The Nigerian
THE NIGERIAN
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PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 NATURAL MEDICINE Page 19
• Vol . 37 NO. 247 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 20 13 . N 100.00
Edo Roads Maku - Afegbua By ANDY EGBON
The salt on your table
BENIN CITY – The Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Governor Adams
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Oshiomhole of Edo State, Prince Kassim Afegbua has faulted the minister of
lied
government projects in the State. In a statement in Benin City, Prince Afegbua Information, Mr. Labaran described as “height of Maku’s claim over federal Continues on page 2
2015 Presidencyn NEW HORIZON Page 20
Servantleadership and beyond (1)
Ogbemudia backs Jonathan By LEO ATAKPU/TUNDE EIGBIREMOLEN
BENIN CITY- Elder Statesman and two-time Governor of defunct Mid-Western and Bendel States, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, has performance. If they thrown his weight behind the Jonathan agree that he is president administration, insisting that President Goodluck over a plural society, then Jonathan has, so far performed well and that the South-South geopolitical zone deserves to complete its rotational Presidency beyond 2015. Dr. Ogbemudia who say he has done nothing made his position clear are comparing him with during an exclusive state governors, then interview with a team of they made a mistake. He OBSERVER editors, is president over a plural yesterday, said: “it is society; he is not a state absolutely wrong to say governor. State that Jonathan has not performance cannot be performed. If those who used to assess federal
they must also take into account that in such a situation, every step taken
must be calculated, and it takes time. The federal government has
more than a pocket load of affairs.” While commending the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola
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Nigeria’s poor image blamed for drop in tourism ABUJA - Mr. Tomi Akingbogun, Vice President, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), has ascribed the drop in the influx of tourists to the country to the ineffective management of the county’s image. Akinbogun told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that the attitude of some Nigerians towards foreigners was another reason that hindered tourists from coming into the country. “The attitude of the public towards visitors white and black – foreigners generally, needs to change because we are all part of the investment and
the tourist attraction. “The public have to be part of the driving force attracting tourists to Nigeria. ‘‘ He said that the public needed to be receptive and accommodating to tourists in order to make them feel happy and encouraged them to return to the country in the future. Akingbogun expressed dismay at the attitude of government towards the development of tourism in the country. He listed Dubai, Kenya and South Africa as some of the countries that thrived on tourism and urged the government to not relegate Nigeria’s other natural resources by focusing attention on oil
TIT BIT “People who are growing with God all share one common trait, they attract criticism. Criticism is a complement when you are doing what you know you are supposed to do.” - Hon. Peter Eson
alone. “The government is not giving the right attention to development of tourism. Dubai works on tourism, Kenya, South Africa; see how many billions they are making; why are we allowing Nigeria to just go down. “The economy is strangulated; if there is so much poverty people will not be able to afford
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MEETING:Governor Oshiomhole of Edo State and Madam Osas Momodu, mother of Ibrahim Momodu, a 22-year-old final year student of the University of Benin who was shot dead by the Police in Benin City on May 27, 2013, during a meeting with the Governor at the Government House, yesterday.Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.
Edo to set up panel on student’s killing
BENIN CITY Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has promised to set up a panel of enquiry to unravel the facts behind the killing of Mr. Ibrahim
NGF:
Momodu, a 22-year-old final year student of the University of Benin, shot by the police in Benin City on May 27. The Governor made the disclosure during a
meeting with the family of the deceased and his colleagues at the University of Benin.
“What happened is very unfortunate. Anything that leads to death other than through a judicial pronouncement, as a government we will not tolerate. However the
forum has been conducted. Political observers have suggested that
Police have offered their own explanation to us which is different from the narration by the students and the statement from the family. “The only thing all the sides agree on is that late Momodu was shot and killed. That is not in dispute but what is in dispute is why he was so killed. Whether the Police killed in self defense or if he was killed because
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Balarabe Musa decries consensus candidate
ABUJA The National Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has decried the idea of a consensus candidate
for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Musa made the remark yesterday in a telephone interview with newsmen
in Abuja. According to him, the choice of a consensus candidate does not arise since an election in the
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
News
Nigeria’s poor image blamed for drop in development in the sector. Continued from page 1 within the country, there would Akingbogun called on the tourism be no influx of tourists from to visit destinations; power become competitive as other National Orientation Agency to
problem makes the cost of our destinations high.“ Akingbogun said increase in bills; insecurity and other economic challenges had made visits to tourist sites in the country difficult. He explained that if there was no movement of tourists
outside the country, a situation, which he said, could undermine Nigeria’s ranking as a tourist destination. He emphasised the need to promote the country’s natural resources such as game reserves, parks and other attractive sites. He said attracting tourists had
countries were constantly struggling to improve the quality and quantity of their resources and promoting their goods and services to achieve this. He called on government, youths and the public to make individual and collective efforts in achieving sustainable
boost its efforts towards improving the country’s image to the international community. He said the agency also needed to adopt measures to instill the right attitude and behavior in youths and the public in order to make them positive ide ntifiers of the
country.
Edo to set up panel on student’s killing Continued from page 1 someone
was
trigger-
happy.” According to him, “every story has more than one side, particularly when it is of this nature. What we can do as a government is to try to establish the facts and have an open mind. I have listened to the statement made by the mother of late Momodu and I understand how she feels, myself being a father, everyone of us readily imagine the pain in her heart.” The Governor disclosed that, “whatever we now do will not bring Momodu back, but there are steps we can take to ensure we don’t have another incident such as this and that is about all we are able to do. We will set up an enquiry, I will consult with the Ministry of Justice on the proper nature of the enquiry whether it will be an administrative enquiry or judicial enquiry so that we can establish some basic facts to enable us take the next decision. “I am not able at this point to say the Police statement is not incorrect nor can I dismiss the claim of the family and the student’s community that late Momodu was innocent. There is no empirical basis for me to reach a conclusion either way,” he added. Comrade Oshiomhole said in the light of this condition, in order to ensure there is justice and fairness “we do need to establish the facts as much as it is humanly possible. On the basis of the finding of that enquiry we would decide if someone is liable and the degree of that liability we can then take steps within the law to get justice. “Be assured that we are with you at this hour; we can’t replace a life that is lost, but we can take steps to unmask the facts behind the killing and as a government we will ensure that the law, justice and fairness prevail on the basis of the facts of the case.” He advised the students to be law abiding, saying, “no matter how much you protest, no matter the
nature of violent protest, chances are that more people could be hurt or even killed, but the one already killed cannot come back, but what I think you are entitled to as colleagues and comrade of late Momodu is
to ensure that the truth peace and justice prevails.” Earlier, mother of the slain student, Madam Osas Momodu pleaded with government to set up a panel of enquiry to unravel the mystery behind the
killing of her son, alleging foul play by the police. Representatives of students of the University also alleged that the late Momodu was killed in cold blood as he was not a criminal as the Police were trying to portray him.
Consensus candidate Continued from page 1 Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers and his Plateau
counterpart, Jonah Jang, may be asked to step down as factional chairmen of NGF for a consensus candidate, to reconcile the warring parties. Musa said that whatever happened after the election was secondary, adding that the primary thing was that the election was conducted and all the 35 governors
participated while results were announced. “The important thing is that Nigerian governors had an election and the results of the election were announced, the election was voluntary and conducted in a free, fair and cordial atmosphere. “Every reasonable person should abide by the outcome; for the sake of democracy, they should let the result be.” He said that the leadership
should not have allowed the crisis in the NGF to happen, to make the forum relevant in the political development of the country. “With this development, there will be two governors’ fora, one led by Gov. Jonah Jang, the other by Governor Chibuike Amaechi; this tends to make NGF irrelevant.” He urged PDP stakeholders to allow justice to take its rightful place in the course of finding lasting solution to the crisis.
Ogbemudia backs Jonathan Continued from page 1 (SAN), for their meaningful
developmental strides, the former Governor called for patience on the part of Nigerians and strongly advocated the need for all South Southerners to back president Jonathan for a second term. He said: “The North is of the view that the presidency should revert to them. Not so? Well, those of us from the South are also of the view that our Candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan should continue. As a South –Southerner, I support the idea that the South-South should get it. If that is the case, we have already spent 4 years. So, we have four more years to make it eight years like the South-West. It is the wish of all South-Southerners that Jonathan should complete its 4 years if the 4 years are zoned to South-South. That is my view.” On the federal government’s current measure to deal with the Boko Haram insurgency by declaring a state of emergency in three Northern states of the country, Dr. Ogbemudia asserted that it was the best option for now, and insists that Boko Haram was not peculiar to Nigeria. “It is not only in Nigeria that you have some equivalent of Boko Haram. If you go to Afghanistan, they are there; if you go to Pakistan, they are also
much too, even in America, they are there. They are in Syria. They were in Libya. So, you find them in a country where there is development going on and some people are in a hurry to get things done, especially the educated ones. “They think that the federal government is not moving fast enough and therefore somebody else should come and take over. That person cannot do better, I assure you. Because if he is to do better, that means he will not consider federal character, but merit, and when you talk of merit, only very few people will make it. So, I think that Boko Haram just needs to be here at this time. What the President has done is the best thing available at this present time”. Dr. Ogbemudia also examined the crisis rocking the PDP at the national level and the implosion in the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), where there are now two factional chairmen of PDP extraction, and advised the Governors to cooperate, close their ranks and partner with the federal government for the sake of progress and development in the country. While clarifying his position on the call for sovereign National Conference, Dr. Ogbemudia said he rather prefers a National Conference
instead of the use of the word “Sovereign” which to him does not make any sense in view of the democratic structures in place, from the grassroots to the national. He equally backed the call for creation of more states as it has shown that it fasttracks development but called for caution in the process. Full text of the exclusive interview will be published on Friday.
Senate confirms Okiro, 5 others, rejects Igbuzor the majority.
PSC:
ABUJA- The Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, as Chairman, Police Service Commission. The Senate, however, rejected the nomination of civil rights activist Otive Igbuzor, who was nominated as the representative of the South South zone. The decision was taken through a voice vote in the Committee of the Whole, during the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs. Sen. Paulinus Igwe (PDPEbonyi), the Chairman of the Committee, said they found the nominees qualified and urged the senators to confirm their appointment. The Senate President, Senator David Mark, asked whether Igbuzor should be confirmed three times and those who opposed were in
Sen. Babafemi Ojudu (ACNOndo) tried fruitlessly to save Igbuzor through a point of order. Ojudu had said Igbuzor was one of the most qualified of the nominees, judging by his antecedents both within and outside the country. The senate president, however, noted through Order 53(6) that a decision could only be rescinded if it had not been ruled on. Mark added that if Igbuzor was as qualified as Ojudu said he was, if he was nominated again and brought before the Senate he (Igbuzor) would be considered. Okiro will serve as the commission’s chairman, while Mr. Yakubu Mohammed, Justice Olufunke Adekeye, Hajiya Aisha Tukur, Mrs. Comfort Obi and Torngee Toranyiin, would serve as members.
Disaster Mgt: Minister urges regional cooperation ABUJA - The Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Mailafia, on Tuesday in Abuja urged ECOWAS member countries to integrate disaster risk prevention and mitigation in polices and programmes of their governments. Mailafia made the call at the Seventh Consultation of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa, hosted by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Mailafia said that most of the hazards confronting the sub-region were transborder in nature, urging better cooperation and coordination amongst concerned countries. She said that disasterrelated management actions must at all times, aim at strengthening capabilities and resilience of households and
communities to protect their lives and livelihoods. Mailafia said that disasters had put agriculture and food security at risk with severe consequences on vulnerable and poor agriculturally dependent people in the sub-region. “It is, therefore, imperative to state that countries in the sub-region need to consider preparedness, mitigation and response not only in their own individual capacities but across the border.’’ She said that countries in West Africa and the subSahel region experienced yearly natural disasters such as droughts, floods, transboundary animal diseases, economic crisis and civil conflicts. “These events result into losses of lives, assets and livelihoods, consequently weakening the food and nutrition security of the populations,’’ Mailafia said.
Maku lied
Continued from page 1
crass irresponsibility and rudderless leadership” for the minister to “advertise falsehood and distort facts so unashamedly” in order to please his master. “Rather than apologise to Nigerians over federal government’s failure to fulfill its promises to Nigerians and Edo people in particular,” Prince Afegbua said the minister “is busy embarking on sheer salesmanship with no products to sell’. “Rather than own up to failure and inability, they whisper ‘sweet nothings” as a soothing song to send their master to sleep when the nation is suffering from unimaginable infrastructural decay. The fact that Edo and Lagos States did not accommodate the minister with his entourage for the ‘Good Governance Tour’, Prince Afegbua said, is not enough reason for the minister to lie to Nigerians in such an elegant manner. Unknown to the minister that Benin-Warri dualisation road had long been executed by the
Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo administration, Prince Afegbua noted that, Labaran Maku “ like a broad day thief, is crediting same to the president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration”. “Apart from the re-surfacing of the Ugbowo-Lagos road presently being undertaken by federal government and the newly awarded dualisation of Okene-Benin road, what again can Labaran Maku lay claim to ?”, he quarried. “What a pity? Let him go and visit the abandoned BeninAbraka road and see for himself the dubiety of that project execution and decay”. “Having toured Edo State without any tangible federal government infrastructure, Labaran Maku and Mike Onolemhemen, in a fact of smartness tried to showcase Edo State projects at five junctions as one being undertaken by the federal government”. “The Amedokhian-Ukoni road in Edo Central which was flagged off last year by the works Ministers, Mike
onolemhemen, is still lying prostrate”. According to Afegbua, “I will implore the Information Minister to visit Aduwawa road in Benin City and see for himself the rot on that federal road”. “It would have been continent for him to declare that all the beautiful networks in Benin City and Edo State that he rode through which were constructed and transformed by the Comrade Governor, were all owned by federal government”, he said. The Special Adviser noted that the state government sensed political confusion coming, hence it distanced itself from “such needlessly and wasteful adventure”. He therefore recommended “Labaran Maku to go into the corner of his bedroom and ask God for forgiveness over his rabblerousing presentation in the name of being a government megaphone, presenting apocryphal report card and deceiving a nation that is already living with anger over PDP’s non-performance”.
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Across The Nation Dentists Advise Nigerians On Routine Checkup
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah (4th right) flanked by the Board member 1, Barr Emma Usoh (3rd right), Barr. John Obazee BM 2 (4th left) and the Executive Director ThinkTank Development Initiative (TDI), Daniel Eromosele (aka Pikolo) who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Arts/Culture/Tourism during the TDI’s visit to the Executive Chairman
Politicians, Activists React To Call For Two Party System LAGOS - Mixed reactions has continued to trail the call by former Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, for a return to a twoparty system in Nigeria. Politicians and activists, who spoke to newsmen in Lagos, were divided on the need for the country to operate the system. Reports say that Nwosu said on May 31 in Abuja that the current multi-party system posed a threat to the nation’s unity. He said that a two-party system would foster national integration. The 2011 Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Prof. Pat Utomi, told newsmen that a two-party system was best for Nigeria. “I have always supported the
idea of a two- party system for Nigeria,’’ he said. He suggested the dissolution of the existing parties to pave way for two new ones. Utomi said: “We need two brand new political parties. The present arrangement is not working. “We need just two, with the main objective of rendering service to the people.’’ The Lagos State Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Henry Ajomale, also endorsed a two-party system for the country’s democracy. “During the days of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC), Nigeria had a peaceful polity. “Rivalry among the two parties was not bitter; members of the
two parties accepted defeat in good faith,” he told newsmen. According to him, coordination of two parties poses fewer problems to Nigeria’s electoral bodies than multiple parties. “The present arrangement of multiple parties is cumbersome. It also encourages rigging,” he added. However, the All Progressive Grand Alliance National Chairman, Chief Maxi Okwu, disagreed, saying that a two-party structure would restrict the choices of the members of the electorate. “It is not in tune with liberal democracy. Nigeria may have two major political platforms and other smaller political parties. “It should not be imposed on the people; it should be allowed to evolve naturally and not by
Deputy Director of Social Welfare, Mameh urged government to increase the subvention to at least one million Naira. “The amount will complement donations from publicspirited individuals to the homes,’’ she said. The commissioner commended the proprietor of MOM Orphanage, Mr. Daniel Edeh, for devoting his life to the service of humanity, especially the orphans. Describing him as a selfless man, Mameh said the MOM Orphanage, also in OtutuluDekina and being run by Edeh, had over 300 orphans apart from other persons with special needs.
of disasters in order to save lives. The president said that the association was religiously following the National Oral Health Policy to ensure adequate awareness campaign of routine oral checkup. Reports say that the policy, aimed at promoting oral health, was launched in 2012, two years after its first draft was endorsed by the National Council of Health and the Federal Executive Council. It focuses on priority areas as oral health promotion, training/ human resources development, service delivery, research, monitoring and evaluation, information and communication technology, including oral health information system. Prior to that, the technical working group and the ministerial steering committee on the improvement of oral health in Nigeria were inaugurated by a 10man technical working group which produced the draft policy, reviewed by various stakeholders. The theme of the association’s AGM and Scientific Conference is: “Accident and Natural Disasters in Nigeria: The Role of Dentists’’.
fiat,” he said. Also, the spokesman for the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Mr. Yinka Odumakin, described the call as undemocratic. According to him, the twoparty system created in 1991 by the administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida collapsed because they were not done democratically. ENUGU - The police in who had been identified by some “Britain and America have Enugu has said that it has ar- of his victims for terrorising two major political parties, but rested a notorious armed robbery people in Emene. Meanwhile, the Commissioner other parties still exist for cer- suspect and car snatcher in the tain reasons. “It is not good for state following information it re- of Police, Mr. Abubakar ceived from members of the pubMohammed, has commended our democratic experience to lic. the efforts of his men and memreduce our political parties to Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, the bers of the public for their efforts two,’’ he said. command’s Public Relations Ofat combating crime and criminalThe South-West Secretary of ficer, who announced the arrest ity in the state. the Conference of Nigerian Po- on Tuesday in Enugu, said the Mohammed urged them to put litical Parties (CNPP), Mr. Aus- arrest of other members of the in more efforts to sanitise the tin Nnorom, also said that a two- gang was made possible follow- state, adding that aggressive paparty system was not good for ing the arrest of their king-pin. trols by his officers and men had Amaraizu said the gang leader started to yield positive results. a nation such as Nigeria with was arrested on June 2 followHe called on stakeholders in different ethnic nationalities. “A two-party structure cannot ing public concern over his al- security business to rally round leged criminal activities with his the police and provide timely and work here; we should continue gang in Emene and its environs. useful information about crime with the current multi-party sysThe police also said it had arand criminality in their domains. tem,’’ he said. “The religion acceptable to God rested a self-confessed cultist and our father is the service to orphans and widows and all of us should contribute our quota to the upkeep of the orphans. “Whatever little you can do for these children, do it because it is recognised by God,” she said. Reports say that members of the Kogi Assembly visited two orphanages in Lokoja. It was part of activities to mark the second anniversary of the Fifth Legislature in the state. The speaker, Alhaji Lawal Momoh-Jimoh, during the visit donated money, food items, beverages and toiletries to the MOM Executive Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Chief (Sir) Oseni Orphanage and the Margaret Elamah (middle) flanked by the Etsako Students Union of the University of Benin/UBTH Ohiani Orphanage in the Zango- led by its President, Ifaunuara Benedict (5th left) during the union’s courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman in Benin City Daji area of Lokoja.
Commissioner Solicits Increased Subvention To Orphanages LOKOJA – Mrs. Patience Mameh, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Kogi, has called for increased government funding for the 13 orphanage homes in the state. Mameh made the call during the visit of principal officers of Kogi House of Assembly to the Ministry of Mercy (MOM) Orphanage at Anisha village in Lokoja on Monday. She said there were no fewer than 5,000 orphans in the 13 registered orphanages across the state, adding that their quarterly subvention of N570,000 was grossly inadequate. Represented by Mr. Sunday Ogunkolo, the ministry’s
LAGOS - The Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) has urged Nigerians to always check for the status of their teeth at least twice a year. Dr Olojede Olurotimi, the National President of the association, made the plea at a news conference in Lagos on the association’s annual general meeting and scientific conference slated for June 5 in Port Harcourt. Olurotimi said that some diseases had been linked to oral health, adding that good care of oral cavity was very essential. According to him, dental record of any individual can help in case of an accident, natural disaster and during criminal cases. “A clear example of how important a dental record can be is the identification of the victims of June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash. “Some of the victims who are expatriates had dental records that aided easy detection of their bodies,” he said. Olurotimi said that the role of dentists in disaster management in Nigeria was not properly understood hence, “it is underutilised’’. He said that dentists should not be neglected in the management
Police Arrest Robbery Syndicate
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Across The Nation Treating Children’s Eyes Locally Can Cause Blindness - Doctor
ABUJA- Dr Uwaez Onyebuchi, the Co-ordinator, National Eye Health Programme, says the use of local methods to treat eye problems in children can lead to childhood blindness. Onyebuchi told newsmen on Monday that aside glaucoma, the use of sharp objects by children often
contributed to an early damage of their eyes. He warned parents against the practice of using things like sugar, salt or urine to treat their children’s eyes, adding that they cause other eye complications. The co-ordinator, therefore, advised parents to always
consult eye specialists for testing and treatment whenever their children or wards complained of issues with their eyes. “There are many causes of blindness in children, and glaucoma is one of them.
When a child has glaucoma, the eye becomes bigger than normal because children’s eyes are still elastic. “Tears will be coming out, and they will be avoiding light. Parents should take note of this. When a child
avoids light, they should suspect glaucoma. “There can be other things that can cause blindness in children, like stones. Fights can also cause injuries in the child’s eye. “So, when they notice that their child has sustained injuries in the eyes, they should know that there is an infection and go to the hospital immediately for correction,’’ he said. Onyebuchi said the use of urine, sugar, salt or even breast milk as some people often did, especially in the
rural areas, would make the infections worse. “With urine, some people may have gonorrhoea and if you put gonorrhoea in somebody’s eyes, that can equally condemn the eye. “The best thing to do is go to the Health Centre nearest to you to consult a health practitioner,’’ he said. Onyebuchi identified family history to be a factor that could predispose children to blindness. The co-ordinator advised parents to always take their children for medical eyechecks, adding that failure to go for eye-checks could lead to blindness.
FG To Revive 1,994 Rural Electrification LAGOS- Federal GovernProjects
Chief Eduwu Ekhator Obasogie, the Obasogie of Benin flanked by family members formally announcing the exit of his mother, Princess Deaconess Victoria Oghomwonyi Ekhator Ogiegbaen at the weekend in Benin.
ment was working towards completing the 1,994 abandoned rural electrification projects across the country, an official has said. The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said this at the commissioning of three injection sub-stations in Lagos. “President Goodluck Jonathan is working hard to
Nigeria To Generate 7,000 Megawatts Of Electricity
2014:
- NERC Chairman ABUJA- Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, on Monday in Abuja assured Nigerians of increased electricity generation from 5,000 to 7,000 megawatts by 2014. Amadi who gave the assurance during an interview with newsmen said the increase was to meet the yearnings of Nigerians. “By our projection, we will get up to 10,000 megawatts by first quarter of 2014, but the commission prefers to expect a much lower figure, which is 7,000. “This is because, with what is on ground and the activities which are going on, we would have done well based on the expectations in the market,’’ he said. Amadi also said Nigerians would soon have access to a variety of renewable sources of power, other than hydro-power generation. “We are going to have solar and other forms of renewable power sources, because the country is making investment towards that.
The Obasogie of Benin kingdom, Chief Eduwu Ekhator Obasogie, (2nd from right) and family members of the Ekhator Ogiengbaen of the Benin Royal family displayimg the photograph of Princess Deaconess Victoria Ogiamwonyi Ekhator Ogiegbaen during the formal announcement of her exit at the weekend in Benin
RMAFC To Adopt Terrain the statement added. As Principle This would be from the five
New Revenue Formula: ABUJA- The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) plans to adopt terrain type in states and local government areas (LGAs) as a principle in sharing revenue from the Federation Account. This is contained in a statement signed by the Head, Public Relations, RMAFC, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, and released in Abuja. According to the statement, the Horizontal Revenue Allocation Formula is to be included in the on-going review of the current Revenue Allocation Formula.
