Nigerian observer 10 01 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 INSIGHT cmyk

Page s 16-17

Nigerian leadership can make it

• Vol . 38 NO.395• FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 20 14• N100.00

FG stops foreign training for civil servants

ABUJA - As part of efforts to reduce cost of governance, the Federal Government has directed that training of personnel of ministries, departments and

agencies must be held in the country from 2014.

This is contained in a document analysing the 2014 budget on major

focus of government to ensure good governance released by the Ministry of Finance.

“From 2014, all

training for personnel of MDAs and Parastatals must now take place in Nigeria. “ Foreign training programmes will only be Continues on page 2

Govt Protection

POLITICS Page 24

Defecting PDP legislators’ fate hazy

Oshiomhole assures foreign investors BENIN CITY - Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assured investors that government would give support and protection to their investments in the state.

He gave the host community. assurance yesterday “I noticed here that you when he granted have provided electricity audience to Mr Zheng to your host community, Changsheng, the Senior provided road and Manager and other extended electricity and Management team of created employment. We Yongxing Steel are very happy for this Company, Benin City at and we like to thank you, the Government House, we like to encourage you Benin City to continue to identify The Governor said with the community and “we will give you every with our state”, he said. support and protection Reacting to their because we need more complaints of companies to work in harassment by touts, Edo State. You are Oshiomhole said “I welcome to do your listened to your business here without complaints about any fear. We appreciate different agencies your contribution to your disturbing your

company’s operation; I would make sure that it is stopped immediately. If

a roadblock is put on the company gate, I will make sure it is removed

so that there would be easy transportation to and out of the

company”.

“Anytime you have problems, let me know.

I will call the revenue board and the Local Government Chairman to find out what the conflict is. The Chairman Continues on page 2

victimisation ASUUAlleged insists on implementation Electricity workers threaten of agreement

By FRIDAY OBANOR

BENIN CITY – The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike as from Tuesday January 14th, 2014 should the Federal Government fail to meet their demands to recall sacked workers over perceived victimisation.

Speaking at a press briefing in Benin City yesterday, the zonal organising secretary of the union, Comrade Joseph Ndem chided on the Federal Government

to downExpressing tools

over “unfair and u n b a l a n c e d ” disengagement, saying it should rescind its decision and recall affected workers back to work on or before Tuesday next week.

The aggrieved workers lamented a situation where young and productive staff of the organisation were made to leave the job while those who are due for retirement are left to work with the new owners in the Generation sector.

TIT BIT

“Even when the rainbow is to remind us of the beautiful colours of life; we would need to be looking up to notice them.”

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

their displeasure and disagreement at the recent disengagement from service of young, dynamic and ablebodied personnel from the services of the organisation, the organising secretary noted that most of those disengaged had not been paid their full severance both in the Continues on page 2

VISIT: L-R: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Mr. Zheng Changsheng, Senior Manager, Yonkjxing Steel Company Limited and Mr. Spark Lee, Public Relations Officer during a visit of the executives of Yongxing Steel Company to the Governor in Benin City yesterday.

Terrorism: Mark suggests global

By JOSES SEDE ABUJA - President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has called for global approach to tackle terrorism in order to end the menace threatening the World peace.

Senator Mark said in Abuja when he played host to the British Parliamentary UnderSecretary of States for Justice, Jeremy Wright

that world leaders must come together to work out a blue print to fight terrorism.

He noted the growing trend and spread of terrorists across the globe and canvassed for

approach

a collaborative effort to end the menace.

Senator Mark who

applauded the agreement between Nigeria and Britain on Prisoners Transfer

Agreement said Nigeria will uphold the sanctity of the agreement.

The President of the Senate noted that there are very many patriotic Continues on page 2

yesterday sworn-in as voluntary teachers under the Volunteer Teachers Scheme (VTS) organised by the Centre

for Development and Cultural Interchange in collaboration with the Edo State government through the Ministry of

Education.

Administering the oath to the first batch of the volunteer teachers, the Continues on page 2

20 volunteer teachers sworn-in

By VICTOR OMOALU BENIN CITY Twenty university graduates were

News

FG stops foreign training for civil servants

Continued from page 1

approved in exceptional cases and will be based on guidelines to be developed by the Head of Service and the Director –General of Budget Office.’’

It said that foreign travels by government personnel would further be curtailed, adding that the directive would apply to all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

On pension system, it said that a Pension Transition Arrangement Department under a new director general had been setup in 2013.

According to the document, in 2014, this department will now ensure pensioners still under the old scheme receive their pensions and gratuities.

It said that effort to ensure effective payment system would be top priority of government.

“In 2014, three electronic

platforms - the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information system (GIFMIS)

and the Integrated Payroll and personnel information System (IPPIS) - will be completed.’’

This, it said, was geared

Oshiomhole assures foreign investors

Continued from page 1

said the company’s main objective is the production and manufacturing of steel products.

He said since the establishment of the company, and the

commencement of operation, the company has tried to do its best in assisting the host community by providing small-scale businesses within the factory environment and extending electricity and providing transformers.

-

Commissioner for Education, Barr. Washington Usifo lauded the initiative, saying it was in line with the state government focus towards reviving the educational system in the

state.

“This group has come to assist the state government in taking the message down to the grassroots,” the commissioner stated.

Barr. Usifo who was

their own share of the National Cake”, he stated.

He, however advised the federal government to take a second look at the matter with a view to ensuring that justice is done by recalling the sacked workers for the benefit of the system.

On his part, the chairman Electricity Distribution Comrade B.G. Omoruyi pointed out that the leadership of the union had found some element of tribalism and

nepotism on the part of the present owners against perceived particular tribe.

Comrade Omoruyi observed that there was no criteria followed in the disengagement of staff at the TCN office just like what happened at the Ughelli distribution centre were over 134 out of the 200 workers were relieved of their appointments without payment of their severance allowance.

democratic institutions in the land.

Earlier Mr. Wright accompanied by the British Ambassador to Nigeria Andrew Pocock- said he was in Nigeria to seal agreement with Nigeria on transfer of prisoners between both countries.

Wright expressed appreciation to Nigeria for

making the agreement possible assuring that his country will fulfill her own part of the bargain.

Also yesterday, Senator Mark played host to the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Deng Boqing where both leaders pledged the continued socio- economic cooperation between the two nations.

represented by Mr. P.O. Edionwe, an Education Officer advised the new volunteer teachers to imbibe the spirit of the oath.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Development and Cultural Interchange, (CDCI), Mr. Emmanuel Sule stated that the CDCI was set up primarily to train teachers that would help impart the needed professional services on the teaching services of Edo State.

Commending the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his effort towards upgrading the educational system in the state, Sule said the scheme is intended to complement the effort of the Comrade governor with a view to bringing about quality teaching services in public schools.

“We want to make sure that the teaching standard of our schools axis improved upon, that is why we pitched tent with the education sector instead of other sector, he stated.

Speaking on behalf of the volunteer teachers, Mr. Rogers Osarentin lauded the CDCI for the initiative, saying that it will afford him the opportunity to give back to the society.

committee.

Other members include; Mr Olawoye Koro, Mr Isaac Adeyenu, Mr Iliasu Ibrahim, Mrs Esther Makanju and Alhaji Adebayo Jimoh among others.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, Rep Albert SamTsokwa, has said that the defection of 37 PDP members to APC will not affect the leadership of the House.

Tsokwa, (PDP Taraba) said this in Abuja yesterday at a news conference to herald the resumption of the House from the Christmas and New Year break.

“The leadership of the House of Representatives remains intact, having enjoyed and is still enjoying the confidence of the members,” he said.

He said that in spite of the recent defections the House was bound by its constitutional duty to make laws for the good governance of the country.

“Nigerians should be assured that defection or no defection, the House of Representatives remains and shall so remain bound together by one solemn constitutional duty.

“The leadership of the House of Representatives emerged from the popularity of the candidates on one hand and the popular votes of members, and not on party lineage.

“The House has a date with history as encapsulated in its legislative agenda and this date it must keep faith with in the overall interest of Nigeria”, he said.

He said that defection was not new in a democratic process as the ruling party had also benefited from that process.

The legislator said that there was no law against defection of members from one party to another.

He said the amendment of the constitution, Petroleum Industry Bill and the 2014 budget, among others would be prioritised as the House resumes.

of the revenue board will speak with you on the tax you should pay, any other one you should disregard”, he said.

Earlier, the spokesman of the company, Sparkle Lee

20 volunteer teachers sworn-in

Continued from page 1

Electricity workers threaten to down tools

Continued from page 1

Generation and transmission sectors.

He described the purported sale of Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to be another “food for the Boys” because the so-called foreign investors the Federal Government claimed will be coming to acquire the organisations are never there; “what we have is the Federal Government sharing PHCN to 15 or 16 loyal members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as

Mark suggests global approach

Continued from page 1

and credible Nigerians doing business abroad but a few bad eggs causes the misgivings about Nigerian citizens.

He also requested the former colonial masters (Britain) as an older democracy to help Nigeria improve and sustain democracy in the country by helping to strengthen the

towards improving efficiency and transparency in the public finance.

It said that with the introduction of this payment system, the Federal Government had saved N126 billion.

Defection of PDP members to APC normal - Tukur

ABUJA - The PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has maintained that the defection of some of its members to the opposition party was normal in a democracy.

He stated this in Abuja in reaction to the defection of 27 PDP members of Sokoto state House of Assembly to the opposition party APC. Tukur, who spoke after inaugurating a 14 member caretaker committee for the party‘s Kwara state chapter, said; the development would not affect the party in anyway.

“If 27 have left, many would come in, that is the beauty of democracy. This is democracy in action where freedom of choice is entrenched.’’ He said.

He said that the inauguration of the PDP Kwara care taker committee was the beginning of the process aimed at ensuring a foundation which the party had always advocated.

Tukur maintained that the PDP stands for democracy not dictatorship.

He tasked the committee members to ensure that they

got the mandate of the electorate for the party in 2015.

He, however, expressed hope that the year 2014, would be a year of peace, unity and prosperity for the party and Nigerians generally.

Tukur further charged the newly inaugurated committee to manage the party affairs in Kwara ensuring that its supremacy was maintained in the state ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Mr Solomon Edoja, chairman of the committee, assured that the committee would work for the success of the party in the state in 2015 and beyond.

He said the committee would ensure that the party maintained its supremacy in the state, irrespective of the fact that some of its founding fathers had defected to the opposition.

Edoja stressed that the committee would also ensure that party members who defected to the opposition but wanted to to return were encouraged to do so.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Jubril Jos is to serve as secretary of the

2015: INEC to use electronic voting

ABUJA - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it would use the electronic voting system if the electoral law permits it.

The INEC Deputy Director (Publicity), Mr. Nick Dazang, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He said the commission was not against the use of electronic voting, noting that, the electoral laws prohibits its use.

“We all know the importance of electronic voting. It is an essential force that plays critical role as one of the basic instruments of credible election.

“India and some other countries have used it and the

elections held so far in these countries have been adjudged as not only free and fair, but also credible,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria has similar terrain with India in terms of population which means that electronic voting can work in this country.

It was recalls that Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) had advised the Federal Government to prevail on INEC to adopt the electronic voting method for the country.

It observed that this method of voting would stave off the irregularities usually associated with the conventional manual voting.

NOUN second to UK’s open university - VC

ABUJA - The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), is second only to the Open University in the UK, Prof. Ado Tenebe, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, has said.

Tenebe told newsmen in Abuja that the rating of NOUN had placed Nigeria’s education top in the international sphere.

He added that NOUN had remained a provider of open education resources.

According to him, this development places Nigeria as the second country only to UK. “That means you can go online and use our materials freely, and that is a great contribution to human resources and international manpower development,” he said.

He explained that admission was done online giving candidates opportunities to process

admission from any location.

According to the vicechancellor, admissions letters are also given online with instructions on processes of registration.

“It is an institution that makes university selfsustaining; you don’t have to look for job in any institution.

“You can be an employer of labour, it gives skill acquisitions and it places you on international community so that you become useful.” Tenebe said that NOUN had the mandate to award first degrees, second degrees and even PHD. He said that with the inauguration of a governing board for the university yesterday, NOUN would have a smoother administration in the area of finance and capital projects.

Urhomehe Police Station

Odubu flays slow pace of work

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR

URHOMEHE – Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work on the ultra modern police station at Urhomehe, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.

Indications to this emerged when he paid an inspection visit to the project site recently.

The deputy governor who was accompanied on the inspection visit by the Chairman of the State Oil and Gas Producing Areas

D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i s s i o n (EDSOGPADEC), Barr.

Vincent Uwadiae, charged the contractor handling the project to mobilise more men and materials to site so as to complete the job on time, as well as ensure that the project is executed in line with specification.

EDSOGPADEC chairman, who also expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work, however appreciated the quality of work done and urged the contractor to expedite action.

News Minister Inaugurates Great Green Wall Prog ABUJA - The Federal Ministry of Environment has inaugurated the Programme Coordinating Unit (PIU) of the Great Green Wall (GGW) to ensure its effective implementation in the Northern states.

While inaugurating the PIU in Abuja, the Supervising Minister of Environment, Mr. Darius Ishaku, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Taiye Haruna, said the project was aimed at combating desertification.

“The programme involves among others, the establishment of 1,500 kilometres of shelter belt from Kebbi State to Borno State in the North-West.

“It helps in the promotion of alternative energy, promotion of alternative means of livelihood and we are going to provide water and social infrastructure.

“I am aware that contract will be awarded for the sinking of boreholes in the affected states very soon.

“The Great Green Wall is different from tree planting in the sense that the communities are being

involved because they are going to participate; it is a participatory approach.”

Ishaku said the objective of the project was to tackle the detrimental social, economic and environmental impacts of land degradation and desertification in the region.

According to him, the programme is being implemented in the frontline states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

Ishaku, however, said that the mandate of the PIU involved the development of strategies and carrying out sensitisation and awareness campaigns; preparing annual work plan and budgets and defining, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities.

Other mandates of the unit included preparing tender document and management of the procurement process; preparing quarterly and annual reports as well as developing and maintaining a project information system.

The minister, therefore, urged the members of the unit to be assiduous and

honest in the discharge of their duties.

“The success of this programme now depends on you and the ministry will not tolerate any act of indolence and dishonesty from anyone.

“I urge you to also put the interest of the nation in your hearts and shun any personal interest or aggrandisement.’’

Earlier, the PIU coordinator, Dr Bukar Hassan, said that GGW was an integrated rural development programme, aimed at reversing the process of land degradation in the region and enhancing the citizens’ livelihood.

“It involves different afforestation activities, it also involves livelihood activities.

“In order word, communities will be involved in activities that will enhance their livelihood both in terms of on-land and up-land activities.

“Back home, we started the programme last year with the planting of shelter belt in all the states and some of the communities have started enjoying having community gardens and orchards for the

Rt. Hon. Friday Itulah (right) delivering his address during his empowerment of 250 physically challenged persons with griding machines, generating sets and buckets in his Esan North East/South East Federal Constituency at a recent Xmas/New Year get-together at his Agbazilo House Constituency office in Uromi.

uplift of their livelihood.’’

Hassan, who is also the director in charge of the Drought and Desertification Department in the ministry, said the programme was expected to last for a

minimum of four years.

Reports say that the PIU had eight members and more members were expected to join later to fast track the implementation of the programme.

Rt. Hon. Friday Itulah (middle) Bishop Anthony Okosun, PDP Chairman, Esan North East LGA (2nd right), a beneficiary of Itulah’s empowerment initiative, Ms Ann (right), at a recent Xmas/New Year get-together at his Agbazilo House Constituency office in Uromi.

Labour Crisis: Aremu Calls For Special Meeting Of Nat’l Advisory Labour Council

KADUNA - The Deputy National President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Isa Aremu, has called for a special session of the National Advisory Labour Council to address the sour relations between government and workers in the country.

Aremu told newsmen in Kaduna after a fitness exercise to mark his 53rd birthday, that the tense labour relations in the country must be addressed in the interest of the nation.

The NLC chief said, “I suggest that the tripartite National Advisory Labour Council (NALC) should this year convey a special session on collective bargaining and conflict resolution with governments, employers and labour as participants, to address all critical labour issues.”

He said the meeting should

also focus on “sanctity of collective agreements by governments, mediation and concilliation in cases of disputes”.

Aremu said there must be a rethink on the part of labour on the resistance option “to ensure maximum benefits but minimum cost to the workers, citizens and economy as a whole”.

On the economy, the NLC chief said the Federal Government must revise its reform policy to engender confidence and imbue transparency.

“Already there is crisis of confidence in the reform”, he said, adding that the government must ensure integrity and transparency in the process.

He noted the efforts of the administration in the power sector but said so far it had not

policing of the state during the period.

“Our statutory responsibility of protection of life and property will never be compromised.’’

He assured the public that with the support of other security agencies, peace would be maintained before, during and after the council poll.

Reports say that the All Progressives Congress (APC)

has filed a suit challenging the conduct of the proposed council elections.

The party’s candidate in the November 16, 2013 governorship election in the state, Senator Chris Ngige, made the statement in Awka on Tuesday.

He said this at the inauguration of a 27-member state interim executive committee of the party.

Anambra LG Poll: Police Assure Of Adequate

Security

AWKA - The Police Commissioner in Anambra State, Mr. Usman Gwary, on Wednesday assured the public of adequate security during the councils’ election in the state on January 11.

Gwary told newsmen in Awka that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free

council poll.

“Our strategies are many and not meant for public consumption.

“We are working hard to make sure the election is free and to give the participants equal opportunity.

“We assure you that the election will be violence free with your cooperation,’’ he said.

He said that Anambra was no

longer violent as it was in the past, stressing that many things, particularly politics, had changed for good.

“Police will provide environment conducive for a successful council election as was done during the governorship poll in November last year,’’ Gwary said.

The commissioner, however, solicited for the cooperation of the citizens to ensure efficient

It is an African Union initiative being implemented in 11 countries: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sudan and Chad.

generated the required impact that would propel Nigeria to be among the 20 developed economies of the world in the next six years.

Aremu said it was unacceptable that the nation was still groppling with power supply issues, adding that it was a major cause of the nation’s economic retrogression.

“Nigeria in recent times has witnessed unaccepatable massive industrial divestment due to factories closures because of absymal unstable, expensive power supply and in many cases non supply at all,” he said.

“In the long run, if the current non-supply of electricity persists, Nigerian economy might shut down altogether,” he added.

On the security situation in the country, Aremu urged all Nigerians to “cooperate with the President for Nigeria to overcome current security challenges as a condition for growth and development”.

He cautioned politicians against promoting violence and corruption.

“The present politics of corruption must give way to politics of development. All politicians must avoid violence and promote issue-based politics that voters can relate to,” Aremu said.

News FoI Act Compliance Civil Society Orgs Laud FG ABUJA - Some civil society organisations had commended the Federal Government for its positive disposition to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. The organisations, in separate interviews with the Newsmen in Abuja said that the Federal Government had been more predisposed to providing government information than other tiers of government.

They urged state governments to start complying with the FOI Act so as to raise the level of accountability and probity of elected representatives.

Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, Convener of “Say No Campaign’’ said that “a situation whereby the websites of many government agencies remain permanently under construction is not good for information dissemination about governments’ activities.’’

He noted that some government officials across the three tiers of government still found it difficult to divulge information permissible by the FOI Act on request.

Nwagwu, however, expressed regret that most of governments’ involvement with civil society organisations were merely to “fulfill all righteousness’’ but

not to constructively engage them.

The National Coordinator, Youth Alliance on Constitutional Reform (YACORE), Mr. Samson Itodo, said that the legalisation of the FOI Act in 2011 was good for Nigeria’s democracy.

Itodo said that the act had been raising probity in governments, especially the Federal Government to deliver social services.

“The FOI Act has increase consciousness that somebody is watching and will ask questions, especially about fiscal governance issues.

“The government at the centre has been mostly receptive to the civil society because of the influx of such groups at that level as they possess advocacy capacity.’’

Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, the Executive Director, Conscience Nigeria, urged more civil society organisations to invoke the FOI Act to address issues of budget passage and implementation.

He told newsmen that the civil society was responsible for many of the revelations of corruption and maladministration of some government officials in 2013.

LASG Promises Enabling Environment For Health Workers

Rt. Hon. Friday Itulah (2nd left), flanked by associates, friends and political leaders, presenting generating sets, grinding machines and buckets to physically challenged persons in his Esan North East/South East Federal Constituency at a recent Xmas/New Year get-together at his Agbazilo House Constituency office in Uromi.

