Nigerian observer 02 01 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 38 • NO.389 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2014 • N100. 0 0

STYLE Page 19 Overcoming insecurity, low self esteem

MOTORING Page 20

Motor Insurance

Oshiomhole condoles Soyinka on daughter’s death

BENIN CITY - Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has commiserated with Prof Wole Soyinka on the death of his daughter, Iyetade, at the age of 48 after a brief illness.

In a condolence

message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, Comrade Oshiomhole said, “we learnt with a rude shock about the death of your beloved

daughter, Iyetade. Our hearts are with you and the entire Soyinka family at this very difficult period.

“While we grieve over the death of your loving

ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated that the 1914 amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates, which gave birth to Nigeria is not a mistake, but an act of God. The president’s “For us therefore, position is contained in a today is not just the New Year message to beginning of a new year, the nation, made but the end of a century available to State House of national existence and correspondents by the the beginning of another.

P r e s i d e n t i a l “It is a moment for spokesperson, Dr. sober reflection and for Reuben Abati. pride in all that is great “Exactly 100 years ago about Nigeria. today, on January 1, “Whatever challenges 1914, the British colonial we may have faced, authorities amalgamated whatever storms we may what was then the have confronted and separate protectorates of survived, Nigeria Southern Nigeria and remains a truly blessed Northern Nigeria, giving country,” he said. birth to the single The president paid geopolitical entity known tribute to the nation’s as Nigeria. founding fathers as well

as the heroes and heroines who had made the nation united till fate.

“As I noted, a few days ago, the amalgamation of 1914 was certainly not a mistake but a blessing.

“As we celebrate 100 years of nationhood, we must resolve to continue

daughter, we take solace in the fact that she lived a worthy life as a mother, an accomplished medical practitioner and was an Continues on page 2

1914 Almagamation, an act of God - Jonathan to work together as one, united people, to make our country even greater,” he said.

The president specifically appreciated

the citizens for their prayers and perseverance all through the outgone year.

He assured that the administration would

remain and fully committed to the p r o g r e s s i v e development of the country and the consolidation of peace, unity and democratic governance.

The president noted that notwithstanding the Continues on page 2

Igbinedion rededicates self to God, humanity

By MATTHEW OKAGHA

BENIN CITY – The Patriarch of the House of Igbinedion and Esama of Benin Kingdom, Sir (Chief) Gabriel Igbinedion, yesterday publicly rededicated his life to the service of God Almighty and humanity.

The occasion was the 2014 Morning Dew Thanksgiving service held at God’s Historic Chapel located at his residence in Benin City The event which is the

4 th edition of the early morning gathering designed to usher the House of Igbinedion into God’s presence in the New Year, was attended by a galaxy of personalities including some palace Chiefs, the Christian Community, friends and well wishers of the House of Igbinedion.

Speaking at the event, the Esama who attributed his birth and success in life to the

TIT BIT “The man, who boasts of how he beats his wife, is not recounting an act of valour, but of weakness.”.

- Kingsley-Ogbeide-Ihama

mercies of God, appealed to all present to draw his attention whenever he goes wrong, assuring that he would incline his ears to such good advice.

The Esama noted that the year 2014 will mark his 80th Birthday, adding that the celebration has just begun.

He also promised to help erect a befitting Continues on page 2

NEW YEAR VISIT: Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Deaconess Endurance Odubu (left) with the First Baby of the year, Baby Endurance born at the Central Hospital, Benin City at 12.13a.m. yesterday. With her is the wife of the State Head of Service, Mrs. Blessing Obazele and the Special Adviser on Special Duties to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and office of the First Lady, Hajia Maimuna Momodu during a new year visit to Central Hospital in Benin City. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Odubu presents gifts to first baby of 2014

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR BENIN CITY – Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Deaconess Endurance Odubu was at the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital and the Central Hospital, both in Benin City, yesterday to present gift items to the First Baby of the year in the two hospitals, respectively.

At the Central Hospital the first baby of the year, Baby Endurance (Male), weighing 3.5 kilograms was delivered at 12.13am.

Special gift items

presented to the baby were received by his mother, Mrs. Helen

Endurance.

Deaconess Odubu also presented gift items to other babies in the hospital.

At the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital, the First baby of

year was given birth to at 4.40am.

Baby Ogwudile weighed 3.6kg, and was presented special gift items by the wife of the Continues on page 2

development.

Onaiyekan made the call in Abuja during

confirmed 140 candidates at the St. Continues on page 2

Onaiyekan advocates peace, tolerance Tuesday’s midnight among Nigerians mass when he

ABUJA - The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has called on Nigerians to love

and tolerate one another for the nation’s stability and economic

News Odubu presents gifts to first baby of 2014

Continued from page 1

deputy governor.

Other newborn babies in the hospital also benefited from the gesture.

Deaconess Odubu in a remark commended the management team of the hospitals for improving upon what they met on ground when they took over the affairs of the hospitals and therefore urged them to sustain the tempo.

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Hospital, Dr. (Mrs.) Julie Erhabor, appreciated the wife of the deputy governor and her team for the visit.

She noted that the hospital has made remarkable improvement since she came on board as the chief medical director, and assured that the pace would be sustained.

Dr. Erhabor however

stressed the need for more medical personnel to be employed in the hospital so as to enable it cope with the number of patients seeking medical attention in the

hospital.

Deaconess Odubu was accompanied by the wife of the State Head of Service (HOS), Blessing Obazele, Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties,

the Executive Director, Office of the First Lady, Hajia Maimuna Momody and the Senior Special Assistant, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mr. Sunny Akhigbe, among others.

must remain one as brothers and sisters.

He urged Christians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ by being their brother’s keeper, adding that Pope Benedict’s message for 2014 was that all should see each other as humans.

“When we fail to love, respect and tolerate each other, the country will be witnessing difficulties in everything,’’ he said.

Onaiyekan said that when God’s people sincerely

prayed, He would grant them their wishes and make life comfortable for them.

“God has been merciful to us, so we should thank Him because in spite of the difficulties, our situation is not as bad as some countries across the world,” he said.

Onaiyekan urged Christians to live a life worthy of emulation, which would positively influence people’s life, saying that any little action taken by a true believer could have tremendous impacts on others.

Onaiyekan said those confirmed had received the holy spirit and so urged them to live good Christian lives.

“Go into the world and renew the face of the earth and be a good Christian; you have been made Christ’s soldiers on earth,” he said.

The cardinal urged parents to raise their children in the way of the Lord, to enable them to live as children of God and prayed that the country should witness peace in the New Year.

Onaiyekan advocates peace, tolerance among Nigerians

Continued from page 1 Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya, near Abuja.

The confirmation is one of the seven sacraments through which Catholics train in the process of their religious upbringing.

According to the doctrine, during the sacrament, they receive the Holy Spirit and become adult members of the Catholic Church.

Onaiyekan said that Nigeria’s multi-lingual nature notwithstanding, citizens

1914 Almagamation, an act of God

Continued from page 1

various challenges, the country witnessed many positive developments in 2013.

He assured that the administration would strive to build upon the

achievements in 2014.

“I am pleased to note that as a result of our backward integration policies, Nigeria has moved from a country that produced 2 million metric tonnes of cement in 2002, to a country that now has a

Oshiomhole condoles Soyinka on daughter’s death

Continued from page 1 inspiration to many who knew her.

“I offer my profound condolence and the commiseration of the good people and Government of Edo State on this sad incident.

“We pray God to grant you, the entire Soyinka family and indeed the two children left behind by the departed the courage to bear the sad loss.

We also pray for peaceful rest for her soul in the Lord’s bosom.

Igbinedion rededicates self to God, humanity

Continued from page 1

edifice for the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) during the tenure of the incumbent national President, Rev. (Dr.) Felix Omobude, as a mark of honour for the Benis increase.

The event featured rendition of hymns and special prayers for the House of Igbinedion.

capacity of 28.5 million metric tonnes.

“For the first time in our history, we have moved from being a net importer of cement to a net exporter.

“Foreign direct investment into Nigeria has also been strong. In fact, for the second year running, the UN Conference on Trade and Development has named Nigeria as the number 1 destination for investments in Africa.

“We are witnessing a revolution in the agricultural sector and the results are evident.

We have tackled corruption in the input distribution system as many farmers now obtain their fertilisers and seeds directly through an e-wallet system.

“In 2013, 4.2 million farmers received subsidised inputs via this programme. This scheme has restored dignity to our farmers,” he said.

The president said that the administration had invested tremendously on the education sector and urged all other stakeholders in the sector to help advance the cause of education.

He also underscored the achievement of the administration in the health sector.

Jonathan assured that in 2014, the administration would continue to prioritise investments in key sectors such as infrastructure development, power, roads, rail transportation and aviation.

He assured that foreign travel by government personnel would be further curtailed.

“This directive shall apply to all ministries,

departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

“Our strategy to curb leakages will increasingly rely on introducing the right technologies such as biometrics and digitising government payments.

The president assured that the administration would intensify efforts to curtail terrorism and protect human lives.

Trend path of peace, Anglican primate advises Nigerians ABUJA - Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, the Primate of all Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has advised Nigerians to tread the path of peace and shun all acts of violence, especially as the nation prepares for general election in 2015.

Okoh gave the advice on Wednesday in Abuja at a special New Year service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp.

He said Nigerians should continue to have confidence in God, in spite of the challenges experienced in the previous years.

Okoh noted that there were a lot of unpleasant comments going round and against the progress of the country, and said that Nigerians should have confidence in God because “God has always rescued us in times of difficulties and anxieties”.

“We know that as we go towards 2015 tension will continue to rise but in the end no evil will befall Nigeria; Nigeria will not only continue but it will be strong and grow better and powerful.

“We want our people to relax and they should not cooperate with people who have evil intentions because in most cases such people have nothing but selfish ambitions.

“Nigerians should look forward with confidence because God is in charge,” he said.

Okoh urged Nigerians to brace for the times ahead, especially as the nation prepares for general elections, noting that God would at the appropriate time manifest His authority.

On governance in the New Year, the primate urged government at all levels to do everything to provide more jobs for the teeming population of unemployed youths.

“My advice to the government in the New Year is for it to provide more opportunities for employment; we want our young people to be more fruitful in 2014.

“The young people should have the opportunity to contribute to the development of our country.

“The improvement I want to see cuts across the different sectors because we need progress in virtually every sector of our economy,” he said.

The primate called on trade unions that had plans to embark on industrial actions in the New Year to try to resolve their industrial disputes through dialogue rather than embark on strike.

He appealed to union leaders to put the nation’s interest above personal or sectional interest in the New Year and urged the Federal Government to listen to the unionists as they seek to improve the conditions of service of their members.

Okoh appealed to both employers and employees to do their level best to ensure that the country experienced industrial peace and harmony in 2014.

He said that a situation where workers and employers in the various sectors of the economy “are engaged in dispute, will not be helpful for the country’’.

The primate urged leaders across different spheres to teach their followers only those things that would be beneficial to the society.

NLC promises collaboration with govt to end strike IIORIN – Mr. Isa Aremu, the Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday said trade unions in the country would collaborate with the Federal Government to stem industrial crises in 2014.

Aremu, who made the promise during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin, added that NLC and Trade Union Congress would intervene in four key sectors of the economy - health, education, agriculture and power.

He appealed to the Federal Government to be proactive in improving workers’ welfare and addressing their yearnings.

He said that boosting the morale of workers would give them sense of belonging and make them more committed to their jobs.

He noted that Nigerian workers embarked on several industrial actions in 2013, citing that of ASUU and NMA as examples.

He urged the government to guard against the trend in 2014.

APC Urges Nigerians to steer country to path of growth ABUJA - The All Progressives Congress (APC), has appealed to Nigerians to go into 2014 with the commitment to steer the nation toward the path of growth and development.

This is contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Lai Muhammed, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the Party and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

“Nigerians should go into the New Year with an unyielding commitment to be part of ongoing efforts to set the country on the path of development.”

Mohammed appealed to Nigerians not to be deterred by the challenges the country was currently going through and urged

them to be part of efforts to make the nation the pride of the black race.

Mohammed stressed the need for leaders to uphold the social contract between them and the citizens.

“Public office is a trust and power must be used in the interest of the people rather than in the interest of the holder of the office,’’ he said.

The APC spokesman urged leaders to make efforts to make Nigeria to join the list of leading world economies by harnessing the country’s abundant resources.

He said that the party’s membership registration drive would commence early next year.

“The registration will target the youths who are indispensable in our efforts to bring about change, ‘’ he said.

ABUJA - Integrating the hepatitis control programme with the Prevention of Mother-toChild Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV will help in reducing the spread of hepatitis in children.

Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Head of Prevention, National HIV and STI Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, disclosed yesterday in Abuja.

He said the spread of hepatitis in children from the mother to the unborn child represents a large percentage in antenatal cases.

“Ninety per cent of that transmission leads to chronic hepatitis which has the complications of cancer, liver, cancer and then liver cirrhosis.

“At the moment, it is better to integrate the hepatitis control programme with an existing PMTCT at the antenatal care centre so that women are tested.

“If the mother is tested positive when the baby is delivered, the baby will first be given the hepatitits B vaccine within the first 12 hours, before going on with

the normal immunisation protocol.

“That way the baby is protected, although there could be horizontal infection the way it is contracted among the children when they are playing after five years,” Anyaike said.

However, he said the proportion of children contracting the disease from other children was not as high as transmitted from mother to child.

Anyaike said as part of efforts to curtail the effect of the disease, government decided to add the hepatitis B vaccine in the national immunisation programme.

“This has started in 13 states of the federation,’’ the federal ministry of health official said.

Newsmen reports that viral hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, caused by hepatitis virus, type A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis A and E are both transmitted faeco-orally and causes less significant chronic infections.

On the other hand, hepatitis B, C and D are transmitted parentally and sexually and causes chronic infections like hepatocellular cancer.

Health official calls for integration of hepatitis control with PMTCT

News

Group Set To Restore Glorious Days

By BETTY IDIALU

WARRI - In a bid to rekindle the love and harmony that once characterised the people living in the oil city of Warri, Delta State the Warri Rebirth Initiative (WRI) has held a carnival tagged “WAFI2013”.

The event which featured cultural dances and novelty football match, took place at the Warri City Stadium in Warri.

Welcoming guests to the event, Chairman of the WRI, Kes Akposa enjoined the Warri people also known as ‘Wafarians’ to put the past behind them and forge ahead.

He opined that if the ‘Warri House’ must be rebuilt, all hands must be on deck.

Kes Akposa expressed optimism that the ‘Warri House’ will soon become the ‘Texas of Africa’.

Chairman of the occassion, Chief Alred Bubor recalled with nostalgia the unity that once binded the different ethnic groups in Warri together.

Chief Bubor while commending WRI for putting the programme together harped on unity, urging all to go back to the old days where ethnicity was down played in building relationships.

According to him, Warri is blessed with both human and

material resources but added that greed, corruption and get rich syndrome have deprived us of so many opportunities for too long”.

Warri is for everybody, let us not destroy Warri, but build it; we need people to build it, we need the business community traditional rulers, we are stronger. Let us keep this flag flying. It is possible”, he said.

Chief Tom Amioku, Commissioner representing Delta State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commissioner (NDDC) in a keynote address noted that events like the Agbassa Festival, Igbo Festival, among others were jointly celebrated, irrespective of tribal affinities.

Chief Amioku speaking on the topic: “Restoring Warri To Her Glorious Days”, said the crisis in Warri predated the James Ibori’s administration of 1999 when youths began to fight, the elders.

He noted that insecurity, and get rich syndrome became the order of the day, that prior to that time, youths were trained on patience, endurance, perseverance and the dimity of labour.

The NDDC Commissioner was however delighted that the government of the day was not folding its arms in bringing back Warri to her days of glory as developmental projects, like

road construction, construction of ultra modern stadium, the Warri Industrial park are a pointer to this fact.

In his recommendation, Chief Amioku while commending the WRI, called

salaries of civil servants were a top priority of the Federal Government.

“This is why you have not heard in many years that salaries of staff are not paid”, he said.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, denied claims that the government had not paid December salaries of civil servants.

He said that it was the norm for the federal government to pay the salaries of its workers early during festive periods.

He said that October salaries were paid on the 10th of the month to enable Muslims enjoy the Sallah celebration, adding that December salaries were paid early because of Christmas.

Otunla said that to fast track salary payments, 265 ministries, agencies and parastatals which represented 250,000 civil servants were currently on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS).

“We are working with all Federal Universities to ensure that all are on the IPPIS by February1.

He called on all Deltans to collaborate with the state government to keep the state a clean place by borrowing a leaf from Cross Riverians Concluding, he empasised the need for peaceful co existence, quoting from the

Holy bible book of Hebrew 12:14 follow peace with all men without which, no man shall see the Lord, and Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the sons of God’.

L-R: Former Chairman, Board of Asaba Textile Mill, Ogbueshi Akaeze Ibonye, the celebrant, Mrs. Veronica Okolo and a legal practitioner, Ogbueshi Micahel Nwamu at a reception after the Investiture of Ezinne Ogwukwe on Mrs. Okolo at Asaba in Delta State yesterday.

FG Appoints New DG For NYSC

ABUJA - The Federal Government has announced the appointment of Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi as the new Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps

Civil Servants Have Received December ABUJA - The Federal “After that, we will start with Ministry of Finance said in Salaries - FG medical institutions, paraAbuja that 98 percent of all civil servants received their December salaries before December19, 2013 This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu.

“The salaries of a small proportion of civil servants have been delayed because their MDAs are yet to update their bank accounts with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

“The accepted account number is the 10-digit NUBAN number specified by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“There are also a few other issues which are now being resolved as quickly as possible.

“All unpaid salaries are intact so the claim by those who issued the statement that salary delay is a proof that the country is broke, which parrots partisan political claims, is ridiculous and groundless’’, Nwabuikwu said.

The Director-General, Budget Office, Mr. Bright Okogu told newsmen that payments of

for continuous advocacy by all.

Let us return to our old love for unity and the people in the belief that we are one people with one destiny and pay attention to our common heritage in this place’.

military outfits, police and then the military.

“We are doing all these in phases so that there won’t be complications like when we tried to do all of them at once.

(NYSC).

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The statement said Olawumi’s appointment took effect from December 23.

Olawumi, who hails from Iyin Ekiti, in Ekiti State, attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army on September

23, 1989.

He has a Bachelor of Science’s degree in Mathematics from the Nigerian Defence Academy, a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ilorin.

Olawumi, who also has a Master’s degree in Defence Studies from the Kings College, London, is happily married and has children.

The statement also said that Mr. Ibrahim Waziri, whose

Catholic faithful dancing during New Year Mass at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gwagwalada in Abuja yesterday.

appointment took effect from December 24, served as Chairman, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

It said that Waziri, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an MBA from the University of Lagos, served as a non-executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria.

The statement said Waziri also served as a member of the Federal Government Technical Committee on Expenditure Review that advised the government on enhancing value of overhead expenditure and reducing waste in government spending.

It said that Waziri attended various local and International trainings and conferences, including the famous University Executive Management Programme, the Harvest University Advanced Management Programme and the Oxford University Advance Management Programme.

“He was Group Executive Director, Corporate Service at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) between 2003 and 2009 and is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School,’’ the statement said.

News Peace In 2014: Cleric Expresses Optimism GOMBE - Rev. Abare Kalla, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Gombe State chapter, has predicted lasting

peace and understanding among Nigerians in 2014.

Kala told newsmen in Gombe that from what he witnessed during the

Christmas and Sallah festivities, peace had come to stay in the country.

“There was no single case of bombing of place of

worship; from all indication, things are changing for good.

“I am optimistic that the year 2014 will be better than 2013; that is our sincere prayer.

“I witnessed several times that the security men deployed to churches during worship period were

Muslims likewise those deployed to mosques were Christians.

“Nigeria is one country, therefore, we should defend and respect each other ’s belief,” he said.

The cleric said that meaningful development could only take place in a

peaceful society characterised by tolerance.

“We should learn how to tolerate each other, irrespective of religious and ethnic backgrounds.”

He urged Christians and Muslims to usher in the new year with prayers so that insecurity would become a thing of the past.

Gov Promises To Add Value To Lives

L-R: Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan, carrying a set of twins delivered by Mrs. Adedeji as first babies of the year 2014 at the Island Hospital in Lagos yesterday.

IGBERE (ABIA) – Governor Theodore Orji of Abia said his administration would continue to add value to the lives of residents and traditional rulers in the State.

Orji made the promise at Amaofufe, Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of Abia when they celebrated 12 years of autonomy and coronation of their traditional ruler, Uwakwe Ukaegbu.

Orji, represented by Mr Gab Igbokwe, State Legal Adviser of PDP, said the contributions of traditional rulers in the state in

maintaining peace and security were invaluable.

He said his administration had taken major steps that ensured the traditional rulers from the state were at par with their colleagues from other states.

Orji urged Ukaegbu to continue with his leadership style which he said had endeared him to his people.

On his part, Ukaegbu said the community which started off as a hamlet had contributed to the growth and economic advancement of the state.

He said that 12 years celebration was meant to thank God for His benevolence to the people.

The traditional ruler said the

community would continue to maintain the current peaceful co-existence among residents of the state.

Ukaegbu appealed to the State Government to continue to assist the traditional institution with a view to promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage.

It was reported that no fewer than 15 prominent indigenes of the state, including exRepresentative Mao Obuabunwa, were honoured with traditional titles.

Amaofufe community was established in 1957 and started off with five little clans that migrated from Eke Igbere Forest.

The community was granted autonomous status in 2001 by former Governor Orji Kalu.

Include Poultry In GES, FG Advised

A set of twins delivered by Mrs. Adedeji as first babies of the year 2014 at the Island Hospital in Lagos yesterday.

