Nigerian observer 04 11 2013

THE NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 38 NO.346• MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013 • N100.00

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VIEWPOINT Pg. 13 Reducing Child Mortality Through Vaccination

DISCOURSE Pg 20 Gov Okorocha And Education In Imo

Oshiomhole bags Canon Law Fellowship priests, lay faithful, the

By OBOH SYLVESTER of Edo State, Comrade Award religious as well as Adams Oshiomhole by

BENIN CITY – All is now set for the conferment of Special Award of Fellowship of Canon Law Society on the Executive Governor

the Canon Law Society of Nigeria.

A statement signed by the Chairman, Local Organising Committee

(LOC) of the Canon Law Society of Nigeria, Benin Province, Rev. Monsignor Joseph P. Omesa, said the society will be hosting Catholic

those interested in learning about the operational law of the Church and her administration across Continues on page 2

In Benin City, Edo State, curious residents however monitored the event via national television, the NTA and

other networks.

The last solar eclipse was an annular eclipse on May 9, 2013, before yesterday’s hybrid

Partial solar eclipse occurs in Nigeria

By TUNDE EIGBIREMOLEN/ Agency Reports

CALABAR – Nigeria, yesterday, experienced a Partial Solar Eclipse, which is an astronomical event that throws the earth into temporal or partial darkness, as the moon blocks the sun’s rays from reaching the planet earth.

According to reports, Jimeta and Director – the partial solar eclipse General, National Space was predominantly Research and experienced in Calabar, Development Agency where the Permanent (NASDRA), Prof. Seidu Secretary, Federal Mohammed were joined Ministry of Science and by others to observe the Technology, Mrs. Rabi eclipse.

eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013.

Yesterday’s eclipse was projected to be visible from eastern North

America, southern Europe and Africa Earlier, while briefing journalists on what Continues on page 2

Take advantage of Britain’s new security devices - Envoy LAGOS – Mr. Peter Carter, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to take advantage of the newlydeveloped security devices by British companies.

Carter gave the advice in Lagos, while declaring open the exhibition on “Solar for Security and Renewable Energy” in Ikeja.

The envoy said that the exhibition was organised to sensitise Nigerians on the possible ways of

safeguarding their lives and property.

“The need to promote security and security consciousness is becoming important for Nigerians by the day.

“Issues of security are a major one at the Nigerian Airports, offices, public places, homes and businesses.

“These British companies - Solar and Electric Gates Ltd., UK, and Yomadek Global Networks Ltd. are here to provide solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.

“We strongly believe

TIT-BITS “Storing up hatred in our hearts is like keeping worthless information on our Sim Cards; if we do not delete them, there won’t be space to store up the useful ones.”

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

that these security products are highly suitable for Nigeria’s security challenges and markets,’’ he said.

Carter listed the security devices to include: automatic gates, wireless CCTV, solar street lights and traffic barriers, sure bolt lock and solar power systems and door entry systems.

Continues on page 2

PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta (left) and Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA), Prof. Seidu Mohammed observing the partial solar eclipse in Abuja yesterday. (Insert is the partial solar eclipse in Calabar yesterday.

Police begin investigation

Anambra stampede:

UKE (ANAMBRA) The police in Anambra State has commenced investigations into the cause of death of some persons at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ground in Uke, Idemili North

Local Government of Anambra on Saturday.

The Police Public Relations Officer

(PPRO) for the command, DSP Emeka Chukwuemeka, made the disclosure in an

interview with newsmen at the weekend in Uke. He said the incident occurred at the prayer

Wedding tragedy: Gunmen kill groom, 30 others YOLA - A government spokesman says suspected Islamic militants attacked a wedding convoy in

northeast Nigeria and killed more than 30 people including the groom.

Amadawa state

spokesman Ahmad Sajo said the wedding ceremony had taken place in Adamawa’s Fugi village and the

groom and guests were driving home when they were attacked Saturday on the highway between Continues on page 2

ground in the early hours of Saturday.

The police image maker further said that two Deputy InspectorGenerals of Police (DIGs); Kachy Ugorji and Philemon Leha, responded to the news by visiting the scene of the incident.

“The number of deaths cannot be ascertained now until we conclude investigations because Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

News

Partial solar eclipsedegrees occurs in Nigeria to Earth’s orbit around

Continued from page 1 Nigerians should expect, the Director General of the Nigeria Space Research And Development Agency (NASDRA), Dr Sa’idu Mohammed said the eclipse will come in three phases; a partial eclipse at about 1.00 pm when the moon will touch the edge of the sun, the maximum eclipse shortly before 3.00pm when the moon is expected to be

Gunmen

Continued from page 1 Bama and Gwoza towns in neighboring Maiduguri state.

That road runs alongside forests that are a known hideout of Islamic militants from the Boko Haram terrorist network.

Last week suspected extremists attacked a military checkpoint on the road and witnesses said they killed at least four security force members.

Attacks have continued though the military has driven the insurgents from major towns in the northeast under a more than 5-month-old state of emergency.

Oshiomhole bags Continued from page 1 the nine (9) Provinces in Nigeria from November 5 – 8, 2013, at Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Benin City.

According to the statement, the Annual Conference which is rotational among the nine provinces in Nigeria, will feature several presentation of papers, special award ceremony of the Fellowship on deserving individuals and the foundation stone laying ceremony of the permanent National Secretariat of the society in Benin City.

The theme of the Conference is “The Church and Politics: Pastoral Implication”.

The Comrade Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole is expected to speak on the topic: “The Christian Unionist in Government” and will thereafter be conferred with a Special Award of Fellowship of Canon Law Society.

Security devices

Continued from page 1 He said that the products would withstand the “uncertainties” in Nigeria’s power sector, because they would depend on solar energy to operate.

The General Manager, Yomadek Ltd., Mr. Abayomi Oshinakin, said that the security devices would help to reduce the country’s security challenges.

Oshinakin said that the devices would also complement the government’s efforts at fighting insecurity.

closest to the center and shortly after 4.00pm when the moon will leave the sun’s edge.

He however stated that there was no cause for alarm and advised Nigerians not to panic.

As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun. This can happen only at new moons, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth in an alignment referred to as syzygy.

In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses only part of the Sun is obscured.

If the Moon were in a perfectly circular orbit, a little closer to the Earth, and in the same orbital plane, there would be total solar eclipses every single month.

However, the Moon’s orbit is inclined at more than 5

the Sun so its shadow at new moon usually misses Earth.

Earth’s orbit is called the ecliptic plane as the Moon’s orbit must cross this plane in order for an eclipse to occur.

In addition, the Moon’s actual orbit is elliptical, often taking it far enough away from Earth that its apparent size is not large enough to block the Sun totally.

The orbital planes cross each year at a line of nodes resulting in at least two, and up to five, solar eclipses occurring each year; no more than two of which can be total eclipses.

However, total solar eclipses are rare at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path on Earth’s surface traced by the Moon’s shadow or umbra.

An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. Nevertheless, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses have been attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omen. A total solar eclipse can be frightening to people who

Anambra stampede Continued from page 1 some persons who fainted were later resuscitated,” he said.

Governor Peter Obi and Sen. Chris Ngige were among the early callers at the scene of the incident to commiserate with the victims.

Meanwhile, Governor Obi had promised to set up a panel of enquiry to ascertain the immediate and remote

causes of the incident.

A statement made available to newsmen and signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr Valentine Obieyem, quoted the governor as expressing shock over the incident.

The governor promised to take care of the medical bills of the victims.

Michael Okpara Varsity distributes ‘mungbean’ seeds to farmers in Abia

are unaware of its astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to disappear during the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes.

Since looking directly at the Sun can lead to permanent eye damage or blindness, special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques are used when viewing a solar eclipse.

It is technically safe to view only the total phase of a total solar eclipse with the unaided eye and without protection, however this is a dangerous practice as most people are not trained to recognize the phases of an eclipse which can span over two hours while the total phase can only last up to 7.5 minutes for any one location.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between Earth and the sun, and the moon casts a shadow over Earth. A solar eclipse can only take place at the phase of new moon, when the moon passes directly between the sun and earth and its shadows fall upon earth’s surface. But whether the alignment produces a total solar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse depends on several factors, all explained below.

The fact that an eclipse can occur at all is a fluke of celestial mechanics and time. Since the moon formed about 4.5 billion years ago, it has been gradually moving away from the Earth (by about 1.6 inches, or 4 centimeters per year).

Right now the moon is at the perfect distance to appear in our sky exactly the same size as the sun, and therefore block it out.

ASUU strike: Chairman hopeful of UMUAHIA - Dr Uzochukwu Onyebinama, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, in Abia, on Sunday expressed the hope that the five-month strike by the union would end soon.

Onyebinama, in a statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia, expressed the hope that Monday’s parley between the leadership of ASUU and the Federal Government would proffer solution to the impasse.

“As the national leadership of our union meets with President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday, we hope that the meeting will be a dialogue that will lead to a mutually acceptable fair and far reaching solution,” he stated.

He, however, insisted that the solution should be “within the context of the implementation of the 2009 agreement, the 2012 MOU and the recommendations of the Needs Assessment Report”.

“Any proposal by government should be based on a clear acceptance of a framework for the implementation of the 2009 agreement.

ending impasse

“Any imposition will not present a solution to the current crisis,” Onyebinama said.

He enjoined the President

“to be guided by the principle of honouring agreements in the interest of justice and industrial harmony in the country.”

FIFA U-17 W/Cup: Football

enthusiasts praise Eaglets LAGOS - Some football enthusiasts yesterday commended the Golden Eaglets for their 2-0 victory over Uruguay at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The enthusiasts, in separate interviews with journalists in Lagos, also expressed confidence that the team would qualify for the final.

Festus Allen, a former coach of 3SC Football Club of Ibadan, commended the team for qualifying for the semi-finals of the competition “in style’’.

“This is a commendable victory for the team. The players’ display on pitch has shown that the boys prepared adequately for the competition.

“The technical crew is also doing a great job, I must confess. The boys are playing as a well coordinated team,’’ he said.

Ndaks Lawrence, the Head of Football, National Institute

for Sports (NISports) in Lagos, said the Eaglets have made the country proud so far in the competition.

Lawrence urged the team to remain focused to ensure it gets to the final of the competition, saying it is one of the best under-17 teams this Nigeria has produced.

“But the players should not be carried away with their good run in the competition.

The most important thing for the team now is to qualify for the final,” he said.

Also, Adamu Ejor, the coach of the Super Sand Eagles, urged Nigerians to give the team the needed support to qualify for the final.

“We are almost there, and the boys should be given more support at this crucial stage of the tournament.

“I believe we can defeat Sweden in the semi-final match on November 5, if the boys can put in their best to book a place in the finals,” Ejor said.

EAAN 2013 festival begins today BENIN CITY – Arising from the general meeting held recently in Benin City, the executive members of Edo Artists Association of Nigeria (EAAN) has fixed today, Monday November 4 – Thursday 7 for her 2013 festival.

According to a programme of events released, activities such as carnival floats round major streets of Benin City, Festival lectures/Seminar/ Workshop would be

showcased.

Other events slated for the programme include cultural and musical Extravaganza.

Beauty pageant and musical fiesta/comedy show.

Maleke and the Concerned Entertainers are expected to entertain guests at the ceremony.

The programme will climax with an award presentation and musical performances by Ambassador Osayomore Joseph, Akobeghian and Umewaen of Africa.

Prince Akenzua berates British invasion, looting of Benin kingdom BOSTON (USA) – The Enogie of Evbuobanosa, Prof. Gregory Akenzua has told an audience in Boston Massachusetts that Benin Kingdom can never validate any person’s possession of stolen Benin artifacts during the British invasion of the kingdom in 1897.

Indications to this emerge at the recent opening of Benin Kingdom Gallery of the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, Massachusetts.

Prince Akenzua, bluntly stated that the presence of his delegation which included Chief Eseosa Eghobamien, the Obobaifo of Benin and Chief Nicholas Obaseki of Benin Kingdom was not an approval of the violent invasion and looting of the Nation in 1897.

Prince Akenzua recalled that the 32 pieces of priceless artifacts being housed in the Benin Kingdom Gallery of the museum were part of the 4,000 pieces of treasures looted by the British now located in various parts of the world.

He said that the term “punitive expedition” as coined by the British to describe their violent mission was wrong as it was premeditated, with the sole purpose to depose the King and annex the Kingdom, citing evidence from a secret letter credited to Vice-Consul James Robert Philips prior to the invasion. “We have the evidence”, he said.

The Enogie also made reference to some of the contents of the letter which advanced economic reasons for the expedition with particular focus on the presence of ivory at the palace that would help to offset the expenses of the mission.

While the revisiting of the sad past in Benin history evoked emotions and thunderous applauds from the crowd, mostly made up of Benin community, it at the same time sent chills among MFA officials who helplessly

watched as the speech was delivered extemporaneously.

Prince Akenzua however thanked the MFA for the invitation and for according the artifacts a pride of place, remarking that “there are many Museums in the Western world which have not shown the same.”

He acknowledged the relationship which the gallery project has brought between MFA and the Palace, adding that it has opened more avenues for further discussions on the looted treasures.

The gallery, he continued has undoubtedly given opportunity to our young children to know about their history and hoped that this would “show good example to other Museum in the world.”

Earlier in his opening speech, the Director of the Museum Mr. Malcolm Rogers said “the magnificent sculptures on view in the gallery are the Benin Kingdom’s legacy to the world and a testament to the brilliance and creativity of its artists.”

He compared the Benin artistry with some of the finest arts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, saying “we are delighted to now be able to celebrate these works within our encyclopedia collection” The MFA, he said was committed to studying these rare works of art and to providing educational experiences to “all our visitors, including school children, community members, families and all of you assembled here this evening.”

The event which featured Edo cultural dance, among others was attended by people from all works of life, including former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington and his wife, Dr. Arese Carrington, a member of the Museum visiting committee who helped to put the event together.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

News Retiree Lauds Govt Over New Pension Scheme

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM

IRU-EGBEDE (Edo) – Hon. Julius OnyeacholemNachokoma Onwungbonu, a retired civil servant in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, has lauded the efforts of the government over the new scheme to address the challenges faced by pensioners.

Hon. Onwungbonu said, if the new scheme is properly implemented, it would end the agony been faced by the retirees by accessing the scheme.

His position was stated in a chat with newsmen in Irue Egbede Uhumwonde Local Government Area.

According to him, the previous pension scheme which has claimed the lives of many pensioners while accessing their funds was barbaric and inhuman.

He called on government to subsequently make provision

for employees in government pay roll so as not to compromise the aim of the new pension scheme.

The retired civil servant also called on the government to review upward current pension benefits to pensioners in the country in order to meet the demands of current economic realities.

Also, Onwungbonu commended the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his effort in identifying with the pensioners in the state, saying it has helped in addressing some of their challenges.

Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (right), receiving one of the briefs from Mr. James Omoataman, Deputy Clerk, Legislative Matters, Edo State House of Assembly during the ministerial briefing by Comissioners at the House. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Risk Of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Start At 40 - Expert LAGOS - Dr Muheez Durosinmi, the Chairman, Faculty of Pathology, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), weekend said the risk of some chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) increase at the age of 40.

He made the disclosure in Lagos at the 17th All Fellows Meeting of the Faculty of Pathology, NPMCN, with

theme: “Challenges Confronting Research in Cancer Diagnosis in Nigeria”.

According to him, the common NCDs are cancer, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus and heart diseases.

The professor of haematology

Hon. Philip Shaibu, Majority Leader, Edo State House of Assembly (left) and Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen, member representing Ikpoba-Okha Constituency in a chat during the ministerial briefing by Commissioners at the House. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

said “life they say begins at 40, unfortunately, we are not often reminded that the risks of some non-communicable diseases also start increasing at age 40, as part of the aging process.

“The major noncommunicable diseases are cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus and heart diseases, including stroke.

“All of the four share common aetiological factors, including physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and smoking.

“Other chronic diseases worth mentioning are mental disorders, visual impairment and blindness, hearing impairment and deafness, arthritis, oral diseases and genetic disorders.’’

Durosinmi stressed the need for strict healthy lifetyles early in life to prevent some of these diseases.

He said “it is advisable that people start early in life to live healthy and go for regular medical check-up.

“People should eat well,

avoid sedentary lifestyle, exercise frequently, avoid smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol and use of artificial things.’’

Dr Yetunde Aken’ova, a Proffesor of Haematology at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said more than 100,000 Nigerians were diagnosed with cancer yearly.

She said “in Nigeria, 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer annually and 80,000 of them die due to late detection of the disease and the lack of

as well as boost farmers’ income.

He said the university began growing the crop since 2002, adding that it had been discovered that the it could thrive and flourish in the agroecological zones in Nigeria.

According to Agugo, as a legume, mungbean has the capacity to transform nitrogen into forms that plants could use. ‘’It is a crop that regenerates the soil, it rehabilitates degraded soil,’’ he said, adding that growing it would help to sustain soil fertility and agriculture in the area.

He said that the produce had

been in existence in the northern part of the country, where it was being grown by some Indians.

He explained that MOUAU brought it to the south east from the World Vegetable Centre in 2002, after meeting all the necessary conditions to introduce a new crop to the area.

Agugo, who specialised in Crop Production and Physiology, said that effective storage of the produce could be achieved by robbing vegetable oil on it to check weevil attacks.

He said that the university planned to buy-back the produce from the farmers prevent wastage and economic losses to farmers.

Agric Ministry Trains Officers On Palm Produce Techniques

By DOROTHY EGBOBAMWONYI

BENIN CITY – The produce department of the Edo State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources recently embarked

Varsity, Distributes Mungbean Seeds To Farmers

UMUAHIA - Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) in Abia has commenced the distribution of ‘mungbean’ seeds to farmers in the state, a lecturer in the institute told newsmen in Umuahia.

Dr. Boniface Agugo, a lecturer in the department of Agronomy and head of the distribution team said that the crop belonged to the cowpea family and originated from India.

According to him, ‘mungbean’ is lavishly consumed by both the young

and old in the country, especially those recuperating from ill-health because it digests easily unlike other cowpea species.

He further said that the commodity and its vegetable were rich in nutrients, especially proteins and minerals.

Agugo said that the university had so far distributed over 50 kilograms of the product to farmers from different communities in Obingwa, Umuahia North and South Local Government Areas of the state.

He said that the initiative was being handled in conjunction

with Rex Foundation, an Umuahia-based NGO. ‘’We have been going from one community to another, distributing the seeds to farmers free-of-charge, so that they can adopt it, grow it and develop the interest to consume it.’’

He also explained that farmers groups from Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra had indicated interest in the crop.

Agugo said that the initiative would not only make the crop popular in the south east but also help to diversify agricultural produce in the area

access to sound medical treatment.

“The key areas of challenges in cancer research are in hispathology, medicalmicrobiology and clinical chemistry.

“In these areas, the challenges include inadequate funding for training and routine diagnostic facilities, inadequate diagnostic tools and support for update training for specialists in diagnostic pathology.’’

She added that there was also the absence of screening programmes for most of the cancers, vaccines, presentation of cases at terminal stage.

on the training of officers on modern techniques of Palm Produce, Inspection and Grading to prepare and equip them for the task ahead.

The training which spanned two weeks took place at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).

According to the Director, Produce Department of the ministry, Mr. Godfrey O. Alile disclosed that a batch of the officers were earlier, trained on Marginal Residue Limits on Cocoa at Akure in Ondo State.

He said that the training of the officers became necessary for them to be abreast with the modern techniques of carrying out their statutory duties as well as enhance their efficiency and effectives.

According to him, plans were on to send another batch to Iyanomo for more training.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

News

Anambra Poll: Stay Away, Police Warn Vigilante AWKA - The Anambra Police Command have warned vigilance groups against participating as security operatives at the November 16 governorship election in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ballah Nasarawa gave the warning while addressing members of the group in

Awka.

Nasarawa urged the groups not to work on the day of the election except to go and cast their votes.

He said the command would arrest any vigilance member trying to flout the directives.

“You do not have any role to play in the election. We got information that politicians

want to use you on the election day.

“You are free to go and cast your vote; we are going to create three monitoring units to monitor your activities during and after the election.

Groups

“Anybody caught with uniform on that day will be arrested and prosecuted,’’ he warned.

Nasarawa directed the vigilance groups to surrender their arms to the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in their

areas three days before the election.

While commending the members for assisting the police in curbing crime in the state, he warned against the use of sirens by politicians.

Obi, Maduekwe Tasks Igbos On Economic Development ENUGU - Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, has urged Igbos to evolve a leadership recruitment strategy that would drive the economy of the South East.

Maduekwe made the call in Enugu at the 2013 South East Economic Summit with the theme ‘Opening up South East Nigeria for Increased Trade and Investment’.

He urged elites from the zone to create new values by bringing resources together to make the area the hub of excellence.

According to him, the South Eastern states are indeed blessed with creative youths who are technologically inclined and anxious to move Nigeria to a greater height.

“If the South East is to achieve its much canvassed and persistently predicted potential, we must evolve a leadership recruitment strategy to boost our economy.

“But this requires enormous truth-telling and consistent political will. That was how the Nnamdi Azikiwes, the Michael Okparas and others of a pioneer generation made the old Eastern Nigeria the hub of excellence,’’ he said.

The former transport minister commended the group for organising the summit and pledged to facilitate Canadian investments to all the states of the federation, particularly the South East zone.

Declaring the summit open, the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, urged the people of the zone to demand for the accounts of stewardship from political leaders.

Obi said the zone was safe for investment, noting that the issue of security challenges in the zone was being exaggerated in some quarters.

The governor regretted the low turnout of political leaders and captains of industry from the zone to the summit and wondered how the zone would move forward with such attitude.

“In burial ceremonies, you see Igbo elites and politicians but in economic functions

such as the summit, none of them will show up,’’ he wondered.

Obi, however, assured the summit that the governors’ forum would adopt its report.

Earlier, the Chairman of the summit, Chief Chris Obiefuna, said it was to highlight factors that impeded the flow of investment capital into the zone.

Reports state that the three-day summit would feature paper presentations by some notable Nigerians.

Hon. (Mrs) Aanena Jemitola, Edo State Commissioner for Art, Culture and Tourism with Pastor Monday Aigbe, Acting General Manager, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL), Publishers of Observer titles during the commissioner’s visit to the company recently. PHOTO: LUCKY AGIE

Criminal Trespass:

5 Men Docked

Hon. Frank Evbuomwan Edo State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development (centre) flanked by Mr. Felix Otoide Permanent Secretary of the Ministry (left), and Mr. Daniel I. Director of Physical Planning during the commissioners ministerial briefing at the house. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

ABUJA - The police have arraigned five men in an Abuja Grade 2 Area Court, Kado, for joint acts of inciting public disturbance, criminal trespass and intimidation.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Simeon Ibrahim, gave the names of the accused as Felix Nwaeze, 40; Jeff Momoh, 45; Nelson Onwuemeodo, 44; Nwenwa Alex, 48; and Sunny Abayomi, 37.

The accused are all traders and shop owners at Utako Market, Abuja.

The prosecutor told the court that on October 9, Mr Tanko Danjuma of Utako Market, Abuja, reported the

NAFDAC Warns Against Sales Of Expired health of the people of the state BIRNIN KEBBI - Mr Benhe said.

Drugs prosecution,’’ in jeopardy. jamin Kusuma of the National Kusuma acknowledged the inAgency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have warned the public against patronising drug hawkers in Kebbi to prevent the intake of expired drugs.

The NAFDAC official gave the warning at a media briefing in Birnin Kebbi.

He stressed that the activities of drug hawkers had placed the

Kusuma regretted that members of the public were often careless when buying drugs from the hawkers.

He, however, gave the assurance that NAFDAC officials would strive to redress the situation.

“We will strive to reverse the trend; the agency is now collaborating with health officials at the state and local government levels, including traditional leaders, in

efforts to confiscate expired drugs and prosecute the hawkers.

“We, nonetheless, urge the public to stop patronising drug hawkers.

“NAFDAC has been able to confiscate illegal drugs from at least 10 hawkers on a weekly basis and the drug hawkers were handed over to the police for

student was arrested when he refused to repeat his class after failing his examination.

Ogungbe said the school’s authorities had instructed the student to leave the school, a directive he ignored.

He told newsmen that an official of the school reported the matter to the corps when efforts to make him see reason why he

should repeat the class failed.

“The student was said to be violent and the authorities immediately called in the corps and the student was arrested.

“Efforts by his parents to compel him to repeat the class also failed.

