Nigerian observer 01 05 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l. 38 • N O . 472 • THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2 0 14 • N100. 0 0 MOTORING Page 20 Should you buy new or second hand vehicle?

Ensure financial independence of judiciary, NBA President urges FG ABUJA The President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Okey Wali, has called on the Federal Government to ensure compliance with the constitutional

provisions for an independent and selfaccounting Nigerian judiciary.

Wali made the call in a speech he presented at the valedictory session organised in honour of retired Justice

Chukwuma-Eneh of Supreme Court in Abuja.

He said the issue of poor funding of the judiciary had come to the front burners over the years now, especially following the

2014 budget to the National Assembly.

Wali said the judiciary had suffered dwindling budgetary allocations in the last four years in spite of the fact that the Bar and Bench had repeatedly Continues on page 2

Boko Haram

MAN AND NATURE Page 27 The crucifixion of Christ and Lord’s Supper

Mark raises delegation to meet Jonathan

By JOSES SEDE

ABUJA - Senate President, David Mark, has raised a 22-member team to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan on the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in the country especially the abduction of 234 Senior Secondary School Students of the Federal Government Girls College, Chibok in Borno State.

A Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, had on Tuesday, during a debate on the floor of the senate, suggested that a delegation of the upper chamber should meet with the President on the disturbing phenomenon.

The suggestion was unanimously adopted by the senators in view of

the local and international reactions

and condemnation that the issue was currently

generating.

Mark, on resumption of

Continues on page 2

Abducted School Girls

Military will not use heavy power - Badeh

NERC stops payment of electricity fixed charge

ABUJA - The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday in Abuja directed Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS) to stop collecting N750 monthly fixed charge in any area without power supply for 15 days in the month.

The fixed charge is an element of an electricity customer’s monthly bill to enable the “Discos” to maintain and recover costs on permanent investments, as

transformers, cables and poles.

The NERC Chairman, Dr Sam Amadi, who announced the decision in a news conference, said the order would be effective from May 1.

He said that the Commission took the decision based on consideration of complaints and agitations from customers and in line with its role in the electricity industry as Continues on page 2

TIT BIT

“Death ceases to scare when it appears so frequently to hurt.”

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

plenary read out names of the 21 senators, which included those from the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, that he would lead to meet with Jonathan later in the night.

Members of the team included: Senators Boluwaji Kunlere, Babafemi Ojudu, Zainab Kure, Alkali Jajere, James Manager, Helen Esuene, Chris Anyanwu, Ali Ndume, Ahmed

PRESS BRIEFING: Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi (left) briefing newsmen on Electricity Fixed Charge in Abuja yesterday. With him is the Commissioner, Government and Customer Affairs, Dr. Abba Ibrahim.

ABUJA - Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff, said the military was avoiding the use of heavy power attacks on the abductors of school girls in Chibok, Borno, for the sake of the girls’ safety.

Badeh made the remark when Board and Management of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), paid a visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja Continues on page 2

May Day: Give priority to workers’ ABUJA- Nigerians, especially unionists, yesterday called on government at all levels to give priority to workers’ welfare, to get the best out of them.

A cross section of those who spoke to newsmen in separate

welfare, Nigerians task govt

interviews in Abuja on this year’s May Day celebration, said that Nigerian workers had every reason to celebrate.

Mr Oladele Hunsu,

President, the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN), said workers had proved that, if given the necessary

working environment like in the developed world, they would perform at their optimum.

He bemoaned and decried the safety concerns at workplaces

in which workers were subjected to and called on government to put smile on the faces of the workers.

“We want to appeal to Continues on page 2

News

Mark raises delegation to meet Jonathan

Continued from page 1 Zannah, Mai’na Ma’aji Lawan, Nenadi Usman, Mohammed Magoro, and Emmanuel Bwacha Others are; Ahmed Lawan, , Barnabas Gemade, Sola Adeyeye, Bindowo Jibrilla, Ehigie Uzamere, Bello Tukur, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and Eyinnaya Abaribe.

“You will all recall that we agreed to a suggestion by one of the distinguished senators during our debate on the motion on the abducted girls yesterday (Tuesday ) that a delegation of the senate should meet with Mr. President on the issue.

I have called the president (Goodluck Jonathan), on phone and he said we should come by 10pm today (yesterday - 30/04/14). I will suggest that those concerned should come to my residence so that we can go to the villa in a bus or two”, the Senate President announced to the senators.

The meeting would among other things enable the executive and the legislature, exchange ideas on how best to rescue girls out of the hands of their abductors and reconcile them with their parents.

It is also expected that senators who are from the affected areas would seize the opportunity, to open up to Jonathan, on the real situation of things and possibly reveal intelligent

information at their disposal at the meeting.

It will be recalled that Senator Ahmed Zannah, (Borno Central) in his

contribution, during the debate on the motion moved by senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma – Egba, on Tuesday, had painted the gory picture of the plights of the abducted

girls when he informed his colleagues that majority of them had been married out to the insurgents and scattered in villages and towns in Chad and Cameroon.

Benin Disco is a private company, the law empowers the NLC to Unionise and protect the workers since they are more than 50 staff in the company.

The workers protest in Benin City since Monday had grounded activities at the various Benin Disco offices and vending centres.

It was reliably gathered that many electricity consumers are already having difficulty purchasing electricity recharge cards for their pre-paid meters.

Contacted, the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Curtis Nwadei said the protesters, as far as the Benin Disco is concerned, are disengaged staff whose contracts ended yesterday having been engaged in November last year for a six month period.

He said the workers of the Disco are not on strike, saying that “it is an error to say we are on strike, that should be corrected”.

A National Officer representing the Western Zone of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Okorodudu Benson told The NIGERIANOBSERVER that the picketing of the Disco’s was due to its failure to meet up with the seven days ultimatum to meet up with the demands of the

engaged workers.

He listed the demands to include payment of all their entitlements, including severance package, 13th month salary as well as bulk rent and leave allowance.

A former Disco unit Manager in Benin City, in a telephone interview, told The NIGERIAN OBSERVER that the disengaged staff as at 10am yesterday had started signing for their disengagement letters.

The letter which was dated April 28, 2014 and signed by the Chief Corporate Services Officer, Kumbi Labiyi, while reminding the disengaged staff of the contractual agreement also urged them to hand over all company properties in their possession to the Head, Human Resources or her designate by end of contractual period.

“Your compensation up to end of the contract will also be credited to your existing nominated account.

We sincerely thank you for the services you have rendered to the company and wish you success in your future endeavour, the letter reads.

Prior to the disengagement exercise, the DISCO had screened all the contract staff with their credentials in what was regarded as staff realignment interview”.

At as the time of this report, it could not be ascertained if any of the former (PHCN) disengaged staff were retained in addition to the few Disco management staff.

Meanwhile, Electricity consumers in Warri and Effurun have been stranded for two days running as they were unable to purchase their prepaid meter recharge cards following the disruption of activities by a group of persons believed to be disengaged staff of the Power Holding of Nigeria Company ( PHCN) .

A staff of the Benin Electrcity Distribution Company(BEDC) at Enerhen junction said members of staff had resumed for the day’s work when members of National Union of Electricity Employee (NUEE) came and ordered them out of the premises.

When the Nigerian OBSERVER visited the (BEDC) at the popular Enerhen junction,people were seen in clusters discussing,while the offices were under lock and key.

Electricity consumers who had come to purchase recharge cards for their prepaid meters were disappointed as the section was deserted.

An anonymous staff who would not offer further comments simply told The Nigerian OBSERVER that they were having some labour issues which he hopes would be resolved very soon adding that it was a nation wide issue.

The disengaged staff are said to be protesting the non payment of their severance benefits following the privatisation of the PHCN by federal government.

Also, the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) said on Wednesday it had extended the service period of all staff inherited from the old Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by t

Organised labour pickets 14

By RICHARD EWEKA, electricity coys FAITH ISIKHUEMEN, KELUBIA JENNIFER

BENIN CITY -The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has picketed electricity distribution companies in 14 states including 12 in the SouthEast, South West and SouthSouth geopolitical zone of the country and two in Kogi and Kwara in the middle belt region.

This is in direct response to the sack of over 10,000 staff of various distribution companies who were inherited from the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

It was gathered that the sack is coming at the end of a six month engagement contract which the distribution companies entered into with the staff in November last year, which ended yesterday.

Chairman of NLC, Edo State.

Comrade Emma Ademokun said the picketing is a continuous exercise meant to force the Distribution Companies (CDISO) to re-engage the disengaged staff out of which Edo State is said to record over 1,800.

According to the NLC boss, we met them severally, they are finding it difficult to re-engage them.

He said that even though the

Ensure financial independence of judiciary

Continued from page 1 cried out against it.

He said the judiciary got N95 billion in 2010, N85 billion in 2011, N75 billion in 2012, N67 billion in 2013 and N68 billion in 2014 appropriations, which were grossly inadequate.

“Government should comply with the constitutional provisions on an independent and self-accounting judiciary, and we must get involved in some introspection, like they say, physician, heal thyself.

“Advocacy for funding of judiciary has so often been

misunderstood for funding for the comfort and luxury of judicial officers.

“It is more about a functional judiciary; it is about digitalised and computerised judiciary; it is about capacity-building for judiciary and support staff; it is about modern infrastructure to aid expeditious determination of cases.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said Nigerian judiciary ought to be well-funded so as to be vibrant, commensurate with Nigeria’s status as the largest African

economy and the sixth largest world economy.

“The earlier the federal and state governments appreciated that the judiciary was pivotal to the well-being of this country, the better for all of us.

“There is no ego tripping, law and order and the economy of this country revolve around the judiciary.

“Fix your judiciary and inspire confidence in foreign investors who will tumble in, in droves,’’ he said.

insurgency.

He said that the pains and agony of scores of workers who died at work and those consumed in the activities of the insurgencies would be remembered.

Mrs Ibijoke Olabusuyi, a female activist, said government and the security agencies, should give the workers a May Day gift.

“Our expectation this May Day is for them to bring back the over 200 female students kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

“It will be a big plus for them and we the workers, unions and the whole country will celebrate them forever.’’

Mr Innocent Ejike, a private guard, said the zeal and fanfare that usually accompanied the celebration was fast fading off due to the insecurity in the land.

He said the Federal Government should give workers a reason to smile during the celebration by looking at how

to tackle the current insecurity in the country.

“Before now, I always look up to a day like this where workers, public or private come out with all happiness to celebrate themselves.

“It was fun and there was no need for agitation, no security threat and no fear that you will be attacked or bombed.

“We always look forward to policy statements from our government and officials at all levels, knowing that something positive will be pronounced.”

Ms Ngozi John, a civil servant, commended the government for its effort at tackling the issue of insecurity in the country.

She said that government should be supported by all, to produce a peaceful Nigeria where workers could work without fear and constant apprehension.

The International Workers’ Day is a celebration of labour and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs on May 1 every year.

Give priority to workers’ welfare

Continued from page 1 government at all levels to

give priority to welfare of their workers.

“Also, we wish to urge the Federal Government to sanction employers who turn workplaces into industrial mortuaries.

“It is criminal to expose workers to avoidable hazards and dangers because of profit making.

“However, let the workers be the priority of government because without the workforce, there cannot be government.

“That is our plea; that is our expectation from this celebration and we pray for the success of the present administration across the country.’’

Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, the President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), said the union dedicated the celebration to those workers who lost their lives to

Okpekpe Race

Commissioner commends EcoBank for support BENIN CITY- Edo State Youth, Sports and Social Mobilization, Hon Chris Okaeben has commended Eco bank fro supporting.

MIG LTD the 2nd of Okpekpe 10 km Road Race scheduled to hold Saturday, May 3, 2014.

Hon. Okaeben gave the commendation in his office while receiving a cheque for N3 million presented by Adedeyi Adekunle, Area Manager Edo Benin on behalf of Eco bank MIG LTD on Tuesday in Benin City.

The Commissioner who thanked Eco Bank Management onbehalf of the State Government for the wonderful initative, said that it goes to show that EcoBank is one of the institutions that is living up to its social responsibilities.

Hon. Okaeben retreated the state government commitment towards sports and youths development in

the state, pointing out that government cannot do it alone.

The Commissioner stressed that the event is in line with so many other Laudable achievement by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led administration and called for more collaboration not only in Okpelape event but also in other sporting activies Edo State will embark on.

He used Eco Bank as a reference point in reaching out to other organization to support the development of youths in the state through sports and promised to communicate their kind gesture to the State Government and pamodzi.

Earlier, the Area Manager, Edo Benin, Adedyi Adekunle, said that EcoBank Plc donated the three million Naira in order to partner with The State Government in respect of Okpekpe Road Race.

NERC stops payment of electricity fixed charge

Continued from page 1 provided by an Act of 2005.

“It is hereby ordered that effective from May 1, 2014, where any customer of a distribution licencee has not received continuous electricity supply for a period of 15 days in a month such customer shall not be required to pay the fixed charge.

“This is provided that the disruption is not due to nonpayment of electricity bills or other actions of the consumer, such as tampering, vandalism or totally unrelated to the fault of the distribution company,’’ he said.

He explained that the 15 days without electricity could either be continuous or cumulatively during the month.

Amadi urged customers to write a formal complaint to respective electricity distribution companies to address the situation “or report to dispute fora in each

state for any breach of the order.

He, however, said NERC would not scrap the fixed charge but would continue to review it in line with the demands of the electricity market and international best practice.

Amadi said the new order would ensure that the Discos were more responsive so that operational issues under their jurisdictions, such as faulty transformers and cables were promptly replaced for customers’ usage.

He also urged customers not to be hostile to the companies’ officials when they come to effect repairs in their areas as that could attract sanctions.

Newsmen reports that there have been complaints and protests by electricity consumers across the country on the payment of the fixed charge even when they do not get supplies.

Military will not use heavy power Continued from page 1 on Wednesday.

The Chief of Defence Staff assured that the military would soon free the school girls from their abductors.

He condemned the activities of the insurgents in the north, “what is happening in the northern Nigeria is pure madness.

“It is not the number of those abducted that is the issue but the attendant psychological trauma of every parent.

“We were given information about where they are. We cannot use heavy power attack because we will kill the school girls but I assure you that we will free them’’, he said.

Badeh said the military would continue to support NOSDRA to

combat illicit oil exploration in the country, adding that the military was not meant to fight only war.

“If we can employ the navy to clean environment, it will go a long way in sustaining the environment.’’

He said the effect of oil spill on the environment and the health of the people was of concern to everybody.

Badeh said the burning of crude oil by those operating illegal oil refineries was hazardous to the environment.

Earlier, retired Maj. Lancelot Anyanya, Chairman of the board of NOSDRA, said the visit was to express the agency’s commitment to partner with the armed forces on ways to protect the environment.

South/South

Oghiadomhe Chairs Fugar BOT

Chairman, Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Commission (EDOSOGPADEC), Barrister Vincent Uwadiae (left), member representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Mr. Wellington Okoh and member representing Ovia North East in the commission, Prince Ehioze Erediauwa during the 3rd stakeholders meeting organised in Benin City by the commission. Photo: LUCKY AGIE

FUGAR -The former chief of staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe has reminded his Kinsmen in Fugar, Etsako Central local government area of Edo State that the panacea for rapid development is for the people to sink their differences, close ranks and learn to live in unity.

Chief Oghiadomhe

L-R: Hon. Luqman Mohammad, member Representing Edo North in Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC), Barr. Osadebamwen Duke Osunbor, Permanent Secretary (EDSOGPADEC), Philo Ekhoragbon, Women leader in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area during the stakeholder meeting held in Benin City recently. Photo: LUCKY AGIE

APC On Rescue Mission -Stalwart

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM

AN All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart in ward 12 Mbiri, in Ika North East local government area

of Delta state, Mr. Samuel Ubulu, has maintained that the All Progressive Congress (APC) was on a rescue mission to liberate Nigerians.

Mr. Ubulu, in an interview with newsmen in his country –home (Mbiri) recently noted that the emergence of the APC was timely and may

Agbor: FRSC Commends speeding is dangerous driving and warned that, Hospita l brake failure, and tyre burst MBIRI (Delta State) -

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM

The Federal Road Safety Commanding Officer, Zone 5 Benin City, Commanding Edo, Delta State, and Anambra States, Assistant Corp Marshal, Nseobong Akpabio, has visited Agbor to appreciate the management of Central Hospital, Agbor, Delta State.

During the courtesy call, the Assistant Corps Marshal Nseobong expressed his profound gratitude with the cordial relationship between

the FRSC and the management of the Central Hospital Agbor. According to him, the management is working in the area of saving peoples lives.

He advised the road users, particularly drivers to use seatbelt always, and should avoid making or answering calls while driving.

Besides, he urged them to check their tyres, the electrical connection and to adhere to speed limit.

According to him, over

usually cause road crashes.

He appealed to the government to build FRSC base that would be comfortable for them to discharge their duties effectively.

The unit commander, RS 5 22 Agbor, Mrs. I. G Offiong thanked the zonal commander and promised that they will continue to protect, and defend the image of the FRSC by discharging their duties effectively.

have been divinely destined to check the growing antics of the ruling party.

Mr. Ubulu said that the PDP hijacked the electoral process at the national level.

On the issue of whether or not members of other political parties have properly integrated into the APC , Mr. Ubulu emphasized that there was really no issue of fusing because other parties were not decampees, but cofounders of the APC. However, he was quick to chip in that in every political gathering or family, there could be intrigues, but are not enough to threaten its survival.

Mr. Ubulu also noted that the seeming lack of visible activities was because of a general lull, as the state was waiting for directives from the national secretariat of the APC.

made this passionate appeal at the formal inauguration of the Board of Trustees of fugar progressive Union (FPU) where he was unanimously appointed as Chairman of its 5 Members body which included Sir Peter Aliu, Former Chief of protocol to former FCT ,Minister, Chief (Engr) Sam Azebiokhai, Chief G.S Imhoede and Mr. Tony Opitoke as members.

He further admonished them to eschew rancor and bitterness as much as possible; stressing that hatred impedes community growth. He also noted that disputes are best resolved using established resolution mechanisms, which are in tune with the culture and tradition of the people.

Chief Oghiadomhe expressed his appreciation for the trust they reposed in him assuring that he won’t disappoint them, saying he intends to work tirelessly for the community’s advancement .

The inauguration ceremony which coincides with the Easter celebration attracted

Fugar people across the country led by the National President of the Fugar progressive union, Mr. Peter Imoagene.

The occasion also served as a reunion Platform of sort for like minds in the Edo North Senitorial District . Among those in attendance were Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, Former Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Abass Braimo, former member of the House of Representatives Etsako Federal constituency, and Hon. Johnson Abolagba among others.

According to Barrister James Akhigbe, former fugar progressive union, National president, the newly inaugurated board of trustees is the first of such since the formation of the union.

It was set up mainly to serve as a rallying point, as well as help in resolving communal crises which will be referred to them by the union and also contributing to accelerati ng the development of the community.

BENIN CITY –A birthday party in honour of the Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Neighbourhood watch, Comrade Tony Adun Kabaka who is a year older today comes up this afternoon at his residence, No 26 Etete Road, GRA, Benin City A statement by his media aide, Apostle John Edokpolo, said the birthday bash is open to all members of Akugbe Ventures, political associates, friends and well wishers of the celebrant.

Comrade Tony Adun Kabaka is the MD/CEO of Akugbe Ventures, Tony Adun Estate and Properties Nigeria Ltd,

Adun Oil, Ocean and Gas worldwide.

The statement described the celebrant as a political activist, community leader, business executive and philanthropist.

Kabaka Celebrates Birthday Today

Comrade Tony Adun Kabaka

South West Aregbesola Inaugurates Road Projects OSOGBO - Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun inaugurated 21 roads in Osogbo that were reconstructed at the cost of N4.09 billion.

At the ceremony at Oriki Housing Estate Road, the governor said the roads were reconstructed to reduce the traffic problems in the city as well as attract foreign investors to the state.

He said that the state government had reconstructed 26.2 kilometres of roads in the town in the last one year.

He also said that 294.2 kilometres of roads had been reconstructed in all the local government areas of the state.

According to him, the government will not relent in its efforts to develop infrastructure in the state to promote social economic development.

Earlier in a speech, the Special Adviser to the governor on Works, Mr. Sabitu Amuda, said road reconstruction by the government had brought socio economic development to the state.

Amuda said the state government was also embarking on construction of dual carriageways as well as overhead bridges across the state.

Reports state that the roads inaugurated by the governor include Aregbe Junction, Odi Olowo Road and First Bank Road.

Oyo Chief Judge Releases 11 Inmates

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle) exchanging pleasantries with former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) (right) while Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu (left) looks on during the launching of an on-line newspaper-the- Cable at the City Hall, Catholic Mission Street, Lagos Island, Lagos recently.

Pay Our Salaries, Consultants Tell Govt

OGBOMOSO (OYO STATE) - The Medical and Dental Consultants Association, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has urged the Oyo State Government to settle the unpaid salaries of members to put an end to the ongoing industrial strike.

The group made the call in a statement jointly signed by Dr Adewale Adeyemi and Dr Afolabi Salawu, Chairman and Secretary respectively.

The statement was made available to newsmen in Ogbomoso.

Reports state that labour unions in the hospital embarked

on the strike action in the first week of April.

The unions are protesting the non payment of their salaries since January.

The statement said the strike had brought untold hardship to patients, workers and students.

It acknowledged the dwindling

ABEOKUTA Some aggrieved members of the Ogun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held a parallel state congress to protest alleged injustice in the party.

The aggrieved members who are in support of Chief Olusegun Osoba, a former governor of the state, held its congress at Kidoto’O Hall, Quarry Road in Abeokuta, amidst tight security.

Leader of the group, Sen. Olugbenga Kaka, representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the Senate, expressed

displeasure at the manner in which the State Gov. Ibikuinle Amosun, was discriminating against its group.

“Our party is not a party where a single individual will dictate to every other person in the party.

“In our party, God and the party must rule, not just a single individual.

“Today marks the beginning of great things to happen in our party,’’ he said.

Chief Olu Agemo, who emerged as the Chairman at the congress however pledged to work hard to correct all anomalies in the party.

Meanwhile, the Amosun group held its congress at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium with heavy

presence of security officials.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also attended the congress as observers.

Amosun in his opening address expressed optimism that the exercise would create an enabling platform for the party to be united.

He appealed to all members to sacrifice personal interest for the overall interest of the party.

“We must learn to give and take in order to be united.

