Nigerian observer 06 03 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 38 • NO. 434 • THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 20 14 • N 100.00 CHILD HEALTH AND YOU Page 15

Ensuring survival of premature babies

Lent: Christians urged to create time for prayers

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR

BENIN CITY – Christians have been advised to create time during this Lenten period which began yesterday to offer prayers to God as

the season shows the mortality and sinfulness of man.

The chaplain, Government House Chapel, Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan

gave the advice in an homily to mark Ash Wednesday which took place at the Government House Chapel in Benin City, yesterday.

Rev. Fr. Obinyan who

urged Christians to use the Lenten period to examine themselves, stated that the Lenten season begins on a Wednesday symbolizing Continues on page 2

National Confab

MAN AND NATURE Page 27

He that humbleth himself shall be exalted (2)

Regionalism, fiscal federalism top Edo agenda

BENIN CITY-The return of Nigeria to regionalism topped the agenda set by the people of Edo State for their delegates to the National Conference opening in Abuja, next Monday.

Government, Fiscal The state’s delegates F e d e r a l i s m ; to the conference include Decentralisation of the Professor Eddy Police and Armed Erhagbe, Chief Charles Forces along Edosomwan, SAN, Regional lines; Professor Sylvanus Independence of the Oboh, Chief Mike Judiciary with First Ozekhome, SAN and Line charge in the Chief Nosakhare Constitution; Return of Isekhure. the Civil Service to Other items on the Professionalism; agenda listed by the Removal of Land Use people include Part-Time from the Constitution; Parliamentary system of Removal of Immunity

Clause and Carving a Role for Traditional Rulers.

Hon Clement Ehebha, who read the Esan Forum agenda which was unanimously adopted as the Edo agenda, with corrections, said the

problem with Nigeria is that it is governed by 37

strong men who are not accountable to the

people.

However, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the State’s delegates to the conference should canvass the interest of the ordinary people, saying “anything we do Continues on page 2

Israeli farmers visit Edo govt

By DOROTHY EGBOBAMWONYI

BENIN CITY – Having attracted lots of investors in agribusiness through the Edo State Agribusiness summit held in 2012, in Benin City, the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has become a Mecca of sort with yesterday’s hosting of another delegation of investment company from Isreal.

The four man delegation led by an

Israeli, Eliav Homossary, the Chief Executive Officer of SEC Equipment and Communication (Nigeria) Limited were in the state to consult with the state government on how to partner to raise the level of agricultural production and improve the quality of produce through their services and training.

They were received by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdul Oroh with the

TIT BIT “Even before your accusers, a right attitude and kind words are bound to earn you more friends”.

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Collins Aibaogun, Director, Farm and Agricultural Service, Mr. Felix Ezewele and Mr. M. I. Anogie.

Commissioner Oroh informed the visitor of government’s commitment towards partnering with potential investors, emphasizing Continues on page 2

INTERACTIVE SESSION: L-R: Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole with Chief Charles Edosomwan (SAN), the Obasuyi of Benin Kingdom (representing Edo South Senatorial District), Prof.

Eddy Erhagbe (representing Edo North Senatorial District) and Prof. Sylvanus Oboh (representing Edo Central Senatorial District) nominees to the National Conference in Abuja during an interactive session with the Comrade Governor and other prominent citizens of Edo State yesterday at Government House. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

Black Marketers resurface

Fuel Scarcity:

By ANDY EGBON

BENIN CITY – With no hope in sight for an end to the ongoing nationwide fuel

scarcity, black marketers of the product have resurfaced in Edo State, predominantly in Dawson Road, Benin City.

This is in spite of

Wednesday’s assurance by marketers that fuel

scarcity would normalize

by Thursday.

across the three senatorial districts of the state, including the rural

areas.

He made the assertion during an inspection of projects, including Continues on page 2

Oshiomhole assures rural areas of development

AUCHI - Governor Adams Oshiomhole has assured the people of Edo State that the state

government will continue to deliver good roads, schools, and hospitals

Investigations revealed that while black marketers were having filled-day selling the product, long queues of motorists have remained unabated at petrol stations, including the NNPC Mega Station in Sapele Road which still sells at N97.00 per litre.

As at press time, while black marketers sell fuel Continues on page 2

News

Oshiomhole assures rural areas of development

Continued from page 1

roads, bridges and schools in Etsako West, Etsako East and Etsako Central Local Government Areas of the state.

In Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Governor Oshiomhole inspected the Council Road, Iyofa road, Okotokwe road, Iyekhe road among others which were completed with drainage system.

The Governor told the jubilant crowd who trooped out to receive him that “I decided to come and see all the roads in these areas. People can see what we are doing on the major roads but can’t see what we are doing in the villages and traditional areas where there were no roads.”

He said, “We decided that to fight erosion in Auchi, any road we are doing must include drainage so that water can flow in a coordinated manner”.

He appealed to people in the area to avoid dumping refuse in the drainage so as to keep the channels free.

Governor Oshiomhole who was also at Jattu inspected the Jattu -Elele Road which is also complete with side drains.

In Etsako East Local Government area, the Governor inspected the Ayogwiri- Apana-Imiegba-

Imiakebu road as well as the Apana-Okpekpe road, which cut through difficult rocky terrain. The roads are complete with bridges.

Addressing a jubilant crowd of residents at Imiakebu, who described the road cutting through the rocky terrain as a wonder of the century, Oshiomhole said, “I came here to assess the extent of work. When we started the road construction, people thought it will not be completed. Any good thing in man’s heart, God has a way of starting and bringing it to an end.

“Today, I am glad that the road project has been completed on schedule. You can see the quality of the road, so by the grace of God, we will bring more development.”

He used the occasion to direct the construction of a roundabout at the end of the Okpekpe road and. He also promised to sink a borehole in Okpekpe so that the people may have access to clean, potable water.

While appreciating the efforts of the Governor for cutting through the rocky

terrain of their area to build roads to their communities, the Onwuwueko of Okpekpe, HRH Peter Osigbemhe expressed thanks to the Governor for the developmental strides in road and schools in the area.

He said “We are happy that you are in Okpekpe today for the road construction which has been realised and the renovation of schools which is also on – going.

We thank you because you have done so well.

This road has been a problem for long as past government shied away from constructing it due to the difficult terrain, but you have come and conquered this difficulty and we are indeed grateful to you that we can drive to our homes on smooth, motorable roads.”

In Etsako Central, the Governor who was accompanied by the Chairman of the council,

operations of investors as well as tackle security challenges for investors to thrive.

The commissioner gave them the assurance of adequate rainfall in all parts of the state, which he said has made the already fertile soil suitable for all type of crops.

According to him, with the

strong man power (employable graduates) as well and other logistics, the success of any investor is sure.

Responding to their plan to have a survey of the existing structure on ground so as to enable them come up with a proposal, Oroh said that although the ministry

increased their fares between 20 – 40 percent of their regular charges for inter and intra city services.

Besides, many commuters have had to resort to trekking long distances as alternative to paying the increased fare.

They bemoan the situation

wondering why federal government is not proactive in addressing the situation.

Efforts to get the views of officials of petrol station visited were rebuffed as none of them was willing to speak with newsmen.

the declared revenue is under the control of the President, while the other 36 Governors share 26% which is slightly less than half of what the President spends.

“If from 26% we can build 1km road, the Federal Government ought to build 2km road; if we build one school, they ought to have built two schools. Because there is so much money in Abuja, the debate today is not about what should be the quality of the President of Nigeria, but which part the

President should come from.

“Unless we alter the revenue allocation formular, we may continue on the same old road. If we review the revenue allocation formular, let Governors fight in their states, let Local Governments fight in their states and let Abuja take up the ceremonial roles of receiving Ambassadors and presidents. The tension for the control of the Abuja will reduce.”

Continued from page 1

cross of Calvary was effective.

Edo State deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu on his part said the 40 days of lent as commemorated by Christians is an opportunity for them to atone for their sins so as to bring themselves closer to God.

Mr Emmanuel Momoh, inspected the UgbekpeEkperi-Udaba-Anegbete road which is complete with two bridges.

The Governor noted that the road had to be redesigned and reconstructed following the flood disaster in the area, last year, occasioned by the overflowing of the banks of the River Niger, saying the state government will only build roads that will last for a long time.

Addressing the Governor, the Clan Head of Anegbette town, HRH Ogbodaga Yakubu thanked the Governor for the infrastructural development in Edo North and his effort at alleviating the plight of the rain storm victims in Aniegbette and its environs.

He noted that people of the area are elated that they can drive to their communities and that already a factory has been sited in the community as a result of the good road.

Oshiomhole also inspected ongoing work at the Government Model Secondary School at Iyamoh where he urged the contractor to make haste and deliver the job on schedule.

Israeli farmers visit Edo govt

Continued from page 1

government’s readiness to provide them the enabling environment to do business in the state.

To this end, Oroh said government has constructed about 555 kilometres of road across the three senatorial districts, liaised with intending host communities so as to avert encumberances to the

Black Marketers resurface

Continued from page 1

for as high as N160.00 per litre, the few petrol stations, though with long queues of vehicles sell for between N108 – N120.

The multiplier effect of the fuel scarcity is that commercial motorists have

Regionalism, fiscal federalism top Edo agenda Continued from page 1

which does not translate to prosperity for the average people will have no meaning.”

He said: “In seeking to address the Nigeria question, there must be solutions we must proffer to raise the quality of life of our people.”

He said the problem with the country is not which system of government is practiced or if we should revert to regionalism, saying “no country makes progress by making one step forward and two steps backward. We should deal with attitudinal issues and not system of governance.”

He said desperate politicians could misuse state police to harass their perceived political enemies, saying “we have to be careful with decentralized Armed Forces, we can’t have sovereignty within a sovereignty.”

He noted that the problem of Nigeria today is the battle for the control of the huge resources at the federal level.

According to him, “52.4% of

Christians urged to create time for prayers that Christians are in between what they are and what they ought to be.

The man of God who anchored his message on the topic, “Beginning Anew with God” told the congregation that ash in the Lenten period indicates victory and hope that the death of Jesus Christ on the

has received all kinds of proposal, the realistic ones will be embedded into the existing ideas, maintaining that, judging by the state government track records, it is only interested in projects that would stand the test of time as well as add value to the living standard of its citizenry.

The ministry boss informed the delegation that Edo State had entered into the signing of MOU with various investors, adding that the plan to metamorphose ADP into Agro-Service Centre was ongoing.

On his part, the Acting Permanent Secretary said Edo State has a number of moribund projects that need to be reactivated and put on stream to drive agricultural process in the state, noting that proper inventory would ascertain the worth of the wasting assets.

Earlier, leader of the delegation emphasized their company’s plan to partner with the state in the area of knowledge dissemination, service, assistance and support, adaptation of new technologies and transfer of knowledge and independence.

Drawing instance from the service his company has rendered to Plateau State, Mr. Honossary emphasized that if their proposal is considered, his company would provide mechanized agricultural services as well as establish training centres where farmers will obtain all information they need to know to make the state the food basket of the nation.

Mr. Homossary stated that his visit will be repeated to take a survey of the existing agricultural structure on ground, to carry soil text and other required information before coming up with a proposal to be presented to the state governor through the commissioner for consideration.

Gov appoints Vera Obada as EIRS Perm Secretary

By VICTOR OMOALU BENIN CITY- The Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has approved the appointment of Mrs. Vera Obada as the substantive Permanent Secretary/Board’s Secretary of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS).

The Executive Chairman of EIRS, Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah who disclosed this during the Executive Management Meeting (EMT) of the agency yesterday, enjoined the management to support the new Board’s Secretary towards recording success.

Chief Elamah who acknowledged that the moral support and political will of the comrade governor has endeared the agency the pride of place it currently occupies, he declared.

“I enjoin all of us to cooperate with her to enable her succeed in her new capacity.

The EIRS boss further charged members of staff of the agency to brace up to their duties, saying, “Whatever you do in the course of discharging your

responsibilities count a lot.

The new Permanent Secretary /Board’s Secretary in her brief remarks expressed gratitude to God for the appointment.

She noted that the executive chairman had always emphasized that unless the human capital development is achieved, no meaningful development can take place in any establishment just as she stressed the need for team work towards moving the revenue system forward.

Asserting that indiscipline was another bane of any establishment’s success, Mrs. Obada however sued for support and cooperation from staff.

Until her appointment, Mrs. Vera Obada was the Director of Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Tax of EIRS. A fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mrs. Obada holds a Masters Degree in Banking/Finance from the University of Benin and Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

Oshiomhole promises to assist College of Educ, Ekiadolor

By FAITH ISIKHUEMEN

BENIN CITY- Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has promised to assist the College of Education, Ekiadolor and meet the logistics it needed to achieve the essence of its establishment.

He gave the assurance yesterday at the 2013/2014 matriculation ceremony of the Institution.

Governor Oshiomhole who was represented by the state Commissioner for Secondary, Tertiary and Technical Education, Barr.

Washington Osifoh expressed the state government commitment to making the institution a degree awarding one in the nearest future.

While congratulating the matriculating students for successfully scaling the admission hurdle, he also urged them to abide by their matriculation oaths.

In his address, the Provost of the College, Prof.

Amen Uhunmwangho commended Governor Oshiomhole for his enormous assistance towards the development of the school and

prayed for its sustainance in order to make the school an enviable one.

He admonished the matriculating students to be law abiding and desist from vices such as cultism and examination mal-practice which are punishable by expulsion from the school.

In his remarks, the chairman, Edo State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Ogedengbe Folly, promised to encourage the state government to establish a college of education in Edo North, due to the need for the establishment of more colleges of education in the state.

High points of the ceremony were the administration of matriculation oath on the students, and the presentation of scholarship to the president of the Student Union Government of the College, Comrade Linda Chidinma Igwe by the Governor’s representative.

A total of 2,840 students were matriculated.

Senate urges CBN staff not to be distracted by Sanusi’s suspension

By JOSES SEDE

ABUJA - Senate Committee on Banking and Finance has enjoined management of the Central Bank of Nigeria not to allow suspension of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, their Governor, to distract the bank from its core mandate of fiscal regulations.

Giving the charge yesterday at the hearing of the implementation of the 2013 Budget and the presentation of the 2014 Budget of the CBN, chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Bassey Otu urged the CBN to live up to its responsibilities and advised the Bank’s officials to remain focused and concentrate on their jobs.

“You have been doing quite alright in terms of performance.

The state of the economy has been very challenging. There has been a lot of controversies in recent times linking the central bank. We won’t want it to affect the institution.

We want everybody to concentrate and do the work the Nigerian people want you to do.

Issues would sort out themselves at appropriate time… but it must not affect the productivity of the institution, the direction and objectives of the institution”, he continued.

Earlier in his presentation, the CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, attributed the high budgetary expenditure of 2013 arising from liquidity management to the quantitative easing in the United States and Western European countries, which led to upsurge in foreign portfolio investment inflow by investors who were desirous of taking advantage of the higher yield prevailing in the Nigerian market.

According the Deputy Governor, it was not unlikely, that the pressure on the foreign reserves stemmed from the activities of these foreign investors who want to repatriate their returns on investment.

Inside Edo Council Boss Inaugurates Immunisation Exercise OKPELLA – The Chairman Etsako East Local Government Council, Prince Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua has inaugurated this month’s maiden edition of the 2014 Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs).

The council chairman who spoke first in local language, told the people to take the exercise with all seriousness, adding that immunization is free.

While commending the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for providing quality leadership, he disclosed government irrevocable determination to improve the health status of the people.

He disclosed that arrangements have been concluded to commission two model health centres with state of the art medical equipments at Agiere and Ogiriga.

Supervisor for health in the council, Hon. Barnabas Oshiobor who also spoke in local language said that the chairman has consistently

demonstrated his concern for the health of the entire people of Etsako East Local Government Area.

The Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr) Andrew Yesufu Eshioramhe Dirisu said the council chairman promised that he was not going to disappoint the people during his electioneering campaign.

Represented by High Chief Felix Ayodele Abu, the Royal further stated that Hon. Afegbua has positively touched the education, water health and other sectors of life.

While commending the council boss for providing good governance for the people, he encouraged him to work harder.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of a Toyota Hilux Van to the Primary Health Care Coordinator in the council, Dr. Sunday Yerumoh for the facilitation of immunization programmes in the locality.

Present at the occasion were councillors, supervisors, Head of Service Mr. Monday Oike and other council functionaries.

... Holds Review Meeting With Immunisation Team OKPELLA – Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Abdul-Malik Suleiman Afegbua has held an Evening Review Meeting with the National Immunisation team.

The council boss who directed regular immunisation exercise said that plans are concluded to provide the Health Department with 2 ambulance vehicles and a Toyota Hilux to boost service delivery.

While commending the team for this month exercise, he said that he is committed to the health of the people, adding that he has built and equipped 2 model Health Centres at Ogiriga and Agiere.

Speaking, Christian

Okechukwu of the National Primary Health Care Development agency, who described the success of the exercise, cal for more turn out of the people.

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (middle), speaking with the contractor on site at the ongoing model school in Auchi while the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Osarodion Ogie looks on during his inspection of some projects in Edo North.

Court Orders Registrar To Take Charge Of House Rent Inheritance:

BENIN CITY – An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin has ordered its registrar to take charge of rents accruing from the No. 1 Ogba Road, Benin City pending the hearing and determination of a substantive suit on the property.

The suit was filed by Dr Osaretin George Izevbuwa

on behalf of one Andrew Ugiagbe to court for allegedly forging documents to inherit the house belonging to their late mother, Madam Aiyunurhiorhue Osahon.

Presiding judge of the court, Justice Cromwell Idahosa who gave the order in his ruling on a motion on notice brought by Dr.

Izevbuwa also ordered that the said rent be deposited in a reputable bank in Benin City pending the determination of the case when the hemp sum would be paid to any of the parties that wins the case.

According to Justice Idahosa, both parties to the suit are to within seven days visit the No. 1 Ogba Road

Traffic Agency Not For Revenue Generation - EDHA BENIN CITY - Mr. Kingsley Ehigiamusor, member of the Edo State House of Assembly said the State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) was not established to generate revenue for the state.

Ehigiamusor made this known during the consideration of the motion,

raised under matters of urgent public importance by the Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu on the violation of road traffic laws in the state.

He said the main purpose that the agency was established, was to enforce traffic laws and maintain sanity on the roads.

“The traffic agency under

the Ministry of Transport has now become an avenue for extortion and revenue generation.” The traffic officials jump into peoples vehicles and struggle the steering with drivers in the name of enforcing traffic laws or apprehending violators and charge exorbitant fines,”

The model school building under construction in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Ehigiamusor said.

According to him, the agency is established to control traffic and maintain sanity on the roads.

Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, (APC Uhunwode) said the traffic officials themselves were indisciplined, adding that they were not capable of enforcing discipline on the roads.

Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, (APC Esan South-East) called on the commission to run jingles on television, to educate the people on how to obey and enforce traffic laws.

Ebea said the effort would help reduce the rate of traffic violations in the state.

The House, after deliberation on the issue, called on the agency to ensure that it adhered strictly to the traffic laws, as it relates to the collection of fines.

The House also called on the State Ministry of Transport to engaged traffic volunteers to assist in maintaining law and order.

to identify the 10 stores which defendant in the suit, Ann claimed to have built in addition to the said building at the location.

Etsako West LG Boss Inspects Projects

By AUDU ADAMA

AUCHI – The Chairman Etsako West Local Government Area, Prince Hassan Kadiri has embarked on an inspection tour of on-going projects embarked upon by his administration.

This is with a view to assessing the performance and compliance of the council contractors to the contractual agreement on quality and standard job as contained in Bills of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation.

Accompanied by principal officials of the local government Prince Kadiri charged the contractors to expedite actions on their jobs.

Projects inspected by the council boss included a block of three classrooms, a block of two classrooms with headmaster’s office and a store and a block of six classrooms at Etsako Nursery and Primary Schools in Auchi.

Also inspected were a block of three classrooms and a block of six classrooms at Abotse and Igbe Primary School, Auchi respectively.

In a chat with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, the council boss expressed satisfaction with the work done so far but however noted that a lot needs to be done in the projects.

South South Trad Ruler Appeals For Infrastructural Devt

Fuel Supply: IPMAN Chairman Raises Hope SAPELE (DELTA) - As the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit also known as fuel lingers on, the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Warri branch, Olorogun Akpos Edafevwotu has asserted that the long queues of vehicles being noticed at filling stations will fizzle out soon.

He made the remark in a chat with newsmen in Sapele, Delta State in the wake of on going nationwide fuel scarcity.

Olorogun Edafevwotu explained that such queues was a manifestation of panic buying as there was availability of the petroleum product.

According to the Chairman, “IPMAN is a reputable association and I don’t want to believe our members are hoarding fuel”, pointing out that “IPMAN as a body is not hoarding fuel”.

While giving assurance that in no distant time the ugly situation would normalise, he disclosed that the association had inaugurated a task force that goes round to monitor the sale of fuel in Warri, Delta State.

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM

L-R: Head Protocol and Publicity; Rivers Independent Electoral Commission, Tonia Nwobi; Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak and Representative of Rivers Governor, Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi, during the presentation of computers to Rivers Government at INEC Office in Port Harcourt recently.

Itsekiri Nation Clamours For Varsity

By BETTY IDIALU

WARRI (DELTA) - The agitation for a University to be sited in Itsekiri land formed the main thrust of the maiden public lecture organized by the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates(NAIG),which held in Warri recently.

The event which featured erudite Itsekiri academia had as its theme: ‘Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality, Challenges of A Minority in Multi Ethnic Nigeria.’

In his welcome speech, Prof. Itse Sagay represented

by Dr. Alex Ideh, a former commissioner in the State said that among other dilemmas facing the Itsekiri nation, is the danger of

rampage of other ethnic groups because of their number.

He opined that in the old Midwest Region,the Itsekiri were well represented at the federal level, development which has changed.

Dr. Alex Ideh sued for peaceful co-existence with other ethnic groups as according to him, they share certain things in common with the Itsekiri.

In his presentation, a U.S based professor, Oritsegbemi Omatete, speaking on, “Economic Challenges of the Itsekiri Nationality in Nigeria’ said knowledge is sacrosanct in the development of any people.

He urged the youths to not only pursue formal

Ewu Community Backs Abdul Rasaq

Onojieship:

By OKOH INNOCENT

EWU (Edo) –The people of Ewu community, including the royal family and the kingmakers have thrown their weight behind the legitimacy of HRH, Abdul Rasaq Yusuf Issesele Ojiefoh 111, as the Onojie and traditional ruler of Ewu kingdom.

Speaking after a meeting in Ewu where they reviewed publications in some national dailies of last Saturday, where Prince Jafaru Ojiefoh, described himself as the legitimate ruler of the community.

The royal family members made up of Chief Emmanuel Okonoboh Ojiefoh, Pa Oni Igiebor Ojiefoh, Malam Mohammed Ojiefoh, Malam Usman Salami Ojiefoh and Alhaji Sufianu Ojiefoh, debunk the publication, describing as

ABAVO (DELTA) – A traditional ruler in Delta State and the Okpara-Uku of Obiayima Community, Abavo, Kingdom in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Morka Chukwudi has appealed to the state government for infrastructural development in the community.

Chief Chukwudi named the infrastructure to include: roads, water borehole, modern market and electricity.

He also appealed to the state government to deploy more

capable doctors and nurses to the community health centre as well as teachers to Ayima Primary and Secondary Schools, also in the community.

While urging the state government to prevail on the oil drilling company in the area to be alive to its Corporate Social responsibilities, Chief Morka charged the Delta State government on the provision of jobs for unemployed youths in the area as a way of reciprocating their vote for the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Udughan in the election.

malicious lie targeted as misleading the general public.

They described HRH, Abdul Rasaq Yusuf Issesele Ojiefoh, as the true Onojie of Ewu, haven by lineage and in the order of heir apparent satisfactory met all the conditionality as required by the law and customs of assuming the throne.

Endorsing the legitimacy of Abdul Rasaq Ojiefoh, the kingmakers of the community, led by High Chief Robert Omosun, while denying any knowledge of Prince Jafaru’s legitimacy as the Onojie of Ewu, described the appeal court judgement as totally wrong.

They disclosed that the customs and tradition of the land was not taken into consideration before that decision was reached.

High Chief Omosun, who also described himself as the most

senior and elderly man in Ewu, added that the Onojie of Ewu is by birth and not by selection.

