Nigerian observer 13 06 2013

THE

NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

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PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 VIEW POINT Page 21 Keeping guns away from children

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

• Vol. 37 NO.253 • THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013 • N100.00

Killing of UNIBEN student

CSOs urge Oshiomhole not to halt probe

By OSAZUWA AKONEDO BENIN CITY - Civil Society Organizations in

Edo State have called on the Edo State

Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole not to

halt his earlier plan of setting up panel of enquiry into the killing of the University of

Continues on page 2

Grounding Of Oshiomhole’s Copter/Aviation Safety

MAN AND NATURE Page 27

The visiting of sins unto third and fourth generation

Sack Aviation chiefs,

By LEO ATAKPU/TUNDE EIGBIREMOLEN

BENIN CITY - The achievements of Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, would have been impossible without a progressively –minded House of Assembly, the majority leader, Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Hon. Philip Shaibu has said, even as he called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the nation’s Aviation Chiefs over poor handling of the sector.

Why we formed APC - Oshiomhole

By EUBALDUS ENAHORO BENIN CITY - Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams

STOP OIL BUNKERING

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· · · · · ·

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

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

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

All vehicles and equipment used will be burnt.

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

Join Government to rid the State of enemies of progress.

Edo State must continue to move forward.

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

Oshiomhole says the Action Congress of Nigeria and other opposition parties came together to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) to enable Nigerians have a robust choice from which to choose in the governance and development of the country.

Speaking yesterday in Benin City, Oshiomhole said: “If a democracy is not capable of bringing a change of parties that can form government at all levels that democracy is not on course.”

According to him, “the good news is that in our neighbouring countries they have shown that it is

Edo Majority Leader urges Jonathan

Hon. Shaibu representing Etsako West Constituency 11 in the Edo State House of Assembly, made the assertion, yesterday, in an exclusive interview with a team of OBSERVER editors on the 2nd anniversary of the 5th Assembly.

According to him, the recent grounding of the chartered helicopter of the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole by Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has made it imperative that the sector be overhauled.

He said that beyond the Oshiomhole experience with NAMA officials, the Nigerian Airspace was unsafe, and gave several instances and experiences, both personal and those of others who were rescued by divine intervention

arising from negligence and incompetence of officials of NAMA and those of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Hon. Shaibu called for a total overhaul of the Aviation sector and sack of the

Continues on page 2

FIRE: Part of the buildings in the Edo State Ministry of Higher Education gutted by fire in the early

possible for a Continues on page 2 hours of yesterday. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

Fire razes Education Ministry . Govt to set up commission of enquiry

By ANDY EGBON/ EUBALDUS ENAHORO BENIN CITY - The Exams and Records Section of the Edo State Ministry of Higher Education, Iyaro, Benin City has been gutted by fire leaving in its trait, destruction of vital documents, including sensitive materials and academic records of over sixty years.

The sensitive materials included certificates of

public primary and secondary schools dating back to the era of Midwest State and materials for the conduct of the Junior Secondary School

Examination which was due to commence yesterday.

The building complex which was gutted by fire also houses the

Science Vocation and Technical Education section.

Though the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as at press

time, an eye witness and youth leader in the area, Mr. Ighodaro Nosa Patrick told newsmen that the fire was noticed

Continues on page 2

June 12, a unique day - Jonathan ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described June 12 as “a unique day that has changed the political history’’ of the country.

The president made the

remarks at the inauguration of the Board of the Police Service Commission held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Today is also a unique day, June 12, a date that has changed the political history of this country in one way or the other.

“In some parts of the

country, some state governments have declared public holiday to mark today, but at the centre, it has not been

Continues on page 2

THE

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

News Fire razes Education Ministry Continued from page 1

at about 5am at the Exams and Records building.

He said he mobilized other youths and made calls to the state fire service to alert the service of the incident.

The state Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and tertiary Institutions, Barrister.

Washington Osifo who was one of the early callers at the scene of the fire incident said the properties destroyed can not be quantified in monetary terms.

According to him, with the destruction “these is a disconnect now… I’m sad, Edo people are sad”.

He described as ‘Colosal and irredeemable loss’ the property destroyed, saying. “we will get to the root, we pray it never happens again”.

It is human to lament, we must take further steps to avoid a repeat”, he added.

The commissioner further disclosed that “panel of Inquiry would be set up with a mandate to find out the immediate and remote causes, why it started, and where it started from”.

The Public Relations officer of the state fire Service, Mr. Franklyn Agbonlahor said he was alerted of the fire incidence by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry at about 6am.

Consequently, he said officers of the service immediately swung into action by calling on the fire service of the Nigerian Airforce and the Army School of Supply and Transport to complement their effort in putting out the fire.

As at press time, the fire vehicles of School of Supply and Transport were still stationed at the premises of the Ministry of Higher Education. Contacted on

telephone over the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination which was scheduled to begin yesterday, the State Commissioner for Basic Education, Hon. Patrick Aguined said the state executive council would make a statement on the fate of the students who were to write the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government will set up a commission of enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the razing of the state Ministry of Higher Education, Benin City.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State disclosed this yesterday when he paid an on the spot assessment of the extent of the inferno.

Continued from page 1

dastardly act. It is very unfortunate,” He added that the inferno should be properly put out, noting, “I think the one lesson we should learn from this is that we should not keep important documents in a storey building,” Briefing the Governor earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Mrs. Gladys Idahor said only one security guard was at his duty post instead of two.

According to the Permanent Secretary,” the security guard said he observed smoke coming from one side of the building and he rushed to invite people to assist in putting out the fire. The fire brigade was invited and they have done their best to put out the fire”.

Why we formed APC Continued from page 1 government to recognise the ultimate right of the people to determine who governs them.

They have been able to have different parties at different time, forming the federal and other levels of government.”

The governor who disclosed this when members of the Igbo Community Union in the state paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Benin City said, “Nigeria cannot continue to play leadership of the African continent if we don’t get our politics right and it is also the business of those in the other parties to recognise that when we pull resources together it is better to be a small fish in a big pond than to be a big fish in a small pond in which you cannot

Sack Aviation chiefs Heads of both NAMA and FAAN, to ensure Air safety.

The lawmaker, who spoke extensively on a range of issues bordering on legislative/ Executive interface in Edo State, the ban on commercial motorcyclists in the state, the land use charge law 2012, and oversight functions of the legislature, among others vehemently insisted that the state Assembly, like the Comrade Governor himself, is development driven and focused on putting Edo State on the path of self-sustenance.

The majority leader who rated the Assembly very high in terms of legislative activities said: “we have done greatly, we thank God for sparing our lives and giving us the strength and wisdom to get to this level of development, especially in the entire state, because without a progressive Assembly like ours, definitely development would not be possible.

“Everybody in Nigeria and indeed, the whole world has acclaimed that this (Oshiomhole) government is a successful one with a clear vision. Obviously without the House of Assembly, those accolades being given to the Executive wouldn’t have been complete. We have a legislative House in the 5th Assembly that is progressively-minded and development-driven. Both Executive and legislature have a common vision, which is the propelling force” On oversight functions, Hon. Shaibu deposed: “we are proactive, always there at the right time; you can see that from the most recent which is the

According to the Governor, “it seems to me that there might be a case of arson. Somebody must have chosen for one reason or the other to destroy some documents for whatever purpose for which we don’t readily know.

“If there was no light at the material time, then the question of possible electrical fault does not arise and it is possible that somebody had planted something, maybe to burn the place to destroy some evidence or something.”

Oshiomhole added, “I think the thing to do is to set an enquiry to establish what went wrong, at least to prevent further occurrence and to find out those who might be behind the

dissolution of the Edo State Basic Education Board (SUBEB), it was a function of our oversight duties. We discovered that money meant for staff were used for the purpose other than that for which it was appropriated in the budget. No money was stolen though, but in terms of legislative oversight, for you to spend such monies, you need proper virement, it must be approved. I think we have done well in that aspect”.

As for roads construction and schools being erected everywhere across the three Senatorial districts of the state, the lawmaker maintained that the various committees were always on the spot to monitor, verify and assess them, to ensure that the funds appropriated were actually being used and the projects carried out according to executive specifications, as provided for in the budget and the contracts signed.

Speaking on June 12, he asserted that it was more fitting as Democracy day rather than the May 29 date, noting that the struggles of democracy as symbolized by the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which the late chief M.K.O Abiola was acknowledged to have won, made the June 12 date more symbolic and significant.

Hon. Shaibu however, based the decision of the state government to ban commercial motorcyclists (Okada) on the security situation in the state.

Details of the anniversary chat will be published next week.

even swim. I am hopeful that all of us will continue to commit ourselves to democracy and in all recognise that power without purposes is meaningless.

“We must see politic on the basis of commitment to use political power and allocate resources in such a way that it is pro-people, pro-development, pro-employment, and prowelfare. The statistics that government rolls out not just for the fun of it are statistics that actually reflect on the quality of life of the man on the street,” he added.

The Governor disclosed that, “In Edo State, we try everyday not to celebrate abstract achievements. When we say we have delivered, it is something the people can witness.”

On the request of the Igbo Community for a reduction in the hours of market sanitation exercise from 7am to 12noon to 7am to 10am on Mondays, Oshiomhole said, “I am persuaded by your argument that we do not need to shut down the commercial life of the city five hours on Mondays. If you take the environmental sanitation

seriously between 7am and 10am and three hours of hard work is enough to clean up the market. The whole idea is not , to cripple business, it is to make the market clean enough that even the middle class people will like to go there, if the place looks dirty the middle class and upper class people who have the resources will not want to go there.

“I want to appeal to you to continue to encourage your members to pay attention to waste management. As soon as waste is generated ensure that they are properly cleaned up,” he advised.

The governor also approved the request by the Igbo Community to appoint additional fifty one persons to the forty nine Igbo indigenes in the Edo Youth Employment Scheme, Edo YES to show that no one is regarded as settlers in the state and no one should be discriminated against.

While responding to the words of appreciation on his assistance towards sending a young Ibo girl to the United States to fix her leg limb, Comrade Oshiomhole said it was God that did it.

June 12, a unique day Continued from page 1 formally recognised as a public holiday.

“We appreciate what happened on this day that you are being inaugurated, I think it is a unique date,’’ he said.

The resident made the short remarks before he gave his charge to the board chaired by former InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Mike Okiro.

It will be recalled that precisely 20 years ago, June

12, 1993, a presidential election was held in the country in which Late Chief Moshood Abiola was believed to be the winner.

The former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the election which was adjudged by local and international observers to be the freest and fairest.

The annulment of the election led to crisis and outrage as well as the arrest and incarceration of Abiola, who died in detention on July 8, 1998.

Etsako East Chairman urges mothers to use health facilities OKPELLA - The Executive Chairman, Etsako East local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua has called on mothers and care-givers to visit the health facilities and outreaches in the local government area.

He stated this in Okpella on Friday during the flag-off ceremony of the first round of Maternal, Newborn and child Health week. 2013.

Hon. Afegbua said that programme it is fully loaded with interventions such as immunization of children 0-1 months, Health education on breast feeding, HIV/AIDS transmission, birth registration, nutrition and ante-natal services.

While thanking the people of Etsako East for electing him to serve them as council chairman, Hon. Afegbua assured the people of improved health standard and services.

He maintained that as part of his administrations commitment to the health needs of the people, the purchase of medical facilities and furniture for Ogiriga and Agiere Health Centre have been approved.

He added that efforts have been put in place to embark on massive construction and renovation of health centres and completion of ongoing

projects across the local government.

Earlier, the Director of the Primary Health Care (PHC) in the area, Dr. Sunday Yerumoh said that the health care system is designed to serve the people.

He said that health centres are meant for women, children and the sick, stressing that immunization is free.

He highlighted the benefits of immunization, adding that it prevents children mortality.

Dr. Yeromoh also stressed the need for pregnant women to patronize the health centres which according to him have professional health workers.

Some of the participants who spoke with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER expressed joy over government concern for people in rural areas and promised to utilize the opportunity afforded them.

They described Hon. Afegbua’s victory as heart warming, adding that the dividends of democracy are being felt.

The occasion which attracted both the executive, legislative, top council officials and traditional rulers featured traditional music and dances.

CSOs urge Oshiomhole not to Continued from page 1 halt probe Benin Student, Ibrahim Momodu allegedly by the police.

The civil Society Organisations made of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, National Association of Nigerian Students,(NANS) National Association of Polytechnic Students, Conference of NonGovernmental Organization of Nigeria councils, Pan Nigeria Youth Congress, Southern Nigeria Youth Congress, National Farmers Initiative Association of Nigeria, Edo Citizen Speak Initiative, Gani Fawehinmi Movement for Good Governance, Niger-Delta People Salvation Front, National Association of Man ‘O’ War Clubs in Higher Institutions of Nigeria, The Talakwa’s Parliament, Edo Youth for Good Governance, Initiative for Youth Awareness On Migration, Immigration, Development and Re-integration, Edo Youth Activists Association, R.U. Oronsaye Foundation, Edo Youth Congress and the lawyer to the bereaved family, Barrister Jefferson Uwoghiren issued this statement at the end of a meeting held yesterday at ANEEJ secretariat in Benin city.

The group in a communiqué issued shortly after the meeting

and read by the President of Conference of NonGovernmental Organization of Nigeria, Comrade Obasanmi Jude said the Edo State Government should not go back on its decision of setting up the panel of enquiry and ensured that forensic experts should be invited to ascertain the finger prints on the gun.

Also, the group said the call is imperative for the state government to set up the investigative panel in order to establish the actual truth about the killing of the UNIBEN student and for it not to be swept under the carpet and urged the Nigerian Police authority to retrieve the case file sent to the State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP for advice and follow due process.

The group said that they observed that against the police claim that the student was shot in the legs, autopsy report released has proven that the student was shot three times from the back and that going by the antecedent of the Nigerian Police with handling of case files, the authenticity of the case file sent to the DPP is questionable.

Provide relief materials to storm victims,

By KEN ABU/WINIFRED OSASOBO BENIN CITY- The Edo State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution urging the Chairman of Igueben Local Government Council to as a matter of urgency provide palliatives for the rainstorm victims of Ugun Community in Igueben Local Government Area of the state.

The adoption of the resolution is a follow up to the Matter of Urgent Public importance raised by Hon Kingsley Ehigiamusor on the devastation occasioned by rainstorm in Ugun community, (ward 8)in the Local Government Area.

Deputy Speaker, the EDHA urges Council boss the majority leader, Hon. Philip

According to Hon. Ehigiamusor, the recent rainstorm in the community rendered many people homeless as the poles supplying electricity to the community have been destroyed, invariably posing electrocution threat to lives.

Hon. Ehigiamusor further revealed that the people of Ugun community who are mainly farmers have been displaced temporality from their settlements.

He therefore urged the parliament to intervene in getting the attention of the relevant government

agencies to provide palliatives for the victims.

Contributing, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Festus Ebea expressed sympathy with the people while calling on PHCN to clear the blown-off electricity poles so as not to cause electrocution of persons in the locality.

He urged government agencies such as NEMA, SEMA, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and Local Government to immediately provide palliative for the rainstorm victims.

Aligning with the views of

Shaibu while empathizing with the victims of the rainstorm disaster mandated the chairman of the Igueben local government to provide palliatives and relief materials to the victims who are in dire need of succour.

Parliament during plenary session resolved that while the chairman of Igueben local government council should urgently provide palliatives to the Ugun rainstorm victims, all other relevant agencies of government including NEMA, SEMA and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development should provide relief materials.

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Inside Edo CPC Stalwart Assures OBSERVER NUJ Of Support

By RICHARD EWEKA

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, shows his basketball skills during a visit of Access to Success, a US group who are in Benin to coach youths on the basics of the basketball game, recently. 2nd left is Mr. Andrew Akhuemokhan, President of the group Morgan Clark, Co-ordinator, Pastor Benjamin Akhuemokhan, Ehizojie Ighodaro and William Roberson.

BENIN CITY – The Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Edo State chapter, Mr. Godwin Erahon has pledged his support to join hands with the new executive of Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) OBSERVER Chapel to build a befitting secretariat for the chapel.

He made the pledge while receiving members of the OBSERVER Chapel of the Union during a courtesy call in his office in Benin City recently.

Godwin Erhahon who was the former chairman of NUJ, Edo State Council, Assembly correspondent and chairman observer chapel said, “I will support the building of your

Community Parades Man for Incest

By MORRISON HAYBE IYAKPI SOUTH-IBIE- A 35 year old man and father of six who has been standing before Elders disciplinary Committee at Iyakpi, SouthIbie for abominable act of sleeping with his own daughter was paraded round the community amid huge crowd of inquisitive but stunned on-lookers.

The man who gave his name as Godwin Omoike and hail from Uzea in Esan North East Local Government Area of the state admitted committing incest with his daughter, saying he did not know how he found himself on top of her adding that he decided thereafter to fast and pray over it for God’s forgiveness.

Daughter of Godwin and victim of the sexual abuse Rosemary Omoike, 18 and a JSS 111 Student according to South-Ibie Vigilante Chairman had ran to the outfit asking to be rescued from her father who she alleged made love to her severally.

The Vigilante Chairman.

Comrade Relwan Yakubu disclosed that the incident began in 2012 when father of the victim tried to confuse up the issue by giving false information that a friend impregnated his daughter, an attempt he noted, was designed to hide the truth.

The dramatic twist to the issue he explained was however laid to rest when the girl in question came up by herself to report the matter to the Vigilante when the father continued the act without restraint reveal that her father had earlier compelled her to lie against his friend over the pregnancy allegation.

Yakubu explained that the decision to parade the culprit was taken by the palace of the Aidenogie of South-Ibie and elders so as to appease the gods of the land of the evil act emphasizing that he would be banished from the community after wards.

Reactions trailing the ugly incident condemned it as ignoble and most horrible act.

The new Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. David Paradang (middle), being congratulated by Officers and men of the Service after his decoration in Abuja recently.

Gully Erosion: Residents Appeal For Assistance

By MORRISON HAYBE

AUCHI - Residents of Omokhudu street, Auchi overwhelmed by anxiety and panic following the emergence of yet another gully menace in the area have sent a Save Our Souls plea to the authorities for bail out of the danger before it gets out of hand.

Oredo Constructs Access Road To Ogiza Community BENIN CITY – As part of his efforts at fulfilling his electioneering promises, the Oredo Local Government Council chairman, Hon. Osaro Obazee has visited Ogiza Community in Ward 2 of the local government area. The visit was to access the level of work to be done in creating access road to the community.

The chairman who was represented by the councelor representing ward 2, Hon. Margaret Ebohon visited the community with the Odionwere, Pa Samuel Egharevba.

The representative of the council boss who described Hon. Obazee as honest and God fearing man said the Chairman

secretariat from start to finish.

In fact, I will donate all the blocks needed to finish the building no matter the size. I will also meet with friends to make donations for the completion of the building. It is not going to be just any building but a fine design of a duplex with the best facility for relaxation.

“I will gladly contribute and do my best to ensure that the building is a magnificent edifice, what we could not do 30 years ago when I was there as chairman of the chapel. The building has to be unique to reduce the load of the newsroom. The building should have recreation center, mini hall, library”.

Erhahon said that OBSERVER has made great impact in the life of the nation and the economic development as well, but reverse is the case today. He called on the government to patronize the Observer as this is the only way to make the paper relevant once again. “ Observer laid the major foundation of my life, its my spring board and I thank those who made it possible.

Earlier, the Chairman of the OBSERVER chapel of NUJ, Comrade Kehinde Osagiede had intimated the CPC Chairman on the vision, mission and plea of the executive of OBSERVER Chapel and solicited for his support in achieving it. “We are here to introduce our executive to you and intimate you with our programmes which include a bus for the union, a secretariat, training and retraining to build the capacity of the members, welfare of the members”.

has promised to do his best to ensure that all his electioneering promises to the people are fulfilled.

The Odionwere of Ogiza Community, who commended the council boss for living up to his responsibilities and promised to work with the council at ensuring that all things are in good shape.

The presence of the erosion gully with its severe damage to the alternative route to Upper Garage axis of the town is causing serious concern as many buildings including the Area Customary Court and a private school located on the street might sooner or later be washed away if timely step is not taken to address it.

The residents fear that the gully which is still in its secondary stage would certainly worsen as occurred in other parts of the town and sack them from the area especially with the continuing rains and pleaded for urgent intervention.

A resident of the street, Madam Juliet Umoru told The NIGERIAN OBSERVER that they had become

apprehensive of the grave implications of the emerging gully which had already disconnected vehicular traffic from the road.

She explained that the sign of rainfall often signaled heart break and panic for the residents as they remained at alert and awake at night in the event of danger and appealed for timely intervention.

Reacting to the outcry, Executive Chairman Etsako West Barr. Hassan Kadiri acknowledged the dilapidated state of the road and the erosion gully threatening the residents assuring that the problem was on the priority list of the council’s development programme soon to commence in few weeks.

Kadiri explained that contract for rehabilitation of the road was “about now to be awarded” which according to him, would take care of the gully menace.

In a few weeks from now, contract will be awarded to construct the road and in constructing the road, the gully will be taken care of.

Right now, they are working on the Bill of Quantity,” the council boss assured.

In the meantime, the unrestrained ecological disaster in parts of Auchi metropolis occasioned by ravaging gullies had already consumed a couple of Houses where many residents had been rendered homeless and leaving scores of others fleeing their homes as the danger of massive landslides continue to advance.

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Across The Nation Reps Want Retention Of 2 Terms System ILORIN - The House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitution Review has called for the retention of the four-year two terms for the President, Vice-President and state governors and their deputies.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Malam Zakari Mohammed, disclosed this to newsmen in Ilorin on Tuesday.

Reports say that this is different from the Senate committee’s position on the constitution review, which is a six-year single term for the four political offices.

Mohammed said the House’s position on the issue was the true reflection of the vast majority of the people.

He advised Nigerians not to believe that the Senate committee’s recommendation came from all members of the National Assembly.

“We are bringing out our

own report soon. In the report, we have retained the structure of two four-year terms as it is in the Constitution.

“When we present our report, of course there will be conference committees between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“If they don’t agree, there will be a conference and it is about 360 members of the House of Representatives and 109 Senators. At the end of the day the position of the House would be the law.

“We (the House) went down to Nigerians, who are in the 360 federal constituencies.

Many people in the 360 constituencies wanted a retention of the two four-year terms as enshrined in the Constitution.

“That is the judgment which we brought from the people, because our own Constitution review was people based and it was an opportunity to interface with our people.

Minister Canvasses Autonomy For Local Govt

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) with members of the National Space Council after their inauguration at the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently.

The Apostolic Church Area Women Convention Begins Tomorrow BENIN CITY –The 32nd Annual Area Women’s Movement Convention of The Apostolic Church, Benin Area, (LAWNA Territion).

Nigeria will begin tomorrow Friday June 14, 2013.

The event which would hold at The Apostolic Church, No 37Aruosa Street, off Sakpoba Road Benin City is expected to end on Sunday June 16, 2013.

With the theme; “The Responsibilities of a Virtuous Woman (Ruth 2:2)”,the convention would feature sermons by the Benin City Area Superintendent, Pastor

E.E. Okobosi Pastor I.A. Oriyomi, Deaconess J.M. Sanni; Pastor E.E. Orok, Pastor J.A.Ayoola and Pastor I.O.Anjoorin.

Topics for discussion include “The Meaning of Responsibilities” “Women as Builders of Home” “The LAWNA Territional Chairman/President, TAC Nigeria, Pastor (Dr.) G.O. Olutola is expected to deliver the goodwill message at the occasion.

Participants at the convention would be drawn from New Benin, Ologbo, Agbor, Etete Uwan-NIFOR and Iguobazuwa districts.

A seized truck load of frozen Turkey being crushed in Ibadan recently.

APC Registration Transparent ABUJA - The Chairman, All Progressive Change (APC) Merger Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi, has said that the political association has ensured transparency at every stage of its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ikimi made the statement when he addressed newsmen after the merger committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

“We will therefore strive to guarantee transparency and internal party democracy, particularly at the stage of registration.

“We expect all of us involved in the process to also subscribe to, and respect these fundamental principles,” he said.

The chairman said that the final document for the registration of the association as a political party was submitted on Friday.

“The final document for registration in accordance with INEC regulations has to be signed by the National Chairman, National Secretary and National Treasurer of each of the merging parties, “he said.

According to him, everyone who is committed to this new platform of change in Nigeria

must be prepared to make the necessary sacrifice.

Ikimi said that the merger committee had worked assiduously for more than four months.

The committee had achieved remarkable progress toward the merger of Action Congress of

- Ikimi

Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party, Congress for Progressive Change, sections of All Progressive Grand Alliance and Democratic

Peoples Party to form APC. “We were able to conclude work amicably on the choice of name, logo, slogan, symbol, constitution and manifesto.

“The merging political parties held hitch free

conventions in Lagos, Abuja and Gusau,” he said.

He said that the political association could not form its interim management due to some unresolved issues, adding that the members wanted to further consult their respective parties.

ITF Begins Nat’l Industrial Skills Dev Programme

BENIN CITY- The Benin Area Office of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has commenced its chapter National Industrial Skills Development programme (NISDP) for 580 unemployed youths of between 15 and 35 years old.

The programme is part of ITF’s mandate and policy directive from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) designed to fast track the achievement of the National Industrial Revolution of the federal government.

It featured capacity building in the areas of pastry, autotronics, ICT repairs and maintenance.

The programme goal is to turn

Nigeria’s quantitative human and physical resource advantage to productive advantage.

It is also geared towards minimizing youth restiveness in the society through the provision of gainful self employment as well as guarantee the speedy attainment of the country’s quest to achieving the vision 20:20:20.

The Director General and Chief Executive officer of ITF, Professor Longmas Sambo Wapmuk said the trust of the programme was to shore up the skills shortages by building capacity of the youth so as to be self employed or employed by others.

