Nigerian observer 08 07 2013

THE

NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

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PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968

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Pgs. 16/17 World Press Freedom Day

Unchaining The Nigerian Watchdogs

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Ugolor: Campaigning Against ExtraJudicial Killings

MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

• Vol. 38 NO. 270 • MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013 • N100.00

Emergency: Yobe begs for special funds

DAMATURU - The Yobe Government has appealed to the Federal Government to float an intervention fund to cushion the effects of the

Boko Haram insurgency on affected states.

The Special Adviser to

the State Governor on Media and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego,

made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu yesterday.

Bego said that while the Yobe Government Continues on page 2

Tambuwal to pol office holders

Focus on service, not party

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR

BENIN CITY – The speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal has called on political office holders to forget political affiliations and focus on service to the electorate.

Tambuwal was Silver Jubilee wedding speaking in Benin City at anniversary of the state an interdenominational Deputy Governor, Dr. Church Service to mark Pius Egberanmwen the 56 th birthday and Odubu.

Mallam Tambuwal said the need to deemphasize party

affiliations is the principle that drives the

generality of members of the House of Representatives in

finding solutions to the Continues on page 2

Analysts laud proposed EFCC, ICPC merger

LAGOS - Some Analysts yesterday said that the proposed merger of the EFCC and

STOP OIL BUNKERING

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· · · · · ·

People of Edo State, Government has discovered that inspite of measures taken by security agents in the State to stop illegal oil bunkering, perpetrators of this shady business have continued unabated.

The State Government is warning all those still involved in oil bunkering in the State to, in their own interest, stop this shady and dubious business forthwith as stiffer penalties await them.

Any person or group of persons caught in the illegal business will be dealt with according to the law.

All vehicles and equipment used will be burnt.

Be patriotic, report any person suspected to be in the business of oil bunkering to the authorities concerned.

Join Government to rid the State of enemies of progress.

Edo State must continue to move forward.

This message is from the Edo State Ministry of Information and Orientation

ICPC would boost the Federal Government’s anti-corruption crusade.

The analysts were speaking on the proposed merger in separate interviews with our agency in Lagos.

The merger of the two anti-corruption agencies was recommended to the Federal Government by the Presidential Committee on Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal G o v e r n m e n t ’s P a r a s t a t a l s , Commissions and Agencies.

The Lagos State Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Continues on page 2

NIGERIAN ARMY DAY: President Goodluck Jonathan (left) presenting the Chief of Army Staff commenday award to Major-General Nnaemeka Maduegbunam at the 2013 Nigerian Army Day celebration in Abuja weekend.

NBA blasts Gov Oshiomhole’s critics

Execution: MORRISON HAYBLE

AUCHI The controversy fostered by a section of the public over the recent signing of the death sentence by Edo state Governor,

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been described as unnecessary but

designed to whip up sentiment on an issue already decided by the relevant law.

A legal practitioner and Auchi branch chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Barr.

Police won’t issue new firearms licences issuance of fresh The statement said ABUJA The - IGP licences for the that Abubakar also Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday restated that the ban imposed on the

procurement of firearms was still in force.

He made the declaration via a

statement issued in Abuja by CSP Frank Mba, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer.

reminded the public that the ban was imposed in exercise of the powers Continues on page 2

Anthony Aternoagbo while reacting to the spate of criticisms of the Governor ’s action posited that the Governor acted in tandem with the constitutional provision as demanded of him as Chief Executive of the State adding that he had no option other than to Continues on page 2

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

News

Focus on service, not party Continued from page 1

problems facing the country.

He noted that members of the House regard themselves as one family, whether serving or out of service, hence the need to support the Deputy Governor as he celebrates his birthday and marriage anniversary.

Mallam Tambuwal remarked that once members are elected they are expected to serve and represent that particular constituency, irrespective of the party platform the election was contested and won.

Dr. Pius Odubu and his wife Deaconess Endurance Odubu in their remarks expressed gratitude to God, the speaker, House of Representatives, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa and all guests for identifying with him.

In a message, Parish Priest of St. Albert’s Catholic Church, Rev. Father Andrew

Obinyan who conducted the renewal of marital vows said it is right for a couple to celebrate their wedding anniversary with a unique sense of triumph.

The cleric admonished the Deputy Governor to redouble his determination to operate by godly counsel from sincere friends and well wishers.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Chief Judge of Edo State, Cromwell Idahosa, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, the Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, other Benin Palace Chiefs, Edo State and National

Continued from page 1

from the high court to the court of appeal and to the Supreme Court has no more right remaining in him/her to exercise. Therefore, once the supreme court has affirmed the decision of the court of appeal that the person is guilty as charged and the punishment for that offence is death by hanging, the only remedy left is the assent of the Governor” Barr.

Atemoagbo submitted.

He, however, observed that the Governor, based on report from the prison, could grant a prerogative right of amnesty to that particular condemned criminal by the

NBA blasts Gov Oshiomhole’s critics assent to the execution of the condemned criminals.

Atemoagbo who noted that the governor’s assent was a constitutional issue recalled President Jonathan’s recent reminder to the state governors across the country not to shy away from their constitutional responsibilities by accepting to sign death warrant of condemned criminals by valid court order as provided for by the constitution.

“Any condemned criminal who had exhausted all the constitutional rights of appeal

Police won’t issue new firearms licences

Continued from page 1 vested in the President and the IG respectively by the Firearms Act, to restrict the proliferation of firearms in the country.

“Consequently, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to state that in furtherance of the subsisting embargo, it has not and does not intend to issue permits to any person, group of persons, organisation or agency of any state government, for the procurement or purpose of bearing firearms.’’

The statement noted the concern expressed by many Nigerians over the eligibility and rumoured desire of some groups to bear firearms.

“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that the extant laws guiding the use of firearms explicitly prohibit the bearing of various categories of firearms, without requisite licences.

“Members of the public should therefore note that it is an offence punishable under the law for person to have in his possession or under his control any prohibited firearms without a licence granted by the President; a person to have in his possession or under his

control, a personal firearm without a licence issued by the IGP; any person to import or export firearms or ammunition without the appropriate licence.’’

The statement said that the police headquarters, therefore, urged vigilante groups and other sincere community efforts aimed at ensuring the people’s safety and security to work in partnership with the local police authorities.

It, however, stressed that the conduct and practice of such groups must be in total conformity with the laws of

Political Parties, Mr. Ayo Akintayo, said that merging the two agencies would make government to concentrate on handling corrupt cases.

“I support the merger because it will help to bring more funding to the agency and also allow for more government concentration on the discharge of its duties,” Akintayo said.

The initiator of the Peoples Movement for a New Nigeria, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, said: there is nothing wrong in merging the two agencies

LAGOS - Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), yesterday urged lecturers to abide by

Continued from page 1

“We have provided more than 200 vehicles to the JTF in addition to paying allowances to the operatives.’’

He said that the state had spent about four billion naira since the insurgency started, describing the insurgency as a big drain on the meagre resources of the state.

The special adviser also appealed to the Federal

Government to provide modern equipment to the security agencies, praising the troops for sticking to rules of engagement.

Bego said that the State Government had also disbursed about N197 million to victims of the insurgency as relief for their losses and also rehabilitated 300 classrooms destroyed by the insurgents.

the land, reiterating the determination of the police to uphold the existing restriction on the use of firearms.

“It is also in that vein that the force has closed down the armouries of all licensed firearms’ dealers, while keeping due surveillance on their activities.

“Government and nongovernment institutions with genuine concerns for the security of their environment are hereby advised to partner with the police and other legitimate security agencies for the safety of their environment,’’ it said.

constitutional power conferred on him pointing out that such amnesty was discretional.

Atemoagbo further explained that keeping a condemned criminal who had exhausted all constitutional right longer than necessary was a violation of his right adding:” You either execute him or set him free because he has nothing more to exercise” The legal practitioner contended that the issue of right to live by the victim which the constitution equally affirmed should also not be ignored noting that people must not unnecessarily be sentimental and be concerned only about the culprits right to life said to have become more paramount than the one who was killed.

While dismissing the critisms by some group of the governors assent as pivolous, Atemoagbo explained that death sentence remained valid until such a time the constitution was amended to abolish the capital punishment pointing out that the governor simply complied with the provision of the constitution which he swore to uphold on the day of swearing- in.

Analysts laud proposed EFCC merger Continued from page 1

because it was duplication in the first place.

“But the issue is, how ready is the government about fighting corruption.”

The National Chairman of the defunct Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy, Malam Danjuma Mohammed, however,

believed that merging the two agencies would not make them efficient.

“The only thing that can make them efficient is for the two agencies to have an inspiring leadership.”

According to him, the effect of the merging of the agencies is to reduce administrative cost.

By VICTOR OMOALU BENIN CITY – The need for robust partnership, with the third tier of government has been described as a panacea towards ensuring the even distribution of the dividends of democracy to the people.

The President of the Women In Focus for the actualization of the dividends of democracy, Pastor (Mrs.) Susan Agbonkonkon stated this during the organization’s courtesy call on the Executive Chairman of the Etsako Central Local Government Council at the weekend.

Mrs. Agbonkonkon who described as imperative the need to partner with the third tier of government on the need to reawaken women consciousness to actively

their calling and use their gifts and talents to impart on peoples’ lives positively.

Adeboye gave the advice at a special prayer session organised for lecturers at the RCCG National Headquarters in Ebute Meta, Lagos.

“Education is the only way to mould good citizens; therefore, you should endeavour to teach correctly and rightly to change the students’ lives, while changing our educational system and the society at large,” he said.

The cleric urged the people to obey God’s commandments so as to attract His blessings, adding,

participate in politics, said her organisation was aimed at educating the women on their roles in the society and politics.

She stated that the nongovernmental organization was also aimed at fostering unity amongst women to drive home the democratic dividends by reminding elected political office holders of their electioneering promises to the people.

Pastor Agbonkonkon used the opportunity to call on women, especially at the grassroots to see the need for them to actively play their roles in politics.

Responding, the Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Momoh lauded the organisation for its initiative and described its vision/mission as a welcome

Welfare programme

ACN Chairman hails Owan West council boss SABONGIDDA-ORA – The Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Owan West Local Government has commended the Chairman of the Local Government Council Barrister Godwin Aigbodion for the programme already in place for the welfare of people in the locality.

Hon. Peter Eguaboi made the commendation when he led other executive members of the party on a solidarity visit to the council boss.

According to the ACN Chairman, “the people are already feeling the impact of the transformation work, especially on the reactivation work in Oke New and Uzebba water project” which have been abandoned for more than a decade now,

and the on-going renovation of the council’s secretariat.

While expressing the executive’s support for the chairman, Sir Eguaboi urged him to see his election. as a call to serve the people and make them feel the impact of governance.

Barr. Aigbodion in his response thanked the visitors for their visit and pledged to be transparent in order to be able to impact on the people positively.

He informed them of his intention to commence Town Hall meetings with the people on ward basis so as to meet with the people and know their problems with a view to finding solutions to them.

He noted that his job as council boss transcends making a difference in the lives of people of Owan West.

Strategic studies centre remains - AAU VC

BY OSE EHEBHA EKPOMA-The Acting ViceChancellor, Ambrose Alli University. (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, Prof.

Cordelia Agbebaku has denied

Adeboye tasks lecturers on diligence

Yobe begs for special funds

was totally in support of the declaration of emergency in the state, it would also like the Federal Government to set up a fund to assist people affected by the insurgency.

He said that the State Government had been cooperating and providing logistics to the Joint Task Force (JTF), tackling the security problems.

Assembly members as well as A.C.N Chieftains across the state.

Others included, wives of the Deputy Governor’s of Enugu and Delta States, PDP leaders from the state, representatives of the Oba of Benin, Enigie as well as traditional rulers across the state.

Group stresses need for partnership with LGs

however, that “excellence does not come in a cheap way.

“If you want to excel in life, you must be ready to work hard; excellence requires that you get to the top and remain there.

“We, the academicians, must be very humble before man and God; we should forget our degrees,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the lecturers, Prof.

Jide Osuntokun, a former lecturer at the University of Lagos, thanked Adeboye for organising the prayer session, adding that it was a wake up call for all academicians.

insinuations that the university’s management was making arrangements to scrap the Centre for Strategic and Development Studies of the university.

The centre was first established in December 17, 1997 as Centre for Security and Development Studies, before it was renamed Centre for Strategic and Development Studies.

Prof. Agbebaku in an interview said the university management has no such plans, adding that the centre was only being reorganized to reflect the original intent of its establishment.

She explained that the centre was not originally established to run post graduate programmes, but to organize conferences, seminars, researches regarding security and to attract grants from donor agencies.

The AAU boss noted that the re-orgaisation was meant to avert clash with the National Universities Commission (NUC), since the Commission’s regulations clearly states that a department must run first degree programmes to qualify for post graduate programmes.

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

South South Electricity Consumers Bemoan Staff Billings

By MORRISON HAYBLE

AUCHI – Electricity consumers in Auchi and environs have appealed to th authorities of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN to save them from the excesses of some of its staff alleged to be involved in sharp practices, especially in billing and revenue

collection.

Speaking with The NIGERIAN OBSRVER in Auchi on behalf of aggrieved consumers, Mr. Bello Mahmud contended that the billings of consumers are questionable, saying that they are irregular and not in tune with the power actually consumed by customers.”

Mr. Mahmud who decried the epileptic power supply in the area wondered how consumer, could incure outrageous bills served on them by PHCN when in fact, there was never a time they enjoyed supply for at least

five uninterrupted hours.

Mahmud alleged that the absence of metering facility to assess actual consumption by consumers was deliberate and intended to perpetuate fraud.

He said that the company’s

staff had capitalized on this contrive shortcoming to adopt the “Estimated Billings” system EBS to exploit those without metres through issuing outrageous bills.

He therefore called on the

Community Charts Road Map For Education

By MORRISON HAYBLE

SOMORIKA (AKOKOEDO) – Indigenes of Somorika Community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State at the weekend came together to chart a road map for enhanced educational development.

It was at meeting of the parents Teachers Assocation of Usomo Primary School hosted

by Somorika Development Association with a call on the people to render make sacrifices for the advancement of their children.

Traditional Ruler of the Community, HRH, Oba Sule Idaiye while addressing the gathering reminded those present to address lapses in the realization of the goal of forging ahead through concerted selfhelp efforts, saying that education remains paramount in modern day world.

Oba Idaiye urged the people to be proactive in their effort to redefine the education road map for their children without waiting for government.

The Royal Father used the modern to commend sons and daughters of the area at both home and in diaspora for the donation of educational materials to the primary school pupils.

He however lamented the inadequate number of teachers in the school, saying that the existing ones were not were not

living up to expectation.

This, he said prompted the indigenes to put resources together to sponsor extension lessons aimed at raising their academic standards of the children.

You can imagine pupils in the class cannot read; so, we decided that the money being contributed, instead of using it for social activities, we converted it for educational purposes and employed community self-help teachers.”

He explained.

relevant authorities to intervene and restore sanity as the current development did not encourage payment of the so-called bills so as to allow for harmony between consumers and the company.

Man Jailed For Stealing

By DANIEL EDOBOR

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service, Chief (sir) Oseni Elamah displaying the Tax Identification Number (TIN) while addressing participants at the tax seminar organised by the New Benin Youth Organisation in collaboration with the EIRS held in Bein City.

2013 Budget: We’ll Give Nigerians BENIN CITY - The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on Friday urged Nigerians not to panic over the controversy trailing the 2013 budget.

Tambuwal who spoke with newsmen in Benin on arrival in the state to felicitate with the Oba of Benin, Erediauwa, on his birthday celebration urged Nigerians to be calm and patient, promising that the House would ensure that the government delivered the best.

He said that consultations were still on to ensure that all issues relating to full implementations of the budget were resolved.

The speaker said one of the beauties of democracy was the ability of the three tiers of government to operate independently and their ability to arrive at a compromise.

Also speaking with newsmen in Benin, Rep. Leo Ogor, promised workers that their

By OSAZUWA AKONEDO

formance

BENIN CITY - Fourteen year-old senior secondary school student of Emotan Girls College, Miss Amadasun Isoken has been offered free tertiary education scholarship for being

the overall winner in the Edo language competition held last week in Benin City.

The former Minister of Works, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi made the offer at

The Best

August and September salaries would be paid.

Ogor, who is the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, said the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had debunked the statement credited to her saying that she was misquoted.

“The minister definitely may not want to deny a statement that

Edo Language: Students Rewarded For Good Per-

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah delivering a keynote address during the 2013 Law Week held at the Edo Hotel, Benin City recently.

Idia College hall, venue of the Edo language competition organized by the Edo Language Renaissance Project for secondary schools in the state.

According to the former Minister of Works, the scholarship would take effect from secondary school till she round off her University education.

Other winners at the competition include, Miss Erhahon Progress of Idia College (second position) and Osamwonyi Trust of Imaguero Girls College (third position) who were also offered free education scholarship to complete their senior secondary school by the former minister.

Earlier, the former Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Youth and Students Affairs and the Coordinator of the Edo Language Renaissance Project, Hon. Nosa Omorodion said the completion was organised to promote Edo language with a view to safe guard the language from extinction.

she has made; so, I tend to believe her that she did not make that statement.

“I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that there is no way that we will run into such hiccups; so there is no cause for alarm.

IGUOBAZUWA – An Iguobazuwa Magistrate Court in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State presided over by Mrs. I.U. Iyoha has sentenced one Mr. Sunday Etim, 23 to four months imprisonment on a two count charge of stealing two bags of fresh palm fruits popularly called (banga) worth N16,000 property of Okomu Oil Palm Company, Okomu.

Prosecuting police officer Sgt Osemwegie Igbinoba of Iguobazuwa Police Division had told the court now at large on June 18, 2013 at about 5.15 pm at Okomu conspired to steal three bags of loose palm fruits, popularly called banga valued at N16,800 property of Okomu Oil Palm Company. When the case come up for hearing the accused pleaded guilty to the charge and Magistrate Iyoha then sentenced him to two months imprisonment with an option of fine of N2,000.

Esan S’East Chairperson Flags Off Deworming Awareness Campaign

UBIAJA – The chairperson Esan South East local government area, Mrs. Evelyn Ikpea has flagged off the deworming awareness campaign and treatment in Ubiaja, the administrative headquarters of Esan South East Local Government Area.

In her speech, she said the exercise is in fulfillment of the local government chairman’s promise for the provision of quality and affordable healthcare service to the people.

Mrs. Ikpea said worm infestation is as devastating as it could have been found in young children and infants, as they are exposed to various

substance and places where worms inhabit.

She observed that it remained a great threat to the survival of young children, accounting for 30 percent of all childhood death in communities.

She emphasised the importance of the awareness campaign and treatment to educate people on its presence and how to prevent it.

Present at the ceremony were the Executive Chairman, Hon. Joseph Ikpea, the ViceChairman, Hon. T. Igogbe, Secretary, Hon. Solomon Oyedo, among other top officers of the council.

FUGAR – The Secretary to Etsako Central Local Government (SLG), Council Hon. Anthony Omholua has commended the chairman of the council Hon.Emmanuel Momoh.

Chief Omholua made the commendation in Fugar while speaking with newsmen.

He said the administration of Hon. Momoh is impacting positively on the lives of people in the locality.

The SLG further disclosed that the council boss is a man that has strong passion for the

development and welfare of the people of Etsako Central.

He applauded the visionary and purposeful leadership qualities of the council boss which he said has transformed the area within the last two months of assuming leadership of the council.

Chief Anthony Omholua however called on the people to be patient with the Administration saying that, to succeed the council boss must take to plan before his plans will start unfolding.

SLG Commends Council Boss

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South South

Aftermath Of Ban: Motorbike Riders Invade Auchi

By MORRISON HAYBLE

AUCHI - An unprecedented influx of motor bike riders is reported to have overwhelmed Auchi metropolis in Etsako West Local Government in recent times , a development residents say is causing them serious concern for fear of infux of criminalities just as the authorities of the council took immediate step to regulate their operation between 6am and 8am.

The exodus of motor bikes ,popularly called ‘Okada’ to the North and central senatorial districts of the state followed the ban three weeks ago, of their use by Edo state government in Oredo, IkpobaOkha, and Egor Council Areas.

Reacting to the development, Vice Chairman of the council, Hon. Idaro Mohammed Alasan said the decision to streamline the hours of bike operation in the area was taken at a recent peace and security meeting in

order to curtail nefarious activities that might arise as a result .

Alasan said the police in the area had been mandated to effect arrest of any bike found outside after the stipulated time

of 8pm.

He disclosed plans by the council to introduce a uniform

identity for the bike riders in the locality after it had carefully concluded a comprehensive

The Executive Chairman, Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea (middle) making his speech during the thank you party held for members of ACN in the Local Government.

With him are the Vice Chairman, Hon. T. Igogbe and the SLG, Hon. Solomon Oyedo

census of all of them adding that the measure was expected to enhance easy checking and monitoring against criminal activities.

Alasan called for contributions from members of the public for the council to succeed in the war against crime, assuring that an open door awaited anyone with ideas and information in this regard which he said would be implemented as far as they were for the good of the people of Etsako West.

Police Area Commander ,Edo North ,ACP David Jimwan who acknowledged that there had been more motor bikes in Auchi than passengers since the ban in Benin City assured that the police were on top of the situation and working round the clock to checkmate criminal activities as a result.

Investigation revealed that bike fares had dropped by between ten and twenty percent due to large number of bikes in the town competing for fewer

AFAN Elects New Exco Members

By DOROTHY EGBOBAMWONYI

BENIN CITY – Dr. Peter Okpere has emerged winner of the 2013 All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Chairmanship election.

The election which was conducted at the Edo Agricultural Programme (ADP) Hall Oko, Ogba road was done under the watchful eyes of the AFAN National Co-ordinator, Barr. Osia Okon, officials of the state and Federal Ministry of

Agriculture, AFAN State Electoral Committee Chairman and members, Security operatives drawn from the Nigeria Police and State Security Services (SSS) and other observers.

At the end of the election which was conducted in a peaceful manner, Dr. Peter Okpere polled 75 votes against his opponent Barr.

Ezekiel Osiomah who got 9 votes.

The post of secretary had Alhaji Aminu Yakubu as winner with 45 votes against his two opponents, Dr. Edosa

and Mr. Matthew Iziyon who got 17 and 22 votes respectively, while Mr. Isaac Azama, Mr. Martins Okoeguale and Hon. O. Urhoghide were duly elected for the positions of Auditor, Ex-officio and Youth Representative.

Mr. Francis Olaiye clinched the position of ViceChairman, Edo South/South, Mr. Oribhabor, Edo Central, Hon. Egumamhe Edwin Edo North, Prince Emmanuel Odigie, State Deputy Chairman, Major Raphael

Ayenote Treasurer, Mrs. Felicia Imafidon women representative Organizing Secretary, Mrs. Mary Ogbebor, Mr. Omoruyi Edomioya, Publicity Secretary and Brown Obiose, Financial Secretary.

