Nigerian observer 02 06 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 39 NO.003 • MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 • N100.00 ISSUES Pg. 20 Fighting Corruption In Nigeria Via The Jury Justice System

No plans to increase exam fees LAGOS - The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said at the weekend that it has no immediate plans to increase the cost of registration forms for its

Computer-Based Tests.

The Public Relations Officer of JAMB, Mr Fabian Benjamin, who made the statement in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, said that the board intends to

work within its available resources for subsequent CBTs. “If there is the need to increase, parents would be informed on why there is an increase,” he said.

- JAMB

Benjamin spoke against the backdrop of reported plans by the board to increase the Continues on page 2

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Late Emir Of Gwoza

ARCHIVAL MATTERS Pg. 21 Abubakar Shekau

A Frankenstein Monster!!

Governors forum condemns murder

ABUJA - The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), led by Governor Jonah Jang at the weekend described the murder of the Emir of Gwoza, in Borno, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, as an act of callousness. strong terms; it is most This is contained in a irresponsible, statement issued by Mr despicable, and a clear Osaro Onaiwu, the case of callousness administrator of the NGF secretariat in Abuja.

The statement quoted Jang, the chairman of the Forum, as saying that the incident was “shocking and unfortunate because the late Emir worked very hard to promote peace and progress.

“We condemn such dastardly acts in very

taken to extremities.

“We pray that the

Almighty grants the immediate family,

members of the Gwoza Emirate Council, the entire people and Government of Borno State, the fortitude to bear this very traumatic loss.

“This is especially at a time the state is still

Waterways

Nigerian Navy promises adequate security CALABAR - Rear Adm. Obiora Medani, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, said yesterday that the Nigerian Navy would sustain security patrol on Calabar-Akwa Ibom water ways to prevent oil theft.

Medani gave the assurance in Calabar during the Nigerian Navy fleet review evacuation exercise.

The exercise was part of the activities to mark the 58th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.

Medani said there was an improvement by men of the Nigerian Navy in providing security on

Calabar-Akwa Ibom water ways.

“The present Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has said that oil theft would no longer be business as usual.

“This is because he has put in a lot of resources in place to ensure that our water ways are free from criminals.

“The Chief of Naval Staff leadership has brought a lot of changes; and that is why you can see that everywhere is calm and peaceful,’’ he said.

He described the Continues on page 2

TIT BIT “A bad apprentice in the business of governance provides the excuse of ‘the learning process’ for his continued lack of improvement”.

- Kingsley-Ogbeide-Ihama

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: Senate President David Mark (left), presenting 2014 Scholarship Award to Mr. Samuel Egbo of Benue State University during the Annual Award by David Mark Scholarship Foundation (DMSF) in Otukpo, Benue State yesterday. With them is the Chairman of the foundation, Prof. James Alachi.

dealing with several other equally disturbing security-related challenges.”

Jang appealed to all Nigerians especially the people of Borno not to be discouraged in the face of intimidation.

“They should continue in their unwavering support for the Federal Government in finding lasting solution to the hydra-headed problem of insurgency in the country,’’ the statement further quoted him as saying.

Suspected members of the Boko Haram on Friday ambushed and killed the Emir on his was for the burial of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, had said that the body of the Gwoza Emir had been recovered.

Olukolade said the Emirs of Askira, Alhaji Abdullahi Askirama, and that of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Mamza, who were also involved in the incident were in stable condition.

World Communication Day

Cleric tasks Nigerians on use of language

By OBOH SYLVESTER

BENIN CITY – Nigerians have been reminded of the unique role of language as a tool of communication in shaping their social, domestic and spiritual life and through it discover who they are, either as extroverted or introverted individuals.

The parish priest, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ugbor, GRA, Rev. Fr. Stephen Okojie gave the

charge yesterday at the thanksgiving mass of the Catholic Media

Practitioners (CAMP) as part of activities to close

this year’s 48th World Communication Day.

The thanksgiving also witnessed the enrolment of some catechumens and celebration of the Continues on page 2

Tambuwal advocates moral rejuvenation

SOKOTO - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal at the weekend called for the publication of more books that would

contribute to moral rejuvenation in the country.

Tambuwal spoke in Sokoto at the launch of a book written on the District Head of Yabo,

Alhaji Muhammadu Maiturare II. The book entitled, “ Kyakkyawar Safiya,” was authored by a Producer with the Sokoto State

Television, Malami Torankawa.

“We have a lot to learn from the lives and times of our past and living Continues on page 2

News

Group opposes hike in train fares LAGOS - A group of ‘ C o n c e r n e d Passengers”’using the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) mass transit services in Lagos yesterday urged the Federal Government to stop the NRC from increasing the fares.

The group, particularly, called on the minister of transport and the chairman of NRC board to intervene in the planned increase in fares.

The corporation, had on May 26, announced fare increment for its Ogun/Lagos Mass Transit Trains Services (MTTS) from N150 to N230 from June 2.

The corporation also said that its newly-introduced airconditioned service will cost N750 from Ijoko in Ogun to Ido and Apapa in Lagos.

Spokesman for the group, Mr Victor Abraham, told newsmen in Lagos that the group had staged a protest against the increment on May 30 at the corporation’s headquarters, Ebute Meta, Lagos.

“We have also forwarded our letter of appeal to the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, and the Chairman Board of Directors of the Corporation, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, over the planned increase.

According to Abraham, the corporation’s plan to increase its fare is in total disrespect to its passengers in view of the corporation’s continuous poor services and falling

standard.

“We want the minister and the chairman to caution the corporation against the planned increase because it is like adding insult to injury of the passengers based on the corporation continuous poor services.

“We want the minister and the chairman to pay unscheduled visit to the corporation or send monitoring unit to ascertain the corporation’s continuous degraded condition of operation.

“The corporation lacks

enough and well-maintained coaches for its ever increasing passengers, thereby causing untold congestion and most times passengers collapse in the trains.

“The corporation had in the past two years abandoned its second track and operating only on one track, thereby causing passengers’ untold delay.

“This is because one train has to wait for hours for another to pass on the same track.

“So, in our letter, we

Continued from page 1 leaders, at all levels. “ Books written on them are a veritable tool of keeping such histories, with a view to learning from them and improve our present day society,” Tambuwal said.

He was represented at the occasion by the Speaker of Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Lawalli Zayyana.

Tambuwal described the District Head of Yabo as humane, God-fearing, dedicated and humble.

In his speech, Governor Aliyu Wamakko called on the various levels of government in the country to invest in the provision of quality education to the citizenry.

“Education is the bedrock of any development and we cannot even effectively worship God without education,” the governor said in a message delivered by the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Shehu Dalhatu.

In his address, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by the Galadiman Gari, Alhaji Aliyu Attahiru underscored the need to chronicle the lives and times of the nation’s leaders.

Also, the Chief Launcher, Alhaji Faruk Malami commended the author for his

appealed to the minister and the managing director to ensure that the corporation first improves on its services before increasing fares,” he said.

Mr Ademuyiwa Adekanmbi, the NRC Lagos District Public Relations Officer, however, told newsmen that the corporation would increase the number of coaches on its MTTS services from June 2.

Adekanmbi said that the management would also introduce air-conditioned trains for both the MTTS and long distance inter-city services.

Tambuwal advocates moral rejuvenation

efforts, saying,“the book chronicles the history of Yabo Emirate”.

The Author, Malami Torankawa said he wrote the book as part of his contribution to the educational development of the country.

Over N8.16 million was realised at the event, with the Chief Launcher and Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Faruk Malami donating N1 million.

Tambuwal also made a donation of N 1 million while the state government donated N 1.5 million.

Cleric tasks Nigerians on use of language

Continued from page 1 Children’s Day, of St. Peter Catholic Church, Ugbor, G.R.A., Benin City.

In a very pungent homily, Rev. Fr. Okojie pointed out that as a tool of communication in prayers to the Almighty, language plays a significant role, asserting that much eloquence and effusive use of words tended towards extrovertism and is visible in the church as seen in the Pentecostal movements, with the contrary nature being introvertism.

He emphasised that Nigerians must recognize who they are, a problem most couples have to deal with, because they did not sufficiently study themselves to know whether they are extroverted or introverted persons.

“A woman not knowing that the husband is an

Waterways Continued from page 1 exercise as a success, saying that there was no breakdown of any ship during the process.

“The exercise has gone very well, 10 ships and two helicopters participated, and we don’t have any breakdown.

“The gun-ray exercise, antipiracy operation and helicopter operation, among others, have gone very well,’’ he said.

He assured the maritime sector that the Nigerian Navy would continue to provide adequate security.

introvert may think he is angry, because after food, he may just go to bed and will talk less”, he pointed out.

On the Roman Catholic Church, he said it is based on established traditions that have been preserved over time and all priests must follow the rubrics (sets of instructions) and cannot add to it, hence, homilies (sermons) may be less effusive, indicating an introverted body.

According to him, the sanctity of the Roman Catholic Church remains eternal and must be maintained irrespective of modernity, Pentecostal movements or spirit and cross cultural encounters.

He further stressed the need for parents to regularly indulge in family prayer and the need to train their children in order to imbibe the life of constant prayer and obedience for the purpose of good upbringing in the society.

While urging CAMP members to use the tools of their profession to highlight the good and positive values of the people and the society; the Parish priest equally told members and the new patrons of CAMP to continue to use their position in the society to help grow and protect the church at all times.

Highlight of the thanksgiving Mass was the induction of the new patrons of CAMP. They include Barr.

(Mrs.) Pauline Igbanor, Mrs. Helen Awala-ale, Mr. G.E.I.

Simate, Lady J.O. Abu, Engr.

A.B. Ojomoh, Mr. A. Uangbaoje, Barr. Alex Iyamu and Comrade Jude Imagwe.

Others are Prof. Stanley Orobator, Prof. Michael Ogunu and Barr. Ben OmoAkhigbe.

FOSTER PEACE, UNITY Meanwhile, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, has called on media practitioners to foster peace and unity through their work.

Obinna made the call during a homily yesterday while celebrating a holy mass to mark the World Day of Communication at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral in Owerri.

He referred to Pope Francis’s message for the day which said that “good communication helps us grow closer, know one another better and grow in unity”.

He pointed out that the spate of terrorism and insecurity resulted from improper communication, adding that the media could help to change things for the better.

Obinna urged the media to spread the message of peace and unity as its contribution to the restoration of peace in the country.

“The media should help to spread this message of unity to foster love and unity in our churches, states, countries and the ends of the world; we need a revolution of tenderness so we can live in friendly communion.

“The media should project the ideals, images and values that would strengthen our relationships and good neighbourliness across and beyond ethnic, religious, political and class divides which sow unnecessary hatred and violence,” he said.

The archbishop regretted that Nigerians did not trust one another well enough to be good neighbours and friends resulting in violence and continued tension.

“Divisions and hostilities based on differences in ethnicity, tribes, religions and culture all stem from our failure to realise that we are all one family under Christ, even non believers.

“We as Nigerians have failed to see, recognise and treat one another as fellow children, sons and daughters of God. That is why we do not trust one another enough to be good neighbours and good friends.

“The consequence is continuous tension, strife, war, abductions and bloodshed,’’ he said.

The archbishop prayed for the protection of media practitioners across the world and urged them to make truth their watchword.

He also prayed for God’s Intervention to end the insecurity in the country and for the safe return of the abducted Chibok girls.

Obinna further lauded the former governor of Anambra state, Mr Peter Obi, who was present at the mass, for his achievements while in office.

LUTH resident doctors to resume strike today LAGOS - The LUTH, IdiAraba, Lagos Branch of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), is to resume its strike today, the association announced in Lagos weekend.

The President of the association, Dr Omojowolo Olubunmi, said in a statement that the resolution to resume strike was reached at an emergency general meeting of the association, held on May 28.

“Rising from the emergency general meeting, the association unanimously agreed to resume our suspended industrial action and embark on an indefinite strike, commencing on Monday, June 2, by 8 a.m.”

He said the strike was due to a lack of progress in negotiations and deliberations with the hospital’s management on the issues raised in the threeday warning strike in April.

The association, embarked on a three-day warning strike in April, issuing a 21-day ultimatum to the management of LUTH. “The ultimatum elapsed on April 29, without signs of a strike because doctors and LUTH management were still in talks which have since broken down.

“We have found ourselves left with no other choice.”

Olubunmi said the doctors had 12-point contention, including: “the astronomical increase in hospital charges, which have increased the number of avoidable deaths

and affected the training of resident doctors.

“Lack of basic facilities and equipments, chronic shortage of stationeries, epileptic water supply, disorganised and dirty environment and inadequate manpower have led to poor service delivery to Nigerians.

“Letters stipulating duration of residency training according to the August 2013 circular be issued to both old and new residents individually immediately.

“The employment list of residents from the outstanding departments be released immediately,” he said.

Olubunmi said that the number of residents being employed in each department was inadequate and that delays in the payment of update, exam and outstanding allowances be paid up front.

He said the management promised but failed to fix the shortage of materials and consumables.

The president said that the hospital lacked a good means of communication and so doctors incurred huge amounts daily in making patients’ care-related phone calls within the hospital.

He said the association was against the fees being charged new resident and house officers for training because the residents had not received any salary.

Olubunmi urged the LUTH management to address the association’s concerns in order to improve the lives of both patients and doctors.

NSCDC prosecutes 50 offenders UYO - Mr Pedro Ideba, the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Akwa Ibom State, said the command prosecuted 50 offenders in the state in the first quarter of the year.

Ideba said the offences bordered on oil theft and destruction of oil installations among others, insisting that the command would not relent in fighting criminal activities in the state.

In an interview with newsmen in Uyo on Sunday, he said the command had also curtailed the activities of oil thieves and vandals in the state.

“We have about 50 cases

in courts, 38 of them are awaiting the forensic analysis test of the products involved.

“Almost on a daily basis, we make arrests; and we have a synergy with other security agencies in the state to ensure peace and stability in Akwa Ibom.

“We have also successfully stamped out examination malpractice in the state.

“Owners of schools that were noted for encouraging examination malpractice have been arrested and they are facing trials,’’ he said.

Ideba said the command would not relent in its effort to ensure adequate protection of lives and property in the state.

No plans to increase exam fees Continued from page 1

cost of the forms.

He said that this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was capital intensive because of the Paper-Pencil and ComputerBased Test that were held this year.

“The examination this year was capital intensive but subsequently it will not be so.

“The reason was that two types of examinations were held this year without any increase in budgetary allocation for exams.

“Subsequently, the cost of printing of papers for 23 subjects of 15 pages for about

two million people will no longer be there.”

According to him, the Federal Government had assisted in reducing the financial burden of the examination on parents and guardians by directing JAMB to reduce the cost of forms from N4, 600 to N4, 000.

“The objective of the CBT is to make our education system more effective, to give the candidates the right orientation about examination, which should transcend to the university level.

“Its objective is also to curb examination malpractices,” he said.

Inside Edo Commissioner Bags Integrity Award BENIN CITY – Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James has been honoured with the prestigious Integrity Stewardship Award titled, ‘Service Ambassador of Conscience.’

Receiving the award, the Director of Inspectorate and Monitoring Services in the Ministry, Barr. James Otoikhila on behalf of the Commissioner, thanked the Save and Serve Humanity Organization Sponsor of the award for recognizing and appreciating the commissioner’s role and activities in the development of the state.

Barr. Otoikhila described the commissioner as an active politician committed to good governance who will not rest on his oars till the grassroots is developed.

Presenting the award, the Executive Director of Save and Serve Humanity Organization, Comrade Abubakar Oyibo said the award is to compensate the commissioner for his continuous display of integrity, stewardship, sincerity of purpose, selfdiscipline and consistency in project execution.

Oyibo said the award is to thank and appreciate Chief James for being responsible to his selfless duties and

service to humanity and however urged the commissioner never to be distracted by any negative forces because, his style of philanthropy and selfless leadership is applauded.

Save and Serve Humanity Organization is a Non G o v e r n m e n t a l Organization made up of professionals and highly skilled volunteers working towards free society, promoting ethical leadership, and awakening the spirit of service amongst the citizens.

By RICHARD EWEKA

President Goodluck Jonathan (right0 welcoming President muhammadou Keita of Mali at the presidential villa Abuja recently.

Sanitation: Waste Mgt Board

Calls For Participation

BENIN CITY – The General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Gillian Ochugbe has called on citizens of the state to join hands with government at ensuring cleaner environment.

She made the call in Benin City while leading a team of waste managers and staff of the Ministry of Environment to monitor the state wide monthly environmental exercise.

According to her, the duty of keeping a cleaner environment is not the responsibility of government alone as it is all encompassing.

“We will like to encourage the citizens of Edo State to do more and know that refuse removal and sanitation is not the responsibility of the government alone but a collaborative effort

...Warns Against Extortion Of Motorists

BENIN CITY – Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James has warned all persons who impersonate as agents of local government councils to extort money from motorists on the highway, to desist from such as they risk prosecution, when apprehended.

Chief James who gave the warning against the backdrop of the activities of some miscreants, who extort money from motorists in the state, also warned that local government officials have been mandated to arrest and prosecute any of such persons who make the highway unpleasant for motorists.

He advised the extortionists to pick up meaningful and profitable ventures as the

85 Girls Graduate From GPI Outreach Programme

current path they have taken would put them into trouble.

between government and the citizens to achieve cleaner environment,” she said.

She urged the people to develop positive attitude towards environmental sanitation.

“People should ensure they have good waste bin, package their refuse properly in a manner that will make it easy for

evacuation; when this is done, will come and evacuate because that is our job,” she added.

She expressed reservations over the slow pace of evacuating refuse, while blaming it on the government no restriction order which has occasioned high rate of vehicular movement across the state.

The General Manager however

scored the exercise very high, as according to her, there was high level of participation in the sanitation exercise.

According to her, “The exercise has been successful and all refuse gathered has been evacuated to the available dump site.

The monitoring exercise spread across Oredo, Ikpoba Okha and Egor Local Government Areas.

Council Boss Charges Sanitation killer diseases.

AFUZE - The Chairman, Officers specially He assured that the Owan East Local Government Council, Chief (Barr) Jimoh Ijegbai has charged the council’s Environmental Department to sustain the tempo of compliance with the state monthly environmental sanitation exercise through awareness campaign exercise.

Chief Ijegbai gave the charge while monitoring exercise in the locality.

He applauded the people of the locality for turning out

enmasse to participate in the exercise and also for the low vehicular traffic during the sanitation exercise regardless of the non-restriction of movement.

The Owan East council boss while advocating that sanitation exercise should be a daily routine, advised residents of the locality to imbibe the culture of cleanliness in order to curb outbreak of epidemic,

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) receiving a leter from the Khalifah Sheikh, Ahmed Tijani Inyass (right) who visited the presidential villa in Abuja recently. With them is the son of the Sheikh, Ahmed-Tijani Awalu

Environment Department would continually evacuate refuse from all the markets square in the Local Government Area.

Chief Ijegbai remarked that Owan East can be the cleanest Local Government Area, if everyone keep their houses and surroundings clean, dispose their waste properly and ensure they cut over grown weeds in their surroundings.

During the sanitation exercise, people were seen cleaning their houses, while Environmental Officers kept monitored the exercise and ensured evacuation of refuse.

Also speaking, the Head of Owan East Environment Department, Mr. Festus Aimokoko commended Chief Ijegbai for his unalloyed support to the department through ensuring that the department is mobilized for the monthly sanitation exercise.

He assured that the environment Department will not relent in the prompt evacuation of refuse in the locality.

Mr. Festus appealed to residents to continually participate in the exercise, in order to keep the Local Government Clean, noting that, “a healthy society, is a wealthy society.”

BENIN CITY – Eighty-five girls from four out of the 17 Secondary Schools participating in the one year Girls Power Initiative (GPI) outreach programme have graduated at a ceremony held at GPI secretariat in Benin City, Edo State.

The schools that produced the students were Eweka Junior Secondary School, Iyoha Girls College, Russell International School, and Uselu Junior Secondary School.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the co-ordinator of GPI, Benin Center and the founder of GPI, Grace Osakue congratulated the successful girls and urged them to be true ambassadors of GPI where ever they go.

Grace Osakue said the training given to the girls would put them in their right place and positioning them for future leadership position in the country.

She told the girls never to look down on themselves, rather to pursue their dreams to the fullest, because, “what a man can do you can do as well, even do better.”

“This is the first outreach graduation programme of GPI and 85 graduated and 49 who took part in the programme did not graduate because they failed the assessment test, but however they got a certificate of participation,” she said.

The facilitator of the programme, Rahmat Asemota expressed delight over the large turn out of girls for the programme, assuring those that truly participated were open to success.

“Coming to GPI was never a mistake, your eyes are now open to the truth and you have woken up from slumber to take your rightly place in the leadership of this nation in future.

“GPI is in the fore front of raising awareness for the rights of girls, bring light to the life of women; we train them to speak out and break the culture of silence and occupy leadership position of this nation,” she said.

Aaron Deborah from Iyoba Girls College who spoke on behalf of the graduands thanked GPI for the training programme and assured that they would change the society with what they had learnt.

News

Boko Haram, Taliban Deadliest Terrorist Groups - Security Expert

By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM

PORT HARCOURT A United States security expert, Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, has identified Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda‘awati Wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, as the deadliest terrorist group in the world today, followed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Benjamin. who is the former head, Counter Terrorism Bureau of the US State Department, said this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital , while delivering a lecture at the 2nd International Conference on Democracy and Good Governance, with the theme; ‘Nigeria’s Democracy: Issues and Challenges’.

He disclosed that Boko Haram attained the deadly status by overtaking the Taliban group in Afghanistan, when it was observed that the terror group kills at least seven persons in every of its

attack in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria.

The US diplomat, whose lecture was titled, “The Nigeria Security Challenge and its Implication for Internal, Africa, and TransAtlantic relations’, however said that despite the activities of Boko Haram, Nigeria cannot be ranked among wartorn countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

He said, “By 2012, Boko Haram was the second most deadly terrorist group in the world after Afghanistan’ s Taliban as Taliban killed more people than Boko Haram then. Presently. Boko Haram is the deadliest terrorist group, killing at least seven persons per attack.

Boko Haram has already become a major menace to countries like Cameroun, Niger, as well as Chad. They are well funded and well armed.”

In his lecture titled, ‘Nigeria’ s Democracy: Issues and Challenges’ , founder and chief executive officer of Centre for Value

Council Organises Intercessory Prayer Session IGARRA – The AkokoEdo Local Government Council has organised an intercessory prayer session for Nigeria, Edo State and the local government.

The session had in attendance, the council’s Heads of Local G o v e r n m e n t Administration, Dr (Mrs.) F. Owolabi; Secretary to the Local Government, Barrister Desmond Napoleon who represented the council chairman, Hon. Joseph Akerejola and other staff of the council.

Pastor Adefemi Mike who presided over the session, took his text from Proverb 14:34 noting that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any nation”.

Stating that sin is the root of all evil, he noted that happenings in Nigeria today were an embarrassment occasioned by sin.

He noted that if Nigerians come together and pray, God will heal the land, describing Nigeria as

a nation that represents Israel in the present day.

and Leadership, Professor Pat Utomi, said no regime can succeed without legitimacy, adding that democracy sustains legitimacy.

Also, delivering a lecture with the title, ‘Africa, Nigeria, the issues of the future’ , former French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Bernard Kouchner, said Africa is becoming more sensible to the world as it concerns humanitarian interest.

In another lecture titled ‘Deepening, Enlarging and Simplifying notable challenges for Nigeria in the Globalization era’, former Vice-Chancellor and former Foreign Minister of Germany, Mr. Guido Westwelle, said the African continent was on the right path politically and economically.

In his remarks, Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, urged Nigerians to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government come 2015, saying that Nigerians need change.

Amaechi said; “Let me ask you this question; do you

like the way Nigeria is being governed now? Simple, we have one answer. Vote those

people who have kept us in this condition out. Vote them out; whether they are from

the Niger Delta, Southern Delta, whatever Delta. We need to vote them out now so that we can change Nigeria.

We need to change Nigeria now.”

Mai of kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Muhammed (left), praying with the President, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote during Dangote’s condolence visit to Gombe Emir’s palace over the death of the Emir, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar yesterday.

Cleric Advocates Training For Christian Religious Ministers

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM ORHIONMWON – (OLIGIE/IGBANKE) Christians have been advised to go through Bible school before venturing into evangelism ministry in order to avoid making mistakes that

A portion of Gombe-Bauchi highway washed away by erosion at Tashan Ganji-Wuro Dole village, Akko LGA of Gombe State recently.

could affect the church negatively.

This advice was given by Rev. Cannon Emmanuel Udutie, Vicar of Saint Mark’s Anglican Church Oligie Igbanke in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.

During a chat with The Nigerian OBSERVER recently in Saint Mark’s Anglican Church, Oligie (Igbanke), Rev. Cannon Udutie said that many men of God are making mistakes because they did not attend Bible school.

He maintained that nobody ventures into any business without passing through training, stressing that reverse is the case in christendom as people are opening churches without attending any Bible school.

He further said, “we learnt from the Bible that from the age of 12, Jesus Christ started manifesting the spirit of God in him, but did

not start his ministry until he was 30 years old; I believe that within the 18 years, he waited to start his ministry, he under-went training.”

The minister said some pastors do not know how to behave themselves when they are not on the pulpit and outside the church because they were not trained and posited that Bible school is meant for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ not pastors alone.