According to Professor Wapmuk who was represented by the Benin Area Manager of ITF, Mr. Yinka Fabayo, “One thing is for

government to build facilities and another is to build capacity.”

He disclosed that is partners in the implementation of the NISDP, the Bank of IIndustry (BOI) is to help provide graduates of the programme access to start-up loan facilities while the Small and Meduim Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is to provide the graduates the entrepreneurship development and training skills.

Guest speaker at the occasion and Permanent Secretary Edo State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ms Osayuware Idahosa who

represented the Commissioner lauded the choice of the state for the programme.

She commended the efforts of ITF, SMEDAN and BOI for their huge human and material resources committed to ensuring the success of the programme.

While imploring stakeholders to join hands to ensure that graduates of the programme are gainfully employed or assisted to set up their own businesses, she noted that government investment in skills acquisition would reduce the nations dependence on crude oil.

She expressed the state government’s williness to partner ITF through all the processes, with a view to making the determined youth, self employed after the training.

ABUJA - The Minister of State for FCT, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, has canvassed autonomy for local governments in the country.

Akinjide spoke when the leadership of the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), visited her in her office.

She said the time had come for local governments to be autonomous, adding that in the FCT, “ we are passionate about local government autonomy’’.

“We are working assiduously to ensure that the FCT proves that local government autonomy is a desirable goal in Nigeria.”

Akinjide recalled that when the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review recommendation autonomy for local governments it elicited mixed reactions from stakeholders.

The minister reiterated the need for area council chairmen to collaborate with the FCT administration to fast-track development in the territory.

“The FCT administration remains committed to serving the residents and Nigerians by ensuring balance growth and quality service delivery throughout the territory,” Akinjide said.

She said the administration was currently developing standards in primary healthcare and education in the six area councils, while infrastructure and facility audit were being conducted in the area councils and satellite towns.

“The ongoing audit will enable the administration to have firsthand information on the infrastructure facilities, amenities available, level of utilisation and challenges.

“It will also identify service gaps in the areas of agriculture, education, health, transport, water and sanitation,” she said.

Earlier in his address, the FCT NULGE President, Mr Abubakar Yakubu, had commended the FCT administration and the area councils for the transparent way the Joint Account Allocation Committee was carrying out its job.

“We commend the FCT Administration for properly coordinating the activities of the area councils and for ensuring that no illegal deductions are made from the statutory allocations of the councils.

“We also commend the administration for coordinating the activities of the Satellite Towns Development Agency and for making it possible for employees of the area councils to benefit from the Health Insurance Scheme.’’

He called for the inclusion of a representative of NULGE on the board of the Area Council Service Commission as provided in the Statute establishing the Commission.

The president solicited the minister’s intervention in the payment of 20 per cent monetisation arrears to employees of the area councils and for the release of their 2011/2012 promotion.

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South South Ikwerre Nation Pledges Support For PORT-HARCOURT - The Amaechi Ikwerre people unreservedly people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality of Rivers State have pledged their support for the Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

In a 10-point communiqué at the end of a one-day summit in Port Harcourt, the Ikwerre ethnic nationality in their large numbers including first-class chiefs and traditional rulers, Ogbakor Ikwerre cultural organization worldwide, opinion leaders, the clergy and the youth, stated their resolve to support Governor Amaechi as he faces his current travails.

They condemned the unjustified attacks and campaign of calumny against the Rivers State Governor and said they are proud of Amaechi’s impressive performance in the state since he became governor in 2007.

The communiqué read by the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre worldwide at the Government House main gate, Port Harcourt, was signed by Augustine Onyeozu, President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre worldwide, Chief Andrew Uchendu of the House of

Delta Seals 19 Illegal Hospitals ASABA - The Delta Ministry of Health says it sealed 19 illegal private hospitals in the Delta North Senatorial District.

Dr Daniel Omodon, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Asaba.

Omodon said that the closure was aimed at improving the quality of healthcare delivery in the state.

He said that the exercise would continue next week in Delta Central and Delta South Senatorial Districts.

Omodon added that the exercise was being sponsored by the state chapter of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

“The essence is to check quacks in the profession because if we allow them, the tendency is that the volume of deaths will increase.

“People who visit such places will not get the right treatment and materials, so primarily we want to ensure that people get the right services,’’ he said.

He noted that some of the illegal outfits obtained registration forms since 2011 but never completed the registration exercise till date.

He, however, said that some of the sealed hospitals would be reopened when they complete the registration exercise.

Omodon lauded the government for its routine immunisation exercise, free maternal health care and treatment for children under the age of five and its rural health scheme.

According to him, all the healthcare programmes are geared toward reducing the financial burden of the people in the state.

Representatives and HRM Eze (Dr) Frank Eke, Eze Oha Evo, Eze Gbakagbaka and former Deputy Governor of old Rivers State.

It said: “We condemn in unequivocal terms the unwarranted attacks and campaign of calumny by fifth columnists against the Governor of Rivers State. The Ikwerre people continue to appreciate the support and loyalty that the ethnic groups in Rivers State have continued to give to the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. We are very proud of the impressive performance of the Governor of Rivers State since his assumption of the office in 2007, especially in the conspicuous presence of basic infrastructure in all the nooks and crannies of the State”.

“We endorse fully the open letter written to Mr. President by Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide requesting Mr. President to direct Security Operatives to stop the underserved embarrassment being meted to the Governor.

His Excellency the Governor of Rivers State has every right as any other Nigerian to freedom of association and liberty as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). We call on all true sons and daughters of Ikwerreland to rally round the Governor of Rivers State in the odious task of running the affairs of the state”.

“We congratulate the Governor of Rivers State on his victory at the recently concluded election as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum”.

Pledging their steadfast loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan, the people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality recalled that they gave almost one million votes to President Jonathan in the 2011 Presidential Poll.

“With almost one million votes cast for the President during the 2011 Presidential election, the

pledged their loyalty and support to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodtuck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, which loyalty and support have continued till this day. We urge the Governor of the State to respond promptly to any invitation by Mr. President on any matter whatsoever for the resolution of any misunderstanding”.

They appealed to the state police command to ensure that the security of lives and property in the state is guaranteed.

Responding on behalf of the governor, the secretary to the state government, Mr. George Feyii, thanked them for peacefully conducting themselves. He said the Amaechi administration is ever committed to the development of the state.

He assured that Governor Amaechi would give all support to the police and other security agencies to protect the lives and property of the people of the state.

L-R:Chairman, Technical Investigative Panel on system collapse, Mr. Fatai Olapade, Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zanab Kuchi and the Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, at the inauguration of the members of Technical Investigative Panel on System Collapse in Abuja recently.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo (sitting middle), Minister of State, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi (sitting Right) and newly inaugurated Technical members of Investigative Panel on System Collapse in Abuja recently.

Deltans Urged To Support Uduaghan’s Vision

Delta Without Oil:

By OSAHON JULIUS EFFURUN (DELTA STATE) - The traditional ruler of UVWIE Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, has called on Deltans both at home and in the diaspora to support the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan vision of building a Delta State not dependent on oil revenue.

Abe 1, made the call in his palace in Effurun when he played host to the Board Members of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) who were on a courtesy visit yesterday, saying that there is an urgent need for the people of the state to key into the vision.

While pledging total support for Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan administration particularly, his desire to lay a solid foundation for revenue derivable from other avenues, the Monarch, said that going by the discovery that oil is a perishable natural resources, it was a wise decision taken by this administration to diversify.

“When you mention Delta State Beyond Oil, which is very good and I think these are the areas we left or never thought of when oil boom started. We neglected agriculture and some of the things we supposed to use for revenue generation. It is not only in Delta State but all over the country. But now that we are thinking better because oil can dry up one day which we don’t pray for but it will happen. Delta State Beyond Oil is a welcomed venture, a welcome project. And I think we will all support and make sure that our people benefit.”

“The other area which I would like also to mention is accountability. Yes, we are ready to ensure that taxes are paid, but there are certain infrastructures to be in place to reflect our contribution. Such things like security, light, roads, hospitals, these are areas the common man will benefit immensely without stress which you know very well.

Now that your company is

growing, remember us when you are employing. We will continue to give you our support,” the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom posited.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas who led other members of the Board on the courtesy visit, expressed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s appreciation to the Monarch for helping to keep the peace in Uvwie Local Government.

He said the peace being enjoyed in Uvwie and the state in general has contributed to the geometric leap from 1.2 Billion Naira when they started to its present state of 5.74 Billion Naira monthly.

Hon. Joel-Onowakpo said, “Your Royal Majesty, I wish to express His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghna’s appreciation to you for keeping the peace that

is sustaining development in this kingdom. And I can say that some years ago, Uvwie wasn’t like this with regards to to the peace we enjoy today and this His Excellency has asked me to thank you for the peace and support you have been giving to this administration.”

“This visit is to show appreciation of the Board for the enabling environment. It is also to brief you about what is happening and the vision of state government viz-a-viz the role of the Board of Internal Revenue. I know you may have heard in the radio, television and even the word of mouth about the Delta Beyond Oil. It is necessary that the Board of Internal Revenue comes to you as the custodian of tradition and closer to the people, to brief you that this is what government has in mind.”

He said that it is the vision of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to look at other areas where the state can generate more revenues

and not only rely on what is coming from Federal allocation, adding that it is obvious that federal allocation alone will not be enough to drive development in the state hence the desire for diversification.

“And what the state government is doing is to raise critical infrastructures to support Delta Beyond Oil. I know that it is difficult to achieve this. Your Royal Majesty I want to assure you that the ground work is set to create sustainable development in Delta State. This is so because when we assume office the Internally Generated Revenue IGR, was 1.2Billion Naira. I can tell, by January this year the IGR rose to 5.74Billion naira. That is to say that increasingly the IGR will be enough to sustain the activities of Delta State in case oil dries up. It is a vision that is sustainable and it is vision that all of us must embrace,” Hon. Joel-Onowakpo emphasized.

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Across The Nation House C’tee Visits Nigerian Missions Abroad ABUJA - Members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs will as from today begin to visit a number of Nigerian missions abroad as part of their oversight functions.

Rep. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, the committee’s Chairperson who will lead the delegation, disclosed this to the newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ukeje (PDP-Abia) told newsmen the visit would take

the lawmakers to selected missions in Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia.

She said one of the reasons for the visit was to have an onthe-spot assessment of the state

of Nigerian embassies abroad.

Other reasons, according to her, are the opportunity to know the disposition of the embassies’ members of staff, their functions and welfare.

“The committee will also verify the amount of money appropriated and released to each mission for the 2013 fiscal year and how such was expended.

“We will equally examine properties owned and rented

by the missions as well as debts owed,’’ she said.

The lawmaker said the committee would also find out how much money the missions generated and remitted from their consular services to the Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation.

“We have to find out whether they are doing this diligently, in line with the constitutional provisions,’’ she said.

Ukeje also said the

committee would try to find out whether the missions were adequately funded as well as their engagements with the respective Nigerian communities.

“The aim of this visit, basically, is to reposition our foreign missions in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and see that money appropriated was judiciously utilised,’’ she said.

Don urges Solution To Rural-Urban earn a living respectively.

Drift The lecturer said such slums

Barr. Jefferson Uwoghiren displaying the photograph of Late Ibrahim Momodu who was allegedly shot dead by the DPO of Ogida Police station, Mrs. Carol Afegbai during a press briefing yesterday in Benin City while Rev. David Ugolor, ANEEJ Executive Director and Barr. Nicholas Osadolo listen with rapt attention Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

PORT HARCOURT - A don, Dr Sofiri Joab-Peterside, says lack of basic social amenities is the cause of the rural-urban migration and insecurity in the nation.

Joab-Peterside, a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Port Harcourt, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt .

He described the “urban bias development’’ as a colonial policy which had “exploited natural resources from the rural areas for the development of urban centres’’.

Joab-Peterside said environmental degradation and increased oil production activities also contributed to continuous migration of the productive population segment.

“This segment had in the past sustained traditional livelihood like farming and fishing,’’ he said.

According to the lecturer, this encouraged the rural-urban drift

as most rural inhabitants, especially the youths, migrated to the cities in search of better life.

“This forced migration put available social infrastructure and social services under pressure. For instance, the excruciating housing problem gave rise to the springing up of squatter/slum settlements.

“These settlements lack social amenities, or state security presence in the form of police station or post, and this helped to make them safe haven for criminals.

“Children born in these settlements and those whose parents were compelled to take up residence there took to the streets, establishing a subculture different from that accepted by the larger society,“ Joab-Peterside said.

He said such settlements bred prostitution and crime to augment family income and to

also created pools for urban cults and gangs, adding “most urban cults and gangs originated in the slum settlements from where they spread to communities’’.

He said while government had tried to tackle the security issue in the country through the institution of security outfits and policies, all the efforts however favoured short-term measures.

“The escalation of ethnoreligious and other forms of violence implies that current political structures and institutions have failed to address fundamental issues of socio-economic development and insecurity plaguing the country.

“This calls for new and innovative tools and framework that can be used to confront identified security challenges,’’ Joab-Peterside, who is also associate research fellow, Centre for Advanced Social Science (CASS) in Port Harcourt, said.

Water Company Laments Epileptic The board chairman said the Power Supply water company had therefore

The Director, Institute of Child Health UNIBEN/UBTH Dr. Osawaru Oviawe (right), with Prof. C.O. Eregie during seminar organised by Institute of Child Health UNIBEN/UBTH recently. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

UYO - The Akwa Ibom Water Company (AKWC) needs N30.6 million monthly to run its power generating plants at 17 pumping stations for effective service delivery.

Chief Patrick Ifon, the company’s Board Chairman,

Nigeria To Partner UN On Disaster Preventions Management ABUJA - Vice President Namadi Sambo has expressed the readiness of Nigeria to partner with the UN in prevention and management of disaster in the country.

Sambo made this known when he received the Special Representative of the UN’s Secretary-General on International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Ms Magareta Whohlsrom, at the State House, Abuja.

According to him, the issue of disaster is becoming increasingly a serious issue of concern, especially with the climate change leading to disaster such as Floods, Typhoons, Earthquakes, Tornadoes the world over.

He said that it was in recognition of the importance of

climate change that President Goodluck Jonathan set up a Ministerial Committee on Climate Change with a view to tackling its negative consequences.

He noted that the last flood disaster witnessed in the country originated from LagdoReservoir in Cameroon.

Sambo, however, said that adequate measures had been taken to check future occurrence of such incidents across the country.

“As part of government’s efforts to check future occurrence, the Ministry of Water Resources is designing a dam that will arrest such influx of water and curb its negative effect,’’ he maintained.

Sambo further said that Nigeria was engaged in River Management Control as most rivers were silted, noting the strides government had made in the dredging of River Niger.

He noted that a lot of deliberate actions were being undertaken to address the issue of disaster management in the country.

Sambo said that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was being strengthened to enable it perform its duties diligently.

He said as part of efforts to extend their services, NEMA was seeking, through the National Economic Council, for the establishment of State and Local Governments Emergency

Management Units.

The vice president also briefed UN Envoy on the efforts of the government to address the country’s security challenges.

He noted that the security agencies had attained great milestones in addressing the menace of Boko Haram in some states of the federation.

Sambo said that as an experienced security force, with positive records in peace keeping operations across the world the civilian population in the area, were being handled in a proper manner.

He also informed her of the positive progress the country was making in the areas of energy, transportation, agriculture and education.

disclosed this in Uyo while speaking with newsmen on the company’s plight following epileptic power supply to the state.

Ifon said at the present market rate of N150 per litre of diesel, each of its generators required 50 litres per hour, which translated to N7,500 per hour.

He said eight hours of effective service delivery cost the company N60,000 per generator per day while the 17 generating plants across the work stations would gulp N1.02 million per day.

“In 30 days, from the above analysis, we need a total of N30.

6 million to keep the 17 pumping stations busy,” Ifon said.

He said power supply had been the major challenge of the water company in the face of inadequate funding.

“Public power supply from Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) had been very epileptic and unreliable, and total dependence on PHCN facilities will mean no service delivery at all,” Ifon said.

resolved to seek partnership with private investors to ensure an efficient running of the company.

Ifon also noted that the capital receipts of the company from the state government for the past four years, totaling N13 billion, had not been paid.

He said also that N2.5 billion was appropriated for the company in 2010 and also in 2011, while N4 billion was appropriated in 2012 and also in 2013.

The chairman appealed to the state government to release all funds appropriated in the budget for the water company to enable it execute its projects across the state.

Reports say that apart from those living in the highbrow areas of Uyo, the state capital, others relied on private borehole operators.

This is because they do not have access to water supply from AKWC. The company, though owned solely by the Akwa Ibom Government, was established to run as a commercial venture.

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Lagos Use IT To Tackle Unemployment, Experts Advises FG LAGOS - The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) has in Lagos called on the Federal Government to harness the potential of Information Technology (IT) to tackle unemployment.

The Registrar of the Council, Mr Sikiru Shehu, made the call at a news conference on the council’s Professionals Assembly/ Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Shehu said while government had been making efforts to provide jobs for the unemployed youths, it still needed to do better for optimal result.

“We want all efforts to be complemented with the dedication of this year’s assembly to fashioning out ways in which IT could be harnessed to tackle unemployment, through wealth creation.

“IT as a tool for job creation has not been properly explored at this time when many educated youths are roaming the streets in search of jobs.

“Therefore, the council decided to dedicate this year’s IT assembly to the exploration of the huge potentials in IT in creating wealth and nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship in our youths,” he said.

Shehu said the IT assembly was an annual gathering of IT practitioners in Nigeria and Diaspora.

He said the assembly’s objective was to discuss and strategise on emergent issues in IT. The registrar said this would help the council come out with recommendations and decisions that would impact positively on the industry and the nation.

He said this year’s assembly would focus on IT for wealth creation, an issue which was not germane to national security but had continued to confront Nigerians.

Reports say that the IT Assembly/AGM would hold between June 19 and June 20.

Indiscriminate Parking

FRSC Cautions Drivers

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (3rd left), with one of the beneficiaries at the Ejire Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) during its flag-off as the fourth comprehensive 24-hour flagship Primary Health Care Centre at Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area, Surulere, Lagos recently.

LAGOS - The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged tanker drivers and owners of other vehicles not to park indiscriminately on the nation’s highways.

FRSC’s Deputy Corps Marshal (Operations), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, gave the warning during a road inspection tour from Lagos to Mowe in Ogun.

He said drivers who failed to heed the warning would be prosecuted and remanded in prison.

The FRSC official said the road inspection tour, organised simultaneously across the country, was

Patients being attended to at the Ejire Primary Health Care Centre (PHC), during its flag-off as a comprehensive 24-hour flagship Primary Health Care Centre at Itire Ikate Local Council Development Area, Surulere, Lagos recently.

Road Crashes Down By 25 Percent LAGOS - The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says road crashes in Lagos State has reduced from 400 to 300 per week.

Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, FRSC’s Deputy Corps Marshal (Operations), gave the figure in Lagos at the kick-off of the organisation’s week-long sensitisation programme to ensure safety on highways nationwide.

Oyeyemi said the programme, tagged “Operation Rain Storm”, was taking place nationwide.

He said the exercise was aimed at sensitising road users to be conscious of the problems associated with driving during the rainy season and how to avoid them.

“We are using this opportunity to campaign for safety. A vehicle driver must not overspeed.

“The vehicle must have a wiper, the tyres must be good, the car lights must be

functioning well and there must not be overloading,’’ the FRSC official said.

He said the FRSC had just concluded two other programmes, with one of them tagged “Operation Shield”.

“We are now on ‘Operation Rain Storm’ which is to ensure that road users meet minimum standards for their vehicles to ensure safety,’’ Oyeyemi said.

He said the programme would sensitise dual carriageway users on the need to maintain the right lanes only and move to the left lane only when overtaking.

“The exercise is aimed at checking the conduct of drivers with a view to knowing their level of alcohol intake when driving.

“This is to ensure that they comply with the traffic rules and regulation,’’ the FRSC official said.

The deputy corps marshal said the programme would also check the use of fake number

-FRSC plates as well as vehicles with right-hand steering.

“It will also ensure that road users comply with the general road safety laws,’’ he said.

Oyeyemi expressed the commission’s continued

determination to educate drivers and other road users, as well as enforce safety rules for the attainment of the desired success in road safety.

He appealed to road users to be more careful, especially during the rainy season, to reduce carnage on roads.

aimed at sensitising road users to be safety conscious during the rainy season.

He said the one-week event tagged “operation rain storm’’ was aimed at sensitising drivers on the difficulties of driving during the rainy season.

Oyeyemi said mobile courts had been established on the highways to try drivers caught obstructing traffic on the highways.

He said FRSC would ensure that erring drivers were remanded in prison.

“There is need for drivers to obey road regulations.

Our major problem is tanker drivers that park along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

“It is sad that no level of campaign can change them from parking on the roads.

But we cannot continue to condone lawlessness,’’ Oyeyemi said.

He disclosed that about 1,000 road offenders had been prosecuted weekly since mobile courts were established by the FRSC across the nation.

Oyeyemi said records in the organisation showed that 12,000 defaulters were prosecuted since the beginning of the year.

The deputy corps marshal also disclosed that 200,000 new vehicle numbers plate had so far been issued in Lagos State alone.

“At least eight out of 10 cars on Lagos roads have new number plates compared to other states, even though the closing date for the issuance of the new number plates still remains September 30, 2013,’’ he said.

Four-Story Building Collapses LAGOS - A four-storey building collapsed in Lagos on Tuesday afternoon, trapping an unconfirmed number of people.

Reports say that the incident happened around 2.30 p.m at No. 353, along Agege Motor Road, Challenge Bus stop, off Amu Str., Mushin in Lagos.

According to one of the occupants of the building, simply known as Ifeanyi , “only two victims have been

rescued alive and taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)’’.

Ifeanyi said the storey building, which was constructed in the early 60s, had not had any major renovation.

“Since the death of our landlord, Baba Jebba, his children had inherited the house,” he said.

Another occupant, who preferred to be known as

Taofik, said not much effort was made to bring out more victims.

He urged the Lagos State Government to help rescue the victims trapped inside.

Spokesman of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr Adebayo Kenny, who confirmed the incident to journalists, said the number of those trapped could not be ascertained.

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Across The Nation Guber Aspirant Promises Healthcare

Adamawa Assembly Receives Requests For Development Areas YOLA - Adamawa House of Assembly has received more than 50 requests from various communities for the creation of Development Areas, an official has said.

Alhaji Usman Lamorde, the Chairman of the assembly Committee on Finance, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Yola.

Reports say that the development areas were created by the state government and receive 10 per cent of the monthly statutory fund allocated to the 21 local government areas of the state, for their services.

According to him, the communities must however meet the statutory requirement of population, financial viability and other provisions of the state Local Government Law, 2000, before getting approval.

Lamorde defended the move by the lawmakers to raise the number of development areas from the present 37, saying it was based on the good performance of the existing ones.

Also, the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri said the assembly would amend the state local government law to accommodate the request.

He pledged that the assembly would be fair in its selection, adding that the development areas had enhanced the lives of rural communities and brought government closer to the people.

FRSC Partners Agency To Curb Auto Crashes KANO - The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is collaborating with the Kano State Road Traffic Agency to curb the menace of dangerous driving and auto crashes in the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC in the state, Malam Kabiru Daura made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Kano.

It said that the two agencies have the same focus and would be working closely “to change the bad traffic habits” of road users across the state.

The statement added that the agencies had agreed to organise sensitisation campaigns for tricycle operators, who had become a menace on Kano roads, since the ban on motorcycles early this year.

According to the statement, other areas of collaboration between the two organisations include joint meeting and patrol.

Reports say that both agencies also agreed to hold joint meeting every month to engender more understanding and cordial working relationship.

Debris of a three storey building at No 353, challenge Road, off Amu street in Mushin, Lagos State, that collapsed at about 2:35pm on Tuesday afternoon trapping some of its occupants

Borno To Revive Ailing Industries MAIDUGURI- The Borno Government said that it had put in place mechanism to revamp ailing government industries in the state.

The Commissioner for Trade and Tourism, Dr Asabe Bashir stated this in an interview with the newsmen in Maiduguri.

Bashir explained that the government had already injected N232 million to revive some of the industries.

“Most of the state owned industries are either moribund or producing minimally.

“The state government has released funds for the resuscitation of some of these industries to ensure the realisation of its program on job creation and youths empowerment,” she said.

Bashir added that about N180 million was released to the management of the Neital Shoes and Tannery Company for the resuscitation of the leather and shoe factory.

“Already production facilities at the company have been repaired and serviced.

“In addition, all necessary support utilities like electricity and water have been adequately taken care of,” she said.

The commissioner added that the company had started exporting tanned leather to Spain, as efforts continue to reactivate it to commence full production.

“Government has also released N52 million to the management of the Borno Plastic Ltd (BOPLAS) as working capital for the procurement of raw materials.

“Part of the money will also be used to secure spare parts, service the engines and get dedicated electricity lines from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN),’’ she said.

Bashir said that the company had began small scale

production pending when all needed requirements were met.

According to her, the government is also working towards the resuscitation of Pompomari Soda Ash Company.

AWKA – Mr. Chinedu Idigo, a gubernatorial aspirant in Anambra on the platform of APGA, has promised to elevate the status of healthcare in the state.

Declaring his intention to vie for the seat in Awka, Idigo said he would upgrade the state to a “health tourism centre” if elected.

The aspirant, who condemned the situation where people sought healthcare abroad, attributed the development to the degenerating nature of healthcare in the country.

“If elected, I shall make Anambra health sector a major destination for healthcare seekers as part of our tourist potential. We can create a lot of jobs and earn revenue.

“We are blessed with water resources; I shall ensure that livestock production in the state alone can serve the need of both the South East and South South regions.