It said Mr Elias Mbam, the commission’s Chairman, said this when he addressed the opening of a three-day multi-agency meeting. The statement said the meeting involved the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) and the National Boundary Commission (NBC). It also said the Surveyors-General of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) attended the meeting. “The meeting was convened to
address complaints submitted by some of the states and local governments on the report on terrain types which was prepared by the OSGOF in 2007,’’ the statement said. It said the meeting discussed the implications of the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as it affected the land mass figures of some states and local governments. “Mbam said the forum was also expected to advise the commission on the appropriate weights to be apportioned to each of the three terrain types,’’
per cent allocated to the terrain factor under the Horizontal Revenue Allocation Formula. Mbam also reiterated the Commission’s desire to ensure fair and equitable implementation of all factors under the Horizontal Revenue Allocation Formula. Chief Chris Adighije, RMAFC’s Indices and Disbursements Committee Chairman, said most of the factors hitherto used in allocating revenue to the constituent parts of the federation were socio-economic in nature.
ensure that all abandoned rural electrification projects were completed soonest. “It is on record that the rural electrification agency was moribund before Jonathan came on board. The agency, which is saddled with rural electrification, has been scrapped,’’ he said. The minister said Jonathan had, however, revived the agency and pumped funds for its effectiveness. “You will agree with me that most of the projects were abandoned when they were at 90 per cent completion. Today, huge rural electrification projects have been penciled down for completion.’’ He said there was no way government could bring development and value chain into the rural areas without effective electricity, adding that electricity was the key to farm produce and preservation in the rural. Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Distribution Company, Mr Chris Akamnonu, called for more government support. “This will be more useful, especially in the area of the burnt 150MVA transformer at Ikeja West. ‘‘That is why we are imploring the Minister to assist with more funds to replace the burnt transformer and complete other projects within the zone.” Reports say that the minister had promised to replace the 150MVA transformer with a 300MVA transformer. “This was to accommodate the planned expansion and increase in power supply across the network,’’ he said.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Across The Nation Detention Of Suspects
Pray For Development, Adeboye Urges Nigerians LAGOS - Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has urged Nigerians to create time to pray regularly for the country’s economic development. Adeboye made the appeal in Lagos at a special prayer session organised for the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of organisations at the RCCG National Headquarters in Ebute Meta, Lagos. He also urged the people to obey God’s commandments so as to attract His blessings, stressing that “God rewards those who diligently seek Him. “Many people forget what God has done for them, that is why He does not do new ones; if you want more blessings from God, be grateful for what He has done for you in the past. “For some people, it does not matter what they are selling, they will surely succeed because they made God their friend; those who make sacrifices to God always receive bountiful rewards,’’ he said. Adeboye urged Nigerians to always praise God in spite of the current challenges facing the country, assuring them that “God who performs special miracles will never fail Nigerians. “Organisations are folding up and unemployment is on the increase and this has contributed to the high rate of poverty in our country. “It is God’s desire that we all prosper in wealth and in good health because it is uppermost in His mind that we should be fruitful and multiply. “Therefore, we need His divine assistance to help us to succeed in our businesses, professions and vocations to improve ourselves and the society,’’ he said. Adeboye stressed that prayer was a major way to achieve breakthroughs. Also speaking, Dr Felix Ohiwerei, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Breweries, urged CEOs to have the fear of God, assuring them that God would guard them wisely. “The word of God says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, if people conduct their businesses with the fear of God, they will be divinely guided and things will work well. “lf they conduct their businesses the way that God wants it, He will continue to bless them; the road to success is fear God, obey Him, do His will and blessings will pour down,” he said. Commenting, Mr. Joseph Adenuga, the Chairman of Shebah Oil Ltd, stressed that the spiritual always controlled the physical, urging Nigerians to always pray for the country’s development. Reports say that the dignitaries who attended the special prayer session include Chief Michael Adeojo, the Chairman of Elizade Motors and Mrs. Quincy Ayodele, the Managing Director of Quincy Herbal Slimmer, among others.
Magistrate Warns IPOs
L-R: Ministers of Transport, Senator Idris Umaru; Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen and the Minister of State for Works, Alhaji Bashir Yaguda at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja on Monday.
Oil Theft: YENAGOA - Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa said that oil derivation revenue accruable to the state would drop from May due to the activities of crude oil theft.
Kano Evacuates 8,000 Tonnes Of Refuse Daily KANO - The Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB) evacuates more than 8,000 tonnes of refuse daily from Kano metropolis in the last three months, the board’s managing director has said. Alhaji Abdullahi Bichi told newsmen in Kano that the daily evacuation was to avoid flooding in the current rainy season. He said that the daily generation of refuse was 4,000 tonnes, adding that 400 tractors were used to clear the accumulated waste. He stated that “the huge population of the city makes it imperative to put a mechanism in place to evacuate, transport and dispose of refuse and waste generated by the people every minute and every day. “We offer 24-hour service with two shifts and our vehicles are adequately fuelled to carry out this onerous task.’’ Bichi said that the board created 250 collection centres in the city “which gave some sanity in the collaboration of the board and residents toward ensuring a healthy environment in Kano. “We are now in the process of creating larger dump sites to complement the small ones. “Already foreign investors have been contacted on this and one of them from Turkey has shown readiness to commence work soon,” he added.
Bayelsa To Lose Revenue Dickson had in his monthly revenue briefing on April 19 announced that the state got N24 billion from the Federation Account in March 2013. Reports say that Shell and Agip have both suspended oil exports from most of its oil fields in the state because of unsustainable levels of oil theft in the state. It was be gathered that both firms shut in a combined volume of 190,000 barrels per day of crude oil production from March 2013. According to figures released by Mr Igo Weli, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), in Yenagoa, the oil firm has been losing 150,000 barrels of crude export since April 15. Shell, he said, was compelled to shut down the Nembe Creek Trunk Line due
to sabotage by oil thieves to effect repairs on the facility. Weli, who spoke at a seminar organised for journalists, express regrets that the development would affect the derivation revenue accruable to Bayelsa in the coming months. He said that the oil firm could not confirm a start-up date for the shut trunk line as repair work was still ongoing. Also, Italian oil firm Eni, which operates in Nigeria as Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), had said it authorised the suspension of operations on March 22, and subsequently declared ‘Force Majeure’ on its oil output from the facility on March 23. ‘Force Majeure’ is a legal notice that absolves an oil firm of liabilities for failure to meet supply obligations to crude buyers due to circumstances beyond the firm’s control “Eni confirms that during
the night between 21 and 22 March, the company has declared force majeure and ordered the closure of its onshore activities in the Swamp Area, located in Bayelsa. “The decision was made due to the intensified bunkering, consisting in the sabotage of pipelines and the theft of crude oil, which has recently reached unsustainable levels regarding both personal safety and damage to the environment. “Sustainability is for Eni a priority in Nigeria as in all the countries in which it operates,” the statement said. According to the statement, the firm produced about 40,000 barrels of crude oil equivalent daily from the shut facilities. It was also reported that the ‘force majeure’ earlier declared by Shell on its crude export from the shut Nembe crude line is still in force.
LAGOS- Magistrate S.K Matepo of Yaba Magistrates’ Court has said disciplinary action would be taken against Investigating Police Officers, who keep suspects for more than 24 hours. Matepo gave the warning when one Friday Ayomipo, who was arrested on Friday, May 31, for alleged assault, was arraigned in the court. She said it was against the law to keep suspects in police custody for more than 24 hours without taking them to court. “This is the reason why Magistrates’ Courts in Lagos State now seat on Saturday. “I was here on Saturday and no suspect was brought in. Now I found that those you brought in here today were arrested on Friday; why did you keep them,’’ she asked.” The prosecuting police officer, Cpl. Lucy Anosike of the Adekunle Police Station, however, claimed he did not know that courts seat on Saturdays. “I am not aware your honour that the court seats on Saturdays”, Anosike said. Matepo, however, warned that she would institute disciplinary action against any prosecuting police officer who flouts the directive. “I have warned some others in the past and will repeat such if it happens again,” Matepo said.
Some Permanent Secretaries and Directors at the 2013 Ministerial platform in Abuja on Monday.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Across The Nation Fake Doctor Imprisoned
IBADAN -A 35-year-old man, Longpies Hosen, has been sentenced to 28 days imprisonment by an Ibadan Magistrates’ Court for impersonating as a medical doctor. Magistrate Patricia Adetuyibi sentenced the convict to 28 days imprisonment without an option of fine after he pleaded guilty to the offence. Adetuyibi said that the prosecutor was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of impersonation and should be punished accordingly. The magistrate also said that the convict should be brought to the court at the end of his jail term so that the court clerk would assist in securing commercial transport
President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd right), cutting the tape to inaugurate an exhibition during the Centenary Law Summit in Abuja on Monday. With him are from left: Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke; Chief Justice of the federation, Aloma Mukhtar and Prof Epiphany Azinge.
President Goodluck Jonathan (left), being conducted round an exhibition by the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof. Epiphany Azinge during the Centenary Law Summit in Abuja on Monday.
for him to go to Jos. The prosecutor, PC. Oluseye Oyebanji, told the court that the convict was arraigned on a onecount charge of impersonation. Oyebanji said that the convict on Tuesday impersonated as a medical doctor at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, at about 5.30 p.m. The prosecutor also informed the court that the convict was caught when Dr Oketona Olajide, one of the doctors at the hospital, asked him some questions which he could not answer. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened section 108 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000. He said some items, including a stethoscope, an appointment
within the last 24 months, while 19 more wrecks had been identified for removal from the Lagos channel. “The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is embarking on a general wrecks removal exercise to cover a greater part of the maritime domain. “This will be done under a ‘No Cure No Pay’ model involving the private sector,” he said. The minister said efforts were on to develop the deep sea port in partnership with the private sector at Lekki and Badagry in Lagos, Ibaka in Akwa Ibom and
Ogidigbe in Delta. He disclosed that the other sea ports to be developed were the Olokola port in Ogun and Ondo State, as well as Agge port in Bayelsa. “The current policy of port development is on equity participation of 20 per cent federal government, 20 per cent host state and 60 per cent private sector,’’ Umar said. He said a memo would soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval on the development of the Lekki deep sea port. The minister said the port would be developed under the
NUT Chairman Canvasses Improved Welfare For Teachers OGBERE (OGUN) -The Ijebu Zonal Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Ogun, Alhaji Adewale Ogunlaja, has called for improved welfare for primary school teachers in the state. Ogunlaja made the call at a primary school teachers delegates’ conference in Ogbere in Ijebu East Local Government Area. He said there was an urgent
need for the state government to also look at the disparities in the remuneration between the state and the Federal Government’s teachers. Ogunlaja said teachers needed motivation to give their best to the teaching profession. The NUT said frequent changes in policy, high level of indiscipline and harsh working conditions were among many
challenges facing primary school teachers. He said the union on its part would continue to ensure that members upheld the ethics of the teaching profession. Ogunlaja said the conference was organised to deliberate on the way forward for basic education and commended the state government for giving priority to the education sector.
Meanwhile, two men were on Monday remanded in prison by an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into a shop owned by one Ademola Adeagbo and carting away property valued at N448,000.
Tackle Insecurity With Diplomacy, ILE–IFE (OSUN) -Dr Sola Ajibade, the Head of African Don Urges Govt Languages Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, urged the Federal Government to tackle insecurity in the country with diplomacy. Ajibade gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Ile-Ife on the importance of Cultural Values in National Security. “There is no way the government can find a lasting solution to insecurity without going back to the drawing board to restore the missing values in our system. “The system has been eroded of culture of integrity and patriotism, which always make citizens to guide the national identity jealously and strive to contribute their quota to its development. “It is obvious that a patriotic citizen will call for dialogue to settle issues with the government and not to take arms against the state,’’ he said. The lecturer enumerated strategies the government could adopt to change the negative attitude of the people and instill
cultural values of nationalism in them. “The long military interregnum has adversely affected the psyches of Nigerians who now see the country as the arena of money and muscle where the strongest takes it all. “This mentality of force as a root to economic eldorado and fame remains the bane of national security, coupled with the cultural colonialism by the western influence. “The government must address the issue by introducing ethics and culture right from the primary school, which will inculcate the positive attitudes in the children and make them responsible “Also, there should be leadership by example, coupled with mass campaign of ethical values and culture in the mass media which must always come up at the end of network news. “I believe that if all these can be put in place together with judicious use of our meagre
FG Removes Wrecks From Water Ways ABUJA -The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, says government had to remove 62 critical wrecks from Lagos waterways to allow for dredging and also accommodate bigger vessels. Umar disclosed this in Abuja during the 2013 Ministerial Platform organised by the Ministry of Information. Newsmen report that the event was organised to commemorate the mid-term anniversary of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Umar said the removal of wrecks and derelicts was done
letter belonging to one Dr Ehimen Oamen and University of Benin Teaching Hospital’s duty roster, were recovered from the convict. In his plea, the convict told the court that he lied to Olajide so as to get money to transport himself to Jos. The convict confessed that the items recovered from him were stolen, adding that he had some spiritual problems which made him to lose his memory and regain it.
Public Private Partnership (PPP) for a concession period of 45 years. The concession, he said, would be in favour of Messrs Eurochem Technologies Corporation Ltd. and the Lagos Free Trade Zone Company. Umar said NIMASA hosted the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC) located at the Nigerian Maritime
Resource Development Centre (NMRDC), Kirikiri in Lagos. Newsmen reports that RMRCC co-ordinates search and rescue and other safety emergency response operations in the West and Central Africa. The 2013 ministerial platform, which is the second edition, has as its theme “Nigeria: A Nation In Transformation’’ and is holding from June 3 to June 27.
resources to better the lives of the people, Nigeria will be a better place to live,’’ he said.
I Will Defeat Fayemi In 2014 - Fayose ADO-EKITI - Former Ekiti governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said he would defeat the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, in the 2014 governorship election. Fayose told newsmen in AdoEkiti at the inauguration of his campaign organisation that history would repeat itself the way he defeated the then incumbent governor in 2003, Chief Adebayo Adeniyi. The former governor, who said he was “ moved by the mammoth crowd of party (PDP) supporters,” said he had “the magic wand to win election any time any day in Ekiti State.’’ He described his followership, good will and political structure as the “hidden treasures that cannot be equalled by anybody.’’ Fayose also identified “the grace of God as well as prayers of the people” as positive factors propelling him, adding that he was the only one who could deliver the state to the PDP. He advised the PDP against conceding to calls to zone the 2014 governorship position to the southern part of the state.
Ogun Assembly Urges NUT To Call of the committee, ABEOKUTA -The Ogun Off Strike member observed that communication Assembly urged the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to call off its indefinite strike over the non-payment of the peculiar allowance by the state government. Mr. Adeyinka Mafe, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, made the appeal in Abeokuta on Monday at a meeting between the union and the lawmakers. Reports say that the state chapter on May 31 embarked on an indefinite strike over government’s failure to pay the 27.5 percent Teachers Peculiar Allowance.
Mafe advised the teachers to return to the classrooms, saying that the present government was committed to their welfare. The lawmaker advised them to always seek avenues for dialogue, adding that the administration in the state was “teacher-friendly.’’ He said the executive would need to accommodate the allowance in a supplementary budget before implementation. He assured the union members that the Assembly would ensure accelerated passage of the supplementary budget whenever it was presented to it. Mr. Olakunle Oluomo, a
gap contributed to the inability of the government to effect the payment. Oluomo urged the union leaders to always carry the lawmakers along in the pursuit of their request. Responding, the state Chairman of the NUT, Mr. Dare Ilekoya, assured the lawmakers that the strike would be called off after a written agreement was reached with government. Ilekoya said the allowance being demanded was a national resolution, noting that the directive to embark on the strike was from the national executive of the union.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Abuja NHIS To Incorporate Albinos
Junk Food: Gynaecologist
Advises Pregnant Women ABUJADr Chris Agboghoroma, the Chief Consultant Obstetrician and gynaecologist at the National Hospital Abuja, has warned pregnant women against eating junk food to avoid delivering overweight babies. Agboghoroma told newsmen in an interview in Abuja that excessive weight gain during pregnancy could affect the baby’s weight. He said that delivery could be difficult for expectant mothers if their unborn babies were overweight. The gynaecologist, however, said that a woman being overweight during pregnancy had nothing to do with the baby being obese later in life. He said that apart from their eating habits, genetic factors could be responsible for obesity in children. “Women who gain too much weight in pregnancy they give birth to babies that are also overweight and that can be an issue, an area of concern for the mother when she wants to deliver, but it does not really affect subsequently the baby’s life, whether the baby will become obese because what makes the baby to develop his or her ideal body weight subsequently is more of genetic predisposition. “It is true that many women have good appetite and they have a genetic disposition of being fat and their children can also inherit it from them. “So when this children also cultivate the habit of eating, they also get fat like the mothers or like their parents; it is not because of that junk the mother ate but because of the genetic predisposition that is there that will make them become fat. “Another thing is about habit, a mother who is used to taking a lot of junk foods will also buy for the baby, as she is buying snacks here and there, she will also be filling the baby’s pocket, lunch box with a lot of variety things; so as the mother is eating the baby is eating; so both of them become chubby or obese. “So you think it is something you carried along from pregnancy, it is habits that have developed out of the womb.“ The gynaecologist advised pregnant women to watch what they ate generally and take the supplements given to them at ante-natal clinics, which included folic acids, vitamins, iron. He also advised them to ignore the belief that a pregnant woman must ‘’eat for two’’.
Agboghoroma, however, advised pregant women not to go hungry. “It is not true that because you are carrying two babies you must eat double ration; so long as you eat satisfactorily that is just good enough. Do not eat to say I am eating for two then you take double ration. That is not right. “If they can just eat what I will refer to as their normal diet even if there is some snacks in between so that they don’t get hungry at all. “A pregnant woman should not allow herself to get hungry at all. Hunger is not good in pregnancy because the baby at every time must have enough of sugar of glucose in the system for its brain development.“ The gynaecologist also advised pregnant women to avoid drinks that contain a lot of sugar such as soft drinks and snacks.
2015: ABUJA- The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said that he was not interested in contesting the 2015 governorship election in Enugu State. Ekweremadu said this at an interactive session with Senate correspondents in Abuja. It would be recalled that Ekweremadu’s campaign posters were seen pasted in strategic places around Enugu State. The deputy senate president, however, said that there was currently no zoning system in Enugu and that a governorship candidate could emerge from any of the zones as far as the person was qualified. “There is no zoning arrangement in Enugu; I am not aware and nobody is aware. I have been in politics in Enugu since the beginning of this particular dispensation and each time people from different parts of the state have viewed and somehow, somebody would win and I’m sure that our brothers from Nsukka understand that clearly. “I want somebody to show me a document or a meeting where the Governorship of Enugu has ever been zone since 1999 till date. I will be happy if somebody from Enugu North becomes governor but not on the basis of any zoning. “Because they have people who are eminently qualified and possibly they are the only part of the state that has not produced the governor of the state but like I said, it has nothing to do with zoning because there is nothing like zoning in Enugu as at today
L-R: Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije and other Senators during the committee’s oversight visit to the University in Jos recently.
Ekweremadu Denies Governorship Ambition but as for me, I am not running for governorship.’’ Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman of the 1999 Constitution Review Committee, said his committee would meet the July deadline set for the completion of work on the Constitution Amendment. He said that what the committee had done in the last one year was basically the preliminary work which was an equally important aspect of the
constitution amendment. “We’ve tenaciously followed our programme and our timeline regarding the constitutional amendment for this period and I’m happy to say that, we have achieved our objectives in terms of the timing. “So, hopefully we will be able to achieve our July deadline even if we miss it, it will not be too long behind the mark so hopefully we are going to start the
next phase which is proper legislation regarding the constitution amendment. “What we’ve done in the past one year, one year three months or thereabout is to do what I consider to be preliminaries which are very fundamental.’’ The preliminary work constituted the public hearings both at national and state level, consultation with constituents and stakeholders meetings with various states.
Court Adjourns Hearing To July 11 N20.8bn Pension Scam:
ABUJA- Justice Hussieni Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court adjourned hearing in the alleged N20.8 billion pension scam filed by the EFCC against Esai Dangabar and six others to July 11. Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar, Ahmed Wada, Sani Zira, Uzoma Attang, the Chief Accountant in the pension office; Christian Madubuke and Veronica Onyegbula were arraigned on 20-count charge, bordering on stealing and criminal breach of trust They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court admitted them to bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must not be less than an officer on Grade Level 14. Justice Baba-Yusuf, fixed the
People stranded at Nyanya Bus-Stop due to implementation of Abuja new transport policy which restricted commerical buses from entering the city centre in Abuja recently.
date, after Attang’s (fifth accused) Counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), pleaded with the court for a short adjournment. The judge ordered an accelerated hearing which will commence on July 11. Agabi told the court that he was not ready for the commencement of trial because he was “not familiar with the case yet.” He prayed the court for the adjournment to enable him study the case and prepare for trial. The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacob (SAN), had earlier told the court that the EFCC was ready for the commencement of
trial. The EFCC on April 10, specifically, alleged that the accused persons conspired and withdrew money from the Police Pension Fund (PPF) in an account domiciled at First Bank of Nigeria and shared it amongst themselves. The anti-graft agency alleged that one of the accused, Inuwa Wada, collected N18 million from Unity Bank Plc, as his reward for retaining the Police Pension Account with the bank. The EFCC further alleged that the fraud was perpetuated between January 2009 and June 2011.
ABUJA- The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) said that it would incorporate people living with albinism into the scheme. A statement signed by Mrs. Hannatu Ardo, the Head, Media and External Relations of NHIS, announced this in Abuja. The statement quoted NHIS’s Acting Executive Secretary, Dr Abdulrahman Sambo, as saying that the scheme was synonymous with programmes targeted at providing qualitative healthcare services to the citizenry. “We have different kinds of programmes aimed at covering those in the informal sector; however, these programmes are not free. “For instance, the Community Based Health Insurance Programme and Voluntary Contributors Social Health Insurance Programme, among others, are programmes targeted at providing qualitative healthcare services to people in the informal sector.” Sambo said that a committee had been set up to advise the management of the scheme on the potential sources of funding for the health challenges of albinos. He said that there was also the need to look at the contents of the benefit packages, as the health challenges of albinos were different from other vulnerable groups. The secretary added that NHIS partnered with the Albino Foundation because of its mandate to extend coverage to all and sundry, irrespective of gender and social status. He said that the albino project would be flagged off within the next four months. “The committee is mandated to develop a concept note for people with albinism, identify the potential form of funding the programme and the payment system suitable for the project.” The scheme has covered not less than 4.8 million people since its inception in 2005.
We Have Achieved 37 Percent Improvement In Roads - Onolememen ABUJA- The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen says Federal Government has achieved 37 per cent road rehabilitation and construction within two years. Onolememen disclosed this while answering questions from newsmen at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja. According to him, 32 roads have been rehabilitated or constructed within the period covering about 65,000 kilometres. “Within the last two years, we have delivered 32 roads, that is 65,000 kilometres of tarred road which means that 59.8 per cent of our roads are in good condition. “Out of this, 35,000 kilometres
belongs to the Federal Government representing 37 per cent improvement in our roads.’’ He listed some of the roads completed as the Ilorin-Ibadan dualism, third mainland bridge, Onitsha-Owerri dualism, UbaMbalala road in Borno State, Funtua-Gusua-Sokoto road and Obiozara-Uburu-Ishiagu road in Ebonyi State. He listed the rehabilitated roads to include Jebba Bridge in Kwara State, Otukpo-Oweto in Benue State, Aba-Owerri road in Abia State, the Oyo-Ogbomosho road and mainchi-Anka Daki road in Zamfara, among others. He noted that road repairs in Nigeria was wholesome and covered all parts of the country. On his part, the Minister of
Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, said that efforts were on to link the ports with rail lines so as ease the movement of containers. Umar said feasibility studies had been completed on the proposed “East West Rail which will link Lagos-Benin-OnitshaOwerri and Aba with a branch line to Enugu and Abakaliki.’’ According to him, the current speed of train in Nigeria ranged from 45 to 70 kilometres per hour but will be improved upon. “Efforts were being made to increase the speed of the Abuja rail to 150 kilometres per hour when completed.’’ The Ministerial Platform was conceived by the Ministry of Information to ensure accountability and transparency in governance.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Across The Nation Oko Residents Want FG’s Intervention Erosion:
OKO (ANAMBRA) - Indigenes and residents of Oko Community in Orumba North Local Council Area of Anambra, have appealed to the Federal Government to assist it in tackling erosion in the area. They made the appeal in separate interviews with reporters in Oko on Monday. Reporter who visited areas affected by the erosion, reports that more than 14 houses including that of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, were under threat. Mr Caleb Ezeokeke, a community leader in Oko, whose house is under threat said: “I have never seen a thing like this all my life.” “Daily, we live in fear of losing our residence, even though we have rested our fate in God. “As you look at this my house, I have counted it out as a belonging of mine because it can go any day. “We no longer sleep here. You
are lucky to meet me because I just came to pick up something. “We are calling on government to come to our aid because this is beyond us.” Another resident, Mrs. Adaeze Okeke, said her children were now sleeping in houses of friends and relatives “because of fear that our family house may cave in any day”. Also speaking, Mr. Frank Oramalu, who also appealed to the Federal Government to intervene urgently, said: “every day the erosion is moving closer to our homes. “With the heavy rains setting in now, there is no more guarantee that our homes will survive this year. “Apart from doing something to stem the erosion, we need to see the presence of government agencies such as NEMA who will take care of us in the event of any disaster, because Oko is just a disaster waiting to happen,” he said.