“When he was asked to leave the school, he went back to the class in anger and broke 10 win-

put of the members of the public in the campaign against fake and expired drugs.

He noted that some well-meaning persons had provided useful information to the agency on the activities of some unscrupulous patent medicine dealers and vendors.

NSCDC Arrests Student For Promoting Self OMU-ARAN (KWARA) The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Omu-Aran, Kwara, has arrested a 15-year-old student of OfeAran Commercial College, OmuAran, for allegedly promoting himself to the next class.

Mr Samuel Ogungbe, the corps’ Intelligence Officer, told newsmen in Omu-Aran that the

dow louvre blades in the school,” he said.

Ogungbe added that the student might serve a community sentence to serve as a deterrent to others.

It was gathered that the student, who failed the just concluded JSS3 examination, insisted on remaining in SS1.

matter at the Utako Police Station.

He said the complainant reported that on the same day, Felix and 10 others, now at large, formed a common intention and jointly trespassed into traders’ shops.

Ibrahim said that the first accused (Felix), who was the leader of the group, forcibly stopped the traders from paying their market dues to the market management.

He said Felix threatened to kill anybody that pays the said dues and also to burn down the person’s shop.

The prosecutor said that the traders failed to pay the dues out of fear, resulting in the management losing revenue.

During court sitting, the second and fourth accused (Momoh and Alex) were absent from court.

The first, third and fifth accused - Felix, Onwuemeodo and Abayomi - who were present in court pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The presiding officer, Mr Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 each and two sureties each in like sum.

Ado ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 10.

He said the other surety must have permanent house address within the jurisdiction of the court, with his family living with him.

Ado adjourned the case to January 8 for further hearing.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Fishermen Lament Attacks By Pirates UYO - Fishermen resident in fishing settlements in Mbo council of Akwa Ibom have decried attacks by sea pirates, whom they claimed stole their clothes, outboard engines, and money.

Fishermen at Ibaka in Mbo local government, told newsmen that the pirates chased them away from their fishing areas in the sea and settlements.

The affected settlements are Ute Bramah, Okposo, Atabong, Mbughu Unyenge, Afia Ndite, Mbeng Ndonro and Inua Abasi, Mr Kenneth Okon, a victim, said the activities of the sea pirates and militants in the suburbs had made the areas dangerous for indigenes and residents.

Okon said they had been living in constant fear of the sea pirates for some months now.

According to him, the pirates, who used to operate only in the high seas, are now coming to the communities.

“They shoot and maim at every provocation. ‘’You dare not tell them you don’t have money, fish, clothes, or refuse to reveal where you keep your outboard engines, when they come visiting, else you risk losing your life to the pirates, who are armed to the teeth.

“Now, we are at home. What are we going to do at home? We did not go to school.

“The only way we earn our living is through fishing. If we do not go to seas, how can we feed our children and send them to schools,” he said.

Okon appealed to security agencies in the state to come to their aid and ensure adequate protection in the sea.

“We need security in our

settlements. As citizens of Nigeria, if at all, we are not entitled to any other thing; we at least, must be entitled to security of our lives and property.”

Another fisherman at Mbughu Unyenge, Mr Edidem Ekong, said: “the pirates or militants harass, maim, and steal with impunity because they know nobody will challenge them.”

Ekong appealed that the security system should also cover the creeks and other settlements in the rural areas.

“If you don’t provide security to your citizens in all parts of the country, you are leaving them vulnerable to other Republics,” Ekong said.

In his reaction, the acting Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr John Patrick, refuted the complaints of the fishermen.

South/South Bayelsa To Introduce Workers Biometric Attendance Register

President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor consoling the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan during service of songs in honour of Mrs Charity Fyneface Oba in Port Harcourt recently.

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan acknowldging cheers at the service of songs in honour of her mother, mrs Charity Fyneface Oba in Portharcourt recently.

Paramount Ruler Sues For Peace

Oil Spill Compensation: IBENO (AKWA IBOM) Chief Effiong Archianga, the paramount ruler of Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom has called on youths of the area to embrace peace.

Archianga, who represented the four paramount rulers of the core oil community made the call in his Palace in Ibeno.

He urged the youths to call off the eight-day protest embarked upon by the community over the non-payment of the 2012 oil spill compensation.

“The affected Local Government Areas, youths and other stakeholders should continue to maintain peace in our respective domains by giving the Akwa Ibom Government a chance to resolve the matter once and for all.”

He warned youths in the area to desist from further blocking the operations of Mobil Producing Nigeria and their subsidiaries.

Reports state that the Akwa Ibom Government, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has intervened in the

protest.

Our correspondent observed that the protesting youths are no more in the streets of Eket and Ibeno Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, the communities have given ExxonMobil another 14 days ultimatum to settle their

grievances or face a prolonged protest.

Also speaking, Mr Isiah Abia, the Secretary, Oil Spill Compensation Committee in Eket, said that the protest had to be called off due to the state

government’s intervention.

“Stakeholders of the affected communities have to respect the wishes of the state government by calling off the protest,” he said.

Also reacting, Mr Akaninyene Esiere, the Manager, Public/

Government Affairs of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) at the Qua Iboe Terminal in Ibeno, acknowledged that the protest had been called off.

Reports state that stakeholders, youths and the state government would meet on November 2, to find a lasting peace over grievances generated by the nonpayment of the oil spill compensation.

YENAGOA - The Bayelsa Government has said it would introduce an Automated Biometrics Attendance Register (ABAR) for workers in the eight Local Government Areas.

The state Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Mr James Dugo, announced this in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa.

“The state government’s decision to introduce the register at the local governments is based on the need for growth and development at the council level.

“The reforms and repositioning plan for the third tier of government is to allow for effective service delivery at the grassroots.

“If the register is fully implemented, only staff who discharge their official duties diligently in the month will receive salary,” he said.

The commissioner advised employees of the councils to fully participate in the electronic enrolment system.

According to Dugo, “if you are not captured, you stand the risk of being declared ghost workers because only the committed ones will earn their salaries’’.

“This bad attitude to work is depriving the people at the grassroots of their democracy dividend,” he said.

The commissioner said that government would continue with its effort to ensure that people in the rural communities enjoyed the dividends of democracy.

Power Reform, Necessary Tool For Sustainable Power Generation -Sambo

By RICHARD EWEKA

BENIN CITY - The VicePresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Chairman of National Council on Privatization (NCP) Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo said the privatization and reform in the power sector is a necessary tool for laying a solid foundation for sustainable power generation and service efficiency in Nigeria.

Arc. Namadi Sambo made this known in Benin City during the official handover ceremony

of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to Vigeo Power Limited.

Sambo, who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Beks Dagogo Jack, the Chairman, Presidential Taskforce on Power, said the handing over was in line with Federal Government’s commitment to reform and restructure the power sector.

“The power reform programme became imperative in order to improve efficiency, reduce losses and cost. No doubt,

this reform will lead to increased access to electricity, engender private sector investment, improve infrastructure and create employment for the growing population of our citizenry.

“Privatization of the sector is a key component of the reform in the power sector and one of the pre-conditions for the start up of a competitive electricity market in Nigeria,” he concluded.

The CEO of Vigeo Power

Limited, the Core investors, Mr. Victor Gbolade Osibodu pledge the company’s commitment to turnaround the assets of BEDC in line with the company’s business plan and performance agreement while instituting a strong sense of customer service and professionalism.

He assured consumers in the zone of quality service delivery and urged the Federal Government to ensure the payment of outstanding

severance allowances to PHCN staff.

Earlier, the Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BEDC, Dr. Effiong Umoren Salute the courage of Vigeo, being the last man standing and expressed optimism that the battle in the sector is now over as there is certainly good day ahead.

“It has been a long battle but we believe, it is all over now”, he said.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

South-West Local Council Empowers Vocational Trainee Graduates OGBOMOSO (OYO STATE) - The Oriire Local Government of Oyo State in Ikoyi-Ile, near Ogbomoso has equipped the 154 graduates of its vocational training centre with materials worth N5 million.

The reports say that the graduates were the first set to be trained at the centre which was inaugurated on July 3, 2012.

Mrs Florence Ajimobi, wife of the Oyo State Governor, said the initiative of the council in equipping the graduates was commendable and worth

emulating by other councils.

Ajimobi, who was represented by Mrs Sandra Kolade, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader in the state, said such programmes would help in reducing unemployment in the area.

“Others should join in empowering more people and tackling the problem of child labour in the society,’’ she said.

Mr Jacob Bamigboye, the Caretaker Chairman, Oriire Local Government, said the

centre was inaugurated to empower the people and raise their standard of living.

“The purpose of this centre is to afford our teeming unemployed youths the opportunity to acquire various skills for economic empowerment and self-employment for a better living standard.

“The centre also provides non-formal education and training opportunities for talented individuals who can become entrepreneurs with a high standard of professional and ethical conduct,” he said.

Bamigboye urged parents

and guardians to desist from using their children as hawkers as a survival strategy due to poverty.

“They should instead embrace the programme, which is free,’’ he said.

The council caretaker chairman urged the graduands to guard the knowledge they had acquired jealously and put the equipment they received to efficient and effective use.

Reports say that equipment distributed to the trainees include hair dryers, electrical and welding machines, computer sets and blenders.

Fight For Your Rights, NGO Urges Women

IKOGOSI-EKITI (EKITI STATE) - Mrs Bisi Olagbegi, the Executive Director of Women Consortium of Nigeria, an NGO, says Nigerian women will continue to fight for their rights.

She stated this at the closing ceremony of a 2-day training workshop on Affirmative Action for Women in Nigeria at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort in Ekiti West Local Government Area.

Olagbegi, who doubles as the Coordinator of the SouthWest Women Political Empowerment Project, said her organisation was committed to the promotion of the rights of women and children.

She said the main goal of her NGO was to address the under-representation of women in decision-making process in virtually every sphere of the nation’s

economy.

“We are here in Ikogosi as a body recognised by the UN to educate women on the need to come together to solve the problem of gender gap in our political landscape.

“We observed that Nigerian women contribute immensely to political life even before the colonial era, but unfortunately, statistics reveal a very low disproportionate representation of women in governance.’’

Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Gender Empowerment, stressed the important role women play in politics.

“Any government wishing to achieve a lot must learn to give women their rightful po-

sition in a democracy.

“If any government must meet the needs of both men and women, it must first build on the two sexes through deliberate and equal representation,’’ she said.

According to her, Ekiti State, under Governor Kayode Fayemi, has taken a number steps in that direction by making women empowerment one of its 8-point agenda.

She lauded the state government for promulgating laws that prohibit violence against women.

The workshop was organised by the NGO in partnership with UN Women.

L-R: Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo; DirectorGeneral of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia and a board member, Chief Dominic Yahaya during the visit of the board to the supervising Minister of Youth Development in Abuja recently.

25 Arrested Following Associations Clash ABEOKUTA - The Ogun Police Command in Abeokuta said 25 persons were arrested after a fight between members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN).

The Ogun Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi who confirmed the arrest, said the suspects were being interrogated.

“They will be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded,’’ he said.

Reports say that the fight had led to a pandemonium as members of two factions of ACOMORAN engaged each other in a fight.

The clash left nearly 30 people critically injured in front of the premises of the Federal High Court in Abeokuta.

The fight was sequel to the adjournment of a case between two factional leaders of the association.

The fracas resulted in a serious commotion which par-

tially paralysed commercial activities in the Oke –Mosan area of the city.

Reports say that the area hosts several high-profile institutions, including the state and federal secretariat complexes.

Traders and passers-by, as well as civil servants, scampered for safety as the warring groups freely used dangerous weapons, including guns and machetes, to unleash terror against each other.

It took the combined efforts of security operatives, including men of the Special Anti-

Robbery Squad (SARS) and the special security outfit tagged “OP–MESA’’, to restore normalcy to the area.

Robbery:

Produce Officers of Edo State Ministry of Agriculture after a training programme on Modern Techniques of Palm Produce in NIFOR, Edo State.

2 Teenagers Remanded

ABEOKUTA - Two teenagers — Ahanzoglele Muhammed and Sonae Evrem who allegedly robbed a woman of property valued at N500, 000 at gunpoint, were remanded in Abeokuta Prisons.

An Abeokuta Magistrates’

Court which gave the order said the duo should remain behind bars pending advice from the State Director of Prosecutions (DPP).

The accused, whose addresses are unknown, are being tried for conspiracy and

He said it had become imperative for the police to make sure that untrained and unregistered security outfits do not constitute themselves into a nuisance.

“The police is the only body authorised to maintain law and order and as such

should not encourage illegal operations of self-appointed security agents.’’

He lauded the state police command for creating a levelplaying ground for all political parties.

“The command has been

robbery.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp.

Augustine Ozimini had told the court that the duo committed the offences on September 20 at 12.00 a.m. at Mauko in Akomoje area of Ogun capital.

Osun PDP Raises Alarm Over Proliferation doing its best to protect lives OSOGBO - The Peoples Of Security Outfits and property in Osun.

Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun, in Osogbo has called on the police command in the state to check the proliferation of security outfits.

Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, the chairman of the party in the state, made the call in a statement.

“We are confident that thugs will not be allowed to parade themselves in uniforms,’’ he said.

He noted that the duties of the police are clearly spelt out and should not be duplicated to avoid confusion.

He said the men, armed with locally made pistols, entered Mrs Motunrayo Adesina’s house and carted away two deep freezers, plasma flat screen television, a microwave oven, a generator, all valued at N500, 000.

The two were caught while carting away all they stole by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) officials who were on patrol, Ozimini alleged.

The offences, he noted, contravened Section 5 (r), 1(2) and (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation.

The Magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Adekunte, adjourned the case to December 13.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Lagos Senator Calls For Enactment Of New Prosecution Law LAGOS- A former federal lawmaker, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, has called for the enactment of a law that will ensure police officers, who are trained in legal practise, handle prosecution of court cases.

Afikuyomi, who represented Lagos Central at the Senate between May 1999 and June 2007 under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), stated this at the ongoing Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN) convention in Lagos.

He made the call while delivering a paper titled “Grassroots Justice Dispensation: the travails of a typical Nigerian Magistrate”.

According to him, the major challenge facing the judiciary is inconsistency in judgments.

“Little offences had been carrying heavier judgments, not due to corruption but for lack of concrete evidences.

“However, if this law is promulgated, consistency in judgments or sentences will be achieved.

“Moreover, financial corruption will be on a decline in the justice system,” the former lawmaker said.

Afikuyomi emphasised that legally trained police prosecutors would articulate facts of cases accurately and promptly.

“With their ability to articulate facts, legal evidence will be available.

‘This alone underscores the fact why all Nigerians must join hands to improve the cause of magistracy,’’ he said.

Speaking at the event, Justice Latifat Folami, a former President of MAN, urged state governments to provide the necessary infrastructures for magistrate courts.

‘I urged our state governments to build well equipped libraries for our magistrates to carry out researches.

“We should all know that dispensation of justice is not just a public service but a job to creator,” Folami said.

Reports state that the three-day convention with the theme “Career Magistrate - the way forward’’ was attended by about 2,000 magistrates nationwide.

Association Tasks FG On Job Creation LAGOS-The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has advised the Federal Government to ensure that the right economic policies were put in place for the creation of jobs in Nigeria.

The Secretary-General of the Association, Mr Alade Lawal, told newsmen in Lagos has said that unless the right polices were in place the issue of job creation would only be on paper.

“We have said it times without number that if the government is serious about the issue of job creation, every sector of the economy must be encouraged to do better, through economy polices.

“The government should put the right polices in place and take meaningful steps to ensure that such policies were implemented.

“If the right policies were not in place, it would be impossible for somebody to wake-up one day and say he wants to create one million jobs.

“Job creation is a function and generation of economic activities, which we are not seeing presently in the country.

“We want to see activities in all the sectors, especially in the manufacturing sector. ‘‘If the government says it would not go into direct manufacturing, it must put polices in place to make the sector vibrant.

“How does one explain a scenario were a manufacturer goes to the bank and gets a loan at 22 per cent interest rate, what would he produce?

“I bet you he would not be able to compete globally, ‘’ Lawal said.

The ASCSN scribe said that

effective national planning and the development of sectoral blueprints would assist the government address the issue of joblessness in the country.

L-R: Head of Disaster Management, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Plateau State, Mr. Lawrence Ndubisi; Representative of the Coordinator, North Central Zone, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Suleiman Muhammed and Representative of Executive Secretary, Plateau Emergency Agency (SEMA), Mrs. Juni Dabin, at a workshop on mass casaulty handling on road related crashes during Ember months in Jos recently.

Activist Urges Govt To Empower Girl-Child

LAGOS-A child right activist, Alhaja Adijat Titilade, has urged government at all levels to initiate policies to develop girlchild toward the realisation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Titilade, the Chief Executive Officer, Mother and Girl-Child Protection Initiative (MAGI), made the plea at a lecture marking the 14th NASFAT Annual Women Week held at Agidingbi Senior Grammar School, Ikeja.

The lecture entitled: “The Muslim Girl Child: Her Travails

and Realities”.

Reports state that the week also witnessed health talk on healthy oral habits, oral health screening and recitation of Holy Quran by elected secondary school students.

“If indeed children are the future leaders, governments at all levels should formulate and implement policies toward ensuring the realisation of the MDGs as it affects girl-child and

Read Insurance Documents NIA Advises Nigerians

LAGOS- Mr Olorundare Thomas, the Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), has advised Nigerians to take time to read insurance documents before buying policies.

Thomas told newsmen in Lagos that reading the documents thoroughly was important for the policy holder.

He said that insurance was a contract between an insurance company and the policy holder.

According to him, lack of reading culture has permeated all aspects of our lives that people are always in a hurry to do things without reading about them.

“When any insured lost occurs, the insurance company will refer to the contract to know the specified claims to pay.

“Most of the time when the details are being explained the policy holder will say that he does not know about them,” he said.

Thomas said that this was usually a source of conflict between policy holders and insurance companies.

He said that this conflict

could be reduced if people imbibed the culture of reading policy documents to know the extent to which the policy would cover.

The director-general said that a change of attitude by the insuring public would go a long way in sanitising the

practice of insurance in the country.

He also said that an aggrieved policy holder could always rely on NIA Consumer Compliant Bureau to mediate between him and any insurance company.

women.

“The aspects of the MDGs that address girl-child and women Goal 2 (achieves universal primary education for all) - and -Goal 3 (promotes gender equality and empower women),” she said.

Titilade listed the causes of child abuse and child labour to include poverty, uncontrolled polygamy, under-aged marriages and cultural beliefs.

She said that nurturing the girlchild was not the responsibility of government alone, but of all stakeholders.

Titilade said that if the girl-child was shown love, care and attention, her potential could be properly harnessed.

In another lecture, Alhaja Hamdalat Abdulkareem, said that fathers had important role to play in the emotional development of their daughters to relate properly with the opposite sex.

Abdulkareem, a director in the

Lagos State Civil Service, said that children should be taught to worship God and be kind to their parents.

The lead speaker at the event, Justice Taofikat AbdullahiOyekan of Lagos High Court, said that proper nurturing was a major determinant of character.

Abdullahi-Oyekan said that the girl-child should be given proper education and preference in the society.

Also, Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade, the NASFAT National Women Affairs Secretary, decried the increased rate of violence and abuse of children in the society.

Arogundade said that the association was using the week to sensitise the governments on the role of women in nation building.

“We need to build our tomorrow, if we want to improve our quality of life, and we should focus on the girl-child,’’ she said.

Officials of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), at a Sanitation and Awareness creation campaign, on the need for regular Sanitation in Gombe Metropolis recently.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Across The Nation Abubakar Tasks Varsity On High SOKOTO - Former Head Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Standards described education as the Abubakar, has called on authorities of the newlyinaugurated Sokoto State University to blend local contents with global orientation in the institution’s teachings and research.

Abubakar, who made the call in Sokoto at the university’s inauguration, urged the university authorities to ensure they attain a higher standard to meet global best practices.

“This is one of the uniqueness the university must attain, if it wants to be relevant and have the ability to integrate its products in the society,’’ he said.

“The university must set a high standard of academic excellence by devising programmes in partnership with foreign educational institutions, as well as recruiting personnel from all parts of the world.’’

Abubakar said the institution’s students should get the best education available, while the teachers and other staff of the university must do the best in their duties.

“The society to whom the university belongs must perform its own duties, in order to make the university succeed,” he said.

The former Nigerian leader said the commitment of the Sokoto state government to the establishment of the university was a step in the right direction.

“I rejoice with the people of Sokoto state who have shown that they are in search of development,’’ he said.

A former governor of Lagos state, Mr Bola Tinubu, congratulated the people of Sokoto State, especially Governor Aliyu Wamakko, for setting up the university.

He described education as the greatest weapon against poverty and ignorance, saying “it is the only chemical that can break down differences.

“I salute the courage, commitment and understanding of you all, and we will continue to collaborate with you in your endeavours,’’ Tinubu said.

Also, a former Head of State,

most important determinant for any people to enhance their participation in public affairs.

Buhari noted that a huge number of qualified applicants were not able to gain admission into the universities, while there were many graduates who have remained without jobs.

‘This is due to insensitive leadership, because an educated community ought to be able to create jobs for its people,” he said.

Wamakko praised God for making the university a reality and assured that it would ensure the overall development of the educational sector in the state.

A team of Agricultural Consultants from Royale Criterion Consults, being conducted around Milking Workshop of Adamawa State Agricultural Skills Development Centre at Damare Village in Sirie Local Government Area of the State.

Etsu Nupe Urges Residents To Be Ventilation Conscious MINNA - The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, urged residents of Niger to sleep in ventilated environment, to avoid being infected with CerebrumSpinal Meningitis (CSM).

Yahaya made the call when he received officials of the Ministry of Health in Bida before the inauguration of the vaccination against the scourge. “ The mass vaccination for the killer disease had been targeted at the ages of one to 29 years; the ministry should put more effort in enlightenment campaign, not minding that the vaccination

is free, ’’ he said .He said that the people of Bida Emirate would maximise the opportunity provided by the vaccination to get protected from CSM. The Etsu urged the ministry officials and their international partners to ensure that people above the age of 30 were vaccinated since “meningitis is a communicable disease”.

Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr Usman Muhammed, said the mass vaccination was targeted at covering 3.5 million people in the state.

Newly acquired training equipment by Adamawa State Agricultural Skills Development Centre in Damare Village recently.

Adamawa Extends Empowerment Programme To Prison Inmates YOLA - The Adamawa State Local Apprenticeship Scheme (LAS), has said it has extended its skills acquisition and youth

empowerment programme to prison inmates in the state.

Alhaji Sani Jada, the scheme’s Project Manager, made this known in Yola while briefing

some consultants on the activities of the scheme.

Jada said that the scheme would provide working tools for the inmates, after the

Govt To Spend N464trn On Infrastructure Master Plan priorities of the NIIMP with UYO - Mr. Fidelis Ugbo, the Secretary of the National Planning Commission, says N464 trillion will be required to implement the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP).

The master plan is a 30-year plan expected to be funded by the Federal and State Governments as well as the private sector.

Ugbo made the disclosure at the opening of the 10th Joint Planning Board (JPB) and National Council on

Development Planning (NCDP) meetings in Uyo. The theme of the meeting is “Imperative of Strategic Planning as a Framework for Effective Policy Formation and Implementation for Nigeria’s Transformation’’.

“The scope of the NIIMP coverage is 2014 to 2043. The investment size is approximately N464 trillion and is to be implemented through five-year operational plan and 10-year strategic plan for 30 years.

“The NIIMP has been developed, concluded and is currently being validated to complement the Transformation Agenda and Vision 20:2020,’’ Ugbo said.

He urged the permanent secretaries of states planning commissions, who were actively involved in the plan, to be involved in the implementation of the plan.

Ugbo also urged state governments to ensure that their annual budgets and medium term plans were aligned with the

effect from the 2014 budget.

However, Mrs Arit Ibanga, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development, Akwa Ibom, said dwindling revenue due to oil theft in the Niger Delta had severe implications on the nation’s development planning processes.

“The outcome of the current review of the revenue formula, the national dialogue and the ongoing constitution review will severely impact on our planning

processes.

“We must therefore be able to develop a more robust framework and response capability that will be easily amendable to the possible distortions these changes may bring,’’ Ibanga said.

The reports say that the threeday meeting will review the extent of implementation of key recommendations on development planning processes arising from the last JPB meeting held in Benue.

completion of their jail terms, to enable them establish their businesses.

He said that the training covered tailoring, carpentry and beads making.