“The task to move our party forward in this state is a collective responsibility,’’ he added.

Mr. Roqeeb Adeniji, who

Aggrieved APC Members Hold Parallel Congress

Court Orders Stay Of Execution

Lekki-Ikoyi Toll:

LAGOS - A Federal High Court in Lagos granted a motion for stay of execution of its judgment which declared the collection of toll on the newly constructed Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge unlawful.

Justice Saliu Saidu ordered a stay of execution following a motion filed by the AttorneyGeneral of Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye.

Ipaye had sought a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

It would be recalled that a human rights activist, Mr. EbunOlu Adegboruwa, had filed a suit on Nov. 26, 2012 against the Lagos State Government, challenging its collection of toll on the bridge.

Joined as first and second respondents in the suit were the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the

resources available to the state government for its developmental programmes, but urged government to be considerate in its dealings with the striking workers.

The statement also urged government to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy in the hospital.

National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Ipaye, and the Lagos State Government were listed as third and fourth respondents respectively.

It would also recalls that on March 27, Saidu in his judgment, declared that the imposition of such toll was unlawful, on the ground that there was no law in existence authorising its collection.

The judge had held that there was nothing before the court to show that the construction of the bridge was as a result of a Public Private Partnership Law, since it was constructed with funds of the state government.

He had, therefore, held that the Lagos government could only validly collect toll on the bridge, if a law was enacted to give validity to such tolling.

Ipaye, on March 28, filed a motion for stay of execution of

emerged as the Chairman at the congress promised to ensure that all aggrieved members were reconciled for the progress of the party.

He solicited the cooperation of members to ensure that the party emerged victorious at the 2015 general elections in the state.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dickson Atiba, leader of INEC delegation said the commission had observed the proceedings at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium and would forward its report to the national headquarters. He however denied knowledge of any other congress.

IBADAN - The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Mrs. Badejoko Adeniji, has released 11 inmates of Agodi Prison in Ibadan.

Reports state that the released inmates comprised six males and five females.

She told newsmen that prison decongestion was a major duty of the judiciary which could not be ignored.

“Although the number released may look small when compared with the total number of inmates listed for consideration, yet we have done our best.

“We hope to be back in about three weeks time to continue where we stopped today,” she said.

She had earlier warned those released to desist from acts capable of bringing them back to prison.

“You have learnt your lessons and if you should return here for any reason, there would be no pardon,” she said.

Reports state that those released were accused of committing offences like assault, stealing, disturbance of public peace and other minor offences.

One of the freed inmates, Sulaimon Akintayo, told our correspondent that he was grateful to the Chief Judge and her team.

“I was wrongly accused of stealing and sincerely, I will never wish my enemy to visit the prison,” he said.

Reports state that the Chief Judge’s team comprised some high court judges, magistrates, the Director of Public Prosecution, Chairman of Ibadan Branch of Nigerian Bar Association.

Others were representatives of the Police, Nigerian Prisons Service and some nongovernmental organisations.

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Legislative Powers Bureau, Mr. Muslim Olohuntele, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mrs. Oluranti Odutola and Director of Press and Publicity, Mrs. Ronke Osho, at a news conference on activities of Legislative Power Bureau in the last one year recently.

Lagos Judge’s Absence Stalls Trial Of Ikuforiji, Atoyebi LAGOS - A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday fixed May 2 for trial of Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), Adeyemi Ikuforiji charged with money laundering.

Ikuforiji is standing trial alongside his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, on an amended 56count charge bordering on the offence.

The accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Reports state that the case, which was slated for continuation of trial could not go on due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba.

Parties were therefore asked to come back to court on May 2.

It would be recalled that the accused were re-arraigned on June 24, 2013, on the amended charge.

They had both pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were granted bail in the sum of N1billion with two sureties in the sum of N500 million each.

The prosecutor, Mr. Godwin Obla, opened the case for the prosecution on Nov. 21, 2013, by calling on his first witness, Mr. Adebayo Adeniyi, a Principal Detective Superintendent.

On the last adjourned date on March 18, Adeniyi continued his testimony before the court.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, the witness had told the court that the schedule of his duty was to investigate the threshold of money utilised by LAHA. He had said that all the money approved by the accused were above the threshold stipulated by the Money Laundering Act. Under cross-examination by defence Counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, the witness told the court that the accused did not personally sign any of the cheques for the withdrawal of the sums.

Election

Businessmen Arraigned

Residents of Iponri-Estate, Surulere, Costain Bus-Stop and Iganmu in Lagos, protesting over non availability of Power Supply to their Community in Lagos recently.

Lovebird Bolts With Man’s N39,000

LAGOS - The police have arraigned a 28-year-old lovebird, Kate Unoh, over alleged theft of her lover’s N39,000 after an outing.

Unoh, who lives at No. 3, Ogunaike St., Ketu, a Lagos suburb, is facing a charge of stealing.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Uche Simon, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 21 at No. 12, Owode Elede St., Mile 12, Lagos, at about 9:30 p.m.

Simon said one Mr. Emmanuel Anthony had returned home with the accused from the justconcluded Lagos carnival

Cobbler Docked For Stabbing Man

LAGOS - A cobbler, Kudus Salako, who allegedly stabbed a man with a broken bottle has appeared before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Salako, 20, who resides at No. 5, Osoza St., Oworonsoki, Lagos is being tried for breach of the peace and assault.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 20 at Oworonsoki, Lagos.

He said that the accused unlawfully assaulted one Mr. Mukaila Akinwunmi by stabbing him with a broken bottle on his head, hand and chest.

“The accused stabbed the complainant when he was trying to separate the accused and his roommate during a fight.

“The complainant went to visit his friend, who shares a room with the accused and he met them in the middle of a fight in front of the house and tried to separate them.

Olatunde said that while the complainant was still pleading for them to stop the fight, the

accused picked a bottle, smashed it on the ground and stabbed the complainant.

“He picked the available beer bottle, unknown to the complainant, stabbed the complainant all over his body which caused serious bleeding.

“When the accused saw that blood was gushing out from the complainant’s body, he took to his heels”.

According to the prosecutor, the crowd who were watching the fight ran after him and apprehended him.

The offences, Olatunde said, contravened Sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 171 prescribes threeyear jail term as penalty for offenders.

The accused pleaded not guilty of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr. Akeem Fashola, adjourned the case to May 13 for mention.

when the money was discovered missing.

“After the carnival, they proceeded to Kuramo Beach to have fun, but on getting home at night, the complainant left Unoh in the room to get a bag of sachet water outside the premises.

“On his return, Unoh had disappeared with the N39,000 the boyfriend kept in the pillow case,” he said.

He said the accused jumped through the window after locking the door.

The prosecutor said the

Association (NAFEPA) on Sunday urged the Federal Government to revive the coal industry in the state.

This is contained in a communiqué made available to newsmen at the end of the association’s 2014 first quarterly meeting in Lagos.

The communiqué was signed by the President of the association, Mr. Pius Ike, and Secretary, Mr. Samuel Odo. According to it, reviving the coal deposit will help create jobs for youths.

“2015 election is around the corner and we will not like the youths to be used as thugs.

“Many of them are roaming

the streets in search of jobs,” it said.

It, however, commended the state government for sending some youths to Songhai Farms to be trained on practical agriculture.

It advised the state government to empower the trained youths by providing them with loans to enable them practice what they had learnt.

The communiqué said the measure would help to reduce youth restiveness and crime rate in the state.

It also lauded the state government for putting in place a neighbourhood watch and vigilance group to enhance

offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Reports state that Section 285 recommends three years imprisonment for offenders.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Omolade Awope, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20,000 with a surety in like sum.

The case was adjourned till May 23 for mention.

Revive Coal Industry, Association LAGOS - The National in the state.

Urges FG security Forum of Enugu People’s While condemning the

bombing and killings in the North, the communique urged the people to be security conscious at all times.

It urged the National Conference delegates to enforce the constitutional provision on indigeneship and residency status.

It also urged the delegates to de-emphasise quota system in the education system in favour of merit and called for a stronger regional structure.

Reports state that the forum is the umbrella body of Enugu State elite, clubs and associations seeking to promote the interest and development of the state.

LAGOS Three businessmen were arraigned before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Adeola Adedayo, for allegedly ejecting a traditional ruler and a chief from their land.

The accused are also charged with disorderly conduct and conspiracy.

The accused — Amidu Olayemi, 50; Adeshina Adegboyega, 48; and Abiodun Abogun, 53 – whose addresses are unknown, pleaded guilty to the two-count charge.

The prosecutor, Insp.

Haruna Ibrahim, told the court that the businessmen committed the offences sometime in November 2013 at Itowolo Community along Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

He said the accused with others still at large conspired to commit the offences.

According to him, the accused hired thugs to harass and forcefully evicted one Chief Sikiru Aregbe and Oba Nurudeen Adekobi, from their land.

Ibrahim also alleged that the accused conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of public peace.

The offences, he noted, contravened Sections 52 (b) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Reports state that Section 52 (b) prescribes two years imprisonment for forcible entry into a land, while Section 409 also stipulates two years sentence for conspiracy.

The magistrate granted the businessmen bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case to May 21 for mention.

An official of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (left) fights with another official of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at Ojota Bus Stop in Lagos recently.

Across The Nation NDE Engages 81 Unemployed Graduates

Military Lauds Operations In Borno MAIDUGURI - The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that the military was satisfied with the ongoing operations in Borno.

Olukolade said this in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of media tour of military operations in Maiduguri.

He said the troops had been able to sustain momentum in terms of the offensive against the terrorists, notwithstanding the reactions from the insurgents.

“The bases we visited are part of the responses to the terrorist offensive and that is an achievement; the military had moved close to where the insurgents are.

“It shows that the military had taken over the land.‘’ The defence spokesman said that the morale of the soldiers was high, adding that ‘’we are expecting to see more successes from the troops’’.

A correspondent of the newsmen who was on the media tour, reports that the group visited military camps in

and around Maiduguri.

The group visited 7 Division Headquarters of the Nigeria Army, 7 Division Garrison, Military check points in and around Maiduguri, amongst others.

At the camp in the outskirts of Bulanbuli, the soldiers were seen carrying out their duties as expected.

Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Mohammed, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, who was also on the tour of the formations, told the troops that the Federal Government was happy with their operations.

“That is why we are here to say a big thank you and to convey the appreciation of the whole country.

“I wish to say big thanks for your courage and dedication.”

The journalists were also taken on night patrols by the troops which lasted from 9 p. m. to 12.30 a.m. around Maiduguri and its environ.

The essence of the tour, according to Olukolade, is to have a first-hand information on the operations of the troops.

JOS - A 72-year-old man, Adamu Vom, was arraigned in a Jos Upper Area Court for allegedly raping a minor.

Vom, who resides in Kassashogwol village in Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau, is facing a count charge of rape.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Edward Ochei, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 4 at about 5.00 p.m Ochei said that the accused lured the minor into his bedroom on the said date and forcefully had canal knowledge of her.

“The accused was caught by neighbours who raised alarm and the suspect was arrested and handed over to the police.

“The minor informed the police during investigations that the suspect had threatened to kill her if she informed her parents or anybody about the incident,” he said.

He said that the offence was contrary to Section 283 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not

guilty to the offence and asked for bail.

Ochei objected to the bail application and pleaded for a date to enable the police conclude all the necessary investigations.

The Judge, Malam Mustapha Hassan, ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison until a formal application of his bail was forwarded to the court by a lawyer.

Hassan adjourned the case until June 11 for further hearing.

ENUGU - Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has said that his vision was to transform rural communities in the state to mini-urban centres.

Chime said this at the opening of a three-day meeting to review activities of Visit Every Community (VEC) initiative of his administration at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.

He said that the initiative was aimed at providing all the 460 rural communities in the state with their basic needs to improve

the quality of life in such communities.

It would be recalled that officials of VEC, had in 2009, embarked on advocacy visits to all the communities in the state.

The visits were meant to outline the basic needs of such communities with a view to providing them.

Chime said that he was satisfied with the implementation of projects under the initiative so far, adding that something substantial had

Members of Niger Delta Anti-Corruption Network Protesting Against Corruption in Benin City recently.

Septuagenarian Docked For Raping Minor

Former President/Chairman in Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Dr. Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko, current NIM President, Dr. Nelson Uwaga and acting Registrar-Chief Executive, Mr. Mohammed Sulaiman, at the dinner in honour of the visiting President and Chairman in Council to North-Central Zone in Abuja recently.

DUTSE - The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Jigawa has said it has engaged 81 unemployed graduates under its Graduate Coaching Scheme (GCS).

The NDE Coordinator in the state, Mr. Muhammad Sambo, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.

Sambo said that GCS is part of the special public works scheme targeted at unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions.

He said the scheme was designed for them to secure entrance into the labour market.

The coordinator said that the graduates were engaged to coach over 500 candidates who registered for the 2014 Senior Schools Certificate Examinations and JAMB. According to him, the programme, organised in collaboration with the state ministries of education and local governments would last between March and June 2014.

Sambo said the gesture was to enable the students pass their examination with good grades, noting that both the instructors and trainees were drawn from the 27 council areas of the state.

The coordinator said that the programme is being conducted in nine centres across the state.

He listed the centres as Dutse, Birnin Kudu and Jahun in North Central, Hadejia, Birniwa and Kafin Hausa in North East, Ringim, Kazaure and Gumel in North West.

He stated that about N1 million was earmarked for both logistics and allowances of the graduates with each of them receiving N10, 000 as monthly Stipend.

Insurgency: Civilian JTF Vows To Support Military

MAIDUGURI - Members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno, have vowed to support the military to end terrorism and bring back peace to the state.

Two members of the youth vigilance group made the promise in Maiduguri in separate interviews with newsmen.

Mr Abubakar Mamuda, the

chairman of the group in Gomari-Airport Area of Maiduguri, said they were compelled to join the military to fight the insurgents because Borno was their state.

He said they decided to support the security agencies to ensure Borno was safe for their

parents and relations since they had no other place to call their own.

“We are trying to protect our heritage and our state since we have no other place to call our own.

“Nobody forced us, we just volunteered to do it, we started

some months ago and people ran away and left us hoping that members of Boko Haram will kill us.

“Members of the group that started the operation were few because the people were scared of Boko Haram; there is a lot of

Chime Reaffirms Commitment To Transform Rural Communities been done for most communities under the scheme.

The governor said that efforts to realise his dream for the state would be a continuous process and that successive administrations would build on what he had done.

“No one government will provide everything for the people. We will do the things we have to do and leave the rest for the incoming administration.

“We must succeed and will continue the process until every

community in the state develops like Abuja,” he said.

Chime said that another review meeting would be convened before the end of his administration and would have in attendance the next governorelect of the state who would continue with the projects.

Earlier, Dr Eric Oluedo, VEC Chairman, said that the projects so far executed had reduced the gap between government and the residents of the state, particularly those at the grassroots.

Oluedo, who is also the Commissioner for Rural Development, said that VEC was also designed to ensure that all communities in the state had health centers.

He said that before the introduction of VEC, projects allocated to rural communities in the state were not completed.

Oluedo said that the new regime had recognised the importance of town unions as dependable partners in grassroots development.

improvement now and we are happy,’’ he said.

Mamuda commended the Federal Government for deploying the military to Borno, adding that the group had gained a lot of experience working with the military.

Another member of the Civilian JTF, Mallam Hassan Mohammed, said the group was doing the job because it desired that peace should return to Borno.

“We want peace to return to Borno as our parents, brothers and sisters live here in Maiduguri and we are not happy as we were being killed unjustly.

“So, we decided to assist the security agencies to curb the security challenges, ‘’ he said.

Mohammed said the group was satisfied with the conduct of the military and the support the military was given to members of the group.

He said that peace had now returned to Maiduguri.

Abuja Doctor Advises Public Against Patent Stores ABUJA - Dr Aloysius Ebedi, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Bwari General Hospital, FCT, has warned the public against patronising patent medicine stores instead of the hospital.

Ebedi told newsmen that patients could not be properly diagnosed or treated at such stores.

According to him, most of the medicine store attendants are not qualified pharmacists and

Council To Register Commercial Motorcyclists

GWAGWALADA - The registration of all commercial motorcyclists operating within the Gwagwalada Area Council will begin next week, the council’s Secretary, Alhaji Usman Yahaya, said in Gwagwalada.

Yahaya told newsmen the registration was necessary due to the country’s security challenges, saying it would help in reducing crime in the area.

He said there was the need for only registered commercial motorcyclists to be allowed to operate in the area, with those registered being identified by their identity cards and uniforms.

“The registration is one of the measures the council has taken to maintain peace and security in the area.

“Though security is everybody’s business, but the present area council administration, led by Alhaji Abubakar Giri, has promised to tackle security matters in the area through this registration exercise,’’ the council secretary said.

He said the council, in collaboration with security personnel, as well as traditional rulers and religious leaders, normally held monthly meetings to discuss security issues in the area.

“Every month, we hold a meeting where we discuss security matters in the area.

“For us to achieve the best results, we involve the police, traditional institutions and religious leaders who will in turn take the message to the people at the various communities.

cannot dispense medicines accurately.

“They cannot prescribe nor dispense properly as they are not well educated in the field or qualified.’’

He said government recruited qualified doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technicians for the good health of its people.

“Then why should someone go to where he will not get the best?’’

He advised the public to report cases of ailment to the medical facility nearest to them.

“People should also ventilate their rooms to avoid being exposed to diseases like meningitis which is very dangerous.

“They should also keep their environment neat, clean and tidy as dirty environments breed killer diseases such as malaria and the likes,’’ he said.

He said that the hospital was always ready to receive patients in case of outbreak of diseases in the area.

The general practitioner also advised adults and the elderly to replace the red meat in their diet with fish.

“They should also stop drinking alcohol and smoking.

“Those below the age of 27 years can eat red meat but anybody above that age should be careful about what they consume,’’ he said.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and students protesting over ‘Discrimination and Neglect’ of the sector in Abuja.

Commuters Want Effective Transportation activities. buses.

ABUJA - Commuters plying System Mr Charles Emeka, a business “This situation is becoming the airport route in Abuja have man, decried the long queue of frustrating and people called on the FCT Administration to provide an effective transportation system for the area.

The commuters told newsmen that inadequacy of commercial vehicles conveying residents to various destinations in the FCT was affecting socio-economic

commuters waiting to board vehicles to their places of work, especially in the morning.

“This is what we normally go through every morning in almost all the junctions of the satellite villages along the Airport Road, due to inadequate high capacity

PDP Commends Political Leaders For Uniting Against Terrorism ABUJA - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the nation’s political leaders for uniting against terrorism, irrespective of party affiliations.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Olisa Metuh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, on Saturday in Abuja.

It described the development as unprecedented in contemporary Nigerian history.

The statement said that the coming together of the leaders to present a common front on issues of terrorism, spoke volumes, especially on the unity of the country.

Metuh said that the development was also a strong

message to those behind acts of terrorism and violence in the country.

The party‘s spokesman maintained that the development had restored the confidence reposed in the political class to provide leadership direction for the nation.

He said the development was the only way to move the nation forward, adding that it has united the political leaders and rekindled the spirit of oneness among Nigerians.

The national publicity secretary said it had also revived faith in the Nigerian project which was hitherto threatened by unhealthy dissensions.

Metuh commended President

Children under the auspices of ‘Save the Child, Build the Nation’ participating in the protest by members of the Acadmeic Staff Union of Polytechnics and students over ‘Discrimination and Neglect’ of the sector in Abuja.

Goodluck Jonathan for his untiring efforts in fighting terrorism, noting that the successful National Security Council meeting has created the platform for unity among political leaders.

“Our political class has shown its commitment to the unity and greatness of our dear country, it has shamed doomsday prophets.’’

According to him, such prophets relentlessly work against the country‘s unity by stoking the fires of hatred and dissensions and predicting disaster and countless negatives against the country.

Metuh, however, called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and to continue to stand against actions that encouraged violence and terrorism.

“The challenges facing the nation are transitory and cannot defeat the collective spirit of the Nigerian people and their proven determination to live as one.

“The PDP believes in Nigeria and Nigerians. We believe that our country will emerge out of these challenges a renewed, stronger and more united Nigeria.

“The time has therefore come for all citizens to look ahead and join hands in love to build a prosperous country where all will live in peace and unity irrespective of ethnic, religious and political differences,’’ Metuh said.

He added that the PDP, as the ruling party, would continue to provide a level play ground for all citizens in line with its manifesto, ideology and the vision of its founding fathers.

sometimes quarrel among themselves in the process of rushing to board the few available vehicles to their various places of work.

“The situation is most unfortunate because the development sometimes leads to outright fighting among the commuters,” Emeka said.

According to Hajia Ummul Muhammad, the situation is worse in the early hours of the day because of inadequate number of taxis and buses.

Muhammad observed that commuters found it difficult to get to their various destinations even in the day time.

This, he attributed to inadequate or non-availability of taxis and buses to transport them to their various places of work.

Mr. Tijani Usman, who was seen struggling with other passengers to board a taxi, noted that the passengers had outnumbered the available vehicles.

Usman said that in one of such instances, he was pushed into a

culvert by some passengers while struggling to board a commercial bus recently at one of the junctions on Airport road.

Also commenting, Mrs. Angela Amadi, a commuter, attributed the hike in transport fares from the route to other places within the FCT, to inadequacy of government owned high-capacity buses.

She said that the development was forcing many workers residing along the route to leave their homes very early, to get transportation to their places of work.

The commuters called on the FCT administration to tackle the problem, to alleviate their suffering and curb loss of man hours.

Reacting to the development, the FCT Minister, Alhaji Bala Muhammed, promised to import at least 100 buses from China between April and May. Muhammed expressed optimism that the policy would boost the transportation system within the FCT, when the buses became operational.

Illegal Electricity Connection:

Man Arraigned

ABUJA - An undergraduate, Luqman Kazeem, has appeared in a Grade 1 Area Court in Kado, FCT, for alleged illegal connection of electricity and restraining a businessman.

Kazeem, 39, of No 39 Lusaka St. Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, is charged with criminal force and wrongful restraint.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Simon Ibrahim, told the court that Mr. Prince Sam of No 39, Lusaka Street, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on February 18.

Ibrahim alleged that the accused, along with two others now at large, forced themselves into the complainant’s compound and illegally connected electricity.

He said that when the

complainant cautioned the accused and his accomplice to stop the act, they seized the complainant’s cell phone, depriving him from making calls to alert the police.

According to him, some neighbours called the police and the accused was arrested in the act, while the cell phone was recovered by the police.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Penal Code.