“Power generation is a

major challenge to the people of this part of the country. My intention is to build a power station in the state to empower industrialists and enrich lives.”

He also pledged to consolidate on the achievements of Gov. Peter Obi by sustaining his policy of Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS).

In his remarks, a factional chairman of the party in the state, Chief Egwuoyibo Okoye, said the party was large enough to accommodate anyone who wanted to join its membership.

He said that internal democracy would prevail in the primary elections.

Okoye said the interest of APGA was to unite members and present “the most credible candidate” in the state elections who would continue the ongoing “developmental strides” in the state.

Communities Seek Oracle’s Help AGULERI (ANAMBRA) To End Kidnapping

- The 21 communities in Anambra West and Anambra East local government areas have agreed to consult a traditional “oracle” to combat kidnapping and other crimes in the area.

Mr. Chinedu Obidigwe, the Chairman of Anambra East Transitional Committee, confirmed the move to newsmen in Aguleri.

Obidigwe said the citizens

would be administered to an oath to stamp out the kidnapping and killings that had bedeviled the area in recent time.

He said the oracle, known for its powers in the area, would help to instill discipline because the people knew its potency.

“We decided to resort to traditional oracle because it acts fast, no going to police

Eke-Awka market in -Awka closed by the state government over non-payment of tax on Tuesday

and seeking for bail or trying to bend the law.

“If any one defies the oracle’s orders, he pays instantly,” he said The Chairman of the traditional rulers of the communities, Igwe Roland Odegbo of Nteje corroborated the development and said that the essence of the exercise was to reduce criminality to the barest minimum.

He advised the citizens to abide by the decision and avoid committing crimes, noting that such did not bring development to the area.

Reports say that the communities have experienced kidnappings and killings in recent times by rival groups in the area.

Some of the communities in the two local governments are Ezi-Anam, Ifitie-Anam, Nzam and Oweelle in Anambra West as well as Aguleri, Umuoba-Anam, Igbariam, Nando, Nsugbe, Umueri and Mkpunando-Otu Aguleri in Anambra East.

THE

NIGERIAN

9

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Across The Nation MDGs Places Poor Households On Monthly Allowance

National Ballet Cultural Troupe of Cameroun performing at the inauguration of the 6th African Arts and crafts expo in Abuja on Monday

JOS - The Project Support Unit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Plateau has placed 2,250 poor households on a N5,000 monthly allowance under its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.

Mr. Chuwang Pwajok, the MDGs Information and Communication Officer, made this known to newsmen at the inauguration of the programme in the Kanke Local Government Area of the state.

Pwajok said “the aim of the CCT as initiated by the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President, was to support ‘very poor’ households to sponsor their children to school.

“It is also meant to assist women of the ‘poorest of the poor’ in selected communities to

go for antenatal care.

“The overall aim of the programme is to encourage the less privileged to send their children to school and inculcate in them the culture of antenatal care to reduce health problems related to pregnancy,’’ he said.

According to him, beneficiaries will receive N5,000 for one year after which they will receive a lump sum of N100,000 to enable them to set up businesses.

“For this phase of the programme, five LGAs considered as backward were

Police Arrest 31, Suspected Criminals GOMBE - The police in Gombe have arrested 29 suspects, including two ladies, who allegedly terrorise residents within the metropolis.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kudu Abdullahi-Nma, who made this known when he briefed newsmen in Gombe on Monday, said the suspects were arrested on Saturday and Sunday.

Abdullahi-Nma also said some of the suspects had confessed to the killings, robbing people of money and other valuables as well as destroying properties.

He said investigation was ongoing and that the suspects would be charged

A cultural troupe performing at the inauguration of the 6th African arts and crafts expo in Abuja on Monday

Education: Commission Enrols 600,000 CALABAR - Some 600,000 nomads have been enrolled into the 5,000 existing nomadic schools nationwide for the 2012/2013 academic year, Dr Umar Ardo, an official of the National Commission for Nomadic Education, has said.

Ardo, a desk officer on Skills Training and Vocational Education at the Commission, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Calabar.

He was in Calabar for a workshop on entrepreneurship for teachers, instructors and education managers.

“Our enrolment for the 2012/2013 session in the 5,000 nomadic basic education schools in Nigeria is 600,000. “ The commission was established to provide access to basic education for disadvantaged populations in this country, and one of the educationally disadvantaged

groups are nomads.

“They are categorised into nomadic pastorals, who follow their cattle; the migrant fisher folks, and the migrant farmers who move from one place to the other with their families to farm and in search of means of livelihood,’’ he said.

Ardo said that the Federal Government regarded education as a fundamental human right, which nomads should have a fair share of.

“The nomad should be able to access education. As of now governments in the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are participating in the programme.

“The initiative has been of great benefits to the nomads, because if you give somebody education, you have given him life.

“They are tapping into it.

People on their own are now

Nomads

building schools in their communities and requesting government to take over.”

The two-week workshop is for the implementation of the turn-around strategies for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Ardo said that the workshop was timely and fruitful since it afforded participants the opportunity to upgrade their capacity on current issues in the delivery of TVET. “This workshop on entrepreneurship for teachers, instructors and education managers enables us to develop skills that can be transferred to our students and youths.

“Nomadic education programme is one of the beneficiary institutions out of the 10 selected by the Federal

Ministry of Education to participate in the project,’’ he said.

The workshop was designed for institutions benefiting from the African

selected, comprising Kanke, Mikang, Jos East, Riyom and Barkin Ladi.

“In each of these areas, five communities were selected and in each community, 90 households were selected.

“If you add this, you have 2,250 households benefiting from the gesture,’’ he said.

Pwajok stated that the MDGs would withdraw the support if the children stopped attending school as expected.

“We have a team that would be monitoring to see whether the households are doing what is expected of them,’’ he added.

Development Fund project on skills training and vocational education.

It is a major performance indicator in teacher education and development, as captured in the four-year strategic plan for Development in the Education Sector.

to court.

The commissioner, who assumed duty following the retirement of his predecessor, Mr. Mohammed Sule, reassured the people of the readiness of the police to protect their lives and property.

“I want to reassure Gombe citizens that the healthy security they have been enjoying in the past one year will be enhanced.

“People will go about their normal businesses by the grace of God as we have strategised security system in the state,’’ he said.

On the arrest made, he said, the suspects were “this set of dreaded youths who take interest in coming out at odd time to unleash terror among people who are commonly called Kalare”.

He enjoined the public to provide information to the police about the whereabouts of criminals, assuring them that their identities would be guaranteed.

Kwara To Screen Women For Breast, Cervical Cancer ILORIN - Three designated hospitals in Kwara are to screen women for breast and cervical cancer at a subsidised cost of N200.

Reports say that they are Adewole Cottage Hospital, Children’s Specialist Hospital and Sobi Specialist Hospital, all in Ilorin.

The subsidy is being provided by LEAH Charity Foundation, a project of Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, the governor’s wife.

Mrs. Oluwatoyin Opawoye,

Head of Programmes at LEAH, told in Ilorin that the organisation was concerned about the rising cases of death by breast and cervical cancer.

“We are determined to reduce the trend and save precious lives. We passionately appeal to women in the state to go for breast and cervical cancer screening at any of the three designated hospitals with N200.

“The alarming rate of death among women through breast and cervical cancer and the

high cost for the tests prompted LEAH Charity Foundation to initiate the subsidy,” she said.

Opawoye said that majority of women in the state were ignorant of the diseases until the terminal stage.

According to her, one out of eight African women are likely to develop invasive breast cancer in their life time.

She said that statistics put the survival rate in advance stage of cancer at 27 per cent, while survival at early detection was 98 per cent.

THE

NIGERIAN

10

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

North Minimum Wage: Taraba

To Pay Only Genuine LG Workers JALINGO - The Taraba Government has directed that only genuine local government workers should be paid the N18,000 minimum wage.

Alhaji Bashir Marafa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs made this known in Jalingo recently.

Marafa announced government’s directive at the inauguration of the committees for the payment of the minimum wage.

He urged the committees to justify the enormous resources spent in the biometric staff verification of the 16 Local Governments by discharging their duties

without fear or favour.

The governor’s aide also called on labour leaders and their staff to show understanding during the exercise and report all grievances to the committees’ chairmen for appropriate action.

The state Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Mark Ishaku, commended the state government for fulfilling its promise on the implementation of minimum wage for the local councils.

He, however, warned the committees against dishonesty in their duties, saying that the NLC would monitor their activities.

Tractors for distribution to farmers for 2013 cropping season in Damaturu, Yobe recently.

Skill Acquisition: Jigawa To Train 10,000

Women farmers queuing at a fertilizer selling point in Damaturu, Yobe recently.

DUTSE - The Jigawa Government on Tuesday said it would train 10, 000 youths under its Vocational And Skills Acquisition Programme in the next two years.

The Commissioner for Economic Empowerment, Alhaji Muhammad Mago, told newsmen in Dutse.

He said that the beneficiaries would be trained at the various skills acquisition centres in the state between 2013 and 2015.

Mago said that the prospective trainees would be selected from among youths, women and the most vulnerable.

He said that the programme was designed to empower youths and reduce poverty.

He also said that the gesture was part of proactive

Kano Sets Up C’ttee To Resolve EKANO - The Kano State problem, but we should Payment Crisis Government has said it thank God that only 1,000 had set up a committee to resolve the lingering crisis on electronic payment of workers’ salaries.

The Accountant-General of the state, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud, said this while briefing newsmen in Kano.

He said that the committee, which had representatives from the NLC, the State Computer Centre and Payroll Department, was set up to resolve the problem.

“Government found it

necessary to constitute the committee to alleviate the hardship being experienced by some of the civil servants following the introduction of the e-payment of salaries.’’

He said the committee was expected to commence work immediately to complete its assignment before the end of this month.

He said 37,526 out of 38,660 civil servants had so far received April and

May salaries while about 1,000 were yet to receive theirs.

He said by the time the affected civil servants were paid, the state government would be saving about N90 million monthly.

“As I am speaking with you, by the time we pay the affected staff, we will have about N90 million as unclaimed salaries for this month.

“The governor is very much worried about the

civil servants are yet to be paid.’’

He attributed the problem to issue of dormant accounts, nameless accounts and other related issues.

He, however, called on the affected staff to forward their complaints to the committee for appropriate action.

The electronic payment of salaries in the state was introduced in April to check fraudulent activities

Youths measures adopted to empower youths, encourage productivity, provide job opportunities and enhance wealth creation.

The commissioner said the

state government would continue to provide sound policies and programmes aimed at improving the social and economic wellbeing of the people.

Reports say that Mago was sworn-in as commissioner on June 7 by Gov. Sule Lamido.

NGO Trains Journalists Women Groups

Budget Monitoring:

DUTSE - A UK-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Save the Children International (SCI), has begun a two-day budget monitoring and advocacy training programme for journalists and women groups in Jigawa.

Mr Kighir Othniel, SCI’s Advocacy Consultant, said on Tuesday in Dutse the training exercise would encourage advocacy activities in the participating states.

“The workshop is aimed at building the capacity of journalists, women groups and civil society organisations (CSOs) to conduct budget analysis, appraise performances as well as effective advocacy for improvement in the health sector,’’ he said.

Reports say that SCI is participating in about 120 countries in areas of maternal health, malnutrition, polio and routine immunisation.

It is also providing support to children affected by

conflict and disasters.

In Nigeria, the organisation is providing advocacy services to governments and institutions in Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara states so as to protect and improve the wellbeing of children.

Othniel said effective advocacy would promote budget discipline and accountability and encourage the formulation of wellarticulated child healthcare and protection programmes.

He said the organisation had recorded success in its advocacy activities since the programme’s inception in the last two years in the state.

“One of our greatest achievements is the allocation of more than 15 per cent of the total 2013 budget size to the health sector by the state government.

“We commend the efforts of the government in this regard, because the feat will enhance healthcare service delivery in the state,’’ Othniel added.

THE

NIGERIAN

11

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY(12/0613) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

MCNICHOLS

2.02

1.92

-0.1

14

638,628

1,267,404.63

7UP

52.5

52.5

0

21

134,730

7,104,594.22

MOBIL

119

119

0

2.01

2.01

0

34

130,914

15,045,190.60

1

2,000

4,000.00

ABCTRANS

1

1.03

0.03

18

3,747,726

3,681,961.48

MORISON

ACADEMY

2.11

2.32

0.21

34

670,142

1,554,229.44

MRS

16.7

16.7

0

24

33,890

592,844.01

ACCESS

11.7

11.59

-0.11

289

17,462,968

202,900,623.82

MULTIVERSE

0.5

0.5

0

4

13,070,000

6,535,000.00

AFRIPRUD

1.9

2

0.1

102

5,256,880

10,689,309.20

NAHCO

7.71

7.87

0.16

94

2,441,405

19,404,756.79

AGLEVENT

1.6

1.72

0.12

22

687,700

1,200,128.26

NASCON

13.36

14

0.64

192

10,551,519

152,139,861.43

AIICO

1.1

1.06

-0.04

124

14,231,674

15,459,342.57

NB

174

170

-4

240

1,595,140

273,085,762.56

AIRSERVICE

4.51

4.9

0.39

18

423,976

1,968,396.33

NCR

18.7

18.7

0

2

3,000

51,000.00

ASHAKACEM

29.98

28.5

-1.48

109

6,723,577

196,587,800.08

NEIMETH

1.5

1.65

0.15

22

668,325

1,102,736.25

0.9

0.88

-0.02

47

4,047,371

3,674,442.32

ASOSAVINGS

0.5

0.5

0

4

1,000,000

500,000.00

NEM

BERGER

10.35

11.38

1.03

16

202,654

2,195,174.14

NESTLE

1070

1000

-70

83

301,436

304,663,892.00

BETAGLAS

10

10

0

4

61,750

618,635.00

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

4

366,500

183,250.00

CADBURY

59.95

60

0.05

216

4,478,269

273,502,920.41

NNFM

25.91

25.91

0

2

200

5,304.00

CAP

59.89

59.89

0

33

142,485

8,298,989.43

NPFMCRFBK

1.19

1.2

0.01

9

644,388

775,243.60

CAPOIL

0.5

0.5

0

1

100,000

50,000.00

OANDO

14.17

13.95

-0.22

324

9,918,129

139,630,033.73

CCNN

11.66

12.8

1.14

34

954,388

12,111,542.48

OKOMUOIL

51.12

50

-1.12

99

1,557,065

79,395,115.33

CHAMS

0.5

0.5

0

2

112,500

56,250.00

PAINTCOM

1.54

1.69

0.15

15

471,340

787,044.60

4.31

3.88

-0.43

8

1,085,075

4,210,091.00

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

19

1,348,242

674,121.00

PORTPAINT

CONOIL

24

24

0

19

78,682

1,906,856.46

PREMBREW

0.68

0.68

0

1

367

271.58

CONTINSURE

1.2

1.19

-0.01

6

459,803

549,733.60

PRESCO

37.4

34

-3.4

116

1,495,496

53,877,991.60

CORNERST

0.5

0.5

0

6

291,171

145,585.50

PRESTIGE

0.65

0.59

-0.06

17

2,009,510

1,248,161.20

COSTAIN

1.63

1.69

0.06

148

24,678,899

42,153,652.51

PZ

56

53.62

-2.38

104

2,305,457

135,850,208.68

COURTVILLE

0.85

0.88

0.03

60

6,222,100

5,213,509.00

REDSTAREX

4.79

5.01

0.22

31

973,112

4,667,653.71

CUSTODYINS

1.83

1.75

-0.08

26

5,631,234

10,135,066.87

ROYALEX

0.66

0.66

0

11

605,324

402,808.15

CUTIX

2.39

2.28

-0.11

9

152,300

351,164.00

RTBRISCOE

1.94

1.8

-0.14

38

757,798

1,371,919.56

5.42

5.42

0

1

1,000

4,880.00

DAARCOMM

0.5

0.5

0

1

6,000

3,000.00

SCOA

DANGCEM

210.01

199

-11.01

171

1,835,408

386,794,417.15

SKYEBANK

4.97

4.99

0.02

149

8,507,415

42,438,580.47

DANGFLOUR

9.72

10.68

0.96

135

3,345,250

35,151,496.24

SOVRENINS

0.5

0.5

0

8

843,930

421,965.00

DANGSUGAR

12.76

12.85

0.09

347

24,670,953

340,891,619.54

STANBIC

17

16.7

-0.3

107

2,327,408

39,301,388.65

DIAMONDBNK

6.74

6.7

-0.04

109

7,703,477

52,009,684.23

STDINSURE

0.5

0.5

0

3

4,500

2,250.00

DNMEYER

1.68

1.6

-0.08

5

92,658

145,452.80

STERLNBANK

2.74

2.69

-0.05

82

9,406,632

25,451,775.05

DUNLOP

0.5

0.5

0

2

73,571

36,785.50

TOTAL

170

170

0

21

33,562

5,621,704.40

ETERNA

3.73

3.7

-0.03

34

50,589,014

177,130,979.62

TOURIST

4.08

4.08

0

1

1,500

6,120.00

1.3

1.17

-0.13

262

54,441,598

68,267,124.59

ETI

15.91

16

0.09

127

9,542,000

152,451,517.41

TRANSCORP

EVANSMED

3.68

3.5

-0.18

24

761,120

2,769,583.76

TRIPPLEG

2.29

2.29

0

1

10,000

20,700.00

FBNH

18.26

18.55

0.29

721

59,382,384

1,084,193,707.06

UAC-PROP

15.22

16

0.78

40

438,712

7,001,922.06

FCMB

5

5

0

91

22,593,208

112,944,043.25

UACN

59.2

60.15

0.95

107

1,734,840

103,902,026.15

FIDELITYBK

3.24

3.2

-0.04

230

45,106,302

144,443,185.74

UBA

9.6

9.45

-0.15

642

58,285,428

590,426,315.25

FIDSON

2.5

2.26

-0.24

139

8,090,259

19,185,118.18

UBCAP

1.27

1.28

0.01

138

9,323,984

11,968,568.06

FLOURMILL

104.67

109.24

4.57

162

3,336,920

377,556,472.21

UBN

15.3

14.36

-0.94

148

4,676,942

72,585,098.81

FO

16.94

17.01

0.07

50

21,592,832

367,665,127.02

UNIC

0.5

0.5

0

1

35,000

17,500.00

67.94

65

-2.94

76

805,306

53,074,596.43

FTNCOCOA

0.5

0.5

0

8

1,157,500

578,750.00

UNILEVER

GLAXOSMITH

68

68

0

35

651,976

43,009,838.94

UNITYBNK

0.69

0.71

0.02

134

28,099,492

19,904,216.38

GUARANTY

28

27.4

-0.6

456

30,695,945

852,810,038.87

UNITYKAP

0.5

0.5

0

1

500

250

GUINNESS

293

280

-13

59

1,587,555

446,440,050.52

UPL

5.6

5.6

0

5

15,851

87,858.05

HONYFLOUR

3.74

3.74

0

165

10,100,810

40,885,849.07

UTC

0.79

0.77

-0.02

20

552,934

432,959.30

IHS

2

2

0

5

77,100,500

154,181,400.00

VITAFOAM

4.12

4.53

0.41

110

4,596,958

20,690,684.58

IKEJAHOTEL

0.92

0.83

-0.09

39

7,383,527

6,512,945.41

VONO

1.71

1.71

0

1

5,000

7,700.00

INTBREW

25.9

26.99

1.09

60

844,425

22,343,688.85

WAPCO

98

98

0

70

861,856

83,856,899.40

0.97

0.97

0

11

19,379,006

18,798,235.82

IPWA

0.66

0.66

0

3

86,500

61,510.00

WAPIC

JAPAULOIL

0.55

0.55

0

93

7,203,616

4,004,845.86

WEMABANK

1.18

1.2

0.02

44

1,636,257

1,957,334.71

JBERGER

60.5

60.5

0

33

228,480

13,526,679.38

ZENITHBANK

22.8

22.25

-0.55

372

16,707,975

373,927,888.26

JOSBREW

1.25

1.25

0

1

500

650

LASACO

0.5

0.5

0

1

9,840

4,920.00

LAWUNION

0.5

0.5

0

6

11,715,429

5,857,714.50

LEARNAFRCA

1.96

1.96

0

7

29,415

55,580.97

LIVESTOCK

7.18

6.47

-0.71

373

18,315,465

129,535,248.61

MANSARD

2.23

2.25

0.02

6

194,400

432,910.00

MAYBAKER

3.08

3.38

0.3

87

3,904,745

13,146,827.98

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock FLOURMILL CCNN INTBREW BERGER DANGFLOUR UACN UAC-PROP NASCON VITAFOAM AIRSERVICE

Close 109.24 12.8 26.99 11.38 10.68 60.15 16 14 4.53 4.9

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain

Stock

4.57 1.14 1.09 1.03 0.96 0.95 0.78 0.64 0.41 0.39

NESTLE GUINNESS DANGCEM NB PRESCO UNILEVER PZ ASHAKACEM OKOMUOIL UBN

Close 1000 280 199 170 34 65 53.62 28.5 50 14.36

Loss -70 -13 -11.01 -4 -3.4 -2.94 -2.38 -1.48 -1.12 -0.94

THE

NIGERIAN

12

ON, Monday, February 18, 2013, a strategic meeting of stakeholders who believe in the importance of water and its significance to human life was convened at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja to brainstorm on the funding and other related issues of this natural endowment.

DURING the summit tagged “Presidential Summit on Water�, several stakeholders including guests within and outside the country participated.

INDEED, we agree that the time for this Summit is long overdue, even as some speakers like former President Obasanjo noted at the Summit STAKEHOLDERS at the water summit appreciated the importance of water and came to the unanimous conclusion that water is an inalienable ingredient that sustains human life as ordained by God. Nothing can be truer than that.

IT was also a general consensus that there is the need for government at all levels to promote investment in water as an essential need not only for man but for other aspects of human life. Again, no one can controvert this.

IT is however important to note that for water to be made available to the people, first it must be accessible to the people both in the urban and rural areas. That is why government must be alive to its responsibility by providing potable water for the people and ensure that it gets to

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013 THE

NIGERIAN

After The Presidential Summit On Water, What Next? both the rich and the poor without any form of segregation.

UNDERSTANDABLY, water helps considerably in whatever circumstances in reviving the life of man. Little wonder then that a greater part of the earth is covered by water.

FOR instance, the agricultural sector, to a very large extent needs water because no farmer can boast of bumper harvest if water is not available and that is why water is important and should be protected by all.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER therefore calls on government at all levels to invest seriously in water projects with a view to boosting sensitive areas of the economy including the agricultural sector and the general wellbeing of the people.

ALSO, we believe that much as water remains an ingredient of paramount interest to human life, there is the need for preservation so as to prevent it from negatively affecting the health of the people. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER

commends the courage of government and other stakeholders in holding the presidential summit on water.

WE also note that whereas it is not in contention that water is strategic to human existence, because it occupies about 70 percent of human body, what matters most to us in the present circumstance is the political will of governments to fund the process of water availability and preservation. The Summit must be taken beyond rhetorics.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER opines that the views canvassed by a section of the Summit yesterday that part of the Sovereign Wealth Fund be deployed to make water accessible, affordable and available to the people of Nigeria must be given serious consideration.

THE Water Summit must not end up like other Summits before it, which were never translated into action. The only way for the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to demonstrate to the generality of Nigerians that it means well for them, is to conscientiously mobilise resources, will power and political apparatus to make water available, affordable and accessible to the people without further delay.

THE reason for the above position is that over the years, the issue of water and sanitation had become over politicised. The time to remove water from the realm of politics is now. This therefore, is the crux of the matter.

THE

NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Husband In Baby Carriage R e l a t i o n s h i p With

THIS topic of “mothering” or “babying” our husbands obviously rings true with a lot of women. We are either watching those around us do it, or we are doing it ourselves.

I am reminded of the analogy of the frog in the pot of water: Throw a frog into a pot of boiling water, and he will jump right out! But set him in a pot of cold water and bring the temperature up gradually, and he won’t notice that he is indeed being boiled to death! Most women don’t start acting like their husband’s mothers overnight. Typically they see it modeled by their own moms as they are growing up, and by the TV and in the rest of culture. It just seems so “normal.” Then at some point after the “honeymoon phase” wears off, it starts to gradually seep into their marriage relationships as well. The husband may not even recognize it at first either! But certainly, over time, the disrespect and hurt will start to build up and damage the relationship.

Women find themselves mothering their husbands because of societal pressures to be the ultimate woman, says Pepper Schwartz, a sociology professor at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Ever found yourself nagging your husband to take his daily multivitamin — or, worse, bringing it to him with a glass of water? Don’t go there, Schwartz says. Instead, “put it on the table, tell him you love him and then shut up.”

Babying the man in your life can mean two things, Tessina says: A. You’ve been spending too much time being mommy and may need a break from the kids, or B. You need more adult contact, whether it be a weekend away with the girls or a few hours at the mall while the kids are with a sitter.

Tessina says that normal nurturing — cooking for him, massaging him, tending to him when he’s sick — can feel motherly if you’re too controlling about it. “Instead, tell him what you’d like to do to help him, and ask him if he wants that kind of help. This evens the field and makes you equals,” she says.

Bottom line, Schwartz says: A normal amount of nurturing is fine, but to keep a relationship healthy, shows your affection in a respectful way. After all, one thing is certain, she says: “He doesn’t want to be married to his mother.

Most men have a deep desire to feel respected. If you ask a group of men if they’d rather be respected or liked, the majority of them would say respected. I’ve seen many boys (and men) get into fights because they believed another guy disrespected them. This aggression seems illogical at first glance, but when you understand how important respect is to men, then you will realize why they will go to any length to earn and maintain respect.

Of course husbands must show their wives the same level of respect. They must never humiliate, degrade, or insult their wives. Marriage should be an equal partnership.