According to him, the reason for attending Bible schools, is to enable Christians to be deep rooted spiritually.

The minister advised Christians with the stories of Elijah and the widow in the Bible book of 1 king chapter 17 to illustrate how one’s resources can not run dry, if the person’s hope is anchored on God. While enjoining members of the public to make sure they study the Bible, which is the word of God.

TY Danjuma Foundation Disburses N2bn As Grant

By ROLAND OSAKUE BENIN CITY - The Executive Director of TY Danjuma Foundation, Dr Florence Etta-Akin Aina has said the foundation had given out a total of N2 billion to various organisations in form of grant between 2010 and 2014.

Dr Etta-AkinAina, disclosed this in Benin City at the foundation’s 5th Grant trainin.

According to her, eleven nongovernmental organizations

benefitted from the grant out of which seven are implementing Edo Community Fund Projects.

She said a total of 75 organizations benefited from the grant within the period.

The Executive Director enumerated three core intervention areas of the foundation to include, education, quality healthcare and income generation for women and youths where the foundation had shown remarkable progress.

She however disclosed that

7 million persons have been treated of non tropical diseases by the foundation within the period under review stating that N77.5 million grant had already be given to 11 organizations across the country in 2014.

“The foundation has funded 75 organizations to implement 117 projects in 18 states of the federation, including the federal capital territory.

“This year, a total of 288 projects proposals were received for the 2014 grant cycle.

“From the proposals, 44 were recommended by staff review team and forwarded to the board of trustees which approved grants to 25 organizations, totaling N250m for the year,” she noted.

According to her, the foundation was to continually impact on lives of the vulnerable in the society by seeking government’s collaboration with the NGO’s that the foundation needed to works with.

This, she said “would enhance their effectiveness,

thereby making us achieve our core value”.

Edo State Commissioner for Basic Education, Mr. Patrick Aguinede in his remarks promised the collaboration of his Ministry with the foundation.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Ministry’s Director on Quality Assurance, Mrs. Angela Okoh, however, noted that the result of such collaboration would be beneficial to both the state and the foundation.

News

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. George Sinivie (left) and Bayelsa Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniruo Wills, at a stakeholders forum on dangers of pipeline vandalism in Yenagoa recently.

Group Tasks Nigerians On Peace ABUJA - The National Coordinator, Jonathan Actualisation Movement (JAM), Mrs Basirat Noibi has advised Nigerians to work for the unity and progress of the nation irrespective of political, cultural and ethnic affiliation.

Noibi, who gave the advice in Abuja at the inaugural meeting of the movement, said the situation in the country called for all hands to be on deck.

She said it was not time to

apportion blame or condemn any part of the country or any religion for the insecurity situation in the country.

The coordinator said that because insurgency was new in Nigeria that was why we are blaming one another.

Noibi said “All we need is to rise as a family and one nation to confront and nail the menace in the bud.’’

She advised Nigerians

LAGOS (LAGOS STATE)The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, said the Federal Government was planning to construct the longest gas supply pipeline from Calabar via Ajaokuta to Kano.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Ohi Alegbe, the Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of NNPC, which was made available to newsmen in Lagos.

The statement quoted AlisonMadueke to having made the statement while delivering a paper enitled: “Encouraging Investment in Gas Production, Supply and Consumption” at a three-day National Conference on Gas Resources.

It said the conference was organised by the Senate Committee on Gas Resources.

The statement said that the minister was represented by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Andrew Yakubu.

It said at present, the government was constructing the strategic East-West pipeline, while the Lagos end segment of the Escravos to Lagos Pipelines System (ELPS) was nearing completion.

“By the end of the year, we will be commencing, via Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, the nation’s longest pipeline from Calabar via Ajaokuta to Kano’’, the statement said.

It stated that almost 500km of the new gas pipelines had been completed and inaugurated; including the doubling of the capacity of the EPLS between Escravos and Oben.

It said by the end of 2018, the backbone pipeline infrastructure for gas would have been delivered, concluding an initial phase of more than 2500km of gas pipeline infrastructure development.

“The government is strategising to leverage on the full potential of gas to achieve massive impact on the economy and the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We are focused on jump starting gas supply to enable usage in gas to power, gas based industrialisation, compressed natural gas for transportation and commercial usage, cooking gas for domestic usage and regional pipeline for gas export”, AlisonMadueke said.

According to her, government has introduced a domestic gas supply obligation regulation, which mandates a certain amount of gas supply for the domestic market pending the full maturation of the market.

This, the minister said, was to support the aggressive shortterm demand growth in the power sector.

She expressed the hope that the market would ultimately drive itself for supply growth, adding that the long run expectation was for less dependence on supply via obligation.

drumming for war to cease, saying it was only those who did not have any stake in the nation called Nigeria that were calling for war.

“We all have a stake in the development of this country, let us all support President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in actualising its political programs to the nation,’’ she said.

She urged members of the organisation to embark on town

hall dialogue in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Noibi said JAM would also promote peace and stability, empower widows, youths and the vulnerable.

Alison-Madueke said the Federal Government had reviewed the contractual framework for gas through the development of world-class standardised gas supply agreements.

This, she noted, was in addition to Network Code which governed the flow of gas across the nation’s pipeline network and provides rules for open access.

The statement said the use of natural gas instead of petrol, had translated into significant savings for more than 4000 taxi drivers in Benin who were already using this alternative energy source.

The minister said government’s efforts at eliminating gas flaring was making significant impact as flare out rate dropped from 25 per cent to 11 per cent of production.

“Many of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) are fast approaching full flare out as the gas obligation and infrastructure growth have all combined to enable utilisation of hitherto flared gas.’’

She called on all stakeholders to put more effort towards full market liberalisation as well as address the very urgent challenge of increasing supply to the power sector.

Patronise Nigerian Ports, Importers Urged LAGOS - The outgoing Custom Area Comptroller (CAC), Port and Terminal Multiservices Ltd (PTML), Tunji Aremu, has urged importers to patronise Nigerian ports.

Aremu made the plea during the handing-over ceremony to the new CAC of the command, Comptroller Folorunsho Adegoke, in Lagos.

He said the appeal became imperative for importers to avoid double duty payments at the neighbouring countries.

According him, if importers diverted their cargoes through the neighbouring countries, they will pay more to bring in their consignments to Nigeria.

“It is cheaper to clear goods from Nigerian ports because it is economical, and safer in as much you are presenting a genuine declaration.

“There is no escape route, you will be caught and you will still pay the tax on the imported cargos,” Aremu said.

He said that the command generated N7.4 billion in April and about N8 billion, so far, in May. He however, pleaded with the officers of the command to support the incoming CAC to enable Nigerian Customs to achieve its objectives.

Also speaking, the incoming Comptroller, Folorunsho Adegoke, said that compliant

importers would get their consignments out of the ports within two hours.

“Genuine importers spend less time in clearing cargoes out of the port because the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) is easy and explanatory for any importer to clear goods without any delay in cargo clearance,” he said.

Adegoke, a former Comptroller of the Customs Automated System of Customs Data (ASYCUDA) Project, pledged to increase the revenue generation capacity of the command with the cooperation of the officers.

The Deputy Comptroller in charge of Evaluation of the PTML command, Mr Kayode Olusemire, also pledged their support to the new comptroller.

“We are a modest port; we can see from your presentation that you are ready for work and we will not fail in supporting you to achieve success.

“We have been working as one family and we work 24 hours and spend part of our leisure time to make sure that we fulfil the mandate of the Nigerian Custom Service.

“Change is inevitable and we promise to give you all our support because your achievement is our joy,“ Olusemire added.

Aregbesola’s second term ambition.

Sijuwade made the promise when the governor, during campaign, paid a courtesy visit to him in Ile-Ife. The royal father said he decided to support Aregbesola because of the projects executed by his administration in Ile-Ife and the state in less than three years.

The monarch added that there had not been a governor who demonstrated as much love for people of Ife as Aregbesola had done.

Sijuwade stated that Aregbesola merited the second term in office because of the lofty achievements of his administration never experienced in the history of Ifeland and Osun as a whole.

Meanwhile, Sen. Babajide

as a whole, to support the governor’s bid.

Omoworare said allowing Aregbesola to rule the state again would enable the him to complete all the projects he embarked upon.

He said that the second term of Aregbesola, if allowed to materialise, would mean more dividends of democracy for the people.

Mr Adelowo Adebiyi, Acting Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, appealed to the people of the state to “hearken to the voice of wisdom from Oba Sijuwade.”

Adebiyi added that endorsement of Aregbesola for a second term in office by Ooni meant that the traditional institution in the state had appreciated the development projects executed by his administration.

Aregbesola said the achievements of his administration included implementation of the six- point Integral Action plan.

The plan, he added, had created a robust opportunity for the people in education, health, agriculture among thus, putting smile on the faces of the people.

He also said his administration constructed 50.7-km road and distributed “1,400 e-tablets’’ and free uniforms to students in IleIfe. According to him, his administration has rehabilitated and remodeled schools from primary to tertiary levels, built many hospitals and empowered youths among others.

Aregbesola promised that he would not disappoint the people if voted for second term in office.

Ooni Backs Aregbesola’s Second ILE-IFE (OSUN)-The Ooni (APC-Osun East), Term Bid Omoworare of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, urged the people of Ife and Osun has promised 100 per cent support for Gov. Rauf

FG Plans Longest Gas Pipeline

L-R: Sarkin Bai Katagun, Adamu Bulkachuwa; Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Usman and Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke at the 2014 International Monument Day in Abuja recently.

South West Road Construction

Ogun Spends N166.7bn

Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Amb. Nuhu Bajoga; representative of the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Alhaji Yusuf Abdallah and Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, at the 2nd National Conference on Culture, Peace Security in Kaduna State recently.

ABEOKUTA- The Ogun Government said it had awarded 306.55 km of roads across the state at a cost of N166.7 billion.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Leann Adegbite, made this known at the 2014 Ministerial Press briefing in Abeokuta.

Adegbite said the roads were of “Ogun standard’’ with a minimum of six lanes with flyover bridges at intersection points.

He said the roads were with road furniture, drainage, pavement, green areas and directional signs.

“As we speak, eight

contractors are working simultaneously on roads across our major cities for urban renewal purpose,’’ he said.

Adegbite said government had also reinvigorated the state Road Management Agency with more men, equipment and other relevant resources to ensure effective road maintenance.

He said that government huge investment on road was to open up the state and make it investment-friendly as well as curtail accident and carnages.

The commissioner commended the residents’ for their cooperation,

Court Dissolves 5-Yr-Old Marriage ABEOKUTAAn Abeokuta Customary Court has dissolved a five-year-old marriage between Rukayat Lawal and Ismail Lawal over the troublesome act and the lack of trust and care.

Rukayat, 29, who resides at Ita Agemo, Igbein, Abeokuta, told the court that Ismail was fond of using hard objects to beat her whenever they had misunderstanding.

She said “my husband is very wicked and stubborn. He hits me with any hard object he gets hold of during misunderstanding and beats me mercilessly.

“He does not worry about me and my child; all he knows is to womanise.

“I have reported him to his family members and his friends but it seems he does not want to change his attitude. Please separate us, I don’t want him to kill me.’’

Responding, Ismail accepted all the plaintiff accused him of and agreed that the marriage be dissolved.

He, however, said “my main concern is my son.

Please, she should allow my only child to go to school.

“Please help me beg her not to put my child in anybody’s care because I am ready to pay all his bills. Just contact me if there is a problem.’’

The President of the Court, Mr. Olalekan Akande, dissolved the marriage and granted the only child Lateef - to Rukayat for proper motherly care.

Akande said the defendant should be paying N2,000 on or before the 5th of every month for Lateef’s upkeep.

Traditional rulers at the 2nd National Conference on Culture, Peace and National Security in Kaduna State recently.

First Lady Extols Virtues Of Mimiko’s Late her commitment to ensuring ONDO (ONDO STATE)Mother-In-Law peace in the country, and The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has extolled the virtues of the late Mrs. Felicia Adeniyi, motherin-law of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

The mother of Mrs. Olufunke Mimiko died on May 6 and was buried Friday.

Speaking during a condolence visit to the governor and family of the deceased in Ondo town, Jonathan said the late Adeniyi was a devout Christian who lived a life worthy of emulation.

She said the deceased was “a virtuous, kindhearted and peaceful woman” who left good legacies that are evident in the quality of the children she left behind.

The First Lady prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Responding, the governor thanked her for paying the

visit in spite of her tight schedule.

He commended the First

Lady for her compassion for the abducted Chibok girls.

The governor also lauded

urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in their prayers for peaceful co-existence.

Osun Guber Election

Akinbade Emerges LP Candidate

OSOGBO- A former Secretary to Osun Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, emerged the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) at the party’s congress in Osogbo on Friday.

Mr. Callistus Okafor, the party’s national vice chairman, who conducted the primaries, said that of the five aspirants that obtained forms for the primaries, only Akinbade returned his own.

Okafor called for affirmation of the lone candidate and the congress

responded with a deafening voice vote.

It will be recalled that Akinbade, who was hitherto a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the LP in efforts to realise his governorship ambition.

Responding, Akinbade charged other governorship candidates to avoid bitterness and use of uncouth language, as well as eschew violence in their campaigns.

He listed the party’s programmes to include mechanised agriculture,

industrialisation, integrated rural development, improved infrastructure and restoration of the middle class.

Other programmes are human capital development, water supply and sanitation as well as building of egalitarian society through welfare programmes.

The occasion, which was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, was hitch-free.

Scores of party members and supporters from the state’s 30 local government areas attended the event.

particularly those whose property were affected.

He gave assurance that government would pay the remaining people who were yet to receive their compensation, and urged them to sign the necessary papers to facilitate the payment.

Adegbite also denied allegations that the roads were constructed at exorbitant cost, adding that the critics did not consider the flyovers and other ancillary facilities.

Ekiti NYSC Launches Monthly Sanitation ADO-EKITIThe Coordinator of NYSC in Ekiti, Mrs. Ngozi Chukwuka, has decried the habit of littering the environment by some Nigerians not minding its adverse effects on people’s health.

Chukwuka made the remark at the launch of NYSC Monthly Sanitation programme in Ado-Ekiti.

She said “there is need to sensitise citizens, irrespective of their social status, to desist from littering the environment.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must be patriotic and safeguard our environment by cleaning it at all times.”

The NYSC coordinator also stressed the need for a re-orientation of all Nigerians toward making the environment habitable.

She advised residents of the state to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse and restated the commitment of corps members and the NYSC staff to community service at all times.

Reports state that NYSC staff and some selected corps members participated in the exercise as they cleaned the streets of AdoEkiti, markets and motor parks.

The NYSC sanitation coincided with the monthly sanitation exercise of the state government.

Lagos Steve Rhodes A Brilliant Musician

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Works, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Chairman, Ifako-Ijaye Local Government, Mr. Toba Oke; Governor Babtunde Fashola of Lagos; member, Lagos House of Assembly, Mr. Dayo Fafunmi and Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Works, Mr. Ganiyu Solomon at the inauguration of Yaya Abatan Road in Lagos recently.

LAGOS- Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has described the late musicologist, Steve Rhodes, as a brilliant musician worthy of emulation.

Soyinka made the observation while declaring open the maiden photo exhibition on the life and times of the late musician and broadcaster.

Reports state that the exhibition had the theme: “Steve Rhodes: Six Years After’’.

It is taking place at the Freedom Park, Lagos and will end on June 5.

Rhodes died on May 29, 2008, at the age of 82.

“We all know the contributions that Rhodes made in the music industry; I recall COJA, with Rhodes at work.

“We know his productivity and contributions to the society in general, which is what exactly to celebrate on Democracy Day,” he said.

Missing Results: JAMB Allays Candidates’ Fear LAGOSThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said candidates who sat for the Computer Based Test (CBT) and were yet to receive their results should check the internet.

Mrs Ebere Okeke, Supervisor, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) CBT centre, Lagos, spoke with the newsmen.

Reacting to complaints of missing results, Okeke said that wrong or incorrect GSM number might cause the delay or missing result.

The supervisor also said that in most cases, the delay could be caused by delay in processing of the result or network problem, but noted that it was nothing to worry about.

She said that the problem might also be caused by individual negligence and candidates who did not carefully fill their numbers during registration.

Okeke said that the CBT mode was devoid of missing results, adding that the computers will mark immediately the candidates start writing the examination.

She said that candidates who sat for the CBT examination would receive their results within 48 hours through their

phone Short Message Service (SMS).

According to Okeke, during registration, candidates fill GSM numbers that the results of their examination will be sent to, but some candidates submit wrong numbers in the process.

“Some candidates are experiencing delay or have not received their results because they submitted wrong or incorrect GSM numbers.

“Some candidates have either misplaced their numbers or changed them as such, the computer could not deliver the result after the examination.

“With CBT, there is no problem of missing result, any candidate having problem with his or her result should be blamed.

“If a candidate does not go through the verification process or thumb print is rejected, the machine will automatically mark the person absent.

“If a candidate uses wrong registration number or GSM number on the result checker, the result may be missing.

“There is a very slim possibility that candidates will have problem with their results if they follow all guidelines,” she said.

N4.9m Fraud

Man, 41, Remanded IKEJA- An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded a businessman, Adebayo Jegede, 41, in prison custody over an alleged N4.9 million fraud.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Eniola Fabamwo, ordered that the accused be remanded at Kirikiri Prison pending advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.

Jegede, a resident of No. 7, Coker Estate, Egbeda, Lagos, is charged with conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, ASP Samson Ekikere, had told the court that the accused, with others currently at large, committed the offences at 10.00 a.m. on March 20, 2012 at Egbeda, Lagos.

He said the accused obtained

Okeke, however, said that if a candidate did not receive the result through SMS, such candidate should write to the JAMB office closest to his location.

She told newsmen that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was successful at the YABATECH centre.

Okeke said that the process was hitch - free throughout the two - week period of the examination.

It was observed that the server, internet, computers and power supply were in perfect conditions during the examination.

“The team we have here is wonderful, the networking system and human resources all worked together; the management of the institution also gave us all the support and assistance we need.

“CBT is the answer to all JAMB associated problems in the old method; there is no tension, no fighting like in the past and everywhere is peaceful.

“It is no longer war during examination, the candidates are calm and will perform better than in the past,” she said.

A candidate, Miss Esther Aderanti, told newsmen that the CBT process was less tasking unlike the paper-pencil mode.

Aderanti urged JAMB to perfect the process to ensure smooth take-off by 2015.

Another candidate, Divine Youngman, told newsmen that the process was much easier than the shading mode.

“I love the sitting arrangement of the hall, everywhere is cool and I can concentrate,” Youngman said.

- Soyinka

He commended the organisers of the exhibition, the Steve Rhodes Foundation (SRF).

In his remarks, the Chairman, of the Steve Rhodes Foundation, Prof. Johnson Ekpere, said that the exhibition was aimed at keeping the works of the musician alive.

“I hope that whatever he do will be sustained, and that some people will learn from it.

“I enjoin everybody to learn from the legacy that he left behind, and key into it,’’ he added.

Gloria Rhodes, the second daughter of the music icon, expressed delight at the huge turnout of people.

“The aim of the foundation is to preserve the musical culture.

“The plan is for the exhibition to go on every year, and for it to travel around the country and from university to university to promote music,’’ she said.

Reports state that Steven Bankole Omodele Rhodes was a veteran broadcaster, musician and showbiz impresario.

He bestrode the arts community for over six decades, producing, managing and creating arts and culture.

He attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos, and Dennis Memorial School, Onitsha, Anambra, for his secondary education.

He spent 11 years in England and Germany to further his education.

As a jazz musician in Germany, he played with some bands and followed them on concert tours of Switzerland, Italy and Germany.

While in England, Rhodes met fellow Nigerians and Africans with whom he shared the passion to return home to contribute their quotas to nation-building in the post-independence era.

He joined the Federal Ministry of Information and became the first Nigerian Controller of Programmes of the Western Nigerian Television.

Trained as a musicologist in Germany, Rhodes also worked in the defunct Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), which later became the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

He was instrumental to the setting up of the West African Dance Orchestra at the radio station.

Rhodes founded the famous Steve Rhodes Voices (SRV), a group of young choristers, who won laurels in various music festivals at home and abroad, especially in the 1970s.

The group later metamorphosed into the Steve Rhodes Orchestra (SRO).

Rhodes directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the COJA Games in 2003.

A crane at a construction site at Dopemu in Lagos collapsed recently.

Theft: Salesgirl Arraigned

N4.9 million from one Mr Darego Ikiaho under the pretext of helping him purchase a Land Cruiser jeep.

Ekikere said the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409, Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The magistrate adjourned the case till June 25 for mention.

LAGOS- A salesgirl, Ganiyat Aweda, who allegedly absconded with her employer’s jewellery valued at N3mllion, has appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Aweda, 23, of No. 3,

Abimbola Lane, off Abimbola St., Somolu, is being tried on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, ASP Chidi Okoye, told the court that the offences were committed on

May 23, at No. 3b, Niyi Okunbiyi St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

He said the accused, a salesgirl with the complainant, Mrs Maduneme, and others who are now at large, conspired to

BADAGRY (LAGOS STATE)- An unemployed man, Amodu Rufai, has appeared before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing motorcycle valued N112,000.

The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing one count charge of stealing.

The police prosecutor, Insp Innocent Uko, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 11 at about 10p.m. at Zongo area of Seme Border, Lagos state.

“The owner, Badamosi Bala, parked the motorcycle at Zongo and went to ease himself when the accused stole the bike

because he left the key in the ignition”, he said.

Uko said the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Tolu Akanbi, pleaded with the

court to grant bail to his client since the offence attracts bail.

The Magistrate, Mr Abiodun Etii, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000 and a surety in like sum.

He added that the surety must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Etii adjourned the case till June 16 for further hearing.

Unemployed Man Docked

steal jewellery worth N3 million.

Okoye said the accused claimed she was hypnotised by some people she met on her way to the shop, and was instructed to bring her employer’s goods to them.

He said the offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Abimbola Awogboro, granted the accused bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Awogboro adjourned the case till June 24, for trial.

Across The Nation Emir Of Ilorin Condoles With Gombe Emirate ILORIN -The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has condoled with the Gombe State Emirate Council over the death of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Usman.

In a statement signed by the Emir in IIorin last Friday, SuluGambari described the demise of the emir as unfortunate and shocking.

He said the late monarch had, during his reign as the Chairman of Gombe Traditional Council, used his influence to enhance the peaceful co-existence and well-being of the people of the emirate.

Sulu-Gambari, who is also and Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council, described the late traditional ruler as “a true friend, a brother and a colleague whose love and interest for the unity of Nigeria cannot be under estimated.’’

He added that the 30 years of the Gombe emir on the throne was highly remarkable and prayed Almighty Allah to grant the soul of Umar eternal rest.

In a related development, Sulu-Gambari condoled with Justice Idris Kutigi, the Chairman of the National Conference and former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), over the death of his wife, Hajiya Mariam Kutigi.

Kutigi’s wife died at the age of 70 last Tuesday The monarch, who is also a delegate to the conference, urged the former CJN to take solace in the fact that his late wife lived a fulfilled life, owing to the numerous achievements that had come the ways of the Kutigi family.

The Emir prayed Allah to give Justice Kutigi and the children of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.

Dr Osahon Enabulele, the immediate past President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had also , condoled with Justice Kutigi over the wife’s death.

Enabulele, who is also a delegate representing the NMA at the 2014 National Conference, expressed his condolence to the Kutigi family in a statement issued in Abuja.

He said “I offer my deep condolence to our indefatigable Chairman and Retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, his family, as well as the government and good people of Niger.’’

The former NMA president described the late Mrs Kutigi as a loving and caring mother who was always ready to sacrifice her comfort not only for her immediate family but for all those who came across her.

Enabulele prayed that God would grant her soul peaceful rest.

Emir Of Gombe Buried

L-R: Registrar, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Prof. Aliyu Deba; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Saminu Abdulrahman and Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Isiaka Mohammed, at the institution’s 2013/ 2014 matriculation in Bauchi recently.

2013/2014 matriculating students at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi recently.

NSCDC Deploys Operatives To Monitor Borders

SOKOTO - The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) command in Sokoto has deployed security men in plain-clothes to the border between the state and Niger Republic to prevent arms importation into the country.

The corps Commandant in Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Yemal, told newsmen in Sokoto that the command was working with other security agencies

to check arms importation and ensure those engaged in such acts were arrested.

Yemal said the command was also working with local government chairmen and community leaders that share border with neighbouring Niger Republic in that regard.

He added that “at the

moment, we have deployed plain-clothes operatives to Illela, Sabon-Birni, Isa, Gudu and Tangaza local government areas of the state to arrest those who engage in arms smuggling.

“Some officers have also embarked on foot patrols around the borders.”

The commandant solicited

Group To Conduct Census Of Out-Of-School Children AUYO (JIGAWA) - A group, the Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) is to conduct a head count of outof-school children in Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa.

The Coordinator of the programme, Malam Danladi Abubakar, made the disclosure during an advocacy visit to Auyo, Jigawa.

ESSPIN is a key education intervention programme, supported by the British Department for International

Development (DFID).

The programme is designed to support the development of basic education, nomadic and adult literacy programmes.

It also focuses on teachers’ development activities, provision of furniture and instructional materials to enhance school enrolment at grassroots.

Abubakar said the programme would identify and compile a comprehensive data on out-ofschool children in the area.