Kano: 82 Stalls
Razed By Fire KANO - Eighty two stalls were destroyed by fire near the Kasuwar Rimi Market in Kano metropolis, reports. Alhaji Kassim Musa, spokesman of the State Fire Service disclosed this to journalists in an interview in Kano. According to him, the cause of the early morning fire is still being investigated. He said that the stalls affected were outside the market, adding that the damage was reduced by the quick response of the fire officials. ‘’The losses was recorded because the security men did not invite firemen on time. “It was only when it became obvious that they could not contain the inferno that our men
were called in at 4:55am this morning,” he said. Musa appealed to members of the public to always call on the appropriate authority on time in cases of fire disasters to minimise damage. He also called on food vendors to stop indiscriminate cooking and security guards to be more alert to their responsibilities among other measures to check fire disaster.
Tax Evasion: Council Challenges
Court Judgement On N180m Debt JOS - Jos North Local Government on Monday challenged the judgment of a Jos Federal High Court directing it to pay N179.8 million being debt owed the Plateau Board of Internal Revenue (BIR). The board had, on April 12, through its Counsel, Mr. Gideon Kutu, sued the council for allegedly owing it N189. 3m, being arrears of unremitted tax covering the period of 2005 to 2010. Kutu had prayed the court to compel the council to pay the
said amount, which he said was un-remitted Pay As You Earn (PAYE). Although there was no counsel representing the council on that day, one Mr. Dayi Yohana, the council’s Litigation Officer, told the court that N9 million, out of the amount, had been paid to the board, leaving a balance of N179.8m. Yohana produced two instalmental payment receipts of N6 million and N3.7 million to confirm his claim.
Justice Ambrose Allagoa, in a judgement delivered on April 19, directed the local government to pay the balance of N179.8m. But on Monday, the council, through its Counsel, Mr. Williams Daniel, challenged the judgement by Allagoa. Daniel, who asked the court to set aside the judgement under the undefended list, moved a motion which alleged that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the case in the first place. “My Lord, by Section 251 (b)
Borno Expends N227m In Agency (NIMASA) Tertiary Institution Safety sponsored 25 Borno indigenes for a four-year seafarers’
Facilities Upgrade: MAIDUGURI - The Borno Government has said it had spent about N227 million on the upgrade of facilities at its tertiary institutions to ensure accreditation of their courses. Alhaji Bello Ayuba, the
Bauchi Distributes Funds To Flood Victims BAUCHI - The Bauchi State Government has begun the distribution of the Federal Government ‘s N400 million relief fund to more than 19, 000 persons affected by the floods of last year, an official said. The Sub-chairman of the State Relief Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Jahun, who gave the information in Bauchi, said the beneficiaries were spread across the state. Jahun said the floods caused an estimated damage of N3 billion but the Federal Government provided N400 million for the support of the victims. He said that cheques
L-R: Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina with the new UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough, during a familiarisation visit to the Minister in Abuja on Friday.
would be used for payments and that all ward heads must be present on the occasion to verify each beneficiary. “Some of the technicality was to use the cheque method and each ward head will also be at the venue to ensure that correct targets are reached by means of verification. “About N3 billion was the damage and N400 million was given by the Federal Government as relief funds to the victims. “A certain percentage was used to ensure that all the affected persons would get certain amount from the relief fund,’’ he said.
Commissioner for Higher Education, said this at a media briefing in Maiduguri. “The state government has spent N227 million on the provision of infrastructure at all the seven state-owned tertiary institutions. “The gesture was aimed at meeting accreditation standard by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Universities
Commission (NUC),’’ Ayuba said. He said that government had also expended about N550 million on complete renovation of structures at the Mohammed Goni College of Legal Studies (MOGOLIS). He added that government had sponsored 25 Borno indigenes for a four- year degree programme as seafarers. “The state government in partnership with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and
course. “The partnership involved the payment of 60 percent as expenses by the state government while NIMASA will pay the balance of 40 percent.’’ Ayuba said that the gesture was aimed at training maritime engineers and ship captains that were lacking in the state. He said that government had also sponsored 560 students on foreign courses between 2009 to date.
of the constitution, this honourable court lacks jurisdiction to entertain, hear and determine this suit brought against my client, Jos North Local Government Council. “In view of this, I submit that the judgement delivered on April 19, 2013 in favour of the Judgement creditor be set aside as it is of no effect,” he argued. But Kutu objected to the application, and submitted that the court had the jurisdiction to entertain, hear and determine the suit. “My Lord, by virtue of the same Section 251 (1), this honourable court has the jurisdiction to entertain, hear and determine this suit. “The judgement delivered on April 19, was therefore correct and of effect on the judgement debtor,” he declared. Kutu said that the motion raised by Daniel was an exercise in futility and should be struck out for lack of merit. Allagoa, after listening to both parties, adjourned the case to June 18, for ruling on the motion.
Borno Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Zainab Gimba (middle), briefing newsmen in Maiduguri. With her are the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Zanna Gadzama (left) and Director of Information, Ministry of Information, Mr. Balami Bata.
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North JOS - Relief materials meant for victims of the 2012 flood disaster in Jos have been gutted by fire. Newsmen quote a source at the vicinity of the weekend fire as blaming the cause on “an electrical spark’’. The materials had been brought in since November 2012, but were not distributed to the victims. Alhaji Alhassan Barde, Executive Secretary, Plateau Emergency Management Agency, who confirmed the incident, told newsmen that the fire was indeed “caused by an electrical spark in the building where the materials were stored’’. “The materials were kept in a store in Jos North Local Government secretariat. A reasonable part of the materials, comprising grains, bedding, toiletries and others, got burnt. “We are working towards replacing the burnt goods before distributing them to the victims,’’ he said. According to him, some of the materials, particularly the grains, were received from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The Executive Secretary who
Fire Guts Relief Materials expressed sadness over the incident, gave the assurance that the agency would work with relevant agencies to ensure that people received the items. He said that the Plateau Deputy
Governor, Mr Ignatius Longjan, who is the Chairman of SEMA Governing Council, had visited the scene of the fire and directed that the materials be distributed “immediately in
the other local governments’’. “In fact, he has gone to some local government areas to ensure that the materials are distributed as directed. “The materials came in
batches and we wanted to get a reasonable number before we start the distribution. “The security situation in the state has also not helped matters as the situation in some
Man, 25, Kills Mother, 2 Sisters L-R: Secretary to Sokoto State Government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Aminu Tambuwal; Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State and Alhaji Rilwanu Bello at the inauguration of Farm Skill Acquisition Centre in Sokoto recently.
2 Charged With Criminal Conspiracy, Robbery MAKURDI - Two persons, Terhile Moses and Tertsea Akwati, were arraigned in a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court over charges of alleged criminal conspiracy and armed robbery. The Police Prosecutor, Mr Patrick Sunday, told the court that, one Augustine Ejembi, attached to the state CID, Makurdi arrested the accused persons. Ejembi said that they were on patrol at Alaide town when they received a tip-off that a gang of armed robbers was taking refuge at a hide out along Alaide/ Otukpo road. Sunday said that following the information, they moved into the area, and upon sighting their vehicle, the armed robbers took to their heels. They pursued them and the
two accused persons were arrested with a jack knife. He said that police investigations revealed that the accused persons, alongside three others now at-large, had, on May. 14, unlawfully broke into one Augustine Odo’s house at No.5, Alaide Motor Park. The accused persons robbed
Odo of the sum of N50, 000.00 and a Sharp DVD set at gunpoint. However, when the case came up for mention, the accused’s plea could not be taken for want of jurisdiction. The prosecution said investigation into the case was
Firearms Possession: MAKURDI - A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court has remanded a 40 year old man, Msughter Akaagee, in a Federal prison over charges of alleged criminal conspiracy and possession of firearms. The Police Prosecutor, Mr James Onwoneh, told the court that the accused was arrested by a team of detectives from the Police B’ Division Gboko on a
still ongoing and other accused persons were still at-large, and asked the court for another date for mention. He said the offence contravenes sections 6(c) and 1(2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap RII Laws of the Federation
of Nigeria 2004. The Magistrate, Mrs Lilian Terseer-Tsumba, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in federal prison pending the outcome of investigations against them. Terseer-Tsumba adjourned the case to July 11, for mention.
Man, 40, Remanded In Prison
tip-off. The accused was arrested with one AK 47 rifle, three locallymade pistols, four cartridges, one expended 7.62m ammunition and one 9.mm live ammunition. The accused also mentioned three other people who are now at large as his gang members. He said that the guns were
given to him by one David Tersoo who is also at large. However, when the case came up for mention, the plea of the accused was not taken for want of jurisdiction. The prosecutor said that investigation into the matter was still in progress and asked the court for another date for mention.
He said the offence contravened section 6(c) and 1(2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap RII Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The Magistrate, Mrs Franca Yuwa, adjourned the case to June 19 for mention.
NSCDC Nabs Armed Robbery Kingpin DUTSE - The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa said it had arrested the leader of a notorious armed robbery gang in Jigawa. The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr. Muhammad Gidado, told newsmen that the suspect (name withheld) was arrested with his wife, also a suspected hard drug dealer. Gidado said that the suspects were arrested on Sunday at about 2.30 am in Sule-Tankarkar Local Government Area of the state. He said that men and officers of the command laid ambush before they could arrest the suspect because of the alleged charm he used to disappear and reappear at will.
areas had not been very conducive for our staff and others expected to go round to distribute the materials. “We also had a long strike by local government workers which lasted for several months, leaving us with nobody to work with in various councils,’’ he said.. Reacting, Alhaji Umar Faruk, the Public Secretary of Jos Central Mosque appealed to the state government to hasten up the process of distribution so as to help the victims. “This unfortunate incident would not have occurred if the materials had been given to the people immediately they arrived,’’ he added.
The commandant said that the suspect was believed to be the most dangerous because people in the area believed he could not be arrested due to his magic powers. Gidado explained that the suspect and his accomplices had been terrorising the area for a long time before his arrest. He said that the suspect was earlier arrested and only to disappear when he was about to be handcuffed. The NSCDC boss said that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation into the case was completed. Gidado restated determination of the command to protect the lives and property of people.
Sokoto State Head of Service, Alhaji Bature Shinkafi (right), signing the contract papers for the second phase of Usman Faruk Secretariat in Sokoto on Monday.
GUSAU - A 25-year-old man, Kamilu Yusuf, of Mortgage Area, Gusau, has allegedly killed his mother, Hajiya Hafsat Yusuf and his two younger sisters, Amina and Maryam. Yusuf, a student of computers studies at Abdul Gusau Polytechnic, Talata-Mafara, was said to have slaughtered to death the trio on Friday night. A family source, who pleaded for anonymity, told newsmen that, on that fateful day, Yusuf accompanied his late mother to a commercial bank where she withdrew N800,000. The source said that Yusuf, who was his late mother ’s favourite child, demanded for unspecified amount out of the money for private use but she turned down the request. He said that Yusuf, who was unhappy with his late mother for her refusal to give him the money, mobilised three other friends to commit the heinous crime. Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer, Zamfara State Police Command, Mr Lawal Abdullahi, said Yusuf was arrested in Kaduna a day after he committed the crime. He said the suspect was arrested along with two of his friends suspected to be the assessories to the crime while one other suspect was still atlarge. He also said that the three corpses and the sum of N800,000 were recovered from the boot of Yusuf’s Honda car. Abdullahi said that Yusuf and the two friends had confessed at the state CID of killing the three. He said that they would be charged for conspiracy and culpable homicide punishable with death under sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code.
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Business + Economy 11 Fuel Laden Ships To Discharge At Lagos Ports LAGOS -Eleven ships are waiting to discharge petroleum products at the various oil terminals within the Lagos ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said. The Shipping Position, a daily publication of NPA issued on Monday in Lagos, indicated that seven of the eleven ships would discharge petrol, while two would discharge kerosene. It said that one of the ships would discharge
diesel, while another would discharge aviation fuel. According to the document, two other ships will discharge bulk wheat and bulk urea. It said that 69 ships, carrying different cargoes, would sail into the ports between June 3 and June 26. The document indicated that 13 of the ships would arrive with petroleum products, while six others would
sail in with new and used vehicles. Newsmen reports that other ships would arrive with containers, bulk salt, general cargoes, bulk sugar, fresh fish, bulk fertiliser, bulk wheat, rice, steel, crude palm oil, crude oil and bulk gypsum. Newsmen reports that 17 other ships are currently discharging containers, bulk fertiliser, general cargo, bulk sugar, fresh fish, base oil, steel and petroleum products.
Niger Promotes 19 Micro-Finance Banks MINNA -The Niger
Government said it promoted the establishment of 19 microfinance banks as part of efforts to provide credit facilities to the low income groups and persons in the state. The Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Cooperative, Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi, made this known when he received the African Regional Director of International Cooperative Alliance, in Minna recently. Abdullahi said six other micro-finance banks would be established in 2013, to bring the number of such banks to 25 in the state. He said the banks were located in the headquarters of the 19 Local Governments in line with the decisions of the shareholders. The commissioner said the stakeholders contributed money for the
floating of such banks, while the state government offered assistance to actualise it. He said the bank offer credit facilities to poor members of their communities to establish or improve on their small businesses, thereby offering the opportunities to improve on the socioeconomic status to cushion the stress associated with commercial bank credit system. The commissioner said the state government was partnering small business groups, including cooperative societies, on how they could benefit from the N600 million funds earmarked for the state at the Bank of Industry. He also said that the ministry discovered that out of 17,000 cooperative societies in the state, only 5,000 were viable. “We have started the process of re-certification
of the cooperative societies to ensure that only viable ones are allowed to operate,’’ he said. Mrs. Chiyoge Sifa, the African Regional Director International Cooperative Alliance, said the alliance as an organ of African Union is determined to work toward strengthening the cooperative societies in the continent to provide their services to members. Sifa said the alliance was seeking the establishment of African Cooperative Bank that would work closely with AU member states to revive cooperative banks in their countries. According to her, only Kenyan Cooperative Bank has survived the closure of similar banks. She, therefore, called for the revival of the Nigerian Cooperative Bank. She said the revival would enable cooperative societies to benefit from the African Cooperative Bank in the areas of finances and staff capacity building.
On-going Sacamori/Nwangana Canals de-silting and channelization at Onitsha in Anambra recently.
Motorcycles ready for distribution to beneficiaries of “Sure-P” in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State recently.
Customers Task CBN Inter-Bank Connectivity
Inter-Bank Connectivity: LAGOS - Some bank customers have urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to intensify efforts at faster inter-bank connectivity for speedy clearance of third party cheques. They told newsmen in Lagos that that inter-bank network connectivity was the major challenge facing the cashless policy.
Agric Loans: NAMB Advises Farmers finance banks.’’
ABUJA -The National Association of Micro Finance Bank (NAMB) has advised farmers to access agricultural loans as an association as against barrowing on individual capacities. The association’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. AbdelRahman Muhammad, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. “Most people go on their individual capacity to borrow which the Micro Finance banks cannot risk that. They advise that people should form
cooperatives and that cooperative becomes a fall back in case of default by a member. “But most people don’t understand that as a farmer you can’t walk into a Micro Finance bank and ask for Agricultural loan. “It becomes very difficult for you to get that loan. But if you are in a group of say 1050 farmers and you open an account for your cooperative association. “From those dues you pay to the association and some
other fees you pay to the association and with the account you are operating in that Micro Finance bank, the Micro Finance bank is not giving it to an individual. “It is giving it to the cooperative. So it is the responsibility of the cooperative to dispose according to the strength of their members. So even if there will be a default by a member, you are covered by the cooperative society. “So I advice them to form cooperatives and go to Micro
Muhammad said that the issue of agric lending was serious in Nigeria due to insufficient funding of the Micro Finance sector and also climate change. According to him, Micro Financing also works best with businesses that don’t take long term ventures. “Micro Finance Banks are supposed to be dealing with small scale farmers, artisans, road side mechanics, the woman that sells ‘’Akara’’ requesting for small loans like N1000, N5,000, N10,000.
The customers said that Nigeria could fully become a cashless society if the CBN created the enabling environment for the policy to work. Reports state that the CBN has placed a ceiling on third party cheques with maximum withdrawal limit of N150, 000. The new policy is aimed at reducing cash based transactions in the country. Mr. Adekunle Ajose, a customer of United Bank for Africa (UBA), said that many customers preferred to withdraw over the counter because of delays in interbank clearance. Ajose said that the CBN needed to embark on aggressive sensitisation of its policies to achieve financial inclusion in the country. Mrs. Stella Obiajonor, a customer of Access Bank, said that the CBN must ensure that the Point of Sales (PoS) terminals were readily
available to ensure the success of the policy. She said if there were enough PoS terminals in the country, bank customers will be encouraged to comply with the N150, 000 ceiling on third party cheques. Mr. Henry Tomi, a customer of First Bank, said that availability of PoS terminals would boost customers’ confidence in the policy. He said faster completion of banking transactions would reduce the number of cash being carried about by people. Mrs. Yinka Adebanjo, a customer of Guaranty Trust Bank, said that the new directive on cash withdrawal limit would not work without the right infrastructure in place. “How can the apex bank encourage people to embrace its cashless policy without first providing the vital infrastructure that will drive the initiative to success? “The CBN should provide the necessary infrastructure to develop banking business and bank transactions faster and easier,“ she said.
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Right Of Reply
Labaran Maku Lied On Roads In Edo IT is the height of crass irresponsibility and rudderless leadership for any seriousminded public officer to mount the podium of public discourse to advertise falsehood and distort facts so unashamedly to please the hollow rituals of his master ’s ears. Rather than own up to failure and inability to meet certain targets, they go about whispering “sweet-nothings” as the lullabic tinge to send their master to sleep when the nation is suffering from uni m a g i n a b l e infrastructural decay. The fact that Edo and Lagos States did not grant space to Labaran Maku and his co-travellers on that ill-advised good governance tour, is not enough grounds for him to be telling Nigerians bogus lies in such an inelegant manner, undeserving of a public officer feasting on tax payers money. Thank God that he got a spontaneous response of disavowal to his bare-faced lies when the audience booed him out of his shameless emanations and illogical presentation. With public officers like Maku, it is understandable why President Goodluck Jonathan appears fixated on performance. It was good that the Edo State government disowned the good governance tour, otherwise, Labaran Maku and his team would have showcased projects that were ex-
By PRINCE KASSIM AFEGBUA
clusively sponsored and executed by the State government as those of the Federal Government. It would have been convenient for him to declare that all the beautiful road networks in Benin City and Edo State that he rode through and were constructed and transformed by the Comrade Governor, were all owned by Federal Government. We saw that political confusion coming ab initio; hence we distanced the State Government from such a needlessly wasteful adventure to save Edo State taxpayers money. The beauty of democracy in Edo State is that the people are heavily mobilized, conscientised and sensitized to know their civic obligations and rights as citizens of the State to demand accountability and service delivery from those who are duly elected to represent them. It was that consciousness that led to the spontaneous riposte from one Osadolor Ehizogie who saw Labaran Maku’s presentation
as a “shameless display of government desperation to rubbish the visible works in Edo State through its propaganda machine”.
taken by the Federal Government and the newly awarded dualisation of OkeneBenin road, what again can Labaran Maku lay claim to? Unknown to him that
Mike Onolemhemen, in a feat of smartness tried to showcase Edo State projects at FiveJunction as one being undertaken by the Federal Government. The Amedokhian-Ukoni
Labaran Maku, Minister for Information and Orientation
Nobody can fool an average Edo mind. Never again! Rather than apologise to Nigerians over Federal Government’s failure to fulfill its promise to the good people of Nigeria and Edo State in particular, Labaran Maku, already known for his verbal diarrhea, is busy embarking on sheer salesmanship with no products to sell. Apart from the resurfacing of the Ugbowo-Lagos road presently being under-
the Benin-Warri dualised road had long been executed by the Obasanjo administration, Labaran Maku like a broad day thief, is crediting same to the Jonathan administration. What a pity? Let him go and visit the abandoned BeninAbraka road and see for himself the dubiety of that project execution and the decay. Having toured Edo State without any tangible Federal Government infrastructure, Labaran Maku and
road in Edo Central, which was flagged off last year by the Works Minister, Mike Onolemhemen is still lying prostrate. I will implore the information Minister to visit Aduwawa road in Benin City and see for himself the rot on that Federal road, bearing in mind that is the entry route into Benin City from Abuja. We expected Labaran Maku to lay his mat and sleep on the Benin-Ore road since according to
him; the road is now brand new. Thank God travelers are still passing through that road everyday and they could see for themselves the volume of work that has been done on that road. It is an open secret that roads in Nigeria are in decayed state as a result of long years of neglect by the PDP-led government. No one requires any rocket science to unravel the deceit going on across the country as a consequence of bad performance and leadership atrophy of the PDP-led Federal Government. When the Comrade Governor alluded to the PDP as a party of rogues, he was almost crucified by the Party’s publicist, but it requires the ingenuity of a rogue to present an outright lie to wear the garb of truth. We will implore Labaran Maku to go into the corner of his bedroom and ask God for forgiveness over his rabblerousing presentation in the name of being a government megaphone, presenting apocryphal report card and deceiving a nation that
“The fact that Edo and Lagos States did not grant space to Labaran Maku and his co-travellers on that ill-advised good governance tour, is not enough grounds for him to be telling Nigerians bogus lies in such an inelegant manner, undeserving of a public officer feasting on tax payers money.”
