12

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

13

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Gender Issues

GOING by the high proliferation of rape in our society these days, especially in our beloved country Nigeria, one will draw a finish line that most men, if not all, are possessed with animalistic conjugal behaviour. The difference is, we are human and not animal, so nature did not make us to behave as one.

Rape has become a cancer eating deep into our society.

Thank God it is, but a cancer that can be controlled if not eradicated, only if we will come together, every one in his or her effort to; sensitize the masses on the harm that comes with rape, bringing up children in the fear of God, prioritizing the crime and punishment for rape, and above all, call on God for deliverance from the spirit of whoredom.

In sensitization of the masses, effort should be put in some strategic public places like the worship centres (churches and Mosque), the schools (secondary and tertiary levels), Entertainment industries (movie and music), media, theatre, and cinemas etc. through these mediums, I believe a lot will be achieved.

Psychological And Physical Effect Of Rape There are a lot of effects or aftermath of rape on the part of the victim which can be classified either as physical, mental, or emotional trauma.

Among the physical effects include: unwanted pregnancy, disease or health problems, certain disruptions on the woman’s natural bodily function like damages and injuries in the vagina and uterus and other parts of the reproductive system.

The risks are greater if the rape victim is a child or a very young teen.

Trauma and paranoia, which is the psychological effect of rape makes it appear at times as the victims will exhibit symptoms of mental and emotional trauma through solitude and exclusion. They also develop fear in mingling and socializing with strangers and other people especially men.

These effects can last for the duration of the victim’s lifetime.

Apart from making her aloof and isolated, rape can also lead the victim to pity or blame herself for the crime. This effect is partly caused by the social stigma or shame that societies or communities wrongly attribute to the victim. She is

often deprived of the care she should receive from families and society at large, who in turn can accuse her of callous and provoking behaviour. This worsens her mental state and she is left emotionally devastated.

The most striking effect that rape can produce in a victim is the thought or tendency of committing suicide. Because of the trauma, self-pity and seclusion, rape victims often feel that there is no longer hope and they could no longer recover and that they are not worthy of living.

Meanwhile, in the part of the rapist, there have been cases of contacting HIV/AIDS or other STDS or either passing it to victim or victims.

Causes Of Rape-Within With a little survey and a mapped-out case study within a community. I have come to understand that indecent provocative appearance has become one of the major contributing factor to the Speedo-rise of this disease, self esteem eaten, emotional and psychological retarding act called rape.

Drawing a conclusion to my findings, I am tempted to apportion blame to every quota that make up the morals of the growing girl child and the grown.

Who is to be blamed?

We all have a hand in the fast multiplying canker worm which eats up the female world and poses danger to their innocent soul. One may wonder why “We”, speaking of; parents, churches, schools, offices, peer group, relatives, communities etc have a hand in the deadly act of rape in the society. Now let me break it down, starting from the parent which are my number one accused persons. I am pointing a finger at them, which to me they share a great deal of portion in the blame in contributing to the massive breakout of rape. You may want to ask me how? Yes, I have every cause to blame the parent of today. Take the mothers for instance. Because you want your daughter to look like a modern girl and keep pace with the trend of fashion, you let her put on rubbish mini hugging skimpy skirt, gown or bomb short which reveals almost every sensual part of her body.

Sometimes you see young teenage girl in the prime of her robust ripping flowers, so sweet and delicate to behold, who are

Save The Girl Child

supposed to be guided and taught to decently cover up their jewels. Of course a real priceless jewel not meant to be flaunt and displayed in such an indecent outfits like the Juggins or Leggings that religiously cling to their body like a second or outer layer of their skin, revealing the very curve shape and size of their genitals all in the name of fashion.

What amazes and displaces me is that mothers are not left out in this crazy fashion crave.

it, where almost everything is all about style and modernity, because really, not modesty and when you don’t have that drive in you, you’ll be left behind.

Some ladies, teens and even mothers claim that when you don’t dress to kill; you may not attract the man with your desired statue and class, you may be regarded as old fashioned and outdated person who is not

probably, because: the laid-down foundation or influence of the crowd, peer group pressure, trying to please a non realistic and infatuated relationship, influence by the fashion and character deformation of the stars on televisions (movies), or the negativity of the fashion industries, these and so many out there which have robbed our females the values, decency,

You will see a woman, married or single, mothers of one or more children putting on godforsaken mini skimpy gowns and skirts as well as the silly Juggins and Leggings without on extended top blouse which at least can cover up that ugly sight of their contours and folds of excess skin. All these in the heat of fashion, trying to move with the crowd.

Now then, tell me, if a mother can not have a sense of decency in her dressing, how can she correct or teach decency in her daughter’s young fashion mind.

You may want to say that well, we are not in the 1960’s or 70’s, we are now in new age, a computer or jet age as they call

current and does not have swag.

They believe that putting on those kind of shallow clothing makes one standout amidst their peers, both in girls and women, making them modernized or city ladies. Meanwhile, the skimpy indecent dressing portrays them as the wrong type of the modern and city girl.

Being a modern girl or woman of style, doesn’t mean one should go the extra mile that can lead to indecency in fashion.

You can be a modern, stylish, fashionable captivating woman in a decent but gorgeous outfit.

Speaking of attracting a man of a statue you desire via your immoral dressing which some ladies and girls see as okey,

honour and pride of a woman.

The truth is, no man wants his woman revealing too much skin like the thigh, chest, nerves. Men can go after a woman because he is attracted by what he sees (the exposed thigh, the revealing cleavages etc) just for exploit.

Do not glory yet that I have lashed out on the women.

Fathers, brothers have turned a blind eyes to the most sensitive issue going on right under their very nose. Men in the house should have a bigger role to play in this delicate issue. Being a man or head of the house in a family gives you the responsibility of setting a standard on what to and what not to be in your kids wardrobe, especially your precious baby girl. Come to think of it, you being a man should know better the nature of man, which we are made to understand that men are moved, attracted or aroused by what they see. And yet your teen girl or older one rambling about, exposing too much skin beyond the morals and value of a cultured child. Making her an easy prey to devour by those

By EZE NNENNA ADA

“Trauma and paranoia, which is the psychological effect of rape makes it appear at times as the victims will exhibit symptoms of mental and emotional trauma through solitude and exclusion. They also develop fear in mingling and socializing with strangers and other people especially men.”

less-a-man rapist out on the loose-who do not know the difference between the animal uncontrollable nature from the human modesty.

As for our schools, sometimes I wonder when it is said that school is for acquiring knowledge values and morals.

What happen when girls go almost nude to the lecture theatre, lecturers office and within the campus environment, intimidating and molesting via their semi-nudeness in the name of fashion. There are reports of rape day-to-day, still yet, little or nothing is done by the school authorities to outline the possibilities of the causes of rape and address those within their power.

What about the secondary level, where a little JSS or SSS student shaping and adjusting, trimming and cutting her school uniform until it is tighter shorter and revealing to a certain condition. And I ask, where is the morals, the norms and values of modesty? Where are the teachers, principals, parents?

The church is not left out, for it has lost its grasp on modesty and holiness. The church is where we expect the higher teachings and guide to morals, but what do we get? Instead, in most of this generational churches, they have swept that under the rug just to save the fast growing population flooding in an exceptional tighter and shorter outfits to donate in the offering basket. As long as the basket keep fattening with notes of naira, the more the teaching of decency, modesty and morals keeps dwindling down the rug.

Certainly, I am not saying that indecent dressing is the cause of the evil behaviour of those men that engage in rape. All I am trying to point out is the gravity and lightening-speed with which rape is increasing by the day is comparable with the style and fashion of the daytracing a positive possibilities and tendencies of indecent dressing fuelling and flaming the rate of rape in the society.

One must realize that rape has nothing to do with a woman’s actions and is solely the perpetrator’s choice. Therefore let us curtail the indecency in our dressing and see a possible change come to our society.

It is time to provide the education and information and encourage discussions that will change society’s attitude towards rape and the possible causes of rape and find ways to eradicate this intolerable social issue once and for all. ‘SAY NO TO RAPE’.

THE NIGERIAN

14

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Opinion OVER sensitivity is the trait that lets you become overly affected by an external influence that can hardly affect normal people.

For instance; not being able to tolerate constructive criticism that other people normally tolerate is a sign of over sensitivity.

An over sensitive person feels pain in an exaggerated way and so has problems tolerating life differently.

They form anchors or associations faster than anybody else. For example; if they had a bad experience in a different country that they visited when they get back, they start hating the country as a whole because they associate the pain they felt with the place.

Over sensitive people need special care. They are fragile, although they may not beat you if you did not handle them with care (because most of them hate physical activities), but they may hate you for it.

When it comes to mood swings; oversensitive people are more likely to have bad moods, to get depressed and to be moody because their mood changes whenever any small event happens. They have a hard time getting over the person they loved simply because they feel the pain that results from a breakup in an exaggerated way.

A lot of people do not like to mingle with this sect of persons because you have to be careful when dealing with them but the truth is they also have their good sides. There are many good things about being emotionally sensitive person. Firstly, they feel other person’s suffering more than anyone else and so in most cases, they tend to be nice and friendly person.

Causes of oversensitivity Being rejected as a child, lacking self-confidence and having self image problems are all examples of unhealed wounds that can make you over sensitive to things that others don’t notice. It is like

pouring some water on a fresh wound, you will experience pain that is because when we develop a wound we tend to become over sensitive to factors that didn’t use to harm us before.

Although some people are naturally sensitive and very emotional; it’s just how they are, little things get to them and cannot explain why. They feel bad about how they respond to things that others can just laugh about or over look but the good news is that they can control it by working on their emotions.

For over sensitive people who want to help themselves, there are many ways that they can actually help themselves change their responds to activities or events that get to them. One of those ways is by changing their ways of thinking and their perception of situations.

First of all, they should know that words that can hurt an emotionally sensitive person doesn’t hurt unless he/ she views those words in a certain way or give them a certain meaning. So by changing their view of the criticism they receive, they can reduce their emotional responses to criticism. Most times, when someone tells us well didn’t perform very well; the oversensitive person seems to take it to be “unworthy person” or “a failure”. It is not the word that really hurt them, but the meaning they attach to the word.

By building self-confidence and changing negative self talks like “I am a loser, that’s why that thing happened,” “I am not up to standard that is why he said that to me”. What they need to do is not to remove their sensitive nature but rather, they need to change their perception of events and words.

Giving-up perfectionism: perfectionism is a way of reasoning, whereby people think of life to be perfect and so they should in turn be perfect. Based on that way of reasoning, they may expect

Coping With Over Sensitivity

By PRAISE EGHWRUDJE

that all other persons should praise them. This kind of reasoning will let them get hurt whenever they find that life was not as they expected it to be.

If you have an over sensitive friend and could not understand that he/she is over sensitive, then many problems will arise and your relationship could end quickly. How to know if your partner/friend is an oversensitive person Other than finding your partner getting annoyed frequently because of small things and other than finding him/her hating criticism, there are two methods to find out. You can achieve that by noticing how their body looks and by face reading.

People have different body shapes and it was discovered that people who have the

Ectomorph body shape (slim body) are sensitive people.

Face reading is the art of knowing someone’s personality from their face features. According to face reading, people who have tiny face features such as small nose and chin are also sensitive people.

Advantages of being over sensitivity As bad as people may think over sensitivity may be, it has its own advantage, so if you are over sensitive, you shouldn’t feel terribly bad and hating your nature, there are advantages of being that way and they include: Increased empathy: people that are over sensitive feel sad after hanging out with someone that was sad, they feel depressed after staying

“Increased empathy: people that are over sensitive feel sad after hanging out with someone that was sad, they feel depressed after staying with someone that was depressed. This happens because they have increased empathy; they know how the people around them feel, before the person talks about.”

with someone that was depressed. This happens because they have increased empathy; they know how the people around them feel, before the person talks about.

The empathy ability is a normal ability that each human being has but the overly sensitive person has got much powerful empathic abilities.

More happiness: they experience happiness with a higher intensity. They feel the intensity of emotions more than other people.

More creative: over sensitive people are usually very creative and this can help them excel in their career or even help them develop good habits like drawing or writing poetry.

More religious: the emotionally sensitive person may commit to religious activities more than others and they may even become a religious leader.

Steps to winning an oversensitive partner Never be harsh: the oversensitive person will do his/her best to avoid harsh people. If you shout a lot or

if you are a little aggressive in dealing with people then be rest assured that you wouldn’t get along with the over sensitive person.

Make minimal criticism: this does not mean you should avoid criticism completely; rather you should do your best to set it at the minimal level. Avoid constant criticism with the over sensitive person, because the more you criticise them, they avoid you.

Never use physical violence: when you use physical violence, the over sensitive person will do his or her best to avoid you not just that but may begin to hate you.

Be a nurturing partner/ friend: the more kind and nurturing you are, the more the over sensitive person love you and willing to stay around you.

Be more romantic: over sensitive person thinks with his emotions when it comes to relationships. The more romantic you are the more they are attracted to you.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Nigeria @ 53

On The Road To Yugoslavia?

“Soon, enlightened nations will put on Trial those who had hitherto ruled over them. Kings shall flee into the deserts, into the company of the wild Beast whom they resemble. And nature shall resume her rights.” {The prophesy of St. Jaust, just before the French Revolution}.

WE need no eschatological clairvoyant to know that political-socio-economic vicissitudinary turgescency are inextricably intertwined with developmental strides in the life and times of any individual, State or Nation.

Hence, the essayist William Blake (1757-1827) posited in his “Proverbs of hell” that, “the man or nation which never alters his / its opinion / state is like standing water and breeds reptiles of the mind’’ and corroborated by SCHILLER (1759-1805) in his Maid of Orleans that “that nation is worthless which does not joyfully stake everything in defense of her honor.

Whither goeth Nigeria after 53years of independence? I daresay say; it has being 53 years of hellishly scorching pains and horrendous spasms of agony. 53 years of a tale told by an idiot packed full of political, socio-economic sounds and furies signifying a superfluity of nothingness.

53 years of the leadership’s psychopathic prependalistic graft and kleptomaniacal corruption- no light, no roads, no schools, no education, no water, no fear of God, no jobs, no transportation, no joy and no happiness for 99% percent of Nigerians, except for politicians and their cohorts.

