Nigerian observer 04 08 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 39 NO.048• MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2 014 • N100.00

FAMILY PLANNING Pg. 18

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Accolades For His Royal Majesty

ARCHIVAL MATTERS Pg. 21 Intelligence Blunders On Boko Haram

Gunmen kill traditional ruler BAUCHI - Some gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers, weekend killed the District Head of Soro in Bauchi state, Malam Abdulrahman Baba,

and injured two other persons.

Bauchi Police C o m m a n d ’ s spokesperson, DSP Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the killing

in a statement issued on Sunday, said the incident occurred 7.45 pm.

“On 2-8-14 at about 19.45 hours, six gunmen suspected to be armed

bandits, stormed Soro town in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi state, killing the District Head of Soro, Abdulrahman Isa Baba, Continues on page 2

important advances against Boko Haram, but it is a long fight,” Biya told

reporters.

“We are dealing with a lawless enemy, which

Cameroon reinforces against Boko Haram

YAOUNDÉ – Cameroon’s president has sent his army chief to the north of the country to beef up the battle against Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram.

Following a series of comes ahead of a key cross-border incursions US-Africa summit hosted and kidnappings,

by US President Barack President Paul Biya said Obama in Washington weekend he was also where the fight against sending more troops and terrorism is expected to military supplies to the top the agenda. area.

“In the last few weeks The announcement our forces have made

attacks in the night, who cut the throats of their victims.”

Boko Haram has long made parts of northern Continues on page 2

Give peace a chance, Mark pleads with terrorists together. Let them state

By JOSES SEDE ABUJA - Wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs. Helen Mark has appealed to perpetrators of violent crimes and terrorism ravaging Nigeria to sheath their swords and save citizens from needless agony.

Mrs. Mark said at a church service to mark her 63rd birthday in Abuja that violent crimes and terrorism poses serious challenge and impeding the peace, unity and development of the nation.

A worried Mrs Mark stated: “ The mood of the

nation does not call for celebration. I wish that we live in peace in Nigeria . I am not celebrating the birthday because of the situation we now find ourselves .

It is sad.

“The security situation is embarrassing. I wish that by next year,I will celebrate my birthday in a very joyous mood and in an atmosphere of peace and unity. Not in this kind of sober mood. “ I sincerely join our compatriots and all well meaning citizens of the world to plead with the terrorists terrorizing us to sheath their swords and let us come

TIT BIT “If a servant truly realises that he and his own wisdom belong to his master, he would stop enjoying the gossip about his master’s lack of wisdom.”.

- Kingsley-Ogbeide-Ihama

in clear terms what their grievances are and government would address them.

“These bombings and needless killings are heartbreaking. It cannot be a way of life.”

Mrs. Mark particularly bemoaned the continued holding of Continues on page 2

BURIAL: L-R: President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mohammed Garba; Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Sementary and Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers Council, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, during the burial of former President of NUJ, Mr. Ndagene Akwu in Port Harcourt weekend.

Hijacked Singaporean ship released near Nigeria

By JOSES SEDE

A hijacked Singaporean oil tanker carrying 21 sailors was released yesterday a week after being seized by pirates in waters off Ghana in west Africa,

Seoul’s foreign ministry said.

The 3,200-tonnes tanker, carrying a South Korean captain and chief engineer, was hijacked on July 26 off the southern coast of Ghana, the ministry

said.

The vessel, which had loaded in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, was also carrying 12

Chinese, one Singaporean and six Burmese, it said.

“All sailors are unhurt and it appears that some

Oshiomhole inaugurates Land Use C’ttee, HMB, A statement by Peter BENIN CITY – other Boards today Okhiria, Chief Press Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State will today, Monday August 4, 2014 inaugurate the Land Use Allocation

Committee, Traditional Medicine Board, Board of Edo Arts Council and Hospital Management Board.

Venue is the Banquet Hall, Government House, Benin City, beginning at 1pm.

Secretary to the governor requests guests to be seated by 12.30pm.

See full list on page 25

of their fuel has been stolen,” it said, adding the ship was released in waters off Nigeria.

It did not say whether a ransom has been paid, but Yonhap news agency said the hijacking appeared to have been aimed at stealing fuel.

“There has been a sharp increase in piracy activities in waters off West Africa, but in most cases, (they) abandon the ships after taking oil, Continues on page 2

News NMRC To Introduce Mortgage Counseling ABUJA - The Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, Mr Sonnie Ayere, has said that the organisation would introduce counseling services for the public on how to negotiate mortgages.

Ayere stated this in Abuja on Sunday in an interview with journalists.

He said that enlightenment was an essential component in mortgage refinancing but regretted that it was considered in the new Federal Government’s mortgage refinancing scheme launched on Thursday.

The scheme, in its phase, according to the government, would provide 10,000 affordable homes for Nigerians, “One of the things we have not added in this programme, which we will be adding to the programme, is actually Mortgage counseling. ‘’This means teaching people what they should ask for under their mortgages,’’ he said.

According to Ayere, people should know the relevant questions to ask before signing into mortgages.

Commenting on penalty in pre-paying mortgage, he said that it would depend on individual agreements with primary mortgage institutions.

He explained that prepayment of mortgage was

Gunmen Continued from page 1 and two other traders.

“They carted away undisclosed amount of money from their victims and escaped to unknown destination.

“The entire surrounding had been cordoned off and efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects,” he said.

Mohammed also said that a 32 year-old man had been apprehended in connection with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was buried in a building site located at VIO quarters in Azare town of the state.

It would be recalled that on July 30, the Explosive Ordinance Unit of the state command, recovered and rendered safe, an IED concealed in a fire extinguisher and some assorted ammunition buried in the building.

The spokesperson stated that the man, a resident of Kofar Dumi area of Bauchi metropolis, had confessed to participating in bank robbery in Misau and Azare towns of the state.

Mohammed listed items recovered from the suspect, to include three Barreta, two G3, and one K2 rifles, as well as one double-barrel gun, among others.

ability of one to pay off the mortgage before the negotiated period of payment “This will depend on banks; some banks will surcharge you; some will not charge, but if you take it from a logical stand point, when a bank gives a loan, its profit on the loan is the interest.

“So, when you now come

in and pay the loan, you have stopped the bank from getting the interest.

“Logically, the banks will say, since you are stopping them from earning the prolonged profit, we are going to charge penalty,’’ he said.

Ayere, however, said that

the amount to be charged would vary from one institution to another, adding that there might be institutions which may not charge for that.

He said that pre-payment of mortgages should be top in most questions people should ask while negotiating for mortgage.

Security: Okomu Oil Coy Donates Patrol Van To Edo Police

By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON BENIN CITY- As part of efforts to ensure adequate security in and around its host community the Okomu Oil Company weekend donated a Ford Ranger patrol van to Edo Police Command, Benin City.

Presenting the vehicle to the command, the Managing Director of the company Dr Graham Hefer stated that the gesture was part of his company’s corperate social responsibilities.

He added that the vehicle is donated to assist the Nigeria Police Force to provide effective security in Ehor community, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State where they now have a new farm.

Dr Hefer however thanked the state police command for its age-long relationship and support at Okomu farm in Ovia South-West and North East Local Government Areas of Edo State.

“The Okomu Oil Company is very pleased to assist the police in Ehor area by handing over this vehicle to enable them discharge their duty”. Dr Hefer noted.

Receiving the vehicle on behalf of the Commissioner of Police in Edo, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, operations, Edo Police Command Mr. Kenneth Ebrimson thanked Okomu Oil Company for the gesture.

He assured them that the vehicle would be used to enhance security in Ehor community just as he enjoined other companies operating in Edo to emulate the gesture.

“The vehicle would be put to use to enhance enficient and effective policing of the area”, Mr Ebrimson assured.

Present at the presentation

ceremony were the Divisional Police Officer, Ehor DSP Abduliahi Wase and some

principal officers of the Police Command and Okomu Oil Company.

NIBO (Anambra) - The Anambra Government has called on eligible voters in the state to turn out en mass and participate in the forth-coming voter revalidation exercise and obtain their permanent voter cards.

The Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Willie Obaino, Chief JoeMartins Uzodike made the call on Sunday at Nibo near Awka during a stakeholders meeting of PresidentsGeneral of communities.

He stressed the need for the people to participate in the revalidation exercise and ensure they obtain their permanent voter cards.

He said that about 1.8 million voters were registered in the state previously out of which about 1.3 million participated in the previous elections.

“This is the time for the people of the state to actualise their dreams of having the power to vote people of their choice.

“Let us ensure that all those whose names are in the voters’ register collect their permanent voter cards.

“Those who have attained 18 years or did not register in

the past should do so now,” he pleaded.

Uzodike said that voters register would be used for delineation of constituencies in the state.

The special adviser urged the presidents-general to work with their village heads, councilors and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise.

Obtain Your Permanent Voter Cards, Anambra Tells Citizens

Cameroon close to the Nigerian border as a haven for its activities, with militants often crossing between the two countries.

The group has carried out a series of attacks against Cameroonian civilians and the military, and last month, the president dismissed two senior army officers in the region after at least 15 people died in violence blamed on Boko Haram.

Continued from page 1 money, or valuables,” said a senior Seoul official quoted

by Yonhap.

“This case appears to be of a similar kind.”

Piracy off the western coast of Africa has been rising in recent years, with attackers targeting ships playing a key role in the region’s thriving oil industry.

The International Maritime Bureau said West African piracy made up 19 percent of attacks worldwide last year, with Nigerian pirates accounting for 31 of the region’s 51 attacks — the most since 2008.

‘Give peace a chance’ Continued from page 1 over 200 Chibok Secondary School girls and pleaded with their captors to show mercy on the innocent girls.

She lamented: “It is difficult to imagine the situation of the girls held in captivity. As a mother my heart bleeds. I can only plead and pray that God almighty touches the

Cameroon reinforces Continued from page 1

Hijacked

The militants are also accused of abducting 10 people, among them the wife of the country’s deputy prime minister and a local sultan, at the end of July.

Biya said he would use the US-Africa summit to garner support for a “regional strategy” to counter the threat posed by Boko Haram.

“Because it is an international terrorist movement, we should take action internationally,” he said.

heart of their abductors and set them free alive.

“Honestly, the best gift I will want to be given is the release of the Chibok girls and peace in Nigeria, because without peace, there will be no meaningful development.”

Earlier in a sermon, the Catholic Priest of Archangel Church, Durumi, Abuja Rev. Fr. Raphael Madu harped on the need for selfless service , peaceful co existence and helping the needy especially the less privileged and the vulnerable in the society.

Rev. Madu urged Christians and non Christians alike to live in harmony with one another in a manner of being our brother’s keeper at all times.

Mrs. Mark was accompanied to the thanksgiving mass by the Interior Minister Abba Morro and Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mike Omeri among others.

HIV/AIDS: NGO trains 100

Trad birth attendants

CALABAR - A NonGovernmental Organisation, Development Options, said it had begun the training of 100 traditional birth attendants in Cross River on how to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The Project Manager of the organisation, Ms Ukeme Ekong, made this known in an interview with journalists in Calabar yesterday.

Ekon said that the training of the attendants commenced in May, 2014 and would last for 18 months.

She said that at the end of the programme, the organization would use the birth attendants to inculcate in no fewer than 5,552 targeted pregnant women in the state, the habit of attending ante-natal clinics.

She said that the organisation was faith-based and was being assisted by the World Bank and State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) in Cross River, in implementing HIV/AIDs programme in the state.

According to her, while SACA provides technical support to us, the World Bank assists with funds.

“Development Options is working on social behavioral change for increased anti-natal care and prevention of motherto-child transmission by pregnant women under our maternal and child health project.

“Our target is to reach out to 5,552 pregnant women with necessary information on the need to access health facilities or ante-natal care while patronizing traditional birth attendants,” Ekon said.

She disclosed that a survey conducted by the organization in the state in 2013 showed that 900 pregnant women had their babies under the care of traditional birth attendants.

She said that the number contrasted with 200 women whose babies were delivered at primary healthcare centers during the period.

Ekon explained that most pregnant women in the area patronized traditional birth attendants because the public health centers lacked functional equipment and qualified personnel.

She stated that the organization was currently working in nine communities in Calabar South Local Government Area of the state.

She therefore called on the state government to provide equipment and qualified personnel in the health centres to ensure improved healthcare in the rural areas.

When newsmen visited the Creek Town training centre for the programme in Calabar South, one of the trainees, Mrs. Blessing Ita, described the training as “tremendously beneficial.”

Ita said that she had become better informed about HIV/AIDS. “I am more informed now than before about prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. “I believe strongly that this will help me in the way I do my work to prevent pregnant women from contracting or passing the virus to their babies,” she said.

KARU (Nasarawa) - Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Patrick, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state, has advised Christian leaders to guard against corruption.

Patrick made the call on Sunday at the inauguration of a executive of Karu Chapter of CAN, Masaka Zone.

He said that serving as a leader in CAN was not for financial gains, stressing that it was an opportunity to invest in the kingdom of God. According to him, being a leader in the association is a privilege and a great responsibility to work for God. He said that building the kingdom of God required sacrifice from every one.

“Leadership in the house of God is a call to serve and not to lord over people.

“It’s a leadership with total humility; therefore, Christian leadership must be “Christ like”; you are to give and not to take, you are to invest your time, your energy and your wisdom,’’ he said.

The cleric said that the

unity of the church at the moment was imperative in rescuing mankind from satanic operations.

He therefore urged all Christians to unite and pray for Nigeria in its current tribulations.

Earlier, Dr Emmanuel Zakwoyi, Chairman of CAN, Masaka Zone, called on Christians in the area to unite and propagate the gospel of the kingdom of God. Zakwoyi also urged members of the executive to be committed to delivering on their responsibilities, assuring that CAN leadership in the area would introduce extensive programmes for promoting cohesion among Christians.

He commended Karu Local Government council for supporting CAN in the area.

He urged members of the association in the area to cooperate with the leadership in its efforts to build a united Church.

In his remarks, Mr Kefas Jatau, Vice Chairman of the zone, said that the association would not relent in bringing churches together.

Cleric tasks CAN leaders on corruption

Across The Nation Ihejirika Calls For Development Of Soldier To Borders

The Chief Inspector of Educatino, Esan South East Local Government Area, Pastor Mrs. Helen Agbon (right), Comrade Henry Agbeso (left) and representatives of Sacred Heart Girls Model Secondary School, winner of the inter-schools debate organised for schools in the locality by the Chief Inspector of Education.

SOKOTO - The former Chief of Army Staff retired Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, has called for the deployment of military personnel to the country’s porous borders.

Ihejirika told newsmen in Sokoto that such deployment would prevent illegal arms importation into the country.

He said that the military would work hand in hand with other security agencies in preventing and arresting all those involved in the illegal business.

He explained that illegal arms importation posed threat to the country’s corporate existence.

Ihejirika also called on traditional leaders to complement the effort of the

Sokoto University Matriculates 783 Students SOKOTO - The Sokoto State University, Sokoto, has matriculated 783 pioneer students it had admitted for the 2013/ 2014 academic session.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Nuhu Yaqub, said at the matriculation that 783 were admitted out of the 800 approved for the university by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

He commended Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State “for his dogged commitment which led to the establishment of the university and the provision of the needed infrastructure.’’

Yaqub said that the management of the institution would continue to live above board and be transparent.

The vice chancellor, however, said that the institution would not condone any act of indiscipline from students or staff.

Governor Wamakko, who is a Visitor to the university, said that the institution was established to provide the needed educational opportunities to the teeming candidates from the state and other parts of the country.

He promised to sustain the level of funding required for the provision of structure, facilities and other needs of the university.

The Pro-Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, commended Wamakko “for taking the bull by the horns by establishing this institution.’’

Shinkafi then challenged the university authority to strive to meet the needs of its immediate environment.

“Other wealthy individuals in the state and other parts of Nigeria should complement the efforts of the state government by donating to the university,’’ he added.

Development

Edo Assembly Commends LG Boss BENIN CITY – Edo State House of Assembly has given kudos to the Chairman, Ovia North East Local Government Council, Barr.(Mrs.) Lucy Omagbon for transforming the fortunes of the Local Government.

The House position was expressed when the Council boss appeared before it to give account of her stewardship to the lawmakers.

Satisfied with the Council boss performance, the only female legislator in the House, Hon (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie in her remark during the briefing described the council boss as an asset to the local government area.

Hon. Ativie remarked that Omagbon with her magic wand has brought the local government, with a deficit account when she (Omagbon) assumed office to one that could boast of infrastructural development.

“I can remember how this woman used to cry to us, complaining about financial challenges, overstaffing and other problems capable of hindering development.

“She has done well by putting the council in better stead, against all odds.

“Therefore, she deserves commendation so as to spur her to do more,” according to Hon. Ativie.

The ceremony was attended by the Sultan of Sokoto,

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, Alhaji Ilyasu

Bashar, among dignitaries.

other

security agencies by sensitising the people on the need to be security conscious and report dubious characters.

He said that the active support of the royal fathers would enable members of the public to come forward with information on bad eggs in the society.

He explained that since security officers could not be everywhere all the time, Nigerians should develop the habit of offering information that could lead to the arrest of insurgents.

Ihejirika said that the Nigeria Army and other security agencies were in dire need of intelligence reports from members of the public.

He explained that such information would enable the security agencies to come out with a formidable security method for peace, progress and political stability.

Hon. Barr. (Mrs) Lucky Omagbon, Chairman, Ovia North East Local Local Government Council (centre) flanked on her (right) by Mr. A. E. Elema, Head of Service (HOS) to the Local Government and A. O. Otote, treasurer during the Chairman’s apperance at the house recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Sacred Heart Wins Schools Debate

BY INNOCENT OKOH

UBIAJA - The Chief Inspector of Education (C.I.E), in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, Pastor (Mrs.) Helen Agbon has organized an inter-secondary schools debate as part of measures to encourage academic excellence in the locality.

The competition featured both public and private secondary schools, with sacred Heart Girls Model Secondary School and Ohordua secondary school emerging finalists.

The competition was held at the St John Bosco College, Ubiaja.

Sacred Heart Girls Model Secondary School spoke in favor of the subject: “Privatization is the solution to the fallen standard of education in Nigeria” while Ohordua Secondary School spoke against the topic.

In her address at the occasion, Pastor Agbon, the C.I.E in Esan South East Local Government Area, disclosed that the idea was initiated following the admonition by the State Commissioner for Higher, Technical, and Tertiary Education for the promotion of sports in the state.

According to her, “I decided to introduce this competition following the admonition of the

Commissioner that all C.I.E’s, must be proactive in their duties by initiating activities geared towards revitalizing the educational standard of the state, and as a result inter-secondary school academic competition should be reintroduced especially in the area of sports”.

She disclosed that plans has been concluded to commence inter- secondary school Gold cup football competition in the Local Government Area.

According to her, “It will take off next term and I hope the annual event will produce athletes that will be selected from here to join the state team”.

Chairman of the occasion,

Comrade Henry Agbeso, commended Sacred Heart Girls Model Secondary School, winner of the debate competition for proving to be the best through hard work and excellent intellectual display.

He urged the school to put up better performance next year, as other schools are warming up to take its place.

High Point of the occasion was the presentation of a gold cup to the winner of the debate competition by comrade Agbeso.

Schools that participated in the competition included St. John Bosco College, St. Francis College, Holy Innocent Comprehensive College and Edekholor Secondary School.

News APC Threatens To Boycott Senatorial Bye-Election MINNA - The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has threatened to boycott the August 16 byeelection for Niger-East Senatorial District.

Spokesman for APC in the state, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, issued the threat in a statement released to newsmen in Minna.

He said the party might boycott the election if Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), was allowed to preside over the election.

He alleged that Onucheyo sent a proposal to the State Government requesting for

N44.375 million to organise national inter-agency advisory committee on voter education and publicity “APC drew the attention of the public to a proposal by the REC to the government requesting for N44.375 million in the name of organising National InterAgency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity.

“The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Saidu Idris, confirmed that a proposal with the same amount quoted by APC was actually brought before the government by the REC. “The SSG said that

N28.7million was eventually approved by State Executive Council in one of its

meetings’’, he said.

Vatsa said the party might boycott the election if the

allegation was proven to be correct.

He said that the allegation was enough for INEC to

redeploy the REC in order to have a free, fair and credible election in the state.

Emergency Transport

NGO Trains Over 30 Medical Personnel

YENAGOA - Ong-Pobic Onlus, an Italian NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), says it has trained more than 30 medical personnel in Bayelsa on ambulance and emergency transportation.

Dr Carlo Antonio, head of the organisation’s Scientific Committee, stated this to newsmen in Yenagoa at the end of the training exercise.

He said that the NGO also trained some personnel on the management of cardiac arrest in patients.

He said that Ong-Pubic Onlus, as a humanitarian organisation, was ready to impact positively on healthcare development in Nigeria, especially in Bayelsa.

“We have trained over 30 health officers on ambulance operations, and some experts

in cardiac arrest.

“The training was run for 10 days and all the health officers trained were from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.

“Urgent assistance should be given to a cardiac arrest patient because if not given, unexpected cessation of circulatory and breathing activities can occur.

“And if the patient’s breathing ceases, it can cause instant death,” he said.

The FMC Yenagoa, Medical Director, Dr Nicholas Etebu, described the programme as a good omen to the state and the hospital.

Ebetu commended the NGO, and urged the trainees to make good use of the knowledge acquired in the course their professional practice.

Hon. Hassan Kadiri, Chairman Etsako West Local Government Council (left), presenting brief of activities of his Council to Mr. James Omoataman, Deputy Clerk, Legislative Matters, Edo State House of Assembly during the Chairman’s appearance before the House recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Amaechi Felicitates With Soyinka At 80

By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM

PORT HARCOURT Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has congratulated Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on his 80th birthday and described him as a global achiever.

Governor Amaechi made the remark at a birthday dinner held in honour of Prof. Soyinka at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt, also attended by Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and friends and associates of Prof. Soyinka and a host of eminent Rivers State citizens.

Amaechi described the Nobel Laureate as being consistent in

the literary world and bringing honour to Nigeria despite its current travails, noting that Prof. Soyinka’s achievements and contributions spanned across the world.

He said, “I need to thank you (Prof. Wole Soyinka) for accepting the invitation by the Rivers state Government to host you to a dinner. The reason for it is basically the achievements that you have made globally not just in Nigeria”.

“You have in the midst of our so many bad news brought good name to Nigeria. I will give you an example, like those days when Nigerians were very good in football. Wherever we

went, we would say ‘I’m from Nigeria. I’m related to Okocha or to Kanu’ because the only good news then was just the football we played but as things are, the football has joined so many negative things too because we are not doing too well as we used to do before, but you have remained consistent in the literary world.

“The good thing about your own achievement is the fact that it has to do with hard work. If you don’t read, you won’t be a good writer. Nobody can tell you that once you wake up, you become a good writer. Reading begets writing and you must understand what you are writing about.

“I was quite elated when you accepted to allow us host you

to an 80th birthday dinner. I know how many persons applied to host you. I know how many people you also refused,” Amaechi said.

Speaking in same vein, Ekiti State Governor Fayemi extolled the virtues of the literary icon and described him as one of the world’s literary amazons.

He recalled that Prof.

Soyinka fought so much for the liberation of Nigeria during the Sanni Abacha days in office and was for sometime even incarcerated.

He listed Prof. Soyinka’s attributes of justice, fair play, dignity for the human person and faith in good governance as commendable virtues of the literary giant.

Police Arrest 14 Suspects Taraba Crisis:

Hon. Hassan Kadiri, Chairman Etsako West Local Government Council (middle), flanked on his right by Mrs. M.E. Egharevba, Acting Head of Service and Mr. Isimekpai Oseni, Secretary to the Council during the Chairman’s appearance before the House recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

JALINGO - The Police in Taraba have confirmed the arrest of 14 suspects following the eruption of violence in Ibi, the headquarters of Ibi Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Joseph Kwaji, told newsmen in Jalingo that the problem emanated from what looked like a religious conflict.

He said it had all started in the early hours in the area which had been witnessing persistent conflicts in recent times.

Kwaji said reports reaching the police showed that trouble

started at about 5 a.m. when groups of youths engaged each other in gun battles.

He said these had led to the destruction of property worth millions of Naira, with many of the youths sustaining severe injuries.

