Nigerian observer 13 08 2014

THE NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 39 NO.055 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014 . N 100.00 NATURAL MEDICINE Page 19 Women and their Brassiere (2)

Killing Of Final Year Student: Petroleum University

EFFURUN Thousands of grieving students, yesterday barricaded the entrance of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUMPRE) in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State over the

Students protest

killing of a final year Student of the school by suspected community youths.

The rampaging students chased away workers who had reported for work in

protest against the killing of late Jimoh and constant harassment by community youths.

The students complained bitterly of several attacks launched on them ranging from

raping of their female students, theft and all forms of harassment from the Ugbomro youths.

They recalled how some of the community youths invaded their hostels a fortnight ago and robbed Continues on page 2

Osun Guber Poll

NEW HORIZON

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Celibacy in focus

Background of spirituality

Politicians offered N14m to compromise poll - DSS

ABUJA - Ms Marilyn Ogar, the spokesperson of the Department of State Services (DSS), said yesterday that politicians in Osun offered operatives of the service N14 million bribe to compromise the governorship election in the state.

Ogar made the “I am saying to you allegation at the National that the director in charge Information Centre in of election duty as it Abuja while responding pertains to DSS was to a question on why the asked to come and APC was at war with the collect N4 million for service. himself and N10 million Ogar, however, said for the hooded men. that the service rejected “Because the money the bribe money which, was declined, that is the she said, was offered to offence the DSS has the DSS Director, who committed. was in charge of the Aug. “People should stop 9 election, and his men. using money to entice She also declined to security forces; the name the politicians who Federal Government has offered the bribe.

the capability to take care of us, when the time

comes, we will talk.

“We are well paid, I will

say it categorically, our operations are well funded,’’ Ogar said.

She said that the federal government gave the service N200 million to provide security during the election.

According to her, before the DSS deployed its men and materials for any operation, they are paid Continues on page 2

Ebola: Edo ramps up public

enlightenment, surveillance BENIN CITY - The Edo State Government is working to ensure that the state remains free of the raging Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Edo State Commissioner for Information(Hon.) Louis Odion in a statement yesterday, two weeks ago, based on a statewide clinical survey, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs) Aihanuwa Eregie

announced that the state was free of the communicable disease.

To keep the state safe, public enlightenment has been stepped up by the Ministry of Information and Orientation, even as the surveillance team raised by the Governor, Comrade Adam Oshiomhole, has set to work.

Working directly with health officials of the eighteen councils, the

TIT BIT

“It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.”

- Benjamin Franklin

surveillance team is headed by the Health Commissioner, assisted by the Director of Disease Control, Dr. Osamuyi Williams Irowa.

The team has activated Continues on page 2

ASSESSMENT: Chairman, Senate Committee on Commercialisation and Privatisation, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, receiving a gift from the MD, BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, while ED, BEDC, Abu Ejoor and CTO, BEDC, Major Bshakar Pola, look on, during the committee’s assessment of the distribution company’s operations in Benin, Edo State capital.

NYSC remains a force for nat’l unity - Ihonvbere

By QUEENNETH A OROBEDO

BENIN CITY - Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the introduction and sustenance of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has remained a force in the unity and cohesion of the country.

Prof. Ihonvbere was speaking yesterday in Government House,

Benin City when he received a high powered

delegation from the Directorate of NYSC on behalf of the State

Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

He reaffirmed the state

government’s continued support to the NYSC scheme as evident in the excel during their service year in the state.

Continues on page 2

ABUJA - Efforts geared towards fighting the dreaded Ebola Virus Diseases (EVD) has been intensified in the

country as designated centre for the suspected victims has been opened in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The FCT Minister, Bala

Mohammed announced this yesterday, while inaugurating a 25 – member committee during an interactive forum to work on the

various modalities with respect to prompt and coordinated response to check outbreak of the virus as well as creating Continues on page 2

Abuja opens Ebola Centre

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

News

NYSC remains a force for nat’l unity Continued from page 1

The SSG equally promised that the state government would immediately direct the relevant agency to effect repairs on the collapsed water borehole at the temporary NYSC Orientation Camp at

Okada, as efforts are on to complete the permanent Orientation Camp soon.

Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo expressed gratitude to the state government for the various welfare packages for

Petroleum University Students protest

Continued from page 1 the students of their belongings having raped a lot of the female students.

Consequently, the student leader therefore called on President Goodluck Jonathan to provide enough security for the students or relocate the school to a better and more secured place.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident and assured that the culprits would be brought to book.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, FUMPRE, Professor John Efeotor condemned the killing of the final year computer student of the Institution last Thursday night by yet to be identified gunmen.

At a meeting by the Management of the School and a cross-section of the Students Union Government of the school yesterday, he said that adequate security measures were being put in place before the resumption of two weeks postponement date announced by the Management of the school shortly after the incident.

Professor Efeotor explained that the school was not closed down as erroneously believed explain that the School

authority only postponed the resumption date by two weeks to enable it provides adequate security for the students.

Responding, President of the SUG, Comrade Solomon Ogoron, condemned the high rate of crime and unwarranted attack on students of the Institution and called for provision of adequate security in and around the school and presented a communiqué of the demands of his colleagues to the Management.

Palpable tension had enveloped Ugbomro community in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State since last Friday following the killing of the said student allegedly by the host community youths.

The Nigerian Observer gathered that the student was shot dead at about 8 p.m. on Thursday while returning from where he went to buy indomie and egg for dinner.

It was learnt that the victim had bought the food and was returning to his hostel when he was allegedly attacked by the Ugbomro community youths and was shot on the neck.

When fellow students rushed out to the scene, Jimoh, who was believed to be the only son of his parent and hail from Ibadan, Oyo State was lying dead in the pool of his own blood.

corps members deployed to the state, with particular reference to the payment of transport allowance to corps members on completion of their service year, urgumenting their feeding at the orientation camp and financial reward to corps members who distinguished themselves during their service year.

State Co-ordinator, NYSC, Mr. Ologun Lanre appealed

Abuja opens Ebola Centre Continued from page 1

awareness about it.

The centre, according to the Minister was located in a special ward of the General Hospital, Kuje, in Kuje area council of the country’s capital.

Mohammed disclosed that every precautionary step and facility has been put in place at the designated wards of the Hospital, stating that the choice of the Hospital was due to his easy accessibility.

However, the Council Chairman, Shabal Tete has taken exception in the choice of the hospital, saying his concern was due to the fact that the area was predominantly resided by illiterates.

Meanwhile, contrary to warning by some experts against using human Ebola victims for experiments, describing it as unethical, the World Health Organization (WHO) has hailed the approach but advised that the patient’s consent must be sought before the application.

In a statement released by the body, WHO guided that the patients should give

Politicians offered N14m to compromise poll Continued from page 1 up front, saying that they could not be induced with bribe.

“The rejection of the money brought a lot of misunderstanding between the political party involved and the DSS, but we held our high.

“The APC has won the election in Osun, we thank

God that there is no bomb blast anywhere, and there will not be because there was enough security.

“I want to tell you there is a big man occupying a very sensitive position in Osun, the man should thank his God that it was not the DSS that arrested him with huge sum of money that he was found with,’’ she said.

to the state government to consider the payment of stipends to corps members serving in public schools in the state.

The delegation from the National Office of the NYSC led by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo was in Edo State as part of oversight functions, particularly in the ongoing orientation course for corps members across the state.

Ogar expressed satisfaction that operatives of the service, among other security agencies, provided security to enable voters in the state to exercise their franchise.

“That is what we have done and the people who have won, have won. Because we insisted on providing a level playing ground, we were antagonised,’’ she said.

consent where possible, before being treated with the drugs while the entire process should be made transparent.

The United States (US) has just promised it would connect Liberia, one of the most affected West African countries with the manufacturing company of her ZMapp EVD experimental drugs to treat its doctors presently down with the deadly virus.

Ebola: Edo ramps up public enlightenment, surveillance

Continued from page 1 monitors in 192 wards across the state.

Authorities at the Irrua Specialist Hospital are working closely with the State Ministry of Health for referrals and quarantine wards.

The Commissioner said .

Hon. Louis Odion enjoined members of the public to be vigilant and report any abnormality to health officials, even as they are enjoined to improve on their personal hygiene by washing their hands with water and soap regularly.

Meanwhile, following reports of a suspicious death in Udo Town in Ovia South West last week, officials of the State Ministry of Health moved in to ascertain the cause. Specimens were taken from the body and taken to the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

However, preliminary examinations revealed that the deceased died of bleeding from peptic ulcer. To be sure, further examinations are still ongoing at the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

Ebola: Former NMA President calls for safety of health workers

ABUJA - The former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Osahon Enabulele, yesterday advised the Federal and State governments to provide personal protective equipment for doctors and other health workers managing Ebola fever patients.

Enabulele, who made the call in an interview with news in Abuja said it was to guarantee their safety while they were working to save lives.

The immediate past President of NMA said in view of the dangers health workers were confronted with, it was expedient to guarantee their protection in order not to compromise their lives.

“We have to keep calling on government to provide the needed personal protective equipment to guarantee the safety of health workers.

“It is not enough to throw workers to manage such public health crisis situations; they also need to guarantee their safety

and protection.

“Right now there is really nothing on ground to protect health workers and even the hazard allowance of N5,000 per month is so miserable.