When one spouse treats the other as a child, the relationship becomes unbalanced and the children are confused. If dad tries to exert his authority, the kids will ignore him because in their minds dad is just like one of them. No need to listen to him. Only mom’s opinion matters because she’s the adult.

“I would be deeply hurt if I knew my wife was referring to me as one of her children. She is the only person whose opinion of me matters and I need to know that she respects me. Now let me clarify what I mean by respect. I don’t expect my wife to bow at my feet or walk 10 paces behind me – that’s reverence, not respect. Respect is something given freely and is based on love and honor. My wife encourages me and lets me know much she appreciates the things I do for our family and I do the same for her.” Says Mr. Kayode.

I understand that there are immature men who you may not feel are worthy of respect. If your husband fits this description, you should have a private conversation about how his behaviors and actions affect you. Making jokes about the situation to total strangers will not fix the problem.

Your love and respect, not your insults, are the keys to transforming that immature guy into the strong husband and father you need him to be.

It doesn’t make any difference if your spouse doesn’t get up on time, has horrible taste in clothes, forgets

appointments or to take pills, loses the car keys, or never picks things up. If you parent your spouse, you are actually showing a lack of acceptance and a lack of respect for your spouse.

Other Mothering or Parenting Behaviors Are: You pick out what clothes you think your spouse should wear.

Your conversation style with your mate is baby talk or a mothering or parental tone of voice.

You think nothing of putting food on your spouse’s plate, cutting your spouse’s meat, or pestering your spouse to

eat all the vegetables on his/her plate.

Waking your spouse up in the morning.

When traveling, you pack your spouse’s suitcase.

You style your mate’s hair.

You are the official reminder person in your family — whether it is to take medications, finish a chore, or be on time somewhere.

You believe one of your roles is to correct your spouse’s behavior.

You often cater to his/her every need.

You are overprotective.

You make appointments with doctors for your mate.

You buy your spouse’s clothes.

You fill out medical or legal forms for your mate.

You pick up after your spouse.

You keep track of your spouse’s belongings like eyeglasses, car keys, wallet, etc.

How to Stop Parenting Your Spouse The first thing you need to do is realize that showing concern and caring for your spouse is normal and expected.

It is when you cross that line into the parenting role that normal nurturing stops and parenting begins.

Have the talk with your spouse.

Stop treating your mate like a child.

Don’t correct or criticize how your spouse takes out the trash or completes other tasks around the house.

Let your spouse make mistakes and have to face the consequences of being forgetful or making a wrong decision.

Create a calendar for your family but be clear that keeping it current is everyone’s responsibility.

Refrain from talking in a ‘parental’ tone.

Accept that your mate really does not like being treated like a kid Your husband is not your child. Do not offer to cut his meat for him. You do not need to ask his opinion on exactly how he wants his sandwich made for lunch; that kind of behaviour is belittling. naggy, and makes him seem incapable. I’m pretty sure you already know what kind of sandwich your husband likes anyway.

Your husband is not your child. Do not offer to cut his

Edith

Imoisili

meat for him. You do not need to ask his opinion on exactly how he wants his sandwich made for lunch; that kind of behaviour is belittling, naggy, and makes him seem incapable. I’m pretty sure your When your husband leaves the house, don’t say, “Be careful.” He is not made to be careful. He is made to be a risk-taker, a wild man. I just say, “I love you.” He knows I

want him to come home safely.

Pet names: call your husband by something that makes him feel like a man. I like “My Warrior”, “Strong Man”.

There are other gushy pet names, but they do not in any way make your husband out to be a child. E.g., “My One and Only”.

Trust him. If you’re anything like us, and you as the wife are the left-brained one, you might have the tendency to question his every decision. I’m not saying it’s bad to talk through decisions together; in fact, I hope you do! But you absolutely need to trust him in some things to give him room to lead.

Stop nagging: you might never know that you are a nagger until you found out that even “gently reminding” your husband of an undone project is a nag and makes him want to check out. Here’s the way you can work around this. You should have a list (yes, you probably have a similar honey-do list). The list is on a bulletin board. When there are projects, big or small, that need work, either of you can put it on the list. Once a week, hubby has a man-check morning. As part of this ritual, he asks himself some questions to make sure he is doing what needs to as a servant leader. One of his tasks is to check the list and make plans towards those projects. You don’t have to nag, and he is empowered in his efforts.

Don’t constantly correct him on how to play with the kids. His ways are different, and it’s supposed to be that way. (I hope you know that I do not mean that you should not be unified, but that it’s OK for him to be more rough and wild with the kids than you would be.

“However, when a wife dares to give her man space and grace, it unleashes a freedom that will take her breath away.

If this is your situation, you will gain a new respect for your man because you no longer view him as a helpless child. And the more you view him as a grown-up, full of all the virility of a healthy male, your sexual response to him will naturally increase. And, you will soon find that your need to be valued will be filled on a fresh and healthy level. Your husband will begin treating you like his lover and confidante and less like his mother. The gnawing need, once pseudo-filled by creating dependency, will then be overflowing with marital fulfillment the way God intended.

THE

NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Opinion FEAR is an unpleasant emotion or thought. It is the feeling you get when you are afraid or worried that something bad is going to happen. The feeling of fear been one of the greatest impediment to human progress. As human, you will always feel fear. But you must be very careful not to empower it so that it adversely influences your actions and decisions.

Fear at certain degree is very normal and natural – the creator must have created fear as a means of sustaining and preserving the life of His own image and likeness, which He considered as His ultimate creation, man.

Without the capacity for fear or “caution” mankind would have been worse for it.

Positive fears keep us away from danger, controlled fear is what keeps us from jumping off a cliff or a sky scrapper. It is controlled fear that keep motorists from driving recklessly, and to stay alive. It is controlled fear that makes a pilot manoeuvre a faulty aircraft to a safe landing.

It is the sense of selfpreservation that will cause an adult to look both left, right and left again before crossing a road. It is the positive fear that warns off a child from putting his finger into fire.

According to surveys, some of the most common fears are of ghosts, the existence of evil powers, cockroaches, spiders, snakes, heights, water, enclosed spaces, tunnels, bridges, needles, darkness, solid rejection, failure, examinations and public speaking.

Dear reader, I want to inspire you today to resist the urge to fight fear. I urge you to accept whatever comes your way with a positive and optimistic mindset, knowing that change comes with a blessing, a new hope and a clearer vision.

Don’t be afraid to try. None can climb beyond the limitations he has placed on himself. Success is never final, failure is never total. It is courage that counts – courage and the willingness to move on.

A great deal of talents are lost to the world for lack of

courage. Everyday, sends to the grave, obscure men, who fear and timidity have prevented from making their first attempt to do something.

Never tell a person that something can’t be done, because God may have been waiting for centuries for someone ignorant enough to believe that impossible could be possible.

The poorest of men are men without dreams. Don’t be so afraid of failure that you refuse to try. Demand something of yourself.

Failure is only an incident.

There is more than the failure – ther’s success deep inside the failure. Failure is the opportunity to begin more intelligently again. When you fail, that is a great chance to start better again. Learn from it and move on, don’t be paralyzed by failure.

One good thing about failure is that it is proof that you tried something. The greatest mistake one can make is to be afraid of making one. People who do nothing in life are usually people who do nothing.

People who didn’t make mistakes in life are usually people who didn’t have a chance to make any because they never tried. Challenge yourself. Demand things of yourself that are beyond what you have already done.

Expect more from yourself than the accomplishments that are easily within your reach. What you have is not all you are, only God can limit you or stop you from achieving anything in life. It is better to attempt a thing and fail, than never to try and know you could succeed.

Fear of ill health. In the medical field, there is a situation called hypochondria, that is a state of imaginary illness resulting mindset. Most illness are quite unreal, but if the one harboring the thought or feeling of ill health is unattended to he or she may possibly, through the power of subconscious mind bring his thought to reality.

It is because of this sort of medical case of hypochondria that prompted medical doctors to administer “PLEACEBO”, an inactive preparation giving only to satisfy the patient’s demand.

Overcoming Your Fears But little do these teaming number of patients know that the root cause of their problem is fear. For them they might as well tell you that they are just being thorough or careful, or they just don’t just want to take chances.

Fear is such a terrible evil to penetrate into any part of our lives, for it is an enemy of great achievement and of

here in African seem to serve as a great impediment to the growth of the human person.

Most of them are backward and retrogressive. It will surely sound very funny listening to some of these our so-called beliefs and cultures.

Lloyd Douglas must have been very observant, when he

A welder friend of mine once told me that in his place, it is widely believed that the witches fly at day light by entering into melon shells to cause havoc for others and for that reason they are taught to be afraid of melon shells.

Some of us could not stop outside at night is made for

genius.

You may have seen kids who for fear of going to school, pretend to have headaches or fever, and eventually they start feeling feverish. On of the dangers of fear is that it operates from the most potent part of man, and that is the “mind”.

Fear of Death. Some of our fetish and superstitions beliefs customs and cultures

said that “if a man harbors any sorf of fear, it percolates through his thinking, damages his personality and makes him landlord to a ghost”.

Or what would you say about culture, which forbids a man from selling his properties or belonging, assuming he has a business to do and lacks the capital to execute it.

the spirits, therefore we must restrict our activities to the daytime alone.

But true great men are those who have not limited their activities to hours of sunsine alone. An anonymous writer once said that, “the height reached and kept by great men were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companion slept were tolling the night.” You have the potential to change impossibilities into possibities. As the Bible says, everything is possible for him who believes (Mark 9:23).

Some men do spend energy, time and money looking for charms and emulate to fortify and insulate themselves from dying: Some people are so afraid to die, that they never

By EDEKO MICHAEL

“The fear of being judged, making a mistake, not measuring up, getting hurt either mentally or physically can get in the way of a good performance (speech, seminar, sales presentation, etc).

Remember that people in the audience really want you to succeed.

Nobody is standing there hoping you’ll be boring or bad.”

begin to live but death is said to be a necessary end, which must come when it must come.

Fear of public speaking.

Most people dread public speaking more than death in Nigeria. If you have the fear of public speaking, you are not alone. You must first recognise what “fear” is. Fear is the anticipation of pain. Is your fear real or imagined?

Your fear is not knowing what will happen when your are in front of people, giving your speech or presentation.

Your rear is not that you don’t know your topic. It is that you don’t know what will happen when you step to the podium or table.

The fear of being judged, making a mistake, not measuring up, getting hurt either mentally or physically can get in the way of a good performance (speech, seminar, sales presentation, etc). Remember that people in the audience really want you to succeed. Nobody is standing there hoping you’ll be boring or bad. If you are coming from an authentic place, and you cover the material with clearity, you have won +(three fourth) of your inner battle with fear.

Joke stand tall, with shoulders back and chest out.

Smile anyway. You will look confident and your body will fool your brain into thinking it is confident.

Knowing that fear is an unpleasant emotion or thought which comes in a moment. Expert says breathing deeply can help relax your body and mind as soon as possible. Close your eyes and imagine yourself suspended from the ceiling by a thin thread. Just listen to your breathing and tell your self there is no rush. They say slowed breathing until you can count’ seconds of inbreath and same out-breath can totally relax the body and restore a confident mood.

In the words of Stephen Vicent Benet, “life is not lost by dying, life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand uncaring ways)”. Why not cast away all negative fear and control the positives?

Take that bold step today.

You’ll not be sick and you’ll not die.

For your information the people who change the world are people who have taken “impossible” out of their dictionaries. So be bold and courageous don’t let any fear weigh you down you can think it, you can achieve it.

THE

NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Child Health & You Gifted Children In Today’s Education In Nigeria (1)

PREVIOUSLY on this series ‘TODAY’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND THE NIGERIAN CHILD’, we discussed on ‘THE MENTALLY RETARDED NIGERIAN CHILD IN TODAY’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM’, where the topic exposed the role of education in a mentally retarded child and some interventional strategies to improve the life of a mentally retarded child in lieu to proffer a better educational service to them. Today, emphasis is on ‘GIFTEDNESS AND EDUCATION IN NIGERIA’.

Most individuals have Intelligent Quotient (IQ) that range between 80 and 119, with 100 being the absolute norm. The farther away from the absolute norm of 100 a child is, the greater the need for special educational accommodations, regardless of whether the distance is on the left or right of the 100. Gifted and Mentally retarded children have major educational challenges. Though mental retardation and giftedness are at the extremes of the intelligence quotient ladder both conditions have certain things in common. Both need early identification and initiation of services to bring out a favourable academic, psychological and social successes; Special education services are usually required in both conditions to bring out the full potentials in them; Poor management may result in behavioural complications; and Parent support systems are usually needed to promote sound family practices and meaningful advocacy.

A child is said to be Gifted when his/her IQ is 120% and above. Giftedness can further be classified as Superior Intelligence (IQ = 120.0 129.0%), Very superior Intelligence (IQ = 130.0 150.0%. Exceptionally gifted (IQ = 160 – 179 and a genius or profoundly gifted when the IQ is 180% and above.

Children with superior intelligence and especially very superior intelligence are God’s special gift to every nation, race and culture. They constitute the top 1-2% of the school population. Currently, the concept of giftedness is not based only on academic potential but the individual should be able to yield “socially productive contributions”. Research had indicated that giftedness in the IQ range of 130-150 do not appear to have major personality problems, unlike those with IQ 180 and above who may have the tendency to under achievement, peer isolation and commit suicide if they are not properly guided.

Giftedness differs from Talent in the following ways: -talent implies an inborn ability in a special field that is capable of being cultivated and is often, but not necessarily, associated with superior/very superior intelligence. Exceptional Talent is the ability to perform

skills; learn quickly and with less practice and repetition; and have unusual and/or vivid imagination and concepts.

Social and Emotional Traits: Gifted children have interest in social issues; they are very sensitive emotionally and physically; concerned about fairness and injustice; they are perfectionistic; energetic and have well-developed sense of humor; usually intrinsically motivated; and relate well to parents, teachers and other adults.

Language Traits: They usually use extensive

the intelligence quotient for the child as earlier described in the write-up series. This is then applied for appropriate classification of the child’s IQ. Early identification of a gifted child is very important for judicious referrals, appropriate classification and management.

Classification of giftedness: Gifted children are usually, but not always, high achievers.

Even when they don’t achieve good grades, they tend to score high on achievement tests (often in the 95-99 percentile range). They love to learn and so their love of learning, good memories, as well as ability to learn quickly and easily enable them to succeed. However, if a gifted child has lost the

educational environment beyond what is offered in the average classroom, but that is not necessarily the same environment required by gifted children to be successful.

Giftedness is classified as follows: (1). Gifted achievers with no disability (2). Gifted non-achievers with no disability (3). Gifted pseudoachievers. (4). Giftedness with learning disability.

GIFTED ACHIEVERS WITH NO DISABILITY are children who are gifted and have everything in and around them to maximize their great potentials. These children grow normally and have greater propensity to excel and become high achievers in life (in their academic potentials and other areas of life) especially when aided. However if they are not properly handled, they may not

vocabulary; read rapidly and widely; ask such questions as “what if”, and ‘why’ questions.

They demand answers for most life posed questions and issues.

‘Why’ and ‘Because’ phenomenon must be clarified!!

Additional Traits include that gifted children enjoy learning new things; enjoy intellectual activity; display intellectual playfulness; prefer books and magazines meant for older children; and they are usually skeptical, critical, and evaluative.

Assessment by a physician to identify a gifted child among his equals will include the following: (1). Comprehensive history to document sequential development and maturational milestones. Parent could observe that the child does things more than what his/her age mates can do or that the child does things beyond what is meant for his age mates. (2).

Physical and neuro examination usually performed by the physician and/or psychologist. (3). Neurodevelopmental screening especially at early stage in life such as the use of the Bayley scales of infant development at the infancy age. However as the child grows the most appropriate psychometric tool (Weschler’s scale or the Drawa-Man Test) used for obtaining

motivation to learn, he or she may not do well in school, although achievement test scores will usually remain high. This means that not all gifted children will necessarily be high or great achievers.

High achievers are those who achieve a goal. ‘In school, a high achiever would be a student who gets high marks, good grades and does the work required of him/her on time and very well’. They tend to be well-organized and have good time-management skills, hence they turn in neat and tidy work(s) on time. They also tend to be well-behaved, adjusting well to the classroom environment and participating enthusiastically in classroom discussions. High achievers are not necessarily gifted, although some high achievers are also gifted and most gifted children have the greater potential to be high achievers. High achievers are often externally motivated by the desire to get good grades or even high praise. It is important to note that some gifted children are underachievers. These group of children may be internally motivated, however except they are interested in a particular task or the material to be learned, they may not do well on that task and may not be able to complete the task.

High achievers may need an

be able to utilize their great potentials.

GIFTED NONACHIEVERS WITH NO DISABILITY AND GIFTED PSEUDO-ACHIEVERS: These are gifted children with either no physical or developmental disability but are non-achievers, underachievers or pseudo-achievers (false achievers).

‘Underachievement in gifted children is difficult to reverse, and the longer a child underachieves, the harder it is to reverse.’ Parents of gifted children are often surprised and worried when their children underachieve in school. The key to helping an underachieved gifted child include understanding the causes of underachievement and devising means of assisting the child. It has been stated earlier that when a gifted child loses the motivation to learn; he/she may not be able to maximize his/her academic potential. The child will start suffering from low self-esteem, frustration and depression.

Suicidal tendencies may occur in some of them especially in developed world. Some of them may have ‘Withdrawal or Giving-up Devices’ which results from revolting against the system they are in, BUT advertently doing nothing physical about the system/life.

By DR DAMIAN U. NWANERI

a skill at a level usually not reached until later years. A three-year old may be reading like a primary school child or a ten-year-old may be playing piano like an 18 year old, who had studied for years. If the exceptional talent is not in an academic area such as music or art, the child may not be identified as gifted by the school because most testing for gifted programs is based on academic ability or achievement. Giftedness consists of an interaction among basic clusters of human traits. These clusters are above-average general abilities, high levels of task commitment, and high levels of creativity. However whether or not a gifted child excels in school depends on how the child is handled in bringing out the potentials in him/her. Many gifted children are motivated by interests and challenges.

When these children are interested and appropriately challenged, they can and will achieve their potential. A gifted child may still be learning and achieving on their own at home though at level below performance as expected for the child if he/she is in school BUT may be as high as other children.

Myths Attributed to Gifted Children: Gifted children are generally termed weaklings, usually loners, eccentric and socially backward. They all turn out to be successful despite interventions; however they walk in a thin line between genius, insanity and instability.

There is need for special care so as to maintain the right balance for greater potential and achievement in life.

Characteristics of giftedness: It is easy to notice that a child is more intelligent than others even to the not-so-trained eye of a parent. However, parents often question what those differences mean. They know their child is smart or gifted.

Looking at a list of gifted traits or characteristics, it is a quick first step in determining whether a child is gifted or not.

To the trained eye, it can be fairly easy to spot a gifted child.

Ways to identify a gifted child include observing the unique characteristics and behavior of the child and by IQ Testing. These characteristic traits in gifted children, as documented by Carol Bainbridge, include the following: Cognitive Traits: Gifted children are very observant, extremely curious; have intense interests; excellent memory; long attention span; excellent reasoning skills; well-developed powers of abstraction, conceptualization, and synthesis; they quickly and easily see relationships in ideas, objects, or facts; fluent and flexible in thinking; have elaborate and original thinking; excellent problem solving

It usually starts with defence mechanisms aimed at reduction of anxiety by the control of the natural or id impulses and devising means of coping with the system. If it persists for too long relative to the individual’s coping ability, it results to a conscious or unconscious surrender with its antecedent consequences which will include poor sleep, school problems, truancy, academic failure, hysteria, depression, and even suicide.

Gifted pseudo-achievers may create impression that all is well. They may tend to work on their own and try to make good grades but may not maximize their full academic potential as well as potential to succeed in life and may end up as the non-achievers if unaided.

GIFTED CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITY OR HANDICAPPED- Gifted handicapped children are often missed because of the stereotyped expectations that gifted children excel in all areas. Due to a physical disability, the child may not be able to maximize his/her full potential. In some instance, developmental delay in any one area of a child may result in some delay in cognitive development. The effect of this developmental delay and its consequences/child inabilities is then perceived as lack of opportunity to show superior mental abilities. They are difficult to identify because they look like an average learners. They are bright enough to compensate for their disability, so even though they are doing well at school, they are working below their potential and may be seen as under-achievers.

In summary; gifted children always have the potential to excel in life. However, a gifted child who is not intellectually challenged may “give up” pursuance of his/her great potential in life. The child may stop caring about learning or at least stop caring about doing work in school and may begin to perform poorly. Special care is therefore required to maximize the great potential in giftedness. Some of these interventional strategies and care shall be discussed in the next edition of this series in ‘CHILD HEALTH AND YOU’. Keep a date!!

To Continue…………..

DR DAMIAN UCHECHUKWU NWANERI Research Fellow I, Institute of Child Health, University of Benin And Consultant Paediatrician, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City Edo State, Nigeria.

‘CHILD HEALTH AND YOU’, a Weekly Thursday Feature, is a collaborative initiative between the Institute of Child Health, University of Benin, and the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL), Benin City.

Comments on this page should be forwarded to The Editor, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, Benin City or Director, Institute of Child Health University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.

THE

NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Spotlight BEING a paper presented by Barrister Ibolokun at a workshop on occupational health and safety in a work place organised by Droatu Service Nigeria for top of the Okomu Oil Palm Plc recently.

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.2 OCCUPATIONAL Safety and Health policies and programmes are aimed at protecting employees and other persons who may be affected by what the company produces and does — against hazards arising from their employment or their links with the company.

Occupational Safety programmes deals with the prevention of accidents and minimizing the resulting loss and damages to people and property. They are closely related to systems of work than the working environment, though health and safety programmes are concerned with protection against hazard, their aims and methods are clearly interlinked. Occupational Health programmes, however, deal with the prevention of ill- health arising from working condition.

1.2 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH Occupational Safety and Health is a discipline with a broad scope involving many specialized areas; including: a. The protection and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations b. The prevention, among workers, of adverse effects on health caused by their working activities. c. The protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health. d. The placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment adapted to physical and mental needs. e. The adaptation of work to humans Flowing from the above, occupational safety and health encompasses the social, mental and physical well being of workers, which is the “whole person”.

Successful Occupational Safety and Health programmes, involves the consideration of issues relating to Occupational Medicine, Industrial Hygiene, Education, Engineering Safety and Psychology, etc.

Where health is addressed, so is safety, because a healthy workplace is by definition also a safe workplace. The reverse may not be true as aso-called safe workplace is not necessarily also a healthy workplace. It is pertinent to mention that issues of both safety and health must be addressed in every workplace. The definition of

occupational health and safety given above encompasses both safety and health in their broadest context.

POOR WORKING CONDITIONS AND HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE WORKERS. (a) Poor working conditions of any type have the potential to affect a workers safety and health. (b) Unhealthy or unsafe working conditions are not limited to factories — they can be found anywhere, even when the workplace is in doors. For many workers, such as agriculture (plantation) workers or miners, the work place is outdoors and can pose many health and safety hazards.

(C) Poor working conditions can also affect the environment workers live in, since working and living environments are the same for many workers. This means that occupational hazards can have harmful effects on workers, their family, and other people in the community, as well as on the physical environment around the workplace. A classic example is the use of pesticides in agricultural undertakings which may expose workers to toxic chemicals in a number of ways when spraying pesticides e.g. inhaling the chemicals during and after spraying, the chemicals can also be absorbed through contact with skin. It could also affect other people within the estate or camp.

Efforts in occupational safety and health must aim at preventing industrial accidents and diseases, and at the same time recognize the connection between worker’s health and safety, the workplace and the environment outside the workplace.

1.3 IMPORTANCE OF O C C U PAT I O N A L SAFETY AND HEALTH Work plays a central role in people’s lives, since most workers spend at least eight hours a day in the workplace, whether it is on plantation, in an office, factory etc.

Therefore work environment should be safe and healthy.

But this is not the case for many workers in Nigeria.

Everyday workers all over are faced with multiple health hazards such as dust, gases, noise, vibration and extreme temperature. However, some employers do not even know that they have the moral and often legal responsibility to protect workers. As a result of the hazards and lack of attention given to health and

Legal Considerations safety, work related accidents and diseases are common all over the world but very pronounced in developing countries like Nigeria.

Measures aimed at averting occupational hazards and promoting occupational safety and health are therefore very necessary.

Remember the old adage — prevention is better than cure.

1.4 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAMME Considering the important place of occupational safety and health in all industries the scope should be all embracing. It is therefore crucial that employers, workers and the unions are committed to occupational safety and health programmes ensuring that: - Workplace hazards are controlled at the sources whenever possible - Records of any exposure are maintained for many years.

- Both workers and employers are informed about health and safety risks in the work place.

- There is an active and effective safety and health committee that includes both workers and management; - Workers’ health and safety efforts are on going.

Effective workplace safety and health programmes can help save lives of workers by reducing hazards and their consequences. Health and safety programmes also have possible effects in both workers’ moral and productivity, which are important benefits. All the same, effective occupational safety and health programmes can save employers.

1.5 IMPORTANCE OF M A N A G E M E N T COMMITMENT In order to develop a successful safety and health programmes, it is important that there be strong management commitment and strong worker participation in the efforts to create and maintain a safe and health workplace. An effective management addresses all work related hazards, not only those covered by government standards i.e. legislature or legal requirements. All levels of management must take occupational safety and health as priority. They must communicate this by going out into the worksite to talk with the workers about their concerns and to observe work procedures and equipment.

In each

workplace, the lines of responsibility from top to bottom need to be clear, and workers should know who is responsible for different safety and health programmes.

