Nigerian observer 08 01 2015

THE NIGERIAN

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The Nigerian

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l . 39 • N O .159 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2 0 15 • N 100.00 MOTORING Page 20

How to acquire new driver’s licence

SPIRITUALITY Page 21

Lessons from the lives of Saints

St Catherine of Siena

PCRC boss commends Community to the peace and tempo of the prevailing

By ROLAND OSAKUE development of their peace in the resolution of leaders various communities.

BENIN CITY – communal disputes, he Community elders, leaders and youths in Edo State have been commended for their unflinching support and practical demonstration of love for the state as well as the commitment

The commendation was given by the Chairman, Edo State Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief Eduwu Ekhator Obasogie, The Obasogie of Benin in his office when he played

host to the Odionwere, Ohen, leaders and elders from Aruogba community in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

While appealing to them to maintain the

also advised them to stand together and in partnership with the government to build a virile, peaceful and prosperous Edo land, where they can Continues on page 2

UNIBEN got 3yrs Notice to vacate govt property

BENIN CITY - Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the state Government served authorities of the University of Benin a notice, three years ago, to vacate 18 properties belonging to the Edo State Government, but rather than vacate, they took the government to court. granted by the court to The Governor said to recover the properties in fulfill all righteousness, the interest of the people the government waited of the state. for the court to deliver Fielding questions judgment, which it did on from journalists on the December 16, last year, issue, Oshiomhole said ordering the university that as the Governor, he authorities to vacate the has a duty and said properties responsibility to hold in “forthwith”, ruling that the 18 properties belonged to the state government.

According to him, having waited from December 16, 2014 for the illegal tenants to vacate the properties and they refused, the government took steps

- Oshiomhole

trust and protect all assets belonging to the People of Edo State that are entrusted to the government of the State.

He said, “As the Governor of this state, I have responsibility and

duty to protect the interest and asset of Edo State and those properties are not in the

BENIN CITY – Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen

Odubu has appealed to youth in Oredo Local Government Area to

names of any individual.

They are in the names of Edo State Government and we cannot fold our

APC, CHANGE

Continues on page 2

Odubu mobilises youth support for APC remain steadfast in their support for the All Progressives Congress

INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH APC VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE The Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Eric Oshiomhole, mni, CON, invites all the leaders, members and well wishers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Edo State and indeed all the good people of Edo State, including Royal fathers, market women, civil society groups, students, industrialists, businessmen, religious leaders, nongovernmental organisations and people from all walks of life to an Interactive session with Prof Yemi Osibajo, the Vice-Presidential candidate of our great party, and other National leaders of the party including Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, the Governor of Lagos.

The interactive session will hold on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at the Imaguero College Hall, Benin City at 1:00pm.

All party leaders and members are expected to attend the interactive session and should be seated by 12:30pm, please.

hands and allow individuals to continue to occupy properties belonging to Edo State

(APC).

The deputy governor made the remark in Benin City when the youths drawn from the various quarters of the local government area paid him a new year visit.

He urged them to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly elections.

The deputy governor explained that support for all the APC flag bearers would encourage Governor Continues on page 2

UNIBEN Saga

I’ll resign if...

Attorney-Gen PRESIDENTIAL RALLY: L-R: APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun; APC Presidential candidate, Retired Maj-General Muhammadu Buhari and APC Akwa Ibom Governorship candidate, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Uyo on Tuesday.

Sultan, Fashola to commission projects in Edo

BENIN CITY - The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, will be the guest of the Edo State Government, Friday, to commission the sixlane Auchi-Jattu dual

carriage-way complete with walkways and street lights.

The road is in Etsako West Local Government Area of

the state.

Also, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, will, on Friday, commission the

AmedokhianUgboha road which traverses two local government areas in Edo Central Senatorial district on Friday, January 9, 2015, at 10:00am Continues on page 2

BENIN CITY - Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Henry Idahiagbon has debunked claims by the authorities of the University of Benin that the state government recovered 18 properties belonging to it despite the service of an application for a stay of execution of a court judgment in the government’s favour.

According to the Attorney-General, the government never got Continues on page 2

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News

PCRC boss commends Community leaders Continued from page 1 bequeath a worthy legacy of

peaceful coexistence to the coming generation.

Chief Obasogie further urged them to concentrate on developmental programmes in their area and partner with the state government in the delivery of the dividends to the good people of their area. He also

advised them to carry the youths along in their developmental strides and to be fair and just in the collection, distribution and purposeful utilization of all communal levies and in the management of the resources for meaningful development.

He warned that anybody or group of persons who by any act disturbs the peace

of the community be prepared to face the wrath of the law as no stone will be left unturned in the maintenance and sustenance of peace as an essential ingredient of development.

Responding, the Odionwere of Aruogba on behalf of the elders, leaders and youths of the

community expressed his appreciation to the Chairman and members of the Committee on the way and manner they have handled communal disputes and promised to cooperate and abide by the resolution of the committee for peace to continue to reign supreme in their communities and in Edo land.

UNIBEN got 3yrs Notice to vacate govt property

Continued from page 1

Government and paying rents to the wrong authority. I remain firm that if the interest of Edo State is involved, I must stand firm and execute it without fear or favor and that is exactly what we have done.”

Giving a background on how the properties got to the university authorities, he said: “As I am sure you will recall, when UNIBEN was set up, the then Military Governor, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, in his wisdom, decided as a young institution to assist some of the officers and staff with accommodation and so, some houses were made available to accommodate some of the staff of UNIBEN. “However, they have occupied these properties without paying any rent to Edo State Government but a couple of years ago, just before I assumed office as governor, the Federal Government in line with the policy of monetization under which salaries of employees including other allowances were abolished so that rather than provide these for certain categories of public officers, they were to be paid in lieu of either official quarters or cars.

“Subsequently, the Federal Government announced the policy under which they had put on sale all apartments and quarters occupied by public officers having monetized the allowances of such officers and so, in Edo State, Federal Government and some of its agencies had published their intention to sell off the houses that were previously occupied

by Public officers.

“As a result of the decision, my predecessor in office, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, as the governor then, disputed the claim of the Federal Government and the University of Benin that these assets from our records were assets of Edo State Government.”

The Governor said shortly after assuming office, he was approached by counsel of the University of Benin asking him to sign some documents to transfer the landed properties to the university which he declined, saying, “I told him if UNIBEN needs any favor from Edo State Government, I expect the leadership or the VC to approach the government of Edo State for such a favor, not to approach us through their legal adviser.

“I also reminded him that I am aware and it is the truth that salaries of lecturers, academic and non- academic staff have been monetized and even the salary of the VC is now over N1.5 million monthly because the provision for official quarters, cars, drivers have been monetized and added to their pay.

“In any event, the official lodge of the Vice Chancellor of Benin is within the premises of the University of Benin at Ugbowo and so he is not entitled to hold several other

government properties. He is not even entitled under the Federal Government policy now to occupy even the official lodge of the VC except he pays rent for it”, he said.

Oshiomhole said, “Thereafter I was informed by the AttorneyGeneral that UNIBEN had decided to go to court.

“Meanwhile, I did not take any further steps. I had directed that a letter be written to the management of the University of Benin advising their officials to vacate those quarters because the University authority was now collecting rent on properties belonging to Edo State Government and this, in my view, was unacceptable and they were advised to vacate. Once we dropped the letter, we didn’t take any further steps.

“On their own, they chose to go to court to challenge our claims that these properties belonged to Edo State Government. Of course we were obliged to enter appearance and we contracted a SAN to represent us in the suit.

“In the end, the court ruled in our favor that these properties belonged to Edo State Government and the fact that you asked a tenant to stay in your quarters doesn’t confer ownership on him and the attempt to sell means that these persons no longer need the assistance. So the court ruled in our favor but the court also proceeded and ruled, based on our own prayers, that having served them notice over 3 years ago, that they should vacate and they failed to vacate, the court ordered that they should vacate the properties forthwith”, he noted.

Oshiomhole stressed, “To vacate forthwith means without any further notice because the court took judicial notice of the

fact that they have been asked to vacate these properties for over a period of 3 years so they can’t claim that they have not been advised to leave but they stubbornly refused to vacate the properties. This judgment was delivered on the 16th of December, 2014.

“Now I would have thought that if the management of the university had any problem with this to approach us to either give them time or make proposals on how we can manage to accommodate them. However from all we have watched on TV, they were not ready, rather they were still threatening here and there.

“We have also found out that even the former VC, Professor Oshodin is not directly occupying even the property that he is occupying. One of the properties, he allocated to himself, from what we now know, he actually allocated that property to his senior wife while Professor Oshodin lives outside in another property with his younger wife. You cannot give Edo State Government properties to individuals like that.

“There are many of the lecturers, who have retired, who are no longer in the employment of the University of Benin who are still occupying some of these properties. They have lived there for the past 30years, have retired from UNIBEN several years ago and yet they occupy these properties. Is this in line with public service rule? Are these properties meant to be retirement benefits? He asked.

“So the steps we have taken are purely in the interest of the Edo Public whose taxes were used to procure those assets. I have a duty to secure those assets. I also want to use this opportunity to make the point that I am not like others. I am

not selling any of these assets to myself, nor am I allocating any of them to myself or to any of my friends. It is a matter of principle. Everybody is under the law and nobody can resort to blackmail.

“I am aware that they have tried to mobilize all manners of people, people who have no interest whatsoever in the matter. These properties are not student hostels. If the properties are not student hostels, how is the interest of the student community affected? If the wife of Professor Oshodin lives in one of the properties, how does that affect the interest of the student community?

“Clearly, people are being mobilized believing that they can twist the facts and create all kinds of distractions but as far as I am concerned, I am clear, my duties here sometimes can be very pleasant, some other times, it requires a level of courage. The courage to protect the public interest and governance requires that sometimes, you step on toes of people you respect”, he added.

On the issue of the case being in court of appeal, the governor said, “Now if they claim they have a court order to stay, it is not with their mouth, they have to show it to you exactly the same way we have shown you in black and white, the judgment of the court, let

them show you the court order that granted them stay.

If the court granted stay, we cannot proceed but also it is an elementary principle in law that the fact that you verbalize your intentions to appeal doesn’t mean you have filed an appeal.”

Sultan, Fashola to commission wishers of the All Continued from page 1 projects Progressives Congress Meanwhile, the Vice

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof Yemi Osibajo, SAN, and other National leaders of the

party including Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, of Lagos State will hold an interactive session with the leaders, members and well

(APC) across Edo State as well as all people from all walks of life in the state today, January 8, 2015 at the Imaguero College Hall, Benin City by 1:00pm.

UNIBEN Saga: Continued from page 1 any service of stay of execution.

He said, “As I speak, the four respondents involved in this case which include the Edo State Government, the Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the AttorneyGeneral of the State and the Commissioner for Lands have not been served with any court processes since the 16th day of December, 2014 when judgment was given.

“I also want to state categorically that if the

University of Benin and their counsel are able to show proof of service of any application for stay of execution of judgment on any of the four respondents, I Henry Idahagbon will resign as Attorney-General of Edo State and go back to my village to farm.

“They may have filed, that I am not aware because after filing, they have to serve. It is the service of court processes that invokes the jurisdiction of court. Until a party is served, the party is known before court and since the 16th of December

Nigeria’s Foreign Reserve hits $34.49bn LAGOS - The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday pegged the nation’s foreign exchange reserves at 34.49 billion dollars (N5.74 trillion) as at January 5.

The CBN posted the foreign exchange reserves data on its website.

According to the bank, the figure represents an increase of 20 million dollars (N3.36 billion) from the 34.47 billion dollars (N5.79 trillion) recorded on Dec. 31, 2014.

The bank said that the 34.49 billion dollars (N5.74 trillion) represented the ‘gross’ amount while 33.52 billion dollars (N5.63 trillion) was ‘liquid’ and 975 million dollars (N163.8 billion) ‘blocked’.

The Federal Government had through fiscal policies made attempts since 2013 to shore up the foreign reserves to 50 billion dollars (N9.05 trillion).

The CBN had in 2014 relied heavily on external

reserves to support the Naira which came under pressure following falling international prices of crude oil.

Crude oil prices at the international market have continued to rally between 55 dollars and 60 dollars per barrel since December, 2014.

According to the CBN, the continuous pressure on the foreign exchange market was also attributable to the rise in the internal demand for the dollar.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had earlier said that the country had spent huge assets from the foreign reserves in ensuring that the official exchange rate was maintained at its previous value of N155 to a dollar.

In spite of the government’s efforts to shore up the Naira, the CBN devalued the Naira to N168 to a dollar in November, 2014.

Illegal use of Sirens

Police warn politicians

SOKOTO - The police command in Sokoto State has warned candidates of political parties for the general elections against the illegal use of sirens.

The Spokesman for the Command, DSP Al-Mustapha Sani, gave the warning in a statement in Sokoto yesterday, following complaints about the use of sirens by some candidates.

The statement stated that “ in Sokoto State, only the governor, his deputy, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, CP, AIG, the Brigade Commander and the Sultan are legally allowed to use the sirens while on movement.

“Anyone outside this

exclusive list who uses sirens does so illegally and stands to face the consequences according to the laws of the land.”

The statement also warned political parties against moving with youths wielding various types of weapons during their activities. “ This act is also illegal and anyone found wanting will be dealt with duly according to the laws of the nation. “ The youths can be used for campaigns but not to wield weapons and often cause breach of the peace,” the police said.

It expressed the command’s readiness to effectively secure the electoral processes in the build-up to the 2015 polls.

Odubu mobilises youth support for APC ComradeJimoh Edo said the

Continued from page 1

Adams Oshiomhole to sustain the pace of development in the state.

Dr. Odubu who described the youths as the engine room of the present administration urged them to come out enmass to cast their votes for the APC flagbearers on election day.

Spokesmen for the youths, Kapuepue Adun and Ogbelaka Youth Chairman,

New Year’s visit was to thank the deputy governor and ComradeAdams Oshiomhole for moving the state to greater heights in terms of infrastructure development and other aspects of life in the state.

They pledged their unwavering support for the state government, saying it has made life more meaningful for the people in the state.

I’ll resign if...

when judgment was given, the case at the High Court effectively ended.

“If they are starting any appellate process, the four people, that is, the respondents mentioned earlier must be served personally and none of us have been served.”

Barrister Idahagbon further clarified that what was done by the State Government was not a demolition exercise but a possession exercise in pursuant to the court judgment stressing that the court gave judgment that UNIBEN and the

occupants of the buildings should deliver possession forthwith.

He said, “Every hour after the delivery of that judgment, they ought to have parked their properties and given up the possession, but instead, they were insinuating that they are federal government, that they have a hundred thousand students. For goodness sake, this country is still being run by the rule of law and no institution of government, no matter how powerful, no matter the number of persons under your control

can be bigger than the government or the law.”

The Attorney-General further added, “Those living in the lodge were given quit notices since 2011 and the court rightly held that they were not tenants to Edo State Government but that they were licencee.

He said in 1981, UNIBEN had gone to court on the same matter where late Justice Ugbobine also gave judgment that the property does not belong to the University of Benin.

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South South

ADC Presidential Candidate Launches Website, Calls For Paradigm Shift ABUJA - The Presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Mani Ahmad, has urged Nigerians to think about their situation and those responsible and vote for the party for a paradigm

shift.

He made the call in Abuja during the launch of his campaign website.

He said that the launch of the website was to enable

him to reach out to the Nigerian electorate and to get feedback from them.

Ahmad, who expressed optimism that he would deliver, urged Nigerians to

vote for the party for a change.

He said “I am optimistic that I will be able to deliver in 2015.

“I urge Nigerians to think about their situation and those responsible and vote for ADC for a paradigm shift.

“The website I launched

today is an interactive campaign website that will allow me and members of my party to reach out to the electorate.

“The website is www.mani4president.org and has many features, including a link for the

party’s manifesto, profile and ADC’s constitution, among others.’’

He added that the site is also linked to the presidential candidate’s twitter page (@mani4presidency and a Facebook page titled “mani4president’’ and urged Nigerians to log on and express their views.

Yuletide: FRSC Jails 5, Arraigns 2,000

Traffic Offenders - Corps Marshal

Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Deaconess Endurance Odubu, flanked by All Progressive Congress (APC) Women cutting a New Year Cake at Government House, Benin City during a new year party organised by the office of the First Lady. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) - Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has said that the commission’s mobile court had jailed five motorists for violating traffic rules during the Christmas celebration.

Oyeyemi said this in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra.

He spoke after inspecting traffic flow between both ends of the Niger Bridge between Onitsha in Anambra

and Asaba in Delta.

The corps marshal also said that over 2,000 others were arraigned before the court set up to prosecute traffic offenders nationwide.

“As at December, about 2,000 offenders were arraigned before mobile courts and I think about five were jailed and only about 15 were discharged.

“But all others were given fines ranging from N1,000 to N10,000.

“The states judiciaries

South East Governors’ Forum Condoles With Jonathan UMUAHIA - The South East Governors’ Forum has condoled with President Goodluck Jonathan over the death of his younger sister, Mrs Nancy Jonathan-Olei.

In a statement issued in Umuahia, the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia, conveyed the condolences of the governments and people of the South-East to the President and his family.

According to Orji, the governors are shocked by the news of Jonathan-Olei’s death.

Orji stated that the Forum was pained by her untimely death and urged the President, his wife and the entire Jonathan family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a holy life.

He said that her death at this time would not only have psychological effect on the President but would create a big vacuum in the Jonathan family.

Jonathan-Olei died in the early hours of Sunday, January 4, at a hospital in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital at the age of 52.

Managing Director, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Gabriel Amuchi (1st left), during the inspection of FERMA working at the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos recently.

Insurgency: Niger, Chad Still Part Of ABUJA - The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall, Alex Badeh, says Niger and Chad republics are still part of the multinational force fighting insurgency in the North East.

Badeh said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.

He spoke after a meeting of service chiefs, governors and members of the National Assembly from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa over the security challenges in the area.

Multinational Force - CDS

The meeting was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The chief of defence staff, however, confirmed that the two countries had withdrawn their troops from Baga in Borno. ‘‘They (Niger and Chad) have not pulled out of multinational force because we have held several meetings; they are still part of the multinational force. ‘‘What has been happening

is that they have not contributed troops to the point of Baga. ‘‘Chad has people of their own side but I believe they have withdrawn. Niger had people with us, they too withdrew and left Nigeria only at the multinational force headquarters.’’

He reassured that the army would overcome the challenges of insurgency in the country.

Badeh, however, stressed the need for further

collaboration with the security agencies in Chad, Niger and Cameroun to check the activities of the insurgents.

On the call for the closure of borders between Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria, Badeh said it would be a difficult task due to the porous nature of the border areas.

He reiterated the commitment of the military to stamp out Boko Haram in the country.

must be commended, we have mobile courts in all the states now, and throughout the yuletide period we deployed them.

“And I witnessed most of the prosecution and conviction and that is the focus this year (2015).

“More mobile courts will be set up. We are not after fines; we are after changing the driving habits, deterrence.

“So if people now prefer going to courts; then no problems, we are going to do more of prosecution of road traffic offenders in 2015.“ The corps marshal said that the offences of traffic offenders ranged from land violation, overspeeding, overloading of passengers, violation of seat belt use, violation of children safety to lack of passengers’ manifest in the vehicle.

He said 14 per cent reduction in road crashes was recorded within the 2014 yuletide period as a result of improved planning and greater service delivery on the part of the corps special and regular marshals.

“We must thank our stakeholders, collaborators, sister security agencies and various state governments for assisting us to make this reduction possible.

“The Federal Government and our supervising ministry, the ministry of work, had contributed greatly by ensuring that almost all the roads in the country are in good condition while those under construction or reconstruction had been made motorable during this yuletide season.

“For the logistics we got from the World Bank, which we deployed very effectively, we thank the World Bank for a wonderful and far-reaching assistance.“

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News Ibru Family Struggles Over Ownership Of Sheraton Hotels Plc LAGOS -The ownership tussle of the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Towers and its owning company, Ikeja Hotels Plc, has deepened with different members of the Ibru family’s move to assert authority.

While a group led by Mrs Maiden Ibru, widow of late Guardian Publisher, Mr Alex Ibru, moved to hold an ExtraOrdinary General Meeting (EGM), Mr Goodie Ibru, the hotel Chairman, described the purported meeting as null and void.

Mrs. Ibru had earlier on December 1, 2014 published an EGM notice of Ikeja Hotels Plc in the Guardian and Punch Newspapers, in an apparent bid to overhaul the company.

Her notice of EGM followed an earlier court order arising from an ex parte motion forcing the company to hold the meeting, on January 6, 2015 at the Sheraton Hotel.

On the other hand, the other members of the Ibru family, led by Goodie Ibru, got an ex parte injunction from the Federal High Court, Abuja, restraining Mrs. Ibru from calling an EGM or representing her late husband’s investment vehicles holding shares in Ikeja Hotels Plc. Goodie Ibru’s group said that their ex-parte motion was sequel to a litigation between the children of his first wife, Mrs. Helen Ibru, and Mrs. Maiden, his second wife.

But in a swift development, some shareholders of the hotel, against a Federal High Court order, sacked Goddie Ibru, as the Chairman and Director of the company, over corporate governance infractions.

The shareholders unanimously approved the sack of Ibru at an alleged EGM in Lagos.

The shareholders also appointed Mr Olumide Braithwaite and Mr Tunde Sarumi, as Directors of the company.

They also appointed KPMG Nigeria Ltd to carry out a forensic audit of the management of the company from 1999 to 2014, when Ibru was its chairman.

The shareholders also mandated KPMG to carry out a forensic audit of the share register and verification of the funding and payment for the shares of the company by holders, directly or indirectly amounting to two per cent or more.

The meeting was presided over by an interim Chairman appointed by the shareholders, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, the Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), also a shareholder in the hotel.

The meeting was held amidst drama as the shareholders were barred from entering the premises of Sheraton Hotels following a court injunction granted Ibru by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Contributions Of Nigeria’s Cultural Goods To GDP Unimpressive - UNESCO ABUJA The contributions of Nigeria’s cultural goods to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is unimpressive, the United Nations has said.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said this in its Nigeria-UNESCO Country Programme report for 20122013 made available to newsmen in Abuja.

“The under representation of the sector in the mainstream government strategies and action plans has been the major challenge to the development of the sector in Nigeria.

“During the military era, the sector was not given autonomy as a ministry to

implement Nigeria’s cultural policy for economic growth and development.

“The introduction of democracy as a system of administration places the sector at par with other sectors with the establishment of a ministry of culture,’’ the report said.

