Nigerian observer 03 09 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 39 NO.070 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 . N100.00 NEW HORIZON Page 20 Moral Code

The best thing to do

SPIRITUAL PLATFORM

Page 25 Dealing with Witchcraft attacks

Community re-affirms loyalty to Oshiomhole

I G U O D O D O (ORHIONMWON) The people of Iguododo community, Ugboko ward in Orhionmwon local government area have re-affirmed their membership of the All

Progressives Congress (APC), and pledged their continued loyalty to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

Some indigenes of the community at an APC meeting held in the community spoke against the background of insinuations in some

quarters that Iguododo is no longer the stronghold of the ruling APC in the state.

Iguododo is the community where a former APC member and Continues on page 2

quarantine zones had also restricted trade and transport of goods and services.

Tijani said this had led to panic buying, food shortages and significant

price hikes.

“Access to food has become an urgent concern for many people in the three affected countries and their neighbors’’, he said.

Ebola outbreak risk to food security in W/Africa - FAO

ROME - Food and Agriculture Oganisation (FAO) warned on Tuesday that Ebola outbreak in West Africa was threatening food security and placing harvests at risk.

Bukar Tijani, FAO the epidemic.

He noted that the Africa Representative said in Rome that the travel restrictions and the of outbreak had greatly establishment reduced the output of agricultural sectors in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the three countries hardest hit by

Tijani also predicted a major production shortfall in this year’s cereal harvesting season, which is

beginning this month.

He warned that labor shortages on farms due to Ebola would have severe implications for food and cash crop production, jeopardising the food Continues on page 2

GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

T

HIS is to inform the people of Edo State that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the 3rd phase of the distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in 12 States including Edo State for September, 2014. Everyone who has a temporary voters’ card is expected to go to his Polling Unit level where he/she registered for collection of the Permanent Voter’s Card.

At the end of the Polling Unit level distribution, uncollected PVCs will be taken to the INEC office in each of the Local Government for subsequent collection.

Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) for those who had not previously registered and for those who had just attained the age of 18, will hold for five days after collection of the Permanent Voters’ Cards.

All Edo people are enjoined to take advantage of this exercise to be eligible to vote in the coming 2015 General Election and subsequent elections in the State.

Signed: PETER OKHIRIA CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

TIT BIT “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

- Mother Teresa

SUMMIT: Heads of State and Government of African Union at the AU Peace and Security Council Summit in Nairobi, Kenya recently.

FG to review docotor’s residency programme

ABUJA - The Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the Federal Government would fashion out a residency training programme that would tackle and solve the problem of the current system.

Chukwu, made this known at a one-day intensive appraisal of the residency training programme in Federal Government-owned hospitals in Abuja yesterday.

He said that the

strike by the doctors had brought the issue of residency training into sharper focus for Nigerians for a variety of reasons.

The minister said that the problems inherent in

the current programme over the years crystallised in the few weeks into what was tantamount to a

complete loss of empathy and concern for human life by the professional group.

Chukwu said that

the appraisal was convened ‘to fashion out a residency training programme that would tackle and solve the problems of the current system.

Continues on page 2

Tambuwal advocates support, prayers for Nigeria to curb insurgency BENIN CITY - The Speaker, House of Representative, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has advocated the need

for support and prayers for Nigeria as it battles insurgency in the country.

Hon. Aminu Tambuwal made the call yesterday

on the sideline of the wedding ceremony of Prince and princess Ehioze Erediauwa in Benin City.

The Speaker who had a stop over at the residence of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Continues on page 2

News

Community re-affirms loyalty to Oshiomhole

Continued from page 1 former Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu hails from.

In songs rendered by the indigenes of the community in Edo language in praise of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the deputy governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, they said their loyalty to the APC led government was unadulterated.

In reaction to the rumour

the opposition can lure them from the path of development which APC had brought to their doorsteps.

Ugboko ward chairman of the party, Mr. Theophilus Obasuyi, Secretary to Orhionmwon Local Government Council, Mr. Monday Igbinigie and APC stalwart in the ward, Mr. Sunday Ediku all said the meeting came at the right time as it will help set the record straight and reposition the party for more exploits in the future.

making the rounds that the opposition PDP has taken over the community, the indigenes said it was being peddled by mischief makers who are sure of defeat.

APC woman leader in Iguododo, Mrs. Dorcas Obaruyiedo, Mr. Ogbeide Obaruyiedo, APC youth leader, Osaghae Osaremwinda as well as APC

chieftain in Iguododo, Robinson Aigbovo in their various remarks stated that Iguododo remains steadfast in their loyalty and support for the ruling APC, as the opposition PDP has never initiated any project for the common good of the community.

They assured that no iota of falsehood as perpetrated by

suspending the programme in order to undertake a complete overhaul of the training,’’ Chukwu said.

The minister said that the meeting would find out the reason for the gross indiscipline in the programme and what would be the remedies.

“Why is the failure rate so high in the prescribed examination? Why does residency stay so long and what is the ideal funding mechanism for the programme considering present reality in the country?

“How best to implement government policy on the hands-on overseas

component of the training?

What is the ideal funding mechanism for it?

“We will also find out if there is need for the recruitment of resident doctors into the programme to be more stringent, to take only those suitable in character and learning,’’ he said.

On the militarization of elections in Nigeria, the Speaker of the House of Representatives asserted that voters feel intimidated in such a situation, stressing that the need for security during elections should not

degenerate into something else.

On his political ambition, Hon. Tambuwal disclosed that he was still consulting before he takes any decision.

He added that the Independent National

allow people to embark on campaign at a particular period, though the regulation do not stop aspirants from preparing themselves.

The Speaker also hinted that the Edo State government has recorded a lot of achievements in addition to the peace that reigns supreme in the state.

FG to review docotor’s residency programme

Continued from page 1 He said that this was because over the years, it had derailed from its lofty initial ideas to a system which was drifting away from its set objective.

“This led the Federal Government to take the unprecedented step of

Tambuwal advocates support, prayers for Nigeria Continued from page 1 Electoral Commission (INEC) to curb insurgency regulations are clear and do not Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu said. The fight against terrorism is new in Nigeria, hence the herculean nature of the fight.

He appealed to Nigerians not to lose faith in the fight against insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country .

FEC’ll ratify infrastructure Master Plan - Minister ABUJA -The Minister of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr Abubakar Suleiman, has said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will ratify the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) at its meeting on Wednesday.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Abdulrahman Abdulrauf, his Special Assistant on Media, in Abuja on Tuesday He made the disclosure when he visited the Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Lt.Gen. Martins Agwai, in Abuja.

According to him, the NIIMP is a 30-year master plan for accelerating infrastructure development in the country.

“It focuses on core infrastructure, including energy, transport housing, water and ICT. “Other infrastructure classes, include agriculture, mining, social infrastructure, vital registration and security,’’ he said.

Suleiman said that the plan had already been ratified by the governors at the last National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in August.

Ebola outbreak risk to food security in W/Africa Continued from page 1 security of large numbers of people in the coming weeks and months.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme said in Geneva that it had launched an emergency operation to feed 1.3 million people in quarantine zones and health centers in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The minister said that the visit was to solicit the committee’s assistance in the area of project monitoring and evaluation as well as generating data on victims of insurgency.

He described SURE-P as a government initiative that had restored the hope of Nigerians, and called for easy access of funds for the

programme.

The minister said that the commission was also planning to embark on projects inspection, monitoring and evaluation of Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“Our commission cannot do it alone and that is why we need your collaboration.

“We have goals we seek

to achieve as a nation but how do we achieve those goals?

This is where our commission comes in,’’ he said.

In his response, the chairman of SURE-P, expressed delight at the visit, and assured the minister that his request would be considered within the constitutional provisions governing the committee’s mandate.

Sports Festival: Baptish Conference

President Applauds UNIBEN over success

By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE BENIN CITY- The President of Edo State Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Frank Ezele has commended the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Professor Osayuki Godwin Oshodin for his immense support towards the success of the maiden sports festival.

Rev. Ezele at the closing ceremony of the sports festival in Benin City also expressed gratitude to the General Manager of The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, Rev’d Monday Aigbe and his editors (Matthew Okagha and Barrister Solomon Imohiosen), the Zonal Director of Nigerian Television Authority, Mrs. Pauline Igbanor and her management team for the coverage of the sporting events.

While thanking other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the event, the clergy said the set goal for organising the sports festival was to assist in developing grassroot sports as well develop the vibrant youths in the state.

According to him, “it was an opportunity to identify,

showcase and encourage our talented young girls and boys to participate in sports in order to remove their minds from negative vices and engage them in positive things that can develop their future.

“The sports festival also afforded me the opportunity to remove the mindset of winning at all cost which could culminate in the use of

improper influence and ungentlemanly conduct during the games”, he said.

Ezele said that despite the financial and logistics challenges, the sports festival at first attempt was successful.

In the final match of the under13 category played at the UNIBEN Sports complex, Paragon football club defeated Inneh football club by a lone goal

Pensioners suspend proposed strike BENIN CITY- Edo State Chapter of the National Union of Pensioners has suspended its street protest billed for today.

The senior citizens made their position known yesterday during a meeting between the state government, labour leaders and the union in Benin City.

Speaking on behalf of the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu assured that the governor will be favourably disposed to all the issues raised in the pensioners demands.

The deputy governor stressed the need for dialogue in dispute situations such as this.

State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel

Ademokun disclosed that the NLC had written to the pensioners to put on hold their street protest for one week to enable them meet with government.

The state NLC chairman said the six percent and 15 percent pension increment for the senior citizens had earlier been approved by the governor since April this year.

He canvassed that issues of batch 44 and 45 that are pending on the governor’s table be given accelerated approval to alleviate the sufferings of the pensioners.

The State Head of Service, Mr. Jerry Obazele, Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties, Comrade Didi Adodo; the State Chairman of the Joint State Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Shaka Otoide and other key stakeholders were at the meeting.

Kabaka charges youth on credibility

2015:

By LUCKY EFESE BENIN CITY- The Chairman of Akugbe Ventures Limited, a tax consultant firm to the Edo State Government and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Neighbourhood Watch, Comrade Tony Kakaka Adun has charged youths across the country to demonstrate credibility and faithfulness to the people before, during and after the 2015 general elections.

Comrade Kabaka gave the charge yesterday in an interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, weekend at his residence in Benin City, while playing host to over seven thousand youths from the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state who were on solidarity visit to him.

He noted that the youths have played cardinal roles in the stabilization of Nigeria’s nascent democracy and challenged

them to remain focused, steadfast and dogged in choosing those who would lead them.

Comrade Adun, who is also a peace Ambassador, described youths as not only leaders of tomorrow, but also role models who other would always look up to for mentoring.

He stressed that politics was an interesting game if played in line with the dictates of how it ought to be and advised the youths not to see it as a door-die affair.

Speaking further, he posited that the youths, who have played a predominant role in consolidating democracy in Nigeria have always been a subject of ridicule by the power-seeking politicians, who dumped them after achieving their aims.

Comrade Adun disclosed that a nation cannot strive positively without the input of the youths just as he urged the youths not to allow themselves be used to actualize the personal aggrandisement of politicians

Elder Iyashere burial begins tomorrow

BENIN CITY- The burial ceremony of Elder (Dr.) Yesuf Ade Obazee Iyashere (Esq) who died April 12, 2014 has been scheduled to begin 9am tomorrow Thursday September 4, 2014 with the body taken from the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in a motorcade for lying-in state at his residence, Omokha House, 13 A Sakpoba Road, Benin City.

This will be followed at 4 pm with Service of songs at same venue.

On Friday September 5, 2014, there will be funeral service at the First African Church Mission Inc., Ebenezer Cathedral, No 34 Oza Street, Off Sakpoba/ Igbsamwan Street, Benin City beginning at 11 am Saturday September 6, 2014 at noon, there will be social dance and entertainment of guests at

NTA pavilion ground, TV Road, Benin City.

The ceremony will climax on Sunday September 7, 2014 at 10 am with outing/ thanksgiving service at the First African Church Mission Inc. Ebenezer Cathedral, No 34 Oza Street, Off Sakpoba Road/ Igbesamwan Street, Benin City.

Late Elder (Dr.) Yesuf Ade Obazee Iyashere (Esq.)

Madam Ogunsuyi for burial September 5 BENIN CITY: The family of Ogunsuyi of Obe in IkpobaOkha Local Government Area and Obaretin of Aduhan in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, both in Edo State have released the programme for the burial ceremony of Late Madam Christiana Ogunsuyi at the age of 67 years.

According to the programme signed by Osamwonyi Ogunsuyi for both families, the burial ceremony will begin on Friday September 5, 2014 with interment at the family compound, power Line, off Ebogbodin Quarters, back of Bowel secondary School, Upper Sakpoba Road, Benin City.

On Saturday September

6, 2014 at noon, there will be social activities / entertainment of guests, including well wishers, also at the family compound.

It was also added that there will be no night party.

Late Madam Christiana Ogunsuyi

News Govt Reaches Out To Ebola Victims

By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM

President Goodluck Jonathan addressing the African Union Peace and Security Summit in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday.

PORT HARCOURT-The Rivers State government has been able to reach out to about 96 per cent of the high risk cases who had primary contacts with the late Dr. Iyke Samuel Enemou, who died on Friday, August 22, from the dreaded Ebola virus which he contacted after treating a Nigerian diplomat, Olu-Ibukun Koye, a protocol officer with the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. Commissioner of Health, Dr. Samson Parker, told journalists, at his office, yesterday, that the state government has attained an appreciable success in tracing those who had primary contacts with the late doctor. He disclosed: “As at Sunday, contact tracing was going on.

But on Monday, we had a report

that almost all of them have been contacted. We now have 96% coverage, which is huge and which is a good success, and by now, as we are talking, they would have finished everything.

So, we are on it and almost all of them have been contacted.”

Dr. Parker blamed the parastatals that managed the nation’s airports for their collective lapses that enabled Koye to sneak into Rivers State through the Port Harcourt International Airport, at Omaigwa, before being lodged into a room at Mandate Gardens Hotel, at Rumuokoro, by the late Dr. Enemou.

He stated: “If you remember when this thing started, we were a bit worried about our point of entry. You know the airports are managed by parastatals of the Federal Government and we had issues with them, but with the partnership of the World Health Organisation, WHO, and the team here, some of the materials

Ogoni’s Seek Support For Governorship Ambition

By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM

PORT HARCOURT- The people of Ogoni in Diaspora have appealed to ethnic nationalities in Rivers State to support the clamour for an Ogoni to be elected the next governor of the state, come 2015, saying it was regrettable that no Ogoni has occupied the office of the Governor, Deputy Governor or Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

This is as the Ogoni in Diaspora condemned the noninclusion of Bori State in the list of states recommended for creation by the just-concluded National Conference, which was submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan recently.

This were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its three-day Ogoni leadership conference,

organised by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People in the United States of America (MOSOP-USA), with the theme; ‘Moving Ogoni Forward: One People, One Destiny”, held at Atlanta-Georgia, in the United States.

The communiqué, signed by Dumka Baabel, President, MOSOP-USA; Michael Akoka, Secretary, MOSOP-USA;

Keania Baridoo Edo, Coordinator, Ogoni Diaspora Organization (ODO) and six others, called on prominent, capable, tested, visionary and compassionate Ogoni Politicians to be involved in party politics and aspire for the governorship position during the 2015 general elections.

The communiqué reads in part; “That we are appalled by the non-implementation of the

recommendations of the United Nations Environmental Report (UNEP) on Ogoniland over three years after its submission to the federal government of Nigeria.

We view the delay as furtherance of the neglect, marginalization and a deliberate plan to extinguish the Ogoni race from the earth through environmental terrorism and therefore demand its immediate implementation.

Ayogwiri Celebrates New Yam Festival AYOGWIRI – The annual New Yam Festival (ESI) of Ayogwiri – Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State is schedule for today September 3, 2014 at AyogwiriMarket Square.

The Chairman of the Community Social Development Project (CSDP) Ayogwiri, Mr. Thomas Adedio Okhakumhe disclosed this to the Nigerian OBSERVER at the weekend.

Mr. Okhakumhe hinted that this year’s ‘ESI’ festival goat will be provided by Pa Okhumeode Ideboghie, while Pa Otsu Abika would preside over the slaughtering of the goat and other events at the market square to appease the gods of the Harvest.

He also disclosed that every family head is expected to slaughter a goat after the first one which must be provided by an individual who is to be choosen by the council of elders.

According to Mr. Okhakumhe, who is also the immediate past chairman of Ayogwiri Youth Association, home branch, cultural dancers and other social activities are lined up to entertain guests especially from neighbouring towns and villages.

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), in a handshake with the Chairperson, AU Peace and Security Council and President of Tchad, Idris Deby at the African Union Peace and Security Summit in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday.

Lawmaker Tasks Nigerians On Hygiene

By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM PORT HARCOURT-The Lawmaker representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has urged Nigerians to adhere to recommended hygienic precautions aimed at preventing the spread of the dreaded Ebola

virus as search for a permanent solution continues.

The Senator, who stated this in Port Harcourt, disclosed that investigation reveals that transmission, which is not limited to the living, is passed through bodily organs and fluids such as blood, urine, semen and vomit.

He identified limiting body contact, visiting medical centre

on experiencing symptoms, engaging in regular, thorough hand hygiene procedures among others as preventive strategies.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), who caution on politicizing the Ebola issue, praised the commitment of government at various level to eradicating the scourge.

Senator Abe particularly

lauded the proactive and dogged approach of the Rivers State government, which resulted to the swiftness in tackling the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the State.

He expressed optimizing that with the collaborative steps and consciousness being created the virus that has ravaged some West African Countries shattering the socio-economic well being of the people will be checked.

we needed; the temoscans are available and they are training persons to take over. They are bringing experts in to train those ones on how to organise the points of entry.”

The commissioner explained: “Ebola response is not just a government thing; it is not the Ministry of Health, it is all stakeholders, remember. That is why we have what we call the stakeholders committee in Rivers State; the organised private sector is involved; private hospitals are involved and the government sector is there” Dr. Parker stressed: “We had people from Emory University Hospital who came to train our health officials and now WHO is also giving specific private hospital training. It is not just enough to get Personal Protective Equipments, PPE’s.

Having PPE’s is just like giving your child a car to drive without training him on how to drive. It is probably more dangerous to give some PPE’s when the person doesn’t know how to use the PPE.” Country Director of the WHO in Nigeria, Rui Vaz,who was at the briefing with the commissioner for health, commended Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Dr. Parker for the proactive measures that they have put in place to contain the spread of the ebola virus in Rivers State.

He assured: “I will like to highlight that Ebola can be contained and we are going to contain it; there is no doubt, but everything depends on all of us.

It is not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. This is a cross-cutting issue, it’s an inter-sartorial response, it requires attention, and the critical matter is the leadership and ownership of the process.”

“WHO is in the country to provide technical support; we are a technical agency, we are not a financial agency. It is very important to highlight that there is a strong commitment by the Governor and the Commissioner, and also, other entities. I see also the high involvement in the response of the private sector”, Vaz emphasized.

He added: “Rivers State is an important economic front in this country; that requires some particular attention. WHO as a technical agency, since the information of the first case, we deployed immediately, our colleagues from Lagos and they came here and first, they helped to establish the emergency operation centre (EOC) and it is already done. We also brought our colleagues with very high expertise from Lagos and they are here. We also brought experts from our headquarters in Geneva. We have people from our regional office; we have people from our country office.”

Vaz pointed out that “the most important thing in Ebola control is the early diagnosis of any potential suspected cases and takes necessary precautions, in terms of isolation where it is needed, and other measures to stop the chain of infection.”

He warned: “When we speak about training, we should involve everybody. The disease doesn’t know if it is a private or a public hospital. We need to train everybody to be aware.

This is why the role of the media is critical.”

Abuja Family Pilgrimage:

117

Nigerians Return

Health Consulate, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. Mac Kennedy (2nd right), with some family Pilgrims, during their arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday night..

ABUJA -The first batch of 117 Nigerians who participated in the 2014 seven-day Family Pilgrimage to Israel, have returned home, reports say.

The pilgrims departed Abuja on August. 24 amidst concerns of the unrest between Israel and Gaza.

Mr John-Kennedy Opara, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), who addressed the pilgrims on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, said the success of the exercise showed that peace had returned to Israel.

“I want to state here that the success of the family pilgrimage

Viral Diseases: UNILORIN Offers Community Service

ABUJA - The University of Ilorin says it will soon establish a Virology complex to conduct researches on Ebola virus (EBOV) and how to contain its spread.

Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali, Vice Chancellor of the university, told newsmen in Abuja that the institution would also provide community service on viral diseases.

He said that the Senate of the institution set up a committee on Ebola recently in recognised of the university’s responsibility in conducting researches and offering community development services.

“Just last week we met and decided that we (Senate) should have a functional virology complex where we will assemble all our virologists within the University of Ilorin.

“We want to empower them within that complex to have a

befitting laboratory and enough consumables to carryout research.

“We want to give them the necessary capacity and train them so that they will be able to carry out research on some of these communicable viral infections.

University of Ilorin.

“Apart from Ebola, we have Lassa fever, we have HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis C are there, so we are very concerned about that aspect of our responsibility.

“We want to devote some

Agency Tasks Borehole Operators On Proficiency investigation necessary before ABUJA - The Director-

General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr John Shamonda has urged Nigerians intending to drill boreholes to seek professional advice in order to get best results.

Shamonda told newsmen in Abuja that technical expertise was crucial in attaining best

2 Men Jailed For Theft

ABUJA - A Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court has sentenced two men — Samuel Tsavetim, and Timothy Bunter — both aged 24 years, to two years’ imprisonment each for stealing items worth N1.75 million.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Aminu Eri, said that the sentence was without an option of fine.

“The sentence would serve as a punishment to the convicts and a deterrent to other intending criminals.

“The rate of stealing in the FCT is increasing at an alarming rate as young and able people have taken to this act and so this sentence will deter others from committing such crimes,’’ Eri said.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Monday Akor said that on May 19, Sylvester Clement of Stream Street, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, reported the accused persons at the Maitama Police Station, Abuja.

Akor said Clement reported

“The senate also decided that we should set up an Ebola Senate Committee where all our human resources could be assembled and challenged to educate not only the university community, but the community around the

that when he got to his site located on Plot 628, Raal Street, Maitama, he discovered that some items were missing.

He told the court that Bunter, who was a security guard at the site, connived with Tsavetim, a former staff of Clement to steal the items from the site.

He said the stolen items included Iron rods valued N480,000, 65 bags of cement worth N130,000, one Tiger Generator put at N65,000, one window unit AC valued N50,000 and one Samsung Fridge worth N380,000.

He said that during police investigation, the convicts admitted committing the crime and confessed to sharing the proceeds from the sale of the items.

They both pleaded guilty to the offence.

Tsaventim, in his plea, told the court that hunger drove him to commit the crime while Bunter begged for forgiveness and promised not to be lured to such a crime again.

practices in borehole projects as well as to the protect environment.

He decried the indiscriminate drilling of boreholes in the country, saying that the practice was adversely affecting the environment.

The director-general said the experts would provide the much needed information that would assist people to adhere to rules guiding borehole drilling.

Shamonda stressed the need for proper geological survey, noting that it would define specific parameters to look out for, identify nature of formation in the sub-surface and water table.

“The required geophysical

drilling the borehole is supposed to be done.

“People avoid conducting the geophysical investigations because of the additional cost they will incur.

