Nigerian observer 03 07 2014 by Nigerian Observer

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l. 39 • N O .026 • THURSDAY, JULY 3, 20 14 • N100. 0 0 GENDER ADVOCACY Page 22 Nyanya Gwandara Community

Issues aside the blast

EIRS organises vehicle licencing workshop for staff By VICTOR OMOALU

BENIN CITY- A oneday training workshop for all motor licensing officers of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) has

been held in Benin City. It was aimed at brainstorming and articulating ideas on the processes and registration of vehicle licenses. The workshop was

graced by stakeholders, including the Executive Chairman, EIRS, Chief Oseni Elamah, Executive Directors, EIRS, Officials of FRSC, SSS, VIO and resource persons. In his address, Chief

Elamah, averred that the realization of the workshop objectives was apt as it affords an opportunity that would help provide for an enabling environment Continues on page 2

Edo Assembly impeaches Dep Speaker By KEN ABU

MAN AND NATURE Page 27

Material creation, the world (1)

BENIN CITY – Edo State House of Assembly has impeached Hon. Festus Ebea, the suspended Deputy Speaker of the House for gross misconduct in leading other suspended lawmakers against the Assembly in clear violation of the House rules and a court injunction barring them from gaining access into the Assembly chambers. In his place, Hon. session 92 sub 2C of the Victor Edoror (Esan amended 1999 Central Constituency) Constitution and Order was elected as new 72 rule 1A of the House Deputy Speaker and was Rule was before the immediately sworn-in by lawmakers. He said the the Speaker of the House has passed a vote House, Hon. Uyi Igbe. of no confidence on the Moving a motion for the suspended deputy impeachment, Hon. Foly speaker. Ogedengbe and Chief Hon Ogedengbe said Whip of the House said that the election of the that an impeachment suspended Deputy notice signed by 16 Speaker then was to lawmakers of the provide for good and Assembly, predicated on effective leadership to the

... Elects Edoror

House¸ saying that Ebea has outlived his usefulness by bringing the House to serious public ridicule and disrepute. “We wish to state that we have lost confidence

in the suspended Deputy Speaker who through his actions has brought the House to disrepute, hence the impeachment notice in order to restore public confidence in the House and invariably his

removal as the Deputy Speaker,” the Chief Whip added. The impeachment notice was however, seconded by Hon. Patrick Aisowieren, member representing

O r h i o n m w o n Constituency I who said that following the gross misconduct of Hon. Ebea who forcefully gained access into the House chambers to pronounce the removal of the incumbent Speaker over their suspension, the House considered his Continues on page 2

Family, friends celebrate Odubu at 57

BENIN CITY - An early morning devotion was held on Tuesday at the residence of Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Egberanmwen Odubu to mark his 57th birthday anniversary. The morning devotion was attended by family members, friends, political associates. In his remarks, the deputy governor thanked God Almighty for elevating him to his present status in life. Dr. Odubu expressed gratitude to his parents, his wife, Deaconess

Endurance Odubu, friends and political associates for their love and support for him over the years. In a short exhortation, Pastor Anthony Amaefule anchored his message on wisdom, which he said is necessary in making the right choices in life. The clergy said God has given the deputy governor the wisdom to enable him continue to be relevant in the society. On his part, Rev Father Andrew Obinyan appreciated God for

TIT BIT “The person, who uses a machete for a handshake should not expect a smile and a warm embrace.” - Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

blessing the deputy governor with a supportive wife. A crucial aspect of the morning devotion to commemorate the birthday anniversary was the presentation of congratulatory cards and the cutting of the birthday Continues on page 2

HOUSE PLENARY: Newly elected Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon.Victor Edoror (left), representing Esan Central Constituency being sworn-in by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe during the House Plenary sitting held at the Old Assembly Complex, Government House, Benin City yesterday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Confab: Arewa opposes new state By JOSES SEDE

ABUJA - Clamour for state creation has pitched delegates at the on-going National Conference in Abuja against one another. The Arewa delegates

who had earlier vowed to resist any attempt at creating additional state for the Igbo nation insisted yesterday, that it was wrong for the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government to have recommended for the

for Ndigbo

creation of one state for the South-East alone without anything for other zones. The report of the

committee says, “There shall be created an additional state for the South-East zone and that all other requests for state

Nigeria sets for 2014 Hajj operations tight arrangements

ABUJA - The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said yesterday that it has concluded arrangement for the 2014 Hajj

operations. The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Muhammed Bello, said this while addressing chairmen and the secretaries of States

Pilgrim Welfare Boards at a joint meeting organised by NAHCON. He pledged that this year ’s Hajj would be better than the previous years because of the

jointly made by the commission and the states. Bello said the commission was happy Continues on page 2

creation should be considered on merit.” The committee approved criteria for the creation of states by saying that any new state sought to be created must be viable. In determining what is viable, the committee says such state must be economically viable or potentially economically viable and it should have human, natural and material resources and should have a minimum land mass/mass. New state, it said,

Continues on page 2

News

Edo moves against fake VIOs BENIN CITY - Edo State Government has warned some agents purporting to be Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and extorting money from unsuspecting motorists to stop parading themselves as such or face the wrath of the law. Addressing the press after the weekly State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Information, Hon Louis Odion recalled that some men in Pink T-Shirts who had been harassing motorists were stopped by the state Government just a few weeks ago, He said: “the exco met today and it was observed that whereas there was a clear directive two weeks ago that men wearing pink uniforms should desist from harassing motorists on our roads, it was observed that in the last few days there has been a proliferation of men wearing white and black uniforms on our roads purporting to be Vehicle Inspection Officers or agents or volunteers working with VIOs. “The exco strongly condemns this and considers it unacceptable. The Commissioner for Transport has been directed to communicate with the VIO

unit of the Transport Ministry, withdrawing such unit and formations from our roads and they are to desist from their activities of either purporting to inspect vehicles on the streets or highways “By this announcement, the special enforcement unit set up by the Government has also been mandated to, beginning from tomorrow, commence patrol on our roads and anyone

found wearing uniforms purporting to be VIOs would be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law. This applies to other forms of extortions in the state either on behalf of any of the Ministries, Department or Agencies. “Apart from the Special Enforcement Unit which is to begin a patrol of our roads to ensure strict compliance with this resolution, members of the public are also encouraged to

apprehend anyone found extorting money purportedly on behalf of the Government or on behalf of anybody or any Ministry.” The Press Conference was attended by the Commissioners for Transport, Mr Orobosa Omo-Ojo, Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba and the Chairman, Edo Inland Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah.

Edo Assembly impeaches Dep Speaker

Continued from page 1 actions as violation of the oath of his office and the House Rules, hence the impeachment has become a necessity. The notice of impeachment was signed by 16 lawmakers who attended yesterday’s plenary session, including all the APC lawmakers and a PDP lawmaker, who recently defected from the APC, Hon. Momoh Razak. When the matter was put to vote by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Uyi Igbe, all the lawmakers responded in the affirmative. Moving the motion for the nomination of Hon. Victor Edoror, as the new Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bamidele Oloruntoba while aligning with the principle of no vacuum in

governance as averred by the Speaker, said he chose Hon. Victor Edoror for the vacant position of Deputy Speaker due to his (Edoror) exemplary leadership qualities. The motion for the nomination was seconded by Hon. Sunday Osazemwino which invariably resulted to the election of Hon. Victor Edoror as the new Deputy Speaker through a majority voice-vote. Also, during plenary yesterday, the Edo State House of Assembly said that plenary session/legislative business in the state will for the main time be conducted at the old Assembly complex of 1992 in Osadebey Avenue. Moving the motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, the Majority Leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu said the ongoing renovation works

at the Anthony Enahoro Assembly was to allow for repair works on the doors in the entrance into the Assembly chambers and other accessories within the chamber that were destroyed while trying to get the suspended PDP lawmakers to comply with the court injunction. Hon. Shaibu further said that while the renovation works were ongoing, legislative business cannot be halted completely, hence the need to return to the old Assembly complex. Meanwhile, Hon. Igbe has announced the inclusion of Hon. Elizabeth Ativie as a coopted member of the Principal Officers Council, following the suspension of Hon. Jude IseIdehen (Ikpoba-Okha Constituency).

Nigeria sets for 2014 Hajj operations

Continued from page 1 w ith the accommodation arrangement already put in place in Saudi Arabia for the intending pilgrims. He said that the commission has confirmed that the accommodation arrangement in Saudi Arabia was already intact, which he described as a better deal compared to previous years. “The purpose of today’s meeting is basically for us to

renew our activities and more importantly to convey some very fundamental information regarding the arrangement for this year’s Hajj. “The issue we are going to discuss here today will avail us the opportunity to be conversant with the arrangement about this year’s Hajj operations. “We have had several meetings aimed at enhancing the Hajj operations in the country and enable us to trash

out some lingering problems that has been plaguing Hajj operations,” he said. “The commission will always be there to give assistance where and when necessary to the various state boards,” Bello said. He commended the various states pilgrim boards for doing creditably well in putting logistics together for the 2014 Hajj operations with the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

Responding, Alhaji Dikhirillah Hassan, Amirul Hajj, Osun state, said all hands were on deck to ensure a hitch free exercise. “All we need now is prayer to complement all the plans and the arrangement we have put in place for the success of this Hajj. “Am very sure that with all these in place, the operation will go on smoothly as expected without any hindrance,” he said.

EIRS organises vehicle licencing workshop for staff

Continued from page 1 for sharing positive ideas. He expressed delight over the training workshop, saying that the programme would further afford stakeholders the avenue to exchange ideas, interact and come up with a well articulated policy that would help participants

meet their obligation especially on the area of motor licensing. “I am delighted that we were able to come together under one umbrella to exchange ideas”, stated chief Elamah. The Edo State Sector

Commander Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Luka Ikpi, lauded the executive chairman of EIRS for the initiative describing the event as timely, especially as it aligns with the FRSC’s effort of moving Edo State

forward. He said “One would agree after participating that this is the best time to have held this kind of programme”. He however assured of the FRSC full partnership with the state government towards moving the state forward.

Arewa opposes new state for Ndigbo

Continued from page 1

should have cultural/ historical antecedents, with strong cultural affinity amongst the population of the new state and that such new state should have a minimum population of one million people. There were 34 request for

state creation before the committee while a request was made to change the name of Adamawa State to Gongola State. A delegate, who was a former Minister of Industry, Chief Nike Akande, canvassed for the

creation of another state from the present Oyo State. She requested that all requests for state creation should be considered in their merit and “in accordance to the criteria, I support the creation of more states. “In this regard, I propose the

Family, friends celebrate Odubu at 57

Continued from page 1 anniversary cake. The celebration later shifted to Government House Chapel where the chaplain, Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan told the congregation that birthday thanksgiving shows that God remains the author and giver of life. Rev. Fr. Obinyan said the thanksgiving ceremony is in

appreciation of the many lives the deputy governor has touched and urged him to share the gift of life with others. Guests were later treated to a reception at the deputy governor’s residence which was graced by National and State Houses of Assembly members, state executive council members, party chieftains including APC state

chairman, Barr. Amslem Ojezua, council chairmen, party members along party lines, Hon. Charles Idahosa, Barr. Gentleman Amegor, Prince Malik Afegbua, Right Hon. Gabriel Oiboh and Elder Pius Omofuma. Others included Chief Arogundade, Chief Bayo Adams and a host of other political chieftains.

split of Oyo State into two, which are Ibadan State and the rest. Oyo State has a landmass of about 28,245.26km square. It is one of the most urbanized in the country. “In the 2006 census, the state has a population of about 5.58million ranking in the fifth most populated among the 36 states of the federation. “The splitting is justifiable, expedient and necessary given the position of the state. The proposed state meets the generally accepted criteria for state creation, including population, viability, historian considerations, culture affinity and contiguity. “Creation of another state from Oyo State would ensure social and economic development of the states. ”

Akhabue rallies support for Oshiomhole BENIN CITY - The Assistant Secretary of All progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State and former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Esan South-East Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Andrew Akhabue has called on the people of the state to continue to have confidence in the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. He made the call in Benin City, yesterday, during a chat with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER. Hon. Akhabue stressed the need for the people to remain focused and continue to have implicit confidence in the state governor who has done so much for the state. He also urged them to ignore distractors of the governor from continuing with his transformation agenda, advising them not to be deceived by those who do not mean well for the state. On the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly, the former council boss described it as unfortunate and therefore urged the suspended members of the

House to obey the rule of law and seek judicial redress, where necessary. According to him, the hidden agenda of the PDP to ensure that the national Assembly takes over the functions of Edo State House of Assembly will not see the light of day. The APC Assistant State Secretary called on the people to resist the lawlessness being exhibited by PDP lawmakers in the state Assembly by ignoring them, saying they are out to cause unnecessary tension in the state. He noted that some of the former leaders of APC who recently left the party tried to promote their selfish agenda but left APC due to their inability to realize their selfish agenda. The former Esan SouthEast council chairman described the defectors as desperate politicians in addition to the financial inducement by the opposition party. Hon. Akhabue stated that the problem facing APC in the state were caused by those who recently left the party, adding that with their exit, the party will restrategize and continue to occupy its dominant position in the state.

ABUJA - The Federal Government yesterday in Abuja said the explosion which rocked a street at IleIfe in Osun on Tuesday was neither caused by a bomb nor by a dynamite. Mr Mike Omeri, the Coordinator, National Information Centre, who made the clarification, said the explosion came from carbide, a non-lethal object. Omeri said however that the explosion did not destroy anything, including the ground on which it occurred and a building within the vicinity of the incident.

“No human life was lost, and neither was the plantain plantation near it destroyed,’’ he said. The co-ordinator also condemned Tuesday’s acts of terrorism in Maiduguri, even as he commended security agencies for their prompt response, saying this prevented attacks on onlookers. He further commended men of the Fire Service, who he said displayed “heroism’’ by putting out the fire caused by the bomb and prevented it from spreading further.

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR

Osun explosion, not from a bomb - Omeri

Group Disrupts Electoral Accountability By ELIZABETH Public Hearing AGBOEGBULEM

PROT-HACOURT- A public hearing on electoral accountability organized by the National Human Rights Commission, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, was temporarily disrupted by a peaceful protest staged by a coalition of civil society and Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs. The protesters which staged the protest under Rivers State Civil Society Coalition for Electoral Reforms and led by Celestine Akpobaro, the Coordinator of Social Action, condemned the falsification of election results with the active connivance of some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the police and other security agencies. Addressing members of the Electoral Accountability Project of the Human Rights Commission, Akpobaro enjoined the commission to address the nagging issue of free, fair and credible election which he insisted is the only way through which the nation can enthrone

good leadership. He stated: “Our future depends on a free and credible election. So, we urge your commission to lay the foundation for a credible election in 2015. INEC staff should not allow themselves to be used by politicians. The police should not be trigger happy, and politicians and political parties should not induce voters with money and food items”. Akpobaro also alleged that “some powerful Nigerians are planning to relocate polling units in Rivers State to private residences of party chieftains as a precursor to rigging the 2015 general elections. I must inform you that should this anomaly be allowed to happen, then, it must be regarded as electoral criminality of the highest order”. The protesters carried different placards with the following inscriptions: “INEC: The vote of a citizen is supreme; whose voters card are we using in 2015? We are doomed with a compromised electoral umpire; we want an unbiased INEC; 2015 election must reflect the collective choice of Nigerians”.

News Court To Hear Substantive Suit July 16

PENGASSAN Vs Delegates: LAGOS - The National Industrial Court in Lagos has fixed July 16, to hear a substantive suit against the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over breach of rights. Two plaintiffs, Messrs John Nwanosike and Jonathan Omare, had initiated the suit against the defendant through the chambers of Mr Festus Keyamo and Co., for alleged breach of their rights. Joined as defendants in the suit are PENGASSAN, its Chevron Branch, Mr. Esanubi Frank and Mr. Ayanate Kio. The plaintiffs, who are members of the Chevron branch of the Association, are seeking an order restraining the defendants from holding any delegates’ conference, pending the determination of the suit. The court presided by Justice Kenneth Amadi, had on June 23 issued an interim order, restraining PENGASSAN from holding its conference, until the suit is determined.

The court had then adjourned the suit for hearing of the motion. Reports state that the suit, which was fixed for hearing of the motion, was further adjourned by the judge, following a claim of non service by the defence counsel, Mr. Sola Iji. Iji had told the court that he was entering an appearance in protest on the grounds that the defendants was not aware of the case against it, since they had not been served with any court process or orders made by the court. He informed the court that he got wind of the interim orders made by the court from a different source and immediately rushed to court to obtain a certified true copy, only to be told that it had yet to be signed. In a swift reaction, counsel to the claimants, Mr. Uche Muoneke, informed the court that the presence of the defence counsel in court was on its own a clear contradiction of his

IKEJA - The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has threatened to call out its members for strike if the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) failed to meet its demands. The National President of ATSSSAN, Mr. Benjamin Okewu, issued the threat in a statement in Lagos a copy of which was obtained by newsmen. Okewu said the union had demanded that all pending issues on workers’ welfare before the NCAA management should be resolved before July 5. “It was gathered that so many outstanding employees’ files on welfare matters, allowances, travel claims, have been piled up on the desk of the Director-General of NCAA, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka, and unattended to since in the last 10 to 12 months,” he said. He expressed the union’s displeasure with the way the aviation agencies were handling the 2014 staff training. The ATSSSAN boss also demanded that the union should be furnished with the staff training proposals by all agencies in the aviation sector. The agencies are NCAA, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Federal Airport s Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),

Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology. Okewu argued that human capacity development in the sector could not be ignored due to the expanding investment prospects and safety challenges in the industry worldwide. He, however, called for the full implementation of the approved conditions of service for workers in the industry. He said the union would move its national secretariat temporarily to the NCAA headquarters until the issues of staff welfare were resolved.

Air Transport Workers Threaten Strike

submission. Muoneke explained that shortly after the court had issued the interim orders restraining the conference, the baliff of the court alongside the claimant, had proceeded to serve the orders on the defendants. He said that the defendants being fully aware of the position, tactically refused service by employing the services of dogs and the police to ward off the bailiff and claimant from their premises. He told the court that the defendants still went ahead to hold its delegates conference on June 25, after ensuring that they had successfully evaded service of the orders, and in spite of clear knowledge of the order by the defence counsel. According to Muoneke, the conduct of the defendants, represented the height of disregard for a sacrosanct order of the court, and urged the court to vacate all actions taken in contravention of its subsisting order.

Amadi at this point, ordered the claimant counsel to effect service of the originating processes on the defence counsel in the open court. He then adjourned the case to July 16 for hearing. The judge added that since the

action was one by originating summons, he would hear both the motion on notice and the main suit together. The plaintiffs had initially filed the suit before a Federal High Court in Lagos, but had to file a notice of discontinuance of the suit, following an objection raised by the defendants.

The defendants had challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear the suit, which they claim was labour related. Consequently, the plaintiffs instituted a fresh suit before the NIC, by way of ex-parte application seeking similar reliefs.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu (9th left0, and Permanent Secretaries in the state Public Service who came to felicitates with him on the occasion of his 57th birthday anniversary. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Manager, Assistant Arraigned Over Theft

LAGOS - A store manager and his assistant have been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged theft of 224 drums of chemicals worth N18 million. The accused — Henry Ajetumobi, 53, and Felix Alao,36 — are facing a twocount charge of conspiracy and stealing. Ajetumobi resides at Block 528, Flat 3, Jakande Estate, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, while Alao also lives at No.14, Ebun Olojede, Amuwo Kuje on Lagos-Badagry Expressway. The prosecutor, Sgt. Cousin

Adams, told the court that the offences were committed on March 24 at Plot 4c, Ijora Causeway,Lagos. He said the Managing Director of Iddo Plastics Company Ltd, Mr I. Amanthan, discovered the missing chemicals after taking stock. “The complainant discovered that 224 drums of DOP chemicals were missing

in the company’s warehouse after taking stock. “The company also hired a private investigation company known as EFA Forensics, whose personnel detected that the accused manipulated the company’s records and made double entries,” Adams said. He said the offences

contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Magistrate, Mr. K.O. Ogundare, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1million each with two sureties each in like sum. He adjourned the case to July 30 for further hearing.

Don Makes Case For Tourism As Course Of Study

LAGOS - Mr. Frank Ogundano, the Head of Department, Leisure and

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu (left), receiving a greeting card from the State Head of Service, Mr. Jerry Obazele and a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service and leader of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Osayuware Idahosa on the occasion of the Deputy Governor’s 57th birthday anniversary. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Tourism Management, Lagos State Polytechnic said that institutionalising tourism as a course of study would help to grow the industry. Ogundano told newsmen in Lagos that both the federal and state governments had continued to lay too much emphasis on the monetary benefit from tourism. He said there was the need to also consider institutionalising tourism as a course and enabling the public sector to play a critical role in its development. “All the government is focusing on tourism is foreign exchange, revenue generation. And even in that focus, their participation or their contributions have been far inadequate. “So, if they have never

solidified the foundation of the revenue generation and they want to reap without adequate and required knowledge they will still be failing. “If they make the knowledge available to people and private sectors are empowered to train people, give scholarships, we will see that many people will be involved in the investment. “If they (government) cannot do that and they begin to look for revenue, it’s going to be a waterloo for every investment done there.“ He further urged the government to introduce tourism into the curricular of both primary and secondary schools as there was “no grassroots knowledge“ about the industry.

