THE
NIGERIAN
The Nigerian
1
MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968
cmyk
SECURITY Pg 19 Policing The Nation Via Enhanced ICT
• Vol . 38 NO.265 • MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013 • N 100.00
Stop heating nation’s polity, By OSE EHEBHA EKPOMA - The Diocese of Esan, Anglican Communion has challenged
Anglican Church cautions Govs governors of the 36 states of the federation to concentrate on providing quality
leadership in their states, rather than heating up the nation’s polity.
The church expressed dismay over the political crisis that engulfed the Continues on page 2
Crude oil found in Ujiogba By THOMPSON ERHOMOSELE
ARCHIVAL MATTERS Pg 21
Buhari’s Communication Dissonance
EBUTE-UJIOGBA – A black liquid substance, suspected to be crude oil, has been discovered in Ebute quarters, Ujiogba Community, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Edo State officials in the ministry, Commissioner for embarked on a Special Duties, Oil and discovery adventure to Gas, Ambassador river Ebute where the Orobosa Omo-Ojo who substance was found, to was accompanied by a confirm the availability of seismic officer and other crude oil in the area.
The fortunes journey started with about one hour drive from Benin
City to Ujiogba and another 15 minutes drive to Ebute forest from
where it took about 10 minutes ride on a motorcycle further into the groove.
With the vigilante members and other youths of Ujiogba, the Commissioner, traditional ruler and ministry officials alighted from t he bikes and continued the journey on foot that amounted to about 20 minutes Continues on page 2
Presidency hopeful of dialogue
Boko Haram:
MAIDUGURI - The Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of
STOP OIL BUNKERING
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· · · · · ·
People of Edo State, Government has discovered that inspite of measures taken by security agents in the State to stop illegal oil bunkering, perpetrators of this shady business have continued unabated. The State Government is warning all those still involved in oil bunkering in the State to, in their own interest, stop this shady and dubious business forthwith as stiffer penalties await them. Any person or group of persons caught in the illegal business will be dealt with according to the law. All vehicles and equipment used will be burnt. Be patriotic, report any person suspected to be in the business of oil bunkering to the authorities concerned. Join Government to rid the State of enemies of progress. Edo State must continue to move forward. This message is from the Edo State Ministry of Information and Orientation
the Security Challenges in the North says it is still hopeful of engaging in dialogue with the Boko Haram sect. Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, the Chairman of the committee told newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday that dialogue would take place in spite of the recent developments. . Turaki, who is also the Minister of Special Duties, said the dialogue would bring lasting solutions to the states affected by the insurgency. “Let me say that Continues on page 2
CRUDE OIL DISCOVERY: The particular portion on Ebute river, Ujiogba in Esan West Local Government Area, Edo State, with the dark oily substance believed to be crude oil. Photo: THOMPSON ERHOMONSELE.
Security: Jonathan ASABA – President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to undertake further necessary measures to obliterate any other security menace in the country. The advice was
urged to step up measures
contained in a communiqué released at the end of the 9th Grand Board of Trustees
Meeting (GBOT) of the Benin Grand Commander of Nights of St. John International
Aberare, on Sunday in Lagos. The statement said that the workers were
going on strike over alleged unfair labour practices by some major oil companies in the country.
and Ladies Auxiliaries held at St Patricks College, Asaba, Delta State from Thursday
NUPENG aissues 3-day warning strike statement signed by “The strike is also to notice NUPENG’s Generalprotest the refusal of Secretary, Mr. Isaac
LAGOS - The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said it would begin a three-day warning strike today. This was contained in
NARTO to implement the signed collective bargaining agreement with the petroleum Continues on page 2
20th-23rd June, 2013. The communiqué signed by Noble Knight Brig-Gen. J.O. Ojobu, Grand President Benin Grand Commandery and Lady Dr. Florence Ngozi Ugoji, Grand Respected President, Benin Grand Ladies Auxiliary, however lauded the federal government’s latest Continues on page 2
THE
NIGERIAN
2 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
News
Stop heating nation’s polity
Continued from page 1
nation due to the leadership tussle in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). In a communiqué issued at the end of its Fourth Synod, the Diocese called on the governors to “stop chasing shadows and concentrate on solving the visible and numerous challenges facing their various states across the federation”. It called on the governors to put aside selfish interest and focus on the common good of the country to engender the sought after dividends of democracy. The communiqué identified poverty and high unemployment as potential threat to the security of lives and property in the country and called on governments at all level to urgently address them. It frowned at the increasing level of corruption in the country, challenging the anticrime and anti-corruption agencies to step up fight against the scourge to save the nation’s economy from
collapse. On same sex marriage, the Diocese applauded national body of the Anglican Communion for its consistent campaign against homosexuality, and lauded the National Assembly for passing the anti-gay bill despite international pressure. The church also
commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the emergency declaration in three northern states, but however challenged the federal government to fish out Boko Haram sponsors and bring them to justice. Meanwhile, the Esan Anglican Diocese has appealed to the Edo State Government to urgently
Continued from page 1
On getting to a particular palm tree to climb, he discovered, to his amazement, that a part of the Ebute river was unusually dark and out of curiosity he got closer to the seeming ‘strange’ liquid and retreated to inform the traditional ruler of Ujiogba. Addressing the youths of Ujiogba Community after returning from Ebute river with samples of the dark oily substance, water and leaves from the very portion, Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Oil and Gas, Ambassador Orobosa OmoOjo (JP) advised the people to desist henceforth from drinking water from the river as it had been polluted and unsafe for consumption. He enjoined the Ujiogba youths to resist any attempt by any person to destroy the green vegetation and should not carry out illegal activities, adding that they should ensure adequate protection of the area. The commissioner emphasized that the availability of crude oil in Ujiogba is a good omen for the fortune of the community and Edo State, hence the people, particularly the
Crude oil found in Ujiogba
trekking through the narrow bush path, cheeping into the clay portion and climbing on trees before getting to the portion of Ebute river where the dark oily substance was sighted conspicuously on the river. The emergence of EbuteUjiogba as a prospective oil producing community started when a local alcoholic liquor distiller popularly referred to as “Ogogoro” went on his usual palm-wine tapping adventure into the forest.
Security: Jonathan urged to step up measures
Continued from page 1 initiative to protect the lives and properties of the people, particularly in the three Northern States of Borno, Adamawa and Yola where a state of emergency has been invoked. The Board also commended the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan for the peace that prevailed in Delta State which enabled it to host the GBOT meeting and thanked God for the knights and ladies who traveled from various places in Edo and Delta States to Asaba. It would be recalled that during the homily of the opening mass of the GBOT which theme was: “Be Ye Reconciled to God” 2 Cor. 5 vs 20, Rev. Fr. Mark Nwoko, Spiritual Adviser of St. Particks’ Commandery 550, Asaba, admonished Nigerians to forgive one another in accordance with Matt 6 vs 7 – 15 which noted: “If you forgive men their trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive them their trespasses, neither will your father forgive you.” He harped on the spiritual significance of the sacrament of Reconciliation by which we
are reconciled to God. The church and fellow human being. The climax of the GBOT was the elevation of some qualified knights and ladies who were raised to the appropriate 2nd, 3rd and 4thh degrees while 23 new initiates were named members of the Reconciliation Squad. Other events at the threeday ceremony included a talk titled, knighthood – A veritable tool for evangelisation delivered by Sir T.S. Yogo, “Eye and
Continued from page 1
youths should be law-abiding and eschew all manners of hostility. While giving assurance that Edo State Ministry of Special Duties, Oil and Gas would go the extra mile to subject the samples to seismic data analysis and interpretation as well as applying government apparatus to ensure that the good fortune is harnessed for the development of the area, Ambassador Omo-Ojo expressed profound gratitude to the Onojie of Ujiogba, HRH Zaiki Solomon Ojieaga Izuware I for mobilizing youths and vigilante members, which is the local security outfit in the community for their resilience in taking the ministry officials to and from the Ebute river. It would be recalled that crude oil was found in another distant part of Ujiogba in 1987 where Agip Oil Company commenced oil exploration, however, only a well head is left in the area without any commercial activity taking place there. It is believed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will swing into action following the latest discovery.
NUPENG issues 3-day warning
Continued from page 1
tanker drivers. “We are also unhappy over the bad state of roads across the nation, ‘’ the statement said. The statement said that all efforts by the Federal Ministry of Labour to intervene in the issue three weeks ago had failed. It said that the oil multinationals had failed to implement the agreement reached for a truce brokered by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu. The statement alleged that the union’s call for a
stakeholders meeting in the oil and gas sector to address the situation had also been ignored. It directed all members of NUPENG at the various depots to stop loading petroleum products for the next three days.
Borno State Government and security agencies for their efforts in maintaining peace in the state. “I want to commend the Borno Government for taking proactive measures, especially in areas of rehabilitation of people who had to be evacuated in the course of the operations of the security agencies,’’ he
Members in all the branches in the country must also follow suit,’’ the statement said. It said that if after the threeday strike, nothing was done to address the situation, NUPENG would be forced to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
BENIN CITY – A total of fifty-one (51) persons have been convicted for various traffic offences in Edo State. All convicts were, however, given options of fines. The Edo Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps in a press statement issued in Benin City weekend and signed by its Head of Operations, Mr. M.A. Adetunji said the traffic offenders were arrested and arraigned before the Mobile Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate F.E.N. Igbinosa. “The Edo Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps in collaboration with the Edo State Government, instituted a Mobile Court on Thursday, 27 June 2013, to prosecute traffic offenders,” the statement reads. The release further says that one of the convicts, Mr.
Osariemen Ebu, a Tanker Driver with registration number XA844KEK who was accosted for dangerous driving (DGD), chose to assault one of the arresting Marshals and was sentenced to six (6) months imprisonment with hard labour or an option of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (250,00) fine. “The command warns motorists to desist from habits that could lead to road traffic crash as the command would not hesitate to have them brought to book. “The command is also appealing to owners of fleet of vehicles to always expose their drivers to training and retraining as this is a sure way to nipping dangerous driving habits in the bud and by extension curbing Road Traffic Crashes,” the release states.
OKPELL - The chairman Etsako East local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua has described regular environmental exercise as a key to good health and quality life of the people. He made this remark in Okpella on Saturday during the monthly environmental exercise which held across the 10 wards of the local council. He said that environmental sanitation does not involve the restriction of movements alone but the actual compliance with working to keep our houses and surrounding very clean. “We need to clear drainages and keep everywhere tidy.” “It is cheaper to keep our environment clean than to spend on treatment of diseases’1 said the council chairman. While calling on the people to support government in bringing the much desired dividends of democracy to the grassroots, she warned those who defy government orders on sanitation, to have a rethink.
Hon. Afegbua stated that appeal to sympathy and ignorance of the law cannot be escape routes for those who think that government directives can be flouted with ease. He maintained that his administration is committed to the allocation of resources to meet the people’s needs noting that a clean and health environment remains a key factor to development. The leader of the Legislative arm, Comrade Fidelis Aliu Osikwemhe who supervised the exercise in Agenebode commended the level of compliance stressing that sanitation exercise remains a priority of government. The supervisor for Health and environment, Hon. Barnabas Oshiobnor who commended the council chairman for his vision and mission to make Etsako East the pride of the people, promised to use his office to ensure the actualization of this dream. According to him, “make cleanliness part of your daily activities rather than be compelled by government to do it. The advantages from this are better left for your pleasure”. The head of Department of Environment in the council, Mrs. Kayode Ekiyor noted that environmental sanitation exercise does not take much time of the day, adding that it is expected that every one will participate actively. She added that all machineries have been put in place to ensure overall success of the exercise. Although, there were no mobile courts, the level of compliance, which varied from ward to ward, was generally commendable as market places, abattoirs, motor parks, drainages and residential buildings were kept clean.
Environmental Sanitation, key to quality life - Hon. Afegbua
Police confirm abduction of 3 NYSC members PORT HARCOURT - The a search for the missing in Rivers Rivers Police Command has corps members. confirmed the abduction of three members of the NYSC serving with Abua/Odual local government council of
Presidency hopeful ofsaid.dialogue
conflicts are resolved not on the battle field but on the negotiation table. We are hoping that this one will also be resolved the same way. “There is no option to dialogue because whatever cannot be achieved through peace, we cannot achieve through violence,’’ he said. Turaki commended the
address the issues between it and the striking teachers of public primary schools in the state. The appeal which was contained in the synod’s communiqué, the church said, was made out of urgent need to get public school pupils back to class. It called on the teachers to be willing to make concessions.
51 convicted for traffic offences in Edo
Turaki said that it was not true that members of the committee were shot at during their visit to Bama, headquarters of Bama Local Government Area. “We were not greeted with gun shots in Bama, but we met an exchange of fire between security agents and some suspected gunmen.
the state. Mrs Angela Agabe, the command’s Public Relations Officer, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that two male and one female youth corps members were abducted. She said they were seized by armed men in the early hours of Saturday. Agabe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the motive behind the kidnapping was however still unknown. The police PRO said the command’s anti-kidnapping unit, had since commenced
“Reports received by the command indicate that the corps members went to Ogomokon jetty, near the council headquarters, where three armed men abducted them. “So far, no group has claimed responsibility and no ransom has been demanded. The police have commenced investigation into the incident. “As we speak, our antikidnapping unit is on top of the situation. The unit has already commenced work to free the corps members,’’ she said.
THE
NIGERIAN
3 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
THE
NIGERIAN
4 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
THE
NIGERIAN
5 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
THE
NIGERIAN
6 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Inside Edo EDSG To Boost Talents Of Children
Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Oil and Gas, Ambassador Orobosa Omo-Ojo (JP) on Friday climbing on a tree to the Ebute River in the swampy forest in Ujiogba where crude oil was found. PHOTO: THOMPSON ERHOMONSELE
LG Boss Harps On Regular Environmental FUGAR - The chairman of was an important part of the Environment in the local govEtsako Central Local Govsociety which requires every ernment, Mr. S.O. Abokhe Sanitation ernment Council, Hon Emmanuel Ozemede Momoh has called on the indigenes of the local government to imbibe good sanitary culture towards bringing about a decent environment in the local government. Hon Emmanuel Momoh stated this in Fugar the administrative headquarters of the local government while monitoring last Saturday’s environmental sanitation exercise. Hon Momoh told the people that his administration was committed to the provision of the much sought after development through the provision of socioamenities. Hon Momoh further stated that the council authority was committed to reducing environmental pollution especially through unhindered and constant sanitation exercise. He commended the massive turnout of residents to clean their surroundings, even as he enjoined them to be focused and imbibe sanitary culture so as to avoid environmental pollution and outbreak of disease. The council boss emphasized that, the environment
body’s attention, stressing that regular environmental sanitation by the people can drastically reduce health hazards. As the environmental sanitation fell on a market day in Fugar, the chairman while addressing market women enjoined them to always keep the market clean towards ensuring a conducive environment for trading. Also speaking, the Head of
BENIN CITY - Civil Society organizations in Edo State have called on the Edo State Government to resolve the issue of the ongoing primary school teachers strike in the state. The civil society groups made of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Gani Fawehinmi Movement for Good Governance and Social Change, National Association of Edo State Students, Edo Youth for Good Governance, Youth Achievers Support and Empowerment Initiative, Conference of NonGovernmental Organizations,
South-South Youth League, Peoples Liberation Force amongst others made the call after meeting with the Edo State Commissioner for Basic Education, Hon. Patrick Aguinede and the state working executive committee of the Nigeria Union of Teachers among other teachers’ delegates from the 18 local government areas on Friday at Teachers House in Benin City. The group in a letter signed by the chairman of Gani Fawehinmi Movement for Good Governance and Social Change, Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin amongst others
commended the chairman for always monitoring the exercise since he assumed office while assuring him that the local government will continue to maintain it’s place as one of the cleanest local government in the state, as the people are always ready to participate actively in any environmental sanitation day. On the chairman’s entourage were the secretary to the
local government, Hon Anthony Omoakhia, TLG, Mr. Itebiemie, all head of Departments, councilors and supervisory councilors. More than 30 persons were convicted of various environmental offences during the environmental sanitation exercise and were charged accordingly.
BENIN- The Edo Ministry of Arts, Culture And Tourism, says it is committed to improving creativity especially in children. The Director of Culture in the ministry, Mrs Kate Ebie, said this during the launch of the maiden edition of the Edo Children Arts Festival held at Igbinedion Education Centre, Benin, last week. Ebie said the festival was organised in collaboration with Arts and The African Child (ATAC), an NGO, to create more awareness of the importance of developing the writing, painting and other inborn talents in children. She urged parents to support their children who had a flair for arts and crafts, to enable them to utilise their God-given talents in their areas of passion. The founder of ATAC, Mr Vincent Odigie stated that the festival was organised to promote the spirit of creativity among children in the state “We want to enhance and develop the creative potential of children in the state. “We want to also encourage
Etsako Central LG Boss Eulogises Late Albert his contributions on national Legogie issues during his sojourn at By LAMAI CASSIUS
Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Oil and Gas, Ambassador Orobosa Omo-Ojo (JP) on a motor-bike (2nd left) and the Onojie of Ujiogba HRH Zaiki Solomon Ojieaga Izuware I on a motor-bike (right) during the tortuous journey to Ebute River in the swampy forest in Ujiogba where crude oil was found. PHOTO: THOMPSON ERHOMONSELE
EKPERI - The Executive Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government, Hon Emmanuel Ozemede Momoh has described the late Senator Albert Legogie as an astute politician and a unifying factor in Etsako land, Edo State and Nigeria. Hon Emmanuel Momoh stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the Legogie family over the death of the late politician in Ekperi, Etsako Central local government Area of Edo State. The council boss stated that
CSOs Urge EDSG To Resolve Teachers’ Strike and addressed to the Edo State Director of State Security Service, the group said they observed that both the teachers and the Edo State government have made efforts towards peaceful settlement of the matter. The group therefore urged the state government not to place any conditionality for the furtherance of consultations, meetings and negations with the teachers. The group said the state government should make a written documentation containing its commitment to the resolution process, adding that
such would enable the state chapter of the teachers’ union to secure a suspension of strike action from the national body. The civil society in the letter request the SSS director to communicate the feelings of the people to the government and as a security chief advised the people on the matter. The group urged the state government functionaries to turn down any act of rhetoric cohesion, intimidation, threat, punitive transfer and any attempt on mass sack of the primary school teachers and urged the Commissioner for
them to improve on their writing, painting and other creative abilities, so that they would be arts inclined and contribute to the creative industry in the future. “Our vision is to create a platform where children can express their creativity through Arts,” he said. In a separate interview, Miss Faith Omonzokpia, the founder of Arts Elixir Nigeria, stressed the need to encourage arts as a profession with a view to generating employment. She called for more investment in the arts and entertainment industry, saying that it would contribute to more revenue generation in the country. Reports say that the Edo Children Arts Festival began with the visual and literary arts competition with primary and secondary schools participating. The festival is expected to feature arts exhibitions, workshops, fashion display and the grand finale to hold in August.
Basic Education, Hon. Patrick Aguinede to as a matter of urgency write a formal letter to express government genuine disposition to the peaceful resolution of the teachers’ legitimate agitations. Others copied with the letter include the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, the commissioner for Basic Education, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Benin Monarch and the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.
the National Assembly as a Senator during the Third Republic cannot be forgotten considering his vast knowledge of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He stated that the late senator Albert Legogie was instrumental to the success of the National Assembly, one which has today imparted positively on the lives of Nigerians, adding that, posterity will always place him in the good book of history. He described the late Senator as a fearless lawmaker who ensured that there was strict adherence to the rule of law. While extolling the steerling qualities of the late lawmaker hon. Momoh described the late Legogie as a glowing light and a shining example to today’s politicians. He described the late senator as a fine gentleman whose style of politicking has impacted positively on the younger generation of politicians. The council boss stated that the Legogie family has every thing to be proud of because the late senator lived an exemplary life. The local government boss however enjoined the Legogie family to take solace in the fact that he left a legacy that will be emulated by all
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7 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Inside Edo
Aigbodion Tasks Coys On Sanitation SABONGIDDA-ORA – Companies operating in Owan West Local Government Area have been urged to ensure that they clean their environment and also partake in the monthly environmental exercise. The Chairman of the Council Hon (Barr) Godwin Aigbodion gave the charge at the weekend when he led other members of the council’s executive arm to monitor last months environmental exercise in the locality.
