THE NIGERIAN
The Nigerian
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PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968
VIEWPOINT cmyk
Pg. 19
Understanding Who You Are
OPINION Pg 18
Between The African Child And A Bleak Future
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
• Vol . 38 NO.284 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2 013 • N 100.00
Ramadan: Muslims eulogises By FUNMI BABATOPE BENIN CITY- Muslim Faithful across the 3 senatorial districts in Edo State, have
Oshiomhole
commended the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his benevolence in
donating Beverages, to them, as part of the state Government efforts to cushion the effect of the
on-going 2013 Ramadhan fasting. The Beverages according to comrade Oshiomhole is to assist Continues on page 2
2015
INEC registers APC
ABUJA - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday approved the merger of three leading opposition parties ahead of the presidential polls in 2015, potentially setting up a stiff challenge to the ruling party. The INEC said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) would now be known as the All Progressives Congress (APC). It said the three parties “have met all statutory requirements for the merger, and has
accordingly granted their request.” The parties have been plotting the merger for months in a bid to win power from President Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party. Jonathan is expected to seek another term in the 2015 vote, though he has not announced his intentions.
Previous attempts to rally the opposition against the PDP, which
has won every presidential vote since a return to civilian rule in
1999, have failed amid infighting. Picking a presidential ticket could prove to be a challenge for the opposition alliance, with its membership including a collection of varying interests.
While the PDP has controlled the presidency, opposition parties have had success in the states. The ACN, the biggest party in the merger, controls most of the southwest, including the Continues on page 2
ASUU insists on implementation AWKA -The Academic of agreement
Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the South East Zone said it would continue with its ongoing strike until Government implemented its demands. The union announced this position in Awka when it addressed newsmen. “Only the implementation of the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the union would make the lecturers resume work.’’ Dr Chidi Osuagwu, the Zonal Coordinator of the union, said it was embarrassed to hear from some quarter that the ongoing strike would be called off on August1. “This is very unacceptable to the union and its members. We will not call off the strike until the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement is fully implemented’’, he said. He appealed to students, parents and
guardians to bear with the union, pointing out that it was pursuing a worthy cause to improve the university system in the country. He recalled that ASUU embarked on the strike due to federal government’s failure to implement the agreement it willingly entered into with the union in October 2009. According to him, between 2009 and 2011, ASUU made serious efforts to get the government to implement the agreement by even embarking on warning strikes, to no avail. He said the agreement included funding for revitalisation of
universities, federal assistance to state universities and payment of academic allowances. Osuagwu blamed the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie “for not protecting the institutions.’’ The zone is made up Continues on page 2
VISIT: Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (4th left), and the MD FAAN, Mr. George Orisi during his visit to Government House in Benin City yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.
Teachers audit shows massive age falsification Town hall meeting:
By ADAMS OYIBOKE
BENIN CITY-Edo State Government audit of Primary Schools in
the State has revealed massive falsification of age of Primary School Teachers in the State Public Schools. In a town hall meeting
on education in the State yesterday Governor Oshiomhole said its audit carried out by the State’s Information and Communications
thority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi who led other management staff who included Mr. Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Mr. Kolawole
Adefomiwa, Deputy General Manager, Mr. Adeboye Festus, the Chief Security Officer and Mr. Ayodele SunContinues on page 2
FAAN MD visits Oshiomhole, apologises over the incident which
BENIN CITY - Authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apologized to the Edo State Government and air travelers
led to the closure of the Benin Airport on Tuesday. The Managing Director, Federal Airport Au-
Technology showed that 789 teachers out of 1,379 obtained their Primary School Leaving Certificates before the age of 8 or 9. He said “some of the records show there were a few who were particularly gifted and they finished Primary School before they were born. “We found that of all
our Primary School Teachers, only 1,287 representing 9% out of 14,484 teachers have proper and accurate records in our system. 91% have various forms of discrepancies in their records. Oshiomhole said “about 1,379 teachers representing 11.5% claim that they obtained Continues on page 2
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
News Massive age falsification
Continued from page 1 their Primary School Certificates after they had been employed as teachers. In fact, some obtained their Primary School Certificates not more than two years ago, from the school in which they were employed as teachers. “The question is whether they went to Teachers’ Training College or obtained National Certificate of Education (NCE) before they went to Primary School. These are facts that have been well documented. “It would not be helpful to the cause of education and our resolve to deliver quality education to our pupils if we do not deal with this issue decisively”. The Governor who reeled out statistics on the teachersstudent ratio in all the Local Governments in the State said the average of 30 students per teacher in the State is much lower than the UNESCO recommendation on student-teacher ratio, saying this might mean that there are more teachers in the State Primary Schools
INEC
Continued from page 1 economic capital Lagos. Previous votes in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, have been marred by violence and irregularities, but the 2011 poll won by Jonathan was seen as a major improvement. AFP.
than needed. While noting that there were positives from the audit, the Governor said there are more female teachers than male teachers in the State and that “in some cases, we have more female pupils in schools than male and that is very encouraging, because some States, are still battling with how to get their female children to school, but that is not the case in Edo.” He also noted that “as a result of the steps we have taken to restore confidence and integrity to our Public Schools, there has been a steady increase in enrolment in Public Junior Secondary Schools in the State. The Governor who said the town hall meeting on education was called to find a solution to the problems said the Government was open to suggestions on the way forward. Some of the stakeholders at the town hall meeting including the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Patrick Ikosimi, the Aidenojie of South Ibie, H.R.H Kelvin Danesi, the Ojirrua of Irrua, H.R.H William Momodu, Comrade Jude Obasanmi, Chairman, Conference of Non Governmental Organizations in Edo State, Rev. Asibor, Mr. Efe John, Mrs. Rosemary Abode and others urged the Governor to take a tough decision to properly sanitize the
FAAN MD visits Oshiomhole Continued from page 1
day, Airport Manager, Benin City said “we deeply regret the events of yesterday and we will like to find out how we can avoid a situation like this arising in the future, because it is neither in the interest of FAAN nor in the interest of Edo State Government for the Airport to be closed down, because there was a lot of hardship and serious economic consequences as a result of the shutdown and there is need to settle this matter. “I want to assure Your Excellency that FAAN is a good corporate citizen, I am convinced that there was a misunderstanding and I want to get to the bottom of this misunderstanding so that it does not happen again. “If we have any obligations, we will meet them, and I hope that in the future if there are
ASUU
Continued from page 1 of Abia State Unversity, Uturu; Anambra State University, Uli; Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki and Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT. Others are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
issues of misunderstanding, we will be able to talk about them quickly without them leading to delays and inconveniences to the public. So, sir we are here to reassure you of our respects and desire to be good corporate citizens and partner with the State Government to deliver services to the people of Edo State”. In his response, Governor Oshiomhole noted that tax law was a federal law which the state Government is only trying to implement. He noted that the tax which FAAN defaulted on was the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) which even the President and Governors pay. Oshiomhole said the State Board of Internal Revenue got a proper Court Order to seal the FAAN Manager’s Office, noting that the FAAN Manager on his own decided to seal up the Airport to gain public sympathy. The Governor said the problem with Nigeria is not immunity, but impunity as people often violate the law and get away with it. He insisted that anybody who works and lives in Edo State must pay tax in contribution to the development of the State. The Governor said a way to avoid a re-occurrence of the ugly incident was for FAAN to comply with the law.
education sector. However, some of them blamed some of the rot in the State Education Sector on the State Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board and urged the Governor to extend his sanitation drive to the offending agencies. However, Governor Oshiomhole reaffirmed his determination to put in place a mechanism to check corruption, bribery and malpractices in the recruitment of teachers by the state Post Primary Education Board (PPEB). He said the full scale problems in the education sub-sector, especially the primary schools, coupled with the inability of Local Government Authority to pay their staff after the payment of teachers salary as well as the corrupt practices, certificate forgery and age falsification necessitated the town hall meeting. The Governor also said that monies arising from the exit of teachers by way of voluntary resignation, death, and otherwise were not visible, adding that Edo people can not shy away from the truth. He noted that a school with all the necessary infrastructure without qualified teachers is like an empty hall. The solution to this problem, I may not know, but I am sure, before the end of this all Important meeting, the solution would come. But, before knowing the solution there is need to understand the severity of the problems. “The future of our children lies in sound educational foundation. “Edo State Government can not afford to leave the future and training of our children in the hands of
incompetent teachers; what then is the way out”, he quarried. He gave a data base of the number of schools in each of the 18 Local Government Areas, number of male and female teachers and the ratio of pupils to teacher in a class. In Akoko-Edo Local Government, 70 Primary Schools with 765 classrooms made up of 13,810 boys and 13,584 girls, giving a total of 27,394 pupils and total number of teacher being 901 Egor Local Government has a total of 29 primary schools, 306 classrooms, 30,879 pupils made up of boys and girls and a total of 881 teaching staff in the ratio of 35 pupils to 1 teacher. In Oredo Local Government, he noted that a total of 84 primary schools exist with a total class of 1080 with 22, 655 girls and 22,953 boys giving making a total of 45, 608 pupils adding that the total number of teachers in the local government is 1,096 made up of 96 male teachers and 1000 females. Governor Oshiomhole used the occasion of the town hall meeting to reassure people of the state of his commitment towards building human capacity and infrastructure that will restore integrity and discipline to public primary schools in the state. In Every Modern democracy, when politicians make promises, they must simultaneously explain how they intend to keep those promises. When you promise free education, you must be able to save to pay for it and how you will identify those to pay. Every basic policy produce winners as well as loosers. The essence of politics is to acquire power so that you use it authoritatively to aggregate resources in a way that reflect the biases of those in government.
Muslims eulogises Oshiomhole
Continued from page 1 the beneficiaries to break their fast each day and feel nourished. Presenting the beverages to Muslims faithful across the 3 senatorial districts on behalf of the state governor, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida said the donation was borne out of the Governor’s love, concern and solidarity for Muslim faithful at this period of spiritual cleansing. The commissioner remarked further that, Comrade Oshiomhole is Governor of all Edo citizens irrespective of Religion, political and ethnic affiliation. According to her, the items were distributed to Muslim faithful across the 3 Senatorial Districts by the State Governor on yearly basis as part of his
commitment to the well-being of the people, adding that Comrade Oshiomhole also extended similar gesture to Christian faithful in the state during Christmas celebration and other Christian festivities. Hon. Maigida, however, used the occasion to thank Comrade Oshiomhole for his kind gesture. She expressed profound appreciation on behalf of other Muslim faithful in the state to Comrade Oshiomhole. The secretary of Benin Muslim congress, Benin Central Mosque, Barr. Iduoze Mohammed, expressed gratitude to the governor for his kind gesture and for identifying with them during this periods of Ramadhan and described the gesture as a concrete demonstration of the delivery of good governance to the people even as he pledged of all Muslim faithful support towards his administration.
We didn’t close Benin Airport - Oseni Elamah By VICTOR OMOALU BENIN CITY- Against the backdrop of the allegation by the Benin Airport Station Manager, Mr. Sunny Ayodele that the Edo State Internal Revenue (EIRS) sealed up the Benin Airport, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State IRS cleared the air on what transpired at the airport on Tuesday. Chief Elamah explained at a press conference in Benin City, yesterday that his agency did not close down the Benin Airport but the administrative office of the airport which is about a kilometre away from the main airport. He described Mr. Ayodele’s action as a deliberate attempt to incite the public against a performing government led by Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the state. The EIRS boss noted that the EIRS is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all taxes due to the state government are collected correctly, it only exercised its legal duty by acting on a court order to distain the airport office with a view to compelling it to remit the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax deducted from its workers over the years to the tune of N14,979,333.98. Chief Elamah said that it is the duty of an employer as an agent of government to deduct the PAYE tax and
remit to the government upon the filing in of annual returns for assessment. He pointed out that it is a criminal offence for an employer not to file in the necessary information for tax assessment. He described the present administration in the state as a sovereign one which strives towards ensuring that the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people. Towards ensuring transparency in the system, he said there had been several correspondence exchange between the ERIS and the FAAN, adding that tax enforcement was and is not targeted at any particular individual or group. The EIRS boss stated further that towards ensuring equity and fairness, the state government set up an independent tax review committee. The committee, according to him is charged with the mandate to either affirm or amend the assessment carried out by the room for public complains/objections. He maintained that EIRS would not involve in any act contrary to the law, while noting that all tax laws, as amended are federal government enacted laws. He used the forum to urge corporate bodies, organisations and individuals to always file in their annual returns for assessment.
Forged Will: Police arrest
housewife, counsel
BENIN CITY - The Edo State police command has arrested three persons, including a housewife, Mrs. Mercy Sheidun, her counsel, (name withheld), and an employee over alleged forgery of Sir Kola Sheidun’s Will. Sir Sheidun was the pioneer Managing Director of Okpella Cement Factory in the defunct Bendel State. A police source at the state police command who confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Benin City disclosed that the suspects were, however, released on bail on self recognition.
The source disclosed that the counsel and one Jonah Sojah who was an employee in one of Sir Sheidun’s companies conspired with his wife (Mrs. Sheidun) to forge her late husband’s Will in 1997. The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Moses Eguavoen who confirmed the incident as an old case, however, said only the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) could give more details.
Work Resumes In LGs By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU/ GEORGE OGBOLU
BENIN CITY -Work has returned to normalcy at the Local Government Secretarial in Benin City Metropolis after the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), cancelled its proposed three days nationwide strike over the Senate vote against local government autonomy. Investigations by The NIGERIAN OBSEVER revealed that workers in the local government councils were busy going about their normal duties. At Oredo Local Government Secretariat, King’s Square, Benin City,
some workers were settling down for business as others in their offices, were busy with the day’s work. Similarly, at Egor Local Government Secretariat premises, behind Uselu Market, some workers were moving in for the day’s work as early as 8am while others were opening their offices to start off the day. Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Council Secretariat was not different as workers were busy in their offices doing their bit of the day’s activities. The proposed three-day warning strike by NULGE was called off on Monday following the intervention of the National Assembly.
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News Poly Students Protest Over Epileptic Power Supply
IBADAN - Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan , has protested over the epileptic power supply in the school. Reports say that the students, who protested for over two hours, paralysed human and vehicular movements. The aggrieved students rendered anti-government slogans and barricaded all
entrances leading into the institution. Those who spoke with newsmen on condition of anonymity said the epileptic power supply being experienced at the main campus of the institution should be addressed to ensure smooth academic activities. “Power supply has been so
terrible in the school recently. We stated our plight to the authorities. “We have been experiencing perpetual darkness at nights in the school since they carried out repair work on the generator. “We complained that the
situation should be addressed because it is inimical to our career as students. “This is an academic environment and we should be given some comfort,” an angry student said. But Alhaji Soladoye Adewole,
the Public Relations Officer of the institution, said efforts were on to ameliorate the situation. “We all know that power generation is a critical issue in the country. “We generate light privately for four hours a day to students
Edo State Commissioner For Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida (left) Flanked by the mother of the State Governor, Hajia Aishetu Oshiomhole when she paid her a visit at Iyamho in the course of distributing beverages purchased by the State government to Muslim faithful for the Ramadan fast in Edo North
between 6.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m. and between 8.00 p.m. and 10. 00 p.m. “We started having problems with students when the power generating set went bad. “The generator requires overhauling and it is taking time to put it in order,” he said. Adewole said there was no cause for the protest since there was an effective means for the students to channel their grievances. “We once gave them phone numbers of principal officers so that they can always make complaints and cross-check facts from the school’s authorities as occasion demands. “We understand that the students were not happy about the situation but the matter should have been tabled rather than engaging in a protest. “The school authorities addressed the students and it was agreed that the school should make light available between 6.00 a.m. and 7 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily,” Adewole said.
LAGOS – Mr. Tokunbo Abiru has resigned his appointment as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, a statement said. Governor, Babatunde Fashola announced the commissioner’s resignation during the state Executive Council Meeting in Alausa, Ikeja. The statement signed by Mr Hakeem Bello, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, said. The governor said Abiru resigned to take up an appointment at First Bank Nigeria Plc as Executive Director and commended his
dedication to the service of the state in his two years in the cabinet. The governor wished Abiru well in his new appointment and expressed confidence that he would excel in the job. In his resignation letter to the governor, Abiru expressed gratitude to Fashola for giving him the opportunity to serve the state. Abiru said he remained committed to the progress of the state and that he would render his service to the state again if the opportunity came in the future.
surveillance unit of the commission within Benin city. He said that the commission secured 10 convictions within a year, adding that some cases were still in court. “Six persons were recently arrested in six different outfits in Benin for illegally transmitting or rebroadcasting the channels of DSTV and channels of other broadcasting entities. “Items impounded included cables, decoders, spliters and smart cards worth about N6 million. “The suspects have been charged to court and are awaiting trials,” he said.
He noted the raid was an effort of the Director-General of NCC, Mr Afam Ezekude, to reduce piracy to zero level. Mr. Michael said that such raids would also be of immense benefit to the public as it would enable right owners to benefit from the fruits of their labour. Madueke advised the public to desist from patronising illegal broadcasting outfits commonly called “Cable Network Boys’’ and warned that anyone caught, would be treated as a conspirator. He also urged the public to report anyone involved in such illegal act to the commission.
8 Die In Osun Auto Crash
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH-TH) in Osogbo. He said officials of the FRSC and the state Ambulance Service (O’ Ambulance) as well as the police were involved in the rescue operation. Etuk, who said the victims were confirmed dead at the hospital, warned motorists to desist from over-speeding. The identities of the victims were yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing in this report. The commission, he said, was making efforts, through the National Union of Road Transport Workers, to identify victims.
OSOGBO - No fewer than eight passengers, including a pregnant woman, reportedly died in a ghastly auto crash on the Gbongan-Ibadan expressway. Our reporter gathered that the victims were travelling in a bus from Ede to Owode in Osun at about 6.40 a.m. when the accident happened. An eye-witness told newsmen that the affected bus passengers were traders from a nearby market who had boarded the illfated vehicle for the trip. The eyewitness told our reporter that a light blue Golf car marked AG 19 EDE coming from Ede caused the accident when it suddenly somersaulted on high speed. It was further learnt that the car crashed into two other vehicles—an ash coloured KIA marked KUJ 74 AJ and a white Toyota Hiace also marked XR 930 ABC. The multiple accident, led to the death of eight persons while a few others were rushed to the hospital for medical attention. The accident spot was said to have been thronged by sympathizers, while officials of the Ambulance Service evacuated the corpses of victims. The surge of the crowd at the scene of the accident caused a gridlock with commercial activities temporarily halted. Mr. Imoh Etuk, the state Sector Commander of the FRSC, who confirmed the death toll to newsmen, lamented that the accident was due to violation of traffic rules. Etuk said the corpses of the victims had since been deposited at the morgue of the
BENIN - The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in Benin arrested six persons involved in illegal transmission
or rebroadcast of Multichoice Nigeria limited (DSTV) and channels of other broadcasting organisations.
ENUGU - The Enugu State Government has assured the National Assembly of its commitment to ensuring adequate security for NNPC pipelines in the state. Governor. Sullivan Chime gave the assurance in Enugu when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources
(Downstream) paid him a courtesy visit. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, explained that the security of citizens and properties of the state were the major priorities of his administration. Chime decried the neglect of the Enugu fuel depot, saying that its rehabilitation would make life easier for the citizens of the state, the South East zone, and
Nigerians in general. He said: “The people of Enugu State and indeed the people of this part of the country had felt somehow, not well treated with the abandonment of the petroleum depot here in Enugu. “So, we have cried over time and if you look at all the roads that lead to Enugu, they are bad, because these heavy duty trucks use the roads and we believe that the rehabilitation of the depot
Lagos Finance Commissioner Resigns
L - R: Edo State Commissioner For Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida at the palace of HRH, Alhaji A.Y.E. Dirisu, Okuokpellagbe of Okpella (right) and Queen Dirisu during the distribution of beverages purchased by the State Government to Muslim faithful for the Ramadan fast in Edo North.
Copy Right Commission Arrests 6, Impounds N6m Equipment The NCC Benin Zonal Manager, Mr. Michael Madueke, told newsmen in Benin that the arrests were made on Friday during an antipiracy raid carried out by the
Chime Assures Protection For NNPC Pipelines
will help to save our roads from these heavy duty trucks and it will make life better for our country and our people. “We also believe that it is possible for Nigeria to reduce, or in fact, stop the importation of refined petroleum products. “We believe Nigeria has the resources and the capacity to have its own refineries and export refined products rather than import.
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South-South
Group Grants Medical Students Scholarship
IKOT EKPENE (AKWA IBOM) - Isabella Medical Scholarship Fund on Saturday in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom,
awarded scholarship to seven Medical students of Universities of Uyo and Calabar. They are: David Obotamah,
Ekemini Umoinwek, Udeme Udoinyang, Joseph Inyang and Miss Eriti Okorie, from the University of Uyo, while
Edidiong Essiet and Simeon Augustine were from the University of Calabar. The News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) reports that the scholarship is valued at N250, 000 per student, per year. The Chairman, Samuel and Isabella Foundation, Mr Samuel Inyang, who spoke at the occasion, said that the scholarship was instituted at the funeral of late Dr Isabella Inyang, in Aug. 2011. Inyang described the deceased as the “best and brightest’’ in her career, adding: “this scholarship is equally for the best and brightest students; not for the poor, the orphans and the needy. “At the first instance, the scholarship is granted to students with a minimum of 4.0/5.0 Cumulative Grade Point
Average,’’ he said. He urged the beneficiaries to persevere not only in their academic pursuit, but also in their intellectual development. He said that the scholarship was also in support of the free and compulsory education policy of Gov. Godswill Akpabio’s administration. Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Okorie, described the scholarship as “very surprising and challenging’’, and expressed gratitude to the administrators of the fund. She promised that she and the other beneficiaries would excel in their academic and professional career.
Amaechi’s Wife Commiserates With First Lady By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM
Ramadan fasting: A truck of several cartoons of milk and sugar purchased by Edo State Government for Mulim faithful across the 3 senatorial districts for the year 2013 Ramadan fasting.