Kwara Tasks Judicial Officers

Quick Dispensation Of Justice: ILORIN - The Kwara Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kamaldeen Ajibade has urged judicial officers in the state to enhance quick dispensation of justice and the rule of law.

Ajibade made the call at the 2013/2014 Legal Year and Valedictory Court Session of retiring Grand Khadi, Justice Idrees Haroon in Ilorin .

The commissioner urged judicial officers to imbibe the culture of fairness, equity and justice in the discharge of their sacred and religious duties.

According to him, as judicial officers and most importantly as Muslims, “you shall ultimately render account of the posts entrusted to you.

“I, therefore, felicitate with the entire state judiciary for being tools in the hand of the creator through which justice is being dispensed to the good people of the state,” he added.

Ajibade commended the retiring grand khadi for putting in his best and making a landmark while in service as a khadi and later grand khadi.

He said that the state government would spare no effort at improving the welfare of all the judicial officers in the state.

In his response, Haroon urged judges and khadis to be upright and just in their official assignments.

According to him, at every stage of our work, we must

LAGOS - The Lagos State chapter of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) has appealed to the Federal Government to include poultry in the scheme for the state.

The state Coordinator of GES, Mr Kayode Ashafa, made the appeal in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos on Monday.

According to Ashafa, Lagos state has comparative advantage in the poultry sub-sector. “But poultry farmers in the state did not benefit from the scheme in

remember our creator and not forget that God is overseeing all the segments of our functions, intentions and sincerity.

“We must do the onerous assignments with the fear of God. This is why the Shariah takes priority over other laws being the divine law of Allah, and it cannot be bent to suit one’s personal whims and caprices “The proverbial saying that law is made by man and therefore he can not manipulate it to suit his purpose does not apply to the shariah.

“It is the law that shapes the

individual and the society and not the other way round.

“We should always bear in mind that as judges, we are saddled by the Almighty Allah

with the responsibility of upholding absolute justice and the rule of law on the earth, “ he added.

2013.

“There is need to add a product if a state has a comparative advantage in such a product.

“If the state is included in the poultry value chain, it will reduce to the barest minimum the importation of poultry products”, he said.

Ashafa said the state had benefited in aquaculture and distribution of maize seedlings to farmers, but that there was need to broaden the scheme.

He commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the scheme, saying it had improved farming business in the country.

He said 2013 was better than 2012 experience because farmers were able to redeem their vouchers and hoped that 2014 would cover more areas.

Kano Fire Service Saves Property Worth KANO - Kano State Fire the public against storing N.3bn Service on Monday said it had saved property worth N1.3 billion between January and December.

The Public Relations Officer of the service, Mallam Kasim Musa, disclosed this to newsmen in Kano.

He said more than 2,425 persons were rescued from 801 fire incidents during the year.

Musa also said that 1,322 rescue operations, comprising cases of drowning and road accidents were undertaken within the period.

He said the service had also received 215 false alarm, 801 fire calls and 175 special service calls during the period.

The spokesman cautioned

inflammable substance in their residences to avert fire outbreak.

“The current season is windy and people, particularly in the rural areas, need to warm themselves with open fire. If care is not taken, wind can blow it around and start a massive fire.”

Across The Nation Kwara Council Debunks ‘Ghost Workers’ absconded from work.

ILORIN - Alhaji Luqman Report “Also out of this number, Owolewa, the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Council of Kwara, Alhaji Luqman Owolewa, says there is no truth in a report that the council has 339 ghost workers.

Owolewa told newsman in Ilorin that he never granted any interview identifying ghost workers in the council.

“What I said on the occasion of the Omu Aran Development Association

(ODA) Annual General Meeting was that out of the 839 workers on ground, about 500 were regular workers at the council. “ Out of the remaining, some were discovered to be living in Lagos, Abuja and other states without coming to work regularly.

“This is the category I called perpetual absentees, that is our employees who have

Police Apprehend 31 Criminals, Recover 140 Ammunitions In Delta WARRI (DELTA) - The Commissioner of Police in Delta, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba, said the command had recently apprehended 31 armed robbers and kidnappers in the state.

Aduba, who disclosed this to newsmen in Warri, said 140 ammunition were recovered from the criminals.

He said the sophisticated intelligence network in the state was responsible for the arrest.

The commissioner commended the vigilance groups for the cooperation in the fight against crime in the state.

“Most of the achievements recorded in the state is through the assistance of the vigilance groups and the immediate communities which provided useful information to us.

“Recently, we were able to recover two AK 47 riffles from cultist in Otu-Jeremi.

So, there is intelligence network,” he said.

On the allegation that kidnappers were using cattle rearers to hide victims, Aduba said the command would constitute a committee comprising the police, State Security Service and the Fulanis to find solution to the problem.

Aduba also said that the

command’s collaboration with Edo and Anambra police commissioners had started yielding good result.

“Last week, a pastor was kidnapped in Anambra, we went and rescued the victim, and apprehended the suspects.

“Similarly, the robbers that killed some policemen and soldiers in Auchi were apprehended in Delta. So, the collaboration is working,” he said.

Aduba said the command would also address the challenges of manpower, noting that it was a general problem in all sectors of the economy.

some are not known to their departmental heads, “ Owolewa said.

He referred to a recent screening exercise where an employee could not identify the council’s Director of Personnel Management and Treasurer who were present.

Owolewa also said many were absenting themselves from work, claiming to be schooling.

He, however, added that such workers could not produce the mandatory letters of release from the Local Government Service Commission to proceed on such courses as required by law.

The council boss further said some workers deliberately refused to show up for the screening exercise since it started two months ago.

“I never said we discovered ghost workers totaling 339 workers.

“In fact, we have had to clear those with genuine reasons for not coming to work regularly like those on health grounds,’’ he said.

Owolewa said he had used the ODA meeting to appeal to parents to prevail on their children and wards to report for duty regularly as the council would not tolerate absenteeism

Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (left), carrying the baby of the year born at 1.29 a.m weighting 3.5kg at Adeoyo Hospital, Iyemetu in Ibadan on Wednesday. With her are parents of the baby, Mr. and Mrs. Oladepo.

Niger Delta University To Resume On YENAGOA - The January 6 - Registrar Bayelsa governmentowned Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, will resume academic activities on January 6. 2014, its Registrar, Mr Tombra Morris-Odubo, has said.

The registrar made the

disclosure in a statement issued in Yenagoa .

He stated that all students were expected to return to school on Jan 3, adding that first semester examination would commence on Jan. 13.

was long awaited, now that it is here, driven by progressives whose mission is to provide the needed change, it has provided the platform for us to move.

“We have moved and more are on their ways. I tell you, it is going to be massive.”

He urged both the old and new members of APC to close ranks and work

together towards victory in 2015.

The APC interim state executives inaugurated by the Harmonisation Committee include Sen. Muhammed Muhammed as Chairman and Dr Abdullahi Dabo as Secretary-General.

Others are Alhaji Tata Umar as Treasurer, Alhaji Ali Saidu, Organising Secretary and Alhaji Bappah Missau, Public Relations Officer.

Rep Predicts Mass Defections To APC

BAUCHI - Mr Yakubu Dogara (APC) Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro Federal Constituency) in Bauchi State, said the ruling PDP would witness massive defections of its members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014.

Dogara, who was among the 37 PDP House of Representatives members who recently defected to APC, said this in Bauchi during the inauguration of APC interim executives in

the state.

“More PDP members in the National Assembly from Bauchi State and other parts of the country have concluded plans to decamp to APC in January 2014.

“We have been disturbed by the mismanagement and poor performance of the ruling party for long, but we couldn’t move out due to the absence of viable opposition party.

“The formation of APC

He noted that the university fixed the date for the resumption after its Senate had reviewed the academic calendar of the institution.

According to the calendar, first semester examinations will commence one week after resumption, beginning with the Faculty of Education on January 13.

Mr Beke Tuobokiye Sese, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the university, said he had not been contacted on the resumption date.

He, however, said lecturers were ready and willing to return to the classroom after the fivemonth strike by university teachers.

He said “we are ready for academic work so as to make up for the lost time.’’

Excellence: Nyako Lauds Adamawa Nyako said that since the Varsity inception of his

Sympertisers at the scene of an accident on Salvation Army Road in Ibadan on Wednesday. One person feared dead.

YOLA - Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa has commended the state university in Mubi for excelling in academic activities.

Nyako made the commendation in Yola while receiving a letter of award and trophies won by the university in an academic programme coordinated by Oxford University, London.

He observed that since its inception, the university had made the state proud in academic performance, based on the accreditation of its courses by the National Universities Commission.

He said the administration would continue to assist the university to partner with recognised universities in the world, to meet higher academic standards.

Nyako said already, government was in touch with University of Frankfurt in Germany for the proposed opening of the Faculty of Medicine of the Adamawa University.

He also lauded the state Ministry of Education and it’s parastatal agencies for their commitment to the transformation of education sector.

administration, the number of students scoring five credits and above in WAEC and other related examinations had risen from two to 50 per cent.

He said the state Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme was among the best three in the country.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Alkassim Abba, said the award was won by the university after the assessment of its staff qualities, accreditation, exchange programme and regular implementation of courses and subjects.

Business + Economy Blue Chips Record price gains LAGOS - Weekly transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) started on positive note with some blue chips recorded price gains.

The All-share index appreciated by 240.45 points or 0.59 per cent to close at 40,472.13 from the 40,231.68 recorded.

The market capitalisation, which opened at N12.875 trillion, appreciated by N76 billion or 0.59 per cent to close at N12.951 trillion.

Guinness led the price gainers’ chart, appreciating by N3.90 to close at N236.90 per share.

Julius Berger followed with a gain of N3.29 to close at N72.29, while Oando grew by N2.03 to close at N22 per share.

Okomu Oil gained N1.79 to close at N44.79, while Mobil rose by N1.60 to close at N118.60 per share.

On the other hand, Nestle led the losers’ table with N25 to close at N1, 175 per share.

Union Dicon trailed with a loss of 55k to close at N10.45, while Glaxosmith dropped 50k to close at N68 per share.

International Breweries dipped by 49k to close at N28.60, while FCMB lost 17k to close at N3.64 per share.

Unity Bank emerged the toast of investors, accounting for 180.80 million shares worth N90.40 million in 143 deals.

FCMB came second with 30.99 million shares valued at N116.68 million in 255 deals, while Transcorp sold 28.64 million shares worth N132.24 million.

In all, the volume of shares traded increased by 12.37 per cent as investors exchanged 423.655 million shares worth N3.854 billion in 4,206 deals.

This was against the 377.012 million shares worth N2.404 billion exchanged in 3,603 deals last Friday.

Experts Urge FG To Explore Shale Oil, Gas Production

Chief Solomon Ogbewe, the Uwayoba of Benin Kingdom (left), Chief Amos Osunbor (right) and another Benin Palace chief at the morning dew thanksgiving service held at God’s Historic Chapel, Benin City yesterday. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Osawaru Igbinedion and his wife Lady Chery Igbinedion during the morning dew Thanksgiving Service held at God’s Historic Chapel, Benin City, yesterday. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

LAGOS - Some stakeholders in the Nigerian petroleum industry have called on the Federal Government to reposition the nation’s oil and gas industry towards achieving high shale gas production.

Shale gas is natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations in rocks.

Shale gas has become an important source of natural gas in the U.S. The stakeholders told newsmen in Lagos that the call was in view of the increasing use of shale gas, especially by the U.S. Mr. Alex Simon, Chief Coordinator, Prime-X Energy Ltd., Lagos, said that the recent call by OPEC to members not to ignore shale gas production also necessitated the call.

According to Simon, Nigeria does not need any warning from any quarters regarding the negative impact of shale oil and gas on the nation’s revenue.

“What is important is to be proactive by embarking on measures that will mitigate the impact of the development,” he stressed.

Mr. Folorunso Oginni, Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said that any neglect of shale gas could affect the economy.

According to Oginni, OPEC in its 2013 World Oil Outlook, considered shale gas sufficiently important to developing countries.

Mr. Afe Mayowa, a former President of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), said that shale gas, a product of advanced technology, might erode the prospects of natural gas.

Mayowa said that the development of shale gas could stall new LNG projects in Nigeria.

Fun Seekers Lament Demise Of Bar Beach LAGOS - Some fun seekers has lamented the demise of Bar Beach which had now given way to the Eko Atlantic City.

Report say that many visitors who had not been to the location in Lagos for a long time, went home disappointed on seeing a huge landmass of sand.

The visitors saw was devoid of the usual amusing ocean waves.

It was also report that the site has been sand-filled beyond recognition and what could remind one of the old bar beach were only kiosks where people could seat, drink and relax, but no ocean, no swimming.

A civil servant, Mr. Gbenga Olaniyi, said that it was very sad that the beach no longer existed.

“It (bar beach) is within the town and we normally walk there to cool our brain with the breeze blowing us; but we cannot do that now.

A banker, Mr. Francis Ebere, said that he was not happy with the development.

“If what the Lagos State Government is doing about the

Eko Atlantic City project is good, I do not have a problem with that.

“As far as it will benefit the masses, it is all right, but they should enlighten us on what it is all about.

I have been hearing about Eko Atlantic City but I do not know what it is all about,’’ Ebere told newsmen.

It waslearnt that the Eko Atlantic City project has been developed to meet two needs of the state— space creation and protection from the ever encroaching shoreline.

Available information on it says the project will change the face of Africa and will help Lagos State transform itself into a megacity on the world map.

“It will provide space for the 25 million people expected to live and work in the region by the year 2015.

The project has reached the half-way stage in land reclamation.

Mr. Effiong Ekanem, the

Chairman, Tourism Committee of Bar Beach and a staff of EtiOsa Local Government, Lagos, told NAN that it was not advisable for people to go to the site anymore.

He said that there were other beaches where people could go and have fun.

“We have Oniru Beach, Lekki Beach, Eleko Beach and others that are safe for people to go to.

“Those beaches have safety guards and divers that can monitor what is going on for the safety of the people,’’ he said.

Ekanem said that at the old Bar beach, people could only seat and drink but it’s not for swimming anymore.

It was also reported however, that the site of the old bar beach was being prepared for the Lagos Countdown event.

The Lagos Countdown seeks to institute an enduring crossover tradition signifying the end of one year and the celebration of the beginning of another in a splendid fashion.

In addition to offering a viable

platform for commerce, encouraging brand development, job creation, leisure, entertainment and tourism, the event (Lagos Countdown) includes music performances by top artistes

Some corporate bodies have taken spaces at the old beach site to showcase their products in order to make sales during the Yuletide.

Mong the companies are Zenith Bank, Airtel Nigeria and Hyundai.

Kebbi State Farmers Get 60 Tractors From FG BIRNIN KEBBI - The Kebbi chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) commended the Federal Government for allocating 60 tractors to the association.

The Secretary of the association, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.

The tractors were given under the soft loan scheme of the Federal Government to boost food production.

Idris said the reduction in the cost of the tractors by 25 per cent would also enable the farmers to

afford them.

The equipment is now being sold for N6.5 million each as against the initial cost of N8 million.

Idris said that farmers were willing to pay an initial deposit of N1.3 million and the balance would be repaid within four years.

He also said farmers would abide by the stringent conditions for the loan as well as ensure prudent utilisation of the tractors.

Idris commended the SUREP for its decision to provide 1,000 power tillers and 2,000 work bulls and accessories for farmers.

News

Shippers Association Commends LAGOS - The Shippers Association of Lagos State has FG On Ports Security

Deaconess (Mrs.) Endurance Odubu, wife of Edo State Deputy Governor (left), with baby Ogwudile, first baby of the Year 2014 at Stella Obasanjo Children and Women Hospital while the baby’s mother (seated), Mrs. Dorathy Ogwudile and other members of her excellency entourage look on. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

commended the Federal Government for providing maximum security at Lagos ports.

Mr. Jonathan Nicol, President of the association, told newsmen in Lagos that security issues should be everybody’s business.

“The Federal Government is doing their bit to manage the security situation in the ports; compared with what we use to have before human traffic is getting less and pilfering is reduced.

“We believe as time progresses we will outgrow that and the ports will be safer for everybody.

“The human traffic is not as bad as before, before it used to be like a market but now with the introduction of the Council of Regulation of Freight

Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

“And the biometric identity cards which a lot of people don’t have accept you are a freight forwarder that as curb through a lot of movement of people coming in to trade”, Nicol told newsmen.

Nicol however urged the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) to provide usable roads for port users to enable easy movement of trucks at the ports.

“The Nigeria Port Authority as the landlord’s of the ports area, they should provide usable roads. It is their duty to provide roads for the ports users.

“And when we mean road, we need road that heavy duty trucks can use, we need a very solid road that will meet with the

present dispensation because most of the trucks using this road are heavy duty trucks.

“From 30 tones, 40 tones, 50 tones, they need to clear the road from Tin -Can to second gate to Grilmadi port; all trucks parked at the sideways should be expanded for trucks to park there.

“They should create two lanes for trucks to park there, so when it gets in one after the other they can now access the road through Tin- Can first and second, down the bridge gate for direct access outside the port,” Nicol said.

The president, however, said that NPA should supervise all the ports access roads under construction to be sure that it was properly constructed to meet up with standard.

Passage Of Lagos State Budget Suffers LAGOS - The passage of passed.

Setback Lagos State 2014 Budget

Shoppers buying vegetables at the popular “Oja-Oba” located at the heart of AdoEkiti, during their last munite preparation for New Year celebration last year

Energy Expert Urges FG To Generate Electricity From Coal, Solar LAGOS – Mr. Adekunle Makinde, the President, Nigerian Institution of Electrical Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), has urged the Federal Government to use coal and solar to boost energy generation in the country.

Makinde told newsmen in Lagos that coal and solar energy sources would contribute tremendously to efforts to eliminate erratic power supply.

He said that power generation had dropped drastically since new investors took over from defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Makinde urged the new investors to embark on the

maintenance of the facilities of the power Generation Companies (GENCO) companies.

“Most of our generation companies are down due to lack of maintenance and this will not enable them to generate power.

“Also gas supply to all these companies are not enough and also vandalism of power equipment is another issue,” he said.

Makinde said that the investors in the Distribution Companies (DISCO) were also worried because it would be difficult to make profit without power supply.

“The investors in power transmission are disturbed because they are aware that without power supply they

will not make their profit.

“This is the reason why the government and power investors should join hand to make power sector improvement a priority,” he said.

Appropriation Bill has suffered setback as some state ministries, departments and parastatal agencies failed to present their reports for verification.

The Chairman, House Committee on Budget, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, said at the plenary session that 10 ministries, departments and parastatal agencies had yet to present their reports.

“Some of the MDAs are not through with their reports and the committee has written to them and they promised to come with the reports,” he said.

The lawmaker said that the committee encountered some difficulties in the verification of the MDAS’ reports.

Also, Mr. Ipoola Omisore, the Chairman, House Committee on House Services and Special Duties, said that the house would frown at any agency that

impeded early passage of the budget.

In his comment, Mr. Abdul-Rasaq Balogun, the Deputy Chief Whip, said that some MDAs took the presentation of their reports with levity.

Balogun said that the MDAs should have worked on the reports before now for easy and early passage of the budget.

The Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who presided over the session, said that Governor Babatunde Fashola presented the budget early enough for the house to work on.

Ikuforiji said it would not go on recess until the budget was passed.

“The governor brought the budget on time to the house and I don’t see any reason why we should not pass it early.

“The house will not go on recess until the budget is

“We can give few more days and ask the clerk of the house to write the MDAs to submit their reports to the committee within three days,” Ikuforiji said.

The speaker, however, directed the MDAs to submit their reports January 2.

Fashola had presented N489.7 billion as the state 2014 budget on Oct. 30.

Some of the affected MDAs are Eko Project, Lagos State Building Construction Agency, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, and Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).

Others are Ministry of Economy, Planning and Budget; Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Metropolitan Development Agency (LMDA), Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos Lottery Board.

VC Calls For State Police LAGOS - Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota has called for the establishment of state police in Nigeria to maintain law and order alongside the Nigeria police.

Olukoju made the call during an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

“Let us have a federal police, not just Nigerian police at the centre where anybody can use against anybody.

“Let us have it as it is done in

America, police at different strata, local government police, state police and then federal police, all working together. “ But you need to have more subject of the concurrent list for Nigeria to move forward and you have to put resources in the regions for the regions to develop.

“Because, anywhere else in the world, regions constitute the pivot of development at the national level. You cannot develop beyond the policy and

strength of the region”.

He was reacting to the centenary celebration of the country being planned for January, 2014.

The vice-chancellor advised that Nigeria should emulate the United States of America, where the local and state police exist side-by-side with the federal police.

He said that impunity should come to an end in Nigeria if the country is to progress in a quantum leap.

“We have a declining quality in leadership; we have a decline in terms of civic responsibility and in terms of societal awareness.

“The control for central power is what is killing Nigeria and this is because there is much money at the centre that people want to siphon,” he said.

The vice-chancellor attributed the declining fortunes of Nigeria to poor leadership and paucity of funds. (NAN)

Across The Nation ASUU urges LASG To Resolve Lingering Issues

New Lagos Road (empty), with a vehicle and person.

Yuletide: 24 Killed In 28 Crashes In

KADUNA - The Kaduna Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said 24 people were killed in 28 road crashes recorded in the state during the Yuletide.

The Sector Commander, Mr. Olu Olagunju made this known in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna.

He also said that four people were injured in the crashes. “ These accidents all occurred from the 20 to 29 December, 2013 on various roads “ By this time last year we had recorded 50 crashes with 36 deaths“, the commander explained further.

He attributed the crashes to high volume of traffic on road, excessive speeding and overloading. “ The primary factors that led

Kaduna - FRSC

to road crashes are avoidable and can be managed by the drivers and passengers themselves “.