After the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Judge, Malam Abubakar Sadiq, admitted him to bail for N5,000 with one surety who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned the case until May 26 for further hearing.

Business + Economy FG Awards Crude Lifting Contracts

Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (middle) with NUJ National Executive Council members that paid him a courtesy visit in Buachi recently.

ABUJA - The Minister of Petroleum Resources and Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Board, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, has described the recent award of term contracts for crude lifting, majorly to indigenous companies as part of the Federal Government’s objective to encourage effective local participation in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Mrs. Alison-Madueke stated that over 60 percent of the 2014 to 2015 annual term contracts for the lifting of Nigeria’s crude oil was decidedly awarded to local firms after a painstaking prequalification process.

The Minister said the

Construct Access Roads, Coordinator LAGOS - Mr. Olayinka “It will also attract Urges State Govts investors Omotayo, the Project to agro-business, Coordinator, Cedar Agro Limited, Ibadan, has urged State Governments to construct roads that will connect rural farmers to markets, to prevent postharvest losses.

Omotayo told newsmen in Lagos that most rural communities in the states produced major crops in large quantities.

Omotayo expressed sadness over the losses recorded by most farmers due to the lack of access to

markets.

“The biggest challenge that rural farmers face is having access to major markets where their produce can be sold profitably.

“The major roads leading from farms to the city market are bad and it can cost a lot of money transporting farm produce to market centres.

“It is equally inconvenient to draw market to these

communities under such conditions.

“Farmers are badly affected when their goods perish and they record losses.’’

Omotayo appealed to State Governments to ensure that link roads were provided in communities where farming activities were persistent.

“If farmers can have easy access to market centres where their produce can be sold, it will encourage them to stay in business.

which will ensure availability of different crops.

“And such states will be contributing towards promoting food security in the country,” he said.

North Local Government on Monday.

Sidi said the recruitment became necessary because disasters usually occur at local areas with the locals being early respondents.

“The training of this crop of volunteers will no doubt save lives and reduce the suffering of the victims of disasters in our communities whenever

LG Awards N13.4m Water Projects BIRNIWA (JIGAWA) - The Chairman of Birniwa Local Government in Jigawa, Malam Muhammad Bundai, has said that he had awarded a N13.4 million contract for the execution of water projects in two communities.

Bundai told newsmen in Birniwa that the projects included the provision of motorised boreholes and surface tanks at Arin-Adam and Keberi communities.

“The council has expended N4 million on the procurement of equipment for the repair of obsolete and broken hand pumps in the area.

“The projects were designed to enhance access to safe drinking water in the area,’’ he said.

The chairman also said the council had spent more than N640,000 on the transportation of students of the area to various schools in the state.

“The amount was spent on transporting returning students to various schools after their second term vacation,” he said.

Bundai urged the communities to protect the facilities for water and other amenities provided in their communities by the government.

disasters strike,’’ he added.

According to him, the introduction of the corps is also to help in actualising the shift of emphasis to disaster risk reduction.

Sidi, represented by NEMA zonal Operations Manager, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, said this would make the communities to be more resilient to incidences of disasters.

The Secretary to the State

increased astronomically through the years. These vessels are the Category one and Category two types.

Investments in reception, storage and distribution facilities such as jetties, depots, trucks, vessels and modern retail outlets have more than doubled over the past few years, and this has helped to increase the nation’s sufficiency level in petrol,” the Minister said.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke remarked that as at the last count indigenous investments in the sector have created over 40, 000 jobs across the hydrocarbon value chain.

“We have witnessed increased local investments in asset, in land, swamp and offshore rigs which are vital performance indicators in business growth in Nigerian service companies. As we speak Nigerian companies are forging partnerships for deep water rig ownership and are evolving strategies that will increase rig ownership among local players,’’ she noted.

Complete Karishi By-Pass, Group the residents to the ABUJA - The Nyanya/ Tasks FG inconvenience of traffic jam.

Karu Peoples’ Forum, a community association in the suburb of Abuja, has urged the Federal Government to complete the Karishi by-pass

NEMA To Recruit 154,000 Volunteers SOKOTO - The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said it would recruit 154,000 grassroots emergency Volunteer Corps across the 774 local governments of the country.

The Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Sani Sidi, made this known at the opening of a three-day workshop for the members of the corps in Sokoto

balance was shared among some international trading companies, refineries and to some countries with bilateral trade agreements with Nigeria.

“When we unveiled the Nigerian content law a few years back, the overriding principle was to grow indigenous capacity in an aggressive manner and I am happy to report that today, in the oil and gas sector, Nigerian content has been placed on the path of irreversible progress,” the Minister said.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke noted that the award to local players is in line with the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan for effective transformation of the petroleum industry.

She said the advent of the Nigerian content law has encouraged indigenous investment in critical infrastructure.

“We have seen robust indigenous investments in Marine vessels of various categories and wholly owned Nigerian vessels have

Government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada, said that managing emergencies and disasters required the support and active participation of all.

Gada, who was also represented by Alhaji Dahiru Abbas, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, said the state government would empower the agency and others to discharge their duties effectively.

without delay.

Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, Secretary-General of the association, made the remark in Abuja in an interview with newsmen.

He said that the delay in completing the project had exposed residents of the area to untold traffic hardship.

He said that residents of the area had over the years shown understanding with the government over infrastructure deficit.

He expressed concern that the continued neglect of the by-pass might further expose

“The Nyanya/Karu axis is very strategic because of it links many adjoining communities and states.

“The recent terrorist attacks at the Nyanya Park may have been averted if there are link roads,’’ he said.

On the insecurity in the country, the SecretaryGeneral expressed delight with the insistence of the government to continue with the execution of development projects despite the challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

L-R: Deputy National President of NUJ, Mr. Rotimi Obamuwagun; Grand Patron, NUJ, Bauchi State and Emir of DASS, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu, Chairman, Bauchi State NUJ Council, Malam Dahiru Garba, Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Shu’Aibu Musa and representative of Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Salihu Halilu, at the opening ceremony of NUJ National Executive Council meeting in Bauchi recently.

Development Fugar Progressive Union On Ascendancy MOST town unions in the country are on fast decline due to a combination of factors, one of which is the harsh economic environment and alienations. This situation gave vent to the emergence of social clubs, association and sundry elite oriented societies which attempted to take over the role of the town unions. However, there is an exception to every rule and it is most evident in the determined bid by Fugar Progressive Union to continue to be relevant despite all the odds stacked against town unions.

Last Easter, while Christians marked the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Fugar Progressive Union (FPU) leaders used the sombre period to converge in Fugar, where they restated their commitment to the ideals behind the union’s formation and also took some far reaching decisions on how best to re-focus the union. What transpired could be liked to a situation whereby once the lion wakes up from its slumber, it bares its fangs to show it remains king of the jungle.

Fugar Progressive Union (FPU), is the umbrella body for all Fugar people, both home and in diaspora, started as a Club in 1925, transformed into a union 10years later in 1935 and has branches in every part of the country, wherever Fugar people are domiciled. Two organs of the FPU standout namely, its National Executive Council (NEC) and the Central Working Committee (CWC), with both organs working together in harmony to ensure smooth administration, cultural preservation and a host of other functions. These

By DADA AYOKHAI organs has served the FPU well in thick and thin nonetheless, there will always come a time in the life of an organization when it is compelled by forces or circumstances to either make

value to the chain in line with contemporary demands.

Arising thereof, the FPU took a futuristic view of things and resolved to create a new open structure known as

time to time by the union and act as catalyst for Fugar development. A peep into the composition of the 5 man board shows that merit and competence was used in the selection process.

Notable Fugar figures such as Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, a former

country led by the National President of the Fugar progressive union, Mr. Peter Imoagene.

The occasion also served as a reunion Platform of sort for like minds across Edo North senatorial district. Among those in attendance were Rt. Hon. Zakawanu

Chief Mike Oghiadomhe (Standing) addressing members of the Board of Trustees during the inauguration of the body in Fugar.

adjustments or face extinction. In this wise, Kudos goes to past and present union leaders for the wonderful job in managing the union affairs as well as contributing towards the rapid development of Fugar inspite of obvious lean resources and daunting odds. So, it was,therefore heartwarming, when FPU leaders convened an Easter retreat to take a holistic look at its structure and constitution with the view of adding

the board of trustees. The board is to act as conscience of the union, i.e. its soul, to resolve conflicts and provide direction.

According to Barrister James Akhigbe, the board, as presently composed, has seasoned technocrats and highly respected Fugar figures as members, insisting they are quite capable of delivering in terms of acting as a rallying point, and amicably settle communal rifts that may be referred to them from

two time deputy governor of Edo State and former Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan chairs the board. Others are Chief J. S. Imhoede, Mr. Anthony Opioke and Sir Peter Aliu, a retired Chief of Protocol to several former FCT ministers. The board has been inaugurated and hit the ground running so as to deliver on its mandate.

The inauguration ceremony which coincided with the Easter celebration attracted Fugar people across the

Garuba, Former Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Abass Braimo, former member of the House of Representatives Etsako Federal constituency, Hon. Johnson Abolagba, among others.

As it is, FPU can be said to be on ascendancy once more, though the road is rough; nonetheless, FPU leaders deserve praises for its bold efforts at a rejig.

Moreso, with its eye set on the future, the exercise could not have come at a

“As it is, FPU can be said to be on ascendancy once more, though the road is rough; nonetheless, FPU leaders deserve praises for its bold efforts at a rejig.

Moreso, with its eye set on the future, the exercise could not have come at a better time than now.�

better time than now.

Obviously, the Fuguar Progressive Union certainly does not want to live in the shadows in a 21st Century dictated by expectations of high performances. Thus, the caliber of persons chosen as trustees shows the seriousness attached to the body reclaiming its rightful place as trend setters.

Definitely, the rejig will awaken the apparatus for service delivery and create room for fresh ideas as well as the infusion of wisdom in its operations. The era of town unions being simply concerned with issues such as construction of markets, town halls seem to have gone. These days, the trend is to intensely lobby government officials, using all the means, including poilitcal leaders and people in high places to pull the strings to attract the needed projects and infrastructure like shopping malls, roads, healthcare, facilities, LGA Secretariat etc. On the other hand, the scale of communal conflicts is on the rise while the traditional methods of stemming them has proven grossly inadequate.

Even the security agencies in the country faces tough times in coping with the wider dimension which these crises have taken.

Invariably, alternative dispute resolution is in high demand and that is exactly where the relevance comes in. No doubt, Chief Oghiadomhe and his team is quite capable of meeting expectations and it can even surpass them.

Sam Dada Ayokhai Media Consultant Benin City.

THE crushing poverty level in today’s Nigeria has become so overwhelming that over 70 percent of Nigerians have unwittingly bowed to the pangs of biting hardship.

POVERTY is today a generic term and has been so since attempts at its classification by various study and academic groups with Non Governmental Organisations (NCOs) ever more vehement and critical on the problems associated with large scale poverty and ways to improve the economic status of those classified in the group.

SOCIAL scientists in attempt at plausible stratification and definition of the term find it necessary to contrast it with such opposite terms as richness, wealth, comfort, affluence and the likes as the terms carry inherent semantic undertones that most limes solicit sympathy, empathy and compassion from those afflicted with the plague which poverty has come to symbolise.

HOWEVER, by daily interactions within society and among communities and nations, it is clear that poverty has striking universal perception and similarities because of its crosscountry feature and characteristics. The basic feature being that people suffer hunger and deprivation with not enough to eat, lack shelter and clothing as well as basic necessities required for human existence.

FOR instance, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights aptly sums pp poverty as a “human condition characterised by the sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of all adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights”.

THERE is, as a result, conscious efforts by many organizations to mitigate the harsh effect of poverty which is more endemic in developing countries and many parts of Asia while in Nigeria, government’s effort at providing

THE NIGERIAN

Tackling Poverty

palliatives and putting in place workable measures from some of its economic policies that cause poverty shocks are yet to yield the desired impact.

IT is the concern for the world’s poor and to find solution to speeding poverty crisis that the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) is celebrated worldwide in order to push people up the ladder of comfort where health care, food, shelter, clothing among others are assured the citizenry without experiencing the pain of deprivation.

IN Nigeria, however, government has put in place social programmes as National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategies (NEEDS), the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to tackle problem of youth unemployment, a crucial poverty indicator among the socio-cultural stratification.

IT presents a sad scenario that despite several policy initiatives the menace of poverty is a staggering reality and may have accounted for the loophole in myriad of social vices, most notably are high incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping, corruption, advance fee fraud (419), prostitution Rings, human trafficking and the likes, perpetuated and perpetrated by the authors as the quickest route to scale the poverty barrier.

THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its 2000/2001 Human, development

report on Nigeria, states that 70 per cent of Nigerians are in abject poverty while massive unemployment of people and the under utilization of resources are the order of the day.

Since the report nothing about the poverty level has changed dramatically.

IN assessing Nigeria’s poverty level, based on its oil wealth which it described as a mixed blessing, the report explained that it was not the oil resources that are the problem, but the management of those resources.

A general overview of Nigeria’s poverty crisis indicates therefore that there is a fundamental problem which the Federal Government needs to identify and tackle in order to address the continuing poverty level in Nigeria. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER urges the government to re-appraise some of its economic policies and those geared towards poverty eradication.

Beside, It is remarkable that government insensitivity to suggestions put forward to it is increasing and is not being addressed as they should.

A holistic reappraisal is therefore inevitable at all sectors of the economy and mitigating measures put In place if government is to succeed in its poverty eradication drive.

IN the face of glaring discontent at the increasing poverty level, the World Bank proffered in its report. that “oil and natural gas will generate continuing wealth for many years on which Nigeria can build, if it manages this wealth well. If it channels more of this wealth to the development of its people and to the productive use of its land and other resources, then Nigeria has a promising Future”.

WE implore the Federal Government to continue to put policy measures in place to scale down poverty level. Corporate bodies and organisations can play a part by partnering with the various governments to alleviate poverty in the land.

A generation refers to people that are born about the same time.

It also refers to people within a particular population who experience the same significant event within that particular given period of time. Generation could also refer to what we commonly refer to as ‘Age Group.’ This age group experiences the same social change that will eventually be considered as the dominant feature of their age group.

Usually, the average period considered for a generation is between 25 — 30 years which is considered as a time a child should grow up, become adult and have children of their own.

NEXT Next refers to what comes immediately after in order or space or time. It refers to the one immediately following. Generation Next therefore refers to our children in future that we have to teach all the knowledge of God to affect their social, cultural, religious and academic life so that they can continue in the knowledge of God better than us.

A generation that fails to plan for the next generation is a failure - The Bible says in 1 Tim. 5:8 “if any provide not for his household, he has denied the faith and worse than an infidel.”

This includes — the future.

The next generation are the people we will hand over the baton to — to continue the race.

In the text that we read, God expects us to hand over His praise and His mighty works to the next generation in the Church so that the knowledge of Him will not go into extinction.

In the Western world, the following generations were marked out from 1883.

1. The Lost Generation — These are between 1883 - 1900.

Those who fought the 1st World War. 2. The Greatest Generation — Known as G.l. Generation.

These were veterans who fought World War II and were horn between 1901 —1924 3. The Silent Generation- Those who were too young to join the World War 11, born between 1925—1945, they were also born during the Great Depression.

4. The Baby Boomers Generation - Known as the worst generation. They were born between 1946 — 1964, which was marked by increase in birth rates.

5. Generation X — Those born between 1960s — 1980.

Those born after the baby boom. These born into the computer age.

6. Generation Y - Also called the Millennial Generation.

Those born from early 2000 —2000.

7. Generation Z is used for those born from the early 2000 to the present day.

If we have to look at this vis-à-vis, the Bible we see a great impact.

1. The Origin Generation — from Adam to the fall. Gen. 2:425 and Gen. 3:1-24 2. The Washed Away Generation - from Noah to the Flood.

Gen. 6-10 3. The Covenant Generation - from Abraham to Isaac.

Gen.12-26 4. The Rehoboth Generation — Isaac. Gen. 26:22 5. The Favoured Generation Jacob vs. Esau. Gen. 25Gen.32 6. The Coat of Many Colours Generation -Joseph and his brothers. Gen. 37-49 7. The Mixed Generation - Jacob curse to his children to the time of slavery in Egypt. Gen. 49, Exodus 14.

8. The Exodus Generation. Moses and the escape from Egypt — Exodus., Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

9. The Joshua Generation - Deut. 31 — to the book of Joshua.

10. The Lost Generation — Joshua appointed no successor, Joshua 24:31 11. The Judge Generation - Gideon, Samson, Barak, Deborah etc. - the Book of Judges.

12. The Prophets Generation. Prophet Eli, Samuel - Sam.19.

13. The Kings Generation — Saul, the first King, David and Solomon.

14. The Divided Generation — The split into southern and northern kingdoms in the days of Rehoboam through the action of Solomon. 1Kings 21-’ 13. Israel versus Judah.

15. The. Idolatry Generation - Beginning from jeroboam — they followed other gods and the next generation suffered-1Kings 12:25-33 16. The Faded Generation — Israel faded into Assyria. 11 Kings 17:1 — end. Hoshea became the last king of lsraeL722— 17. The Captive Generation — Daniel, Shedrach, Meshach, Abednego. Jer. 39, Daniel 1 - end. Judah was besieged and captured by Nebuchadnezzar in587BC. 18. The Messiah’s Generation — The birth of Jesus and

Youth Perspective Handling Teens With Peer Pressure (2)

By TUNDE ABDULAHI

His time - the Synoptic Gospel - Matthew. Mark, Luke and John.

19. The First Church Generation - 33AD - 70AD. This is the birth of Christianity - Acts of Apostles to the Book of Revelation.

I will not want to dwell much on what happened after because we had the: 20. The Catholic Generation. 70— 312AD 21. The Roman Empire Generation. 312 -590AD 22. The Middle Age Generation. Where the Catholic began to decline. 590— 1517AD 23. The Reformation Generation. AD1517 — 1648AD — This is where we have the Martin Luther and protestants and the rise of the Church of England when King James assembled scholars who brought out the authentic Bible called King James Bible in 1611 to rescue the Bible from distortion of the Catholic Church.

This has helped generations of Christians.

24. The Revival Generation. 1648 — 1789 — when there

was a new awakening of Christianity when the Americans were involved.

25. The Proven Generation. 1789 — 1914 AD — the greatest Christian movement of ages.

26. The Ideological Generation. Where God is challenged

by Maxism, Socialism, Communism, Islamism, Globalization and Terrorism. 1914 till now.

IN NIGERIA HOWEVER, WE HAVE: 1. The Missionary Generation - in the 19th Century, the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1840, the presbyter in 1846. a. The Roman Catholic — in 1862 b. The Wesleyan Methodist in 1842 etc.

2. The African Church Generation — early 1890s, e.g. the United Native African Church — 1900s.

The African Church — 1901, United African Methodist in 1917.

3. The Prayer Generation -1923, which brought about prayer groups to counter the influenza disease which broke out and defiled modern medicine - Thus: 4. The Faith Tabernacle which later became Apostolic Church, CAC and Aladura Churches were founded.

5. The Pentecostal/Evangelical Generation followed in the early 1950s because of deviation from the Bible by the Aladura Churches.

6. We have The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Foursquare Gospel Church in this category.

7. The ‘S.U.’ Generation — This was in the 1970s when everybody who became a Christian was labeled an ‘5.12.’- meaning Scripture Union.

8. The Born Again Generation — This began in the early 80s in Nigeria and has been on with the Bible and holiness — e.g. RCCG, Deeper Life etc.

THE PRESENT GENERATION The present generation of Christians could be described as:

The Hip Hop Generation: They are after music and are largely influenced by the worldly music.

They are the sexually wired generation because of the influence of television, internet and G.S.M., they are exposed to sexually explicit content and are highly volatile and susceptible to many things. However, this their knowledge could be used for the Lord.

Planning for the Generation Next The devil we should know is catching them young and he is always after the godly seed to corrupt — Mal. 2:14. The plan for the next generation should begin from the family.

We should let them know the family values that God wants. * One man, one wife—Matthew 19:5-6 No divorce — Mal. 2:1416 * No sex before marriage — Heb 13:4 — Chastity of the Marital Bed. We shall give account to God if we fail to handover good things — II Cor. 5:10.

Why do we prepare for the good academic future for them and

never prepare good spiritual future — godly wise? We should teach and inculcate in them the following: * Be Born Again -John3:3 * Be holy— 1 Peter 1:16 * Be grounded in the Word of God. II Tim. 2:15 * Faith in God—Heb. 11:6 * Fellowship within Brethren — Heb. 10:25 * Be prayerful — Phil. 4:6. The Next Generation should be taught the knowledge of God. They should be taught to talk to God about everything and talk everything to God and rely on Him only to answer - I Thess. 5:17 * Not marrying an unbeliever-II Cor. 6:14 * Expect the coming of the Lord —I Tim. 41-8 The Next Generation should be warned about the antics of the devil not to follow miracles as signs will follow them if they are holy—Mark 16:17 * Not to follow after fake pastors and prophets – Math 24:11 Not to follow multitude to do evil -. Exodus 23:1 —, e.g. nude dressing, worldliness, cultism etc. – l Jn. 2:15,16. They should be warned and taught the weapons that the devil uses now to destroy people:* Sex — I Cor. 6:18 * Homosexuality—Romans 1:27-28 * Lesbianism Teach them to wait on God as He will bless them. We should handover the baton of holiness to the next generation because the Jihadists have handed over terrorism to their children to blow up themselves for nothing but God is watching us what we are to hand over.

References: 1. The Holy Bible: King James Version, 1611 2. The Holy Bible, New International Version, Study Bible, 1984 3. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 4. The Holy History in Plain Language - Bruce L. Shelley, Wand Publishing, 1915 5. The RCCG Bible College Manuals

Ajuwaya

The Role Of NYSC In Nation-Building Efforts THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was introduced in 1973 as a mandatory one-year scheme, aimed at involving Nigerian graduates in efforts to fasttrack the country’s development and strengthen its unity.

Although the scheme was initially designed to include graduates of universities, colleges of education and polytechnics, it was later narrowed down to comprise graduates of universities, polytechnics and monotechnics who are under 30 years of age.

The purpose of the scheme is to enable the corps members to interact with people from diverse ethnic groups, while getting acquainted with their cultures, social and family backgrounds.

Observers believe that by serving outside their respective states of origin, the corps members would be in a privileged position to have a better perception of other people, while promoting peace and national cohesion.