He said the monthly sanitation exercise should be viewed as a conscious effort of government to ensure that the environment is clean and habitable. He therefore stressed the need for the exercise to be taken seriously by all while the period of the exercise be strictly observed for the purpose for which it is meant. He however said the exercise was successful in the area and promised that the council would enlighten the people further on
Cocoa Farmers Petition Nigeria Army Over Harassment By ROLAND OSAKUE BENIN CITY – The Cocoa Farmers in Area BC 10, Okomu Forest Reserve in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have petitioned the Commandant, 4 Mechanized Brigade, Nigeria Army, Benin City over alleged harassment by its officers in the area. The farmers, who alleged the wanton destruction of their Cocoa Plantation in Area BC 10 of Okomu Forest Reserve by Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC, stated that the officers of the Nigeria Army, resident in the area were being used to perpetuate the nefarious act. A letter dated 28th June, 2013 addressed to the Commandant, 4 Mechanized Brigade, Benin by the farmers through their Counsel, Paul Saiki Esq reminded the Commanding Officer of an interim injunction order against the Oil Palm Company by the High Court on the said land before the determination of the substantive suit. The letter entitled “Re: Suit No: HIGU/1/2012, Hassan Tajudeen & others (on behalf of themselves and Yoruba Cocoa farmers in Area BC 10, Okomu Forest Reserve) Vs Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC and another. Notice of injunction against Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc in favour of the Yoruba Cocoa farmers. Notice of consequences of using your officers to violate court orders” however advised against the use of the officers against lawabiding citizens of the area. They further alleged that the
oil palm company has put them in confusion by using the army to disturb the movement and farming occupation within the area, after the mass and callous destruction of the farm even when the suit is pending in the law court. The letter however, stated that the farmers may be compelled to make recourse to the court against the Brigade should their officers undermined the injunctive orders of the court. Contacted on the issue, the Army Public Relations Officer, Capt. Roseline Managbe told THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER on phone that the Brigade was already looking into the matter and that there was no cause for the farmers to panic.
the need to keep their surroundings clean. Hon. Reginald Okun, the Secretary, Hon. Edward Ehizoje, the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA), Engr. Mamud and other principal staff and supervisory councilors accompanied the chairman during the monitoring exercise. A mobile court presided over by Mrs. Mefo Adebanjo, a magistrate, convicted 40 persons for contravening the sanitation exercise law. The convicts were charged with offences such as loitering, selling and display of their wares and refusal to partake in the exercise. They were charged between N500 and N200 or an option of 14 days imprisonment.
Chairman, Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea, inspecting the new MIKANO 1115KVA power generator bought by his administration. With him is the Director of Works, Engr. S. Akhibi and other council staff.
Ikpea, PHCN Meet To Proffer Solution
Epileptic Power Supply: UBIAJA – The Chairman, Esan South East Local government Council, Joseph Ikpea has held a meeting with the representative of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, (PHCN in his office at Ubiaja, the administrative headquarters of the council over epileptic power supply in the area. Hon. Ikpea who frowned at the epileptic power supply in the locality, especially, Okhuesan, Emu, Okhuodwa, Ewatto and
Ewohimi axis, promised the PHCN staff that his administration was ready to assist them where necessary. On his part, the PHCH representative assured the chairman that they were ready to live up to expectation and solicited the chairman’s assistance in clearing from Okhuesan to Ewatto, as this
Flood: Etsako Central Builds Relief Camps FUGAR (EDO) - The Etsako Central Local Government of Edo says it has constructed temporary relief camps ahead of this year’s predicted flooding. The council Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Momoh, told newsmen in Fugar that four camps, fitted with modern facilities, had been prepared for those who might be displaced by flood. Momoh said that the council embarked on massive enlightenment to educate the various communities in the area, especially those within the riverside areas, about actions to take when the need arose. He said that with the early preparations, the residents would be able to conduct themselves better by knowing when to vacate their homes and
move to the camps. He commended the state government for the measures it took in handling last year ’s disaster in the area, adding that the camps were built to provide habitable environment for victims. “We know the state and the council did their best during last year ’s flood disaster even though they were never prepared for it. “It has been predicted that flooding will occur again in some parts of the country this year and we have to be prepared for it, but nobody actually knows what will happen. “It may or may not occur as predicted. We really do not want to be caught off guard. “We have put four camps in
Chairman, Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea (left) about to hand over the keys to the new 18-seater bus to the Chairman, NULGE, Esan South East Local Government Council, Comrade Wilson Idehenre as other council staff look on.
place and these camps are fitted with modern toilets and other facilities, including play station, for children,” he said. Momoh also said the efforts by both the state and the local government was to ensure that the losses suffered by flood victims last year would not reoccur. “We are not alone on this as the state government is also making its own plans to mitigate suffering of any victim,” he said. It would be recalled that Etsako Central was affected by the 2012 flood in Edo where more than 10,000 persons were displaced in 10 communities.
would guarantee constant power supply. Hon. Ikpea obliged and gave directive to the council’s Director of Works, Engineer S. Akhibi to immediately deploy his men to work. In another development, the Chairman, Hon. Ikpea bought a brand new Toyota Hiace bus for the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Esan South East Local Government Chapter. Receiving the key to the bus, the chairman of NULGE, Comrade Wilson Idehenre, thanked the chairman for the gesture and promised that the union will partner the administration in moving the Local Government forward. The NULGE chairman who was full of excitement described Hon. Ikpea as a listening and God sent chairman to the people of the locality. Also, the chairman has inspected the 1115KVA MIKANO power generator
promised by his administration during his electioneering. In a statement, Hon. Ikpea said he chose to purchase a brand new power generator in fulfillment of his promise to the workers prior to his assumption of office. The executive chairman said he had to match his words with action because he is known for keeping to his promises. Hon. Ikpea said the generator was of paramount importance to the council as it could also be used to power the new water borehole sunk by his administration. Responding, the Director of Works, Esan South East Local Government Council, Engineer S. Akhibi thanked the chairman and assured him of their support, promising that together, they would move the Local Government forward. Engr.Akhibi described Hon. Ikpea as a “light” and a God sent Chairman to the people of Esan South East Local Government Area.
ECF Honours Budget Commissioner By OBOH SYLVESTER
BENIN CITY – The Edo State Commissioner for Budget, Planning and Economic Development, Barrister Lawrence Aghedo was at the weekend honoured by the Ewohimi Committee of Friends (ECF) at a ceremony in Benin City. The honour was in recognition of the commissioner’s achievement, generosity and philanthropic gesture, according to the President of ECF, Mr. Sunny Ebikade. Mr. Ebikade appreciated Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other leaders of the Action Congress in the state for considering Barrister Aghedo worthy to serve as member of the state executive council. He expressed confidence in
the ability of Aghedo to live up to expectation, describing him as a brilliant, resilient, hardworking and result oriented person who will not bring reproach to his community. On his part, the National Coordinator of ECF, Barr. Ighodalo Asuelimen, while applauding the honour done the Ewohimi Community, called on all communities in the state to support the state government to enable it prosecute more socio-economic, development oriented programmes, especially at the grassroots. Barr. Asuelimen evaluated the challenge of ECF to include the desire to create a viable agribusinesses, give meaningful education and sustainable employment to the army of unemployed youths, the need to bolster economic
regeneration of the state and enhance women empowerment through trade, healthcare and micro financing. In his acceptance speech, commissioner Aghedo appreciated ECF for finding him worthy of the honour and promised to justify the confidence reposed in him. Highlights of the occasion were the presentation of awards and scholarships by ECF to three female students of Ewohimi Community who came out tops in their respective schools. Dignitaries present at the occasion include the Onojie of Ewohimi, Lord Peter Ogienefoh Usifoh II, represented by Prof. Julius Obahayugie, members of the academia, professionals, top civil servants, politicians and the business class.
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8 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
South South
Senator Calls For Ties Between A/Ibom, C/River
CALABAR- Senator Helen Esuene, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom, has called for stronger ties between the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River. She made the call at the launch of a book entitled: “Cross River State: First 45 years’’, written by Chief Wilfred Inah, in Calabar on Friday.
Inah was the Head of Service in the administration of late Brig.-Gen. Jacob Esuene, in the defunct South Eastern State. Esuene, the widow of former governor, criticised those fanning the embers of disunity between the people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom using the issue of oil wells. “It is unnecessary for people
to whip up sentiments of disunity and acrimony using oil wells as issues,’’ she said, She said the relationship between the two sister states predates the discovery of crude oil.
Represented by Mr. Bassey Essien, a former Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, she said the issue was capable of causing disaffection between brothers and sisters in the two states.
The Chairman, Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea (right), discussing with Mr. Garuba of the Environmental Department. With them are the Council Head of Service and Treasurer to the Local Government.
The senator said that the idea of creating Akwa Ibom out of Cross River was not for disunity and acrimony, but for even development. She warned those fanning the embers of disunity between the sister states to desist in the interest of peace and unity. Esuene commended the elders of Cross River who championed the agitation for the creation of Akwa Ibom out of Cross River for their ‘kind thoughts’ which ensured the creation of the sister state. In another development, a former speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly says it is the turn of Eket Senatorial District to produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom. “Since the issue of zoning of political offices is constitutional, it is the turn of Eket Senatorial District to produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom,’’ Essien told newsmen in Calabar. Essien said the two other senatorial districts of Ikot Ekpene and Uyo had taken their respective slots in the governorship, while Eket senatorial district was yet to produce a candidate. He urged the people of Eket to work hard for the slot, adding that power had never been given
Monthly Sanitation
Ikpea Cautions Against Non-Compliance UBIAJA – The Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea has told the people of the local government that his administration will not tolerate any form of default from any area during the period of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Hon. Ikpea who was speaking in Ubiaja, the administration headquarters of Esan South East Local Government Area said he has zero tolerance for any person or group of persons who will not abide by the sanitation rules by staying at home during the monthly exercise. Hon. Ikpea also arraigned 33 persons before the mobile court headed by Senior Magistrate P. Foy Yamah and were
sentenced accordingly. 31 of them pleaded guilty while two others were discharged. Hon. Ikpea was accompanied by the Vice Chairman of the council, Hon. Igiogbe, Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Solomon Oyedo, as well as other principal officers of the council.
The Chairman, Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea (2nd left), listening to the explanation by one of the accused arraigned before the mobile court.
A/Ibom Pledges 100 Per cent Rural Electricity Supply
UYO-Akwa Ibom Government has pledged its commitment to provide 100 percent rural electricity to the state by 2015. The Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr Effiong Abia, made the pledge in Uyo during a prayer session organised by the staff of the ministry to seek divine guidance in its operations. Abia said the ministry would be re-positioned in consonance with the
“uncommon transformation agenda” of Gov. Godswill Akpabio. He reiterated that the rural dwellers yet to have electricity would have it before the expiration of the current administration. Abia urged the staff to cultivate team spirit to enable them to improve the lots of the rural communities. He cautioned against indiscipline, lateness and indolence at their duty posts.
“I will not compromise quality service delivery, corporate appearance, diligence and discipline. “I call on you to join hands with me to drive the vision of the ministry,” Abia said. In her remarks, Mrs Ekaette Okon, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, pledged the loyalty of the staff to the commissioner. Okon expressed optimism that with good leadership, hard work and great
dynamism, the ministry would make positive impact on the rural communities. She said that the prayer meeting demonstrated their faith in God, noting that with Him, all things are possible. Reports say that the ministry has the responsibility of supplying rural electricity, potable water in the rural area and development of access roads to villages.
on a platter of gold. The former speaker debunked speculation that the people of Eket were not united in the struggle to produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom.
Maternal Mortality Rate Drops By 30 Per Cent - Jonathan
OTUOKE (BAYELSA) President Goodluck Jonathan has said that maternal mortality rate in Nigeria had dropped by 30 per cent in the last four years. Jonathan spoke in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa at the inauguration of Otuoke Comprehensive Cottage Hospital. The President put the nation’s current maternal rate at 350 deaths per 100,000 as against 500 deaths per 100,000 women recorded in 2008. “Let me use this unique opportunity to tell Nigerians that as a government, we are working extremely hard to meet the set target of the MDGs. “As at 2008, we had 500 deaths out of every 100,000 women that give birth to children. “But as at now, we have reduced that to 350. The target for the MDGs is 250 and God willing, before the end of 2015, we will get there,’’ Jonathan said. The President stated that his administration would not relent in its efforts at attaining the MDGs target of 250 per 100,000 women by 2015. He restated his commitment to the MDGs, especially in the health sector, assuring that all hands were on deck to ensure that the nation achieved the set targets by 2015. “I recall that the construction of this model hospital began in 2006 as an initiative of the Bayelsa State Government. “It was later taken over by the MDGs office in collaboration with the state government.” He said it was most gratifying for him to come and witness the completion and inauguration. “This has been made possible by the hard work, diligence and perseverance of all the stakeholders.” The President said that Nigeria was faced with a number of developmental challenges which the government had tried to address since the past two years. “We embarked on reforms of several sectors of our national economy with a single-minded commitment and determination. “ The health sector is a cardinal priority of our transformation agenda. “Attainment of the universal health coverage and provision of comprehensive health care for all our citizens is a goal we have set for ourselves,’’ Jonathan said. The President stated that the inauguration of the cottage hospital underscored his administration’s commitment to public health.
THE
NIGERIAN
9 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Abuja PDP Has Lost Discipline Of Members
ABUJA - A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Independence Ogunewe Ogunewe, said that the PDP had lost disciplinary power over its members. Ogunewe told nenswmen that the PDP leadership
NYSC: COREN Decries Posting Of Engin e e r i n g Graduates To Schools ABUJA -The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has resolved that graduates of engineering should no longer be posted to secondary schools during their service year. The decision was taken by members of the council in Abuja during its 138th Council Meeting. The President of COREN, Mr. Kasim Ali, said the council frowned at the current trend of posting graduates of engineering to teach in secondary schools during NYSC. According to him, the one year training for a graduate engineer requires working under a senior engineer with the principle of COREN standard and practice. He said the law guiding COREN provides that the service year of a graduate engineer should be within the discipline. Ali said the council had forwarded its decision to the relevant authorities and hope it would be adhered to. He also said that the council in fulfilling the content of its law had established its Engineering Regulation and Monitoring (ERM) inspectors across the country. The president said the ERM was set out to eliminate quackery in the profession. He said the council had established an investigative panel and registered engineers’ disciplinary tribunal. “The investigative panel carries out preliminary investigation into any case of alleged unprofessional misconduct and thereafter sends the case to the tribunal. “The tribunal will then try any such registered engineering personnel. “A sentence is passed and it is gazetted for enforcement in all parts of the country,” he said. Ali said COREN would always ensure that engineering was practised by industry, government and professionals according to acceptable and prescribed standards of the profession.
should wake up and tackle the crisis in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) He said that the crisis in the NGF could truncate the unity of the country, if it was not checked, warning that the PDP leadership should desist from over-heating the polity. According to him, what is happening in the PDP can make way for the opposition to grab power from the PDP in 2015. He said that members of the PDP within the forum were playing into the hands of the opposition, noting that “politics in the NGF is simple but difficult for the PDP”. Ogunewe said that for the leadership of the PDP to make meaningful headway, there was need for somebody in the party to whip members of the party into line. He said that the interest of some governors in the NGF appeared to be overriding the party’s interest. “Governors in North are lining with the opposition in the NGF because they believe that the North should be given opportunity to produce the next president of Nigeria.’’ The former lawmaker expressed worry over the poli-
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ticking in the NGF, saying that the development might snowball to a crisis that would not augur well for the country’s nascent democracy. Ogunewe said that the crack in the NGF was gradually moving the nation’s democracy backwards. “We should not give room for any crisis that could lead to military coup or civil war in Nigeria because no nation has survived two civil wars.’’ He advised politicians to be careful and to play the game according to the rules, to foster enduring democracy in the country.
From right: Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, Wife of Jigawa Governor, Hajiya Amina Lamido and National President of Women Preachers, Hajia Maryam Othman, during the National Conference of Women in Da’Awa in Dutse yesterday.
NLC Advocates Stiffer Penalties For Offenders Pension Reform: ABUJA - The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for stiffer penalties against organisations which failed to comply with the pension administration law. The NLC National Vice President, Mr. Issa Aremu, made the call at the public hearing on Pension Reform Bill. Aremu expressed regret
that some employers had continued to default in the remittance of pension deducted from the salaries of workers while other organisations had refused to enrol their staff. He said that it was imperative to make the penalties for non-compliance more stringent. “Labour is impressed with the innovations in the pro-
Former President, Court of Appeal and District Head of Malumfashi Local Government in Katsina State, Retired Justice Mamman Nasir (M) and Transition Committee Chairman, Malumfashi Local Government, Alhaji Mansur Rabi’uBaki (2nd R), clearing refuse during the state’s reintroduced Environmental Sanitation Exercise in Malumfashi on Saturday.
2013 Hajj:
posed law. “ We want to recommend stiffer penalties for non-compliance. “Many employers deduct but do not remit the contributions of their workers. Others have refused to register their staff. “The law should be specific by treating non-compliance as an economic crime which earn defaulters severe sanctions, ‘’ he said. Aremu said the proposed law would only be meaningful when the interest of the ordinary pensioners were protected to the extent that they were able to access their pensions with ease. He said that the labour union would ensure that future elections were issuesdriven to help Nigerians know candidates committed to promoting their welfare at all times. “We have to support all legislative efforts to prevent the miserable treatment meted out to pensioners by criminally-minded individuals who loot pension funds. “On our part, NLC will definitely make future elections issue-driven. We will definitely know those who
Shehu To Lead FG Delegation
ABUJA - The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar Garbai, has been appointed as the National Amirul Hajj and Leader of the Federal Government’s delegation to the 2013 Hajj. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, announced this in Abuja at the stakeholders’ meeting on the 2013 Hajj operations organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
- Sultan
Abubakar said the appointment of Garbai was in line with the agreement that Hajj delegation should always cut across the leadership of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). Reports say that Garbai is the NSCIA Deputy President. “Therefore, another Amirul Hajj for the 2014 Hajj is expected to emerge from the southern or west-
ern part of the country,’’ the Sultan said. He said that with the 20 per cent reduction in the number of those to make up the Nigerian contingent to the 2013 Hajj, priority would be accorded first timers. Abubakar said the meeting would deliberate on issues bothering on the Hajj exercise in Nigeria, such as health, feeding and accommodation, among others.
Also speaking, the NAHCON Chairman, Malam Musa Bello, said the meeting would afford stakeholders the opportunity to brainstorm on ways to tackle challenges of Hajj exercises in Nigeria. ‘Any meaningful idea that will benefit the success of this year’s Hajj, will be welcomed accordingly by the commission,’’ he said.
want to use stolen funds to corner elective offices,” Aremu said. He also suggested that the proposed law should provide for the NLC and the pensioners union to be appointed commissioners of the Pension Commission for effectiveness. Earlier, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark, said that an effective pension scheme would help to secure the future of the country and its people. Represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Sen Abdul Ningi, Mark urged stakeholders to make useful inputs to strengthen the law for efficient management of pension funds. “To forestall this, you have to come up with laws that meet international standard and reflective of the pension systems in operation in countries that have achieved success in the sector. “As stakeholders, we have to chart a course that will ensure that our future and our children’s is secured. “It is when our future and our children’s future are secured that the country’s future can be secured. “We must embark on positive efforts to transform the administration of our pension system for the benefit of the elderly people who have served the country with diligence, ‘’ Mark added. The chairman of the joint senate and house committees, Sen. Aloysius Etok, gave the assurance that the National Assembly would do everything to sanitise the pension industry. “We are amending the pension laws to strengthen it, not just to have teeth but to also be able to bite. We will not relent in this resolve.’’ he said.
THE
NIGERIAN
10 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Business+Economy
PPMC Restreams Vandalised ABUJA - The Pipelines The PPMC spokesman Pipeline called and Products Marketing on host communities Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of NNPC, on Thursday said it had repaired and re-streamed the vandalised pipeline in Ilado community, Atlas Cove, Lagos. Mr Nasir Imodagbe, Manager, Media Relations and External Affairs, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. It would be recalled that vandals had ruptured and vandalised the NNPC pipeline at the Akinbo Jetty at Atlas Cove and siphoned petroleum products. Imodagbe, however, said the timely intervention of NNPC/PPMC engineers and security operatives had saved the day and repair work had begun
immediately after the fire was put out. “Repair-works commenced on the pipeline immediately the fire was put out. I can tell you that the pipeline has been repaired and re-streamed after it was temporarily shut down for repairs. “Pipeline vandalism and oil theft account for loss of billions of dollars annually to the nation and the Federal Government has been exploring various ways to curtail the menace,’’ he said. He called on Lagos residents to avoid panic buying as the PPMC was working with all stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply to Lagos and the entire country.