He said that a total of 142,000 passengers travelled through 48 motor parks monitored by the

Al-Makura Presents N114.5bn Appropriation Bill For 2014

LAFIA - Governor Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State has presented the 2014 appropriation bill of N114.5 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The 2014 budget estimate surpasses the 2013 budget of N110 billion by about N4.3

Kaduna Earmarks N1bn For Oversea Studies KADUNA - Kaduna State Government plans to spend N1 billion to sponsor science students from the state for further studies abroad in 2014, Governor Mukhtar Yero, has said.

Yero, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Ibrahim Ali disclosed this in Kaduna during the disbursement of scholarship to 12 students from northern states by a US based organisation, Zumunta Association Inc. Though he did not disclosed the details, the governor said it was in line with the administration’s commitment to education.

According to him, the state government has spent N310 million as scholarship grant to 26,500 students this year and paid N89 million to the National Examination Council (NECO)

command across the state within the week.

“We have records, so we advise passengers to board vehicles from motor parks instead of boarding buses from

the road side “.

He said motorists should ensure that passengers give adequate information in their manifest before embarking on any journey.

Olagunju said this would assist in reaching out to family and friends of accident victims.

as examination fees for its students.

He reiterated the commitment of the administration in improving access to quality education in the state, which he said was the key to achieving meaningful development.

The governor advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money, so as to encourage other organisations to invest in the education sector.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Scholarship Programme of the association, Prof. Martins Shinkut, a lecturer of Computer Science at the Lincoln University, Missouri, said the scholarship scheme was initiated in 1995.

Shinkut said the effort was aimed at providing educational opportunities to qualified northerners to the study science courses.

billion, representing 3.99 per cent increase.

The breakdown of the figures shows that the 2014 budget will be funded from anticipated revenues sources made up of opening balance/ savings transferred from consolidated revenue funds to Capital Development Fund of N10.5 billion Others are value-added tax of N10 billion, statutory revenue allocation of N40 billion, excess crude oil receipts of N5 billion, SURE-P of N2.5 billion, refund from NNPC of N10.3 billion.

The budget will also be funded from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N13.174 billion, Aids and Grant of N13 billion and bonds of N10 billion.

Al-Makura said that N59.6 billion, representing 52.03 per cent of the budget, was earmarked for recurrent expenditure while 54.9 billion, representing 47.9 per cent, was set aside for capital expenditure.

According to him, the budget is guided by the market forces and Federal Government fiscal strategy assumptions.

He said that the budget had been carefully planned to ensure proper implementation, completion of all ongoing projects as well as enhancing the IGR of the state.

Al-Makura said that the

“Budget of Reality’’ would enable the state government to fulfil its promises, programmes and policies in order to uplift the socio-economic status of the people.

A review of the sectoral allocations shows that the Legislature got N15.37 billion, Civil Service Matters N1.10 billion, Agriculture and Water Resources N10.19 billion, Environment and Natural Resources, N706.71 million.

LAGOS – Dr. Adekunle Idris, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University, Ojo (LASU) chapter, has called on the State Government to urgently address some burning issues in the institution.

Briefing journalists in Lagos, Idris urged the state government, university council and management to address the lingering issues to forestall looming crises.

He said that the ASUU congress in the university had mandated the executive committee to explore avenues of dialogue to resolve the contending issues.

The union leader, however, said that they may be forced to declare an industrial action if the dialogue with the government failed to achieve the desired result.

Shedding light on the issues at stake, Idris said that the state government had not implemented the Universities Miscellaneous Provision Act 2012 in LASU. “This law was passed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria for effective running of universities and we were part of ASUU /FG 2009 agreement.

“One of the provisions of the agreement is that academic staff on professional cadre shall retire at age 70 and nonacademic staff at 65.

“It also says that principal officers shall serve for a single term of five years,” he said.

Idris said that the state government had, during a deliberation with the institution’s four unions on December 31, 2010, promised to implement the agreement

Closed Total Filling Station yesterday.

but failed to do so.

According to him, the government also made some promises to the union at a meeting held on November 29 but has yet to keep them.

“The union had consistently called on all the stakeholders of the institution to intervene and resolve the pending issues in LASU during the five and a half months ASUU strike,” he said.

Idris also urged the government to review the tuition fees in the university, noting that it had become the most expensive public university in Nigeria, making it unattractive to applicants.

“The 1416 candidates who applied for the 2013/2014 Post-UTME used to be just two arms of the accounting department when the fees were N25,000.

“There is an assurance that the number of candidates short-listed for admission will drop when some of them finally know the total amount they will be paying.

“It is exorbitant for a student in the faculty of education to pay N197,000 while other departments pay N250,000 and the medical students pay N350,000.

“The founding fathers meant that education should be made available and affordable to all citizens of Nigeria especially indigenes of Lagos State but the current school fees has defeated that objective,” he said.

Idris noted that the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), LASU chapter had been on strike since Sept. 29, while the nonacademic staff suspended theirs on December 3.

Life

Understanding Friendship

IT is quite sad when you look around the world today and see what people call friendship.

The true definition of a friend has lost its value in the man to man relationship. The value of friend or friendship can only be found in the definition, the actual act of friendship has gone sour.

What is being called friendship today is defined by how much money you have, what design of clothes (perfume, shoes etc.), the kind of food and wine on your table, if you have strong economic or political power and other good things of life. No wonder some people now choose to live in self deception in order to get friends that will approve of them. They borrow cars, clothes, jewelleries, shoes, money and all other things that they feel will make them acceptable to other highclass people.

This is the period when what you have in possession, defines your friendship with others and others with you. No wonder the bible says, the friends of the rich gathers around him, but the poor has no friend, although he pursues after them, the further they go away from him.

There are many definitions for who a Friend is. According to free online dictionary, a friend is a person whom one knows, likes, and trust. Another definition says a friend is a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations. While another definition went further to expatiate on who a real friend is; it says; a real friend is someone who it’s okay to fart in front

of, you don’t mind talking to on the bus for at-least 20 minutes, you can borrow #750 and never have to pay it back.

Many persons today have boxed the real content of friendship and have thrown it into the deep blue sea, where it can never be recovered.

As it stands, people now call their sex partners friend, including the ones they are not dating and the ones they paid to have sex with. These days friendship is nothing less than what they call ‘‘friends for benefits.’’

Gone are those days when a friend will come to your house, and assist you to wash clothes if you have so much to wash and also follow you to the market. When the friend want to finally go home, you guys will gist along the way to the friend’s bus stop and still come back to your street and then finally back to the bus stop. This is so because you never wish to separate from each other, but today everyone is in a hurry to part-ways.

One of the principles of friendship is that you must be friendly before you can have friends. Be nice, open minded about things then you will see people flock around you.

A true friend would not try to steal your girl/ boyfriend, your job, or personality and for you to be a true friend, you should not think of doing these things to who so ever you call friend.

Being a good friend is not always easy, but taking the time to nurture a lasting friendship is worth every ounce of effort. As the years pass, some people will stay by your side, but many would not and you will realise that each friendship you keep is priceless. For sure you

By EGHWRUDJE PRAISE have to be a good friend, in order for you to make and have good ones too and it takes a lot of effort and care. To be a good friend, you have to establish a trusting friendship, be there for

dependable is one of the most important aspects of being a good friend. A good friend should be able to stick out his/her neck for you when there is need and he or she should be able to count

you need to do is to have a conversation with that friend and talk everything through. Calling him/her a liar before everyone, would only build a bad image for that your friend and you are making that friend of yours vulnerable to attacks

your friend during hard times, and deepen a friendship to make it last.

A true friend would always or most times keep his or her promise.

True friends never make a promise that cannot be kept except when something beyond their capacity crops up and this is not often. A true friend will always explain why they could not carry out their promise. They are dependable; being

on you for something.

A true friend will always apologise when they make mistakes and not just apologise, but do the apology with a sincere heart. Good friends are honest about their feelings towards the other partner, and the partner’s actions. It is of essence to state here that being honest is different from being blunt. For instance when you have a friend that lie a lot, what

from other people; this action is not being honest rather, it being blunt.

In trying to be honest with your friend, be real, original, connect with the person whom you value on a deep level if you want to have sustainable, long-term friendship.

Invest in people you can be yourself around. If your behaviour lacks sincerity, your friendship would not last.

Anybody that uses you

cannot really be a good friend. A friend is not supposed to use or make the other person feel used at any point in time.

Some persons go to the extent of becoming friend with another person, in order to be accepted into a clique and this is not friendship rather its opportunism and eventually a shallow nature of your

involvement will reveal itself.

Friendship is about give and take. Sure, it may be really convenient for your friend to be helping you do one or two things, but make sure you do something in return. It might not necessarily be immediately, but do something so as to prevent your friend from developing the ‘‘I have been used mind set’’ unintentionally.

“One of the principles of friendship is that you must be friendly before you can have friends. Be nice, open minded about things then you will see people flock around you. A true friend would not try to steal your girl/boyfriend, your job, or personality and for you to be a true friend, you should not think of doing these things to who so ever you call friend.”

Business + Economy Blue Chips Record price gains LAGOS - Weekly transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) started on positive note with some blue chips recorded price gains.

The All-share index appreciated by 240.45 points or 0.59 per cent to close at 40,472.13 from the 40,231.68 recorded.

The market capitalisation, which opened at N12.875 trillion, appreciated by N76 billion or 0.59 per cent to close at N12.951 trillion.

Guinness led the price gainers’ chart, appreciating by N3.90 to close at N236.90 per share.

Julius Berger followed with a gain of N3.29 to close at N72.29, while Oando grew by N2.03 to close at N22 per share.

Okomu Oil gained N1.79 to close at N44.79, while Mobil rose by N1.60 to close at N118.60 per share.

On the other hand, Nestle led the losers’ table with N25 to close at N1, 175 per share.

Union Dicon trailed with a loss of 55k to close at N10.45, while Glaxosmith dropped 50k to close at N68 per share.

International Breweries dipped by 49k to close at N28.60, while FCMB lost 17k to close at N3.64 per share.

Unity Bank emerged the toast of investors, accounting for 180.80 million shares worth N90.40 million in 143 deals.

FCMB came second with 30.99 million shares valued at N116.68 million in 255 deals, while Transcorp sold 28.64 million shares worth N132.24 million.

In all, the volume of shares traded increased by 12.37 per cent as investors exchanged 423.655 million shares worth N3.854 billion in 4,206 deals.

This was against the 377.012 million shares worth N2.404 billion exchanged in 3,603 deals last Friday.

Experts Urge FG To Explore Shale Oil, Gas Production

Chief Solomon Ogbewe, the Uwayoba of Benin Kingdom (left), Chief Amos Osunbor (right) and another Benin Palace chief at the morning dew thanksgiving service held at God’s Historic Chapel, Benin City yesterday. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Osawaru Igbinedion and his wife Lady Chery Igbinedion during the morning dew Thanksgiving Service held at God’s Historic Chapel, Benin City, yesterday. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

LAGOS - Some stakeholders in the Nigerian petroleum industry have called on the Federal Government to reposition the nation’s oil and gas industry towards achieving high shale gas production.

Shale gas is natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations in rocks.

Shale gas has become an important source of natural gas in the U.S. The stakeholders told newsmen in Lagos that the call was in view of the increasing use of shale gas, especially by the U.S. Mr. Alex Simon, Chief Coordinator, Prime-X Energy Ltd., Lagos, said that the recent call by OPEC to members not to ignore shale gas production also necessitated the call.

According to Simon, Nigeria does not need any warning from any quarters regarding the negative impact of shale oil and gas on the nation’s revenue.

“What is important is to be proactive by embarking on measures that will mitigate the impact of the development,” he stressed.

Mr. Folorunso Oginni, Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said that any neglect of shale gas could affect the economy.

According to Oginni, OPEC in its 2013 World Oil Outlook, considered shale gas sufficiently important to developing countries.

Mr. Afe Mayowa, a former President of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), said that shale gas, a product of advanced technology, might erode the prospects of natural gas.

Mayowa said that the development of shale gas could stall new LNG projects in Nigeria.

Fun Seekers Lament Demise Of Bar Beach LAGOS - Some fun seekers has lamented the demise of Bar Beach which had now given way to the Eko Atlantic City.

Report say that many visitors who had not been to the location in Lagos for a long time, went home disappointed on seeing a huge landmass of sand.

The visitors saw was devoid of the usual amusing ocean waves.

It was also report that the site has been sand-filled beyond recognition and what could remind one of the old bar beach were only kiosks where people could seat, drink and relax, but no ocean, no swimming.

A civil servant, Mr. Gbenga Olaniyi, said that it was very sad that the beach no longer existed.

“It (bar beach) is within the town and we normally walk there to cool our brain with the breeze blowing us; but we cannot do that now.

A banker, Mr. Francis Ebere, said that he was not happy with the development.

“If what the Lagos State Government is doing about the

Eko Atlantic City project is good, I do not have a problem with that.

“As far as it will benefit the masses, it is all right, but they should enlighten us on what it is all about.

I have been hearing about Eko Atlantic City but I do not know what it is all about,’’ Ebere told newsmen.

It waslearnt that the Eko Atlantic City project has been developed to meet two needs of the state— space creation and protection from the ever encroaching shoreline.

Available information on it says the project will change the face of Africa and will help Lagos State transform itself into a megacity on the world map.

“It will provide space for the 25 million people expected to live and work in the region by the year 2015.

The project has reached the half-way stage in land reclamation.

Mr. Effiong Ekanem, the

Chairman, Tourism Committee of Bar Beach and a staff of EtiOsa Local Government, Lagos, told NAN that it was not advisable for people to go to the site anymore.

He said that there were other beaches where people could go and have fun.

“We have Oniru Beach, Lekki Beach, Eleko Beach and others that are safe for people to go to.

“Those beaches have safety guards and divers that can monitor what is going on for the safety of the people,’’ he said.

Ekanem said that at the old Bar beach, people could only seat and drink but it’s not for swimming anymore.

It was also reported however, that the site of the old bar beach was being prepared for the Lagos Countdown event.

The Lagos Countdown seeks to institute an enduring crossover tradition signifying the end of one year and the celebration of the beginning of another in a splendid fashion.

In addition to offering a viable

platform for commerce, encouraging brand development, job creation, leisure, entertainment and tourism, the event (Lagos Countdown) includes music performances by top artistes

Some corporate bodies have taken spaces at the old beach site to showcase their products in order to make sales during the Yuletide.

Mong the companies are Zenith Bank, Airtel Nigeria and Hyundai.

Kebbi State Farmers Get 60 Tractors From FG BIRNIN KEBBI - The Kebbi chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) commended the Federal Government for allocating 60 tractors to the association.

The Secretary of the association, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.

The tractors were given under the soft loan scheme of the Federal Government to boost food production.

Idris said the reduction in the cost of the tractors by 25 per cent would also enable the farmers to

afford them.

The equipment is now being sold for N6.5 million each as against the initial cost of N8 million.

Idris said that farmers were willing to pay an initial deposit of N1.3 million and the balance would be repaid within four years.

He also said farmers would abide by the stringent conditions for the loan as well as ensure prudent utilisation of the tractors.

Idris commended the SUREP for its decision to provide 1,000 power tillers and 2,000 work bulls and accessories for farmers.

NIGERIA is blessed with abundant human and natural resources which nature has endowed her with. The country’s climatic conditions favour wide variety of agricultural activities, including the cultivation of wheat. Additionally, Nigeria is the most populous country in the Continent of Africa, with abundant economic resources, which, when properly harnessed, may enable the country to achieve the status of a rich and developed nation.

ALTHOUGH its industrial sector is underdeveloped due, in part, to inadequate capital for investment and lack of technological know-how, yet the country has prominent industrial concerns such as giant oil industry, iron and steel complexes, steel rolling mills, pharmaceutical companies, food processing Industries, car assembly plants and so on. Although most of these Industrial concerns are not functioning optimally and many of them depend on imported inputs, they can serve as a basis for industrial take-off, if we put our acts together.

HOWEVER, despite Nigeria’s extensive landmass, growing population, agricultural and industrial potentials, the country remains economically backward, indeed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had at a time classified Nigeria as a heavily indebted country with difficulties in meeting debts servicing obligations; Certainly, these attributes are a minus in our national drive towards socio-economic and political development.

THERE are divergent opinions on the relationship between effective leadership and the economic organization of Nigeria, and how to expand the productive base of the country.

Literally, economics is the distribution of scarce resources for optimum development of a society.

Thus, successive governments had pursued vigorously, policies that will strengthen economic growth and development in Nigeria. But despite the economic efforts of past and present governments, Nigeria is yet to achieve basic economic aspirations.

LITERATURES on the Nigerian economy have cited leadership problems as a major cause of the

THE NIGERIAN

Growing The Nigerian Economy country’s inability to effectively mobilize her resources. Critics have shown quite clearly effective leadership is a great obstacle to development in Nigeria. Leadership problem has hampered the country’s progress in the political, economic, military and socio-cultural sectors. Poor leadership lies at the root of our continuing social, moral, economic and political crises. Practically, all our misfortunes in Nigeria have been due to poor leadership. It seems, therefore, that the Nigerian leadership structure determined to place the blame for the unstable situation the frustration and difficulties confronting them on their leaders.

THUS, in contemporary Nigeria, we have observed and rightly too, that there is a great yearning for the total transformation of the process of producing appropriate leadership. This yearning, which grows more urgent by the day, is both legitimate and understandable. After decades of hopes raised and hopes dashed, it should not be surprising that Nigerians are wary and weary.

HAVING gone through decades in which their faith in their national leadership have been abused and affronted, Nigerians impatience with their leaders and almost total distrust of government functionaries can no longer, be-dismissed as mere cynicism.

AT independence, expectations throughout Nigeria were high and the possibilities for greatness were almost limitless. Considering her vast resources, the country appeared set for good attainments, and fulfills what the international community saw as her destiny to lead the black race into the main stream human and technological civilisation.

REGRETABLY, the Nigerian economy has hit an all time low. There is massive under utilization

resources. What is more painful is that our industrial sub-sector is not producing at full capacity. Despite being blessed materially and humanly, our cost of production remains high with growing unemployment. Also only crude oil is being seriously tapped, and production was negatively affected by the Niger-Delta crisis, thanks to the amnesty programme which has largely restored the oil sector. Our concern here is that outside oil, resource mobilization efforts are rather disappointing. In our estimation, if the attention given to crude oil had been extended to other minerals and the agricultural sector, definitely.

Nigeria would have attained desirable and sustainable development.

THERE is no doubt that Nigeria is richly endowed. The country has all It takes to become a super power. Somehow, our major problem is the leadership question, which has inevitably impaired our ability to mobilise our resources. However; we believe that our system of government has contributed to this poor leadership problem. Our political structure especially the adoption of a warped federalism has combined effectively to deprive Nigeria of a sound process of getting the right leadership Even democracy which is expected to produce effective leaders is now, a major political problem in Nigeria. WE believe that problems such as corruption, and inter-ethnic wars and suspicion, which have contributed a lot to the failure of leadership, can be adequately tackled, particularly as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has braced up to the problem in recent times.

AT independence in 1960, the international community amazed at the economic potentials of Nigeria, was quite certain that if our resources were appropriately managed, Nigeria would one day become the giant of Africa. Unfortunately, due to the failure of our leadership to strategically mobillise our resources for political, socioeconomic and cultural advancement of our nation and people, Nigeria is yet to make appreciable gains in development, worsened by a very poor infrastructure base.

Relationship

When To Say I Am Sorry

GLOBALLY, the world “I am sorry is a difficult thing to behold.

Many look at it as a difficult task, many also view it as a let down to say I am sorry, To err is human, and to forgive is divine, but sometimes, a small word like “sorry” is all that is required to make up.

For example, there is no relationship without misunderstanding, but the ability to understand your spouse is what matters in any relationship, whether married or unmarried, casual or intimate, there is bound to be problems that is what we called, “ u n f o r e s e e n occurrence” based on what Ecclesiastes 9:11 states, “time and unforeseen occurrence before them all. As far as we live in an imperfect world. Full with temptation and ungodly speech, there are bound to be misunderstanding between spouses.

Another problem that c a u s e s misunderstanding in a relationship is that temper and jealousy; when both partner’s are harsh and speak violently to each other without use of mild words, there are bound to be problem in the relationship, and secondly, when they are jealous of who the other mate talk with or have dealings with, there are bond to be problem also, and so many other factors that causes problem in a relationship, but when you learn to say a simple thing such as I am sorry, it will definitely quench the fire that was set. I am sorry is the best medicine to say when there is fire on the

mountain. Sad to say, a lot of persons don’t know this is a relationship.

Some feel the woman is the subordinate, and as much she should always remain silent even if she is right or wrong, the men don’t want to no.

On the part of some female, they too do not want to acknowledge the fact that the man is the head of the relationship or marriage, if married.

All they care about is their own interest, living the man out; they want to be Mr. Right always.

In so doing, I tell you today that when you learn to say I am sorry in a relationship many things are abound to be shaped in a positive outlook. And there are bound to be peace in the relationship.

Three steps of I am sorry that will make relationship strong.

1. I am sorry unites relationship: - Couples or spouse learn to use the word I am sorry in their relationship, it bring the couple closer. And it also makes then understand each other when something went wrong.

Being it casual or intimate, the use of I am sorry unites relationships.

Also, when a relationship has gotten to a point of divorce or separation, simply use the word I am sorry, might bring you both together again.

2. The use of I am sorry make relationship more lovable: In any relationship, it is better not to let disagreement or anger last longer.

It should not cross over to the

By BIJOR CELESTINA OMOJEVWE

next day, basing, it on what the Bible says, “we should not let the sun set before us in a provoke state”.