“I can imagine that so far in this crisis since it started in Guinea, a lot of health workers have been consumed; in fact over 60 doctors have lost their lives,” he said.

Enabulele, who commended doctors for setting up Ebola responsive teams to curb the spread of the virus irrespective of the ongoing NMA strike, urged the federal government to meet the demands of doctors.

“The NMA has been very responsive to issues of public health and even as the NMA is on strike, a lot of Ebola response teams are being set up by the Nigeria Medical Association at the various state levels.

“So, the NMA is very prepared

and in fact has set up a lot of response teams to manage this and collaborate with local and international partners in this direction.

“I saw that even in the case of insurgency, even while the NMA was on strike, members responded by attending to the bomb blast victims in Kano and Kaduna.

“In spite of the fact that the members are on strike, they are also very sensitive to the fact that they need to also respond to this even at their own peril.

“Government has to do the needful, more importantly in this time of crisis, so that you have more people on ground to be part of the rescue mission in terms of the Ebola crisis management.’’

Speaking on the treatment for Ebola, Enabulele, who is currently the Vice President,

West African Region of Commonwealth Medical Association, said there was neither known cure nor vaccine for the disease.

He however called on African governments to be more committed to research development, rather than depending on the West for solution.

“There is certainly no vaccine right now. There are several candidate vaccines being tried and of course the same thing with the drugs.

“As much as we are in a hurry to have drugs to manage the Ebola as well as vaccine to prevent even healthy people from getting infected, that draws to mind the challenge of getting African governments to be a bit more proactive and more committed to the issue of research development.

“We honestly cannot continue to look upon the West, upon the foreign countries to develop solutions for our African problems.

2015: Ohonbamu promises effective representation

By LUCKY EFESE

BENIN CITY- A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State and a Honourable Member, representing Egor Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Paul Nosayaba Ohonbamu, has promised an effective representation in the House of Representatives, if voted into power in the 2015 general election.

Hon. Ohonbamu disclosed this Monday, while receiving members of APC in Egor, who had come to pay him a solidarity visit at his constituency office in Benin City.

He pointed out that he was aspiring to the lower chambers of the national assembly in Abuja, to ensure that the dividends of democracy get to his people satisfactorily. The legal luminary who had distinguished himself in the legislature, especially his untiring steps towards the motion that nailed the defected lawmakers for misconduct was a testimony of his sterling leadership role in the House.

He thanked his party faithful for their visit and noted that his tenure as a legislator in the House of Assembly in these challenging years could not have been successful, if not for their support.

He posited that the current situation at the State House of Assembly parallel would not militate against the legislative processes for good governance in the state, just as he informed them of his resolve to proceed higher as a result of the laudable achievements these current crop of legislators, had recorded.

He stressed that their era in the State House of Assembly had promoted a course of good governance in the state through the unbridle synergy and the other arms of government.

He assured his people of his tireless efforts and continuous support toward making life more meaningful to the people of Egor and Ikpoba –Okha Federal Constituency.

Hon. Ohonbamu

advised the APC members not to be deceived by self acclaimed political sycophants, whose inordinate ambitions are to sink the progressives train of the people and subject them to the doomed days of the opposition party, PDP, in the State.

In their remarks, the party loyalists thanked the legislator for the honour done them. They averred that they were in his office to appreciate his goodwill and showered encomium on his vast roles for good governance in the constituency, especially the infrastructural development and the human capital developments he had extended to the good people of Egor.

They assured the lawmaker of their unreserved and unflinching support toward his 2015 ambition.

They noted that the era of their legislative processes in the state has been more profitable to the people of the state and particularly made reference to the recent transformation of comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the benchmarks of the sealed relationship that existed between them, the executive, and the Judiciary in the state.

The APC members urged the lawmaker not to relent in his fight for noble cause for his people, which had been his primary objectives in the house and source of his inspiration.

They promised to work in tandem with his policies and programmes to effect positive change in his 2015 ambition particularly and the entire people of Egor / Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency.

The elated political leader in Egor, charged his members the urgent need to continually support the Governor and the APC, so as to consolidate in the achievements the state was currently witnessing

Hon. (Barr.) Paul Ohonbamu

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Inside Edo World Youth Day

Politicians Urged To Desist From Using-Youths As Mercenaries

Former Youth President Tasks Youths

By VICTOR OMOALU

By EDET ELIJAH/ UGAGBE STANLEY BENIN CITY- A former President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Hon. Agharese Idabor has charged youths in Edo State to give meanings to their lives as they celebrated the World Youth Day yesterday.

In his address at the occasion in Benin City, he emphasized that as youths, resources and time management are two basic essentials that they fail to recognize.

He encouraged the NYCN, Edo State Chapter to do more in terms of Youth mobilization for Programmes involving youths.

Speaking on the main Theme of the event, “Youth and Mental Health”, a Psychologist from Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City, Mr. Chris Ossai noted that the qualities of mental health persons include, being able to meet the unusual demands of life, self satisfying mutual relations and enjoy being with people.

He listed early signs and symptoms of mental illness to include, irrational talk, abnormal behaviour, hyperactivity, restlessness, aggressiveness and apathy.

Mrs. Munachiwa Dike who spoke on skills acquisition, charged the youths to stand firm in values, education, self esteem, communication skills, and proper time management to secure a brighter future.

Speaking with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, Chairman of NYCN, Edo State Chapter, Comrade Ajayi Innocent said they organized the seminar to educate youths to shun every activity that could deny them of becoming great future leaders.

The Managing Director/CEO of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. ‘Yemi Adeola and the Managing Director of Arsenal FC, Mr. Ivan Gazidis at the signing of the sponsorship agreement between the Bank and the Club in London weekend.

Education: NAWOJ Applauds Oshiomhole

By ADAMS OYIBOKE BENIN –CITY - Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has been eulogized for dogged determination towards ensuring that children in the State have access to qualitative education.

The State Chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) , Comrade Amina Ebor in her remarks during a 30 million naira Creche Fund raising ceremony in Benin City said “Governor Oshiomhole’s forte was on good quality education.

“He should continue with his good work, focused and undaunted in his drive towards the safety of our children in the state for enhanced quality of education in conformity with International best standard”, she added.

According to the NAWOJ Chairperson, “no one can deny Governor Oshiomhole’s positive place in history for his uncompromising policies towards ensuring good quality education for children in Edo State”.

She maintained, “ I am of the school of thought that your policy on Education that teachers employed by Edo State

Government must be qualitatively trained to impact on our children in the state”.

Comrade Ebor regretted the Comrade Governor’s decision to soft-pedal on the State Government policy that teachers under the State employment undergo competency test.

While stressing the essence of the crèche to the children of Journalists and non-journalists as well, the NAWOJ Chairperson said, “the prevailing precarious situation in the country where children are often kidnapped from school necessitated the need for this project”.

“The Precarious Security Situation necessitated the idea to urgently put up a building that will compare with International Standard, so that Journalists and even other Civil Servants will have their minds at rest whenever they come to drop their children”, she said.

The Special Guest of Honour, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Barr. Steve Idehenre Congratulated the Women Journalists initiative to build a crèche where their children would be kept in a secured and conducive learning

Agbonkonkon Hails IPMAN Boss

By RAYMOND OSOGBE Achievements promise land.

BENIN CITY- A former National Vice President of Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN), Elder Peter Agbonkonkon Ogbeide has described the current IPMAN National President, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo as the best gift to the association in recent times.

Agbonkonkon said this yesterday, while addressing newsmen on the achievements of elder Okoronkwo, since assuming office as National President of IPMAN. The former IPMAN National Vice Chairman called on relevant stakeholders in IPMAN to sheath their swords and join the transformational train of Okoronkwo, saying that the train will lead the association to the

BENIN CITY- Youths in Edo State, yesterday joined their counterparts across the globe to mark the world Youth Day celebration with a call on politicians to ‘desist’ from using youths as political mercenaries to actualize the selfish agenda.

They also called on government at all levels to look inward with a view to mapping out plans/strategies that would help revolutionalize the country through agriculture, which according to them would help curb unemployment and youth restiveness in the country.

Addressing newsmen during the celebration which was organized, by the Edo Youths for Good Governance (EYFGG), in collaboration with Initiative for Youths Awareness on Migration,

Agbonkonkon listed Okoronkwo’s achievements to include, establishment of IPMAN Petrol Chemical Refineries in Kogi and Bayelsa States, inauguration of 1000 Units Housing scheme for IPMAN members and as well as the erection of a befitting IPMAN national secretariat in Abuja.

According to Agbonkonkon, the refinery to be situated in Bayelsa will refine petroleum products for local and foreign consumption.

This, he said is aimed at keying into the national transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Agbonkonkwo therefore said that all and sundry within the IPMAN family should support Okoronkwo whom he referred to as a selfless servant who has offered himself for

the service of his father land.

He also lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the convocation of the national confab, just as he tasked him on the implementation of the 18 percent derivation formula for direct benefit of host communities.

Similarly, he charged the President Jonathan led administration to pass the Petroleum Industry Bills (PIB) to enable IPMAN and other relevant stake holders benefit from the upstream sector.

Agbonkonkon also used the occasion to urge IPMAN, being the most viable and vibrant economic association in Nigeria to promote cohesion and stability within it’s fold in the 36 states of the federation, including Abuja.

environment.