“Apart from the arrest of the 14 youths, police have also recovered two AK 47 rifles and several other dangerous weapons from those arrested.

“But calm has been restored in the area after the deployment of a detachment of mobile policemen and the military to maintain the peace,’’ the PPRO said.

News Fed Poly Bauchi Outlines Programme To Recover Lost Period

BAUCHI - The Authorities of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, has outlined a programme of academic activities to enable the recovery of the period lost to the nine months strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

The institution’s Public Relation Officer (PRO), Malam Mohammed Wada, told newsmen in Bauchi that academic activities resumed fully July 30, and that the semester would last for only two months.

Wada explained that lectures would hold for five weeks, while examination would commence on September 8 and last for three weeks.

“We were one month into the second semester of the 2012/ 2013 academic session when the strike commenced in October 2013.

“What we are trying to do now, is to see how we can complete the syllabus within five weeks, so that examination would commence in the sixth week and end in the eighth week.

“This is basically to assist the students make up for a complete session that was lost to the strike, especially final year students who are eager to graduate, “he said.

The spokesman further

explained that fresh students were expected to start their screening and registration on August 22, before the commencement of the examination.

He advised students that were yet to resume, to do so immediately, stressing that no excuse for absenteeism would be entertained as full academic activities had commenced.

Some of the students who spoke to newsmen however expressed mixed feelings concerning the five weeks slated for lectures.

While some welcomed the idea, others argued that five weeks was too short to cover the remaining syllabus and prepare well for examination.

Miss Sarah Timothy, a student undergoing Estate Management course, said that the five weeks of lectures was enough, having being idle for nine months due to the strike.

She commended the institution’s management for coming up with the two months calendar, within which to complete the 2012/2013 academic session.

“I am so happy that academic activities have resumed after nine months of wasting away at home.

“I think five weeks of lecture

is good enough; after all, were at home since October last year.

At least with this arrangement, I would finish my HND 1 by September, “ she said.

Timothy appealed to the academic union and the federal government, to resolve their differences to avoid further disruption of academic activities.

According to her, most students, especially ladies, are eager to graduate and get married, but consistent strikes is robbing them of the opportunity to complete their academic pursuit and settle down at a reasonable age.

Another student, Patrick Mathias, studying Accountancy, described the five weeks of lectures as a ‘crash programme’ that may affect the performance of students.

According to him, students have stayed at home for too long to remember some of the things they learnt before the commencement of the strike, as

such five weeks is not enough time to recover.

“We are happy that academic activities have resumed but the plan to hold lectures for only

ABUJA -The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has said that it will strengthen the

biotechnology centres established across the six geopolitical zones and make them accessible to grassroot farmers.

Mr Babajide Iletoogun, the agency’s Director of Media, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Iletoogun said that in addition to the six centres of excellence, seven biotechnology centres had also been set up in institutions across the six geopolitical zones in the country including the FCT. According to him, the centres were established to assist the institutions in developing manpower and conduct research in biotechnology, to enable grassroots farmers to have access to research reports.

He said the agency was also working toward assisting

five weeks would have a negative impact on our performance; we need at least two months of lectures before examination.

“That way, we would have time to read and revise our notes for better performance,

Hon. Osaro Obazee, Chairman, Oredo Local Government Council (left), presenting brief of activities of his Council to Mr. James Omoatama, Deputy Clerk, Legislative Matters, Edo State House of Assembly during the Chairman’s appearance before the House recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

NABDA To Strengthen Biotechnology Centres

Hon. Osaro Obazee, Chairman Oredo Local Government Council (middle), flanked on his right by Hon. (Mrs.) Sweet Ikponmwosa, Vice Chairman and Mr. Ilenagbe Goddy, Director of Administration and General Service of the Council during the Chairman’s appearance before the House recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

farmers in the rural areas them to improve on their crops in order to reduce the poverty level.

Iletoogun said that the agency was collaborating with relevant international agencies such as the African Conservation Centre (ACC) Kenya; African Agricultural Technology Foundation, African Harvest, Kenya and other relevant ministries in the country.

He further said that the agency was also partnering with the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State.

“We are working with the

PFN Advises Leaders Against Looting Public Fund

By RICHARD OKORO-EWEKA/ IKPONMWOBA OSAZEE JOEL

BENIN CITY - The General Superterdent of New Covenant Gospel Church and the National President, Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. (Dr.) Felix Omobude has called on churches in Edo State to continually pray for political, traditional and religious leaders for them to lead this state and nation right.

Rev. Omobude in a sermon titled “A call to Reprence at Oba Ovoramwen Square Benin City, venue of a one day intercessory

prayer session for Nigeria, also urged the nations leadership at what ever level to lead the people well rather than looting public treasury.

The session was organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State branch.

As leaders of this great nation, you should do away with corruption, oppression and any form of underground support for terrorism”, Rev Omobude said.

He urged Nigerians irrespective of trible or religious officiating to see themselves as one and ensure that peace reign

“Mathias argued.

It would be recalled that the ASUP embarked on an indefinite strike in October 2013 over the deplorable state of government-owned polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technology.

in Edo state and the nation at large.

Rev. Omobude stressed the need for Nigerians to humble themselves before God ask and seek the face of God and also to engage themselves in advising and praying for the leaders, rather than complaining.

“Prayer should be our focal point in this nation, especially at this nation, especially at this turbulent times” according to him.

“He remarked that prayers for the leaders and the nation should at all times be part of the responsibilities of the church.

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Chief Host thanked participant for the nation.

“We should not be discourage by the numbers but know that we are here to lift up our families, state and nation to God to save us from the turbulent times we re experiencing as a nation”, he said.

He called on church leaders to ensure they exhibit good leadership qualities and be ready to scarify everything to preserve the lives of sheep, adding that

the same should be applicable to the political leaders, “as this is a sure way of overcoming the troubles and problems facing the nation today”.

Chairman, planning committee at the programme and representative of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Richard Ofere expressed delight over the success of the programme, especially for the good weather and hope that insurgency, kidnapping, robbery and other neferous activities would be a thing of the past.

National Cereal Crops Research Institute, Badegi, Niger State, to improve on rice.

“Cassava has been improved such that it can be used for drinks among other products, and also fortified with vitamins just as soya beans is also being improved.’’

In a separate interview, a Director on Bioresources Development, told newsmen that collaboration with university and research centres would optimise productivity and create an enabling environment for research activities in the country.

He explained that NABDA’s mandate is to promote biotechnology activities that positively respond to national aspiration on food security, job and wealth creation, affordable healthcare delivery and sustainable environment.

According to him, the agency has established biotechnology centres at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (South East); University of Port Harcourt (South South); University of Ibadan (South West); University of Maiduguri (North East); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (North West); and University of Jos (North central).

He said that the agency also set up the Bio-resources Development Centre at Odi, Bayelsa State, the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) located in Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

South West Engage In Useful Ventures, Expert Charges Youths

Hon. Emmanuel Momoh, Chairman, Etsako Central LG Council (left), presenting brief of activities of his Council to Mr. James Omoataman, Deputy Clerk, Legislative Matters, Edo State House of Assembly during the Chairman’s appearance before the House recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Ajimobi Commiserates With El-Rufai Over Son’s Death

By ABIODUN AFOLABI

IBADAN - Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has commiserated with a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir elRufai over the death of his son, Hamza in a car crash which occurred in Abuja .

In a statement issued here ,Ibadan , the Oyo State capital by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, Ajimobi described the death of the son of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain as unfortunate and disheartening.

Said he :”It is with deep shock that I received the death of Hamza, a promising

young man, in a ghastly motor accident that occurred in Abuja on Tuesday.”

He was of the view that “ It is even more painful considering the fact that he was snatched by the cold hands of death at the prime

of his life,’’ he said, describing the deceased as a rising star and potential leader of tomorrow “.

Ajimobi admonished the former Minister to accept the incident as an act of God as nothing could happen to any

IBADAN - Maj.-Gen Emmanuel Abejirin, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2nd Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan, has inaugurated a general court martial to try erring personnel within the division.

The GOC said at the inauguration that the Court Marshal became necessary to dispose of some disciplinary

cases which by the provisions of military law could not be tried summarily.

He said the cases included stealing, forgery, defilement, rape and murder.

He said member the court martial, led by Brig. Gen Felix Agugo, were selected based on rank, seniority,

human being without the knowledge of God. While praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the governor beseeched God to grant Mallam el-Rufai and his entire family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

IBADAN - Dr Ayo Olude, a peer mentor and lecturer at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has advised Nigerian youths to channel their energy into useful ventures.

Olude gave the advice at a one-day Skill Acquisition Programme, organised by Human of Substance Empowerment Initiative, an NGO, for school leavers who are awaiting university admission.

He advised the youths to turn their dreams into reality by acquiring skills along with their pursuit of university education.

“You must be well-informed, diligent and involved in training and skill acquisition,’’ he said.

He noted that with the right information they would be able to made good decisions and get good results.

Pastor Dolapo Adelakun, wife of Bishop Victor Adelakun of the Rehoboth Cathedral, in a keynote address advised the youths to pursue any skill they start learning until they are very good in it.

“You must pay attention to those things you know how to do well because they will be your source of financial empowerment in the future.

“You must not rely on your parents’ inheritance because whatever they give you will only enhance you and not promote you.’’

She also counselled them to eschew reckless spending, cultivate the habit of saving and endeavour to get the approval of their parents in whatever they do.

Miss Abiade Abiola, the chairperson of the NGO, said the idea of the programme was born out of the fact that she had to stay at home for four years before gaining admission to read law at the university.

“During those four years of waiting, I had to learn sewing, cooking and interior decoration; the proceeds from rendering these services empowered me financially throughout my university days.

“This was why I decided to use the NGO to assist young school leavers in acquiring skills while waiting for admission,’’ she said.

She advised them to make maximal use of their great potential.

Reports state that 300 secondary school leavers of Government College Ibadan, Ibadan Boys High School, Our Lady of Apostles, St Annes School and Queens’ School, Ibadan, participated in the programme.

Twenty students received between N15,000 and 25,000 each to learn skills such as cooking, hair dressing, beadmaking, photograph, printing and publishing.

Army To Court Martial Erring Officers general service knowledge and wealth of experience.

“Let me note at this point that military justice is in consonance with democratic order; hence military law and administration of military justice are not arbitrary, “Military justice is based on due process in conformity

with extant laws, especially the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Armed Forces Act,’’ he said.

He urged members of the court to ensure that every step or action taken in the trial process conformed to the law.

“In view of this, I wish to

note that military justice is key to achieving military efficiency and discipline, “This court is empowered to determine the guilt or otherwise of accused persons who are to be presumed innocent until proved otherwise,’’ he said.

. . . Commission’s Patrol Vehicles IBADAN - Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assured that all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure peace in the state.

The governor gave the assurance while speaking at the presentation of 33 patrol vehicles to security agencies in the state.

The vehicles were presented to the state’s security outfit, “Operation Burst, ‘’ police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Nigerian Prison Service.

According to Ajimobi, no stone will be left unturned to ensure peaceful and violent-free elections next year.

“You know that when elections draw near like this, some people may tend to be

violent. “ But in Oyo State, we have been able to keep peace and tranquility, and I want to assure the people of the state that this trend will continue.

“We have bought these vehicles to augment the several vehicles we had earlier procured. “ We have also purchased other auxiliary items in order to maintain peace in Oyo State. “ We are fully prepared and the people of the state are also prepared,’’ he said.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Ndabawa, in his address, commended government’s commitment to ensuring security of lives and property in the state.

He said the patrol vehicles would go a long way in assisting the police and other security agencies in curbing criminal activities in the state.

Hon. Emmanuel Momoh, Chairman, Etsako Central LG (middle), flanked on his right by Hon. Atairu Murtala and Hon. Brodrick, Head of Service (HOS), of the Council during the Chairman’s appearance before the House recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Lagos Commissioner Advocates Reconstruction Of Oshodi/Apapa Expressway

IKEJA The total reconstruction of the entire stretch of the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway is the permanent solution to the enduring gridlock on the road.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, made the assertion in an interview with newsmenin Ikeja.

He said the root cause of the chaos on the road, especially around the Coconut bus-stop and the Apapa ports, was that several portions of the road had failed.

The commissioner said the situation led to frequent accidents involving tankers and this had resulted in the total blockage of the road in the past.

“The problem affecting the Apapa end is that most portions of the road are bad, and that explains why tankers and trucks fall on that road, resulting in the traffic mess we always experienced there.

“Until the road is reconstructed, the problem on the Apapa axis will be very difficult to solve permanently,’’ he said.

Opeifa said the Federal and Lagos State Governments had a meeting in 2012 where the former promised to reconstruct the entire road, so as to end the sufferings of motorists plying the route.

He, however, said that the Lagos state government was

still expecting the Federal Government to fulfill the promise it made in 2012 to reconstruct the road.

“What they are doing now is palliative work and that will not solve the problem.

“You see, the blight spots are Coconut, Wharf and Creek sections of the road, but the

ongoing palliative work is not extended to those areas.

“We have been consistently implementing our own part of the agreement we had with them, some of which was to manage the traffic and build inner city roads,’’ he said.

Opeifa said the state government was constructing no

fewer than eight inner city roads and deploying traffic administrators there, to ensure sanity.

The commissioner, however, urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to improve their operations, with a view to checking the menace of tanker drivers in the area.

Governor Wamakko of Sokoto (left), receiving a souvenir from Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III for attending the Nigerian Defence Academy Alumni 18th Regular Course re-union in Sokoto weekend.

...FRSC Advocate Relocation Of Tank Farms

LAGOS - The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said that the relocation of tank farms from the Apapa Port roads remained the permanent solution to the persistent gridlock in the area.

The Lagos Sector Commander of the commission, Mr. Chidi Nkwonta, told newsmen in Lagos, that the measures being taken at the moment to end the congestion were temporary.

Nkwonta said that the increase in the number of tankers and trucks, the dilapidated condition of the roads, and the negligence of the stakeholders in the oil and gas industry made it necessary for the tank farms to be relocated.

He said: “we expect the tank farms to be moved from Apapa; they cannot be on the port roads in Apapa; the sitting of the tank farms is inappropriate.

“It is in the heart of the town and it is unsafe, it is causing congestion. As such, it is endangering the entire environment.

“So, the tank farms must move at the long run, while the roads must be fixed.

“You cannot control the traffic on those roads when the roads are so bad. The number of vehicles on the roads is large and there is no parking space for the trucks.

“Most of those trucks enter the potholes and they get stuck; some of the trucks lack maintenance; and coupled with the existence of the potholes it is difficult to move them.“ According to the sector commander, lack of functional loading bays, dishonesty among stakeholders in coordinating the movement of the tankers in and out of the farms made drivers to resort to queuing on the access roads.

He said they queued to avoid being pushed to the back by other loaders of products.

Nkwonta alleged that the company currently

rehabilitating the roads had worsened the situation by blocking parts of the roads while working in the daytime.

He advised that the construction work could be done at night.

He urged the construction company to fill all the potholes on the roads, as a temporary measure, to ease the “nightmare“ for the people.

The sector commander urged the government to designate a route for tankers and trucks.

Nkwonta advised the government to provide dedicated parks for the tankers and introduce the use of tallies in order to coordinate the movement of such tankers in batches.

He urged the unions to put their loading bays in good shape and to ensure that all the drivers adhered strictly to the laws guiding their operations.

The FRSC boss said that the commission had drafted no fewer than 300 officers and two commands to control traffic in the area in a bid to solve the problem.

Reports say that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Nigerian Navy had been working hard to find a sustainable solution to the gridlock.

He said that the state government would continue to do its best to alleviate the sufferings of motorists plying the road, but urged road users to obey traffic rules.

Reports state that Governor.

Babatunde Fashola and officials of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) have paid several visits to the area in recent times.

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III (6th left); former President Shehu Shagari (3rd right) and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto (5th right), with members of NDA Course 18 who visited Sokoto yesterday.

Persons With Disabilities Seek Integration Into 2015 Electoral Process

LAGOS -Jopam Foundation for the Physically Challenged Persons has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make it easy for persons with disabilities to vote in the 2015 elections.

The President of the foundation, Mr. Joshua Ebubedike, told newsmen in Lagos, that INEC could also involve them in the electoral process by way of employment.

Ebubedike, who said that

disability did not mean disenfranchisement from national assignments, noted that persons with disabilities needed to be provided with logistic support that would allow them to move freely and vote.

“Over the years the physically challenged people are disenfranchised. During periods of election, we are always at home; we listen to the radio, but this time

around, we want to get involved.

“So, we urge INEC to create an avenue for the physically challenged where they will be able to come out and cast their votes.“ The president of the foundation also urged INEC to employ some of them as educators in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

According to him, the active

involvement of persons with disabilities in such national assignments, as elections, will boost their morale.

He said that such persons would no longer feel disenfranchised once they were fully involved in national assignments.

“I also want to tell them by doing this they would have to get some of us, who are very legible, who can write, who

can read, to advise them on how to go about it, because we also have our blue prints in terms of this.

“We don’t want a situation whereby you bring out somebody that does not know anything about the physically challenged and at the end of the day what they have in mind would not be implemented.

‘So, we know where our shoe pinches us and we can also take care of our problems. So we want INEC to get us involved in the 2015 elections.“

Abuja Agitation For Chibok Girls’ Release

Group Urges Caution

ABUJA - Representatives of minority ethnic groups in the NorthEastern part of the country have appealed to Nigerians to be cautious in their agitations for the release of the abducted Chibok girls.

The representatives made the appeal at a forum organised by the Minority Interest Rights Project (MIRP) on ‘the Chibok girls and the situation in the North’, in Abuja.

Mr. Bala Takaya, a former Secretary to the State Government of the old Gongola, on behalf of the group said that the welfare of victims of the conflict and the protection of the communities should be paramount to the government and other stakeholders.

Takaya said that the recent agitation to stampede government into forcing the release of the girls was not in anybody’s interest, adding that it was better to secure a safe release of the girls than to take actions that could endanger their lives.

“Human beings are being held as human shield, government has the power to crush Boko Haram where ever they are lodged.

“But with your tender children in their hand, even they themselves when they know you are coming to crush them they will first kill the children.

“Do you want dead children in your hands? Certainly it’s better that these children come, even if it takes 100 days, safe and alive than to have their dead bodies on our hands.

“So, urging government the way people have been doing is not doing any good neither to the children, nor the government itself.

“Government should be encouraged, yes! Government should be reminded, but people should not insist the girls must be brought out alive by force because we will never get them alive if government forces it,“ he said.

Takaya pointed out that the soldiers had done their best in the circumstances facing them, but said that the support and cooperation of members of the community were required to end the insurgency.

According to the former SSG, the soldiers cannot be everywhere at the same time as Boko Haram chooses its targets.

He said that Boko Haram was against all peace-loving Nigerians and called for a concerted campaign that would weaken the support base

of the insurgents in the NorthEast zone of the country.

“Boko Haram is not the brand of Islam that most Muslims practice; Boko Haram is a war of political economy, it’s a war of certain desperados to take control and leadership of this place.

“Muslims have condemned Boko Haram because they have seen that they are not actually practicing what Islam is supposed to be doing.

“And I think that gives us a breath of fresh air from which we can now trust that our own brother Muslims will be with us when we unfold the kind of plans that we have.

“Government has its own methods; what we want to do is for the government to also reckon with the fact that they are defending us and they need our support.

“They cannot defend us without our input; on the other hand we don’t want to go on selfhelp without relating with the government,“ he said.

Mr Ibrahim Audu, the representative of Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), the umbrella body for all communities in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno, appealed for more support for the victims of the insurgency.

Audu, who expressed dissatisfaction with the rescue efforts so far, called for closer collaboration between the government and the community to secure the girls’ release and end the crisis.

“The feeling is that of total sadness, trauma and agony. You need to be told something so that you can live on the hope that something is being done.

“We are not asking the government to compromise the sensitive security issues, but at least let us know that something is being done, like somebody comforting another, who is in grief,“ he said.

Audu urged the government to use whatever appropriate means it would to secure the release of the girls.

The Coordinator, Minority Interest Rights Project (MIRP),

Mr. Mark Lipdo, said the forum was organised to give a voice to the marginalised segments of the society.

Lipdo said that some of the victims had been frustrated and angered by the unprovoked attacks and the minimal support they were receiving from the government.

He said: “Our aim is to bring cohesion so that they will be able to speak as one and we are seeing it happening.

“Our aim is that things that have been happening, especially the abduction of vulnerable people - young girls and women in this conflict – should be looked at from the victims’ point of view.

“Our aim is that at the end of this meeting the voice of the victims will be heard.“ On her part, the Special Assistant to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril, called for the setting up of a fund to alleviate the sufferings of vulnerable groups in the North, especially the middle-belt region.

She said that it was time for minority groups in the middlebelt to seek help to solve their problems, rather than wait perpetually on government support.

Reports state that a position paper on how to end the conflict in the North East is expected to be released at the end of the forum.

L-R: Commissioner, Child Rights Brigade (CRIB) Enugu State Command, Mrs. Oluchi Promise; representative of Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zakari Ya’U; Chairperson Child Protection Network, Mrs. Margaret Nwagbo and CRIB National Head of Operations, Mr. Archibong Anderson at the inauguration of CRIBENUGU State Command in Enugu recently.

Fibroids Now Common In Younger Women - Gynaecologist ABUJA - Uterine fibroid has become common among younger women and not older women alone as it used to be in the past, a gynaecologist, Dr Fred Achem, said has Achem, the President, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He described uterine fibroids

as non-cancerous growths of the uterus and the muscles of the womb often appear during child-bearing years.

“We have not found an exclusive reason why some wombs grow and other wombs don’t grow fibroids.

“But it is known that those who have fibroids are usually those who have to delay in

we do not have funds to pay them,’’ he said.

According to him, under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), it is the State Universal Basic Education Commission (SUBEC) that pays teachers’ salary and we do not have such packages.

“We believe that even our own programme and the states agencies for Mass Education Programme need to access the UBEC funds to pay the teachers’ salary.

“We are clamouring for a situation where the state commissioners of education will put SUBEC and agencies for mass education together in order to develop a work plan to access UBEC funds.

Paiko said that this would go a long way to funding the formal and non-formal education subsectors.

“Our facilitators are supposed to have minimum qualification of NCE but because of the inadequate funding, they are not properly paid, ‘’he said.

He said that the commission was also making efforts to improve and maintain the quality of teachers being engaged as facilitators.

The secretary said in terms of capacity building, 11 people were trained from each state as master trainers in a pilot programme and at the state level.

He said that 131 facilitators had so far been trained in four local governments in each of the states.

He said that the commission

had also developed 17 trade areas vocational education curriculum for adult literacy education.

According to him, we have sent it to the reference committee on education and it will be passed to the joint consultation committee on education which is coming up next week for adoption.

Paiko said that the commission was collaborating with UNESCO to revitalise adults and youth literacy in the country.

He said that through UNESCO partnership, the commission had received support from Procter and Gamble Company in sponsoring adult and youth literacy education programme on radio.

“We have a lot of packages for the radio programme, which include curriculum for out of school boys, girl-child and ‘almajiri’ integrated school children.

“We are now trying to use scale up the literacy by radio programme starting with FCT and Rivers.

“If we succeed in that and get more support, then it can be expanded to other parts of the country, ‘’he said.

He explained that the Federal Government had since 2011 released about a N1 billion to revitalise the programme.

Paiko said that a National Strategic Framework had been developed to ensure that major stakeholders were brought together to revitalise adults and youth literacy in the country.

Commission Clamours For Funds To Pay Teachers ABUJA -Alhaji Jibrin Paiko, the Executive Secretary of National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Formal Education has in Abuja, clamoured for more funding to pay teachers.

Paiko told newsmen in an interview that the commission lacked funds to pay teachers who were facilitating the adult and formal education sector.

“The major challenge we have is how to pay the teachers’ salary,

Members of Child Rights Brigade Enugu State Command during their inauguration in Enugu recently.

getting their first babies; those who have their babies between 18 years and 25 years don’t seem to have fibroids that early.

“And over the years this has not been the trend, there has been a bit of a change, we are beginning to see fibroids earlier in women,’’ he said.

Achem said although a lot of fibroids did not show symptoms, the more severe ones gave signs such as heavy and irregular menstruation and a visible lump in the abdomen.