And

began to show up in a relationship, we should always remember that we all do not come from the same background, and we have different up bringing, considering the example of twins

dispute within the relationship, the big answer is NO! there are bound to be problem in the relationship, but having the mind to forgive is necessary, in relation to what apostle Paul in the new word relations of the holy

continue to put up with one another.

The use of writing words with the attachment of the word” “I am sorry” will easily make relationship more enjoyable and lovable, it shows respect for the other person.

3. I am sorry, encourages forgiven spirit.

When ups and down

who came from the same belly with some minutes or seconds difference, they sometimes do quarrel and at times have serious disagreement with each other, but they still unit again, not to talk of people who came from different background and up bringing, different tribes at times, state, country, or geographical location, not to have

scripture says, at Colossians 3:13a “continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely”.

Interestingly, for your spouse to know that you have forgiven him/her, the use of the word I am sorry must come into play. And it shows that you have the persons interest at heart, and you

truly cares. Displaying the quality, “I am sorry” in your relationship, home, at occasion, whenever you are, and whenever, it calls for it, will help you to continue to put up with one another freely from our heart.

In essence, try to say I am sorry at the right time because, it heal injury

that might have cause by using abusive languages at the right time.

Additionally, learn to say I am sorry in whatever that might happen, instead of habouring resentment, which sometimes injured you. The word I am sorry is the best medication, you can use in a relationship.

“Another problem that causes misunderstanding in a relationship is that temper and jealousy; when both partner’s are harsh and speak violently to each other without use of mild words, there are bound to be problem in the relationship, and secondly, when they are jealous of who the other mate talk with or have dealings with, there are bond to be problem also, and so many other factors that causes problem in a relationship, but when you learn to say a simple”

Epitome Of Service And Rocognition

NYSC:

HAVING understood that the basic road to greatness, recognition and success is rough and full of stains, Dr. Tai Sholarin on January 2, 1964 which is exactly firty years today in his popular column “Thinking with you” in the Daily Times said “May our road be rough this year.”

My fellow corps members, since our aspiration focus on leaving a mark in the annals of history may our road be rough this year. Before expatiating on that, how was Christmas and this colourful new year?

Fantastic! You said excellent! Thank God for that.

Yes, after celebration, the next thing is resumption and continuous aspiration in order to have our dream fulfilled. Becoming an icon is not an overnight exercise but rather a timely gradual effort.

National youth service can be liken to a coin which is made up of two sides.

Unfortunately, vast numbers of corps members do not understand the nittygritty of both sides.

Irrefutably, there is a solid relationship between knowledge and achievement.

It is pathetic that the numerical strength of corps members who see National Youth Services as mere selfless and unrewardable exercise could be best compared to sand – uncountable.

The people in the above school of thought derived their philosophy from the weak purchasing power of naira. This set of people press hard to manage their monthly allowance for thirty days. Really, in some of our state capital and federal capital territory, the cost of living is high.

However, though the cost of living in some parts of the country may be high, Nigeria is our fatherland, Nigeria is ours and we must be ready to pay any price required in the process of lifting our nation high.

Building a nation is not a matter of bread and butter, it cannot be done on a

By OGUNYEMI ADEBAYO platter of gold hence, the road must be rough.

In spite of the little pain associated with NYSC scheme which ranges from temporary detachment from one’s parents to low income, the scheme is highly recognizable if it is

unforgettable positive impact. Study their areas of paramount need in relation to your knowledge, experience and capacity and stratsgise a workable plan to meet the need.

At times, you may be given a challenging task to

done with the spirit of perfect love to humanity and one’s nation. If the spirit of love and loyalty is strong enough, you will be able to accomplish extraordinary tasks that call for recognition in each phase of the scheme.

If you can’t ply the rough road of NYSC scheme which is the first side of the coin characterized with selfless service, you can’t enjoy the second side characterized with recognition and appreciation.

During the first phase popularly known as orientation course, you might not involve in any meaningful exercise notwithstanding you can still make indelible marks and be recongised during passing out parade (POP) How? The answer to this is simple, in your place of primary Assignment (PPA) display your wealth of knowledge and make

accomplish with relatively little scope of time. As a fresh graduate with fresh knowledge and ideas, organise yourself and display you valuable intellect to the amazement of your boss. Such a remarkable performance could force you boss to write a commendable letter and forward it to NYSC official, before you know it, your name is writer in gold.

Besides this, you can embark on valuable Community Development Project having assessed the need of your host community. You can carry out a project worthy huges amount of money without spending common one naira from you personal money. All you need is to write appropriate NYSC authorities and look for sponsorship. The project will speak for you at the point of commission and thereafter.

The greater and mosst memorable recognition a

corps member could achieve is National youth service certificate.

Evidence of serving your fatherland for an uninterrupted period of one year is a pride to your patriotic spirit.

In this new year, do everything possible at your place of primary Assignment and in your Community Develop Service with a strong belief that rough road is an

AJuwaya Today while those who enthroned apartheid got more respect in that country.

Under normal condition, there must be love, hospitality and Mutual trust between human beings irrespective of gender, race,

mutual love and trust internally, we are the one fueling the trend complained by Lagos State governor. Charity they say begins at home.

My fellow Nigerians, this country is ours therefore, let us endeavour to express love towards one another and restore full harmony and unfailing unity to our dear nation.

My father, that corps member is year son, my mother, that corps member is your daughter. There may be variation in language, culture and value notwithstanding Nigeria is one nation made up of great people with divert culture and language.

However, the previous years have gone with its inadequacies and odds.

Today is January 2, 2014, as the year is new, let there be new and encouraging foundation on our modus operandi of relating with fellow Nigerians.

The stranger – corps member that you see today may be your angel

“In this new year, do everything possible at your place of primary Assignment and in your Community Develop Service with a strong belief that rough road is an express way leading to tangible achievement.” express way leading to tangible achievement.

National youth service is a conventional coin made up of two sides – selfless service and recognition.

Render your selfless service relentlessly and be recognized for life. Nigeria – the giant of Africa is our fatherland.

Keep The Spirit Of NYSC Alive Host Community WHILE lamenting over the departure of African Soul – Nelson Mandela, Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola declared that it was ironical that Nigerian face daily harassment in South Africa

language, culture, religion and political affiliation but unfortunately reverse is the case even between Nigerians especially when it comes to the issue of corps members seeking for accommodation in some communities.

The central objectives behind National Youth service is to promote unity and enhance integration among Nigerians. But can this be achievable when some landlords/landladies in certain community are being reluctant in giving accommodation to corps members due to little variation in culture and language.

However, if there is no

tomorrow, do not send him/ her away. Let him/her live under your roof as long as he/she pays the required rent. Also, do not send corps members away by deliberately demand for what they cannot afford.

On the part of corps members, be disciplined, respect the cultural heritage of your host community, have respect for human dignity and do not be intoxicated by your degree while addressing those who are not opportune to access formal education.

Love, peace an unity are the basic criteria of national development therefore, let us be committed to them religiously.

Health

Bad Breath:

By ESTHER USOBOH

BAD breath, also known as halitosis, is breath that has an unpleasant odour. This odour can strike periodically or be persistent, depending on the cause according to colgate.com In many people, the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth (particularly on the back of the tongue) are the primary cause of bad breath. The mouth’s warm, moist, conditions make an ideal environment for these bacteria to grow. Most bad breath is caused by something in the mouth.

Some types of bad breath, such as “morning mouth,” are considered to be fairly normal and they usually are not health concerns. The “morning mouth” type of bad breath occurs because food and odours during the daytime diminishes at night while you sleep. Your mouth becomes dry and dead cells adhere to your tongue and to the inside of your cheeks. Bacteria use these cells for food and expel compounds that have a foul odour.

In addition, bad breath can be caused by the following: • Poor dental hygiene – Infrequent or improper brushing and flossing can leave food particles to decay inside the mouth.

• Infections in the mouth – Periodontal (gum) disease • Respiratory tract infections – Throat infections, sinus infections, lung infections.

• Dry mouth (xerostomia) – This can be caused by salivary gland problems, medication or by “mouth breathing.”

• Systemic illness – Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease reflux disease and others.

• Psychiatric illness – Some people may perceive that they have bad breath, but it is not noticed by oral-health-care professionals or others. This is referred to as “pseudohalitosis.”

Symptoms A person may not always know that he or she has bad breath. This phenomenon is because odour detecting cells in the nose eventually become accustomed to the constant flow of bad smells from the mouth.

Others may notice and react by recoiling as you speak.

• Poor dental hygiene – Teeth are coated with film or plague food debris trapped breath teeth, pale or swollen gums.

• Infections in the mouth – Gum may be red swollen and bleed easily, especially after

Symptoms, Diagnosis Of Halitosis brusting or flossing, pu\s may drain from between teeth, a pocket loose teeth or a change in “fit” of a denture: painful, open

sores on the tongue or gums.

• External agents – Cigarette stains on fingers and teeth a uniform yellow “coffee stain” on teeth.

Prevention Bad breath caused by dental problems can be prevented easily. Daily maintenance cells for brushing your teeth, tongue and gums after meals, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwashes approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) Regular visits to the dentist (at least twice a year) should be made for dental examination and for professional teeth and gum cleaning.

Bad breath also can be combated by drinking plenty of water every day to encourage saliva production. An occasional swish of the mouth with water can loosen food particles. Other products that keep breath fresh and prevent plaque from forming including sugar-free-gum, sugarless lozenges, raw carrots and celery. Apple Bitter gourd and milk also prevent bad breath.

Treatment The treatment of bad breath depends on

its cause when to call a professional.

Call your dentist promptly if you have bad breath with painful, swollen gums that bleed easily or loose teeth. Also, call your doctor if you have bad breath along with a fever, sore throat , a postnasal drip, a discloured nasal

discharge or a mucus – producing cough.

Even if you have none of these associated symptoms, call your dentist or physician if our bad breath continues despite a good diet and proper dental hygiene.

If you have diabetes, gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) or chronic liver or kidney disease, ask your doctor how bad breath can be a sign that your underlying medical conditions needs immediate medical attention.

Prognosis Once bad breath has been diagnosed, the outlook for fresh breath is usually excellent as long as you stick to your dentist’s or physician’s treatment plan.

“Bad breath caused by dental problems can be prevented easily. Daily maintenance cells for brushing your teeth, tongue and gums after meals, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwashes approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) Regular visits to the dentist (at least twice a year) should be made for dental examination and for professional teeth and gum cleaning.”

Spotlight

Resource Governance Inde

THE Revenue Watch Institute promotes the effective, transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good. Through capacity building, technical assistance, research, funding and advocacy, we help countries to realize the development benefits of their natural resource wealth.

The 2013 Resource Governance Index Summary THE Resource Governance Index (RGI) measures the quality of governance in the oil, gas and mining sector of 58 countries. These nations produce 85 percent of the world’s petroleum, 90 percent of diamonds and 80 percent of copper, generating trillions of dollars in annual profits. The future of these countries depends on how well they manage their oil, gas and minerals.

The RGI scores and ranks the countries, relying on a detailed questionnaire completed by researchers with expertise in the

As a way forward, the Revenue Watch Institute calls on governments to: • Disclose contracts signed with extractive Companies.

• Ensure that regulatory agencies publish timely, comprehensive reports on their operations including detailed revenue and project information.

• Extend transparency and accountability standards to state-owned companies and natural resource funds.

• Make a concerted effort to control corruption, improve the rule of law and guarantee respect for civil and political rights. including a free press.

Accountability In Th of total exports on average.

Revenues from natural resources dwarf international aid: In 2011, oil revenues for Nigeria alone were 60 percent higher than total international aid to all of subSaharan Africa.2 The future of these countries depends on how well they manage their oil, gas and minerals.

Mismanagement and corruption have many manifestations and can have dire consequences. Some countries negotiate poor terms with extractive companies, forsaking potential long-term benefits.

Many countries do not collect resource revenues effectively.

And even when resource revenues do end up in government coffers, they aren’t

“Some countries negotiate poor terms with extractive companies, forsaking potential long-term benefits. Many countries do not collect resource revenues effectively.” extractive industries. The Index assesses the quality of four key governance components: Institutional and Legal Setting; Reporting Practices; Safeguards and Quality controls; and Enabling Environment. It also includes information on three special mechanisms used commonly to govern oil, gas and mineralsstate-owned companies! natural resource funds and subnational revenue transfers.

The index finds that only 11 of the countries-less than 20 percent have satisfactory standards of transparency and accountability. In the rest, the public lacks fundamental information about the oil, gas and mining sector. Even countries with generally satisfactory standards exhibit weaknesses in some dimensions. There is a major governance deficit in natural resources around the world, and the deficits is largest in the most resource-dependent countries, where nearly half a billion people live in poverty despite that resource wealth.

Fortunately, some countries, including several emerging economies, show that satisfactory performance in resource governance is possible.

• Accelerate the adoption of international reporting standards for governments and companies.

To see the longer version of this report and the research database, go to www.revenuewatch.org/rgi.

Introduction The Resource Governance Index (RGI) measures the quality of governance in the oil, gas and mining sector of 58 countries. From highly ranked countries like Norway, the United Kingdom and Brazil to low- ranking countries like Qatar. Turkmenistan and Myanmar, the Index identifies critical achievements and challenges in natural resource governance.

The 58 countries assessed in the Index produce 85 percent of the world’s petroleum, 90 percent of diamonds and 80 percent of copper.

The countries produce 85 percent of the world’s petroleum, 90 percent of diamonds and 80 percent of copper. Profits from their extractive sector totaled more than $2.6 trillion in 2010. In 41 of these countries, the extractive sector contributed a third of gross domestic product and half

always spent in ways that benefit the public. Too often, governments keep citizens and civil society leaders in the dark regarding government contracts and resource revenues. This opacity deprives the public of a voice or even representation in basic decisions on natural resources.

The RGI is based on the premise that good governance of natural resources is necessary for the successful development of countries with abundant oil, gas and minerals. It provides a diagnostic tool to help identify good practices as well as governance shortcomings. The RGI evaluates four key components of resource governance in each country: Institutional and Legal Setting: Reporting Practices; Safeguards and Quality Controls; and Enabling Environment. The Index assigns a numerical score to each country and divides them into four performance ranges-satisfactory (71-I 00, marked in green), partial (51-70, yellow), weak (41-50, orange) and failing (0-40, red).

This report includes a summary of the Index methodology, an analysis of the main findings, and conclusions on the potential contribution of

the Index to applied research, diagnostics and reform. A longer version of this report with additional analysis of the components and more methodological details, as well as the full database and country profiles, can be found at www.revenuewatch.org/rgi.

Methodology To evaluate the quality of governance in the extractive sector, the Resource Governance Index employed a I73-item questionnaire.3 During January-October 2012, 46 expert researchers gathered original data on all 58 jurisdictions, answering the standardized questions. The findings were examined by 56 peer reviewers and independently reviewed by Revenue Watch staff.

The answers to the 173 questions were clustered into 45 indicators. The indicators were then mapped into three (of the four) RGI components: Institutional and Legal Setting, Reporting Practices, and Safeguards and Quality Controls.

The fourth component, Enabling Environment. consists of five additional indicators that describe a country’s broader governance environment; it uses data compiled from more than 30 external sources by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

International Budget Partnership, Transparency International and Worldwide Governance indicators, The Index is therefore a hybrid, with three components based on the questionnaire specifically assessing the extractive sector, and the fourth rating the country’s overall governance.

The composite index score is a weighted average of the four components.

Reporting Practices receives a greater weight because de facto reporting-rather than rules or laws that might be ignored best captures the actual level of transparency in a given country.

Main Findings Included in the components are 24 indicators that evaluate the governance of three special mechanisms present in the majority of the 58 countries: state-owned companies (10 indicators), natural resource funds (eight indicators) and subnational transfer of resource revenues (six indicators). These indicators are used to arrive at separate scores for the particular institutions an practices.

All 58 countries included in

the Index produce hydrocarbons and/or minerals- For countries that produce both types of resources, the Index assesses governance in the one that generates the most revenue. We address oil and gas in 40 countries and minerals in the remaining 18. For the three

federal countries with decentralized natural resource governance (United States, Canada, Australia), we assess one resource-producing region.

For India, the Index focuses on the federally managed gas sector.

Margins of error are a serious consideration in any crossnational data project in governance as in other areas. We estimate RGI margins of error based on the extent of disagreement across indicators and components, which are all observed proxies for the unobserved “true” quality of governance. On average, the

implied margin of error for a country score is +/- 13 point (90 percent confidence level).

RWI released a pilot index on natural resource transparency in 2010. It included 41 countrie and focused on reporting practices only, based on a limited questionnaire. It took a

different methodologica approach and did not estimat margins of error, Given thes and other adjustments, the 2010 and 2013 findings are no comparable.

The RGI shows a striking governance deficit in natura resource managemen worldwide.

Only 11 countries earn an overall score of above 70. Th vast majority of countrie exhibit serious shortcomings in resource governance.

More than half the sample, 32 countries, do not meet even basic standards of resourc governance, performing weakly

“Margins of error are a se national data project in gover RGI margins of error based o indicators and components, the unobserved “true” quali

Spotlight

ex: Measure Of Transparency,

he Oil, Gas And Mining Sector

a ts

n n s g a a

al e e 0 ot

g al nt

n e s n

2 n e y

or simply failing. Among the 15 failing countries, seven score below 30: Cambodia, Iran, Qatar, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Turkmenistan and Myanmar. As of 2012, when the data collection took place, these countries failed to disclose any

meaningful information about the extractive sector and lacked basic governance standards.

There is room for improvement even among the 11 top-ranked satisfactory performers. For example.

Brazil and Chile fail to publish their extractive industry contracts. Western Australia does not require public officials to disclose information about their financial interest in mining projects.

An examination of the four RGI components clearly shows the endemic nature of the

resource governance deficit.

Only Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States (Gulf of Mexico) earn a satisfactory score in all four components, leaving 95 percent of the sample without satisfactory standards in one or more areas. In the Reporting

Practices component. the vast majority of countries (45 out of 58) have partial, weak or failing standards of transparency. In these countries, citizens lack access to fundamental information about the oil, gas and mining sector. For instance, a country might provide little or no information about which companies (domestic and foreign) operate in the extractive sector, how much the government collects in resource revenues and where those funds are allocated.

The governance deficit is largest in the most resource-

erious consideration in any crossrnance as in other areas. We estimate on the extent of disagreement across which are all observed proxies for ity of governance.”

dependent countries.

Of the 58 countries in the RG1, 41 are classified as resource-rich by the International Monetary Fund.

That is. in each of these countries, oil, gas and/or minerals dominate the economy, making up at least 25 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), exports or government revenues, Only five of the 41 countries (Norway, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago) have satisfactory standards of resource governance (a composite score of 70 or more).

Resource-rich countries receive an average score of 48 in the RGI composite, nine points lower than the average of their 17 less resource-dependent peers.

Similar disparity is evident in all four components of the Index. Among the resource-rich countries, only Norway rates satisfactory in all components. Thirty-seven of the resource-rich countries rate less than satisfactory in at least two of the four components.

Transparency is missing in the countries where it is needed most. Nine of the 15 failing performers (Algeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan) are among the most resource-dependent countries in the world. In 2010, resource profits in these countries totaled more than $530 billion, or about $1,500 per capita; oil, gas and mining contributed an average of 34 percent of GDP and a staggering 60 percent of total government revenues.

Resource wealth of this scale affects every aspect of economics and politics in these countries. Yet governments provide the public negligible, if any, information about the industry on which their economic future depends.

The governance deficit affects nearly 450 million poor people in the most resource-dependent countries.

The share of the population living on less than two dollars a day is higher at the bottom half of the RGI ranking. In 26 resource-rich countries with weak and failing performance, more than 300 million people (or 50 percent of their combined populations) live on less than two dollars a day. By comparison, in countries scored as having partial performance,

149 million people (32 percent of the population) live on less than two dollars a day; for the countries with satisfactory performance, the figure is 10 million people (7 percent of the population).

Satisfactory performance is possible in diverse contexts.

Six of the 11 top performers are middle income countries Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago-showing that being wealthy is not a precondition for good governance. And with the exception of Brazil, all are resource-rich, demonstrating that resource dependence does not preclude transparency and accountability. The Index shows it is possible to adopt high reporting standards, including disclosure of timely, extensive information on operations and primary sources of revenue, when the extractive sector is of the utmost political and economic importance.

Even countries facing significant economic challenges exhibit good practices in selected components. For instance,

practical challenges. Does the prevailing legal and institutional framework support transparency and accountability?

What information is published about the complex and lucrative resource sector?

What safeguards are in place to promote integrity in its governance? Finally, is the broader institutional environment conducive to accountable resource governance? Changes in one component can affect governance as a whole. As areas of analysis and policy reform, they should be considered individually as well as collectively.

Institutional and Legal Setting: Laws and systems that encourage integrity and openness. including basic transparency guidelines, are lacking in many countries.

Thirty-eight of the Index countries lack a freedom of information law, Some of the most resource-dependent countries, such as Angola and Saudi Arabia, have no reporting requirements pertaining to the

about licensing practices. Only 10 of the 58 Index countries publish most of their oil, gas and mineral contracts and licenses, though this group is growing with the recent disclosures by Afghanistan, Ghana and Guinea.

Safeguards and Quality Controls: Most countries lack mechanisms for limiting conflicts of interest, curbing discretionary powers and ensuring the quality of disclosed information. Thirty- eight countries, including Peru and Saudi Arabia, do not publish audits of government finances or publish them more than a year late. In 31 countries, such as Botswana and Timor-Leste, the legislature exerts negligible oversight of contracting and licensing processes; in 29 countries, including Chile and Sierra Leone, the legislature has very limited oversight over resource revenues.

Enabling Environment: Thirty-four countries score below 40 in this component.

They have high levels of corruption, limited government effectiveness or opaque budgets, or lack democratic institutions

“ Malaysia, Qatar and South Africa score well in government effectiveness and control of corruption, but fall short on the other Index components.”