He added that the programme would also enhance policy formulation and encourage sustainable development in the education sector.

According to him, the census of out-of-school children in Auyo will be conducted in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC).

Meanwhile, Alhaji Ibrahim Tagir, the Deputy Chairman of Auyo Council, had pledged the council’s support to the head count.

for the support of the people, especially those in rural areas, to cooperate with the officers in efforts to prevent illegal importation of arms for the good of the country.

GOMBE -The remains of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, have been buried in his palace in Gombe last Friday at 7.20 p.m.

The Emir died on May 27 in a London hospital.

The Chief Imam of Gombe Central Mosque, Imam Aminu Pindiga, led the funeral prayer.

The funeral was attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu and Governor. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State.

The FCT Minister, Sen Bala mohammed and that of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar respectively attended the funeral.

The Deputy Governors of Gombe and Bauchi, Mr Tha’anda Rubainu and Alhaji Sagir Aminu-Saleh were also in attendance.

Some indigenes of the state who spoke with newsmen described the death of the emir as a great loss to the state and the country at large.

Alhaji Bayero Nafada, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, prayed God to give the state another emir that would continue with the good works of the late emir.

He said the late emir was one of those who fought for the creation of Gombe State and had contributed immensely to peace and harmony in the state.

Prof Rufai Alkali, the former National Publicity Secretary of PDP, said the emir was a pillar in the state and the people of the state would greatly miss him.

He said the late emir did everything during his life time to bring peace, unity among all the people across the country.

Alhaji Inuwa Garba, the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, said the late emir contributed to the development of the state as a whole.

He said “he was a very dedicated and a father to all, a committed leader whose performance was acknowledged by all.

“He was a selfless leader and a good example of committed leadership.’’

Sokoto Spends N20m On Mosque SOKOTO -The Sokoto State Government has said that it spent about N20 million to reconstruct and expand the Central Mosque at Sabon Gari Dole in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.

Malam Danladi Bako, the Commissioner for Information, told newsmen in Sokoto that the project had since been completed.

He said that the government embarked on the project because of its significance.

He explained that government would continue to initiate people-oriented programmes to enhance their living condition.

This, he said, would be done through the provision of basic infrastructure.

We are operating a responsible government as its primary objective is to provide basic and capital projects that will enhance the living condition of our people, irrespective of political party differences.”

Bako urged the people to pray for God’s intervention in the socio-economic and political activities in the state.

He said prayers among the people would ensure good democratic governance and ensure the implementation of policies and programmes of government.

Abuja DHQ Uncovers Plot To Discredit ABUJA - The Defence from unverifiable Military footages Headquarters has said that it has sources claiming to reflect uncovered a plot by some groups to embark on a campaign of calumny aimed at discrediting the military.

This is contained in a statement signed by Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, in Abuja.

The statement said that the campaign was aimed at indicting the military and its operations in the Northern part of the country.

“The campaign, which is to rely heavily on doctored and falsified audio visual materials, is already trending in the social media. “ The materials are to be coordinated and funded by a prominent political leader whose state is presently under the State of Emergency.

“The details of the plan, which is (are) already being fine-tuned by a group of media practitioners, is (are) to be presented for the final ratification and funding by the political figure, ‘’ it said.

The statement said that the campaign was expected to forcefully whip up sentiments of genocide allegedly targeted against a particular religious group.

It alleged that the perpetrators also hoped to use it to gain some mileage in the drive to secure international attention. ‘’They have not achieved this sufficiently despite previous efforts.

“The military reiterates its rejection of pictures and video

Funding, Major Challenge To ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association ABUJA - Mrs Shirley Botchwey, an ECOWAS Parliamentarian, has said that lack of funding is hindering the abilities of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) from advancing its course.

ECOFEPA was established in 2003 but became operational in 2009.

It has representatives from 15 ECOWAS countries and plans to impact on issues concerning children and women marginalised in the society.

Botchwey, who represents Ghana, was speaking with newsmen in Abuja.

“The first challenge facing the association is lack of funding and this is mainly because the association is not a standing committee of the ECOWAS Parliament.

“This has made the association a weak one and it is our obligation to make it strong.

“Visibility is another challenge we are having because this association is not known as a driving force when it comes to gender issues,’’ Botchwey said.

She also said that the level of women in the parliament was very low compared to the rest of the world and it was part of what

- Member

the association was fighting for.

“It is part of our vision to work with our various National Parliament and Gender Ministries to ensure that we augment the participation of women in the parliamentary activities.

“You find that in the 15 ECOWAS countries, about 51 per cent of our population is women and yet when it comes to representation of women in national parliament, women are not many.

“Therefore, this group is to push for the plight of children and women who are vulnerable in the society,’’ she said.

activities or so called atrocities purportedly perpetrated by Nigerian security forces.

“They do not reflect or depict the true state of affairs or operations of Nigerian military or any of the security forces,’’ the statement said.

It, however, advised the public to watch out and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by these acts of infamy orchestrated by this desperate group.

The statement said that the dastardly acts of terrorism were against all Nigerians and all peace- loving people all over the world.

It said that no amount of propaganda by apologists or terror group could justify the evil acts of terrorism by attempting to cast the Nigerian military and security forces in bad light.

L-R: Minister of State for Power, Mr. Mohammed Wakil (middle), welcoming the Chairman, Super Solar Nigeira, Prof. Jerry Gana, during a courtesy call on the Minister in Abuja recently. With them is the President, DACC Alternative Energy Company, USA, Mr. Melon Douglas.

Jonathan Condemns Assassination Of Emir Of Gwoza

ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the assassination of the Emir of Gwoza, Alh Idrissa Timta, by the insurgent group, Boko Haram.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, disclosed this in an interview with the State House correspondents in Abuja.

He said: “the president got the news and he was sad about it because what it means is that, these terrorists, who are threatening peace and stability in Nigeria, are desperate and they continue to show that desperation.

“The president made it clear in

his democracy day broadcast, that was his main message to Nigerians, that at the end of the day, it is the people of Nigeria that will prevail.

“No matter how desperate terrorists may be, that his government is determined to rid the country of terrorism.

“The whole of the West African sub-region, Africa and the entire world showed that this is the battle that the whole world is prepared to fight.

“So, the days of peace as the president said in his speech are assured because this battle will

not end until it is won and the sustainable development is fully guaranteed.”

He said the president had also spoken about those who were willing to renounce terrorism and those who were willing to embrace peace, According to him opportunities have been created for them through the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolutions of Conflict in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.

It will be recalled that, in the broadcast, the president had

Sambo Inaugurates 100 Buses ABUJA -The Federal Government has said that its road-map on the transport sector was aimed at tackling the challenges in the economic sector holistically.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo said this in Abuja when he inaugurated 100 high capacity buses, procured by the FCT Administration, under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme

(SURE-P).

According to him, the Jonathan administration sees the transport sector as very crucial to the attainment of economic and social well-being of the people. · Cue in audio “We have reiterated the crucial role of transportation in the promotion of economic and social well-being of our people as one of the key drivers of

L-R: President, People United to Serve Humanity (aka Push Africa), Dr. Ibrahim Baba; Chairman, Northern Alternative Forum, Alhaji Gidado Ibrahim and Coordiantor, Northern Patriotic Front, Comrade Ali Abacha at a news conference by the coalition of civil society groups in Abuja recently.

economic development.

“I am, therefore, very confident that not only would the teeming commuters of the FCT greatly rejoice but it shall be at the disposal of all that ply the FCT roads.

“Worthy of note is the FCT initiative which forms part of the comprehensive Federal Government transportation roadmap designed to address the challenges being faced by the sector.

“The comprehensive roadmap examines the source of attaining such lofty targets through a huge financial investment to be sourced through public sector investment as well as PublicPrivate-Partnership.

“We intend to tackle the transport sector challenges holistically through the involvement of intra and intertransport networks to connect Abuja city centre to the rest of the country, using all relevant means of transportation.’’ · Cue out audio The Vice-President expressed the determination of the government to ensure that Abuja had world class transport network system that would connect the capital city with the rest of the country.

He noted that the network, when completed, ‘‘will significantly ease the problems of accommodation and transportation in the city as workers would rather choose to

live in the satellite towns and commute to work in these improved and efficient mass transit systems.

The VP hailed the FCT Administration for delivering on its promise to provide adequate transportation service for residents and visitors to the FCT. Sambo also charged the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company to ensure that its services were administered in line with global best practice and urged the company to embrace a healthy maintenance culture.

directed the security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists in the country.

The president stressed that the unity and stability of the country and the protection of lives and property were non-negotiable.

He had emphasised his determination to protect the nation’s democracy, national unity and political stability by waging a total war against terrorism.

Jonathan had, however, said that government would be open to dialogue and reconciliation with anyone or group willing to genuinely renounce terror.

The president had said: “for our citizens who have joined hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems, our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace.

“My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents.

“Government will also ensure their de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and re-integration into the broader society,” he said.

Fake Estate Agent Jailed ABUJA - A Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, has sentenced 33-yearold Felix Oko to two years’ imprisonment for impersonation and cheating.

The senior magistrate, Mrs Grace Adebayo, sentenced Oko after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

Adebayo, however, gave the convict an option of N60,000 fine.

She also ordered that the convict should pay N1 million through the court’s registry to one Maria Udeh, the complainant in the case, as refund of the money he swindled her.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Monday Akor, had told the court that Udeh of 62, Mambolo Street,

Wuse 2, reported the matter at the Maitama Police Station on May 21.

Akor said that the convict posed as a caretaker and an agent of a house and collected N900,000 from Udeh as rent for a self-contained apartment.

He said the convict collected additional N100,000 as agency fee from the complainant.

According to the prosecutor, Oko converted the money for his personal use and did not give any apartment to Udeh.

He told the court that the offences contravened sections 132 and 322 of the Penal Code.

Sentencing Oko, the magistrate said that the jail term was to punish the convict and to serve as a deterrent to other people intending to do the same thing.

Business + Economy Association Seeks Fingerlings Hatching Centres

L-R: Adamawa APC Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Bakari; Chairman, Mrs. Binta Masi and Deputy Chairman, Mallam Shaibu Ya-Musa, addressing a news conference on qualification requirements for aspirants, at the party secretariat in Yola recently.

CBN Tasks Banks On Qualification

Compliance Officers: LAGOS - The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged Commercial Banks and Discount Houses to appoint only persons with requisite qualifications as Chief Compliance Officers (CCOs).

The apex bank said in a circular posted on its Website that some CCOs in some banks and discount houses did not have the qualifications for the positions they occupied.

Reports state that while the CBN declined to make the necessary and needed qualifications, it also said that some of the CCOs fell below the general manager grade and were appointed without the prior approval of the regulator.

It described the situation as worrisome, more so when the officers are prevented from reporting directly to the board of directors.

According to the circular, Section 9 (1) of the Money

Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, required commercial banks and discount houses to designate management staff as CCOs that will operate at the headquarters and branches.

Under the same section, the CCOs should have the relevant competence, authority and independence to implement their compliance programme.

It also urged the banks and discount houses to ensure that no CCO in their institutions is below the grade of general manager, without the CBN’s prior approval.

(CCCOBIN) had made it difficult for them to take vital decisions.

It also added that the CBN would monitor the attendance

by CCOs at the monthly meetings of the CCCOBIN and would not hesitate to take the appropriate regulatory action to stem the unsatisfactory attendance.

It well be recalled that CBN had on Aug. 8th, 2002 and July 8th, 2013, directed banks and discount houses to designate Chief Compliance Officers, not below the grade of a general manager.

country.

Raha also urged the Federal Department of Fisheries to restock rivers with improved variety of fish to empower artisan fishermen.

“An improved variety can produce 450 eggs when allowed to mature,” he said.

However, the chairman commended the Federal Government for including AFFAN in the GES scheme.

“We recommend 1,000 fingerlings and feeds to be provided to fish farmers while nets and other accessories should be given to artisan fishermen.

“The support would control illegal fishing and overstretching the rivers by the fishermen,” he said.

Besides, Raha appealed to the three tiers of government to provide regular training on ways to reduce local feed producition cost.

ABUJA - The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the Federal Government to patronise indigenous engineers and firms in the execution of projects.

The Chairman of the Abuja chapter of NSE, Mr. Yakubu Garba, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen.

Garba said Nigerian engineers were not being carried along in the execution of projects and noted that the development of any country depended on local engineers.

He said when given the opportunity to handle mega projects of government, local engineers would excel.

Garba urged government to copy the Brazilian model where indigenous engineers were given projects to handle as a way of encouraging them.

“Brazil is one of the fast growing nations with indigenous engineers manning the building sector, they (Brazilian authorities) build the capacity of their homegrown engineers through political will.

“And gradually they eliminated foreign companies and enhanced their local content, thus today Brazil is better off for that.

“They are one of the fast developing countries and Nigeria should do the same,’’ he said.

Garba said government should look for ways to build local content by motivating local engineers.

“Projects like roads, bridges and so on should be given out to indigenous firms and not foreign expertise,’’ he said.

Garba said that many Nigerian engineers performed well abroad and had the capacity to excel at home.

He urged the government and the public to give due recognition to indigenous engineers by involving them in big projects, especially in the construction sector.

Patronise Indigenous Engineers, NSE Urges FG

Naira Remains Firm Against Dollar

LAGOS - The Naira has remained firm against the dollar at the three market segments.

Reports state that the Naira was traded at 165 against the dollar as against N167 which it traded on May 26 at the market.

Sokoto To Sell Houses To Civil Servants SOKOTO -The Sokoto State Government has concluded arrangements to sell houses to civil servants on owner occupier basis, the Commissioner for Information, Malam Danladi Bako, said.

He made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Sokoto.

Bako said “the gesture is in furtherance of the commitment to good governance as contained in Governor. Aliyu Wamakko’s campaign promise to Sokoto civil servants.’’

He recalled that Goveron, Wamakko had promised to sell government houses to civil servants who were occupying

The circular said that the CCOs should report to the board of directors with “dotted lines” to the banks managing directors without interlocking roles.

It said that particulars of all current CCOs, with evidence of the CBN approval of same and reporting line, should be forwarded to the Director of Banking Supervision, within one week.

The CBN said that irregular attendance of CCOs at the monthly meetings of the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria

BIRNIN KEBBI - Alhaji Hussaini Raha, the National Chairman, Association of Fish Farmers of Nigeria (AFFAN), urged the Federal Government to establish fingerlings hatching centres in all states and the FCT. Making the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, Raha said that priority should be given to states with high potential in fish production.

He listed Adamawa, Borno, Benue, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, Anambra, Niger and Taraba as some of the states endowed with fishery resources.

He said fish farmers were now employers of labour and that when assisted, the sector would reduce unemployment and youth restiveness.

According to him, the association has registered 11 million fish farmers across the

the houses.

The commissioner said the governor had already set in motion the process of selling the houses.

“The first week of June is the commencement date for the actualisation of this dream, expected to make hundreds of civil servants landlords,” he said.

He added that all the houses had been demarcated and valued, while the occupants had been screened.

It will be recalls that the Wamakko Administration had on assumption of office in 2007, built 500 housing units at Bado and sold them to qualified occupants on cashand-carry basis.

At the official market, the currency was sold at N154.73 to the dollar remaining stable at same price since last Monday.

Similarly, it stood firm against the dollar at the black market as it gained 50 kobo to sell at N166 compared with N166.50 traded

on May 26.

The currency remained stable against the Pound Sterling and Euro at N278 and N233 respectively since last week at the Bureau de Change.

At the official market, it was

sold against the two currencies at N279 and N213 making it to shed N1 each against the two currencies.

The Naira against with the two currencies was sold at N280 and N214 respectively at the black market since May 23.

L-R: Wife of Keynote Speaker, Olufunke; Keynote Speaker, Prof. Dupe Olatunbosun and Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at a symposium on the National Conference “Geting It Right this Time” by postgraduate school of the University in Ibadan on Thursday.

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT FRIDAY (30/05/2014) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

NCR

15.99

15.99

0

0

700

10,640.00

1.02

1.07

0.05

0

187,926

199,184.52

7UP

85.8

85.8

0

0

97,230

8,626,746.10

NEIMETH

ABCTRANS

0.81

0.82

0.01

0

614,910

500,777.10

NEM

0.83

0.86

0.03

0

4,356,593

3,682,558.76

ACCESS

9.7

10.1

0.4

0

74,774,833

750,460,426.50

NESTLE

1070

1073

3

0

346,272

373,099,370.10

AFRIPRUD

3.35

3.23

-0.12

0

461,831

1,501,213.94

NEWGOLD

1993

1977

-16

0

20

39,540.00

0.5

0.5

0

0

98,998

49,499.00

AGLEVENT

1.35

1.41

0.06

0

115,000

162,150.00

NIGERINS

AIICO

0.85

0.82

-0.03

0

2,423,483

2,009,785.22

NIGROPES

7.46

7.46

0

0

30

212.7

AIRSERVICE

2

2.09

0.09

0

150,300

314,630.00

NSE30

1841.98

1896.47

54.49

0

482,065,601

10,965,230,426.00

ASHAKACEM

21.4

22.47

1.07

0

2,905,551

65,163,043.19

NSE50

1990.17

2046.98

56.81

0

566,259,720

11,392,973,669.00

BECOPETRO

0.5

0.5

0

0

80,450

40,225.00

NSEASI

40286.75

41474.39

1,187.64

0

671,260,020

11,872,735,203.00

424.53

443.06

18.53

0

365,248,844

6,131,838,255.00

BERGER

10

10

0

0

27,296

283,120.20

NSEBNK

BETAGLAS

16.22

16.22

0

0

110

1,762.50

NSECNSMRGDS

1018.33

1031.79

13.46

0

27,873,022

2,980,088,090.00

CAP

37.51

37.51

0

0

10,857

408,792.38

NSEINDUSTR

2550.29

2604.43

54.14

0

7,181,491

554,729,313.10

CAVERTON

5.69

5.41

-0.28

0

924,279

5,006,632.89

NSEINS

142.04

143.85

1.81

0

13,799,109

11,511,319.32

2725.29

2769.24

43.95

0

14,048,265

1,097,765,107.00

CCNN

10

10.35

0.35

0

842,022

8,724,940.80

NSELOTUSISLM

CHAMPION

13.79

13.79

0

0

100

1,311.00

NSEOILGAS

367.98

386.96

18.98

0

16,203,840

659,906,182.30

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

0

550,200

275,100.00

NSLTECH

0.5

0.5

0

0

40,000,700

20,000,350.00

CONOIL

46.76

48.41

1.65

0

359,386

17,582,892.64

OANDO

18

18.21

0.21

0

12,961,551

239,643,185.20

CONTINSURE

1.04

1.05

0.01

0

2,507,480

2,645,365.30

OASISINS

0.54

0.52

-0.02

0

605,000

314,600.00

32.3

33.1

0.8

0

572,480

18,902,098.38

CORNERST

0.5

0.5

0

0

693,160

346,580.00

OKOMUOIL

COSTAIN

1.23

1.29

0.06

0

1,026,600

1,238,657.00

PAINTCOM

1.45

1.4

-0.05

0

380,000

533,518.00

COURTVILLE

0.58

0.6

0.02

0

811,500

481,285.00

PORTPAINT

5

5

0

0

30,000

154,000.00

CUSTODYINS

3.2

3.25

0.05

0

23,758,971

75,253,456.79

PRESCO

36

36

0

0

67,800

2,482,273.00

0.53

0.53

0

0

728,924

387,999.72

CUTIX

1.9

1.82

-0.08

0

219,490

400,443.80

PRESTIGE

CWG

5.48

5.48

0

0

2,000

10,420.00

PZ

34.83

36

1.17

0

449,573

16,058,808.99

DANGCEM

227.01

235

7.99

0

1,463,002

332,629,698.90

REDSTAREX

4.65

4.55

-0.1

0

118,226

534,517.00

DANGFLOUR

8

8

0

0

248,533

1,968,854.80

ROYALEX

0.53

0.53

0

0

86,768

45,891.04

DANGSUGAR

9.99

9.99

0

0

3,628,886

35,605,769.61

RTBRISCOE

1.04

1.04

0

0

139,113

141,465.85

635

658.95

23.95

0

234,632

150,903,850.80

DIAMONDBNK

6.5

6.7

0.2

0

35,925,467

242,164,563.00

SEPLAT

DNMEYER

1.06

1.06

0

0

6,334

6,997.40

SIMCAPVAL

98.33

98.33

0

0

1,500,000

147,495,000.00

ENAMELWA

32.27

32.27

0

0

100

3,066.00

SKYEBANK

3.54

3.53

-0.01

0

22,557,273

82,256,508.76

ETERNA

3.35

3.51

0.16

0

427,248

1,479,648.22

SOVRENINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,000

500

22.8

23.77

0.97

0

3,493,037

82,841,520.90

ETI

16

16.8

0.8

0

11,463,665

192,492,372.50

STANBIC

FBNH

14.58

15.3

0.72

0

36,305,693

553,893,758.30

STERLNBANK

2.3

2.4

0.1

0

40,054,688

93,292,289.48

FCMB

4.1

4.3

0.2

0

25,199,940

108,141,012.50

TOTAL

162

166.05

4.05

0

1,331,430

220,905,953.80

FIDELITYBK

2.05

2.1

0.05

0

20,281,132

42,738,721.22

TOURIST

3.88

3.88

0

0

50

184.5

FIDSON

2.9

2.8

-0.1

0

31,101,865

93,106,475.80

TRANSCORP

3.74

3.9

0.16

0

14,075,233

54,015,254.56

FLOURMILL

73

76.65

3.65

0

4,032,639

308,542,796.50

TRANSEXPR

2.2

2.2

0

0

57,500

120,175.00

FO

203.7

213.88

10.18

0

446,939

95,259,622.12

UAC-PROP

17.75

17.93

0.18

0

253,020

4,536,223.48

FTNCOCOA

0.5

0.5

0

0

200

100

UACN

65

65

0

0

983,708

63,855,915.72

GCAPPA

14.46

14.46

0

0

5,020

68,974.80

UBA

7.35

7.67

0.32

0

31,173,648

237,817,608.10

2.4

2.51

0.11

0

12,087,161

30,131,388.21

GLAXOSMITH

68.15

68.15

0

0

15,030

1,023,450.95

UBCAP

GUARANTY

28.5

29.92

1.42

0

91,400,082

2,721,005,886.00

UBN

10.6

10.56

-0.04

0

1,252,346

13,174,952.41

GUINNESS

179

179.99

0.99

0

584,313

104,968,938.80

UNILEVER

48.19

49.99

1.8

0

1,605,723

79,870,356.01

HMARKINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

3,000

1,500.00

UNITYBNK

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,019,132

509,566.00

0.5

0.5

0

0

23,000

11,500.00

HONYFLOUR

3.82

4

0.18

0

2,445,604

9,760,173.37

UNITYKAP

IKEJAHOTEL

0.9

0.9

0

0

315,848

280,977.20

UPL

4.04

4.04

0

0

158,697

649,739.68

INTBREW

25.61

26.01

0.4

0

330,162

8,580,372.00

UTC

0.53

0.53

0

0

200

110

INTENEGINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

100,000

50,000.00

VETGRIF30

18.58

19.12

0.54

0

31,010

589,191.20

IPWA

0.52

0.52

0

0

9,770

5,080.40

VITAFOAM

4.1

4.22

0.12

0

557,731

2,327,291.49

112.5

112.5

0

0

1,303,163

146,429,993.30

JAPAULOIL

0.5

0.5

0

0

103,500

51,750.00

WAPCO

JBERGER

75.49

75.49

0

0

101,715

7,811,896.70

WAPIC

0.79

0.79

0

0

2,921,471

2,228,931.32

JOHNHOLT

1.15

1.15

0

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WITHIN the last two months, April and May 2014, terror groups unleashed hell on innocent Nigerians, having bombed over 100 persons to death at Nyanyan Motor Park, Abuja and abducted over 200 female students in a Federal Government College in Borno State. Also in April, about 11 persons were reportedly slaughtered in Borno by the notorious Boko Haram sect. Since then, several attacks have claimed hundreds of lives.

This evil need to stop!

TERROR groups in Northern Nigeria have, since the inception of the Jonathan administration unleashed mayhem on innocent citizens in most parts of the region with security agencies and the presidency promising almost on a daily basis to deal with the insurgence without any headway till date.

RECENTLY, when the Boko Haram Sect demanded the swapping of the innocent Chibok girls for Boko Haram prisoners, President Jonathan vehemently opposed such a condition, asserting that the girls must be released unconditionally.

THE President advised Nigerians to shun religious and ethnic sentiments in the fight against terrorism. He said Nigerians must stop the blame game and the ‘pull down syndrome’ that are distracting the fight against the insurgents. Moreso, Nigerians need to cooperate with the foreign allies such as the U.S., France, U.K., Israel, China and our immediate neighbours, Cameroun, Chad and others.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER, is disturbed over the security situation in the country as the United States of America recently raised alarm over escalating insecurity of lives, property and businesses necessitating in its restricting the

THE NIGERIAN

Curtailing Evil Of Terror Groups movement of its citizens within some states in Nigeria.

WE are even more worried over the implications of corporate citizens’ perceptions of our security on larger businesses and in particular, growth and development of the country. Unfortunately, efforts by Nigerian security to address the challenge have not yielded the desired results.