“A lot of them may not show at all and a lot of women may never know that they have fibroids; these are the friendly fibroids.

“They are gradually growing quietly and slowly in the womb; they don’t hinder conception; they do not manifest as the others do.

“So a lot of times you do a caesarian operation and see fibroids in the womb. A lot of them are without symptoms.

“The common way they present is usually heavy periods, suddenly the periods begin to last longer and begin to get heavier than they used to be and they are changing more often than they ought to change.

“Such masses are not likely to be felt until the womb is the size of a three-month old pregnancy, so if the fibroids are less than that size, you may never show a mass in the abdomen.”

He explained that some fibroids caused pain in pregnant women. The gynaecologist said although fibroids were not supposed to cause infertility, some women found it difficult to get pregnant because the growths positioned themselves in a way that blocked the fallopian tube.

He advised single ladies who had fibroid to have children before undergoing surgery for the removal of the fibroids.

“In the younger people, the first thing to address is the low blood level, with blood transfusion or blood tablets; this can help build the blood back, then they can go and have their children,” he said.

Business + Economy Oando Acquires ConocoPhilips For $1.5bn LAGOS - Oando Plc has completed the acquisition of the Nigerian Upstream Oil and Gas Business of ConocoPhillips for 1.5 billion dollars (about N2.3 trillion).

Reports state that Oando announced the acquisition in Lagos in a statement by Mr. Alex Irune, its Head of Media and Communications.

He said the cost outlay of 1.5 billion dollars (N2.43 trillion) was arrived at after customary adjustments plus a deferred consideration of 33 million dollars (N5.34 billion).

According to him, the transaction involved the acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ Nigerian oil and gas businesses

consisting of Phillips Oil Company Nigeria Ltd. ConcoPhilips Oil Company Ltd holds 20 per cent nonoperating interest in Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 60, 61, 62, and 63 as well as related infrastructure and facilities in the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Joint Venture (NAOC JV) Ltd. It said that the other owners are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with a 60 per cent interest and NAOC 20 per cent and operator.

“Conoco Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd

(CEPNL) holds 95 per cent operating interest in OML 131 located 70 km offshore in water depths of 500m to 1,200m.

“Phillips Deepwater Exploration Nigeria Ltd (PDENL) which holds a 20 per cent non-operating interest in Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 214 located 110 km offshore in water depths of 800m to 1,800m,” it said.

The statement said that other owners are ExxonMobil with 20 per cent and operator, Chevron 20 per cent, Svenska 20 per cent, Nigerian Petroleum

Development Company 15 per cent and Sasol 5 per cent.

It said that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke, had in June approved the conversion of OPL 214 to OML 145 for an initial period of 20 years.

The transaction, it added, made Oando Energy Resources (OER) to own indirectly all of the issued share capital of POCNL, CEPNL and PDENL. “The effective date of the transaction is January 1, 2012,” it said.

The statement also said the

transaction compelled OER to retain The Petroleum and Renewable Energy Company Ltd as Independent Reserve.

It noted that Mr Wale Tinubu, the Chairman of OER said that “we believe in the significant potential that the Nigerian oil and gas industry holds and are

Cement Grading

Manufacturers Want Adequate Compliance Period LAGOS - The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos

Association Kicks Against Use Of Lilypond Container Depot LAGOS - The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has urged APM Terminals, Apapa not to use Lilypond Container Depot, Ijora, Lagos, as a permanent dumping ground for containers.

The Chairman of ANLCA Lilypond Capter, Prince Chuks Njemanze, told newsmen in Lagos that the plan would cripple business activities at the depot.

Reports state that the management of APM Terminals plans to use the depot as a drop off location for empty containers in an effort to ease the gridlock on Apapa roads.

Njemanze said that the association would only allow such a situation if it would be temporary.

According to him, the association will resist the plan if it will be on a permanent basis.

“In fact, the management of APM Terminals should also endeavour to bring imports to the depot to create jobs instead of making it a permanent dumping ground.

“We are not agitating against bringing empty containers to the depot. What we will not tolerate is making it a permanent depot for empty containers.

“We also appeal that imports should be brought into the depot to give jobs to the agents because the depot also generates revenue for the government,’’ Njemanze said.

He noted that since the concession of the depot by the government as a dry port in 2006, customs and clearing agents had been working to sustain it.

He added that the lull in business at the depot was because about 600 containers at the depot were under importation fast-track.

Reports state that container fast-track is a process where containers are taken from the port to the company that imported them for easy clearance and decongestion of the port.

Njemanze said that because majority of the containers were being fast-tracked, clearing agents at the depot were idle.

privileged to play a pivotal role in its consolidation, growth and development.

“We will continue to seek strategic opportunities that provide a platform for enhanced growth and value creation for our stakeholders.

Wreckage of a house destroyed by flood in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State yesterday.

Chapter, said cement manufacturers needed adequate time to become compliant with the production of the 42.5R and 52.5R grades of cement.

The Chairman of the institution, Mr. Stephen Jagun, told newsmen in Lagos, that the manufacturers were used to 32.5R as its application was limited to plastering works only.

“The grading of cement; the industry is capital intensive.

“As there are improvements in the system and production process, the Standard Organisation should keep these people abreast with world standard and then over time ensure that they catch up with that system.

“So, that is where the regulation authority stands in place to give them adequate notice, adequate time - within a particular time frame we want you to have caught up with this trend which is globally acceptable.

“And the time should be reasonable so that they put necessary investment into it.“ Jagun said that time was of essence to ensure regular supplies to the market until full compliance to the approved grades.

Electricity Coy Warns Against Trading Under Power Installations LAGOS - The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Festac Business Unit, Lagos, has warned traders in the area against trading under electricity installations.

The Business Manager of the unit, Mr Abiodun Oyelude, told newsmen in Lagos that huge commercial activities under the installations were impeding repairs of the facilities.

Oyelude also said that trading under the power installations could endanger the lives of the traders and buyers as any damage could cause serious electrical hazard.

“A lot of people are trading under our network; some are trading beside the transformers and some under high tension wires.

“These traders should understand that under electricity installations is a no-go area; they should at least, give up.

“We are appealing to these marketers that for their safety, they should vacate the area because it is dangerous to trade under these installations,” he said.

He explained that EKEDC staff usually waited for about three days for the traders to vacate the area before they could carry out repairs on the installations when necessary.

“We often waited for these traders to vacate the area before the engineers from the unit could do anything.

“There was a situation where

someone built on our underground cable; we asked him to break down the wall before we could repair the cable.

“We wasted a lot of time

before the repair was done and the consumers within Festac stayed in darkness for days,” he said.

Oyelude assured that EKEDC would sustain its sensitisation of the traders on the dangers of trading under the power installations.

NEMA officials distributing relief materials to internally displaced persons at a camp in Jalingo weekend.

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT FRIDAY (01/08/2014) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

NASCON

10.65

10.12

-0.53

0

909,554

9,253,388.78

7UP

107

107

0

0

27,822

3,125,742.88

NB

180.1

180.23

0.13

0

6,291,385

1,133,586,195.00

ABCTRANS

0.87

0.85

-0.02

0

420,590

351,179.86

NEIMETH

1.21

1.21

0

0

3,000

3,540.00

ACCESS

10

9.98

-0.02

0

12,880,368

126,605,371.10

NEM

0.79

0.76

-0.03

0

5,981,229

4,711,361.62

AFRIPRUD

3.3

3.16

-0.14

0

1,257,067

4,008,929.99

NESTLE

1120

1106

-14

0

450,155

498,443,825.40

AGLEVENT

1.47

1.47

0

0

14,337

20,105.50

NEWGOLD

2018

2005

-13

0

16

32,080.00

AIICO

0.82

0.81

-0.01

0

7,701,018

6,262,183.61

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

540,200

270,100.00

AIRSERVICE

2.11

2.21

0.1

0

186,300

411,723.00

NNFM

19.75

19.75

0

0

30,666

577,808.82

ASHAKACEM

32.2

33

0.8

0

1,151,561

37,670,915.50

NPFMCRFBK

1

1

0

0

20,500

20,276.88

AVONCROWN

1.69

1.69

0

0

561

903.21

NSE30

1921.48

1913.38

-8.1

0

188,530,599

5,579,061,590.00

BERGER

8.6

8.6

0

0

17,971

151,034.01

NSE50

2079.28

2069.29

-9.99

0

230,453,671

5,816,359,666.00

CADBURY

74.25

74.25

0

0

22,335

1,575,510.90

NSEASEM

951.96

951.96

0

0

2,000

2,960.00

CAP

39

39

0

0

100,478

3,972,560.60

NSEASI

42097.49

41934.43

-163.06

0

276,498,149

5,939,303,804.00

CAVERTON

6.51

6.51

0

0

63,800

395,272.00

NSEBNK

433.42

427.51

-5.91

0

124,140,847

2,394,388,071.00

CCNN

14.18

14

-0.18

0

1,230,817

17,166,868.65

NSECNSMRGDS

1058.01

1055.79

-2.22

0

18,882,418

2,067,467,629.00

CHAMPION

8.74

8.74

0

0

10,200

84,762.00

NSEINDUSTR

2713.37

2725.26

11.89

0

4,207,077

323,213,443.90

CHAMS

0.5

0.5

0

0

27,420

13,710.00

NSEINS

147.78

147.77

-0.01

0

26,597,798

25,396,375.78

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

0

3,228,960

1,616,743.60

NSELOTUSISLM

2798.87

2791.18

-7.69

0

9,578,866

1,018,537,229.00

CONOIL

62.32

62.32

0

0

55,016

3,326,782.82

NSEOILGAS

469.83

471.53

1.7

0

11,568,667

405,118,713.90

CONTINSURE

1.14

1.12

-0.02

0

3,937,173

4,368,289.90

OANDO

27.98

27

-0.98

0

10,676,506

289,545,094.90

COSTAIN

1.18

1.18

0

0

52,649

62,184.02

OKOMUOIL

32.16

33.22

1.06

0

1,226,056

40,843,202.29

COURTVILLE

0.5

0.51

0.01

0

1,960,000

1,001,720.00

PHARMDEKO

1.8

1.8

0

0

8,700

16,443.00

CUSTODYINS

3.96

3.96

0

0

988,358

3,896,429.37

PORTPAINT

5.48

5.4

-0.08

0

187,800

1,026,810.00

CUTIX

1.9

1.99

0.09

0

188,700

370,494.20

PREMBREW

0.77

0.77

0

0

3,800

3,040.00

DAARCOMM

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,000

500

PRESCO

38.01

37

-1.01

0

919,114

34,563,970.96

DANGCEM

230

230

0

0

939,036

215,969,541.60

PRESTIGE

0.52

0.54

0.02

0

2,258,238

1,219,447.64

DANGFLOUR

7.55

7.37

-0.18

0

271,737

2,004,416.88

PZ

39

39

0

0

224,954

8,432,775.05

DANGSUGAR

9.2

9

-0.2

0

303,625

2,736,569.99

REDSTAREX

4.4

4.4

0

0

2,163,945

9,505,789.00

DEAPCAP

0.87

0.87

0

0

5,000

4,150.00

ROADS

8.46

8.46

0

0

1,832

14,729.28

DIAMONDBNK

6.68

6.35

-0.33

0

3,636,680

23,094,568.00

ROYALEX

0.5

0.52

0.02

0

131,125

68,062.50

DIAMRIGHTS

0.3

0.35

0.05

0

14,000,000

4,400,000.00

RTBRISCOE

1

1

0

0

113,273

114,979.90

DNMEYER

1.15

1.15

0

0

2,000

2,200.00

SEPLAT

670

659.38

-10.62

0

66,313

43,714,750.00

EQUITYASUR

0.5

0.5

0

0

4,754

2,377.00

SKYEBANK

3.05

3.01

-0.04

0

16,986,280

51,209,053.33

ETERNA

4

3.8

-0.2

0

286,332

1,095,299.85

STACO

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,650

825

ETI

16.5

16.87

0.37

0

2,812,434

46,112,405.22

STANBIC

31.24

31

-0.24

0

2,996,273

92,959,711.47

EVANSMED

2.26

2.26

0

0

7,048

16,104.48

STDINSURE

0.5

0.5

0

0

2,000

1,000.00

FBNH

14.93

14.4

-0.53

0

13,108,490

189,366,821.50

STERLNBANK

2.42

2.3

-0.12

0

3,236,060

7,564,138.00

FCMB

4.45

4.23

-0.22

0

10,909,100

46,331,311.73

TANTALIZER

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,500

750

FIDELITYBK

2

2.01

0.01

0

3,913,040

7,845,420.00

TOTAL

171.55

171.48

-0.07

0

176,150

30,223,761.30

FIDSON

3.01

3

-0.01

0

1,467,970

4,407,284.30

TRANSCORP

5.5

5.51

0.01

0

30,451,367

167,611,688.90

FLOURMILL

73.98

77.67

3.69

0

3,807,422

285,368,953.70

TRIPPLEG

1.88

1.88

0

0

10,165

18,195.35

FO

218

228.9

10.9

0

309,660

70,651,704.75

UAC-PROP

17.45

17.06

-0.39

0

1,107,199

18,649,358.61

GLAXOSMITH

65.01

65.01

0

0

95,050

6,204,244.94

UACN

61

61

0

0

207,732

12,492,264.36

GOLDBREW

0.71

0.71

0

0

8,132

6,017.68

UBA

7.7

7.49

-0.21

0

6,827,614

52,127,783.73

GUARANTY

29.9

28.8

-1.1

0

55,047,857

1,614,414,472.00

UBCAP

2.12

2.08

-0.04

0

4,835,449

10,230,835.49

GUINNESS

195

194

-1

0

72,819

13,984,320.15

UBN

8.89

8.45

-0.44

0

311,651

2,636,712.95

HONYFLOUR

4.18

4.18

0

0

4,292,253

18,011,308.60

UNILEVER

49.25

49.25

0

0

1,657,269

81,578,189.62

IKEJAHOTEL

0.76

0.76

0

0

8,900

6,497.00

UNITYBNK

0.5

0.5

0

0

458,029

229,014.50

INFINITY

1.6

1.6

0

0

40,000

64,000.00

UPL

4.4

4.42

0.02

0

408,336

1,810,268.04

INTBREW

26.65

26.65

0

0

316,448

8,343,338.90

VETGRIF30

19.19

19.11

-0.08

0

60

1,150.60

INTENEGINS

0.52

0.5

-0.02

0

1,967,959

984,792.78

VITAFOAM

4.3

4.33

0.03

0

224,440

938,331.34

JAPAULOIL

0.53

0.51

-0.02

0

799,849

408,247.99

WAPCO

120

120

0

0

390,714

46,885,219.40

JBERGER

63

63

0

0

54,041

3,484,751.00

WAPIC

0.87

0.88

0.01

0

3,452,528

3,035,651.35

LEARNAFRCA

1.55

1.61

0.06

0

418,490

646,958.90

WEMABANK

1.06

1.01

-0.05

0

637,349

645,071.49

LIVESTOCK

3.18

3.2

0.02

0

1,804,688

5,696,881.84

ZENITHBANK

25.08

25.06

-0.02

0

18,488,863

462,778,146.60

MANSARD

2.55

2.55

0

0

2,022,246

5,156,757.30

MAYBAKER

1.58

1.65

0.07

0

511,341

841,802.29

MBENEFIT

0.54

0.54

0

0

2,955,000

1,587,830.00

MCNICHOLS

1.41

1.41

0

0

2,000

2,960.00

MOBIL

161.1

160

-1.1

0

63,811

10,205,861.47

MRS

61.99

61.99

0

0

1,192

70,208.80

NAHCO

4.99

4.95

-0.04

0

3,632,281

18,154,904.52

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock NSEINDUSTR FO FLOURMILL NSEOILGAS OKOMUOIL ASHAKACEM ETI NB AIRSERVICE CUTIX

Close 2725.26 228.9 77.67 471.53 33.22 33 16.87 180.23 2.21 1.99

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain

Stock

Close

Loss

11.89 10.9 3.69 1.7 1.06 0.8 0.37 0.13 0.1 0.09

NSEASI 163.06 NESTLE NEWGOLD SEPLAT 10.62 NSE50 NSE30 NSELOTUSISLM NSEBNK NSECNSMRGDS GUARANTY

41934.43

-

1106 2005 659.38

-14 -13 -

2069.29 1913.38 2791.18 427.51 1055.79 28.8

-9.99 -8.1 -7.69 -5.91 -2.22 -1.1

SINCE Doctors in Public-owned hospitals commenced their indefinite strike on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 to press home their demands for improvements on their welfare, Nigerians of infirm health have been dying daily unattended to, due to lack of access to public health facilities.

THE Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) President, Dr. Kayode Obèmbe while making the announcement in Abuja on Monday, June 30, 2014 said the decision to go on strike followed the expiration of a two-week ultimatum which NMA earlier gave the federal government to meet its 24 - point demand.

OBEMBE who described the strike as “total and indefinite” also said that negotiations with the federal government had failed to yield the relevant results, hence the NMA had to take the painful route of an indefinite strike as its” silence and gentle approach to contending issues had been taken for granted.”

SOME of the major issues in contention according the NMA include reserving the position of Chief Medical Director (CMD) to only Medical Doctors, appointment of Surgeon General of the Federation, passage of the National Health Bill and Providing Security for Doctors most of whom have become unwarranted victims of kidnapping.

OTHER demands are increase in duty, hazard and specialist allowances, as well as budget for residency programme, reintegration of its members into the IPPIS - platform and reserving the title of Consultants to only Medical Doctors, among others. No doubt, these demands are genuine and understandable.

FEELERS from the health sector are so disturbing that students in Medical

THE NIGERIAN

Need To Halt The On-Going Doctors’ Strike

Schools are now reportedly unable to find places for their housemanship; the mandatory training that attaches them to medical facilities. This in itself is a sad reflection of the weak economy.

HOWEVER, while the members of the public fully appreciate the need for doctors to have a fair deal from the federal government, because of their most essential services to humanity, there can be no denying the fact that even the public is more concerned about the quality of medical services, both in the private and public hospitals. Obviously, the public has a longer list than the 24 demands which doctors are making. While the public can understand the pains and frustration of the doctors arising from their unmet demands, the same public cannot understand the logic behind the on-going avoidable loss of lives induced by this current doctors’ strike.

THE Hippocratic Oath, to which all doctors subscribe, places saving of lives above every principle or consideration in the conduct of medical doctor. That being so, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER expects the doctors to respect this oath while at the same time we call on the federal government to use the same well laid down best practices which have worked perfectly

well in other climes for both doctors and members of the larger society in such a manner to arrest unending or incessant strikes.

MORE often than not, governments do not respect the agreements they voluntarily enter into with unions while they expect unions to abide by those aspects of the agreement that are binding on them. This is most uncharitable. For instance, the current NMA strike is being embarked upon despite a court order forbidding the strike by health workesr an order which the federal government had obtained from the National Industrial Court, Abuja. The court order also halted the implementation of agreements reached with government until the substantive case before it is resolved. So, before the federal government and the law, the on-going strike is illegal. But, to the doctors, you can tell that to the marines! And where does this stalemate lead us?

WE are bothered that the federal government has taken a path that will make the amicable resolution of the impasse far-fetched. How do you approach a court to halt implementation of an agreement you freely enter, and expect the other party to take you serious?

IN the light of the above, we call on the federal government to urgently return to the negotiating table and make conscious effort at meeting some, if not all of the demands of the doctors, rather than playing the ostrich. The lives of Nigerians should be of paramount importance to both the government and the doctors, hence a quick and pragmatic resolution of the on-going crisis is recommended.

Issues Good Governance APC Will Provide Alternative Platform

By EDITH IMOISILI HON. Samson Osagie, an APC chieftain is a vibrant and tough speaking lawmaker, as well as a Minority Whip Leader in the House of Representatives representing Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode Constituency, Edo State, at the National Assembly.

He speaks on the recent impeachment of Admiral Murtala Nyako, former governor of Adamawa State as well as other related issues as it affect his party.

Samson Osagie who is not against impeachment said his concern is the way and manner in which the former governor was impeached and removed from office. In his interaction with The Nigerian Correspondence, Hon. Osagie could not hide his feelings in this issue and he bares his mind.

“Ordinarily, impeachment is a legal tool which the legislators can implore to put in check any erring executive. Either in Local, State or at Federal level, impeachment in itself has its own legal and Constitutional basis for the purpose of ensuring checks and balances in Government. But in Nigeria, it has been most widely abused and most widely misused and most exploited to target political opponents especially when the elections are around the corner.

Don’t forget that Obasanjo used impeachment maximally

even against all norms and procedures to target his political adversaries. For example, former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye went down through impeachment order in a questionable circumstances suffer the same fate and the governor-elect of Ekiti State now, suffered the same fate and my worry is that after many years of those ungodly incidences, we are still making use of those crude method at targeting our political opponents. The one we are seeing are the handiwork of PDP and its government. The president is preparing ground for election next year and the only way is to target and impeach those governors of the states that are not controlled by his party.

Right now, he is doing everything possible to remove their chief executives.

He is succeeding because he is the almighty president of Nigeria and he has all the power at his beck and call and his party has vowed that they must rule for sixty years. So they are having a field day.

But why I am not worried is that those who crack coconut with their heads do not normally live to eat out of that coconut, do you understand that?

It is a tested adage, that those who crack coconut with their head don’t normally live long to eat out of that coconut and I am very sure that the Nigerian people are watching and they have the right ultimately to

IN the good old days, it was usually a delight to mingle and interact with people from the Northern part of the country. Meeting a Muslim or an Hausa man most times elicit some friendly remarks in an attempt to communicate in his local language or exchange pleasantries. You’ll hear greetings like “as salamu alaykum” which means ‘peace be unto you; or the common one, “aboki” which simply means friend. Over time, the Northerners have seem to find dwelling places in the South even to the extent of forming matrimonial alliances.

Now fast forward to this period, I mean these past years of the reign of the infamous Boko Haram terminators, the relationship is getting sour by the day. It is no longer pleasure as before. Instead of the usual cordial relationship, it is now paranoia.

Imagine this scenario: you are about to board a bus and two men approach the same bus dressed and conversing in a manner that indicate they are Northerners. With them is their luggage carefully packed and they are obviously about to board the same bus with you.

What will be your instinctive reaction? Ruminate over that.

Nonetheless, you will no doubt agree with me that things are no longer rosy as it used to be. As we well know, the misjudgement, bias, distrust, discomfort and excessive caution that has enveloped many recently is traceable to the insecurity in the country.

Security in Nigeria has been on the front burner among several national issues. There have been clamours from different quarters on the need for government to strengthen efforts to curb terrorism that has bedeviled this country as it is no more news to hear reports of the dastardly acts of the Boko boys. As regards the reason behind this inhumane behaviour, many allege that it is religiously influenced while others opine that it has some political undertone. Whatever the case many be, It seems many from the South are forced to believe it is more of religious and tribal than political especially when the video clips seen online and aired in various broadcast media are suggestive of that notion.

Unfortunately, it is against this backdrop that many from other parts of Nigeria have stereotyped anyone from the North and Muslim alike as a prospective Boko Haram member. But making hasty generalization is not in the best interest of the country; instead it tends to brew discord, hatred, marginalisation and chaos.

There have been situations where innocent and harmless citizens are ridiculed, harassed and even physically assaulted because of this faulty reasoning and misconception. Sometime in June, over four hundred travelers who claimed they were in search of greener pastures were apprehended by soldiers attached to the 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army enroute to Port Harcourt. They were arrested in Abia State. Two weeks later, they were released because according to the State Security Service (SSS) they had no case to answer. The aftermath of that incidence was the suspicion and unfair treatment of the Hausa traders in the East. According to the leader of the Hausa community

pronounce judgement through their ballot at the appropriate time.

I have no doubt in my mind that the current impeachment wave that is going on is most abused, and induced by the Federal government to target their political opponents especially those governors that are not in the fold of the PDP. Because if you see the way

Nyako was impeached, yes, Nyako may have his own fault but there is problem with the procedure for the impeachment of Nyako and I think that is left for the court to decide. But the blind can see and the deaf can hear that these things were cooked up, concocted under the circumstances that cannot be regarded as free and fair for such

Hon. Samson Osagie, member, House of Representatives

- Hon. Osagie

an event to happen.