It noted that prior to the adoption of Nigeria’s cultural policy in 1988; the sector was faced with the challenge of inadequate sensitisation on the need to safeguard the country’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

The report urged the federal government to implement UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity which called for the revision of cultural policies every 10 years.

Mr Boniface Okezie, President, Progressive Shareholders of Nigeria, told journalist that the shareholders were on a rescue mission to ensure good corporate governance and avoid the collapse of the company.

Okezie said that the shareholders would defy the barricades at the gate and pass all the resolutions.

“We are rescuing this company from the hands of the cabals. We are legally authorised to hold this meeting.

“The regulators have failed us; let them come and see what is happening. We want to remove the virus that is eating deep into this company.

“Whatever it takes, we must restore this company from the hands of the cabals,” Okezie said.

Mr. Adeleke Adebayo, General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, described the development as an abuse of court process.

Adebayo said that it was unfortunate that “somebody will leave Lagos where the first order was given, where the business is and where all the directors are resident and go to Abuja to get an injunction.”

He accused Ibru of abusing the privilege of being part of the management to lock the gate against the shareholders.

“I think it’s an assault for a tenant to lock out the landlord; we are the real owners of the business.

“He is a tenant, we hired him and we are paying him,” Adeleke said.

He said that “frustrations on the part of shareholders that they have not gotten commensurate value for their investment for so long has triggered this incident.”

Mr Shehu Mikail, National President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, blamed the judiciary for the development.

Mikail stressed the need for synergy among judiciary workers, in the interest of the economy and the country as a whole.

He said that an Abuja High Court could not have granted an injunction to a meeting approved by the Lagos High Court, if the nation’s judiciary system was sound.

Mikail said that “we want a better management that will protect the interest of minority shareholders, so that we will start receiving dividends.”

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News Peace Will Soon Return To N/East - Shettima ABUJA - Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno said that peace would soon be restored to the troubled North East zone of the country.

Shettima gave the assurance to State House correspondents after a security meeting with Service Chiefs, some Governors and Senators from the North East zone presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The governor, who said that the meeting was convened to

strategise on new method and ways of fighting insurgency in the affected states, described the deliberations as ’’very fruitful’’. ‘‘Well, we had very fruitful deliberations and pollination of ideas on how to find lasting solution to the insurgency bedevilling us in that part of the world. ‘‘I’m an eternal optimist and I am passionate too for that matter that we shall have enduring peace very soon with the very robust frame work on

Akala Kick Starts 2015 Governorship Campaign,

IBADAN - The governorship flagbearer of Labour Party in Oyo State, Adebayo AlaoAkala, has promised to give social and economic dividends of democracy to the people of the state, if re-elected.

He made the promise when he commenced his campaign for the 2015 governorship contest in Ibadan.

Alao-Akala, who is also former governor of the state, promised to redesign Gbagi Market in Ibadan and make it safe and better for traders.

Speaking with the journalists on the sideline of his campaign, Alao-Akala said he commenced his campaign on the basis of “shop-to-shop” to meet the market people and assure them of his intention to re-contest contest for the post.

“I just started the campaign with a shop-to-shop meet with the people because I believe that everybody goes to the market to buy and it will be easy for me to sell my programmes to them.

“You can see my acceptability among the people everywhere we went to. All the places we went to, we were

welcomed,’’ he said.

The Labour Party candidate, who promised to follow up the shop-to-shop campaign with Town-to-Town, assured that he would continue to prioritise those programmes that he had been doing before.

“When I got to the markets, some of the traders demanded one thing or the other.

“Their demands include road repairs, provision of toilet facilities and even demanded for assurance that I would not demolish their shops and stores.’’

Akala, who promised to make life comfortable for the people of the state, said his efforts to return to the Government House was at the instance of the masses.

“The people of the state, who are tired of the present government’s misrule, came to me and said that they wanted me back as their governor,’’ he said.

Akala said that having assured them of his readiness, he would carry out a lot of reforms to assuage their pains by providing them with social and economic benefits.

ground. ‘‘I don’t want to mention a date or anything but I believe our military is arising to the challenges of the time.’’

According to him, the military will robustly respond to the security challenges, assuring that elections will be conducted in Borno and other states in the zone. ‘‘Elections as I told you was conducted in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and several other war torn places and are even more devastated than the north east. ‘‘Elections can be held in the IDPs camps, human beings that conduct elections not spirit or anything. ‘‘My take on this is that, are we giving in to Boko Haram?

Are we giving in to their antics by not holding elections? We have to tell them to their face that you can kill as Malala Yusuff said, but you cannot kill our spirit.’’

The governor also assured that the state government would continue to provide logistics and financial support to the security agencies to enable them carry out their operations. ‘‘Our most important task is to offer whatever support be it logistics, financial to the

military to carry out on their operations. ‘‘Honestly I don’t want to dwell on the politics behind the counter-insurgency

OYE (EKITI)- The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oye, Ekiti, has commended its members for complying with traffic rules and regulations during the festive period.

The Chairman of the union, Mr Idowu Komolafe, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Oye.

Komolafe said compliance with traffic regulations on speed limit, seat belt use, refraining from drunk-driving and non use of cell phone while driving contributed to an accident-free celebration recorded in the area.

He urged every member of the union to sustain the success achieved during the

operations because we are one people with a common destiny. ‘‘And this is the time for all of us irrespective of differences in political

affiliations, religious persuasions, tribal or sectional background to collapse into a single course and bring about this madness to an end.’’

Children transporting hay on Ningi Road in Bauchi recently.

Traffic Rules: NURTW Commends

Members period by following the basic traffic regulations.

According to him, traffic rules are for the benefit of drivers and commuters and should be taken seriously.

“Every motorist should shun all acts capable of causing crashes on our roads while embracing safe driving

culture,’’ he said.

Komolafe also said the union would retain the taskforce set up to monitor its members, warning that erring drivers would be sanctioned accordingly.

He also said that the best behaved driver in the branch would be rewarded at the end of the year so as to motivate others.

Ebonyi Assembly Orders Dissolution Of Caretaker C’ttees

Special Adviser to the Plateau Governor on Special Duties, Mr. Yakubu Jang (left), briefing newsmen on the activities of the State Govrnment in Jos recently.

ABAKALIKI - The Ebonyi House of Assembly has ordered the dissolution of the newly appointed 13 Local Government Caretaker Committees and 28 Development Centre Coordinators.

The reports state that the House also ordered that the reconstituted boards of the state’s Local Government Service Commission, Universal Basic Education Board and Secondary Education Board be dissolved immediately.

The Speaker of the House, Chief Chukwuma Nwazunku, said that the appointment of the caretaker committees and coordinators were unconstitutional.

“This House also orders the

immediate dissolution of the reconstituted boards of the State Local Government Service Commission, Universal Basic Education Board, Secondary Education Board among others.

“We are not against the governor making appointments but what we are contending is that the appointments did not pass though the constitutional House screening.

“The governor, after this dissolution, can still re-appoint them and present them for screening,” he said.

Nwazunku also said the governor should submit to the House all financial details of the federal allocation, internally generated revenue and all funds accruable to the state from January 1 to Deember 31, 2014.

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News

L-R: Oyo State Labour Party, Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Olayemi; the party’s Deputy Governor candidate, Chief Abiodun Ali; Governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, at the party’s rally in Ibadan recently.

Yuletide: Miss Ekpoma Distributes Gifts To Patients, New Borns

By OSE EHEBHA

EKPOMA - Miss Ekpoma, the winner of the 2014 cultural beauty pageant in Ekpoma Kingdom, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Ebosetale Odiahi has distributed gift items to patients and new born babies in the town.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the kingdom visited two hospitals in the town, including Eseohe Medical Centre and Eromosle Hospital to distribute the gift items.

The exercise was sponsored by the palace of the Onogie of Ekpoma, HRH Zaiki Anthony Abumere 11, and was performed in collaboration with the Nigeria Red Cross Society,

Esan West Local Government Division.

On the entourage of the beauty queen, were some palace chiefs-Chief Godfrey Odile, Idiakogie of Ekpoma and Chief Benjamin Okhiowele, Obaseki of Ekpoma, chairman of Esan West Division of Red Cross and father of the beauty queen, Mr. Mike Odiahi, among others.

Speaking to newsmen during the exercise, the beauty queen said the gifts distribution was her way of alleviating the pains of the sick and rejoicing with parents of new born babies in the New Year.

Miss Odiahi who distributed diapers, bathing buckets and ceiling fan

during the exercise, recalled that she had previously visited Orphanage Home to perform similar exercise.

Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, a nursing mother, Mrs. Mary Eromosele, expressed gratitude to the beauty queen for the gesture.

The Medical Director of Eromosele Hospital, Dr. Joe Ikheloa and that of Eseohe Medical Centre, Dr. Andrew

Eigbedion in their various remarks praised the efforts of the beauty queen, as well as the palace and thanked them for choosing their facilities for the exercise.

A ceiling fan was later presented to the medical director of Eromosele Hospital in recognition of his outstanding performance in the job of saving lives in Ekpoma and environs.

Community Makes Case For Access Road, Boreholes NAWGU (ANAMBRA) The Nawgu Development Union in Anambra State, appealed to the Federal Government and the Anambra government to provide bore holes and complete the road leading to Nawgu community.

The President-General of the union, Chief Emmanuel Ilozue, told newsmen in Nawgu community, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state, that the two amenities would improve the living standard of the people.

Ilozue said that the dust on the un-tarred road and lack of clean water were posing a serious health challenge for the people.

“The first developmental need of my community is the road leading from the local government headquarters (Dunukofia Council) in Ukpo, that is before the express (road) and stretching through my community to Isuaniocha, which is in Awka North Local Government Area and a neighbouring town to Nawgu.

“That is the first priority; if the state government can do it for the community, we would be okay.

“Secondly, we need some bole holes; there was one bole hole that was sited in the community when Honorable Onochie Okagbue was the transition committee chairman of the local government.

“That is the only bore hole that had been serving the community

Lawyer Advocates Integration Of Islamiyya Schools Into Formal Education System

ZARIA (KADUNA STATE) - A Zaria-based legal practitioner, Mr Adamu Muhammad-Alangade, has advocated the integration of Islamiyya schools into the mainstream of Nigeria’s education system.

Muhammad-Alangade, who is also the Chairman, Management Committee of Madarasatil Tarbiyatil Islam, Ja’afaru Street, Sabongari Zaria, made the call at the 13th graduation ceremony of the school in Zaria.

He said, “there is need for government to see reason in incorporating Islamiyya schools to be part of formal education in the country.

“If government takes full responsibility for curriculum development and welfare of the teachers this will enable it to easily and fully supervise and monitor the activities of the Islamiyyah schools in the country.”

According to him the move will go a long way in curtailing the lingering insecurity in the country apart from giving both students and their teachers a sense of belonging.

“This action will certainly assist in checking the activities of those using Islamiyyah schools as breeding grounds for extremists and also serve as a solution to the insurgency bedevilling the country.

APC Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (right) discussing with the running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at APC Presidential campaign rally in Portharcourt, Rivers recently.

now, apart from the bole holes, you know, dug by individual people.

“The ones dug by individual people don’t really serve the community well because from time to time, one thing or the other will develop and they won’t work.

“So, these are the two key needs I think we have.“ The president-general, however, applauded the state government for establishing a comprehensive health centre for the community.

He also lauded the state government for improving security within the state, a development which, he said, had restored the confidence of citizens of the area, especially during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Lawyer advocates integration of Islamiyya schools into formal education system

2015 Elections Oyo APC Brainstorm

By ABIODUN AFOLABI

IBADAN - In a bid to ensure that candidates of the party emerge victorious in the February general elections, candidates the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state have met to brainstorm on plans to win the elections.

The meeting which took place at the South-West Zonal headquarters of the party, in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital had in attendance, the chairmen of the party across the 33 Local Government Areas of the state.

Though the outcome of the meeting was not made public, an informant informed that the meeting may not be unconconnected with the aspiration of their leaders and candidates of the party to win the February 14 and 28 elections.

Gov Orji Presents N102.4bn Appropriation Bill to House

UMUAHIA – Governor Theodore Orji of Abia has presented a budget of N102.4 billion for the 2015 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

Announcing the budget outlay at the assembly complex in Umuahia, Orji said that the amount comprised an estimated recurrent expenditure of N62.20 billion and a capital expenditure of N40.18 billion.

He said that the figure represented 12 per cent decrease compared to the 2014 budget of N115.3 billion.

He attributed the decrease

in the budget to ‘’the global fall in the price of crude oil’’.

He said that the budget, christened ‘’Valedictory Budget’’, was ‘’premised on the framework of International Public Sector Accounting Standard and structured along a Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

According to the governor, the framework takes into account the projection from 2015 to 2017, using the year 2013 budget as the base year.

He explained that the budget provided for the completion of all ongoing projects, creation of jobs,

provision of physical and human infrastructure and ensuring sustainable peace and security in the state.

Orji said that the administration would do more in the area of healthcare delivery, improvement in internally generated revenue, education, agriculture, water resources, environment, housing, youth empowerment, among others.

In his response, the Speaker, Chief Ude OkoChukwu, said that the house expected that the budget

would ‘’usher in greater fiscal discipline and advances in our shared efforts and commitment to make Abia and its people better’’.

Oko-Chukwu urged all the implementing ministries, departments and parastatal agencies to ‘’ensure fiscal discipline and prudent management of resources for result’’.

He urged the government to endeavour to consolidate and improve on the gains so far achieved, with a view to

returning the state to the path of sustainable economic growth and development.

The speaker promised that the house would provide the ‘’necessary legislative frameworks that will support all efforts and initiatives geared toward guaranteeing peace, stability, security, justice, good governance and sustainable development in the state’’.

He assured the governor of the readiness of the house to consider the appropriation bill expeditiously.

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Across The Nation Internally Displaced Persons

NEMA Identifies 128 Children

YOLA - The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has identified about 128 unaccompanied children in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Adamawa.

The Head of NEMA Special Ad-Hoc Committee on IDPs in Adamawa State, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, said this in an interview with newsmen in Yola.

Bello said so far, only seven of the children had been reunited with their parents or relations.

“We had about 128 unaccompanied children as at last week. So far, we have reunited seven children with Members of the Correspondent Chapel, Gombe State with NEMA officials during familiarisation visit by the newly their relations with the help posted Head of Operation. of the International Committee for Red Cross and Red Crescent,” he said.

He expressed optimism

Gov Orji Lauds FG’s Treated Insecticidal not know that it is UMUAHIA - Governor Nets Campaign important to use the nets Theodore Orji of Abia State has commended the Federal Government for its long lasting insecticidal nets replacement campaign initiative.

Orji said during the inauguration ceremony of the campaign in Umuahia Abia State, that it would sustain the fight against malaria disease in the country.

He said that the usage of treated mosquito nets had a huge role to play in combating malaria.

The governor urged the people of the state to support the federal government efforts fighting the disease by adhering to the instructions on proper use of the nets.

Dr Okechukwu Ogah, the state Commissioner for Health, said that the consistent and correct usage of insecticide treated nets was a viable means of reducing malaria to the barest minimum.

Ogah said that previously the focus used to be on distribution, “however, this year consistent and correct usage of the nets is the main focus”.

He said: “The initiative of distributing long lasting insecticidal

nets can only be a success when people understand how important it is to make appropriate use of the nets.

On his part, Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe,

National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, said: “Usually one gets to see a large of number of people show up during distribution exercises.

“But most of them do

correctly as well as consistently.

“However, I am hopeful that the case will be different this time considering the degree of emphasis that has been laid on consistent and correct usage.”

Members of the Correspondent Chapel, Gombe State with NEMA officials during familiarisation visit by the newly posted Head of Operation.

that more of the kids would be reunited with their parents when normalcy fully returned to the area.

He also said that it was not clear whether the children lost their parents during insurgents attacks on their villages.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Mallam Haruna Furo, said efforts were being made to bring home people who crossed into the neighbouring Cameroon during the attacks.

He said some of the children might see their parents or relations among those to be brought back to Nigeria.

Plateau Govt Invests N1.2bn In GIS JOS - The Plateau Government said that it had invested N1.2 billion in the Plateau Information Geographic System (PLAGIS).

The Special Adviser to Governor Jonah Jang on Special Duties, Mr. Yakubu Jang, told a news conference in Jos that when completed, PLAGIS would be a major source of revenue earner for the state.

“Under the PLAGIS project, we are automating the process of land management. We are mapping the entire Plateau so as to be able to manage our land administration and have enough data to help us in planning.

“The information system would be used for construction purposes by engineers. It can also help security agencies in carrying out their activities,’’ Jang said.

He said the geographic system data would help in the

development of the state.

He said that PLAGIS was expected to be completed before June, adding that some aspects of the project were 90 per cent completed, while others were at 80 per cent completion stage.

Jang said the state government would start recouping its investment in PLAGIS as early as January.

He denied rumours that the state government owed its workers seven months salaries.

He said that workers who had been captured in the ongoing biometric data had been paid their salaries up to October, 2014, while teachers had been paid their salaries up to December, 2014.

The special adviser said the planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state over workers welfare did not take into consideration the dwindling allocations to states from the Federation Account.

the people refuse, then, there is nothing else we can do,” he said.

Onukogu said that the 2015 general elections would no longer be business as usual for those that perverted the system through multiple voting.

“Those who have broken our stores to steal our PVCs are just wasting their time because they cannot use the cards for their intended purpose,” he said.

He said that card readers

would be deployed by the electoral commission to identify such fraud.

Onukogu appealed to those who had not collected their PVCs to proceed to their local government area INEC offices to take delivery of their cards.

Earlier, the outgoing REC, Dr Lawrence Azubuike, said that although the distribution of the PVCs was a continuous exercise, eligible voters should make efforts to collect them before the end of January.

Azubuike said that INEC office in Enugu had started receiving non-sensitive materials for the polls.

Enugu REC Expresses Worry Over Poor Distribution Of PVCs

ENUGU - The Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof.

Chukwuemeka Onukogu has expressed displeasure over the poor response in the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by prospective voters in the state.

Onukogu spoke in Enugu when he addressed newsmen shortly after he took over as Enugu State REC of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said that available records showed that only 65 per cent of the PVCs had been

distributed in the state.

“I am a little bit disillusioned that the distribution of PVCs in the state is low. Voter apathy is a precursor to bad leadership.

“My primary concern now is for people to come and collect their cards because all of us must come together to break voter apathy and make our people committed,” he said.

Onukogu said that the

commission would device means to distribute the PVCs to enable eligible voters to exercise their civic rights.

“It will be difficult for credible leaders to emerge in the midst of voter apathy and we must find a way to break.

“We in INEC have to restrategise, even if it means taking the collection centres closer to the people.

“We are targeting 85 per cent PVCs distribution and after we had done our best and

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Abuja Group Wants Religious Leaders To Preach Peace, Reconciliation ABUJA - Mr. Simon Dolly, President, Christian Youth for Peace and Development Initiative (CYPADI), has called on religious leaders to preach peace and reconciliation to supporters of the various political parties.

Dolly, who made the call in Abuja in an interview with newsmen also urged religious leaders to be careful in their utterances.

“Religious leaders need to be careful in their utterances in order not to cause confusion and division in the country.

“They should ensure peace and should not compound the problems that we are already facing,’’ he said.

He said that CYPADI plans to meet with some leaders in some selected crisis areas in the country to seek ways of ensuring peaceful co-existence amongst the people.

According to him, the meeting is aimed proffering

solution to the lingering problems, especially needless destruction of lives and property in parts of the country.

“Nassarawa state is one of the states listed to be visited.

“As a result of the crisis in the state, people are no longer free to go to their farms as they usually do.

“There are reported cases of rape of teens, girls and women that go to farms.

“These are issues that we want to address at the meeting and look for lasting solutions,’’ Dolly said.

The CYPADI president said that youths, who he described as “viable tools of violence’’ would be active participants in the proposed meeting.

“We have to work hard to have peace in the country and I am appealing to the youths to cooperate with their leaders and support them.

“We must give respect to our elders, pray for them and

give them good atmosphere to operate, so that our country, states and local governments can move forward,’’ he said.

Dolly said the organisation would hold seminars, interreligious forum, visitations and rallies on the need for peaceful elections in 2015.

He said the organisation would synergise with other relevant groups to ensure that the youths promote peaceful co-existence and tolerate one another in spite of their diversities

Scene of an accident on Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos yesterday.

Human Rights: Nigerians Call On

NHRC To Sensitise Populace

ABUJA - Some Nigerians have appealed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intensify campaign on educating Nigerians on the need to safe guard their basic human rights.

A lawyer, Ms Mary Akper,

told newsmen in Abuja that many Nigerians were ignorant of what constituted their basic rights.

She said that a nationwide sensitisation campaign with non-governmental organisations and other agencies would go a long

L-R: Deputy Director, Federating and Elite Athletes Development (FEAD), National Sports Commission, Mr. Caleb Gidado, FEAD’s Director, Dr. Bolaji Ojooba and Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr. Kayode Adeniyi at a media parley with Ojo-Oba who was retiring from service in Abuja yesterday.

way in educating the populace on their basic human rights.

“It is so sad that some people do not even know what exactly their rights are and as a result of this ignorance, security agencies, especially the police capitalise on this to abuse their rights and go free.

“It is the responsibility of the commission and I think some NGOs to assist them to take this campaign to the grassroots.

“If this is done, those whose rights are constantly abused can be empowered to speak out against such abuses,” she said.

A business woman, Ms Elizabeth Oboh, said the only right she knew she had was the right to free worship.

According to her, “often times, especially when I am travelling home, a police man will stop me on the way to search my car and ask for all sorts of documents.

“Officials of road safety or VIO have never asked me for some of these documents

Experts Urge FG To Convert Flared Gas LAGOS - Some oil and gas experts have urged the Federal Government to put an end to gas flaring and harness it for domestic use.

They told newsmen in Lagos that the 1.79 billion dollars (about N289.60 billion) lost annually to gas flaring was too enormous to be ignored.

The Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. George Osahon, had in December 2014 in Lagos said that the Federal Government

loses about N289.6 billion annually to gas flaring.

Osahon said at the 14th Annual General Meeting and Business Forum of the Nigerian Gas Association that the figure came from the 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas flared by multinationals on daily basis.

He said that the 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas flared per day cost the country 4.9 million dollars (about N110 million) at $3.50/1,000 standard cubic feet daily.

Mr. Seyi Gambo, former

Publici Relations Officer of PENGASSAN, said that there was need for government to enforce the terminal date on gas flaring and convert it into improvement of power supply.

Gambo said that an articulated deadline was what the country needed and penalties set aside for defaulters.