Describing agriculture as the base of industrialization, the State Electoral Committee Chairman, Mr. Matthias Ogunsuyi urged voters to vote wisely to entrench and retain the transparency and accountability the association has been known for over the

The motobikes donated to the highest voting wards by the Executive Chairman, Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea during the thank you party he held for All ACN members in the local government.

years.

Addressing the farmers, the National Co-ordinator, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Barr. Asia Okon Asia while commending Edo State chapter of the association for their harmonious relationship with each other and their level headedness unlike other states that have been going in and out of courts, urged that they sustain the standard they had set for themselves over the years.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after he was declared winner of the AFAN 2013 chairmanship election, Dr. Okpere promised to work closely with the government at all levels to take AFAN to greater heights and sued for the co-operation of all members to make it a reality as he steers the ship of leadership for the next five years.

Dr. Peter Okpere has been the chairman of the association for the past eight years before his re-election.

Speaking on the re-election of Dr. Okpere, some of the farmers stressed that their purpose of re-electing the chairman was hinged on the fact that he has been a good representative of the association both within and outside the state and prayed that his second tenure brings them more closer to the government.

passengers.

A resident of the town, Mr. Usman Ikhazuagbe expressed worry that lack of engagement by some of the bike riders might lure them to crime and compel the state government to extend the ban to the area and urged the police to rise to the occasion.

LG Boss Gives Out Motor Bikes UBIAJA – The Executive Chairman of Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea has given out motor bikes to four wards in the local government area that came out 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively in the April 20 local government elections in Edo State.

Hon. Ikpea who was speaking in the thank you party he held for all ACN members in the local government at the Ubiaja Township Stadium thanked all ACN members for giving him their mandate in the April 20 local government election.

The chairman promised not to let them down, and that the people can see for themselves the developmental projects his administration had embarked upon in all the 10 Wards that makes up the local government, in less than One Hundred Days (100 Days) in office.

Hon. Ikpea said he gave out the motor bikes in fulfillments of his promises during his campaign. He also said the gesture is to encourage all voters to rise up to the challenge during elections.

The Executive chairman who is also known for matching his words with action promised that in the next election he will give out Toyota Camry cars to the wards that will come out as 1st, 2nd 3rd, and 4th positions respectively.

The wards that benefited from the gestures are Ward 21 Ewohimi, Ward 3 Ewatto, Ward 6 Ubiaja and Ward 10 Ugboha.

Present at the event are the Vice Chairman of the local government council, Hon. T. Igogbe, the Secretary to the local government council, Hon. Solomon Oyedo as well as other ACN chieftains.

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South South Delta Closes 662 Illegal ASABA - The Delta Schools Government has ordered the

L-R: Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Chairman of the Committee on Coal to Power, Mr. Sanusi Garba and Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim at the inauguration of the Committee in Abuja weekend.

closure of 662 private schools operating illegally in the state.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, told Journalists in Asaba that the closure would take effect on July 8.

Muoboghare said some of the affected schools were not registered, adding that some were operating in the environments not conducive for academic activities.

“Some of the schools are located in horrible, unsanitary areas, while some are sharing accommodation with barbing salons, churches and all kinds of businesses.

“There are those that remained in temporary accommodation for more than 20-years without effort to move to a new site.

“This is against the state government’s regulation of five years in temporary locations.

“We also have some whose proprietors just woke up and opened schools without approaching relevant government authorities for registration,” he said.

He said the sanction on each school would be lifted if it complied with the conditions that led to its closure.

Reports say that 62 schools were closed in Warri South Local Government Area, 60 in Ethiope West, and 55 in Uvwie.

Warri North had five, while Bomadi and Patani Local Government Areas had six schools each.

Muoboghare warned that the state government would deal with any of the operators who defied the sanction.

PORT HARCOURT - The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned legal practitioners against unethical behaviour such as commenting on sub judice matters.

NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali, gave the warning at the Annual Conference of the association’s Young Lawyers’ Forum (YLF) in Port Harcourt.

He said that any practitioner found guilty of commenting on such issues would be sanctioned, no matter the status.

Wali commended the theme of the summit entitled: “Raising the bar and standards for the young Nigerian lawyer in the legal profession“, describing the younger lawyers as the future of the profession.

According to him, the starting point of raising the standards is to pay attention to seminars and workshops at NBA fora.

“Try and imbibe the correct rule of professional prowess; professional misconduct matters would not be condoned anymore.

“In all the things you do, you must at all times, conduct yourselves well; the key word in the profession is perseverance,“ Wali said.

The NBA president, however, said that the welfare of young lawyers was being examined by the association.

Contributing, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, said the N10,000 monthly salary paid to some young lawyers by some firms was ridiculous.

Awomolo called for a “reasonable minimum wage“ that would apply to all practising young lawyers in the country.

He urged the employers of such lawyers to always identify and commend the ingenuity of the younger ones.

‘Seniors have the obligation to identify talents in the juniors,“ Awomolo said.

He condemned allegation of sex exploitation of junior lawyers, adding that such acts should be tackled.

Awomolo urged the younger ones to affiliate themselves to their seniors and contribute in raising the standard of the

NBA Warns Lawyers Against Unethical Behaviour

Committee on the development of Coal to Power framework, inaugurated by Prof. Chinedu Nebo in Abuja weekend.

Appeal Court Nullifies Selection Process

Obong Title: CALABAR - The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar has nullified the March 31, 2008 selection and proclamation of Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu as the Obong of Calabar.

The court gave the ruling in a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Garba assisted by Justices Uzo Ndukwe-Anyawu and Onyekachi Otisi.

The court also upheld an earlier judgment of the lower court that due process was not followed and that the selection of the incumbent was null and void.

It also ordered for a new selection process for the enthronement of the Obong of Calabar.

The judgment followed an appeal filed by Etubom Essien Ekpenyony Efiok, Etubom Okon Asuquo and Etubom Micah Archibong against the lower court’s judgment.

Garba said, “The selection and proclamation of the 6th respondent as the Obong-elect of Calabar by the Etubom Conclave of the Palace of the Obong on 31st march, 2008 is hereby set aside.

“The conclave is hereby

ordered to conduct another process of selecting a new Obong of Calabar in which all qualified candidates including the 6th respondent will be given the opportunity to participate.’’

According to the court the process of selecting a new Obong of Calabar should be done “in strict compliance with the rules of natural justice’’.

Garba said that the first respondent, Etubom Anthony Ani’s, right to fair hearing was breached during the selection process conducted by the appellants.

“For the breach of principles of natural justice and the first respondent’s right to fair hearing, the selection process conducted by the appellants which culminated in the selection and proclamation of the 6th respondent by the Etubom’s Council represented by the appellants is hereby set aside.

Garba also set aside the High Court’s decision that “the appellants had waived the

requirement of capping and induction of an Etubom by the Obong of Calabar into Etubom’s Councils of the Obong’s palace as a qualifying factor to vote and be voted for as the Obong of Calabar in favour of the 1st respondent”.

He also ruled that the first respondent who admittedly was not capped/inducted into the Etubom’s Council of the palace of the Obong at the time of the selection process was not qualified and eligible to vote and be voted for as the Obong.

It will be recalled that a Calabar High Cout Judge, Justice Obojor Ogar, had in suit, HC/102/2008 on Jan. 30, 2012, brought by Ani, restrained Otu from participating in the selection process.

The lower court also declared the process that brought the Obong to the throne as null and void and restrained Otu from participating in any selection for that purpose.

Justice Ogar specifically

restrained Otu from parading himself as the Obong of Calabar until proper election was done.

The judge also restrained the Etubom Traditional Council from excluding Ani and Mbiabo Ikoneto from any election or selection of an Obong.

In an interview with newsmen after the judgment Ani, a former minister of Finance, said he would take the matter to the Supreme Court for further arbitration. “ I was not in court and my lawyer just briefed me. So far, I see the ruling as 50-50 affair.

I will look at it, see how it affects me and may be appeal the judgment. “ However, one thing we are sure of for now is that there is no Obong of Calabar because the judgment today has nullified the entire processes.

For the Efik people now, there is no Obong,’’ he said.

Counsel to Otu, Mr. A.A Archi, said, “The judgement is

a vindication that capping is a fundamental requirement for a candidate to be eligible to contest for selection, election or appointment to the Obong of Calabar throne.

“The judgment also upheld our view that a learned trial judge, with all due respect, sought to perpetually alter the standing and recognised customs of Efik people which would have affected the lives and people of the community.

Uduaghan Reshuffles Cabinet, Drops 2 Commissioners ASABA Governor.

Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta has dropped two Commissioners in the State Executive Council in a minor cabinet reshuffle.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Ovuozourie Macaulay, the Secretary to the State Government, in Asaba.

The affected commissioners are: Mr Bernard Okumagba, Finance; and Gloria Okolugbo, Commissioner for Special Duties in charge of the State Liaison Office, Abuja.

According to the statement, Mr Kenneth Okpara, Commissioner

for Economic Planning is reassigned to the Ministry of Finance.

It added that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning will oversee the affairs of the ministry until a new commissioner is appointed.

The statement noted that Okolugbo was asked to return to Asaba for redeployment, while a Director would be posted to the State Liaison Office, Abuja.

It said “meanwhile, the Overseas Agency, formerly under the Ministry of Economic Planning, has now been returned to the Ministry of Finance.”

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South South Firm Petitions INEC Over Staff Dismissal

OSOGBO – A law firm, Kayode Oladeji and Co, has petitioned Prof. Atairu Jega, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over the dismissal of its client from the services of the commission.

The petition, signed by the firm’s principal partner, Mr. Kazeem Odedeji, and available to the newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday described the dismissal of Mr. SefiuAyanbimpe, its client as illegal It will be recalled that Ayanbimpe who was employed on January 8 as Administrative Office II with the commission, was one of the 1,500 newlyrecruited staff of the commission.

Police Investigate Murder Attempt

Students and staff of University of Benin registering their blocked Sim cards at the weekend.

OSOGBO - The police in Osun has said it was investigating allegation of an attempted murder of Sgt. Adams Alabi by some hoodlums following a land dispute.

Alabi is attached to the Nigeria Railway Police Command in Lagos State.

It was gathered that the man was reportedly shot at his residence on Laaro area of Osogbo by suspected assassins.

It was alleged that the hoodlums trailed Alabi to his house and shot him.

The victim is now being treated at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital Osogbo.

Reacting, Mrs Folashade Odoro, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident, saying that a man had been arrested in connection with the matter.

The PPRO explained that contrary to insinuations from certain quarters that the murder was politically motivated, it was a dispute on land between him and some of his kinsmen.

She, however, said that the police had since opened investigation into the incident, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the act.

According to her, the suspect is helping detectives in the course of their investigation into the incident, especially as it affected other suspects now at large.

The PPRO said the arrested suspect was being held on account of his alleged involvement in the attack because both of them had been involved in a land case.

immigrants was in line with the resolve of the incumbent Comptroller-General of the NIS to rid the country of persons who are in the country without valid travel documents. “Most of them made their way into Nigeria through illegal routes and settled down among our people, creating problems because they have no jobs, no family and no credible means of identity.

They are ready tools in the hands of self-serving

attacked our officers.

“They beat the officers, injured them and seized their rifles while trying to carry out their constitutional responsibilities,” he explained.

Sessi, however, said the arrest of the illegal immigrants had nothing to do with the Sunday attack on Olokuta Medium Prisons in Akure by some gunmen, which led to the escape of 175 prisoners.

He said “the arrest of the illegal immigrants is purely part of our constitutional responsibilities.”

Aisiri Christian, CEO, Youth Empowerment and Development Centre (YEDEC), with members of the organisation during a 2-day dissemination workshop on sexual health and rights tagged: Sexual Health and Rights in Africa - Where Are We”, organised by YEDEC

Armed Robbery Police Parade Vigilante Group Member OSOGBO - A member of a vigilante group in Ilesha, Osun, Isaac Samuyiwa, 45, on Friday appeared at an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly committing armed robbery.

Police prosecutor, Insp.

Isiaka Ajadi, alleged that the accused and others still at large, committed armed robbery on August 11, 2011, at Ereja Str., Ilesha, Ilesha West Local Government Area of Osun.

Ajadi added that the accused, with his accomplices, who were members of a vigilance group, armed with guns and dangerous weapons, robbed one Oluwole Aluko of his BlackBerry phone and N180,000.

He said the offence was contrary to the Criminal Code of Osun 2003.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and his counsel, Mr. Remigus Ngwu, applied for his bail.

The Magistrate, Mrs Ademola Olowolagba, granted the accused bail for N500,000, with two

sureties.

Olowolagba added that one of the sureties must be a house owner within the court’s jurisdiction and both sureties must swear to affidavit of means.

He ordered that they must also provide two passport photographs to the court.

The case was, however, adjourned to September 19 for further mention.

Immigration Parades 147 Illegal Immigrants

AKURE - The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in Ondo State in Akure has publicly presented 147 immigrants, who allegedly entered the country without travel documents.

The immigrants are from Niger Republic and Chad, the Comptroller of NIS, Mr Adetola Sessi, said.

Sessi said that the immigrants were arrested in the Sabo and Shasha areas of Akure.

He said the immigrants would be repatriated to their countries of origin “because they are constituting great security risks, especially

when it was discovered that they have no means of livelihood”.

Sessi said two of the immigrants allegedly attacked and injured some immigration officers while trying to resist arrest on Thursday.

He said the illegal immigrants had been living in the state for a very long time and that it took diligent surveillance to fish them out from their hiding.

“The arrest of the illegal

politicians and religious bigots who would want to use them to achieve their parochial, selfish interests.

“Ondo State is peaceful now and we should be careful so that some people who are prosecuting the Boko Haram attacks on innocent people do not come and recruit these illegal immigrants to carry out their nefarious activities.

“They appeared violent while we were trying to arrest them and some of them even

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Lagos Lagos- Ibadan Expressway

FG Pledges Speedy Completion LAGOS - The Federal Government will collaborate with the private sector to ensure speedy completion of the recon-

Tooth Brushing Challenge Will Promote Good Oral Hygiene - Fashola

LAGOS - Governor.

Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Thursday said the Lagos World Record Tooth Brushing Challenge (LWRTC) was aimed at promoting good oral hygiene.

Fashola, represented by Dr Yewande Adeshina, his Special Adviser on Public Health, said this at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, venue of the competition, organised for secondary school students. .

Reports say that more than 300,000 students from various secondary schools across the state participated in the competition.

Fashola said, “Oral health is a vital part of preventive health. It is a vital part of our wellbeing.

“A lot of times we forget our mouth when we go for medical check.

“We check our ears, heart, lungs, eyes and other parts of the body but forget that our mouth is the first point through which things enter into the body.

“As a preventive measure, we need to inculcate the habit of brushing our teeth, at least, twice a day and visiting our dentists. at least, two times a year,” the governor said.

Dr Bakare Lawal, the Project Head of LWRTC and Founder HEIT Solutions, said school children were chosen for the project because they were still at a stage when they could easily imbibe new habits.

He said that if the students could embrace good oral health habits, a generation of people who were concerned about oral health would have emerged.

Lawal said that the challenge was spread across communities in Lagos, including: Epe, Ikorodu, Agbara, Iyana Ipaja, Ikeja and Surulere.

Master John Onyebuchi, a participant from Sanya Junior Grammar School, Ijesha, Lagos, said he was delighted for being part of the world breaking record team.

He said: “the project has made me to be more knowledgeable about oral health.

struction of Lagos/Ibadan expressway in 30 months, Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, has said.

The minister said this at the inauguration of the reconstruction and expansion of the road

by President Goodluck Jonathan at Shagamu interchange on the

highway.

He said the 127.6 km road, awarded for N167 billion, was important to the nation’s economy.

He said that the Federal Ministry of Works would ensure the project was adequately funded and supervised.

“Government will collaborate

People at the commencement of sale of fertiliser, tractors, ox-drawn ploughs and work bulls to farmers by Gombe State Government recently.

with the private sector to ensure that this project is adequately funded and completed within 30 months as against earlier scheduled 48 months,” he said.

Onolememen said a third lane would be added to the two lanes on each side of section one of the road.

He added that work on section one of the road, awarded to Julius Berger, would include construction of an interchange at Redeem Camp.

It also includes construction of five pedestrian bridges and maintenance of the 10 existing bridges.

The minister explained that section one of the road spans the old toll gate area in Lagos to Shagamu interchange.

He said that section two of the project, awarded to RCC, would involve the reconstruction of the road from Shagamu to Ibadan and includes the maintenance of 12 existing bridges.

He said that the federal government terminated the concession agreement it had with BiCourtney to rehabilitate the road.

Onolememen explained that this was in order to stop the hardship and accidents faced by road users due to lack of progress in the reconstruction after four years.

Onolememen said that the government kept its promise and carried out emergency repairs on the highway to ensure smooth rides during the yuletide.

Housemaid, 23, Arrested Over N40m Theft

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM LAGOS - A 23-year old housemaid, Rita Emmanuel who stole her employer’s jewellery valued at N40 million on Victoria Island, Lagos State to do ritual to enable her marry a white man that would take her abroad has been arrested and charged to court.

Rita, an indigene of Calabar, Cross River State, allegedly admitted to the police that she stole the jewellery and handed them over to a fraudster who promised to make sacrifice for her to solve her family problems and enable her marry a white man that would take her abroad.

The housemaid was arrested following a complaint lodged by Mrs. Adaeze Nwuba to the police at Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos Island, where she reported that when she was not at home, Rita entered her room and absconded with her box of jewellery.

In her confessional statement to the police, Rita allegedly admitted that she was charmed by the fraudster whom she met on the street to steal the jewellery, claiming “When I went to buy a recharge card, a young man accosted me on the street and said

God told him to help me solve my family problems. He told me to go back home and bring my madam’s jewellery for him to make a sacrifice for me”.

“He promised me that after the sacrifice, all my enemies in my family will die and I would be able to marry a white man that will take me abroad. The mo-

ment he spoke with me, I lost my senses, and I ran home to pack my madam’s jewellery and handed them over to him,” she allegedly told the police.

Rita said after the man collected the jewellery, he took her to an unknown place with his car along with two other men and they raped her in turns, “He later dropped me off at Oshodi Bus Stop the next day and warned me not to tell anybody about what happened. He promised me that a white man

would approach me for marriage within two days.

Before I regained my consciousness, he had gone”.

Rita was charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of stealing by the prosecutor, Innocent Odugbo who said that the offences committed contravened sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of

Lagos State 2011.

The accused pleaded guilty to the crime in the open court and the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. C.J. Momodu adjourned the matter till 22 July, 2013, while she ordered that Rita should be remanded.

Director-General, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammed Sani-Sidi (right), presenting relief materials to Gombe State Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Jalo Bajoga (left) in Gombe recently.

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Across The Nation

Sokoto To Give Out Ramadan Package BODINGA (SOKOTO) Sokoto State government and its 23 local government councils would spend N1billion on various packages to assist the less privileged during the forthcoming Ramadan fast, Governor Aliyu Wamakko said.

Wamakko said this in Bodinga when he launched the distribution of 6,600 bags of assorted grains to indigent people in the state.

The governor also inaugurated the distribution of clothing materials for 6,300 orphans during the forth-

coming Sallah celebration.

He said that the packages would include Ramadan feeding programme for which government had earmarked N163 million.

He said that the administration of the 23 councils had been directed to open ‘Ramadan feeding centres’ during the period of the Ramadan fast.

He said that each of the beneficiaries of the 6,600 bags of assorted grains would also receive N5,000 for transport and other logistics. “Each of the 6,300 orphans will also

Return Of Ex- Wife

Housewife Drags Husband To Court KADUNA - A house wife, Aisha Umar, of Tudun Wada Quarters in Kaduna, has sued her husband, Umar Muhammad, at the Magajin Gari Sharia Court II, accusing him of reinstating his former wife.

She told the court on Friday that since he divorced the ex-wife, Muhammad continued patronising her for food and relaxation, in spite of Islamic injunction prohibiting him from doing so after divorcing her three times.

The plaintiff alleged that she converted to Islam because of him, but whenever she draws his attention to the Islamic injunction about the matter, he usually disagreed.

She alleged that the husband’s response prompted her court action.

The defendant denied the allegation.

Muhammad told the court that he had two children with

the ex-wife, adding that he had the right to see his children in her custody.

He admitted divorcing hie ex-wife three times but said it was due to provocation.

He said his action was informed by the advice he allegedly got from an Islamic cleric.

The Khadi, Ibrahim Mohammad, said that shari’a law forebade a divorced wife returning to her former husband.

“You have divorced her three times and she can’t return unless she remarries some one else, and not on any condition,” he said.

The Khadi directed the plaintiff to report back, if the defendant returned his ex-wife after the ruling of the court.

He warned the defendant that his action could incur the wrath of the law.

receive a wrapper of five yards of guinea brocade and N1,000 for sewing,” he said.

Wamakko urged officials in charge of the distribution to conduct the exercise with the fear of God.

“The gesture is aimed at showing that all the cross-section of people in the state are useful and that the state belongs to all of us.

“The fasting period is a blessed period and acts of philanthropy and sympathy are

greatly encouraged during and after the period,” he said.

In their separate remarks, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Prof. Musa Maitafsir, and the chairman,

were due to the failure of politicians to respect the rule of law, “characterised by massive corruption and lack of accountability”.

The Chairman of the occasion and former SecretaryGeneral of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party

(PRP), Malam Aliyu Umar, said the books would be resource materials in the study of Nigerian politics.

“The two books are reflection of the present Nigerian political scenario,” he said.

Why I Retired As Maj-Gen - Buhari ZARIA (KADUNA) - Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) has said he decided to retire with his current rank in 1985, to defend and promote the integrity of the military, instead of promoting himself.

The former Head of State made the statement at a public presentation of two books: “Nigerian military in politics, 1966-2011 and politics of transition to civil rule in Nigeria” in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Reports say that the books were published by Malam Nuhu Ramalan, Head of Political Science Department, Federal College Education (FCE), Zaria.

“It was the conviction of our regime that, being the Head of State and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, it does not mean that you are the overall General.

“My ultimate goal as at then was to ensure the integrity, justice, equity, accountability and transparency in the system. That was why I did away with unnecessarily promoting myself to General,” he said.

Speaking on the military in politics, Buhari, the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 general elections, identified some weaknesses of the past military regime to include corruption and abuse of office.

On politics, Buhari said the incessant military interventions

Two vehicles recovered by Joint Task Force from Boko Haram members in Yobe recently.

Bodinga local government, Alhaji Buda Badaum, commended the governor for “having the heart with the milk of human kindness.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the state Zakat and Endowment Committee, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, hailed Wamakko for his support and commitment to the activities of the committee.