Controller of Prisons in Adamawa, Mr Ekijere Shidi, commended the scheme and urged the public not to discriminate against the inmates.

He said that their imprisonment was for reformation, rehabilitation and correction.

In his remark, Prof. Abba Gambo, the team leader of the consultants from Royale Criterion Consults, lauded the efforts of the state government for including inmates in its empowerment programme.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Abuja

NGO Seeks Support For Stroke Victims

ABUJA - Ms Rita Melifonwu, President of Stroke Action Nigeria, an NGO, called on all levels of government to establish support centres to reduce deaths from stroke in the country.

Melifonwu said this in Abuja at a conference on stroke

strategy held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

She said support centres were necessary, as a lot of persons suffering from stroke failed to recover due to delay in receiving care and support.

“Stroke survivors and their

families need a lot of support, following hospital admission, if they are to cope with the trauma and experience of the stroke.

“When the support is not immediately available, recovery from stroke becomes delayed, there will be fatigue for

caregivers, and end of life care becomes extremely challenging causing stress for all concerned.”

According to her, stroke is responsible for 10 per cent of deaths worldwide and also the leading cause of disability.

She said stroke was also a

contributory factor to dementia deaths.

“More than 30 million people world-wide have suffered a stroke, six million die from the condition yearly.

“Other common risk factors include heart rhythm irregularities, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels, blocked

carotid arteries, advancing age, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity.

Dr. Ogugua Osi-Ogbu, a consultant gerontologist, said that of all those who had stroke, one third died and another one third ended up with severe disability.

Group Wants Involvement Of Women Farmers In Policy Making

Acting President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa (left), with the former President, Justice Ayo Salami at the valedictory Court section of the Court in honour of Justice Salami in Abuja recently.

N300bn Accrued To SURE-P - DG

ABUJA - The DirectorGeneral of the Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogwu, has said N300 billion has so far accrued to the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

Okogwu made this known when he appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on SURE-P. He said the sum of N300 billion accrued to the SUREP between Feb. 2012 and Sept. 2013 while the sum of N207 billion was disbursed within the same period.

He said N72.4 billion was disbursed in 2012 while N134.5 billion had so far been disbursed as at the end of Sept. 2013.

Okogwu said that the SURE-P intervention was making appreciable progress in the development of certain critical areas such as roads, mass transportation and maternal and child health, among others.

“SURE-P is to harvest the monies that would have gone to subsidy and distribute among the three tiers of government to develop certain critical areas that would benefit the people.

“The resuscitation of the railways, work on the Abuja-

Kaduna Road, the East-West Road and other road networks across the country are demonstration of the contribution SURE-P development of key infrastructure,” he said.

Okogwu also explained that maternal and child care services in the country had benefitted immensely from the SURE-P intervention.

He said that the programme was essentially to utilise the resources to complete ongoing projects.

The director general said that under the current Programme, no contractor had complained about nonpayment of fees after due completion of projects they

handled.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on SURE-P, Sen. Abdul Ningi said Nigerians were skeptical of the Programme due to the lack of adequate information

on the work it was doing.

Ningi said that Nigerians were yet to feel the impact of the SURE-P because there was “very little” on ground to show that people were getting value for their funds.

ABUJA - Miss Constance Okeke, the Programme Adviser for Actionaid Nigeria, has called on the country’s policy makers to involve women farmers in agricultural policy making.

Okeke made the call while addressing reporters at the launch of the National Platform for Smallholder Women Farmers in Abuja.

“I believe that these farmers have the inherent ability and capability to proffer solutions to agricultural development challenges but our policy makers do not think that they have anything to offer.

“Things ought to change; it is high time we began to realise that these women have the power in their hands.

“They contribute so much to our economic growth; yet, they are not recognised.

“Let’s have a special objective in our agricultural plan for the year targeting smallholder farmers.

“We have credit facilities that are meant for smallholder

Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at the valedictory session of the Court of Appeal in honour of Justice Ayo Salami in Abuja recently.

women farmers.

“Some of them are getting the loan but why don’t we work with them and ensure that the real women farmers actually get the loan,” she said Okeke said that the platform was created to increase the voice of the smallholder women farmers and their engagement with agricultural policies.

She said that it would also create a space for women farmers to advocate for their needs with regard to investments and development of the sector.

The reports state that as part of the event, nine new members of the national executive council of the Small Scale Women Farmers’ Organisation in Nigeria were inaugurated.

The newly elected president of the organisation, Mrs Sarah Yapwa, said that the committee would work to push for women farmers to benefit more in the sector.

“Our plan is to engage the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, particularly on the issue of agricultural inputs, so that these small-scale women farmers can have adequate agricultural inputs.

“That would definitely enhance their productivity,” Yapwa said.

Mrs Mary Ishaya, a farmer, who spoke with newsmen, said that with the new committee, women farmers would be able to speak with one voice in matters relating to their needs.

Lawmaker Advocates 50 Percent Cut In Elected Officials’ Allowances

ABUJA – Senator Sola Adeyeye (APC-Osun), the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, has urged the Federal Government to urgently cut the allowances of all elected and appointed officials by 50 per cent.

Adeyeye made the call in Abuja while speaking to newsmen against the backdrop of the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The senator also urged the National Assembly to henceforth appropriate 26 per

cent of national revenue to the education sector.

He said this had become necessary because “the enormous rot in the education sector cries for urgent and immediate attention”.

Adeyeye said that the demands put up by ASUU was motivated by the huge privileges and entitlements currently enjoyed by the Nigerian politicians.

He said the “meagre allocations” to the education sector had turned the Ministry of Education into “a beast of burden” which had over 46 parastatal agencies to attend to.

“The costs for running the offices of all elected and appointed political office holders should immediately be pruned by 50 per cent.

“The National Assembly should, henceforth, appropriate

at least 26 percent of Nigeria’s current revenue to education alone,” he said.

Adeyeye also suggested that beginning from 2014, the national assembly should formulate a law compelling all workers in Nigeria to contribute five per cent of their income as education taxes.

He said there was the need to streamline the large number of parastatals under the Ministry of

Education into a manageable few, to reduce the drain on scarce resources.

The senator, however, advised that stringent punishment should be meted out to anybody found guilty of stealing from the revenues that would be derived from the education tax.

“Embezzling any amount of these revenues targeted for education should be taken as an act of treason.

THE NIGERIAN

10

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Business + Economy

NPC Produces 3 National Plans -

UYO - The Supervising Minister of National Planning Commission (NPC), Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, said the commission produced three strategic national plans since 2010.

Yuguda disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the 10th Joint Planning Board (JPB) and National Council on Development Planning meetings in Uyo. The minister, who was represented by the secretary of the commission, Mr Fidelis Ugbo, said the ministry worked in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to produce the plans.

He said the strategic plans are Nigeria Vision 20:2020, the Transformation Agenda, and National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP).

“At the federal level, the ministry has effectively coordinated the production of three categories of strategic plans since the return to National Development Planning in 2010.

“These strategic plans include the Nigeria Vision 20:2020, which is Nigeria’s long-term strategic plan; the first National Implementation Plan (20102013) of the Vision 20:2020 is a medium-term strategic plan.

“The Transformation Agenda is a medium-term plan containing key policies, programmes and projects to be implemented by the Federal Government during 2011-2015.

“And the National Integrated

Infrastructure Master Plan is a 30-year plan (2014-2043),’’ he said.

The minister said the purpose of developing the NIIMP was to fill the existing infrastructure gaps in the country.

He thanked state governments and other stakeholders involved in the planning for playing significant roles in the development of the three plans.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom said the bedrock of the uncommon transformation witnessed across the state was strategic planning and budgeting.

Akpabio, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Udom Emmanuel, added that his administration maintained a steady budgeting formula of 20 per cent recurrent and 80 per cent capi-

tal.

According to him, the administration instituted the provision of dividends of democracy by implementing proper budgeting in addition to strategic planning.

Reports say that the theme of the meetings was Imperative of Strategic Planning as a Framework for Effective Policy Formation and Implementation for Nigeria’s Transformation.

L-R: Secretary to Sokoto State Government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada; Deputy Governor, Muktari Shagari; Governor Aliyu Wamakko and Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Lawali Zaiyana, at a Creative Public Awareness Workshop in Sokoto recently.

Nigeria’s Airspace Safe

IKEJA - The President, National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAATE), Mr Ebenezer Makanjuola, has said that Nigeria’s airspace was safe for flying.

Makanjuola, who said this while speaking with aviation correspondents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, challenged anyone with a contrary opinion.

He said that such a person or group of persons was only misleading Nigerians.

Makanjuola also commended the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), for improving the navigational equipment in the country’s airspace and beyond.

The president said that the equipment installed at the various airports across the country met international standards and assured the travelling public of a very safe airspace.

He insisted that none of the air crashes that happened in the country in the last 20 years had been traced to equipment failure.

“If the equipment were not of international standard, air crashes would have been attributed to their malfunctioning,“ he said.

Makajuola further said that since the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) equipment was installed over three years ago, pilots had not complained about its efficiency or performance.

He insisted that the equipment was perfect and dependable.

The president, however, admitted that although there might be hitches in the system, that was not enough to say the airspace was unsafe.

“No one has ever complained

- NAATE President

about the TRACON project. If the users do not complain, who are we to do so?

“With the system, you can see an aircraft as far as Niger, Chad and even Ghana. TRACON is not an equipment that will keep the aircraft in the air or control its performance, “ he said.

Makanjuola said that the World Global Survey (WGS 84) project had been completed and was providing Performance-Based Navigation (PBN), in 22 airports.

“This enables aircraft system performance to be defined in terms of accuracy, integrity, availability, continuity and functionality, required for all operations in the Nigerian airspace, supported by appropriate navigational infrastructure.

“The WGS 84 is to provide seamless communication between pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCs) and it enhances data transfer from one airport to another.

“The agency has taken deliv-

ery of Aeronautic Information Service Automation facilities for 27 airports and our members are fully equipped with necessary skills for this provision,” he

added.

Minister

DANA Air Urges NCAA To Commence Audit Of airline for completion of Its Aircraft the the audit, “ he said.

IKEJA - Mr Tony Usidamen, Head, Corporate Communications, DANA Airline, has appealed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to immediately commence an audit of the airline’s aircraft, in the interest of its workers.

Usidamen made the appeal in a news statement made available to aviation correspondents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.

He said that the airline had suspended its flight operations since October 6, 2013 in compliance with the directive

by NCAA. Usidamen added that this was to allow the authority audit the airline’s operations, adding that up till now, this had yet to be done.

“Subsequently, as a result of the suspension, the airline directed its Nigerian and expatriate workers to proceed on compulsory leave without pay, with a promise to recall staff as soon as the audit process is completed.

“It is now three weeks since the NCAA directive and, though the airline is open and ready for the planned audit.

“It is worrisome that the NCAA is yet to commence the audit and no clear direction or timeline has been given to

The statement said that the ongoing suspension had caused untold hardships for the hitherto gainfully-employed staff of the airline.

“With NCAA’s inaction regarding the audit, there appears to be no relief in sight to the sufferings of the airline’s staff and their numerous dependants.

“NCAA’s action or inaction is not without consequences for the average Nigerian travellers, with the few airlines left taking advantage of the dearth of operators to hike fares and offer poor services to helpless customers.

“It is for these reasons that we, the over 540 directly-employed Nigerian staff of DANA Air, are appealing to the NCAA to save us and the airline by carrying out its statutory role, devoid of sentiments and political interference, “ he said.

Usidamen said that the airline cared for the safety and comfort of its passengers and crew members, pledging that it would continue to offer better services.

“We pledge to continue to offer our full cooperation to the NCAA and all other relevant agencies in ensuring safer skies,” the statement added.

L-R: Director, Securities and Exchange Commission, Mrs. Mary Uduk; President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Ariyo Olushekun; Chairman, Bancorp Plc, Mr. Tola Mobolurin; Managing Director, Partnership Investment Company Plc, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi and Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, at the 17th Annual Stockbrokers Conference in Lagos recently.

New Auto Policy: FG Committed To Implementa-

KANO - Alhaji Abdukadir Saleh, the Chairman of the Board of the National Automotive Council (NAC), has said that the Federal Government is committed to the implementation of the new automotive policy.

Saleh said this in Kano when he led members of the board on a facility tour to the National Trucks Manufacturers (NTM) Ltd in Kano.

He said the current administration was ready to revitalise the auto industry and “that is why it puts in place the policy re-

cently approved by the Federal Executive Council’’.

Saleh said that through the policy, “the government intends to reduce the high vehicle importation bill which stood at 3.4 billion dollars (N550 billion) in 2012.

“A transformed automotive industry will realise its potentials as a major driver of economic growth, job creation, local value addition and technology acquisition,” he said.

Saleh said the policy did not

out rightly ban the importation of used cars.

He explained that the Federal Government only directed that all vehicles purchased by its agencies should be from the local assembly plants unless it was specialised in nature.

In that case, Saleh said that the NAC must certify that such vehicles were not produced in the country.

He said that under the new policy three automotive clusters are to be established in the country, while the metal and steel

sector is to be revived as well as the tyre manufacturing industry that would support it.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr Ibrahim Bayero, who received the board members, called for the full implementation of the new auto policy for the growth of the sector.

Bayero, who was represented by the Company Secretary, Dr Samuel Itabiyi, urged the Federal Government to mandate governments at all levels to patronise the local assembly plants.

He said government should

tion

– NAC

guide against policy failure, which had been one of the major factors militating against the auto industry in the country.

Bayero appealed to the government to make available loan facilities to the manufacturing sector at single digit rates, and said the age limit of imported second hand vehicles should be reviewed.

THE NIGERIAN

11

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Media

Social Media And Public Information Management In Nigeria

THE National Council on Information met recently at its 44th session in Osogbo and focused on the role of social media and public information management in Nigeria.

The deliberations centred on access, knowledge, use and indispensability of social media in facilitating discussions among the citizenry.

The speakers were unanimous in their agreement that social media had potential to address the challenges of public information management in the country.

Information minister Labaran Maku set the tone of the deliberations when he stressed on the potential and influence of social media, and urged information managers to take advantage of the emerging trend.

He observed that there was governance deficit in Nigeria, noting that the high level of distrust and skepticism among the people called for a new approach to public information management.

He said that the need for the citizens to participate in governance process, and ensure public trust in governance highlighted the imperatives for the adoption of the new technologies.

“The growing internet access across the country, the availability of a variety of mobile and web-based devices for information gathering, storage, and i n s t a n t a n e o u s dissemination on a mass scale across extensive distances, offer new possibilities and challenges for public information management,

and mobilisation of the citizenry for development,’’ he said.

Maku called on public institutions, officials and information managers to establish their presence more visibly and actively on social media circuits.

He urged them to show greater openness and readiness to engage with citizens in a two-way communication process for effective service delivery.

‘Social media, indeed, afford enormous opportunities for building public trust and confidence in government and diligently encouraging public participation in governance.

“Popular participation is, of course, key to democratic consolidation, effective policy monitoring, evaluation and efficient delivery of services,’’ he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Osun Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, stressed the need for officials at all levels to harness opportunities in the social media for effective public information management.

He urged policy makers to use the new media to engage the youth in governance processes so as to build trust between them and government.

“I urge you to also give thoughts to how governments at different levels can tap into the vast potentials of social media and Information Communications Technology to enhance accountability and transparency in governance,’’ he said.

By JUDE ZOHO

The council also deliberated on the complementary roles social media play in the development of traditional media.

The issue was highlighted to create necessary awareness on the changing roles of traditional media in the internet era.

It was assumed that the era

While many believe that traditional media would continue to compete with social media, others argued that the emergence of the later would not undermine the role of the former.

Some experts also argued that the future of information dissemination and management in

medium in isolation of the others.

He stated that the social media empowers the citizenry to act more decisively, and hold their leaders to account.

The participants noted that many contemporary challenges, including floods and other challenges, voter registration and electoral apathy, could be

Labaran Muaku, Information Minister

of total dependence on traditional media for public sensitisation and mobilisation of the public to government activities is over.

For the participants, it was imperative for information managers to understand that dissemination of information could be managed better if opportunities provided by social media were properly harnessed in collaboration with traditional media.

Nigeria would largely depend on the convergence of social and traditional media.

Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, argued that rather than see the emerging media as a threat, experts must find a meeting point between the two.

He said that effective information management cannot be successfully pursued using a particular

“The growing internet access across the country, the availability of a variety of mobile and web-based devices for information gathering, storage, and instantaneous dissemination on a mass scale across extensive distances, offer new possibilities and challenges for public information management, and mobilisation of the citizenry for development.’’

tackled through social media utilisation and engagement.

Maku affirmed the view and presented a model of social media use in the Federal Ministry of Information.

He, therefore, urged the participants to adopt the model in eliciting mass participation in government programmes and policies.

He said that the ministry had set a new standard in the use of social media for public information dissemination and management.

He said that the National Good Governance Tour and the Ministerial Platform programmes were hinged on effective use of social media.

“Many Nigerians and others from around the

world watched the Ministerial Platform 2013 videos on YouTube, and FMI dedicated live streaming channel.

“YouTube and live streaming, Facebook and Twitter were employed to relay the Ministerial Platform to Nigerians and the world,’’ he said.

In her addressed, Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, expressed the hope that far-reaching decisions would be taken on the use of social media to facilitate national development.

She noted that the new publicity strategy should be well adopted as the world was now driven by digital technologies.

However, analysts have called for caution in the use social media, noting its side effects on policy makers.

According to them, abuse of social media including identity thefts, cyber bullying, and defamation were inherent challenges that must be carefully balanced against the many benefits of social media.

Maku had noted that the handling of Boko Haram insurgency by some social media information platforms had brought to the fore the flip side to information management on social media.

He said that Boko Haram had always deployed social media to coordinate deadly attacks on citizens and to spread its evil ideologies and hate campaigns within and across nations.

The participants reminded Nigerians of the challenges and prospects of social media in Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.

It was the view of the participants and other stakeholders that social media could be used to invigorate public information management in Nigeria, and to steer the nation on the path of unity, peace, progress and prosperity.

THE NIGERIAN

12

THE Federal Government says 86 persons out of 1, 623 reportedly infected by the cholera outbreak in some parts of the country have died. As its response, the Federal Government directed the Nigeria Centre for disease Control to immediately coordinate all its response activities and report to the ministry of health daily on both the patterns of occurrence. The Federal Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media and Communications), Mr. Dan Nwomeh, directed all federal health facilities in the country to provide free services to cholera patients.

AS at the last checks, the cholera outbreak has affected a number of states including Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Zamfara, Nasarawa and Lagos with fears of possible spread to other parts of the country. There is also gastroenteritis outbreak in Sokoto and Katsina states which have not been confirmed to be cholera.

WE are alarmed at the sudden outbreak of cholera in the country and the fast rate of its spread. The death toll is also disturbing because it shows the parlous state of our attention to basic hygienic practices in the country.

IT is shameful that while other countries in sub-Saharan Africa are making progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goal on Sanitation, Nigeria is off track.

Also shameful is the fact that Nigeria is off track in meeting the Millennium Development Goal for Water. Cholera, as we all know from basic science or hygiene is a water-borne disease. It is sad that in spite of billions of dollars earned from crude oil since its discovery in commercial quantity in 1958, access to potable water is still a mirage to many citizens as 42 per cent of Nigerians still take water from unwholesome sources.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013 THE NIGERIAN

Curbing The Spread Of Cholera WE also decry a situation where the Federal Government still saddle itself with provision of water to Nigerians, a responsibility it ought to have devolved over the years to the States and Local Governments, which are the tiers of government closest to ordinary citizens.

ALSO, owing to the failure of government to provide potable water to its citizens, many resort to self help with poor regulation of the sector by government whose responsibility it is to regulate the sector. Many boreholes are located near sewage and pits while a good number are located near graves in residential premises. Some citizens as a result are practically drinking their faeces. These situations predispose citizens to water- borne diseases such as the cholera epidemics that is ravaging parts of the country.

IN some parts of South-West of Nigeria, human faeces and wastes are exposed close to sources of drinking water in such a way that the outbreak of cholera is as good as a time bomb waiting to explode.

WE therefore call on governments at all levels to rise up to their responsibility of providing safe drinking water to Nigerians and take steps to regulate the sector in such as way that private persons involved in water provision for self-use comply with international best practices.

WE urge governments of affected states to take a cue from the federal government by ordering free medical services to all cholera patients in secondary and primary health in-

stitutions across the country.

AS the nation is currently undergoing the process of amending the 1999 constitution, or producing a brand new constitution as being demanded by Nigerians from the national dialogue advisory committee, we urge the law makers and conference participants to make access to water and sanitation a right for all Nigerians. It should be expressly stated in the constitution. This is, more so, when a number of International instruments and convention exists governing the right to water and sanitation. However, governments of all countries need to domesticate these instruments for the rights of citizens to be assured.

ON 30 September 2010, the UN Human Rights Council affirmed for the first time that the human right to water and sanitation is legally binding. Nigerian authorities need to guarantee this right for all citizens. The right to water and sanitation is derived from the right to adequate standard of living, which is recognised in several international treaties. These include the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) to which 160 States are party, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has reached nearly universal ratification.

IT is instructive to note that the Council’s resolution helps those denied the right to water and sanitation to hold governments to account. It is for these reasons we call on Civil society and those at risk to actively claim this right from duty bearers. The Society for Water and Sanitation, NEWSAN, Nigeria’s umbrella body for Civil Society Organisations working in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector to rise up to the occasion by holding government to account and ensuring that Nigeria moves speedily in guaranteeing the rights of all citizens to WASH.

THE NIGERIAN

13

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

View Point

Reducing Child Mortality Through Vaccination MEDICAL experts have expressed concern over the recent recurrence of measles in the country despite immunisation campaigns and other efforts by stakeholders to curtail the spread of the disease.

Experts say that measles is a highly contagious virus that kills more Nigerian children than any other vaccinepreventable disease.

Statistics by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) indicates that cases of measles in Nigeria increased from 383 in 2006 to 2,542 in 2007 and 9,510 in 2008.

Citing UNICEF data, experts noted that routine immunisation cover against measles range from 35 per cent to 70 per cent between 1999 and 2008.

According to them, Nigeria conducted a two-phased nationwide measles vaccination campaign in 2005 and 2006 on children between nine months and 14 years.

They also recalled that in 2008, a follow-up nationwide campaign targeting children between nine months and four years was conducted in two phases, and wondered why measles outbreak had not abated.

Available records say that out THE National Assembly symbolises the sovereignty of Nigerian people. There are two chambers in the National Assembly which comprise of the House of Representatives and the Senate. There are 360 members in the House of Representatives with 109 Senators in the National Assembly. Altogether, there are 469 legislators. Each member of the National Assembly is entitled to 5 Legislative Aides, notably, Senior Legislative aide who should be a Lawyer, a Legislative aide, a Personal Assistant, a Secretary and an Office Attendant or a Messenger.

A Senior Legislative aide earns 250 thousand naira per month while a Legislative aide and a Personal Assistant earn 70 thousand naira each per month.

The aides are trained twice yearly and paid 120 thousand

By EMMANUEL ACHA

of the 9,510 cases of measles in 2008, some 717 cases occurred in children below two years of age, while 1,445 cases occurred in children between two and four years old.

The records also say that 354 cases were found in children between five years and 14 years old.

Considering the trend of outbreaks in Nigeria and the African continent, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF recommended accelerated measles control in Africa, using measles mortality reduction strategies.

The strategies include a target to achieve and maintain more than 80 per cent coverage with routine measles vaccination of infants, and to provide a second dose of measles vaccine through Supplemental Immunisation Activities (SIAs) among others.

Complementing the strategies, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said it was set to embark on a second phase of a nationwide mass vaccination of children.

Mrs. Nkiru Asomugha, Head, Primary Health Care Advocacy naira. They are also paid duty, transport and other allowances quarterly as extra. They are paid 50 thousand naira extra for feeding during training.

There are 2,345 Aides for Reps and Senators. The cost implications for their remunerations total N140.7m annually. Sadly, in the last 2 years, 34 Senators have not sponsored any bill or moved any motion out of the 109 Senators. Each Senator earns N240 million naira per year ($1.7m) and collects N45m quarterly and each Rep earns N204 million naira per year ($1.45m) and collects N33m quarterly as Constituency allowances. The Economist Magazine of London recently did a comparative study on the take home pay of Parliamentarians across the globe and found Nigerian lawmakers as the highest paid.

and Social Mobilisation Division of NPHCDA, said the five-day campaign would hold in 17 southern states between November 2 and November 6.