High Cost Of Power Generation Hinders Water Supply In Kaduna K A F A N C H A N (KADUNA STATE) - The Kaduna State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr John Ayuba, has identified the high cost of running generators as a problem of water supply in the state. Ayuba made the statement during a familiarisation tour of water facilities in Kwoi, Kafanchan, Manchok and Zonkwa all in Southern Kaduna State. The commissioner said the power supply challenge hindered the provision of water for the people and in addition prevented the extension of supply to towns and villages. He identified other challenges of water supply as obsolete equipment, caused by long neglect by past administrations in the state. Ayuba said the government was doing everything possible to put the water facilities in order for effective service delivery. The commissioner, however, urged water consumers in the state to endeavour to settle their water bills promptly to ensure the maintenance of equipment to guarantee regular supply. The General Manager of Kaduna State Water Board, Alhaji Kabir Rufai, appealed to the people to promptly report any case of pipe burst
to the nearest water station for necessary action.
and other stakeholders to join the NNPC/PPMC to curb pipeline vandalism in the country. He said the PPMC was already exploring the use of better technology and security arrangements to safeguard the pipelines.
OWAZA (ABIA) - Total A and E Nig. Ltd, a multinational oil company, on Friday organised a one-day health awareness campaign for Owaza, an oil community in Abia. Reports say that Total is executing the Obite-UbetaRumuji and Northern Option Pipelines projects that run through Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area. Mr Nicolas Brunet, the Deputy Managing Director of
Total Organises Health Awareness Campaign For Oil Community the company, said the campaign was designed to mitigate the impact of the social vices envisaged in the host communities in the course of the project. Brunet explained that the preproject environmental impact assessment “indicated the likelihood of increases in social vices during the pipelines
L-R: Prof. Julius Obahayugie, Edo State Commissioner for Budget, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Lawrence Aghedo and wife during the hosting of the Commissioner by Ewohimi Committee of Friends (ECF) in Benin City at the weekend.
16 Ship To Discharge At Lagos Ports
L-R: Mrs. Oseghale Eunice, a staff of Ewohimi Secondary School, Miss Okoyomon Hope, Student of Ewohimi Secondary School and Miss Idiake Grace, student of Agadaga Secondary School were given awards and scholarships by the Ewohimi Committee of Friends during the hosting of the Edo State Commissioner for Budget, Planning and Economic Development Hon. Lawrence Aghedo in Benin City at the weekend.
CBN To Partner FIRS For Effective Performance
LAGOS - Mr Chris Nkwonta, the Deputy Director, Banking and Payment System, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said the apex bank would continue to collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). He made the pledge in a message to a sensitisation workshop organised by FIRS for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Banks and FIRS Field officers in Lagos. Speaking on “Implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) by Federal Government: the Role of CBN, DMB and MDAs’’, Nkwonta said that the
construction in the area”. He said the company’s policy on sustainable development “emphasises on the control and mitigation of the impact of our operations on the people and environment. “It also supports the socioeconomic development of our stakeholding communities in the course of providing access to energy,’’ Brunet said. He said the campaign, which had taken place in 11 other communities in Rivers, would help to educate and communicate the dangers inherent in social attitudes. “We are here today to share this enlightenment message with you in Owaza,’’ he said. Brunet said the 50-kilometre project was a joint venture between the company and the NNPC initiated to increase revenue from gas production. The traditional ruler of Etitioha, Eze Obioma Nworgu, promised that the people of the area would utilise the knowledge from the event effectively for its development. Also, Mr Martin Noah, the President of Owaza Youths Association, said the campaign had educated the youth more on how to live healthy lifestyle.
aim of the workshop was to improve the performance of the FIRS. Nkwonta, who was represented by Mr Abubakar Kule, Assistant Director, Banking and Payment System Department of the CBN, urged tax authorities to share information for effective performance. He said that the TSA was a strategy for the consolidation of government cash resources in a single or several accounts
connected for sound management of government cash resources. Nkwonta said that countries like Brazil, Gambia, South Africa, India, Indonesia and France had already adopted the TSA in line with global best practises of managing government resources. “In the Nigerian context, it is expected to enhance unification of all Federal Government bank accounts, control and monitor funds held in the single account
of the Federal Government. ‘Nkwonta said that the new system would improve database and recording of government financial transactions as well as promote accountability and transparency in government spending. He said that tax payment should be made electronically to relevant designated accounts to block leakages, adding that the development would improve tax collection. Mrs Queensley Seghosime, the Director of Revenue Accounting Department, FIRS, urged taxpayers to remit their taxes promptly.
LAGOS - Sixteen ship are waiting to discharge petroleum products and other goods at the Lagos ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said. The “Shipping Position’’, a daily publication of the NPA, disclosed this recently. According to the document, 12 of the ships will discharge petrol at the various oil terminals within the Lagos ports. One of the ships will discharge diesel, one will discharge ethanol, while two will discharge bulk malt and bulk salt. NPA said that 88 ships, carrying different cargoes, would sail into the ports from June 27 to July 22. It said that 22 of the expected ships were coming with petroleum products, while seven ships would be laden with new and used vehicles. Reports say that other ships will arrive with containers, bulk salt, general cargo, bulk wheat, bulk fertiliser, bulk malt. Reports also say that the remaining ships would sail in with crude palm oil, steel products, palm olein, fresh fish, bulk maize, bulk urea and base oil. The document reported that 19 ships were currently discharging containers, bulk wheat, bulk fertiliser, bulk sugar, bulk salt, steel products, general cargoes and petroleum products.
THE
NIGERIAN
11 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
International Features
Obama’s New Power Initiative For Africa
PRESIDENT Barack Obama will announce a new initiative to double access to electric power in sub-Saharan Africa, part of his effort to build on the legacy of equality and opportunity forged by his personal hero, Nelson Mandela. Obama, who flew from Johannesburg to Cape Town Sunday, will pay tribute to the ailing 94year-old Mandela throughout the day. The president and his family will visit Robben Island, where the anti-apartheid leader spent 18 years confined to a tiny cell, including a stop of the lime quarry where Mandela toiled and developed the lung problems that are ailing him today. The White House said Obama’s guide during his tour of the island will be 83-year-old South African politician Ahmed Kathrada, who was also in captivity at the prison for nearly two decades and guided Obama on his 2006 visit to the prison as a U.S. senator. The president will also view the prison courtyard where Mandela planted grapevines that remain today, and where he and others in the dissident leadership would discuss politics, sneak notes to one another and hide writings. Following the tour, Obama will deliver what the White House has
billed as the signature speech of his weeklong trip at the University of Cape Town, an address that will be infused with memories of Mandela. During that speech, Obama will unveil the
African do not have electricity, including 85 percent of those living in rural areas.
• US President, Barack Obama
“Power Africa” initiative, which includes an initial $7 billion investment from the United States over the next five years. Private companies, including General Electric and Symbion Power, are making an additional $9 billion in commitments with the goal of providing power to millions of Africans crippled by a lack of electricity. Gayle Smith, Obama’s senior director for development and democracy, said more than two-thirds of people living in Sub-Saharan
“If you want lights so kids can study at night or you can maintain vaccines in a cold chain, you don’t have that, so going the extra mile to reach people is more difficult,” Smith said. The U.S. and its private sector partners will initially focus its efforts on six African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania, where Obama will wrap up his trip later this week. Former President George W. Bush, who supports health programs throughout the continent,
will also be in Tanzania next week, and the White House did not rule out the possibility that the two men might meet.
hospital, a decision the White House said was in keeping with his family’s wishes. Obama’s weeklong trip, which opened last week in Senegal, marks his most
• South African President, Jacob Zuma
Obama will also highlight U.S. efforts to bolster access to food and health programs on the continent. His advisers said the president sees reducing the poverty and illness that plague many parts of Africa as an extension of Mandela’s example of how change can happen within countries. The former South African president has been hospitalized in critical condition for three weeks. Obama met Saturday with members of Mandela’s family, but did not visit the antiapartheid icon in the
significant trip to the continent since taking office. His scant personal engagement has come as a disappointment to some in the region, who had high hopes for a man whose father was from Kenya. Obama has visited Robben Island before as a U.S. senator. But since being elected as the first black American president, Obama has drawn inevitable comparisons to Mandela, making Sunday’s visit particularly poignant. The president said he’s also eager to bring his
family with him to the prison to teach them about Mandela’s role in overcoming white racist rule, first as an activist and later as a president who forged a unity government with his former captors. He told reporters Saturday he to “help them to understand not only how those lessons apply to their own lives but also to their responsibilities in the future as citizens of the world, that’s a great privilege and a great honor.” Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, said Mandela’s vision was always going to feature prominently in the speech. But the former South African leader’s deteriorating health “certainly puts a finer point on just how much we can’t take for granted what Nelson Mandela did.” Harkening back to a prominent theme from his 2009 speech in Ghana — his only other trip to Africa as president — Obama will emphasize that Africans must take much of the responsibility for finishing the work started by Mandela and his contemporaries. “The progress that Africa has made opens new doors, but frankly, it’s up to the leaders in Africa and particularly young people to make sure that they’re walking through those doors of opportunity,” Rhodes said.
“If you want lights so kids can study at night or you can maintain vaccines in a cold chain, you don’t have that, so going the extra mile to reach people is more difficult,”
THE
NIGERIAN
12 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013 THE need for gainful employment of citizens in any society cannot be over emphasised, as it provides the key to a chain of other stabilising socio economic as well as political activities in any given society. MANY a country or society with employment problems have had their social, political and economic structures dislocated as the scourge of unemployment has a spiraling effect on all other sectors of the economy. This among other reasons explains why countries of the world, make frantic efforts to ensure that unemployment as a problem, is tackled headlong so as to keep it in check DIFFERENT countries of the world, adopt various means of checking the scourge especially youth unemployment The advanced democracies for example, have some cushioning measures like welfare scheme in which the unemployed are given some stipends to keep body and soul together before they are finally fixed up with jobs. COUPLED with this scheme, are also Employment Agencies which serve dual purposes of acting as data bank and “middle men” for the employers as well as jobs seekers; providing useful information for employers of labour as to the availability of qualified applicants who register with them with details of their curriculum vitae, and to the applicants, who are well fed with vital information of available jobs with details about such job specification, qualification required, remuneration and all other such information as may be required. HERE in Nigeria, spirited efforts have been made over the years to also address the issue of unemployment, especially among youths who have created social, economic and political problems for governments at all levels. IT will be recalled that as a way of redirecting the attention of unemployed Nigerian youths, the then military government of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo floated a youth employment scheme which it tagged. “Operation Feed the Nation’ (OFN), the aim of which was to have our youths go back to the land and farm for the benefit of all. PHILOSOPHICALLY, the scheme was to serve
THE NIGERIAN
Tackling Unemployment Challenge the dual purpose of directing the energies of the teeming unemployed youths into productive venture and also to reduce the army of the unemployed even as Nigerians were to have abundant food to eat. REALISING the unending scourge of unemployment, the then Alhji Shehu Shagari’s administration also made effort to contain it by floating the ‘Green Revolution” programme to achieve a zero unemployment status. AFTER these, the then IBB administration created a body called the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to try and collate and coordinate the task of registering and giving employment to the unemployed. The OBJ’s second coming, saw the creation of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), all aimed at tackling unemployment. IT is imperative to note at this point that all these strategies have not been effective due mainly to policy summersaults and inconsistencies on the part of every succeeding government. TO this end, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER applauds the moves by the Federal Government in effectively tackling unemployment problems in Nigeria, by liaising with relevant stakeholders in terms of job creation. COMRADE Governor Adams Oshiomhole unequivocally expressed his concern about the threat to social and economic peace by the scourge of unemployment, noting that “the only way to measure the economic progress of any nation is by the number of jobs created.” He then promised to do everything within his powers to collaborate with the federal government in the area
of job creation. WORTHY of note is the Edo State continuous creation of jobs for the unemployed youths in the state. Already, this has taken shape with the employment of many graduates under the Youth Employment Scheme (YES). Against this background, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER admonishes that the proliferation of institutions saddled with the responsibilities of creating jobs like the National Directorate of (NDE) and the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) and other employment agencies be made more functional or if possible, merged into one for proper handling of employment administration in the country. TO effectively tackle the menace of unemployment in the country there is the need to conduct a survey on job creation in Nigeria. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) needs to create a data base on the true state of unemployment in terms of both the skilled and unskilled. BESIDES, we need to constantly Improve on available information and data on the Nation’s labour market through appropriate statistical methodology for tracking variability in the number of jobs created or lost every quarter. This is where the readiness of NBS to conduct such a survey is heart-warming. SINCE accurate, timely and reliable data are major pre-requisites for strategic planning and development, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and National Planning Commission (NPC) should collaborate to boost job creation in the country. ALSO worth mentioning is the federal government’s resolve to develop people without skills to make them employable, through the establishment of Skills Acquisition Centres nation-wide. This is in tandem with Edo State’s maintenance of its already established Skills Acquisition Centres wherein the unemployed and other victims of human trafficking have been getting rehabilitation over the years. BY and large, it must be Observed that the only way to solve the problem of poverty is to invest in skills acquisition through human capital development so as to make job seekers to become employers of labour.
THE
NIGERIAN
13 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
International Features
Cameron’s Push For Afghan Peace Talks
BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron flew into Afghanistan on Saturday to try to inject momentum into stalled peace talks, but left empty-handed after the Afghan president said his country could break up if a deal was done with the Taliban. Cameron, who hosted President Hamid Karzai for talks in February about Afghanistan’s future, has cast himself as an honest broker able to use Britain’s relations with Afghanistan’s influential neighbor, Pakistan, to get the Taliban to talk peace. Speaking at a joint news conference in Kabul after a visit to British troops in the southern province of Helmand, he said the moment to pursue peace had come. “There is a window of opportunity and I would urge all those who renounce violence, who respect the constitution, who want to have a voice in the future prosperity of this country to seize it,” he said. His comments come barely a week after the United States revealed the Taliban were to open a long-anticipated office in Qatar, making a meeting with the Afghan state and the Taliban a possibility. Those talks collapsed within days after Karzai objected to the manner in which the
office was opened, however, and Taliban militants later attacked central Kabul. On Saturday, Karzai said he hoped peace talks could begin as soon as possible. But he complained about foreign peace plans, sounded a defiant note against the United States, and warned of the dangers of doing a deal with the Taliban. He also made it clear he was skeptical of Pakistan’s motives in the peace process. “Any system that is imposed on us ... the Afghan people will reject,” he told a news conference inside his palace. “Delivering a province or two to the Taliban will be seen by the Afghan people as an invasion of Afghanistan, as an effort from outside to weaken and splinter this country.” When a reporter asked Cameron why he was willing to talk to the Taliban at the same time as British soldiers were fighting the insurgents, Karzai praised the question. A British source told Reuters Karzai remained “furious” about the opening of a Taliban office in Qatar this month replete with its own flag and plaque, symbols that he felt accorded the Taliban a degree of global legitimacy.
The Afghan leader suspended talks on a long-term security deal to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014 Washington said it was ready to talk to the Taliban and the Qatar flap. Karzai accused the Americans of duplicity. On Saturday, he said he had held a video conference with President Barack Obama to discuss the matter, and
unchangeable principles. If these conditions are met, the nation of Afghanistan will definitely be ready to agree to a security agreement with the U.S.,” he said. Karzai’s stance underlines a dilemma for the West. As it prepares to pull its troops out next year, it is caught between wanting to safeguard its legacy in Afghanistan - improved
• British Prime Minister, David Cameron
that the U.S. leader had told him he hoped a deal could be struck by October. Karzai’s response was ambiguous. “I noted and reminded him (Obama) that Afghanistan continues to hold its
women’s rights and access to education among other things - and allowing the Karzai government to roll back some changes to pave the way for talks with the insurgents. Britain is trying to
magnify its diplomatic clout at the very moment it is reducing its contingent of some 7,000 troops. Aides said Cameron was keen to boost political stability ahead of next year’s presidential election, which he hopes will result in the first peaceful transition of power since 1901. Karzai is not eligible to stand under the constitution and Cameron said he welcomed Karzai’s “commitment to
major role in any peace process. Its security forces backed the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan in the mid1990s and continue to serve as gatekeepers to insurgent commanders living on its territory. Cameron said he was working to try to persuade both countries they needed to cooperate, but said only “some” progress had been made. Cameron also used his Afghan visit to reinforce the message that British
• Afghan President, Hamid Karzai
a democratic succession” after his second term expires. Cameron flew on to Islamabad on Saturday evening for talks about Afghanistan with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. Pakistan could play a
“There is a window of opportunity and I would urge all those who renounce violence, who respect the constitution, who want to have a voice in the future prosperity of this country to seize it,”
troops really would be pulling out next year and that only limited financial and other aid would be made available to Afghan forces after that time. Four hundred and fortyfour British troops have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001. A senior military source had said earlier that Western troops would have to undertake followon missions after 2014 that could last up to five years. But Cameron suggested no British soldiers would be involved. “There will be no (British) combat troops after the end of 2014. British troops are coming home,” he said
THE
NIGERIAN
14 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Religion
What Is Mammon? By EKAIWE OMO OMOREGIE
I was humiliated by a group of friends who know nothing about African Traditional Religion and Okunism but say that Africans worship mammon. But this isn’t so. It is for this reason I have taken it upon myself to explain in details what mammon means. I know it is a difficult assignment I have set out to do. But I will certainly achieve my goal in this article. To start with, if mere rituals and sacrifices are associated with mammon worship then all religions are guilty of it. This is because it is difficult finding a religious person not trooping daily to the markets in Benin City to buy goats, fowls, ducks, guinea fowls, pigeons, sheep, dogs, etc brought inform other states. Certainly, it is not only traditional religious devotees who virtually patronise these livestocks and their parts otherwise known as “kemwin – kemwin” in Benin language. So, ask me who the mammon worshippers are and I will point to all the religion, not only African Traditional Religion. Well, don’t be misled by my illustration. I only used it to show that critics of African Traditional Religion often wrongly accuse its adherents of mammon worship. Really, there is nothing called by this name. I have attended many conventions on religion where I feel pained when this word “mammon” was used in the way. Therefore, its misused is a general problem. So, what is mammon? Although Okunism has an unwritten scripture, it has a body of knowledge spiritually revealed to Okunists, which help them to explain mammon. Guided by Okunism therefore, our first port of call is the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English. The dictionary defines mammon as wealth, riches, large possessions opulence, abundance or
great quantity of property. As a rule, people in society adore a person with wealth. They see him as divine and so worship him. For this reason the wealthy person becomes arrogant. He thinks that he is better created than others who are poor. He sees himself as a lord. Everybody defers to him. No one argues with him in the community, all
because of his money. In other words, people worship him and his wealth. He has become mammon, so has his wealth also become mammon or idol. Indeed, what is taking place in this situation is mammon worship. Some bishops, pastors, evangelists, Alhaji, malams and traditional priests who pay homage to such wealthy people and their money are guilty of idol or mammon worship. Also, anyone who mislead people to believe that he is the only one gifted to pray for and heal them has made himself a mammon. People, ignorantly, begin to worship him as an idol, consequently. Still talking about the
matter at hand I need to point out that there is what is called mammon of unrighteousness or the unrighteousness of illgotten wealth. The bible in Luke 16: 9-13 says. “And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of unrighteousness so that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is
faithful in that which is least, is faithful. And he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. The bible continues. “If therefore you have not been faithful to the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust riches? Find if ye have not been in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? No
servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate one and love the other or else he will hold on to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Christ made this statement when he was referring to a steward asked to give account of his stewardship to his master. But he was found wanting and so was relieved of his j o b .
worshipping the mammon of wealth, which made him unable to serve his masters. Truly speaking, the steward couldn’t serve two masters at the same time. Now, we all know Christ lived a simple, humble life on earth. Furthermore, he didn’t own a property. Therefore anyone with passion for property like exotic homes, expensive cars, airplanes, shoes, clothes and watches is worshipping mammon. He is not a true believer of God. The matter becomes
What really happened was that the steward was assigned to collect his master’s debts. However, the steward went around, forgave part of the debt and pocketed the rest for personal use. He did so because of his love for ill-gotten wealth and untruth and his hatred for hardwork. Therefore, all he was doing was
worse if these property are acquired through dubious means like human rituals or stealing. In the same way, worshippers of mammon include people using commanding oil, magnet oil, attraction oil, spirit oil, temple oil, compelling oil, power oil, angel water and divine worship incense to command people demonically to make
themselves respected as idols or mammons within their congregations. You can now see that mammon, to the Okunists, does not mean images placed on temples or shrines. The images are only used as focal points of spirituality during religious services. Impliedly, the images help to draw people nearer to Olokun and ultimately to God. Images are not the end point of worship but a facilitator of God worship. Having said this, I want to point out that mammon worship equally takes place at social events. For example, during parties we find wealthy men spraying money on the heads of celebrants as praise words of his appellations rent the air. While this is going on, the musician in attendance equally sings his praise because the musician wants part of his money, often got illegally. Of course, what is happening here is mammon worship. Finally, let’s remember the divine command. Thou shall worship God, not mammon. Also, let’s realise that it is difficult to be wealthy and still obey the principles of God in good faith. This is because before you become rich, you must have engaged in several unrighteous acts. It is no wonder the bible says that before a wealthy man enters heaven, a camel’s head would have easily passed through the eye of a needle. Infact wealth, image and mammon worship keep people away from God and heaven. Okunists realise this fact. Hence, they don’t worship wealth mammon or religious images. All they do is worship Almighty God through Olokun.