Mr Simon Philips, an environmentalist at the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, said that there had been several terminal dates

to end gas flaring which had failed.

Philips added that it was time the government find a solution to the problem because of the country’s dwindling income.

The don said that if the gas flared was converted to solid gas, it would not only reduce the issue of environmental hazards, but create huge employment opportunities.

He restated that most countries of the world depended on gas for all kinds of domestic use.

Philips also called on the multinationals and environmentalists to design a blue print that would put an end to gas flaring in 2015.

He wondered why gas flaring would take decades to come to an end in the country.

Mr Dada Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Oil Limited, Lagos urged the Federal Government to harness the potential of the nation’s enormous gas reserves by encouraging investments in domestic gas projects.

and when I say I don’t have it, I’ll be delayed on the road.

“The main reason is that I really don’t know what right is being violated here, I’ll just keep begging to be released.

“Sometimes they’ll collect my name and number and let me go.”

She said that a nationwide sensitisation campaign which should also be taken to the rural areas would go a long way in educating Nigerians on what constitutes their basic rights and how these rights can be protected.

A student, Friday Illiya, told newsmen that it was important for education on human rights to be introduced into school curriculum.

Ms Aver Gavar, a Deputy Director in the NHRC, told journalists that the commission was working towards creating more awareness on human rights and supporting Nigerians to guard their rights.

“Nigerians have sat on their rights for a long time based on ignorance which is also traceable to a long term military regime.

“So we are working towards creating confidence in the public to know and claim their rights,” Gavar said.

December 10 every year has been set aside to mark International Day on Human Rights.

The theme for 2014 was: “Human Rights 365”.

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Business + Economy Market Association Earmarks N2.22bn As Soft Loans To Traders In 2015

Commissioner of Police in charge of Elections Planning and Monitoring, CP Azzali Mohammed (right), discussing with the representative of the CP Anambra Command, Mr. Emmanuel Sunday, during a meeting on the role of Security Personnel at the Elections in Abuja recently.

LAGOS - The Market Leaders Association of Nigeria (TMLAN) in Lagos said that it had earmarked N2.22 billion as soft loans for 74, 000 traders nationwide in 2015.

Mr Charles Obih, National President of the association, told newsmen that 2, 000 traders would benefit from the all inclusive traders revolving loan scheme across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Obih said that the empowerment scheme would be in partnership with the Grooming Centre, Lagos, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and a

Entrepreneurs Seek Favourable Policies To Revive Comatose Industries

LAGOS Some entrepreneurs in Lagos have appealed to the Federal Government to take critical look on manufacturing and formulate policies that would favour business growth in 2015.

They told newsmen that favourable financial policies would revive many industries now in comatose because the third quarter of 2014 was hectic for industries.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, at its Monetary Policy Committee’s meeting in November 2014, devalued the naira from N155 to N168 against the dollar.

It also increased Monetary Policy Rate from

12 to 13 per cent, and increased the private sector Cash Reserve Ratio from 15 to 20 per cent, among other policy decisions.

Mr. David Emokpae, Publicity Secretary, Association of Small and Medium Plastic Manufacturers, said that the high rates before they were further increased impacted negatively on businesses in 2014.

Emokpae noted that double-digit interest rate executed by the CBN in 2014 prevented many entrepreneurs from accessing financial facilities to expand their businesses.

“Interest rate on bank loan was too high for businesses to strive.

“Many businesses could not break-even in the face of various challenges due to inconsistent power supply and inadequate infrastructure.

“Repayment of loans acquired with high interest rate was difficult for majority of operators,” he said.

Mr. Adams Tonye, Secretary, Association of

Micro, Small and Medium Business Owners, urged specialised banks to increase lending to MSMEs in 2015 as the bedrock of the nation’s economic growth.

Tonye said it would be a relief to majority if stringent conditions constraining entrepreneurs’ from accessing government intervention funds were relaxed in 2015.

He commended the

Federal Government for reviewing the conditions limiting entrepreneurs from accessing the CBN Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises N220 billion intervention fund.

Mrs. Hilda Dewari, an economist and Managing Director, Horizon Business Development Ltd., Lagos, said that the depreciation in naira-dollar rates had increased to about 12 per cent in last few weeks.

financial institution.

“The grooming centre has promised to assist our members with soft loans, to enable their businesses to expand.

“They promised to start with N30, 000 each for 2,000 traders from each of the 36 states in the country and Abuja,” he said.

Obih said that the objective of the loan revolves around empowerment of traders and leveraging of their contributions to the national economy.

“We know that some of our brothers, if given N10, 000 can start the pure water business and our sisters, if given N5, 000 can start frying puff-puff or bean cakes.

“It does not mean that you must get N100, 000 or N200, 000 before you start a business and add value to yourself and the society.

“You can start the groundnut business with N5,000 and God can from there bless and expand the person’s business,” he said.

The market leader also reassured traders and other stakeholders that the interest on the loan would be minimal and investment friendly.

“The purpose of the loan is to assist traders to do legitimate business; so long as you are willing to be productive, we are ready to encourage you,” Obih added.

NSE Investors Stake N5.31bn On 413.764m Shares

LAGOS - Investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday staked N5.31 billion on 413.764 million shares in 3,764 deals.

The volume of transactions represented 38.19 per cent increase over the 299.410 million shares worth N5.46 billion traded in 3,803 deals on Monday.

ETI emerged the most traded equity with a turnover of 96.94 million shares valued at N1.77 billion.

Transcorp came second on the activity with 64.88 million shares worth N206.83 million, while GTBank accounted for 33.19 million shares valued at N819.95 million.

FBN Holdings traded 29.67 million shares worth N247.51 million, while Sterling Bank exchanged a total of 26.23 million shares valued at N61.12 million.

However, the NSE All-

Share Index lost 1420.98 points or 4.19 per cent to close at 32,522.31 from the 33,943.29 achieved on Monday.

Similarly, the market capitalisation declined by N471 billion or 4.19 per cent to close at N10.766 trillion from the N11.237 trillion posted on Monday.

Nestle led the losers’ chart

by N49.78 to close at N945.82 per share.

The Technical Adviser to INEC Chairman, Prof. Okey Ibeanu (right), addressing the Security Officers during a meeting on the role of security personnel at the elections in Abuja recently.

NTDC Collaborates With 8 Countries To Promote In-Bound Tourism

LAGOS - Mrs. Annette Ibe, Deputy Director, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), said the organisation had completed arrangements with resident diplomatic communities in eight countries to promote inbound tourism.

Ibe said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

She said the names of the countries are: Mexico, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Cuba,

Gambia, Turkey, Venezuela and Israel.

She said under the arrangement, Nigerian students could go to any of these countries for tour purposes, likewise students from these countries could come to Nigeria.

“This arrangement is an unprecedented milestone in

collaborating with the diplomatic community.

“This in essence will pave way for the development of in-bound tourism which is lagging behind because our tourism potential is not well marketed.

‘This collaboration will bring about great development in the tourism

sector and immense revenue will be generated from the foreign tourists,’’ she said.

Ibe urged the government to install the needed basic infrastructure at tourists’ sites to help the NTDC in achieving the set goals for the development of the sites.

She said that the roads leading to most of the

tourists’ sites were dilapidated and could discourage tourists from visiting them.

“Government should repair these roads and build new ones around the sites to encourage both local and foreign tourists,’’ Ibe said.

According to her, Nigerian tourist sites, if well developed, could be the most preferred haven for tourists in the nearest future.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 THE crushing poverty level in present day Nigeria has become so overwhelming that over 70 percent of Nigerians have unwittingly bowed to the pangs of biting hardship.

POVERTY is today a generic term and has been so since attempts at its classification by various study and academic groups with Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) ever more vehement and critical on the problems associated with large scale poverty and ways to improve the economic status of those classified in the group.

SOCIAL scientists in attempt at plausible stratification and definition of the term find it necessary to contrast it with such opposite terms as richness, wealth, comfort, affluence and the likes as the terms carry inherent semantic undertones that most times solicit sympathy, empathy and compassion from those afflicted with the plague which poverty has come to symbolise.

HOWEVER, by daily interactions within society and among communities and nations, it is clear that poverty has striking universal perception and similarities because of its crosscountry feature and characteristics. The basic feature being that people suffer hunger and deprivation with not enough to eat, lack shelter and clothing as well as basic necessities required for human existence.

FOR instance, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights aptly sums up poverty as a “human condition characterised by the sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of all adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights”.

THERE is, as a result, conscious efforts by many organizations to mitigate the harsh effect of poverty which is more endemic in developing countries and many parts of Asia while in Nigeria, government’s effort at providing

THE NIGERIAN

Tackling Poverty

palliatives and putting in place workable measures from some of its economic policies that cause poverty shocks are yet to yield the desired impact.

IT is the concern for the world’s poor and to find solution to spiralling poverty crisis that the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) is celebrated worldwide in order to push people up the ladder of comfort where health care, food, shelter, clothing among others are assured the citizenry without experiencing the pain of deprivation.

IN Nigeria, however, government has put in place social programmes as National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategies (NEEDS), the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) o tackle problem of youth unemployment, a crucial poverty indicator among the socio—cultural stratification.

IT presents a sad scenario that despite several policy initiatives the menace of poverty is a staggering reality and may have accounted for the loophole in myriad of social vices, most notably are high incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping, corruption, advance fee fraud (419), prostitution Rings, human trafficking and the likes, perpetuated and perpetrated by the authors as the quickest route to scale the poverty barrier.

THE United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) in its 2000/2001 Human development report on Nigeria, states that 70 per cent of Nigerians are in abject poverty while massive unemployment of people and the under utilization of resources are the order of the day.

Since the report, nothing about the poverty level has changed dramatically.

IN assessing Nigeria’s poverty level, based on its oil wealth which it described as a mixed blessing, the report explained that it was not the oil resources that are the problem, but the management of those resources.

A general overview of Nigeria’s poverty crisis indicates therefore that there is a fundamental problem which the Federal Government needs to identify and tackle in order to address the continuing poverty level in Nigeria. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER urges the government to re-appraise some of its economic policies and those geared towards poverty eradication.

Beside, It is remarkable that government insensitivity to suggestions put forward to it is increasing and is not being addressed as they should.

A holistic reappraisal is therefore inevitable at all sectors of the economy and mitigating measures put In place if government is to succeed in its poverty eradication drive.

IN the face of glaring discontent at the increasing poverty level, the World Bank proffered in its report. that “oil and natural gas will generate continuing wealth for many years on which Nigeria can build, if it manages this wealth well. If it channels more of this wealth to the development of its people and to the productive use of its land and other resources, then Nigeria has a promising Future”.

WE implore the Federal Government to continue to put policy measures in place to scale down poverty level. Corporate bodies and organisations can play a part by partnering with the various governments to alleviate poverty in the land.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Relationship

RELATIONSHIP is simply the process were by two persons or group of persons mutually relate with one another in order to achieve a common goal.

Here are some of the errors encountered in various relationships, which tend to disrupt the mutual understanding between two people or group of persons.

Do you: Make promises, but break them for even the s m a l l e s t inconvenience, or a change of heart, being late, forgetting dates, inability to keep commitments to others, or to communicate with them, being distrepectful.

Rudely avoid confrontations hurts and violations if there is a problem, sweep it under the rug or carpet, literally speaking, without consideration for the other’s feelings?.

Don’t seek help for solving relationship problems, or let problems to build up with out resolutions?

Without seeking for proper and control, you can still make your relationship work, so you assume seldom praise, acknowledge, or appreciate the other?

Do you: Make promises and don’t keep them.

Give time and adequate attention to every one except your partner?

Don’t ever

compromise, alternate, or capitulate to accommodate the needs of your mate?

Don’t pay attention to your mate, when they talk you switch on channels, surf, read the paper, interrupt with your thoughts or completely block them?

Always be planning your exit strategy, so as to elope with another partner?

Don’t forgive, remember violations and use them as leverage for

getting your way?

Maintain unpleasant attitude around your mate, immediately switch moods when talking with other people?

Obviously, such behaviours and others of its kind, produce a sense of separation, alienation,

The Errors Within, Solutions That Help

and all the feelings opposite to romantic love and relationship.

These behaviours may arises as a result of unmet needs, and may be passive ways of communicating hurt, disappointments and dissatisfaction with the quality of the relationship.

He/she may not be able to meet all of your needs, but there must still be an attitude of

and mind.

For relationship to be fruitful and mutually in line with God’s law’s of relationship, there are things you must do.

Here are some of the procedures used in preventing and correcting the various errors encountered in relationships.

the goal of producing understanding of how a particular behaviour was painful.

Keep sharing your perspective and don’t stop listening to his/hers.

Create such a powerful atmosphere of mutual understanding that you have sympathy

love, care and appreciation even if he/ she is immature, flawed, unskilled and incomplete.

When he/she violates God’s laws of relationship, forgive in the sense of letting God handle the issue of convicting his/her heart

Sympathize and understand the weakness of character that results in the violation and disappointment.

Communicate your needs and understanding of righteousness.

Own your feelings and communicate with

for him/her, and he/she is deeply convicted and has a profound and personally owned conviction of the need to change or hearts have been owned, then identify the behavioural goals that will produce this change.

Always work

By GODSTIME OYIBO

“Don’t forgive, remember violations and use them as leverage for getting your way? Maintain unpleasant attitude around your mate, immediately switch moods when talking with other people?

Obviously, such behaviours and others of its kind, produce a sense of separation, alienation, and all the feelings opposite to romantic love and relationship.”

together as a team to support the development of new habits and a new heart.

Having the mindset that change is a process that takes time, and that it involves many small steps and much repetition in many different circumstances, you should learn to adjust to attitudes and behavuioural patterns before change comes.

Have patience and celebrate small victories, no matter how little the trials and tribulations you come across and are able to over come in a relationship.

Accept the personality traits that do not rise up to the level of sin and violation of God’s law.

Live inside of a profound level of love, acceptance and appreciation of his/her unithenriess and individual type of beauty.

He/she may not be able to meet all of your needs, but there must still be an attitude of love, care and appreciation even if he/ she is immature, flawed, unskilled and incomplete.

But being realistic, many people are unskilled in the principles and ways of relationship that produce happiness and transformation.

Ask for help in producing personal or relationship change.

Always seek for assistance from people if your best efforts produce only aggravation instead of resolution.

The above strategies mentioned are the procedures for preventing the various errors being encountered in relationships.

It is my candid hope that these procedures met your expectations and would help you find lasting love and peace.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Youths Take Caution Ajuwaya Today

OVER the years youth in a certain country plays significant role in the decision making of that particular country that is, youths have a say in the political economical and social change development and stability of a country which is why the adage says that train a child and build a nation because it is presumed that the youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow.

The scenario is also the same in Nigeria, the only problem associated with that of the country (Nigeria). Is that the way the youths are being used or better said the way they allow themselves to be used is the focus of this write up.

There are two major categories of youths in Nigeria and they are classified by their involvement in the political activities and their participations before, during and after the elections.

The first category of the youths are the ones used for the smooth running of the electoral process those whom the body that is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out all elections related activities used in getting their jobs done and they are fresh graduates who are within their service year otherwise known as the National Youths Services Corps members (NYSC) which is why the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has been in partnership-with for over four years now to see that these youth contributing their own quota to the success of the elections The commission however to things in place by training the corps members on the electoral process, just last week INEC officials nationwide emback on a

By ORIYOMI TIJANI A.

one day training programme for all corps members serving in all the states in the country on how to distribute the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC( in exchange for the old Temporary Voters Cards (TVC) Some of the corps members are still on training as we speak because they are saddled with the responsibilities of continuous voters registration which is scheduled for November12 2014 and are also to prepare their minds towards the forth coming elections slated for February 14 2015.

The second category of the youth are the ones who these write up is focused on because they are the those who because of one reason or the other allow themselves to be used by politicians and political parties as instruments of destruction they go by the name area boys, hoodlums or thugs.

Thuggery as defined by the advanced leaner dictionary as a process of acting violently especially in the area of crime.

Political thuggery can be defined as the illegal means of seeking political power while political violence is seen as the illegitimate and unauthorized use of force to influence decision against the desire or will of the people.

These are the set of youths who will go to any length to a-certain that their political godfathers have their way in the elections through the use of force to influence voters decision.

They go as far as brutalizing and at times kill the political opponent of their godfathers in other to ensure that power and authority is bestowed on those who had sent them to

carry out the devilish act, the question to be asked is if these set of people do not have thing to do or that the growth and development of the country is not their concern?

The answers to these questions are not farfetched, most of these youths who are used by these politicians for political hooliganism and violence are those who can hardly eat three square meals per day without begging or forcefully

collecting from those who are at their mercy and those in these category are traders and market women who mostly see these set of people as the ones maintain law and other when the police and other law enforcement agencies are nowhere to be found.

Though among those who do these dirty works are some learned ones who actually went to school but ended up becoming a member of a secret cult and because of the power they

seem to have pass through the illegal possession of illegal arms, ammunitions, mystical and fetish powers becomes aids to this so called political Godfathers.

Most of which has made their money through looting of government funds from the various offices they hold or has held as the case may be and some through affiliation with those of them whom they have helped into political offices through their thugs and hoodlums.

They don’t seem to care

if those they use to get to their power place end up dead all they care about is to see themselves or their candidate in the office and after that is done they make those thugs their personal aid and body guards They might as well put them in office meant for the serious minded educated graduates who knows how to do the job well will fit in but they give it to the hoodlums in other to keep them closer in case of other assignments and the person who ought to be doing such

“The second category of the youth are the ones who these write up is focused on because they are those who because of one reason or the other allow themselves to be used by politicians and political parties as instruments of destruction they go by the name area boys, hoodlums or thugs.�

jobs ends up on the streets because their places have been filled by the hoodlums.

The implications of these to the society is of grave concern because if the so called youth of today who are meant to be future leaders are the presents hoodlums of today then I wonder the type of leaders the country will produce when the time comes.

So this piece is aimed at telling those youths to

opportunity for them to think twice about their future for generations to come will remember them and give them what they deserve either to pray for them or to course them for having mismanaged their future for a token.

So this is a call on all those who wants to use this forth coming elections as a way to get themselves hooked to a political godfather to be used continuously as a devil tool to take caution, because

watch their ways because an election is around the corner and this is the time for them to set their head straight and work for the betterment of this country because at the end it affects them more than they expect some of them have younger ones at school who will eventually graduates and needs to get a job and it is that time that it will struck them that they have sold out their future and that of their younger ones And it means they have not only failed themselves but they have failed their people and generations to come will never forgive them for having sold them out and having exchanged their mandate and future for those that cannot offer them anything than eternal destruction.

This is a change and an

the prayers of the youths who have graduated for years and are still struggling to make ends means without doing anything bad is to see that person that will deliver the country from the chains of unemployment and lack of simple social amenities for the masses will be answered.

Either they like it or not this forth coming election will be free fair and credible and the faith of the hoodlums will be in the hands of God On a final note this is an advice for the youths in general do not sell your future for it is whatever you do today that if not your children will get in the nearest future because if care is not taken you would be surprised that they will from today destroy the lives of the children that will come of tomorrow as it is said a word is enough for the wise.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Child Health And You

Re-Emphasising The Importance Of Breast-Feeding

BREAST feeding is best for your baby, and the benefits of breastfeeding extends well beyond basic nutrition. In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby need in the first six months of life.

Breast milk is packed with disease - fighting substance that protect your baby from illness. That is one reason the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (although any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial). And scientist studies show that beast feeding is good for your health too.

Numerous studies from around the world have shown that stomarch visuses, lower respiration illness, ear infection and meningitis occur less often in breastfeed babies and are less severe when they do happen.

Exclusive breast feeding without solid food, formula or water for at least six months seems to offer the most protection.

One large study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences showed that children who are breastfeed have 20 percent lower risk of dying between 28 days and 1 year than children who weren’t breastfeed, with longer breastfeeding associated with lower risk.

The main immune factor at work here is a substance called Secretory Immunogiobulin A(IgA) that present in large amount in colostrums, the first milk your body producers for your baby (Secretory IgA is present in lower concentration in mature breast milk). The substance guards against invaling germs by forming a protective layer on the mucous membranes in your baby’s intestine, nose and throat.

Your breast milk is specially

tailored to your baby, your body responds to pathogen (virus and bacteria) that in your body and makes Secretory IgA that is specific to those pathogen, creating protection for your baby based on whatever you exposed to.

Breastfeeding may also help children avoid a host of diseases that strike later in life such as type 1 and 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and inflammatory bowel diseases. In fact, preemies given breast milk as babies are less likely to have high blood pressure by the time they are teenagers.

Babies who are fed a formula based on cow’s milk or soy tend to have more allergic reactions than breastfed babies.

Some other reason why breastfeeding is very important is that, it is always at the right temperature, clean and free. No bottles to clean and breastfeeding has no waste.

Moreso, it supply all the necessary nutrients in the proportions. It protects against allergies, sickness and obesity, also protect against diseases like diabetes and cancer. breast feeding against infection like ear infection.

Breast milk is easily digested – no constipation, diarrhea or upset stomarch.

Baby have healthier weight as they grow. Breast milk changes constantly to meet babies needs.

Breast milk can reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression, it boost your child intelligence and protect your baby from long lists of illness.

The most amazing aspect of breast milk is that it is actually live. It is not a consistence body fluid such as blood, it is a secretion of the mammary gland and it is

By OMOREGIE OSARO DENNIS

constantly changing it composition, dependent of course, on the interaction with the body.

Scientists think immune factors such as Secretory IgA (only available in breast milk) help prevent allergic reactions to food by providing a layer of protection to a baby’s

inflammation, allergies, and other eventual health issues.

It is very important to provide your babies with all the milk needed, there are at times when babies don’t get enough. And when this situation is not addressed, such baby can suffer from dehydration and failure to thrive, both of which are

intestinal trait. Without this protection, inflammation can develop and the wall of the intestine can become “leaky”.

This allow undigested proteins to cross the gut where they can course an allergic reactions and other health problems.

Babies who are fed formula, rather than breast milk don’t get this layer of protection, so they are more vunerable to

uncommon but serious.

Breast milk changes constantly to meet babies need. Breast milk is always ready and good for the environment. Breast milk is widely acknowledge as the complete form of nutrition for infants because they are fragile and susceptible to disease, partly because their bodies studies have demonstrated a number of

“Breast milk can reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression, it boost your child intelligence and protect your baby from long lists of illness.”

important health benefits to breastfeeding.

It has been generally accepted that breast milk is the best food for infants.

There is really no substitute from any other commercial milk products that can compare with the many health benefits breast milk can give.