He said that the committee’s activities were targeted at alleviating the sufferings of the less privileged in the society.

Cache of arms and materials recovered by Joint Task Force from Boko Haram members in Yobe recently

APGA Ups Preparation For Anambra Council Poll AWKA - The Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra, Chief Mike Kwento, has said the party would present formidable candidates for the October 5 local government polls.

Kwentoh, of the Chief Victor Umeh faction, told newsmen after the party’s state executive committee’s meeting in Awka that the wards and council candidates would be ready in three weeks.

He said that the party had started campaigns at the ward levels adding that the party would consider all the aspirants who purchased the party’s forms for the polls in 2011 in its nomination.

The chairman said that his executive committee would present its candidates as the authentic body.

“The state executives and councils’ chairmen of APGA met to deliberate on the forth-

coming elections and addressed the issue of the parallel executive committees that will submit APGA candidates’ list for the polls.

“Article 24 of our party has taken care of that because it states that every candidate of the party must be endorsed by the national executive.

“We have sold our nomination forms, those forms are still very relevant and those who want to buy anew are free to do so.

“We are the authentic exco that will present candidates for the election, and in less than three weeks our candidates will emerge; campaigns are already on,” he said.

Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Ifeanyi Udokwu, stated that APGA was in support of the council elections as it had been craving for it for a long time.

He urged the electoral commission to stick to the rules of the game.

Udokwu said that the alleged factions of the party would not mar its chances in the elections.

He advised the reconciliation committees to continue their effort to unite the party and shun provocative comments.

“They should do more on the ground than resorting to the press; let them gather the interests of party and broker real peace; I must say we are friends now than ever before.’’

The leader of the party in Awka North, Chief Goddy Ezenagu, said the performance of the party would prove bookmakers wrong as it always came out stronger after any perceived crisis.

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Abuja Supreme Court Affirms Maigari’s Death SOKOTO - The Supreme victed the appellant and senSentence Court has affirmed the death sentenced him to death by hanging. tence passed on Usman Maigari, a former policeman, for killing his wife, Sa’adatu.

Delivering judgment, Justice Mary Peter-Odili held that the appellant’s appeal lacked merit.

“In conclusion, therefore, I have to state that this appeal lacks merit and I dismiss it.

“I affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the decision, conviction and sentence of the appellant for culpable homicide punishable by death.

“I order that the sentence as passed by the trial High Court be carried out,’’ she said.

The appeal emanated from the

Court of Appeal, Sokoto Judicial Division.

The appellant was arraigned before the Sokoto State High Court on one count charge of culpable homicide punishable with death contrary to section 221(a) of the Penal Code.

On February 22, 2006, leave was granted to the respondent to amend the charge.

The appellant pleaded not guilty to the charge but the respondent called seven witnesses and tendered numerous exhibits to prove the case.

However, the appellant testified in his own defence and did not call any other witness.

The trial judge, Abbas, con-

Dissatisfied with the decision, the appellant approached the Court of Appeal which upheld the conviction and sentence.

Again, not satisfied, the appellant appealed the decision of the appellate court to the Supreme Court on May 13, 2010.

Maigari had approached the court to determine whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He further prayed the apex court to determine whether the Court of Appeal had not considered his submissions before affirming his conviction.

Zamfara Arms Vigilante

By JOSES SEDE ABUJA – In a seeming tacit endorsement of state armed of vigilante groups, Senate of the Federal Republic has rejected a motion to stop the act.

The prayer which was sponsored by Sen. Bashir Garba Mohammed (Kano Central) and 50 others had urged the Senate to “request the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces to prevail on Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State to rescind his decision to arm vigilante groups in the state with rifles”.

The Senate however resolved that the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deploy more security personnel to Zamfara and other states with similar security challenges.

This is even as Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary condemned the manner in which armed men come to town in Zamfara, robbed the people and flee to the forest only to return another day to rob them.

He therefore urged the police to provide security for the citizens, while the issue of legality and illegality of fire arms possession should be seriously addressed.

Moving the motion earlier, Sen. Mohammed alarmed by easy access to arms by groups that are neither trained nor authorised to bear arms and the rate at which groups and individuals now take to armed resistance.

He noted that the foregoing was partly responsible for the security challenges experienced in many parts of the country, including Zamfara state.

The senator further noted that the decision of the governor to arm the vigilante groups in Zamfara state with rifles was capable of further jeopardising the fragile security situation in the state.

Rather, Sen. Mohammed submitted that the needful is strengthening of statutory security agencies and not setting up

of alternative or rival security outfits.

He however acknowledged that the federal government was vigorously pursuing the policy of mopping up light and heavy weapons in the hands of the members of the public, in compliance with the ECOWAS convention on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

To this end, he was convinced that Zamfara and other states with peculiar security challenges will better address their security problems by requesting for additional security personnel and other assistance rather than setting up armed groups that may soon go out of control.

In his contribution, Senator Kabir Marafa urged that the motion should be discarded on the premise that the newspaper reports on which the information was based is false.

Senator Shaaba Lafiagi countered that as a member of the Senate Committee on National Security, he was aware that Zamfara governor had already purchased the fire arms before applying for police permit which was turned down.

Disturbed by the information, Senator Abdul Ningi called for probe into the “illegal” purchase, stressing that if curbed, other states would follow suit.

Senator Ita Enang wondered where the customs officials were when the weapons were imported into the country, while Sen. Magnus Abbe called for thorough investigation into the matter.

On his part, Senator Adegbenga Kaka called for increased policing of the country noting that the current 400,000 policemen to 150 million people was grossly inadequate.

National President, Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs. Nnenna Ihejirika (3rd left) and members of the association, presenting some hospital equipment to the Commanding Officer, Guards Brigade Medical Centre, Lt.-Col. Paul Egbo in Abuja recently.

National President, Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs. Nnenna Ihejirika (middle), presenting food to the General Coordinator, Anawin Orphanage and Old Peoples Home, Gwagwalada, FCT, Rev. Sister Oresoa Selo-Ojeme in Abuja recently

Abuja-Kaduna Railline, 68 Percent Completed

ABUJA - The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has said that the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Rail Modernisation Project was 68 per cent completed.

Umar announced this in Abuja at the launching of the track laying for the project by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

Reports say that the contract for the construction of the rail line was awarded to Chinese Civil and Engineering Construction Company in 2010.

The project, which has 187 kilometres rail network, will cost 850 million dollars (about N137 billion) and will be completed in 36 months.

The Chinese Exim Bank is financing the project with a soft loan of 500 million dollars (about N80.64 billion) while the Federal Government will provide the balance.

Highlighting the status of the rail line, the minister said the earthwork for the project was 92 per cent completed while hydraulic structures attained 87 per cent completion.

He said out of the 24 railway

bridges to be constructed, 17 had been completed to substructure level while work on the remaining seven were at various levels of completion.

“Four out of five box bridges have been completed while the remaining one is on-going. About 187 out of the 348 precast Tbeams for the bridges have been produced from which 52 have been successfully installed.

“One out of 25 bridges has been competed while work on the remaining 24 are at various stages of completion.

“The overall physical completion level so far for the project is 68 per cent,’’ the minister said.

Umar said the Abuja-Kaduna project was the first segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard Rail Line being constructed.

According to him, the Double Track Lagos-Ibadan segment will begin before the end of the year.

It will be recalles that the Federal Government had already completed the rehabilitation of the existing Lagos-Kano Narrow Gauge Rail Line, a distance of 1,124 Kilometres.

- Minister

“Passenger services and haulage of goods along the line began in Dec. 2012.

“The rehabilitation of the Eastern corridor (Port HarcourtMaiduguri), a distance of 1,657 Kilometres, is to be completed at the end of the year,’’ he said.

He said in order to ensure full operational efficiency, procurement processes have been concluded for the rehabilitation of sidings and loop lines along the western line.

“As a result of the restoration of services, economic activities are being further stimulated along the corridor, thereby engendering confidence in the citi-

zenry,’’ the minister said.

Sen. Sahabi Ya’u, Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, pledged support of the committee towards the realisation of the project.

“We are going to partner with the ministry of transport to deliver good governance to the nation.

Body Spray, Perfume Do Not Cause Cancer - Dermatologist

ABUJA - Dr Olanrewaju Falodun , a dermatologist with the National Hospital, Abuja, on Thursday said that body spray and perfume had not been proven to cause cancer.

Falodun told newsmen that it was, however, possible for an individual to have an allergic reaction to a particular perfume or body spray.

He advised people who had allergic tendencies or asthma to avoid the use of perfumes and body sprays to avoid any form of reaction. ‘’Really, I have not seen any evidence based literature and from my own experience, I don’t

see any cancers that body sprays cause. There is no evidence that the normal body sprays people use can cause cancer. ‘’The only thing about perfumes and body sprays is that it is possible for an individual to react to a particular type and that is an idiosyncratic reaction. ‘’So, if you use a particular brand and you feel that, perhaps, because of some components it contains, you are having some rash or some itching, then, you may need to switch to another one and look for one that is favourable to you. ‘’People that have allergic tendencies, we actually tell them to stay away from perfumes as much as possible because they

could react to them. ‘’Some people, at times, after shaving, they have some wounds there already and they now spray perfumes and the thing gets infected, gives them things like boils and they feel it is the perfume, but generally speaking most of the body sprays if you do not have asthma, you do not have allergic skin, they should not give you a problem. ‘’ Speaking on antiperspirant deodorants, Falodun said that it had little or no effect on the body, adding that it should be sprayed on the body.

He, however, advised that perfumes and body sprays should be used in moderation.

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

News Immigration Arrest 41 Illegal KADUNA - The Nigerian Immigrants would be repatriated to their Immigration Service (NIS) countries. tured the biometric data of the illegal immigrants.

He stressed need for foreigners entering to the country to seek and secure valid documents, adding: “Nigeria will not allow anybody without valid documents to stay in the country’’.

The comptroller said the suspected aliens were arrested at Gidanmallam, Maigatari Rijana and inside the state capital, adding that they

One of the suspected alien, Lawani Musa from Niger Republic, told newsmen that “I came to Nigeria to learn how to bake bread.

“I really regret coming to the country without document,’’ he said.

Also, Hamidu Haladu, another suspects from Niger Republic, said he would advice his people to secure valid documents before travelling to any country.

KANO -The Kano State Government has announced that it had earmarked N1 billion for the issuance of identity cards to residents of the state.

Governor.

Rabi’u Kwankwaso said in Kano at the launching of the programme that issuance of the cards was part of measures by government to monitor the influx of people into

Kano city.

He said that the project, which included registration of residential houses, would cover the eight local government areas in Kano metropolis.

He listed the areas to include Gwale, Tarauni, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Dala, Fage, Nasarawa and Ungoggo.

Kwankwaso said the exer-

cise would enhance security, through close identification, in addition to providing the government with reliable demographic data for development planning.

He said the cards would be issued free of charge.

He warned the public that residents who refused to obtain the ID cards at the initial stage would pay for it later.

YOLA - A cell phone dealer at the Jimeta Shopping Complex, Yola, Mr. Boda Kassim, on Saturday said that the state of emergency imposed on Adamawa was alien to the people of the state.

Kassim made the observation in Yola in an interview with newsmen.

He said the emergency and communications shutdown in the state had seriously affected cell phone dealers to the extent that some of them had stopped opening their shops.

He said that before the emergency, the traders used to receive a significant number of customers daily, but with the emergency and the communication shutdown, they found it difficult to sell a single cell phone in a day.

Mr Audu Zira of Zira Communications, a dealer of GSM recharge cards on Ahmadu Bello Way, Jimeta, said he had more than 2,000 customers across the state who usually purchased cards from him.

According to Zira, the communication shutdown has seriously affected their business.

Commenting on the importance of the emergency rule, he said: “initially I supported the emergency thinking that it will not last long as it was introduced based on security challenges.

“But now the situation has crippled our business and we have nothing to do because we learn that the emergency was imposed on the state by Mr. President,” Zira said.

He also appealed to the authorities to look into the

peoples’ needs and ease the situation.

However, Mr Augustine Mako in Numan Local Government Area, said the emergency should continue until the security situation was normal.

“I used to remember that sometimes back there was crisis and killings of innocent lives in Adamawa, even in churches and markets.

“And what is happening now in the state in respect of the state of emergency should still go on for the time being.”

According to him, if the security operatives feel that the challenges are over, they should go ahead and lift it.

Meanwhile the Adamawa branch of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycles Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria ( ACOMORAN) on Saturday called on the Federal Government to lift the emergency rule slammed on the state.

Alhaji Hussaini Isa, Chairman of the association, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Yola.

Isa said that the state of emergency took the the residents by surprise as Adamawa was among the peaceful states in the region and the country in general.

“What we witnessed in the state concerning security challenges before the state of emergency was largely linked to armed robbery attacks and other criminal activities.

“We cannot rule it out that there was element of Boko Haram attack in some parts of the state, especially from

the neighbouring Borno,” Isa said.

On the effect of the emergency and communications shutdown on the members, he said the situation had directly affected them as there was a decline in daily income generation.

He said the state branch of the association had more than 30,000 registered members and was among the major employer of youths in the country.

“Before the state of emergency, the daily earning of majority of our members was between N8,000 and N10,000 per head.

“Now, with the introduction of the emergency, coupled with the curfew, business and social activities had been crippled and the daily income of our members had drastically reduced to between N4,000 and N5,000.”

The chairman said the communications shutdown had seriously affected the state office in linking with its national headquarters in Abuja and other states.

He said that since the introduction of the emergency rule, no single member was arrested or accused of breaching law and order.

According to him, the members are well-behaved and law-abiding, and are supporting the security operatives in their operations.

He appealed to the appropriate authorities to review the Adamawa situation, lift the emergency and restore means of communications.

has warned deportees not to return to the country without valid document.

The NIS Comptroller, Alhaji Yarima Hamman, gave the warning when he presented 41 illegal immigrants arrested by the command to newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday.

Hamman said that NIS had put measures to fish them out, noting the service had cap-

Kano Earmarks N1bn For ID Cards

Emergency Rule Alien To Adamawa - Phone Dealers

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

International Features

The Lure Of South Africa’s Extractive Industry

A HAND drill lying in the hillside tunnel of a 19thcentury South African gold mine testifies to the backbreaking labour by black miners that built what was once the world’s biggest bullion industry.

But even with basic tools and cheap labour, costs overran returns at the Kromdraai gold mine north of Johannesburg, which listed in London in 1893 and closed in 1914.

A century later, South African’s remaining gold mines, which still employ a mostly black and lowly paid workforce, look set to follow the same fate, as the sun sets on an industry that has produced a third of the bullion extracted from the planet.

Gold’s sliding price and surging costs are hitting an industry that laid the foundations for Africa’s largest economy but has been slowly dying for decades as ore grades decline and shafts reach depths of 4 kms (2.5 miles), the world’s deepest.

Unrest is also flaring as restive miners demand more for their toil after over a century of low wages linked to a system of migrant labour that outlasted the end of apartheid in 1994.

A weaker rand currency, which lowers local costs for domestic gold producers, has given them a temporary life-line of sorts but not enough to halt the terminal decline.

According to Roger Baxter, chief economist at South Africa’s Chamber of Mines, in the fourth quarter of 2012 the price of gold averaged 509,000 rand per kilogramme, but it fell in the first six months of this year to under 400,000 rand/ kg.

“This precipitous fall in the price ... has been the biggest decline that has taken place since the 1920s,” he said.

“At a 400,000 rand a kilo gold price, our estimate is that about 60 percent of the industry is in loss-making territory.”

This spells doom for an industry that accounted for 79 percent of world produc-

tion in 1970 in its heyday, when Johannesburg, still ringed today by the hill-like humps of eroding dusty mine tailings, was dubbed the “City of Gold”.

Thomson Reuters GFMS ranked South Africa sixth in global production in 2012, when it fell behind Peru and produced 177.8 tonnes of gold, just 6 percent of the world total, the country’s worst year for production since 1905.

Gold may have lost much of its lustre for the South African economy, accounting for only around 1.5 percent of gross domestic product, but it is still the country’s main mineral export, which in 2012 fetched 72 billion rand, about 10 percent of all export earnings.

The industry has shed 340,000 jobs since 1990, more than two thirds, and there are fears of further big lay-offs as militancy among workers steps up ahead of tough wage talks this month.

“Further job losses are an inevitability, and these are linked to falling commodity prices, but long-term labour instability could act as additional downward pressure on the sector,” said political analyst Nic Borain.

This is a headache for President Jacob Zuma’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, which faces an election next year.

It wants to head off further strife in the mines after wildcat strikes and violence stemming from a union turf war last year killed over 50 people and hit the country’s credit rating.

The membership war between the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), a key ANC ally, has rumbled on, and the latest government effort to defuse it is showing little progress.

Ominously, even during gold’s bull run over the past decade, South African producers shed jobs almost every year, according to government data. The number of miners employed in the gold shafts fell

to 142,000 last year from almost 500,000 in 1990.

Much of the gold workforce, drawn from rural areas far from the shafts, is illiterate and will struggle to find work in a slowgrowing economy where 25 percent are unemployed.

“It’s not a labour force

lion’s safe-haven embrace.

They are now in flight on speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve will wind down its stimulus programme, known as “quantitative easing” (QE), as the U.S. economy picks up.

“Gold has been in a bubble, and that bubble is de-

Major South African gold producers have among the weakest pretax profit margins in the industry.

Harmony Gold, which gets more than 90 percent of its output from South Africa, keeps less than 10 percent of its sales as pretax profit, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine.

Gold Fields (Xetra:

outdone, the more hardline AMCU has made the fight for “a living wage” its battle cry under charismatic president Joseph Mathunjwa and wants an increase of 150 percent.

Unlike the unprotected Kromdraai workers more than a century ago, today’s gold workers toil with automated drills, have helmets and boots and are cov-

862484 - news) and AngloGold, with most of their production outside South Africa, fare better with about 19 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

This pales in comparison to 28 percent pretax profit earned by Canada’s Kinross Gold Corp (Other OTC: KNRSF - news) or the 44 percent that Russia’s Polyus Gold delivers, StarMine data shows.

Gold companies in South Africa have been paying above-average wage increases for several years.

But those at the bottom of the pay scale were at an extremely low salary base as migrant workers, and, with an average eight dependants to feed, they still struggle to make ends meet.

In the current pay round, the NUM is seeking a 60 percent hike, over 10 times the inflation rate, for entrylevel workers. Not to be

ered by a safety code.

But AMCU and NUM insist they are still not being rewarded the full fruits of their labour, despite warnings from the companies and industry analysts that more wage pressure will accelerate the industry’s deep decline.

“The majority of the people have not yet benefited from the distribution of wealth created within the mining industry,” Mathunjwa’s AMCU said in its demands to the gold producers.

“We believe the minerals of this country must now benefit the people,” it added. But unless the wage talks reach an outcome that reflects the balance sheet realities, neither companies nor workers can salvage a gold industry crushed between a toppling price and climbing costs.

• President Jacob Zuma of South Africa

that naturally joins the queue to be part of the middle class. It has one foot in urban squatter camps and one in poverty-stricken rural areas,” said Borain.

This could put pressure on the welfare system and pose a threat to social stability, he added.

South Africa’s fortunes as the world’s No. 1 platinum supplier have been sinking, too, and top global producer, Anglo American Platinum, wants to cut up to 6,000 South African jobs to restore profits.

But gold is outpacing the white metal in the race to the bottom, dragged down by the plummeting price.

Less than two years ago, in September 2011, gold hit a record $1,920.30/ounce as investors, spooked in part by inflation concerns linked to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s loose monetary policy, stampeded to bul-

flating,” said Societe Generale (Paris: FR0000130809 - news) analyst Robin Bhar.

Gold lost 23 percent in the April-June period and is now at $1,224/oz, 36 percent off its life high, and looks set to go lower as the Fed stops printing money.

“This year we could well touch $1,000. Anything you think could be negative for gold, will be negative,” said Bhar.

South Africa’s gold mines were able to earn tidy profits in 2008 and 2009 when gold was $1,000/oz, but costs - notably labour and power - have ballooned. In the fourth quarter of 2009 for example AngloGold Ashanti (LSE: AGD.L news) ‘s cash costs in southern Africa were $575/ oz, but by the same period last year its cash costs in South Africa had doubled to $1,166/oz.

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WHEN the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Mr. Peter Voser recently raised the red flag that security situation in Nigeria worsened last year, 2012, not many saw the implication of that revelation. Voser in a speech posted on the company’s website noted “the stealing and sabotage of crude oil intensified during the year under review thereby threatening its multi-billionairedollar business” and opined that shell alone cannot tackle the issues. THE Company’s chief executive recommended a multi-stakeholder approach as they have pushed for several years which has gone unheeded by the Nigerian authorities.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER, is disturbed over the security situation in the country as the United States of America recently raised alarm over escalating insecurity of lives, property and businesses necessitating in its restricting the movement of its citizens within some states in Nigeria.

WE are even more worried over the implications of corporate citizens’ perceptions of our security on larger businesses and in particular, growth and development of the country. Unfortunately, efforts by Nigerian security to address the challenge have not yielded the desired results.

IT is an incontrovertible fact that there could be no meaningful development in any society where security of lives and property is heavily under threat. Shell’s expose reveals of colossal sums of money lost through oil theft by criminals who, in our view act in concert with powerful and well connected Nigerians in-

MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013 THE NIGERIAN

Nigeria’s Investment Climate

cluding even some unscrupulous officials of the nation’s security organisations.

THE sad situation the nation finds itself is an attestation of the lack of political will by government over the years to deal decisively with the various security challenges that have arisen with one leading to the other, some of which now have ethnic, and religious colourations. Kidnapping of multinational oil workers in the Niger Delta went on for too long unaddressed until it metamorphosed into kidnap of innocent low income earners, a situation which speaks volumes of our unpreparedness to tackle the menace of kidnappers until the mother of the Finance Minister and Head of the economic team of Mr. President was kidnapped by hoodlums to the utter embarrassment of the whole nation.

TERROR groups in Northern Nigeria have, since the inception of the Jonathan administration unleashed mayhem on innocent citizens in most parts of the region with security agencies and the presidency promising almost on a daily basis to deal with the insurgence without any headway till date.

CLEARLY, the Nigeria Police Force have

failed woefully to live up to its responsibility as from every indications, the police themselves, including the high authorities are either involved in criminal activities or are pre-occupied in shielding perpetrators of criminal offences.

THE political class have equally not helped the situation as most of them are involved in arming youth groups to do their political billing who in turn go back to the trenches with such arms to perpetrate criminality against the people and the state.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER is strongly of the view that if Nigeria must attain its national goals and objectives, the present administration must take proactive steps to fight insecurity in the land and restore hope and confidence amongst all stakeholders.

BUT in all, we believe the President needs to exercise the political will to make this happen. Mr. President needs to throw away ethnic, sectional and other sentimental garbs and wear his nationalistic apparel to deal with insecurity in the country.