Timor-Leste has adopted transparent and accountable systems for managing its oil wealth. And though Guinea’s overall minerals governance is weak, it recently initiated reforms to improve, as reflected in its high Institutional and Legal Setting score.

Afghanistan and the DRC, both rated failing for overall resource governance, recently decided to publish most of their extractive contracts. These improvements could be a springboard for more decisive resource governance reforms.

Defining the Governance Deficit Each component reveals specific governance shortcomings.

The RGI components measure how well countries address four

oil, gas and mining sector. In 20 countries, including Cameroon and Venezuela, substantial resource revenues bypass the national treasury. And though the experience of countries such as Mozambique suggest the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative can be a path for release of revenue data, 30 of the 58 Index countries have yet to sign up.

Reporting Practices: Most countries fail to provide access to comprehensive information about extractive sector operations and payments.

Twenty-one countries do not publish information on primary sources of revenue such as royalties, taxes and profit shares. Thirty countries publish either scant or no information

and rule of law. Some countries, including Azerbaijan, Russia and Venezuela, receive relatively low scores on this component due to poor records in broader national governance areas including corruption, civil and political liberties and democratic accountability. In these cases, natural resource transparency is less likely to improve the ability of citizens to hold governments accountable. On the other hand, Botswana, Malaysia, Qatar and South Africa score well in government effectiveness and control of corruption, but fall short on the other Index components. In these cases, resource governance and transparency are problem areas that lag behind the overall governance environment.

Spotlight ONE common form of sexual abuse of children is incest, which has been defined as sexual contact that occurs between family members.

Most incest occurs between older male relatives-and younger female children in families of every class and colour. Other instances of sexual abuse of children are most often committed by friends who have access to children with in the family setting and by people normally trusted by parents, doctors, dentists, teachers and baby-silters; A sexually abuse relationship is one over which a child or young woman has no control; A trusted family member or friend uses his power as well as a child’s love and dependence, to initiate sexual contact and often to ensure that the relationship continues and remains secret.

Despite the fact that children are more likely to be sexually abused by an adult they know, parents teach children to expect danger from strangers and not from trusted authority figures. It is understandable, given this fact, that a violation of this trust is so terribly frightening and confusing.

The Extent of incest and childhood sexual abuse is difficult to measure because of lack of reporting and lack of memory. One study in which adults were asked to report on past incidents found that one in four girls and one in ten boys had experienced sexual abuse.

Incest and sexual abuse of children take many forms and may include sexual suggestive language; prolong kissing, looking and petting; Vaginal and oral intercourse; and oral sex, Because sexual contact is often achieved without overt physical force, they may be no obvious signs of physical harm.

Incest And Sexual Abuse Of Children

Killing The Deadly Bug

By BEAUTY OBAMWONYI

Whether or not the signs of abuse are physical and obvious, sexual abuse in childhood can have lifelong consequences. As survivors, we often blame ourselves long after the abuse has ended …. For not saying no, for not fighting back, for telling or not , for having trusted the abuser. Often there is no one to confirm that someone treated us cruelly and that this abuse was devastating to us.

Many of us have difficulty with sexually intimate relationships because of the memories they revive. Many of us desire sexual intimacy yet have difficulty trusting.

A lot of these children,

when they grow up, struggle with self blame, might run away from their homes, depression and see themselves a worthless being, it is often very difficult to talk about incest or childhood sexual abuse. Some of us may never have told anyone, though the abuse may have continued for years. We may have dreaded family gatherings, where a particular uncle, cousin or family friend would come after us.

For some exploring our bodies with an older brother turned a sexual encounter; after which we found ourselves feeling we had been taken advantage of.

Sometimes a father, uncle, cousin or teacher abuse our sisters, and we didn’t find out for years. Every surviour has her own story, and every story is valid.

COPING MECHANISMS Each of us responds differently to the pain and tenor of incest and childhood sexual abuse. We struggle to find ways to cope that will permit us to keep on functioning and to survive.

Too often, the coping mechanisms become problematic and don’t serve the survivor well as an adult.

Common coping mechanisms include self-

“Each of us responds differently to the pain and tenor of incest and childhood sexual abuse. We struggle to find ways to cope that will permit us to keep on functioning and to survive. Too often, the coping mechanisms become problematic and don’t serve the survivor well as an adult.

Common coping mechanisms include self- injury, substance abuse, eating disorders and dissociation.”

injury, substance abuse, eating disorders and dissociation.

SELF INJURY-Selfinjury, much more common among women than men, occur when we consciously hurt ourselves, by, for example, cutting hitting, or burning ourselves. Because of the shame surrounding self injury, women often keep this problem secret and do not reach out for support from others. Although self-injury is not usually done with he Intent of suicide, self injury can also be a way of expressing anger and other strong emotions.

SUBSTANCE ABUSEmany that were abused sexually during childhood find that we have no outlet for the feelings associated with the trauma of sexual abuse.

We may turn to alcohol or drugs to help cope with strong feeling of terror, grief, and anger.

EATING DISORDERS –problems with eating can develop in the wake of sexual abuse. These may take several forms, including bulimia, anoreda, and compulsive overeating. Each

of these may sense as a different coping ,ehanism and may itself become a problem.

DISSOCIATION-Many survivors are familiar with dissociation. This is a process that produces an alteration in a person’s thoughts, feelings, or actions so that for a period of time, certain information is not associated or integrated with other information.

A continuum of sorts, dissociation occurs when a child leaves her body and goes to the ceiling during the abuse; they may have trouble concentrating, experience detachment from ourselves, have dramatic mood shifts, and /or develop several distinct personalities.

GETTING HELP-To heal from the trauma of incest or early sexual abuse, we need to tell our stories to people who understand what we have experience.

FEMINIST INSIGHTS INTO INCEST AND CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE Years ago, “experts” who wrote about incest and child abuse blamed mothers for abandoning their children to sexually depraved husbands or accused young girls of being seductive or offantasising about sexual relationships with male relatves in a society that puts so much emphasis on sexuality as a measure of a man’s worth fathers, uncles, nephews, cousins and brothers may try to bolster a low self image by taking sexual advantage of the powerlessness of the children in their lives.

One unfortunate result of this change has been an attempt to popularize the socalled FALSE MEMORY SYNDROME. This theory claims that many adults who remember sexual abuse as children are actually not remembering correctly.

Research into the subject of memories and how they work however confirms that children often repress their experience of trauma in order to survive and that this is a necessary and appropriate coping mechanism, not something that the child did wrong.

Style

Overcoming Insecurity, Low Self Esteem LOW self esteem refers to a negative perception about one’s worth. It is often characterized by lack of confidence, negative thinking, and difficulty in making decision and communicating one’s needs effectively.

Real self confidence and esteem is based in emotion, not self image.

To build self confidence and overcome low self esteem is to change how we feel emotionally about ourselves.

To change our emotion requires changing two different core beliefs about self image. The first core belief is obvious. It is the belief that we are not good enough. It may have a more specific association to how we look, how smart we are money, or lack of confidence sexually.

The second core belief to change is the image of success that we feel we should be Changing this belief is contrary to logic but is a must if we are to overcome insecurity and raise our self esteem.

False self image of perfection cause of low self esteem and lack of confidence when your mind has an image of success that you “should be” it associates happy emotions with that picture. I call that the image of perfection in our mind. The mind does a comparison between the image of perfection and how you see yourself image currently. The comparison results in judgment and self rejection for not meeting the image of perfection. The self rejection results in feeling unworthy and low self esteem.

While the image of perfection appears to be a way for us to feel good about ourselves, it is actually causing us to reject ourselves which creates feelings of “not being good enough”. If you

were to dissolve the belief that you should fit into the image of perfection you would eliminate the self rejection and feelings of unworthiness that result.

Feelings of confidence and

security means no self rejection.

The approach of dissolving our image of perfection sounds contrary to our sense of logic about building confidence and esteem. This is because we have the belief that achieving the image of perfection will result in positive happy emotion and feeling confident with our success. Our mind has actually been programmed to have these emotional associations. We desire to feel these feelings and chase the

By HAUWA ISMAILA

image of perfection we have attached to them.

What we may not be aware of is that achieving our image of success doesn’t effectively change our emotional state. It doesn’t do anything to permanently change the way the voice in our head speaks to us or what we believe about our self many times. People have achieved their goals only to find themselves still unfulfilled. Your emotional state may briefly change in the euphoria of the immediate success.

But the core belief of not

being good enough and your long term habit of self rejection in the mind hasn’t been altered. The critical voice in our head is more likely to put a higher goal in front of us to achieve. I was talking with a woman who competed on the basket ball team in Nigeria several years back. She described feeling like a failure because she was only ranked about 10th in the competition in the state. It’s okey to have high goals, but you don’t have to make your love and self acceptance

dependent on them.

Change what you believe and you change how you feel emotionally. The second belief to dissolve is that we are inadequate and somehow not good enough. These are the beliefs that create emotions, insecurity and fear. The emotions are not the problems, they are just the resulting symptom of negative core beliefs. The “not good enough” image is a construct of our imagination.

It is a belief about ourselves created by the mind

concluding that we are “not good enough to meet the image of perfection”. A step to changing this belief is to recognize that we are observing the “self” image.

We can not be the “self” image we are looking at.

We are the ones doing the looking. This means the “self” image we create is really a “non self” image, with awareness we can decide to believe in the “nonself” image or not believe in the “non self” image. Having this awareness helps shift our point of view and is a beginning step that will help us change a belief.

Changing the “not good enough” image is much easier once you have broken your belief in the image of perfection. Without the image of perfection you no longer have the comparison, reinforcing the unworthy “self” image.

You are not an image in your mind you create them.

Lack of awareness about how your mind misleads you can result in failed efforts to improve your confidence, and self esteem. Often people try to pro up their confidence with efforts to become their image of perfection. This great effort usually involves reinforcing the belief that we should be that fictional image.

The result is a stronger mechanism for self rejection.

With awareness we can avoid chasing these false beliefs and spend our time on what really makes a difference in the way we feel.

Real change in how you feel emotionally begins with becoming aware of the beliefs and thoughts in the mind. The second step is to change those core beliefs.

If you can begin to change some of the smaller thoughts and emotions you have, then you can learn how to change the larger thoughts and emotions you experience.

“The approach of dissolving our image of perfection sounds contrary to our sense of logic about building confidence and esteem. This is because we have the belief that achieving the image of perfection will result in positive happy emotion and feeling confident with our success.”

Motoring

With OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452

Motor Insurance

MOTOR INSURANCE THE law compel all motorists to have insurance policy to cover them should they be involved in an accident. The type of Insurance can be divided into four groups ROAD TRAFFIC ACTS POLICY Under this policy, the insurance company will pay anyone who has legal claim against the insured person, but not for any damages claimed relating to the persons property including vehicles THIRD PARTY ONLY POLICY This covers claims by other persons for damages sustained to their vehicles, or for any injuries received. It does not cover damage to the insured persons’ vehicle.

THIRD PARTY FIRE AND THEFT Although basically similar to third party, it extends the cover to cover policy holders vehicle should it be damaged or destroyed by fire or should it be stolen. The amount paid by the insurance company should the vehicle be stolen or totally destroyed will be equal to the market value of the vehicle which is usually less then the value put on the vehicle by the insured person COMPREHENSIVE POLICY This policy cover all required by law and in addition the policies holders’ car, and includes the benefits of third party fire and theft cover, also various other benefits according to the wishes of the insured person.

GOOD AND BAD PLUGS The correct plug of the car should be used so as to ensure the correct threading. The tip of the plug should lie flush with the wall of the combustion chamber. Where it protrudes or fail to chamber opening, serious problem could result.

Different plug have different heat range. Which result in optimum operating temperature. To take care of this, Use the plug recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Often, plugs get thrown away when they are still good. The car’s electrical system might be the real culprit when idling is sluggish or power output falls drastically. Take a close look at the Alternator and condenser, especially alternator. Were it works well, plug should spark properly from at least 10,000 kilometers. When the plug end get fouled by oil suspect worn piston rings or worn cylinder wall. If the fouling is bad enough: the electrode will be damaged irretrievable. The only real solution is to install new piston rings. An elementary precaution, however, is not to pour too much oil into the stump, the deep stick should be inspected daily for oil level in the stump. Occasionally, the distributor leads don’t carry electrical current effectively, and I’ve seen where all the leads of a car where condemned outright. In the past, a plug spanner was part of the tool kit of any serious motorist. It is good idea to buy one. But keep it proper or mechanics would make away with it AUTO - TIP SAFETY CHECKS DAILY CHECKS

(i) Check tyre condition and pressure (ii) Check door locks and windows winder (iii) Check engine oil level and condition (iv) Check radiator water level and its condition (v) Check fan belts tension and condition (vi) Check brake oil level. (vii) Inspect battery connection (viii) Check power steering and automatic transmission oil level (if fitted) (ix) Check wiper and windscreen washer water level (x) Check hand brake and foot brake operation (xi) Clean interior and exterior of the car or bus.

WEEKLY CHECKS (i) Carry out all daily check and: (ii) Check/inspect engine for oil or water leakage (iii) Check battery water level and general condition (iv) Check spare tyre, tools and lifting jack. (v) Check steering free-play. (vi) Check brake performance. (vii) Check fire extinguisher, “C” caution signs and vehicle particulars. (viii) Check electrical system and accessories. (ix) Wash underneath the vehicle every two weeks especially during the rainy season.

MONTHLY (i) Carry out comprehensive daily and weekly checks and effect necessary clean up (ii) Check speedometer reading and compare to “next service” label figure and sure regular maintenance service. (iii) Secure all tools and equipment in the respective positions. (iv) Inter-change the tyres in the order specified in the owner’s handbook. (v) Check and keep vehicle particular and log book up to dare. (vi) Prepare and send the vehicle condition report to the owner or officers in-charge of the fleets.

If all these checks ale carried out as specified the vehicle be in good condition always, free from breakdown, unnecessary stay in the repair workshop and prolonged service life.

SAFETY TIP (i) Do routine check on your vehicle (ii) Always fasten your seat belt (iii) Observe speed limit iv) Give due consideration to other road users.

DRIVING LESION THE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) says there are 21 deadly sins most frequently observed on our roads. In a book ‘21 Deadly sins” a 25 - page booklet published by the public enlightenment department of the commission in the early

days of its establishment it expressed its firm intent to eradicate them on our roads. As from today OBSERVER MOTORING will start serializing the sins as part of our driving lesson with the curtain raiser “do not overtake on a bend”.

Do not overtake on a bend: a driver is not to overtake on the right except where the road signs permit, the vehicle in front of you clearly trafficates to the left. Do not overtake on the brow of a hill. or close to the brow of a hill. Do not overtake at T- junctions. Do not overtake in any way that endangers traffic on the road.

When in doubt do not overtake.

NOTE: Nothing in the Highway code compels you to overtake dangerously. A helpful driver waving you on or a broken line on the road does not force you 10 overtake when it is unsafe to do so. Use your own eyes.

HOW TO REVERSE PARK: For best results, you need a parking space one and a half times the length’ of your car.

Although it is quite true that once you master the technique, you can make do with even less

space.

Cheek your mirrors for any on coming vehicle and activate your right indicators if necessary to indicate that our are stopping. Move beyond the space you wish to occupy and park parallel to the car in front of the space. Leave about a meter gap between the two cars and if possible, align your steering wheel with that of the parked car.

If necessary, get out of your car to ascertain that no pedestrian or object is in the way. If the coast is clear, reverse slowly all the while aiming the left rear corner of your car at the right front corner of the car in the third parking space. This is done by turning the steering wheel to the right to full lock if necessary. Along the way check that you clear the first car’s left rear corner.

Immediately, your car is clear of the first car return the steering wheel to opposite lock and continue to reverse slowly so that your car is finally lined up parallel to the kerb.

It might be necessary to do some small adjustment in order to ensure that you are parked centrally between the two cars such that their drivers have enough space in which to drive out. It is also useful to remember that in reverse parking, the rear end of the car will go in the direction you turn the steering wheel. Turn the steering wheel right and the vehicles end will also go right.

U-TURNS:Do not make U-turns near the crest of a hill, on a sharp bend in face of on-coming traffic or in front of traffic close behind you. Do not make U-turns where a road-sign for bids you to do So. Do not make U-turns in heavy traffic. Do not make U-turns-where doing so will constitute a danger to other road users. Look for a side road, Back into it then await a safe moment to turn into the high way facing the desired direction.

“Different plug have different heat range. Which result in optimum operating temperature. To take care of this, Use the plug recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Often, plugs get thrown away when they are still good. The car’s electrical system might be the real culprit when idling is sluggish or power output falls drastically. Take a close look at the Alternator and condenser, especially alternator. Were it works well, plug should spark properly from at least 10,000 kilometers.”

Society Child upbringing: According To God’s Word Not World’s Wisdom THE bible says that a wicked child does not know God (1st Samuel 2:12) they void of understanding (proverbs 7:7) and are proud (Isaiah 3:5).

Today’s children face on overall absence of godly examples and moral living in a society! As parents, we need to parent them with a biblical perspective. God does his part all the time. But the parents need to realise that they have a part to play in Godly upbringing.

First, as a parent you must live out your faith in your own life. Parents are responsible to train their children in all that is included in “the way of the lord. Proverbs state that a child left alone will eventually bring shame. Parents should know so they can assist their children to make Godly decision. If parents fail to train their children in Godly way keeping their lives holy, they will be letting the world do the training to be unholy.

God hold parents responsible to keep training their children, even after they are grown, is found in 1st Sam. 2&3 in 2:22 we learn of the sin of Elis sons: “Now Eli was very old, and heard all that is sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregations, it is obvious what these sons were grown men. We learn later that they were married. Solomon was trained right, but rebelled in his youth. They when he was old, he did exactly what prov. 22:6 promises, he did not depart from the training of his early days.

Some parents incorrectly believe it is up to God to deal with their children’s tendency toward rebelliousness! As parents, God holds us fully accountable to faithfully represent his authority and standards. He does not leave us empty handed in dealing with out children’s way ward tendencies.

Instruction is the responsibility of the parents something our society seems to have forgotten we cannot depend on school alone to

instruct our kids in the academically, we cannot depend on Sunday school (bible study) alone to instruct our kids in the word of God, in Deuteronomy chapter 6.

Many parents spend long hours working to provide physical things for their children, but they are so busy working that they neglect to give their children time and attention. The parents have taken up the philosophy of the world hence today, the children are left of their own freedom, parents leave children to raise themselves, and are exposed to confusion they stumble into in the hands of their friends, strangers, schools daycares, who have taken the place of their parents in their lives an atmosphere filled with, unrighteous corruptible, disobedience, lust, adultery, freedom to sin-ungodly condemnation will provoke a child to wrath and hence the child goes rebellious and chooses to walk away from God, walk is own way in life, disobey God and finally rebels against God. In Ephesians 6:4 bring your children up in the training and admonition of the lord.

How many parents today’s say prayer for themselves and for their children? How many parents teach their children the scriptures, Bible reading, importance of God and attending church, association with Godly believes and friends, resenting and things which is sinful? How many husbands love their wife like Christ loved the church, delight and respect in her conversation, protect and support her, dedicate themselves, their own home, and children’s wife to Christ? How many allow their child attend church programme that will help the child?

Further, Christian parents have a responsibility to not only set an example for their children of what a godly marriage ought to be; they also ought to show their children how Christian marriage mirrors the relationship between Christ and the church.

If covenant children have a

By HAUWA ISMAILA/BEAUTY OBAMWONYI

godless, irresponsible father or a worldly, rebellious mother, they are danced the benefit of a truth Christian household.

Some people place an undue emphasis on money, career and success. While money, career and success are good things when used lawfully, they

downs in a relationship, but relationship are not meant to be deposable. There is so much divorce broken families, single parents because they are influenced by the society cultures, unbiblical concepts of love, happiness, fulfillment, which substitutes God law.

become idols when they are not used to glorify Christ. A Christian family needs to place their children above their possessions.

Everyone has their ups and

There are many homes where a father is there, but that is all. They want all their needs fulfilled but do not want to take the spiritual, godly, or normal leadership that God intended.

“How many parents today’s say prayer for themselves and for their children?

How many parents teach their children the scriptures, Bible reading, importance of God and attending church, association with Godly believes and friends, resenting and things which is sinful? How many husbands love their wife like Christ loved the church, delight and respect in her conversation, protect and support her, dedicate themselves, their own home, and children’s wife to Christ?

How many allow their child attend church programme that will help the child?”

Instead, children grow up listening to their parents fight, all kind of entertainment and material possessions trying to be happy. The father’s failure to take responsibility and leadership in the home has created a valueless, unhappy, fractured home and society.

This failure has had a devastating effect on our

children and has spawned a multitude of wicked society problems including delinquency sexual promiscuity, drug use, and violence. God largely uses parents to train children for this purpose and he directs parents in the training of their children

by His world and the Holy Spirit.

Discipline your son, for in that there is hope do not be a willing party to his death”.

Proverb. 19:18. Do not withhold discipline from a child if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul

from death: prov. 23:13-14 children are out most valuable resources. They need to be educated, protected, nourished and love. Everyone should take part in the proper training of a children.

Train up a child in a good way and when he grow he would not depart from it. There are families where the females at a tender age are entrust to a family relative or friend which they are away, this gives room to sexual abuse of them and

these children seems to be living fine, trying to living a holy life but at a point the stigma affect them but if he parents are observant they will be able to know their child is not fine.

Parent, it is your duty to watch over your children that God gave to you without paying for them, so if anything happens to them, you will be called to explain why it happened and where were you, so like the bible instruct us we should be vigilant physically, spiritually, emotional, mentally, psychological and the welfare of your children, stay blessed.