IT is an incontrovertible fact that there could be no meaningful development in any society where security of lives and property is heavily under threat. Shell’s expose reveals of colossal sums of money lost through oil theft by criminals who, in our view act in concert with powerful and well connected Nigerians including even some unscrupulous officials of the nation’s security organisations.

THE sad situation the nation finds itself is an attestation of the lack of political will by government over the years to deal decisively with the various security challenges that have arisen with one leading to the other, some of which now have ethnic, and religious colourations.

KIDNAPPING of multinational oil workers in the Niger Delta went on for too long unaddressed until it metamorphosed into kidnap of innocent low income earners, a situation which speaks volumes of our unpreparedness to tackle the menace of

kidnappers until the mother of the Finance Minister and Head of the economic team of Mr. President was kidnapped by hoodlums to the utter embarrassment of the whole nation.

CLEARLY, the Nigeria Police Force have been overstretched beyond its capacity in its attempts to fight terrorism and live to its responsibility of maintaining law and order and preventing crime and criminality.

THE political class have equally not helped the situation as most of them are involved in arming youth groups to do their political billing who in turn go back to the trenches with such arms to perpetrate criminality against the people and the state.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER is strongly of the view that if Nigeria must attain its national goals and objectives, the present administration must take proactive steps to fight insecurity in the land and restore hope and confidence amongst all stakeholders.

BUT in all, we believe the President needs to exercise the political will to make this happen. Mr. President needs to throw away ethnic, sectional and other sentimental garbs and wear his nationalistic apparel to deal with insecurity in the country.

INDEED, we join Mr. President to recommend a well organised, multistakeholder approach to dealing with insecurity in the country. The Nigerian Army, Navy, Air force, Department of State Security Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigerian Immigration, Nigerian Customs and most importantly, the Nigeria Police Force need urgent overhaul. All outfits need better coordination to arrest the situation and make the country safer for all.

For The Record President Jonathan’s Democracy Day Speech I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country.

Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Although I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there can be no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us, as a people.

As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today, therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression.

As a result of our collective efforts since 1999, democratic governance is now entrenched in our nation and institutions. I wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it. The scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over the past 15 years has been expanded beyond measure.

On my watch, we have witnessed high national economic growth rates, steady improvements and expansion of national infrastructure, including airports and roads, the restoration of rail transportation, the efficient implementation of a roadmap for improved power supply, a revolutionary approach to agricultural production as well as advances in education, sports, youth development, healthcare delivery, housing, water supply and other social services.

In the oil and gas sector, our promotion of a sustainable local content policy continues

to guarantee equity and better opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and skilled personnel. Significant increase in mobile telephone and national broadband penetration, making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy.

We have also developed strong financial markets and regulatory institutions. Our banks now have regional and global footprints.

Nigeria has also gained recognition as the largest economy in Africa, the most preferred investment destination in the continent and in terms of returns on investment, the fourth in the world. We are pleased that the world has noticed, as global leaders converged in Abuja early this month for the World Economic Forum in Africa.

The event not only witnessed a record attendance, it brought the prospect of an additional flow of investment into the Nigerian economy estimated at over 68 billion dollars over the next few years.

In foreign relations, our country has equally done well within this period, by establishing and strengthening strong partnerships with all ECOWAS countries and the rest of the world. This has helped to deepen Nigeria’s leadership role in multilateral institutions, including the United Nations.

Furthermore, under this administration, we have made consistent progress in improving the standard of elections in our country to ensure that they are ever more credible and truly representative of the people’s free choice.

The National Conference we initiated to deliberate and make recommendations on the best ways of resolving our current political and socio-economic challenges is ongoing. It is our expectation that its outcomes will help to further consolidate the gains we have made from democracy in the past 15 years, and place our dear nation even

more firmly on the path to greatness.

Dear Compatriots, it is a sad fact that as I address you today, all the gains of the past 15 years of democratic governance in our country are threatened by the presence of international terrorism on our shores.

of several of our compatriots, many have been injured or maimed, whole villages and communities have been destroyed and the economy of some of our states is in jeopardy.

There can be no doubt that what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a manifestation

citizens and the global community in support of our efforts to stamp out terrorism.

I applaud the understanding that in a democracy, such as we are building, people can have differences while sharing worthy values and standing together in opposition to the scourge of terrorism.

Nigeria is the only country we have and we must all work to preserve it for present and future generations.

Despite the challenges we face, we must commend our security forces. We must not

President Goodluck Jonathan Our dear country, Nigeria is facing a new challenge. A war has been unleashed on us.

Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our country and the democracy and freedom we cherish and celebrate today.

The despicable abduction of school girls from Chibok in Borno State has brought to the awareness of the entire world, the heartless brutality of these terrorists who want to instigate a descent into anarchy and balkanise our nation.

In recent years, terrorist attacks have claimed the lives

of the same warped and ferocious world view that brought down the Twin Towers in New York, killed innocent persons in Boston and led to the murder of defenceless people in the Southern Russian city of Volgograd.

Terrorist activities have brought war and pains to Mali, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

These agents of evil continue to brainwash and incite ignorant young men and women to attack the innocent.

We cannot allow this to continue.

I welcome the statements of solidarity from patriotic

“There can be no doubt that what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a manifestation of the same warped and ferocious world view that brought down the Twin Towers in New York, killed innocent persons in Boston and led to the murder of defenceless people in the Southern Russian city of Volgograd.”

forget their gallantry and successes in liberating nations and in peacekeeping, from Liberia to Sierra Leone, Congo, Sudan, Mali, GuineaBissau and many places in Africa and beyond. Our forces have paid the supreme price in several places at several times.

Today, they face a different challenge, an unconventional war by terrorists. They are adjusting and are being equipped to tackle the new menace of terrorism.

We must show confidence in their ability. I have no doubt that, with the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists.

It is now 45 days since the horrifying abduction of the college girls of Chibok. I share the deep pain and anxiety of their parents and guardians and I assure them once again that government will continue to do everything possible to bring our daughters home.

I am determined to protect

our democracy, our national unity and our political stability, by waging a total war against terrorism. The unity and stability of our country, and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable.

I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil. I have also authorised the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done.

I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again and that these thugs will be driven away – it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal.

For our citizens who have joined hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems, our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace.

My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration into the broader society.

Dear Compatriots, we must remain united to win the war against terrorism. Christians, Muslims, farmers, fishermen, herdsmen, teachers, lawyers, clergy or clerics, the rich, the poor and Nigerians from all sections of the country must work together with our security agencies and armed forces to overcome the terrorists who now threaten all that we hold dear.

The war against terror may be difficult, but the days of peace will come again.

Terror is evil; nowhere in history has evil endured forever.

The menace of Boko Haram will surely come to an end. I believe that because of your prayers, your courage, hardwork, faith and sacrifice, we will ultimately prevail over the terrorists and all other evil forces.

We are a strong, resilient and courageous people. We will continue to partner with the civilised world, to confront international terrorism and every other challenge that comes our way with patriotic zeal and determination.

Fellow Nigerians, yes, we have challenges but we will surely overcome. Nigeria is our country. Nigeria is blessed. We will all collectively protect, defend and develop this country for ourselves, and our children.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria.

View Point

A Call To Pray For Chibok School Girls

AS the world celebrates Children’s Day on Tuesday, May 27, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has called for concerted efforts to protect children and their interests.

A statement issued by the U N I C E F ’ s Communications Specialist, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, in Abuja said: “Every day in the media, we hear of one form of abuse or the other against children, rape of underage children, child trafficking and so on.”

The statement said that the recent abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok aptly underscored the urgent need for collective action to protect the children.

“We need to create a protective environment for our children to ensure a bright future for them,’’ it said.

The statement noted that the protective environment was based on the recognition that all children were entitled to protection, as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s Child’s Rights Act 2003.

Observers, therefore, insist that the import of the statement should not be lost, as Nigeria celebrates this year’s Children’s Day with over 200 young citizens under the captivity of some ruthless terrorists.

They emphasise that the celebration is totally overshadowed by the plight of the innocent girls from Chibok who have been having some harrowing experience in the den of the Boko Haram terrorists.

However, the plight of the Chibok girls is not an isolated case, as the Boko Haram insurgents attacked and killed several students of Federal Government

College (FGC), Buni Yadi, Yobe, barely two months before the girls’ abduction.

The sect also carried out a similar attack in Yobe in September 2013, killing over 40 students at the College of Agriculture, Gujba.

In July 2013, 42 students were massacred when the Boko Haram insurgents invaded the hostel of Government Secondary School, Mamudo, also in Yobe.

During the invasions, the terrorists killed or abducted several students, while killing some teachers and torching some school buildings.

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) said that during the carnage, over 170 teachers were killed by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State alone.

Against this backdrop, analysts insist that this year’s Children’s Day is an opportunity for every Nigerian to reflect on the threats facing children, their education and their future.

The situation appears quite grim; as it has somewhat become the inthing for the Boko Haram group to attack defenceless students in their dormitories.

For instance, the group purportedly sent threat letters to two all-boys secondary schools — Government College and Mount St. Gabriel College – in Makurdi, Benue.

The Principal of Government College, Mr Godfrey Ugudu, said that he received two letters from the sect, threatening to invade the school and abduct the students before compelling them to marry the abducted schoolgirls.

In a show of solidarity, some groups of Nigerian

By PRUDENCE AROBANI

children threatened to boycott this year ’s Children’s Day celebration if the kidnapped girls from Chibok were not found before the day.

Master Idara Thompson, the Speaker of the Children’s Parliament, relayed the children’s position at the 2014 Children’s Parliament Retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

Thompson called for the deployment of the country’s security operatives to schools across the country to

teachers, close relatives and friends to our families; we also need protection against forced labour from other members of the society.

“We need our voices to be heard on certain issues, especially those affecting our lives like health and socio-economic conditions, which we are supposed to be involved in,” he said.

Besides, Thompson stressed that it was disheartening that some state governments had yet to domesticate the Child

protect the children.

He said that the government’s failure to give maximum protection to children had exposed the children to evils such as abduction, theft, sexual abuse and forced labour, among others.

“Our government must rise up and tell the world that they are capable of protecting children.

“As children, we need protection against child thieves; sexual abuse from

Rights Act. Miss Msendo Ahwah, a member of the Children’s Parliament, noted that children would be able to meaningfully participate in the country’s development efforts if they were properly secured.

“I see no reason why we should be here discussing child participation when there is a more important issue.

“On May 27, we are

“We need our voices to be heard on certain issues, especially those affecting our lives like health and socio-economic conditions, which we are supposed to be involved in”

celebrating Children’s Day. Supposing my sister is among the abducted girls, what am I celebrating when my sister is nowhere to be found?’’ she queried.

Ahwah urged the government to strengthen its efforts to rescue the abducted girls, adding that until that was done; no Nigerian child would feel safe anymore.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) stressed that this year’s Children’s Day should be used to drum up support for the Bring Back Our Girls

campaign.

Chief Nengi James, the CLO Chairman in Bayelsa, said: “This year’s Children’s Day should be used to mobilise children nationwide to join the campaign for the release of the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok.

“How can we be celebrating when over 200 Nigerian children are in an unknown, unsafe place, staying with criminally minded and cold-blooded killers?

“Nigerian children should use the day to pray for the abducted girls,’’ he added.

However, some state governments have cancelled the celebration of this year’s Children’s Day and Democracy Day in honour of the abducted girls.

Mrs. Elizabeth Sonubi, Ogun State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and

Social Development, said the Children’s Day would be dedicated to praying for the release of the Chibok schoolgirls.

Sonubi said that the ministry intended to use the day for prayers and children’s counselling “so that they will know what is going on and be vigilant as well”.

However, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, the Secretary to the State Government, said that the cancellation of the Democracy Day’s celebration was to identify with parents of the abducted

girls, while residents of the state would also use the day to pray for the girls’ release.

“In deference to the current mood of the nation over the abducted girls at Chibok, Ogun State has stepped down its activities to mark Democracy Day. “This decision is to identify with the parents of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted over a month ago by the Boko Haram sect,” Adeoluwa said.

Similarly, Borno State Governor’s wife, Hajiya Aishatu Shettima, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has cancelled this year’s Children’s Day celebration.

Her Press Secretary, Mr Muhammad Hassan, said that the cancellation was a mark of respect for victims Continues on pg 15

View Point Continued from pg 14

of the insurgents’ attacks, adding that the day would be used to offer special prayers for the safety and quick release of the abducted schoolgirls.

Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger also said that the Children Day and the Democracy Day would not be celebrated with the usual pomp.

Mr Danladi Ndayebo, the Commissioner for Information in Niger, said that the days would be used to pray for the nation.

Ndayebo said that the Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development would mobilise children across the state to pray for

the release of the abducted girls on the Children’s Day. He said that on May 29 – Democracy Day – residents of the state would be mobilised to pray for God’s intervention in efforts to stamp out terrorism and restore peace in the NorthEast and Nigeria at large.

Nevertheless, Senate President David Mark has called for prayers for the survival of the Nigerian child.

In a statement signed his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark stressed that Nigerians should pray against a situation in which Nigerian children were becoming endangered species in the hands of

abductors and kidnappers.

He said that the situation called for a sober reflection on the way forward, as “I cannot rationalise why the children, who represent the future of Nigeria, suddenly became the targets of evil men.’’

In a goodwill message to mark this year’s Children’s Day, Mark specifically bemoaned a situation where over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, abducted by the Boko Haram sect, were still in captivity.

“In spite of the outcry across the world on the abduction of the Chibok girls, their captors remain adamant. This is inhuman, barbaric, insane and

A Call To Pray For... condemnable by all right thinking members of the human race.

“As parents or guardians, we owe our children care and protection. How do we explain to generations yet unborn that our girls abducted from their school by unknown persons are still being held more than one month after?

“This is a challenge to all of us; we cannot fail these children. All of us must put on our thinking caps and strategise on the way out,’’ he said.

Mark urged all Nigerians

Dismantling The Strangleholds Of Ethnicity And Religion In Our Politics WHEN the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby was asked by a BBC journalist on what he saw about Nigeria at 100, he quickly identified the three major things he saw as challenges which he described as ‘Tripod challenges’. These are; religion, ethnicity and economic deprivation. He went further to state that, if Nigeria should overcome the tripod challenges, the sky will be our limit. In this episode, I have decided to write on religion which is my own way of joining forces with other patriotic Nigerians to call for the dismantling of this monster which has sent thousands of people to their untimely graves and has ripped many off their rights as well as privileges.

However, in writing or taking part in any religious programme or discussion, there is a view I always hold, it is a view shaped by a quote from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during one of the meetings of the global interfaith dialogue which took place among the global leaders of Christianity, Islam

By COMRADE EDWIN EKENE UHARA

and Judaism. King Abdullah was quoted as saying “If God had wanted the whole world to practice one religion, He would have done it” (Sic). Off cause, looking at the above statement objectively, and how it could be applied to our own case here in Nigeria, one can rightly say that, if God had wanted us to practice one religion in Nigeria, He would have done it long ago, and not each time we approach election year or period.

Looking at the history of this great country, especially how we came together as a nation in 1914, one can only conclude that, God’s mighty hand was at work during the conception and the actualization of the idea that lead to the amalgamation of the Northern and the Southern protectorate in 1914 by late Sir Frederick Lord Luggard. Though some persons have long argued that, the 1914 amalgamation was never to our own interest, but, to the interest of the British people who colonized us. But,

looking at the past events and circumstances that have shaken this country to its very foundation and how the nation has been able to survive them and still remain united in the last 100 years, one must accept the undeniable fact that the glue that hold us together as a nation is stronger than the said Colonial or British interest!

Nonetheless, I’m however not saying that Nigeria is a perfect country, neither have I seen a perfect one, but, the challenge of nation-building standing before us must defile the thin lines of ethnic and religious divisions among us, if Nigeria must move forward to take its rightful position among the committee of nations.

Hence, those who thinks they can hold on to the narrow cleavages of

“Nonetheless, I’m however not saying that Nigeria is a perfect country, neither have I seen a perfect one, but, the challenge of nation-building standing before us must defile the thin lines of ethnic and religious divisions among us, if Nigeria must move forward to take its rightful position among the committee of nations.”

to jettison religious, political or ethnic considerations and work for the unity of Nigeria, while partaking in the campaign against insurgents.

“With the cooperation and collective will of all of us, we shall surely overcome,’’ he added.

Mark said that the National Assembly, in realisation of the dangers facing children in today’s world and the need to address these dangers, passed the Child Right Bill into law.

He urged some state

governments, which had yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act of 2003, to do so without further delay.

As the children celebrate this year’s Children’s Day, concerned citizens urge all Nigerians to pray for the safe return of the abducted schoolgirls from Chibok.

They also underscore the need for all Nigerians to protect the children’s interests, adding that the activity entails the input of the community, the government, the traditional and religious leaders, the civil society and the media.

ethnicity and religion and then use it to divide us should start having a rethink and start retracting their steps because the price our founding fathers and heroes and heroines past and present paid for our continued existence as a nation is more than what can be sacrificed on the altar of religion as well as ethnicity.

Like I said in one of my numerous articles last year, especially the one I entitled: “2015: Can Obama’s Winning Formula Work in Nigeria?”, I did ask that, if what was possible in the preindependent Nigeria is no longer possible In the post independent Nigeria, who then do we blame? I went further to give the example of how Alhaji Umaru Altine became the first mayor of Enugu in 1956 and still was re-elected in the 1958 mayoral election despite his ethnic and religious background. In fact, the simple reason that Alhaji Altine was a Muslim Fulani man from the Northern part of Nigeria could not stop him from becoming the first mayor of Enugu. This is the new cultural identity I want us to imbibe and display in the new Nigeria we are building!

Furthermore, if there is anything we must learn from the example I cited in the last paragraph, it is the fact that, successive generations including this very one digressed from emulating the good examples lived by those before us. And that is why every Nigerian must

join the struggle until an Enugu man who works, stays or married from Ekiti State can be elected as Governor of Ekiti state and vice versa. It may look difficult, but not impossible!

Dismantling the strangleholds of religion and ethnicity on our politics should be viewed, treated and accorded the same priorities as we accorded the struggles that lead to the enthronement of democratic governance in Nigeria in 1999. During the democratic struggles, we had leaders, followers, active and passive supporters of the struggle! While some went in to exile, others like late Chief MKO Abiola died along the line. But, because we finally succeeded in enthroning democratic governance in Nigeria, Abiola died for something!

In this regard, I suggest that, June 12 should either be made Abiola Day or be declared a Public Holiday in the country. June 12 as either Abiola Day or National Holiday should be used to educate the younger ones about the great sacrifice paid by all those who gave their time, money, energy, talents and life. But, Abiola like late Nelson Mandela of South Africa should be made the symbol of the struggle because he was the worst loser; he lost his life and was denied inauguration in the Presidential Election he won! Hence, there is no time better to dismantle our ethno-religious barriers than now.

Footprints

JOAN OF ARC (French: Jeanne d’Arc) (1412 – 1431), nicknamed “The Maid of Orleans” (French: La Pucelle d’Orléans), is considered a heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. She was born to a peasant family at Domremy in north-east France. Joan claimed she received visions of the Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine instructing her to support Charles VII and recover France from English domination late in the Hundred Years’ War. The uncrowned King Charles VII sent Joan to the siege of Orleans as part of a relief mission. She gained prominence after the siege was lifted in only nine days.

Several additional swift victories led to Charles VII’s coronation at Reims. On 23 May 1430, she was captured at Compiegne by the English-allied Burgundian faction, was later handed over to the English, and then put on trial by the proEnglish Bishop of Beauvais Pierre Cauchon on a variety of charges, was convicted on 30 May 1431 and burned at the stake when she was about 19 years old.

Twenty-five years after her execution, an inquisitorial court authorized by Pope Callixtus III examined the trial, pronounced her innocent, and declared her a Martyr .Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920. She is one of the nine secondary patron saints of France, along with St. Denis, St. Martin of Tours, St. Louis, St. Michael, St. Remi, St. Petronilla, St. Radegund and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

The historian Kelly DeVries describes the period preceding her appearance in the following terms: “If anything could have discouraged her, the state of France in 1429 should have.”

The Hundred Years’ War had begun in 1337 as a succession dispute over the French throne with intermittent periods of relative peace. Nearly all the fighting had taken place in France, and the English army’s use of chevauchée tactics (similar to scorched earth strategies) had devastated the economy. The French population had not recovered from the Black Death of the previous century and its merchants were isolated from foreign markets. At the outset of Jeanne d’Arc’s appearance, the English had nearly achieved their goal of a dual monarchy under English control and the French army had not achieved any major victories for a generation. In DeVries’ words, “The kingdom of France was not even a shadow of its thirteenth-century prototype.”

Charles VI, the French king at the time of Joan’s birth, suffered bouts of insanity and was often unable to rule. The king’s brother Louis, Duke of Orleans, and the king’s cousin John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, quarreled over the regency of France and the guardianship of the royal children. This dispute escalated to accusations of an extramarital affair with Queen Isabeau of Bavaria and the kidnappings of the royal children. The matter climaxed with the assassination of the Duke of Orleans in 1407 on the orders of the Duke of Burgundy.

The two factions led by the Duke of Orléans and Duke of Burgundy became known as the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, respectively.

Henry V of England took advantage of this turmoil to invade France, winning a dramatic victory at Agincourt in 1415 and capturing many northern French towns. In 1418, Paris was taken by the Burgundians, who massacred the Count of Armagnac and about 2,500 of his followers.

The future French king, Charles VII, assumed the title of Dauphin – the heir to the throne – at the age of fourteen, after all four of his older brothers had died in succession. His first significant official act was to conclude a peace treaty with Burgundy in 1419. This ended in disaster when Armagnac partisans assassinated John the Fearless during a meeting under Charles’s guarantee of protection. The new duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good, blamed Charles for the murder and entered into an alliance with the English.

The allied forces conquered large sections of France.

In 1420, the queen of France Isabeau of Bavaria signed the Treaty of Troyes, which granted the succession of the French throne to Henry V and his heirs instead of her son Charles. This agreement revived rumors about her alleged affair with the late duke of Orléans and raised fresh suspicions that the Dauphin was illegitimate rather than the son of the king. Henry V and Charles VI died within two months of each other in 1422, leaving an infant, Henry VI of England, the nominal monarch of both kingdoms.

Henry V’s brother, John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford, acted as regent.

By the beginning of 1429, nearly all of northern France and some parts of the southwest were under AngloBurgundian control. The English controlled Paris and Rouen while the Burgundian faction controlled Reims, which had been the traditional site of French coronations since 816. This was an important consideration since neither claimant to the throne of France had been officially

The Irrepressible S

crowned yet. The English had laid siege to Orléans, which was one of the few remaining cities still loyal to Charles VII and it held a strategic position along the Loire River, which made it the last obstacle to an assault on the remainder of the French heartland. In the words of one modern historian: “On the fate of Orléans hung that of the entire kingdom.” No one was optimistic that the city could long withstand the siege.

Joan was born the daughter of Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romée in Domrémy, a village which was then in the French part of the duchy of Bar. Joan’s parents owned about 50 acres (20) hectares) of land and her father supplemented his farming work with a minor position as a village official, collecting taxes and heading the local watch. They lived in an isolated patch of eastern France that remained loyal to the French crown despite being surrounded by proBurgundian lands. Several local raids occurred during her childhood and on one occasion her village was burned.

At her trial, Joan stated that she was about 19, which implies that she thought she was born around 1412. She later testified that she experienced her first vision around 1424 at the age of 12 years, when she was in her “father’s garden” and saw visions of figures she identified as Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, who told her to drive out the English and bring the Dauphin to Reims for his coronation. She said she cried when they left, as they were so beautiful.

At the age of 16, she asked a relative named Durand Lassois to take her to the nearby town of Vaucouleurs, where she petitioned the garrison commander, Robert de Baudricourt, for permission to visit the royal French court at Chinon.

Baudricourt’s sarcastic response did not deter her.

She returned the following January and gained support from two of Baudricourt’s soldiers: Jean de Metz and Bertrand de Poulengy. Under their auspices, she gained a second meeting, where she

made a remarkable prediction about a military reversal near Orléans.

Robert de Baudricourt granted her an escort to visit Chinon after news from Orleans confirmed her prediction. She made the journey through hostile Burgundian territory in male disguise. Upon arriving at the Royal Court she impressed Charles VII during a private conference.

During this time Charles’ mother-in-law Yolande of Aragon was financing a relief expedition to Orléans.

Joan asked for permission to travel with the army and wear protective armor, which was provided by the Royal government. She depended on donated items for her armor, horse, sword, banner, and other items utilized by her entourage.

Historian Stephen W. Richey explains her attraction to the royal court by pointing out that they may have viewed her as the only source of hope for a regime that was near collapse: After years of one humiliating defeat after another, both the military and civil leadership of France were demoralized and discredited. When the Dauphin Charles granted Joan’s urgent request to be equipped for war and placed at the head of his army, his decision must have been based in large part on the knowledge that every orthodox, every rational option had been tried and had failed. Only a regime in the final straits of desperation would pay any heed to an illiterate farm girl who claimed that the voice of God was instructing her to take charge of her country’s army and lead it to victory.

Upon her arrival, Joan effectively turned the longstanding Anglo-French conflict into a religious war.

But this course of action was not without its risks.