News Strikes: Okojie Calls For Regular ABUJA - The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, has called for the convening of regular forum for stakeholders in the education sector to mitigate strikes. Okojie made the call in Abuja when he received members of the Senate Committee on Education who were on oversight function to the commission. He said that the frequent disruption to academic programmes in universities occasioned by strikes could be avoided if stakeholders meet regularly. The Executive Secretary expressed regret over the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which crippled the university system for almost a year. Okojie said that as long as universities continued to have problems with their governance structure, there would be negative implication for the university system. According to him, the N1 trillion universities intervention fund which the

Stakeholders’ Forum said poor fiscal allocation to the Commission was a huge challenge. He said inadequate fiscal allocation had continued to affect the commission’s capacity for effective regulation as it had no Internally Generated Revenue

to plough back into its operations. The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, who led the delegation on the visit, emphasised that oversight function is not meant to serve as witch-hunt.

Kuffor Laments MDGs Set Back By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM

Federal Government is injecting into the university system will not have any impact if there is instability in the sector. “People will be amazed if they knew how that ASUU crisis, which crippled the university system for almost a year, ended. “That is why I said we need to always engage the unions both in war times and peace times and I am ready to act between the government and ASUU. “This way, we can address these little challenges before they escalate,’’ Okojie said. He urged the committee, as part of its oversight function, to always initiate a forum for such interaction between NUC and the various academic unions within the university system. “The National Assembly, particularly the Senate Committee on Education, can help in providing such platform where we can all interact,’’ he said. On challenges faced by the NUC in the discharge of its mandate as a regulatory agency, the executive secretary

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu (middle), receiving a congratulatory card from the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, Comrade Desmond Agbama (right) who led other members of the union to felicitate with the deputy governor on his 57th birthday anniversary in Benin City. with them is the Treasurer of the Union, Edosa Okunbor (left), Tonia Nwachukwu and Mrs. Favour Percy Idubor. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega has declared that the Commission would conduct elections in all states of the federation despite security threats in some parts of the north. Making the declaration yesterday, while playing host to the Ambassador of the Peoples

election would be better than the one concluded in Ekiti State last month. Professor Jega restated INEC readiness to conduct the 2015 general election in all states of the federation, despite security threats in some areas. “We know that both nationally and internationally,

PORT HARCOURT Former President of Ghana, Mr. John Kufuor has stated, in Port Harcourt, that barely a year to 2015, the dateline for the actaulisation of the United Nations millennium

CACGM Begins We’ll Conduct Elections In All States conduct of election in those Republic of China, H. E. Gu Convention By JOSES SEDE states”, he stressed. Xiaojie, in his office, Prof. Jega Jega The Chairman said the Today ABUJA Chairman, also reiterated that forthcoming there are concerns about the commission had devoted itself Osun State governorship By VICTOR AGHO BENIN CITY-The Christ Apostolic Church of God Mission International Incorporation, Aduwawa Parish Headquarters will today July 3, 2014 begin its annual three days convention for the year 2014. The convention which ends on Saturday July 5, 2014 will hold at the church auditorium, No. 44 Efionayi Street (Hotel Reliance Road), Aduwawa Quarters, Benin City. A statement by the convention committee chairman, Rev’d Victor Imade Agho indicated that the convention will be declared open by Rt Rev’d Dr. Godspower Ogbonmwan, the Spiritual Leader and General Superintendent of the mission on the first day of the convention. Guest speaker at the event included Rev’d Dr. F. A. Ekhator, and the Host pastor, Rev’d V. Agbonkon and Rev’d V.O. Ikuobase. The statement added that the annual convention is organised to revive, re-unite and bring down the power of God within the body of Christ as well as breakthrough spiritually, physically and materially.

2015 general election, partly because of the challenges of security in some states. On our part, we have been doing our best to ensure that we are able to conduct elections in those areas; and we have been working very closely with security agencies to ensure that there is adequate security for the

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu (middle) and staff of the office of the Deputy Governor who came to felicitate with him on the occasion of his 57th birthday anniversary.

to improving the electoral process in Nigeria, “to make it more participatory and ensure that it is more transparent, that elections are conducted consistent with international best standards and in accordance with our own electoral laws.” He added: “Since 2011, we have been doing our best to keep on improving the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. We have cleaned up the Register of Voters, and we have been doing our best to address the challenge of logistics of deployment, which has been a major obstacle to our conduct of good elections. “I am pleased to say there has been progressive improvement in the series of governorship elections that we have conducted since 2011, culminating in the Ekiti election that we conducted two weeks ago, and which has been generally acknowledged as perhaps the best election that we have conducted so far. The Commission, according to him, has improved its engagement stakeholders – including political parties, security agencies and civil

development goals about 1.3 billion people across the globe still do not have access to electricity. He pointed out that only four, out of about 30 countries Subsahara Africa are on course in the provision of electricity and other aspects of the millennium development goals, which he remarked will increase up to at least 25% by 2015. Kufuor who delivered a keynote address at the 2014 Energy, Environment, and Investment Forum (EEIF), with the theme; “Sustainable Energy, The Key To Africa’s World Integration”, regretted that a large portion of the world’s population remained confronted with absolute energy policy which has made millions of people to be trapped in what he described as vicious circle of poverty. Kufour stated: “According to the World Energy Outlook 2011, a report of the International Energy Agency, there are 1.3 billion people around the world in developing countries without access to electricity. More than 2.7 billion are forced to cope, using obsolete technologies. The former Ghanian president lamented: “The situation in Africa, regarding access to energy and the achievements of the millennium development goals is of particular concern. Among 30 sub-Saharan African countries, only four are on course, considering the number of people who will access energy by at least 25% by 2015”. “By 2008, in sub-Saharan Africa, the average electrification process was at 28% and in the rural areas; the average was less than 12%. This figure is even less when South Africa, one of the great nations, is excluded.” In his welcome address, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, described energy as the bond that connects economic, social, and environmental development, saying that no country can successfully reduce poverty without adequately addressing its energy needs. Amaechi posited: “Energy is the bond that connects economic, social, and environmental development. It is a launching pad for economic growth and plays a pivotal role in any attempt to achieve sustainable development. No country can successfully reduce poverty without adequately addressing its energy needs.”

Plenary session of the Edo State House of Assembly yesterday

Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Uyi Igbe during yesterday’s plenary session at the Old Assembly complex

Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Uyi Igbe (right) congratulating the new Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Victor Edoror after he was sworn in during yesterday’s plenary session.

Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (right), and the Majority Leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu after the House plenary session.

A cross section of members of Edo State House of Assembly during yesterday’s plenary.

Another cross section of members of the State House of Assembgly during yesterday’s plenary session.

More cross section of members of Edo State House of Assembly during yesterday’s plenary session.

Some members of Edo State House of Assembly during yesterday’s plenary session.

News

Implement Policy Against Torture, Organisation Urges FG BWARI (FCT) - The Prisoners Rehabilitation And Welfare Action (PRAWA), an NGO, has urged the Federal Government to implement its policy against torture of victims to eradicate it. This is contained in a statement in Abuja signed by Dr Uju Agomoh, the Executive Director of PRAWA to commemorate the UN Day in support of victims of torture. The statement said, “we call on government to fulfill its obligation under Article 14 of the UN Convention Against Torture since Nigeria is a state party. “Nigeria ratified this convention and it has been absolved into our 1999 Constitution; a national committee on torture was also established for prevention of torture at the domestic level. “Government must offer rehabilitation services to support victims of torture and ill-treatment to gain access to rehabilitation services,” it added. The statement said torture and ill-treatment were systematic and widespread measure to force confession from criminal suspects, resulting from conditions of detention in prison. It, however, advised government to integrate specialised and holistic rehabilitation into public health system and train health personnel on provision of rehabilitation services to

achieve target goal. The statement said forms of torture include amputation of canning enshrined in the Sharia law, overcrowding of detainees in unsanitary environment and long period of pre-trial custody. It also identified arbitrary and widespread torture by law enforcement officials to be psychological, inhuman and degrading treatment. The statement said that the day, which was celebrated globally on June 26, was an outcome of the resolution by the UN General Assembly held on December 12, 1997.

House Breaking

Man, 19, Pleads Guilty

Hon. Foly Ogedengbe, Chief Whip, Edo State House of Assembly moving a motion to impeach the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Festus Ebea at the old Exco Chamber, Government House at the House sitting yesterday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Hon. Patrick Aisowieren member, representing Orhionmwon North at Edo State House of Assembly, seconding the impeachment motion at the Old Exco Chamber, Government House, during the House sitting yesterday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Alleged New Constitution: By JOSES SEDE ABUJA - Proceedings at the National Conference started with lengthy arguments over a newspaper publication alleging that the leadership of the Conference was involved in premature preparation of a report that would be adopted as representing the position of the conference. As soon as the matter came up on the floor through a motion by Ish’aq Moddibo Kawo, arguments started as delegates were divided on whether the Conference Deputy Chairman, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who was mentioned in another allegation involving the writing of a new constitution, should respond to it or not. Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) and others were of the view that the publication should be dismissed as it was meant to distract the Conference from is set goals. Chief Ahamba claimed that those who were disappointed by the progress the conference has made so far were bent on scuttling it, but admonished that it should be resisted and not allowed to succeed. Those who shared that position also challenged those behind the

publication and who claimed to have been lobbied by the Deputy Chairman to step forward and justify their claims with evidence; failing, the Daily Trust newspaper that published the stories should be asked to apologise to the Conference. However, former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, raised a counter motion demanding that Akinyemi be allowed to explain himself since he was present at the sitting. The same position was canvassed by Dr. Haruna Yerima who argued that the allegation should not be dismissed because “morality demands that the Deputy Chairman clears his name.” The Deputy Chairman, in a brief comment, denied ever lobbying anybody to adopt a new constitution which the publication alleged he was spearheading. He explained that a few days ago, as was customary when they are contentious issues that have the potential of threatening the smooth progression of the Conference, he had approached political leaders at the Conference from both the north and the south separately, to

KUJE (FCT) - A Magistrates’ Court in Kuje, FCT, has remanded an artisan, Danjuma Abdulahi, 19, for house breaking and stealing plasma TV and a bag. Abdulahi, who resides in Anguwan Gade area in Kuje Area Council of the FCT, is charged with joint act, criminal trespass and house breaking. Abdulahi pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency. The Magistrate, Mr Azubike Okeagwu, ordered him to be remanded and adjourned the case to July 20 for ruling. “In line with your admittance to have committed the crime, you are hereby remanded in prison until July 20 for ruling.’’ Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Ocheche Samuel, told the court that the matter was reported at the Kuje Police Station on June 22 by Mr Okechukwu Nzeh of the same address with Abdulahi. Samuel said Abdulahi and one Musa, now at large, broke into Nzeh’s house at about 10 a.m. on June 22 when he went to church. “They broke into his house and stole a Samsung plasma TV, DVD player, and a bag containing clothes and vehicle particulars, all valued N150,000. “Luck was not on their side as they were caught at Paseli area when they tried to break into another house; Musa escaped’’, Samuel said. Samuel added that only the plasma TV was recovered during police investigation while the rest of the items were yet to be recovered. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened sections 79, 342 and 286 of the Penal Code.

Conference Delegates React

discuss their differences regarding the issue of whether or not there was need for a new Constitution arising from the proceedings of the Conference. He said it was normal for him or any member of the leadership to seek such diverse opinions from delegates across geopolitical lines towards resolving any contentious issue that usually arise from the Conference before such issues are eventually put up for division at plenary. Akinyemi, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, went ahead to mention names of people he met to discuss the issue and stated without any ambiguity that the issue of lobbying for adoption of a new constitution for the Conference was absolutely false as he only set out to ensure

harmony between two opposing groups. Shortly after, the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, who was also mentioned in the story, confirmed he was invited to the meeting by Akinyemi but could not attend although he raised a team of northern delegates to meet with the Deputy Chairman to discuss the issues involved. He explained that when he observed some moves which tended not to be in line with his initial conception of the meeting, he became weary and decided to pull out. He said “by last Tuesday, I was told a new constitution has been written” and named Chief Raymond Dokpesi as one who had also invited him to a meeting and who later gave him a

document which allegedly was published on the claims of representing the position of the Conference. Chief Dokpesi who spoke next absolved the leadership of the Conference from involvement in the meeting he convened and the issuance of what he called a Working Document produced by the group which comprised delegates from the existing geopolitical zones. He said he and Professor Ibrahim Gambari had convened a meeting under the auspices of National Consensus BridgeBuilding Group to discuss and close areas of differences regarding some critical areas of agreement and disagreement at the Conference. Chief Dokpesi mentioned the controversy surrounding the

creation of State Police which was resolved last week without any dissenting voice as one of such areas discussed and agreed upon. The delegate noted that membership of the Group which he convened as a lobbyist body without the knowledge of the leadership of the Conference cut across all the geo-political groups represented at the Conference. He said three delegates were nominated by the group from each of the geo-political zones and that part of their agenda was analysis of all the reports submitted by the 20 Committees appointed by the Conference, particularly the recommendations of the committees.

ENUGU - The Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Enugu State, Mr Isaac Onukwube has urged the citizenry to embrace the newly introduced cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Onukwube, who made the call in Enugu while speaking with newsmen said the policy would

reduce fraud. “It will also reduce the level of corruption in the country to a large extent. Besides, it will make people to stop carrying heavy cash about,’’ he said. The director, however, expressed the fear that the implementation would be hindered due to lack of adequate

sensitisation of the people. “My fear is that many people are not aware of the policy and this will affect its implementation. “It would have been better if the citizens were given enough sensitisation on what the policy is all about before its

commencement nationwide. “As it is, it appears that the CBN is busy rolling out the policies without engaging the people who are the end users of the policies,” Onukwube said. He said that the agency would do all it could within its meagre resources to educate the masses on the importance of the policy.

Embrace Cashless Policy, NOA Urges Nigerians

Lagos Indiscriminate Parking

Flood, Road Abuses

CP Cautions Trust Owner

FERMA Seeks Collaboration LAGOS- The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has appealed for collaboration to clean up all drainage channels to check flooding in Lagos state. Mr. Kehinde Afolabi, the Engineer in charge of Lagos West, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. Afolabi said that the three tiers of government need to collaborate to desilt drains in the state to tackle erosion. According to him, blocked drains cause flooding, which in turn destroys the roads. He stated that the FERMA had begun to desilt drains on federal roads, adding that the collaboration would achieve greater results. “The major challenge with our roads are drainage related problems, that means most of our drains are blocked, there is the need for us to embark on daily desilting of drains all across the state. “There is also the need for the state, local and federal governments to do desilting at the same time to control flooding,’’ he said. Afolabi explained that blocked drains were due to some human activities such as the dumping of tyres and debris in the manholes and other channels. He added that when the drains were stuffed, and it rained, the water would have no passage to flow through and so spills onto the roads and environs. Afolabi, who is also the acting Chairman, Federal Roads Committee on Surveillance and Action against Road Side Trading and Other Forms of Road Abuse (FERSCARA), said FERMA was clamping down on road abusers. He said that FERSCARA had increased its surveillance against hoodlums who had devised new ways of expanding pot holes for economic gains. “Any particular pot hole you see, overnight they go and dig it dipper so that when there is accident they can operate.

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos and Managing Director, Harmony Abattoir Management Services, Mr. Moshood Bello, during Governor Fashola’s inspection visit to Agege Abattoir in Lagos recently.

Clerics Task Political Office Holders, Nigerians

LAGOS- Some Christian clerics have urged political office holders and other Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of sincerity of purpose and uprightness to move the country forward. The clerics, who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen said Nigeria would be a more prosperous nation if such virtues were imbibed by its citizens. According to them, high public morals and national ethos are essential ingredients for good governance and leadership. Dr Solomon Akinsanya, the National President, Fellowship of Christian Ministers of Nigeria (FCMN), said everything should be done to stem the erosion of national ethos and public morals. “About 40 per cent of Nigerians have great ideas but all we do is talk about them. “Another 40 per cent work so hard to actualise their dreams but they become depressed and discouraged because of corruption, untruthfulness and discrimination while 20 per cent have no faith and hope. “It is the duty of all including the leaders and the followers to bring back truthfulness, faithfulness and love as well as ethos of sharing and caring for

one another ,’’ he told newsmen. Akinsanya urged government at all levels to step up reorientation of the people some of whom, he said, had been disoriented and discouraged. “Government at all levels should ensure that the needs of the masses come first by ensuring the political and economic development of the nation. “No country in the world is so

blessed like Nigeria, yet many of our graduates are still roaming the streets unemployed.’’ On his part, Dr Felix Omobude, the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), urged exemplary leadership at all levels in a bid to move the country forward. He insisted that leaders should be accountable to the people, while the people and the leaders

ongoing National Conference taking place in Abuja for endorsing the creation of state police in the country. The lawyers said in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos that the endorsement showed that the delegates were in touch with the yearnings of majority of Nigerians. Mr Yinka Farounbi, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, said the creation of state police would help to address some of the security challenges bedevilling the nation.

He said challenges such as kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism must be approached in hollistic but separate manners. He added that “Nigeria is too large to be overseen by a single police force which is receiving command from Abuja. “There are some areas you need to know the terrain before you can even understand how to enforce security. “For instance, if a policeman is posted from Kano State to Lagos State, he or she cannot understand the ways and manners of the people who live there and that will make his or

should also fear God. “For our national development, all of us must become a people who are genuinely bonded in love. “We must be people whose lifestyles demonstrate that we are who we say we are. “If Nigerians across board will return to the word of God and see God’s word as the basis for who they are, then we can begin to see results in our national lives,’’ he said.

Lawyers Commend Confab For LAGOS-Some lawyers have Endorsing State Police commended delegates at the

Patients waiting at the Outpatient Department of General Hospital at Igando in Lagos, as Medical Doctors begin nationwide strike.

her job difficult.’’ Another lawyer, Dr Muiz Banire, said the recommendation by the conference was in order. He said “state police is the best way to go. It is the best thing that will happen to the security of this country. “It will also create healthy rivalry among the state police commands because each state will want to equip its command with the best gadgets and work hard to provide security for the citizens.” A human rights lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, said the Nigerian Constitution should be amended by the National Assembly to give legal backing to states to create their own police commands. He said “we cannot run away from it because the truth of the matter is that we have 36 states which can only be effectively policed through the creation of state police.’’ Mr Onyekachi Ubani, the immediate past Chairman of the Ikeja branch of NBA, expressed satisfaction with the recommendation of the conference. He said “it is very commendable because there is no way we can deal with the issue of insecurity without having state police. “If we can have state police in this country, it will go a long way in improving security of lives and property of Nigerians.’’

LAGOS- Mr. Kayode Aderanti, the Commissioner of Police, Ports Operations, Apapa, Lagos, has cautioned truck owners to desist from parking indiscriminately to avoid the wrath of the law. Aderanti told newsmen in Lagos that any truck caught obstructing traffic in Apapa ports would be dealt with. “Nobody is bigger than the law. The full weight of the law will be applied on defaulters. “If you do not have business at the port, keep your truck until your agent calls you,’’ he said. The port police commissioner said that preventive measure was better in tackling any issue and called on port operators to collaborate with the police to provide security at the ports. “The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA) are stakeholders that should keep us informed. “If you see anything wrong at the ports, please let me know. My line is open always. You can reach me and I will take appropriate action,’’ Aderanti said. The commissioner said that the operators had a stake in securing the seaports because it generated income for their livelihood. He noted that if there was any problem at the port, the operators would not be able to do business again. Aderanti urged the operators not to hide any information that would enable security agents to properly carry out their duties

Across The Nation Police Uncover Human Parts Market In Ilorin

Scene of a bomb blast at Maiduguri Market in which about 15 people died and several others injured.

ILORIN- The Police in Kwara have said that it had discovered human parts market in an uncompleted building in the outskirts of Ilorin, the state capital. Mr Ambrose Aisabor, the state Commissioner of Police announced this when he briefed journalists in llorin. Aisabor said there were decomposed headless body of a male, human feet, snail shells and clothes suspected to be used in strangulating victims. He said no suspect had been arrested in connection with the crime but 85-year old woman who claimed to be the owner of the building was

Great Green Wall Project

Kano Provides 50 KM Land KANO (KANO STATE)The Kano State Government has provided 50 kilometers of land for the Great Green Wall project in four local government areas of the state. The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, made this known on Monday at the opening of a one-day training of rural women on the use of alternative energy to save the environment. Abbas said the state government aimed to improve soil fertility and fight desert encroachment so as to complement the efforts of the Federal government in the Great Green Wall initiative. The commissioner explained that the workshop was organised to give the rural women other alternatives to firewood so as to reduce cutting down of trees. “The state government has nursed about three million seedlings which will be distributed to farmers for plantation to save the land from erosion and other environmental factors”, Abbas said. He said women from 11 local government areas in Kano North had benefitted from the training and the next batch of women from other parts would be trained soon. The Coordinator of the state Afforestation Centre, Alhaji Ali Dauda, said the workshop would enlighten the rural women on the new alternative sources of energy. Dauda said it would also open ways for them to explore the importance of tree planting in the environment and modern ways of nursing them. The reports state that the Kano State Ministry of Environment organised the one-day training for rural women.