It is very important for all new born babies to have at

least comsumed natural milk even from short period of time from their mother as much as possible.

The importance of breast milk can not be over emphasized, as it contains natural vitamins and minerals such as carbohydrates, facts, protein and essential nutrients. These nutrients are combined in the right proportions to suits the infants need. Human milk is also easy to digest and absorbed by the body.

Infants mothers milk gives them the right immunisation system that contain antibodies which fight against harmful viruses and bacteria.

It helps the body to developes resistance against respiratory infections, oral thrush, diarrhea and other common infants illness.

Break milk helps the infants grows normally because of a certain growth factor that are known properties of milk.

Natural milk improves and fasten the maturation of the baby’s organ system which include respiratory gastrointestinal and hormonal system. This properties helps the infants to adopt conveniently into it environment.

The oral mechanics of breast feeding helps developes and strengthen the infants teeth – palate jaws and facial

muscles. These development will prevent any malocclusion and highly contributes to better speech as the baby grows.

According to Mrs. Tracy Osaro, a mother said she believes that breastfeeding a baby has a huge advantage as it makes the baby to feel more relaxed an sleep fine, most especially immediately after breastfeeding the baby.

Mrs. Amoye Juliet said experience had thought her that breast feeding makes a baby to look healthy when compared to a baby who feed on formula milk. She added that some of the formula are not up to standard, that the best food for infant is the natural breast milk from a mother to a child.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Spotlight

Introduction In order not to mislead anyone about the objective of this paper on Developing Nigerian Managers of Tomorrow, the basic issues and concepts will be clarified right from the start.

Who, for example, is a manager, and what does he do for a living? Exactly which types of Nigerian Managers do we intend to develop in the foreseeable future? And how are we going to ensure an adequate supply of such people?

As conceived in this paper, a ‘manager’ is anyone held r for achieving the desired goals of the outfit or department in his charge.

Even though he may delegate some of such functions and authority to his subordinates, the responsibility for the outcome is his own, and is not transferable.

Hence any manager who, in spite of his impressive title and the paraphernalia of his office, plays no significant role in planning, organising, controlling, or in major decisions concerning the activities for which he is accountable, is a figurehead rather than a manager in the real sense. This implies that it is not so much the title, but what the manager has the authority to do in an organization that counts.

And, since managers perform different functions and differ in status, an unqualified reference to a manager is an ambiguity. It makes much more sense to know if he is an accounts manager, sales or production manager, rather than just an ordinary manager; and it makes a world of difference whether he occupies a position at the top, middle or junior level on the totem pole of management hierarchy.

Our discussion will be meaningful there fore, if, instead of a blanket reference to managers as if they were a homogeneous group, we are much more specific about the functions and levels of managers that we intend to produce. in this regard, we should concentrate on the areas that are relevant for a meaningful Nigerianisation of management in this country.

Such a pivotal area is in the senior or high-level managerial cadre, which embraces top management who set the overall objectives; middle management, who, as heads of divisions or departments, execute the programmes; and the intermediate level, consisting of management assistants and trainees on their way to the top. We should not spend too much

Developing Nigeria Of Tomo

Being a paper presented at the Twelfth Annual National Management Conference, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. time on the supervisory grade which, in most organisations, is not even regarded as being in the mainstream of management.

In order to avoid any digressions that may get us off the tangent, we should concentrate on the production of the managers of business rather than public administrators. For one thing, the public sector is already well ahead of the private sector as far as the development of top personnel is concerned, and its effort has paid off in the number of outstanding senior civil servants in top positions in the various ministries all over the country. And what is more, there are better things in the offing now that the Federal Administrative College has come into being.

Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for the private sector, which has either neglected or postponed management education for so long. We will definitely have enough to discuss on this topic within the allotted time without talking on the public sector, which, as we can see, is capable of taking care of its own requirements.

We are grateful therefore to the Nigerian Institute of Management for realising the need for a dialogue on the issue, and for organising this conference for that purpose.

Management Structure in Nigeria In the absence of any reliable data on the number of companies operating in Nigeria, or any standard yardstick to classify management personnel, no one can say for sure how many managers there are in this country. For this reason one must have to accept any management statistics presented to him with a grain of salt. With this in mind, one can then examine the Federal statistics on manpower requirements for what they are worth.

According to the figures,’ there were 17,039 managers and directors in Nigeria during 1970, with possibility of increasing by 4,083 in 1974. This does not include professionals such as engineers, accountants, auditors, and economists (estimated at 24,223 in 1970 and 29,180 for 1974) who

constitute potential managers as well. If we take them into consideration, we would have produced at least 5,000 to 6,000 new managers before the end of 1974; which is a very tall order indeed in view of the limited training facilities that we have.

Composition of Management In view of the fact that it is primarily in the expatriate controlled companies that the distinction between ownership and management is most pronounced in this country, it is not possible to talk intelligently about management development in Nigeria without deli. berating extensively on the set-up in such organisations.

A recent study on this subject indicated that at least 85% of the senior managers in the top companies inter viewed were expatriates, and that they hold strategic positions at the top.

Nigerians by comparison, are few in number and relatively new in such positions, and are usually in staff rather than line functions, in various administrative capacities as personnel managers, public relations officers, legal advisers or company secretaries; and also a few in marketing and sales which sounds logical as one cannot expect them to be ignorant of their peers who constitute their customers, Since until recently, the situation in the private sector was not attractive to high school graduates (who preferred the Civil Service), most of the old hands are elementary and primary school leavers. After promoting them over the years to the zenith of their levels of incompetence, which usually terminates at the supervisory grade, the companies have no choice but to recruit people from the outside to fill the senior positions.

They prefer to hire for the top positions highly qualified Nigerians with experience and social status, either from the Civil Service, the universities, or the business community, who could make valuable contributions to the company.

For the lower management echelons, they

resort to recruiting from the universities fresh graduates with degrees in business, accounting, marketing or economics; since most of them have no working experience, they are usually engaged as trainees to be put through on-the-job training, or other induction courses during the probationary period.

Experience with the Recruitment of Nigerian Managers If one were to believe the accounts of the foreign companies about the performance of Nigerian managers, one would be bound to conclude that the Nigerian executives are to blame for the slow pace at which the top posts are being Nigerianised.

Their employers complain, for ex ample, that most of them lack the basic professional background, managerial skills, correct attitude to work, and the practical experience required for the job. They usually single out the graduates as the most disappointing of the lot mainly because their training is too theoretical and grossly lacking in practice; or they are too impatient and unwilling to learn the job from the bottom up; unwilling as well to get their hands soiled, and so arrogant to the extent of creating strained relationships with the old bands.

The employers say that they would rather engage someone who has served his apprenticeship somewhere else, such as the holders of either Ordinary or Higher National Diplomas with practical experience acquired before returning from abroad.

Counter-Complaints by Nigerian Managers In their own defence, the Nigerian managers deny

By PROFESSOR S. A. JAWANDO

most of the allegations and retort with charges that their employers are frustrating their efforts and that they are not fully committed to placing

impressive titles, fancy offices and fat salaries, yet with little or no real management responsibility.”

The graduates, for their part, com plain of unfair

Nigerians in key management positions.

The senior Nigerian managers accuse their employers of ‘window dressing’ and reluctance to give them responsibilities commensurate with the positions that they hold. It has been mentioned in a study that only “a few of the managers interviewed seriously contemplate Nigerianising senior, and in particular, key management positions within the foreseeable future”, and that “Nigerians are being appointed as managers with

treatment, frustration and constant nagging for their lack of experience which they say is none of their fault; and feel that it is their employers rather than themselves, that .are impatient and expecting a miracle• overnight.

Experience, they rationalize, is backward looking: it teaches one what not to do, rather than how to handle unfamiliar situations. They believe that if given time, they could do the job better than the old hands; hence a graduate is not happy to see “older employees, Nigerians and expatriates, with less

“Hence any manager who, in spite of his impressive title and the paraphernalia of his office, plays no significant role in planning, organising, controlling, or in major decisions concerning the activities for which he is accountable, is a figurehead rather than a manager in the real sense. This implies that it is not so much the title, but what the manager has the authority to do in an organization that counts.”

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THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Spotlight

an Managers orrow

ducation doing jobs he elieves he could do as well.

He feels that he is not being llowed to use his training nd education, but being held ack and given insufficient ask.”

The friction between the white and black managers is

kely to continue unless omething is done to resolve heir differences. For, as long s the whites feel that the lacks are not yet ready or annot do the job, and the lacks in turn continue to uspect the motives of their mployers, it will not be ossible for the two groups o join hands as partners in rogress.

The Government irective on this issue is learly in favour of ntensifying its efforts to nsure that high level Nigerians are not only mployed by private industry, ut also that they are given e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ommensurate with their raining and experience.”

While no one in his right mind can advise the ompanies to engage in ompetent Nigerians just to omply with the Government irectives, it behoves them in heir long term interest to cout around for local talents, lan their careers, develop hem, and give them the esponsibilities required for he job. To borrow from a

journalistic phrase, ‘home grown news is the best’!

Social Problems of Nigerian Managers Apart from the controversy on Nigerianisation, the typical Nigerian manager, unlike his expatriate counterpart, is subject to social and cultural pressures that could affect his performance; such as the problems of tribalism, nepotism, and ‘reversed hierarchy’ which may make it difficult for him to discipline a subordinate who is older in age and with a higher social standing in the community. In these circumstances, a Nigerian who might have done remarkably well in another culture may be handicapped in his own backyard. In addition, the typical indigenous executive faces the prejudices of his people some of whom may regard him as nothing but a black puppet in a white man’s job, or an opportunist lacking in the correct approach to social and national realities.

Management Education in Nigeria 1.

The Existing Programmes After going through the catalogue of complaints on the ineffectiveness of indigenous managers, one wonders what efforts the companies and the training institutions are making to rectify some of these.

With the exception of the giant companies who are interested in staff training, the preponderance of the private enterprises tends to place a low premium on the preparation of Nigerians for high-level positions, and greater reliance on the importation of expatriate staff to fill the gap at the top. They used to argue that it was none of their business, but the responsibility of t Government to educate its citizens. This attitude is changing on account of the Government’s insistence on “reducing the extreme reliance (on expatriates) and to relating, through increased training effort, the supply of high-level man power to the needs of the economy in general and the specific industries in particular.”

This has led to the creation of two government agencies for managerial manpower co-ordination.

These are (i) the National

Council for Management Education and Training, to co-ordinate and obtain agreement concerning future programmes of management education using its Centre for Management Development to reinforce the complex of the training institutions and facilities; and (ii) the Industrial Training Fund to raise funds with which to finance the training programmes.

Consequently, the companies are responding positively either by establishing staff training centres, enrolling their staff in management courses both at home and abroad, or attaching them with parent companies overseas.

A. Internal Training Programmes i. On-the-job Training This is informal training for new recruits in basic skills and orientation to the company, the job, and the business environment. As mentioned earlier, most of the graduates receive on-thejob training while on probation. Their common complaints are that too much emphasis is placed on skill, and that some bosses do not make good teachers. ii. Staff Training School The staff training schools are usually run by staff members with adequate experience.

Such programmes are conducted through lectures, demonstrations and role playing to impart knowledge on leadership and basic supervisory and administrative techniques.

Like on-the-job training, formal internal courses are critized for emphasising skills rather than the development of the man, and are lacking in good teachers, adequate planning and organisation.

B, External Courses i. Local Management Courses Companies that do not wish to run their own training programmes are sending their staff to local courses at the management institutes and centres. These are short courses lasting up to a week and sometimes longer. The nature, depending on the subject, is either specialised or management oriented.

One of the usual complaints about such courses is that they are not evenly distributed throughout the country for all companies to benefit from.

Besides, it is often said that they are too general in nature and that “participants

with widely divergent levels of management experience were some times placed together in one course, with the result that those without sufficient experience to understand the material often held the others back.” ii. Management Courses and Attachment Abroad Companies that can afford to send their senior staff to advanced or specialised courses abroad for an extended period of time, and follow this up with attachment with parent companies or suppliers overseas. While most of such courses are said to be useful they are often faulted for being irrelevant to local situations. One hears a lot about attachment schemes which makes one wonder whether, as some people claim, they are not mere sightseeing rewards for long service. iii. University Graduates In view of the fact that the companies are not too happy with the performance of the university graduates, whose training they believe lacks a blending of practice with theory, one gets the impression that “either the business community is not receptive to graduates, or that the university does not produce the kind of training that business desires or that the graduates (themselves) do not have the personal qualities “ 2. Making Management Education Effective The various comments on the inadequacies of the existing management training programmes point out quite vividly that the producers and users of the courses must have been poles apart otherwise the programmes could not have been so off the mark. It is necessary, therefore, to bring the two groups closer. The training institutions cannot afford to be insensitive to the needs of businesses that are footing the bill and neither can the business community

afford to leave training entirely to the institutions in order to have a chance to complain later. A useful dialogue between the trainers and employers is long over due. This should be a frank and heart to heart discussion because: “Too often, and too long, have industry and university substituted co-operation with talks about co operation without even attempting to achieve consensus on what management training actually is or should be, with the result that discussions still tend to revolve around the same controversial issue concerning objectives and This could be averted through joint consultation in the preparation of course contents. The discussion should take place at planning stage not later and there should be feedbacks and general review of the courses.

The correct approach to management training is to blend theory with practice, and abstraction with reality.

Emphasis should be “not so much on the construction of cathedral of decision making theory, litanies of quantitative analysis and the rituals of scientific methods. But on how to convert the litany and rituals into practical behaviours with less emphasis on the traditional anti thesis between theory and practice, and more on authentic professional interest.”

A combination of ‘additive learning’ (increase of knowledge) and ‘cognitive learning’ (changes in attitude or skill) is called for since the effectiveness of a manager depends not only on his competence, knowledge, skills, values, but also on other factors.

“Technical knowledge (for example) is obviously one aspect of the education mix which is needed to improve managerial performance but many other and different ingredients make a man more able to listen to other men, to motivate his colleagues and subordinates, to negotiate harmoniously in delicate crises, to discriminate between

relevant and irrelevant facts in his daily work.”

Since management is a practical discipline rather than a theoretical exercise, practice and experience should feature largely in the training of managers. This implies ‘praxeology’ — the science of doing as distinct from the science of talking; with attention not only on what to do, but also how to do it, so that the apparent difference between management education and practical operation may be eliminated.

A balanced programme of this nature that will stress theory and practice does not constitute the prerogative of any particular institution of learning. There is no reason, for example, why it could not take place anywhere, be it a university, diploma course, or a management centre provided, of course, that the teachers are adequate both in theory and practice, that the curriculum is balanced and aimed at the realities of the business world, that the facilities and teaching materials are adequate, and that there is emphasis on business cases and exercises in decision making.

The time is gone when teachers without practical experience or exposure could be the arbiters of what is good for business. A rigid stance on this issue can only drive the users and producers of managers farther apart with the training institutions worse off if the companies decide to ‘grow their own’ men in the ways they know best. The cooperation of the institutions as well as the companies is therefore a basic requirement for effective management development.

Apart from all this, the Nigerian manager should be exposed to current thinking and the complexities of the environment in which he is to operate. This requires a good grounding in general knowledge, current affairs, a bird’s eye view of the social sciences, arts and international development.

No knowledge is useless to a manager, hence he needs to broaden his horizon.

“In view of the fact that the companies are not too happy with the performance of the university graduates, whose training they believe lacks a blending of practice with theory, one gets the impression that “either the business community is not receptive to graduates, or that the university does not produce the kind of training that business desires or that the graduates (themselves) do not have the personal qualities “

THE NIGERIAN

18

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Security Issues

With JUDE IBUSEH

Security Challenges Facing Nigeria

THE Security Challenge we are facing in Nigeria is as a result of the Centrifugal tendency of hypocrisy from the head to the toe of the people government and the governed.

I want to use this forum to draw the attention of Nigerians to when a parcel bomb was sent to a one-time Editor of News Watch Magazine in person of Mr. DELE GIWA Who was killed by agents of destruction through this same weapon of mass destruction. There were accusation and counter accusation between the government of the former head of State, General IBRAHIM BABAGIDA, (Rtd) and his boys TOGUN, AKILU and the rest of others and the governed people especially our admirable legal luminary CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI (Late) whose Petition was not announced before he died; Subsequent invitation on this issue to the ‘evil’ Genius” for him to come and defend himself before a public oriented Judicial panel headed by JUSTICE OPUTA to answer question especially on the issue this Security based question proved abortive!

One wonders why issues that bother on Security of the nation and Citizen are always swept under the Carpet. A lot of example are abound revealing during the period of ruling of the Cabals who have little or no regard for human lives and properties so many cases are abound and they go thus; the U .P .N associate CHIEF REWANE was killed in his bedroom, by yet to be identified assassins, PDP Stalwart from River State whose killer Climbed his house fence at Abuja and got access to his bedroom, and he was killed, at the other time the PDP Flag bearer of Lagos State CHIEF TUNDE WILLIAM was preparing rigorously to contest against the present Governor of Lagos State. RAJI FASHOLA (SAN) and was murdered in his bedroom too.

Not to talk of late CHIEF BOLA IGE the former Attorney General Chief Security officer of the federation who was also killed in his- — bedroom by Unknown assassins. The shock experienced by his wife JUSTICE ATINUKE IGE when the law as an ass was manipulated to Suit the perpetrators whims and caprices made the woman to Collapse in the Court room and eventually died! I can imagine the last words of Cicero” as Bola IGE was popularly known that the gods and the duties would not only seek redress and Justice on his behalf but upon which millions of Nigerians would pay with their blood hence the blood shed are experiencing now.

The suspected perpetrators are within, and in the Diaspora enjoying their lives and continuing where BOLA IGE stopped. Nothing significant has been done to them, in the usual system of Govt. camaraderie and stage show the suspected accused were arrested presented before the kangaroo law Court and they were eventually set free.

A major suspect senator OMISORE after being detained for a while got released and even

won Senatorial seat “selection” white under detention, can you imagine that?

What of a chieftain in the Oyo Oba ship Council who had problem with the Alafin of Oyo Oba Adeyemi, another Otunba of Egba land found dead in the out skirt at Abeokuta near pool 200m away immediately after his business environment. What of The Apo six at Abuja Involving brothers and sisters souls that were sent to their early graves when they were shot by trigger happy policemen at their check point.

National Youth Service Corps Members were at different Occasions and places Lynched, mutilated, murdered by yet to be arrested assassins in the process of serving their father land.

DELE UDOH a one-time 100m sprinter was killed at a police checkpoint at Ojuelegba, Lagos.

We can go on and on to recapitulate sorrowful events that have become the order of the day of our life history. Not too long ago a church was bombed on Christmas day and lot of lot of lives from the aged to the adult and the younger ones were wasted! Put yourself in all there barbaric and nasty situation and you will understand better what I am talking about OKU KI BA ALAYE SORO ENI TO BA TIKU NI TI E GBE” KO SENI TO LO SORUN TO PADA WA M O” The meaning goes that the dead does not Speak with the living it is the dead that is hopeless. Nobody has ever died and come back to the world to either tell us what is happening in the other world or tell us the chances available for any of us to change from our sinful ways for better.!

Even on New Year day churches were bombed in Yobe, A market was subjugated both human being and Cattle’s were attacked and killed. Innocent children have either been attacked and killed or died through our Carelessness through plane crashSOSOLISO, DANA to mention a few.

Just recently a DANA plane that Started is ill-feted Journey from Abuja to Lagos on getting nearer to the Airport decided to discharge its passenger including the pilot and his Crew from life human being to dead Carcasses, Friends, well wishers, relations and Family members are biting their nails and finger for they cannot call back but for bad memories that will continue to be permanent in their Subconscious, for the thought why, how, for, what, and when this dastard act would Stop. There was also a tanker fire incident in River State recently where over 100 people reportedly died. It has been one incident after another, all on the negative side.

SENATOR GYANG DANTONG who represented plateau north Senatorial district was killed on July 8, 2012 while he was attending a mass burial of people killed in his Constituency.

To me, the hypocrisy in this National malaise can not be

underemphasized Judging from the kid-gloves Nigerians (aliens?) in position of power have been treating the matter.

In their usual Characteristic manner, we use to hear about the arrest of the Kingpins or perpetrators of the dastardly acts, what happen to them and their families afterwards no body hears any more except for staccato killing of some members of this religious sect called BOKO HARAM. One wonders why it took Government and so called Stake holders to understand that

the Suggestion in their people mentioned or unmentioned have had their time and opportunities at one time or the other so I don’t know what is bugging their asses.

More so that an average Nigerian didn’t feel the essence of their governance except the WAI of BUHARI govt. and nothing ABUBAKAR ATIKU and Olusegun Obasanjo could be remember for more than introduction of GSM, execution of BPE policy to their own selfish advantage which late brought a KATAKATA among them especially between oga and

Obis, Emirs who claim they know much about the subordinate in their dominions have failed totally in this aspect.

The Security Agencies and their big men who are saddled with the responsibility of check mating their orgy of violence have seriously being over whelmed and knowing little or nothing about how to curb it which is quite unfortunate.

Under their noses the agent of darkness come and perpetrate their evil acts comfortably while the Security men are made to look foolish and stupid. They make it a case of much a do about

his subordinate and the rest is history, so they can not use their own or because of their political ambition to disturb us.

Therefore people in Government must be bold enough to arrest, prosecute and Jail who ever is found guilty not minding whose ox is gored or else the incessant killing would continue unabated. Terrorism on a sophisticated level like this is not a trade the down trodden masses can be involved in- the capital involved is enormous. It’s the same people who have had opportunities which they misused, did not do what they were supposed to do at that time for the fear of stepping on some powerful toes because if they did, the corrupt life they lived and still living in and outside the government when they were in government forgetting that the buck stops on their table and regretting over that they omitted, forgot, or uncared, or in capasicted when they were there he comes a serious enigma on and in them. All said and done, Nigeria generally should not be scape goat for not achieving their inordinate ambition!

It is the same problem that is affecting Mr President in person of Dr. Good Luck Ebele Jonathan and his lieutenants, the vice president, Architect Namadi Sambo, Member of the National Assembly, Ministers, State Governors, Deputy Governors, Local Govt.

Chairmen and councilors and other State Holders. They have not been pro-active to device the mean and provision to put a stop to this devilish act.

The traditional Council members comprising Obas,

nothing they hold meeting upon meetings, they establish committees and such committees at all levels in the National Assembly, from the Nigeria Armed forces- Nigeria Army, Navy, Air force, police, S S S, and even it was extended to paramilitary organization like the Civil Defence and Immigration all to no avail !