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THE Federal Government has announced plans to purchase 30 new aircrafts for distribution to airline operators in the country. The Corporate General Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati made the disclosure during an inspection of the renovated Benin Airport recently. He explained that the move was to replace the old practice of aviation intervention funds which obviously was being misused. THIS new move, expectedly has generated serious controversy among stakeholders as some supports the idea, while others still wonder why public funds should be doled out to private airlines without proper consultations. THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER appreciates the sweeping reforms and massive development at the nation’s airports across the country since the current Minister of Aviation, Stella OduahOgiewonyi assumed office. The efforts have led to the transformation of over 18 Airports in the country bringing them to international standards while work is progress in several others. From Benin to Kano, Lagos to Sokoto, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna the story is the same and cheery. We equally commend President Goodluck Jonathan who has equally given the needed political will for the transformation being experienced at the nation’s airports. WE want to throw our weight behind the Federal Government on the planned purchase of 30 aircrafts for operators for
THE
NIGERIAN
Aviation Reforms several reasons: FIRST, we deplore a situation where over N200billion given to airlines in 2009 did not grow the industry. Those who probably lined their wallets and bank accounts with such funds, are probably the ones who want to kick against the new move by government. We believe that what the government has done is to plug the loop hole by rooting for a direct growth for a better impact than what obtained prior to the new plan. SECONDLY, we believe that the Nigerian airlines had had their own fair share of crises, over the years which in our view may have compelled the Minister to seek ways of getting better results for all Nigerians and foreigners, particularly foreign investors and tourists alike. THIRDLY, it is no longer news that the carriers have had to grapple with incompetent management, huge debts to banks, service providers, high cost of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET A1, import duty waiver which was eventually removed after the crash of Dana Air by President Goodluck Jonathan to encourage them to bring in aircraft and
spare parts. FOURTLY, apart from the fact that they are heavily indebted, with their liabilities far outstripping assets, the airlines’ accounts are in the red, notwithstanding the cash flow. The implication is that the carriers lack the finance to acquire more aircraft and re-organise their operations. HOWEVER, The NIGERIAN OBERVER will encourage the Minister of aviation to respond to some of the queries being raised by Nigerians, particularly stakeholders in the sector. For instance, “ Is the CBN a co-guarantor for the purchase of the aircraft? When the aircrafts arrive, hopefully in two years time, will they be warehoused in a leasing company set up for the purpose or will the aviation ministry dole them out to airlines in operation?” ALSO, what functions are assigned to FAAN by its establishment Act as it relates to this plan? What is the role of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in matters like this? Are they being carried along? IT is our believe that providing answers to these questions would go a long way in assuaging stakeholders singing discordant tunes to this plan, we consider appropriate, if for nothing for a trial. We hold strongly to these views because lessons learnt from the global financial and economic crisis saw how Europe and America intervened in various industries to save their economies. Nigeria cannot be an exception in a globalized and competitive world.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Book Review
Teachers of Literature in secondary schools and tertiary institutions to lovers of poetry, historians, families, organisations, government and any lover
self discovery through life’s journey. The author explains in the strings of poems in this section different side to what life mean to different set of people. One of the poems that caught my attention was the last one on this section: “THEY and THEM”, in this poem the different usage of pronouns at different point of our lives; “why is it that
show how we can learn lessons from them. The third section of the book contains twenty- five poems and it discuses topics that bother on patriotism, nationalism and obligations by citizens to their society. It builds on themes of the spirit of Africa in General and taking times to delve into issues as it affects Nigeria. Section four uses a good
of poetry as a genre. Each section is lucid, properly articulated and provides different titles to expose different life themes. In the first section which contains 43 poems, the book tries to capture and explain the process of
when I can’t predict my day I say it is they? Why is it that when I cannot solve my problem, I say it is them?” The second section of the book uses the attributes of animals and unique characteristics of nature to
number of poems to tell stories about man’s aspirations in life and how to keep one’s hope alive. It uses various word manipulation techniques to build questions in the minds of the readers about why things are the way
Book Title: A Song In A Strange Land And Other Songs And Poems Book Author: Richard Ikeke Reviewed By: Olugbemiro Opeyemi, Egobiambu Emmanuel, Omoaka Innocent 1. INTRODUCTION WILLIAM words worth defined poetry as emotions recollected in tranquility; he also said that poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings, such expressions is not farfetched in this collection of poems and songs written by Richard Ikeke. He is a prolific writer with not less than fifteen certificate awards from poetry.com, America and a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors. With a collection of poems that adopts multifaceted approach to different life situations, this book provides an avenue to put in the minds of people a long list of thought provoking life experiences and telling stories with the use of poems. The title of the book “A song in a Strange Land and other poems”, reveals what I believe Richard Ikeke thought to be one of the anchor points of this book. The poem “A Song in a Strange Land” which can be found on the pages 7879 reveals the fact that excellence and beauty expressed by nature could be appreciated into songs by people of the black race of which he is a part of. This book is a call to other poets in Nigeria, to take the bull by the horn and tell the one the prophecy in their hearts, fashioned beautifully into words. We do not always know how it happens, but overtime, poems have been known to reveal the innermost of desires, told us of things to come, how to cope in diverse situations and the confidence of this author to put his own feelings into writing and publication, would go a long way in encouraging others to make known the creative works of their minds.
At this point I will borrow his words in the introduction “I sign out for you to log in and plug into my line of though. And I thank you for doing this” 2. REVIEW The book is a collection of 175 poems arranged into 6 sections: Ø Self Identity and quest for Self Discovery and bullet Animals, Nature, Men and Despair Ø Nationality and Continent Ø Sentimental feelings and reflections Ø Personalities, people and social conflict Ø Love, freedom and Motherhood An in depth analysis of the titles of the sections will reveal that it focuses on themes about real life experiences, which he tries to appraise and appreciate using the properties of poetries such as: lines, stanzas, rhymes, rhythms and other features that make up a good poetry composition. Through the poems and songs, he presented situations that reflect the day to day experiences of man. The messages from the poems are not that difficult to decipher with a careful reading, and provide lessons that the readers can go home with. This book is written for all disciplines and institutions, ranging from the Academics:
“An in depth analysis of the titles of the sections will reveal that it focuses on themes about real life experiences, which he tries to appraise and appreciate using the properties of poetries such as: lines, stanzas, rhymes, rhythms and other features that make up a good poetry composition”
they are and in some instances this section delves into divinity and thoughts about the future. You need to read the book to find out what I am saying about this section (i.e. section 4). In section five, the author beautifully uses poems to describe the differences in humans with their unique Idiosyncrasies. In this section, the writer in one of his poems eulogizes the life of Gen Ojukwu “A general who did not generalize hatred...” He also takes out time to write a poem on the life of one of the greatest man to have lived and is still alive in Africa: Mr. Nelson Mandela; “...Nelson Mandela, forever, you have a name to be sung in both the short and the long”. Also in this section is an ode to one of the biggest problem in the Nigerian societycorruption. Section six, which is the final part of the book delves into other topics of life that are of estimable value to humans social living; such as the value of love, the roles of women and the place of death. CONCLUSION One cannot but appreciate the author for employing the use of poems and songs to teach lessons of life. The book can serve a great academic purpose as it will be relevant to the curriculum for literature in our educational institutions. The uniqueness of this work is that it centres on present and happening issues that we can relate with, while also having some reflections of the old times embedded in it. It is recommended for Literature students, Teachers and instructors. Its uniqueness in origin gives it an edge to be used by those studying the African and Nigerian Poetry; hence it will be a good addition for the enriching of the school curriculum and also an avenue to get knowledge for any other lover of poetry. The price of the book should be made very affordable so that it can easily be accessed by students of literature. I will suggest from around 800 — 1000 naira.
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Issues NIGERIA and Nigerians are still in a mourning state for the demise of the eagle on the tallest lroko tree of Nigeria Literature. Late Prof. Chinualumogu Achebe the orator of Nigeria Literary writing. Many Literary and non literary scholars have described Achebe’s death as the end of an era. Achebe’s literary writing speaks volumes for its self. A student of mass communication department, in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka described Achebe as one of the men of truth in Nigeria. Achebe treatise in literary writing made him to be mourned across the world. He was a reformer, a social critic, a man whose literary services gained prominence in all nook and cranny of Nigeria and the world at large. Little wonder in his tribute the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Barth Okolo described Achebe as “one of the academic titans whose presence on the faculty served as a beacon of light that draws the world to the university of Nigeria”. A writer also described him as the greatest export to the modern world. Chinualumogu Achebe celebration around the world is a confirmation of his academic scholarship as one of the only man who believed that African cultural identity can not be denied. As a Nigerian writer, he uses his writing in literature to re-
awaken the consciousness of many current Nigerians and African literary writers. A case in point is Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe writing in literature not only passed a message to Nigerians but to the Nigeria government. Achebe gained admission to the University College Ibadan to study medicine. But, neglected medicine for English because of his natural intelligence in literature. He has written over ten books both in Nigeria language and European’s languages. The universalisation of his first book “Things Fall Apart” into over 50 languages in the world is a clear blue print of his academic and literary colossus. Prof. Chinua Achebe which many termed the eagle on the Iroko tree has finally departed. But, the big question to Nigerian government is, will they allow the Iroko tree to be forgotten? Like the names of many prominent Nigerians who cease to exist in the likes of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to mention but a few. In the last controversial book written by the late Emeritus professor of the literary world titled “THERE WAS A COUNTRY” which almost caused another round of inter ethnic rivalry between the lgbos and the Yorubas was a personal history of Achebe experience in the Biafra republic massacre. The title of
Achebe In All Of Us By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU the book reminds many Nigerians of the hay days of the 50s where you don’t need to lobby to get jobs, when godfatherism, ethnicity and premodial interest never existed in Nigeria. But, it now appears a different trend in the 21st century Nigeria State where the reverse is now the case in point. Chinua Achebe, a true story teller. According to Linus Ukoenang described Achebe as a man of truth. Without mincing word Achebe is one of the few Nigerians who say things the way they are. He is not apologetic to the government or any individual. He does not mind who is upset by his literary writing. Many commentators say his best friend is truth. He kept on
passing his messages even if the price to pay is death. His antecedent centers on the support of the oppressed by the political/economic bourgeoisie or captains of industries. The Achebe in all of us reminds me of Late Mahatma Gandi of India whose name was immortalized in South African for his non violence
Late Chinua Achebe
revolutionary activity for the freedom of the “Black Race” during the Apartheid era in South Africa. Chinua Achebe first book “Things fall Apart” (TFA) published in 1958 did not only act as a source of freedom but also exposes how colonialism changes the cultural identity of the Igbos people. Little wonder the translation of (TFA) into many western languages. This alone is an immortalization of Achebe’s name in the whole of the universe. There is no doubt by Nigerians that truly speaking, Achebe is in all of us because as a student of Nigeria secondary school or tertiary institutions irrespective of your discipline must know the name of Prof. Chinua Achebe. Those who have not read his books are not worthy to be called students. His books have not only imparted meaningful knowledge to humanity but, his doggedness to national discourse is a beacon of hope for the oppressor. Many Nigerians experienced May 23rd when the late emeritus Professor was be laid to this mother earth in his home village at Ogidi in Anambra State. Although, Professor Chinualumogu Achebe is dead but his literary writing will live forever!
Soon, Bill Boards And Posters Will Talk INDEED wonders shall never end! These white human beings are at it again. At the point where you think technology is at its peak, then they’ll show up again with another strange and amazing innovation. The term technology means different things to many people, no doubt it is really a broad concept that deals with the usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects the ability to control and adapt to the environment. In human society, it is a consequence of science and engineering, although several technological advances predate the two concepts. The products of technology are all around us. It helps us to move around, communicate, look, and so on. Some of the modern
technological development included printing press, the telephone and the internet which have lessened physical barriers to interact on global scale. However, not all technology has been used for peaceful purposes; the development of weapons of ever-increasing destructive power has progressed throughout history, from clubs to nuclear weapons. Now, imagine if you could paint a working light switch directly onto your wall, without any need for sockets, cables or wiring. A group of students from the Royal College of Art (RCA) London has made that possible by creating electrically conducive paint. The paint acts as a form of liquid wiring. Unlike conventional wires, it can be applied to almost any
By EDEBO A. MICHAEL
surface, including paper, plastic, metal and even fabric. The product has the appearance and consistency of runny marmite, but dries quickly when exposed to the air. Its inventors are RCA graduates Isabel Lizardi, Matt Johnson, Bibi Nelson and Becky Pilditch. They called their creation “Bare Paint”. However, they did not claim to be the first group to have invented a conductive ink, they are pioneering a new way if can be used. According to one of them, Matt Johnson, they started the project in 2009. He said they were originally interested in trying to apply electronics to the skin … so they arrived at the idea of applying them as a coating
and eventually they got the idea of conductive paint. The team began by investigating how electronics were being used in the body. “In 2008 and probably still of recent there have been a lot of work around electronic textiles”, says Johnson. He said though they really liked the idea of having a jumper (a piece of clothing) that has some intelligence in it, he however said that it was bulky and that once you took it off the functionality disappears. Around the same time there was a lot of “extreme work” also being done by people who were injecting electronics beneath the skin. For their final project, the RCA student began work on making something less
intrusive, looking for substance that could be painted onto the body. Eventually, that idea transformed into the material they now have, which Johnson said is very safe though it’s not specifically intended for body anymore. After this team of young people graduated from college, they collaborated on a video for DJ and Producer Calvin Harris. The resulting project was the “Humanthesizer”, a performance which literally brought the paint to life, with dancers who movement triggered audio loops from Harris’s song “Ready for the weekend”. Making a new material was a bit daunting for the designers. The team’s solution was not to return to school to study Chemistry for four years. Instead, they simply went on Wikipedia. According to Johnson, the
online encyclopedia provided them with almost everything they needed to know about crafting conductive materials. As soon as they finalized the paint’s formula, they began to consider how it might be applied to real world products. The first thing they launched was the paint in its raw form, which they made available to other gardenshed inventors. Today, Bare Paint Jars and pens are sold on the internet and stocked by Radio shack electronic stores across the United State. Projects being done by Bare Paint users include everything from interactive color wheels to homemade electric toys. Johnson said their aim is to make devices to be high tech, no matter their appearance, he added that their good is to put interactivity onto objects we don’t expect.
THE NIGERIAN
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Focus Intelligence Sensitization And Community Partnership
BEING A PAPER PRESENTED BY HON. ISAIAH OSIFO ON THE SOUTH-SOUTH GEOPOLITICAL ZONE OF INTELLIGENCE SENSITIZATION AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOP HELD IN CALABAR ON SATURDAY 1ST JUNE 2013. corruption as a way of life with BACKGROUND the ultimate aim of wealth THERE was a time in acquisition. Nigeria when only one (1) 4. The Chinese population unarmed policeman could is the highest in the world, manage a security situation that followed by India. These threatens a community of more countries have mobilized their than one hundred persons. What population into assets. The was responsible for this Nigerian population is on the situation? At that time, increase without conscious Nigerians were voluntarily law efforts of governmental policies abiding, respect for constituted to convert our population into authority and its agencies asset. The Nigerian population including the police that was has become a liability. A appointed to maintain law and frustrated, abandoned and order. Intelligence Policing is hopeless population cannot important for the perspective as respect or trust its government. to the mode of intelligence The agencies of government gathering, we should appreciate cannot be effective in such an this background and ask environment. This is the biggest questions as to what are challenge of the Nigerian responsible for this change of Police. attitude towards the respect of 5. Our urban centres are constituted authorities including short of necessary the police in Nigeria. infrastructures. The educational OBSERVATIONS system, housing, health and 1. Government in Nigeria information-technology are was respected and its agencies inadequate. were respect. 6. Good network of streets 2. The rate of and quarters are inadequate. It unemployment was low. is so sad that in most cases of 3. The value system of our distress calls to the Police, the country was sound; based on quarters or the street cannot hard work, meritorious even be located. A lot of people achievements and community have no known residential service. address. How do you search for 4. The population was not a criminal or monitor those as high as we have now. activities of suspected criminals 5. Infrastructures such as when they do not have a known housing, education, health, address? agriculture and industry were THE NEED FOR commensurate to the overall PROACTIVENESS AND population. R E C O M M E N D E D 6. The Postmaster or SOLUTIONS telegram messenger could 1. The Independent deliver mail to any residence or National Electoral Commission address within the community must be encouraged to brace up without difficulty. In other to the responsibility of words there was clear layout of conducting free and fair streets and quarters; this too was periodic elections in Nigeria. important for intelligence INEC cannot prevent election gathering and community without the support of the policing. Police. Police have a RESPONSES TO responsibility to work with OBSERVATIONS INEC for the conduct of free 1. Government cannot be and fair election. This respected or its agencies cannot background is indispensable for be trusted if the government the effectiveness of the Nigerian does not enjoy the confidence Police and security agencies in of the people. Nigeria because a government 2. Globalization has its that is put in place by the people challenges of development and will enjoy the confidence of the security problems. The quickest people and it is the people that way to solve this problem is can enhance intelligence deliberate policy of government gathering and effectiveness of to create direct or indirect the Police and other security employment for its growing agencies. population. 2. The three-tiers of 3. Nigeria value system is government must commence almost becoming debased as short-term, mid-term and longpeople now celebrate wealth term policies of creating direct without verifying its source. and indirect employment for the The political class that have the growing population. The responsibility to redirect our decision of the Federal ethical value have instituted
By HON. ISAIAH OSIFO Government on amnesty programme is commendable in this regard. However, efforts must be put in place to sustain the programme and expand the scope in conjunction with the state and local governments to create employment for the youths of this country.
arms and arms control. This will expand local policing and intelligence gathering for the Nigerian Police. 6. There is urgent need for the review of allocation formulae in favour of the Local Government and the State. The Local Government Area
9. It should be an offence to send a policeman on a duty in the bank or on highway patrol without helmet and bullet-proof vests. Many Policemen have been victims to inferior weapons of the criminals because of the lack of these facilities. 10. There should be a special dedicated account to be subscribed to by internally generated revenue from Local, State and Federal Government
Mohammed Abubakar, IG of Police. 3. The political class must be challenged to contribute to the reorientation of our value system. This can be achieved by accountable government, shunning corruption, legislation by the legislators that will make executive arms of government accountable to the people, judicial system that is conscious of the evil of corruption and insecurity and making decisions that will stamp out corruption and debased value system in our country. 4. The recruitment process into the Police must be clearly defined to be on the basis of Local Government Area system. Such applicants must have guarantor either from their traditional rulers or religious leaders. A system that will involve such recruitment procedure will assist in the identity of the Police Officers. 5. Policing of the place of worship should be the responsibility of the believers. Government in conjunction with religious leaders and supervised by the police should recruit volunteer security officers from these religious groups and given training in
Councils supervised by the Nigerian Police should regularly recruit intelligence officers that should be trained and supervised by the Nigerian Police. Instead of the clamour for the state police, the states should assist local government areas in the recruitment of these intelligence gathering officers that will work under the supervision and control of the Nigerian Police. Local Government Area policing with operational base on the localities is the most effective way of policing any country. 7. The Police-community integrating system should be introduced and discourage the system of barracks. Majority of the Police officers should leave with the people and the wearing of uniform should be restricted to those who are on special duties such as highway patrol. 8. The communication gadgets such as walkie-walkie should be made available to all Policemen on duty. The underground surveillance officers should equally have these equipments for the purpose of connecting and tracking fleeing criminals.
for Nigeria internal security. The payment of volunteer information officers, purchase of patrol vans and communication gadgets should be funded from this account. Policing is a local responsibility, therefore, the Police must find a way to penetrate local community leaders and encourage local vigilantes on the basis of quarters, streets or villages. The local vigilantes should be assisted from this fund to have training on arms and arms control, identify those within their jurisdiction and supply regular information to the Police. The Local vigilante should not only work at night, but on a 24-hour basis in order to have eyes on the movement within their jurisdiction. The only way politicization of the local vigilante can be avoided is to put their recruitment on a tripartite agreement of community leaders, local government and the Nigerian Police. Their training, supply of arms and their supervision should be the strict responsibility of the Nigerian police. 11. The junior police
officers, from the ranks of the constables to Inspector of Police should be made to serve in their states of origin. A good policing system must have field-men that are familiar with the terrain in which they operate. 12. The Nigerian Police have recorded several brilliant intelligence gathering. However, it is my suggestion that the police should discontinue the idea of disclosing their strategies to the public. 13. The police in conjunction with relevant ministries should encourage the organization of volunteering groups, such as boy-scout. Boys-brigade, red-cross, girlsguide, etc., in our secondary and tertiary schools. These organizations can be mobilized into an effective platform of intelligence-gathering. 14. Grass-root Labour organizations, for example, Association of Bike-riders, motor mechanics, vulcanizers, electricians, bricklayers, carpenters, etc., should be encouraged to register with the police in the communityrelation department and units that are responsible for intelligence-gathering. 15. It is high time to have statistics of unemployed youth in Nigeria. This responsibility is not beyond the ability of Local Government Councils. The police in conjunction with the Local Government Administration should rely on this pool of unemployed youth for intelligence-gathering, motivation, and a basis for consideration into employment in the Nigerian police. 16. The police in Nigeria must cultivate the character of friendliness with the general public. It is only a friendly police that can have access to vital information. Finally, it must be said that the Nigerian police has tried its utmost best in our challenging Nigerian environment. The legislative and the executive arms of government of the three-tiers of government – Local Government, State, and Federal have the responsibility to cultivate the general environment that can assist the police in intelligence-gathering and maintenance of law and order. The police cannot perform magic in any country where you have political leaders that are less concerned about the welfare of the citizens. Hon. Isaiah Osifo, (JP) (Participant from Edo State) e.mail isaiahosifo2011@yahoo.com Tel: (234)08037112717.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Midweek PREAMBLE SIR Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was a British politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century, Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, a historian, a writer, and an artist. He is the only British Prime Minister in history to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature, and was also the first person to be made an Honorary Citizen of the United States. It is to this great man’s quotes that I want to start this piece with. According to this great leader of all times, “There is no limit to the ingenuity of man if it is properly and vigorously applied under conditions of peace and justice”. In another breath; he stated that, “Battles are won by slaughter and manoeuvre. The greater the general, the more he contributes in manoeuvre, the less he demands in slaughter”. After testing great wars and the results of diplomacy this great Statesman who has both British and American citizenship declared and I quote, “To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war”. THE ONGOING MACABRE DANCE IN RIVERS STATE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS The main aim of this treatise is to critically examine the present macabre dance currently going on in Rivers State and possibly offer suggestions on the ways out of the avoidable imbroglio in the State if adhered to. But before embarking upon this venture, permit me my dear reader to take you a bit back on the State of Rivers State prior to the coming in of the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. According to the Human Resources Unit of New York based Marsh & McLennan Cos report of 2006, “Port Harcourt the capital of Rivers State is the world third most dangerous cities in the world to live in ranked after Baghad, Yemen’s capital of Sana’a and Khartoum in Sudan for foreign workers as criminal gangs and militia groups seeking greater control of
Magazine
Rivers 2015: The Big By EZE CHUKWUEMEKA EZE energy revenue step up attacks against the State”. Whenever I have to write on the security situation of Rivers States or whatever that may prompt it again, three great minds’ descriptions of that period will always come to my mind, Mr. Ogbu of Thisday Newspapers, late George Onah of Vanguard Newspapers and of course Prof Okey Ndibe of Sahara Reporters . Ahamefula Ogbu described one of the scenes in the State at this period in these words ‘Rambo could not have done better. With automatic rifles in their hands and hate, revenge and murder hanging around their necks, warring cultists took Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by storm yesterday for the second day running. Pandemonium broke out as residents ran for safety. It was sorrow, tears and blood. At the end of it all—or, more aptly, at the interval, for no one knows the end yet—15 persons had been dispatched to their early graves’. But if Mr. Ogbu’s description is not okay by you then listen to late Mr. George Onah, “For many residents, the capital of Rivers State, hitherto the Garden City where life was lived to the fullest is no longer the place to live in as rivers of blood flow ceaselessly following an unending siege by militants, kidnappers, cultists, and criminals of other hue. Violence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has gone full circle and the guns are still booming. The casualties are pilling, even as blood of defenseless citizens’ flow endlessly. Neither the Police nor the government has answers to the brigandage. Security outfits do not have official figures, record or reliable estimates of casualties in the Rivers State orgy of killings. Even the number of deaths during the Nigerian Civil War had a consensus of informed
opinion on the number of deaths, on both sides, which hovered, realistically around 600,000 and below. But the rapidity of casualties in the onslaught by gunmen on Rivers State cannot simply be pigeonholed. The currency of killings is alarming and the growth of the economy of the state is heading for the deep”. You may wish to listen to Prof Okey Ndibe incase Onah and Ogbu failed in their descriptions of what Port Harcourt used to be; according to him in his article titled ‘A BLOOD SOAKED CITY’; ‘That the once idyllic Port Harcourt was now a scarred place, a war zone, a city soaked in blood; the city under siege with thousands of citizens displaced; that its once quiescent boulevards and avenues were now ruled by marauding militiamen and by the fierce soldiers deployed to dislodge them. Sudden death by bullet was now a generalized hazard for the city’s trapped and hapless residents’. RECREATING THE ABOVE UGLY PAST Reading through the letter by the Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly to Mr. President I start to wonder if we are about to go back to the era of 2007. Rt. Hon. O Amachree in an open letter, titled ;Disruption of Democracy and Rule of Law- Anarchy Looms in River State’, dated 11th May 2013 and addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan reads, “The situation in Rivers State has reached a fever-pitch, as there are strong indications that the governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the legislators, and prominent government officials have been marked for assassination. To this end, 18 prominent robbery and kidnap kingpins presently in custody are to be released from detention to launch the planned mayhem
at the government officials and innocent citizens and residents of the state”. According to the Speaker, “ since 15th of April 2013 when an Abuja High Court upturned the election of a legitimate and duly elected state Executive Committee of the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) led by Chief
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, we seek to use this medium to intimate you with the developments, their implications for Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole and pray your presidential intervention”. Six days after the letter to Mr. President the Speaker of the Rivers State House of
Maca
Thisday Newspapers in its edition of 15th May, 2013 reported that dynamite was thrown into a building housing the generating set that supplies electricity to the secretariat of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council in
wee State soci dead emb on Gov
President Goodluck Jonathan G.U.AKE, all has not been well in Rivers State. It is important to note that since this development, Rivers State is witnessing, with unending shock and awe, the creeping fashion of daylight illegality and disorder. As stakeholders in the Nigeria democratic project and legitimate representatives of our people as well as strong collaborators in your Excellency’s emergence as PRESIDENT, FEDERAL
“His assumption of office as the Governor of Rivers State, though his political party PDP dumped him after convincingly winning the ticket of the party during the primaries of the party until the Supreme Court restored him as the Governor of Rivers State still seems a mystery to many political watchers in the country. By May 2015 he may have spent eight years as the Governor of Rivers State. He is currently the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and maybe re-elected by the next few days.”
Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Dan Amachree reported, “Recall that I have earlier expressed my fears about plans to withdraw Security Operatives from the Governor and top officials of the Rivers State Government, including me, making us vulnerable to attack by hoodlums. Now my fears are made worse by the recent murder of an Aide to Chief G. U. Ake, Mr. Eric Ezenekwe, at his Home Town in Erema, Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State”. According to another report from online news site, Saharareporters quoting a source in Abuja that the police and state security services have been told to withdraw the security of the governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi anytime from next week.
Rivers State, a development that ignited the fire which razed the building; sending jitters across the state as the crisis rocking the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens. I got more frightened when I read the international dimension to this new effort to reincarnate the evil past. According to the petition by the Centre for Advancement of Justice and Peace in Emerging Democracies (ICJAPED) to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), petitioned the UN to investigate alleged Rivers State security siege. According to their petition signed its Co-ordinator for African Region, Dr. Stephen Briggs and Secretary General, Chike Nwokobia, the group urged the UN to avert anarchy in Rivers State, “For emphasis, the past three
Ama Rive Asse holde gover consi and a demo socie and e repre chara state that deadl havin many busin we str this d State break with being violen worse Haram some Nige
THE NIGERIAN
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Midweek
Magazine
g Four And Way Out Of abre Dance ks has portrayed Rivers as being in a season of etal lunacy and political lock with very arrassing actions meted the Rivers State ernor, Chibuike
altercation between President Goodluck Jonathan, the Commander in Chief and elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governor Chibuike Ameachi, the Governor of
political future of the nation may not be over-emphasised. One may not be surprised of the political intrigues, manoeuvres currently going on in the State in order to capture the soul of the State
Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State echi, members of the rs State House of mbly, political office rs and other officials of nment. These actions are dered highly repressive gainst the tenets of a true cracy. As a major civil ty group, we resolutely xplicitly condemn the ssive actions and cters behind the Rivers situation as we believe the present political ock in the State is already g devastating effect on things including ess to social order. Also, ongly believe that unless eadlock is broken, Rivers may witness serious down of law and order, a high probability of another centre for t crimes which may be than the present Boko terrorist activities in Northern states of ria. The alleged
Rivers State began late last year following rumours that Governor Ameachi would be seeking a higher political position. This, even though regarded as mere speculation, did not go down well with Presidency because ever since then, the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has no doubt witnessed a series of embarrassing castigations from mostly those loyal or sycophantic to the Presidency. Consequently, to the above stated, we also seek the immediate intervention of the International community to investigate the above stated issues and call to order all erring persons for the preservation of Nigerian people, sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and restoration of order”. 2015: RIVERS STATE, ITS POLITICS AND ITS STRATEGIC STATUS The strategic status of Rivers State in the socio-economic,
knowing very well that whoever that takes the State is sure of the Government at the centre. Let me therefore use this opportunity to highlight the major gladiators and those holding the key to restore sanity in the State P R E S I D E N T GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN GCON Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is of the extraction of the Ijaw Nation in the South-South region of Nigeria
and the first Head of State of Nigeria from the region; graduated from UNIPORT with a Second Class Upper Division Honours Degree, Zoologist, a University Don and the first Nigerian Head of State with a Doctorate Degree. He is the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON and presently the President and Commander –In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has the singular honour to be the first Nigerian to be a Deputy Governor, Governor of Bayelsa State, Vice President and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria less than six years, a feat that does not come that easy. The heat in Rivers State is being generated by those that feel that every obstacle to his second bid to the Presidency must be routed out. A quiet and unassuming gentleman but a deadly tactician when pushed to the wall; they are many great politicians that have tasted his bitter pills that can attest to this. His strength leans more on his perceived weakness. Some people erroneously assume that he is vindictive but records of those that have undermined him in the past currently benefitting so much under his administration proves that otherwise. He is not the ambitious type but fate continues to thrust on him higher responsibilities that he never schemed for. If he listens to some of the appeals on the on-going macabre dance in Rivers State, he has the sole key to put an end to the dance if he wants to. RT. HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI OON Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi an indigene of Ubima Nkwerre in Rivers State. His rise to his present status is as mysterious and miraculous as that of President Jonathan. A Master’s Degree holder, Amaechi was the first Nigerian to be the Speaker of a State House of Assembly for a whopping eight years and later becoming the Chairman of Conference of Speakers Forum an umbrella body of all
Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria. His assumption of office as the Governor of Rivers State, though his political party PDP dumped him after convincingly winning the ticket of the party during the primaries of the party until the Supreme Court restored him as the Governor of Rivers State still seems a mystery to many political watchers in the country. By May 2015 he may have spent eight years as the Governor of Rivers State. He is currently the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and maybe re-elected by the next few days. His unprecedented feats in transformation of Rivers State have won him many international and local awards and respect of great world and Nigerian Leaders. His resolve to re-contest the office of the Chairmanship seat of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and his perceived lack of support to the perceived candidature of President Jonathan come 2015 is the main cause of the on-going macabre dance in Rivers State. He was the rallying force behind mobilising the Governors under PDP to support the presidential aspiration of President Jonathan during the PDP Presidential Primaries that produced Jonathan as the PDP Flag-bearer and during the 2011 presidential election proper ensured that President Jonathan got over 2million votes from Rivers State the highest by another State in Nigeria. A misunderstood but an amiable personality; his forthrightness and boldness to stand by the truth attracts so much enemies to him particularly those who can’t withstand his manner of approach to result oriented feats. His numerous ‘sins’ will be highlighted later. CHIEF BARR. EZEBUNWO NYESOM WIKE Chief Nyesom Wike an indigene of Rumuwike Nkwerre is a lawyer by
profession, a political tactician of note and strategist of the first order. He was the National President of All Local Government of Nigeria from 2003 - 2006 (ALGON), the umbrella Forum through which all the 774 Local Government Council Chairmen in Nigeria interface and interact on issues affecting the Politics and policies of Nigeria, while from 1999-2007 he was the Executive Chairman of ObioAkpor Local Government in Rivers State, an office he used to redefine and exhibit his special brand of governance. He constructed the Local Government Secretariat that stands as one of the best in Nigeria and a great edifice to behold. His tenure witnessed various developmental initiatives in the local government and he is remembered most especially for empowering a lot of youths, elderly women and men, the physically challenged. An ardent hand at grassroots mobilisation, He is credited together with Governor Amaechi of founding the formidable political vanguard in Rivers State - the Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) that decides and determines to a large extent the political tide in the state. He later was appointed the Chief of Staff of Governor Amaechi from 2007 to 2011 and from 2011 appointed by President Jonathan as the Minister of Education State of Federal Republic of Nigeria, a post he currently holds. He is touted as the next Mr “Fix It” when the original executor of the office and currently the BOT Chairman of PDP, Chief Tony Aneinh may have retired. It is in that capacity that he was appointed to oversee the PDP Gubernatorial Primaries of Sokoto, Adamawa and Edo States a feat he performed most stupendous to the admiration of those that sent him. Apart from Edo State gubernatorial election which PDP lost to ACN, PDP candidates won in Adamawa and Sokoto States. To be continue
“The main aim of this treatise is to critically examine the present macabre dance currently going on in Rivers State and possibly offer suggestions on the ways out of the avoidable imbroglio in the State if adhered to. But before embarking upon this venture, permit me my dear reader to take you a bit back on the State of Rivers State prior to the coming in of the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.”
THE NIGERIAN
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Opinion
Understanding Keys To Success By NKULO BLESSING ANWULIKA
LIFE is a continual ‘process of learning and acquiring wisdom from experiences in order to excel. Here is a beautiful anecdote to illustrate that statement. It’s a story about four people named everybody, somebody, anybody and nobody. There was an important job to do and “Everybody” was sure that “somebody” would do it. “Anybody” could have done it but “Nobody” did it. “Somebody” got angry about it because it was “Everybody’s” Job. “Everybody’ thought “Anybody” could do it, but “Nobody” realized that “Everybody” would not. Now it ended up this way: “Everybody” blamed “somebody” when “Nobody” did what “anybody” could have done. Always perform your very best as if your whole life depends on it. Do your best in every situation or task given to you or that which you set to embark on with the notion that it’s your last minute on earth. Never get a job done because you want your superior or colleagues to complement you or because you want to paint the picture of an effective, efficient and competent staff. In the real sense you are living a life of pretence, my boss calls it “Eye service”, and it’s the gospel truth. People who have excelled in life are those who put an extra effort without giving up or accepting defeat. Successful individuals never pay attention to the praises and complements they receive from others. Every one can do extraordinary things, nobody is a failure, and you are created in the image and likeness of God, so no fruit from him is destined to fail. We are all productive in our different fields but all we need to do in order to achieve your purpose and objective is to be determined, persistent and extremely focused, then your dreams will become a reality. Though challenges will show up but embrace such as a stepping stone to success. For one to become a success in life, you need to be confident and be willing to take incredible risks. Believe in yourself and above all the sky is your limit. Self motivation is the key to success. Time waits for nobody; you can achieve so much in a day. So do not waste your precious hours sleeping or chatting unnecessarily on Blackberry messenger. You have so much time to do that but right now you need to become someone, someone who could contribute
immensely to his/her society, someone who can impact knowledge and the right attitude into his fellow man. People should be able to look unto you as their inspiration, you should be a pacesetter. You were not sent into the world to become a couch potato, of course you can spend your leisure time seeing a movie but only when you have achieved whatever you set to achieve that day. Movies are means of entertainment and relaxation, but not a daily routine. You are spending your God-given time watching talented individuals making a beautiful living out of their talents and they are having a good time, simultaneously, making a fortune. But you sit there criticizing these wonderful talents, who made you a judge over them? You should even extract the moral lessons you could learn from them and ignore the wrong messages. What have you done with your talents? How productive are you? Life does not go on forever, my dear. So if, you have that mentality that there is He after death, sorry to say because it does not exist. Your time starts now, “tick-tuck, “tick-tuck”, says the clock, so sit up. Time is a spirit so learn to be time conscious. We are what we repeatedly do. We do not act rightly because we have the virtue or excellence but we rather have those because we have acted right. Therefore, excellence is not an “act” but “a habit”. Let me tell you a story, I have a friend who had a good business idea but what always come to her mind was the word “impossibility”. Apparently, this word is a “killer of dreams”. she has the ability, potentials and skills she needed to excel, to crown it all she is brilliant. So I had a heart-to heart talk with her and she confided in me. Gradually, she started having the mindset that she could do whatever she wants to only if she removes the letters “im” from “impossible”. She pressed forward disregarding the obstacles she encountered which ironically made her more focused, determined and
stronger. Today, she is the proud owner of a fashion house in Abuja. So what did it take? Determination, focus, persistence and intense passion. She had always dreamed of owning a fashion house because she is stylish, classic, has an excellent charisma and the ability to sketch and innovate fantastic designs. Now she derives joy in doing what excites her and fortunately, making a lot of money from it because her designs are superb, unique and amazing. I can go on and on but she is not my topic of
discussion she is an epitome of success and you can be same. Doing what you enjoy is the key to performance. You have to start up first, keep your head high, and never say never. You might think it is rather too slow but in a month’s time, when you look back at where it all started, you will be astonished that you have made a tremendous progress. Thinking ahead; trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing seems “impossible”. The moment you get into the “expert” state of mind, a great number of things become “possible” Firstly, you need to have a
goal, set your priorities right. Goal setting are your set target, your action plan. Below are characteristics of your plan: • Imagine you have the inborn ability to achieve any goal you set for yourself. • List out the activities that will make the greatest meaning towards achieving your goal. • Look at your personal life and identify how your thoughts and ideas can create your goal.
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What do you think or talk about the most? • What is the price you need to pay to achieve your goal? • What one action must you take immediately towards achieving your goal? Because an effective plan gives you the ability to measure progress. When you are through with this, the next are the steps to your goal setting: • Be able to see yourself successful, create a vision in your
life and business, and try to create a picture of what you want your success to be like. Focus on the vision until you can describe it. • Write down your goals. Take that picture or vision and write it down. The reasons for writing them down are, so you won’t forget, it’s your first Commitment and it makes you accountable to the only person you can’t deceive (yourself). In writing your goals, you need to be specific and have a time frame, put down the years you want to achieve it. There should be no limits to your ability. Put down what you really want and be willing to do what it takes to achieve your
goal. There are so many obstacles you should not allow take over you, because you will be faced with challenges. The phrase “I tried” should be wiped off your vocabulary; it should be your worst enemy. Refuse to rationalize and make excuses, realize that nobody is responsible but you. Rise above the opinion of others i.e. do not allow what people think or say about you or your dreams dishearten you. Negative self image is a hindrance to success and anything worth having is worth striving for. Therefore, have 100% control of your emotions and develop your own strategies.
“We are what we repeatedly do. We do not act rightly because we have the virtue or excellence but we rather have those because we have acted right. Therefore, excellence is not an “act” but “a habit”.
TIME MANAGEMENT Time management is your key to happiness and success; it is d vehicle that can take you wherever you are to wherever you want to go because anything worthwhile takes tremendous concentration. Time management allows you control your sequence of events; you choose and determine what ever happens in your life. Winners do the necessary thing: take a step forward. Most individual dwell in time poverty, in emphasis, time poverty is inculcating the habit of complaining about time. Not having enough time but 50% of their time is wasted one idle talks. Get away from time wasters. Everyone in the world gets 24 hours every day depending on how is spent. Here is a clue, act the part, assume the role, with time it becomes automatic, and imagine yourself as an excellent person. Fake it until you make it.
Time is your most precious resource, it can not be saved, it indispensable, it has to be planned like a project. Time is irreplaceable especially in relationships. Time is more essential in achieving. Time management is a skill that can be leant by practice it requires self discipline and self control and every act of self discipline increases your capacity for self esteem and respect. Two things can not be done at once, choose the sequence of events because doing one thing means not doing something else so you need to set your priorities right. A feeling of dissatisfaction rises your values are not set right. Treat your time like money, how do you spend it to achieve maximum satisfaction. Peace of mind is your highest goal, the greatest spiritual development. The key to a balanced life is doing just two things, your work and family. Your work has to revolve around your family. Spend time with the most important people in your life, “quantity” of time at home and “quality” of time at work. It has to be balanced.
THE NIGERIAN
19
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Natural Medicine THE salt on your dinning table is called common or table salt. In chemistry, it is identified as sodium chloride or the chloride of sodium. Table salt is often referred to as common salt because it is a widely distributed salt in the universe. For example, it is found in organic foods. All fluids of our body contain the salt. Name it. Is it your sperm, semen, blood, saliva, spinal fluid or digestive juices? Sodium chloride is found in them. Also, your cells has sodium chloride. So, are the fluids surrounding the cells. One other reason why table salt or sodium chloride is called common salt is because it is widely used on cooking and at table. It is difficult to find a person who doesn’t eat salt. In other words, everybody knows and uses it for improving the taste of his food. Beyond its culinary value, table salt is of great physiological importance to us. To start with, it prevent our heart muscle from faltering. Studies have shown that we need salt for the maintenance of a strong steady and co-ordinated heart rhythm. Similarly, all our other muscles as well as nerves require salt to function well. Thirdly, without salt, our kidneys cannot make and excrete urine efficiently. Neither can our bodies retain water. Remember, salt is hygroscopic substance, after all. As one, it absorbs and holds water. Hence, salt is critical to water balance of the body and consequently metabolism. Indeed, salt offers numerous physiological functions to man. however, this point must be made. When salt exists in an abnormal level in the body, it brings on us unhealthy benefits one of which is hypertension. Given this, the question people ask is, what is the correct dose of salt we should eat? Before I address this question, let me say that you cannot use your tongue or eyes to determine the amount of salt to add to your food. In most cases we over consume salt through the adoption of this procedure. It is not a scientific way to quantitatively measure the dosage of salt intake. Now to brass tacks. There are different schools of medicine as it relates to salt dosage. One school tells us that we need 2gms of salt daily. Another says the appropriate dose is 2.3 gms. Still other medics state that taking between 1.5 gms and 2 gms, or about a teaspoon of salt, is all we require each day. Dr. David Reuben, MD, author of Everything You Wanted to Know About Nutrition, on his part, recommends that a person should only consume 200mg of salt daily. That translates to 1/20 of a teaspoon a day. I agree with Dr. David Reuben’s recommendation. On an average or a normal day, this dosage of salt is sufficient. However, you need more salt on a dry, hot and sunny day, or while engaged in high impact exercise. This is because you are sweating a lot losing salt and so need to replace it.
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The Salt On Your Table Therefore, it is crystal clear that we only need a little salt in our food. Hence, if you eat corned beef and sardines, then you should know that you are overeating salt. This is because a lot of salt is added to these canned foods. Also, there is over salting of food prepared by Mama Puts and fast food joints or chains. The reason for this is simple. They use salt as commercial stimulants to market their food. Overtime, this cuisinary practice has taken a big toll on the society. Our natural taste buds have consequently acclimatized to high salt intake. Any food without salt overdose no more appeals to us. Unknown to us, however, these food sources – Mama puts and fast food chains – build up our salt intake to a point that we end up eating as much as 3 gm of salt daily.
“Now, do you know the worst scenario? Here it is. When a pot of soup or stew is over salted, the greatest danger lies ahead when the soup or stew is about to finish. At this time, the bottom remnant contains most of the added salt in the soup or stew. Anyone who eats them takes in a high dose of salt. His life is much more endangered than those who ate the fresh soup or stew earlier on. Too true, bottom soup or stew may not always be the best deal for a person.”
Our wives, sisters or mothers may, also develop the habit of serving us with over salted food. Sometimes, there is a history to such a habit. What I mean here is that the attitude of adding much salt to our food could be inherited and so runs in a family. Thus, all food prepared is over salted on fire while it is cooking. When at table, salt is still added. This scenario would not be complete if I don’t reveal that in such a family with an old tradition of consuming lots of salt, you find the absurd practices of adding salt to pawpaw, pea, avocado pear, coconut and corn before they are eaten. Sometimes, salt is even put in soaked gari before drinking. Yet all these food can be eaten without salt. Now, do you know the worst scenario? Here it is. When a pot of soup or stew is over salted, the greatest danger lies ahead when the soup or stew is about to finish. At this time, the bottom remnant contains most of the added salt in the soup or stew. Anyone who eats them takes in a high dose of salt. His life is much more endangered than those who ate the fresh soup or stew earlier on. Too true, bottom soup or stew may not always be the best deal for a person. Having gone this far, the reader can now understand why medics say that common or table salt is both a healer and a killer depending on how much of it you eat. Handle salt with care. Too much of everything is bad.