2.0 LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH 2.1 Industrial Legislation: (a) Definition of Legislation: Black law Dictionary sixth edition defines legislation as, “the act of giving or enacting; preparation and enactment of law, making of laws via legislation, in contrast to court made laws. Laws enacted by assembly’s legislation are a policy that guides actions. It is believed that the extra encouragement of potential regulatory action or litigation many organizations would not act upon their implied moral obligation. Legislations therefore ensure that employers comply with the rules established to ensure safety and health of workers in any occupation. (b) Purpose of Legislation: the purpose of legislation with respect to occupational safety and health is to reduce or eliminate the number of job related fatalities, illnesses and injuries in the workplace.

This is accomplished by requiring employers to establish workplace safety and health programmes to ensure compliance with set standards.

2.2 TYPES OF I N D U S T R I A L LEGISLATIONS Some Labour law experts have identified three types of legislation thus: - Protective industries legislation Labour relations legislation - Collective agreements between union and employers.

Briefly, protective legislature deals with regulations regarding hours of work, minimum wage, employment of women and minors and hazardous practices affecting workers etc.

Labour relations on the other hand guarantees a work free association in union and protect employees from unfair practices on the part of the employers. Collective agreements are based on collective bargaining thereby giving the union the right to participate in affairs concerning workers thus enhancing Industrial Democracy.

By BARR. SUNNY IBOLOKUN 3.0 EXPATIATION ON LEGAL LEGISLATIONS IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH As earlier stated these laws that we are to expatiate are enacted to enhance the safety and health of workers in a

Under section 66 — Labour Health Areas — The Ministry, if satisfied that an Industrial or Agricultural undertaking is situated in an area — that is remote in terms of medical and health services, water supplies and communication declare

work place. Other regulatory rules are based on Nigeria being a member of some international agencies whose aim are to ensure fair labour practices, occupational safety and health.

3.1 LABOUR ACT: The Labour Act 2005 makes provisions for the procedures of workers under the terms and conditions of employment. Highlights are stated below; - Normal hours of work shall be fixed by mutual agreement - Excess hour of work shall be treated as overtime.

- Workers shall be given off days in every seven days.

- Provision of transport to and fro work for workers travelling up to sixteen kilometres or more or provision of allowance in lieu - It prohibits the employment of young persons in mines and vessels, same forwomen - Provision of maternity leave for women i.e. nursing mothers

such area Labour Health Area (LHA). Under this section, the law requires the organization to make provision for occupational safety and health by providing facilities to enhance occupational safety and health, thus: - Provision of housing for workers, sanitary arrangements, number of persons to live in a room - Supply of water and food - Medical facilities — Medical Doctor - Measures to be taken to prevent the introduction or spreading of infectious diseases.

- The compulsory employment of qualified medical practitioners.

- Provision of hospital and staffing - Provision of food to workers, as necessary while on admission - Keeping medical attendance registers - Prevention of accident, injury, death and diseases.

3.2 THE FACTORY ACT

T as wi pre mo

in pro any pur ( rep fis wa or or (b of pre the pre is c or p ove the in h con T pro saf ens wo fro pro leg 3 HE WE O Saf

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Spotlight

s In Occupational Safety And Health he Act defines a factory any premises in which or thin the close cartilage or cincts of which one or re persons are employed

legal considerations aimed at the prevention of accidents and health hazards to those employed in a factory and others who may come in

manual labour in any cess for or incidental; to of the following pose namely; a) The altering, roducing, ornamenting, hing or cleaning or shing or the breaking up elimination of an article

contact with the work situation and organization of a factory.

It has been observed by experts in labour law that while the common law developed the doctrine of duty of care for the safety of an employee it failed to or neglected to provide for his health and welfare. This omission has been taken care of statutorily by the factories Act. 3.4 LEGAL CONSIDERATION IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH The following areas are covered - Cleanliness: This deals with daily cleanliness of factories washing and painting to be done on regular intervals.

- Over Crowding: Factory building must be 9ft from the floor and the space available for each work should be about 40 cubic feet.

- Lighting: Lighting must be adequate, either natural or artificial in every part of the factory where there are workers.

- Drainage of floors: Floor construction must be seen as

) The updating for sale any article, being mises in which or within close or cartilage or cincts of which the work arried on by way of trade urpose of gain and to or r which the employer or [person employed there as the right of access or trol]. he Act has detailed visions for occupational ety and health aimed at uring safety of the rker and preventing him m health hazards. Both visions are protective al legislations. .3 OCCUPATIONAL ALTH, SAFETY AND LFARE LAWS ccupational Health, ety and Welfare laws are

to aid drainage of floors.

There must be effective means of draining the floor always. The drain must be to good gutter.

Sanitary Conveniences Sanitary conveniences shall be provided, maintained and kept clean with sufficient

lighting and where male and female are employees, it shall be separated for males and females.

3.5 LEGAL CONSIDERATION IN O C C U PAT I O N A L SAFETY: This covers the following: - Safety of prime movers - Safety of transmission machinery - Safety of all other machinery not covered above - Provision of fencing to unfenced machinery - Safety provision for vessels containing dangerous liquids - Safety of self — acting machines - Training and supervision of inexperienced workers - Safety keeping and maintenance of hoists and lifts - Safety chains, ropes and lifting trucks - Safety rules for cranes and other lifting machines - Keeping register for cranes and other lifting machines

- Safety means of access and safe places of employment.

- Precautions in places where dangerous fumes are likely to be.

- Precautions in respect of explosion or inflammable dust, gas and vapour.

- Construction of steam containers or reservoir with sound materials and their maintenance.

- Safety air receivers - Prevention of fire - First Aid readily available.

3.6 WELFARE The general provisions cover the following areas: Supply of drinking water Washing facilities Accommodation for clothing First Aid Box covering not more than 150 persons.

Exemption if ambulance is provided.

3.7 HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE Special provision and regulations are made which include: - Removal of dust of fumes, meals in contains dangerous trade - Protective clothing and appliances - Protection of the eyes in certain processes 4.1 EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION ACT 2010 The Act repeals the women’s compensation Act 2004. It took effect from January, 2011 and makes comprehensive provision for the payment of compensation to employees who suffer from occupational diseases or sustain injuries arising from accident at workplace or in the course of employment. Its provisions apply to employers and employees in both the public and private sectors of the economy, irrespective of the number of employees an employer may have.

Objectives of the Act: The objectives of the act include the following among others: (a) Provision of an open and fair system of generated and adequate compensation for all employees or their dependants for any death, injury, disease or disability arising out of or in the course of employment. (b) Provision of rehabilitation to employees with work related disabilities as provided in the Act. (C) Establishment and maintenance of a solvent compensation fund managed in the interest of employees and employers. (d) Provision of fair and adequate assessments for employers. (e) Provision of an appeal procedure that is simple, fair

and accessible, with minimal delays, and (f) Combination of efforts and resources of relevant stakeholders for the prevention of workplace disabilities, including the enforcement of occupational safety and health standards.

Benefits available and the scale of compensation: The scheme offers cash and non cash benefits. The cash benefits include: I. Compensation for inquiries occurring in the normal workplace ii. Compensation for mental stress iii. Compensation for occupational diseases iv. Compensation for hearing impairment v. Compensation for inquiries occurring outside the normal workplace vi. In fatal cases (death) as much as 90% of the total remuneration of the deceased employee is paid to the dependants of the deceased a widowlwidowerl children, etc) until the occurrence of certain events specified by the Act. Non Cash benefits include: (i) Provision of artificial appliance including artificial limbs where necessary. (ii) Vocational rehabilitation and counselling services to an injured employee for claims, temporary disability and death (iii)The scale of compensation has been accurately determined for claims in partial disability, permanent disability, temporary disability and death 4.2 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION ACT 2010 (i) Ensure employers financial accountability for the cost of work related injury and disease through the payment of statutorily imposed monthly contributions of the total payroll (monthly). Presently it is 1.0% of the total monthly payroll. (ii) Ensure that the injured employee did not have to prove negligence of the part of their employer for their claims to be successful; provided the injury or disease occurred in the course of employment (iii) Ensure that an employee who sustains industrial injury will be provided compensation and thus means of support while liable to work (iv) Ensure that the injured employee will receive medical

attention without cost to the employee to bring about a speedy recovery (v) Ensure that the injured employee will be compensated through periodic monetary award for any permanent disability (vi) Ensure that the dependants of an employee who dies as a result of an industrial injury will be provided with compensation (vii) Ensure that the employer cannot raise common law defence such as contributory negligence, assuming of the risk and mitigate an injured employee’s recovery.

5.1 INTERNATIONAL O C C U PAT I O N A L SAFETY AND HEALTH As industrialization spread from one country to another, so also did the diseases and ailments also created with different trades, Safety consciousness also became paramount and drew international concern.

Gradually, occupational health was being recognized as distinct area of medicine deserving special attention in those countries that were pioneers of Industrialization in Europe and America. The main aim and goal were to safeguard life and ensure that the well — being of working people are protected, maintained and promoted.

The oldest international bodies in modern times concerned with global health and occupation safety of people at work are the International Labour Organization (I.L.O) and the World Health Organization (W.H.O) 5.2 CONCLUSION In this paper we have examined what occupational safety and health is all about.

It’s importance at workplace and why management, employees and the union should participate in occupational safety and health programmes. We also observed that poor working condition of any type has the potential to affect health. In addressing the legal considerations in Occupational Safety and Health, we dealt on the provisions of the Labour Act, the Factory Act and the Employee compensation Act. These legal regimes were all aimed at protecting the worker from workplace hazards and occupational safety with a view to ensuring there is no injury or loss of life but if it occurs, the new employee compensation Act has adequate provision for monetary benefits and non — monetary benefits.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013 With Obuseh Jude 08033510173

Security Issues ON the 15th of April, 2013, the city of Boston, in the United States of America, was hit by two Pressure Cooker bomb explosions that were targeted at the Boston Marathon. The explosions, which were the first on U.S soil since 9/11, killed 3 and injured 264 people, according Boston Public Health officials.

Approximately 48 hours after the attack, photographs of the suspects, which were lifted from nearby Close Circuit Television Cameras, were released to the public, leading to the identification of the suspects as: Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, two brothers from Chechnya.

The ensuing manhunt led to the killing of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, during a shoot-out with security operatives, while Dzozhorkhar Tsarnaev was later arrested hiding in a boat in the backyard of a Watertown resident.

The lessons from the Boston incident for Nigeria, in its ongoing war on terror, are legion. First, the coordinated approach expedited by the American security establishment was highly professional. The Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Intelligence, National Security Organization, the Boston Police Department, Special Weapons and Arms Teams, together with all the counter-terrorism units, corporated fully in the investigations that led to the speedy settling of the affair.

Unlike the American model, Nigeria’s security establishment is rent from within by rivalries among the security organizations.

Most of the security agencies in Nigeria see themselves as competitors, and are most times unwilling to corporate, especially in the area of intelligence gathering and sharing. This has tended to

stall the fluidity of our war on terror and other violent criminal activities. Those who plan our national security thrusts, together with the present heads of our security agencies must borrow a leaf from the coordinated approach of the U.S security industry in arresting the situation in Boston.

Again, the swiftness with which the profiles of the suspects were released to the public, resulting in their easy identification, is very instructive - a pointer to the readiness of the American security machine to rise up to any challenge – local or foreign – posed to the security of the lives and properties of U.S citizens; a proof of the fluidity of the country’s emergency response mechanism, which was immediately activated once the explosions went off in Boston.

To successfully wage its war on terror, Nigeria must develop something in the mould of the U.S model; an ERM that draws on all available inputs from key stakeholders from both within and outside the security industry; a state of constant preparedness against all acts of terror; a violence-response mechanism that comes to life immediately acts of violence are triggered in any part of the country.

Another point to note is that during the manhunt for the Boston bombers, innocent Americans were not indiscriminately harassed, arrested, or incarcerated on trumped-up charges. Security operatives were very meticulous in sifting through the layers of evidence at their disposal, separating the wheat from the chafe and narrowing down their investigations to the actual perpetrators of the horrendous acts. Using a time-tested, scientifically

Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector General of Police

Lessons From Boston

Fighting Terrorism: accurate procedure of elimination, they were able to Zero-in on the suspects.

The drivers of the Nigerian security system must take a cue from the U.S. They must endeavour to drum the need for caution and decorum into the ears of their field officers, who must be advised against turning their investigations into punitive expeditions, in order not to end up destroying whatever goodwill they enjoy among the populace, and inadvertently creating more enemies than they can fight, as has been the case since the onset of the insurgency in the Northern halve of the country.

Again, the civilized

manner the second suspect, Dzokhar, was treated after his arrest is also worthy of note. Due to the injuries he sustained in the course of his arrest, he was promptly rushed to the hospital for medical attention. His rights were respected by the security operatives, despite the enormity of his offence; unlike the usual case in Nigeria, where crime suspects, after being extrajudicially killed – in legal parlance, “a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law”- are paraded through the streets in open-back

“Another striking lesson is in the area of intelligence gathering and analyses. From the suspects’ original country of origin, academic backgrounds, places of residence since they set foot on U.S soil, ideological leanings, religious beliefs, personal acquaintances, to several other crucial data that have been put together by the intelligence community, no stone was left unturned in the search for the bombers.”

trucks.

Another striking lesson is in the area of intelligence gathering and analyses.

From the suspects’ original country of origin, academic backgrounds, places of residence since they set foot on U.S soil, ideological leanings, religious beliefs, personal acquaintances, to several other crucial data that have been put together by the intelligence community, no stone was left unturned in the search for the bombers. Despite the arrest of the second suspect, investigations have panned out on a wider scale, as the hunt for further clues continue, especially those of the bombers’ possible links with foreign terrorist groups.

During Dzhokhar’s initial interrogation in the hospital, he said they were motivated by extremist Islamist beliefs and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; that they were self-radicalized and unconnected to any foreign group, and that they got their

bomb-making ideas from an online magazine published by the al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, and that Time Square in New York City was next on their hit list.

This, coupled with further covert work has helped investigators broaden the scope of their work. Quality intelligence gathering is the core plank of any fight against the activities of violent or criminal groups.

In some of my past publications on these pages, I have constantly harped on the need for our security initiatives to be premised on top-notch intelligence gathering. This remains my view.

In all, the gospel truth remains that no country, no matter how prepared or technologically Sauvé it may be, is immune against acts of terror. But the speed of reacting to such acts matters. Let’s learn from Boston as we continue our war on terror.

God save Nigeria!

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Circle Geometry Further Examples Example 1

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

Example 3 Example 5

P

Figure ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral with DC produced to E. If O is the centre of the circle and <BOD =172o, Calculate <BCD, (NECO, 2006)

Q 33o

B

A

46o

T

2o

R 17

S P Q R Chords PT and RS are produced to meet In the above diagram, O is the centre of ^ at Q. If PTR = 46o, what is the size of the circle. Calculate the value O. ^ PSQ (WAEC)

D C

(NECO, 2006)

E

Solution: Angle properties that says exterior angle = Interior opposite angle, we have CB = DAB or o DAB = 360 - 172o = 188= 94 Ans. 2 2

Solution: ^ RSP = 46o (i.e. angle in the same segment with < PTR. < PSQ = 180o - 46o = 134o (i.e. angles on a straight line) Example 4

Example 2 The figure below ABCD is a cyclic, ADE and E are straight line. Find the value of y

Solution: By the theorem that says Angles in a semi-circle = right- angle or 90o, we have: < QRO + O = 90o.

But < QRO = 33o (i.e. base angles of isosceles triangle are equal). > 33o + O = 93o Collecting the like terms, we have: O = 93o - 33o = 57o Answer

A Drills: o

116 P B

R A

52o

D

y C

35 o

E

Solution: Recall that for a cyclic quadrilateral, exterior angle is equal to the interior opposite angle. ^ ^ > CDE = ABC = 52o :- ECD = 180o - (52+35)o = 93o :- y + 93o - 180o (i.e angles on a straight line =180o) :- y = 180o - 93o = 87o Answer

Q In the diagram above, O is the centre ^ of the circle. If <POR = 116o, what is the value of <PQR? Solution: By the theorem of angles at a point =360o <POR = 360o - 116o =244o :- Another theorem says, angles at centre =2ice the angle on any part of the circumference. > <PQR = 244o = 122o Answer 2

o 120o

B

C

If O is the centre of the ^ circle, find <OCB. ans 60o Until next week, remain blessed solving maths!

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Motoring With OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452

Basic Safety Rules

Vehicle Maintenance Procedure

THERE is a well-known picture in the mind of everybody, whether he or she is interested in automobiles or not. It is of those sad remnants of all brands of cars, Buses, Trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles, which dies early. You don’t want your car to die a ‘premature death”, do you?

The premature death is not due to substandard material and workmanship but largely to lack of adequate maintenance procedure discussed here is not a substitute to daily and weekly checks. It is on the action to be taken and which ever comes first.

Maintenance of your vehicle starts from the pre-delivery inspection (DPI). Your dealer must have done that before you take possession of the car. It must be followed with first inspection service, which is compulsory after you must have covered I,000 kilometers on one month after the date of purchase.

Due to the state of our roads and poor handling of motor vehicle by motorists, It is suggested that your vehicles should be serviced at every 5,000 - 6,000 km or three or four months, which ever comes first. For the engine to serve you, you must “service” it to keep it in top form always. This is done when you service the engine at regular interval of about 5,000km, which include the following serving procedures.

1. Check Oil level in the engine sump 2. Warm the engine up to attain its working temperature before you drain the oil 3. Oil filter to be replaced with a new one.

4. Check the values clearance and adjust it necessary. Proper care must be taken during adjustment to ensure that it is adjusted to the m a n u f a c t u r e r ’s recommendation.

5. Check the contact point for excessive wear is excessive, A little wear can be corrected by using oilstone or sand paper. After 10,000 kilometers, it is advisable to replace contact.

6. Remove the spark plugs wash them in petrol and use a wire brush to remove

outraces of carbon set the plug gap to 0.75 0.85 (for vehicles).

7. Use compressed air to blow the air cleaner element properly. Replace it after 5,000km 8. Check the tension of the drive belt. It should be adjusted after 5,000km.

9. Use a timing light (ignition timing light ) to set the ignition timing correctly.

10. Set the idle speed (slow running) of the car to the recommended revolution per minute:

The car carburetor is to form the very rapid burning charge needed by the engine.

The process of preparing this suitable “charge” mixture of fuel and air is known as carburetion. The idle mixture adjusts screw on the carburetor controls, the amount of fuel air mixture that is being burnt inside the engine. The idle mixture adjust screw should not be touched unless you have a tester. Exhaust Gas Analyzer (spedal tester) is used to set it correctly.

Wrong adjustment of this idle mixture screw will cause excessive fuel consumption.

Wheel Balancing ALTHOUGH tyre manufacturers balanced tyre and tube , it is often necessary to balance the complete wheel assembly to ensure that wheel rotates free from vibration.

Out of balance wheel may be cause by (a) Static unbalance , and ( b) Dynamic•. unbalance. (a) Wheels are statically balanced if they remain at rest in any given position. Static unbalance wheel always comes to rest in one position, which indicates the presence of a” heavy spot” directly below the wheel axis. A wheel used in this condition will tend to cause the unbalanced centrifugal force to lift the wheel of the road periodically, and produce conditions knows as” Wheel Hop” . Shimmy and uneven l wear (b) Wheels are dynamically balance when rotated . No resultants centrifugal force is

exerted .

Dynamic unbalanced wheel if rotated , the centrifugal forces acting through the same line .

Wheels should be balanced statically and dynamically to allow even tyre wear and free wheel vibration.

Front wheel alignment is checked with different kinds of alignment equipment available in workshops and most petrol station. In checking front alignment you will measure camber, castor and toe – in. The toe - in can be adjusted if found incorrect.

You can measure steering axis - inclination and toe-out on turns which are not adjustable. If they are wrong, it means parts are bent or damaged and must be replaced.

The level of fluid in power steering system should be maintained between the minimum and maximum level, else the pump will not build enough pressure for the system Leaks should be repaired immediately by skilled mechanics.

1. Keep your vehicle in good condition . Pay particular attention to light brakes , steering , tyres and direction indicator . Keep windscreens and windows cleans and free of abstractions.

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

3. Signal your intention in good time and before executing them 4. On the highway, keep well within your lane. Do not wander from lane to lane or change lane suddenly.

5. Always obey traffic officers in the lawful performances of their duties 6. Do not reverse into a major road or expressway and on any road at all. Do not reverse for more than eight metres.

7. Get to know the major traffic signs and road marking and obey them.

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

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

10. Be polite and courteous to other road users.

Understanding Steering System THE operation of the steering gearbox can be mechanical as we have on most vehicles on our roads or hydraulic (power steering) also as we have on some cars on our roads . The power steering reduces the effort needed to turn the steering wheel and makes maneuvering in a confirmed space much easier than with the conventional steering (mechanical steering).

With conventional steering some steering wheels may be wrenched out of a driver grip if a tyre bursts at high speed or if the car hits a large bump.

This does not happen with power steering .

Another advantage of the power steering is that car can be steered manually if the power fails.

The main components of a power steering are the same as the conventional type but plus a pump which supplies the fuild driven by the engine, sensing valves operated by movement of the steering wheels or by the deflection of the road wheels, the ram and piston assembly and the connecting pipes.

The maintenance procedure from the two systems are similar. But the power steering has the hydraulic system to be maintained in addition.

“Front wheel alignment is checked with different kinds of alignment equipment available in workshops and most petrol station. In checking front alignment you will measure camber, castor and toe – in. The toe - in can be adjusted if found incorrect.”

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

View Point “The United States has the dubious distinction of leading high-income countries in firearm homicides, suicides and unintentional deaths among young people. Among American children ages 5 to 14, an international study showed that firearm suicide rates were six times higher, and death rates from unintentional firearm injuries 10 times higher, than in other high-income countries.”

I doubt that our forebears who ratified the Second Amendment in 1791 ever imagined how carelessly and callously firearms would be used centuries later. Witness the senseless slaughter of 20 innocent children and 6 adults last month in Newtown, Connecticut. As a mother of two and grandmother of four, I can’t imagine a more painful loss.

If you are as concerned as I am about the safety of your children and grandchildren, consider that it may be time for a grass-roots movement, comparable to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, to help break the stranglehold the National Rifle Association seems to have on our elected officials. Do you really want, as the association proposed, an armed guard in every school?

The Connecticut massacre occurred just two months after the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a new policy statement on firearmrelated injuries to children.

Murder and accidental shootings were not the academy’s only concerns.

“Suicides among the young ones are typically impulsive,” the statement noted, “and easy access to lethal weapons largely determines outcome.”

In an article published online last month in The New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Judith S. Palfrey, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, and her husband, Dr. Sean Palfrey, also a pediatrician in Boston, highlighted the shocking statistics.

Every day in the United States, seven children and young adults between the ages of 1 and 24 die from gun-related injuries. That makes guns the second leading cause of death in young people — twice the number of deaths from cancer, five times the deaths from heart disease and 15

times the deaths from infections.

Dr. Judith S. Palfrey has seen this heartbreak up close.

“My niece, who was sad about something, might be alive today if she hadn’t had such easy access to a handgun at age 18,” she told me.

The United States has the dubious distinction of leading high-income countries in firearm homicides, suicides and unintentional deaths among young people. Among American children ages 5 to 14, an international study showed that firearm suicide rates were six times higher, and death rates from unintentional firearm injuries 10 times higher, than in other high-income countries.

Innocent Victims The Palfreys said they were haunted by the death of one of their patients, a 12year-old boy who went on an errand for his mother and was caught in the cross-fire of a gun battle. The boy had shortly before written a letter to his mother expressing his desire to become a doctor.

And Dr. Sean Palfrey recalls “with horror” picking up a loaded .22-caliber rifle, at age 11 or 12, and threatening his baby sitter with it. “This scared the hell out of me and remains seared in my memory. I could have killed this person.”

In explaining why he had a gun, he said, “I’m a greatgrandson of Theodore Roosevelt, who was a hunter as well as a naturalist, and

Keeping Guns Away From Children

By JANE E. BRODY when I grew up guns were an acceptable part of youth. I took target practice and was an N.R.A. member myself as a child. We had guns for hunting, not automatic weapons that can shoot hundreds of rounds within seconds.”

Now, he said, “I do all my shooting with a camera. This is not the same world it was when the Second Amendment was written.

Guns have to be removed so that they can’t be accessed by those who are immature, impulsive or mentally ill.”

In their article, the Palfreys pointed out that “little children explore their worlds without understanding danger, and in one unsupervised moment, an encounter with a gun can end in fatality.” School-age children who see guns used on television, in movies or video games “don’t

necessarily understand that people who are really shot may really die,” they said.

Among teenagers, who may fight over girlfriends or sneakers, or have their judgment impaired by drugs or alcohol, “a fistfight may cause transient injuries, but a gunfight can kill rivals, friends, or innocent bystanders,” the pediatricians wrote. Among depressed adolescents, they said, “less than 5 percent of suicide attempts involving drugs are lethal, but 90 percent of those involving guns are.”

Preventing Access In a 2006 study of gunowning Americans with children under age 18, 21.7 percent stored a gun loaded, 31.5 percent stored one unlocked, and 8.3 percent stored at least one gun unlocked and loaded. And in households with adolescents ages 13 to 17, firearms were

left unlocked 41.7 percent of the time.

These are accidents, or worse, waiting to happen, and the pediatrics academy reiterated its earlier recommendations that pediatricians talk to parents about guns in the home and their safe storage, and follow up by distributing cable locks.

To limit unauthorized access to guns, the academy recommended the use of trigger locks, lockboxes, personalized safety mechanisms, and trigger pressures that are too high for young children.

Still, the academy emphasized, “the safest home for a child or adolescent is one without firearms.”