27 Sokoto Lawmakers Defect To APC SOKOTO - Twenty seven members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the Sokoto State House of Assembly have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Only three members of the assemblyBala Musa, representing Yabo, Mustapha

Hurumi representing Bodinga South and Gatau Mustapha of Isa constituency- remained in the PDP. The defection was announced on the floor of the Assembly by the Speaker, Alhaji Lawalli Zayyana.

The defected members immediately brought out brooms to celebrate their move after the announcement of their names by

the speaker.

It would be recalled that Governor Aliyu Wamakko and his supporters had since defected to the APC, while his Deputy, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari had remained in the PDP. Shagari had at a recent news conference in Sokoto said that his loyalty to the party and President Goodluck Jonathan was intact.

The deputy governor also maintained that his relationship with Wamakko was still cordial.

LAGOS - The Lagos State Government said it would continue to provide enabling environment for health workers in the state to improve on service delivery.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, gave the assurance at the end of her “sensitisation tour’’ of the Randle General Hospital, Surulere, Lagos.

She said that the state government was aware of the enormous tasks of the health workers and would continue to appreciate and encourage them to do well.

Orelope-Adefulire urged the health workers to take their work seriously and to be patient.

The deputy governor charged them to help in changing the negative perception of the public about public hospitals.

“Health workers should change their attitude to work and also change the negative perception of the public about public hospitals.

“We have specialists in our hospitals who can handle all cases; if you can just wear a new look and change your attitude toward work, the sector will improve,” she said.

External Reserves Rise To $43.3bn

Griding machines, generating sets and buckets worth millions of Naira, purchased by Rt. Hon. Friday Itulah ready to be commissioned for presentation to 250 physically challenged persons in his Esan North East/South East Federal Constituency at a recent Xmas/ New Year get-together at his Agbazilo House Constituency office in Uromi.

LAGOS - The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said that the nation’s external reserves appreciated to $43.314 billion, an increase of $6 million as at January 7, 2014.

CBN made the disclosure through its website.

According to the government bank, the amount represents $42.07 billion in ‘liquid’ while $1.043 billion is in ‘blocked’.

It said also that the reserve appreciated by 2.41 per cent compared with $43.308 billion recorded in January 6.

The amount was the second growth increase in the foreign

NBA Scribe Urges FG To Tackle Insurgency PORT HARCOURT - Mr. Kingsley Chuku, the Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt branch, advised Federal Government to do everything within the ambit of the law to crush the Boko Haram insurgence.

Chuku, who gave the advice in Port Harcourt in an interview with newsmen described the Boko Haram activities as “total evil’’ that must be crushed.

“If you (government) don’t stop them, they will destroy

this country.

“If you don’t stop them, the military, under that pretence, will come back and we don’t want the military to come back again in this country,’’ Chuku said.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his courage in declaring a state of emergency in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states.

“Let us commend Jonathan for his courage in declaring a state of emergency in those states.

“We commend him for taking that action to see how the Boko

Haram menace can be eradicated; it is a total evil. ‘’Let us pray for the president, his cabinet and Nigeria as nation that as quickly as possible,this thing will be off Nigeria,’’ he said.

Chuku noted that the development demanded for the highest attention and provision ever for security in the country. ‘’As a lawyer and student of government, I believe that no country can exist without making adequate provision for security,’’ he said.

The secretary noted that nowhere in the world is security cheap, stressing that money must be spent to get the best.

According to him, some corporate organisations doing business in Rivers have relocated their Headquarters to Abuja or Lagos due to the activities of militants.

Business activities, especially oil exploration had almost crumbled before Federal Government granted amnesty to the militants in the Niger Delta.

reserve since May 7, 2013 when it stood at N48.65 billion.

It will be recalled that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had in July 2012 stressed the need for Nigeria to shore up its

external reserves.

Okonjo-Iweala had then said that there was the need for the nation to build up the reserves to $50 billion dollars (N77.50 trillion) before the end of 2012.

She said that the reserves needed to be strong enough to help the country in the event of any global economic recession.

ABEOKUTA - The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has handed over items, including cheques for N13.1million, and N118, 000 in cash recovered from the scene of an accident in Abeokuta to the victim.

Mr. Ayo Sangofadeji, the TRACE Commander, who disclosed this to newsmen, said the victim, Alhaji Shittu Samsudeen’s Samsung Android cell phone was also returned to him.

He said Samsudeen was travelling in his black Toyota jeep on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Tuesday when the accident occurred around Onipepeye axis of the road.

“It was a good Samaritan that

rescued the victim from the car before a team of TRACE officials arrived at the scene and took him to the hospital,’’ the official said.

He said Samsudeen was brought from the hospital in Ijaiye area of Abeokuta to take delivery of the items at the TRACE office at Ibara Housing Estate in Abeokuta.

He advised motorists to always guide against human errors identified as the principal cause of auto crashes over the years.

TRACE commander quoted Samsudeen as saying that he was on 60 kilometre per hour, and was trying to avoid a crash with a learner’s vehicle when the accident occurred.

Ogun Traffic Agency Returns N13.1m To Accident Victim

News Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa Marks Birthday In Grand Style

By MATTHEW OKAGHA

BENIN CITY – A section of the Palace of the Benin Monarch was agog on Monday, January 6, 2014, as Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa (Omo N’Obarisiuwa N’ Erie) marked her birthday anniversary in grand style.

The birthday celebration of the Queen was spiced with cultural dances, entertainment of guests and feasting.

Another unique feature of the Oloi’s birthday celebration was the presentation of gifts to four orphanage homes and the children and staff at the paediatric ward, Central Hospital, Benin City.

The orphanages were Project Charilove, Oronsaye Maternity and Orphanage, Edo Orphanage Home and Iwinosa Orphanage.

Representatives of the Oloi, Chief Osamwonyi Amos Amadi (the Idukpaye of Benin Kingdom) and Princess (Mrs.) Ivie UwaIgbinoba spoke of the Queen’s affection and compassion for the sick children in the hospital and the motherless babies at the

various orphanages.

They noted that being her birthday celebration, the Queen considered it expedient to share the joy of the day with the children

whom she appreciates as direct gifts from God. The Director of Project Charilove, Mr. Chris Omusi

on Wednesday in Abuja said that Nigeria needs N500 billion annually for four years to have a sustainable road network.

Onolememen said this while answering questions from newsmen in Abuja.

According to him, inadequate funds continued to be the major challenge faced by the ministry of works and this had led to the slow pace of some arterial roads projects.

“There are some arterial roads that are affected by the lack of the required funds; if you ask me, for us to be able to drive these roads to the level Nigerians want; “We need to be investing about N500 billion in road development in the ministry of works every year in the next four years.

“But a situation where what we get is not up to N100 billion you can imagine the predicament we have sometimes and we have to prioritise.

“It’s like you have a requirement that will for instance cost you about 500 billion naira and you have maybe 70 to 80 billion naira to play with.

“So funding, no doubt, is a limitation, but even within that

limitation we are doing our utmost best to ensure that such critical fate section of the federal road are tackled within the little resource that is available to us,’’ he said According to Onolememen, the budgetary allocation alone is not enough to stimulate the road development that would sustain the economy of the nation.

He said that was why it was mandatory for every country to have a special fund set aside for infrastructural development.

“That was what the National Development Plans were doing in the post-independent era and that was why they succeeded the way they did.

“Thus, waiting for the budgetary allocation alone is not enough in order to stimulate Private partnership fund into the sector and that was what necessitated the road sector reforms.’’

He said that the reform in the road sector would be exploited to woo Public Private Partnership investment into the sector.

The minister said the SURE-P was a blessing to infrastructure development in Nigeria because it had helped in scaling up most road projects it’s the country since its introduction.

Nigeria Needs N500bn Annually For ABUJA - The Minister of 4-yrs - Minister Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen,

proprietress of Oronsaye Orphanage Home, Princess Kate Oronsaye both expressed appreciation to Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa and prayed for many happy returns for the Queen.

Sustainable Roads:

Some youths of Etete in Oredo Local Government in a protest match over victimization

by PHCN. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

Crisis With PHCN: BENINN CITY – Elders and youths of Etete community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to the Edo State Government to intervene in the crisis between the community and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Speaking during a peaceful protest match in Benin City yesterday, the Ohontor for Etete community, Sunday Amadi Egharebha stated that, indigenes of Benin City and indeed Edo State, have been unduly marginalized

who received the gift items on behalf of the inmates, described the act as a novelty, adding that many people in

the society often forget the less-privileged in the society in their moment of joy.

The Secretary/Head of Administration, Central Hospital, Benin City, Mr. Edwin Ojieho and the

Oloi Evbagharu Erediauwa, Omo N’Obarisuwa N’Erie

Stop Charging Illegal Fees In Schools, Ajimobi Warns Principals IBADAN - Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has warned heads of government-owned primary and secondary schools to desist from charging illegal fees.

He gave the warning while hosting executive members of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Ibadan.

Ajimobi, who reiterated the state’s free education policy, enjoined the school heads to avoid charging their students illegal fees but should rather work for their success in public examinations.

“I have found out that

some teachers were charging students underground fees; teachers should desist from charging any extra money or fee,’’ he said.

The governor urged the teachers to put in their best to produce students who would be the best in learning and character.

He explained that with about 30 per cent allocated to the education sector in the 2014 budget, more funds would be available to transform it.

The ANCOPSS State President, Mrs Funmilayo Ojoawo, commended the education policy of the administration, saying that this had helped in raising the standard of education in the state.

Omusi disclosed that the community have resolved to resist any attempt by PHCN to marginalize its, adding that workers of the PHCN will continue to resist the ongoing shake-up at PHCH. He however urged all the youths of the area to remain calm as elders of the community with their support will address the situation.

Meanwhile, youths of the community had protested round some streets of the community against the

indigenes of Edo State from the employment of Power Holding Company of Nigeria. The youths of the community during the protest however appealed to the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa and the Edo State governor, to intervene in the matter, even as they accused the said Mrs “One” of complicity in the disengagement of some of their indigenes in PHCN.

Community Calls For Govt removal of one Mrs ‘One” who was allegedly accused Intervention to be behind the sacking of Holding Company of

especially in the area of employement by the management of Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The Enogie said that the recent retrenchment of virtually all Benin indigenes is an unfortunate development that will spell doom if not properly addressed.

Also speaking in an interview, a member of the community who was also a former councilor, Hon. Vincent Asemota also expressed dissatisfaction over the marginalization of Edo indigenes in Power

Nigeria by persons who are perceived to be using ethnicity to disorganise operation at the Etete district.

Hon. Asemota stated that the Etete community had suffered so much deprivation in terms of powers generation adding that, this had led to constant power interruption from Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The Youth Leader of the Community, Mr. Matthew

“We appreciate the fact that provision of free and quality education has become a huge investment. “ The government has not relented in providing free and qualitative education to all citizens and residents of Oyo State.

“Tuition is totally free; government has employed highly qualified teachers to teach in our schools, this is highly commendable,’’ she said.

Ojoawo also lauded the prevailing peace in the state, saying it had contributed immensely to the successes so far recorded by the present administration.

“We thank God for the peace in Oyo State. It is a welcome development and we believe that Oyo of yesteryears that was known for hooliganism of the highest degree has now known peace, “This is a major prerequisite for meaningful development. Whatever the magic wands God has entrusted to our governor to bring peace to Oyo State is highly appreciated,’’ she said.

Ojoawo, however, appealed to the state government to ensure that secondary school teachers, who had been on Grade Level 16 for years, were promoted to Grade Level 17.

She also requested that serving principals be considered to fill the vacant posts of permanent secretaries in the State Teaching Service Commission while grants to schools should be increased.

Lagos JAMB To Create More CBT Centres

All Progressive Congress (APC) State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Godwin Erhahon (2nd left) being ushered into the community Square during his elevation into the Elders Council at Ologbo N’ugu in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State recently. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

LAGOS - Alhaji Kamaldeen Oladeji, an official of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), said that the examination body would create more Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Lagos.

Oladeji, the Coordinator, JAMB National Headquarters Annex, Lagos, told newsmen in Lagos that the centres would be ready ahead of this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

He said that the examination was scheduled for April and May and JAMB anticipated that about 75 per cent of the candidates would register on the computer-based platform.

“Currently we are planning to use institutions like the Adeniran Ogunsanya College

Ologbo N’ugu Community Honours Erahon

By RICHARD EWEKA

BENIN CITY – The Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress (APC) Edo State Chapter Comrade Godwin Erahon has been initiated into the Elders Council of Ologbo Nugu Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Council of Edo State.

Speaking at the ceremony the acting Odionwere of the Community Pa Simon Omobude extol the quality of Comrade Erahon he is said has represented the community well in all his dealing. “He is a good son of the community and over the years has exhibited an unquestionable character.

The community decided to honour him because of his good work and dedication to develop the community. We now that he is part of the Elder Council in this community development is sure” he concluded.

The Acting Youth Leader of the Community Godwin Igbogun commended the community for the honour done Comrade Erahon who he said continually identified with both the youth, Elders, children and the entire people of the community. “He deserved the honour. He is an honourable man who love is people and is doing everything to identify with his people”.

“I am so happy for this honour done him, he deserve it.

We as youth are all ready to support and join hands with him to develop our land that have been neglected by various administration over the years” he concluded.

Responding, Comrade Erahon thanked the elders of the community for the honour done him and promise to devote the rest of his life to the development of the community. “I will do my best to contribute my quota to develop this community. This is why I was born, where I grew and where I want to be buried when I die. For me I devote the rest of my life to this

community”.

Speaking further he said Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is their last hope, the hope of the community towards development. “Oshiomhole is only one I believe can help me extend development to my community, what ever threaten his life or government threaten my community, he is our last hope, we will continue to pray for him”, he concluded.

of Education, the Lagos State Polytechnic and the Lagos State University.

“They are in addition to the institutions already being used such as the University of Lagos and the Yaba College of Technology.

“Again, we are also considering some ICT-based corporate organisations such as Prime Innovation Institute of Technology on Lekki-Epe Expressway and Audax Solution, for the CBT examination.

“However, the proposed centres, especially the tertiary institutions, must have functional desktops, Computer System Cable and Local Area Network, with a minimum of 150 Systems and a minimum of five technical personnel at the centres.”

Oladeji said that the centres were also required to have, among other things, electricity backup such as generators and inverters.

According to him, some private schools in Lagos State have also indicated interest in hosting the examination.

Oladeji said that schools which met the requirements for the conduct of the CBT would have a lot to benefit from the

arrangement.

He said the gadgets used for the examination would boost teaching and learning in the schools thereafter.

The coordinator urged candidates for this year ’s examination to prepare themselves adequately, especially those opting for the CBT. He noted that this year would be the last time candidates would be given the Paper and Pencil Test (PPT) and the DualBased Test (DBT) as other options in the UTME. “The CBT is the future and so candidates must try and apply themselves to the use of Information Communication Technology.”

He said that the CBT mode of the examination had ensured prompt delivery of scores, elimination of results blackout and reduction of examination malpractice to the barest minimum.

According to him, it has also helped in reducing cases of impersonation.

Reports say that JAMB, which conducts the UTME, had introduced the CBT mode in 2013, but allowed candidates to opt to write the examination in any of the three modes.

LASU Strike: Union Urges Govt To Release Resolution

LAGOS - The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Lagos State University, Ojo Chapter, has urged the State Government to release the resolution of the meeting held between both parties in November 2013.

Mr. Saheed Oseni, the chairman of the chapter, told newsmen in Lagos that the union would not call off its ongoing strike until it received the resolution.

He said that the members had rejected a plea by the state government that they should resume work and await a copy of the resolution.

“Congress had concluded that the union must receive the resolution of the meeting it held with the representatives of the government before it suspends its strike.

“This is because we ought to have an official document to refer to in the future,’’ he said.

Oseni said that the state government was taking too much time to release the resolution.

“The deliberation with the representatives of the state government was promising and hopeful but we do not know why it is taking so long to release the resolution“, he said.

The chairman warned the university’s management to refrain from lobbying some members of the union to resume work.

Mr. Sola Fosudo, Acting Director, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relation Unit, told newsmen that the management had done everything possible to resolve the issues with the union. reports that the university’s chapter of SSANU has been on strike since September 30, 2013.

IKEJA - Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said the state government would work with residents of the Mosafejo slum community in Oshodi to re-develop the area.

Fashola stated this while addressing residents during a visit to the community.

He said that government was concerned about the poor living conditions in the area, stressing that the planned intervention was to improve the lives of the

residents.

The community which houses the popular Mosafejo market, lacked basic amenities such as potable water and a drainage system.

Fashola said things had to change in the area to make it more habitable and prevent outbreak of diseases.

“No doubt, conditions here are not too good and I am sure you residents do not like to continue to live here, this way.

“If you really don’t like to

Chief Mason Umweni Odubu (right), the Okaevbo of Urhomehe, Barr. Gentleman Amegor, leader of APC, Edo State and John Aigbogun, Chairman, APC Egor Local Government Area during a visit to the Okaevbo recebtkt

Fashola To Re Develop Mosafejo Community continue to live this way and you need help, we will help you to re-develop this place.

“We will help you to redesign this place so that you can still build on your property and get amenities like schools and so on.

“But you need to provide the land for us to do this. So, you go and meet and tell us when you are ready, so that we can begin to take the necessary steps,” he said.

Fashola, who said there was reports that hoodlums

had made the area a hide-out, called on residents to be vigilant.

He urged residents to report any suspicious criminal activities in the area to relevant authorities, for appropriate action.

The governor warned transporters against parking their vehicles on the highway, saying the practise caused gridlock.

Also speaking, Mr. Lukman Adeyemo, a resident, said the community

would collaborate with government to flush out hoodlums in the area.

“Most of the hoodlums in the community come from other places. But we promise to work with the government to ensure criminals do not live in our midst,” Adeyemo said.

He commended the planned re-development of the community, saying residents would co-operate with government to make it a reality.

Across The Nation Plateau Govt Earmarks N260m For Digital Machines JOS - The Plateau Government said it had earmarked N260 million for the acquisition of a digital printing machine for the state’s printing press.

Mr. Abraham Yiljap, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, made the disclosure in Jos while inspecting some of the equipment already purchased.

Yiljap said government had spent N20 million for the refurbishing of 10 machines at the printing press.

According to him, the refurbishment and purchase of a digital machine for the printing press are imperative as the company handles most of the secret documents of government.

“The Plateau Printing Press was the pride of Plateau state at its inception four decades

ago.

“But never in its history has it had any form of refurbishing as it is witnessing under the present administration.

“Already, we have refurbished 10 machines which cost us N20 million.

“Some of the machines are already being put to use, while others are being test run to ascertain their suitability.

“We are also going to purchase a digital printing machine that will handle the printing of government’s files, white paper, reports of judicial commission and other security documents and that will cost N260 million.

“Governor Jonah Jang is doing all these because he has promised the people of Plateau that before the end of his administration in 2015, all sectors must have witnessed drastic transformation.

“Indeed all of us are witnesses that he is not reneging in his campaign promises to the people,” he said.

Yiljap also lauded the management of the printing press for embarking on the training and retraining of its staff.

He urged government officials to maintain the confidentiality of government activities by patronising the government printing press.

In his remarks, the Acting Chief Government Printer, Mr. Moses Goshit, thanked government for coming to the aid of the printing press through the refurbishment of its equipment.

He assured government that with the digital machines and other infrastructure, the printing press would deliver on its mandate.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Banking & Currency, Rep Jones Onyiriri (1st right), discussing with NDIC ED (Operations), Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, during the arrival of the Committee’s oversight visit to NDIC Lagos.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole (2nd left), exchanging pleasantries with some Enigie who grace the installation ceremony of father of Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, Manson Uweni Odubu when he was installed as Okaevbo of Urhomehe. To the Governor’s left are the Enogie of Ukhiri, HRH Godwin Osayande Aigbe and his wife, Barr. Mrs. Stella Aigbe. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Customs Seizes N12.5m Fake LAGOS - The Federal Mahmoud listed some of the Drugs Operations Unit ‘A’ of Nigeria seized fake drugs as Vega Customs Service in Ikeja said it intercepted two Mercedes Benz trucks loaded with fake pharmaceutical products valued at N12.5 million.

Alhaji Nuhu Mahmoud, the unit controller, told reporters in Lagos that the Duty Paid Value of the fake drugs was N13.7 million.

Mahmoud said that the drugs had been handed over to the appropriate government agency after thorough investigation.

He said that the registration numbers of the two trucks were XA 217 ALA and DGE 9I5 XA Mahmoud said that the seizure was made by the Headquarters Monitoring Team, Idi- Iroko/Ogun axis, under the leadership of an assistant comptroller of customs.

He said that the Idi- Iroko monitoring team made the interception at about 10.00 am on Jan. 5 along Sagamu/Ijebu - Ode expressway.