“We cannot continue to drill boreholes indiscriminately in this country, it has to be regulated.

“People are supposed to take licence before drilling boreholes and all borehole drillers ought to be licenced because they need to do it professionally,’’ he said.

He blamed the increasing rate of non-functional boreholes in the country on failure to carry out geophysical investigations before drilling.

amount of money in the training of more virologists because there is a shortage of virologists all over the country.

“Anywhere you go across the length and breadth of this country, you can count the number of virologists that exist in Nigeria which means that there should be concerted effort to train more virologists.

“University of Ilorin will surely contribute to make sure that we have a centre that could be relied upon by the government,” he said.

He said that members of the Ebola committee set up by the university were drawn from the College of Medicine and Agriculture.

In terms of community service, Ambali said that the university now publish regularly on its website and on its weekly bulletin information on Ebola to educate readers.

“Now every week through our university bulletin which comes up every week and through our website, we have Ebola information where you can read and educate yourself on Ebola.

“Very soon, there will be community awareness within Ilorin and its environs to sensitise and educate the people on how they can fight Ebola,” he said.

is an indication that peace has finally returned to the holy land.

“I must add that the peace we are talking about in Israel is as a result of the prayers offered

by Nigerians, because we prayed for peace and today peace is gradually returning to Israel.

“It also entails that we can now confidently go on with our plans for the regular pilgrimage exercise from October to December.”

According to him, arrangements are at an advanced stage for the commencement of the exercise.

On his part, Rev. Zion Ibenye, the Federal Commissioner representing the South-East on the board of the NCPC, affirmed that relative peace had returned to Israel.

He said with the successful completion of the exercise, the board of the commission would shift its focus on preparations for the regular pilgrimage.

Ibenye said the family pilgrimage was a huge success in spite of the initial security concerns raised.

Mr Zingak Gomwalk, who participated with his family, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.

He said the entire programme was very exciting and did not reflect the initial concerns about security and other logistics.

“The exercise was fulfilling spiritually, morally and in every aspect that one can think of; it is most rewarding for my family and I urge other families to take advantage of this opportunity,’’ he said.

It would be recalled that the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Uriel Palti, while inaugurating the exercise in Abuja on August. 24, said the safety of the pilgrims in Israel was guaranteed.

It would be recalled that the commission had earlier postponed the exercise for security reasons.

2014 Christian family pilgrims arriving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday night.

News SERAP Asks ICC To Prosecute Boko Haram

By Raheem Ibrahim

LAGOS -Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked Ms Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor, International Criminal Court to “use your good offices and position to urgently investigate allegations that certain high ranking public officials and politicians are among the sponsors of Boko Haram that has continued to engage in unlawful killings and destruction of civil property, and cases of extrajudicial executions in the country.”

In a statement issued by Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP Executive Director, the organization also asked the court to “bring to justice anyone complicit in these international crimes prohibited under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to which Nigeria is a state party.”

In the petition dated September 1, 2014 and signed by Mumuni, the organization said that, “We are seriously concerned that so far those who are responsible for the grave violations of international law have not been identified let alone prosecuted.

Worryingly, government’s initiated probes with recommendations on those that may be behind the Boko Haram attacks but they have not yet been implemented.”

“A government committee in 2011 recommended the prosecution of some politicians for funding and providing general support to Boko Haram.

This recommendation remains unimplemented as the government White Paper on it published in 2012 has been ignored,” the organization said.

The organization said that, “a Perth-based international adviser to Nigeria, Dr. Stephen Davis, who for four months was involved in negotiations on behalf of the federal government with commanders of Boko Haram for the release of over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the sect last April, has named certain high ranking public officials as sponsors of Boko Haram”.

It read further, “Among others Dr Davis disclosed that a former governor of Borno state, a former chief of army staff and a former top official of the Central Bank of Nigeria have provided funds and other logistics to Boko

Haram to commit crimes under international law.”

The organization also said that, “We remain concerned that given the antecedents of successive governments to ignore reports and recommendations of national agencies and institutions in situations like this, we are convinced that intervention by the ICC will bring international pressure to bear on the government to honour its international obligations by promptly identifying and bringing to justice those sponsoring and providing support for the Boko Haram attacks.”

It argued that, “Our request for the intervention by the ICC is further buttressed by increasing level of cases of extra-judicial execution that continueS to take place in the country. In fact, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN) revealed at a public event marking the Human Rights Day on December 10, 2012 that the Police alone had killed 7,108 persons in four years.”

“Additionally, given the weak criminal justice system and the fact that successive governments have shown themselves either unwilling or unable to prosecute suspected perpetrators of international crimes in places like Jos (Plateau State of Nigeria), the intervention by the ICC will ensure that the truth is told about those sponsoring the Boko Haram attacks, and provide the much needed international accountability and ensure effective remedies for victims and their families,” the organization also said.

The organization pointed out that, “Without accountability for these serious human rights crimes, the victims will continue to be denied access to justice, and impunity of perpetrators will remain widespread and the result will continue to be a vicious cycle of violence and abuses with serious consequences for the entire citizenry.”

It said that, “Under Article 17 of the Rome Statute, the Court is a court of last resort, expected to exercise its jurisdiction only if states themselves are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate and prosecute international crimes. Also, pursuant to the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor has power to

Agodi Prison Inmates Undergo Vocation Training IBADAN- No fewer than 30 inmates of Agodi prison in Ibadan have benefitted from the vocational training programmes organised by the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Prison Service.

The spokesman of the command, Mr Olanrewaju Anjorin, said this yesterday in Ibadan while speaking newsmen.

He said the inmates, who were trained in such vocations as computer engineering and repair of cell phones, graduated recently.

Anjorin said the command often provided working tools to graduates of its vocational

centre to enable them to be selfreliant on release from jail, adding that its Aftercare Unit usually monitors the exconvicts.

He, however, solicited the support of the state and local governments in the provision of working tools, saying the command alone could not bear the burden.

Anjorin also urged Nigerians to refrain from perceiving prisons as centres for punishment instead of institutions for rehabilitating, reforming and reintegrating inmates.

He further advised the judiciary to expedite action on those awaiting trial in order to reduce congestion in prisons

intervene in a situation under the jurisdiction of the Court if the Security Council or states parties refer a situation or if information is provided from other sources such as the information SERAP is providing in this case.”

RRA GM To Be Conferred Chieftaincy Title BENIN CITY- The General Manager of Edo State Rapid Response Agency, Hon. Festus Igbelokotor Edughele will be honoured with a chieftaincy title on Saturday, September 6, 2014,

by His Royal Highness (HRH), Curtis Iredia Eidenojie 1, the Onojie of Ubiaja Kingdom.

The ceremony which begins at 10am is billed for the Royal Palace, Ubiaja, while reception will follow immediately after the ceremony at his family residence, Ataga Road, Ukpaja, Ubiaja.

Hon. Festus Igbelokotor Edughele

Former PS Losses Mother BENIN CITY- The death has been announced of the centenarian mother of a retired Permanent Secretary in Edo State, Mrs. Omorusiefe Inneh, nee Elema.

In a statement signed by Mr. Daniel Inneh, the late Mrs. Omorusiefe Inneh passed on peacefully on August 27, 2014, at the age of 104 years.

The statement further stated that funeral arrangement would be announced at a later date.

Late Mrs. Omorusiefe Inneh, Nee Elema

Business + Economy Oil Spill Group Advocates Review Of Investigation Procedure YENAGOA - A NonGovernmental Organisation, Sustainable Environment Foundation (SEF), has called for the overhaul of the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) as part of effort to achieve efficiency in oil spill management. JIV is a process in oil spill incidents.

This is contained in a report on JIV jointly signed by Mr. Authourity Benson, Director, SEF and Mr. Oyinkedi Fuofegha, Secretary in Yenagoa.

SEF stated that the JIV, a statutory probe comprising regulatory agencies, community and oil firm representatives, was dominated and influenced by oil firms to the detriment of oil communities.

It stated that JIV process was currently being dominated by oil firms, who exploit the weak regulatory scenario of the country to their advantage.

The report stated that while the affected communities lacked technical capacity, the regulatory agencies were inadequately equipped and funded to perform optimally.

The report added that SEF and the oil communities representatives often invited to participate in such JIV lacked the capacity to make inputs.

It, therefore, added that officials of regulatory agencies like National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Department of Petroleum Resources and state Ministry of Environment relied on oil firms for data.

According to the report, the JIV procedure is fundamental in mitigating frequent spills and determining liabilities to be indemnified by the polluter when the cause is not sabotage.

“The data recorded on JIV report ultimately affect how

Farmers and Stakeholders in Imo inspecting Oil Palm Seedlings at Imo Polytechnic, “Umuagwo Nursery” during the Oil Palm Distribution Day for Commercial Farmers by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Conjunction with Imo State Ministry of Agriculture.

much compensation a community damaged by oil spill receives, the extent and quality of clean up of impacted spill environment.

“Therefore, the JIV report is an extremely important document upon which the fate of communities vulnerable to oil spills in the Niger Delta is dependent for compensation,” it stated.

The report said that a situation where the regulators relied on operators to provide transport and logistics for the JIV undermined the independence of the investigation.

“There have been several deficiencies and abuses of the JIV process as oil companies persistently explore the

FMBN Recovers N1.2 Bn Debt

L-R: Founder, International Bio-Research Institute (IBI) Enugu, Prof. Edmund Agbo, IBI Registrar, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwu and Rector, Dr. Emmanuel Alisa, at a news conference on second International Life Conference on Bioethics in Enugu recently.

Minister Woos Chinese Investors

Electricity Transmission: ABUJA - The Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, has said that the transmission sub-sector of Nigeria’s power sector was opened to investment under Public-Private-Partnership model.

This is contained in a statement

by Mr Olawale Rasheed, Special Assistant on Media to the minister in Abuja.

The statement said that Wakil stated this at a meeting with top power sector stakeholders and investors in China.

The minister, according to the statement, assured investors in the Nigerian power sector of adequate returns and safety of their investments.

“I urge you all to participate in the planned transmission project expansion in Nigeria.

“The government of Nigeria is working out participation of private sector in the transmission sub-sector under a publicprivate-partnership.

“This has worked so well in other sectors of our economy”, the statement quoted him as saying.

Wakil, who was also at Huawei Company Headquarters in Shenghen, said that the potential

for profitable investment in Nigeria was very high.

He described the opportunities in the transmission and renewable energy sector as “very attractive and sustainable”.

“In the renewable sector, we are opened to both Independent Power Producers and participants in the privatepublic-partnership.

“Whichever area you prefer, you cannot regret investing your money in our dear country,” he said.

He urged the Chinese companies to retain high standard of job delivery comparable to the projects they executed in their home country, stressing that investors in Nigeria needed to maintain high level of efficiency and standard.

“Specifically, after seeing the great wonders of the seven Gorges Dams, I call on the Chinese firm handling the Mambilla hydro projects to deliver a project as standard as the Gorges dam.

“We want high quality job to be done in this very important hydro project. Mambilla is key to us because it is a project too long on the drawing board.

“Our President is breaking the jinx on both Mabilla and Zungeru, hence the need for the

job to be well done.

“For the North East, Mambilla holds great promise for enhanced power supply and job creation,” Wakil stated.

Receiving the minister, a representative of the management

ABUJA - The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has urged management of Galaxy Backbone Plc to ensure efficient telecommunications service delivery at the nation’s airports.

NAMA’s ‘Weekly Update’ signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Supo Atobatele, in Abuja, said the Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, made the call when he led a delegation to the Galaxy Backbone headquarters on a courtesy visit.

Galaxy Backbone Plc is the Information Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure

provider charged with providing effective telecommunications service delivery at the nation’s airports.

According to the ‘Weekly Update, NAMA boss urged the ICT provider to develop a strategic work plan that would enable the agency to continue to provide cutting edge telecoms services to airports across the country.

“Galaxy backbone is the sole provider of telecommunications services within the aviation environment.

“And their mission is to strengthen the existing business relationship between the two organisations, so there is need to develop a strategic work plan for

of TBEA, one of the firms visited, Mr Jun Ye, said that his company was ready to collaborate with Nigeria for the successful conclusion of its power sector reform.

Ye said that the reform as progressing successfully and restated that his firm is eager to be part of Nigerian success story.

Ensure Efficient Telecom Service At Airports, NAMA Charges Coy effective service delivery.’’

Abdulsalam was quoted as saying.

The Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Mr Gerald Ilukwe, commended NAMA for guaranteeing the safety of the nation’s airspace.

Ilukwe said:“this collaboration would further boost NAMA’s record of efficiency and excellence in service delivery in Nigeria.”

The Weekly update said that Ilukwe led the NAMA team to inspect facilities such as the Primary Data Centre, Network Operations Centre and the Satellite Dish Farm.

ABUJA - Mr. Gimba Kumo, the Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), has aid that the organisation recovered N1.2 billion from its debtors in four years.

Kumo who said this at the end of a two-day retreat by the bank’s board stated that the debts were recovered after the bank’s present management assumed duty in 2010.

The Managing Director who did not give the bank’s total debt profile however said the amount recovered represented a substantial part of the debt owed the organisation.

“When we assumed duty in 2010, there was a huge number of people owing the bank, but the process that has now been put in place by this board is a continuous one.

“What we have recovered is a substantial percentage of what is outstanding. The recovery process is ongoing and all those who owe us will pay,’’ he said.

Kumo said the issue of recovery when it comes to mortgage is not like the normal credit.

“Before these mortgages were created, there were a lot of issues with titling, and governors’ consent tied to the loans.

“They are not supposed to be referred to as bad loans because they are under process and some of these issues are being addressed by the governments concerned,’’ he said.

The FMBN managing director said government was committed to ensuring the recapitalisation of the bank.

“We have been discussing with international development partners, particularly the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

“The Chinese bank has agreed to bring in funds in form of Foreign Direct Investment to help FMBN address the substantial part of the housing deficit in the country,’’ he said.

The bank chief said the FMBN signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Bank, which had made an offer.

He said the project would begin as soon as the bank gets the necessary guarantee from government.

“As soon as this is done, so many houses will be built across the country,’’ Kumo said.

He said another foreign company, Shelter Afrique, had opened an office in Abuja and subscribed to the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company as a shareholder.

Lagos NDLEA Arrests 4,511 Drug Suspects A Tanker which lost control and crushed cars and motorcycles on Zuma-Kaduna expressway at Madalla recently.

Randy Husband Catches Wife In Same Hotel LAGOS -A sensational drama ensured at Olodi Apapa area of Lagos as a man who took another woman to a hotel came out from the hotel room to see his wife coming out from another room with his friend.

The man identified as Kayode was said to have yelled when he spotted them “My wife in a hotel with another man!”

It was gathered that when Kayode saw the wife identified as Funmilayo, he never envisaged that the man with her was his friend called Mufutau but after a closer look, he noticed that the man was Mufutau and he slapped him twice before Mufutau retaliated.

As the men were fighting, Funmilayo also tore the clothes of the other woman for having the effrontery to date her husband.

The fight among the quartet came to an abrupt end when the barman, receptionist, and customers blamed all for not being sincere and trustworthy to their wives and husbands.

The barman was said to have told Kayode that he was guilty of the same offence for bringing another man’s wife to the hotel adding that what occurred was a nemesis or law of distributional justice.

The women were said to have torn their clothes to shreds and left the hotel in shame as they booed each other.

LAGOS - Mr Ahmadu Giade, the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has said that the agency arrested a total of 4,511 suspected drug traffickers and 47,422.678 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs between January and June 2014.

This is contained in a statement signed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, which was made available to newsmen.

He said the drugs consisted of 45,875kg of cannabis; 34.79kg of cocaine; 43.953kg of heroin; 22.07kg of methamphetamine and 1,446.865kg of psychotropic substances.

“Within the period under review, a total of 1,157 drug

Officials of Federal Road Safety Corps evacuating accident victims from an accident scene caused by a tanker, which lost control and crushed cars and motorcycles on ZumaKaduna expressway at Madalla recently.

Lagos Inaugurates CDAC

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM LAGOS - Lagos State Government has inaugurated the Apex body of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the State, known as the Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC).

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola who was represented by the Commissioner for Rural Development, Honourable Cornelius Ojelabi at the inauguration urged the new council to operate a transparent government and make accountability their watchword , saying “You must be ready to render account of your stewardship at all times”.

He noted that elections and appointment to the Executive council of the CDAs, CDCs and CDACs will now be based strictly on performance and nothing else.

Ojelabi said the new Exco is coming on board at a sensitive and difficult time in the history of the State where the baton of administration in the state will be changed urging the new executive to be up and doing and

have a master plan for the operation of the CDCs and CDAs which they are to supervise.

The commissioner also implored them to interact and interface with the members of the State House of Assembly representing their various communities regularly on their needs for easy processing with the executive.

The Chairman of Mainland Local Government, Honourable Oladele Adekanye whose Local Government produced the Chairman of the Advisory Council congratulated the new Exco for having Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri as their Chairman.

He said the new Chairman is a man of integrity, highly diligent and a good team player whom he said would perform beyond expectations adding that he was at the event together with his Vice Chairman Honourable Omolola Essien and his Council Members because of Alhaji Quadri.

The Chairman of Yaba LCDA Hon. Olajide Jimoh said all the newly inaugurated council members are committed grassroots people who are bound to succeed in their new

assignment adding that they are people of integrity who were prepared and ready to put in their best.

The member of the House of Assembly representing Lagos Mainland II, Hon. Olarenwaju Oshun assured the newly inaugurated Executive members

Ebola:

of the House of Assembly support at all times.

He said, the House of Assembly is very conversant with the workings and importance of the CDAs, CDCs and CDAC in the development of the State and therefore will be ready to assist them urging them not to hesitate to call on the House anytime the need arose as the House of Assembly will be ready to fight their cause.

offenders were successfully convicted. Kano State recorded the highest number of convictions for the period, with 111 persons.

“Kaduna is next with 105; Lagos, 75; Bauchi, 73 and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, 72,’’ Giade said.

On the deadly Ebola virus in the country, the Chairman said that the agency had put in place measures to medically examine suspected drug traffickers, before taking them into custody.

Giade said suspected drug traffickers; including persons who tested positive for the ebola virus, would not go unpunished.

“All commands of the agency have been directed to carry out compulsory pre-detention screening, to prevent the deadly Ebola Virus disease.

“Ebola victims found in possession of narcotic drugs shall not be allowed to go scot-free. I have issued an operational directive on new suspects handling guidelines because of the Ebola virus. “ There must be proper Ebola pre-screening examination before a suspect is detained. So far, we have not had any case of an Ebola virus victim involved in drug trafficking in the country.

“If any drug suspect tests positive for the Ebola virus, he or she shall be handed over to the medical authorities and shall be prosecuted as soon as a clean bill of health is issued,” Giade said.

The chairman said regular washing of hands, use of sanitizers, wearing of hand gloves and other protective materials, were some measures the anti-narcotic agency was taking to protect officers.

“We are compelled to modify our modus operandi because of the Ebola virus disease outbreak.

The agency is taking necessary measures to prevent the deadly virus.

“In the past, we only had cause to isolate suspects with airborne diseases like tuberculosis. This ebola virus certainly is a bigger challenge that requires serious attention,” the statement quoted Giade as saying.

Avoid Risky Habits, Council Boss Advises are now more aware of the Residents

LAGOS -The Chairman of Ikeja Local government in Lagos Hon. Wale Odunlami has cautioned residents of the area to avoid risky habits that can trigger a fresh outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus disease, even as the state government is making great strides in the containment of the recent outbreak of the disease in the state.

The Chairman gave the advice in Ikeja while sensitizing the residents on the danger of the deadly and highly infectious disease.

Odunlami noted that many residents were initially traumatised on learning that the index case, the LiberianAmerican Patrick Sawyer who imported the virus into the country came in to the country through the Muritala Mohammed

Airport, Ikeja.

He however assured residents of the area that they are not at risk due to the unfortunate incident as experts on the virus have said it is not an airborne disease.

Odunlami however urged residents to remain cautious about what they eat, their personal hygiene and adhere strictly to all government directives on measures to prevent the disease.

Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Officer for the Local Government, Dr. Bola Abejide has said that the on-going EVD sensitization programme by the district’s health officials is yielding the desired result because many of the residents

disease and its prevention.

She reiterated that Ebola is caused by a virus which manifest as a highly infectious severe illness warning that people in direct contact with those infected with the disease, human dead bodies or animals that died of the disease such as bats and bush meat which are carriers of the virus are at risk.

She said that posters, fliers as well as road shows were being used to enlighten people on the streets, eateries, market places, motor parks and religious institutions adding that youth corps members, people from private hospitals as well as nursing mothers who turned up for the World Health Organisation’s Breast Feeding Day at Ojodu were among those sensitized on the danger of EVD.

Across The Nation CALABAR - Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River has said that his administration floated a N40 billion bond to address specific financial matters in the state.

Imoke’s explanation through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, followed complaints by some residents in the state against the action of the state government on the matter.

According to the governor, the bond is not a fresh debt as being misconstrued in some quarters, but a deliberate policy at freeing the state of its current debt burden.

“The bond issued by the Cross River State Government is an application to recapitalise subsisting debts in the state. It is not a fresh bond to raise fresh

Why Cross River Floated N40bn loans.

“It is meant to renegotiate the existing debt and spread the repayment period over a reasonable time and free up the state from numerous debt accruing from 2002 when the first bond was issued.

“The first bond ever issued by the state government was in 2002 when the first Bond Law was passed to enable the state government to borrow funds to finance the Tinapa project.

“Since the 2002 state borrowing by bond, a lot of interest has accrued to the state in Federation Account, thereby, limiting the state’s capacity to raise funds to bridge the funding gap in the state annual budget,’’ he

stated.

He said that the current bond of N40 billion was a compilation of past debts arising from the 2002 bond and subsequent state borrowing now being recapitalised and renegotiated with lower interest rate and

longer payment period.

“The government has presented the request for the recapitalisation of the debt by bond through a procedure.

“The request was first presented to the state executive council and was approved; the approval was

sent to the state House of Assembly for a resolution to support the bond “The request to the House of Assembly was backed by a law to amend the State Bond Law and a Debt Management Law,” the governor said.

Farouk Dies At 90 KANO- Former Deputy Governor of Kano State under Mohammed Abubakar Rimi’s administration in the Second Republic, Alhaji Bibi Farouk, is dead.

Aged 90, Farouk died in Kano on Monday after a protracted illness.

His son, Dr Farouk Bibi Farouk, confirmed the death to newsmen.

The Late Farouk was the Deputy Governor to late Governor. Rimi between 1979 and 1981 before he was removed from office by the then state House of Assembly.

The impeachment followed the rift between the faction of the defunct Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP) loyal to late Aminu Kano known then as “Tabo” and the other faction led by Rimi identified as “Tsantsi” The deceased is survived by four wives and 35 children.

His remains have since been buried according to Islamic rites in Kano.

Late Farouk was an indigene of Gezawa Local Government Area of the state.

Army Reviews Curfew In Maiduguri MAIDUGURI -The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri said that it had “reviewed upward’’ the curfew imposed on Maiduguri and its environs.

Col. Sani Usman, the spokesman for the division, made this known in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

“With effect from Monday, curfew hours in Maiduguri Metropolis and environs have been reviewed forward.

“It is now from 7p.m. to 6a.m. daily,” Usman said.

“All must comply with this directive. Anyone found violating this directive will be arrested and prosecuted’’ the terse statement warned.