“ Indeed, what is taking place in this situation is mammon worship. Some bishops, pastors, evangelists, Alhaji, malams and traditional priests who pay homage to such wealthy people and their money are guilty of idol or mammon worship. Also, anyone who mislead people to believe that he is the only one gifted to pray for and heal them has made himself a mammon. People, ignorantly, begin to worship him as an idol, consequently.”
THE
NIGERIAN
15 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Environment
ALMOST everybody is crying of hunger in this country in the recent times. Hardly is anyone thinking about the quantity of food that is being wasted everyday. This practice is becoming a threat to the environment. The waste of food is being ample, suggest authorities. But the waste is not circumstanced by only the individuals. Food waste transpires in the companies that process, produce and retail food. In 2011 alone, there is an account, which bemoans that 1.3 billion tonnes of foods are wasted annually. In the global food production index, this loss is one third of food that is produced annually. In a description of June 2013 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), global food wastage hits $1trn per annum. The revelation from this year’s World Environment Day with the theme, ‘Think, Eat, Save, Reduce your Foodprints’, is an eye-opener to the danger food waste posits on the environment. Lamentation: There are expressions-ofgrief by the establishments that the amount of food that is being wasted, is capable of feeding as many millions of people as possible everyday; but most especially, those who drink tears for tea and ashes for bread before they go to bed. The Executive Director of Environment Rights Action (ERA), Dr. Godwin Ojo does not hide his voice to this fact. Purportedly, he says that as a result of food waste, majority of the citizens are endangered by the menace of lack-of-food and, the sphere is being pressurized by climate revolution. Upon that this year’s World Environment Day theme was mutually elected by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Ojo says that the dangers the environment is facing cannot be overemphasized, with their in-fact unyielding energy catastrophes. The Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola cries that food waste contributes to the global warming. In his wisdom, Fashola supposedly says: Food wastage leads to the squandering of resources, such as fertilisers, pesticides and fuel, used for transportation. In a UNEP story: Our growing population puts so much pressure on the
environment that nowadays the natural resources are no longer as abundant as they used to be. How we use and dispose of non-renewable resources is radically altering our ecosystems and even the planet’s renewable resources (such as water, timber or fish) are rapidly being exhausted. We have now reached a tipping point where the quality of air and water needs to be improved, the level of production needs to be balanced and the amount of waste generated needs to be reduced. Danger: Fashola says that the volume of food going into landfill sites is enormous and this creates methane, which is one of the most detrimental donors to climate change. The governor has fears following the statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, an agency of the United Nations (UN), which demonstrates that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted annually around the globe. Conversely, he appends that if more than 20,000 children below the age of five die daily from hunger, the country’s population is threatened and this is environmentally bad, where statistics show that one out of every seven people in the world, including Nigeria, go to bed hungry. The governor nonetheless discards the report, describing it as “unacceptable, unfair and harsh on posterity”. His unacceptability is hinged on the fact that producing companies, retailers and consumers waste food that was very much healthy for human consummation. The governor expresses that unless Nigerians make informed choices in buying and expenditure, food waste may become a phenomenon that would be farfetched to stop. There are magnitudes of fear concerning the threat of food waste to the environment. This informed the estimation of the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, that this year’s theme: ‘Think. Eat. Save. Reduce your Food print’, is the chief purpose to underline the enormity of food desecration worldwide and the related environmental, humanitarian and economic connotations. This she says that the nuances are putting agriculture and food security at risk, thus effecting ruthless corollaries on defenceless and underprivileged agriculturallyreliant people in the
Food Waste Threatens Environment
civilization. Cause: The Minister says that the 2012 floods in Nigeria wreaked havoc on several states of the federation, adversely affecting human lives, property, livelihoods, settlements, fresh water/coastal water resources, fisheries, forest, biodiversity, agricultural farmlands, food supplies, health/sanitation and human migrations, placing a huge challenge to food supply and food security across the nation. The authorities say that people do not take to knowledge their consummation of food, which is particularly what this year’s World Environment Day theme intends to exact. Part of negative environmental
By ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE
and year. The unpardonable road networks have been fingered as one of the causes of food waste as it affects the easy transportation of food from areas where there is much food to areas where there is shortage. There has been an outcry that not investing on apost harvest food preservation is detrimental. And the government’s incessant clutching on using the farmlands of the local farmers that feed over 60% of the population is awful. Innovation:
wasteful use of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides, more fuel used for transportation, and more rotting food. The citizens should not be imitating endusers in rich countries, which waste almost as much food (222 million tonnes) as the total grid food assembly of subSaharan Africa (230 million tonnes). There should be enhancement in financial, administrative and practical constrictions in harvesting techniques as well as storage – and nipping amenities – to avert food waste and losses,
encourage reduction of waste and save cost should moreover be supported. Ojo seemingly explains that the trend fuelled by food wastages resulting from lack of access to food supply due to poor road infrastructure and the capitalist greed of agribusiness men has to be readdressed. Fashola, according-to-thegrapevine, calls on retailers, hospitality industry and restaurant operators to remodel product packages to avoid waste and directed religious bodies, the government and non-governmental organisations, schools and institutions of higher learning
which happen chiefly at early steps of the food value procession. In level of coordination, experts suggest that farmerbuyer agreements can be helpful. Among industries, retailers and consumers raising awareness is expedient in finding the optimum ways to waste food curtailing. Also, the country should spare itself of the financial waste, like the United States, which her 30% of all food, worth US$48.3 billion (+32.5 billion), is thrown away each year. Again, the United Kingdom households dissipate a sketchy 6.7 million tonnes of food every year, around one third of the 21.7 million tonnes procured. The powers-that-be are saying that the application of “Sustainable consumption” is important, as it is all about ‘doing more and better with less.’ They say that this would reduce resource use, degradation and pollution, while increasing the quality of life for all. A system that will
to move up the campaign against wastage of food, because the loss of property and livelihood is one that citizens must upsettingly guide against to ease global hotness. It’s possible that the country would get it right if it pays attention to the advise by the UN Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Dauda Toure, which invariably suggests that this year’s theme is an antifood waste and food loss campaign; everyone is being encouraged to pay attention to the consumption patterns and take urgent steps to reduce their foodprint. The Minister of Environment hence articulates that given the imbalances in lifestyles, standards of living, economic status and the enormous environmental challenges facing our people, there is the need for us to be more aware of the environmental impacts and economic consequences of the food choices we make to enable us make informed decisions on food management.
Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agric
impacts is caused by food waste. It is also a colossal drain on natural resources. People just throw away food, not minding the negative impact on the environment. Apart from the companies that produce, process and retail food assumed to be in the gargantuan habit of wasting food, a testimony by professionals says the contrary. It says that food left over on plate and pots not used, expired-processed food, fruits and vegetables not eaten and sundry, which later are thrown into the trashcan, constitute to environmental degradation. And from a little quantity of food waste thrown out a day, multiplies in a week, month
Specialists say that inadequate storage of food before purchase should be drastically checkmated to curtail the environmental impact of waste food. An account says that immensity of wasted food, which ends up in landfills, and decomposing food in landfills, which produces methane gas (known as one of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming), should be diminished. Creating awareness of the significance in the ease of recycling should be encouraged. Consultants say that to save the environment there should be discouragement of food waste, because it leads to
“It’s possible that the country would get it right if it pays attention to the advise by the UN Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Dauda Toure, which invariably suggests that this year’s theme is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign; everyone is being encouraged to pay attention to the consumption patterns and take urgent steps to reduce their foodprint.”
THE
NIGERIAN
16 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Focus
The Purpose An ‘Igiogbe’ In Benin La
Being a judgment delivered by Suleiman Galadima JSC at the Supreme Court of Nigeria “EDIAGBONYA Uwaifo) in his will by which he shared his estate to his children but disinherited the Appellant thereby denying him his right to inherit his father ’s “IGIOGBE” as his first son. Late Daniel Ediagbonya Uwaifo lived and died on 29/ 8/85 in his house at No. 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City as a Bini man subject to Bini Customary laws. In his life time he built another house in the same compound at No. 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City and gave this No. 2 out to tenants and personally collected rents. However in June 1975 these two houses were shared to other children which excluded the Appellant. After the completion of his father’s final burial ceremony, Appellant was informed for the first time that his father made a will which was later read at the Probate Registry of the Benin City High Court. It now dawned on the Appellant that he had been completely disinherited by his late father. It is against this background that the Appellant went to the High Court and filed this action challenging the validity of the will having regard to the provision of Section 3 (1) of the Wills Law of Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 which is still applicable in Edo State. Pleadings were ordered and exchanged and subsequently amended. By paragraph 17 of the Amended Statement of Claim, the Appellant as Plaintiff Claimed against the Respondents as Defendants jointly and severally as follows: “a. A declaration that the Will of the Plaintiff’s late father Pa Daniel Ediagbonya Uwaifo dated the 26th of June 1975 is invalid, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever by reason of non-compliance with the Bini Customary Law of succession and section 3(1) of the Wills Law, cap. 172. b. A declaration that any purported bequest under the said Will of the property at Nos. 2 and 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City where the Plaintiff’s father lived, died was buried (otherwise known as his “lgiogbe”) to the defendants is
contrary to Bini Native Law and Custom and is therefore null and void. c. A declaration that under Bini Customary Law, the lgiogbe can never be shared to any person other than deceased’s eldest surviving son (in this instance, the plaintiff) and. consequently the purported devise of the compound at No. 2 & 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City by the deceased in his said Will to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Defendants is null and void and of no effect whatsoever. d. N37,385.00 (thirty seven thousand, three hundred and eighty five Naira only) being the rents the Defendants have collected from the twenty-three rooms/stores and one big shop in the “lgiogbe” at Nos. 2 and 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City for 58 months that is September 1986 to May 1991 at the rate of N655.00 per month. e. Mense profits of N655.00 (six hundred and fifty five Naira) per month from the said rooms/stores and shop from June1991 until the date of Judgment. f. An order of perpetual injunction to restrain the 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th and 6th Defendants, their children, servants, agents and or privies from their continued occupation of the compound at Nos. 2 and 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City or any part thereof or any further acts of trespass therein.” The case went on to full trial from 22/5/95 to October 2000. On 9/11/2000, the then learned trial Chief Judge of Edo State High Court, Hon. Justice C.A.R. Momoh in a well considered Judgment granted some of the Plaintiff’s relief’s in paragraph 17 (a) (b) and (c) of the Amended Statement of Claim with relevant modifications on the following terms: “(I) That the Plaintifftas the eldest son of the deceased is entitled under Bini Customary Law of inheritance to inherit the house at No. 4 Ohuoba Street where the deceased lived and died (otherwise known as the lgiogbe). (ii) That the devises in the Will of the deceased dated 26th
June 1975 as it relates to the house at No. 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City declared in this Judgment as the lgiogbe, is null and void having contravened the Bini Customary Law of inheritance and Section 3(1) of the Wills Law Cap. 172 Laws of Bendel State Applicable in Edo State. (iii) That under Bini Customary Law, the lgiogbe cannot be shared to any person other than the deceased’s eldest surviving son (in this instance, the Plaintiff) and consequently the purported devise of the house No. 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City by the deceased in his said Will to Henry N.S. Uwaifo, Ayenbueze E. Uwaifo. Egbenodenden E. Uwaifo and Nobunse S. Uwaifo are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.” The Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal Benin, against the parts of the Judgment of the trial High Court that did not favour him. The sole issue that arose for determination in the Court below from the totality of all the issues considered by the learned trial Chief judge and arising from the issue joined and canvassed was that: “Whether the Houses No. 2 and No. 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City does not form part of the ldiogbe” of Appellant’s late father Pa Daniel Ediagbonya Uwaifo who lived as a Bini Man.” In its resrved Judgment delivered on 21/1/2004, the Court below dismissed the Appellant’s appeal. Dissatisfied, the Appellant further appealed to this Court. The Appellant first filed in his Notice of Appeal three Grounds. However when his Brief of Argument was settled, Appellant dropped two grounds of appeal. From the sole ground one issue as set out in his brief, for determination reads thus: “Whether the Court of Appeal was right in affirming the Judgment of the trial High Court to the effect that vacant land under Benin Customary Law cannot constitute lgiogbe and thereby failed to follow its earlier decision in IGBINOBA VS. IGBINOBA (1995) 1 NWLR (PART 317) 375. The 1st to 9th Respondents have adopted the sole issue the Appellant formulated for
determination of the appeal. The 10th Respondent only issue formulated for determination is: “Whether a vacant portion of land constitutes an lgiogbe under Bini Customary Law.” It would appear that no legal representation has been made on behalf of the 11th Respondent, hence no brief was filed on his behalf. Arguing this issue, Learned Counsel for the Appellant has contended that this issue has never arisen for determination. In other words that this Court has not in his case decided that vacant plot which stands side by side with the house, which constitutes “lgiogbe cannot form part of the said lgiogbe” It is urged on this Court to allow the appeal on this canvassed in this brief. The learned counsel for the however, has conceded in respect of Grounds 2 and Appellant’s Grounds of Appeal that since no argument was lone issue Appellant, 3 of the proffered in Support of the said grounds they should be deemed abandoned. On this point learned counsel for the 1st to 9th Respondents has alluded and made the same observations. The said Grounds of Appeal are therefore deemed abandoned and accordingly struck out. Learned Counsel for the 1st9th Respondents having adopted the lone issue as formulated by the Appellant, submitted that this is a nonissue because, like the ground of appeal from which it was distilled) is unrelated to the appeal in hand. It was observed that the Appellant’s sole issue in this case is based on the legal principle of stare decisis, which enjoins the lower court to follow the decision of the higher Court, was not followed by the two courts below. Learned Counsel has however submitted that the court below in IGBINOBA V. IGBINOBA (supra) did not decide that vacant land also forms part of lgiogbe under Benin Customary Law. That what that case decided is that neither testamentary disposition nor family arrangement can deprive the eldest surviving son of the lgiogbe. In other words, IGBINOBA V. IGBINOBA (supra) did not decide the question of
vacant land vis-à-vis, the “Igiogbe” concept under Bini Law and Custom. That Ogundere JCA stated in the court below categorically that the vacant land adjacent to the principal or main house in that case was not in issue and therefore did not pronounce on
rightly came to that conclu It is urged on this Cou dismiss this appeal becaus Appellant misapplied principle of stare decisis i appeal, bearing in min evaluation of the evidenc at the trial High Court. I have carefully consid
it. It beats the imagination of the Learned Counsel, how the Appellant in his brief, came to the conclusion that the court below decided that an adjoining land to ldigbe is inclusive of lgiogbe in Bini Custom. This Court is urged to uphold and affirm the decisions of the two courts below. On behalf of the 10th Respondent its counsel canvassed arguments similar to those of the counsel to the 1st to 9 Respondents. He submitted that a vacant portion of the land cannot constitute an lgiogbe under the Bini Native Law and Custom. The learned trial Judge therefore had the opportunity of evaluating the evidence led before him and the various authorities cited by the respective counsel and
and examined some authorities cited in relianc support of the various subm made by the respective The sole issue raised Appellant in this appeal on the doctrine of stare which in essence, enjoins t court to follow the decisio Higher Courts. Appellan grouse in this appeal is ground that the court belo to follow its decis IGBINOBA V. IGBI (1995) 1NWLR (Pt. 371 381. I shall come to the c later in the course Judgment. However Appellants claim agai Respondents at the tri Court Benin City wherein the Plaintiff as ha elaborately set out earlier a declaration, among othe
THE
NIGERIAN
17 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Focus
nd Purport Of aw Of Succession
usion, urt to se the d the in this d the ce led
dered
of the ce and in missions counsel. by the is based e lecisis, the lower ons of the nt’s main s on the ow failed sion in INOBA ) 375 at case law of this r, the inst the al High n he was s been r, was for er things,
that the will of his father is invalid null and void and of no effect whatsoever because it failed to comply with the Bini Customary Law of succession and Section 3(1) of the will Law Cap 172 and that the purported bequest under the said will is contrary to Bini
Native Law and Custom and it is therefore null and void. It is also worthy to note that the learned trial Judge in a considered Judgment granted some of the important relief’s sought in the following terms. “The Plaintiff is entitled to the orders sought in paragraph 17(a), (b) and (c) of the Amended Statement of Claim with relevant modifications and it is hereby declared as follows: That the Plaintiff as the eldest son of the deceased is entitled under BINI Customary Law of inheritance to inherit the house at No. 4 Ohuoba Street where the deceased lived and died (otherwise known as the lgiogbe). (I) That the devices in the will of the deceased dated 26 June
1975 as it relates to the house at No. 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City declared in this Judgment as the lgiogbe, is null and void having contravened the Bini Customary Law of inheritance and Section 3 (1) of the Wills Law Cap. 172 Laws of Bendel State applicable in Edo State. (II) ( That under Bini Customary Law the lgiogbe cannot be shared to any person other than the deceased’s eldest surviving son (in this case, the Plaintiff) and consequently the purported devise of the house No. 4 Ohuoba Street, Benin City by the deceased in his said Will to Henry N. E. Uwaifo, Ayanbueze E. Uwaifo, Egbenodenden E. Uwaifo and Nobunse E. Uwaifo are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.” Again the lower court (Court of Appeal Benin) affirmed the entire decision of the lower trial court. I am obliged to set out the conclusion reached in that decision on pp. 238 — 239 of the Records thus: “The entire Will cannot therefore be voided simply because the lgiogbe was bequeathed to someone else. In this case, the deceased had bequeathed his property, including the Igiogbe to other beneficiaries in his Will (Exhibit A). As the learned trial Judge rightly observed, there is no customary law against devising the lgiogbe by WILL to the rightful beneficiary viz, the first surviving son but it is against Bini Customary. Law to disinherit the eldest son of the Igiogbe as was done in this case or to share it to others. Consequently, she held and I agree with her that the Appellant was entitled to the Declaration she made that the WILL is invalid only to the extent that house No. 4 Ohuoba Street, declared as the lgiogbe, was devised to persons other than him; and that the entire WILL cannot be voided on the sole ground that the lgiogbe was so devised. That is the correct statement of the law on this issue. Since the custom of the Bini people prevent a Testator from devising his lgiogbe to any other person other than his eldest son, to that extent, Pa Daniel Ediagbonya Uwaifo’s WILL is invalid. As Belgore JSC pointed out in Idehen V. ldehen (supra), at
his death, the lgiogbe was no longer his to give away. However, the WILL is not invalid in its entirety — See: Lawal — Osula V. Lawal — Osula (supra), where he, Belgore JSC, also held that the other parts of the WILL could be saved, which is what the learned trial Judge so ably did in this case. I agree with the Respondents that she arrived at a correct decision in this case. I must commend her for the deft manner in which she applied the numerous authorities cited to the case at hand.” As earlier stated the Judgment of the lower court set out above is being faulted on the ground that that court failed to follow its earlier decision in IGBINOBA V. IGBINOBA (supra). Learned Counsel for the 1st — 9th Respondents in their brief has set out two subsidiary issues which will conveniently determine the sole issue raised in the appeal. These subsidiary questions are: (a) Did the Court of Appeal in IGBINOBA V. IGBINOBA (supra) decide that under Bini Customary Law, vacant land can also constitute lgiogbe?. (b) Can the Court of Appeal still follow its earlier decision on a point which had been overruled by the Supreme Court under the doctrine of stare decisis? Considering the first leg of the sub issue, I must straightaway say that the Court of Appeal did not decide in IGBINOBA V. IGBINOBA (supra) that vacant land also constitutes lgiogbe under Benin it, but two important qualifications which had the effect of derogating from his absolute ownership of it and this has resulted in the trouble between the parties. The derogations Obi J. referred to were the two rooms in the lgiogbe shared to the second son and the adjoining vacant land also shared to the second son. At page 9 of his brief of argument, the Appellant reproduced the final order of the trial Court, in IGBINOBA V. IGBINOBA (supra). However it is observed that when the Appellant wanted to quote OGUNDARE JCA’s reaction to Obi J’s observations; he stopped short of what the said OGUNDARE actually said. At page 380 F this is what he said:
‘In short the whole appeal is on the relevant Bini Customary Law of succession and the right of first surviving male child there under.” At age 381 C — D he continued: I have deep thought and consideration to the Record of Proceedings in the court below as well as the briefs of the parties. The two parties talked about one address, the defendant/appellant and his witnesses did not say that there was any empty land of the deceased outside No. 139, Lagos Street. The argument therefore goes to no Customary Law. The court decided that neither testamentary disposition nor family arrangement can deprive the eldest surviving son of lgiogbe. It would appear (and I agree with the learned counsel for the Respondents) that the Appellant herein at the trial court, in his address at page 150 of the Record had erroneously ascribed to the Court of Appeal in the case of (IGBINOBA V. IGBINOBA) what the trial Judge (Obi J.) said. In other words he sought to substitute what Obi J. said for what the Court of Appeal per Joseph D. Ogundere JCA actually said. Since the Appellant has placed great reliance on this case there is need to put the Records straight, and resist the temptation of quoting the learned Justice, who read the leading Judgment in that case, out of context. Appellant quoted copiously in his brief at pages 5 — 6, what the trial Justice Obi said in lgbinoba’s case. The findings made by the said trial Judge which Ogundere JCA reproduced at pages 377-378 of the report read as follows: “It is acknowledged that as the eldest surviving son of his father the Plaintiff is entitled under Bini Native Law and Custom, to inheritance of the said house or lgiogbe, but the sharing carried out by the family seemed to have circumscribed his ownership of issue. My task has been simplified by the Supreme Court decision in Idehen V. Idehen which established beyond peradventure that neither testamentary deposition, much less family elders arrangement, can deprive the eldest surviving son
of the lgiogbe, the house in which his deceased father lived and died. The Supreme Court cited with approval its earlier decision in Arase V. Arase (1981) 5 SC. 33; Oke V. Oke (1974) 3 SC 1; Olowu V. Olowu(1985) 3 NWLR (pt. 13) 372.” It is to be noted that from the above passage, it is quite clear that “vacant land” was not an issue considered by the Court of Appeal, Benin in IGBINOBA case (supra). Since it was not an issue before that court, it did not pronounce on the point. I agree with the learned counsel for the Appellant that the subsequent Court of Appeal decisions could not be expected to rely on its past decisions on a point not earlier pronounced upon. What the Court of Appeal did in the case was simply to follow the earlier well established decisions beginning from Arase V. Arase (1981) NSC 101; 5 SC 33; Idehen V. Idehen (1991). The Court of Appeal in IGBINOBA V. IGBINOBA (supra) did not go beyond the established law that no one can derogat from the eldest son’s exclusive title to his father’s Igiogbe upon final rites of “UKONWEN.” Bin Native Law and Custom, an lgiogbe is a custom of a general application and it is judicially noticed as such. See EGHAREVBA V. OKUNGHAE (2001) 11 NWLR (Pt. 724) 318; LawalOsula V Lawal — Osula (1995) 9 NWLR (Pt. 544) 20, AGIDIGBI V. AGIDIGBI (1996) 6 NWLR (Pt. 454) 30 and IMADE V. OTABOR (1998) 4 NWLR (Pt. 544) 20. Notably, the most recent of all cases on the vexed question of lgiogbe is OGBANON V. REGISTERED TRUSTEES CCC. CA (2002) 1 NWLR (Pt. 749) 675; though a decision of the Court of Appeal, it has helped further to throw light on the point. The court held at page 713 thus: “Under Benin Native Law and Custom, the eldest son of a deceased person or testator is entitled to inherit without question the house or houses known as “lgiogbe” in which the deceased/testator lived and died These plethora of authorities have left no one in doubt that lgiogbe in Benin Customary Law is a principal
house where a deceased Benin man lived and died. This is an ancestral home. It is not vacant land whether or not adjacent. It was a very grave error for the Appellant to have taken Justice Obi’s dictum in lgbinobia’s case and ascribe it as the view of the Court of Appeal, on which the panel which heard the instant appeal at the Court of Appeal would have relied. The doctrine of stare decisis does not operate in this manner. It would be invidious for the Appellant to expect the Court of Appeal to rely and follow what a Judge in the High Court said in preference to what another Judge said yet in the appellate court. The Appellant cannot expect the Court of Appeal in this case to have followed a non existent dictum and/or ratio in another Court of Appeal case (i.e. IGBINOBA’s case). it is my firm view, therefore that the entire will of the Appellant’s late father. Pa Daniel Ediagbonya Uwaifo, who lived and died and was buried as a Bini man, cannot be voided simply because the Igiogbe” was bequeathed to someone else. In this case, the deceased had bequeathed his property including the “lgiogbe” to other beneficiaries in his will (Exhibit A.). As the learned trial Judge had rightly observed, and I agree, there is no customary law against devising the Igiogbe by Will to the rightful beneficiary, that is, the first surviving son, but it is against Bini Customary Law to disinherit the eldest son of the ldiogbe as was done in this case or to share it to others. in view of this the learned trial Judge rightly held that the Will is invalid only to the extent that House No. 4 Ohuoba Street, declared as the lgiogbe was devised to persons other than the Appellant; and the entire Will cannot be voided on the sole ground that the lgiogbe was so devised. As long as the Custom of Bini people prevent a Testator from devising his Igiogbe to any other person other than his eldest son, to that extent the Will of Pa Daniel Ediagbonya is invalid. However, the deceased’s Will is not invalid in its entirety. The other parts of the Will could be “saved” which is what the learned trial Chief Judge did in this case. See: IDEHEN V. IDEHEN (supra) and LAWAL-OSULA V. LAWAL OSULA (supra). In condiusion, I am of the firm view that this appeal is lacking in merit and I therefore dismiss it. I accordingly affirm the decision of the Court below which upheld the decision of the trial court. I make no order as to costs, in the circumstance of this case.