JTF Arrests 608 Suspected Oil Thieves YENAGOA - The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta codenamed ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, said on Monday that it arrested 608 suspected oil thieves in 594 raids carried out between January and June. The JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that oil theft was consequently on the decline. “So far we have carried out 594 illegal oil bunkering patrols, and several arrests have been made. “In the two quarters we are talking about, we’ve scuttled about 748 illegal refineries within the region and we have impounded 24 sea-going vessels; we equally arrested 133 barges involved in oil theft. “And 861 giant open wooden boats popularly referred to as Cotonou boats have been scuttled over this period. “About 910 large surface tanks which oil thieves engaged in illegal refineries use to reserve
the crude have been scuttled. “We’ve taken into custody about 608 suspects who are involved in oil theft and oil theft related cases.’’ On the rate of oil theft which reportedly led to a combined shut-in of 190,000 barrels per day production in Bayelsa, Nwachukwu said that the JTF was making a positive impact. The spokesman said: “Of course we stepped up our operational activities and I assure you that oil theft now is going down. “Two major pipelines were shut down and before these pipelines were actually shut down our patrol troops had reported breaches on these pipelines. “And if the oil companies had reacted in time to these reports, the breaches would have been clamped, and it would not have resulted in this entire shut down of the pipelines. “So, I would say that if you take an overfly of the entire area,
you will find that most of the illegal refineries that were in operation, that were alive in those days, have been shut down, completely; scuttled.’’ Nwachukwu said that the JTF
was making progress in its campaign against oil theft because of support of residents and community leaders in the oil-bearing communities.
PORT HARCOURT Dame Judith Amaechi has commiserated with the nation’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan over the death of her mother, Mrs Charity Iwari Obah. Mrs Amaechi in a statement signed by her Media Assistant, Dike Bekwele says the death of Mrs Obah is indeed a great loss to Rivers State in particular , especially the Obah’s family and the nation at large. She stated that she was very
devastated over the news of the death of Mrs Charity Obah, mother of Nigerian First Lady who died in a ghastly motor accident on Elele road on her way to Bayelsa State. Mrs Amaechi stated that Mama Obah’s death occurred when her motherly role and wealth of experience is needed for our nation’s building The governor’s wife prayed the Almighty God to grant Mrs Patience Jonathan and the Obah’s family in Rivers State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
A/Ibom Cocoa Farmers Solicit Govt Assistance UYO - Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom Chapter, has solicited government’s assistance in the provision of storage and drying facilities to enable them to produce for local consumption and export. The farmers stated this at the end of their meeting in Uyo recently where they deliberated on ways to improve their
production. Chief Michael Akpan, Chairman of the association, said frequent rainfall in the area had engendered high humidity which made it difficult for the drying of cocoa beans to an acceptable standard. He said, “Cocoa farming is capital intensive, we appeal for assistance from government to enable us to dry cocoa beans to
guarantee increased and quality production.” Akpan said that farming was the major occupation of the people who mostly engage in large scale food production, including cocoa. The chairman said that cocoa with low consumption rate in the state was mostly cultivated for export. He said that farmers had to meet periodically to interact,
share experiences and seek ways to ensure that their products met the international standards. The chairman called on the government to come to the association’s assistance by providing the members with driers and warehouses. He said that the association planned to organise training programmes for cocoa farmers in all the communities in the state.
NMA To Rid Off Quacks UYO - The Akwa Ibom Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Uyo on Wednesday expressed willingness to rid off quacks in medical practice in the state. The state NMA Chairman, Dr John Udobong, expressed concern over the high rate of quackery recorded in the state. “Following increasing reports on cases of quacks in medical practice and the dangers it poses on the lives of the people, the association has increase the membership of Anti-Quackery Committee from five to eight. “This is to ensure effective check on the activities of those
unscrupulous persons parading and claiming to be medical experts. “The state is witnessing high incidence of kidney impairment, liver failures, diabetes and cardiac problems due to activities of quacks,’’ he said. Udobong said that the quacks carryout surgery on their victims which usually result in death or permanent disability. The chairman, who expressed regrets that the association had no powers to prosecute offenders, maintained that the association would not be deterred in its efforts to rid off the quacks.
Ramadan fasting: A bus containing several cartoons of beverages purchased by Edo State Government for Muslim faithful across the 3 senatorial districts for the year 2013 Ramadan fasting.
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Electoral Officer Denies Rigging By AUDU ADAMA FUGAR – The electoral officer for Etsako Central Local Government Area, Mr. Salui John has described as false and malicious insinuations in certain quarters that the last local government election conducted was not held in Etsako Central Local government Area. Speaking in an interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER recently, Mr. Saliu John stated that the election was keenly contested and won by all the candidates
who emerged victorious and were immediately sworn-in to enable them assume duty. He however disclosed that the local government election in ward six in Ekperi was cancelled due to late arrival of materials. He said that the local government election in the area was free and fair and also urged the people in the locality to rely on the result of the election and cooperate with the leadership of the council for there to be speedy and meaningful development in the local government area.
Across The Nation
Chief Oseni Elamah, Executive Chairman Edo State Internal Revenue Service (left) in a tete-a-tete with a former governor of Ekiti State, Otumba Niyi Adebayo at a tax retreat organised at Ikogosi, Ekiti State by the Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue Service for its staff/judiciary
Ngige Assures Of Improved Power Supply
Cross section of lawyers during the visit to Oko Prison by the Chief Judge of Edo State Justice Cromwell Idahosa and members of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Edo State on Tuesday PHOTO: SOLOMON ENAIGBE
AWKA - Senator Chris Ngige, Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Power and Steel, has assured that there will be improvement in power supply across the country soon. The senator, representing Anambra Central District, gave the assurance while fielding questions from newsmen in Awka on Tuesday. According to him, the Independent Power Plant (IPP) programme being carried out by government is aimed at alleviating the suffering of Nigerians over the epileptic power supply in the country. The senator assured that the IPP programmes would save small and medium scale industries from closing shops.
LG Boss Pledges To Deliver On Dividends Of Democracy By AUDU ADAMA
FUGAR – The chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Momoh has assured
indigenes of the local government that the present crop of political representatives at the council’s secretariat will deliver the dividend of democracy which will impart positively on the
lives of the people during their tenure in office. Hon. Momoh gave this assurance during a thanksgiving ceremony organized in his honour at the Redeem Christian Church of God Fugar while giving his testimony on the last
Kebbi Poly Commences Academic BIRNIN KEBBI - Kebbi Activities Inmanagement October Government on Tuesday said of the polytechnic the state polytechnic located in Dakin-Gari, Suru Local Government Area, would commence academic activities in October. Alhaji Ruwa Dakin-Gari, the Commissioner for Science and Technical Education, said this in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi. He said that the polytechnic would commence academic programmes with 120 students enrolled for Pre-National Diploma programmes. He said that the ministry had directed contractors at the site
to complete their projects within the stipulated period to enable the institution to fully commence academic activities. He said the state government had appointed principal officers for the institution, adding that the management had been mandated to commence recruitment of academic and non academic staff for the existing vacancies. The commissioner called on the host community to cooperate with the
for academic, social and economic advancement of the area. He also called on qualified candidates to apply for admission. Newsmen report that the establishment of the polytechnic has brought the number of higher institutions in the state to four. Kebbi has two universities, state and federal and same number of polytechnics, the Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi and the newly-established polytechnic in Dakin-Gari.
local government elections in the area. Hon. Momoh told the people in the locality that the way of the Lord is the right direction towards success and progress in life. He prayed for the repose of all those who lost their lives during the electioneering campaign and also used the opportunity to debunk insinuations that he took part in the killings of those who lost their lives adding that, he had no hand either directly or indirectly in the death of those persons that were killed. “I never took part in the killings either directly or indirectly. It was my enemies who vowed that I will never be made the council chairman”, he said. Hon. Momoh however enjoined all to assist in the development of the local government despite the daunting challenges, stressing that his victory was not based
on any act of cultism adding that “I am not a cult member and will never subscribe to it because cultism is evil.” The local government boss also stated that he got the peoples’ mandate to be Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Council. The ceremony which coincided with the launching of the Appeal Fund for the building of the children’s church was witnessed by dignitaries across the state including commissioners Barrister Donald Osikhena Boih of Lands and Survey Ministry and Chief Lucky James of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Johnson Oghuma of the Edo State House of Assembly, Chief Gani Audu, Chief Akihigbe Alemoh, Chairman of Local Government Areas in Edo North Senatorial District including that of Igueben Local government Area, Hon. Julius Asemota.
Ngige assured that Awka residents would soon begin to enjoy improved power supply with the new transmission line at Agu-Awka power station coming on stream. He said that the Agu-Awka power station, a new transmission line in Anambra, was already being test-ran for the past three weeks, and would be officially commissioned soon. “This is part of the Independent Power Plant (IPP) programme of the Federal Government on the power sector. “What we have in Agu-Awka power station is a new transmission line under a test run and that explains why in the past three weeks major parts of the state capital have been enjoying uninterrupted power supply,’’ Ngige said. He said that it had helped to reduce transformers’ overloading in the state capital and improved power supply to the neighbouring communities of Nibo, Mbaukwu, Umuawulu and Amawbia towns of Awka South Local Government Area. “When the issue of IPP and transmission lines were being put in the front burner at the National Assembly, OnitshaNnewi commercial areas were also included as well as Enugu and Abakaliki. “So that of the state capital has come on stream and I am happy to tell you that this is one of my constituency programmes for Anambra Central District,’’ he said. He said that the senate probe on power and Nigeria Customs Services over the auctioned imported 21 containers had yielded dividend and Awka was one of the beneficiaries. Ngige lamented that no fewer than 16,000 small scale and over 20,000 medium and large scale industries had closed business due to failure in the power sector in the South East Zone since 1999.
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Lagos Lesser Hajj
Lagos Bars Aged, Pregnant Women By RAHEEM IBRAHIM
LAGOS - The Lagos State Government has barred pregnant women, aged people, children, people with terminal diseases like cancer, stroke and others from taking part in this year’s hajj. Following the Coronavirus discovered in Saudi Arabia and parts of the Middle East and Asia which these selected people are more susceptible to, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, at an emergency news conference at the weekend said Nigerians travelling to Saudi Arabia must take precautionary measures in order not to contract the disease. He said pregnant women, children, aged people, those with serious ailments like cancer, stroke and others, should not embark on the journey to Saudi Arabia for hajj as they were highly at risk. Idris stated that pregnant women and others who had already paid for the hajj should have their money refunded to them so that they could stay back home. The commissioner added that Coronavirus had not been found in any state in Nigeria yet, saying Nigerian pilgrims were asked to take precautionary measures since the virus has been found in Asia, particularly in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Idris likened the new virus to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), that ravaged the world some years back, urging the vulnerable group not to embark on the lesser or the full hajj, and reiterated his earlier call on the people to observe a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene in order to reduce the risk of infection. He called on the people to suspect Coronavirus in people that develop acute respiratory illnesses with a history of recent travel to areas where the virus has been reported. The commissioner added that though the World Health Organisation, WHO, was not restricting movement to the affected countries, as it is still studying the virus with a view to unravelling its nature and how best to deal with it, it became necessary for the state to feel concerned because of the large number of people who usually attend the pilgrimage from the state. He said the Saudi Arabian authorities had also tried to put some measures in place to avoid its spread by advising vulnerable people such as the elderly, pregnant women, children and people with chronic lung infections as well as stroke not to embark on the pilgrimage. Coronavirus spread has not been extensively studied by health experts but it has been confirmed that it could be transmitted easily from one
person to another through coughing and sneezing, close contact such as touching or shaking the hands of an infected person, and touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes after touching contaminated objects or surfaces. Human Coronavirus usually causes mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illnesses and could progress to severe respiratory illness and pneumonia particularly, in the aged, young and already ill people, while its symptoms include running nose, sore throat, shortness of breath and fever. Health experts say there is no specific treatment for illnesses caused by Coronavirus. Most people with Coronavirus will recover on their own and they may require supportive treatment which include staying at home, resting and drinking a lot of fluids.
However, those that progressed to severe distress will need to be admitted into the hospital for specialised care. Overall, 90 people in the Middle East have contracted the virus, with 45 of them already dead. Of the 90 people infected with the virus, 70 of them are in Saudi Arabia and 38 of them have died. With over 70,000 Nigerians intending to travel to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj and Umrah, there are fears that many of them could contract the disease, which is highly communicable. Idris also urged those who would be going on the pilgrimage to also get vaccinated against viruses like Meningitis because it is a virus that thrives where many people mingle, saying this explained why the Saudi authorities were insistent on would-be pilgrims taking the vaccine.
Lagos Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, at the inauguration of e-ticketing for Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) in Lagos recently.
Govt Donates Ambulance, Other Allied Equipment
By RAHEEM IBRAHIM LAGOS - The Lagos State Government has donated a mobile intensive care unit ambulance and allied equipment such as Defibrillator, ECG Machine and Ventilator valued at millions of naira to the Creek Military Hospital, Ikoyi, for the enhancement of the unit in the hospital as well as improve their service delivery to the people of Lagos. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who made the donation on behalf of the government, stated that the donation is a demonstration of the state government’s resolve to support institutions that share common objectives and goals with the government in addressing the healthcare delivery system of the people of the state. “A lot of the equipment we are donating to the hospital including the multi-parameter cardiac monitor, ventilator, automated external defibrillator, pulse oximeter, portable echocardiogram machine and ECG machine are geared towards the development of the intensive care unit of the hospital based on the request of the authorities of the hospital”. Idris noted that the donation represents the state government’s collaborative drive with other sectors of the society to strengthen and improve social and health services to the people of the State. He added that the Ministry of Health will soon commence collaborative and partnership initiative with the hospital as well as other related health facilities in the state in disaster management and emergency
care. In his response, the Director of the Hospital, Brigadier General Napoleon Amarie commended the state government for the good gesture, stressing that the ambulance and indeed the donation will help improve health services delivery in the hospital, he stated. He assured that the hospital will utilize the ambulance effectively, adding that the hospital is not only open to any form of partnership with the Lagos State government but also ready to key into the various programmes of the Ministry of Health.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Hon. Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right), Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola (left) and others taking a ride from Marina to Tafawa Balewa with the new e-ticekt Card system during the launch of the New Lagos e-Ticketing System Card at the BRT Terminal, Marina, Lagos recently.
Breach Of Contract: Assembly Cautions By SURAJU RAJI
LAGOS - Lagos State House of Assembly has cautioned local government councils in Lagos State to desist from awarding contract not backed with fund. The House also advised the Local Councils to abide with the Local Government guideline. The resolutions were
adopted following the allegation leveled against Ifako - ijaiye Local government council for awarding contract without paying the contractor. Nigerian Observer gathered that the contractor – Olutech Aluminum, later secured bank loan to execute the contract.
Councils The Lagos Assembly therefore set up a 4-man ad hoc committee to look into the allegation brought against Ifako – Ijaiye council for failing to pay back the loan received by the contractor. Speaking, Hon. Segun Olulade representing Epe
Lesser Hajj: Lagos Begins Airlift By RAHEEM IBRAHIM
LAGOS - The Lagos State Government, through the State’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has commenced the airlifting of 91 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the Year 2013 Umrah (lesser hajj). In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims
Welfare Board, Alhaji Sanusi Kamal Adewale, the pilgrims were airlifted to the Holy Land by Air Jordan, the chosen official carrier for the state pilgrims for the Year 2013 Umrah. The board while informing the pilgrims on the outbreak of SARS disease in Saudi Arabia, implored them to always put on nose mask during the pilgrimage, which
has been provided for them especially when they are in a crowded environment. It therefore enjoined all the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and wished them a successful performance of Umrah in the holy land. It will be recalled that the Board had earlier organised a one day seminar for the intending pilgrims.
consistency 2, who is also the chairman house committee on information, strategy and security, disclose that each Local Government should forward their debt profile to the House. He added that by going to bank to borrow money, the Local Government will leave debt for oncoming Local government administration in future. In his own submission, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu representing Agege consistency1 said Local Government can obtain loan if it gets approval. In the same vein, Hon. Mudashiru Egberongbe representing Apapa1, moved the motion that the recommendation of the committee should be adopted as the resolution of the House.
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Abuja Jonathan Tasks African Leaders On Development
ABUJA- President Goodluck Jonathan has charged African leaders to take more concrete steps towards fulfilling their commitment to improving trade and economic relations in the continent. The president gave the charge in Abuja, while receiving the outgoing Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, The president said that there
was an urgent need for African leaders to move beyond declarations of support for greater intra-African trade. He noted that African leaders must act in unison to overcome obstacles which currently hindered economic relations between the nations and people of the continent. Jonathan explained said that with the right political will and
commitment, African leaders could speedily overcome all obstacles to intra-African trade. He stated that if the problem of poor transportation link was addressed, there would be a significant boost in continental economic interaction for the benefit of countries and people. The former Bayelsa governor, assured that Nigeria would continue to spearhead and support efforts aimed at
promoting regional and continental economic integration. He added that existing cordial political relations between most African countries would be further enhanced by greater trade and economic relations amongst them. The president commended Ashipala-Musavyi for working diligently to boost bilateral
relations between Nigeria and Namibia during her tenure as a high commissioner. While wishing her success at her new post in the Namibian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Reports say that the president similarly commended Ghana’s outgoing High Commissioner to Nigeria, Alhaji Baba Kamara, who he also received at the Presidential Villa. Jonathan noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Ghana had been further strengthened in several areas during Kamara’s four-year tenure. He expressed the hope that the outgoing high commissioner’s
successor would continue his good work. “We must continue to build and strengthen the cordial relations between us. “We are the same people and colonial boundaries must not be allowed to keep us apart,’’ the president said. According to a report by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), of the over 200 projects registered last year, Nigeria had 42 projects with a value of almost 200 million dollars. The GIPC report listed China as being the only country ahead of Nigeria with 56 projects, during the period.
Nation’s Federal System Nwodo Calls
For Restructuring
L-R: Director, African Heritage Institution, Enugu, Dr. Ifediora Amobi; Study paper discussant, Dr. Ngozi Nwakaeze and representative of Enugu State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Ezechi, during the institution’s dissemination seminar in Enugu on Tuesday.
Umaru Dikko Heads PDP National Disciplinary C’ttee ABUJA- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a 7-man National Disciplinary Committee to be headed by Dr Umaru Dikko. This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tony Okeke. According to the statement, the constitution of the committee is in pursuant to the provisions of Articles 57 (1), (2), (3) of the party‘s constitution. The statement said that King A.J. Turner would serve as Deputy Chairman of the committee while Senator Emmanuel Agboti would serve as its Secretary. Other members of the committee include; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, Hajiya Nana Ayishat Kadiri and Alhaji Hussaini Diraki . The statement noted that the
committee would be inaugurated by the party‘s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur at a later date. Reports say that Dikko was a Special Political Adviser to President Shehu Shagari and also a one-time Minister of Transport in the second republic. He played prominent roles as transport minister and head of the presidential task force on rice in Shagari‘s administration. Dikko fled to London on exile when the Shagari administration was overthrown in a coup on December 31, 1983. It will also be recalled that the PDP, on July 26, inaugurated a 30-man reconciliation committee which was headed by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa to reconcile aggrieved members of the party.
ABUJAThe former Chairman of the defunct Progressives Action Congress (PAC), Chief Charles Nwodo, has called for the restructuring of the nation’s federal system to fast-track development. Nwodo told newsmen in Abuja that the restructure was long overdue, and that it was unfortunate that the National Assembly left out the fundamental issues confronting the nation in the ongoing constitution review. He said, “For the issue of restructuring to be avoided, showed that we are not ready to resolve the fundamental problems that had been threatening our cooperate existence as a nation. “The issues of ethnicity,
Onyema; Executive Director, Market Operations Technology, Ade Bajomo and Executive Director, Business Development, Haruna Jalo-Waziri, at a forum on New Trading Possibilities in Lagos on Tuesday
FG Alerts 14 States On Imminent expected to be flooded in these Flooding states. The ministry appealed to
ABUJA- The Federal Ministry of Environment, has warned that heavy rainfall which may result in flooding is expected in 14 states from July 30 to August 6, in the northern part of the country, the Federal Ministry of Environment announced in Abuja on Monday.
According to a statement, states are Benue, Kebbi, Gombe, Zamfara, Yobe, Jigawa, Borno, Katsina, Bauchi, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Taraba and Adamawa. Many towns are also
government and people of the prone areas to take all necessary precautionary measures to avoid any disaster. It added that adherence to similar warnings in the past had saved lives and property.
regions and religion have been the major problems confronting Nigeria as a nation. The issue of leadership is another problem that ought to have been raised and resolved in the ongoing constitution review.” Nwodo stated that the expectation of Nigerians was that the Senate Committee on constitution review would use the opportunity to resolve these differences and proffer lasting solutions to them in order to move the country forward. “Today, the local government autonomy has suffered a serious setback in the hands of the Senate for reasons not known to Nigerians. “If there is no autonomy for local government councils, then there is no need for retaining them as the third tier of government,” Nwodo said. He also called for the establishment of a constitutional court to handle all constitutional matters rather than leaving them for conventional courts to handle. According to him, the establishment of a constitutional court has become necessary due to too many controversies surrounding the nation’s federal structure. He said the restructuring would also go a long way in addressing the problem of overlapping functions of some government agencies, parastatals agencies and even in some ministries. He explained that there was no clear cut responsibility among some of the agencies, even in the area of revenue allocation. Nwodo also called for the strengthening of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to enable it perform optimally. “It is unfortunate that FCC has been operating on paper, it has not really shown serious implementation of its programmes and policies for Nigerians to see. “How many employment has been witnessed by Nigerians that is based on FCC in the past and in recent time?” he asked. However, he warned that a situation where mediocrity outweighed merit was not good enough for a country like Nigeria, as it could only lead to under development.