He served as a sole administrator of the old Kano Municipal Council under the regime of the first Military Governor of Kano State, late Alhaji Audu Bako.

Meanwhile, sympathisers have continued to pay their condolences to the family members.

Dr. Ningi Adamu attending to a patient at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital as doctors in the hospital resume work in Bauchi recently.

- Imoke

He added that the state finances had been in danger due to the fact that the 2002 Bond was issued without the required debt management framework.

According to him, the 2002 Bond was limited to N4.5 billion while the borrowing exceeded that amount by 2005 without amending the State Bond Law and providing a debt management strategy for the debts.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the SouthSouth zone had, in a statement, criticized the bond transaction.

The party’s statement was issued by Mr. Bassey Ita, Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to the party’s National Vice Chairman, South-South.

The statement accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state of mortgaging Cross River to economic slavery by the bond.

The APC said that the government’s action by the bond revealed its insensitivity to the plight and welfare needs of the masses “by previous indebtedness and financial mess it had plunged the state into.

Intending Pilgrims Complain Over Delayed Visas Hajj:

Patients at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital as doctors resume work at the hospital in Bauchi recently.

KANO- Intending pilgrims from Kano State have called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Saudi Arabian authorities to enable the Saudi Consulate commence the issuance of visas to pilgrims.

Some of the pilgrims, who spoke to newsmen in Kano, said the call was necessary in order to facilitate the issuance of the document.

It would be recalled that the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board forwarded 3, 724 passports to Saudi Consulate in Kano on August. 25.

The pilgrims, who expressed concern over the delay in the issuance of the document, said it could affect the entire Hajj operation.

One of the pilgrims, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar said the there was an urgent need for the

federal government to intervene in the issue so as to enable prospective pilgrims perform the Hajj.

Another intending pilgrim, Alhaji Abashe Musa, urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to do everything possible to ensure that the visas were issued to the pilgrims.

He said it was to enable them to perform the Hajj this year.

“I wonder what is causing the delay. The airlift of intending pilgrims is scheduled for September. 6’’, he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, said the Saudi Consulate was yet to issue a single visa in Kano.

He said that the passports which were sent to the consulate on August. 25, were still unattended.

Importation Of Bush Meat: Health Council Advocates Regulation ABUJA - The National Council on Health has called for the regulation on importation of bust meat and to discourage its consumption in view of the prevalence of Ebola virus in the country.

The council made the call at its second emergency meeting on the Ebola Disease in Abuja.

In its communiqué read by the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, said that the council had been informed that Nigerian had 16 reported

cases of the virus.

It said that the council resolved that all personal protective equipment must be procured in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) specifications and from WHO accredited and sanctified manufactures and suppliers.

It urged the Ministry of Health to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria Customs Service and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to work out guideline to regulate

importation of bust meat.

The council resolved that chief spokesperson for the health sector in relation to the Ebola virus disease would be the Minister of Health.

“The Federal Government should continue in the lead at the emergency operation centres but in collaboration with state government and development partners.

“It should provide the needed technical support to strengthen the training of health care workers of all levels to the state

government, military and paramilitary groups,’’ it said.

The council also endorsed the training plans presented to it by the Federal Ministry of Health in relation to the Ebola disease.

According to the communiqué, adequate incentives, including special allowances and live insurance, must continue to be provided for all health workers involved in the management of Ebola diseases in Nigerian.

It directed that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) should re-circulate the protocols and standard operative

procedures for management of Ebola disease cases to all states immediately.

It said that it recognized the urgent need for the Ministry of Health to continue to support the establishment of additional laboratories.

It announced that Ebola virus could be diagnosed at NCDC laboratory, Asokoro, Abuja; NCDC laboratory in LUTH, Lagos; NCDC laboratory at University College Hospital, Ibadan and Redeemers Virology laboratory in Ogun State.

For The Record The Alumni Association Must See Itself As An Important Instrument For Projecting A Positive Image

Being Chairman’s Opening Remarks At The Summit Of The University of Nigeria Alumni Association National Executive Meeting Holding In Benin City On Saturday, 5th 2014 Protocols

I feel distinctly privileged and honoured to be asked to preside over today’s summit of the University of Nigeria Alumni Association National Executive Meeting holding here in Benin City, Edo State.

My joy and pride this morning derive not just from the fact that I am myself an alumnus of that great University, but also because the occasion affords me the rare opportunity to indulge in very pleasant memories of my four year stay in that institution, close to fifty years ago. I declare myself openly and immodestly to be a grateful beneficiary of the unique educational experiment which that institution represents, which has bequeathed very many enduring legacies to all other universities that came after it in this country.

I wish to most emphatically state that of the two universities that I attended, and the several others that I have experience of, both here and abroad, no other one has impacted on my personality, my psyche, my mental frame and my world view, more vividly and more markedly than the University of Nigeria.

I attended the University during its nascent years, between 1961 (just one year after it was founded) and 1965. I vividly recall that the University arrived on the Nigerian educational scene with a bang, bringing with it very many distinguishing features that made it unique amongst its peers; these include: • The course credit system, which was unknown and unheard of before that time, • The inimitably robust general studies programme, • Its multi-disciplinary approach to education, • Its bold pan-Nigerian outlook, imbuing a sense of national unity and patriotism.

• The pan-African world view which its founder, the great Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe etched into it, • The sense of camaraderie which generally prevailed on the campus among students and staff, and none the least, • The cavalier and swashbuckling student unionism which sometimes bordered on rumbustiousness, the like that produced the famous Isaac Boro of blessed memory.

The curriculum of studies at the University of Nigeria in our time was unique in the sense that it encouraged enquiry and inventiveness.

It inculcated erudition, experimentation, originality and expansiveness of the mind. We were encouraged to dare anything under the sun, believing that it was possible. There was nothing to hold back any student from attaining whatever he wanted to. We learned for the sake of knowing and not necessarily in order to have a meal ticket.

This was truly a different type of university which was unknown in Nigeria at the time.

Uniquely, the institution reflected not only the personal philosophy and world view of its founder, the great Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, but also a system which mirrored the educational odyssey which he himself had undergone in the new world of America before returning to Nigeria. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was as you can all recall an erudite and versatile scholar. The overarching impact of his personal philosophy on the institution gave meaning to the following slogans which were very appropriately captured in motto and mission statement of the University, namely, (i) to restore the dignity of man, and (ii) to seek truth, to teach truth and to propagate truth!

Let me here briefly recall some typical unique experiences in my student life. As an accounting student — • I was made to take courses across faculty boundaries. For a foreign language, I had a choice of French, Russian or Portuguese. I took French and was placed in the same class as French honours students, I had the highest score in the class and the Head of Department persuaded me in vain to change my course.

• I was exposed to the subjects as strange as Astronomy and Genetics. These opened my mind to the expansiveness of the universe and the complexity of biology. In particular I found Astronomy so fascinating that today I have a six inch telescope in my library which I occasionally use to gaze at the solar system.

- I also recall some famous sayings and exhortations by some of our lecturers, namely (I) ‘in a university no body is any body’s class mate’ - Dr Ukpabi, Dean of Students. ‘read and disagree’ — Professor Hill, our lecturer in ‘Man in Society’. This means simply do not be a yes man. Accept only when you can reason it out and it happens to make sense to you. Otherwise reject it even if it is in bold and emphatic ‘black and white’.

• I also recall being given a whole one hour lecture on the subject the culture and living habits of the bumble bee’ by one young Nigerian lecturer who had just obtained a doctorate degree in entomology (the science of insects). Till today, I could not make any meaning out of that lecture.

• In my Astronomy examination, I remember being asked to answer the question ‘How far has your knowledge of the universe affected your belief in a Creator’.

• Another question in the Man in Society examination was: ‘Can one say that the coming of the white man into Africa was a curse or a blessing’?

• Outside of pure academics, the campus bubbled with a wide range

of extra curricular activities from which one could choose to participate in. For instance, the University had a gymnastics centre which was open to all students, and you could do exercise or practice whichever type of sports they fancied. I myself remember trying my hands at weightlifting. I had to abandon it when it nearly broke my back.

• •The University also had a large music hall which was equipped with all kinds of music instruments ranging from percussion, wind and string instruments. The students were free to go into the music hall any time of day or late evening to learn any of the instruments that they fancied. There were in attendance experts who were ever ready and willing to teach you. Music students had a live band which played at all official university and occasionally to entertain the rest of the students.

• The University had a Drama Club, as well and a Debating Club which held debating contests from time to time. The Best Debater in the University in one particular year was a Mathematics Student.

• The Journalism students also published a campus newspaper which was called The Nsukka Chronicle’, which was of a very high standard.

Its circulation went beyond the campus circles.

Such was the unique type of education and culture that the University of Nigeria imparted that made its products uniquely different, distinct and versatile. They were well rounded, well informed men and women who could hold their own in any subject of converse. This versatility stood them out in their various walks of life after graduation, whether in public service, public life, private sector, or in the academia.

I am of course speaking about the University of Nigeria which is now popularly classified as the Ancient genre. There is of course also the Modern genre, the dividing line being the civil war of 1966 — 1970. The University was closed during the period of the civil war.

The Modern genre therefore came into being after the war ended. I would like to think that the uniqueness of the University of Nigeria transcended this dividing line and that it survived afterwards till the present day. As far as this goes, I must confess that I really do not know. I do not think that anyone has tried to investigate this issue. It may be a very rewarding exercise for one of us here to undertake a study as to whether the UNN Ancient and Modern genres as really one and the breed!

Ladies and gentlemen I do not want to bore you with regaling memories of past times although it happens to be very much a part of what alumni associations are supposed to exist for, and of course do regularly occupy themselves with, throughout the civilised world.

But let me now come closer to the business of today. I was mandated to make only a few opening remarks; therefore I must now be brief in addressing the issues that relate to the subject of this year’s annual executive committee meeting.

I would like to urge that if the Alumni Association is to be relevant as an important organ of the University rather than simply being a social forum for occasional merry making, it must do the following things: (i) The Alumni Association must see itself as an important instrument for projecting a positive image for the University. Members of the Association must always wear its banner with pride, but they can do so only when they excel in all their respective callings, as well as exhibit exemplary character and morality. It is not for nothing that their degrees were awarded, as is usually said at convocations, after satisfying the university in character and learning!. (ii) Members should see themselves as the patented and ultimate owners the University, because they carry the University’s degrees.

These degrees admitted them into membership, I daresay permanent membership, since their certificates remain with them as long as they live. Come to think of it, it is they rather than the Council, Senate, professors, lecturers and staff of the University who actually belong to the University. The latter if they do not have the University’s degrees ma merely be passing through, birds of passage! (iii) The Alumni Association must be an important organ for channeling resources back to assist in the development of the alma mater. Members must learn to give back in appreciation of the nurturing which they received from the institution. This is one very critical role which Alumni Associations in Nigeria have not yet learned to play effectively. It is one area in which their counterparts in other parts of the world, in particular the United States of America and Canada, lead the rest. During my several visits to universities in the USA and Canada, when I was an active scholar, I was amazed to see how much alumni identify with their respective alma mater.

Alumni donate, faculty blocks, student hostels, laboratories, libraries, sporting complexes (such as sports stadia and swimming pools), professorial/faculty chairs, etc., to their alma mater. One notes as an exception, and would therefore like to commend, some recent local gestures in this regard. It is on record that Pastor Chris Oyakhilomen of Christ Embassy recently donated a 600 bed Students Hostel Block to his alma mater, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and also that Mr Tony Elumelu of Elumelu Foundation also donated a Faculty Block to the same University. These few I know off because the beneficiary institution exists in my locality. There may be others, but what one can say is that, such acts of giving back by alumni are still very few and far between in our country.

Of course, the umbilical chord which connects the University with its alumni is not a one- way traffic. The vibrancy of alumni associations is not achieved through alumni giving back to their alma mater. There must also be some reciprocity, a quid pro quo, so to speak, so as to maintain a healthy and enduring symbiotic relationship. The institution

itself must always constantly nurture and grow its relationship with its products. I wish to advocate that our own beloved University of Nigeria should become increasingly alive to its responsibility, in the following ways: (i) First of all, the University must always strive to provide its existing students at any point in time such beneficial and pleasant experiences as will endear the institution to its students. The academic content must be constantly up to date and relevant, and the campus life and culture must be pleasant and conducive. It is memories of the good times which students have during their stay in the University that will motivate then to identify with their alma mater later in life. (ii The University must always strive to promote its own products.

It can do this by celebrating their achievements through various kinds of recognitions, through publicity, goodwill messages, award of honorary degrees, etc. (iii) The University must have a vibrant, effective and goal-oriented Alumni Relations Office which is always keeping in touch. For a start it should maintain an up to date directory of all its products and follow up on their career movements and milestones, their achievements, research breakthroughs, patents, and recognitions in their respective walks of life - commerce, industry, public office, academia, etc. (iv) It may be of interest to mention here that the University of Manchester (England) my other alma mater publishes a twice yearly magazine called THE MANCHESTER GRADUATE, which features apart from the University’s achievements in academia and society in general, also the successes and achievements of its alumni who exist in all parts of the world. No doubt, publishing has been made easier in these days of information technology. Many journals and magazines are published these days online. (v) The University should nominally (at the very least) strive to involve its alumni in the appointment or election of its key officers, such as Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, etc. Again to use my Manchester experience as an example, even though I left that University over 40 years ago, I still do get regularly consulted and involved in such appointments, and whenever strategic decisions are to be made in the University. This is another evidence of the fact that a University considers its alumni be its permanent members and owners. This is one philosophy or culture which universities in Nigeria, including UNN, may wish to imbibe. (vi) The University should make exceptions to admit children of its alumni even sometimes on concessionary basis. Universities all over the world do this, as a way of entrenching, projecting and perpetuating the image of the University in family traditions. (vii) The University should invite notable alumni to its important occasions such as convocations, fund launchings, book presentations, etc. In reciprocity, such invited alumni should always endeavour to respond positively to such invitations. (viii) Finally, the University should set aside at least one day in its calendar; it may choose to call such a day, ‘Alumni Day’ on which such alumni as do distinguish themselves in their respective walks of life are celebrated and conducted round the university’s important land marks and developments. Show casing them can also be a veritable way of stimulating the students to aspire to great heights.

In conclusion, there is no gainsaying the fact that Alumni Associations do play a vital role in projecting, sustaining and perpetuating the image of the alma mater. The best known Universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, etc., are known largely because of the exploits of their products which are widely publicised not only by the products themselves but also by their alma mater and through the activities of alumni associations. Without being immodest, I would like here to recall that one of the enduring legacies which we left behind after our tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin was to galvanise the University’s Alumni Associations function. The yearly magazine ‘The Uniben Graduate’ came into being and through alumni connections the University has benefited immensely from gifts, grants and donations from various organs of society.

Finally, I wish to congratulate our beloved Alumni Association for holding what I hear has been a very successful national executive meeting this year. I am informed that the present committee is composed of brilliant, vibrant and innovative members who are imbued with the zeal to promote the cause of the Association and the University.

It is my sincere wish that the Committee will consider the few suggestions presented in these remarks, and if found fit, strategise and incorporate some of them into the resolutions that it may come up with. It this is done, this year’s meeting may turn out to be a memorable one, a defining point in our efforts to galvanise the activities of the Association and so as to glorify our noble alma mater.

Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you once again for inviting me to be part of this occasion. And I do sincerely wish us all a most pleasant and successful experience.

Long live the University of Nigeria Alumni Association, Long live the founder, the great Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Long Live the great University of Nigeria our alma mater, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

May the Lord bless you all.

Professor A R Anao Saturday, 5 July, 2014.

ONE of the political realities of our contemporary global system is democracy, a political process which focuses on the necessity and imperative of governments to rule only by the Consent of the majority. The popular belief Is that properly understood and practised, democracy can remove the layers of national socio-economic and political darkness. Countries that have attained the Status of mature democracy Continue to insist that It will be absolutely difficult to get things done in pluralistic society with poor records of democratic values and practices.

WITH the way things are going politically in contemporary Nigeria, it is very doubtful, whether Nigerians will ever realise the dreams of allowing democratic tenets to influence the Country’s political life.

IN this connection, democratic reality implies that all Nigerians must be willing to take difficult democratic decisions, and must see the benefits in supporting their Country’s democratic Institutions. With the current state of democracy in the country, many Nigerians have openly wondered whether the struggle For political independence was a worthwhile exercise. Clearly, all is not well with democracy in Nigeria. Still, democracy remains the only viable and sustainable weapon for tackling national backwardness and for securing recognition and respect from the international community. No one will ever doubtthe political fact that a strong democratic foundation will provide Nigerians with the opportunity to. choose their own future.

THERE is need for all Nigerians to work together democratically, and openly express, indeed, demonstrate their commitment to the development of democracy. One of the disturbing features of the Nigerian democracy is that the Nigerian elite have not demonstrated enough support for the country’s democratic process, especially in

THE NIGERIAN

Deepening Democratic Commitment

times of increasing political uncertainties. The bulk of the Nigerian elite have virtually abandoned political involvement in government and governance. They have left the process of democratic development in the hands of the ‘politicians,” which may well explain the low level of adherence to democratic procedures and values in the country * ONE of the reasons why most of the highly development States are experiencing stable democracy is the undiluted commitments of their elite to ensuring right political governance.

It must be repeatedly stressed that Nigeria will find it hard to rise to the much desired political status of becoming one of the wor stable and progressive democracy, if the Nigerian elite choose to remain on the political fence, Or exist as mere political spectators. Undoubtedly, the Nigeria elite can, just as their overseas counterparts have demonstrated, contribute to the growth Of the Nigerian democracy. Greater elite participation in the country’s democratic process must become the defining characteristics of Nigeria’s political System.

Despite marking 10 years of democracy, the political attitude of the majority of the Nigerian elite has been predominantly negative. It thus appears that Nigeria’s efforts to advance democratically will require a new shift in favour of greater elite involvement in the nation’s politics.

THERE is no doubt that the degree of support

for democracy is largely influenced by economic fortunes. This means that the 71 percent of Nigerians living below the poverty line, by international estimates or the 54 percent poor Nigerians, by a 2005 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report, are not economically motivated to demonstrate sufficient and effective support for Nigerias democracy. All the same, the less privileged classes In Nigeria can offer considerable support for achieving sustainable democracy in Nigeria, if they can be overtly organized into pro-democratic groups. The current economic and political reform efforts may well push less economically empowered Nigerians from their economic adversities right up t the middle class bracket. Economically and socially disadvantaged Nigerians may well discover in the long-run how support for democracy can widen opportunities for political influence and business.

SINCE independence in Nigeria in 1960, it is reasonable to infer that the country has failed to enthrone a durable and sustainable democracy. The Ekiti-rerun election and all other elections that have been flawed are pointers that transparency is seriously lacking in our democratic efforts in the last 10 years.

By all standards, the path to democratic development in the country will require joint political efforts between the ruling party, political parties and most importantly, the Nigerian electorate. Clearly, in a pluralistic society like Nigeria, democratic enthronement is possible, only If there is organizational unity at all levels of governance. The Nigerian elite, the electronic and the Print Media, have significant roles in the race to reach democratic maturity, by helping the people to understand the democratic process, guide them to appreciate what Nigerians want from the country’s democratic as well as outline the structure of democratic opportunities the Nigerian political system can support.

Issues Opinion

Addressing The Problem Of Tribalism In Nigeria IF there is any one word that has become a serious threat to patriotism for Nigerians, it is tribalism. Right from the cradle of creation, man has had course to exceed his boundaries especially in an atmosphere of common tongues.

The aforementioned statement made obvious with the biblical story of the tower of Babel is a clerical citation.

Onyeka Owenu the iconic Nigerian music legend did emphasize in one of her song that in our diversity lies our unity: I really applaud that truism but, would wish the same diversity had not left us more divided in our interest.

This is the reason, I wish that this article will boldly address without malice to the reputation of any group of tongues. It is not in any way possible to address the issue of tribalism without trampling the ego of persons or insulting the dignity placed in certain quarters. All these are the reason, not much is ever said in this regards. But rather than live in the torments of tribalism and ethnicity. We have a choice of opening up our wounds for treatment to heal.

After the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorate in 1914, the Nigeria state had grown over time with soaring distrust amongst its heterogeneous facets. Even though our independence emerged without bloodshed, one wonders if the cumulative atrocities of tribal wars have not left more death tolls that can be likened to a genocide. The discovery of oil in 1956 launched the country into an era of resource conflict.

Crude oil became the bane of our unity. The geo-political landscape of Nigeria was maneuvered in and out of regime, so as to obtain the maximum demand on the oil revenue for a faction of the ethnic a group in power. Sadly enough, the power tussle at the center was static in the North to cushion the powers of the resources owners. Thus, the

By EDET ELIJAH/STANLEY UGAGBE

power revolved delicately around the Northern front, while volatile personalities from the South were the appeased to support the scheme. At a time when the Easterner felt they could secure their independence from the lingering timidity of succumbing to the North, the civil war of 1967 was inevitable. This war which was to install the Republic of Biafra, left them scrambling for their right for decades till the third Republic birthed a new dawn for their absolution.

Historians in Nigeria have accumulated an archive of ethnic and communal conflicts that leaves a perspective of our days of horror. It is difficult in this part of the world to separate our ethnic values from our religious practices. Thus, more often, talks on ethnic malign always spell out a religious affiliation. Also, most religious crisis in Nigeria have had to end up bearing ethnic involvement from 1980 up till 1990 about 20 ethno-crisis have been document across Nigeria. Although, most of these crisis occurring in Northern Nigeria has religious and political undertone, the crisis in the South, east and western region control. Over 10,000 lives have been reported to be claimed cumulatively by these odd events that has so characterizes the growing stage of out history as an envied nation in Africa.

According to Prof.

Humphrey Nwosu, the breach of the peace caused by both ethnic and regions crises has been so great that political alignment and the formation of political parties have been characterized by the ganging of ethnic champions.

With the institution of the National Confab, an initiative applauded in favour of president Goodluck Jonathan by many Nigerians, we began to live a sign of relief that the days of our ethnicity tussle will

soon be off our memories. No sooner had the conference wind up than we began to notice agitation and uproar by fractional groups dissociating themselves from the report of the conference. Then, it is only pertinent at this stage of our national existence to began to ask question like…

What is the way forward? Is Nigeria at the end of its cliff as a nation? Have we gained our continuous existence despite our obvious diversity of interest and opinion? Can we

really exist as a nation!.

The questions can run from now to infinity but we just have one of this question to answer, which I think is pertinent enough because it is devoid of sentiment but arose from the consent to truth. What is it that binds us together?

Inspite of the ugly trend of marginalization suffered by minority ethnic groups and the disenfranchisement of some of the major ethnic groups, the

country is still a single entity today. Somehow, by some force that are not too visible to the onlooker, we have managed our epidemic and ills for almost 54 years now. For as many that believe in Nigeria posterity, there exist some remarkable seeds of greatness that has not been appreciably appreciated.

For, only when these seeds are groomed in the soil of our aspiration, shall we evolve a New Nigeria devoid of ethnicity.

The “Gross Domestic Poverty” (GDP) that has engulf the country needs to be strictly

address as this causes have not been uncovered till date. The present government drive for self sufficiency by states coupled with the clamour for true federalism is frankly the way out of the stench of poverty no matter your discretion.