THE NIGERIAN
20
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
New Horizon Servant-Leadership And Beyond (1) IN our society, we see more and more that people are fed up with pursuing carriers. They want to pursue a mission. They want to use their creativity and their intuition to discover their true potential. Consequently, a servant leader will arrange things in such a way that these things becomes possible in their constituents. In other for these arrangements to be effective, however, the community has to be based on higher values. Obviously, exploitation cannot be the goal, if the community is to become progressive. Rather the servant — leader must help people feel a sense of ownership, and affiliation with the community and a sense of spirituality. A spiritual audit of corporate America, which is an amazing book written by lan I. Mitroff and Elizebeth .A. Denton, examines spiritual values in the workplace. It presents practical models for bringing people, body and soul to work in a spiritual way — to imbibe one’s work day with profound meaning. The spiritual technologies to which we are referring help in the workplace, such as accepting the fact that we are spiritual beings who are influenced by different kinds of actions and re-actions, that the Soul is eternal and also our essential self, that all bonafide religions are ultimately meant to bring us to associate with God, and that real spirituality helps us to recognize and honour other bonafide religious systems because there is One ultimate God, who reciprocates according to our degree of surrender. The book provides hard scientific evidence how spirituality helps when maturely employed in the workplace, even though managers feel that spirituality has nothing to do with work or politics. A servant — leader is not deluded. He understands that spirituality is not only important, it is most important. It is through a heal thy spirituality that we see the real development of character and principles centred leadership, and from this point, a more perfect community. As most people in this country spend over half of their working hours at work, we can see how important it is for them to be able to bring their entire selves into the workplace. This is especially true of their higher self. In this way they will not only be better people, but will offer more quality association and services in every area. To neglect or minimize spirituality is probably one of the worst things a manager can do to himself and others. In using the word spirituality, I am not referring to sectarian religious designations or
particular dogmas. I am referring to universal principles, sacred knowledge, ancient wisdom, transcendental information and spiritual technology. Universal spirituality will have an empowering and harmonizing effect whereas principles of sectarian religion will have the opposite effect, separating people who would otherwise be able to give so much more to their institutions and communities. Religion can often be dogmatic and easily corrupted with economic and political influence. But spirituality focuses on the essence. Spirituality will nourish the soul, going deep to the heart and therefore raising the consciousness. Religion tends to focus more on the external details, and thereby bypass genuine unity, higher consciousness and self – realization. The servant — leader’s position is not just to keep people active or even happy with their jobs, but to literally get people to love the institution, the leaders and themselves. In the above writeup, we can see how the power of love and how to engage its powers as service perspective, and fuel for successful management. One of the main reasons for discussing the aforementioned areas of servant leadership is based on the past. failures of Heads of States, Presidents and their associates, all of whom were leaders of third world countries who have either lost their country’s election, been overthrown or been assassinated. Their failure has to do with points addressed above and their inability to practice principle - centred leadership. In some of the international spiritual organizations, it is noticed that many leaders have retired due to frustration. Their frustration sometimes arose from their feelings of alienation in their post. They needed to learn how to love their dependents and thus encourage their dependents to love them. They could have shown their dependents love by offering them work according to their propensities, providing more relevant spiritual guidance and protection and most important of all, by the leader allowing his own life example to be his strongest message. One Cannot genuinely lead with high character, confidence, compassion and courage without fully depending on and creating a culture of love and trust. In the 1999 edition of Executive Excellence, Chip Bell, a senior partner with performance research Associates in Dallas, wrote a Superb article entitled, “What’s love got to do with
it”. Here are some of the highlights from his article: 1. A customer who likes you returns, but those who love you go out of their way to care for and defend you. 2. A customer who loves you will insist that their friends patronize your business. 3. A customer who loves you, will not sue YOU. 4. A customer who loves you, will offer YOU candid feedback. 5. A customer who loves you will be committed like a friend or neighbor, like the old attendants at the community
attacks at a time of crisis will be vicious. In truth, Jiva Gosvami, a great vaishnava scholar, writes in his Sri Tattra Saridarvha about the four human frailties: 1. Vihrama — to be illumined or deluded, an example is thinking the body to be the self or matter the essence of life. 2. Paramada — to be inattentive and, most importantly, to make mistake. 3. Vipralimba — to cheat, lie, exploit, abuse, etc. 4. Karanapataba — to posses imperfect senses, which cause
store treated their customers. 6. A customer who loves you will forgive you when you make a mistake. As mentioned above, when customers are in love with the services we offer and the way they are treated, and they feel valued and refreshed, then they will love the institution, community or business and its leadership. They will even be able to forgive the leaders mistakes more easily. This is the area of which we would like to give more attention, because as we know, in all endeavours, with the best intentions, mistakes are still made. Our success or failures as leaders of institutions is often determined not so much by the mistakes themselves but by people’s perception of the mistakes. Of-course, for a leader, how he deals with adversity identifies his actual strengths and weaknesses, but can push him to the limits if they are dissatisfied. If people feel the leader has their best interests in mind and has genuine affection for them, they are more willing to forgive. If they feel they have been lied to, manipulated or exploited, then often their
biased evaluations due to inaccurate or weak perceptions. These four defects are present in every human being, and they cause us to make many kinds of mistakes. Therefore, it is said, “To err is human”. But it is not necessary for humans to continually make the same mistakes. We are meant to learn from our past mistakes and draw from our experiences. If we cultivate love and trust among ourselves, we will be able to forgive one another’s necessary mistakes. Just as people in the corporate world think that spirituality and the cultivating of love and trust is not really important when measured against the immediacy of maximizing profit and facing hostile competition, so there are those in spiritual leadership who see that in light of the tremendous work involved in transcending this world and approaching God, this level of cultivating love and trust is extremely important. I have already explained some points mentioned in the spiritual audit of corporate America and the benefit of spirituality in the
With VICTOR ANIUKWU workplace. Let’s pause now and look at why the mode of goodness and the willingness to honour dharma -eternal religion is so necessary if we wish to embrace an eternal ideal. In the preface of the nectar of devotion, the author writes; “In all spiritual affairs one must control one’s mind and senses. If one cannot control his mind and senses, then one cannot make any progress or advancement in Spiritual Life. Everyone within this material world is engrossed in the modes of passion and ignorance. You may know this or not. Of-course, one must be at the platform of goodness — sattva — guna, by following the instructions of Rupa gosvami. Then everything concerning how to make further progress will be revealed.” Once again, the author explains that dharma — eternal religion, has much to do with controlling the mind and senses. By such control, one can make ongoing spiritual advancement and overcome ignorance and passion. From the mode of goodness, healthy minds, bodies and emotions will develop, because goodness allows us to see with clearer eyes. From the platform of goodness, it is easier to understand what is to be done, and what is not to be done. Here I would like to introduce the thoughts of other vaisnava scholars, since in this write up, I am trying to show the relevance of ancient thought in a modern context. In his commentary on the siksastakam prayers, special prayers that summarize the essence of devotion, Bhaktivoda Thakara writes: “One who call on God in offensively is always overwhelmed with thoughts of others’ well-being. By this he means that those who recite the Lord’s Holy Name sincerely, avoiding offenses, will develop compassion toward others. Srimad — Bagavatam 11, 25, 21 states: “Learned persons dedicated to Vedic culture or higher spiritual knowledge are elevated by the mode of goodness to higher and higher positions. While the mode of ignorance on the other hand, forces one to fall head — first into lower and lower births. And by the mode of passion, one continues transmigrating through different human bodies.” This reference lets us know that the modes of ignorance and passion actually incarcerate us and cause chaos, deviation, disturbance and the loss of personal integrity. They force us to enter material bodies again and again, with no hope of liberation from the physical sphere. As we enter the mode of goodness however we will be able to elevate ourselves to
a higher position both in this life and after death. In his purport to Bagavad — Gita 14 . 10, Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabupad writes, “If one wants, he can develop by practice the mode of goodness and thus defeat the modes Of ignorance and passion.” Although there are three modes of material nature, and if we are determined we can be blessed by the mode of goodness. By transcending the mode of goodness, we become situated in transcendental mode of goodness, which in Sanskrit is known as the vasudeva state” — the state in which we can understand the science of God. The mode of goodness is a launching pad to higher states of realization. He the author states that if we are properly determined, we will be blessed by becoming steady in goodness. From there, we will naturally go to pure goodness and be able to understand essential dharma — eternal religion. The same author, in a discussion while on a walk, in 1974 in Hawaii said, “ “Without coming to the platform of sattva — guna — the mode of goodness, nobody can advance in spiritual life.” This is a fact. Just like nobody can enter the Law College unless he is a graduate. The anthor’s purport to Ant-y- lila 1.92 of the great book caithinya caritarnrta states, “if in all one’s activities he strictly adheres to the mode of goodness he will certainly develop his God consciousness and ultimately become a pure devotee.” And in a lecture given in Calcutta he states, “If we have to give up the association of rajo guna and tame guna — passion and ignorance, then there is every question and answer of progress. Otherwise everything is just a bluff. Ultimately, we must abandon passion and ignorance, because they will degrade us, leaving as fixed in our own selfishness. Those who choose to remain in passion and ignorance cannot bluff about being absorbed in higher consciousness. If we want to learn eternal (sanatana) dharma — eternal religion, we must first practice regulation and cleanliness, humility and tolerance, and the other qualities of eternal religion. There are those who are codependent and who take shelter of institutions and communities. They basically want to he taught and have everything done for them. Such persons especially will be drawn to organizations with an autocratic structure. Worse, there are those who will he drawn to leadership because they think they can become autocrats. Often, such people are maniac and like to feel in control. This is one of the dangers in modern leadership, and it drives people to take shelter in democracy.
THE NIGERIAN
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Place Of Prayer
The Power Of Forgiveness
FORGIVENESS is one very important foundation every child of God must strive to build. Forgiveness is the act of pardoning somebody for a mistake, misunderstanding, wrong doing or inappropriate behaviour. It is the act of cancelling an obligation such as a debt.\ In the Lords Prayer, Jesus taught that the condition for us to be forgiven by God is for us to first forgive those that offend us. There are many things God cannot do for you except you forgive those that offend you. If you have unforgiving spirit, heaven’s help will be far from you. To whom ye forgive anything, / forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave lit in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices 2Cor. 2:10-11. Unforgiveness will put you in darkness. It gives the devil permission to operate in your life. Satan takes advantage of a heart that is filled with grudge. Unforgiveness will make you forget relevant instruction and make you behave out of character just like Moses who disobeyed God and did not enter into the Promised Land. You must know that judgment belongs to God, do not try to take vengeance on anyone that offends you. Even as it is not wrong to correct someone that offends you, you must not hold the deed against the person in your heart. If God who is our Father forgives, then we as His children are expected to behave like Him and also forgive all those that
offend us, Heb 8:12. Offences must come, you cannot prevent it Luke 17:1. But you must leave all those that offend you to God, don’t fight them by yourself or seek their destruction in your heart. Let God handle it. Eph 4:26-27. If you do not live a life of forgiveness, you will live in bondage and will be stagnated. Forgiveness on the other hand brings about promotion. Despite all Jesus suffered on the cross, He forgave all those that offended Him. If He had taken unforgiveness in His heart to the grave, He would not have risen from the dead. An unforgiving heart will take you to hell fire. The basis of your acceptance into Gods family is forgiveness, for we all were dead and lost in sin until God by His mercy forgave mankind and brought about restoration achieved by the sacrifice of His son, Jesus, on the cross If God forgave you not minding your unrighteousness, then you also are duty bound to forgive all those that offend you. Unforgiveness disqualifies you from God’s presence Heb 12:15. Thus those that wish to maintain an unbroken relationship with God must put away bitterness and an unforgiving spirit from their lives. Eph 4:31-32, 1 Pet. 2:21-23, Matt 5:7, James 2:13. Retaliation was permitted in the Old Testament because it was the era of ‘an eye for an eye”; Jesus however changed this system in the New Testament. He commanded that we should love our enemies and do good to those that offend us Matt 5:38-45. The merciful shall also obtain mercy. Our
prayer should not be retaliative; the New Testament believer should not dwell on the enemy but on God, Rev. 13:9-10, Matt. 26:52, Rom. 12:19-21, Isaiah 58:3, Luke 9:51-57, Matt. 5:38-39. Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye
intention is that if there is any case like that, you should forgive before you begin to pray. God forgave your sins even when you did not deserve forgiveness, so he expects you to also forgive all those that have offended you in one way or the other. When you refuse to forgive, your
have ought against any: that your father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Forgiveness enhances the effectiveness of prayers whereas unforgiveness hinders the effectiveness of prayers. Before you start praying, God demand that you search through your heart to see if there is anyone that has offended you whom you still hold a grudge against. His
own sin will be remembered by God and your prayers will be disqualified before Him. Forgiving those that have offended you is therefore to your own advantage, you are helping nobody but yourself. Matt. 18:32 - 35 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, 0 thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had
“Forgiveness enhances the effectiveness of prayers whereas unforgiveness hinders the effectiveness of prayers. Before you start praying, God demand that you search through your heart to see if there is anyone that has offended you whom you still hold a grudge against. His intention is that if there is any case like that, you should forgive before you begin to pray.”
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compassion on thy fellow servant, even as! had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly father do unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses. If you refuse to forgive, the
thoughts about such people. However, when you forgive those that have offended you, peace comes over you. As children of God, you must forgive because that is the nature of God our father; only devil and his children do not forgive. Many Christians pray warfare prayers against fellow human beings that have
sin that was covered will be re-opened. Devil does not have power, but he has devices and strategies. One of his strategies is to hinder you from forgiving all those that have offended you. The unforgiving servant was delivered to the tormentors. He probably remained in agony for the rest of his life because there is no way he would have been able to repay what he owed his master. Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. When you hold people responsible for unpleasant situations that happened to you, then you will find it difficult to forgive them. You will always have offensive
offended them because they have in their hearts the spirit of unforgiving. Forgiveness has no limit, you have to keep forgiving. Jesus told Peter to forgive his brother that has offended him 7 x 70 times. Of course no human being can offend you for as many times as that. This just goes to buttress the point that our forgiveness should be without limit. When you forgive someone, take your mind away from what the person did, don’t keep dwelling on the pain his action caused you. Having gone through this write up, I want you to take a look at your heart. Do you find grudge there against anyone? If there is, then I will love you to do the right thing. Let go of your grudge and I assure you that you will experience inner joy, peace and fulfillment thereafter.
THE NIGERIAN
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
International
Obama To Nominate Judges For WASHINGTON D.Cregulation. In January, the court US Court President Obama is set to unveil ruled unconstitutional Obama’s three nominations yesterday to a top federal appeals court, an aggressive move to fill seats that have long gone vacant amid partisan wrangling. If confirmed by the Senate, the three selections would bring the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to 11 judges – a rare moment of full capacity – and address what the Obama administration sees as the court’s conservative tilt. But more likely, the nominees will spark intense Republican opposition and could hasten a showdown over Senate filibusters. According to published reports, the three nominees are Cornelia “Nina” Pillard, a law professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.; Patricia Millett, an appellate lawyer; and Robert Wilkins, a federal district judge. The announcement is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Eastern time. RECOMMENDED: How much do you know about the US Constitution? A quiz. “They’re all very strong,” says
CHANGE OF NAME ODEDEDE – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odedede Ugheminaye Mercy now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adoghe Ugheminaye Mercy. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME AGBONAYE – I, formerly Miss Oghomwen Agbonaye now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Oghomwen Edeki. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities University of Benin and the general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME
MOLO – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Molo Loveth now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Augustine Ivie Loveth. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME OSARO – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Orobosa Mary Osaro now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Orobosa Osaro Momodu. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia. “There’s no real basis to oppose them on the merits. But we’ll see all kinds of arguments that the court doesn’t need more judges…. I think there’s a battle royale coming.” The D.C. Circuit is widely seen as the second most important court in the nation, after the US Supreme Court. Its cases are often national in scope, involving federal regulations and agencies, as well as national security. Because the Supreme Courts takes so few lower court cases, the D.C. Circuit is typically the last word on important matters. And it is a training ground for the Supreme Court: Four of the nine current justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts, served there. During his presidency, Mr. Obama has won some victories in the D.C. Circuit, but he has also seen parts of his agenda overturned – on the environment, on tobacco, on Wall Street
PUBLIC NOTICE
Compiled By ISAH STELLA .O.
three recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board last year. Want your top political issues explained? Get customized DC Decoder updates. It’s true that the Senate recently voted unanimously to confirm Sri Srinivasan to the D.C. Circuit, making him the first judge to join that court since 2006. But Senate Republicans have made clear that that was a one-off event – and that they believe the D.C. Circuit now has all the judges it needs to handle its case load. In April, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation to add a seat to both the Second and 11th Circuit Courts, and to remove three seats from the D.C. Circuit. Senator Grassley says the shift of seats away from the D.C. Circuit is necessary to “ease the pressure on the heavy workloads” of the two other courts.
The general public is hereby notified that the under-listed organizations have applied to the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ezoti Street, Benin City, Edo State for registration under the Edict No. 7 of 1985. S/N
NAME OF ORGANIZATIONS
1.
Oghoghosa Club of Benin, 40, Mayomi Street, off St. Saviour Road, Ihimwinrin Quarters, Benin City.
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS/TRUSTEES Alex Okpamen (C) Fidelis Izedomwen (S) Edokpolor Idele (T)
2.
Okada Boutique Owners Association, 65, Mission Road, By Okada Riders Park, Ovia North East L.G.A.
Eric Lijoka (C) Dennis.O. (S) Mrs Mercy.O. (T)
3.
ALAGHODARO Lovely Brothers Club of Benin, 4, Amadasun Street, off Oka-bere Street, Upper Sokponba Road Benin City.
Charles Erauyi (C) Uyi Obaretin (S) Friday Egharevba (T)
4.
Chapel of His Glory Mind Renewal, 12, Flamingo Estate, Upper Siluko Road, Egor Quarters, Benin City.
Rev. Isaac T. Omozuafo Pastor Mrs. Blessing Omozuafo Bules Eruvwote
5.
Proof of Faith Redeemer’s Ministry Int. Inc, 6, Dominion Way (Odalo lane) off Ihumudumu Road, Ekpoma.
Apostles (Dr.) Moses Okhawere (C) Evang. Ayeni Joseph Oviosa (S) Pastor Andrew Uzoyare (T)
6.
Up Aibuedefe Club, 3, Aibizugbowa Street, Behind Coca-Cola Plant, Eyaen Benin City.
Lucky Agbontaen (C) Gilbert Echi (S) Wilson Omokaro (T)
7.
Progressive Group, II, Aideyan Street, off Ihama Road, G.R.A. Benin City.
Rev (Pharm) Nicholas Odiase (C) Stanley Ehiarinmwian (S) Victor Orumwense (T,)
8.
Progressive Front, 20, Omage Street, Off Federal Girls College Road, Ugbowo, Benin City.
Dr (Barr.) Edoba Ornoregie (C) Dr. Stanley Ehiarinmwian (S) Engr. John.O. Oviasuyi (T)
9.
Progressive Forum, 7, Adesuwa Street off Upper Mission Road, Benin City.
Lawrence Okah (C) Lincoln Ibie (S) Hon. Sunny Ogbewe (T)
10.
Edo Goat Butchers Association, 37, Costain Road New Benin, Benin City.
Sunday Egbo (C) Livinus Okonkwo (S) Ikechukwu Nwankwo (T)
11.
Orhionmwon Sons & Daughters in Diaspora, Abudu, Orhionmwon L.G.A.
Jolly Idelegbagbon (C) Raymond Agbonayinman (S) Dako Ehigiamusoe (T)
12.
Canaan Land Deliverance Ministry Int’l, The Limit Road, Behind Nat Driving School, off Sapele Road Benin City.
Pastor Silver Wealth lyamu (C) Pastor Egbe lyamu Mrs. Mercy Ogiemwonyi
13.
Osarugue Social Club of Benin, 3, Imasuen Street, off Osaseri Street, off Erediauwa Street, off Sapele Road, Benin City.
Lucky Ojo (C) Perfect Umukoro (S) Clara Onaghise (T)
14.
Up Ebarobolu Social Club of Benin, Ogida Police Barrack, Benin City.
Ogbidi Henry (C) Olakpa Sylvanus (S) Oamen Henry (T)
15.
St. Francis of Assisi Church, 2, Odemwingie Street, off 2nd Federal Road, Okhoro Road, Benin City.
Rev. Dr. C.I. Umane Dr. Charles Ayeni Mrs Ogechi Ezeh
16.
Ayevbosa Club of Benin, 3, Idiado Street, off Artillery Street off Siluko Road, Benin City.
Mrs. Osazee Ogbebor (P) Mrs. Pat Oni (S) Mrs. Esther Okuybor (T)
17.
Udochi Youth Association, Benin Branch, 96, Lagos Street, Benin City.
Jibrin Kadiri (P) Abudu. O. Sunday (S) Com. F.M. Zaehary (T)
18.
Bethel Unity Club of Benin, 13, Ekhorutomwen Street, Upper Ekehuan Road, Ugbighoko Quarters, Benin City.
Victory Ekhorutomwmen (C) Joseph Igbinedion (S) Austin Osakpamwan (T)
19.
Ultimate Unity Club of Benin, 7, Federal Road, By Akugbe Road Junction, New Benin, Benin City.
Endurance Ayeni (C) Ernest Akhuwenyan (S) Innocent Ajalume (T)
20.
Oboritevwoma Social Club, 134, Adolor College Road, Egor L.G.A.
Ochuko Ovievwerah (C) Clement Imonisa (S) Otemu Idonor (T)
21.
Lampese Youth Association, Ukilekpe Primary School, Lampese Akoko-Edo L.G.A.
David .A. Ojeifo (C) Bayode Jolly Lucky (S) Bayode Queen Tina (T)
22.
Great Brothers Club, 1, Lawani Street, off lyaro Road, Benin City.
Osaro Eriyo (C) Arthur Osayande (S) Eseosa Ehigie (T)
23.
Imose Sisters’ Club, 8, 2nd Unity Street, off Upper Siluko Road, Benin City.
Mrs. Caroline Enabulele (P) Mrs. Adesuwa Aigbe (S) Mrs. Aigbedion (T)
24.
Up Brothers Club, 1, First Power Line, Evbotubu Quarters, Benin City.
Amayanevbo Clement (C) Agho Friday (S) Agho Christoper (T)
25.
League of Great Friends, 2, College Road, off Wire Road, Benin City.
Felix Esemuede Edobor (C) Festus Osemwengie (S) Ahrned Yusuf (T)
26.
Almighty Favour Fire Ministry Int’l, 1, Adodo Street, Evbornore Quarters.
Pastor Destiny Inegbe Ekuku Mrs. Destiny Bella Ekuku Oviri Moses
27.
Agbado Community Youth Association, 7, Agbado Street, off Akpakpava Road Benin City.
Charles Erhabor (C) Christian E.A. Otoadese (S) Uyi Obasohan (T)
28.
Ongbotuche Ayi Yala Odey Idoma Cooperative Association, Ofunmwegbe Town, Ovia South West L.G.A.
Michael Ofana (C) Augustine Oloko (S) Michael Oko Aju (T)
29.
Igho-Ogbe Progressive Club, 5, Ehima Street, off Oka Market Road, Upper Sokponba Road, Benin City.
Ehibor Benjamin (C) Orhionkpaiyo Kingsley (S) Erick Osaremwinda (T)
30.
Club Five (5) Social Club, 1, Ohuoba Street, off Sapele Road, Benin City.
Monday Emetacho (C) Kingsley Odiae (S) Oni Eboigbe (T)
PUBLIC NOTICE
PRAISE ALIVE MINISTRY
The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Pastor Iwuji Obehi Augustina - Chairman 2. Mr. Idehen Obas James - Secretary/Trustee 3. Mr. Iwuji Chukwuemeka Stephen - Trustee 4. Mrs. Barbara Ebehireme Imana - Trustee 5. Mr. Ojie Omonkhegbele Timoty - Trustee AIM AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach and teach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Leading people to discover and fulfil their purpose in Christ. 3. To Evangelize the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Any objection to the registration should be directed to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, P. M. B. 198 Garki, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.
Signed: S.E. Edokpaigbe Esq. For: EDOKPAIGBE EDOBOR & CO.
LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE EDO STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY BENIN CITY WHEREAS the persons whose names are set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and at the place stated in the column; AND WHEREAS the persons whose names, addresses and claimed relationship to the deceased are set in the second column hereunder have applied to the Probate Registrar, High Court of Justice, Edo State of Nigeria for a grant of Letters of Administration of the real and personal property of the deceased. NOTICE IS BY THIS GIVEN that Letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE to prohibit the grant is filed in this Registry within TwentyOne (21) days from the date of the publication of this notice. NOS NAMES 1. MRS. NWOKO HENRIETTA, Late of Idumuje-Ugboko, Aniocha North, L.G.A., Delta State, who died on the 7th day of April, 2013 in Benin City.
APPLICANTS FOR GRANT
PED/489/2013 Mr. Jason Uzor Nwoko and Miss Anastasia Ndidi Nwoko of No. 2B, Nwoko Avenue, Off Rueben Agho, G.R.A, Benin City, son and daughter respectively of the deceased.
DATED THIS 3RD DAY OF JUNE, 2013 Signed: H.I. ENEMAKU ESQ., PROBATE REGISTRAR
Any objection to the registration should be accompanied with a sworn affidavit and Non-refundable fee of N2, 000 or N 3,000 for organizations within and outside Benin City, respectively, to be forwarded to the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ezoti Street, Benin City within 14 days of this publication. MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS, BENIN CITY
THE NIGERIAN
23
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
International
Compliled By
ISAH STELLA
Relatives Scuffles With Police After China Fire Kills 120
A suicide bomber targeting an American military delegation outside a government office in eastern Afghanistan killed more than a dozen on Monday, including many schoolchildren who were walking nearby and two international service members, officials said
DEHUI, China - Relatives of workers killed as fire engulfed a chicken processing plant in rural northeast China blocked traffic and scuffled with police yesterday, demanding answers to one of China’s worst industrial disasters in recent years. At least 120 people died, and more than 70 were injured. A handful of men and woman knelt in the middle of the road in Dehui in Jilin province to stop cars, while a crowd of more than 100 people gathered around them. Police dispersed the protesters after about an hour. Zhao Zhenchun, who lost both his wife and his sister in the fire, said human error was to blame for the death toll. “I don’t think
Afghans Demand Arrest Of US Troops Over Thomas Collins said yesterday. KABUL - Hundreds of few weeks. Khogyanai said an investigation Also yesterday, the Afghans blocked a major Killings was underway but that it was too International Committee of the highway south of Kabul yesterday, carrying freshly dugup bodies they claimed were victims of torture by U.S. special forces and demanding the Americans be arrested, officials said. A spokesman for the U.S.-led military coalition said the claims are false. Violence erupted at the rally and two of the demonstrators were killed but the cause of their deaths was unclear, said Mohammand Hussain Fahimi, a provincial council member in Wardak, 45 kilometers (27 miles) south of Kabul. The three bodies were dug up earlier on Tuesday morning near a former U.S. special forces base in Nirkh district, according to Attaullah Khogyanai, the provincial governor ’s spokesman. Six other bodies were unearthed there in the past
soon to say if the three were among at least nine people who villagers say disappeared into American custody and were never seen again. U.S. special forces withdrew from parts of Wardak earlier this year at the insistence of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, following alleged torture, kidnapping and summary execution of militant suspects there — charges U.S. officials have firmly denied. Yesterday’s rally brought a car with the three bodies to the local provincial governor’s office, then protesters fanned out and blocked traffic on the main road from Kabul to Kandahar, said Fahimi, the council member. “They were throwing stones and shouting against the government and the (American) special forces, saying, ‘We want the killers of these innocent civilians to be
prosecuted,’” Fahimi said. The demonstrators tried to get into the governor’s office, and police fired in the air to stop them, he said. He added that at least two protesters were killed but he was unsure if they had been shot or trampled. The U.S. has repeatedly denied accusations that people arrested by special forces in Wardak province died in American custody. However, villagers accuse the Americans and their Afghan partners of intimidation through unprovoked beatings, mass arrests and forced detentions. “We are absolutely confident, based on the investigations that we have done, that neither U.S. nor coalition forces were involved in any unlawful deaths there,” coalition spokesman Col.
Red Cross said it was temporarily removing some of its staff from Afghanistan and curtailing some of its activities following an attack last week on its offices in the eastern city of Jalalabad, a spokesman said. Robin Waudo, communications coordinator for the Red Cross in Afghanistan, said a decision on the number of international staff that would leave had not yet been made. He said the organization would continue with some of its services, including orthopedics — the Red Cross supplies many artificial limbs across Afghanistan — supporting Kandahar’s largest hospital, and keeping families in touch with detainees. “We are doing this until we can analyze the situation,” Waudo said.
Syria: Mortar Shells Kill 1 Near Russian DAMASCUS - A Syrian government official and
local residents say mortar shells have landed near the Russian
Embassy
Syrian rebels preparing to fire locally made rockets, in Idlib province, northern Syria.