In Homers illiad, he did an encyclopedic and kaleidoscopic encapsulation of Nigerians and Nigeria after 53 years of independence. He said, “The gods(Nigerian Leaders) have so spun the thread for wretched mortals (Nigerians) that they must live in pains. “ Nigeria has earned over 1 quintillion pounds from its multidimensional revenue

base since independence, but very little to show for it. The leaders (Executives and Legislators) at States and National levels have allocated psychotic jumbo salaries and allowances to themselves, whilst the vast majority of Nigerians luxuriate in grandiloquent abject and scorching poverty.

It is a hackneyed truism, that when the choreographer loses his terpsichorean wits and the Conductor his dexterity, the dancers and the Members of the Philharmonic orchestra become cocooned in contretemps and salmagundi.

This scenario has been the bane of the Nigerian nation since 1960 till date.

The multifaceted political, socio-economic engineering processes conceptualized and implemented without sincerity of purpose and messianic zeitgeist by the military junta and so-called democratically elected government has left Nigeria cascading down the gerdarene slope of crass socio-economic underdevelopment and the schismatic road to Yugoslavia.

The kingdoms and geographical expressions of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was renamed Yugoslavia in 1929- and was run as a highly centralized “Greater Serbia” The country was befuddled and bedraggled by political and nationalist schisms and Croats separatists murdered king Alexander in 1934. It was attacked and dismembered by Hitter in 1941 and also bemused and submerged in intra and inter political wars against the NAZIS and itself.

The communist-led partisans of Josep Broz Tito (1892 1980) emerged victorious in 1945, and reformed Yugoslavia along Soviet lines. Expelled by Stalin from

By CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE the Soviet bloc in 1948 on account of political and ideological indiscipline. The Yugoslavia communists rejected Soviet model, and pursued policies of decentralization, worker’s self-management and non – alignment. However, after

with pockets of resistance in some areas till today.

The vertical and horizontal integration of the history of Yugoslavia has become necessary in the light of what Nigeria has been passing through as a Nation since 1960 till date. The inability of the Leadership to fight

Tito’s death in 1980, the Yugoslavia Federation/ Confederation, unity and ideological experiment failed and became sunken in the quagmire of political and nationalist crises.

The wealthier northern republics of Slovenia and Croatia edged and opted for democracy and Western European political models while Serbia forcefully resisted the separatist aspirations of Albanian nationalists in Kosovo Province in 1990. The communist conceded principle of free elections and every nation went their way

corruption and solidify nation cohesion has given rise to ethnocentric lebensraum, parochial irredentism, sociopolitical zeitgeist, tribalism, religions wars and militancy.

We have ethnic nationalities and Geo-political Zones been represented by militant groups and others like, Arewa, Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Urhobo Progress Union(UPU) and political / religious Militant Groups like Boko Haram, Egbesu Cult, Liberation Movement of Urhobo people, Massob, OPC etc shows that Nigeria is on the road to Yugoslavia.

To salvage Nigeria from this

“The continuous existence of Nigeria as a Nation remains a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma superimposed in a conundrum. Are Nigerians and Nigeria prepared to remain as one sovereign, united, indissoluble and progress-oriented country?”

labyrinth, we have to call our politicians to order in the light of 2015. The way and manner they are going about trying to actualize their political ambitions snacks of the truism that the Nigerian Nation will be “Antediluvian History” on, before or after 2015. The demon of political rascality and horrendous leadership impunity must be deracinated from our bodypolitick hook, line and sinker.

Let our leaders redefine the contours of politics from “strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage” (The Devils Dictionary) and “Politicians

are like the bones of a horse’s for shoulder - not a straight one in it” (Wendell Phillips) to “politics is the doctrine of the possible, the attainable” [Otto Von Bismarck].

The political parties, especially the PDP, must put it’s house in order and stop hitting the polity. President Jonathan must give a patriotic, sagacious and perspicuous, consideration on whether to drop his political ambition to contest the 2015 Presidential election or not to contest in the interest of peace, Unity and continues existence of Nigeria as a Nation.

We must convene a National Conference of Ethic Nationalities and not a Sovereign National Conference. There must be serious economic strategy to ameliorate poverty in Nigeria and the enhancement of

service delivery of all welfare and social agencies to the citizenry.

The continuous existence of Nigeria as a Nation remains a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma superimposed in a conundrum. Are Nigerians and Nigeria prepared to remain as one sovereign, united, indissoluble and progress-oriented country?

The leadership must be prepared to take the bull of true unity, progress and development by the horns.

The leadership must be patriotic and altruistic and must be prepared to see the Nigerian Nation as their unprejudiced and unbiased single constituency.

The vast majority of povertystricken and oppressed Nigerians are already asking in words of Williams Shakespeare that ‘NIGERIA’, “To be or not to be: that is the question: whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them.”Nigerians are sick and tired of the political brouhaha and socioeconomic hara-kiri they have been suffering since 1960 that is 53 years ago. We have fought a civil war and experienced strikes and civil unrest over these same issues.

Yet, we are yet learn about the nuts and bolts of NATIONHOOD. Finally, in words of the great humanist and orator Martin Luther King, Jr.r5t “Let nobody fool you, all the loud noises we hear today are nothing but the death groans of thee dying system. The old order is passing away, the new order is coming into being. But whenever there is anything new there are new responsibilities. As we think of this coming new world we must think of the challenge that we confront and the new responsibilities that stand before us. We must prepare to live in a new world” Nigeria is on the road to Yugoslavia!!!

Unless something drastically draconian is done.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE @ 53. CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJEMandate against Poverty (MAP) Warri08023250378.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Midweek Magazine IN a society that is plagued with a lot of deceit, corruption, arrogance and abuse of power, bad governance, very poor leadership, and other challenges and contradictions, speaking at this event is nothing but an honour. It is so because we must learn to recognise those that have taken the pains to go the extra mile on behalf of the weak, poor, disillusioned, abandoned, poor and oppressed. We must pay due homage to those that keep the soul of our society together. We must celebrate the Islands of integrity, compassion and honour in our times: and we must join hands to strengthen the foundations, institutions, and opportunities that shape philanthropy and social development. When we do this, maybe, just maybe, our economic and political societies may begin to be sanitised. We may just begin to see the rebirth of a new society and the emergence of hope for the future.

As a bit of historical overview, the Oronsaye Orphanage was established in 1951 by no other than Princess Mrs. Katharine Oronsaye and her husband to provide a home and motherly care and love to the motherless, abandoned and orphaned children, it was the very first such institution in the geographical terrain called Nigeria. It was not the first activity of philanthropy by the couple. Earlier, they had established the St. Philomena Maternity which is today called the St. Philomena Catholic Hospital as well as the Native Authority Maternity Home in Ekiadolor, now known as the General Hospital, Ekiadolor.

The question is, at that time in our nation’s history, why were the Oronsaye’s involved so deeply in philanthropy?

The answer is that they had a very high dosage of compassion, sensitivity, vision, the ‘ear of God and commitment to the eradication of poverty in them. They were seeing light years ahead of most others in society, They had a pathological commitment to the fight against injustice,

social inequalities, oppression, the further impoverishment of the already poor, and the milk of human kindness in them flowed without discrimination. It is indeed a pity that we cannot say this today about many in our society that are a million times better endowed than the Oronsayes. This should be a cause for concern.

While those that benefitted from the Oronsayes prayed for them, as is typical with our new society, many well to do persons ignored or derided their work. They made no contribution and did not bother to find out what was going on at the orphanage or at any similar institution.

How many of us here have ever visited or donated to an orphanage? How many of us, until maybe recently, or how many of our friends know about the Oronsaye Orphanage? Well, we thank God that the University of Benin, only in 2007, conferred an Honorary PhD on Mrs. Oronsaye in recognition of her humanitarian work. Just imagine how long it took!

What is Philanthropy?

What exactly is philanthropy? Is it something that only the rich can do? Do you need to accumulate millions of naira or dollars before you become a philanthropist’? Is it only through cash donation that you can show a philanthropic spirit?

Simply put, philanthropy is the art of giving, showing concern, love, compassion, and support for the less privilege and those in need, It is at times called charity or humanitarianism and it can be found at all levels; global, national, state, local, communal, family, and individual. Yes, you do not need to be a millionaire or billionaire to show love and be concerned about the happiness of others in society.

Yes, it is not only in cash that you can show love and concern, it could be even in the direct donation of your time, materials, and ideas. For instance, you could volunteer some hours every weekend to work at the Orphanage, donate food, entertainment materials or engage in fund raising at your office for the Foundation. In this country, we have tended to focus on

what some call the Abiola Style” of philanthropy and this is wrong.

Philanthropy in all its ramifications is often conceptualised or operated as part of the non-profit or notfor—profit sector. This is a sector that is as old as humanity but continues to undergo refinement. Hence today, we can speak of the new phi1antiropy that seeks to explore hitherto neglected areas focusing on social entrepreneurship. hands-on involvement, and corporate social responsibility. There is also venture philanthropy or philanthrocapitalisin arising from the emergence of venture finance capital, high tech with emphasis on measurable results and the use of intellectual capital to generate resources. Whatever it is called, in whatever way it operates, regardless of its point of emphasis or priority, they are all concerned with the fight against poverty, injustice, inequality, oppression, disease, and the failure of the public sphere in meeting the basic needs of the people. Even when directed at the institutions and structures of the state, the goal is to help the state become more efficient, more effective, mote relevant to the lives of the people, and more responsible and accountable.

In Nigeria, we are still at the elementary stages of philanthropism.

We accumulate a lot of resources but hide them in North and South America and Europe.

Since EFCC started to pry into private accounts, the rich have moved to the Middle East. We build huge houses with twenty to thirty rooms, when the kids grow up and travel out and live abroad, we move to the guest house or convert it into hotels. We buy so many cars, even when they are old arid not functioning very well, we never give them to charity. We park the vehicles in our compounds just to show how many cars we have used and clog up the area. We drive by hospitals that are dilapidated, schools without libraries, water, toilets or blackboards, or good soccer fields. We just thank God that are children are not in those terrible places. Then we complain of quack mechanics, electricians and plumbers, We complain that there are too many young

robbers around, We see many children unable to pay for WAEC, NECO and JAMB forms in our villages. Do we care? Our children are taking more important exams in Europe. We see hospitals with no beds, water, electricity or nurses. What do we do? Does it really matter? At least we can go to South Africa, Europe or Dubai. The list is endless. We harden our hearts to the misery, poverty, disease. hopelessness and helplessness around us. When we see little kids hawking at traffic lights do we think that they ought to be in school or at home sleeping or actually playing like other kids? When we see an abandoned baby by the roadside, we rush to our offices and tell the story. We do not care. It is not our business. This is where Mrs. Katherine Oronsaye was different. She cared. She stopped to look and help. She acted even with her own resources. She thought of yesterday, today and planned for tomorrow. If we can’t do it ourselves, why can’t we help Mrs. Oronsaye and the Orphanage to do even more?

Philanthropy and Development Development is an all encompassing process involving the steady and systematic change in the cultural, social, economic and political spheres of society in a way that increases production, empowers the people and their communities, protects the environment, strengthens institutions, grows the quality of life, and deepens the democratic process. This implies that it is possible to speak of social, cultural, economic, institutional and political development. It is equally possible to speak or spiritual development. As distinct from growth. development is about people and how their lives get better, Development is about understanding yesterday, taking control of today and planning holistically for tomorrow. It is about eating today and leaving something for tomorrow while producing more in the interest of future generations. It is about building a society collectively with structures, institutions and relationships that protect the weak, physically challenged, the young, and generally disadvantaged so that with one spirit, energy,

“In Nigeria, we are still at the elementary stages of philanthropism. We accumulate a lot of resources but hide them in North and South America and Europe. Since EFCC started to pry into private accounts, the rich have moved to the Middle East. We build huge houses with twenty to thirty rooms, when the kids grow up and travel out and live abroad, we move to the guest house or convert it into hotels. We buy so many cars, even when they are old arid not

Philanthr D

By PROF. JULIUS IHONVBERE

thought, and commitment, society can make consistent or sustainable progress.

Philanthropy has a major role to play in the constructing of this type of society. It is true that government cannot do everything. However, such a

leaders, ideas, structures, and institutions. We must all agree lo help each other and see each others are brothers and sisters; children of the same God. What is good is that the idea of Osanobua, Olorun, Chineke,

the p out altern ward travel at the

Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.

government must be seen to be moving on the right path and capable of delivering the goods. Can anyone here truly say that the people of Edo State have had a better life, better infrastructure, better governance, better leadership and better environment since 1999? The existence of philanthropic organisations is not an excuse for governments to abandon their responsibilities to the people.

For established organisations like the Oronsaye Foundation, that has a track record, there is no reason why they should not receive a quarterly subsidy or grant from the Government. All the millions that go on endless trips to Abuja, champagne, hotels, tea and other wastage in government can go to support life through the orphanages. I still do not know why government money is spent on buying tea and biscuits for comparatively well-paid public servants, which of the tea and coffee-thinking official of government cannot afford to buy his or her own drink?

To enhance development,

Olodumare, Obasi was not brought to us by the Europeans or missionaries. Yet, we have done so much to betray, undermine, contain, constrain, restrain, eliminate and destroy each other. There is no way we can develop in that way.

‘We must eschew selfishness and possessive individualism if we are to move forward as a people. This idea of abandoning the common or collective good for the evil culture of na only me go better will destroy us in this nation.

People now measure their wealth with the amount of poverty around them. They take pleasure in being the only one with generator, bore hole, the biggest house, and biggest car in the village so they feel big. Yet, they spend their money to build personal prisons —with high walls, barbed wires, spikes, broken bottles, burglary proof windows, bullet-proof doors, wild dogs and close circuit monitoring devices, and police plus private security guards.

They top it with bullet proof cars… in a society where they claim to be leaders.

True leaders, like the Oronsayes, do not hide from

Tru pe sup ma vio co en po Tru Go mi ph the ex ph 19 T the wi en co cre to de the pe ge the re reg wh the an Fo ge to Th

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Midweek Magazine

ropy, Leadership And Development

ool. They do not carve private and or foreign natives education for ds, medical attention, l, banking, air travel, etc. e expense of the people.

ue leaders do not lie to the eople, betray their pporters, steal public funds, anipulate the truth, support olence and cheating, or ollaborate with others to nthrone mediocrity and olitical and social rascality. ue leaders do not joke with od and they know that last inute generosity or hilanthropy will not save em. The Oronsayes, for ample, have been consistent hilanthropists since the 950s!