It is unfortunate that Nyako did play into their hands by not running the government the way he should have run it and of course the Adamawa people have cried very loud on that course, but if he had remained in PDP, there would have been no problem with Nyako, that I can assure.

I mean I have interacted with some of my colleagues who are in PDP today, they would have managed him but his problem was that he left PDP for APC, so he must go down and that is unfortunate. Like I said, I am interested in how this thing will end and I can say, almost with certainty that it doesn’t normally end well. We are poor students of history and that is why we keep repeating the mistake of the past”.

Nevertheless, Hon. Osagie who is convinced that the last had not been heard from his party said that his party, APC was going to challenge the impeachment of Admiral Nyako.

Despite the fact that he has some misgiving or reservation on court procedure in Nigeria, he still has hope in the Nigeria judicial system because according to him, the court still remains the last hope of the common man.

“We cannot fold our hands in this circumstance because in the law of the land, there are few courageous judges that may not bow to the pressure of the almighty powers but I believe

that, we might be lucky to find justice at the end of the day.

Don’t forget that Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo State was impeached by Obasanjo, by the Obasanjo induced House of Assembly in the State but Ladoja went to court and the court brought him back.

We have confidence in the judiciary, no matter what happens, because the day there is total breakdown in the confidence in the judiciary that means the country is finished.

The judiciary is the last hope of the common man, so we will continue to hope that the judiciary will do what is right and correct what is wrong.

The target of the ruling party is to diminish the interest of the APC and if possible wipe out the opposition party and leave us with one party system. I can assure you that, that can’t happen. No doubt that this is a very trying time for APC, we are having our own challenges but I am very confident that while all attempt will be made to destroy the whole APC, the determination of the APC to provide the alternative platform, and change will remain indestructible, and remain unshaken no matter what is being done, APC is ready to provide the alternative platform. We need a change in this country, and in the style of leadership. Those who have run this country have run it to the best of their knowledge”.

Boko Haram: No Need

For Marginalisation

By MAGDALENE IGIEBOR in Aba, business was affected as they were perceived by the Igbo community to be Boko Haram members. They live in fear of reprisal attack in case of any bombing. Customers from different parts of

President Goodluck Jonathan

the country were afraid of coming to the market to buy goods for fear that in the process a bomb may explode.

In another quarter, the Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria (MCAN) also expressed displeasure over what they described as living in fear. The reports say that despite being kitted as Corps members, they are still harassed because of their religion. As a result, there have been threats that the MCAN lodge will not be spared when there happen to be an insurgency attack.

In other parts of the country where there are no record of attack yet, there are complaints of discrimination, harassment, mockery and even threats. When there is a slight misunderstanding between a Southerner and Northerner or a Muslim, you often hear name calling like “Boko Haram” to spite the person from the North.

We need to remember that these people irrespective of their tribe or religion are humans like us who as well originated from one man and woman. They have adopted the South as home away from home where they can move freely, do business and even marry. When you look around they are never missing. They are the onion sellers, cattle rearers, gold buyers and sellers, Bureau De Change, barrow pushers, bike riders, even in our offices and recreation centres they are there. Do not be quick to stereotype a Northerner or Muslim you come across. They are entitled to the same fundamental human rights as we are - freedom of movement, association and right to enjoy life without unnecessary harassment just because of the activities of a few miscreants who have been swayed into extremism.

It is commonly said that out of every twelve there is a Judas. But Jesus did not discard the other eleven because of the betrayal of one man. He still gave them the benefit of doubt. Let us disabuse our minds of any malevolence, schism and animosity welling up in us in order to avoid anarchy in the country especially in this sensitive time of the nation’s development.

Nonetheless, we should not forget our responsibility to be security conscious. Be mindful of your environment, strange faces, movement, objects etc. When you have valuable information, do not hesitate to contact security agents close to you. Let me emphasize that security is everybody’s business individually and collectively. Meanwhile carry out your security responsibility without unnecessary discrimination having in mind the golden rule, what you want men to do to you do like wise to them.

Discourse

THE ongoing effort by some religious leaders to idealise the opulent lifestyle has done society more harm than good. It indicates a failure to appreciate the fact that idealism and materialism hardly coexist.

Anyone engaged in the single-minded pursuit of material prosperity can hardly live by high ideals.

Where materialism rules, awe-inspiring pietism is bound to be sacrificed on the altar of hedonism. The core values of Good Samaritans will be thrown into the bin of exploitative capitalism, and hawk-like dispositions will be Christianised.

The grace-to-grass story of the former Roman Catholic Bishop of Limburg, FranzPeter Tebartz-van EIst, suspended by the Vatican in March, speaks about the ruinous nature of materialism. His opulent lifestyle made the German press to nickname him “gold-plated bishop” and “bishop of bling.” The saga teaches these lessons: There is a correlation between uncontrolled pursuit of luxury and corruption. No one is immune to materialism. Not even those called to exude the splendour of puritanical frugality. Darkness falls on our souls when we make accumulation of luxury goods our prime pursuit.

The inspirational lyrics of Janis Joplin’s satiric song, “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?” are telling portrayal of the deepseated materialistic longings of wealth-besotted churchgoers in Nigeria.

Particularly, of those who mistakenly think that next to the Great Commission in terms of significance and urgency is to prove to the world that “our God is not a poor God”.

The unreasoned quest to demonstrate to the world that “our God is not a poor God” has made us to internalise the principles of

a thing-driven life. Its underlining philosophy tacitly says; “A man’s life consists of what he owns.

So, get things or die trying.”

Ironically, a thing-driven person owns nothing, he is owned by anything that tickles his fancy.

I know close to nothing about demonology. But one thing I know very well is that, if you see a posh car and start speaking in tongues, it is a valid indication that demons have taken over your life. That’s about the only time I will enjoin you to see your next-door deliverance minister. Let him cast out boys-with-theirtoys spirit from your life.

The 2l century is witnessing a shift in the meaning of slavery. Slavery now describes a binding love for things that lead to hatred of principles, process and delayed gratification. This creates gap between belief and behaviour.

Our credibility is eroded when our belief-behaviour consonance is weakened.

When we say we are Christians, what we mean is not exactly clear to people, because our Christ-likeness is more of profession, and less behavioural. Gone are the days when people knew the core values Christians uphold. Today, how many people can lend a character loan to a Christian, just because of his faith orientation?

The thing-driven life has greatly distorted our perception of God. We now see God as a supernatural Santa Claus, a gift-giving divine being susceptible to bribe. We tend to woo His blessings by protracted fasting, not for selfdiscipline and spiritual alertness. We give to induce His favour, not because we want to honour Him. Our disposition to treat God like ATM, a cash dispenser has its root in the gospel of prosperity. It makes our relationship with

The Dark Sides Of Thing-Driven Life

By OMOZUWA GABRIEL OSAMWONYI

God more transactional, than father-son intimacy.

Transactional relationships are like prostitution. Faithbased prostitution gives us a sense of godliness, but denies its power. Prostitutes are not inheritors. They enjoy castoffs and instant rewards. One drawback of the prosperity gospel is that it is conditioning us to live like the guy who sold his father ’s orchard to buy mangoes. It makes us to

credentials of clerics. Hence, a pastor of a “mega church” without a private jet is seen as a “non-proof producer.”

It is my suspicion that our desire to tell the world that the church is not a community of riffraff, penniless dropouts from society’s high echelon has heightened our desperation for wealth. As a result, some churches decry only one

accent on material prosperity is blocking the ethical path to lifelong fulfilment and progress. It is making us plastic. Apparently, plastic people struggle in the web of meaningless existence.

Thinking that the essence of life is to have a perfect bodyimage, assets and wardrobe that pique people’s appreciation; they invest fortunes into their looks and

forget that when we ask God for oaks He gives us acorns.

Another dark side of the thing-driven life is that its accent on the rich- kid-of-arich-King lifestyle is a bad imitation of celebrity culture. It makes being in the sphere of the superrich a mark of spiritual enlightenment, and possessing luxury goods an indication of divine validation of the ministerial

“sin.” That is, the sin of being seen as poor. We condone the poor, but cannot stand his trappings of poverty. So, we teach “fake it, till you make it.” Pardon me. We teach how to activate the miraculous: The 2 century miracle of remodelling the penniless to look like a CEO of a Fortune 500.

Let’s tell ourselves some home truths. The skewed

appearances. Its snag is that it causes many to ignore nursing their inner beauty. If we live as if nothing is worth caring about but our image, superficiality will rob us of life’s best.

There are many inherent fallacies in the pop gospel of prosperity. Let’s look at a few. One, it covertly extols the belief that money is everything. This implies money is worth worshipping and dying for. Hence, we say Jesus is Lord, but live in ways that say money is lord.

Two, wealth gives your life a meaning. But the rich and poor do struggle with inner emptiness, and no sense of purpose in life. Three, wealth lends credence to the proclamation of the good news to the poor. It is faulty

“The thing-driven life has greatly distorted our perception of God. We now see God as a supernatural Santa Claus, a gift-giving divine being susceptible to bribe. We tend to woo His blessings by protracted fasting, not for self-discipline and spiritual alertness.

We give to induce His favour, not because we want to honour Him.”

to assume that the richer you become, the easier soul winning will become. Rich Christians are not necessarily effective soul winners.

Freedom from materialism is the bedrock of true spirituality. The thingdriven life is not worth living. It is anti-spiritual, anti-social, and self negating. Hustling to acquire more and more things could make you thing-like.

Treating yourself and people like useable, disposable, sellable things will become your second nature.

Objectifying people is a biblical taboo.

Let’s shun the rat race.

Otherwise, it will make all of us rats; some, church rats, others, young-rich-andfamous rats. Recall, one of the dictionary meanings of a rat is someone unworthy of trust. I am not by any means advocating that we should develop a downright carefree attitude to money.

This is the point: Awaken the genius in you. Don’t allow materialistic norms to wedge your font of inspiration.

Only tiny people need things to validate their humanity. @omozuwaspeaks (On Twitter)

Opinion

Accolades For His Royal Majesty

THE 22nd of June, 2014 has come and gone, but it remains a historic day in Benin City. Thousands of Bini sons and daughters, including important dignitaries from all works of life, are not in a hurry to forget this day. The reason for this is that it was on this great day they watched as two looted antiquities from the Benin royal palace, during the 1897 British punitive expedition to the kingdom, were returned.

In other words, the artifacts were returned after being stolen 117 years ago.

The event makes me proud as a Bini man and grateful to our royal father, Oba Erediauwa.

With my kneels on the ground, I say THANK YOU to him. He has been working hard to ensure that all the artifacts stolen are returned to the kingdom.

Therefore, it is a great relief that they are now being returned. For this, he deserves our commendation. Certainly, one day, all the looted artifacts will be returned to the kingdom from where they were taken away without authorisation in the first instance.

You could see joy on the faces of people as they watched on June 23, 2014 while the two looted artifacts were being returned at a colourful ceremony at the palace.

For me, my joy was beyond imagination as I saw Dr. Andre Philip Walter handing over the

By EKAIWE OMO OMOREGIE

artifact. Before I knew it I started singing silently to myself. The song on my lips was that of the music maestro Prof. (Sir) Victor Uwaifo, it goes life this. “See, what God has done for me. The joy of my mind which has no bound has filled my whole heart…”

I was so pleased by the event because it happened in my life time. And, I am grateful to Almighty God, Olokun his supreme diety and my ancestors for allowing me to witness this event happening on Bini land.

Indeed, the Oba of Benin is an unparalleled hero of our time for winning the great diplomatic war to return the two antiquities.

I wish him more success in his Herculean effort to return more of them to the kingdom until all of them are retrieved.

Bini kingdom does not deserve less, because of its great ancestry. For instance, when we go down memory lane, you won’t fail to recall that the Okunist tradition tells us that Benin is the beginning of the world. It was, therefore, from Bini land that is what Dr. Andre Walker has done well by agreeing to return the two artifacts stolen from Benin Kingdom in 1897 and which since then had been with his family’s collection of

antiquities. Of course, given the length of time the two artifacts have been with his family he must have fallen in love with them. So, giving them out now will be a colossal loss to him and his family. Nevertheless, he has acted with honour,

the dedicated way he liaised with Dr. Andre Walker, the grandson of

Erediauwa. Since he ascended the throne, he has greatly contributed to the progressive changes in the life of Benin Kingdom. The return of the two artifacts is further evidence of his greatness.

May the supreme God and our ancestors give him long life to enable

empire at about 4000BC. Moreover, the Okunist religious tradition reveals that right from the beginning, Benin Kingdom practiced democracy while Ogiso Odionwere began the political revolution that changed the administration of the

“Finally, let me again salute Omo N’Oba Erediauwa. Since he ascended the throne, he has greatly contributed to the progressive changes in the life of Benin Kingdom. The return of the two artifacts is further evidence of his greatness.”

Oba Erediauwa

integrity and dignity by choosing to return the two artifacts, which truly belong to Benin Kingdom – not his family.

At this juncture, I must not fail to praise the Enogie of Obazuwa, Prince Edun Akenzua for

Captain Philip Walker who took part in the plunder of artifacts from Benin Kingdom in 1897, which finally resulted in the return of the two artifacts.

Finally, let me again salute Omo N’Oba

“Indeed, the Oba of Benin is an unparalleled hero of our time for winning the great diplomatic war to return the two antiquities. I wish him more success in his Herculean effort to return more of them to the kingdom until all of them are retrieved.”

him do more for the kingdom with his abundant wisdom. Amen.

God created the world.

Also, according to Okunist tradition, Benin Kingdom was founded around 800,000 BC. Then, it was known as Igodomigodo.

At the time the Ogisos ruled the kingdom. The unknown Ogisos were in power from 800,000 BC to 39 BC while the known Ogiso took charge of the kingdom from about 40BC to 1200AD. From the records, Benin Kingdom became an

kingdom and strengthened monarchical power.

The greatness of Benin Kingdom goes beyond these already stated facts.

For instance, the kingdom also boasted of Oba Esigie who in 1504 AD established diplomatic relations with Portugal as well as pioneered trade links between Portugal and Benin Kingdom.

Certainly, you cannot take away these acclaimed greatness of Benin Kingdom. All you can do is to add to them.

Footprint

Continued from last week

PAINE was an enthusiastic supporter of the French Revolution, and was granted, along with \o “Alexander Hamilton”Alexander Hamilton, “http:// e n . w i k i p e d i a . o rg / w i k i / George_Washington” \o “George Washington”George Washington, \o “Benjamin Franklin”Benjamin Franklin and others, honorary French \o “Citizenship”citizenship.

Despite his inability to speak French, he was elected to the \o “National Convention”National Convention, representing the district of \o “Pas-deCalais”Pas-de-Calais. He voted for the \o “France”French Republic; but argued against the execution of \o “Louis XVI of France”Louis XVI, saying that he should instead be \o “Exile”exiled to the United States: firstly, because of the way royalist France had come to the aid of the American Revolution; and secondly because of a moral objection to capital punishment in general and to revenge killings in particular.

He participated in the Constitution Committee that drafted the \o “Girondin c o n s t i t u t i o n a l project”Girondin constitutional project.

Regarded as an ally of the \o “Girondist”Girondins, he was seen with increasing disfavor by the \o “The Mountain”Montagnards who were now in power, and in particular by \o “Maximilien Robespierre”Robespierre. A decree was passed at the end of 1793 excluding foreigners from their places in the Convention (\o “JeanBaptiste du Val-de-Grâce, baron de Cloots”Anacharsis Cloots was also deprived of his place). Paine was arrested and imprisoned in December 1793.

Arrested in France, Paine protested and claimed that he was a citizen of America, which was an ally of Revolutionary France, rather than of Great Britain, which was by that time at war with France. However, \o “ G o u v e r n e u r Morris”Gouverneur Morris, the American minister to France, did not press his claim, and Paine later wrote that Morris had connived at his imprisonment. Paine narrowly escaped execution.

A chalk mark, supposed to be left by the gaoler to denote that the prisoner in this cell was to be collected for execution, was left on the inside of his door, rather than the outside, as the door

happened to be open as the gaoler made his rounds, because Paine was receiving official visitors. But for this quirk of fate, he would have died the following morning.

He kept his head and survived the few vital days needed to be spared by the fall of Robespierre on \o “Thermidorian Reaction”9 Thermidor (July 27, 1794).

Paine was released in November 1794 largely because of the work of the new American Minister to France, \o “James Monroe”James Monroe, who successfully argued the case for Paine’s American citizenship. In July 1795, he was re-admitted into the Convention, as were other surviving Girondins. Paine was one of only three deputes to oppose the adoption of the new \o “French Constitution of 1795”1795 constitution, because it eliminated \o “ U n i v e r s a l suffrage”universal suffrage, which had been proclaimed by the \o “French Constitution of 1793”Montagnard Constitution of 1793.

In 1797, Tom Paine lived in Paris with \o “Nicholas Bonneville”Nicholas Bonneville and his wife.

Paine, as well as Bonneville’s other controversial guests, aroused the suspicions of authorities. Bonneville hid the \o “Royalist”Royalist \o “Antoine Joseph BarruelBeauvert”Antoine Joseph Barruel-Beauvert at his home.

Beauvert had been outlawed following the \o “Coup of 18 Fructidor”coup of 18 Fructidor on September 4, 1797. Paine believed that America, under President \o “John Adams”John Adams, had betrayed revolutionary France. Bonneville was then briefly jailed and his presses were confiscated, which meant financial ruin.

In 1800, still under police surveillance, Bonneville took refuge with his father in \o “Evreux”Evreux. Paine stayed on with him, helping Bonneville with the burden of translating the “Covenant Sea”. The same year, Paine purportedly had a meeting with \o “Napoleon”Napoleon.

Napoleon claimed he slept with a copy of Rights of Man under his pillow and went so far as to say to Paine that “a statue of gold should be erected to you in every city in the universe.” Paine discussed with Napoleon how best to invade England and in December 1797 wrote two essays, one of which was pointedly named Observations on the Construction and Operation

Thomas Paine: Firebr of Navies with a Plan for an Invasion of England and the Final Overthrow of the English Government, in which he promoted the idea to finance 1,000 gunboats to carry a French invading army across the English Channel.

In 1804 Paine returned to the subject, writing To the People of England on the Invasion of England advocating the idea.

On noting Napoleon’s progress towards dictatorship, he condemned him as: “the completest charlatan that ever existed”.

Thomas Paine remained in France until 1802, returning to the United States only at President Jefferson’s invitation. Paine decided that President George Washington had conspired with Robespierre to imprison him.

Embittered by this perceived betrayal, Paine tried to ruin Washington’s reputation by calling him a treacherous man unworthy of his fame as a military and political hero.

Paine described Washington as an incompetent commander and a vain and ungrateful person. In a scathing open letter to President Washington in 1796, he wrote: “the world will be puzzled to decide whether you are an apostate or an impostor; whether you have abandoned good principles or whether you ever had any.”

In 1802 or 1803, Thomas Paine left France for the United States, paying passage also for Bonneville’s wife, \o “Marguerite Brazier (page does not exist)”Marguerite Brazier and their three sons, seven year old \o “Benjamin Bonneville”Benjamin, \o “Louis Bonneville (page does not exist)”Louis, and \o “Thomas Bonneville (page does not exist)”Thomas, for whom Paine was godfather.

Paine returned to the United States in the early stages of the \o “Second Great Awakening”Second Great Awakening and a time of great political partisanship.

The Age of Reason gave ample excuse for the religiously devout to dislike him, and the Federalists attacked him for his ideas of government stated in Common Sense, for his association with the French Revolution, and for his friendship with President Jefferson. Also still fresh in the minds of the public was his Letter to Washington, published six years before his return. This was compounded

when his right to vote was denied in \o “New Rochelle, New York”New Rochelle on the grounds that Gouverneur Morris did not recognize him as an American, and Washington had not aided him.

Brazier took care of Paine at the end of his life and buried him after his death on June 8, 1809. In his will, Paine left the bulk of his estate to Marguerite, including 100 acres (40.5 ha) of his farm so she could maintain and educate Benjamin and his brother Thomas. In 1814, the fall of Napoleon finally allowed Bonneville to rejoin his wife in the United States where he remained for four years before returning to Paris to open a bookshop.

Paine died at the age of 72, at 59 Grove Street in \o “ G r e e n w i c h Village”Greenwich Village, New York City, on the morning of June 8, 1809.

Although the original building is no longer there, the present building has a plaque noting that Paine died at this location. After his death, Paine’s body was brought to New Rochelle, but as the Quakers would not allow it to be buried in their grave-yard per his last will, so his remains were buried under a walnut tree on his farm. In 1819, the English agrarian radical journalist \o “William Cobbett”William Cobbett, who in 1793 had published a hostile continuation of Francis Oldys (George Chalmer)’s The Life of Thomas Paine, dug up his bones and transported them back to England with the intention to give Paine a heroic reburial on his native soil, but this never came to pass. The bones were still among Cobbett’s effects when he died over twenty years later, but were later lost.

There is no confirmed story about what happened to them after that, although throughout the years, various people have claimed to own parts of Paine’s remains, such as his skull and right hand.

At the time of his death, most American newspapers reprinted the obituary notice from the \o “New York Evening Post”New York Evening Post, which read in part: “He had lived long, did some good, and much harm.”

Only six mourners came to his funeral, two of whom were black, most likely \o

By OBUSEH JUDE

“Freedman”freedmen. The writer and orator \o “Robert G. Ingersoll”Robert G. Ingersoll wrote: Thomas Paine had passed the legendary limit of life.

One by one most of his old friends and acquaintances had deserted him. Maligned on every side, execrated, shunned and abhorred – his virtues denounced as vices – his services forgotten – his character blackened, he

following on foot, two Negroes filled with gratitude – constituted the funeral cortege of Thomas Paine.

Biographer \o “Eric Foner”Eric Foner identifies a utopian thread in Paine’s thought, writing that “Through this new language he communicated a new vision—a utopian image of an egalitarian,

“Ind Am peo mad abil “Iro harm ach dec help thin soci Pa writ Am prop

Thomas Paine preserved the poise and balance of his soul. He was a victim of the people, but his convictions remained unshaken. He was still a soldier in the army of freedom, and still tried to enlighten and civilize those who were impatiently waiting for his death. Even those who loved their enemies hated him, their friend – the friend of the whole world – with all their hearts. On the 8th of June, 1809, death came – Death, almost his only friend.

At his funeral no pomp, no pageantry, no civic procession, no military display. In a carriage, a woman and her son who had lived on the bounty of the dead – on horseback, a Quaker, the humanity of whose heart dominated the creed of his head – and,

republican society.” Paine’s utopianism combined \o “Republicanism in the United States”civic republicanism, belief in the inevitability of scientific and social progress and commitment to free markets and liberty generally.

The multiple sources of Paine’s political theory all pointed to a society based on the common good and individualism.

Paine expressed a redemptive futurism or political messianism. Paine, writing that his generation “would appear to the future as the Adam of a new world”, exemplified British utopianism.

Thomas Paine’s \o “Natural justice”natural justice beliefs may have been influenced by his Quaker father. Later, his encounters with the \o

of A “Abo State was 1775 \o Jou Jour Adv Penn Ame lack was anon essay Fon “Alf Aldr Aldr this cont spec obje the U led pow

Footprint

rand Revolution

digenous peoples of the mericas”Indigenous oples of the Americas de a deep impression. The lity of the \o oquois”Iroquois to live in mony with nature while hieving a democratic ision-making process ped him refine his nking on how to organize iety. aine is often credited with ting “African Slavery in merica”, the first article posing the emancipation

of the Republic His last pamphlet, Agrarian Justice, published in the winter of 1795, further developed his ideas in the Rights of Man, about how land ownership separated the majority of people from their rightful, natural inheritance and means of independent survival. The US \o “Social Security Administration”Social Security Administration recognizes Agrarian Justice as the first American proposal for an \o “Pension”old-age pension

African slaves and the \o olitionism in the United es”abolition of slavery. It published on March 8, 5 in the Postscript to the “Pennsylvania rnal”Pennsylvania rnal and Weekly ertiser (aka The nsylvania Magazine and erican Museum). Citing a of evidence that Paine the author of this nymously published y, some scholars (\o “Eric er”Eric Foner and \o fred Owen ridge”Alfred Owen ridge) no longer consider one of his works. By trast, John Nichols culates that his “fervent ctions to \o “Slavery in United States”slavery” to his exclusion from er during the early years

and \o “Basic income”basic income; per Agrarian Justice: “In advocating the case of the persons thus dispossessed, it is a right, and not a charity ...