APC Chieftain Urges Party Leadership To Unite SOKOTO - Alhaji Sani Dodo-Iya, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, has called on the national leadership of the party to take steps to unite its members.

“There is the urgency in doing this so as to make the party to be more formidable,” Dodo-Iya, told newsmen in Sokoto.

The party chieftain said that the ongoing intra-party wrangling in some states,

especially Kano and Sokoto States, were “unbecoming”.

“The national leadership should therefore logically conclude its ongoing moves to reconcile all the members with a view to forging ahead.”

“The current intra-party wrangling in the APC is, however, part of the teething problems and it will soon be over,” he further urged.

Dodo-Iya also called on the leadership of the party to lay

emphasis on the sensitisation of its members on ideals, vision and mission of the party.

This, he said, was better than the ongoing squabbles over ownership and leadership of the party in some states.

In Sokoto State, we are solidly behind the leadership of Governor Aliyu Wamakko and we should be loyal to APC. “We should also be law-

abiding and conduct our politics with decorum and patriotism”.

Alhaji Muhammadu Sani, another chieftain of the party in the state, warned members against flouting the constitution of the party.

Sani, a former state executive member of the defunct Congress for Progressive change (CPC), said; “we should be peaceful in all we are doing and shun politics of bitterness.”

Mahmoud said that the seizure was as a result of heightened surveillance by the unit, particularly during the festive period which some businessmen wanted to take advantage of.

“There was an earlier directive by the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Abdullahi Dikko Inde to the effect that all flanks be blocked during the yuletide period.

“The directive had provided the needed impetus for this spectacular seizure,’’ he said.

Mahmud said he appreciated the operational competence of the coordinating team that made the seizure possible.

tablets, Septrin suspension, Cicatrin powder, Nilstat oral drops and Dettol disinfectant.

Others include Optalidon tablets, Ampiclox suspension, Disprin tablets, CAC 1000 Sandoz, Augmentin syrup, Encephabol liquid and Strepsil tablets.

Mahmoud expressed his gratitude to the comptroller general of customs and his management team for equipping the unit with functional vehicles as well as other logistics support.

He said the assistance had been providing the platform for the operational successes of the unit.

Gunmen Kill 3, Injure 12 Others In Attack KANO - The Police Command in Kano has confirmed that gunmen had killed three persons and injured 12 others in Kwankwaso village, Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State.

Some gunmen had on Tuesday night attacked a mosque in Kwankwaso, where the Diastrict Head of Madobi, Alhaji Musa SaleKwankwaso, was attending the late evening prayers.

A statement issued in Kano by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, said the incident took place at about 7:30 p.m, when people were praying inside the mosque.

“The District Head of Madobi and father to the State Governor, Alhaji Musa

Sale Kwankwaso, who was also in the congregation, escaped unhurt.

“Although the attack was repelled by policemen who were in the congregation, three persons were killed and 12 others sustained various degree of injuries,’’ it said.

The statement said those injured had been taken to hospital where they were receiving medical attention.

“The identity, motive and target of the assailants is not yet established, but investigation has already commenced.’’

The command, therefore, called on members of the public to assist the police with any information that would lead to the arrest of the attackers.

News Power Sector: Expert Seek Support For New Investors LAGOS - Some experts in the power sector have urged electricity consumers to exercise patience as effects of the reforms would soon begin to unfold.

They also sought the support of the new investors towards ensuring sustainable and effective electricity supply nationwide.

The stakeholders made the appeal in separate interviews with newmen in Lagos.

They assured consumers that the roadmap for the reform and activities of new investors were indicative of success ahead in the near future.

Mr Joseph Makoju, a former Special Assistant to the President on Electricity, said the just concluded reforms in the power sector would soon begin to show gains.

He said the prospects for fresh investments, new technology and expertise of the new owners represent hope and confidence that the nation would soon overcome its power challenges.

Makoju called for patience and understanding from Nigerians as the new investors embarked on rehabilitation, upgrading and deployment of robust infrastructure.

“I believe the future is bright for the sector. I see a lot of opportunities for uninterrupted power supply, capacity building and employment prospects for Nigerians in the long run,”’ he said Mr Abiodun Ogunleye, the Managing Director, PowerCap Nigeria Ltd., said it would take some times to overhaul the subsisting power infrastructure.

Ogunleye said achieving uninterrupted power supply would require patience from Nigerians and commitment to deploy new technology to be manned by well trained workers.

“I am aware that the new investors are already thinking along the line of new technology and have plans to train and retrain their workforce.

“I believe we will get the breakthrough we all deserve in the near future,” he said.

Mr. Abraham Williams, Project Coordinator, Dubril Consortium Ltd., said the handover of some power assets to the private sector had brought new lease of life to the sector.

“The participation of the private sector would bring about more efficient and cost effective power supply arising from increased investment, enhanced infrastructure and opportunity for transfer of technical know-how to Nigerians,” he said.

Mr Fashola Charles, Managing Director, Seacof Enginering Ltd., said the power sector transition represented unprecedented milestone for the nation.

“What private participation did to the telecom sector is what we will eventually

witness in the power sector.

“But I believe a lot of consumer education and enlightenment programmes are required to make the average Nigerian know that the handover did not mean we would begin to witness uninterrupted power immediately.

“The good news is that it kicked off the journey of a process that would eventually get us there,” he said Reports say that some of the operators are currently partnering with reputable global power firms as technical partners to ensure stable electricity supply.

Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) currently partners the Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

KEPCO partnership is expected in areas of generation, transmission, distribution and metering.

Others are distribution automation system, geographic information system, customer information, advanced call center and distribution control center.

L-R: CBN Deputy Governor, Mr. Tunde Lemo, addressing news conference on Scriples Securities Settelement System (SSSS) in Abuja yesterday. With him are Director of Banking and Payment, Mr. Dipo Fatokun and Director, Audit, Mrs. Vivian Agu.

Preference For Special Placement Due To 2008 Crash -Capital Mkt Operators LAGOS - Some capital market operators have said that recent preference for special placements by companies when raising new funds was due to the market crash of 2008.

Special placement means the sale of a company’s

FRSC officials clamp down on motorists driving against traffic on Onitsha-Owerri Road in Anambra recently.

shares to a small group of private investors instead of the general investing public.

The operators expressed their sentiments in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos.

They said that these companies were still not confident of recovery of the primary market segment of the nation’s bourse.

Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, a former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said that some companies were afraid that the market would not react positively to any public offering.

Unegbu said that companies were resorting to special placements to address immediate financial needs due to fear of under-subscription and reliance on bank loans at higher interest rates.

He said that long process of public offerings also

IFRS Compliance: Brokers Body Sets Up C’ttee To Help Members

LAGOS - The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) says it has set up Accounting Technical Committee to assist members to comply with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Mr Ayodapo Shoderu, President of the council, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

According to him, the need to comply with the uniform

global reporting standards has necessitated the committee.

“This is because IFRS requires full disclosure of accounts by corporate institutions for probity and accountability.

“The world has become a global village where no nation or system can run independently of international norms and standards.

“This has also come to affect the style of financial reporting in the insurance broking sector which is a pivotal segment of our national economy,” he said.

Shoderu said that the council had also imbibed ‘Shared Services scheme’ to assist its members produce IFRS compliant 2013 financial statements.

He said that the Shared

Services Scheme involved the council engaging IFRS renowned consultants on behalf of its members.

According to him, this is to reduce the huge fees an individual company would pay if it does it all alone.

The NCRIB president said the shared scheme would also harmonise its members’ reporting standards to reduce

mistakes that could lead to rejection and penalty by National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

2014 is the IFRS transition year for all unquoted companies in which insurance broking firms belonged.

This means that NAICOM and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria expected insurance broking firms to submit IFRS complaint 2013 financial statements for approval.

contributed to companies’ preference for special placements that could be concluded in a week.

According to him, investors who believe in the company’s aspirations and missions are already identified during special placements.

Unegbu, however, said that special placement could not be done without the approval of shareholders, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

He called for intensive marketing of new issues by both market operators and regulators for investors’ participation.

Mr David Adonri, the Chief Operating Officer, Lambeth Trust & Securities Ltd., said that issuers of securities were still not confident about the recovery of the primary market.

Adonri said that the 2008 market crash made some investors to shy away from the equities market.

Oando recently raised N30.7 billion through special placement for the acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ Nigerian assets, while Wema Bank raised N40 billion for recapitalisation.

Unity Bank also recently got the shareholders approval to raise over N38 billion through special placement or rights issue.

Business + Economy ABUCCIMA Calls For Establishment Of SME’s Park In Abuja exercises.

According to him, the

State Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Prince Matthew Owobu, JP, (sitting left) with other newly installed Fellows of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) during the AGM in Abuja recently.

ABUJA - The Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) has called for the establishment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) parks in different parts of the FCT. Mr. Joe Wenegieme, the Director-General of the chamber, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Wenegieme said the parks were needed to accommodate small business operators ejected from their operational bases by the environment protection agencies.

“You know that different FCT agencies keep

demolishing shops owned by these SMEs to protect the Abuja Master Plan.

“Government can provide an area where the SMEs can be located, don’t forget that they created employment for themselves and others.

“If you knock down their shops, where do you expect them to go?

“Therefore, just as government has industrial parks for big industrialists, you can have settlements for small business operators who cannot afford to get into the big estates,” he said.

The DG said that members of ABUCCIMA were among those already affected by the demolishing and eviction

NATE Sues For Enabling Environment

LAGOS - The Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) has tasked the Federal Government on an enabling environment for the establishment of heavy engineering and allied industries in the country.

The association made the remark in a 14-point communiqué, signed by its National President, Mr. Leo Okereke, and the Secretary, Dr Akeem Adeniyi, in Lagos.

The communiqué was from the association’s 30th Annual General Meeting and Conference of Technologists (AGM/ CONFOTECH), held in November, 2013.

NATE said that the country was in dire need of electrical industries that would have the capacity to produce transformers, motors and alternators, amongst others.

According to the association, Nigeria’s manufacturing industries were dominated by low technology and light

industries such as the Food and Beverage Industries.

“There is also a dire need for products of iron and steel in large quantities in our industries for production of parts by the machine tool industries.

“We, therefore, urge government to put in place an intervention strategy that will involve the private sector in the resuscitation of our iron and steel industries.

“This is in order to produce the required quality material for production of spare components for our local industries, “ it said.

NATE said that the government needed to change its attitude and approach towards infrastructural development, stressing that most successful nations in terms of infrastructural development engaged in Public/ Private Partnerships (PPP).

It advocated for an improved maintenance culture in both the private and public sectors to combat infrastructure decay.

NATE added that its members

were ready to partner with key players in various sectors to improve the situation.

It said that the PPP could also be adopted to resuscitate the different transport modes such as road, rail, aviation and the

on the scheme in 2013, adding that the money was disbursed to entrepreneurs by the Kaduna State Micro Credit Board, through micro finance banks.

The commissioner disclosed that the state government would establish a Business Support Centre in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to promote entrepreneurship.

He said that under the arrangement, the state and SMEDAN would set an annual growth target and means of measuring the attainment of set target.

“Few Nigerian industries have automated aspects of their production process; but due to lack of knowledge and trained personnel in automation and robotics, they have failed to use the new innovations,“ it said.

Airtel CEO Says Youths’ll Actualise Dreams With New Campaign LAGOS - Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, said that the new theme campaign of the brand was to enable youths actualise their dreams.

Ogunsanya said at the unveiling of the company’s new thematic campaign in Lagos that it was targeted at the youths.

Tagged ‘Come Alive With Airtel’, the company’s chief executive officer said that the new thematic campaign would enrich the digital experiences of the youth-at-heart.

According to him, the

Nigerian youths are a highly talented, resourceful, innovative, hardworking and resilient people, hence the need to offer them the latest innovation.

“Airtel is well positioned, to enable these young Nigerians and the youth-at-heart to create success stories for their life ambitions.

“The new campaign effectively summarises our brand promise of empowering Nigerians to realise their potentialities and dreams.

“Airtel is committed to exciting telecoms consumers,

enabling environment to facilitate the development of small and medium enterprises clusters across the state.

He said the government would continue to upgrade existing infrastructure, provide access to finance, facilities and opportunities for capacity building, as part of measures to encourage the growth of small and medium scale businesses.

Uchissa reiterated the commitment of the administration at ensuring lasting peace and security across the state “to make commercial activities to flourish

State Chairman at the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Prince Matthew Owobu JP, (standing, 2nd left), with other distinguished Fellows of the Institute in Abuja.

Govt Earnmarks N1bn To Dev According to him, the SME overall aim is to create the

KADUNA - The Kaduna State Government said it had earmarked the sum of N1 billion for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the state, this year.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Joshua Uchissa, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna.

Uchissa said that the fund would be targeted at developing small businesses for women and youths, with women getting 60 per cent of the allocation and 40 per cent to the youths.

He said that the government had spent about N400 million

inland waterways.

NATE called on Polytechnics and Technical Colleges to develop and run programmes in automation and robotics, in order to provide manpower for the local industries.

chamber cannot afford shops at the Idu Industrial Estate and the private business plazas in Abuja.

“To rent a shop at the estate costs a lot of money and the small business owner cannot afford that.

“So, we call on government to carve out something small and affordable like parks for this class of people rather than demolish their shops,’’ he said.

Wenegieme expressed satisfaction with the economic transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

He said that the reform had yielded positive results, especially in the power and manufacturing sectors.

“We are seeing some measure of improvement in power supply since it changed hand from government to private owners. We hope the tempo is sustained.

“The manufacturing sector has passed through difficult times in the last few years.

“Some industries are coming back on stream and soon there will be more jobs for the people,’’ he said.

creating the right digital environment for them to succeed and empowering them to express themselves.

“The theme will enable them to share their stories, connect with the rest of the world, inspire other people and practically blaze the trail in their respective endeavours,” he said.

Ogunsanya said that the ‘Come Alive’ campaign would ride on the crest of the Airtel’s 3.75G data network, for an enriched digital experience.

The Chief Operating Officer of Airtel, Mr Deepak Srivastava,

said that the company had provided innovative and pocketfriendly products that would allow subscribers to achieve success in all areas of interest.

“We are youth-focussed and we are committed to creating a connected society for Nigerian youths to express themselves, tell their stories and become whatever they want to be.

“Our brand essence is about enriching lives in everything we do and that is the main motivation around all our products, services and value offerings,” Srivastava added.

THE efforts of the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at sanitizing the Oba Ovoranmwen Square, otherwise called the Ring Road, Upper Mission and other areas in Benin metropolis from the activities of street traders and other hawkers of assorted wares is not only timely but also very commendable.

STREET trading is the act of engaging in the buying and selling of goods and services, in undesignated and unauthorized centres by traders and their customers alike. In recent times, this has become rampant in Nigeria especially in our towns and big cities where it has become one of the menacing social and commercial activities of some Nigerians.

FACTORS responsible for the use of undesignated centres for trading are not far-fetched; the lack of respect for constituted authorities by such traders; the fact that the society has become highly organic in nature, thereby attaining a level of sophistication that human activities are getting more and more complicated; the fact that there is population explosion to the extent that Nigerians now migrate enmasse from the rural to urban centres; the effect of urbanisation and development with all its attendant advantages and disadvantages, the high level corruption on the part of our law enforcers, who, after collecting gratifications, financially or otherwise from these traders, leave

THE NIGERIAN

Street Trading And Beautification Of Benin them undisturbed to carry out their illegal street trading.

IN both traditional and modern Nigerian societies, certain areas are reserved as centres for commercial activities and designated and built as markets for traders to go and occupy for purposes of displaying their wares and engaging in the buying and selling of same, and this was well organised.

BUT today, what we find is wanton blockade of major streets and centres meant for other purpose by traders, who, with impunity and effrontery engage in their businesses without due consideration for other road users, or the health implications of their actions. Centres like Ojuelegba in Lagos State, Ore in Ondo State, Obolafor in Anambra State, Dugbe in Oyo State, Lagos Street and the popular Ring Road in Edo State to mention but a few, have been notorious for acts of street trading overtime, BEING that the disadvantages of street trading far outweigh the advantages, governments and concerned Nigerians have individually and collectively kicked

against the act, calling for a halt to such attitude.

ALSO, street trading in undesignated centres in our cities and towns, have added in no small measure, to bastardization of the aesthetic value of such areas, even as it has also contributed to the depreciating health status of the people who live in and around such market areas, due to the high volume of filth generated from the activities of such illegal traders.

AGAINST this background, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in addition appeals to market women to abide by and listen to wise counsel from government by moving into vacant stalls inside the markets, to help add to the aesthetic value of our cities, even as they are also admonished to help enhance their health status.

IT is something worthy of note to see how the city centre (Ring Road) looks like when it is devoid of any street trading. The fact is that the scenario provides a beautiful atmosphere to behold and equally something of pride that Benin City could be equaled to any beautiful city in the world.

HENCE, we enjoin all residents to continue to maintain the standard that has been set by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led administration who is desirous to ensure that a befitting infrastructure base is put in place that will be something of pride to everyone.

Lighen up: AVOID going too dark in your foundation shade. Have your shade professionally matched to your skin tone as close to the day as possible Matte is a must: For cheeks, stay away from shimmery powder, no exceptions for eyelids keep shimmer strictly “no lids”.

Primary focus: Primer is essential for keeping makeup intact, it’s like the base coat on a manicure. Oil free versions are best and also sensitive skin friendly.

Say no …. to spf: Primer and foundation should be spf free formulas containing sunscreen cast a ghostlike glow with the camera flash.

When lining eyelids, start in the centre and work your way to the

outer edge. Lining the entire lid will cause the eye to appear smaller use a slanted brush with a dark (but not black) shadow to line lower lids.

More is more: A camera flash will wash out colours, no matter what. Don’t be scared off by a dramatic finished look. It won’t photograph that way.

Blend, blend, blend: When it comes to concealer cheek contouring and eye shadow a quality set of brushes is key. The camera flash will highlight unblended edges, creating a clownlike look and unblended concealer will highlight fine lines.

All natural: Always have makeup applied in natural light this will be the best indicator of how it will look when

“Don’t let the day of the occasion be the first to try your product consultation and trail runs are essential to create the perfect final look.”

Beauty Guide “Picture Perfect:”

Make Up For Gorgeous Photos

photographed.

Mellow yellow: To set makeup choose a yellow powder rather than translucent much like

spf formulas, translucent powders cast a white glow when photographed.

Practice run: Don’t let the day of the occasion

be the first to try your product consultation and trail runs are essential to

When mixed with a bit of water and applied to a breakout, baking soda

apply it to a stubborn zit.

It’s the same thing.

Applying lemon juice to acne scars 3 times a week will help to lighten

create the perfect final look.

Skin Care Remedies Olive oil can be used as a gentle eye makeup remover

can be used as spot treatment.

Ever hear of a zeno hotspot? Gently heat up a metal spoon with a flame or hot water and

them and improve the surrounding skin tone.

Putting sliced tomato on your skin is a powerful sunburn remedy.

yourself and have a mental picture of the future of the biz (vision) set a goal for your self.

Planning is also important because if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. And you

must have a role model, remember, discovering your best talent and skill, the ability to apply it where it will make the most effective contribution to your fellow man is success.

By ELOHOR JENNIFER OFOLUWA

Modeling The Shape Of Your Face With Blush BLUSH has currently become an important part of make up we cannot forget. It can light up your face and make your skin look invigorated. But most important thing is to choose a natural colour that suits your skin tone, and to do that you need to look in a mirror on a day light to test it.

If you have fair complexion, the best for the look. In case of mature skin, peach

By JENNIFER O. OGEDEGBE

will warm up your face, while pink will look artificial and theatrical. Ladies with a bit darker skin can use blush in warmer shades, such as orange, copperygolden or cinnamon bronze but if your skin is in shade of ebony or brown you should choose a warm coloured blush such as papaya, peach or tomato.

To master the art of modelling the shape of your face, you need to consider which shape your face is. You can distinguish four types of shape *Oval *Triangular *Square *Round face Oval – shaped face does not require a lot of modeling, you apply the blush in the middle of the cheeks to

give them a girlish looks and add colour to your complexion etc.

Tip: if you have gottten problem with your skin shinning throughout the day, always have pressed mortifying powder with you. Powder is an important part of make-up we cannot do without. To succeed in this business you must always dream big, desire it, believe in

“Ladies with a bit darker skin can use blush in warmer shades, such as orange, coppery-golden or cinnamon bronze but if your skin is in shade of ebony or brown you should choose a warm coloured blush such as papaya, peach or tomato.”