The leaders that we need for e future must be courageous ithout being rude, nlightened, sensitive, ompassionate, energetic, eative, innovative, and able take tough but good cisions. They must know eir people, believe in their ople, and have the milk of nerosity following through em. They must know how to spect other leaders and gard those that made them ho they are. I do not expect e orphans that were rescued nd trained by the Oronsaye oundation to turn around, on tting some power, to want destroy the organisation. hose will not be leaders, but

expunge from the community of the good.

The example of the Oronsayes, and the doggedness of Mrs. Oroasaye in particular should be in

example of the sort of leaders that we need in Edo State, Nigeria and the world.

In a country where poverty, illiteracy, dilapidated institutions, moral decay, urban dislocation, rural neglect, frustration and insensitivity continue to reign, we need more Oronsayes. Is it not shocking, that all the problems you may have read in books in the 1960s and early 1970s are still with us today, in some cases, in magnified forms? Whether it is the condition of our roads, political irresponsibility, low industrialisation and agricultural productivity, poor health facilities, high inflation, very very high interest rates, criminal corruption, waste and inefficiency in the bureaucracy, crime, prostitution, hunger, illiteracy, you name it, they are still fully on ground gidigba. Yes, in some areas, we have made tentative progress but we must admit that in most areas, we have moved backwards, As the Millennium Development Goals Nigeria Office itself

is on the decline. The current proportion of the population living in relative poverty stands at 54.4%. However the proportion of the population living in extreme poverty was expected to have fallen to 25 .78% in 2007, if the MDG target is to be met in 2015.

The level of poverty achievement falls short of the target.” This has been very nicely put. The situation is much worse than this picture and we all know it. I believe that the 7-point Agenda, the NAPEP programmes, the NEEDS agenda, the Vision 2010 and 20-20-20, and the MDG programmes, if well implemented, will improve the situation. Programmes are one thing, the implementation and the implementers are different challenges.

Philanthropy can help, but we must give the philanthropists and their organisations all the necessary support and encouragement. But come to think of it: if people like the Oronsayes can care for the needy, why can’t the government? Is it because government is manned by evil and wicked people?! do not want to think so. But the more government and its institutions and custodians continue to appear to the people as aloof, insensitive, exploitative, arrogant and incapable of meeting their basic needs, the more we make philanthropy even more relevant and government the enemy of the people.

How do we Strengthen Philanthropy in Nigeria It is critical that we strengthen the not-for-profit sector in Nigeria as part of the strengthening of civil society in order to create all-round development and promote democracy. We all agree that the days when the state or government was responsible for everything are gone. This is actually part of our predicament as a nation. The government was everything: largest importer, employer,

controller of foreign exchange, and so on. Our lives revolved around government.

If you wanted to become rich, get into government, not production. So the struggle to get into and control government became war and it was a ruthless war. We invented and used every trick in the book of politics, we used Machiavelli to pieces, and invented our own tricks: zoning, rotation, incumbency, screening, point-man, clearance, vetting, loyalty, seeing leaders, ethnic balance, primaries, accreditation, reregistration. deregistration, membership card, dues, contribution to the party, etc. but the result is what we have seen all over the country. I am glad that our eyes are getting clearer now and we are all going back to the drawing board to build the foundations for real participatory, accountable, responsible, fair, people-driven and peoplecentred democratic politics.

This is the starting point for strengthening democracy and philanthropy: the emergence of an environment and culture of politics that encourages the best to participate; that does not bankrupt the aspirant before he or she becomes a candidate; that emphasise our common ground rather than differences; that builds unity, dialogue and ideas as against opportunism and political infantilism; and one that privileges an over-arching sympathy for those that we lead. In addition: 1. We must educate the public, especially the elite on the importance of charity and philanthropy; 2. We must introduce courses and programmes in school as to the centrality of philanthropy to the survival and progress of society; 3. The media must play its usual role of publicity and education on matters of philanthropy; 4. The leaders must take charge within the family and community on the place and role of philanthropy in educational terms and by example; 5. The rich in society must all make it a point of duty to

identify with at last one philanthropic organisation and provide support in all possible ways; 6. The legal profession must rise up to the challenge by encouraging people that prepare their will on the essence of bequeathing something to charities; 7. Those that have benefitted from one form of charity or the other must learn to give something back aside from supporting their original benefactor; 8. The Government of Edo State must set up a special unit in the relevant ministry to provide technical, logistical, legal and financial support to philanthropic organisations and philanthropists; 9. Religious bodies and leaders must go beyond their usual areas or focus and become more involved in caring for the needy as part of their mission on earth.

10. The private sector must take its corporate responsibility charge more seriously. At the moment their interventions are discordant, opportunistic and ineffective. They must set aside a percentage of gross profit to support philanthropic organisations and this could be written off against tax deductions.

11. The Federal Government, through the Federal Inland Revenue Service must make it possible for companies to writeoff a certain part of their gross earnings, up to 10% as donations to philanthropies to enable the sector to grow. This should he applicable at the state level also for individuals and companies.

Conclusion This is a keynote and not major lecture. Let me conclude by saying that the Oronsaye’s have set an example. If those of us in this room search our hearts and soul and commit to following their example, in whatever small way, we will notice a movement of/for change in Edo State. It could be as much as paying school fees, buying jamb or WAEC, NECO forms, visiting hospitals and making a small donation, visiting orphanages and donating clothes, a bicycle or contributing even N2,000 a month. Little drops of water can produce a major pool.

If we move it a step further to talk to our spouses, friends, relatives, customers, tenants, landlords and children, we are building an even larger pool. The results, in a few years, would be much than we can imagine now.

We can even be bolder, by establishing our own philanthropic organisation. It does not have to be huge. Several years ago, my wife Grace and I established The Ihonvbere Foundation, relying totally on personal funds, to work on youth and women empowerment. So far, we have not done badly. But I assure you the results have been unbelievable. Do you know what it means when you sit in your living room and a young boy or girl walks in to present you with a copy of his or her final year thesis that you supported? Please, try it. The cost, you will find will not kill you.

Above all, we must show sincerity, love, compassion, sensitivity, concern and a solid helping hand to our fellow human being.

You never know the question that our Creator will ask on that day of judgement. It could be as simple as; when you were on earth, in Edo State, your home state, how many philanthropic organisations did you support on a consistent basis? Don’t say you were not warned.

That is why we are here today. To rejoice with our dear mother, an angel right here on earth and the embodiment of humaneness and love. Also, to support her work by contributing generously to ensure that her good works that started way back before 1951 continues to receive a boost and the Lord will bless you even more. Nothing is too small though we would prefer it to be big.

Even if we excuse politicians that lost primaries and election because they are still recovering, even if we excuse unemployed people, especially the ex-his and ex-that, knowing that no condition is permanent and that our God is alive, let us all show that we are true sons and daughters of the soil.

“Above all, we must show sincerity, love, compassion, sensitivity, concern and a solid helping hand to our fellow human being. You never know the question that our Creator will ask on that day of judgement. It could be as simple as; when you were on earth, in Edo State, your home state, how many philanthropic organisations did you support on a consistent basis? Don’t say you were not warned.”

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Arts

Comedy, Comedians And Nigeria’s Rebirth

“BELIEVE me, every man has his secret sorrows, which the world know not. And often times we call men God when he is only sad” (Henry Long Fellow).

Man’s quest for joy, blithe and happiness takes protean venturesomeness and can be likened to the sphygmic temperaments of artifacts, relics and museum scoundrels and thieves standing before sphragistic detectives. They exude grotesque disposition.

Hence, the comedian tries to create a balance through comedy.

A comedy within the context of usage is any literary work including, but not limited to a drama, play, motion picture, television, radio, oratorical dexterity, verbal phosphorescence and entertainment etc, characterized by a humorous treatment of characters, situations etc., and having a happy ending. A comedian is therefore, anyone who applies these afore – mentioned tools to create humor, joy and laughter etc.

Comedy is as old as man and comedians are always with us. In our world suffused, bemused and impregnated by Neanderthal bellicosity, Scorching poverty, sanguinary proclivities leadership inertia, chauvinism, tribal jingoism, religious extremism, mindboggling hatred, saber rattling genocide, psychotic corruption, horrendous rapes, ritual murders, ludibrastic cluelessness, planlessness and lovelessness, etc. We can waterdown our feelings through comic relief characters and comedians who use satires, sarcasms, allegories, lampoonery, pantomimes, onomatopoeias, recondite gesticulations with religious, political, tribal, socio – economic connotations and undertones to laugh at ourselves in a

By CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE lighter mood.

The great literary masterpieces and mythologies from Homers illiad, odyssey, Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, A Man of the People, The Trouble with Nigeria, Soyinka’s Interpreters, Bacchae of Euripides and The Man Died, The Kings’ Horsemen, Dickens’ Great Expectations, Marten Chuzzlewit, Nickolas Nicke

by David Copperfield, Shakespeare’s Corolinus, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, Tempest, Chaucer’s, John Milton’s Plays, Sheridan’s Comedy The Rivals and others too numerous to mention had a tincture of comedy that didactically said something about ourselves and society, precipitating laughter.

We are in a world cocooned in cerebral dwarfishness, Pusillanimous Tergiversation and Spiritual darkness because of our lost values, inability to speak truth to power and normative social standards. We use comedy and comedians to humourise our situation to ameliorate our emotional erebus and political torpsy–turvydom. However, comedians must heed the admonitions of Statesman Abraham Lincoln, that “with maice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right , let us strive on to finish the work we are in” The comedian and his jokes are tools for societal change, political renaissance, Cultural Revolution, psychological therapy, attitudinal reorientations, propagandistic elan and religious rebirth, because he can hide real happenings to galvanise the

leadership and the citizenry into action for societal change.

A comedian once said that “President Kwame Osagyfo

protocols, asked the convoy to stop. He quickly called for the arrest of the defecating scoundrel and asked him “where are you from”? The man quickly retorted “I AM FROM NIGERIA”. He immediately recalled the

platitudinous truism that the comedian gave a joke which looked harmless, but in a actual fact, if a critic or journalist had written an article on “Nigeria, waste management and leadership inertia”. It would have attracted detention and or verbal or physical flagellation. Comedy is a way of laughing at our all-

words of Mohandas K. Ghandi that, “I can retain neither respect nor affection for a government which has been moving from wrong to wrong in order to defend its immorality”. What a shame!

And whither goeth Nigeria?

The comedian made this joke and all laughed. But the silent and salient point is to admonish our leaders and Nigerians in general on social courtesies, responsible waste disposal mannerisms, provision of public toilets and efficient waste management organization. It is also a

embracing inadequacies and weaknesses as individuals and as a nation.

We must draw or make a clear-cut dichotomy between ‘COMPERES, MASTERS OF CEREMONIES AND COMEDIANS IN ANY SOCIAL FORUM. The popular social mistake is the desire of comedians to function as all of these. The popular Compere Collins Adeyemi in his recent book entitled “Director of Ceremony” adumbrated on the need for there to be a cantankerous difference

I - Go die Nkrumah once visited Nigeria and as he drove in a convoy with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa he saw a man urinating by the road side. He castigated Nigerians for being dirty litter louts. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa felt chagrined, despondent and crest fallen.

He quickly organized a reciprocal visit to Ghana. As he drove in a convoy with President Nkrumah he sited a man defecating by the road side. He quickly called Nkrumah’s attention to it.

President Nkrumah breaking

between all of these to make professionalism the watchword in the trade.

The Comedy Guild in Nigeria has become a fertile ground for youths, graduates and those with creative talents. They have become professional in their own rights and a regular feature at private and public occasions.

The field is robustly enriched with Warri (WAFI), Sapele (SAFA) boys and girls.

Indeed, the south-south, south east and the south west are overwhelmingly represented in this field.

We have great comedians like Basket mouth, I GO DIE O, Ali Baba, Gandoki, ROCKY FELLER, etc.

Nigerian comedians have worked so hard from the 1980’s through the 90’s to the 2000’s to lift the comedy art and comedians toil from gutter snipe to professional level. They have become indispensible in the socioeconomic and public calculus in Nigeria. The essayist Henry Wadsworth Longfellow posited in his book ‘The ladder of St. Augustine’ that “the heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night”.

Finally, Nigerian comedians have toiled all night and they deserve a place in the pantheon of the great builders of Nigeria in our rebirth strides. They have to be more critical, spontaneous, authentic, creative and revolutionary in their orientation and drive to make our world and Nigeria a better place. In trying to create happiness they most note the admonition of Francois Rochefoucauld that “we are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves” and “the happiness or unhappiness of one depends no less upon their disposition than on their fortunes”. God bless our comedians.

“Comedy is as old as man and comedians are always with us. In our world suffused, bemused and impregnated by Neanderthal bellicosity, Scorching poverty, sanguinary proclivities leadership inertia, chauvinism, tribal jingoism, religious extremism, mindboggling hatred, saber rattling genocide, psychotic corruption, horrendous rapes, ritual murders, ludibrastic cluelessness, planlessness and lovelessness, etc.”

THE NIGERIAN

19

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Natural Medicine

With Dr. MAO 08030717341

Do Plants Have Feelings?

DO PLANTS HAVE FEELINGS? Go and ask someone like Mellie Uyuldert, author of the psychic Garden whether plants have feelings with which they empathize with man.

Her response will be in the affirmative. It is to confirm this truism that made her to write the book showing how plants have demonstrated great feats of emotions.

In this column, today, I will cite instances during which plants suggestively displayed anger or empathic, agape love to human beings. Read on Anger Some years ago, my stock of natural medicine were exhausted while I was spending a weekend afternoon at afowa with my friend who was a viceprincipal of a girl’s college.

Suddenly a female nurse recognized me as I sat outside with my friend discussing. She accosted me and informed me that she was having pile causing her a lot of pain.

So, she found it difficult to sleep at night. I winced in sympathy, thereafter, I told her not to bother because I would get her some leaves of avocado pear. With them she would be able to have a good night rest for at least a week. Before then, the pile would have become so healed that it wouldn’t cause her pain anymore, I promised her.