GOING forward, we join shell Petroleum Plc to recommend a well organised, multi-stakeholder approach to dealing with insecurity in the country. The Nigerian Army, Navy, Air force, Department of State Security Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigerian Immigration, Nigerian Customs and most importantly, the Nigeria Police Force need urgent overhaul. All outfits need better coordination to arrest the situation and make the country safer for all.

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Dynamics Of Gender Inequality

Introduction “Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart”.

The Law’s difficulty defining how equality applies to gender seems to mirror society’s gender confusion.

Both political activists and legal scholars debate the proper explication of the law to past and present gender inequality and discrimination. Some modern feminists champion the stance that the Constitution should be gender blind, while other feminists contended that the law should favor women over men in order to account or past gender disparity. Although society has made giant strides towards equality since the time when women were banned from the workplace and the voting booth, even modern culture has not finalized its understanding of the equality of the sexes.

The article would x-ray the effects of International, Regional and National Human Rights instruments on gender equality viz avize discrimination against genders, it will also look at the different stages of confusion, including the effects of the provisions of the constitutions (Local and Foreign), the spiritual views from the Bible and Koran, the problems it has heralded and the way forward. The emphasis will be on gender equality, gender equity, gender sensitivity and gender mainstreaming will be made manifest.

Gender Analysis Gender as a construct refers to the fact of being a male or a female. Furthermore, it is a distinction of words roughly aligning to the set to which they refer, the quality and contextualization of being male or female sex The term “gender” refers to the socially constructed roles of men and women that are ascribed to them on the basis of their sex, in public and private life.

Gender roles are contingent on a particular socioeconomic, political and cul-

tural context, and are affected by other factors, including age, race, class or ethnicity. Gender roles are learned and vary widely within and between cultures.

As social constructs, they changes Gender refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialisation processes. They are context/time specific and changeable.

Central as it is to the construction of gender, culture is particularly important to women, who are often seen as the embodiment of cultural identity. Enslaved with the upkeep of culture and tradition, women are often left with little choice but to acquiesce in the group or collective definitions thereof. A proper understanding of gender requires not only the interrogation of “cultural frameworks,” but also the impact of religion, which sometimes interacts with “culture” to produce its own cultural-religious hybrids Gender is related to how we are perceived and expected to think and act as women and men and how we indeed think and act because of the way society defines concepts of masculinity and fèminity, for instance in the animal exercise men are likely to take on animal roles that depict what society expects of them such as authority, power and control whereas women are likely to take on roles that are nurturing, caring, submissive or attracting such as a dove for peace, a dog because it is faithful, a donkey because it carries every one’s burden and a zebra because it is beautiful.

When we use the word gender, barrage of questions are likely to follow. Does gender have to do with women only,

or does it also deal with men?

Does gender view all women as being the same? Does gender divide men and women, or unite them?

Perhaps, the easiest way out of this confusion is to understand what gender is not. The term gender is not

gender is perpetuated by the society’s attitude on the worth of a given sex11. Considering these gender issues in the light of Nigerian traditional setting, it stands to reason why there exists some socio-cultural imbalances existing between males and females We must realize that sex is biological, universal and unchangeable, while gender is socially/culturally

Law With IKHUEBOR VIKRAM OSARUMEN signment’ 1.2.1. Gender Roles The term gender roles refers to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered appropriate for individuals of a certain gender. Their roles vary between cultures. Gender roles, unlike the gender itself, are so-

Zainab Maina, Women Affairs Minister

synonymous with the word women, nor is it shorthand for women and men. Gender is not a static concept, frozen in time and place9. The construction of gender roles and relationships is a permanent process. In short, gender is a concept, a condition, a category and a component.

The social construction of

determined, varies from culture to culture and changeable Gender Bender Gender is the term society uses to identify the anatomical differences between men and women. Gender identity is a person’s sense of identifying or belonging to either the male or female classification, regardless of physical as-

cially constructed. Though in many ancient societies, men have been dominant to women, there are example where women have been considered equal to men, and where women have been dominant over men.

1.2.2. Gender Stereotypes Since the beginning of

“For instance, most schools in America categorize students on the basis of their age. Student of the same age, such as 8 years will be put in the same class and taught same subjects in the same way regardless of their

time, gender has played a big role in how one acts and how one is looked upon in society. From a young age, children are taught to be either masculine or feminine. For centuries, in many countries, it has been installed in individual’s heads that they have to live by certain stereotypes. Women have been taught to be feeble to men and depend on them for social and economical happiness. While men have been taught to be mucho characters that have to take care of their homes and be the superior individual to a woman.

1.2.3. Gender Differences For instance, most schools in America categorize students on the basis of their age. Student of the same age, such as 8 years will be put in the same class and taught same subjects in the same way regardless of their gender’. As a result of this, interests groups with an intention of protecting the girl child initiated a gender sensitive movement in the education system.

1.2.4. Gender Inequality Before this, women were seen as being irresponsible and not smart enough to vote.

Political voting was also seen as a “man’s” world that women should not be associated in. “you don’t need genitals for politics, you need brain” We must be very careful and sensitive to the way the term gender inequality is used and where and how it is employed. “The order of men is hierarchical in nature. Hierarchy should not be the basis of inequality or equality as what matters is recognition and acknowledgement.

Hierarchy is not an escape root to discrimination but to the alter of orderliness and proper dispensation of societal norms”.

1.3. The Cross Road of Human Rights Human Right is defined as; The freedom, immunities and benefits that according to modern value (especially at an international level) all human beings should be able to claim as a matter of right in the society in which they live.

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View Point

TODAY, women are more conscious of their rights than in the pre-colonial era and are not prepared to relinquish any part of these rights. During this colonial era, women contributed a lot to the economic development of the country as silent or dormant partners of progress.

But this point must be made. It was only into African Traditional Religion that they were fully integrated as priestesses, diviners and healers.

Naturally, women are endowed to play the role of second fiddle in society for instance, the Holy Bible says in Ephesians 5:23 that “the husband is the head of the wife”. Also, Ephesians 5:22 advises: “wives submit yourselves unto your husband”.

The Binis say: “Okpia ore Okpo, Okhuo ore umanague”. This means that a man is the top of the house while a woman is the periphery of the top. By tradition therefore, the man is the head of the home and a woman is expected to serve him. She is to attend to his needs, including cooking his meals.

Also in Bini language, a male is called Okpia while a woman is referred to as Okhuo in the singular, respectively. The plural forms of the words are Ikpia and Ikhuo. Both words describe a woman as a part of the job assigned to man in life to perform.

Okunism, a traditional religion in Edo Kingdom, regard both men and women as human beings with a qualifier that a woman’s status is only marginal to that of a man. Given this, a woman is seen, not heard except in the areas of commerce strictly reserved for women. In addition to commerce, Binis believe that God assigned women the job of carrying a baby in her womb for nine months as well as teaching her children the customs and traditions of the Binis.

Furthermore, Binis believe that God made women to

Women’s Integration In Society

take charge of cooking festival meals even though a man is the head of the temple.

In other words, what Okunism teaches us is that God ordained women to be second fiddle to men.

The fact is proved by the law of procreation. So, it is an abomination for any woman to challenge this divine arrangement. Or can any woman disprove the Bible story that God took a rib from the left hand-side of Adam to create a woman?

Having said this much let me say that in African Traditional Religion women play a role. For example, the Edo divinity (Imadose/ Ora-o); the Yoruba divinities (Buruku, Yemoja and Orisa-Oko) and the archdivinity in Igboland (Ana) are all women. Infact, I need to stress that despite the cultural limitations placed on women, Okunists’ religious temples in Edo land have a preponderance of roles for them as priestesses in the service of Olokun. This is because women go into trance easily during Olokun religious ceremonies. During the trance, women reveal oncoming events and prescribe rituals/sacrifices for warding off misfortunes or calamities.

So, in a way there is no religious and social segregation of women in Okunism. Right from its inception as a religion, women have played very important roles in Olokun worship in Edo communities. Sometimes, women are even accorded the status of deity as we find in the cases of Emotan, Idia and Iden. Okunism is a dynamic religion; hence, it is able to adapt itself to changing situations and give honour as well as leadership positions to women. Put simply, Okunism has been able to integrate women into African Traditional Religion.

By EKAIWE OMO OMOREGIE

This is so even when Okonism readles women’s biological short comings of impurities during their monthly menstruation and is aware their inability to keep secrets. Well, as a way out of these encum-

its discriminatory rules and regulations on women, deprived them of their natural rights. However, when the colonialists left Nigeria, a sweet breeze of freedom for women began to blow.

brances Okunism prevents women from going near family and community temples as well as restraints them from touching sacred objects of African Tradition Religion.

Colonialism, because of

Women became politically aware of their political roles, rights and responsibilities in society.

Given this, women began to fight to reclaim their place in the scheme of things. They broke down

all gender barriers keeping women down. Today, the evidence of their hard-won victory is there for everyone to see. Just name it. Is it in education, medicine, sports, commerce, industry, civil engineering, pharmacy, manufacturing, geology and aeronautical engineering?.

You will find women there. Indeed, post-colonial Nigeria has witnessed

great strikes in the integration of women in our society.

This development gladdens the heart of Okunists who believe woman are supposed to be an integral part of our communities and social systems. No

Okunist regards women as persons to be held in bondage requiring liberation.

My appeal, therefore, is that all women should wake up and join the campaign to fully integrate them in society as development partners working side by side with men in the area of policy and decision making. This is not the time for women to be onlookers in the society in which they live. It is possible for them to combine

their traditional and modern roles so as to contribute their quota in maintaining social stability and solidarity. No woman should throw overboard this new challenge facing her today.

“Okunism, a traditional religion in Edo Kingdom, regard both men and women as human beings with a qualifier that a woman’s status is only marginal to that of a man. Given this, a woman is seen, not heard except in the areas of commerce strictly reserved for women.”

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Discourse

Pains, Gains Of Merging And Scrapping FG Agencies And Parastatals

CHANGE, they say is the only permanent thing in the world. When the federal government set up the Presidential Committee on Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commission and Agenices, headed by former Head of Service (HOS) of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, it was as a joke.

After some works and consideration, the committee made a recommendation that the existing 263 government’s agencies in the nation should be reduced to 161.

It also made recommendation that 38 agencies should be abolished while 52 needs merging.

Further recommendation by the Oronsaye-led group, note that 14 agencies would no longer stand as such but should become departments in the appropriate ministries.

Similarly, the committee recommended that 89 agencies should undergo management audit by capturing the biometric features of staff. Another thing the committee did was advising the government to stop the funding of professional bodies/ councils.

Immediately, the committee submitted its reports, another 10-man white paper Drafting Committee was set up to look into report and recommendations. The white paper Drafting Committee came up with the advise to the FG to scrap 220 agencies and retain 220.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media, and Publicity, Reuben Abati, the committees were set up so that they would proffer ways

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU

of reducing the cost of governance, avoid leakages and wastages and make recommendations for effective and quality service delivery to Nigerians.

Mr. Abati said that the public sector of the country needs to be revitalised. He recalled the assertion made by the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido that the civil service is overbloated.

In addition, reports have noted that there are over 45,000 ghost workers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country, which is antithetical to the growth and efficiency of the civil service.

Not quite long ago, the Federal Ministry of Finance, revealed that some agencies, ministries and departments, were siphoning revenue generated by them instead of remitting it into the coffers of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), created by the federal government. While stating this, the Ministries of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Okonji-Iweala, said.

“We have identified about N58 billion of such monies which rightfully belongs to the CRF, a situation which has led to the closure of such MDA’s”.

Reports have revealed that about one percent of the total population in Nigeria, get allowances put at N1.031 trillion which amounts to 35% of the total N4.92b trillion which is the budget for 2013.

In his essay, “why the cost of government is unsustainable in Nigeria, former Minister of FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, said.

“It costs nearly N2.5 million on the average annually for the upkeep of each of the federal governments’ nearly one million public sector workers – in the police, civil service, military and para-

there have been a backlog of committees set up to restructure the public service in the country.

According to Oronsaye, while submitting his committees report “Mr. President, indeed, 12 years

Ayida report (1995), which recommended that ministers should not function as chairmanof governmentowned agencies. Oronsaye decried that, “today, the story remains the same”.

Quoting a work on the Nigerian Tribune of

service unwilling to speak about the impending rationalization of the service.”

There was also cases of infighting among top notch officials of the service due to fear of executive positions slipping through their hand

• President Goodluck Jonathan

military services and teachers in government schools and institutions”.

Mallam Sanusi continued thus: That is why we should ask questions when ministries are created and more ministers are screened by the senate and sworn in!

Each one costs billions!

Regrettably, there are fears in some quarters that the committee’s report (Oronsaye’s committee), would not see the light of day. Since independence,

after the white paper on the Ahmed Joda Panel Report on the Review, Harmonisation and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Institutions and Agencies (2000), some parastatals and agencies which government had decided should either be scrapped, commerialised, privatised or self-funding, are still receiving government funding, which runs into billions of naira”.

Before the Ahmed Joda Panel, there was the Allison

Wednesday, 21 November, 2012: “The plan by the federal government to merge and scrap some federal agencies and ministries, may run into a hitch, as lobbyists are reported to have perfected strategies to stop the process at the National Assembly”.

Continuing, the report noted that “checks across the ministries and agencies showed high level of anxiety among civil servants, with officials of the public

and possible sack due to overstaffing, especially in the lower strata of service.

With the recommendations of the Oronsaye Committee, can the public service get the needed sanity? Is this report going to end up been swept under the carpet like previous one? What about the funds that are wasted on the public service? Will this report’s implementation curb it? Again, time will tell whether it is a verbal gymnastics!

“It costs nearly N2.5 million on the average annually for the upkeep of each of the federal governments’ nearly one million public sector workers – in the police, civil service, military and para-military services and teachers in government schools and institutions”.

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Focus NIGERIA and other countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa celebrated the this year’s World Press Freedom Day recently but not without bringing to public glare the conflict of interest between governments and media practitioners, which often breeds tension, intimidation, harassment and sometimes killing of journalists.

In celebrating this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations, UN, drew attention to violence against journalists, with the theme, “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in all media”.

According to Mr. Ban Kimoon, Secretary General of the United Nations, the world would benefit more, if it is safe to speak because freedom of expression is the cornerstone of good governance, sustainable development and lasting peace and security.

In his speech which was delivered in Lagos state by the Officer-inCharge, UN Information Centre, Lagos, Mrs. Olajumoke Araba, Kimoon highlighted the need for action to uphold the right of journalists to carry out their vital work.

He noted that from traditional media platforms such as radio, print and television, to newer and popular social media, blogs and citizens-led reporting, journalists are increasingly at risk.

According to him, “everyday around the world, journalists and media workers are under attack.

They face intimidation, threats and violence from governments, corporations, criminals or other forces that wish to silence or censor.

“Over the past decades, more than 600 journalists have been killed-at least 120 in the past year alone.

Hundred more have been detained. The dangers are not physical: from cyber-attacks to bullying, the powerful are deploying numerous tools to stop the media from shedding light on misrule and misdeeds.

“These are individual tragedies; collectively, they are an assault on the right of all people to the truth. I am

especially concerned that so many of the perpetrators escape any form of punishment.”

The UN boss said that his organization plans to raise awareness and support practical steps to create free and safe working environment for journalist.

Beyond this yearly ritual, media practitioners have continued to be bitten by the bug of endangerment, especially in Africa and other developing countries where they have become easy prey in the hands of predatory agents of government.

For instance, according to a recent report by reporters without borders, RWB, 2012 has been the deadliest year for journalists.

According to the Parisbased rights group, about 88 journalists were killed in 2012, making it the highest since monitoring started seventeen years ago. This is a major drawback to the universal quest for openness being pursued by the civilized societies.

Incidentally, the worst incidents of this brutality against journalists happered in conflict-torn countries such as Syria and Somalia. In Syria, for instance, the deadliest place for journalists in 2012, rebels have been fighting forces loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad since March 2011. As in any conflict of this nature, professional journalists are often at the receiving end of brutality by the combatants.

This has prompted citizen journalists to take up the gauntlet and supply as much information as possible. With their mobile phones, they provide footage of bombings, street battles and the daily agonies in hospitals. This year alone, forty-four of these citizens journalists and four collaborators were reportedly killed in Syria. Also killed were 17 seventeen professional journalists, among whom was a reporter for Sunday Times of London, Marie Colvin.

In Somalia, the second most dangerous place for journalists, 18 eighteen journalists have been reported killed. One of those killed was a reporter with the Universal TV, Ahmed Farah

World Press Freedom Day: Ilyas. The young man was gunned down in October 2012 while heading home from work. Some of the victims face these risks even without salary. Pakistan and Mexico are the third and fourth most dangerous countries for journalists, respectively. In Pakistan, ten newsmen lost their lives while in Mexico, organized criminals killed six journalists.

According to Robert Mahoney, the Deputy Director, Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, “Syria was the deadliest country for reporters, with twenty- eight killed in combat or targeted for murder by government or opposition forces. All but four of them were Syrian nationals covering their country’s conflict. Another thirteen socalled “citizen journalists,” who used their camera and mobile phones to document the conflict in that country, also lost their lives.”

Recently in Somalia, the arrest and conviction of a reporter, Abdiaziz Abdinuur has continued to attract international attention. He received a one-year prison sentence for insulting the government by interviewing a woman who said she was raped by government forces.

The woman was also sentenced to one year in jail.

But in addition to the arrests, CPJ says at least a dozen reporters were murdered last year in Somalia. The militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for four of them.

Mahoney noted that most of the time no one is ever prosecuted for a journalist’s murder, either in Somalia or elsewhere, creating an atmosphere of impunity. “It sends a terrible message to the journalism community if one of its own can be killed and nothing happens,” he said Furthermore, CPJ disclosed that seven reporters were killed in Pakistan, including Mukarram Khan Aatif, who contributed to Voice of America’s Pashto-language Deewa Radio. He was

gunned down in a mosque north of Peshawar. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that January 2012 attack.

In Latin America, journalists are harassed, intimidated and face serious threats from organized crime syndicates and corrupt officials.

CPJ America Director Carlos Lauria said four reporters were killed doing their work last year in Brazil.

In Mexico, the situation is even more dangerous.

“In the last six years, more than 50 journalists have been killed or disappeared. Many reporters have gone to exile.

But perhaps the most devastating consequence of this wave of unprecedented violence is the climate of fear and intimidation in which journalists have to do their work, which is leading to do their work, which is leading to rampant censorship”, he said.

The report also expresses concerns about the widespread jailing of journalists under antiquated and restrictive law used to silence anti- government dissent. The report cites Turkey, Iran, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Syria as major jailers.

Most worrisome is the fact that the frightening dimension of brigandage against harmless media practitioners is unacceptable.

A recent report on the Safety of Journalists and Danger of Impunity, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, says more than six hundred journalists and media workers have been killed in the last ten years.

In other words, on the average, every week, a journalist loses his or her life for bringing news and information to the public.

UNESCO adds that many more media professionals suffered non-fatal attacks, which means being wounded, raped, abducted, harassed, intimidated, or illegally arrested. These are people

“Over the past decades, more than 600 journalists have been killed-at least 120 in the past year alone. Hundred more have been detained. The dangers are not physical: from cyber-attacks to bullying, the powerful are deploying numerous tools to stop the media from shedding light on misrule and misdeeds.”

Unchaining

whose only offence is that they tell the world what goes on in their locality or country.

It is only in a closed society where truth is hard to find that such things happen. In open societies, freedom of the press is constitutionally guaranteed and journalists do their duties unfettered.

Sadly, even the Nigeria press, often arguably touted as the freest on the continent now lives on the ignoble map of countries where assault on press freedom is on the increase without an established system of compensation for victim.

By AKPESIRI OG

expression rally to save them, Tony Amokeodo and Chibuzor Ukaibe faces the prospect of being convicted.

Amokeodo and Ukaibe are not the only victims of increasing siege on freedom of the press. Goke Famadewa, a photojournalist with The PUNCH newspaper, also recently had a similar putrid taste in the hands overzealous agents of the state. He was attacked in the sunny afternoon of Monday, April 15, 2013 by the officers of Kick Against

assa duri of m clos dete with impr were Al Janu Cap Cou of peti Com Shin assa repo

A Nigerian Photo-Journalist snoozing “peacefully’ on duty!

In January this year, a reporter with Channels Television, Enenche Akogwu, was killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists while performing his duties in Kano. The resourceful reporter had been covering the northern region for his company and was in the thick of covering the bomb blast that occurred in Kano then when he died.

Another recent incident that expose the fragile health of press freedom in Nigeria in the arrest and trial of two journalists of Leadership, an Abuja-based newspaper.

They are now being tried on a ten-count charge of forgery, which is a criminal offence.

Yet the country practices a democratic system of government. And unless all lovers of freedom of

Indiscipline, KAI, and the Policemen attached to the Taskforce on Environmental Offences Enforcement in Lagos state. His offence: he took pictures of illegal structure being demolished

by KAI officials of Lagos Island.

One of the Policemen told him “even if you are from CNN, you have no right to take photograph unless you are permitted by the Police.”

According to Famadewa, “As I was being beaten, they kept asking me the right I had to take photographs of the demolition. I told them that I was a PUNCH photojournalist. I backed my claim with my identification card. But this seemed to further infuriate them. One of them snatched the ID card and kept it. Cases of similar

men Polic alleg offic Polic gave polic lkwu and poli Insp union said the P PDP, The Emm Shin actio Polic act unpr agai adm mant Sim

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

Focus The Nigerian Watchdogs

ault abound, especially ng the nation’s dark era military dictatorship when sure of media houses, ention of journalists hout trial, and risonment of journalists e the order of the day. lso, in the month of uary 2013, the Federal pital Territory, FCT, uncil of the Nigeria Union Journalists, NUJ, itioned Police mmissioner Aderenle naba over the alleged ault of Leadership orter, Mr. Igho Oyoyo, by

journalists with a weekly Hausa language newspaper, Al-Mizan regained their freedom in the same month of January, 2013, after they were detained without charges for over a week by Nigeria’s secret Police, the State Security Service, SSS. The journalists were detained for allegedly writing stories about the radical Islamist sect, Boko Haram; and military abuses. Both journalists were arrested on December 24 at their homes in Kaduna. Their newspaper has reportedly published a series of stories about alleged military abuses and Boko

and officers of the FCT ce Command. Oyoyo was gedly beaten up by some cers and men of the FCT ce Command. The NUJ e the names of the cemen as Ibian Eno, John uo, Abubakar Katacham Malah Muhammed. The ce team was led by ector Bitrus Dakup, the n added. The incident was to have occurred during Peoples Democratic Party, , ward primary in the FCT. FCT NUJ Secretary manuel Ogbeche urged naba to take immediate on against the errant cemen. He described the tion of Policemen as rofessional, barbaric and inst the present inistration’s rule of law tra. milarly, two Nigerian

Haram.