Embassy in Damascus, killing one person. The official says four shells hit the capital’s Mazraa neighborhood yesterday. He says one person was killed and an unknown number of people were wounded in the attack. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Residents in the area said the mortars shells landed about 150 meters (feet) from the building that houses the Russian Embassy in Damascus. Russia is close ally of President Bashar Assad’s regime, which has been fighting insurgents since an uprising against his rule turned into a civil war two years ago. The Syrian opposition is backed by the United States and its European allies.
safety was being managed properly. This should never happen again. They paid the price with their blood. So many of these big disasters in China are caused by lax supervision,” he said. The world’s second-largest economy has a poor record on workplace safety. Fire exits in factories are often locked to prevent workers taking time off or stealing things, or blocked entirely. “The rationale behind the locked doors boils down to efficiency. With the doors locked, workers cannot wander about freely, and therefore concentrate on their work,” the official Xinhua news agency said. Safety regulations are also easily skirted by bribing corrupt officials, and in any case China has relatively few fire safety inspectors. “Tragically, most of the inspections usually come after a disaster like this,” said Geoffrey Crothall, a China labor expert with Hong Kong-based advocacy group China Labour Bulletin. “There’s very little proactive or routine inspections of factories to make sure everybody’s up to code and that’s largely because there are too many factories and too few inspectors.” It is a safety record likely to prompt concerns overseas as Chinese companies buy stakes in or take over foreign food producers, such as Shuanghui International Holdings’ $4.7 billion offer last week to buy leading U.S. pork producer Smithfield Foods. Premier Li Keqiang has ordered a thorough probe into the disaster and promised the authorities will “earnestly investigate to find out who was responsible”, the central government said in a statement on its website (www.gov.cn). “This was an incident which caused disastrous losses and the lessons to be drawn are profound,” it paraphrased him as telling investigators and provincial officials. Zhang Guijuan, 48, had been working in a room next to the one that caught fire, and ran out when she heard an explosion. From her hospital bed, Zhang said she had never been given any advice or instruction on health and safety issues during her two years at the slaughterhouse.
“We never had (safety) training. Whenever the director holds a meeting with us, he only talks about how to work ... how to work hard. There’s never anything else,” she said. he disaster is a major loss of face for a country which seeks to project a global image of a modern, rising power, different from developing countries like Bangladesh, where such industrial disasters are frequent. It is especially embarrassing as it comes just days ahead of an informal summit between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama at which China would very much like to be viewed as an equal to the world’s sole superpower. Ironically, Monday’s fire in a building that was just four years old coincided with China announcing its latest manned space mission, a multi-billion dollar scheme designed to showcase the nation’s technological prowess and arrival on the world stage after decades of isolation and poverty. “Many countries have the basic ability to avoid one-time disasters in which more than 100 people die ... China has reached this point,” the Global Times, a widely read and influential tabloid, said in an editorial about the fire. “It is ... a blow to China’s modernization and the latest proof that Chinese society is unable to balance development and safety risks.” Fearful of further unrest Tuesday marks the sensitive 24th anniversary of China’s bloody 1989 crackdown on prodemocracy demonstrators Beijing has ordered tight reporting controls. “Strengthen guidance of public opinion ... strengthen management of the Internet and other new media, resolutely prevent the malicious stirring up or spreading of rumors and gossip,” Xinhua said, citing a government meeting. The government has moved quickly to detain those believed responsible for the fire. While state media has not released details on them, they will likely face long jail sentences, judging from how previous disasters have been handled.
Suicide Bomber Blows Himself Up In Mali’s Kidal BAMAKO - A man suspected of being an extremist ran for cover inside an abandoned house in the northern Malian city of Kidal, and detonated an explosive vest inside the structure, killing only himself. Resident Ali Cisse said the explosion occurred around 11 a.m. in the Aliou neighborhood of Kidal, the same district where last week an unidentified gunman opened fire on a French convoy,
lightly wounding a French soldier. Cisse said the man ran into a house not far from the residence of Iyad Ag Ghali, leader of Ansar Dine, a local jihadist group working with al-Qaida’s North African chapter. Ansar Dine was chased out of northern Mali by French forces in January. Cisse said the bomber couldn’t be identified because his body was torn to bits by the explosion.
THE NIGERIAN
24
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Heritage
Traditional Bonesetting
A Glorious Heritage AFTER a hectic days work, I was strolling back home when a sight caught my attention. People clustered in a balcony with Plaster Of Paris (POP), shrouding their legs and arm. On a closer examination of the scene, I got to know that the place was a bone setting center, some of the persons who had their bones fractured, were supporting themselves with walking stick. Traditional Bone Setting (TBS), is an art that has, according to studies, lasted more than 3,000 years in the face of urbanization and modern technology in the health sector (Tell, 14 th March 2013). Traditional bone setting, thrives in rural and most urban centers. Even in countries as India and China, the art has survived many centuries. It has served as occupation for several hundreds of persons. Talking about how the bone setting practitioners cure their patience, the methods and ways, are shrouded in mystery. Most of the bonesetters, claim that the art was passed to them by the ancestors (Udasen, 2006) Usually, different methods and procedures, are used in the treatment of patients with fractured bones by these traditional bonesetters. Bamboo sticks, splints, rattan cane or palm leaf axis with cotton thread or old cloth, are used as instruments for treatment (African Health Journal, June 2011). The treatment methods are essentially similar with minor differences that is
By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU
dependent on family and community practice. The nature of the fracture, determines the methods that would be applied (African Health Journal, June 2011). At some point in time, splints are applied to the area around the fracture or wound. In some cases, incantations are made on the areas affected as a way of invoking the spirit of the ancestors for divine intervention and healing (Darimani, 2007:3). Traditional bonesetters, are patronized by almost all cadre of society (West African Insight). A major reason why people patronize traditional bonesetters, is the belief that the bone setting is better at fracture treatment than orthodox or westernized orthopedic services (Memon etal, 2009). Similarly, Darimani (2007: 82) noted that unlike orthodox medicine where fees are prescribed, traditional bonesetters most times allow their patient to “give what they can afford as an offering because there is a strong conviction that the spirits will depart” the treatment centers making the treatment ineffective when exorbitant prices are charged. Because of these factors explained above, 10% to 40% of parents with fractures and dislocation globally, are managed by bone-setters in traditional medicine. However, it has been stated that trained bonesetters are rare to
come by. As noted by Tell, Thursday March 14, 2013, in 1949, there were about 50,000 trained Chinese – styled doctors. The case is not the same in Nigeria. For us to get the best of these traditional bone setters, there is need to train these
This is not good for the practitioner and the patients as germs would easily be transmitted. The case of Ukuli who as reported by pax Herbal Magazine, xrays his patients before treating them, is a good example to follow. In similar fashion, it has been identified that the
bone setters in modern arts of medication. Also, Agarwal and Agarwal and Omolulu et al, said that to reduce the burden of orthodox medical system, traditional bone setters should be trained in the basics of orthopedic care. Furthermore, traditional bone setters should be provided with modern facilities and equipment as noted by M.A. Kwaja. In most instance, traditional bone setters treat their patience with bare hands.
traditional bone setting procedures and application, is not documented but shrouded in mystery. The treatment procedure is passed orally from one generation to another. Chief Alfred Ogbebor, said that the practice of bone setting is entrenched in family lines. This has made it hard for the methods to be documented and passed on to the “global village”, where it can become a money spinner. Therefore, it is very reasonable for the
‘ Moreover, in nations as China and India, there are rules and regulations in the practice of alternative medicine. That is why it is expedient that the Traditional Medicine Bill, which seeks to regulate the practice of traditional or alternative medicine, currently before the National Assembly, should be passed into law. It will, like in orthodox practice, checkmate “quacks” and guarantee quality of treatment received by patients.’
methods to be put in black and white to avoid it been extinct while also making it accessible to people in the other parts of the globe. Again, traditional bone setters and orthodox method, should be integrated (Tahzib/Daniel, 1986). In China, alternative medical practices and orthodox medicine, have existed side by side and provided back up where one fails or is inadequate. This has not been the case in Nigeria where traditional bone
setters and orthodox medical parishioners, are cat and rats (Agarval and Agarval, 2010). Of course, the scenario painted above cannot move our tradition heritage forward. Traditional bone setters and orthodox practitioners should be smeared or allowed to complement each other (Kwaja). Moreover, in nations as China and India, there are rules and regulations in the practice of alternative medicine. That is why it is expedient that the Traditional Medicine Bill, which seeks to regulate the practice of traditional or alternative medicine, currently before the National Assembly, should be passed into law. It will,
like in orthodox practice, checkmate “quacks” and guarantee quality of treatment received by patients. Moving further, pilot traditional orthopedic centers should be opened by government, organizations and even individuals (Pax Herbal Magazine, issue 12). When these centers are established, they will serve as springboard for the development of the
traditional bone setting business. A situation where patients stay in “slums” and not-sohygienic places while receiving treatment, is not the best thing that will move our cultural heritage to the golden and glorious era that we are thirsty for. As Kwaja said, traditional bone setters can be the live wire for saving lives. They, (traditional bone setters), will still remain critical providers of health care. The challenges lies in the provision of adequate and effective training in basic and modern orthopedic to take them to the golden era while making them our glorious heritage!
THE NIGERIAN
25
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
Agriculture
An Overview On ADPs In Nigeria (2) By OLUMESE MARK
WHAT is the origin or history of ADPs in Nigeria? The ADP is the extension arm of the ministry of Agriculture in each of the thirty six states in Nigeria. The main thrust of the ADP is Extension using the Training and visit (T&V) system. The ADP concept became a reality in Nigeria between 1973 and 1975 when the first enclave ADPs of Funtua (Kaduna State), Gusau (Sokoto State) and Gombe (Bauchi State) were established. The success of these projects led to the desire for the projects to go Statewide. By 1981, the idea for the Bendel ADP had started crystallizing. The Bendel ADP dream started to become a reality when the state Government established it by Edict No.10 of 1985 in June 1985. The ADPs were introduced therefore to attain two objectives.(a) Increase food production and (b) Raise the income level of small scale farmers. The overall purpose of setting the above objectives was to improve the levels of living and welfare of farmers. The first generation ADPs started as enclave projects which covered few local Government Areas in three States. These were funtua ADP in 1975 in Kaduna State, Gusau ADP in 1975 in Sokoto State and Gombe ADP in 1975 in Bauchi State. Ayangba ADP in Benue State was added in 1978, Lafia ADP in 1979 in Plateau State, Bida ADP in 1980 in Niger State, Ilorin ADP in 1980 in Kwara State, the Oyo-North ADP was established in 1981, while the Ekiti-Akoko ADP was established in 1982. It would be worthy to mention that out of the Nine enclave ADPs which were first established, Seven were located in the North, while the last two were established
in the western part of the south. Perhaps the reasoning was that these ADPs were located where food production could be easier because of their open vegetations. The initial projects were to last for five years before being evaluated and if found successful extended to other States in Nigeria.
Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture
The enclave ADPs were found to be successful, henceState wide ADP s which covered all local Government Area were embarked upon. Kano ADP was the first State wide ADP to be launched in 1981. Others soon followed. Gombe enclave ADP was converted into Bauchi ADP in 1981, Funtua ADP into Kaduna state wide AD1 in 1981, Gusau ADP into Sokoto state wide ADP in 1983. When Kastina state was created from Kaduna state, another statewide ADP was created from the new state. To save resources in creating ADPs and quicken the process, multi-state ADPs MS ADP were created simultaneously. The Multi-state ADPs (MS ADP 1) involved created out of state wide ADPs in seven states were namely: Anambra, Bendel, Benue, Cross River, Imo, Osun and Plateau state wide ADPs which commenced in 1986. When Akwa-Ibom state was created from the old Cross River state, Akwa-Ibom state ADP was created as MS ADP-l. The multi-state ADP-11(MS ADP-1 1) was launched in Gongola, Kwara and Niger states in 1989.The Multistate ADP- 111 (MS ADP- 111) was launched in four states, namely: Lagos, Ondo, Oyo and Rivers States in 1990. A Southern Bornu enclave ADP was created in 1986, because Borno State was conceded arid and would not require a State wide- ADP. It was however converted into a state wide Borno ADP in 1990. An ADP was also in place for the Federal Capital territory in 1991. The writer is the zonal manager of Edo state Agricultural development programme, central zone, Irrua, Nigeria.
“It would be worthy to mention that out of the Nine enclave ADPs which were first established, Seven were located in the North, while the last two were established in the western part of the south. Perhaps the reasoning was that these ADPs were located where food production could be easier because of their open vegetations.”
Oil & Gas NIGERIANS still do not have the information they need to make sure they are getting a good deal from oil companies, according to a new governance index released today. Revenue Watch’s Resource Governor Index measures the quality of governance in the oil, gas and mining sector of 58 countries worldwide. Each country on the Index, from topranked Norway to last- place Myanmar, is judged on four criteria: legal framework, transparency levels. checks and balances and its broader governance context. Nigeria ranked 40th out of 58 countries, earning a weak overall score. While the government has taken important steps toward improved transparency by passing a freedom of information act and meeting the standards of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LITI), major gaps in transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil industry remain, feeding public distrust of oil companies and the government. “Nigeria’s weak ranking in the Resource Governance Index has further confirmed what the citizens already know about the lack of transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector,” said Dauda Garuba, Revenue Watch’s Nigeria Program Coordinator. “The public’s frustration was especially clear in the mass protests that greeted the removal of fuel subsidies in January 2012.” As debate continue over the Petroleum Industry Bill, citizens of Africa’s biggest oil exporter still cannot see for themselves the terms of contracts the government has signed with oil companies. Government ministries do not publish
Nigeria’s Oil Industry Remains Secretive -Study complete reports on oil production and revenues, and legislative oversight of the sector is incomplete, leaving Nigeria’s most valuable natural resources vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement. “There has been a sustained demand for transparency and accountability in the governance of the extractive industry and we do sincerely hope the index will kick-start the big push that Nigeria requires to reform its oil and gas sector for the public good. The Petroleum Industry Bill currently before the National Assembly is the best opportunity for the country to bring about the needed reforms,” Garuba said. The index offers recommendations for even the highestranking countries, and notes specific areas where Nigeria could improve. New petroleum legislation should include limits on the role that individual official play in choosing which companies are given licenses to access to Nigeria’s oil resources. A fairer and more transparent licensing process and contract disclosure requirements would improve competition and ensure that the Nigerian people get the best deal possible.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has a history of poor management: its administration of fuel subsidy payments resulted in an estimated $13 billion in losses between 2006 and 2011. As a dominant player in the oil industry, NNPC should publish regular audited reports on its activities. Similarly, Nigeria’s oil savings fund, the Excess Crude Account, as well as the new Sovereign Wealth Fund, should produce detailed, audited financial statements. Researchers noted that there are still no published rules about how the Excess Crude Account is managed -a serious gap in oversight considering that the fund has an estimated balance of around $9 billion. “The Index analysis not only shows where we are now, but points out ways forward for countries, companies and global initiatives, and this matters because improved governance in natural resources is arguably the development challenge of this decade,” said Daniel Kaufmann, President of Revenue Watch. “By pointing to reforming states and to solutions, we reject the tired notion of the deterministic resource curse. “ Kaufmann added.
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EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 47 WATSON WEST 1.2.X FORECAST
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Your Star EDITOR’S NAP
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Navas Excited By Man City Challenge
JESUS Navas has said he never had any doubts about moving to Manchester City after Sevilla confirmed they had accepted a bid for the Spanish international on Monday night. Navas has spent 10 years at Sevilla and won six trophies during his time at the club, but he insisted that the time had come to move onto a fresh challenge. “It was my choice,” he told Sevilla’s website yesterday. “I want to continue growing there and they have invested a lot in me so I want to continue succeeding there. “It was a decision that I had taken and something that I wanted to face up to.
Gareth Bale being chased by Real Madrid
Perez Hints At Bale Move In Summer REAL Madrid president Florentino Perez has hinted at a summer swoop for Tottenham’s Gareth Bale, describing the Welshman as “one of Europe’s great players”.
Bale has long been linked with La Liga, as Real Madrid and Barcelona are continually linked with the 23-year-old, and Perez’s interview with Spanish TV programme
Punto Pelota has added fuel to speculation. Spurs boss Andre VillasBoas is hopeful he can tie down his star on a longterm deal, but Perez has
Denilson Leaves Arsenal ARSENAL have cancelled Brazilian midfielder Denilson’s contract by mutual consent. The 25-year-old leaves Arsenal after failing to hold down a first team place at The Emirates since joining them from Brazilian club Sao Paulo in 2006. Denilson has been on loan back at Sao Paulo since 2011 after making just 150 appearances for Arsenal. “I can confirm Denilson and Arsenal have agreed to terminate his contract at the end of this month,” Denilson’s agent Alexandre Soares told Sky Sports. “Denilson is free to move to another club and a number of clubs are interested in him. “I do not want to name teams, but there is interest from Brazil as well as Russia, Italy, Germany and Turkey and I am talking to them. “No decision has been made and we will assess all offers that come our way.
“If Denilson does stay in Brazil, Sao Paulo has the priority, but I do not rule out him moving to another Brazilian club as well.”
suggested Real are interested in making an offer this summer. “Bale is one of Europe’s great players and Real Madrid always likes great players,” Perez told Punto Pelota. “We have to improve our squad but we have to do it with tranquillity - and we’ll do that in the next weeks.” Meanwhile, Perez - who was expected to be reinstated as Real president yesterday afternoon - has all but ruled out a Cristiano Ronaldo exit from the
De Gea Upset By Steele Departure DAVID de Gea is believed to be disappointed by David Moyes’ decision to dismiss Manchester United’s goalkeeping coach Eric Steele. Steele left Old Trafford along with assistant manager Mike Phelan in a clear-out of the coaching staff as Moyes prepares to appoint his own backroom team. But ESPN understands De Gea had hoped that Steele, with whom he had established a close relationship, would have stayed on. Steele has been in contact with De Gea since at least 2010, even though the 22year-old only moved to United in 2011, when he was signed as the replacement for
the retiring Edwin van der Sar. He also learned Spanish to help him communicate better with De Gea, whose form in the second half of last season earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Santiago Bernabeu, insisting the Portugal international is happy to remain in Madrid. “I believe Ronaldo will finish his career at Real Madrid,” Perez confirmed.
rise to 25 million should he achieve certain objectives. Navas has made 23 appearances for his country and was part of the Spanish sides that won the World Cup in 2010 and retained the European Championships last year. And his arrival in Manchester is a further indication that City will appoint current Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini as their next manager. Pellegrini has already declared that he is to leave Malaga come the end of the season and admitted last week to having a verbal agreement in place with City.
Jesus Navas
... Denies Ronaldo Contract REAL Madrid president Rejection goals in all competitions. But even those Florentino Perez has denied reports that star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has rejected a new contract from the Spanish club. Madrid sports daily AS claimed that talks over a new deal for the Portuguese star were “deadlocked”. But with Ronaldo’s current deal due to expire in 2015 and his renewal thought to be one of Perez’s main targets as he begins a new four-year term in charge, he rejected the claim that talks had broken down. “This information is misguided,” Perez told Spanish television on Monday night. “I am not going to enter into more details but I will only say that Cristiano’s
Magpies Rekindle Interest In Wanyama NEWCASTLE United have rekindled their interest in Glasgow Celtic’s midfielder Victor Wanyama. The Magpies are reportedly ready to offer Celtic £8million for the Kenyan, who joined the Scottish club for only £900,000 in 2011 from Belgian side Beerschot. Wanyama plays in a similar position to current Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, but
It is difficult because I have had many years enjoying the support of the fans, but I had decided and I was desperate to go there. It is a very good step for me and I never had any doubts.” Navas will still have to pass a medical with the 2011-12 English champions, but that may not be able to take place for some time as he is currently on international duty with Spain. Although Sevilla haven’t confirmed the exact amount they will receive, reports in Spain on Monday estimated the 27-year-old will cost an initial 20 million euros ($26m, £17m), which could
can also be used as a centre back. The 21-year old played a key part in Celtic’s league and cup double winning season, but has shown interest in leaving the club to play in the English Premiership. Wanyama is also being tracked by Arsenal, Tottneham Hotspur and Liverpool.
renewal is not deadlocked, this doesn’t correspond to the reality as we stand today. “I don’t know if we will renew him tomorrow, the day after or another day but as of today it is not deadlocked.” Perez, who was formally re-elected as president on Sunday when no other candidates came forward to stand for election, even went as far as to say he hopes the 28-year-old remains at Real for the rest of his playing days. “I said before that Cristiano is the best player in the world and that, therefore, he should be the best paid. “I don’t know if Madrid fans are worried about his future but Ronaldo has two years left on his contract and we want him to retire at Real Madrid. “I am convinced that he will stay here for many years and if they want to stay calm, I say to them that we will win ‘La Decima’ (Madrid’s 10th European Cup) with Cristiano Ronaldo as a player and I hope as soon as possible.” Ronaldo has had another tremendous campaign individually, scoring 55
goalscoring feats were not enough to deliver a major trophy for Real, as they finished 15 points behind Barcelona in La Liga and were defeated by Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and Copa del Rey respectively. Those failures sealed the end of Jose Mourinho’s three-year reign in charge of Madrid and Perez is yet to replace the Portuguese coach. Paris Saint-German boss Carlo Ancelotti and outgoing Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes have both been heavily linked with the job.
Cristiano Ronaldo
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Sagna In Talks With Arsenal Over Contract
Pellegrini More Than Trophies - Van Nistelrooy RUUD van Nistelrooy has told Manchester City fans not to judge their next manager Manuel Pellegrini on his lack of trophies in Europe. Pellegrini is set to be confirmed as Roberto Mancini’s successor at the Etihad Stadium but, in nine years in Spain, he has only won the Intertoto Cup. But Van Nistelrooy, who played under the Chilean for both Real Madrid and Malaga, believes Pellegrini has a record of overachieving and said his attacking football will bring City success. He said: “He had one season at Real Madrid but what stands out on his record is the work he did at Villarreal and Malaga. “Obviously they are not the biggest clubs in Spain but he consistently qualified for the Europa League and even the Champions League and did well in those competitions so I think that is what he should be judged on. You can’t judge him on trophies because he wasn’t at Barcelona or at Real [for very long] to win trophies. “At Villarreal, Real Madrid
Manuel Pellegrini
and Malaga, he played with very offensive full-backs, with wide players coming inside, full-backs overlapping and two strikers up front. It is an attractive style of football and in that sense I’m sure he will get that and eventually succeed at City.” Pellegrini is nicknamed ‘the engineer’ and Van Nistelrooy believes he brings his managerial methods explain why. He added: “He’s an architect in his profession. He constructs and he analyses things. He builds a team. He’s got his people with him and I reckon he will bring them to City with him so he will implement his style and way of working to the players and he will be very consistent with it. He won’t change that for anyone. “The way he works with players is to structurally improve the team, making players better and, if necessary, getting players in where he thinks the team needs to improve for the way he wants to play.
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho Plans To Start From Zero At Chelsea CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho says he will not rely on his past successes with the club after penning a new four-year-deal. The Portuguese brought glory great relation,” he said. “I am not that kind of person to the Blues during his first spell with the club, leading them to the and professional. I am very back-to-back Premier League demanding of myself, I need of course the fans’ support, but I titles in 2005 and 2006. He then left the club to join want to start from ground zero. “I need to work hard again and inter Milan and then Real Madrid before returning to sign a new build a different team from the team I built in the past, and I want deal on Monday. “I am not coming here to sleep to give everything I can to the on what I did in the past and be club, to the owner and to the fans, comfortable just because we have forgetting a little bit that I was a a great feeling and we have a champion here.