Later in the evening, I went to the home of a male secondary school teacher with an avocado pear tree in his garden. I pleaded with him to allow me to pluck some of the plants leave for management pain

in a female nurse whom he knows so well and benefited a lot from his medical charity. I informed him that I was only offering free help to the sick nurse.

No payment was involved.

Who-side. The male school teacher, well known for his proverbial stinginess, turned down my repeated request for the avocado pear leaves.

Humbled but not humiliated or angry by his action I left. Immediately I went in search of aloe vera as substitute for the leaves.

There is really no statistically significant different between the two phyto products in pain management. 1t is only a matter of brand dichotomy of phytochemicals in them.

However, that night, there was a heavy rain lightening and thunderstorm. On the following day, the avocado pear tree was in ruins. A blistering thunderstorm and lightening had struck the tree. Maybe, out of anger that it wasn’t allowed to offer assistance to the nurse with pile, the tree invited destruction to itself so that the stingy teacher would lose it for ever. A case of phyto-cide!! Who knows.

Agape love On one occasion, I was also sitting with the same vice-principal outside his home. Both of us were looking into his massive farm in front of us, moments later, he pointed out some waterleaf plants growing on the periphery of the farm. He wondered aloud that he hadn’t planted them and there were no such plants in his massive compound. So, how come

the plants was growing there at that time, he asked.

After his observation, I remembered the book THE PSYCHIC GRADEN written by Mellie Uyuldert

response, I jokingly told him that he needs to start consuming a lot of waterleaf to heal his gastrointestinal ailments.

Having said this, we both

member of our households would soon have cancer triggered by chronic indigestion and constitution? I asked aloud.

Terrible. Terrible. What a

started to re-generate. At this very moment, the woman began to recover gradually. When the plant re-grew all its leaves, the woman became well. Her undiagnosed illness by many orthodox doctors disappeared!

When this event

which explained that plants can place themselves at the service of a sick man in need. Invariably, according to her, a plant can fall in love with a person whom the plant is aware would be sick or is sick already and would need its assistance.

Based on my knowledge of Mellie Uyuidert’s work and what waterleaf treats, I asked my friend if he had indigestion and constipation.

He answered in the affirmative. Following his

rose and walked up to the waterleaf plants for closer examination. While beside them, our eyes caught the sight of a cassava with a match-line plant growing on one of its branches. The sight flashed into my mind thought of mistletoe herb used for cancer management.

At the very moment, I recalled the critical message of Mellie Uyuldert. Does it mean the plant is bringing futuristic message to us that a

bad prophesy from the plants.

My friend look puzzled as I spoked and stared at me. As he did, I explained the work of Mellie Uyuldert to him. Well, to cut a long story short, my friend within two months began to complain of a hard swelling (tumour) in his lower body. Not long afterwards, the tumour ruptured. Tests conducted in hospitals showed that he had colorectal cancer. This ailment killed him.

Finally, there was this Muslim woman up North in Zungeru in Niger state who had a mysterious debilitating disease that confined her to bed for several months. One day the bitter leaf farm in her garden withered and turned yellow. Then, the plant

occurred, knowledgeable natural medicine practitioners theorized that it was the empathic, agape love of the bitter leaf that sent healing energy to the sick woman. Thus, she was cured of her illness, which orthodox doctors couldn’t treat.

All said, you are entitled to believe or ignored Mellie Uyuldert’s theory that plants have emotions, feelings and sensibilities, invariably, they can put themselves at the service of sick people while at the same time punish anyone who prevent them from assisting people in need.

But let me give this parting advice; always be friendly to plants. Never hunt any of them. Treat them with love, tenderness and kindness.

They are humans like you.

God also created them.

“All said, you are entitled to believe or ignored Mellie Uyuldert’s theory that plants have emotions, feelings and sensibilities, invariably, they can put themselves at the service of sick people while at the same time punish anyone who prevent them from assisting people in need. But let me give this parting advice; always be friendly to plants.”

THE NIGERIAN

20

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

New Horizon

Teachings Of The Holy Quran (3)

THUS have we made of you an Umma justly balanced.

That ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the messenger a witness over yourselves, and we appointed the Qibla to which thou wast used, only to those who follow lowed the messenger from those who would turn on their heels (From the Faith).

Indeed it was (a changed) momentous, except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah make your faith of no died, lot Allah is to all people most surely full of kindness, Most merciful, We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens, now shall we turn thee to a Qibla that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque, wherever you are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the Book know well that is the truth from their Lord nor is Allah unmindful of what they do. Even if thou went to bring to the people of the I3ook all the signs (together), thy would not follow thy Qibla nor art thou going to follow their Quibla, nor indeed will they follow each other’s Qibla. If thou after the knowledge bath reached thee, were to follow their (vain) desires then wert thou indeed (cearly) in the wrong. The people of the Book know this as they know their own sons, blot some of them conceal the truth which they themselves know. [he truth is 1mm they Lord, so he not at all in doubt. To each is a goal to which Allah turns him, then strive together (as in a race) towards all that is good. Whatsoever ye are, Allah will bring you together.

For Allah bath power over all things. From whencesoever thou startest forth, turn thy thee in the direction of the Sacred Mosque, that is indeed the truth from thy Lord. And Allah is not Unmindful what you do.

So from whencesoever thou started forth, turn your face thither, that there be no ground of despite against you among the people. Except those of them

that are bent on wickedness.

So fear them not. But fear me, arid that I may complete my favours on you, and ye may (Consent to) he guided. A similar favour have ye already received in that We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, rehearsing to you, Our Signs, and puriI YOU, and instructively you in scripwre and Wisdom, and in new knowledge. Then do you remember Me, I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not faith. 0 ye who believe, seek hcp with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere. And say not those who are slain in the way of Allah. “They are dead,” Nay, they arc living, though ye perceive (it) not. Be sure we shall lest you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings Lo those ho patiently persevere Who say, when afflicted with calamity, “10 AHuh we belong, and to I-urn s our return”. ‘They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from their Lord, and Mercy. And they are the ones that receive guidance. Behold, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House in the season or at other times, should compass their round, it is no sin in them. And if anyone obeyeth his own impulse to Good-be sure that Allah is He who recongiseth and knoweth. Those who conceal the clear (signs). We have sent down and the guidance, after we have made it clear of the people in We Book on them shall be Allah’s curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse. Except those who repent and make amends and openly declare (the truth), to them I turn, for I am Oft— Returning, Most Merciful.

Those who reject faith, And die rejecting -on them is Allah’s curse, and the curse of Angels, and of all mankind.

They will abide there, their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their (lot).

And your God is one God, there is no god but He. Most gracious Most Merciful.

Behold in the creation of the heavens and the earth, in the alternation of the Night and Day, in the sailing of the ships

over flowing in their Love tot Allah. IC only the unrighteous could see, behold they would see the punishment, that to Allah belongs all power, and Allah will strongly enforce the Punishment. Then would those who are flu lowed clear themselves of those who lb low (them), they would see the chastisement and all relations between them would he cut off. And those who followed would say, ‘‘if only

through the ocean for the profit of mankind in the rain which Allah sends down from the skies and the Life which He gives therewith to an earth that s dead, in the beasts of all kinds that lie scatters through the earth, in the change of the winds, and the clouds, which they trail like their slaves between the sky mid the earth - (there) indeed are signs for a people that are wise. Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah) they love them as they should love Allah. But those of Faith are

we had one more chance, we would clear ourselves of them, as they have cleared themselves of us”. Thus will Allah show them (the fruits of) their deeds as (nothing but) regrets, Nor will there he a way for them out of the hit. () ye people, eat of what s on earth, lawful and good, and do not b low the footsteps of Satan for He is to you an avowed enemy. For lie commands you what is evil and shameful, and that ye should say of Allah that of which ye have 110 knowledge. When it is said to

‘‘Follow what Allah had revealed”, they say, “Nay, we shall follow the ways of our fathers”. What even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance. The parable of those who reject Faith is as if one were to shout like a goat-herd, to things that listen to nothing but calls and cries, deal, dumb, and blind. They are void of wisdom. O ye who believe, eat of the good things that we have provided for you.”

With VICTOR ANIUKWU them, ‘‘Follow what Allah had revealed”, they say, “Nay, we shall follow the ways of our fathers”. What even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance. The parable of those who reject Faith is as if one were to shout like a goat-herd, to things that listen to nothing but calls and cries, deal, dumb, and blind.

They are void of wisdom. O ye who believe, eat of the good things that we have provided for you. And be grateful to Allah, if it is I urn you worship. He bath only

righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East or West, but it is righteousness — to believe in Allah and the last day, and the angels, and the hook, and the Messengers, to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, For the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransome of slaves, to be steadfast in prayer and give Zakat, to fulfill the contacts which ye have made, and to be firm and patient, n pain (or suffering) and

forbidden von dead meat, and blood and the flesh of swine and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits then is he guiltless for Allah is oft—forgiving Most Merciful. Those who conceal Allah’s revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit. They swallow into themselves naught but fire . Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection nor purify them, grievous will be their chastisement. They are the ones who buy Errow in place of Guidance and Torment in place of Forgiveness. Ah! What boldness ( they show) for the lire. (Their doom is) because Al lab send down the Book in truth but those who seek causes of dispute in the Book are in a schism far (from the purpose). It is not

adversity, and throughout alt periods of such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. O ye who believe the law of equality is prescribed to you in cases of murder, the free for the free the salve for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant any responsible demand, and compensate him with handsome gratitude. This is a concession and a Mercy from your Lord. After this whoever exceeds the limits shall be in grave chastisement. In he law of equity there is (saving of) life to you.

O ye man of understanding, that ye may restrain yourselves. It is prescribed, when death approaches any of you, if he leaves any goods, that he make a bequest to parents and next of kin.

According to reasonable Continues on page 24

THE NIGERIAN

21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Place Of Prayer

The Ingredients Of Intimacy (2)

LAST week, we began a series on the Ingredients of intimacy. We defined intimacy as fellowship with God with a strong consciousness of the reality of His presence. We also saw that there are two types of intimacy- Out of Closet intimacy and Closet intimacy. We itemized the eleven major activities that make up the ingredients of intimacy. This week we will discuss the first two ingredients of intimacy.

SOLITUDE Solitude means privacy, it means staying away from every person and every form of distraction just to fellowship with God. You need solitude (privacy) for your closet intimacy to be effective. In Matthew 6:6, the bible saysBut thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Jesus Christ was a practical example of this. In Mark 1:35, He went to a solitary place to pray. In Exodus 34:1-2, God called Moses to come up and be alone with Him. The first criterion for closet intimacy to be productive is that you must be alone in a place that is void of distraction.

Solitude is required for you to experience altitude.

Whenever there is a need for a change in your altitude, there is a demand for solitude.

Solitude is the credential for the next altitude. You don’t copy solitude; you discover the required solitude for the expected altitude. Intimacy helps you discover your unique solitude. Without the practice of solitude, you cannot have an intimate relationship with God, just like a husband and wife cannot relate intimately with each other in the presence of guests.

A popular preacher shared how he experienced failure in a crusade meeting because he did not heed God’s call for solitude. He had this experience during a programme in a certain town.

The morning session of the programme was glorious as the word came forth mightily; with great miracles

accompany the word that was spoken. The morning session was so glorious that he told all present to invite their neigbours, friends and loved ones as he was very certain that the evening session would be even more glorious.

However, he had relatives in that town that he had to visit.

On his way to see these relatives, the Lord began to call him to solitude. Not willing to offend his relatives who had prepared dinner for him, he did not heed the call to solitude. When he got to the crusade venue that evening, the hall was packed full, but the programme was a mess.

God simply refused to move.

It was a great disappointment to those that had witnessed the morning session and a great embarrassment to the man of God. Without the practice of solitude, you will not hear God’s direction for your next operation. Make the practice of solitude for intimacy consistent. If the time you spend in solitude is consistent, it has more value.

CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE Intimacy has to do with two people who are conscious of the presence of each other.

When you are in intimacy with God, you must activate the consciousness of His presence by conceptualizing His presence with your mind.

Intimacy without the consciousness of your partner does not work. For intimacy to be glorious, you have to sense God around you. It can be meditatively brought into reality by constantly meditating on these three dwellings of God: (a) The heavenly places.

Luke 9:16- Jesus looked up to heaven while breaking bread.

Matthew 6:9- Our father, who art in heaven. (b) Your immediate environment. Matthew 28:20lo J am with you always.

Hebrews 13:5- 1 will never leave you nor forsake you.

Genesis 28:15- And, behold, J am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou

goest..; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (c) He is in your inner man.

Colossians 1:27- Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Consciousness of God’s presence is the life wire of Intimacy, you cannot talk about intimacy until you practice the consciousness of God’s presence. John in the island of Patmos took his eyes

you begin to exhibit the mannerism of darkness; you get so angry with those that have offended you that you see nothing wrong with killing them with your prayers.

Consciousness of darkness rather than God is the reason why Christians keep fighting enemies even in church.

Intimacy is ignited by consciousness of God’s presence, for it to start, you must be conscious of the

off the discomfort that surrounded him and concentrated on the presence of God, no wonder God revealed so much to him. f you keep looking at your discomfort, you will keep experiencing pain and suffering, but when you turn to the consciousness of God, you will begin to experience complete and satisfying joy.

Most Christians are more conscious of the enemy than they are of God. When you concentrate more on darkness,

presence of divinity. Heaven will not start intimacy with you until there is a consciousness of God in you.

In the Old Testament, God had to deliberately do things to activate Flis consciousness in the heart of the Israelites.

One of the things God gave the Israelites to create His consciousness in them was the Ark of the Covenant.

Whenever the ark was brought to the war front, the soldiers suddenly gained confidence that they will win the battle

“Most Christians are more conscious of the enemy than they are of God. When you concentrate more on darkness, you begin to exhibit the mannerism of darkness; you get so angry with those that have offended you that you see nothing wrong with killing them with your prayers.”

With Pastor Samuel O. Osaghae SMS Only 08030809339

because God, signified by the ark was present with them.