Underscoring the scheme’s relevance, President Goodluck Jonathan noted that the NYSC had been part

By GEORGE ODOK

and parcel of the success story of Nigeria; its unity and strength.

Jonathan, who spoke at the inauguration of 2014 service year for Batch ‘A’ corps members in Cross River recently, said that the NYSC was famed for promoting unity.

He, however, said that the corps members ought to be an embodiment of discipline, honesty and selflessness so as to accomplish the desire of Nigerians for a more prosperous and united country.

Mr Nkereke Ibangha, the NYSC Coordinator in Cross River, said that the NYSC had adopted a more proactive method in efforts to promote self-reliance and social integration among corps members so as to enable them to make greater contributions to nation building.

He cited the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) scheme as one of the virile programmes of the NYSC that were initiated to develop the latent potential

of the corps members.

Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, the DirectorGeneral of the NYSC, said that the purpose of SAED was to reduce unemployment and prepare the corps members to become self-reliant after their service year.

“NYSC is collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bank of Industry to facilitate the grant of loans to corps members with good business ideas,’’ he said.

Commenting on the initiatives, stakeholders agree that the task of nation building will be easier if the youth are empowered and motivated by organisations such as NYSC. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said the scheme had succeeded in instilling some salient

societal norms and values in corps members.

The governor said this, while addressing the 2012 Batch ‘B’ corps members during their passing-out parade at the NYSC camp, Ipaja, Lagos.

He noted that corps members, especially those posted to Lagos State, were very much committed to the implementation and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“Your laudable contributions to the educational sector, the rural health scheme, the rural infrastructure and the monthly environmental sanitation programme cannot be overemphasised,’’ he said.

Fashola, nonetheless, urged corps members to work hard to transform Nigeria by sustaining the virtue of tolerance which they had acquired during the

service.

He also implored them to promote the wellbeing of the citizenry in all their future endeavours.

Dr Israel Ogbuechi, an excorps member who served in Opokuma, Kolukuma/ Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa, also underscored the importance of the NYSC in nation-building efforts.

Ogbuechi, who holds a Ph.D in Political Science from the University of Huntsville, Alabama, the U.S., said that he was determined to serve and key into the developmental agenda of the government.

Ogbuechi, who was among the 2013 Batch ‘A’ corps members who passed out on February 13, pledged that he would continue to support every government policy aimed at facilitating the country’s development.

“All my school years were in the U.S.; I thank God I have finished the one-year compulsory youth service; I can testify that the NYSC scheme is good for the sustainable development of our country.

“The benefits of effective distribution of skilled manpower and breaking of social as well as cultural barriers through the programme cannot be overemphasised.

“I am above 30 years, although I got my first degree at the age of 24 but I am happy to have served my country, Nigeria.

“NYSC officials wanted to disqualify me from serving but they finally discovered that I obtained my first degree when I was 24 years’ old.

“To me, the service year was an added experience and knowledge; I have learnt a lot about my country, meeting different people from different parts of Nigeria.

“I am quite happy; I have learnt more about our cultures, ethnic groups and

geographical areas, among others,’’ he added.

Ogbuechi urged Nigerians living abroad to support the NYSC scheme, as part of efforts to engender the fulfilment of the Federal G o v e r n m e n t ’ s Transformation Agenda.

Miss Yusuf Fatima, one of the corps members in Cross River, said that she would be involved in promoting skills’ acquisition among the residents of her host community.

Mr Adeyemo Ademola, another corps member, said that his focus would be on the establishment of an I n f o r m a t i o n Communication Technology (ICT) centre in his host community in Cross River.

“I intend to do this through the organisation of training programmes so as to enable members of the community to tap into the vast opportunities which the ICT offers,’’ he said.

Considering its various roles in national development, analysts, therefore, agree that NYSC is serving its primary purpose of promoting national unity, encouraging and developing common ties among the youth.

Dr Godwill Ogbogodo of University of Benin noted that the NYSC had virtually touched every aspect of the national life, insisting that the scheme had made appreciable impact on the social, cultural and economic spheres of life.

In a nutshell, Maj.-Gen. Hafiz Momoh, a former Director-General of NYSC, said that the scheme had been widely acclaimed as one of the most effective and successful instruments in efforts to achieve a humane and egalitarian society.

All in all, analysts stress the need to strengthen the NYSC scheme and reposition it to make more valuable contributions to the country’s development.

(NAN).

“Mr Adeyemo Ademola, another corps member, said that his focus would be on the establishment of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre in his host community in Cross River. I intend to do this through the organisation of training programmes so as to enable members of the community to tap into the vast opportunities which the ICT offers.”

Issues

Electoral Matters (2):

Offences And Punishment

By IJEOMA UMEH

THE following are electoral offences that are punishable with a fine ranging from between N100,000- N500,000 and/or a jail term of up to two-years, depending on the gravity of the offence.

OFFENCES Any person that registers in more than one registration centre or registration centre.

No voter shall hold more than one valid voters card.

No person shall issue a duplicate voters’ card to any voter on polling day or less t han thirty (30) days before polling day.

If you are in unlawful possession of a voters card or sell, offer for sale or buy a voters card.

Deliberately giving false information or impersonating others weather living or dead while registration through.

Any person trying to prevent an eligible voter from registration through intimidation, harassment or threats commits an offence.

PUNISHMENT A fine not exceeding N100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.

A fine not exceeding N100, 000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year.

A fine not exceeding N200, 000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.

A fine not exceeding N500, 000 or a jail term not exceeding two years.

A fine not exceeding M100, 000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.

A fine exceeding N500, 000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years.

Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

Other Electoral Offences: • Unlawfully destroying documents required for registration.

• Obstructing a registration officer in the performance of his / her duties.

• Unlawfully wearing the identification of a registration officer.

• Forging a registration card.

• Taking any government vehicle or boat to a polling unit.

• Snatching of ballot box.

• Announcing false election results, as well as deliberately giving false results to the news media.

• Any person who corruptly offers loan, gift, promise or agreement to another in order to induce him or her to vote for or refrain from voting a particular candidate.

• Every person shall maintain secrecy of the voting and no person shall interfere with a voter casting his vote.

• Any person who behaves or incites others to behave in a disorderly manner • No person on the day of an election shall: • Canvass for votes • Solicit the vote of any voter • Persuade voters to vote for a particular person • Shout slogans concerning the election • Possess offensive weapon or dress to intimidate voters • Blare siren • Loiter or hang around a polling unit without lawful excuse HOW ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED • On Election Day, the presiding officer shall display the ballot boxes in the full view of everyone present.

• The presiding officer in a polling unit can create separate queues for men and women if the culture in the area requires such separation.

• Voting shall be by open secret ballot. That is, you vote openly but your vote is confidential and known only to you. After the voting, the ballot box is opened and the votes are counted in open view.

• All facilities must be put on ground to ensure people with disabilities participate fully.

• A voter shall vote only one candidate for each elective post.

• Party agents and accredited observers are allowed to observe the voting • When voting is over, the counting and recording of votes shall be done at the polling unit. All voters have a right to return to the polling unit at the close of voting to witness the count.

• The presiding officer shall give a copy of there suit sheets to the party agents and a police officer where available.

• If there is an established emergency and other risks. IPIEC can postpone election in a constituency.

PROCEDURES FOR VOTING DURING ELECTIONS • On Election Day, there is a set time when voting takes place.

You can only vote during that time. The time is usually announced by INEC before the elections.

• No person shall be admitted into the polling unit after the poll has been declared closed.

• On the day of election, when you get to the polling unit to vote, behave in an orderly manner and join the queue.

• When it gets to your turn to vote, the electoral officer will first confirm if your name is on the voters’ register. This is called accreditation. When your name has been confirmed, you will be given a ballot paper which you will use to vote.

• The ballot paper will contain the names of all the candidates that are contesting for the various positions and the political parties they belong to.

• You will be required to dip your right thumb in an ink pad and then make a thumbprint in the space against the name of the candidate of your choice.

• You will then fold the thumb-printed ballot paper and drop it into the ballot box provided.

• In cases where voters don’t have thumbs, alternative means of voting as recognised or adopted by INEC will be used.

• You will not be allowed to remain in the polling unit after you have voted.

• Persons with Disabilities must be given assistance at the polling unit and enabled to exercise their right to vote.

• You are allowed to return to the polling unit at the dose of voting to witness the counting of the votes.

• The electoral officer will advise you on the distance to keep while observing the counting.

Media Continued from last week

THE theory of the three unities was what Aristotle (384 — 322BC) introduced in his dramatic convention. These are (1) the unity of action, which means that the plot must be as it were all in one piece.

(2) The unity of place which prescribes that the whole play must have only one scene, because it is absorbed to imagine that we are first in (Rome and then in a few minutes in Alexandria) (3) The unity of time — is usually taken to mean that the events of a play must not extend over more than twenty four hours, though many plays can be reduced to such where it takes place.

Unities of place and Time are just formal conventions related in part by the real needs of the theatre but capable of being frequently broken without disaster. They may contribute to the concentration of emotional experience which provides accumulation of pity and terror in a play, that show signs of horror and violent evolution are common.

The radio certainly helps to bring plays to life but shakespears plays are difficult to deal with on radio since he did not write for radio in his time. In order to study a play more intelligently whether in radio, television theatre or stage. Intensively than ever before, try to produce it, although not everyone that has a ‘set play’ can produce it. The producer must study the play carefully whether it needs few characters or many to make plays one or two parts and has time to change from one part to another and to avoid the catastrophe, and unlucky

Unveiling Today’s Print An actor trying to be two people at the same time.

Study and know the costume makers, makersup, electrician, stage hands, makers of properties, researchers to look things up in books, a prompter, bell ringers at the right time, putting on records.

The use of conventions to achieve concentration in drama is perhaps the central requirement of dramatic technique.

Convention of decency, the physical capacities of human being and the possibilities of stage technique may change; the possibilities of a well equipped modern theatre for realistic and complicated effects are already remarkable with artistic constant throughout literary history. Tragedy must offer accumulation of strong emotions. Comedy must offer a continues and cumulative amusement.

All these have to do with the convention of unity of action, which is always necessary if the play is to hold an audience continuously.

Writing the Radio TV Play The story for a play begin by writing the idea down, If the idea will really support a play, you should be able to write down what the play is all about in a few short sentences. This will clarify the idea and point to what is the real action of the play. It is not sufficient to say that my play is “about love”, “about war” election” “about HIV/AID in Nigeria” “about Breast feeding” “about Agriculture”. What kind of

By OSAYOMWABO ERO

love? What kind of war?

What kind of Elections?

What kind of Breast feeding? What kind of Agriculture? What kind of Love? And in what conditions?

A boy and a girl from two hostile families fall in love.

They run away to the city and marry. The marriage is an unhappy one but the unhappiness of the youngsters bring about a reconciliation of the two families.

Writing the idea in this way we find that the real action of the play is not the boy and the girl falling in love and running away.

Those are only the conditions for the action.

The real action is the reconciliation of the two families and suggests material enough for the powerful drama. Once you have established the real action you have the material idea for the most important scene. It is called the climax. All the action of the play will build up to this climax and the play will then come rapidly to its end.

Next, you have to establish very firmly in your mind the characters of the play. Write down all that you hope to know about them, what they look like, where they come from, what kind of education they have had, how they think and feel, why they think and feel the way they do, can one be good for comedy, comic opera, a comedian, opera singer, dumb show, sociology person and so

on. By knowing your characters very well before you start to write the play, you will find that when you come to writing it in words and phrases you use, will be natural to characters.

We come back to what kind of love? The father of the girl is a guarded old man of strict views and unforgiving temperament.

He is a self — centred in his thinking and has always run his house hold with unbending will of iron. His sour character developed as a boy when he lost a fight with his neighbours son who is now the father of the young man. Because he treated his daughter badly and refused to let her attend school, she jumped at the first opportunity to get away from home. The story has now widened by involving many characters.

The father of the girl and the mother quarrelling, the father accusing his wife taking part in the elopement of her daughter with a man to the city, etc. and so, until you have fairly full biographical notes on every leading character, in the play. By the time you have done this you will know your characters really well and you may even find them talking to you in your imagination.

You can now plot your play into scenes and each character being involved in his own scenes. In it, he leads the action and reveals something of his character and motives. You are now in position to write your play either in radio or

“Next, you have to establish very firmly in your mind the characters of the play. Write down all that you hope to know about them, what they look like, where they come from, what kind of education they have had, how they think and feel, why they think and feel the way they do, can one be good for comedy, comic opera, a comedian, opera singer, dumb show, sociology person and so on.”

television or for theatre stage, where the action is to flow from one setting to another, the unity of time, place and the unity of action, concentrating on dramatic climax of the play. In radio, narration

actors great help and chance to see at a glance what the play is all about and what character they are to play. Many other points concerning the writing of your play in radio and in television will be found in Radio writing and chapter

could be used as the transitions. The play is a narrative nature than dialogue.

A better transition might be if the mother of the girl asks in the dialogue: I wonder what she is doing now?” After a brief paulse, we may then hear the sound of city traffic followed by the daughter talking. The transition and place have then been painlessly made. In television there may be no narration, the sound of the city, tall buildings flood of electricity lights can be shown in the transition.

A well written radio play generally provides also a synopsis of the story in a hundred words or so with notes on the various characters (see characterization) with the name of the actor who is to play the part. This gives the

3. The Nature of Television, chapter 4, Basic principles of Television production and chapter 5, growing changing Nature of Television and chapter 6.

The television producing in volume II of the Laws of Broadcast Journalism.

In Nigeria by the author — Osayomwabo Osemwege Ero. Sound Effects in Radio and TV (See chapter 12 volume I) Sound effects can help to heighten the illusion of the radio drama but they are not essential to it. Many great radio plays use no sound effects at all or if they use them, they do so only sparingly. The guiding rule is to use sound effects where they are important in the action or where they help to set the

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scene.

If a radio play is used, the sound of the people for example, walking every time, a character entered or departed from a scene, or for every movement, the air would be cluttered with meaningless noise. On the

EHI: I put it somewhere —— now where is It oh yes; (Effects, Drawer being opened) EHI: In this drawer.

Many sounds in radio are quite misleading. But if a

other hand, we may need to hear footsteps, stage whisper, entrance, for instance where, an important character is a man who limps.

Many sounds effects need explaining a word or two here and there in the dialogue will help the listener to appreciate the sound effect without puzzling as to what it is.

For example EHI: I put it somewhere ——now Where is it?

(Effects: Drawer being opened) EHI: Oh yes. Here it is.

Is some what meaningless to the listener.

A drawer being opened does not make a particularly characteristic sound.

The action need some explanation if it is to be understood by the listener:

producer can carefully manufacture or create some that can match a programme, the better it is.

For example the cellophane of a cigarette packet crumbled at the microphone sound like fire. The striking of a match close to the microphone, can sound like a frightening explosion.

Any sound effects must be properly worked out in the script as described in chapter 17 on writing for radio and television. Sound effects, are available in records. They can also be produced live in the studios, these are called manual or spots effects.

Many recorded sound effects are unsuitable. (See some common sounds in Broadcasting in chapter 11 volume I). For instance the sound of a telephone bell

ringing may not be the sound a telephone makes in your country. The whistle of a train may be different, similarly, the noise of a crowd and so on.

A crowd can easily be simulated with three or four actors, record them when talking, although not actually saying recognizable words and then play back the recording while having the actors talk again. Record both the play back and the second lot of talking. This can be repeated several times until you have the size of crowd you need. At each retake, the actors can be at different distances from the microphone.

Dramatic Casts This was discussed in chapter 13 Voice and Microphones. In selecting actors and actresses the producer should remember that their voices must be in keeping with the parts they are to play. Old voices are needed for old people and young voices for young people. It is the sound of voice not the actual age that counts.

When you are in doubt about the selection of an actor, ask him or her to visit the studios and audition for you. He can read some lines from the play you have in mind to help you decide whether or not, he is suitable. Keep careful notes about his performance and suitability in your talent register.

Traditional Drama This could be called indigenous drama particularly in African (Nigeria) communities where there are established theatre groups who

traveled the country side, from village to village.

These are very many in Nigeria even before the advent of radio and television in Nigeria.

They seldom work from scripts but generally make up the play as they go along. This is a valid form of drama but is sometimes difficult to use in radio, television and their techniques. The production of these groups for radio and television is usually a slow process and the play, or parts of it, may need to be recorded several times before it is intelligent cast or characters that have become useful in dramatic programme in African countries. The young one have gone to school even to university to learn the art of drama as it could be produced not only in theatre but in radio and television.

As drama is a powerful vehicle for public enlightenment and instruction radio and television have produced series and serial drama built around popular principal characters that can be used for all kinds of teaching.

In some countries, such serials have run for very many years such as “Operation feed the Nation” in Nigeria. These have had great influence on the costume and tradition of their listeners.

M U S I C PROGRAMME Origin How man first discovered that music could be made with instruments as well as with mouth continues to remain a mystery. In every country there are legends and

myths about the origin of musical instruments. Every country and tribe has its body of folk music verses and instruments and they are sometimes found to be mysterious ways and an emanation of people. The result no doubt is of a corporate urge for self expression. No one knows who composed them. They just grow and non of them bears the impression of individual genius they give us. It is a heritage held in common all over the world.

Music Instruments Musical Instruments are very many and some are indigenous to the users.

They play important role in the lives of a people.

Generally they accompany singing and dancing at social occasions like wedding, funerals, politics, religion ritual, communication, birth, death, initiation and other important events.

Singing and dancing with instruments at marriage ceremonies go on for hours with hundreds of people participating. At funerals, melodious music are played as a tribute to the deceased people who pay homage to their chiefs and kings with music and dance and the royal drummers sometimes play drums as their king move from home to important ceremony with music.

Some people sing joyously when they are happy, working in the farm and during festivals driving on long or short journeys.

Chordophones or Stringed Instruments These emit sounds by means of the vibration of a lightly stretched cord or

string such as guitar, harp, lyre, lute, acoustic guitar, zither and electric guitar, which was made recently Membranephones These are instruments that produced sounds by means of membrane.

Membranephone drums are very common in Africa.

(Nigeria). They are of various types and are constructed with leather, sticks and wood. Some are war drums in some societies. Some drums have simple membranes with or without hollow at the other end while others have double membranes. That the two ends are covered with the skin, most of these drums are meant for different historical events in African societies. Some are so large that they are set on the ground or on a stand and some are slung on the shoulders or weld between the knees when played.

Some are called tomtom, bongo, timpani steel drum, bass drum, tenor drum, tabor, tambourine and table drum.

The Idiophone The idiophones are musical instruments such as bell, gongs, rattles, xylophones, motar, pestle, smith anvil, the horse tail that makes swishing sound when waved , They are musical instruments which are capable in themselves of producing sounds when strucked or shaken. The materials commonly used for idiophones are world, mental bamboo, drawing the attention of audience.

Bells communicate effectively in many societies in Africa. Such as church bell, alarm bell, clappers school bell etc.

To be continued

“When you are in doubt about the selection of an actor, ask him or her to visit the studios and audition for you. He can read some lines from the play you have in mind to help you decide whether or not, he is suitable. Keep careful notes about his performance and suitability in your talent register.”

Security Issues Fighting Terrorism: A couple of months ago, in obvious reaction to the burgeoning security challenges facing the Nigerian State and its citizens, consequent to the escalation of the conundrum of violence in the NorthEastern part of the country, the Nigerian Government came out with what it called the “Soft Approach to Countering Terrorism” (NACTEST), a multifacetted approach that will involve a wide gamut of participants- both state and non-state actors - all contributing their quota to the search for positive peace in the country.

This column joins other security watchers in lauding this latest move by government to not only douse the fiery face of violence in the North-East, but also prevent the eruption of violent conflicts in other parts of the country, as it is in tandem with its constant calls for a “Multi-Track Diplomacy” approach to conflict prevention and peace building in Nigeria; a systems approach to all peace efforts in the country. With this pronouncement, government has expressed its readiness to move from “Strategic to Collective Security”, as has been constantly advocated on this page – a security arrangement that is allencompassing. It is also in tandem with this column’s calls for the adoption of a “Home-Grown Strategy” in the country’s anti-terror campaign.

What is most heartwarming is the fact that the new approach is as proactive as it is comprehensive, taking both the structural/ background and immediate/ exacerbating factors responsible for past violent conflicts in the country into consideration with a view to checking the eruption of similar acts of violence in the future; a great departure from the largely reactive, belated and grossly ineffective approaches of old. This, together with the wide spectrum of potential participants cutting across the three tiers of government (Federal, State and Local Government - vertical) and other non-state actors(civil society groups, religious groups, citizen-diplomats et al - horizontal) makes this a novel idea that should be commended and encouraged by all and sundry.

In a nutshell, Nigeria’s Soft Approach to Countering

Terrorism - and other potential acts of violence will not rely solely on the use of physical force by the state through the instrumentality of its security forces, as has been the practice in the past – the insurgency in the North-East being the most recent example. Rather, it will give room for other participants in the peace project to make their contributions to the peace process. It includes both palliative and on-thefield strategies that are targeted at the root causes of violent conflicts with a view to adequately addressing them; a grand stratagem that aims to tackle potential causes of violent conflicts at both their latent and manifest stages.; a holistic approach in every sense of the word – one that is in consonance with best practices in other climes with similar threat indicators.

Novel as this idea is, however, the extent to which the Nigerian Government is willing to go in ensuring its full implementation is this column’s greatest concern, considering the proclivity of Nigerian governments - from antiquity till date - to refrain from turning policy statements into practical realities; a re-occurring decimal that has become traditional hallmarks of citizen-state relations in these parts. Another cause for worry springs from the fact that since this pronouncement was made, no concrete follow-up steps have been taken in the way of releasing a concrete and comprehensive blueprint that will guide the full implementation of this plan.

This column is also worried that this grand stratagem which is expected to be the plank on which the country’s peace and security will rest – might be a stop-gap arrangement that will fade away once the current imbroglio is hopefully tackled or once the tenure of the administration that muted it ends. Rather than allow this to be the case, government is advised to turn the initiative into full state policy- a permanent feature of the country’s future collective security arrangements - that should be continued by successive administrations; an institutionalized aspect of the country’s future security strategies; the chief cornerstone of positive peace and security in the country.

That is where the issue of political will – a missing ingredient that has restricted

With OBUSEH JUDE 08033510173

Interrogating Nigeria’s Soft Approach

the success of all previous peace initiatives, since the onset of the ongoing fracas comes into full focus.This pessimism stems from a worrying trend that dates back to as far as the onset of the Nigerian project - the

on its image? Are Nigerian leaders ready to go the whole hog in the onerous task of fully implementing this wonderful idea to the letter?