Commandant, NSCDC Sokoto State, Mr. Yusha’U Yamel, inspecting 655 Jerry Cans of Petrol seized by his officers on Sokoto-Illela Road in Sokoto recently.

being interrogated. The commissioner said investigation revealed that some people involved in rituals had turned the abandoned building into a market where they bought human body parts. In another development, Aisabor announced the arrest of one Ganiyu Lawal, an armed robbery suspect. The suspect was alleged to have stolen a Toyota Camry car with registration number Lagos APP 645 AW from where it was parked in Lagos. The commissioner said other members of the gang were at large. Also, two students of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Joshua Ayantola, 26, and Adebayo Adeyinka, 24, have been arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery. According to the police chief, the two suspects were arrested for allegedly robbing one Musa Azeez and others, of various items, including money at gun point. He said the two students had confessed to the crime and would soon be charged to court. Aisabor commended the people of the state for providing the police with useful information on crime reduction. He assured that the police would treat all information with confidentiality.

Address Ethnic Bias, CAN Urges Confab Delegates

ABA (ABIA)- The Abia branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the National Conference to establish a mechanism to check ethnocentrism in the country. The Chairman of the association, Bishop Godwin Okafor, told newsmen in Aba, Abia that ethnic bias which resulted in unfair treatment of citizens based on their ethnic group was the bane of the country’s development. He said that for the country to develop and meet the expectations of its people, the anti-social behaviour of discrimination and its attendant effects must be stopped. Okafor, who is the

rulers know where these youths come from.

Bishop of the Glorious Life Gospel Center, Aba, said that Nigeria would move forward when such issues were addressed. “It is rather unfortunate that one cannot operate freely in a place outside your state of origin simply because you are not an indigene of that place. “Our representatives at

the National Conference should look critically into the issue of discrimination based on ethnic origin if they want development. “When this is done, the issue of corruption will be handled,’’ he said. Okafor regretted the menace and assault of Boko Haram on Nigerians, saying that it

has rejected Government Murtala Nyako’s commissioner-nominee, Mr Phineas Elisha. The rejection followed an observation by some members that Girei Local Government, where the

that giving it additional one would negate federal character requirement. Mr Jerry Kundisi (PDPGombi), Adamu Kamale (PDP-Michika), and Alhaji Ibrahim Sadiq (PDP-Fufore), said

was disheartening that it had cost the country lots of lives. He called on the Northern Elders’ Forum to collaborate with traditional rulers to find a lasting solution to the activities of the insurgents. “The Boko Haram members are Nigerians and some traditional

“They come from different towns and villages and the leaders of those towns and villages know them. They should expose them to stem the loss of innocent lives and property. “Boko Haram is not a problem that Nigeria cannot take care of, but we need collaboration and one mind and purpose to get rid of the menace,’’ he said.

Adamawa Assembly Rejects Commissioner as commissioner, he had YOLA- The Adamawa nominee hailed from, had Nominee to drop one of his State House of Assembly two commissioners, and although Elisha was qualified for the job, his appointment would violate Section 14 sub section 4 of the Constitution. They argued that if the governor wanted Elisha

commissioners from Girei Local Govenment. The assembly’s sitting, presided over by the Speaker, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, therefore, unanimously rejected the nomination.

Abuja Cabal Undermining War On Terrorism - Shettima

Handbag Theft

2 Men Imprisoned ABUJA- An Upper Area Court in Kado, Abuja, has sentenced two men, Miracle Moses and Jonathan Ike, to three months in prison each for stealing a handbag. The convicts, both of Mpape, Abuja, were charged with joint act and theft. The presiding judge, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, sentenced the duo after they pleaded guilty to the offence. Sadiq did not give the convicts an option of fine, saying the sentence was meant to serve as a deterrent to those who might want to engage in similar acts. Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Simon Ibrahim, told the court that a police team on patrol at the Berger Roundabout arrested and took the accused persons to the police station on June 28. Ibrahim said the accused persons snatched a bag belonging to a woman who was trying to board a taxi. He said the accused were arrested by the police while trying to flee from the scene. Ibrahim said the handbag and a Samsung note pad were recovered from them during police investigation. The prosecutor added that the offences contravened the Penal Code.

By JOSES SEDE

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dipo Ojerinde, speaking to participants at the 5th JAMB policy meeting on Admissions to Degree, NCE and ND Awarding institutions in Abuja recently.

ABUJA - The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has raised alarm over the activities of an unnamed political cabal, which he accused of undermining the war against terrorism in his state. He accused the cabal of working hard to destroy the existing harmony between him, the Presidency and the security services, especially the military. Shettima who spoke through his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Bello Gusau, said this in a statement. He accused the cabal which he said was made up of top politicians from the state of

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Dr. Masa’Udu Kazaure, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala and JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dipo Ojerinde, at the 5th JAMB combined policy meeting on admissions to Degree, NCE and ND awarding institutions in Abuja on Tuesday.

Electoral Offenders: Confab C’ttee

Recommends 10-yr Ban

ABUJA- The National Conference Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters has recommended 10 years ban for anybody convicted of any electoral offence from contesting any election. The reports state that the report of the committee was presented to the plenary of conference by its Co-

Chairmen, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu and Sen. Ken Nnamani. “Any person convicted of any electoral offence should be disqualified for ten years from the date of conviction from contesting any election. “Such a person should be disqualified from holding any elective or appointive position either in government or political party,” the committee

recommended. It named the offences to include registration, campaign finance and political party finance breaches. The committee also recommended that any action challenging the conduct of primaries by a political party shall be filed within 14 days of the cause of action. The committee called for the

enforcement of code of conduct for political parties already drawn up by the InterParty Advisory Council. In the course of screening nominees of the President for any INEC position, the committee recommended that the Senate should set aside at least two weeks to allow for public objection, if any. The committee also

and staff, the National Sports Commission, and members of the National Assembly. He also commended the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the states, top shots of the various leagues and top government officials from the states who were in Brazil to cheer the team. Former Nigeria Coaches,

government agencies and parastatals were also not left out in his appreciation. Paul Pogba’s header from a corner and Captain Joseph Yobo’s own goal on his 100th cap, ensured victory for the French team. “Nigeria’s elimination means the Super Eagles must fly out of Brazil within the next 24 hours,’’ the statement added.

Maigari Commends Jonathan, Nigerian’s For Supporting Two second-half goals by ABUJA- Aminu Maigari, former Nigeria captains and Super Eagles Chairman, Nigeria Football France in Brasilia ensured officials of federal Association (NFA), has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his support in spite of Nigeria’s exit from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Monday. A statement by Ademola Olajire, the Assistant Director, Communications of NFA, quoted Maigari as also appreciating Nigerians for their support to the team.

trying to drag the military into politics and undermine the joint effort that is critical in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the troubled state. The governor also said the cabal was at the same time; trying to use the media to destroy the harmonious working relationship between the state and the Presidency. Gusau, who issued the statement, said his boss would have ordinarily ignored the cabal’s activities, but that doing so could affect the existing relationship between the Presidency, the military and the Borno State Government. According to him, the joint counter-insurgency effort put together by the Federal and State Governments as well as the military since 2011 had succeeded in relatively freeing some major towns in the state that were hitherto, under the full control of the Boko Haram insurgents. The statement partly read: “The cabal, made up of some discontented politicians, some serving and former leaders, has a single agenda which is to create problems between the Presidency, Military and the Borno State Government in order to dubiously secure the political blessings of the Presidency and top ranks of the military with a view to seizing control of the military, the police force and State Security Service, divert the security’s attention away from counter insurgency, drag them into politics, destabilise the polity and use security agencies in furthering their political ambitions ahead of the 2015 elections.”

that the country’s run at the World Cup was put to a halt. “We must applaud Mr President and the Government of Nigeria for the massive support the NFA and the team received all through the qualifying series and the tournament proper. “Mr President’s personal keen interest in the team, saw us qualify for the finals and

put up a credible campaign in Brazil. “The players were brilliant, they showed heart and commitment and deserve the praise of Nigerians for their efforts,’’ the statement quoted as saying. The statement also quoted Maigari as applauding the support of his colleagues on the NFA board, management

recommended that to enhance party’s independence and discipline, all members must submit themselves to the principle of party supremacy. According to it, all elected members of the party must respect party decisions at all times. On the conduct of election, the committee recommended that biometric data of all voters should be captured, stored and used for elections. It also recommended that INEC should ensure that the latest technology was deployed at all times in the conduct of elections as obtained in other climes. The committee also recommended that relevant sections of the Constitution and the Electoral Act be amended to provide for independent candidacy during elections. Delegates are expected to debate the report between Monday and Tuesday for adoption.

Business + Economy

Irrigation Systems: Don Recommends Simpler Design

ABUJA - Dr Mohammed Othman, Associate Professor, Agric-Engineering Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has recommended simplicity in designing irrigation systems to meet farmers’ needs for easy maintenance by indigenous operators. Othman, who was speaking on the methods of improving irrigation services across the country, made this known in an interview with newsmen. He explained that both agronomy and water mechanisms should be duly

considered and consulted for the citing and construction of irrigation facilities to enhance effective crop output. “Agronomy has to do with the plant, the type of plant and its characteristic. Is it a waterloving crop or a drought-tolerant crop? These are the two extremes. “You also have to consider the stages of the crops you plan to irrigate, how long the crop will take to yield; and is it an arable crop or an orchard that can take many years,’’ the don explained. According to him, in the area of water, the location, cost and

method of bringing out the water should be taken into consideration. “Is it through pumping or is the water going to be flowing by gravity, that is using the gravitational force of allowing the water to move underground? “All these are what we call engineering and we need to put them in place to deliver the water, taking it to the soil; that is both water engineering and agronomy,’’ he stated. Othman, who insisted that the number of dams in Nigeria were enough to achieve good irrigation output for dry season

farming, noted that the main challenge was in conveying the water from dams to farms. He stressed that the country was using less than 10 per cent of the water available nationally and that the problem was with the conveyance systems. “How do you convey and deliver this water to various farms and how do you apply them? These are the issues that need to be addressed,’’ he said. Othman said these were issues that were seriously affecting the

L-R: Chairman, Board of Directors, PAN Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Munir Jafa’aru; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; former Head of State, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna and Managing Director, PAN Nigeria (LTD), Mr. Ibrahim Boyi, at the launch of Peugeot 301 Production in Nigeria in Kaduna recently.

irrigation sub-sector because the cost of bringing out the water was enormous and government might not be able to do it alone. He also recommended private partnership in tackling the issue. On affordability of the irrigation services to farmers, Othman called for the collaboration of government with beneficiary farmers and host communities in cost sharing and management of the facilities. He, however, noted that in

Accurate Data, Key To Boosting Foreign Investment - ICT Expert ABUJA - Accurate data gathering and collation is key to boosting foreign investments, if the country must make progress in foreign business partnership, says an ICT expert, Mr Kelvin Makinde. Speaking with the newsmen in Abuja, Makinde said it had become imperative to gather accurate data, if the country must make progress in foreign business partnerships. The expert noted that most foreign investors came from advanced economies where data gathering was common practice. “Most foreign investors want to be assured of returns on their investments. They come from systems where through data, they can easily monitor progress on their investment or the lack of it. “Nigeria is a fertile ground for any investor, the only problem that I see that hinders our progress is the lack of infrastructure and most important, the lack of accurate

FG Committed To Ensuring Quality Products ABUJA - The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga has said that the Federal Government was committed to ensuring quality products for consumers in the country. The minister made this known at the inauguration of “Check the Best Before’’ organised by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) in Abuja. He said that “Best Before (BB) date, also known as a durable life date, was a valuable source of information for consumers. According to Aganga, “ the Federal Government is committed to ensuring quality products for consumer ’s satisfaction and safety. “As a result, the labelling of minimum durability has been made an important component of the standard requirements for relevant products in the country.

- Aganga

“One of the major pillars of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) is to instill the patronage of the made in Nigeria culture in Nigerians.’’ Aganga was represented by a Director in the ministry, Mr Jonathan Juma. He said that since the inauguration of NIRP, the ministry had demonstrated unwavering commitment toward the growth and development of local industries. He said that the programme was already yielding results “as Nigeria is a net exporter of cement, producing about 28.5 metric tonnes annually.’’ “This made it possible for non issuance of import licence in the sector in 2013. “While the patronage of made in Nigeria products continues to enhance capacity utilisation and the country’s Gross Domestic Product, the ministry will not relent in

working closely with industries. “This is with a view to improve productivity and quality. “We will also ensure that we

significantly reduce the importation of substandard products into the country,’’ he said. The minister explained that concerted efforts must be made by industries to embrace measures put in place to ensure

some areas where the farmers were mostly poor, collective efforts in terms of labour, in the maintenance of the irrigation infrastructure could be useful. “The difficulty in contributing significantly to government investment in Nigeria is that peasants are many, but no matter how poorly resourceful they are, they can contribute. “Communities can contribute through labour to maintain and clear the conveyance channels and ensure beneficiaries play their roles.

product quality as well as protect Nigerian consumers. “For the consumer, it is an indication of the anticipated time that an unused product, when stored under appropriate conditions will retain its durability, potency or efficacy.

L-R: Former Head of State, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga at the launch of Peugeot 301 Production in Nigeria in Kaduna recently.

data. “An investor wants to know the demography of the place he wants to operate in, the number of people they are dealing with and other information that will affect their businesses. “All these information are supposed to be available to anybody who is interested in them but you find that this simple information is usually not readily available,” he said. Makinde alleged that most hospitals in Nigeria cannot say the number of children born in them, adding that the National Population Commission also cannot provide the information. “It is necessary for the government to look into the proper funding of the sector as it is critical in driving the development process. “I suppose that is the reason why African governments came to the agreement to devote one per cent of their GDP to the sector.

Coy Establishes 20 Seed Farms HADEJIA (JIGAWA)-The Jigawa Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO), has said it had established 20 seed outgrower farms to boost the production of quality rice seeds in the state. The company’s Managing Director, Alhaji Hassan Girbobo, told newsmen in Hadejia that the farms were located in Ringim, Kazaure, Dutse and Hadejia local government areas of the state. He said the farms were designed to produce rice, maize, cow pea, groundnut and millet seeds for farmers in the state. Girbobo added that the measure was to enhance availability of certified seeds and to discourage the use of low quality variety by farmers. The managing director said “we collect foundation seeds from the National Research Institute, Badagary, and distributed same to farmers for planting.

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY (02/07/2014) Value

NAHCO

178,741

19,592,105.45

NASCON

1,000

1,360.00

643,028

565,206.55

NEIMETH

16,478

27,488.70

-0.09

7,892,976

77,326,604.90

-0.08

714,055

Stocks

Open

Change

Deals

Units

7UP

102.53

ABBEYBDS

1.3

ABCTRANS

0.88

0.9

0.02

ACADEMY

1.71

ACCESS

9.8

9.71

AFRIPRUD

3.35

3.27

4.9

4.98

0.08

2,408,363

12,003,211.79

11.05

457,440

5,088,122.78

172.11

172.2

0.09

1,694,646

291,691,263.00

1.32

1.38

0.06

281,906

384,804.08

NEM

0.88

0.85

-0.03

26,516,793

22,314,127.34

NESTLE

1096

1145

48,227

54,415,368.32

2,354,459.49

NEWGOLD

2091

2088

-3

14,616.00

AFROMEDIA

0.5

4,000

2,000.00

NIG-GERMAN

7.36

2,846

19,922.00

AGLEVENT

1.31

54,200

69,070.00

NIGERINS

0.5

511,398

255,699.00

AIICO

0.81

4,089,083

3,295,929.95

NNFM

19.75

5,300

105,165.00

AIRSERVICE

2.45

1,100

2,640.00

NPFMCRFBK

0.77

0.8

0.03

110,000

88,000.00

ASHAKACEM

28.65

-0.35

1,019,713

29,477,102.37

NSE30

1940.39

1937.05

-3.34

271,740,965

4,156,119,829.00

ASOSAVINGS

0.5

10,000,250

5,000,125.00

NSE50

2095.38

2093.08

-2.3

313,842,624

4,309,582,135.00

BERGER

52,551

462,042.81

NSEASEM

950.94

948.03

-2.91

1,157,530

1,481,638.40

42611.32

42609.47

-1.85

387,778,649

4,476,112,914.00

BETAGLAS

16.59

275

4,404.75

NSEASI

BOCGAS

5.76

4,400

24,640.00

NSEBNK

435.81

434.49

-1.32

92,545,030

1,172,391,448.00

CADBURY

-2

412,813

32,071,373.26

NSECNSMRGDS

1060.72

1055.82

-4.9

9,511,795

560,443,623.60

CAP

40.01

0.01

200,350

8,028,513.21

NSEINDUSTR

2678.64

2668.44

-10.2

2,908,657

141,035,945.80

CAVERTON

5.38

5.64

0.26

2,162,988

12,063,544.92

NSEINS

146.6

146.4

-0.2

56,192,133

45,639,842.49

CCNN

11.7

11.45

-0.25

394,493

4,523,551.06

NSELOTUSISLM

2885.34

2862.26

-23.08

5,592,848

366,571,215.10 715,135,579.00

CHAMPION

10.17

80,000

778,100.00

NSEOILGAS

457.15

454.99

-2.16

22,248,006

CHELLARAM

3.95

200

800

OANDO

28.9

27.5

-1.4

19,701,061

553,381,233.10

0.5

480,000

240,000.00

CILEASING

0.5

41,181

20,890.50

OASISINS

CONOIL

65.4

55,428

3,447,435.54

OKOMUOIL

33.9

32.4

-1.5

404,419

13,170,644.88

CONTINSURE

1.09

1.06

-0.03

2,043,100

2,148,444.00

PHARMDEKO

1.5

100

143

CORNERST

0.5

5,000

2,500.00

PORTPAINT

5.39

5.17

-0.22

406,159

2,155,070.67

COSTAIN

1.4

1.45

0.05

1,629,877

2,277,730.75

PRESCO

36.1

0.9

203,879

7,596,830.93

COURTVILLE

0.59

205,000

116,950.00

PRESTIGE

0.52

77,342

40,044.42

CUSTODYINS

3.74

3.9

0.16

283,617

1,097,642.24

37.4

36.55

-0.85

395,887

14,366,474.35

CUTIX

1.83

1.9

0.07

361,438

681,816.58

REDSTAREX

5.1

-0.1

2,101,070

10,743,314.07

CWG

35,154

167,006.50

REGALINS

0.5

2,600

1,300.00

DANGCEM

240

334,110

80,184,904.18

ROYALEX

0.51

0.5

-0.01

552,126

276,263.00

DANGFLOUR

8.2

-0.2

336,192

2,719,995.24

RTBRISCOE

1.05

0.05

1,116,513

1,171,486.21 53,356,446.58

DANGSUGAR

9.5

1,856,114

17,677,407.68

SEPLAT

700

720.5

20.5

75,175

DIAMONDBNK

6.4

6.3

-0.1

7,974,408

50,278,094.20

SKYEBANK

3.33

3.36

0.03

12,697,560

42,511,343.34

DNMEYER

1.11

21,170

24,557.20

STACO

0.5

2,000

1,000.00

DUNLOP

0.5

16,701

8,350.50

STANBIC

26.5

27.2

0.7

485,790

13,014,045.10

ETERNA

4.54

4.62

0.08

1,603,489

6,964,614.12

STDINSURE

0.5

1,300

650

ETI

16.49

16.5

0.01

737,756

12,122,320.60

STERLNBANK

2.33

2.34

0.01

840,314

1,959,981.61

EVANSMED

2.4

2.43

0.03

200,152

479,797.27

TOTAL

179.6

173

-6.6

32,784

5,757,781.00

FBNH

16.12

0.12

72,539,768

1,171,835,844.00

TRANSCORP

5.29

5.3

0.01

30,370,821

159,184,766.40

FCMB

4.4

60,630,277

266,751,106.50

TRANSEXPR

2.07

133,804

273,643.88

FIDELITYBK

2.04

2.01

-0.03

16,258,283

32,809,511.45

TRIPPLEG

1.97

5,611

10,548.68

FIDSON

3.1

0.1

324,000

981,356.80

UAC-PROP

17.56

174,711

3,118,065.36 31,114,784.67

FLOURMILL

121,847

9,457,821.51

UACN

65.1

67.85

2.75

466,299

200

207

627,356

127,667,095.50

UBA

8.05

7.99

-0.06

15,660,947

125,416,137.60

2.31

2.32

0.01

2,298,490

5,355,230.21

GLAXOSMITH

498,094

33,014,234.29

UBCAP

GUARANTY

28.76

29.06

0.3

17,704,290

516,490,153.80

UBN

9.95

-0.05

647,257

6,425,902.97

GUINEAINS

0.5

500

250

UNILEVER

52.1

1.9

317,847

17,191,090.91

GUINNESS

198

192.02

-5.98

381,159

73,141,877.62

UNITYBNK

0.5

2,106,792

1,053,396.00

HONYFLOUR

4.07

0.07

603,806

2,467,472.24

UNIVINSURE

0.5

2,400

1,200.00

IKEJAHOTEL

0.82

0.8

-0.02

121,000

96,800.00

UPL

4.69

477,921

2,157,659.98

INFINITY

1.61

36,000

57,477.00

UTC

0.5

108,320

54,160.00

INTBREW

29.01

1.01

359,919

10,475,913.19

VANLEER

12.08

100

1,268.00

INTENEGINS

0.5

1,465,310

734,639.99

VETGRIF30

19.52

19.45

-0.07

110,597

2,151,111.65

IPWA

0.5

1,837

918.5

VITAFOAM

4.28

4.25

-0.03

2,267,157

9,309,238.05

JAPAULOIL

0.57

0.55

-0.02

5,078,492

2,798,419.57

VONO

1.44

154

210.98

JBERGER

72.63

-3.63

299,709

20,809,679.70

WAPCO

112.01

111

-1.01

139,568

15,518,540.18

JOHNHOLT

1.15

10,000

11,000.00

WAPIC

0.79

0.78

-0.01

19,684,758

15,726,516.70

JOSBREW

2.58

2,000

4,920.00

WEMABANK

0.95

0.98

0.03

1,135,771

1,106,480.18

ZENITHBANK

25.5

25.15

-0.35

12,131,239

307,051,397.20

LASACO

0.5

224,401

112,200.50

LAWUNION

0.5

200

100

LEARNAFRCA

1.5

30,010

47,115.70

LIVESTOCK

3.07

3.1

0.03

1,065,657

3,275,543.68

MANSARD

2.57

2.6

0.03

72,400

188,345.00

MAYBAKER

1.75

1.67

-0.08

649,400

1,100,974.60

MBENEFIT

0.52

0.54

0.02

3,039,500

1,593,230.00

MCNICHOLS

1.34

1.28

-0.06

1,157,530

1,481,638.40

MOBIL

137

137.31

0.31

60,955

8,376,061.75

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock NESTLE SEPLAT FO UACN GLAXOSMITH UNILEVER INTBREW PRESCO STA N B I C MOBIL