Insight AS the state(s) Craft of the Nigerian statehood zooms near the dawn of her Centenary landmark, mixed feelings are rife on the part of various schools of thoughts with deep concerns and reminiscences which include arguments, that for almost 50 years post independence, the nation had stuck in a precarious state due to her colonial circumstances; while others would contrarily and more discernibly put it cynically, bluntly that the nation is simply what and where she is democratically due to her own delinquent or diligent making of the fortune or misfortune of her SelfRule: insisting that Mother Land ought to have fared exceedingly better on the socio-economic-political clime.

This is particularly so from the hindsight appraisals of performances as are self-explanatory from the barometer of the cumulative and prevailing events as reflected in, amongst other things, the uncherry state of her receded industrial growth, the parlous state of basic infrastructure, let alone the multiplicity of socioeconomic challenges all through the tenures of various Administrations of incumbent Governments way back in time. Yet, this is as it ominously reflected in the observable indices of democratic evolution of the Nation, as compared to what obtains ideally globally with other upward-mobile societies; but that such a state of retardation is heightened by the fixity of continued social unrests which derived proximately from vicious political differences; while of much more overwhelmingly daunting with a surfeit of worry is the pall of the ravages of sufferings and miseries in the midst of

plentiful resources with which the nation is roundly endowed by Mother Nature — all of these fundamental national questions that have been the purports of Executive Engagements of Generations of the Ruling Class as the nation journeyed through the chequered course of Statehood, particularly within the matrix of political tenures of the last near One Hundred Years.

This is with a objective introspection, when it would not be out of place to note that the personages in whose hands were the administrative runs of the nation were arguably some committed compatriots who gave their ‘all’ to the best and the limits of their ability: as may have been spurred by the liberation euphoria which spelt the momentum for the socio political cultivation of the Nigerian nationhood by the pantheon of the founding fathers. But ironically, it is from the crucibles of all this that the nation is still this far left seemingly with repletes of all that leaves much to be desired; with the rebounds of the appalling turn of events as traceable to the cumulative socio-political actions or inactions at the tenural milieu of the said compatriot individuals or group who were and/or are still in the saddle of the nation’s leadership undertakings; such that stoke up the pains and pangs and lamentations of majority of the citizenry; and which must have evoked the rueful sighing by the said compatriotleadership-stakeholders with some sort of quibbling in selfpreservatory alibis: that they probably came aboard the podium of National Service at the right places but the wrong times; and/ or the wrong times at the

Nigerian Leade

By PAUL AMEN-AIFUWA right places. This could be a somber exercise in ‘hadI-known...’ from the inner minds of the said Leadership- Steward(s) to whom the cliché may go as “to-err-is-man...”; save that in all of this irony, hardly would there be

and avoidable, but never were without the marked presence of cadirs of the leaders at the helm of affairs — such that were circumstantially evidential to the points of the upheavals in which the disastrous socio-political

and more or less complex ethnic entities: this is as regards HOW psychologically conducive is the foreground for efficient management of POWER by the leaderships, for the ultimate good of the people of the nation under governance—this being a

being worthy to be lookedup-to by others! Thus, it would be aptly admitted that a retrospect to the historiology of the nation’s Ruling Class would show a pedigree of statesmen and compatriots who never lacked the prerequisites of these leadership traits — this is as can be deduced

be dep ho wh be thr wh ebb un co sh

• President Goodluck Jonathan

• Senate President David Mark

Spe

justifiable exoneration on the apologetic state of the comparative socioeconomic index of the nation, due to the unfortunately resultant antecedents of the servicedelivery-dispositions of the nation’s Ruling Class; this being a typical background to the reality of the service against which achievements were seen to be infinitesimally low in contrast to the lofty goals that were the dreams to have been scaled — such that hallmarked the crux of the nagging question of the stakeholder-leaderships which cannot but pander to the clamoring of the bystander-majority of the populace; particularly at the thorny levels of the nation’s decriable manifold troubles, that were not only self-inflicted

realm at which is the saying that “a People Get the Leadership they deserve”; but this should also be a saying to be equally juxtaposed to the notion, that those who rose up to the exalted stool of leadership must do well to be of benignly distinguishing qualities of the creed that wheels our common humanity: this is with exemplariness and demonstrability of such traits that are of the preserve of the ideal leadership roles; such as may be cursorily summed to include, a life’s station of one’s excellent selfmastery to have blossomed in spirit and the purity of human goodness; to earn the seat that confers one with superiority in capability at pace-setting, as model and fore-front fender that defines one as

mo inh W NA It fro exp wa stu dem we ma ecl eth and lac dis tha old tho an Rs Re Re aft sub cou mi wh

leadership had attracted the ongoing simmering public restiveness; save also by the way, that such outrage of reactions by the publics would hardly be of the guilt of the leaderships alone - on a deeply charitable appraisal, without the relative complicity of the followerships - that is, the generality of the citizenry.

This is as a matter of what quality of performance as dispensed by the leaderships on one hand, as compared to the levels of the corresponding receptiveness and cooperativeness, adaptability and/or govern ability on the part of the foilowerships; this again, is when viewed against the backdrop of the diverse cultural make-ups and generic world views of the said citizens in such vastly

from the freedom fighting and liberative exploits of the nation’s founding fathers; save that along the line there were fortuitously intervening forces, which smacks of some shockwaves in which the nation was not only caught unawares, but hit by a seeming social and political paranoia, resulting in disorientation on the psyche and temperament of the unsuspecting polity ... ever since when things were never again the same!!

This is to the extent that the nation perhaps unknowingly, drifted into such abysmal chaos; such that had been of tensionfilled hazards in which any one could hardly be emotionally well enough to think clearly, neither nurse hopes nor contemplate towards a

Insight

ership Can Make It

etter ‘tomorrow’ - a plorable scenario as of ostilities and violence to hich the jolted polity had en exposed: with dire reats to life expectancy hich is now at its lowest b, due to crisis-induced ncertainties which now ntends even with the ort span of nature’s

dispensation was shoved aside: during which interlude that is better likened to the twist of fate in which the nation fell prey to undue social and political fermentation that occasioned wide-spread touchiness in mistrusts and distrusts within the

eaker, House of Reps Aminu Tambuwal

ortality for the nation’s habitants!!!

WHERE THE ATION MISSED IT t would be said that it is om the above untoward periences that the nation as taunted to wobble and umble into a trip from her mocratic gait - such that ere like the points that arked her socio-political lipse, as generated by hnic differences, biases d prejudices which were ced with senchantments — such at sparked the 30-month d civil war; which ough was prosecuted to end on a vaunted “Three ” as Reconstruction, eintegration and ehabilitation...”; the ermath of which were bsequent coups and unter coups through litary interregnums: hen democratic

hierarchy of the Ruling Class. This was more so at the point of procurements of the yields of the resources and the determination of the nation’s commonwealth the axis of which became the fertile ground of bitter feuds, rancor and deepseated acrimonies among the diverse interests that soon mushroomed virulently in nepotic interpersonal and intergroup relationships amongst the citizenry; with upsurge of a legion of Religious houses of Worship, Party Alliances and lots of mis-matchintimacies of strangebedfellows: all in desperate quests for outlets of survival - this is such that soon led to furies and heated public disillusionments; and as if the polity was now charged

into a stage that was like “To Thy Tent O Ye Israel!”; and/or “Everyman-to-Himself and God-to-Us-All!”; when the citizens (out of which stock are the same breeds as the said leaders), began to sag and sap out of the fabrics of pristine values, which are necessary spiritual artifacts for integrated humanism; such that are indispensable social nutrients for a nation that must be synergized in resourceful and meaningful growth needless to say that these were the antecedents that cast undue tolls with waned effect on the nation’s systemic-schemeof-things; and this that was not far-fetched from a demoralizing slant on the otherwise vouchable credibility of the nation’s leaderships, amongst which personages as events unfolded, were the abrasively uncouth, the morally uncircumcised, the ethical neophytes, including those in the class of attitudinal senility, who soon fell prey to intrigues and contemptible vices as clandestine plotting, self aggrandizements, abuse of office and the rest of the strands of social misdemeneaur, popularly branded as CORRUPTION: and that these distortionate behavioral traits had become the contaminants on the otherwise puritanical AFRICANESS and ennobling CORE VALUES as characteristics of the nation’s leaders; but such that now quaked and vitiated under the rude trails of a deluge of societal malfeasciances, that assumed a defiance of the efforts of successive Administrations through

the transformational exploits of the Governments of the Day: all of these sordid national debacles that were the reechoing vestiges of the unfortunate events of the said civil war that needs no soothsaying to be likened to the proverbial DEAD that was not properly buried, but of whose ghost resurrected to haunt, taunt, and torment the LIVING: while one may heave a sigh of optimism in the euphemism that those sordid experiences are perhaps a somewhat sign of the “darkest-before-thedawn’... but let it not be glossed over that such ongoing debilitating moments of travails which had almost subjected the nation to a kind of crossroad that compares vividly with the Scriptural references of the amoral ‘excesses’ of Sodom and Gomorrah, are in desperate demand for the righting of the wrongs that would be a matter with premium of exhaustive pragmatic action: such that would, by the way, elicit exercises for a drastically revamped educational system that should include specially modulated syllabus on civic tuition in all strata of the schools’ grades; and that the nation would brace up much more assiduously to get her acts together in a focus to Walk the Talks, doggedly from the perspectives of the factors that exigently require a revisit to he aforesaid Civil War antecedents, which necessitated the said ‘cliché’ as “Reconstruction, Reintegration and Rehabilitation” - of which laudable intendment and significance that should be introspectively reexamined especially from

the stance of the said “Reintegration’, which suggests a purposeful finetuning on functional Unity and Co-existential understanding amongst the breeds of populace; this being an axis from which the socio-political turbulences actually triggered; and that this remotely Divisionism and Separatist orgy be tactically targeted and Resolved for the benefits of its beneficently farreaching effect on the tricky issues of ‘Survival’ which is the spell that the notoriety of ethnicism had arbitrarily cast on the harpless citizens. In other words, it’s the fundamental question of ethnic cohesion that must as of priority be tackled from a Take-The-Bull-By-TheHorn range; as it has all along remained the unhealing ulcer within the genetics of the sociology of the populace — given the peculiarly sensitive and emotive human angle which form the confounding dilemma of the nation’s demography, as configured by the Colonial Order of 1914 Amalgamation; and this needs to be further stressed as being what became the undoing element of segregative and negative reflexes in mutual disaffection, and discriminatory tendencies within the ranks and files of the Political Class; such that robbed-off malevolently on the attitudinal temperament of the polity that soon assumed a stigma of mutative social defect with corruptible effect on the otherwise Spartan character of the Nation, out of which were the engendered tracks of issues that arose from the

imbroglios of the antecedents of the said civil war; and the inability of the Political Class to have risen to the occasion, to move the nation away from ever racing against the tide in quest of the panacea to the seeming mirage of the swelling National challenges, which require the determination of envisioned GOAL with the mustered Political WILL to ascertain the right footing in the right direction which leads to a train of F O RWA R D - E V E R ? . . .

This is needless to say that all of this would need intensified efforts and passions with a proven superseding maturity in Leadership. This is for the nation to be alive to the prospects of all that believe the by-gone stories foretold of her as a potentially SUPER POWER nation, but steeped in avoidable jeopardy, as even now aggravated by subversive reactions of some lay-about members of the public who are now prowling in a freefor-all crime waves; just as some concerned irate civil society group now on the let-loose hankering for all manner of uprising and revolution; this being heightened by the motherof-all-terror insurgency in u n p r e c e d e n t e d devastations that had almost erased the Northern Region out of demographic and economic existence — this being a reality that is of an omen with a pall of implication that is gravely dicey as it reflects an aperture of perilous threat to the nations democracy: needless to say that the critical situation beckons the quickest of constructive action from concerned Stakeholders, especially from the stable of the nation’s Leaderships whose performance abilities are now on edge of a trial.

Art Alive Breaking Into The Auctions

Make Sure You Get It Right If you’re like most every artist anywhere, you’ve probably dreamed about having a work of your art go on the block at a major auction house and watching the international art collecting elite battle over it with their bank accounts. The bidding is furious, the hammer falls, it sells for a record price and the news goes viral. At last you’ve achieved that most elusive of all goals— financial freedom for life— the ability to auction your art whenever you need the pocket change. From this point on, creating a work of art will be not much different than printing up money.

OK. Dreamtime over. The truth is that auctions don’t operate this way. In fact, performance at auction can compromise an artist’s marketability just as easily as enhance it. So before you attempt to turn your auction fantasies into reality, take a moment to learn about how this sector of the art business works in order to maximize your chances for success.

To begin with, major auctions almost exclusively accept art by artists with established track records of selling for substantial prices at major auctions. Yes it’s a Catch-22, but auctions are in business to make money and they want to be as sure as possible that every piece they sell nets a certain minimum dollar amount. Depending on the parameters of a particular auction house or sale, that amount might be $5000, $10000, $50000 or more. If they have doubts, they probably won’t auction it, and the best way to dispel those doubts is with concrete proof that the art already sells consistently at auction at or above those minimum dollar levels.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, artists who make the auction cut at the highest levels have received so much publicity and recognition during the course of their careers that the mere mention of their names in press releases, auction announcements and auction catalogues is enough to attract major private and institutional buyers to a sale. The demand for their art is typically equal to or greater than the rate at which they produce it, they’ve had numerous successful shows both at major museums and galleries, and the foremost critics, curators, collectors and other and art world professionals agree that the impact of their art on the art world is significant.

Artists with little or no auction experience, but with relatively consistent careers usually debut at lesser sales. Here again, an artist’s resume, exhibition history and name recognition have to be respectable as the auction needs some kind of evidence that their art stands a

reasonable chance of selling for certain minimum amounts of money. The downside here is that in order to maximize the possibility of the art selling, the auctions often require presale estimates (price ranges they suggest to bidders that art might sell for) to be significantly below the artists’ typical retail values.

For example, a piece of art that would normally sell at a gallery for $10000 might be estimated to sell for $3000-$5000 at auction, perhaps even less.

Rather than rely totally on the accomplishments of the artists to attract bidders, the auction houses tilt the odds in their favor by additionally offering the prospect of purchasing the art at relatively bargain prices. Being amenable to lower estimates is usually worth the sacrifice from the artist’s standpoint if that’s the only way an established auction house will agree to accept their art. If you’re lucky enough to make the cut, don’t be insulted; be delighted. Getting your art into auction is anything but easy, and that first sales result is absolutely critical to establishing your credentials in the auction realm. In the meantime, do everything you can to maximize the chances not only of an auction house accepting your art, but way more importantly, selling it. In other words, keep making quality art and getting quality shows.

A less common way that artists with little or no previous auction experience occasionally break into higher level sales is when their work is in famous collections that are placed up for sale at auction houses in their entireties. The biggest names in the collections draw the crowds as does the importance or celebrity of the collectors (like Warhol, Mapplethorpe or Kennedy, for example). Artists who make their auction debuts in this manner tend to be presented not so much in terms of their own accomplishments, but rather as talents whose art the high-profile collectors felt was significant enough to include in their collections. Regardless of how the auction represents the art, this is a great way to get that all-important first shot.

However your art finds its way to auction (and it will usually be through individuals or entities other than yourself like dealers or collectors), know that the majority of sales take place within or slightly above or below the auction houses’ presale estimates. Record or near-record prices, or sales that substantially exceed presale estimates are the exception. Also know going in that the large majority of art sells below what it would be priced at in retail galleries, so don’t be disappointed if yours falls into that category. Except for the upper echelons of the trade, and particularly with respect to rare

and highly important artworks, or in cases of isolated celebrity sales, auctions are basically wholesale dispersals of goods.

The good news is that knowledgeable buyers understand the difference between auction prices and retail prices, so don’t worry if your art sells for somewhat less than

established exhibitions at respected institutions (regional, national or international), and most importantly, have some level of consensus from art world professionals that your art may be ready for auction and that it stands a reasonable chance of fetching a respectable price. The auction option is still worth

exclusively of art by artists similar in stature and accomplishments to you, this is especially good. Whatever the circumstances, hopefully you have a good number of collectors, they’ll be advised of the forthcoming sale, a reasonable number will attend, and most importantly, bid.

retail (50% or more). Worry if it sells for way less than retail or doesn’t sell at all.

Whenever a work of art sells at auction, the hammer price becomes a matter of public record. Even if the art fails to sell, that non-sale or “buy-in” is still recorded. All auction sales results from significant regional, national and international auctions (currently in the vicinity of 300,000-500,000 total artworks per year) are published annually in online databases, or sometimes in DVD formats.

Online databases include artnet.com, artprice.com, artvalue.com, artfact.com, findartinfo.com, and others.

Anyone can access these sales records at anytime, usually for a fee, and plenty of dealers and collectors do. Studying auction sales results helps them decide whether or not to buy particular works of art or to patronize particular artists. Experienced higher-level buyers tend to pay more for artists who consistently sell well at auction and tend to be cautious about or completely avoid those who have no auction records at all or who perform poorly or erratically. They also recognize that the greater the discrepancy between an artist’s retail and auction prices, the weaker or less stable that artist’s overall market tends to be.

In order for your art to stand a chance of being accepted at auction, you should be represented by at least one gallery, have a reasonably solid collector base, a consistent sales history with steadily increasing prices, favorable reviews in respected arts publications (online and otherwise), have been included in significant

considering without all of the above, but the fewer qualifications you have, the less likely the chances that an auction will accept your art in the first place, and if they do, the lower the presale estimate will be and greater the risk that it will either sell low or not sell at all. Neither of these outcomes is particularly good for an artist’s career.

Begin auction inquiries by speaking with your galleries, dealers or representatives.

Hopefully they’ll agree with you that approaching auctions is a good career move at this time— and hopefully they’ll be the ones to oversee this. The object of these conversations and inquiries is to find a third party consignor, preferably someone known to the art and auction community, to offer your work to the auction house. (Don’t think for an instant that you can do this yourself; auction houses hardly ever accept first-time consignments directly from artists.) Whoever the consignor turns out to be, they should be prepared to present a reasonably solid case that your art will sell for whatever minimum price the auction house requires for its consignments.

That person should typically approach auction houses in locations where you have the highest name recognition and where your work is the most collectible. As for the auction itself, make sure they have someone knowledgeable about art on their staff, and that they have consistent success selling contemporary art (you don’t want your art consigned to a firm with no little or no experience or history of selling art). If they conduct themed sales that consist

Regarding the art itself, do your best to make sure that whoever approaches the auction house offers a better quality work for consignment. Good choices include a piece from a show that nearly sold out, one that was pictured in an online or magazine review or exhibit catalogue, one that’s not easy to find on the open market, or one that’s similar in composition to pieces your collectors prize the most. You don’t want the art to be anything that you want to get rid of or think is second rate. That tact could backfire and net you an embarrassingly low selling price.

As previously stated, if your art is accepted, be prepared to deal with low presale estimates and also for the art to sell below retail. Look at this as the start of a long term investment in your financial future— the prospect of your art regularly selling at auction— and not an insult or slap in the face. To repeat, getting that first sales record is the hardest, but once you’ve got it, other auction houses will be more inclined to see you as marketable in their realms, and from that point on (assuming you continue to advance onward and upward in your career), auction selling prices will likely increase.

If your art fares reasonably well, avoid the temptation to go overboard and view auctions as a panacea. Over-consigning or giving collectors the impression that your art is easy to come by is never good. In order for your auction selling prices to increase over time, you must continue to advance your agenda in traditional ways— through gallery shows and significant

institutional exhibitions— and use the auction option judiciously and strategically along the way. For example, good times to place an artwork or two up for sale might be immediately after or in conjunction with a successful museum or gallery show, when you receive a lot of publicity or a major commission, or at any other moment when your career makes a noticeable move in the upward direction.

As your “marketability” improves, your art will likely be placed up for sale at auction by more and more people— dealers, brokers, collectors, estates and so

on. This process typically evolves over years and often decades from the date of your first consignment, but sooner or later, consistent strong performance at auction pretty much becomes selfperpetuating.

For those of you who have little or no hope of getting into auction at this time, one possibility is to approach a smaller local or regional house with the idea of having a theme sale dedicated to art by local or regional artists. If you, your fellow artists, and some dedicated supporters with a little clout in the art community can put together enough good art and convince the auction house that attendance will be healthy and sales good, this concept might work. No matter what your approach, make sure you’ve got the support of those who buy, sell and collect your art.

Consigning to an occasional charity or fundraiser auction is also a decent way to get your feet wet, the keyword here being “occasional.” Do not donate art to every fundraiser in sight; that could significantly compromise your career by making your art too easy to come by outside of traditional venues like galleries.

If your art sells consistently well in charity circumstances, approaching an actual auction house at some point would be recommended. To learn more about how to maximize your success at fundraiser auctions, read Art Auction Fundraiser Tips..