Are Nigerian leaders prepared to ignore political exigencies and expediencies

over 200 female students from a school in Borno State – calls for a better coordinated approach to the search for positive peace in Nigeria. The scale of death and destruction that have

move with dispatch in executing all its strategies that are aimed at restoring peace to the North-East, using all civilized means possible. The Soft Approach to preventing conflicts and building peace in Nigeria is the best alternative to government’s natural inclination towards

President Goodluck Jonathan penchant by the country’s leaders to desist from practicing what they preach.

The truth is that Nigerian leaders are masters of doublespeak who say one thing when they actually mean something else. What if the Soft Approach is

in objectively executing the terms of this initiative to the letter? Are they ready to deploy all the required resources that will speed up the achievement of this objective? Plethora of questions, demand for answers.

resulted from attacks by this group on both military and civilian target are early warning signs of more horrible spectacles in the future if nothing is urgently and decisively done by those in authority to arrest this alarming trend.

confrontation - an approach that, instead of dousing tensions in the troubled spots, has escalated them to heights previously unknown. It is a massive departure from the traditional approaches that have been as ineffective as they have been directionless.

“The reality thrown up by recent tragic developments is the fact that Boko Haram is becoming more emboldened and more ready to up the ante in its zerosum exchange with the Nigerian State, using all extreme means at its disposal in expressing its grievances.” another attempt by the authorities to calm frayed nerves and create a sense of false optimism in the minds of Nigerians, in the face of the country’s gradual descent into anarchy? What if this is another attempt by the government that is aimed at controlling the damage that the astronomical increase in acts of violence has inflicted

Terrorism’s new face in Nigeria, a worrying phenomenon that has witnessed an astronomical increase in the scale of violence - as exemplified by the recent bomb blast in Iyanya, a satellite town in Abuja, the country’s seat of power, an attack that left scores dead in its wake, followed by the abduction of

The reality thrown up by recent tragic developments is the fact that Boko Haram is becoming more emboldened and more ready to up the ante in its zero-sum exchange with the Nigerian State, using all extreme means at its disposal in expressing its grievances.

Taking this into cognizance, this column hereby calls on the Nigerian authorities to

Let those in authority, who have the resources to do what is right for peace to hold sway in this country, begin to expedite the constitutional requirements of their offices – the bulk stops on your table at the end of the day. Let Peace reign in Nigeria!

Mr. Obuseh Jude, a peace researcher and practitioner, writes from Benin City, Edo State.

INTRODUCTION: terms is +9 X +4 = 36 Perfect Square trinomials are of Sum of factors the form x2 + 2xy + y2, when factorised Product (+36) +4 x +9 +4 + 9 = +13 gives (x + y)2. In Otherwords, (x + y)2 -4 x -9 -4 - 9 = -13 is the same as (x + y)(x + y). +6 x +6 +6 + 6 = +12 Applying the rules: 1st to 1st; 1st to -6 x -6 -6 - 12 = -12 2nd. 2nd to 1st; and end to 2nd in

Mathematics With Stanley Osobase 08023454887 Osobase2001@yahoo.co.uk

Factorising Perfect Suqare Trinomials expanding to two brackets (as indicated Replace middle term to get: Replace middle term with factors by the arrows) 2x2 + 4xy - 3xy - 6y2 to get 9a2 - 6ab - 6ab + 4b2 Grouping the 4 terms in pairs we get: Pair the 4 terms to get: 2nd 1st 1st 3a(3a - 2b) - 2b(3a - 2b) 2x(x + 2y) -3y(x + 2y) (x + y)(x + y) or (3a - 2b)(3a - 2b) 2nd or (x + 2y)(2x -3y) 1st 2nd

9a2 - 12ab + 4b2

We get: x2 + xy + xy + y2 Example 3 2 2 or x + 2xy + y (collecting like terms) NECO, 2002 Similarly, x2 - 2xy + y2 when What are the factors of factorised gives (x -y)2. check this out 2x2 - xy - 3y2?

2 by expanding (x - y) to get the Solution: trinomial x2 - 2xy + y2 We observer that the extreme B]. APPLICATION EXAMPLES coefficients are not squares, so we multiply them to get: +2 x (-3) = -6 Example 1 Factorise x2 + 6xy + 9y2 Product (-6) Sum of factors Solution: -2 x +3 -2 + 3 = 1 Looking at the extreme terms, we +2 x -3 +2 - 3 = -1 observe that x2 is the square of x -6 x +1 -6 + 1 = -5 9y2 is the square of 3y. +6 x -1 +6 - 1 = +5 The middle term 6xy is twice the Replace the middle term to get: product of x and 3y.

2x2 + 2xy - 3xy - 3y2 2 2 2 x + 6xy + y = (x + 3y) Grouping in twos the terms we get: To verify this, expand (x + 3y)2 2x(x + y) -3y(x +y) i.e. (x + 3y)2 = (x + 3y)(x + 3y). or (x + y)(2x - 3y) Using the above rule, expand the 2x2 - xy - 3y2 = (x + y)(2x - 3y)Ans brackets and collect the like terms to get back x2 + 6xy + y2.

Example 4 Example 2 Factorize 2x2 + xy - 6y2 Factorize 9a2 of 3a and 4b2 Solution: Solution: 9a2 is the square of 3a and 4b2 is the Step 1: Multiply the coefficients of square of 2a. The middle term 12ab is extreme terms to get: (+2) x (-6) =-12 Step 2: twice the product of 3a and 2b.

9a2 - 12ab + 4b2 = (3a - 2b)2.

Aliter: As in the previous editions, we could also apply the method of “product and sum�.

Thus, the product of the coefficient of 1st term and lost term or extreme

Product (-12) -4 x +3 +4 x -3 +2 x -6 -2 x +6 +12 x -1 -12 x +1

Sum of factors -4 + 3 = -1 +4 - 3 = +1 +2 - 6 = -4 -2 + 6 = +4 +12 - 1 = +11 -12 + 1 = -11

2x2 + xy - 6y2 = (x + 2y)(2x-3y)Ans

Example 5 Factorize u2 - 15uv + 54v2 Solution: Observe that the coeficient of extreme terms are +1 and +54 respectively.

The product of the coeficient is + 54.

Now: Product (+54) Sum of factors +6 x +9 +6 + 9 = +15 -6 x -9 -6 - 9 = -15 -27 x -2 -27 - 2 = -29 +27 x +2 +27 + 2 = +29 +54 x +1 +54 + 1 = +55 -54 x -1 -54 - 1 = -55 Replace the middle term to get: u2 - 6uv - 9uv + 54v2 Grouping the 4 terms in pairs we get: u(u - 6v) -9v(u -6v) or (u - 6v)(u - 6v) u2 - 15uv + 54v2 = (u - 6v)(u - 9v) Ans Drill Factorize: (1). x2 - 10xy + 25y2 Ans = (x - 5y)2 (2). 25p2 - 30pq + 9q2 Ans= (5p - 3q)2 Until next edition, remain blessed solving maths. Also at 4pm (Thursdays), Watch EBS TV Live!

Should You Buy New Or Motoring Second Hand Vehicle?

With

I tend to get a bit upset when it is time to renew my car’s insurance. It is not because I feel I am throwing money away. I truly appreciate insurance and the peace of mind it brings, my insurance company has been very nice to me. What I find upsetting is finding out the current market price of my car, knowing how much I bought the car brand new. I find the depreciation annoying because I know what I would have done with the money rather than lose it to depreciation just like that.

Does it make sense to throw away so much money in the name of driving a brand new car?

Wealthy folks also buy second hand According to a 20-year study of 500 millionaires and more than 1,000 high pet worth individuals, Thomas J. Stanley, bestselling author of “the millionaire next door”, discovered that more than 75 per cent of self- made American millionaires do not drive the latest model and most bought second hand. They

you have to pay to access records for some cars. All the-cars I was- interested in, upon my online search, were accidented cars.

I don’t have any issue with an accidented car (though it might feel a little creepy when one thinks about what may have happened to previous, owners). Most of the cars were sold off by insurance companies as write-offs, to recover some of the money paid in claims settlement. These cars are fixed up and sprayed in a standard workshop making the car virtually as good as new. Also, because the car had been dumped in a yard for months and maybe years, the low mileage on the speedometer is usually correct (you can see a three-year old car with a mileage of less than 20,000km). Due to low usage, the chassis, shock absorbers and shafts etc are in pretty good shape. my main issue is that the dealer should be upfront with the true history of the car, and give me the privilege of making the decision whether to buy an accidented car or not, rather than make the decision

waited for someone else to pick up the steep depreciation before they bought the car. Among the minority that bought brand new cars, most held onto it for eight years and above before they traded them for a newer model.

Most cars depreciate the most in the first year. The moment you stick a number plate to a car it loses about 25 per cent of its value before you drive it away from the dealer’s parking lot.

That means if you bought a car for N6m, you would have lost about N1.5m as you drive off from the dealer’s parking lot. If you had used that N1.5m to buy a plot of land in the outskirts of town, it may be worth more than N10m in less than five years.

Compare that to what the whole car will be worth in five years.

Spending is emotion-driven and we love the good feeling that comes with getting something we really want, even if it makes no financial sense in the long run. There is nothing wrong in buying a new car, but sometimes we need to take a step back and see what it is we are doing with our money and the impact years down the line.

SNEAKY CAR DEALERS. Making the decision to buy a car is not an easy one. I remember my experience with my current car two years ago. None of the dealers I met told me the truth. I am not saying all car dealers are liars. I was not lucky enough to meet one of the truthful ones. most of them then were not aware that you could check the history of a car online using the yin or chassis number on some sites like carfax.com. It shows maintenance and repair records, mileage readings etc before shipment. Some of the searches are free while

for me by telling lies.

Also, in some instances, the car was affected by flood water e.g. from Hurricane Katrina, Rita, sandy and its cousins. That means the electronics may have been affected, which is the reason insurance firms sell them off to whoever cares to buy. It is a 50-50 scenario, everything may be fine or it may give you problems down the line due to water damage. Again, the dealer will not tell you the car was a victim of flooding. Everything would have been cleaned up to look as good as new. All you may notice is the low mileage on the speedometer and the relatively cheap price for such clean looking car.

CHEAP NEW AND EXPENSIVE SECOND HAND CARS The decision to buy brand new or second hand is yours. There

OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452

are no right or wrong answers. Some brand new cars are much cheaper than some second hand cars. Some second hand range rover cars! go for n7m, which is enough to buy two of some kia/ Hyundai models with enough money left for registration, insurance etc. the beauty of a brand new car is that you don’t need to know your mechanic’s house or have fellowship with him every weekend. With oil and filter change every 5,00km; you are free to do better things with your time.

DRIVING LESSON: EXPRESSWAY DRIVING 1. DEFINITION: The term “expressway” means any specially assigned and restricted highway divided with untraversable barrier with traffic in opposite directions completely separated from each other.

Traffic in one direction may be in two or more lanes.

2. SPECIAL DISTINCTION: Expressways are desired for traffic movement with minimum interruption but are certainly not speed tracks. In Nigeria, outright maximum speed posted is 100km, per hour. Violators stand the risk of being prosecuted according to Nigeria traffic laws, especially decree 45 of 1988.

3. Expressways are subject to very stern restrictions as given below: • No animals • No pedestrians or hawkers • No pedal cycles • No motorized • Cycles with capacity below certain specified capacity, except where tracks are provided or special concessions have been given especially for motorcycles.

• No learner driver • No waiting • No stopping • No loading or unloading Other restriction on expressway relate to minimum and maximum speed limits and other regulation, which are clearly posted on road signs. Always watch out for these.

1. BEFORE ENTERING EXPRESSWAY: make sure your vehicle is fit to cruise at a safe speed, has correct tyre pressures, and enough patrol, oil and water to take you to the next service area. 2. JOINING THE EXPRESS WAY: when you join the expressway other than at its start, you will approach from the road on the right (a slip road). Give way to traffic already on the high way and then accelerate in the extra lane (the acceleration lane) so that when you join the inside lane you are already travelling at the same speed, as the traffic on it. You should not exceed the prescribed speed limit for that high-way.

3. INTER CHANGES: because of the nature the restrictions on the express way. There are stipulated ways in which you may join or leave the express way. Special intersections called interchanges are designed to enable you cross,. Enter or leave the expressway without interfering with other vehicles. The four common types of interchanges are the CLOVER LEAF DIAMOND TRUMPET AND DIRECTIONAL 4. DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY: (a) concentrate: traffic travels faster on expressways than ordinary roads, and you will need to sum up traffic. Situations quickly using your mirror and concentrating all the time are doubly important on express ways. Watch out for vehicles entering the expressway 5. (b) keep your distance: do not get too close to the vehicle in front. Remember “Two-second rule.

6. (c) MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED: Do not move in jerks.

There are both minimum speed limit on the expressway apply the common sense speed limit and the limitation of your vehicle.

“Making the decision to buy a car is not an easy one. I remember my experience with my current car two years ago. None of the dealers I met told me the truth. I am not saying all car dealers are liars. I was not lucky enough to meet one of the truthful ones. most of them then were not aware that you could check the history of a car online using the yin or chassis number on some sites like carfax.com.”

Spirituality Lessons From The Lives Of Saints (3) ST. BERNARDEITE SOUBIROUS IT is strange that the shepherds were the first to see Christ! Certainly there were pious souls in Bethlehem, there were people famous and rich and well-educated; priests, scribes and pharisees; princes and kings. But the first allowed to see Christ were the simple shepherds, men physically and mentally weak — the lowest class of labor — shepherds!

So too, at the time Mary appeared to Bernardette at Lourdes, there were holy souls and famous people: Popes and presidents, priests and nuns, theologians and hermits.

But it was to an extremely poor and illiterate girl that Our Lady appeared in 1858 at Lourdes. one Bernardette Soubirous, a little girl of fourteen.

She was the oldest daughter of a very poor couple, born on January 7, 1844 in the town of Lourdes, in the valley of the Pyrenees. With rivers running through the town, there were many grist mills; that is what her father did for a living. Unfortunately, he was not a good businessman and from poverty the family went to indigency. They couldn’t pay rent and were evicted; moved to an abandoned jail and then to a windowless room in a farm yard —the poorest lodging in town.

Not only poor lodgings; very little to eat and little Bernardette, as the oldest, had to do all she could to bring in a few crusts of bread, especially as more children came. No time for school; she was hired out to do housework; she was sent

to a family to care for their flocks. By birth she was not a robust girl and lack of proper nutrition meant she didn’t grow properly and was a ready prey for disease.

In fact, at eleven she contracted cholera and almost died of it; she also got asthma that stayed with her all her life.

Olive completed with shining eyes that shone out in a round face with a large mouth, this, little girl appeared in town always neatly but very poorly dressed with bare feet in her wooden sabots. Only after the asthma was she able to get woolen stockings.

Poverty was her constant companion! Though she was fourteen by 1858, she could neither read nor write and spoke only the local patois.

She was French but couldn’t speak French! And for her, what was worse, she not only didn’t attend school but she hadn’t made her first Holy Communion!

The Lourdes area was known for its piety and devotion to our Blessed Lady and some good souls sought to teach her in preparation for her first Communion -but she couldn’t learn and not knowing how to read, she couldn’t study at home. This was the Bernardette of 1858 when our Blessed Mother appeared to her -small for her age, not very bright, poor but good. A little story tells of her unwillingness to believe a lie — and her lack of knowledge. She tended sheep and saw some with a green mark on their backs (put there to identify them).

She asked why the green and upon being told it came from eating too much grass,

By DITTANAY CARIN

she broke into tears out of pity.

On a Thursday in February of 1858, (it was the eleventh), she and a few

in a niche in the grotto she saw a girl in white, on her right arm hung a rosary.

Bernardette rubbed her eyes but the apparition didn’t go

her kneeling and motionless, they were afraid and questioned her. Little simple Bernardette told them but at home she said nothing. But her sister (one of her two companions) told

St. Bernardeite Soubirous

companions went out for a walk; a bit of a lark, but also to pick up stray branches for the fire. They crossed over the Gave River and the others went ahead — Bernardette was by a grotto of rock called Massabielle (in the local patois it means Old Hump) when she heard the sound of the wind and

away. The ‘girl’ smiled at Bernardette —taken aback she took out her rosary and started to say it, the girl’ slipping the beads between her fingers as Bernardette said it. The apparition vanished after the rosary was said.

When her two companions came and saw

“She taught her a secret prayer that has never been revealed; she was told that she would die young, she was told to tell the priests to have processions and build a chapel at Massabielle and the ‘lovely lady’ asked for penance.”

her mother. The reaction was a hit with a stick and orders not to return. But she was drawn interiorly to return, pleaded with her mother and then her father —finally, three days later she was allowed to return.

Again she saw a very lovely lady’.

Word got ‘around town and poor Bernardette was put down as same psychopath, even her mother called her a ‘little scamp and wanted to punish her for deluding people.

Again Bernardette was forbidden to return. But a friend prevailed upon the parents and she promised to go along to find out what it was all about and

Bernardette was admonished: “you will be punished if you lie.”

‘It was on this occasion that the lovely lady told her: “I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the next’ and asked Bernardette to return daily for a fortnight (two weeks).

All this caused a commotion in the town and many ridiculed her. She was questioned by the police and her simple answers disarmed them. A doctor stood at her side when she saw the apparition and he became her supporter. She was accused of having claimed visions to prey on peoples’ gullibility and make money. But never, then or later, did she take money —when money was offered, she refused it; put in her apron pocket, she returned it. Repeatedly she was questioned by learned men but this simple literate girl could not be tricked.

She was threatened with prison but she stood her ground; she DID see a ‘lovely lady’ who asked her to return. Well, the people said, maybe she is not lying but she herself is deceived and only thinks she sees the lovely lady. But each day the apparitions continued, the crowds increased and the ‘lovely lady’ told things to Bernardette. She taught her a secret prayer that has never been revealed; she was told that she would die young, she was told to tell the priests to have processions and build a chapel at Massabielle and the ‘lovely lady’ asked for penance. On the 25th of February those who came to witness the apparition saw something strange: Bernardette scratched the ground and muddy water appeared-she drank; then she ate a blade of grass: soon the water increased in volume and where there was nothing before, there was now a spring.

Between Men, Women And The Statusque Coping With The Triple Burden

This places the majority of women in an inferior position to men, and left with very little time to change their unequal status.

Add to this the customs and

much focus on empowering women becomes clear.

KNOW YOUR PLACE! The Impact on Women of

that the people in a particular group or society have practised or held for a long time.

Culture and tradition can: enable and/or obstruct oppress and/or liberate empower (UNESCO Bangkok) • In daily life most women have fewer rights than men, even when they are equal before the law. This is reinforced in countries where not only official or state law is practiced, but also customary and family or religious law. It has severe

traditions that limit most women’s involvement in society, and the reason why there is so

Culture and Tradition In practice, in most countries, culture and tradition place women in a subservient position to men.

People are deeply influenced by their cultural environments but at the same time, they influence and build the cultures around them. Culture is dynamic and cultures survive by responding to changing realities.

Gender roles are also dynamic and can therefore change.

Culture is usually a combination of a shared common history, religion, customs, art, dress and ethnic background and the way that time different groups depend on each other.

Tradition is a custom or belief

implications for women.

• In some African countries such as Zimbabwe and Uganda, under customary law, women are always considered to be minors.

This means that they can’t inherit land or property and therefore have no collateral to get loans.

• Women who are considered to be minors do not even have the right to keep their own children. If the husband dies everything goes to the male members of his family. The widow is also expected to marry one of them.

• Rural women are often more likely to take their grievances or problems to the more accessible community or customary courts, particularly poor and illiterate women who are afraid of state

“She carries on her shoulders the house, the garden, the farm, the cows, the pigs, the calves and the children” and oftentimes the man Her back wonders why it doesn’t break. Her hands wonder why they don’t fall off.

She doesn’t wonder.

Anna Swirszczynska ‘Uneven Burdens. Women in Rural Poland OVER the centuries, society has determined the roles and responsibilities of men and women and prescribed how we should behave. This has placed women in an inferior position to men and left them coping with what is called a ‘triple burden’.

In order to clarify the different roles of men and women, sociologists broke them down into: • Productive role - activities that bring income into a household, whether it’s paid employment, small scale entrepreneurial ventures or agricultural work on family plots • Reproductive role - this involves not just bearing, looking after and educating children, but also maintenance of the home, such as gathering water and firewood, cooking, washing clothes and growing food for home consumption.

• Community role - activities undertaken, without pay, at the community level. These could be anything from organising community services and social events, to participation in local politics.

When these roles are analysed, it can be seen that women have to balance the demands of all three roles, the triple burden’, while most men are largely involved in just the productive and community roles. Their contribution to the reproductive role is often limited.

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Happy May Day! Happy May Day to all Nigerian workers everywhere, anywhere continue to persevere and God will bless the works of your hand!

Be Security Conscious Eschew violence, give peace a chance Dialogue!

GENDER ADVOCACY With

IJEOMA UMEH Tel: 081823822839 courts. But these customary courts often don’t apply the laws protecting women that have been agreed by their governments.

Economic Empowerment The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UINTFEM) includes the following factors in its definition of women’s empowerment.

• acquiring knowledge and understanding of gender relations and the ways in which these relations might be changed.

• developing a sense of self-

worth, a belief in one’s ability to secure desired changes and the right to control one’s life.

day is taken up with performing household tasks such as carrying water and collecting fuel wood.

In many countries women are also responsible for agricultural production and market work.

Often they take on paid work or entrepreneurial enterprises as well. Yet in most parts of the world women are virtually absent from, or are poorly represented in economic decision-making.

Some of the reasons for this are: • They have less experience in dealing with formal financial institutions • They tend to have smaller enterprises and fewer assets.

• They are less likely to own land or other assets and face legal barriers to borrowing in many countries.

• Illiteracy rates are higher among women.

• Low income women tend to concentrate on different economic activities than low income men.

Although many of the world’s poor women are self-employed in micro-enterprises and small businesses, they have access to very little rural credit. Yet, research has found that when women are given credit they are more reliable in making loan repayments than men. One of the most successful credit schemes ever set up has been the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Loans are managed by small groups and the whole group is held responsible if a borrower does not repay a loan. However there must be careful monitoring of loans to prevent money getting into men’s hands. Often money is handed over to the men either voluntarily or by force.