Speaking at a media orientation workshop in Benin,

she said the agency had concluded the first phase of the campaign in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between Octobr 12 and October 16.

According to her, the first phase of the campaign in the northern targeted more than 15

• Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health

million children, while more than 12 million are expected to be vaccinated during the campaign in the southern parts of the country.

Asomugha said that a total of 9,418 vaccination posts had been set up in all the 17 states to provide free vaccination services to children against measles.

“Measles, which is a vaccinepreventable disease, is still endemic in Nigeria and remains a leading cause of death of children under five years.

“The campaign is targeted at children between the ages of nine months to 59 months, and the key objective of the campaign is to reduce child mortality in Nigeria through a second vaccination opportunity against measles through SIAs,’’ she said.

Asomugha announced that measles vaccine was completely safe, effective and free, stressing that the major symptoms of measles included high fever, rashes and cough.

She warned that if not treated in time, measles could cause serious health complications, including blindness, diarrhoea, brain damage and pneumonia.

According to her, the disease reduces a child’s ability to fight other diseases, resulting in frequent illness, while malnourished children could die.

She noted that 950 cases were reported on July 30, with 585 deaths throughout the country in which 85 per cent of

the victims were never vaccinated before.

Asomugha also said that current data in Nigeria indicates that more than 57 local government areas had measles coverage figures below the national average of 78 per cent.

But Mrs Omawumi Daibo, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of NPHCDA, assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Integrated Measles Follow-up Campaign would strengthen the health system in the country.

Daibo regretted the existence of measles immunity gap, adding that the 2011 post follow-up campaign coverage was poor in 299 local government areas of the country.

“UNICEF is supporting Nigeria to fight measles; the country is moving forward and our aim is to bring infant mortality to its lowest level.

“This is the second campaign against measles, having done the first in the northern parts of the country a few weeks ago.

“In a few weeks from now, we will also have a campaign against yellow fever,’’ she said.

Medical experts believe that since protecting children against measles through inoculation will reduce child death, parents, care-givers and guardians, should ensure that their children and wards are immunised.

They note that their roles in making immunisation exercise successful will justify the saying, “Healthy children beget a healthy nation.

Nigeria’s Expensive National Assembly Dr Prince Oyakhire, OON, Ph.D, NPM

Despite the inexplicably parlous state of the Nigerian economy, NASS legislators, amended Section 81 of the

1999 Constitution which led to jumbo pay for them from November, 2010. NASS legislators are rapacious

Senate President David Mark

“Many of them only show interest in the oversight functions because of the largesse that usually accompanies the functions from the supervised Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). There are discussions and opinions that Legislature in Nigeria be made part- time duty but beneficiaries are unwilling to let go because of huge financial benefits.”

financial conspirators against public good. They have grown richer while the people they claim to represent have become more impoverished. In nine years, Federal, States and Local Councils consumed 80 trillion naira. Fifty six trillion naira out of the 80 trillion naira was paid as salaries and allowances to public office holders mainly politicians.

A Legislator has three major

Legislative duties which include activities on the floor of the House and in the Constituency. They are; a. Contributions to Bills and Motions b.

Contributions to Committees and Oversight functions and c. Constituency duties.

Many of them only show interest in the oversight functions because of the largesse that usually accompanies the functions from the supervised Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). There are discussions and opinions that Legislature in Nigeria be made part- time duty but beneficiaries are unwilling to let go because of huge financial benefits. Nigeria does not need a bicamera legislature.

NASS is unnecessarily unwieldy. The Senate alone would just have been enough.

The exorbitant pay cuts across the three tiers of Government — Federal, States and Local Councils. Nigeria is not as rich as Britain or America. The waste of public resources on legislators is preposterous, imprudent and injudicious.

A parasitic political class majorly peculates Nigeria’s wealth. Besides, misrule by the

elite has greatly consigned a vast majority of Nigerians to a life of despondency, attendant misery and abject poverty.

Government has continuously left the generality of Nigerians in the last decade in a constant state of denial that neglects the basic needs of citizens.

Nigerians need all round, sound and qualitative education, good health care services, clean water, power (electricity), security, agriculture, infrastructure and improved clean environment for sustainable decent living. These are primarily the basic things a responsive Government in charge of the people’s huge resources should provide. A responsive Government is flexibly dynamic, proactive and responds quickly to changes and reasonable demands of the citizenry. The System, defacto, dejure ideally appoints the best informed minds, the brightest brains, the most patriotic and most resourceful in strategic positions in governance. Any Government that is unable to provide these basic necessities should be changed or replaced no matter who heads it (the leadership).

• Dr. (Prince Oyakhire) writes from Benin

THE NIGERIAN

14

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Agriculture CATFISH is a diverse group of ray-finned fish named for their prominent barbells that resemble a cat’s whiskers.

It has been widely farmed for food over hundreds of years in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.

Catfish has no scales; it is rich in Vitamin D; and it is easy to farm in warm climates, leading to locally sourced inexpensive and safe food.

It is no wonder, therefore, that a growing number of individuals and organisations now embark on large, medium and small-scale catfish farming to meet the animal protein needs of Nigerians.

Observers, however, note that catfish farming is lucrative as it is the delight of the growing number of persons who are staying away from beef consumption.

Agriculturists and other stakeholder in the fishery sub-sector agree that its availability, high survival rate and nutritional value had made catfish a favourite of many fish consumers in Nigeria.

Mr. Joseph Shola, a fish farmer in Lokongoma, Abuja, says that catfish is strong and can withstand stress better than other species of fish.

“I started farming catfish in 2011; a brother introduced it to me and I travelled to Kainji to buy 3,000 fingerlings because it is cheaper there.

“I was afraid because I felt they will all die before I arrive in Abuja, but my guide reassured me that they will survive; only 20 of them died.

“After some months, I sold

the fish almost three times the amount I bought them as fingerlings, catfish farming is profitable,’’ he said.

Mr. Emeka Eze, a fish farmer in Gwarimpa, Abuja, agrees, saying that he learnt about catfish farming from his friends and decided to invest in it in 2007.

“Catfish sells better than other species and people like it; I do not think I can leave it because I am enjoying the business.

“When I started, I did hatching only and I made profit because some farmers do not know how to hatch; so they will call me to hatch for them.

“I billed them N20,000 for hatching then; but now I do not hatch again because I have my own farm and have many customers,’’ he said.

Mr. Paul Babalola, a principal scientist in the Agricultural Biotech and Bio Resources Department of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, agrees with that catfish is preferred because of its values.

“Unlike tilapia, catfish is rugged; supposing you reduce water in the pond, catfish will survive; but tilapia will not and that is why farmers prefer catfish because its mortality rate is low compared to other species,’’ he observed.

“From four to six weeks old, they are fingerlings; at eight weeks old, they become juveniles and from 12 weeks old, they are called table size catfish.

“But from four weeks old, a

Encouraging Catfish Farming In Nigeria

catfish conveniently becomes marketable as it has reached the stage where it is referred to as fingerlings which farmers prefer.

“Some farmers, however, prefer brood stock which is about a year old; these are primarily meant for breeding purposes which require semen of a male brood stock to fertilise the eggs of a female

By OLUKAYODE BABALOLA brood stock,’’ he explained.

But Mr. Emmanuel Oje, a scientific officer in the agency, disagrees with inbreeding, as he insists that cross breeding is the best method for hatch-

An Overview Of Agricultural Development (1)

By OLUMESE MARK What are the Organizational set up of the ADPs? THE ADP is the implementation organ of the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. It is semi-autonomous and focuses on the small farmer. It adopts the Integrated Rural Development Strategy in its operations. The policy making body is the Agricultural Development Project Executive Committee (ADPEC) headed by the State Governor or the Commissioner for Agriculture. Its executive body is the Programme Management Unit [PMU) headed by the programme manager.

He is assisted by Heads of sub programmes and zonal managers.

What are the programmes carried out by ADPs? The ADP programmes include: A. ADAPTIVE RESEARCH B. EXTENSION OR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER C. INPUT SUPPLY D. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE In Adaptive research, diagnostic surveys are carried out to identify problems inhibiting technology transfer before conducting research under local conditions to evolve appropriate technology packages for adoption by farmers. The extension programme transfer improved packages to farmers through the extension agents in the field and brings problems of farmers to researchers from onward transfer to farmers.

The Training and Visit (T&V) approach is adopted in extension teaching. It involves monthly technology review, Monthly technological review meetings (MTRM).

During (MTRM), researchers from research institutes and universities train subject matter specialists (SMSS), who in turn train Village Extension Agents (VEAs) during forth nightly training sessions (FNTS) who in turn train farmers on improved agricultural practices.

Input supply programme of ADPs involves supply of inputs

such as Fertilizers, Improved Seeds, Agro Chemicals, Farm Mechanization equipment through ADP farm service Centres. For example, Kano, Borno, Bauchi and Kaduna ADPs went further to commercialize inputs supply companies (FASCOM) to distribute all inputs except fertilizer which was being distributed by the State Governments. It was considered desirable to privatize input supply by establishing similar companies in all the ADPs in the country.

Rural infrastructure programme involved provision of infrastructure facilities, particularly Feeder Roads, Rural water through earth dams, deep wells and bore-holes. Other programmes of the ADPs included Women-in-Agriculture (WIA), livestock /Fishery Development land management and farm mechanization. The WIA programme focuses on improving Agricultural production, processing and marketing by women. The land management programme focuses on soil conservation and management. The farm mechanization programme focuses an small farm equipment and animal traction. Some ADPs included Horticulture, Pest control, Veterinary services and Co-operative Agricultural credit in their programmes.

What are the financial supports for ADPs? Since the inception, the ADPs were jointly funded by the

ing.

“When you practice inbreeding, you are hatching in futility because no matter how hard you try, the mortal-

ity rate of the hatching through inbreeding will be high.

“It is like using sperm of a brother to fertilise the eggs of his sister which is very bad; such practice is easily susceptible to infection and diseases,’’ he cautioned.

Another reason for the popularity of catfish in Nigeria, according to agriculturists, is its demand as food in numerous restaurants. Catfish can be boiled, fried, grilled or smoked.

Observers say it is thrilling in some restaurants and bars to watch customers who point at a live catfish they want to be dressed for food.

Referred to as “point and kill’’ in many restaurants, the idea is for customers to point at their choice of catfish in a pond where it is caught, killed and prepared for consumption.

Mrs. Funmi Jegede, a resident of Gaduwa Estate, Abuja, says unlike her friends who preferred the grilled or boiled catfish with ingredients, she goes for the smoked catfish.

“I like catfish, but I always prefer the smoked ones because I enjoy it a lot with garri and it can be preserved for a long time,’’ she explains.

Although catfish farming has its challenges like water supply and constant supply of feeds, observers agree that it is one of the most lucrative aspects of farming.

Federal Government, the State Government and World Bank through a joint counterpart funding arrangement. Initially the World Bank during the IBRD loan period contributed 32 % of the incremental cost of financing the ADPs while the Federal Government contributed 25% and State Government contributed 43%. Later on, the World Bank contributed 60%, Federal Government 20% and State Government 14% for the Multi-State ADPs. When Naira was devalued, the contribution changed to World Bank 75%, Federal Government 15% and State Government 10%. The World Bank’s contribution was in form of credit offered at a low interest rate. The World Bank contribution stopped in 1995.

What are the shared responsibilities for the ADPs? The responsibilities for the ADPs in the country are shared by the State Government, Federal Government, and World Bank. Local Governments provide tangential support such as maintaining Rural Feeder Roads. The State Government provides grants, the bulk of the personnel, payment of staff salaries and is responsible for project implementation. The Federal Government provides funds, supervision and assists in project implementation and evaluating the IFRA and the Agricultural Project Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (APMEU) APMEU was established in 1975 to monitor and evaluate the ADPs operation in the country. Both IFRA and APMEU were merged in 2001 to form the Project Co-ordinating Unit (PCU). The World Bank provides credit technical and logistic support through experts.

“The responsibilities for the ADPs in the country are shared by the State Government, Federal Government, and World Bank. Local Governments provide tangential support such as maintaining Rural Feeder Roads. The State Government provides grants, the bulk of the personnel, payment of staff salaries and is responsible for project implementation. The Federal Government provides funds, supervision and assists in project implementation and evaluating the IFRA and the Agricultural Project Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (APMEU)”

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Political Platform

Need To Overhaul Local Govt Administration In Nigeria

THE local government is the closest tier of government to the people in Nigeria, yet the resident population in it are denied the benefits of its existence. The failure of the local governments in the area of service delivery has made the citizens to loose trust in government as an institution. In some areas, council officials are better known for harassment of citizens than service delivery.

Many Nigerians crave for change in the local government system as presently constituted in order to not only bring it in conformity with present day realities, but also to make it live up to the expectations of the people who have been yearning for grassroots development.

This will however require a lot of process like constitutional amendments and inputs from the civil society.

Local government system in Nigeria is in a dwindling state. It has been overheated as a result of the ways and manner the political actors have played their “game”. The local government was put in place for reasonable purposes. It is quite disturbing that over the years, these purposes have not been fully realized. The reasons for the evolution and creation of local government ranges from political, social and economic reasons.

These reasons are captured by section 7 (2) of the Nigeria constitution.

It is worthy of note that in all political systems over the world, local governments are instruments of

By FAMOUS IGUISI

local self rule. However, it would be misleading to think of autonomous local units since these units exist as subsystems of a larger system (the state).

“As creation of the state in a unitary political system, local governments are expected to decongest the national government act as a hedge against undue centralisation, and secure a closer adaptation of public services to local needs”.

It is the general belief that the reason for the existence of local government is to provide services to citizens and therefore must do everything possible to ensure that such services are provided according to standard required of them. Local government must be willing at all times to provide certain services far more efficiently than the central government. This should be so, because it is the government that is closer to the local people than any other.

The importance of local government should not be overlooked because it is the most efficient agent in the provision of services that are essentially local.

Across the globe, scholars of democratic – participatory school hold that local government functions to bring about democracy and to afford opportunities for political participation to the citizens as well as to educate and socialize politically. For the local government to grow and be developed, the grassroot

people should be ready to make choices and tolerate the views and opinions of others.

They should be courageous enough to take active part in the political edu-

of democracy”.

When local government was introduced in the country, it was discovered that its functions were wide ranging, comprising both developmental and non developmental. As a result of the larger nature of its functions, the regional state

President Goodluck Jonathan

cation and participation.

The local government is the source of greater participation in elections, in pressure groups and interest activities, public debates and discussions of political issues.

“So it will be right to say that local government contributes to the political participation, political education and forms the bulwark

“It is my honest plea to the state governments in the country to assist the local governments to ensure that they perform their functions without any undue or unnecessary interference.

The state government should at all times support and monitor projects executed by the local governments.”

government seized the opportunity to take over quite a number of these functions, some of which were the backbone of the local governments in terms of lucrativeness of its functions. Most local government councils in the country today are in deplorable state of affairs.

This is attributable to the indiscriminate manner in which the regional/state governors took over the functions of local governments without taking into consideration the need to first of all put in place necessary machinery to determine whether such takeover was really necessary.

This act has greatly hampered the growth and development of local government councils in Nigeria today.

The regional/state and federal government of local authorities have demoralized and hampered the growth of the local governments by taking over a number of the functions of these councils.

To this extent, the future of the local government as an institution has been threatened. It was a significant development therefore that a nationwide reform was embarked upon in 1976 to remedy the bad state of affairs. This reform came into operation with the federal military government entering into a consultation with the state government. Some areas like the structure, functions, finance, role of Traditional authorities and state-local government relations were covered by the reforms.

The 1979 constitution further centered their 1976 reforms at resuscitating the local government system in Nigeria by recognising local government as the third tier of government. “More significant is the fact that, for the first time in the constitutional history of the country, local government was not only recognized, as a tier of government, but also as an active partner in the national development process with set functions to discharge”.

In the second republic (1979-1983), the military regime took steps to ensure that the 1976 local government reforms becomes operational. In December 1976, elections were held at the local level throughout the country on a non-party basis. Commendable efforts were made between December 1976 and October 1, 1979.

During this period, the military government relinquished power to the civilians.

Their efforts were geared towards resolving the problems encountered in the process of implementation of the reform, especially in the sphere of finance and personnel. The

second republic also saw the dissolution of the local government system by the state governments.

Because of this, elections were not held into the various councils until December 1983 when the military seized power again. As a result of this unwholesome abnormally, the constitution guarantee of the local government councils could not be realised. To a larger extent, this development adversely hampered the local government system in the country and brought to nullity the fundamental changes that was ushered in by the 1976 reforms at placing the government at the grass-root on a sound footing.

As part of the transition programme from the military regime to elected civilian government, local government elections were conducted in 1999 across the country for a three year term. At the expiration of the tenure of local government in 2002, it was expected that election would be conducted immediately more so as the country was in a democratic dispensation. Unfortunately, this did not happen.

It is my honest plea to the state governments in the country to assist the local governments to ensure that they perform their functions without any undue or unnecessary interference.

The state government should at all times support and monitor projects executed by the local governments.

When this is done, the central government will be decongested; and the sense of national consciousness will be created through the interaction of both local and central governments.

THE NIGERIAN

16

ON 1st January, 1914, a giant country was born by the British and was named Nigeria. In geographical size and population it was bigger than its creator - Great Britain-a 356669 square miles land mass which is said to be the ‘size of United Kingdom, France and Belgium combined’. She had a problem almost from the beginning - the lack of family love: she suffers from what can be called hate-syndrome.

Generally seen as a child of circumstance she has often been treated with scorn by her parents like an unwanted baby. However, in spite of such ill-treatment and other problems, the baby grew steadily, surviving all odds and hardship. Very soonprecisely on 1st January 2014 she would be 100 years old.

In its wisdom, the Federal covenant announced plans to celebrate the centennial existence of the country - an obviously remarkable feat, unfortunately, that decision to celebrate such epochal stage of our history has generated much furor. The purpose of this essay is to show why it is good to celebrate one hundred years of the country’s existence. The 1914 amalgamation is not the evil it has often been painted by critics. It is the cradle of our nationhood.

The criticisms have been based largely on two grounds, namely, the circumstance of birth and the poor performance and achievement of the country since birth. However, it is the circumstance of birth that seems to be more vociferous.

Our position is that while there is nothing much to worry about the circumstances of our birth which is beyond us, there is much to worry about a life badly led after birth especially since independence. The latter was within our control to make or mar, This distinction is important for as AWO the sage popularized many years ago, it is not life that matters but the courage brought into it. The question most of the critics have ignored is: what

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

amount of courage and developmental imagination did the Nigerian Ruling Elites bring to bear on the fortunes of country since her independence in 1960? The obvious answer is not much and the obstacle is not with the circumstances of birth per se but poor upbringing due largely to the gross incompetence or inability of the ruling elites after birth.

Blaming 1914 for our’ problem is thus wrong: it reflects lazy thinking and amounts to giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. It is unfair.

HATRED AND PREJUDICE-REVIEW OF CRITICISM OF 1914 The criticism of 1914 dates back to history of colonialism in the country and it is largely one of hatred and prejudice.

The problem though is that the criticisms have never satisfied curiosity. They may explain partially how Nigeria came into being, and poor, but they don’t explain why the country has remained ever so poor, underdeveloped and persistently corrupt long after the attainment of political independence. For instance a persistence criticism is that the 1914 amalgamation has been responsible for the disunity, under-development and poverty of the country. But instead of working hard to overcome such age-long identified problems and making the best out of our common inheritance, the elites have been busy blaming the circumstances of our birth, amassing personal filthy wealth and living in obscene opulence and continuing to mourn the death or eclipse of once upon a golden time of our forefathers.

They romanticized the pre-colonial past as though all was golden and so provide excuses for passing the bulk and unconvincing reasons for the present day failures. In the process the real problems are left unsolved and the culprits are allowed to run away with their crimes unpunished and unchecked.

Recent comments on 1914 reflect the old mark of prejudice which

Focus It Is Good To Celebrate Cente blames our problems on colonial factor but tends to ignore the present danger next door. This has not been helpful.

To some of the critics, 1914 is evil — the source of all the country’s problems today including insecurity. As it were, there were no problems in pre-colonial Africa and each empire lived in peace, love and harmony till the arrival of the white man. But we know that this is not true.

There were wars and insecurity even among people with common language as we can glean from the history of the stave trade or the Yoruba wars in the 18/19th century.

To others, 1914 represents an act of subjugation by a foreign power and thus unworthy of celebration because according to them, it is not wise to celebrate ones period of slavery or conquest.

History is full of accounts of the rise and fall of empires From Roman Empire to Songhai, Benin, Oyo etc. The African experience is therefore not strange. The odd thing really has been the inability many of African countries including Nigeria to make the desired progress after freedom.

Yet others have disdainfully referred to Nigeria as mere geographical expression, the ‘mistake of 1914,’ colony of strange bed fellows’, a colonial measure meant only to reduce colonial administrative cost and enhance British economic fortunes overseas, the cause and source of her continued under-development etc.

These are some of the wrong ideas fed to citizens over time from colonial era to post Independence period by the elites which had made citizens resentful of their country thereby making the task of Nation-building extremely difficult- if not nearly impossible to prosecute. A major problem with dependency theory is the tendency to pass the bulk, blame others for their misfortunes and find excuses for present failures. In

By JOHN ABHUERE FNIM

Nigeria it has made the cultivation of unity of purpose, patriotism, mutual coexistence, cultural and religious tolerance, morality in public life and other related values necessary for national unity and development very hard. Wrong and hateful ideas can be hurtful to any cause including Nation-building.

According to Dozie Ikedife, who wonders whether the country was about celebrating failure or success, Nigeria is yet to attain economic independence, national unity and therefore improper to celebrate a ‘mere existence of a country’. However such observation ignores the longevity factor as well as the fact that nations do not build themselves. They are built and developed by people especially the ruling elites and being able to live together for l00 years is no mean feat. The purpose of milk in mothers is to enable them to feed and nurture their babies healthily. The baby whose mother fails in her primary duty of feeding could have stunted growth, but should be grateful all the same for survival and long life. Nigeria is like a baby that has not been nurtured well since birth and yet survived to be 100 years old in spite of all odds. Her problems are largely post—natal—the negligence and ineptitude of the ruling elites. So blame the elites for our poverty and economic backwardness and not 1914.

In similar vein other writers such as Okoko have argued that the 1914 amalgamation is the bedrock of Nigeria’s problems, including ethnic antagonism, insecurity, infrastructural decay and lopsided federalism. How? To Okoko the antagonism that we frequently experience among the various ethnic nationalities is as a result of forced amalgamation. Thus we should ‘rather concentrate

“In similar vein other writers such as Okoko have argued that the 1914 amalgamation is the bedrock of Nigeria’s problems, including ethnic antagonism, insecurity, infrastructural decay and lopsided federalism.”

our efforts in forging a united country’ (The Nation centenary celebration 30/1/ 2013, p. 43). Again this is a human failure wrongly ascribed. The arguments are illogical and the anger misplaced. How can one lonely event of a hundred years old be held responsible for today’s problems such as insecurity, corruption,

military subjugation, cultural alienation, psychological disorientation and humiliation as well as economic emasculation of the well structured and organized communities that preceded the colonial conquest’. He, however, recognized that the amalgamation is an ‘undeniable important historical event’ (The Nation, 23/2/2013: back page). To Tunji Adegboyega, who believes that Nigeria once

est ins Ind pre wor a sp her Ma esp rev and nat spir bet atta

worked within the framework of amalgamation, he was not too sure whether to support or not the idea of celebration.

All he knows is that the country once worked but not working fine again and were the idea to be subjected to a referendum, most Nigerian would have rejected the celebration of 1914(The Nation, 10/2/2013 : 17).

The position of these authors can hardly be faulted except to note that what we are actually celebrating is not 1914 per se but the gift of lifel00 years of togetherness as a ‘people’ the jerky or ugly circumstances of birth notwithstanding. Besides what makes it impossible to rebuild and firm up our self-

The as o its m no u whi igno imp obje know atte pres one and to cele likes In publ ende 14, gave the A nee

President Goodluck Jonathan

infrastructural decay, intolerance? Shameful: Nations are what men make them and antagonism is an attribute of man and not of geographical space.