Articles and content copyright Alan Bamberger 1998-2011. All rights reserved. website by erin healy

Issues INHERITANCE is one important aspect of life as Africans. It is part of everyday life that we don’t toil with even our culture, tradition and the constitution of countries around the world especially that of Nigeria recognises it and brings such inheritance to fulfilment through the execution of wills.

In Nigeria especially in the Benin tradition, inheritance is an issue that is not taken for granted, as every true Benin man divides his properties amongst his children by entrenching it in a will or other wise. The family, through the Okaigbe,(the eldest man in the family) supervises such ceremonies after the death of the aged father in question.

Properties such as houses and lands are some of the most cherished assets to be inherited by children of a deceased person. Such properties are treasured, guarded and transferred from one generation to the other.

In a city like Benin which is regarded as an ancient city in a modern dispensation due to the development stride by the Oshiomhole’s led administration, you will find houses as old as 100 years. Such houses are treasured by the children and descendant of the owner of such property.

Some of these properties are out of fashion but are preserved and maintained by the families concerned for posterity sake and are proud to be identified with such property.

Properties of such nature are not sold and never sold by families who want to maintain their identity and keep their ancestral home as well as have a history to tell generations after them. But it becomes u n b e l i e v a b l e , unacceptable when such priceless inheritance or

Confusion, Anguish Over Alleged Sale Of Igiogbe possessions, in the form of ancestral home belonging to them disappear into the hands of the very powerful in the society. And in their very eyes, such ancestral homes are destroyed not minding that it houses the burial sites or graves of loved ones. Can such happen in this present day society? Certainly yes, nothing is impossible especially with the love of money syndrome.

Talking about the sales and destruction of family most priceless property especially the ancestral home also known as Igiogbe where family members have been buried, Mr. Esemuede Idada and his entire family have a bitter tale to tell as their ancestral home which is over 100 years old have been allegedly sold and lost to a very influential personality in Benin City, the Edo State Capital.

Mr. Esemuede Henry Idada who resides outside Nigeria spoke with our reporter through the phone on the purchase and subsequent demolition of his family ancestral home (Igiogbe) which is over 100 years old and a place well cherished by the family and where over 100 children have been raised.

According to him, the family property is situated at no 26 Oroghene street in Benin City and this landed property which is a house of 14 rooms is the ancestral home of his family. He alleged that the property was fraudulently bought by a very powerful businessman and a palace high chief in Benin Kingdom even though the original document of this property is still in the possession of the family but wondered who sold the property to this man and

By RICHARD OKORO EWEKA

with what document?.

Mr Idada said he alleged a foul play when this said

on him. The next thing he did was to demolish that ancestral building of 14

restringing order on him; we are also involving the Nigeria Police Force to step in to the matter. The family lawyer is on the

violent. The family is peace loving as such we want to also inform the palace and involve them on the issue since the alleged buyer of the property is a palace high chief ” he concluded.

The public will however not be left in the dark as the process to unravel the

Pix shows house’ roof already removed by the alleged buyer

man called him on phone being the Okaigbe and the eldest man in the family, and bargain with him to buy back the property for 15 million naira (N15 m).

“Can you imagine! How can he fraudulently acquire our property and turn around to sell same back to us for 15 million?

Is it because we are poor?

Or because we are not well connected and influential in the city? This is our ancestral property and will do all within the arm of the law to get it back” laments Mr Idada.

He said that the family have asked the alleged buyer, to tell them who sold it to him, but he refused to answer and have not named the person who sold the land to him yet, instead, he called me to buy back the property but I refused and cut the phone

rooms on Monday the 6th day of January 2014. “I tell you, my entire family are confused, in anguish and I wondered why the man would act that way. The grave of my grandfather buried in 1970 and that of my grandmother buried in 1986 are all gone. What do we tell our children and the generation of the family yet unborn?” Mr. Idada asked.

Speaking further, Mr. Idada disclosed that as the traditional head of the family, he has called several family meetings on what to do, adding that their most cherished and priceless ancestral home can not just go like that.

The family has resulted to following the rule of law to take back the property of the family from this man. “We are already instituting a

issue and advising the family on the best option to follow that will not be

mysteries behind the sale and demolition of the said Igiogbe continues.

Pix shows development in progress after the demolition of the house

Ricky, My Son: Need For Parental Guidance

IN this month of August, no news has devastated me as much as the news of a massive African Rock Python, (it hurts too that it’s a snake from the kept black continent) kept as a pet by its weired owner, escaping its glass compartment, slithering through a gaping void in the ventilation duct in the ceiling and falling into the room of two innocent brothers, Noah and Connor Barthe, aged four and six, and strangling them to death in their sleep right in their neighbour’s apartment!

That sad incident happened in far away New Brunswick, Canada, but it wracks my soul silly. Now, the second one is our own Edo boy, Ricky Daniel Ohikhena, 13 years of age, who stole his way through the Airport gate, beating aviation security operatives and ‘boarding’ a flight in Benin through the tyre compartment and landing safely in Lagos, albeit to his greatest disappointment because he actually wanted to be in America, God’s own country, land of promise.

In both incidents, the boys asphyxiated by python and Ricky, the stowaway’s case, parental negligence had been perceived. Noah and Connor Barthe’s parents

were very busy, always on the move a couple who actually don’t live together.

They left their kids to the mercy of a weired neighbour

who kept a zoo in his living home and a giant constrictor snake as a pet in the living quarters. The boys even assisted in cleaning an

FEMINIQUE With IJEOMA UMEH email: ladywithegoldenpen@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 08182382839 years old son, he could have been anyone’s son, but he lived dangerously too. He watched wild movies (said to be a movie freak) and his parents were no where to be found when he left home early that morning.

It’s a sad occurrence, and I am sure by now, parenthood, or motherhood, will be rumbling. It’s frightening to think about all this. It jangles the bones off

my flesh! Oh, we are damned too busy! We are freaking out on our responsibilities! Oh, blame the government, blame the economy… what about our propensity to bring forth kids without catering for them?

I don’t know what else to say, but I think we need parental guidance too!

That’s what I have for you!

“To children, parents are (a) big image someone thirty feet tall, weighing a thousand pounds.); (b) the source of love, caring, comfort, dry diapers, etc; and (c) the ones who protect them from all those other thirty-foot, thousand-pound monsters.

In addition to all that, parents control the food.”

Childhood: Psychological Basis Of The Comfort Zone

By PETER MCWILLIAMS No, this is not going to be one of those chapters in which our parents are blamed for everything we are and are not.

Parent’s seldom look in the eyes of a newborn baby and say, “How Can We Screw this Kid Up?”

Our parents (or whoever raised us) loved us – in the most fundamental sense of the word.

Maybe they didn’t hug us all we wanted, but we are alive today because they (at least minimally) fed us.

The primary reasons parents don’t raise their children free from trauma are:

No Help, No Mate, But There’s deficit, the mother should SOMETIMES, a family is steps to expose her A Child! take a woman raising kids by children to male role models. herself, bringing home the bacon and cooking it, too.

Through death, divorce, or pregnancy out of wedlock, these women find themselves the one adult in a household of children. They are responsible for paying the bills, discipline the children, going to PTA meetings and coaching little league.

anaconda’s habitat. They lived dangerously and died horribly. Now, I am the one who suffers the heartbreak!

The nightmare! And now, Ricky! He could have been Richy, my four to five

They are trying to be both mother and father. But no matter how diligent they are, how loving, doing a phenomenal parenting job in less than an ideal situation, the fact remains that there is a lack of a male presence in the house.

To compensate for this

Words on Marble If your parents didn’t have any children, there is a good chance that you won’t have any.

- Clarence Day I Learned the way a monkey learns – by watching its parents.

- Queen Elizabeth II If you want a place in the sun, you must leave the shade of the family tree.

- Osage Saying

Young boys need to be around men who can be positive influence who can act as a prototype they can aspire to.

It is just as important for daughters to have a male presence in the home.

Without it, she will pine after masculine love but not understand a man when she gets married. She will find herself used and abused by men because of her need to receive the adoration, affection and male love that she never had when she was a child.

Now, I’m not saying that single mothers should indiscriminately bring every Tom, Dick, and Harry into the house and lives of her children. Much more harm than good will come from providing inappropriate role models. It should go without saying that physically emotionally and sexually abusive men should not be allowed to cross the threshold of your home.

Parents don’t know any better: Most parents have as much training for being parents as children have for being children.

Children learn by example: If parents knew how to live their own lives better, naturally they would – and that learning would be passed onto the child.

Parents have other things to do besides raising children: Making a living, keeping house, maintaining a relationship with their spouse, dealing with their own parents. Life can be overwhelming even without children Who on earth knows what a child needs and when: Some complain their parents ruined them by not giving enough attention – they needed more loving; others claim their parents gave them too much attention – they needed more freedom. Many complain about both. To have given us precisely what we wanted, precisely when we wanted it, our parents would have had to be psychic – which some children would have considered painfully intrusive.

Children require different rules than adults. Children are not as capable as adults. The less capable we are, the more rules we need. This, of course, can seen terribly unfair.

Given this preamble, let’s look at childhood – the place where we learned to use the elements of the comfort zone to limit ourselves.

Fear: Young children don’t know the different between playing in the street and playing on a play ground, between drinking poison and drinking milk, bet wean petting the nice neighbour’s poodle and petting

the nasty neighbour’s pit bull. In order to let their children out of their sight, parents must teach them not to do things that might cause themselves physical harm. The parent’s tool is fear.

In turning children loose on the world, (and vice-versal) parents give the basic message.

“Don’t do anything I haven’t personally shown you how to do.” In other words, “Don’t do anything new.” While most of the “new” a child could do is perfectly safe, a small percentage of it is deadly, and that small percentage is what the parents want to protect their child from.

Guilt: Naturally, children sometimes ignore the warnings of parents – curiosity is more powerful than rules. So, the parents “lay down the law.”

(Actually, the law already has been laid down! Now they’re laying down the punishment).

Punishment can include yelling (which includes the perceived removal of love), deprivation (of freedom, food, toys), or physical pain. From a parent’s point of view, this may not be much, but from a child’s point of view, this can be devastating.

To children, parents are (a) big image someone thirty feet tall, weighing a thousand pounds.); (b) the source of love, caring, comfort, dry diapers, etc; and (c) the ones who protect them from all those other thirty-foot, thousand-pound monsters. In addition to all that, parents control the food.

Little wonder, then, that when parents exact punishment – even though they are doing it for ‘your own good’ the child reacts strongly. Sometimes the child hates the parents and sometimes he or she feels self-hatred for doing whatever provoked the

parent’s wrath. When the latter happens, it’s called guilt. First, we learn to sue fear as a reason not to do anything new; then if we do it anyway, we learn to feel guilty afterwards.

Unworthiness: This is programmed in at the same time.

If the child plays for two hours within the parents’ comfort zone (Toy in the living room for example) all is well. There is little interaction with the parents; they are reading or watching TV or whatever parents do when children are being “good”. When the child goes beyond the parents’ comfort zone and that’s playing with, say, a can of shoe polish, the interaction with the parents becomes suddenly intensified – and almost entirely negative.

Bad, wrong, nasty, no good.

What does the child remember from an evening at home with “the folks”? The hours of harmonious play, worthy of a Rockwell painting? Or the moments of intense, negative interaction? The intensity, probably.

After enough negative memories, a child can build a self-image of being bad, wrong, nasty, naughty and no good – in a word, unworthy.

Hurt Feeling: From a very early age, we are taught what happens outside us should affect what happens inside us.

Someone jangles keys, and that’s supposed to make us, fascinated. Someone makes faces and silly noises, and that’s supposed to make us happy.

Someone gives us a Teddy bear (or a bear hug) and that’s supposed to make us feel loved.

Eventually, our inner feelings are linked to external events.

When those external events don’t go the way we want them to go, we feel hurt.

Health ACCORDING to Dr. Ananya Mandal, MD, Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer among light skinned individuals. It is the commonest cancer in the United States and in Australia. Each year, about one million people are diagnosed with this cancer.

In 85 percent of these cases, the skin damage leading to the cancer occurs before an individual is eighteen years of age.

Every cell in the body has a tightly regulated system that controls its growth, maturity, division and ultimately death. The blueprint of a cell’s function lies within the DNA of the cell. When there is damage of the DNA, the cells begin to divide and grow without control. The mass of extra cell may produce a tumour that can be non-malignant or benign or noncancerous. The tumour may also be cancerous.

N O R M A L FUNCTIONS OF THE SKIN Skin is the largest organ in the body with numerous functions. It covers the internal organs and protects them from heat and light injury and infection. The skin also controls body temperature by sweating and perspiration and stores water, fat and vitamin D. The skin is made up of two layers: Epidermis or outer layer of skin: This is made up of mostly of fat and scaly squamous cells.

Beneath these cells are round basal cells. The deeper parts also contain melenocytes. These cells produce melanin that gives skin its colour.

Dermis or inner layer of skin: This layer lies deeper within and contains blood and lymph vessels, hair follicles and glands. There are glands that produces

Preventing Skin Cancer

By VIVIAN AMAJOYI

sweat to maintain the body temperature. There are also glands that produce sebum, an oily substance that keeps the skin from drying. These secretions reach the skin’s surface through small opening called pores.

WHAT IS SKIN CANCER In skin cancer, the cancer begins with cells that make up the skin. Skin cancers are named from the types of cells where the cancer starts. There are three types of skin cancers: BASAL CELL CARCINOMA: These begin in parts of the skin that have been exposed to excessive harmful ultra violet rays or the sun.

These are slow-growing and rarely spread to other parts of the body. More than 90 percent of all skin cancers found in Americans are basal cell carcinomas.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: These are also seen in areas exposed to excessive sunlight. These can be found on parts of the skin not exposed to the skin.

This type sometimes spreads to other organs inside the body.

MELANOMA: This is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It commonly spreads to other major organs like liver, lungs, brains and bones. It is however, much less common than the other types. Melanoma begins in melanocytes.

WHO IS AT RISK OF SKIN CANCER? Some of the risk factors for skin cancers include: Light or fair complexion, especially blonde, red or light-brown hair and blue, green or gray-eyed individuals.

Dark-skinned individuals may develop melanoma.

Those with an easy tendency to burn in the sun or tan little or not at all.

centuries-old observation that selected minerals and plant extracts may be used to destroy certain skin lesions. Zinc Chloride and sanguinaira Canadensis (blood root) are 2 agents

conventional treatment.

One patient had a complete clinical response, but had a residual tumor on followup biopsy. A second patient successfully eradicated all tumors, but severe searing

that are used as part of the mohs chemosurgery fixedtissues technique. The use of escharotics without surgery has been discredited by allopathic medicine but persists and is promoted among alternative practitioners.

Patients may now purchase ”herbal supplements” for the primary self treatment of skin cancer, and physicians will see patients who elect this therapy for their skin cancer.

OBSERVATIONS: We reviewed the history of escharotics use for skin cancer and performed an internet search for the availability and current use of escharotics. Our search locates numerous agents for purchase via the internet that are advertised as highly successful treatment for the skin cancer. We report four cases from our practice in which escharotics agents were used by patients to treat basal cell carcinomas in lieu of the r e c o m m e n d e d

ensued. A third patient disagreed with us regarding his care and was lost to follow-up one patient presented with a nasal basal cell carcinoma that “healed” for several years following treatment else where with an escharotics agent but reoccurred deeply and required an extensive resection. The lesion has since metastasized.

CONCLUSIONS: Escharotics agents are available as herbal supplements and are being used by patients for the treatment of skin cancer.

The efficacy of these agents is unproven and their content is unregulated. Serious consequences may result from their use.

Conventional medicine has an excellent track record in treating skin cancer, and the food and Drug Administration should be given the authority to regulate their production and distribution.

Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu

Early history of bad sunburns or scars from previous burns Prolonged sun exposure, especially during childhood.

Early history of skin cancer especially melanomas.

More than normal number of moles (above 50 in number) A history of a typical nevi or abnormal moles Those undergoing therapies like immunosuppressive therapy, photosensitive therapies etc.

T H E CONSEQUENCES OF SKIN CANCER The use of escharotic or caustic pastes to treat skin cancer is based on the

“Every cell in the body has a tightly regulated system that controls its growth, maturity, division and ultimately death. The blueprint of a cell’s function lies within the DNA of the cell. When there is damage of the DNA, the cells begin to divide and grow without control. The mass of extra cell may produce a tumour that can be non-malignant or benign or non-cancerous. The tumour may also be cancerous.”

WAYS OF PREVENTING SKIN CANCER Reduce Sun Exposure: Especially between 11am and 4pm, when the sun’s uv rays are the strongest or when uv index is 3 or more.

Shade Your Skin: Seek shade under trees, or create your own shade with a hat, shirt, or umbrella. Wear clothing to cover your arms and legs. Make sure the fabric has tight weave, fabric that is wet or has a loose weave will allow more light to penetrate through to the skin.

Beware of Clouds: Up to 80% of the sun’s rays can penetrate light clouds, mist and fog.

You can still get a sunburn on a cloudy day Beware of Reflection: What, sand, snow and concrete can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s damaging rays.

P r o t e c t Children: The most harmful effects of sun exposure occur during early childhood. Keep babies under 1 year out of direct sun light. Once infacts turn 6 months of age, begin using a sunscreen for added protection. It’s important to protect your child’s eyes by using plastic lens sunglasses that protect UVA and UVA rays.

Children should have arms and legs covered when out in the sun. instead of wearing baseball caps, they should wear hats with a wide brim, which provides more sun protection. When children are playing in the water, make sure to use water proof sunscreen.

SPOT CHECK YOUR MOLES Examine your moles and Freckles every Month to check for any changes.

See your health care provider immediately if you notice.

A mole or discolouration that appears suddenly or begins to change…a sole that does not heal area of skin that are red and bumpy, bleed or are itchy.

Encounter Our Leaders Have Abandoned Benin Nation It Ought Not To Be So

Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri needs no formal introduction.

He is a politician, businessman, philanthropist and us to that promised land. to none.

History will not be cultural protagonist.

One thing is however without As the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) certain; we have to ensure complete gubernatorial flag-bearer in the 2012 governorship that we have the right mentioning the Benin election in Edo State, Chief Solomon Iyobosa leaders to move the nation Empire of old. How do you assess the Benin Edebiri’s campaign blitz took the state by storm. forward. in Unarguably, he emerged as a serious – minded, Edo State has been on Kingdom intelligent and focused politician in the televised the crucible of political contemporary history?

Well, we occupy a big debate by the governorship candidates. and cultural Although, he emerged a distant third at the 2012 development in the past place in contemporary governorship poll, today Chief Solomon Iyobosa four or five years. What black history, but we have not been well treated by Edebiri is being touted as the next governor of Edo is your take on that?

State.

I will have disagreed with those leaders in Benin Outside politics, Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri you that Edo State for the Nation who have been at has carved a niche for himself in the business circle, past five years has been in the forefront of Nigeria where his ventures extend beyond the Atlantic Ocean, reaching as far as the Americas.

He is also a born philanthropist whose benevolence has touched countless of lives through scholarship awards, youth and women empowerment as well as daily giving to the needy and less-privileged in the society.

Above all, Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri is a cultural icon; a protagonist who seeks not only to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Benins, but also giving recognition to its place in world history.

He is the Founder/President of Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri Centre for Change, a centre that seeks to rekindle the glory of the Benin Kingdom and the dignity of mankind.

Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri is a very busy man, always on the move.

It was therefore a vintage opportunity when this reporter met him recently at his residence in Benin City and seized the momentum to seek his views on some salient issues on the polity, the Benin Nation and the Oba Ovonranmwen Centenary celebration which is being organised by Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri Centre for Change in conjunction with the Benin Traditional Council. He spoke with our man, MATTHEW OKAGHA. Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri Excerpts: Happy New Year Chief.

How would you describe the year 2013?

Well, 2013 was a difficult year; a very challenging, frustrating and stressful year. But we are glad it is all over now.

The only good thing that happened in 2013 to me politically, was the emergence of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the three main opposition parties – ACN, ANPP and CPC. How will you then describe the polity in Nigeria today?

The polity in Nigeria today is very challenging because any growing democracy like ours, calls for maturity on the part of the political actors. All the same, it is not surprising

for any developing democracy, it is the same thing that happens all over the world. America suffered the same problem, Great Britain went through similar experience. So Nigeria is not an exception, we are experiencing a growing democracy.

It took America over 100 years to get over their democratic challenges, and today they are leaders of the world.

China is still under-going some turbulence in terms of democratic crises.

France is going through a lot now on national issues and democratic challenges.

Here in Nigeria, we have to build on our own political challenges until one day when we shall have a Moses that will take

experimental. In the last five years, the APC government under the Comrade Governor has been ensuring the best for the greatest number of the people, by turning the schools around, health centres have been rebuilt, roads reconstructed, market women empowered and a good number of the youths gainfully employed and so on.