Close 1145 720.5 207 67.85 68 54 29.01 37 27.2 137.31

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain

Stock

Loss

49 20.5 7 2.75 2 1.9 1.01 0.9 0.7 0.31

NSELOTUSISLM 23.08 NSEINDUSTR TO TA L GUINNESS NSECNSMRGDS JBERGER NSE30 NEWGOLD NSEASEM NSE50

2862.26

2668.44 173 192.02 1055.82 69 1937.05 2088 948.03 2093.08

-10.2 -6.6 -5.98 -4.9 -3.63 -3.34 -3 -2.91 -2.3

FOR about four weeks now, the Edo Sate House of Assembly has been embroiled in crisis which has attracted the concern of citizens within and outside the state. Before the crisis, Edo State House of Assembly was one of the most peaceful state Houses of Assembly in the country. WHILST many observers and commentators believe the crisis was an internal affair of the twenty-four elected members of the House, which has also informed their commentaries, what appears incontrovertible as at the moment is that external forces, acting behind the scene are responsible for the impasse. Regrettably, ordinary citizens of Edo State whom the House was established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make laws for and oversight the activities of the Executive arm of government are the ones bearing the pains occasioned by the crisis. WE condemn all those who are responsible for fueling the crisis behind the scene and urge them to desist forthwith because posterity will not forgive them if the crisis degenerates beyond what Edo people have witnessed. THERE are allegations of some of the external forces setting aside slush fund of between N50million-N70million to sway Assembly members from one political party to the other so as to swell their numbers to wreak further havoc on the state. This is condemnable and we urge all those who have made this allegation to document them properly and press court charges against all those involved in this criminality without any further delay. ALSO, all those who submit themselves to be used to destabilise the House should know that they have a date with history as their roles today would be recalled in no distant future. Such members of the House must remember that they are carrying the mandate of every citizen of their constituency irrespective of

THE NIGERIAN

Parliamentary Peace In Edo their political affiliation. Those involved should equally know that they have families and offsprings who they equally represent and that in fullness of time, someone, somewhere someday will remind them of their roles. BEYOND the agent provocateurs, we believe that the Edo State House of Assembly is an independent arm of government which is guided by its own rules and the laws of the land. Principal Officers of the House were selected from among themselves using the instruments of the House. We expect that as Hounourable members, they should all submit themselves to the rules of the House and their oath of office. WE believe absolutely in the rule of law and we are aware that some court judgments have been given in respect of the feud and we are astonished and alarmed that some supposedly Honourable members flagrantly disobeyed court orders. This in our view does not only constitute a threat to democracy but one capable of instigating anarchy in the land. DEMOCRACY flourshes on the rule of law and no nation has ever attained democratic greatness without an efficient and effective justice system which allows for the thriving of the rule of law. We therefore wish to call on all the members of the Edo State House of Assembly who have been duly served court notices or judgments to obey such judgments without any further delay. WHILE we appreciate the role of the Edo State Police Command and other security agencies

for maintaining peace and preventing the conflict from degenerating into blood bath, we wish to call on the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead enforcer of court pronouncements to ensure that all court judgments given in respect to the Edo House of Assembly members are fully complied with. It is the constitutional responsibility of the police to ensure that this happens, and they owe Edo people the duty of enforcing the court judgments, no matter their numbers and those involved. ABOVE all, the neutrality of the police is an imperative. The Nigeria police is not only expected to be neutral in the impasse, they have to be seen by all to enforce law and order. By the enabling Police Act, partisanship of any sort is forbidden and the police must ensure complete neutrality in this matter. IN situations like this, the role of eminent citizens such as traditional rulers is very important in cautioning their subjects to maintain peace. It is against this backdrop that we appreciate the fatherly disposition of the Benin Monarch, Omo Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oba Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa for hosting the feuding lawmakers to a peace talk in his palace. We recall that the Oba pointedly told the lawmakers that he does not want crisis in the state and urged the parties to resolve the matter amongst themselves. THE intervention of the Oba must not go unheeded. The Oba of Benin represents the father of all Edo people both at home and in Diaspora. We wish to call on the lawmakers to hearken to the kind advice of our revered monarch and bring an end to the dispute without any further delay. WE also urge other well meaning Edo sons and daughters to wade into the matter and call all external forces to the dispute to order in the overall interest of Edo State. It is our firm conviction that we have what it takes to bring normalcy to the House once and for all, so that in the end, there would be no victor, no vanquished.

Society

Classificatory Kinship

IN the classificatory kinship, all those Ego’s mother call sister, Ego will call mother, and those Ego’s father call brother, Ego calls father, Ego extends the term brother, sister, mother, father to cover collateral relatives. In the descriptive term on the other hand, the terms brother, sister, father, mother, are used only for lineal relatives (those you share direct descent with). Collateral relatives have different terms describing such relatives more

stages, with Western or European American cultures representing the stage of civilizations. Early part of this century with more ethnographic data then available, the schools of though in Anthropology can be distinguished: as follows: (a) Cultural Relativity/ Determinism (b) Structural/ Functionalism (c) Cultural and Personality (d) Cultural Ecology

details before the cultures vanish. He himself first ethnographic work amongst the Eskimo in 1883 to 1984 and he later studied several American Indian tribes. Amongst his students who themselves made a mark in Anthropology are Ruth Benedict, Margaret Mead, Lowie and Kroeber.

trained anthropologist, Bronis Law Malinowski, who between 1916 and 1918 did a prolonged ethnographic field work amongst the Trobri and Islanders in Lelansia, a group of Islands in the south seas, south of Australia. This principle insists upon idea that every custom, material object, idea, a belief

precisely. For example aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or maternal uncle etc. this type of difference in institutions led Morgan to think that societies or culture have evolved through stages of savagery, barbarism and civilization. Savagery and Babarism were further subdivided into lower, middle and upper, and that different culture of the world can be found which represent the evolutionary

(e) Structuralism Cultural Relativity/ Determinism Cultural Relativity or Cultural Determinism has come to be associated with the American ethnographer Frane Boas. Boas thought that primitive cultures all over the world were disappearing under the impact of Western civilization and this called for large scale effort to record ethnographic

Cultural is relatively means that one should look at a culture in the way it is lived by its people not with the eye of an outsider. Hence Boas taught his students to speak the native language of the culture they wish to study. S t r u c t u r a l Functionalism This school of thought is sometimes called functionalism, Originally, it is associated with the Polish born, England

functions to satisfy the needs (biological needs) of the members. All aspects of culture are closely interwoven or integrated no matter how irrelevant cultural item may seem. The position of A.R. Radcliffe Brown, an English anthropologist on the other hand is slightly different and he also sees cultural items as having function, but Radcliffe Brown sees this function not for satisfying human

By DEM OMOKHODION

“According to Levi Strauss, the thinking of human beings and their external manifestations, in language, kinship terminology and mythology can be reduced into a dual form. We tend to classify things basically into paired opposition, e.g night/day, good/bad, male/female, life/death etc.”

“This led other British social anthropologists to focus their attention on the kinship system of different societies as kinship is an important aspects of the social structure of tribal societies.” or biological needs but for the maintenance of social structure, hence structural functionalism. This led other British social anthropologists to focus their attention on the kinship system of different societies as kinship is an important aspects of the social structure of tribal societies. There is a danger in either functionalism or structural functionalism for traditional societies, because these cultures are assumed to be static or not changing. Culture and Personality It seems that Freudian Theory of psychoanalysis has partly influenced the school of Culture and Personality. Freudian psychology is associated with the psychic or mental phases of personality development and it is not surprising that students of Franz Boas such as Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead were to apply the ideas in the study of childhood upbringing in the cultures in which they worked. The point in culture and personality is that common childhood experiences often produce similar adult personalities in this school of thought. Having been shot into limelight by the c o n t r o v e r s i a l ethnographic study in Coming of Age in Samoa (Samoa is located also in south east of Australia, Mead became a voice for the emancipation of sexual behaviour amongst young people. Cultural Ecology

Leslie White and Julian Steward, two anthropologists associated with cultural ecology makes the point that there are evolutionary stages of cultures similar to the views of Tylor and morgan in the 19th century. But by comparing traditional cultures that are changing under the impact of Western cultures, they came to a conclusion that culture can evolve depending on the amount of energy that it can harness per capital per year as the energy available increases the social organisation also became more complex or becomes more differentiated. Structuralism Structuralism which is associated with the French thinker, Levi Strauss, is a theory of the human mind and society. According to Levi Strauss, the thinking of human beings and their external manifestations, in language, kinship terminology and mythology can be reduced into a dual form. We tend to classify things basically into paired opposition, e.g night/day, good/bad, male/ female, life/death etc. as we set up this dual opposition, we are also always trying to mend or reconcile them. For example, the opposition between life and death is mediated by a belief in afterlife etc. As Structuralism is a psychological approach. Levi Strauss may be thinking that the law governing culture is socially unconscious.

Ajuwaya

THE 2015 general elections in Nigeria are particularly significant in their potential to be the first truly contested election featuring a viable opposition since the transition of civilian rule in 1999. As we are all aware that corps members have been part of electoral process since 2011 and their involvement has brought some credibility to the elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National

Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have apparently concluded arrangements to deploy NYSC members as electoral officials across the country for the 2015 General Elections. The use of corps members in elections has become part of the electoral process for obvious reasons. Corps members are well educated and enlightened to handle election materials in all local government areas of the federation Director-General of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, confirmed that an agreement had been reached with INEC on the matter. The electoral commission, he explained,

Youth Corps Members And 2015 General Elections

would provide the necessary logistics for the corps members, as well as their stipends. Under this arrangement, corps members who would be deployed for the elections would be barred from giving out sensitive electoral materials or receiving financial inducements from politicians. Those who are

caught involving themselves in electoral malpractice would be prosecuted. There are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan supports this plan as he recently enjoined corps members to brace up to play an active role in next year’s elections. The fact is that the use of corps members as ad-hoc staff in elections has become part of electoral process for some years now. The shortage of personnel to man electoral activities has often been cited as one of the reasons for engaging their services during elections. Ordinarily, there should be no problem with that, provided that the NYSC

By LATEEFAT O. MOSHOOD

members have been trained on the basics of electoral processes, and what is required of them during elections. But my concern, however, is about their safety. The lives of corps members should not be put in harm’s way, for any reason. If NYSC scheme are to participate

It can be recalled, the grisly post-election violence in some parts of the North following the 2011 presidential election, which claimed the lives of some corps members who served as electoral officials. Considering the importance of the 2015

in the forth-coming elections, it is absolutely necessary to put adequate security in place, especially in volatile parts of the country. Some areas in the northern part of the country have become a safe haven, and killing fields, for insurgents. The Federal Government and the relevant agencies must not lose sight of that fact.

elections and the desperation of contending forces and interests to win at all costs, the lives of corps members should not be put on the line by involving them in electoral duties where their security cannot be guaranteed. Beyond the Northern states, there are other flashpoints of violence in the South where the lives of youth corps members

could also be endangered. They may become victims of electoral violence, while some may get into trouble through their inducement by desperate politicians. Undoubtedly, the 2015 polls are crucial for democracy in Nigeria. They require all hands to be on deck to ensure a credible, transparent and violence-free exercise. There should be support for every effort that will enhance the integrity of the electoral process, including the use of competent personnel, it is essential that the safety of electoral officers must be well protected. This is even more so for the youth corps members who may be deployed to this critical assignment against their will and better judgment. In this regard, Federal Government and INEC are to ensure that there is no margin for error in all the coming elections, including the 2015 general polls. Only recently, there was a disturbing report from Ekiti State where a corps member was cited in an election issue. The electoral agency fixed the Ekiti governorship election for June this year, followed by that of Osun State, two months later. In both elections, corps members are expected to be deployed as electoral officials. This situation calls for extreme caution and adequate preparation. It is for this reason that the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) recently cautioned INEC not to

deploy corps members for elections anywhere in the country without proper arrangement for their security. It advised that alternatives should be sought if the safety of the corps members cannot be guaranteed. The concern of ALGON on this issue is genuine and should not be overlook. It should not be ignored. It is necessary that we learn from past mistakes and avert any danger to corps members who are vulnerable to attacks because they are, most times, strangers in the communities that they are posted to serve. The electoral agency should also try to avoid the type of incident that happened during the Anambra governorship election last November, where a corps member was arrested for absconding with sensitive electoral materials. The security of corps members is a very serious issue that must not be trifled with by the relevant authorities. For INEC, this is the time to ensure that the necessary unassailable arrangements are put in place to guarantee their safety, and that of all other electoral officials. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should make a necessary arrangement to strengthen its relationship with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to ensure adequate security of corps members participating in the election.

“Considering the importance of the 2015 elections and the desperation of contending forces and interests to win at all costs, the lives of corps members should not be put on the line by involving them in electoral duties where their security cannot be guaranteed.”

Wildlife

Harnessing The Potential Of Nigeria’s Wildlife Parks

THIRTY years ago, Nigeria’s zoological gardens and parks were among the best in Africa. During that period, the University of Ibadan Zoological Gardens; the Yankari Game Reserves, Bauchi; the Jos Zoo and Wildlife Park and the Old Oyo National Park were the delight of tourists. Today, however, the story is somewhat different, as the country’s wildlife parks have suffered a lot of neglect due to factors such as poaching and poor funding. The management of the wildlife parks has not been able to replace aged and dead animals due to paucity of funds; while the cages of many zoological gardens across the country were empty with no animals. Mr Wale Odeyemi, the Head of South West National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, bemoaned the pathetic state of wildlife parks and zoological gardens across the country. “About 30 years ago, Nigeria’s zoological gardens were the best in Africa. “Nigeria’s zoological gardens were then a major revenue earner in the tourism industry. “The lack of maintenance of the animals has adversely affected major zoos across the country,’’ he said. Odeyemi said that inadequate budgetary allocations, lack of maintenance and illegal killing of animals were some of the major setbacks of the zoos. “Some states could not allocate enough money to maintain the animals. Therefore, the animals were not well fed and they eventually died,’’ he said. Odeyemi suggested that all tiers of government should make adequate budgetary provisions for the rehabilitation of existing zoos in their domains, while setting up new ones. Mr Yakubu Kolo, the Conservator of Kainji Lake National Park, New Bussa, Niger, noted that animals like elephants were fast disappearing from the parks. According to him, inadequate funding is the major factor responsible for the extinction of some animals in the parks. “Adequate funding is the key to adequate management of

wildlife conservation. “There is need to replace some of the animals that have gone into extinction at the Kainji Lake Park and other wildlife parks in the country. “The funds will also facilitate the transportation of animals from distant places to the parks. “It is, however, very important to make concerted efforts to stamp out poaching. “It is also important that water does not dry up in the parks during the dry season, while providing the types of food required by the animals,’’ he said. Besides, Kolo called for cooperation between the communities where wildlife parks were located and the management of the parks. He said that such collaboration would stop poaching and illegal trade in animal products such as elephant’s tusks that were used in the production of ivory. Kolo urged government to equip the rangers with adequate patrol vehicles and modern communications equipment to enable them to protect the parks efficiently. He also called for the training and re-training of the rangers to improve their skills in wildlife management. However, Mr Lanre Awoseyin, the National Coordinator, Nigerian Hotels Association, said that adequate wildlife conservation would boost tourism development and attract more tourists. He noted that Nigeria had eight national parks, unlike some African countries like Kenya and South Africa which had 52 and 56 games reserves respectively. Awoseyin underscored the need to improve wildlife conservation in Nigeria, as part of efforts to boost the country’s tourism potential. “Adequate funding of wildlife conservation would enhance its development, while generating more employment opportunities for the people. “Nigeria is naturally endowed to have good game reserves which could attract tourists and boost its economy, if properly funded and managed,’’ he said. Awoseyin, however, suggested that the activities of farmers, who had encroached deeply into the demarcated areas mapped out as game reserves, ought to be checked

BY CHINYERE OMEIRE

so as to preserve the existing reserves. He urged the government to educate farmers around game reserves to desist from bush burning because of its adverse

potential poachers, while saving the nation’s wildlife from extinction and making game reserves more viable. “The existing punishment,

effects on wildlife. “Apart from the economic benefits of a viable wildlife park, it also beautifies the environment and preserves nature, thereby attracting lovers of beauty and nature,’’ he said. Awoseyin stressed that as part of efforts to tackle the menace of wildlife poaching, the Federal Government should review the jail term for poachers from one month to five years. He said that such review would serve as a deterrent to

which gives an offender one month jail term with an option of fine, should be extended to five years jail term, just like what obtains in Kenya and South Africa,’’ he said. Awoseyin reiterated that the law prohibiting poaching of wildlife was not stringent enough, adding that tougher sanctions ought to be imposed on offenders. He also noted that Nigerians’ taste for “bush meat’’ had somewhat encouraged poachers to continue illegal

killing of wildlife. He underscored the need to regulate and reduce the consumption of “bush meat’’ so as to forestall a situation where some species of wild animals would go into extinction. The tourism expert also advised the government to

animals in the ecosystem. She attributed illegal killing of wild animals to the lack of knowledge of the importance of these animals by residents of various communities, especially farmers. “However, government

improve the security arrangements put in place for existing game reserves, while demarcating more areas for wildlife conservation. Awoseyin stressed that if the games reserves were wellmanaged, they would be able to earn more foreign exchange for the country. Nevertheless, Mrs Sophia Anyafulu, a lecturer in Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, advised all tiers of government to develop zoological parks in their areas, while educating the people on the usefulness of

should from time to time import different species of animals for continued existence of the animals,’’ she said. All the same, conservationists urge the government to initiate decisive measures to address the menace of poaching in the national parks. They also advise the government to demarcate more areas for wildlife conservation, as part of calculated efforts to boost ecotourism in the country. (NAN).

“Apart from the economic benefits of a viable wildlife park, it also beautifies the environmentandpreservesnature,thereby attracting lovers of beauty and nature...’’