According to him, “what the court did is wrong, we know ourselves and we know the rightful person, we don’t just pick somebody and say you are the king” .

It would be recalled that on February 14, the court of appeal in Benin, in its judgement recognized Prince Jafaru Ojiefoh, as the legitimate ruler of Ewu kingdom, and the next day at Ewu, in swift reaction, the people staged a peaceful protest rejecting the judgement.

According to HRH, Rasaq Ojiefoh, an appeal against the judgement has since been filed at the Supreme Court, though no date has been fixed for hearing, even though all parties concerned have been served.

education to its highest level, but also look beyond white collar jobs and think of adding values to the society by going into manufacturing.

“We need Itsekiri Dangotes; we must not all depend on white collar jobs; let us get our hands ‘dirty’; We once had operation feed the nation; agriculture is a lucrative sector that must be developed, “he said.

The Ugborodo born professor decried a situation where Itsekiri land produces about 25 per cent of the wealth of the nation and the people have nothing to show for it.

Barr. Temisan Omatseye, a former Director General of NIMASA, lamented that the Itsekiris have become local champions only getting involved in local politics.

He warned that if they do not get involved in national politics,whatever decisions taken at the national level ,would have effects on them and generations yet unborn.

Also speaking, Professor Afejuku harped on the need for Itsekiri youths to be properly educated.

He opined that education is what is needed for the transformation of Itsekiri land.

Professor Afejuku regretted that all the ports in Nigeria have a University named after them apart from Warri port, making reference to University of Lagos, University of Calabar as well as that of Port Harcourt.

‘Where is the University of Warri’?. He queried.

The don further lamented that in Nigerian society,

politicians are given more recognition than the academia that makes them.

Other speakers at the well attended Public lecture included Dr. J.O Reyenieju, and Hon. A.S Mene.

Speakers in their separate presentation said education is the bedrock for any society to thrive and therefore called on all stakeholders to agitate for a University in Itsekiri land and not just a polytechnic as proposed by Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

President of NAIG, Miss Alero Tenuma had said the event was part of the programmes put together by NAIG to unearth new approaches in getting Itsekiri graduates employed in companies operating in Itsekiri land and beyond.

Delta Police Command displaying 78 copies of “Women Relief and Restoration Initiative (WRRI) registration forms with which the operators defrauded 327 women in Oshimili South LGA of Delta alone according to the Police in Asaba recently.

South-West Oyo Pledges Cordial Relationship With Army

Tax Default: Lagos Revenue Service Closes 44 Companies LAGOS - The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) said it sealed 44 companies in the last two months for failure to remit N460.6 million personal income tax of their workers.

Mrs. Folasade CokerAfolayan, the Head of Destain Unit of LIRS, disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos.

Coker-Afolayan said that the companies were sealed between Jan. 7 and Feb. 26.

She said that 23 of the firms were sealed in January for failure to remit N326.6 million to the state government.

The official said that another 21 firms were closed in February for failure to remit more than N134 million tax liabilities.

She said the affected companies included those in the manufacturing, media, tourism, hotels and hospitality sub-sectors.

Coker-Afolayan, reiterated that tax payment was a civic responsibility of citizens, explaining that the proceeds were being used to fund government’s projects.

“Tax is a civic responsibility of everyone.

Security: IBADAN - The Nigeria Baptist Convention in Ibadan urged the Federal Government to take urgent measures to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.

The President of the convention, Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle, made the appeal at a news briefing in Ibadan.

Ayokunle also called on the government to commit the resources of the nation to the welfare of the people.

He further said there was need for the nation to rejoice at the Centenary celebration marking the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates of the country.

“Let me congratulate all Nigerians for the centenary celebration of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Nigeria into the present day Nigeria by the then GovernorGeneral, Lord Lugard in 1914.

“We cannot say that all is well but we believe that if we all

“It enables government function effectively by providing infrastructure and improved standard of living for the people,” she said.

Coker-Afolayan advised tax payers to remit their taxes promptly, stressing that the revenue service would continue to sanction defaulters.

She also warned tax payers not to break government seals as it constituted an offence.

L-R: Assistant Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mrs. Jane Agbede; Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Clement Adoda and Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa at a news conference on the killing of two policemen in Ibadan recently.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi (right) of Oyo State, in a handshake with a member of the newly inaugurated Grade C Customary Courts, Mrs. Yemisi Balogun during the inauguration of newly appointed Grade C Customary Courts’ Presidents and members in Ibadan recently.

Baptist Convention Tasks FG work together towards making all things well, year after year, the story of the nation would change for better in the name of Jesus,” he said.

The reports say that the

Baptist Convention boss spoke on issues such as the Boko Haram insurgency, unemployment, signing of the anti-gay bill into law and the Central Africa Republic crisis.

He announced plans by the Convention to hold a “Baptist Night of Wonders” designed to provide divine assistance to men and women irrespective of their

ILE-IFE (OSUN) - The Ife Central Local Government of Osun immunised 21,870 children under five years old against poliomyelitis and other child-killer diseases during the first round National Immunisation Days programme in 2014.

Mrs. Florence Olawoyin, the council’s Local Immunisation Officer (LIO), told newsmen in Ile-Ife, that the exercise was to ensure children between zero and 59 months were given oral polio vaccines to protect them against poliomyelitis.

She said that the areas covered during the two-day exercise

included Eleyele, Parakin, Igboya, Road Seven, OdoOgbe, Iremo, Obalufon, Onireke, Aderemi and Ojoyin.

Olawoyin said that the

programme was successful due to the support and co-operation of the staff and management of the council.

She said that oral polio

Polio: LG

religion.

Ayokunle said that the Convention was celebrating the Centenary due to the fact that it was the year the churches were merged.

IBADAN - Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has pledged the determination of his administration to maintain cordial relationship with the Nigerian Army.

A statement issued by his spokesman, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said the governor made the pledge during a courtesy call on him by the new General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Mechanised Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, MajorGeneral Funsho Abejirin.

Ajimobi, who reiterated his administration’s commitment to the provision of security, commended the men and officers of the Nigerian Army for their support in the maintenance of peace in the state.

“We have established a good working relationship with the Nigerian Army based on our determination to ensure that the foundation of our administration of development which is security of lives and property is maintained.

“The Nigerian Army is indeed a major partner in this regard.

It has continued to play a leading role in the peace and tranquility we are enjoying today in Oyo State,” the governor said.

He assured the GOC that his government would not relent in its efforts at providing adequate logistics for the Division.

Earlier, Abejirin commended Ajimobi for providing necessary support for army operations in the state.

He assured the governor of the readiness of his Division to continue to participate fully in the maintenance of peace through the state security outfit code-named Operation Burst.

Immunises 21,870 Children vaccines were safe and has no side effects on children, and urged nursing mothers to always immunise their children.

She said that the management of the council would continue to

accord priority to the health needs of the people, and urged parents to ensure that their children were immunised to guarantee their future growth and development.

The commissioner said that the government had made provision for forest communities to carry out farming activities in their areas.

“We have a portion for farming which is called ‘free area’. This place is vast enough for any activity.

forest reserve because government has spent and still spends a lot for the survival of these forests.”

According to Atere, there is a paradigm shift on the importance of forest reserves all over the world and the state is ready to tread on the same path of modern utilisation.

Forest Encroachment: Govt Tasks Communities On forest reserve.

AKURE - The Ondo State “But we frown at trespassing Vigilance The forest communities Government urged forest communities in the state to be vigilant and assist in the fight against forest encroachment.

Mr. Tunde Atere, the Commissioner for Natural Resources, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Akure while reacting to recent arrests made at the government

should be vigilant and question any stranger or strange movement around them.

“This is what we call Community-Based Forest Policing, and we have been meeting and discussing with all the communities concerned,” Atere said.

Lagos 21 Niger Delta Youths Trained In Film Production

L-R: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos; His wife, Mrs. Abimbola, member, House of Representatives, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and former Lagos Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande at the 1st draw of Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme in Lagos recently.

LAGOS -U.S. ConsulGeneral, Mr. Jeffery Hawkins, has said a two-week film production training for some youths in Niger-Delta would help to transform lives of beneficiaries and their communities.

Hawkins made the remark at the presentation of certificates to 21 youths from Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta at the end of Nollywood film production course.

The programme entitled: “Dawn in the Creeks”, had been launched at the residence of the Consul-General in Ikoyi, Lagos as an initiative of the Niger-Delta Legacy Engagement aimed at forging peace and transformation in the Niger-Delta.

Hawkins urged the youths to

see themselves as agents of change in their different communities.

“We, from now on, want to see you all as change agents in your different Niger-Delta communities.

“With this training in film production, we want you to tell the world that Niger-Delta can be non-violent.

“Dawn in the creeks is about telling a film narrative of nonviolent transformation in NigerDelta”, he said.

The Coordinator of the project, Mr. Jeta Amata, said the youths were trained in script writing, editing, unit production management, directing,

Tukur Targets Railway Expansion

Boko Haram insurgents killed more than 50 students of the school, kidnapped some and set some buildings ablaze on February 25 during an overnight raid.

“I advise the local, state and federal governments to immediately commence the

search-and-rescue of all the kidnapped female students.

“These and other threats to the lives of the nation’s future leaders by terrorists and other unpatriotic elements can be described as wicked and despicable,” she said.

Okanlawon condemned the

massacre of the students and the kidnap of some of them reportedly taken to an unknown destination.

She commiserated with the families and friends of the victims who were murdered and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

give Nigerians a modern railway system, with determination.

“I can see the zeal, and the desire to give the best. I believe that the Federal government will provide what it requires for the management of railway to meet the need.

“My vision for railway in Nigeria is to build a modern railway for a modern society. I have seen the Chinese built 30,000 miles of rail from Beijing up to Hamburg.

“Nigeria’s railway can even part Africa into two. Why not Lagos to Cotonou and to other countries? It can be done.

“My vision is Africa. I am looking forward to one day when Nigeria’s rail will move up to Cairo, to Dar es Salaam from Lagos and vice-versa,” Tukur said.

The board chairman said his wealth of experience, which made him to build 13 ports for Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) within five years, could help him transform the NRC. “When the NPA was in the same situation, I and the authority’s management built 13 ports for the authority within five years.

“If we can do it there, why not here with the members of the NRC board? With the past record, the will and the capacity, we can do more in NRC,” Tukur said.

Reports state that Tukur succeeded Alhaji Kawu Baraje as the NRC Chairman in January.

once in a week.

“There is no day that I don’t put on generator to pump water.

“At night, we put on the generator from 7.00 p.m. till about 1.00 am, then at 5.00 am when we want to go to work.

“We spent N120, 000 three months ago to change all the wooden poles and cables in my area.

“But since then we have had power supply just once or twice.

Nothing has changed,” Oloniyo said.

Another resident, Mr. Vitalis Onyemepu, said a situation where the community singlehandedly procured electricity components without any corresponding impact on supply was unacceptable.

“About 95 per cent of what we enjoy as electricity is from individual contributions. Every connection we do here is through levies on ourselves.

“The transformers, meters, the wiring of everything is shouldered by the community.

“Sometimes, PHCN will bring power and in less than 20 or 30 minutes, the power will go off for another two weeks or three weeks before it is restored,” Onyemepu said.

He expressed anger that bills were being brought regularly by the power authorities for services not rendered.

“If there is constant power, residents will pay with the conviction that the service is being enjoyed,’’ Onyemepu said.

Mr Tunde Oduntan, a fashion designer, said the poor power supply was taking a toll on his business.

“We can’t even satisfy our customers as intended.

“For instance, we use kerosene stove for ironing instead of electric iron. A bottle of kerosene is N120 and I use one and half bottle every day.

“Sometimes, I can’t afford to buy kerosene, so I sleep until electricity is restored,” Oduntan said.

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, his Housing counterpart, Mr. Bosun Jeje, a winner of Lagos Housing Mortgage Scheme, Mr. Sylvester Akintoye; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos; His wife, Abimbola and some winners of Lagos Housing Mortgage Scheme at the 1st draw of Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme in Lagos recently.

LAGOS - Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the new Board Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), said the board was committed to running the rail line from Nigeria through the countries in Africa.

Tukur said this at the NRC headquarters at Ebute-Metta in Lagos, during his maiden corporation facilities’ tour with board members.

He said the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan was working, considering the revitalisation which was observed during the tour.

“The Railway Transformation Project is awakening the sleeping giant of Nigeria. The opportunity is tremendous, and we will work hard under this leadership. I think the sky should be the limit.

“Nigerians should be given what they deserve, and we will

Rescue Kidnapped Students, Union Urges Government

LAGOS - The Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association’s (NECA) Network of Entrepreneurial Women has called on governments at all levels to search and rescue female students of Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi, Yobe, kidnapped recently.

The reports state that NECA

is an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

A statement by the network’s President, Mrs. Lola Okanlawon, in Lagos, said the women were worried about the fate of more than 15 female students reportedly kidnapped.

It would be recalled that the

IKORODU (LAGOS STATE) - Some residents in Igbo-Olomu, a suburb of Lagos, lamented the recurrent power outage in the area and called on the power authorities to restore electricity supply.

The residents told newsmen that the poor electricity supply had lasted more than 18 months and had crippled their socioeconomic lives.

They said several attempts by the community to reverse the situation by appealing to the

Odogunyan Business District of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) remained unsuccessful.

Miss Bisi Oloniyo, a resident, told newsmen that visitors were greeted by total darkness whenever they arrived in the area.

“Immediately you step into our area, it is darkness. I have been living in this area for four years and had to buy three generators.

“I buy a minimum of N500 fuel every day and engine oil

photography, social transformation and leadership.

“These young filmmakers can now produce real-life dramas on conflict, oil, reconciliation and peace in the Niger-Delta”, he said.

Amata said there was plan to train more youths in other states of the region.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Dede Nwaudo, commended the organisers for giving them skills that would take their minds off violence and other social vices.

“We have been taught to fish and not to continue to receive fish from people.

“We are going to make the best use of what we have learnt in transforming our lives and those around us”, he said.

Lagos Residents Lament Power Outages

North CSR: Seplat Kicks Off Free Medicare

SAPELE – Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Operator of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company NPDC/Seplat Joint Venture has inaugurated the third edition of its “Eye Can See” health programme for its host communities in Delta and Edo States.

The programme, a key component of SEPLAT’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is a health-focused community assisted endeavour designed to bring free, qualitative and comprehensive eye care to members of its host communities.

The inauguration ceremony was in Sapele, Delta State from where the Medicare will extend to 41 other communities, including Amukpe also in Delta State as well as Orogho, Oben and Ikobi communities in Edo State.

In the previous two editions, it was gathered that at least 4,000 people benefited from the free medical service while thousands of people are also targeted to benefit from the on-going exercise which will last till April, 2014.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Seplat Petroleum Development Compnay, Austin Avuru represented by the General Manager, Health Safety, Security and Environment.

(HSSE) and Community Development, Dr. Bryte Oghor gave assurance to the host communities that the oil and gas operator would steadily fulfill its promises to them and therefore urged them to take advantage of the “Eye Can See” programme.

In her remarks, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs and New Business Development of SEPLAT,

Dr. (Mrs.) Chioma Nwachukwu explained that previous editions recorded over 6,000 beneficiaries with hundreds of successful surgeries carried out on patients.

There were goodwill messages from top government functionaries of Delta State as well as the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa who was represented by Chief Victor Uzamere, the Obadolaye of Benin Kingdom.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu being administerd the ash by Rev. Fr. Andrew Obiyan, Chaplain, Government House Chapel, to mark the beginning of the Lent season.

Photo: MOSES OBOH.

ABUJAThe Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Police Force (NPF), CSP Frank Mba, has urged newsmen to follow through to the end prosecution of suspects being paraded.

He made the appeal to journalists in Abuja.

Mba noted that newsmen were only interested in the sensation surrounding the stories of

suspects while leaving out the prosecution process.

“It is not true that we don’t follow up.

“What happens, unfortunately, is that a lot of Nigerian journalists actually don’t have the patience to follow us through. A lot of

Police Urges Media To Follow Trial Of Suspects

Fashola Faults FG’s Shady Practices In Governance

LAGOS - Worried by the spate of economic decline in the country, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has revealed the shoddy practices in the running of federal government, saying “it calls for urgent attention.”

Fashola who addressed the Lagos lawmakers during plenary noted that the national economic council meeting which ought to be on monthly basis has not been held for six months.

Fashola said, “In almost 14 years of our democratic experience, the first time that commissioners for Finance worked out of Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Abuja was in 2011.”

While stressing on the decline in revenue, Fashola explained that some states have resorted to borrowing in an attempt to keep government running unhindered.

He also said the deduction of one percent statutory revenue for police reform by Federal Government was not in line with the provision of the constitution.

Fashola explained that he

had written to the federal government to stop the deduction but he had not receive any response.

He said, “I have not got any reply; we are considering going to court in order to stop it”, he said.

He added that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which had claimed not withholding any money had recently refunded money. He believed the refunding was a clear

indication that there was a charade.

Another issue that came to limelight has to do with ecological intervention fund, which according to the governor was not remitted, adding that “the only platform available to agitate for such is national economic council which has not been held for six months.”

The Governor also disclosed that the state has expended N35bn to protect

the coastline.

In his response, the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji thanked the governor for coming to the House to brief it “on what pertains to the future and even our today.

We need a lot of time to be able to get to the root of the matter.”

Ikuforiji therefore ruled that the commissioner for Finance, his counterpart from Economic Planning and Budget and the Accountant General should appear before the House for further deliberation.

suspects we parade, after parading them we proceed to court.

“Some of the sensational cases honestly I expect journalists to follow through to the end.

“I have so many of those cases that the journalists were not interested in following through.

“Once the police have paraded the suspect they are actually under intense pressure to do the right thing.

“When we see a case that we think a police officer may mismanage or may compromise along the line we push him directly for that case to be made public.

“Because once it becomes public it becomes a public interest and the police officers have no choice than to ensure that they follow through as professionally as possible,’’ he said.

The police spokesman noted that because Nigeria is a big country with major news breaking in quick succession, newsmen neglect past issues for the present ones.

He said this was because many of the media organisations

were profit-driven and would rather go for news and headlines that would sell.

Mba, however, noted that contrary to popular belief that the cases were forgotten, they were actually taken to court for prosecution.

“There are quite a lot of factors outside the control of the police that contribute to untidy prosecution.

“But today because of the number of lawyers in the police we are beginning to have a breath of fresh air in our ability to prosecute cases very successfully.

“We’ve also got problems that have to do with funding. We have complained that the few forensic labs we have are not optimally equipped.

“Even when we have well trained pathologists, well trained finger print experts, well trained hand writing analysts and the rest of them, they can only operate when we have the equipment.

“The Ministry of Police Affairs, working with the presidency, has actually approved the establishment of a world-class forensic laboratory.

New Benin Baptist Church Crusade Begins Today

Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (arrowed), in a group photograph with the students and some of the teachers of Oman Christian Academy shortly after the students had observed the House Plenary sitting recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

BENIN CITY- A three day power packed crusade organised by the New Benin Baptist Church (Cathedral of God’s Glory) begins today March 6, 2014.

The crusade with the theme: Every knee shall bow” which ends on Saturday March 8, 2014 will hold at Isonorho Street Opposite Grace In Abundant

Bible Church, off Costain Guobadia Street, New Benin, Benin City beginning at 6pm daily.

Ministers at the crusade in partnership with the Holy Spirit include, Rev’d Wellington Jesurobo, Pastor Omoaghe Obed, pastor Emmanuel Ugbede and Pastor Michael Omagbitse.

The theme of the crusade is taken from phillipian 2:10.

Abuja Regional Integration

Benin Lauds ECOWAS Commission

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Jamila Shu’Ara; Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom; Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anuforom, during the 2014 Seasonal Prediction in Abuja recently.

ABUJA - The Benin Republic Minister for Economy and Finance, Mr. Jonas Gbian, has commended the collaborative efforts of the ECOWAS Commission and its member states in promoting integration.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Commission’s Acting Director of Communication, Mr. Sunny Ugoh.

The statement quoted Gbian as making the commendation in Ouidah, Benin Republic, during the 9th Benin National Integration Week.

He noted that the integration week which started on February 25, had created among others, a better understanding of the regional Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Rep. Uche Ekwunife; Director-General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Peter Idabor and Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Modu Kyari, during NOSDRA Budget Defence in Abuja recently.

2015 Polls: NSCDC To

Deploy Sniffer Dogs

ABUJA - The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it will deploy sniffer dogs during the 2015 general elections.

A statement issued in Abuja quoted Dr Ade Abolurin, the NSCDC Commandant General, as directing the Kernel Unit of the Corps to speed up the training of sniffer dogs and dog handlers for deployment ahead of the elections.

The statement signed by Mr Okeh Emmanuel, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, said: “The sniffer dogs are to be deployed to strategic places, including the borders and areas that could serve as exit routes for mischief makers.’’

It also called on the citizenry to join hands with government to address the security challenges facing the nation.

“It should be seen as a collective responsibility.

Security personnel are not magicians. Therefore, for the challenges to be addressed, the populace should pass adequate

information to security agencies.

“We are faced with a lot of challenges, and based on the critical nature of the society every piece of information

N2.3m Fraud: ABUJA - An FCT High Court has reviewed the bail conditions granted, Ekaete Sam, to enable her ulitise the bail.

Sam was arraigned on November.19, 2013 on five counts bordering on intent to defraud under false pretext.

The EFCC accused Sam of obtaining N2.3 million from one Pastor Jerry Ekezie, under false pretext.

She, however, was unable to meet the bail conditions and had been remanded in Keffi Prison since her arraignment in November.

The accused had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the resumed hearing, Justice Adebukola Banjoko,

counts.

“Success can only be recorded if everyone is security conscious, and sensitive to things happening within the environment,’’ it said.

Goods.

The statement said that the minister, who was represented by his Director of Cabinet, Mr. Adjovi Servais, applauded the foresight of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

It said that Gbian applauded their foresight, especially in helping to galvanise different sectors of the economies of member states around integration issues.

The Miniter called on his

FG Canvasses Respect For Wild Life ABUJA - The Federal Ministry of Environment has charged Nigerians to develop the culture of according full respect to the rights of wildlife.

Mr. Fidelis Omeni, the Deputy Director in charge of Wildlife in the ministry, gave the charge in an interview with the News men in Abuja.

Omeni said that wildlife had contributed significantly to the sustainability of the environment, stressing that its contribution to human survival was enormous.

He urged Nigerians to protect the wildlife as the nation’s heritage.

“Respect wildlife as life; let them be where they are and give them support against human interference within their habitat.

“It has contributed significantly to the survival of Nigerians, especially as 70 per cent of Nigerians live in rural areas.

“They depend on the wildlife for medicine, for shelter, for food and even tourism.

“Wildlife includes all plants and animals that are not domesticated and that makes them a renewable resource to human existence.

“Therefore, it behoves man to ensure the continued survival of the wildlife.

“It must be protected as our heritage from generation to generation.’’

The deputy director also decried the attitude of people to wildlife in Nigeria, noting that they were taken seriously in other countries of the world.

He, therefore, underscored the need for sensitisation across all strata of the government and among the people to see wildlife as indispensable resources that

Court Reviews Bail Conditions

ordered that only one out of the sureties must present three years tax clearance certificate.

Banjoko had ordered that the two sureties must produce three years tax certificate and must have landed property.

“The court has reduced the bail

conditions in order for you to meet up with the bail.

“The accused is hereby, admitted to bail in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum.

He said that the sureties must reside within the court’s

ABUJA - A teacher, Adams Taititi, was arraigned before a Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly giving false information with intent to mislead a public servant.

Taititi, 58, resides at No. 59, Alapo Street, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun.

The Prosecutor, ASP. Chris Ojeh, told the court that the accused, through a petition to the

Inspector-General of Police dated February 28, gave false information about five policemen.

He said that the accused alleged that five policemen, Corporals Femi Odusina, Adewole Adedeji, Wasiu Taiwo, Ogunseeni Odunayo and PC. Victor Adenuga, all of Ogun State Police Command were

compatriots, especially inhabitants of the coastal region, to maximise the opportunity provided by the Week to embrace the integration vision of ECOWAS. The Benin Ministry of Economy and Finance introduced the National Week of Integration in 2004 as part of effort to promote regional integration by the community’s citizens, in line with the ECOWAS mandate.

jurisdiction, and adjourned the case to March 13.