Also, the NUJ on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, urged security operatives to investigate and bring to justice the killer of the Editor of Anambra News, Mr. lkechukwu Udendu on Saturday January 12, 2013.

In astatement by its National President, Mallam Muhammad Garba, the NUJ decried the escalating cases of manhandling and killing of journalits in the course of their professional responsibilities.

The statement recalled that after the journalist was shot, his callers called on his elder brother, Mr. Chukwulozie Udendu’s, also a journalist, directing him to remove his Udendu’s body at a certain place.

Reminiscent of the first and

GHENERHABOKE

only Police-inspired ‘coup d’etat’ Nigeria has ever witnessed, the former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani, had his freedom of speech brusquely abridged by the Kaduna State Police Command recently. The former governor, who is also a Senator of the Federal Republic, was invited by the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, to clarify some of the statements he made during a phone-in programme on Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, in Kaduna. The statements were innocuous and clear enough, but the Police claimed they were bombarded with calls suggesting that the Senator made a threatening and inciting statements deserving of prompt Police action.

It will be recalled that on July 10, 2003, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Raphael lge led a detachment of some 200 mobile Policemen to abduct former Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, also now a Senator, and kept him away from office for many hours on the pretext that he had resigned as governor. The treason collapsed the same day when no one of substance owned up to the plot to dethrone the governor. There were, however, a few civilian collaborators of the Police in the state who tried to take advantage of the confusion.

Ige was not only unexpectedly retired some three days later in unclear circumstances; he died in January 2004 probably from heart problems.

But Nigeria is not alone in this, as journalists in other African and other developing countries have had bitter experiences while discharging their duties.

In January, a group of Congolese soldiers stormed Radio Tujenge Kabambare, a community radio station in the east of Congo, and vandalized the studio, confiscated the equipment and detained the presenters,

journalists, editors and some other staff for hours.

In the early month of April, 2013, Faderic Attipou, a Togolese photojournalist and videographer, was attacked and injured as retaliation for images he published. “They accused me of publishing photographs that tarnished the image of Togo. Then they pushed me. I fell off and sustained injuries to my eye and body. My camera was destroyed,” Attipiou recalled.

Meanwhile, Gambian authorities recently arrested and detained a journalist for the second time since September 2012. Baboucarr Ceesay, Vice President of the Gambia Press Union, was picked by plain-clothes officers of the National Intelligence Agency on shortly after leaving his house, recently, a relative told AFP. Ceesay, who is also a correspondent for the Kenyabased website Africareview.com, had been on his way to the headquarters, of the Gambia Press Union, the source said.

The union confirmed the arrest.

No reason was given for the arrest, which comes after Ceesay was held for four days in September, 2012 along with a freelance reporter, for seeking a permit from the country’s Police chief to hold a peaceful demonstration over the August execution of nine death row prisoners. The charges against the reporters of conspiracy to commit a felony and incitement to violence were later dropped.

A silver of land nestled with Senegal with a narrow strip of Atlantic coast, Gambia is ruled with an iron fist by President Yahya Jammeh, who is often accused of muzzling journalists, among other rights abuses.

Also, a journalist working for the pro-governmental Daily Observer newspaper was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency in year 2012 and has since been released form detention.

Alagie Jobe was accused of “writing letters on Daily

Observer for Gambian asylum seekers abroad and those within the country applying for visas in return for huge sums for money”, a security source told AFP. Condemning assault on journalists, Muhammed Garba, National President, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, said intimidation of media and journalists is unacceptable, and lamented that “the image of this country (Nigeria) in terms of freedom of expression and freedom of the press is becoming very low.” He disclosed that the union is “working hard with stakeholders to ensure that the issue of assault and intimidation of journalist is seriously addressed. The issue of intimidation is old fashioned; it can only be accommodated during the military era and not now that we are practicing democracy,” he said.

In the same vein, Ademola Akinlabi, a photojournalist and chairman, Photojournalist Association of Nigeria, PJAN, after citing instances where photojournalists and journalists were assaulted and detained in Nigeria and other African countries, regretted that “there is nothing like press freedom in Nigeria”. He added that though the constitution states clearly what the roles of journalist are, “there is no country in Africa that respects (provisions of) the constitution when it comes to freedom of the press.”

On his part, Nigeria Police Force, NPF, image maker, Mr. Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, speaking on the role of the Nigeria Police in ensuring the rights of journalists, said that: if journalists reduce the risk around them, it will make it easier for the Police to protect journalists. He also argued that if the level of crime is low, journalists would be safe.

The Campaign Director, Media Right Agenda, Mr. Tive Denedo, argues that there is nothing in the history of journalism that can demand more of collective efforts than providing a safe

and secured environment for the professionals to practice.

According to him, past experiences insist on it, the present realities demand it while the future requires it.

“The campaign for improved welfare, the search for affordable and durable broadcast equipment, ink and paper, pales into insignificance when placed on the balance. It is only the living, the safe and the secured that can only enjoy salaries, allowances and emoluments. The harassed, intimidated and the dead cannot inform, entertain and educate any person,” he declared.

For Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Manager, ThisDay newspaper, there is no absolute press freedom anywhere, including the developed countries.

According to him, “the struggle for freedom is a continuous battle between the press and the state. It just shows that we have to be alert as journalists to protect the freedom in order to expand its frontiers; that is, we should not take things for granted.”

It is apparent that media organizations should begin to consider insurance options for their reporters, especially those who are meant to cover war and other serious conflicts. This will not bring back life, but it will go a long way to mitigate the impact on the bereaved family.

Above all, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948 stipulates that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information through any media and regardless of frontiers without interference. This is binding on all nations. This is why many nations now have Freedom of Information law in peace. Resorting to jungle justice against harmless journalists goes against the grain of nobility. The hallmark of a civilized society is respect for the rule of law. The law courts are there for any aggrieved citizen to seek redress against any journalist.

“For Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Manager, ThisDay newspaper, there is no absolute press freedom anywhere, including the developed countries. According to him, “the struggle for freedom is a continuous battle between the press and the state. It just shows that we have to be alert as journalists to protect the freedom in order to expand its frontiers; that is, we should not take things for granted.”

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Success World

Business Realities

IN today’s world of business, entrepreneurs are wading through difficult times.

These are times of uncertainty.

Slow days are regarded as business-as-usual days. The grave part is that it is the same for everyone. The environment is harsh on everyone.

Every business venture is faced with the trauma of finding solutions to steep in profits and slow days.

Businesses are today confronted with the arduous task of keeping their heads above the waters to prevent drowning into extinction. The waters in which we find ourselves have huge mountain-sized waves of slow days and little or no profits, intent on overwhelming our business into closing shop. This is more than a struggle of the survival of the physically fit. For us to survive the harsh environment we find ourselves, other factors apart from physical attributes of assets, current status, products and services, etc must come into play.

Stress is the fertilizer of creativity.

- Jonas Hodges (In the TV series 24, Season 7) In the harsh times we find ourselves, our survival shall be determined by the level of knowledge we possess and our ability to understand and relate with the environment we are in.

KNOWLEDGE Knowledge is the ability to know what to do when confronted with specific scenarios. And this is the key to survival for your business. A person learning to drive a car and faced with an obstacle in front of him would either readily ram into the obstacle or try to pull the steering wheel to himself (as if by doing this the car will come to a halt) forgetting to apply the brakes.

But a well learned driver when faced with the same scenario would either apply the brakes or turn his eyes to a clear path and swerve the car accordingly to safety. That is the distinction that knowledge gives.

Knowledge offers you the ability to be able to deal with issues as they arise in business.

The question is, “do you have the level of knowledge required to deal with the harsh environment that confront you and your business?”

UNDERSTAND AND RELATE WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENT While we all face a global downturn in business, our individual survival is hinged on how successful we are at understanding and relating with our personal business niche and environment.

Our ability to understand and relate with our environment can be divided into three (3) distinct elements. These ele-

ments are our sensory abilities of Insight, Perception, and ability to Detect the Pattern of Change. These are the elements that makes one a shrewd business person.

INSIGHT Having insight in business involves the ability to see beyond the surface all the time. The truth is, “when times are good in business, we usually act as if we can afford to be less effective. We fail to keep our guards high, and by doing this, we lower our sensory capabilities and neglect looking beyond the surface. At such times, we allow the counterproductive attitude that sales cure all to prevail. And even when certain alarms are blaring to warn us, we fail to notice them.

Taking the pain to gain insight in every venture of our business operation can lead to making informed decisions that will skyrocket business profits and keep us in existence. Developing the ability to see beyond the surface is a critical element to keeping your business alive.

PERCEPTION A lot of business organisations have met an early demise because of lack of perception. They failed to have an appropriate perception of the situations that the environment threw at them.

Perception connotes “how you see what you see.” While we are all confronted by the same blizzards of economic hardship and business problems, what we truly see and make of such situations is what becomes pivotal to the success or failure of our business. The question is how do you see the situation confronting your business? Do you see a threat to your business? What factors makes the situation a threat?

Do you think you can eliminate it or bypass it and not allow it swallow up your business? Is the situation an opportunity?

How can you cash in on it?

What steps can you take? The truth is how you see what you see is how you tend to handle the situations that confront you.

If you see the situation as insurmountable, then you begin to act timid and jittery. But you act bold and confident when you see the situations as trivial and surmountable. As it is said, “perception is reality.”

ABILITY TO DETECT PATTERN OF CHANGE Every business is borne out

of a desire to effect a change that would add value. And it is pertinent to note that the success and survival of any business is greatly tied to its ability to detect patterns of change of the environment and relate same to their capabilities and experience.

The patterns of change of the

environment are indicators to the path a business must tread to remain relevant and continue to be in business. Some patterns of change include customer buying behaviour, taste and trend, government policy, etc.

The receptiveness of a business to the pattern of change of

With Ado Erhirhi 08167600251 its environment, and its ability ness environment is an investto relate same to its capabili- ment that will our business in ties and experience is a fore- existence and reward us with most factor that guarantees its new clients and increase in continual existence. Failure to operating profits. Learning detect pattern of change in the never ends. environment is what has led many business concerns to their demises, because they lost touch with the times.

Learning to develop the sensory abilities of Insight, Perception and ability to Detect pattern of change of our busi-

Action Speaks

“The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.”

John Locke “It is by acts and not by ideas that people live.”

- Anatole Frances

I staunchly believe that from the thoughts one can mine ideas of more value than all the gold in Fort Knox. However, I also believe that riches can only flow in your direction according to the order proposed by your actions; yoni’ actions set you up to receive.

Every dreamer though creative is as yet ineligible to enjoy the fruit of the satisfaction of fulfilled dreams until appropriate action is taken. As powerful and creative that thoughts can be, it cannot bring your vision to reality unless corresponding action is taken. Only your desire, through expressive channel of action can set forces in motion for the actualisation of your vision. I like the way

Wallace Wattles, author of “Science of Getting Rich” puts it, “The difference between the scientist and the dreamer is action.

The story of the television controversy shades great insight on the immutable role of action in the fulfillment of dreams.

History has it on record that young Philo Fansworth got the idea for a television at the age of 14 in 1920, while ploughing on the farm, and immediately persuaded his chemistry teacher, Justin Tolman to give him special instruction and allow him audit a senior course to position him to realise his obsession. By 21, when he had to drop out of university as a result of his father’s death in his second year, Phil already started to work on a device.

“At that time, there were no more than handful men who could have understood Philo Fansworth’s ideas for building an electronic television system.

One of such men was Vladimir

Zworykin, a Russian emigrant to the United States, with a PhD in Electrical Engineering.”

But the more equipped and qualified academic had a major problem of procrastination.

Instead of going to work on his idea, he went first to work for a company called Westinghouse, “hoping to do it tomorrow.” The highest he did was filing a mere patent application in 1923 while Fansworth was busy working out his device to success.

In 1927, Fansworth succeeded in producing a working device while Zworykin, however continued working till he came up with his working device in 1933. Thus controversy began as to who actually invented the television; Fansworth who first came up with a working device or Zworykin who filed an earlier application.

The United States Patent Office did not have the slight-

“ Every dreamer though creative is as yet ineligible to enjoy the fruit of the satisfaction of fulfilled dreams until appropriate action is taken.

As powerful and creative that thoughts can be, it cannot bring your vision to reality unless corresponding action is taken.”

est problem of coming up with a plausible decision. It awarded the priority of invention to Fansworth; because he made the invention his priority while the more learned Zworykin made employment security his attraction. That was how Philo Fansworth, a little college dropout beat Vladimir Zworykin, a university professor to the priority right for inventing the Television set.

By granting his desire the appropriate expressive channel of action, Philo Fansworth beat Vladimir Zworykin to the priority right for inventing the Television set.

Your action speaks. Acting on any dream speaks two things of you. First, it speaks of your purpose for the vision, and secondly, it speaks of your faith in the vision. And these — Purpose and Faith — are the elements which trigger God’s impelling power to order the forces of the earth to direct whosoever and whatsoever is needed for the actualization of your vision towards you.

Dust up that dream you have set aside for so long and act on it, set forces in motion in motion for its actualization. Act decisively, act determined, act tenaciously, act NOW! Like Ralph Waldo Emerson, I say, “Your action speaks so loud, I cannot hear what you say.”

Ado Erhirhi, an insightful speaker, co-ordinates MirrorView Services, a Human Resource Development outfit.

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

Discourse

Much Ado About Airport Road Project

ON assumption of office in 2008, Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, left no one in doubt that the Airport Road, a major gateway to Benin City, the state capital, was one of his prime projects sitting atop others in terms of priority.

Among other things, he was emphatic that its old dilapidated ambience did not speak well of a state in need of investments that will help overhaul its economy. In truth, the road leading to the airport, beginning from the historic Ring Road, now Kings Square, was in such a bad state that as the first real image of a state in quest of real economic development, merely beholding it could induce would-be investors into doubting the seriousness of the state government’s avowed commitment to its investment drive. In other words, if one was to seriously consider the importance of first impression, there was no doubt that on seeing the state of the road, would-be investors would pass an on the spot vote of no confidence on the state government’s investment drive.

The road was important for another reason. Benin City, the state capital was, before the coming of the Oshiomhole administration, a sight to behold whenever it rained. The situation was so bad that an average rainfall would, for hours on end, bring the metropolis to a standstill due largely to the fact that it had insufficient drainage system to evacuate the deluge into the Ogba and Ikpoba rivers, its major exit routes. For these obvious reasons, the administration decided to leave nothing to chance in its determination to reconstruct the road by making it functionally relevant both as an erosion evacuation route and a welcoming sight. Hence there was no need for the services of a rocket scientist to conceive it as a dual carriage way, complete with huge drainages, walkways and

By ERNEST OMOARELOJIE other niceties that would make it serve those relevant purposes. But opponents of the Oshiomhole administration, mostly members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, went to town with loads of rumor, concocted to undermine not just the relevance of the project, but also to create the impression that the governor had nothing but contempt for the culture, tradition and indeed, the entire Bini people.

First, they went to town with the grossly debilitating and unfounded tale that in reconstructing the road in the manner the state government envisaged, a large chunk of the wall bordering the palace of Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa, the revered Benin monarch, would needlessly, be hacked down.

Bent on whipping up ethnic sentiment against the government snd in particular, the governor, they concluded that the action, deliberately designed by the him, amounted to a taboo no sane true born of the land should condone it is contemptuous of the Benin culture, tradition and race. In other words, they were desperate to also create the impression Oshiomhole had no regard for the same people that made it possible for him to become governor in the first instance. But for the intervention of the monarch, who gave his goahead, having received assurances that no such demolition plan was in the offing, the reconstruction would probably have become a still birth.

Not fazed by their failure to whip up ethnic sentiments, they cooked up more caustic tales. Though each was dismissed with a measure of ignominy reserved for outcasts, they managed to hold on to their claim that state government officials deliberately over inflated the contract by designing it as a conduit for sucking life out of state funds. To give credence to their claims, they attempted to force the people into accepting their position by harping the delay in its completion, caused primarily by the un-

warranted demand by the first contractor for an upward review of agreed contract cost as a proof that the project was a white elephant project. So pervasive was the claim that it became a campaign issue during the 2011 governorship election in their governorship candidate, General (Rtd) Charles Airhiavbere, declared unequivocally that his first task in office as governor, assuming he won the contest, would be to probe the

public space.

The road in question is an open secret 7.1 kilometre six lane asphaltic dual carriage way running from the historic Kings Square to Ogba river. For reasons of its strategic importance both as an impressive gateway to the state capital and intrinsic part of the Storm Water project built to successfully evacuate erosion from many some parts of the metropolis,it was designed to incorporate many necessary features, including extensive primary, secondary underground drains and other niceties.

boreholes.

Beyond the major road itself, the state government also included the reality that without correcting the state of adjoining link roads and streets, the aim of using it to evacuate water out of the city centre would never be achieved. For that important reason, it designed the contract to cover 27 connecting link roads and or streets, covering 3197.32 metres.

The affected roads/streets, also there for all to see, include Adesogba Road, Ezote, Reservation Road,

Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State

Oshiomhole administration in respect of the contract.

Though the election has been won and lost, they have not given up on their desire to continue spreading pervasive and deliberate rumours meant to misinform the general public about the road contract.

Thus far, the position of the state government is to live with an inherent democratic norm in which every voice, no matter how discordant it is, must be allowed to be heard.

In doing so, it equally but inadvertently accommodated the reality in which the voice of a largely misinformed group can sometimes get so loud it gives the impression that every other voice has acquiesced to whatever position it is canvassing. The result is that like a lie told too many times, the opposition false tales took the semblance of truth. Obviously, the only option for setting the records straight is to put its details in

For instance, besides the 18 kilometre1, 1.8 diametre underground primary drain, some of its other features include a 20 kilometre walkways, 15 kilometres of service ducts, 252 units of dual arm street light poles to cover the entire length of the road and an 83 metre long 1.2 x 1.2 rectangular secondary underground drainage. Also included are 6 kilometres of drains on associated roads, 14.2 kilometres of secondary drains, trees, hedges, grasses and five

Akenzua Road, Boundary Road, Airport entrance, Ihama, Oni Street (Off Ihama), Giwa Amu Road, Airport exit, Adesuwa Street, Ijebuor Street and Benoni Hospital Roads junction. Others are Ighiwiyisi/Eweka Way, Owamarovia Street, Esogban Avenue, Oko Central Road, Oko Prison Road, Omoregbie Way, Irhirihi/ ADP Junction, Princess Ukponwan Street, Ogiesoba

Street, Aimuomwosa, Vegetable Market, Golf Course Road, Airport Road Alignment and Oba Market Road.

Unfortunately, this reality has failed to make any sense to members of the opposition in the state and so, have remained so fixated in their refusal to be objective in their assessment of the O s h i o m h o l e administration’s performance record because it opened the people’s eyes to their years of robbery.

Thus, while every discerning observer has many reasons to sing praises to the efforts of the administration for changing the look of the city, opposition members continued to see blank.

Little wonder then that while the people of the state marvel, in particular, at the transformation the Airport Road and other roads have gone through, members of the opposition see white elephant projects. It does not matter to them that people are wondering where they found the moral courage to question empirically verifiable performances when rot was the best word to describe everything they stood for during the decade they were in charge.

For those still in doubt, a visit to Benin City will be helpful. In particular, it will be useful to those who live outside the city and have not been around in recent times. At least, it will help put the lie on the pervasive tales bandied by members of the opposition on just about everything that is going on in the state.

Ernest Omoarelojie writes from Benin City.

“Thus far, the position of the state government is to live with an inherent democratic norm in which every voice, no matter how discordant it is, must be allowed to be heard.”

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

Judiciary Restoring Citizens’ Confidence In Nigeria’s Judiciary

BY most accounts, the wind of corruption is blowing across virtually all the facets of human endeavours and national life in Nigeria.

However, concerned observers lament that the social problem has also affected the judicial arm of government, which is largely regarded as “the last hope of the common man’’.

Such worries are aptly captured in the comment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar, at a recent function in Abuja.

Mukhtar was quoted as saying at the opening of the 2013 Refresher Course for Judicial Officers, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), that in Nigeria, “the rich get bail, while the poor get jailed’’.

Naturally, the chief justice’s comment is thought-provoking and it elicits some reservations about justice delivery in the country, while motivating concerned stakeholders to start thinking of how to tackle the menace of corruption in the judicial sector.

This is more so as the observation about the emerging trends in the country’s legal system was made by the CJN – Nigeria’s foremost judicial officer.

Mukhtar anchored her sentiment on perceptible anomalies in the country’s judiciary, stressing that the negative development had resulted in “a public uproar or placard-carrying scenario against the judgment of a court of record’’.

According to her, the phenomenon does not augur well for the judiciary.

She, nonetheless, warned: “Where, therefore, a judge is found to be complicit in writing and delivery of judgment, the National Judicial Council (NJC), as the constitutional regulatory

By DADA AHMED/FRIDAY IDACHABA

body, will not hesitate to wield the big stick.’’

Sharing similar sentiments, many observers believe that the country’s judicial system is not what it ought to be, insisting the review of the entire system is long overdue.

As part of efforts to sanitise the judicial system, the NJC announced the suspension of two judges and placed four others under observation for allegedly compromising their professional standards.

Specifically, the NJC is investigating one of the judges, Justice Abubakar Talba for the judgment he delivered in the “EFCC versus the Police Pension Commission’’ case, involving Mr John Yusuf, a Deputy Director in the commission.

The judge sentenced Yusuf to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N750, 000 for his role in the N32-billion police pension fund’s scandal.

As expected, the judgment provoked widespread resentment, particularly among advocates of justice, and it also marked the onset of the citizens’ appraisal of efforts made by the leadership of the judiciary to check corruption and other aberrations in the judicial sector.

In a swift reaction, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former governor of Anambra State, commended Mukhtar for her avowed determination to sanitise the judiciary.

He, however, urged the chief justice to investigate more areas of corruption among the country’s judicial officers.

All the same, legal experts urge the Federal Government not to limit its current efforts to sanitise the judiciary to the suspension, investigation and dismissal or retirement

of judges.

Mr Mohammed Adams, a Lokoja-based legal practitioner, particularly urged the government to

long way in boosting the government’s efforts aimed at ensuring that the judiciary, which represents the hope of the common man, is indeed bearing its

convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

“In the same court, another person, who allegedly stole N40 billion, was granted bail because he has strong connections,’’ he added.

However, Malam Mohammed Musa, the

Musa called on the Federal Government to ensure the full autonomy of the judiciary, in line with the provisions of the constitution, while addressing issues relating to the remuneration, training and retraining of judicial officers.

He, however, stressed

• Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar, Chief Justice of Nigeria

• Mohammed Adoke, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice

revisit the report of the Justice Kayode Eso Panel of 1994, which indicted 47 judges.