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Crime News N900, 000 Theft:
Driver Arraigned
LAGOS - A 33-year-old former driver of CY Incorporated Ltd., Usman Garba, has appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, over an alleged theft of N900, 000. Garba, who lives around Lagos Island, is standing trial on a onecount charge of theft. The prosecutor, Cpl. Emmanuel Ajayi, told the court that Garba committed the offence on July 19, at Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos. Ajayi alleged that the accused
stole the said that amount, while driving the company’s articulated vehicle with registration number LSR 611XB. “The accused, who delivers goods for the company, stole the money from the trips he embarked on from Lagos to Onitsha. “He was, however, arrested in Cross River on a tip off by the police and brought down to Lagos for arraignment,’’ the prosecutor said. Ajayi said that the offence was contrary to Section 285 of the
LAGOS - The police have arraigned a 23-year -old apprentice, Emmanuel Oyegbenga before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing ladies cosmetics belonging to one Mrs. Lillian Ashimolowo. Gbenga, who lives at No. 10, Ramat, St., Ogudu, Lagos, is facing a-count-charge of stealing. Police prosecutor, Cpl. Adekemi Adeniran, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 11 at No. 11, Alhaji Amao St., Ogudu, Lagos State. She explained that the accused was an apprentice to the complainant, Mrs. Ashimolowo, at her shop located at the above address. “The accused was caught when a lady, Mary Ikeme, passed in front of the shop and complained that the Amingos weavon he sold to her was not as full as it should be. “The complainant was compelled to take her stocks,’’ she said. Adeniran said that four cake powder, valued at N36,000, two foundations valued at N18,000, four lipsticks valued at N4,000, and six eye shadow valued at N10,800 were missing. “Six lip gloss valued at N1, 200, six eye pencils N1,200, two puff powder valued at N1,200,
N75,000, 12 weavons valued at N54,000, all totaling N186, 700 were also missing.’’ She said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The offence carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment. He however pleaded not guilty. The magistrate, Mrs. Oluwadamilola Olanipekun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. The court however adjourned the case to Aug.26 for mention.
L - R: FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 6, Assistant Corps Marshal Yakubu Attah; Guest Lecturer, Gina Daka-Osika and FRSC Zonal Head of Administration and Human Resource, Deputy Corps Commander, Pat Emordi, at a workshop on Public Enlightenment and Education Strategies in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
ABUJA - Two men, Godfrey Ebohin, 34, and Sunday Inarume, 27, were have been arraigned before a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja for criminal force and assault and mischief. The police prosecutor, Cpl. Emmanuel Adiku, told the court that Mrs Phyllis Ogah of No. 9 Ganges Street, Maitama, Abuja, reported the case at the Maitama Police Station, Abuja on July 26. Adiku said the accused persons went to Ogah’s apartment and forcibly removed her property and in the process her flowering plant was destroyed.
He said that when Ogah approached the accused to enquire the reason for their actions, they assaulted and injured her on the right hand. The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 265 and 327 of the Penal Code. If convicted under these sections of the Code, the accused could be imprisoned for a maximum of four years or fined or be punished with both. However, Ebohin and Inarume pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them. Their counsel, Mr Charles Okoye, prayed the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms.
Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty
to the charge. The magistrate, A.A. Famobiwo, granted him bail in
the sum N100, 000 with one surety. She adjourned the case to Aug.
2 for trial. The offence carries three years imprisonment.
Man, 23, Docked Over eye lashes valued at N1,500, Cosmetics six one make-up box valued at
Assault:
Receiving Stolen Property
Police Arraign 2 Men Okoye said that the offences for which his clients were charged, were bailable, adding that Section 36 of the Nigeria Constitution “presumes an accused innocent until proven otherwise’’.
He said that his clients would provide reasonable sureties and would not jump the bail if granted. The Magistrate, Mrs Nafisat Ibrahim, granted each of the accused persons bail in the sum
of N50, 000 with a surety each in like sum. Ibrahim said that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case to Aug. 15 for hearing.
LAGOS - A 53-year-old man, John Otarimono, has appeared before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged theft of
N370,000 under the pretext of supplying rice. Otarimono, who resides at No. 31, Olaiya St., Sabo, Ojo, Lagos,
is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing. The Prosecutor, ASP Godwin Eze, told the court that the accused pretended to be a rice distributor to defraud a trader, Mrs Joy Olasunkanmi, at 10a.m., on June 8, at the Iyana-Iba Market, Ojo, Lagos. Eze said that Olasunkanmi gave the sum to the accused as part-payment for supply of 80 bags of rice. The prosecutor told the court that the accused absconded with the money for weeks until he was apprehended at his hideout at Tipper Garage, Okokomaiko, Lagos. He said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail by Magistrate Taslimi Shomade in the sum of N370, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Shomade adjourned the case to Aug. 19 for mention. eports that Section 285 prescribes a penalty of three years imprisonment for stealing.
Man Arraigned Over Alleged Rice Fraud
Police Charges 32Yr-Old Man ABUJA - The police have arraigned a 32- year–old man, Abdu-Raheem Lukman, in an Abuja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly receiving stolen property. The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Francis Tanko, told the court that Cpl. Ochokwunu Ifu, attached to Wuse police station, arrested the accused, of shop No 4, Wooden Complex, Gwagwalada, Abuja. Ifu said that the accused allegedly bought two stolen Lister engines, valued at N32,000, from one Abdullahi Lukman, of Giri village, Abuja, but were later recovered from him. Tanko said the offence
contravened the Provisions of Section 319 of Penal Code Law. The offence carries maximum imprisonment of a five-year jail term or with fine or with both. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty and denied the allegation against him. “My Lord I didn’t know it was a stolen engine.’’ Senior Magistrate Abdul-Aziz Anka granted the accused person bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety in a like sum. Anka ordered that the surety must be 35 year- old and must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction. The case was, however, adjourned till Aug. 14.
L - R: Professor and Chair, Department of Africana and Latino studies, City University, New York, Prof. Ehiedu Iweriebor; representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Kabiru Garba and Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Tukur Ingawa, at a Public Lecture on Nigeria’s March to Nationhood in Abuja on Tuesday.
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Across The Nation Heavy Rainfall Wreaks Havoc
Anambra Guber Aspirant Backs LG AWKA - A gubernatorial process. Autonomy aspirant in Anambra state Mr. “Our interest should be to Emmanuel Nweke, has lauded the House of Representatives for voting in favour of local government autonomy in the constitution amendment. Nweke, who is aspiring on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Awka the state capital . According to him, the lower chamber has once again demonstrated strength and character as the true representatives of the masses. “The autonomy of the local government is a prerequisite for real development at the grassroots,‘’ he said. The aspirant urged state governors to support the autonomy, adding that it would ensure the sustenance of democracy in the country. “LG autonomy is the only way to true development at the grassroots, which was the major reason for creating the third tier of government. “There should not be a second thought to granting full autonomy to the councils. The house position is very commendable. I stand behind them solidly. People should be thinking about strengthening the democratic
elect credible candidates to pilot the affairs of the councils at that level. They should be people with high integrity and of impeccable character,’’ he said. On the impending council polls in Anambra, Nweke complained that the time frame was short. He maintained that council election was a serious business that could not be planned and executed in six months as it would not give the masses enough time to evaluate the aspirants. The aspirant stressed the need to focus more attention on the gubernatorial election holding in November rather than the council polls.
Police Sieze Arms Cache, Foil Bank Attack In Rivers
PORT HARCOURT - The police in Rivers said in Port Harcourt that it seized a cache of arms in a special operation carried out in Ahoada Local Government Area of the state. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu, told newsmen that the arms were seized after the police foiled an attack on two bullion vans belonging to a first generation bank. He said that the suspects
Police Confirm 6 Dead In “Only God will save us in Kano Blast this Kano.’’
KANO - The police in Kano have confirmed six people dead and six others injured in a Monday evening blast in Sabongari area of the city. The commissioner of police in Kano State, Alhaji Musa Daura, told newsmen that the explosion occurred at a bar, where people also played snooker. Reports say that three loud explosion rocked the scene immediately after the .Muslim night prayers and soon after the blasts, there was sporadic shooting in the area. Residents within the vicinity of the incident made frantic telephone calls to confirm the whereabouts of their relations. Mrs Ngozi Eze of Yoruba Road, some distance away from the scene, asked: “what is this again when we thought everything had died down?
Member, representing Bogoro constituency, Ms Rifkatu Danna (3rd-R), With Imams and district heads of Bogoro LGA, during the distribution of foodstuffs for Ramadan in Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State on Tuesday
The blast shook the foundations of many buildings near the spot, where the blast occurred.
had attempted to rob the bullion vans before security operatives intervened. Mbu said that a suspect during interrogation confessed to the crime and thereafter revealed their arms cache. The commissioner said the command seized two General Purpose Machine guns with 593 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, and eight AK-47 rifles with 1635 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition. Others were six AK-49 rifles, G3 rifle, two Pump Action guns, 22 locally made guns, 182 live cartridges, two gas cylinders and two
welding pipes. “One Volvo saloon car, Delta SAP 25 AE; one Mercedes 190E, Akwa Ibom AA 848 RNN and one Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, Ogun OGE 288AH were also recovered. “We have also arrested a suspect who specialises on changing car plate numbers with the intention of deceiving security agents,” he said. Mbu said that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in a separate operation, seized 30 bags of Indian hemp, 64 wraps of Indian hemp, 10 litres of gunpowder and 38 wraps of cocaine.
Similarly, Mbu said the police recovered and seized 38 firearms, 2,631 rounds of ammunition, 182 cartridges and 75 magazines in its operations in July. He said the police also arrested 88 armed robbery suspects and 16 suspected kidnappers and recovered six vehicles, including motorcycles, during the month. Mbu said that the Police Command in the state had adopted a more robust and advanced method of carrying out its operations and added that the strategy was yielding results.
A cross-section of people in Bogoro LGA queing during the distribution of foodstuffs for Ramadan in Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State on Tuesday
BAUCHI - A heavy rainfall in Bauchi that lasted from 4pm to 7pm has evening caused flooding in some areas of the town and submerged some houses and roads. Places worst affected by the flood were Fadaman Mada, Yelwa, Gwallaga, GRA and Palace Road. At Fadaman Mada area, residents were seen trying to remove water from their apartments, while some motorcyclists who tried to ply the flooded highways, fell into the fast-moving flood. Some on-lookers had to intervene to rescue some of the cyclists who struggled to get out of the water to avoid drowning. Malam Ibrahim Hambali, a resident of Fadaman Mada, told newsmen that he was in the office when his wife telephoned to inform him that their apartment had been overtaken by flood. “I quickly rushed home after the rain had ceased, only to discover that my entire property had been soaked and my family, helpless,” he said. Another resident, Usman Osculator, whose residence was flooded for the second time, appealed to the appropriate authorities to construct additional drains in the area. He also called for the expansion of the existing ones to cope with the volume of water that usually accompanied heavy r5ains. Contacted on the development, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Mohammad Damina, and the Chairman, State Emergency Operation Team, Alhaji Inuwa Bello, said they had yet to receive reports of any mishap. “The rainfall was massive as such I will not be surprised if casualties were recorded. But for now, we are yet to receive any report of mishap. ” said Bello. However, Malam Tata Balarabe, Bauchi State Director of Fire Service, told newsmen that his men rescued someone that got drowned in a large culvert close to Bauchi Investment Company. “The heavy water current was almost taking away the man when my men arrived at the scene after receiving a distress call. “He was eventually rescued and taken to the hospital and as at the time my staff left, he was still alive,” he said.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Economy
Will Wonder Banks Ever Go Away? CHARLES Ponzi the Italian-born U.S-based fraudster made Ponzi Schemes, named after him, popular in 1920 even though he was not the first to practice it. The schemes, similar to the wonder banks in Nigeria, were operated using the same principles as present day Nigerian “Wonder Banks”. They are typically fraudulent in operations and pay returns to investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from profit earned by the individual or company. Using his company, the Securities Exchange Company, Ponzi promoted the scheme. He hired agents and paid them generous commissions for every dollar they brought in. By February 1920, his total take was $5,000 (approximately $54,000 in 2010 dollars), By May 1920 he had made $420,000 ($4.53million in 2010 terms. Bernard .L. Madoff, who is presently serving a 150year prison sentence for similar fraud. created a $65billion commercial empire using the same principles. Madoff promised his clients double-digit returns on their investments. He never made any investments. Instead, he paid existing clients with new investors money. In the end, the scheme burst bringing down thousands of traumatized investors. Umanah raised the profile of Wonder Banks in Nigeria in 1992. He left many victims impoverished after his Ponzi scheme failed. When he was arrested for running the illegal scheme, about N77MiIlion was recovered from him. He claimed then that the amount he left in the three houses where security operatives found the cash, was actually three times more. Depositors were
paid 50% of their initial investments. Umanah was never prosecuted and the discrepancies in the reported recoveries were never accounted for. There were several other schemes after him in Jos, Onitsha, Lagos and other cities around Nigeria. Claims by investors, who
By SYLVESTER AKELE
it is obviously a fraud. Usually, when a Ponzi scheme is not stopped the promoter vanishes, taking away all the investment money. As the scheme requires a continuous stream of investments to fund higher returns, a drop
some regulatory authorities, some commercial banks may be encouraging such illegal schemes by giving credibility to the operations. They are said to do so by collecting the depositors funds and not
illegal. The authorities, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the SEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), have a duty to
in new investments makes it to collapse as the promoter cannot pay promised returns, and a liquidity problem is triggered. External forces, such as economic decline, as in the case of the Madoff scheme can also cause depositors to make withdrawals, thereby triggering off’ a liquidity problem for the operator. Efforts have been on by the regulatory authorities to stem the tide of wonder banks as they are popularly called in Nigeria. According to
raising the necessary alarm. What has happened to the Know-YourCustomer (KYC) rule? Fraudulent registered Fund Managers who do not register such schemes may also be responsible for the growing trend in wonder bank operations. To what extent is the surveillance machinery of the SEC and other financial sector regulators being used to track down illegal schemes by registered fund managers? The operations of wonder banks are clearly
collaborate and reduce the prevalence of wonder banks. Perhaps, this can be done by an aggressive enforcement regime and a well articulated enlightenment programme targeted at investors. I have seen a pamphlet published by the SEC. It says ‘Beware of Investment Scam (V wonder Banks)”. The pamphlet explains what wonder banks are, how investors should respond to them. It finally gives a warning. It has also been reported that there is an
• Sanusi, CBN Governor
have been defrauded total over 560.882 valued at over N106.9hillion as a result of the operations of over 440 illegal companies recently. It would be much higher now. Nospecto Oil and Gas Ltd., one of the illegal Fund Managers was reported to have accounted for 48 percent of these claims. Investors in these schemes often make representations to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial (runes Commission (EFCC), not realizing that their greed’ got them involved with illegal and unregistered operators and illegal schemes. Investors should know that when a scheme has high investment returns with little or no risk, has overly consistent returns and is unregistered,
inter-agency committee that has been set up to attack the problem. We need more visibility and impact of the committee’s activities. The US SEC, for example. prosecutes many Ponzi Schemes every year, both to prevent new cases and to recover investors assets. There are several cases of investments payments often trigger investments that are not registered. Without registration, information about the companies, products, services and finances cannot be ascertained. Its focus is also on unlicensed sellers, secretive and complex strategies. The absence of necessary information for investors as well as complaints and difficulties in receiving payments often trigger investors There is no doubt that the wonder bank phenomenon can be a difficult one for the authorities to handle. For the reason that their activities contribute to investor loses and trauma, even though it is the investors greed that lead them on, the authorities have a duty to remove illegal operators from the system and ensure that investors and the general public are adequately, informed. Will Wonder Banks ever go away? I doubt as long as greed never goes away. The Wonder Banks” have always been around and in every economy but we can minimize their activities and impact. • Mr. Akele, CEO Soakel Consulting Limited, wrote from Abuja.
“Efforts have been on by the regulatory authorities to stem the tide of wonder banks as they are popularly called in Nigeria. According to some regulatory authorities, some commercial banks may be encouraging such illegal schemes by giving credibility to the operations.”
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 LIKE the tortoise who always finds a place in any interesting African proverb, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has remained at the centre of misappropriation, corruption, mindless stealing of huge national resources, opacity and indiscretion in all audits of the Oil and Gas sector, yet, not enough effort has been made to stem the thieving and losses of incomes from the sector considered the nation’s economic mainstay. ONLY on Monday, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), disclosed that the country lost over $11bn to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism between 2009 and 2011. The Chairman, NEITI, Mr. Ledum Mitee, made the disclosure at the public presentation of the organisation’s audit reports for the oil and gas sector for the period, 2009 to 2011, and the solid minerals sector audit for the period, 2007 to 2010. THE report, which was compiled by NEITI auditors, highlighted the transaction and revenue flows between government agencies and international oil companies operating in the country. According to the report, more than 136 million barrels of crude oil estimated at $10.9bn have been lost to theft and sabotage within the period under review. We are alarmed that NEITI uncovered a disparity of N175.9bn between the subsidy claims paid from the Federation Account and the one made by the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency. It is worrisome to learn that “the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation reported to NEITI auditors a total subsidy payment of N2.825tn, while the PPPRA disbursed N3tn to marketers during the same period. IT is worrisome that “some marketers disagreed with the amount ascribed to them by the PPPRA, especially in 2010, when a marketer claimed N2.56bn as fuel subsidy. The PPPRA recorded payment of N1.5bn, leaving an un-reconciled difference of N1.04bn.” WE also find as shameful from the audit that N8.173bn, being over-recovery collected from
THE NIGERIAN
2009-2011 NEITI Audit Report some oil marketers, had yet to be remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC and two other companies, just as we find very disturbing the reported revenue loss by the Federal Government of over $1.7bn (N264.79bn) following the nonrenewal of Memoranda of Understanding between the Joint Venture companies and the NNPC is reprehensible. Little wonder, therefore, that the NNPC through share negligence and unpatriotic spirit allowed the JVs to transact businesses with expired MoUs since 2008 till date. WE also find extremely disturbing NEITI’s discovery of a situation where there was no agreed pricing methodology between NNPC and the companies for the determination of fiscal values for royalty and Petroleum Profit Tax computations. EQUALLY distasteful is the revelation by the report that all refineries are operating below their installed capacities, resulting in a situation whereby 80 per cent of crude oil allocated to local refineries are being exported for off-shore processing, crude oil and product exchange. We recall that for over three decades Nigerians have continued to wonder why the nation’s refineries have been unable to refine products for local consumption and for exports, leading to the disturbing expenditure of huge revenues importing the refined products. Sadly, there are workers in these refineries earning fat salaries monthly and the Federal Government spends billions of dollars on Turn Around Maintenance of non-functioning refineries. IT is for these reasons we find the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s verbal query on the Group Managing Director of the NNPC,
Mr. Andrew Yakubu, over the non-remittance of about N8bn into the Federation Account most welcome and timely. However, we urge the minister to take yet another step by committing the verbal query into writing and if his response is unsatisfactory, the GMD should be fired along with all officials connected thereto. WHILE we recognise the plethora of challenges buffeting the Oil and Gas sector of the country, we note that the recommendations of NEITI over the years have assumed this same approach of unearthing corruption and mismanagement of incomes and resources, yet nothing happens to perpetrators. We call on the Federal Government to bring all erring officers and corporate citizens indicted by the NIEIT Audits to justice and recover all monies that may have been diverted vide corrupt practices. ALSO, we call on the Federal Government to compel the NNPC authorities to remit the sum of N4.423bn, being over-recovery collected from some marketers, which is yet to be remitted to the Federation Account, while the NNPC and two indicted companies be made to refund N3.715bn, being over-recovery for the period under review. WE call the Federal Government, to take steps to compel the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the NNPC and all Department and Agencies of Government connected to oil revenue management to urgently implement the recommendations of the NEITI Audit as previous recommendations have gone unattended hence, the continued recycling of some of the recommendations. FINALLY, the audit revelations have further exposed the need for the urgent passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill which seeks to unbundle the NNPC and drive reforms in the sector and plug all loopholes that have been responsible for the deep laceration of nation’s oil sector since the commercial exploitation of oil and Gas in the country. We therefore call on the National Assembly to expedite the clause by clause consideration of the PIB with a view to ensuring an urgent passage.