Charles’ advisers were worried that unless Joan’s orthodoxy could be established beyond doubt – that she was not a heretic or a sorceress – Charles’ enemies could easily make the allegation that his crown

By OBUSEH JUDE was a gift from the devil. To circumvent this possibility, the Dauphin ordered background inquiries and a theological examination at Poitiers to verify her morality. In April 1429, the commission of inquiry “declared her to be of irreproachable life, a good Christian, possessed of the virtues of humility, honesty and simplicity.” The theologians at Poitiers did not render a decision on the issue of divine inspiration; rather, they informed the Dauphin that there was a ‘favorable presumption’ to be made on the divine nature of her mission. This was enough for Charles, but they put the ball back in his court by stating that he had an obligation to put Joan to the test. ‘To doubt or abandon her without suspicion of evil would be to repudiate the Holy Spirit and to become unworthy of God’s aid’, they declared. The test for the truth of her claims would be the raising of the siege of Orléans.

She arrived at the siege of Orléans on 29 April 1429, but Jean d’Orléans, the acting head of the ducal family of Orléans on behalf of his captive half-brother, initially excluded her from war councils and failed to inform her when the army engaged the enemy. However, his exclusions did not prevent her presence at most councils and battles.

The extent of her actual military leadership is a subject of historical debate.

On the one hand, noblemen such as the Duke of Alençon always had direct command; but on the other hand, many of these same noblemen stated that Joan had a profound effect on their decisions.

Traditional historians, such as Édouard Perroy, conclude that she was a standard bearer whose primary effect was on morale. This type of analysis usually relies on the condemnation trial testimony, where she stated that she preferred her standard to her sword.

Recent scholarship that

focuses on the nullification trial testimony asserts that the army’s commanders esteemed her for the advice she gave them. In either case, historians agree that the army enjoyed remarkable success during her brief time with the army.

Joan of Arc’s appearance at Orléans was followed by a

A m s a s T 7 a h a a s b L

Joan of Arc sudden change in the pattern of the siege. During the five months before her arrival, the defenders of Orléans attempted only one aggressive move and that had ended in disaster. But now, “on 4 May, the Armagnacs attacked and captured the outlying fortress of Saint Loup (bastille de Saint-Loup), which was followed on 5 May with a march to a second fortress called SaintJean-le-Blanc, which was found deserted. When English troops came out to oppose the advance, a quick cavalry charge drove them back into their fortresses, apparently without a fight.

The Armagnacs then attacked and captured an English fortress built around a monastery called Les

“The extent of her actual military leadership is a subject of historical debate. On the one hand, noblemen such as the Duke of Alençon always had direct command; but on the other hand, many of these same noblemen stated that Joan had a profound effect on their decisions. Traditional historians, such as Édouard Perroy, conclude that she was a standard bearer whose primary effect was on morale.”

re a ta E O s

J w T in to h c A th b tr fo s a fo J to th o ro to a to th V b tw d T a a

a c c d

Footprints

Saint Joan Of Arc

Augustins. Armagnac troops maintained positions on the south bank of the river before attacking the main English stronghold called “les Tourelles” on the morning of 7 May. Contemporaries acknowledged Joan as the heroine of the engagement after she was wounded by an arrow between the neck and shoulder while holding her banner in the trench outside Les Tourelles, but she later

impressed with her performance at Orléans and became her supporters.

Alençon credited her with saving his life at Jargeau, where she warned him that a cannon on the walls was about to fire at him. During the same siege she withstood a blow from a stone which hit her helmet while she was near the base of the town’s wall. The army took Jargeau on 12 June, Meung-sur-Loire

eturned to encourage a final assault which succeeded in aking the fortress. The English retreated from Orléans the next day, and the iege was over.

At Chinon and Poitiers oan had declared that she would give a sign at Orléans.

The lifting of the siege was nterpreted by many people o be that sign, and it gained her the support of prominent lergy such as the Archbishop of Embrun and heologian Jean Gerson, who both wrote supportive reatises immediately ollowing this event. The udden victory at Orléans also led to many proposals or further offensive action. oan persuaded Charles VII o allow her to accompany he army with Duke John II of Alençon, and she gained oyal permission for her plan o recapture nearby bridges along the Loire as a prelude o an advance on Reims and he coronation of Charles VII. This was a bold proposal because Reims was roughly wice as far away as Paris and deep within enemy territory.

The English expected an attempt to recapture Paris or an attack on Normandy.

The Duke of Alençon accepted Joan’s advice oncerning strategy. Other ommanders including Jean d’Orléans had been

on 15 June, and Beaugency on 17 June.

On 18 June, the English army withdrew from the Loire Valley and headed north, joining with an expected unit of reinforcements under the command of Sir John Fastolf.

Joan urged the Armagnacs to pursue, and the two armies clashed southwest of the village of Patay. The battle at Patay might be compared to Agincourt in reverse. The French vanguard attacked a unit of English archers who had been placed to block the road. A rout ensued that decimated the main body of the English army and killed or captured most of its commanders. Fastolf escaped with a small band of soldiers and became the scapegoat for the humiliating English defeat.

The French suffered minimal losses.

The French army left Gien on 29 June on the march toward Reims, and accepted the conditional surrender of the Burgundian-held city of Auxerre on 3 July. Other towns in their path returned to French allegiance without resistance.

Troyes, the site of the treaty that tried to disinherit Charles VII, was the only one which put up even brief opposition.

The army was in short supply of food by the time it reached Troyes. But the army was in

luck: a wandering friar named Brother Richard had been preaching about the end of the world at Troyes and convinced local residents to plant beans, a crop with an early harvest. The hungry army arrived as the beans ripened. Troyes capitulated after a bloodless four-day siege.

Reims opened its gates to the army on 16 July. The coronation took place the following morning. Although Joan and the Duke of Alençon urged a prompt march on Paris, the royal court preferred a negotiated truce with the duke of Burgundy. Duke Philip the Good broke the agreement, using it as a stalling tactic to reinforce the defense of Paris. The French army marched through towns near Paris during the interim and accepted several peaceful surrenders. The Duke of Bedford led an English force and confronted the French army in a standoff at the battle of Montépilloy on 15 August. The French assault at Paris ensued on 8 September.

Despite a wound to the leg from a crossbow bolt, Joan remained in Paris’ inner trench until she was carried back to safety by one of the commanders. The following morning the army received a royal order to withdraw.

Most historians blame French Chamberlain Georges for the political blunders that followed the coronation. In October, Joan was with the royal army when it took Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier, followed by an unsuccessful attempt to take La-Charitésur-Loire in November and December. On 29 December, Joan and her family were granted nobility by Charles VII as a reward for her actions.

A truce with England during the following few months left Joan with little to do. On 23 March 1430, she dictated a threatening letter to the Hussites, a dissident group which had broken with the Catholic Church on a number of doctrinal points and had defeated several previous crusades sent against them. Joan’s letter promises to “remove your madness and foul

superstition, taking away either your heresy or your lives.” However, the truce with England quickly came to an end. Joan traveled to Compiègne the following May to help defend the city against an English and Burgundian siege. A skirmish on 23 May 1430 led to her capture, when her force attempted to attack the Burgundians’ camp at Margny. When the troops began to withdraw toward the nearby fortifications of Compiègne after the advance of an additional force of 6,000 Burgundians, Joan stayed with the rear guard.

Burgundian troops surrounded the rear guard, and she was pulled off her horse by an archer. She agreed to surrender to a proBurgundian nobleman named Lionel of Wandomme, a member of Jean de Luxembourg’s unit.

Joan was imprisoned by the Burgundians at Beaurevoir Castle. She attempted several escapes, on one occasion jumping from her 70 foot (21 m) tower, landing on the soft earth of a dry moat, after which she was moved to the Burgundian town of Arras.

The English negotiated with their Burgundian allies to transfer her to their custody, with Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvais, an English partisan, assuming a prominent role in these negotiations and her later trial. The final agreement called for the English to pay the sum of 10,000 livres tournois to obtain her from Jean de Luxembourg, a member of the Council of Duke Philip of Burgundy.

The English moved Joan to the city of Rouen, which served as their main headquarters in France.

Historian Pierre Champion notes that the Armagnacs attempted to rescue her several times by launching military campaigns toward Rouen while she was held there. One campaign occurred during the winter of 1430-1431, another in March 1431, and one in late May shortly before her execution.

These attempts were beaten back.

The trial for heresy was politically motivated. The tribunal was composed

entirely of pro-English and Burgundian clerics, and overseen by English commanders including the Duke of Bedford and Earl of Warwick. Legal proceedings commenced on 9 January 1431 at Rouen, the seat of the English occupation government. The procedure was illegal on a number of points, which would later provoke scathing criticism of the tribunal by the chief inquisitor who investigated the trial after the war.

To summarize some major problems: Under ecclesiastical law, Bishop Cauchon lacked jurisdiction over the case. Cauchon owed his appointment to his partisan support of the English government which financed the trial. Clerical notary Nicolas Bailly, commissioned to collect testimony against Joan, could find no adverse evidence.

Without such evidence the court lacked grounds to initiate a trial. Opening a trial anyway, the court also violated ecclesiastical law by denying her right to a legal adviser. Worse, stacking the tribunal entirely with proEnglish clergy violated the medieval Church’s requirement that heresy trials needed to be judged by an impartial or balanced group of clerics. Upon the opening of the first public examination Joan complained that those present were all partisans against her and asked for “ecclesiastics of the French side” to be invited in order to provide balance.

However, the ViceInquisitor of Northern France (Jean Lemaitre) objected to the trial at its outset, and several eyewitnesses later said he was forced to cooperate after the English threatened his life. Some of the other clergy at the trial were also threatened when they refused to cooperate, including a Dominican friar named Isambart de la Pierre.

These threats, and the domination of the trial by a secular government, were obvious violations of the Church’s rules and undermined the right of the Church to conduct heresy trials without secular interference.

Joan’s remarkable intellect is corroborated in her trial record. The transcript’s most famous exchange is an exercise in subtlety. “Asked

if she knew she was in God’s grace, she answered: ‘If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.’” The question is a scholarly trap. Church doctrine held that no one could be certain of being in God’s grace. If she had answered yes, then she would have been charged with heresy. If she had answered no, then she would have confessed her own guilt. Notary Boisguillaume later testified that at the moment the court heard this reply, “Those who were interrogating her were stupefied.” Several court functionaries later testified that important portions of the transcript were altered in her disfavor. Under Inquisitorial guidelines, Joan should have been confined in an ecclesiastical prison under the supervision of female guards (i.e., nuns). Instead, the English kept her in a secular prison guarded by their own soldiers. Bishop Cauchon denied Joan’s appeals to the Council of Basel and the Pope, which should have stopped his proceeding.

The twelve articles of accusation which summarize the court’s finding contradict the already doctored court record. The illiterate defendant signed an abjuration document she did not understand under threat of immediate execution. The court substituted a different abjuration in the official record. Heresy was a capital crime only for a repeat offense. Joan agreed to wear feminine clothing when she abjured. This created a problem. According to the later descriptions of some of the tribunal members, she had previously been wearing male (i.e. military) clothing in prison because it gave her the ability to fasten her hosen and tunic together into one piece, which deterred rape by making it difficult to pull her hosen off. A woman’s dress offered no such protection. A few days after adopting a dress, she told a tribunal member that “a great English lord had entered her prison and tried to take her by force. She resumed male attire either as a defense against molestation or, in the testimony of Jean Massieu, because her dress had been taken by the guards and she was left with nothing else to wear.

To be Continued

“Joan’s remarkable intellect is corroborated in her trial record. The transcript’s most famous exchange is an exercise in subtlety. “Asked if she knew she was in God’s grace, she answered: ‘If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.”

Opinion Providing Befitting Barracks Accommodation For Nigerian Armed Forces

THE Nigerian Armed Forces were established to protect Nigeria against external aggressors and observers note that the forces have performed their duties creditability ever since their establishment.

Analysts, however, underscore the need for the government to provide a good working environment for the military so as to facilitate its efforts to give quality service delivery.

They note that for instance, most of the barracks of the armed forces are currently in a derelict state, while several soldiers are not quartered in barracks.

This is not to suggest that the Federal Government is not mindful of the accommodation needs of the armed forces, as it has initiated some interventionist measures to ensure the soldiers’ wellbeing.

For instance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Barracks Rehabilitation (PCBR) in 2001 to oversee efforts to rehabilitate military barracks across the country.

Since its inception, the committee has carried out a lot of projects in military barracks and it recently undertook a tour of some barracks to inspect ongoing projects.

The committee examined projects at Demo Battalion Barracks in Jaji, Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna, and the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna.

The Chairman of PCBR, Mrs Binta Muazu, who led the team, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting the welfare of the armed forces.

She conveyed President Goodluck Jonathan’s determination to promote the interests of the Nigerian Armed Forces by providing them with decent accommodation.

She stressed that the government’s intervention to renovate military barracks led to the establishment of the PCBR.

“The committee is more than ever committed because we have been mandated to oversee the barracks’ rehabilitation works and we have no other option.

“We are also looking at how best we can do this on a costeffective basis,’’ she added.

Muazu, however, conceded that timely release of funds would go a long way in facilitating the realisation of the President’s aspiration to promote the wellbeing of the armed forces.

She, nonetheless, stressed the need for a special intervention fund, different from routine budgetary allocations, saying that this would facilitate the renovation of the military barracks which were in a bad state.

“We feel that to achieve this laudable objective of renovating the barracks, a special kind of intervention fund is somewhat imperative.

“This is to enable us to stop using a piecemeal approach for the renovation of the barracks.

“What we did was to start with the worst barracks and restore them to a functional state,’’ she added.

Muazu, however, warned the contractors handling the barracks’ rehabilitation projects that the Federal Government would not pay for poorly executed projects.

“We cannot pay for any job if it is not properly done or satisfactorily done, in line with the specifications of the PCBR and the end users — the soldiers.

“That is why at every stage of work, a contractor must seek clearance for a project’s acceptance before going over to the next stage,’’ she said.

The chairman also warned that the committee would not hesitate to terminate the contract of any contractor who was found wanting.

“From what you are seeing generally, you can see how bad the buildings are; some of them are burnt, dilapidated and abandoned.

“So, in order to salvage the situation, we (committee) came in, as instructed by the president, to restore the structures to their functional state,’’ she said.

Muazu, nonetheless, assured those contractors,

By CONSTANCE ATHEKAME

who executed their jobs according to specifications and were consequently cleared, that would be paid.

She said that contractors, whose assignment still had some minor changes, would be given a few days to effect the changes before the projects were finally certified as completed.

She explained that the barracks’ rehabilitation programme was part of the transformation agenda of the Jonathan-administration.

encourage people living in the barracks to plant trees so as to protect the buildings.

Speaking, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Abubakar, the Commander of Army Infantry Corps, Jaji, noted that some officers, who were supposed to be living in the barracks, were currently living in rented apartments.

Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Brig.-Gen. Olusegun Soleye, also sought the committee’s intervention on

She added that the programme was part of Jonathan’s efforts to improve the welfare of the military personnel, in conformity to international standard.

Muazu, therefore, advised the contractors to live up to expectations, reiterating that the barracks’ renovation programme was a good government policy.

She, however, underscored need to plant trees in the barracks to prevent windstorm from destroying the houses.

She said that tangible efforts should be made to

the Married Officers’ Quarters (MOQ) that got burnt so as to ease the officers’ accommodation problems.

He, however, noted that the contractors handling the barracks’ rehabilitation projects had performed creditably, urging them to rectify some minor glitches in the projects within a short time.

In his remark, AVM Salihu Bala-Ribah, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Nigerian Air Force Training Command, Kaduna, commended Jonathan for the

“Also at the NAF base in Kaduna, seven threebedroom flats, together with six rooms with boys’ quarters and garage, were renovated.”

barracks’ rehabilitation projects.

He said that the intervention was very timely, considering the current security situation in the country.

Bala-Ribah noted that the military had embarked on massive recruitment, as part of efforts to bridge the perceptible gaps in the manpower required to curtail emerging security challenges.

“When you embark on such recruitment, other problems will naturally follow. One has to consider the movement, accommodation and welfare

of the soldiers.

“I, therefore, see the barracks intervention programme as a timely and well-thought-out idea,’’ he said.

Besides, Maj.-Gen. Salihu Uba, the Commandant of TRADOC, Minna, also commended the Federal Government for the barracks’ rehabilitation programme.

He said that the Army Headquarters had since realised the need to tackle the accommodation problems facing the soldiers.

“What we expect the PCBR to do now is to increase the tempo because there are many soldiers in Minna and TRADOC is one of the major commands of the Nigerian Army.

“The level of barracks’ dilapidation has gone beyond maintenance but once the barracks are fixed, we will definitely maintain them,’’

Uba added.

Mrs Sherifat Musa, an occupant of one of the new buildings in the barracks, commended the Federal Government for the intervention programme, saying that they would be happy to move into the new houses.

Another resident, Cpl. Mohammed Umar, said that the barracks’ renovation was a fulfilment of the soldiers’ expectations, adding that residents of the barracks had been particularly praying for the government’s intervention.

“We are very happy with this renovation because we have prayed very hard for this day,’’ he said At the Demo Battalion in Jaji, eight Corporal and Below Quarters (CBQ) blocks of onebedroom flats; three Married Officers Quarters (MOQ) “Type A’’ blocks and six MOQ blocks of three-bedroom “Type B’’ flats have been renovated.

Also, five Senior NonCommissioned Officers (SNCO) blocks of twobedroom flats were at various stages of completion.

At the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Kaduna, 10 five-bedroom bungalows and six three-bedroom (Happy Valley) apartments have been renovated.

Also at the NAF base in Kaduna, seven three-bedroom flats, together with six rooms with boys’ quarters and garage, were renovated.

At TRADOC, Minna, six blocks of Corporal and Below Quarters (CBQ) that could accommodate 72 families were renovated.

The renovated houses also include eight Corporal and Below Quarters (CBQ) apartments; three Married Officers’ Quarters (MOQ) “Type A’’ apartments; six MOQ blocks of “Type B’’ three-bedroom apartments and five Senior NonCommissioned Officers’ (SNCO) Quarters.

At the NAF Base in Minna, the PCBR, in conjunction with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office, are constructing a primary school, a clinic and an administrative block.

However, the projects at the NAF Base in Minna are at various stages of completion.

In spite of ongoing barracks’ renovation projects across the country, analysts underscore the need for the government to allocate more funds for the programme so as to enable more military personnel to be accommodated in barracks.

With Eranga Isaac 08059233001

Family Planning produced by young lesbian, gay and bisexual leaders from Toronto. Many of them described the self-loathing and self-hatred they experienced and had to work through whilst growing up, as they came to terms with realizing that their own sexual orientation was not the mainstream accepted heteronormative version of how they “should” be. These experiences resonated so strongly for me with my own experience of learning about my own HIV status, despite my having been involved already in HIV prevention education. I know many women with HIV also experienced similar depths of despair and self-hatred when they were first diagnosed. This is so very sad—and telling— that any of us who steps outside the “norms” of what our patriarchal societies expect of us experience this. It also goes to show how very deeply embedded are these attitudes within us, even without our often realizing this. It is time therefore to challenge and transform our language, attitudes, and practices, so that we may join together again to overcome these patriarchal attitudes and regain the solidarity of our peer support structures, irrespective of our diverse identities.

Many governments assume that they are “doing gender” when they fund MNCH services. However, all too often, MNCH services are

to fit our needs.

And as Kate also explained, we have the rights to remedy, reparation, and redress where these services are not available or where they are abusive.

There are also patriarchal issues at play here. There is a just-published book called The Perfect Storm, edited by Tina Wallace and Fenella Porter, about the current “resultsbased” aid agenda of donors and policy makers and the damaging effects that this is having on women’s rights and lives around the world. As one of the authors in this great collection states, “They may be hitting the target—but are they missing the point?”

Yet it is impossible to promote remedy, reparation, or redress without funding for our women’s rights work. You can only do so much on a voluntary basis. We need funding for women’s rights work—and for promotion and roll-out of gender-transformative practices. These practices are there—indeed several of them have been created by us women living with HIV. But without funding we cannot spread them further or share them with others. We need solid, stable, sustained funding to ensure our informed choice, consent, and agency. And our right to agency—our right to engage in participation and in political acts—is also enshrined in our human rights.

So my final step is success.

Engaging Women In Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Advocacy

Continued from last week

WE need to ensure psychological, physical, and sexual safety for all women and girls at all times.

And we need institutional care and safety for all women at all times. We need to ensure that every woman knows that whenever she goes near a health center she will be guaranteed confidentiality, support, dignity, and respect.

Negotiating when, where, how, with whom we have sex, with safety and—heaven forbid, with pleasure—is way out of the reach of so many women and girls around the world.

This must change. Of course all of us women and girls need information, education, skills, and consent.

And surely we all need to have our rights to bodily autonomy upheld, as Kate Gilmore was explaining.

What I find quite strange about this Women Deliver conference is that in all the sessions I have gone to, I have heard very little mention of Millennium Development Goal 3. Yet surely MDG 3 is critical to achieving all the MDGs? Why is MDG 3

missing from the debate? I am not aware that we have achieved it. I really believe that we all need to be ensuring that we include MDG 3 in all our debates both now and beyond 2015. And my last point in relation to sex is that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls, in all our diversities, and the MNCH agenda are inseparable. Indeed I would say that the MNCH agenda is a sub-set of the SRHR agenda.

We can only achieve effective and successful MNCH if we set it within the wider enabling environment of comprehensive SRHR for us all.

Fourth step is about support.

Women “do” peer support really well.

I was talking to a senior bank executive a few years ago and he said that if you tell a man something he tells no one and keeps it to himself. Whereas if you tell a woman something and she thinks it’s a good idea, she shares it with an average of seven girlfriends.

You may all laugh—but the advertising world knows this

all too well and they target their advertising accordingly.

Our peer support skills are a vast unrecognized, invisible, unpaid, and still largely untapped resource around the world. Yet as soon as we sense that there are women or sex “out of place,” this mutual support system unravels, like knitting wool from a snag in a jumper.

Renowned anthropologist Mary Douglas, in her book Purity and Danger, talked about “matter out of place” causing discomfort and distress in many societies. In this way, “women out of place” or “sex out of place” causes us all to put up barriers and distance ourselves from those who somehow rock the status quo.

So whether it’s about teen pregnancy, unmarried sex, rape, HIV, having a(nother)

sexually transmitted infection, being lesbian, bisexual, trans or inter-sex, abortion, divorce, sex work, widowhood, contraception, being incarcerated, or using illicit drugs, we are all conditioned, as women, to categorize, label, and blame and exclude each other. We don’t use the same strictures on judging men in our societies.

Yet once we have labeled all the women we know on the basis of the above list, who of us has many female friends or even acquaintances left? This is because of the patriarchal attitudes with which we have all been raised in our many societies around the world.

Such attitudes damage men as well as women. They are harmful to us all.

As a little aside here, I recently read a wonderful book

about perpetuating women’s wrongs rather than promoting women’s rights.

The experiences of many women with HIV in many parts of the world at the hands of health workers is frankly appalling.

They experience scolding, abuse, and even coerced sterilization. Here in Asia, the latter has taken place in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It’s also been happening in Southern and East Africa, in Chile—and in Europe, it happens to Roma women, so I think coerced sterilization takes place in all regions of the world.

We are not baby factories or disease vectors. We are women and girls, in all our diversities, with our own rights and, as Kate Gilmore so clearly explained, states are duty bearers to provide us services

Success is a win-win ticket— it can make the life and work of health workers happier and more satisfactory, it can make our own lives as women and girls better, and it can increase the wealth of the nation if we are all happy, healthy, and safe. We can all engage as individual women and girls in all our diversities.

We can engage in and through our peer support groups. We can engage in and through our communities. And our health staff, the United Nations, and our governments can—and must—engage with us also.

These entities exist through us, the taxpayers. They need to be accountable to us. let’s all start to measure governments’ results and success in terms of their track record on women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights.

That would be a real measure of success.

To be continued

“We are not baby factories or disease vectors. We are women and girls, in all our diversities, with our own rights and, as Kate Gilmore so clearly explained, states are duty bearers to provide us services to fit our needs.”

Issues

Fighting Corruption In Nigeria Via The Jury Justice System WHAT is jury?

America’s legal system is bold and fearless. It does not regard anyone as above the law. It can jail anybody who breaks the law. In America, it is, ‘You break the law, you go to jail for it whoever you are.” So everybody living in America is afraid of breaking the law. That is a near perfect legal system To come to the question above, a jury is the legal system of the United States of America.

Dictionary defines it as, “a group of members of the public who listen to the facts of a case in a court and decide whether or not somebody is guilty of a crime.”

The legal system we operate in Nigeria is the British legal system. It is a very good legal system for it works perfectly well in Britain.

Corruption has been conquered in Britain using this legal system, but in Nigeria corruption is thriving in the face of this legal system. Why? The British are different from Nigerians in approach to issues. The British judge can sentence his brother or friend to jail if he is found guilty. But, in Nigeria that is next to impossibility. Why? There are many reasons attributable for this: First, when money change from hand to hand, justice cannot be pronounced. Even the Bible says that bribery

blinds. This is true more in Nigeria. Second, the accused may be a former classmate of the judge.

Third, the accused may be a member of the same society with the judge.

Fourth, the accused may know someone to whom the judge can never say, “No.” Fifth, the accused and the judge may be childhood friends who grew up in the same street. Sixth, the accused and the judge may be of the same family member, and the list goes on and on to show why justice can be denied the innocent. Going by the nature of Nigerians, we are a people who look at face when a case is brought before us. Again, we are afraid of reprisal.