One Significant thing that has made BOKO HARAM and their Cohort, colluder and Collaborators to shake the security of this nation to its root is because we are never prepared for anything, the strong hold of getting set had been corrupted.

Money meant for security purpose may have been embezzled even the great money allocated year in year out in our budget has nothing practically on ground to show for it. Hence, it is time to look out ward to seek for help, assistance and total take over of our Defence system forgetting that they too have their own Security challenges. I told some people that nation having predominantly Muslims in their population would one day come to bear the brunt of the European world especially U.S.A handling terrorism and its executors tactically strategically without looking back. The Al-quaeda and its front leader in person of Late Osama bin Laden who masterminded the blowing up of the world trade Centre, Pentagon house some years ago is a test Case. U.S.A swore to deal with this anomaly by getting to the root of the matter, investigate’ properly. Send their security network here and there monitoring this man Osama Bin Laden Until he was caught in

IGP Abbah majorly that the fight was between some Muslims against the Christians who greatly abhor and condemn the teaching, practice and behavior of their fellow human being on the hopeless pretend that they are fighting holy war! I don’t know who is fooling who, is there any body that can fight for God if not the other way round. Again, looking inward and according to the suggestion of the former National Security Advised retired GENERAL ARZIZA OWOEYE that this BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS can be traced back to the arrangement, disarrangements of and mismanagement of the affairs its members of federal controlled Government of PDP who does not known in particular how to put their house in order.

The fallout of election have come to bear on all of us especially the innocent ones who are neither politicians or have nothing to do with politicking precedent to say, any body who must have been following issues politically would remember the statement made by some party Stall warts who like General MUHAMMED BUHARI (Rtd) (of the CPC party) and former vice President of Nigeria ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR (PDP) after losing their deposit in the result of last election made it clearly known to the world that sure since they have been denied by the power that be especially amongst themselves ( not the electorate per se) that they would not only make the country ungovernable but passed venoms on those who make” peaceful change impossible would surely make violent change possible”

Pakistan amidst members of his family and without any discussion, or permission with the home government to deal with him got him fired until he gave up the ghost. That is security in and outside the country per se. They did not stop at that, all the Muslim States, all over the world eg. Libya, Tunisia, Egypt which the Super power Nations feel or have an inkling of subjugating their national interest would be seriously dealt with. They follow strictly the principle of international relation parlance of no permanent friend or enemy but permanent interest’ Can blame them? In Nigeria here we play to the gallery behaving like a foolish nation taking care of the outside world and neglecting their citizens. You dear not touch an American in any place for any reasons without the knowledge of the State you will incur the wrath of America and Americans even if it involves only one person.

The high level of corruption in government circle, parastatals, ministries etc. have blind folded and seize the brain of our so Called leaders that the seriousness, hard work, tenacity, courage, perseverance and the wisdom they suppose to use in governance are just not there.

Most of them are pathologically lazy, lack soul and spirit and the ability to put their thinking caps on and come out with great ideas to solve problems.

The international dimension of this security implication can not be over emphasized. The report on the Maitatsine riot showed extensively the actions of illegal aliens who came to Nigeria surreptitiously to come and look for their daily bread, at least so to say, were available for use by the cabals at least according to the report.

There is no gain saying that non-national are mainly forebearers of this terrorism. The implications of ECOWAS treaty of free movement and trade called for urgent review. The situation where Niger people have their/kith and kins as Nigerians in Nigeria and Nigerians in Niger vice- versa has its implication. That we have come into contact with reality to fish out bad eggs among the nonnationals who are residing in our country. There are ECOWAS and African Affairs Section’ in every command of Nigeria Immigration Service all over the country. The Immigration officers in general should be empowered to go all out, get these people, interact with them, know who are good and bad and make haste to send the bad ones back to their respective countries people make the mistake of thinking of security as lethal weapons to be used against physical and imaginary enemies but security matters go beyond that. The leaders in Immigration Service should take up this challenge by not flirting, with these non-nationals at any level who belong to both commonwealth and nonCommonwealth nations so that they would not be found wanton when action is to be taken for or against these non-Nigerians. Not until recently, Immigration dept has not always been.

THE NIGERIAN

19

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

A]. INTRODUCTION

Recall that an Arithmetic fraction is a number that can be expressed in the form xy , where x and y are intergers and y = 0.

This type of fraction is known as

denominatoe bracket, the quantity in the bracket is interchanged. E.g: Introducing a -ve sign to the numerator of the x - y we get -(y - x) fraction 3y 3y - x -x

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

Simplifyinmg Algebraic Fractions

Rational.

However, an Algebraic Fraction is one in which the denominator is an algebraic expression. In other words, the numerator needs not to be algebraic in nature.

3 For example, while x is algebraic, x3 is not. This is because x3 can be re-written as x where 13 x is the fractional x coefficient. Again, is x+y algebraic fraction, but x +3 y is not.

Algebraic Fractions are simplified in the same way Arithmetic Fractions are simplified. We can simplify algebraic fractions either by reducing to lowest terms or by finding their Least Common Multiple (L.C.M.).

Note: (1). If either the numerator or denominator is -ve, the entire fraction is assumed to be -ve.

Similarly, introducing a -ve sign x-y to the denominator of 3y -x x-y -(x - 3y)

We get

4(c - 2) 4c

or

4 x (c - 2) 4xc

=

c-2 c

Ans Notice again, that you cannot cancel out the c.

Example 4 (4).

The knowledge of factorisation of Monomials, Simplify: u22 + 3u - 10 u + 6u + 5 Trinonomials, Difference of Two Solution Squares, sum and Difference of Here, we have trinomials. We two cubes, perfect square need to find two numbers when Trinomials is very essential, etc. multiplied to get -10(in the B].APPLICATION EXAMPLES numeratior) and +5 (in the Example 1 denominator). When the numbers 3xy2z2 are combined, the results should Simplify: 18xy3z give +3 (in the numerator) and +6 Solution (in the denominator).

Clearly, we can re-write this as (u + 5)(u - 2) u- 2 u2 + 3u - 10 := 3XxXyXyXzXz = 2 (u + 5)(u + 1) u + 1 u + 6u + 5 2X3X3XxXyXyXyXz

=

z 6y

Ans

(on cancelling out) Answer

Example 2 Simplify:

Example 5 Simplify:

1 - k2 k2 - 1

x2 -1 x-1

Solution By difference of two squares Solution We can re-write the fraction as identity, we get (1 - k) 1 - k2 (1 - k)(1 + k) x2 -12 = = 2 k-1 x-1 k -1 (k - 1)(k + 1) Applying the difference of two Introducing a -ve to numerator, we squares, identify the numerator, we get - (1 - k) = -1 Answer k-1 get: -x x x E.g: y = -y = - y (x - 1)(x + 1) = (x-y) or x + 1 Ans Drills x-1 Simplify x+y Example 3 (2). If both the numerator and (1). x2 - y2 Ans = x

denominator is -ve, the entire Simplify: fraction is +ve. E.g: Solution x -x = y -y (3). when a -ve sign is introduced to either the numerator bracket or

4c - 8 4c

x2 - xy d2 + 2d (2). d2 - 3d p2 - 8p + 15 (3). p2 - 11p + 30

Ans =

d+2 d-3 p-3 p-6

The common temptation or Ans = mistake here is to think of Until next edition, keep solving cancelling out 4c! Instead, factorise Maths and don’t forget to watch EBS the numerator to get TV (live) Thurs at 4pm!

THE NIGERIAN

20

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Motoring

How To Acquire New Driver’s Licence done, faults causing bad wearing of tyres will he identified on time and it will save your tyre’s life. * Avoid hard braking habits.

This usually wears the tyre fast.

Anytime you want to move away from parking, go round the vehicle and observe the tyres.

Perhaps it is not possible to answer in a few straight words. The response are likely to be as varies as the respondents – a car that is fuel efficient; a car that is sophisticated in every letter of the word; a car that comes with state of the art technology; a car that is easy to drive; a car that comes with

merely “houses on four wheels”. Like houses, they were less appealing and the interior and exteriors were far from what obtains today in terms of aesthetics, comfort and sophistication. Yet they served their purpose as reliable means of transport.

Today’s cars are more than means of transport. They show class, status and personality. They show the best science and technology can offer. Cars that will offer

* Do not forget to check your spare tyre every day.

Where Not To Park At a bus stop * Opposite another vehicle • On a brow of a bill * Where it will obstruct a traffic sign * Near a road junction, corner, or bend

supersonic speed; a car that comes with aesthetics and comfort.

Then, if we take a close look at the car of today, we’ll discover that all these features are present. The passing millennium produced some of the best automobile in the terms of performance, beauty, appeal technology, sophistication, comfort and much more.

Today’s automobile comes in different shapes, sizes, and efficiency of performance. In fact some of the cars of today could best be described as crazy, weird or peculiar in design and construction.

Surprisingly, the dramatic land-marks in automobile technology were achieved within the last half of the century.

In the period preceding World War II, cars were

different users, separate from the old service of getting a passenger from place to place in little time in the early days of the automobile they were made to serve this major purpose. But within the last twenty years cars were increasingly made to serve as both means of mobility and as home. How else do you explain the limousine which comes with the attributes of a luxury living room, in addition to being on wheels. The furniture is the best around. As if this is not enough the television set, computer telephone, compact disc, refrigerator, air conditioner, dining and dressing tables all add the lure of the modern house in wheels. Limousine and other sophisticated cars has facilities for you to make phone calls, send and

FOLLOW the steps below to renew or acquire the new driver’s licence: -

STEP 1: Apply online at h t t p s : / / www.nigeriadriverslicenceorg.

Print the form and bank teller or in person at Driver Licence Centre, DCL.I STEP 2: Pay the licence fee online or at designated banks STEP 3: Present your form to the Board of Internal Revenue Officer or VIO at the DCL for endorsement STEP 4: Proceed to the Federal Road Safety Commission Office at the DLC for Biometrics Data Capturing STEP 5: You will be given a temporary driver’s licence that is valid for 60 days.

For fresh applicant STEP 1: Attend training at accredited driving school.

STEP 2: The driving school will present you to the VIO for driving test. STEP 3: Pass the driving test and the VIO will issue you a Certificate of Proficiency. STEP 4: Apply online at https:// www.nigeriadriverslicenceorg.

Print out the form and bank teller or in person at Driver Licence Centre, DLC. STEP5: Pay the licence fees online or at designated banks STEP 6: Present your form to the Board of Internal Revenue Officer or VIO at the DLC for endorsement. STEP 7: Proceed to the Federal Road Safety Commission Officer at the DLC for Biometrics Data Capturing.

STEP 8: You will be given a temporary drivers licence that is valid for 60 days.

REQUIREMENT AS A VEHICLE LEARNER1. My vehicle is properly licensed 2. My insurance is in order 3. My learner’s permit is not out of date 4. A licensed driver is by my side 5. When driving, letter ‘L. in front and back 6. No passenger at all.

Auto - Tips • The right size and speed of tyre must be chosen * The tyre chosen must be of quality. Do not patronize unknown makers.

• The chosen tyre must be for all seasons. Some people are using snow tyres in Nigeria. * The tyre must be fitted precisely so as not to damage lock beads.

• Tyres must be inflated to the right pressure, always follow the advice of the vehicle producers.

Check vehicle tyre pressure at least once a week.

Check our tyres for wears every three months. If this is

Talking And Listening Talking and listening Distract Concentration.

Using your MOBILE PHONES WHILE DRIVING IS DANGEROUS When you have a break down • Do not leave the vehicle in the middle of the road or where it can cause obstruction. Two or push it onto the grass verge.

• Place a reflective triangle at about 10-20 metres from the vehicle when in the city or 30 metres away when on a highway. One hundred metres will be adequate on the expressway.

• Do not litter the road with debris of tyres and broken logs and put a lighted lamp on the vehicle at night.

WHAT NEXT FOR CAR OF THE FUTURE What feature will the car of the future come with?

receive E- mail and surf the internet. If you are less busy, you can play computer games, watch television, listen to music or even dose off in a good bed.

If you don’t have limousine, you should be contented with a compact disc and digital radio, telephone facilities, roomy interior and other value — added features of the hollow metal. In the passing millennium cars went compact, shapes went

bizarre. Hard metals were replaced by fibre glass, plastic and aluminum, all in a bid to meet customers expectations.

Again, craftsmanship and pride of ownership were widespread.

With these came individual companies with separate identities From France came Peugeot and Citroen; from Germany came, Volkswagen and M Benz, from Italy came flat and .Alfa Romeo, from Sweden came Volvo and MAN, from Japan came Toyota and Honda and from USA came Chrysler and General Motors, to mention a few. Today, pride of ownership has gone, mergers and acquisitions are producing cars of many nationalities.

KNOWING YOUR CAR INSIDE-OUT If a man knows himself he

With Osagie Aifuwa

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 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 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 interpret what you see accurately when you carry out daily check-ups and therefore appropriate maintenance service at the nick or time thereby ensuring trouble-free motoring and naturally the car’s utility value will 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.

“What feature will the car of the future come with? Perhaps it is not possible to answer in a few straight words. The response are likely to be as varies as the respondents – a car that is fuel efficient; a car that is sophisticated in every letter of the word; a car that comes with state of the art technology; a car that is easy to drive; a car that comes with supersonic speed; a car that comes with aesthetics and comfort.”

THE NIGERIAN

21

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Spirituality

Lessons From The Lives Of Saints

VISITORS to Rome on the(.) way to St. Peter ’s Basilica see on their right as they near St. Peter’s a statue of a saint Most do not know who it is and pass by without ever finding out. It is a statue of St. Catherine of Siena, a principal patroness of Rome, the Saint who persuaded the Pope to return from the seventy year ‘captivity’ in Avignon and probably the most influential woman of history who packed fabulous deeds in the short life span of thirty-three years.

Catherine Benincasas was a twin, the twenty fourth child of Giacomo (Joachim) and Lapa who had even one more child to complete their family.

It wasn’t an especially poor home and with so many children, there was much activity. Older brothers seeking to settle in business and in marriage, older daughters hoping for a good marriage. This was the home scene. But the civic scene was much different. Catherine was born in 1347 (March 25) and the next year a terrific epidemic swept Europe taking over a third of the population in its wake. It was known as the Black Plague and hardly a family was spared, Not only did it affect population, it had many other serious side effect as it may seem, it meant the weakening of morals - people despaired and let down their barriers, public order was disturbed and this led to license. The clergy seeking to replenish its numbers were no longer selective - and along with others let their morals down. The Pope was living in Avignon and Rome was a deserted city; the States, which we now call Italy, were in constant conflict for ascendancy and power. To put quite simply, Europe was in a mess.

It was in this environment in which Catherine grew up. A robust pretty child, she soon decided her lot for herself. She was only six when she had her first vision of Christ, the first of many and she determined she would give her life to Christ. Her family had other plans for her - but Catherine was determined and finally to achieve her point, she asked her confessor for permission to cut her hair. That decided it.

Then she sought to join not a convent but the Tertiaries of St. Dominic. These were older men and women who lived in the world but sought a deeper - love of God under the banner of St. Dominic. Not nuns, yet they wore a distinctive garb

St Catherine Of Siena

and went about doing good.

The young Catherine joined right in. She was just sixteen.

The family finally became reconciled to Catherine’s strange life plan especially alter her father pointed out that this would b good for the family to have one espoused to Christ as Catherine desired.

So Catherine became like a servant in her home, cleaning and cooking and, in off hours, working with the poor. For a sick person it meant Catherine would come in, wash and attend the patient, tidy up the house and wash clothes; for the hungry, she had permission from her father to give food and often she would give her own and-go hungry. She gathered clothing for the illclad; she sought to be a mother to all despite her tender years.

In her twentieth year two things happened. First, she learned to read! In those days a girls education was not academic; rather domestic.

Starting at twelve a girl was taught how to be a good wife and mother; - how to sew, clean, cook and do the thousand-and-one things a wife and-mother has to do. At first Catherine learned slowly, but in one of her visions (by now they had become common) she asked the help of Christ and soon she could read well. But the other happening was - much more important, her mystical betrothal to Christ. It happened like this was Shrove Tuesday, the final burst before Lent, the Carnival time. The whole town was celebrating but Catherine who praying and our Lord in the company of Mary appeared to her, Mary held out Catherine’s hand and Christ put a ring on her finger that became visible - to her (and only her) for the rest of her life.

She now belonged completely to God; she lived, not she, but Christ who lived within her’.

She became one with Christ, as Little Therese described it: “He took over as Master and King.” And in loving Him, she would hay? A tremendous love

for His people on earth and the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ here on earth. This love explains her life from that time on with this complete love of God, she loved the people of God and the Church of God and the Vicar of Christ with a complete love.

God became the focal point of her life and what she did had a relationship to. Him. Whatever she did, it was done for the people of God to bring them to Christ. The poor -and as her fame spread, others too, were persuaded to reform their lives and live morally. Around her gathered others who sought to imitate her, she became their mentor, their ‘mother’. So widespread was her influence for good that when she went any place, three priests went along to hear the confessions of the souls she returned to God. No one could resist her pleas for reform, to also love her Spouse, Jesus Christ.

Her influence was also in the political sphere. She had become that well known and that influential that she corresponded with Kings and Queens, Princes and Rulers and in no uncertain terms she would tell them that they, too, had to save their souls; they, too, had to answer to God for their lives. She wrote to Charles V of France to consider his powers as a loan from God, not his own personal property. To consider riches as given by God, to be used for the benefit of the poor; to love his fellow men rather than make war upon them. She told King Louis the Great of Hungary: “not to contaminate justice either by bowing to flattery or by wavering before threats.” She wrote to the Pope asking him to become an instrument and cause of universal peace which he would become if, with a virile soul, he would seek the reform of the Church, eliminating unworthy pastors who, instead of being fathers of the poor, were only

interested in accumulating wealth, plundering and scandalizing the faithful; and, to return to Rome where the successors of St. Peter belong.

She was afraid of no one.

Her chief concern was the Church and the Pope. She wanted the Church reformed.

Pope, she cajoled and persuaded until he finally returned to Rome - Gregory Xl came back to Rome, January 17, 1,377. Teen she urged him to inaugurate a reform of the clergy and this too was effected. She saw her Spouse, Christ, once more respected

damage was not done by morals after the great plague of 1348 was done by a return of the plague in 1374 in which a devastation of morals as witnessed. People and clergy alike, abandoned God and not only were sins committed but they were not acknowledged as sins. Bishops were interested only in the wealth of their diocese; priests and pastors used their money to keep mistresses and publicly displayed their children; monasteries were cesspools of vice instead of havens in which the love of God flourished. So Catherine set about a reform of the clergy and the laity. Starting with the

and loved in His Church and in His Mystical Body.

To the laity she demanded a respect and obedience to Christ’s Vicar. Then, as today, many defied the Pope and opposed him using the excuse that he was not a good man.

Catherine pounded the idea that he represented Christ and that he must be respected.

Forget what he did and recognize what he is. Forget that a priest does evil, know that he has the power of the priesthood. She urged people not to use the lives of clerics or monks as an excuse for them to abandon Christ and His love and the

“Her influence was also in the political sphere. She had become that well known and that influential that she corresponded with Kings and Queens, Princes and Rulers and in no uncertain terms she would tell them that they, too, had to save their souls; they, too, had to answer to God for their lives. She wrote to Charles V of France to consider his powers as a loan from God, not his own personal property.”

Commandments.

Surely she had opposition.

People gossiped about her as she jarred them from their very comfortable way of life.

Theologians and priests sought to discredit her so the reform of their easy rut would not be affected; these, she turned into her disciples. They even sought to kill her. In ignorance a band went after her to kill her. One ruffian went to where she was living and cried out: “Where is this Catherine?” Coming out she fell on her knees before him and said: “I am she ,Kill me! But I command you in the Name of God that you do no harm to any who are with me.”

Embarrassed the ruffian left.

There are many spectacular things about her life. In those days Holy Communion was only received on very special days, even in monasteries and convents. Catherine was allowed to receive daily. In fact, for months on end, she lived on the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ, taking no food, only water and she survived well, In her life many miracles occurred. One time during the second epidemic of the. Black Plague, one of her followers was stricken. She went to him, Matt Cenni and said: “Get up, sir, this is no time to be lying comfortable in bed,” His infection left him instantaneously. Another time, Brother John, suffered a severe heart condition and had a hemorrhage - she toucherd her hand to his chest and the hemorrhage stopped immediately. Her visions with Christ were frequent, so much so, that it can be said she had dialogues with Him. Often she saw Mary and many of the saints —John the Baptist, Dominic, Mary Magdalen and many others. In 1375, when she was visiting Pisa - she was twenty-eight - she was given the Sacred Stigmata; her hands and feet and heart were pierced but the wounds were not visible except to her. This she carried for the last five years of her life. She dictated a book called “Dialogues” that contains messages from Christ.

It is an exalted treatise on how souls should love God. Catherine only lived to be thirty-three, dying April 29, 1380. But she did more in those years than any woman before her or after. She helped change the face of Europe and well it is that she is honored as a patroness of the Church and a Patroness of Rome. Her love of Christ, even unto folly, enabled her to accomplish gigantic deeds. Great Catherine of Siena, a great woman.

THE NIGERIAN

22

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Business & Economy

WE have earlier discussed how countries could possibly incur a balance of payment deficit. Therefore in reference to corrective measures, examiners could ask students for solutions to balance of payment deficit. Students should therefore take particular interest this aspect of international trade which as a whole is a favourite topic of examiners both in Commerce and in Economics.

For a comprehensive assessment we would attempt here to refer to the 7measuces on the basis of three types of solutions which are normally a to in Economics as (a) short term solutions (b) medium term solutions and (c) long term solutions.

The type of solutions would depend on the length of period that the payment deficits are likely to remain. When such deficits are merely temporary, the solutions would be for a short term. If the deficits are likely to persist for months but not for years then the medium term solution would apply.

When deficits last for years or become chronic, the corrective measures should be long-term solutions. We would now touch on the different measures and their effectiveness.

Short term measures 1) Using the nations’ gold and foreign currency resources: — every country keeps a “bank” of gold and foreign currency reserves for payment of import bills. The higher the volume of the reserves the healthier is the state of the nation’s economy, and the higher the exchange rate and, value of the national currency.

Therefore to heavily run down the reserves would create a “crisis” economic situation; which might lead to lowering the exchange rate (or value) of such currency. In other words, just like the commercial banks, there is a limit below which the foreign reserves of a country must not fall.