The Palfreys said that when one of their colleagues asked a mother about guns in her home, she responded, “Why, yes, I have a loaded gun in the drawer of my bedside table.” It was only then the woman realized that this

“In a 2006 study of gun-owning Americans with children under age 18, 21.7 percent stored a gun loaded, 31.5 percent stored one unlocked, and 8.3 percent stored at least one gun unlocked and loaded. And in households with adolescents ages 13 to 17, firearms were left unlocked 41.7 percent of the time.”

could be a danger to her child, Dr. Judith Palfrey said.

The academy also called for restoring the federal ban, in effect from 1994 to 2004, on the sale of assault weapons to the general public. None of the many attempts to renew it have succeeded in Congress.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2010, in the case of McDonald v. the City of Chicago, that the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment applied to provisions of the Second Amendment, and prevented states and localities from restricting citizens’ right to bear arms. The academy stated that the ruling “set the stage for Second Amendment legal challenges to local and state gun laws, including laws requiring the safe storage of firearms and trigger locks, as well as laws aimed at protecting children from firearms.”

In 2011, Florida passed legislation that raised First Amendment questions by forbidding doctors to ask families about guns in the home. Although a permanent injunction against the law was issued, Gov. Rick Scott has appealed the ruling. At the federal level, wording introduced into the Affordable Care Act restricts collection of data on guns in the home.

Source: NewYork Times

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Issues IN these places, the atmosphere is most times cool with trees browing gloriously to the dictates of the wind.

Thickets usually surround its environment, a farmlands children climbing their mothers back are visible in these places. Fresh fruits and other edible crops are grown in these places.

According to Medwell Journal, over 57% of the country’s population, live in rural areas. The rural areas, provide a bulk of the food eaten in Nigeria. Rural areas, are, most times called countryside, can be interesting and painfully excruating at the same time.

For a first timers in a rural area, one of the first thing noticed is the availability of fresh fruits and farm produce.

The succulent and inviting nature of these farm products, would make some persons wonder if they should stay back or leave! It is either the lush –green vegetables or the red-ripened cashew dangling on trees that welcomes a visitor to most rural destination?

Again, the rural areas are know for neighbourlines. As you walk through the streets in rural areas, greetings and goodwill words hit you hard. In rural areas, it is a case of love your neighbour as yourself, as everybody knows anybody and everybody.

However with all these previous good sides, the rural areas that make up a greater chunk of the nation’s population, are left in a disadvantaged position. Top on the list of the challenges faced by people living in rural places is poverty. Poverty in rural centers is like the proverbial tortoise in folklores. With 70% of Nigerians living on less than $1.25 per day, the bitting rate of poverty in these “villages” could best be imagined than felt. It is most disheartening and mordly degrading that most children whose parents cannot afford school fees, are either working in the farm or roaming about the streets. Often, rural dwellers cannot afford good Medicare, get basic necessities of life as clothing among numerous others. A child could be sick and the caretakers would be left handicapped as they lack the financial capacity to foot medical bills that would be incurred if such a child is taken to the hospital.

Besides, the rural centers run short of some basic infrastructure as schools, hospital, skill acquisition centers and the likes. Most schools in the countryside can best be described as fit for the “ rearing of animals”.

Is it the rickety desks and chairs in these schools? What about the roof that can best be described as using a basket to hold water whenever the skies open their mouths?

In addition, most lives have been brought to an abrupt end due to the perennial absence of medical facilities in

Living In Rural Areas

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU

rustic, areas. There abound cases where people die on their way to receiving treatment. Even facilities and equipments that we are used in the treatment of children, are visibly absent in most rural dwellers? Why wouldn’t diseases that have become “extinct” in most places not ravage these ones?.

Aside the above, illiteracy and unemployment are also setbacks to rural settlers.

According to World Bank Data in 2011, the percentage of rural population in Nigeria declined from 53.3 percent in 2000 to 49.7 percent in 2010 due to migration. The report noted that the unemployment among the countryside populace. There are little or no cottage companies in most rustic settlements and thus the people are left in limbo as to what lies in stock for them in

terms of job opportunities.

For job, it is almost like a child asking his father to give him the car key so that he can ride.

Infact, only tenable source of employment for them is agriculture which is at its lowest ebb in terms of modern implements. Day in day out, people move out in droves from the countryside where nature is at its glory to urban centers in search of jobs.

Furthermore, illiteracy rate in Nigeria’s setting, is very alarming. Rural and Remote Health Journal, November 2010, revealed the poor quality of education that is obtainable in most rustic places.

The rural areas, though a major part of the country, are saddled with an unending myriads of problems. These problems are a continuous bone in the neck in making them truly places where love and neighbourliness thrive.

Rural dwellers are not left overs. They are not to be left rusting because they are rustic!.

That Politicial Arithmetic Formula

By UKIRI CLEMENTINA EGWOLOMEWA

DURING the 2003 ANPP Presidential primary election, which produced Buhari and Okadigbo as the ANNP Presidential candidate and running mate, respectively.

Chuba Okadigbo in his words referred to Rochas Okorocha and his group who left the party as “people who do not understand polical arithmetic’s. The reason that led to the action of Rochas and other was the fact that, they were disenfranchised by the party in order to enthrone Buhari and Okadigbo candidacy.

Okadigbo, having said that the Nigerian Democratic setting seem to have set out an arithmetical formular of elimination by substitution method used in solving simualtaneous equations.

This simply means that in

order to solve the equation of Nigeria Democratic Arithmetic, you must first of all either eliminate all possible political enemies in order to arrive at a possible answer.

In view of this, it is disheartening to know that Nigeria’s democracy is founded on this. Even emperor Olusegun Obasanjo is a proponent of “do or die” syndrome, that saw the emergence of Yar’adua/ Goodluck in 2007, which later metamorphosed into Goodluck/Sambo leadership.

It follows the same method of elimination by substitution, which Obasanjo used to remove.

Amaechi from contesting River State Governorship election, though, the court

later returned him as the Governor.

It is embarrassing to see that the same elimination by substitution is here with us again because of the 2015 election that is approaching.

Here Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been allegedly suspended by the presidency using PDP machinery in order to eliminate him from contesting the 2015 presidential election on the platform of PDP. The questions are: was the presidency right in applying the formular on Amaechi? Is Amaechi also right in showing his intention to contest for the 2015 presidential election known?

In order to address these questions we need to understand one of the wrong tenets of democracy

as practiced in the northern part of Nigeria and some southern parts. It is the campaign of calumny which should be stopped.

The president and Governor Amaechi should allow the sleeping dog rest and quit playing on the intelligence of Nigerians who have been maligned and battered by poverty insecurity and lack of adequate health care facilities. No thanks to the insensitivity of our dear leaders.

Finally, let’s arise, both the leaders and the led to build a virile Nigeria. A Nigeria without the elimination by substitution arithmetic. A nation where nation building is the most important, not whose tribe’s man is at the helm of affairs but the quality offered by our leaders.

Lets build a nation where

individual right and liberty of the people will be enthroned, which will invariably breed peace and tranquility. We must strive toward a nation where the principle of democracy is practiced a pragmatic nation where the APPEARANCE AND REALITY will be same.

The leaders and the led should brace up to a proactive quest to achieve their self set goal that will culminate into the well being of its citizenry It is worthy of Note that the Nigerian problematic political arithmetic is formulated on the no permanent enemy, no permanent friends, but permanent interest ideology. And when these interests clashes, the resultant effect is crisis and political instability.

The citizenry often time is

the victim of the clash of interests.

In relation to the syndrome of clash of political development of suspension and feud, I enjoin the people of Nigeria to stand up to challenge the so called leaders.

Leaders who believe that leadership is a birth right, leaders who are power drunk, leaders who consider some tribes as minorities. It is true that it is a fundamental right of every Nigerian to aspire to any political office so long as he or she is eligible. And that eligibility can only be determined by the Nigerian people and a court of competent jurisdiction.

So, enough of the macabre dance by our leaders, for the interest of the co-existence of this great nation.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Religion Divine Instructions On Prophecy INTRODUCTION WHAT is prophecy? What is the Bible’s position on prophecy? What is also the power behind prophecy? Are there rules for prophesying?

How can one obtain this gift of God? Are there also false prophecies? Can the devil counterfeit this gift? This pamphet seeks to explain all these and a lot more for the benefit of those who seeks this gift from the Lord or those who have already obtained it, and those used by the Holy Spirit in the Ministry of Prophecy.

Prophecy is a gift from God. It is one of the spiritual gifts given by God. The spiritual gifts of God include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing and miracle, prophecy, the ability to discern spirits, tongue and the interpretation( 1 Cor 12 8 – 10).

All these are inspired by “one and the same spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

(1 Cor 12: 8-10) Among these spiritual gifts the gift of prophecy is highly rated, especially when compared with speaking in gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” ( 1 Cor. 14:1 ) “He who prophesies speaks to men for their up building and encouragement and consolation. He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongue, unless some one interprets. (1 Cor. 14:3- 5. It is clear from these passages that prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

There are nine gifts of the Holy spirit for the edification of the Church the body of Christ.

These gifts are word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues(1 Cor 12 1-10) These nine gifts of the Holy spirit have been broadly categorised into three groups by some theologians viz; (i) The revelation gifts which include: word of wisdom, word of knowledge and discernment of spirits. (ii) Vocal gifts which include: prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues. (iii) Power gifts which include: faith, healing and miracles.

This pamphlet explains with biblical proofs one of these nine gifts of the holy spirit - the gift of prophecy. The misuse of the gift, the counterfeiting of the gift by charlatans, the confusion generated in being able to distinguish between prophecy and divination, hallucination, visions and delusions, spirituality and spiritualism, holy spirit and the famulus, Christianity and the occult coupled with the broad condemnation of true prophets of God confusing them with the false prophets have all contributed in making this a readable interest in further probing biblically into the gift of prophecy and its operation by the Holy Spirit as away of enlightening Christians.

“Abusus non tollit usum” meaning the counterfeit should not prejudice the sincere is a good classificatory phrase to

describe the operation of the gift of prophecy in the churches of today. Some churches today because of the confusion generated have neglected or refused to recognize the operation of the gift in their midst. The bible warns, “quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesying, prove all things; hold fast that which is good” 1 Thess 5:19-20.

This pamphlet will help you to prove all things related to prophecy that you may be able to hold to that which is good.

Hence the question and answer format has been adopted to probe into many areas of the gift of prophecy.

WHO IS A PROPHET? These days anybody who exercises the gift of prophecy is either called a prophet (if a male) or a prophetess (if a female) Of course of old there was a distinction among the prophets of God. Of old, the word prophet was used in two ways: Those called by God to fulfill certain missions such as Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Samuel etc. and even among these elects of God, theological studies further classified them into major and minor prophets according to their scope of activities. While Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah, Samuel, Isaiah, Elijah and Elisha, fall under the category of major prophets, prophets such as Jonah, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Habakuk, Zephaniah, fall under the category of minor prophets.

These specially chosen servants of God were called prophets or seers. “For he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer” 1 Sam. 9:9. This group of prophets were highly regarded.

There was also another group of prophets and prophetesses in the olden times referred to in the book of Samuel as the “band of prophets” (1 Sam. 10:5). These were estactic prophets- men who were given the gift to prophesy.

(See 1 Kings 22:6-7).

Today a prophet can be seen from the light above. There are those specially chosen by God; or called by Him to fulfill certain missions. These are prophets of God. There are those not called to fulfill a mission but given the gift to prophesy. They are also prophets (Acts 2110, 131, 11.27).

“God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues.” 1 Cor. 12:28 (Gen 20:7; 1 Sam 320; Jeh. 1:5, Exod. 7:1, 1 Kings 1:32; 11:29, 18:36).

WHEN DO YOU PROPHESY? Some prophets and prophetesses of God may sometimes err in their prophecies because they do not know when to open their mouths to prophesy.

Some prophesy from their hearts thus giving false messages; some even prophesy from their own spirit not from spirit of God. A prophet of God ought to be very careful and keep self holy as the body is the temple of the living God. So that the Holy Spirit will continue to live in him and speak through him. The bible warns: “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing .... They have

spoken falsehood and divined a lie; they say, ‘says the Lord, when the Lord has not sent them.”

Ezek.3-6.

God prophesied through Jeremiah warning thus: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes, they speak visions of their own minds not from the mouth of the Lord.” Jeh. 23:16.

We remember the experience of Ahab in book of Kings as a good example of God’s prophets falling to their selfish ends and the Holy Spirit deserting them.

We read in the book of (1 kings 22) Ahab going to war and first deciding to consult prophets of God (1 Kings 22:5). He inquired from about four hundred of such prophets in Israel who

prophesied favourably to him (1 king 22:6). But only one prophet, spoke truly in the name of the Lord. He was prophet Micaiah.

He prophesied a contrary message -different from what the other four hundred prophets had prophesied. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah one of the four hundred prophets struck him on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to you.” 1 Kings 22:24. Of course the prophecy of Micaiah turned to be the real message of God. He described those four hundred prophets as “... all these your prophets.” 1 kings 22:23 referring to them not as “prophets of God” but “prophets of Ahab”( your prophets) who lived to please the king not the lord.

A prophet of God should indeed wait upon the Lord. Hear the lord said: “Behold I am against the prophets who steal my words from one another.

Behold I am against the prophets. .. who use their tongues and say, ‘says the Lord.

‘Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them.” Jeh. 23:30-32. By being “reckless” a prophet can prophesy falsehood.

The word ‘reckless’ has a wide purport in this regard: it may mean impatience, pride on the part of the prophet, carelessness, sin or even selfishness of the prophet.

The prophet of God must prophesy in the name of the Lord and must speak from the mouth

With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA

of God because he is God’s oracle to the children of God. He must wait upon t he Lord to put the word in his mouth. The scripture says clearly: “No prophecy ever came by the impulse of man but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:21. He must not prophesy from his own mind (Ezek. 13:2) but from the mouth of the Lord (Jeh. 23:16). He must wait for God to speak to him for the book of Amos says: ‘The Lord God has spoken who can but prophesy?” Amos 3:8. He must speak the word of God faithfully. “Let him who has my word speak my word faithfully.”

Jeh. 23:28.

Let us summarize in outline or tabular form the instructions above: (i) A prophet must not prophesy from the mind.

but test everything.” I Thess.

5:20.

“Let two or three prophets speak, let the others weigh what is said.” 1 Cor. 14:29. I shall in later chapters talk clearly about those who prophesy through a negative spirit and how to easily know such false prophets. But in this paragraph I am concerned about true prophets of God who have at times made mistakes while prophesying. The bible says clearly: God is perfect (Matt. 5:48) and his words are perfect. The Holy Spirit cannot lie or make mistakes (Num. 23:19). So when a man prophesies falsely in the name of the Lord it is he who is to blame?

The bible says: “Let God be true though every man be false.

Roms. 3:4. Many factors account for such mistakes in prophecy by men of God. These could be due

(ii) He must wait upon the Lord. (iii) He should speak from the mouth of God when the Holy Spirit has come upon him. (iv) He should also speak the word faithfully WHAT IS THE POWER BEHIND PROPHECY? The working of the prophetic gift is strange to many people that some people get baffled about its mystery. Some unbelievers are prone to ask this question: what’s the power behind the gift of prophecy? The Bible is very clear about it. It is the Holy Spirit.

“And in the last days, it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” Acts.

2:17.

“1 will pour out my spirit and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:18.

“To one is given through the spirit the utterance of wisdom to another prophecy.” 1 Cor. 12:10 “The spirit of God came on Saul, and he did prophecy.” 1 Sam. 10:10; 19:23-24.

It is clear from these bible verses that the prophetic gift is from God and through the working of the Holy Spirit. Of course not every person who prophesies does this through the Holy Spirit because here are some who counterfeit the gift of God and prophesy through negative spirit. The book of Jeremiah says: “the prophets prophesied by BaaI.” Jeh. 2:8. To avoid a situation of being misled by any prophetic utterance the scripture empowers believers thus: Do not despise prophesying

to the following: impatience, pride, conceit or egoism on the part of the prophet. He has not waited for the Lord to speak rather he has spoken from his own heart. Ezekiel called such prophets foolish prophets “who follow their own spirit.” Ezek.

13: 3.

HOW DO YOU KNOW A TRUE OR FALSE PROPHECY? The Bible clearly warns: ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are revenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” Matt 7:15. False prophets usually prophesy by a negative spirit therefore often prophesy falsehoods; because the devil is a liar: I shall talk about being able to distinguish between what has been prophesied form the “mouth of God” or what has been error in prophecy on the part of the prophet due to a fault of his.

In the days of Moses, in the Jewish Tabernacle, there was what referred to as the “Urim and Thummim” Exodus 28:30; Lev. 8:8, serving as a detector of false or true prophecies Num. 27:21; Deut 3; 1 Sam. 28:6; Ezr. 2:63, Neh. 7:65. But with the Christian church of today there is no Urim and Thummim to enquire of the Lord about a true or false message. But the Bible -‘the word of God’ has replaced Urim and Thummim. Apostle Paul warned that we test everything and also weigh what is being said. (1 Thess. 5:20, I Cor. 14:29). How do you weigh what is being said? The Bible can be

used to weigh every prophetic statement. Any message not scriptural should be rejected as untrue. The Bible should be your guide.

Another thing to look out for is the life of the prophet or prophetess prophesies. A Man who prophesies from the Holy Spirit must be holy. His body has now turned into the temple of God where the Holy Spirit resides. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in an unclean body (Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 1 Cor. 6:13, 19). The Bible says clearly “The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body, (1 Cor. 6:13) because the Holy Spirit dwells in you the child of God and his prophet.

“Do you not know that your body is a temp the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; ... so glorify God in your body’ 1 Cor. 6:19. If a prophet lives an immoral life, he of course no longer has the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would depart and the counterfeit spirit of the devil will take over. Some good prophets of God started off well but have allowed the flesh to use them but they still prophesy or tell visions and they are misled to think, it is the Holy Spirit still in them; it is not, it is a counterfeit spirit. You prophet beware! Let us learn from the experience of Saul. Saul in his early days was God’s chosen leader. The Lord gave him the Holy Spirit and he prophesied, I Sam. 10:10; but he soon turned spiteful and full of hatred for a fellow human being - David, and an evil spirit possessed him (1 Sam. 18:10).

Also look at the example of God’s prophets - Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah and the other four hundred prophets who allowed themselves to be used by King Ahab that they were even described by Prophet Micaiah as Ahab’s prophets (“all these your prophets” I kings 22:24). All of them prophesied wrongly only Micaiah spoke from the mouth of God. His prophecy came to pass. But because he did not prophesy like the other prophets of God to please the King, therefore, proving other prophets false, Zedekiah, one of the prophets struck him on the cheek saying “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you.” 1 kings. 22:24.

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International

Compiled By EDOBOR HARRISON

Storms Threatens US

Russian opposition protesters some holding portraits of political prisoners shout antiPutin slogans as they march through a street next to the Kremlin in Moscow yesterday.

WASHINGTON - A gigantic line of powerful thunderstorms could affect one in five Americans as at yesterday as it rumbles from Iowa to Maryland packing hail, lightning and treetoppling winds.

Meteorologist are warning that the continuous line of storms may even spawn an unusual weather event called a derecho (duh-RAY’-choh), which is a massive storm of strong straight-line winds spanning at least 240 miles.

Yesterday’s storms are also likely to generate tornadoes and cause power outages that will be followed by oppressive heat, said Bill Bunting, operations chief at the National Weather

Thousands Of Anti-Putin Protesters March In Moscow

MOSCOW — Thousands of Russian opposition activists marched through Moscow on Wednesday, decrying President Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian rule and calling for the release of more than two dozen people they consider political prisoners.

The march on Russia Day, a national holiday, was to show support for 27 people arrested after a protest turned violent on the eve of Putin’s inauguration more than a year ago. Sixteen of the defendants have remained in jail pending trial on charges that could send them to prison for up to 10 years.

The arrests, especially

those of ordinary Russians who had joined the anti-Putin rallies for the first time and who in some cases seemed to have been grabbed at random, appeared to be part of Kremlin efforts to deter people from joining any future protests.

The estimated 10,000 to 15,000 protesters who turned out Wednesday was far fewer than the 100,000 or more who rallied against Putin before his election to a third term, reflecting a wariness that has taken the steam out of the protest movement. But the

turnout was still higher than many had expected.

“You can’t sit at home when the government begins repressions against ordinary, decent citizens of our country — people who don’t want to live in this swamp, people who want to see their country thrive,” civil activist Vitaly Zolomov said. “And I believe, and this is something I tell everyone, that it’s criminal to stay to the side in a country where lawlessness has become the norm.”

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his wife led the marchers behind an orange

Man Pleads Not Guilty In Ohio Kidnap CLEVELAND, USA - A man leaving his bus unattended for Case accused of holding three women several hours. captive in his Cleveland home for about a decade pleaded not guilty Wednesday to hundreds of charges, including rape and kidnapping.

Ariel Castro is charged with kidnapping the three women and keeping them — sometimes restrained in chains — along with a 6-year-old girl he fathered with one of them.

Castro, 52, didn’t speak during the arraignment, which lasted less than a minute. He stood motionless, dressed in an orange prison outfit, and looked toward the floor as the plea was entered.

His attorneys planned to make a statement later Wednesday morning.

The grand jury charged Castro with two counts of aggravated murder related to one act, saying he purposely caused the unlawful termination of one of the women’s pregnancies. He also was indicted on 139 counts of rape, 177 counts of kidnapping, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, three counts of felonious assault and one count of possession of criminal tools.

The 142-page indictment covers only the period from

August 2002, when the first victim disappeared, to February 2007. Prosecutors say the investigation will continue and they are leaving the door open to pursuing a death penalty case against Castro.

News that the women had been found alive electrified the Cleveland area, where two of the victims were household names after years of searches, publicity and vigils. But elation soon turned to shock as allegations about their treatment began to emerge.

The indictment against Castro alleges he repeatedly restrained the women, sometimes chaining them to a pole in a basement, to a bedroom heater or inside a van.

It says one of the women tried to escape and he assaulted her with a vacuum cord around her neck.

Later, he moved them to upstairs rooms where they were kept as virtual prisoners, according to investigators.

All the while, Castro continued driving a school bus and playing bass in local bands, with fellow musicians saying they never suspected a thing. He was fired as a bus driver last fall after

Castro has been held on $8 million bail, which was continued. Last week he was taken off suicide prevention watch in jail. Cuyahoga County jail logs show him spending most of his time sleeping, lying on his bunk, watching TV and occasionally drawing.

Castro was arrested May 6, shortly after one of the women broke through a door and yelled to neighbors for help.

banner saying: “Freedom to the May 6 prisoners. For your freedom and ours.”

Navalny, who first made his name as an anti-corruption campaigner, is on trial in a separate case in which he is accused of embezzlement while serving as an adviser to a provincial governor. He claims the charges are punishment for his exposure of high-level corruption and campaign against Putin and his party.

Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.

The risk of severe weather in Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, is roughly 45 times higher than on a normal June day, Bunting said. Detroit, Baltimore, Washington, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Louisville, Ky., have a risk level 15 times more than normal. All told, the area the weather service considers to be under heightened risk of dangerous weather includes 64 million people in 10 states.

“It’s a pretty high threat,” Bunting said, who also warned that the storms will produce large hail and dangerous lightning. “We don’t want to scare people, but we want them to be aware.”

Yesterday “might be the worst severe weather outbreak for this part of the country for the year,” said Jeff Masters, meteorology director at Weather Underground.

You can have tornadoes and a derecho at the same time, but at any given place yesterday the straight-line winds are probably more likely.

Last year, a derecho caused at least $1 billion in damage from Chicago to Washington, killing 13 people and leaving more than 4 million people without power, according to the weather service. Winds reached nearly

100 mph in some places and in addition to the 13 people who died from downed trees, another 34 people died from the heat wave that followed in areas without power.

Derechoes, with winds of at least 58 mph, occur about once a year in the Midwest. Rarer than tornadoes but with weaker winds, derechoes produce damage over a much wider area.

Wednesday’s storm probably won’t be as powerful as 2012’s historic one, but it is expected to cause widespread problems, Bunting said.

The storms are the type that will move so fast that “by the time you see the dark sky and distant thunder you may have only minutes to get to safe shelter,” Bunting said.

The storms will start late morning or early afternoon in eastern Iowa, hit Chicago by early afternoon and move east at about 40 mph, Bunting said.

If the storm remains intact after crossing the Appalachian Mountains, which would be rare for a derecho, it should hit the Washington area by late afternoon or early evening, he said.

For Washington, Philadelphia and parts of the Mid-Atlantic the big storm risk continues and even increases a bit Thursday, according to the weather service.

Syrian Helicopter Fires On Lebanesestatement Town, 2 Wounded said.

BEIRUT - A Syrian helicopter opened fire on a Lebanese border town in the eastern Bekaa Valley yesterday, wounding two people, the Lebanese army said in a statement.

The incident took place in the mainly Sunni Muslim town of Arsal, whose residents strongly support the rebellion against President Bashar alAssad in neighboring Syria.

“A Syrian helicopter fired two rockets towards the square of the town, two people were wounded,” the army

This file photo provided by the Cuyahoga County Jail shows Ariel Castro in Cleveland.

Arsal has also sheltered fighters who fled the Syrian border town of Qusair, captured by Assad’s forces and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas after more than two weeks of fierce fighting with rebels.

Violence from Syria has increasingly spilled into Lebanon. Rocket fire from rebel-held border areas has fallen on the pro-Hezbollah, Shi’ite town of Hermel in

recent weeks, in apparent response to the group’s battle across the border in Qusair.

Syrian forces have also frequently crossed the poorly defined border in pursuit of rebels. Deeper inside Lebanon, street fighting fuelled by tensions over Syria has killed dozens of people in the northern city of Tripoli, and two rockets were fired last month towards Hezbollahcontrolled south Beirut.

South Africa Disciplines 93 Soldiers On UN Mission JOHANNESBURG South African’s defense minister says 93 of its soldiers are being disciplined for offenses committed during a United Nations mission in Congo and four of them already have been discharged for sexual misconduct.