Look at the Grameen Bank

“Although many of the world’s poor women are self-employed in microenterprises and small businesses, they have access to very little rural credit. Yet, research has found that when women are given credit they are more reliable in making loan repayments than men.”

• gaining the ability to generate choices and exercise bargaining power.

• developing the ability to organise and influence the direction of social change to create a more just social and economic order.

In nearly every country women work longer hours than men, but are usually paid less and are more likely to live in poverty. In subsistence economies, much of a woman’s

websitc. Also investigate similar credit schemes in your own country.

Political Empowerment CEDAW states that all appropriate measures should be taken to eliminate discrimination against women in political life and ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right to participate in the formulation and implementation of government policy and to hold public.

Religion

With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA

The Ministry Of The Super Natural (5) AT the death of Christ, the veil which shut out of the Holy of Holies from mankind was rent in twain. This happening is taken as a symbol that the separation between Divinity and mankind ceased at the moment of the savior’s sacrifice on the cross and that direct communication was established in its stead.

However, Abd-ru-shin says that, the interpretation is wrong. Through His Crucifixion men rejected the Son of God as their expected Messiah and this made the separation all the greater. The veil was rent because, henceforth, the Holy of Holies was no longer necessary. It was exposed to all eyes, as well as to impure currents because, symbolically speaking, after this deed, Divinity would no longer set foot on Holy of Holies superfluous.

The death of the Son of God on the cross, Abd-ru-shin says was not a necessary sacrifice, but a murder, a dastardly crime. Every other explanation is a misinterpretation which either has its origin in ignorance or is meant as an excuse. Christ certainly did not come to this earth with the intention of letting Himself be crucified, neither does redemption lie in the crucifixion. Christ was crucified because of His teaching, as a troublesome Bringer of Truth.

Abd-ru-shin says it was not His death on the cross that could and should bring redemption but the Truth He gave to mankind in His word.

The Truth, however, was irksome to the religious leaders and heads of the temples of that time. It was an annoyance because it severely undermined their influence. It would be exactly the same today in many places.

Mankind has not changed in this respect. The teachers of that time took their standing, it is true, on the good old traditions as do those of today, but through those who practiced and interpreted them, these traditions had become nothing but rigid and empty forms, wholly wanting in life, the same as may often be observed today.

But He who wanted to bring the necessary life into the existing. Word naturally also, upset their practices and explanations but He did not upset the word itself. He liberated and redeemed the people from the debasing rigidity and emptiness and this was naturally a great vexation to those who soon recognize how effectively, this would interfere with their false leadership.

For this reason, the Bringer of Truth, the Liberator from the burden of errenous interpretations, had to be rendered suspect and persecuted. As inspite of all their efforts, they did not succed in ridiculing Him, they sought to discredit Him. His “earthly upbuilding “ as the son of a carpenter served to brand Him as “unlearned and therefore, incompetent to give explanations as “a layman” Just as it is today with everyone who exposes the rigid dogma that chokes every free and vital aspiration from the very start.

His opponents carefully avoided going into His explanations as such, because, they quite rightly felt that they would lose in a purely objective discussion.

They contented themselves with slandering Him maliciously through their bribe agents and finally did not shrink from availing themselves of an opportune moment to accuse Him publicly and falsely and bring Him to the cross, in order, to remove the danger He

represented to their authority and power.

His violent death in the form at the time used by the Romans to execute people, was not in itself the redemption, nor did it bring redemption. It atoned for none of mankind’s guilt, liberated them from nothing, but, burdened them still more with a dastardly murder.

If still here and there a cult has arisen when sees in this murder a necessary and principal part of the son of God’s work of Redemption, this only distracts man’s attention from the greater value which alone could

the creation and mankind as they actually are.

Through this knowledge, the illusions which the constricted spirit of man added and which covered up the reality, had feebly to fall away of their own accord.

Not till then, could man see clearly before him the way leading upwards.

Redemption Abd-ru-shin opinions lies solely in the bringing of this Truth and the consequent liberation from the errors.

The last super before Christ’s death was a farewell meal. When He said “Take, eat, this is my body and drink ye all of it, this is my blood

bring this redemption. It diverts him from the true mission of the saviour, from that which necessitated His coming from the Divine sphere to the earth.

The purpose of His mission, however, was not to suffer death on the cross, but to bring the Truth into the maze of dogmatic rigidity and emptiness which debase the human spirit and to explain the relations between God,

of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” He declared thereby, that he was willing even to embrace death on the cross if only as an opportunity of bringing the Truth to erring mankind through His teaching, which alone shows the way to the forgiveness of sins.

He says expressly.

Forgiveness for many, not forgiveness for all. Thus, only

“The purpose of His mission, however, was not to suffer death on the cross, but to bring the Truth into the maze of dogmatic rigidity and emptiness which debase the human spirit and to explain the relations between God, the creation and mankind as they actually are.”

for those who take His teachings to heart and make vital use of them. The destruction of His body and the shedding of His blood through death on the cross are meant to help mankind recognize the necessity for and seriousness of the explanations He gave. The repeated celebration of Holy communion and the taking of Holy communion as such are merely intended to emphasis this urgency.

That the Son of God did not shrink even from such enmity on the part of mankind, the probability of which was already recognised s because

achial happenings in the cosmos which clearly show the operation of the inflexible laws of creation that bear the Divine Will ( Abd-ru-shin) With this realization of the profound gravity of the situation emphasizing as it does the burning necessity of the message of salvation, ever new strength should arise in man, a new encouragement truly to live the clear teaching of Christ, not only to understand it aright, but also to act accordingly in everything. Through this, he will also find redemption and

His coming, should especially, indicate the desperate plight of the human spirits who could only be dragged leack from perdition if they grasped the rope of salvation, of undimmed Truth.

When during the last supper the Son of God referred to His death on the cross, it was only to lay special emphasis for the last time on the compelling necessity of the teaching He had come to bring.

In partaking of Holy communion each person should always realize afresh that the Son of God did not even shun the probability of death on the cross through mankind and actually sacrificed His body and His blood so that mankind might have the opportunity to receive an explanation of the

forgiveness for his sins. Not otherwise, and also, not immediately. But he will surely find them through following the way Christ pointed out in his Message.

For this reason, Holy communion is meant to vitalize this process ever again, so that the zeal to follow the teaching brought at the cost of so great a sacrifice which could free him, does not weaken, for once indifference or more out ward ceremony develops people, lose their hold on the rope of salvation and sink back into errors and perdition.

It is a great mistake for men to believe that through the death on the cross the forgiveness of their sins is guaranted.

International Ferry Disaster Exposes Cozy Industry Ties, Soft Penalties

SEOUL - A culture of cozy personal ties that can blur the lines between businesses and those regulating them, of profit over safety, and soft courts is in focus as South Korea demands answers over the sinking of a ferry with the loss of more than 300 lives, mainly high school students.

Prosecutors are investigating two shipping trade organizations responsible for vessel safety checks and for certifying ships that operate in domestic waters.

Two officials at the Korea Shipping Association (KSA) have been arrested on charges of obstructing justice for destroying documents related to a probe into lobbying government officials. A third official was arrested for alleged influence peddling and embezzlement. Prosecutors are also investigating Korean Register (KR), which tests and certifies ships.

Trade groups wield enormous power in South Korea’s shipping industry - and in other sectors, too - as lobby groups and as business interests that can outsource inspection contracts to smaller companies, said an official at a shipbuilding company.

“Korean Register has so many officials who come from the Maritime Ministry,” said the official, who is based in the port city of Mokpo and who did not want to be named due to the issue’s sensitivity and the ongoing criminal investigations.

“There are many interests that co-exist and business has been done to protect each other for so many years, you have to wonder if something like inspections can be done right.”

The KSA is responsible for routine shipping inspections, such as the loading of cargo and safety gear intended for use by passengers. The body, which is paid for by passenger and cargo ship operators, also represents shipping companies.

Prosecutors investigating the ferry crew members - 15 of whom are charged with negligence related to the April 16 sinking of the 6,800-tonne Sewol - said they had testified to having

received no formal training on emergency evacuation.

Since the KSA was founded, 10 of its 12 chairmen were former officials at the Maritime Ministry, as were eight of the dozen Korean Register chiefs since 1960.

As tensions run high, many South Koreans are demanding change to the way the government and parts of society have conducted business for years on the basis of cozy personal ties rather than applying standards and objective oversight.

Local media have dubbed shipping industry officials and the government agencies that oversee them as a “maritime mafia”, guarding relationships built up over decades to guarantee jobs for each other and turn a blind eye to negligence.

This potential conflict of interest has fed a culture where safety can be overlooked, and where corners are cut to get things done quickly and to maximize profit, say experts and officials, including South Korean President Park Geunhye.

The practice of trade groups filled with former government officials who retired from oversight posts has been central to previous scandals in South Korea - such as the discovery of

widespread forgery of safety certificates for parts for nuclear plants that provide about a third of the country’s power.

Similar lax oversight has resulted in questionable decisions in the banking and insurance sector, construction

and government procurement.

“It’s hard to stop,” said Kwon Oh-in from the civic group Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, which researches corruption and irregularities in government and big business.

“The biggest problem is

government officials turning into lobbyists working for industry trade groups,” he said. “It’s been going on for decades since South Korea experienced economic development and growth.”

President Park this week promised to clean up the “accumulated evil practices” in government to make the country safer. Tending his resignation at

the weekend, Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said the ferry accident was the result of longstanding malpractices.

“There are too many irregularities and malpractices in parts of society that have been with us too long, and I hope those are corrected so that accidents like this will not happen again,” he said.

U.S Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the media after a quadrilateral meeting between representatives of the United States, Ukraine, Russia and the European Union, about the ongoing situation in Ukraine, in Geneva recently.

S/Sudan: Kerry To Promote Peace,

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry is bringing his two main tools of diplomacy — peace talks and threatened sanctions — to Africa this week to help find a way to end months of killing that is threatening to rip apart the world’s newest nation, South Sudan.

It’s not yet clear whether the U.S. will impose the sanctions while Kerry is in South Sudan — which, he said recently, he planned to visit during a week of stops that also include Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

U.S. officials are still trying to persuade three of South Sudan’s immediate neighbors to issue

similar penalties against people on both sides of the brutal fighting.

A senior State Department official traveling with Kerry said the U.S. was still compiling its own list of individuals whose assets could be frozen and who could be banned from travel to the U.S. The official was not authorized to be identified by name while briefing reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Kerry arrives in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa yesterday. While there, he will meet with African Union leaders to discuss a range of security issues confronting the subSaharan region, including South

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda heads to a meeting at the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo yesterday. Japan’s central bank was meeting yesterday to assess the status of the country’s economic recovery, as monthly data showed industrial output and wage growth falling short of expectations.

Sudan. The U.S. wants the AU to deploy peacekeeping forces to South Sudan, but that was still being negotiated, the State Department official said.

South Sudan has been rocked by violence since December, when President Salva Kiir accused former Vice President Riek Machar of staging a coup.

The violence is taking on an increasingly ethnic dimension between Kiir ’s Dinka community and Machar’s Nuer community.

The State Department has not provided additional details of Kerry’s visit to South Sudan and usually does not disclose travels to high-threat conflict zones ahead of time for security reasons.

The trip gives Kerry a chance to help shepherd peace in a new area of the world after his ninemonth quest to end decades-long tensions between Israel and Palestinian authorities fell flat.

Kerry had hoped to at least put the Mideast on a path to peace, but an April 29 deadline to keep talks going passed this week with both sides as far apart as ever.

U.S. sanctions have had slightly better, if mixed, success when deployed in recent days.

Kerry and the rest of the Obama administration have imposed several rounds of economic sanctions and travel bans against dozens of Russian and former Ukrainian officials and businesses to punish Moscow, in the White House’s view, for inciting unrest against the new pro-Western government in Kiev. U.S. officials have

Sanctions

described the sanctions as pinching Russia, but so far they have not deterred President Vladimir Putin, who has amassed 40,000 troops on his border with Ukraine in what many fear is the first step to an invasion.

It’s unclear how effective U.S. sanctions would be in South Sudan without similar penalties imposed by Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya.

Describing the fighting as an extension of a personal battle between Kiir and Machar, the State Department official said the U.S. was well aware of the potential of tensions when the country broke off from Sudan after a 2011 referendum. But, the official said, few expected any fighting to happen so quickly or be so brutal.

The U.N. Security Council last week expressed “horror” at the recent massacre of several hundred civilians in the city of Bentiu by rebel fighters. It said council members may be willing to impose sanctions if attacks on civilians continue.

In a statement Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called Kiir and demanded assurances that militants who attacked the U.N. compound in the southern city of Bor and others behind the killings in Bentiu would be apprehended.

He also “called for an immediate halt to the vicious fighting and the appalling killing of South Sudanese civilians” and denounced the attack in Bor as “completely unacceptable.”

Kerry was expected to return to Washington on May 5.

MALDIVES - The United Nations human rights body has expressed concern over Maldives plans to end a moratorium on the death penalty.

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Maldives to instead work toward abolishing the death penalty altogether, according to a U.N Web site repot Tuesday.

The Indian Ocean archipelago nation last weekend introduced new regulations for the implementation of the death penalty by lethal injection.

Local media quoted Home Minister Umar Naseer as saying that even though some countries and organizations maybe concerned about the decision, the Maldives as a “100 percent Muslim country” will go ahead with its plan.

UN Concer ned Over Death Penalty In Maldives

International Iraqis Begin Voting As Violence BAGHDAD - Iraqis headed Grips Divided Country to the polls yesterday in their first

Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki shows his ink marked finger as he votes during parliamentary election in Baghad yesterday.

national election since U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq in 2011, with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki seeking a third term amid rising violence.

Iraq’s western province of Anbar is torn by fighting as Sunni Muslim militants battle the Iraqi military. Its economy is struggling and Maliki faces criticism that he is aggravating sectarian splits and trying to consolidate power.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. (12.00 a.m. EDT), with a vehicle curfew imposed on the streets of Baghdad. Voters will choose from among 9,012 candidates and the parliamentary election will effectively serve as a referendum on Maliki, a Shi’ite Muslim who has governed for eight years.

Maliki was among the first to cast a vote at a hotel next to the heavily fortified Green Zone

India’s Newest State Votes For First Time HYDERABAD, India — Millions of people in nine states across India, including the newest state of Telangana, were voting yesterday in the latest phase of the country’s massive general election.

With 814 million eligible voters in India, the election is being held in phases over six weeks. Results are expected May 16.

In the seventh phase of the election, voting was taking place yesterday for 89 seats in the lower house of Parliament, including all 26 parliamentary seats from the western state of Gujarat.

Among early voters in Gujarat was the state’s top elected official, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is contesting from the city of Vadodara. Modi is the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate.

Elections were also being held in northern Punjab state and in the eastern states of Bihar and West Bengal.

Fourteen constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, were also voting, including Rae Bareli, which is being contested by Sonia Gandhi, the president of the country’s ruling Congress party.

Security was tight in Uttar Pradesh, with tens of thousands of paramilitary troops and police deployed across the state. In elections last week in Uttar Pradesh, supporters of political parties took over 11 polling stations in Rampur constituency, said Umesh Sinha, the state’s chief electoral officer. A new election was ordered and took place Tuesday.

Sinha said police had been given shoot-on-sight orders to prevent any outbreak of violence or any attempt to disrupt yesterday’s voting.

In Telangana, around 28 million voters were expected to

vote for 17 seats in India’s lower house of Parliament and 119 seats in the state assembly.

Telangana, India’s 29th state, was carved out of Andhra Pradesh state in February after nearly six decades of street

protests and strikes.

Telangana supporters say statehood will bring more money into their underdeveloped area.

But the move to create Telangana was opposed by the rest of Andhra Pradesh, which will eventually lose its capital city of Hyderabad to the new state.

Opinion polls have given Modi an edge in the election and have

predicted that the BJP could form India’s next government.

However, Modi’s critics say his image has been tainted by 2002 sectarian violence that ripped through his home state of Gujarat, killing nearly 1,000 Muslims. Modi, who has been chief minister of the state since 2001, is widely seen as doing little to stop the violence.

enclave where the government is based. He urged people to follow suit despite security threats.

“I call upon the Iraqi people to head in large numbers to the ballot boxes to send a message of deterrence and a slap to the face of terrorism,” Maliki told reporters.

Political analysts say no party is likely to win a majority in the 328-seat parliament. Forming a government may be hard even if Maliki’s State of Law alliance wins the most seats as expected, although he was confident of another victory.

“Definitely our expectations are high,” he said.

“Our victory is confirmed but we are still talking about how big this victory will be,” Maliki said.

Polls close at 6 p.m. (11 a.m.

EDT).

Maliki faces challenges from Shi’ite and Sunni rivals and has portrayed himself as his majority Shi’ite community’s defender against the Sunni, al Qaedainspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

“Is ISIL and al Qaeda capable of reaching the target for (which) they were established ... bringing down Baghdad and the other provinces and destroying the holy shrines? ... I say no,” Maliki said earlier this week.

“ISIL is over, but its pockets still exist and we will keep chasing them and the coming few days will witness major

India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi displays the victory symbol to supporters after casting his vote in Ahmadabad, india, yesterday.

Ukraine’s Richest Man Has

KIEV - Ukraine’s richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, said yesterday he had no plans to sell his businesses in the country’s industrial east and his faith was unshaken in a region increasingly in the hands of proRussian separatists.

The 47-year-old tycoon said he would continue to invest in Ukraine, which must find a way to unite again as rebels seized more buildings across the Donbass coal and steel belt around the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk.

Most of Akhmetov’s

Faith In Industrial East

Ukrainian business empire, which runs from steel and metals to media and telecoms, is based in the Donbass area, where members of the self-declared “People’s Republic of Donetsk” have called for a referendum on independence on May 11.

“I am not selling my business nor am I going to leave Ukraine.

Today I am in Donbass,” he said in a statement, referring to the region that encompasses much of

eastern Ukraine.

“My position is firm - our country must be united. And I will be doing everything I can to ensure that Donbass and Ukraine are together. With belief in Donbass and in Ukraine I am investing and will continue to invest in my country.”

Akhmetov, a Donetsk native, has tried to help negotiate an end to the stand-off in eastern Ukraine, talking to the rebels -

even sympathizing with some of their demands - while urging law-enforcement agencies to stay their hand in using force.

Commentators say Akhmetov, whose fortune is estimated by Forbes magazine at $11.4 billion, is trying to use the crisis to re-position himself and protect his huge business concerns after ally President Viktor Yanukovich was toppled in February.

developments,” he said.

Iraqi forces are locked in a four-month fight for the Anbar cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.

Troops surround Fallujah and are waging street battles in Ramadi.

The war has displaced an estimated 420,000 people. The Iraqi electoral commission acknowledges it can only hold the election in 70 percent of Anbar, not counting Fallujah.

Fighting has also erupted in rural areas around Baghdad, where Iraqi troops, in tandem with Shi’ite militia volunteers, are battling ISIL. On Monday, 50 people were killed in attacks around Iraq, with some suicide bombers dressed in police and army uniforms. The burden falls particularly hard on Iraq’s Sunni population, who are viewed with suspicion by the mostly Shi’ite Iraqi security forces and terrorized by the ISIL. Iraq’s Sunni political leaders paint Maliki as an authoritarian ruler who wants to destroy their community. His main Sunni rival, parliamentary speaker Usama al-Nujaifi, said Sunnis had suffered from “terrorism and militias” under Maliki.

“Our people haven’t harvested

Death Toll From Ferry Sinking Hits 212 MOKPO, South Korea — Two weeks after a ferry sank off South Korea’s southern cost, divers have recovered 212 bodies from the wreckage, but they fought strong currents and floating debris inside the ship yesterday as they searched for 90 passengers still missing.

Meanwhile, family members of high students killed in the sinking dismissed as insincere President Park Geun-hye’s apology for the government’s handling of the disaster. They called for the quick retrieval of the missing. The ship carried 476 people, mostly from a single high school. Only 174 people survived, including 22 of the 29 crew members.

After several days of sluggish search efforts because of bad weather, divers on Tuesday retrieved more than a dozen bodies from the ship, which lies on the ocean floor, triggering a fresh outpouring of emotions by family members waiting for the return of their loved ones.

Park apologized Tuesday for the government’s inept initial response to the sinking. Her apology came amid rising indignation over claims by the victims’ relatives that the government did not do enough to rescue or protect their loved ones. Earlier Tuesday, she visited a memorial set up in Ansan city where the high school students are from. Some angry family members shouted at Park, demanded an apology and moved away condolence flowers sent by her and other top officials, according to South Korean media reports.

International Features HUNDREDS of proMoscow separatists stormed government buildings in one of Ukraine’s provincial capitals on Tuesday and fired on police holed up in a regional headquarters, a major escalation of their revolt despite new Western sanctions on Russia.

New U.S. and EU sanctions packages, announced with fanfare, were seen as so mild that Russian share prices rose in relief. A small number of names were added to existing blacklists, while threats to take more serious measures were put on hold.

Nevertheless, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by threatening to reconsider Western participation in energy deals in Russia, the world’s biggest oil producer, where most major U.S. and European oil companies have extensive projects.

Demonstrators smashed their way into the provincial government headquarters in Luhansk, Ukraine’s easternmost province, which abuts the Russian border, and raised separatist flags over the building, while police did nothing to interfere.

As night fell, about 20 rebel gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons and threw stun grenades at the headquarters of the region’s police, trying to force those inside to surrender their weapons, a Reuters photographer at the scene said.

“The regional leadership does not control its police force,” said Stanislav Rechynsky, an aide to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, referring to events in Luhansk.

“The local police did nothing.”

The rebels also seized the prosecutor’s office and the television center.

The separatist operation in Luhansk appears to give the pro-Moscow rebels control of a second provincial capital.

They already control much of neighboring Donetsk province, where they have proclaimed an independent “People’s Republic of Donetsk” and declared a referendum on secession for May 11.

The rebels include local youths armed with clubs and chains, as well as “green men” - heavily armed masked men in military uniforms without insignia.

Adding control of Luhansk would give them sway over the entire Donbass coalfield - an unbroken swath of territory adjacent to Russia - where giant steel smelters and heavy plants account for around a third of Ukraine’s industrial output.

It is the heart of a region that Putin described earlier this month as “New Russia”, reviving a term from when the tsars conquered it in the 18th and 19th centuries. Most

A man uses a fire extinguisher as members of self-defence units of the Euromaidan movement attempt to prevent members and supporters of Ukrainian far-right radical groups (back) from taking part in a torch-light procession in central Kiev Wednesday.

exchange rate, we see it in a number of important economic indicators.”