Corrective Measures For Adverse Trading, Payment

tripartite agreements between the Central Bank of France, the Central Bank of England and the Federal Reserve Bank of U.S.A. Apart from the existence of an agreement, the other patties to such an agreement might not be in a position to lend to others. They now might be going through or expecting a payment “crisis” soon. Again this might not prove a reliable measure.

3) Borrowing from overseas’ banks: National governments might resolve to

payment deficits in a country, the government might prescribe measures whereby all overseas expenditures or payments would be matched by inflow of overseas’ funds into the country.

This is known as an “exchange control” measures. It is usually managed by the country’s Central Bank. This was introduced in the latter years of General Obasanjo’s era and was left inforce during the

payment position of the home country which adopted the use of tariffs initially.

2) The enforcement of certain standards: The home country might impose some standard conditions which imported goods must meet.

Import bills would fall to the extent to which such standard conditions are difficult to part company with. For instance the Nigeria Federal Ministry of

borrow from overseas’ commercial banks. But such borrowing might be at a substantial cost (high interest rate) since such a measure might suggest a moment of economic crisis and the lending commercial banks might wish to exploit the situation by lending at a high rate.

4) Selling-off overseas’ securities: Part of a nation’s wealth consists of some revenues, securities — deposits

succeeding civilian government; part of this measure was the introduction of Form M. Medium-Term Measures I) The imposition of tariffs: This is erecting a high wall of customs duties against imports to the country. This has the effect of discouraging imports.

But there are two limitations to the use of tariffs: One, it is normally against some international agreements such

Health announced on 26 October, 1981 the conditions which overseas drugs must fulfill before they can be accepted for importation into Nigeria. This was to restrict indiscriminate importation of drugs into the country.

The U.S.A. once prescribed safety standards and pollution laws for imported cars in order to reduce the large payments on imported cars.

3) Public procurement

By AYODELE ASAOLU

“This is the exact opposite of inflationary policy. Deflationary policy has the objective of reducing purchasing power at home. Such measures include raising personal income tax rates, imposing or increasing purchase taxes (including tariffs) — all of which are known as a fiscal policy. In addition rates of interests could be raised, thereby making borrowing of money dearer.”

2) Borrowing from other central banks: — For instance the Nigerian Central Bank might resort to borrowing from other foreign central banks. To do this successfully there must have been standing agreements which are often referred to as “swage agreements” among some countries. There are such

of foreign currencies, overseas debentures (loans). These securities could be sold off to repay the deficits. But again the value of securities might fall short of the amount of deficits.

5) Exchange control: — In order to prevent a situation where excess of large outflow over inflow of funds leads to

as GATT (General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade) which is an international agreement against the use of tariffs. Again, the use of tariffs would be unacceptable between members of’ the ECOWAS or the EEC. Two, use of tariffs could lead to retaliation from other countries and such might worsen the

policies: Some governments might institute a policy of buying only home made goods or goods from certain countries only — such countries might be the ones with which she is having surplus balance of payments. This is known as discriminatory trading policy.

The European countries, at the

wake of large deficit payment position with U.S.A., once insisted on buying computers only within Europe. This seriously curtailed the importation into European markets of the U.S.A. computers which importation had earlier on led to a fall in European foreign ex change reserves.

Long-Term Measures Long term measures are designed to cure the root cause of deficit payments which could not be removed in one to two years. In most cases they are caused by excess of demand in the home country which again is an evidence of too much fund in the home economy. This is referred to as inflationary economy. The root cause could be traced to a “fall-off” of demand for export goods, therefore the long term measures are directed at “mopping-up” excessive purchasing power at home, and at the same time, encouraging the export of goods.

I) Deflationary policy: This is the exact opposite of inflationary policy.

Deflationary policy has the objective of reducing purchasing power at home.

Such measures include raising personal income tax rates, imposing or increasing purchase taxes (including tariffs) — all of which are known as a fiscal policy. In addition rates of interests could be raised, thereby making borrowing of money dearer.

This is referred to as monetary policy.

2) Exchange rate policy: This could take either of two forms: (a) Devaluation (or depreciation) of the exchange rate: By this the rate by which the home currency exchanges for foreign currencies would be brought down. That is buying foreign currencies to pay for import becomes dearer; while overseas’ buyers of home goods would find it cheaper to buy the home currency. The total effects of this policy would be to increase exports (which would now be cheaper) and decrease imports (which would now be dearer). But there are some assumptions to the effectiveness of this policy. The elasticity of demand for both exports and imports must be greater than one. Simply, the demand for value of exports must be higher than the fall in the price of exports. Similarly fall in the demand for value of imports must be lower than the rise in their prices.

Again there must be enough increase in home-made goods in response to increase in the “expected” exports.

Since such assumption might not prove correct, devaluation might not solve the problem of deficits. In addition if most other countries devalue their currencies, then deficit situation would remain the same since most other currencies are back to square one. (b) Floating exchange rate: This is allowing the exchange rate to find its own level instead of “artificial pegging” of the rate as in the case of devaluation. That is the level of exchange rate would be on the principle of supply.

This works like this: If we imagine that countries A and B are engaged in bilateral trade.

If we start with a position where country “A” has a high demand for the foods of country “B”, the currency and therefore the goods of country “B” would become dearer for “A”, with time, all things being equal. But the currency and therefore the goods of “A” would also become cheaper for “B”.

Therefore “A” would be likely to reduce her demand for B’s goods while “B” would most likely increase her demand for “A’s” goods. Such changes in demand for the goods of both countries would enable them to arrive at a situation where payments would enable them to arrive at a situation where payments would equal receipts from such international trade.

That is, equilibrium in international trade will be reached through a floating exchange rate.

But against this policy, one would strike two notes of caution: one, there is a level below which national currency exchange rate might not be allowed to fall for political and electoral reasons. If the exchange rate for home currency should drop below this level before correcting the adverse payments, the business sector of the home economy might become nervous and apprehensive; thus aggravating an already bad trading position.

Two, there is the possibility of other countries doing the same, i.e. the possibility of retaliation.

All would come to “square one” and at higher costs to all countries concerned.

3) Export incentives: Because of the limitations of policies of devaluation and exchange rate as mentioned above, it might prove a more positive measure to pursue policies of active promotions for exports.

THE NIGERIAN

23

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Religion

My Affirmations

I believe the word of God is infallible and I believe the Bible contains the infallible word of God. (2Tim3: 16). I believe that if Christians know the word of God and apply it exactly as it is recommended, Bible promised, shall be alive again in the lives of believers, as thousand of years ago. I believe that God has not changed in whatever form - (Ma! 3:6) and he is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebl3:8) I believe ignorance of Gods word, or lack of understanding of his word; or wrong application of the principles of his word are some of the hindrances of the blessings God has for his children and the bane of our faith. I believe in the purity of our faith that Christians should live righteously for God is holy (Lerl9: I) and our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost lCor3: 16. I believe that God cannot lie (Num 23:19) nor can his word ever fail as he has spoken it (Isa4O:8) I believe God is on his throne and forever he is a magnanimous God always compassionate and loving father unto them who fear him and love him.

If you believe these affirmations then you may read on.

AS A CHRISTIAN GOD DESIRES I PROSPER Jesus said categorically: “The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and

to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10: 10 I have never read any where the Bible teaches that we become failures or that perpetual suffering be our portion, I mean perpetual suffering, I don’t mean ephemeral one which may arise to prove you. Nothing is wrong with that ephemeral suffering. It is to prove you, the Bible explains it thus: “Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you but rejoice, in as much as ye are partakers of Christ sufferings...” I PET 4: 1216. Remember in this ephemeral suffering which you experience on the account of Christ or your faith, God shall readily provide a way of escape for you (1Cor10:13) But because of ignorance some Christians cannot distinguish between perpetual suffering and ephemeral suffering nor can they distinguish between suffering on the account of Christ or due to personal error.

Suffering due to personal error receives no glory from God. We are seriously warned against this “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer or as a busy body in other men’s matters” lPet4: 16.

As a Christian born again

With REV. A. A. OPARA

and filled with the Holy Spirit; God desires you to prosper - that magnifies his name. For what glory will it give a father who enjoys abundance but the child is suffering? Do you see an earthly king who is successful and yet the child moves in rags?

Would that not stigmatize the father except the child be a prodigal child, in which case the child is to blame. But all things being alright the child of

for joy and be glad that favour my righteous cause; let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant” psalm 35:27. Somebody said to me “But Paul suffered” I said yes, that was to prove him according to the scriptures but he eventually was crowned the great Apostle of God. Acts 9:15-16, 2Cor 11: 23-25, 2Tim4: 7-8. And

blessed is the man that trusteth in him” psalm.

34:8. He wrote further: “o fear the Lord, ye his saints for there is no want to them that fear him” psalm 34:9. Did you hear that!

That there is no want to them who fear him — why? Because if you declare yourself a child of the great king —the mighty God; he will guide you and if you listen to him he will lead you to your blessings. “ Thou

knowledge” Hos 4:6.Children of God cannot be beggars but “askers”. Ask your father the king of kings and he will release his blessings unto you — the faithful.

Don’t go begging, the Psalmist tells us not to do so., because for you a child of the king begging, then it means you have been forsaken; for the child of a king cannot beg but ask-”ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find; knock and it

a successful man would obviously flow in the ambit of the fathers affluence. So it is with a born again Christian. This is why God spoke these words that your success magnifies his name and he delights in your prosperity not in your failure or suffering. “Let them shout

Paul said, “ I can do all thing through Christ” which strengthened me”.

Praise God! (Phil 4:13).

So Paul was a victory!

shalt guide me with thy counsel” Ps73: 24 John 16:13. And if he guides you with his counsel and you listen and obey and follow; what is the obvious result? - The palmist says: “the lord is my shepherd I shall not want” Ps 23:1 He shall lead you because there is no lack in him; because the “earth is the lords and the fullness thereof’ Ps24: 1, 50:12 Oh what a wonderful God! Ignorance is a disease and Satan has used it effectively to discourage our faith in the lord. That’s why Hosea said, “My people perish for lack of

shall be opened unto you” Matt7:7. Jesus said if we as mortals know how to give good gifts to our own beloved children when they ask our favour how much more shall our God give to the faithful ones who ask genuinely?

“If ye then, being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matt7: 11. Therefore the Psalmist testifies. “I have been young and now I am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread’ Ps37: 25.

THE PSALMIST TESTIFIES King David wrote in the psalms- “o taste and see that the Lord is good:

“It is to prove you, the Bible explains it thus: “Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you but rejoice, in as much as ye are partakers of Christ sufferings...”

THE NIGERIAN

24

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

International Time To Crack Down On ‘Islamphobia’ Turkey’s Erdogan Tells EU about democracy.

Ankara - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned the European Union it should crack down on “Islamophobia” amid rising anti-Muslim protests instead of trying to teach Turkey lessons

Erdogan told Turkey’s ambassadors posted abroad in a speech in Ankara that they should pursue an assertive foreign policy to represent strong and self-confident “new

Turkey” under his rule.

In a new attack on the EU, Erdogan called on the 28member bloc to “revisit its Turkey policy”, accusing Europe of dragging its feet on Ankara’s decade-old

President Barack Obama hosts a bilateral meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto recently in the Oval office of the White House, Washington.

UN Chief Says Palestine Will Join Int’l UNITED NATIONS — Court On April 1 U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon has said that the state of Palestine will join the International Criminal Court on April 1, a high-stakes move that will enable the Palestinians to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel.

The Palestinians submitted the documents ratifying the Rome Statute that established the court last Friday, the last formal step to accepting the jurisdiction of the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal. The U.N. said the secretary-general would review the paperwork.

In a statement posted on the U.N.’s treaty website, the secretary-general announced his acceptance of the documents saying “the statute will enter into force for the State of Palestine on April 1, 2015” in accordance with the court’s procedures. He said he was “acting in his capacity as depositary” for the documents of ratification.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed documents to join the ICC a day after the U.N. Security Council rejected a resolution on Dec. 30 that would have set a three-year deadline for the establishment of a Palestinian state on lands occupied by Israel.

Joining the ICC is part of a broader Palestinian strategy to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the territories and agreeing to Palestinian statehood. Abbas has been under heavy domestic pressure to take stronger action against Israel after a 50-day war between the Jewish state and militants in Gaza over the summer, tensions over holy sites in Jerusalem, and the failure of the last round of U.S.-led peace talks.

The Palestinian decision to join the ICC has already sparked

retaliation from Israel which froze the transfer of more than $100 million in tax funds collected for the Palestinians on Saturday. It promised tougher action on Sunday.

The United States also opposed the move, calling it an obstacle to reaching a permanent peace agreementl that would give the Palestinians an independent state. The Obama administration said Monday it was reviewing its annual $440 million aid package to the Palestinians because of the decision to join the ICC. While Palestinian membership in the ICC doesn’t automatically incur U.S. punishment, any Palestinian case against Israel at the court would trigger an immediate cutoff of U.S. financial support under American law.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said last week that the Palestinians are seeking to raise alleged crimes committed by Israel, including during last summer’s war in Gaza. He said the Palestinians will also seek justice for Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, which he said constitute “a war crime” under the Rome statute.

The ICC said the Palestinians submitted a document to the court’s registrar, Herman von Hebel, in The Hague, Netherlands on Jan. 1 stating that Palestine accepts the jurisdiction of the ICC starting June 13 — about a month before the Gaza war started.

The International Criminal Court was created to prosecute individual perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Palestine will become the 123rd member.

But in Monday’s press release,

membership bid.

“Believe me it is regrettable that the EU is trying teach a lesson to Turkey instead of trying to tackle very serious threats it is facing,” he said.

Erdogan said racist, discriminatory activities and Islamophobia were on the rise in Europe, complaining that racist organisations won sympathy in some Western societies with “each passing day”.

“The Islamophobia — which we constantly draw attention to and warn of — represents a serious threat in Europe.”

“If the issue is not dealt with seriously today, and if populism takes European politicians captive, the EU and European values will come into question,” he said.

His comments came a day after controversial German group PEGIDA rallied thousands of people in Dresden for a demonstration against what it calls the “Islamisation of the Occident”.

Erdogan told the ambassadors Turkey needed to see itself as a

great country, amid growing tensions with the EU over the crackdown on the opposition.

“Turkey is not a country which anyone can accuse by wagging their finger in big arrogance. Those who have such habits should abandon them,” he added.

“Those who shake their finger and reprimand Turkey must see that they are dealing with a new Turkey, big Turkey, with its economy, democracy and foreign policy.”

- ‘Stand firm against them’ Erdogan in August moved to the presidency after over a decade as prime minister in a period during which he worked to earn Turkey respect as a global Islamic power.

“You are the envoys of a big state — with its history, culture, civilisation and victory from the independence war,” Erdogan told the Turkish ambassadors, referring to the fight against occupying allied forces in the early 1920s.

He said that with a programme of reforms, the ruling Justice and Development

Party (AKP) had been “tearing down that tight dress tailored for Turkey and its people, and getting rid of all the shackles one by one”.

But the president also warned the ambassadors to be “very careful” and “on alert” in the face of what he said was a campaign by Western media to portray Turkey as a country which “did not take its share from democracy”.

“They (Western media) are not honest, they are not sincere.

They come sit and talk with us.

We give them necessary answers. We show them documents but despite all this, they go their own way,” he said.

“Therefore, I am asking ambassadors to stand firm against them. You should hit all this immoral and false news in its face. You should not make any concession,” he added.

Erdogan’s comments Tuesday coincided with the detention in southeastern Turkey of Dutch reporter Frederike Geerdink.

She was released after several hours of questioning over tweets allegedly supporting a “terrorist group”

the court stressed that accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC “does not automatically trigger an investigation.” ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda must determine whether the criteria under the statute for opening an investigation have been met, it said.

The secretary-general also approved Palestinian documents joining 16 other international treaties, conventions and agreements on Tuesday night.

Obama, Mexico’s President Meet Under WASHINGTON — Shadow Of Abductions President Barack Obama

London - British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are set to thrash out his plans for renegotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU when they hold talks.

Merkel’s visit to London is part of a series of trips to foreign capitals to pave the way for the G7 summit she is hosting on June 7 and 8 in Bavaria.

The two leaders will also discuss bilateral issues as well as the areas of European policy that have tested relations between the pair over recent months, according to Berlin.

These include Cameron’s desire to limit the influx of immigrants from the EU into Britain, which he admitted in November would require a revision of European treaties.

Merkel has said she will oppose any challenge to the principle of free movement of labour within the bloc and is against treaty change, which would require huge upheaval and possible referendums in certain member states.

Cameron appears isolated in his battle, with the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker in December warning him against “beating up” on poorer east Europeans working legally in Britain.

The visit comes four months

before Britain’s general election.

If he remains prime minister after the vote, Cameron intends to attempt a renegotiation of the terms of Britain’s membership then seek consent for that settlement through a referendum by the end of 2017 at the latest.

While Cameron wants Britain to stay inside a reformed EU, “if I don’t get what is needed, I rule nothing out”, he told The Mail on Sunday newspaper.

“The key areas are safeguarding the single market, getting out of ever closer union, being able to veto regulation and a package of measures on welfare,” Cameron said.

“If you look at the reaction to my welfare speech in Germany and one or two European capitals, you will see they gave it a broad welcome. Germany wants Britain to stay in Europe.”

Cameron’s official spokesman played down reports that the European Commission is raising objections to a key plank of his renegotiation proposals, which would require EU jobseekers to have a job offer before coming to Britain.

Cameron’s Conservatives risk losing votes to the anti-EU, antimass immigration United Kingdom Independence Party, who topped the May 2014 European elections.

pledged to stand with Mexico against “the scourge of violence and the drug cartels” as he met Tuesday with President Enrique Pena Nieto amid concern over the unsolved abduction of 43 Mexican college students last September.

Protesters in front of the White House questioned what happened to the students who are

Cameron, Merkel Set For Talks On EU, Immigration

presumed dead, allegedly at the hands of local officials and police in league with a drug cartel. The dozens gathered in the city’s first winter snowfall were a smaller version of the massive street protests that have occurred in Mexico calling for Pena Nieto’s resignation.

The case has come to signify an engrained abuse of authority and corruption in Mexico, and sparked indignation that federal authorities took 10 days to intervene. Pena Nieto has drawn criticism for saying it was time to “move beyond” the case just weeks after their abduction and taking a month to meet with their families.

Obama was under pressure from groups including Human Rights Watch and the the biggest U.S. labor federation to press Pena Nieto to take the case more seriously. Mexican officials initially said they did not expect Obama to raise it, but he did by pledging U.S. support.

Obama told reporters in the Oval Office that Americans have been following the “tragic events surrounding the students whose lives were lost.” He said Pena Nieto described reforms he’s initiated around the issues that were raised.

“Our commitment is to be a friend and supporter of Mexico in its efforts to eliminate the scourge of violence and the drug cartels that are responsible for so much tragedy inside of Mexico,” Obama said. But, he added, “Ultimately it will be up to Mexico and its law enforcement to carry out the decisions that need to be made.”

Pena Nieto responded by thanking Obama for working with Mexico to improve security, “especially this clear challenge Mexico has to continue fighting organized crime.”

Pressed later on whether the

Obama administration believes that the investigation in Mexico has been credible, White House press secretary Josh Earnest pointed out that arrests have been made and the probe continues.

He said Obama stands with Pena Nieto as he tries to put reforms in place.

The protesters across the street in Lafayette Park were so boisterous they could be heard by people in the Oval Office during the presidents’ meeting.

The Oval Office is on the other side of the White House from the protesters in Lafayette Park.

“We are very upset,” said Ivan Almonte, a 36-year-old Mexican who has been living in the United States for 16 years. “We want Pena Nieto to quit and to tell us where are the 43 students.

Why so much silence?”

The students from a rural teachers college were taken by Iguala police Sept. 26 and allegedly turned over to members of the Guerreros Unidos drug gang that rules parts of the southern Mexican state of Guerrero. Iguala is a city that is southwest of Mexico City.

The Mexican government says the students were likely killed and their bodies incinerated beyond identification. Only one body has been found and identified.

Before the meeting a Pena Nieto aide, undersecretary for North America affairs Sergio Alcocer, raised the shooting of unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, when asked about whether the students’ abduction would be part of the talks. He said Mexican officials didn’t expect it.

“We have cases of violence in different parts of the world,” Alcocer said. “Within the United States, we know there has been this kind of violence in the area of Missouri, to mention just one case.”

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

International

Deal To Deport Detained Al-Jazeera Journalist Close working to free senior levels of the

Ottawa - Ottawa’s top diplomat said that he is close to reaching a deal with Egypt on deporting to Canada one of three

imprisoned Al-Jazeera journalists.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said he was

Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy.

“We’ve been working closely at

Egyptian government,” he said.

The diplomacy is at a “critical phase,” said

Baird, who is scheduled to make an official visit to Egypt later this month.

Fahmy and two other Al-Jazeera journalists — Australian Peter Greste and Egyptian Baher Mohamed — were detained in December 2013 for spreading false information and accused of aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood.

Fahmy’s brother said a request has been submitted to have him deported from Egypt under a new law signed

by President Abdel

Fattah al-Sisi.

NEW YORK — A federal appeals court has chosen not to block a New York trial next week over a $1 billion lawsuit brought by U.S. terrorism victims against the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Instead, the 2nd U.S. Circuit of Appeals on Tuesday said it will quickly consider PA and PLO claims that a U.S. court has no jurisdiction in the case.

The trial over litigation brought by victims of

seven shootings and bombings near Jerusalem between January 2001 and February 2004 is scheduled to start Jan. 12. The attacks killed 33 people and wounded hundreds more, including scores of U.S. citizens.

PLO and PA attorneys did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Attorney Kent Yalowitz said plaintiffs were pleased with the appeals ruling.

Greste’s lawyer has said he submitted a similar request, while Mohamed’s wife said she also was looking at ways to get her husband out of Egypt.

At trial Greste and Fahmy each got seven years, and Mohamed was jailed for 10.

Their supporters say the charges were politically motivated.

Egypt’s top court ordered a retrial in the case last Thursday.

US Appeals Court Lets New York Trial Proceed Over PLO Objections

Mozambican opposition party, Mozambican National Rersistance (RENAMO) spokesperson Antonio Muchanga, gives a press conference at the Party National Headquarters in Maputo.

Magnitude-6.6 Earthquake Strikes Off Pacific Coast Of Panama NEW YORK— The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-6.6 earthquake has struck off the Pacific coast of Panama. There are no

immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The U.S.G.S. said the quake hit at 11:07 p.m. local time Tuesday with its epicenter 151 miles

NEW DELHI— A passenger bus veered off a road in southeastern India and fell into a gorge on Wednesday, killing at least 11 people, police said.