Media IT is true that very little broadcast material reaches the air without first having been written. This is because of the technical nature of radio and television productions. The strict limits observed by most stations and the fact that good extemporaneous speaking at the microphone is a rare skill. For some kinds of broadcasting such as the documentary drama and script is almost always essential. The producer is concerned with radio and Tv scripts, sometimes as the author and always as the editor of broadcast — Richard Aspinall (1973) Radio Writing Differs Radio writing differs from writing for publication inprint because the medium is different. Broadcasting is a form of living publication. It is not static but something which moves forward in present time. This calls for a difference. The reader of a newspaper or a magazine can select or reject paragraphs or the whole stories as the fancy takes him. When he is not in his understanding of the authors meaning, he can always re-read. This is not so of radio and television, the listener or the viewer has to take everything as it comes or not listen at all. When he is unclear, he has no means of referring back to clarify a point. A radio scriptwriter must therefore seek to hold the listener’s rapt attention arid to a considerable paint to ensure that the meaning is clear and understandable at every stage of a talk or story, as it progresses. Another area of difference in radio writing, is that things heard on the radio appear to the listener as to be happening now. A broadcast is not a report of something past and gone. The act of news reading is something taking place same time as it is heard. Above all, radio writing, is writing the spoken word and the writer of the script should be guided to the words we use and the manner in —which we use them. In talking with one another, we use familiar words we also say what we have to say in short sentences or phrases. We try to avoid putting our ideas together in the kind of lengthy paragraphs, which we may write. We put forward our ideas directly and not cluttered with small details nor involved in rambling parenthesis. Some Rules of Radio Writing Use words, which are in every day use and are readily understood by majority of people. It does not necessary mean that we should use only simple words to the exclusion of all others. Where it is necessary to use an unfamiliar word, it should be explained or enlarged upon in a short explanatory sentence. The Use Of Short Sentences It is very appropriate to avoid a series of short staccato sentences, which would make a speech sound jerky. Variety in sentence length makes a speech sound interesting. In general, of course, the length should tend to be as short as possible rather than long. A sentence should never be longer than the number of words we can easily carry on a breath such is for radio and television. Avoid Dependent Clauses Dependent clauses and inverted clauses are quite common in writing matter, but we seldom use them in normal speech. For example we may write: Yinsa wishing for a cold drink as he had walked many miles that day under a hot sun, he walked into the first bar he came to at Ugbowo, Benin City. In radio style the idea may be better written or expressed this way. Yinsa was thirsty. He had walked many miles that day and the sun had been scourgingly hot. He entered the first bar he came to in Ugbowo, Benin City. The Use of Descriptive Words Where Possible The radio listener has only words to guide him and to sketch pictures, which he would otherwise see with his eyes. The use of descriptive word helps him to see the picture. In the example above the word ‘scourgingly’ hot says more than simply under a hot sun’, But descriptive words can be over used if a script is filled

Contemporary Issues In Mass Communica By OSAYAWANBO ERO with them. Descriptive words are better than figures where it is possible to use them — twenty minutes walk away’ says more to the listener than ‘a mile away’ Speech Has Rhythm Speech has rhythm and speech rhythms should be kept in mind when writing radio script which should flow with the fluency of poetry. This helps to carry the listener along and it holds his attention. Some of the best of radio dramas and radio documentaries have been written by poets who have a flair for the rhythms of language. Newness of a Radio Script A radio script should display an element of ‘newness’. This means that whatever the broadcast, as far as the listener is concerned it is happening now. It is an immediate and a personal experience. This should always be kept in mind when writing for radio. The choice of view point from which a script is written, the choice of words, the authors approach and the enthusiasm with which he writes, all have a bearing on the sense of immediacy. Compare the following two examples which of the two styles has this sense of immediacy about it? Why? ‘This new variety of groundnut has been developed especially for the farmers in Adamawa, Kano and Sokoto drier zones in Nigeria. It is not subject to the types of crops disease which affected the older varieties.‘If you are farming in the drier zones of Adamawa, Kano and Sokoto in Nigeria, you will be interested in this new variety of groundnuts, It has been developed especially for you. You’ find that it doesn’t suffer from the diseases you’ve known with the older varieties. The Value of Re-statement Message In radio broadcasting the listener must get the message immediately and clearly. We must help him to do this by restating in another way what we have already told him. Simple examples are: Breast feeding is natural remedies and safe diet for children ‘It is natural dietary as safe and healthy for children. Water for children should be boiled. It should be heated over the fire until it is bubbling and steaming. Heart failure is when it is unable to pump amount of blood needed by the body. High blood pressure can cause heart failure when it is unable to pump the amount of blood to the body. By following these simple rules all radio writing can be made more effective. They apply equally to all kinds of radio scripts. Narration and dialogue are two ways of telling story whether the story is of imagination or fact or fiction. The narrative is a monologue if one person is talking while it is dialogue when it involves two people or more. The Narrative The narrative is a much used device in radio and perhaps the highest radios art form. The narrative may be simple linking speeches in magazine programme or it may sustain a whole drama. Good it is said, can only be compared with oratory. However it is generally noted that the style is more personal and intimate. At its worst, it is a stodgy mass of words used because the writer has run out of better ideas for handing his subject. Narrative should be used sparingly if it is to be effective. Too much narrative uninterrupted by action, question or sounds or voices makes a documentary sound dull. If it is over used in drama, it holds up the action of the play. The Dialogue In dialogue, a story is told through the conversation of

“In radio broadcasting the listener must get the message immediately and clearly. We must help him to do this by re-stating in another way what we have already told him.”

people. It must tell us all we need to know something about the character and personalities of the people of the dialogue, what they are doing and where they are. Dialogue is like everyday speech, but the irrelevances whatever must be removed. Dialogue writing is never speech making, we don’t make speeches to one another in everyday conversation. The lines given to the actors to speak, are generally short. The speeches are also frequently interrupted by other actors in the play. Compare the following: OZE: I don’t understand why you didn’t speak to me yesterday, I was walking along Eko street as I always do when you came by your bicycle. You rang your bell in the past, you have always stopped to talk to me, but yesterday I wondered why you rode on as though I wasn’t there. KAZ: I would like to have stopped to talk to you Oze, but I was in a hurry because I was already late for work. It was the third time I have been late this week and the

HOD (Head of Department) told me that if I was late again I’d get sack. OZE: Oh well I understand but you could at least waved to me since you rang the bell This is dialogue because the two people each made speeches at one another rather than converse with one another. OZE: “What was wrong yesterday; KaziT’ KAZI: Yesterday? OZE: “Yes, I was walking along Eko Street, when you went by your bicycle” KAZI: “Oh 1 was so much in a hurry” OZE: “But you generally stop and talk to me” KAZI: “Yes, I know, I’m sorry, Oze I didn’t mean to be rude hence I rang bell. It was just that I was late for work, my HOD said he’d sack me next time” OZE: “Oh, I’ m sorry — but you could at least have waved to me since you rang your bell”. KAZI: “Next time, I will, Oze”. You would observe that the speeches had been broken up and the exchange of conversation sounds more natural. Narration and dialogue both have their places in radio and television story-telling. Dramatic scenes involving dialogue can be used to good effect in some documentary and educational broadcasts. Narration can also be used in drama to bridge scenes and to indicate the passage of time. However, narration should never be used in drama as a substitute for action. Mechanizing a Script Radio scripting contains everything that happens. This is

Media

ation:

Writing For Radio And Television

the word which the listener hears and control instructions for the technical operator and the actors. The process of writing is the control instructions in the province of the producer. This is what is sometimes called mechanization of scripts. It is very common that radio dramatists often do this work for the producer but where the dramatist does not, then the producer must do it by himself. Mechanizing script whether in radio or television requires considerable thought and great attention to details. The truth of it all is:- If it is not script, it is not in the broadcast. The script as it goes to the studio must contain all that is to happen and indicate who is to do what and when (time). For example, lets look at this script submitted by an author for a play, which may contain the following scene. SUBERU: “Yes, thank you, I will take a cup of water” (He pours it out, he starts drinking and falls dead) What is the actor supposed to do? Is he going to carry all

the action himself? And if he does, will it be clear to the listeners? The author knows what he has in mind, but the script in its present form is hardly suitable for the studio. In editing and mechanizing script, the producer may set out the scene in the following way. 1. SUBERU: “Yes thank you, I will take a cup of water” 2. Effects: Water poured into a cup on mike 3. SUBERU: “It looks rather bitter” (He drinks pause. Gasp) what have you done to me? (He begins to choke) 4. EFFECTS: (Cup drops and smashes on foor) 5. SUBERU: “You — (choking) you….. you have poisoned me!(Long agonizing gasp for breath” 6. Effects: Sound of body falling to the floor) By mechanizing the author’s original script we have put it into a form which can be acted out in the studio. The work has been divided between the actor at the microphone and an operator to water, the cup dropping and the actor falling dead. All cues, that everything that happen have been numbered as this reduces rehearsal, time, by making back references easier. The cues can be tried 4, 5 and 6 times. In mechanizing and editing a script, the producer may have to write some additional lines particularly where the author of the original script is not familiar enough with the technique of radio. Here is another example of a script submitted to be read in the studio 1. OKON: “I thought you said Rabi would be here”. 2. OJO: “I did, He’ I will be here minutes” 3. OKON: “I hope”

4. (EFFECTS: knock on door off) 5. OJO: “That must be him now (going slightly of mike) I’ll open the Door” 6. OKON: (projecting off from on): Tell him he’s late! 7. OJO: (off mumbled): Yes, I will 8. (Effects: Door opens off? 9.OJO: (off): Hello Rabi, come in 10. RABI: “Sorry I’ m late Okon” 11. (Effects: Door closes off) 12. RABI: (Off, but coming on): Is Joy here yet? 13. OJO: (coming): Yes, she’s waiting for you 14. OKON:(on): Hello Rabi, You’re late. 15. RABI: (on): Yes, I’m sorry Okon, I got delayed. By re-writing the scene we allow some time to pass for Ojo to walk across to the floor and open it and then return to where Okon is seated or standing. We have written additional line some to be spoken from the microphone, to allow for the passing of time. While mechanizing a dramatic script for the studio, the

producer can give thought to the questions of perspective which were raised when we discussed the microphones. In some scenes in drama, action will flow, or appear to the listeners to flow away from or back towards the microphone. While mechanizing a script the producer must always ask himself: where is my microphone? Says Richard Aspinall (1973). In the scene we have just read the microphone begins with Ojo and Okon and it remains with Okon while Ojo goes away to open the door for Rabi. We would have staged this scene the other way round with the microphone apparently following Ojo, but we would then have had to have given some lines to be spoken by Okon from “off mike” to indicate movement and to show that he was still there. The terms generally used in a script to indicate perspective changes are: off and slightly off. These could be (off back) or

off (side) depending upon the type of acoustic required. Off back from a directional microphone excites room resonance and give the impression of space, where as of to the side of a directional microphone means that the actor works into the dead area and the space effect is not, created. Mechanization of script can only work when it is logically thought out from the view point of how the action will sound and the instruction for the technical operators and actors need to set out clearly in the script. By doing all this work in the producer’s office during the editing of the script, the producer frees his mind to concentrate on the performance when he is in the studio. Timing the Script Speaking rates vary from one person to another, from one language to another and from one programme to another. News is generally read at a rate of 120 words per minute. The average rate in a dramatic programme may be as high as 160 words per minute. In estimating the length of a script, we must take into consideration the nature of the programme, the size of type and the length of each typed line. It is however generally assumed that twenty typewritten lines equal I minute of reading time. That is 3 seconds a line. The best way of timing a script is to read it through aloud. Action Project Mechanization The following scene may appear in a dramatic script submitted to you by an author. Mechanize it for the studio, setting out any instructions required for the technical operator and the actors. The scene is Ekos office, which is just off the general office of the Saba textile mill. Ekos is on the telephone EKOS: “This afternoon? Well, I’m not sure. Let me look at my diary. Yes that’ll be fine what time? One O’clock. Yes, see you then” OSAZE: “knocks on the door and enters” EKOS: Come in! OSAZE: “May I see you for a minute?” EKOS: “I always have time to see you come in and sit down” OSAZE: “I can’t stay long, I’m expecting a phone call. I wanted to see you about the cotton wool file. Have you seen it recently?” EKOS: “Not this week. I’ll send for it” EKOS: “Rings a bell on his desk for the messenger” OSAZE: “Paul has it at present. Have you seen it since? It was passed to him?” EKOS: “No, I don’t think so. No I haven’t seen it since last month now I come to think of it. Why?” OSAZE: “Well, there are a number of irregularities, which 71 thought you ought to know about” The messenger enters. MESSENGER: You called, Sir? EKOS: “Yes-go and ask Mr. Paul for the cotton wool file The messenger turns to leaves OSAZE: “I’d better leave you alone with him”. OSAZE: “Rises to do so” EKOS: “I’ll be in my office just call” OSAZE: “Leaves, then the phone rings” EKOS: “Hello, yes”. The scene ends with music.

“In estimating the length of a script, we must take into consideration the nature of the programme, the size of type and the length of each typed line. It is however generally assumed that twenty typewritten lines equal I minute of reading time. That is 3 seconds a line. The best way of timing a script is to read it through aloud.”

Issues

National Conference in session.

Scrap SIEC, National Conference Resolves

THE National Conference has resolved to have the States Independent Electoral Commission scrapped and recommended that its functions be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission. It was observed that the commission at that level has outlived its usefulness and has become a tool for governors to manipulate elections into local government councils. Also, a proposal for review of the Electoral Act to further strengthen INEC‘s capacity to effectively monitor party conventions was accepted by the Conference. Delegates also set minimum of first degree or its equivalent as the mandatory academic qualification for candidates seeking Presidential, Governorship, Local

ByJOSES SEDE

Government Chairmanship, and membership of the National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly. Also, Secondary School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent was set as the minimum academic qualification for candidates seeking election as local government councilors. These resolutions were part of the recommendations adopted during the debate and consideration of report of the Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters headed by the duo of Senator Iyorchia Ayu and Senator Ken Nnamani, both former Presidents of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Conference also approved establishment of a Political Parties Regulation and

Electoral Offences Commission to be vested with various responsibilities connected with electoral matters. Among the responsibilities of the Commission would be to investigate all electoral frauds and related offences; identify, trace and prosecute political thuggery; and other electoral offences as well as monitor the organization and operations of political parties, including their finances. The Conference further resolved that appeals from judgments in pre-election matters to the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court should be filed within 21 days from the date the judgment of the lower court is delivered, while the Evidence Act should be

amended to shift the burden of proof in election matters to INEC. Still on election litigation, the delegates agreed that relevant provisions be made in the Electoral Act to ensure that no elected official is sworn in until all litigations on the elections are concluded. In addition, it agreed that any candidate adjudged by the courts to have been fraudulent in the electoral process should not only be barred from subsequent elections but should be disqualified from vying for any elective office or holding any government position for ten years. It was also resolved that in addition any person removed from office, based on the decision of the court on fraudulent election, must lose all privileges attached to that office.

“In addition, it agreed that any candidate adjudged by the courts to have been fraudulent in the electoral process should not only be barred from subsequent elections but should be disqualified from vying for any elective office or holding any government position for ten years.”

Another resolution was that if a candidate is disqualified by the court for not meeting the required qualification for contesting an election, or in situation where such a person is elected and the court orders him to vacate the office, the candidate with the second highest number of votes should be declared winner. This recommendation, according to the delegates is to avoid waste of public funds to repeat elections consequent upon removal of disqualified candidate. On the appointment of INEC chairman, Conference accepted the recommendation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Report regarding the manner of appointing the INEC chairman. Conference also accepted the Committee’s recommendation that any elected officials, executive or legislative who engages in cross-carpeting, regardless of the reasons for such, shall automatically forfeit his or her seat. This provision, it said, shall not relate to cases where political parties merge to become a mega party. In such a case, Conference agreed that elected officials should have a choice to freely choose any political party they want to belong. However, it was agreed that elected officers whose political parties, on whose platform they won election, later merge with other political parties after the elections should be allowed to retain their seats. Conference also accepted the recommendation for the reservation of a defined quota for women and people living with disability in party hierarchy, although it rejected a suggestion a 15 per cent slot should be reserved for persons living with disabilities. It agreed that accessible polling stations be established for persons with disability and that INEC should provide Braille ballot papers for the visually impaired persons. The recommendation by the Committee that if the candidate whose name was submitted to INEC dies or withdraws from election or is disqualified by the court of competent jurisdiction, the political party which nominated the candidate shall forward to the

commission the name of the aspirant who scored the second highest number of vote at the primaries as the substitute candidate was accepted by the Conference. On election matters, Conference accepted the recommendation for the introduction of electronic voting system after the 2015 general elections. It also agreed to the recommendation that government should make efforts to demilitarize elections. It was agreed that special mandatory provision should be made to compel INEC to electronically transmit result from all the wards upon conclusion of the counting process and that election results should be pasted at all ward levels. The Committee’s recommendation that government houses, cars and other facilities and resources should not be used for the partisan interests of any political party was endorsed by the Conference just as it endorsed another recommendation that it should be made mandatory by law for INEC to limit the numbers of voters in a polling unit to 500 as well as create as many polling units as the number of registered voters in every constituency. As part of that, it was also agreed that the criteria for delineation of the units should be clearly spelt out for easy verification so that communities in need of redress and civil society organizations can have verifiable facts to seek redress. It also accepted the recommendation that makes it mandatory for all candidates seeking election to the office of President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor or such other office as may be deemed appropriate at every general election to participate or attend political debates which shall be hosted prior to the date of general election. The Conference also agreed that in multi-party systems, parties can only contest local government elections, state elections and federal elections should be allowed to exist. Delegates voted that May 29 should no longer be seen and observed as Democracy Day.

INTRODUCTION is x? We recall that a triangle is threeSolution: sided figure bounded by straight By complementary angles, lines. Though there are different o o = Sin 50o kinds of triangles - Equilateral Cos 40 = Sin (90 -40) Sin (0 + 30)o = Sin 50o scalene, Isosceles and the rightor 0 + 30o = Sin 50o angled triangle. The sum of the three

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

Complementary Angles angles of any triangle is 180o(Supplementary). For the purpose of this topic this week, we shall consider the the rightangled triangle as shown below, where the angles 0 and (90 - 0) add up to 90o(complentary). A 0

(90 - 0)

A + B + C = 180o or 0 + 90 + (90 - 0) = 180o When you open the bracket and collect like terms, the equation balances! Applying the rule of Basic Trigometrical Ratio (SOH CAH TOA) to the diagram above we have: BC (1). Sin 0 = Opposite = AC Hypotenuse (2). Cos 0 =

Adjacent = A B AC Hypotenuse

Example 5 Given that Sin(90o - 50) = Cos(180o - 0), Find the value of 0. o o o :- 0 = 50 - 30 = 20 Answer (WAEC)/Further Maths) o o o o (B). 22.5 (C). 30 (D)45 (A). 15 Example 2 Solution: If Sin x = Cos 70o, 0 < x < 90o, By the rules of complementary Find x. (WAEC) angles, Solution: Cos (180 - 0) = Sin [90 - (180 - 0)] o o From RHS, Cos 70 = Sin (90 - 70) Sin (90 - 50) = Sin[90 - (180 - 0)] or 90 - 50 = 90 - (180 - 0) = Sin 20o or 90 - 50 = 90 - (180 + 0 :- Sin x = Sin 20o Collect like terms to get: or x = 20oAnswer 60 = 180o Dividing both sides by the coefficient Example 3 of 0, we get: If Sin (x - ) = (x + ), what is x? 60 = 180 Solution 6 6 o By complementary angles, :- 0 = 30 Answer Cos (x + ) = Sin [90 - (x + )] Example 6 Sin (x - ) = Sin [90 - (x + )] Solve the equation Cos70 = Sin50, or x = 90 - (x + ) Where 0o < 0 < 90o. (WAEC 2007, or x = 90 - x F./Maths) Solution: collect like terms to get: From the RHS, the law of 2x - + = 90o complementary angles says or 2x = 90o Sin50 = Cos[90 - 50] Dividing both sides by the Cos70 = Cos[90 - 50] coefficient of x, we get: or 70 = 90o - 50 Collect like terms to get: 90o 2x = 70 + 50 = 90o 2 2 or 120 = 90o o :- x = 45 Answer Divide both sides by the coefficient of 0, we get: Example 4 120 = 90o If Cos x = Sin 50o, what then is x? 12 12 Solution: :- 0 = 7.5o Answer Applying the rule of

Opposite = B C (3). Tan 0 = Adjacent AB Similarly, AB (4). Sin (90 - 0) = AC BC (5). Cos (90 - 0) = A C AB and (6). Tan (90 - 0) = complementary angles to the Right AC Hand Side (RHS) of the given (1) = (5) and (2) = (4) equation, we get: i.e. Sin 0 = Cos (90 - 0) Sin 50o = Cos (90 - 50)o and Cos 0 = Sin (90 - 0) or Cos x = Cos (90 - 50)o APPLICATION EXAMPLES Cos x = Cos 40o Example 1 :- x = 40o Answer o o If sin (0 + 30) = Cos 40 , What

Drill (1). If Cos x = Sin 68o, Find x Answer: x = 22o (2). If Cos(x -3) = Sin(x + 3), what is x? Answer: x = 45o Until next edition, remain blessed solving Maths and remember to watch EBS TV, Thursday at 4pm!

Motoring With OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452

Basic Safety Rules

Vehicle Maintenance Procedure

THERE is a well-known picture in the mind of everybody, whether he or she is interested in automobiles or not. It is of those sad remnants of all brands of cars, Buses, Trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles, which dies early. You don’t want your car to die a ‘premature death”, do you? The premature death is not due to substandard material and workmanship but largely to lack of adequate maintenance procedure discussed here is not a substitute to daily and weekly checks. It is on the action to be taken and which ever comes first. Maintenance of your vehicle starts from the pre-delivery inspection (DPI). Your dealer must have done that before you take possession of the car. It must be followed with first inspection service, which is compulsory after you must have covered I,000 kilometers on one month after the date of purchase. Due to the state of our roads and poor handling of motor vehicle by motorists, It is suggested that your vehicles should be serviced at every 5,000 - 6,000 km or three or four months, which ever comes first. For the engine to serve you, you must “service” it to keep it in top form always. This is done when you service the engine at regular interval of about 5,000km, which include the following serving procedures. 1. Check Oil level in the engine sump 2. Warm the engine up to attain its working temperature before you drain the oil 3. Oil filter to be replaced with a new one.

4. Check the values clearance and adjust it necessary. Proper care must be taken during adjustment to ensure that it is adjusted to the manufacturer’s recommendation. 5. Check the contact point for excessive wear is excessive, A little wear can be corrected by using oilstone or sand paper. After 10,000 kilometers, it is advisable to replace contact. 6. Remove the spark plugs wash them in petrol and use a wire brush to remove outraces

of carbon set the plug gap to 0.75 0.85 (for vehicles). 7. Use compressed air to blow the air cleaner element properly. Replace it after 5,000km 8. Check the tension of the drive belt. It should be adjusted after 5,000km. 9. Use a timing light (ignition timing light ) to set the ignition timing correctly. 10. Set the idle speed (slow running) of the car to the recommended

ALTHOUGH tyre manufacturers balanced tyre and tube , it is often necessary to balance the complete wheel assembly to ensure that wheel rotates free from vibration. Out of balance wheel may be cause by (a) Static unbalance , and ( b) Dynamic•. unbalance. (a) Wheels are statically balanced if they remain at rest in any given position. Static unbalance wheel always comes to rest in one position, which indicates the presence of a” heavy spot” directly below the wheel axis. A wheel used in this condition will tend to cause the unbalanced centrifugal force to lift the wheel of the road periodically, and produce conditions knows as” Wheel Hop” . Shimmy and uneven l wear (b) Wheels are dynamically balance when rotated . No resultants centrifugal force is

exerted . Dynamic unbalanced wheel if rotated , the centrifugal forces acting through the same line . Wheels should be balanced statically and dynamically to allow even tyre wear and free wheel vibration. Front wheel alignment is checked with different kinds of alignment equipment available in workshops and most petrol station. In checking front alignment you will measure camber, castor

revolution per minute: The car carburetor is to form the very rapid burning charge needed by the engine. The process of preparing this suitable “charge” mixture of fuel and air is known as carburetion. The idle mixture adjusts screw on the carburetor controls, the amount of fuel air mixture that is being burnt inside the engine. The idle mixture adjust screw should not be touched unless you have a tester. Exhaust Gas Analyzer (spedal tester) is used to set it correctly. Wrong adjustment of this idle mixture screw will cause excessive fuel consumption.