At least the sentiment associated with resource owners and the marginal defects allocation is truncated for it has always escalated into major ethno-conflicts in the

“The questions can run from now to infinity but we just have one of this question to answer, which I think is pertinent enough because it is devoid of sentiment but arose from the consent to truth. What is it that binds us together?”

past.

The structures of government still abhors the vacuum that maintains our separation. The utilization of the apparatus and instrumentation of federal character presupposes that persons from several regions will continue to be relegated to the background. With respect to the existent structure, the ruling scheme that will erase tribe and ethnic front from our country will have to be a system where allocations of portfolio is based on qualification and merit. Until this is the utmost factor of consideration, we still live our Unity a quest in mirage.

Lastly, there is no true religion that supports violence, and no ethnic group will place premium on the blood of non tribe. Thus, since the government of this country has

weight we pull as the giants of Africa is still a renowned crown that creates a niche for us whenever the African continent converge. We can never underscore the greatness of the entity called Nigeria over tribal and religious sentiments. The fact that we have suffered setbacks from the lackluster mischievousness of bad leaders, should not deter our collective efforts. We should take solace in many of the nations of the world that have recreated their history, Singapore, China, India and even our neighbouring Ghana.

Many of our national heroes prophesied of fortunes to come, the only hindrance to the mergence of this reality is our faith in the Nigerian posterity.

Many atimes the Nigerian youths are constrained to

invested so much to appreciate our religious leaders as well as our traditional heads. They should stand up to the tenets of their calling and shepherd their people to align their minds to national development. We know that Nigerians have high regards for spiritual and traditional leaders. The more these our well respected elders of inestimable valve extricate themselves from the manipulative hands of politicians, the better for our unity. They also with their mediation to have the potential to open our doors of fortune in the spiritual realm. No matter how awkward this may sound to some persons, we Nigerians are spiritual people thus, over lives are directed to a large extent by the forces of spiritual intercessions.

It is not an accident of history that we have been cemented from our dispersed settlement under the umbrella Nigeria. The

reason their future to be better outside the shores of this land.

Many of our fathers and mothers have reasoned Nigeria to be a country where the wills of politicians prevails against all odds.

The average Nigerians sees his/her effort to believe and work sincerely in the verge to build the mother land as effort in futility.

But, hope is all we need and have to savage. Let there be hope because Nigerians are not known for cowardice, we are gallant to survive at all odds.

There’s no cause too big or humiliating that will prevent us from marching forward as a nation.

Arise O Compatriots and trample on the barrier of ethnicity, let’s hold hands as we march with our faces not beaming with sentimental tribal marks but with the radiant colour of Green White Green.

God Bless Nigeria!!!

Issues Society

Dealing With The Menace Of Street Begging

CITIES across the world are confronted with diverse and complicated problems which have social, economic and physical implications for city dwellers. The problems mostly experienced by cities of under-developed countries are multi-dimensional.

However, the issue of begging across the streets of Nigerian tend to be worrisome and demands attention.

Despite efforts of the government and the media to tackle the problem of begging in the society, all efforts to solve this problem has proved futile as beggars are on the rise in population and can be seen in public places, commercial centres and neighborhoods, even worse on commercial vehicles.

Begging has serious implications for the city and national economy as beggars are not economically productive in any way.

They contribute nothing to the countries economy. They increasing population of beggars in cities is an eyesore and the situation is heart quickening considering beggars cause environmental hazards and constitute nuisance on major roads and public places.

While efforts of a number of stakeholders to combat the problem of begging in Nigerian cities are commendable. It should be noted that the problem of begging is dimensional in nature and should be approached with care.

Expectedly, increasing government attention has been directed to the problem of begging. For instance, The Edo state government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Benin City possess a rehabilitation centre for orphans, vulnerable children, women in need, widows and also supervises the skill acquisition centre at Evbomodu, Benin City. The media are not left out in this war against this situation as newspapers occasionally report case associated with begging in lead articles. It is rather unfortunate that despite all these efforts, the problems of begging continues in cities.

By OGUNGBE AYOBAMI SEWANU

Beggars who have continued to plague our commercial centres, major roads and streets tend to come from one ethnic group; The Hausa/ Fulani sect. These beggars have migrated from Northern Nigeria and Niger to other parts of Nigeria and have refused to join the work force and have decided to resort to begging from citizens and also remained persistent on occasions of refusal from citizens. They constitute a social threat to Nigerian societies especially in cities.

They portray bad images to outsiders and strangers. Some hoodlums even hide under the guise of beggars to carry out evil deeds.

The city and the national economy is retarded as a considerable proportion of beggars are not economically productive in anyway thereby depending on the already over stretched workforce. Begging being a product of poverty possesses the psychological effect of stripping persons of their self respect and dignity.

Begging is a social deviance in Nigeria because it contradicts the horms and values of the society. In Yoruba culture hard work is highly valued, therefore begging is nonsense and not popular, beggars are usually looked down upon and belonged to a group of wretched people. The Igbos share the same belief but amongst the Hausas, begging has a religio-cultural backing.

Begging will continue to thrive if nothing is done to curb this menace. Curbing the menace depends on how organized cities and public places are. Therefore a less organized commercial and public place where informal activities are predominant tends to attrent more beggars.

Apart from the obviovs fact that begging is a social malaise the investigation into the problem of begging appears to been pioneered by several authors. This maybe responsible for the failures to provide effective solution to

the menace.

The social understanding of begging require a knowledge of the forces that promote it.

Attempts to confront the problem in isolation of social measures is not likely to yield positive results.

As far as street begging is concerned, the political class is gullible in Nigeria and could hardly go beyond paying lip service to curbing the menace. Much as poverty is the major cause of street

enough courage or will to break and finish it once and for all, or we allow it to remain a nuisance and an obnorcious part of our culture and tradition till the end of time.

Begging is a social problem which has not only psychological consequences such as the development of inferiority complies in the beggar’s family members and their net work of kinship, but also it affecting the geographical and social structure of the urban areas.

In the absence of any means

begging, there is need for government at all levels to reduce the number of beggars on the street.

Unkept hair, blistered lips, dirty fingers,, bare feet, congregated into small groups while chanting the same lines over and over again engaging members of the public with songs and saluting alms.

They have become a common sight in public places that nobody notices them except those giving them alms.

This begging situation is like cancer in the body. We either sacrifice the attacked part and save the body or allow it to invade and destroy the whole body. We should summon

of livelihood, more and more people resort to the begging life, some temporarily, some permanently. Today as a result, begging activities, has assumed enormous proportions of people in urban centres.

A beggar was quoted as saying “Begging is just a normal economic activity” Although some beggars feel bad about the begging life, style still they are involved in begging activities as a major means of lively hood. Begging flourishes because people tends to be generous.

When people give them money, should they work?

Awareness programmes should be conducted to help

“A beggar was quoted as saying “Begging is just a normal economic activity” Although some beggars feel bad about the begging life, style still they are involved in begging activities as a major means of lively hood.”

these beggars realize how shameful it is to beg. Steps should be taken to enforce a ban. Any ban should be welcome against begging.

When doing so, authorities concerned should rehabilitate beggars. They should be made to understand the importance of self respect, and will power. Policies focusing at addressing issues related to people with disabilities and old people should seek to provide sustainable solutions pushing disabled and old people into begging.

In this light, several strategies have been sought to be employed by the government corporate organizations and public spirited individuals in Nigeria to combat this situation.

allowance for the physically disabled in the state to alleviate the plight and rid them off the street.

The federal government has at one time went a step further when it gave a directive compelling officers and employers of labour to reserve at last 2% of their work force for the disabled and this can be well implemented if a proper rate base on the physically handicapped is provide. In May, 2007, The Kwara state government placed a ban on street begging under the leadership of Governeor Bukola Saraki. The objective was to stop street begging in its entirety and the penalty for breaking the law is N5,000 or three months imprisonment.

The Diverted Giving

REHABILITATION CENTES in Lagos state, Ikorodu precisely houses about 4,000 destitute not basically to take care of them but to get them off the streets.

Arguments have been made against such centres because they lack the basic amenities necessary for living thereby not effective for curbing street begging.

At a point in time, The Lagos state government tried to reconcile the destitute with their families by sending workers to their state of origin to trace their homes before sending them back homes. As a result of this step, 40% of beggars have been sent home.

Another scheme to curb this menace is the monthly Survival Allowance. This is actually in line with the vision of the late Mallam Aminu Kano, whose political ideology and stand centred on reducing poverty to the minimum. The Jigawa state government put in place a social welfare programme of N 7, 000 monthly survival

Scheme.(DGS) is another method used in encouraging people to put money in charity boxes placed in strategic places rather then giving the beggars directly.

The monies donated are then sent to welfare agencies to take care of the less privileged. This method still enhances a more reliable way to beg but gives beggars no excuse to remain on the streets.

Economical and social status of the country are being jeoparchised because of the menace these beggars are constituting in urban centres.

Understanding the causes of these phenomenom will aid social thinkers and the government would help in combating the problem and such will rid these beggar off the street making urban centres more habitable and suitable to do business and to live in. By doing this, there will be a high rise in economical and social status in a serene environment of a Nigerian nation.

Education

The Spoken English: Concept

THERE is no worse put off than a good-looking man or woman with a terrible command of the English language.

Improve yourself…Your ability to express yourself clearly will draw people to you and open doors of opportunity in relationships and in business.

(Praise George 11) Out of the errors of others, a wise man corrects his own.

(Syrus) INTRODUCTION Concept of variations and errors By STEVE BODE EKUNDAYO VARIATION is the same

point on variation.

He says: Variation is the existence of observable differences in the way a language is used in a speech community. It is a commonplace observation that a single language is not used in a totally homogeneous manner within a single community.

Stockbrokers do not speak

English. The third type is usually emphasized when looking at the concept of “Nigerian English,” a controversial concept.

A number of factors cause variations in language, Particularly in a second language situation. . When a language leaves its ancestral home and becomes implanted

necessarily become the case.

All forms of variations cannot be categorized as errors or mistakes. Conversely, clear cases of errors should not be justified under the umbrella of inevitable variations. For example, the case of “equipment” versus “equipments” which Jowitt cites- on page 29- of Nigerian

thing as variety. The observable differences in the words, meanings, pronunciation and structure of a given language are variations. No language in the world is used in exactly the same way from individual to individual and place to place.

As O’donnel and Todd say, whether we recognize it or not, the reality of language is not homogeneity, but continuous diversity (26).

We can compare a language of speaker A and B and point out the differences. Similarly, we can compare a language or dialects of location A and B and show their similarities and differences. Take American and British English for instance.

The British use “got” as the participial form of “get” while the Americans use “gotten British English is” I am in New York at present,” but American English is “I am in New York presently.”

So, variations are the features that differentiate two or more dialects of a language. Trasks makes a fine

like plumbers, men do not speak like women; older people do not speak like younger people. ...Moreover, even the speech of a single person is not homogeneous You do not speak in the same way when you are chatting to friends in a bar and when you’re being interviewed for a job...

If we apply Trasks’ view to English in Nigeria, we will discover at least three major variations. The first is variations according to individual speaker or writer (what is called idiolect) for example a pupil’s English versus a secondary school students, a secondary student’s English versus a university student, a secondary school teacher’s English versus a university teacher’s (lecturer’s) English.

The second is variations according to tribes and regions; for instance, Yoruba versus Ibo, Hausa versus Tiv. The third, and of importance, is variations in comparison with native Standard English such as British and American

in a heterogeneous linguistic soil, as English left the UK for Nigeria, variations become unavailable. As Banjo correctly says, the English language expectedly “adapts itself to the Nigerian environment and “there is nothing anybody can do about the matter. Variations in English in Nigeria are caused by these factors: 1. The interaction of English with local (Nigerian) languages 2. Socio-cultural background and constraints.

3. Individual creativity and word-formation processes.

4. The influence ‘of other “Englishes”: American, Canadian, South African etc (Ekundayo’s A Theory of Intraference 1-30).

Since English in Nigeria is often examined in juxtaposition with standard native Englishes, the tendency is to see most Nigerian variations as errors or “mistakes of some sort” (Salami quoted in Jowitt’s Nigeria English usage.. 29).

But this should not

English usage.

“Equipments”- cannot be explained -awayas “Standard Nigerian English, as Walsh and Bamgbose are quoted to have argued. This is a typical mistake rooted in ignorance. It is not a case of adaptation or socio contextual feature and it is not widespread among the intelligentsia. So: such a, variation is untenable as standard Nigerian usage.

What Nigerian linguistic and grammarians ought to do is to assemble to debate and agree on what and variations are. Thereafter, variations or errors can be isolated and codified, taking into account our peculiar socio-linguistic environment and also the ‘native mother” of the English we use. Until we have done this, the final arbiter in matters of grammatical correctness and usage will remain the ideal native user, standard native dictionary and standard native usage, especially when it concerns teaching and

Of Variations, Errors

By STEVE BODE EKUNDAYE

learning.

Nwaegbe accentuates this point when he reasons as follows: The point I am making is that we must not mutilate the English language merely because we want to create a Nigerian variant. If the idea we wish to express is English in origin, then there is likely to be an English word for it.

If we then coin for it an expression with a local favour, that expression is Nigerian, not English, certainly not Nigeria Eng lf we wish to indicate a Nigerian concept, which has not equivalent in English, then an existing Nigerian expression can be used. (39) Errors The concept of errors takes two things for granted. - It presupposes that something correct and established already exists, on .the one hand, but something considered wrong or out of place and unacceptable is done or practiced, on the other hand. So, errors are a question of attitudes judgment based on what is generally known and acceptable. While variations may be acceptable, errors may not. Errors and mistakes are (socially) frowned at.

Those who are aware of the standard often stand to correct errors. Furthermore, errors are regarded as evidence of poor performance and questionable competence.

In a second language situation, however, the two concepts can .cause heated debates. What exactly is variation since we often juxtapose our English with native standard? Should variations be regarded as errors of “some sort” or as real “non-error” differences?

This question has polarized Nigerian linguists into two camps: advocates of “Nigerian English” and advocates of Standard English in Nigeria much akin to British Standard.

The way out of this dilemma is to determine what errors are as opposed to variations and why they should be regarded as such. Certainly, some features of English in Nigeria are glaring errors while some are inevitable variations.. Take for instance the two groups of sentences below: A (i) My late father’s second burial ceremony comes up on Friday and as the chief

celebrant, I cordially invite you to celebrate with me as I give my father befitting second burial. (ii) Buyer: ‘I want to buy pure water” Seller: “How many pure water do you want”?

Buyer: Give me four pure water.

B if not because of the processes of denudation, fertile soil will lack for agriculture. (ii) She has backslided, that is why she now dress strangely with all sorts of jewelleries.

If we present specimen A to an ideal native speaker in England, it may intrigue him because there are questionable linguistic and semantic items in it. How will a Briton understand second burial, for instance? Do we bury the dead twice? Yes and no. In English culture, it is no, but in some African culture, it is yes. So, second burial is meaningful in the Nigeria context. Then there is the use of “chief celebrant.”

Celebrant in Nigerian usage is different from “celebrant” in native usage. In Nigeria, it has the extended meaning and memory of “celebrate, participant, occupant etc.

The other intriguing question is the idea of counting water! To an English man, water is a noncount noun but in Nigeria, we can, and do count water. “I drank three pure water because I was so thirty” is meaningful and correct in “Nigeria English”. So, we can say that the items in group A have justifiable variations, even though the British alternative will be different. A native speaker expressing the same idea may say ‘host” instead of “chief celebrant,” “four sachets of water” instead of “four pure water.”

However, the same may not be said of group B. The sentences in B are grammatically defective. ‘: Compare them to their standard native equivalent: But for the processes of denudation, there would be no fertile soil for agriculture, or there would be lack of fertile soil for agriculture.

She has backslid; that is why she now dresses strangely with all sorts of jewellery.

As I have argued in my theory of “Intraference”, we can look into the aspects of INTRAFERENCE and socio-contextual linguistic markers for variations in English in a second Language situation.

CONVENTION over the years has become part of the activities of various churches across the world to bring branches of the church together at a designated point most especially at the church headquarter to praise and worship God in unity and peace.

Some churches call it convention while to others, it is international convention.

For some denominations it is done twice or three times a year while others do it once a year. Some churches have youth, women, and men conventions as the case may be. The programmes come under various theme prepared by leaders of the church as they are directed by God. The theme is not just chosen but it is to fulfil certain purpose in the lives of members of the church.

For Christ’s Chosen Church of God International (CCCG), Monday August 18th through Monday August 25 th 2014 was the annual international convention of the Church with the theme “THIS MOUNTAIN MUST BE REMOVED” which took place at the Central Cathedral Complex, KM 8, Benin – Agbor Road Ohovbe Quarters, Benin City, Edo state Nigeria.

The first two days of the programme was laid out for reconciliation of harvest accounts by divisional heads of Edo / Delta; arrival/ registration of minister and their wives, followed by an intercessory prayer session at the Cathedral.

On the third day of the programme (Wednesday 20th of August 2014) the convention started properly with two session; morning and evening session, 8am to 2pm and 4pm till 6pm.

Thursday and Friday follow same pattern as Wednesday.

Saturday 24 th of August 2014 was a special day at the convention as members celebrated the 7 th year anniversary of Most. Snr. Apostle (Dr.) Josual Osasuyi as the spiritual leader/ chairman of church council of Christ Chosen Church of God International. The event also include the launch of a book

by Apostle Osasuyi titled “GLORY OF A UNITED NATION”. Edo state chairman of Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Bishop Mon Iginosa was the special guest preacher on that day.

Sunday 24th of August 2014 was time for divine service of thanksgiving to thank God for

a wonderful convention while Monday 25th of August 2014 from the hours of 8am till 1pm, ministers and other church workers had hierarchy meeting to properly and officially bring the convention to a close.

The programme for the convention proper started with a welcome address by the Benin metropolitan division.

The address was jointly signed by the Chairman Apostle Dr. Pius Ehikhuemen – Igberase and the secretary Apostle Dr. Nosa Atoe. They both welcomed members of the church to the convention and reminded them that it was another refreshing time in the presence of the Lord according to the theme “THIS MOUNTAIN MUST BE REMOVED” which they said was apt and significant especially now that the nation was passing through a trial never witnessed since the tragic civil war.

“We are confident that this mountain of insecurity, kidnapping, armed robbery, political rascality and threat to nationhood shall be surmounted. We prophesy that this ugly trend will soon become a thing of the past in this nation. We should be security conscious and act responsibly in and out of our homes and offices”.

Delivering a welcome address on the occasion of the 2014 international convention of the church, the spiritual leader/chairman of church council Most Snr. Apostle (Dr.) Joshua Osasuyi thanked the Lord for his special protection of members of the church considering the turbulent time in Nigeria when human life has been badly cheapened. Insatiable greed for wealth and power according to him is destroying the very fabric of our nation and exposing the citizens to impending catastrophe.

“The nation unconsciously is drifting to a dangerous precipice; and nobody seems to read the hand – writing on the wall. I therefore use this rare opportunity to call on all well meaning Nigerians to rise up and intensify their prayers for our beloved country Nigeria so that God would save her from blood – tasty – evil men, and from total disintegration”.

Apostel Osasuyi commended the entire members of CCCG for their support for the past seven years that the Lord handed the screpter of leadership of the church to him. He equally thanked members for their

Midweek Magazine As CCCG Celebrates Annua financial, spiritual and moral support which in no little way moved the church further. He said the theme of the convention was deliberately chosen to awaken people’s consciousness to the awesome power of the amazing grace of God. It was also designed to teach us how to rely on God’s grace in order to accomplish great things without wearing ourselves away.

“The state of insecurity in the country occasioned by the insurgency has reached alarming proportion. I know that true security comes from God (Psalm 91:1) but we as human being must play our own part by being vigilant and security conscious. There must be proper surveillance in our homes, churches and places of work. In addition, and very important, you must be spiritually alert so that you can obey the leading of God’s spirit” he concluded.

MINISTRATION DAY 1 Speaking to members of the congregation, the Chairman of Benin Metropolitan Division Apostle Dr. Pius Igberase Ehikhuenmen who was one of the speakers at the 2014 convention said the world that we live in is a world full of evil powers and therefore called on the children of God to put on the full armour of God as recorded in the book of Eph.6:10 – 13.

He made the call while delivering a sermon he titled “Requirement for effective spiritual warfare to removed mountain”. He said the world is full of wicked people and these people are responsible for the mountain of problems facing humanity. These people are the principal enemies; they include the devil, demons, spiritual wickedness in higher places and their evil rulers of darkness. Eph.6:11-12; 1 John 2: 15-17; Gal. 5:19-21.

Apostle Ehikhuenmen said it is expedient that you know who your enemies are, their method of operation and the weapon you have, given to you by God to run them out in all areas of your life and ministry. For you to be qualify to engage in warfare you must be born again; you must have faith in God and his word; you must have the holy spirit; you must be a man of prayer and engage in fasting as well; you must also be a man that propagate the

undiluted word of God; must effectively know how to apply the name and blood of Jesus Christ and must know how to engage the enemies with warfare songs.

The second preacher of the day, Apostle Dr. Isaiah Oghenekharo Goodwill handled a very crucial topic which Christian of our generation lack when seeking the face of God in turbulent times, “Faith that moves mountains”. Faith, as an issue in Christianity look very simple but the application to issues concerning our lives is most difficult and challenging.

The divisional head said there are two key words to the topic – faith and mountain. He said faith is the operating force in the Kingdom of God. Everything God does is done by faith. Jesus knew the importance of faith as such He encourages us to have faith in God. Mark 11:22. Paul knew this as well and he said without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb 11:6.

“Faith is total dependence on God no matter what we face”.

“Mountain here, encompass the very many problems and challenges confronting mankind all over the world.

Problems such as sickness, satanic attacks, witchcraft manipulations, demonic afflictions, oppressions, poverty, hunger, barrenness, unemployment, marital problems and conflicts”. He gave illustrations of people in the bible who faced one mountain or the other in their lives. These include the woman with the issue of blood (Mk.5:25-29); the centurion’s servant sick of palsy (Mt. 8:5-13); Jesus calming a storm (Mt. 8: 2326).etc.

Nkpolu District Head, Port Harcourt Division Apostle Isaac Balogun speaking on the topic “By His Grace” said grace is a favour or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receiving it and in spite of what that person deserves. He said grace is one of the key attributes of God. He said the factor that boost God’s grace in our lives is obedience, dedication to kingdom service, being a generous giver, being patient, being honest, being yourself and believe in yourself, humanity, holiness and righteousness.

Speaking further, he said grace has benefits and these

By RICHARD OKORO-EWEKA

include power for victorious living, deliverance, divine immunity and security, lifting, favour, financial and material prosperity and the likes. He said as children of the most God, we should not receive the grace of God in vain (2 cor 6:1), don’t frustrate the grace of God (Gal. 2:21) and we should not insult the spirit of grace (Heb 10:29).

MINISTRATION DAY 2 The second day of ministration at the convention saw the director of land and housing/2nd Vice Chairman Church Council of CCCG Snr. Apostle Dr. Jonathan Onaghise leading other anointed men of God to dish the word fresh and undiluted

puts His laws into a man’s heart and write them in our mind (Heb 10:16). His Spirit works in us both to will and to do what pleases God. Phil 2: 13.