According to the State Governor, “from what I can see, I am convinced that this project needs the support of all and sundry because, in my own estimation, it will allow the female Journalists carry out their professional duties without distractions”, he stressed.

On her part, wife of the State Deputy Governor, Deaconess Endurance Odubu represented by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties and Emergency, Hajia Maimuna Momodu said she was happy to identify with the Women

Journalists crèche project.

Deaconess Odubu described the project as handable, stressing that the quick completion of the project rest on support from Corporate individuals and other well-meaning Nigerians.

Others who delivered goodwill messages at the occasion were the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida represented by Mrs. Flora Enaruna and representative of Barrister Vincent Uwadiae, Chairman, State Oil and Gas Producing Area Development C o m m i s s i o n , (EDOSOGPADEC).

Immigration, Development / Reintegration (IYAMIDR) EYFGG President, Comrade Osaru Culture, said the celebration became necessary because of the need to X-ray the impact of youths on nation building.

He called on the Federal government to as a matter of urgency review the subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) towards ensuring an all-inclusive and participatory programme.

The youth who vowed to resist any political aspirant who fails to present youth-presented manifestoes, in the forthcoming general elections called on the Edo State House of Assembly Factional leaders, to shift grounds for reconciliation in the interest of the progress of the state.

According to him, the youths would soon remind the lawmakers on why any of them will not be voted for during subsequent elections.

The EYFGG President appealed to the state government to facilitate the immediate release of appointment letters to deserving youths who applied for job under the state Neighbourhood Watch Scheme as well as consider the appointment of youths into the State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC).

While commending the Federal government on the appointment of Peter Osaretin as the NDDC Commissioner, the youths called on government at all levels to take proactive measures toward the fight against the spread of Ebola Virus in the country.

He however admonished his members (Youths) to jettison any act capable of foiling social ills in the society.

Mr. Oluwaseun Alogun (middle), one of the newly promoted FRSC Officers being decorated with his new rank by FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer in charge of Ogun and Lagos States, Mr. John Mehuex (left) and Lagos Sector Commander, Mr. Chidi Okwonta (right) in Lagos recently.

Benin Residents Speak On Ebola does not enter into the state while

By IKPONMWOBA OSAZEE Virus awareness on the virus would be JOEL/ OGUNGBE AYOBAMI SEWANU

BENIN CITY- Residents in Benin City have expressed their level of Belief and knowledge of the dreaded Ebola Virus.

Although, no case of Ebola Virus have been recorded in Edo State, however, residents in the state are expressing a high level of believe in this recent deadly and dreaded virus.

A walk round some major streets in Benin City revealed that residents are sharing high level of awareness and are taking

precautionary steps to avoid being infected by the virus.

Some respondents while speaking with the Nigerian OBSERVER said they are highly informed of the virus, its origin and how it came into the country through a Liberia man, Patrick Sawyer, who was heading for a convention in Calabar.

In an interview with some officers in the Ministry of Information and some Civil Servants in the State Ministry of Health, they both Ministries are trying their best to see that the virus

intensified to ensure the safety of members of the public.

They however thanked the media for their high level of participation through publication in ensuring that the public are aware of the disease.

In the Nigerian OBSERVER of yesterday, the Ministry of Information and Orientation gave an enlightenment campaign on Ebola Virus.

It urges members of the public to be properly guided to ensure that this virus is prevented as it have no cure.

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News Harsh Treatment

NUPENG Issues 14 Days Ultimatum

By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM PORT HARCOURT-The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has given 14 days ultimatum to the Federal and State Governments, international oil majors and other relevant stakeholders to resolve the harsh treatment being meted to its members working in Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and BK Tubulars (Nig) Ltd all in Port Harcourt zone or they would down tools.

The resolution to go on strike which was taken at a-wellattended meeting of NUPENG members in Port Harcourt yesterday and was read to reporters by the National Industrial Relations Officer of the union, Comrade Bassey Harry.

NUPENG also said that if it embarks on this strike, its senior counterpart, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the petroleum tanker drivers as well as petrol station workers would all join in

solidarity, a position that was corroborated by the Zonal Chairman of PENGASSAN, Mr Azubuike. M. Azubuike who attended the meeting of NUPENG yesterday in Port Harcourt.

However, Harry who appealed to Nigerians not to see their action as being “insensitive to their plight” also explained that the decision to go on strike was as a last resort since NAOC and BK Tubulars have refused to implement the directives given to them by NAPIMS and Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

Explaining the roles of these two companies that have earned the ire of NUPENG, Harry said that in April and June this year, NAPIMS directed NAOC to discuss the STOP GAS contract of turbine and related equipment maintenance in three localities where ARCO Petroleum (Nig) Plc operate but NAOC refused, thus causing serious threat to the jobs of their members.

In what seemed to have added salt to injury, NAOC allegedly replaced the contractor with Plantgeria (Nig)

based image making Organisation, Publishers of EdoState Personality Almanac, has released four names of distinguished and prominent Edo Women that would grace it 2015 edition.

The names are contained in a release endorsed by the CEO of the Organisation and Publisher of the Speakup Newspaper, Ogbuefi Steve Onweme.

The women include Prof.

Cordelia Agbebaku, Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University; a woman of immense administrative prowess, Prof. L. Salami, first Woman Dean of Faculty of Education, University of Benin; Deaconess F. Ebomoyi Idundun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Acts and Culture, a woman who presided over the

PORT HARCOURT Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has denied campaigning for his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, during his “Meet-The People” tour of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin, has expressed reservation about the political content of Governor Amaechi’s political speeches during his tour of the local governments areas in a chat with some journalists in the Rivers State Police Command, Port

Harcourt, It was the second time in three weeks that the Commissioner of Police was expressing his displeasure with statements credited to Governor Amaechi and the activities of politicians and youth groups during the governors’ tour of the local government areas in the state.

In a statement he signed on Wednesday, July 23, Ogunsakin, fumed at the activities of some political office holders’ while reiterating the earlier ban on political activities in the state. He stated: “The police has observed

Plc which in turn has concluded plans to cut the workforce by 60 percent and cut the negotiated salaries by 40 percent.

NUPENG also want NAOC to reverse the recent termination of the services of its members and pay all the salary arrears of its members ranging from one year to three months as well as implement the workers collective agreement which expired since 2012.

They also reminded NAOC “to speedily set up a tripartite committee as directed by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Port Harcourt to fashion out ways of sanitizing the shoddy dimension service contract awards and execution in the company in recent times.”

NUPENG also want the 13 workers of BK Tubulars (Nig) Ltd “whose jobs were terminated in April 2014 for exercising their constitutional rights to unionization to be recalled”.

6 Women For Edo Personality Almanac BENIN CITY - A Benin City Ministry of Women Affairs

for one year as Perm Secretary without a Commissioner for which she earned the governor ’s commendation and Mrs. Amadasun, Edo State Woman Leader All Progressive Congress (APC) who within a short period, effectively brought all APC Women in the state together to speak with one voice.

Amaechi Assuages Compol On dismay that some

By ELIZABETH Campaign with AGBOEGBULEM political office holders have begun flaunting the earlier ban under the guise of local government familiarization tours or courtesy visits to local governments in the state”.

“Particular reference is made herewith of some youth organizations that have hijacked such visits or tours and turned them into full scale political rallies.

“The command unequivocally warns that anybody caught in this act will be decisively dealt with within the ambits of the law”.

Lagos Gets New Chief Judge

By SURAJU RAJI LAGOS - A gubernatorial nominee, Hon. Justice Olufunmilayo Attilade was yesterday confirmed the new Chief Judge of Lagos State by the State House of Assembly.

The 62 year-old nominee who was the head of Lagos judiciary, became magistrate in 1982 at the age of 30 years and appointed a judge in 1992. The Chief Judge is the fifth judge of the state.

The speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, noted that by constitution, Lagos Assembly is empowered to confirm nominee by the Governor. Commenting, Hon Alawiye King asked the nominee to disclose her landmark judgment.

The new Chief Judge said she will ensure that legal prosecutors take over cases.

Commenting on long hand

writing, she emphasized that more court reporters would be employed and 50 more Judges will also be employed.

On delay of judgment, the Chief Judge blamed the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The House, however, confirmed Hon Justice Olufunmilayo Attilade as Chief Judge of Lagos State.

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Across The Nation Minister Designates General Hospital, Kuje As Ebola Centre

ABUJA- The FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, has designated the General Hospital, Kuje, in Kuje Area Council, as Isolation Centre in case of Ebola-infected persons.

The minister also

Insecurity In Waterways

Bayelsa Inaugurates Task Force

inaugurated 25-man committee to work out modalities for responding to the threat of Ebola virus and create awareness on the nature and symptoms of the virus.

Mohammed made this known during a high powered stakeholder’s interactive forum in Abuja on Monday.

He said the hospital was chosen because it would be

easy for the people of the FCT to access it.

He said a ward would be designated in the hospital where the people could be quarantined and be on surveillance, among others.

He said that adequate infrastructure and equipment would be put in place to

manage affected persons and guard against the spread of the virus.

“All precautionary measures have been put in place to ensure that the designation of the ward will not endanger the health workers and residents of Kuje’’, he said.