And we are afraid of what people around us will say if we do good that displeases those around us. We take all the factors listed above into consideration when we want to decide a case.

Who do you know? matters a lot in Nigeria.

Being faced as it were with all these encumbrances, what is the way out of this nature? How can justice be meted out to the offender? We cannot end corruption in this legal system of justice we operate in Nigeria. If we have to end corruption bold steps must be taken.

The bold step will not take into consideration who it does not favour.

The bold step is in the jury system of justice. It will enforce and ensure

By D. RICHARD OBASUYI

that the innocent is justified and criminal pay for his crime. This is where the National Conference comes in to help take this bold step.

The jury system will help even the weak judge or president who cannot

in the court. It will be a national service to which whoever is called cannot reject. After listening to all the evidences presented the people will get together and discuss the case and finally decide who is guilty. The

open his eyes to see his family member sent to jail but will have no choice, once the jury decides on who is guilty, he will only come to the court to pronounce the verdict of the jury. And it will be final.

The jury is a legal system where the court invites a group of people from the members of the public who are not lawyers to listen to a case

judge cannot alter the decision of the jury. The judge will not be with them when they discuss the case up to when the decision is reached on the case. The judge will only come to the court to read the decision of the jury.

In the beginning of the case the judge would have briefed the jury members about legal matters of the case: what they are to look into and

“The jury is a legal system where the court invites a group of people from the members of the public who are not lawyers to listen to a case in the court. It will be a national service to which whoever is called cannot reject.”

so on. Neither the plaintiff nor the defender will have access to any member of the jury. The members of the jury will be drawn from different parts of the country. They will not know each other before the case. They will not have any interestfamilial, emotional or

present legal system we will never be able to solve corruption.

The jury can comprise of about at least eight members of the public and the list can reach up to twenty people. You can imagine, where eight or up to twenty people sit to decide a case in which

friendship- whatsoever in the case they have been called upon to judge. The jury members will come to decide on a case in court in Lagos, for example, between a man from Benin City, Edo state against a man from Yobe State. But the jury will be drawn not from any of the three states involve -Edo, Yobe and Lagos.

Can we try this legal system in Nigeria? The one we are using now, because of who we are, cannot help us solve corruption. Nigerians can easily be bought over with money. As long as we continue in our

they know not any of the parties involved, justice is bound to prevail. If Yakubu takes John to court, and a jury, is selected to judge the case, and if neither Yakubu nor John have access to any member of the jury truth is bound to surface. Under this system, even if either Yakubu or John is the president he can be sent to jail without the judge being afraid of reprisal from Mr. President. This legal system binds the judge and renders him helpless to any criminal -whether his friend or not. It allows justice to flow freely.

Archival Matters

Abubakar Shekau: A

Frankenstein Monster!!

SINCE the Boko Haramisation of Nigeria in 2009 by Abubakar Shekau, his henchmen and footsoldiers, a lot of security challenges as well as untowards events have become our bedmate. Infact the development has broken our cherished mantle piece.

It is taking a big toll on us.

For instance, at present there is a worldwide manhunt for Abubakar Shekau and his boys. A prize money running into over N500m has been placed on their heads.

Another N50m was offered for any information leading to the rescue of 276 Chibok girls he abducted several weeks ago.

Abuja was literally shut down from May 7-8, 2014 during the Global Economic Forum held in the city because of the fear of Abubakar Shekau. At present, gossips of his surrealistic exploits and scaremongering of his magical presence in villages, towns and cities in Nigeria are also almost shutting down our economy.

Furthermore, because of Abubakar Shekau social life in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria is comatose. Famine also looms there.

Meanwhile, the whole country is in a melancholic, mourning mood. No more suffering and smiling for us, to use FELA’s lyrical words.

We are now “suffering, crying and weeping”, because of our sad mood, Children’s Day on May 27, 2014 was low-keyed. Only a fool celebrates when his roof is on fire.

Also, right now, the whole world is in Nigeria collaborating with us on how to rescue our 276 abducted girls from Abubakar Shekau’s gulag. Specifically

By MICHAEL ODIGBE

America, China, France, Israel and the United Kingdom are here to assist in the rescue campaign as well as flush out Abubakar Shekau whom so far has killed 12, 000 innocent citizens of Nigeria, including 173 teachers.

This isn’t all. Nigeria has deployed over 20,000 soldiers for a war with Abubakar Shekau in his Sambisa forest hideout where allegedly he is keeping our abducted girls. This unusual military operation cost money. As at press time, the federal government informed Nigerians that it has spent N131 billion on the overall operation against Abubakar Shekau in the country.

Another N52 billion has been budgetted in 2014 for fighting him. Don’t forget too that America, France, Israel, China and the United Kingdom have not joined the campaign to engage him for free. Nothing is free even in Freetown. So, we must search for the funds to pay for their military services to Nigeria. Trust, the cost is prohibitive but the foreign bills must be settled at a time we are finding it difficult to pay the salaries of public servants.

Briefly, the foregoing elucidates the worrisome market cost of the cruel idiosyncrasies of one man called Abubakar Shekau and the massive search for him.

Not yet the real, opportunity cost of his insurgency.

However, while the manhunt for Abubakar Shekau goes on with all the spineless dramaturgy at our disposal there is one thing most of us forget. He is a Frankenstein monster created by our disintegrating family

system known for its abysmal socialization deficits.

Put in other words, poor parenting produced Abubakar Shekau. The bible, Koran and all scriptural works afterall enjoin: “Teach a child the way to go. When he is old, he won’t depart from it”.

Join me in the BOOK OF PROVERBS for samplers due to lack of editorial space.

Specifically in Proverbs 13, parents are enjoined to teach their children that the light of the righteous always burns for eternity but the lamp of the wicked is soon put out with damnation. Also, parents are supposed to teach their children or wards that: • Wealth acquired by

• Evil pursueth all sinners who have come short of the glory of God or Allah.

But, in contradistinction, a righteous man is always rewarded with divine blessing. So, he never lacks.

Of course, parents shouldn’t in addition ignore to teach their children the letter and spirit of the TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. Moreover, parents are assigned foundational responsibilities for the proper socialization of children.

Hence the bible in Proverb 19:18 orders parents to “chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul

Abubakar Shekau

We therefore have Abubakar Shekau in our hands today because his parents didn’t teach him the true ways of Allah or God. Take your pick. The Koran, bible and several scriptural books are all knowledge banks of how to bring up good children. Nevertheless, my focal interest today will be on what the bible says on this fundamental matter.

vanity and fraud diminishes with time while anyone who gather it through diligent honest labour will have it multiplied by providence several times.

• A person who chooses the companion of the wise is prudent. He survives tribulations but a companion of fools are destroyed in the twinkle of an eye by God or Allah.

“Briefly, the foregoing elucidates the worrisome market cost of the cruel idiosyncrasies of one man called Abubakar Shekau and the massive search for him. Not yet the real, opportunity cost of his insurgency.”

spare for his crying”.

Similarly Proverb 29:15 tells parents that the rod and reproof impart wisdom to a child but a child left to himself bring shame to his parents sooner or later.

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that it is because Abubakar Shekau’s parent’s didn’t take proper care in socializing him that is why he grew up to become a bone stuck in our throats today.

Beyond Abubakar Shekau, however, there are so many other Frankenstein monsters being rolled out the production line by our faulty, decaying families manned by delinquent adult parents these bad days.

Here are two of them.

Enter Matthew Mgbike.

Officials of the NDLEA arrested him on December 9,

2010 for importing hard drugs into the country. He jumped bail during trial but was re-arrested in May 2013 while on the run still for a similar offence. Invariably, he was jailed 3 years for the first offence. Later while serving his imprisonment, he was re-arraigned for the second offence. For which he got 20 years. A case of a child brought up without an inner gyroscope of guilt feeling and public shame!

Still, another Shekau-like Frankenstein monster by name Iweka Nnamdi. He posed as a representative of Aminu Tambuwal, Anyim Pius Anyim, Mike Adenuga and other top shots in Nigeria on his face book. He chatted with ladies and married women lying that he could use his position to offer them lucrative jobs and contracts.

They fell for his bait.

Thereafter, he lured them to his “office” in Lagos hotels where he made love to them under the secret digital eyes of a camcorder hidden in each hotel room.

So after the encounters, he had with him the sex act videos and photographs of all his victims. Subsequently, he used the photographs to blackmail them to pay a given amount of money into his bank account. Some victims complied. Those who didn’t had their photographs posted on the internet. Police arrested him in March 2014 not after he had caused visceral emotional damage to his victims for life and wrecked over 14 marriages!!.

Yes, just name the vocation, trade, profession, office, institution or discipline in life. All of them have been taken over by rampaging Frankenstein monsters produced by 99% of our homes ran by equally Frankenstein parents. The bottom line? Abubakar Shekau is only a sign and symptom of our current defective socialization process in our homes. Na dog dey born dog.

Indeed, the snake of poor parenting is fully here with us. Therefore, killing Abubakar Shekau only amounts to scorching the snake. It lives on with us.

More Frankenstein monsters are still out there. Ali Baba isn’t alone. His “forty thieves” are all over the place and on the march!!.

Science

Classification Of Living Things KINGDOM Monera (prokaryotes) single – celled, motile or non motile organisms, when it is motile, it can move from one place to another, but when it is non motile it means it cannot move, they are microscopic in nature, they have a simple cell structure without a definite nucleus examples here include bacteria blue green algae.

BATERIA Bacteria can only be seen with the aid of a microscope. They are found everywhere in the world, like in the air, soil, water and in living organisms. They range between 0.1-10 ccm in length.

Six different types of bacteria do exist, they include, cocci, streptococci staphylococci, flagillated bacilli, vibrios and spirochiaetes.

Some of these bacteria are able to make food on their own, while some are saprophytic, meaning that they feed on deed decaying organic matter, some are parasitic in nature and are able to cause harm to other organisms.

Most bacteria are able to reproduce by binary fussion, meaning, dividing oneself into two identical daughter cells, which resembles their mother cell. They grow very fast.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE a.

They cause diseases to plants and animals. b.

They bring about decay and improve soil fertility. c.

They are used for industrial processes.

Like the taming of leather, the fermentation of matt and other grains for the brewing and baking in industries.

d.

They aid ruminant animal to digest, their cellulose into cellobiase so that they can derive glucose.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BACTERIA 1.

They are microscopic in native meaning they cannot be seen with our naked eyes, but with the aid of a microscope.

2.

They do not have an organised nucleus, hence they are known as prokaryotic cells.

3.

They lack micochondrion.

4.

The cell wall contains no cellulose hence it is made up of protein and fatty materials.

5.

They are able to reproduce a sexually by binary fission.

6.

They lack an organised Diaxyribonucleu acid CDNA. 7.

They exist in various shapes like cocci which is spuerical, Bacilli which are rod like in shape, spirilla are spirally twisted while vibrios has a comma shape.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE They are found mostly in fresh water bodies.

These are bodies, that do not contain any salt quality, they can also be found in damp places on land locations.

They have chlorophyll, they are able to manufacture their own food, with the aid of sunlight: some blue green algae may exist as single cell or as in colonies examples include the nostoc, Oscillatorig and Anabaena.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ALGAE 1.

They are simple plants that got no roots,

With Oyakhilome Clementina

stems and leaves 2.

All the algaes have chlorophyll, but some of them may mask the chlorophyll with either blue, yellow brown and red pigments.

3.

Majority of them are non cellular while a few of them are multi cellular.

4.

They are mainly aquatic in nature with a few that are fond on damp soils and shady places.

KINGDOM PROTISTA (EUCARYOTES) They are single celled, meaning they are unicellular organisms, they are either motile or non motile organisms. They are much larger than the monerans. The cell structure is more complex with a definite nucleus examples in his group include Amoeba and chlamydo monas.

They are able to move with the aid of a hair like structure known as flagella or alia, or they forming finger, like projections known as pseudopodia which are false feet.

CHLAMYDOMONAS Chlamydomonas is an organism that posses the characteristics of both plant and animal features.

As a plant, it possesses chlorophyll, with the aid of sunlight is able to manufacture its own food. It is able to store excess carbohydrates as starch.

As an animal, it has an eye spot, which researchers feel, is for sight seeing to enable them see an enemy and retracts to another path way.

There is presence of flagella for movement here and there, it can move when it is hungry, searching for food etc. it also has a contractile vacule for osmo-regulation lest it will burst.

Chlamydomonas is spherical or oval in shape, with a semi-celllulose cell wall. It has two flagella, and two contractile vacules for osmoregulation. It also have a nucleus an eye spot that responds to light stimulus and chloroplast, which contains chlorophyll and pyrenoid which have stored starch enclosed in their cytoplasm.

CHARACTERISTIC OF CHLAMYDOMONAS 1.

They are protozoans. Meaning they are primitive, single celledno, brains and they are not well organised, though much larger than the amoeba.

2.

They are either motile or non motile.

3.

They are single celled organisms.

4.

They have a well defined DNA, hence they are referred to as Eukanyotic organisms.

AMOEBA (KINGDOM PROTISTA) They are found in fresh water ponds, they are microscopic in nature, they do not have a backbone hence they are referred to an invertebrates. They are unicellular in nature. They are able to reproduce Assexually by binary fussion. They feed on diatom is, algae, minute celliate of flagellates finally, they are capable of differentiating food particles from non food particles.

Politics THE World Health Organisation (WHO), recently certified Nigeria as a Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) free country.

Guinea worm is prevalent in poverty-stricken areas and contracted by drinking water from ponds or other unprotected and unsafe water sources.

The endemicity of guinea worm in some states of the federation prompted the Federal Government to established the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NIGEP) in 1988.

Records showed that NIGEP started with 653,620 cases when it started operation in 1988.

The previously affected states are Ogun, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Oyo, Enugu and Benue.

As a result of interventions in the areas of massive water supply, treatment of ponds and surveillance, the scourge was greatly reduced.

According to the statistics, in 2005, only 120 cases were reported in six states; this shows a reduction of 99.9 per cent in 16 years.

Nigeria did not record any case of guinea worm since 2008, but had to wait for the mandatory period of six years of zero case, before being certified guinea worm free.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who presented the WHO certificate to President Goodluck Jonathan, said no case of GWD has been recorded in the country for six years.

He said that the country recorded its last case of guinea worm disease in November 2008.

“From 2008 till date, over 900 GWD rumour reports were received and investigated nationwide;

none of the cases was found to be GWD,’’ the minister said.

Responding, Jonathan said that it was a milestone attainment which coincided with the period the “country is marks its centenary”.

He said the achievement further attested to the government’s efforts at ensuring that the country was rid of all kinds of endemic diseases.

“The certification by WHO is a global recognition of how far we have come and the success of the work that has been done to rid our nation of this scourge.

“Eradication of guinea worm disease that has long plagued many parts of our country has placed interminable burden on our citizens.

“As a government, we have been working very hard and today we have received the good news”, he said.

Jonathan said that a lot had also been achieved on wild polio eradication.

He said government would double its efforts to also attain the status of a wild polio free nation.

“Just as we have fought the incidence of guinea worm and succeeded, so are we committed in our fight against HIV and AIDS and many endemic diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and of course, polio.

“While polio is yet to be eliminated in our country, we have seen the impressive results in the control of wild polio virus type three transmissions.

“We are hopeful that transmission of wild polio will be interrupted this year, at least before the end of the year”, the president said.

At a dinner to celebrate the certification, Chukwu said that as a result of the

Celebrating 15 Years Of Uninterrupted Democracy

By CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO

new status, the country had entered the post certification stage.

He said that “GWD surveillance will be fully integrated in the national disease surveillance and publicity structures.’’

The minister said that this would continue until global eradication of the disease is achieved, adding that “ some of our neighbours like Chad and Mali still report GWD “Active supervision of health workers and volunteers will be improved upon as well as raising awareness of communities about cash rewards.

“Nigeria will maintain the

N25,000 cash reward for the case detection and prompt reporting; so far this year, 28 GWD rumour reports have been received and all of them were investigated and none of them was found to be GWD.’’ Former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, whose Yakubu Gowon Centre was a key partner in achieving the feat, said that he was amazed to learn about the large number of GWD cases in Nigeria.

He said that when former U.S. President Jimmy Carter asked him to join in the fight against GWD, he did not hesitate as he felt a sense of duty to join the

“We plead that you increase the allocation of resources to the delivery of services at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level, in addition to increased procurement of commodities that help deliver these services to children.”

campaign.

“When Carter asked me to join him, and I learnt there were about 800,000 cases of GWD in Nigeria during my time, and I did not do anything, my conscience was pricked.

“I said to myself, I must do anything this team wants me to do to ensure the eradication of this debilitating disease.’’

Mr Charles Nzuki, UNICEF Assistant Representative, who spoke at the occasion, stressed the need for previously endemic states to step up potable water supply.

He specifically urged the Ebonyi Government to increase its budgetary allocation to the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RWASSA).

Nzuki picked Ebonyi, because the state was hitherto known as the most endemic GWD state in the country.

Half of the GWD patients when NIGEP started operation were from the areas that now make up Ebonyi.

Nzuki said the appeal

became imperative as the focus on rural water supply and sanitation required stronger engagement through community-led provision of safe drinking water.

We must lay emphasis on the lessons learnt from our common successful partnership in eradicating guinea worm in the state.’’

According to him, UNICEF believes strongly in forging collaborations with governments and affording opportunities for children to live and realise their full potential.

“We plead that you increase the allocation of resources to the delivery of services at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level, in addition to increased procurement of commodities that help deliver these services to children,” he said.

As Nigeria celebrates the eradication of GWD in Nigeria, government at all levels should sustain the provision of potable water to the people, especially those at the rural areas.

(NAN).

International Features

Kim Jong II’s Exploits In Party Building ON June 19, 1964, or 50 years ago, Kim Jong Il (19422011) started working at the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

In the whole period of leading the WPK he raised as the principal task its strengthening into the party of Kim Il Sung (1912-1994), its founder, both in name and reality, and put it into effect.

He formulated the revolutionary idea, Juche idea, authored by Kim Il Sung as the only guiding ideology of the WPK, and proclaimed the modelling of the whole society on the Juche idea as its highest programme.

Thanks to his guidance, the WPK has developed into a body ideologically pure, organizationally integrated and unified in action, into a body in which the monolithic ideological system and monolithic leadership system of the leader are firmly established.

In those days, owing to the manoeuvres of modern revisionists, the authority of the leaders was undermined in the ruling parties in several socialist countries, and the socialist movement of the world was undergoing twists and turns. However, the WPK consolidated as firm as a rock its organizational and ideological unity and cohesion with Kim Il Sung at the centre true to his cause of party building, and this was a valuable fruit of Kim Jong Il’s thoroughgoing outlook on the leader, unparalled insight, principled and resolute political decision and seasoned leadership ability.

Kim Jong Il built the WPK into a party which had formed an integral whole with the masses of the people, bears full responsibility for people’s destiny and faithfully serves them.

Raising the strengthening of the blood-sealed ties between the WPK and the people and the consolidation of its mass foundation as an important principle in its building and a matter that has bearing on its very existence, he saw to it that all its organizations and officials thoroughly implemented its mass line and always went among the people to live and work as their servants.

True to his benevolent politics and all-embracing politics, the WPK successfully achieved the singlehearted unity of the leader, the Party and the masses for the first time in history in the midst of worldwide political upheavals, turned the whole society into a great harmonious socialist family, and displayed the might of an invincible party which leads to victory the cause of socialist construction enjoying the absolute support and trust of the broad sections of the masses at all times.

Kim Jong Il developed the WPK into a powerful political force that leads the revolutionary cause of Songun.

He was on the road of Songun-based revolutionary leadership with Kim Il Sung in his early years and was deeply interested in the development of the Korean People’s Army. He realized definite leadership of the WPK over the army and led the latter to carry out the line of modelling itself on the Juche idea.

Noteworthy is that he formulated Songun politics as the main mode of socialist politics in the 1990s as demanded by the changed environment and the developing situation, and further developed the WPK into a political organization that leads the Songun revolution.

Having identified Songun as the lifeline of the Party and the revolution and solved all the problems based on the principle of giving precedence to military affairs, he raised the KPA as the main force for the socialist cause and led it energetically to the successful fulfilment of its mission and role as the standard-bearer of the Songun revolution as he continued the long march of Songun.

He ensured that all Party members learned from the political and ideological traits of the service personnel and the revolutionary and militant working spirit, the method of Party’s political work in the army and its living examples of cooperation between military and political officers were popularized among Party organizations and its officials, thus markedly improving the spirit of the

revolution, organization, discipline and unity of the WPK and enhancing its leading authority and role in the revolution and construction.

Kim Jong Il led the service personnel and people of the DPRK to acquire formidable spiritual strength so that they could bring about an epoch-making changes and miracles in implementing the cause of the WPK, the cause of building a thriving socialist country.

Having turned Party work definitely into work with people, work with their thoughts and feelings, in his early years, he led the WPK to hold fast to people’s thinking as the key in the revolution and construction, raised the political and ideological work as the first process of all undertakings to enhance in every way the revolutionary zeal and creative activeness of the masses and, by relying on them, vigorously advanced the gigantic historic cause of transforming nature, society and man as required by the Juche idea.

In the mid-1990s he made public Giving Priority to Ideological Work Is Essential for Accomplishing Socialism, Socialism Is a Science and other works and kindled more fiercely the flames of ideological revolution to make the service personnel and people cherish a conviction in the sure victory of socialism. It provided a powerful guarantee for win victory defending socialism and building a thriving country.

Thanks to the far-sighted leadership of Kim Jong Il who devoted primary efforts to the strengthening of the ideological position in the revolution and construction, the service personnel and people of the DPRK, with indomitable mental strength, could completely change the looks of the country, accelerate putting the national economy on a modern and informatic footing and ushered in a heyday in developing the country’s science and technology and building socialist culture under difficult conditions.

The exploits Kim Jong Il performed for building the WPK will shine forever together with socialist Korea which is winning victory after victory.

Event Samuel Adegboyega Varsity Appoints 1st Professor

OGWA - Samuel Adegboyega University, a tertiary institution of The Apostolic Church, Nigeria, LAWNA Territory, situated in Ogwa, Esan West Local Government Area, Edo State has appointed her first Professor three years after inception.

Professor (Mrs) F.M Ogbe, B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD has institutional, national and international experience in inter- and multi-disciplinary research and projects.

Professor Ogbe has 27 journal articles, 14 of which are published in foreign and indexed journals and 10 in local/national journals. She authored a book published by the United Nations University Institute for National Resources in Africa based in Accra, and a chapter in an edited book published

by Chapman and Hall, London. She has also written

several reports and monographs.

She provided useful information on the Nigerian flora to visiting scientists from the University of Frankfurt (1989), was research contact for the American National Academy of Sciences (Lost Crops of Africa. Volume 1: Grains 1996); has consulted and acted as resource person for national and international scientific meetings and training workshops. She contributed to the successes of the visit to Edo State in 2009 of the evaluation team on Plant Resources of Tropical Africa (PTOTA) project under the auspices of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) in the Netherlands.

As a foundation member, College of Research

Associates, United Nations University/Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, she coordinated

interdepartmental and interuniversity research projects.

She has numerous reports,

Prof.(Mrs.) Folusho May Ogbe, Professor of Botany.

monographs and scholarly publications in national and international journals. Her current research interests are the conservation and utilization of biodiversity and survey of indigenous knowledge for community development. She has supervised numerous undergraduate, Masters and PhD research projects.

Before her elevation into this prestigious class, she was

an Associate Professor in the University and HOD, Biological Sciences Department.

Her elevation to Professorial chair was approved during the recent meeting of the Governing Council on 7th, March, 2014.

Her elevation has further increased the list of seasoned Professors the young University flaunts with.

“Professor (Mrs) F.M Ogbe, B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD has institutional, national and international experience in interand multi-disciplinary research and projects. Professor Ogbe has 27 journal articles, 14 of which are published in foreign and indexed journals and 10 in local/national journals.”

International News Hagel: Captive’s Life In Danger BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said yesterday the military operation to free Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from the Taliban in exchange for the release of five Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detainees was not relayed to Congress because officials believed the soldier’s life was in danger.

In his first extensive public comments about Saturday’s operation, Hagel said intelligence the U.S. had gathered suggested that Bergdahl’s “safety and health were both in jeopardy, and in particular his health was deteriorating.”

Taliban members handed Bergdahl over to special operations forces in eastern Afghanistan, and later in the day the detainees were flown from the Guantanamo detention center to Qatar.

The Pentagon did not give Congress the required 30-day notice for the release of detainees.

Hagel said it was the administration’s judgment the military had to move quickly to get Bergdahl out, “essentially to save his life.”

He said it was the unanimous CHANGE OF NAME

UWAGBOE – I, formerly Catherine Amanosi Osayuki Uwagboe now wish to be known, called and addressed as Osarugue Catherine Uwagboe.

Former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

consensus of the National Security Council, and the president has the authority to order such a release under Article 2 of the Constitution.

Only a handful of people knew about the operation and Hagel said “we couldn’t afford any leaks anywhere, for obvious reasons.”

Speaking to reporters traveling with him just hours after Bergdahl was flown from Afghanistan to a military medical center in Germany, Hagel said the special operations forces conducting the operation took every precaution, using intelligence gathering, surveillance, well-positioned security assets and a lot of helicopters to ensure that things did not go wrong.