Preaching on “The prevailing grace” the minister in charge Apostle Elijah Eluwa said prevailing grace is a divine intervention of supernatural advantages for a successful life. In other words, prevailing grace is help from God to change a situation that cannot be explained by the law of science. It means getting what you do not deserve. It is unmerited favour. It is God making way for His people effortlessly.

delive Ever every and b we do they d We a aband but w Cor.4 “If of us one d felts l forwa histor our t smile when towar will h to wa be c (Rom

Most Snr. Apostle (Dr) Joshua Osasuyi

to the congregation expecting to receive from God’s abundant grace.

Delivering a sermon titled “The Ministry of Salvation by grace” which was coined from Eph 2: 4-9, he said grace is the undeserved favour of God in proving salvation for those deserving condemnation.

It is manifested on earth through the gift of God’s son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins.

Snr. Apostle Onaghise gave out twelve focal points about salvation by grace and how to apply grace to church life and Christian growth. He said God is doing a great work to reconcile man to Himself, He

Speaking further he said the prevailing grace is all about Jesus. It is about His passionate love and His desire for you and I to experience success, victory and upliftment in life.

Prevailing grace is a result of who you have and not what you have. It is the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life that makes you a success, gives you breakthrough and manifests PREVAILING GRACE in you – the glory of God. Using Joseph and Jesus Christ as a case study as recorded in the book of Gen. 39:2-4 and Math 1: 20-23.

The Calabar Divisional Head of CCCG Apostle Samuel Oguibe who

unto J MIN The Coun Intern Joshu he de Grac took h 26-27 in a v of dil appea huma right unfail “Gr from in se blessi prom revel

Midweek Magazine al International Convention

ered a sermon on the topic “Never Give Up” said we are pressed on y side by troubles, but not crushed broken. We are perplexed because on’t know why things happen as do, but we don’t give up and quit. are hunted down, but God never doned us. We get knocked down, we get up again and keep going (2 4:1, 8, 9). we are honest with ourselves, all at one time or the other had faced difficult situation or the other and like given up but continued to press ard until we reached our goals. The ry of the most celebrated icons of time reveals that success often es at men who refuse to quite even n all plausible indications point rds failure. He said the remedy that help you never to give up is for you ait on the Lord (Isa.40:31, Ps 42:5); comforted by the scripture m.15:4, Ps56:3) and we should look

Jesus (Heb 12:2).

NISTRATION DAY 3 e Spiritual leader/Chairman Church ncil of Christ Chosen Church of God national Most. Snr. Apostle (Dr.) ua Osasuyi took the centre stage as elivered a sermon he titled “The ce of God in Difficult Times”. He his text from the book of 2 Kings 6: 7. He said at times, we find ourselves very hopeless situations or in a state lemma and in such situations, it ars as if prayers, fasting and all an efforts have failed, then it is the time to make recourse to the ling amazing grace of God. race is a special unmerited favour God. The grace of God manifests everal ways and forms such as ing, healing, victory, deliverance, otion, prosperity, guidance, power, ation, salvation, wisdom, glory,

honour and the likes. Grace is vividly described in the book of Zec 4:6-7”.

Speaking further, the spiritual leader of the church used Paul, Silas, the nation of Isreal, Judah and Jerusalem and a vivid illustration whose God’s grace rescued from difficult situations. He called the congregation to remember God in all difficult situations they find themselves and try to involve God’s grace which will pave away for them to get victory over that turbulence period of their lives.

Snr. Apostle Dr. David Unuefe-Ikhiuwu took his turn on that day as he ministered on the topic “The Conquering Grace” as he got his own text from the book of Eph 2: 1-10. He said

Christianity cannot be understood apart from an adequate grasp of grace. The doctrine of grace distinguishes the Christian faith from every other religion in the world, as well as from the cult.

Speaking further he said grace is not only for the righteous but God can also bestowed this grace on sinful men (1 Tim 1:12-14). The grace of God will make people follow you and render you help (Judges 11: 4-6). Grace will make you get to the top of your chosen career (Judges 11: 7-11). Jabez was a good example of grace at work.

God singled out one man from more than 600 for special recognition in the genealogical lists of 1

Chronicles. Why the Lord did say Jabez lived above average? It is because of his great ambition, great faith and great prayer life (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

The Uncommon Grace was the topic to a sermon preached by the divisional head of CCCG Etete branch, Apostle Goddy Okeranlen who said the word “UNCOMMON” means something that does not exist in large numbers. It also connotes unusual; rare; not easily found. Grace is the kindness that God shows towards the human race. It is the unconditional love towards a person who does not deserve it or the unmerited love of God towards mankind (Titus. 2:11).

He said uncommon grace refers to the extra pull and the rare favour or privilege extended to get the power of God operating in one’s life, Roman 9:10-16, 25, 26. He called on the congregation to know that God is sovereign, He is arbitrary; He works for our good in all things; He will save all who believe in Him. He said when we believe and understand these qualities of God; we know that His choices are good even if we don’t understand all His reasons. He said the factors that make a good choice in the realm of the uncommon grace include our heart (Prov 3:1-2; 23:26; 4:23); our mouth (Prov 12:14, Ps 18:10) and our hands.

MINISTRATION DAY 4 It was the turn of the chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Edo state who was the guest speaker at the convention, Bishop Mon Igbinosa served the congregation with the undiluted word of God as he delivered a sermon on the topic “THIS MOUNTAIN MUST BE REMOVED” He called on the congregation never to abandon God’s grace as he will direct them to a fulfilled destiny.

He said, it is not how educated and rich a man is but only the grace of God can pave a way for him in this turbulent world full of mountains. He said when the grace of God is upon the life of a man, even his enemies will unknowingly work for his success. I don’t believe in prayers to kill our enemies, we have in one way or the other be an enemy to God, and should not pray to kill our

enemies but pray for them to live long and see what we will become in future.

“This life is full of different kinds and types of stubborn mountains but when the grace of God comes upon the life of a man such mountains will have no choice but to move away and such a person becomes free. Mountain in ones life can be poverty, bareness, sickness, joblessness and the likes but only God was capable of helping us through as recorded in Luke 5: 1-7”.

The PortHarcourt Divisinoal Head of CCCG Apostle Dr. Mark Afemikhe took the centre stage as he ministered to the congregation on a topic he titled “Effective Witnessing” using Mathew 24:14 as his base line. He called on the congregation to stand up right and ensure the gospel of the Lord is preached all around the world because there are many places, cities, countries and nations where the name of Jesus has not been heard and wondered why?

“It is so because the average believer is not conscious of the mandatory aspect of the great commission. Even those who are aware, do it erroneously and ineffectively forgetting that the scripture acknowledged us to preach the gospel and who ever does so is wise”.

Speaking further he highlighted things to know if one wants to effectively want to witness for the Lord. These includes; praying and preaching the word of God (Rom 10: 13-15, Mark 16:15, Math 28:19), preaching the right message of God’s love (John 3:16-17, 2 Cor 5:1821). He said the pre-requisites for effective witnessing include the infilling of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8) and deep knowledge of God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15).

Courage to confront Sin was a message preached by the Abuja Divisional Head of CCCG Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Akugue who took his text from James 4:1-8. He said Samson was killed from the day he lusted after Delihah, because he could not resist her beauty and drink. He called on the congregation to stay away from sin because it carries along with it sickness, untimely death and poverty as its by-product.” God gave man the privilege to make choices (James 1:13-15,

Psalm 144:1).

Apostle Akugue said for you as a person to fight successfully and win, you must bear the fruits of the spirit as it is written in Galatians 5:22-23. This includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperament. “Any man of God who sees evil going on round him, but pretends that he did not see it has been bribed”.

The Director of Finance of CCCG Apostle Dr. S.V. Imagbe who handled the topic “Power of Positive Confession” said there is power in the spoken word; with words wars have started and with words wars have ceased (Exodus 12: 31). It is important therefore to be careful what we confess.

“Your destiny is at the mercy of your mouth (Exodus 4: 12; Luke 21:15), close mouth will give you a closed destiny.

The power is in what we say, with your tongue.

What are you speaking to your life? Sickness or health, poverty or wealth, death or life is directly related to our confessions which are in power of the tongue. Jesus re-affirms this in Mark 11:23 that whatever you say without doubt in your heart shall come to pass. The word of God is yea and amen. Let God be true and everyone a liar (Rom.3:4), as Christian, we should be positive in our confession”.

Delivering a sermon on the topic “Staying within your Income” the GRA Divisional Head Apostle Jones Ikibeh said Apostle Paul touched on this topic in Philippians 4:11-12 because as Christians he said that good management of income is necessary to have a good home. He said there are two types of income namely genuine and fraudulent income.

“Genuine income are money earned from one’s labour/services duly rendered or profits earned from legitimate trading/ business activities or transactions (I Thess 4:11-12, Eph 4:28) while fraudulent income on the other hand is money obtained by falsehood (419), ungodly means or sharp practices, bribes, embezzlement,

exploitation, fraud, falsification of figures, extortion, robbery, rituals, fetish means (Prov. 20:17; 9:17; 1:10-19)”.

Speaking further Apostle Ikibeh said it is still possible to live well when your financial commitments exceed your income. He said all you need to do is to take a closer look at your monthly financial commitments and readjust your priorities in accordance with your income; do away with extravagant lifestyle; be courageous to prayerfully seek for financial assistance from those you are led to approach who will not make a mockery of you.

The 2014 International Convention of the church mark the 7th year anniversary of the spiritual leader Most Snr. Apostle Joseph Osasuyi and some of his achievements since he assumed the leadership position of the church was rolled out to the applaud of not only members of the congregation but also invited guests that came to celebrate with the church.

Most. Snr. Apostle Joseph Osasuyi took over as the Spiritual leader/chairman church council on the 7th of July 2007 and has accomplished a lot and transformed the church from where he met it to the point where it is today.

Reading some of the achievements, Apostle Nosa Atoe said the leadership of Apostle Osasuyi saw the completion of the global office and a new constitution for the church. A new handbook for workers of the church as their new compass for direction. The spiritual leaders also ensure that gratuity are paid to widows of diseased family and next of kin of diseased minister. New cars have also been bought for ministers of the church, houses and also renovation of houses. Workers in the ministry are now smiling to the bank due to the improved salaries for workers. He has also embarked on regular promotions and enhance welfare package for workers for productivity. Also he has empowered the youths and the women. The church have now constructed a multi-million naira fence and security post for the International headquarter of the church. The church is now recognised both home and abroad as our father now have over 15 international awards to his credit for the great work he has done and is still doing to propagate the gospel. The nation also honoured this great man of God”, he concluded.

View Point Intensifying Campaign Against Operators Of ‘Baby Factories’ STAKEHOLDERS and security operatives are worried about the illegal activities of operators of ‘baby factories’ in Imo. They are particularly worried that those licenced to operate motherless babies homes are turning the babies they ought to cater for into articles of trade.

The former Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr. Mohammed Katsina who conducted several raids, decried the posture of the operators, who had remained adamant.

The police had a running battle with one Dr James Ezuma, proprietor of Ezuma Women and Children Right Initiative.

The police raided the home in December 2013, after a girl reported that she delivered a baby girl at the home, and the baby sold to an unknown person.

When police stormed the home, 16 other teenage girls, at various stages of pregnancy were rescued, while Ezuma said the home was a shelter THERE is need for the people to re-introspect the political metamorphosis in Edo State since 1999, compare and contrast the performances of the past civil governors.

We should be able to critically evaluate the performances of politicians who came on board to govern this state years past.

The reappraisal of the past and the present will enable us take a stand whether we have ever enjoyed the dividends of democracy or not when compared with what is currently going on in Edo State.

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole the present governor came up high among his civil counterparts who have ever governed this state.

However, there could be some mistakes, but that should not overwhelm his performances. After all,

By UGONNE INYAMA

for stranded women and children.

The teenager said she was directed to the place after she got pregnant, with the promise that she would be catered for since she didn’t want to terminate the pregnancy.

“I was told that they will take care of my baby after delivery, but was never told the baby will be taken away from me,” she explained.

A woman who gave her name as Celine Eze from Umuezeala-Ogwara in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo, was also recently arrested by security operatives for her alleged involvement in running a baby factory and child trafficking.

Eze, a nurse, runs a home in the village, where the pregnant teenager girls were kept.

The villagers said that “ people looking for the fruits of the womb’’ regularly come to home run by Celine Eze, who is now in police net.

Imo State Government, Oshiomhole is human. He can make mistakes. There is no perfection in human existence.

You will agree with me that he has performed marvelously in the state that the dividends of democracy are seen in every nook and cranny of the state – Good, affordable and qualitative education at all levels.

Employment of youths, both skilled and unskilled.

Sustainable infrastructures – building and renovation of schools, hospitals and health centres, roads built with good drainage, walkways and street light. Zero tolerant to flooding by constructing water storm channels in all parts of the state. Regular payment of salary to workers, payment of pension, gratuities to retired pensioners, providing succour for the widows and market women to enable them live a meaningful life, massive

“You will agree with me that he has performed marvelously in the state that the dividends of democracy are seen in every nook and cranny of the state – Good, affordable and qualitative education at all levels. Employment of youths, both skilled and unskilled.”

aware that some nongovernmental orgainsations are now using motherless babies homes to promote ‘baby

The Imo Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Love Onyechere, regretted that the humane concept of motherless babies’ homes

Suleiman Abba, Acting Inspector General of Police

factories’ and child trafficking, recently launched a revalidation exercise for all operators of orphanages, motherless babies homes, maternity homes and shelters for homeless.

had been seriously abused.

Onyechere, who is also in charge of the campaign against baby factories and human trafficking in the state, described the business as a crime against God and

humanity.

“Operation of baby factories is a crime against God and humanity, criminals masquerading as proprietors of motherless babies homes have infiltrated the movement; what started out as a humane endeavour is now a cold business venture.

“It negates all known religious, social and cultural values associated with the sanctity of life, motherhood and child bearing,” she said.

The commissioner explained that the revalidation became necessary as many of the homes were actually ‘baby factories,’ trading babies for money, while disguising as motherless babies homes.

Mr Uzor Uzor, the Chairman, Campaign for Democracy, South-East zone, attributed the thriving of ‘baby factories’ in the zone and other parts of the country to poverty and illiteracy.

He urged government at all levels to create employment opportunities, adding that the rate of unemployment in the country was alarming.

The chairman said that about 1,800 pregnant teenagers and babies were rescued from ‘baby factories’ in the last 12 months with the

number still rising.

The Imo State House of Assembly has also joined the campaign to the check the activities of baby factory operators in Imo. The assembly recently set up a 5-man committee to look into a bill for a law to prohibit baby racketeering, through baby factory operations.

Mrs Adaku Ihuoma, Majority Leader, Imo State House of Assembly, who sponsored the bill, frowned at the alarming rate of baby factories in the state.

She said that trafficking innocent babies is a crime against humanity, stressing that perpetrators must be adequately punished.

Mr Celestine Ngobiwu, representing Obowo state constituency , who shared similar sentiments, suggested life imprisonment for operators of baby factories.

Perceptive analysts had continued to express concern why people should patronise baby factories for adoption of babies, instead of following legitimate path.

They however urged the Imo State Government and Imo State House of Assembly not to relent in their campaigns to stamp out baby factories in the state.

Don’t Pay Gov Oshiomhole With Ingratitude

transport system by providing buses plying major roads and towns. Taxi cabs for former Okada riders.

We should thank Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his benevolent, hard work, good and purposeful governance.

Also his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu for the full support given to the governor which led to his enviable performance.

He saved Edo State from total collapse, not only in infrastructural decay but also in social, moral and political deficiency.

Edo people should not pay

Gov Adams Oshiomhole

By SAM E. EKENEZA JP

him with ingratitude because he refused to be bought over by some greedy and selfish politicians to loot and vandalize our treasury to the detriment of the generality of the common man in Edo State.

We should give thanks to God to have given us such illustrious son, dedicated and committed to the welfare of his people.

Believe it or not, it will be difficult to get another Oshiomhole in our time again only with God intervention.

Oshiomhole the messiah of Edo State. The good and righteous people in Edo State say “Thank you and well done”.

I will on a final note called on the good spiritual people of Edo State not to pay

Hon Sam E. Ekeneza

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole with ingratitude.

Prayer: Almighty God. Open our physical and spiritual eyes to see what Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has done for us in Edo State. We beg you to give us another Oshiomhole and a faithful deputy in 2016, Amen.

Hon. Sam E. Ekeneza (JP) is a renowned political leader in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State and a former Chairman Edo State Traditional Medicine Board.

Hon Sam E. Ekeneza writes from Benin

Natural Medicine

Ebola Viral Disease

THE Ebola Viral Disease is now a household word in Nigeria and the world at large.

Factbox about the disease is not complementary at all. For instance, it is the world’s deadliest viral disease. So far, it has no known cure.

The disease has an incubation period of between 2-21 days and a prognostic progression of 14 days during which it either kills a person or he survive the disease.. this isn’t all After a “cure”, presumably, a person still carries the virus in his reproductive tract. He can still transmit it during sex after two months. The rule therefore, is: stay away from sex after you have been certified “cured” of Ebola. Go back for laboratory tests after two months of treatment to find out whether the virus is still embedded in your reproductive organs or has been eliminated.

However, the question is: is there any way to quarantine the sexual activity of a “cured” Ebola patient as to prevent its post-treatment spread?

Still more information from the factbox: chances of surviving the disease are slim.

It is put at 90%. Invariably, when, say, 100 persons contract the disease an average of 10 persons may survive it while 90 will be killed by the disease. Yes, Ebola is such a merciless ailment that it sometimes kills health care givers attending to an ebola patient.

For instance Dr Sheik Umar Khan the chief doctor of ebola disease treatment in Sierra Leone who handled the cases of over 100 patients with the disease succumbed to it. In Liberia, as at August 2014, the disease has taken the lives of 271 persons, including 32 health care givers.

The case of Nigeria isn’t different over five of our health personnel have also been killed after contact with

Ebola patient Patrick Sawyer culminating in the death of Dr. Ameyor Stella Obasanjo, a Senior consultant physician with First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalendo in Lagos.

We must not forget, too that ebola disease first broke in Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1976 on the African continent.

Later on the disease hit Sudan in 2004. then, nothing was heard about the disease again until December 2013 when it struck in Guinea. From here it spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. The first indexed case of ebola in Nigeria was Patrick Sawyer, an American- Liberian and diplomat. He arrived Lagos, en route Calabar, for an ECOWA retreat, sick with the virus. On arrival at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja in Lagos, on July 20, 2014 he collapsed.

He was rushed to first Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende a private hospital since all public hospitals in Nigeria had been shut down as a result of doctor’s strike.

Later, on July 25, 2014 Patrick Sawyer died that is five days later. This tells you how deadly ebola is. Infact, it is worse than cancer and AIDS. Ebola could kill within 14 days after an incubation period of 2-21 days in its victim. Unlike it, cancer and AIDS only kill slowly giving the victim time to arrange or re-arrange his/her life before death. Maybe write his/her will.

Certain issues arise since ebola broke in West Africa.

Firstly, lets take a trip to Guinea. The disease first appeared in this country in Dec. 2013.

However, it was only on March 21, 2014 it was declared officially as a national emergency by the Guinean authorities.

Thereafter, the West African Health Union-according to Dr. Carlos Brittle, director of

epidemic prevention.

Intervened with a visit on March 25, 2014 to Guinea, Clearly, what these actions show is that the Guinean authorities and the West African Health Union displayed poor response to the deadly disease. This is even granted that the disease is highly contagious yet ECOWAS Protocol allows free movements of people across borders, thus allowing carriers of the disease to spread it.

If this was done, maybe, Patrick Sawyer wouldn’t have exposed himself to the virus by participating in the burial of his relative killed by the virus.

Another issue raised by the ebola disease in West Africa is the intervention of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sir leaf. Her intervention was delayed ignoring that a single victim of ebola can transmit the killer disease to health care givers and thousands of others in rapid geometric

Similarly, had the West African Health Union being very pro-active with a repaid response to the disease outbreak in Guinea in December 2013, maybe the current epidemiological status of the disease would have been averted. For instance, the union ought to have collaborated with West African countries to sensitize their citizens on the dos and don’t of measures to control the disease.

time.

Infact, one is still wondering why it took the president months before she began to make efforts to curb it on August 5, 2014 with a declaration of emergency on the disease in her country.

This is after the disease had claimed the lives of 271 persons, including 32 health workers, while 24 of them died with in a period of 7 days!!.

Furthermore, the Liberian

With Dr Mao 08030717341

president told the world that Patrick Sawyer, her citizen, was under government’s surveillance before he bolted to Nigeria for the ECOWAS retreat and then died. Does epidemiological protocol require quarantine for a patient infected with ebola virus already or a mere surveillance? Also, who told the Liberian president that fasting for three days (with prayers) will help curb ebola spread? I am yet to see a book on ebola science say this.

All I know is that proper hand washing routines, avoiding crowds, stopping hands- hakes, preventing

countries, Nigeria’s response to the ebola emergence in December 2013 in West Africa was slow, we weren’t pro-active in our response to the disease. It was only from July 25, 2014, after Patrick Sawyer died of ebola in our country, that the federal and some state governments now began to be very, very proactive in combating the disease kudos to them for this late move, however.

But, along the line, the federal government almost administered an unethical, experimental drug called nano-silver on our ebola patients. America said the

contact with body fluids of ebola victims/corpses, eliminating bush meat from the dining table and sundry other measures contribute to controlling ebola infection and spread.

It is not necessarily fasting which anyway, weakens the immune system required for combating ebola attack.

Nigeria also goofed in its response to ebola outbreak.

Like other West African

drug was a pesticide while it Nigerian manufacture, based in Canada, claimed it was a general immune booster which ebola patients should heed . Face with this controversy, the federal government withdrew the drug, thus leaving Zmapp as the only American experimental drug used to treat ebola today.

A final word. The talk, not tale, is that Dr Ameyor Stella Adadevoh contracted ebola while physically restraining Patrick Sawyer from escaping from hospital on knowing that he had ebola. Question time again. Who told him he had the virus since a patient is not expected to see his own case file? I agree we should honour the great and brave doctor.

But let’s know who contributed to killing her.

“Nigeria also goofed in its response to ebola outbreak. Like other West African countries, Nigeria’s response to the ebola emergence in December 2013 in West Africa was slow, we weren’t pro-active in our response to the disease. It was only from July 25, 2014, after Patrick Sawyer died of ebola in our country, that the federal and some state governments now began to be very, very pro-active in combating the disease kudos to them for this late move, however.”

New Horizon

Moral Code: To Your Creator DEVOTION To Your EmployerHARDWORK To Your Father HUMILITY To Your Mother GOOD CONDUCT To Your Wife YOUR HEART To Your Child GOOD EXAMPLE To Your Friend SINCERITY To Your Opponent TOLERANCE To You Yourself RESPECT To Your Enemy FORGIVENESS To All Men CHARITY MORAL codes have strong relationship to religious principles because they are strongly worded for people of broad mind. These terms are not meant for Church Ministries only but all human beings who wish to live a standard and uplifting life. To live an uplifting lifestyle, one must be ready to follow some principles and moral codes. It could be material nor religious. Material codes when practiced makes one a gentleman and religious codes when practiced makes one a better gentleman. It is at this point that one can begin to appreciate some spiritual values of life, which makes one to begin to inquire on a existence, about hundreds and thousands of planets, and why one is placed in this particular planet that is full of miseries. This materials world is a place of quarrel and hypocrisy. If one is highly exposed to higher principles, he will begin to know that there are innumerable planets of much better standard and affluence and why he is placed here on earth full of hard struggles to make ends meet. The more one is exposed to higher principles, the more he begins to also know the innumerable universes.