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Impact Of Infidelity On Marriage
WHEN a marriage is affected by an affair or infidelity, it can be like dropping a pebble into water. The ripples of devastation grow wider and wider and can last literally for generations. Thus, as couples who want to have extraordinary marriages, it would be wise to learn about infidelity, what happens, and why, and then find out what YOU can do to keep your marriage affair-free. To understand how affairs start, a couple needs to understand a few key concepts. Envision the love of a marriage like a campfire. First there is a time and place for marriage just as there is a time and place for a campfire. It’s made in the fire pit and rocks are put around the fire to protect it. You don’t do a campfire during dry season, during the rain, or in wind near grass as there is a chance that the fire could go “out of control.” And it’s the same for a marriage. Marriage is for people who make a very serious commitment to each other (a covenant) and then put rocks in place to protect the fire. Next, there are actions a person can do to build the fire–call those Love Kindlers. When people first start dating, they spend every free moment together, they get to know each other and talk long into the night, they do fun activities together and laugh together, they send each other love notes or buy silly stuffed animals or write poems, and they are attracted to each other and express that physically (usually with holding hands, kissing, hugging, and some degree of making out). These are actions that kindle love and make the fiery passions of love
By DAVID AND CINDY J. TAYLOR
blaze! BUT there are actions that a person can do to put out the fire too–call those Love Extinguishers. Some are like a little drip from the bottom of a holey bucket…some are like pouring a bucket of water on the fire…and some are like dumping a swimming pool! However, if a bucket had enough small holes and the water constantly dripped and drizzled onto the fire, that fire would never be able to blaze would it? Some common Love Extinguishers are things like never really severing that tie with mom and dad, angry explosions (attacking your spouse), being critical or judgmental (finding fault with everything your spouse does), keeping score, treating your spouse like it’s “your way or the highway”, holding an error over their head forever, being a bottomless pit (enough is never enough), or growing too comfortable (neglectful, taking your spouse for granted). So let’s follow a typical married couple through their relationship. They meet when they are young and either through friendship or attraction, they have some interest in each other–they catch each other’s eye or there is a very initial, little spark. They are trying to maybe start a love fire! So to the little spark, he adds a love poem, flirts with her, and gets her a little gift (adding Love Kindlers); she flirts with him, admires his muscles, and takes the time to get dressed up to see him (more kindlers). Pretty soon they are dating and keep adding more and
more Kindlers like he’s finishing his degree in a
her face goo all over the bathroom and she had no idea he squeezed
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Relationship With IMOISILI EDITH 07089364470
the baby. She’s always too tired for sex every night but they still have some, and well…she gained a little
so she nags. She wants some romance, hugs and kisses and gets pecks or demands for sex. She
“These are actions that kindle love and make the fiery passions of love blaze! BUT there are actions that a person can do to put out the fire too–call those Love Extinguishers. Some are like a little drip from the bottom of a holey bucket…some are like pouring a bucket of water on the fire…and some are like dumping a swimming pool!”
good field so he’ll have a good job…and she touches him and kisses him and physically wants him. And after a year of nothing but Love Kindlers, they are so deeply in love they can’t see straight and he proposes–they’re getting married. After the wedding, a small Love Extinguisher or two pops up. He had no idea she left
toothpaste in the middle! She isn’t the greatest cook and he doesn’t help with chores. So that first year or so after the wedding is an adjustment but they also keep up all the Love Kindlers so they still feel really in love. Then in year two she tells him, she’s pregnant. They have their son and she spends a lot of time with
“To understand how affairs start, a couple needs to understand a few key concepts. Envision the love of a marriage like a campfire. First there is a time and place for marriage just as there is a time and place for a campfire. It’s made in the fire pit and rocks are put around the fire to protect it.”
weight but she lost about half of it. Meanwhile he’s feeling the pressure to provide for a family, so he starts working two jobs. When he is home, he’s tired and wants to relax by watching TV. They don’t do fun things together or talk as often, and she misses that so she says something, and they argue because he feels like she’s blaming him. Then in year four she’s pregnant again and this time it’s a daughter. She doesn’t lose any of the baby weight and in fact, she’s stopped even trying to wear nice clothes– just wears sweats and a tee shirt with her hair up in a knot. She wants him to help and he “never does”
wants to sit up and talk all night with him, and he wants her to stop talking and leave him alone. He wants her to look up to him and admire his promotions but all she thinks of is the kids. He wants her to be the curvy sexy mama and she falls into bed exhausted. He wants to come home to a clean, quiet, well-maintained home and every night he comes home to a pile of bills, a messy house, and kids crying! More and more they argue, and lately, when they do, the words said are more spiteful, hurtful, and frankly hateful. To be continued
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Issues
What Nigeria Needs To Survive
THE behavior of some politicians over the years have brought shame on the battered image of the nation and their political rascality is overheating the polity and causing unnecessary anxiety, tension and political confusion in the country distracting the Federal government from performing their primary responsibility of securing the lives of the citizens and developing the nation.The current political tension been experienced in the nation has been attributed to the shameful exercise called election of Nigerian governors Forum (NGF) which has produced two faction led by Rotimi Amechi and Jona Jang of Rivers and Plateau State respectively. It spilled and gradually transformed into bigger crisis that now rock the Rivers State House of Assembly where our purported law makers became law breakers over night as pro and anti-Amechi faction engaged themselves in a free for all fight under the watchful eyes of the security agents while the media had a fill day recording the show of shame of our so called law makers, broadcasting the act to the world. Commenting on the political development of the nation, the former national Chairman of the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), a political analyst and commentator Dr. Dele Oluwatade examines issues arising and x-rays the political implication on the nation and the rule of law. He expresses shock at the level of lawlessness in the country as a result of the physical combat engaged in by our law makers who have now become law breakers. “Physical combat of this nature is gradually becoming a daily concurrent in the
nation and if not properly checked will spell doom for Nigeria as a nation. These various physical combat we see every day in our political stage between politicians, public servant, governors, one camp versus the other all centered around the selfishness and greed of the political class who engage in all these shameless act all in the name of representing their people, when in the actual fact they are representing their families, themselves and their pocket. Dr. Oluwatade said “the political hullabaloos we witness today are for the love of political office and goodies. The bible says the love of money is the root of all evil. The love of political position is the root of political gangsters, anarchy and diversion of focus.“Concerned authorities should ensure they put an immediate check on this ugly political development or else Nigeria should be prepared for the worst in 2015 general election. “Our politicians hardly find time to rest; they always want to be in the fore front and relevant in the system. Once they feel they are not relevant or have lost any political or juicy position, all they do next is to ferment trouble to create an impression that they are indispensable. As soon as they lose an election, they start discrediting those that won. And those that won instead of settling down to work start to prepare for the next election, tell me, why will there not be confusion and physical combat? How will they be able to work? How will they be able to serve the people well? ”Dr. Oluwatade puts the blame on the Military maintaining that they created 36 states, thereby creating employment for 36 governors, deputy
By RICHARD OKORO-EWEKA
governors, speakers of House of Assembly and the likes. This he said created a lot of employment opportunities for the politicians”. All manners of people are now politicians to fill political vacancies in 36 states and seven hundred and thirty six local government units , what else do we expect in our
states, by Nigeria’s mentality, USA should have at least two hundred states with the attendant wastage and chaos presently being experienced by Nigeria.“ The activities of the 36 gladiators (governors) will soon snuff out the breath out of the nostrils of this nation, there are too many powerful people in the
adviser to late General Sanni Abacha, Major Al-Mustapha, Dr. Oluwatade expressed dissatisfaction in the delay of the ruling saying the court of law ought not to wait for 14 years before giving a ruling on the issue. “From fundamental principles, Mustapha CANNOT be accountable to what happen in the regime of late head of state, late Genaral Sanni Abacha, he was just obeying orders. He was and still is a man under authority, which Fela referred to as ‘zombie’. “The Military is a discipline organization; junior officers cannot disobey orders from their superior officers, not to talk of a “major” and the number one citizen of the
Military according to statement from the Military Headquarters, he is still a serving soldier and not yet retired or dismissed from service. The Military knew he has not committed a crime against the state and whatever happens in his line of duty boiled down to loyalty to his boss.“Punishing AlMustapha will destroy the discipline in the Army and the loyalty enjoyed by senior officers will go down the drain as junior officers will quote this as a case study. For now, it is difficult for junior officers to disobey senior officers in the Army; this is the standard rule in the Military. There is hierarchy of responsibility and Mustapha
Gov Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers State
Gov Jonah Jang, Plateau State
political arena. The politicians are laying siege on the nation. “If we have eight (8) Regions, 8 governors in Nigeria, and six years single term, we will surely prevent this unnecessary political heat in the nation. The present political structure will kill this nation through exorbitant administrative over head cost and behaviours of people of all shades and character. USA is ten times the geographical size of Nigeria, she has fifty
nation. As a Chief security officer to the Head of State, he is under the orders of his boss; all he needs to do is to obey orders, nothing less, nothing more. Sgt. Banabas Roger that testifies against him in Oputa Panel that reveals the can of worms of the Abacha Regime has been set free despite the weight of the evidence because he was just obeying orders from his superior officer. What happens is not a judicial favour of any kind, his boss is the man to be asked or querried. He was merely obeying orders, and that is all.”On the issue making round that President Goodluck Jonathan has influenced Al-Mustapha’s case in order to settle the North, Dr. Oluwatade disagreed. He said AlMustapha is still in the
Society, it will certainly lead to more chaos. There is a definite need for a total restructuring of the nation’s political system. Our politicians should agree to an 8 zonal federation, this will reduce over head cost and clean up the system made up of all manner of politicians and the rascality we experience today will be a thing of the past”.Commenting on the release of former security
“There is a definite need for a total restructuring of the nation’s political system. Our politicians should agree to an 8 zonal federation, this will reduce over head cost and clean up the system made up of all manner of politicians and the rascality we experience today will be a thing of the past”.
by his actions was loyal that is why the Military did not dismissed and court marshal him. If he gets punished, it will cause a lot of disloyalty and indiscipline in the Military. The judgment is very good for the integrity of the Military and the hierarchy of responsibility intact and Army’s reputation still intact.“The Abiola’s family should accept the verdict and also appreciate the hierarchy of responsibility; they should know that Mustapha was just obeying orders of his boss. By this position, he is not guilty. In future, the Nigerian nation will apologize to them. The nation has a lot of apologies to tender to people who have been wronged or have suffered from one fate or the other.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Child Health & You Preventing Germs Spread At Home By HOPE OSHODIN
PREVENTING germs from spreading is generally a matter of concern to both parents and health care givers, as prevention they say is far better than cure. What are germs? Germs refer to the microscopic organisms (not seen with the eyes) such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa that can cause diseases. Germs can also be seen as tiny organisms that creep into our bodies and attack our immune system. Germs exist in the following forms, BACTERIA: they are living things that are neither plants nor animals, but belong to a group all by themselves, they are tiny, single celled organism that gets nutrients from their environments, in some cases that environment is your child or some other living being. Although it is not all bacteria that are harmful to us except for the pathogenic bacteria that is often spread through water and food. Bacteria spread and multiply itself very fast and they also cause troubles such as urinary tract infections or sore throat, bacteria can also cause fever. Children need to be monitored closely so that they don’t get infected with these harmful bacteria. Bacteria can be spread from children to children and from other humans through sneezing or coughing, animals (by their droppings or saliva), soil (this normally contains fungi when contaminated by droppings), water when contaminated by droppings, food that are not properly covered or protected, and rotten fruits. VIRUS: viruses cannot survive, grow and reproduce unless a person or an animal puts up rental spaces. Virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses can infect all types of living thing, children, adult, animal or plant. Viruses can only live for a very short time outside other living cells for example virus infected body fluids left on surfaces like countertops and toilet seat, can live there for a short time but quickly dies unless a living a host comes along. Viruses are responsible for minor sickness such as common cold, running nose and influenza. There are also herpes viruses which cause sores and genital herpes, viruses are also responsible for chicken pox and which when reactivated in the elderly cause pain on the skin. It should be noted that antibiotics are totally not effective against viruses, however several antiviral drugs have been produced but the best
way to curb and prevent virus infections is by proper and complete immunization and vaccination of children. FUNGI: they are multi celled plant like organisms, they get their food by absorbing nutrients from their surroundings, they also feed on plants and animals dung. The study of fungi is known as mycology. Mycology is a branch of biology that studies fungi. Fungi exist in various habitats including deep down the ocean, lake, rocks, deserts, very salty environments and areas of extremely high or low temperature. However the majority of fungi live on land, some fungi can be so important to humans. For instance fungi are used in food preparation. Yeast in food manufacturing is needed for fermentation of wines, beer and other alcoholic drinks, edible mushrooms are also very nutritious, there are also fungi that cause diseases called Pathogenic fungi. Mycosis can be divided into the following groups; Systematic Mycosis: this is a fungi infection that may reach any part of the body, including the brain and the heart, as well as the bloodstream. They usually enter via the lungs, gastro intestinal tract. An example is crytolociosis, mostly caused by pigeon droppings. Subcutaneous: the fungi permeates below the skin and infects the subcutaneous region (area just below the skin) , connective and bone tissue, these infections are usually chronic (long lasting) and occur when skins is pierced or wounded. They are most common in the tropic. Cutaneous: the infection is generally limited to the nonliving keratinized layers of the skin, hair and nails. No living tissue is invaded in this case. Examples are candidiasis of the skin, mucus membranes and nails. PROTOZOA: Theses are single celled organisms, many of which are able to move on their own. Protozoa are found as ubiquitous, free living organisms in the environment. They are classified as sporozoa (intracellular parasites) flagellates (which possess taillike structures for movement) amoeba (which moves using temporary cell body projection called pseudo pods) and ciliates (which move by beating multiple hair like structure called cilia). Infections caused by protozoa can spread through the injection of cyst (a membranous sac or cavity of abnormal character containing fluid), Protozoa love moisture,
so intestinal infections and other diseases they can cause are often spread through contaminated water. Protozoa infection can also be spread through sexual transmission or through insect vector. Other common infectious diseases caused by protozoa include malaria, giardia, and toxoplasmosis. WHAT DOES GERMS DO? Children while playing stumble into all kinds of dirt’s, dust and other places were germs could possibly be hiding. Children ought to be supervised when they are
causing sicknesses and spreading. It is particularly important that after coughing, nose blowing, after using the toilet, or after touching or playing with animals, pets or toys, before and after visiting a sick friend or relative, washing of hands should immediately follow. Hand washing prevents transfer of micro organisms from one person to another. Some person may want to hold or shake hands with kids after nose blowing or using the toilets. It is advisable to wash hands and tell kids to do same so as to wash off germs before going in contact with anyone; this prevents person to person transfer of germs. Washing of hands goes beyond putting
playing. Once children come in contact with germs (bacteria, fungi, virus, and potozoa) the germs invade their body tissue / pores and get ready to stay for a while, these germs draw up energy from their host (the infected child). They damage or destroy healthy cells as they use the child’s energy and nutrients. They may produce proteins known as toxins, some of which cause annoying symptoms of common cold, or flu such as catarrh and cough. They can also cause diarrhea but other toxins can cause high fever, increased heart rate, low blood pressure and even other life threatening illness. Simple ways to control germs Here are some effective practice that can help in preventing, controlling and reduce germs spread and contact. Hand Washing: The practice of hand washing and teaching kids how to wash their hands and is absolutely one of the way to stop germs from
water on your palm and rubbing them together, There is right way to wash hands, use warm water and plenty of soap, then rub hands together vigorously for at least 15 to 20 seconds, you may even want to sing a short song during the process to make sure you spend quality and enough time washing, after that rinse your hand with clean water and dry them thoroughly with a clean towel. When working in the kitchen, wash your hands from time to time. Cleaning: Cleanliness is next to Godliness as good hygiene and clean environment saves the family from the cost of germs and illness. Germs spread more in dirty environment. When children are prone to dust and live in bushy surroundings and stagnant water, germs carrier such as mosquitoes, rat and cockroaches etc move freely and when they come in contact with food, water or close to the skin of children it result to transfer of germs to their body. This could be prevented by regular cleaning of the
surrounding and clearing of bushes around our homes, ensuring that wastes are not left in the house or near the house for too long. Periodically wipe down frequently handled objects such as toys, door knobs, light switches, sink fixtures and flushing handles in the toilets. Sweep the house and compound daily as well as washing the dishes and other cooking utensils regularly. Soap and water are perfectly adequate for cleaning, if you like you may try using antiseptic soap, which can kill or reduce bacterial content on an object, you can also use bleach, avoid chemical sprays on the floor, spray and use of chemical may irritate skins and eyes of children, children must also be taught not to eat food or snacks that fell off the plate onto the floor, they must also be
usually given free in all centers and everywhere in Nigeria. These vaccines include Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV), Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus (DPT), Bacillus Calmete Guerine (BCG), the newly introduced Penta valent vaccine against Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Haemophilus influenza Type B and hepatitis B,Yellow fever vaccine, Measles vaccine and then Vitamin A which are important and serves as immune booster. All these are sponsored by the governments and they cost nothing. In Conclusion, these practices can prevent children from getting infected with germs, the habit of washing hands before and after eating should be inculcated in children. Children must be taught and corrected to wash
informed about regular washing of fruits before eating. More so, use proper food handling techniques, separate cutting boards, clean utensils and towels for preparing food. Unfinished food and other food stuffs must be properly covered and kept. Create time for general and all round sanitation of the house. Vaccines: Another way to combat infection from germs is to ensure your children are properly vaccinated and immunized according to the national programme on immunization (NPI). Vaccines should be given at birth and also should be given at various times in a child’s life. Different vaccines are given at different age and time of life. Vaccines provide the children with adequate immunity needed to fight and prevent disease caused by various germs. We have various types of vaccines and it is advisable that mothers visit any of these immunization centers with their kids to get them vaccinated. Vaccines are
fruit before eating. Ensure children take their bath regularly and also brush their teeth (at least twice daily). When playing with toys, they should be monitored not to put it into their mouth, avoid saliva from dogs or other pets. Maintain good hygiene, clean cooking utensils and keep children away from crowded areas always. Oshodin Hope Osarumwense Executive Officer, Institute of Child Health, University of Benin. Benin City ‘CHILD HEALTH AND YOU’, a Weekly Thursday Feature, is a collaborative initiative between the Institute of Child Health, University of Benin, and the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL), Benin City. Comments on this page should be forwarded to The Editor, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, Benin City or Director, Institute of Child Health University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Spotlight THE inability of Nigerian elites to unite the country since independence, as witnessed in the first republic with politics of regionalism I.e. the Northern Peoples Congress (N PC) — Hausa / Fulani, Action Group (AG) — Yoruba and National Council of Nigerian Citizens — Igbo, has being partly attributed to the intervention of the military into politics, resulting in the fall of the first republic in 1966 and the eventual thirty months civil war in 1967. The second republic parties were not quite different from the first republic except for the new names it bears, thus led to the fall of the second republic, as politicians were swept off the political stage by the Military 31St of December, 1983. Rather than learning from past experiences to sustain our present democratic dispensation which began on the 29th of May 1999, by uniting in treating issues that threaten our continuous existence as a nation, they continue to tow the line of ethnicity/religiosity/regionalism, currently reflected in the Boko Haram saga, with different interpretation depending on the side he/she belongs, rather than constructive analysis of issue that is claiming lives and properties. This research becomes necessary to look inwardly at the activities of Boko Haram, with a view to proffering solutions. Some of the solutions proffered could also be applicable in limiting / preventing youth restiveness. The Emergence of Boko Haram Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (popularly called Boko Haram) is a Jihadist group which in Arabic means “people committed to the propagation of the prophet’s Teachings and Jihad” (www.bbc.co.uk/../world-africa13809501). The group was officially formed by Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf with headquarter in Maiduguri (Bornu state), northeast of Nigeria in 2002, with the aim of imposing Sharia law in Nigeria. The group saw man-made laws and westernization i.e. voting in elections, wearing shirts and trousers or receiving a secular education as corrupting Muslims. Its headquarter which included a mosque and an Islamic school, became a recruiting centre for future Jihadis to fight the state, as many poor Muslim families from across Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries of Chad and Niger enrolled their children at the school. The group also drew followership from disaffected youth and unemployed graduates. The Ideology behind the setting up of the group, made the group to be called “Boko Haram” by residents of Maiduguri, where it was formed. The name “Boko Haram” is an Hausa word. Boko figuratively means “Western Education” and the Arabic word Haram figuratively means “sin” (literally “forbidden”). When loosely translated from Hausa, means “western education is forbidden”. However, the interpretation of the group name is disputed and locals who speak the Hausa language are not sure of what it means (www.en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Boko-Haram). Boko Haram has been traced historically by some analysts to be an extension of the Maitatsine riot (Maitatsine is the nickname of Mohammed Marwa, a controversial Nigeria Islamic preacher), one of the most famous northeast Nigeria fundamentalist that arose due to the activities of early Christian missionaries who uses western education as a tool for evangelism. Following Maitatsine notorious activities in the 1970’s and 1980’s, he was sent on exile by the Nigerian authorities. Maitatsine refused to believe Mohammed was the prophet and he instigated riots in Nigeria, which led to the death of thousands of people (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Boko-Haram). Like Boko Haram, Maitatsine was against the reading of other books except the Koran, the use of bicycles, cars, radios, watches and even the possession of more money than necessary. He portrayed himself as annabi (prophet in Hausa). Although, Boko Haram was officially formed in 2002, its root dates back to 1995, when Abubakar Lawan established the Ahlulsunna wal’Jama’ah hijra or Shabaab group (Musiim Youth Organization) in Maiduguri, Bornu State (www.studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/20...). It grows as a non-
The Nigerian State In The violent movement under Lawan. When Lawan left to continue his education, Mohammed Yusuf (founder of Boko Haram) became the Leader of the group. It was alleged that Yusuf’s leadership opened the group to political influence and popularity. The group over time has metamorphosed under various names like the Nigerian Taliban, Muhajirun, Yusufiyyah sect and Boko Haram. The group however prefers to be addressed in its original name “Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati walJihad”. The violence activities of the group in pursuit of its objective dates back to 24th of December, 2003 when it launched attacks on police stations and public buildings in the towns of Geiam and Kanamma in Yobe State. In 2004, the group’s headquarter was relocated to Yobe state (Yusuf’s State), where it set up a base called “Afghanistan” in Kanamma. Its attacks on police stations continue, as several policemen were killed, while arms and ammunition were stolen. It maintains the tactics of hit-and-run attacks on security posts in some parts of Bornu and Yobe states, until July 2009, when the Nigerian government launched an investigation into the group activities, following anti-government revolt. With government involvement, several members of the group were arrested in Bauchi, leading to a deadly clash with the Nigerian security forces across five northern states of Bauchi, Bornu, Kano, Katsina and Yobe, as an estimated number of 1000 persons, mainly the group members were killed, while hundreds of its members were arrested and detained for formal trial. The group leader Mohammed Yusuf was captured by the military and handed over to the police, where he died while in police custody. During the fight with the security forces, Boko Haram fighters were reported to using fuel-laden motorcycles and bows with poison arrows to attack a police station (www.en .wiki pedia.org/wiki/Boko-Haram). After the death of Yusuf, the group re-emerge from that of a poorly organized to that which uses IEDs, guerrilla warfare, targeted assassination and suicide bombings in its violence campaign under the new leadership of Abubakar Shekua (took over after the death of Yusuf), who was the deputy to Yusuf. The violence act of the group has increased since then, focusing on state security forces (police, soldiers, civil defense and Prison wardens among others) and churches and to a lesser extent on mosques, media houses, community and religious leaders, politicians and other civilians who they consider as ‘enemies’ (www.studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/2O...). Since 2009, a conservative estimate of over 3000 people (as at 30th of December 2012) has been killed by the group, with its attendant anxiety in Nigeria, due to occasionally displacement of suicide bomber (www.studies.aljazeera.net/ en/reports.20...). The Field of Western Education / Democracy It is a misconception to assume that western education is a sin or interwoven with Christianity despite its introduction in Nigeria by the Christian missionaries for evangelical purpose. Writing on “ISLAMIC EDUCATION” in P.O. ITEDJERE (ed) history of education, MOMODU (1997), traced what now constitute the field of western education (world civilization), as partly a contribution by both Islam and Arabs. He stated that Islam revived the human pursuit of science and that it was through the Arabs and not Romans that the modern world achieved light and power. In the field of mathematics, he wrote of the Muslims as introducing the Arabic numerals to the world and that the decimal notation was first used by Mohammed lbn Musa, a Muslim scholar, who also gave digit the value of position. He further wrote that the Arabs invented algebra and developed geometric and trigonometric concepts such as sine, tangent and cotangent. Other areas of contribution he stated includes; physics and
“Its attacks on police stations continue, as several policemen were killed, while arms and ammunition were stolen. It maintains the tactics of hitand-run attacks on security posts in some parts of Bornu and Yobe states, until July 2009, when the Nigerian government launched an investigation into the group activities, following anti-government revolt.”