Security

Between Containment, WarMaking And Joint Problem Solving

WHAT is the most effective strategy for fighting terrorism?

This question became pertinent in the face of the globalizing trend of this phenomenon, which seems to have so far defied all the strategies adopted by nations afflicted with this scourge to check it. From the United States to Britain, Spain to India, Israel to Nigeria, from one troubled part of the globe to the other, terrorism continues to withstand all the overt and covert attempts to crush it.

There seems to be no available strategy that can effectively stem the forceful tide of this apocalyptic Tsunami.

In this piece, I juxtapose the two major strategies currently being employed in the global war on terror – Containment and War-Making Approaches – and suggest a method that is often overlooked, but which constitutes the most effective solution to this problem. The Containment approach is a nonadversarial method that is aimed at limiting the damage caused by terrorist attacks. It involves the arrest, trial of terrorists as criminals. It is a reactionary approach to fighting terrorism, which leverages on existing anti-terrorism legislations to limit the effects of terrorist attacks. Terrorists detonate bombs in a crowded area, resulting in several deaths, some scapegoats are arrested, trial commences ending in the conviction or release of these suspects, life goes on after all the fuse. That is how the Containment approach works.

Spain, Italy, India, France et al, use this method.

The major weakness of the Containment approach is that it does not deter would-be terrorists from embarking on their deadly missions - it rather enamors them. You arrest a terrorist, prosecute and convict him, and after a few months another terrorist more vicious than the one in the gallows carries out a deadlier bombing mission in defiance of whatever effect you think the conviction of his brother has had on him.

Just like common criminals who, despite been aware of the existence of laws prohibiting their illegal conduct, still go ahead to commit those same crimes, damming the punitive consequences of their actions, most terrorists attacks are carried out by extremists versed in the intricacies of the laws prohibiting their activities. The citizens of countries that belong to the Containment school are usually at the mercy of terrorists. Like the victims of natural disasters, they pick up the pieces and continue with their miserable lives after all the noise surrounding a particular

terrorist act has died down, until another bomb goes off somewhere else.

Another strategy for fighting terrorism is the War-Making approach, which is a punitive method. Revenge is the driving force behind this approach. It has the advantage of satiating the desire to immediately and decisively strike back at perpetrators of terrorist acts wherever they may be located.

Israel, United States of America, Britain, and Russia adopt the Confrontational method in their wars on terrorism. Targets of this approach also include states that aid and abet acts of terror.

The US-led war against the AlQaida-backed Taliban Government in Afghanistan, which commenced after 9/11; the IsraeliMOSSAD-led “Operation Black September” mission, which was meant to liquidate the terrorists that carried out the Munich Olympic massacre, together with its bombing campaigns against terrorists targets located in some of the mostly hostile countries surrounding it, and are classic cases of the use of the WarMaking style of countering terrorism.

Apart from the ability to punish perpetrators of terrorist acts, the War-Making approach is also a very proactive style of countering terrorism, as countries adopting this method can leverage on their “First Strike” capabilities to sniff out and annihilate would-be terrorists and their backers. It involves taking the fight to the turf of terrorist groups, and not waiting to be struck before reacting. Using mostly clandestine methods, which involve massive intelligence gathering and the use of advanced technology, terrorist activities are closely monitored and appropriate action expedited to stop them from executing their deadly missions.

America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Britain’s MI5 and MI6, Israel’s MOSAD, are some of the secret service organizations that have fought – and are still fighting - proxy wars against terrorist organizations the world over.

However, the War-Making approach has the disadvantage of causing collateral damage in the event of a terrorist act, as the perpetrators of most terrorist acts usually die in such attacks, leaving no one for the victim country to physically punish, as was the case after 9/11. The quest for revenge most times results in the death of individuals who had nothing to do with the terrorists. The war in Afghanistan has so far resulted in the death of so many innocent people – including

By OBUSEH JUDE

women and children. Israel’s airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut has not resulted in the death of members of this group alone, but of other casual bystanders. So, in the quest to punish terrorist offenders, innocent lives are sometimes lost. Separating the actual perpetrators of terrorist acts

Containment and War-Making approaches to countering terrorism have not succeeded in wiping off this problem. The globalization of terror, which we are all witnesses to, attests to this fact. This has necessitated the need for the adoption of another approach - a time-tested approach that has been used

Nigerian State and Boko Haram are not going to disappear overnight. The USA, its allies and Al- Qaeda are not going into extinction in the twinkling of an eye. Neither are the State of Israel, Hezbollah and its backers going away. All the parties involved in these wars of attrition are going to be there for a long time. We can throw around all the high-sounding

from casual onlookers poses, perhaps, the greatest challenge for exponents of the punitive method. Again, the ricochet effect of the careless application of this approach is that thousands more enemies are unnecessarily created than you started out with, as some unintended victims of most reprisal strikes form a new army of mass murderers seeking revenge to offset their own loses.

From the excursion so far, one singular fact stands out like an ugly gash: that both the

since ancient times to effectively resolve human conflicts: the Joint-ProblemSolving approach, which will involve the granting of concessions by the combatants – national governments and terrorist groups; negotiated settlements of the burning issues at stake by the stakeholders; a non-adversarial method that leaves both parties satisfied.

The truth remains that whether we accept it or not, none of the combatants involved in these internecine wars are going to vanish overnight. The

grammar we want about “defeating terrorism”, “chasing Boko Haram into the desert”, but the painful truth remains that if the right things are not done, the issues that have kept us apart for so long will continue festering like ugly sores.

No matter how many times we “crush” terrorist groups, they will keep regenerating. There are too many frustrated people in the world who have nothing to lose, and too many relatives and friends of the dead, asking to be avenged. Both sides are gulls for provocation, looking

for any excuse to overreact and make things worse for everybody, except the undertakers. No one wants to accept the inevitable – that at some point they must make a deal, no matter how much they say it is against their principles or religion.

It may take years, decades or more, but the time will come when all the combatants will

start experiencing battle fatigue; time when they will all get tired of the whole nonsense; time when they will realize that there was no need for all the bloodletting after all; that the issues at stake would have been easily resolved if they had given room for dialogue. When that time comes, all the parties will sit down and jaw-jaw on solutions to their common problems.

Brothers and sisters, let’s make those deals… for peace, tranquility and the continued progress of humanity! The earlier, the better, Shalom!

“Apart from the ability to punish perpetrators of terrorist acts, the War-Making approach is also a very proactive style of countering terrorism, as countries adopting this method can leverage on their “First Strike” capabilities to sniff out and annihilate would-be terrorists and their backers.”

International Features

Kim Jong Un, New Year Address KIM Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, made a New Year address on January 1.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the date when President Kim Il Sung wrote his last signature on a historic document concerning the country’s reunification.

True to the behests of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il, we should make fresh headway in the national reunification movement for this year.

To resolve the reunification issue in keeping with the aspirations and desires of our fellow countrymen, we should reject foreign forces and hold fast to the standpoint of By Our Nation Itself.

The driving force for national reunification is all the members of the Korean nation in the north, in the south and abroad; only when we remain steadfast in this standpoint can we reunify the country independently in line with our nation’s interests and demands. To go on a tour around foreign countries touting for “international cooperation” in resolving the inter-Korean relations issue, the one related with our nation, is a humiliating treachery of leaving its destiny in the hands of outside forces. The north and the south should uphold the principle of independence which is one of the three principles for national reunification and has been confirmed in the north-south joint declarations, hold fast to the standpoint of By Our Nation Itself, and respect and implement the declarations with sincerity.

We should make positive efforts to defend national security and peace.

The US and south Korean war maniacs have deployed legions of equipment for a nuclear war in and around

the Korean peninsula and are going frantic in their military exercises for a nuclear war against the north; this precipitates a critical situation where any accidental military skirmish may lead to an all-out war. Should another war break out on this land, it will result in a deadly nuclear catastrophe and the United States will never be safe. All the Korean people must not tolerate the manoeuvres for war and confrontation by the bellicose forces at home and abroad but stoutly resist and frustrate them.

A favourable climate should be established for improved relations between the north and the south.

It is heartrending to see our nation partitioned by foreign forces, and it is more intolerable to see one side slinging mud at and showing hostility to the other. This will serve merely as an occasion for the forces who are undesirous of seeing one Korea to fish in troubled waters.

It is high time to put an end to such slander and calumny that bring no good to both sides, and they should desist from doing anything detrimental to national unity and reconciliation. The south Korean authorities should discontinue the reckless confrontation with their compatriots and the racket against the “followers of the north,” and choose to promote inter-Korean relations in response to the call of the nation for independence, democracy and national reunification. We will join hands with anyone who opts to give priority to the nation and wishes for its reunification, regardless of his or her past, and continue to strive for better inter-Korean relations.

All the Korean people in the north, in the south and abroad should achieve solid unity under the truly patriotic banner, the principle of By Our Nation Itself, and turn out in the nationwide struggle for the reunification of the country. By doing so, they should

International

Pope Stresses Strength, Courage, Hope In New Year VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on Wednesday urged people to accept each other’s differences and for enemies to recognize that they are brothers - a New Year’s Day service dedicated to world peace.

“We are all children of one heavenly father, we belong to the same human family and we share a common destiny,” Francis said, speaking from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, jammed with tens of thousands of faithful, tourists and Romans.

“This brings a responsibility for each to work so that the world becomes a community of brothers who respect each other, accept each other in one’s diversity, and takes care of one another,” the pope said.

Setting aside his prepared text for a moment, he expressed impatience with violence in the world. “What is happening in the

heart of man? What is happening in the heart of humanity” to cause such violence? Francis asked.

“It’s time to stop.”

In his speech to the oftenapplauding crowd, he also expressed hope that “the gospel of brotherhood speak to every conscience and knock down the walls that impede enemies from recognizing that they are brothers.”

The Catholic church dedicates Jan. 1 to the promotion of word peace.

Earlier, during his homily at Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis spoke of humanity’s journey in the year unfolding and invoked what he said where “words of blessing,” explaining that they are “strength, courage and hope.”

“Not an illusory hope,” he added, “based on frail human promises, or a naive hope which presumes that the future will be

better simply because it is the future.”

In his first year as pope, Francis has charted a path for what he calls a “poor” church attentive to the needy. While offering new year’s wishes to the crowd in the square, Francis pressed his campaign on behalf of the downtrodden.

“We are also called to see the violence and injustices present in so many parts of the world, and which cannot leave us indifferent and immobile,” Francis said.

“There is the need for the commitment of all to build a society that is truly more just and united.”

Hearing “the cry of peace from peoples who are oppressed by war and by violence,” Francis prayed that “the courage of dialogue and reconciliation prevail over the temptation for vendetta, arrogance, corruption.”

BANGKOK - Embattled Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra returned to the capital, Bangkok, on Wednesday for traditional New Year celebrations in a display of unity alongside military chiefs before a looming showdown with antigovernment protesters.

Demonstrators who accuse Yingluck of being the puppet of her self-exiled brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have vowed to occupy government ministries and other key sites in Bangkok in their bid to scuttle a snap February 2 election.

The protests since late November have pitted the brother and sister’s political machine with its base among the rural poor in the north against Bangkok’s conservative elite.

It has flared into sporadic violence, and army chief General Prayuth Chan-Ocha refused to rule out a coup after wild clashes outside an election registration center a week ago.

Three people have been killed

Russia’s Putin Meets Volgograd Bombing Victims VOLGOGRAD, Russia President Vladimir Putin met wounded victims of deadly suicide bombings in the southern Russian city of Volgograd on Wednesday, heaping condemnation on the attacks that raised security fears ahead of the Winter Olympics.

Putin flew in before dawn, after vowing in a New Year address to “annihilate” terrorists in uncompromising remarks aimed at Islamist insurgents based in the North Caucasus who have plagued his 14-year rule.

“No matter what motivated the criminals, there can be no

justification for crimes against civilians, particularly against women and children,” Putin said in televised comments at the start of a meeting with senior security officials.

“The vileness of the crime - or crimes - that were

committed here, in Volgograd, needs no additional commentary,” Putin said during the tightlycontrolled visit.

Games for Sochi in 2007, during his first stint as president, and has not ruled out seeking a new six-year term in 2018.

open up a new phase for independent reunification, peace and prosperity this year.

Last year, in the international arena, the imperialists persisted in interference and war moves threatening the independence of other sovereign states and the right of mankind to existence.

Especially the Korean peninsula, the hottest spot in the world, was in a hair-trigger situation due to the hostile forces’ manoeuvres for a nuclear war against the DPRK, which posed a serious threat to peace and security in the region and the rest of the world.

Nothing is more precious for our people than peace, but it is not something that can be achieved if we simply crave and beg for it. We can never just sit back with folded arms and see the dark clouds of a nuclear war against us hovering over the Korean peninsula. We will defend our country’s sovereignty, peace and dignity by relying on our powerful self-defensive strength.

Holding fast to the ideals of our foreign policy — independence, peace and friendship — our Party and the government of the DPRK will, in the future, too, strive to expand and develop relations of friendship and cooperation with all the countries that respect our sovereignty and are friendly to us, and safeguard global peace and security and promote common prosperity of mankind.

The tasks facing us are gigantic and difficulties stand in our way.

However, our revolutionary cause is sure to emerge victorious as we advance under the great banner of Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism.

Let all of us strive for greater victory in the new year, filled with high ambition and unwavering confidence and firmly united behind the Party with a single heart. 0-

Thai PM Returns To Bangkok As Protest Showdown Looms since Thursday.

Yingluck, who is caretaker leader after calling the snap poll in a bid to defuse the crisis, had spent more than a week outside Bangkok shoring up support in the north but returned to the capital early on Wednesday.

She joined Prayuth and other senior military leaders in paying their respects to retired general Prem Tinsulanonda, the president of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Privy Council.

Prayuth’s warning last week was a sobering reminder that the military has staged or attempted 18 coups in 81 years.

In a New Year message aired overnight, Thailand’s revered King Bhumibol urged peace, prosperity and unity among Thais.

“Everyone’s wishes do not seem to be very different, either for their own sake or for the peace of the country,” he said.

Wednesday’s largely ceremonial duties were a prelude to what are shaping as rougher days ahead for Yingluck, whose Puea Thai Party normally would be expected to win the election.

The demonstrators, led by fiery former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban, have vowed to derail the ballot and demand instead an appointed “people’s council” before a future vote.

Suthep has vowed to seize ministries and other sites across the capital, although it is not clear when that will start. The main opposition Democrat Party has also declared it will boycott the election.

Thailand’s Electoral Commission has offered to act as a mediator between Puea Thai, the Democrats and the protesters. Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said the commission would meet senior members of Puea Thai and the Democrats on Thursday, although he said the protesters had rejected a similar offer.

“I believe that something positive will come out of the meeting and the situation will ease up,” Thai media quoted Somchai as saying.

While the protests have mainly been in Bangkok, election registration has also been blocked in at least seven provinces in the south, where the protesters and Democrats draw support.

The wider aim of the protesters is to neutralize the power of Thaksin, who they say has manipulated democracy by buying the support of the rural poor with populist policies such as cheap healthcare and subsidies for rice farmers.

International

Greece: Numbers Improve, Problems Worsen

ATHENS, Greece - Greece assumes the presidency of the European Union Wednesday, starting 2014 with a promise by the government to pull the country out of a six-year recession, keep a balanced budget, and effectively end a financial crisis that rattled the euro.

“In 2014, Greece will return to the markets and start to become a normal country again,” Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said in a televised New Year’s address. “After six unending, painful years, 2014 will herald the prospect of growth ... What’s important is that we’ve avoided the worst.”

But have they?

With most of the 240 billion euros ($330 billion) in bailout loans already paid out, Greece still has an unsustainably high national debt, faces the threat of renewed political instability, and has more than one-in-four jobless and steadily sliding into poverty.

Greeks greeted the New Year after many spent hours lining up in tax offices to pay austerity levies on time. And heavy smog has returned to the country’s capital after decades this winter as households left with no heating throw scrap wood and garbage onto the fireplace to try to keep warm.

Here’s a look at some of Greece’s most pressing problems: NO JOB, NO INSURANCE Greece’s financial tailspin wiped out nearly a quarter of its economy and roughly a million jobs.

From 7.2 percent before the recession in 2008, unemployment exploded, reaching 27 percent in the third quarter of 2013, giving Greece the worst job rating among the 34 advanced economies in the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

More than 70 percent of the unemployed have been out of work for more than a year, leaving most to rely on charity after losing monthly benefit payments and health insurance.

“It’s inconceivable that someone with the misfortune of having no work cannot have proper access to state health care,” said George Patoulis, head of the Athens Medical Association.

Worst affected, he said, are those with chronic illnesses, unemployed parents seeking vaccinations for their newborn children, and patients in need of expensive drugs including cancer treatment.

“We estimate that about 2 million people are without health insurance, out of a total of nearly 8 million who require insurance ... and the problem looks set to continue in 2014,” Patoulis said. “It’s like planting dynamite under a country’s public health.”

BARBER’S BUREAUCRACY Pro-bailout governments have tried to stimulate employment by slashing the minimum wage and axing long-standing labor rights and market protection rules — liberalizing everything from truck licenses to permits for neighborhood bakeries.

But unemployment numbers continued to get worse, and critics argue the system remains bogged down in excessive bureaucracy.

Unemployed barber Spyros Priftis has been trying

In 2014

to open his own hair salon for nearly three years at a holiday resort on his native island of Corfu, with rules still unclear on the status of his hairdressing diploma obtained from a private college.

“It takes you five years to open up a barber shop in Greece: Two years for a diploma, two years for an apprenticeship, and one year to get your papers sorted out,” the 37-year-old said.

“Five years! What am I, a heart surgeon? I just want to open a barber shop.”

In desperation, Priftis began writing dozens of letters of complaint and faxing them to Greek

Greece Prime Ministry, George Panpandreou

authorities, as well as European Union finance commissioner Olli Rehn and International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Largarde.

Some of his letters got an answer. And the usually stern EU-IMF negotiators even promised to take up his case with the government during their inspections in Athens. He’s still waiting for news.

POLITICAL PERIL Greece is being run by its third pro-bailout government in two years, as unpopular austerity measures wear out public support for the parties backing them. Conservative Prime Minister Samaras heads the current coalition government and has seen his support in the 300-seat parliament dwindle in the past 18 months from 179 lawmakers to 153.

Samaras recently fell behind in the polls to the left-

wing Syriza party that wants to radically renegotiate or even tear up bailout deals, arguing they have failed to deliver recovery and are socially catastrophic.

Syriza has vowed to try to topple the government at twin elections in May for local government and the European Parliament.

“In (2014) we will leave behind the decadent political establishment that left the country bankrupt, an establishment of graft and corruption,” said Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, who turns 40 this year. Surveys strongly suggest the two main parties both lack the support to govern outright.

Public sympathy for the far-right Golden Dawn party, meanwhile, remains strong — polling at around 9 percent — despite the jailing of its leadership on charges of criminal activity and recently emerged videotape showing senior party officials greeting newly sworn in members with Nazi salutes.

DEBT MOUNTAIN Despite all the bad news, few people doubt that Greece’s fiscal situation is slowly improving, with overspending under control and size of the oncemassive public sector reduced.

There’s more good news: The country’s credit rating has begun a long climb out of junk territory.

Shares on the Athens Stock Exchange closed at 1,162.68 on the year’s last day of trading Tuesday, still well short of pre-recession prices but up an impressive 28 percent on the year. And borrowing rates continued to ease from sky-high crisis levels, the yield on 10-year bonds ending 2013 at 8.42 percent, from nearly 13 percent in late March.

Still, the weakened economy is set to be burdened by a national debt of 176 percent of gross domestic product this year, leaving Athens in vital need of additional debt relief from its emergency creditors.

Samaras wants to avoid seeking additional loan money to cover an expected budget shortfall in 2014 and instead hopes to return to bond markets after a four-year absence.

“A critical factor is the whether there can be at least a modest bond issue on the international markets. That would mark the end of the bailout program and could have a significant political effect,” said Theodore Krintas, managing director at Attica Wealth Management.

“So I think 2014 will be a year with no middleground scenario. Things will either go well, or they will go badly. Either they will develop much more positively than 2013, or it’ll be a year of great turbulence. It won’t be business as usual, that’s for sure.”

“We estimate that about 2 million people are without health insurance, out of a total of nearly 8 million who require insurance ... and the problem looks set to continue in 2014,” Patoulis said. “It’s like planting dynamite under a country’s public health.”

International S’Sudan City Is ‘War Zone’ Despite Peace Efforts kilometers (75 miles) from

JUBA, South Sudan Fighting continued on Wednesday in South Sudan’s city of Bor, a government official said, describing it as “a war zone” where the army and rebels are battling even as both sides have committed to peace talks in neighboring Ethiopia.

Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, is the center of ethnically-based violence stemming from the political rivalry between President Salva Kiir and ousted Vice President Riek Machar, the rebel leader accused of mounting a failed coup attempt. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the violence, according to the United Nations, but the fighting in Bor is expected to increase the number of fatalities.

“There is fighting going on in Bor. It’s a war zone,” said Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin of the city that in order to stay in charge of the town that is just 120

the national capital of Juba.

Government troops pulled out of parts of Bor because they were concerned about having to kill the “young boys” who fill the ranks of the rebels, said one analyst.

“The (South Sudanese military) was told to withdraw,” Edmund Yakani, the executive director of the Juba-based group Community Empowerment for Progress, said, citing the accounts of contacts in Bor. “They communicated that these are young boys and we are killing them like nothing.”

Delegates from both sides are expected to arrive in Ethiopia later on Wednesday for the start of peace talks.

In Bor, government troops face renegade forces allied with a pro-Machar tribal militia known as the “White Army,” so called because its young members of the Nuer tribe smear their faces with ash to keep insects away.