To Idowu Akinlotan, the centenary celebration is a warped project as amalgamation is a’ humiliating part of our history which irreparably damaged our self esteem’ (The Nation, January 7, back page). To Ropo Sekoni, it is a ‘bold attempt to commemorate the nation’s colonization’ (The Nation, 10/2/2013:16). To Segun Ayabolu, who sees the whole thing as a centennial delusion”, the amalgamation was ‘the commemoration of

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Focus ennial Existence Of Nigeria

eem, build better titutions since dependence and why has vented the country from rking fine today? Let’s call pade a spade. The problem e has largely been with the anagers of the country pecially since 1960. They ersed the progressive gear d dampened the tionalistic and patriotic rits for which citizen were tter known before the ainment of Independence.

amalgamation, derailing its origin, thrust, problems etc.

He left no one in doubt that though the amalgamation was not deliberately done to advance the interest of the Natives, it non-the-less remains an important milestone in the history of the nation. However I did not see how Amalgamation per se destroyed indigenous political and administrative system that was alleged to be far more democratic and

1914 event is not as evil ften painted. While it has many blessings, it serves useful purpose to wish to te-wash our history or ore its ugly aspect. The ortance of history is its ective account and sound wledge of the past and endant lessons for the sent. History teaches that can be born low and poor yet grow to be great and enjoy long life and ebrate birthdays if one s celebration. n a three- part article, lished in The Nation that ed in its edition of March 2013, Dapo Fafowora e a historical account of ABC of what one probably ds to know about the

accountable’ than the colonial. This is because the African system and its leading operators had been put aside by the colonial conquerors long before the amalgamation of 1914. At least the partition of Africa of 1884/5 came before the amalgamation of 1914 which created Nigeria as we know it today. Still I agree with his view that the 100th birthday of Nigeria should be celebrated but not for a whole year. The government can review the program to make it smarter in order to avoid a boring, snoring party. According to Tatalo Alamu, there is a tinge of intellectual slavery in the

whole event (The Nation. .10/ 2/2013:3). To him, the 1914 amalgamation is not a ‘Nigerian event because the Natives did not gives Lugard their mandate.’ It is therefore not worth celebrating ‘by the descendants of those who were herded in like human cattle’. The celebration and commemoration of ones own enslavement is a classic instance of mental colonization and the most depressive example of AfroSaxony -in recent political history. By the same token, the Japanese ought to commemorate the arrival of Commodore Perry on their shores and the Chinese the seizure of Hong Kong’. In a subsequent edition of The Nation, Sunday, 21/4/ 2O13:3) he shows the debilitating impact of mental/ intellectual slavery on society in form of inferiority complex’. According to him intellectual subjugation is the worst and most deadly form of conquest because it leads directly to spiritual, economic, cultural and political enslavement. With his old religion gone, his culture subverted, his traditional institutions decimated, his mode of knowledge production devastated, the African, unlike the Chinese, the Japans and Indians requires a complete make-over to even minimally function’ The logic of the argument here is Sound. However while I find the intellectualslavery thesis useful to understanding what went wrong since creation day, it does not remove the fact that Nigeria somehow has lived a long life of l00 years arid that such longevity is a thing of joy. Would it be proper to ask a man say of 80 years not to celebrate his birthday just because his mother was wicked or suffered much pains to deliver him in controversial circumstances?

Suffice to add that we live in a competitive world where one man’s meat is another

persons poison. Japan may not like to celebrate some aspects of their history but Nigerian has chosen. It is a matter of choice and perception. Given our peculiar circumstance of many tongues where not many gave the country a chance of survival, one hundred years of living together in a tough, slippery, political terrain such as Nigeria is worth the drums of celebration. It is a remarkable feat where others such as India and Sudan which equally experienced colonial amalgamation failed.

Thus the current spate of criticism is only a continuation of the same age long story of distrust and hatred for the amalgamation and the country it gave rise to. Such attitude was not helpful in the past. It robbed us of our ‘Nigerianness’ and almost eclipsed spirit of nationalism and patriotism in the country. It is sixty years we attained independence and we are still laden with old hatred and prejudices as though we are still in colonial era. When will Nigeria be loved? When will the true worth of the amalgamation be appreciated? While It was high time we gave due recognition to that creation day of 1914- the cradle of our nation-hood, we are worried because of the power of ideas and the place of history in informing and reinforcing the values of men and women which result in human decisions and actions and attitude to national-building.

As Brian Browne observes in the Nation 21-4-2013, p11, a false or terrible idea widely accepted can inflict damage no weapon can achieve. A bad idea is often more dangerous than an army, one who plants wrong ideas on the heads of adversary need not spend a drop of sweat’.

This has been the problem: too much wrong ideas had been planted in the heads of Nigerians about 1914 with

disastrous consequences for nation-building efforts.

As anti-colonial innuendo by the Nationalists during the struggle for independence some of the criticisms might have been relevant but certainly not after the attainment of Independence.

They ignore the real problem which is the failure of the elites to make good use of the opportunity which 1914 offers for accelerated growth and development of the country.

Perhaps the most vilified and misrepresented event ever Perhaps the 1914 amalgamation has been the most vilified, misrepresented and grossly underappreciated event ever in the history of the country. There is no event known to me that has attracted more ingratitude and even outright condemnation than it.

Generally the epitaphs and epithets of 1914 have largely been unkind and negative, while its epistemology has largely been one of hate, regrets and venom. Rather than being venerated, the creation has largely been despised. And now some even want us to black it out of our history because according to them it is an undignified aspect of our life.

In short many falsehoods have been peddled about it but as Diran Apata argues in the Tribune of 5-5-2013 the ‘sad predicament of the country is not because Nigeria is made up of many nations-an unavoidable fact’ as result of 1914 amalganiation, but ‘because those who dominated Nigeria have distorted the country and resisted any kind of change for the better’, of course the dominant group is the ruling elites and they failed to make good of the country and to give the 1914 action its due pride of place in the history of Nigeria. The result is that citizens especially the youths have continued to hold wrong impression and consequent deep hatred for their nationstate.

Nor has Nigeria enjoyed the confidence and true love of its creators and citizens.

While as earlier hinted, some of the British who created the country spoke of it in disdainful term of being mere “geographical expression” — meaning not real or important, to some Historians it was only a short term measure for the achievement of British selfish interest of reducing colonial cost of administration.

To some of the citizens it was a “mistake of 1914’ that had allegedly compounded their problems. Many others trace their individual and national problem to the 1914 as mere events which is said to have brought together “strange bed-fellows”. Even the kinder historians have not been generous as they see 1914 as a mere event which only served as a catalyst to an already on-going process, suggesting that with or without the amalgamation, Nigeria would have come into being. They cite factors of trade, military and jihad religious movement of the 18-19th century as signs of such early move to one Nigeria-the ‘ifs’ of history sniff. In other words, with or without the amalgamation, the corning together of people up and down the Rivers’ Niger and Benue would have come to pass. The negative attitude to 1914 has been disastrous for the meaningful development of the Country.

The planned centennial celebration should be able to beam brighter light on 1914 and situate it properly in our consciousness.

It should trouble the heart that till date there is still confusion and seeming inability to separate the chaff from the grains- to make a distinction between cause and effect preferring instead to lump things together about 1914 - the year of our birth.

There is a season for everything, a difference between birth and growth and life and death: Nigeria was born after colonial conquest of some parts of Africa up and Continues on page 18

“Perhaps the 1914 amalgamation has been the most vilified, misrepresented and grossly under-appreciated event ever in the history of the country. There is no event known to me that has attracted more ingratitude and even outright condemnation than it. Generally the epitaphs and epithets of 1914 have largely been unkind and negative, while its epistemology has largely been one of hate, regrets and venom.”

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Focus Continued from page 17 down the Rivers Niger and Benue. Let it be quickly recalled that the colonial conquest of the territories amalgamated in 1914 had been completed by about 1905 thereby making the 1914 exercise a mere but significant administrative step by the British which brought about a new country named Nigeria. In this sense 1914 becomes a unifier- an act of unification that truly marks the beginning of Nigeria as we know it today.

The amalgamation of 1914 is thus not the evil or the source of our national problems as often painted but an opportunity to embark on building a new nation-state.

At least it gave rise for instance to a well-endowed country where everyone has equal status of membership The real problem of the country has been poor management of resources by the educated elites who proved unequal to the tasks of nation-building. They failed woefully to manage well the common heritage from the British after Independence. In itself, 1914 remains a blessing in many fronts, especially the emergence of a big country that is nobly and richly blessed by Nature, contrary to conventional opinion reechoed by recent critics, it served different purpose from the Berlin conference of 1884/ES during which the continent of Africa was butchered and shared among European Powers of the time without any regard to the feelings, culture, heritage of the African peoples and leaders. But it Berlin conference drove knife into the heart of Africa to dismember it according to the whims and caprices of the European powers and dispossessed our forefathers of their stools, and associated empires, states or kingdoms, the 1914 amalgamation appears to me as the first step towards the reunification of some of the conquered African territories albeit

unintentionally by the British.

It is true that the opinion of Africans was not sought in 1914 for the Lugard action but by then the African leaders of thought had lost their powers and their voice.

It is the cold reality of history of conquest and defeat. That is unfortunate, but as Christian, such unfortunate events are better left in the Hands of God who in his infinite wisdom does not seek the consent of parents before assigning them children.

Nigeria is God’s creation using the British.

Much has been made of the fact that Nigeria was created for the selfish economic reason especially of reducing British’s burden of high cost of colonial administration north and south of River Niger. In other words, Nigeria was created merely to feather the nest of the British Government overseas and not for the good of the African indigenes in the area brought together. This is historically correct but I am not moved because it only demonstrates the wisdom and imagination of a given people in using what they have to achieve what they want- a trait that has been very lacking in the Nigerian elites since Independence. The success of the British is not only a shameful challenge today also it shows how dull and unimaginative our leaders have been over time.

There has been embarrassing lack of creative thinking and development initiatives on the part of the Nigerian elites who inherited the country from the British in 1960. Nigeria in 1914 was the seized property of Britain and they were free as it were to put her to maximum use for their own advantage. The question begging for answer is why had the Nigerian elites failed to use the same country to the collective good of society? It is needless to say that 1914 cannot be blamed for the default and ineptitude of the inheritors. At least as Tunji Adegboyega cited earlier rightly observed

... Centennial Existence Of Nigeria Nigeria ‘once worked’ (The Nation l0-2-2013).

Rather than the circumstance of birth which is beyond the child’s decision, it is the relative success of the British in actualizing their dream through the Nigerian Project and the failure of the Nigerian elites in this regard since Independence that should amaze and make one most uncomfortable today. It should challenge and awaken us from slumber to the right road. I always wonder how the British elites from a tiny

we are still poor and disunited because the British created our country for selfish reasons without asking ourselves what good we have been able to make out of the creation, It really hurts to even contemplate the foolish things the elites have done with the country including corruption and squandering of resources since Independence. While it serves no use shivering in the rain where there are friendly shelters around, common sense demands a change for the better. The problem is that

intellectual slavery’ is important in understanding what went wrong as it helps in answering many relevant questions such as: why the country in spite of the natural and geographical advantages has not been able to throw off the yoke of poverty and underdevelopment since the departure of the British colonial masters? Or why it has been convenient for us to continue to blame an event of almost one hundred years old for our current predicaments today and our inability to change the situation? The

their creative thinking caps well, many of the reactions to 1914 reflect subtle attempt to deny or reject sonic aspects of our history as a people.

There is feeling of shame or fanciful desire to black out that period of our history and where possible replace it with a rosier one perhaps as children of giants rather than dwarfs. But doing so would amount to intellectual fraud that adds no ounce of value to our well-being. There is no use attempting to write fake history because it could

island overseas many miles away from home were able to use the 1914 action effectively to achieve their end and why the Nigerian elites have failed woefully to attain some feat since independence. This crushing inability to manage things well should be our shame and not the day of our birth as a nation.

It is trite and wrong to continue to hold the view long after independence that

the country’s elites have been suffering from what Tatalo Alamu calls “intellectual slavery or ‘mental laziness” and so could not make the desired impact even in period of freedom. Even a denial or rejection of our history as critics would like us have it cannot help. So weep not brothers and stop mourning, complaining and blaming 1914 amalgamation unduly for the nation’s current woes.

Tatalo’s concept of

answer is persistent mental slavery of the Nigerian ruling Elites. Otherwise how come the colonial masters were able to use the creation to achieve their end, and our nationalists were able to use sentiments and insights from same to nurture a spirit of nationalism and fight for freedom but the post Independence elites have failed woefully to develop the country they inherited from the British? Here is it not more proper to blame our failure as adults on poor management of resources rather than the date of our birth? In short the Nigerian elites should be ashamed of their dismal failure in the management and administration of the country since independence.

While it is obvious that the Nigerian elites have not worn

mislead and backfire as was the case in Russia after the demise of Stalin. I truly wish that we were created by Angels but the truth is that we are not. Too bad perhaps, but as the saying goes ‘wishes are no horses’. The reactions to 1914 remind me of what Professor Jide Osuntokun calls the ‘ifs’ of history’ but as the renowned Scholars argues the Historian’s task is with facts rather than fiction leading to some well- drawn lessons of life. The truth is that no matter the circumstance, Nigeria of today is largely a product of the action of Lord Lugard on 1st January, 1914 and in few months she would be 100 years old. Longevity matters and it justifies some celebration.

“While it is obvious that the Nigerian elites have not worn their creative thinking caps well, many of the reactions to 1914 reflect subtle attempt to deny or reject sonic aspects of our history as a people. There is feeling of shame or fanciful desire to black out that period of our history and where possible replace it with a rosier one perhaps as children of giants rather than dwarfs.”

To be continued

THE NIGERIAN

19

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Media

Social Media And Public Information Management In Nigeria

THE National Council on Information met recently at its 44th session in Osogbo and focused on the role of social media and public information management in Nigeria.

The deliberations centred on access, knowledge, use and indispensability of social media in facilitating discussions among the citizenry.

The speakers were unanimous in their agreement that social media had potential to address the challenges of public information management in the country.

Information minister Labaran Maku set the tone of the deliberations when he stressed on the potential and influence of social media, and urged information managers to take advantage of the emerging trend.

He observed that there was governance deficit in Nigeria, noting that the high level of distrust and skepticism among the people called for a new approach to public information management.

He said that the need for the citizens to participate in governance process, and ensure public trust in governance highlighted the imperatives for the adoption of the new technologies.

“The growing internet access across the country, the availability of a variety of mobile and web-based devices for information gathering, storage, and i n s t a n t a n e o u s dissemination on a mass scale across extensive distances, offer new possibilities and challenges for public information management,

and mobilisation of the citizenry for development,’’ he said.

Maku called on public institutions, officials and information managers to establish their presence more visibly and actively on social media circuits.

He urged them to show greater openness and readiness to engage with citizens in a two-way communication process for effective service delivery.

‘Social media, indeed, afford enormous opportunities for building public trust and confidence in government and diligently encouraging public participation in governance.

“Popular participation is, of course, key to democratic consolidation, effective policy monitoring, evaluation and efficient delivery of services,’’ he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Osun Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, stressed the need for officials at all levels to harness opportunities in the social media for effective public information management.

He urged policy makers to use the new media to engage the youth in governance processes so as to build trust between them and government.

“I urge you to also give thoughts to how governments at different levels can tap into the vast potentials of social media and Information Communications Technology to enhance accountability and transparency in governance,’’ he said.

By JUDE ZOHO

The council also deliberated on the complementary roles social media play in the development of traditional media.

The issue was highlighted to create necessary awareness on the changing roles of traditional media in the internet era.

It was assumed that the era

While many believe that traditional media would continue to compete with social media, others argued that the emergence of the later would not undermine the role of the former.

Some experts also argued that the future of information dissemination and management in

medium in isolation of the others.

He stated that the social media empowers the citizenry to act more decisively, and hold their leaders to account.

The participants noted that many contemporary challenges, including floods and other challenges, voter registration and electoral apathy, could be

Labaran Muaku, Information Minister

of total dependence on traditional media for public sensitisation and mobilisation of the public to government activities is over.

For the participants, it was imperative for information managers to understand that dissemination of information could be managed better if opportunities provided by social media were properly harnessed in collaboration with traditional media.

Nigeria would largely depend on the convergence of social and traditional media.

Osun Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, argued that rather than see the emerging media as a threat, experts must find a meeting point between the two.

He said that effective information management cannot be successfully pursued using a particular

“The growing internet access across the country, the availability of a variety of mobile and web-based devices for information gathering, storage, and instantaneous dissemination on a mass scale across extensive distances, offer new possibilities and challenges for public information management, and mobilisation of the citizenry for development.’’

tackled through social media utilisation and engagement.

Maku affirmed the view and presented a model of social media use in the Federal Ministry of Information.

He, therefore, urged the participants to adopt the model in eliciting mass participation in government programmes and policies.

He said that the ministry had set a new standard in the use of social media for public information dissemination and management.

He said that the National Good Governance Tour and the Ministerial Platform programmes were hinged on effective use of social media.

“Many Nigerians and others from around the

world watched the Ministerial Platform 2013 videos on YouTube, and FMI dedicated live streaming channel.

“YouTube and live streaming, Facebook and Twitter were employed to relay the Ministerial Platform to Nigerians and the world,’’ he said.

In her addressed, Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, expressed the hope that far-reaching decisions would be taken on the use of social media to facilitate national development.

She noted that the new publicity strategy should be well adopted as the world was now driven by digital technologies.

However, analysts have called for caution in the use social media, noting its side effects on policy makers.

According to them, abuse of social media including identity thefts, cyber bullying, and defamation were inherent challenges that must be carefully balanced against the many benefits of social media.

Maku had noted that the handling of Boko Haram insurgency by some social media information platforms had brought to the fore the flip side to information management on social media.

He said that Boko Haram had always deployed social media to coordinate deadly attacks on citizens and to spread its evil ideologies and hate campaigns within and across nations.

The participants reminded Nigerians of the challenges and prospects of social media in Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.

It was the view of the participants and other stakeholders that social media could be used to invigorate public information management in Nigeria, and to steer the nation on the path of unity, peace, progress and prosperity.

THE NIGERIAN

20

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Discourse Igniting The Spirit Of Entrepreneurship Among Nigeria Youths

ENTREPRENEURSHIP is a key driver of any economy in the world today.

It is the process of planning, operating and assuming the risk of a business venture.

The concept refers to the innovative and creative response to economic and social ventures. Inegbehebor (1987) defined entrepreneurship as “the willingness and ability of an individual to seek out investment opportunities, establish and run an enterprise successfully.”

According to Steven and Gumpert (2002), entrepreneurship is the “process in which individuals pursue opportunities fulfilling needs and wants through innovations together with the attendant risks.”

An entrepreneur is an individual who own and control an enterprise or venture, and makes from profits from it. He/she is an independent business owner who efficiently and effectively combines the

factors of production. The World Bank defined entrepreneurs as, “people who perceive profitable opportunities, are willing to take risks in pursuing them and have the ability to organize a business.” An entrepreneur is a risk bearer; an independent, selfsufficient individual who takes the necessary step that may either lead to profit or loss. Anayakoha (2006) sees an entrepreneur as, “one who chooses or assumes risks, identifies business opportunities, gather resources, initiates actions and establishes an organization or enterprise to meet such demand or market opportunity.”

Discovering business opportunities, bringing about innovations, and taking up business opportunities are qualities of a good entrepreneur. And these qualities can be found in the youths which are believed to be the reservoir of a nation’s strength, creativity and productivity. The youths need

2015 election is fast approaching so one is not surprise at the propaganda and pull him down campaign going on against notable politicians. Politics, as we know, is generally assumed to be a dirty game. Indeed, it is dirty in so many ways and senses to the extent that most politicians and their gullible followers often pretend against positive steps of distinguished achievers as a means of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

Owelle Rochas Okorocha the governor of Imo State is at the receiving end of so many media propaganda by people who want to see him out of government house Owerri in 2015 by all means.

The latest propaganda against Rochas is that he took a loan of 73 billion naira from banks using Imo LGA allocation as collateral. Others say he is mobilising miscreants to take to the street to protest against FG. That each recruited youth are paid N5,000. These are all lies.

The way these propagandists throw out falsehood and denigrates truth baffles me. They have embarked on mission of massive misinformation against the Imo governor because they cannot fault his programmes for Imo state.

Why will Okorocha mobilize anyone to protest for him?

The people love him and if the people choose to take to the street to protest on behalf

of their Governor, so be it.

Okorocha requires no introduction as a leader who is diligently and humbly serving his state Imo. The ascendance of Okorocha to Douglas House Owerri as governor of a politically sophisticated state as Imo in May 29, 2011 is divine and spectacular.

His achievements in office so far are also spectacular.

His leadership in Imo so far has impacted tremendously on both the state and her people. Such positive impacts include the areas of road networks, free education from primary to tertiary schools, rehabilitation of public utilities, peaceful coexistence in the state, security, health, agriculture, youth empowerment infrastructure improvements and societal re-orientation.

Henceforth, on weekly basis, I will pick on one area of achievement of governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. I will talk about education this week.

Naturally, as human being, Governor Okorocha like any other politician has his own weakness because no one but God is infallible. But whatever is Okorocha’s undoing, the fact still remains that he is doing his best to take Imo State to a greater height. A man that has declared free education from primary to tertiary school in his state so that the children of the poor can go to school

By UTI A UDOH to be empowered to be entrepreneurs; their zeal, initiatives, creativity, and innovation need to be harnessed for employment generation, growth of the economy and sustainable development. Addressing problem of poverty and unemployment, and crimes demands that our youths be empowered with creative problem-solving skills such as entrepreneurship skills.

White and Kenyon (2000) found a ‘flourishing young enterprise culture’ among young entrepreneurs aged 1824 years in the United Kingdom. In Zambia, statistics shows that 25 percent of the youths are selfemployed. Findings in Ghana of small scale enterprises revealed that young people owned almost 40 percent of the enterprises. Also, research in South Africa suggests that

the probability of selfemployment among youths rises with age. In Nigeria, if the youths mentored in the skills of entrepreneurship and provided with the enabling environment for wealth creations; problems such as poverty, unemployment, kidnappings, vandalisms and other such acts will drastically reduced in the country.

Thankfully, the Nigerian government in recent times has made urgent need to fight unemployment, reduce poverty and promote economic prosperity through entrepreneurship. As part of proactive measures to tackle unemployment in the country, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has inaugurated the University Entrepreneurship Development Programme to

imbibe a strong entrepreneurship culture and promote self-employment among the youths, so that graduates can have the minds to set up their own business, create employment and alleviate poverty in the society.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Summit (YES) is another measure meant to tackle unemployment and promote entrepreneurship. YES is an event positioned to motivate and ignite the spirit and excitement of entrepreneurship amongst Nigerian youths.

Entrepreneurship education should go beyond the school curricula. NGOs (Nongovernmental Organizations, institutions like family, groups and churches should also be instrumental in making our youths entrepreneurs. The agenda of innovation, creativity, wealth creation and selfemployment should be

widely and aggressively preached. Also, all sectors of the economy should focus on promoting entrepreneurship among youths in the country.

However, being an entrepreneur depends on an individual motivation, willingness to work, take up responsibilities. Some youths just do want to face the hurdles of starting up a new enterprise. They are not willingness to take the risk; they are not willing to take that leap that can take them to the next level. And yet, we complain of the country; there is no job in the country, the country does not favour graduates, the country is this, the country is that, when we the youths do not want to help ourselves. The youths need to step up and take the bull by the horns, seize opportunities, create wealth and foster economic growth and development. “It is not what your country can do for you; it is what you can do for your country.” And so my fellow youths, let us ponder on these words by John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”

Gov Okorocha And Education In Imo

By OBINNA EMEKA

should be commended.

Education is very important.

It helps us gain knowledge, information and interpret things correctly. Education teaches us how to lead our lives by mingling in the society and turning out to be good citizens. It makes us capable of interpreting rightly the things perceived.

Education teaches us right behavior and makes us

Smith (1776), the Scottish philosopher in his famous study of what constitutes the “wealth of nations”, the modern history sourcebook.

Are you aware that the man Okorocha Increased subvention to Imo State University from 57.56 million(fifty-seven million, five hundred and sixty thousand naira) to 100,000,000(one hundred million) naira monthly? Are

• Gov. Rochas Okorocha

civilized people. Education is important because it equips us with all that is needed to make our dreams come true.