By OLUYOLE, O.B.
astronomy, as they built observatories, designed and constructed many types of astronomic and physics equipment and worked out the angle of the ecliptic as well as procession of the equinoxes. In agriculture, he wrote that they devise good irrigation systems as a result of their being located largely in the desert. In the field of medicine, he stated that many methods of their treatment including their “material medica” are still in use today. Continuing, he wrote that at a time when the practice of medicine was forbidden by the church in Europe, which expected cures to be effected by religious rites, the Arabs he stated has a real science of medicine. The Arabs he wrote also advanced the frontiers of knowledge in the field of chemistry and discovered chemical substances such as nitric acid, suphuric acid and potash. Democracy on the other hand is not generally new to most African societies. To attribute it to westernization, will be misleading and without regards to Africa pre-colonial past / history, as most African societies pre-colonial political system
had one characteristic or the other, that now constitute the term “democracy”. OKORODUDU R.I (1996), in his book “Education And Reorientation For Good Citizenship In Nation Building (Counseling — Psychological Approach), identified some forms of democracy in pre-colonial Africa political system. For example, checks and balances practiced in Yoruba land (Oyo Empire), the village republic in Igbo (similar with Greek city state) and delegation of power in the Hausa/Fulani political system that is said to be centralized. The elective principles that characterized present day democracy are due to the complexity of society that makes it difficult for people to gather together in one place to discuss their affairs. The Importance of Western Education/Democracy The importance attached to education (be it western, Islamic or indigenous), can be clearly understood from the different views as expressed by different authors because of its constant changing nature (NWEKE, R.N etal (1997), Teacher Education: Concept and Principles). This could also be evident from the saying of Holy Prophet Mohammed (S. A. W), that enjoined all Muslims “to seek knowledge even if it is in china” and the establishment of universities and higher institutions by Muslims in many cities like Cairo, Baghdad, Cordova, Bastra and Timbuktu, century before the emergence of universities in the western world, as the world’s oldest university is Al — Azhar University in Cairo (Momodu 1997). Education has the impetus to develop human capital for an advance economic that has concentration of jobs in the tertiary sector which requires highly skilled work force with expertise
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THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Spotlight
e Face Of Boko Haram Insurgency
pecific field i.e. engineering (www.theresearchpedia.com/ arch-a...). it also develop people’s understanding about other ures, religions, places etc which is fundamental in the erstanding of the world as a whole and in turn, promote dial interactions among people. ducation plays a crucial role in the development of individual ential to a greater extend, as it exposes the individual to erent fields and Interests that allows a person to choose ong alternatives the field that they have the ability to excel Its usefulness could also be seen in a number of other non demic fields such as art, culture, music etc, all of which are ortant to have a wholesome life. nother area where education has prove decisive is in the vision of better jobs, as the acquisition of knowledge and ormation has the propensity to develop a better base for uring a career, which is necessary for a better life in the ure. ducation as a tool for securing good jobs could eliminate quality for individuals who do not have wealth or fortunate kground, as it afford them the opportunity of rising to a
w economic and social status in the society. may be quick to point out that English language which stitutes the field of western education undermines our genous languages, but it’s also necessary to state that its acts in the promotion of African languages and cultures oughout the globe cannot be denied. Mabel .1. Osakwe’s rowing English and National Growth: The Nigerian perience” (Abraka Humanities Review Vol.1 No.1, August 5, 13-25, A journal of the faulty of Arts, Delta State versity) shows how English has made it possible for a sical lgbo story to be read in many languages of the world seen in Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”, an African novel tten in English , but now translated in Italian, Spanish, vene, Russian, German, Hebrew, French, Czech, Hungarian it also shows how Soyinka’s scholarly interest and atment of Yoruba culture has led to its world-wide ognition and appreciation, as shown at the Nobel prize emony, where the chairman of the Nobel committee for erature, professor Las Gyllensten, described Soyinka’s ure as “a culture with a wealth of artistically inspiring itions”. English made it possible for creative interpretation melodious Yoruba verses to be show case to the world ecially in Soyinka’s Ogun Abibiman and Mandela’s Earth ed in the same work). is necessary to summit that education plays an important in destroying colonialism in Africa, through the activities African educated elites who were exposed to Western cation in Europe and America. They saw no reason for ica continuous colonization, thus they advocated for ependence by publishing newspapers which educated icans about the need for self governance.
Like education, democracy as a system of government is vital for the good conduct of society. According to former united State President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) defined democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people (www.democracybuilding.info/definit...) . This implied that democracy safeguards the interests of the people, as real power lies in their hands, which they exercise through their elected representatives that are responsible to them (www.preservearticles.com/2012). Democracy fosters the principle of equality, as members of the state are equal in the eyes of the law. All enjoys equal social, political and economic rights and the state cannot discriminate among citizens on the basis of caste, religion sex or property. It also create room for stability and responsibility in administration, since the tenure of elected representatives are fixed and based on public support, thus , limiting the chances of revolution, as representative who do not meet the expectations of the people are thrown into the dustbin of history when elections are held again. Democracy is a training school for inspiring the citizens to take part in the affairs of the state, through the activities of political parties, thereby creating political consciousness among the people. It also develops good citizenship among members. Why the Misconception about Western Education/ Democracy? The question becomes necessary, since Western education and democracy are not narrow down to Christianity/western culture and also because of their importance highlighted above. The answer to the question is clear and simple and has everything to do with the achievements of education and democracy in Nigeria. This raises the question as to whether the Nigerian government has been able to use education/ democracy to achieve the objectives of the Nation as stated in the National Policy on Education (1981:7), which includes; a free and democratic society, a just and egalitarian society, a strong and self-reliant nation, a great and dynamic economy, a land of bright and full opportunity for all citizens. The answer is a definite “no” as the objectives of the nation is not close to being achieved, but rather the reverse is the case, in a country were corruption has eaten deep into its fabrics, with no strong base for economic development that could guarantee a self-reliant nation, where equal opportunities are provided for all citizens. The resultant effect is a clear testimony as seen in the high level of unemployment that has resulted in all forms of criminality, prostitution, political thuggery etc. The loop-hole created by government inability to guarantee the future of her youth is now being exploited by the same political elites who once plunder the economy of the nation, to sow the seed of hatred among Nigerians through misdirecting the mind of the unemployed youth, by various means possible in order to achieve their selfish goals. In a plural society like Nigeria, ethnicity/religiosity is the quickest means to rally support by politicians. This explains why Bruce Hoffman sees terrorism as ineluctably about power: the pursuit of power, the acquisition of power and the use of power to achieve political change (www.nytimes.com/books/first/h/ hoffm...). The Path to “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”. To proffer solution relating to terrorism/revolution (depending on the side you belong) is not an easy task and this has being responsible for the inability of the international community in combating world terrorism. Bruce Hoffman’s “Inside Terrorism” (www.nytimes.com/books/first/h/hoffm...) clearly demonstrated the different views expressed between western and non- western member states of the United Nations following the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre, in which
eleven Israeli athletes were killed. The debate which was a proposal by the then UN secretary- General, Kurt Waldheim, that the UN should not remain a ‘mute spectator’ to the acts of terrorist violence then occurring throughout the world but should take practical steps that might prevent further bloodshed. While majority UN member states supported the proposal, a minority member states including many Arab states and various African and Asian countries derailed the discussion on the basis that people who struggle to liberate themselves from foreign oppression and exploitation have the right to use all methods at their disposal, including force. The above is indicative of the difficulty in solving the problems of terrorism. Despite that, effort will be made to suggest possible solutions that could achieve greater political stability necessary for development in Nigeria, if taken seriously. This was arrived at after careful study of terrorism/ revolution, as well as factors that aid terrorism/revolution, especially as it relate to Nigeria. The solutions will take the form below: To Elites I Politicians Instigating Conflicts It is pertinent to say that those who are either instigating/ sponsoring terrorism will themselves be destroyed by it. This is a clear evidence of Col Muammar Gaddafi of Libya who came to power on 15t of September 1969, through revolution (although bloodless as no life was lost). During his reign in Libya, he did not only call for revolution but also sponsored revolutionary movement/terrorist groups across the globe. The irony of life was that himself (Gaddafi) who once called for revolution was removed from power and killed through revolution during the Libya civil war in 2011. His body with that of his son (Mustassim) and his defense minister (Abu-bar Yunis Jabr) were put in the freezer of a local market at Misrata. These bodies were put on public display for four days, as Libyans came from various part of the country to view them (Muammar Gaddafi (life and politics of Libya) by same author). To Boko Haram Terrorists I Revolutionaries Killing and wanton destruction of lives and properties isn’t the best alternative to express ones displeasure, as it causes more harm than good to the development of any nation. Economic development is achieved in peaceful atmosphere, which translate to better/improve living standard of people. Improved well-being of citizens is not necessarily achieved through politics of regionalism, ethnicity, and religiosity. If that was the case, there wouldn’t have been the Arab Spring that took place in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and the present conflict ravaging Syria, for these where purely Islamic countries(i.e. Libya has 97% Sunni Muslim population while 3% practice other religion) with Muslim leaders. This is to say that objectivity should be the basis of criticism/support. To say/misdirect the mind of the poor that education and democracy are sinful is to deny them the opportunity of rising up the ladder of social stratification, so as for them (elites) and their children to continue dominating. This is evident from the quality of education they provide for their children. Their support for terrorism is limited to financial grant, while the poor are deceived into carrying out suicide. From the forgoing, it is necessary to allow peace to reign as Islam is a religion of peace. Also, the negative perception of Western education/democracy should be erased while efforts should be made to promote education/democracy, as it provides the platform for better life. The domineering role of the Yoruba’s (Christians, Muslims and Traditionalists) in Nigeria economy is achieved through early realization of the importance of education, which led to the introduction of the free education in the then western region of Nigeria in 1955 and the activities of Ansar Ud Deen organization in providing Muslim children with education.
“Killing and wanton destruction of lives and properties isn’t the best alternative to express ones displeasure, as it causes more harm than good to the development of any nation. Economic development is achieved in peaceful atmosphere, which translate to better/improve living standard of people.”
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Opinion
Between The African Child
CHILDREN in every human society are regarded as precious gifts to the human race. The position and nature of children make them vital components of the society. According to Abraham Linoln, children are individuals who are saddled with the burden of piloting the future. Lincoln’s definition reveals that children are future prospects of the society. As society’s future prospects, society owes these children certain basic duties that would enable and prepare them for the future roles. But in Africa, where the population of children make up a sizable portion, children are denied those certain basic duties thereby making them vulnerable appear not to have bright future. According to statistics, there are about 300 million children of age 0-15 years in Africa, representing almost half of Africa’s population. A good percentage of that number are denied basic social rights that hampared their future roles in the society. Among the rights denied to the African child are: good health services, quality education, freedom and are also discriminated based on their physical and metal health condition. As a result of the African child being denied basic health care, there is prevalence of high mortality among them. In 2011, statistical records show that out of the 6.9 million children who died globally, about half of the deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to inadequate health facilities in
And A Bleak Future By INNOCENT OMOAKA
African countries, these children died of acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, measles, malaria and malnutrition. Therefore, African children lost to these diseases are denied the right to future life. Also, the African child future prospects are threatened by a number of abuses against them. Recent media reports have shown increase in child rape, corporal punishment and child labour in Africa. Millions of African children abused through such ways are left depressed, traumatized and stigmatized, while culprits are shielded by the ineffectiveness of judicial process in Africa. Child rape in African, recorded as the highest in the globe, denied these children a successful future sexual life. While child labour which occurs in different dimension threatened the physical and mental development of the African child corporal punishment which inflicts permanent scars on the African child according to psychologists may result to permanent emotional trauma among there children, which hunt
“UNESCO reports revealed that more then 40 million children, almost about halt the school-age child population in Africa, are denied education or lack quality education. That has translated to these children not having growth and development into the future.”
them into their future life. In addition, the African child is denied quality education. This is indicated by the low rate of enrollment of the African child in schools, gender inequalities with higher enrollment of one gender over the other according to the region of the continent in question. UNESCO reports revealed that more then 40 million children, almost about halt the school-age child population in Africa, are denied education or lack quality education. That has translated to these children not having growth and development into the future. Human rights activists have called for an urgent step to arrest these ugly trends. According to such activists, improving the functional social welfare system in African would reverse the trends. The African child would only be assured of a bright future when adequate steps are taken to secure the future for them for this to come to pass Mrs. Kay Benson Akhigbe, a human rights activist said government officials must wake up to their responsibility of ensuring adequate protection and respect of the rights of the African child and their development. Steps in securing the future of the African child include; provision of adequate health facilities, punishment of violators of the African child rights, empowerment of the society, provision of an adequate functioning educational system and improving the living conditions of families, from where the African child is internalised into the larger society. Since the duty of ensuring a better future for the African child is the duty of the society, rights group, families and other social institutions should key into the initiative of ensuring that the future of the African child is not only guaranteed but a bright reality.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
View Point
Understanding Who You Are
TO start with, I discovered myself through my mentor Dr. Proctor. I am myself and I am whom I am by virtue of this well-respected motivational speaker in the United States of America. His own mentor is Napoleon Hill. And Napoleon Hill’s mentor is Thomas Edison, the man who invented the first light but under the surface of the universe. All these great men are positive thinkers. This explains why they achieved so much in their lifetimes through the development of the talents which God planted in them. Therefore make no mistake about this fact. All positive thinkers have a religion, believe in God and worship Him. At this point, let me say this. All religions agree on one point despite their differences. It is that you can become what you think about. If you think you are a servants, you will choose to tag yourself a servant. In other words, your thought are responsible for what you are, where you find yourself in life and status on earth. There is no where in all the scriptures that says a man can help a man. That a man has what it takes to help another man. No such a place in the scripture exists. But every religion and tradition has made it clear that everything a man needs to help himself or to attract blessings to himself in life is within him. Religion and Tradition also tells us that man has the master key for solving all his problem. In other words, all the power that exist or ever existed is living inside you a man. God put it there. And the key to that power is in your hands only. Unfortunately, a lot of people have been infested by the teachings of fraudulent religious leader which put them in a negative state of mind or fear instead of positive mind. These religious leaders, for instances, tell their congregation that without consulting them, no member can find a solution to his or her problems. Certainly, this form of teaching is not true. Positive thinking is against such a teaching because it doesn’t sow the seed of life success in the consciousness of the congregation. So, in essence, positive thinking as an idea narrows tour attention initially to understanding whom you are. Afterall, the biggest question in life is: WHO ARE YOU? ARE. A lot of people cannot provide an answer to this question. If you ask them this question, they are confused about it. Even people who call themselves religious leader are also confused by this question: WHO ARE YOU? Who is man? Who is he? That is why people like us who are motivational speakers have come out to teach positive thinking to all men and women. Through it, we help you develop your ability to understand whom you are as a creation of God. When you properly connect with your religion. About 80% of people who go to church or other places of worships are poor in spirit and worldly matters because they don’t understand themselves and whom they are. They have not connected well with their religion because they lack positive thinking. It is not enough to attend a religious programmed because other people are going there. You have to
By BISHOP JOHN EDOKPOLOR
know why you choose to be at programme. To be able to do so, you have to know whom you are and how the programme will enable you understand your true purpose in life. This means you have to think positively about the relevance of the religious programme to you. When you think this way, you will know yourself. You will understand yourself. You will understand how your inner self operates. You will get to know how success in life happens and how you can make it happen from within you. Not outside you as most
religious leaders teach you with their negative thinking. In other words, positive thinking helps you understand how to think in a way that brings self – realisation. Positive thinking is responsible for every thing you re experiencing in life is a manifestation of your thought. This fact has been proved scientifically. Yes, science has discovered that man thinks more than 60,000 time a day. Also, science has shown that majority of people live their thoughts. This is saying that there is something like auto-thinking in our world. In other words, the way we think generate ideas that drags us in the direction of these ideas. Therefore if you think negatively, you find yourself being attracted to negative things. And, so, you fail in life. You become poor in your religion, vocation or profession as the case may be.
Hence, the message is this. We must not engage in negative thinking which in itself drags you towards negative things as well as drag negative things to you. Remember, science has proved that we follow our thoughts and our thoughts determine the type of resources we rely on in life. Infact, our lives are guided by our thoughts. It is only when you understand really whom you are and inkstand that you are supposed to think positively that you can harness your inner potentials for success in life. When you succeed in life, you have fulfilled God’s mission for you on earth in your own way and at your own level. All these ideas about positive thinking is all I want to package in what I tag VISION BOARD 2013
seminar scheduled for December 30, 2012. The seminar would focus on how a lot of people have conceived so many positive ideas in life but abandoned them because of in the state of mind. Therefore, our duty at the seminar is to bring your attention to that positive vision that you abandoned. We will help you reactivate it. Because positive thinking forum understands that the richest place in the world is the graveyard. It contains the remains of people who have died with their positive vision unexecuted. It is because we don’t want you to die with your visions in life unrealized we are holding the seminar. Meanwhile, feel blessed by God, not man. Always think positively. It will help you understand whom you are in the sight of God. Thereafter, it will open the doors to self-realisation for you. Success will come your way. No more failures in your life.
“Therefore, our duty at the seminar is to bring your attention to that positive vision that you abandoned. We will help you reactivate it. Because positive thinking forum understands that the richest place in the world is the graveyard. It contains the remains of people who have died with their positive vision unexecuted. It is because we don’t want you to die with your visions in life unrealized we are holding the seminar.”
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Motoring than ordinary roads. And you will need to sum up traffic situations quickly. Using your mirror and concentrating all the time are doubly important on express ways. Watch out for vehicles entering the expressway 5. (b) KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: Do not get too close to the vehicle in front. Remember ‘Two-second rule. 6. (c) MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED: Do
Battery Care
YOUR battery needs special attention and care at a period like this when we have occasional downpour as the rate of change drops to the drop in atmospheric temperature. Dirty batteries are likely to have electrolyte collected on the surface causing leakage of electrical current to the earth, so that the battery will discharge. Electrolyte on the surface of the battery can also cause the terminal and connectors to corrode, which will stop the battery
Driving Lessons:
from working efficiently. You are therefore to check the add level periodically at least once in two weeks or after every 800kilometres. If the level drops below plates, top up with pure water. Never add acid. Do not overfill cells normal level is 6-10mm above the separator. An overflowed battery can cause acid overflow through the vent plugs when the battery is charged and acid can cause damages to the battery compartment and other metal parts in the vehicle.
Expressway Driving
1. DEFINITION: THE term “expressway” means any specially assigned and restricted highway divided with untraversable barrier with traffic in opposite directions completely separated from each other. Traffic in one direction may be in two or more lanes. 2. SPECIAL DINSTINCTION: Expressways are desired for traffic movement with minimum interruption but are certainly not speed tracks. In Nigeria, outright maximum speed posted is 100km, per hour. Violators stand the risk of being prosecuted according to Nigeria traffic laws, especially Decree 45 of 1988. 3. Expressways are subject to very stern restrictions as given below: • No animals • No pedestrians or hawkers • No pedal cycles • No motorized • Cycles with capacity below certain specified capacity, except where tracks are provided or special concessions have been given especially for motorcycles. . No learner driver • No waiting • No stopping • No loading or unloading Other restriction on expressway relate to minimum
and maximum speed limits and other regulation, which are clearly posted on road signs. Always watch out for these. 1. BEFORE ENTERING EXPRESSWAY: make sure your vehicle is fit to cruise at a safe speed, has correct TYRE PRESSURES, and enough patrol, oil and water to take you to the next service area. 2. JOINING THE EXPRESS WAY: When you join the expressway other than at its start, you will approach from the road on the right (a slip road). Give way to traffic already on the high way and then accelerate in the extra lane (the acceleration lane) so that when you join the inside lane you are already travelling at the same speed, as the traffic on it. You should not exceed the prescribed speed limit for that high-way. 3. INTER CHANGES: Because of the nature the restrictions on the express way. There are stipulated ways in which you may join or leave the express way. Special intersections called interchanges are designed to enable you cross, enter or leave the expressway without interfering with other vehicles. The four common types of interchanges are the CLOVER LEAF DIAMOND TRUMPET AND DIRECTIONAL 4. DRIVIN ON THE EXPRESSWAY: (a) concentrate: Traffic travels faster on expressways
With OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452
not move in jerks. There are both minimum speed limit on the expressway apply the common sense speed limit and the limitation of your vehicle.
“Dirty batteries are likely to have electrolyte collected on the surface causing leakage of electrical current to the earth, so that the battery will discharge.”
When To Replace Your Shock Absorber IF shock absorbers are continually used without replacement, comfort will not only suffer, but stability and fuel economy will be inefficient. Shock absorbers should be replaced when necessary. Shock absorbers condition should be checked by using the following methods of inspection. Examine visually Check for oil leakage from oil-seals of the piston rod and the cylinder surface. If there is leakage replace the shock absorber immediately. Also replace it if there is any dent in the cylinder. Push down on the Bumper If the vehicle bounces up and down buoyantly two or three times when the bumper is pushed down and released, it indicates that the shock absorbers have lost their effectiveness. Pump the brake While driving slowly, pump the brake pedal. If the vehicles’ front or rear end dives a lot, it indicates that the shock absorbers have lost their effectiveness. Feel the shock Absorbers Feel the shock absorbers. If their temperature rises to a high level soon after starting is normal. If they remain cold they are not operating efficiently. Check the mount If the shock absorber mount is bent, or the washer’s position is improper or if the rubber bushing is damaged replace the shock absorber. Shock absorber should be checked periodically.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013 With Bamidele Michael 08064496136
Leadership
Principles For Effective Leadership “IF women would realize what an influence they have, they would be filled with pride, if men recognized how influential women are, they would be scared to death.” It is said that we all influence at least 250 people in our lifetime. We each have the responsibility of leadership. Even woman can be a leader. Yet results of surveys show that most women greatly underestimate their influence. At home it can be organizing our children to clean the house or, more important, instilling values and morals into their lives. At the workplace, it can be motivating people for sales. We influence others by what we say and do—and by how we do our work. We recognize that Mother Teresa was one of the great religious and humanitarian leaders of the world. When we aspire to be leaders, we must learn to discern between fame and greatness. Fame is Madonna; greatness is Mother Teresa. There is a tremendous shortage of and need for truly great leaders leaders who are trustworthy, ethical, good, honest and who have high personal standards. The world is looking for honest and upright leaders. Who is a leader? “A leader is a person who influences people to accomplish a purpose.” How do you become a leader? “A leader correctly assesses a situation and knows how to take the next step.” Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not you’re a leader-an influencer. Your opinions are listened to and acted upon. The following nine principles will help you make the most of your influence: 1. Have a dream that will leave this world a better
place “‘Is there anything worse then being blind? Yes! The most pathetic person in the whole world is someone who has sight but has no vision.” So said Helen Keller. Leadership is simply the ability to turn a dream or a vision of a desired future state into a reality with and through the cooperation of other people. To throw your life into something worthwhile, your dream must be worth dying for. What do you get excited about? Have a big vision; something beyond your capabilities to keep you challenged. If we have aimed our efforts for this moment only—for ourselves, for the accumulation of material things. for pleasure we will soon become dissatisfied and disillusioned with life. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said, “There is little hope for democracy if the hearts of men and women cannot be touched by a call to something greater than themselves.” Have a dream and vision that is greater then yourself— one that will leave this world a better place. 2. Know what your strengths are To be leaders, we need each other to reach our goals. Each of us has some of the skills needed to do a great job. We need to surround ourselves with people to fill in our gaps. Seventy- nine year-old Muriel Tower, an experienced entrepreneur, said, “You get things done through other people. Number one in business is get the best person for the job. Number two, delegate. Number three, supervise— go back and see that they did it.” In order to be effective, you need a team to work with. We lead on the basis of our strengths we gather our team on the basis of their strengths.