The scale of the violence in

Bor has overwhelmed humanitarian workers, and there are growing concerns the situation could deteriorate further if the warring factions do not strike a cease-fire deal soon.

“Even with the tremendous efforts made by health partners, sanitation conditions are still inadequate largely due to the large number of people sheltering in United Nations bases which have insufficient space to house these numbers,” said Abdi Aden Mohammed, the World Health Organization’s representative in South Sudan. “Coupled with poor water and sanitation conditions, overcrowding in the camps may create conditions ripe for disease outbreaks.”

PEACE Weds

PETERSON

The solemnization of marriage between former Miss Peace Uloma Uhuegbulem and Mr. Peterson Ikponmwonsa Atoe (An I.T. Consultant) took place at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst dignitaries present were Elder & Mrs. Samuel Atoe (Groom’s parents) Mr. & Mrs. Benneth Uhuegbulem (bride’s parents) Mr. & Mrs. Efosa Atoe, Mr. & Mrs. Aifuwa Atoe, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the reception. Congratulations. Photo: SONNIE. E.

US Opposes Planned Release Of 88 Afghan Prisoners, reviewing the cases denied Adding To Strains that the 88 posed a threat.

KABUL - The United States wants Afghanistan to halt the release of 88 prisoners from an Afghan jail because they pose a serious threat to security,

EUNICE Weds

EFOSA The solemnization of marriage between former Miss Omhoudu Iyagbahi Eunice (a worker) and Mr. Atoe Efosa Lugue (A business man) took place on Friday 24th September, 2010 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Mr. Jude .A. Aifuwa, Mr. Fidelis Omhoudu, Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Atoe (Groom’s parents) Mr. & Mrs. Jeremiah Omhoudu (bride’s parents) family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations. Photo: SONNIE. E.

U.S. officials said on Wednesday, adding to strains between the two sides.

The United States only recently transferred the prison at Bagram to Afghan control after it had become a serious source of tension with the government in Afghanistan which is fighting a Taliban-led insurgency.

Relations with Afghanistan have grown particularly strained over President Hamid Karzai’s refusal to sign a bilateral security deal that would keep around 8,000 U.S. troops in the country after 2014, when most foreign forces are due to leave.

A U.S. army official said the release of the 88 contravened a presidential decree to complete investigations at the prison and prosecute individuals when required.

“The Afghan Review Board has exceeded its mandate and ordered the release of a number of dangerous individuals who are legitimate threats and for whom there is strong evidence supporting prosecution or further investigation,” said Colonel Dave Lapan, a spokesman for

Coup-Leader President’s Candidate Poised To island and delay Win Madagascar Vote Ocean restoring the external budget

ANTANANARIVO - The candidate backed by Madagascar’s coup-leader President Andry Rajoelina held on Wednesday an apparently unassailable lead in the island’s run-off vote, which his rival’s camp has said was rigged.

Former Finance Minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina

has won more than 53 percent of the December 20 vote with ballots counted in more than 99 percent of polling stations, provisional results showed.

The election, the first since former disc jockey Rajoelina ousted then President Marc Ravalomanana in 2009 with

the help of renegade troops, is meant to end a crisis that has driven out investors, cut aid flows and sharply slowed the economy.

But a disputed result could prolong the malaise on the politically volatile Indian

support needed to drive public spending higher and boost anemic growth.

Jean Louis Robinson, who is backed by exiled Ravalomanana and has 46 percent of votes, this week demanded a recount.

U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

The United States long resisted handing over the facility - because it feared individuals it considered dangerous would be released - but ultimately reached a deal with the Afghan government in early 2013.

About 40 percent of the prisoners were directly responsible for wounding or killing 57 Afghan civilians and security forces, and 30 percent had participated in direct attacks that killed or wounded 60 U.S. and coalition troops, a U.S. official said.

The head of the Afghan commission charged with

“In many cases, detainees were wrongly linked to certain incidents they were not involved in,” said Abdul Shakor Dadras.

The planned release will however alarm many senior Afghan security sources, who often see released prisoners return to the battlefield.

The bilateral security deal has to be signed for the United States and its allies to provide billions more dollars in aid.

Without a deal, the United States could pull all of its troops out, the so-called zero option, leaving Afghan forces to battle the Taliban on their own.

N.Korea’s Kim Vows To Build ‘World-Class’ Structures SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Wednesday called for the construction of “world-class” structures, praising the speedy completion of his pet ski resort project.

“The construction sector should set up world-class structures ... and build many other structures that could contribute to improving the people’s living conditions,” Kim said in a New Year message broadcast on state TV. He praised soldiers and builders for setting up “numerous monumental structures” including the Masik Pass Ski Resort in a short period.

State media said the ski resort opened on Tuesday and Kim visited to mark its completion, taking a ride on

a ski lift. Thousands of North Korean soldiers had been mobilised to complete it by the end of last year.

The resort made headlines in August when Switzerland blocked a $7.6 million sale of ski lifts to Pyongyang, calling it a “propaganda project” for the impoverished Stalinist regime.

Featuring 110 kilometres (70 miles) of multi-level ski runs, a hotel, heliport and cable cars, the resort has been heavily promoted since Kim visited it in June and called for construction to be completed by the end of the year.

“This year, too, the service personnel and people should make concerted efforts to build up Pyongyang so that it is more grandiose,” Kim said.

Man & Nature

With O.C Madu

The Law Of Balance

THERE is a law which is decisive for the continuance of the entire Creation. The law of the Necessary Balance between Giving and Taking Every happening in Creation is subject to this law, whether it be the interaction between the forces of the celestial bodies or the sense of balance of the physical body. We follow it daily, through mostly unconsciously, when breathing in and breathing out. Or we endeavour to “get things to balance. “On the other hand we come to grief when something “upsets our balance” in things big as well as small for non-observance of

earthly or spiritual values, ultimately gives most to himself, because he may receive many times more than the good fruits arising from his good seed.

Every act of giving must be balanced by a counter-value in some form. Even a person without means can thus, bring about a balance by a kid look, heart felt gratitude or some good advice.

The same meaning lies in Goeth’s utterance. “what from your fathers’ heritage is lent, earn it a new, to really possess it” The act of earning expresses the exerting of oneself, the

this law causes obstruction and disturbance.

And if it is persistently disregarded, even downfall and ruin.

Let us think for a moment of the relation work and rest.

Unnecessary exaggeration in work is just as harmful as a comfortable life, a “retiring from work.

Both bring disease and premature death. Only the right alternation between them has a balancing effect.

The constant balance between giving and taking makes for healthy movement, which alone brings up building and maintenance and invigorates and refreshes the spirit. Harmony and peace enter when giving and taking balance each other.

Giving ranks first here, for only in giving is taking implied, just as we must first give something through proper exhalation, in order to be able to receive the invigorating elements through the deep inhalation thus, brought about.

Therefore, Jesus also said It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20, 35), He who gives selflessly, whether of

exerting of oneself, the work which must first be giving in order to receive and possess something.

As an illustration, the system of book –keeping, by double entry can also be quoted here, the purpose of which lies not in the double entry in debit and credit, but in the checking of the balance between output and return.

In his novel “Wilhelm meister’s Apprenticeship, Goethe wrote about this type of book –keeping. “What an advantage for the merchant is they system of book-keeping by double entry, it is one of the sublimest inventions of human genius and every good house holder should introduce it into his establishment” Yet man could not invent it but only discover it as a faint repetition of the principle of Balances which has been anchored in creation from the very beginning.

Naturally, this principle hold good equally for what takes place spiritually. The spirit of man also lives from the spiritual power which the Creator gives perpetually into His Creation

“To the spiritual values for instance, belong the abilities, the gifts, the nature and strength of the connection with the power of creation and its application ro the earthly values belong the capacity to work, the visible and invisible treasures of Nature, such as the forces of water, fire and air, the treasures of the earth and also the beauty of the landscape.”

for its maintenance and expansion. With this power, he forms his intuitive perceptions, his thoughts and his deeds.

But the counter-value which he owes to his creator as return for its use is gratitude, joyful gratitude through the deed, that is through the right application of this power. Thus, gratitude in the relationship between men is also, an important balancing factor, if it is really heartfelt and not superficial.

Through the one sided application of the spiritual power of creation for what is base over thousands of years, the human spirit has lost the balance in every sphere of life. He has taken and taken from the rich gifts of Creation and from what he has taken he has formed almost exclusively what is wrong and evil and in so doing, has forgotten the balancing factor of giving.

Is it then surprising to us when now the compensating Justice of God redresses the balance? The happening on the whole earth, which become more and more violent, certainly speak to us in plain language.

To maintain strictly and justly the constant balance between giving and taking in every sphere of earth –life is a great future task for earthmen, who through a thorough knowledge of the Laws of Creation will then be in a position to do so.

Thus, the law of Balance, between Giving and Taking will one day also, form the basis for a true understanding between the peoples. That is, the time when the peoples, standing side by side, respect, help and further each other in the recognition that every viable nation, every healthy race, possesses something that is absolutely essential for the completion of the whole and which other nations and races do not have. These are the earthly and spiritual values that constitute the wealth of the people” To the spiritual values for instance, belong the abilities, the gifts, the nature and strength of the connection with the power of creation and its application ro the earthly values belong the capacity to work, the visible and invisible treasures of Nature, such as the forces of water, fire and air, the treasures of the earth and also the beauty of the landscape.

All these values make an exchange imperative. Not without coming to grief can any people withhold the gifts and treasures particularly, entrusted to them by the creator from other peoples who are in need of these for their own scompletion for a people that does not continuall pass on such values, thereby, cuts off the vitally necessary exchange. Yet the exchange is to be carried out in such a way that no people will take advantage of the other Giving and taking must always counter-balance each other.

The forces of Nature bestowed treasures and fruit of this earth in full measure on the individual peoples to make natural use of and to heed them as a protection and support for their spiritual progress. But they were meant and in had to pass on their surplus, in strict obedience to the slaw of Balance between giving and receiving.

However, the gifts of Nature, which through a stimulating and invigoration exchange should have contributed to peace and harmonious working are very often unscrupulously misused to the injury, suppression and destruction of fellow human beings.

The great comprehensive law of creation, to maintain always a just balance in giving as well as in receiving in every respect and in all spheres of life, has already for a long time simply heeded no more.

It not then an inevitable consequence that through the quilt of men the world is falling to pieces, flunging out of balance, which now in the World Judgment must be forcibly restored through the Will of God? Truth remains ever the same, eternally changeless. It begins far above the paradise of man, in distant Heights which remain for ever closed to the human spirit. We recognize it in the Laws of Creation, because they come from God, who is the Truth. The more we experience and recognize the Laws of Creation, the nearer we come to the Truth.

Man must obey these laws, adjust himself according to them if he wishes to be joyful and happy. There is no alternative, otherwise, he will suffer harm.

City Will Improve In 2014 - Pellegrini

Swansea defender Chico Flores (centre) challenges Edin Dzeko during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Manchester City at Liberty Stadium yesterday in Swansea. Wales.

Chelsea Escape FFP Sanctions Despite £50m Loss

ROMAN Abramovich’s Chelsea will comply with new European Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules despite returning to loss for the year ending June 2013.

“Although the Europa indication Chelsea is moving League was won, a reduction in the right direction in terms in income from that success of business growth, as is a compared with winning the turnover figure that increased Champions League in 2012 for a fourth consecutive year contributed to a loss for the despite diminished European financial year of £49.4 competition revenue.” million,” the club said in a The year ending June 2012 statement on Tuesday. was the first time Chelsea had FFP regulations state a club made a profit since Russian can have a deficit of no more oligarch Abramovich bought than £37m a year, but head of the club in 2003. communications Steve “The latest financial result Atkins told Reuters that combined with the previous because of complicated year’s profit of £1.4m means accounting rules, Chelsea’s for the first monitoring period actual loss was around £34m. for FFP regulations - which “Group turnover of spans the 2011/12 and 2012/ £255.8m for the 12-month 13 seasons - we will fall period is a record figure for comfortably within the breakthe club despite elimination even criteria set by UEFA,” from the Champions League the club said. at the group stage last “We have the fifth highest season,” Chelsea said in their revenue of all football clubs statement. in the world according to the “A 19 percent rise in latest published Deloitte commercial income from figures.” £67m to £79.6m is a clear Chelsea are performing

creditably on the pitch this season.

With Jose Mourinho back holding the reins as coach for the second time, the team occupy third place in the Premier League and are through to the last 16 of the Champions League where they will meet former striker Didier Drogba’s Galatasaray.

Chelsea have put pen to paper on major new partnerships with Audi, Delta and Azimut Hotels.

A 10-year extension to a global agreement with Adidas was announced in June 2013, meaning the financial boost from the biggest deal the club has yet to sign will be recorded in the 2013/14 accounts.

“From the very beginning of the current ownership of Chelsea...a long-term objective was financial sustainability and the subsequent implementation of Financial Fair Play by UEFA and by the Premier League has brought that to

Mourinho Okays Essien’s Chelsea Exit CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has agreed for Michael Essien to leave the English club and Italy could be the next destination for the Ghana international.

Even though no Serie A club has made contact with Essien his agent Fabian

Michael Essien

Piveteau will not rule out a move to the Italian top-flight if an interest is expressed.

The Ghana midfielder spent last season on loan with José Mourinho at Real Madrid, but has managed just three Premier League appearances this term.

The 31-year-old has been omitted from Chelsea’s Champions League squad so far this season.

His agent Fabian Piveteau says Mourinho has agreed for Essien to leave the club and has not ruled out a move to one of Italy’s biggest clubs.

“He will leave Chelsea. He wants to play more, and after talking to Mourinho has made this decision,” Piveteau

said.

“Italy? It’s an important league, I can’t exclude it, even if there have been no contacts for the moment.”

Piveteau rejected a return to Essien’s first club Bastia out of hand, admitting that the 52-cap midfielder will only seek to move to a club of similar standing.

He said: “In Ligue 1 he could play only at Paris SaintGermain or Lyon, but Bastia, FC Sochaux, for them to support the salary of a Chelsea player, it is already impossible.”

Essien joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2005, moving on to claim two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League.

the top of the agenda for football clubs,” said chairman Bruce Buck.

“By our own analysis we are progressing from a commercial viewpoint as well as continuing to add trophies to our collection which we never lose sight of as our most important goal.”

Chelsea have altered their recruitment policy in recent years, investing in younger players like Belgian internationals Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne and Brazil playmaker Oscar.

MANUEL Pellegrini believes his toughest times as Manchester City manager are behind him and predicted his side will get better in the second half of the season.

The Chilean reached the mid-way point of his debut campaign in England happy with the progress he has made after steering City into the knockout stages of the Champions League, the last-four of the Capital One Cup and second place in the Premier League.

And he said: “The time has gone fast. Six months is a lot of time but it has felt very short for me. I’m learning each day but after six months I am very settled in England. I am very happy and I am at a very good club.

“I always feel that the first months are the most difficult in a new job. So to be in the position we are in now is a very good start for us.

“We will continue learning. It’s very

important for all the players to always be improving. It must be better, the second half, than the first. But then the first half was already very good. We played nine games in December: we won eight and drew just one. In the Premier League from the last seven we won six. It is normal to improve though.”

Pellegrini said he hopes to establish City as the dominant club in England but believes it will be tough because of the number of powerful rivals.

The 60-year-old has long insisted that five or six teams are potential champions this season and feels it will not be easy to prove consistently better than them.

He said: “We must try at least, yes. But it’s very difficult to be dominant over here. Chelsea are a very strong team, Manchester United and Arsenal and Tottenham are strong teams. So are Liverpool.

So it’s difficult.”

Rio Ferdinand Still In David Moyes’ RIO Ferdinand still has a Plans one appearance in the part to play at Manchester United, manager David Moyes has insisted, despite not even being on the bench in their last five games.

The 35-year-old started the season as an automatic choice but has not featured since the 1-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk on Dec. 10 and now appears the fifth-choice centre-back.

Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have all been preferred to Ferdinand,

Rio Ferdinand

whose contract at Old Trafford expires next summer and who is not expected to be offered a new deal.

But Moyes told British national newspapers: “He’s had a few injuries, a few niggles in his calf, but overall Rio’s very much a part of it.

The form of the team and the form of some of the young players has meant I’ve not needed to look to change it around too much.”

Ferdinand has only made

Premier League since September but Moyes said omitting major players is a fact of life for Manchester United managers.

He added: “That’s part of the job and, if you play for this club, you always know there’s going to be competition for places. I think if you manage this club there are always going to be big decisions to make.

“I think the players here all play their part. Rio and Vida have been two of the best centre-halves, certainly in this Premier League generation.

“For the last 10 years they have been terrific, so overall they are still very much a part of it. We’ll continue to use them. There have always got to be other people to come in.

This club has always got to have a line of people who are ready to come in and take their places and push them, and I think even for the young players, the challenge is to push the old players and take over. That’s the way it works.”

Cisse Returns To Ligue 1 With Bastia

Juve Hopeful Over Pirlo JUVENTUS are And Tevez hoping both Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo will be fit for their first match of 2014 against Roma on Sunday.

Tevez has been given extra leave due to personal reasons, and the Turin-based club have sent a personal trainer out to Argentina to help keep him in shape in view of a return for the weekend.

Pirlo, meanwhile, has been back in training for nearly a week and is set to make his comeback from injury in the top-ofthe-table clash.

The Italy international last played in early December, when he picked up a knee injury against Udinese. He was ruled out for a month and appears to be respecting that recovery time by returning to full training between Christmas and New Year, cutting short his holidays in a bid to be fit for the weekend.

Tevez, meanwhile, has been given permission to spend a few more days in Argentina, where his wife is expecting a child in the next few months. To ensure the 29-year-old does not fall behind his teammates, though, a member of coach Antonio Conte’s coaching staff has boarded a flight to South America to see to it personally that the forward will be fit and

ready to face Roma, according to La Repubblica.

With both set to feature against second-placed Roma, former Juve midfielder Mauro Camoranesi is convinced the Bianconeri will be too strong for the Giallorossi.

“Conte’s team can go two gears higher than Roma and all their rivals,” he told Tuttosport. “I thought so in the summer and I’m even more convinced now. The Bianconeri will win their third successive Scudetto.”

Anelka’s use of a salute dubbed anti-Semitic in a celebration of a weekend goal in England has sparked a storm in Israel.

Politicians and newspaper commentators alike saw it as a new sign of rising anti-Semitism in Europe, where France has not been immune from a rise in support for the far right.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke on Facebook of the “problematic situation in Europe toward Jews and the state of Israel,” after Anelka gave the controversial salute in Saturday’s 3-3 Premier League draw between West Bromwich

Albion and West Ham United.

Anelka has agreed not to perform the celebration again, at the request of his club West Brom, and has denied he intended to cause offence.

Invented by French stand-up Dieudonne M’Bala M’Bala and imitated by his many fans, the “quenelle” gesture involves putting one arm across the chest and straightening the other.

It is perceived by some as a symbol of anti-Semitic identification, although he denies it.

Israel’s parliamentary committee for immigration, absorption and diaspora affairs convened for a hearing on Monday to discuss “the rise in anti-Semitism”.

Parliament speaker Yuli Edelstein denounced a wave of “new anti-Semitism”.

Committee chairman Yoel Razvozov warned that while Anelka defended his salute as just a gesture, “if we fail to act with resolve, it may develop into violent action”.

French embassy first secretary Zachary Gross assured members

Ariedo Baida

Milan Announce Ariedo Baida Exit

AC Milan’s recent revolution has continued with their director of sport Ariedo Braida relieved of his duties.

Braida has been working manager, alongside Adriano behind the scenes at Milan for Galliani. nearly three decades, first as The 67-year-old has been general manager and then accredited with the arrivals in more recently as director of Milan of the likes of Marco sport, but as 2013 came to a van Basten and Andriy close, so too did his official Shevchenko. Thiago Silva allegiance with the club. and Kaka were also spotted “AC Milan thanks Ariedo and signed by Braida, who — Braida, who leaves the club the club said — “was much today,” read an more than just a general announcement on the manager — he was more of a Rossoneri’s official website. strong and secure presence “He has been a precious for the team, who could turn employee for a very long to him in any moment.” period characterised by His last job, before prestigious results which declaring to Mediaset must also be associated with television on Tuesday night his important actions.” that he is “officially Braida makes way as part unemployed,” was to help of a shake-up that has seen attract Keisuke Honda to the Barbara Berlusconi promoted club. to the role of general The Japanese forward is

Anelka Salute Sparks Furore In Israel FRENCH footballer Nicolas

Anelka

of the committee of his government’s commitment to the safety of Jews in France.

Various estimates put the size of France’s Jewish community at 350,000-500,000, making it the largest in Europe.

Columnist Ben Dror Yemini warned in the Maariv newspaper: “Dieudonne is not a joke. Far from it.”

He called the comedian “the tip of the iceberg,” adding: “So long as the industry of lies (against Israel and Jews) continues to flourish, Dieudonne and his followers will continue to bloom.”

Natan Sharansky, who heads the Jewish Agency — the body in charge of Jewish immigration to Israel — told public radio it was “our duty to strengthen ties with the Jews of France”.

But he refused to use the perceived rise in anti-Semitism in France as a spur to immigration to Israel.

Anti-Semitism is no ally of Zionism,” he said.

More than 3,000 Jews from France emigrated to Israel in 2013, a 63 percent rise compared to 2012.

due to arrive in Italy on Jan. 4 and could make his Milan debut just over a week later against Sassuolo.

“I always dreamed of playing in the San Siro,” the former CSKA Moscow forward said, according to

Eurosport. “It’s the stadium of a team I’ve followed since I was a child. At the age of 27, the time has come for me to play for a big club and to improve infinitely as a player.”

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri says he has spent his last Christmas at the club and will leave in the New Year after a troubled 2013.