THE
NIGERIAN
18 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Issues
Needed To Enhance Access To Potable Water
BY most accounts, water is a dependent variable in human existence; as man, flora and fauna cannot survive without water. The fundamental importance of water to life is the main focus of the recent presentation of the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja. Explaining the Federal Government’s approach to water preservation, Ochekpe said that her ministry was expanding the country’s food production capacity via irrigation farming. According to her, Nigeria cannot continue to depend on rain-fed agriculture alone because of its population growth rate, urbanisation and climate change. She, however, stressed that substantial achievements had been recorded in irrigation farming, as the size of the country’s irrigated farmlands had increased by over 31,000 hectares, while jobs had been created for over 75,000 farming families. “Irrigation is, therefore, critical to the nation’s food production, agro-industrial raw materials, employment generation and poverty alleviation,’’ she said. Ochekpe said that available records indicated that 75,802 tonnes of rice; 51,631 tonnes of maize, 2,800 tonnes of wheat, 50,695 tonnes of sorghum and 177,050 tonnes of assorted vegetables had been produced via irrigation farming within the last two years. On water supply schemes, Ochekpe said that Nigeria had made an appreciable progress in water supply coverage from 58 per cent in 2011 to 65 per cent in 2012. She said that the ministry, through the aid of the World Bank, had completed small towns’ water supply and
sanitation projects in Niger, Ekiti and Katsina state. The minister stressed that the ministry had also secured an EU-assisted programme on water supply and sanitation reforms in Adamawa, Delta, Ekiti, Anambra, Cross River, Jigawa, Kano, Osun and Yobe states. “With the assistance of the Chinese, we have also carried out the rehabilitation of boreholes in 18 states, while implementing rural water supply projects in 18 states and the FCT. “The World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) have also assisted in urban water sector reform projects in Ogun, Cross River, Taraba, Osun, Enugu, Lagos and Kaduna states. “Through the assistance of Japanese International Cooperative Agency, (JICA), we have also undertaken rural water supply programmes in Yobe, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba, Ondo, Bauchi, Enugu, Kano and Oyo states,’’ she said. Ochekpe said that there had been an increase of 422 million cubic metres in the volume of stored water in the nation’s reservoirs. “During the period under review, substantial progress was made in the construction, operation and maintenance of dams nationwide for water supply, hydropower, flood control, irrigation, fishery development, tourism and recreation. “Some of the dams are used for fishery development and irrigation for the cultivation of crops such as rice, maize, beans, sugarcane, wheat, potatoes, onions, pepper, melon, and legumes,’’ she said. Nevertheless, the minister conceded that the water sector was facing some challenges which had impeded the full realisation of
By FOLASADE FOLARIN its goals. “The relatively low budget allocation to the sector over the years has militated against the realisation of set targets; in addition, budget releases have been inadequate and untimely,’’ she observed. She said other challenges included “additional cost of rehabilitating damaged infrastructure after flooding and constructing new systems in drought-prone areas’’. Also speaking on the same
identified some key priority areas with great potentialities for impact in science and technology. According to him, these areas include space technology, solar technology, engineering and manufacturing technology, building and roads technology and biotechnology. Ewa also listed the achievements recorded in the solar power programme, for instance, as part of the
platform, the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Ewa, who stressed the importance of science to national development, said that Nigeria had made appreciable progress in the areas of space science, engineering infrastructure and biotechnology. He said that in line with the National Implementation Plan, the ministry had
milestones in the ministry’s feats. He noted that the ministry was currently supplying electricity to Danjawa village in Sokoto State via its 10kilowatt solar mini-grid power programme. He explained that the ministry was also supply power to Igu community in the Bwari Area Council of the
“Irrigation is, therefore, critical to the nation’s food production, agroindustrial raw materials, employment generation and poverty alleviation,’’ she said. Ochekpe said that available records indicated that 75,802 tonnes of rice; 51,631 tonnes of maize, 2,800 tonnes of wheat, 50,695 tonnes of sorghum and 177,050 tonnes of assorted vegetables had been produced via irrigation farming within the last two years.”
FCT through its threekilowatt solar mini-grid power programme. The minister stressed that the essence of the solar technology power programme was to ensure that small communities would not need to tap electricity from the national grid. Besides, Ewa said that the ministry was engaging the necessary international collaboration for the development of the Silicon Valley Project, located at the Sheda Science and Technology Complex in Abuja. The project, he noted, would boost the technological growth of the country via nanotechnology,
they should instead “commercialise the few we ones have been able to produce’’. He cited football and military boots as examples of items which the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Research could produce. “Rather than importing these leather products, entrepreneurs and wellmeaning Nigerians should be encouraged to establish leather-based companies,’’ he noted. Ewa, however, urged the citizens to take advantage of the nation’s vocational training institutes and incubate technology. “We have built a critical mass of human capital in
biotechnology, agricultural technology and solar cell production. Ewa said that the ministry was working on its clusterbased concept for the development of the country. He said that the concept involved providing catalysts for the concentration of industrial activities around a particular resource and stimulating the production of different materials to boost local production. The minister stressed that Nigeria had no reason to import leather products because the ministry, through its agencies, had perfected the technology used in producing leather products. He urged Nigerians to refrain from importing leather products, adding that
Nigeria; we have trained scientists, they have creativity and they have excess compatibility. “Over the years the universities have trained Nigerian engineers; instead of a brain-drain, let us have a brain-gain,’’ he said. Displaying a motorcycle that was produced by one of the ministry’s agencies, the minister said that the local content of the motorcycle was 75 per cent, thereby making it a truly made-inNigeria product. The motorcycle was kickstarted by the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, who described it as a technological breakthrough. Maku urged Nigerians to always strive to patronise all the available research products in the country.
THE
NIGERIAN
19 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Security
Policing The Nation Via By OLAYEMI OKENIYI
THE achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in the last two years have continued to echo at the 2013 Ministerial Platform. The ministers of police affairs, communication technology, interior and special duties, who mounted the podium on Tuesday, June 18, recounted the achievements of their respective ministries in the last couple of years. In his presentation, the Minister of Police Affairs, retired Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, identified the evolution of strategies to contain the rising menace of terrorism and kidnapping in the country as a major challenge facing the Nigeria Police. He said that as part of efforts to tackle the challenge, special attention was paid to capacity building in order to equip police personnel with the wherewithal to combat the menace. “The ministry believes that training is key to a professional police force and this cannot be downplayed. Every policeman requires training,’’ he said. Olubolade stressed that this informed the Federal Executive Council’s decision to upgrade the Police Academy in Kano into a degree awarding institution To control the use of explosives, the minister said that the database of companies involved in the use of explosives had been compiled. “We have been able to have a database on companies involved in the use of explosives such as radioactive, biological and chemical materials in the country,” he said. Olubolade explained that this was one of the measures put in place to limit the people’s access to explosives and ward off those who wanted explosives for acts of terrorism. He stressed that 10 sub-units of Explosive Ordnance Departments (EODs) had been set up to coordinate the
registration of companies involved in the use of explosives. Besides, the minister also said that the police acquired more armoured patrol vans, anti-riot gear, personnel carriers, bullet-proof vests and ballistic helmets. Olubolade, however, reiterated that these acquisitions would be meaningless without the proper training of policemen, adding that several officers had been trained locally and internationally on antiterrorism operations. He specifically said that an Anti-Terrorism Squad and a Counter-Terrorism Strike Force, as well as a Counter Terrorism Intelligence and Investigation Unit had been established. He also said that a modern crime detection approach had been adopted, as Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras were installed in strategic places in Lagos and Abuja. The minister said that so far, more than 1,000 of such facilities had been installed and test-run, adding that there were plans to install the gadgets in all the states of the federation. Mrs Omobola Johnson, the Minister of Communication Technology, in her presentation, said that the Fibre-optic Research and Education Network would be launched next month to connect 27 universities to the Internet. She said that the project was executed in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and the World Bank. “Besides the 27 federal universities, USPF is expected to also connect 12 medical colleges, 28 off-campus sites and nine federal universities by September 2013, with more state universities, polytechnics and colleges added in 2014 and 2015. “Tertiary Institutions Access Project (TIAP), another project
Enhanced ICT
of the ministry, provides computers, printers and wireless network facilities to tertiary institutions. “ Another project – the School Access Project (SAP) — provides public schools with PCs (personal computers) that have e-learning content, solar power solutions, highspeed Internet connectivity and wireless network deployment,’’ she added. The minister said that the Student Computer Ownership Scheme was also initiated to
“We are not saying that we do not need foreign investments; we need foreign investment, expertise and skills in this industry but we need to do it in a manner that encourages our local industries to grow,” she said. In his presentation, the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, said that the automation of the expatriate quota had improved processing of citizenship and business permits for foreigners. He expatiated that the
Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Minister of Police Affairs
enable students to purchase laptops via a low-interest monthly repayment plan. Johnson said that the ministry was working to ensure that all Nigerians had access to Internet facilities at affordable prices, irrespective of their economic background. She, nonetheless, said that there were programmes aimed at enhancing the local content in Nigeria’s ICT industry so as to reduce the dominance of multinational companies. “We are collaborating well with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as we develop our local content.
computerisation had reduced paper work to the barest minimum, leading to faster and timely processing of applications. He said that it had also limited interaction between applicants and officials of the ministry, thereby curbing potential abuses. Besides, Moro said that President Jonathan had approved the issuance of visas to businessmen and top management staff of multinational organisations at points of entry to the country He said that the policy would stimulate the country’s
“To control the use of explosives, the minister said that the database of companies involved in the use of explosives had been compiled. We have been able to have a database on companies involved in the use of explosives such as radioactive, biological and chemical materials in the country.”
economic development, while boosting tourism. He also said that citizens of countries that had visa agreements with Nigeria were also being issued visas at points of entry to the country. Moro said that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had deployed officers to some foreign countries to issue epassports to Nigerians living overseas. “Fingerprinting equipment is also being provided at the land borders, while the Mobil Border Patrol unit is being strengthened for effective surveillance,” he said. The minister, however, bemoaned the spate of jailbreaks and attacks on prisons in some parts of the country.
Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, who assumed duty in February this year, said that the ministry was working in concert with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to complete abandoned and ongoing constituency projects. “Our mandate is implementation, monitoring and evaluation of constituency projects; monitoring and evaluation of Federal Executive Council’s approved policies and projects of other MDAs. “We are currently compiling and updating the list of constituency projects covering several sectors and we are also determining the status of projects already executed. “Since there are some seemingly abandoned projects,
Mrs Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication & Technology
All the same, Moro said that the ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Chinese firm to implement an e-prison programme which was aimed at boosting prisons’ surveillance and security via a prison information management system. Moreover, the minister said the NIS refused entry to 10,401 illegal migrants and repatriated 8,337 illegal migrants from the country during the period under focus. He argued that the influx of illegal aliens into the country constituted a serious security risk, as a lot of them came to Nigeria to perpetrate crimes, including terrorism. Moro said that the NIS had been working with state governments and other security agencies to ease out illegal foreigners without prejudice to the ECOWAS’ protocol on free movement of persons. The Minister of Special
our ministry must make sure that we take over the implementation of these projects. “We are liaising with all the MDAs; asking them to make returns to us regarding the number of constituency projects that are domiciled in their agencies; the stage these projects are; the level of funding required and the constituencies where they are situated. “We would be able to go back to Mr President and say, we have carried out a census of all the outstanding constituency projects and this is the amount that would be needed for their completion,’’ he said. Although all the ministers complained that financial constraints have somewhat limited the achievement of some of their set goals, stakeholders urge them to seek out innovative ways to consolidate their achievements.
THE
NIGERIAN
20 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Housing
Addressing Housing Deficit In Nigeria THE Federal Government has repeatedly expressed concern about Nigeria’s 17 million housing and President Goodluck Jonathan, during a recent retreat held on the housing sector, pledged to redress the trend through equitable access to land. The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the FCT Minister recently reiterated government’s commitment to providing affordable houses to the citizens when they appeared at the ongoing Ministerial Platform. In her presentation, Ms Amal Pepple, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said that the ministry was collaborating with relevant stakeholders to address the contentious issues in land administration and management. “The ministry is working in partnership with the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform and other stakeholders to address the plethora of issues in land administration and management. “The aim is to ensure that land owners have secured titles and bankable assets. “Discussions are ongoing with state governors to reduce the cost of land title applications and turnaround time to approve land applications, in order to bring down the prices of houses for the citizenry. “In addition, efforts are being intensified to update the land database management/processing system in the country,’’ she added. Pepple said that 2,667 Certificates of Occupancy(C of Os) had been granted and 1,651 consents for the transfer of land titles granted; while 3,787 serviced plots had been created. On housing delivery, the minister said that 16, 447
By CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO
housing units had been added to the national stock since 2011 through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). She said that 238 housing units were delivered under the Prototype Housing Scheme and 2,009 housing units were delivered under the Public-Private Partnership/Contractor Finance; while 1,756 housing units were delivered through the FHA. Others are 4,934 housing units delivered through mortgages created by the FMBN, and 7,510 housing units delivered through estate development loans provided by the FMBN. She listed some of the places where these projects are located as Ijora and Ikoyi in Lagos State; Kuje, Gwarimpa and Apo in the FCT; Asaba, Odukpani in Cross River ; Gorin Gora in Kaduna State; Gombe and Owerri, among others. Furthermore, Pepple said that the ministry was establishing 150 fully serviced residential plots per site, spread across 12 states in the country’s six geopolitical zones and the FCT. “Some of the pilot site areas are Kuje in FCT; Igbogbo and Osborne 11 in Lagos; Gubio Road, Yola in Adamawa; Bichi in Kano State; Bida in Niger; Republic Layout in Enugu State, and Runmudamaya in Port Harcourt,’’ she said. On manpower development, she said that 140 artisans were trained in the vocational training centres of the ministry, while the School of Architectural and Building Technicians would be established in Kuje. According to Pepple, efforts are being made to establish six more skills
acquisition /vocational centres across the country with the support of the Subsidy, Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Besides, the minister said that urban development programmes were being pursued with vigour, with a special focus on slums’ upgrading and the articulation of National
road projects were still ongoing. He said that projects were also being executed under the Land Swap District Development Initiative. “The initiative entails giving an investor a particular percentage of land in a district in exchange for the provision of infrastructure and other forms of development,’’ he said. Mohammed listed ongoing projects under the initiative as the development of Abuja
215 classrooms completed in the area councils, among other projects He also said that more than 40 science and introductory technology laboratories were completed, while nine new libraries were constructed and furnished in junior secondary schools. “In addition, 1,308,780 pupils/students textbooks and instructional materials were distributed to Basic Education Schools in 2013,’’ he added. On health, the minister said that two bedded intensive care units were equipped at Wuse and Asokoro district hospitals, while a world-class eye centre was equipped at Kubwa General Hospital. Besides, call rooms were
Ms Amma Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development
President Goodluck Jonathan
Physical Development Plan, among others. “The development of a comprehensive roadmap on Housing and Urban Development will significantly boost current efforts to make our cities safer, more productive, inclusive, gender sensitive and environmentally friendly,’’ she said. The FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, in his presentation, stressed that massive construction and rehabilitation of roads were carried out in the FCT in the last two years, while many
and other remedial works were executed in Wuse 1 and Garki District. On the provision of infrastructure in the satellite towns, the minister said that many roads and housing projects had been completed, while others were ongoing. He listed the satellite towns that had benefited from the projects as Kubwa, Karshi, Bwari, Karshara, Gwagwalada and Mpape, among others. On transport services, Mohammed said that the management of “On-Street Parking System’’, which had 4,800 spaces in the city centre, was concessioned to four companies. He noted that the policy had ensured orderliness in the
Industrial Park, the development of Sheretti Cheche District, development of Ketti District, development of Gwagwa District and waste management schemes, among others. He minister also listed some of the roads that were constructed and rehabilitated in the last two years as Airport Road Expressway, Kubwa Expressway, primary roads to mass housing projects, the Usman DamGurara-Damjere road. He added that the resurfacing of existing roads
“Discussions are ongoing with state governors to reduce the cost of land title applications and turnaround time to approve land applications, in order to bring down the prices of houses for the citizenry. In addition, efforts are being intensified to update the land database management/processing system in the country,’’
city, while reducing traffic congestion and creating 1,130 jobs. Speaking on the new transport regime in the FCT, the minister said that seven operators had been licenced, while 370 high-capacity buses were made available for their services. “For now, four of the companies are currently operating daily on some routes in FCT with 270 buses and more are to ply the roads as soon as the routes improve,’’ he added. Mohammed said that the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Self Employed Commercial Drivers Association (SECDA) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) were among the licenced operators. On education, the minister said that nine new junior secondary schools and two senior secondary schools were established, while 1,
equipped at Wuse District Hospital, while five bedded emergency paediatric units were set up at Wuse and Maitama district hospitals, he said. Other projects, according to Mohammed, include seven bedded dialysis centre at Wuse and Asokoro District, radiological centres in Kubwa and Gwarimpa hospitals. He said that professional development training was conducted for all cadres of medical staff in primary and secondary health facilities in the territory. Stakeholders commend the two ministries for their achievements and urge them to record more feats in the coming years. They, however, bemoan the outrageous cost of acquiring land and high cost of house rent in the FCT in spite of the huge investments in the sectors coordinated by the two ministries.