The notion that an investment in education and human capital promotes economic growth can be traced to Adam

you aware that the last administration in Imo State fixed school fees in Imo State University at 150,000(one hundred and fifty thousand naira) but when Okorocha came in he reversed it? Are you aware that the man

Okoroch a provided N100,000,000 (one hundred million naira) for the accreditation of courses in the Faculty of Engineering and Nursing Science in Imo State University? Are you aware that he released N138,000,000 (one hundred and thirty-eight million naira) for payment of arrears of CONTISS/CONUAS (Academic & Non-academic) staff entitlements in Imo State University, Owerri ? Are you aware that Imo state government under Okorocha has distributed thousands of school desks to secondary schools in Imo State and has also renovated several schools in the state? Are you also aware that Governor Okorocha is building several modern secondary schools in the state? Let’s give him some credit so that he can do more.

Are you aware that Okorocha established Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies? He also secured approval of N922,000, 000 (Nine hundred and twenty two million naira) from the Education Trust Fund (ETF) to be used for projects in Educational Institutions in Imo State. Are you aware that Owelle Okorocha Commissioned a wellequipped Information Communication Technology

(ICT) Laboratory at Girls Secondary School, Ikenegbu, Owerri. He also secured approval for the establishment of National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) Study Center in Imo State.

450 million naira grant has also being released to the missionary schools in the state. To make things easier for parents and guardians, the state government is also providing school desks, uniforms, sandals, books for Imo pupils. Allocation of impress is made to the authorities of all primary and secondary schools in the state for the purpose of carrying out routine maintenance in their respective schools.

Hatred, manipulations, mischief, ill-feelings, evil machinations, vendetta and gossips from people against the Imo governor cannot erase these solid achievements. It is wrong for any one to be hiding under the façade of being a reporter to unleash his political vendetta against Okorocha’s government. Okorocha is a listening governor, whoever has ideas on how to develop the state should come forward. Critics could always have says while the truth will eventually have its way.

• Obinna Emeka lives in Owerri and can be reached at obinnaemeka64@yahoo.com.

THE NIGERIAN

21

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Archival Matters

Truth Allergy Syndrome SIMPLY put, Nigeria is today suffering from Truth Allergy Syndrome. It is a social disease complex which makes the average person in the country love to cohabit with mistruths, falsehoods and lies. Invariably, you hardly find in Nigeria a truth advocate and defender because the vast majority of us wallow in this syndrome.

One of the greatest books on earth, the Holy Bible, extols the virtue of truth. It therefore mentions the word 243 times from Genesis to Revelation.

Also, the same bible tells us how King David was frontally confronted with the truth by Nathan, a prophet of God, for appropriating Bathseba, wife of Uriah the Hehite. The prophet showed by this action that truth is no respecter of persons. He told King David the truth without fear or favour and with consistent validity.

But how many Nathans do we have today in Nigeria?

Very, very few. It is for this reason God has turned his back on Nigeria spiritually despite our loud decibel religion. God doesn’t look at lying lips but the sincerity in the hearts of men.

If you closely study Nigeria, you will indeed discover that most of us have Truth Allergy Syndome. Take late General Sani Abacha, for instance. In 1995, Obasanjo paid him a visit in his office at Aso Rock, Abuja informing him that he (Abacha) had no business being in power because democracy was the international value and normative standard for daring to give him an honest, true advice, Abacha concocted a coup against his regime and roped Obasanjo into it.

How about our Military President, Ibrahim Babangida? He wasn’t a truth advocate either because he politicized his administration.

Truth and politics always disynergize. See, when his regime was told at a media

By MICHAEL ODIGBE parley that one of his military governors was enmeshed in corruption, here was his administration’s response.

The governor did not misappropriate funds; all he did was misapply them, explained the administration.

The same Babangida while in power spoke several transition mistruths which ended up denying Abiola, his bosom friend, of victory in the June 12, 1993 presidential election even though Abiola scored 8,128,720 votes to his rival Ibrahim Tofa’s 5,848,247. Prof. Omo Omoruyi one of Babangida’s henchmen who oiled his diabolical political scheme that annulled the election in 1993, later repented of his sins. He came out with an insightful insider’s account which convincingly showed that Abiola, indeed, won the cancelled election. For daring to speak the truth, an attempt was made on his life on February 3, 1994. Don’t ask me who tried to kill him. Go and ask the witch who shrieked as an owl from an Iroko Jane tree one night in 1993.

In 2013, more woes visited the erudite professor of political science. He was down with prostate cancer and needed help from Babangida his friend but it didn’t come. Why? Certainly, Babangida had yet not forgiven him for his truthful pronouncement on the June 12, 1993 presidential election which Babangida wanted to “award” to Ibarahim Tofa (NRC) but providentially Abiola won it. Indeeded, for our evil genius Babangida, to err is not human neither is forgiving divine.

And, so, sick Prof. Omo Omoruyi was no more his concern. Lamenting this twist of fortune Omoruyi cried out.

“IBB abandoned me. I let him know about the first journey abroad for my treatment. He

did not help me, not even one kobo. So I cannot go to him during this second journey. In the first journey, I did not hear from him even though I sent him a message that I was going back to the hospital…..” Hmmm, the wages for truth has become abandonment?

In our current circumstances, Prof. Ben Nwabueze can be said to be an apostle of truth and realism. And, so, realising that President Goodluck

assault on his integrity as a spokesperson of truth, the president offered him a place on his CONFAB Committee.

However, the knowledgeable professor of constitutional law knew the implication of accepting the President’s Greek offer. If he did, it meant endorsing technically the president’s 2015 ambition.

Wise man, Prof. Ben Nwabueze. He rejected the offer in unmistakable terms citing frail age as a disabling factor.

By his deft move, Prof. Ben Nwabueze didn’t behave like

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

Jonathan is at the epicenter of the bombastic political crisis rocking the nation down to its fragile foundation, Prof. Ben Nwabueze led the patriots to Aso Rock, Abuja. There he advised President Jonathan not to run for second term so that tension might reduce in the country. He spoke the truth to our dear president in Prophet Nathan’s straight forward way.

But he was ignored. Then is an amphibious, acrobatic

practice as an information minister in an oppressive military regime.

Were Mr. Festus Odimegwu, former Managing Director of Nigeria Breweries Limited in Lagos, as wise as Dele Giwa and Prof. Ben Nwabueze, he would have realised too that a truthful man’s best bet is not to wine and dine with a Jonathanesque sequel government that daily emits gaseous mistruths and is on a sick bed with the flu of Truth Allergy Syndrome. But then, he wasn’t wise enough to know this. Patriotism instead moved him to accept Jonathan’s job of Nigerian Population Commission Chairman.

immune system wouldn’t allow him to be crossinfected with their Truth Allergy Syndrome. So, they forced him to resign. At present, he has “fled” the country to New York, America.

Hon. Dino Melaye, a former House of Representatives member and chair of AntiCorruption Network, like Mr. Fesus Odimegwu, has also been a victim of mistruth in Nigeria. Following the scandal in which Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah, allegedly acquired two armoured cars worth N225 million, Dino Melaye led his network on a peaceful protect to the National Assembly on

Gen Ibrahim Babangida Rtd

Tai Solarin of Yore who mistakenly accepted Babangida’s insincere offer of People’s Bank chairman as a way of de-stooling Solarin’s criticism of his regime. But Prof. Ben Nwabueze acted like Dele Giwa who refused Babangida’s offer of Minister of Information because he (Dele Giwa) knew it was a ploy to sacrifice his ascorbic anti-Babangida newspaper journalism on the Baal altar of mumu bureaucratic media

“The same Babangida while in power spoke several transition mistruths which ended up denying Abiola, his bosom friend, of victory in the June 12, 1993 presidential election even though Abiola scored 8,128,720 votes to his rival Ibrahim Tofa’s 5,848,247.”

Bubbling with the servicom diligence to serve his fatherland with truth and honesty, he granted an interview in which he vowed to give Nigeria a credible census unlike his anthropological predecessors who since 1816 have manipulated the exercise. He thereafter said with the zeal of Prophet Nathan: “If the current laws are not amended, the planned 2016 census will not succeed …. Nigeria has run on falsehood (mistruths) for too long. We must stop this falsehood and put a stop to all these. The Boko Haram problem is partly as a result of that…..”

Not long after his media epistle of truth, apologists in Jonathan’s administration screamed blue murder. They knew Mr. Festus Odimegwu wasn’t one of them. Also, they realised his strong

October 24, 2013. However, there was an unprovoked attack on them by pro-Oduah protest group. To add vinegar to Nigeria’s open conscience wound, police ignored the pro-Oduah rowdy protesters but arrested Melaye’s human rights’ activists protecting Oduah’s wasteful expenditure of tax payers’ money at a time the federal government cannot fund our public universities. How you are, says the Chinese learning English!!.

Well, take or leave it.

Mistruth can never lead us to the El Doraldo we seek.

Only truth can take us there.

Because this truth is locking in Nigeria today makes us to be like the squirrel. He owns and climbs all the palm trees to eat their nuts.

But his wife at home has no palm oil to cook his meals.

What a paradox!!.

THE NIGERIAN

22

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Science

By OYAKHILOME CLEMENTINA Movement of water molecules into substances to make them swell is referred to as imbibitions. Example is, when garri is soaked and the increment in volume. So also when a living cell imbibes water, it is used up or it is transported to an adjacent cell hence it do not swell nor burst.

Significance of diffusion:Diffusion has played a very significant roll in cellular activities like gaseous and lon exchange between the cell and its environment.

Nutrient have been able to move during the process of photosynthesis, excretion and respiration all move through a process known as photosynthesis.

Due to photosynthesis, cell has been able to distribute substances evenly to all parts of the cell.

OSMOSIS This is the movement of solvent from a solution of a lower concentration to that of a higher concentration through a semi-permeable membrane, until an equilibrium is met, when an equilibrium is met it is said to be isotonic. While the solution that loses water is said to be hypotonic and the solution that gains water is said to be hypertonic while the solution of higher concentration, is said to exert a higher osmotic pressure than the other solution. The instrument used in the measurement of osmotic pressure is know as osmoimeter.

The Cell And It’s Environment THERE is a need for the exchange of materials between an organism and its environment, for the survival of that organism for example Amoeba lives, takes in water and excretes waste product directly inside the water it lives.

While in higher organisms like multicellular organisms do exchange materials between one cell and another and between cells and tissue fluids that surrounds them and between cells and their environment.

Diffusion Diffusion is a physical process by which fine particles of substances move from a region of a higher concentration to that of a lower concentration either with a liquid or gaseous medium until an equilibrium is met, for a example, standing in front of a classroom and a perfume is used, you find out that the position in front where the perfume is used has the highest concentration of that perfume but gradually, the perfume diffuses to the side and to the back of the classroom after some minutes, people at the front seat and at the back seat get the same amount of concentration of that perfume at that time, an equilibrium of the concentration has been met. The mangling together is known as diffusion, it usually takes place from a region of higher concentration to that of lower concentration. In the case of plants, water vapour diffuses outward and gases. The gases include oxygen and carbon dioxide, which diffuse on both directions between

the plant organs and the surrounding atmosphere.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT DIFFUSION. 1. TEMPERATURE: - The higher the temperature, the higher the rate of diffusion.

2. STATE OF MATTER. Liquids are heavier products and move slowly, but gases move faster and are freer.

3. SIZE OF MOLECULES: - The nature of the molecules do determine the rate that diffusion will take place, larger molecules tends to diffuse slower than small molecules.

4. CONCENTRATION GRADIENT :- The greater the gradient, the greater the rate of diffusion process. Loice ficks law states that the amount of solutes diffusing through a unit cross section of an area is directly proportional to the concentration gradient across that section.

THE IMPORTANCE OF OSMOSIS TO PLANTS. 1. It gives turgidity to the plant cells.

2. It aids in the opening and closing of the stomata during the day and at night respectively 3. It aids movement of water molecules from the root hair to the cells of the cortex.

4. Absorption of water from the soil into the vacuoles of the root hair of plants is done by a process known as osmosis.

IMPORTANCE OF OSMOSIS TO ANIMALS. 1. Intracellular movement of water in animals is done through a process known as osmosis.

2. In the kidney, re-absorption of water takes place in the kidney tubules by a process known as osmosis.

3. The absorption of water from undigested food materials that takes place in the large intestine is done by a process known as osmosis.

4. It gives animal cell turgidity 5. Haemolysis is the bursting of the red blood cell.

This is done in animals through a process referred to as osmosis.

PLASMOLYSIS. When the medium in which a living cell lies, has a higher osmotic concentration then that of the contents of the cell, the water in it, flows out of it and this is referred to as ex-osmosis unlike when the water flowed into the cell membrane through a selectively permeable membrane. As a result of this flow, there is a water loss, which makes the vacuole to shrinks thereby making the cytoplasmic linings to pull from the cell well hence it is said that the shrinking of the contents of the cell is known as plasmolysis, while the cell is said to be plesmolysed.

THE NIGERIAN

23

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Politics

ANALYSTS have often called on the various political parties in the country to ensure transparency and strict adherence to internal democratic processes in the conduct of their affairs.

For them, the call is in response to the spate of internal squabbles, and often times, litigations over the manner of adoption of party candidates for elective positions.

They opine that no party can be said to be democratic and worthy to hold public trust if it failed to ensure transparency in its internal administrative and political processes.

The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, expressed support for this call when he urged party leaders in Nigeria to deepen democratic culture by strengthening democracy in their respective parties.

Tukur, who urged politicians to put service above self, insisted that democracy offers the people the right to speak their minds and challenge unfavourable policies.

In the same vein, the Interim Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir elRufai, advised leaders of various parties to intensify efforts at strengthening internal democracy for national development.

El-Rufia spoke at a training workshop for leaders of political parties organised by the U.S. Agency for International Development

(USAID) in collaboration with the International Republican Institute.

“We are very happy that our party is one of the beneficiaries of this training, which is about internal party democracy and how to manage political parties.

“What we are learning from the experience of Ghana is that the more you give power to members of a party to choose, the more democratic you are likely to be,’’ he said.

For Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, strengthening internal democracy in a political system is cardinal to development in all facets of life.

Fayemi urged political parties to imbibe the principles of democracy and popular participation by being transparent and providing good leadership examples.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, once told his colleagues during a sitting that true democracy requires that Nigerians must place national interest above selfish considerations.

“After 14 years of uninterrupted practice of democracy, we still suffer acute poverty of democratic culture and practices.

“We must deliberately promote a viable and transparent electoral process; the right to opinion and opposition should be given chance in any political discourse.

“We ought to take the vow that all votes must

Towards Ensuring Internal Democracy In Political Parties count whether in intraparty democratic processes or at the level of inter-party contests.

“True democracy does not happen by accident; it is, therefore, our duty as intimate practitioners and beneficiaries of political patronage to be in the vanguard of deepening of de-

By GABRIELAGBEJA

eral elections.

According to him, if the political parties did not lead by good example, the nation’s democracy would be questioned, and providing good governance for the people would be hindered.

The AU Commissioner

Mallam Nasir-El-Rufai

Alhaji Bamaga Tukur mocracy.

“The people of Nigeria desire and deserve this; it is right and honourable, and we have a duty to deliver these noble expectations,’’ he said.

Tambuwal, nonetheless, expressed concern over some activities of some political parties as they prepare for the 2015 gen-

for the development of the nation.

The National Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council, Alhaji Yinusa Tanko, urged the various political parties to abide by the constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act to ensure the evolution of

The National Coordinator, Youth Alliance on Constitution and Electoral Reform, Mr Samson Itodo, urged political parties to be sincere in their decision making to strengthen democracy.

According to him, members of political parties should be allowed to actively participate in deci-

for Political Affairs, Dr Aisha Abdullahi, called on legislators to collaborate with relevant electoral bodies to strengthen democracy.

Speaking recently in Abuja, Abdullahi urged legislators to collaborate with foreign partners and embark on massive voter education to enrich democracy

“When you hear expressions such as no ‘vacancy, automatic ticket and consensus candidate’; these are manifestations of absence of internal democracy and lack of competitiveness...’’

strong democracy.

Tanko said that the call was necessary to ensure political stability and economic development of the country.

“The constitutions of the country and the political parties are the guidelines for the parties; we must abide by them,’’ he said.

Tanko said that internal democracy in parties would be further enhanced if erring members were sanctioned for failure to adhere with the provisions of the constitutions.

“There is also the need for political parties to embrace internal party democracy in accordance with their constitutions, because lack of internal democracy leads to conflicts, disagreements, factions, and anarchy,’’ he said.

sions involving the selection of delegates and nomination of candidates for various elective offices so as to ensure justice and fairness.

“When you hear expressions such as no ‘vacancy, automatic ticket and consensus candidate’; these are manifestations of absence of internal democracy and lack of competitiveness,’’ he observed.

Political analysts, therefore, hold the view that to strengthen internal democracy; political parties should respect the will of their members while taking decisions.

They agree that liberalism, rights and freedom of expressions by party members are hallmarks of a strengthened democratic process.

THE NIGERIAN

24

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

International Analysis

Tension With Allies Rise, But US Sees Improved China Ties

WITH ties between Washington and many close allies strained because of eavesdropping revelations and differences over U.S. policies in the Middle East, the Obama administration can take some comfort from an improvement in ties with China.

A year after China’s President Xi Jinping took over the helm of the country’s ruling Communist Party, senior U.S. officials say they see increased cooperation on a range of issues from climate change to North Korea’s nuclear weapons ambitions. They also regard greater bilateral military contacts as an important safety valve if there are any potential flare-ups.

On the economic front, Washington is focused on China’s November 9-12 Communist Party conclave where Xi’s blueprint for making the world’s secondlargest economy more open is expected to be unveiled.

Xi’s administration already has spawned optimism with an agreement to reopen bilateral investment treaty talks and a pilot free trade zone in Shanghai that augurs well for deeper reforms to address Chinese investment and trade barriers. Both could help dent the $300 billion annual U.S. trade deficit with China.

Not all is rosy. Serious fault lines remain over issues that have long vexed the Sino-U.S. relationship, such as human rights.

Western experts and Chinese activists are concerned that China’s record on human rights may be worsening under Xi, who became China’s president in March, given there have been crackdowns on lawyers, activists and Internet opinion leaders.

Potential discord also lurks in China’s recent increasing recourse to what its critics call gunboat diplomacy in maritime territorial disputes with

Asian neighbors, including U.S. allies such as Japan and the Philippines.

But officials from both countries say they are committed to what China calls a “new model of major country relations” - a Xi mantra that aims to minimize Sino-U.S. rivalry as China’s global power grows.

To Washington, the concept means “there is room on planet Earth for a rising, strong, stable, prosperous China and a United States that continues to serve as the champion of a liberal, democratic, freemarket and rules-based system,” said Daniel Russel, the State Department’s top Asia diplomat.

Washington and Beijing intend to “avoid a mechanistic dynamic in which a rising power and an enduring power were inevitably destined for conflict,” he added.

The most common concrete example U.S. officials give of a better working relationship is North Korea, whose nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are seen as one of Asia’s most serious security threats.

Washington has long sought to convince Beijing to do more to rein in Pyongyang, a Chinese ally since the Korean War. North Korea’s nuclear test in early 2013, the latest of three since 2006, was accompanied by threats of nuclear attack on the United States and South Korea.

“We’ve seen (China) be more forward-leaning in applying pressure on the North Koreans,” said Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser for strategic communications.

“That’s in part because the cycle of provocation that was taking place in the spring was concerning to them because it was destabilizing the region ... and ultimately it was not

consistent with their own interest,” he told Reuters.

China, often criticized by the United States and its allies for weak enforcement of U.N. Security Council sanctions on the North, last month published a detailed list of technologies and

genuinely matter to both of our people and genuinely matter to the region and the world,” said Russel, who attended the summit, in an interview.

In early 2012, when Xi was China’s vice president, he toured the United States

President Barack Obama

goods banned from export to North Korea because of their potential use in weapons of mass destruction.

The narrowing of differences on North Korea was a key outcome from Xi’s informal summit with President Barack Obama last June in Rancho Mirage, California - a desert retreat that allowed the two leaders to meet for eight hours over two days.

That informal summit, mainly designed as a trustbuilding exercise, also produced an agreement to reduce the use of greenhouse gases and to launch a bilateral working group to hold regular discussions on cybersecurity.

“The U.S. and China are cooperating not on boutique projects, not on off-Broadway, where it doesn’t really matter, but on priority, critical issues that

as a guest of U.S. counterpart Joe Biden, visiting a small town in Iowa where he did a brief home stay in 1987, as well as Los Angeles and Washington.

The Washington trip included a visit to the Pentagon, which helped set up a packed 2013-14

that Xi’s agenda may only start to become clearer after this month’s Communist Party Central Committee Plenum sees him put his full stamp on Chinese policy.

On economic policy, Americans see room for optimism, based on Xi’s record since the 1990s as a business-friendly party and government leader overseeing roaring economies in Shanghai and the vibrant coastal provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang.

“Everything about his past where he served before in China indicates that there are reasons to be optimistic that he will take a more promarket approach than his predecessor,” said Kenneth Jarrett, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and a former U.S. diplomat in China.

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday said China was not a currency manipulator and had allowed the yuan to appreciate 12 percent against the dollar since June 2010, while adding that the Chinese currency still appears undervalued. But in a semiannual report to Congress, the criticism of China was muted and less prominent than an attack on Germany, which was accused of hampering economic stability in Europe and hurting the

Document No. 9, believed to reflect Xi’s beliefs, makes it a taboo to discuss publicly “Western notions” such as constitutional rule, universal values, press freedom, judicial independence and civil society.

In less abstract terms, China’s widening crackdown on bloggers, lawyers and activists has seen the detention or arrest of scores if not hundreds of people. nL5N0IC2J8] Obama, while not dropping the human rights issues, appears to have decided not to turn it into a make-or-break issue for Sino-American relations.

Xi has broken with Beijing’s traditionally reactive and defensive foreign policy, said Stephanie KleineAhlbrandt of the U.S. Institute of Peace. She sees Xi testing U.S. allies and pushing back against Obama’s decision to shift diplomatic and security attention to Asia.

“Xi Jinping has come in and essentially pivoted on a dime and is now the first to really embrace China’s role as a ‘great power’ and he’s making foreign policy with a great power mindset,” she said.

U.S. officials say they do not expect Beijing to escalate its maritime disputes with Japan or other smaller neighbors because it would risk harming China’s economic growth.

“If Xi Jinping wants to

“Xi has broken with Beijing’s traditionally reactive and defensive foreign policy, said Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt of the U.S. Institute of Peace. She sees Xi testing U.S. allies and pushing back against Obama’s decision to shift diplomatic and security attention to Asia.” calendar of exchanges between the two countries’ militaries. Military-tomilitary ties have long been the weakest link between the two powers.

U.S.-China ties have warmed but then cooled in the past, and analysts warn

global economy because of its focus on exports rather than boosting domestic demand.

On human rights and regional security, however, there are more question marks.

A party directive called

realize the goal of the Chinese dream, of becoming a middle-class country by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the PRC, they’re going to want to do that without any kind of disruption or distraction,” said a senior U.S. official.

(Courtesy Reuters)

THE NIGERIAN

25

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

International Features

Britain To Build Europe’s First Nuclear Plant Since Fukushima LONDON/PARIS Britain is set to sign a deal with France’s EDF for the first nuclear plant to start construction in Europe since Japan’s Fukushima disaster raised safety concerns worldwide, at a cost estimated at around $23 billion.

Under the deal, expected to be announced on Monday, the French utility will lead a consortium, including a Chinese group, to construct two European Pressurised Water Reactors (EPRs) designed by France’s Areva.

Industry estimates, based on other nuclear projects, put the cost at around 14 billion pounds or more than 16 billion euros.

EDF’s long-time partner China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), possibly in combination with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), is expected to have a 30 to 40 percent stake in the consortium, with Areva taking another 10 percent, according to newspapers including France’s Les Echos and Britain’s Sunday Telegraph.

EDF and the British prime minister’s office declined to comment on the media reports.

The two reactors, each with a capacity of 1.6 gigawatts, would together make up nearly five percent of British generating capacity and increase energy security in the country, which needs to replace 20 percent of its ageing and polluting power plants over the coming decade.

The project is a boost for the global nuclear

industry, which has seen projects canceled since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Germany decided to phase out nuclear power, Italy scrapped a planned nuclear program and France has pledged to cut atomic power to 50 percent of its electricity mix from 75 percent today.

Britain’s government and main opposition parties support nuclear power and anti-nuclear sentiment among the population is muted by comparison with other parts of Europe.

George Borovas, nuclear specialist at law firm Pillsbury, said Britain is a unique environment for nuclear, given political support, a relatively strong economy and an existing nuclear fleet.

“If nuclear can’t work in the UK, where else?” he said.