He underscored the wisdom in the proposed action, saying that many of the indicted judges were still administering justice across the country, many years after the panel’s report.

“It is quite unfortunate that some of the judges, who were indicted by the Kayode Eso-panel many years ago, are still dispensing justice.

“Their retirement from public service will go a

Chairman of the Lokoja chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), attributed the alleged corruption in the judiciary to factors such as poor remuneration of judges, undue political influence in the appointment of judges and “godfatherism’’.

He said that other factors included the intellectual bankruptcy of some judges, especially at the lower levels of justice administration, and the domineering influence of some traditional rulers in the country.

name to the letter,’’ Adams said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Johnson Alabi, a civil servant, said: “We should commend the nation’s number one legal officer for raising her voice against the negative trend in the judiciary in such a courageous manner but her observation reinforces the desire to straighten out things in that arm of government.

“We have seen a situation in this country where an unemployed person, who was arraigned for stealing a paltry sum of money, was

that the employment of more capable officers into the bench and the strengthening of internal mechanisms aimed at checking the activities of “inept and corrupt judges’’ would go a long way in addressing the menace of corruption in the judiciary.

All in all, observers underscore the need for all the stakeholders to make concerted efforts to tackle all the perceptible aberrations in the country’s judicial system so as to preserve its integrity and restore the people’s confidence in it.

“Naturally, the chief justice’s comment is thoughtprovoking and it elicits some reservations about justice delivery in the country, while motivating concerned stakeholders to start thinking of how to tackle the menace of corruption in the judicial sector.”

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

Archival Matters

Opinion

Campaigning Against Extra-Judicial Killings

Ugolor:

SINCE the controversial death of Citizen Ibrahim Momodu in the hands of Ogida Police, Benin in Edo State, David Ugolor has reacted to the issue twice on Man Around Town programme of Independent Radio, Benin in June 2013 alone. David Ugolor, who is the executive director of a leading international NGO based in Benin, on the two occasions spelt out succinctly the matrix of Citizen Ibrahim Momodu’s case as NGOs see it.

Submissions Briefly, these are Ugolor’s submissions.

NGOs are maintaining an open mind on how Citizen Ibrahim Momodu died.

The studentship or not of UNIBEN is of no value in the stakes. There is a need to blow the whistle on Ibrahim Momodu’s death while in police hands otherwise there will be a cover-up of the incident.

Afterall most similar events in the past have ended up in cul-de-sacs of windy delayed investigations and court trial, without an iota of jurisprudence.

Open – mindedness There have been countless numbers of extra-judicial police killings in Nigeria dating back to forgotten, lost history. However, these acts assumed a macabre dimension in the eighties in Edo State when DSP Iyamu, of unholy memory, always paraded the corpses of slain Nigerian citizens in his car boot before shocked members of the public.

Iyamu didn’t really call them “corpses”. He referred to them as “grass

By MICHAEL ODIGBE

cutters”. The dead citizens in his boot had been gunned down by him in the course of police duty, extra-judicially. Indeed, he never had respect for court processes and human life.

He slaughtered Nigerians at will.

Ugolor who grew up and lives in Edo State is aware of DSP Iyamu’s malfeasance during the Anini days. Invariably, he is piqued that in the 21st century there appears to be a confused semblance of Iyamu’s extra-judicial police killing in the state as it concerns the death of Citizen Ibrahim Momodu.

Given the fuzzy configuration of the incident, Ugolor has however maintained an open mind on the issue until a transparent panel unravels what happened to Citizen Ibrahim Momodu.

While engaged in the waiting game, he doesn’t mince words in faulting the police’s management of Momodu’s case. For instance, Ugolor explains that it is the responsibility of a court to send Momodu’s case life to Edo State Attorney-General/ Commissioner of Justice advice not the police as it is now the case. Secondly, Ugolor wants Oshiomhole to rescind his decision to suspend the sitting of the independent investigation panel he set up on Momodu’s death. Ugolor affirms it is only such a transparent panel that will accurately unearth what happened to Momodu. In other words, Ugolor is arguing that police report

on Momodu does not wash. This is because jurisprudence does not allow the police to be a judge in its own case.

This is granted that new evidence made available by autopsy and video reports on Momodu show that he was brutalized by

Momodu’s death has a historical precedent and paralled. Remember that between the 7th and 8th of June, 2005 under cover of darkness Area 2 Garki police killed six persons after unilaterally branding them armed robbers. It all goes to reaffirm Ugolor’s suspicion that a lot of extra-judicial police

Abuja sustainably cried out against the police ploy.

They wanted an independent investigation of the Apo six’s murder.

In sharp response to the public cry former President Obasanjo objected to the police panel on the Apo six. He set up a presidential judicial inquiry to probe their death. The report of the inquiry revealed that the Apo six weren’t armed robbers as claimed by the police. In addition, the report confirmed the public belief that they were killed

• Rev. David Ugolor

Ogida police before he was finally shot thrice at the back and hurriedly buried.

These reports discountenance Ogida police’s earlier statement that Momodu was shot in the legs and bled to death on his way to the hospital.

So, which account of Momodu’s death is authentic?

Only a transparent panel can give a verdict on this.

Apo Six Massacre Ugolor’s campaign to get to the root of

killings occur as soon as darkness falls in Nigeria when some bad policemen begin to stalk innocent Nigerians.

The Garki police tried to cover up the killing of the six innocent persons with their own Kangaroo panel.

However, Chief Amobi Nzelu, compatriots of the six slain persons at Apo Mechanic Village, civil society organisations, human rights movements, patriotic Nigerians as well as Ohaneze Ndi Igbo in

“Ugolor who grew up and lives in Edo State is aware of DSP Iyamu’s malfeasance during the Anini days. Invariably, he is piqued that in the 21st century there appears to be a confused semblance of Iyamu’s extra-judicial police killing in the state as it concerns the death of Citizen Ibrahim Momodu. Given the fuzzy configuration of the incident, Ugolor has however maintained an open mind on the issue until a transparent panel unravels what happened to Citizen Ibrahim Momodu.”

in cold-blood by the Garki police.

The report and white paper on the killings were made known in 2005 to the public. After some foot dragging by the police, the prosecution is yet to call all its witnesses. Too true, the trial is only half-way gone it may therefore take another eight years to conclude the case which may end up with freedom for the killer policemen on trial. Justice in Nigeria is a pin in a haystack!! Very difficult to search for, find and get.

Gravamen of the campaign With the Apo six experience at the back of his mind, Ugolor therefore has premonition that slain Momodu may not get justice if civil society

organisations don’t come to his aid. It is for this reason, he is driving these organisations in the campaign to ensure that if eventually it is proved that Momodu was murdered by the Ogida Police, all those involved in his killing are brought to book. Nobody should be seen to be above the rule of law which in Nigeria is skewed to protect the elites. This is Ugolor’s message.

Ugolor is championing Momodu’s case with passion because as he often explains, he has been a victim of Nigeria police murderous impunity. On July 27, 2012 he was picked up innocently by Olaitan Oyerinde his bosom friend and principal private secretary to Oshiomhole. But he got a reprieve from the police evil accusation on November 29, 2013. That is five months, later.

Following his bitter ordeal, the court ordered the police to pay him N5m as compensation. Yet the police hasn’t paid up the money but is spending millions of naira fighting the payment of the money.

Penny wise, pound foolish police mentality!!

Yes Ugolor is a classic example of police atrocities. He who knows it, feels it sings Rita Bob Marley. That is why he is in the trench campaigning for justice in Momodu’s case with uncanny passion.

He never fails to remind Nigerians that Momodu’s experience should be a window for re-entering the global call for an end to police impunity, brutality and extra-judicial killings.

He reaffirms that he has been a victim of police unprofessionalism. The next time therefore it could be you, he states. Even then, you may not be lucky as himself.

Thus his campaign platform against extrajudicial police killing is worthwhile. Join the campaign. Helen keller, the blind woman who invented Braille, observes. “Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much.

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Science

C

Food Substances FOOD is any substance taken in by living organism that serves as an energy source, it is also a material for growth, and repair of worn out tissues of the organism.

It keeps the organism healthy in that, it enables the organism to fight or withstand diseases, they also build substances like enzymes and hormones needed by the body.

Anurials, exhibit holozoic mode of nutrition, which involves the following processes, ingestion, which is taking in of the food. Digestion which is the breaking down of insoluble food to smaller soluble molecules which can be absorbed into the body. Absorption, which is the diffusion of the soluble substances into the body that has been digested.

Types of Food Substances Carbohydrates: They are mainly made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen of which the hydrogen atom corilent is twice the number of oxygen atoms in each molecule, cellulose, glycogen, sugar and starch are all carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates can be classified into three major groups, which include the following (A) Polysaccharides (B) Disaccharides and (C) Monosaccharides.

Polysaccharides They have many molecules of monosaccharides like starch or cellulose with a general formula 6 (6 H10 05 )N Sources of Carbohydrates Cassava, Cereals, Yam, Bread, Potato, Corn, Rice, Potato, taproca, Wheat, and come fruits.

Disaccharides They are double sugar, complex in nature, non reducing sugars, like sucrose, maltose and lactose with a formula (12 H12 011 when two molecules of simple sugar

combine and one molecule of water is removed, a disac-charide is formed immediately.

Monosaccharides They are reducing sugars simple sugars, or a six carbon sugar e.g (C6 H12 O6) eg glucose, (C6 H12 06) eg fruitose and (C6 H12 06) eg fruitose and (C5 H10 O5) eg fruitose.

Proteins They are complex molecules that are built up from thousands of amino acid molecules, which consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, surphur and phosphorous.

Sources of Proteins Meat, fish, milk, lean meat, beans, egg –white, some vegetables, grains, chicken, snail, peas, fruits and groundnut.

Fats And Oils (Lipids) They consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with a lower proportion of oxygen atoms to hydrogen atoms. Hence more energy is liberated through the oxidation of lipids that carbo-hydrates fats also serve as insulations of heat to our bodies.

It is a known fact that fats are solid at room temperature while oils are liquid at room temperature.

The liquid fats are referred to as oils.

Sources of Fats And Oils Animal fats, beef fats, Butter, Vegetable oils, nuts, egg yolk, palm oil, seeds, milk, melons, soya beans, groundnut Cod liver oil, fatty fish, and coconut oil.

Mineral Salts They are essential to the structural constituents of the body and in the metabolism of living cells. Some

With Oyakhilome Cement

are very important, they include, sodium, calcium, iron, potassium, chlorine, phosphorous, iodine, florine, cobalt, magnesium and copper.

Calcium (CA) They are the main constituent of teeth and bones, for blood clotting, muscle contraction and nerve function.

Sources of Calcium (CA) Leafy vegetables, egg, salt, meat, liver, kidney, plantain, milk and fruit.

Deficiency of Calcium (CA) It will result in Anaemia, softening of bones and rickets in children.

Sodium (NA) They are responsible for the maintenance of Osmotic pressure of the blood, conduction of nerve impulses, sensory cells and muscles and for the normal cell membrane permeatibility.

Source of Sodium It is gotten from common salt, natural foods, milk, fish, eggs, yam bacon and chicken.

Deficiency of Sodium It would result in muscle cramps dehydration, fatigue, Heatstroke, while excess of sodium in human beings causes oedema and hypertension.

Potassium (K) It part takes in the conduction of nervous impulses and has the function with that of sodium.

Sources of Pottasium Green vegetables, bananas, yam, milk, potatoe, chicken, butter, beef. All natural foods, are rich in potassium.

They help in the proper functioning of the muscles and nerves in the human body.

Deficiency of Pottasium It results in the malfunctioning of muscles and nerves.

Iron This is one of the components of the haemoglobin in the red blood cells.

Functions of Iron They are solely responsible for the formation of the red blood cells and enzymes.

Source of Iron Liver, eggs, salt, meat, plantain, kidney and leefy vegetables.

Deficiency of Iron Anaemia Chlorine It maintains the osmotic balance of the blood.

Source of Chlorine Bacon, natural foods and table salt.

Functions of Chlorine Maintenance of osmotic balance and a component of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice of the stomach of man.

Deficiency of Chlorine Muscle cramps and excess oedema Phosporus (P) It could be derived from milk, fish, meat, snail, cheese, yolk, eggs green vegetables, yam, beans, bread and shell fish.

Function of Phosporus They are responsible for the formation of bones and – teeth, they are essential component of Dioxiribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic Acid CRNA. It takes part in the transfer of energy, regulates metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates and for the formation of Adenosine triphoosphate (ATP).

Deficiency It causes Rickets, dental decay and poor healthy.

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

Communication

IN humans the sense of sight is by far the most dominant of the five senses. Scientists who study the brain have determined that about one-quarter of the human cerebral cortex is involved in the sense of sight. Today’s media environment reflects our strong reliance on sight as a way of taking in information. The media is an environment filled with vast array of visual images, some moving, some still. Although video and film occupy most of our attention when it comes to the visual media, the photograph or still image provides valuable lessons in understanding the techniques used to convey information visually.

The edge that pictures have over words lies in the fact that in the depiction of any situation, the picture ‘‘always says it first’’. For the fact that ‘‘powerful photographic images are fixed in the mind more readily than words, the photograph needs no interpreter.’’ One time American president John F Kennedy drove this point home when he noted that, by telling their stories quickly and dramatically to all peoples of all nations, picture transcends all language barriers. Picture power is no doubt superpower as far as effective unambiguous communication is concern.

According to Alfred Stieglitz, he maintained that picture was more than a factual recording of truthful observation; it is also the expression of emotional reaction to life and an independent art. If the 20th century witnessed the recognition of the photograph as a means of forceful social, cultural, economic and political communications, 21st century could well be tagged the ‘Picture Age’, in the view of high technology, that is dotting every step of visual communication.

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? In this age of multimedia and mass communication, it often seems so. When a picture is displayed, the more you look, the more you see, rather than very long written or typeset stories, in small fonts that can take longer time to be read and understood. Recent research supports the idea that visual communication can be more powerful than verbal communication, suggesting in many instances that people learn and retain information that is presented to them visually much better than that which is only provided verbally. These are welcome findings to anyone whose work involves using visual presentations to persuade or instruct others. Even more welcome is the news that today; presenters have more resources than ever available to them for creating and displaying the most visually rich programs possible.

Visual communication is everywhere today, from electronic media like Web pages and television screens to environmental contexts such as road signs and retail displays. As the National Education Association has pointed out,” Western civilization has become more dependent than ever on visual culture, visual artefacts, and visual communication as a mode of discourse and a means of developing a social and cultural identity.” That’s an interesting observation, but what’s even more intriguing is that there is evidence to suggest that people not only communicate visually more than ever, they also communicate better when they communicate visually.

This is an important revelation to those who create

Power Of Image In Communication

By EGHWRUDJE PRAISE

presentations for work or education and who want to make those presentations as compelling and effective as possible.

The connection between seeing and remembering: why do people remember what they see so much more readily than what they hear? One recent article on the subject describes the evidently limitless capacity of longterm memory, each image storing its own information as a coherent ‘‘chunk or concept.’’ If this is so, then it follows that the more visual content in a presentation, the more memorable over the long-term.

There is plenty of evidence from formal research studies to indicate that communication that has a visual component can be far more effective than communication that does not. Here are just a few examples.

The psychologist Jerome Bruner of New York University has described studies that show that people only remember 10% of what they hear and 20% of what they read, but about 80 percent of what they see and do.

Training materials used by the federal government cite studies indicating that the retention of information three days after a meeting or other event is six times greater when information is presented by visual and oral

“Visual communication is everywhere today, from electronic media like Web pages and television screens to environmental contexts such as road signs and retail displays. As the National Education Association has pointed out,” Western civilization has become more dependent than ever on visual culture, visual artefacts, and visual communication as a mode of discourse and a means of developing a social and cultural identity.”

means than when the information is presented by the spoken word alone. The same materials also cite studies by educational researchers suggesting that 83% of human learning occurs visually.

Researchers at the Wharton School of Business compared visual presentations and purely verbal presentations and found that presenters using visual language were considered more persuasive by their audiences, 67% of whom felt that presenters who combined visual and verbal components were more persuasive.

Photograph contributes to how people know,

understand and develop opinions of people, places, and events they have never experienced in first-hand. Pictures are means of reforming, reporting, and carrying the scene of an event to the public. Most times in the communication media, pictures are used as a medium to expose the social ills of a given society. Photographs are used to preserve the present and immortalise the past.

A photographer once said a picture has the power to make one laugh and also cry. The grammar of photograph they say is often very closely related to verbal languages.

A good photographer can use his camera to tell stories that words cannot. An illiterate who cannot read nor write can understand the message an image is passing which written words would not be able to deliver. Photographs/ images/pictures can say things that written words or spoken ones cannot express. It can put one in danger or trouble and can also set one free.

The importance of photograph cannot be overlooked and so photographer are advised to beef-up their skills because the world is growing faster than one’s imagination, in all forms of technology and only the sluggish would be left behind. You can be self employed or you can work for an organisation that uses image/ pictures for presentations. There are lots of opportunities out there for you to grab.

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MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

International

Compiled By ISAH STELLA O.

Pakistan Brings Back Death Penalty

Evacuated passengers are seen on the tarmac as firefighting truck spray water on Asiana Airlines flight

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s new government, trying to appear determined to rein in escalating crime and militancy, has ended a ban on the death penalty, in a move condemned by international organizations as inhuman and retrograde.

Up to 8,000 people languish on death row in dozens of Pakistan’s notoriously overcrowded and violent jails.

Once a moratorium is in place, reinstatement of capital punishment is rare, with more than 150 countries having already either abolished the death penalty or stopped administering it.

A 2008 moratorium imposed

by Pakistan’s previous government, praised at the time by global rights groups, expired on

Plane Crashes In San Francisco, 2 Dead

SAN FRANCISCO/SEOUL - An Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 with 307 people on board crashed and burst into flames as it landed at San Francisco International Airport after a flight from Seoul, killing two people and injuring more than 180.

Witnesses to Saturday’s crash said the tail of the plane appeared to hit the approach area of the runway, which juts out into San Francisco Bay, as it came in for landing.

The tail came off and the aircraft appeared to bounce violently, scattering a trail of debris, before coming to rest on the tarmac.

Pictures taken by survivors immediately after the crash showed passengers emerging from the wrecked plane and hurrying away. Thick smoke then billowed from the fuselage, and TV footage later showed the aircraft gutted and blackened by fire, with much of its roof gone.

There was no immediate indication of the cause of the accident, and federal officials were traveling from Washington to investigate. One survivor said the pilot seemed to be trying to gain altitude just before the crash.

Asiana Airlines said it did not appear that the crash had been caused by mechanical failure although it declined to blame either the pilot or an error by the control tower.

The two dead were both teenage female Chinese nationals who had been seated at the rear of the aircraft, according to government officials in Seoul and Asiana.

“For now, we acknowledge that there were no problems caused by the 777-200 plane or (its) engines,” Yoon Youngdoo, the president and CEO of the airline, told a media conference at the company headquarters on the outskirts of Seoul.

Asiana said the flight, which

had originated in Shanghai, had carried 291 passengers and 16 crew members. Most were Chinese, Korean and U.S. nationals.

Dale Carnes, assistant deputy chief of the San Francisco Fire Department Chief, said two people were killed in the crash, and 49 were transported immediately to area hospitals with serious injuries. Another 132 people were later taken to hospitals with moderate and minor injuries.

Five people were in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital, according to spokeswoman Rachael Kagan.

She said a total of 52 people were treated for burns, fractures and internal injuries.

Three people were in critical condition at Stanford Hospital.

The crash was the first-ever fatal accident involving the Boeing 777, a popular longrange jet that has been in service since 1995. It was the first fatal commercial airline accident in the United States since a regional plane operated by Colgan Air crashed in New York in 2009.

San Francisco International Airport, a major West Coast hub and gateway to Asia, was shut down for several hours after the crash and flights were diverted to Los Angeles, Seattle, Oakland and San Jose.

tant things in real estate” location, location, location” are about to become just as important, if not more so, to tens of millions of individuals and small businesses buying health insurance under the new health care marketplaces scheduled to begin enrollments this fall across the United States.

The Affordable Care Act mandating those marketplaces, also called exchanges, is a national law requiring the uninsured to purchase health insurance that will take effect January 1.

But the cost of that insurance, how extensive the benefits are, and the number of insurance companies that will opt or be chosen to sell on those those marketplaces are all going to depend on the state a person happens to live in.

And even then, there will be variations within regions of some individual states, complicating an already complicated new system.

How wellóor poorlyóa given state’s exchange functions in coming years in providing affordable health care to its population could directly affect how businesses view that state’s attractiveness as a place to open up shop or expand.

“You’re really at the mercy of what’s going on in your state,” said Jonathan Wu, co-founder of the price comparison web site ValuePenguin.com.

Wu’s site has begun rolling out a health insurance rate tool for individuals states as their data becomes available. But so far, ValuePenguin has links for just four states and the District of Columbiaóa reflection of the fact that many of the marketplaces are very much works in progress.

“I don’t think consumers have any idea what they’re going to have to spend out-ofpocket,” Wu said.

Under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, health insurance will be offered for sale through the new exchanges to uninsured

By late afternoon two runways had reopened even as scores of safety workers scoured the airfield for debris.

‘TOO LOW AND TOO FAST’ Survivor Benjamin Levy told a local NBC station by phone he believed the Asiana plane had been coming in too low.

June 30.

“The present government does not plan to extend it,” said Omar Hamid Khan, an interior ministry spokesman.

Pakistan’s president must approve all executions. The government puts the number of people on death row at about 400. The method of execution is usually hanging.

“Pakistan is part of a dwindling minority of States who continue to retain the death penalty and carry out executions,” the International Commission of Jurists said.

“The prospect of lifting the moratorium is all the more alarming given the extraordinarily high number of people on death row.”

Khan said the new policy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government was to execute all death row prisoners, except those pardoned on humanitarian grounds.

There is, however, no firm evidence showing the practice can serve as a deterrent to crime or extremism, according to the United Nations and human rights groups.

“As long as the death penalty is in place, the risk of executing innocent people can never be eliminated,” rights group Amnesty International said.

Pakistan says capital punishment is key to deterring crime in places such as Karachi, a megacity of 18 million plagued by violence, as well as in the areas on its border with Afghanistan where Taliban militants launch daily attacks.

Papua New Guinea, one of the world’s poorest and most corrupt countries, reinstated the death penalty in May and repealed its sorcery laws after a string of gruesome “witch” killings and gang-rapes.

Asked about Amnesty’s criticism, Khan pointed to the fact that capital punishment was still in use in parts of the United States, a nation he said was home to the “best judicial system”.

Pakistan’s moratorium drew praise because of concerns its courts and police were too inept to ensure the accused a fair trial. Pakistan did, however, break its own rules in 2012, when it executed a convicted murderer and a former army serviceman.