The EFCC, particularly alleged that Sam collected the money from Ekezie in Lagos under the pretext that she would use it to clear her goods at the Apapa Wharf.

Teacher Arraigned For Giving False Information members off a cult.

Ojeh, however, said police investigation uncovered that the accused lied against the policemen.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 140 (A and B) of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

should be preserved.

“Nigeria has no choice than to protect its wildlife,’’ he said.

According to Omeni, the Nigerian constitution gave the three tiers of government the responsibility to protect the wildlife within their domains.

On laws to protect wildlife, he said that the Federal law relating to wildlife was the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which is being domesticated.

“Nigeria has enacted legislation specifically to domesticate CITES laws, Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Decree of 1985 which is currently been reviewed.

“Due to the constitution we operate, we have wildlife matters on the concurrent list where Federal Government, States and Local governments are authorised to take measures to protect wildlife.

‘At the level of local government, there are edicts enacted to protect wildlife and various states enact wildlife protection laws.’’

In a separate interview, Dr Ian Raymond, Ambassador, UNEP Convention on Migratory Species and Consultant to Born Free Foundation in UK, urged Nigerians to appreciate wildlife due to their roles in human existence.

Raymond said that species of the wildlife have an ecological role to play, adding that the animals could also serve as agents of plant propagation.

He insisted that the protection of wildlife would add value to the environment, calling on the government to strengthen antipoaching laws.

He observed that country’s forests were depleting very fact and called for urgent to protect the available forests.

He described the forest and its resources as complicated life support system, noting that the sustainability of the environment would not be achieved without the conservation of forest and its resources.

It was recall that in December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly, during its 68th, proclaimed 3 March as the day of the adoption of the CITES Convention.

The day was also adopted as the World Wildlife Day, to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.

Business + Economy NSE Market Indicators Rise This was in contrast to the

LAGOS - Weekly equity transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) opened for the week has with the market indices growing marginally by 0.01 per cent.

Newsmen report that AllShares Index rose by 5.54 points or 0.01 per cent to close at 39,564.43 against 39,558.89 recorded Friday Feb. 28.

Similarly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N12.706 trillion, appreciated by N2 billion or 0.01 per cent to close at N21.708 trillion.

An analysis of the price movement chart indicated that Nigerian Breweries led the gainers’ table by N6.99 to close at N158.99 per share.

It was followed by Unilever with a gain of 95k to close at N48 per share.

Unoin Diccon appreciated by 95k to close at N13.07, while CCNN gained 46k to close at N9.70 per share.

Conversely, Guinness topped the losers’ chart, losing N69.80 to close at N188.10 per share.

Mobil trailed with a loss of N4.71 to close at N120.14 per share.

PZ depreciated by N2 to close at N36, while Dangote Cement lost N1 to close at N239 per share.

However, the volume of shares traded dropped by 49.67 per cent with 239.864 million shares worth N2.44 billion traded in 4,352 deals.

479.439 million shares valued at N12.75 billion traded in 1,206 deals on Friday.

Newsmen report that Transcorp emerged the most traded stock with 62.34 million shares valued at N229.67 million.

It was followed by Zenith Bank with 33.01million shares valued at N682.05, while Access Bank traded 15.92 million shares worth N124.12 million.

FBN Holdings sold 14.89 million shares valued at N196.94 million, while Afriprud accounted for 7.05 million shares worth N28.21 million .

FG Replaces Heads Of Aviation Agencies

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau (left), signing into law the 2014 Appropriation Bill in Jos recently. With him is the Speaker, Plateau House of Assembly, Mr. Titus Alams.

Confusion at a filling station on Apapa Road as fuel scarcity bites harder in Lagos recently.

ABUJA - The Federal Government has announced the replacement of four heads of the agencies of the Ministry of Aviation in a re-organisation.

This is contained in a statement signed by Sen. Anyim Pius Ayim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and made available to the newsmen in Abuja.

The statement said that Mr. George Uriesi had been replaced as Managing-Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by Mr. Saleh Dumona, Director Projects (FAAN).

The statement said that Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, the General Manager, Procurements, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), would replace Mr Nnamdi Udoh as ManagingDirector of NAMA It said that Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, Government Safety Inspector and ICAO Focal Point for Nigeria Online Aircraft Safety Information Systems, (OASIS) would replace Capt. Chinyere Kalu as Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).

It said that Capt. Muhktar Usman, Commissioner, Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, (AIPB) would replace Capt. Fola Akinkuotu as DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) but subject to Senate’s confirmation.

The statement said that Mr. Benedict Adeyileka was appointed to act as Director-General of NCAA, pending the confirmation by the Senate while Dr Felix Abali, Director Licencing, NCAA would replace Usman as Commissioner, AIPB. The statement said that Dr Tony Anuforo retained his position as Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMMET).

Cargo Clearance: Agent Wants Release Programme Extended

LAGOS – Mr. Uchu Block, a clearing agent at the port, has urged the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to extend its conditional release programme for importers in the new import regime.

Newsmen report that the conditional release is being adopted as a temporary clearance measure to fast track clearance of cargoes at the ports.

The initiative was suspended on Feb. 17 after the NCS inaugurated the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) as a new platform for cargo clearance.

Block told newsmen that the NCS should make the conditional release flexible following the teething problems of the new platform and due to the number of cargoes caught up in the clearance procedure switch.

He appealed to the NCS to approve more conditional releases as earlier promised to enable customs agents to clear the remaining goods at the ports.

“They said they were waiting for approval from Abuja to enable us continue with the process of clearing our cargos,

but nothing has been done till now.

“I just hope that there will not be congestion at the ports again

since they stopped the treatment of the pre-release issue and the PAAR are not coming out.”

The National Public Relations Officer of NCS, Mr Wale

Adeniyi, said that the service was committed to port decongestion.

Adeniyi said that clearing agents should continue with their

work as long as they perfected procedures on their documentation and payment of appropriate import duties.

and denied humanity of essential services.

It also said that wildlife was now trafficked internationally much like drugs or weapons, with criminals operating largely with impunity and little fear of prosecution.

According to the statement, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates illicit trade in wildlife at 19 billion Dollars.

The WWF also estimates that current trends of species extinction are between 100 times and 1,000 times higher than the naturally expected levels, the statement added.

It quotes John Scalon, the Secretary-General of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as saying: “wildlife is cherished in its own right.

“It is cherished for the contribution it makes to our personal well-being from food to medicine and from culture to recreation.

“Our wildlife is suffering from illegal trade. Let us do all we can, as citizens and consumers, to bring illegal wildlife trade to an end. “ In doing so, we will secure the future for wild plants and animals as well as for ourselves.”

It noted that March 3 was also the day of adoption of CITES in 1973.

The statement further quoted Achim Steiner, UN UnderSecretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, as saying that the UN’s first World Wildlife Day coincided with renewed attention to the escalating crisis of wildlife poaching.

“While providing us with an

opportunity to celebrate the fantastic diversity of life on earth, it also reminds us of the urgency and responsibility to care for and protect it.

“While governments have a key role to play, we as citizens of countries across the globe, have a vital role to play in shutting down the markets that sustain this illegal trade.

“To shut down illegal trade which threatens the survival of iconic species, such as elephants and rhinos, but also of other threatened animal and plant species,’’ Steiner said.

It said that in its resolution designating World Wildlife Day, the General Assembly requested the CITES Secretariat to facilitate the implementation of the Day. “The implementation would be done in collaboration with

Wildlife Day: UN

ABUJA - As the World celebrates Wildlife Day, the UN has drew attention to the impact of the 19 billion- Dollar illicit trade in flora and fauna across the globe.

The concern is contained in a statement issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi and made available to newsmen online in Abuja.

The statement said that illicit trade in wildlife included elephant poaching, great ape theft and the illegal transportation of timber.

It said that illegal trade in wildlife was considered the fourth largest in the world after narcotics, counterfeiting and human trafficking.

The statement said that the trade had major implications on international peace and security

“With the conditional release, they only need to perfect their documentation.

“Once they perfect their documents, they will either make up the difference as duly billed or collect what is due them if they paid higher.”

Laments $19bn Illicit Trade

relevant organisations of the UN system, “Among other things, the resolution recognised the intrinsic value of wildlife and its many contributions to human well-being and sustainable development.

“This also included ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational and cultural,’’ the statement said.

It added that wildlife crime continued to threaten the lives of rangers in their fight to stem the illegal tide.

“It is also often linked with the exploitation of disadvantaged communities, human right abuses and other challenges to inclusive, sustainable development, including by jeopardising livelihoods around the world.

International Features

Mideast: Tough Choices Ahead

PRESIDENT Barack Obama pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has to make the “tough decisions” needed to move forward on talks with the Palestinians, as he sought to salvage an elusive Middle East peace plan.

But facing a U.S.imposed April deadline, the Israeli leader declared that, “Israel has been doing its part and, I regret to say, the Palestinians have not.”

Netanyahu’s comments underscored the slim prospects of reaching an agreement to the longrunning conflict, despite a robust effort led by Secretary of State John Kerry.

Obama and Netanyahu’s Oval Office meeting marked a more direct foray into the peace negotiations by Obama, who will also meet at the White House later this month with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

“It is still possible to create two states, a Jewish state of Israel and a state of Palestine, with people living side by side in peace and security,” Obama said. “But it’s difficult. It requires compromise on all sides.”

While the relationship between Obama and Netanyahu has improved after early tensions, the two leaders still wrestle with deep differences,

particularly on Iran. Israel sees Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat and fears Tehran is using U.S.-led negotiations to stall while it builds a bomb.

Obama, seeking to reassure Netanyahu,

Washington to speak at the annual meeting of AIPAC, the largest proIsrael lobby.

Obama, who has twice

to all conflict, a just solution for Palestinian refugees, and an resolution “that finally allows Jerusalem to live

borders between Israel and a future Palestine, the fate of Palestinian refugees and the status of the holy city of Jerusalem.

New Israeli housing statistics showed that Israel began building

• US President, Barack Obama

• Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu

affirmed his “absolute commitment that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.”

Netanyahu insisted Monday that Iran must suspend all uranium enrichment, though any final deal between the international community and Iran would likely leave the Islamic republic with a small enrichment capacity.

“No country has a greater stake in this,” said Netanyahu, who is in

up to its name as the city of peace.”

Kerry has made nearly a dozen trips to the region over the past year and is seeking to get both sides to sign a framework by the end of April that would serve as a guide for negotiations on a permanent solution to the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.

The framework aims to address the core issues in the dispute, including

addressed the conference, is not speaking this year, though Kerry was scheduled to speak Monday night.

In excerpts released ahead of his speech, Kerry outlined what he called “the endgame” in the peace negotiations.

He said a peace deal must include security arrangements that leave Israel more secure, mutual recognition of states for the Jewish and Palestinian people, an end

more than twice as many West Bank settlement homes in 2013 than it did the previous year. The Palestinians consider settlements built on territories captured by Israel in 1967 to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip for an independent state.

They have demanded that Israel agree to base the final

borders with a future Palestine on the pre-1967 lines, with small land swaps that would allow Israel to keep some of the Jewish settlements it has built in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Netanyahu has refused to recognize the 1967 lines as a starting point.

He wants to retain an Israeli presence in a strategic area of the West Bank along the border with Jordan and keep large blocs of settlements closest to Israel. He has given no indication as to how much territory he is willing to cede, and he has rejected any division of east Jerusalem, the Palestinians’ hoped-for capital.

Netanyahu has also demanded that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. The Palestinians reject this, saying it would undermine the rights of displaced Palestinian refugees who claim properties in what is now Israel, as well as the rights of Israel’s Arab minority.

The Palestinians fear the emerging American proposal will largely side with Israel, particularly on the Jewish state, and by including only a vague mention of Palestinian “aspirations” in Jerusalem, rather than a specific reference to east Jerusalem.

Courtesy: AP

“Netanyahu has refused to recognize the 1967 lines as a starting point. He wants to retain an Israeli presence in a strategic area of the West Bank along the border with Jordan and keep large blocs of settlements closest to Israel.”

MORE than any other issue in Nigeria today, the greatest concern has been the security condition of the country.

ALMOST on a daily basis, there are accounts of several security threats arising from armed robberies, assassinations, armed militancy and banditry, kidnapping, bombings and of recent, the blood-let from a religious sect called the Jaamatus Alhus Sunnah Lid Daawatis Wal Jiliad (otherwise called Boko Haram who say they are opposed to Western education and are ready to attack every vestige of western civilization.

INDEED, the rate of crime and criminality, as exemplified in the high incidence of kidnapping, bombings and other organised crimes has sadly moved from the realm of security threat to an area of real and present danger.

THE frightening security condition in Nigeria has not only been a source of worry, it has also dented Nigeria’s International status.

FOR instance, recently, Boko Haram slaughtered over 40 people while praying in a Borno mosque.

Also, three primary school teachers were kidnapped by unknown gunmen while on duty at Orogbua Primary School, Upper Ekenwan Road in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. They were released only after some undisclosed huge ransom was paid by their spouses.

ASIDE these incidences, local Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, had until late, been orchestrating series of isolated attacks predominantly in Northern Nigeria.

The sect is believed to be targeting centres of international attraction, especially in the Federal Capital Territory.

CURIOUSLY, the presidential committee

THE NIGERIAN

National Security & Inter-Agency Co-operation on security challenges in the North East Zone has identified security lapses, interservice rivalry and lack of collaboration as factors that have encouraged the proliferation of security crises in the Northern part of the country. It also blamed the security breaches on high level of poverty, unemployment and other social ills.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER is however of the considered opinion that serious security collaboration and intelligence sharing must be urgently evolved to arrest security breaches and this needs to go beyond the shores of the nation. The federal government must build inter-agency cooperation through diplomatic channels/pacts, and international intelligence to ensure that crime of whatever scale is nipped in the bud.

MOST importantly, there is the overriding need to promptly move to demilitarize the Nigerian society and reduce the heavy influx of arms and ammunition in the country which have unfortunately gone into the wrong hands.

TO this extent, the Customs and Immigration Services, in tandem with the Ministry of Interior should work round the

clock to protect the porous Nigerian borders.

SOMETHING fundamental equally needs to be done to reduce, if not totally eliminate the existence of private militias that were established, funded and used by politicians and individuals who later dumped them after having been trained to handle arms.

ALSO, the various security agencies, beside the need to be technologically equipped and funded to carry out their assigned tasks, would need to be restructured. The structure and duties of our security agencies must be revisited so as to ensure that each organ very well knows its specific roles and function, while the laws establishing these agencies must be made clear on who does what.

THE government at all levels, particularly the federal government, urgently needs to carry out reforms in the security sub-sector to eliminate inertia created by inter-agency rivalry and react decisively to security threats with dispatch.

ON their part, the citizens must cooperate with the security agencies by supplying them with prompt, useful and relevant information on likely security breaches.

This can be facilitated by the existence of a well-coordinated biometric database of Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike indicating where people live, their nature of jobs and background. This will assist in fishing out the bad eggs in the society.

DECISIVE steps should be taken to cripple Boko Haram Sect and their operations as well as end their menacing reign. If anything, a safe, secure and peaceful environment is what the present democracy needs to be strengthened and sustained, as such the government and people of Nigeria cannot afford to leave this to the whims and caprices of miscreants.

Issues

President Goodluck Jonathan

Mallam Sanusi Lamido, Suspended CBN Governor

Jonathan, Sanusi And The Rest Of Us THE tenure of the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is to come to an end on the 4th of June 2014 but the news of his suspension and subsequent appointment of an Acting Governor came as a surprice to Sanusi himself who was not prepare for such and since then the news has become a national discourse both at home and abroad.

Some political analysts and commentators argued that Jonathan as the president of Nigeria has the power to hire and fire without consulting the Senate while others believe that the president need to consult the Senate before critical decision of this nature is taken.

Lawyers, human rights activists and political watchers have all analysed the law to ascertain whether the president has the right to

suspend the CBN governor for alleged financial recklessness or with this suspension the president has over step his boundary?.

Some argued that the president has the right to suspend the CBN governor provided 2/3 of the Senate support the move while others feels he has to suspend first before informing the house where 2/3 members of the Senate needs to support the move before it becomes valid.

The suspension has become a burning issue in national discourse and has over heated the polity and it has been interpreted in so many ways by Nigerians who feels concern over the recent development regarding the suspension of Sanusi.

Also adding his voice to that of numerous Nigerians who has commented on the

By RICHARD OKORO EWEKA

issue, the general overseer of Habitation Church of God International and the former Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Edo State Chapter, Rev. Olu Aderibigbe condemned the step and action of President Jonathan in suspending Sanusi whose tenure will expire in June 2014. He said the President would have hold back and allow him to finish his tenure and vacate the office for another CBN governor to take charge of the apex body banking in Nigeria.

He said the employer has the power to hire and fire but not always but quarried the timing of the President in suspending Sanusi. He said the timing is wrong. “Why must the President suspend him now that he is crying to the World that there is a lot

of fraud and corruption in the oil sector. He is been investigated right now, and can of worms are about to be revealed to Nigerians, you see why the President should have left him till after his tenure so that the hidden truth about the alleged missing money be revealed to Nigerians.

Rev. Aderibigbe commended the policies introduced by Sanusi into the banking system as such policies have gone a long way to strengthen the system and make it viable for foreign investors. “What he did with the bank executives is not wrong; it was a right step towards the right direction. He did it well because some of these bank executives are even richer than the nation. He wants to guide against failed bank in the nation because in time

“If President Goodluck Jonathan took the decision of suspending Sanusi to satisfy king makers to achieve his 2015 ambition or dream of becoming the President of the nation, he has destroyed his chances for a second term in Aso Rock.”

past some of our citizens had their money trapped in failed bank and they never recovered it again. Sanusi saw this trend as dangerous for the Nigeria banking system as such did what he did trying to correct them.

Some other feel Sanusi has left his primary responsibility as CBN governor and dive nose deep into politics and religion but I disagree with them, as you can not separate politics and economy, they go together. If the political power is over riding the economic power then the nation will not grow.

He has to be involved to ensure he protects the economy from any political intruder. “Politicians are the people destroying the economy of the nation.

Sanusi got involved and started shouting to correct the issue so that the economy will grow and there will be employment for her citizens.

Speaking further Rev. Aderibigbe said consciences is the God in man. It is either you are enslaved or freed by it. Sanusi has conscience to expose the evil going on in CBN, He became bold and courageous as such expose the deal in the oil sector, and he stood for the truth. If you want to make a name in a nation, you must say the truth

all the time, the bible says you shall know the truth and it shall set you free.

Talking on the implication of Sanusi’s removal from office, the former Labour leader said it will have negative effect and impact on our economy. It will destroy the economy and drive investors away because they can only invest in a country that has viable economy. It becomes difficult to invest in a nation whose banking sector is not garanteed.

“If President Goodluck Jonathan took the decision of suspending Sanusi to satisfy king makers to achieve his 2015 ambition or dream of becoming the President of the nation, he has destroyed his chances for a second term in Aso Rock.

He advise the former CBN governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to go to Court to challenge the President as well as defending his name and prove beyond reasonable doubt that the allegation of financial recklessness levelled against him were all false and politically motivated.

This is necessarily because of his political ambition in future if he has any and to clear his name and reputation which he has built over the years as CBN governor.

Ajuwaya “Some call it the ‘action stage’ where corps members effect is felt in the community. The Community Development Service (CDS) is aimed at harnessing the skills, creativity and innovativeness of corps members.”

2014 Batch A: The BEING a graduate is one of the greatest joy and achievement of every youth in Nigeria and the world at large.

But the icey on the cake is when these youths give back to their father-land by serving the nation under the umbrella scheme of the national Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Now, another season of mobilization has come as camp will be opened for 2014 batch ‘A’ Corps members in the next five days. A journey is made easier when the detail of the route is given. Based on this, an over view of the National Youth Service needs to be uncovered for the benefit of 2014 batch ‘A’ prospective corps members.

The NYSC scheme comprises of four (4) main segments which every corps member must satisfactorily participate before he/she is qualified to be issued a certificate of National Service.

The service year therefore comprises of: The orientation Course, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service, and winding-Up

By ERUKUBAMI OMOLADE

which is also known as Passing Out. Lets take a journey into this segment by critically anelyzing these four categories and their objective behind each sphere that must be undertaken by every corps members ORIENTATION COURSE The orientation course is a wonderful experience due to the nature of the scheme and all the activities therein.

A National Youth Service Corps year starts with a 3 weeks orientation course and it is compulsory for all Nigeria graduates who are not above thirty year to be mobilized for national service. The course last for three (3) weeks and is designed to achieve the following objectives: To give corps members a better understanding of the objectives of the NYSC scheme and enable them internalize its ideals.

To acquaint prospective corps members with the

This stage is where corps members will have to put into effect all they have learnt in school and the experience gathered at the orientation camp.

At the end of the orientations corps members are posted to their place of primary assignment. While the NYSC management takes into consideration the areas of

Task Ahead

environment’s political, cultural, social and economic setting.

To prepare corps members for their particular roles in the scheme.

To equip them with practical social and leadership skills that will enable them meet the challenges of the service year ahead.

To inculcate in the corps members the spirit of national consciousness as a basic ingredient in nation building..

Instilling discipline in the mind of youths is also one of the major objectives and giving them adequate physical and mental training as well.

Never must we forget that, another major goal is to imbibe in them, the spirit of collective responsibility.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the orientation course opens with a swearingin/opening ceremony presided over by the executive Governor of the state/FCT Minister. The oath of

Allegiance and the National pledge are administered by the Chief Judge of the state/FCT. The orientation course content involves physical training, drills, lectures on the people and tradition of the host state, professional lectures for corps health personnel’s lawyers, teachers and skill acquisition training etc.

Corps members participate in social activities designed to create opportunities for them to interact. They take part in dance and drama, competitions, Miss NYSC and Mr. Macho. They also participate in inter platoon competitions on football, volleyball, table tennis, cooking and sanitation (although, I took part in football, but had an injury at the quarter-final while representing platoon 6).

Corps members are also trained on Man ‘O’ War activities leading to competitions on inter platoon drills and tug of war. They also engage in competition like match-pass.

PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT

“The orientation course content involves physical training, drills, lectures on the people and tradition of the host state, professional lectures for corps health personnel’s lawyers, teachers and skill acquisition training etc.”

specialization of corps members in carrying out the posting exercise, emphasis is placed in rural posting in the areas of Agriculture, Health, Education and infrastructure.

For example, 1 read Mass communication and was posted to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER. It is expected that corps members should accept their posting in good faith and be agents of change, contributing towards the development of their host communities COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Some call it the ‘action stage’ where corps members effect is felt in the community. The Community Development Service (CDS) is aimed at harnessing the skills, creativity and innovativeness of corps members.

Corps members are expected to identified the needs of their host communities and mobilize members of the host communities to embark on the projects. Through this programme, many corps members were able to construct bridges, health care centres, classroom block, market stalls, culverts etc. they had also carried out projects like HIV sensitization, adult literacy campaign, extramural classes for students, road safety campaign, breast cancer sensitization, just like the one carried out on October 17th, 2013 by Breast cancer CDS group in Oredo Local

Government, Benin City.

Corps member participate actively in the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) through the War Against poverty (WAP) programme of the scheme. They also participate in the dissemination of information through the Press/Editorial group.

WINDING –UP/PASSING OUT This is known as the achievement/Evaluation stage. At the end of the service year (usually at the 12th month), corps members are gathered in their respective zones for assessment of the service year and de briefing.

It is the period when corps members present their final clearance letters from their employers and submit same to their Zonal/Local Government Inspectors.

Parade rehearsals are conducted in readiness for the passing out ceremony which is usually presided over by the executive Governor of the state. During the ceremony, those with outstanding performance during the service year are given state Honour Award. Four corps members were recognized at the 2013 Batch C passing out ceremony in Edo State.

For a corps members to merit an award, he/she must be outstanding in the orientation course, primary assignment, community development service and winding up exercise.

The NYSC Scheme is paramount and absolutely imperatives to every Nigerians graduates in both Universities and Polytechnics, for this will enable them to obtain the National Service certificate after completing the scheme successfully. The experience acquired within the duration of the scheme, will definitely be put into practice in order to develop the nation as a whole.

GOD BLESS THE NYSC GOD BLESS FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

Child Health & You THEY are born too soon!