The pressure has been building on the former Cagliari boss, who guided Milan to the Serie A title in 2011, and — with the Rossoneri currently sitting 13th in the Serie A table, 17 points outside the Champions League places and 27 behind league leaders Juventus — he now admits his time at the helm is coming to an end.

“I don’t know who will be the new coach, it’s not my problem,” he told Gazzetta.

“Certainly this is my last Christmas as a Milanista, but

I’ve got to eat my panettone once again and, in truth, I never doubted that I would.”

Asked what team he will leave behind, he added: “A good team who have endeared themselves to the fans for their way of being. A side who, with a few adjustments here and there, have a future.”

All appeared to be going well for the Rossoneri as they overcame a potentially tricky Champions League playoff tie with PSV Eindhoven to take their place in the group stage at the end of August.

However, with just four wins in Serie A since, and only one victory in their last nine league matches, 2013 turned out to be a year to

GHANA defender Jerry Akaminko is now a subject of transfer target for Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Akaminko has been a stalwart centre-back for his Super League side Eskisehirspor for the past two seasons at the club.

The 25-year-old, one of the highly-rated versatile defenders in Turkey, will cost Roberto Mancini’s side 14

million euros.

Galatasaray need reinforcements for their UEFA Champions League campaign.

The Ghana international has already been linked with French Ligue 1 big spenders AS Monaco.

The centre-back made 16 appearances for Eskisehirspor for the first half of the season as they lie sixth on the league table.

DJIBRIL Cisse has sealed his return to Ligue 1 after the well-travelled forward and top-flight club Bastia agreed a deal.

Though he had six months still to run on his contract with Russian Premier League side Kuban Krasnodar, Cisse, 32, terminated it by mutual consent before completing his switch to Bastia.

The pacey forward, who has struck 94 Ligue 1 goals in spells at Auxerre and Marseille, has stated he hopes his return to his native country will enable him to impress French national team coach Didier Deschamps sufficiently to earn a place in Les Bleus’ 2014 World Cup squad.

He told the Bastia website: “I think people know my character. I’m a winner, very demanding and never satisfied. While I have the opportunity to help a club and to give the maximum to a club I will be like that. I am 32 years old, it’s been that I am in the circuit and I do not feel old at all. I have good years ahead of me and I will do good things.”

... Allegri To Leave Milan In 2014

Galatasaray Interested In Akaminko

forget for Milan. The only solace was provided by reaching the last-16 of the Champions League.

“It was all right up to Aug. 28,” Allegri told Sky. “The past four months in the league have been disastrous. We’ve reached an important objective in the last-16 [of the Champions League], but we’re lagging behind in the league and we need to rise.”

Milan clinched third spot in Serie A last May off the back of the best record of any side in the second half of the season. A similar turnaround in their form may not be good enough to qualify for the Champions League once again, though.

“We’re focusing on a great Champions League campaign in 2014,” Allegri added. “I’m optimistic, even though we’ll be without [Sulley] Muntari and [Riccardo] Montolivo for the first leg [against Atletico Madrid]. Then we’ve also got the Coppa Italia and while third spot may be a long way away, we’ll do all we can to get there.”

Milan’s first game of the calendar year comes against Atalanta on Monday. The two sides are separated by a single point with only five currently distancing the Rossoneri from the relegation zone.

2013: Mixed Fortunes For Ghana

IT was mixed fortunes for Ghana in 2013 as the country failed to win a single medal but the qualification to Brazil 2014 is a big consolation.

The Black Stars were seek- Bronze at World Cup: The Black Satellites under ing to end their 31-year wait for an African title at the fi- the tutelage of experienced nals in South Africa but were Sellas Tetteh were piped to a denied by Burkina Faso af- fourth African Youth Chamter losing 3-2 on penalties. pionship title after losing on Both teams were tied 1-1 af- penalties to Egypt in the fiter regulation and extra-time. nal staged in Algeria.

The 2009 champions setGhana could not win bronze as they lost 3-1 to Mali in the tled for bronze at the World Cup in Turkey with Tetteh third-placed match.

Ghanaian clubs crash out of still in charge.

Retired quartet make a reAfrica: Two Ghanaian clubs who turn: Michael Essien, Kevinqualified to play in CAFís inter-clubs competitions failed Prince Boateng and the Ayew to reach the money zone. brothers Jordan and Andre 2012 MTN FA Cup winners made a return to international New Edubiase United were football. The quartet had kicked out at the preliminary temporarily stepped down qualifying round of the CAF from the national team citing Confederation Cup after los- personal reasons. It strengthing 5-4 on penalties to Con- ened the Black Stars to top Group D of the World Cup golese side Diables Noirs.

League champions Asante qualifier after beating ZamKotoko could not scale over bia 2-1 at home in Kumasi. the penultimate qualifying Ghana advanced to the final round hurdle and were elimi- qualifying round.

2014 World Cup qualificanated by JSM Bejaia of Altion: geria.

Ghana capped the year with U20 win African Youth Championship silver & a third successive qualifica-

tion to the FIFA Word Cup finals by beating Egypt in the play-off. The 6-1 drubbing at the Baba Yara Stadium in

October made all the difference as a 2-1 return leg defeat in Cairo could not deny the Black Stars. Head coach

Kwesi Appiah became the first indigenous Ghanaian coach to achieve that qualification feat.

Mc Llroy and Wozniacki

Federer Opens 2014 With Thumping Win ROGER Federer won his opening match of 2014 in fine style, beating fellow veteran Jarkko Nieminen 6-4 62 at the ATP Brisbane Open.

The Swiss star looked in fine form, losing just five points on his serve in the second set against the world number 39.

Federer - who will play Marinko Matosevic in the quarter-finals after Matosevic beat Sam Querrey 5-7 7-6(3) 6-4 - was happy to have a win under his belt as he tries to gauge his form in what is his first tournament appearance in the opening week of the season since the year 2000.

“Most important is that you win the match so you get a second chance to judge your

game a bit better,” said Federer.

“That’s why it’s most important to get an extra day or two. Now I have doubles tomorrow and the singles the next day, so it’s really good for rhythm and good for your game.

“I expect myself to play a bit better in the next match, even though today was already very good for a first match in so many weeks, to be honest, and against Nieminen who can play very good tennis. Particularly here in Australia.”

World number 37 Marin Cilic knocked out fifth seed Grigor Dmitrov 7-5 7-5, earning a quarter-final match against second seed Kei Nishikori.

sic in Auckland as Ana Ivanovic won her match.

With four of the top eight seeds falling in Auckland on Tuesday, the big names left standing made sure they got through safely in the second round.

The second-seeded Ivanovic was perhaps the most impressive, dropping just two games

on her way to a 6-1 6-1 win over Johanna Larsson.

Third seed Kirsten Flipkens also won in straight sets, seeing off Karolina Pliskova 6-4 6-3, while Jamie Hampton, the fifth seed, beat Kristyna Pliskova.

Venus Williams recovered from a set down to topple Yvonne Meusburger 4-6 6-3 62 while there were also wins for

• Rodger Federer

Mikel, Drogba, Toure Shortlisted For Award THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the top three players for the 2013 African Player of the Year award, scheduled for Jan. 9 in Lagos.

Nigeriaís John Obi Mikel, who is of Chelsea FC of England, is joined by the Ivorian pair of Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba.

Toure, who plays for English side Manchester City, and former Chelsea FC striker Drogba are making the final three for a second successive year.

Midfielder Toure is the reigning player of the year, having won the 2012 award earlier this year.

The 2013 winner will be announced on Jan. 9, 2014 at the Glo-CAF Awards Gala to be held in Lagos.

In the African Player of the Year award for footballers based in Africa, whose 2012 edition was won by Egyptian Mohamed Aboutrika, another Nigerian is in contention.

The 2013 winner will be selected from the trio of Super Eaglesí Sunday Mba and Egyptians Ahmed Fathy and Aboutrika.

The winner will also be announced at the Awards Gala.

In the other categories, Nigeria is being considered for the National Team of the Year

Ivanovic Wins In Auckland, Azarenka Cruises THERE were no shocks on Kurumi Nara, Garbine In Brisbane day three of the WTA ASB ClasMuguruza, Sachie Ishizu and

Lauren Davis.

At WTA Brisbane, second seed Victoria Azarenka smashes Casey Dellacqua 6-3 6-1 in her first match of the new season.

Third seed Maria Sharapova joined her in the third round without hitting a ball as local hope Ashleigh Barty was forced to pull out of their clash before it started.

• John Obi Mikel

alongside Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

For the Youth National Team of the Year, Nigeriaís under-17 men team, the Golden Eaglets, are the sole candidates, after securing the countryís fourth world title last October in the UAE. African club champions AlAhly of Egypt and CAF Confederation Cup holders CS Sfaxien of Tunisia are under consideration for the Club of the Year award.

They are joined by the 2013 CAF Champions League finalists, Orlando Pirates of South Africa.

Nigerian supporters are also the sole candidates for the Fair Play Award, with the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) sure to step out for the award.

Two Nigerian coaches, Super Eagles Stephen Keshi and Golden Eaglets Manu Garba, are contending with Belgian Paul Put for the Coach of the Year award.

Golden Eagletsí Kelechi Iheanacho is under consideration for the Most Promising Talent award, alongside Ebenezer Assifuah and Saleh Gomaa.

McIlroy Gets Engaged To Wozniacki RORY McIlroy and his tennis-playing girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki started the New Year with a bang on Wednesday by announcing their engagement on Twitter.

“Happy New Year everyone!

I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014 #shesaidyes!!,” golfer McIlroy, who rang in the New Year with Wozniacki in Sydney, wrote.

The two former world number ones in their respective sports have been dating for more than two years and erroneous reports their relationship was over last year was proposed by some as an explanation for McIlroy’s drop in form.

Northern Irishman McIlroy, 24, had to wait until December to claim his first title of the season when he dramatically edged Adam Scott on the final hole to win the Australian Open.

Wozniacki, 23, pulled out of this week’s Brisbane International with an injured right shoulder but is confident she will be able to play in this week’s Sydney International in preparation for the Jan. 13-26 Australian Open.

“Happy New Year everyone!

Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! ... I said YES!!!!”

Wozniacki tweeted above a picture of her hand sporting an engagement ring.

Kayode Suspended After Red Card

NIGERIA U20 striker Olanrewaju Kayode will miss his Isreali clubís next two games in the New Year after he was sent off on Monday.

Kayode was sent off while in action for his Israeli second division team Maccabi Netanya as they beat Beitar Shimshom Tel Aviv 2-1 to remain top of the table with 40 points from 17 games.

Kayode, who was a 55th minute substitute for Ido Exbard, was shown a straight red card in the concluding minutes of the game.

He will therefore miss his team’s next two games against Maccabi Ahi Nazareth on Friday January 3 and Hapoel Arraba on January 7.

The former ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire striker has scored five goals in nine matches in Israel.

Eagles Good To Shine At CHAN

DESPITE the absence of 2013 AFCON star Sunday Mba and Kano Pillars striker Gambo Mohammed, Nigeria are primed to shine at the 2014 CHAN. A closer look at the final defence led by skipper and 23-man squad announced goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim on Tuesday showed that the will be the teamís backbone.

Agbim, fullbacks Solomon Kwambe and Benjamin Francis as well as central defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Umar Zango and Kunle Odunlami have

• Coach Stephen Keshi

Akinbobola Tasks Nigerian Athletes AKIN Akinbobola, a peace in the country which In 2014 former Special Assistant to will envelope more sports Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, has urged the countryís athletes to redouble their efforts in 2014 to surpass their achievements in 2013.

Akinbobola made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Akure.

He expressed delight at the performance of the athletes in 2013, saying the country took “bold strides in sportsíí.

Akinbobola cited the numerous successes of Nigerian athletes and teams in 2013 as reasons to celebrate the countryís performance.

“We won the African Nations Cup (AFCON) trophy, a silver medal in the U-17 African Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup. “We also had the performance of Blessing Okagbare at the IAAF Championships as some of our memorable moments.

“So, 2013 has been a wonderful year for sports

in Ondo state and Nigeria in general,íí he said.

The former member of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) board then urged sports administrators to improve on the successes of 2013 and not to relent on the achievements.

“We should continue to pray for the sustenance of

development that will expose talents at the grassroots,” he said.

Akinbobola also charged athletes and administrators to sustain the tempo at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and other major competitions in 2014.

CHIDERA Eze has said he will soon move to a club Europe after he featured at the recent FIFA U17 World Cup in the UAE. But Eze has maintained he would prefer to keep under wraps the identity of his European club till all the negotiations are concluded.

“Surely, Europe remains the target of any footballer who wants to make it and that is where, by the grace of God, I will be taking my game in the shortest possible time,” Eze said “It has not been easy since we emerged world U17 champions as numerous clubs and agents have been on me to sign for them, but I am taking my time to make the best choice and

very soon the world will get to know where I will be going to.”

The Riverlane Football Academy of Enugu player, who has been linked with FC Porto, also told MTNFootball.com he hopes Eaglets teammate Kelechi Iheanacho will make the right decision about his future.

“It is a thing of joy for me to have known and played with such a player at the U17 World Cup even though we have also played together at the U15 level,” Eze said.

“He is a great player with a great future. I just pray that he does not make a career-threatening mistake with agents and managers.

“We were to go to the same club, but I later read about his move to England. I wish him

all been capped at full international level.

Crucially too they enjoy a good understanding on the pitch as they have played together for some time now.

The inclusion of U17 goalkeeper Dele Alampasu is also commendable as he will gain some experience at this level of the game even as a third-choice behind Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.

Enugu Rangers skipper Ugonna Izuchukwu will be the teamís preferred defensive midfielder with Kano Pillars playmaker Rabiu Ali providing the creative juice in the engine room.

Ali has proved himself on the local scene and if he could add some urgency and pace to his play, he could emerge as one of the top stars of this competition.

The other options in midfield will include U20 star Shehu Abdullahi and Joshua Obaje, who should give the team some local insight because until recently he featured for South African club Black Leopards.

Gambo, Yinka Adedeji miss CHAN cut In attack, Ejike Uzoenyi has yet another chance to play his way back to the main Eagles with a good showing at CHAN particularly as Nnamdi Oduamadi has failed to convince on the left side of attack.

The nippy winger was at a time one of the first names on Keshiís team list, but he did not make the most of his

opportunities and a shortlived stint at French club Rennes meant he was off the radar for several months.

He is a tricky customer and his vision and crosses will be decisive for the strike force in South Africa.

Two shock omissions in the forward line are Warri Wolves star Etebo Oghenekaro and U17 striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

Oghenekaro, for one, was widely believed to have established himself in this team after a most eventful rookie year with Wolves, while Awoniyi appeared to have won more admirers with his performance in training with the team.

Enyimba striker Ifeanyi

Ede will now lead Nigeriaís attack in the absence of Pillars star Gambo Mohammed.

He enjoyed a purple patch in the closing stages of last season as he netted some crucial goals for Enyimba to finish runners-up in the league.

Barnabas Imenger has also weighed in with his fair share of goals in the teamís test matches, towering Rangers striker Obiozor will bring his physical presence to bear upfront, while there will also be the unpredictability and dare of Gbolahan Salami as the Eagles go for goals and glory in a favourite hunting ground, Mandela-land.

. . . Nigeria Name Final Squad GOALKEEPERS: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers), Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland), Dele Alampasu (Abuja Football College) DEFENDERS: Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Francis Benjamin(Heartland), Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), Kunle Odunlami(Sunshine Stars), Ikechukwu Gabriel (Bayelsa United), Umar Zango (Kano Pillars), Bright Esieme (Enyimba), Erhun Obanor (Insurance FC) MIDFIELDERS: Ugonna Uzochukwu (Enugu Rangers), Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars), Christian Pyagbara (Sharks), Ikenna Hilary (Sunshine Stars), Abdullahi Shehu (Kano Pillars), Joshua Obaje (Warri Wolves) FORWARDS: Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Gbolahan Salami (Shooting Stars), Barnabas Imenger (Lobi Stars), Aliyu Ibrahim (Nasarawa United), Christian Obiozor (Enugu Rangers), Ifeanyi Ede (Enyimba)

Eaglet Chidera Eze Upbeat On Euro Move the very best.

“For me, I entrust my future in the hands of God to direct me and soon you will hear about my movement.”

In a separate interview, Enugu State FA chairman, Chidi Ofo Okenwa, has praised Eze, describing him as a product of his associationís ëBoot to Bookí programme, which started in 2008.

“Right from when we spotted his talent in Enugu, I have always believed he will go very far,” said the FA boss.

“However, let it be known that Chidera was only favoured to be where he is today because there are many great players that never got to where he is and will go.

“He is a level-headed player and this will to a very large

extent impact positively on his game.

“I believe that before long, he will be donning the jersey of

• Chidera Eze

one of the top clubs in Europe, but until all the ëTsí are crossed and ëIsí well dotted, the name will be in our hearts.”

CMYK

Letters, Letters And More Letters

WE wonder for how long our governance will be left at the level of comic relief. In most of the plays of Shakespeare, there are serious acts and scenes. In-between, there are breaks during which jesters are brought on stage to make people laugh and to lighten eyes that are already heavy.

People steal billions of Naira of public money. They hit the headlines in all the media. We debate on our streets and in buses and we laugh.

Quite often, probes are set up. Sometimes, probe reports are produced. We debate, we laugh and nothing happens thereafter.

Virtually every body knows that the 2015 elections will be rigged but nobody is doing anything about it. The electoral umpires already have their eyes fixed on it. After the Anambra debacle, Prof. Atahiru Jega is asking for one more chance, apparently to be allowed to unleash the final pogrom in 2015. We just laugh and do nothing.

In the past, people were dogmatically tied to their political parties in the name of party discipline. Even where they saw something manifestly wrong with the steps being taken by their party leaders, they could not speak out for fear of anti-party activities.

But today, things are changing. President Goodluck Jonathan is being bombarded with “love letters” on every side. Most of these letters come from his party men. The most ludicrous of them all is the one emanating from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. At his

level, one would have expected the Governor to seek necessary clarification from relevant agencies before rushing to write President Jonathan that $49.8 billion oil money was missing, or put in his own language of thievery, “the amount was not accounted for”. And he went ahead to leak the content of his letter to the

examples to buttress his point, including the fact that corruption has become virtually a way of life under this administration, he deposited all the blames at the doorsteps of President Jonathan.

Nothing could be worse than the fact that pension funds have become the easiest money to steal.

They are now stolen with

• Chief Obasanjo

public.

Psychologists would readily admit that Sanusi’s letter is a Freudian slip in which he is thinking aloud and telling us how much he would have stolen were he in the oil industry.

It serves him right. He looked small and completely deflated when he came face to face with the Finance Minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Yakubu. We are not in a hurry to forget that some $10-12 billion, depending on whose story we accept, is still waiting to be reconciled. This is too big an amount to be left hanging for comic relief.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Amiu Waziri Tambuwal, provided his own letter bomb. The summary of that bomb is that Jonathan is too corrupt to fight corruption.

After citing all the good

President, is the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Essentially, when Tambuwal was cataloguing the various offences of President Jonathan, a bulk of which are clearly impeachable, he was also indicting himself, perhaps unwittingly, before Nigerians: that he and the

accusation. Rather, it is a good reason to take him very seriously as a man speaking from personal experience, the fact that no one had the effrontery

• President Goodluck Jonathan

impunity and Jonathan is doing nothing about that.

We only laugh and clap for them. What a comic relief!

If the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, John Bochner, suddenly stumbled into some misdeeds of President Barack Obama, would his first course of action be to rush to CBS, ABC or CNN studios to announce the discovery? Of course, not!

Both in Nigeria and the US, one person most favourably disposed to initiate, or cause to be initiated, any i m p e a c h m e n t proceedings against the

National Assembly had failed to perform their functions. Whenever the President commits an impeachable offence and he is not impeached, there is a cover up, pure and simple. It is like seeing crime and not informing the police.

It takes a thief to catch a thief. General Matthew Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo has seen it all.

In this season of letter writing, he should not be under-rated. That he is guilty of the offences for which he is accusing Jonathan is not a good reason for ignoring his

to accuse him when he was committing the crime, notwithstanding.

Apparently, Obasanjo needs deliverance. In more civilized climes, such a man cannot be making public utterances. If a man’s family is such that his daughter can be peached against him at will; his son is constantly at loggerheads with him; and there are insinuations that he may have severally slept with his daughter-inlaw, he should spend more time organizing his family instead of running around forming himself into a trade union with other

retired Generals. Nothing here, however, vitiates the fact that we still have to leave this bad messenger and accept his message.

Jonathan’s reply also provides the worst example of selective enforcement for which the Obasanjo letter is loud. Surely, the man is pained by the accusation of training killers for the 2015 elections. If out of about twelve charges preferred against him in Obasanjo’s court, he is submitting himself for investigation only on the issue of snipers, that is a tacit acceptance that on other issues, he is guilty as charged.

In all this, Jonathan holds the ace. The Edo State experience under Governor Adams Oshiomhole has shown that superior performance is the only antidote against criticisms. If Jonathan were to do less of politicking and more of governance; learn to whip his appointees appropriately on line; and bring about visibly improved services to the nation, letter writers and mail runners would soon be put out of business.

For Jonathan, students of Latin may have adjudged 2013 annus horribilis, meaning “horrible year”. That’s why he must quickly embrace 2014 as an opportunity for a second, nay final chance!

“But today, things are changing. President Goodluck Jonathan is being bombarded with “love letters” on every side. Most of these letters come from his party men. The most ludicrous of them all is the one emanating from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. At his level, one would have expected the Governor to seek necessary clarification from relevant agencies before rushing to write President Jonathan that $49.8 billion oil money was missing, or put in his own language of thievery, “the amount was not accounted for”. And he went ahead to leak the content of his letter to the public.”

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