Blast Hits Gas Pipeline Between Egypt latest explosion, state news CAIRO - An explosion has And Jordan agency MENA quoted officials hit an Egyptian gas pipeline in the lawless Sinai peninsula following a spate of attacks on security checkpoints in recent days, state television and witnesses said.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the

You’re At Mercy Of States, Not Obama, In Healthcare - Expert U.S.- The three most impor-

people, and to small companies with less than 50 full-time workers that don’t already offer such insurance to their employees. People who don’t sign up face a financial penalty that will escalate in coming years.

pipeline blast on Saturday or if the recent attacks were in reaction to the Egyptian army’s overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on Wednesday.

The fire caused by the explosion was under control by early yesterday morning, state media reported.

The pipeline, which supplies gas to Jordan, has been attacked more than 10 times since Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, was ousted in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprisings.

No one was injured during the

at the gas company as saying.

Five security officers were killed at their checkpoints in Sinai on Friday and four other checkpoints were attacked on Saturday.

A priest was killed at one checkpoint by a group of militants, according to security sources.

Egypt has struggled to control the security in the peninsula since Mubarak’s departure.

Hard-line Islamist groups took advantage of the collapse of security that followed and launched many attacks on army and police troops there.

President Barack Obama speaks about Affordable Care Act in San Jose, California.

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Iraqi Kurdish President Visits Baghdad To BAGHDAD - The president Ease Dispute ment. of Iraqi Kurdistan, Masoud Differences are rooted in a

Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani smiles during an interview with Reuters in Arbil, about 350 km in north of Bagdad.

Security personal watch over supporters of former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi during clashes outside the Republican Guard building in Cairo.

Barzani, visited Baghdad yesterday for the first time in more than two years, in a step towards resolving long-running disputes between the central government and the autonomous region over land and oil.

The visit follows an equally rare trip by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki who met Barzani in Kurdistan last month, easing tensions between leaders who have repeatedly accused each other of violating the constitution.

There was little concrete progress then, and officials on both sides said any major breakthrough yesterday was unlikely, but the focus would be on how committees formed to resolve the disputes should work.

“The main thing the (Iraqi) prime minister and the Kurdistan region’s president will discuss is how to activate the committees they agreed to form last time, and decide the mechanisms by which these committees work,” Maliki’s media adviser, Ali al-Moussawi, said.

The last time Barzani was in Baghdad was in 2010, during protracted negotiations that eventually produced the “Arbil agreement”, under which a power-sharing central government was formed between Shi’ite Muslims, Sunnis and ethnic Kurds.

That bargain, like others thereafter, was never fully implemented, and the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish region have since been at odds over oil and disputed territories along their internal

Egypt PM Dispute Stalls Government, Islamist Call More Protest

CAIRO - Egypt’s political transition after President Mohamed Mursi was ousted by the military stumbled at the first hurdle, after the choice of liberal politician Mohamed ElBaradei as interim prime minister was thrown into doubt

by Islamist objections.

ElBaradei’s nomination had been confirmed by several sources and state media on Saturday, but just before midnight a presidential spokesman told reporters that the prime minister had not in fact been chosen.

The abrupt U-turn came amid opposition to the appointment by the Nour Party, Egypt’s second Islamist force after Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, highlighting the challenge the military faces in finding consensus among liberals and conservatives on who should run the country.

Clashes between tens of thousands of pro- and antiMursi protesters swept the Arab world’s most populous nation on Friday and at least

35 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded.

The violence, which saw rival factions fighting street battles in central Cairo and many others cities and towns, underlined the pressing need for a swift political solution seen as inclusive to all.

“We extend our hand to eve-

ryone, everyone is a part of this nation,” the spokesman told reporters. “The Muslim Brotherhood has plenty of opportunities to run for all elections including the coming presidential elections or the ones to follow.”

Minutes after he spoke, state media reported that the public

prosecutor ordered that four top Brotherhood leaders held this week be detained for a further 15 days on accusations that they incited violence against protesters.

The four included Saad elKatatni, head of the group’s political wing, and Khairat ElShater, its political strategist.

boundary.

In recent years, the Kurds have signed contracts on their own terms with the likes of Exxon Mobil, Total and Chevron Corp, antagonizing Baghdad, which insists it alone is entitled to control exploration of Iraq’s oil.

A senior Kurdish official said the two sides would discuss Iraq’s deteriorating security situation, the administration of areas over which they both claim jurisdiction, and a national hydrocarbons law that has been held up for years in parlia-

EU Close To Deal On Greek AIX-EN-PROVENCE, Aid France - International lenders are very close to wrapping up talks with Greece to unlock further aid though more efforts are required from Athens, the EU’s top economic official told Reuters a day before euro zone finance ministers meet to decide on the aid.

Athens has been in talks with inspectors from the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund since Monday to settle issues in its bailout performance review after failing to deliver on public sector reforms.

“We are very close to a stafflevel agreement,” EU economic and monetary affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said, referring to talks between officials.

“The final decision is for tomorrow. The ball is in the Greek court and it depends on whether Greece is able to deliver the remaining elements of the milestones that have been agreed.”

Greece hopes that euro zone finance ministers will agree to up to 8.1 billion euros ($10.40 billion) in aid when they meet today as it needs part of the money to redeem about 2.2 billion euros of bonds in August.

The government missed a June deadline to put 12,500 state workers into a “mobility scheme”, under which they are transferred or laid off within a year, but agreement was reached after lengthy talks on Saturday, Greek officials have said. Other issues discussed in-

Britain Deports Cleric Abu Datada

LONDON/AMMAN - A radical Muslim cleric once called “Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe” was deported from Britain to Jordan yesterday, ending years of British government efforts to send him back home to face terrorism charges.

A police convoy collected Abu Qatada from London’s Belmarsh prison after midnight and drove him through the streets of the capital to a military airport. Soon after arriving in Jordan, he was taken under heavy guard to a nearby military

court.

The legal battle to deport Qatada has embarrassed successive British governments. Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “absolutely delighted” it was over.

“It’s an issue that ... has made my blood boil - that this man who has no right to be in our country, who’s a threat to our country, that it took so long and was so difficult to deport him,” Cameron told reporters.

Jordan’s Minister of State Mohammad al-Momani told Reuters Qatada would have a

fair trial “with the Jordanian judiciary respecting human rights.” Jordan convicted Qatada in his absence of encouraging militants who planned bomb attacks in 1999 and 2000.

He will get a re-trial on those charges.

Britain had said the preacher posed a national security risk, but courts had repeatedly blocked his deportation.

His return was made possible by an extradition treaty adopted

by Jordan and Britain last week that satisfied the concerns of British judges about the use of

fundamental disagreement about the degree to which power should be centralized in Baghdad, based on divergent interpretations of Iraq’s federal constitution, which was drawn up following the U.S.-led invasion of 2003.

Better relations with the Kurds would help insulate Maliki from the fallout of the civil war in neighboring Syria, which has inflamed sectarian tensions, spurring Sunni insurgents to take on Iraq’s Shi’iteled central government.

evidence obtained through torture.

Lawyers acting for Qatada said in May the cleric would leave voluntarily once the treaty had been finalized.

Sermons of the heavily bearded Qatada were found in a Hamburg flat used by some of those who carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Qatada was deported on the anniversary of the July 7, 2005 suicide attacks on London’s subway and bus network that killed more than 50 people.

cluded ways to cover a fiscal gap.

Rehn reiterated comments first said on Friday that Greece could get its next tranche of international aid in various instalments.

After worries over the euro zone resurfaced over the past weeks with political turmoil in both Greece and Portugal, the EU Commissioner said it was crucial that Lisbon kept working on restoring stability.

Portugal’s prime minister promoted the head of the junior coalition party to be his deputy on Saturday, hoping to end a political rift that sparked high level resignations and threatened to bring down the government and endanger the country’s bailout.

“Portugal scored an own goal one or two weeks ago. However, political leaders are now taking action in order to ensure political stability of the country, which is essential in order to continue stabilisation and restore recovery in the country,” Rehn said, adding that this was key for the country to eventually exit its EU/IMF bailout.

Portugal had been held up as an example of a bailout country doing all the right things to get its economy back in shape.

Rehn welcomed the European Central Bank’s decision on Thursday to respond to turbulence caused by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s exit plan from money-printing by abandoning its own insistence that it never offers forward guidance on policy.

The ECB said it would keep interest rates at record lows for an extended period.

“For market participants and the general public it is most useful that the ECB has clarified its intentions with forward guidance,” he said. “The United States and Europe are at different points of the economic cycle. While the U.S. has a more restrictive approach, Europe needs to continue with a more accomodative policy.”

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Solar Plane Lands In New York

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales (L) and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro wave during a meeting in Cochabanba.

NEW YORK - An airplane entirely powered by the sun touched down in New York City late on Saturday, completing the final leg of an epic journey across the United States that began over two months ago.

The Solar Impulse, its four propellers driven by energy collected from 12,000 solar cells in its wings to charge batteries for night use, landed at John F. Kennedy Airport at 11:09 p.m. EDT (0309 GMT), organizers said.

The experimental aircraft had left Dulles International Airport outside Washington

prove problematic.

Moscow has shown signs of growing impatience. Its Russia’s deputy foreign minister said on Thursday that Snowden

had not sought asylum there and needed to choose a place to go.

Moscow has made clear that the longer he stays, the greater the risk of the diplomatic standoff over his fate causing lasting damage to relations with Washington.

The Solar Impulse is the first solar-powered plane capable of operating day and night to fly across the United States.

With the wingspan of a jumbo jet and the weight of a small car, the aircraft completed the first leg of the journey from San Francisco to Phoenix in early May and flew later that month from Phoenix to Dallas.

From there it flew to St. Louis, stopped briefly in Cincinnati, then flew on to Washington, where is has remained since June 16.

Intended to boost support for clean energy technologies, the project began in 2003 with a 10-year budget of $112 million (90 million euros).

It has involved engineers from Swiss escalator maker Schindler (SCHN.S) and research aid from Belgian chemicals group Solvay(SOLB.BR).

SHANGHAI - Sophie the Giraffe is a teething toy taking over the world one baby mouth at a time. The toy, handmade in France from Malaysian rubber sap, is the rage for parents of toddlers the world over, including China.

But the knobby chew toy is priced around $30 (20.14 pounds) in China, nearly three times the price in France. It’s not a shock for Chinese parents, who have long lived with imported baby products that are sharply more expensive than elsewhere in the world.

Last week, Chinese authorities began an investigation into possible price-fixing and anti-

competitive practices at five foreign companies manufacturing infant formula milk, including Nestle SA , Abbott Laboratories (Xetra: 850103 - news) , Mead Johnson Nutrition Co , Danone (Paris: FR0000120644 - news) ‘s Dumex brand and Wyeth Nutrition.

Several other products aimed at infants and toddlers appear to be exorbitantly priced in China. Import duties are only a part of the reason, experts say much of the premium for imported infant products can be ascribed to fears that locally made goods may be contaminated.

Chinese parents, who are

mostly only allowed to have one child, simply do not want to take the risk of possible contamination in local baby products.

Foreign companies know this and many take advantage.

“Brands have been able to get away with this just because of the fear factor about buying unsafe products,” said Benjamin Cavender, principal analyst at China Market Research Group.

“If you look at how consumers spend their money, they are disproportionately willing to spend money on anything that their child will be eating or what will be touching their child’s body.”

for its last leg more than 18 hours earlier, on a route that took it north over Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.

The spindly aircraft had been expected to land in the early hours of yesterday, but the project team decided to shorten the flight after an 8foot (2.5 meter) tear appeared on the underside of the left wing.

The condition of the aircraft was declared sufficiently stable to continue, and pilot Andre Borschberg was not in danger, the organizers said.

3 Latin American Leftist Leaders Offer Snowden Asylum

LA PAZ/CARACAS - Bolivia offered asylum on Saturday to former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, joining leftist allies Venezuela and Nicaragua in defiance of Washington, which is demanding his arrest for divulging details of secret U.S. spy programs.

Snowden, 30, is believed to be holed up in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo international airport and has been trying to find a country that would give him sanctuary after he landed there from Hong Kong on June 23.

Bolivian President Evo Morales had said earlier this week that he would consider granting asylum to Snowden. But he took a harder line on Saturday, angered that some European coun-

tries banned his plane from their airspace this week on suspicion it carried Snowden.

“I want to tell ... the Europeans and Americans that last night I was thinking that as a fair protest, I want to say that now in fact we are going to give asylum to that American who is being persecuted by his fellow Americans,” Morales said during a visit to the town of Chipaya.

“If we receive a legal request, we will grant asylum,” he said.

Bolivia’s Foreign Ministry was not immediately available to comment on whether a formal asylum request had been received.

Congratulations to Precious Uwuigbe as you clock 4 today. from Miss Helen Alele

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also offered refuge to Snowden late Friday, but the government said that by Saturday night it had not received any word back.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said his country had received an asylum request and could agree to it “if circumstances permit.”

All three nations are members of the leftist ALBA bloc of countries that was forged by Venezuela’s late Hugo Chavez and whose leaders often denounce U.S. “imperial” aggression.

Russia has kept Snowden at arm’s length, saying the airport’s transit area where passengers wait between flights is neutral territory and that he would only be on Russian soil if he went through passport control.

It was not clear whether the former U.S. National Security Agency contractor would accept any of the Latin American offers, nor how he would reach the countries if he does.

There are no direct commercial flights between Moscow and Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and the usual route involves changing planes in Havana. It is not clear if Cuban authorities would let him transit, however, and there was no sign of Snowden aboard the flight to Havana on Saturday.

To obtain refugee status in Bolivia, Snowden would have to submit a request to the Bolivian Embassy in Russia and would not have to be physically in Bolivia, said former Foreign Minister Armando Loayza. Ecuador, which also backs Snowden, says it could only consider granting him asylum if he made it that country.

Given the dramatic grounding in Vienna of Morales’ plane, using European airspace could

Contamination: Chinese Pay More For Imported Infant Goods

A family looks at foreign imported milk powder products at a supermarket in Beijing

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BY most accounts, the just concluded All-Nigeria/ Cross River Open Athletics Championships in Calabar somewhat exposed the ability of the organisers to produce formidable teams for future sports events.

However, concerned analysts contend that there are still some areas of worry.

The main thrust of their concern is on the build-up events for qualification for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships holding in Moscow, Russia, in August.

The analysts describe the failure of most athletes in meeting the IAAF qualification requirements for the championships as a glitch in the country’s efforts to participate in international sporting events.

They argue that the open athletics championships in Calabar, held between June 19 and June 21, represented a convergence of the country’s finest athletes, drawn from both home and abroad, for the competition.

Although most athletes failed to meet the requirements, Blessing Okagbare lived up to the bookmakers’ expectations by sweeping all the honours in her categories.

The athlete made history as the first woman in modern times to win the Nigeria Open 100-metre race gold in five consecutive times.

Okagbare, who at the moment stands out as the country’s most globally recognised track athlete, coasted home with three gold medals in the three events she participated in; winning the women’s 100 metres race, 200 metres race and the Long Jump in a convincing style.

This guaranteed Okagbare’s place at the Moscow championships and gave her the opportunity to restore her pride after falling shy of an impressive performance at the last Olympic Games in London

MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

2012.

In another sterling performance, African Championship’s bronze medalist Kenechukwu Ezeofor won two gold medals and one silver medal in the men’s shot put, javelin and discus events respectively.

U.S.-based Noah Akwu also pulled an eye-catching performance when he won a gold medal in the men’s 400 metres race in an impressive personal best of 45.61seconds to dethrone Abiola Onokoya, the winner in 2012, who finished in second position.

Besides, Akwu won gold in the men’s 4x400-metre event and also claimed the silver in the 200-metre final.

Egwero Ogho-Oghene, whose performance and acceleration rate keeps brimming over with confidence, won the men’s 100-metre race with a time of 10.18 seconds to reinforce claims that he is Nigeria’s fastest sprinter.

However, it is somewhat pertinent to note the athletes’ inability to either match or beat existing national records during the Calabar championships.

Personal best records were few and far between; a performance that has made stakeholders to express further concerns.

Enefiok Udo-Obong, a member of the 4x400-metre men’s relay gold medalwinning team at Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, said that the proper assessment of the athletes’ performance was somewhat difficult because there were some areas of concern.

“It’s easy for me to assess the championships but it’s harder to assess the performance of the athletes.

It was what we expected: an indication of what to expect and what not to expect.

“We always have concerns when we feel that we are not doing averagely what it takes to win a medal at the world level.

“Its not all about winning gold, silver or bronze, it’s

Issues Preparing Nigerian Athletes For IAAF Championships

about the individual indices of the athletes and how an athlete has improved over time that we’re looking at,’’ Udo-Obong said.

James Godday, a bronze medalist in the 4x400-metre men’s relay at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, said that he was particularly impressed with the men’s 400-metre event but noted there was still much

is the level of improvement in an athlete’s finishing time or distance,’’ he said.

Richard Ogunleye, a Kaduna-based athletics coach, said that it was unfortunate that many athletes failed to qualify for the world championships and noted that no national record

themselves; we need to see an improvement.

“It’s also disappointing that no national record was broken in any event in this year’s competition and it’s even more difficult to comprehend when you realise that some of the national records have stood for a decade and

work to be done in other events.

“I was actually impressed with the return time of the men’s 400-metre; so far it appears to be positive; what we’re often particular about

was broken during the tournament.

“It is unfortunate that many of the athletes didn’t hit the qualification mark for the world championships or even set a personal best record for

beyond,’’ Ogunleye said.

With the developments at the championships in Calabar, the current concern of sports authorities and enthusiasts is how to prepare well for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The concerns raised by the stakeholders are indications that there is need for more serious preparatory programmes for the athletes in the lead-up to the 2014 and 2016 games.

They underscore the need to

By HENRY ADAMU

“It’s also disappointing that no national record was broken in any event in this year’s competition and it’s even more difficult to comprehend when you realise that some of the national records have stood for a decade and beyond.’’

make concerted efforts to restore the country’s glory in athletics.

By and large, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has released a provisional list of 19 athletes for the games.

The list, compiled after the national championships held in Calabar, include “Standard A’’ and “Standard B’’ athletes; that is, those who had met the qualification

benchmark as well as those who were placed under probation.

Some athletes who failed to meet the qualification requirements but were close to the mark were given three weeks to brush up and qualify for their respective events.

Sports analysts hold the belief that with this arrangement, most of the stakeholders’ concerns about the quality of Nigerian athletes in the coming international sports competitions will be adequately addressed.

(NAN).

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Couple Wins Minna Winner-Takes-All THE duo of Londie Dasbak and Jonathan Peter on Saturday emerged winners at the maiden edition of the Winner-Takes-All Squash Tournament after three days of non-stop action at the Minna Sports Club.

Dasbak and Peter are not only from Plateau, but are also to get married.

An elated Dasbak told the newsmen at the Minna Sports Club yesterday that she was excited and grateful to God for seeing her through.

She said that her skills and experience enabled her to defeat hard fighting Yemisi Olatunji 3-2 to win the Ford Focus Saloon car at stake.

“I’m overwhelmed, God is good and this is one tournament that I didn’t really prepare for because of my ongoing coaching course at the National Institute for Sports.

“I had barely one hour to train every day, I just came here to give my all and God has crowned my efforts with success, I’m excited.

“Everybody that watched can attest to the fact that it was a keenly contested tournament, especially, the final with Yemisi she is a great player,” Dasbak said Jonathan Peters, who won the male category finals match, told NAN that he had to deny himself of things that gave him pleasure.

Morocco Stun Tunisia TUNISIA seriously compromised their chances of qualifying for the next African Cup of Nations after losing 1-0 to Morocco on Saturday in the coastal city of Sousse.

In spite of the expulsion of two Moroccan players, the Tunisians did not manage to create serious goal opportunities.

However, Morocco’s Abdessamad Mbarki stunned the Tunisian side during the last minute to score the only goal in the game, further complicating Tunisia’s task during the return match in Morocco next week.

The Tunisians are now condemned to win the return match against Morocco to hope to qualify for the next round of the continental event. (Xinhua/

“I had to deny myself a lot of things, I didn’t take alcohol for about three months, but at the end on the day it was worth the effort.

“Our wedding invitations will soon be out, we are both excited it was like a dream come true,” Peters said.

Peters defeated Tunde Ajagbe 3-1 to also drive away in the Ford Focus Saloon as his trophy.

NAN reports that other participants at the tournament will be going home with gifts as the organisers had promised to give them a token sum for their courage to compete.

40 players featured in the tournament of which 16 were women and 24 men.

Keshi Demands More Despite CHAN Win

• Mba congratulates Gambo for his opening goal against Coted’Ivoire Saturday

Mba Slays Coted’Ivoire Again

SUNDAY Mba again destroyed Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday in a 2014 CHAN qualifier just as he did at the AFCON in February.

The Super Eagles took a massive 4-1 advantage to Abidjan with Mba grabbing a brace and assisting in the two other goals by the home team inside a packed Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

The Super Eagles aiming to qualify for the first time for the

CHAN for lovcal league players opened scoring in the 21st minute through Pillars striker Gambo Mohammed, before Mba made it 2-0 for Nigeria on the half hour.

Danger man Tiecoura Coulibaly reduced the deficit for the visiting Ivorians on 45

FOOTBALL fans in Ebonyi have hailed the Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, for using the lessons of the last Confederations Cup to secure a win over Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday.

The Eagles trounced Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 in the first leg of the CAF Nations Championship qualifier that was played in Kaduna.

The fans who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Abakaliki were of the view that the domestic league players who featured in the Confederations Cup made the difference in the match.

Mr Chike Ogiji, Chairman of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Youths and Sports, said that the team blended because Keshi invited the Confederations Cup players with those he had been working with in the past.

“The team had only one week to prepare for the encounter but did not have cohesion problems because the players knew themselves.

“That was the mistake he made before the Confederations Cup by omitting the AFCON winning players and inviting new and inexperienced ones,” he said.

A former member of the house, Chief Richard Idike, said that the impressive form of some Confederations Cup players in the match showed that they gained valuable experience at the competition.

“Gambo Mohammed was roundly criticised for his terrible miss against Spain and Sunday Mba, for losing form since January’s Nations Cup triumph.

“The duo accounted for three of the four goals against Cote d’ Ivoire and this showed that giving players enough chance to prove their mettle was important,” he said.

A footballer, Princewill Chukwujekwu, urged the Eagles not to be complacent as the qualification was not yet over.

“The players should approach the return match with all seriousness as the Ivoriens are capable of turning the tide in the return leg.

“All hands must be on deck to ensure that the team qualifies for the competition having missed the previous two editions,” he said.

Coach of Galaxy FC of Abakaliki Victor Eneh, said the victory showed that the Nigerian League still had potential, in spite of the elimination of virtually all its club sides from

continental competitions.