YENAGOA - Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has inaugurated an 11-man task force to police the creeks and waterways across the state safeguard lives and property.

This is contained in a statement signed by Daniel IworisoMarkson, Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa Governor and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa.

It explained that the task force was aimed at stemming the tide of kidnapping, sea piracy, illegal bunkering and oil pipeline vandalism.

“The task force is expected to liaise with Bayelsa’s special security outfit - the Operation Doo Akpor-Marine.

‘It has Ebikabowei Victor as Chairman and Osei Clever as Vice Chairman. Tony Ekisa, Pastor Reuben Wilson, Ayibatari Odio, Alalebo West are members.

“Other members are Ibarakumo Otobo, Daubiri Samba, Chiefson O. Chiefson, Etai Daniel and Pius Wariyai.’’

According to the statement, Dickson expressed deep concern over the rising cases of insecurity in the waterways.

It called on community leaders, youths and the general public to be vigilant and cooperate with the task force and security agencies to flush out hoodlums from the creeks and waterways.

The statement said the special task force and the leadership of ‘Operation Doo Akpor’ Marine will be coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Bernard Kenebai (Rtd).

Members of Jesus Breeds Ministries, International, Inc, during a rally on Monday, to mark the beginning of the 2014 National Convention tagged: “Seek to Accomplish”. Photo: SUNDAY OSADEBAMWEN.

The minister instructed the Chairman of the council to sensitise its populace, rather than preventing FCT Administration from using the hospital.

“The hospital is the only option for us to isolate as a centre for Ebola patients; Gwagwalada hospital that is for FCT has being taken from us, we have no other option than to use it.

“We will put all infrastructure needed in place to avoid its spread; doctors will be given adequate training and best way to curtail the disease from spreading’’, he said.

He, therefore, advised the six area council chairmen to sensitise their people on routine cleaning and disinfecting their hands at all times.

Dr Demola Onakomaiya, the Secretary of the FCT Health Secretariat, said the transmission of the disease in human was through direct contact with blood or body secretion, among others.

Onakomaiya denied the recent rumours of Ebola in the

Review Cargo Charges, NSC Urges Terminal Operators

LAGOS - Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), has appealed to terminal operators to review their charges to hasten cargo clearance.

Bello made the appeal during a familiarisation visit to ENL Consortium and Ports and Cargo Handling Services (PCHS) in Apapa, Lagos.

He said that the Council, as an economic regulator, was to ensure the concession of the terminals increased productivity to the benefit of all.

He said that it was important to eliminate unnecessary charges, rent seeking, delay in delivery of cargoes and under-the-counter dealing that hindered efficient

transactions.

The NSC chief said that activities of terminal operators should be coordinated and streamlined to ensure efficiency and transparency.

He said the aim of the visit was to give NSC free access to the terminals and provide information that would enable the council to carry out its duties effectively.

“This will give us the opportunity to monitor and coordinate activities in the terminals within the terms of the government.

“We also need the operators to

give us information that will help us to measure the level of terminal efficiency.

“We want operators to handle more cargoes and generate more revenue to the benefit of all,’’ Bello said.

He urged the operators to inform the council of their challenges to enable it workout solutions to them.

Speaking, Mr Mark Walsh, the General Manager, ENL Consortium, commended the council for the visit.

Walsh said that without the council’s assistance, transactions at the port would be very

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Commercialisation and Privatisation, Senator Olugbenga Obadara and MD, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs. Funke Osibodu, during the Committee’s Assessment of the Distribution Company’s operations in Benin City.

challenging.

The general manager said that the NSC should issue directives to the operators to fast-track transactions at the ports.

He said that ENL Consortium would not satisfy everyone but that it would help the NSC to achieve its objectives.

territory, adding that the three suspected cases being raised

by FCT residents were mere rumours.

According to him, the people at risk of the disease are the health care givers and family members of infected persons. There is no specific medication or vaccine for its cure.

Dr Rui Jaz, World Health Organisation Country Representative, said the organisation would support the administration in its plans to curtail the disease.

Jaz said it was untrue that bitter kola could cure the disease as speculated, adding that it had not been proven by scientists.

Dr Akeem Lawal, Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Medical Association, FCT chapter, said the association had held two meetings since the outbreak of the disease.

“We are planning to hold another meeting very soon to call off our strike that has lasted for more than six weeks’’, he said.

The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Mr Shabal Tete, said the designation of the hospital as Ebola centre was not a welcome development to the people of the area.

According to him, this is because most of the people are ‘illiterate.

Ebola: District Head Urges Residents To Adhere To FG’s Advisory

AKUN (Nasarawa State) -Mr. Peter Angbazo, the district head of Wakama in Nasarawa state, has appealed to residents of the area and other Nigerians to adhere strictly to Federal Government’s health advisory.

Angbazo told newsmen in Wakama in the state’s Akun development area this was highly necessary following the presence of the deadly Ebola virus in the country.

He said the appeal became imperative due to the effect of the Ebola virus on human lives as well as on the socioeconomic development of the country.

“It is our role not only to ensure peace, unity, progress and the development of the country, but also to advise our subjects on the need to adhere strictly to any positive advice given by the government at all levels for the benefit of all.

“It is unfortunate that last Friday, there was a widespread rumour in some part of the country that people should bathe with warm water and take salt and bitter kolanut as solution to Ebola virus.

“Government at all levels came out to condemn such widespread speculation on the treatment of Ebola, and advised the people to adhere strictly to environmental hygiene and constant washing of hands with clean water.

“In line with this, I want to appeal to my subjects and other Nigerians to adhere strictly to the federal government advice on the preventive methods, such as regular washing of hands, avoiding contact with blood, sweat and saliva of an infected person or animals,’’ Angbazo said.

He said such a strict adherence to government’s health advice would enhance helping to prevent the spread of the virus for the overall development of the country.

The traditional ruler called on all stakeholders to join hands with government to fight the virus and save human lives for the achievement of speedy socioeconomic development in the country.

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News Women Decry Use Of Female Suicide Bombers KANO- A cross section of women in Kano have expressed concern over the use of teenage girls by Boko Haram to carry out suicide bomb attacks.

Some of the women told newsmen in Kano that the new trend had created fear and panic among residents of the city.

One of the women, Malama Jamila Sani, said that following the recent bombings in the city, women, especially teenage girls, had become objects of suspicion among residents.

“Since it is young women that were used to carry out the recent bomb attacks, people are now scared of women particularly young girls.

“There was a time I went to the popular Kwari market to buy some clothes for my children before the Sallah. I had to be thoroughly checked by security agents before I was allowed to enter the market, which was not so

before now,’’ she said.

Another woman, Hajiya Rabi Suleiman, who is a student of College of Legal Studies, said since the bombings, the school management had introduced measures to strengthen security.

“Since the attack at the Kano State Polytechnic, female students are not allowed to enter the school without undergoing thorough check,’’ she said.

According to her, men and even operators of commercial vehicles, are now afraid to come close to women particularly those seen in Hijab and standing on the roadside.

Suleiman said: “Women are no longer seen as innocent people and no longer command the respect they used to.’’

She urged the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the current security challenges facing the country.

Religious leaders at the Interfaith Conference in Abuja on Monday.

Ebola: NAWOJ Urges Journalists ABUJAThe Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has urged journalists in the country to be agents of awareness creation on the Ebola virus.

The call is contained in a statement signed by Mrs

L-R: Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Mustapha El-Kanemi, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; President Goodluck Jonathan; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’Ad Abubakar III; Speaker, House of Representatives; Aminu Tambuwal and acting Governor of Taraba, Garba Umar, at the Interfaith Conference in Abuja on Monday.

To Create Awareness

Ifeyinwa Omowole, National President of the association in Abuja.

Omowole said that for the spread of the virus to be contained, there must be concerted effort by all stakeholders, including media practitioners, in that direction.

“NAWOJ calls on all journalists and media houses to help in the fight against the Ebola virus by creating awareness on how to prevent its spread especially in the rural areas.

“The Ebola virus may have come into the country under avoidable circumstances but this is no time to trade blames or take sides with doctors or the government.

“It is a time for journalists to report on issues that will lead to the containment of the virus.

“As mothers, we would not like to see our husbands, children, sisters and brothers die of this scourge that has sneaked in on us.

“We all should, therefore, work assiduously to ensure that everyone around us is informed about the virus and how to prevent it,” she said.

She also called on doctors to shelve their personal interest and

come to the aid of Nigeria, stressing that government had already shown commitment to their safety by procuring more personal protective gears.

Omowole decried the situation where some Nigerians take too lightly, the scourge of the virus and played pranks with misguided harmful information which some persons may believe.

“We must endeavour not to make this worse than it already is by spreading rumour, which may only lead to more health challenges just as the salt-water anti-Ebola therapy did.

“We want to call on all Nigerians to put national interest above self interests; we should not hide family members, who may show signs of the virus as we are not only endangering our lives but the lives of many other

Council Poll: NYSC DG

Assures Corps Members ISSELE-Uku (Delta), -The Of Security Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, has assured corps members participating in the conduct of the forthcoming council elections in

NASS Recess: Business Owners Lament Low Patronage

ABUJA- Business owners and food vendors at the National Assembly, Abuja, have lamented over the low volume of business transactions since members of the National Assembly began an eight-week long vacation.