However, in the New Testament, God does not want us to represent Him with any object The imagery associated with the Old Testament was as a result of the spiritual level of dullness of the Israelites. We of the New Testament are born of the Spirit and so our worship does not need to be activated by a carnal

Benefits of the Consciousness of God’s Presence In the book of Revelation 4:1 — 11, we see seven outstanding benefits of the consciousness of God’s presence 1. Those in the throne room are not harassed, they are not anxious nor worried because they are sitted in heavenly places together with Christ

representation or observation.

The time comes and is now when the true worshippers of God will worship Kim in spirit and in truth. There therefore has to be a renewal of the mind of Christians. There must be a shift in consciousness from dwelling on demons, Satan and enemies to dwelling on divinity.

Consciousness of God’s presence is like a fuel to intimacy, When it is available, you can spend a long time with God without noticing the passage of time. If you go into intimacy without the consciousness of God, you will soon get weary, but when you know lie is present, you will be so enveloped in His presence that you wfll not feel like coming out of intimacy with Him. Seven (7) Outstanding

2. They don’t struggle to be holy, holiness envelopes them like a garment 3. You receive honour, a crown of royalty comes upon your head. You don’t beg for it but it comes naturally upon you 4. You have the fullness of God’s spirit. You carry all the gifts and fruit of the spirit S. You will live perpetually in peace 6. Your spiritual eyes become open and you receive revelative gift and become able to see beyond the physical.

7. You receive divine ability to become unstoppable. You are able to fulfil your destiny no matter the opposition that comes against you. The four creatures in the presence of God who dwell daily in the consciousness of His presence are unstoppable creatures.

THE NIGERIAN

22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

International News

Transition The families of Ogbonmwan Okunwague of Ogunmwenyin Village, Ovia North East Local Government and Omonsede Edegbe of Azagba Village Uhunmwonde regret to announce the untimely passing away of their beloved son, brother, father and grand father, LATE DEACON WILLIAM UYI OGBONMWAN which sad event took palce on the 13th day of August, 2013 at the age of 62 years.

Pope Francis waves to faithful as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Pope Francis convenes his parallel cabinet yesterday, for a first round of talks on reforming the Catholic Church.

Pope Outlines Hopes For Church VATICAN CITY — Pope daily La Repubblica that was Reform Francis says he wants a published yesterday as Francis missionary church with a modern spirit that gives hope to the poor, young and elderly, speaking as key meetings begin on church reform.

Francis gave a lengthy interview to the editor of Rome

began meeting with his parallel cabinet of eight cardinals tapped to advise him on reforming the church.

In the interview, Francis denounces the “Vatican-centric” nature of the Holy See, explains

his affinity for his namesake St. Francis and describes how he was “invaded by anxiety” after he was elected, but then excused himself from the Sistine Chapel, closed his eyes and was filled with a light that enabled him to accept the job.

S.Korea Parades New N.Korea-Focused involving tens of thousands of SEOUL - Tanks rumbled Missiles

through downtown Seoul yesterday as South Korea staged its largest military display in a decade and paraded a missile capable of high-precision strikes anywhere in North Korea.

President Park Geun-Hye warned of the “very grave” threat posed by Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme as the twopart display began at an airbase south of the capital in the morning.

Some 11,000 troops and 120 aircraft took part in the event, which showcased the military’s most advanced weaponry as US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel looked on.

Hagel was on a visit to underscore US commitment to its military alliance with South Korea where 28,500 US troops are currently stationed.

“The situation on the Korean peninsula... is very grave,” Park warned in her speech at the event marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of South Korea’s armed forces.

“North Korea adamantly continues to develop and upgrade its nuclear weapons,” Park said, adding that the South had no option but to boost its military deterrent in response.

She specifically cited the development of sophisticated missile interceptor systems capable of neutralising a North Korean strike.

“I believe that the true purpose of the military lies not in fighting a war but preventing one,” she

said.

The defence ministry said Tuesday’s display was the largest since 2003.

Hardware included the Hyeonmu 3, an indigenously developed cruise missile that was first deployed on naval destroyers in November last year and had not been shown in public before.

Two days after North Korea carried out its third nuclear test on February 12, the South’s defence ministry called in the media for a video presentation showing the capabilities of the Hyeonmu, which has a range of 1,000 kilometres (around 600 miles).

“It is a precision-guided weapon that can identify and strike the office window of the North’s command headquarters,” ministry spokesman Kim MinSeok told reporters at the time.

The missile was displayed again in the afternoon as a pareddown version of the parade moved to central Seoul, huge sections of which had been closed off to traffic for hours in advance.

The tanks, mounted heavy artillery, mobile missile launchers and marching soldiers paraded down a 1.4-kilometer route from the city’s ancient South Gate towards the landmark Gyeongbok Palace.

Such events are generally considered more of a North Korean speciality, with massive, highly choreographed parades

goose-stepping troops regularly staged in Pyongyang.

The North’s nuclear test triggered two months of heightened military tensions on the Korean peninsula, with Pyongyang threatening preemptive nuclear strikes on South Korea and the United States.

Those tensions have eased since, but acute concerns remain over the North’s nuclear programme with signs that it is expanding its production of weapons-grade fissile material.

South Korea has cited the growing nuclear threat from Pyongyang to back its request for extending US command of combined US and South Korean forces in the event of war with the North.

South Korea is scheduled to take over wartime operational command in 2015, but defence policymakers now say they need more time to prepare for the transition.

Defense Secretary Hagel will discuss the issue with his South Korean counterpart Kim KwanJin today.

Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington is due to arrive in the South Korean port of Busan tomorrow, together with a guided-missile cruiser and destroyer, the US Navy said in a statement.

The George Washington is expected to take part in a joint naval exercise with South Korean vessels next week in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

LATE DEACON WILLIAM UYI OGBONMWAN He is survived by 7 children, 10 grand children, several brothers and sisters Amongst who are: CHILDREN Miss Joy Ikponmwonsa Ogbonmwan – Daughter Mr. George Osabuohien Ogbonmwan – Son Mr. Benjamin Imuetinyan Ogbonmwan – Son Mr. Allison Efosa Ogbonmwan – Son Mrs. Esohe Asikagbon – Daughter Mr. Osaretin Jackson Ogbonmwan – Son Mrs. Osatohanmwan Tessy Agbonifo – Daughter

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT Friday 4th October, 2013: 10am – Corpse leaves time mortuary to his residence No. 9th Agbonma Lane, Off Ekehuan Road, Benin City.

3:00pm – Service of sons at his residence Saturday, 5th October, 2013: 12 Noon – Social dance at Owegie Primary School ground Owina Street, Benin City.

Sunday, 6th October, 2013: Thanksgiving service at Christ Apostolic Church of God Mission, 16, Obakpolor Street, Off 2nd Cemetery Road, Benin City.

May His Soul Rest In Peace Signed:

By The Children For the family

THE NIGERIAN

23

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

International Features

Americans Anxious, Irritated As Govt Shuts Down

FOR many federal workers, the partial government shutdown that began yesterday meant no more paychecks as they were forced onto unpaid furloughs. For those still working, it meant delays in getting paid.

Park ranger and father-to-be Darquez Smith said he already lives paycheck to paycheck while putting himself through college and worried how he’ll fare amid the shutdown.

“I’ve got a lot on my plate right now — tuition, my daughter, bills,” said Smith, 23, a ranger at

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in Ohio. “I’m just confused and waiting just like everyone else.”

A midnight deadline to avert a shutdown passed amid congressional bickering, leaving Americans unable to get government services ranging from federally backed home loans to supplemental food assistance for children and pregnant women.

From New York’s Liberty Island to Alaska’s Denali National Park, the U.S. government closed its doors as a budget impasse idled hundreds of thousands of federal workers and halted most non-essential government services for the first time in nearly two decades.

The impact of the

shutdown was mixed — immediate and far-reaching for some, annoying but minimal for others.

In Colorado, where flooding killed eight people earlier this month, emergency funds to help rebuild homes and businesses continued to flow — but federal worker furloughs were expected to slow it down.

Anxious Americans await their fate as government shuts down

National Guard soldiers rebuilding washed-out roads would apparently be paid on time — along with the rest of the country’s active-duty personnel — under a bill passed hours before the shutdown. Existing Social Security and Medicare benefits, veterans’ services and mail delivery were also unaffected.

Other agencies were harder hit — nearly 3,000 Federal Aviation Administration safety inspectors were furloughed along with most of the National Transportation Safety Board’s employees, including accident investigators who respond to air crashes, train collisions, pipeline explosions and other accidents.

Almost all of NASA shut down, except for Mission Control in Houston, and national parks closed along with the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo. Even the zoo’s popular panda cam went dark, shut off for the first time since a cub was born there Aug. 23.

As the shutdown loomed Monday, visitors to popular parks made their frustration with elected officials clear.

“There is no good thing going to come out of it,” said Chris Fahl, a tourist from Roanoke, Ind., who was visiting the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville, Ky. “Taxpayers are just going to be more overburdened.”

Global Study: World Not Ready For Aging Population

THE world is aging so fast that most countries are not prepared to support their swelling numbers of elderly people, according to a global study being issued Tuesday by the United Nations and an elder rights group.

The report ranks the social and economic well-being of elders in 91 countries, with Sweden coming out on top and Afghanistan at the bottom.

It reflects what advocates for the old have been warning, with increasing urgency, for years: Nations are simply not working quickly enough to cope with a population graying faster than ever before. By the year 2050, for the first time in history, seniors older than 60 will outnumber children younger than 15.

Truong Tien Thao, who runs a small tea shop on the sidewalk near his home in Hanoi, Vietnam, is 65 and acutely aware that he, like millions of others, is plunging into old age without a safety net. He wishes he could retire, but he and his 61-year-old wife depend on the $50 a month they earn from the shop. And so every day, Thao rises early to open the stall at 6 a.m. and works until 2 p.m., when his wife takes over until closing.

“People at my age should have a rest, but I still have to work to make our ends meet,” he says, while waiting for customers at the shop, which sells green tea, cigarettes and chewing gum. “My wife and I have no pension, no health insurance. I’m

scared of thinking of being sick — I don’t know how I can pay for the medical care.”

Thao’s story reflects a key point in the report, which was released early to The Associated Press: Aging is an issue across the world.

Perhaps surprisingly, the report shows that the fastest aging countries are developing ones, such as Jordan, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Vietnam, where the number of older people will more than triple by 2050. All ranked in the bottom half of the index.

The Global AgeWatch I n d e x (www.globalagewatch.org) was created by elder advocacy group HelpAge International and the U.N. Population Fund in part to address a lack of international data on the extent and impact of global aging. The index, released on the U.N.’s International Day of Older Persons, compiles data from the U.N., World Health Organization, World Bank and other global agencies, and analyzes income, health, education, employment and agefriendly environment in each country.

The index was welcomed by elder rights advocates, who have long complained that a lack of data has thwarted their attempts to raise the issue on government agendas.

“Unless you measure something, it doesn’t really exist in the minds of decision-makers,” said John Beard, Director of Ageing and Life Course for the World Health Organization. “One of the challenges for population aging is that we don’t even collect the data, let alone start to analyze it. ... For example, we’ve been talking about how people are living longer, but I can’t tell you people are living longer and sicker, or longer in good health.”

The report fits into an increasingly complex picture of aging and what it means to the world. On the one hand, the fact that people are living longer is a testament to advances in health care and nutrition, and advocates emphasize that the elderly should be seen not as a burden but as a resource. On the other, many countries still lack a basic social protection floor that provides income, health care and housing for their senior citizens.

Afghanistan, for example, offers no pension to those not in the government. Life expectancy is 59 years for men and 61 for

women, compared to a global average of 68 for men and 72 for women, according to U.N. data.

That leaves Abdul Wasay struggling to survive. At 75, the former cook and blacksmith spends most of his day trying to sell toothbrushes and toothpaste on a busy street corner in Kabul’s main market. The job nets him just $6 a day — barely enough to support his wife. He can only afford to buy meat twice a month; the family relies mainly on potatoes and curried vegetables.

“It’s difficult because my knees are weak and I can’t really stand for a long time,” he says. “But what can I do? It’s even harder in winter, but I can’t afford treatment.”

Although government hospitals are free, Wasay complains that they provide little treatment and hardly any medicine. He wants to stop working in three years, but is not sure his children can support him. He says many older people cannot find work because they are not strong enough to do day labor, and some resort to begging.

“You have to keep working no matter how old you are — no one is rich enough to stop,” he says.

“Life is very difficult.”

Many governments have resisted tackling the issue partly because it is viewed as hugely complicated, negative and costly — which is not necessarily true, says Silvia Stefanoni, chief

executive of HelpAge International. Japan and Germany, she says, have among the highest proportions of elders in the world, but also boast steady economies.

“There’s no evidence that an aging population is a population that is economically damaged,” she says.

Prosperity in itself does not guarantee protection for the old.

The world’s rising economic powers — the so-called BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — rank lower in the index than some poorer countries such as Uruguay and Panama.

However, the report found, wealthy nations are in general better prepared for aging than poorer ones. Sweden, where the pension system is now 100 years old, makes the top of the list because of its social support, education and health coverage, followed by Norway, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. The United States comes in eighth.

Sweden’s health system earns praise from Marianne Blomberg, an 80-year-old Stockholm resident.

“The health care system, for me, has worked extraordinarily well,” she says. “I suffer from atrial fibrillation and from the minute I call emergency until I am discharged, it is absolutely amazing. I can’t complain about anything — even the food is good.”

Emily Enfinger, who was visiting the Statue of Liberty, said politicians need to find a way to work together.

“They should be willing to compromise, both sides, and it discourages me that they don’t seem to be able to do that,” she said. “They’re not doing their job as far as I’m concerned.”

Joe Wentz, a retired federal employee from Lebanon, Va., who was visiting San Francisco with his wife, bought tickets to visit Alcatraz on Thursday — if it’s open.

Wentz said he’s frustrated that some politicians are using the budget to push changes in the Affordable Care Act. “We’ve been disgusted a long time that they’re not working together,” he said.

The shutdown was strangely captivating to Marlena Knight, an Australian native visiting Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. She was confounded that the impasse focused on the nation’s health care system — an indispensable service in her home country.

“We can’t imagine not having a national health system,” she said. “I just can’t believe that this country can shut down over something like a national health system.

Totally bizarre, as an Australian, but fascinating.”