At least nine college students were among those killed in the accident, which took place near the town of Penukonda in Andhra Pradesh state, said Police Superintendent S.V. Rajasekhar Babu.

Press Trust of India said at least 25 other people were injured in the accident, some of them seriously.

The bus was carrying around 50 people when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then plunged into the gorge, Babu said. No other details were immediately available.

Penukonda is a small town located about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) south of New Delhi.

India has the world’s deadliest roads, with more than 110,000 people killed annually.

Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.

Bus Falls Into Gorge, Killing 11 In Southeast India

(245 kilometers) south of the coastal city of Punta de Burica, close to the border with Costa Rica. Its depth was measured at 20 miles (33 kilometers).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says no

tsunami threat was issued for the area following the quake.

In early December, two earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.8 and 6.6 struck in the same region without causing damage or injuries.

A Mexican soldier stands guard in Ayutla, Guerrero State, Mexico

THE NIGERIAN

26

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

International

Air Asia Jet Tail Found Underwater, BlackBox May Be Close

J A K A R T A / PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia - The tail of a crashed AirAsia jet has been found on the sea bed about 30 km (20 miles) from the plane’s last known location, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said on Wednesday, a breakthrough that investigators hope will lead to

the crucial black box recorders.

Flight QZ8501 vanished from radar screens over the northern Java Sea on Dec. 28, less than half-way into a twohour flight from Indonesia’s second-biggest city of Surabaya to Singapore.

There were no survivors among the 162 people on

board.

“We’ve found the tail that has been our main target,” Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo, head of the search and rescue agency, told a news conference in Jakarta.

The tail was identified by

Al-Jazeera news channel’s Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed FAdel Fahmy listens to the verdict inside the defendants cage during his trial for allegedly supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.

divers after it was spotted by an underwater machine using a sonar scan, Soelistyo said.

He displayed underwater photographs showing partial lettering on the sunken object compared with a picture of an intact Airbus A320-200 in AirAsia livery.

“I can confirm that what we found was the tail part from the pictures,” he said, adding that the team “now is still desperately trying to locate the black box”.

Forty bodies and debris from the plane have been plucked from the surface of the waters off Borneo, but strong winds and high waves have been hampering divers’ efforts to reach larger pieces of suspected wreckage detected by sonar on the sea floor.

Locating the tail has been a priority because the cockpit voice and flight data recorders that can provide vital clues on why the plane crashed are

France Warns Palestinians Over Escalating Fabius questioned the Crisis With UN Bid wisdom of resubmitting the

PARIS - France warned the Palestinians against escalating a diplomatic battle with Israel after President Mahmoud Abbas said he would resubmit to the U.N. Security Council a resolution calling for the creation of a Palestinian state.

The United States helped defeat the resolution, which also demands an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West Bank, in a Security Council vote on Dec. 30. Abbas said on Sunday he hoped to resubmit the resolution “perhaps after a week”.

France, one of the Council’s five permanent members, backed the resolution despite some reservations. France’s parliament also backed Palestinian independence in a symbolic vote on Dec. 2 that underlined Europe’s impatience with a stalled Middle East peace process.

But Paris signaled concern that Abbas’ diplomatic offensive — he has also signed up to 20 international conventions including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court — could harm chances for peace by antagonizing Israel.

“We are against the logic of letting this spiral (out of control),” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters.

“While we think the Palestinians have the right to

move the status quo, at the same time there has to be an effort to find a consensus solution. Once you set this cycle off, you get results that you don’t want one way or another.”

Separately, the European Union criticized a decision by Israel last week to withhold critical tax revenue from the Palestinians in retaliation for Palestinian moves to join the International Criminal Court.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the decision ran counter to Israel’s obligations under a 1994 agreement.

She warned in a statement that recent steps by both Palestinians and Israelis could aggravate a tense situation and move them further from a negotiated solution.

Abbas hopes that new countries which joined the U.N. Security Council on Jan. 1 will be more sympathetic to the Palestinian resolution, which demands an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and independence by late 2017.

France had been working prior to the Dec. 30 vote on a separate resolution with Britain and Germany that aimed to set the parameters and a time frame for new peace talks.

“We worked on this resolution believing we could achieve a consensus but it wasn’t possible,” he said.

resolution, adding he would discuss the issue in coming days with Jordan, Egypt and other regional players.

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located in the rear section of the Airbus.

“I am led to believe the tail section has been found,” AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes tweeted minutes after the announcement.

“If (it is the) right part of tail section, then the black box should be there ... We need to find all parts soon so we can find all our guests to ease the pain of our families. That still is our priority.”

In Pangkalan Bun, the southern Borneo port closest to the crash site, search and rescue agency coordinator Supriyadi told reporters the bad weather that has dogged the operation for 10 days had abated and divers were in the water.

But, as ships with acoustic “pinger locators” designed to pick up signals from the black box converged on the scene of the find, he cautioned the tail section of the aircraft might not be fully intact.

“The location of the tail is relatively far from the point of last contact, about 30 km (20 miles),” he said.

“The black box is located behind the door, to the right of the tail. There is a possibility that the tail and the back of the plane are broken up.”

Soelistyo said a total of 12 objects had now been found, but he did not confirm whether all were parts of the aircraft.

The wreckage is thought to also include parts of the

RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, Iduwe Osaevbia Betty wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Faboye Peace Oyebola.

Henceforth, I now wish to be properly known and addressed as Iduwe Osaevbia Betty. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

fuselage, where many of the bodies of victims may still be trapped.

Until investigators can examine the black box recorders the cause of the crash remains a mystery, but the area where the plane was lost is known for intense seasonal storms. BMKG, Indonesia’s meteorological agency, has said bad weather may have caused ice to form on the aircraft’s engines.

Indonesia AirAsia, 49 percent owned by Fernandes’s Malaysia-based AirAsia budget group, has come under pressure from the authorities in Jakarta since the crash.

The transport ministry has suspended the carrier’s Surabaya-Singapore license, saying it only had permission to fly the route on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight QZ8501 took off on a Sunday, though the ministry said this had no bearing on the accident.

AirAsia has said it is cooperating fully with the ministry’s investigations. That investigation would be completed by Friday evening, the transport ministry said on Wednesday.

Indonesia has also reassigned some airport and air traffic control officials who allowed the flight to take off and tightened rules on preflight briefing procedures.

Indonesia is one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets and its carriers, such as Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia, are among the top customers for plane makers Airbus and Boeing.

But its safety record is patchy. The European Commission banned all Indonesia-based airlines from flying to the European Union in 2007 following a series of accidents. Exemptions to that ban have since been granted to some carriers, including Garuda and AirAsia.

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THE NIGERIAN

27

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Divine THE churches are right in saying that God forgives every thing. And really forgives. Contrary to man, who goes on condemning a person even after he has atoned for some trivial offence and thus, burdens himself with a double guilt by such thoughts, because, he does not act according to the will of God. Here human love is lacking in justice.

The activity of the Divine Creative will purify every human spirit of its guilt as soon as it strives upwards, whether through its own experiences or through its voluntary efforts at improvement. If it returns to the Spiritual Realm from these milts in the world of matter, it will then stand pure in the kingdom of its creator, it matters not what its guilt may have been. Just as pure as one who has never yet sinned, but first, his path will take him through the activity of Divine Laws and in this fact lies the quarantee of Divine forgiveness of His Mercy.

Abd-ru-shin says that, it is only what the spirit wills in any action that is decisive for the Divine Laws in Creation. This spiritual will, however, is not thought activity, but the deepest intuitive perception, the actual volition within man, which alone can set in motion the laws of the beyond and indeed does so automatically. So, rid yourselves of the habit of measuring according to earthly standards. God’s Justice and God’s love are concerned with the human spirit material substance has nothing whatever to do with this. It is only formed by the human spirit itself and has no life without spirit.

His forgiveness lies in Justice nothing else. And in this uncondition Justice, also, lies the great love which hitherto have been so misunderstood. But He was and is and remains perfect, regard less of men’s attitude

International Forgiveness Man And Nature

to this.

Abd-ru-shin the author of “in the light of truth” says all who once rejected word at the time of Christ are today reincarnated on this earth to settle accounts. Now, they no longer have the right to be forewarned and to make a second decision. In the two thousand years, they have had time enough to change their minds. Also, he who absorbs a wrong interpretation of God and his creation and does not exert himself to grasp it more purely, has not absorbed it at all. Indeed, it is far worse for a wrong belief keeps one back from grasping the truth.

Ignorance they say is never an excuse.

But woe unto him who in order to attract followers, falsifies or perverts the truth because, men find it more agreeable in an easier form.

He not only burdens himself with the quilt of falsification and deception, but in addition, he also, bears the whole responsibility for those whom he was able to attract to himself by making it more convenient or acceptable.

When his hour of retribution comes, he will not be helped. He will fall into the abyss from which there can be no return and right.

This John was also, permitted to see and warn against in his revelation.

And when the great purification begins man will now have no time to rebel or even to stem this happening.

The Divine Laws which man so much likes to picture wrongly will then take inexorable effect. Just in the most terrible tribulation of the times that the earth has ever experienced, humanity will at last, learn that God’s love is far removed from the softness and weakness which man so audaciously ascribed to it.

More than half of all the men living at the present time do not belong on this earth at all. Already, for

thousands of years, this mankind have sunk so low and live so strongly in the darkness, that through their unclean volition they have built many bridges to dark spheres which are far below this earthplane. There live those who have sunk deeply, whose ethereal weight would never have permitted the possibility of their rising to this earthplane.

Abd-ru-shin says that, this formed a protection both for

region.

Gradually, the desire leads to an enganising despair, which may finally, results in the most fervent prayers and where with in an earnest volition to do better. This is how it should be. But through men’s wrong volition things developed differently. Through their dark volition, men built a bridge to the region of Darkness. Thus, they held out a hand to those living there, making it possible for

all those living on earth and for these dark one themselves. They are separated by the natural law of ethereal gravity. Down below they can give full vent to their passions and all baseness, without doing any harm. On the contrary.

There their unrestrained indulgence only strikes those of a like nature, whose base way of living similarly also, affect them. Thus, they suffer mutually, which leads to maturing, but not to further guilt. For through the suffering loathing themselves may in time awaken and with it also, the desire to escape from this

them to rise to the earth through the power of attraction of similar species.

Here they naturally also, found the opportunity for a fresh incarnation, which was not yet intended for them in the normal course of world events.

Abd-ru-shin says that, for on the earth – plane, where through the medium of gross-matter, they can live together with those who are more luminous and better, they only do harm and thereby burden themselves with fresh guilt. This they cannot do in their lower region, for the depravity is

“The time will certainly come when the hearts of all men will be seized with an iron grip, when spiritual arrogance will be uprooted in every human creature with tremble restlessness.”

With O.C. Madu

only beneficial to their homogeneous kind, because, ultimately, they only recognize themselves as they really are and come to abhor their baseness, which helps towards improvement.

Man has now disrupted this normal course in all development through the base use of his free will, with

prospective mother takes more heed of herself and of her immediate surroundings, of those with whom she associates, this can not happen.

Abd-ru-shin opines that, it should be recognised only as love when at last, the final effect of the laws sweeps away from the earth

which he formed ethereal bridges to the region of darkness, so that those who had sunk there could be thrown onto the earth – plane, like a rabble, who now joyfully pepulate the greater part of it.

Since luminous souls must retreat before the darkness, where latter has gained a firm foothold, it was easy for the darker souls, who had no right to be on the earthplane, also to incarnate, sometimes where otherwise, only a luminous soul would have entered. In such a case the dark soul has found an anchorage through some person near the prospective mother, enabling it to assert itself and push aside the light soul, even when mother or father belong to the more luminous ones.

This also clears up the puzzle of how many a black sheep could come to good parents. However, if a

– plane in full justice, those who do not belong here, so that, they fall into that realm of darkness to which by their nature they definitely belong. Thus, they can no longer hinder the ascent of the more luminous ones, nor burden themselves with fresh guilt but perhaps still, after all, mature through disgust at their own experiences.

The time will certainly come when the hearts of all men will be seized with an iron grip, when spiritual arrogance will be uprooted in every human creature with tremble restlessness.

Then, every doubt which today prevents the human spirit from recognising that Divinity is not in him but, high above him, will also disappear. That it can only stand as the purest image on the altar of his innerself.

Peace and joy.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Gerrard Set To Complete LA Galaxy Move

STEVEN Gerrard is expected to complete a summer move to MLS side LA Galaxy on Wednesday.

The former England captain met with Galaxy representatives in London on Tuesday to discuss terms and finalise a switch to the MLS outfit.

Gerrard announced on Friday that he would be leaving Liverpool after over two decades with the club before later revealing that he would move to the USA. The likes of New York Cosmos and Orlando City had expressed an interest in signing Gerrard, but David Beckham’s former club LA Galaxy were long considered favourites to seal a deal for the former England captain.

And Goal understands that Gerrard has now agreed personal terms with Bruce Arena’s side, with the MLS Cup holders set to officially announce the deal later on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old midfielder revealed on Tuesday that he would have signed a contract extension with Liverpool if the club had approached him over a new deal.

But Gerrard will now complete the final part of his last season with the Reds before jetting off to Los Angeles in July to join up with the Galaxy during their mid-season transfer window

Stoke Confirms Shaqiri Interest

BUT he understands competition for the 23-yearold is fierce, with Liverpool and Inter both believed to be interested.

Bowen said Stoke, 11th in the Premier League, would still try and sign the talented Switzerland international.

“To get a good player like him on board would be fantastic,” he told BBC Radio Stoke on Tuesday.

“There are other clubs interested, but it doesn’t mean we rule ourselves out.

“He’s definitely on the list, but there is competition for a player of his ability.”

Shaqiri has been given

limited opportunities with the Bundesliga giants, leading to the attacker being linked with a move away.

Bowen said it would take some persuasion from Stoke’s hierarchy to convince Shaqiri to join them, but believes Bojan’s move to the club from Barcelona helps.

“It’s bound to help and it does help,” he said.

“But there’s many boxes to tick, not least the financial side of it, and with Shaqiri coming from one of the best , if not the best, clubs in the world, there’s a lot of persuasion to get it over the line.”

Steven Gerrard

Rafael Set For Training Return

RAFAEL has revealed he is set to return to training with Manchester United on Friday after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone.

The right-back was withdrawn at half-time, along with Luke Shaw, during United’s 2-0 win over Yeovil Town in Sunday’s FA Cup third-round clash, with Louis

van Gaal confirming the injury following the game.

Rafael underwent surgery earlier on Tuesday night and is now expecting to return to training with United on Friday, but will be required to wear a protective mask.

“Operation was perfect back training normal on Friday very happy. thanks god for everything [sic],” he wrote on his Instagram page.

The news will come as a boost for Van Gaal who, along with Shaw, also has centre-back Marcos Rojo and five other first-team members currently sidelined.

Rafael Nadal

Everton Defeat Would Have Been ‘A Crime’

EVERTON manager Roberto Martinez feels it would have been “a crime” had his side lost to West Ham following their 1-1 FA Cup third-round draw.

James Collins gave the character and the reaction we visitors the lead in the 56th showed. We are low on minute at Goodison Park, the confidence, but it was a centre-back heading in from phenomenal reaction and it Morgan Amalfitano’s corner, could easily be a turning only for Romelu Lukaku to point.

“The character we showed, fire home an injury-time when we’re not in a great equaliser. mood at the moment, was of Martinez believes the result huge satisfaction.

The replay - which saw Everton end a four-game losing streak - was was a huge reward and we just reward for a strong look forward to that. The late equaliser could be a turning display of character.

“It would have been a crime point.”

The two sides will meet if we had been out of the again on January 13, with the cup,” the Spaniard told BT winners facing a trip to Sport.

Doncaster Rovers or Bristol “I am pleased with the

City in round four, but Sam Allardyce bemoaned West Ham’s inability to see out the win.

“We could have done an awful lot better. We got a bit desperate and instead of defending properly we let Bryan Oviedo in and he is very lucky with the cross,” Allardyce told BT Sport.

“It ends up with Romelu Lukaku,” Allardyce told BT Sport. “But we could have done better and defended like we’ve been defending. It is very disappointing when it is so late in the game.

- Martinez

“It is never an easy place to come but we were more than a match for Everton. We’ve had our pocket picked. We are disappointed to lose a goal in injury-time.

“I’m satisfied with the overall effort of the players, but if you don’t punish your opponents when you have the chance it comes back to bite you.

“We’re still in the hat for the fourth round and now we will have to finish the job at home.”

Shaqiri

Hodgson Hails Kane

ROY Hodgson has praised Tottenham star Harry Kane’s development amid reports the striker is set for a first senior England call-up.

The 21-year-old has been one of the success stories of the season so far, with his two goals in Spurs’ recent 5-3 win over Chelsea taking his tally to 17 in 27 appearance for the White Hart Lane outfit.

Such displays have prompted talk of a first callup to Hodgson’s England squad for the clash with Lithuania on March 27, and the Three Lions boss says Kane has come on “leaps and bounds” in recent months.

“Harry is one of those players - Andros Townsend being another one - who didn’t exactly burst on to the scene in his club side and get straight in,” Hodgson told reporters.

“They got loaned out first and sent out to different places to learn their trade, if you like, or at least pick up some important aspects of

Harry Kane

their trade.

“We have watched [Kane] for a while. Harry has come on in leaps and bounds and I’m not surprised because I know [the former coaches] Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand very well. It’s tremendous to see.”

Hodgson also highlighted Charlie Austin’s recent form for QPR - the striker has scored five goals in his last five games for the Premier League strugglers but is yet to make an international appearance for England.

“Charlie is doing very well,” he told SiriusXM FC. “He’s another one who has come through the lower leagues. I’m sure people have watched Charlie and dismissed him because he doesn’t run like the wind.

“You can be a good footballer sometimes without needing to run like the wind and Harry Redknapp has brought the best out of him for QPR.”

THE NIGERIAN

29

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Juventus Must Mature, Says Buffon GIANLUIGI Buffon has voiced his frustration with Juventus’ 1-1 Serie A draw versus Inter on Tuesday and feels the reigning Italian champions must mature if they aim to win silverware this term.

The Turin giants were in fine form in the opening 45 minutes of the Derby d’Italia, but failed to extend their lead after Carlos Tevez’ opening

goal early on.

They were made to pay for their profligacy in the second half, with Mauro Icardi restoring parity in the 64th minute, and Buffon was unable to hide his disappointment with the result.

“It was the same story against Sampdoria, Torino and Napoli. We need to mature if we’re going to be

where it counts, particularly in the Champions League,” Buffon told reporters.

“There are moments in games when we dominate proceedings and create a high number of chances. But until we get that all-important second goal, it’s vital to remain on guard, especially against a side like Inter.

“We all knew that this was another golden opportunity to extend our lead at the top. But we didn’t take it and we’re disappointed.”

Juventus remain top of the Serie A table with 40 points from 17 games, holding a one-point lead over secondplaced Roma

Mauro Lcardi

Roma Win Sparks Technology Debate CARLOS Tevez had looked set to again be the scourge of his former Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini when putting Juve ahead after five minutes, but Mauro Icardi secured Inter a point just after the hour-mark.

Mancini famously rowed with

by Arturo Vidal.

Tevez on the touchline in a 2011Icardi levelled with a clever 12 UEFA Champions League finish in the 64th minute, but match against Bayern Munich, Inter’s chances of stealing a win and the Argentina international ultimately vanished when Mateo appeared ecstatic to steer Juve Kovacic earned a late red card into an early lead after fine play

We Lost Our Heads - Allegri

Buffon

Inzaghi Bemoans Sluggish Milan Display AFTER taking the lead through Andrea Poli’s eighthminute strike, Milan failed to assume full control of the game and were punished by a clincial Sassuolo side.

Nicola Sansone levelled matters in the 28th minute, with the match then settled in the 68th minute courtesy of Simone Zaza’s stunning first-time volley from a Domenico Berardi corner.

And Inzaghi has called for his side to respond after an errorstrewn display.

“I think the first 20 minutes deceived us, made us think that it was all easy,” Inzaghi said.

“But in Serie A, nothing is simple, especially against such an organised side.

“We became imprecise, a bit sluggish and things then went wrong. I am disappointed as we were doing very well and this is a step back. This match will serve us as a lesson. This side needs to grow.

“We deserved to lose and now we must be good in picking ourselves up right away. We made more mistakes than usual.

The match after the winter break always has hidden dangers, we prepared well, but matters on the pitch say otherwise.

“In the second half we enjoyed more than 60 per cent of the possession and perhaps we should have created more chances. We conceded from a corner and this cannot happen as

they took just one corner in the entire match.

“We have to be more clinical in these matches. When you lose you have to take responsibility, we must look at what went wrong.

“The first 20 minutes were up to the Milan standard, but it’s not enough. We must roll our sleeves up...and prepare for a hard match against Torino.”

Meanwhile, Sassuolo boss Eusebio Di Francesco hailed his players for what he described as a “daring” showing

Allegri

JUVENTUS were guilty of “losing their heads” in the 11 draw with Inter on Tuesday night, according to coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Carlos Tevez gave the Bianconeri a fifth minute lead but Mauro Icardi’s 64th minute leveller denied the hosts victory and means their lead at the top of Serie A is now down to just a point ahead of second-placed Roma.

Allegri said to Sky Italia after the game: “For 45 minutes it was one of our best performances of the season.

We couldn’t keep that intensity up for the full 90.

“Even before the goal we

had lost a bit of organisation and were making too many technical mistakes, so that is something we need to work on.

“After that we lost our heads for a moment, conceding two chances we should not have allowed our opponents, and even ran a risk 10 seconds from the end.

It was mad to allow a counter like that with 10 against 11.”

When asked why his side’s performance levels dipped so dramatically in the second half, the former Milan boss replied: “In my view we were too static in the second half, whereas in the first the midfielders were always moving and not allowing Inter any reference points, so they could never catch us.”

Despite the pressure being applied by Roma, Allegri remains unconcerned as he has already acknowledged that the Giallorossi will be contenders until the very end of the campaign.

“Roma have been one point behind us many times already. We’re still top of the table and there are many points still up for grabs.

“This was the kind of game you risk losing too, so we are pleased to be in our position and fully aware Roma will be an antagonist to the end.”

for a strong tackle on Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Roma moved to within a point of Juve with a highly controversial 1-0 win at Udinese.

Centre-back Davide Astori scored the only goal 17 minutes into the game as he headed Francesco Totti’s cross beyond Orestis Karnezis, but the ball did not appear to be completely over the line, with coach Rudi Garcia pleading for the introduction of goal-line technology after the game.