What is your leadership style? Are you a visionary? A person who can see the big picture and take risks? Or are you a detail person—an administrative type? You see the need for systems and order. You do things right and at the right time. You are efficient. Perhaps you are more of a sales person—a people gatherer. You love people and can sell anything to anyone, but don’t care about details. Or maybe you just love working by
purpose statement that you work toward. Review it often with your staff so you don’t lose your focus. Set short and long term goals, and evaluate two or three times a year to see how you are doing. Your team will be motivated toward reaching your goals together. Give credit where credit is due. Say “thank you” to the people you are working with. Encourage them often! Understanding your strengths and the strengths of
we spent hours wording the invitations. However, when they were printed and we looked them over, we discovered -to our dismay—that the logo for our organization was printed upside down. It was a costly oversight. After much discussion, we decided to reprint them even though we knew that the majority of the women would not even notice the mistake. We wanted to influence leaders and we had to do
there was no mistaking the aura of warmth and kindness that surrounded her, I felt I was in the presence of the most powerful, focused and determined person I had ever met.” Determination and Perseverance is the number one essential qualities for Women’s success in business. In order to leave this world a different place, you have to be persistent. Leaders don’t grow in a comfort zone. Leaders are not people with exceptional talent; they are people who
yourself. A hard worker- a producer. Let someone give you a track to run on and you’ll do it. Before you are thirty years old, you can probably do all of those jobs without too much difficulty. But once you are over thirty, you realize you don’t want to do the things you aren’t good at. It uses up too much energy. When you know what you are good at, surround yourself with a team who are good at the other three. When you have that team, meet with them regularly and have a
others is a key to effective leadership. 3. Strive for excellence The people you want to influence will not rise to a higher standard of excellence than what they observe in you. The authors of Megatrends for Women write, “Male or female, the effective leader wins commitment by setting an example of excellence.” We were hosting a dinner for influential women in three cities with a wellknown, successful speaker. Of course we were eager to make a good impression, so
things right, not only do the right things. Leaders must strive for excellence. Strive for excellence and you will motivate others to do the same. 4. Be persistent Mother Teresa was a determined woman. Margaret Thatcher was a determined woman. The key to being a good leader is endurance—being a non-quitter. You will be tempted to quit and be encouraged to quit by those who are friends and enemies. Be unwilling to throw in the towel. Be determined. One journalist wrote of Mother Teresa: ‘When I met Mother Teresa, I discovered she was very tiny less than five feet tall—and kept her head cocked to one side. She had gnarled hands and thick peasant feet that protruded from under her coarse white sari. Although
have learned from their mistakes and get up and try again. Persistence is a key to effective leadership. 5. Be willing to stand alone If you have a passion, a dream or a mission, set measurable goals and work toward accomplishing them. You will find that many times you may have to work alone. You will probably he lonely. People are looking for leaders who are willing to give it all they have, and they will follow for a while. However, when the going gets tough, when pleasure and comfort compete with responsibility and long hours, followers will drop away. That is when you have to be sure that what you are doing is right, so that you will keep going. James Cook said. ‘A person who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”
“Before you are thirty years old, you can probably do all of those jobs without too much difficulty. But once you are over thirty, you realize you don’t want to do the things you aren’t good at. It uses up too much energy. When you know what you are good at, surround yourself with a team who are good at the other three.”
Continues on page 22
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Leadership Continued from page 21
6. Be ready for resistance One of the facts of life is that when you are in leadership, you have to solve problems. Everyone has problems; if you don’t have any now, you will have problems; wherever you work or live, you’ll have problems; or you just might be someone else’s problem.” Sometimes we have the faulty notion that we should be able to go through life problem free that if we have problems, something is wrong with our life. As leaders, we have to be responsible, no matter how painful it is. Running away is not an option. We can easily fall into waiting for someone else to solve our problems. In her book, The Cinderella
Complex, Colette Dowling writes about waiting for Prince Charming: “Like Cinderella, women today are still waiting for something external to transform their lives. We may venture out a little, but underneath lurks a wish to be saved, a deep yearning for dependence. You don’t need to wait for someone else’s help: You will have problems. Be ready. Expect it. If you know you are doing what is right, you won’t cave in when the going gets tough. Facing problems and dealing with them by making good decisions is the difference between a leader and a follower. 7. Set an example for your staff “Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and never succeed.”
...Principles For Effective Leadership I am amazed at how often people want a position, but not the responsibility. It is natural to want to escape responsibility; we all do it. However, being a leader means working long hours. It means being available to solve problems or give direction whenever necessary. Being a leader means being a servant, whether you are in your home or at work. You are always on call. A leader works hard. 8. Be ethical Don’t expect your staff or the next generation to do what is right if they see you doing what is wrong. It is incredibly important that we have a strong code of ethics to base our decisions and lifestyle on.
What set of values dictate your ethics-your behaviour? Or do you have a code of ethics? Do you have convictions that cause you to say, “I will never do that” or “For me that is not an option’?” If you don’t, sit down, think through and write down your nonnegotiable code of ethics. Sometimes it can be the little things that erode your standards and-by the wayyour self esteem. When temptation comes, you may very well do something that you will later be sorry for. Sometimes you have harmful situations to live with the rest of your life. Margaret Thatcher once said, “I am not a consensus politician. I am a conviction politician.” What kind of
“I am amazed at how often people want a position, but not the responsibility. It is natural to want to escape responsibility; we all do it. However, being a leader means working long hours. It means being available to solve problems or give direction whenever necessary. Being a leader means being a servant, whether you are in your home or at work. You are always on call.”
leader are you? Do you have convictions of your own or do you live by the consensus of other opinions? It is of utmost importance to have high ethical standards to be an effective leader. 9. Let God be your guide Elizabeth Dole, President of the American Red Cross, stated in an interview: ‘To me its very important to know I have a source of strength beyond my own. When I’m undertaking a difficult assignment or making a tough decision, I’m glad I don’t have to rely on my own energy, wisdom, and judgment.” Find the power to change your life and your world-let God be your guide. Oliver W. Holmes was quoted as saying, “I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as is what direction we are heading.” What direction do you think you will be heading 5 years from now? 10 years from now? 25 years from now? As a leader, what direction are you heading? What
direction are you taking the 250 people you are influencing? Living with Hope If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as he is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door or life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
His dream was that of a united country where respect will be given to all irrespective of race or color. Speaking about the first black president of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma, described him as an individual who binds the diverse racial groups together and so urged people to emulate his “productive, reconciliatory and reconstructive “life. He again enthused that: “We declared this day in honour of Madiba to inspire all of us to take action personally to help change the world for better and create a sustainable movement for good.” Even though health challenges have left Mandela in a stable condition at a Jo’bury hospital.
American President Barrack Obama, during his visit to Africa recently, noted that he was inspired to go into political activism at the age by Mandela. As the globe celebrate this freedom fighter, it is imperative to be a “disciplined force for peace” Quoting Mandela, “Tonight, I am reading out to every single South African, black and white from the very depths of my being.. Now, is the time for the world to stand together and embrace peace, forgiveness and tolerance (religious, political etc). Indeed “Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose” and they lost. Happy birthday to the man who charted a new South Africa in magnanimity.
Nelson Mandela: Learning From His Legacies EVERY July 18, the world stands still to mark the birth of this great Icon. A man who has fought, not only for his country, but for the entire mankind. Born in 1918 into a royal family of the Xhosaspeaking Thembu tribe in Muezo village in South Africa. Nelson Mandela, studied law at the University of Witwatersrand, where he became a fighter for freedom in the nation. Due to his activism, he joined the African National Congress (ANC), in 1944 where he established the youth league of the party, ANCYL. With his freedom fighting and hatred against oppression and discrimination, he was sentenced to imprisonment. While denouncing and condemning the discriminatory practices in South Africa, he said, “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for
which I am prepared to die”. He thereafter spent 27 years in prison before regaining his freedom on February, 11, 1990. During the period of the struggle against apartheid, especially at CAN’S rallies, signs read as this; “Mandela give us guns” and “victory through battle not talk. According to one of his biographer, Tom Lodge, Mandela played a politics of grace and honor, that notwithstanding its conservatism, was probably, the only politics that could have enabled South Africa’s relatively peaceful transition to democracy.” Also, Michael Gerson, described him in his work as: a political pragmatist. He could see and accommodate the interest of his former oppressors. He did not want to rule a ruin”. Similarly, Nelson Mandela who won the 1993 Nobel prize for peace, embraced his “enemies” and was quoted as saying. “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would
By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU
lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind I would still be in prisons”
Nelson Mandela
Mandela never sought to retaliate what his oppressors did to him.
“As the globe celebrate this freedom fighter, it is imperative to be a “disciplined force for peace” Quoting Mandela, “Tonight, I am reading out to every single South African, black and white from the very depths of my being.. Now, is the time for the world to stand together and embrace peace, forgiveness and tolerance (religious, political etc).”
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Religion
With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA
Interpretation Of Prophecy I have added this to explain certain intricacies associated with a class of prophecy. While some prophecies are direct and need no special interpretation, some are not as direct as such and would need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give the right type of interpretation. I had an experience in my Ministry in which a prophetess filled with the spirit of God prophesied a message which was difficult to explain. It appeared to some a misgiven message but when put before the Lord, he said” I spoke that message”. That was how the spirit began to teach me another aspect of prophecy - called symbolic prophecy. Paul said “The gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For l did not receive it from man nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ” Gal. 1:11 - 12. The bible says: “The spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” I St Cor. 2:10. Also by revelation did I learn the concept of symbolic prophecy and when I searched the scriptures I saw that the idea is perfectly biblical. This is just for an introduction to the interpretation of prophecy. Symbolic prophecy is an indirect prophecy. That means God may speak in a particular way not directly now, which will be difficult for man to ordinarily understand by his human wisdom. It is more or less an inference prophecy and in the interpretation, the holy spirit is needed to give the proper inference and thus the correct interpretation and meaning of that prophecy.
The bible says, “You must understand this, that no prophecy is a matter of one’s own interpretation” 2 peter 1:20. So when God speaks in a way you cannot understand through a well established prophet - one truly established in the word of God, don’t conclude its a wrong message without properly subjecting it to the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit: for “God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it” Job 33:14. I want to consider the following Bible prophecies as symbolic prophecies: (i) Nathan’s prophecy to king David: When David committed the sin of adultery with Bethsheba, God sent Nathan the prophet to him. After admonishing David, he prophecied to him: “Thus says the Lord, “Behold I will raise up evil against you out of your own house and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun” 2Sam 12:11 -12. In ordinary human understanding, the prophecy would mean God would raise from within the house of the King a person and this person he described as the “neighbour” who would think that a Son would be referred to as a neighbour! But Absalom the son of David fulfilled this prophecy when he openly slept with the father ’s concubines left behind when he rebelled against his father. 2 Sam 16:21 -22. The son really became a “neighbour” because he contested the father’s throne with him. You see why
every word as spoken needs to be properly understand in divine interpretation through the Holy Spirit. (2) Malachi’s prophecy to Israel: The prophet Malachi prophecied to the people of Israel through the Holy Spirit: “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the lord comes” Mal 4:5. What happened next? The people of Israel used their human wisdom to interpret God’s
misunderstood the message; they could probably have ended doubting the prophecy of God through the prophet Malachi. (3) Peter ’s trance experience: Peter went into the housetop to pray about the sixth hour, there he had a trance experience. “the heaven opened and something descending like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and
between the holy spirit and Peter in the trance which made the former’s directive, prophetic. The Holy Spirit told him “kill and eat”, and told him again ‘what God was cleansed you must not call common”. Was the holy spirit saying to Peter to kill and eat all animals and reptiles because he was hungry? Peter was hungry before he fell into the trance but was he now being told by prophecy in the trance ‘when you get up, just go
down and accompany them without hesitation; for I have sent them” Acts 10:20. It was later the experience became clear to Peter. The prophecy during the trance was not to kill and eat all kinds of animals but to go and preach the gospel to these gentiles in Cornelus’ house whom, he ordinarily according to Jewish tradition, would have regarded as unclean to be associated with, let alone be found in his house. Acts 10:2148. The
message. They began to expect Elijah the prophet to come again. But Christ said the prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptist. “And his disciples asked him: Then why do the scribes day that first Elijah must come? He replied, ‘Elijah does come... Elijah has already come and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased ... the disciples understood that he was speaking to, them of John the Baptist” Matt 17:1013. You see that the whole Israel and even the scribes
birds of the air. And there came a voice to him ‘Rise Peter, kill and eat’ But Peter said ‘No Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean’. And the voice came to him again a second time ‘What God has cleansed, you must not call common’. This happened three times, and the things were taken up at once to heaven” Acts 10:1016. I have recalled this trance experience under ‘symbolic prophecy’ because of the communication of words
around kill any creature you see and even reptiles and consume to fill the stomach! This of course would bathe human understanding of that prophecy in the trance. So the Bible says “Peter was inwardly perplexed”, about this prophecy (the trance experience). But the Holy Spirit knew better and gave him clarity and told him to, go out and meet some people expecting him” while Peter was pondering the vision, the spirit said to him - Bold three men are looking for you. Rise and go
interpretation of the trance was given by the Holy Spirit when Peter said: ‘Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” Acts 10:34 - 35. My conclusion for this symbolic prophecy is that it requires the Holy Spirit to give an interpretation and such symoblic prophecies should not be mistaken for errors in prophecy or regarded outright as false prophecies.
“My conclusion for this symbolic prophecy is that it requires the Holy Spirit to give an interpretation and such symoblic prophecies should not be mistaken for errors in prophecy or regarded outright as false prophecies.”
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
International Rwanda Dismisses Charges It KIGALI Rwanda Backs Congo Rebels dismissed on Tuesday U.S. charges that it was supporting M23 rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and said leveling accusations would not help pacify the region. Rwanda’s denial came as the United Nations announced that its newly deployed Intervention Brigade would begin securing a zone around the strategic eastern Congolese city of Goma, forcibly
disarming people found carrying weapons there. Western donors halted some aid to Rwanda last year after U.N. experts said Kigali was backing rebels in eastern Congo, a region racked by fighting since the 1990s that has in part been fuelled by a struggle to control rich mineral deposits there. In a report last month, U.N. experts said M23 continued to recruit fighters in Rwanda with
African Delegation Meets Morsi
CAIRO — A high-level African Union mission met with Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi, in the Islamist leader ’s second meeting with international diplomats this week after nearly a month in secret detention, the head of the delegation said yesterday. Egypt’s army has held Morsi incommunicado at undisclosed locations since pushing him from power in a July 3 coup. But the country’s military-backed interim leadership is coming under increasing international criticism about Morsi’s continued detention, and allowing two visits in quick succession appeared to be an
attempt to ease at least some of the pressure on the new administration. Despite the fact that outsiders have now visited the former president twice in recent days, his location still remains shrouded in mystery. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton met with him on Monday, but said she did not know where he is being held. The head of the AU delegation, former Mali President Alpha Oumar Konare, also offered no clues on Morsi’s location, but told reporters that he had a “very frank meeting” with him. He gave no details of the discussions, which Egypt’s state news agency said lasted an hour.
the aid of sympathetic Rwandan military officers, prompting Washington to say it was “deeply concerned” and to call for Rwanda to stop its support. “Those whose policy is to keep pulling countries of the region into a conflict that is not of their making, we don’t think that is helpful,” Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said. “Scapegoating is not going to help DRC.” When asked if that amounted to a denial, she told Reuters in Nairobi: “I think my comment is very clear. There are many complex issues in Congo and those have to be looked at with a view to try to reach a peaceful situation in DRC.” Kigali has repeatedly and vociferously denied charges it backed M23. Mushikiwabo was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of ministers from the Great Lakes region in the Kenyan capital, which included discussions about eastern Congo and regional efforts to broker peace between the rebel group and Kinshasa. U.S. Secretary of State John
Chemist Hopes To Be Germany’s First HALLE, Germany Black Lawmaker Karamba Diaby makes his way
through the historic heart of Halle with the speed of a seasoned politician: slowly. More than two decades of involvement in local politics means the 51-year-old immigrant can’t go more than a few steps without being stopped for a chat. Two months before Germany’s general elections each handshake and greeting carries added significance because Diaby is intent on becoming the country’s first black member of Parliament. He listens patiently to his constituents and responds in fluent German with a strong Franco-African accent, courtesy of his Senegalese origins. Nationwide just 81 — or about 4 percent — of the candidates running for the roughly 600-member parliament in the Sept. 22 election have an immigrant background. It is the highest number yet but still far behind countries such as France and Britain. Most of the immigrant candidates belong to the Greens or the Social Democrats, while Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party has only six immigrants on its slate. Diaby’s Social Democrats badly need candidates who will pull in enough votes to hold onto the three seats they won in
the state of Saxony-Anhalt in 2009. Diaby has been placed third on the party list, making him one of the few immigrants with a strong chance of being elected. “I didn’t throw my hat in the ring,” he said, a touch apologetically. “I was asked by others.” The decision to place him near the top of the ticket is all the more remarkable because, like other states in the former East Germany, Saxony-Anhalt has a reputation for being more hostile toward immigrants — especially those from outside Europe — than western parts of the country. While the trained chemist is reluctant to criticize his adopted home — he moved to Halle in 1986 and gained German citizenship in 2001 — Diaby nevertheless acknowledges that he was once physically attacked because of the color of his skin. Still, the father of two puts this down to the fact that under communist rule East Germans had limited exposure to immigrants and that time will change old habits. Another tradition he would like to see broken is that politicians from ethnic minorities are automatically pigeonholed as experts on immigration. “I want everyone
to talk about immigration, not just immigrants,” he said. Germany urgently needs immigrants to make up for the country’s falling birthrate, though few politicians are prepared to campaign on the issue. Diaby’s pet topic is education and how it can help people from all parts of society — immigrants, the unemployed, school dropouts — improve their lot. To make his point, Diaby cites the story of Anton Wilhelm Amo, a former slave who became the first West African to study and teach at a European university about 300 years ago. By coincidence, it was the University of Halle. As an example of the way black immigrants were treated in Germany, Amo’s story remained unique for more than two centuries — except for the racism he reportedly endured, and that prompted him to return to West Africa. That racism reached its horrendous peak with the Nazis’ 12-year reign, which ended in 1945 with millions killed in death camps. Among them were many of Germany’s small black community at the time, said Nkechi Madubuko, a Nigeriaborn former athlete and TV presenter who has researched the history of Afro-Germans.
EDO STATE MINISTRY OF WORKS INVITATION TO TENDER FOR BIDS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS IN EDO STATE Edo State Government is desirous of undertaking the construction of roads in the State. In pursuant of this, the State Government is inviting interested, reputable and competent Companies to tender for the construction of the roads listed below: (1) Oghomere — Udochi - Emesdue — Osomegbe Road (2) Ekosodin Road (3) Ogriga — Afokpella — Okugbe — Imiekuri - Okhu Road (4) Textile Mill Road (5) Sabo - lyakpi Road (6) Abudu Township Road 2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS To qualify for consideration, interested Companies that have been previously prequalified to execute works with Edo State Ministry of works are requested to submit tender documents as follows: (a) Evidence of incorporation or registration as a construction Company in Nigeria. (b) Evidence of registration with Edo State Ministry of Works, stating category (c) Tax clearance certificate for the immediate past 3years (d) Annual turnover in Civil Engineering construction activities in the last three (3) years (e) Evidence of experience as a major Contractor in the construction of project of the nature and complexity comparable to the work within the last three (3) years; (f) Evidence of equipment owned or leased, indicating registration numbers, chassis number and location where they can be inspected. (g) Liquid asset and/or evidence of access to credit facilities, stating amount. (h) Submission of Company Profile detailing main line of business, number of years involved. (i) Company asset and liabilities. (j) Joint ventures arrangements (if any) and the distribution of responsibilities between partners. (k) List of all on-going contracts indicating the clients and value of outstanding works. (I) Proposal and programme for executing the works including list of technical and management staff. (m) Proposed site organization showing the responsibilities and delegation of authority. (n) Quality plan for execution of works (o) Submission of reference from reputable banks (p) Letter of introduction from the Ambassador/High Commissioner, confirming the eligibility of registrable foreign contracting firms wishing to pre-quality. 3. All information submitted must be project specific and for use on each specific project. (a) Bidder must treat each project separately. There is no restriction on the number of projects for which each Contractor can submit bids. (b) Completed tender documents must be signed, sealed and clearly marked ‘tender for the construction/rehabilitation of the particular projects’ should be delivered on/or before the expiration of two (2) weeks from the date of publication to: The Secretary, State Tenders Board, Edo State Ministry of Works, Sapele Road, Benin City. SIGNED: Mr. E. O. Odiai Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Works, Sapele Road, Benin City. NOTE (i) That Edo State Government reserves the right to verify any claim by the Companies. Companies should therefore include in their submission necessary authority and guarantee for such verification. (ii) Pre-qualified Companies will be required to pay a non-refundable tender fee of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only for each project in bank draft to obtain the full tender documents for the project.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
News
Newcross Rebuilds Primary School By THOMPSON ERHOMONSELE
IWEVBONewcross Petroleum Limited has
reconstructed Ato Primary School with a block of four classrooms, furnished with chairs, desks, white board,
DISCLAIMER
Master Kessington The Uzala Royal family and Onaghise family wish to categorically state that Master Kessington whose photograph appear here is not the biological child of Late Frank Onaghise. This fact was declared at an enlarged meeting held by the family on the 21st day of July, 2013. This disclaimer is as a result of doubts that surround the paternity of the said Kessington from pregnancy which the mother has all along refused to defend when called upon to do so until the death of our son Frank Onaghise. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
PUBLIC NOTICE I, Mr. Lucky Osunde of No 13 Erhunmwunse Street, off Ekenwan Road, Evbuotubu Quarters, Benin City, wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the bonafide owner of Land measuring 50ft by 100ft, lying and situate at Erhunmwunse Street, off Ekenwan Road, Evbuotubu Quarters, Benin City and to state that the original documents have since been declared missing since April 5, 2013. All efforts to locate the documents have proved abortive. All concerned authorities, agents, land speculators are hereby informed of this development and advised not to enter into transaction with anybody or authorities else than the original owner whose name is stated above. Take note that the land is not for sale and legal action will be taken against anybody who fail to comply with this notice. Signed: Lucky Osunde.