They are born with a plethora of difficulties and challenges!! They are born with a compromised chance of survival!!! They too, as any other creatures made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26 and 27}, also have a right to survive and a right to live!!!! These are the products of conception that are delivered much earlier than their Expected Day of Delivery (EDD) or Expected Day of Confinement (EDC).

In medical terms, they are referred to as Premature Babies. They are born before 37 completed weeks of gestation or pregnancy. The normal duration of pregnancy is computed from a formula that assumes a 40week period of gestation with the expectation that the products of such normal duration are already wellformed and equipped with the relevant structural and functional ‘readiness’ to survive outside the womb.

Therefore, those born as premature babies are delivered without the adequate ‘preparedness’ or ‘readiness’ to cope with the stresses and challenges of life outside the womb; indeed survival outside the womb.

Over the years, and with extensive research and scientific inquiry, cuttingedge technologies have been evolved and developed to recognize such premature babies together with their various and varied difficulties and challenges and, indeed, interventions to facilitate their survival, growth and development.

In order to ensure the survival, growth and development of premature babies, the world has set aside a day to be celebrated as the World Prematurity Day (WPD) desirably for a myriad of justifiable reasons with salutary objectives.

Every year, 17th of November is set aside and now designated the WPD to draw attention deservedly, locally, nationally and internationally, to the plethora of challenging issues concerning the

peculiar matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future outcomes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies. The effective celebration of the WPD is the Premium for this Insurance.

The story of WPD and 17th of November is instructive and remarkable. Globally, there exists the World Prematurity Network (WPN) which is a conglomeration of various international groups and bodies interested in, and connected with, the matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future outcomes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies together with support for the research and future scientific inquiry into the composite and holistic survival, growth and development of premature babies. The WPN includes several Companies concerned with various aspects of prematurity. These include, among several others, critical care equipment for premature babies, intervention drugs for their critical care, facilities as adjuvant to critical care of these babies and state-of-theart rehabilitative care devices. Among WPN are also Consumer Groups that ensure equity and quality, and best practices and also Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), in the production, marketing sale, purchase and use of the critical care products geared towards the survival, growth and development of premature babies. Also included in the WPN are several international Parent Groups that have also become formidable in drawing global awareness and attention to the bothersome problems confronting the world’s enlarging population of premature babies. Through the joint and collaborative efforts of the global members of the WPN, the world is mobilized to participate in actions/ activities that are geared towards the prevention of prematurity,

Ensuring Survival Of Premature Babies

By PROF. C.O. EREGIE

critical care of these babies, rehabilitation of the survivors of premature births and, indeed, the comprehensive attention to the plethora of issues related to the emerging difficulties and challenges confronting these unique population of human beings who deserve no less entitlement to

survival and decent productive life.

Several media moieties also collaborate under the bigger canopy of Global Social Media Outreach that help in effective information communication of the matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future outcomes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies. The powerful influence and impact of the media, particularly the growing sphere of social interactive and network

media, cannot be overemphasized. The media represents the force and voice of the voiceless but remarkably vulnerable population of premature babies deserving of world attention and awareness drawn to their plight to excite the desired empathy and support for their total and

holistic well-being.

Remembering that information is power and that information is strength, the media have an enormous global responsibility to communicate the appropriate health messages to garner a global critical mass for the benefit of premature babies.

Effective Communication of the peculiar circumstances of the premature babies should deservedly muster the desired global action and force to confront and hopefully surmount the challenges and difficulties of premature babies in the

“The media represents the force and voice of the voiceless but remarkably vulnerable population of premature babies deserving of world attention and awareness drawn to their plight to excite the desired empathy and support for their total and holistic well-being.”

world.

A very important and unique member of the WPN is the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI). In 2008, the EFCNI convoked the first Meeting of Parents’ Organizations in Europe, specifically in Rome, Italy, to sensitize and draw attention to the peculiar circumstances of premature babies. The Meeting decided to adopt an

needs and circumstances of premature babies, another body in the United States of America (USA) committed to the pervading matters of newborn infants particularly premature newborn infants, the March of Dimes, was also strategising towards the same Initiative and circumstantially also chose the 17th November 2008 for its initial intervention with the idea of a day for the

‘Awareness Day’ to highlight the peculiar problems of premature babies and the unique difficulties of the families of such infants. The 17 th of November was remarkably chosen as the day has an emotional significance for a veritable founding member of the EFCNI who, after the death of his preterm triplets in December 2006, successfully became the father of a healthy female newborn infant delivered on the 17th November 2008. Thus, the 17th November 2008 appears to be the date of the initial original birth of the need to have a date set aside for the institutionalization of awareness to the plight and peculiar needs of the population of premature babies and their burdened families.

As the EFCNI was crystallizing the Initiative for awareness to the peculiar

celebration. Indeed, in the USA, the MARCH OF Dimes celebrates November as Prematurity Awareness Month.

The Initiative to celebrate the awareness drawn to the peculiar difficulties and challenges of premature babies and their families heightened and culminated in the celebration of the first International Prematurity Awareness Day by the EFCNI on the 17th November 2009. This celebration involved several activities and events that uniquely and innovatively drew attention to the peculiar circumstances of premature babies and their families relating to prevention, care, rehabilitation and attention to survivors with their unique burden on society and the challenge to address these infants and their peculiar difficulties.

To be continued

Media THE Dictionary defined accuracy “as the ability to do something in an exact way without making a mistake. The quality of being correct or true, attention of fact verisimilitude, local colour, realism, fidelity, high fidelity, exactitude, exactness preciseness The importance of accuracy is what editor in print, radio and television always reminds reporters. He can send them back to the typewriters to double check the facts or make corrections on their copy. Once the story is in the paper, on the air it’s too late to fix it. A news story depends on facts. The more the reporter can get, the stronger, the story will be if his information is correct or true. The reader wants to know names, addresses, what was said, by whom, how accidents happened, the exact place, street, road, charges in an indictment, where the city budget money will be spent, what law was passed in the house of assembly on the Senate debate on appropriation bill etc.

Reporters in any place, town or country should be able to demonstrate an intelligent concern for the world around him while he also has a responsibility for being accurate as to facts and respective in his development of a news story.

Facts Are Sacred ‘Comment is free: facts are sacred’ says C.P. scott, a great editor of the Manchester Guardian. This has become much quoted statement of a main principle of journalism. He further said that it is true in part that a newspaper must have courage and fairness, and a sense of duty to the reader and the community. It’s primary. Office is the gathering of news at the peril of its soul. It must see that the supply is not tainted (David Wainwright 1972 pp 55) To hear people talking about the facts you would think they lay about like pieces of gold in (Gold coast) Ghana, or Tin at Kastina (Nigeria) or coal at Enugu (Nigeria) or oil wells in the Niger Delta in (Nigeria) as if all these minerals are waiting to be picked up — arduously, it is true. But the fact is that they are definitely and strenuously hard to get by any prospector whose subsequent problem was only to get them to the market.

Such facts are not there, its not true that such minerals are not lying about and if they are, they will not be marketable until the prospector (journalist) puts them in relation with the facts, present them, in other words.

Stories are written back wards because they are supposed to begin with facts and develop from there, but in the actual sense, they begin with a journalist’s point of view from which the facts are subsequently organized.

It is important for the journalist to get his news story correct and true because every one reading, listening to your news in print, radio and television gets the impression that your news story is accurate and true with so many facts, so much information reaching the journalist by telephone and telex radio and telephone without his even going out to look for it, the newsman becomes selective.

It is the duty of the editors to select fascinating news and interesting news and cases coming from the courts, from the parliament that attract public attention such as fashion show in a fashion house producing best clothes of the time, minister of Transport, opening a new road and swearing in ceremonies of new elected members of House of Assembly, Representative or the Senate.

Persistence is a necessary quality for a good journalist. This does not mean offensiveness. Good journalist consists of intelligent assembly of relevant facts. These can be got together before an interview which then confirms facts at first hand.

A journalist does not often go into situation “Cold” or should not.

He is often sent on a story because his new editor believes that there is a story to be obtained there and are facts that already known to him before the journalist sets out for it. The brief cannot be comprehensive until the journalist sent out to cover it will reveal new applications that were not known when the assignment was given in the office.

Attribution Attribution means that the reporter identifies the source of his facts so that the story will have credibility. If facts and statements issued by news sources are not true, the writer or the journalist, the news medium assumes no blame unless the reporting has been shoddy.

The newsman’s task is to establish the truth but mistakes slip through the most careful screening. This is the main reason why pronouncements assertions, figures and other data should be attributed to the person giving them out. If this is not true, the reader, or the listener may assume that they are being developed by the newspaper or medium or their own authority.

Examples of attribution: 1. The Commissioner of Police in charge of Abuja Capital City of Nigeria told the Mayor that ‘B’ Department’ needs at least 100 more officers to fight crimes in the Capital City.

2. Five out twenty High School or Senior Secondary Schools in the country are using marijuana “morocco”, Wale Adelaja, a member of the State Norcotic? Commission told a group of parents here today.

3. Coach Umar Attah announced that Rangers International would be ready for Saturday football game, but added that four other players were still on the injured list.

4. There will be a definite business upturn in the third quarter C.N.N predicted.

The reporter should always attempt to tack a name to any doubtful or controversial statement. In some cases he might have to use the name of an organization such as Nigeria, Indian, Egyptian, England Management Association. He may sometimes fall back on those old clichés, or standbys: Spokesman, official sources, informed source and representation.

If a reporter knows that an individual is reliable and speaks with authority he could be treated as an anonymous attribution. This is a reasonable risk, because some sources will not permit themselves to be quoted or identified with a story. If the information is faulty, the newsman is stick with it since he must honour his agreement with the source.

Rumors Rumors:- This is indirect and unsubstantiated information, hearsay, transmitted along informant channels by word of mouth. Rumors have the following characteristic features. It can rarely if ever be traced back to its origin. It can spread (almost) at the speed of light.

Unveiling Today’s Print It will be spread if the rumor has the momentum of credibility (even if this credibility is only the size of a pinch of a salt and it trives in a close knit communities which have either no regular or formal channels which are inefficient or not recognized as important.

A rumor is almost impossible to pin down in time available to a reporter. It passes from month to month acquiring embellishment on the way. A process of MEDIATION (A Dictionary of Communication (1984) occurs at most or all points of telling, the original narrative being exaggerated and usually decorate with envey, spite or resentment.

Good news rarely travels as quickly as bad news. In organizations, rumor often circulates most strongly in sub cultures of those people generally well, down in the hierarchy and channels.

The only antidote to rumor is efficient, full and open participative communication with lines of horizontal as well as vertical communication. The impact of rumor is rarely beneficial. Rumor is corrosive of relationships, fuels suspicion and bad feeling. Its favourite habitat is a communication vacuum. One dubious compensation is that the subjects or victims of rumor are generally the last to hear of it, unless of course, they started the rumor themselves. Unless a writer can verify the rumor, he can do well to leave it alone, unless the purpose is to debunk it. Or his newspaper bring no credit on themselves by airing rumor as legitimate news.

Reports Unlike most rumors reports traceable can be used as the basis for a story. A newsman moves in circles where information is bandied about. If he works in Lagos (Nigeria) or Abuja (Nigeria) Cairo (Egypt), New York (USA) Paris (France) etcetera, for example, he may hear that certain cabinet official is resigning. A political reporter may be told by various sources that the Minister of Health Mr. Jude Mike Alan is seriously considering running for governorship This too may have great substance and can be reported. Even Jude Mike Alan denial may not end the matter. Some officers have refuted a report only to confirm it a few days later: Newsmen often rely on reports from countries where they cannot gain access such as communist China for which correspondent use Hong Kong and other nations as listening posts.

In countries with restrictive news policies, reporter are likely to get more reliable information from casual sources such as Cab or taxi drivers, merchants in some large markets such as Onitsha market in Nigeria, West Africa, and native newsmen than from government spokesmen.

Distorted news is inaccurate news when a reporter vanishes or exaggerates facts, he is hurting himself and his profession. He is giving credence to those persons who are fond of saying. “You can’t believe anything you read in the news paper or some of those you listened to, in radio or television.” The reason for distortion are varied, A reporter may hope to get his story on page one, or two if he enlivens it with his own creations.

There may include boosting crowd sizes, magnifying violence, over estimating damage and inventing quotes. However, shrewd editors particularly in TV and radio often demand proof of such elements but some exaggeration do get into print media. The newsman must realize that news gathering and writing are not always exciting. Most of it is runtime and dull. The best course is to get the prosaic stories out of the way and hope that the interesting stories out the way and hope also, that the interesting ones will come his way.

Journalism award is not by inflating minor events. Journalists are advised to stick to the truth or facts. For example if a Federal High Court in Nigeria caught fire and it was only slight damage and was quickly extinguished in minutes, the story should say so, trying to make it a fire- warm blaze, and that for more than one hour, the fire service was not available, is both absurd and dishonest. If teachers were to go on strike for non payment of June, July and August salaries, and Nigeria Union of Teachers N.U.T. intervened peacefully and the strike was settled amicably, the reporter must tell it that way.

Journalism Ethics The basic responsibility of the reporter is to seek the truth and sacred facts. He also is obligated to be fair and objective giving both sides of the story where there is conflict.

There are however other problems of ethics faced by the reporter, one is the conflict of interest. A full time staff member is expected to devote his full time to news organization. There are several occasions that reporter have been accused of moonlighting as a public relation writer or at some other job which will create conflict with his employer. Such a reporter may be asked to drop or be driven, but a conscientious journalist need to be told when he is doing wrong.

His own intelligence should tell him that writing press releases for a political candidate or a commercial organization, create doubt about his credibility and honesty. Accepting gifts nowadays from the public by reporters have been come another serious ethical matter. Reporters have been accused of accepting gifts from people and this has made some to lose their jobs. The ethics is that no one of the staff accepts anything from anyone for anything. No one of the staff owns anything or does anything which gain him anything because of his position as a newsman. The danger in it, is that when public lavish gifts on reporters, they are hoping for favourable treatment of themselves.

Reporters or writers have been provided with free transportation and hotel accommodations even traveling with politicians to overseas. They are not doing it out of pure altruism. Frequently too, a reporter covers a story that involves sitting through a lunch or dinner. The meal is usually free for him, but there is almost the likelyhood that he will be compromised by accepting it. On the other hand, press tables are often or normally up at large luncheons and dinners where a speech will be given.

The reporter should be very careful in his interpretative report so as not to create problems of being accused of bribery or corrupt pressman. A reporter or a journalist must try to bring into the profession a sense of honesty and fairness. Some set up rules which

By OSAYOMWABO O. ERO

can serve as a guide to journalist are as follows:- “I do solemnly promise to be faithful by word and deed”.

To these cardinal precepts of journalism standard of education in our field must continually be raised. Study and learning are a life long obligation upon us all.

Industry and alertness are the marks of our calling. The price of the effectiveness of the press is our continuous effort to improve it.

I dedicate myself here and now to the highest ideals of journalism in whatever medium I may work to the liberty of communication, to honesty in news, in comment, and in advertising to fairness to all men all groups, to skill and artistry in presentation to accuracy to truth.

M. L. Stein (1972) Cuttings Many newspapers or media organizations have a “library” containing the principal reference books and also cutting filed under people and subject.

As a reporter or writer, you can ask for the cuttings about a person and you will be given a file of the latest cutting the reference to him in the national press and in the magazines.

Cuttings are of great value in filling in the background about someone to be interviewed. They suggest lines of inquiry.

Cuttings are of great value by providing too easy a crutch for journalists. Since the temptation is always to retail the same anecdotes and incidents from past interviews, always check with the cutting for background information. But try not to rely on them too much or to plagiarize other interviews too obviously.

Reference Books A journalist must never ignore reference books. Reference books have beet known to be one of the greatest assistant research materials a journalist could use when looking for information not only in his locality but also externally. It is through reference books he can note down useful addresses, telephone and members which he can use in contacting people for news, and story. Some of these reference books are “who is who” in his country, the Bible, the Dictionaries, Sports books etc, are useful.

WRTING ABOUT PEOPLE In millions of homes across the world whether the developed, the third world or whatever one may call them, the news with the greatest appeal is not that of wars, revolutions, politics and affairs of the state, but of the ordinary stuff of everyday life births, deaths, engagements wedding, divoices, parties, anniversaries, awards, neighbourhood activities, social charge, accidents ete. People like to read and listen about people.

It has become wider and more billions of people have adapted the radio, television and newspaper as not only the prime source of information since the introduction of television.

This highly intense interest of people listening to news about people in our society has motivated the newspapers, the radio and television broadcasting stations and reporters to broaden and include more information

that is relevant to people’s lives.

Women writing about people, the women’s pages in newspapers has dominated in all ages. Newspapers has paid more attention to women than radio and television in recent years. Of course, that attention goes to other things such as child care, finances, shopping, beauty, care, home decorating, fashions, meal planning, education, friends and cultural activities.

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Journalists on duty Some of these are based on seasonal in their approach. In spring, there will be features about preparing for holidays either by traveling by all and the best way to pack for the travel.

Preparing for Christmas, by buying presents, recipes, foods and others is the concern of the women in most parts of the world. The women’s page and even in television shows new fabrics, furniture and furnishing.

The gages can point out their advantage and disadvantage, but however provides the important information that are available, women simply are no longer “just” interested in fashion and those things we have mentioned.

They are now interested in the life around them in all its ramifications.

The best women’s pages or news in radio and television are usually read as enthusiastically, by men as they are by women.

The real difference between women’s pages and the rest of the paper, is that the women’s page stories should concentrate more on the emotional intangible qualities of the story. Medical coverage becomes an examination of how it affects daily life of the people.

Will there be measles epidemic this year? Does any one have solution to family planning? All these will show at its best, how society’s coverage becomes a description of how people live, in to days society tomorrow?.

Fashion is no longer just as an excuses to run some designers press release. Designers no longer necessarily dictate fashion. A really good fashion writer will be looking for where

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Media

t And Broadcast Journalism (5)

ion will start next year. On the one hand, gners do have some say, but they don’t have a deal to do with the daily lives of most women’s readers. shion parade in the television has become very lar that it is now a national and international ern. In show business, writers or papers, radio elevision have shown much interest on women s and they said that women should not be ted when discussing their issues, but make them ze all the social problems are important to them use they are affected in their own communities. y further wrote that news of primary interest to men include plenty of gut issues, such as lative fights on birth control, abortion, and umcision. Women struggle for equal right in oyment, politics, sexual harassment and many

very boring in going through the list in a ray big city where births and deaths are recorded. However, small town dailies and weeklies radio and television usually carry stories of all births and deaths.

Metropolitan papers often run most vital statistics in a gate type.

Here, only the distinguished names are accorded separate news item.

Unless the newsman goes to search for these all important news items, they may be lost to the general public and the government.

Probate Another areas of great importance to the newsman is the probate proceedings although not classed among the vital statistics, yet probate or surrogate court records and proceedings also, are filed with the clerk of the country or customary law courts and magistrate courts can be sifted by the reporter searching for news. In some parts of the world particularly the Western World, when a person dies his “estate” and will become matters for the probate court which disposes of them. The court rules on the validity of the will and processes of the estate, by allocating the property to persons named

Women in many parts of the world have had a part in g man successful. Women who wield influence and can now become presidents and governors in their ies. agements/ Wedding umber of newspapers still rely on the formula story for ements and weddings. Some dailies, in fact have standard for use by reporters in taking information over the one. When the blanks names, date, place, relatives maids, etc. are filled in, the story is practically written. riter read only to transfer. e life that is shared by two” o hearts that beat as one” “The families of High Priest wegie Ebohon Elder J.O. Aiyanyo Request the honour r presence at the traditional marriage ceremony of their en Iyesogie Evbikurure Ebohon and Nosakhare Grant yo Thursday the 20th day of January the year two thousand x at one o’clock in the afternoon at the Ebohon Cultural 1 Odenede Street, Off Alohan, Off Dumez Rd, (by line Sapele Rd.) Benin City, Edo State. facts to copy paper. This is always announced in radio levision by showing the picture or photographs of the m and the Bride. Examples of marriage invitation card. ditional Marriage mes are all important in the social story and woe to the er who gets them wrong. Irate brides, mothers and fathers ick to demand apologies and corrections. After the ng, the full package of the ceremony is carried in daily ekly papers and television. Thus they pay heavily for pers radio and television for the full coverage. istics orters of media sometimes find all in searching the city the Local Government Councils or County building al statistics for births, marriage licenses, devoices and e court proceedings. The reporter is searching for a story eveloped from the point of view of writing about people hat affects them in the neighbourhood or society. In doing he reporter must look for name that leaps out at him he long column of names that rates a special story. In ocess, the reporter must be very careful for spelling the s of those big ones he recognize right, such as nment Councils, managers etc. Go through the same dure as any one else to get marriage licenses or cates. licenses and other statistics are public information and o the newsman’s scrutiny. The newsman may over look names of prominent personalities because it is a times

in the will. The wills are available as the court records about two or three weeks after they have been filed. Interstate cases are probated. The amount of state also is recorded and this provides the basis for a story.

The news interest may be in the size of the estate, the person leaving it or both. If a man long lived to be millionaire, leaves an estate of N900, 000 and incidentals valued N20, 000, readers will be interested. In the same system if an ordinary firewood seller leaves #5, million plus a four story building real estate, an editor will not pass up the story just because, the man was a wood seller, that is the story.

It also makes way for a story when a wealthy man dies without making a will or estate. The children always fight over his estate because their father did not leave a will of how to share his estate. This has brought conflicts between a customary and Benin native law and Custom.

It has also formed a lead story both in newspaper radio and television in some societies in Nigeria. In Benin for example the law of “Igiogbe” or the family house or compound means the house in which the deceased lived and died. It is usually though not always, it may as well contain the ancestral shrine including the staff (called Aro-Erha in Benin) of the family unit. Igiogbe is a place where some customary activities are observed by the family. For example, the worshiping of the deity, christening of new baby and traditional marriage house of a Benin man only becomes his “Igiogbe” after his demise.

Even though this practice is causing much contention and friction between family members no Benin man that has full knowledge and understanding of the custom as it relates to devolution of estate deviates from it, except he does otherwise with a mind set.The Benin native law and custom gives absolutely the main house (Igiogbe) to the surviving eldest son as the head of the family, if the senior son has corresponding responsibility to cater for his siblings until they are able to fend for themselves. The Benin custom from the time immemorial does not permit the sale of Igiogbe, but some senior son have contradicted this law in recent times — by selling “Igiobe” Lawal Osula Vs Lawal- Osula (1995) NWLR, part 419, Sc 59, Ogiamien Vs Ogiamien (1967 NWLR, 245 at pages 276 Ogbahon 749 at 675, ratio 7.

It is to be noted that, Benin customary law of inheritance is like that of the Duke of Earl, which keeps family tradition and maintains orderly continuity. It is therefore not repugnant to equity, good conscience and natural justice. To this extent, it is right for a Benin man to make a will to devise, bequeath or dispose of his real and personal estate to his children or any body he wishes, but must recognize the native law and custom as it relates to the controversial Igiogbe, which under the customary law he cannot devise to any other person other than

his eldest son. No Benin man under the custom is allowed to give out his eldest son, albeit the ill feeling towards his dwelling (Igiogbe) to some one else during his life time except to his eldest male child. Devolution of Igiogbe in Benin cannot be by gift inter vivo rather inheritance. A (Benin Native Law and Custom by Okeaya-Inneh, SAN 2006).

A piece of land is not an Igiogbe if the definition and meaning of Igiogbe is considered as being the dwelling main house of a Benin man where he lived and died which may contain the family ancestral shrine and staff, see Nsirim V Nsirim INWLR part page 144, ratio 1, 2, 3,4,5,6 and 7: Arase Vs Arase (1981) 6 NWLR, part 198, 392, radio, section 3 (1) wills law of Bendel State as applicatable in Edo State. Idehen Vs Idehen Supra: unreported case (Sult No B/493/87): Okungbowa Vs Okungbowa, Olowu Vs Olowu (1985) 3 NWLR, Part 13, 372, Agidigbi Vs Agidigbi (1992)2 NWLR part 22i, 98, Ogiamien Vs Ogiamien (1967) NWLR Part 245 at 247,Oke Vs Oke (1972) NWLR, 443; Reporters on probate: must be very careful in reporting the proceeding in the courts so as to record and publish vital statistics. He collects the news of the records of proceedings from clerks even if the he the reporter did not attend or present in the court.