To me, the last five years have witnessed some daunting challenges which had also impacted positively on the Edo nation. What we have seen gives hope for the future.

The Comrade Governor has delivered the state to a point where we are second

Nation trying to put things forward.

Unfortunately, we have no leaders in Benin Nation.

All our leaders have gone, they are not dead; they are living, they have life but they are doing nothing for us. Our leaders are not the governor, so we cannot find them. Benin Nation have nothing for us. Benin Nation have remain a nation whose only hope is the Oba of Benin. No other

- Chief S. I. Edebiri

subject of this Nation can come out or stand up and say, ‘I loan myself to fight for this nation and move this nation forward’.

So we end up with our hope resting on His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin. It ought not to be so.

I know you have access to the palace any day. If you meet HRM today, what will you tell him to do for the Benin Nation?

I do not have anything to

tell His Royal Majesty because he is doing what he is suppose to do. He is ensuring peace, unity and quality leadership. He has done much for the Benin Nation. I do not think that I even possess the capacity to now tell him what more to do for Benin Nation.

What we can tell him is what we can do for the Benin Nation. He has done so much for Benin Nation.

What is the Oba

Ovonranmwen Centenary celebration all about?

It is a programme put together to remember our hero; a man who fought for the Benin Nation. By January 13-14, 2014, it would be 100 years he passed on to join his ancestors. The programme is being organised by Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri Centre for Change in conjunction with the Benin Traditional Council.

We want also to use the medium to celebrate living legends and those past legends in Benin Nation.

So that means we are going to carry out a lot of awards, recognition, etc.

For instance, we have to appreciate Oba of Benin for the peaceful administration of Benin Kingdom. So we have opportunity for us to reignite the cultural value of the Benin Nation. It is a programme that will sell Benin Nation to the world.

So we are looking forward to it.

What do we expect?

We are organising a great programme for a great hero; a leader who gave himself for the Nation. We have opened a website for our people to log in and be part of the celebration.

Who is Oba Ovonranmwen to you?

He was a hero, mentor, legend, a leader who sacrificed his peace, royal splendour, faith and paid the ultimate prize for Benin Nation.

What is your mission?

My mission is to continue to serve the country, especially my own state and my people.

“Unfortunately, we have no leaders in Benin Nation. All our leaders have gone, they are not dead; they are living, they have life but they are doing nothing for us.”

Reflection

With Rev. Fr. John Damian Adizie, OCD Mobile: +2348076635886 Email: johndamianocd@yahoo.co.uk

New Year Prayer And Blessing CHILD of God, I want to remind you once again that you are no longer in the year 2013, you are now in 2014, a new year indeed. At last the year 2013 has come to an end leaving you alive. I thank God you finally made it. With the end of 2013, I see all your problems coming to an end.

As you will never see the year 2013 again, also you will never see those problems again! The sickness of 2013 has disappeared with 2013, the worries of 2013 has come to an end. It is a new dawn. I see a very bright future ahead of you.

If you are still in doubt, read Exodus chapter 14:13 where Moses told the Israelites as the Egyptians were coming to attack them, “Don’t be afraid!

Stand your ground, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today: the Egyptians you see today you shall see no more” Child of God, this message is for you.

In your own case, the enemies you see today you shall see no more. The sickness you see today, you shall see no more.

The poverty you see today, you shall see no more. The demons you see today, you shall see no more. Even the spiritual attack you see today, you shall see no more.

Whatever ugly situation you find yourself God will surely bring them to an end. No more sorrow, no more weeping.

2014 is a special Year for me and for every child of God! It is my tenth year priestly anniversary. It is a year of celebration. I declared it a year of divine success. If I could succeed as a priest and if God could allow a person like me to serve in his vineyard in the midst of persecutions, trials and hardship, I see no reason why you will not succeed. You must surely succeed in your own vocation. Your marital life will succeed. Your

business will succeed. You will surely succeed in your political ambition.

Child of God it is indeed a new dawn, a new beginning.

God is about to do something new in your life. In fact, God does not want you to dwell in the past. The Lord says, “Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already – you can see it now” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

God is about to transform your life. Your business and your academic life will never be the same. Your marital life will improve rapidly. God will surely do something wonderful and marvelous in your life and in your family.

Remember, God is not even interested in your ugly experiences. He is not so much interested in your past records. God is not interested in your mistakes and failures.

No matter how sinful you may be God is still interested in you, as a person. He wants you back. He said in the book of prophet Isaiah, “Now, let’s settle the matter. You are strained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow.

Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will eat the good things the land produces” (Isaiah 1:18-19). Child of God, there is still hope for you.

With God there is nothing like hopeless case. God will transform the ugliest situation of your life into a glorious and favourable situation.

The first time Prophet Isaiah encountered God, he saw himself as a condemned sinful man; he exclaimed, “There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes, I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!”

(Isaiah 6:5). Isaiah saw his

case as a hopeless case. He saw himself as the most sinful and unworthy creature. But God in His infinite goodness sent an angel to purify him.

Isaiah narrates his encounter with the angel, “Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with

will” – not for everybody but for people of good will. After the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:14). This peace which the angels announced is for those who have found favour

a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, this has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven” (Isaiah 6:6-7). Child of God, no matter how sinful you may be, God is ready to forgive you. All you need to do is to repent and give your life completely to Jesus.

This year 2014 will be the most favourable and successful year for people of good will. Underline that last phrase, “…people of good

in the sight of God. Any prophetic pronouncement you find in this article is for the favoured children of God. If you are one of those smile and say, ‘Amen!’

With the year 2014 God said, I should announce to you that your period of suffering has come to an end! Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord says, “Comfort my people,” says our God. “Comfort them!

Encourage the people of Jerusalem (encourage the people of Nigeria and the

“Remember, God is not even interested in your ugly experiences. He is not so much interested in your past records.

God is not interested in your mistakes and failures. No matter how sinful you may be God is still interested in you, as a person.

He wants you back. He said in the book of prophet Isaiah, “Now, let’s settle the matter. You are strained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow.”

people of Africa), tell them they have suffered enough and their sins are now forgiven” (Isaiah 40:1-2). Child of God, this year 2014 our God has remembered you. He knows what you are passing through in life. He has taken record of your sleepless nights. He understands your worries and

assures us that this year, The Spirit of the Lord has anointed him to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to set the oppressed free and to announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people (Luke 4:18-19).

predicaments. Now, He has sent me to announce to you that you have suffered enough.

Your suffering has come to an end.

Remember, when God took notice of the sufferings of the Israelites in Egypt he sent Moses to deliver them with these words, “I have seen how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt; I have heard them cry out to be rescued from their slave-drivers. I know all about their sufferings, and so I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them out of Egypt to a spacious land, one which is rich and fertile” (Exodus 3:7-8). Child of God, this year 2014, God will deliver you from all kinds of bondage. He will establish you in a fertile land.

The year 2014 will be a favourable year for every child of God. it is going to be a year of good news, a year liberation, and a year acceptable unto God. Jesus

This is the long expected year, the year when God will save his people.

Finally, the Lord wants me to bless you this new year, just as he commanded Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to use the following words in blessing the people of Israel: “May the Lord bless you and take care of you; may the Lord be kind and gracious to you; may the Lord look on you with favour and give you peace” (Numbers 6:22-26). This is a New Year prayer and a New Year blessing.

Child of God these words of blessing will be your portion throughout the year 2014. God will surely take care of you.

He will be kind and gracious to you. God will favour you and He will grant you lasting peace. God will protect you from all hidden dangers; your going out and your coming in will be secured. Goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life and you shall dwell in the presence of God forever and ever – Amen!

Politics

Defecting PDP Legislators’ Fate Hazy FEELERS at the National Assembly have identified tough times ahead of the country’s legislative houses in the current year, 2014, just as chairman of the Senate Business Rules, Sen. Ita Enang asserted that defecting members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the Senate have lost their seat.

This indication of possible ejection of the defecting members is coming on the heels of judicial interim injunction restraining the authorities from declaring seats of recently defected PDP members in the NASS vacant until determination of substantial suit before the court.

Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark has warned that he would not sit by and watch the drift, promising to do the needful.

In a press statement issued yesterday by his adviser on media and publicity, Kola Ologbodiya, the Senate President assured, “we will arrest the current situation and save our party from further disintegration”.

According to him, “some Nigerians are talking about Tsunami in the PDP because of the defection by some members of our party holding elective and non-elective positions but, as leaders, we will not sit by and continue to allow this drift; we shall do the needful and ensure that we save our great party”.

However, in his press chat yesterday, the Senate Business and Rules chairman, Sen. Enang, submitted that it is the political parties who win the elections and not the candidate, as such, the seat belongs to the political party and not the individual.

He argued that no name of individual candidates is

found in the ballot papers but the political parties that sponsored them, inferring that it was the parties that were elected and not the individual, stressing, “if it is only a party that canvasses for votes, it follows that it is a party that wins an election” “A good or bad candidate may enhance or diminish the prospect of his party in winning, but at the end of the day it is the party that wins or loses an election”, he continued.

“In Nigeria today, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) prohibits independent candidates to participate in any elections, therefore, to participate in any election, one must begin by joining a political party.

The party is sovereign and if one is not granted the ticket by his party, the political ambition of the person suffers a setback. Therefore, when Legislators are elected into the National Assembly, they are voted in on the basis of the political party to which they belong and not on individual grounds.

It is true that every Nigerian has the right to freedom of association as guaranteed under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

2004.

Consequently, every Nigerian has the right to join a political party, merge with a political party and form an alliance with another political party.

The question however is, while it may be acceptable for politicians to defect from

By JOSES SEDE one party to another, is it acceptable for them to retain their mandate from the parties from which they have defected? The answer is no.

It should be noted that there are consequential laws guiding such defections.

Section 68 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria as amended provides that a

party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties

clearly mandates that any member of the legislature, who intends to defect to another party, must prove that division exists in the party of which he was a member, or that his party has merged with two or more parties or factions.

Attention should be drawn to a precedent from 2012 where a State lawmaker, a member of the Federal House of Representatives,

• Senate President David Mark

member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political

or faction by one of which he was previously sponsored.

The provisions of this section of the Constitution are explicit in matters which concern the legislature. It

“It is true that every Nigerian has the right to freedom of association as guaranteed under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. 2004.”

Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, representing Akure North/ Akure South Constituency, that defected from the Labour Party, in Ondo State, lost his seat.

The court upheld the contention that the lawmaker did not prove a division (or faction) within the Labour Party. It is also relevant that in reaching its decision, the court relied on the Supreme Court’s pronouncement in Amaechi vs. INEC (2008) 1 MJSC 1 at 207, that: We all should note that the Constitution is superior as interpreted in judgements of the Supreme Court and, as such, the first consideration of any court should be whether or not a division ex-

ists within the party.

On Friday, October 18, 2013, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by His Lordship, Justice Elvis Chukwu had ruled that there was no division in PDP. Arising from this, any member of any party who defects to another political party loses his seat as it is the sponsoring party that won the election and not the individual.

It is the name of the political party that is on the ballot paper and because we have not passed any law or amendment that allows independent candidacy, independent candidates are not allowed in elections in Nigeria.

Another question that demands an answer is this: does a legislator who represents a people who are in support of a particular party have the right to defect to another party with the right of his people when he ought to be speaking the mind of his people?

Therefore, if a candidate came on the basis of political party and wants to leave the party, he is leaving the seat; he is not leaving with the seat because it is the party that won the election, which is speaking based on the law.

Individuals did not contest election. The defecting members of the National Assembly elected on the (PDP) platform have to vacate their seats. Doing so is mandatory if the relevant sections of the Constitution are anything to go by.

The legality of cross carpeting at both arms of government, that is the Legislative and Executive arms of government, was determined by the Supreme Court in the celebrated case of AttorneyGeneral of the Federation versus Atiku Abubakar (2007) 4 SC (PT. 11) 62, from which we can make the following proposition that cross carpeting by any member of the Legislature at both Federal and State levels i.e.

Senate, House Representatives and State House of Assembly automatically makes the seat of such member vacant except where such persons come within the exceptions provided in sections 68 (1) (g) and 109 (1) (g) of the constitution.

International

Turkey Doctors Say Police, Govt Harrassed Them

IT was the height of Turkey’s summer of upheaval, and riot police were hammering protesters. The tear gas at Istanbul’s Taksim Square was so thick that doctors trying to treat the wounded in a makeshift clinic could barely breathe or see.

So a group of doctors set off to find relief in a nearby hospital. They turned into an alley and came face-to-face with police, just yards away. The officers took aim, lifted their guns and launched tear gas canisters straight at the medics in their white lab coats. “It was clear that we were doctors,” Incilay Erdogan said to The Associated Press.

While some medics this summer complained of mistreatment as they treated protesters against the Turkish government, the extent of the harassment has now become much clearer. In interviews with The Associated Press over the five months since, more than a dozen doctors said authorities had assaulted them with tear gas, chased and beat protesters in hospitals, pressured them to reveal the names of patients and ignored calls for more resources, including ambulances.

Nor has the crackdown stopped since. A prosecutorial indictment signed last month against a doctor and a medical student, seen by the AP, starkly contradicts a government statement that it would take no action against medical personnel giving care to protesters. And a bill passed by the Turkish parliament last week, and now before Turkish president Abdullah Gul, could give authorities new powers to prosecute doctors for giving unauthorized care, critics say. The bill follows more recent anti-government protests in recent weeks over a bribery scandal that forced four government ministers to step down.

The medical community says its professionals are hidden victims of a violent lashing out against dissent that has undermined the reputation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a democratic reformer. The United States and European powers see Erdogan as a vital strategic partner, especially in dealing with the Syria conflict, but have become alarmed by what looks like a deepening disregard for human rights.

The Ministry of Health defended its position in a statement to the AP: “It is greatly unfair to claim that there were shortfalls in the provision of health services during the protests.”

The Turkish national police also noted in a statement the challenge posed by the sheer size of the demonstrations, which it described as 5,532 pro-

tests in 80 provinces with the participation of more than 3 million people from May to September. The statement said inspectors have been appointed to probe instances where unnecessary force may have been used but denied that doctors were specifically targeted.

“Our security units have not intervened against doctors who are exercising medical profession or those exercising their rights to peaceful demonstration,” it said.

Many doctors, including some interviewed for this story, admit to sympathies with the protesters, and some took part in protests without medical garb when they were not treating patients.

However, Turkish and international human rights groups say the Erdogan government’s clampdown on doctors still violated international codes designed to protect medical personnel in conflicts. The neutrality of doctors while treating the injured in conflicts dates back to the ancient Hippocratic Oath, and is codified in international law and human rights treaties, many of which Turkey has signed.

“Something happened during the protests in June that usually doesn’t happen in war,” said Dr. Selcuk Atalay, the general secretary of the Turkish Medical Association’s Ankara chapter.

The police told the AP that claims by the medical association and NGOs about abuses against doctors were “based on insufficient information and don’t reflect the truth.”

In late May and June, hundreds of thousands of Turks took to the streets calling for greater democratic freedoms, in protests initially sparked by opposition to government plans to develop Gezi park in downtown Istanbul. Police fired water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas, and beat protesters with batons, resulting in thousands of injuries and five deaths. Many injuries and at least one death were caused by direct hits from tear gas canisters fired from close range at high speed, although the doctors who say they were targeted in this way were not seriously injured.

Doctors at Taksim Egitim ve Arastirma Hospital and the German Hospital ó both near the center of the Istanbul protests ó said tear gas was sometimes fired directly at the emergency room doors, seeping inside and hampering their work treating the injured.

One day, about half a dozen protesters ran into the emer-

gency room at Istanbul’s German Hospital, followed closely by riot police, according to the doctor in charge, Serdar Cifcili.

After one protester locked himself into an observation room, police broke down the door and beat him, Cifcili said. He said he heard two other protesters, including one woman, being beaten elsewhere in the hospital. Another time, he said, the

medical association’s Istanbul chapter. Instead, doctors had to reach out to hospitals and ambulance services run by the city’s municipalities, which operate independently.

“The Gezi events took place in large cities, generally in city centers. There was no question of any shortfalls in the provision of health services in those loca-

coats were. The investigation’s conclusion, seen by the AP, calls for disciplinary action.

An indictment by Turkish prosecutors against people involved in the summer protests, dated Dec. 6 and viewed by the AP, also accuses a doctor and a medical student, who treated protesters inside the Dolmabahce Mosque in Istanbul, of violating Turkish law.

Volunteer Turkish doctors and medical personnel at a makeshift clinic near Taksim square in Istanbul, Turkey. radiology department shut down for hours because of tear gas, creating long waits for patients needing X-rays.

On several occasions, doctors say, the police gassed temporary clinics while patients were being treated. On June 22, police fired tear gas through a gap under a door shuttered for protection at a clinic, according to doctors present, including Incilay Erdogan, who chairs the human rights committee of the medical association’s Istanbul chapter Erdogan, who is not related to the prime minister, recalled treating a teenage patient with severe chest trauma inside a makeshift Istanbul clinic. She dialed 112, the Turkish emergency hotline. But the dispatcher initially refused to send an ambulance stationed about 200 meters (yards) away, claiming that the ambulance drivers feared for their safety. In the end, despite assurances from the dispatcher that an ambulance was coming, it never did.

Erdogan helped other doctors carry the injured protester to a taxi that brought him to the hospital.

Repeated requests to the Ministry of Health to increase medical resources in the protest areas, especially ambulances, were ignored, according to the

tions,” the Ministry of Health said in its statement. The ministry has also said that protesters damaged nine ambulances stationed at Gezi Park.

Doctors in hospitals also told AP they felt pressure not to provide extra care to the protesters.

A doctor at the government-run Taksim hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared reprisal, said he witnessed government inspectors reviewing security footage in the hospital to determine whether doctors and medical personnel had volunteered services outside shifts in the overwhelmed emergency rooms.

“I heard the inspector ask questions about specific people on the footage, like, ‘That nurse, is she on duty? Why is she bandaging the patient?’” the doctor recalled.

Gunera Polatogullari, a nurse at the Taksim hospital, said she was the subject of a Ministry of Health investigation in which she was accused of helping to treat protesters while off duty.

She says she was confronted with security video in which she is seen handing something over to two people in white lab coats.

She admits to Ministry of Health charges that she did not know who those people in the lab

Prosecutors accuse the doctor and the student of throwing trash and cigarettes in the mosque, considered a desecration. They also accuse the two of refusing to provide information on protesters treated, protecting criminals, and illegally providing medical assistance to the protesters in their professional clothes. The charges carry the possibility of more than a year in prison.

Asked whether the prosecution contradicted its statement to the AP, the health ministry said it could not comment on an ongoing legal matter.

Other doctors say they have been notified they are under investigation for their care of protesters.

Feray Kaya, a pediatric assistant who works in a government hospital, volunteered to treat the injured during the protests and helped to collect casualty data.

After the protests subsided, Kaya received notices ó one seen by the AP ó that she was being investigated by the Ministry of Health. A letter from her hospital administration asks why she checked in on a protester brought to the emergency room after being hit in the head with a tear gas canister. A second letter from the ministry asks

about her work setting up the temporary clinics.

“Did you or did you not actually serve in these voluntary infirmaries?” the letter asks.

Kaya said she and other doctors who treated patients in the streets eventually removed lab coats and medical identification because they felt the gear was painting a bull’s-eye on them for police. “We started to feel like we were prey,” she said.

Other doctors, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, reported receiving similar letters. And in a June 13 letter seen by the AP, the Ministry of Health asked the medical association for the names of both doctors working at the makeshift clinics and the patients they treated. The association refused to provide information. Doctors say the association antagonized the government by organizing clinics and publishing a report, which was challenged by the ministry, detailing the thousands of injuries.

“They were bothered by the fact that the events were being objectively reported by doctors,” says Ali Cerkezoglu, the secretary general of the association’s Istanbul chapter, who was also detained for involvement in the protests. “We were also caring for the protesters and the police saw this as allowing them to continue.”

The legislation passed by the parliament calls for fines and imprisonment of up to three years for treatment of patients without authorization by the Ministry of Health, with the exception of unexpected emergency care until authorized care arrives. The law specifically forbids establishing clinics without government authorization. A provision that could also limit doctors’ pay had also mobilized doctors against passage.

“Instead of supporting doctors and other health workers, who are following their ethical duty to provide care to protesters, they are in the process of making it a crime to render emergency health services,” says Vincent Iacopino, senior medical adviser to the U.S.-based advocacy group Physicians for Human Rights, which published a September report on abuses against medical personnel during the protests. The Turkish Medical Association, which is independently funded and counts 80 percent of Turkish doctors as members, says it won’t abide by the legislation if passed.