“No shots were fired. There was no violence,” said Hagel. “It went as well as we not only expected and planned, but I think as well as it could have ...The timing was right. The pieces came together.”

Hagel said he was hopeful the prisoner exchange could lead to a breakthrough with the Taliban.

He said the focus of the operation was on the successful return of Bergdahl, but “maybe this could provide some possible new bridge for new negotiations.”

The U.S. has long argued that the best way to a successful outcome in Afghanistan included reconciliation with the Taliban insurgents.

Asked if this type of swap might embolden other militants to take hostages, Hagel said that this operation was a prisoner exchange. And he said terrorist groups are already kidnapping young school girls, business people and other innocent people.

EVBUABOGUN COMMUNITY

Km 8, Benin-Sapele Road, Ward 09, Ikpoba - Okha Local Government Area, Benin City

IMPORTANT PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF VERIFICATION OF ALLOCATED PLOTS (YET TO BE DEVELOPED) IN EVBUABOGUN COMMUNITY, BENIN CITY This is to inform the General Public and indigenes of the above named Community that the Odionwere in Council had authorized the verification of all undeveloped plots allocated to persons in the Community from 1985 to 2013.

Those concerned are to bring their Allocation/Title Documents to the Verification Committee set up for that purpose, with effect from 01/06/2014 to 31/12/2014.

Any body claiming to own any undeveloped parcel(s) of Land in the community who fails to come forward with proof of Ownership by production of authentic Title Documents to that effect before the Verification Committee shall be doing so at his or her own risk.

Time: Venue:

10am – 4pm (each day) Verification office c/oYouth Chairman’s office, Evbuabogun Above all, no complaints shall be entertained after the expiration of the stipulated date.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.

Hagel declined to say whether he believes Bergdahl was attempting to desert the Army or go absent without leave when he walked away from his unit and disappeared nearly five years ago.

“Our first priority is assuring his well-being and his health and getting him reunited with his family,” Hagel said. “Other circumstances that may develop and questions — those will be dealt with later.”

He added that his own time in Vietnam and the fact that he knew people like Sen. John McCain of Arizona who was a prisoner of war, gives him a personal connection to such an exchange.

“This is a very happy day for the Bergdahl family,” Hagel said. “It’s a very important day for our troops and our country.”

Forensic experts examine the site of a shooting at the Jewish museum in Brussels

US Soldier Flies To Freedom

A f g h a n i s t a n / WASHINGTON - The sole American prisoner of war held in Afghanistan was flown to a U.S. military hospital in Germany yesterday, after he was dramatically freed in a swap deal for five Taliban militants who were released from the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl had been held for nearly five years and his release, following years of on-and-off negotiations, suddenly became possible after harder-line factions of the Afghan Taliban shifted course and agreed to back it, according to U.S. officials.

A U.S. defense official said Bergdahl was able to walk and became emotional on his way to freedom, after being handed over to U.S. special forces in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday.

“Once he was on the helicopter, he wrote on a paper plate, ‘SF?’” the official said, referring to the abbreviation for special forces. “The operators replied loudly: ‘Yes, we’ve been looking for you for a long time.’

And at this point, Sergeant Bergdahl broke down.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he hoped the successful prisoner exchange

deal might lead to breakthroughs in reconciliation with the militants.

“We had been ... working to find ways to open up some possibilities with the Taliban to try to get Sergeant Bergdahl back. This didn’t just start,” Hagel told reporters traveling with him on a routine visit to Afghanistan.

“This has been an ongoing effort that our government has been involved in at every level ... We found some openings ... that made sense to us,” he added.

“The timing was right, the pieces came together.”

Hagel later met with more than a dozen special operations soldiers at the giant Bagram military base outside Kabul and thanked them for their part in operations to recover Bergdahl.

Addressing a larger gathering of troops in a hangar at the base, Hagel said, “This is a happy day for our country, because we got one of our own back.”

Bergdahl, 28, was handed over about 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, a senior official said.

The U.S. forces, who had flown in by helicopter, were on the ground very briefly, said the officials, who would not specify

PARIS - A man has been arrested in southeast France in the investigation of a shooting at a Jewish museum in Brussels that left at least three people dead, the Paris prosecutor’s office said yesterday.

Amid reports that the suspect had joined Islamic extremists in Syria before returning to Europe, French President Francois Hollande promised yesterday to fight homegrown radicals who return from the war-ravaged Middle Eastern country with violent plans.

European authorities have struggled to stem the flow of young Europeans who are joining the fight in Syria against President Bashar Assad, and are especially afraid that they will stage attacks when they get home.

The suspect was arrested Friday during a customs inspection at a train and bus station in the port city of Marseille, an official with the Paris prosecutor’s office said.

The man had arrived in Marseille on a bus from Amsterdam that had stopped in Brussels, she said.

The man was found to have a revolver and an automatic weapon of the same type used in the Brussels shootings May 24, and ballistics analyses are under way to determine if it is the same weapon, she said. A police official said the suspect is a 29year-old man from the northern city of Roubaix, near Belgium.

Both officials were not authorized to be publicly named when speaking of ongoing investigations. Prosecutors in Paris and Brussels were expected to give a news conference yesterday on the matter.

The suspect has been handed to anti-terrorist investigators and could be held at least through tomorrow under French counterterrorism law.

Hundreds of people have left from France alone to fight in Syria’s 3-year-old civil war with Islamic extremists. The French government recently introduced new measures to try to stop

the precise location.

“Fortunately ... no shots were fired, there was no violence,” said Hagel. “It went as well, not only as we had expected and planned but I think as well as it could have.”

The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Joseph Dunford, spoke of the sense of excitement that swept the headquarters of the international military force there as news of the successful operation filtered through.

“You almost got choked up,” he said. “It was pretty extraordinary. It has been almost five years and he is home.”

President Barack Obama hailed the release in a brief appearance with Bergdahl’s parents, Bob and Jani, in the White House Rose Garden, saying that “while Bowe was gone, he was never forgotten”.

Bergdahl had already left Afghanistan when Hagel touched down at Bagram on Sunday, and a U.S. defense official later said the newly released POW had arrived at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

Another defense official said it was expected that after

Suspect In Brussels Jewish Museum Arrested disaffected youth from leaving in the first place, and better track those who go to Syria and come back.

Hollande said those efforts would be “amplified” in the coming months, without elaborating.

“The whole government is mobilized to follow the jihadists, and prevent them from being able to cause harm” especially when they come home to France or elsewhere in Europe, he said on an official visit to Normandy.

The Brussels killings, which came on the eve of European parliament elections in which far right parties had a strong showing, led Belgian officials to raise anti-terror measures and raised fears of rising antiSemitism.

Two Israeli citizens and a French citizen were killed.

Video of the attack showed an athletic man with cap walking determinedly into the small Jewish Museum. The whole assault took a minute at most.

treatment in Germany he would be transferred to another military medical facility in San Antonio, Texas.

Bergdahl, who is from Idaho, was the only known missing U.S. soldier in the Afghan war that was launched soon after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States to force the Taliban - accused of sheltering al Qaeda militants - from power.

He was captured under unknown circumstances in eastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009, about two months after arriving in the country.

In exchange for Bergdahl’s freedom, the U.S. released five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo. They were being flown by U.S. military aircraft to Qatar, the Gulf emirate that acted as an intermediary in the negotiations.

Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah declined to give details about the conditions attached to the Taliban prisoners’ release, saying only that Qatar got involved in the case because it was a “humanitarian cause”.

“The negotiations were long but we managed to succeed,” he told a news conference in Doha.

U.S. officials referred to the release of the Taliban detainees as a transfer and noted they would be subject to certain restrictions in Qatar. One of the officials said that would include a minimum one-year ban on them traveling outside of Qatar as well as monitoring of their activities.

Those assurances were greeted with scepticism by U.S. Republicans and some Afghan officials, who voiced concerns that the men, who were described as senior Taliban figures, would rejoin the insurgency against the government in Kabul.

“They will be very dangerous people, because they have connections with regional and international terror organizations around the world,” a top Afghan intelligence official told Reuters.

That view was echoed on the streets of Kabul. “It will strengthen the insurgency,” said Sayed Najibullah, a tailor in the Afghan capital. “President Obama showed that his soldier’s life was more important than a country’s national interest.”

There was no immediate comment from the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who Hagel said had not been informed of the prisoner exchange in advance.

Plane Crash: Philadelphia Inquirer Co-Owner Dead

PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner Lewis Katz was killed along with six other people in a fiery plane crash in Massachusetts, his business partner said yesterday.

Harold H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest confirmed Katz’s death to The Associated Press, saying he was informed by their lawyer, Richard Sprague. The pair bought out their partners last week with an $88 million bid for the company, which also operates the Philadelphia Daily News and the news website Philly.com.

The Gulfstream IV crashed as it was leaving Hanscom Field at about 9:40 p.m. Saturday for Atlantic City, New Jersey. There were no survivors.

The identities of the other victims weren’t immediately released. Nancy Phillips, Katz’s

longtime companion and city editor at the Inquirer, was not on board.

Officials gave no information on the cause of the crash. They said the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

When bidding on the company, Katz and Lenfest vowed to fund in-depth journalism to return the Inquirer to its former glory and to retain its editor, Bill Marimow.

“It’s going to be a lot of hard work. We’re not kidding ourselves. It’s going to be an enormous undertaking,” Katz said then, noting that advertising and circulation revenues had fallen for years. “Hopefully, (the Inquirer) will get fatter.”

Katz, who grew up in Camden, New Jersey, made his fortune investing in the Kinney Parking empire and the Yankees Entertainment and Sports

Network in New York. He once owned the NBA’s New Jersey Nets and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and was a major donor to Temple University, his alma mater.

The fight over the future of the city’s two major newspapers was sparked last year by a decision to fire the Inquirer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning editor. Katz and Lenfest wanted a judge to block the firing. Katz sued a fellow

Iran Executes Man Despite International Pressure TEHRAN – Iran yesterday hanged a man said to be affiliated to an exiled opposition group, state media reported, despite international pressure on the Islamic republic to halt the execution.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Gholamreza Khosravi Savadjani was convicted of “waging war against God” (moharebeh) by helping the People’s Mujahedeen Organisation of Iran (PMOI).

The announcement of the hanging came just hours after Amnesty International said Khosravi Savadjani’s trial in 2010 had been unfair.

The rights group said the condemned man’s family were informed by prison officials on Saturday that they must go to a jail west of Tehran, sparking fears his execution may be imminent.

Khosravi Savadjani was until then being held in solitary confinement at Evin Prison in the capital. Death row prisoners in Iran are generally transferred to isolation units before their executions take place.

Prior to his death, Amnesty said the execution would be a breach of domestic and international law, as Khosravi Savadjani — held since 2008 — should have benefited from a subsequent law that imposed lighter penalties for the crimes he was convicted of.

The PMOI was founded in the 1960s to oppose the pro-western shah.

After the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the shah, the PMOI took up arms against Iran’s clerical rulers and Tehran holds it responsible for murdering thousands of Iranian civilians and officials.

Iran says PMOI members currently in exile in Iraq should be extradited to face charges.

A man walks past the site of Wednesday’s car bomb attack in Baghdad

owner, powerful Democratic powerbroker George Norcross, saying his ownership rights had been trampled. The dispute culminated last week when Katz and Lenfest, a former cable magnate-turned-philanthropist, bought out their partners.

Lenfest said yesterday that the deal to buy out the company will be delayed but will proceed.

Three previous owners of the company, including Norcross, said in a joint statement that they were deeply saddened to hear of Katz’s death.

held by Islamic militants yesterday in the eastern city of Benghazi, a senior military official said, apparently as part of a renegade general’s ongoing offensive.

The official said the bombing targeted a base belonging to a local militia group called February 17 and the area of Sidi Faraj, where members of the extremist organization Ansar alShariah are located.

An official from Ansar alShariah said no one was hurt in the bombing and claimed that one of two rockets fired by the aircraft hit a car dealership.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.

The aircraft apparently launched the attack on behalf of a renegade general leading a

military campaign against Islamists dominating Libya’s political scene. Gen. Khalifa Hifter has vowed to crush the Islamists and many military units back him.

Hifter claims to have more than 75 percent of Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, under his control. He also says he is getting help from moderate Islamists who were breaking away from their militias and joining his forces. The eastern city was the birthplace of the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The 70-year-old Hifter is based in Benghazi, where he has been leading an armed revolt since late last month in what is perhaps the biggest challenge yet to Libya’s weak central government and fledgling security forces since Gadhafi’s ouster.

Jet Bombs Islamists’ TRIPOLI, Libya - A Libyan Base air force jet bombed positions

Iran Guards Commander Killed

A Thai soldier secures the area with a machine gun outside a shopping mall where protesters gather for an anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday.

TEHRAN - A commander from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has been killed in Syria, media said on Saturday, a disclosure that runs counter to Tehran’s insistence it is not fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

Reports that Abdollah Eskandari died while “defending” a Shiite shrine emerged earlier this week but neither the elite military unit nor Iran’s foreign ministry have passed comment.

However, journalists reported that a funeral service would be held for the commander yesterday in the city of Shiraz.

Eskandari was formerly a commander of the Guards’ ground forces and also headed a state-run charity in southern Iran that helps war veterans and

after seven months of demonstrations that had triggered sporadic violence and left the country’s political rivals in a stalemate.

But the junta that took power has launched a major campaign to suppress dissent, summoning politicians, journalists and academics — the majority of them perceived as being critical of the new regime.

Since the coup, small groups of pro-democracy protesters have come out nearly every day, marching through Bangkok and sometimes scuffling with soldiers. No injuries have been reported so far.

The junta has issued stern warnings calling on the

said. “There shouldn’t be any coups, but they still keep happening ... because Thais are afraid” to speak out.

Ratchana was one of several hundred protesters who gathered on an elevated walkway beside the Terminal 21 shopping mall, chanting “Freedom!” and “Democracy!”

Scores of police and helmeted soldiers with riot shields came to the scene, and the mall’s owners shut the nine-story complex and asked customers to leave for their safety. Two army trucks, including a Humvee mounted with a machine gun, parked on a street outside, but moved away after crowds booed them.

Thai Protesters Defile Junta’s Ban

BANGKOK - Thailand’s ruling junta deployed thousands of security forces on the streets of Bangkok on Sunday to thwart another round of small-scale protests denouncing last month’s military coup. Hundreds of demonstrators came out and several were detained, but there was no violence.

Fears over possible unrest, however, prompted a major downtown shopping mall to close and authorities temporarily shut down several subway and elevated train stations near where protests could have materialized.

Thailand has been calm since the army overthrew the nation’s elected government on May 22, saying it had to restore order

demonstrators to stop because it sees their actions as destabilizing, but it has not employed force to stop them. On Sunday, authorities said about 5,700 soldiers and police were deployed at key intersections in Bangkok to stop demonstrators from massing.

The protesters say they should have the right to express themselves freely.

“I am here because I don’t want a coup. I want elections and democracy,” said a 66-year-old female protester who asked to be identified only as Ratchana because of concerns over being detained.

“This is the 21st century,” she

families of fallen soldiers.

Neither the circumstances of his killing nor details about his role in the Syrian civil war — where Iran has staunchly backed the Assad regime — have been officially confirmed.

Since the conflict’s outbreak in March 2011, Iran has provided Damascus with intelligence, material and military advisers.

But Iran insists it has never sent combat troops to Syria, rejecting such claims made by mostly Sunni rebels fighting to overthrow Assad.

Despite the denials, Iranian media occasionally reports the deaths of Iranian volunteer fighters killed in Syria.

Among them was Guards commander Mohammad Jamali Paqale who was killed in November while “defending” the Shiite holy site of Zeinab shrine in Damascus.

Iran is backing Assad to win a third seven-year term in a tomorrow election that rebels, their Western and Arab backers and critics are dismissing as a farce.

The poll will only be held in government-controlled areas inside Syria and not in large swathes of territory that are in rebel hands.

“This election will strengthen the legitimacy of the Bashar alAssad government,” Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior foreign policy adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said Friday.

“His people have realised (Assad) has prevented Syria from disintegrating or falling to occupation,” Velayati added.

The Syrian conflict has killed more than 160,000 people.

Sport Features

How Prepared Is Team Nigeria?

2014 Commonwealth Games:

SPORTS stakeholders are worried that Nigeria has not started serious preparations for the Commonwealth Games scheduled to hold in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August.3.

They say that unless government releases funds for the preparation, the country may witness another dismal performance, similar to the London Olympics, in which the country won no medal.

Just recently, Solomon Ogba, the 2nd Vice President, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), said that the country may call for another sports summit after the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as a result of the shoddy preparation.

Nigeria is competing in athletics, table tennis, wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, shooting and para-sports.

According to Ogba, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has not released any money to the various sports federations to prepare athletes for the

By EMMANUEL AFONNE

Commonwealth Games.

“We have two months to the Commonwealth Games and funds are yet to be released; at this stage, it is only President Jonathan that can rescue the situation.

“If not, we are going to come back for another retreat to ask what happened and why we didn’t do well.

“We have all it takes to do well if the right things are done; the budget was not approved early and that is an issue. “ Even if the budget was not approved early, we know that some level of expenditure can also be done once the budget has gone to the National Assembly.

“There is an approval, but the money is not getting there and I don’t think Mr President knows; so except he intervenes at this stage and the NSC gets money to prepare for the games, there is nothing anybody can do and it will be the same old story,’’ Ogba said.

President Jonathan had early this year promised to

make available about N4 billion to the NSC for the country’s preparation and participation in international competitions this year.

The Director General of the NSC, Gbenga Elegbeleye told newsmen in Abuja recently that the grant would carter for the Commonwealth Games, Africa Youth Games, Youth Olympics and the ECOWAS Games.

“We have a special fund approved by Mr President for us to prosecute all these games; it’s about N4 billion.

“The money does not cover preparation and participation of the Super Eagles for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil,’’ Elegbeleye said.

Unfortunately, about four months after the promise, not

even a dime has been released for the preparation.

Mr John Peters, an umpire with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), said that the federation was preparing athletes for the games without any support from government.

According to Peters, NTTF President, Waheed Oshodi, who is also the Commissioner for Sports in Lagos is leaving no stone unturned to ensure training of the athletes, adding that the “NTTF boss never waits for the NSC to prepare his team for the games.’’

He pointed out that the numerous competitions embarked upon by the federation, including the just concluded World Team Table Tennis Championship in Japan, was geared towards preparing a formidable team

for the games.

Daniel Igali, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), has decried the way Nigerian athletes were preparing for the games.

He said it was abnormal for athletes to prepare on their own for competitions such as the Commonwealth Games.

“It is in the best interest of Nigeria that we adequately prepare our athletes because other countries are not sleeping. “ I cannot give assurance of winning medals because we are not ready, you don’t go to the Commonwealth Games of about 70 nations competing without being prepared.

“We are not adequately prepared; anyone who tells you that we are, is playing politics and I don’t want to play politics with anybody,’’ Igali said.

Tony Ubani, the Public Relations Officer of the NOC has cautioned some federations on the danger of

using their money to prepare their athletes for the games.

He pointed out that questions might be asked if Team Nigeria athletes perform below expectation at the games and urged the government to ensure it get its priorities right.

According to Ubani, another summit might not be unavoidable after the games, which he said was a basis for assessment of the Nigeria’s preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

“If you remember, immediately after the London 2012 fiasco when Nigeria went medal-less, there were so much calls for reorganisation. The President himself rose and of course a sports summit was organised that was to prevent a reoccurrence.

“We are talking about the youths and something that gives us the image; this is the time when government should pay more attention to sports,’’ he said.

“ I cannot give assurance of winning medals because we are not ready, you don’t go to the Commonwealth Games of about 70 nations competing without being prepared. We are not adequately prepared; anyone who tells you that we are, is playing politics and I don’t want to play politics with anybody.’’

Recreating Life At Benin Recreation Club

BY MATTHEW OKAGHA AFTER a day’s hardwork, a man needs a modicum of rest and a place he can exercise his body, wine and dine in a most convivial atmosphere.

It is a perfect way to Benin Recreation Club exercise the body, burn off located on the fringe of some calories and generate Ikpokpan Road, GRA, Benin enough insulin, thus City offers the ideal place for promoting a healthy living. men and women who seek to There is a pervading spirit recreate their lives through of camaraderie and untainted sporting activities and bond bond of friendship as the of friendship. members later gathered The Club boasts of such together for the day’s feasting recreational facilities like which is celebrated with the Billiard Room, Lawn Tennis slaughtering of a goat, courts, mini football pitch, prepared with yam and Table Tennis and a standard guzzling beer of assorted swimming pool. brands.

Founded in the 50s as a The club’s president, Prince Pan-African Club, the Benin Tony Momodu later told Recreation Club has the OBSERVER in a chat that the Benin monarch as its Grand beauty and tradition of the Patron right from its Benin Recreation Club is inception, and membership galvanized with its history. spans across persons from all He disclosed that the Benin walks of life.

Recreation Club was founded On this Saturday morning, by a group of Nigerian activities at the club were at technocrats and businessmen a frenzy height. as a direct response to the A couple of members discrimination meted to them amongst whom was a former by the white expatriates who Speaker of the Edo State established and ran the Benin House of Assembly, Hon. Club in the 30s and 40s.

David Iyoha were in one of “In the early 30s and 40s, the lawn tennis courts, the Benin Club closed to swinging their rackets and Government House used to chasing the ball in the court. be an all white affairs. But Later, the current President when the economy began to of the club, Prince Tony throw up some middle class Momodu; a lawyer and Nigerians they too wanted a politician joined a number of little bit of recreational other club members who had activities but they were converged for the weekly barred from using such football programme. facilities which were located Having laced their boots, in their own domain. So that they ran around, dribbling led to the establishment of and kicking the ball with Benin Recreation club and dexterity in a five-a-side that is why you find that the match that lasted for several Oba of Benin remains our minutes.

Members of the club in a five-a-side football match.

Grand Patron”, Prince Momodu explained.

The President further explained that the philosophy of the club is anchored on creating health programmes through recreational activities He said membership of the Club is open to any body with the token payment of membership registration fee.

He noted that Benin Club is unique in many ways but most especially because of the exciting bond of friendship and the noninhibiting atmosphere of laughter that pervades the club on a daily basis.

“Here at Benin Recreation Club. It is like a family, we are our brothers’ keepers and we do not show arrogance”, he asserted.

President, Benin Recreation Club, Prince Tony Momodu (left) speaking with NIGERIAN OBSERVER Group Sports Editor, Mr. Matthew Okagha.

The ‘Legend’ Hon. David Iyoha sweating it out on the tennis court at the Benin Recreation Club.

Prince Momodu pointed out that life is too precious to live in boredom, adding that “here at Benin Recreation Club we try to recreate and enjoy life”.

On their part, the Club’s Social Secretary, Mr. Osahon Imaru, C.S.P Oriabure John and Hon. David Iyoha who is popularity referred to as the ‘legend’ in the club, said their membership of the club has opened up a whole new vista for an exciting experience in their health and social life.

“Look at me, I have burnt off excess sugar in my body and that means am free from such ailments as diabetes,” Hon. Iyoja stated.

CSP Oriabure said he enjoys the atmosphere in the club and has made new friends since joining the Benin Recreation club.

Some club members enjoying the excitement of the football match.

Edo Clinch Gold At Dangote Gymnastics Championships TEAM Edo on Saturday in Abuja clinched gold in the junior male category of the 5th Alhaji Aliko Dangote Open Gymnastics Championships.

The overall team results in the junior boys category saw Team Edo clinching gold with 40.70 points.

Competition in the junior boys category commenced on Friday and ended on Saturday.

Anambra took silver with 35.70 points, while Team Lagos settled for bronze with 34.45 points.

Ten states and four clubs are taking part in this year’s edition of the championships holding at the gymnasium of the National Stadium, Abuja.

The states are Lagos, Anambra, Edo, Oyo, Gombe, Ondo, Bayelsa, Rivers and Ekiti as well as the FCT. The participating clubs are Tony International Gymnastics Clubs I and II of Abuja, B and G Gymnastics Club of Ogun, Bosco International Club of Plateau and Eagle Gymnastics Club of Lagos.

The championships are in three categories, with the junior championship for gymnasts for five to 11 years.

The intermediate championship is for 11 to 16 years, while the senior category is for those who are 16 years and above.

In the individual performance category, Eniola Oladeji of Lagos was best all-round in the junior boys’ category with 15.25 points.

He posted a score of 13.15 in the floor exercise and 2.10 in the vault to finish first.

Efenadju Itobori of Edo won the silver medal, after amassing a best all-round record of 14.55.

He scored 12.95 points in the floor exercise and 1.60 in the vault.

Etim Eno-Obonga also of Edo, settled for bronze after amassing a best all-round record of 13.80, posting a score of 12.40 in the floor exercise and 1.40 in the vault.

The championships, which began on May 29 ended yesterday.

DeGale Earns World Title Shot

JAMES DeGale became the number1 contender to the IBF super-middleweight title with a convincing fourth-round stoppage win over Brandon Gonzales.

DeGale, who recently joined Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing stable after three years of career stalling under Frank Warren and Mick Hennessy, looked focused and motivated as he picked his shots against the capable American.

The chief-support bout to Carl Froch v George Groves, to determine the next challenge for the main event’s victor, was regarded as evenly-matched and tough to call prior to the bell.