It turns out an institution as massive as the federal government takes some time to grind to a total halt: Many federal workers were being permitted to come in Tuesday to change voicemail messages or fill out time cards. But after that, they were under strict orders to do no work, even check their email.

With no telling how long the standoff will last, even programs not immediately affected could run out of cash.

Barbara Haxton, executive director of the Ohio Head Start Association, said its preschool learning programs would be in jeopardy if a shutdown lasted more than two weeks. Automatic budget cuts in March meant nearly 3,000 children lost access to services and there could be dire consequences if the budget standoff drags on, she said.

“It’s not as though this is a throwaway service. These are the poorest of the poor children,” Haxton said. “And our congressman still gets his paycheck. His pay doesn’t stop and his health insurance doesn’t stop.”

THE NIGERIAN

24

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

New Horizon

Continued from page 20

usage, this is due from the God—fearing. If anyone changes the bequest alter hearing it, the guilt shall be on those who make the change.

For Allah hears and knows (all things). But if anyone fears partiality or wrong — doing on the part of the testator. And brings about a settlement among (the parties concerned), There is no wrong in Him for Allah is oft — forgiving, Most Merciful. O ye who believe, fasting is proscribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) selfrestraint. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should he made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But ho that will give more, of his own freewill, it is better for him.

And it is better for you that ye fast if ye only know. Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Quran, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of’ you who is present at his home) during that month should spent it in fasting but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should he made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you.

He does not want to put you in difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you, and perchance ye shad he grateful.

When my servants ask thee concerning Me. Turn indeed close (to them). I (respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to my call, and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way. Permitted to you on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. ‘They are garments and ye arc their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves, but he turned to you and forgave you, so flow associate with them, and seek what Allah had ordained for you, and eat and drink until the

unite the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread, then complete your fast till the night appears, but do nut associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits (set by) Allah, approach not night thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men, that they may learn sell restraint. And do not eat up your property among yourselves for vanities, nor use it as bait for the judges, with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully and knowingly a little of (other) people’s property. They asked thee concerning the New Moons. say, they arc but signs to mark fixed periods of lime in (the affairs o U men, and hr Pilgrimage. It is no virtue if ye enter your houses mm the buck. It is virtue if ye fear Allah. Enter houses through the proper doors, and fear Al lab, that ye may prosper. Fight in the Cause of Allah those Who light you, but do not transgress Limits, for Allah loveth not transgressors. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they h ye turned you out, ft r Persecution is worse than slaughter. but ht them out at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there, but if they fight you, shay them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, Allah is oft – forgiving, Most Merciful.

And It them on until there is no more persecution and the religion becomes Allah’s. But if they cease, et there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. The prohibited month for the prohibited month - and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equity. If then anyone transgresses the prohibition against you. transgress ye likewise against him But fear Allah, and know that A is with those who restrain themselves. And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction, but do good, for Allah loveth those who do go good. And complete the Hajj or Umra in the Service of Allah, but I ye are prevented (form

... Of The Holy Quran (3)

complete it ) send an offering be sacrifice such as ye may find, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice.

And if any of you is ill, or has an ailment in his scalp, necessitating shaving), (he should) in compassion either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice, and when ye are in peaceful condition (again), if anyone wishes to continue the Umra on the Hajj, he must make an offering such

And whatever good ye do(be sure) Allah knoweth it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provision is right conduct. So fear Me, o ye that are wise, I is no crime in you if ye seek of the bounty of your I ford (during pilgrimage). Then when ye pour down from(mouth) Arafat, celebrate the praise of Allah at the Sacred Monument, and celebrate I us praises as His praise as he has directed you,

good in this world and good in the hereafter. And save us from the foment of the Fire”.

To 1hes with be allotted what they have earned, and Allah is quick ii account. Remember Allah during lie appointed days, hut if anyone hastens to leave in two days, there is no blame on him, and if anyone stays on. There is no blame on him, in his aim is to do right, then fear Allah. and know that ye will surely be gathered unto turn.

as he can afford but if he cannot afford it, he should fast thee days during the Hajj.

And even days on his return, making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in(the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And even days on his fear Allah, and know that Allah is strict n punishment For Hajj arc the months well known. If anyone undertakes that duty therein, let the be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wangling in the Hajj.

even though, before this, ye went astray. Then return from the place whence it is usual for the multitude so to do, anti ask 1w Allah’s forgiveness.

For Allah is Oft forgiving, Most Merciful, So when ye have accomplished your rites, celebrate the praises of Allah, as ye used to celebrate the praises of your fathers, yea, with far more heart and Soul There arc men who say: “Our Lord: Give us (Thy bounties) in this world”. But then will have no portion in the Hereafter, And there ate men who say. “Our God, give us

‘there is the type o man whose speech about this worlds life may dazzle thee, and he calls Allah to witness about what is in his heart, yet is he the most contentious o enemies. When he turns his hack, his aim every where is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and progeny but by loveth not mischief When it is said to him, “fear Allah,” he is ed by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Helland evil bed indeed to lie on).

And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is Full of kindness to (His) devotees. O ye who believe, enter into Islam wholeheartedly and follow not the footstep of the Satan for he is to you and avowed enemy. If ye backslide after the clear (signs) have come to you, then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. Will

“Enter houses through the proper doors, and fear Al lab, that ye may prosper.

Fight in the Cause of Allah those Who light you, but do not transgress Limits, for Allah loveth not transgressors. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they h ye turned you out, ft r Persecution is worse than slaughter. but ht them out at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there, but if they fight you, shay them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith.”

they wait until Allah comes to them in canopies of clouds, with angels (in I us train) and the question i (thus) settled’? Bui to Allah do all questions go back (for decision). Ask the children of Israel how many clear (Signs) we have sent them.

But if any one after Allah’s favour has conic to him, substitutes (something else). Allah is strict in punishment. The life of this

world is alluring to those who reject faith, and they scoff at those who believe.

But the righteous will be above them on the Day’ of Resurrection, for Allah bestows Him abundance without measure} on whom lie will. Mankind was one single nation. And Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings, and with whom He sent the l3ook in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed: hut the people of the book, after the clear signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, concept through selfish contumacy. Allah by His Grace guided the believers to the truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guides whom lie will to a path that is straight.

(To be continued)

THE NIGERIAN

25

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Discourse

Beauty: A great philosopher, David Hume, once said: “Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty”.

Often, whenever the word beauty is mentioned so many people become uneasy; developing cold feets while others have their heart jigging; ostensibly because they /see themselves as beautiful. What does the word beauty mean? Is it just a perception or reality?

How would beauty be measured, by physical endowment, inner qualities or what the media gives as criteria?

According to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, beauty is a combination of qualities that give pleasures to the senses (esp to the ear) or to the mind.

It can also be seen as a person or thing that is beautiful.

When the media theory called hypodermic needle, was propounded, it was a pointer to the powerful effect the mass media have on individuals who are exposed to it.

According to Operation Beautiful, “If you glanced at a magazine or turned on the PROSTITUTION as it is believed by many is one of the oldest profession known to mankind from the beginning of time.

The only difference between prostitution of old and that of today is that, the present practitioners are more bold, shamless, fierce looking and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Women of different ages and background migrate from villages to cities with the sole aim and intention to seel their bodies.

Recent research has shown that women no longer hesistate to choose prostitution as a career because they are so bold to stand by it.

In this field, ladies operate in different patterns and could be grouped into the following catgories; that is, the teenage group that most people have come to know as sweet-sixteen.

Just as the name implies, they are young and sometimes look innocent. Some could barely spell their manes as they cannot boast of primary education.

Their patronizers see them as cheap and vulnerable and can dance to their tunes with little motivation. These group reside mostly in suburbs of towns and sometimes they could be

Perception Or Reality?

By EMMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU

TV in the last decade, you’ve gotten a good idea of what media’s definition of an attractive woman, looks like she’s tall, has long flowing hair, is surgically and digitally enhanced, blemish-free, and very thin”.

This archatype definition of beauty by the media, that constantly bombard its audience with them (images), has made some individuals, nay women go “gaga” in order to get that “unrealistic weight, size or shape represented as normal and attainable in media”. Some women even go to the extreme to achieve that media ideals, resulting in harzardously low weight as others may be driven toward body hatred and bad health options such as a lazy lifestyle.

In a Dove ad, an FBI forensic artist sketched a sense of women, based purely on the way they described themselves and as others also did (describe them), the artist could not see their faces but impregnated and abandoned to their own fate as they may not be also to tell who is responsible and eve though they knew, in some cases, they have no moral rights to confront the person responsible because they were hired and paid for that purpose to satisfied their sexual needs.

The other league is made of ladies who are undergraduates from different territory institutions across the country they look sophisticated, speak Queen’s English and have their mobile phones chitched to their hands. During weekends, holidays and strike periods, they leave school premises for greener environments where they capture unsuspecting victims before they return to school. Some have night at popular junctions, eateries, nite clubs, hotel gates, super markets and even within their school environment for this unlawful act.

The new dimension recently added is making the illiat trade a global affair is where young ladies of sixteen years and above now export prostitution abroad with the help and financial support of their parents and husbands in some cases.

It has been established that some parents even sold the only

heard their voices. The video which has been viewed more than 22 million times, showed a stark contrast between the way women see themselves and the way others saw them. Across the

board, the self-described portraits were the least attractive –which means, according to the

Dove marketing team, We are all more beautiful than we think we are”.

For some psychologists, self –image develops via a complex interplay between cultural ideals, life experiences and also accumulated comments, especially from others.

According to a psychologist at Vanderbilt University, “You could look

at a photograph and you would always be able to pick yourself out because

we all have internal representations of what we look like.

“But all of your experiences, all the teasing you went through as a child, all the self –consciousness you had as a teenager, and all the worrying about whether you would be accepted as good enough or attractive enough are called forth in how people think of themselves, “Its not a perceptual thing.

It’s a connbination of emotion, meaning and experience that builds up over

our lifetime and gets packaged into self-schema”.

This idea been master-

minded by profit, is a dangerous one They (advertisers), rely on “us believing a lie” and portraying it through the media.

This lie by the media drive some women to the gym, the saloon, the mall or operating table. Not doing these (pictures painted by media), make some feel doomed, undesirable, unhappy and even unsuccessful.

Getting to watch the television sitcom, UGLY BETTY has portrayed the life of a girl faced with hardships due to society’s unwelcoming attitudes toward those they deem unattractive.

Jonathan Safrun Foer in his work, “Extremely loud and Incredibly close”, said that “songs are as sad as the listener”.

Therefore, an individual is as beautiful as much as she sees herself because “No one else has access to the world you carry around with yourself; you are its custodian and entrances. No one else can see the world the way you see it.

Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground”.

As every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world could beauty be skin-deep, a perception or reality?

Does Wife-Material Exist Any More?

house herited from their fore beares with the hope of getting a better one later to meet up with the sponsorship of their innocent girl child for prostitution in countries like America, Germany, Austria,

Dubai, Malasia Italy Spain, and some countries in Africa whose Economy prowess are better than that of Nigeria some chronic sex workers who have whole – heartedly accepted prostitution as a paying profession have proven their worth by building houses in village and acquiring cars properties in choice areas and training their siblings in schools just as many have become bread winners and hope for better tomorrow in their respective homes not minding the Health hazards and other consequencies associated with the profession.

It is also on record that, some women including married ones have abandoned their matrimonial homes while some husbands supported their wives to travel to Europe and other parts of the world to showcase their immorality.

Though it sounds funny but it is true that some ladies travel

By FRIDAY OBANOR

abroad to trade their bodies for money even without asking themselves the question of how many foreign ladies come to Nigeria for such a degrading career.

The most painful aspect of it is that as some who managed to survive the illtreatment, and humiliations they go through before deportation are counting their others are on the verge of trarelling for same purpose not minding the risk involved.

Motherhood which is a divine call by God is gradually been subjected to ridicle because of peoples quest for quick financial gains accruing from what they are using their bodies which is the temple of God to do both at home and overseas.

It is often easier in our morally bankrupt society for

a sister to find a job where the man is denied, and in a strange way seek for money in more than one sources.

I am finding it difficult to find a girl who lives strictly on her salary while most young men are trying to survive daily on their meager income. The psychology of the average Nigerian young man is still strictly traditionally, that is man is the head of the home and equally the bread winner, a reversal in the role is repugnant.

It is this combination of upper wealth of the ladies on the one hand and young men finding it difficult to meet up with those levels as occasioned by our dying Economy that herald this new season of spousal scarcity.

Recent publication by a Lagos based soft-sell magazine published the names and pictures of 50 ladies all very rich and still single. A

good look at those ladies tells you that they are not hoping for any jack leged husband. It is glaring that they are waiting for men with money to burn on the type of life styles they have acquired.

They are probably an exception, the majority of chronic spinisters in their late 30s are everywhere to find the man of their dreams. A lot of them have stories similar to that of those traveling abroad for prostitution while other have other stories to tell.

The sheer vanity of beauty pageants and fashion parades throws our sisters into bad light with most men wondering if wife-material exist any where anymore.

That the governments have not done enough to discover such shows of shame evident in absence corresponding laws to try and jail those who have taken prostitution as a profession and career do not help the image of the future wives and mothers

THE NIGERIAN

26

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 12, 2013 LUCKY 1.2. X SELECTIONS 2 INTERNATIONAL NOS. HOT PAIRSS 6 8 8

18 39 45 49

BANKERS

22

31

} }

15 16 22 24 26 39

}

1. HUDDERSFIELD

16 XXB

2. MIDDLESBROUGH

17 XXB

3. Q.P.R.

18 2XB

4. COLCHESTER

22 505

5. PETERBOROUGH

26 USE

6. WIGAN

} } }

WIGAN

20

XOX

HULL

3

XOX

20 007

DERBY

14

CCB

7. BRENTFORD

26 PAY

DUNDEE

44

CCB

8. HEARTS

45 CBK

9. CONDENBEATH

49 CBK

COLCHESTER

10. NOTTS COUNTY

24 XXX

WIMBLEDON

11. DUNDEE UTD

44

X0

12. WALSALL

31

X1

13. WIMBLEDON

32 XXX

22 32

TOP T0P

BIG BELLS

14. FULHAM

2 TIP

15. WYCOMBE

24 NP

COLCHESTER

22

AXB

16. BOURNEMOUTH

10 XO

PETERBORUGH

26

BXX

17. WIGAN

20 XOX

TOTTENHAM

8

CBK

18. DUNDEE UTD

44

XX

DUNDEE UTD

44

DEP

19. DERBY

14

NN

COWDENBEATH

49

EAT

20. PORTSMOUTH

39

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By SAM EHEBHA GSM:08056626091

SATURDAY RITUALS

5 20 22 24 44

GOSSIP NAP

24 39 44

}

NAP

39 OUTLOOK

N 18

3 20

PAIR

IF NOT NOW WHEN?