There and then one is challenged to begin to think higher about higher knowledge of the cosmic manifestations. It is not easy to come to this level of realization. It has to be built up for years and decades with continuous determination mingled with the right focus on the right positive part (not negative parts). As you move along on the positive part, the negative part is by your side pricking you from time to time, trying to drag your entire focus to the wrong side. Except you are properly situated in the proper knowledge, you may be forced to follow suit thereby dancing to the tune of the lower music. That lower kind of music brings degradation to a higher moral practitioner. One on this path must guide against side attractions. Anyone on this higher part of knowledge must see himself or herself to be “A complete man on a life journey, who does not look back whenever the dogs are barking.” The barking of the dogs are the distractions, distortions, attractions, gimmicks, tricks, confusions, gossips, lies, false accusation, all kinds of branding e.t.c. all these are about some of the test before such practitioner. One must be prepared to have his mind preprepared to clear all tests that is presented before him.

All these tests mentioned will be determined by how much you have imbibed strictly with the eleven moral codes enumerated in the beginning of this presentation and all others. In truth, Human Life is meant to understand the aim and intricacies of life. And one who fails to utilize this human body for this purpose is a miser. Furthermore this human body is invaluable and one who uses it to cultivate spiritual knowledge is a wise person. The best bet is to cultivate both spiritual and material knowledge side by side. Majority of people in the material world go for material knowledge out of fear and that is one of the reason why spiritual knowledge (Knowledge of the soul) is not taught even in the Universities around the world.

With VICTOR ANIUKWU

The Best Thing To Do

Even in Academics, this wonderful (knowledge of the soul) is greatly lacking. When the student is ready, the master is always there. When will that day come when this knowledge of the soul will be thought at all levels of learning and there and then will knowledge be complete?

In Sri Isopanisad, Mantra (Prayer 10) state that the wise have explained that one result is derived from the culture of knowledge, and that a different result is obtained from the culture of nescience. Knowledge is of diversity and one must be careful to marry whatever knowledge to be

acquired and its aftermath result. In truth, knowledge can lead one to be wise, foolish nor out of senses. In no distant future these different results will come to pass as flood passes from landscape into river.

Finally, kindly examine your self once more on the check list below and score for your selves and also try to build up where necessary. Read on; Have you destroyed wickedness in your life?

Have you been doing evil things to mankind?

Have you been oppressing the members of your family?

Have you been a part to places of evil and destruction?

Have you defrauded or been defrauding in any manner.

Have you deprived people of their wages?

Have you ever encroached on the fields of others?

Have you added to the weight of the scales to cheat others and have you not misread the scales to cheat?

Have you deprived your Household of their daily bread?

Have you ever made mankind to suffer hunger or pain?

Have you ever turned a flowing tap off when it should be flowing to others?

Have you extinguished the fire when it should be burning?

Have you repulsed Krishna (God) in his manifestation and commandments?

Have you stopped the milk that should flow into the baby’s mouth?

Footnote — He, whom these teachings elevate not, is not worthy to be a human being.

1. A human being has higher intelligent and so must be prepared to face challenges both material and spiritual.

Spiritual practices is meant for human beings but many shy away out of cowardice and fear from ones mind.

2. The greatest of evils and the worst of crimes is poverty. One should intelligently and painstakingly guide against this fact.

3. A life time of happiness, no man alive could bear it, it would be hell on earth. Ones life time has two faces, A time to smile and a time to gnash the teeth. There is no in-between.

Continues on page 24

“Material codes when practiced makes one a gentleman and religious codes when practiced makes one a better gentleman.

It is at this point that one can begin to appreciate some spiritual values of life, which makes one to begin to inquire on a existence, about hundreds and thousands of planets, and why one is placed in this particular planet that is full of miseries.”

Place Of Prayer Continued from last week

AFTER you hear God’s promise, what do you do? The right thing to do is to stop praying and start praising. In 2Chronicles 20:20-25, 27-30, we see an intriguing story that portrays the power of worship in the midst of strong antagonism.

praise God. As they praised God in their wilderness, God set ambushments against their enemies and they destroyed themselves with their own hands. The enemies ran away and left their riches for Jehoshaphat. At the end of the bathe, the enemies began to fear him and God gave him rest

With Pastor Samuel O. Osaghae

from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

It is a situation of

It means Anointed, yet no miracle to prove the anointing.

It means qualified academically, yet no employment. It means talented and gifted yet not demanded for. In the midst of all these frustrating situations, the Lord admonishes us to break forth into singing. Force yourself to

hopelessness, but rejoicing in the Lord will make your feet like hind’s feet and He will make you walk upon your high place feet imply divine ability and grace to run with speed.

This means unhindered progress and acceleration.

Walking upon your high places implies divine grace and ability to walk upon your obstacles.

Your obstacles become

praise Him (Break forth); because it is not easy to sing in the midst of contradiction.

If you praise God in the wilderness, you will be lifted above those that went a head of you.

Weeping, grumbling and laming about your wilderness experience will not bring you out of it. In the scripture above, we are admonished to take up

by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the

and shift gear to praise and worship from a sincere heart just like David, you will enjoy the following benefits revealed in the scripture above: * You will possess the remnant: You will receive whatever is left in your expectation that you have not received. * You will become an example of God’s glory. Unbelievers will know God through you.

transformed from being stumbling blocks to stepping stones. They become your ladder for climbing to your next level. Hallelujah!

In Isaiah 54:1,9, the bible says- Sing, 0 barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cay aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as (have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

Barrenness is a wilderness.

Barrenness means puffing effort and not seeing evidence.

It means struggling and yet no dividend. It means preparing for, and writing examination and yet no success. It means beautiful, yet no marriage. It means fertile yet no pregnancy.

an instrument of praise and praise God in the midst of our wilderness, You are searching for a miracle, a husband, a baby, yet the Lord says take an instrument of praise and praise Him. It does not sound logical, but it is Gods pattern of coming out of the wilderness.

As you break forth into singing in the midst of your contradictory situation, a rainbow of remembrance will be set up for you just like in Noah’s time.

The last hope of the Church for revival in this end time is worship. Worship is what will make us stand out from the unbelievers. See Amos 9:1115- In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.

That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called

waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. Jesus has paid the price yet the world is not saved.

Sickness is still present.

Poverty is still the order of the day. There is war, affliction, diseases, pain, famine and every evil in the world that Jesus came to save. However, there is a way out of this wilderness. The way out is to raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen. The tabernacle of David is celebration. David was a worshipper: Praise and worship of the Lord was his delight. If you can take your eyes of the issues that make up your wilderness experience

* You will overtake those who went ahead of you. Although you just started planting, you will catch up with and overtake those that are already in their harvest time: Quick fulfillment destiny. * Those in captivity will be delivered. * You will enjoy the fruits of your efforts and labour: you will not labour and others enjoy. * That ever is yours will be given to you and God will take you wherever you ought to be.

Every vacancy that is your own, you will occupy it.

Beloved, I admonish you to take this fourth key of coming out of the wilderness very seriously. As you begin to celebratively praise and worship God inspite of contradictions, you will be brought out of your wilderness.

By Pastor Samuel 0. Osaghae Email: samuelosaghae (gmail.com)

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Coming Out Of Wilderness (5)

And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, 0 Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet for his God gave him rest roundabout.

Jehoshaphat chose to praise God in his wilderness. Rather than succumb to the intimidation of the great army that had come against Judah, he encouraged the people to

on every side. Are you surrounded by enemies?

Worship will bring about your escape. Praise and worship is what will bring the manifestation of your victory from the realms of the spirit to the physical realm.

The New Testament believer is not a prayer warrior but a praise warrior. The reason is that Christ has defeated the enemy on our behalf and has made us more than conquerors (Romans 9:37).

The implication of this is that we do not have any fresh battle to fight; we are victorious already. It was in the Old Testament that we prayed against enemies. In the New, we worship God and leave our enemies in His hands. The New Testament law is love: Love your enemies. “Fall down and die by fire” is not love. When you do this, you break the law of the New Testament which is Love. Your enemies will not go unpunished because according to the law of God, you reap what you sow. However, it is not your responsibility to pass judgement on them: leave judgement to God. The sinner shall not go unpunished.

Have you been in that wilderness experience for too long? Sincere, heartfelt worship will make God remember you and come to your rescue. The bible says in Isaiah 23:16- Take an harp, go about the city thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. In 1Samuel 1:19, we see that after Hannah had prayed, they worshipped before the Lord, and the Lord remembered her.

In 2Kings 3:14-15, Elisha lost the anointing because he was angry. He had it before, but he lost it. It was celebrated, but now it was no longer available. Elisha knew how to come out. He worshipped and his anointing was restored.

Whatever you have lost in the past can be restored. The key to restoration is worship.

In Habakkuk 3:17-19, the bible says: Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off

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International

Turkey Summons US Envoy Over Snowden Spying Claims

ANKARA - Turkey on Monday said it had summoned the US charge d’affaires in Ankara to demand an explanation over a leak by Edward Snowden that Washington has spied intensively on Turkish leaders since 2006.

Der Spiegel reported that as well as sharing intelligence with NATO partner Turkey, the United States and its ally Britain have been conducting extensive electronic surveillance on the Turkish leadership.

The German weekly said that the information was based on

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documents released by the fugitive former National Security Agency (NSA) operative Snowden, who has taken refuge in Russia.

It claimed the NSA placed “Turkey at the level of Venezuela, and even ahead of Cuba, in terms of US interest in intelligence collection”.

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told reporters in Ankara that “the US charge d’affaires has been summoned to the foreign ministry and an explanation demanded.”

The new US ambassador to Turkey, John Bass, is yet to arrive in Ankara.

The Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement after the meeting that it had asked the US authorities to provide a satisfactory explanation for the “grave allegations”.

“If the allegations are true, it is obvious that these activities cannot be accepted and do not comply with the friendship between the two countries.”

“The United States is expected to investigate the said allegations,

and if they are true, terminate its activities targeting our state institutions and foreign missions.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who last week switched from the job of premier which he held for over a decade, said he would be discussing the claims at the NATO summit in Wales and UN general assembly this month.

“All countries with established intelligence services do it all the time, but how they do it and what they reveal is important,” he said before leaving on a foreign trip.

Der Spiegel said the NSA began a major surveillance operation in 2006 aimed at hacking into the computers of Turkey’s leadership.

The aim was to glean information about the strategic intentions of the Turkish leadership under Erdogan.

It said that the United States also spied on Turkey’s embassy in Washington and its mission at the United Nations in New York.

The information was shared with the key intelligence partners of the United States — Britain,

sharing deal between Afghanistan’s rival presidential candidates have collapsed, a top leader said on Monday, rekindling fears of ethnic unrest over disputed election results.

Under the terms of a deal brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the runner-up in the vote was to name a “chief executive” in a national unity government conceived to keep the lid on political tensions.

Abdullah Abdullah was runner-up in the official election results. Mohammad Mohaqeq, one of Abdullah’s vice presidential running mates, told journalists the two sides could not agree on the powers of the chief executive, accusing the camp of election winner Ashraf Ghani of hardening its position.”The talks collapsed two days ago. The political process is now at a stalemate, we don’t see any way out,” Mohaqeq, a leader of the minority Hazara community, said in an interview in Kabul, as a months-long power struggle to succeed President Hamid Karzai showed no signs of a resolution.

The Abdullah campaign later said it would withdraw from the political process if its demands were not met by yesterday.

Powerful ally and governor of northern Balkh province, Atta Mohammad Noor, urged his supporters to prepare for street protests.

The breakdown in negotiations on a political deal comes days after Abdullah’s team walked out of a U.N. audit of votes from a June 14 run-off ballot, saying it was dissatisfied with the way that fraudulent votes were being handled.

Together, the two failures have left the U.S.-mediated deal in tatters and deepened the uncertainty about when President Hamid Karzai can hand over power to a successor.

Karzai had earlier planned Tuesday as the inauguration day for the new president, in time for him to attend a NATO summit

in Wales two days later. But that was pushed back after the United Nations said it would be able to complete the audit only by around Sept. 10.

Karzai is not going to quit power without the completion of the process, a spokesman said.

“The President is not considering the step down before the official transfer of power to the new Afghan President. It is unconstitutional to step down before officially transferring the power to his successor,” Aimal Faizi said in a statement.

The deadlock comes as the United States, Kabul’s biggest aid donor, and other NATO nations withdraw their troops after nearly 13 years of fighting Taliban insurgents.

Officials and diplomats fear it could trigger conflict along ethnic lines, on top of the insurgency.

“Announcing the results based on fraudulent means endangers the whole process and takes the country deeper into crisis. It is in no one’s interest. It will divide Afghanistan,” Mohaqeq said.

Ghani, a former finance minister and World Bank economist, is a member of Afghanistan’s biggest ethnic group, the Pashtuns, who make up of most of the population in the south and east.Abdullah is part Pashtun and part ethnic Tajik, but draws most of his support from Tajiks, the Hazaras and other smaller ethnic groups, largely in the center and north.

Under the terms of the deal agreed during Kerry’s visit in July, the chief executive would share control with the president over some key decisions, such as nominating the heads of the Afghan security forces.

But it was left to the two campaigns to work out the specifics of power-sharing.

Ghani has said the language of the document signed during Kerry’s visit was ambiguous and it was up to the two teams to work out the details. His spokesman Tahir Zaheer dismissed the

Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Der Spiegel said Britain had already developed its own operations in Turkey, with its GCHQ surveillance agency eavesdropping on political targets in the country.

Turkey has already expressed anger over a previous report in Der Spiegel that Germany had been spying on its NATO ally for years.

But Der Spiegel also said that at the same time there had been very tight cooperation between the United States and Turkey on sharing intelligence, particularly on Kurdish militants waging an insurgency in Turkey’s southeast.

It said that the US had been able to keep Turkey informed of the location of Kurdish militant leaders on an hourly basis by tracking their mobile phones.

Der Spiegel also said that the false intelligence that prompted a Turkish airstrike in December 2011 that killed 34 suspected PKK militants — who later turned out to be cigarette smugglers — came from a US drone flight.

It said that one NSA document bluntly described Turkey as both a “partner and a target”.

Afghan Talks On Unity Government Abdullah campaign’s demands as Collapse KABUL - Talks on a powerunconstitutional.

Chaos in Afghanistan as Western forces pull out would be a political blow for those countries which have spent billions of dollars and lost about 3,500 soldiers in a bid to bring peace and stability after Taliban rule.

Iraq Violence Kills 1,420

BAGHDAD- At least 1,420 people were killed in Iraq in August as sectarian violence raged in the country’s center and north, the United Nations said on Monday.

A further 1,370 Iraqis were wounded and 600,000 people forced to flee as Islamic State militants, who have grabbed large areas of territory since June, pushed into land controlled by Kurdish troops and targeted religious minorities.

“Thousands continue to be targeted and killed by ISIL (Islamic State) and associated armed groups simply on account of their ethnic or religious background. The true cost of this human tragedy is staggering,” the U.N. representative in Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, said.

The U.N. said the casualty figures could be far higher but it could not get independent verification of reports of hundreds of incidents in areas under Islamic State’s control.

Violence killed 1,737 people, mostly civilians, in Iraq in July, and 2,400 in June, the U.N. data showed.

The fighting carried on Monday as 18 people were killed and more than 50 wounded when two parked car bombs went off in two mainly Shi’ite districts of Baghdad, police and medical officials said.

International Pakistan Minister Condemns Protests As ‘Revolt Against State’ ISLAMABAD - Parliament met for an emergency session after three days of clashes between police and clubwielding demonstrators demanding Sharif’s resignation.

Sharif has resisted calls for him to go but protest leaders Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri have refused to back down, raising political tensions to fever pitch.

Violence erupted on Saturday when Khan and Qadri ordered their followers to storm the prime minister ’s official residence, with protesters

throwing rocks at police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

There were further clashes on Sunday and Monday, when activists armed with bamboo batons briefly seized control of the state broadcaster.

The protests to oust Sharif have disrupted life in the normally sleepy capital since August 15 and raised the spectre of military intervention in a country ruled for half its history by the army.

Khan, who leads an opposition party, claims the May 2013 election that swept Sharif to power in a landslide was rigged.

Qadri, a populist cleric, says the current political system is corrupt and must be swept away entirely.

But the movements have not energised much widespread support beyond Khan and Qadri’s core followers. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the country should not be held to ransom by a few thousand people.

“This is not a protest or a political gathering. This is a revolt against Pakistan — this is a revolt against the state institutions,” he told lawmakers.

Defence minister Khawaja Asif told AFP late on Monday that a cross-party negotiation team was set to approach the protest groups and try to end the standoff, which has seen three people killed and hundreds injured in clashes.

- Military criticised The powerful military has called for a swift and peaceful political solution but efforts to negotiate a way out have so far failed.

Many analysts have suggested the military may have played a role in the protest movements, though the army has denied this.

Sharif’s relationship with the military has been problematic over the years — his last term as PM ended in a coup led by thenarmy chief General Pervez Musharraf in 1999.

Since his election last year Sharif is thought to have angered the military by pursuing treason charges against Musharraf and seeking to warm ties with perennial rival India.

The spectre of military domination by Pakistan’s giant neighbour has long been used as part of the justification for the army’s influence and large budget.

The military is usually treated respectfully in Pakistani media, but two major dailies on Tuesday published surprisingly forthright editorials criticising its handling of the current crisis.

Dawn, Pakistan’s oldest English-language paper, said the army’s failure clearly to support the elected government had destroyed its “carefully constructed veneer of neutrality”.

“Staggeringly, the army has ‘advised’ the government not to use force against violent protesters,” Dawn wrote.

“It’s as if the army is unaware — rather, unwilling — to acknowledge the constitutional scheme of things: it is the government that is supposed to give orders to the army, not the other way around.”

The Nation said military commanders were “issuing public advisories to the elected government, which should be simply unacceptable”.

The protest site in Islamabad’s high-security “red zone” was quiet on Tuesday morning, with paramilitary Rangers guarding the parliament building.

Turkey Detains Dozens Of Police

Turkish tanks in front of a giant poster of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a parade to mark victory day recently.

US Military Attacks Al-Shabab MOGADISHU — U.S. military forces attacked the extremist al-Shabab network in Somalia Monday, the Pentagon said, and a witness described ground-shaking explosions in a strike that reportedly targeted the group’s leader.

Al-Shabab had attacked the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 67 people a year ago this month and the U.S. had targeted planners of the bloody assault.

There was no immediate comment from al-Shabab and U.S. commanders were waiting to determine the attack’s outcome.

“U.S. military forces conducted an operation in Somalia today against the alShabaab network. We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby.

After the U.S. strike Monday night in a forest south of Mogadishu, masked Islamic militants in the area on arrested dozens of residents they suspected of spying for the U.S. and searched nearby homes, a resident said.

“Mass arrests just started, everyone is being detained,” said Mohamed Ali, who lives in Sablale district. “They even searched nearby jungles and stopped the nomads transporting milk and grass to the towns for questioning.”

A senior Somali intelligence official said a U.S. drone targeted al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane as he left

a meeting of the group’s top leaders. Godane, also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, is the group’s spiritual leader under whose direction the Somali militants forged an alliance with al-Qaida.

The Somali official, speaking on condition of anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media, said intelligence indicated Godane “might have been killed along with other militants.” The official said the attack took place in a forest near Sablale district, 105 miles (170 kilometers) south of Mogadishu,

where al-Shabab trains its fighters.

The governor of Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, Abdiqadir Mohamed Nor, told The journalists that as government and African Union forces were heading to a town in Sablale district, they heard what sounded like an “earthquake” as the al-Shabab bases were hit.

“There was an airstrike near Sablale. We saw something,” Nor said.

The U.S. has carried out several airstrikes in Somalia in recent years.

a soldier on Monday who was held by Islamic militants, the state-run news agency said. The soldier, Sgt. Ali Sayid, was believed decapitated.

Sayid’s remains were delivered to a military checkpoint in the Lebanese border town of Arsal, the National News Agency reported.

The body was returned days after supporters of the extremist Islamic State group distributed a video purportedly showing a man they identified as Sayid being decapitated. Sayid’s uncle told Lebanese television Friday that the images on social networks resembled his nephew.

The Lebanese military would not confirm the body’s identity, only saying in a statement that its intelligence unit received the body and DNA tests would be

seized a wide swath of territory in Syria and Iraq and the U.S. has conducted airstrikes in northern Iraq to halt the advance of Islamic State fighters. It has also rushed assault rifles and artillery to the Lebanese military and is considering extending its air campaign to Syria.

Sayid disappeared from Lebanon around the time militants from Syria attacked Arsal in early August, killing and kidnapping soldiers and police.

The militants included fighters from the Islamic State group and the al-Qaida linked Nusra Front, becoming the most serious spillover of violence into Lebanon from Syria’s civil war.

Families of the seized soldiers have blocked roads and set up protest tents, demanding the government find a way to release them.

Body Of Slain Soldier Returned To Lebanese performed.

BEIRUT— Lebanon’s Army The Islamic State group has military received the remains of

ANKARA Turkish authorities on Monday detained some two dozen police officers in new nationwide raids over an alleged plot to overthrow the Islamic-rooted government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Police conducted early morning raids in 16 cities across Turkey, including Istanbul as well as the western province of Izmir, and detained at least 20 police officers, private NTV television reported.

Among those arrested is Yakup Saygili, the former chief of the police anti-fraud unit, it added.

It was the fourth such wave of raids since July as the government cracks down on what Erdogan has described as a “parallel state” within the security forces seeking to topple his government.

Arrest warrants were issued for at least 34 officers accused of a number of offences including illegally eavesdropping on top officials and attempting to overthrow the government.

Since July, dozens of police officers have been arrested and placed in custody on suspicion of forming a criminal organisation and wire-tapping hundreds of people including Erdogan.

The new arrests appeared to represent a new offensive against the movement of Erdogan’s former ally Fethullah Gulen in the wake of a vast corruption scandal that broke late last year implicating Erdogan and his inner circle.

Erdogan has long accused followers of US-based Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen of establishing a “parallel state” by using its sway in Turkey’s police and the judiciary and of concocting the vast corruption scandal.

The allegations were based on recorded phone conversations — purportedly of Erdogan and his inner circle — whose publication held much of Turkey in thrall.

Gulen, who has been based in the United States since 1999, denied any involvement in the claims.

- ‘Arbitrariness and illegality’ -By coincidence, Istanbul prosecutors announced Monday they were dropping all legal proceedings against 96 people probed as a result of the corruption allegations, including Erdogan’s son Bilal.Erdogan on Thursday moved from the office of prime minister to president after his August 10 election victory, with his close ally, former foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu, taking the post of premier.

Erdogan had said Davutoglu was chosen due to his “determination to fight” the parallel state.

Speaking at Istanbul airport before leaving on his first foreign trip as head of state, Erdogan said more operations could follow to arrest additional suspects.

“As you know it is only part of the process. It is not the end,” saying there could be a new wave “if new information or evidence emerge.”

“We are following this process very closely,” he said.

Since the allegations first broke, the government has already moved to purge opponents from the security forces and increase its control over appointments in the judiciary.

In a speech Monday, Turkey’s top judge issued a thinly-veiled warning to Erdogan to refrain froum interfering in the judiciary.

“A judicial authority that is under the influence of the executive cannot correctly fulfil its role which is to prevent arbitrariness and illegality,” said the president of Turkey’s supreme court, Ali Alkan, in a speech marking the opening of the judicial year.