THE
NIGERIAN
21 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Archival Matters Opinion
Buhari’s Communication Dissonance
WHEN you read the training manual titled conflict management by Samie Iherijirika, Mohammed Yamah, Joan Mbagwu and Isaac Albert, there is a lot of information you take away. One of them is that there are nine ways you can communicate. They tell us that your statement could be a judgement, a threat, preaching, a lecture, an answer, an excuse, a diagnosis, an order or a prying effort. Introduction Invariably, what these four men are out to elucidate is for people to understand the elements of communication management. This is because what we say and how we say it matters. When you say it well, conflict is avoided. The reverse is the case when you cannot manage your words or statements well. Conflict takes the stage. Peace finds a quick exit through the open, wide window. An example. Last month, a landlord told me a story of how a man destroyed his fence while on reverse with his car. Decency required that he apologised for his mistake or nuisance value. However, the man didn’t seek forgiveness of his sin. He told the aggrieved landlord without remorse. “I don’t understand all your noise about a common fence. You know I am a learner. And there is no way a learner – driver doesn’t destroy other people’s property before he becomes perfect….” Behold this communication disconnection!! It led to disaffection between the learner – driver and the landlord. Good neighbourliness was lost between them. Till date, they are bitter enemies. Yet, they are next – door neighbours who suppose to share
By MICHAEL ODIGBE
friendship. Briefly speaking, therefore, proper communication management begets credit while its disconnections elicit a debit account of emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual pain. Proper communication management Let’s visit the bible first for us to see how proper c o m m u n i c a t i o n management is used to avoid the pitfall of crisis in society. Enter the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Here, we see Christ being asked whether it was appropriate to pay taxes to Caesar, the Roman emperor. If he replied that taxes should be paid only to God, the true King, and not to Caesar, charges of insurrection and treason would be made against him by the authorities. So, with divine wisdom Christ answered. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. His response settled the matter. It kept him away from the treason trap set for him by evil men. Also remember the biblical story of a Pharisee and Sadducee. Whenever the Pharisee prayed to God, he displayed verbal self – righteousness and arrogance. For this reason, his prayers were never answered. In contradistinction, the Sadducee was humble, generous and penitent in prayers. Each time, he prayed, he acknowledged before God that he was a sinner. He begged for forgiveness of his sins. Of course, God did. He blessed the Sadducee but brought
reproach to the Pharisee’s life. Indeed, Christ and the Sadducee are good communication managers. President Barack Obama is in their category. When he decided to visit Africa in 2011, Nigeria was not on his itinerary because of its poor showings in modern
most powerful man on earth. But he never did. A freeborn he was, not a slave with no ethics. So, what did he do? He sought refuge in diplomatese and word camouflage while hitting out at Nigeria. Hear him. “Africa needs strong institutions for democracy to survive on the continent, not strong men….” Imagine, the celebral word management displayed by him in his statement. Similarly, Mrs. Susan Rice
however, for the listeners to decode their meanings. Communication dissonance You will observe that Buhari’s name is excluded from the list of good word managers. The omission is deliberate because he is not one. Although, he is among the few trusted honest, disciplined and patriotic Nigerians in politics today, he is yet to master the art of public speaking, ex tempore, without giving his bacterial enemies the ammunition to fire at him. His communication art is poor.
Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)
President Goodluck Jonathan
democracy. However he didn’t pass this verdict in bilious words. No communication bombing runs on Nigeria. None. Ghana, a next-door neighbour to Nigeria, hosted Obama during this his visit to Africa. While there Obama again didn’t haul acidic insult on Jonathan and Nigeria over our Aba – made, Okrika democracy. He could do so and get away with it. After all, he is the
wouldn’t discuss it, realising that whatever she said about it would still put her in trouble. Communication blackout is better than communication blues. In Nigeria, we also have personae adept at word management or communication resonance even though sometimes on a few occasions they falter. Babangida is one of them. He is a Deus ex Machina in word calibration, specializing in linguistic dribbling runs. Hence, he is hardly caught using words that put him in
recently in June 2013 showed such skill. She was former U.S. Ambassador to the UN and was with Thomas Pickering at Aguda House, Abuja when Abiola died after drinking an American-brewed tea offered him by her team. When asked during June 12 memorial day this year to comment on the tea incident, she kept mum. She told her interrogators that for “personal reasons” she
“Indeed, Christ and the Sadducee are good communication managers. President Barack Obama is in their category. When he decided to visit Africa in 2011, Nigeria was not on his itinerary because of its poor showings in modern democracy. However he didn’t pass this verdict in bilious words. No communication bombing runs on Nigeria. None.”
communication dissonance. Like him, President Jonathan is often careful with his public verbalizations. For instance, when Wikileaks in 2011 blew a dirty whistle on his style of governance and domestic life he kept his cool. Thereafter, he dismissed Wikileaks report as “beer parlour gossip. No harm intended. His response didn’t stir political controversies neither did it affect his electoral rating in the country. Another case. During the funeral rites of Cynthia Osokugu, victim of face book murder in 2012, the officiating priest merely gave the congregation an advice in two words: “forgive them”. Her father advocated that “her killers should face the music.” All these statements were measured responses of few words but loaded with ballistic connotations,
Imagine, however Buhari talks in public, the chances are that he stokes the fires of political pandemonium, unnecessarily. That is what he did recently when he said the federal government granted amnesty to the Niger Delta militants but is killing the Boko Haramists. Certainly, as a presidential aspirant in 2015 or major stakeholders in APC now gunning for the presidency during that year, he ought not to make such an explosive statement. Because it elicited hatred in the Christian community, Igbo nation and the South South. So Buhari Sir watch your words. Either remain a retired soldier or stay away from politics where measured vote – winning, populist speeches award electoral mandates. Not controversial political cluster word bombs that put gaping holes in ambitions.
THE
NIGERIAN
22 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Science
With OYAKHILOME CLEMENTINA
Food Test
Feeding Habits Of Some Other Organisms
Tapeworm IT is a parasite with a digestive system that has completely disappeared. Tape worm in the gut of man of any other organism is surrounded by the digested food of host which it absorbs through its outer covering or body surface. It is about 2-3 m long, flat and tapelike in nature. It has a small head which had hooks and sucker for the attachment to the host intestinal wall. The body is made up of flat segments which are also known as proglottids. These segments start behind the neck of the tapeworm. Amoeba They feed on micro-organisms like diatoms, particles or organic matter they do this by engulfing the food. At this point, the points curving form pseudopodia and a cup shape posidion is formed which fuse together, and enclose the food into the body. This food goes into the body with a drop of water which now forms a vacuole. Inside this vacuole, there are digestive enzymes stored within, the Lysosomes that hydrolyzes the food thereby breaking them into smaller molecules for easy absorption through the vacuolas membrane to the cytoplasm. The cup shaped vacuole is the temporary stomach. As
diffusion takes place, the vacuole diminishes and the organism moves away, leaving behind the unadjusted particulars They do not have any special opening for ejection of undigested food particles. Egestion is by a process known as exocytosis. Amoeba takes in food through a process known as osmosis because the food is moving into its system from a region of a lower concentration which is the water, through its thin cell wall which is a semi permeable membrane into the system which is more concentrated than the surrounding environment. Osmosis could be defined as the movement of water (liquid) from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration through a semi – permeable membrane. Then waste product are ejected through a process, known as diffusion, which is the opposite of osmosis. This time, liquid or gases move, from a region of high concentration to a region of a lower concentration without a semi permeable membrane.
Reproduction In Tapeworm Tapeworm is a hermaphrodite, and according to dictionary definition hermaphrodite is composed mainly of a male and female embedded, in the same body. Both the male, and female reproductive organs has a ripe progloltid in each. It is just a natural phenomenon that organisms that practice hermaphroditism have a means of avoiding self fertilization naturally.
Cross fertilization, occurs between the different proglotidds in that the sex organs, mature at different times. After fertilization of the eggs by the sperms, the full egg segment then breaks away and it is discharged along with the faeces of the host. And each egg, has a protection shell and an inner embryo, when it leaves the body of man or other organisms.
Reproduction In Amoeba Amoeba undergoes a form of reproduction known as Asexual reproduction which is binary fission. Here two equal daughter cells are produced. Amoeba does this when conditions are very favourable, food is abundant, weather favourable etc. It starts by the division of the nucleus cytoplasm also divide after the nuclear division, of which each cytoplasm encircles each of the two nuclei and the daughter cells separate and then grows into two full
sized Amoeba. In this kind of fertilization it does not pave way for heredity to take place because there is no mixing of he table characters. The parent organism losses its total identity. It promotes rapid multiplication of many organisms with less wastage of materials and energy. It also reduces the chances of introducing more variations into the population.
To test for fats and oils a. Sudan test for fats A few drops of Sudan III solution is added to some oil or mashed foods containing fats and oils. And a red colouration is obtained. Then when boiled a black precipitate is formed, indicating the presence of fats and oils. b. Osmic acid test Fats are added to a test tube and also osmic acid you shake and the fat droplets turn blue black indicating the presence of fats. To test for protein a. Millions test Make a solution of egg white in a test tube add a few drops of millions reagent of which you notice a white precipitate you then heat the mixture and a red precipitate is formed indicating the presence of proteins. b. Biuret test A aqueous suspension of the food is made add, 2cm3 of 2% of sodium hydroxide solution and mix properly then a few drops of 1% dilute copper sulphete solution is added of which you observe a red or pink red precipitate, signifying the presence of proteins. c. Xanthoproteic test or reaction An aqueous solution of the food is made. Concentrated nitric acid is added and warmed. The colour changes immediately to yellow colouration. Then add strong ammonia to the suspension, and the yellow colour changes from yellow to orange colour indicating the presence of proteins. Test for starch Make a solution of starch suspension in a test tube. Add freshly prepared iodine solution to the suspension and a blue black colouration is got signifying the presence of starch. When you also add directly iodine to any starchy food or carbohydrate like raw yam, you get a blue black colour signifying the presence of starch in that food. Test for a simple reducing sugar You make a solution of either sugar cubes or glucose in water. Equal amount of fetilings solution A and B is added to the solution in a test tube but under a water bath and a red precipitate is formed signifying the presence of simple sugars.
THE
NIGERIAN
23 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
View Point
Why Nigeria Didn’t Appeal ICJ Ruling Bakassi:
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has given reasons why Nigeria did not appeal the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which awarded the oil-rich territory of Bakassi to Cameroon in 2002. Speaking during an interactive session with Nigerian community in Yaounde, Cameroon, Jonathan said that Nigeria did not appeal in order to ensure the protection of Nigerians living in Cameroon. According to him, when two countries are friendly, the people of the two countries also tend to be friendly, but when the two countries disagree, their citizens tend to disagree also. He also explained that Nigeria had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement. Jonathan is in Cameroon for the summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), which started yesterday and focusing on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. While the area had been heavily guarded by Cameroonian soldiers since their country took control of the territory from Nigeria on August 14, 2008, there is a deadline for Nigerians there to decide to become Cameroonian latest by August 2012 or leave the territory. He said: “You all know what happened in Bakassi, there is no need to go back on why we couldn’t appeal. We had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement. “Our people should live a good and decent life in Cameroon. The forces of animosity are gradually dying down and the relationship is improving”. He added Jonathan assured the citizens that his government
By JOSES SEDE
was totally committed to their welfare and that their concerns on high cost of residence permits, high cost of tuition fees for students among others would be tabled before his host, President Paul Biya in order to find amicable solution to them. Commending the good reports on Nigerians in Cameroon, he assured that the various concerns raised on security, power, infrastructural deficits back home in Nigeria are all being tackled. He maintained that two years of his administration has recorded significant progress in key sectors. Urging Nigerians in diaspora to ignore negative reports that exaggerate the problems back home, he said that they should take time out to look at the parameters, GDP growth, foreign direct investments, which, he said, showed that “the economy is strong.” Stressing that investors do not take money to countries where nothing is happening, the President claimed that out of every $10 that comes to the continent, $4 comes into Nigeria. Speaking on agriculture and cement, he noted that non-importation of rice has impacted on the country’s revenue, saying, “We cannot be a giant of Africa when we keep importing rice, we must put a stop to that. The way we are going we will soon be exporting rice in few years. We are now exporting cement about 20 million tonnes”. Admitting that Nigeria has health challenges, Jonathan said: “I can assure you we are on course, I will make you happy. We will exploit the opportunity”. He also expressed unhappiness that Nigeria is among the four countries in the world with cases of polio. “I’m uncomfortable with the figure, why should Nigeria be among the four countries in the world with polio? We are committed to eradicating polio and we will
eradicate it”. He assured On the power sector, he said that his administration was almost done with the privatisation exercise and when completed, the sector “will take a life of its own.” He said that work has been going on road infrastructure after the flood experienced in
National Assembly in order to push for the amendment. He said: “On diaspora votes, I advocated for it but before we can have it the constitution will have to be amended. I cannot use executive fiat to do it, we have to follow the constitution. We have a very vibrant diaspora and should
Nigeria High Commissioner to Cameroon, Hadiza Mustapha, in her opening remarks said the Nigerian community “is the best community any ambassador could ask for. They are hardworking, patrotic, law-abiding and have good working relations with the Mission”. She said the good working relationship existing between Nigeria and Cameroon has brought about reduction in harassment of citizens living in the host country.
President Goodluck Jonathan
the country last year. President Jonathan also disclosed that he personally advocated voting by Nigerians in diaspora, but that he cannot use executive fiat to veto it. Stating that the process is on course, he urged them to be patient until the constitution is finally amended. He however advised those passionate about the issue to write a petition to the
be heard. You should send your petition to National Assembly so that they will know is not only Mr. President that is interested in it”. Promising that he will not allow them to be victimized or maltreated, Jonathan dispelled fears that the Federal Government has abandoned Nigerians who remained in the peninsula after its transfer to Cameroon.
She said the complains of Nigerian citizens have been tabled before the Cameroonian authorities and “so far we have no reason to doubt the commitment of our host government to address the issues”. The President of the Nigerian Union, Center Region, Ebere Valentine, assured the President that Nigerians in Cameroon will continue to become good ambassadors and “project the
image of our country well”. He appealed for more government involvement in the welfare of Nigerians in Cameroon as regards the cost of residence permit, saying 50 per cent reduction will be a welcome development”. Olukorede Adenowo, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, West and Central Africa, who is the representative of Nigerians in the Corporate Sector in Cameroon, said that there were opportunities that exist in the Cameroons and advised Nigerian businessmen to take advantage of the geographical proximity and the comparatively high prices. He noted that Nigerian businesses were active in aviation, general commerce, downstream oil and gas and banking in the Cameroon. He said other areas Nigerians can assist in terms of foreign direct investment and simultaneously make decent returns in Cameroon are in oil and gas exploration and production, commercial and residential real estates, entertainments, shopping malls. “We have been instrumental in working with our High Commission in bringing in several Nigerian businesses and helping them find their feet in Cameroon. We Nigerian professionals are ready and available to do more”, he said. Representative from the Bakassi Peninsular, Chief Etim Effiong, commended President Jonathan for not abandoning those of them that choose to remain in the Cameroon as Nigerians. According to him, they couldn’t bare to abandon the land that belonged to their fore-fathers for years and expressed happiness that the Nigerian government was working with the Cameroonian government to make them safe and at home in their community.
“Urging Nigerians in diaspora to ignore negative reports that exaggerate the problems back home, he said that they should take time out to look at the parameters, GDP growth, foreign direct investments, which, he said, showed that “the economy is strong.”
THE
NIGERIAN
24 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
International Features
THE name of President Kim Il Sung, founder of socialist Korea, literally means the sun in Korean. As the sun shines for ever, so does his august name. The august name of President Kim Il Sung is symbolic of the national liberation struggle and the era of independence. Early in his teenage years the President embarked on the road of revolutionary struggle to liberate Korea from the military occupation of Japanese imperialists (19051945). He authored the Juche idea and the Songun idea to illumine the way ahead of the revolutionaries and people of Korea. By so doing he ushered in a new era of independence when the masses of the people became the masters of their own destiny for the first time in history and elucidated the truth of Songun that the victory of the revolutionary cause and independence, sovereignty and prosperity of a country and nation rest on the arms. The Korean revolutionaries and people called him Kim Il Sung in the sense that he was like the sun which illuminates the road to national resurrection and prosperity. He liberated Korea after waging 15-year-long antiJapanese armed struggle and
August Name of Kim Il Sung
established the people’s country. He defeated the United States that prided itself on being the world’s “strongest” in the Korean War (1950-1953), for the first time in history and safeguarded national sovereignty and dignity with credit. And he led to victory the post-war rehabilitation, socialist revolution and the several stages of socialist construction. Thus, he set a world’s example in the struggle for accomplishing the cause of independence of the masses. He rendered unstinted assistance to China, Vietnam, Cuba and other countries in their struggle of national liberation and antiimperialism. Many African countries could achieve their national liberation and build a new society thanks to Kim Il Sung’s unselfish assistance. Sam Nujoma, first president of Namibia, credited the Korean President Kim Il Sung with the independence of his country. There have been formed at a national, continental and international level a large number of organizations for the study and dissemination of the
Juche idea originated by the President and acknowledged as a guiding ideology of the cause of independence of mankind. The non-aligned movement could be constantly strengthened and developed into a powerful antiimperialist, independent force by virtue of his deep concern and energetic activities and add great spurs to the struggles for putting an end to domination and subordination and gaining independence of the country and nation and the masses of the people worldwide. It has become an irresistible trend of the times and aspiration of the mankind to advance along the road of independence indicated by the Juche idea. The august name of Kim Il Sung is symbolic of lofty virtue and ennobling sense of obligation. His Juche idea and Songun idea are likened to the light of the sun that illumines the way to be followed by mankind, while his virtue and moral obligation are to the heat of the sun that gives life to all organisms. The President was a genuine friend and a great benefactor of the peoples of developing
countries. He spared nothing in supporting them undergoing difficulties in the building of a new society. He sent a number of experts and technicians to African and other countries to help them sincerely in their efforts to build party, state and armed forces and to develop industry, agriculture, education, healthcare, sports and other sectors. Stressing the need to develop agriculture in order to solve the food problem, he ensured that they adopted farming methods suited to their specific conditions and helped their irrigation projects. He made the DPRK host a symposium of the non-aligned and other developing countries on increasing food and agricultural production in Pyongyang and proposed to establish institutes of agricultural science with a view to improving agriculture in African countries. Kim Il Sung Research Institute of Agricultural Science was established in Guinea of western Africa and Chollima Agricultural Institute in Tanzania of eastern Africa by help of the Korean agrotechnicians, which made a contribution to the agricultural
International
development in Africa. President Kim Il Sung treated those fighting against imperialism and for independence as his genuine comrades and friends and set a fine example of noble sense of moral obligation of keeping faith with them to the last. There are many anecdotes about his obligation to the friends, including the Great King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and the former Chilean President Salvador Allende. All the people who met him even once could not but feel great admiration and reverence for his lofty virtues and ennobling personality, even if they were from the countries hostile to Korea. Among such people were Jimmy Carter, former US president, and Shin Kanemaru, former deputy prime minister of Japan. Kim Il Sung’s name is shining as the banner of eternal victory. Entering the new century, the aspirations of the world people to live and develop independently are getting ever stronger. As the time passes, it proves clearer the truthfulness and
invincibility of the Juche idea. Seminars on the Juche idea and the activities for its dissemination are proceeding on a worldwide scale. The world conference on the Juche idea is to be held this April in Pyongyang. The International Kim Il Sung Prize Council was organised in April 1993 and the International Kim Il Sung Foundation established in 2007. The present situation, when high-handedness, despotic and aggressive moves of the imperialists get ever more unscrupulous after the end of the Cold War, demands that the countries actively advocate the Songun idea and Songun politics rooted in the Juche idea. Progressive peoples of the world regard Songun politics as an invincible banner that makes it possible to safeguard national sovereignty under any challenge and adversity and accomplish the cause of antiimperialism and independence. Nearly 500 streets, institutions and organisations in over 100 countries are named after the august name of Kim Il Sung.