Rafael Benitez’s Napoli cruised past Cesena 4-1 to keep themselves level on points with third-placed Lazio, as Jose Callejon, Marek Hamsik and a Gonzalo Higuain double did the damage.

Despite taking an early lead through Andrea Poli, Milan’s bid for European football suffered a slight blow as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Sassuolo, with Simone Zaza’s fine volley ultimately securing the win after Nicola Sansone’s initial

equaliser.

Fiorentina’s run of five league games without defeat came to a frustrating end as Vincenzo Montella’s men lost 1-0 at Parma, who subsequently climbed off the bottom of the table.

Andrea Costa put Parma ahead after 11 minutes and, after Mario Gomez saw his 34th-minute penalty saved by Antonio Mirante, things got even worse for Fiorentina as Gonzalo Rodriguez and Stefan Savic were dismissed in the last 11 minutes.

Palermo made the most of that defeat, moving up to eighth after thrashing 10-man Cagliari – who had Daniele Conti sent off – 5-0 in Gianfranco Zola’s first game as the Sardinian club’s coach, while Genoa came from two down at home to draw 2-2 with Atalanta.

Empoli and Hellas Verona had Lorenzo Tonelli and Emil Hallfredsson, respectively, sent off during their 0-0 draw, while Torino were held to the same score at Chievo.

ASTORI’S header from a Francesco Totti free-kick in the 17th minute hit the crossbar and the goal-line before bouncing out.

Replays showed the whole ball did not cross the line, but – after some discussion – the officials paid the goal and Roma went on to win 1-0.

Astori said officials made the right decision, with the result helping Roma move within a point of Serie A leaders Juventus.

“Perhaps my goal was controversial for some but for me there were no doubts,” he said.

“I promptly celebrated the goal, there was a bit of hesitation by the officials over whether it crossed, but the referee had the guts to stand by his decision, which

was right.”

The 27-year-old added: “Yes, the officials had a discussion between them. I don’t know who had the last word but they did what they are supposed to and allowed the goal.”

Astori is already looking ahead to Sunday, when Roma host Lazio in the Derby della Capitale.

“This is a very special week leading up to the Roma derby.

Both Lazio and ourselves arrive to the game in good form,” he said.

“Today’s win against Udinese was very important to help prepare for Sunday’s derby and to put pressure on Juventus. However, we only think about ourselves and what we can do.”

Goal Was Right Decision - Astori

THE NIGERIAN

30

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

‘Messi Worth 87m Euros More Than Ronaldo’

LIONEL Messi is worth 87 million Euros more than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to research within the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) in Switzerland.

The 27-year-old attacker has won four Ballons d’Or in his career so far and skippered Argentina to estimated the World Cup net worth final last of year, 60m winning the Golden Ball award Euros to the Santiago Bernabeu for being the best player in the club. process.

Chelsea have three players in Like Ronaldo with Real the top 10: Eden Hazard is rated Madrid, Messi has a contract at +99m in third spot just ahead with Barcelona until June 2018, of fourth-placed Diego Costa although reports have been (84m Euros ) and fellow summer circulating in recent weeks that signing Cesc Fabregas in eighth he might swap Camp Nou for (62m Euros).

Chelsea due to discontent in Juventus bagged Paul Pogba Catalunya. for free in 2012, now he’s valued But Chelsea will know Messi at 72m Euros - fifth in CIES’ will not be cheap: the Football Observatory, a research group within CIES, suggest Messi currently has a valuation of 220m Euros.

Ronaldo is next in the list, valued at 133m Euros, while world-record signing Gareth Bale sits in 10th with an

ranking as of January 2015 while the other three spots in the top 10 are filled by Premier League players: Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero at +65m in sixth, Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling at +63m in seventh and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez.

Notable absentees from the top 10 include Neymar (11th at +58m), Bayern Munich’s highest-valued star Mario Gotze (13th at 52mEuros) and 2014’s most expensive player Luis Suarez (16th at 48m Euros).

European champions Real Madrid have the most players on

the list with eight other stars in addition to Ronaldo and Bale in the top 120: James Rodriguez in 15th, Isco in 17th, Karim Benzema in 21st, Toni Kroos in 23rd, Luka Modric in 27th, Sergio Ramos in 40th, Dani Carvajal in 68th, Raphael Varane in 87th and Marcelo in 94th.

The oldest player in CIES’ 2015 valuation tally is 31-yearold Franck Ribery, tied for 106th at 20m Euros, while Manchester United’s teenage left-back Luke Shaw is valued at 26m Euros along with Mario Balotelli and Gerard Pique in 65th.

JOAN Laporta will stand in the 2016 Barcelona presidential election and the former club chief plans to bring back Pep Guardiola as sporting director.

Laporta led Barca to 12 titles in his first mandate between 2003 and 2010, hiring current Bayern Munich boss Guardiola as first-team coach in 2008 for what would be the most successful spell in the club’s history.

Guardiola eventually left in 2012 to take a sabbatical in New

Ronaldo (left) and Messi (right).

Osvaldo Spat In The Past - Icardi

ICARDI gained Inter at point with an equaliser just after the hour mark in the Derby d’Italia, but was the subject of Osvaldo’s frustration later in the game for shooting instead of playing his fellow striker in.

Southampton loanee Osvaldo was visibly angered by Icardi’s decision, although the goalscorer was able to keep himself from reacting.

However, Icardi explained afterwards that he understood why Osvaldo was frustrated by the decision to shoot and accepted the blame.

“That sort of thing happens in the heat of the moment but once you’re off the pitch it’s all forgotten about,” he is quoted as telling Inter’s official website.

“It was my fault because I should have passed to him.”

Inter sit 11th in Serie A with Roberto Mancini’s side appearing to have found some form following the Italian’s return to the helm.

With work still to do to catch rivals Milan in seventh and challenge for a European berth, Icardi stated his hope that a point against champions Juve could inspire a positive run, adding his desire to remain at the club.

“We fought back well to earn this point by showing character and we could even have won it at the end,” he added.

“We just have to go on battling and see where we end up come the end of the season.

“I keep saying I want to stay here.

I’ve told the club and my agent that and there’s nothing more to add.”

Mancini

Inter’s First Half Against Juventus then after the break we did much better.

“We had more control of the wide areas in the second half and they found it harder to push up.

After that we went on to create some good chances.

“I’m pleased because I know you can’t change things in a month. But I think the players are showing lots of improvement.

We just need to capitalise better on the chances we’re creating.”

Inter currently sit 11th in the Serie A table with 22 points from 17 games

Laporta Wants To Bring Back Pep In 2016

PSG Can Easily Afford Messi

JAVIER Pastore says Paris Saint-Germain are ready to make a move for Lionel Messi if the Barcelona attacker were to become available and claims money would not be a problem.

Messi has endured a turbulent relationship with the club hierarchy in recent months and question marks over his future at the club have been raised again after the departures of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and Carles Puyol this week.

The prolific attacker suggested earlier this season that his long-term future could lie away from Camp Nou, and Pastore believes PSG would be right at the head of the queue to sign him should the opportunity arise.

“If Messi were to leave Barcelona, Paris SaintGermain’s owner will be right there to strike a deal,” Pastore was quoted as saying

by TyC Sports.

“Money will not be a problem. The club has the resources to buy a number of Messis.”

Messi has a contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2018, but has a buyout clause of +250 million.

The 27-year-old attacker has been in sublime form in 2014-15, netting 23 goals in as many appearances in all competitions.

He was crowned all-time top scorer of both La Liga and the Champions League earlier this season, though he remains second-favourite behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the 2014 Ballon d’Or.

ROBERTO Mancini has admitted that Inter were unable to cope with Juventus in the opening 45 minutes of Tuesday’s 1-1 Serie A draw.

Carlos Tevez gifted the reigning champions an early lead in Turin, but Mauro Icardi eventually helped Mancini’s men to a point with his 64thminute goal.

While Mancini acknowledged their improvement in the second half, he has called on his side to show their best qualities throughout the 90 minutes going forward.

“It’s a decent point but I’m not completely happy because games last 90 minutes and in the first 45 we didn’t play as well as we should,” Mancini said at a press conference.

“In the first period we struggled to get the measure of them. We only had about 10 minutes when we did quite well,

Laporta (middle) with Pep Guardiola (right).

York after problems with Laporta’s successor Sandro Rosell, but the pair could return to Camp Nou in tandem next year.

Goal understands Laporta has already made contact with Guardiola about a possible linkup and the Catalan coach is open to a sensational return. However, the 43-year-old, who won 14 out of a possible 19 titles as Barca boss between 2008 and 2012, would favour the role of sporting director.

Barca legend Johan Cruyff could also be back in an advisory role, while Laporta wants a side coached by players who shone in Guardiola’s first spell in charge.

Carles Puyol, who resigned as assistant director of football following the sacking of Andoni Zubizarreta on Monday, told Barca in December of his plans to complete his coaching badges and the former club captain is one option under consideration.

The 36-year-old could work alongside Xavi and Eric Abidal, both of whom are also keen to take up coaching roles in the near future, once they have passed the necessary Uefa exams.

Laporta, who plans to sever the club’s controversial sponsorship links with Qatar Airways, would prefer to return in 2016 and would lead calls for a European Super League with Barca at the forefront of such a competition.

However, the 52-year-old lawyer will also stand if elections are moved forward to this summer.

Luis Enrique’s Side Begin Decisive Run

BARCELONA hope to put a difficult few days behind them when they host Elche in the first leg of the Copa del Rey last 16 tonight.

In their first match back after the mid-season break, Luis Enrique’s side went down 1-0 at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday as Jordi Alba’s secondminute own goal proved decisive at the Anoeta.

The head coach opted to leave star forwards Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench at the start of that match, after the pair joined up with the squad late having been given two extra days’ rest.

Both were introduced in the second half but to no avail, and the decision was questioned by

the media in the aftermath.

Messi missed training on Monday with an upset stomach, while Rafinha was also absent due to an ear infection, and it remains unclear whether either will feature on Thursday.

Defeat at Sociedad was followed by the news that director of football Andoni Zubizarreta had been sacked, with the club under a transfer embargo until January 2016 due to their previous dealings at youth level.

Zubizarreta’s departure was swiftly followed by that of another club legend, Carles Puyol, who left his role as assistant sports director to cap a tumultuous 48 hours for the Catalan giants.

The match at Camp Nou provides Barca with a chance to focus on matters on the pitch, as they continue their quest for a 27th Copa crown against La Liga’s bottom club.

Midfielder Andres Iniesta hopes they can improve ahead of a busy schedule, with Elche’s vist representing the first of four matches in 11 days.

“We want to play well this month because we have a lot of games,” he said. “We play every third or fourth day so we have to look at our pluses and fix our minuses.”

And Sergio Busquets echoed the sentiments of his team-mate.

“It’s not easy to say now, but we still have to play the Spanish Cup, the rest of La Liga and then we’ve got the Champions

League. We need to get better,” he said.

Elche make the trip as huge underdogs, having lost 3-0 and 4-0 on their last two visits to the iconic stadium.

Fran Escriba’s men - who progressed courtesy of a 1-0 aggregate triumph over Valladolid last month - have managed just two wins from 17 matches in La Liga, and the last time they found the net away from home in any competition came in a 3-1 league defeat at Valencia back in October.

Even given Barca’s troublesome few days, Luis Enrique’s side will be firm favourites to secure a healthy first-leg advantage to take to the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero for the return tie next week.

THE NIGERIAN

31

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Keshi Should Remain Eagles Coach, Says AMOS Adamu, a Adamu

former Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) on Tuesday said that Coach Stephen Keshi should still remain in charge of the Super Eagles.

Adamu made the assertion in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

The Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board has yet to renew Keshi’s contract, which expired in July 2014.

The development stemmed from the poor performances of the Super Eagles in recent times, especially their failure to qualify for the 2015 AFCON, billed for Equatorial Guinea.

“For me those asking Keshi to resign don’t’ know what they are saying.

“Why should Stephen Keshi resign why, has he not won the major championship for Africa, for Nigeria, has he not?

“If we don’t qualify we don’t even look at the situation which made them not to qualify, people are always trying to sack people: sack! Sack! Sack!

Sack!

S/Africa Leave For Gabon BAFANA Bafana departed for Gabon this afternoon, yesterday for Equatorial Guinea for the CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2015 tournament.

The South African squad will now fly directly to Libreville, the capital of Gabon after they were initially scheduled to make an overnight stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The travelling party left at 14h50, but will first meet the Minister of Sports and Recreation the Honourable Fikile Mbalula at 11h00 who will wish them well on their assignment.

The Minister will be accompanied by the President of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Dr Danny Jordaan at the Southern Sun Hotel OR Tambo international Airport in Johannesburg.

“As for me I think Keshi is a coach that they should rely on, all those that are shouting, if they put them there they cannot do anything.

“For me Keshi should remain, every hand should be on deck, every coach has to improve himself, we hope that this year will bring us better things.

“But at any rate Nigerian football is trying, nobody can say Nigerian football is not trying, yes we didn’t qualify for Cup of Nations, we don’t have to qualify for everything.’’

Eduok Ordered Out Of Eagles Over Transfer Saga NFF president Amaju Pinnick has ordered Emem Eduok out of the Nigeria camp ahead of two friendlies in the United Arab Emirates.

Dolphins star striker Eduok has signed for Esperance of Tunisia after first signing for a Norwegian club Sarpsborg 08.

“We are not happy with the cloud of controversy over his transfer issue and it is a terrible distraction to the team and Nigeria football generally,” Pinnick said.

“Telling him to leave the camp does not mean we are indicting him. We will carry out an investigation and whoever is found guilty, be he/she an agent or player manager or an official of his club, will be duly sanctioned.”

Amaju Pinnick, NFF President

Pinnick added: “We have to do this (send the boy out of camp) to serve as a deterrent to others. We are not blaming the player for anything yet; investigation will unravel who is guilty.

But the distraction and controversy the matter has generated is not good for the camp.”

The NFF president has mandated the chairman of technical and development committee, Felix AnyansiAgwu, to conduct an investigation into the matter and report back to the Executive Committee at its meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

The Super Eagles B are preparing to face 2015 Africa Cup of Nations – bound Cote d’Ivoire in a friendly in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and will then play Sudan in Dubai on January 17.

More Foreign Pros Set To Join Flying Eagles EUROPE-based Musa Yahaya and Chidera Eze have confirmed their arrival dates to the training camp of the Nigeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles.

According to Flying Eagles team secretary Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim, Musa has said he will join the team by January 16 after he would have finished playing in an invitational tournament in Malaysia involving Tottenham youth team.

FC Porto youth team forward Chidera Eze, on the other hand, said he will join the team’s

Bafana Bafana

Towards Improved Sports

B’Ball Coaches Want More League Matches

A cross-section of Nigerian basketball coaches on Tuesday urged the Nigeria Basketball federation (NBBF) to make provisions for more clubs to play in the sport’s top leagues in the country.

The coaches said that this what we thought it is. would allow for more matches “The standard is higher in and consequently improve the other parts than what we have standard of the game. here. But our league is getting They said it was necessary to better by the day though. have more matches in the league “However, to get better than for it to be competitive and good we are now, NBBF has to enough to be compared with accommodate more clubs in the those of other parts of the world. league so that we can play more The top leagues are the DStv games.

Men’s Basketball Premier “It is only by playing more League and the Zenith Bank games that the players will know Women Basketball League. how well they can perform and Coach Aderemi Adewumi of also discover their First Bank women’s club of shortcomings,’’ Adewumi said.

Lagos said more clubs should be The Coach of FCT Angels of allowed in the Zenith Bank Abuja, Emmanuel Odah, said the League so that the clubs could few number of matches played play more matches. in the league does not put the “Judging by what we saw at players to any real test. the African Club Championship He said the situation does not (ACC) for Women in Tunisia, we also speak well of the winners discovered that the standard of of the league as Nigerian our league is quite different from champions, because only few

matches were played to attain the position.

“Now that we have more clubs in the league than before, there should be more matches for each club to play.

“Take a look at the DStv Men’s League winners, Kano Pillars.

They played 14 games at the Savannah Conference level and played six at the play-offs to win the league.

“That doesn’t put the players to any real test because, in the other leagues in other African countries, some of them play two or three matches in a day. Over here, we play only one.

“With the standard we have in our league here, it is obvious that we are deficient and we need to improve. But this is not to say that the NBBF has not been trying,’’ Odah said.

In his reaction, Coach Peter Ahmed of Mark Mentors of Abuja said Nigeria was still lagging behind when compared

to some other African countries.

He said the country’s clubs and national teams could only get better when players had more playing time.

“My advice to the NBBF is that the level of our league should be raised by clubs playing more games.

“They (NBBF) should also intensify efforts at sponsorship so that the span of the league can be extended to accommodate more clubs and more matches than now.

“When the league is on, it should be real business for the clubs through the schedule of matches which will be outlined for them. With this, our players will improve.

“This is because we saw a different thing from our league when we went for the ACC for Men in Tunisia some weeks ago, and we only hope it can improve from what we have now,’’ Ahmedu said.

Kaduna training camp on January 15.

Other foreign pros Taiwo Awoniyi and Musa Muhammed have already joined up.

Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba has given a January 15 deadline for all invited foreignbased professionals to join the squad.

Aliyu Ibrahim further disclosed he expects to get confirmation for the arrival of Manchester City pair of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali as well as Slovakiabased Moses Simon and Kingsley Madu later this week.

The Nigeria U20s are slated to feature in an expanded Super 4 tournament that will include Nigeria U23 team, league champions Kano Pillars as well as Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Dolphins.

The Super 4 is expected to begin on January 22 in Abuja.

They are then expected to depart for an overseas training camp ahead of the 2015 African Youth Championship, which kicks off in Senegal on March 8.

The Flying Eagles are drawn in Group A along with the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo.

Chidera Eze

THE NIGERIAN

32

CMYK

Where The Young Have Grown

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

OREGBENI: AFTER the very successful carnival organized by the Resident Youth Association, RYA, Oregbeni Housing Estate, Benin City, at which this writer was a Guest Speaker, it has become clear that the good life begins from the grassroots. The Oregbeni Community is situated at Ikpoba Hill on the Eastern flank of Benin City.

A community that was once at the outskirts of Benin City in the Greater Oredo Municipality is today at the centre of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area. The very interesting history of this community shall be left for another day.

What we find in the paragraphs that follow is a synopsis of the address provided at the peak of the carnival on 30 December 2014. To the extent that this address is adaptable to every locale in Nigeria and beyond, it is intended for youths everyw h e r e .

Elsewhere, the view is popularly held that the young shall grow. But at Oregbeni, the young have grown. Our youths have outgrown us. Quite often, wisdom consists in being able to acknowledge the efforts of the young ones who are doing what we have not been able to do.

For five years running, you have successfully organized this annual carnival. This year, you moved the carnival to a much higher level by partnering with some reputable organizations that exist within the Estate. This innovation is worthy of commendat i o n .

This yearís carnival has been so perfectly organized that it surpasses most of those special centres where

we go in search of fun, at very high costs, in America and Europe.

Oregbeni is a land of promise. It has grown in excellence as it has grown in size. In the beginning, this Estate was so for detached from Benin City that not many were prepared to buy the superior houses provided by the Bendel Development and Property Authority, BDPA. At the industrial level, this Estate stands out as perhaps the only one in Nigeria, if not worldwide, that has two breweries.

Yes, for some time now, one of the breweries brews profits while the other brews fraud.

During the Lucky Igbinedion-led Administration, this Estate was home to two civil Commissioners ñ the then Commissioner for Health, the late Barrister/ Pharmacist Godwin Oviagele and then Commissioner for Information, Hon. Chris Agbowanegbe.

At the very peak of academics in this country, perhaps unknown to the powers-that-be, there is a school in the Estate that makes Edo State proud ñ the Oregbeni Estate School. Until quite recently, when education went awry at the Federal level, this school consistently produced at least two students for the Federal Government Academy for gifted children!

This is a height of excellence, which no other school in the State has

a c h i e v e d .

It is instructive that at Oregbeni, what started as a police post in 1985 is today a full-blown Police Division. That is growth in size and excell e n c e .

Years ago, when we allocated land to a young and up-coming civil servant to build his own house, little did we know that he was going to blossom into the Number One Civil Servant in the State. Today, that Civil

Yes, we can. Let your motto be ìAim high and work hardî.

This definitely puts a big burden on you, the youth. We are quickly reminded of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) who advised that ìThe heights which great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight; but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the n i g h t î .

Law of the land, the Constitution, as well as all the decent religions of the world forbid it. As we approach the 2015 elections, you must be determined to redirect your energy towards productive ends and refuse to be used as thugs to disrupt the elections.

You must continue to be your brothersí keep-

Servant, Mr. Jerry Obazele, is the Head of Service, Edo State and he is one of us.

Similarly, very many people who grew up in this Estate are making waves across the world in various endeavours.

Our prediction is that some time, some day, the Governor of this great State will be from the Oregbeni Housing Estate. Can we make it?

You can attain the lofty heights that God has carved out for you but not by playing football all day in this arena, thereby breaking peopleís louvers and destroying their roofs; but by working hard. Football is good but whereas it cannot make all of you great, hard work can.

Cultism is evil and it must be shunned by all means! The Supreme

ers. A few criminal elements still live in this Estate. These criminal elements are not spirits but human beings. You must constantly fish them out so that the Estate will remain peaceful for all of u s .

Whereas youths in other areas are fighting and killing themselves over land, here you are, very peaceful. There is no land to sell, anyway.

Maybe government should return to that era where it participated actively in providing housing to the citizenry instead of abandoning everyone to the heartless Shylocks.

Did I hear you say that times are hard? That is probably an understatement. Times are really tough. But remember that when the going gets tough, only the tough get going. The challenge posed by Ralph Emerson (1803-1882) has not been settled to finality: ìCan anyone remember when times were not hard and money not scare?î Do not be weighed down by the problems of unemployment. I have discovered from very early in life that the best time to acquire more education is during periods of unemployment.

Even in the worst of times, no education is useless. Between regular university degrees and wayside diplomas, I have more than a dozen ìcardboardsî that will never come near regular employment. You must imbibe the reading habit because the moment a man stops reading, he stops thinking. As we approach the New Year, you must remain resilient and take heart for change is on the way.

Once more, congratulation in this yearís most successful outing.

“At the industrial level, this Estate stands out as perhaps the only one in Nigeria, if not worldwide, that has two breweries. Yes, for some time now, one of the breweries brews profits while the other brews fraud.”

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