Wheel Balancing and toe – in. The toe - in can be adjusted if found incorrect. You can measure steering axis - inclination and toe-out on turns which are not adjustable. If they are wrong, it means parts are bent or damaged and must be replaced. The level of fluid in power steering system should be maintained between the minimum and maximum level, else the pump will not build enough pressure for the system Leaks should be repaired immediately by skilled mechanics.

1. Keep your vehicle in good condition . Pay particular attention to light brakes , steering , tyres and direction indicator . Keep windscreens and windows cleans and free of abstractions. 2. Use your rear view and wing mirrors before moving off, overtaking, turning slowing down or stopping. 3. Signal your intention in good time and before executing them 4. On the highway, keep well within your lane. Do not wander from lane to lane or change lane suddenly. 5. Always obey traffic officers in the lawful performances of their duties 6. Do not reverse into a major road or expressway and on any road at all. Do not reverse for more than eight metres. 7. Get to know the major traffic signs and road marking and obey them. 8. Park only where you will not obstruct other road users or be a danger to them, If your vehicle breaks down, push it off the road so that it does not obstruct traffic or other road users. 9. Do not drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 10. Be polite and courteous to other road users.

Understanding Steering System THE operation of the steering gearbox can be mechanical as we have on most vehicles on our roads or hydraulic (power steering) also as we have on some cars on our roads . The power steering reduces the effort needed to turn the steering wheel and makes maneuvering in a confirmed space much easier than with the conventional steering (mechanical steering). With conventional steering some steering wheels may be wrenched out of a driver grip if a tyre bursts at high speed or if the car hits a large bump. This does not happen with power steering .

Another advantage of the power steering is that car can be steered manually if the power fails. The main components of a power steering are the same as the conventional type but plus a pump which supplies the fuild driven by the engine, sensing valves operated by movement of the steering wheels or by the deflection of the road wheels, the ram and piston assembly and the connecting pipes. The maintenance procedure from the two systems are similar. But the power steering has the hydraulic system to be maintained in addition.

“Front wheel alignment is checked with different kinds of alignment equipment available in workshops and most petrol station. In checking front alignment you will measure camber, castor and toe – in. The toe - in can be adjusted if found incorrect.”

Society

Understanding Friendship

IT is quite sad when you look around the world today and see what people call friendship. The true definition of a friend has lost its value in the man to man relationship. The value of friend or friendship can only be found in the definition, the actual act of friendship has gone sour. What is being called friendship today is defined by how much money you have, what design of clothes (perfume, shoes etc.), the kind of food and wine on your table, if you have strong economic or political power and other good things of life. No wonder some people now choose to live in self deception in order to get friends that will approve of them. They borrow cars, clothes, jewelleries, shoes, money and all other things that they feel will make them acceptable to other highclass people. This is the period when what you have in possession, defines your friendship with others and others with you. No wonder the bible says, the friends of the rich gathers around him, but the poor has no friend, although he pursues after them, the further they go away from him. There are many definitions for who a Friend is. According to free online dictionary, a friend is a person whom one knows, likes, and trust. Another definition says a friend is a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations. While another definition went further to expatiate on who a real friend is; it says; a real friend is someone who it’s okay to fart in front

of, you don’t mind talking to on the bus for at-least 20 minutes, you can borrow #750 and never have to pay it back. Many persons today have boxed the real content of friendship and have thrown it into the deep blue sea, where it can never be recovered. As it stands, people now call their sex partners friend, including the ones they are not dating and the ones they paid to have sex with. These days friendship is nothing less than what they call ‘‘friends for benefits.’’ Gone are those days when a friend will come to your house, and assist you to wash clothes if you have so much to wash and also follow you to the market. When the friend want to finally go home, you guys will gist along the way to the friend’s bus stop and still come back to your street and then finally back to the bus stop. This is so because you never wish to separate from each other, but today everyone is in a hurry to part-ways. One of the principles of friendship is that you must be friendly before you can have friends. Be nice, open minded about things then you will see people flock around you. A true friend would not try to steal your girl/ boyfriend, your job, or personality and for you to be a true friend, you should not think of doing these things to who so ever you call friend. Being a good friend is not always easy, but taking the time to nurture a lasting friendship is worth every ounce of effort. As the years pass, some people will stay by your side, but many would not and you will realise that each friendship you keep is priceless. For sure you

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

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

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

your friend during hard times, and deepen a friendship to make it last. A true friend would always or most times keep his or her promise. True friends never make a promise that cannot be kept except when something beyond their capacity crops up and this is not often. A true friend will always explain why they could not carry out their promise. They are dependable; being

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

from other people; this action is not being honest rather, it being blunt. In trying to be honest with your friend, be real, original, connect with the person whom you value on a deep level if you want to have sustainable, long-term friendship. Invest in people you can be yourself around. If your behaviour lacks sincerity, your friendship would not last. Anybody that uses you

cannot really be a good friend. A friend is not supposed to use or make the other person feel used at any point in time. Some persons go to the extent of becoming friend with another person, in order to be accepted into a clique and this is not friendship rather its opportunism and eventually a shallow nature of your

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

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

Nyanya Gwandara Community

Issues Aside The Blast

RECENTLY, Nayanya in Abuja made International headlines and for the wrong reasons. Twin terrorists’ planted explosives rocked a major motor park in Nyanya and its environs, killing many, maiming several others and leaving families gnashing their teeth in sorrow. Civil society organizations, till date, put up camps in Nyanya, making interventions in form of aids (food, provisions, medicals and even cash) to victims and their relatives. Aside the sad event occasioned by the bomb blast, there was

Muslim-dominated community. It is located in the northern part of Nigeria, 18 kilometers away from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Emerging Issues Just as most other communities in Nigeria, gender inequality is deeprooted in Nyanya Gwandara. It is a community where large scale social exclusion and societal discrimination against women have been predominant and pervasive. Baseline report showed that male preference (87%) in terms of inheritance was very

outbreak of communicable diseases. Other nagging issues in the community, which LOF sought to address in the year 2008 were the increasing spread of HIV/AIDs,, malaria, low self-esteem among women and teenage pregnancy. Intervention Social Empowerment: During- the year, six Gender, Environment and Leadership Training (GELT) sessions were held in Nyanya Gwandara community, where 312 women were empowered to identify, refute and challenge socio-cultural practices being perpetrated

democracy. My exposure to GELT programmes has also affected the way I treat and relate with people; I have learnt to listen and treat them well”. Another major outcome of the programme is improvement in the selfesteem of women, who said they can now freely interact with others as well as speak out boldly in social gatherings. Mrs. Eze Theresa, a beneficiary from Iddo community shares her experience. “The issue of low selfesteem affected me badly. I was always feeling inferior to others but can now assert myself very

against them. The women were also taught the tenets and essence of good governance and political participation. This has contributed a great deal towards changing their feelings, attitude and understanding of these issues. Mrs. Anna Duke, a law enforcement agent working in this community speaks of lessons learnt. 1l have learnt that the best form of governance is

well in public”. Also community dialogue sessions organized by LDF in Nyanya Gwandara in 2008 also provided a platform for the identification and exchange of practical ideas on how best to address issues affecting women in the community. Safe family planning methods, sanitation, dangers of child abuse, female circumcision and

Scene of the April 14 Nyanya bomblast.

an occasion in the not so distant past when a notable non-governmental organisation, LAPO Development Foundation (LDF) embarked on one of its numerous community development programmes in Nyanya Gwandara community and there were findings that are relevant in our struggle for a gender equitable and justiceable society. The findings was published in its LDF 2008 Annual report. We deemed it fit to represent it here, and although it has been six years on, the report will help advocates to effectively fine-tune, and properly articulate their advocacy work in those areas. Nyanyan Gwandara Community Nyanya Gwandara is a

high in this community before the intervention of LDF. Unequal access to education of female children was another big issue. It was discovered that 37.89% of the community members preferred to send their sons to school, leaving their daughters in the home to perform domestic chores and till the soil to support the family and their brothers in school. Similarly, 30% indulged in female genital cutting (FGC) practice. This trend contributed to several health problems, which affected the girl-child in the community. Nyanya Gwandara was also bedeviled by poor sanitation and water scarcity problems, which gave rise to widespread

GENDER ADVOCACY With

IJEOMA UMEH Tel: 081823822839

widowhood rites were among issues discussed at the sessions. One of the participants, Charity Atule was moved to make this declaration after attending some of the Training sessions:” l will put more efforts to clean my home and surroundings in view of the huge benefits. I have equally learnt why it is necessary to space my children”. On his part, a community member, Johnbull lmagbenikaro attributed the people’s positive change in personal hygiene and public sanitation to the activities of LDF. Healthy Living: As part of measures to address health problems among community members in Nyanya Gwandara, intensive Community Health Discussion sessions and several other community health intervention programmes were carried out during the year. Union meetings were equally used as avenues through which social and health information were delivered to 700 women had come to access financial services from LAPO microfinance, under the integration of credit and social e m p o w e r m e n t programme. HIVIAIDS pandemic, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/ AIDS (PMTCT), teenage pregnancy, maternal health and safe delivery, malaria, sanitation etc, were amongst issues addressed. Due to the health awareness campaign mounted by LDF, most community members are now better informed about HIV/AIDS issues. A key outcome of the programme is the increase in the level of community awareness about how to curtail the spread of HIV/AIDS and manage opportunistic infections that may arise. The Primary Health Centre (PHC) in the

community was upgraded by LDF to a Voluntary Counselling and Testing centre. This, no doubt, has restored community members’ confidence in accessing the center for counselling, testing, treatment and support. Besides this, LDF’s collaboration with the Local Action Committee and State Action Committee on Aids (LACNSACA) in HIV/ AIDS programme implementation in the community has further increased awareness about the disease, prevention and control. Impact Evaluation carried out during the year to ascertain the success of LDP5 intervention programme showed remarkable progress. The rate of female genital cutting (FGC), which stood at an average of 30% has come down to 4%, just as harsh widowhood practices climbed down from 45% to 6%. Domestic violence has also been reduced from 20% to 8% as most community members now prefer to use dialogue to settle matters rather than resorting to fight. Inheritance was a serious issue in Nyanya Gwandara as only 13% of the community members was inclined to allow their female children to inherit their properties. This situation has greatly improved as 46% of the community members are now convinced and willing to allow their female children to inherit their properties. Also, son preference in education has reduced from 37% to as low as 8%. HIV/AIDS awareness, which was as low as 30% in Nyanya Gwandara community has increased to 45%. Stigmatization and discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS in the community has also reduced significantly. Courtesy LDF Study.

“Impact Evaluation carried out during the year to ascertain the success of LDP5 intervention programme showed remarkable progress. The rate of female genital cutting (FGC), which stood at an average of 30% has come down to 4%, just as harsh widowhood practices climbed down from 45% to 6%.”

Religion

With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA

Pray At All Times In The Spirit

: PRAYER has been described as “mans communion with his creator, the highest expression of man’s religious nature”. The sine quanon of this communion is “asking” hence the element of asking is a key word in prayer. Hence a theologian Once said” any prayer without the element of asking is no prayer at all”. It is in the process of praying that man communicates with God and Pouring out the debth of his heart to him. Spiritual warfare prayer is a class of prayer if you know that there are different classes of prayer according to intents and needs . There is the Healing prayer – for healing; there is the Prosperity prayer for blessings; there is the Deliverance prayer - freeing yourself from any captivity. There is also the Spiritual warfare prayer or Popularly Called the “battle axe Prayer” where you are pitched in a spiritual warfare with the devil with the intention of defeating him through the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:11 Spiritual warfare prayer is best suited for the night because it is at the night hours between the hours of 1am and 3am from the confessional statements of workers of iniquities that the spiritual forces of darkness are most active although the Bible does not restrict us to only such mid night prayers - rather the Bible says “ Pray at all times” especially when prayer can be described in spiritual warfare as a “time bomb” that can come on or after according to your timing. So you can pray before a demon meeting to prevent the meeting from holding you can pray after the meeting had been held to neutralise their power of efficacy or the power to act thereafter. But some apologetics of spiritual warfare would prefer the night prayer because of the quietness of the night; the attention in prayers that the spiritual warefarist can attain and the easy level of concentration and ecstasy he can reach. Spiritual warfare prayer is a target prayer - you must know the direction you are aiming at then be ready to pull down, bind or loosen or cast away the power that stands against the truth of the gospel. For this type of prayer the Bible simply puts It thus : “ pray at all times in the spirit” Eph. 6:17. what’s being communicated here? Some theologians have described this as a fulfillment of the five parts of prayer that constitute effective prayer - viz Adoration, confession , thanksgiving and supplication (ACTS”). This subdivision is obtained from the model of prayer giving to us by our Lord Jesus when he said to his disciples “after this manner

therefore pray ye... our father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name ….“ (The Lord’s prayer) Man. 6:8- 13, Lk. 11:24, some other writers have explained the idea of praying in the spirit experientially according to their own experiences. The popular Christian writer Dr. Norman Vicent Pearle described it as “Prayerise, Visualise and actualise”. Dr. Youngi Cho talked about the “fourth Dimension Experience”. I equally wish to ex plain this art of praying in the spirit from my inner experience . Have you

against . Therefore it is a combination of knowledge or self realisation, God on your side and the devil pitched on the other side. Since you know what you are praying for is victory in a spiritual battle, then you are calling on God’s divine assistance because the battle is not yours but for the Lord and then you are binding the demon, commanding and loosening their grip or destroying their strong hold. Let me make an illustration. Brother Jinny has had a need for a breakthrough in life - for years he has had a social

God to fight the battle for him and he condemns the devil everywhere he suspects the devil could have had an impact on his life why he is retrogressive. He covers the arena with the blood of Jesus to keep the devil from penetrating. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb” Rev. 12:11 Here is the time that he begins to bind, to loosen and to command. At the end of this powerful prayer Bro. Jinny gets up fully relieved of the burden of his heart and thank God for a victory in his life. Jinny has

ever taken a prayer position lying down, kneeling down, standing etc as you begin to pray you find yourself “ disconnected” and your thought wavers to something else: though you are praying, your mind is not even there just like a student reading his Lesson note wide open before him but dosing over his ,book so nothing enters the brain - so it is with some-. body who prays out of the body from the flesh - this is not praying in the spirit. Now on the other hand have you ever found yourself praying - a deeply concentrated prayer and you find yourself so deeply involved in the prayer art that you may be semi conscious of your immediate environment - you feel deeply in the presence of God; and to you the whole place looks serene even though outside there could be some noise but you are not attracted: this is the type of level of prayer I call “praying in the spirit” and it is the ideal type for spiritual warfare. Praying in the spirit for spiritual victory involves you knowing what you are specifically praying for, whom you are praying to and whom (the devil ) you are praying

incapacitation - he has experienced a lot of vicissitudes then he realises he ought not to continue to experience such, as a child of God. This is the “realisation point” for as long as he continues to feel, “may be this set back is the will of God,” then he continues to remain in the bondage of retrogression. Now he may realise he ought to be a progressive person not the retrogressive person that has characterised his life even though, a Christian . He is now ready to fight a battle under the “Realisation stage” he ought to come to the knowledge of; (i) It is not the will of God for him to be retrogressive (ii) He has examined his life and not found wanton other wise if there is sin in his life he ought not to go into any spiritual battle , because living in sin while pretending to be a Christian can bring about self condemnation. (iii) He now realises what his authority is as a believer - the authority of an overcomer -not a despised and an abandoned old fellow. Jinny is now ready for spiritual battle in prayers. So as he goes into a prayer closet deeply emotional, he invites

entered “a spiritual battle” by faith and “won it by faith” Note that a spiritual battle is entered into by faith, fought by faith and won by faith, it is not a physical battle and so no physical platform for this battle. Cosmic level confrontation as spiritual battle or warfare is at times referred to, is actually meant for high level of seriousness. It .is the best way to get a burden off you. It is not a kind of prayer you simply rush through, it is a prayer that requires patience and faith in God. When I go into this level of prayer - I realise I have a strong desire you may call it a burden in my heart - and I again realise that it is not the will of God that this burden perpetuates itself upon me - I withdraw to call upon God usually with a fast to talk to God . I realise before into the prayer battle that I am not found wanton in the presence of God - I go into my prayer closet knowing exactly what to pray about and identifying which class of demons to loose and to bind in the name of Jesus Christ. I come out of my prayer lighter than I was and trusting fully that God has given me victory.

The Bible gives us three broad classificatory aspects for result oriented prayer which can equally be recommended for spiritual battle prayers . The Bible says “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” Jas. 5:16. In the above verse the result oriented prayer consists of these three broad factors “Effectual’, “Fervent” and Righteous” what makes the prayer “effectual”? . It must be according to the will of God (Eph.5:1 7) it must not be characterised by a wavering faith or doubt; (Jas. 1:16) the prayer must be to the point not a babbling type. Secondly how does a prayer become fervent? Once you are praying along the will of God do not give up untill you attain your victory: you must be consistent in prayers “pray without ceasing” 1 Thess. 5:17, Lk .18:1; you must wait upon the Lord patiently for the result Heb. 6:12 . Thirdly what is the prayer of the Righteous? The man whose heart is burning for God Isaiah 59:1-2 and God listens to the prayer of the saint 1 Pet.3: 12 and his face “against them that do evil” (1 Pet.3:1 2) Great Bible Spiritual Generals or warfarists were men who “walked with God”. They obeyed and followed faithfully every instruction or directives from God: you must remember that there are no rigid methods of spiritual warfare prayer other than the leading of the Holy spirit . Each man writes from .his experience as a guide. Remember prayer as a weapon for spiritual warfare is a “with factor”. This means it is a factor with which you fight a spiritual battle. BE ALERT EPHESIANS 6:18 Every child of God faces one spiritual battle after the other. It is not a battle you fight once and is all over. The devil will come again - the devil does not easily concede defeat take note. He is craft if he loses in one area he tries another until he is completely disgraced. This is why you are warned in spiritual warfare to be alert. “And watching there unto with all perseverance” Eph. 6:18 The book of Peter puts it this way “Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet.5:8, indeed the higher you go in the things of the faith the tougher the devil applies or devices a strategy to bring the servant of God down to fulfill his mission which is “to steal, to kill and to destroy” Jn. 10:10 you must be very careful not to fall into the damnation of the devil. It was this that Paul testified of as he prepared to answer the call to eternity. He wrote: “I have fought a

good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Hence forth there is laid up for me a crown” 2Tim. 4:7. A child of God or servant of God who is not conscious of spiritual war fare can easily fall pray to the devil and miss his course . He cannot have an opportunity to testify like the Apostle Paul, you are warned: “he that stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12) He wrote “so fight I, not as one that beateth the air but I keep ... my body ... lest that ... when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” lcor.9:26-27. This is being alert; being conscious of the adversary not living carelessly and creating a loophole for the devil to strike. The devil takes great delight in pulling down men of God. One way by which he does this is through the means of spiritual warfare. Do you imagine the devil have a confrontation with Jesus after Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights; (Matt.4: 1-4). Have you not read what the devil did to Job in cosmic level confrontation , and how Job steadfastly fought back remaining forever faithful to God: The Bible says that as the “sons of God” came to present themselves before the Lord. “Satan came also among them” Job1 :6 and when God asked Satan “whence comest thou? “Satan answered” from going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it” Job. 1:7. You can see how subtle the devil is even he could disguise himself to come before God:. He moves “to and fro” the earth. The Bible says he can even disguise himself as an angel of light (2Cor, 11:14) so you must be alert in spiritual warfare. After overcoming One, don’t rest on your oars you may foresee the devil changing his tactics or strategy. After God had boasted of Job’s faithfulness to him; (Job. 1:8) satan took permission to attempt to disprove God’s claim (Job.1:9..j and what means did he use to fight Job the means of “Spiritual warfare” - a combination of tactics ranging from destruction to denial, deprivation and sickness. What was Job’s response to spiritual warfare ? “In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly Job 1:22 Sin is a big hindrance in spiritual warfare. Prof. Peter Wagner observes that “to be good spiritual warriors..., we must achieve holiness”. He notes further: “Be sure you are in proper relationship to God..., confess all known sins ... seek healing for persistent sin patterns ... the higher God calls you to Leadership, the higher your standards of holiness”.