22

A 22 P 24

32

THE NIGERIAN

27

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 12 2013 WATSON WEST 1.2.X FORECAST

By SAM EHEBHA GSM:08056626091

Your Star

EDITOR’S NAP

BEST COMPILER

MURPHY NAP

NAP 39XX 39 XX 39 PAIR 22 OR 32 LET IT BE

NAP 49 XX 49 XX 49 PAIR 10 Vs 20 GOODLUCK

NAP 24 XX 24 XX 24 PAIR 3 OR 20 EXECUTIVE

SUNNY NAP

J. B. NAP

PAKER NAP

NAP 26 XX 26 XX 26 PAIR 14 OR 44 BE A WINNER

NAP 40 XX 40 XX 40 PAIR 9 OR 12 FOR SURE

PAUL NAP

ODION NAP

NAP 20 XX 20 XX 20

PAIR 42 OR 2 WATCH OUT

OKUNS NAP NAP 44 XX 44 XX 44

PAIR 45 OR 47 THERE IS HOPE

NAP 2 XX 2 XX 2 PAIR 5 0R 7 DRAW IS DRAW

NAP 6XX 6 XX 6 PAIR 15 OR 17 BE MY GUEST

GUESSING GAMES

39

22

3 18

@

14

SMOKING GUN BEWARE

1 10 14 16 19 20*

33 21 23 25* 31 34 37 FOR THREE DRAWS?

THE NIGERIAN

28

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

29

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Ribery Sees Nasri Threat

Del Bosque Open To Costa Call-up ATLETICO Madrid’s striker Diego Costa is set to be named in the next Spain squad, despite having already made two friendly appearances for his native Brazil.Tags: Spain, Atletico Madrid, Diego Costa Vicente Del Bosque says he has not yet decided whether to call up Diego Costa to the Spain squad, but sees no problems at all in doing so.

Atletico Madrid striker Costa was capped twice by Brazil in friendly games in March, but after being left out of the squad for the summer’s Confederations Cup campaign he took Spanish citizenship in July. He is free to make the switch having not played a competitive game for his native country, and Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) officials have reportedly now submitted the required paperwork to FIFA. Costa last week said he would find it hard to say no to a call-up to the Spain national squad, then went on to score the winner and give a man of the match performance in Atletico’s 1-0 derbi win at Real Madrid on Saturday evening.

The La Roja coach told TV show Tiki Taka he had not yet decided whether to include Costa in his squad for Spain’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers at home to Belarus and Georgia in early this month.

“We are naming the squad on Friday, and will include the best men for these games,” Del Bosque said. “[Costa] has spent more than five years in Spain, been here since he was 18.

Low Happy With Pep’s Changes

GERMANY’s coach Joachim Low believes changes to how key players Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger play at Bayern Munich can help his side.

Injuries have seen Lahm, 29, deployed in defensive midfield rather than at right-back by Pep Guardiola, while Schweinsteiger, featured in an unorthodox attacking role last week.

Although it has been mooted that the tweaks under Guardiola will affect the Mannschaft detrimentally, Low believes that the added flexibility of two of his key players can help Germany remain effective.

“Philipp Lahm has indeed played in that No.6 role for the national team before,” the 53year-old told Bild. “And, of course, Bastian can play in any position in midfield.

“I want the same - we need the variability to be unpredictable for any opponent.

“I know that Pep Guardiola thinks just like me at this point.”

FRANK Ribery believes his fellow countryman, Samisr Nasri, has rediscovered his best form under Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.

The Bayern Munich winger will line-up against his compatriot on Wednesday evening in the second group match in the UEFA Champions League, and Ribery is fully aware of Nasri’s threat.

“Samir [Nasri] is like a different person. He’s like a brother to me – he told me he got

down when not playing under the old coach,” said the defending Champions.

“We are now seeing the Samir we saw at Arsenal – one of the most gifted players in Europe.”

Nasri was highly criticized by former City boss Roberto Mancini for not performing to his best last season, with the Italian even claiming he wanted to punch the pint-sized attacker.

Balotelli Needs More Protection - Galliani

AC Milan’s vice-president Adriano Galliani has called on the officials to protect Mario Balotelli when he returns to the side for the Champions League meeting with Ajax on Wednesday night.

Balotelli still has one match of a three-game domestic ban to sit out, meaning he will miss Milan’s trip to Juventus on

Sepp Blatter

FIFA To Probe World Cup Bidding

FRANCE Football has reported that FIFA’s leading ethics investigator is to begin a worldwide tour to all countries involved in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups as part of a probe into the controversial attribution of the tournaments to Russia and Qatar. even if they’re under no Michael J. Garcia, a former obligation to transmit it, will district prosecutor in New York, accept to talk to me,” Garcia is had declared in France Football quoted as saying. “There are last March that he would “put those who give me information everything on the table without voluntarily because they want the any preconceived ideas”, and the enquiry to make progress. Others weekly magazine has now are obliged to co-operate because claimed he is putting his plan into of their role in the candidature or action. their official role within football.

Garcia is reportedly due to My aim is to deliver a report that arrive in London on October 9 for covers the bidding process and a three-day visit which will mark the attribution of the the start of his global tour of all tournaments.” of the prospective local The magazine believes organising committees involved Australia, which bid for the 2022 in the controversial vote on tournament, will be Garcia’s next December 2, 2010, which led to port of call after England with Russia and Qatar being awarded other unsuccessful bidders, the 2018 and 2022 World Cups Japan, South Korea, Spain, the respectively.

Netherlands, Belgium and the Garcia, who specialised in USA, coming before he heads to combatting international the host nations themselves. terrorism until he took on the France Football report the first FIFA role in July 2012, has phase of Garcia’s visits will be reportedly already held a number completed by the start of 2014 of talks with individuals involved after which a report will be in the process of attributing the drafted and handed to Hanstournaments, but is now set to Joachim Eckert, president of the move his investigation into “a judicial arm of FIFA’s Ethics higher gear”.

Commission.

“I will proceed with interviews A ruling is not expected until in different places and I hope that March-April next year at the those who have information, earliest, and influential figures

such as U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati have called on Garcia’s enquiry to first be completed before discussions are

held over whether the Qatar World Cup should be held in winter.

Hummels Slam Germany Coach

BORUSSIA Dortmund’s Mats Hummels has slammed Germany coach Joachim Low for not showing him the same amount of trust as club boss Jurgen Klopp.

The Germany coach opted to field Jerome Boateng and Per Mertesacker at the heart of defence during the last two World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Faroe Islands.

The BVB centre-back feels he does not receive the same faith from Low that he is accustomed to at club level, but he is determined to win his place back ahead of next year’s World Cup. “I don’t mind being criticised,” Hummels told Kicker.

“On the other hand, I give my opinion whenever I think that something is not perfect. They don’t like to see criticism at DFB [the German footballing association].

“[However] I think that I have to work harder than other to earn my place in the national team. I don’t have the same trust from the national team that I have from my club.

“Our relationship is absolutely fine. The communication is very good and pleasant. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the coach opts to play with the same defence as in the last match.

“Next summer, this should change again, however. At the World Cup, the coach should have no other choice but to pick me.”

Inter, Juve Join Milan In Race For Serie A Champions Juventus INTER and Juventus have Ajax Star and are the front runners in the race joined Milan in a race to sign Ajax Amsterdam’s highly rated youngster Ricardo van Rhijn.

The 22-year-old has impressed after he took over the reigns as a first team starter following the departure of Gregory van de Wiel to Paris Saint-Germain at the

beginning of last season.

And according to A Bola, van Rhijn is set to leave the Eredivisie Champions with attention from the Italian peninsula having become a prominent force.

It is said that both Milan clubs

to sign his signature along with several other big names from Europe.

Last season he made 31 league appearances for Frank de Boer’s side as they completed a third straight Dutch title victory.

Mario Balotelli

Sunday night, but he will lead the Rossoneri attack on as they look to follow their 2-0 win over Celtic with victory in Amsterdam.

Ajax coach Frank De Boer has already singled him out for particular attention — warning his players that the Italy international “can decide a match” like Lionel Messi — but Galliani hopes there will be no unnecessary provocation and that the referee will ensure fair play.

“Balotelli is an important player and he does not need to mature anymore because he’s already mature,” Galliani told reporters in Milan. “He just needs to moderate his behaviour — but, at the same time, he needs to be protected like everybody else because I’ve seen fouls against him worthy of red cards that only get yellow.”

Balotelli has apologised for his latest suspension while at the same time calling for more protection, but Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri believes he must still learn to keep a lid on his temper.

“I think this ban had made him understand that he needs to behave differently,” Allegri said at a press conference. “He’s going to play [against Ajax] and all he has to think about is playing football and helping his team while respecting the opponents and the referees.”

Milan have endured a disappointing start the start to the season, taking just eight points from their first six Serie A games, while they only just managed to get the better of Celtic in their first Champions League encounter, but Galliani said he is “satisfied”.

THE NIGERIAN

30

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Heartland Threaten League Boycott HEARTLAND have threatened to boycott their remaining league matches should Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha not meet them on Tuesday.

The Heartland players are being owed 10% from last season sign-on fees and 90% of sign-on for this season.

They have also not been paid 21 match bonuses, nine from last season and 12 from this season.

They are scheduled to face Sharks on Wednesday in continuation of the Nigeria league.

The protesting players stormed the Governor’s office on Monday morning hoping to meet with the Governor to discuss their problems.

They went on a fruitless mission as the Governor did not see them, only the Chief of Staff did and he promised the Governor will see them on Tuesday.

“We are tired of everything here at Heartland.

We are being neglected by the state government and we decided to see the Governor to table our case and get a solution, but we waited in vain for over seven hours only for the Chief of Staff to come out and tell us he can’t see us today, that we should come back tomorrow,” one of the angry players told

MTNFootball.com “We have made up our minds that if the Governor does not meet us on Tuesday with all due respect, we won’t play matches again from Wednesday match.

This suffering is too much.”

Another player told MTNFootball.com that the insensitivity to their plight from the government is getting out of hand and they plead for a change of attitude.

“The government are not sensitive to our plight, we have done our best but we are been neglected. We are ready to down tools if we are not settled,” he threatened.

Pillars Dismiss ConCHAIRMAN of Kano spiracy Pillars Abba Yola has said

while the third from bottom team battle in a relegation/ promotion playoff to determine whether they stay up.

party are also at ease and have accepted the decision of the management and the League Management Committee (LMC).

“The players will train this evening (Tuesday) and we have told them we are here on a mission. It is our job and we have no choice but to do it,” he concluded.

Dolphins have been apprehensive about their safety following recent killings by the terrorists group Boko Haram.

he does not believe there is a conspiracy to stop his club retaining their championship.

Yola, whose team lost three points and three goals to Enyimba on Thursday after a hearing by the organising and disciplinary committee, maintained: “I don’t see any hand of conspiracy against Pillars.

“No amount of conspiracy can stop us if God has destined that we will win the league title.

“What we see rather are half measures before the rules and this is not good for the league.”

Kano Pillars are expected to officially table their appeal before the NFF on Monday after they kicked against a decision to award their abandoned match with Enyimba to the Aba club.

The defending champions are now fourth on the league table with 54 points from 34 matches and four rounds of matches to the end of the season.

They stand the risk of not featuring in international football should they fail to finish within the top three in the league.

THE League Management Company (LMC) has announced that the Nigeria league will now end on October 20 against the earlier date of October 13.

The LMC effected changes in the earlier released amended fixtures which were necessitated by the decisions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) organising and

disciplinary committee (O and D) on various cases arising from league games.

A statement from the office of the LMC chief operating officer Salihu Abubakar read: “In view of the appeals received from some of the clubs on the decisions of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and the need for us to have smooth ending of the season, matches of the

now to be played as follows - Matches of Week 35 will now be played on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 with Week 36 matches slated to be played on Saturday, October 12. Week 37 matches will hold on Wednesday, October 16, and the season-ending matches of Week 38 will be decided on Sunday, October 20.

Eguma Dissappointed

Dolphins Match Shifted After Safety Fears

THE Nigeria league have moved the game between El Kanemi and Dolphins by 24 hours after the visiting team expressed concerns over their safety.

General manager of Answering why the club Dolphins Dumbo Awanen settled on the police and not said on Tuesday that after a the army to escort them into lot of deliberations, they have agreed to travel to Maiduguri by road on Wednesday.

“We spoke and the Gombe State Police Commissioner EX-Enugu Rangers star agreed to give us an escort team to Maiduguri and we Gero scored in the 44th leave tomorrow (Wednesday) minute to draw his club level after fellow Nigeria morning,” Awanen said.

ROSEMARY WEDS PHILLIP The solemnization of marriage between former Miss Rosemary Chigoziem Onwuegbuzie (Customer Relation Officer) and Mr. Phillip Osaro Ebhomien (based in Belgium) took place on Saturday 28th September 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City.

Amongst those present were Mr. Emmanuel Inetiabor, Mr. John Meye, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry.

Congratulations. Photo: SONNIE E.

the town, Awanen simply said, “We are satisfied with the security arrangements.”

The Dolphins general manager also said the players and officials in the travelling

Alhaji Gero Opens Goals Account In Sweden

striker Kennedy Igbonananike opened scoring for the home team, but hosts AIK Solna will go to win the game 2-1.

Gero, who has also been capped at ‘B’ level by Nigeria, will also be booked in the 71st minute.

Osters need to get back to winning ways after going on a four-game losing streak recently.

They are 14th on the 16team championship with 25 points from 26 matches.

Two teams are automatically relegated, CHANGE OF NAME

EGWABOR - I formerly known as Juliet Egwabor now wish to be known as MRS. JULIET IDAHOSA. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public please take note.