[Government must] create a national fund, out of which there shall be paid to every person, when arrived at the age of twenty-one years, the sum of fifteen pounds sterling, as a compensation in part, for the loss of his or her natural inheritance, by the introduction of the system of landed property.

And also, the sum of ten pounds per annum, during life, to every person now living, of the age of fifty years, and to all others as they shall arrive at that age.

Note that £10 and £15 would be worth about £800 and £1,200 ($1,200 and

$2000) when adjusted for inflation (2011 British Pounds Sterling). Lamb argues that Paine’s analysis of property rights marks a distinct contribution to political theory. His theory of property defends a libertarian concern with private ownership that shows an egalitarian commitment.

Paine’s new justification of property sets him apart from previous theorists such as \o “Hugo Grotius”Hugo Grotius, \o “Samuel von Pufendorf”Samuel von Pufendorf, and \o “John Locke”John Locke. It demonstrates Paine’s commitment to foundational liberal values of individual freedom and moral equality.

Before his arrest and imprisonment in France, knowing that he would probably be arrested and executed, Paine, following in the tradition of \l “The_rise_of_British_deism_.281690.E2.80.931740.29” \o “Deists”early eighteenthcentury British deism, wrote the first part of \o “The Age of Reason”The Age of Reason, an assault on organized “revealed” religion combining a compilation of the many inconsistencies he found in the Bible with his own advocacy of deism, and calling for “free rational inquiry” into all subjects, especially religion.

About his own religious beliefs, Paine wrote in The Age of Reason: I believe in one \o “God”God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I do not believe in the creed professed by the \o “Judaism”Jewish church, by the \o “Catholicism”Roman church, by the \o “Eastern Orthodox Church”Greek church, by the \o “Islam”Turkish church, by the \o “Protestantism”Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church. All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.

Though there is no evidence he was himself a Freemason, upon his return to America from France, Paine also penned “An Essay on the Origin of Free-Masonry” (1803–1805), about Freemasonry being derived from the religion of the

ancient Druids. In the essay, he stated that “The Christian religion is a parody on the worship of the sun, in which they put a man called Christ in the place of the sun, and pay him the adoration originally paid to the sun.”

Marguerite de Bonneville published the essay in 1810, after Paine’s death, but she chose to omit certain passages from it that were critical of Christianity, most of which were restored in an 1818 printing.

While Paine never described himself as a \o “Deist”deist he did write the following: “The opinions I have advanced ... are the effect of the most clear and long-established conviction that the Bible and the Testament are impositions upon the world, that the fall of man, the account of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, and of his dying to appease the wrath of God, and of salvation, by that strange means, are all fabulous inventions, dishonorable to the wisdom and power of the Almighty; that the only true religion is \o “Deism”Deism, by which I then meant, and mean now, the belief of one God, and an imitation of his moral character, or the practice of what are called moral virtues – and that it was upon this only (so far as religion is concerned) that I rested all my hopes of happiness hereafter. So say I now – and so help me God” In 1969, a \o “Prominent Americans series”Prominent Americans series stamp honoring Paine was issued.

Paine’s writing greatly influenced his contemporaries and, especially, the American revolutionaries. His books provoked an upsurge in Deism in America, but in the long term inspired \o “ P h i l o s o p h i c a l radicals”philosophic and working-class \o “Radicalism (historical)”radicals in the UK and US. \o “American liberalism”Liberals, \o “Libertarianism”libertarians, \o “Feminism”feminists, \o “ D e m o c r a t i c socialists”democratic socialists, \o “Social democrats”social democrats, \o “Anarchist”anarchists, \o “Freethought”freethinkers, and \o “Progressivism”progressives often claim him as an intellectual ancestor. Paine’s critique of institutionalized religion and advocacy of

rational thinking influenced many British freethinkers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, such as \o “William Cobbett”William Cobbett, \o “George Holyoake”George Holyoake, \o “Charles Bradlaugh”Charles Bradlaugh, \o “Christopher Hitchens”Christopher Hitchens and \o “Bertrand Russell”Bertrand Russell.

The quote “Lead, follow, or get out of the way” is widely but incorrectly attributed to Paine. This can be found nowhere in his published works. In 2002, Paine was voted \o “100 Greatest Britons”one of the one hundred greatest Britons in a public poll conducted by the \o “BBC”BBC. When \o “Abraham Lincoln”Abraham Lincoln was 26 years old in 1835, he wrote a defense of Paine’s deism; a political associate, Samuel Hill, burned it to save Lincoln’s political career.\l “cite_note-79”http:// e n . w i k i p e d i a . o rg / w i k i / Thomas_Paine - cite_note-79 Historian \o “Roy Basler”Roy Basler, the editor of Lincoln’s papers, said Paine had a strong influence on Lincoln’s style: “No other writer of the eighteenth century, with the exception of Jefferson, parallels more closely the temper or gist of Lincoln’s later thought. In style, Paine above all others affords the variety of eloquence which, chastened and adapted to Lincoln’s own mood, is revealed in Lincoln’s formal writings” The inventor \o “Thomas Edison”Thomas Edison said: “I have always regarded Paine as one of the greatest of all Americans. Never have we had a sounder intelligence in this republic ... It was my good fortune to encounter Thomas Paine’s works in my boyhood ... it was, indeed, a revelation to me to read that great thinker ’s views on political and theological subjects. Paine educated me, then, about many matters of which I had never before thought. I remember, very vividly, the flash of enlightenment that shone from Paine’s writings, and I recall thinking, at that time, ‘What a pity these works are not today the schoolbooks for all children!’ My interest in Paine was not satisfied by my first reading of his works. I went back to them time and again, just as I have done since my boyhood days”.

In 1811, Venezuelan translator Manuel Garcia de Sena published a book in Philadelphia which consisted mostly of Spanish translations

of several of Paine’s most important works. The book also included translations of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution, and the constitutions of five U.S. states.

It subsequently circulated widely in South America, and through it, \o “Uruguay”Uruguayan national hero \o “José Gervasio Artigas”José Gervasio Artigas became familiar with and embraced Paine’s ideas. In turn, many of Artigas’s writings drew directly from Paine’s, including the \o “Instructions of 1813”Instructions of 1813, which Uruguayans consider to be one of their country’s most important constitutional documents; it was one of the earliest writings to articulate a principled basis for an identity independent of Buenos Aires.

Again, in the early 1990s, largely through the efforts of citizen activist David Henley of Virginia, legislation (S.Con.Res 110, and H.R. 1628) was introduced in the 102nd Congress by ideological opposites Sen. \o “Steve Symms”Steve Symms (R-ID) and Rep. \o “Nita Lowey”Nita Lowey (D-NY). With over 100 formal letters of endorsement by US and foreign historians, philosophers and organizations, including the Thomas Paine National Historical Society, the legislation garnered 78 original co-sponsors in the Senate and 230 original co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, and was consequently passed by both houses’ unanimous consent. In October 1992 the legislation was signed into law (PL102-407 & PL102-459) by President \o “George H. W. Bush”George H. W. Bush authorizing the construction, using private funds, of a memorial to Thomas Paine in “Area 1” of the grounds of the \o “US Capitol”US Capitol. As of January 2011, the memorial had not yet been built.

Thomas Paine was a wordsmith per excellence; a man whose passionate pursuit of freedom for his people stimulated the American Revolution; an iconoclastic maverick whose life and works have continued to inspire legends several years after he passed on.

He was God’s gift to the world; a man driven by an indefatigable will to confront and defeat autocratic political systems that were configured to serve the amoral interests of a selfish few, wherever they existed. Despite the searing pains and rejections he suffered in his later years, he remained focused and undaunted in demanding for the greatest good to be provided for the greatest number. Modern democracy owes a lot to the works of this force of nature.

View Point Downed Jetliner: Europe Shies Away From Sanctioning Russia?

WE find it rather appalling that the custodians’ of society, in this case; the Netherlands, Russia and other European states plus the oil giant-Royal Dutch Shell, are more interested in ‘their pockets,’ thirst for power politics and their economy/ business rather than ‘human life’ and high moral values enshrined in the rule of law and rights of its citizenry.

That is how best we can describe the pathetic situation playing out between some European nations and Russia and Shell in the middle. Like the above article has noted, it is really sad that “despite anger over downed Jetliner, Europe is shying away from sanctions against Russia.”

What is even more appalling is the fact that the oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, is the one behind the scene steering the affairs of the Dutch Government and practically playing politics with ‘human lives.’

As noted in the article extract above, the AngloDutch Shell is one of the largest foreign investors in Russian gas fields in Siberia and is also the largest corporation in the Netherlands. This has automatically made Shell the most vital and important player in the economy of Netherlands. That means if anything affects Shell, it also affects the Dutch Government and the Netherland’s economy.

Hence, the neatly close relationship between the Royal Dutch Shell and the Dutch Government. And as noted in the article extract above, Shell stock is widely held in the nation’s pension funds. That means if Shell loses money, the pensions of Dutch teachers, civil servants and many others suffer. As a result, the ties between Shell and the Dutch government are extremely close, and the company’s welfare inevitably

influences policy and every other decisions of the Dutch Government.

As noted in the post, “They have direct access to everybody in the establishment,” said Sweder van Wijnbergen, who was the secretary-general of the ministry of economic affairs from 1997 to 2000. His former boss in that job, who was then the minister in charge of the economy, Hans Wijers, sits on the Shell board of directors (that is how close the relationship between Shell and the Dutch Government is). “Naturally, Shell will try to prevent any sanctions against Russia,” Mr. van Wijnbergen said. “Of course the government ultimately makes its own decisions.” And we add, such decisions of the Dutch Government are still tailored to suit the interests of the oil giant-Shell to protect their business in Russia.

That means we cannot separate Shell’s interests from that of the Dutch Government’s interests. And as such, the business interests of Shell obviously outweighs every other interests concerning The Nehterlands; even if it pertains to human lives. This to us is a rather dangerous pattern of relationship that only upholds the ideals of capitalism.

But the truth is that, in a situation where innocent lives were blatantly cut short by the inter-play of a supposed cold war driven by the excessive tendencies of the Russia Government in Ukraine and parts of Europe, and the Dutch Government and Shell are more interested in saving their self-centered interests, then it greatly questions the integrity of the oil giant that keeps preaching “SAFETY FIRST” in all its operations across the world.

In a situation where about 298 lives were lost, which includes Four Shell

Dr. ZIK GBEMRE

employees and 193 citizens of The Netherlands that died in the crash of Flight 17, we are greatly disturbed at the length these big corporate companies and their partners in government would go to just to be on top of their game. Shell as a company often preaches that ‘Safety’

government should know where to draw the line.

It is also funny that Shell is plying ‘double-standard’ in its operations in other countries like Nigeria when compared to what it does in The Netherlands. For instance, in its regular Integrity Due Diligence

on behalf of the Shell. In fact, we know of one Prince Chief Okeimute Oviri, a registered Shell (SPDC) Contractor who was nearly disqualified because he made some published commentaries on Nigerian politics, not that he was even an elected government official. The question now is, if Shell has and encourages a closely-

the downing of the plane as a “disaster” rather than a missile strike. In recent days, Prime Minister Mark Rutte of The Netherlands has made sure to keep his lines of communication with Mr. Putin open, to “bring the bodies home,” he has said repeatedly. Behind the scenes, Dutch investors in Russia are also consulted, former insiders said. “Of course representatives of Shell are discreetly talking to the government throughout the plane ordeal, in order to minimize damage to the

knitted relationship with its Dutch Government in the Netherlands, how come the situation is different in Nigeria concerning its Vendors? Shell even allows a government official to sit on its board of directors. That is unheard of in other countries like Nigeria where it operates. Perhaps, this is a topic for another day.

It is also appalling and unfortunate that the Dutch Government is not condemning Russia for its devious actions in Ukraine and even against its citizenry, simply because of its economic interests in Russia through Shell. For shying away from this, it simply means the Dutch Government are aiding and abating broad day light ‘war crimes’ perpetrated by the Russian Government. As noted in the article, “In a fullpage advertisements in major Dutch newspapers, the government offered condolences, but described

company,” Mr. van Wijnbergen said.

The Dutch entanglement with Russia through Shell is emblematic of ties that many European nations have with Russia. In making the case for tougher sanctions to his Parliament, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain argued that Europe should use its economic leverage against Russia. But other European countries have parried/blocked efforts to strengthen penalties on Russia. France for instance, has opposed proposed sanctions against arms sales to Russia, in part because it is building two Mistral-class helicopter ships for Russia’s military. “For the time being, a level of sanctions has not been decided that would prevent this delivery,” President François Hollande of France said in the report.

“The Russians have paid,” he said, and canceling the deal would require France to reimburse Russia +1.1

Crash Scene of flight MH17

(which focuses on the safety of personnel against injury and loss of life during their operations), is the ultimate goal of all of its operations.

And that if a job is considered to be ‘unsafe’ then such a job should be discarded and done away with, no matter how much is involved. But by playing ignorant of the situation in Russia and the loss of countless innocent lives and planes getting shot with missiles, then it means Shell’s SAFETY FIRST slogan and sermons are all a complete sham in all ramifications. When it comes to human lives and business, every corporate entity and

(IDD) Audit exercise in Nigeria meant for its registered Vendors/ Contractors, Shell (SPDC) clearly stipulates that for every job execution, its registered Vendor/Contractor must first confirm that “none of its owners or directors, nor its employees or associates who will benefit from or take part in the execution or performance of the Agreement, is a Government Official…” That means as a Shell (SPDC) Vendor/ Contractor in Nigeria, one should have no ‘relationship with the government’ that will make the latter benefit from the job being executed

“What is even more appalling is the fact that the oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, is the one behind the scene steering the affairs of the Dutch Government and practically playing politics with ‘human lives.”

Continues on page 20

Petroleum

PIB:

Need For Adaptive Reconciliation

THE much debated and contentious Petroleum Industry Bill 2012 (PIB) is a quantum leap in the remaking of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, if and when it becomes the law of the land.

Some Nigerians deemed the bill controversial because many of them have not read the bill but rather depend on the opposition of the bill to propagate their incoherence and distortions. One thing for sure, the government of Nigeria must be applauded for initiating the task to reform and make some crucial changes in the most important sector of Nigerian economy. The bill is not perfect; nevertheless it will re-launch the deteriorated sector into a solidify reformed and streamlined entity.

The PIB must be balanced and made attractive to investors by incentivizing it without jeopardizing and compromising the spirit and integrity of the bill.

The PIB must be adjusted, refined and consolidated to become the perfect bill for a constructive reform is needed in the oil and gas industry.

Some adjustments and adaptations are necessary to satisfy and clarify some impending edges of the bill.

Since the discovery of oil in Nigeria by Shell- British

By EMEKA CHIAKWELU

Petroleum in 1950, Nigeria has made billions of dollars, yet the country accrued one of the worst indexes of misery. Over 70 percent of Nigeria lives in abject poverty, struggling to provide their families with three square meals.

The electricity and modern infrastructures are pipe dream. The wealth of the nation has been siphoned to foreign and off shores accounts. The worst of all, the environmental degradation brought by oil exploration and the subsequent health problems have approached an explosive dimension, an unmitigated disaster. The oil curse and imminent Dutch disease have done untold harm to Nigeria’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

Therefore without a doubt, a reform is needed, but is PIB capable of ushering in the requisite reform?

The PIB is intended to rescind and replace the below current laws in the book: *Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (Establishment) Act 2003; *Petroleum Equalization Fund (Management Board, etc.) Act CAP 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 *Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund Act, CAP 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and *Petroleum Technology Development Fund Act CAP P15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; *Petroleum Act CAP 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004;(‘Petroleum

Act’) *Motor Spirits (Returns) Act, CAP M20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 *Associated Gas Reinjection Act CAP A25 Laws of the Federation ofNigeria, 2004 *Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Act, CAP D3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; except for sections 16 subsection (1) and (2) Petroleum Profits Tax Act, CAP P13 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The contemporary laws are not consistent with country’s ambition; therefore we rightly welcome the PIB. But wait a second! Let’s put this PIB in perspective. How is going to benefit average Nigerian and what are the structures put together to make sure that accumulated revenues and taxes are channel to building

the necessary infrastructures for economic development.

The key point for PIB is to reform the petroleum industry and raise quantifiable fund to develop the country.

PIB is an ambitious project in the sense that it will tax more and accumulate more revenues from the industry partakers and participants including – “Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Total SA, Eni SpA, who produce around 90% of Nigeria’s oil through several joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.”

The pros and cons of such a massive taxation must be fully examine in order to make sure that it will not be obstacle for further investment in oil and gas sector of the economy. The bill stipulated that the taxation for upstream drilling is to be pegged at 50 percent and for downstream drilling at 25 percent.

Extracting and exerting such a huge levy on the oil companies may sound tantalizing and satisfying but the possible downside must be considered and evaluated.

Since most of the financing of the high intensive projects in the sector are done by these big oil companies, it is necessary to tread carefully.

As Mark Ward, the managing director of ExxonMobil’s Nigerian unit argued that such a massive taxation makes Nigeria’s oil and gas industry unattractive to invest. Ward said at an Energy conference, “the terms proposed increase royalties, increase taxes, and lower allowances or incentives all at the same time,” will make Nigeria “one of the world’s harshest fiscal regimes.”

Ward’s criticism cannot be wave off easily, without a detailed examination, but that does not entails that his argument is 100% correct.

The level of the participation of local financing is quite minuscule and high taxes probably will not incentivize

“Extracting and exerting such a huge levy on the oil companies may sound tantalizing and satisfying but the possible downside must be considered and evaluated. Since most of the financing of the high intensive projects in the sector are done by these big oil companies, it is necessary to tread carefully.”

those international oil companies operating in Nigeria to further investment in the country.

Nigeria failed woefully to utilize the accumulated revenue from the oil industry to develop the industry. There by relying on foreign capital from the big oil companies to play the critical role in the extraction, drilling and development of the industry.

The best thing for Nigeria to do with the PIB is to progressively levy the companies from somewhat lower percent in the course of 5-10 years until it approach the targeted percentage. The good window is that the gradual increases of the taxation has a lower and lessen impact on the companies, inducing the receiving of the burden in good faith. The will also send the message that punitive action is not intention of the petroleum bill, that we are all together in the struggle to develop the industry.

Other aspects of the PIB were encouraging including the total deregulation of the downstream drilling. My idealistic wish is that there comes a day that Nigerian government will totally withdraw and disengage from the participation in the oil and gas industry. The only supposedly function is to tax the industry while NNPC will be privatized and shares floated and bought over by local investors. But until we get there, Nigerian government must concentrate and direct her resources in developing the industry with verifiable and strong local content.

Bitumen or Asphalt inclusion as a petroleum product is not a stretch as opposition members of PIB chose to ferment. Although the bituminous shales were not part of the contemporary Petroleum Act but the in the quest to broaden revenue collection, the government is entitle to making the inclusion, provided that it will not hamper the attraction of investments in the industry.

The section of the PIB that empowered the minister of petroleum and the president to issue drilling licenses may be further elaborated with conditional ties and modus operandi to ensure that biases, mediocrity and nepotism will be checked with transparency.

View Point ... Away From Sanctioning Russia?

Continued from pg. 18

billion, or $1.5 billion.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Monday said that communication lines with Russia needed to stay open.

As reiterated in the post,

countries dependent on its energy supplies, harming the Continent’s economic growth. It was a mirror image of the debate that unfolded in bland diplomatic language in Brussels, where foreign ministers of the European Union’s 28 member states were under pressure to

• President Vladimir Putin of Russia

despite widespread anger over the plane’s downing, European nations have shied away from measures that would further isolate Russia.

Dependent on Russian gas and oil, wary of confrontation on the Continent and alive to the fact of Russia’s proximity, Europe’s leaders have largely decided they will have to live with a newly assertive Russia. “Almost every European state has voluntarily handed over power to Mr. Putin, allowing him to play countries against each other,” said Marietje Schaake, an influential member of the European Parliament. “We should choose for energy independency, for principles, human rights and rule of law.

But that is not what (they) are doing now.”

At a recent meeting, the foreign ministers of the European Union agreed to draw up a new, broader list of targets for sanctions, including Russian individuals and entities, said Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign affairs Chief.

But no new additional measures were imposed, reflecting fears among some Europeans that tougher sanctions would invite reprisals by Russia against

display resolve and common purpose after the downing of the Malaysia Airlines jet over eastern Ukraine. In the end, there was plenty of tough talk, yet no real punishment for Russia despite calls from Australia, Britain and the United States, who have all accused Russia of supplying the missile that brought down Flight 17, to take a tougher line.

“Nowhere is the European conundrum clearer than in the Netherlands, a tiny nation of 16 million but one of the wealthiest in the European Union. For more than a decade, the Dutch have been forging closer ties with Russia, emphasizing a growing trade and economic partnership while pointedly ignoring President Vladimir V. Putin’s regional ambitions,” said the post.

But the question is, should government of nations and big corporate companies like Shell do whatever pleases them in securing their economic interests to the detriment of its various citizenry? Absolutely not! As emphasized in the article, “We have to draw a line somewhere,” said Meindert van der Kaaij, a silver-haired journalist, lamenting over those who died on Flight 17.

“We must say something.”

It is also imperative to note that if what is going in Europe, Russia and Ukraine (plus the oil giants in the middle), is happening in Africa or Asia, we are very sure all the major powers of the West will be crying foul

and making so much noise. In fact, we are sure they will not even hesitate a moment to impose sanctions and carry out complete aerial raids/ invasion (like the ones done

by NATO), on any African country that is doing what Russia is doing in Ukraine and Europe.

“In fact, we are sure they will not even hesitate a moment to impose sanctions and carry out complete aerial raids/invasion (like the ones done by NATO), on any African country that is doing what Russia is doing in Ukraine and Europe.”

David Cameron, British Prime Minister

Re: Royal Dutch Shell And Russia? Business As Usual

IT is really sad and rather unfortunate that ephemeral gains/benefit and profits in corporate business has become far more important and valuable than ‘human lives’. It makes one to wonder what the world is turning into.

This was the exact impression we got when recently, the Shell CEO Ben van Beurden was straightforward in what he publicly stated at the 2014 AGM of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. The Shell CEO said that “Shell puts the interests of its shareholders first, above any geopolitical considerations.”

And according to the earlier post on this subject; “that is his excuse for Shell’s dealings with evil regimes in Iran and Russia, irrespective of sanctions.” the said statement credited to Royal Dutch Shell CEO, Ben van Beurden, can best be described as the most careless, callous, inhuman, non-empathetic and cruel statement disposition by such an oil giant. With this statement, it means that in spite of the condemnable attacks on Ukraine by Russia; in spite of the untimely deaths

By ZIK GBEMRE of 298 people that were lost (which includes Four Shell employees and 193 citizens of The Netherlands) in the crash of MH Flight 17; and in spite of the sanctions from the United States of America (USA) and EU on Russia, Shell still wants to continue its BUSINESS AS USAUAL in Russia. How does this stand by the Shell CEO, in any way justify its PRINCIPLES of “core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people?” by this statement, as credited to Shell CEO, Shell is telling the whole world that “profit first and the interest of its stakeholders” before anything else, including the lives of the citizens where Shell operates. That is the most ‘cold’ and inhuman disposition any corporate entity should stand on. It therefore means that Shell can also sponsor, aid and abate crimes against humanity in countries where it operates; just to protect and project its profit-oriented “business as usual”. And if we take a look

at SHELL GENERAL BUSINESS PRINCIPLES (link: http://wwwstatic.shell.com/content/dam/ shell/static/aboutshell/ downloads/who-we-are/ sgbps/sgbp-english.pdf) it means that all Shell is all about is to talk of high moral principles ONLY ON PAPER but in REALITY, it is a different ball game all together.