Lew said Washington could also impose wider sanctions on Russian industry.

Obama said on Monday Western countries were keeping that option “in reserve” in case of further escalation.

A hostage drama has kept the issue on the boil in European capitals. Last Friday, rebels captured eight unarmed European military monitors. A Swede was freed three days later, but four Germans, a Dane, a Czech and a Pole are still held in Slaviansk, a town rebels have turned into a heavily fortified redoubt.

The self-declared “people’s mayor” of the town, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, said on Tuesday he would discuss their release only if the EU dropped sanctions against rebel leaders.

“If they fail to remove the sanctions, then we will block access for EU representatives, and they won’t be able to get to us. I will remind my guests from the OSCE about this,” he said, referring to the European

Ukraine Separatists Seize Second Provincial Capital people who live in the area now identify themselves as Ukrainians but speak Russian as their first language.

Ukraine, a country of 45 million people the size of France, has a thousand-year history as a state but has spent much of the last few centuries under the shadow of its larger neighbor. It emerged as a modern independent nation after the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, with borders drawn up

by Bolshevik commissars from territory previously ruled by Russia, Poland and Austria.

Its current crisis erupted after a pro-Russian president was toppled in February in a popular uprising. Within days, Putin had declared the right to use military force and dispatched his undercover troops to seize Crimea.

The United States and European Union accuse Moscow of directing the uprising with the intent of dismembering Ukraine.

“Today, Russia seeks to change the security landscape of eastern and central Europe,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a speech on Tuesday. “Whatever path Russia chooses, the United States and our allies will stand together in our defense of Ukraine.”

Nevertheless, U.S. and European officials have repeatedly made clear they will not consider military action.

The U.S. embassy in Kiev

described the behavior of proRussian activists - who also attacked a rally of Kiev supporters on Monday with clubs and iron bars, and are holding dozens of hostages including seven unarmed European military monitors as “terrorism, pure and simple”.

U.S. President Barack Obama, announcing new sanctions on Monday, said they were intended to change Putin’s “calculus”.

But so far they have shown no sign of restraining the Kremlin leader, who overturned decades of postCold War diplomacy last month to seize and annex Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula and has since massed tens of thousands of troops on the frontier. Russia has openly threatened to invade to protect Russian speakers, though it denies that it plans to do so.

Putin threatened on Tuesday to review the role of Western firms in Russian energy deals.

“We would very much wish not to resort to any

measures in response. I hope we won’t get to that point,” Putin told reporters after meeting leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan.

“But if something like that continues, we will of course have to think about who is working in the key sectors of the Russian economy, including the energy sector, and how.”

Russia’s RTS stock index rose 1.23 percent on Tuesday in relief that the latest EU and U.S. sanctions were so modest.

After Russia took Crimea in March, Washington and Brussels each drew up sanctions blacklists that ban travel by and freeze the assets of individuals and firms deemed to have played a role in threatening Ukraine. The EU added 15 Russians and proRussian Ukrainians to its blacklist on Tuesday, a day after Washington added seven individuals and 17 firms to its own list.

But neither list includes any of Russia’s major firms.

The latest U.S. list names

Igor Sechin, a long-time Putin ally who now heads Russia’s biggest oil company, Rosneft.

But the firm said the blacklisting of its boss would not affect its operations, including plans to buy the oil trading arm of Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley.

Sechin’s name was conspicuously left off the EU list. European countries do more than 10 times as much trade with Russia as the United States, buying a quarter of their natural gas from Moscow.

They have been slower than Washington to embrace sanctions that might jeopardize trade.

Moscow has shrugged off the blacklists as pointless, though Washington and Brussels say they have had an indirect economic impact by scaring investors into withdrawing capital.

“You have to look over the period of time Russia went into Crimea; since we’ve imposed sanctions, there has been a quite substantial deterioration in Russia’s already weak economy,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told congressional hearings.

“We see it in their stock exchange, we see it in their

hostages. Nevertheless, he later met OSCE representatives and said they had made “good progress” in discussions on the release of the captives.

Ukraine’s authorities are struggling to find a way to evict the separatists, who also took a small town hall in Pervomaisk in the Luhansk region on Tuesday and a number of buildings in another city on Monday. Kiev launched an “anti-terrorist” operation in early April, but it has yielded little so far.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the EU sanctions would not ease tensions in Ukraine.

“Instead of forcing the Kiev clique to sit at the table with southeastern Ukraine to negotiate the future structure of the country, our partners are doing Washington’s bidding with new unfriendly gestures aimed at Russia,” the ministry said.

Gennady Kernes, the mayor of eastern Ukraine’s biggest city, Kharkiv, was in a stable condition on Tuesday in a hospital in Israel, where he was flown after an assassination attempt. Kernes was shot in the back on Monday.

“Instead of forcing the Kiev clique to sit at the table with southeastern Ukraine to negotiate the future structure of the country, our partners are doing Washington’s bidding with new unfriendly gestures aimed at Russia...”

The Crucifixion Of Christ And Lord’s Supper

THE POWER FASTING

OF

THREE things make the Christian fast relevant: They are the purpose for the fast: backed with prayers; self denial or abstinence of the flesh and Christ centeredness.

I shall discuss them one after the other.

1. PURPOSE: A fast must have a purpose. A purposeless fast is a needless fast. Fasting is not just deciding to stay without food or water. There must be a purpose for which the faster is embarking on. On purpose, God reminded the Israelites thus: “is it not the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free and that ye break every yoke” Isa 58:6 Every Biblical fast that I have read about had a purpose. The faster did not just embark on it for frivolities or for fun.

Esther called out her people to join her in a three day fast because the decree of the king was a threat to their existence and she wanted to appear before the king on the issue.

Esther 4:16. The people of Nineveh were called out to proclaim a fast by the decree of the king for the remission of their sins against the wrath of God Jonah 3:7-9. There must be a purpose for your fast whether it is a regular fast or a periodic fast. You must have a purpose for the fast: and the purpose determines the pattern of your prayers, because fasting without prayers is a meaningless exercise. If a fast is purposeless, or predicated on sinful ventures or selfishness it may not receive the attention of God. God spoke in this manner to Jeremiah the prophet (Jeh 14:10-12) when David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba, the lady took in and gave birth to a baby boy, the boy took ill after Nathan the prophet had condemned the action of David the king but “David ... besought God for the child and David fasted and wept and lay all night upon the earth” 2Sam 12:16.

He was fasting and praying for the child to recover but the fasting did not solve the problem because it was predicated on sin. The child died and David arose and stopped the fast. When his servants besought him to know why- he replied “while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept for I said , who can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live? 2Sam 12:22 2. ABSTINENCE: Fasting involves abstinence or self

denial, the purpose being to afflict the soul and energize or rekindle the human spirit.

Remember man basically consists of spirit, soul and body (lst Thess 5:23) When you fast you afflict the soul (Lev 16:29) and you humble the body (2Chron 7:14) and you ecstasies the spirit for true worship (Jn4:24). This is the essence of abstinence or self denial. Biblically, abstinence during a fast involves any of these; denying your body food and water as was the case with Esther (Esth 4:16) denying yourself food but taking water as was the case with the octogenarian prophetess Anna who at the age of eighty-four years “departed not from the temple but served God with fasting and prayers night and day” Lk2:37. It is suggestive that at eight-four years she could not have fasted for that long period day and night without water on account of her age knowing the importance of water to the body tissues : though Moses fasted forty days and forty nights at mount Sinai without food and water but this was under the tutelage of God. (Ex34 :28) Abstinence could involve also biblically self denial from sexual pleasures with your legal spouse by mutual consent (1Cor 7:5).

The prophet Daniel type of fast which he described as “mourning three full weeks” (Dan 10:3) is another type of abstinence in a restrictive sense.

“I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till these whole weeks were fulfilled” Dan 10:3. He probably took water and some theologians have expressed the phrase “no pleasant bread” to mean avoiding some palatable or pleasant solid meals for the body. When embarking on this type of fasting methodology one is restricting oneself to a very plain diet. For those who fast very often, that is those who do habitual fasting and those who embark on long fasts, it is advisable you take water to avoid unpleasant consequences except where the Holy spirit has so specifically instructed. Water is very essential to the body.

Prof, Werner writes of the importance of water thus: “No one can live without water. In fact over half (57%) of the human body is water.

If everyone living made the best use of water, the amount

Man And Nature With O.C. MADU 08056379608

of sickness and death could probably be cut in half” I have heard some sad stories of persons who have died during long fasts without water or persons who develop stomach ulcer because of their too frequent fasting. All these can be avoided if you take some water in the above circumstances.

3.

CHRIST CENTEREDNESS. The third element I mentioned for a genuine Christian fast with good result is the element of Christ centeredness. This involves understanding the teachings

them. But when he is gone then they would need to fast.

To fast and receive from God you must learn to pray. This is a key element in this chapter. The type of prayer you pray is praying in the name of Jesus Christ.

“And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the father may be glorified in the son.”Jn14: 13 For ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” Jn14:14 so, fasting without prayers is a wasted exercise.

So when you fast, then you pray in the name of Jesus

fasting twice a week because of the benefits of the fast.

Paul the apostle was a regular faster. He fasted often that God’s grace may abound in his missionary work (2 Corr.

11:27). Paul testified that his regular fasting was beneficial toward the fulfillment of his ministry.

“Giving no offence in any thing that the ministry be not blamed. But in all things approving ourselves as ministers of God in much

of Christ on fasting.

Remember the disciple of Christ did not fast while he was with them. The disciples of John fasted but Christ disciples did not fast; and the Pharisees asked Jesus why and this was his reply: “And he said unto them, can you make the children of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those days” Lk5:34-35. What is the implication of this statement?

Jesus is the bridegroom being referred to in the above passage; and in a marriage feast where the bridegroom is around there is much to eat so that they don’t need to starve themselves, so with his physical presence, Jesus is giving them the direct covering they needed not to bother themselves because the lord, the source of all things was right there physically with

Christ that’s one principle that Christ taught. When you fast you pray at reasonable intervals. Another principle he taught is not being hypocritical or pharisitic when you fast. “Moreover when ye fast be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance...” Matt 6:1618. Jesus here warned when we fast we should be our natural self in our simplicity; not necessarily making an outward appearance to all persons as if to announce that you are fasting and it is becoming stressful; you are also encouraged to take your bath and look clean while you fast and maintain your humility and submissiveness to God Almighty.

THE BENEFITS OF A GENUINE FAST. “How often do you fast?” some body once asked me; I replied, as often as you wish to move the hand of God in your desire; as long as you want Gods focus on you. The early church did corporate

patience, in affliction ... In fasting” 2Cor 6:3-5 This is a good testimony of the effect of fasting in the ministry of Paul the Apostle.

Jesus said if we ask from God ‘It shall be given you” (Matt 7:7) Then he went further to query mans sense of Judgment.

“What man is there... Whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” Matt 7:9 then he explained further.

“If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children , how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him” Matt 7:11.

The fasting prayer helps to cause the attention of God to focus on you to receive results to prayers. I mean the genuine fast. God will surely not look the other way when you humble yourself in fasting and prayers seeking his face. (2Chron 7:14). The prophet Isaiah spoke on the benefit of the genuine fast

receiving attention from God. God spoke through his prophet Isaiah thus: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free and that ye break every toke... then shall thy light break forth as the morning.., and the glory of the lord shall be thy rewards” Isa 58:6,8.

Did you take note of the last sentence above that with a genuine fast the glory of God shall be thy reward. What a blessing to undertake a fast before thy Lord! The people of Nineveh fasted and the impending doom was averted in the land (Jonah 3:5-10) Esther and her people fasted and the evil planned against the Israelites was averted in the land (Jonah 3:5-10 Esther and her people fasted and the evil planned against Haman the evil plotter fell into his own wickedness and died.

(Esth 4:15,7:1-10). Yes God can turn the table upside down against your enemy when you fast. The prophet Daniel fasted for twenty one days the lord commissioned an Angel to him (Dan 10:112). The early church fasted and the lord anointed Paul and Barnabas for a special mission. He commissioned them (Acts 13:2). Paul wrote to his son in the lord thus: “I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” 2Tim 1:6 Paul refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit in Timothy. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are spiritual gifts and there are nine of them (1Cor 12:1-10) The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit giving for the edification of the body of Christ include word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

These spiritual gifts can be stirred by the process of fasting; this is because fasting is a spiritual exercise which mortifies the flesh and ignites the spirit man.

Many persons who are born again Christians and who have embarked on regular fasting or the long fasts would clearly testify to this effect of fasting on the gifts of the spirit. That fastingprayer helps to stir the gift in one. This is the reason among many others why men of God do fast before embarking on a crusade programme.

New Boss Will Be Urged To Keep Giggs MANCHESTER United will inform their next manager that there is a strong preference for some continuity on the coaching team, with the hope that Ryan Giggs can be a member of the newlook backroom staff.

Louis van Gaal is the hot favourite to replace the sacked David Moyes at Old Trafford, with the possibility that Carlo Ancelotti will leave Real Madrid receding after he guided the Spanish club into the Champions League final.

But while the Dutchman is reportedly keen to bring in up to five of his compatriots, a source told ESPN that the United board want to see those with a closer connection to the club retained.

Giggs, 40, began his spell as interim manager with a 4-0 win over Norwich on Saturday, and was a player-coach during Moyes’ nine-month reign.

His coaching staff includes three former United players in Phil Neville, who followed Moyes from Everton last summer, plus Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.

Giggs is not being considered as Moyes’ replacement, due to his lack of experience, but United believe he has many of the qualities required to manage the club in the future and it is thought his departure would disappoint the hierarchy at Old Trafford.

The former Ajax and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert, one of Van Gaal’s assistants with Holland, has said he would happily take on the same duties for United.

Van Gaal, 62, is said to want to bring in his other assistant Danny Blind, plus goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek, physiotherapist Jos van Dijk and analyst Max Reekers.

Ryan Giggs

Tottenham Refute Manager Links TOTTENHAM have denied making an approach to Ajax for Frank de Boer amid claims they are to part company with manager Tim Sherwood.

It is reported to be a matter of when, not if, Sherwood is replaced at the White Hart Lane helm with suggestions chairman Daniel Levy is ready to cut short the 18-month deal handed to him in December.

Former Holland international De Boer has followed an illustrious playing career with a fine start to managerial life at Ajax, but Spurs deny making contact with the club about their Dutch coach.

De Boer himself has said

Jose Mourinho

Mourinho Rebukes ‘Football Philosophers’

BRENDAN Rodgers on Tuesday congratulated Jose Mourinho for Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday, going back on his immediate postgame criticism.

The Portuguese revealed victory and a great the phone call in his news performance. conference ahead of his side’s “So, specially because I Champions League semifinal consider him a friend and second leg against Atletico someone I like, I prefer to Madrid, and defended his forget the words after the tactics by saying it’s “stupid” match and I keep today’s of a team if it doesn’t play to word. He’s an intelligent guy. its strengths.

He watched the match for Chelsea’s approach sure on video and, now, I provoked much comment, think he understood what not least from Rodgers happened.” himself, who described the Mourinho also had an defensive style as “easy to implicit response for those coach”. Mourinho revealed, who criticised his approach. however, that the Liverpool “You know, at this moment, manager had gone back on football is full of that opinion. philosophers,” Mourinho “Pundits are pundits, and I don’t want to comment a lot,” said. “People who understand Mourinho said. “Brendan is much more than me. Full of a manager and is somebody I people with fantastic theories consider my friend. I met him and philosophies. It’s a long time ago when he was amazing. But the reality is a very young coach, coaching always the reality. A team that kids, and I consider him a doesn’t defend well doesn’t friend. Of course I know his have many chances to win. A words after the match, but I team who doesn’t score lots also know his words today, of goals, if they concede lots and today he told me of goals, is in trouble. A team congratulations for a great without balance is not a team.

Chelsea Know I Want To Stay

JOHN Terry said talks over his Chelsea future are ongoing but confirmed he wants to end his career at Stamford Bridge.

Terry, who made his Chelsea debut in 1998, is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to reach an agreement over an extension.

However, he told a news conference ahead of the Blues’ Champions League semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid: “Clearly, I want to stay for the rest of my footballing days.

“At the minute we’re in talks and it’s ongoing. I’m hoping it gets done. It’s down to the club. They know I want to stay.”

Terry, 33, has enjoyed a highly successful season following the return of coach Jose Mourinho,

- John Terry

who said earlier this month he was confident a new deal would be agreed.

The centre-back established himself as one of the finest defenders in the world during Mourinho’s first stint at Chelsea, and the Portuguese believes he is back to his best.

“My captain is playing at the same level he was playing when I left Chelsea in 2007, as simple as that,” Mourinho said. “Seven years later, he’s playing again at his best.

At his best level. It’s fair to say that.”

Terry — fit to face Atletico after recovering from the ankle injury

he sustained during the first leg last week — credited Mourinho for the role he has played in his revival.

Terry said: “He’s very honest and tells you straight — if you’re playing well you’ll keep your place. After we played Man United, I got Man of the Match and then got left out of the Munich game [UEFA Super Cup] and felt a bit puzzled by it. He told me the other guys deserved to play because they played in the Europa League final and, as a player, all you can ask for from your manager is honesty.

“When he gives you that, you can’t sulk. You have to get on with it, dust yourself down and fight for your place again the next week.

That’s what he does, not just with me but the whole squad.

“After that, I can’t say much more than this. When Atletico has the ball, we have to defend. When we have the ball we have to attack. When they have the ball, we have to try and stop them scoring.

When we have the ball we want to try and score. This is football, the football that I know. Opponents have the ball, you have to work and be defensively organised. You have the ball, you have to try and play according to the qualities of your players and the qualities of your opponents. You know?

“I remember to say in my first period here, if you have a goalkeeper like Petr Cech

who puts the ball in the opponents’ box, and a striker like Didier Drogba who wins everything in the air, why play short? Because you are stupid? If your opponents are very fast on the counter and want space behind your defensive line, if you give them that space you are stupid. So when a team plays strategically and thinks about his team and the qualities of the opponent, 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, good teams, intelligent teams. In this moment, depending on the coach and the club obviously, the critics, they speak. But, no problem.”

he is open to speaking with Tottenham in the coming weeks about taking over as manager.

But after De Boer was widely linked with a switch to north London, Tottenham said in a statement on their website: “Reports that we have made approaches to other clubs regarding coaching staff are wholly inaccurate. We have not contacted any club regarding coaching appointments.”

De Boer, who also played at Barcelona, Galatasaray, Rangers and then in Qatar, returned to Ajax as a coach following his retirement and has been first-team manager since 2010, leading them to four successive Eredivisie titles.

This season’s success has further boosted a burgeoning reputation that has often seen him linked with a move away from the Amsterdam ArenA, and while Tottenham have distanced themselves from De Boer, the 43-year-old has expressed an interest in the post.

“I’m going to think about this possibility after the last league fixture on May 3,” De Boer told nos.nl. “I’m going to talk and listen.

“I would like to add something to a club, that people can say they see the hand of Frank de Boer.

“There is a beautiful example at Liverpool. That is what Brendan Rodgers is doing now [making his mark].”

Bookmakers make the Dutchman favourite to become Tottenham’s next manager, ousting previous front-runner Mauricio Pochettino of Southampton.

We Deserve What We Got

PER Mertesacker has admitted Arsenal ‘do not deserve’ to be in the elite trio of clubs at the top of the Premier League, even though the Gunners have led the table for longer than any other side this season.

Arsenal’s push for another fourth-place finish looks set to give Arsene Wenger’s men some consolation for the collapse of their title challenge, which floundered with a series of heavy defeats against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

German defender Mertesacker has insisted Arsenal have to learn from their mistakes in recent months, as he accepted the displays against their title rivals were not good enough.

“Everyone dreamed about the title, but it takes more than staying on top until the winter period,” Mertesacker is quoted in the Daily Mirror.

“We could not afford [to

- Mertesacker

lose] those big games against big teams, so we did not deserve to be in the first three. That is something we have to manage much better next year. The games were all similar, we got caught on the break and that is something we have to look at.

“The away games killed us. We have to learn how to play and how to defend in the first 20 minutes,” he added, reflecting on fixtures that saw Arsenal concede four goals in the opening 20 minutes of their 5-1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in February and three times in the opening 17 minutes of their 6-0 hammering against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month.

Mertesacker believes the battling qualities Arsenal have shown since their 3-0

defeat at Everton earlier this month bode well for the future, with a run of victories all-but wrapping up a 17th consecutive season of Champions League football for the club.

“Everyone questioned our qualities but the way we have come back, especially from those away games, as a team makes us stronger for the future,” he added.

Per Mertesacker

CMYK

Real Performance Delights Ancelotti REAL Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti praised his entire team’s performance on a record-breaking night for Cristiano Ronaldo as Los Blancos cruised into the Champions League final.

Ronaldo scored twice as Real dismantled defending champions Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Allianz Arena to take his Champions League tally for the campaign to a record 16 goals.

Sergio Ramos also scored twice to help Madrid to a 3-0 half-time lead which effectively killed the tie, with Ronaldo adding another in the final minute for a 5-0 aggregate victory.

And while much of the focus was on the prolific Portuguese, Ancelotti was delighted with a complete performance which takes his team to the Estadio da Luz on May 24 where they will face either Atletico Madrid or Chelsea.

“I’m not surprised,” he told Real’s official website.

“These players could do and have done very well. It is a great happiness for us all.

“The first part was fantastic.

I thank the players and everyone.”

Real will go to Lisbon in search of a 10th European Cup as they play in the final for the first time since 2002, and the Italian was delighted to be back on the biggest stage in club football.

“It is 12 years since Madrid played a Champions League final and this is good for all,” he added.

“Being in the final is the first objective. Reaching the final is not easy. We’ve done a fantastic Champions League and we’ll see what happens.”

The one downside for Real was the 38th-minute booking of Xabi Alonso which means the influential central midfielder will not be able to play in the final.

“The thing for Xabi is very unlucky,” he said.

“The important thing is that we will play the final and we also need to win for him.”

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola came in for some criticism after

the first-leg defeat with some suggesting that his possessionbased brand of football was ineffective against Real.

But the former Barcelona boss was insistent following the second leg that a lack of possession had hurt his team and that had stopped them from controlling the game.

“The reason for the defeat is that we played too little with the ball,” he told the club’s official website.