Some of the business operators, who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen said the recess had forced many of them to close shop until the resumption of the lawmakers on September 16.

Comfort Nworie, a food vendor who operates a restaurant in the complex, said that she and her staff would use the period of the recess to take a deserved rest.

“Since business is slow now, we too will use this opportunity to rest.

“We will close our restaurant from Friday until legislators resume in September. “ Nworie said that when the National Assembly was in session, her restaurant was usually very busy.

She said that the facility received many calls to supply food to members.

She added that her workers sometimes supplied food and snacks to committees when they were meeting or had other functions such as public hearings.

Mr Richard Christian, another food vendor, said that since the beginning of the recess, the number of customers who patronised his restaurant had reduced.

“Now that they are on recess, as you can see, I am just sitting

here alone. Frankly speaking since they went on recess, business has drastically reduced even visitors that come to the National Assembly are no longer coming.

“When the assembly is in session, we make between N20,000 and N30,000 a day but now, if we get up to N5,000 we thank God,” he said.

Christian said that the recess had compelled him to reduce the quantity of food prepared daily.

Gloria Chigbu, a travel agent in the complex, said the recess had led to drastic reduction in the sale of tickets.

“Business is so dull because the people who buy tickets from

us have all travelled.

“Their legislative aides who are still around are just waiting for their salaries to be paid so that they too would leave.”

Chigbu said that before the recess, several people requested for travel tickets while others asked her company to take care of their travelling arrangements.

She said that now that business was slow, her office only opened when necessary, adding that normal operations would resume after the recess.

Reports state that the National Assembly complex, which is usually a busy arena for both visitors and workers who cause traffic gridlock at its

Nigerians.

“We commend all the doctors and other health workers who continue to risk their lives to save the lives of many other Nigerians; we, Nigerians, can only thank them by playing our part in the fight against Ebola.

“We must all take a unanimous stand to fight this virus and contain it; containing it is as much an individual effort as it is a collective effort.

“Government cannot do it alone if we all do not assist by being vigilant, taking precaution and adhering to all the advice of the medical practitioners.

“The association is also using this opportunity to commend the Federal Government and some state governments for promptly responding to the scourge,” she said.

main entrance, is now a very quiet environment with few cars trickling in at intervals.

The security personnel, who are also very business like while checking and screening visitors into the complex, are now more relaxed as traffic at the entrance has greatly subsided.

The banks within the complex are also affected by the low business as their workers record low patronage by customers while the sergeants-at-arms, who usually turn away people from the lobby, are no longer seen at their posts.

The National Assembly adjourned plenary on July 17 and is expected to resume on September. 16

Delta State of adequate security.

Olawunmi gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Issele-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.

The director-general said that the corps had made concrete arrangement with security agencies in the state to ensure the safety of corps members during the election scheduled to hold on October 25.

He said that NYSC had set up a distress call centre in each state of the federation to enable corps members to make calls and receive immediate response if they found themselves in danger.

Olawunmi, who expressed regret that some NYSC members lost their lives during past elections in the country, said that adequate steps had been taken to prevent a repetition.

He, however, urged the corps members not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians to rig elections, warning that anyone found doing that would face the law.

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Across The Nation Ebola

Campaign

Group Cautions Against Insults

Expert Tasks Residents On Adequate Information

ABUJA - The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a CSO, has cautioned political parties and their candidates against using abusive language during campaigns.

Mrs Idayat Hassan, Executive Director of the organisation, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Hassan also stressed the need for politicians to desist from using thugs in their campaigns to ensure peace before, during and after elections.

According to her, the Electoral Act 2010, provides no political campaign or slogan should be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly.

She said that Section 95 (2) of the Act stipulated that intemperate languages likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions should not be used in political campaigns.

“Section 96 (1) provides; no candidate, person or group of persons shall directly or indirectly threaten any person with the use of force or violence during campaign,’’ she said.

The executive director admonished politicians to be law abiding to prevent breakdown of law and order as the preparations for the 2015 elections gather momentum.

Besides, Hassan advised politicians to engage citizens on issue based campaign such as building strong democratic institutions, job creation and education, rather than resort to violence.

Similarly, she called on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to commence monitoring and documentation of infractions of the Electoral Act to recommend appropriate sanctions.

The director advised the commission to ensure regular deployment of its personnel to monitor the conduct of aspirants and political parties during election period.

forecasting.

“The essence of the installation is not only for flood monitoring but we also want to create awareness on climate change.

“It will make people to be aware of the trend and one of the areas we can prove it’ is in the amount of rainfall.

“It is very easy for us to monitor the hydrological parameters right from our office in Abuja with the stand alone automated FEWS.’’ He said that the upgrade would start with two river basins due to the high cost of the equipment.

According to him, the ministry has been working with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on flood forecasting and early warning systems, to prevent flood disaster in the country.

AKURE - Dr Aderonke Fagbemi, a consultant optician with the Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure, has urged residents of the state to be attentive to the media to have good knowledge of the Ebola virus ravaging some West African countries.

Fagbemi told newsmen in Akure that only the media could give them satisfactory knowledge of the virus.

“I urge our people to be attentive to certified media such as radio and television stations and reading of newspapers so that they can be kept abreast of the details of the virus and not to be filled with rumour.

“And they should adhere to instructions from the Ministry of Health on where not to travel to and what to do,” she said.

The medical doctor advised that washing hands with soap all the time was a good precautionary measure against the virus, adding that children should be made to do so.

She added that any suspicion of the symptoms of the virus should be reported to the nearest hospital because it was only in the medical laboratory that such claims could be verified.

The medical doctor cautioned against eating of bush meat which is a good delicacy in the area, stressing that the virus could be conracted through infected animals.

Mrs Phebean Malomo-Odu, a Deputy Director in NAFDAC, made the appeal when she spoke with newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra.

Malomo-Odu is in-charge of Herbal and Neutriceutical Division of Drug Evaluation and Research of the agency.

She said that doing so “would help us (NAFDAC) and people within the localities to easily imbibe the habit of knowing what most roots and herbs around us can do”.

The deputy director said this would encourage generational knowledge transfer and safer health for the upcoming generations.

Malomo-Odu said that herbal medicines of some countries had attained international recognition and acceptance.

“While some Nigerians spend hard currency to purchase these herbal drugs; they forget that we also have some of these herbs and roots around us here wasting.

“So, it is time we start getting it right by our herbal practitioners being more open, especially with documenting and proper labeling of different herbs and roots,’’ she said.

The deputy director said that

NAFDAC was ready to partner with herbal medicine practitioners so that “we will not lose our own indigenous medicines and curative ways.

“My office and other offices in the 36 states and the FCT are open to herbal medicine practitioners.

“And NAFDAC is saying, come and let us fashion ways to make our own herbal medicines more accessible, well formulated and getting it attuned to international best practices as well as packaging.

“I believe, we, Nigerians, have a lot to offer to the world when we get our act right on traditional medicine production, documentation, clinical trials and packaging,’’ she said.

The deputy director revealed that the agency had already commenced clinical trials for some herbal drugs in order to be able to verify claims of their efficacy, content and life span of the products.

It would be recalled that NAFDAC had started nationwide sensitisation for all herbal practitioners and other stakeholders to enlighten them on international best practices.

Religious leaders at the Interfaith Conference in Abuja on Monday.

Flood: FG To Upgrade Warning

ABUJA - The Federal Ministry of Environment will soon upgrade its web-Based Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) for better forecasting and monitoring of flooding in the country, an official has said.

Mr Johnnie Ekanem, the Deputy Director in charge of flood forecasting, monitoring and control in the Department of Erosion, Flood Control and Coastal Management in the ministry, made this known to newsmen in Abuja.

Ekanem said that the ministry would continue to adopt digital early warning models, to check conditions that could lead to flood disaster.

“The web early warning system is something that is upgradable.

It is a device that is attached to the memory of a computer system and it is connected to the satellite.

“Presently, we have about 307 FEWS nationwide and we are creating a platform to upgrade them, to enhance their functionability.

“We have added some system analysis that will enable us to filter information from there and send to respective states.

“So, we will upgrade the system to allow us filter information available to different states and send them to different and specific locations.”

System

FEWS is an integrated package of data collection and transmission equipment, forecasting models, response plans and procedures.

It involves human resources working together with the sole objective of empowering individuals and communities threatened by flood, to act in sufficient time and appropriate manner.

The aim of acting in appropriate manner is to reduce the possibility of personal injury, loss of life and damage to property and the environment.

The deputy director explained that the web-based model enables subscribers to have access to predictions through the Internet website address.

He added that this would clear doubts or panic as subscribers would have direct access to information needed for them to work upon rather than relying on rumours.

In addition, he said that the ministry would, through its community-based Early Warning System, sensitise vulnerable communities on flood predictions

and the impact of climate change.

“We will go to communities and carry out awareness campaigns on flood management and tell them things to watch out for in order not to lose their lives and property in case of flooding.”

Ekanem said that the ministry had also installed Automated FEWS facilities in Ogun-Osun River Basin and Benin-Owena River Basin in the country.

“We have been trying to increase the number but we are constrained by funding. Our plan is to have the 12 river basins across the country installed with the automated system of flood

Document Procedures, NAFDAC Urges Herbal Medicine Practitioners ONITSHA(Anambra) - The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged herbal medicine practitioners to document all procedures and ingredients used in the preparation of their herbal products.