In a sign of the tensions between the government and the judiciary, both Erdogan and his Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu shunned the event to mark the new judicial year, which they would normally be expected to attend.

Armed al-shabab figters on pickup trucks prepare to travel into the city, just outside Mogadishu, in Somalia.

New Horizon Continued from Pg 20

4. There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desires. The other is to get it. Which ever comes, goes with — WAHALA (lot of trouble).

5. The Golden rule is that there are no golden rules. In this material world, 90% of human beings don’t care about the golden rules.

6. The true artist will let his wife starve, his children go bear-foot, his mother drudge for his living at seventy, sooner than work at anything but his art.

7. Nothing is ever done in this world until men are prepared to kill one another, if it not done.

8. Marriage is popular because it combines the maximum of temptation with the maximum of opportunity. True because marriage is really not a bed of roses but a game of mixed feelings until both ends burns out of sight. Think about these facts above and act now.

14 PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RELATION H — Have self control.

U — Understand other people point of view M — Make others interest your own A — Admit when you are wrong N — Never criticize publicly R — Reason, don’t argue E — Explain thoroughly L — Lead don’t drive A — Avoid snap judgment T — Try to be approachable and sociable I — Insist on selfless service to the community O — Others first, self last N — Never forget to give compliment for a job well done S — Stress the positive always.

Human relations has been, described as a path to success. It gives one a comfortable balance materially and a forging balance spiritually. A gentleman may be attracted to these qualities above but may not have all that it takes to be, but a complete gentlemen will strive directly or indirectly to be on top of these good qualifies.

These qualities could be captured through personal experience, natural endowment nor through personal association with people of such caliber. Some of us have these qualities only to let them fade away. Others have them developed, and others have them but don’t know how to apply them due to inferiority complex. Such a person will always shy away from such fact. In reality well balanced human relations can help one attain a better sell realization. Materially any one without these qualities will be deprived of the good things of life in his next life.

And anyone who imbibes these qualities is assumed of a better human form of body which goes with fame, beauty, strength, wealth, knowledge and renunciation. Any one who falls short of these qualities may find his or herself in a deformed shape of human body as a result of misuse of these good qualities. Whatever nature gives to go with this body must be well utilized. In serious cases one is degraded to become an animal in the next life.

(Incredible). Natural laws are not physical laws that are full of imperfections and dangerous to our lives. Apart

With VICTOR ANIUKWU

... The Best Thing To Do from natural laws, we have social codes, legal codes, customs, cultural codes e.t.c. In the olden days, these codes, are followed strictly, but today, they are watered down and greatly compromised. That is why a noble writer, Chinuca Achebe captioned one of his books — Things fall apart, and of course if things fall apart, the centre cannot hold. This is the situation of the world at large. The great mansion is built for long and now begins to crack and the more we try to mend it, the more it breaks — why. Because there are codes guiding this mansion which are now been broken adversely and no one seems to care in truth. The care we have now is not real but perforated and cannot yield the same per cent result as required by nature and so majority of people are not happy

way of life. 1 created this estate over a life time of effort by observing natures laws and forming habits to conform with them”. It will be quite reasonable to follow suit in this wise saying of an able gentlemen Napoleon Hill.

From the above quotation, codes are meant to discipline the mind and so it is our duty to preach, practice and live by them thereby having little or nothing to fear. When we attain this stage, peace and plenty is assured because he who does true things truly each day, lives longest. In Baqavad - Gita, Chapter 18, text 37 States, that which in the beginning may be like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness. It is said that anything good, does not come easy because easy

anymore. Take for instance these words of a national columnist in the United States of America, Napoleon Hill, who once wrote an article entitled CONTENTMENT, part of the article stated that — “The richest man in all the world lives in happy valley. He is rich in values that endures in things he cannot loose, things that provide him with contentment, sound health, peace of mind and harmony with-in his soul. The estate of happy valley which I own is not taxable. It exists mainly in my own mind, in intangible riches that cannot be assessed for taxation or appropriated except by those who adopt my

come, easy go. To practice and follow these fourteen principles may be at first very difficult and impracticable.

A person can be tremendously reshaped if he involves these principles in his life. In all profession, these principles are available and leads to complete attainment of one’s professional, spiritual or material endeavours.

These principles guide, prepare, educate, enlivens and leads one to an appreciable standard of life and make one a better human being. A human being that is ready to go extra miles to realize himself in full. We may claim that we know ourselves but that is not enough prove that we are. Generally, the world has a wonderful Library House. It takes a bold mind to work into this Library House, and it takes a bolder mind to work into this wonderful Library House and get to know the norm and cons of this House. And it takes the boldest mind to work into this wonderful Library House, settle down and delve into the totality of this wonderful Library House and lastly present to the world that knowledge that seems to be hidden.

Acquiring of any knowledge is a continuous thing that unfolds itself as long as one keeps trying to seek, from the lowest level to the peak level.

“Because there are codes guiding this mansion which are now been broken adversely and no one seems to care in truth. The care we have now is not real but perforated and cannot yield the same per cent result as required by nature and so majority of people are not happy anymore.”

Spiritual Platform

Dealing With Witchcraft Attacks

IN 1958, my father was having difficulties paying my secondary school fees.

Between 7 and 8pm, he sent me in the company of one of his brothers’ wives to Irrua township, about 2 kilometers from Agua, to draw a debt. As we left the village and walked among dica nut trees, we looked back and saw a pillar of fire falling down from the trees under which we had just passed! Our heads swelled with fright. What happened was that we passed through witches or wizards in their nocturnal gathering and they decided to frighten us to teach us a lesson! Fifty-seven years latter, this encounter remains fresh in my memory!

Testimony 2: Another encounter with witches and wizards occurred in August, 1958. We were on holidays from the college and I was spending my holidays with my parents. True to a stubborn streak in me, I refused to sleep in my mother’s apartment in the harem but rather chose to stay in one of the rooms in my father’s block. At midnight, one of my neigbours, now late, left me to go to sleep. At about l am, I was between sleep and waking and suddenly I was pinned to my bed like a vice holding a piece of wood. I shouted and Shouted and my parents and other nearby neighbours came to my door and knocked and knocked all to no avail. I could not move from the bed to open the door. Eventually the door as broken up, and I was released.

What happened? I was held to my bed by witches and wizards who were hell bent in stopping me from going back to school. For fifteen years thereafter, the left leg that was pinned to the bed swelled every August, until I gave my life to Jesus Christ and a prayer of deliverance was prayed for me.

Time will not permit me to enumerate my other personal encounters with witchcraft but these two episodes will

make it clear that there is witchcraft. The question is, what is witchcraft? Before this question is answered, let us see if witchcraft is mentioned in the scriptures.

The scriptures discuss witchcraft in many books: Ezekiel 8:7-12 “And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.

Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? For they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth”.

This passage tells us about the earliest reference to the activities of witchcraft. In these verses witches and wizards operated in the form of creeping things, abominable things and the ancients of the house of Israel referred to old men who were wizards and the terrible things they were doing in the dark.

Today the bulk of the activities of witchcraft are still carried out in the night.

Nahum 3:1-4 “Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not; The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses, and of the jumping chariots. The horseman lifteth up both the

bright sword and the glittering spear; and there is a multitude of slain, and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts”.

Again we are confronted with witchcraft activities.

Reference is made to a great

enchantment, incantation, magic, necromancy, occultism, sorcery, sortilege, spell, the black art, the occult, voodoo, witching, wizardry.

The definitions and the synonyms enable us to see the wide ramification of witchcraft I would like to reproduce what I said about witchcraft in my book entitled: Cults and Occultism: The Scourge of a

multitude of a great number of bodies, countless corpses which have been destroyed by witchcraft activities.

The dictionary defines witchcraft in three ways as (i) the art or power of bringing magical or preternatural power to bear or the act or practice of attempting to do so; or (ii) the influence of magic or sorcery; or (iii) fascinating or bewitching influence or charm.

There are other synonyms of the word ‘witchcraft’ —

Nation”(2006) (pp 85 — 86): “Witchcraft means to bend or change. The primary aim of witchcraft is to bend what is straight, thus making it crooked. They change things to conform to their wicked intentions.

Spiritual witchcraft is the power of Satan; this power is distributed among countless number of agents, high or low, intellectual or illiterate. You find witchcraft in every stratum of the society.

Witchcraft is a religion in rebellion against God, exercising supernatural powers in league with the

“Witchcraft means to bend or change. The primary aim of witchcraft is to bend what is straight, thus making it crooked.

They change things to conform to their wicked intentions. Spiritual witchcraft is the power of Satan; this power is distributed among countless number of agents, high or low, intellectual or illiterate.”

With Rt Rev (Dr.) C. I. Umane GSM: 0803579951 devil to carry out evil acts, such as magical practices, sorcery, divination, soothsaying etc. This is the reason why native doctors, herbalists, diviners, sorcerers and soothsayers have to be initiated into witchcraft.

Witchcraft Society is an extremely wicked and callous society; can harm one irrespective of the love

eyes, there is no way you can recognize a witch physically.

They are clever and secretive and hates exposure. This is the reason why a witch would rather die than confess. They are good at manipulating people with their evil will power.”

Witchcraft is therefore an evil power used by an initiated person against another. An

existing between them. This is why mothers can sacrifice their children, without qualms. heavily entrenched in the heavenlies-in stars, moon and sun; widespread and found in families and churches; witches and wizards are everywhere; operate in networks: it is in concert with household witches and wizards. distance is no barrier.

A witch is very much knowledgeable about natural and spiritual laws. A witch knows that spiritual activities manifest physically, a principle used to maximum effect. Another thing we must know is that a witch may love a person Passionately physically but hate him spiritually. A witch in real life can be a close relation but you would not know. Unless the Almighty God opens your

animal can be bewitched to carry out an evil attack against a human being. It involves magic, sorcery, incantation enchantment, and necromancy: Sorcery-the art and use of magic powers to control persons; Incantation—ritual recitation of magic words or sounds to cast spell on a person or thing; Necromancy—the art of conjuring up the dead especially in order t o obtain from them knowledge of the future.

These are occultic practices propagated by witchcraft. I once challenged a so called pastor who told us at a Clergy meeting That the spirit of his dead father was still hovering around ten Years after death!

This is necromancy which is taught by some cults.

Deuteronomy 18:9-13 says much about this: To be contd next week

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Top Four Biggest Spending Clubs Of The Summer

By Edet Elijah/ Ugagbe Stanley/ Mbadugha Kingsley

IT was a record- breaking few months for the Red Devils as a frantic rebuild in catalunya before their transfer ban-but who else splashed the most cash?

Manchester United have emerged as the biggest spending club of the summer, leaving the rest of football’s giants trailing in their wake when it comes to investment.

Having recognized the need to overhaul a squad which finished a lowly seventh in the Premier League last season, Louis Van Gaal invested 200 million Euros to bring Angel Dim aria, Marcos Rojor Ander Herera, Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao (on a loan deal) to the club.

Becelona second to United when it comes to spending after splashing the cash on Luiz Suarez and co.

The Blaugrana have had a busy close season signing Claudco Bravo and Marc Andreter Stegen in goal, Jeremy Mathieu, Douglas and Thomas Vermaden in defence, Ivan Raketic in midfield and the Uruguan up front. Their total spending is 174.8 million Euros, placing them just ahead of Liverpool. The Reds got a big 88 million Euro pay-off from the sale of Suarez and their return to the Champions League and have

been ambitious throughout the summer.

Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert all joined

from Southampton. Lazar Markovic was a big-money acquisition from Benfica and Emre Can arrived from Bayer

STOKE City’s forward, Osaze Odemwingie could be out for the rest of the season as a result of fears that he has seriously damaged his knee lingament.

spending behind United.

Real Madrid are fourth in the list after spending 136.4 million Euros. The Spanish giants have had a reasonably busy summer signing Keylor Navas, Toni

Luiz Suarez

Osaze Odemwingie Out For The Season

BY OMEIZA ROBINSON / MBADUGHA KINGSLEY/EDET ELIJAH

Leverkusen, all before the 20 million Euro signing of Mario Baloteli.

Their spree totaled 168.6 million Euros, putting them second in Premier League

Kroos and James Rodriguez-the latter for a whopping 80 million Euros as well as Javier Hernandez on Loan.

Hot on their heels are city rivals Atletico Madrid. The Liga champions lost key members of their squad this summer but have been ambitious in the market, signing Mario Mandzukic, Antoine Griezmann, Alessio Cerci and more for a combined 1237m Euros.

The 33 –year old player fell down on the pitch of play without infringement at Manchester City on Saturday and was stretched off the pitch.

The club is considering a possibility of having Oussama Assaidi on loan as his replacement, the Stoke Sentinel reported.

Osaze Odemwingie

Stoke had tried to buy the Liverpool winger earlier this summer following his successful loan stint at Stoke last season.

Due to his high personal demands, the deal was stalled.

However it eventually fell through when Stoke took Victor Moses on loan from Chelsea instead.

Presently, Assaidi’s name is back on hastily-assembled hit list on transfer deadline day.

Meanwhile, Hull City’s winger, Sone Aluko has expressed his desire to join the Super Eagles ahead of the African Cup of Nations 2015 qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

Aluko who debuted for Nigeria in a friendly with the Republic of Ireland on May 29, 2009, said he was focused on playing for Nigeria.

“National team duty-bound.

Wheels up. Looking forward to joining up with the team”, Aluko tweeted.

The left-sided winger has played for England under 16, under 17s, under 19s before he switched allegiance to Nigeria and played for the country’s U 20s and the Eagles.

Angel Di Maria

Radamel Falcao Joins Man United

BY-MBADUGHA KINGSLEY/OMEIZA ROBINSON/EDET ELIJAH

THE Columbia international completed a stunning seasonlong-loan move to Old Trafford in the early hours of Tuesday morning, beating the transfer deadline to complete his move making it the major sixth signing for Manchester United.

Radamel Falcao

Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United manager has revealed his delight at securing the season – long-signing of Radamel Falcao from Monaco.

The Red Devils’ moved quickly to secure a deal for the Columbian striker in the final days of the window, the premier league giants beating the transfer

deadline to sign on a loan-to-buy deal.

Van Gaal has expressed his happiness at acquiring the 28year old, who becomes the club’s sixth major signing of the summer following the arrivals of Angel Di maria, Ander Herrera, Daley blind, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo.

“I am delighted, Radamel has joined us on loan this season,” the Dutchman told the club official website. “He is one of the prolific goalscorers in the game. His appearance to goal ratio speaks for itself and when a player of this caliber becomes available, it is an opportunity not to be missed”.

Falcao could make his United debut against QPR after the international break, as United go in search of their first win of the premier league season.

The former Atletico Madrid striker is excited at the chance to play for Dutchman. “I am delighted to be joining Manchester United on loan this season.” He told the club’s official website. “Manchester United is the biggest club in the world and is clearly determined to get back to the top. I am looking forward to working with Louis Van Gaal and contributing to the team’s success at this very exciting period in the club’s history.

Chelsea’s £100m Army On Loan THE number of Chelsea players currently out on loan across the world has reached an astonishing 26.

Over the last few years, the Blues have collected more than £100m worth of players who are now out on loan - many of whom have never even had the opportunity to pull the shirt on in a Premier League match.

Many of them are young players signed as teenagers for relatively large sums, often running into the millions - and far from hurting Chelsea’s finances, they will actually help the club balance their books in the era of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations as the loan fees stack up.

On top of that, Chelsea have actually done incredibly well.

Romelu Lukaku’s years out on loan saw his value soar from the £10m plus add-ons that Chelsea paid for him in 2011 to the £28m Everton laid out this summer. And all the while, his wages were paid by the clubs who enjoyed his services on loan.

Sometimes, the gamble pays off even more handsomely. The Blues paid Genk a reported (though unconfirmed) fee of around £5m for Thibaut Courtois three years ago - and after watching him prove himself one of the world’s finest in a Liga-winning Atletico Madrid side, they were able to recall him this summer. That effectively gave them a superb goalkeeper for less than a quarter of his current estimated market value.

Not everyone works out that way. Gael Kakuta, Chelsea’s unofficial ‘king of the loanees’, is just 23 years old but has been at Stamford Bridge since 2007.

Since then he has played for Fulham, Bolton, Dijon, Vitesse, Lazio and now Rayo Vallecano; he has six senior Chelsea appearances to his name, but seems destined never to play for the side again.

Many have claimed that Kakuta could have been a superb talent had he not wasted his best years on loan. Michael Ballack said of him “he is the star” after playing alongside him for the Blues, while Chelsea scout Guy Hillion once said that, “it is a huge waste…

He is the most gifted player of his generation. He could have been exceptional.”

Here’s our pick for a best Chelsea XI of players currently

out on loan, a line-up which contains Champions League winners and international stars... and which would probably stand a fighting chance in any top flight across Europe: Chelsea’s on-loan stars - the full list: Bertrand Traore (Vitesse Arnhem) Christian Atsu (Everton) Cristian Cuevas (Universidad de Chile) Fernando Torres (AC Milan) Gael Kakuta (Rayo Vallecano) Islam Feruz (OFI Crete) Jamal Blackman (Middlesbrough) Joao Rodriguez (Bastia) John Swift (Rotherham) Josh McEachran (Vitesse Arnhem) Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough) Lucas Piazon (Frankfurt) Mario Pasalic (Elche) Marko Marin (Fiorentina) Marko van Ginkel (AC Milan) Matej Delac (Arles-Avignon) Nathaniel Chalobah (Burnley) Oriol Romeu (Stuttgart) Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough) Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) Stipe Perica (NAC) Tomas Kalas (Cologne) Thorgan Hazard (Borussia M’gladbach) Ulises Davila (Tenerife) Victor Moses (Stoke City) Wallace (Vitesse Arnhem)

Transfer Window

EPL Clubs Spends £835m PREMIER League clubs shattered the previous summer spending record as deadline day took the total transfer window spend to 835 million pounds, according to Deloitte.

Manchester United made late moves for Radamel Falcao and down 55 million to 85 million Daley Blind while Arsenal compared to 2013, though signed Red Devils striker Danny United and the Gunners secured Welbeck on a permanent deal to the two biggest Premier League top last summer’s total of 630 deals of the summer earlier in the million pounds for the English window: Louis van Gaal’s side signed Angel Di Maria from top flight.

Deadline day spending was Real Madrid in a British record

Danny Welbeck

Welbeck Sale Shows United Have Lost Their Way “Interesting how things have FORMER assistant manager to quickly get back on track Mike Phelan has suggested that following their seventh place changed at Manchester United - Phelan now. A good young kid Manchester United has “lost the way a little bit” by spending extravagantly during the transfer window.

Welbeck has moved to Premier League rivals Arsenal, but United have splashed the cash by sealing deals for Dutch utility player Daley Blind and Colombia striker Falcao, who has joined on a season-long loan.

United, yet to win in the Premier League under new manager Louis Van Gaal and with no European football at Old Trafford, have spent big in a bid

finish last season.

Van Gaal’s summer spending spree surpassed £150m, with a British transfer record of £59.7m paid to lure Di Maria from Real Madrid. United also signed Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rojo.

Phelan, who was Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant, suggested it showed a lack of faith in United’s youth system, renowned in the past for its production line of world- class talent like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

by Redknapp, who told the west London club’s official website: “Sandro’s a proper footballer and a top class professional — he’s an absolutely fantastic signing for us. I couldn’t be more pleased.

“He’s been a massive target of mine all summer, and I honestly didn’t think we’d be able to pull it off. It’s a real statement from the club, from the owners, to bring in a player of his

undoubted ability.”

Sandro said he was looking forward to his new challenge, adding: “Working with Harry again, who I share a great relationship with, is very special to me.

“Football is in my heart, and I’m very happy at this moment.

I’m very pleased to be here, and I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates.”

QPR Swoop To Bring Sandro, Kranjcar To Loflus Road QUEENS Park Rangers have confirmed the signing of Brazil international Sandro from Tottenham and the return of Niko Kranjcar on a season-long loan from Dynamo Kiev.

Sandro — signed by Loftus Road manager Harry Redknapp during his time in charge at Spurs — has joined on a threeyear deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old was praised

59.7 million-pound move, while Arsenal took Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona for around 30 million pounds.

With Olivier Giroud out until 2015, the suddenly available Radamel Falcao would bolster the Arsenal strike force.

Deloitte estimate that United’s total spend — nearly 150 million pounds on Di Maria, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Falcao — was the highest gross spend by any English club in any transfer window, with Liverpool and Chelsea following on 117 million and 91.3 million pounds respectively.

Dan Jones, partner at Deloitte, said: “We continue to see the increased resources that Premier League clubs enjoy, as a result of improved broadcast deals, translate into investment in players.

“Last season the average Premier League club received over 25 million pounds more in central broadcast distributions than they did in 2012-13, which has helped fuel a new record spend this summer.”

Elsewhere in Europe, Bundesliga clubs spent a total 278.9 million euros during the summer transfer period — some eight million less than in the previous year. Borussia Dortmund topped the ranking with a spend of 53.2 million euros, followed by Bayern Munich, who invested 50.1 million euros.

Following the late arrival of Shinji Kagawa, Dortmund crossed the 50 million-euro mark in their bid to replace the outgoing Robert Lewandowski and to increase their squad depth.

With the 36 million-euro

(Welbeck) coming through - part of the academy system - and they’ve finally decided now that might not be the way to go so they’ve moved him on,” Phelan told BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday.

“Obviously there is more and more money now in the game, looking further and further afield for players but probably they have lost the way of Manchester United a little bit in the fact that now rather than produce it may be the case where they’re buying in.

“One of the issues of the Premier League at the moment, and with English football at the moment, is getting them on to the football field, promoting them that way and waiting for those opportunities, providing the time and that hasn’t happened.”

Phelan said United’s big spending now reflected a philosophy of wanting instant success under Van Gaal after the former champions stagnated under Ferguson’s successor David Moyes.

“It’s success now, and not later.

In Danny’s case. He’s had a good run at it, he’s come through the system...there’s other kids there

now in the system who will hopefully get a chance but there’s been a lot of cash splashed out in the transfer window and I’m sure that will only get worse.”

Tom Clerverley

investment in Medhi Benatia and Xabi Alonso during the final week of the transfer period, Bayern Munich spent a total of 50.1 million euros this summer, but, unlike Dortmund, also had substantial sales with the departures of Toni Kroos and Mario Mandzukic.

The total spend in Serie A amounted to around 335 million euros according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, with 306 million earned by Italian top-flight clubs given the high-profile departures of Benatia to Bayern and Ciro Immobile to Dortmund.

Villa Waits On Clerverley News ASTON Villa are waiting to discover if their late loan move for Tom Cleverley has come off.

The club made a u-turn on Monday to sign the Manchester United midfielder on loan but it is yet to be rubber-stamped by the Premier League.

Villa had initially pulled the plug on a permanent deal for Cleverley due to wage demands.

He was also believed to favour a switch to Everton, but the Toffees failed to strike a deal with United on deadline day.

That prompted Villa to reignite a move for the 25-year-old and they are waiting to see if they managed to complete it in time.

Villa had agreed a fee of around £8m with United for Cleverley but called the deal off on Monday after talks reached a deadlock.

Boss Paul Lambert has been looking to beef up his midfield despite adding Carlos Sanchez, Joe Cole and Kieran Richardson over the summer.