Two other groups have put forward plans to build new nuclear plants in Britain and will be scrutinizing the EDF deal closely: Japan’s Hitachi via its Horizon project and the NuGen project of France’s GDF and Spain’s Iberdrola.

HUGE RISKS Under the deal, the EDF-led consortium will build the two reactors at its own risk, but the government will guarantee a minimum price for power generated from the proposed

Hinkley Point C plant in Somerset, southwest England, adjacent to an existing nuclear power plant run by EDF. EDF operates 15 nuclear reactors in the UK following its 12.5 billion pound takeover of British Energy in 20082009.

reimbursed for the difference, while it would have to pay back money in excess of the price.

The suggested deal comes amid an increasingly bitter row over electricity prices in Britain, with two of the main six utilities announcing more than 8

Direct market support for new nuclear plants is unprecedented in Europe since liberalization started two decades ago, and Britain will be the first country to seek consent from the European Commission’s competition department

percent rises for this winter. Several British media were critical of the Hinkley Point project, saying it would increase power prices.

Analysts said it was too early to estimate the impact of the Hinkley Point deal on EDF’s outlook and share price as details had yet to emerge, and the deal still needs to get European Commission clearance.

for this.

Earlier this month the Commission ruled out including a reference to nuclear power in revised state aid rules, an indication the UK request could be difficult.

Critics say that by freezing the power price for a nuclear plant for decades ahead, the government is taking huge risks.

“Why would anyone

David Cameroon, British PM

The so-called strike price, over which EDF and Britain have wrangled for more than a year, is expected to be set at about 92 pounds per megawatt-hour, more than twice current market levels, and could be valid for 35 years, according to some media.

If British electricity market prices fall below the agreed threshold, EDF would be

“Direct market support for new nuclear plants is unprecedented in Europe since liberalization started two decades ago, and Britain will be the first country to seek consent from the European Commission’s competition department for this.”

begin to imagine that you know what the price of wholesale electricity will be in be 2058?” said Tom Burke, environmentalist and former government energy adviser.

For EDF too the project is a major risk. At the EPR reactor EDF is building in Flamanville, France, costs ballooned from a budgeted 3.3 billion euros in 2005 to 8.5 billion euros late last year. An EPR built by Areva in Olkiluoto, Finland, has suffered similar overruns and is also years behind schedule.

“If the Hinkley Point project ends up costing 20 billion euros, the consortium will have to cough up the 4 billion euro difference,” a Parisbased equities analyst said.

But two EPRs being built by EDF’s Chinese partner CGN are on schedule and on budget, and EDF hopes that the Chinese, besides financing, will bring project management skills gathered from constructing more than a dozen nuclear plants in recent years.

British finance minister George Osborne signed an agreement in China on Thursday allowing Chinese companies to enter Britain’s nuclear power sector.

China, which is developing its own reactor, sees the Hinkley Point deal as a first foot in the door in Europe and hopes to use the British reference to sell nuclear plants worldwide.

Eventually, this could bring it into competition with EDF and Areva, on whose technologies the Chinese designs are based.

THE NIGERIAN

26

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

International

Australia, US ‘Spied On Indonesia’ SYDNEY (Australia) Australia and the United States mounted a joint surveillance operation on Indonesia during the 2007 United Nations climate change conference in Bali, a report said yesterday.

The Guardian newspaper’s Australian edition cited a document from US whistleblower Edward Snowden showing Australian spy agency the Defence Signals Directorate worked alongside America’s National Security Agency (NSA) to

Boat Carrying 70 Muslim Rohingya Sinks YANGON (Myanmar) - A boat carrying 70 ethnic minority Muslim Rohingya capsized yesterday off the western coast of Myanmar, an aid worker said.

Only eight survivors have been found.

The boat was in the Bay of Bengal and headed for Bangladesh when it went down early yesterday, said Abdul Melik, who works for the humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger.

The incident comes after the United Nations warned that an annual and often deadly exodus of desperate people from Myanmar ’s Rakhine state appears to have begun. The exodus usually kicks off in November, when seas begin to calm.

As many as 1,500 people have fled in the last week, Dan McNorton, a spokesman for the U.N. High commission for Refugees, said at a press briefing Saturday in Geneva.

He said the agency had received several reports of drownings and was seeking details from authorities.

In yesterday’s incident, Melik said the wooden boat carrying at least 70 Rohingya from Ohn Taw Gyi village left at around 3 a.m. and broke apart about four hours later. Women, children and babies were among those on board.

Family members and friends were scouring the Bay of Bengal and coastlines for survivors, but so far only eight survivors have been found, he said.

It was not immediately clear whether any bodies had been recovered.

Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million, has been gripped by sectarian violence in the last 18 months, leaving more than 240 people dead and causing 250,000 to flee from their homes. Most of the victims have been Rohingya, a long persecuted Muslim minority in the country, with Buddhist mobs chasing them down with machetes, iron chains and bamboo clubs.

The U.N. says it expects this

collect the phone numbers of Indonesian security officials.

The revelation is likely to exacerbate already strained relations with Jakarta after reports last week that Canberra’s overseas diplomatic posts were involved in a vast US-led surveillance network.

Missions in Indonesia, as well as embassies or consulates in China, were reportedly used to monitor phone calls and collect data, sparking demands for an explanation from Jakarta and Beijing.

The Guardian said the 2007 operation was not particularly successful, with the only tangible outcome being the mobile phone number of Bali’s chief of police.

“The goal of the development effort was to gain a solid understanding of the network structure should collection be required in the event of an emergency,” according to an account of the mission included in a 2008 weekly report from the NSA base at Pine Gap in Australia, one of the agency’s biggest overseas bases.

Summing up at the end of the operation, the NSA said: “Highlights include the compromise of the mobile phone number for Bali’s chief of police.

“Site efforts revealed previously unknown Indonesian communications networks and postured us to increase collection in the event of a crisis,” according to The Guardian.

While largely unsuccessful, the operation is hugely

embarrassing for Australia.

At the time, Kevin Rudd was the country’s newly elected prime minister and he attended the summit — his first high-profile international foray — at the personal invitation of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Both leaders agreed at the time to work together to advance ties.

Widespread reports of NSA spying based on leaks from fugitive intelligence analyst Snowden, including that the agency was monitoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone, have already sparked a major transAtlantic rift.

After last week’s report in the Sydney Morning Herald, which amplified earlier revelations by German

magazine Der Spiegel, China’s foreign ministry demanded the Australian side “make a clarification”.

Jakarta summoned Australian ambassador Greg Moriarty for an explanation on Friday while Indonesian

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa described the reported spying activities as “just not cricket”.

Tunisian policemen investigate near a crime scene on a beach near the tourist resort of sousse.

Militants Test Tunisia’s New Democracy TUNIS - When protesters stormed the U.S. embassy in Tunis last year, they hoisted a black jihadist flag that exposed the militant Islamist undercurrent in one of the Muslim world’s most secular societies.

An attack on a tourist resort last week by a suicide bomber, and recent gun battles with Tunisian police, revealed how deeply that fervor, fostered worldwide by al Qaeda, has taken root in the country where the Arab Spring began.

Militants, few in number, have little chance of forging the Islamic state they want in Tunisia or igniting wider war.

But with the country still stumbling toward democracy

and Libya’s chaos on its doorstep, violent Islamists have room to flourish.

No one else died when a man blew himself up on the beach at Sousse on Wednesday after failing to get in to a resort hotel.

Another would-be suicide bomber was arrested. Last month, nine policemen died in a clash with Islamists.

Both incidents shocked a small country little used to violence, dependent on tourism and in the process of forming a national unity government to organize elections after two years of rule by moderate Islamists allied to the Muslim Brotherhood.

“When we have seen this in the past, in Syria or elsewhere,

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Faymy addresses the 68th United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York recently.

it is usually a very ominous sign of things to come,” Thomas Joscelyn of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington said of the suicide bomber. “It represents a marked escalation in the tactics the jihadists are willing to use.”

Officials blame Ansar alSharia, which they link to Al

Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), active across North Africa. The Tunisian group emerged after the uprising of early 2011 that ended the secular police state of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali but was banned by the moderate Islamist government this year after two secular politicians were assassinated.

Egypt To Look Beyond US For Arms CAIRO - Egypt’s Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said on Saturday that Egypt would look beyond the United States to meet its security needs and warned Washington that it could no longer ignore popular demands in a changed Arab world.

Speaking ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Fahmy said the United States must take a long-term view of its relations with Egypt and understand that in the wake of the Arab Spring, “it would have to deal now with the Arab peoples, not only with Arab governments”.

Emphasizing the “turbulent” state of Washington’s ties with its longtime Arab ally after U.S. military aid curbs in response to the army’s overthrow in July of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, Fahmy said Egypt would have to develop “multiple choices, multiple options” to chart its way forward - including military relationships.

Fahmy, in a rare interview, also sent this message to the

United States: “If you’re going to have interests in the Middle East, you need to have either good relations with the country that is the focus of the Middle East, or at the very least wellmanaged relations”.

“This is going to be a frank, honest dialogue between friends,” he told Reuters about his meeting with Kerry yesterday.

“We will work in that constructive fashion to develop the relationship but there is no question in our mind that we will fulfil our national security needs as they are required from whatever source we need”.

CHANGE OF NAME UKEKE – I, Formerly MISS EHIZEFUA WINIFRED UKEKE now wish to be addressed and known as MRS EHIZEFUA WINIFRED OBADIARU. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, other concerned authorities and the general public to please take note.

THE NIGERIAN

27

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Personality

An Example To Women Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala:

HONOUR is given to whom honour is due, it is generally believed that the certificate of an Educated African Woman ends up in the kitchen in her husbands house, but most women of numerous achievement and outstanding prestige have proven that saying wrong.

One of these prestigious women who has taken the economy of Nigeria to a higher level and has also stood as a great role model for every youth especially the girl child is Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala the Finance Minister of Nigeria.

Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala was born into the family of Professor Chukuka Okonjo the Obi (King) from the Umu Obi Obahai Royal family of Ogwashi-Uku Delta State on the 13th of June 1954.

Dr. Ngozi spent the early years of her life living with her grand parents while her parents studied abroad. Upon the return of her parents she moved with them to Ibadan, South West of Nigeria where they worked with the then University College of Ibadan now University of Ibadan. She later attended the girls school in Enugu and had a long break due to the civil war in Nigeria. She later

By MERCY IYAHEN

completed her Secondary School Education at St. Annes College in Ibadan.

Though the civil war disrupted her Education, it did not slow her down.

She passed her A levels with good grades and got admitted into Harvard University to study Economics.

Leaving the shores of the country Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala performed excellently well with good grades.

She has a PHD from MIT the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala is happily married to Dr. Ikemba Iweala, MD. MBBS, BS from Abia State an Emergency Physician, family practitioner and internist and they are both blessed with four children.

Onyinye, Uzodinma, Ikechukwu and Uchechi who are all graduates of Harvard University like their mother.

Undoubtly, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a globally renowned Nigerian Economist best known for her two terms as a Finance Minister of Nigeria (her current position) and for her work at the World Bank.

Including several years as one of it’s managing Directors from October 2007 to July 2011. She briefly held the position

of Foreign Minister of Nigeria in 2006.

In 2007, OkonjoIweala was considered as a possible replacement for former World Bank President Paul W o l f o w i t z e subsequently in 2012, she became one of the

to the US nominee, Jim Yong Kim. This outcome had been widely anticipated.

Prior to her ministerial career in Nigeria, Okonjo-Iweala was Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group.

She left it in 2003 after she was appointed to

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister

three candidates in the race to replace World Bank President Robert Zoellick at the end of his term in office in June 2012.

Unfortunately, on April 16, 2012 it was announced that she had been unsuccessful in her bid for the World Bank Presidency, having lost

President Obasanjo’s cabinet as Finance Minister on 15, July 2003.

This great achiever in October 2005 led Nigeria and struck a deal with the Paris Club, a group of bilateral creditors, to pay a portion of Nigeria’s External debt (US $12 billion

“The major inscription of the flyers and pamphlets is that the Finance Minister has insisted on a “take-it-or leave-it approach” in the negotiation with ASUU and contrary to some recent medial reports the Federal Government has not adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach in negotiating with ASUU.”

(dollars) ) in return for an 18 billion dollar debt write-off, prior to the partial debt payment and write-off Nigeria spent roughly 1 billion US dollars every year on debt servicing without making a dent in the principal owed.

Ngozi OkonjoIweala also introduced the practice of publishing each state’s monthly financial allocation from the federal government in the Newspaper. This actions went a long way in increasing transparency in governance.

She was also instrumental in helping Nigeria obtain it’s first ever sovereign credit rating (of BB minus) from fitch and standard poor ’s; Nigeria is considered to have defaulted on it’s sovereign debt in 1983.

Okonjo-Iweala resigned as Nigeria’s foreign minister which she held between 2003 – 2006 following her sudden removal as head of Nigeria’s Economic Team by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. She left that administration at the end of August 2006.

On October 4, 2007, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, appointed her to the post of Managing Director, which took effect on December 1st 2007.

Ngozi OkonjoIweala was reappointed as minister of finance with the expand portfolio of the coordinating minister for the Economy by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

She took a lot of pressure, more so than any other Government Official due to the unpopular fuel subsidy removal, policy by the Nigerian Government which led to numerous

protests in January 2012.

That action triggered a nationwide riot which had Dr. Iweala in the cross-fire. She got the blame more than any other public servant for the removal of subsidy.

In the issue of ASUU strike Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala has received a lot of pressure as so many pointing fingers are directed at her to the extent that pamphlets and flyers with abusive and inflammatory messages against her are distributed in mosques and other places by ASUU leaders.

This accusation against her came when she reportedly described the ASUU action as “taking academic unionism to a new low and infusing it with unnecessary politics.”

The major inscription of the flyers and pamphlets is that the Finance Minister has insisted on a “take-it-or leave-it approach” in the negotiation with ASUU and contrary to some recent medial reports the Federal Government has not adopted a take-it-orleave-it approach in negotiating with ASUU. However, the government’s approach is focused on positive engagement and achieving sustainable solutions to the challenges facing higher education in the country.

It is very difficult to see a woman who is determined to set things straight. The Nigeria students are now depending on the Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government to end the strike which is more than four months now by having an acceptable negotiations with the ASUU leaders and save the dreams of the leaders of tomorrow.

THE NIGERIAN

28

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

I Signed Man Utd Deal

City Intensity Delights Pellegrini MANCHESTER City boss Manuel Pellegrini hailed his ruthless side for refusing to ease up in their 7-0 demolition of Norwich.

City were back to their rampant best as they ran out convincing winners over the struggling Canaries in a onesided Barclays Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

An own goal from Bradley Johnson set them on their way before David Silva, Matija Nastasic, Alvaro Negredo, Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko all got on the scoresheet.

Pellegrini vowed to play compelling, attacking football in pursuit of trophies when he took charge in the summer and he felt his players fulfilled that obligation.

He said: “It was a really good performance. The team played really well during the 90 minutes, not only the first half.

“Normally when winning 40 at half-time, in the second half a team finish or stop. But the team continued playing exactly the same and that’s very important for me.”

It was City’s biggest topflight victory since 1968 and their most emphatic at any level since hammering Huddersfield 10-1 in the old Second Division in 1987.

On some of the fluid moves involving the likes of Aguero, Silva and Samir Nasri, Pellegrini said: “It is the way we work every day.

“It is so important for me to see the way I want them to play.

“They are very good technical players when they move the ball quick and move into space, it is very difficult for our team not to score so we must continue the same way.”

The goals City scored took the attention off the opposite end of the field, where Pellegrini opted to make a big change.

After a number of errors this season, England goalkeeper Joe Hart was dropped in favour of Costel Pantilimon, and the Romanian did nothing to harm his cause on a quiet afternoon.

Pellegrini said: “My duty is to see, every week, which are the best players to play every game.

We have a lot of games.

“This game, I thought Joe needed a rest. I think it will be useful for him. He has played every match for the last two and a half years here.

“We will work hard behind Joe so he can return to his normal performance level as soon as possible but (against Norwich) I thought the best goalkeeper was Pantilimon, nothing more.”

The result increased the pressure on Norwich boss Chris Hughton with his side remaining in the bottom three.

SVEN-Goran Eriksson has claimed in his new autobiography that he signed a contract to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2002 - and that he clashed with the Scot over Wayne Rooney’s inclusion in his 2006 World Cup squad.

Ferguson led United for 26 years before retiring this summer and being replaced

by David Moyes.

He previously announced his intention to stand down in 2002 and although Ferguson later reversed that decision, Eriksson claims he was approached to replace the Scot and accepted a deal.

In an extract from the book reproduced in the Mail on Sunday, Eriksson wrote: “I knew it would be tricky. I had a contract with England until

• Sven Goran Eriksson

Moyes Confident Of Climbing Table

MOMENTUM is building at Manchester United and manager David Moyes is confident the reigning champions will soon be challenging for the title.

Life after Sir Alex Ferguson was always going to be difficult, but few could have predicted United being eight points off the pace after nine matches.

They remain eighth in the Premier League after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat of Fulham, although Moyes’ side are slowly quietening the naysayers.

The victory at Craven Cottage was their fourth in succession in all competitions and the first time United have secured backto-back league wins under the former Everton manager.

“We knew we would have to pick up points as we went along and I was always confident that would happen,” Moyes said.

“It was a good victory, an important victory for us. It gets you three points and hopefully we will try and continue doing that and keep the momentum building.

“Our job is to climb the league table. We want to get the nearer the top and I have got no doubt that by the end of the season we will.

“Where we are right now I don’t think is really that important, except that you don’t want to let the teams get too far away from you and we’ve got to try and make sure they don’t.

“We’re going to have keep building on today’s performance and the performances of the last week or so.”

United’s win came courtesy of three goals in 13 first-half minutes, with dodgy defending

and clinical finishing allowing Antonio Valencia, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney to net.

Fulham pulled one back when Alex Kacaniklic’s shot deflected in off Rooney, with the hosts impressing in a second half in which United started with the enforced substitutions of Tom Cleverley, Jonny Evans and Rafael.

“Tom Cleverley had double vision, Jonny Evans’ back stiffened up and Rafa went over on his ankle on the touchline,” Moyes said of the triple change.

“It forced me into three changes at half-time, which disrupted the momentum of the team a little bit and the fluency of the team. I was pleased with the lads that came on.”

Moyes is hopeful the trio will be available for Tuesday’s Champions League clash

against Real Socieded, although concedes Rafael is the biggest doubt.

The injuries were the only negatives in a fine afternoon for United, whose strikers Van Persie and Rooney impressed once again.

“I thought there was great combination play between them,” Moyes said. “I think they both made the goal for each other.

“There was good link-up play, so I am just starting to see really good signs from the two of them.

• David Moyes

- Eriksson

the 2006 World Cup and I would be severely criticised if I broke that contract.

“But this was an opportunity to manage Manchester United. A contract was signed - I was United’s new manager.”

The 2006 tournament itself gave rise to further issues as Eriksson selected Rooney, who had been battling a broken metatarsal in the weeks leading up to the squad announcement.

Ferguson, Eriksson claims, had said Rooney would not be available, giving rise to a difference of opinions between medical staff with club and country - with England doctor Leif Sward ultimately winning out.

Eriksson wrote: “Leif and I met Ferguson and United’s doctor at the United training ground. ‘He cannot play in the World Cup’, Ferguson said flatly. The doctor brought out some X-rays that he said showed Rooney’s broken bone would not heal in time.

“When the doctor finished, Leif looked him in the eye.

‘Why do you sit here and lie to me?’ Leif asked.

“He was one of Europe’s foremost specialists on this kind of injury. I just wish I could have filmed Ferguson’s face when Leif explained that Wayne’s break would heal in time for the World Cup. “When Leif had finished, I turned to Ferguson. ‘Sorry, Alex,’ I said. ‘I will pick Rooney’.”

Rooney went to the tournament but did not score a single goal and was sent off for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho in England’s quarter-final against Portugal, which they lost on penalties.

Arsenal Sink Liverpool To Stake Title Claim “It was very important to get

ARSENE Wenger is convinced his Arsenal side now possesses sufficient consistency to challenge for trophies at home and abroad.

Much has been made of the fact that the Gunners have not won anything since 2005 but, following Saturday’s 2-0 home victory over Liverpool, they are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Their credentials are set for a thorough and instant testing however as on Wednesday they travel to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, having

previously lost 2-1 at home to the Germans, and on Sunday they are back in Premier League action at reigning title-holders Manchester United.

“It was important to convince people we can win these big games,” Wenger said of the Liverpool success.

“And that we did it in a convincing way is even more important. I believe nobody would dispute that we deserved to win this game.

“We have have plenty of other big games coming up and this will help us to deal with them.

It’s down to consistency and we have been consistent since the first of January 2013. Ten games and 25 points is a respectable number. The players know each other better and have improved individually and collectively.”

Santi Cazorla gave Arsenal a first-half lead before Aaron Ramsey made it 2-0 just before the hour mark with his 10th goal of a very impressive season and the Wales midfielder made it clear he was ready to maintain individual and collective high standards, starting at Dortmund on Wednesday.

off to a good start and we have a nice gap now,” he said.

“Hopefully we can maintain that over Christmas as we know our run-in form has been second to none over the last few seasons. If we get ourselves into a strong position in January we will have a very successful season.

“We go to Dortmund now and we were very disappointed with how we lost to them. It was a very sloppy goal when we were in control but we got a good result in Germany last season against Bayern Munich.

THE NIGERIAN

29

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Pep Guardiola Grateful For ‘Lucky’ Win

Real Madrid’s striker Gareth Bale (C) clashes with Rayo Vallecano’s midfielders Roberto Trashorras (R) and Adrian Embarba during a Spanish league football match at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid on Saturday.

BAYERN Munich coach Pep Guardiola admitted his side had been lucky to come away from Hoffenheim with a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Bayern equalled a Bundesliga record of 36 games unbeaten, dating back to a 2-1 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last October, with a hard-fought win at the Rhein-Neckar Arena, but the Spanish coach said it was not a particularly strong performance.

Niklas Sule became Hoffenheim’s youngest-ever goalscorer when he opened the scoring in the first half, but Franck Ribery brought Bayern level six minutes before the break with a free-kick which took a deflection off teammate Mario Mandzukic on its way in.

Thomas Mueller then snatched victory for Bayern with 15 minutes to go as the Champions League holders returned to the top of the Bundesliga.

“It certainly wasn’t our best performance, but we’ve won

at least,” he told his club’s official website. “Not everything worked perfectly so we’re going to have to change the way we play.

“Games against Hoffenheim have always been tight in recent years, but we had that bit of luck.”

Guardiola’s counterpart Markus Gisdol admitted his side needed that luck if they were to get anything from a game he was nevertheless satisfied with.

“We were on a par with Bayern, but if you want to cause them more problems, then everything has got to be perfect,” he said.

“You can’t afford to concede a goal from such a deflection, for example. I’ve got mixed feelings. On the one hand, I’m happy because we had Bayern on the ropes, but on the other hand, we’re left empty-handed.”

Ronaldo Double Sinks Rayo

GARETH Bale provided two assists for the second consecutive game as a double from Cristiano Ronaldo and a Karim Benzema header saw Real Madrid squeeze past Rayo Vallecano 3-2 on Saturday. game. Today the same thing hapRonaldo had scored a hat-trick pened and that is not a coinciin the 7-3 mauling of Sevilla on dence,” he said.

Wednesday and the Portuguese “We need to change and retook just three minutes to open move the superficiality we have the scoring with a cool finish afon the pitch, the second-half was ter racing onto Luka Modric’s a disaster. You cannot let a team pass. back into the game like that when Rayo then had a strong penyou have the quality of Real alty appeal waved away and a Madrid.” goal disallowed, but Madrid Bale was starting a second condoubled their advantage just afsecutive game for the first time ter the half hour mark as Bale’s in his Madrid career and Real right-footed cross picked out started where they left off in Benzema to nod home his sevmidweek as Ronaldo took advanenth goal of the season. tage of Rayo’s dangerous high line Ronaldo added a third just afto skip past Alejandro Galvez ter the interval from Bale’s low and slot calmly past the keeper cross, but two Jonathan Viera for his 19th goal of the season.. penalties in as many minutes Rayo were very unfortunate gave Rayo hope. not to be awarded a penalty moThe hosts then piled on the ments later when Dani Carvajal pressure for the final half hour appeared to clip Nacho inside and Alberto Bueno struck the the area. post as they came agonisingly The hosts did have the ball in close to an incredible comeback. the net on the half hour mark And despite holding on for the when Iago Falque turned Lass win, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti Bangoura’s cross towards goal, was furious with his side’s lack but the ball struck Viera on its of control after half-time. way into the net and was rightly “Against Sevilla we were 3-0 ruled out for offside. up and let them back into the Within two minutes of that let

off Madrid had made it 2-0 when Bale raced clear on the right and his measured cross was headed home at the far post by Benzema.