International

African Leaders Open Crisis Summit On C. Africa

N’DJAMENA - African leaders began talks on Thursday in Chad’s capital Ndjamena to tackle the sectarian violence wracking the Central African Republic, with the pressure piling on embattled president Michel Djotodia.

The special summit of the 10nation Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) was convened by Chad’s President Idriss Deby, who chairs the regional organisation.

Djotodia and his Prime Minister Nicolas Tiengaye arrived late on Wednesday for the summit.

ECCAS has insisted “regime change” is not the goal of the meeting, called officially to address the government’s failure to stem the deadly violence that has wracked the country for months.

But Allami Ahmat, ECCAS’

secretary general, said ahead of the summit the country was in a “deplorable situation,” under “transitional authorities who have proven themselves incapable, powerless even, to solve the problem.”

France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said African leaders would be taking “decisions” on the future of Djotodia, a former rebel leader swept to power in a March coup that unleashed the current unrest.

“There are certainly decisions to be made, with regard to the political transition and the fact the state is paralysed. We shall see what our African friends decide,” Fabius told France 2 television on Thursday.

“It is not France’s place to dictate decisions. We are here to offer support,” added Fabius, whose country last month deployed 1,600 troops alongside an African peacekeeping force

BERLIN - Germany will help destroy Syria’s arsenal of chemical weapons materials as part of an international disarmament program, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday.

The new Social Democrat (SPD) minister said countries with the technical capacity to help should not refuse.

“Therefore we in the German government have decided not to shirk our responsibility and to make our contribution. That means getting rid of part of the chemical waste,” he said at a news conference with his Danish counterpart.

“The German armed forces have the technical capacity to do this in Munster,” Steinmeier said.

Syria has agreed to abandon its chemical weapons by June after a sarin gas attack last

August that Western nations blamed on President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. Damascus blamed the rebels For the attack.

It has declared 1,300 tonnes of weapons to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) which is arranging for them to be destroyed abroad. This week some chemical weapons materials started moving out of the country onto a Danish ship.

Government sources said Chancellor Angela Merkel had agreed the move with Steinmeier and Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.

The decision could be controversial in Germany, which has a strong pacifist and antinuclear movement and has been reluctant to get involved in foreign missions, especially in the Middle East,

in its former colony.

The regional powerbroker and current ECCAS chair, Chadian President Itno called the summit, officially to ensure the situation in CAR does not spiral out of control.

“It’s not about regime change, nor changing the transition. It’s about taking measures to restore peace and security in Central Africa,” said ECCAS’ Ahmat.

In Bangui, the Central African communications minister slapped down any talk of Djotodia’s departure, saying it would only worsen the crisis.

Delegations were to continue arriving in NDjamena throughout Thursday, with talks expected to take place through the night to Friday, Chadian sources said.

The CAR sank into chaos when rebels from the Seleka movement launched their coup

in March, installing Djotodia as the first Muslim president in the overwhelmingly Christian country.

Djotodia has since officially disbanded the rebels, but has proven unable to keep them in check.

Instead the rebels went on killing, raping and pillaging, prompting Christians to form vigilante groups in response and sparking a deadly cycle of revenge attacks.

More than 1,000 people have

been killed in the past month alone and nearly a million have been displaced since the coup.

‘Infiltrations by armed elements’ There are fears the unrest is spreading through the region with a UN official warning that both Seleka rebels and former CAR soldiers have crossed into volatile Democratic Republic of Congo, where they are sending people fleeing.

Abdallah Wafi, the UN’s deputy special envoy to DR

Congo said: “There are infiltrations by armed elements” and by former CAR soldiers.

Many former CAR soldiers fled their home country when the Seleka rebels launched their coup. The rebels in turn were pushed out when French and African peacekeepers arrived in the CAR in December.

Although mass slaughters have mostly ceased amid frequent patrols by the peacekeepers, sporadic killings carry on almost every night.

Germany To Help Dispose Of Syrian Chemical Weapons

Car Bomb Near School In Central Syria Kills 16 DAMASCUS, Syria Syrian state media and an opposition watchdog say a car bomb has exploded near a school in a central province, killing at least 16 people and wounding dozens.

Syrian TV says Thursday’s explosion in the al-Kaffat village in the central Hama province also caused extensive damage. The Hama police command says there were women and children among the victims.

The Britain-based Syrian

Observatory for Human Rights, which keeps track of the fighting in Syria through a network of activists on the ground, says 18 people were killed, most of them civilians.

Al-Kaffat’s residents are mostly from the country’s minority Ismaili sect, a branch of Shiite Islam.

Syria’s conflict has pitted the mostly Sunni opposition against President Bashar Assad’s Alawites, members of a Shiite offshoot sect.

since the end of World War Two. The sources said several hundred tonnes of very diluted materials, rather than chemical weapons, could come to Munster in northern Germany, home to a big army base.

Displaced children in Central African Republic wait for food distribution, near Mpoko Bangui airport where thousands are seeking shelter

Thai Anti-Government Protesters March, Consumer Confidence Slumps BANGKOK - Protesters trying to topple Thailand’s prime minister marched in Bangkok again on Thursday, testing support for a planned “shutdown” of the capital next week, and a survey showed consumer confidence slumped last month because of the crisis.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called an election for February 2 but the protesters, aware she would probably win on the back of support in the rural north and northeast, want her to step down and be replaced by an appointed “people’s council” to push through electoral reforms.

The protests took off in November when the government tried to force through a political amnesty bill that would have let former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s brother, return from self-exile without serving jail time for corruption.

On Thursday, the protesters marched from their camp at Democracy Monument in the historic quarter, drumming up support for Monday when they plan to blockade main roads and prevent government ministries from functioning.

The turmoil is the latest twist in a conflict pitting Bangkok’s

middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly rural supporters of Yingluck and Thaksin, who was ousted as prime minister in a military coup in 2006.

The demonstrations have been mostly peaceful but sporadic violence has flared since late November and protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has shown no sign of compromise.

The survey from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce showed consumer confidence fell for the ninth month in December and was at its lowest level since the beginning of 2012, when the country was recovering from devastating floods.

“The political situation is still unclear, keeping pressure on consumer confidence. It may not recover until early in the second quarter, at the soonest,” Professor of Economics Thanavath Phonvichai told a news conference, adding the economy might only grow 1.0 to 2.0 percent in the first quarter.

Consumer spending helped prop up the economy in 2013 when exports remained weak,

so the drop in confidence, along with cancellations by tourists and a delay to huge infrastructure projects, looks likely to hurt growth this year.

A deputy prime minister said on Monday gross domestic product could grow just 3.0 to 3.5 percent this year rather than a projected 4.0 to 5.0 percent if 2 trillion baht ($60.50 billion) in public works was delayed by the political vacuum.

The infrastructure projects are also being contested in the

courts by the opposition Democrat Party, which says they would be open to corruption because of the way Yingluck’s government was managing them outside the normal budgetary process.

The Supreme Court may rule on Thursday on a separate 350 billion baht flood-management program, already suspended by the courts because of the need for environmental studies.

Other judicial problems are piling up for Yingluck and her Puea Thai Party.

Pakistan’s Musharraf Ordered To Appear In Court ISLAMABAD - A Pakistani court trying former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf for treason has ordered him to appear at a hearing next week despite his lawyers saying he was too sick to attend.

The court registrar announced its decision on Thursday.

Musharraf has been staying at a military heart clinic in nearby Rawalpindi. He was on his way to the court in

Islamabad last Thursday but was instead rushed to the hospital with chest pains.

The prosecution says it was simply a ploy to avoid appearing in court. Defense lawyers have been pushing for Musharraf to be exempt from court proceedings or even leave the country for treatment.

The judges examined a medical report submitted by the hospital and said he must appear on Jan. 16.

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No January Deals For AC Milan KEISUKE Honda was

Brendan Rodgers Accepts FA Charge LIVERPOOL Manager Brendan Rodgers has accepted a charge from the Football Association over critical comments he made about referee Lee Mason.

Rodgers described Mason’s performance as “horrendous” after the 2-1 Premier League defeat at Manchester City on Dec. 26.

He also suggested that Mason should not have been assigned the match, suggesting that his Bolton home was too close to the City of Manchester Stadium.

The FA decided that Rodgers’ comments breached rule E3 (1), which governs any remarks that question a referee’s integrity or imply bias, and charged him last Friday.

Rodgers had until 18.00 GMT on Wednesday to respond to the charge, and sources have told ESPN that he

officially presented as a Milan player on Wednesday, after signing on a three-year deal from Russian outfit CSKA Moscow.

Keisuke Honda is the first — and the last — new face to arrive at AC Milan this month, according to the club’s general manager Adriano Galliani.

Honda, 27, was presented at the San Siro on Wednesday after completing his free transfer from CSKA Moscow.

The Japan international spoke of his “childhood dream” to wear the No. 10 Rossoneri shirt and laid out his plans to win the Scudetto in the near future.

That dream will not be granted to any other budding Milan player this month, though, with Galliani declaring the transfer window closed, albeit not locked shut.

“Our transfer dealings end here,” he said. “Then again, there can always be some surprises. At the moment, we are not planning any more arrivals and when I say something, it reflects the reality at that moment. As of today, no new signings are to be expected.

Kalou Go Nowhere - Seydoux

has decided to accept it. He is likely to be fined following a short hearing, which he will not attend.

The Liverpool boss was angry that Raheem Sterling had a first-half goal wrongly ruled out for offside, and also believed Luis Suarez should have had a late penalty.

And in his postmatch news conference, Rodgers pointed to the fact that Mason is from Bolton, a part of Greater Manchester.

Rodgers said at the time: “I was surprised we were playing in Manchester and have a referee from Greater Manchester. I am sure we won’t get Liverpool-Manchester City [refereed by] someone from the Wirral.”

Xabi Alonso Signs Real Madrid Deal XABI Alonso has signed a new

two-year contract extension with Real Madrid, the player and club have both confirmed.

The 32 year old midfielder’s current deal at the Estadio

Lionel Messi

Messi Ready For Challenge In 2014

LILLE president Michel Seydoux has dashed the hopes of English clubs looking to lure Salomon Kalou back to the Premier League, while he said he would welcome Eden Hazard’s return to Ligue 1.

According to reports in the British media, Kalou, 28, is being tracked by Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool, who are all keen on luring the Ivory Coast international back to England’s top flight — where he played for Chelsea between 2006 and 2012.

Although initially his switch to Lille, which occurred in the immediate aftermath of Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League triumph, looked like it would end in failure, Kalou has developed into an integral part of the club’s setup — striking six times and teeing up two more goals to help Rene Girard’s men into third place in Ligue 1 at the halfway point of the season.

Given Kalou’s contribution to the cause, Seydoux told RMC there is very little chance he will allow the player to leave the Stade Pierre Mauroy, or that the former Feyenoord man, who signed a four-year deal at Lille, will demand a transfer.

of the Year made his first appearance since early November as a substitute just after the hour mark with Barca leading 2-0 thanks to a Cesc Fabregas double.

And it didn’t take long for the Argentine to make his mark as he slotted home from close range before registering his 16th goal of the season with a trademark solo run and finish in stoppage time.

“I had a lot of time out and I felt very good in the training sessions that I had, but playing in a competitive game is completely different,” he told Barca TV. “More than the goals, I feel very good physically and I have been able to play without any pain so I am obviously very happy.”

After undergoing the first period of his recovery process in

E I N T R A C H T Frankfurt have confirmed that Sebastian Rode will join Bayern Munich on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer.

Rode, 23, has been linked with a move to Bayern for some time, and kicker reported yesterday that the midfielder has now reached an agreement with

the European champions.

Frankfurt CEO Heribert Bruchhagen then confirmed the kicker report, telling Frankfurter Rundschau: “That has been clear for nine months now.”

The former Germany under-21 international is the second player to agree to join Bayern on a free transfer in the summer after Borussia Dortmund striker Robert

Barcelona, Messi travelled to Argentina to continue his recuperation in December.

There will be high expectations placed upon the 26-year-old over the next seven months as he spearheads Barca’s campaign to win trophies on three fronts before leading his country at the World Cup in Brazil.

But after a significant period on the sidelines, he insisted he is just happy to be back playing again.

“I am very happy. I was able to spend a lot of time in my country with my family and friends and to get away from everything.

“But now I am back I am excited and desperate to have a great year.

“I want to keep achieving things, to contribute to our play, help my teammates and hopefully we can achieve our objectives.

“They will be five very tough months, but we will fight to win everything, as we always do at this club, and then I can think about the national team.”

Next up for Barcelona is a crucial top of the table clash with Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday.

The Catalans had always hoped that Messi would be fit to play some part in the Spanish capital, but he said it will be up to Barca coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino whether he starts at the weekend.

“I will speak with Tata and he is the one that will decide, but right now I don’t know,” he said.

“No one is irreplaceable. I watched the games at home and they were very impressive.

Whoever plays in this squad they

Lewandowski agreed a five-year contract.

Rode was one of the rising stars of the 2012-13 Bundesliga season, and Frankfurt had attempted to extend his contract early last year.

However, in April 2013, Bruchhagen told ZDF TV that there were had been indications that Rode was

to make the switch to Bayern, even if the player insisted at the time that such talk was “pure speculation.”

Rode, who has has struggled to replicate last season’s form, has made 58 top-flight appearances, and 33 in the second tier, since joining Frankfurt for 250,000 euros from Kickers Offenbach in 2010.

LIONEL Messi said he is looking forward to another big year in 2014 after scoring twice in his comeback from injury as Barcelona swept aside Getafe 4-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie on Wednesday.

The four-time World Player

always respond to the challenge.”

Messi did though confirm that he will definitely attend Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich.

For the seventh consecutive year Messi will be amongst the top three for the prize that crowns the world’s best player.

However, he insisted that winning for a fifth consecutive year is not top of his priority list.

“I will go, as always. It is a pleasure to be amongst the top three no matter what the result is.

“For me the most important things are the titles you win as a group, but it is always a great compliment to be nominated for what the award represents.”

Sebastian Rode To Join Bayern Munich

Xabi Alonso

Santiago Bernabeu was due to end in June, and in recent months it had been rumoured to be considering offers from a host of Europe’s top clubs including Juventus, Paris SaintGermain, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool.

The situation had been an increasing concern for Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had regularly encouraged the club and the player to agree terms, and Bernabeu fans, who have cheered the Basque player and chanted “Alonso Stay” during recent games.

It appeared such worries would soon be over when reports circulated widely that the player and his agent Inaki Ibanez were at the Bernabeu finalising the agreement with Madrid president Florentino Perez.

Alonso himself announced he was staying via twitter — saying “This will continue to be my home for two more years.

A pleasure to let you know.

Very, very happy ¡¡Hala Madrid!!”.

Madrid soon released a club statement with more details of the agreement that ties him to the Liga giants for the next two years

Arsenal Meet Morata Loan Fee ARSENAL will have to stump up a £1.7million loan fee to land Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.

The Gunners remain in contact with Bernabeu chiefs over a deal to take the talented striker, who is also interesting Tottenham, until the end of the season.

Madrid have so far rebuffed all approaches for Morata, but the fact Real have settled on a +2million loan fee has given Arsenal some encouragement.

Manager Arsene Wenger, who has been offered Salomon Kalou and Dimitar Berbatov, would prefer a short-term solution to their striker problems this month.

Everton Aim To Pick Up The Tempo Against Norwich

EVERTON will be hoping to climb back into the top four when they welcome a struggling Norwich City outfit to Goodison Park in a Barclays Premier League encounter on Saturday afternoon.

The Toffees enjoyed a stellar first half of the season and will be hoping to kick on when they host the Canaries this weekend.

Roberto Martinez’s side needed a late Leighton Baines

penalty on New Year’s day to secure a 1-1 draw with Stoke City while Norwich held fellow strugglers Crystal Palace to a 1-1 stalemate on the first day of 2014.

Everton are unbeaten in their last two encounters, having lost only two all season. The Toffees first

defeat was away to Manchester City and their second was a 1-0 loss in Merseyside to bottom club Sunderland on Boxing Day. The loss to the Black Cats was the Toffees’ first home loss for almost a year.

Norwich, on the other hand, will be hoping for their first win in six when

Utd Form Hurting Danny Welbeck

Omeruo Hopes To Lift ‘Boro

NIGERIA defender Kenneth Omeruo has said he hopes to help Middlesbrough return to the Premier League after he completed a loan move from Chelsea.

The AFCON 2013 winner trained with the ‘Boro squad for the first time Tuesday morning and may debut against Blackpool on Saturday.

The 20-year-old will be looking to play regularly in the Middlesbrough backline as he aims to be with Nigeria at the World Cup in Brazil in June.

He is capable of playing both on the right or in the middle.

“This loan move is important because I have a good chance of playing regular football,” he said.

“I would also be in a good situation to help the club fight for promotion – nothing is impossible in football.”

Omeruo was shocked with Chelsea interest in him despite not having played at the top level in Europe.

“I first found out during the preparations for the (U20) World Cup and I got a confirmation call after the tournament. At first I didn’t believe it because I wasn’t expecting that at the time,” he admitted.

“I had only played for Standard reserves at that time but I left when my pre-contract was finished. They were surprised. It was great.

“It was really big news back home. People were happy that another Nigerian was at Chelsea again. My family were really happy and supportive. It feels great to get to the stage you’ve been dreaming of.”

And he is keen to build on last season’s loan at ADO Den Haag in Holland.

He said: “Playing in Holland wasn’t difficult at all because they play the kind of football I like. They play good football, everyone could play, they can keep the ball. It was really good.”

they travel to Goodison on Saturday.

The Canaries haven’t won a game since the start of December, when they beat West Brom 2-0.

Everton head into the encounter in fifth spot on the log, one point behind rivals Liverpool.

The Canaries are in 15th, a mere three points above the relegation zone.

Sebastian Bassong, Wes Hoolahan and Bradley Johnson could all make a return for the Canaries, while Jonny Howson is still ruled out with a back injury.

Hoolahan, though, might be

left out after reportedly handing in a transfer request.

Martinez is expected to again play Baines, who recently returned from injury, while the former Wigan mentor is also expected to start Sylvain Distin should he recover in time from a hamstring injury.

The two sides played to a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road earlier this season while the corresponding fixture last season ended in a 1-1 draw.

Steven Naismith’s 12th minute goal was cancelled out by a Sebastian Bassong strike in the 90th minute.

DANNY Welbeck has conceded Manchester United’s form is “not good enough” and said it is hurting him as both a supporter and a Mancunian to see the side losing.

United have been beaten in all three games they have played in 2014 as they have embarked on their worst run for 13 years.

And the defending Premier League champions are only seventh in the table, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.

Welbeck told the Press Association: “Losing three on the bounce though is really not good enough and we want to put that right.

“Being a Manchester lad

David Moyes, Machester United Manager

FA To Probe Moyes Claims

THE FA will probe David Moyes’s outburst against the referee after Tuesday’s Capital One Cup defeat to Sunderland.

Moyes was infuriated by the decision of referee Andre Marriner to award Sunderland a free-kick following the aerial challenge between Jonny Evans and Stephen Fletcher which led to the home side’s opening goal.

And he was equally scathing of the official after midfielder Tom Cleverley was adjudged to have fouled Adam Johnson in the box, resulting in Fabio Borini’s matchwinning penalty.

The defeat, United’s third in a

row, equalled their worst run in 13 years and after the match a furious Moyes said: “It’s really terrible, it really is, we’re actually beginning to laugh at them.

“We just need to keep going, we didn’t do an awful lot wrong. We conceded a terrible first goal from the free-kick, but it was never a freekick, it was our free-kick.

“I thought the referee was going to blow in our direction. I couldn’t

Chamberlain’s World Cup Dream

ARSENAL’S Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has targeted a dream ending to the season by earning a place in England’s World Cup squad for Brazil after returning to training following five months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

“As a young guy growing up watching football and

watching World Cups, this will be my first one [that I can play in),” Oxlade-Chamberlain told Arsenal Player.

“Obviously I went to the Euros [2012 in Poland/Ukraine], which was an amazing experience – and that’s a massive achievement for me personally, especially as an 18-year-old boy. That was really special.

believe he gave a free-kick for that Jonny Evans challenge on Fletcher in the air, it was just a terrible

Utd Boss Denies Coentrao Claims

MANCHESTER United manager David Moyes has denied claims that the club are close to signing Real Madrid’s Fabio Coentrao.

Reports from the continent have suggested that terms have been agreed to transfer the 25year-old Portugal international to Old Trafford.

But speaking after Tuesday night’s 2-1 Capital One Cup semifinal first-leg defeat at Sunderland, Moyes said: “No, that’s not true.”

decision.