The above statement by Shell CEO simply justifies the fact that WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO SHELL IS BUSINESS PROFITS OVER HUMAN LIVES AND HUMANITY AS A WHOLE. And like we said in our last letter on similar subject, Shell would rather continue smiling to the banks and turn a blind eye to all the atrocities daily committed by its host country – Russia in Ukraine. This automatically places Shell in the same position as Russia, as those perpetrating the crises in Ukraine and parts of Europe, including the missile-shot Jetliner MH17.

It is in this light that we believe that, if Royal Dutch Shell does not stop its operations in Russia (as a way of registering that the company is not in support with what Russia is doing in Ukraine), in the next few days, then we ask that the European Union (EU) and United States of America (USA) should place sanctions on Shell, for practically fueling, aiding and supporting Russia’s onslaught in Ukraine.

This is the only action on Shell that we believe would send a clear message to others of its kind to change their company policies and actions when it comes to “human lives against business interests.” The Shell CEO needs to understand this fact that, no amount of business interests of company stakeholders can be used to equate or replace the life of one single individual. There is need for the US and EU to seriously sanction Shell if the company does not stop its operations in Russia. We ask that the right thing should be done for posterity and humanity sake.

Archival Matters

Intelligence Blunders On Boko Haram

By MICHAEL ODIGBE

WITHIN a space of two weeks in the past month of July, 2014 the federal government made serious intelligence blunders. To start with, Mr. Mike Omeri NOA boss who doubles as a spokesperson of the National Information Centre in Abuja, during a media briefing, informed the world that the federal government was aware of the location of the abducted Chibok girls on July 21, 2014.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed D. Abubakar, later confirmed Omeri’s statement in an NTA, Abuja interview.

Earlier on, specifically on the 19th July, 2014 journalists were informed by MayGeneral K. Mminima, our army chief of staff that the Nigerian Army was constrained in its fight with Boko Haram because of indiscipline and cowardice.

He made the revelation on emerging from the Third Army Conference which ended on that day.

Before this chilling piece of information could be digested by patriotic Nigerians, news filtered in from federal government that it had acquired 40 combat helicopters with night vision capability for fighting the Boko Haram insurgents.

Saturday Vanguard of July 26, 2014 carried the story.

Furthermore, Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, a junior minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, spoke in this same vein while addressing a group of Nigerians who had assembled in Abuja to pray for the safe return of the kidnapped Chibok girls.

Well, this is not the end of the barrage of pronouncements on the Boko Haram issue President Goodluck Jonathan on July 27, 2014 received Abuja Muslim leaders and faithfuls at Aso Rock on the last day

of the Ramadam. In his speech on the occasion, he observed that had General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) and Sheik Dahiru Bauchi been killed in the twin Kaduna bombings by Boko Haram on July 23, 2014, Nigeria would have been thrown into unquantifiable turmoil.

Precisely, me think all these itemized statements from the presidency and its aides are intelligence blunders of tremendous dimensions that aid and abet the insurgents.

Telling them you know where they are keeping the Chibok girls amounts to directing the insurgents to relocate them or refortify their location. It is more preferable as a military strategy to keep mum on the girls’ location no matter the provocation by the public’s outcry that “Jonathan is not doing anything to rescue the girls”. Allow civilians to do the Boko Haram talk while the military does the walk. Of course, such walk is more important than the talk.

Secondly, it is for the same reason that the federal government ought not to have spilled the beans of its acquisition of 40 combat helicopter with night vision equipment. Once again, this revelation was an intelligence blunder. You don’t tell your enemy the soft and hard military hardwares at your disposal. Neither should you brief him on your logistics, show him your operational map nor do you inform him of the weak profile of your troops. These are closelyguided secrets which you insulate from the best reconnaissance effort of your enemy.

At this juncture, we must not forget in a hurry that late Major Chukuma Nzeogwu and Ojukwu’s balf-brother Biggy died in the Nsukka front of the Nigerial/Biafra war in 1967 on a mission of

military reconnaissance. If the Nigerian Army at the time had revealed strategic information about itself to Biafra such a reconnaissance wouldn’t have been necessary. So, it is high time our Boko haram policy is not based on agbero braggadocio to get thunderous public ovation.

Thirdly, it was still an intelligence blunder for our

intelligence blunder. On July 23, 2014 during his condolence visit to victims of the Kaduna bombing, he warned against such disclosures of plans by the federal government to counter the Boko Haram insurgency. Either his advice is taken or out pronouncements will continue to alter the dynamics of the war at a favourable

president to say that had Buhari and Bauchi been killed in a twin suicide attack

by Boko Haram in Kaduna, Nigeria would have experienced great trepidation.

Such a statement only raise the Haramic stakes of hunting for these men as well as other Nigerians with similar profiles.

It is gratifying that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd) has the insight to identify the federal government’s overtalk as a monumental

velocity to Boko Haram, thus making them not only evasive but appear invincible as it is today.

Put simply, all that is being canvassed here is that only guarded statements should be made by the federal government on Boko Haram.

No more loose, revealing and gaseous talk on the insurgency. Let’s us not be like the cock which dawn crow exposed his hideout at night to its preys.

Countries faced with or

“Secondly, it is for the same reason that the federal government ought not to have spilled the beans of its acquisition of 40 combat helicopter with night vision equipment. Once again, this revelation was an intelligence blunder.”

which are facing similar problems like our should be our role models in fighting Boko Haram. Enter America despite its huge military capabilities, it doesn’t disclosed its war strategies to its enemies. For instance, it secretly developed the two atomic bombs, through its Mahattan Project, with which it bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. incredible!! The second war soon came to an end. Too true, the taste of a military pudding is in the operational field not in the kitchen closet of press briefings.

in a shrub. No gunshot was fired.

Osama Bin Laden, the world’s No 1 terrorist and the mastermind of the attack on New York in 2001 was killed in his hide way in Pakistan in a similar fashion. All intelligence on his whereabout were kept secret until American troops invaded his home to finish him off without even the Pakistan government being aware of the operation!!

Moreover, also, it may interest you to know that in 2014 America, led by secret intelligence, used its special

Also, when America wanted to sack the murderous Talibans from power in Afghanistan after the 2001 twin bombings of the New York towers, it didn’t let the cat out of the bag. All the Talibans experienced on night were bombs falling on them from the sky and mortar shells, backed by infantry guns spewing fire on their homes. Nobody therefore told the Talibans to scamper out of Afghanistan.

Dictatorial Saddam Hussein of Iraq suffered a similar fate years later. When American troops stormed his country, he took to flight and found “shelter” in a rat hole near Tikrit, his hometown. It took months to locate his hide-out.

When America did, it never announced the discovery to the press. It bid its time, patiently. Then, one night, it raided the area and picked up Saddam Hussein like a snail

forces to storm the outskirts of Benghazi, a Libyan City.

Its target? It was Ahmed Abu Khatallah implicated in the Benghazi killing of US Ambassador, Christopher Stephen and three other Americas in 2012. Ahmed Khatallah was abducted by these special forces. Before the Libyan government knew what was amiss, he was airborne to America where he is now standing trial for terrorism and killing American citizens.

So, the lesson here is that we should stop our over talk about our Boko Haram strategy because it often drops Freudian slips of intelligence for the insurgents, who are now no more than Ebola viral disease to us. Na softly…softly dem take day catch monkey when no like banana but when get Ebola virus.

Law

Lawyers, Heaven And The Moral High Ground

“A Layer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns” (Mario PuzoTHE GODFATHER) AS the fraternal and identical twins are cantankerously different, so also idiosyncratic incompatibilities transverse the totality of most societies. But the mechanics and dynamics of consultative initiative, sound education, good laws and socio-political engineering processes help to build multidimensional bridges aimed at making society a better place and man a more civilized and conscientious homo-sapien.

In building good societies all hands must be on deck towards ensuring justice, equality, rule of law, freedom, peace and progress for all. But the Lawyer and the Judiciary have a fundamentally crucial role to play through the instrumentality of the law and fear of God. But not all lawyers and judges believe in God. Those who believe know that the ultimate judge is Jehovah God Almighty and that ultimately there will be a judgment-(Heaven and paradise on earth for the adjudged good ones).

The ethics of the legal profession is fulcrumed and matrixed on the principles of equity, fairness and transparency in the dissemination of justice.

Hence, it is the “NOBLE PROFESSION” and sunken in the groundswell, the moral high ground and grundnorm of NOBLISSE OBLIGE(Noble men must do noble things and all who must go to equity must come with clean hands). The United States Supreme Court Judge Antonio Scalia said “the good societies are not achieved by good laws, but are built upon the effect of one good person upon another and to expect more from law/Lawyers than good behaviour demeans virtue” All religions believe that there is reward for good and for evil. Religions and moral philosophy share a common concern with the question of what is good life for humanity?.

- That is with morality.

However, the ways in which philosophy and the religions of the world answer this question differ. Whereas contemporary philosophers tend to discuss morality without reference to anything beyond the human, religions see good and evil within a wider cosmological framework.

The cosmological super structure transcends humanity and revolves around the activities of supernatural beings- God Almighty , gods, angels, ancestors, Satan, demons etc. Religions also maintain that the full

By BOBSON GBINIJE

significance of good and evil can only be appreciated in terms of beliefs about the continuance of human life beyond the grave. A good life is rewarded with evil, some say Hell. The Eckists, Buddhists, Confucianism, Rosicrucian teachings and Freemasons etc are sunken in esoteric nirvana, karmic laws, meditations , transcendentalisms and transmogrifications etc.

Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism see human life in terms of an eternal cycle of birth and rebirth operating according to the moral laws of Karma.

Under this law, observance of religious duty is rewarded by good birth, while nonobservance is punished by a bad birth. It is now clear that all religions agree that the only way to divine upliftment is through good works. Heaven is heaven, but the expressivity index varies from one religion to another. However, heaven is the dwelling place of God Almighty, faithful spirit creatures, spiritual bliss and afflatus. A place and realm invisible to the human eye.

The nuts and bolts of the legal profession make a lawyer prone and vulnerable to evil and good. But the modus operandi of carrying out his job makes the vast majority of lawyers to lean towards fraudulent manipulations, lying, deliberate falsehoods, Machiavellian legal technicalities to frustrate good judgment, double speak and apocryphal dealings with plaintiffs and defendants, frivolous application for adjournments, legal acrobatics, and manipulating evidences to truncate justice and constitutional pettifogging, etc.

Heuristically didactic books on legal philosophy and ethics like, ‘Dejure belli ac pacis’ by Hugo Grotius, ‘De Justica et De Jure’ by Lessius, De Jure Naturae et Gentium’ by Pefendorf and Tractatus De Legibus’ by Suarez have dealt consummately with the doctrine of necessity’ and the jurisprudential grundnorm of probity and integrity amongst lawyers and the judiciary .

But in our society, certified criminals in high places are being protected by lawyers, unsound and eldrichtly manipulated judgments from some judges. The noble profession is becoming a failed and depraved one because of placebo laws, poor and ludibrastic court verdicts and legal crash helmets are being provided for criminals by lawyers-stimulated by pecuniary inducements.

There is consummate dearth of conscience and fear of God

amongst many lawyers in their pursuit of mundane ideals.

They capitalize on the ignorance of clients, and have become 419 king pins, political crooks and defenders for pecuniary reasons of confessed assassins, armed robbers, land speculators, ritualists and rapists etc. They put their knowledge to illegitimate, immoral and criminal use under the guise of a criminal is innocent until proven guilt.

Hence, Napoleon Bonaparte

observed that “doth the wolf tamely relinquish his prey or the fox his booty? How then expectest thou to rescue thy goods from the fangs of the man of law?”

The Warri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association on Friday January 29th 2010 at the Dr. Mudiaga Odje Hall- Law Centre, Warri held its anniversary lecture in honour of John Alele Esq-50years of private legal practice. The occasion was simply glorious as legal gargantuans from all walks of life graced the occasion with their brilliant presence. Although the keynote address delivered by Late Hon.Justice Niki Tobi, JSC, OFR was titled “Legal Practice in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and the Need for Reforms”.

Lawyers in a lighter mood talked on this question of “Lawyers, the Moral High Ground and Heaven”.

Hon. Justice Niki Tobi, harped on the issue off integrity. He said “if at all any profession needs integrity, that one is the legal profession. A person cannot be a successful practitioner unless he is a person of integrity. A person of integrity is the one who has

sound moral fortitude, faithfulness, honesty, fidelity, moral soundness, probity, propriety, righteousness, truthfulness, uprightness of character are all synonymous with integrity in the strict or large content of the word”.

The way and manner in which lawyers and the judiciary compromise integrity remains sordidly eldritch. Hence, Napoleon Bonaparte said “justice is blind, but not always deaf, for in many cases she loveth to listen to the sweet ringing of gold and silver”.

lawyers and their actions, it will make lasting impact on them.

But who is the ultimate decider as to who goes to heaven. It is our good works, faith and the grace of God. in Jeremiah chapter 9 verses 23 and 24, the Bible said, “ Thus saith the LORD, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which excersises loving Kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord”.

In the Grail Message ABDRUSHIN posited thus, an eternal law operates in the Universe: That in giving can

and other legal practitioners who have stood and still standing with unweanable proclivity for the nicety and without any nitty-gritty for the truth and transparency of the law and good conscience. They do not resort to establish their averments. It is recorded in one of the synoptic gospels that James and John the sons of Zebedee asked Jesus Christ to grant them a place, one on his left side and the other on his right, when his kingdom shall come. Jesus answered and said “to sit on my left side or on my right is not mine to give, it is meant for those for whom they are prepared”.

Yes, it could be meant and prepared for our lawyers and judges too, if they uphold the truth, display integrity, serve

Most lawyers, legal officers and judges are quintessentially corrupt. Hon Niki Tobi further stated that “A legal practitioner who is interested in both the briefs of the plaintiff and the defendant is a person of no integrity. So also is one who is interested in both the briefs of the prosecution and the accused. A legal practitioner who is paid fees for a case but refuses or fails to appear for the client is one without integrity.”

As a palliative on the way forward, he suggested that, the only way to ensure integrity amongst legal practitioners is to step up disciplinary action against erring legal practitioners in the performance of their professional duties. They should either be removed from the Bar list or suspended for a period, depending on the gravity of the professional misconduct. When bad eggs are flushed out, the profession will maintain the required integrity and that should be our goal.

We entirely agree with the submissions of Hon. Justice Niki Tobi, but wish to add that when the fear of God and the desire to make heaven becomes the driving force behind our

one receives where lasting values are concerned; like a sacred legacy of its creator, this law deeply permeates the whole of creation. To give unselfishly, to help where help is needed and to understand both the suffering and the weakness of your fellowmen; means to receive because it is the simple and true way to the Highest.

Without obstructing the trajectory of this discourse with a gossamer of skewed objectivity, sentimental patitio principi, judgemental fallacies and prejudicial projectiles, it is clear that salvation and the path to heaven is an individual albatross which everybody must work out with fear, respect and reverential apotheosization of God through keeping his commandments.

We have seen a thousand and one lawyers and members of the judiciary who have committed themselves to defending the defenseless, being voice for the voiceless and through philanthropic and altruistic gestures touched the lives of the helpless and the poor thereby bettering our society.

We have also seen lawyers

humanity themselves, shun corruption, 419, client manipulations, unnecessary arrogance and luciferous quest for material abundance.

Lawyers are by training noblemen, adjudicators, leaders and societal path finders, but when they fail, the oracular counsel admonishes them, thus “As the volcano bursts with a louder explosion, when the combustible matter is confined within his bosom, so will a nation’s revenge find vent, the more their wrongs are repressed”.

Finally, the shipwrecked mariner may escape the raging billows, and the thief the gallows-tree, but not the wrath of God by their names being struck out from the Book OF Life. Lawyers must listen to this ‘CALL TO ORDER’ and revert to the ethics of their profession through fear and reverences for God to enable them make Heaven.

CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE MANDATE AGAINST POVERTY (MAP) Warri . 08023250378

Politics RECENTLY I wrote an article titled “Between terrorism and Genocide” where I chastised the now erstwhile Executive governor of Adamawa State, Vice Admiral Murtala HammanYero Nyako (rtd), GCON, CFR for his controversial memo to the 19 northern states governors where he accused President Goodluck Jonathan and the federal government of carrying out genocide against the people of the North.

Subsequent to his statement, the Adamawa House of Assembly issued a 20-count allegation, 16 of which were sustained by the panel constituted by the Chief Judge. Much has been written in the last week about impeachments since 2006, with a chronicle of the victims and victors in the various impeachment sagas.

My aim here is to look at what this means for democracy and 2015.

Adamawa is the state of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (now in APC) and the immediate past National Chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Aihaji Bamanga Tukur.

Furthermore, it is one of the states in the North east under emergency rule because of Boko Haram terrorists. The other two are Yobe and Borno.

Before the House of Assembly could vote on the impeachment, the deputy governor resigned. Notice a unique situation here.

Governor Nyako could have appointed a new deputy governor because there were a few hours between the resignation of his deputy and his own impeachment.

Specifically, Section 191 (3) of the constitution states that “Where the office of the Deputy Governor becomes vacant - (a) by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal in accordance with section 188 or 189 of this Constitution; (b) by his assumption of the office of Governor of a State in accordance with subsection (1) of this section; or (c) for any other reason, the Governor shall p and with the approval of the House of Assembly of the State, appoint a new Deputy

Governor.”

Anyway, that did not happen as even the governor had seen the handwriting on the wall and vacated government house a day before his impeachment.

Now the Speaker of the Adamawa House of Assembly should be sworn in as the acting governor. Are we going to have a special election (by-election), with a short time remaining before the February 28, 2015 governorship election?

Whether or not you agreed with Governor Nyako’s’ genocide statement, if you are a friend of democracy, you must be concerned. There are at least three key issues that must be looked at in this Nyako Quagmire or political debacle: First, was the impeachment politically motivated? The answer will be a clear affirmative. Some of the allegations against Governor Nyako were there before he decamped from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Party (APC).

Even a fellow analyst and PDP stalwart in the state stated last week how he and his supporters tried to get national attention on the allegations against Nyako, but were not given an audience.

He was unequivocal in agreeing that now that the PDP umbrella did not cover Nyako anymore, he was now vulnerable to the torrential downpour of his enemies who had been waiting all along to witness his downfall.

In fact, even the speed of the proceedings leaves little to be desired. There is a famous US court case that coined the phrase a1l deliberate speed” which is appropriate here. At least no one was kidnapped to a hotel or bribed (even though there were allegations to that effect).

Secondly, was due process followed? A look at the constitution will tell us that he was not denied procedural or substantive due process.

My lawyer colleagues will understand what I mean, but in laymen’s terms it means the law was followed and his constitutional rights were not trampled on. Sections 188 and 189 of the constitution deal with removal of Governors and their deputies.

What Nyako’s Impeachment Portends For Democracy And 2015 Only Section 188 was applied in this case. The section states in pertinent part that, “(I) The Governor or Deputy Governor of a state may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section. (2) Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third of

By ALEX O. AKPODIETE

fourteen days of the presentation of the notice to the speaker of the House of Assembly (whether or not any statement was made by the holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice-, the House of Assembly shall resolve by motion, without

of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provided in this section. (6) The holder of an office whose conduct is being investigated under this section shall have the right to defend himself in person or

Ex-Governor Murtala Nyako

the members of the House of Assembly (b) stating that the holder of such office is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified. the speaker of the House of Assembly shall, within seven days of the receipt of the notice, cause a copy of the notice to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the House of Assembly, and shall also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of the office, to be served on each member of the House of Assembly. (3) Within

any debate whether or not the allegation shall be investigated. (4) A motion of the House of Assembly that the allegation be investigated shall not be declared as having been passed unless it is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of the House of Assembly (5) Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief judge of the State shall at the request of the speaker of the House of Assembly appoint a Panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members

“For democracy to work, we need a viable opposition that is not censored or overwrought with fear. Otherwise, the country might as well break up or the military take over again.

Oligarchy is not a viable option to military dictatorship.”

be represented before the panel by a legal practitioner of his own choke. (7) A Panel appointed under this section shall - (a) have such powers and exercise its functions in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly: and (b) within three months of its appointment, report its findings to the House of Assembly. (8) Where the Panel reports to the House of Assembly that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in respect of the matter.

(9) Where the report of the Panel is that the allegation against the holder of the office has been proved, then within fourteen days of the receipt of the report, the house of Assembly shall consider the report, and if by a resolution of the House of Assembly supported by not less than two-thirds majority

of all its members, the report of the Panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report. (10) No proceedings or determination of the Panel or of the House of Assembly or an matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court”.

Whatever the gross misconduct is assumed to have been proven because subsection 11 defines “gross misconduct” as “a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion in the House of Assembly to gross misconduct” Thirdly, the immunity from prosecution that governors enjoy should it be retained?

This was an issue before the national confab and I believe their position was that it should be removed. The only problem with removing the immunity is that they will become easy prey for their detractor, who may be very powerful and connected with the anti-graft agencies. No governor has ever resigned even though Nyako’s deputy has just shown that sometimes it is better to resign than face the humiliation of impeachment, especially when the impeachment is essentially a fait accompli, making the resignation a pseudoimpeachment. Ask the former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly. Of course, the next expected action will be for Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pounce on the ex-governor since there is no more immunity.

For democracy to work, we need a viable opposition that is not censored or overwrought with fear.

Otherwise, the country might as well break up or the military take over again.

Oligarchy is not a viable option to military dictatorship. Let us not kill our democracy with our own hands. As the Holy book says, “the wise woman builds her house, But tile foolish pulls it down with her hands. “ (Prov. 14:1). Are we going to be wise or foolish in 2015?

International Ebola-Stricken Patient Arrives US

Paramilitary policemen carry an injured child on a stretcher as they carry out rescue operations after an earthquake hit Longtoushan township of Ludian county, Yunnan province yesterday. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southwestern China yesterday killing at least 26 people in a remote mountainous area of Yunnan province, causing some buildings to collapse including a school.

ATLANTA, USA - Dr. Kent Brantly will become the first person ever treated for Ebola in the US. The mission to save his life is being criticized as too risky by some. CDC director cautions against ‘irrational fear.’

America’s vacillation between disease outbreak fears and resolve to bring its own home came into sharp focus on Saturday morning as US health authorities, in a desperate attempt to save the lives of two US aid workers stricken by Ebola, flew Dr. Kent Brantly into Dobbins Air Force Base, just north of Atlanta.

Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital, with the assistance of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease control, received Mr. Brantly, a father of two, on Saturday. A second American stricken by Ebola, Nancy Writebol, is scheduled to be flown to the same Atlanta facility shortly.

The two aid workers belong to a North Carolina-based group called Samaritan’s Purse, which has been on the frontlines of trying to contain Africa’s worstever Ebola outbreak. Samaritan’s Purse on Saturday recalled 60 other aid workers from the region.

With his arrival in Atlanta yesterday, Dr. Brantly will become the first Ebola patient to

ever be treated on US soil, a fact that has raised concerns and forced health authorities to defend their decision to bring the dangerous virus to the US. To be sure, that decision is facing serious questions: Should Americans fear an outbreak?

How will the victim get from the airport to Emory University Hospital? Are the odds of saving a life greater than the odds of the virus breaking out of an isolation chamber in a dense city on the Appalachian piedmont?

“Why are they knowingly bringing infected people to the US when we could send medical supplies and medical staff to tend to them overseas?” commenter “SubVet418” writes Saturday on the Chicago Tribune’s website.

“The comments from the CDC regarding Ebola not being easily contagious are not reassuring as they have recently had several breaches in their own labs.”

So far, health authorities, including CDC Director Tom Frieden, have worked to allay fears. They say Ebola, which in this latest outbreak has killed over 700 Africans in four countries, cannot be transmitted by air, only through directly contact with bodily fluids.

What’s more, the isolation chamber at Emory University is designed specifically to contain

IRBIL, Iraq — Militants with the Islamic State extremist group yesterday seized two small towns in northern Iraq after driving out Kurdish security forces, further expanding the territories under their control, officials and residents said.

The fresh gains by the Sunni extremist militants have forced dozens of residents to flee from the religiously mixed towns of Zumar and Sinjar, near the militant-held city of Mosul, to the northern self-ruled Kurdish region, they said.

Mosul governor Atheel alNujaifi, who fled to the largely autonomous Kurdish region

when the Islamic State group and allied Sunni militants seized Iraq’s second-largest city in June, told The Associated Press that the two towns fell after fierce clashes that erupted the day before.