But DeGale marked his return to his home town with three rounds of cerebral and superior fighting before amping up the physicality with vicious rights and lefts in the fourth to register

Froch Kos

Froch KOs Groves In Blockbuster Rematch

CARL Froch silenced the doubters with an eighth-round knockout of George Groves in their huge super-middleweight title rematch at Wembley Stadium. finding success. A far cry The two British boxers had many split as to who was ahead after the first seven rounds, but a jawrattling right from the champion in the eighth round ended any dispute over who was the deserving winner of their first fight in November.

Froch also won that one, albeit in controversial circumstances when the referee withdrew Groves rather hastily in the ninth.

Froch will now fight James DeGale in the next 120 days after ‘Chunky’ emphatically won his title eliminator in the chief support bout.

R1: Tentative start before a rabid atmosphere, with both men using the jab and

from the first bout’s opening three minutes. 109 Groves R2: Froch is warned for hurling Groves to the canvas. Though he’s more of an aggressor in this round, he continues to be caught coming in by the challenger and Carl’s face has reddened. 20-18 Groves R3: Roars as Froch lands hard on Groves in the first minute. Further exchanges are more even but the champion edges his first round of the fight. 29-28 Groves R4: Though Froch traps his opponent on the ropes late on, Groves’ technique proves too much for him for much of the fourth and he takes more choice shots to

Boxing Champion Dies In Swimming Pool

A medalist in the boxing event at the just-concluded Ibile Games, Mujib Philips, died on Saturday in the swimming pool at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park in Yaba, Lagos.

Philips died during the Boxing Hall of Fame championship event which holds every last Saturday of the month.

Philips won a gold medal at the Ibile Games, hosted by the Lagos State Government to showcase talented athletes in Local Governments Areas in the state.

The boxer was confirmed dead by the medical doctor in charge of the Lagos State Sports Council, Dr Akin George, who also invited the state’s emergency ambulance service, LASAMBUS. “The body of the deceased would be taken to the appropriate place for a post-

mortem examination to determine the cause of his death,’’ George said.

The Manager of the swimming pool, Rahaman Fadugba, said that he was not around when the boxer came to the pool.

He disclosed, however, that security guards had challenged Philips, when the medalist came to the pool side.

“I was told the security guards challenged him at the gate and he told them that he was one of the boxers for the Hall of Fame event and a Lagos State champion.

“I ordered some of the divers at the swimming pool, who then went under the water and brought his body out from the water immediately. I sent for the doctor,’’ Fadugba said One of the divers, Idowu Ephanus, said that the deceased

jumped into the deepest part of the pool around 3:30 p.m. and it was later discovered that his body was not found on the water.

“We immediately jumped inside the water and brought him out and immediately invited the doctor to the sports centre who on arrival certified him dead,” Ephanus said An eyewitness, Tobi Olayinka, told newsmen that he had discussions with Philips before he went to the pool side.

“We sat together and we were discussing about boxing generally and he said he was a champion during the Ibile Games and that he won gold.

“He said that he would like to train in a cool area such as the surrounding of the swimming pool,” Olayinka said.

the face. 39-37 Groves R5: First big Cobra flurry of the fight after a minute of the fifth, though Groves soaks much of it onto his guard. The champ also finishes the round stronger.

48-47 Groves R6: It looks as though Froch is slowly turning a cerebral bout into the battle he prefers. Groves has a small cut. 57-57 tie R7: Groves rocks an increasingly-confident champion early in the seventh. Froch responds by putting Groves in danger on the ropes with 30 seconds left but ate more lands than the challenger overall. 6766 Groves R8: It’s over! Froch lines up Groves for a vicious right hand which drops the challenger hard. The referee waves it off while George lays hurt on the floor.

Carl Froch: “This is the biggest fight I’ve been involved with. I’ve been in the ring with some of the world’s best but let’s be honest, that bout was neck and neck. It only takes one punch sometimes in boxing and when you have a punch like mine it can make all the difference. Unfortunately for George he was on the receiving end of that but he can be proud of his performance.”

George Groves: “I’m fine now. That’s boxing though.

I’ll hold my hands up: Carl caught me with a shot, but I’ll bounce back. I feel like I’ve let myself down somewhat but congratulations to Carl. I think I was ahead on the scorecards and maybe I can earn a third fight against him one day.”

The mark of a champion

– Even a sport as open to interpretation as boxing hasn’t seen too many fights as split as that one. Fans and experts alike all differed over who had the upper hand over seven rounds and thus, both can be proud of their efforts on the big stage.

However, Froch’s vicious right-hand finish was what separates great boxers from the world’s top 10 poundfor-pound.

Froch faces another Londoner next – Groves’ longtime nemesis James DeGale. DeGale looked classy in picking apart Brandon Gonzales but has spent years out of the spotlight and will need to be at his very best to even surprise ‘The Cobra’ as Groves did in their first clash.

Groves finds himself in a precarious predicament.

The two Froch defeats have at least established him as a domestic name, but like Saul Alvarez when he was outclassed by Floyd Mayweather, needs to ensure his bounce-back is done perfectly.

DeGale

two knockdowns.

The second time DeGale dropped his man in the dying embers of the fourth, the referee saw no reason to allow the dazed and hurt Gonzales to take any further abuse.

“That was exactly what I wanted,” said DeGale after the fight. “I hit him with some good, clean shots and he was hurt.

“I am 100% ready for my world title shot. That was a good fighter who came to win but I am ready to fight Froch or Groves.”

Jamie McDonnell became a two-time world champion in the card’s other title showdown, dropping Thailand’s Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat with a superb left in round 10 of their battle for the vacant WBA bantamweight strap.

Rachawat remained active throughout the contest and put the Doncaster man under plenty of pressure, but constantly found himself at the mercy of McDonnell’s jab with some choice power punches landing along the way before the grandstand finish in the 10th.McDonnell is ready to pick up where he left off after getting back into the championship bracket, saying: “It means everything to me to regain a world title. It gets me back on track and now I want a unification fight with anyone in this division.

“Don’t get me wrong, he was tough and hit me with a few good shots. I could feel my cut dripping into my eye but I got out of danger.”

Kevin Mitchell was found to have exceeded the limits of his weight check on Saturday ahead of his IBF lightweight title eliminator against Ghislain Maduma, before escaping a wholly unconvincing performance with an 11th-round stoppage.

Mitchell was surely down on the judges’ scorecards when Maduma tired in the penultimate round, allowing the Londoner to capitalise with two knockdowns, ending the bout with the latter.

“We worked on that fight in the gym,” Mitchell claimed. “We knew he would get off to a fast start but I have a lot of experience and I’m eager to impress. I put the pressure on him late on and made him feel it. I could have gone 15-20 rounds in the end.”

Eddie Hearn confirmed after the bout that they hoped to ensure Mitchell gets a third world title opportunity despite the weight issue when they take the matter up with the IBF next week.

...2014 FIFA World Cup Count Down...2014 FIFA World Cup Count Down...

Mexico Confirm Montes Schlupp, THE Leon midfielder, who Leg Break Accam won the Apertura and Clausura titles in the 2013-14 Liga MX campaign, netted a stunning goal in Mexico’s 31 win over Ecuador on Saturday just past the halfhour mark but was carried off the field before half-time.

The 28-year-old, named in Mexico’s 23-man squad in early May, lunged into a challenge with Segundo Castillo and both were hurt as their shins collided, with Montes needing several minutes of treatment before he was taken off on a stretcher in clear distress.

A FEMEXFUT statement later confirmed that Montes suffered a broken tibia and fibula as a result of the challenge.

Villarreal midfielder Javier Aquino has been called up in his place, having made 31 La Liga appearances last season.

FEMEXFUT passed on their condolences: “The general director of national teams advises that

unfortunately, Luis Montes suffered a broken tibia and fibula in the Mexico match vs.

Ecuador, in Dallas, Texas.

“After the game, players, coaching staff and executives of the Mexican team visited the player at the hospital, providing support and solidarity to Luis, who thanked them for their dedication to the Tricolor, and the wishes of a speedy recovery.”

Castillo also faces a race against time to make the finals, having sustained a knee injury in the clash.

The Ecuadorean Football Federation (FEF) confirmed after the game that the AlHilal player had suffered a hyperextension in his right knee, and he is walking with the aid of crutches as a result.

Further tests will be undertaken on Monday, after which his availability for Brazil is likely to be discovered.

CROATIA have cut their World Cup squad to the final 23 men who will travel to Brazil.

Injuries had already played a part in trimming Coach Niko Kovac’s options, with QPR midfielder Niko Kranjcar, Hamburg duo Milan Badelj and Ivo Ilicevic and Ivan Strinic of Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk all ruled out.

Dinamo Zagreb forward Duje Cop has now been omitted from the final list along with Udinese defender Igor Bubnjic and midfielders Mario Pasalic of Hajduk Split.

Kovac’s side won 2-1 against Mali in their warmup friendly in Osijek on Saturday, Ivan Perisic with both their goals.

Final 23-man Croatia squad Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Lokomotiv Moscow).

Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka

(Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), Domagoj Vida (Dinamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka), Sammir (Getafe).

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina).

Miss Out On Final Ghana Squad

• Mexico Lesion Luis Montes

Croatia Confirm Final World Cup Squad

•Ricardo Montolivo

Robin van Persie struck first blood for Netherlands vs. Ghana.

GHANA’S coach Kwesi Appiah trimmed his 26-man party down yesterday, with Leicester City full-back Schlupp and Helsingborg midfielder Accam both failing to make the cut.

The duo join Jerry Akaminko is missing out on a place in Brazil, after the Eskisehirspor defender sustained a broken ankle in the closing stages of Ghana’s 1-0 friendly defeat to the Netherlands on Saturday.

The 26-year-old is set for three months on the sidelines and will require surgery.

Of the 23-man squad, 16 players are set to make their World Cup debut for Ghana in Brazil, while captain Asamoah Gyan and midfielder Sulley Muntari will make a third finals appearance and are among the more senior members of the squad.

The duo were a part of the sides that reached the last 16 and quarter-finals in 2006 and 2010 respectively.

Ghana face one more warmup friendly with South Korea, before beginning their World Cup campaign against the United States on June 16, while they will also face Germany and Portugal in a difficult Group G.

No Surprise In Netherlands Squad

THERE were no surprises as Louis van Gaal kept faith with his star names for his final 23-man Netherlands squad.

PSV goalkeeper Jeroen The KNVB had already confirmed that Hamburg’s Zoet, FC Twente winger Promes and Rafael van der Vaart, a key Quincy player when the Dutch Feyenoord duo Jean-Paul reached the final in South Boetius and Tonny Vilhena Africa four years ago, would have also failed to make the miss this summer’s plane to Brazil.

Van Gaal told the KNVB tournament after suffering an website that it had been an injury setback in training.

He is cut from the final “emotional” morning as he selection along with Chelsea informed the players they full-back Patrick van would not be included in his Aanholt, who has been on squad.

“I spoke personally with all loan at Vitesse Arnhem, and Manchester City centre-back six players,” he added. “I am Karim Rekik, who has been very pleased with the borrowed by PSV commitment of those involved and proud of all Eindhoven.

their efforts.”

Van Aanholt, 23, said he was “disappointed but also proud and happy” and felt he would be able to force his way into the squad in future, while Zoet, also 23, said he saw his inclusion in the squad in recent weeks as a “stepping stone to a future international career” as he awaits his first senior Ornaje cap.

Netherlands will be relying on the likes of Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder as they seek to progress from Group B, which also contains reigning champions Spain plus Chile and Australia.

Italy’s Montolivo Out Of World of the tackle.

ITALIAN midfielder Italy’s team doctor Enrico Cup Riccardo Montolivo suffered Castellacci confirmed the a broken tibia in Italy’s friendly with Ireland, which rules him out of the World Cup. Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo will miss the World Cup after breaking his left tibia in a warm-up game against Republic of Ireland.

Montolivo was forced off

after a ninth-minute challenge from Alex Pearce in the match, which took place at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.

The AC Milan midfielder, who played in all three of Italy’s matches at the 2010 World Cup, appeared to say ‘’it’s broken’’ in the aftermath

worst, with Montolivo taken off to hospital in West London. ‘’Montolivo has what we suspected, a broken tibia,” Castelacci said. “I haven’t seen the X-ray yet to evaluate the extent of it but for a broken bone you can expect surgery.’’

Final 23-man Netherlands squad Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Swansea City), Tim Krul (Newcastle United).

Defenders: Paul Verhaegh (Augsburg), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Daley Blind (Ajax).

Midfielders: Leroy Fer (Norwich City), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea City), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray).

Forwards: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Memphis Depay (PSV)

Pele’s Son Edinho Jailed For 33 Years

EDINHO, the son of Brazil football legend Pele, has been sentenced to 33 years in prison.

The 43-year-old, a retired footballer himself, will serve the sentence for laundering money raised for drug trafficking, the BBC has reported.

Edinho was first arrested back in 2005 and has served a sentence for drug trafficking

offences, in addition to having links with a notorious drug dealer in the city of Santos.

The son of the great Pele played as a goalkeeper for his father’s old club Santos in the 1990s.

Edinho, who currently works as a goalkeeping coach at Santos, reportedly says that he is a drug addict but denies the trafficking charges levelled against him.

Brazilian media have not been able to reach Edinho, whose real name is Edson Cholbi do Nascimento. He is expected to appeal.

Edinho is Pele’s third son from his first marriage and was just five when the family moved to New York with his father playing for the Cosmos.

He was the Santos goalkeeper in 1995 when the team reached the Brazilian league final, losing the title to Botafogo.

In 2006, Pele went to visit his son in jail and said: “God willing, justice will be done.

There is not a shred of evidence against my son.”

Pele won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and was acclaimed as the greatest footballer of his generation.

DAVID Moyes believes his sacking at Manchester United ended the era of “long-term planning” at Old Trafford and said he has already received offers to return to management.

The Scot was dismissed in April, before the end of the first season of his six-year contract, and said he is now contemplating whether to take a sabbatical, manage abroad or accept another post in the Premier League.

Moyes’ predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson, took over in 1986 and did not win his first trophy until 1990 and, while the former Everton manager only took champions United to seventh place, he believes he would have prospered at Old Trafford if the club had kept faith with him.

The 51-year-old had not commented about his departure, apart from releasing a statement via the League Managers Association, but broke his silence in a column for the Sunday Times.

He wrote: “I never had the chance to thank the Manchester United supporters for the backing they gave me during my time as manager. I wish them every success in the future.

“They now appreciate, I am

David Moyes Rues The End Of An Era

sure, that things are changing at their club and it could well be that gone are the days of longterm planning. They were fully aware of the task I had. It was unfortunate I wasn’t given more time to succeed.”

Moyes is yet to decide where his future lies but said that, despite his troubled time at Old Trafford, he has been approached by other clubs.

“Since leaving, I have received some very good offers and am tempted by one or two of them,” he added. “I have not closed the door on anything and am open-minded about my next step in management, and whether it will be in the UK or abroad.

“Another possibility is that I may choose to have a break and enjoy watching and observing football throughout the world.

What I do know for sure is that I have moved on.”

Moyes was given the United job on Ferguson’s recommendation and, while the older man was consulted about

his sacking, he felt his fellow Scot remained loyal.

“I have spoken to Sir Alex Ferguson on several occasions and we met recently at a dinner in London. I believe I had nothing but support from him,” Moyes said.

“He advised me of some changes that had to be made. I took his advice and started to implement the necessary changes. I became aware of other changes that had to be made and put plans in place.”

• David Moyes

• Pele

South Africa Friendlies Fixed - Report AS many as five international friendlies played in South Africa in advance of the 2010 World Cup were apparently manipulated, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

Citing a leaked FIFA investigative report and other related documents, the newspaper reported that up to 12 matches may have been targeted for fixing. None of those in question were part of the World Cup. According to the Times, it is “probable” that the matches were fixed so that gamblers could win by making bets based on the knowledge of the fixed results.

The investigation is ongoing, a FIFA spokesperson told the Times.

One of the five matches that appeared to be manipulated, the Times learned, was the preWorld Cup friendly between Guatemala and South Africa.

The host nation won the match 5-0, with two of the goals coming on questionable handballs that resulted in penalty kicks. The other four matches were not named.

FIFA has not accused anyone of match fixing at this point, according to the report, but referee Ibrahim Chaibou of Niger is at the center of the investigation after making a large deposit in advance of the South Africa-Guatemala game.

Chaibou told the Times in a phone interview that FIFA had not contacted him since his retirement in 2011, and that he has never fixed a match. But he declined to answer any questions about money he may have received in South Africa. He also denied to the Times any contact with Wilson Raj Perumal, an international gambler who’s

called himself “the world’s most prolific match fixer.” FIFA has listed him as the suspected mastermind of the South Africa scheme, the Times reported.

Chaibou was also the referee of a 2011 friendly between Nigeria and Argentina that ended with a controversial handball call that resulted in a penalty kick at eight minutes into injury time.

The penalty was converted for a meaningless fifth goal in the game that Nigeria won 4-1.

However, an ESPN FC report at the time said a huge amount of money had been wagered in Asian gambling markets on a fifth goal being scored.

The news comes at an awkward time for FIFA with the start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil less than two weeks away.

South African midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala, (left) pases Guatemalan Abner Trigueros in a pre-World Cup friendly in South Africa in 2010. This match, and four others, are at the centre of a match-fixing scandal involving referees.

French Open: Murray Wins In Roland Garros Epic

ANDY Murray won an epic with Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6 63 6-3 4-6 12-10 to reach the French Open last 16 at Roland Garros after 40 minutes’ play yesterday. gloom.

The Wimbledon champion Resuming 7-7 after the match will face another clay court was halted on Saturday night due specialist in the form of to bad light, Germany’s Fernando Verdasco on Monday Kohlschreiber - the 28th seed for a place in the quarter-finals was forced to save a match point after he completed a 6-3 6-2 6-3 on his first service game with a win over Richard Gasquet. fine overhead winner preventing “It was tough. I didn’t sleep a Murray from sealing a 10-8 win. lot over the last 15 or 16 hours. I Murray was forced to save a had to concentrate coming back break point of his own before out today,” said seventh seed some superb ground strokes Murray. brought up another two match “I need to recover as best as I points on his opponent’s serve to can for the next match. lead 40-15 in the 22nd game.

Hopefully, I will pull up as best He finally secured his as I can so I’m ready to fight for progress with a thumping a place in the quarters.” backhand winner flying beyond The thrilling tennis of late Kohlschreiber before he had Saturday continued with no sign time to react. of the leg problems which had Kohlschreiber won his last Murray grimacing in the Paris service game, as the sun dipped

below the Paris horizon, to leave the fifth set at 7-7. The match will be finished on Sunday on the same Suzanne Lenglen court.

After losing the first set, the British seventh seed appeared to be cruising to victory in the fourth set when he led 4-2. But

• Andy Murray

suddenly Murray’s touch deserted him and the German took full advantage to take the match into a pulsating fifth set.

After losing the first set, Murray took a set-winning 3-0 lead in the second. He broke the German in the fifth game of the third set, then wasted three set points before taking the lead in the match with a superb backhand down the line.

Murray appeared in total control after six games of the fourth but gave back his break of serve, and Kohlschreiber, seeded 28th, took advantage of more slack play from his opponent to break for 5-4 and win the set.

Again in the final set, Murray, who had courtside treatment on an unspecified thigh problem as the match approached its climax, broke early. But he allowed his

opponent to break back, and then take a 3-2 lead with another break.

Murray came back to 3-3 with a fine backhand cross-court winner, setting the scene for a series of heart-stopping games in fading light as Kohlschreiber tried to take advantage of any problems with Murray’s mobility by moving him around the court.

Murray’s ability to mix the sublime with the ordinary was demonstrated when he served at 6-6. A double fault was followed by an ace before a driving backhand pass by his German opponent set up a break point.

But Murray replied with his own scintillating backhand winner before clinching the game with a fine drop shot.

Kohlschreiber then held his serve after Murray netted a forehand to send the match into a second day.

Temple Of Injustice In Edo State?

“SAMPLED opinions on the streets reveal the fact that most Nigerians are very bitter and angry with the present mess. The nation is weeping and bleeding, social, political and economic taboos are common place; idiot, bandits and rogues have perfected this tragedy against Nigeria. In this most pitiless of countries in Africa, where citizens are groaning continuously and suffering miserably, everything must change” Quoted in WHERE WE ARE (page 138).

Urhokpota Hall, in

After parking in a safe place within the axis of the Oba Ovonramwen Square, in the center of Benin City, recently, I decided to get some mangoes for my family. What I saw shocked me!

As I was bargaining with the woman selling the mangoes, one heavily built young man stepped in front of us and demanded money (N50) from her; and threatened to cart away her mangoes if the woman refused to part with the said money.

What really pissed me off was the uncomplimentary and outright rude manner which the young man, who looked every inch like an Agbero, presented himself before the woman selling the mangoes.

In a jiffy, the mangoes seller parted with the N50. After the bully collected the money. He moved to the woman opposite selling meat.

I was curious enough to ask some questions. For the benefit of readers, the market where the incident I am n a r r a t i n g happened is: OBA MARKET, close to

Benin City. I asked the woman selling mangoes, whether the bully that collected money from her was from Oredo Local Government Council, she said “No.” I now asked, who and where did the so called “tax collector” emerged from. The woman answered with a tone of helplessness that the bully that collected money from her is but one among numerous chain of “tax collectors” that are constantly on the neck of market women and others doing business within the Oba Market. She said from morning till night; everyday, that, they usually part with money up to N520, to these unauthorized bullies, who frequently resort to violent physical a t t a c k s , unwarranted insults and constant seizure of their goods to extort hard earned money from people doing legitimate business, mostly under scorching sun and heavy rainfall.

As the woman was pouring out her ordeal, I asked her the following question: “Who then are these touts:

working for?” She did not hesitate to declare that: “They said they are Ogbe boys, working for themselves and their pockets, claiming that the land belong to them.” On hearing this, I was indeed disturbed that this naked act of bullying and illegal extortion

percentage of the money collected is being remitted.

If not, they would not have developed thick skin, and daring recklessness in their illegal collection of money at the Oba Market?

I appeal to Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to look into this ugly

atmosphere of democratic peace and rest of mind.

Talking about democratic peace.

As a peace and conflict Resolution Consultant, a matter concerning one Medical Doctor, Sunday Ogodo, came to me recently.

After I flipped through his

Justice Cromwell Idahosa, Chief Judge of Edo State.

of money from poverty stricken market women and others, who are trying desperately day in and day out, to earn a living, is happening right at the city center.

As I was leaving the Oba Market, that afternoon, I decided to bring this ugly development to the knowledge of the general public, and by implication, drawing the attention of the authorities. My understanding of the eye-sore I witnessed is plainly that: these mannerless, dirty and mean looking Ogbe boys are being p r o t e c t e d somewhere within the Oredo Local Government Area Council, to whom perhaps some

development going on within Oba Market and other markets in both Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas of Edo State.

Certainly, this is a democracy, not a military contraption.

Our people are supposed to go about their l e g i t i m a t e businesses, unmolested, unhindered, in an

submission and having interrogated him critically I discovered that, his case is that one of “heinous crime” in the temple of justice.

Simply put, Dr. Sunday Ogodo is being messed up in Egor Magistrate Court, without recourse to the dictates of the rule of law by some judicial operators in Benin.

The Commissioner

of Justice and the Attorney – General of Edo State should intervene in this grave and grim matter involving Dr. Ogodo.

If this man cannot get justice, fair hearing or transfer his two matters from the magistrate court, where do we want him to go?

On June 26th, 2012, the Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice C. O. I d a h o s a acknowledged receipt of Dr. Ogodo’s petition seeking transfer of his matter to the High Court. Earlier, on January 24th, 2011, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, and Chairman of National Judicial Council of Nigeria, Hon. Justice A. I. Katsina-Alu directed Justice C. O. Idahosa, in a letter to take necessary action on Dr. Ogodo’s complaints on Court proceedings in Egor Magistrate Court in Edo State of Nigeria.

In a letter dated February 6th, 2014, Dr. Ogodo wrote to the Comrade Governor of Edo State, seeking the intervention of Comrade Adams

“I appeal to the Chief Judge of Edo State to transfer Dr. Ogodo’s matter to the High Court of Justice, in order for him to have access to fair hearing and accelerated determination of his matter.

Dr. Ogodo’s fundamental human rights is being eroded. Civil society is watching!”

Oshiomhole.

I quote inter alia from it: “Even when I wrote to the magistrate to hands-off the case as I have no confidence in them, they ignored it and continued with the case. The fraud is two parts, firstly, it amounts to contempt of court which will be taken up directly by the court without involving police and secondly, it amounts to perversion of justice, forgery among other things which will be taken up by the police.”

Dr. Ogodo has spent five months, September 2013 to January 2014 in Oko prison, on remand given by the presiding magistrate. He has been ordered by the same magistrate not to do any further petition on his matter to nobody or authority.

In all my years as a human rights activist, I have never seen this type of injustice playing out today, to a bonafide citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I appeal to the Chief Judge of Edo State to transfer Dr. Ogodo’s matter to the High Court of Justice, in order for him to have access to fair hearing and accelerated determination of his matter. Dr. Ogodo’s fundamental human rights is being eroded. Civil society is watching!

Nowinta, wrote WHERE WE ARE

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