Building Contacts Reporters are always sent out to look for news in some of the areas in the city known to them. These are City Council, local government head quarters the police head quarters, and hospital etc. Unless a reporter becomes a friend to the clerk of the City Council, he may not get useful information. The clerk may know that one name in the file is a front page story and so tell the reporter. A clerk may also pass news that the Mayor of the City Council is expected to address the market women tomorrow morning. Clerks also are privy to other bits of facts, gossip or rumors that may or may not yield a story.

To take advantage of this shortcut to information, the reporter must cultivate the habit of being friendly with the clerks of the council. If he is a type of a reporter that runs in and out of the room, he never will get to know the clerks nor they him. If a reporter or a journalist find time to charts for a few minutes or has an occasional cup of tea, with a clerk, he is creating a contact to be great in valuable. It has happened that a clerk who likes and trusts a particular newsman, will call him at the office with a tip or report.

Most clerks know their work and inexperienced newsman may spend more than three hours with getting news from the probate filling which a veteran clerk can pull out in few minutes. A local reporter should learn all he can about his districts. He should know his way around the city council, every street, every square every café. There is no way to learn a town better than by walking round it. The reporter must know something of the town’s history and the local government council areas, the principal industries in the city, the change in recent years and the planning proposals for the future. The reporter must lean how to meet and charts with churches, the clergy men, families who may have been involved in some moments of greatest stress, regular events in a town, meetings and a casual conversation with those people may lead to some other human story. A reporter must be friendly by building up contacts.

Obituaries There is a popular adage which says that there are three times a person should have his name on the paper — when he is born, when he is married and when he dies. This is a basic truth to many people the last story about every one they say is an obituary. Obituary is a news story, while a newspaper paid notices of a person is a classified advertisement submitted by the deceased relatives. There are no charges for a news story in some daily or weekly newspapers in some communities but in largely distributed news papers, there is a fixed amount to be paid for an obituary news.

In recent years, however, radio and television carry obituary news that are paid for, in a standard advertorial form. The family usually writes the news about the deceased, they pay for air time. A lead in a paper would read. Shaki Defa Pig, President of the Local Chamber of Commerce of Ologbo died yesterday after a brief illness. He was 60. Mrs. Yemi David, founder of women fashion Ekotu, died suddenly yesterday after church service in her resident, she was 82. But the lead is usually followed by the person’s accomplishments and the highlights of his career. His birth place, schooling, membership and survivals come next, with the funeral arrangements in the last paragraph. If it is a newspaper afternoon or evening, the paper will put the funeral in the lead if the morning dailies have carried the obituary.

A typical obit would read Fredo B. Soyoyo, a leading Orthopedic Surgeon, died at Igbobi Hospital Agege Lagos yesterday after a long illness. He was 65. Dr Soyoyo who lived at Suya Street Maryland Avenue, was well known for his work in the rehabilitation of Igbobi Orthopedic cases and was the author of six widely used text books on the subject through out the world.

A native of Tore West Ghana, he was graduated from the University Chicago and received his medical degree from the University of Ibadan. He established practice here in Nigeria in 1962 after serving as a resident at Lord Mayor Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Dr. Soyoyo was the past president of the Rodu Medical Society and was a member of the Nigeria and Ghana Board of Orthopedic Medicine. He was a member of Ero Hospital Board of Directors, Dr Soyoyo is survived by his wife Omosefe, three sons and a daughter Kolo of Kumasi, Dede of Nairobi University, Akapon of Lagos and Dupe of Gbagada University of Benin, a Sister Mrs. Afon, Yesi, of Keme and four grand children. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m Saturday at Chapel of our Lord 100 Marina Avenue. The Rev Jide Okafor of the Bread Street Avenue Episcopal Church will officiate.

Burial will be Kofi Aye Cemetery.

If the deceased had been a. colourful figure such as just described the obituary writer is remiss if he does not bring them out in the obituary. Some persons by virtue of their personalities and life style are naturally good obituary subjects. The story should show them as they were.

Getting Obit Fact Information for obituary is usually from the funeral home, relatives, friends, and the chips in the newspapers morgue or the library, as we have expressed in the book, a reporter can expect reluctance or outright refusal from some sources in his request for facts. Certain families do not want any public notice of a death, other relatives may decline too to the cause of death or release any news about the funeral Except for the families right to private services, the newsman must get obituary facts wherever he can. A death is a legitimate and public news, despite the family feelings.

Frequently, a reporter can overcome relatives objections by being tactful and considerate.

It might be explained, for example that the deceased’s friends his union, and his acquaintances will want to know about his death, He might belong to a union which has responsibility over members death. It may be announcing a members death in radio, television or his profile in the papers. They must talk to the family to make sure that the facts are correctly printed or broadcast. If the death was violent, the police and coroner are the main sources.

So is the doctor who signed the death certificate, which becomes public record. The story then becomes more than a plain obituary such as in a natural death. If a person dies by suicide, accident, or misadventure, the nature of the story will be different. The reporter must make sure to check past newspaper clips and other reference sources in all deaths.

Of Primordialism And Security Issues Nationalism Security With

WHEN Adolf Hitler, the potentate of the Third Reich, in the heat of the Xenophobia against the Jews and other coloured peoples of Europe, launched a massive pogrom against these so-called “weaker species”, it was justified on the grounds of Aryan supremacy.

When Rwandan Hutus launched a genocidal war of attrition against their Tutsi brothers’, there was a reason for it. When the four wars of Yugoslav secession broke out, it was based on long-held, deep-seated animosities among the groups constituting the country. When the Nigerian Civil War broke out in 1967, something triggered it off.

It is against the backdrop of the aforementioned cases that I interrogate the hate-filled expletives hurled at Indigbo by Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, a prominent Nigerian of Yoruba extraction, some months ago, and their implications for the country’s security. In three highly abusive, derisive, and derogatory articles (“LAGOS, THE IGBO AND THE SERVANTS OF TRUTH”, “THE BITTER TRUTH ABOUT THE IGBO”, and “A WORD FOR THOSE WHO CALL ME A TRIBALIST”) circulated in both social and regular media – national and international FFK deliberately stoked the fire of violent conflict by exhuming long-buried divisive issues bothering on why Nigerians should be wary of Igbo domination; the same fears that activated the Volcano that almost pulverized the entire country between 1967-1970.

His, is the latest in a long tradition among prominent Nigerians that stretches back to the onset of the much-vaunted Nigerian project (?).

The implications of FFK’s highly prejudicial statements for national security are legion – thorny issues that are capable of blowing the country into smithereens several times over if not properly handled. At delicate times like these, when the country is already battling with other centrifugal forces threatening its continued

existence on several fronts, it can ill-afford the divisive issues raised by FFK in his highly controversial and reproachful write-ups. For a country with a woeful history of very internecine and intractable conflicts: one major Civil War (1967-1970) and (approximately 38) sundry other low intensity insurgencies (CRESNET, 2001:1) – political, ethnic, religious et al – and where conditions on ground are volatile, Nigeria can ill-afford another major national crisis.

FFK’s vituperations constitutes criminal incitement; unguarded statements that are capable of heating up the polity several times over and further endangering the already fragile unity among the heterogeneous groups domiciled within the country’s borders, if not summarily and properly addressed. It is only Nigeria that people make uncensored statements that threaten public peace without concerned authorities taking commensurate steps to check the likely deleterious effects of such careless pronouncements on the larger body politic. In saner climes, a trouble shooter like FFK would have been arrested and prosecuted for inciting the public against another indigent group. His words are not only criminal, but pose a major security threat to the continued existence of Nigeria as a united sovereign state.

The World War II Holocaust was preceded by massive propaganda against the Jews and other coloured people on the grounds of racial superiority. But under the caveat of racial superiority lay the real reason for this mass murder – the fear of increasing Jewish domination of all facets of German national life – industry, arts, academia et al.

Thus, before the commencement of the war proper, there was already deepseated, widespread xenophobia against the Jews living in Europe. It took the breaking out of hostilities for Hitler and his

bloodthirsty goons to commence the practical expression of their long-held animosities towards the Jews and other coloured groups in Europe. The events in Rwanda and Yugoslavia are two contemporary cases of how massive propaganda preceded genocidal attacks by one group against other indigent groups.

FFk’s threat that “history will repeat itself in this country”, if the Igbos living and making their living in Lagos “continue to denigrate and belittle the Yorubas” is as careless as it is

JUDE OBUSEH

bulwark against the outbreak of violent conflicts in Nigeria.

Unlike the usual practice where the authorities wait until a conflict escalates before reacting to stem it, I am calling on concerned authorities – at national and state levels - to immediately step into this brewing crisis between Igbos and Yorubas living in and around Lagos. The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northern part of the country has already exerted a massive toll on the country’s resources

help in building confidence among the Igbo population residing in Lagos, and assure other groups in the country that they can reside and subsist in any part of the country. It will also go a long way in discouraging other chauvinists like him from acting in like manner in the foreseeable future. This will, in no small way, ensure that the nationbuilding process continues unfettered.

• Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, IG-P

provocative, and should be speedily addressed by the authorities to avoid ugly scenarios of any kind. Such careless pronouncements are capable of triggering off violent confrontations of massive proportions between Igbos living in Lagos and its environs, and their Yoruba hosts.

I have always argued for the adoption of a more proactive response mechanism to act as

and security capabilities to breaking point. The likely consequences of another major crisis on the South-Western front must be averted. To forestall this likely scenario, it is advised that Mr. FFK be immediately called to order by the authorities, and warned to desist forthwith from firing further disparaging salvos at Igbos, before he leads this country into an avoidable catastrophe. Such a move will

“The World War II Holocaust was preceded by massive propaganda against the Jews and other coloured people on the grounds of racial superiority. But under the caveat of racial superiority lay the real reason for this mass murder – the fear of increasing Jewish domination of all facets of German national life – industry, arts, academia et al.”

However, a more comprehensive step towards checking the general pandemic of ethnic bigotry and all other forms of prejudice posing security challenges to the country’s continued existence would be for the Nigerian Government to do a thorough review of the country’s moribund constitution, especially as it concerns the definition of who is a Nigerian.

All the incongruities in the explanation of who qualifies to hold Nigerian citizenship in this parent law must be corrected. The ambiguous definition of who is a Nigerian as captured in the several constitutions the country has had since 1960 is largely responsible for the animosities that have defined relations among the several groups constituting Nigeria – a development that has acted as the major stumbling block to

the nation-building process, and one of the greatest threats to national security. This issue has been consistently pointed out by both experts and casual observers of political developments in Nigeria in the past without concrete efforts made to address it. All the past attempts at constitutional review have tended to relegate this primary issue to the background in preference for secondary issues.

Again, Nigerian leaders must wake up to the realities of the times and commence the processes that will ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of primordial considerations, is properly catered for. All injustices of the past that have seen the citizens of one of the potentially richest country on the African continent living like Serfs in the land of their ancestors must be corrected.

Nigerians are naturally among the most peace-loving and productive people in the world.

All they need to bring out their best is encouragement from those at the helm of affairs.

Most people resort to whipping up ethnic or other kinds of sentiments when they feel the collective interests of their subnational groups are not being properly addressed by the larger body politic.

Responsible, accountable, transparent, and peoplecentered leadership will go a long way in inculcating true nationalism and patriotism into the citizenry. The truth is that good governance can become a major resource for peace, if well utilized.

In conclusion, the phantom of violent conflicts will continue to loom large over this country until those operating the system are able to guarantee Nigerians that, regardless of their ethnic, religious, social, and economic backgrounds, they can reside and subsist in any part of the country without fear. A collective security arrangement that takes cognizance of the peculiarities of the different groups constituting the contemporary Nigerian State is the only ironcast solution to the cancer of insecurity in the country. All square pegs must be put in square holes for peace to reign unfettered in this country.

Failure by all concerned to make hay while the sun still shines is a careless and open invitation to chaos. There is no short cut to positive peace. God save Nigeria!

INTRODUCTION: A quadratice expression is an expression with three terms (trinomial) i.e. 1st term, middle term and last term. It is of the general form.

(7). 2x3 + x2 - 1 (8). V2 - 3 v + 9 2

(Hint: The highest power of the variable must be 2).

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

Factorisation Of Quadratic Expressions

Ax2 + bx + C (for a > 1) or x2 + bx + C (for a = 1) and a, b, and are constants

Example 2

Factorise: (a). u2 - 3u (b). 6x2 - 15x (c). x2 + 9x + 20 + C ax2 + bx (d). a2 - 2a - 48 (e). 12 - 7d + d2 1st term middle term last term 2 Notice from the above that the (f). v - 12v + 32 highest power or index or Exponent Solution (a). u2 - 3u of the unknown variable is 2. = u(u - 3) Answer Some examples of a quadratic expression are: (b). 6x2 - 15x 2 2 (2)y + 5y + 6 (1) d + 2d =2X3XxXx-3X5Xx (3) x2 - 4 (4) 2m2 -6m + 10 etc. = 3 X (2 X x - 5) = 3x (2x - 5) Answer Note: (1). To factorise a quadratic (c). x2 + 9x + 20 expression is to express the given Product (of last term i.e. + 20) Sum of factors +20 X +1 +20 + 1 = +21 expression as a product of two -20 X -1 -20 - 1 = -21 brackets +10 X +2 +10 + 2 = +12 -10 X - 2 -10 - 2 = -12 (2). You need to have good +5 X - 4 -5 - 4 = -9 knowledge of “vital signs� i.e.

Replacing the middle term with the (a). + X + = + factors to get x2 + 5x + 4x + 20. (b). - X - = + Breaking these four terms into (c). + X - = pairs, we get x(x + 5) + 4(x + 5) (d). - X + = or (x + 5)(x + 4) as well as Directed Numbers or :- a2 - 9x + 20 = (x + 5)(x + 4) Ans Number line. Directed Numbers is a topic you can find in JSS 1 or 2, (d). a2 - 2a - 48 Mathmatics textbooks or scheme of Solution: work.

Product (of -48) Sum of factors

bracket repeats itself. or (a + 6) (a - 8) :- a2 - 2a - 48 = (a + 6)(a - 8) Answer 12 - 7d + d2 You can rearrange the above expression as d2 - 7d + 12 (e).

Product (of +12) +12 X +1 -12 X -1 +3 X +4 -3 X -4

Sum of factors +12 + 1 = +13 -12 - 1 = -13 +3 + 4 = +7 -3 - 4 = -7

replace middle term with factor to get d2 - 3d - 4d + 12 Pair the terms to get d(d - 3) - 4(d -3) :- 12 - 7d + d2 = d2 - 7d + 12 = (d - 3) (d - 4) Ans (f). v2 - 12v + 32 Product (of +32) +32 X +1 -32 X -1 +8 X +4 -8 X -4 +16 X +2 -16 X -2

Sum of factors +32 + 1 = 33 -32 - 1 = -33 +8 + 4 = +12 -8 - 4 = -12 +16 + 2 = +18 -16 - 2 = -18

Replace middle term with Factors to get v2 - 8v - 4v + 32 Pair the terms to get: v(v - 8) -4(v - 8) or v2 - 12v + 32 = (v - 8)(v - 4) Ans

Exercise Factorise the following: 2 (1). a - 8a - a + 8 (FGS, JSS NECO, -48 X + 1 -48 + 1 = -47 APPLICATION EXAMPLES 2000). Ans = (a - 1)(a - 8) +48 X - 1 +48 - 1 = +47 Example 1 -6 X + 8 -6 + 8 = +2 (2). P2 + 6p - 16 (FGC, JSS NECO, +6 X - 8 +6 - 8 = -2 Identify the quadratic expression 2004). Ans = (P - 2)(P + 8) +16 X - 3 +16 - 3 = +13 in the following: -16 X + 3 -16 + 3 = -13 Until next week edition, remain (1). x + 5 (2). x2 - 16 Replace middle term with factors blessed solving Maths. You can also (3). d3 - 1 (4). c2 + 4 tune to EBS TV, Thur. 4pm live, to to get a2 + 6a - 8a - 48 2 (5). y + 2 (6). x - 5x + 6 or a(a + 6) - 8(a + 6). Notice that a consolidate your understanding

Motoring Basic Safety Rules KEEP your vehicle in good condition. Pay particular attention to light, brakes, steering, tyres and direction indicator. Keep windscreens and windows clean and free of abstractions.

1. Use your rear view and wing mirrors before moving off, overtaking, turning down or stopping.

2. Signal your intentions in good time and before executing them.

3. On the highway, keep well within your lane. Do not wander from lane to lane or change lane suddenly.

4. Always obey traffic officers in the lawful performance of their duties 5. Do not reverse into a major road or expressway and on any road at all. Do not reverse for more than eight metres.

6. Get to know the major traffic signs and road making and obey them.

7. Park only where you will not abstract other road users or be a danger to them. If your vehicle breaks down, push it off the road so that it does not abstract traffic or other road -users.

8. Do not drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

9. Be polite and courteous to other road users.

Seat Belt: No matter how you will drive there is always a chance that you will be involved in an accident. You cannot predict when it may happen. From statistical analysis of road traffic accident in Nigeria since

Driving To Stay Alive independence, the chances that one will be injured in an accident in his life time is that he may be killed in an accident, the best protection inside the vehicle is the use of seat belts. Seat belt in your car and make sure they are always used even on short trips.

In the events of accidents, seat belt properly used will reduce the severity of injury by at least) 50%. Where possible you should make sure the other passengers wear seat belts. Drowsy, Drinks and Drugs: Do not start or continue a journey if you feel drowsy or tired.

Don’t try to fight, never drive after consuming alcoholic drinks or while under the influence of drugs. If you have to take drugs in the course of medical treatment, consult your doctor about their possible effect on driving ability.

Your Vision: Your safety depends on what you are and then how- you react. If you need spectacles to meet the official eyesight standard wear them. It is an offence to drive with uncorrected

defective vision.

No Tinted Spectacle: At night or in conditions of poor visibility, do not use tinted optical equipment of any kind (sun- glasses, goggles or tinted helmet visors).

Long Distance Driving: Driving for long distances tends to make you feel sleepy.

To help prevent this make

IF a man knows himself he will hardly fall into temptation that will either make him fail outright or make him compromise to the extent of denting his image or coming into

untimely ruin.

Just as it is true of man’s nature, so it true of all our possessions and in particular mechanical contraption we possess, called cars or motor

sure there is plenty of fresh in your vehicle or stop in a convenient place, rest and then walk around to let your blood circulate and feed your brain adequately. Stop to relax or take a nap if necessary. Do not rely on stay-awake, drugs or kola nuts.

Avoid Fatigue: Do not

With OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452 those involved in social parties and gathering are especially enjoined to take caution.

Knowing Your Car Inside-Out vehicles. If we know our car, know when it is suffering in time to arrest, the tendency before it degenerates into tuberculosis like ailment that will surely gulp large

Motorists Can Make Huge Savings NIPCO PLC has locations all in conscious On Fuel Cost affirmed that motorist cars bid to make access to CNG run on compressed natural gas (CNG) would enjoy substantial savings on fuel cost.

The feat is premised on the current selling price of 97 naira for litre for premium motor spirit (PMS) in the country compare to the 55 naira per standard cubic meter (SCM) of gas, equivalent of a litre of petrol being offered by GGL to motorist running on CNG. The General Manager, natural gas, Mr. Anirudh Narula, made the observation while

drive if you are unwell, exhausted or tired from work.

A lot of accidents occur as a result of driver’s fatigue: Your driving and ability to co-ordinate become impaired when you are under stress, be it emotional or physical.

There is no substitute for rest.

Truck drivers, those operating special shifts and

reflecting on the growing benefits of CNG powered vehicles, thus making such motorist move around at relatively cheaper rate that they could with petrol.

He maintained that the efforts of GGL has given motorist a veritable avenue to save money as recent studies have successfully prove that a shift from petrol to CNG can result in reduction of cost of travel by half.

According to him a motorist in Benin City, Edo State and its environs had been enjoying the

savings following the inauguration of CNG stations in the ancient town aside from other ancillary gains of using compressed gas as vehicular fuel.

The general manager point that GGL has inaugurated scores of station in Benin City and now expanding to highways and other cities to provide avenues through which interested motorist can convert their vehicles to use CNG and re-fuel as well.

According to him, more CNG stations are being constructed in different

better for existing and prospective motorists. He stated that in 2013, over 3,000 automobile customers switched to CNG in Benin City alone, stressing that they are already enjoying the benefits of having their vehicles run on natural gas as against the conventional liquid fuel.

Mr. Narula explained that there is a huge potential in the country to convert most of the vehicles on our roads to use CNG even despite government subsidies on cost of petrol.

sums of money from you before the car would be repaired or reconditioned to its original serviceable state.

The benefits that will accrue you if you know your car inside out are numerous: but I will endeavour to recount some very important ones. If you know your car, you will be able to detect early any malfunction of any component before it develops into a cost damage or affect other relating components in the car to the point of causing expensive damage.

For example, a mere squeaking noise from the fan belt, caused by slack fan belt tension: which if not stopped as quickly as possible, may result in either twisting of the belt and eventual snapping off whiles the vehicle is in motion or cause excessive slip on the pulleys of the

water pump and the alternator, lowering drastically the efficiency of those two vital components and these effects will bring about engine overheating and battery not being effectively charged and hard starting in the mornings.

Again, if you know your car, you will carry out regularly preventive maintenance service since you will be able to interpet what you see accurately when you carry out daily check-ups and therefore appropriate maintence service at the nick or time thereby ensuring troublefree motoring and naturally the car’s utility value be enhanced.

You will also be able to carry out simple repairs of adjustment in your car personally using simple hand tools, which you must endeavour to have in your possession and know how to use.

Relationship

Understanding Friendship

IT is quite sad when you look around the world today and see what people call friendship. The true definition of a friend has lost its value in the man to man relationship. The value of friend or friendship can only be found in the definition, the actual act of friendship has gone sour.

What is being called friendship today is defined by how much money you have, what design of clothes (perfume, shoes etc.), the kind of food and wine on your table, if you have strong economic or political power and other good things of life. No wonder some people now choose to live in self deception in order to get friends that will approve of them. They borrow cars, clothes, jewelleries, shoes, money and all other things that they feel will make them acceptable to other highclass people.

This is the period when what you have in possession, defines your friendship with others and others with you. No wonder the bible says, the friends of the rich gathers around him, but the poor has no friend, although he pursues after them, the further they go away from him.

There are many definitions for who a Friend is. According to free online dictionary, a friend is a person whom one knows, likes, and trust. Another definition says a friend is a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations. While another definition went further to expatiate on who a real friend is; it says; a real friend is someone who it’s okay

to fart in front of, you don’t mind talking to on the bus for at-least 20 minutes, you can borrow #750 and never have to pay it back.

Many persons today have boxed the real content of friendship and have thrown it into the deep blue sea, where it can never be recovered.

As it stands, people now call their sex partners friend, including the ones they are not dating and the ones they paid to have sex with. These days friendship is nothing less than what they call ‘‘friends for benefits.’’

Gone are those days when a friend will come to your house, and assist you to wash clothes if you have so much to wash and also follow you to the market. When the friend want to finally go home, you guys will gist along the way to the friend’s bus stop and still come back to your street and then finally back to the bus stop. This is so because you never wish to separate from each other, but today everyone is in a hurry to part-ways.

One of the principles of friendship is that you must be friendly before you can have friends. Be nice, open minded about things then you will see people flock around you.

A true friend would not try to steal your girl/ boyfriend, your job, or personality and for you to be a true friend, you should not think of doing these things to who so ever you call friend.

Being a good friend is not always easy, but taking the time to nurture a lasting friendship is worth every ounce of effort. As the years pass, some people will stay by your side, but many would not and you will realise that each friendship you keep is

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

dependable is one of the most important aspects of being a good friend.

A good friend should be able to stick out his/her neck for you when there is need and he or she should be able to count on you for something.

have a conversation with that friend and talk everything through.

Calling him/her a liar before everyone, would only build a bad image for that your friend and you are making that friend of yours vulnerable to attacks from other people; this

your friend during hard times, and deepen a friendship to make it last.

A true friend would always or most times keep his or her promise.

True friends never make a promise that cannot be kept except when something beyond their capacity crops up and this is not often. A true friend will always explain why they could not carry out their promise. They are dependable; being

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

action is not being honest rather, it being blunt.