A resident in Sinjar said the militants blew up a small revered Shiite site and two Yazidi shrines. Yazidis are a Kurdishspeaking sect and religious minority. Another resident in Zumar said they took over at least two small oil fields. Both spoke on condition of anonymity

similar kinds of viruses and protect the populace.

But it’s clear the CDC is on edge over the mission. The logistics of isolating a patient across thousands of miles of air space and then shuttle them to a hospital isolation unit are daunting. And the survival odds are stark: Only 4 in 10 afflicted people survive the Ebola virus, and a vaccine is at least a year away.

In comments on CNN Friday, Dr. Frieden said he hoped “irrational fears” wouldn’t override “compassion” for fellow citizens in dire need of help.

Moreover, health-care workers have shouldered some of the disease’s toll so far. Aside from the two infected American aid workers, Sierra Leone’s top infectious disease specialist perished last week from the virus, according to news reports.

In some areas, health-care workers lack even basic protection, such as glasses and mask, to defend themselves from infection.

The World Health Organization has pledged $100 million toward helping the African nations contain the threat, and the CDC is sending 50 experts to the region to help coordinate a response that so far has failed to stem the outbreak.

Sunni Insurgents Seize Towns fear of retribution. is facing its worst crisis since In Iraq fortheIraq2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Smoke rises after rockets fired by one of Libya’s militias struck and ignited a building after clashes between rival militias, in an area at Alswani road in Tripoli recently.

Syrian Rebels Raid Lebanon

BEIRUT — Syrian rebels killed eight Lebanese soldiers and claimed yeserday to have

captured a dozen security force members in a cross-border raid, the most serious spillover of

PUBLIC NOTICE PROPERTY FOR SALE! Plots of land measuring 200 by 400, 400 by 400 and situate in Ugbor, Benin City, are for urgent sale.

Contact lgbinovia: 08055810683; 08098888161 e-mail: marvellim2000@yahoo.com Or Odionwere, 11, Umagbae Street, Off MM Way, By Bight Engineering, Benin City.

PUBLIC AUCTION SALES This is to inform the general public that the Nigeria Police, Igarra Division, Edo State, will auction scraps, abandoned and unclaimed Vehicles, Motorcycles/Household Items after 21 days notice of this publication. Items are:- (1) Hyundai Sal. car, Reg. No. ÀY 835 KSF: (2) Honda Prelude Car, Reg. No. AA979 KRY; (3) Eight Motorcycles of different types.

For further information, contact:Anthony Ebhotemen, Auctioneer.

Tel: 08033360680.

violence yet into the tiny country from its neighbor’s civil war.

The capture, claimed in an online video, raised fears Lebanon could become further entangled in the Syrian civil war and could worsen alreadybrewing sectarian tensions.

The fighting began Saturday in the eastern Lebanese border town of Arsal, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) from the capital, Beirut. Local television footage yesterday showed wailing ambulances racing into town and soldiers standing guard just outside its limits. The Lebanese military sealed off the area, preventing reporters from approaching the town.

Lebanon’s state news agency said that fighting yesterday focused around an army barracks in the town’s center. The fate of its residents and the Syrian refugees living remained unclear.

Saturday’s raid began hours after the army said troops detained Syrian citizen Imad Ahmad Jomaa, who identified himself as a member of the Nusra Front. The state-run National News Agency said Jomaa was detained as he was being brought to a hospital in Lebanon after being wounded while fighting Syrian troops.

The Nusra Front is one of the most powerful groups fighting to overthrow the rule of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The Islamic State, an al-Qaida breakaway group, captured large swaths of land in the country’s west and north in a lightning offensive earlier this year.

When it overran the cities of Mosul and Tikrit in June, Iraqi security forces virtually collapsed.

In most cases, police and soldiers simply ran, abandoning arsenals of heavy weapons.

The Islamic State group has carved out a self-styled caliphate in a large area straddling the IraqiSyrian border.

INSTALLATION: The installation ceremony of Rotarian (Comrade) Joe Iyalekhue as the 7th President of Rotary Club of New Benin took place at Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Benin City on Saturday 2nd August, 2014. Dignitaries from all walks of life graced the occasion. Picture shows the Rep of the out-going President of the Club (left) performing the installation of the new President (2nd from right) 1st from right is the President’s wife, Mrs. Iyalekhue.

Congratulations! Photo:- Sonnie. E.

EDO STATE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has approved the constitution of the following Boards and Committees as follows: MS. FAITH AGBONLAHOR -

LAND USE COMMITTEE MR. SIMEON OMOFUMA MRS. ADESUWA AJAYI

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MEMBER

MRS. ELIZBETH OSEMWENGHAE-

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MR. ANDREW AMADASUN

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BARR. R. OSAZUWA MR. PULLEN UWAGBOE

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MR. FELIX ISIBOR

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GENERAL P. ONAGHISE (RTD)

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MRS STELLA IGBINEDION

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MR EDDY OGUNBOR

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HON. PETER IZEDOMWEN

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PAT IGBINOVIA

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ESTHER IDEHEN

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MRS ELIZABETH SALAMI

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CHIEF DENIS OSIKHENA

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ALI MAIMUNA

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ALHAJI ZEINAT SHAKA

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CHAIRMAN

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MR. JOHN JESUROBO

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE BOARD “

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PROF. THOMAS OMON OLEABHIELE

MRS LORETTA UHUNMWANGHO -

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CHIEF PHILIP OKO-OBO

MR. WELLINGTON ENABULELE -

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CHIEF I. EDIAGBONYA

-“ PALACE

PROMISE AGBEDE

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ELDER ROLAND EVBADE OSADORLOR -

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OSABUOHIEN OGIEMWENKEN

- IKPOBA OKHA

MRS PATRICIA ABHULIMEN

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MRS. MARIA ENOMA

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DR. RICHARD AIFUWA

-“ORHIONMWON

AMBROSE OSAZUWA

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MR. SOLOMON AGBONDIMWIN

- EGOR

MR. FELIX IYOHA

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CHIEF SAMUEL EKENEZA

-OVIA S W

WILLIAM OKPERAN

ROMAN EJEMI

- OVIA S W

WILSON OSARENMWINDA

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MR. OGBODU S. I.

- OREDO

COMRADE LUCKY BASSEY

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MR. GODWIN OSA EMOVON

-OVIA N/EAST

MRS. ANN OGBEBOR

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OVIA N/EAST

JOHN IGBINOGUN

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-AKOKO-EDO

MRS. PATIENCE OMOROTIOMWAN -

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AKOKO-EDO

MR OSAYANDE IKPONWOSA

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MR. FESTUS ASEMOTA

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JOHNBULL OSAEGONMWAN MRS VICTORIA OYEGUE

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MRS. OMO OHAKHENA

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MR. EMMANUEL EGUAVOEN

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JULIA ORU

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MRS JOY OSAHENRUNWEN IYEN

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MR. DAVID ILEVBA

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MR. MOSES ARASOMWAN

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MR. NICHOLAS AROKHAMONI

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CHIEF (MRS) KADIRI

CHIEF GODFREY IDEHEN

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-CHAIRMAN

- MEMBER/PALACE

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HON. STEVE AJIBOLA PRINCE O. KOSENIMOLA

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MR. TONY G. ERAMEH

-ETSAKO CENTRAL

EMOZOZO MOMOH

-ETSAKO EAST

CHIEF S. K. OGHAIMEN

-OWAN WEST

LAWRENCE OZIEGBE

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CHARLES OSAGIATOR

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COL. B. O. MUSA

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CHIEF B. A. EGUAOJE

-OWAN EAST

MARTINS IGINIGIE

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MR. EGBESUN FESTUS

-IGUEBEN

HOSPITALS MANAGEMENT BOARD

MR. SULE SHIABU

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DR. BEST IGHALO

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IGUEBEN

DR. EBEGUE AMADASUN

MISS LILIAN EMUOBOME

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HON. OBOH ELHOHIMEN

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ESAN CENTRAL

MR. ANDREW AGBONWANEGBE (FT)

MEMBER

CHIEF S. O. IMAFOGE

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CHIEF SHAGARI ONI

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BAR. UKPEBOR

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ONOHO-OMHEN O. EBHOHIMEN CHIEF OKOROR -

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MR. JOHN INEGBENEBOR

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BARR. HARRION OJEME

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PASTOR SAMUEL E. ODIGIE

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ESAN WEST

PHARM. NURENI ETAMESOR (FT)

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PALACE

DR. GODWIN EKHORUTOMWEN (FT)

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CHIEF SAM OKUNHON

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PALACE

DR. OTAMERE G. AIGBOGUN (FT)

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CHIEF GODWIN ABUSOMWAN

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PALACE

DR. EDO ANDREW EFOSA (PT)

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DR. UGBO IYIRIAHO

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PALACE

MR. OLAWOLE G.T.

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FELIX OTOYO

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PALACE

GEORGE ENEREBA

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CHIEF AKPEDE

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ESAN S/EAST

CHIEF JULIUS OKOJIE

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ESAN N/EAST

LAWRENCE EMIATOR (PT)

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EDOGHOGHO OMOIGUI

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OREDO

MRS. JULIANA OMIUNUTA

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MRS ROSE EWEKA

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MRS CLARA IMARHIAGBE

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MRS HELEN IDEHEN

FRIDAY OGBIDI OKHIULU JACOB OSAIKHUWUOMWAN

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MRS MERCY OBOH

CHAIRMAN

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Swearing in of the Land Use Allocation Committee, Traditional

EDO ARTS COUNCIL

Medicine Board, Board of Edo Arts Council and Hospital Management Board will hold on Monday, August 4, 2014 at

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the Banquet Hall, Government House at 1:00pm. Guests are

NAME

MR. DUKE OSHODI

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UGBEKILE ANDREW, ESQ.

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OLA OSAYEMWEN

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Member

MR. LAWRENCE OBOH

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CHAIRMAN

AGHEDO OSCAR ONAIWU

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MRS GRACE IRABOR

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MEMBER

JOSEPH OZA OGBEIDE

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CHIEF SAMUEL UGIAGBE

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FELIX AMADIN

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IMAFIDON OKUNGBOWA -

to be seated by 12:30pm.

CHIEF AGBONMA UGO

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Signed: Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

Health ON Friday 25 July, 2014, the Minister for Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu announced that a Liberian Mr. Patrick Sawyer, a WASH consultant in the Ministry of Finance in Liberia, who was in Nigeria to attend ECOWAS summit had died as a result of Ebola Virus infection. The death of the 40 year old Patrick Sawyer in Nigeria has made the Ebola Virus Disease a very serious public health concern in the country.

The Ebola Virus is the most dangerous virus affecting humans and other primates. The disease causes hemorrhagic fever in human, and once it has been contracted, it symptoms start manifesting as from two to twenty-one days.

Some of the symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, chest pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, seizures, bleeding, nausea and coma.

The medical history of Ebola Virus indicated that it is found naturally in certain animals such as fruit bats, monkeys, chimpanzee, gorillas, pig, antelope and porcupine. According to the World Health Organisation WHO, Ebola Virus was first identified in Democratic Republic of Congo by a 27 year old Belgian Scientist, Peter Piot in

1976 and in the same year it was also discovered in Sudan.

Since the first outbreak of Ebola Virus in 1976, there have been several outbreak of the disease, however, the most severe happens to be that of 1976 when it killed 280 people, in the year 2000 it killed 224 people, in 2012, 12 people were killed by Ebola Virus and that of 2014 has been described as the deadliest outbreak of the Ebola Virus, affecting people in countries like Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia and Guinea, where over 467 people have died so far as a result of the epidemic.

The Ebola Virus Disease is spread or contacted when an individual come in contact with blood, sputum, or body fluid of an infested person. It is also a contagious disease and air-borne, which means that it can be inhaled when a victim discharges the virus in the atmosphere whenever he or she sneezes or cough, it can also be contracted when we eat animals that serve as host to the virus, and through sexual intercourse with a carrier of the virus.

According to World Health Organisation, WHO the disease is spreading fast from rural communities to cities in some West African Countries, and calls for drastic action to curtail

Combating The Outbreak Of Deadly Ebola Virus In Nigeria

By DESMOND AGBAMA

the scourge or epidemic before it becomes widespread and difficult to control. According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ebola Virus affects multiple organs

disease is more dangerous and very contagious when one come in contact with a dead victim, which explains why utmost care must be taken by

the spread of Ebola Virus generally include isolation or quarantine of victims, killing and proper disposal of infected animals, proper cooking of all kind of meat before consumption, wearing

Prof Onyebuchi Chuwku, Minister of Health

and systems in human body, thereby making it the most deadliest disease of man today.

With the death of the 40 year old Liberian in Nigeria as a result of Ebola Virus infection, it therefore means that the disease has subtlety find its way into the country.

Medical experts say the

health workers when handling the corpse of the deceased Liberian.

The corpse should be highly isolated or quarantined before it is transported back to Liberia so that it does not contaminate Nigerians.

Other methods of preventing

“The Federal and State governments should as a matter of urgent public health concern provide fund for the purchase of the necessary diagnostic facilities in hospitals across the federation, instead of depending on foreign laboratory services.”

of protective clothes, hand gloves, mask by health workers attending to Ebola Virus patient, washing of hands regularly. Victims should cover their mouth when sneezing or yawning and should dispose their sputum in a hygienic manner.

The World Health Organisation says there is no cure or vaccine for now to combat Ebola Virus disease, hence the death rate resulting from the disease is very high, often between 50 to 90 percent.

Therefore, the Nigeria government, and the Federal Ministry of Health in particular

should immediately adopt a health policy whereby any foreigner coming to Nigeria either through air, sea or land boarders should be thoroughly screened for Ebola Virus before he or she is admitted into the country. That is the practice in developed societies against any disease posing serious public health concern such as Ebola Virus, and other highly contagious diseases.

Furthermore, the cows and other livestock slaughtered on daily basis in the various abattoirs should be properly screened by officers from the public health department in the local government councils in conjunction with veterinary doctors from the Ministry of Agriculture, in order to safeguard the health of the people.

The Federal and State governments should as a matter of urgent public health concern provide fund for the purchase of the necessary diagnostic facilities in hospitals across the federation, instead of depending on foreign laboratory services.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and in the case of Ebola Virus disease, there is no cure for now.

So be vigilant, mind what you eat, practice good personal and environment hygiene, and adhere to all the prevention strategies highlighted above, in order to avoid Ebola Virus infection.

• Desmond Agbama is the Chairman, Edo State NUJ.

Cristiano Ronaldo Drops United Hint CRISTIANO Ronaldo has admitted he would consider moving back to Manchester United if he were ever to leave Real Madrid.

He was granted a rapturous The reigning World Player reception at Old Trafford of the Year stressed that he is when Real faced United in the happy at the Bernabeu but Champions League in 2013 spoke of his enduring love for and looked back fondly on his United and said he was time in England, adding: “It treated “like a God” during was one of my favourite his six seasons at Old clubs, Manchester. Everyone Trafford. knows that every time when Last year Ronaldo signed a I speak about Real Madrid I five-year contract to keep him should speak about Manchesat Real until 2018 but he re- ter United, I loved it there. fused to rule out a second “I was 18 years old [when I spell in England. joined], I win everything “I love Manchester, and to there, the people treat me like be back, I never know, you a God there so I appreciate never know. [In] football you that and the future, nobody never know,” he told national knows. I remember when we newspapers. “Of course, I’m played there against Manhappy at Real Madrid, it’s my chester in the Champions home, it’s my club, but Man- League: they kill me, my chester treated me unbeliev- heart was so happy.< able so we never know.”

“I had fantastic moments Ronaldo joined United and I appreciate this club. For from Sporting Lisbon for 12.8 me, it’s one of the best clubs million pounds in 2003 and in the world and I have pasleft for a then world record sion for this club. Some playfee of 80 million pounds in ers I am still in contact with 2009. because when I was there, I He scored 118 goals in 292 created a good relationship games for the English club, with everybody, not just the winning three Premier players, but all the staff League titles and the Cham- around. pions League in 2008.

Real Madrid broke the

world transfer record to bring in Gareth Bale this summer.

“It was like my second family there, so I’ll not forget that the people treat me good.”

Since leaving United, Ronaldo has scored 252 goals in just 246 games for Real, the most recent in May’s Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid.

He will miss Real’s International Champions Cup game against United in Michigan on Saturday with a knee injury.

• Cristiano Ronaldo

Real’s Struggles ‘Normal’ - Ancelotti

REAL Madrid’s preseason struggles on their American tour are “normal,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said after his side lost 3-1 to Manchester United on Saturday.

The European champions lost all three of their matches in the International Champions Cup, including defeats to Inter (on penalties) and Roma, and Ancelotti said Real are not yet ready to start the season.

“We can’t be ready, obviously, the way we are. We have players that just joined up a week ago,” Ancelotti after the match in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Real’s two big acquisitions,

Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, have yet to feature following their World Cup heroics, and Ronaldo only made his preseason debut in the second half on Saturday.

“Obviously, the team isn’t necessarily accustomed to playing without Cristiano or some other players, but it’s normal that we’re going through this.”

A day after Ancelotti said his star winger would not play against United, Ronaldo came in with 20 minutes to play as many in the U.S.-record crowd of 109,318 were chanting his name.

Ronaldo has been battling lin-

Terry Must Prove His Worth - Mourinho JOSE Mourinho has warned Chelsea captain John Terry that he will have to perform this season if he is to earn a new contract.

Terry, who signed a one-year deal with club at the end of last season, is hoping to further extend his stay at Stamford Bridge but Mourinho insists the 33year-old cannot rely on his status to earn him a new contract.

“It’s good that he wants a deal for next year but he just has to be worried about performing,” Mourinho told Chelsea’s official

website. “These one-year contracts are a good way to deal with these players.

“Last season was the sort where I don’t remember him having a better one, so you believe he can do the same for another year.”

Terry’s performances alongside Gary Cahill proved integral as Chelsea ended the Premier League season with the fewest league goals conceded.

However, it was scoring goals not shipping them that had Mourinho worried last year. The

• Didier Drogba and John Terry

Portuguese has since moved to strengthen his strikeforce this summer, bringing in Diego Costa as well as re-signing Didier Drogba.

Romelu Lukaku has been sold to Everton for 28 million pounds and, while Fernando Torres was also mooted to leave, Mourinho opted to hold on to the Spaniard.

Torres’ goal-scoring prowess may have diminished since his 50-million-pound switch from Liverpool in 2011 but, like Terry, it is his work rate that swayed Mourinho’s decision to keep him.

Mourinho said: “Fernando is not leaving. He is a good player.

Maybe the self-esteem in terms of being a goalscorer is not at the top. All eyes are on him when he misses a goal, everybody remembers.

“But his work-rate for the team is fantastic and, because of that, we can play with two strikers from the three we have at the same time, no problem.

“We can play Nando and Drogba or Nando and Diego.

Nando can play from the side or maybe we could even play both through the middle.

“When we are not winning matches, sometimes we play with three defenders and two strikers. Nando will always be

a choice and a very useful player for us. Our strikeforce is strong and they all have different qualities, which is very important.”

gering knee injuries since last season and seemed to be less than fully fit with Portugal at the World Cup. “His condition is improving,” Ancelotti said. “I think that he needs another week to train with the teammates, and then I think he will be ready for the first

game of the season.”

Real Madrid open with the UEFA Super Cup against Europa League titleholders Sevilla on Aug. 12.

“Cristiano really wants to play in the Super Cup and for this reason I only gave him 20 minutes,” Ancelotti said.

ruple with Manchester City this season.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side won the Premier League and the Capital One Cup last season and reached the last 16 of the Champions League and the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. And midfielder Milner, who believes City have a better group of players after the summer additions of Fernando, Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero

and Frank Lampard, is hoping they mount a four-pronged challenge for honours.

He told City’s official website: “Our squad is stronger and we want to go again because we have had the taste of winning trophies.

“We were chasing four trophies last season and we want to be in that situation again where we can be pushing for all of them.

“It’s up to us to go again and try and retain the title. We’re focusing on the new season. We know how hard it’s going to be and we know how strong the other teams are and they have strengthened again.”

Milner, who has entered the last year of his contract, made 44 appearances in all competitions last season but only started 12 league games.

And he added: “City are a great club to be with and I just want to contribute as much as I can. Competition is tough but when you get out there you have to go and help the team.

“I have been here four years now so you know what to expect. There are big money signings every year and you want to play against the top teams and play with the best players in the world.

“We definitely have that at City. You test yourself every single day in training. You want to improve. You want to win trophies and think: ‘Did I become the best player that I can?’

“If you can’t improve playing with these guys in the dressing room you are going to struggle anywhere.”

James Milner Eyes Man City JAMES Milner has set his Quadruple sights on challenging for a quad-

Man City Confirm Frank Lampard Loan

FRANK Lampard will join Manchester City on loan until January, manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed on Saturday.

The England midfielder signed for City’s sister outfit New York City FC this summer, ending 13 trophy-laden years at Chelsea.

With the 2015 Major League Soccer season not starting until the spring, there was speculation that Lampard would head to Melbourne City, the third club owned by the City Football Group, on a short-term deal.

But following the Premier League champions’ friendly against Olympiakos in Minneapolis on Saturday, Pellegrini confirmed the 36year-old will now move to the Etihad before the next American season begins in March.

“As you know, Frank has signed a contract with New York City and will start working here (the United States) in January as the season starts in March,” Pellegrini told a post-match news conference.

“From next Wednesday he

will start working with our team and will play for us until then.

At the moment he will work with the squad and be a member of the squad. He will fight for a position.

“He knows we have a very good team, we have a lot of players in his position. He is one player more.

“We have a lot of games, particularly with the Champions League — so he’s very important for our team.”

Manchester City are scheduled to face Chelsea on Sept. 21 in the Premier League. Asked about Lampard facing his former club, Pellegrini said, “I will talk about those things with him,.”

Lampard will join Fernando, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero as new arrivals at the Etihad over the summer as City attempt to defend the title they narrowly won ahead of Liverpool last term. A successful defence could hand Lampard a fourth Premier League crown to go with the Champions League, Europa League, four FA Cups and two League Cups he won at Stamford Bridge.

CGF Withdraws Amalaha’s Medal Over Doping Violation price awarded to you should

THE Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has stripped Nigeriaís weightlifter Chika Amalaha of the gold medal she won at the ongoing 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Amalahaís failed a drug test on Tuesday after her A sample showed traces of diuretics and masking agents.

The athlete, who won a weightlifting gold in the 53 kg class on July 25, had her B sample also tested in London on Wednesday which confirmed that she took the banned substances.

Amalaha was provisionally suspended by the CGF on July 29, while she waited for the result of her B sample.

Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), told newsmen after hearing on Friday that the CGF had stripped Nigeria of the gold medal Amalaha won.

The CGFís letter to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) which Elegbeleye read to newsmen states as follows: “Further to your (Amalaha) appearance today at the federationís court (CGF) we hereby notify you that the court has decided that you have violated its rules through the use of banned drugs.

“The class of substances contained in her urine sample collected on July 29, 2014 are diuretic and masking agent as well as Hydro-

chlorothiazide.

“The court decision is that the following sanctions be imposed on you; that you are fully suspended from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“That you are disqualified from•Marc the 53kg weightlifting Bartra event within which you took part at the 2014 Commonwealth Games with all results nullified.

“That the gold medal and

be forfeited and returned.íí Elegbeleye pointed out that the CGF had informed the NOC that the medals would immediately be withdrawn from Nigeria on the medals table.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, reports that the gold medal has yet to be withdrawn from Nigeria on the medals table as at the time this reports.

Tom Daley of England competes in the men’s 10m Platform final at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Commonwealth Games

Team Nigeria Para-Power Lifters Set New World Records 136.0kg to set the new world record in the lightweight, while Obiji lifted 122.4kg to set the new world record in the heavyweight class.

Another Nigerian Bose Omolaye took silver in the heavyweight class behind Obiji after she lifted a weight of 113kg, while Joyce Njuguna won bronze with 68.6kg.

GBENGA Elegbeleye, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), says Team Nigeria will not be discouraged by the withdrawal of the gold medal won by Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amalaha was suspended from the ongoing Commonwealth Games by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) on Friday for doping violation.

She was subsequently thrown out of the Games Village and her gold medal withdrawn from Nigeriaís medals haul.