Real could have extended their lead before half-time as they continued to pick off Rayo on the counter-attack and Ronaldo lashed an ambitious volley over before flicking a header wide of the far post.

Ronaldo looked to have wrapped up the points when he prodded into an open goal from Bale’s inviting cut-back four minutes after the break.

However, Rayo were back in the game when Viera converted his first spot-kick after he had been brought down by Pepe.

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has demanded improvements after what he labelled an “embarrassing” last half hour in a stunning 2-0 home defeat to Fiorentina on Saturday.

Milan face Champions League Barcelona on Wednesday, two weeks after a 1-1 draw at the San Siro gave the Italians a share of the points and a two-point lead on Group H qualification rivals Celtic.

But on the domestic front, the

league title with Milan in his first season in charge before seeing a host of established stars depart the club, has ordered his squad to retreat to the club’s Milanello training base in the lead-up to Wednesday’s clash.

“We have to do better and find a solution to this situation,” Allegri said.

“The last half hour was embarrassing. It was the worst in my three and a half years at the club.”

LYON have returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Guingamp on Saturday at Gerland, in week 12 of the Ligue 1.Rémi Garde’s men put an end to a series of five straight games without a single win with two unanswered first half goals by Alexandre Lacazette and

way.

Bueno then thrashed a shot against the post and pulled another effort inches wide as Rayo forced Madrid onto the back foot for the majority of the second period.

Pep Guardiola

Fiorentina Heap More Misery over Juventus. hen, roars for a penalty erupted On Milan throughout the stadium when

FIORENTINA extended Milan’s dismal Serie A run with a 2-0 away win at the San Siro on Saturday evening.

Juan Vargas opened the scoring in the first-half before an error by the Brazilian Gabriel gifted the Viola with their second goal

Lyon Return To Winning Ways

‘Embarrassing’ Milan Must Do Better, Says Allegri Rossoneri are in crisis mode.

Milan had no reply to Juan Vargas’s deflected free kick in the 27th minute and when Borja Valero struck for Fiorentina in the 73rd minute the writing was on the wall.

Milan’s fifth reverse in 11 games has left them in 10th, 18 points behind Roma ahead of the league leaders’ trip to Torino later Sunday.

Allegri, who won the 2011

Joaquin Larrivey then struck the bar with a diving header, but as the ball ricocheted around the area from the rebound Bueno was brought down by Marcelo for a second penalty.

Viera stepped up again and his strike had just enough power to beat Lopez despite going the right

Bafétimbi Gomis in the space of two minutes.

Lacazette took advantage of a poor clearance by Jérémy Sorbon following a good strike from Gueïda Fofana parried away by Guingamp’s keeper Guy Roland Ndy Assembé.And a minute later, it was Bafé Gomis who made the best of a ball lost by Mustapha Yatabaré in the midfield to lob the Cameroonian keeper.

While the visitors had a few opportunities to narrow the gap with Yatabaré and Sankharé, Olympique Lyonnais remained in charge for most of the game and could have increased their lead through Lacazette again and Fofana.

A few shadows were however cast over the locals’ celebrations as keeper Anthony Lopes seriously injured his back on the half an hour mark while skipper Maxime Gonalons also had to leave the field early in the second half after a very rough challenge

by Elhadji Diallo.

in the second half.

Massimo Ambrosini made his return to the San Siro for the first time since leaving the Milanello outfit in the summer after 14 years spent at the club.

He was welcomed by the home fans with a warm applause as both Fiorentina and Milan looked to get over their midweek upsets of a loss and a draw respectively.

Milan got off to a positive start with some fluid play and early pressing, and it was Sulley Muntari who tried his luck from range with an effort which flew wide.

The first real chance of the match arrived in the 13th minute when Ryder Matos made a great run along the byline.

The youngster supplied a dangerous cross into the box only for Gabriel to make a sterling save.

Ten minutes later, Borja Valero threatened with a well worked set-piece into the box but he was denied by an excellent Cristian Zapata clearance.

Fiorentina then took the lead against the run of play when Juan Vargas’ shot off a set-piece took a deflection off the Milan wall to beat Gabriel at his far post in the 27th minute.

Ambrosini’s outing, however, lasted just 34 minutes as he was substituted after suffering a relapse in injury which kept him sidelined since Fiorentina’s win

Mario Balotelli went to ground inside stoppage time of the firsthalf, but it was his second blatant dive inside the box in a matter of minutes.

The striker was lucky to survive not being a subbed at the restart for his antics even after seeing Alessandro Matri having been stripped down and ready to come on.

More frustration followed for Balotelli when he was booked on the hour for an unnecessary shove on Neto, leaving him suspended for the Rossoneri’s match away to Chievo.

And the Fiorentina goalkeeper did well to punch away Muntari’s cross off the byline but the Ghanaian was shortly taken off and replaced by Riccardo Saponara as Milan fought to salvage some form a positive result.

It wasn’t to be as Gabriel was at fault for Fiorentina’s second goal when he got a hand onto Joaquin’s cross which fell kindly to Borja Valero.

It was easy pickings for the midfielder who tapped it in from close range with a quarter of an hour to go.

For Milan, they will head back to the drawing board ahead of their big midweek match against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

No Fear Of Sack For Under-Fire Jol

FULHAM have suffered three defeats in the space of a week, but Martin Jol does not fear being sacked.

It has been a difficult start to the campaign for the west Londoners, whose manager’s position is coming under increasing scrutiny.

Jol is amongst the favourites with bookmakers to become the next Barclays Premier League manager to leave their job, while Fulham fans are quickly losing patience.

“Jol out” was chanted on several occasions during Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Manchester United, which came on the back of losses at Southampton and second-tier Leicester.

“I have no fear,” Jol said defiantly. “In the past they used to say ‘have no fear, Martin is here’.

“I don’t fear. Sometimes I worry if the supporters are at my back, but on the other hand it is better that they are on my back than the players’ back.

“I felt better when I saw the reaction of the players in the second half.”

Jol’s confidence is admirable considering the increasing levels of vitriol he is facing, as well as the constant questions about his future.

“I get asked about pressure every week and any manager in the league will get this question,” the Dutchman said.

“If you are in the bottom half of the table you have to win games.

“It is not as bad as people think, but the only thing is you want to turn it around like Newcastle United did [against Chelsea on Saturday].”

Asked where his unerring belief comes from, Jol said:

Kevin-Prince Boateng

“Because I know there are always six or seven clubs in trouble.

“I said to somebody on Friday, if you looked at Roberto Martinez [at Wigan] he was always in the bottom three of the table and after games he was always fantastic.

“That is where I get my belief from, because I know we are a better team than at least six or seven other teams.

“We will pick up points and I think we will be fine in the end, but to play against Man U doesn’t help.”

Lukman Haruna

We Let Ourselves Down

DEFENDER Russell Martin believes Norwich must now show what they are “really made of” after letting themselves and their manager down at Manchester City.

The Canaries were humiliated 7-0 by rampant City at the Etihad Stadium, a result

Boateng Could Be Denied World Cup

KEVIN-Prince Boateng could miss out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals if he fails to play in this month’s playoff return leg against Egypt in Cairo, according to a Ghana FA official.

There is growing suspicion that the former Germany youth international is choosing and picking international matches after missing the last two matches.

Boateng, who rescinded his decision to quit international football in August, reported to camp for the final Group D qualifier against Zambia at home but sat out due to injury.

Last month he suffered an ankle problem for his Bundesliga side Schalke and was unavailable for the 6-1 drubbing of Egypt in Kumasi in the playoff first leg.

Haruna Disappointed

By Eagles Snub

Black Stars management committee member Yaw Boateng Gyan, who played key role in persuading the former AC Milan star to return to the Black Stars, has suggested time could be running out for the talented midfielder.

“There is no such player only cut for qualification and others only for tournaments,” Boateng Gyan, relative of Kevin, is reported to have told Kumasi-based Metro FM. “It is a collective effort and therefore if he [Boateng] keeps turning down invites to play with the other players during the qualification series including this last match then I think that will be it.

“We have done our best and yes, he is my relative but the truth of the matter is that if he keeps up with this attitude of not turning up for games then he better count himself out of the World Cup.” It will be recalled that Boateng gained global recognition after playing for Ghana at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa after a nationality switch.

Ghana will face Egypt on 19 November in Cairo and must prevent a five-nil defeat to qualify to the World Cup finals for the third straight time.

“The whole team just weren’t good enough from start to finish.

“We had a little bit of misfortune with the first two goals but after that we totally capitulated and that’s not like us.”

QPR boss Harry Redknapp fears popular midfielder Alejandro Faurlin faces another long spell on the sidelines after being carried off on a stretcher during the 2-1 win against Derby.

Jermaine Jenas’ early tap-in was cancelled out by Simon Dawkins’ equaliser but Rangers sealed a 2-1 win in the 63rd minute when the ball ended up in the back of the net as Clint Hill, Jenas and visiting defender Jake Buxton challenged for Faurlin’s right-wing free-kick at the far post.

However, the home side’s afternoon ended on a sour note after fans’ favourite Faurlin, who suffered cruciate damage the season before last, was carried off with 15 minutes remaining.

Redknapp now plans to enter the loan market after losing another key player.

He said: “It was a good game,

it’s just a shame about Ale. He’s done his knee and it doesn’t look very good.

“I wouldn’t want to make a judgement but it looks like a bad injury. He’ll go and have a scan.

“The kid’s got back into the team and played well and now that’s happened to him.

“I don’t know how he did it to be honest, but it’s such a shame for the lad. He gives us a good balance in midfield.”

“I’ve been pleased with our performances. It’s a tight division but we’ll be up there at the end of the season.

“We have picked up a few injuries though and might try to get a loan or two in if we can.

“Niko Kranjcar pulled his hamstring, Tom Carroll recently picked up an injury and Gary O’Neil too, so we are getting injuries.”

QPR went ahead on 11 min-

Martin

that left them in the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League and increased the pressure on boss Chris Hughton.

The Norfolk side have collected just eight points from their first 10 league games and Hughton, along with Fulham’s Martin Jol, is favourite to be the next top-flight manager out of work.

Martin said: “It hurts simple as that. It’s humiliating.

“We’ve let ourselves down and we’ve let the manager down.

“There is going to be a lot of soul-searching and conversation about this game, analysing it and going through it.

“We will see what we are made of now for next week.

“We have got the characters in the dressing room. It is a good dressing room, a confident dressing room. We believe we are good enough to be in this league.

“Next week we will see what we are really made of.”

Norwich host West Ham in their next fixture and will need to start better than they did at Eastlands.

Samir Nasri had already hit the post when Sergio Aguero’s 16th-minute shot was blocked by Michael Turner and then looped in for the opening goal off Bradley Johnson.

David Silva, Matija Nastasic and Alvaro Negredo all got on to the scoresheet before halftime in what proved a horror show for visiting goalkeeper John Ruddy.

With Joe Hart dropped by the hosts, Ruddy might have hoped to press his England claims but it proved an afternoon to forget.

Even so, he still produced three good saves in the second half to avoid even greater damage and could do little about Yaya Toure’s sublime

-

free-kick for City’s fifth.

Aguero volleyed in the sixth from a poor Sebastien Bassong clearance and Edin Dzeko rounded off the scoring.

Scotland international Martin, 27, said: “I just don’t know where that performance has come from, because even though we haven’t been picking up results lately we’ve been playing okay in bits and bobs.

LUKMAN Haruna has told MTNFootball.com he was disappointed not to be picked by Nigeria for a World Cup playoff against Ethiopia.

Dynamo Kiev midfielder Haruna has been on superlative form for his Ukrainian club and had hoped he would be recalled for a November 16 World Cup playoff return leg clash against Ethiopia in Calabar.

Coach Stephen Keshi had even hinted on a possible recall for Haruna, Hull City winger Sone Aluko and Gabriel Rueben, but only Reuben made the list released on Sunday.

The former U17, U20 and Olympic team star told MTNFootball.com: “I am sad but I am still positive that I will get my chance.

“I was very happy when I heard the coach said he would consider me for the Italy game but now that I am not listed, it only means I should work extra hard and that is exactly what am going to do. I will continue to work hard and keep my form “It’s been three years since I played for the Eagles and every day I put in my best in my club and my form and performance this season has been evidence of my hard work but I need to do more.”

Haruna netted four goals for Dynamo Kiev this season.

Faurlin’s Injury Worries Redknapp

Alejandro Faurlin

utes when Jenas tapped into an empty net after Charlie Austin’s close-range effort had been parried by keeper Lee Grant.

Dawkins volleyed home after Jamie Ward’s free-kick had been headed down by Buxton, but lead was restored when Hill, Jenas and Buxton tangled and the ball went in after Faurlin’s free-kick.

It meant an unhappy return to Loftus Road for Steve McClaren, who recently left a coaching role at Rangers to take over as Derby manager.

“My team can be proud of their performance,” McClaren said after the Rams’ first defeat since his appointment.

“I know from working here with QPR’s players that they’re the best team in the league and will have no problems going up with the squad they’ve got.

“We stopped them playing and did everything well without the ball in the first half, but we could have been better with the ball.

“We caused them problems in the second half, swamped them and five minutes into extra time were still going strong and were unlucky not to get something.

“We’ve got a lot of things to work on but if we keep doing what we did today, with the same endeavour, we’ll win more games than we lose.

“The results will take care of themselves if we work hard and play football. I couldn’t wish for a better group to work with.

“This is all about the long term.

It didn’t work out for us today but most of the time it will.”

THE NIGERIAN

31

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Ebonyi Fans Hail Eaglets FOOTBALL fans in Ebonyi yesterday hailed the Golden Eaglets for defeating Uruguay on Saturday at the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In separate interviews with newsmen the fans described the victory as revenge for previous losses by Nigeria to the South Americans.

The Eaglets beat Uruguay 2-0 on Saturday, through a Taiwo Awoniyi brace in a quarter-final match played at Sharjah, to qualify for Tuesday’s semi-finals.

However, it will be recalled that Uruguay’s senior national team had defeated their Nigerian counterparts, the Super Eagles, 2-1 in the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil in June.

The Flying Eagles, Nigeria’s under-20 men football team, also lost 1-2 to Uruguay’s under-20 men team at the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey.

The Ebonyi fans however said that the Eaglets had shown that Nigerian football had come of age and urged the team not to rest on its oars in its remaining matches.

Ikeuwa Omebe, a former chairman of Ezza North Local Government in Ebonyi, said the team’s performance against the South Americans was superlative and they were poised to win the competition.

“This is a national team which recorded the longest period of preparation in recent times, and the coaches selected players who diligently imbibed their technical teachings.

“The team’s win over Uruguay showed its tactical depth, which is concretised by its scoring 20 goals and conceding five so far in the competition,” he said.

George Anizoba, coach of Mgbo Ambassadors Football Club of Ohaukwu, the 2013 Ebonyi Federation Cup champions, said the Eaglets had proven that they are a well-groomed side.

“Their quality is shown in the fact that the team reached this stage of the competition from a group that has produced two other semi-finalists — Sweden and Mexico,’’ he said.

The coach however urged the team not to be complacent against Sweden in the semi-finals.

“They should not forget that the Swedish team gave them their toughest test at the group stage when both sides drew 3-3,’’ Anizoba said.

He suggested that the Eaglets’ coaches should review the tape of their previous match with Sweden so as to be able to effectively work on the team’s areas of weaknesses.

On his part, Mr Rufus Ebenyi, an Ebonyi Ministry of Youths and Sports’ official, called on the coaches to work seriously on the team’s defence.

“The team appears vulnerable at the rear,’’ he said.

Omeruo, Gabriel Return SUPER Eagles’ chief coach To Stephen Keshi has listed Kenneth Omeruo, Reuben on Nov. 11.

Eagles Gabriel and 23 others for the It added that the 25 players team’s preparations for the November 16 return leg clash with Ethiopia.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Assistant Director (Media) of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Ademola Olajire, released yesterday.

The match is the reverse fixture in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Playoff, with the Eagles holding a first leg 2-1 advantage.

The Eagles will host the Walyas of Ethiopia at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, after winning 2-1 on Oct. 13 in Addis Ababa.

The statement said Omeruo, a Chelsea FC defender, and Gabriel of Scottish clubside Kilmarnock FC will report to camp alongside others at the Metropolitan Transcorp Hotel in Calabar

Kenneth Omeruo

FIFA 2013 U-17 World Cup

Eaglets Vow Sweden Will Fall Now GOLDEN Eaglets coach Manu Garba has said he hopes to go past group rivals Sweden in tomorrow’s U17 World Cup semi-final.

The Eaglets had to draw on their rich experience to draw 3-3 with Sweden in a Group F match in Al Ain penultimate week, but Manu said it would be a different ball game when the two teams meet again in the semi-final at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai.

With a total of 20 goals in five matches, the Eaglets remain the best attacking team at the 2013 U17 World Cup and Manu said his team will

be ready to see off the Swedes.

“I want to congratulate the boys for a job well done against Uruguay and Sweden should be ready for our fire-

works in the semi-final on Tuesday,” he said.

“We have learned so much playing against Sweden the last time, but we shall be ready for them this time around.”

With African champions Cote d’Ivoire bundled out by Argentina 2-1 in an earlier

Jordan Ayew Opens Season’s Goal GHANA striker Jordan Ayew Portuguese Nélson Oliveira Account scored his first French Ligue scored first for the hosts in 1 goal of the season to help Marseille draw 1-1 at Rennes on Saturday.

The 22-year-old found the

back of the net on 16 minutes to help Elie Baup side claw back to earn a point at the Stade de la Route de Lorient.

Emenike Scores Again

EMMANUEL Emenike scored his fourth goal for

Emmanuel Emenike

quarterfinal played at the same Stadium, Manu noted the onus is now on the Golden Eaglets to carry the banner of the continent.

“It is unfortunate that our African brothers Cote d’Ivoire are out of the tournament, but we are going to fly the flag of the continent since so much would be expected of us now,” he said.

Fenerbache as they won 3-2 at Bursaspor on Saturday.

The Nigeria international striker has come off a barren run in front of goal since his arrival in the summer from Russian club Spartak Moscow.

Such form bodes very well for Nigeria ahead of a return leg 2014 World Cup playoff against Ethiopia on November 16 in Calabar after Emenike scored twice in Addis Ababa last month.

The win means Fenerbahce remain on top of the league table with 25 points from 10 games.

The former Spartak Moscow forward was on song in the 83rd minute to give Fenerbahce a 2-1 lead.

Compatriot Taye Taiwo was on from start to finish for Bursaspor.

the 9th minute but the son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele drew Marseille level.

Jordan was making his tenth Ligue 1 appearance and his fifth start of the campaign.

His elder brother Andre was suspended for the match.

Jordan Ayew

will also feature for the team against Italy in a friendly match on Nov. 18 in London.

The list has three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and six strikers.

The team’s stand-in skipper, Vincent Enyeama, was invited alongside goalkeepers Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim, while South Africa-based defender James Okwuosa also kept his place.

Strikers Obinna Nsofor and Uche Nwofor also kept their places in the team.

The full list has goalkeepers Enyeama (Lille FC, France), Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel) and Agbim (Rangers International).

It also has defenders Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Braga, Portugal) Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC), Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland), Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars) and Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey).

The other defenders invited to camp are Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves), James Okwuosa (Chippa United, South Africa) and Omeruo.

The midfielders include Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England), Victor Moses (Liverpool FC, England), John Ogu (Academica de Coimbra, Portugal) and Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy).

The rest midfielders are Nnamdi Oduamadi (Brescia Calcio 1911, Italy), Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain), Sunday Mba (Rangers) and Gabriel.

The strikers include Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Brown Ideye (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England) and Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey).

The other strikers are Obinna Nsofor (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Uche Nwofor (SC Heerenveen, The Netherlands).

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

“THE point must be made here that the idea of a National Conference was never the idea of President Obasnajo as he had bitterly resented it in the past in speeches and actions. In fact he swore never to entertain any dialogue on the future of the country. His complete change of mind surprised many Nigeria” – Quoted in WHERE WE ARE (Page 114) When did it become an offence to air your views in a democratic setting in Nigeria? Oh sorry, we are truly not in a democracy but civil rule! Even whether what we have in civil rule or whatever, is it an offence to bare your mind on any issue, especially issue that has to do with the political destiny of our country?

I am taking off on this note today because the drama that took place in Imaguero Hall on Monday 28th 2013, when members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue came calling in Benin was avoidable. It was avoidable because some persons just wanted to show case their complete hatred or impatience with others on the issue of freedom of speech.

From the way I was brought up in the civil society movement in Nigeria, one is allowed to normally make his or her points, and at the end of the day superior argument carry the day. What I watched on television on Monday night is shocking to me; that because of perceived grievance or political intolerance on the part of some Nigerians, an event that would have brought out the best in terms of preservations from our people tragically ended in disarray.

tem which became the bone of contention during the brief rule of General Ironsi that eventually led to his assassination in July 1966 by officers of Northern extraction has been reintroduced sadly into our

tary system.

Before the useless civil war, we used to have 50% derivation formular for products coming from all the regions like groundnuts, cocoa etc. But, after

country today. This has shown that the civil war was a gigantic wasteful exercise in blood.

This has shown that ordinary precious lives of people were terminated for nothing, while the General at both ends of the divide (Nigeria and Biafra) pro-

the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta everything was turned up side down by the hopeless rulers that have held us to ransome.

Now, coming to the recent National dialogue which President Goodluck Jonathan is

Between Oshiomhole And Nyiam

It is a shame that we are always running away from reality in this country. If Nigerian rulers were sincere with the position of Chukwuemeka Ojukwu in 1966, the useless, hopeless slaughters we called the Nigerian civil war would have

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State

Col. Tony Nyiam

been avoided.

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was never part of the bloody business carried out by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu on January 15 1966; he saw a massive injustice done to the person of General Aguiyi – Ironsi, he saw the humiliation and mass killings of the Ibos in the North; he protested and demanded justice. But at the end of the day, he was ignored and the road to the abyss of war became inevitable.

Now, the unitary sys-

he later changed his mind. The National Conference which he later organized was indeed conceive to elongate his tenure in office. It was a wicked conspiracy stage managed by Obasanjo.

The excessive political masturbation of the

filed heavily.

Today, what we have is not a federal system.

What we have is a system that is over centralized, even more superior than the unitary system which sent General Aguiyi-ironsi to his early grave. Who committed this grave injustice on the country? Of course the military. The military which threw the likes of General Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo, Gowon, Abdulsalami etc scattered what we had as a federal system and replaced it with a uni-

using presently to buy time, space and credibility for his hidden agenda of running for the presidency in 2015. I refused to be a fool, as a veteran human rights and prodemocracy activist, and as a prolific uniter and researcher, I know that President Goodluck Jonathan will walk in the path which General Olusegun Obasanjo had walked in the past.

General Olusegun Obasanjo swore never to entertain any National Dialogue on the future of Nigeria. But,

seeking; they will never let go such issues as fiscal federalism, 50% derivation formular for states or Resource Control for Niger-Delta States, State Police, regional autonomy, efficient education, lack of food etc.

Between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Col. Tony Nyiam of the presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, one is absolutely sincere while the other is hypocritical.

Comrade Oshiomhole knows the body language of President Jonathan; he knows we are being deceived. But Col Nyiam knows the truth, he has a job on his hand, he must prove to his boss that he is working.

My only worry in all of this is that Obasanjo budgeted N1 billion for his confab and wasted it. Only God knows how much President Jonathan’s confab will consume? I stand with C o m r a d e Oshiomhole, the Federal Government should address the army of youth unemployment in our land.

This is a time bomb that may wipe away our political hypocrites sooner than later. The way things are today, it is only revolutionary democrats that will convoke a sovereign

period was rendered useless, because of a personal ambition of one man-Olusegun Obasanjo.

Even President Goodluck Jonathan has had opportunities many times in this dispensation to vehemently kicked against any kind of conference on the future of Nigeria.

Now, why did he suddenly changed his mind? There is more to it than the ordinary eyes. The cabal that Nati holds our country to ransome is insincere, hypocritical and self

Haruna Disappointed

By Eagles Snub

No Fear

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