Ferdinand To Have Testimonial next season’s campaign off to a MANCHESTER United have August 9 great start.” confirmed that they will hold a testimonial for defender Rio Ferdinand on August 9. The Premier League champions will take on Spanish side Sevilla at Old Trafford just two days before United face Wigan in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium. The 34-year-old centre-half recently signed a one-year extension to his contract with the club after completing his 11th season under the now-retired Sir Alex Ferguson. “This is going to be a big night for me as well as an emotional one,” said Ferdinand. “I cannot believe where those 10 years have gone and I am lucky to have spent them here at Manchester United. “This club is unique in every
way, the history and drive of the place is unbelievable, it spurs everyone to succeed. “The fans are the best in the world, their commitment is amazing and I have appreciated their support throughout my career. I hope they enjoy the night as much as I intend to.” Ferguson, who signed Ferdinand from Leeds in 2002, added: “It is great that the club are granting Rio a testimonial for his services to the club. “He is one of the best central defenders this club has seen. Rio has a natural ability to read the game and I said last month that I believed that this season has been the best of his Manchester United career. “It will be a fantastic night for him and the fans, but it also gets
Ferdinand has made 432 appearances for United in all competitions, winning six Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.
Rio Ferdinand
“I want to have that pressure on myself like it is the first time I am here and I have to work hard and to make sure they have a reason
to be happy with me.” Mourinho also won the FA Cup with the Blues in 2005 as well as two League Cup titles.
...Wants Dzeko, Jovetic NEWLY appointed Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, reportedly has his sights set on the attacking duo of Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko as well as Serie A’s Stevan Jovetic. According to the Telegraph, the returning Blues manager is eager to ring several changes ahead of next season with special emphasis laid on his attack. It is believed that Dzeko, who has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the Etihad, is a firm candidate on Mourinho’s wanted list. A lot, however, will depend on
whether City manage to find an adequate replacement for the Bosnian, who has managed to score 14 goals in just 16 appearances last season. Mourinho is also said to be one of many coaches interested in Fiorentina’s Serbian gem. Jovetic completed yet another stellar campaign, despite being frequently injured, and has managed to amass 27 goals in 58 starts over the past two campaigns. It is understood that such interest could put Fernando Torres and Demba Ba’s future at the club in jeopardy
BACARY Sagna has revealed he is in talks with Arsenal to extend his contract, but the France international did not rule out a move away from the Gunners this summer. Sagna’s current deal at Emirates Stadium expires in June 2014, and media on both sides of the Channel have reported the former Auxerre defender could quit the club he joined in 2007 in the upcoming transfer window. Though he is currently with Les Bleus in South America, Sagna still has one eye on his club future with negotiations at Arsenal on-going. “There are [talks], but I still haven’t extended my contract. I’m talking. I’m not at a bad club either,” Sagna told L’Equipe before replying with a simple “Oui” when asked whether he could return to France. “It’s possible. We’d have to see in which conditions and, in sporting terms, what they propose. I won’t go just anywhere,” he said. “If I stay at Arsenal, I’ll try to have a good season, there’s the World Cup at the end of it. If I’m to leave, it’ll be a new challenge.” After enduring his country’s painful 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa, an injured Sagna watched from afar as Laurent Blanc’s France squad, ridden with illdiscipline, left Euro 2012 with their tails between their legs. Having returned to the international scene, Sagna said Blanc’s successor, Didier Deschamps, 44, had restored order and commanded respect as a result of his trophy-filled playing career. “He had a clear-out. There were players who were at the Euro who are no longer in the team,” Sagna said, seemingly referring to Newcastle United’s Hatem Ben Arfa and Rubin Kazan midfielder Yann M’Vila. “His charisma has everyone behind him. He’s won everything, he was captain of the French national team. There’s no outrage [that Deschamps is coach].”
English FA Bans Spur’s Townsend
TOTTENHAM Hotspur’s Andros Townsend has been given a four-month ban from all football after breaching betting regulations. Townsend, 21, was charged by the Football Association for an alleged breach of rules regarding betting and misconduct last month. The winger, who spent the second half of the season on loan at QPR, has been fined £18,000 as a result while three months
of his four-month ban have been suspended. A statement on the Football Association’s website read: “At an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Tottenham Hotspur’s Andros Townsend was suspended from all football and football activity for a period of four months, subject to any appeal, backdated to the 23 May 2013 when the player voluntarily
withdrew from the England Under-21 squad. “However, three months of the suspension is suspended until 1 July 2016 and will be automatically invoked upon a proven breach of The FA Betting Rules during that period. “Townsend, who was also fined £18,000, was charged for breaches of FA Rule E8(b) for misconduct in relation to betting, which he admitted and requested a personal hearing.”
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Black Stars Ready For Sudan GHANA defender Samuel Inkoom says his teammates are ready to punch above their weight for a win against Sudan on Friday in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The on-loan FC Basel player is part of Kwesi Appiah’s 25-man squad preparing for the return Group D qualifier in Omduran. Inkoom missed the first leg 40 victory at the Baba Yara Stadium in March but has played against the Nile Crocodiles in previous meetings. Ghana have been preparing in Ethiopia since last Friday and will leave the East African country on Wednesday to Khartoum. Inkoom believes the team have the right mentality to record another victory. “Every player wants to show something and prove to the coach that he is good,” Inkoom told the Ghana FA’s official website. “The most important thing is that we need to stay focused, listen to the coach and keep on working hard. “I believe this team. I have trust in my colleagues. It’s not going to be easy. We have been there twice. But I believe that we are going to beat them.” The Black Stars need a win against the Nile Crocodiles to keep snapping at the heels of Group D leaders Zambia.
Moyes Must Win With Style - Van Nistelrooy FORMER Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy says new Red Devils boss David Moyes must win trophies – and in style. The Scot has the unenviable task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson, whose 26-year reign at Old Trafford was laden with silverware. Moyes did not manage to win a trophy during 11 years at Everton - admittedly working with a fraction of the Red Devils’ budget - but Van Nistelrooy said that would not be acceptable at his new club. “Success at Manchester United? It doesn’t matter which manager it is you need to compete on all fronts so that will be expected of him and I don’t think that will be a surprise (to Moyes),” he said. “I think everyone expects a league title, FA Cup, Champions League trophy and playing some good football. “In that sense the pressure is full on but I think he knows what
Sven-Goran Ericksson
Eriksson Named Guangzhou R&F Boss FORMER England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been named chief coach of Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F, the club said yesterday. Eriksson, who stepped down as joins Guangzhou on an 18technical director of United Arab month deal, a club official said, Emirates side Al Nasr on Sunday, without giving details of the Swede’s salary. The appointment will see Eriksson face former Italy manager Marcello Lippi in derby games in the football-mad scored one of the goals in their southern Chinese city, as the World Cup winner is boss of 2-0 win over Uganda in March, current champions Guangzhou was also passed 90 percent fit on Evergrande. Sunday by the team’s medical “Following discussions, the team. executive board of the club have As the Lone Stars jet-in, the decided to hire Mr Sven-Goran Cranes, who arrived this Eriksson as Guangzhou R&F’s morning from Libya where they chief coach from today until lost 3-0 in an International December 2014,” an official friendly, will regroup for training said in an SMS to AFP. While no announcement was this afternoon.
Early Arrival For Lone Stars In Uganda LIBERIA’S national Football team, the Lone Stars, will make an early journey to Uganda ahead of their 2014 World Cup qualifying tie against the hosts at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Saturday. Rogers Mulindwa, the Head of Communications in the Federation, told MTNFootball.com that the 32man Liberia team will arrive at 2pm aboard a Kenya Airways flight. “We are going to give them a good hotel and make sure they have a good stay in Uganda,” added Mulindwa. The Lone Stars are currently second in Group J with four points. Senegal, who will face Angola in the other group game, top the group with five points, while Uganda are bottom with two points after two draws and one loss. Reports from Monrovia indicate that lead striker Francis Grandpa Doe, who is based in Malaysia, will miss the game due to an injury. Doe was among 12 overseas players invited by the Lone Star’s technical staff, but was ruled out. Indonesia-based Boakai Foday will mend the gap. Liberia will also be deprived of defender Solomon Grimes. Grimes has been a regular in the right-back for the Lone Stars, but was also left out of the squad to Kampala after he sustained injury while on club duty. South African-based striker and skipper Anthony Laffor, who
made on the terms of Eriksson’s contract, reports in Britain suggest the well-travelled coach will be paid £2m ($3m) a year by Guangzhou R&F, who are currently 13th in the 16-team Chinese Super League. Eriksson has managed several of Europe’s top domestic sides, winning the Italian league with Lazio in 2000 before taking the England manager’s job a year later. During five years in charge of the Three Lions he guided England to two World Cups and a European Championship, but failed to get past the quarter finals in any of the three tournaments. Eriksson has since had spells with Mexico and Ivory Coast at international level and with Manchester City in the English Premier League. During his management of
Scots Vow To Play With Pride ROBERT Snodgrass believes pride will be the key to Scotland preventing a widely-predicted defeat by Croatia in Friday night’s 2014 World Cup qualifier in Zagreb. We will play with pride. Scottish hopes of reaching the finals in Brazil next summer are over after taking two points from six games while their Balkan opponents are joint top of Group A along with Belgium. The 25-year-old Norwich forward is aware that most of the noises emanating from the Croatian camp have promised another night of misery for Gordon Strachan’s depleted side with boss Igor Stimac quoted as saying that his side “won’t allow them to get out of their own half.” Snodgrass acknowledged the disparity between the two countries but insists the Scots will not be whipping boys. “I think the table says it all,” he said. “We are down at the bottom, they are fighting at the top and that’s what people look at. But there is a level of pride at stake and a belief that we can get
a result. “I would hate to be in a changing room with lads that didn’t believe they could win a game. “It is a matter of pride. Most footballers I know want to win every training session never mind games and that’s what it will take to get a result there on Friday. “It is a team game and everyone needs to pull in the same direction to try to get a
result, especially against a tough Croatia side. “We have been very unlucky during this campaign. People might think differently but I think we should have beaten Wales home and away and we could have got a better result against Serbia. “It’s all ifs and buts. We are where we are because we didn’t take our chances so we will try put those things right come Friday.”
Leicester City in 2010-11, he brought in Nigerian striker Yakubu Ayegbeni, who was signed by Guangzhou R&F last year. The Guangzhou derby match, scheduled for August 25, will be one of the most hotly anticipated of the Chinese football season, pitting two former Serie A winning coaches against each other. But Eriksson will find it hard to bring R&F out of the shadows of their hugely successful neighbours. His arrival in China on Monday followed intense speculation that he was to become R&F boss after previous manager Brazilian Sergio Farias was sacked last month, following reports of player fall-outs. Yakubu, the club’s star player following successful spells with EPL sides Everton and Blackburn, was among those rumoured to have had deteriorating relationships with Farias. Guangzhou R&F have previously been based in Shenyang and Changsha, under different names, and are now owned by Guangzhou R&F Properties. China’s top football sides are commonly owned by business titans who buy clubs before changing their names and often locations.
he is getting into. “I don’t know him personally but he looks like a guy who will handle that.” Moyes does not officially take charge until July 1 but has already been familiarising himself with the set up at the club. Recruitment of his backroom staff has yet to be finalised but assistant manager Mike Phelan and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele have already been moved on. More are expected to follow coach Rene Meulensteen is virtually certain to depart despite being offered a role in charge of the youth set-up - as remnants of the Ferguson era are gradually whittled away. However, former United defender Henning Berg does not believe Moyes will have any issues putting his own stamp on things and gaining the respect of the players. “I don’t think (exerting his authority) will be a problem,” said the Norwegian, who had a brief spell in charge at Blackburn last season. “The way he leads I am 100 per cent sure he will have the respect and authority any way. “I am sure he is looking forward to the job. Everyone says it will be very difficult after Sir Alex Ferguson - and it will be but it is a great opportunity to be honest. “David Moyes has time to plan, he will know the league, know the people. “He had his staff working well at Everton and he knows the guys he has been working with and that works. “But I am 100 per cent certain it would have worked with Mike Phelan and Rene as well. “But that is his decision and he wants to do what he feels is right for Manchester United to be the best they can be.” Berg also expects there to be changes to the playing staff as well. “There need to be additions and of course there will be a few changes to the playing staff because Sir Alex Ferguson would have been doing that any way even after they won the league because you are looking to improve,” he said. “I think there will be additions and in central midfield, with Paul Scholes retiring, looks like where they will be looking to improve.” As well as identifying the right people to bring in Moyes has to deal with the thorny problem of Wayne Rooney, whom had a transfer request rejected last month according to Ferguson.
Japan First To Qualify For World Cup Finals JAPAN became the first nation to book their place at next year’s World Cup finals yesterday thanks to Keisuke Honda’s injury-time penalty. Alberto Zaccheroni’s Japan have dominated the group and their berth in Brazil has been a formality for some time, but they knew at least a point in the home game against Australia in Saitama would confirm their presence. Both teams wasted opportunities in an open
encounter which sprang to life in the 81st minute when Australia took the lead. Tommy Oar’s cross from the left took a slight deflection off a defender but that was enough to see the ball loop over goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and into the back of the net. Japan pushed forward looking for the leveller and the visitors buckled right as the clock struck 90 minutes, with Matt McKay adjudged to have handled in the area. Honda calmly fired the resulting spot-kick straight down
the middle of the goal and past the diving Mark Schwarzer to earn a 1-1 draw and a ticket to Brazil. While Japan can start planning for next summer, Australia have serious work to do to qualify. Only the top two in the group qualify automatically, with the Socceroos second on goal difference ahead of Jordan. But just two points separate these two nations plus Oman and Iraq who face each other later on Tuesday. If there is a winner in that match they will climb above Australia.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
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C.I. Angels Win Women Pro League Championship By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM C. I. Angels Football Club of Agbor have emerged the champions of this year’s Nigerian Women Professional League competition. when Marana Ohadiwe scored The Agbor-based football in the last minute of the match. team thrashed Tokas Queens of Lagos 3-0 to emerge champions at a keenly contested match played at the prestigious Agbor Township Stadium in Delta State. Voke wearing jersey number 20 opened scoring for her team while Miss Juliana Charles netted home the second goal for the victorious Angels in the 6th minute of the match. The third goal came in the second half of the encounter
The match was watched by enthusiastic soccer fans, including the former chairman of Ika South local Government council, Hon. Ibude and the technical Adviser of C. I. Angels, Mr Sunny Osunde and
Mr Akpenyi. Speaking in an interview after the match, Hon. Ibude described the pro women league competition as a fantastic development in the nation’s quest for sporting greatness.
Also speaking, the Technical Adviser of C. I. Angels, Mr Sunny Osunde expressed joy over the victory of his team, stressing that this will encourage him to prepare for future competitions and with the
Enyimba Hit By Injuries, Illness C.I. Angels FC of Agbor during the epic final match
Lazio Reject EPL Offers For Onazi LAZIO have rejected offers from EPL clubs who wish to sign Nigeria youngster Ogenyi Onazi, according to media reports. Midfielder Onazi has been making waves in Italy since he shone with the Lazio youth side in 2011, where he played 27 games and scoring 12 goals, and Everton were widely reported to be keen on signing him. His debut for Lazio main team in 2012 only served to highlight his progress, and he has already clocked up 29 appearances ending on a high with the Coppa Italia victory over bitter city rivals Roma. His performances have earned him quite a better profile with the Lazio faithful, while a superb run in the last African Cup of Nations culminated in the Super Eagles ending a 19year wait for the continental crown. It came as no surprise that clubs in the Premier League have been eyeing the youngster, but it appears, for the moment, that his contract until 2016 will be honoured, according to Tutto Mercato. The 20-year-old central midfielder has also gained valuable European experience with his club, having turned out 11 times and also scored a goal in a 2-0 win against VfB Stuttgart in March.
ENYIMBA will be without several top stars including striker Sibi Gwar for Thursday’s tricky trip to ABS in Ilorin due to injury and illness. Sibi Gwar, who was top scorer in the league last season with 17 goals, is ill. Ifeanyi Edeh and Ugwu Uwadiegwu are ruled out of the match due to illness, while Andrew Abalogu and Ayo Saka are injured. Enterprising forward Abalogu is nursing a thigh strain and Saka has only just recovered from a knee complaint. However, defensive midfielder Enegie Otekpa, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Markson Ojobo, Ukeyima Akombo and Chinedu Udoji will be available for selection for the six-time champions. Enyimba, who pipped Shooting Stars 1-0 at home last week, are seventh on the table with 22 points from 15 matches. ABS are in the drop zone on 16 points.
Juve, Torino Strike Deal On Ogbonna
Amoo Named Sunshine Stars Technical Adviser AKURE Sunshine Stars FC on Monday appointed the former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Fatai Amoo, as the Technical Adviser to the team. Akin Akinbobola, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), announced the appointment at a news conference in Akure. He said that the team needed an experienced coach that could relate well with the players and management. According to him Napoleon Aluma has also been upgraded to the post of chief coach of the team while his assistant will be from the state. “As the chairman of the technical committee of ODSFA, I announce to you Fatai Amoo as the technical
ultimate aim of a national assignment. He congratulated his team for the victory and also appealed to the Delta State government as well as prominent indigenes of Agbor kingdom to assist the team both morally and financially.
adviser of Sunshine Stars. “If we are taken to the promised land, that is, continental ticket, he will continue into next season. “May I also inform you that Napoleon Aluma has been upgraded to chief coach of
Sunshine Stars and his assistant will be from Ondo State,” Akinbobola stated. Also speaking, Amoo noted that he had a good relationship with the management in the past and had what it takes to deliver for the team.
“I believe with the professionalism in me, we will not fail. “I say thank you to the management of ODSFA; today is a significant day in my life. “I have worked here before and when I was spoken to on the job, I
know it is the right place to be,” Amoo said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amoo later met with players of Sunshine Stars at the Ondo State Sports Complex.
F/Eagles Start Felegha, Etor Against Brazil BELGIUM-based goalkeeper John Felegha and Daniel Etor will get their first starts for the Flying Eagles against Brazil tonight. Both players will get their chance to impress against the world champions just three days to when the Flying Eagles are to submit a final 21-man
squad to FIFA for the World Cup. Felegha is a graduate from the Qatar Football Academy and was third-choice goalkeeper when Nigeria won a sixth AYC title two years ago. Etor from Akwa United in the Nigeria league was a late substitute in Sunday’s 1-1
draw with the Belgium U21 team. Established players Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Madu and Ikechukwu Okorie have been recalled against the Samba Stars. Kick-off for this match is 7pm local time, 6pm Nigeria time, at the Stade Louis Hon in Saint Raphael.
Flying Eagles starting XI vs Brazil John Felegha – Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Madu, Ikechukwu Okorie, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi – Samuel Mathias, Moses Orkuma, Michael Olaitan – Daddy Moses, Alhaji Gero, Daniel Etor
JUVENTUS have reportedly reached an agreement with Torino over the signature of their promising defender Angelo Ogbonna. Antonio Conte is said to be looking to strengthen his Championship winning side for next season with the defensive area of a particular interest to him. Juventus frequently struggled with injuries to their defensive pairings in Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini and were said to be eager in bringing in Ogbonna as a solid cover as they build a squad ready to compete in the Champions League. Latest reports across the peninsula to have emerged on Tuesday evening are that an agreement has already been made among the two Turin giants and that the young defender is expected to report for preseason training at Vinovo in July. Ogbonna was recently left out of the Cesare Prandelli’s 23-man squad set to travel to Brazil for the Fifa Confederations Cup later this month.
Angelo Ogbonna
THE NIGERIAN
32
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013
CMYK
Revisiting Min Of Agriculture “Unlike Previous administration in the state that put every foot in the negative direction, pursued erratic and often uncoordinated policies that dumped the state in the abyss of criminal neglect, marginalization and deceit, Comrade Oshiomhole known for his fearlessness in championing the cause of the people has opened a new chapter for aggressive and passionate development of Edo State-“ Quoted in conqueror of the God fathers (page 85) few weeks ago space constraints disallowed me from discussing adequately positive development going on in the Edo State Ministry of Agriculture, under Hon. Abdul Oroh. But I indeed promised to revisit the happenings in the ministry of Agriculture on this page. Therefore, I am fulfilling my promise today as I revisit the ministry of Agriculture. But, before I proceed I want to quickly look at some issues that made headlines recently. The arguments for and against the declaration of May 29th every year as ‘Democracy Day’ by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration because more strident last week. To be candid the declaration of May 29th as Democracy day by the General Olusegun Obasanjo regime was one of the unpopular decisions made by that Cunny, unfocused and deceitful civilian government. We had expected the Obasanjo regime to honour the late winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election. Chief M.K.O Abiola with a national day to be celebrated annually. But that never happened because General Obasanjo placed personal ambition and jealousy over what he would
have perfectly done for Chief Abiola. We must remember that sentiments aside, chief Abiola paid the supreme price while fighting to claim his stolen presidential mandate. This fact can never be taken away from the legendary chief Abiola. He won the first ever presidential election that rubbished the issues of tribalism, religionsim and sectionalism in the chequered history of Nigeria. Therefore, to me May 29 th as democracy day is vexatious meaningless and insulting to our collective intelligence. It is not too late in the day for the Goodluck Jonathan administration to right the monumental wrong done to the memory of chief Abiola by proclaiming June 12 as Abiola Day, just as the legendary civil rights activist Rev. Martin Luther King is being celebrated by the American people yearly. This year June 12 is fast approaching and it provides president Jonathan a great
opportunity to honour this man who died gallantly for the democracy we are celebrating today. I read in the papers yesterday that the Federal Government through an order from an High Court in Abuja, has formally outlawed the dreaded Boko Haram. This is the first time since Jonathan administration came on board that we are seeing decisive action. I
has placed a huge price on the head of the self declared leader of Boko Haram. This development gladdens the heart, but I expect the Jonathan administration to be more firm and ruthless in this direction and not allow political mafias to remove him from this path. Ultimately, Nigerians should call on the National Assembly to revisit the electoral Act for the
Hon. Abdul Oroh, Commissioner for Agric, Edo State
have repeatedly and profusely declared on this page that terrorism and its unrepentant adherents understand nothing but the language of raw terror. Those who have chosen the part of destruction should expect nothing but fist of fury. It is also exciting that the United States government
purpose of inserting electronic voting system into the document. We yearn for true, transparent and progressive democracy, not what is being practiced today by pseudo democrats, who are capitalising on our porous manual voting system to rid us of competent and
“The Ministry of Agriculture is developing agro-service centres with the private sector to mechanised and modernise agriculture. The ministry is not restricting any farmer from growing what he or she wants but strategically it is looking at areas where there are comparative advantage. For instance groundnut from Edo State is the best in Nigeria, even as cotton, sorghum, sesame, soya beans, cow peas grow very well in Edo State.”
progressive leaders across the board. Honestly, if our voting system is fool proof nobody will want to use the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to fulfill his political ambition in 2015. The biggest obstacle to food production in Edo State is directly linked to the problem of lack of adequate investment in the sector according to Hon. “Abdul Oroh, the Commissioner for Agriculture. In Edo State the Ministry of Agriculture is now determined to transform agriculture as a business venture where farmers can look forward to good harvest and profit. The Ministry of Agriculture is developing agro-service centres with the private sector to mechanised and modernise agriculture. The ministry is not restricting any farmer from growing what he or she wants but strategically it is looking at areas where there are comparative advantage. For instance groundnut from Edo State is the best in Nigeria, even as cotton, sorghum, sesame, soya beans, cow peas grow very well in Edo State. Hon. Abdul Oroh, said he is a big time farmer himself, that his main responsibility is to help the Comrade Governor articulate the right policies, implement the policies and work with other stakeholders to
manage the process. He said farmers must have access to credit, improved seedlings, mechanization and access to markets; that farmers need to develop new skills in farm management and operation of agriculture equipment. Hon. Oroh is optimistic that in five to ten years from now, Edo State will be one of the leading food producing states in Nigeria; that through agriculture, Edo State will be the richest state in Nigeria in the next 10 – 20 years. According to the commissioner: “We will apply the little we have in the right places. We will work with the private sector and other m u l t i l a t e r a l organisations and the Federal Government to step up our contribution to national food security. We want to be number one in cocoa, oil palm, rubber, rice, citrus, cassava and aquaculture. We also want to be the main hub in commodity trading and agro-processing.” It is clear that Hon. Abdul Oroh knows what he wants in the Ministry of Agriculture, he believes in hard work and that Edo State should lead in agriculture. Nowinta wrote Adams Oshiomhole: conqueror of the Godfathers.
TOMORROW ON THIS PAGE
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Miracle baby factories are springing up everywhere. For barren couples who desperately want children, all they need is enough discipline and patience to hide away from their immediate environment for some nine months, after which they emerge with bouncing babies. -Hon. Josef Omorotionmwan
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