Elegbeleye, however, told NAN in Glasgow on Friday

Daley ‘Taking A Break’ After Winning Gold TOM Daley admitted he would give himself a rare day off as reward for successfully retaining his menís 10m platform Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow.

Daley picked up menís synchronised 10m platform silver on Friday night alongside partner James Denny but it was in

the individual competition where the 20-year-old was truly expected to dominate.

After weeks of build-up, anticipation and controversy, eight-times world champion Bolt delighted the Hampden Park crowd as he raced down the home straight to give Jamaica victory in a Games record time of 37.58 seconds.

In doing so the towering sprinter also claimed the first Commonwealth medal of his illustrious career.

“I’m happy for the fans and I’m happy to get my Commonwealth gold medal,” Bolt told reporters. “It (the Commonwealth Games) was always on my to-do list.

“I always wanted to go to the Commonwealths. I wanted to run an individual event here but I got injured so I decided to run the 4x100.”

have been few and far between, the Jamaican dealt with the weight of expectation in his usual charismatic manner.

After anchoring the Jamaica team to victory on a puddlestrewn track, Bolt charmed the crowd by performing his ‘lightning bolt’ celebration, posing for selfies and donning a tartan hat.

• Usain Bolt

Morning preliminaries had been a little trouble for Daley with his ëdemoní dive ñ the back two-and-a-half somersault with two-and-a-half twists ñscoring him only 37.80 points, although he still progressed as the highest ranked diver.

Viewed as his main challenger, 2008 Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham was second but while Daley stepped it up during the eveningís final, the Australian struggled to hit top form finishing fourth to leave the Englishman a clean run at gold.

And Daley took full advantage, scoring an overall total of 516.55 points to retain his title from four years ago in Delhi at a canter.

The nearest diver to him was Malaysiaís Ooi Tze Liang a further 82.85 points behind, although Daley insists he did not worry himself with what other people were doing in the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.

“I try not to think about any-

Natalia Blake of England got silver in the lightweight class with a total lift of 100.2kg, while Sakina Khatun picked the bronze for India with a lift of 88.2kg.

NAN reports that Nigeria is currently placed eight on the medals table with nine gold, seven silver and 14 bronze.

Team Nigeria Not Discouraged By Amalaha Gold Medal Withdrawal

Commonwealth Games

Bolt Leads Jamaica To 4x100m Glory As England USAIN Bolt powered clear in Having been the shining light Claim Silver the home straight as Jamaica in a Games where big names won the Commonwealth Games 4x100m relay, with England claiming silver.

Bolt picked up the baton in second place, but the fastest man of all time had no problem overhauling England’s Danny Talbot to win in a Games record time of 37.58 seconds.

Jason Livermore, Kemar Bailey-Cole, who won the 100 metres on Monday, and Nickel Ashmeade ran the first three legs but all eyes were on Bolt, the 100 and 200 metres world record holder.

Trinidad and Tobago took bronze after failing to catch the English.

England’s Adam Gemili, 20, now has a team silver to add to the second place earned in the individual event.

TEAM Nigerian Parapower lifters Esther Onyema and Lovelyn Obiji on Saturday, set two new world records on the opening day of the Para-power lifting event at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onyema and Obiji won gold medals in the womenís lightweight and heavyweight class respectively to set the records.

Onyema lifted a weight of

body else. It is a very individual sport. You can only think once you have finished,” he said.

“It was a lot better than the morning session. There are lots of positives I can take out of the final so I am really happy.

“It was really nice to go into the last round knowing I didnít have to do a last dive to get a medal. It was just about going out there, doing the best dive I could and going out with a bang.

“Thereís still a lot more I can improve on. Some of my dives in the final didnít go quite as well as this morning so Iíve got to make sure I am more consistent. But generally all my dives are starting to come together now and Iím really happy to have something to show for all my hard work.

“I think British diving is in a very strong place. England has topped the medal table and itís the most medals we have won in a Commonwealth Games.

The whole team has done amazingly well and Iím sure thereís a lot more to come.

- Elegbeleye that Amalahaís gold medal was just one out of the eight won so far by the country at the ongoing Games.

“So far, we have won seven gold medals outside Amalahaís medal. Our athletes are still competing and I hope we are going to win more medals, including gold.

“Other African countries have been commending Nigeria, saying that we are doing Africa proud, and we all saw Blessing Okagbare breaking the Commonwealth Games record in 100 metres.

“We have broken other records in weightlifting. We did so well in wrestling and won two gold medals in weightlifting.

“The para-powerlifting athletes will be competing from tomorrow (Saturday) and we are sure of winning gold medals there,íí Elegbeleye said.

He however said efforts would be intensified henceforth to monitor the countryís athletes ahead of international competitions to ensure there was no recurrence.

The NSC Director-General said it was for the NSC to ensure that Nigerian athletes won fair all the time, adding “contesting in any competition free of drugs is a mark of modesty.

“I will not want us to be seen as a country involved in doping issues. We thank Nigerians for their co-operation, because our athletes have been doing well.íí NAN reports that Team Nigeria has so far won seven gold, six silver and 13 bronze medals to stand in eighth place on the medals table.

One hundred and twentyseven athletes are representing Nigeria in seven sports at the Commonwealth Games which began on July 23 and will ended yesterday.

Wenger Coy Over Sami Khedira Link ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has refused to be drawn on reports that he has made enquiries to sign Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.

Wenger has been persistently linked with a move for the Germany World Cup winner this summer, but he denied that Arsenal have made a formal bid for Khedira when pressed on the subject by reporters following his side’s 5-1 Emirates Cup win against Benfica.

“What is enquire for you?” he responded. “I don’t know. If I read the newspapers, he is available.”

Wenger’s comments will fuel rumours that he is keen to sign Khedira this summer, but he stated in an earlier interview following the Benfica game that defenders were his priority in the final few weeks of this transfer window.

After saying on Friday that Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen may leave the club amid continued links with a move to Manchester United, Wenger hinted on Saturday that his priority will be on signing defenders after seeing his side beat Benfica 5-1 in their opening Emirates Cup match.

“Who’s next? I don’t know,”

• Cesc Fabregas

Fabregas The ‘Missing Piece’ MOURINHO’s men finished third in the league last season, four points adrift of champions Manchester City.

- Mourinho

The Londoners have added Fabregas, Diego Costa, Didier Drogba and Filipe Luis to their squad in the

close-season after losing the likes of David Luiz, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Romelu Lukaku.

But the signing of former Arsenal captain Fabregas is the biggest for Mourinho, who believes the midfielder

- Louis Van Gaal

Wilfried Zaha and Javier Hernandez as substitutes.

And one of them will get the opportunity in the Premier League with the United manager adding: “Hopefully, Robin will get his fitness back very fast but, for now, he won’t play.

Robin wants to play every game, I know that, but so do the other 30 players in the squad.”

Van Persie, who has scored 48 goals in two seasons since joining from Arsenal, is a contender for the United captaincy under Van Gaal.

Van Persie To Miss Start Of Season ROBIN van Persie will miss the start of the league season, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed.

The striker captained Van Gaal’s Netherlands team to a third-place finish in the World Cup but the 62-year-old said Van Persie, who will begin training on Monday, will not be ready to begin the game against Swansea on Aug. 16.

He will also sit out United’s preseason friendly against Valencia on Aug. 12, which will be Van Gaal’s first match in charge at Old Trafford.

“Robin will begin training on Monday but he won’t play against Valencia, definitely not,” said Van Gaal in his news conference after United’s 3-1 win over Real Madrid. “He won’t play in the Premier League either.

“When a player has been on holiday for three weeks they have to train. I’m sorry but players have to train and Robin needs a full training regime behind him before he can play again.

“People can criticise me for my decision but I know what to do with players who have had three weeks’ holiday.”

Van Persie’s absence could open the way for Danny Welbeck to start the season in the United team.

The England international has been Wayne Rooney’s regular partner in attack during the International Champions Cup games in the United States, while Van Gaal has used

• Robin van Persie

is just what Chelsea were missing last season.

“He can play as a number eight or number 10, plus the fact he has experience in the Premier League,” Mourinho said.

“He is not on the foreign list, as he counts as a homegrown player, which was important and he is not on the foreign list for the Champions League either.

They were important factors.

“I see him everywhere because he can play everywhere.

“His best quality is the speed where he analyses the game and executes. He is difficult to shake off the ball or make the wrong decision. He can accelerate the intensity of the game or he can reduce it.

He’s very intelligent. And he has goals.

“He is the missing piece.”

DAVID Luiz left Chelsea to join Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain on a five-yeardeal for a fee reported to be in the region of £50million.

That move ended the 27year-old’s three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, and it is a piece of business from PSG that has come under increasing scrutiny following the centreback’s performances at the World Cup. Indeed, David Luiz was heavily criticised in the wake of the host nation’s humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany, and the 3-0 third-place play-off loss to Netherlands that followed.

And Mourinho has now given his assessment of the former Benfica man, stating that Chelsea do not need the

- Mourinho

Wenger told BT Sport when asked about possible new arrivals at Arsenal. “There could still be one signing, maximum of two. If a good opportunity comes up we might still do it, but at the moment we are not close to signing anybody.

“I’m very happy with the squad I have available at the moment, but we might be a little bit short maybe at the back.”

Wenger reserved praise for his back-up striker Yaya Sanogo, who scored four goals in a win against Benfica that also included an Emirates Stadium debut for summer signing Alexis Sanchez.

“We had a great first half. It was a good opportunity to see them and I like the way we played together,” Wenger said.

“With Sanogo, you could see that it was on his mind that he couldn’t score the first goal and once he scored once, he scored four. It’s good for him to find that confidence that he can score goals because he a great goal scoring record.

“The new signings whenever they have a big name are always welcome. The crowd like that.

[Sanchez] is not fit yet, but once he is fit he will be a dangerous player.”

Calum Chambers also made his Emirates Stadium debut in an Arsenal shirt and the Southampton graduate who moved to the Gunners in a 16 millionpound deal last month clearly relished his first game for his new club.

“It was amazing. To play in front of such a big crowd and the quality of players I’m playing with now is a great achievement,” Chambers said. “The quality of players in the team is immense. To play with such amazing players is an honour.

This club is destined for great things. It has a great history an I think we can do well this season.”

Chelsea Will Not Miss David Luiz services of David Luiz - who can also play in midfield - to be successful in 2014-15.

“Last season he was not regular first choice for us. As a central defender not at all, it was John Terry and Gary Cahill the whole season,” Mourinho said.

“In midfield, he was a physical guy and gave us important things, especially in the Champions League when [the cuptied Nemanja] Matic couldn’t play. But this season Matic can play in the Champions League so we don’t lose that physicality.

“The fact we have Cesc Fabregas moves us in a different direction. It’s something that our football needs, and we

want to go in that direction.

“David did important things here, was always a good professional and we will miss him as a good guy. But from a football point of view, we believe our squad is stronger this season than it was.”

• David Luis

Ahead Of 2014 AWC

Super Falcons’ Coach Calls For Early Camping SUPER Falconsí head coach, Edwin Okon, on Friday in Abuja called for early camping for the team ahead of the 2014 African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia.

Okon told newsmen he would like to start early preparations for the team,

Nigeriaís senior women football team, because other teams had already called

their players to camp. “ Some of the participating countries have started preparations already, but we are still expecting orders from the Nigeria Football Associa-

• Tammuno Danagogo, Sports Minister

tion (NFA) to report to camp.

“What I am waiting for now is the permission from the handlers of the team, because I am just a worker.

“Once they call on us to report to camp, we will start preparations immediately,íí he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AWC has been scheduled to hold from Oct. 11 to Oct. 25.

Okon however expressed optimism that the NFA would also pay his backlog of salaries owed over two years as soon as possible.

He however assured that NFAís failure to pay the owed salaries would not affect his work.

“I believe that they will soon pay me. But, this situation will not in any way affect my job,íí the coach said.

NAN reports that Okon was coach of the under-20 womenís team, the Falconets, until 2012 before

being promoted in 2013 to coach the senior womenís team.

For the 2014 AWC in Namibia, the Super Falcons have been drawn in Group A with hosts Namibia, Zambia

and Cote díIvoire.

The 2014 AWC serves as the qualifiers for the 2015 Womenís World Cup in Canada, and the first three teams at the AWC will represent Africa at the Womenís World Cup.

State House Queens still hopeful of promotion to Womenís Premier League, says coach Bookmark

Women Professional Football League (NWPFL).

“I am happy with what my players played today considering the fact that they didnít do well in our last match against Beautiful Tours Football Club, also of Abuja.

“But they improved on their performance today because they are all aware of the fact that we are aiming to get promotion to the NWPL. “ Now, we have only two matches to go and our opponent today, who are the table toppers, also have two matches left and they are leading us with just two points; so, anything can happen.

“Any of us can pick the promotion ticket; but it is the congress that will decide the number of clubs that will gain promotion, we are targeting the top spot.

“We are still very hopeful of gaining promotion by the time we play the remaining two matches, ëí Sunday said.

NAN reports that in the match played at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Mercy Omokweís 43rd minute goal separated the two teams.

The score-line would have been higher had the Abujabased side converted the chances they had.

However, the goal that decided the winner was a carefully headed one that resulted from a corner kick in the first half of the match.

Almost 30 minutes of the second half was played in the rain.

Martins White Dove coach, Grace Kurah, said she was sure that her club would qualify.

“My playersí performance today was excellent and wonderful. In spite of the rain that almost destabilised the match, they played to my instructions and gave me a good game.

“But losing this match does not really affect us because we are already on top in our group with 17 points and we have only two matches left.

“So, our qualification is

Abuja, Aug. 2, 2014 (NAN) Coach Lawrence Sunday of State House Queens of Abuja has expressed optimism that the club would still gain promotion to the Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL).

Sunday stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja after his club beat Martins White Dove of Benin 1-0.

The match is a week eight, Group A match of the Nigeria

NNL: Sokoto Utd Holds Wasteful Prisons FC To Goalless Draw

SOKOTO United on Saturday in Abuja held Prisons Football Club of Abuja to a goalless draw in a Group A week 22 in the Nigeria National League (NNL).

The match played at the Area 10 Sports Complex saw Prisons FC dominate much of the game, while the visitors also had few chances of their own.

The home team created several openings, but failed to find target as Sokoto Utd held on for a goalless draw.

Prisons FCís top striker Isaac Ejike was the worst culprit as he squandered a lot of goal scoring chances that would have seen the home team taking all three points.

However, it was Sokoto Utd who had the first real chance at goal in the 12th minute when Ghazali Abdullahiís curled a lovely free kick from just outside the box.

It took a piece of brilliant goalkeeping by Prisons FCís Suleiman Yusuf to deny the visitors from taking the lead.

It was a goalless first half, but Prisons FC enjoyed more of the ball possession and created more chances.

Their biggest opening came in the 16th minute when Ejikeís lovely volley from inside the six-yard smashed the cross bar.

Ejike also had another glorious chance to put his team ahead in the 44th minute, but Sokoto Utd goalkeeper Mutakar Musa stretched fully

to parry his low shot from inside the box.

The visitors suffered a major blow following the incident as their first-choice goalkeeper could not continue due to a shoulder injury.

He was therefore substituted by reserve goalkeeper Salisu Ogbe for the resumption of the second half.

The second half saw the home team continue to control proceedings as Barthlomew Sukuís powerful shot from the left flank narrowly missed its target in the 49th minute.

Ejike also threw away a sitter in the 53rd minute and his header off a corner again missed target narrowly a minute later.

Sokoto Utd had a chance of their own in the 66th minute, but goalkeeper Yusuf ensured he kept a clean sheet when he made a big save to parry Yushaíu Garbaís powerful header.

Prisons FC would have grabbed a late winner after they rallied and initiated a quick counter-attack in the 90th minute, but Ejikeís goal-bound shot was again tipped for a corner by substitute goalkeeper Ogbe.

Coach Zibiri Brown of Prisons FC told the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the match that his team was un-

lucky not having won the game.

“We created a lot of opportunities, but were unlucky not to have taken all three points today (Saturday).

“We have to be more clinical in front of goal after the numerous chances we created.

“At this level, we cannot afford to throw away begging chances,” he said.

Coach Aminu Happy of Sokoto United expressed joy at the result, adding that an away draw was a very good result for his team.

“I am happy to have gotten a

point from this game.

“Our goal is to get as many points as we can so as to remain in the league.

“We currently have amassed a total of 32 points and are 9th on the NNL Group A 16 team table which is very impressive,íí he said.

Prisons FC are currently languishing at the bottom of the league with 17 points.

NWPFL: Capital City Doves Defeats Beautiful “We have 10 points now CAPITAL City Doves of Tours FC 2-0 and some outstanding Abuja on Saturday defeated Beautiful Tours Football Club 2-0 in a Group A week eight match of the Nigerian Women Professional Football League (NWPFL).

The derby played at the Area 3 Sports Complex in Abuja was full of action from the onset as both teams tried to outweigh each other.

Beautiful Tourís Joy Chukwu was the first to attempt a goal in the 20th minute of the game, but her effort was thwarted by Lizzy Iduís energetic defending skills.

Capital Cityís striker Ada Ella put her team in the driving seat in the 32nd minute when she laid a good shot that went clear of Tourís goalkeeper Omolola Emmanuel.

Glory Osagie of Capital City in the 64th minute aimed

at the goal post, but her effort fell into the solid hands of goalkeeper Emmanuel.

Osagie however doubled the lead six minutes later when she rifled home a low shot from outside the penalty box to make up for her earlier miss.

Beautiful Tours struggled till the end of the match, but could not convert their chances into goals.

Coach Ngozi Ezeh of Capital City said she was happy that her team won, adding that they hope to be promoted into the Nigerian Women’s Premier League (NWPL). “ I feel happy that we won because when the league began my team did not start well. “ But my girls have picked up and have excelled in some matches.

matches and l believe that we will qualify into the NWPL by the grace of God,íí she said.

Beautiful Tours Coach John Oke, on his part said that he was not disappointed with his teamís loss, adding that they gave their opponents a good run for their money.

“I feel really good because my team has improved from what they used to be. “ We are a young team and gave our rivals a good fight. “ They (Capital City) have been playing in the professional league for the past ten years, but I am sure that the next time we meet them, the story will be different.

“We have 10 points now and two matches more to go, and I am optimistic that we will win those matches,íí he said.

CMYK

Oshiomhole And The Impeachment Gale IT amuses me whenever I hear people talk about some state governors already marked for impeachment by their Houses of Assembly.

Yes, I am amused because the Governor of my State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is always listed among these governors whose job may be on the line. To me, it’s like putting gold in the same box with bronze.

Yes, they are both precious stones, no contestation about that but there are still no bases for comparison interms of their value in the estimation of man.

With all sense of modesty and without prejudice to the performance of these other governors in their respective states, there is a wide gulf between them and Oshiomhole! This is a man who has raised the bar of socioe c o n o m i c development in Edo State, a man who has e n t r e n c h e d democratic norms in Edo State in the true sense of the word with his one man one vote campaign and I dare say that this has become a political slogan for free, fair and credible polls across the 36 states of the federation, and the bug is catching up fast among the Nigerian electorate. He has raised the political consciousness of the Edo people to the extent that never again will any leader pull wool over their faces in terms of availability of resources vis-a-vis their right to basic things of life. Where these basic neccessity of life are lacking, they take on those in position of authority in a constitutional and democratic manner.

Here, non-violent protest is a way of life encouraged by Oshiomhole, it’s however not surprising given his background as a labour activist. On a daily basis, the local airwaves are awash with the people

engaging in unfettered and robust discussions bordering on governance.

The political leaders and their performances are always the focal point of discussion. Perhaps, Edo could be said to be the state with the most vibrant opposition amongst the 36 states and highly tolerated by the government in power. You are dead right if you choose to call this political maturity on the part of government and the political class.

The ramshackled mud houses in the state capital of Benin have given way to modern architectural designs now dotting the entire landscape. Yet, Benin has not lost the essence of its rich culture and tradition which has endured for centuries.

Street lights and dual carriage ways were never found anywhere in the state capital before the coming of Oshiomhole administration in 2008.

Rainfall which is expected to be blessing was like cures to the people of Benin as the city was always flooded whenever it rained. Residents abandoned their homes as lives and property were lost to the ravaging flood which defied solution for decades. But today, the story has changed for good due to the ingenuity, purposeful and peopleoriented government of Oshiomhole. Suffice it to also say here that the government embarked on an ambitious N30 billion Water Storm project which has succeeded in tackling the hitherto intractable flood menace. Residents can now sleep with their two eyes closed all year round.

Those who abandoned their property have gone back and they are singing long live Oshiomhole.

In spite of themassive development works across the state, massive construction work is still ongoing in both the urban and rural areas across the length and breadth of the state. These roads are complete with side walks and deep drainages.

Again, this is unprecedented in the history of road construction in Edo state.

On education, the people of Edo, choose to call it the

“red roof revolution”, indeed, it is a revolution brought to bear in the education sector by the O s h i o m h o l e administration. A well thought-out and carefully planned massive renovation and building of primary and secondary schools is ongoing across the state complete with aluminium roofing sheets and doors, modern toilet

and bad management instituted by previousadministrations .

These are just the tips of the iceberg of the Yeoman’s job the O s h i o m h o l e administration has been doing in Edo State as acknowledged by the number of acolades received locally and internationally since 2008.

Yet, Edo is listed amongs

Matters In Focus With

Ebomhiana Musa Comrade Governor, Adams AliyuOshiomhole, who has been doing so much to transform Edo Stae. As a regular visitor to Edo State, I could feel and inhale the impact of good governance not only on the faces of the people but also on infrastructure.

I saw well cultivated lawns, walk-ways and beautiful road networks.I

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State

facilities with comfortable tables and chairs. The governor decided to tackle headlong the hydra-headed problem of youth unemployment in the state with the establishment of Edo Youth Employment Scheme, EdoYes, and the Neighbourhood Watch.

These are job creation schemes targeted at taking the youth off the streets by providing jobs for thousands of graduates and school leavers across the local governments. Deliberate efforts have also been made to complement this through the revival of some moribund industries grounded due to the financial recklessness

the states with the least allocation from the monthly handout from Abuja. So, out of sheer shrewd management of this limited fund coupled with a high fiscal responsibility on the part of the government, Edo State is counted among the very few states in the federation where visible m o n u m e n t a l developments have taken place. Marvelled by what he personally found on ground during his recent social visit to Edo State, former military President, G e n IbrahinBadamosiBabangida could not hide his feelings.

Hear him: “I want to pay special homage to my

saw expansions on roads that were hitherto narrow.

In fact, the feeling of a transformed Edo State is palpable”.

I must say that Babangida is not alone in this public acknowledgement of the u n p r e c e d e n t e d developmental strides of Oshiomhole in Edo State.

President GoodluckEbele Jonathan recently displayed a rare statesmanship, putting aside party affiliation and praised to high heavens the efforts of Ohiomhole in Edo State, apparently, to the disappointment of the PDP rabblerouser in the state. In fact, the President earned my personal

admiration for that rare courage which is uncommon in this clime, especially given the fact that the governor belongs to a major opposition party that is plotting to sack the president and his party via the polls come 2015. In an address delivered on his behalf by Minister of Industries,Trade and I n v e s t m e n t , OlusegunAganga, President Jonathan barred it all saying, “I wish to commend the government of Edo State, in particular the Governor of Edo State, we heard his comment when they said they needed another 20,000 hectares of land he said it is available, come and get it. Those are the sort of Governors that investors want to work with. A governor that is dynamic, a governor that understands the economy, that understands the needs of the people, that understands the importance of investments in their states.”

These are clear testimonies to the enormity of work and the level of transformation the O s h i o m h o l e administration has brought to bear in the nook and crannies of Edo State. It is the kind of people-centred government Nigerians are yearning for and need I say here that Edo State is blessed having tasted the bitter pill of bad governance forabout a decade. So, Oshiomhole who is driving the entire process deserves commendation rather than condemnation. In other words, Edo is one state where the impeachment gale now blowing across the polity cannot work. At least, even the mad man knows when not to cross the rail line. So, those beating the impeachment drum better look elsewhere because Edo is working and the people appreciate their gold, they are determined to guard it jealousely and keep it till November 2016. . MUSA is a Beninbased public affairs commentator.

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