Minister Nosiviwe MapisaNqakula said yesterday the charges involved forces serving under the U.N. peacekeeping command in rebel-troubled Congo. No cases of misconduct were

reported in the South African contingent in Sudan.

In a statement, she said the South African military would not tolerate any cases related to “reported incidences of the abuse of women and children.”

She did not elaborate on other offenses for which she said “the harshest possible sanction has been handed down.”

Mapisa-Nqakala said the military strove to abide by human rights and the right to dignity even in conflict areas.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

International

Compiled By EDOBOR HARRISON

Mandela Responding To Treatment - Zuma

JOHANNESBURG — Former President Nelson Mandela began responding better to treatment yesterday morning for a recurring lung infection following “a difficult last few days,” South Africa’s president said.

President Jacob Zuma told parliament that he is happy with the progress that the 94-year-old international icon is making following his hospitalization on Saturday.

Mandela spent a fifth straight day yesterday in a Pretoria hospital, where he was visited by one of his daughters and two granddaughters.

Zuma noted that yesterday marked the 49th anniversary of the sentencing of Mandela to life

in prison in 1964. He said “our thoughts” are with Mandela and his family “on this crucial historical anniversary.”

“We are very happy with the progress that he is now making following a difficult last few days,” Zuma said. “We appreciate the messages of support from all over the world.”

Zuma yesterday applauded the legacy of Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists. South Africa’s government disbanded its official policy of apartheid — racial segregation and discrimination — in 1994.

“Our country is a much better place to live in now than it was

before 1994, even though we still have so much work to do,” Zuma said.

Mandela, the leader of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, spent 27 years in prison during white racist rule. He was freed in 1990, and then embarked on peacemaking efforts during the tense transition that saw the demise of the apartheid system and his own election as South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama wished Mandela a “speedy recovery” on Tuesday.

His admission to a hospital in Pretoria, the capital, is Mandela’s fourth time being admitted to a hospital for treatment since Decem

Turkish PM To Meet Istanbul Park ANKARA- Police and and blankets. At the Protesters bedding protesters retrenched park’s entrance on Taksim yesterday after punishing overnight clashes in Istanbul’s Taksim Square — an uncertain hiatus before officials were to hold talks aimed to end Turkey’s biggest anti-government protests in decades.

Nearly two weeks of protests across the nation have shaped up as perhaps the biggest test in the 10-year rule of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan — who protesters say is increasingly authoritarian, a charge that he and his allies strongly deny.

President Abdullah Gul, seen by many as a more moderate voice, said the government could not tolerate more of the unrest that has disrupted daily life for nearly two weeks, but authorities would listen to protesters’ grievances.

“I am hopeful that we will surmount this through democratic maturity,” Gul told reporters. “If they have objections, we need to hear them, enter into a dialogue. It is our duty to lend them an ear.”

It was unclear exactly who would be taking part in the meeting scheduled for 4 p.m.

(1300 GMT) at Erdogan’s office in Ankara, and whether the meeting will have an

impact in brokering an end to the protests.

Activists had doubts about the talks’ legitimacy: Only an actor and a singer — with unclear connections to the protesters — had agreed to take part, and some leaders of civil society groups, including Greenpeace, had previously said they would not participate because of an “environment of violence.”

Gul lashed out at foreign media, as international investors have been concerned about how the disturbances could affect Turkey’s fastgrowing economy. There has been a double-digit percentage drop in the main stock index since the beginning of protest.

After a night of violence, traffic returned to Istanbul’s Taksim Square early Wednesday, with taxis, trucks and pedestrians returning to the streets. A heavy police presence stood off to the side, near a new barricade erected before dawn to prevent riot police from firing tear gas into the square’s still occupied Gezi Park.

Hundreds of protesters remained in the park, clearing up after a night of trying to fend off tear gas, followed by an early morning storm that blew down tents and soaked

Square, a massive barricade of wrecked cars and construction material stood as rudimentary protection from the police.

Throughout Tuesday, riot police firing water cannon and tear gas clashed repeatedly with pockets of protesters throwing stones and setting off fireworks in pitched battles. The unrest didn’t simmer down until just before dawn.

Erdogan has insisted the protests and occupations, which he says are hurting Turkey’s image and economy, must end immediately.

The protests erupted on May 31 after a violent police crackdown on a peaceful sit-in by activists objecting to a project replacing Gezi Park with a replica Ottoman-era barracks.

They spread to 78 cities across the country and have attracted tens of thousands of people each night.

affairs and sides with Rafsanjani’s view that Iran can maintain its nuclear program and ease tensions with the West

DAMASCUS - Syrian rebels have attacked a village in the country’s east, killing dozens of Shiites, mostly pro-government fighters, activists said yesterday.

A Syrian government official denounced the attack, saying it was a “massacre” of civilians.

The killings, which took place Tuesday in the eastern Deir el-

Along with Rowhani, four conservatives and a hard-liner remain in the race.

Motorcycle Bomb Kills 2, Wounds 15 In Afghanistan KABUL - A motorcycle bomb killed an Afghan soldier and a civilian yesterday and wounded 15 other people in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

The blast was near a market in Helmand province’s heavily contested Sangin district, local police chief Ghulam Ali said, adding that three soldiers, one local police officer and 11 civilians were among the wounded.

Helmand government spokesman Omar Zwak said the

Jiroemon Kimura, center, poses with Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday, right, and Guinness World Records Asia-Pacific Representative Frank Foley after Kimura was presented with the certificate of the world’s oldest living man at his home in the city, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

Syrian Rebel Attack Kills 60 Shiites

Iran Presidential Candidates On Last Day TEHRAN - Candidates in Campaign at the same time.

Iran’s presidential election are wrapping up the final day of campaigning, with a moderate cleric seeing his chances significantly boosted just two days before the vote.

Hasan Rowhani was thrown into the forefront of the race after pro-reform candidate Mohammad Reza Aref pulled out on Tuesday.

Rowhani’s chances also increased with former popular presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami publicly giving their support to him.

Friday’s election will find a successor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who cannot run for a third term in office.

The 64-year-old Rowhani rejects Ahmadinejad’s combative approach in world

A man runs carrying fire extinguishers past a burning van during clashes at the Taksim Square in Istanbul Tuesday.

explosives in a parked motorcycle were remotely detonated as an army and police patrol passed by.

Taliban insurgents and other militants have unleashed a fierce wave of attacks on Afghan security forces and government targets in recent weeks. The offensive has pushed violence to some of the highest levels of the 12-year war as Afghan forces take over most security responsibility from international troops set to withdraw next year.

Zour province, highlight the sectarian nature of Syria’s conflict that has killed more than 80,000 people, according to the U.N. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 60 people were killed in the village of Hatla in the oil-rich province that borders Iraq.

Thousands of rebels took part in the attack and at least 10 of them were killed in the fighting, said the Observatory.

In Damascus, a government official said the rebels “carried out a massacre against villagers in which older people and children were killed.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The fighting in Deir elZour came a week after Syrian troops, backed by Lebanon’s militant Shiite Hezbollah group, captured the strategic town of Qusair near the Lebanese border after nearly three weeks of fierce battles that killed dozens of troops, rebels and Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah’s involvement in the Qusair battle underlined the group’s commitment in support of President Bashar Assad’s regime and edged the civil war in Syria closer to a regional sectarian conflict pitting the Middle East’s Iranian-backed Shiite axis against Sunnis.

Most of the armed rebels in Syria are from the country’s Sunni majority, while Assad has retained core support among the minorities, including his own Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, along with Christians and Shiites.

An activist based in Deir elZour said the rebel attack was in retaliation for an attack Monday by Shiites from Hatla that killed four rebels. Thaer al-Deiry, who identified himself only by his nickname for fear of government retaliation, said via Skype that rebels gathered and launched a counter attack Tuesday.

He said some 150 Shiites

from the village fled across the Euphrates River to the government-held village of Jafra.

“The situation in the village is quiet and the Free Syrian Army is in full control,” alDeiry said, referring to the rebels. He added that the village has been under opposition control for more than a year but some of its Shiite residents recently started collecting arms apparently to fight along government troops.

Also yesterday, the Observatory reported heavy clashes in the central city of Homs, mostly in the neighborhood of Wadi Sayeh.

The fighting appeared to be an attempt by government forces to separate two main rebel-held areas in the city, Khaldiyeh and the center of Homs.

Building on its victory in Qusair, the Syrian military has shifted its attention to try to clear rebel-held areas in Homs, a linchpin area linking Damascus with regime strongholds on the Mediterranean coast, and the northern city of Aleppo.

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International

Vacancies! Vacancies!!

Greek State TV Closure Triggers Strikes

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for appointment into the following positions:

ATHENS - Greece’s conservative-led government was facing a political crisis Wednesday after its decision to shut down state-run TV and radio as part of spending cuts triggered a wave of strikes and fierce opposition from within the coalition government.

The country’s two largest labor unions called a 24-hour general strike for Thursday with flights from Greece’s airports set to halt for two hours that day.

TV and radio signals from the Hellenic Broadcasting Corp., or ERT, went dead early Wednesday, hours after the government closed the broadcaster down and fired its 2,500 workers, citing the need to cut “incredible waste.”

Protesters gathered outside the company’s headquarters north of Athens for a second day ó sheltering from torrential rainfall in the building’s giant lobby ó as ERT’s journalists defied the order and continued a live Internet broadcast.

Journalist unions also launched rolling 24-hour strikes, halting news programs on Greece’s privately owned broadcasters, while the government’s center-left coalition partners demanded that ERT’s closure be reversed.

The government defended its decision, insisting a new more efficient and less costly public broadcaster would be launched before the end of the summer.

“When you restructure something from the foundations, you have to close it, temporarily,” government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said.

ERT started radio programming in the 1930s and television in the mid-1960s. Though it was widely regarded as reflecting government positions ó it had a channel run by the military during the 1967-74 dictatorship ó the broadcaster was also valued for showcasing regional and cultural content and for covering major sporting events such as the football World Cup and the Olympics.

ERT is largely state-funded,

with every Greek household paying a fee through its electricity bills ó whether they have a TV set or not. There are also several private broadcasters in Greece, including Mega and Sky. ERT employee Kaity Potha, 55, said the government was blaming the broadcaster’s staff for their own incompetence, having given high-paid jobs at the broadcaster in return for political patronage.

“Our salaries have been cut 45 percent in the past three years,” she said. “Every clown who governed Greece in recent decades dumped us not only with their own governing board but also with 200300 new staff ó their salaries have not been cut.”

The surprise closure of ERT is one of the biggest crises to hit the three-party coalition government since it was formed nearly a year ago.

Conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras faces escalating opposition from his own coalition partners ó the Socialist Pasok and Democratic Left party ó for the decision.

The executive order to close ERT must be ratified by parliament within three months

but is faces failure if it is not backed by all the coalition’s members. The Democratic Left has already submitted legislation in parliament to cancel the order.

Junior coalition party heads were to meet later Wednesday to discuss the closure.

CHANGE OF NAME

AGI ANAKU – I, formerly Joshua Agianaku now wish to be known, called and addressed as Joshua Emmanuel Joshua. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

MUSA –MOHAMMED – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Musa-Mohammed Sonia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eboigbodin Esohe.

All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OKUNZUWA – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Patience Raliatu Okunzuwa is now known and addressed as Mrs. Patience Abiemwense Ogbewe. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EGHAGHE – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Florence Eghaghe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Florence Uwadae. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, College of Education Ekiadolor and the general public should please take note.

1. OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Candidates must possess a University Degree with a minimum of ten (10) years experience.

In addition, the eligible candidate must be computer literate. A retired civil servant of not less than the cadre of a Director is also eligible to apply.

2. COMPANY SECRETARY The candidate must be a qualified lawyer with cognate experience in company and allied matters. He or she must be computer literate.

3. MARKETING OFFICER/PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER The suitable candidate must be a University Degree holder in any of the Humanities or HND in Marketing or Mass Communications.

The ideal candidate must be pleasant looking with a good command of English language, computer literate and should have a minimum of five (5) years experience.

4. CONSTRUCTION SITE SUPERVISOR. Qualifications: Candidates must be a qualified Civil or Electrical Engineer with minimum of five (5) years experience in the construction industry.

He must also be computer literate.

CONDITION OF SERVICE Each position goes with an official car and other incentives SALARY: Attractive but negotiable.

JOYCE WEDS PAOLO

The Solemnization of marriage between former Miss Isiri Joyce Eghovo (A Businesswoman) and Mr. Paolo Venturini (based in Italy) took place on Wednesday, 12th June, 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Mr. Okuse .O. Benson, Mrs. Okoro Sandra, Mr. God’stime Ana, Mr. Bright Iyamu, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations. PHOTO: SONNIE .E.

METHOD OF APPLICATION Interested candidates should forward their applications with relevant credentials to The Advertiser, P.M.B 1703 not later than two (2) weeks from the date of this advertisement.

Signed: MANAGEMENT

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Man And The Visiting Of Sins Unto Third And Fourth Generation Nature THE law of seed and harvest, cause and effect, which can also be called the law of Reciprocal Action, is a uniform law for the whole of creation, applying equally to human actions and thought and determining the course of fate. To this also, pertain happenings which are designated as chance, with the implication of arbitrariness and blind sway.

In reality, however, they are the effects of lawful processes, which are often strange and inexplicable, because, man is no longer in a position to survey and recognise the invisible connections in them. By viewing his fate intellectually he advances no further. Extra-earthly realms are involved here, which are not accessible to the earthly intellect.

How often we say in regard to fateful event. It was an unfortunate or fortunate accident, chance willed it so, it was brought about by a series of accident or it was a game of chance.

But the game was known, it went according to incorruptible rules, determined by the laws of creation.

In accordance with the same laws, many human souls must again return to earth to make good, to redeem. The sins which they once committed on earth for earthly beginning stipulates earthly ending in accordance with the law of the cycle, by which the ring must close at the place where it was begun. Thus, all quilt avenges itself on earth” according to which the Biblical expression “to avenge” means nothing other than the working out of the laws of sowing and reaping.

The same law is expressed by the Biblical words. “The iniquity of the fathers is visited upon the children unto the third and fourth generation” (Exo. 20:5) the visiting does not refer to heredity. What is inherited is only purely physical. We see it for example with drug addicts and drunkards, whose children then suffer from physical defects.

But there is no spiritual heredity. Therefore, the visiting refers only to the karmic reaction of a wrong which, for instance, parents commit against their children. Its effect goes on from generation to generation, until in one generation a halt is called to the necessary atonement through better recognition and it is possible for the originator to begin with the redemption of his karma.

One such sin is when parents instill into their children that life does not continue after death, that everything is then ended.

This gives rise to very far reaching, adverse effects, especially, if the off spring retain this false view and pass it on to the grand children. These effects continue until in one generation the right recognition of an after life arises and the originator is only then able gradually to server himself from his quilt.

The present day conditions of moral decline in particular are rooted to a considerable extent with young and old in the fatal view that man lives only once on earth. Hence, earth life is senselessly enjoyed without consideration for one’s fellowmen and with total disregard of the responsibility placed upon man by God. Escape into narcotics and drugs, into illness and suicide, is to some extent connected with this.

At the same time, no thought is given to the consequences of the reaction and yet they take effect, here on earth or there in the beyond and, regardless of human volition and thinking, which rarely accords with the laws of creation.

Hereditary sin was a consequence of the original fall of man. The sin or wrong-doing lay in the over-cultivation of the intellect, associated with which was the voluntary chaining of man to space and time. There were additional effects resulting from purely intellectual activity, such as love of gain, imposing upon others,

With O.C. MADU 08056379608

oppression, etc, which again brought many others, in fact all evils in their train.

This process naturally had an ever increasing influence on the forming of the physical body of those people who developed themselves in a purely intellectual way. Through being continually exerted, the frontal brain which produces the intellect

that is earthly and gross material. He then becomes incapable of grasping anything that is ethereal or primordial and in addition entangles himself in all sorts of evil, which is inevitable where the intellect dominates (Abdru-shin).

It is the coming into the world with this voluntarily over cultivated frontal

free him from responsibility, which he retains, for he inherits only the danger not the sin itself.

He is in no wise compelled to allow his intellect to rule unconditionally and thus, submit himself to it. On the contrary, he can wield the

is freed from this mistake and its consequences, even if this takes hundreds or thousands of years.

What a child so educated does after it has had the opportunity to consider and retrace its steps, would then react upon it alone. Such

became disproportionately enlarged, it was therefore, quite natural that this change in structure expressed itself in the procreation of the physical body and that at birth children entered the world with an increasingly developed and stronger frontal brain.

This contained and still today contains, a predisposition or tendency towards an intectual power dominating all else, which harbours the danger that the bearer of such a brain, on awakening it fully, not only chains himself to space and time, but also to every thing

brain, containing the danger of a mere intellectual domination with its inevitable evil manifestations, which is the hereditary sin.

It is the physical inheritance of this part, called an account of its excessive artificial cultivation the “great” brain (cerebrum), which expresses man from birth to the danger of too easily entangling himself in evil.

At any rate the narrowmindedness which results from enchanment to coerse matter makes it more difficult to recognise God. This however, does not

great power of his intellect like a sharp sword to clear his path in the daily bustle of life, as directed by his intuitive perception, which is also, called the inner voice.

But if through education and training a child’s intellect is brought to the point where it completely dominates, then the child is absolved of part of the guilt or better, or part of the reactions brought about by the law of reciprocal action, because, that part will then fall upon the educator or teacher who caused it. From this moment onward, he is tied to the child till the latter

opportunities arise through the spoken or written word, through emotional shocks in life or similar happenings, which forcibly bring about a moment of deep intuitive feeling such opportunities are bound to come.

It would be useless to say more on this subject or to multiply examples, which would only be a repetition and raid to the same condition. He who reflects upon the matter will soon find a veil lifted from before his eyes. He will then have solved many questions within himself.

“ It is the coming into the world with this

voluntarily over cultivated frontal brain, containing the danger of a mere intellectual domination with its inevitable evil manifestations, which is the hereditary sin.”

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Cisse On Target

Holtby Thinks Positive TOTTENHAM’S Lewis Holtby is looking forward to next season after enduring a ‘bad end’ to the campaign with both club and country.

Having arrived from Schalke in January, the 22-year-old was part of the Spurs side pipped to a Champions League berth by north London rivals Arsenal three weeks ago.

If that was not bad enough, Germany Under-21s, a side Holtby captains, last night saw their European Championship exit confirmed with defeat to Spain.

While understandably disappointed by the way things have panned out, the midfielder remained remarkably philosophical and upbeat.

‘It’s been a bad end to the season, but what can I do? I can’t change it now,’ Holtby said.

‘I just have to think positive.

Hopefully I still have a long career ahead of me, and all my colleagues are healthy and we have no serious injuries.

‘Sometimes you have to put things into perspective and think as a human, not just a footballer.

I can’t wait for next season to start. I think next season is going to be my year.

‘I can’t wait for pre-season to start. It will be my first preseason in English football and I plan to give it my all. I have settled in very well with the rest of the lads. It feels as though I have been at Tottenham a lot longer than six months.

‘It’s a great club and I can’t wait to try to help them into the Champions League.

Lewis Holtby

Darren

Rodgers Confident Of Title Challenge LIVERPOOL’s manager Brendan Rodgers has given his wantaway striker Luis Suarez some food for thought after claiming the squad he has assembled at Anfield is “ready to challenge” in next season’s Premier League.

Suarez’s latest comments last year, Rodgers has moved insisting he is eager to leave quickly to tie up deals for Kolo Liverpool this summer make it Toure and Iago Aspas and he is increasingly difficult for the club talking up his side’s hopes of to hang onto the troublesome success next term.

Uruguayan, yet Rodgers is “I’m not here to be remaining upbeat after getting comfortable, to sit and earn the his transfer dealing done early money and just enjoy being this summer.

Liverpool manager,” he is After his club missed out on quoted in the Daily Mirror. signing American midfielder “There’s a pressure that comes Clint Dempsey in the final hours with it and I believe we’re in a of the summer transfer window much better place to challenge

Bent To Take Pay Cut To Force Toon Move DARREN Bent is ready to accept a pay cut in order to speed up his departure from Aston Villa and resurrect his career at Newcastle United, ESPN understands.

Preliminary contact between the two clubs has been made, with Newcastle boss Alan Pardew interested in linking up with a player he first managed during his spell in charge of Charlton Athletic.

Pardew is in the process of trying to convince Magpies owner Mike Ashley to back his decision of offering Bent the chance of a fresh start, with Villa ready to accept a bid in the region of £6 million for the 29-year-old.

ESPN understands that the England international would relish the opportunity to move to St James’ Park, despite his previous association with bitter rivals Sunderland, while he also accepts that any deal will involve a significant reduction of his £65,000-a-week salary at Villa Park.

Bent has held talks with Villa, making it clear that he is not prepared to sit on the substitutes’ bench for another season, and wants a fresh start away from the club, given that the World Cup in Brazil is just 12 months away.

The Midlands side are unlikely to stand in the way of

any deal and are also ready to cut their losses on the striker, who cost them an initial £18 million from Sunderland in January 2011.

They accept they will have to take a significant reduction on their huge outlay on Bent, but American owner Randy Lerner is prepared to accept a figure of around £6 million, or possibly less, as part of his continued policy of reducing the club’s wage bill.

Fulham manager Martin Jol is also keen on signing Bent and registered his interest several months ago, while the striker was enduring a frustrating season as a peripheral figure Villa boss Paul Lambert is clearly planning for life without

Bent next season after completing a £2.5 million deal for Lech Poznan winger Aleksandar Tonev and persuading Andreas Weimann to sign a new contract.

Denmark international striker Nicklas Helenius is expected to be added to the list of new arrivals in the next ten days from Aalborg BK, while Christian Benteke’s agent is set for further talks with the club regarding the future of his client.

Newcastle desperately require attacking options after a poor campaign last season which saw them lose Demba Ba to Chelsea, and Pardew is confident he can persuade Ashley that a cut-price Bent with a point to prove would be a good piece of business.

Mourinho Willing To Help Torres

NEWLY-appointed Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho says he is keen to work with Fernando Torres and hoping to get the best out of him.

The former Liverpool player has had his ups and downs since making his move to Stamford Bridge in 2011, but Mourinho believes he can still return to his best form.

“Fernando is more than happy to stay and work hard,” Mourinho told reporters.

“If the best for all of us is for Fernando to stay, let’s help him and try and get the best out of him.”

Mourinho says he is not looking to make too many changes to the

squad ahead of the new season as he believes they have signed quality players in recent seasons.

“It would be easier if we did that (signed new players), but we don’t want to do that,” he said. “We are happy to go with these fantastic, talented boys.

“We are happy with the investment Chelsea made in recent seasons. We want to go in this direction.

“The one or two we may buy are complements because the structure and philosophy is this one.”

now. I think we can do it. I believe we have built a real good base this year.

“Of course, it will be a tough ask because, as we improve, other clubs will have masses more money to do so as well. But it’s not my job to look for excuses, I have to find the solutions to try to push us in there and I believe we won’t be too far away.”

Rodgers went on to speak about the areas of his team that need to improve ahead of the new campaign, as he talked up the progress made in his first season at Anfield.

“What we showed last season was promise,” he said. “There were moments of disappointment and moments of delight, but when I look at the reality of it we scored 47 goals the year before and this time got 71 and we hope to add to that.

“Defensively, for a team that was supposed to be very strong a year earlier, we only conceded three more goals. So in terms of numbers and performance wise we improved. Now I believe we will improve again and we have to because we want to sustain a challenge and aim higher every season.

“We need centre-halves and I’m looking to bring 20 more goals into the team, so I’m also looking at an offensive player to give us a real threat on goal and another attacking midfield player.

“We definitely need to do that, especially if we’re going to put some young ones out on loan to gain experience. It’s not easy when you can’t make mistakes, but we want to keep the acceleration and pushing on so this is a very important window for us.”

PSG Consider AVB Approach PARIS Saint-Germain may be set to make a surprise move to lure Andre Villas-Boas from Tottenham, according to reports on Sky Italia.

The French champions look certain to lose current manager Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid in the coming days and with Jose Mourinho turning down their advances in favour of a return to Chelsea, the ambitious Parisian club are running out of options in the search for a successor.

Reports linking Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger with a move to PSG have been persistently dismissed by the veteran Frenchman, who appeats set to see out the final year of his current Gunners contract at the very least.

A move for his north London rival Villas-Boas would be seen as something of a gamble from PSG sporting director Leonardo, but it would certainly hand the

Portuguese a dilemma to consider after just one season as Spurs boss.

Reports linking Villas-Boas with a move to Napoli last month proved to be without foundation and it remains to be seen whether these rumours are backed up with a formal approach by PSG, yet the news would come as a blow to Spurs’ hierarchy.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is believed to be on the brink of shaking up the club’s structure, appointing Italian Franco Baldini as sporting director at the request of VillasBoas and any suggestion that the coach he has put so much faith in may walk away from his post would be an unsettling development.

Several British newspapers have run stories suggesting Villas-Boas may be tempted by a move to Paris, yet none feature quotes from PSG officials, the Spurs manager or his advisers.

SEVERAL Newcastle United players were in action for their national sides in 2014 World Cup qualifying matches across the globe.

Papiss Cisse was on target for Senegal in the Lions of Teranga’s 1-1 draw with Angola on Saturday.

Cheick Tiote played the full 90 minutes in Ivory Coast’s comfortable 3-0 win over Gambia. The midfielder was booked during the game.

Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini was not involved in Argentina’s goalless draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires.

Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Debuchy both started for the French national team in Les Bleus’ 3-0 loss to Brazil on Sunday. Debuchy played the full 90 minutes, while Cabyae was subs

Cisse

Gerard Tipped To Replace Navas ACCORDING to his father, Barcelona’s Gerard Deulofeu would be a suitable replacement for Jesus Navas at Sevilla.