Nigeria League Now Ends October Glo20 Premier League are

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Today’s Matches CSKA Moscow Bayer Leverkusen Shakhtar Donetsk Juventus Real Madrid Anderlecht Paris Saint-Germain Manchester City

v Viktoria Plzen v Real Sociedad v Manchester United v Galatasaray v FC Copenhagen v Olympiacos Stade v Benfica v Bayern Munich

Petrovskiy, St. Petersburg BayArena, Leverkusen Donbass Arena, Donetsk Juventus Stadium, Turin Bernabéu, Madrid Constant Vanden Stock, Brussels Parc des Princes, Paris Etihad Stadium, Manchester

THE NIGERIAN

31

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013

Chelsea Still Adjusting Frank Lampard believes manager Jose Mourinho will need “two or three months” to get his ideas across but is convinced Chelsea can “do big things”.

The Blues have endured a difficult start to Mourinho’s second reign, with the back-toback defeats to Everton and Basel earlier this month causing concern.

A much-improved secondhalf performance in the 1-1 draw at Tottenham on Saturday gives Chelsea some cause for optimism ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League game against Steaua Bucharest, but Lampard does not think the Blues are yet firing on all cylinders.

“It can take two to three months to develop, for players to follow a new manager’s idea,” the England international

- Lampard

said. “It might be a matter of time in certain areas, but I certainly believe in the squad that we can do big things. It’s easy to talk about it, but we actually have to do it, starting from now.

“I really believe in the squad we have and the young players we’ve got. Now it’s important that we take the manager’s ideas on board.

I have a lot of respect for him and I know he’s a winner — he’s shown that not just at Chelsea — and I think we need to bring that all together.”

Mourinho has said his side face a second successive early elimination from the Champions League if they lose their Group E clash in Romania, but Lampard hopes the victory over Steaua en route to last season’s Europa League success will stand them in good stead.

Moyes Ignored Ferguson Advise On Coaches

David Moyes ignored Sir Alex Ferguson’s advice to keep the same backroom staff at Manchester United, according to Eric Steele. goalkeeping coach Steele was Former United

I Thought Suarezs Would Leave - Gerrard

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has admitted he feared Luis Suarez would leave the club this summer.

The Uruguayan has had a tumultuous Anfield career and returned from a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic with two goals against Sunderland on Sunday.

Suarez was linked with a move to Real Madrid early in the transfer window and Arsenal lodged a bid of £40,000,001 for the 26-year-old after it was suggested that would trigger a release clause.

The striker made no secret of his desire to leave Anfield but is now back in the fold and Gerrard is delighted that all the speculation over his future has ended.

He told national newspapers: “Every day in the summer.

When you have a player as good as Luis Suarez, you know that the big clubs are going to want him.

“I was waking up every morning, hoping that nothing would happen and that he would still be here.

“Nobody tried harder than me to make him stay and he knows exactly what I think of him. I knew if we could keep him here, the better our chances would be.

“He is a special type of footballer and he gives us something different. When the club got the message to him that

they were not going to sell him, he got his head down and has worked hard. He has never given us a moment’s problem.

“I think it is a credit to Luis for the way he has come back. A lot of players who have been in his position might have come back and spat the dummy out, not trying for the team. But he is not that type of guy.

“He realised that the club wanted to keep him and he has respected their decision. He is here now and he wants to stay. He wants to achieve something this season and he looks as hungry as he has ever done.”

David Moyes

...As United Boss Assured Financial Backing

MANCHESTER United are ready to back David Moyes in the transfer market after acknowledging their squad needs strengthening.

United are due to fly to Donetsk for a Champions League encounter with Shakhtar that has taken on additional significance following Saturday’s Barclays Premier League defeat by West Brom.

The loss was the club’s third in six games this season.

It represents their worst start to a league campaign since 1989 and has seen them slide into the

bottom half of the table and pushed out to fourth favourites to retain their crown, with the bookmakers believing United will be battling Tottenham for the final Champions League place.

This is not quite the transition envisaged in the summer, when Moyes walked into a club fresh from romping to a record 20th league championship by an impressive 11 points.

Yet the majority of Red Devils supporters accepted it was a rather flattering outcome, and the squad Moyes inherited from Sir Alex Ferguson had clear deficiencies.

These certainly go well beyond the scope of Marouane Fellaini, Moyes’ only

significant signing of a desperate transfer window.

Yet, despite the intense glare of scrutiny on United from the outside, inside the club there is a sense of calm.

Press Association Sport understands work is continuing to identify suitable targets and the Glazer family, having handed Moyes a six-year contract as Ferguson’s successor, are determined to provide the Scot with the required financial muscle to strengthen his squad as he sees fit.

There is an acknowledgement at United that a difficult adjustment was not helped by the decision not to buy Moyes out of the final six weeks of his contract at Everton once it had been confirmed he would replace Ferguson.

Reina Reveals Arsenal Interest

Luiz Suarez

PEPE Reina has admitted Arsenal were interested in signing him in the last transfer window but now says he only thinks of Napoli.

The goalkeeper, on loan at Serie A side Napoli, spoke out ahead of tonight’s Champions League match between the two sides at the Emirates Stadium.

The Spanish international is on loan from Liverpool, told the Sun: “The interest of Arsenal in my services?

“Now I think only of Napoli “But to come back to England with Napoli against Arsenal in London is special.”

He added: “Arsenal are top of the Premier League but we are second in Serie A - and it looks like developing into a big season for us.

“There is no clear favourite in this game.

“We’re very confident but it’s a tough group and an away point would mean a very positive result for us.”

axed by Moyes in the close season, along with assistant manager Mike Phelan and first-team coach Rene Meulensteen.

Moyes chose to bring Chris Woods, Steve Round and Jimmy Lumsden with him from Everton, whilst also appointing former United and Toffees midfielder Phil Neville in his first full-time coaching role.

United’s 2-1 home defeat by West Brom on Saturday means the club has now made its worst start to a league season for 24 years.

With the pressure already on Moyes right from the start of his Old Trafford reign, Steele has now revealed how the summer’s changes were handled.

“He spoke to me, Mick and Rene,” Steele is quoted as telling fanzine United We Stand.

“I told him I thought it was a brave decision.

“He listened to the manager’s advice, but he wanted to be his own man.”

Steele arrived at United in 2008, having previously worked at Manchester City, and is credited with turning David De Gea into one of the league’s best goalkeepers after a shaky start.

The 59-year-old says he respects Moyes’ decision but is not convinced it was right for the club.

“I didn’t want to leave. Why would I?” he added. “I knew that David was coming in and wondered who he’d bring.

“You had the United

perspective - the manager saying, ‘Keep what we’ve got, keep the continuity, work with them and they’ll guide you through.

You’re taking on a massive machine here. You’ve gone from Marks and Spencer’s to Harrods.’

“Then there’s David’s viewpoint, which I understand.

I know him professionally.

I know his work ethic, his hands-on approach.

“I don’t blame him for doing what he did.

I’ve been in the game long enough to know how it is.

“But it’s ironic, isn’t it?

You’ve just been part of a team that has had a great season and won the league.

David De Gea’s had his best season.

Does it make sense that you’re not retained to continue the good work?

Sadly, that’s out of my hands.”

United find themselves in 12th spot in the Premier League table after six games, eight points off the pace set by leaders Arsenal.

Despite the upheaval at Old Trafford, Steele still thinks the personnel in Moyes’ squad will start producing better results.

“There were massive changes - the manager, chief executive, Scholes retiring and the coaches,” said Steele.

“But there are enough players in that dressing room to win when it really starts.

“My time was up, I’m proud of what I did at United and I have great memories.”

West Ham Fans Warned About Chants WEST Ham have urged their supporters to refrain from anti-Semitic chanting ahead of this weekend’s Premier League game against Tottenham.

In the corresponding fixture last season an investigation was launched by the Football Association following hissing noises made by West Ham fans intended to reference the gassing of Jews in concentration camps during the Second World War. The Hammers are expected to issue an official statement later in the week outlining a zero tolerance approach, while the club’s co-owner David Sullivan has already spoken out.

“Supporters know where

myself and the club stand on this issue,” he is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“We sincerely hope that a tiny minority of our supporters do not let us down.

We are the only club that remembers the Holocaust each year and we have many Jewish supporters of our own.

“Sadly a few supporters, think it’s funny to sing antiSemitic songs and make antiSemitic gestures.

“They need to realise in 2013 that it’s not acceptable.”

Tottenham are already fighting the use of the term ‘Yid’ by their own supporters in an attempt to clamp down on the use of offensive and discriminatory language at their games.

THE NIGERIAN

32

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013 CMYK

PCC: A Toothless BullDog?

“

Here is a country trapped in the violent sinister cycle of democratic abuse and bigotry in governance. Our collective wish for a strong virile nation has been recklessly discarded. What an absurdity and mockery of our collective nationhood!” – Quoted in WHERE WE ARE (page 129). lumping the protectorates FEW days ago undue, unnecessary and unwarranted terrorism struck again in Yobe State, killing innocent school children and injuring scores of others.

What a way for political terrorists to display bloody anniversary gift to President Goodluck Jonathan! When the news of this callous, dastardly and lunatic killings got to me a thought immediately rose up in my mind.

Here is the thought. I said to myself that, may be Nigeria is indeed a mistake. If not, why this senseless killings because some demented politicians think it is their birthright to rule Nigeria perpetually?

Why descending on defenceless, innocent and powerless pupils because a group of individuals who have President Goodluck Jonathan nothing to deliver to us as a nation wanted to score of the south, and North a very cheap political together, in 1914 to carve point? a geographical entity, This reminds me of the called Nigeria. statement made by Sir What do we have fiftyPeter Smithers (a former three years later? We parliamentary private have flagrant disregard for secretary) during the due process and rule of British colonialisation of law; we have a judiciary Nigeria. I hereby quote that is mostly populated inter alia as recorded by with black market judges the Guardian of April 6 and magistrates. We have 2007, on page 5 as institutions that exist in follows.” It is now clear names only, we have a that the policy was system that have different mistaken, and that it interpretation of the letters would have been better to of the constitution both for set up a number of the poor and the stinkingly smaller states rich. corresponding with the This reminds me of the pre-colonial ethnic public Complaints boundaries.”

Commission (PCC). This is Fifty three years later a body that is statutorily yesterday our nation is provided for the Federal still parambulating in the Republic of Nigeria. Yet in mud of social, political, most cases the economic, technological recommendations of PCC etc backwardness. I think are ignored with impunity I agree with Sir Peter by institutions bearing Smithers that the British federal tags. A case in point using an ambitions guy is that involving one like Frederick Lugard Iduemre Ochuko of the made a terrible mistake in

department of Sociology and Andropology, faculty of Social Science, University of Benin.

Iduemre Ochuko was offered temporal appointment on the 21st of

Commission is compelled once again to recommend that you should do justice to Mr. Ochuko by reinstating him in service if the Dean did not investigate the issue of

August 2009, as Assistant Lecturer. He was duly interviewed, passed and was effectively regularized by the council of the University of Benin on the 30th of July, 2010, only for his letter of regularization to be withdrawn because the Dean of the Faculty of Social Science, Prof.

Okolocha wrote against him for no just cause.

Feeling cheated and flagrantly dealt with by the authorities of University of Benin Ochuko approached the public complaint commission. The PCC entered the matter and exhaustively investigated the claims of the complainant in absolute corroboration with panels set up by the vicechancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin.

Here is the final finding of the PCC after thorough investigation: “Vice Chancellor Sir, the

fraud. The issue of alleged fraud, which was not investigated, could be seen as an attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

“Public Complaints Act CAP 37 of 2004 Section 5(C) states that the commission should ensure that administration action taken by any institution should not result in the commitment of any act of injustice against any citizen. For that reason the commission should investigate with special care administrative acts which appear to be: unreasonable, unfair, oppressive or inconsistent with the general functions of administrative organs. It is our hope that you will use your position to do justice to this case because it is still within your power?

This above extract was duly signed by the H o n o u r a b l e Commissioner, PCC Edo State, Otunba Oladele

Bankole – Balogun and dated 10th of August 2012.

As I pen this piece Authorities of University of Benin have absolutely refused to do what the PCC has recommended in the interest of justice, fairness and equity.

I am convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that UNIBEN authorities are not alone in this game of flagrant disobedience of the recommendations of PCC across the federation.

Now, why set up a body such as PCC and some individuals will just choose to ignore and dump such recommendations, after thorough investigations, would have been articulately carried out by the PCC? What a country after fifty-three years of nationhood!

Today, Ochuko as a lawabiding citizen who do not want to take law into his own hands has approached the committee on public petition of the Federal House of Representative, sitting in Abuja to seek Justice according to the provisions of the law of the land.

Something tells me deep down that Barrister Uzo Azubuike chairman of the committee on public Petition, of the House of Representatives and his team will tow the line of the PCC that had already done a great job on behalf of Ochuko.

If Iduemre Ochuko is a son or a relative of a “big man” somewhere close to the seat of power, he would have long been reinstated by the UNIBEN Authorities? Fifty three years after qualified to

work as lecturers in federal or state establishments across the country, but who are being cruelly, heinously and sinfully victimized because of the language they speak and the names they bear. Do we really have a country where what is given to the goose is criminally denied the gander?

I am using this medium to urge and to challenge Hon Leo Ogor, representing Isoko North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives to raise a motion on the floor of the Green Chamber calling for a probe of the activities of the PCC. This probe should at the end of the day compel institutions and individuals under the federation to abide without questioning all recommendations of the PCC, including the one served on UNIBEN Authorities concerning citizen Ochuko. I know Hon. Ogor, a vibrant committed lawmaker will not hesitate.

If our forced existence will have any meaning the recommendations of PCC must be made to be accepted nationwide.

This process will equally reduce litigations at the regular courts. If PCC is not a toothless bulldog, Hon. Ogor should do something? The PCC must be made to bark and bite.

Nowinta, wrote WHERE WE ARE

TOMORROW ON THIS PAGE

“

We see a grand design by the Legislative and Executive branches to rig the Judiciary out of existence...We must quaickly halt this open invitation to anarchy!

”

-Hon. Josef Omorotionmwan

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