Compiled By ISAH STELLA O.
Malaysia Urges Myamar To Stem Anti-Muslim Violence
Tension rises ahead of Egypt protest Egypt prepares for worst ahead of Sunday protest.
MYANMAR - Malaysia urged Myanmar yesterday to take stronger action to prevent persecution of Muslims and bring the perpetrators to justice, the latest sign that the inter communal violence is straining ties in Southeast Asia. Thousands of ethnic Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar to escape the violence and worsening living conditions, many of them making their way by boat or overland to Muslim-majority Malaysia.
Some Residents In Flood Ravaged Alberta Town hardest hit neighbourhoods HIGH RIVER, Alta. - The Return Home could be five more weeks. long road to recovery began on get through this. I intend to get Saturday for some residents of flood-stricken High River as part of the town was opened to those forced out last week. Authorities ordered all 13,000 residents of this community south of Calgary to leave when the Highwood River burst over its banks. Streets were flooded and people were stranded in their vehicles and their homes.
“Anger’s not going to get me anywhere and I’m looking at today as AD - after destruction”, said Charlotte Jackson after she received a pass to return to her home. “You start your life. It’s 2013 AD. We start building with what we can and that’s all you can do” she said with a chuckle. “If you can’t keep some sort of positive attitude you may not
through this. I’ve got a lot of life to live.” The highway leading to High River’s registration centre was a virtual parking lot. There was a huge lineup outside before the doors opened and traffic backed up a kilometre down the road. Only about 5,000 people were allowed in. The next influx will be in about a week and the
Inside the town residents were checking to see how they fared. Heather Dupont said other than the mess that her three cats made her home is fine. “Oh it’s so good. I’ve been away from home for so long. I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m blessed. Really really blessed”, said Dupont who has been staying with a friend.
Anti-Muslim violence in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar erupted in western Rakhine State last year and has spread into the central heartlands and areas near the old capital, Yangon. “Myanmar has to address the problem,” Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told reporters at a meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministers in Brunei, making a rare intervention in another member’s internal affairs. “I know it’s complex but they have to address the problem in a transparent manner so that we can see what actions had been taken ... I think the perpetrators have to be brought to justice and so that it does not occur again.” Anifah said he had been satisfied by his Myanmar counterpart’s response that the government was taking the issue seriously. Myanmar Buddhists and Rohingya have clashed in violent incidents in Malaysia and Indonesia in recent weeks,
adding to concerns that the violence could spill over into the region. The U.N. refugee agency says about 28,000 Rohingyas are registered as refugees in Malaysia, but groups representing them say the real number of Myanmar Muslim immigrants is much higher and has surged this year because of the violence. Critics say the Myanmar government has done little to bring instigators of the violence to justice or to stem a growing anti-Muslim movement in the country, which returned to democracy in 2011 after a half century of military rule. Anifah said the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) had voiced concern that ASEAN’s Muslim-majority nations were not doing more to resolve the problem. Malaysia’s Bernama news agency also reported that Anifah had asked Myanmar to allow an OIC contact group to visit the country and be given full cooperation.
THE
NIGERIAN
25 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
International
Compiled By ISAH STELLA O.
Kerry Ends Israeli-Palestinian MissionJerusalem Without Accord with Israeli Prime
Syrian troops launch wide offensive on Homs Syrian fighter jets hit central city of Homs Assad launches fresh offensive on Homs
JERUSALEM - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ended a marathon round of shuttle diplomacy between Israelis and Palestinians yesterday without an agreement on restarting peace talks. “We have had very positive discussions, very important discussions, for the last few days,” Kerry told reporters after meeting again with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. “We agreed we have made real progress but we have a few things we need to work on,” Kerry said, without elaborating but signaling the door remained open for further diplomacy. Abbas made no comment after the session, held after Kerry met for six hours overnight in
6 Killed In Homs, Idlib - Activists
LIKEAMMAN Government attacks on central and northern cities in Syria killed six people yesterday, activists said, as the government announced that two years of conflict has cost the public sector $15 billion. President Bashar Assad’s forces have been on the offensive in the central city of Homs, reclaiming some of the territory they lost to the rebels since the uprising began. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian army warplanes pounded the old quarters of Homs, killing one woman and two children. Further north, in the suburbs of Idlib, three other civilians, including one woman and one child, were killed in army clashes with the rebels, the Observatory added. A city of about 1 million, Homs has been a flashpoint since the early days of the uprising, and many residents
have sided with the rebels. It is Syria’s third largest city and capital of its largest province, which carries the same name and stretches from
the Lebanese border to the frontier with Jordan and Iraq. Meanwhile, local Administration Minister Omar Al Ibrahim Ghalaounji revealed
that public sector losses over the 27 months of conflict amount to 1.5 trillion pounds (US$15 billion).
Egypt: Protesters Gather To Demand CAIRO — Thousands of Morsi’s Ouster opponents and supporters of Egypt’s Islamist president began massing in city squares in competing rallies yesterday, gearing up for a day of massive nationwide protests that many fear could turn deadly as the opposition seeks to push out Mohammed Morsi. Waving Egyptian flags, crowds descended on Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo, one of multiple sites in Cairo and around the country where they plan rallies. On the other side of Cairo, thousands of the Islamist leader’s backers gathered not far from the presidential palace in a show of support. The demonstrations on Sunday, the anniversary of Morsi’s inauguration as Egypt’s first freely elected leader, are
PUBLIC NOTICE THE RESTORED BRETHREN MINISTRY (TABERNACLE ON MOUNT ZION) The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ematobore Alfred (Pastor) 2. Kpangban Felix (Treasurer) 3. Etefia Abraham (Secretary) 4. Fakurede Michael (Member) 5. Etefia Clarkson (Member) 6. Ola Regele (Member) 7. Umokoro Gabriel (Member) 8. Nwogu Sunday (Member) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To bring total reconciliation, deliverance and healing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to all mankind. 2. To teach doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ as contained in the bible to the people. 3. To establish and maintain ministries all over the world. 4. To print, publish and distribute gospel literature and materials. 5. To establish mission outreach and schools. 6. To do anything that will further the above aims and objectives. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: B.I. EMOEDUME, Esq.
the culmination of growing polarization since he took office. The president is joined in one camp by his Islamist allies, including the Muslim Brotherhood and more hardline groups. The other is an array of secular and liberal Egyptians as well as moderate Muslims and Christians — and what the opposition says is a broad sector of the general public that has turned against the Islamists. There is a sense among opponents and supporters of Morsi that Sunday’s rally is a make-or-break day, hiking worries of violence. Already at least seven people, including an American, have been killed in clashes between the two camps over the past week, mainly in Nile Delta cities and the coastal city of Alexandria. The opposition believes that with sheer numbers in the street, it can pressure Morsi to step down — perhaps with the added weight of the powerful military if it signals the president should go. But Islamists have vowed to defend Morsi. In an interview published Sunday in The Guardian, Morsi said he had no plans to meet the protesters’ demand for early presidential election. “If we changed someone in office who (was elected) according to constitutional legitimacy — well, there will (be) people or opponents opposing the new president too, and a week or a month later,
they will ask him to step down,” Morsi told the British daily. “There is no room for any talk against this constitutional legitimacy,” he said. As the crowds swelled in Tahrir, birthplace of the 2011 uprising that toppled Mubarak, traffic in the normally capital’s normally clogged streets was light at midday as many residents chose to stay home for fear of violence. Banks were closing early and most government departments were either closed for the day or were thinly staffed. Thousands of Morsi’s supporters have staged a sit-in since Friday in front of the Rabia al-Adawiya Mosque near the Ittihadiya presidential palace. In the evening, anti-
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Kerry was due to leave for Asia in the afternoon. Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian chief negotiator, said there had been some progress, “but we can’t say there’s been a breakthrough” towards reviving peace talks frozen since 2010 by a dispute over Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Erekat said he would hold further meetings, after Kerry leaves the area, with U.S. representatives to follow up on some issues raised during the secretary of state’s mission, his
fifth to the area since taking office. Netanyahu has repeatedly called on Abbas to return to negotiations. But he has balked at Abbas’s demand that Israel first halt settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas it captured in a 1967 Middle East war and which Palestinians want for a future state. An Israeli official, who asked not to be identified, said Abbas was also seeking the release by Israel of scores of long-serving Palestinian security prisoners as a goodwill gesture.
Attack On Security Convoy Kills 16 In Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan - A car bomb exploded as a convoy of paramilitary troops passed through the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar yesterday, killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, police said. Most of the dead and wounded were civilians. The blast struck one vehicle in the convoy of paramilitary Frontier Corps troops, but the other passed by safely, said police official Shafiullah Khan. It is unclear whether it was a suicide bombing or the explosives in the vehicle were set off by remote control. The blast damaged many vehicles and shops in the area, according to local TV footage. Frontier Corps vehicles rushed to the scene to help after the attack, as a police officer collected evidence from the crater caused by the bomb. No one has claimed responsibility. But suspicion will likely fall on the Pakistani Taliban. The group has been waging a bloody insurgency against the government for years that has killed thousands of security personnel and civilians. Peshawar is located on the edge of Pakistan’s semiautonomous tribal region,
Obama visits Mandela’s former jail before Africa speech
the main Taliban sanctuary in the country, and has been hit by scores of bombings over the years. The attack in Peshawar came as British Prime Minister David Cameron was visiting the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Cameron told his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, that Britain would do all it can to help fight extremism, a battle that requires both a tough security response and measures to fight poverty and promote education. “The enemies of Pakistan are enemies of Britain, and we will stand together and conduct this fight against extremism and terrorism together,” Cameron said in a joint press conference with Sharif. Cameron also welcomed Pakistan’s stated commitment to help promote a peace deal with the Afghan Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistan is seen as key to any deal because of its historical links with the insurgents. Pakistan pushed the Taliban to carry through with its recent step to set up a political office in the Gulf country of Qatar, although acrimony between the insurgents and the Afghan government has hampered the negotiation process.
THE
NIGERIAN
26 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
International
Compiled By ISAH STELLA
Somalia Clan Leader Tightens Grip On Strategic Port City
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi listens to a delegate during the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus three Foreign Ministers Meeting at the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan.
MOGADISHU - A clan leader opposed by Somalia’s federal government has strengthened his grip on Kismayu after three days of fighting against rival militias battling for control of the strategic southern port city, residents said. Scores are feared to have been killed in clashes since Ahmed Madobe, head of the Ras Kamboni militia, was chosen in May by a regional assembly to preside over the Jubaland region, where the port lies. He now appears to have extended his control. Madobe’s election had prompted rival claims to the regional presidency, including a clan leader viewed as backed by the Mogadishu government, Barre Hirale. The fighting has raised worries it could spark broader clan warfare across Somalia. The African Union peacekeeping force, AMISOM, said
the city was now calm and its troops had intervened to facilitate talks between rivals, although it said its mission was not to mediate. “Most of my relatives have been killed today,” Faiza Nur, a mother of seven, told Reuters by telephone, without giving numbers. “I hear the sound of gunshots far out to the outskirts. I understand Ras Kamboni now controls all of Kismayu.” The fate of Kismayu is viewed as a test of Mogadishu’s skill in building a federal system of government in a nation riven by two decades of conflict and still fighting Islamist rebels who were driven from power by African troops. The government has said it is ready to compromise but has not spelled out how. Diplomats with a close knowledge of the Kismayu situation say Mogadishu is expected to back
down and let Madobe hold the presidency, but only in an interim capacity. A mother of five, Safia Abdulle, said from Kismayu: “This is the third day we are indoors. The children are very hungry but we cannot go out to buy food. We have no routes to flee.” Residents said later on Sunday that gunfire had stopped, but said they were still too frightened to go outside. Controlling the port is a lucrative prize for clan leaders, bringing with it revenues generated from port taxes, charcoal exports and levies on arms and other illegal imports. Residents had said on Saturday they saw more than 20 bodies of those killed in fighting. Hirale told Reuters the death toll of fighters and civilians was at least 50 from the street battles that had erupted on Friday. Given the clashes and
ZAGREB - Fireworks are ready and foreign leaders are arriving as Croatia celebrated yesterday its entry into the European Union some 20 years after winning independence in a bloody civil war that shook the continent. Croatia will become the 28th EU member on Monday, the bloc’s first addition since Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007. Croatia’s membership marks a historic turning point for the small country, which
went through carnage after declaring independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. A decade back, when Croatia started negotiating the entry, the once war-torn country was overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a member of the European elite. But with the EU in deep financial turmoil and Croatia’s own economy in recession for five consecutive years, the excitement has dimmed. Thousands of people are expected to join in the celebrations across the country, including in the main square of the capital, Zagreb, where artists will perform for dozens of EU and regional leaders until midnight when big fireworks and the singing of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy - EU’s anthem - will mark the official entry into the bloc. Customs posts will be removed from Croatia’s borders with EU neighbors Slovenia and Hungary, while EU signs and flags will be put on its borders with non-EU states Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro. But overall, the celebra-
tions will be much more modest and less jubilant than when Bulgaria and Romania - currently EU’s poorest states became members. With the entry, Croatia - a nation of 4.2 million people - will become the third poorest country in the EU. “There are not too many festivities because the general situation is not brilliant,” Croatian President Ivo Josipovic told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “We have to develop our economy, take care of those people who are jobless now, and there is no time and money for big celebrations.” With an unemployment rate hovering at around 20 percent, plunging living standards, endemic corruption among its political elite and its international credit rating reduced to junk, many Croats are not in the mood to celebrate. Protest movement Occupy Croatia is planning an anti-EU march Sunday evening, saying in a statement that “the European Union is not a solution to our problems.”
Croatia Celebrates EU Membership
Somalia’s Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, leader of the Ras Kamboni, a pro Mogadishu militia which has fought alongside...
Philippines Rebukes China For ‘Militarization’ In South China Sea
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - The Philippines hit out at China yesterday over the “increasing militarization” of the South China Sea as tensions between the neighbors flared amid slow-moving regional efforts to forge a compromise over one of Asia’s naval flashpoints. The rebuke by Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario at a regional summit in Brunei came a day after China’s state media warned of an inevitable “counterstrike” against the Philippines if it continued to provoke Beijing. Friction between China and the Philippines over disputed territories in the oil and gas rich sea has surged since last year due to several naval stand-offs and fraying diplomatic efforts to forge a regional agreement on maritime conduct. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hopes to persuade Beijing to join talks on a proposed Code of Conduct (CoC) this year, but China’s naval action has alarmed some nations, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam. .”Most recently, the Philippines accused China of encroaching on its territory after three Chinese ships converged just 5 nautical miles from a small
reef where the Philippines maintains a small military force. This month the Philippines moved more troops and supplies to the reef, which is within its 200-nautical mile economic exclusion zone. China, which does not recognize the zone, condemned it as an “illegal occupation”. Del Rosario said the “massive” presence of Chinese military and paramilitary ships at the Second Thomas shoal and at another reef called the Scarborough Shoal - the site of a tense standoff last year - was a threat to regional peace. “The statement on counterstrike is an irresponsible one. We condemn any threats of use of force,” Del Rosario told reporters in Brunei following a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers. He said the ministers had discussed China’s ongoing “illegal” occupation of the Scarborough Shoal, which is just 124 nautical miles of the Philippine coast. China and the Philippines have accused each other of flouting a confidence-building 2002 “declaration of conduct” agreed by ASEAN and Beijing. China has appeared in little hurry to begin negotiations on a more comprehensive deal.
“A declaration of conduct is the foundation we need to lay before we can start working on a CoC,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Brunei. “Both sides have to create that basis before we can move forward. It is a process, a stepby-step process.” The worsening dispute comes as Philippine-ally the United States, which says it has a national interest in freedom of navigation in the South China
Sea, shifts its military attention back to Asia. Secretary of State John Kerry is due to arrive in Brunei on Monday to join the regional summit. Critics say China is intent on cementing its vast claims over the sea through its superior and growing naval might, and has little interest in rushing to agree a code of conduct with ASEAN nations, four of which have competing claims.
US Taps Half-Billion German Phones Internet Links
BERLIN - The United States taps half a billion phone calls, emails and text messages in Germany in a typical month and has classed its biggest European ally as a target similar to China, according to secret U.S. documents quoted by a German newsmagazine. The revelations of alleged U.S. surveillance programs based on documents taken by fugitive former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden have raised a political furor in the United States and abroad over the balance between privacy rights and national security. Exposing the latest details
in a string of reputed spying programs, Der Spiegel quoted from an internal NSA document which it said its reporters had seen. The document Spiegel cited showed that the United States categorized Germany as a “thirdclass” partner and that surveillance there was stronger than in any other EU country, similar in extent to China, Iraq or SaudiArabia. “We can attack the signals of most foreign third-class partners, and we do it too,” Der Spiegel quoted a passage in the NSA document as saying. It said the document
showed that the NSA monitored phone calls, text messages, emails and internet chat contributions and has saved the metadata - that is, the connections, not the content - at its headquarters. On an average day, the NSA monitored about 20 million German phone connections and 10 million internet data sets, rising to 60 million phone connections on busy days, the report said. While it had been known from disclosures by Snowden that the United States tapped data in Germany, the extent was previously unclear.
News of the U.S. cyber-espionage program Prism and the British equivalent Tempora have outraged Germans, who are highly sensitive to government monitoring having lived through the Stasi secret police in the former communist East Germany and with lingering memories of the Gestapo of Hitler’s Nazi regime. A Spiegel report on Saturday that the NSA had spied on European Union offices caused outrage among EU policymakers, with some even calling for a suspension to talks for a free trade agreement between Washington and the EU.