International Palestinian Teen Killed In Possible Revenge Attack JERUSALEM The discovery of a body in a Jerusalem forest yesterday raised suspicions that a missing Palestinian youth had been killed by Israelis avenging the deaths of three abducted Jewish teens. Rock-throwing Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in Jerusalem after the news, but no serious injuries were reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement, urged police to “to swiftly investigate who was behind the loathsome murder and its motive”. He called on all sides “not to take the law into their own hands”. Palestinian residents in Shuafat, an Arab suburb of Jerusalem, told Reuters they had seen a teenager forced into a

vehicle outside a supermarket on Tuesday night. They identified him as Mohammed Abu Khudair, 16. An Israeli security source said Israel suspected the youth had been kidnapped and murdered, possibly in retribution for the killings of the Israeli teens, whose bodies were found on Monday, nearly three weeks after they were abducted in the

Palestinians carry the body of Yosuf Abu Zaghah, 20, who was killed by Israeli troops in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin recently.

Kurdish Peshmerga forces raise the Kurdish flag at a checkpoint on the road leading from Kirkuk to the Northern Iraqi City of Tikrit recently.

occupied West Bank. Israel says Palestinian Hamas militants killed them. The Islamist group has neither confirmed nor denied the allegation. A senior official of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement told Reuters the missing teenager’s family had identified the corpse, found in the wooded outskirts of Jerusalem. The family was not immediately available for comment. “The Israeli government bears responsibility for Jewish terrorism and for the kidnapping and murder in occupied Jerusalem,” the Fatah official, Dmitry Diliani, said. Israeli Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said it was too early to draw conclusions as to the motive. “We know of a boy who apparently was abducted and we see a link to the discovery of a body. This is still under investigation by the forensic labs and detectives,” Aharonovitch told reporters. On Tuesday, the three Jewish seminary students were buried in a funeral attended by tens of thousands of mourners. While the teenagers were laid to rest in the city of Modi’in, several hundreds Israeli demonstrators, some chanting “Death to Arabs”, blocked the main entrance to Jerusalem. Cries for revenge have echoed throughout the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They can be heard at the emotionally charged funerals of Palestinians killed by Israel, and the phrase “May God avenge his death” is often invoked at the burials of Israelis slain by Palestinians. But deadly Israeli vigilante attacks, in declared retribution for Palestinian assaults, have been rare in recent years. More common are the socalled “Price Tag” incidents in which mosques and Palestinian property are torched or damaged

Iraq Under Pressure For New Government (IS), the jihadist group BAGHDAD Iraq’s leading the anti-government As Turmoil Deepens State leadership was under increased offensive, and enough Sunnis pressure yesterday to form a new government to deal with a Sunni militant onslaught that has threatened to tear the country apart, after parliament’s first session ended in disarray. Following a break called to calm soaring tempers, so many Sunni and Kurdish deputies stayed away from the session Tuesday that the quorum was lost and a speaker could not be elected. Prime Minister Nuri alMaliki’s bid for a third term has been battered by the jihadist-led offensive that has seized large

chunks of five provinces, adding fuel to dissatisfaction over persistent allegations of sectarianism and monopolising power. The crisis has alarmed world leaders, displaced hundreds of thousands of people and polarised Iraq’s Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish populations. That disunity quickly manifested itself in what was the opening session of a parliament elected in April. Kurdish lawmaker Najiba Najib interrupted efforts to

select a new speaker, calling on the government to “end the blockade” and send withheld budget funds to Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region. Kadhim al-Sayadi, an MP in Shiite premier Maliki’s bloc, responded by threatening to “crush the heads” of the country’s autonomous Kurds, whose regional leader Massud Barzani told the BBC they would hold a referendum on independence within months. Some Sunni MPs walked out at the mention of the Islamic

and Kurds did not return following the break that the session was without a quorum. Presiding MP Mahdi Hafez said the legislature would reconvene on July 8 if leaders were able to agree on senior posts. However, the riotous atmosphere did not stop new MPs from queueing to register for their substantial pay and benefits, including weapons and guards, perks that anger ordinary Iraqis struggling with a flagging economy.

- a reference by ultranationalist Jews to making the government “pay” for any curbs on Jewish settlement on Palestinian land. Before Netanyahu issued his statement, Abbas, who had condemned the abduction of the three Israeli youths, called on the Israeli leader to condemn the

killing of the Palestinian teen, the Palestinian state news agency WAFA said. Tensions were also high in the West Bank, where around 40 Palestinians were arrested in raids on Tuesday, the latest in a campaign by Israel to cripple Hamas there.

Islamic State Threat To Region - Iraqi PM BAGHDAD — An extremist group’s declaration of an Islamic state in territory it has seized in Iraq and Syria poses a threat to the entire region, Iraq’s prime minister said yesterday warning that “no one in Iraq or any neighboring country will be safe from these plans.” The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant announced this week that it has unilaterally established a caliphate in the areas under its control. It declared the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of

its new self-styled state governed by Shariah law and demanded that all Muslims pledge allegiance to him. In his weekly address, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the militant group’s announcement “is a message to all the states in the region that you are inside the red circle now.” The Sunni extremist group has overrun huge swaths of northern and western Iraq in recent weeks, linking up with territory already under its control in neighboring Syria.

PUBLIC NOTICE LIBERTY CLUB OF BENIN The general public is hereby notified that the above named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990. BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. Engr. Osayamen Airumwunde – President 2. Mr. Osaivbie Imasuen – V. President 3. Mr. Osaro Agbonedeso – Secretary 4. Mr. Enoma Aigbovo – Financial Secretary 5. Mr. Christian Ehifoh – Asst. Sec 6. Mr. Iyayi Omoruyi – Provost. AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To promote the cultural, economic, political and social progress of Edo people Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: Mr. Osaro Agbonedeso Secretary

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE EDO STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY BENIN CITY WHEREAS the persons whose names are set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and at the place stated in the column; AND WHEREAS the persons whose names, addresses and claimed relationship to the deceased are set in the second column hereunder have applied to the Probate Registrar, High Court of Justice, Edo State of Nigeria for Resealing of the Letters of Administration already granted to them by the High Court of Justice, Lagos State of Nigeria of the real and personal property of the deceased. NOTICE IS BY THIS GIVEN that Letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE to prohibit the grant is filed in this Registry within seven (7) days from the date of the publication of this notice. NOS

NAME

PROF. AMORUSU BURUTU AGBADUDU (OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PROF. AGBADUDU AMORUSU) Late of Ewhu, who died on the 8th day of June, 2013 at Benin City.

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT

PED/572/2013 Mrs. Alero Emily Agbadudu and Ejiro Agbadudu-Onoja, both of House 4, Hitech Road, by Lagos Business School Ajah, Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the deceased.

DATED THIS 2ND DAY OF JULY, 2014 Signed: E.I. BAZUAYE (MRS.) DEPUTY PROBATE REGISTRAR

Material Creation, The World (1)

THE word is not infinite. It is the material creation, that is, the work of the creator. This work, like every other work, stands beside the creator and as such is finite. So called advanced thinkers often pride themselves on having the recognition that God rests in all creation, in every flower, every stone, that the driving forces of nature are God, thus, everything that is beyond investigation, what is sensed but cannot really be grasped. Abd-ru-shin the author of Grail message – “In the light of truth” says, what we encounter in all creation is only God’s will and thus, his spirit, his power. He himself stands far above creation. He said from its very inception the material creation was bound to the unalterable laws of evolution and dissolution. For what we call the laws of nature are the creative will of God, which in its activity is continually forming and dissolving worlds. This creative will is uniform in all creation, to which the Ethereal World (beyond) and the Cross Material World (Earth) belong as one. Abd-ru-shin says that the absolute and immutable uniformity of the primordial laws, thus of the primordial will, ordains that, in the most minute process of the gross material earth, the course is always exactly the same as it must be in every happening, thus, also, in the most stupendous events of the entire creation and in the creative process itself. The strict form of the primordial will Abd-ru-shin says is plain and simple. Once, it is recognised, we easily discover it in everything. The complexity and incomprehensibility of many happenings lies solely in the manifold interlacing of the detours and by paths formed by the varied volitions of men.

Thus, the work of God, the world, is as creation subject to the Divine Laws, which are constant in all things and perfect, it also, issued from them and is therefore, finite. The artist, for example, also is in his work, merges with it and yet personally stands beside it. The work is limited and transients, but not the talent of the artist on that account. The artist, that is the creator of the work can destroy his work in which lies his volition, without himself being affected by it. Nevertheless, he will still remain the artist (Abd-rushin-Grail message). Abd-ru-shin says we recognize and discern the artists in his work and he becomes familiar to us with out our needing to see him personally. We have his works, his volition lies in them and influences us, he confronts, and yet may himself be living his own life far away from us. The creative artist and his faintly reflect the relation of the creation to the creator. It is only the cycle of creation, in its continuous coming into being, disintegration and reformation, that is eternal and without and, thus infinite. All the revelations and prophecies, too, are fulfilled within this happening. Finally, the “last judgement” for the earth will also be fulfilled in it. The last that is the final judgement, Abd-rushin says comes one day for each material celestial globe, but it does not take place simultaneously in the whole of creation. It is a process necessary for that particular part of creation which reaches the point in its cycle where disintegration must set in, so that, it can form itself a new on its further course. The cycle Abd-ru-shin

says drives every celestial globe irresistibly towards this point, the hour of disintegration will be fulfilled without delay, as with everything in creation this actually denotes only a transformation, the opportunity for a further development. Then the hour of the “either or” has come for every human being. Either he is raised high towards the light if he strives for the spiritual or he remains chained to the world of matter, to which he clings

is thus drawn along into disintegration must cease to be personal. Abd-ru-shin says, it is the most dreadful thing that can befall man. He is considered as a “rejected stone”, which cannot be used for a spiritual building and must therefore be ground to dust. This separation of spirit from matter, like wise, taking place by reason of quite natural processes and laws is “the so-called” last judgment, which is connected with great up-

if out of conviction he declares that only material things are of value. In that case, Abd-ru-shin says through the lawful consequence of his own volition, he is unable to rise from the world of matter and on the last stretch of the way he is drawn with it into disintegration. This then is spiritual death, equivalent to effacement from the book of life. This process in itself quite natural is also, designated as eternal damnation because he who

heavals and transformations surely everyone will readily understand that this disintegration will not take place in one earth day, for in world events a thousand years are as one day. But we are well into the early stages of this epoch. The earth now approaches the point at which it diverges from its hitherto existing course, which must also make itself strongly felt in gross matter. Then the separation among all men which has already been

“Early hour of an earth-life is therefore, more precious than ever. He who earnestly seeks and is willing to learn, should exert all his strength to tear himself from base thoughts, which must chain him to earthly things. Otherwise, he is in danger of remaining attached to the world of matter and being drawn with it towards complete disintegration.”

Man And Nature With O.C. MADU 08056379608

prepared for sometime, but which until now has only manifest itself in “opinions and conviction”, will set in more sharply. Early hour of an earth-life is therefore, more precious than ever. He who earnestly seeks and is willing to learn, should exert all his strength to tear himself from base thoughts, which must chain him to earthly things. Otherwise, he is in danger of remaining attached to the

also, now and in the future unswervingly bear the will of the creation. In the eternal cycle there is a perpetual creating, sowing ripening, harvesting and dissolving, so that, newly in vigorated through the change in the combination, other forms may again evolve, speeding towards a new cycle. Since the cross material world is dependent upon the eternal world, it follows that

world of matter and being drawn with it towards complete disintegration. Those who strive for the light, however, will gradually become detached from the world of matter and will finally be uplifted to the home of a all that is spiritual. Then the division between light and darkness will be finally accomplished and the judgment fulfilled. It is not “the world “Abdru-shin opines will perish thereby, but, the celestial globes will only be drawn into the disintegrating process when their course reaches the point where dissolution and with it also, the preceding separation, is due to set in. This is accomplished through the natural effect of the Divine Laws which have lain in creation from its very beginnings, which brought forth creation and which

whatever happens in the cross material world also, reacts on the ethereal world. The immense ethereal environment has likewise been created from the primordial seed. It takes part in the eternal cycle and is finally also driven towards and sucked into the rear and of the afore said gigantic funnel, where disintegration takes place, in order to be thrust out again at the other ends as primordial seed for a new cycle. As with the action of the heart and the blood circulation, the funnel is like the heart of material creation. Thus, the process of disintegration involves the whole of creation including the ethereal part, because, everything that is material is again dissolved into primordial seed in order to form itself a new.

Tottenham Resist Renewed Sandro Bid From Napoli

TOTTENHAM have dismissed fresh attempts from Napoli to sign Brazilian midfielder Sandro, Goal has learned. The Serie A club were hopeful that upping their bid to 12 million Euros would be enough to seal the deal but Spurs are holding firm. Even so, Rafael Benitez’s side are willing to match Sandro’s current wages and believe that offering nearer to 15m Euros would prove successful, although talks are now at an impasse. Sandro appeared close to the exit door after receiving strong criticism from former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood last season. The Brazilian then predicted Sherwood’s departure at the start of May

Sandro

and insisted he was excited for a new beginning in north London. Any particular move is complicated further by both clubs’ interest in Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin. Spurs have shown an interest in the 24-year-old France international, who is keen to quit the club, with Mauricio Pochettino already having swapped St Mary’s for White Hart Lane to replace Sherwood. But Napoli have already discussed personal terms with the player’s agent and are willing to up his annual salary from +600,000 to nearly +1m. Napoli have also been alerted by Moussa Sissoko’s decision to leave Newcastle United this summer. The Magpies sealed the signature of Siem de Jong on Tuesday evening and Napoli believe they could be content to recoup the fee paid for Sissoko to Toulouse in January 2013. The Frenchman is keen to join a Champions League club and has privately made it known that he wants to move to a warmer climate than the north east of England.

De Jong Joins Newcastle NEWCASTLE have completed the signing of forward Siem de Jong from Eredivisie champions Ajax. The 25-year-old Holland international moves to Tyneside for an undisclosed fee and has signed a six-year deal at St James’ Park. De Jong came through the Amsterdammers fabled youth system and has won four Dutch titles since making his debut in 2007, assuming the captaincy in 2012.

Siem de Jong

World Cup Failure Will Benefit Liverpool

NEW Liverpool signing Adam Lallana believes England’s World Cup failure will make him mentally tougher. The 26-year-old’s £25million Lallana, who made one start move to Anfield from and two substitute appearances Southampton was completed in his first World Cup, expects quickly following the national the chastening experience to team’s early exit from the benefit him and other members tournament in Brazil, where they of that squad in the future. were eliminated after just two “I just have to keep working matches. harder,” he told LFCTV GO. “We did suffer disappointments at the World Cup but we need to rest for a couple of weeks, recharge the batteries and then get back to has three specialists in the doing what we love which is position — captain Vincent playing football. “Hopefully we can learn Kompany, Martin something from the experience

Manchester City Eyeing Mehdi Benatia

MANCHESTER City are interested in Roma centreback Mehdi Benatia as manager Manuel Pellegrini looks to bolster his defence, although a source has told ESPN FC that a deal is not thought to be imminent. City have long been looking to add a top-class centre-back to their squad and made an offer for Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala at the end of the January transfer window. No deal could be agreed then and while City are still interested in the France international, Porto are expected to ask for an inflated price for a player who has also been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United.

Benatia, 27, has now emerged as an alternative target after an excellent season that saw him help Roma finish second in Serie A. The Morocco international cost the Italian club 13.5 million euros last summer when he joined from Udinese, but his value has increased since then. However, despite reports in Italy that a 30 million-pound offer from City has been accepted, sources say that is not the case. City released centre-back Joleon Lescott in the summer, meaning that Pellegrini only

Demichelis and Matija Nastasic. Demichelis, 33, who joined from Atletico Madrid last summer, became a regular as the club won the Premier League title, but there has always been the expectation that they would look for a younger player to partner Kompany. Pellegrini has made two summer signings already, bringing in Porto midfielder Fernando and Arsenal rightback Bacary Sagna, who can also provide cover in the centre of defence.

and take it into the European Championship (qualifying) campaign. “I think you can only become stronger mentally. It is a long way from home in different conditions, a lot of people’s first major tournament, and we just have to learn quickly and improve and get better results next time.” Lallana excited by Liverpool challenge Adam Lallana says he cannot wait to get his Liverpool career started. Lallana played alongside Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in Brazil and will now

Adam Lallana

- Lallana

be doing so on a regular basis for his new team. “There is no limit to what I can learn playing with him. For me to be playing alongside him is quite surreal,” added the midfielder. “He has that aura around him but I need to get used to it because I will be playing with him week in, week out. “He is still such a good player and can go on to play for a numerous amount of years with the quality he possesses. “Hopefully I can settle in quickly and I’ll give it my best and hope I can add something to the team. “Hopefully we can win trophies because that is why I am here - for success.” Manager Brendan Rodgers believes Lallana is a “special commodity” who will be much more than just another addition to squad numbers. “He has leadership skills and personal qualities that make him a special commodity and I am delighted we have acted decisively to make sure he is wearing a Liverpool shirt next season,” he said. “Adam is motivated by being the best he can be and being part of something special. “We believe he fits right in with what we are trying to do at Liverpool.”

Chelsea Reach Diego Costa Agreement

Mendi Benatia

CHELSEA have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid to sign Diego Costa. Chelsea added on their official website that they would meet the buy-out clause in the Spain international’s contract, which is reported to be worth around 32 million pounds. A statement on the Atletico website added: “Diego Costa communicated to us at the end of last season his wish to be transferred to Chelsea FC and today the two entities have reached an agreement for the

transfer of his rights, by which the London club is obligated to pay the buy-out clause in the contract between player and club. “We wish the player much luck in this new step in his professional career.” Sources told ESPN FC last month that the 25-year-old had completed a medical at Stamford Bridge and he subsequently indicated that he would be moving to West London. Blues boss Jose Mourinho made no secret of his desire to improve his strike-force last season as Fernando Torres,

Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o struggled. Eto’o, who had signed late last summer after a failed attempt to bring in Wayne Rooney, has now left the club following the expiry of his contract. Costa scored 35 goals last season as Atletico won the Spanish league title and reached the Champions League final. Chelsea have already brought in Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois appears set to finally play for the club after three seasons on loan at Atletico.

Defender Kurt Zouma, signed in January from St Etienne but loaned back to the French side for the remainder of the season, is also set to be part of Mourinho’s squad. David Luiz, meanwhile, has been allowed to join Paris SaintGermain, while the club expressed gratitude to Ashley Cole, Hilario and Sam Hutchinson after their deals ended. Frank Lampard, who is also out of contract, is expected to agree a deal with MLS side New York City FC.

Keshi Exit Risky For Nigeria FORMER Nigeria captain Austine Okocha has said the resignation of Stephen Keshias Super Eagles head coach would be unwise for the growth of the country’s football.

Okocha described the 52year old Delta-born coach as the “best indigenous coach Nigeria ever had” and deserves a long term job with the national team. “I don’t think his future is in doubt. [Keshi’s] exit must be the craziest decision we will ever make as a nation. He will come out of this competition as a better coach though,” Okocha said on SuperSport. He believes the national team will have a resultoriented future with Keshi in charge. “The future looks bright for me. He has gone about

the business the right way by going back to our local league to pick the next Keshi, Mikel and

- Okocha

Omokachi in the future. “He is planning well for the future for Nigeria. He is on the right track,” he concluded.

• Stephen Keshi

Referee Dies After ‘Senseless’ Red Card ‘Sucker Punch’ A 44-YEAR-OLD referee has tragically died as a result of injuries suffered after a player punched him in the head. The incident took place during an adult-league match on Sunday as John Bieniewicz was attacked while he was officiating at a park in Michigan, Detroit. He died as a result of the injuries he sustained from the blow on the head in hospital, according to police. A long-time friend, Jim Acho, said: “I speak for all his friends when I say we are devastated. Crushed. “Just a senseless way for a great guy to go out. He deserved better.” According to authorities, Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad allegedly punched Bieniewicz

in the head after the referee prepared to show him the red card. The suspect reportedly fled the pitch immediately along with a friend before police and an ambulance arrived on the scene. Joseph Cosenza, who was playing for the opposing team, told WJBK-TV: “He put his head down to take his red card out. The guy didn’t like it, walked right up to him, sucker punched him and knocked him out cold. “He didn’t even put his arms out or anything. He just fell right back.” Bieniewicz was a dialysis technician at Mott Children’s Hospital who lived in Westland with his wife and two sons. Saad, who is 36, surrendered to the police on Monday,

MONACO and Real Madrid are close to concluding talks for Radamel Falcao with the Ligue 1 club preparing for the striker’s departure. L’Equipe reports Monaco are ready to say goodbye to the former Atletico Madrid forward, who they signed a year ago from Los Colchoneros. Falcao is said to have a pact with Monaco’s owner that would allow him to leave the club if Madrid made an approach. He is also said to be keen to return to a bigger club, as he hasn’t enjoyed playing in the more tranquil Stade Louis

II, having previously appeared in front of boisterous crowds at River Plate, Porto and Atletico. It’s not thought that Madrid will pay the +45m (£35m) Monaco did to Atletico and it’s suggested that Madrid could delay the transfer until the winter in an effort to gauge Falcao’s fitness after his serious knee injury. Falcao was forced out of the World Cup due to the problem and Madrid have sent their medical team to judge his recovery, while Falcao is also in pre-season training with his club and says he is fully fit.

according to Lieutenant Tom Goralski. He has reportedly appeared in court to face an initial charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, but that is expected to be changed as a result of Bieniewicz’s tragic death. It is a similar case to the one in April 2013 when a 17-yearold player punched referee Richard Portillo in the head during a match in Utah. Portillo died as a result of the blow following a week in a coma. The teenager subsequently pleaded guilty to a murder charge.