“In Manchester and also in Madrid, we have made it outstanding, not today.

“If you do not have control of the game, you have no chance against this team.

“We played badly, that’s my responsibility. We are at the highest level in Europe and such errors are punished.

“I’ll try to lift the players.”

Inter Milan Legend Zanetti To Retire

Javier Zanetti

Pep Guardiola Takes Blame For Defeat

BAYERN Munich boss Pep Guardiola has vowed to “try and lift his players” as he took full responsibility for the crushing defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal.

The scale of the 5-0 highest level in Europe, and aggregate defeat is bound to such mistakes are punished see Guardiola come under right away. Bayern are a big fire from some of his critics, side. I will try to lift the yet he was philosophical in players again.

“The reason for the defeat his assessment of a game that was taken away from is that we played too little his side with three first half with the ball. If you do not away goals from Real have control of the game, you have no chance against Madrid.

“We played badly, that’s this team.

“When you are playing my responsibility,” Guardiola told reporters. bad, you concede a lot. We “We are at the highest level came out very energised, it in Europe and such errors was a back-and-forth game, are punished. I’ll try to lift we could have scored with the players. It is a fresh our chances, but we didn’t. experience now, but it is too Us playing bad is the only early for a general analysis. one explanation for this “If you don’t play well defeat.

“I’ve have had several and you defend set pieces badly, that’s just how it is. hard defeats in my career We are playing at the and this is one of them. We conceded goals from set pieces, but we played awful, it’s the only reason we lost.

There’s no other reason, it’s just football.”

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm insisted it was a collective failure and not the fault of coach Guardiola that ended Bayern’s defence of their Champions League crown.

“We have to accept responsibility as a team,” Lahm told reporters. “It’s nobody’s fault, we have to defend collectively. We conceded two early goals and it was very difficult from then on.”

Bayern chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge predicted Real Madrid would suffer a miserable night in Munich ahead of kick-off, but he offered this scathing assessment of his side’s efforts against Real Madrid.

“It’s best not to say much.

Our opponent clearly dominated us. This was a disaster,” Rummenigge told German television reporters, who quickly asked him whether there

REAL Madrid booked their place in the Champions League final with a hugely impressive 4-0 victory at Bayern Munich.

Three first-half goals shocked the home side, who were constantly at risk from counter-attacks and set-pieces, unable to defend with confidence.

Sergio Ramos scored

twice, the first coming from a simple Luka Modric corner, with no Bayern player marking him. A few minutes later, he and Real had their second when Pepe glanced on Angel Di Maria’s cross, and the Spain defender was lurking to fire past Manuel Neuer again.

Cristiano Ronaldo then scored his 15th of his

were question marks over the future of coach Guardiola.

“We have a very competent manager and though we’ve conceded a very painful defeat, we cannot start questioning everything right now,” he responded. “Also, Real Madrid have played marvelously, it has to be said.”

INTER Milan captain Javier Zanetti will bring the curtain down on his 22-year playing career at the end of this season, Nerazzurri president Erick Thohir has confirmed.

Zanetti, who turns 41 in August, will move into a management position at the San Siro, where he has been since arriving at Inter from Argentine side Banfield in 1995.

There had been rumours earlier this year that Jose Mourinho wanted to sign the versatile midfielder for Chelsea on a one-year deal, although the reports were scotched by both parties.

And Thohir has now confirmed that Zanetti will hang up his boots and head into a backroom position at Inter.

“The meetings with Zanetti have been going on for the last couple of months to understand his vision,” Thohir told journalists at a publicity event on Tuesday. “The discussion is done already, he’ll become part of the management.”

Zanetti is Inter ’s all-time leading appearance maker with more than 800 games under his belt while he has won a record number of international caps for Argentina, having represented his country 145 times between 1994 and 2011.

He played at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and has won 16 major titles in his career including five Serie A titles and a famous league, cup and Champions League double in 2010.

Pep Guardiola

Ronaldo Breaks CL Record

Carlo Ancelotti

Champions League campaign - a record - by sweeping home a shot at the near post after a textbook counter.

In the second half, Real were content to sit back and absorb any pressure, as Bayern had to score at least five goals to progress.

Despite a couple of chances for Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery (who

was lucky not to see red for a slap on Daneiel Carvajal which went unnoticed), Real never seemed troubled.

Ronaldo waited until the last minute to add a clever second, firing a free kick under the wall. This was a hugely disappointing display by Bayern, and Real should now consider themselves favourites for the final in Benfica.

Adam Silver’s Ban Of Donald Sterling Unites NBA

FROM the moment Adam Silver listened to those tapes of Donald Sterling, the NBA’s commissioner understood the unmistakable and unprecedented breadth of his burden: He had to make an owner disappear. All these years of the league legitimizing this morally bankrupt and despicable man had come calling for Silver now, had become David Stern’s bequeath to his successor, and hell promised to break loose. so with assurances he had support So, yes, Silver was of the owners to take over the Los determined to deliver lifetime banishment for Sterling and did

Angeles Clippers and sell them on Sterling’s behalf.

“There’s already a feeding frenzy to buy [the Clippers] for a billion dollars easy,” one high-

ranking league official said.

The richest slumlord in American sports ownership will make a killing on the sale, but Sterling has lost his courtside

UEFA To Devalue PSG Deal PARIS Saint-Germain will have to make up a huge budget deficit next season if a sponsorship deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is devalued by UEFA’s club financial control board (CFBCB), according to reports.

PSG president Nasser alKhelaifi welcomes the club’s rivalry with Monaco.

PSG and Manchester City are among a number of clubs who have been offered settlements for breaching financial fair play (FFP) rules.

UEFA’s CFBCB has made offers to all the clubs deemed to have breached the rules ahead of its meeting on Thursday.

PSG’s sponsorship contract is thought to be worth 200 million euros a year, but both Le Parisien and RMC report that — in an investigation into compliance with financial fair play (FFP) rules — UEFA will value it at only half that sum.

Any such move would result from concerns that the QTA paid over the odds to help out a club with which it has very close links. Both the QTA and Qatar Sports Investments, the owners of PSG, depend on financing from the state of Qatar.

Le Parisien suggests that UEFA’s revised valuation of the deal would see the French champions’ deficit for the 201314 season reach 107 million euros — more than double the 45 million euros allowed under FFP regulations.

Both Le Parisien and RMC say that European football’s governing body may punish PSG by taking a cut of several million euros from the club’s declared marketing budget.

However, both French media outlets say that the Ligue 1 leaders are unlikely to face further sanctions when UEFA announces its findings in the coming days. RMC cites a UEFA source as saying that PSG and Manchester City were never in danger of being excluded from the Champions League because such clubs allow UEFA to generate more revenue.

In light of impending sanctions — and PSG’s improved performances this season — the club have been exploring ways to increase their revenue.

Donald Sterling

Alonso Bemoans Suspension Rules

XABI Alonso has labelled UEFA rules ‘unfair’ after being ruled out of the Champions League final.

The Real Madrid midfielder was booked for a rash 38thminute challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger during the 4-0 semi-final win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday night and will now miss the showpiece on May 24 after also picking up a caution in the quarter-finals against Borussia Dortmund.

The rules on yellow cards came in for some criticism in 2012 after six Chelsea and Bayern players were banned for the final after picking up yellow cards in the semis and Alonso admits he is not a fan of the disciplinary procedures.

“It’s a shame not being able to

Xabi Alonso

play in it but I hope my teammates will win it and with time I’ll forget it,” he told Real’s official website.

“More than being an unfair card, I think it’s an unfair rule.

The road to the final is very complicated.

“Let’s hope we do well and we can win it because the fans really want to play in a Champions League final.”

Team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the win at the Allianz Arena to take his tally for this season’s Champions League to a record 16 goals and help guide Los Blancos to a first final in 12 years.

Real will be going in search of a 10th European Cup when they walk out at the Estadio da Luz and, after losing in the semifinals for the past three seasons, Ronaldo is delighted to be contesting a final in his home country.

“We showed a very good attitude and we deserved to reach the final,” he said.

“I’d like to thank all the players for their effort and now is time to enjoy the moment and play the final to win. We have been losing in the semis for a long time, three or four years, but the most important thing is that now we are in a deserved final and we have our feet on the

ground.

“Since the Champions League started we have taken it step by step and match by match.”

On his own personal landmark, the 29-year-old added: “I was looking for it and I knew I needed one goal but I was not going to be mad if it didn’t happen.

“It was a great ball from (Gareth) Bale. The whole team helped me.

seats, his trumped-up charitable photo-ops and celebrity status in Hollywood. He’s lost his makebelieve importance in the makebelieve city.

There were no revelations on those racist tapes for the commissioner and Doc Rivers, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

There were no revelations for NBA executives and coaches and veteran players.

Most understood the truth about this wretched man, but Stern and the rest of the NBA’s owners had resisted confrontation and executed a failed strategy of waiting for him to fade away. In the end, the NBA left Sterling to prosper as a necessary evil – only until his bizzaro personal life collided with his insane worldviews to create hours upon hours of TMZ and Deadspin content.

Silver separated himself of his predecessor, and no one will dare call him Stern’s puppet now.

Without bravado, without grandstanding – without hesitation – Silver made himself commissioner of the National Basketball Association on Tuesday, commissioner for everyone.

“Everyone feels a part of the NBA now,” one general manager said.

Perhaps someday this will be remembered as the easy part.

Sterling won’t go quietly, won’t go without a flurry of suits and countersuits. This has been his life. For years, he bullied coaches and scouts that had been fired into suing him to collect salaries owed them – only to gleefully make them take pennies on the dollars in settlements because they didn’t have the resources to litigate against him.

This time, Sterling gets the NBA’s full war chest.

This time, he gets the players.

This time, he gets the public.

Finally, he catches hell for the ages.

When Donald Sterling wanted to spend his golden years courtside parading party girls on his arms, he gets run out of the

league.

For the future of the NBA, Silver’s banishment spared him something the commissioner understands is rare: The collective will and unity of the players. Players Association executive committee officials insisted playoff boycotts loomed had Sterling kept control of the Clippers.

In all Silver’s time as the NBA’s top negotiator in collective bargaining talks, for all his relationships with agents and players, he witnessed how little else had ever moved the players to unity as the unfolding of the Sterling debacle.

It’s been largely impossible to unite the NBA players on a cause, and the results have been one disastrous collectivebargaining agreement after another, a smaller share of the NBA’s multibillion-dollar empire and a loss of free-agency rights. The Players Association is such a mess, the search process in the aftermath of the Billy Hunter debacle has wandered emptily for more than a year.

Nevertheless, Silver was able to do something Stern never had: Get cheers from all corners, get everyone together in the increasingly divided NBA. Once the Board of Governors votes to oust Sterling, there are issues with the sale of the Clippers.

There are issues for Doc Rivers now: Who does he answer to in the organization? Who has final say on luxury-tax decisions and financial expenditures?

Already, NBA dealmakers wonder whether Sterling can slow-play the sales process the way Frank McCourt did with the Dodgers and run that bidding price higher and higher and leave the franchise in limbo longer and longer.

These are the issues awaiting Silver, the fight that Stern never wanted with Sterling. For now, Silver has met his moment of truth with the courage of conviction, with a coalition to carry the day. Finally, Adam Silver is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association.

Shock Secret About Banana Anti-Racism Campaign THE world of football has been going banana-crazy over the past few days in an inspiring show of support for Barcelona full-back Dani Alves, who was racially abused at the weekend when a thug in the crowd threw a banana at him.

Alves’s response was fantastic: he simply picked up the banana, ignored the message of hate it represented, and took a bite as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

That small gesture prompted an outpouring of support from figures across the world of football, kicked off by his Barca team-mate Neymar who posted on Twitter a picture of himself eating a banana with the

hashtag #wereallmonkeys.

Neymar’s tweet started a tidal swell of support, with thousands of people tweeting pictures of themselves eating bananas and repeating the same hashtag in a magnificent and spontaneous backlash against the plague of racism that still infests football.

It seemed spontaneous at the time, that is - but reports in Spanish newspaper AS and Brazilian magazine Veja have revealed that it was in fact a very carefully-choreographed campaign dreamt up by a marketing agency.

The plan devised by Brazilian agency Loducca was that the next time either Alves or Neymar

had a banana thrown at them on the pitch, they would pick it up and take a bite on camera in order to kick-start the social media campaign.

It just so happened that, with Neymar off injured, Alves was the first of the pair to have the banana thrown by a Villarreal fan, on Sunday night - and thus the global campaign got the impetus it needed. Neymar’s pre-prepared tweet went live within minutes of the incident, and almost instantly the twin hashtags #wereallmonkeys (and its Spanish translation, #somostodosmacacos) were trending on the social media site.

Okpekpe Race Organisers Install 1,500 Detachable will provide free Wi-Fi A detachable mini Stadium services for all visitors stadium of 1,500-seater capacity is being installed in Okpekpe community by the organisers of this year’s Okpekpe 10km race.

According to the organiers, Padmozi Sports Marketing, presentation of prizes and other functions relating to the event will hold inside the moveable stadium.

The reports that the second edition of the Okpekpe Race takes place on May 3.

According to the organisers, over 3,000 athletes, including 50 foreigners have already registered for the annual

race.

A media tour of the area revealed that engineers are working to ensure completion of the installation before Saturday.

The moveable stadium, according to one of the engineers on the site, was imported from abroad and it is first of its kind in this part of Nigeria.

“As we were told, last year’s event after the race was held in a place that was sandy and not too comfortable.

“All we are putting in place is to meet up international standard,

hence, the importation of the detachable mini stadium.

“It is strong and comfortable,” the source said.

Similarly, Guinness Nigeria Plc and Globacom Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Company are also branding the entire area, including the detachable mini stadium ahead of the race.

Guinness Plc is installing a make-shift beer bar in Okpekpe, Apanna and Auchi communities where their products will be served.

Globacom also says it

and the host community.

The starting point mark of the race at Apanna is also marked and branded

by Globacom and Guinness Plc. Each kilometre is marked and branded by the two companies up to the finishing point.

There is excitement in Okpekpe community and its environs.

Friesland, producers of Peak Milk will also storm the community with trailer loads of their products, which it says will be shared to the children in Okpekpe.

NTF Set To Produce More Literate Coaches From Grassroots SANI Ndanusa, the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), on Tuesday in Abuja said the federation was set to produce more literate coaches for the sport from the grassroots.

Ndanusa told newsmen at the ongoing International Tennis Federation (ITF) national level one coaching course at the Abuja National Stadium that this would enable them train upcoming talents.

He said the number of coaches participating in the course had shown that most of the coaches are conscious of educating and improving on their skills.

The NTF president said the level one coaching course would help the federation in discovering more talented players from the grassroots and help the coaches in organising “kiddies clinic’’.

He said the course’s first

Ibrahim Galadima

edition was the foundation of the federation’s development initiative, saying it would now be held quarterly to help increase the number of certified coaches.

“I am happy with the turnout of coaches for the national level one coaches course. It shows that most of our coaches are really conscious of educating and improving themselves.

“But the development of tennis, especially at the grassroots level, has just started with this course and we are going to sustain it.

“This is because we are going to look at other zones to attract more coaches from the grassroots, and we hope to organise this every quarter before the end of the year.’’

Ndanusa said it was fundamental to get good teachers if the game was to develop, saying “when good teachers are produced, we will get good results from the players’’.

Rotimi Akinloye, the national senior tennis coach, in his lecture charged the coaches to be up to date with the sport’s new technology and the new rules of the game.

“As coaches, we should instill discipline in our players, and not be autocratic in our approach of dealing with our

students,’’ he said.

Akinloye advised the coaches to give in their best in their examination at the end of the course to ensure they move to the next level of the coaching certification.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ITF national level one coaching course began on April 28 and will end on May 3 at the Abuja National Stadium.

2014 World Cup

NSC Reassures NFA Of Adequate Funding THE National Sports Commission (NSC) on Tuesday said it would ensure that funds were released for the Super Eagles preparation for the World Cup once budgetary allocation for the assignment was released.

The Director-General of NSC, Gbenga Elegbeleye, made the promise in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

“If the budget office sends money to us for NFA, it will never stay for more than one day; we will transfer it to them immediately.

“Our own part is to give them the enabling

Aminu Maigari, NFA Chairman

environment to go there and do well by providing the required and necessary funding that is needed for camping.

“That is the reason we are involving the team in friendly matches; we just played one against Mexico.

“We have one against Scotland; we are still going to play against Greece and another one against U.S. before departing for Brazil.

“These are preparatory matches to get the players ready for the World Cup. “I can assure you that what is needed to be done from our own end is being taken care of,’’ Elegbeleye said.

He gave an assurance that the allegation of matchfixing made against the country by Wilson Perumal, a Singaporean, would not in any way affect the country’s preparation for the World Cup. Perumal in his book, “Kelong Kings’’, alleged that he helped Nigeria and Honduras qualify for the 2010 World Cup hosted in South Africa.

The 2014 World Cup is scheduled to take place in Brazil between June 12 and July 13.

Rio 2016: Elegbeleye

Optimistic On Nigeria Outing THE Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, on Tuesday expressed optimism that Nigeria would have a good outing at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio. Elegbeleye based his the NYG from the Local optimism on the recently Organising Committee discovered athletes at the (LOC) in Abuja.

National Youth Games The NSC boss said some of (NYG). the athletes discovered were He spoke after receiving the already representing Nigeria report of the first edition of at continental championships and would soon do the same at international competitions.

The first edition of the NYG held in December 2013 with 32 states and FCT participating. “‘There is no doubt that the first edition of the Games was a success with 32 states and the FCT. “The athletes discovered will be moved into the High Performance Centre where they will be nurtured to eventually graduate to Elite Athletes.

Aminu Maigari, NFF Chairman “‘The fact is that some of

them are already representing Nigeria at continental events and they will soon go international.

“But we are sure that by the time we will be going for the 2016 Olympics, we will have good athletes who will make us have good outing,” Elegbeleye said.

He said all hands were on deck to ensure there was no repeat of the 2012 Olympics where Nigeria won no medal.

“We are doing everything to ensure that Nigeria go back to its winning ways.

“And to get this done, we are more dedicated to School Sports and very soon, we will have the National Youth Sports Festival.

“And the athletes discovered at the Youth Sports Festival can also participate in the National Sports Festival.

“We are doing all these

because we don’t want a repeat of what happened at the 2012 Olympics in London, so all hands are on deck,” the NSC DG said.

Presenting the report to Elegbeleye, the LOC Chairman, Alhassan Yakmut said the Games were a success judging by the number of athletes discovered.

“The first edition of the Games was no doubt a success going by the number of athletes that were discovered.

“We discovered a total number of 415 athletes, 227 male and 188 female athletes.

“Here are two hard copies of the report of the game, submitted for your perusal,” Yakmut said.

The NYG is an initiative of the NSC for athletes less than 17 years to discover young talents to be groomed.

CMYK

Illegality Fueled

By Insensitivity As soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, issued what it called the time-table for the 2015 general elections, there were, expectedly, general outbursts about some items on the programme. The opposition parties cried blood on the ordering of the elections in which the presidential election was placed first, with the attendant band-wagon effect accruable from such.

While the opposition parties were yet repining and licking their INECinflicted wounds, Jonathan and his co-travellers had hit the road running. They had embarked on the first leg of their planned serial violations. Whereas section 99 of the Electoral Act, 2010, provides, “the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and shall end 24 hours prior to that day”, they had beaten the gun by kick-starting their campaigns almost one year ahead of schedule!

By INEC’s time-table, the presidential election is slated for 14 February 2015, which means that the campaign can only start on 16 November 2014 and end at midnight on 12 February 2015; apparently not for the PDP, which is presumably above the law.

For all we know, when the king carries the stick, the palace attendants need not be told what to do. The credibility of the 2015 elections is already in doubt, being born out of illegal campaigns.

Standards are already compromised — PDP is beating the gun while the electoral umpires and security agents look the other way.

Who is today still remembering anything about the timing of the

presidential election? They have long shifted our attention away from there.

Very soon, we might hear that PDP is printing the ballot papers at Ajegunle.

We will then forget the old issue and migrate to the new zone. That is their plan to constructively engage us until the elections will come and go.

Elsewhere, nations are known to have gone to war because of the killing of a single citizen but here, human life is not worth a kobo! On Monday, 14 April 2014, a generation of human souls was destroyed at the Abuja multiple bomb blasts.

A few hours later, precisely around midnight leading to Tuesday, 15 April 2014, criminal elements broke into Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Borno State and abducted another generation of innocent little girls.

At dawn on that same Tuesday, 15 April 2014, our President proceeded to Kano where he was later shown on television, dancing political azonto at an illegal campaign gathering, apparently unperturbed by the earlier mishaps. What a cruel irony; and the very height of insensitivity!

On December 14 2012, towards the peak of President Barrack Obama’s campaigns for the last presidential election, there was the incident of shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut,

which resulted in the death of 27 people, including 18 children.

Obama quickly cancelled all his political engagements for the day and proceeded to make a nation-wide broadcast to Americans. We find no space too big to devote to the action of such

victims, and counsel their families.

We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. Each time I learn the news; I react not as a president, but as anybody else would as a parent. And that was especially true today. I know there’s not a

fallen were also teachers, men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

So our hearts are broken today for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little

Senator Idris Umar, Transport Minister a noble leader. Accordingly, the text of Obama’s address is reproduced here: … I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director, Muellor. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the

parent in America who doesn’t feel the same overwhelming grief that I do.

The majority of those who died today were children – beautiful, little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years.

They had their entire lives ahead of them – birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the

children, and for the families of the adults who were lost.

Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors, as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early and there are no words that

“Elsewhere, nations are known to have gone to war because of the killing of a single citizen but here, human life is not worth a kobo! On Monday, 14 April 2014, a generation of human souls was destroyed at the Abuja multiple bomb blasts. A few hours later, precisely around midnight leading to Tuesday, 15 April 2014, criminal elements broke into Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Borno State and abducted another generation of innocent little girls.”

will ease their pain.

As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it is an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago, these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods and these children are our children.

And we’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.

This evening, Michelle and I will do what I hope every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter, and we’ll tell them that we love them, and we’ll remind each other how deeply we love one another. But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight, and they need all of us right now. In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans, and I will do everything in my power as president to help, because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need, to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories, but also in ours...

And there are groups in Nigeria that feel permanently alienated; more so by the insensitivity of their leaders; and when such leaders brazenly break the law, the future becomes bleak and dismal. That’s where we are now!

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