He also sold Karim El Ahmadi back to Feyenoord and loaned Aleksandar Tonev to Celtic.

Cleverley looks to have little future at Old Trafford with boss Louis van Gaal making him available and Hull were also interested before moving for Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa.

The England international has made 79 appearances for United, the last coming in their 1-1 draw at Sunderland in August.

Guardiola Asked Me To Move To Bayern Munich

PEP Guardiola, and the ever improving Bundesliga were the main reasons for Xabi Alonso to make the step to Bayern Munich, the former Real Madrid man told a news conference in Munich on Monday.

Alonso, targeting a third Champions League trophy with a third club, joined the Bundesliga champions from Real Madrid last Friday and just one day later, the Spaniard debuted for his new club in the 1-1 draw at FC Schalke 04.

And on Sunday, his old club lost 4-2 away to Real Sociedad, uncharacteristically throwing away a two-goal lead.

“Nobody expected that result, I was a bit surprised,” the veteran midfielder told a news conference in Munich on Monday, and admitted: “It was a bit weird seeing my old teammates on the TV. “It’s all gone very quickly. My debut was very pleasant, although it would have been ever better with a win.”

Alonso made the switch from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich, with Toni Kroos heading the other way.

The 32-year-old, who retired from international football last week, hopes to pick up a third Champions League trophy with Bayern Munich, having already won the biggest title in club football with Liverpool in 2005, and Real Madrid in 2014.

“I was lucky enough to win the Champions League with two teams. It would be fantastic to

repeat that with a third team,” Alonso said, before citing Pep Guardiola as another reason for his switch into the “booming” Bundesliga.

“When you play at Real Madrid then you are aware that Barcelona are the biggest rivals. Pep’s done a magnificent job during his time there. I always respected him, because he was the coach of a terrific team.

“I know Pep very well from the games against Barca. It’s clear to me how he wants to play, and want he wants of me. I’ve come here to learn from him. I am convinced that I can adapt my style.”

There had been some criticism in Germany because of the strong Spanish contingent at Bayern Munich, but Alonso washed away worries of a Spanish invasion.

The 2010 World Cup winner says he hopes to learn German “as well as I can,” and added: “German is the main language at FC Bayern.

We Spaniards have to adapt to that.

It’s important.”

The midfielder was welcomed by Bayern Munich sporting executive Matthias Sammer who said: “It’s a special moment for us as we greet a great player and a great personality to the club. We want to win everything, and that’s why we need him.

“His approach and the way he plays football will help us immediately. He’s a personality with real character out on the field.

His aura at the lunch table or in the dressing room, and the experience he’s accumulated is all very important for the team.”

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has suggested that he disagrees with Real Madrid’s decision to sell Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso.

The Portugal forward was appearing at a promotional event and was asked about the comings and goings at Santiago Bernabeu over the summer.

James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos, Keylor Navas and Javier Hernandez were brought in but Di Maria, Alonso, Diego Lopez and Alvaro Morata moved on and Ronaldo questioned the decision to overhaul the team that claimed the Champions League.

“I have strong opinions but I can’t always say what I think,” Ronaldo began, according to Marca.

“Otherwise it would be on the front page tomorrow and I don’t want that.

“But if it was up to me, I wouldn’t have done so. But if the President thinks the best thing for the team is to sign players and let others leave, we must respect and support the decision.”

Ronaldo also admitted the club’s style of play would be different this year than last after the departure of midfielders Alonso and Di Maria.

“With new players the style will change and it may change for better or worse,” he continued.

“I hope it’s for the better since the players are of a very good standard. The normal thing is that they’ll adapt well.

“Di Maria and Xabi were very important to us but they’re gone and we should be happy with the

new players. I’m sure we’ll be fine. “[Hernandez] is another player to help the team. I wish him a lot of success and hope he can help us a lot.”

Di Maria has also spoken of his friendship with and gratitute to Ronaldo.

“The truth is I have a great friendship with Cristiano, I thanked him the last time I was in Madrid,” he said to Marca.

“I left Madrid in the best way, winning La Decima. I’m grateful to Man Utd for paying what Madrid wanted. I don’t have anything to prove.

“In the letter I put everything I felt from the first time I set foot in Santiago Bernabeu.”

I Wouldn’t Have Sold Di Maria - Ronaldo

Kagawa Return A Commercial Hit For Dortmund BORUSSIA Dortmund marketing chief Carsten Cramer believes the return of Shinji Kagawa will be a huge boost for the club’s commercial activities.

The Japan international previously wore the Dortmund jersey between 2010 and 2012 before leaving the club for Manchester United.

He failed to make an impact at Old Trafford, though, and has now returned to the club where he rose to prominence in Europe, much to the delight of BVB’s fans.

Over 5000 jerseys with Kagawa’s name on it have been

Falcao’s Farewell Marks The End Of Monaco

THE pampered Cinderella of French football is destined to become nothing more than a modest maid once again.

Deadline day provided the death rattle to Monaco’s ‘project’, with star forward Radamel Falcao ditching the club in a loan move to Manchester United.

It has been a strange summer in the principality. While the media have been insistent that they have chased big-name players, there has been no evidence that they were actively trying to attract any of note.

Indeed, their shambolic decision to terminate a pre-contract agreement with Victor Valdes is

Thomas Muller

Football Is A Shark Tank - Muller

BAYERN Munich star Thomas Muller has stressed that football is a “shark tank” as one poor performance or an injury can cost you your career.

“When you get injured or The Germany international has developed into a key player a the struggle to find your best form, Bundesliga champions over the the next player is ready to take past few seasons, but he realises your place.”

Muller then went on to admit that it could all be over for him that it’s not easy to stay again if something goes wrong.

“The football world is much motivated after all the success like a shark tank,” Muller was at club and international level quoted as saying by Playboy. in recent years due to quality of “Only those who perform will the teams that he plays for.

“There’s a risk that we get a survive.

bit complacent. There are few games left with Bayern and Germany where you really get all fired up.

“Most of the time, a win is nothing more than what people were expecting. We will see how I deal with this as my career goes on.

“If I had had the choice, I would have preferred all this success at the end of my career rather than at the start of it so I could end my career on a high.”

Perez this summer and that sentiment seems to have rubbed off on the club’s supporters, who have been disappointed by the start to the new season.

Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his concerns over the club’s decision to allow Di Maria and Alonso to depart.

Real Madrid lost the Spanish supercopa to city rivals Atletico, while they surrendered a twogoal lead at the weekend to suffer their first league loss of the season at the hands of Real Sociedad.

The reaction of the club’s fanbase represents a huge contrast to last summer when fans applauded the arrival of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and the subsequent signings of eight players, including Gareth Bale and European under-21 champions Asier Illarramendi, Isco and Daniel Carvajal.

Ancelotti has admitted that he is under pressure to turn things around quickly at the Santiago Bernabeu, especially with the impending visit of Atletico after the international break.

“Something must change and will change,” he said. “It’s my responsibility.”

Real Fans Disillusioned By Transfer Policy

REAL Madrid fans believe that their team is in a weaker position to challenge for the La Liga title this season, despite spending an estimated 117.5 million euros on new players this summer, according to the results of a poll in Spanish sports daily AS. The Los Blancos board brought in James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas following their impressive performances at the World Cup, while they also negotiated a deadline day loan move for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.

However, the departures of Angel Di Maria to Manchester United and Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich, players who were

sold since Dortmund announced the signing of the attacking midfielder and the club have little doubt the 25-year-old’s return will benefit the commercially.

“The transfer of Kagawa plays right into Dortmund’s hands when it comes to merchandise,” Cramer was quoted as saying by Bild.

“Kagawa is a huge boost for us in Japan and the rest of Asia.

This gives us a push in the right direction.

Kagawa won two Bundesliga titles and the DFB-Pokal during his first spell at Dortmund.

influential to the Spanish club’s “Decima” [10th] Champions League triumph last season, have left fans puzzled and disconcerted.

An emphatic 79 percent of respondents voted “no” when asked by AS on Monday: “Does Real Madrid have a better or worse template than last season?”

Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested that he does not completely agree with the transfer business done by Real Madrid president Florentino

set to land them in court.

And it is not as if Financial Fair Play (FFP) would severely count against the Stade Louis II side.

Of course after the excesses of last summer the plan was always to cut back on spending, yet the monumental +80 million sale of James Rodriguez to Real Madrid gave Monaco significant breathing space.

The protestations of the club have looked increasingly futile.

Vadim Vasilyev, the sporting director, has been the spokesperson for owner Dmitry Rybolovlev and has had a progressively harder task explaining to the media the actions of the side.

“He is still as ambitious as he was before,” Vasilyev explained in mid-August, soon after Monaco had lost their second game of the season 4-1 at Bordeaux with a woeful display, leaving them pointless and in the relegation zone.

Reality offered a sharp contrast to the apparent inaccuracy of the Russian’s words. Even then few believed the dogma of Monaco.

The signs had been apparent earlier. Jeremy Toulalan – the club’s best players last season behind James Rodriguez – was linked with a move to Rennes, while highly-talented youngster Anthony Martial also came perilously close to departing.

Rybolovlev’s golden hand had pulled the principality side up from the depths of the Ligue 2 relegation zone and back into the top flight in the space of 18 months. This was achieved relatively quietly but once in Le Championnat again there was little desire to be remotely discreet any longer.

Only a year ago, Monaco went on arguably the most ostentatious spending spree of any nouveauriche club. Toulalan, Ricardo Carvalho, Eric Abidal, Joao Mourinho, James and, most impressively, Falcao, all arrived in the rocky principality within the space of a few weeks as a team was rapidly assembled that allowed Claudio Ranieri’s side to challenge Paris Saint-Germain for the title.

Giwa-Led NFA Board Suspends LMC

Vincent Enyeama

AFCON Qualifiers

THE Nigeria Football Association (NFA), led by Chris Giwa, has suspended the League Management Company (LMC) for sabotaging the ongoing league season.

The board, in a communiqué after its maiden meeting in Abuja on Monday, said the LMC sabotaged the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week 26 matches.

It will be recalled that the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) and other relevant bodies saddled with the organisation of the league boycotted the week 26 matches.

This was in solidarity with the factional NFA congress, which had refused to accept the emergence of Giwa as NFA chairman.

Goalkeeper Enyeama Not Part Of Nigeria’s Squad

WHILE Nigerians will not find it funny that their most reliable player will be missing from their squad next weekend, opponents Congo and South Africa will see goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama’s absence in between the posts as a good omen to explore.

The Lille safe hand has been have asked him to sort himself granted leave for the two out and he can join us in the opening matches of the 2015 future. For now there is no Africa Cup of Nations replacement for him because qualifiers on September 6 and there is no time to do that,” 10.

Keshi declared.

With the national team camp However, there are indications opening its doors to the Super on Tuesday morning that El Eagles on Monday, interim Kanemi FC goalkeeper David coach Stephen Keshi said he Obiazor has now been invited to allowed the new team captain, replace Enyeama. who was brilliant in goal for It is the first call up for the Nigeria at the World Cup, off Desert Warriors’ goalkeeper. to enable him attend to some As at Monday evening, eight pressing family issues. players had arrived the “It’s better we excuse him, Metropolitan Hotel camp of the instead of bringing him down Super Eagles in Calabar. here without him Locally based invitees Kunle concentrating for the game. I Odunlami, Gbolahan Salami,

Christian Osaguona and Azubuike Egwuekwe were joined at dinner time by Godfrey Oboabona, Nosa Igiebor, Ramon Azeez and Uche Nwofor.

The team is still battling with the release of Chinedu Obasi by his club Schalke 04 who said they have submitted his passport to embassies in Germany in order to procure visas to pursue their Uefa Champions League campaign.

Team administrator Dayo Enebi Achor is said to be working hard at ensuring that all players turn up for the game.

The team will commence

training on Tuesday morning at the Abraham Ordia Pitch of the University of Calabar.

Congo is expected to arrive in a few days

Obinna Ogba, first Vice Chairman of the NFA who read the communiqué of their meeting to newsmen said a six man committee had been constituted to oversee the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

“The members of the committee are Mr Fatai Olaniyan (Chairman), Rumson Baribote, Okey Ibe, Isaac Danladi, Tijani Babanginda, Babangida Little and Tunji Babalola who will serve as the Secretary.

“They will oversee the NPL matches till the end of the ongoing season.

“The committee is also mandated to chart a new roadmap for elections into the board of the NPL’’, Ogba said.

He also said that a committee had been constituted to investigate the members of the LMC and the NRA to ascertain

Lionel Messi Won’t Play For Argentina Today LIONEL Messi has been ruled out of today’s international friendly against World Cup winners Germany with a leg

Schweinsteiger Named New Germany Captain

BAYERN Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger has been named as the new Germany captain following Philipp Lahm’s international retirement.

Joachim Loew made the

Bastian Schweinsteiger

announcement at a press conference prior to his team’s friendly against Argentina.

Thirty-year-old Schweinsteiger has won 108 caps and scored 23 goals for Germany.

The midfielder was a key member of the team which won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

TWEET: Germany ‘Schweinsteiger is the new captain!’

However, due to Schweinsteiger’s knee injury incurred in pre-season, his club team-mate Manuel Neuer will skipper the side against Argentina.

TWEET: Bayern Munich ‘Neuer will wear the captain’s armband’ Loew also said former VfB Stuttgart coach Thomas Schneider would be his new assistant, succeeding Hansi Flick, who becomes the federation’s sports director.

“The challenge with the national team is a great one,” Schneider said. “I am honoured that both the DFB and Joachim Loew trusted in me.

the level of their involvement in the sabotage of the league.

Members of the committee are Inuwa Umar, O.O Olaniyan, while Chris Akon and Sunday Okayi would serve as the Chairman and Secretary respectively.

Another committee was also set up to work out modalities for movement to the new NFA secretariat.

They are Effiong Johnson as Chairman, Adama Yahaya and Chris Emeruwa as Secretary.

A committee chaired by Gen. Dominic Oneya was set up to reconcile all the factions amongst the football family and accordingly advise the NFA on how to avoid future conflict.

Other members of the committee are Ibrahim Galadima, Gabriel Chukwuma, Dickson Adejube and Onje Gyewado.

injury.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Monday that Messi will be held out of the game as a “precaution.”

The match in Dusseldorf is a chance for Argentina to avenge their 1-0 extra-time defeat to Germany in the World Cup final almost two months ago.

Barcelona said Messi was injured on Sunday in a 1-0 victory over Villarreal.

Messi scored four goals at the World Cup and was given the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.

The AFA also ruled out three other players with injuries: defender Ezequiel Garay, midfielder Maxi Rodriguez and forward Rodrigo Palacio.

New Argentine coach Gerardo Martino has called up two players as replacements: midfielder Nicolas Gaitan and forward Erik Lamela.

My Election Is Irreversible

Lionel Messi

CHRIS Giwa, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) board Chairman said on Monday that the election that brought him into office on Aug. 26 in Abuja was “irreversible.”

Giwa’s statement came on the heels of another planned board election being by the Aminu Miagari-led NFA for Sept. 4 in Abuja.

Giwa, who spoke to newsmen at the NFA secretariat, said the planned election should be regarded as rumour.

“No, no, no there will never be an election on Sept. 4 because we will not and I repeat we will not allow anybody to mess up with the NFA, CAF and FIFA statutes, no matter who the person thinks he is.

- Says Giwa

“Where is it on earth that in less than one week you tell me you can organise an election where we have a statute giving us a mandatory period of time.

“A congress sat on Nov. 28, 2013 and agreed that election will hold on Aug. 26 and somebody will wake up because he has lost out to tell us he wants to conduct election; no, it will not happen’’, Giwa said.

On whether he doubted the letter which FIFA sent warning of impending ban, he said he had no reason to doubt the letter.

He assured the public that FIFA will not ban the country as they have replied FIFA on the latest

development.

“I am confident that Nigeria Football Association (NFA) will not be sanctioned because I know FIFA as an organisation that is not biased, an organisation that will listen to everybody and the right decision will be taken.

“I am confident that this is the last hurdle and by the grace of God’’, he added.

He also said the referees’ strike which affected the Premier league matches this weekend would be sorted out this week.

Giwa further said that Musa Amadu, the NFA’s SecretaryGeneral had abandoned his position to Bola Oyeyede, NFA Head of International Competition department. (NAN)

Assessing Options And Challenges Of Implementing Confab Report ON Aug. 21, President Goodluck Jonathan received the report of the National Conference with a pledge that his administration would implement its recommendations.

The president, at the formal report reception ceremony in Abuja, declared that the report of the conference would not be wasted.

He promised that the executive arm of government would immediately act on certain aspects which required its attention, while other aspects would be sent to the Council of State and the National Assembly.

“We, who are in government, need to feed from the thoughts of those who elected us into power.

You have done your patriotic duty; we, the elected, must now do ours.

“We shall do all we can to ensure the implementation of your recommendations, which have come out of consensus and not by divisions.

“In this regard, I appeal to all arms of government and the people of Nigeria to be ready to play the different roles which the volumes of reports produced would assign to them,” Jonathan said.

Observers say that the president’s assurance has cleared initial reservations as to his sincerity of purpose in convoking the conference, while rekindling the hope of many Nigerians that its report would not go the way of others before it.

But the president has been consistently assuring the citizens about his plans to create a better Nigeria via the national conference.

For instance, Jonathan pledged to forward the outcome of the conference to the National Assembly for inclusion in the constitution amendment when he inaugurated the Presidential Committee on National Dialogue.

However, many concerned citizens kicked against the president’s proposal, saying that the legislators would “kill” the report, and instead called for a referendum to enable all Nigerians to decide on the report.

Jonathan appears to be aware of people’s fears for he noted during the inauguration of the

national conference that the lawmakers had agreed to provide for a referendum in the constitution.

“Let me at this point thank the National Assembly for introducing the provision for a referendum in the proposed amendment of the Constitution.

“This should be relevant for this conference if at the end of the deliberations, the need for a referendum arises.

“I, therefore, urge the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly to speed up the constitutional amendment process, especially with regard to the subject of referendum,” he said.

However, some die-hard cynics are still worried that the legislators may frustrate efforts to use the conference resolutions to forge a way forward for the nation.

They say that members of the National Assembly see themselves as the embodiment of Nigeria’s sovereign status, being the people’s representatives.

But Senate President David Mark has dispelled such fears, saying that the national conference was a collective effort to promote nation building, which the National Assembly would never oppose.

Besides, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, the Chairman of the Senate’s Constitution Review Committee, has repeatedly pledged the Senate’s readiness to give the outcome of the national conference the required legislative backing.

He, however, said that the decisions reached at the conference would have to be tabled before the National Assembly for legislation, adding: “We will support the final outcome because it is the wish of Nigerians.”

C o n s e q u e n t l y, Ekweremadu sought amendment to Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution to enable the President, in addition to the National Assembly, to initiate the process of a new constitution.

“As you amend the constitution, it would get to a point where you would not even know which part has been amended and which part has not been amended.

“Time will come when we will need to put these things together into a new constitution. The society is dynamic; at some point, there will be the need to have a new constitution.

“And we won’t be the first to do that. Other countries,

including Kenya, Brazil and Zimbabwe, have done that,” he said.

Analysts recall that the conference no doubt had robust debates and came out with far-reaching resolutions, which could bring about pragmatic socioeconomic and political changes in the country, if implemented.

Justice Idris Kutigi, the Chairman of the National Conference, said: “We approved over 600 resolutions; some dealing with issues of law, issues of policy and issues of constitutional amendments.

implementation of its resolutions.

The first category bordering on policies would be referred to the president for onward transfer to the appropriate Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for immediate implementation.

The second category touching on legislative issues would be referred to the National Assembly or the State Houses of Assembly for enactment into laws.

The third category, which relates to constitutional issues, would be referred to the National Assembly for inclusion in the ongoing

President Goodluck Jonathan “These resolutions did not deal with frivolous or inconsequential issues. We showed courage in tackling substantial and fundamental issues.

“The magnitude of what we have done is reflected in our Report and Annexures of 22 volumes of approximately 10,335 pages.”

However, while most Nigerians want the conference’s report to be implemented, not everybody, including delegates, agree on the options for its implementation.

Before adjourning in July for the final deliberations, the conference identified policy, legislative and constitutional issues as the three categories to facilitate the

constitution amendment or to the citizens through a referendum.

In respect of the third category, there was no agreement on whether to infuse the resolutions into the existing constitution; present them through a referendum as a new constitution or present them to the National Assembly as amendments to the constitution.

Mr Isaac Ighure, delegate representing the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), supported the referendum option, expressing the fear that the National Assembly might dilute the report.

“I stand on referendum; many countries have adopted referendum when

MATTERS IN FOCUS With Prudence Arobani there are critical decisions to be made.

“However, I read in the papers that the National Assembly is expecting the report to come to them and when it goes to them, they will tinker with it. I, nonetheless, expect them and everybody to be selfless.”

Sen Femi Okurounmu, delegate representing the South West geopolitical zone, recommended the establishment of a drafting committee to prepare a Draft Amended Constitution.

“When that is done, the president should liaise with the National Assembly on how to organise a referendum for Nigerians to vote on the draft constitution.

“When the people endorse the draft constitution, the president can then forward it to the National Assembly for enactment into a new constitution or amended constitution as the case may be.”

Sen. Musa Adedeh, delegate representing South-South geopolitical zone said: “The president should forward those resolutions bordering on constitutional matters to the National Assembly through the Office of AttorneyGeneral of the Federation.’’

However, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, delegate representing the North West geopolitical zone, cautioned against the use of referendum, saying: “The constitution recognises referendum on two issues only: member to lose his seat and boundary adjustment.’’

All the same, Mr Yinka Odumakin, delegate representing Afenifere Renewal Group, said that the 1999 Constitution did not make referendum illegal even though it did not recommend it in the constitution amendment process.

Odumakin noted that in their wisdom, the legislators who drafted the Electoral Act 2010, Section 2 under the functions of INEC; empowered INEC to conduct referendum on any subject.

“We have the 1999 Constitution and we have the draft constitution from the conference, which is the amendment.

“What is left now is to put the question: which one do

you want? Let Nigerians vote; it is as simple as that,” he said.

As part of efforts to ensure hitch-free implementation of the confab’s resolutions, the delegates formed eight pressure groups to facilitate the process.

However, Mr Steve Aluko, delegate representing Civil Society O r g a n i s a t i o n s , underscored the need for pragmatic reasoning in plans to subject the resolutions to a referendum or present them via constitutional amendment by the lawmakers.

“If what comes out of the conference is not Nigerian, then the legislative and executive arms of government should stop it but if it is Nigerian, they should accept and implement it.

“The legislature, executive and the judiciary each has a role to play in efforts to ensure that the outcome of the conference creates a better Nigeria for all of us and the future generation of Nigerians.”

Sharing similar sentiments, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, underscored the need for all stakeholders to accept and respect the recommendations of the confab’s report.

“President Goodluck Jonathan should respect our report and he should seek excellent advice. The National Assembly, if they have any role to play, should be honourable and do the right thing.

“I like to indulge in the belief that many of the legislators are very good people and they will do very well. I know the Speaker and the Senate President, they are very good people.

“If it goes through referendum, Nigerians should support it, vote for it and accept that we have done a very good report.

They should recognise that it is a noble service we have rendered,’’ he said.

All in all, analysts stress that unless tangible efforts are made in allowing the Nigerian interest to prevail in all the confab report’s implementation processes, Nigeria may just lose another opportunity to change its fortunes for the better. (NAN)

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