In trying to be honest with your friend, be real, original, connect with the person whom you value on a deep level if you want to have sustainable, long-term friendship.

Invest in people you can be yourself around. If your behaviour lacks sincerity, your friendship would not last.

Anybody that uses you cannot really be a good

friend. A friend is not supposed to use or make the other person feel used at any point in time.

Some persons go to the extent of becoming friend with another person, in order to be accepted into a clique and this is not friendship rather its opportunism and eventually a shallow nature of your involvement will reveal itself.

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

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

Opinion How Desire Fools Us: The Benefits

And Dangers Of The Chase

By PEACE MADOJEMU

WHY do we love to chase?

What is so intriguingly attractive about hard-to-get partners, the very best iphone?

Whether it’s for a trophy, a promotion, a slice at a popular eatery, desire simply gets us all fired up.

Anticipatory Joy. A cat will chase a toy mouse because a good chase activated it’s brain’s reward system. The same is true for us.

We experience anticipatory joy. In other words, anticipation of a desired outcome makes us feel good. Research shows that just looking at the object of our desire activates neural signals associated with the release of dopamine (a neurotransmitter released during reward signaling ) in the brain. Research suggests that we don’t just derive happiness from attaining, receiving, or consuming the object of our desires, we also do so from anticipating it. i.e it’s not just eating the cake that makes us happy but also staring at it through the strong front. Think of anticipating a

fantastic vacation, or reunion with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time or a meal at your favourite restrict. This may be the reason why people go window shopping, gamble or go to strip clubs. Although they can’t possess the object of their desire, they experience the titillating state of anticipatory joy.

However. Our love of a good chase, carries with it some dangers to be aware of.

Can we avoid the Ditfalls of chasing while still harnessing the benefits of anticipatory joy? You bet! Here’s how: Running for Nothing Oftentimes, the things we chase don’t bring us what we want which is the expected satisfaction. We often overestimate the amount of happiness something will bring us. Just like a cat who will chase its toy but lose interest as soon as it catches it. We as humans, sometimes do too. When we finally do get what we want, whether it’s winning the lottery, receiving the promotion, or finding the

“THINGS don’t go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be”. –Charlie Jones.

A man never fails until he’s satisfied with failure. Failure is not falling down; failure is staying down when you have the choice to get back up. Sometimes, you fail a thousand times to succeed, but you are not a failure unless you give up, unless you stay down. As Winston Churchill stated. “Success is not final, failure is not total. It is the courage to continue that counts’. Also, confusions once said that, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but rising everytime we fall” It is not wanting to win or winning that makes you a winner, it is refusing to fall.

Sometimes, it’s a lot easier to just stay down. But whether you stay down or get back up, life goes on, so you might as well fight. Instead of giving yourself reason why you can’t get back up, why not give yourself reasons why you can. Life may be tough, but you need to be tougher. The set backs you face are temporary as long as you don’t give up.

However, the circumstances you face does not make you, but help shape you into who you are meant to be. So you need to press on and be persistent. Though you may be talented, you may be a genius, get the best education money can buy, without perseverance and determination Lombordi clearly

perfect job-we often find out that we are not as happy as we thought we would be.

Some people love to seduce but as soon as their romantic partner is smitten, they lose interest; others purchase a dream car, and shortly thereafter want to trade it in, or regret not having

chosen a different model.

However, chasing has it’s benefits that we can harness with awareness. For example, it can also help us achieve our professional and personal goals. Positive psychologists agree that there are benefits to having goals; especially when it comes to goals with

meaning.

A life with meaning is a life well lived. So how can we work with the positive effects of loving a good chase.

1. Use Anticipatory joy as a Tool Be aware of your brain’s love of a chase, and use it as a

tool to foster the enthusiasm and energy you need to complete your goals. Rev up your anticipatory joy by looking forward to your end result, whether it is recognition or even the satisfaction of crossing it off your to do list. Whatever the source of your anticipatory joy, use it as a motivator but also remember to stay realistic when the end goals does not bring you the satisfaction or pleasure you imagined.

2. M A I N T A I N BALANCE AND KEEP IT REAL Learn to maintain a balance.

If your anticipation gets you over exalted, Learn to calm yourself down and use as a tool to chase your goals and dreams to a logical conclusion.

In conclusion, what we actually need to know according to happiness researchers, is that true happiness and fulfillment, don’t actually come from chasing buying purchasing, acquiring or succeeding at all, but that they actually come from giving.

Never Stay Down

By UTI ANIEKAN UDOH

started, “ Winners never quit, and guitters never win”.

Moreover, in some point in life. We all get hit and knocked down. It’s just part of the experience nobody can really avoid.

It’s but about avoiding the hit, and been able to get ourselves back up every time we got knocked down. Life may knock you down, but it’s really your choice , whether to stay down or get back up. As Tom Krause stated. “When life knocks you down you have two choices – stay down or get up”. Also W.P Garrett stated that. “ Life is going to knock you down, from time to time just like a good boxer. The difference in success and failure in life is whether or not you get up or stay down and it’s a choice.

If in 2005, Liverpool FC who had fallen down to 3 goals in the first half of the final of the UEFA champions league, had given up and stayed down, they wouldn’t have been able to overturn the score and go on to win the title.

The true failure we face is giving up and staying down.

“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encounters heartbreaking obstacles before they

“Sometimes, it’s a lot easier to just stay down. But whether you stay down or get back up, life goes on, so you might as well fight. Instead of giving yourself reason why you can’t get back up, why not give yourself reasons why you can. Life may be tough, but you need to be tougher.

The set backs you face are temporary as long as you don’t give up.”

triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats”. B.C Forbes Coleman Cox further stated that, “Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses this success to the pecking away until he finishes the job he starts”.

Most people today, give up when victory is away. They quit and stay down just one-yard away from success. As Harriet Stowe advised, “Never give up, for that the tide will turn”. We need to get back up and keep trying. Rogar banister once said that, “The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win”.

You may have fallen down, you may have failed. But are you just going to stay down and say. “It’s just too hard, I’ve tried my best and I think it’s time to let it go”. You may have failed alright, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay down. By doing so, you are turning one defeat into many defeats. Even the Bible never said that a man will not fall. The Bible clearly stated that, “ Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again”. This can notes that, though a man will fall, he needs to keep getting right. So when you fall, you should be as a baby who is learning how to walk. Continuous efforts, not strength, not ability, not intelligence is the key to unlocking our potential, and achieving our goal. Life is a succession of lesson. It will humble you, it will attempt to break you. And just when things are starting to look bright, life may smack you back down with ruthless indifference. But all this happens for you to learn to pick yourself back up and achieve your goal. Life is not about wanting for the storms to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.

Let me end this with the words of the former Prime minister of Britain, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. He said, “We will not fail or falter, we shall not weaken or tire. Give us the tools and we will finish the job”.

Religion

WHY THE PROSPERITY THEOLOGY (Gods game plan for our salvation) MANY persons even Christian and Christian ministers are usually against the prosperity theology. This is because it has been seriously abused and used for egocentric pursuits. Many insist that, “You stop the prosperity theology and teach salvation theology” I was very much in support of this idea. I was initially and antagonistic against anything having to do with prosperity theology; and for years I shunned it and would not teach it- but it dawned on me that having closely studied the scriptures, I was undoing my ministry and not properly directing the congregation. I was presenting God wrongly before my congregation. Why have I said so? Yes because the church did not prosper and the congregation did also not prosper and I presented God as a suffering God worshiped by suffering children. But as soon as I took a closer look into the concept of Christian prosperity and related it with our salvation, I began to see a new light dawn on my congregation and the ministry. The new message put a new hope and galvanized them to aspire to succeed in their endeavors and to see Gods blessing as part of his salvation plan for mankind. You may be like me as I was before I took a closer look at the prosperity theology. Now I think the prosperity theology is clearly part of the salvation plan of God. While Jesus came to save yet he came also to bless. For what do you think of a man who says he is saved yet in penury? Would that not affect his faith. Jesus came principally to save; yet as part of the salvation plan he came to bless the saved.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life’ Jn 3: 16. This is the primary reason Jesus came to save the world. But part of the salvation plan is to bless the saved, that they having being saved, their destiny changes for good also.

“I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” Jn l0:10.

You see that Christ came to save yet that the saved might also enjoy abundant life. The problem with the prosperity theology is that teachers teach it isolatedly.

It is not so. It is to be taught as part of the salvation plan of God. Christ did not come principally to prosper but to save; yet the saved must not only find satisfaction for their souls, but also satisfaction for their spirit and body. The Apostle John wished same to the elder Gaius when he wrote; “Beloved, I wish above all

With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA

Divine Prosperity 3 things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” 3Jn2. Reader do you now agree with me that the prosperity concept is part of the salvation plan of God? Do you rationally think that God, being so good and who controls all the resources in the world: for he says “the world is mine and the fullness thereof,” (Ps 24:1, Ps 50:12) would such a kind father bestow hunger, poverty and disease on his children? Would that glorify the lord? Would that not portray him in bad light?

Look at what the Bible says about God being delighted in the prosperity of his servants; “Let them shout for joy and be glad, that favour my righteous cause, yes let them say continually LET THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED WHICH HATH PLEASURE IN THE PROSPERITY OF HIS SERVANT” PSALM 35:27 We are told here God is magnified in the prosperity of his children. Don’t you also think so? Do you see the son of a rich man on earth suffering hunger and poverty? Then the world would say either the son is “a prodigal son” or the man is a spendthrift or a wicked man. I think in the same way we paint a just and magnanimous Jehovah when a child of God continually experiences suffering, disease, hunger and poverty, and presumes that it is Gods wish for his life. How can that be?

Through the prosperity theology God is making us to know that he is God; of we are saved and deal righteously with him and we listen to him and obey his directives; he will bless us as abundantly. The property theology portrays God as a very benevolent father who blesses the genuine effort of his children.

It does not teach laziness nor nouveau riche’ ideas as some try to portray it. Of a truth I believe opposition to the prosperity theology is not that it is not biblical but the teaching approach is faulty. Some preachers just teach it, they fail to present it as God’s given plan for our salvation, pari-pasu. Peter the Apostle of Jesus; while he remained a very faithful disciple of Jesus asked a question on behalf of other disciples who had accepted Jesus as their lord and personal saviour, what would be their reward. They had already been saved; they had worked assiduously for the faith, what would be their outcome?

“Then peter began to say unto him, lo, we have left all and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left his house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospel’s. But be shall receive in hundred fold now in

this time, houses, and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come ETERNAL LIFE” Mk10:2830.

Did you hear what Jesus said to the disciple Peter? Did he say to Peter: “now you are saved; you got to suffer and suffer then wait for your reward in heaven.”

But rather he said he would be

rich but Gods riches will not go with sorrow. This is a clear distinction between genuine riches that come from God and false riches that come from Satan. We know that Satan can bond men with riches, indeed Satan knows the effect of this on the human race. People want to get money by all means and Satan readily provides the evil opportunity for ill-gotten wealth.

Some go the extra mile to

costs and Satan capitalizing on this ego-centric drive can make the Christian via from the path of the Lord. Satan seeks whom he may devour (1Pet 5:8) and one quick way Satan can do this much more easily is the propensity to lust after money.

The lust for money is a temptation for any believer. He must be careful!

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and

on the fear of God and in accordance with the will of God. A Christian should have a genuine aspiration not necessarily being overambitious; he must also be industrious, hardworking and painstaking backed up with prayers. God shall cause a smile on the face of such a believer. A Christian should not resign

blessed on earth here a hundred fold and receive eternal life after death. Praise God! If you are a child of God, born of the spirit: rise up and challenge every obstacle to your blessing. The lord shall cause new doors to be opened for your prosperity if you believe; “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it” Rev3: 8 my God is the God that saves and prospers!

swindle, to cheat, to deceive, to steal, to rob, to defraud etc all in an attempt to get money and get rich quickly. Some others may choose the spiritual or occultic means to get money from Satan through money rituals by different forms of evil supernaturalism such as magic, spiritism, spiritualism, sorcery, voodooism and even witchcraft.

All these aforementioned methods are Satanic and the obvious manifestation is that these persons may get rich but sorrow upon sorrow may befall them. For this simple reason the Bible warns: “For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” 1Tim 6:10.

What the Bible refers to here is the propensity to get rich at all

into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” 1 Tim 6:9.

While the Bible warns against lust, greed and avarice and the, “I must be rich at all cost syndrome”; It does not condemn any believer from genuinely aspiring for the blessings of God. I use the word “genuine” which also means sincerely seeking God’s blessings in your life.

Now is it proper for a Christian to aspire? To aspire means to want to move up or forward in life. So if a Christian is progressive it is very good because it shows that the Christian serves a God who is progressive. I don’t see anything wrong in a Christian aspiring to succeed. Success should be seen as a good testimony of our faith as children of God. But the aspiration should be predicated

himself to a life of failure and defeat and interpret that to be the will of God. God wants his name magnified through the testimonies of the life of the child of God (Ps 35:27).

When God appeared to Solomon in the night after he had been crowned king and he had accepted the charge of the father David to oblige himself to fear God and build the temple of God as God had directed; God told Solomon “Ask what I shall give thee” 2Chronl :8; Solomon asked the lord for “wisdom and knowledge” (2Chronl :10).

God blessed him bountifully saying to Solomon; “wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches and wealth and honour such as none of the kings have had” 2Chron 1:12.

The Bible put it clearly this way: “THE BLESSING OF THE LORD, IT MAKETH RICH, AND HE ADDED NO SORROW WITH IT” PROV 10: 22.

This is the statement of God. These are Gods words and God cannot lie (Num 23: 19). What is simply meant here is that God can bless you and you will be

“While the Bible warns against lust, greed and avarice and the, “I must be rich at all cost syndrome”; It does not condemn any believer from genuinely aspiring for the blessings of God.”

International Features Turkey: Erdogan Rallies Popular Support In Power Struggle BEFORE cheering crowds, he dons the mantle of tragic hero, comparing his enemies to leeches, reciting a poem that once saw him jailed for sedition and invoking the memory of his political hero, toppled and hanged by the generals.

Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan, shaken by a graft scandal he says is concocted by a former Ally, is fighting to secure his political future in the run up to March polls. But more than that, he sees at stake the legacy of an 11-year drive to reshape Turkey, breaking the hold of a secular, urban elite.

Speaking amid a sea of orange and blue AK Party flags in the western town of Denizli, the Prime Minister moved between anger and sarcasm as he decried a campaign including anonymous online audio-tapes accusing him and members of his family of graft.

Its instigators, he said, were worse than leeches.

“Leeches are more virtuous.

Leeches suck dirty blood, while they suck clean blood and hold sessions cursing me, my wife, my children, my administration,” he boomed, referring to followers of estranged ally, U.S. based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The Denizli crowd, many bussed in, were core supporters; religiously conservative, most women in headscarves, some in chador, people who have to their mind achieved social justice under Erdogan. Bans on religious attire in state offices have eased and a new business elite has flourished in the Anatolian heartland.

Gulen, whose Hizmet network has strong influence in the police and judiciary, denies involvement in the scandal which began with December 17 raids that spread to sons of ministers and businessmen close to Erdogan.

The cleric is generally credited with having helped Erdogan break the political power of a military that had for decades born down on political Islam. “(Erdogan)...has a messianic complex and Turkey is too small for two messiahs. It is a titanic fight,” Hakan Altinay of the Brookings Institution said.

“They will both lose, they will come away from it wounded ... But what is more disturbing is that (Erdogan) is tearing away the social fabric of this country.”

Erdogan has hit back by purging the police and judiciary of figures seen as close to Gulen, whose influence is founded on a network of schools, businesses and media groups. He accuses

him of building over years a pervasive “parallel state” that he has now turned against the government; something Gulen denies.

Erdogan’s achievement with the 2001 founding of the AK Party was to unite a broad spectrum of nationalists and social and economic reformers as well as elements of a conservative religious party pushed from power by the army in 1997.

A child of the hard streets of Istanbul’s Kasimpasa district, he provided the strong leadership Turks were seeking after a long period of economic chaos and political drift; but that strength was manifest also in what even allies in time recognized as an intolerance of criticism.

The local polls on March 30 should indicate whether the graft scandal and the backlash against his authoritarian traits are whittling support down to his core constituency - on display in the fervent crowd at Denizli.

Past victories of AK - the acronym spells out “pure” or “clean” - sprang in part from fury with traditional parties over graft and financial failure.

They might also offer some critical insight on how, by what office, he might retain his hold on power in the year ahead.

Yalcin Akdogan, one of Erdogan’s top advisers, counters criticism that the government is building a police regime to protect itself, saying the Gulenists had already established one, a charge the cleric has denied. “(They) made up dossiers on everyone, engineered politics so (they) could reach a point where they could decide the future of the country ... This kind of deep state, intelligence structures with no legitimacy, cannot decide the future of the country,” he said. “Of course the government must fight it.”

“The conversations of 7,000 people were monitored for years,” he says. “We have something similar to an extortion gang, setting up files on everyone, obliterating private life, illegally monitoring everyone’s conversations.”

Some may not buy Erdogan’s arguments. Erdogan has used his power to press legislation, muzzling the media and tightening AK’s grip on state institutions.

Turkey now ranks second to Russia in the number of European Court of Human Rights judgments brought against it, with 118 to Russia’s

119.

Last summer, a bid to redevelop Gezi Park, a small oasis of green space in Istanbul, triggered more than 10 days of mass rallies against what critics see as Erdogan’s relentless intrusion into Turks’ private and public space, spreading to some 50 cities

helmets, the mosques our barracks and the faithful our army,” he said at the rally in Isparta. “I went to prison for reciting this.”

For many, corruption is little of a surprise and seen as an almost legitimate quid pro quo for the dramatic rise in their

religion, much as Erdogan has done, allowing thousands of mosques to reopen, opened new religious schools and legalized the call to prayer in Arabic. He also, like Erdogan, was accused of increasingly authoritarian rule and stifling press freedoms.

“Their sedition brought the late Menderes and his two friends to the noose. The CHP was behind this event,”

• Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses the crowd during an election rally in Kirikkale.

after riot police used force to repress them.

But while this shook Turkey and exposed Erdogan’s inability to cast the diversity of citizens in his pious, conservative mould, it did little or nothing to dent his core support base.

Mocked as he may be on Twitter or Facebook, his hold on Turkey’s traditional heartland of Anatolia looks unshakable.

In more than a decade in power, he has spread wealth and involvement, as well as services like healthcare and education, roads and cheap air travel, across Turkey for the first time.

Most Erdogan backers, one European diplomat argued, see the Gulen feud as “not our battle” and view themselves as living in another world - one Erdogan has immeasurably improved.

Erdogan, in a characteristic literary flourish, referred at another election rally to a darker moment in his own career when he was convicted for reciting a poem ruled to be incitement to religiouslymotivated hatred.

“The minarets are our bayonets, the domes our

living standards. They will, one European diplomat said, be receptive to the AKP narrative of a multi-layered conspiracy, hatched abroad and using the Gulenists as its foot-soldiers.

“We were in a system quite close to a colonial system, in which the ‘white Turk’ elites found it normal that people in the countryside were poor and in effective servitude, without the same educational possibilities,” the diplomat said.

“He has introduced social mobility. I think there is something profoundly sincere in his mission here.”

TRAGIC FLAW While enemies portray him as corrupt or as a man with a secret Islamist agenda something he also denies - few who observe him can miss that sense of mission combined with a dark undertone of tragedy drawn from Turkey’s past.

Erdogan repeatedly compares himself with Adnan Menderes, a Turkish prime minister overthrown by the military in 1960 and hanged along with two ministers a year later.

Menderes eased curbs on

Erdogan said, naming the Republican People’s Party which today is the main opposition.

“They are now doing to us what they did to Menderes,” he told a rally in the southwestern city of Mugla, near Menderes’ hometown of Kocarli. “They are coming at us with ugly slander, corruption slander, with lewd slander...Whatever role the CHP took on back then, it is assuming that same role today.”

Gulen is widely believed, through his power in police and judiciary, to have helped drive from politics the military that toppled Menderes and three other prime ministers in the decades ahead. Hundreds of generals are in jail convicted of plotting coups. The top command is now hand-picked and loyal to Erdogan.

An army coup seems a very distant peril. The CHP, the party forged by secular state founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, appears also too weak to match the AKP machine at the polls. Gulen has made it clear he has no intention to form a political party.

“There is no political force to pick up the ingredients and cook a better meal, the

opposition has no sense of direction,” said Altinay of Brookings.

Most of the electoral map is AK Party orange and that looks set to remain true after the municipal elections, although the race for Istanbul and Ankara could be close. Losing either would dent Erdogan’s aura of invincibility and, most of all, raise doubt over him mustering the 50 percent he would need to win the popular vote in a presidential election in the summer.

AK Party rules forbid Erdogan serving a fourth term as premier after 2015 general elections.

Initially, he intended to move on into a Presidency with enhanced executive powers.

When that plan failed to rally enough support, his aides argued the President’s role in any case had powers seldom used, such as chairing Cabinet meetings. Using those powers would be all the more justified now that direct elections have been introduced for the first time.

The risk for Erdogan, whose party won 49.8 percent in the 2011 general election, is that he may not win the 50 percent vote necessary for an outright victory at a presidential election. His disparate and weak opponents might then unite around a single challenger in a second round to thwart him.

“With his strategy of polarization I don’t see how he can get the 50 percent plus one vote,” said the European diplomat. “I don’t see anyone knocking him out in the first round, but I don’t see how he could win in the second round.”

If AK support flagged at the local polls, he might instead ask the party to change its rules and allow him to run for a fourth term as prime minister.

While this would look like a real change in tune, the European diplomat suggested Erdogan could pull off such a shift without much resistance.

“It’s not impossible for him to argue instead that you need a strong PM to fight the parallel state.”

While even his enemies are hesitant to predict Erdogan’s imminent demise, they argue the slide has begun.

“The prime minister has faced lesser but similar difficulties in the past. He has survived, in fact he has always come out on top,” said Faruk Logoglu, vice chairman of the CHP and a former ambassador to Washington. “But I think this time the problem is too big even for him to handle.”

• Courtesy: REUTERS

International Bird Flu Spikes In China Ahead Of Lunar New Year CHINA - A spate of bird flu cases since the beginning of the year in China has experts watching closely as millions of people and poultry are on the move ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, the world’s largest annual human migration.

Related Stories China has reported more than 50 H7N9 infections in 2014 after the strain jumped from birds to people for the first time last year. The virus remains hard to catch and most cases have been linked to contact with poultry, but scientists worry that could change if it mutates into a form that allows it to spread easily among people.

For those who track influenza, the holiday, which begins Jan. 31, is always worrying because it comes during the winter months when flu typically rages. Add that to hundreds of millions of people ó and often birds ó crammed together on buses and other forms of transportation going home, and it’s always a bit of a gamble. China estimates 3.6 billion trips will be taken over the holiday season.

“This is the first winter we’ve seen H7N9. We are in uncharted territory,” said Gregory Hartl, World Health Organization spokesman in Geneva. “We have seen an upstart in cases,

which we are attributing basically to the fact that it’s winter.

That combined with a lot of movement of people in crowded trains with chickens could give rise to a lot more infections, but we’ve also seen in past years where it hasn’t.”

The first H7N9 cases were reported in late March near Shanghai, and more than 200 others have since been identified, including some 50 deaths.

A 31-year-old doctor became one of the latest fatalities, raising fears he may have been infected at the hospital where he worked, but none of his patients or other close contacts have reported flu symptoms, according to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning.

There have been a handful of family clusters, but WHO says no sustained human-to-human transmission has occurred.

However, scientists warn that the H7N9 virus contains genetic markers that could help it infect mammals easier than other avian flus. Infected birds also do not show symptoms, making it harder to track the disease. Cases declined in China over the summer, which is typically slower for influenza viruses, after some local live poultry markets were temporarily closed.

In Hong Kong, which has

logged three cases, officials will test all poultry for the virus beginning later this week.

Taiwan has reported two cases.

In past years, it was the H5N1 bird flu virus that spiked during this time of year. That strain, which has killed at least 386 people since 2003, is still circulating widely in poultry stocks and kills about 60 percent of the people it infects.

On Tuesday, Vietnam, which has long battled the virus, confirmed its first H5N1 death in nine months. Earlier in January, the first human case was reported in North America after a person traveling back from a trip to Beijing became ill and died in Canada.