“We’ve got an opposition to play and sometimes we’ve got other people to play at the moment.”

The outburst follows a few days after Moyes claimed it was a ‘scandalous’ decision not to award a late penalty for his side after Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris appeared to upend Ashley Young in the box at Old Trafford on January 1.

And the FA has also said it will investigate at least two incidents involving flares and smoke bombs during Sunderland’s 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light.

No arrests were made on the night but Northumbria Police have revealed ‘inquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible’.

An FA spokesman said: “We are looking into David Moyes’ comments to the media following the match at Sunderland.

“We are also contacting both clubs to seek their observations in relation to the use of flares last night.”

and being a United fan, there is extra passion inside me and it does hurt me when I see the team losing. It hurts a lot to see United not winning.

“I can understand why fans are concerned. We are not around the Champions League spots at the moment.

We need to get our form back and just win the next matches.”

United’s last three games have seen them lose 2-1 to Sunderland in the Capital One Cup, to Swansea in the FA Cup and to Tottenham in the Premier League.

They face the Swans again at the weekend and Welbeck added: “It was very disappointing to go out of the FA Cup against Swansea and we have to rectify that at Old Trafford on Saturday.”

Welbeck admits he is at a loss to explain why United, who have won 13 league titles in the last 21 years, have lost their form.

He said: “I cannot pinpoint one thing why this is happening. We were champions last season and we know that the consistency in our game has not been good enough.

“It is a new experience for us all, but the main thing we have to do is look at the next game. Obviously we have to put it right but you can’t look too far ahead.”

Danny Welbeck

FIFA Plays Down Valcke’s Comments FIFA has insisted no decision has been taken on moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter despite the organisation’s secretary general Jerome Valcke stating that the tournament “will not be in June or July”.

Valcke, who has been given the task of looking at alternative dates due to the fierce heat of the summer in Qatar, says it is likely to be held some time between November 15 and January 15.

Valcke may have jumped the gun - FIFA insist it is just his personal view - but it now looks certain to be in the winter of 2022 with November the most likely date.

He has been in close contact with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, and has agreed to avoid any clash with Christmas fixtures. He also needs to avoid the winter Olympics in the February of 2022 which leaves November as the only

realistic option.

Valcke told France Info radio station: “It will not be in June or July.”

He added: “Frankly I think it’ll be played between November 15 and January 15 at the latest.

“If you play between November 15 and the end of the year that’s when the weather is at its most favourable.”

Valcke suggested it will be “like a warm spring in Europe” with “an average temperature of 25 degrees, therefore it’s perfect for football”.

FIFA said in a statement that Valcke was expressing his own view and that no decision would be taken on the timing before this

SWITZERLAND coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has criticised FIFA’s decision to stage part of the 2014 World Cup in Manaus.

Hitzfeld’s side were drawn in Group E in December, alongside Ecuador, France and Honduras — who they will play in Manaus in their final group game on June 25.

Switzerland’s opening match against Ecuador will be staged in Brasilia and from there they travel to Salvador, where they will face their European neighbours France.

“I nearly find it irresponsible that you have to play football in such a place in the middle of the jungle in the Amazonas region,” the former Bayern Munich coach

told German TV station SWR. The 64-year old, who will end his successful coaching career after the World Cup, added: “I believe commerce is in the foreground, and I disagree with the FIFA ruling.

“Also looking at all of the country — and Brazil is a huge country — it’s a fivehour flight if you have to go from Salvador to Brasilia and to Manaus from there.

“You have to be in a very good physical condition, and over the next few months we’ll have meetings with sports scientists, also with doctors and physiotherapists, to prepare for that.”

Following the World Cup draw, United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann also said that travelling in Brazil could prove to be a problem.

“From a travelling point of view, we have the furthest distance to travel with our team,” Klinsmann said.

During the group stage, the U.S. will travel around 14,000 kilometres to reach their games in Manaus, Natal and Recife.

Klinsmann’s side will be based in Sao Paolo in the south of Brazil, despite all three group games being played in the north.

Ottmar Hitzfeld Blasts FIFA Over Manaus

• Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld

summer ’s World Cup in Brazil.

The statement said: “Secretary General Jerome Valcke explained today in the Radio France interview - as he had already

mentioned previously - that in his view the 2022 FIFA World Cup must take place in winter and the best possible timeframe would be 15 November to 15 January.

“However, the precise event date is still subject to an ongoing consultation process which involves all main event stakeholders.

“No decision will be taken before the upcoming 2014

FIFA World Cup Brazil as agreed by the FIFA executive committee.”

Britain’s FIFA vicepresident Jim Boyce said he was “totally surprised” by Valcke’s disclosure.

• Jerome Valcke

World Cup Can Be Held In Summer THE general secretary of the 2022 World Cup local organising committee in Qatar has insisted the tournament can still be held in its usual summer slot despite the claims of Jerome Valcke, which have caused consternation throughout the game.

FIFA secretary general

Valcke provoked a major stir on Wednesday when he told Radio France the tournament would be held between November and January due to the extreme heat of the Qatari summer — although FIFA later issued a statement to insist no decision has been taken over the matter.

FORMER NBA star John Amaechi believes football has a “toxic” approach towards homosexuality and claims FIFA are not doing enough to help gay players in the wake of Thomas Hitzlsperger becoming the most high-profile footballer to come out.

Hitzlsperger, 31, revealed his sexuality in an interview with German newspaper Die Zeit on Wednesday, becoming only the fourth professional footballer to do so after former Norwich forward Justin Fashanu, Swedish lower league player Anton Hysen and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers.

Amaechi made headlines the world over when he

became the first openly gay NBA player in 2007 and he feels that football, like many sports, has a poisonous attitude toward homosexuality.

“It isn’t a big deal for an awful lot of people, but within sport there is still a problem,” Amaechi said to BBC Sport. “The real problem, especially with football, is that it has never evaluated itself properly. The sport has never understood just how toxic it is.

“Football is toxic and not just for gay people — it’s toxic for Asians who want to play the game, it’s toxic for women who want to be executives, it’s toxic for black people who want to do anything but play. It’s toxic

Amaechi Says FIFA Is Failing Gay Players

– LOC

However, Hassan Al Thawadi told L’Equipe that, despite average temperatures breaching the 40°C barrier in Doha during June and July when the World Cup would traditionally be held, the elements can be conquered.

He said: “I don’t think it’s impossible. Yes, it is hot here during the summer. It’s not the ideal period to visit the country — no-one will deny that — but look at the World Cups organised in Mexico in 1970 or 1986, or that in Spain in 1982 or the USA in 1994.

“Also look at the World Cup scheduled for this year in Brazil

and you cannot deny that the question of very hot weather, sometimes comparable to that here, has never been an issue in Word Cup history. Hasn’t the tournament passed off normally each time? And to again bring up this question of the temperature is to ignore the cooling technology that we’ll be installing in stadia and fan zones.”

Though the Qataris have consistently claimed they will be able to cool venues to allow games to be played in acceptable conditions, a number of influential football figures have called for the tournament to be staged in winter when the thermometer drops to around 25°C.

Brazilian Airline Caps World Cup Fares BRAZILIAN airline Azul Linhas Aereas has assured customers that it will not hike the cost of travel during this summer’s World Cup. Supporters wishing to follow their nation’s fortunes at the tournament will almost always need to travel by air, with the vast distances between host cities making ground transportation out of the question in most instances.

The spiralling cost of fares has been widely criticised by fans,

who feel they are being taken advantage of, and the Brazilian government has threatened to cap prices of hotels and airlines in a bid to make the overall cost of attending the tournament more manageable.

Azul is the first airline to publicly declare its own cap on fares, promising that no flights will cost more than 999 reais ($420) — a move it claims will cost the company 20 million reais ($8.35 million) in lost revenue.

Coach Alabi, Bazuaye, Others For Oba Ovoranmwen Final

By OBASEKI ANTHONY

THE final of the oba ovoranmwen gold cup which kicked off last week will be played at the sam ogbemudia stadium between Benin Vipers of Edo South and Dynamite fc of Edo North on the 18th of january 2014.

According to the Tournament Director Ikponwosa Edebiri, arrangement for the final is set, “I want to say all is set for the final of the Oba Ovoranmwen gold cup football championship. And want to use this medium to say happy new year to all the teams that took part in the tournament and again to inform them that the final is

• Nigeria defender Egwuekwe

CHAN: Debutant Nigeria Battle Old Foes Mali Tomorrow

DEBUTANTS Nigeria will confront fellow West Africans the Eagles of Mali in a Group A match at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cape Town.

Fellow Group A rivals Hosts after making it to the last edition South Africa and Mozambique in 2012. will open the biennial To reach CHAN 2014, Nigeria championship reserved for saw off Cote d’Ivoire on a 4-3 locally based players in Africa. aggregate, while Mali defeated Nigeria have failed to qualify Guinea 3-2 on aggregate. for the previous two editions of Nigeria will be relying on the the competition, while Mali will experience of full internationals be making their second like skipper and goalkeeper appearance at the competition Chigozie Agbim, Solomon

Kwambe, Ejike Uzoenyi, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Francis Benjamin.

Mali, on the other hand, will bank on experienced Stade Malien goalkeeper Soumbeila Diakate, who has 34 caps with main team and the likes of Ousmane Keita and Adama Traore to make headway.

The West Africans, who are handled by coach Djibril Drame, have struggled in the

TECHNICAL Director, Nigeria Para-Power Lifting Federation, Sam Ekeoma, said on Wednesday the federation had intensified efforts to ensure power-lifters from the country performed creditably during Brazil 2016 Paralympic Games.

Ekeoma told newsmen in Umuahia that qualifiers had begun in 2013, adding that athletes from Nigeria who participated in such qualifiers did well to qualify in various categories.

“In February last year Team Nigeria Power Lifting were in Dubai where six of our athletes qualified.

“Then in November last year too we went to Malaysia where we also qualified all the anticipated athletes that we are hoping to feature in the Brazil 2016 Paralympic Games.

“This year too, IPC (World Power lifting Championship) is a must whether you attended qualifier last year or not. That place determines who plays in the paralympic game.”

Ekeoma said that 2014 would be a very busy one for the federation as it had series of championships and other

“Anything that National Sports Commission (NSC) doesn’t do for sports in Nigeria mostly we the special sports find it difficult to do.

“So, it’s only the little that the NSC was able to give to us that we managed.

Para-Power Lifting Federation Prepares For Brazil 2016, Seeks Support activities needed to keep the athletes in shape.

He said that one of the major events included Power-lifting World Championship, which according to him, is a prerequisite for any athlete or country that would participate in the paralympic games in 2016.

“This year we have chained programme that will dovetail us to Brazil 2016 Paralympic Games. Right now we are thinking of how we can take our athletes to Hungary later this January.

“After that the major task now is to ensure that our athletes are ready for Power lifting World Championship coming up in Dubai in April.

“So immediately we are back from Hungary this month we’ll be thinking of going into camping at least for two months before we move to that world championship.’’

He said funding was the greatest challenge faced by the federation and appealed to well meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to assist the federation to ensure good preparation.

build-up to the tournament, failing to impress at the WAFU Nations Cup in Ghana and also losing 1-0 to CHAN-bound Libya in a warm-up match played in Casablanca, Morocco, last month.

Nigeria at 2014 CHAN The country’s recently appointed coach Henri Kasperczak will also be in South Africa to lend a helping hand.

Both teams have never met at this stage of this tournament.

But at full international level, they have clashed seven times with the Eagles winning four games, while there have been three draws.

Nigeria prepared for CHAN by playing against several local clubs including champions Kano Pillars before they beat Ethiopia 2-1 in an international friendly in Abuja.

Kaduna Utd Begins Screening For New Players THE Chairman, Kaduna United FC, Alhaji Sabo Babayaro, says the club has commenced screening and training for new players ahead of the Globacom Premier League pre-season tournament.

Babayaro in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna said the exercise was organised to enable the club recruit good players.

“We are about to start the preseason tournament and we will be playing with strong teams like Kano Pillars, Ranchers, Bayelsa United, El-Kanemi and Enyimba.

“So, we have commenced open screening for players at the Murtala Mohammed Square training ground.

“The screening which began

on Wednesday will run till Saturday before we do the closed screening,’’ he said.

Babayaro, who did not disclose the number of players to be recruited, said the preseason competition would be challenging.

He added that his club would train hard to succeed.

Babayaro also said that Kaduna United would make its transfers after the recruitment and would also make necessary changes in the technical crew.

According to him, the club will commence its campaign for the 2013/2014 league as soon as the State House of Assembly approves the state’s proposed 2014 budget.

coming up on the 18th of this month.” Edebiri said.

The final is going to be colourful, and there are many activities on that day, includes award/honour for some ex players and coaches.

Top on the list of coaches is former national team coach Alabi Assien, Coach Willy Bazuaye,Emmanuel Egharevba and the head coach, football, Edo state sports council, Emmanuel Obasuyi aka Shakara.

All the teams in the final will be kitted by the organiser, Edebiri Sports Foundation. “We are happy for what we have achieved with the tournament. “I want to say that this tournament has come to stay, Prince Obaseki Anthony, the media coordinator of the tournament declared. The Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Lady Omorede Osifo will be guest of Honour while, Chief Oyuki Jackson Obaseki former NPL chairman and second vice president of NFF will be

special Guest of Honour.

Others expected at the closing ceremony are some top sports personalities.

Father of the day is royal majesty Omo N Oba N Edo Uku Akpolokpolo OBA EREDIAUWA, Oba of Benin Kingdom. His Excellency Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo state and his Deputy will be special Guests of Honour. Chief Host Chief Dr. Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri, CEO Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri Centre for Change will also grace the occasion.

• Coach Alabi Aisien

Kwara Utd Apologises To Minister, NRA Over Attack On Referee ILORIN - Kwara United FC on Wednesday apologised to the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) over an attack on a match official last season.

The apology is contained in a communique issued in Ilorin on Wednesday and signed by Jimoh Oke, the Communique Drafting Committee Chairman.

It was issued at the end of the club’s stakeholders’ (exchairmen and secretaries) meeting at the swimming pool arena of the Kwara Stadium.

The meeting condemned hooliganism at the stadium and called on stakeholders to end

• Bolaji Abdullahi

it.

It will be recalled that referee Christopher Durunna, from Abia, was attacked in the week 29 duel involving Kwara United and Warri Wolves on August 31, 2013 at the stadium.

It urged fans and supporters, including the management, to cooperate with security agents before, during and after each match.

The communique urged all stakeholders to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship at all times by accepting the result matches.

It emphasised the need for staff of the club to work within their jurisdiction.

The stakeholder commended the state government for the appointment of the current management and passed a vote of confidence on them.

The meeting urged the state government to adequately fund the team, to ensure its quick promotion to the premier league next season.

It was gathered that the meeting was organised to enhance the team’s chances of picking a promotion ticket at the end of the forthcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

CMYK

Gold Diggers On The Prowl

When Lady Joy Ijie ran into trouble with the law a few months ago, she probably thought the gods were against her. But providence intervened and her sad encounter metamorphosed into good fortune. The end part is familiar to many of us-she became a millionaire shortly after. So peculiar is her case that even in churches (I witnessed this during the prayer session that ushered in the 2014 New Year) her case became a serious prayer point that has continued to elicit thunderous ‘hallelujah’. Now every Jack, Jill and Okoro wants to experience her breathrough without breaking a sweat. In truth, nothing is wrong for anyone to be ‘so blessed’ (no apology to my christian brother who employ the spiritual 419 phrase as a tactic to exploit the unsuspecting), except however, that a number of individthals are capitalizing on her experience to blackmail the state government. Just recently, news made the round that Mrs. Oikhena, mother of Daniel, the stow away young man who escaped death by a hair ’s breath when he stunningly rode on the wheel compactment of an Arik aircraft from Benin City, Edo state capital, to Lagos, is running round town with tales of government neglect of her son. The reports have it that she had a meeting with a number of correspondents in the state capital with claims that the state government has reneged on the promise to offer scholarship to her son.

However, upon failing to convince the newsmen, she sought audience with opposition leaders in a desperate attempt to politicize her claims for pecuniary benefits. While the task here is not to question her freedom to meet with or discuss matters she so choose, one must not fail to point out that in an attempt to exercise any such rights, care must be taken to ensure that truth is not

situated on its head.

That is the thrust of this piece. Let me begin by considering reports about her comments on the encounter between Oshiomhole and Mrs Ifijeh, the widow given some money by Edo state

schools in Benin City even though initial evaluation carried out on him indicated that he is intelligent, he lacked the requisite academic qualification or inclination to be there. To prop him up, the state government added the

did not want him to share in the notorious limelight that greeted the young man’s misadventure. Of course, the state cannot afford to have its future leaders reduced to deviants by allowing them to be guided under such a background. In

benefit and services of a qualified psychologist having realized that his desperate conduct is as a result of stark deficiency in terms of parental care particularly as investigations not only revealed that he is from a broken home but also because his mother has no life supporting or sustaining values to inculcate in him, judging from her serial false claims, among which is her lie that her husband was bedridden just because she

other words, the government offered scholarship to the youngman first, to steer him him away from harm’s way and offer him a life time opportunity to do something good with his life when it became obvious that leaving him to be guided by the whims and caprices of the broken home he came from was nothing but an open invitation to a preventable future disaster. As we speak, the boy is still a student of

• Governor Adams Oshiomhole

Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, following an earlier incident that drew genuine people’s ire. If they are anything to go by, it is obvious that rather than a genuine concern for her son’s welfare, Mrs Oikhena’s real intention is more of what she wants to collect from the state government.

She is wondering out loudly that if the widow could be compensated by the governor, she also deserves some. Gladly, opposition elements have, so far, ignored her having obvious adjudged her as inordinately intended.

For the avoidance of doubt, the rumour of reneged promises being peddled by Mrs. Oikhena is certainly not true. In the first instance, the young man is a student of Edo College, one of the best public

By ERNEST OMOARELOJIE Edo College, sponsored by the state government.

Certainly, that is not a promise reneged?

If Mrs. Oikhena is sincere with herself, she should be gracious enough to realize that she ought to have been answering real questions concerning her role in her son’s outrageous misconduct.

That obviously explains why some observers are miffed that she was not questioned for her inability to act as a genuine parent by responsibly monitoring and guiding her son’s conduct prior to the regretably bizzare incident that brought him ignoble global attention.

For them, rather than the iconic and cult image adulation that greeted his risky journey, the young man ought to have been taken straight to a remand home for compromising public safety. Taking such action, they reasoned quite rationally, will, at least, send the message that escaping from economic hardship, as some would have us believe, does not grant to anyone the right to put other people’s life in danger.

Certainly, our laws do not allow that.

For the avoidance of doubt, the seriousness of his action would, by now, have sunk into our tragic consciousness if we had taken the pain to seriously appreciate the fact it could have resulted in the crash of the aircraft and inevitable loss of tens of innocent lives.

It probably would have sunk in faster if any of those precious lives belonged to our loved ones. While thanking God that it did not happen, one cannot but state here that such a worse case reality would certainly have been enough for every right thinking individual and

or group, including Mrs. Oikhena, to pray more for the complete rehabilitation of the like of Daniel whom she failed to guid well. Does she now want to be compensated for failing her son, herself as a true mother or even the larger society which her failure put at risk?

Certainly, that can only be an abuse of goodwill.

Giving the magnitude of what Daniel did and the unusual but commendable rehabilitation benevolence of the state government, it is indeed very difficult to understand why rather than quietly resort to prayers for her son’s complete transformation from being an impudent rascal into a sane realist, Mrs. Oikhena is striving to enarmour his misdemeamor by having him celebrated and or rewarded as the case has been but that she must also be paid, perhaps for her disservice to humanity. That cannot be encouraged by any reasonable government, individual or group. Certainly, even by the standard of the rabble loving opposition in the state, it still cannot be tolerated hence they have not shown any inclination so far to be so irresponsibly identified.

What remains to be done is that Nigerians should rise above sentiments and prevail on Mrs. Oikhena to think more about how to be a real mother known more for inculcating responsible and worthy societal values on her children rather than being one with an uncanny penchant for attempting to reap where she did not sow.

For all intents and purposes, she appears, for now, to be a gold digger on the loose, who must be avoided.

Certainly, that is not a good of a genuine mother worth her name.

“Giving the magnitude of what Daniel did and the unusual but commendable rehabilitation benevolence of the state government, it is indeed very difficult to understand why rather than quietly resort to prayers for her son’s complete transformation from being an impudent rascal into a sane realist, Mrs. Oikhena is striving to enarmour his misdemeamor by having him celebrated and or rewarded as the case has been but that she must also be paid, perhaps for her disservice to humanity. That cannot be encouraged by any reasonable government, individual or group.

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