PUBLIC NOTICE TRUTH OF THE LIGHT DELIVERANCE MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has apply to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under CAMA of 1990 The Trustees are: 1. Prophet Godwin Madojemu - GO/ Chairman 2. Obaretin Monday - Secretary 3. Prophetess Omo Okosun -Member 4. Evang Uyi Madojemu. -Member 5. Mrs. Osazuwa Laura Osasogie -Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1) Preaching and teaching the undiluted word of God with neither fear nor favour. 2) To organize seminars, retreats, symposia, bible classes, crusades, conferences etc, for the propagation of the gospel. 3) Rebuilding the broken homes and proclaiming liberty to the captives. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, CAC, Maitama District, PMB 198 Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Trustees
PVC ceiling and ceiling fans and handed it over to Iwevbo Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State. The school, which was also provided with other facilities like water bore-hole with 1000 litre over-lead water storage tank 3.5kVA electric generating set and its house, head teacher ’s office, teachers’ common room and water cistern toilet for both male and female staff and pupils, was on Wednesday commissioned by the representative of the Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Oil and Gas as well as the Director of Oil and Gas in the Ministry, Mr. Dan Aigbavboa who also inspected the classrooms and the facilities in the school compound. Mr. Aigbavboa, who appreciated company for the
project, said Edo State Government would protect the interest of communities as well as investors’ installations in their host communities especially as government was committed to a mutually rewarding partnership with corporate bodies and enjoined Iwevbo Community to use it optimally. He advised the benefiting host community to protect the school and its facilities from vandalism and ensure peaceful environment for the company to operate. Both the chairman of Iwevbo Community Development Committee, Chief Ojo Adjene and the Head teacher Ato Primary School, Mr. Igbineweka Lucky thanked Newcross Petroleum Limited for reconstructing the school but demanded for infrastructure in the community as well as staff quarters and perimetre
PUBLIC NOTICE
CAVEAT EMPTOR LOSS OF ORIGINAL HOUSE DOCUMENTS I, HRH Kehinde O Ogiegor, of the Royal Palace, Egor, Benin City wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the bonafide owner of House, lying, situate and known as No. 20, Osasogie Street, Oliha Quarters, Benin City, which devolved on me in heir from my father. I wish to state further that the original title documents to the house have since been declared missing and all efforts to trace same proved abortive. The general public, concerned authorities, property buyers and Agents are hereby informed of this development and are advised that the house is not for sale for now. Further legal action will be taken against anybody or authority who act otherwise or enters into transaction with any other person else than the owner who is the above named. Signed: HRH. K.O Ogiegor
fencing for the school respectively. In his remark the representative of Newcross Petroleum Limited, Mr. Anthony Amajuoyi explained that the choice of the project was based on the identified need of the people-during the Needs Assessment Surveys conducted across the company’s host communities. While expressing the appreciation of the management of Newcross to Edo State and Orhionmwon Local Governments, traditional institution and its host communities for their cooperation and support, he sought their sustenance for the
peaceful operating environment for mutual benefits added that the company was building a sustainable relationship with its host communities, develop capacity and foster both social and economic empowerment. Also, the Supervisor, Community Development, National petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS),a subsidiary of NNPC Ahmed Abdullahi said the project was a project sharing contract for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), between NAPIMS and Newcross just as he hoped that the project would serve the purpose for which it was built.
2 Prison Inmates Regain Freedom
By INNOCENT OMOAKA/ WINIFRED OSASOBO/ DAVID LAWANI BENIN CITYIn continuation of the Chief Judge of Edo State and Chairman, Edo State Administration of Justice Committee, Justice Cromwell Idahosa’s visit to Prisons across the state, two Special Eases inmates at the Benin Central Prison were yesterday discharged. The two former inmates Osaro Jacob (38) and Omogiate Sunday (63) who have spent four and 10 months respectively in prison custody prior to regaining freedom yesterday were with critical medical condition. They were charged with offence including burglary, stealing, conspiracy and armed robbery. Speaking during the visit, Justice Idahosa lamented the high incidence of inmates still
in prison custody due to their inability to meet their bail conditions. He however directed Magistrate Courts to give accelerated hearing to bail cases before the courts that are due to lack of surety. Deputy Comptroller of Benin Central Prison Ibiang Ibiang out called on the state government to assist the Benin Central Prison with adequate logistics that would enhance their operations. He also expressed the need for more operational vehicles to convey inmates on awaiting trial list to the various courts in the state. Speaking with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER after regaining freedom Omogiate Sunday charged for alleged conspiracy, armed robbery, burglary and stealing, said he was framed up in the crime through text messages.
PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
CAVEAT EMPTOR
CAVEAT EMPTOR
This is to inform the General Public that Plot No 7B, Commercial Avenue, G. R. A, Benin City, Belongs to Mrs. Lucy Albert Okojie. The owner has no intention to sell the house. Any person (BUYERS) should Beware of any person impersonating the LANDLADY (Mrs. Lucy Albert Okojie) The original documents bearing the name of Mrs. Lucy Albert Okojie have long been declared missing by my husband. BEWARE! BEWARE!! BEWARE!!! Signed: Barr. Peter Bello Peter Bello & Co 100 B Sapele Road, Benin City 08051805959 & 08023352755
The general public is hereby informed that the property (or any part thereof) known and situate at: 16A and 16B, Avielele Close, Off Etete Road, Benin City, Edo State comprising twin Bungalows is not for sale. The family of the late Lt Col. S. M. Oguta (rtd) have neither instructed nor authorized anybody to sell and/or market the property on their behalf. Anyone who deals with any individual or institution purporting to act on behalf of the owners of the property does so at his or her own risk... Signed: Francis O. Oguta 2, Esugbayi Street, GRA, Lagos 08032014852, 08022234507
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
THE NIGERIAN
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Sublime Goal
THE man who spends his days on earth in pondering about himself can never a scend, but remains hampered. Such a man never advances in this way, although, his personal observation give him cause to imagine that he is over coming one fault after another, but he always revolves in a circle around himself, while the basic evil hidden within him does nothing but continuously create new forms. A man who is always observing and pondering over himself is the personification of the fighter against the nine – headed snake, no sooner is each head cut off than if grows a fresh, making the struggle endless, with nothing to mark in the way of progress on the fighter’s aide. Only a man of cheerful volition who keeps his gaze freely concentrated upon a sublime goal, instead of continually focusing all his attention upon himself, only he will advance and ascend towards the huminous heights. No child learns to walk without frequently fumbling, but, it almost invariably, gets up with a smile until, it is able to walk in safety. That is what man must do on his path through the world. Do not despair, lament or complain when you sometimes fall. Get up briskly and try again you must learn the lesson from each fall through your intuitive perception, however and not through mental observation. Then there will quite suddenly come a time when you need no longer fear another fall, because you have inwardly absorbed everything the previous ones have taught you. Cheerful, hearty laughter is the strongest antidote to darkness. Only it must not be a laugh of malicious pleasure on the other hand, pondering weights a person down and this alone is enough to explain that it keeps down and also, pulls down. Thus, man can only absorb through actual experiencing. Through his observing heal-ways places himself outside every experience, looking of himself with his dissecting and analytic mind as if at a stranger, instead of exercising his intuitive perception to the full on his own behalf if he looks at himself he must stand beside the intuitive perception. The very words to look at oneself, to observe oneself, imply this. Anything that befalls man in the way of hardship is very often called fate, and looked upon as a higher power which determines his life. But in reality, it is men themselves who shape their fate and karma, which depending on their free decision is either good or bad, exactly in accordance with the law that he who has sown in must reap the seed many times over, even if it be only in later earth – lives. Every moment man gives cause for fateful consequences in the future and every moment he stands in the reactions of previous decisions from the present and from past earth – lives. Thus, men living on earth today must also, be answerable to themselves for what they willed and thought in former earth – lives. In this connection it matters not whether the volition was general or directed at definite other human being. This should exhort us to act with caution and heighten our sense of responsibility, so that in the future, whether on earth or in the beyond, evil reactions that darken and make our lives rainful will no longer be possible. Abd-ru-shin says that men living on earth today must also, be answerable to themselves for what they willed and thought in former earth – lives. In this connection, it matters not whether the volition was general or directed at definite other human beings. This should exhort as to act with caution and heighten our sense of responsibility, so that in the future, whether on earth or in the beyond,
evil reactions that darken and make our lives painful will no longer be possible. Therefore, let everyone who is struck by more or less severe “blows of fate” remember above all that he is the originator and not some other person. Perhaps at one time, he has done something evil to a fellow human being, who had to suffer from it innocently. To the innocent sufferer, the laws of creation always bring a compensation in some form or other, provided he forgives the wrong-
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Man And Nature With O.C. MADU 08056379608
the laws of creation, which in carrying out his free will, led him attain to luminous heights or to dark depths. Do not smile about it for it is true, your thoughts, words and works are recorded in the Book of life by
“According to this, it is believed that the decree of God, firmly established from eternity, determines who among men is admitted to eternal bliss and who is doomed to eternal damnation. This gives the impression that from the outset a definite number of human beings are allowed to attain salvation and another define number are eternally lost.”
doer. But to the quilty one, dark threads of karma become attached at the very moment of the deed, which unfailingly return to him as the fruits of his volition. This is then the “punishment” which he inflicts upon himself. In reality it is the just balance of his volition, the real “compulsion to atonement. According to this, it is believed that the decree of God, firmly established from eternity, determines who among men is admitted to eternal bliss and who is doomed to eternal damnation. This gives the impression that from the outset a definite number of human beings are allowed to attain salvation and another define number are eternally lost. Against this stands the free will of decision bestowed on man by God, which implies that it lies solely with man himself whether he wishes to strive upwards or downwards. The executors of his free decision are then
“Anything that befalls man in the way of hardship is very often called fate, and looked upon as a higher power which determines his life. But in reality, it is men themselves who shape their fate and karma, which depending on their free decision is either good or bad, exactly in accordance with the law that he who has sown in must reap the seed many times over, even if it be only in later earth – lives.”
none other than yourself. Thus, the decision for eternal life or for eternal death lies not with God but only with man. He himself bears the responsibility for his deeds and thoughts which lead him upwards or down. Through his laws God only allows the decisions of man to be carried out. Only in this is revealed to human beings the Eternal Counsel of God which from the inception of creation is expressed in his immutable laws and which is closely linked with the omniscience of God that cannot be separated from justice and love. Although, the law of reciprocal action (seed and harvest) is strict and inexorable like all the laws in creation, yet the grace of God has also been woven into it. Only this gives man the possibility at all times of being able to redeem a transgression against a Divine Law or Commandment, thus, an offence, a sin, as soon as he has recognised his wrong volition in the experiencing and in steadfast striving turns inwardly to the good. That is a Grace of God which many people endeavour in vain to understand. The concept of grace must therefore, not be taken onesidelly. Forgiveness is not possible through faith alone, if faith is not followed by the good deed. Thanks for reading.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
FIFA Confirms SenegalUganda Game For Morocco THE Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has finally confirmed the Group J 2014 World Cup qualifier between Senegal and Uganda Cranes will be played in Morocco. Originally the game was meant to be played in Conakry, Guinea, but the world body together with CAF moved the game to another venue. According to the FIFA information desk and the website, the game will be played on September 7 at the Stade de Marrakech Stadium. Senegal’s home ground was banned by the World body because of crowd trouble last year. The Uganda Cranes are currently second with eight points, one less than Senegal. The Cecafa regional champions need an outright win to qualify for the last phase of the World Cup qualifiers, while Senegal can afford a draw and sail through. The two teams settled for a 1-1 draw in the first meeting
at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, last year. Papiss Cisse, who scored in Senegal’s game in Kampala and currently has four goals to his credit in the qualifiers, will miss the game in Morocco after accumulating two yellow cards. Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic told MTNFootball.com that irrespective of where the game is played, his team simply has to prepare well. “Of course Morrocco is even nearer for most of the Senegal professionals based in Europe. But all we need to do is prepare well to be able to win the game and qualify to the next round,” said Micho. Since taking over on May 21st, the Serbian has won four matches and lost one away to Libya in an International friendly. The Cranes beat Liberia and Angola in 2014 World Cup qualifier ties and defeated Tanzania twice in the 2014 Africa Nations Championship qualifiers, all under Micho.
Injury Costs Ogbu $150,000 Deal A MYSTERY injury has
• Godfrey Oboabona
Ikpeba Faults Oboabona Arsenal Snub FORMER Africa Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba has said it was wrong for Godfrey Oboabona not to undergo trials with EPL side Arsenal. Oboabona has said it was Arsene Wenger at French club disrespectful for Arsenal to Monaco, said the Sunshine ask him to undergo trials after Stars skipper got it wrong. what he has achieved with the Ikpeba told Super Eagles. MTNFootball.com:”Oboabona But Ikpeba, who played was wrongly advised, he under Arsenal manager should have gone for the trials even if he does not make it into Arsenal, another English side would have seen him. whereabouts, decided to cut “I know he would say he has his monthly pay by half with won the AFCON and plays for effect from July 2013.” Sunshine Stars but he should Gbolahan Salami, a big fan understand that it’s not the of super brat Balotelli, has a same way these European track record of indiscipline, coaches view European and but has recently said he has South America players they view African players. turned a new leaf. “Yes, we have talent but you
need to understand how they play, adjust to their weather and a lot of things, so I think he should have gone for the trials because I know Arsene Wenger has a lot of respect for African players.”
dashed the dream of Brendan Ogbu pocketing a lucrative deal with Tanzanian champions Yanga FC. The former Heartland goal getter suffered the injury while warming up for a trial match that would have earned him a deal worth $150,000 in six months. “Ogbu is in Nigeria now. He could not sign the deal with Yanga FC because he got injured while warming up for the trial match in which the team want to assess him before signing the deal. He had a muscle tear,” a source informed MTNFootball.com The big striker, who has also featured for Enugu Rangers and fresh from trials in Egypt, is likely to be out of action for between four and six weeks.
Shooting Stars Place Salami On Half Pay SHOOTING Stars have
placed star striker and Mario Balotelli fan Gbolahan Salami on half pay after he went AWOL. In a release sent to MTNFootball.com, 3SC spokesman Jubril Arowolo said Salami has failed to show up at the team’s training for the past two days without any official permission. “The management board of 3SC have taken a drastic step in enforcing discipline in the team and so placed Gbolahan Salami on half salary,” announced Arowolo.
• Obafemi Martins
“He has failed to turn up for the club’s training sessions in the last two days without official permission. As such, the club, after Tuesday’s training session and with no visible clue on the striker’s
Martins Consider Trabzonspor NOMADIC Nigeria (Spain). Transfer striker Obafemi Martins is open to meet officials from Turkish club Trabzonspor over a possible transfer. Martins is needed by Trabzonspor to fortify their attack as they aim to shine
in the forthcoming UEFA Europa League and so the Turkish club wish to meet with the Nigeria striker over a possible move. According to Fanatik.com, the Nigeria striker is being considered as it seems Trabzonspor have missed out on Cote d’Ivoire star Salomon Kalou, who is wanted by EPL side West Ham United. Martins currently features for Seattle Sounders in the Major League Soccer (MLS) of the United States of America. He has previously featured for Inter Milan (Italy), Newcastle United, Birmingham City (England), Wolfsburg), Rubin Kazan (Russia) as well as Levante
‘Obagoal’ will join up with former Chelsea stars Flourant Mouluda and Jose Bosingwa at Trabzonspor, if this deal goes through.
• Brendan Ogbu
. . . Turkish Club Joins Race For Nigeria Int’l TURKISH Super League club Gaziantepspor are the latest club interested in signing Nigeria international defender Godfrey Oboabona. Gaziantepspor are keen to fortify their defence before the new season kicks off and
. . .Ofoedu May Follow TURKISH second division two club Karsiyaka have reached an agreement to sign Nigerian striker Chikeluba Ofoedu. Talks have reached an advanced stage in respect of this transfer as Ofoedu was said to have agreed all their terms and the former Enugu Rangers star will put pen on paper this week, according to fanatik.com Ofoedu contributed to 1461 Trabzon fine run last season as he led them to a promotion play-off position. He scored seven goals in the league and five in the cup
last season for 1461 Trabzon, but his loan deal was not extended.
• Chikeluba Ofoedu
Oboabona is their number one target according to media reports in Turkey. Oboabona is valued at a million Euros and recently turned down a trial at Arsenal. The Sunshine Stars captain, who has been a force in the heart of Eagles defence, is a subject of transfer speculations and has been linked to a rash of clubs in Ukraine, France, England and Germany.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Tottenham Want Modric Back In Bale Deal
TOTTENHAM Hotspur will agree to sell Gareth Bale to Real Madrid as long as they get Luka Modric back as part of the deal, according to reports. Despite Spurs’ firm stance over the Wales international, a move to the Bernabeu this summer looks increasingly likely, with the only remaining issue being what an overall deal involves. Real have so far reportedly offered £80 million while Tottenham are looking for a package in
excess of £100 million. Tottenham are keen that they are not caught short by losing Bale, even for a huge sum, without them having a top player to fill the void. Although Modric left White Hart Lane under something of a cloud a year ago for an initial £28 million, reports in The Times and the London-based Evening Standard suggest some of that fee is still outstanding and a guarantee of first-team football might tempt him
Zidane To Spurs: Let
Bale Talk To Real
ZINEDINE Zidane has urged Tottenham to allow Gareth Bale to speak with Real Madrid over a possible move. It was reported at the weekend that Tottenham Hotspur had turned down a world record bid in the region of £82 million for the Wales international. Zidane, who has been installed as an assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti, said: “If he has expressed a desire to join Madrid, then Tottenham should give him permission to speak with us. “The chance to play for Real Madrid might only come around once in a player’s lifetime. “And it is understandable Gareth does not want to miss out on it.” Madrid are reported to be preparing a new approach in an effort to secure a player who was named PFA Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year and Footballer of the Year in England last season. Zidane added: “This is modern football. You have to pay to get the best players in Europe. “Last season Gareth was on the same level as Ronaldo and Messi. The best players can have not so great games but
change a game with a moment of brilliance. “Those are the sort of players that win you Champions League and league titles.” Having already signed Isco, Asier Illarramendi, Daniel Carvajal and Casemiro, Real have spent heavily this summer but Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is believed to be demanding 145 million euros (£126m) for Bale. Another Madrid affiliate, Sergio Ramos, adopted a more ambiguous tone with regards to the possibility of signing Bale. Madrid captain Iker Casillas had hailed Bale as “one of the best three or four players in the world” but Ramos kept his cards close to his chest when asked by reporters whether Carlo Ancelotti’s side needed to add Bale to their squad considering the enormous price Spurs are demanding for him. “I think that the price of the player is dictated by the market,” he said. “It’s not my job to decide whether we should sign Bale or someone else. It’s important for Madrid to have a large number of young players and Spanish players in the team.
MANUEL Pellegrini has confirmed that Edin Dzeko plays a central part in his plans by saying he will build the Manchester City attack around the Bosnian.
- Pellegrini
back to North London. When questioned about Real’s interest in Bale at the weekend, Modric spoke of his admiration for his former team-mate. “I have a very good relationship with Bale, but I don’t talk about players who aren’t in the team,” he told Marca. “All I can say is that he’s a great player.” If Modric does return to White Hart Lane then it will leave Manchester United contemplating another of their transfer targets to move elsewhere. Reports on Tuesday suggested that the Premier League champions were preparing to launch a £25 million bid for Modric as their search for a top-class midfielder continues, having seen Thiago Alcantara move to Bayern Munich and Cesc Fabregas seemingly set to stay at Barcelona.
. . . As Hoddle Warns Against Real Move FORMER England and Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle feels it would be a mistake for Gareth Bale to join Real Madrid this summer, believing the Wales ace might not yet be ready to move abroad. Madrid are reportedly willing to break the £80million world-record fee they paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 to take Bale to the Bernabeu. Bale is said to be keen to speak to Madrid, although Spurs have insisted the 24year-old, who signed a new
Dzeko, Man City’s Main Striker
• Edin Dzeko
Dzeko only started 16 league games last season and was frustrated that former manager Roberto Mancini tended to use him as a substitute. But Pellegrini has been quick to reassure Dzeko, who had been expected to leave, that he has a future in his team. And though the Chilean has signed two other forwards this summer -Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo - he said Dzeko tops the striking order. “We could have signed other players but I consider [Dzeko] the main striker of the team and I’m sure his
• Gareth Bale, close to Madrid move
performance along the season will be really good,” Pellegrini said at a press conference in Munich, where City are preparing for the Audi Cup. “I very much trust him and I can say that every other player that have come are a support for a squad that needs to have more than one player in every position.” Dzeko was the player of the tournament in the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong, scoring winners for City in both the semi-final and the final. ity face AC Milan in the Audi Cup on Wednesday before taking on either Bayern Munich or Sao Paulo on Thursday.
four-year contract at White Hart Lane in June 2012, is not for sale. Hoddle concedes there’s a “price on everyone’s head in football” but he feels Bale would be best served staying with Tottenham for now and building on his remarkable 2012/13 campaign which saw him named player of the year by the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Writers’ Association. Hoddle told talkSPORT: “It’s a difficult one but if you’re talking about the lad himself, I would definitely, if I was advising him, I would say he’s not quite ready to go abroad. “I think he’s had a sensational year, for him to pick the reins up in that form would be nigh-on impossible straight away. I don’t feel he’s quite ready off the pitch to make that move.” Hoddle, who knows what it
NANI has deflected talk of a move by insisting his ambition for the season is to help Manchester United retain their Premier League title. Monaco claimed the Portugal international had been offered to them and as Nani’s contract expires in 2014, United have to either sell him or risk losing him for nothing.
Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa snubbed the chance to return to the German club. Kagawa left Dortmund for United last summer after enjoying a successful two-year spell at Signal Iduna Park. The Japanese ace endured a frustrating first season at Old Trafford, however, struggling to hold down a regular place in the United side due to injuries. Kagawa has been linked with
a move back to Dortmund this summer and Klopp has revealed that he spoke to the playmaker, but that he wants to stay at Manchester United. “This is not an issue for him this year, not even for us,” Klopp told Sky Deutschland. “It was clear relatively quickly, Shinji wants to prevail this year at Manchester United. I did not expect a different answer, you just have to ask even once.”
is like to leave Spurs and move abroad after swapping the north London side for Monaco in 1987, added: “It’s one thing setting a standard, it’s keeping the standard which is the hardest thing, the consistency. “My word how consistent he’s been, he’s been nine out of 10 every game, some of the goals he’s scored have been sensational. “That’s what people want to see in football, they pay
good money and a lot of money nowadays to go and Real Madrid’s fans will be purring at the thought of having possibly him and Ronaldo in the same team. They can go back and challenge the world again. “When you go abroad the first four, five, six months could be difficult for him to regain that form and if his family are not with him 100 per cent all those things come into it.
Nani Committed To Man Utd
Kagawa Turns Down Dortmund BORUSSIA Dortmund coach Return Jurgen Klopp has revealed that
But the winger, who joined United in 2007, said he is focusing on securing his fifth league title in his time in England. He told MUTV: “I hope to win the league again and, for my personal wishes, I want to be at my best and score a lot of goals. Like I said, I just need to be at my best and then everything will come together.” After scoring 10 goals in each of the last two seasons, Nani only struck four times last year during an injury-hit season. And he missed United’s preseason tour of Asia and Australia after undergoing surgery on his nose. But he scored twice in Monday’s 2-0 win at Crewe and hopes to be fully fit for the start of the season.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Golf Yang, Olazabal Named Royal Trophy Captains Asia’s first male winner of a golf major, Yang Yong-eun, will captain the continent at the Royal Trophy against a European team led by Jose Maria Olazabal, organisers said on Tuesday. South Korean Yang, who beat world number one Tiger Woods to claim the 2009 US PGA Championship, takes over from Japan’s Joe Ozaki for the defence of the annual team title at the
Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, China from Dec. 20-22. Ozaki had led Asia in five of the six previous editions of the eight-man event. “I am truly honoured to undertake the leadership role of Asian team captain for the next edition of the Royal Trophy,” Yang said in a statement on Tuesday.
“I am committed to building a very strong team for our continent’s defence of the Royal Trophy. I will do my utmost to retain stewardship of the trophy in Asia and look forward to the matches with great excitement and anticipation.” Asia won the team event, based loosely on the Ryder Cup format, by the slightest of margins last year in Brunei, with Yang and compatriot Kim Kyung-tae prevailing in a sudden death playoff after three days of competition had finished 8-8. Despite the loss, Olazabal has been retained as captain of Europe as they seek a fifth win in the event.
Davis Cup
Eurosport Secures Croatia VGB Tie British Eurosport will show Great Britain’s Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against Croatia exclusively live. The tie will take place in the city of Umag on the north west coast of Croatia, starting on Friday 13th September.
Athletics
Star-Studded Great North Run Will Be ‘Amazing’ - Farah Double Olympic champion Mo Farah faces one of the most challenging contests of his career when facing Ethiopian superstars Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie at the Bupa Great North Run. The awesome trio of Olympic and World champions will put their reputations on the line when they clash in the same race for the first time ever at the world’s greatest half marathon on September 15. “No one could ask for a better ‘dream team’ to participate in their event and we are delighted they will feature in what has the makings of the greatest head-tohead in half marathon history,” said Brendan Foster, founder of the event. “We’ve had many fantastic races down the Newcastle to South Shields course in past years, but this will be a competition everyone in the athletics world will want to watch. Haile may now be a veteran but he remains an accomplished performer and we should remember he won the Bupa Great North Run three years ago in a very impressive time of 59:33.” Gebrselassie, who missed last year’s race through injury, is looking forward to sparring with
Mo Farah
his younger rivals. “I’m just delighted I am returning to the Bupa Great North Run,” said the ‘Emperor’, as he is affectionately known. “I can still compete at the highest level and I look forward to giving both of them a run for their money. “This is something special for everyone. It’s going to be a tough contest for all of us which I am sure will result in an exciting race.” Farah, by contrast, is a relative newcomer to the distance whilst Bekele will be making an eagerly awaited 13.1 miles debut. Farah trains in the United States and was last summer’s double Olympic gold medallist at 5,000m and 10,000m, replicating the feat Bekele achieved four years earlier at the Beijing Games. He is already the fastest all-time British half marathoner. The 30-year-old recorded 1:00:23 when triumphing in his first outing two years ago in New York, the time being ruled out for record purposes because of the course’s downhill gradient. Then last February he smashed Nick Rose’s 1985 UK record with a time of 1:00:59, scoring a very tense victory when outsprinting another Ethiopian heavyweight
Gebre Gebremariam, the former World Cross Country title holder, in New Orleans. After completing his main target of the summer he should hopefully win the World 5,000m and 10,000m gold medals at the Championships being held in Moscow from August 10-18. He will now be determined to become the first Briton to win the Bupa Great North Run since Steve Kenyon in 1985. “I competed in the mile and two mile events on Great North Run weekend in past years and am delighted to finally make my debut in the main event,” said Farah. “It is always one of the world’s top half marathon races and this year promises to be a great race with me against Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele. “I remember watching Haile win the 2000 Olympic Games in a sprint finish in Sydney when I was just 17 years old. “I have experience on the roads but this will be only my third half marathon race. I won in New York in 20011 and New Orleans earlier this year. I hope to make it a third win in the North East.” Bekele, acknowledged as the best distance track and cross country runner in the history of athletics and along with Gebrselassie recognised as a genuine legend in the sport, is looking forward to the transition to road running and this will be his first major test before stepping up to a full marathon. “I started my international career when winning the Great North Cross Country in Newcastle over 10 years ago and I was grateful for that opportunity,” said Bekele, then a teenager. “Now I’m looking forward to my half marathon debut. It’s not going to be easy for me as the others have more experience over the distance and yes, I am the newcomer just starting to pursue a serious road running career. “But I’ll be coming to the race fully prepared and determined to
give it my best shot against two great athletes.” The 30-year-old, determined just as he was when launching his spectacular 5,000m and 10,000m career and following in Gebrselassie’s footsteps as global number one and world record holder, knows the Great North Run will provide a perfect backdrop to launch a serious road racing career.
Great Britain will be looking to return to the World Group for the first time in five years and may be boosted by the return of the current Wimbledon and US Open champion Andy Murray, who has indicated that he wants to play in the tie. Without the world number two, Great Britain completed a stunning comeback in April when they recovered from going 0-2 down to beat Russia 3-2 in Coventry. Leon Smith has spoken about Murray’s return helping his team to continue the momentum of that win. Murray played alongside his brother Jamie when the two countries last met in 2007, with Tim Henman completing the team in his last appearance in the tournament. Despite their loss to Italy in the previous round, the Croatians can call on a strong group of players, with three men in the top 100. British Eurosport
Managing Director David Kerr said, “We are very excited about covering Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Croatia live and the prospect of watching Leon Smith’s team build on their amazing win over Russia. “There is a lot of talent on both teams and we are assured some great tennis, with the added possibility of Andy Murray’s return. “It completes a strong month of tennis on British Eurosport following as it does our coverage of the US Open.” Lawrence Robertson, Commercial Director of the LTA added, “We’re delighted that long-time supporters of British Davis Cup tennis British Eurosport have chosen to cover our forthcoming tie against Croatia. As with all if the previous ties they have covered, they will ensure all British tennis fans will be given the chance to cheer on Leon’s team in September”
THE NIGERIAN
31
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
President Says 75% Tax Would Kill French Football
THE president of the French football league (LFP) has said he believes the country’s proposed 75% tax rate for millionaires would signal “the death of football in France”. Meanwhile, Thiriez said the Frederic Thiriez made his reasoning behind moves to comments after receiving an force principality club Monaco offer from the finance minister, to adhere to the same tax laws Pierre Moscovici, to talk about as all the other clubs in the the LFP’s concerns. French league by 2014 were Thiriez said clubs would find sound. it impossible to cope with the He added that he hoped the increase in costs brought about by the law, proposed by Francois Hollande’s Socialist government. “Nothing has been decided yet. We are talking, which is important,” he said in quotes reported by RMC. “What is certain is that, if this tax were applied in the terms presented, it would be the death of football in France - let’s be clear about that. “There would be an increase in costs of 30% in one fell swoop, and no company could withstand that. It would be even more unfair given that individual sportsmen and women in golf, tennis and Formula One, would escape it, as would artists. “The only ones to really have to pay this tax would be football clubs. From the bottom of my heart I hope that, along with the government, we can find a solution. I think that is the minister’s wish – and, in any case, it is mine.” The LFP warned that the new tax could cost French clubs +80 million but, as well as querying that figure, Moscovici stressed that it would last for only two years. Andre He told L’Equipe: “My minister’s calculations make it around +45 million. This tax is an effort requested for a limited period, of companies that pay extremely big salaries, in virtue of the effort that everyone has to OLYMPIQUE Marseille make to help the country have given the green light to recover.”
LFP and the club could find an amicable solution, but stressed: “If the tax laws don’t change, Monaco would be +50 million better off every year. That is the equivalent of the budget of a club like Montpellier. We have given ourselves a year to implement the same rules for every club in the league. We gave Monaco a one-
year delay. Let’s use that year to talk.” Currently, Monaco benefit from a 19th-century agreement that means foreign players do not have to pay income tax - a rule that has helped the Ligue 2 champions splash out more than +145 million on players such as Radamel Falcao and Joao Moutinho this summer.
Valencia Eye Torres FERNANDO Torres could be heading back to La Liga with reports suggesting Valencia will attempt to replace Roberto Soldado with the Chelsea striker. Soldado is nearing a switch to Tottenham in a £26 million deal, and with the role up front being vacated by the 28-year-old at the Mestalla, Valencia see Torres as the ideal candidate to fill the gap. According to Spanish newspaper Superdeporte, Valencia have been in contact with Chelsea over a possible deal. Torres signed for Chelsea for £50 million in January 2011, but it is believed that Valencia will not offer more than half of that fee for the former Atletico Madrid man. It is not yet known whether Torres would be willing to head back to Spain, or whether Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich would be prepared to take a loss on the player. With Chelsea set to continue
their pursuit of unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, it appears that Torres will not feature in Jose Mourinho’s starting line-up. Torres enjoyed his best season at Stamford Bridge during the last campaign, netting 22 times in 64 appearances, but despite the solid figures has yet to impress since his move from Liverpool, with only 34 goals bagged in 134 games.
PROSECUTORS charged Bayern Munich’s powerful president Uli Hoeness with tax evasion Tuesday, a court said, after a months-long high-profile probe that has rocked German sport and politics. The superior regional court in Munich said in a statement that it must now decide whether the case brought by the local prosecutor’s office will go to trial. “Due to the volume of the investigation files as well as the fact that a defence request to delay answering to the charges for one month was granted, a
decision of the court on starting a trial is not to be expected before the end of September 2013,” court spokeswoman Andrea Titz said in the statement. She said the court would not provide further details on the proceedings before it takes its decision. Hoeness, 61, a giant of the European sports world, was arrested on March 20, then released on bail for five million euros ($6.6 million), as part of an investigation into unpaid taxes on a Swiss account in his name. The embattled executive apologised for the scandal in May and offered to temporarily stand down as Bayern president. But the team’s board decided he should stay in office, saying it would continue to “monitor” the investigation into the former midfielder who won the 1974 World Cup with West Germany. The revelations have sparked huge controversy in an election year as opponents of Chancellor Angela Merkel charge she has been weak on the issue of tax evasion by wealthy Germans. Merkel herself has admitted she was “disappointed” in Hoeness’ alleged conduct. Bayern have had a remarkably successful streak, becoming the first German team last season to win the hat trick of European, league and cup titles.
Bayern Chief Charged With Tax Evasion
Ayew
Andre Ayew Gets Marseille Green Light Andre Ayew to seek a move away from the side for the right price.
Suarez ’ll Cost Arsenal £50m
LIVERPOOL striker Luis Suarez will not be sold for less than £50 million after the Uruguayan accepted he does not have a £40 million release clause in his contract, according to reports. Arsenal believed they had triggered a clause last week by bidding £40,000,001 but were swiftly informed that the only significance of that figure was that the former Ajax man was required to be informed of the offer. Suarez had been tipped to challenge Liverpool’s stance with the Premier League but the forward, who wasthe Reds’ top scorer last season, has sought no action.
Luis Suarez
That leaves Arsenal needing to stump up Liverpool’s asking price of £50 million if they are to prise Suarez away from Anfield. The Telegraph quotes a senior Liverpool source saying: “We’ve all examined the clause in detail. All it obliges is for us to enter good faith negotiations about Luis’s future. “There is absolutely no obligation to sell and that is very clear.” It is believed the Reds had considered seeking clarification from Arsenal about why they entered the £40,000,001 bid - as the contract information was confidential and it is against Premier League regulations for rival clubs to access it - but they are not pursuing the matter. Real Madrid have also shown an interest in Suarez but Gareth Bale remains their No. 1 target and the Uruguayan would only return to Los Blancos’ radar if they fail to land him. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has acknowledged the possibility of losing Suarez but believes his squad will be more than able to cope if the striker moves on, and has paid tribute to his squad for remaining focused throughout the saga. “It could have unsettled them but it hasn’t,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. “It’s two-fold
Fernando Torres
really. Firstly, it says a lot about their professionalism. The environment we’re creating is that the star will always be the team. “We want the top players here. But if, for whatever reason we don’t, we will always know we can rely on the team and each other. Secondly, it’s also testament to Luis. He hasn’t been moping about. “It’s obviously difficult when you come back after a break, but he has settled in and been working well. The harmony in the group is very good. The spirit is strong. Right across the club, there is a one-club mentality. If we can keep it that way, we can have a great season.” Suarez was given a break after playing for Uruguay at the Confederations Cup in Brazil in June, joining up with the Liverpool squad during their tour of the Far East and Australia. Rodgers’ players are back on Merseyside to prepare for Steven Gerrard’s testimonial, against Olympiakos at Anfield on Saturday. Suarez will be available for that match, but is banned from domestic competitive football until September, having been handed a 10-match suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League match in April.
The 23-year old has two years left on his current contract and the club are willing to sell the winger for a reported £15 million. Premier League side Liverpool have emerged the favourites to sign the winger in recent weeks with manager Brendan Rodgers being his admirer. But the Reds are yet to make an official bid for the Ghana international. The son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele would prefer playing for a side in the Champions League so the protracted move
to Liverpool could fail to progress. AC Milan were previously linked with the winger and could be back in again for the talented player. “Ayew has informed me of his intentions. If an offer from a big club comes in and we like it, I will look at it,” Marseille president Vincent Labrune said. Ayew made 35 appearances for the Ligue One side last season, scoring nine goals. He was pivotal in Marseille finishing second in the French Ligue 1 behind rivals Paris SaintGermain.
Banner Controversy Sparks S/Korea - Japan History Rows
POLITICAL banners and a military flag displayed at a football match between South Korea and Japan have dragged top government officials from both countries into a diplomatic spat. The Korea Football Association (KFA) issued a statement Wednesday insisting that Japanese fans waving a large “rising sun” Japanese military flag had incited South Korean supporters at Sunday’s East Asia Cup match in Seoul. The home fans had unfurled a giant banner in the first half that read: “There is no future for a people that have forgotten history” — a reference to Japan’s 1910-45 occupation of
South Korea. Many South Koreans believe Japan has failed to atone for abuses during the colonial period which remains a constant source of tension between the two countries. The banner was taken down at half-time, but Japan’s football association still lodged an official complaint and demanded an explanation from the KFA. Two other banners displayed before the game bore portraits of a Korean independence activist who assassinated a top Tokyo official in 1909, and the admiral who fought off a Japanese invasion in the 16th century. On Monday, Japan’s chief
cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said the banners were “extremely regrettable” and violated a FIFA ban on political statements. Sports Minister Hakubun Shimomura went further on Tuesday, saying the style of the banners called into question “the nature of the people” in South Korea. The South Korean foreign ministry then responded with a statement deploring Shimomura’s “rude comments.” Although the size of the South Korean banners suggested the protest was pre-planned, Wednesday’s KFA statement argued it had been triggered by the away supporters’ military flag-waving.
CMYK
THE NIGERIAN
32
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
Rape In the Sanctuary THE church has since become a cracked record, no thanks to the randy pastors. Leaders fight dirty for positions. If the full facts were known, we would easily find that 50% of the course loads in our courts emanate from the pulpit. We defecate on the alter; rip off pages of the Bible to clean up; and go free. The pastor has lost the moral courage to question us. After all, he has just completed a secret burial of a member of the choir that he impregnated and took through a failed abortion. It’s a sordid affair! In the beginning, the church was one place where people thought they could seek protection in times of trouble. Every definition of rape, from Wikipedia to the Black’s Law Dictionary or the Nigerian Criminal Code, accepts basically the same attributes – sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’s consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated or below the legal age of consent. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (1999) estimates that 91% of rape victims are female while 9% are male. Conversely, 99% of the offenders are male while 1% is female. To qualify for rape, the act does not necessarily have to contain all the elements
enumerated above. If we were to restrict ourselves to the issue of consent, Ed Gein, the Wisconsin necrophiliac would have remained totally innocent in rape records. Before he was arrested in 1957, Ed Gein was a sexually frustrated man who got a kick from digging up newly buried female corpses, using them to satisfy his sexual urge and eating parts of them. In the past, anything was fair in war, love and politics. When an army
comforting her in their dialect, “My daughter, dooo, be patient, only five of them remaining”. This debit side of the war was commonplace. The credit side was much brighter. The Northern soldiers married our beautiful girls as the war progressed and today, we have all the fine results to show for their efforts at uniting the nation all over the place. Things are changing. In 1998, Judge Navanethem Pillay of the International
two weeks: Pastor accused of raping minors at orphanage – The Punch; Court adjourns case against Pastor to September 24; Court remands pastor for alleged rape of church member – Vanguard; CAC Pastor allegedly rapes, impregnates church member; Pastor rapes and impregnates teenage girl in his church; Man, 40, rapes 10-month old girl inside church – Online Nigeria; Shameless Pastor rapes 12year old girl – Church Daily Post Nigeria;
Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector General of Police
captured a place, soldiers raped the girls with impunity. Rape was regarded as the spoils of war; the fringe benefit for soldiers. During the Biafran war, it became a disadvantage to be beautiful. When the soldiers captured one of those costal towns along the River Niger, a beautiful girl was held captive. With the mother at the sitting room, ten soldiers lined up to take their turns in that single borehole. The girl was wailing in excruciating pains in the room, the mother was
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda declared: “From time immemorial, rape has been regarded as spoils of war. Now it will be considered a war crime. We want to send out a strong message that rape is no longer a trophy of war.” The happenings in the house of God in Nigeria today provide a most frightening glimpse into our future. The message is coming out loud and clear, that rape is right if it is in the church. We have randomly picked up a few headlines in the Newspapers of the past
Nigerian Bishop rapes female student…. Call it sexual perversity or promiscuity; it is all happening in the church. Enter Pastor Fidelis Eze of the Deeper Life Bible
Church, Abudu Branch. It is a double-barrel attack: Paraded by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly raping two eleven-year old girls. And then, Pastor Philip Ogbebor – allegedly had carnal knowledge of a 20year old male member of his church; administered secret oaths on him and threatened to kill him if he told anyone. Bishop Chibuike Nwabueze personally stated his own case. He was invited to minister at Calvary Army Ministry, Rumuoji Eneka in Obio Akpor LGA. After preaching, he went to rest. While he was resting, a girl came for deliverance. While he was yet pleading the blood of Jesus on the girl, she had undressed. Before he could restrain the girl, he was already reading her New Testament. Nwabueze says he had been set up by the host pastor because of the tussle over the chairmanship of the Rivers State Communion of Bishops. Meanwhile a pregnancy has resulted and an abortion procured. Whichever way the coin falls, he is a culprit: head he loses; tail, he does not win. The chairmanship
rivalry only succeeds in exposing another side – the dirty politics in the church. Where do we go from here? First, rape is madness and like all mad people do, rapists deserve our prayers. The church must continually pray for them. Second, rape is the moral equivalent of war and it must be treated as such! The more advanced democracies of the world are already facing it squarely. We have enough laws in our statute books to deal with the menace. While Section 358 of the Criminal Code prescribes life sentence for anyone found guilty of rape, Section 359 prescribes 14 years imprisonment for attempted rape. Most importantly, true cleansing of the church must start from within. The easiest way of perpetuating evil is for good men to do nothing. Decent members of the church community cannot continue to watch while these randy pastors drag everyone deeper into the abyss. We want to hear the hot debates and correctional fights raging in their fold!
“Second, rape is the moral equivalent of war and it must be treated as such! The more advanced democracies of the world are already facing it squarely. We have enough laws in our statute books to deal with the menace.”
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