Representative of EFCC Chairman, Dr David Tukura; Executive Direcor, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Dr. Otive Igbuzor and head, enlightenment and re-orientation, Unit, EFCC, Aisha Musa, at a sensitisation workshop for Women Civil Society group on corruption, Economic and Financial crime in Abuja recently.

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Abuja Women’s Involvement In Financial Crimes Low - EFCC Member of National Conference, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite (left) receiving reports of the conference volumes 1 and 2 from the Conference Security Personnel during resumption of the conference in Abuja on Monday.

Ebola Virus: NOA Urges

Nigerians Not To Panic ABUJA - The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians not to panic over the outbreak of Ebola virus in the country.

The NOA Assistant Director, Medical Orientation Programme, Dr Ayoola Olufemi, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

Olufemi said that NOA was sensitising Nigeria to stem the spread of virus across the country.

He described Ebola as a global threat and a national emergency as far as Nigeria is concerned.

“The Ebola virus must be tackled headlong and this being done by government at various levels.”

Olufemi called on Nigerians not to panic as the nation comes to terms with Ebola virus.

“It is a reality that the virus is here with us and what we need to do is to take precautionary measure against the virus.

“Panic is not the solution to

Ebola, Nigerians are not supposed to panic. All we have to do is that we have to walk toward the containment of spread through public enlightenment,’’ he said.

According to him, people should know that there is a virus that is new to us, the virus is deadly and very infectious and can kill within days.

“The only way to protect ourselves from getting the virus is to increase our personal hygiene, environmental hygiene and report any cases of illness immediately.”

He listed the symptoms of Ebola to include: fever, headache, sour throat, body pain, weakness, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhea.

Olufemi called on Nigerians to have high index of suspicion and report anybody that was ill or people who had visited Liberia, Sierra Leone or Republic of Guinea to the

ABUJA - Dr Otive Igbuzor, Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, has suggested that attention should be focused on factors encouraging corrupt practices to reduce corruption in the country.

Igbuzor told newsmen in Abuja that the nation’s anti-corruption strategies had not sufficiently focused on the motivation, opportunity and rationalisation for corruption, but only on the anti-graft agencies.

He spoke at the sidelines of a one-day workshop for women civil society groups involved in anti-corruption activities organised by the EFCC. “In my view, the war against corruption is being lost in Nigeria because of focus only on anticorruption institutions.

“And our anti-corruption strategies have not focused on addressing the motivation, the opportunity for corruption and rationalisation for corruption.

“When you make the process of

committing the crime very difficult, when there are rules, regulations, code of ethics that are enforced, it will be difficult for people to commit corruption,’’ he said.

According to Igbuzor, corruption increases in any society where there is sufficient motivation for it.

Dr Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, another resource person, lamented that people get away with corruption in the country because they were not being sanctioned.

“Anti-corruption is less an issue in the developed world because there are sanctions, and the sanctions are applied, but here, people wriggle out of it.

“If you have stolen a lot of money, you hire 20 SANs and then they can get you out of it,’’ she said.

On his part, Oluyemi-Kusa advocated the involvement of women in the fight against corruption, saying that women, as the bedrock of the society, could play active role in the crusade.

Corruption: Expert Wants Motivating Factors Checked

authorities.

He said NOA Director-General, Mr Mike Omeri, had directed state directors to participate in national effort to contain the virus by disseminating information that could help the public curtailing the spread.

“NOA is also in the presidential steering committee that is working on effective advocacy and dissemination of information.

“We have started working and

you know that this is an emergency and the response is going on gradually, day by day people will become aware of what they should do to protect themselves against this ravaging virus,’’ he said.

He said NOA would ensure that information on the fight against the virus and how the citizenry could be protected reach every community in the country.

ABUJA - The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, has advised the Nigerian Committee on Large Dams (NICOLD) to adopt special considerations in the design of dams and reservoirs.

Ochekpe, who gave the advice at the 2014 NICOLD annual general meeting in Abuja, said that such considerations would respond to Nigeria’s peculiar climatic conditions.

The minister, who was represented by Mr Reginald Ikpeawujo, the Director of Dams

in the ministry, added that the special considerations would guarantee the safety and environmental sustainability of dams in the country.

“In recent times, studies have shown that we need special designs, different methods of constructing dams according to different environmental conditions the world over.

“Therefore, I challenge you to be more creative now than ever before by adopting special

ABUJA - The Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, said yesterday in Abuja that women’s involvement in organised financial crime in the country was statistically low.

Lamorde said this yesterday in Abuja when he declared open a one-day “Anticorruption Sensitisation Workshop for Women Civil Society and CommunityBased Groups’’ in the North Central zone.

Represented by Dr David Tukura, EFCC’s Director, Planning and Statistics, the chairman also said that research had shown that fewer women than men were involved in corrupt practices in the country.

“We have done a gender analysis on crimes; in the area of advanced fee fraud, economic governance, money laundry, and all the others.

“When we did the gender analysis, we found out that men were tops. The index showed ninety something per cent, while women’s participation is as low as less than five per cent.

“So, we find that the number of women who are actually involved in economic and financial crimes are low and we can prove that statistically from our own work,’’ he said.

Lamorde, therefore, urged women to key into the fight

against corruption and financial crimes in the country.

According to him, we are convinced that the power to change the destiny of our nation as one blighted by deep-rooted corruption lies in our hands.

He said the workshop was one little step in the long journey to make everyone take ownership of the war against corruption.

“We all agreed that corruption undermines human development and democracy, corruption reduces public revenue, often resulting in lower levels of spending on education, healthcare and other social services.

“Women are more vulnerable to the impact of corruption than men,’’ said the chairman.

Lamorde said participants drawn from the conclusion of the various zonal workshops were expected to form a core platform known as “Women Anti-corruption Network’’.

He said that through such platform the commission and other stakeholders could interface with the public on the issue of gender and corruption.

The theme of the workshop was: “How Women’s Organisation can Aid the Fight against Corruption, Economic and Financial Crimes.’’

considerations in the design of dams and reservoirs in response to our climatic conditions.

“There is no overstressing the fact that dams contribute immensely to the nation’s economy through its multipurpose uses in irrigated agriculture, domestic water supply, hydro power generation, reservoir, fisheries and tourism.“ Ochekpe added that the meeting, which had the theme:

Environment“ was apt in view of the need to address the negative effects of climate change on the environment globally.

“Therefore, I believe that this topic will challenge the professionals to share current knowledge and experience on ways of enhancing the contributions of dams and reservoirs in mitigating the impact of climate change,“ she said.

Earlier, President of NICOLD, Mr Josephat Okoye, said that the theme of the meeting underscored the need to develop large dams to mitigate the impact of flooding or drought resulting from global warming.

Okoye said that Nigeria had recorded 11 dam failures out of the more than 200 dams existing in the country.

He urged the Federal Government to establish a code of practice for the design, development and operation of dams in the country.

“Dams break analyses should be carried out and emergency preparedness programmes developed for all major dams in the country,“ Okoye said.

NICOLD was formed in 1973 as the Nigerian representative of the International Commission on Large Dams.

It comprises professionals and corporate bodies in the dam development sector.

Minister Urges Special Considerations In Dams, “Dams Development and Flood Reservoirs Design Control in a Climate Changing

Some of the reports of the National Conference, volumes 1 and 2 kept for members that were yet to come back to the conference as they reconvened in Abuja on Monday.

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Business + Economy

Import Duty: Association Accuses Customs Of Violating FG’s Order

LAGOS - The Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN) says the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) is sabotaging the Federal Government by circumventing the law that reduced duties from 10 per cent to 5 percent on imported material.

Mr Emeka Obidike, the Executive Secretary of the association, accused the NCS of sabotage at a news conference in Lagos to herald the 1st Nigerian Lubricant Summit.

Obidike said that the officers at the ports were disregarding the directives from the Minister of Finance and insisting on the payment of the old tariff of 10 per cent.

He said that several companies whose businesses relied on the imported materials had been grounded, adding that Customs’ approach had deterred the association’s members from fulfilling their business and financial commitments.

The secretary urged the Federal Government to intervene and save their business from total collapse.

Mr Kayode Sote, Managing Director, Lubeservices

Associates, said that the summit would aim at promoting better understanding and appreciation of the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves,

potential and diverse investment opportunity among the stakeholders.

Sote said the association remained committed to sustainable job creation and

contribution to the technical and economic growth of the nation.

Also speaking, Mr Mudei Alphonsus, Assistant Director, Department of Petroleum

Resources (DPR), noted that the objective of the summit was part of their contributions in assisting DPR to regulator the industry.

FG To Close Illegal Mines

L-R: Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Board Chairman, National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Tony Okam and Acting Chief Medical Director, National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Jaf Momoh, at the inauguration of National Hospital Trauma Centre in Abuja on Monday.

NAFDAC Urges Officers To Document Products

ENUGU - The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged its regulation officers to ensure the proper documentation of products before their registration.

The Director of Registration and Regulatory Affairs in the agency, Mrs Monica Hemben, gave the order in Enugu on Monday at a one-day orientation programme for registration and regulatory officers.