Sevilla recently sold the Spanish international to English side Manchester City and are targeting the Barcelona youngster as a possible replacement.

German side Borussia Dortmund have also expressed some interest but his father, Marcel Deulofeu, believes the Andalusian side stand a good chance.

“Sevilla are a good option,” he told reporters. “No decision has been made but Gerard wants to go to a team where he has the ability to play 30 games and be able to continue growing as a player.

“He wants to play and be with a coach who has shown that he has no problems with giving young players a chance.

“I think Gerard has characteristics similar to those of Jesus. He’s fast, skilful and he could fit into the team.”

Jesus Navas

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US Open

Garcia Writes Tiger Woods Over Racial Jibe

SERGIO Garcia has made repeated apologies for the “fried chicken” jibe he directed at Tiger Woods last month, saying he “felt terrible” and had left a note for the American in his locker.

Though the two players shook hands on the practice range at Merion Golf Club on Monday in their first meeting since Garcia made the reference, the Spaniard said it had not been an “appropriate place” for him to apologise to Woods in person.

Garcia conceded that the fallout from the whole affair could distract him in his bid to win this week’s US Open and expressed his hope that Woods would read the note at some point.

“I want to apologise for what happened a couple of weeks ago,” Garcia told reporters at the start of what turned out to be a moving and heart-felt news conference at Merion on Tuesday.

“But hopefully, like Tiger said, he’s considering the matter closed and hopefully we can all move forward and kind of start competing ... respectfully ... hopefully we can all have a great tournament.”

Asked if he had apologised to Woods during their brief meeting at Merion on Monday,

Garcia replied: “Unfortunately not. I felt like it wasn’t the appropriate place for me to, out of respect to him and to the other players, to do it there.

“Unfortunately, when I got done practising he was gone already, so I couldn’t see him.

“This morning I was here early. I didn’t see him around, but I did leave him a note. A handwritten note. Hopefully he can take a look at it. It’s a big week and I understand that it’s difficult to meet up and stuff.”

Garcia, an eight-times champion on the PGA Tour who has yet to win a Major, admitted his own form might suffer at Merion this week with his mental focus still a little shaky following the “fried chicken” affair.

“I don’t know,” said the 33year-old Spaniard. “We’ll see. It obviously doesn’t help, but it is my own fault. I don’t have anyone to blame other than myself.

“Obviously I’ve been very worried about the whole

situation. I felt terrible about it.

But people have made me feel very good out there (on the golf course), the last couple of days, so hopefully that will continue throughout the week.

“The only thing I can do is give my best effort and hopefully that would give me a chance (to contend). If not, we’ll move on and we’ll try to play well the week after.”

Garcia gave perhaps his most heart-felt reply during Tuesday’s news conference when an African-American reporter asked him whether he was aware how much his stinging “fried chicken” comments had offended much of society in general.

“I understand that,” said the Spaniard, with his eyes focused squarely on the reporter. “That’s why I said sorry, because I can obviously see that I hurt a lot of people.

“And that doesn’t make me feel good. I can tell you that. I wish I could go back in time and take back what I said, but unfortunately, I said it.

“The only thing I can do is show you my respect from here moving forward. I try to be as respectful as possible competing

Roma Set To Hire Garcia As Francky Dury, both 55, who FRENCH media expect Rudi Garcia to be installed as New Boss guided unfashionable ZulteRoma coach on Wednesday while a trio of candidates will find out in the next 48 hours which of them will succeed him at Lille.

L’Equipe claimed on Wednesday that Garcia, 49, is poised to finalise his move to the Italian capital where he will sign a two-year contract with the option of a further year after meeting Roma’s majority shareholder, James Pallotta, in New York in the last few days.

Garcia, for whom the high point of his five-year tenure at Lille was the 2010-11 league and cup double, will be joined at the Stadio Olimpico by his two assistants, Frederic Bompard and Claude Fichaux.

The name of his replacement should also be known within the next two days, L’Equipe also reports, after Lille president Michel Seydoux interviewed three potential successors in Paris on Tuesday.

Former Montpellier coach Rene Girard, 59, is favourite

to take over at the Grand Stade, but Borussia Monchengladbach’s Swiss boss Lucien Favre and

Waregem to runners-up spot in the Belgian league last season, are also in contention after impressing Seydoux.

and hopefully what I do will show you how much I care about everybody. So only time will tell us I guess.”

Garcia made the jibe at a European Tour awards dinner in England, then apologised in a news conference the following day.

Fried chicken has become a racial stereotype in the United States when referring to African-Americans - a reference to the days before the abolition of slavery when chicken was believed to be a staple part of the diet.

PSG Ultras Arrested In Belgium A GROUP of Paris SaintGermain ultras could face prosecution in France after being arrested in Belgium ahead of last Friday’s World Cup qualifier with Serbia in Brussels.

Over 20 former members of Milice Paris, a PSG ultra group disbanded in 2010, were stopped by Belgian police ahead of last week’s Group A encounter.

Aged between 20 and 35, the group, some of whom reportedly have links to extreme right-wing bodies, had crossed the border to swell the ranks of the visiting support.

“As they know that they’re closely watched in France, where they are sometimes banned from going to games, these supporters favour matches abroad,” a police source told AFP, who broke the story.

Zidane Not Qualified For Real Job

ZINEDINE Zidane’s lack of the relevant coaching qualification is Florentino Perez’s latest setback as the Real Madrid president scrambles to fill the still empty bench at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and

• Zidane

get the club’s summer transfer business really moving.

The former France international has begun the process of gaining a full

• Tiger Woods

coaching qualification in his home country, however AS claims Zidane has yet to complete the 390-hour course and therefore cannot take charge of a Primera Division side.

Carlo Ancelotti remains Perez’s first choice to replace Jose Mourinho as Madrid boss, but Paris Saint-Germain’s apparent inability to find a suitable substitute for the Italian - with Guus Hiddink and Andre Villas-Boas the latest names reportedly considered and discarded - has led to further options being explored in a process criticised as “desperate” by the Madrid chief ’s predecessor Ramon Calderon.

Zidane’s preferred solution is reportedly to take a hands-on coaching role as Ancelotti’s assistant, and Spanish radio show El Larguero claiming the Italian would be happy with such an arrangement. This would still leave Madrid lacking a heavyweight ‘sporting director’ figure to look after transfers and contracts within the Bernabeu hierarchy.

France’s National Division for the Fight against Hooliganism (DNLH) had alerted Belgian authorities to “the presence in Brussels of French supporters likely to cause breaches of the peace”, leading police to take action prior to kick-off.

Milice Paris was one of a number of ultra groups disbanded as a consequence of a ‘clean-up’ programme set in

motion by former PSG president Robin Leproux to rid the club of its most violent elements.

The arrests are seemingly not related to the violent incidents which occurred during PSG’s title celebrations in Paris on May 13, which left shops and buildings damaged after a 90minute riot. Twenty arrests have been made in connection with that incident.

Argentina Ban Away Fans AWAY fans have been banned for the next two rounds of matches in Argentina following the death of a supporter in La Plata on Monday.

One Lanus fan was killed and another man badly injured after police and hooligans clashed before a top-flight match against Estudiantes at the Estadio Cuidad de La Plata.

Officials called the match off at half-time after news of the death and injury emerged.

Local authorities had already announced a ban on travelling fans in the wake of the tragedy, and that has since been extended nationwide across all divisions by the Argentina Football Association.

“The measure will remain in place until the football

authorities take action to curb violence in football,” regional security minister Ricardo Casal said.

A joint statement from the AFA and the government confirmed that they “have decided jointly that the next two rounds in Argentine football be played without the attendance of the visiting public”.

According to the BBC, more than 70 football supporters have been killed in the country since the turn of the century.

The scenes in La Plata come just days after Saturday’s match between Velez Sarsfield and All Boys at the Estadio El Fortin was marred by trouble as hardcore supporters tried to enter the ground without tickets.

Prandelli Rues Haiti Draw ITALY boss Cesare Prandelli admits he was left “embarrassed” after his side were held to a 2-2 draw with Haiti in an international friendly on Tuesday.

The Azzurri looked to be cruising with a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals to Emanuele Giaccherini and Claudio Marchisio, but late strikes from Olrish Saurel and Jean Phillipe Peguero salvaged a memorable draw for Haiti.

The 63rd-ranked Caribbean side dented Italy’s preparations ahead of their Confederations Cup campaign, which begins against Mexico on June 16.

Prandelli was critical of his players’ performances

following the match, insisting there were no excuses for the result.

“It is certainly a bad result, and an embarrassing one, because a draw with Haiti is an embarrassment,” he told Rai Sport. “We arrived yesterday and made many changes. We should’ve been different in terms of spirit today.

“We have to take many aspects into consideration, most importantly we need to find our physical sharpness. We’ve worked towards this and you could see today we lost every single sprint, so we hope in five days the team can begin to deliver.”

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

Dortmund To Buy Quality Players

Silva To Discuss PSG Future With Ibra THIAGO Silva has revealed he will talk to Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic “about [their] future” when the Swede returns from his holiday.

While Ibrahimovic, 31, can now lie back and sun himself after scoring twice in Sweden’s World Cup qualifying win over the Faroe Islands on Tuesday, Silva, 28, will have a truncated summer break as he prepares to lead Brazil into the Confederations Cup. However, with the future of PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has asked to leave the club this summer, still uncertain, the Selecao captain plans to discuss his own plans with the man who joined him in the French capital from AC Milan less than a year ago.

“We haven’t spoken a lot since the end of the season.

He’s on holiday, and I call him less because he needs to rest. But I speak a lot to him. We’re certainly going to speak about our future because it’s something which is very important for us,” the PSG captain told Sky Italia.

Both players have stated their admiration for Ancelotti, who turned 54 on Monday, but indicated they

will not necessarily follow the Italian, who has requested to be freed from the last year of his contract at the Parc des Princes, out of the door.

That likelihood was reinforced by PSG sporting director Leonardo, who insisted that neither player would leave the club this summer.

Silva, though, has been strongly linked to Barcelona, while Ibrahimovic has been the subject of media speculation claiming he is poised for speedy return to Serie A.

BORUSSIA Dortmund will invest heavily in the squad over the summer, says the club’s president Reinhard Rauball.

The Ruhr giants have already lost Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich, with Robert Lewandowski likely to follow the 21-year-old, but Rauball wants the team to remain competitive.

“The Bundesliga is wondering

. . . Borussia May Sell Lewandoski To Other Club

• Governor Adams Oshiomhole

By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE

THE finals of the Governor Oshiomhole Gold Cup is expected to end at the Benin Technical College Sports ground today. the male category.

In the female, Egor would slug it out with their Etsako counterparts in the same venue.

ESYCCA President

disclosed that some talents have been discovered during the tournament.

The set objective of ESYCCA is to build the lives of the young people through football. Everybody in the society can not be doctors, engineers etc, some have to

become footballers. I mean big stars in future who would go places, earn good living from it” Uwadiae said.

The Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Omorede Osifo among others are dignitaries that are expected at the grand finale.

still decide to cash in on the 24year-old if another club meets their valuation of the attacker.

“We want to find a good solution for all parties involved.

That’s why I will not say that he will definitely stay at Dortmund. I can say that he will not move to Bayern Munich in 2013, though,” Watzke told Bild.

“Bayern have contacted us twice by phone in the past four weeks. We only said for legal reasons that we need a formal offer for Lewandowski, but such an offer has not been made so far. A move to Bayern is a closed book.

“We will discuss everything else with Robert and his agent in the days to come. That’s a matter of respect. But our explicit wish remains that Robert plays for Dortmund next season.”

Pearce Angry With England Players STUART Pearce lambasted England’s Under-21 players after an embarrassing European Championship plummeted to new lows with a 1-0 defeat to hosts Israel.

The Young Lions headed

into their fourth successive tournament riding the crest of a wave, having won nine matches on the bounce without conceding a goal.

However, that run was

Real Won’t Baulk At £85m For Bale REAL Madrid last night confirmed they will not baulk if Tottenham demand £85million for Gareth Bale.

President Florentino Perez has smashed the world transfer record four times to bring in Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Asked if he would hesitate to pay £85m for Bale, Perez insisted he is ready to break the bank to land the Welshman.

He told Marca newspaper: “For those players and investments that generate and produce income, you can give everything in life.

“I showed in 2000 that with those players you change the dynamic and go from losing to winning.

“But we don’t speak of Bale so much because he plays at a friendly club to us and they will be annoyed if

BORUSSIA Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says Robert Lewandowski could still leave this off season even if they refuse to sell him to Bayern Munich.

BVB stated at the weekend that Lewandowski will not be allowed to join Bayern, but Watzke has admitted they could

Oshiomhole Cup End Today According to the President of Edo State Youth Clubs Coaches Association (ESYCCA) Sam Pele Uwadiae, Egor will take on Etsako East in the final of

to what extent we are willing and able to invest,” he is quoted as saying by Ruhr Nachrichten.

“Even in this regard, we are willing to make the duel of the league’s top two teams as exciting as possible.” BVB finished 25 points behind Bayern in the Bundesliga standings but made it to the Champions League final, where they lost 21 to their Bavarian rivals.

we speak. I know their chairman well and he doesn’t like these things.”

Spurs are desperate to keep winger Bale, 23, for at least one more season.

Perez also has Liverpool

• Gareth Bale

striker Luis Suarez and Napoli hitman Edinson Cavani on his hitlist.

He added: “We have a very high bar but someone will come in for sure.”

brought to abrupt end, with defeats to Italy, Norway and Israel meaning England will head home on Wednesday morning having failed to muster a single point in Group A. “I think basically if you don’t turn up and work hard enough in any given tournament, you won’t get any success and that was typical of today and probably the two games prior to it,” Pearce said.

“I honestly don’t believe I should be here answering questions on behalf of them.”

He added: “They should be here answering questions on why their performances were so poor, to be honest with you.

“I don’t think it’s my responsibility at this stage to answer for a performance as bad as that. This is the business end of the tournament and we got what we deserved.

“I don’t think we deserved to win a game. Credit to the Israelis, they deserved to beat us.”

Things have no doubt been made harder this past week by the fact players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck were unavailable to Pearce.

Senior team friendlies were deemed more important than the tournament, while there have been suggestions that some of the Under-21 squad would rather have been at the beach.

“I don’t think so,” Pearce said when asked about that. “I think we’ve got players here who have not performed.

Barring Andre Wisdom, I would say, and his performance tonight - that’s why he was made captain and I think he should be captain for the next two years. I think he led by example. I think players didn’t bring their form here.”

The players may take a large proportion of the blame, but the inquest into England’s failings could well see Pearce lose his job. The former international full-back’s contract expires at the end of the month but, despite making his desire to stay public, there have been few positive noises from the Football Association.

“It was a real poor performance,” Pearce said. “In regard to my future, my mentality has not changed in 10 days, when I spoke to you (the press) and gave you the heads up on what my mentality would be. Results in

this tournament have not effected that one iota.

“I’ve no idea [whether this will impact my chances].

When you look around Europe over six years and see that our team is the only team that has been here four times running.

We’ve lost very few games, bar this tournament, in tournament football over the years and played some very good football over that time, so there’s a middle ground somewhere.

“We’ve not performed in this tournament that’s for sure, there might be a multitude of reasons for that. I have to take it on the chin and obviously the players do as well.”

• Stuart Pearce

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

2014 W/Cup

Morocco In Last Chance Saloon MISS-firing Morocco know that nothing short of victory in their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier at home to Gambia on Saturday will be good enough to keep their Brazilian dreams alive.

The north African side trail pool leaders Cote d’Ivoire by five points with two rounds left, meaning victory is essential in this match.

Even that might not be enough if the Ivorians win in Tanzania as expected on Sunday.

Morocco have rather stuttered

through their qualification campaign, which started with a disappointing 1-1 draw in Gambia last June.

The team is going through a rebuilding phase and have yet to find anywhere near their best form, despite having some outstanding individuals.

Eguavoen Targets Fed Cup AKURE Austin Eguavoen, the Technical Adviser of City of David United (COD) FC of Lagos, a Nigerian National League side, says he wants to win the Federation Cup with the team.

The Lagos State Federation Cup champions move to the next stage of the Federation Cup after defeating FC Lokoja 2-1 in round of 64 at the Akure Township Stadium on Tuesday.

Eguavoen in a post match

interview with Reporters said he was a relieved after his team came from a goal down to qualify for the round of 32.

“I’m relieved a little bit in spite of the fact that we struggled to get the victory.

Obi Attracting Bremier Leave Interest A number of Premier League clubs have registered an interest in Inter Milan midfielder Joel Obi, according to the player’s agent.

Obi, 22, signed for the Nerazzurri from Nigerian side NEPA Lagos in the summer of 2010.

However, the Nigeria international’s 2012-13 campaign was disrupted by injury and he managed just three appearances for the Serie A club.

Both Newcastle and Sunderland have recently been linked with a move for Obi, while his agent, Renzo Contratto, has now revealed that clubs in England have enquired about the midfielder.

• Gov. Peter Obi

eight of them are featuring in league matches; so it’s going to be a big mountain to climb,’’ he said.

Eguavoen added that he hoped to get to a credible stage of the competition.

“Nothing is impossible in football; we have a big chance to make it to the final. The major key is for the team to perform high in their next match,’’ he said.

NAN reports that COD United are currently 10th, with 31 points on the log of the Group B of the Nigeria National League.

2014 W/cup Qualifier:

Guinea Must Beat Zimbabwe

• Kalu Uche

Kalu Uche Wins Turkey Gentleman KALU Uche has said he is to continue with next season,” Award delighted to scoop the Most he said.

Gentleman Award in Turkey after he was not booked throughout the season.

Nigeria international forward Uche told the official website of his Turkish club

Kasimpasa he was thrilled to win such an award in a tough league.

“In such a tough league, I’m glad I have not seen any cards.

This is the performance I hope

The former Espanyol ace played 34 league games and had no yellow card.

He scored 19 goals to emerge second top scorer in the Turkish top flight.

FA Happy With Entries For Gov Obi Cup AWKA The Anambra Football Association (AFA) on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with the “massive“ entries for the

“No game comes easy in the Federation Cup; all the teams are out to prove a point but the game has come and gone. I am happy we won,’’ he said.

The former Super Eagles coach admitted that the only challenge for the team was the inability of newly signed players to register for the Federation Cup. “The players we signed at the beginning of the second round in the NNL were not able to participate in the Federation Cup games.

“As I speak with you, we have only 16 players to prosecute the Federation Cup matches and

forthcoming Gov. Peter Obi Football Cup. The Secretary of the association, Victor

Nwangwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka that almost all the 177 communities in the state had enlisted in the competition scheduled to begin on June 29.

“The interest has been tremendous; almost all the 177 communities in the state have enlisted,’’ he said.

According to Nwangwu, the championship will be the best of its kind in the country, stressing that subcommittees are being set up to ensure a standard competition.

He said the AFA would also allow institutions of higher learning as well as the police to participate in the competition because they were considered as communities.

“Universities, polytechnics

and the police have also been elevated to community status; they shall be taking part in this first championship of its kind in the state.

“Registered higher institutions and the police will be playing in the various communities they are located,” he said.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the association, Jude Obikwelu, said the tournament would last for two months and that it would be hitch-free as adequate security arrangement had been made.

Obikwelu said that registration for the championship would close on June 15 and that a tour of venues in all the local councils would commence thereafter.

GUINEA need a victory to keep the heat on pool leaders Egypt or their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign will come to an end.

Even victory might not be enough for them if Egypt win away in Mozambique and secure top spot in the group.

Guinea gave themselves a fighting chance with a 6-1 success over Mozambique last weekend, a result which will

have provided a huge boost in confidence.

Zimbabwe, depleted by the Asiagate scandal, have never really got going in the pool and have just a single point from their four games to date.

Guinea have three wins to one in the six previous meetings between the two sides, including a 1-0 success in the reverse fixture in Harare last June.

Ayew Brothers Return To Black Stars MIDFIELDER Andre Ayew has confirmed he and his brother Jordan have returned to the Black Stars after a meeting with Ghana President John Mahama on Tuesday.

GHANASoccernet.com reported that Sports Minister Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah and Ghana FA Vice President Fred Crentsil were also inside the meeting held at the Flagstaff House, the seat of government, in Accra.

The fruitful discussion will see the Olympique Marseille duo available for selection for Ghana’s final Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier against Zambia at home.

“Everything is OK and I hope things with the Ghana federation will be better,” said Andre said after the meeting.

“We cannot play football with conditions. We play football with our heart. There are no conditions set to our comeback.

“What matters is the best for our country. We are back to do everything and let

Ghana qualify for the World Cup.” Andre quit the national team claiming he was unhappy over some of the management members of the team.

The 23-year-old was axed from Ghana’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations squad after failing to report early at their pre-tournament camping base in Abu Dhabi, UAE. His brother Jordan simultaneously rendered in his resignation insisting he wants to be guaranteed first team place after being excluded from the squad.

• Andre Ayew

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013

The Politricks Of Gay Marriage WHETHER by accident or design, just about when Monsieur Vincent Autin, 40, and Monsieur Bruno Boileau, 30, (Mr. & Mr.?) were being wedded as husband and wife in far away France, in what has become the country’s first gay marriage, the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was also applying the last six-inch nail on the coffin of the ban of gay marriages in Nigeria. That also goes down as one of the bold initiatives of our Federal Legislature in recent times.

Apparently, the West had become overbearing, to the extent that the rest of the world must be coerced into supporting even their propensity for evil.

Close to 53 years after her nominal Independence, so to say, Nigeria’s annual Balance Sheet is still prepared in Washington, DC. Even in the area of our much touted oil wealth, when the multi-nationals sneeze, Nigeria catches cold because they hold the key to that industry.

Our Production Accountant could as well be in the Netherlands. Is it not also true that in the area of record keeping, the daily production quota is what the multi-nationals say it is, particularly in the face of the un-auditable records of our own Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC? The West carries its overbearing attitude through all aspects of our lives. At the social spectrum, for instance, the West insists on determining everything: we must eat what they eat and forbid what they forbid. Until recently, priesthood was the exclusive preserve of the Whiteman. “I say see Father, you say see oyibo?” was a tacit acceptance of this. We must worship the God they worship. Otherwise, we face the harsh

punishment prescribed by them for non-adherence.

We may not be allowed to pick the crumbs that fall from their breakfast tables.

When they decide to sleep around with goats and dogs, we must also do the same.

When they suddenly turn homosexual, we must quickly bury our heterosexual instincts.

Otherwise, as a matter of deliberate policy, there will be no more funding for our projects. That explains why recently, the US and UK issued death threats on aids to Nigeria.

At a point, Nigeria got sick and tired of the whole nonsense and it was time to tell the West to take its financial assistance and shove it! The Bill on the Prohibition of Gay Marriages provided an opportunity for the National Assembly to pour out her invectives on the West for poking its big nose in our affairs.

The need for efficiency and order is a powerful weapon against an obstreperous nation’s conscience to maintain her ethical autonomy. By ethical autonomy, we mean the willingness to assert one’s own principled judgment, even when that entails violating rules, values and perceptions of others.

A nation is ethically autonomous to the extent that it sticks to its guns about what it thinks, hears, sees and feels, even where to do so puts the nation in conflict with other nations.

We soon got to the point where the National Assembly realized that they must act forcefully to prevent the further embezzlement of public trust. They came out with a law that was made into watertight compartment.

Have you ever seen a law into which sufficient rage was built? The same-sex Marriage Prohibition Law is one such law. It provides a classical case of Black awakening in a White World.

The vexed legislators did not care if aspects of the law carried punishments that

could amount to double jeopardy. The law is so tight that there is no escaping it from head to toe. It prescribes a 14-year jail term, without a fine option, for anyone involved in a gay marriage. Not only that. The law also slams a 10-year jail term without an option

punishment prescribed for that law.

I remember my friend, Wolfgang, who lived in a remote part of Munich, Germany. Wolfgang shared a common boundary with the Council authorities. On this boundary, there was a

they did. Wolfgang earlier informed us that he had accumulated his annual leave for the purpose of

• Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Reps

of fine on members of gay associations, gay clubs and all persons who engage in gay processions.

There are those who would want to break a law and willingly accept the

tree that the Council liked but which Wolfgang hated.

He wanted to cut down the tree. They told him that if he brought down the tree they would send him to jail for three months. He did and

going to serve a jail term for cutting down the tree. We sent him forth.

This is also the limit of ethical autonomy.

Those who think that gay couples in Nigeria could

escape under this, namely, contract the marriage, go to prison for 14 years, after which they will come and enjoy their marriage, should wait till they hear the provisions of Section 5 (3) of the Bill: “Any person or group that witnesses, abets and aids same sex marriage shall be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment”.

What this means is that you may not even get there. The Pastor who contracted such marriage, the choir that ministered at the wedding, the Master of Ceremony at the reception, the Editor of the media house that published the notice of such marriage, all those who attended the wedding, are all accomplices and they must go to prison for 10 years without an option of fine.

Could you go to any of the countries in the West and do your wedding in just the same way as Nigerians now rush to Dubai and other places for normal marriages? Of course, you could go to the West and enter into your gay marriage but you would have to remain in the West for the rest of your life. The law provides that certificates of gay marriages issued in foreign countries shall be void in Nigeria. It is that serious!

“A nation is ethically autonomous to the extent that it sticks to its guns about what it thinks, hears, sees and feels, even where to do so puts the nation in conflict with other nations. We soon got to the point where the National Assembly realized that they must act forcefully to prevent the further embezzlement of public trust. They came out with a law that was made into watertight compartment. Have you ever seen a law into which sufficient rage was built? The same-sex Marriage Prohibition Law is one such law. It provides a classical case of Black awakening in a White World.”

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