“The national team is a different ball-game from the club sides, as the former entails the assemblage of the best players from the latter.

“The league, however, needs immediate rehabilitation in the areas of funding, efficient administration, provision of adequate facilities, enhanced players’ welfare among others, to keep it at par with other leagues,” he said.

A Civil Servant, Miss Njideka

fourth goal in the 80th minute, again with Mba involved in the goal.

The Ivorians finished the game with nine men after two of their players were sent off for dangerous play in the second period.

Gomo Onduku, who had a good game before he gives way for Edeh, told MTNFootball.com he was delighted with the Eagles performance.

“We showed them what we have in stock. I am very happy with my performance and that of the team as a whole. We were determined to win and that was what we got. We are not going to relent in the return leg,” Onduku told MTNFootball.com The return leg will take place in the weekend of July 20 and 21 in Abidjan with the overall winners advancing to the tournament proper in South Africa next year.

NIGERIA will begin preparations for the FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates with the screening of new players in Abuja on Sunday.

The two-week exercise according to coach Manu Garba is to discover new players to improve the team that nearly won the 10th CAN U17 Championship in Morocco in March.

Already players scouted across the country during the break are to report to The NFF/ FIFA Goal Project Site in Abuja on Sunday even as Garba warns that this is not an all-comers affair.

a look at some new players for some specific positions because what we want is the best for the country,” said Manu.

“We are really grateful that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have approved our programme towards the World Cup in the UAE and hopefully we are going to get some good players to beef up the team that came second at the African championship.”

Manu has promised to reorganise the Golden Eaglets in a post-mortem analysis of the African Championship after his team lost 5-4 on penalties to Cote d’Ivoire following a

minutes to end the first half 21.

Mba completed his brace in the 51st minute, four minutes after he missed a big chance.

Second-half substitute Ifeanyi Edeh completed the rout when he slotted home the

Ebonyi Fans Hail Super Eagles

SUPER Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said he expects improvements from his team even though they beat Cote d’Ivoire 4-1 in a CHAN qualifier.

And as such, Keshi revealed that he plans to call up at least new three players ahead of the return leg of the CHAN qualifier in Abidjan in a fortnight.

The Eagles coach also told MTNFootball.com that it was difficult for the coaching staff to get the players to understand how they wanted them to play against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.

Keshi equally expressed disappointment at the poor defending that led to the only goal scored by the Ivorians on Saturday in Kaduna.

“We have practised how defenders close down attackers in the box area in training, but unfortunately the defenders didn’t do well to defend. It only means we still have a lot of work to do,” he said.

“However I must confess that the experience of several players, Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubike Egwuekwe and even Gambo Mohammed who were at the Confederations Cup, paid off in this game.”

Keshi also explained why he did not use Nigeria league leading scorer Dele Olorundare.

“I noticed that my two holding midfielder where becoming weak and Gambo Mohammed was still doing the job. So, I left him on the pitch because I needed to balance if I make any changes. That is why most of my changes came from the midfield,” he offered.

Eaglets Begin World Cup Build-Up “It is important that we have

pulsating 1-1 draw in the championship final.

“We are going to fortify the team despite the fact that some of these players secured us the ticket to the World Cup and we are going to look for quality replacements before going for the World Cup in the UAE,” he said.

Meanwhile, players picked from the screening exercise will undergo the mandatory Magnetic Image Resonance (MRI) test to ascertain if they are within the stipulated age bracket before the team’s close camping ahead of the World Cup in UAE between October 17 and November 8.

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Van Ginkel Targets First-Team Impact CHELSEA new-boy Marco van Ginkel has vowed to prove himself in Jose Mourinho’s first team after sealing his move from Vitesse Arnhem.

Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars has questioned whether Van Ginkel will play regularly for the Blues, and there has been an expectation that he will be eased into Premier League life gradually.

However, he is said to have sought assurances from Blues boss Jose Mourinho over his prospects of regular football prior to making the move, and the 20-year-old does not seem ready to settle for a place as a back-up performer in his debut campaign.

“I want to play games and not only sit on the bench - that’s what I hope for,” he told Chelsea’s official website. “I want to play in games at these great stadiums and hopefully be important for the team, whether it is from the bench or from the start.

“I spoke with the manager and he had some good words for me.

If a trainer like this says these things to you it makes you really proud and I am happy to work with him. I’m very happy to be here at such a nice club with great players. I am really happy.

The stadium is good and the training ground is fantastic.

“I know about all the players and will meet them today.”

Van Ginkel admitted he will be “a little bit nervous” when he meets up with Chelsea’s star names at the club’s Cobham training base for the first time, yet he has his sights set on making a big impression in the Premier League and forcing his way into Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands squad for next summer’s World Cup finals.

“Everybody wants to go to Brazil,” he added. “You have to play - that’s what Louis van Gaal has said to players. I think I can play games and I think the Premier League is higher than the Dutch league, so you can learn more physically and technically, and develop. That’s why I am here.”

Mignolet Relishing Reina Battle

LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has told ESPN FC that he is relishing the prospect of fighting Pepe Reina for the No. 1 spot at Anfield.

Belgium international Mignolet, 25, joined the Reds late last month from Sunderland, signing a five-

year deal.

His arrival has added to speculation that Reina could be on his way out of the club, with Barcelona regularly linked, but Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has insisted that he has no intention of selling the Spaniard.

Mignolet, who has to

• Simon Mignolet

I Won’t Be Given Time DAVID Moyes has said he expects to be sacked if he fails to bring instant success to Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson lasted 26 years at Old Trafford, but the Scot was afforded great patience during his early years as he struggled to turn the club around despite significant spending.

The decision to keep faith with the manager, given his ultimate success, demonstrates the potential value of continuity at a club, and the decision to offer Moyes a six-year contract illustrates United’s desire to maintain that approach.

Even so, Ferguson - appointed in 1986 - had to wait until 1990 to lift his first trophy with the Red Devils, and Moyes said he

would “probably not” be afforded as much time as his predecessor.

“In this day and age, you would not get that,” Moyes, who failed to deliver silverware during his 11-year spell with Everton, told the Sunday newspapers. “I don’t think you can ever ask for time now. All you can ask for is to be judged on how it goes. Time is something managers do not get now and it is a tough start.”

Nonetheless, Moyes, who will have to take on Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City in

AZ Alkmaar have confirmed Sunderland’s bid for Jozy Altidore has been accepted.

USA international Altidore, 23, is now allowed to speak to Sunderland to agree a deal and could have a medical as early as Monday.

A statement on the Eredivisie side’s official website read: “AZ Alkmaar and Sunderland reached an agreement on the transfer of Jozy Altidore on Friday.

“If the 23-year-old forward reaches an agreement with the Premier League club and passes a medical examination, he will sign a contract lasting several years in England. At AZ, Altidore had a contract until 2015.”

ESPN FC had been informed that AZ were seeking between 8 million and

10 million Euros for Altidore.

The former Hull City and Villarreal player moved to AZ two years ago and has scored 38 goals in 67 appearances for the Eredivisie club.

Sunderland Bid For Altidore

his first five games, is confident his new employers will give him the freedom to carry out his duties as he sees fit.

“I have met the Glazers – Joel and Avi – both here and in New York and they have given me a lot of confidence to get on with the job,” he said. “Their message was to take your time and do things the way you want to do it. There are no great expectations on how I do the job. They are not owners who interfere.”

Moyes revealed his appointment had come entirely out of the blue.

“The phone rang and it was Sir Alex,” he said. “I had no idea why he would want to phone me. He said: ‘Could you drop over to the house for some lunch?’

“I told my wife that he must

want me to take one of his players on loan or that he wanted to buy one of my players. I had my jeans and a Tshirt on and I felt I had to go home and get changed. I would never ever go to a meeting with Sir Alex wearing jeans.

“I had no inkling. He took me up the stairs, made me a cup of tea and spoke the words I will never forget. They were: ‘I am retiring and you are the next manager of Manchester United’.

I went back to pick her up and Pamela must have wondered where the hell I had been. I told her: ‘I am the next Manchester United manager ’. I cannot repeat what she said back.”

Moyes insists he is relishing the chance to follow on from the most successful manager of all time.

“I have heard so many people say that you don’t want to follow Sir Alex,” Moyes said.

“A lot of good managers have said that you don’t want to take

specific player. And it is certainly not a problem.

“I am strong enough and I have qualities. And when good players come in, I will play with good players.

“Every season players come in and players go. But I think it is good news if top players come in.

“The hope is that this season Arsenal will be at the top of the league. English football, thankfully, is not like Spain where you only have two teams - Barcelona and Real Madrid who fight at the top. In the

Premier League you have five, six, even seven top, top teams.

“It is very difficult but I know that Arsenal are one of those top teams who will be involved. You don’t know how the season will work out. A few of the other teams all have new managers so it is difficult to say. But they will be strong and equally, Arsenal will be strong.”

Podolski and his team-mates will depart for a tour of Asia on Thursday, and the Germany international hopes the sojourn signals the start of a successful season.

- Moyes

compete with Thibaut Courtois at international level, says it would be a positive if Reina does stay as he believes having to compete can only bring out the best in both players.

“That’s always what has happened when there’s competition,” he told ESPN FC. “I’ve had competition in Sunderland and in Belgium with the national team.

“It’s not only Pepe - there’s a lot of good goalies at Liverpool, like Brad Jones for example - and it’s not only the position of the goalie where there is competition. It’s every single position on the field.

“There’s only 11 players who can play and it is something that is normal with being a football player. You have to deal with that.

Competition can only make you as an individual better and let you perform better. It can

Holloway Not Expecting Zaha To Return CRYSTAL Palace manager Ian Holloway has accepted there is little prospect of Manchester United new-boy Wilfried Zaha spending the season back at Selhurst Park.

Zaha was a key man as Palace secured a place in the Premier League in May, yet the 20-year-old winger had already agreed a move to United in January and started training with new boss David Moyes and his Premier League champions last week.

Palace have indicated an interest in potentially taking the England international back on loan, but Holloway expects the youngster to emerge as a first-team star at Old Trafford next season.

“I don’t think for one minute I’d even consider asking David Moyes about

Podolski Confident Of Keeping Spot

ARSENAL forward Lukas Podolski insists he is not concerned about his place in the team, despite increasing speculation Gonzalo Higuain is set to join the club from Real Madrid.

Podolski, 28, joined the Gunners last summer from Cologne in an £11 million transfer, and believes he has shown enough in that time to warrant inclusion in a bolstered attacking line-up.

“It is always good when good players come in,” Podolski told The Sun. “I don’t worry about a

only be a positive thing.”

Mignolet has been impressed by the plans Rodgers and goalkeeper coach John Achterberg have in taking the club forwards.

“From the talks I had with him [Rodgers] and the goalie coach I felt they were very ambitious and the club wants to get forward,” he said. “The signings they’d already done before July showed they really wanted to get going. They want to push on again in the Premier League. It was obvious that they are an ambitious club and a big club.”

Even so, he is still adapting to life at Anfield and said he is finding it “hard to understand” Liverpool’s magnitude.

“I know how big a club this is but I think I’m only going to feel it once the games get going,” he added. “The first few training sessions went okay. I’m very happy to be here and train.”

“This will be my first tour with Arsenal and I am really looking forward to it. I hope Arsenal can have a good preseason and, hopefully, all of us can be injury free. It is good to have Jack Wilshere back but we need all our players to be available.

“Last season was a good season for me. I scored a lot of goals and made a lots of assists so I was happy.

“I came from a small team like Cologne so it was not easy but, hopefully, this year will be better,” he explained.

signing him right now,” Holloway told talkSPORT. “I don’t think it’s fair to the boy.

He’s got to have a go at Man United.

“I’m sure I know Moyes that well that if there was a club in the Premier League that Wilfried Zaha wanted to play for, if it wasn’t Manchester United, I’m sure it would be us, so I’m sure the phone would ring.

“Let’s be perfectly honest: I think the boy is so exciting he’s going to have a chance at Man United and I can see him getting in their first team and I genuinely mean that.

“I wish him all the best in his Manchester United career and well done to them for buying him. Sir Alex Ferguson very rarely gets them wrong and David Moyes will be delighted he’s found that talent in his midst because he can win games at the very, very top level.”

• Zaha

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Bendtner For Malaga Talks MALAGA are hoping to lure Nicklas Bendtner to La Rosaleda, with the Danish striker reportedly in Spain to negotiate a contract.

The Arsenal forward spent last season on loan at Juventus and has found himself unwanted at the north London side.

As such, Arsene Wenger’s men are willing to sell the 25-year-old for a fee of around +3m (£2.6m).

AS have claimed that Bendtner was on the Costa del Sol on Saturday to discuss a potential deal, however the Boquerones are only willing to offer the goalscorer a salary much-reduced from the one he’s been used to at the Premier League club.

Alex Hoping To Stay At PSG

• Messi

• Neymar

THE Blaugrana president has dismissed suggestions the South American stars could struggle to perform well together, adding the club did well to sign the Brazilian Neymar may struggle to play early.

Barcelona president Sandro alongside Lionel Messi.

The Brazil starlet, who Rosell has dismissed any completed a £57 million move suggestions that new signing

to Camp Nou earlier this summer, was awarded the Confederations Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after helping his side retain the trophy on home soil after a 3-0 win over Spain in the final.

Former Blaugrana coach Johan Cruyff had suggested Messi should be sold given that the two South American stars would clash at Camp Nou, but Rosell has rubbished any such notion, adding that the club did well to land the ex-Santos forward before his stunning displays in June.

“As some say, we were lucky to sign Neymar before the Confederations Cup,” the 49-year-old told Sport.es.

“Let’s just say lucky, yes.

Neymar And Messi ’ll Not Clash, Insists Rosell

Inter Sign Two As Stankovic INTER Milan have Exits announced the signings of man and, with immense joy, defenders Marco Andreolli and Hugo Campagnaro as Dejan Stankovic bade an emotional farewell to the San Siro.

Andreolli, an Inter youth team product, joins from Chievo, with the 27-year-old penning a contract until 2017, while Campagnaro, 33, has

signed until 2015 after completing a move from Napoli.

Stankovic, meanwhile, has agreed the termination of his deal, which had been due to expire next summer. The 34year-old had spent nine years with the Nerazzurri, winning five Serie A titles and a Champions League, and expressed his gratitude to the supporters on the club’s official website.

- Blog: Cassano proves Inter’s decision to sell was right “I don’t know if I can find the right words to say goodbye and to thank you properly for everything you have given me, your affection, your trust and your honesty,” Stankovic said. “The last ten years have been the best of my life. I have grown both as a

• Stankovis

as a footballer.

“The thought that I won’t be pulling on the Inter shirt anymore brings tears to my eyes but I’ve always been frank and the tears are real.

Unfortunately, in life there comes a time when you have to move on and look forward.

“During my time in Milan I’ve played alongside some wonderful footballers and above all some wonderful people. It’s hard to find the words to thank them all. It’s been an honour to wear these colours and they will always remain on my skin. I’ll never remove them; nobody can ever remove them.”

The former Serbia international, who spent much of last season injured, signed for Inter in 2004 from Lazio and made 332 appearances for the Nerazzurri.

Milan ‘Reject’ Real Madrid’s Balotelli Offer

REPORTS in the Italian media have claimed that Milan turned down an offer from Real Madrid for striker Mario Balotelli.

The striker only made the move to San Siro from Manchester City in January for +20m (£17.6m), but according to the Corriere dello Sport, new Real Madrid

Toulatan Joins Monaco

FRANCE midfielder Jeremy Toulalan has joined big-spending Monaco, the Ligue 1 side announced on its website on Saturday.

The 29-year-old, who joins from Malaga, signed a twoyear deal with an option on a third year.

Toulalan joins a club that

has already spent lavishly for its return to the French top flight with Ricardo Carvalho from Real Madrid, Moutinho and James Rodriguez from Porto and Falcao from Athletico Madrid all having already moved to the principality.

Funded by Russian billionaire Dmitry

Rybolovlev, Monaco are looking to make a splash in Ligue 1 next season and rival fellow big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain.

Toulalan won two French titles with Lyon before moving to La Liga in 2011.

Moanco said they will present their new recruits to the press on Monday.

“All good people understand these situations.

And these [Messi and Neymar] are two good people.”

Rosell also took the opportunity to comment on Bojan Krkic, who on Saturday completed a one-year loan move to Ajax, revealing his hope that the striker will still become an important player for Barcelona in the future.

“Besides being a very dear person, is a very good player who needs minutes to play and prove he’s a scorer,” Rosell added.

“Choosing Ajax is perfect for him to keep growing and someday return to Barca - that would be our dream.”

• Mario Balotelli

coach Carlo Ancelotti has ordered his club to make a huge offer in order to tempt him to Los Blancos.

However, the Rossoneri have provided assurances that he is absolutely not for sale, nor is there any buy-out clause in his contract.

“Will Balotelli be sold? No, for the moment he won’t go, but in football those who are not for sale sooner or later go on the market,” agent Mino Raiolatold the Corriere dello Sport.

“Milan have an important project in place with Mario and he is very happy here. You can be sure he won’t move for now, but tomorrow... I don’t know.

“It is very tough for Serie A to hold on to top players right now, as their revenue is only a third of what English or Spanish clubs make.”

PARIS Saint-Germain centre-back Alex would like to remain with the Ligue 1 champions next season but is unsure about the club’s intentions.

Alex, who signed from Chelsea in 2012, has been linked with a return to his native Brazil, but the 31year-old is not seeking a transfer.

“I have another year on my contract and of course I want to stay at PSG,” he told L’Equipe. “I have many friends here and I want to continue.”

Asked if he was certain he would stay, he replied: “I don’t know. It also depends on the club, and I haven’t spoken to the club yet, but I want to stay.”

Alex, who was positive about the chance to play under former France centreback Laurent Blanc, is pleased to see the club moving for the likes of Edinson Cavani this summer.

“It’s a good thing for the team if you want to do well in the Champions League,” he said. “As we saw last season, it’s not easy, so if you want to succeed then players of this type will help us.”

PSG were eliminated by Barcelona at the quarter-final stage last season.

Malaga Confirm Demichelis Exit NEW Malaga boss Bernd Schuster has revealed defender Martin Demichelis will not be signing a new contract with the club.

The 32-year-old central defender, whose current deal expired this summer, was offered an extension last week but, after negotiations with the new manager, it was decided the Argentine would be leaving La Rosaleda.

“Our offer has been answered,” Schuster told a press conference. “We would have liked him to continue as he is a respected and important part of this team. It seems that our ideas are different and we must accept that. Now we must find a replacement.”

Demichelis signed for Malaga in 2011 from Bayern Munich and has made 84 appearances for the Spanish side.

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32 UNTIL yesterday when the newspaper headlines again showed how dangerous and deadly the Boko Haram sect could be, I thought it was time the national assembly set a time limit for the operations of the JTF in the three North-eastern States under emergency rule.

Boko Haram struck again in Yobe swere between 20 and 48, and among those dead were students and their teachers of a Government Secondary School, Mamudo on the outskirts of Potiskum, the commercial town in Yobe State. Newspaper accounts said the sect struck at dawn, and that some of the students killed were burnt alive.

If the accounts are anything to go by, it would appear that the security forces deployed to Yobe in the wake of the emergency rule declaration on May 14, were again caught napping. The official response is again more deployment of armed soldiers and a likely probe of the massacre.

The attack came on a day that the president Goodluck Jonathan, dawned in the Nigerian Army fatigue uniform, inspected the guard of honour at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja. So as the army and the president celebrated, his countrymen in Yobe mourned their dead children and lamented the level of insecurity. The attack on a day like that was probably the sect’s way of pooh-poohing all that the president and the JTF claim to have achieved in the terror war being waged in the north, especially Yobe, Borno and Taraba States. And how else can one explain the impunity with which the Sect strikes and goes scot free. Our security Forces, as it were, only arrive to pick up the pieces after the deadly strikes and await another deadly strike. That

is the scenario that is being painted whenever the Boko Haram strikes, leaving those armed forces pitted against them nonplus. It leaves us with the idea that not much intelligence work is being done

MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013

attrition, it will not go away.

And yet, the president Goodluck Jonathan has many wars on hand, all going on at the same time, requiring his attention. He may not like to hear that his differences with Governor Amechi of

The Many Wars Of Mr President

in the war to contain the menace of Boko Haram.

The general feeling is that Boko Haram is capable of doing just what they want and where they want and how they want, and who

Rivers State are a war on its own. It doesn’t matter who started it; and there are many who would argue that Amechi’s open challenge to the president amounts to insubordina-

Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, Fed. House of Reps

they want to either kill or harm. After all, the nation has watched the sect in the past bombed facilities in the nation’s capital city of Abuja, attack police stations and army barracks, set up chains of explosions in churches and market places, set fires in hostels housing youth corps members, and have lately ambushed traders, and now secondary schools and their students are not being spared of the mayhem that is Boko Haram. Can you imagine how heartless they have become in attacking students in their exam halls? One newspaper yesterday concludes that the hit-andrun strikes suggest that the seven-week-old military offensive has only succeeded in pushing the insurgence into hiding but has woefully failed to stop the devastating attacks.

In other words, we are in for a long drawn war. Or better still, it could just become another war of

become a distraction if the president wishes to be distracted. He never told us he was going to pick up a fight with Amechi when he canvassed for our votes. He promised a ro-

president again in 2015, and that is a long war to fight.

The president also has a war on hand over the current budget. If he must persuade the law

higher office outside of Rivers, Amechi is already smooth, home and safe from electioneering, having almost completed his two terms in office. On the other hand, the president has a lot to lose despite his wife’s crude interloping. The president may have succeeded in his home State, Bayelsa, in ousting the erstwhile Governor Silver who was seeking re-election, Amechi, on the other hand, has nothing to lose.

He could work against the president if he president, persists in pursuing his war against Amechi. The president wants to be

makers to tow his line, it is a war he must win convincingly, not like the war against Boko Haram or against Amechi. It is a war that would impact his electioneering promises and his transformation agenda. In fighting his many wars, the president must be mindful of an unfinished war to settle the entitlements of PHCN staff as he pursues the transformation agenda in the energy sector. Mr. President, 2015 may not be a long way from now, many more wars will certainly not serve the cause for 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State

tion and a distraction for the president. My take on this is that it could only

fulfilment of those campaign promises, and not an Amechi conundrum.

The president ought to know that Amechi has nothing to prove any more. Unless he seeks a

bust transformation agenda and all Nigerians are awaiting his a

“And yet, the president Goodluck Jonathan has many wars on hand, all going on at the same time, requiring his attention. He may not like to hear that his differences with Governor Amechi of Rivers State are a war on its own. It doesn’t matter who started it; and there are many who would argue that Amechi’s open challenge to the president amounts to insubordination and a distraction for the president. My take on this is that it could only become a distraction if the president wishes to be distracted.”

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