Hemben, who was represented by her deputy, Mr Christopher Ofuani, reminded the participants of the need to carry-out their duties with diligence since their offices were the primary contact

Alphonsus commended the organisers of the programme and reassured them of DPR’s participation.

He urged stakeholders in the sector to support the initiative which was aimed at enhancing the growth of the lubricants market.

The reports state that the summit with the theme, “The Nigerian Lubricants Market: Opportunities and Challenges,” is scheduled to hold between August 19 and 20 in Lagos.

for producers and their products for registration.

“You are the people closer to the producers, so the more you realise it the better for our jobs.

“Once you properly scrutinise a product following NAFDAC regulatory process, you are as good as saving a million lives.

“We called you to this training to make product registration timely, consumer friendly and without lapses,” she said.

In a lecture on documentation requirements, the Chief Regulatory Officer of Small Business Support Desk, Mr Declan Ugwu, noted that the registration officers’ duties were to screen the producers’ dossier

and ensure that all the necessary information was detailed.

“In doing so, the following information is needed — the company’s operational permit, location, contents, product name and other necessary information.

“As for international products, the producer ought to present a power of attorney authorised by the commissioner of oath and the full details of the product must be submitted,’’ Ugwu said.

He said the information would assist the agency to investigate and test the product before its

registration for use by the public.

In her remarks, the Assistant Director of Drug Impact Registration and Regulations, Mrs Joy Nwankwo, urged the officers to make the review of products for registration their watch-word while carrying out their duties.

Wind F ar m: FG Begins Technical Audit Far arm: ABUJA -The Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, said that the Federal Government had commenced final technical audit on Katsina Wind Farm project.

Wakil, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Olawale Rasheed, in

Abuja, said that the technical audit which commenced on Monday was the final stage before the plant would be inaugurated.

He said that the audit project was being handled by a Nigerian firm whose personnel were trained in France, adding that the wind farm would boost power supply in the

Member of National Conference, Mr. Yusuf Nuhu, with report of the Conference, Volumes I and 2 during resumption in Abuja on Monday.

country when operational.

According to him, the Federal Government is working round-the-clock to ensure that the 10-megawatt project located on the outskirts of Katsina commence generation of power to the national grid soon.

“You would remember that President Goodluck Jonathan had visited the wind farm and we all saw the impressive progress of work at the site.

“We informed Nigerians then that the foreign contractor for the project had trained a local firm to handle the technical audit and launch the site for inauguration.

“I am happy to announce that the local firm commenced the audit on Monday and is scheduled to conclude it in due course for final inauguration.

“We are working to meet the target we set when the president visited the site in April,” Wakil said.

He described the project as a major landmark, adding that it would have been completed earlier but for security challenge and kidnap of French engineers at the site.

He said with the completion of the project, “Nigeria will join the league of nation’s deploying wind energy to generate electricity”.

ABUJA - The Minister of Mines and Steel Development says he will close any mining or quarry firm not operating in accordance with the Nigerian Minerals and Metals Act of 2007.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Marshal Gundu, the ministry’s Deputy Director Press, in Abuja.

It stated that the Minister, Mr Mohammed Sada, made this known when he received the 2013 Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the Council of Nigeria Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG).

The statement stated that the presentation was made by the Chairman of the council, Chief Chambers Oyibo, who led other council members to the ministry.

Sada said the plan was to ensure strict compliance to rules and any other extant mining laws like that of the COMEG. He said that over 600 mining licences were revoked by the Federal Government due to noncompliance with the relevant laws guiding mining operations in the country in the last audit exercise.

The minister expressed his pleasure to receive the reports from COMEG, which he described, as a strong institution that gives strength to the nation’s extractive industries.

Sada commended the initiative of COMEG in relation to the issuance of practicing licences to its financial members as well as capacity training.

He said the present administration had seen the need for human capital development as one of the requirements of Nigeria’s extractive industries.

The minister said COMEG’s action was in line with the Transformation Agenda of Mr President.

“No matter how much mineral resources a country has, if it doesn’t have the right human skills, the country will not develop.

“The country needs the right knowledge and idea for the minerals and metals sector to develop optimally,’’ he said.

The COMEG Chairman, Oyibo, said the 2013 report was in compliance with the provision of COMEG Act part (11) Financial Provision, Section 7(3).

Oyibo said the monitoring of mining professionals and operators in some geopolitical zones of the country was carried out to sensitise them on the need to register with COMEG.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

THE NIGERIAN

12

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014 THE United Nations Office in Nigeria recently put the figures of those directly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency at six million people in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in the north East of Nigeria.

ON the strength of this number, the House of Representatives last week in a motion raised by Hon. Abdulrahman Terab from Borno state asked the Federal Government to establish rehabilitation camps for the estimated six million internally displaced persons.WE are worried that the federal government’s approach to dealing with the issue of insurgency since it broke out five years ago has been most uninspiring. It is shockingly sad to note that it took the United Nations for Nigerians to be informed that over six million citizens have been displaced by the insurgents. Sadly too, in terms of reality, there is little effort at rehabilitating those affected.

ALL Nigerians, particularly in the Northern part and the Federal Capital Territory where innocent and hapless citizens are being bombed in worship houses and other public places, several towns and villages had long been deserted, leaving the victims to roam about with no one to help them.

ASIDE being the location of a large-scale Boko Haram abduction in April, Chibok and its neighbouring villages have recently been the target of the deadliest attacks. Only recently, gunmen murdered at least 44 people in Kwada and Kautikari Villages, some 15km away from Chibok. The attacks have led to a mass exodus of villagers, who are citing constant threats to their lives.

Leaders of the community revealed that the village is not only unsafe, it has been hit by famine.

MORE worrisome is the obvious fact that the internally-displaced persons include women, children and the vulnerable who are

THE NIGERIAN

Rehabilitation Of Nigerians Displaced

By Boko Haram lacking in basic healthcare, sanitation, clothing, food and shelter.

IT is shameful that despite the vulnerability of people around these three states, there is no official camp to settle them, compelling them to squat in horrible and untold environments. This situation from various reports has made the victims vulnerable to various hazards such as snake bites, weather extremes and diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, among others, more especially among women and children.

FROM the foregoing, there is clear failure of relevant government agencies to perform their duties. The National Refugees Commission, National Emergency Management Agency and all such care giving institutions of government have abdicated their responsibilities to the victims even at a time when such services were most needed.

THIS is why we align with the push of the House of Representatives for the urgent rehabilitation of all victims of insurgency, not only in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe but also in Kaduna, Taraba, Benue and even the Federal Capital Territory.

WE call on the Federal Government to make adequate provision for the upkeep of the victims and placing them in transitional settlements.

WE call on the National Border Commission and the National Refugee Commission to swing into action immediately to build the camps for the displaced six million Nigerians.

HOWEVER, the Federal Government should redouble its efforts to stem tide of insurgency and senseless bloodletting in the country. Nigeria has never witnessed the scale of near daily attacks, killing thousands of innocent citizens who know nothing about the reasons for the insurgents’ action.

The heartless, cruel and inhuman slaughtering and butchery currently being unleashed in the north must be arrested.

THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah has continued to assure that government would put an end to terrorism in Nigeria and has been sounding like a broken record lately. However, we urge the COAS and his counterparts in other armed forces and police to take urgent steps to route the insurgents out of the country and its borders.

MERE lip service is not required at this time, but concerted effort.

The fifth columnists within the armed forces in the war against terror should be identified, fished out and dealt with as well. The security agencies owe Nigerians a duty to free all kidnapped citizens, particularly, students of Government Secondary School Chibok from the hands of the mindless terrorist to free their parents and loved ones from the agony of heartaches.

WE also, call on the country’s international friends, helping to deal with terrorism to increase their assistance to the nation for quick results as Nigerians are daily looking out with high hopes for major breakthroughs in the war against terror.

THE judiciary on its part, should accelerate the trial of all terror suspects and ensure that all those found wanting are adequately punished for their actions. We believe that dealing with the insurgents head-on remains a permanent solution to the displacement of hapless citizens and time to do that is now.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Opinion Anti-Corruption Legislations:

Can Nigeria Escape International Sanctions?

CONSCIOUSLY or unconsciously, the present National Assembly has devised a means of giving special seasons’ gifts to Nigerians. Just before the 2013 Christmas celebration, the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, under the leadership of Senator Victor Lar organised a Public Hearing on the proposed Nigerian Financial Intelligence Center Bill, after it was read on the plenary for the second time.

On return in the New Year, the House of Representatives released its own blessings by organizing same on the Bill, after the second reading as well.

Just before the Easter celebration, the National Assembly joint Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes organized a Retreat in Abuja to brainstorm on the implications of the anticorruption bills being considered by the present National Assembly, with special attention on the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Center Bill.

The event was organized by the Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption-MIIVOC, a Nigerian-based Nongovernmental Organisation, with interest in the war against violence, corruption, injustice and human Rights abuse; in partnership with the relevant National Assembly Committee.

The event which was powered by the ‘Justice for All’ of the British Council was held at the Rockview Hotel, Abuja from the 6th-8th of April, 2014. It has been severally described as a huge success.

The primary goal of the Retreat was to create a forum for interaction among the lawmakers and key stakeholders on the implications of the anticorruption bills being considered by the present National Assembly, especially, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Center Bill. It was meant to create an opportunity for the lawmakers to rub minds and further build their capacity on the relevant anti-corruption bills. It was also an avenue for self evaluation and assessment.