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NIGERIAN
27 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Agriculture
Boosting Cultivation Of Fluted Pumpkin In Nigeria T E L F A I R I A accidentalis, commonly known as fluted pumpkin, is a tropical leaf vegetable. It is planted in many parts of Nigeria but more predominantly in the southern part. Popularly called ugu, the plant is widely cultivated because of its palatable and nutritious leaves as well as its edible seeds. The young shoot and leaves of the plant are the main ingredients of a popular Nigerian soup called edikang ikong, while the seeds are rich in oil, which could be used for cooking and manufacturing of soap. However, the major problem associated with the cultivation of fluted pumpkin, just like other fresh farm produce, is its high level of decay. It is a common sight to see bunches of decayed fluted pumpkin leaves litter many major markets because of the dearth of preservation facilities. Yet, ugu is one of the most sought after leaf vegetable, not just in Nigeria but also in Europe. Currently, Kenya is the major exporter of the produce, while Nigeria is also known to be an exporter on a very limited scale. However, experts insist that fluted pumpkin could become a major export commodity in Nigeria if its potential is properly harnessed. Mr Mike Kanu, the
By EMMANUEL ACHA
Deputy Director (Horticulture) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that because of its potential, government included fluted pumpkin in the horticulture value chain. Kanu disclosed this in Umuahia recently during the distribution of telfairia (fluted pumpkin) seeds to farmers. He said that the exercise was part of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS), under the Federal Government’s A g r i c u l t u r a l Transformation Agenda (ATA). “Ugu is popular in Nigeria and hardly can you go to any restaurant or big hotel without seeing a food prepared with the leaf as a major ingredient. “Based on its importance in the economy, as it is a major source of income to some states in Nigeria; the Ministry of Agriculture approved the procurement of telfairia seeds for distribution to 200 vegetable farmers in five selected states of Abia, Ogun, Delta, Cross River and Imo,’’ he said. According to him, each of the farmers is expected to cultivate one hectare of telfairia farm, bringing the total to 200 hectares of telfairia farms. “This is one of the vegetables that are in very high demand,
especially outside Nigeria, and special attention has to be paid to its cultivation because we want to join Kenya in the international market,” he said. Moreover, Kanu said that 20 fresh produce growers were recently trained in Ogun by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with
ugu, okro, tomatoes, carrots and cucumber in 2013. “Nigeria has a better advantage and what it takes to dominate the entire European market,” he said. Mr Clement Iwunze, who is in charge of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Imo, said that the current move to boost the cultivation of telfairia, under the ATA, was a good one, as it
consultants from Kenya and the Agricultural Fresh Producers Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria, among others. He stressed that the target was to produce and market 10 million U.S. dollars’ worth of fresh farm produce, including
would check wastages and encourage farmers. “This is a very good move because we can increase our foreign exchange by exporting horticultural produce. “Every part of Nigeria is into horticulture and we grow these things, even more than Kenya
“Ugu is in high demand everywhere but the problem is that it is a highly perishable crop. “We make good money from its cultivation but if, per chance, you encounter some losses, you will almost regret venturing into the business.”
and Ghana. “They came to pick the seeds from us but due to the fact that their products are well certified, they currently make huge sales abroad. The fact that we grow more crops than them is, however, irrelevant. “Our minister is aware of Kenya’s success story but we need to make sacrifices to push this programme forward, in efforts to place our produce where they should be in the international market,” Iwunze said. Mrs Akudo John, a farmer, conceded that the
Mrs Nnennaya Uwadiegwu, a fluted pumpkin seller, said that the income of those in the vegetable business was unpredictable because of the erratic nature of fluted pumpkin’s cultivation. “One thing government should do is to keep encouraging us and if possible; aid our efforts to make the crop available all the year round. “Ugu is one of the leaves that our people cannot do without,” she said. Kanu, however, claimed the cultivation of ugu was not problematic,
cultivation of fluted pumpkin was a lucrative venture regardless of the fragile nature of the crop. “Ugu is in high demand everywhere but the problem is that it is a highly perishable crop. “We make good money from its cultivation but if, per chance, you encounter some losses, you will almost regret venturing into the business,” she said. John appealed to the government to introduce measures that would encourage ugu farmers, while making efforts to mop up excess produce, particularly during the peak of harvests.
adding that its cultivation crop growing could also be structured to engender good harvests. “If you want the plant to produce more leaves, you apply nitrogenbased fertilisers,’’ he said. “Towards the end of the rainy season, when it is time for podding; you stop harvesting the leaves to give room for podding,” he added. Stakeholders want the government to sustain all the programmes aimed at boosting the cultivation of telfairia, saying that this would consequently boost the income of many ugu farmers across the country.
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NIGERIAN
28 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Wimbledon
Williams Blasts Way Into Last 16
SERENA Williams continued her march to a Wimbledon title defence with a 6-2 6-0 third-round win over Kimiko Date-Krumm, while there were also victories for Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Li Na. Williams broke three times to one in the first set before unleashing a bagel in the second, setting up a last-16 clash with Sabine Lisicki, who earlier on Saturday beat former US Open champion Sam Stosur 46 6-2 6-1. The match was shifted to Centre Court to allow play to completion under the roof, with David Ferrer ’s win over Alexandr Dolgopolov running to five sets on Court One. Veteran Japanese DateKrumm battled gamely and made few errors, but the world number one was just too powerful for her. Strangely given their respective ages of 31 and 42, Williams and Date-Krumm had never previously played in a tournament. There were brief moments where Date-Krumm’s enthusiasm and racquet skills buoyed the Centre Court crowd, and she did manage one breakback as Williams served for the first set at 5-1, but the American responded with a stanza-sealing break. The second set was even more
straightforward as Williams blasted through the still air to wrap things up in one hour and five minutes, although the final game was an entertaining tussle around deuce. The response from fans was muted, and muscular Lisicki should provide a sterner test, but it appears nothing can stop the American from claiming a sixth Wimbledon and 17th Grand Slam title. Former champion Petra Kvitova regained her focus overnight to return with a zip in her step and see off Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 2-6 63 to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon. The eighth-seeded Czech, champion in 2011, returned to court 2-1 down in the final set after bad light and drizzle stopped play on Friday and revelled in Saturday’s warmer temperatures to take the deciding set 6-3. Kvitova, quarter-finalist last year, briefly wobbled as 25th seed Makarova stemmed the tide with a break but the rally fizzled out and the Czech reasserted herself to set up a last
16 match with Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain. American Sloane Stephens moved away from the abyss against lowly-ranked Czech
• Serena Williams
Resilient Ferrer Outlasts Dolgopolov
FOURTH seed David Ferrer came through a punishing fiveset test against Alexandr Dolgopolov to move into the last 16 in the evening gloom at
Clinical Djokovic Crushes Frenchman Chardy the first round two years ago on his way to a first Wimbledon title, is yet to drop a set in three one-sided contests so far. His next opponent, evergreen Tommy Haas, should put up more resistance in the last 16. German Haas surprisingly beat the Serb in straight sets at the Sony Open in Miami in March, although Djokovic took revenge in the quarterfinals of the French Open earlier this month.
Iraq Trump Chile Tops Group
IRAQ beat Chile 2-1 to finish atop of group E in an Under-20 World Cup tie played at the Akdeniz University Stadium in Antalya, Turkey on Saturday evening. Iraq’s fairy-tale at the tournament continued thanks to goals from Mahdi Kamil and Saif Salman. Felipe Mora scored Chile’s solitary goal on the night. Mahdi opened the scoring in the 15th minute of the match after some brilliant work from Mohanad Abdulraheem
left the striker with a tap in.Chile though fought back and equalised through Mora 13 minutes later. Mora headed home from an Oscar Hernandez cross.Saif Salman restored the Iraqis lead in the 67th minute of the match. Salman’s powerful strike from range took a deflection off Valber Huerta before nestling into the back of the net. Chile desperately went in search of the equaliser but it was not to be as the Wor
GHANA U20 will face Portugal on Wednesday in the round of 16 of the FIFA U20 World Cup after qualifying as one of the best four finishers. The 2009 champions were aided by African champions Egypt who beat England 2-0 in their final Group E clash. The Black Satellites were tied on three points and goal difference with the Young Pharaohs but
advanced with superior goals scored. Ghana netted five goals but Egypt managed fourone short of qualification because they conceded less goals than the Satellites. Portugal were leaders in Group A with seven points. The match will be played at Kayseri where Ghana thumped USA 4-1 to enhance their qualification to the knock-out stage.
Ghana To Face Portugal
• David Ferrer
LIKE a ruthless emperor dismissing an underling, top seed Novak Djokovic ended a highly satisfactory first week at Wimbledon by brushing aside Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-2 6-2 to continue his serene progress. Chardy, the 28th seed, put up little fight in the evening sunshine on Centre Court with the third round match wrapped up in 86 minutes. Clinical Djokovic, who eased past the same player in
Petra Cetkovska to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time where she will face another last-16 debutant in Puerto Rican Monica Puig.
FIFA U-20 W/Cup
• Novak Djokovic
Wimbledon on Saturday. Ferrer eventually ground down the 26th seeded Ukrainian 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 2-6 61 6-2 in three hours 12 minutes. “It was a very hard match,” this year’s French Open finalist Ferrer said. “I tried to fight a lot and to be focused in the right moments and eventually I won.” There were only been 12 five-set matches in the first two rounds of the men’s singles at Wimbledon, which was the fewest at the grasscourt grand slam in the Open era. Ferrer ’s famed staying power came into its own as he got on top in the fourth set and ended the resistance of Dolgopolov to set up a fourth round match against Croatia’s Ivan Dodig.
England Crashes Out ENGLAND made another miserable tournament exit as Peter Taylor’s side crashed out of the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey. Needing a victory to advance from the group stage after starting their campaign with successive draws, England failed to make their dominance count and were doomed once Trezeguet curled Egypt in front 11 minutes from time. Hassan Ahmed’s stoppage-time effort piled further humiliation onto an England outfit that slumped to the bottom of Group E as Iraq and Chile advanced. England have now gone 16 matches without a win at this level and a summer that promised so much will instead trigger further dissection of the nation’s future. In Group E’s other game, Iraq secured top spot with a 2-1 win over Chile, who
clinched second place regardless of the defeat. Mahdi Kamil and Saif Salman were on target for Iraq, while Chile’s consolation came via Felipe Mora. In Group F, Uruguay defeated Uzbekistan 4-0 to secure a place in the knockout stage. Gino Acevedo scored in the 38th minute, and Nicolas Lopez, Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Ruben Bentancourt added to the total in the second half. Uruguay finished Group F second to Croatia. Uzbekistan also advanced as one of the best third-placed teams. Croatia, already qualified, beat New Zealand 2-1 with goals from Stipe Perica and Ante Rebic. Louis Fenton scored New Zealand’s only goal in the tournament from the penalty spot in the 84th.
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29 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
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30 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
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NIGERIAN
31 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Ideye Gets Emenike’s He said he believes Support the Dynamo Kiev star will
The Chairman of Owan West Local Government Council, Hon. (Barr.) Godwin Aigbodion (left) receiving the Bronze Cup from the Captain of Owan West Under-17 Female Football Team while the Supervisory Council for Sports, Hon. Esemuze Kelvin Watches with admiration.
2012 NSF Athletes Get Automatic Employment MINNA - The Niger State Government has offered employment to its athletes who won medals at the 12th National Sports Festival (NSF) held in Lagos in 2012. Daniel Shashere, the for their contributions to Commissioner for Sports sports development in the Development, disclosed this state. “Gold medallists were during a reception in honour of the athletes and officials rewarded with N350,000 each, silver medallists held in Minna. each and Shashere, who did not N250,000 disclose the number of the N150,000 for each bronze athletes offered employment, medallists. “Every coach and other said that the athletes were given automatic employment officials got between N100, 000 and N150,000 each, in the state civil service. “The state government while athletes who did not also rewarded the sports men win medals at the festival reand women, including offi- ceived N10, 000 each,’’ he cials, with over N13 million said.
According to him, the state government will continue to reward excellence in the field of sports, in order to develop its potential in grassroots sports. “I want you to also know that you are not just rendering service to the state through sports excellence; you are equally helping yourselves to grow and develop your potential. “This is because what you have won will go a long way in enhancing your fortunes. “Sports have gone beyond mere play and exercise, but also as a means for economic emancipation. “I urge you to put more
Ref Axed For Botched Game
REFEREE Henry Ogunyanmodi who handled a botched league tie between Akwa United and Warri Wolves has been banned for the rest of the season. The match commissioner for the Week 16 game Ijeoma Nwosu has also been suspended for the rest of the
season. Ogunyamodi refused to restart the game after the interval after he alleged that the home team’s fans, whose team Akwa United were leading 2-0, assaulted him in the dressing room. The organising and disciplinary committee of the
Pillars Voted Best Nigerian Club NIGERIAN players’ union has picked champions Kano Pillars as the best club in the country because their players’ welfare has always been their top priority. The Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria under the leadership of Dahiru Sadi said Pillars are the best club in Nigeria as the welfare of their players is top priority and so the award to the club. Media officer of Kano Pillars Idris Malikawa told
MTNFootball.com that the award by such a body is timely and that it showed that people appreciate what the club management is doing. “This award from the players’ union is coming at a right time. It shows that people are monitoring events and appreciate what the management is doing,” said Malikawa. “We have also dedicated the award to Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso, who has always been there for us.”
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ordered that the game be concluded based on the new FIFA rule, which states that an inconclusive game should continue from where it stopped. The game would now be completed on Sunday, June 30, at the Uyo Township Stadium. With this decision, the three points and three goals awarded to Warri Wolves are now cancelled. Also, Akwa United have also been ordered back to Uyo for their remaining games after they were initially banished to the Rojenny Stadium in Oba. Akwa United striker Ubong Ekpai told MTNFootball.com that he is delighted by this decision. “I am very excited, this is a great decision and right step in the right direction. We have been vindicated. I am looking forward to playing in front of our darling fans again,” Ekpai said
effort personally and ensure that you win more medals at the 19th edition of the festival next year in Calabar,’’ he added. Shashere assured that government would continue to support all the existing sports associations. According to him, it is the only genuine means of getting the youth engaged and making them more useful to their immediate society.
UNDER-fire striker Brown Ideye has received a vote of confidence from Emmanuel Emenike after he was vilified during the Confederations Cup. Ideye has come under heavy attack after he failed to score and threw away several begging chances in Brazil. “As far as I am concerned, Brown (Ideye) is a top-class striker any day, any time. As a striker, he is expected to score goals, but sometimes you may find it difficult to do so. But this was one player who made a huge impact at the Nations Cup. I enjoy a good partnership with him and we won the trophy together as a team. I therefore totally disagree with those now condemning him,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com “Sometimes, criticism does not help a player. Since nobody is perfect, we are all bound to have a down side at a particular time. “Ideye is a hard working player, who is always ready to die for Nigeria and we should allow him to work harder to deliver the goals for the nation. He’s a good player.”
Council Boss Stresses Importance Of Sports
CHAIRMAN of Owan West Local Government Council, Hon. (Barr) Godwin Aigbodion has described sports as a veritable tool capable of reducing the high rate of crimes in the society. Hon. Aigbodion made the statement when he received the Bronze Cup won by Owan West female team at the just-concluded second edition of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole reelection Gold Cup Football tournament Under-17 recently. While congratulating the girls for making Owan
West proud at this tournament, he urged them to take the sport seriously and shun vices that will bring shame to their family. He promised that the council will do all it could to encourage them to excel in any other sporting activities they will undertake and mandated the Supervisory Councillor for Sports to start preparations early for the ALGON Football Cup tournament that would be hosted by the council later in the year.
NIGERIA will take on Uruguay in a FIFA U20 World Cup Round of 16 matches tomorrow in Istanbul. Uruguay finished second in Group F on six points after they smashed four unreplied goals past erstwhile group leaders Uzbekistan in their final group game on Saturday in Antalya. Croatia won the group to avoid a second straight clash
with Nigeria when they defeated New Zealand 2-1 in Bursa. The Flying Eagles defeated the Croats 5-2 at Colombia 2011. The winners of the match-up between Nigeria and Uruguay will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. The South Americans started their campaign at Turkey 2013 on a losing note
rise to the occasion again. “I think this is the best time you can get the best of any under-performing players because he will feel the heat and that will enable him to work harder when given another chance,” Emenike said. “I could remember when I was trying to settle in the Eagles, when all my efforts to score goals were not yielding fruits, I was heavily criticised. Now the rejected stone is the toast of many. “I recalled in our match against Zambia in Kaduna, I missed some chances and the fans demanded that the coach should remove me. They kept abusing me, but I never allowed it to bother me because I know where I am going to. “I totally ignored the critics and remained focus on what I believe I can do to be better. I am a player who knows my ability and always keeps working hard. And that was exactly what I did.” The Spartak Moscow striker said continuity will lift the players in the Eagles. “We need continuity in the team. That is the major factor that can really help us when we qualify for the World Cup in Brazil,” he said. “And we will go to the World Cup with the best legs. The best legs are the players who make mistakes and are then able to correct their mistakes to help the team.”
Ideye
F/Eagles Get Uruguay Test when they fell 1-0 to Croatia. They then rallied back to beat New Zealand 2-0 before their convincing win over the Uzbeks on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles resumed training Saturday morning after a day off on Friday. They will also train on Sunday night ahead of the match against Uruguay. Kick-off for the match is 9pm local time, which is 7pm Nigerian time.
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NIGERIAN
32 MONDAY, JULY 1, 2013
Thank You Commissioner Henry Idahagbon UNTIL a few days ago, I was beginning to think that rants for those on death row every Commissioner in Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s at the prisons. cabinet prefers most times to either play the dumb or It is on records that it was deaf to obvious happenings around them. the Ogbemudia military adOr is it the case that they spoke at the Founder’s day ministration which estab- of the development of the in- signing the death warrants. are publicity shy? Could it lecture of the University of lished the Midwest Institute stitution, UNIBEN’s medical He needed the cadaver for his also be the case that they are Benin (UNIBEN) a couple of of Technology (MIT) that students had to be moved to students and so the prisoners not eloquent enough and so years ago. It was bizarre, metamorphosed into the Ahmadu Bello University had to die. The bizarre aspect prefer to play the dumb and weird and pathetic story of a UNIBEN and its sister medi- (ABU), Zaria, for their clini- of S.O. Ogbemudia’s story deaf at the same time? Like I Governor who was boxed into cal institution, the University cal studies. ABU demanded was that the cadaver emsaid, until a few days ago a corner and whose only so- of Benin Teaching Hospital that each of the medical stu- balmed and encased in iron when Hon. Henry Idahagbon, lution to a pressing problem (UBTH). He said at the time dents brought along with him cases by the late Professor the State Commissioner for was signing the death wara cadaver (a dead body in- Ambrose Ali, as head of MorJustice, broke the jinx and tended for dissection). Where bid Anatomy at the UBTH, spoke up in defence of the recan the students find one? disappeared overnight before cent execution of the four on There certainly were none for transportation. Ogbemudia death row, I was beginning to purchase in the market. It was said until the time he was tellwonder if we must wait for not only Ogbemudia’s prob- ing the story, no one has been the Comrade Governor himlem to solve any more. It able to explain how the bodself to explain why he signed probably became a common ies, awaiting transportation the death warrants. Thanks to place issue in his office and vanished into thin air. Idahagbon, we now know In the present case, the someone he did not name ofwhy the foursome should die. fered a solution. There were story behind the conviction The only missing link is the many on death row in prisons of the prisoners who had to fact of how long they have and it will only take the Gov- be killed is also as bizarre, been on the death row. ernor signing the warrants to weird and pathetic as in According to the amiable get the prisoners executed and Ogbemudia’s time. In commissioner, those executed the students would have their Ogbemudia’s time, their had exhausted all their rights cadaver for their practical in offences were not told but known to law up to the highfar-away ABU. Despite the here Idahagbon, as State est court of the land, the Sufact that S.O. was a soldier Attorney General and preme Court of Nigeria. So and a gunner who came to Commissioner for Justice, they had no other court to apbecome Governor after shoot- told the story of the four peal to, and could have reing at and probably killing who had to be killed via the mained in prison to die of eimany in the war to liberate the Governor’s signing of their ther natural cause through old Midwestern State from rebel death warrant. Here was age and or they were killed as Biafra, he said he was taken this Daniel Nsofor, who in ordered by the Governor. Governor Adams Oshiomhole aback by the suggestion of company of two others, Idahagbon spoke when civil society groups and students led by executive director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Rev. David Ugolor, protested the killings. And I wished Ugolor and his group were around when the then Col. S.O. Ogbemudia told his story of also signing similar warrants while he was Military Governor of the then Midwest State now Edo and Delta States. I must confess though that the reason and circumstances leading to the signing of the warrants in Ogbemudia’s time and that of the Comrade Governor’s are different. This was what Ogbemudia had to say as reason for his action when he Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Henry Idahagbon (right) welcoming Civil Society Groups and students led by ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor to his office recently.
“According to the amiable commissioner, those executed had exhausted all their rights known to law up to the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria. So they had no other court to appeal to, and could have remained in prison to die of either natural cause through old age and or they were killed as ordered by the Governor. Idahagbon spoke when civil society groups and students led by executive director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Rev. David Ugolor, protested the killings.”
travelled with a lady, Maria Imariagbe. At Ehor, in Uhunmwode council area, she alighted from their travelling vehicle about 7.15 pm. She was strangled to death and her money stolen from her. The second prisoner was Chima Ijiozor, a spare parts dealer who impregnated a girl who had a baby for him. At two-andhalf months old, Chima visited baby and mother and asked the mother to go buy him a coke. Before she returned, Chima had fed his baby with a drink of acid. Chima’s excuse was that as first child of his family, he was not expected to have a child out of wedlock. The third culprit was one Osarenmwinda Aigbokhian, whose story was that he shot a bush deer and while dissecting the dead deer in parts, the animal turned into a human being. An autopsy report from the human parts Osarenmwinda buried in several places in the bush revealed that the man was butchered and that there was not a single gunshot wound on the body. Lastly, the case of Richard Igagu was that of a robbery gang that robbed a man of his possession, raped his wife after which the gang pushed a broken bottle into the raped woman’s private part. She bled to death. The report of Idahagbon’s encounter with Ugolor ’s group was silent on the group’s reaction to the prisoners’ escapades leading to their death but they were serious enough probably to douse the fury of a protest. In this age and time when we are faced with the weird and the bizarre and when our legislators want more crimes punishable by death, it will take some doing to remove the death penalty from our statute books as suggested by Commissioner Idahagbon. There are certainly more protests to come.
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