State Of Emergency Begins In Thailand

BANGKOK - Gunmen shot and wounded a top leader of a major pro-government movement in northern Thailand on Wednesday, as demonstrators pushing to overthrow the prime minister defied the start of a state of emergency imposed in the capital to cope with the nation’s increasingly bloody political crisis.

Related Stories Kwanchai Praipana was shot twice and hospitalized after gunmen in a pickup truck sprayed bursts of gunfire at his

Syrian Warring Sides To Meet Under World’s Gaze MONTREUX, Switzerland - Syria’s government and its enemies come face to face on Wednesday for the first time as world powers try to set aside their own differences and push for an end to three years of civil war that is unsettling the entire Middle East.

A day of formal speeches under U.N. auspices at a hotel on Lake Geneva has raised no great expectations, particularly among Islamist rebels on Syria’s frontlines who have branded Western-backed opposition leaders as traitors for even agreeing to be in the same room as President Bashar alAssad’s delegates.

A flap over a now withdrawn last-minute invitation to Iran, Assad’s main ally, highlighted tensions between the West and Russia and the sectarian rift in the Middle East between Sunni Arabs who support the rebels and the Shi’ite rulers in Tehran.

The release on the eve of the talks of thousands of photographs apparently showing prisoners tortured and killed by the government reinforced op-

position demands that Assad must quit and face a war crimes trial. The president, who succeeded his father 14 years ago, insists he can win re-election and wants to talk about fighting “terrorism.”

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem rejected any

A man runs as he carries a child who survived from what activists say was an airstrike by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, at al-Ferdaws in Aleppo

discussion of Assad’s future.

“The subject of the president and the regime is a red line for us and the Syrian people and will not be touched,” Moualem, who will lead the Damascus delegation, was quoted by Syria’s SANA news agency as saying.

home in Udon Thani, according to another leader of the group, Jutaporn Promphan.

The government announced the state of emergency late Tuesday in the wake of a string of attacks that have mostly been aimed at demonstrators protesting peacefully in Bangkok. Grenade assaults on Friday and Sunday killed one man and wounded more than 60 people, bringing the casualty toll since November to at least nine dead and more than 550 hurt.

The government said it enacted the emergency decree to improve security and ensure that Feb. 2 elections, opposed by protesters, are held without disruption. Officials made clear there would be no crackdown on demonstrators who have seized several patches of the capital, and life in the city continued as normal with tourist sites unaffected and no major deployment of extra security

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban waves to supporters during a march through the streets of central Bangkok, Thailand

forces.

The emergency decree, which will remain in effect for 60 days, gives police expanded powers to make arrests, conduct searches and seize suspicious materials.

The powerful army commander, Gen. Prayuth Chanocha, said “we will have to see” whether it helps ease the violence.

The protesters have refused to negotiate with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but Prayuth urged both sides to talk, saying, “we must stop this conflict to let the country move forward.”

“I’m in favor of discussion.

No one takes all or loses all. No one wins all or loses all, so we have to find a way,” he said.

“Whenever the conflict has gone to the point that it is not fixable, the soldiers have to fix it.”

Thailand’s military has staged 11 successful coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. Prayuth has repeatedly said he does not want the army to intervene, but has pointedly refused to rule out a coup.

The protesters have blocked major streets and marched on government offices in a bid to shut down the capital and force Yingluck’s resignation to make way for an appointed government to implement reforms to fight corruption, which they say must be implemented before any vote. The opposition Democrat Party, closely aligned with the protesters, is boycotting the polls.

The protesters charge that Yingluck’s government is carrying on the practices of Thaksin Shinawatra, her bil-

lionaire brother who was prime minister from 2001 to 2006, by using the family fortune and state funds to influence voters and cement its power. Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 after protests accused him of corruption and abuse of power. He fled into exile in 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence for a conflict of interest conviction.

The unrest has cast doubt over whether the February elections, which Yingluck called to quell the crisis, will be held.

On Wednesday, the Election Commission asked the Constitutional Court to issue a ruling on whether and how the ballot can be delayed.

Charupong Ruangsuwan, the caretaker interior minister, said the vote should go ahead and the Election Commission should not use the state of emergency as a reason to postpone it.

“They can use any excuses they want, but their duty is to hold the election,” he said.

“They may accuse the government of causing problems, but the government doesn’t have any problems.”

The government says it imposed the emergency decree in part to secure the city and because protesters have tried to shut down government offices and prevent civil servants from working.

The move emboldened the demonstrators, however. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban vowed late Tuesday to continue demonstrating and questioned whether the declaration was justified, saying the protesters had been peaceful.

Deputy army spokesman Col. Winthai Suvaree said the military would support the government and supply forces as needed.

International Military Force Would Be ‘Last Resort’ In Ukraine - Putin

PARIS/KIEV - The United States and Russia will hold talks on easing East-West tension over Ukraine yesterday as the West steps up efforts to persuade Moscow to pull its forces back to base in Crimea and avert the risk of a war.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet face-to-face for the first time since the crisis escalated, after a conference in Paris attended by all five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

NATO and Russia will hold parallel talks in Brussels amid concerns that a standoff between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea could still spark violence, or that Moscow could also intervene in Russianspeaking eastern Ukraine.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday could decide on sanctions against Russia if there is no “deescalation” by then.

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday defended Russia’s actions in Crimea, a strategic Black Sea peninsula that is part of Ukraine but used to be Russian territory, and said he would use force only as a last resort.

This eased market fears of a war over the former Soviet republic after sharp falls yesterday. The ruble was steady yesterday and Ukraine’s hryvnia rose slightly against the U.S. dollar.

Russian forces remain in control of the region, however,

and Putin gave no sign of pulling servicemen, based in Crimea as part of the Black Sea Fleet, back to base. Investors in Russian stocks were still worried about Ukraine, with the MICEX index down 1 percent yesterday in contrast to other stock markets.

Russian forces remain in control of the region and Putin gave no sign of pulling servicemen, based in Crimea as part of the Black Sea Fleet, back to base.

“What he wants above all is a new empire, like the USSR but called Russia,” former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko told France’s Europe 1 radio.

In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledged that Russia had legitimate interests in Ukraine but said that did not give Putin the right to intervene militarily.

“President Putin seems to have a different set of lawyers making a different set of interpretations,” Obama said. “But I don’t think that’s fooling anybody.”

A senior administration official said Obama spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday and discussed a potential resolution to the crisis. The Russianspeaking German leader has good relations with the Germanspeaking Putin, and Berlin is Russia’s biggest economic partner.

The official said Obama, in his phone call with Putin last Saturday, had discussed what officials called an “off-ramp” to the crisis in which Russia would

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pull its forces in Crimea back to their bases and allow international monitors to ensure that the rights of ethnic Russians are protected.

The U.S. president will stay away from a G8 summit scheduled for Sochi, Russia, in June unless there is a Russian reversal in the Ukraine crisis, the official added.

At his first news conference since the crisis began, Putin said on Tuesday that Russia reserved the right to use all options to protect compatriots who were living in “terror” in Ukraine but that force was not needed for now.

His comments, coupled with the end of Russian war games near Ukraine’s borders, lifted Russian bonds and stock markets around the world after a panic sell-off on Monday.

In comments ridiculed by U.S. officials, Putin denied the Russian armed forces were directly engaged in the bloodless seizure of Crimea, saying the uniformed troops without national insignia were “local self-defense forces”. rench President Francois Hollande became the latest Western leader to raise the possibility of sanctions if Putin does not step back and accept mediation. He set out a tougher public line than Merkel, who has avoided talk of sanctions so far.

“The role of France alongside Europe ... is to exert all necessary pressure, including a possible imposition of sanctions, to push for dialogue and seek a political solution to this crisis.” Hollande told an annual dinner of France’s Jewish community leaders late on Tuesday.

Putin earlier said Western sanctions under consideration against Russia would be counterproductive. A senior U.S. official said Washington was ready to impose them in days rather than weeks.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said after speaking to Obama at the weekend that the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations were considering meeting in the near future, a move that would pointedly exclude Russia. The G7 became the G8 in 1998 when Russia was formally included.

Kerry, on his first visit to Kiev since the overthrow of Russianbacked President Viktor Yanukovich, accused Moscow of seeking a pretext to invade more of the country.

He said the United States was not seeking a confrontation and would prefer to see the situation managed through international institutions such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

He was expected to meet Lavrov, Hollande and British Foreign Secretary William Hague on the sidelines of a Paris conference on Lebanon, before holding private talks with the Russian minister later in the day in the French capital.

Ukraine’s acting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchitsia, is also in Paris for talks with French officials and Kerry. It was not clear if he too would meet Lavrov.

The February 22 ousting of Yanukovich after months of street protests in Kiev and Russia’s seizure of control in Crimea have prompted the most serious confrontation between Moscow and the West since the end of the Cold War. Western governments have

JERUSALEM - Israel’s army said yesterday it struck two members of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as they tried to plant a bomb near the Israeli-Syrian border.

“Earlier today, two Hezbollahaffiliated terrorists were identified attempting to plant an explosive device near the IsraelSyria border in the northern Golan Heights. IDF (Israeli army) forces... fired towards the suspects (and) hits were identified,” the army said in a statement.

The army did not specify what weapons were used to fire at the suspected Hezbollah members.

The incident came just over a week after reports that Israeli warplanes bombarded a Hezbollah position on the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Israel neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the two

border. Egypt is worried that Islamist militants smuggle weapons over the border to help supporters of toppled President Mohamed Mursi. Libya is concerned that emigrants from Egypt and sub-Saharan countries come on forged visas.

Once a backwater neglected

under Muammar Gaddafi, Tobruk’s port has seen a rise in activity as foreign goods enter a new market. Western products such as perfumes, quality fashion and food as well as cars were hard to get in Libya’s once statedominated economy.

In 2013, Tobruk’s port saw around 220 ships discharging

February 24 strikes, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the Jewish state would do “everything necessary” for its own security.

Hezbollah threatened to retaliate for what was the first reported Israeli air raid on a position of the Shiite movement inside Lebanon since a 2006 war between them.

Israel is bent on halting any transfer of weapons to its archenemy Hezbollah, which has sent thousands of fighters across the border to aid Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime as it battles Sunni-led rebels.

Secretary of State John Kerry places a candle and roses atop the shrine of the fallen in Kiev, Ukraine.

World Powers Responsible For Failing To Stop Syria War Crimes - UN GENEVA - All sides in S yria’s civil war are using

shelling and siege tactics to punish civilians and big powers bear responsibility for allowing such war crimes to persist, U.N. human rights investigators said yesterday.

In their latest report documenting atrocities in Syria, they called again on the U.N. Security Council to refer grave violations of the rules of war to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution.

“The Security Council bears responsibility for allowing the warring parties to violate these rules with impunity,” the report by the U.N. commission of inquiry on

Syria said.

“Such inaction has provided the space for the proliferation of actors in the Syrian Arab Republic, each pursuing its own agenda and contributing to the radicalization and escalation of violence.”

Divided world powers have supported both sides in Syria’s three-year-old conflict and a diplomatic deadlock has exacerbated the bloodshed.

The independent investigators, led by Brazilian expert Paulo Pinheiro, said that fighters and their commanders may be held accountable for crimes, but also states which transfer weapons to Syria.

Syrian government forces under President Bashar al-

Libya-Egypt Border Suspicions Hit Tobruk’s Trade

TOBRUK, Libya - Mutual suspicion with neighbour Egypt threatens to halt a revival in the fortunes of Libya’s eastern port of Tobruk, officials there said.

New restrictions on travellers and goods passing the nearby land border are hitting container volumes, said Nasser Zgogo, operations manager at the port.

“This will have a negative impact,” he said.

Both countries have sought to limit travellers passing the land

Israel Hits 2 Hezbollah Fighters On Syria Border

622,427 tonnes of goods, port data showed. This compares with 50,801 tonnes in 2011 and 245,472 tonnes in 2012.

The rise comes partly from trade with Egypt where importers have used Tobruk and then bring their goods by truck across the border to avoid the busy Egyptian port of Alexandria

and pay less in duties, officials told Reuters during a visit to the port.

Tribesmen have also kidnapped Egyptian truck drivers to demand ransom, while police found last month seven Egyptians killed execution-style on a beach near Benghazi.

Tobruk, also home to a 110,000 barrels a day oil port now closed by a protest, is Libya’s fifth-largest commercial port, Zgogo said.

Assad have besieged towns including the Old City of Homs, shelling relentlessly and depriving them of food as part of a “starvation until submission” campaign, the report said.

It said the Syrian air force had dropped barrel bombs on Aleppo with “shocking intensity”, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring many more.

Insurgents fighting to topple Assad, especially foreign Islamic fighters including the al-Qaeda affiliated ISIS, have stepped up attacks on civilians, taken hostages, executed prisoners and set off car bombs to spread terror, it said.

The 75-page report, covering July 15-January 20, is the seventh by the United Nations since the inquiry was set up in September 2011, six months after the anti-Assad revolt began.

The investigators have not been allowed into Syria, but their latest findings were based on 563 interviews conducted

by Skype or by telephone with victims and witnesses still in the country or in person with refugees in surrounding countries.

Man & Nature

With O.C Madu

He That Humbleth Himself Shall Be Exalted (2) A once hard, elimineering character has burdened himself with heavy Karma through indulging these attributes in the oppression of his fellow men. Active according to its specific nature, this karma proceeds on its course and must then fall back upon him with the same characteristic, but many times reinforced.

The vibration of ruthless despotism, Abd-ru-shin says often immensely reinforced through the law of attraction of Ethered homogeneous species, will in approaching him so interpenetrate his whole ethereal environment, that it will have an incisive effect on his gross material environment, which is closely connected with it.

Thereby, creating conditions forcing the originator to suffer to a far greater extent from a similar Hyrum than did the people he once tormented.

Meanwhile, Abd-ru-shin says if such a person has arrived at a better understanding and has through his genuine efforts to ascend, gained a more luminous and lighter environment, then of course, the effect will also, be changed.

The returning waves of denser darkness will be more or less permeated by the degree of luminosity of new surrounding of the person concerned and will thus, be rendered more or less harmless. If the former tyrant has made great progress, that is, if the quality person has made an exceptional improvement, it may happen that the final reaction will be as good as annulled and that he will only do something in passing which outwardly resembles atonement.

Let us suppose it be the case of a woman. Then, it would suffice for her to take the brush out of her maid servant’s hand to show her in all kindness, how to scrub the

floor. Even if there are only a few such movements, they satisfy the symbolism of service. This little action results in a redemption that had to happen visibly and which, despite its insignificance, can end a heavy karma.

In the same way, the rearrangement of even one room can become a symbol ending and redeeming a guilt, the atonement or reaction of which would really have revolutionary change, with painfully incisive effects.

Such things occur in one way or another through the weakened influence of a reaction or incidental actions are often skillfully used by the spiritual guidance to bring about redemption.

In all this, Abd-run-shin says, it is naturally presumed that, an exceptionally great upsurge, with a corresponding change in the condition of the soul, has already set in. these are circumstances that an astrologer is actually unable to take into account as a result of which he often occasions unnecessary worries with his calculations, sometimes even evoking such fear that the power of this alone is able to call forth or form something unpleasant.

Thus, the calculation may be apparently fulfilled, when without such fear it would have proved to be wrong. In such cases, however, the person concerned has through his fear opened a door in the circle of light surrounding him.

Whenever, a man voluntarily stretches out his hand beyond his protecting cover, no help can come to him form any direction. His own will break every protection from within, as unless, he exercises his own volition, nothing can reach him through the light from outside.

Abd-ru-shin asserts that

the smallest kindness to a fellow man, a genuinely felt sorrow with a neigbhour even a single friendly word can lead to the symbolic redemption of a karma, as soon as the underlying motive is an earnest striving for what is of a karma, as soon as the underlying

motive is an earnest striving for what is good.

Naturally Abud-ru-shin says this earnest striving for the good must come first, for otherwise there can be no question of symbolic redemption and every reaction due have to work out to the fullest extent.

Abd-ru-shin mentions that as soon as a person’s serious volition to ascend sets in, however, he will quickly notice how this surroundings become gradually more and more animated, as if

everything possible were being put in his way which, however, always turns out well. This is immediately obvious to him and finally just as striking there will come a more peaceful period or a time when all that happens will plainly help him to rise in the material sense.

Then the time for atonement is over.

With joyful thanks he may gratefully indulge in the thought that much guilt has fallen from him, for which he would otherwise have had to do heavy penance. He must then be on his guard that his volition and desires only wave good threads of fate so that only good may return to him.

If men were not so entirely absorbed in the necessities and many trivialities of every-day life,

“If men were not so entirely absorbed in the necessities and many trivialities of every-day life, but would also, pay some attention to and observe closely both the great and small happenings around them, they would soon come to a new understanding. They would be astonished at themselves and hardly believe it possible that up till now, they could so thoughtlessly have overlooked something so obvious.”

but would also, pay some attention to and observe closely both the great and small happenings around them, they would soon come to a new understanding.

They would be astonished at themselves and hardly believe it possible that up till now, they could so

thoughtlessly have overlooked something so obvious.

The expression of Divine Justice. ‘Vengeance’ and recompense are nothing but the reciprocal effect of a mans good or evil deeds, which takes place strictly and justly according to the laws of creation, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. In the words, “Eye for eye”, “tooth for tooth, the same kind or suffering for suffering and joy for joy. Just as always wheat grows only from the grain of wheat, so will an evil volition likewise bring only evil and a good volition only good.

Therefore these Biblical words are to be understood not in the earthly sense but in the spiritual sense. Man must leave “vengeance” and “recompense” to the laws of God. He must not carry them out himself, perhaps out of personal revenge, by

knocking out the evil-doers eye when the latter has done the same to him. For it is explicitly stated. Vengeance is mine, I will repay. And this vengeance and repayment is absolutely just done to the very last detail, more just than could ever be.

And it is in the way that Paul’s words to the Roman must also, be understood.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give

place unto the wrath (the reciprocal action) of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).

What the earthly punishment, that is to say the punishment administered through men, should belike will be explained in a later section.

But what releases the effect of these laws of creation, so significant for man?

What is it that sets them in motion like an invisible lever? It is the activity of the spirit, the actual human being, whose home is in the spiritual realm, in “Paradise.”

This activity calls forth something that is known to everyone, the intuitive perception. But to carry out his spiritual activity aright man needs in addition something very essential to enable him to decide what he wants to do, the free will.

Ozil Dismisses Media Criticism

ARSENAL midfielder Mesut Ozil has insisted a dip in form was inevitable this season as media criticism of his performances persists.

The Germany international has endured a tough spell in recent times after an excellent start to life in England, and has not started for his club in the two Premier League games since missing a penalty in the 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Feb. 19.

“Nearly every player who is new to Premier League needs time to settle in,” Ozil told German magazine Sport Bild.

“Here, you meet other challenges. It was clear that I would endure a difficult spell

Ramsey Set To Sign 5-Yr Deal AARON Ramsey is set to follow Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky by signing a new contract at The Guardian reports that Ramsey, who has been sidelined for two months with a thigh problem, has agreed a new five-year contract that is set to double his existing wage packet.

The deal, said to be worth £100,000 per week, will make Ramsey the club’s second highest earner behind record signing Mesut Ozil and reflects the importance of the Wales international to the team.

Ramsey only signed a new contract with the club 18 months ago and has over two years left on his current deal but manager Arsene Wenger has moved quickly to secure the future of one of the most sought after players in Europe.

Negotiations between Arsenal and Ramsey’s representatives have been ongoing for the last month and the deal could be announced in the coming days.

The Telegraph report that the club are also close to securing the future of Santi Cazorla, with the former Malaga man set to agree a new £80,000 per week deal.

However, the Gunners look set to lose Bacary Sagna on a free come the end of the season.

Sagna, signed from Auxerre in 2007, has yet to agree an extension to his contract that runs out at the end of the season and with negotiations at an impasse could well leave the club on a free transfer, with a host of clubs including Inter Milan and Liverpool interested.

because I missed all of Arsenal’s preseason preparation.”

Ozil has come under fire in the English press after struggling to live up to expectations following his clubrecord transfer from Real Madrid.

“There was a time when I was not satisfied with my performances either, but I have come through this phase,” he said. “I don’t concern myself too much with [the criticism].

“Three weeks ago they wrote totally different stories and, in three weeks’ time, they’ll write different stories once again.

That’s part of the business in England.”

However, the criticism has not been restricted to England.

In his homeland, football weekly kicker ran a cover story on Monday under the headline: “The Ozil Debate: Is he one for the big games?”

Johnson Waits For Liverpool Talk

who he can’t trust. And this summer, I think you’ll see a lot of players leave the club.”

but really the only truth in it is that I’ve not been offered a new contract on any level,” he said.

“I know some people have been saying Liverpool don’t want to pay me my current wages, but I’ve not heard that. No one has come to me from Liverpool at all.

“I don’t know the situation the club are in or if they want to renew it. So I’ve not got a decision to make other than to see my contract out because noone is telling me any different.

“It is an unnecessary distraction. I’m more than happy to sign a new contract and I’d love to stay here for many more years. But at the moment that is not for me to decide because I’ve not been offered anything and I’ve not been told I’m going to be sold.

“I just have to honour my contract and try not to let it distract me.”

LIVERPOOL defender Glen Johnson has outlined just why he believes Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is a better manmanager than Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho.

Johnson, who left Stamford Bridge for Portsmouth in summer 2007 - shortly before the end of Mourinho’s first reign - before moving on to Anfield two years later, claims he lost faith in the Portuguese after being dropped ahead of a big Champions League game against Barcelona.

“It was difficult for me under Jose at Chelsea because there

was a moment when he said I deserved to play on merit,” the 29-year-old told the Daily Mail.

“He said if I played well in the next game I would play the week after. I got man of the match so he couldn’t drop me.

“Then in the next game he said the same thing and I got man of the match again. Then we had another game and after that Barcelona. I remember speaking to my agent and saying, ‘He won’t play me in this game because if I play well then he has to play me against Barcelona’, and I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

GLEN Johnson has expressed his hope of signing a new contract at Liverpool but revealed he is still waiting for the club to open talks.

Johnson’s current deal enters its final year this summer, meaning he will be able to open negotiations with teams abroad from next January if he does not sign a new contract at Anfield.

The 29-year-old told the Daily Mail that his first choice would be to stay at the club he joined from Portsmouth in 2009.

“I’ve loved every minute of the five years I’ve been here and I’d love to stay

Moyes Let Down By Players - Schmeichel • David Moyes

FORMER Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel says David Moyes has been let down by underperforming players.

David is a great choice.

The 50-year-old great “He’s shown he’s got the Dane also believes there will pedigree, he’s got the ability, be a clear-out at Old Trafford he can stay in a place for a this year but that manager very long time - he showed David Moyes is the right that at Everton. man to be in charge at the “At United, we want our club. managers to stay a long time Former goalkeeper but this year has been really Schmeichel spent eight tough on him. seasons at United during the “He’ll learn a lot about 1990s, winning five Premier himself, everyone will learn League titles and was also a a lot about him and he will member of the squad that come out a lot stronger. clinched the Treble in 1999.

“I think he needs to sign a Talking to Sky Sports few players - how many I News, he said: “I think

don’t know!

“But I think, equally important, he needs to offload a lot of players.

There’s a lot of players there I’m very disappointed with.

“To be a Manchester United player, that carries a responsibility. You fight, never give in, even on days when it’s not happening for you, you still have to try.

“But I’ve seen, throughout the course of this season, some players who haven’t done that and this disappoints me.

“I think he will have learned who he can trust and

City May Need Maximum Points - Kalarov ALEKSANDAR Kolarov believes Manchester City may need to take maximum points from their last 12 games if they are to regain the Premier League title.

City are six points behind leaders Chelsea, albeit with two games in hand, and could be nine points adrift of them after a weekend when they are in action against Wigan in the FA Cup while Jose Mourinho’s side host Tottenham in the Premier League.

Kolarov, who is in Dublin preparing for Serbia’s

international against the Republic of Ireland, said in the Daily Telegraph: “It will be very difficult to the very end because now we have played two games less and we need to win them.

“It’s very important we do that because we want to keep things in our own hands. We have 12 more games to play and every single one of them is going to be tough. This is the important stage of the season and we have to hold our nerve.