Monaco ‘Preparing For Falcao Real Madrid Exit’

• Radamel Falcao

THERE is no reason to change Kwesi Appiah as Black Stars coach, Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantekyie has insisted after the World Cup campaign. Nyantekyie will address a press conference alongside Kwesi Appiah, with the coach’s future likely to be a major subject, but the GFA president is certain he is the right man to continue despite Ghana’s worst campaign at the tournament which was affected by player indiscipline and official incompetence in dealing with it. “We decided that he will stay. I don’t think that there is any reason to change him. When you don’t do well at the World Cup people have all sorts of opinion about the coach, the team, management and others. Sometimes it is done out of emotions and passion for the game. But I think people should be cool headed and we will see that we will do well in future,” Nyantekyie said. Despite the apparent breakdown in discipline in camp, Nyantekyie claims the former Black Stars captain had a firm grip on discipline and suggested his problems were down to the unwillingness of players to accept being benched in the tournament. “At every material point as leader you have to establish

No Reason To Change Appiah - GFA Boss

your authority. It is important for the players to appreciate that he is the one in charge. If you leave that in doubt then there are problems. He established that he is the coach and the players respected him for that,” Nyantekyie said. “Naturally players don’t like being benched. It happens everywhere. A coach’s performance is measured by what happens on the field, so he

won’t be influenced by seniority, by experienced players who will frown when they are not selected and that is exactly what he was doing. “The national team is based on merit. If a young player has merit he must play. In South Africa 2010 we saw similar things from senior players. You don’t need to be fiery in order to be firm. He has been firm.”

• Kwesi Appiah

Barcelona Open Suarez Talks BARCELONA are set to officially begin their bid to buy Luis Suarez when a club delegation meets Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre in London on Wednesday. Raul Sanllehi, Barca’s director of football management, is expected to lead the delegation in discussions with Ayre, sources have told ESPN FC. Liverpool’s chief executive

will also use the meeting in attempt to make progress with an attempt to sign Barcelona’s Chile international forward Alexis Sanchez. Suarez looks increasingly likely to leave Anfield, although the Reds are adamant that they will only sell if a contract release clause — reported to be between 70 million and 80 million pounds — is met. Barcelona sporting director

Andoni Zubizarreta, who has said the club are considering offers for Sanchez , has publicly praised Suarez this week The striker has just begun a four-month worldwide ban from all football activity, imposed by FIFA after he bit defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 World Cup Group D win over Italy in the Brazilian city of Natal on June 24. That ban, however, does not extend to transfers, FIFA has confirmed. Having claimed in his submission to a disciplinary panel that the bite was accidental, Suarez admitted to the bite on Monday as he issued an apology on Twitter. It has been suggested that the Spanish giants insisted on an apology if the transfer was to proceed. Suarez ended up staying at Liverpool last summer despite giving several interviews stating that he wanted to leave, with the Reds rejecting two bids from Arsenal. He signed a contract extension last December, committing him to staying at Anfield until 2018, although the inclusion of a release clause did leave the door open to an exit. Manager Brendan Rodgers is an admirer of Sanchez, who helped Chile reach the World Cup’s last 16 before they were eliminated on penalties by hosts Brazil on Saturday. It is not yet clear, though, whether the 25-year-old is interested in a move to Anfield.

Mueller Admits Stumble Was Planned

Claims Schwarzer Brazil’s President Tweets Special Message For World Cup Team PRESIDENT Dilma Rousseff has surprisingly taken to Twitter to rally Brazilians behind their team ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against Colombia. Favourites to win the World Cup for an unprecedented sixth time, the Brazilian players led by star forward Neymar had a difficult second round knockout match against Chile on Saturday, narrowly winning in a penalty shootout. Now Rousseff has taken to the social media platform to rally her country behind the team in what amounts to a crucial clash. “It’s time to unite behind our national team. Go Brazil!” Rousseff tweeted from @dilmabr. Rousseff stressed in a Twitter message that she has full confidence in Brazil’s coach “Big Phil” Luiz Felipe Scolari, his deputy Carlos Alberto

Dilma Rousseff

Parreira and all the players. She has supported the team on numerous occasions previously during the tournament, having tweeted her joy after the team’s win over Chile. Victory for Brazil in the finals could provide some lift for Rousseff ’s campaign for reelection in October. Earlier in the week she cashed in on the successful hosting of the World Cup so far. In so doing, she was rebuffing critics who had predicted the world’s biggest sports event would turn into a disaster.

Angel di Maria of Argentina heads the ball against Gokhan Inler of Switzerland during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Round of 16 match between Argentina and Switzerland

Quarter-Finals A Success For France - Deschamps

ARGUABLY the most impressive of the eight remaining teams in Brazil, France face Germany at the Estadio do Maracana on Friday. Deschamps said he was staff to be with them every proud of what his side had day. To see them, to direct achieved so far and believes even a last-eight exit would be considered a successful tournament. “In any case, we haven’t failed at this World Cup. That’s for sure,” he said. “Now we’re here. I am very proud that this team of France is found there. The players deserve it. “With what they do from the beginning. I repeat, it’s a great pleasure for me and my Deschamps

and accompany them, at times.” France were unable to watch Germany’s 2-1 extratime win over Algeria due to having to travel. Deschamps said “comprehensive analysis” would still be completed before the clash in Rio de Janeiro. “We will not change. The players did not see yesterday’s game against Algeria because we were on the plane. It will be on loop on our televisions,” he said. “There will obviously (be) individual montages, but the German players, we know.

Hitzfeld Retires After Switzerland Exit ANGEL di Maria scored in the 118th minute as Argentina claimed a 1-0 win over Switzerland in the roundof-16 clash on Tuesday. For Hitzfeld, it marked the end of a 31year coaching career that

Ottmar Hitzfeld

included winning UEFA Champions Leagues with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. “As for my future, I’m retiring from coaching so I can lead a quieter life,” the 65-year-old German told

reporters after his team’s exit. The Swiss coach was rocked by a personal loss a day out from the last-16 match, with the news his brother Winfried had died aged 82. Hitzfeld was proud of his team, who were unlucky not to force Argentina to a penalty shootout in Salvador. Lionel Messi set up Di Maria before Blerim Dzemaili almost equalised in the dying seconds, hitting the post with a header. “We played the game we had to play, but you can see for yourself what Argentina can do when they have space,” Hitzfeld

said. “If we’d gone out and attacked them, then maybe they would have scored more goals than France did (in Switzerland’s 5-2 loss in the group stages). “The idea was to stop Messi by putting three or four players on him, but when you’re up against a team like that you can’t just concentrate on one player, as Di Maria showed. It took a great finish to beat (goalkeeper Diego) Benaglio today. “I’d like to congratulate my players for the way they reacted at the end. Switzerland earned the recognition of many people around the world and we can walk away with our heads held high.”

They all play at big clubs. Many of them play at Bayern Munich. Our players know them, have seen them on television. “We will do what it takes to give a comprehensive analysis and individual, before the game, definitely Thursday.

GERMANY’S Thomas Mueller admitted that his bizarre stumble while running towards the ball for a free kick late in the World Cup last 16 match against Algeria was a ploy. “Is this interview going to be broadcast worldwide or only in Germany?” Mueller asked a German television reporter who wanted to know if the Bayern Munich player had deliberately tripped. When told that the interview would only be broadcast in Germany, Mueller smiled and said: “It almost worked.” Asked if he planned to try the trick again, Mueller said: “We’ll see what happens in the next match.” With the scores level at 0-0, Germany were awarded a free kick in the 88th minute in a promising position about 25 metres directly in front of Algeria’s goal. Who were the best and worst performers in Germany’s win over Algeria? Mueller huddled with team mates Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger who ran towards the ball but stepped over it. Mueller was next to fake a kick but fell to his knees two steps before the ball. He quickly got up and ran towards the wall as Kroos attempted to lob the ball to him but the pass was blocked by the defenders. “We’d practised that,” Kroos told German media. “In training it always worked. But it looks like crap when it doesn’t work.”

We Must Make Most MESSI set up Angel di Of Luck Maria’s 118th-minute winner as Argentina edged past Switzerland 1-0 in their round-of-16 clash at the Arena de Sao Paulo. Blerim Dzemaili almost forced penalties after Di Maria’s goal, hitting the post with a header and poking the rebound wide. Messi said his team were desperate to avoid a shootout and wants them to capitalise on their slice of luck as they prepare to face Belgium in the quarterfinals. “Like everybody I was very nervous because we couldn’t score. We knew if we made a single mistake we would have been going home,” he said. “We didn’t want it to go to penalties. We suffered, suffered and suffered, all of us. We started to think it wasn’t going to happen. “But at the end we had luck on our side and now we have to take advantage and move on.” Messi had scored in each of Argentina’s three group games for a total of four goals, and the

Barcelona star considered taking the late chance on himself. He was released into space after a Switzerland turnover on halfway, but said he spotted Di Maria’s run just in time before the Real Madrid attacker finished clinically into the bottom corner. “When I first got the ball I thought about taking the chance and shooting myself, but then I saw Angel and made the pass,” Messi said. “Fortunately we were able to celebrate. What’s important is that we went through. So many big teams have already gone home.”

Lionel Messi

Wimbledon ... Wimbledon ... Wimbledon

Nadal Suffers Stunning Defeat To Showboating Nick Kyrgios

RAFAEL Nadal’s charge towards a third Wimbledon title came to a juddering halt in the fourth round when he was sensationally beaten by 19-year-old Australian wildcard Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (5) 5-7 7-6 (5) 6-3. Ranked 144th in the world, Kyrgios fired down 37 aces and played a fearless brand of tennis to topple the world number one following two hours 58 minutes of exhilarating action. It was the first time since 1992 a man ranked outside the top 100 had beaten a world number one. “It hasn’t sunk in at all what just played out there. I played some extraordinary tennis,” said Kyrgios who is enjoying a remarkable run at these championships having saved nine match points in his thirdround win over Richard Gasquet. “You’ve got to believe that you can win the match from the start and I definitely thought that. I am playing some unbelievable tennis on the grass,” he told reporters. “My mind’s buzzing ... I’m just going to enjoy this.” Kyrgios certainly had the crowd buzzing after causing the biggest shock of this year’s men’s tournament by bringing the 2008 and 2010 champion to his knees.

He opened with an ace, won the first set with an ace and sealed victory with an ace. While Nadal might have been fed up with the number of thunderbolts that whistled past his ears, those lucky to watch the Australian tyro come of age will know that he is not simply an ace machine. After dropping only four points on serve in the first set,

Kyrgios had 15,000 fans leaping to their feet as he followed up jaw-dropping crosscourt sizzlers with breathtaking down-the-line winners. As if that was not enough, he irked Nadal by producing perhaps the shot of the tournament. Dangling his racket between his legs, Kyrgios timed the ball perfectly and astonishingly it kissed the tape and fell in.

The teenager loved it, the crowd loved it, Nadal hated it. The 14-times grand slam champion’s day was unravelling fast and despite winning the second set he was left gasping as Kyrgios kept on believing that he could make his debut outing on Wimbledon’s Centre Court a day to remember. A forehand error gave Kyrgios a break for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set and from then

on the Spaniard was left chasing shadows and at 7.09pm local time, his hopes of a third Wimbledon crown had been snuffed out. While one champion was exiting stage left, John McEnroe was hailing the arrival of a man he thinks can go all the way. “We’ve been waiting for this for a while. We keep saying ‘who is the next guy?’, and I think we’ve found that guy right now,” said the former three-times champion. “That was absolutely stunning, to see what he did to the world number one today. How did he keep that up? He absolutely believed that he was going to win that match. “He’s acting to me like he could win this tournament. The last guy I saw like this was Boris Becker - young teenager,

• Nadal

Kerber Shocks Sharapova

MARIA Sharapova’s hopes of celebrating the 10th anniversary of her Wimbledon triumph with a sequel ended in a thrilling defeat by Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the fourth round on Tuesday. The Russian’s chances of recapturing her 2004 title rose

Nick Kyrgios

Unwell Serena Retires After Bizarre Game Of Double Faults SERENA Williams was forced to pull out of her doubles match with sister Venus at Wimbledon on Tuesday after feeling unwell. Up against German/Swiss duo Kristina Barrois and Stefanie Voegele, the 32-year-old American looked in distress when she served a game of double faults to trail 0-3. After it became clear that a tearful Serena could not carry on, the five-times Wimbledon doubles champions conceded.

• Roger Federer

Federer Casts Aside Robredo In Bid For Eighth Title

ROGER Federer ’s immaculate Wimbledon continued as the Swiss displayed what makes him a great champion. Federer was imperious as he glided serenely into the quarterfinals for the 12th time in his career, outclassing Spain’s Tommy Robredo 6-1 6-4 6-4. The 32-year-old, yet to drop a set in four rounds, dazzled the crowd with his artistry, making the game look ludicrously easy against the 22nd best player in the world. All eyes have been on defending champion Andy Murray’s regal progress through the draw so far this year but

no fear whatsoever,” added the American great. Former world junior number one Kyrgios, competing at his first Wimbledon, next plays Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic for a place in the semifinals.

Federer again issued a reminder that, when his game is flowing on a grass court there are few better sights in world sport. Eyeing a record eighth Wimbledon title, the maestro has yet to drop a set or a service game in his most impressive route to the quarter-finals since 2004. Robredo never stood a chance as Federer avenged a humiliating US Open defeat against the Spaniard last year. “I feel physically in tip top shape,” Federer, who now faces

an all-Swiss quarter-final against Davis Cup team-mate Stanislas Wawrinka, said. “I’ve been in control throughout almost all the matches.” With a Wimbledon quarterfinal and Switzerland in a World Cup last-16 clash with Argentina, Federer said it was a good time to be Swiss. “Hopefully our football team can beat Argentina later and it will be amazing to play Stan in the quarter-finals here because things like that don’t happen too often in Swiss sport.”

While Federer is facing an unusually busy schedule at Wimbledon because of weather interruptions, Wawrinka will be playing a third match in three days on Wednesday. The fifth seed beat Feliciano Lopez 7-6(5) 7-6(7) 6-3 without any major alarms although the match ended with the players in a heated debate at the net. Big-serving Milos Raonic celebrated Canada Day by becoming the first man from his country to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in the professional era, beating Japan’s 10th seed Kei Nishikori 4-6 6-1 7-6(4) 6-3.

The withdrawal completed a disappointing Wimbledon for the world No.1 after she was beaten in the singles by Alize Cornet on Saturday in the third round - her earliest exit since 2005. “I am heartbroken I’m not able to continue in the tournament,” said Serena later. “I thought I could rally this morning, because I really wanted to compete, but this bug just got the best of me. “I want to thank my sister, [opponents] Kristina [Barrois], Stefanie [Voegele] and our teams for their support. We were all looking forward to a great match. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of the fans for their cheers and understanding. I look forward to returning to Wimbledon next year.” Venus also lost in the singles third round, to former champion Petra Kvitova. She added: “Unfortunately Serena has been feeling unwell for the past few days and she just couldn’t play to her potential today. “I’m really proud of her for trying because we just love playing doubles together. We are looking forward to coming back to Wimbledon next year.”

at the weekend when world No.1 Serena Williams was surprisingly beaten in the third round, but she joined the list of big-name casualties after a 76(4) 4-6 6-4 defeat on Centre Court. The below-par fifth seed fought off six match points in a gripping final set that had hearts pounding on and off the court, but finally succumbed when she fired a backhand long. Out-hit for most of the match, 2012 semi-finalist Kerber often resembled a climber hanging on to a cliff face by the fingertips as she stretched every sinew to retrieve a barrage of power from Sharapova, but she would not let go. “It’s unbelievable, it was such a tough match, playing on a high level and it was so close,” 26year-old Kerber, seeded nine, said after catching her breath. “I’m so happy, she’s a great player on grass, but I was just focusing on myself and I’m so happy to be in the quarters.” Both players had been out of action since Saturday, after foul weather meant their fourthround clash was postponed on Monday, and it was Kerber who was quicker into her stride, leading throughout the first set. Sharapova finally found her range to break back at 4-5 but some poor errors allowed the 26-year-old Kerber to win the last three points of the opening set tiebreak. The Russian hit back to level the match and seemed to be favourite to book a quarter-final place but Kerber, defending for all her worth, moved into a 5-2 lead in the decider.

Injustice Somewhere Is Injustice Everywhere THIS lame-duck Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has brought to the fore, the obvious fact that a fundamental premise of the democratic system of government is the capacity for peaceful leadership change through the ballot box. This implies the right of the people to choose who governs them. It presupposes that a defeated government will automatically relinquish power. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan is right that, American democracy did not become effectively operational until 1801, when incumbent President John Adams was defeated by Thomas Jefferson and he relinquished power peacefully. But in Nigerian, it hardly happens that an incumbent government either loses an election, or on losing, that it accepts defeat and relinquishes power. That explains why the attainment of democracy is still a mirage in this country. Some of the comments on Fayemi’s acceptance of defeat have been as intriguing as they were interesting. They range from the complementary to the mundane. Enter Hon. Patrick Ikhariale (PDP-Esan Central/Esan West/ Igueben): On an AIT live programme, he openly asserted that Fayemi was not the first man to accept defeat at an election in Nigeria. He proceeded to insinuate that Professor Oseriemen Osunbor relinquished power to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. His memory failed him to remember that Professor Osunbor enjoyed a stolen mandate for 18 months before he was finally forced out by the courts. Perhaps the nearest we ever got to the ideal in Edo State was in 2003, when Senator Roland

Owie was the ANPP gubernatorial candidate against PDP’s Lucky Igbinedion. Owie was widely believed, in unofficial quarters, to have won that election but he did not want to put up with all the regour of the election tribunal of that time. As soon as the results were announced, he vamoosed from Edo State and remained incommunicado.

score of 203,090 votes to the incumbent’s 120,433, from where would a protest begin? As they say in criminology, if you must do it, do it big. From President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP, the message was clear: “Fayemi exhibited the spirit of sportsmanship propagated and practiced by the PDP and President

sometimes to the chagrin of the party leadership. In all honesty, they almost beat Fayemi to it. We still remember how the PDP abandoned its gubernatorial candidate, General Charles Airhiavbere at the court process after the 2012 contest in Edo State. The same thing happened in Anambra State after the 2013 gubernatorial election

• Gov Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State

Yinka Odumakin captured the total essence of Fayemi’s capitulation, “The crushing defeat of Fayemi is equally unprecedented in the annals of elections in Nigeria. A sitting Governor not winning in one LGA in a free and fair election gives no room for contest.” The moral message here is that if you must beat your opponent, beat him comprehensively. For sure, Fayemi would not have capitulated if the defeat was just marginal. But Fayose won in all the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State. With Fayose’s total

Jonathan”. We concede this to them. From Edo to Ondo to Anambra States, wherever the opposition won, President Jonathan was always quick at congratulating the victor,

there. We are, however, not quite sure of the point at which President Jonathan must be separated from the party for proper acknowledgment and due

credit. We know of the preJonathan PDP. That party was synonymous with the aphorism, “why pay a lawyer when you can buy a judge?” It encouraged members to go to tribunals and courts even where they had the worst cases, with the belief that where money talks, nobody walks. In that era, justice belonged to the highest bidder. Where law ends, tyranny begins. Who can really talk about a changed PDP when in Ekiti State, they are praising Fayemi’s democratic credentials to the high heavens and in Edo State, they are the very authors of the rumble in the jungle at the State House of Assembly? For all we know, injustice in Edo State is injustice the world-over. A situation in which we are all now on our knees, begging erring legislators to obey a simple court order and they are holding everybody to ransom, is not only a slap on the Edo State judiciary but also on the entire Nigerian judicial system. If with the instrumentality of the so-called federal might, a microscopic minority is able to sack an overwhelming majority in the Edo State House of Assembly, we want to call only four living witnesses – Generals Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, to appear concurrently, to demand how what is now being fueled in Edo State is any different from what they were accused of doing in their days, except, of course, that they did theirs

in khaki uniform while the current players are performing in resplendent agbada. Regrettably, we are in a state of anomie in which we have all abandoned our duty posts. Our courts have virtually sacked legislatures through the instrumentality of the black market injunctions. Equipped with the injunctions, highly favoured sacred cows in government now browbeat everyone and dilly-dally until their tenures expire and they are free forever! Someday soon, it will be possible to commit murder and rush to the court to restrain the police from questioning you. In what looks like a quick role reversal, many Houses of Assembly have ousted the courts and taken over their major functions. For example, the Public Petitions Committees have become courts of first instance. At first, citizens petitioned their parliament after all available remedies had been exhausted and they still felt justice had not been achieved. But now, a man whose wife has not treated him well at night rushes to parliament in the morning to report. Any wonder, then, that the thousands of wishy-washy Resolutions they reel out are better in the waste baskets? At the citizens’ level, we have not fared better either. We are only interested in playing to the gallery. In the face of all our complaints about the abysmal performance of elected officials, when are we going to start putting the RECALL procedure to test?

“Where law ends, tyranny begins. Who can really talk about a changed PDP when in Ekiti State, they are praising Fayemi’s democratic credentials to the high heavens and in Edo State, they are the very authors of the rumble in the jungle at the State House of Assembly? For all we know, injustice in Edo State is injustice the world-over.”

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