“It is the team that handles

the pressure better that will win. It’s massive for us. We might need to beat every single team we play between now and the end of the season to win the Premier League.”

City currently have 57 points and, if they take all 36 remaining, they would end the campaign on 93. No team has ever finished a Premier League season with 90 or more points and come second.

. . . Glen Lost Respect For Mourinho

• Glen Johnson

Loew Hopeful Over Khedira Return GERMANY’s boss Joachim Loew says he is hopeful that Sami Khedira will play at this summer’s World Cup but appeared less certain about Ilkay Gundogan.

Khedira looked set to miss the entire season when he tore knee ligaments on international duty in November, but the 26-year-old is reportedly now nearing a return to training with his club after a quicker-than-expected recovery.

“The ambition he’s shown whenever I’ve spoken to him gives me hope that he’ll make it,” Loew told the media on Monday. “On top of that he’s in unbelievably great shape right now. He doesn’t have any pain in his knee and he can put his weight on it no problem.”

However, Khedira told the DFB website that he was not putting a date on when he would play again.

“I try to look as little as possible towards the future,” Khedira said. “My current plan is to focus on my intensive daily work. That is my main concern, not to announce when I will be back fit again. I believe that is the right way to fully concentrate on the recovery.”

Vidal Dismisses Barca, Madrid Talk ARTURO Vidal has rubbished rumours of a move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid in the summer, saying he is remaining focused on doing well with Juventus and Chile.

Vidal, 26, has scored 11 goals in Serie A this season and was Juve’s top scorer in their ill-fated Champions League campaign, with five goals in six games.

His performances in Turin have inevitably attracted attention from several of Europe’s biggest clubs, including the top two in Spain, but the midfielder is not letting the speculation distract him.

“There’s nothing to it,” he said from Chile’s training camp in Stuttgart ahead of Wednesday night’s international friendly with Germany. “It’s ridiculous. I want to win the league with Juventus and then play a good World Cup. “Of course I’m honoured that there are clubs asking after me, but I’m determined to reach my goals in Bianconero and in Italy, not in Spain. My one objective is to work hard every day and make my contribution to the club, and to win two titles — the scudetto and the Europa League.”

Meanwhile, Loew hopes Gundogan could still be part of his squad in Brazil despite the Borussia Dortmund midfielder’s fitness troubles but appeared sceptical over his chances.

Pique Writes Open Letter For ‘Guardian Angel’ Puyol

GERARD Pique has written an open letter to Carles Puyol in which he thanks the outgoing captain for his help at Barcelona.

Tuesday that he was leaving Puyol announced on Camp Nou at the end of the

Pique and Puyol celebrating a goal during a match

We Defend, Attack Together -Alonso

REAL Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso says working hard as a team has been key to their success this season.

The Whites conceded regularly at the start of the season while Alonso was sidelined by injury but he believes his return and the maturity of the whole team has helped them grow into a solid defensive unit.

“We are well organised on the pitch, even the forwards help us which makes it much easier to

control the game from the midfield,” he told reporters.

“Our work benefits the defenders and leaves them less exposed. It also means the goalkeeper has less pressure and so he concedes less goals.

“This positive influence of one line on another provides balance which is going to be essential from

April onwards when all the key fixtures kick-in.

“We’ll the quarterfinals of the Champions League, the final of the Copa and the home stretch of the Liga.

“If there are only seven players defending, it won’t be enough. We must defend and attack all together.”

season and Pique took to the social media site to share his thoughts on the impending departure.

In a post on his Facebook page, Pique, who was present at the press conference where Puyol made his decision public, revealed how much he will miss his centre-back partner and said there will never be another player like the skipper.

“My guardian angel,” Pique began.

“The day has come. You’re going. Even though it’s the law of life, it’s impossible for me to imagine myself at Barca without you.

“If I look back at [Champions League finals in] Paris or Rome, the first thing that comes into my head is you lifting the European Cup. “In Wembley you gave the honour to [Eric Abidal], something which makes you even more of a great.

“My generation and those younger don’t know a Barca without Puyi in the defence, with the armband and the number five on his back. I don’t think anything will be the same.

“You were the skipper and emblem of the side and I was a youngster ready to be eaten up by the world.

“From the first day we got on swimmingly, both on and off the pitch.

“At your side I felt protected.

I knew that if one day I messed up, you’d be there to save me.

“I want you to know that I’ll miss our dressing room chats, your advice, and above all, your ‘fights’ on the pitch,” Pique continued.

“You’re unique and irreplaceable. I laugh when

Fabregas Lauds Brave Carlos

BARCELONA midfielder Cesc Fabregas says he respects Carlos Puyol’s decision to leave the club at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old announced that he will be ending his 19year spell with the Catalans at a press conference on Tuesday and Fabregas says he will always hold him in high regard.

Puyol to leave Barca at the end of the season “We already knew about it,”

Fabregas told reporters. “He is a great friend; you can see how he feels about what is happening at the moment.

“It’s a very difficult moment for him and it hurts when a friend makes such an important decision.

“It’s not every day someone is brave enough to make this decision when he still has two years left on his contract.

“If you saw him train every day who wouldn’t think he was 36 years old, he seems 18.

“For me he will always be an eternal captain.”

Puyol made his debut for Barcelona’s first team in 1999 and was named captain in 2004 following the retirement of Luis Enrique.

He has won 21 trophies with the club including six La Liga titles and three Champions league titles.

Toni Kroos

people talk of signing ‘a new Puyol’.

“They’ll be looking for a while, because they’ll never find him.

“Thanks for everything, Puyi.”

Kroos Relaxed Over Bayern Deal BAYERN Munich midfielder Toni Kroos says he is in no rush extend his contract with the club.

The 24-year-old is contracted to the Bavarians until June 2015 and has been linked with a move to Manchester united.

However, he says negotiations are ongoing and that he is concentrating on the remainder of the season and the upcoming World Cup. “We have focused on signing a new deal for some time,” he told KickerSportmagazin. “However, we did not reach an agreement in January.

“I want to fully focus on the 2014 World Cup. I do not want to discuss contracts during the tournament.

“There is no deadline for my future to be sorted.”

Kroos joined Bayern Munich’s reserve side from Hansa Rostock in 2006 and made his first team debut the following year.

2014 World Cup Special ... 2014 World Cup Special

Zidane Delight At Son’s France Call-up

Van Gaal Plays Down World Cup Chances DUTCH coach Louis van Gaal believes it could prove tough to achieve the target he was set to reach the World Cup semi-finals later this year, he said on Tuesday.

When he took over as national coach for the second time after Euro 2012, van Gaal, 62, was handed the task of a last four finish in Brazil.

But he said that although he had a really talented young side, it could be exposed by more experienced teams in June.

The Dutch — who went out in the group phase of Euro 2012 leading to coach Bert van Marwijk leaving his post — have been drawn in a particularly hard group with holders Spain, highly-thought-of Chile and Australia.

Van Gaal, who made his name as a top level coach with a young Ajax side during the 1990s by guiding them to the 1995 Champions League trophy, pitches his team up against France in a friendly on Wednesday, the last match before he names his provisional 30-man squad for the finals.

Ahead of the game he was at pains to suggest that the Dutch should not be regarded as serious contenders for the World Cup. “According to the FIFA rankings we are eighth or tenth... it doesn’t matter which, but we are not one of the favourites,” he said.

“I view Brazil and Argentina and, from Europe, Spain and Germany as the favourites.

“We consider ourselves as outsiders. I arrived as coach (after the Euro) with certain targets: qualify for the finals and then reach the semi-finals.

“We have introduced a lot of fresh young blood into the team and played really nice football and scored a lot of goals in the qualifying group.

“However, the semi-finals will be a really hard goal to achieve.”

Van Gaal, who has also coached Barcelona and Bayern Munich among others, sprang to the defence of striker Robin van Persie, who has had a frustrating season both with injuries and form at struggling English champions Manchester United.

“I don’t agree about his form,” said van Gaal, who may well be without van Persie and Arjen Robben because of injury for the France game.

Van Goal

FRANCE legend Zinedine Zidane says he was proud to see his son receive a call-up to his country’s under-19 team.

Real Madrid youth-team midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 18, can play for either France or Spain — his mother’s home country — at international level but he accepted an invitation to join an underage squad at Clairefontaine this week.

“I’m proud that he might be able, for the first time, to wear this jersey,” his father, a World Cup and European Championship winner, told

Zinedine Zidane

RMC. “I think it’s deserved. That’s not because he’s called Zidane but because he’s doing some nice things on the pitch.

“So I’m happy for him because he’s delighted to have been selected.”

Zidane, 41, who was speaking at the annual Match Against Poverty in Bern, also said he hoped Karim Benzema will star for France this summer.

The Real Madrid assistant manager was one of the

coaches the striker credited for his upturn in form earlier this week. Benzema, 26, has returned to his best recently, scoring 21 goals and providing several assists for Real this season.

“He has incredible talent,” Zidane said. “He’s working like crazy — he wants to succeed and to show he’s the best.

“He had a bad period. But you don’t lose your talent. I hope he’s going to have a great World Cup.”

country won the right to host the event for the first time since 1950.

Although FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said late last month the country would now have to “break the speed limit” to ensure it is totally ready to welcome three million domestic tourists and some 600,000 foreign visitors, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he is sure the event will prove “exceptional.”

He told FIFA.com: “It will be, in 100 days, an exceptionally good start for an exceptional competition. The Brazilian spirit of the game and the Brazilian ability to play football makes this

World Cup very, very special.

I’m sure it will be a great, great success” Brazil lost the final in 1950 in the Maracana Stadium, which will host this year’s trophy match in July 13, having to wait a further eight years to start their record collection of five wins in Sweden.

Brazilians, currently enjoying the pleasures of the week-long Carnival festivities, have in recent months protested at the estimated $11 billion cost of staging the tournament, complaining the cash would have been better spent on poor infrastructure and creaking public facilities.

Brazil Turning Yellow And Green With 100 Days To Cup

BRAZIL on Tuesday marked 100 days to the World Cup finals with President Dilma Rousseff announcing major public buildings in the host cities would be bathed at night in the national colours, green and yellow, and in the 12 stadia while FIFA looked forward to an “exceptional” event. tweeted.

World football body FIFA has “Brazilians are ready to show criticised the country for the slow pace of preparations throughout after the giant nation was awarded the chance to host back in 2007 and by Tuesday, five of the venues had still to be officially inaugurated.

But Rousseff said Tuesday was a special moment and Brazil was in the final furlong to stage the competition for the first time since 1950.

“Today is a very special date for all Brazilians. There are 100 days to go to the Cup and the country is in the final furlong with preparations for the grand fiesta,” Rousseff said on her Twitter feed.

“Today, the host cities will be lit up green and yellow to remind people that the moment everyone is waiting for is on its way,” she Sepp Blatter

they know how to receive tourists and contribute to making this the Cup of Cups.”

Rousseff ’s fellow leftist predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was in charge when the

SA Friendly Prepares Brazil For Cameroon BRAZIL head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says playing South Africa will be good preparation for their group match

Stability Key Ahead Of World Cup SPAIN coach Vicente del Bosque preached the importance of stability in his squad ahead of their World Cup defence as he prepared to hand Diego Costa his debut against Italy on Wednesday.

The match at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid will be Spain’s last before Del Bosque has to name a provisional squad in May to go to Brazil in June.

“There is no more time to prepare. We will play two games before the World Cup in Seville and Washington,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

“Thankfully we have a stable group which is an advantage when the schedule is so tight. It is the same for all the national teams and hopefully we will arrive in good condition to the World Cup.”

Spain will face Bolivia in Seville on May 30, just six days after the Champions League final, before flying to Washington to play El Salvador eight days later.

Del Bosque must name a final 23-man squad on June 2.

They will then travel to their World Cup base in Curitiba ahead of their opening game against the Netherlands on June 13 in Salvador.

Costa is one new face in Del Bosque’s 22-man squad for the meeting with Italy, the side Spain beat 4-0 in the final of Euro 2012.

The Atletico Madrid striker should make his debut on home soil at the Vicente Calderon after switching his allegiances from Brazil to Spain.

And Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba insisted the squad are

delighted to welcome the man who trails only Cristiano Ronaldo in the race to be La Liga’s top goalscorer this season.

“We have received him with open arms, he is a player that I love. For the rest of the team and I it is incredible that he is here,” he said.

“I haven’t noticed any difference in the integration of Diego Costa to any other player.

He has adapted completely normally to the team,” added Del Bosque.

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara also returns to the squad after missing Spain’s final few qualifiers due to injury in September and October last year.

And after winning back-toback European Championships at under-21 level, he is desperate for success with the senior side.

-Del Bosque “I think the dream of every player from a young age is to play in a World Cup, but there are still a few months to go until the squad is named,” said Thiago, whose father Mazinho won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994.

Vicente Del Basque

against Cameroon.

The five times world champions were drawn alongside the Indomitable Lions in their World Cup group which also consists of Mexico and Croatia.

Scolari, who is currently in South Africa preparing for their last friendly match before the World Cup squad is announced, believes they chose to play African opposition knowing they would have to face Volker Finke’s side.

“Yes, when we decided to play against African opposition, we always had that idea that we would be facing African opposition in the World Cup, in this instance, Cameroon.

“We also have games against Serbia and Panama which will help the World Cup preparation.

Obviously, it will be different as every team has their own different characteristics.

Brazil has brought down a full strength 19-man squad to take on Bafana Bafana on Wednesday evening at Soccer City.

Olaitan Now Better RECUPERATING Michael Olaitan has told newsmen that he hopes to be soon be discharged from hospital as compatriot Abduljaleel Ajagun visited him.

Olaitan, 21, collapsed unchallenged during a Greek derby between his club Olympiacos and Panathiniakos at the weekend and had to be rushed to hospital. He was later diagnosed with a viral infection.

“I’m getting better and will soon be discharged by God’s grace,” Olaitan told MTNFootball.com from his hospital bed.

“I thank Nigerians for their love and concern, they should continue to pray for me.”

Ajagun, who played alongside Olaitan at last year’s U20 World Cup in Turkey and was also in action for Panathinaikos in the derby at the weekend, visited his compatriot in Hospital on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have agreed to a request from Olympiacos to have Olaitan’s full medical report which was conducted prior to the U20 World Cup. “His medical report from last year has been sent to his club’s doctor as they requested,” an official informed MTNFootball.com.

Balogun Has Eagles Future, Says Keshi

NIGERIA coach Stephen Keshi has tipped Germanybased defender Leon Balogun to do well with his team leading up to the World Cup. The Fortuna Dussledolf defender was a late replacement for injured Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo, but Keshi has insisted Balogun is with the Eagles on his own merit.

“We have to look to the future and that is why we called up Balogun, he has been in our plans for a long time and it was just about time that he steps out into the team for us to see what he can do and I must say I am glad that he responded well and the boys here also welcomed him well,” Keshi said.

“He is not replacing Yobo at all. Yobo was still bent on coming for the game even if just to support the team, but I told him to relax and recover quickly for the World Cup. “

2015 AYC Qualifiers Oghenekaro, Aremu Arrive Flying Eagles’ Camp ETEBO Oghenekaro of Warri Wolves FC and Hafeez Aremu of City of David (COD) FC, Lagos on Tuesday took part in the second day screening of the Flying Eagles.

Both players missed out of the first day screening programme due to their involvement in their clubs at the weekend.

The screening camp is part of Coach Garba Manu’s programme aimed at building a formidable team ahead of preparations for the 2015 African Youth

Michael Olaitan

World Cup

Super Eagles ’ll Make Africa Proud, Says Maigari

THE President, Nigeria Football Association, Aminu Maigari, says the Super Eagles will make the country and Africa proud at the World Cup scheduled for Brazil in June.

“The Super Eagles are Maigari said top quality going to the World Cup with warm-up matches had been the sole intention of making arranged for the Eagles to Nigeria and Africa proud, ’’ keep them in form ahead of he said in an interview the global football fiesta. published on CAF website The FIFA World Cup is on Tuesday. scheduled to hold from June

12 to July 13.

He added:“Nigeria is going to Brazil to make sure that we make the entire continent of Africa proud.

“We want to show that African football has grown and improved a lot over the years.

“Under my leadership at NFA, we have done away with short-term planning.

“Instead, we are focused on long-term objectives and planning. Very soon, the team will be moving to the training camp to prepare for the biggest world football event.

“We have arranged top quality warm-up matches for our team to give as much adequate preparations as possible.”

The NFA president promised that no opponent would be taken for granted, saying “all the participating teams are coming to the tournament to win.’’

Championship (AYC) qualifiers.

The coach said that all 35 invited players honoured the invitation.

He said that he was also happy to see other players who were not officially invited, but had come to fight for a place in the team.

“This is a welcome development as it will create an opportunity for stiff competition in the camp as players try their best to vie for shirts for the team,” he said.

Garba admitted that qualifying for the AYC and winning the U-20 World Cup for the first time was indeed a daunting task.

He noted that his experience first as an assistant and later as chief coach of the U-17 team would help him succeed with the Flying Eagles.

Nigeria will face winners of the preliminary round fixture between Kenya and Tanzania in the second round of the AYC qualifying series in May. In the fixture, the Nigerian team will play the first leg game away, and victory will take them into the final round of the qualifiers.

The continental championship is slated for Senegal in March 2015

OBJ Squash Tourney

Coach Excited At Players’ Performance

Aminu Maigari

District 5 Winners Eye Gold

Premier Lotto Athletics:

THE winner of the 1,5000m race at the District 5 qualifiers of the ongoing Lagos State Premier Lotto Athletics Championships, Toheeb Gafari, says he aims to win the event’s gold medal.

The District 5 held their oneday qualifiers on Tuesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Eighteen-year-old Gafari from Agboju Senior Secondary School, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, returned a time of 4:45:24 qualify to represent the district at the finals of the championships.

“I have seen some of the results of the other districts and the time they returned is not as good as mine, so, I have hope in the finals on Saturday.

“My plan is to make an appreciable impact that can draw the state government’s attention.

“I want to be among those that will represent the state at the 19th National Sports Festival in Calabar in December,” Toheeb told newsmen yesterday in Lagos.

The other athletes from the district also expressed their determination to come out tops at the finals on Saturday.

Godwin Okosun, who returned 4.45.26 to come 2nd in the 1,500m event, said he would make it up at the finals.

According to the 17-year-old sprinter from Community Secondary School, Ojo, he was taken unawares at the beginning of the race by the blast of the take-off gun.

A coach with the Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF), Friday Omeben, on Tuesday in Abeokuta described the standard of play at the ongoing second edition of Olusegun Obasanjo Squash Tournament as impressive.

Omeben, a former number one ranked player in the 1960’s, told newsmen in Ogun capital that players were playing “so intensely.’’

The tournament is being held in commemoration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s birthday.

“The quality of play is good. The players are in good form. It is interesting seeing young boys and girls playing so intensely.

“We have seen a lot of players with potential here and with more exposure, it

will get better,” he said.

In the U-21 category, 16 boys will slug it out at the Alake Sports Complex, Abeokuta, venue of the tournament, while 16 U-23 girls will have a faceoff for the trophy.

Yemisi Olatunji defeated Falilat Lasisi 2-0, while Rebecca Auta also crushed Ibukun Ajani 2-0 in a game of best of three.

On the level of preparations for the forthcoming Africa Squash Open scheduled for May 4 to May 9 in Abuja, Omeben called for early camping of qualified players.

“I believe that with early camping we will do better and we should not wait till May to start camping.”

CMYK

Still on Lamido Sanusi THE witch hovered over the house and cried all night. In the morning, the baby died. We do not need to search too far for the killer of the baby. The Federal Government keeps embarrassing people when it denies the obvious. It still maintains that Sanusi’s suspension has nothing to do with his appetite for blowing the whistle on the President Goodluck J o n a t h a n administration.

We invite the Financial Reporting Council, FRC, to the witness box.

President Jonathan projected Sanusi’s suspension on the report of this body. The FRC indicted all the Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, along with their boss, Lamido Sanusi, and recommended that they should all be fired.

Not only were they not sacked, one of them has just been elevated to the position of Acting Governor.

A better case for the Federal Government would have been that absolute loyalty is important in the public service. You cannot be serving in a Government and be fighting it. You should step aside and fight from the outside.

Here, Sanusi is guilty as charged.

In most cases, the whistle blower enjoys the admiration of the populace. This provides the apparent phony support that Sanusi is enjoying from Nigerians today. The assumption is that he is being witchhunted for blowing the whistle on the rots in society. This is where the House of Representatives comes in. Left to their individual convictions, they know where their votes would swing; but they must act in their representative

capacity and that is what is playing out on the microphones.

All the same, they must know where to soft-pedal before Sanusi drags them into his deep shit (excuse my French). We pick offence whenever we are told that politics is a dirty game. Yet, no one wants to be openly tied to politics. Just see how the President and his PDP are busy warning the opposition party not to politicize the Sanusi affair. Meanwhile, the PDP spokesman, Chief Olise Mentu, jumps into the bandwagon to announce the PDP’s support for the President’s action! If this is not politicization, we wonder what is.

Some have queried the timing of Sanusi’s suspension. Sanusi’s whistle has been quite loud for some time. Why has he not been suspended all along?

Our conjecture is that, in a situation where everybody is guilty, no one is guilty. Corruption is now so pervasive that no individual can be singled out for discipline.

In their inner minds, they are aware that the happenings in the NNPC and the CBN may just be a tip of the iceberg.

Rather than do the needful, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, may have shared the clearance of the various organizations among themselves. We saw a foreshadowing of this “Clear me, I clear you” system, the penultimate week, when the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, who has two left hands in book-keeping, issued a clean bill of health on the NNPC; when an auditor, qualified or unqualified, should have been the one doing the job.

In all this, where is the

Petroleum Minister? If she can be faceless in her livingroom, the simple implication is that we probably do not need any Ministry and Minister for Petroleum.

Otherwise, where does she come in, in this age of accountability?

Back to Sanusi. In local parlance, many might be willing to set the murderer free but after seeing the corpses of his victims lying on the

Sanusi is also the prison.

In an investigation carried out in April 2013, the FRC allegedly discovered that N38.23 billion was missing. This amount was said to have been paid to MINT, a subsidiary of the CBN, but at the MINT end, no such money was received.

Under his Father Christmas posturing, Sanusi is said to have doled out an aggregate

billion to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, for the printing of banknotes. In a twist of fate, it has since been discovered that the total turnover for the NSPMC was only N29 billion for

• President Goodluck Jonathan

ground, they would hurriedly invite the hangman to come and execute him. After taking a bird’s eye view of some of the atrocities of the CBN under Sanusi’s watch, we have come to the inevitable conclusion that, if the prison is truly a home for offenders, then, the only place for

of N163 billion in about 63 “intervention projects” throughout the country at different times, without any legislative approval and authorization.

Clearly, this is more than the annual budgetary outlays of most of the States in the federation.

In 2011, the CBN was said to have paid N38

the entire year. Where did the CBN payment go?

In the same year, 2011, the CBN claims it paid N511 million, N425 million and N1 billion to Emirate, Wing and Associated Airlines respectively, for currency distribution nationwide.

While the Emirate Airline has no local charter

service; the Wing Airline is not even registered in Nigeria; and the Associated Airline had a total turnover of less than N1 billion in that year.

Other mind-boggling expenditure items in 2011 included sundries N1.1 billion; and legal and professional fees N20 billion! In 2012, CBN claims spending N1.2 billion on “private guards and lunch for policemen”; N1.6 billion on newspapers, books and periodicals; and N3 billion on “promotional activities”.

It is instructive that these sordid revelations emanated from the audited accounts of the CBN, which means that audits have their intrinsic values. Meanwhile, the NNPC accounts have not been audited in the past five years or more. If Sanusi has been suspended on the basis of irregularities in CBN’s audited accounts, then, NNPC authorities should be suspended five times over, even before you open their books.

In calling attention to the rot in the NNPC, and by extrapolation, all departments of government, Sanusi has played his role. We should not now be talking of just the missing sums pronounced by him. Nothing short of a total overhaul of our system will do!

“Some have queried the timing of Sanusi’s suspension. Sanusi’s whistle has been quite loud for some time. Why has he not been suspended all along? Our conjecture is that, in a situation where everybody is guilty, no one is guilty. Corruption is now so pervasive that no individual can be singled out for discipline. In their inner minds, they are aware that the happenings in the NNPC and the CBN may just be a tip of the iceberg.”

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