By WALTER DURU

The Retreat was also geared towards supporting Nigeria to strengthen its anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and anti-terrorism programmes and legislations by promoting and encouraging increased knowledge and stakeholders’ participation. The forum allowed for exchange of ideas among lawmakers from the upper and lower Chambers on the NFIA and other related anti-corruption bills, as well as the evolving issues in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

It was meant to improve the knowledge gaps and lead to early passage of the NFIA, Mutual Legal Assistance, Proceeds of Crime and other anti-corruption related Bills being considered by the present National Assembly.

Speaking during the event, chairman, Presidential Committee on the Financial Action Task Force-FATF, Mr. Steve Oronsaye further opened the eyes of Nigerians on the risks the country is exposed to by not having relevant legal and operational framework against corruption, in compliance with international standards.

“This Retreat, which brings together members of the two houses of the National Assembly to discuss and harmonize their positions on the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Center Bill, is a step in the right direction.”

“We are aware that this 7th Assembly has taken bold and deliberate steps to address some of the strategic deficiencies identified in our Anti Money Laundering/CFT legislation. However, there are still some outstanding issues that need to be addressed. The Bill, which we shall discuss at this retreat, is one of such key outstanding issues. Other very important and relevant bills that have been submitted by the President to the National Assembly include: the Proceeds of Crime (POCA) Bill that seeks to establish a central Agency to manage the proceeds recovered from convicted criminals and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill. We are aware that the Executive is preparing to submit the

harmonized Terrorism Prevention Bill, 2014 and the amended Money Laundering Prohibition Bill, soon for your consideration. These Bills have international implications on Nigeria’s rating globally. We therefore plead that you fast track consideration of these Bills.”

“As you are aware, the proposed NFIC Bill is designed to provide a sustainable and credible legal framework for the FIC, Nigeria. As is the accepted

the receipt (and, as permitted, requesting), and analysis and dissemination of suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) and other information regarding potential money laundering or terrorist financing.”

It is pertinent to note that since November 2013, Nigeria has been disconnected from the secured web of the Egmont group of Financial Intelligence Units…..What this means is that Nigeria can neither receive nor share financial intelligence with

Mr Steve Oronsaye, Chairman, Presidential, Committee On the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

practice in other jurisdictions, this Bill seeks to provide the FIC with operational independence and autonomy, and greater ability to provide financial intelligence to all relevant competent authorities in order to strengthen anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/ CFT) measures.”

“Recommendation 29 of the 40 recommendations of the FATF on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction reads: Countries should establish an independent financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) that serves as a national Center for

other 139 member countries of the Egmont Group on money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as other related matters. More worrisome is the fact that it is happening at a time when Nigeria needs the information most, considering the challenge of terrorism confronting the country presently.”

“We are concerned that if the legal framework is not in place by June 1, 2014, the NFIU stands the risk of being suspended from the league of Egmont Group. This also has wider implication and may hinder the decision on Nigeria’s proposed

membership of the Financial Action Task Force.”

Also speaking, Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Senator Victor Lar promised that the National Assembly Joint Committee will continue to work with the Presidential Committee and indeed, the Ministry of Justice in ensuring that all observed deficiencies with the legislations on antimoney laundering and terrorism financing legislations were expeditiously passed.

Senator Lar said that there were many issues to be discussed on the Bill that was at the completion stage, pointing out that the NFIC bill had passed through the second reading and referred to his Committee for further legislative inputs.

He however noted that though the Committee was to submit its report after four weeks, there were several issues to be considered, including the desirability or otherwise of the Board, size of the Board and how differently the Board should be from that of the EFCC, among others.

According to him, the outcome of the retreat would facilitate the establishment of the Centre and therefore appealed for regular interface between legislators and stakeholders.

Adding his voice, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba noted that the efforts of the Federal government in canvassing for foreign investors in the country would not yield positive results unless the Financial Intelligence Centre is established.

He argued that foreign investors would always be interested in the protection of their investments and that presently, the country lacks such laws that could give the investors the confidence that their investments were protected.

Also speaking, Programme Manager, (anti corruptionC3) of the Justice for All, Mr. Emmanuel Uche commended the present National Assembly for what he described as their patriotic stance in strengthening the legislative framework for the war against corruption in Nigeria.

He pledged the continued support of his organisation to efforts geared towards entrenching transparency in governance, even as he charged the stakeholders not to relent in the war against corruption in Nigeria.

Executive Director, Media

Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption and facilitator of the Retreat, Walter Duru described corruption as one of Nigeria’s most-formidable challenges.

He commended the lawmakers and other stakeholders for what he described as a patriotic move and assured that MIIVOC shall continue to partner with transparent institutions in righting the wrongs in the country.

Some of the agencies that attended the Retreat were the Central Bank of NigeriaCBN, National Insurance Commission-NAICOM, Office of the National Security Adviser, Department for State Security-DSS, Securities and Exchange Commission-SEC, Ministry of Justice, among others.

Now that we understand the issues and have June 2014 as deadline to escape the International Community’s hammer, all hands must be on deck to not only fast-track the process, but ensure that a no loopholes are allowed.

The two chambers of the National Assembly must not wait any longer, but continue in their doggedness towards ensuring that the remaining legislative actions are completed.

The Presidential Committee on the Financial Action Task Force, the Ministry of Justice and other relevant stakeholders must be on stand-by to ensure that Presidential assent is not delayed after passage.

Most importantly, credible, tested, trusted, experienced and reliable persons must be appointed to head the agencies, especially, the Financial Intelligence Centre and Assets Recovery Agency, to ensure that we get results.

Civil Society organisations and the Media in the country must rise up to the challenge of ensuring that moles and stooges are not planted to head the proposed institutions, as leadership shall determine the success or otherwise of each of them.

Leadership of these sensitive institutions must not be politicised, if the country must succeed in the war against corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing.

Since the Civil Society and the Media have actively participated in every stage of the process, it is most sensible that they ensure that competent and credible persons are appointed into leadership positions.

It is only when such transparent persons are in positions that they can proudly say that they have arrived; set for the next phase, which is ensuring effective service delivery of the Institutions.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Education UBEC: Dishonesty Mars 2015 Target

PRIMARY education is seen as the fundamental right of every child. The United Nations, UN, identifies this under its Millennium Development Goals, MDG. It targets universal primary education for all children of school age by 2015. Against this backdrop, the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1999 established the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). The aim was to ensure quality of basic education throughout the country and provide access to 9-year formal education to every child of school-going age and, also, provide free and obligatory basic education.

Nevertheless pundits, dons, opinion leaders and stakeholders have bemoaned that education in the country has been fraught with corruption, strikes... A Professor of Educational Management at the University of Ilorin, Noha Bisi Oyedeji, while delivering the 140th Inaugural Lecture of the University on Thursday, December 5, 2013, reportedly said, “When strike or students riot occurs, school activities are disturbed, leading to some other distortions, such as lowered students’ academic performance, social menace by idle students...”

One of the manifests of the dishonesty in UBEC is that over 56 million Nigerians are illiterates, according to an account in a national broadsheet. Amongst others, it’s believed that if the UBEC has lived up to its expectation, the story would have been different. Owing to the revelations by investigation, it was certain that the UN was clairvoyance in forecasting that Nigeria would not keep to the MDG on education.

Today, the education sector is loaded with dirt like lack of basic infrastructures, unfortunate funding, bad management, lack of learning materials in schools...

These are as a result of poor policies and faulty implementation of them, which are most times the handiwork of lack of genuine and transparent officials monitoring these policies. It was observed that even where the learning materials are available, they are not redistributed for the purposes they are created. This, Nigerians have clamoured about how teachers’ salaries and allowances in some states across the country, are

seemingly being withheld for political reasons and many teachers face the avoidable issues of promotion and transfer as at when due them.

Scrutiny has proved that states and UBEC are in loggerhead over who has the right to the ostensible funds meant for UBEC that are in billions of naira haboured in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for project development. The cost of this is that some students have died in many decrepit schools across the country. The infirm schools are said were without roofs, walls, doors or windows. The issue of having desks, electricity and its appliances are said to be a tall dream.

Recently, there is an account that at a community primary school in Ado Odo/ Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, a pupil died and four others wounded when the school’s wall fell down. At Idimu Community Primary School of Lagos State and, Ikeja, Oshodi, Agege and Iju respectively, it’s observed that the students were meant to endure leaking zincs and ceilings and many sat on windows and cement blocks to take lectures. These are infinitesimal evident that UBEC has not lived up to the reason it was formed, according to sources, because in some states in the SouthEast – like Anambra and Imo – pupils still take studies from their teachers under trees and on the bare ground.

Explanations accounted that in Kwara, Kano, Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Benue and Nasarawa States, the story is not different. “It is absurd that this is happening in a country where free primary education was initiated in Africa by one of its regions in 1955... It is rather tragic that all the 36 states and the FCT combined have failed to draw down up to N44 billion of the sums provided as federal subsidies for primary education since 2005 through the Universal Basic Education Commission,” said a source.

In May 2010, there was a conviction that there were deceitful awards of contracts somewhat in surplus of N161 million to six companies for the “procurement of instructional materials for children with special needs” that took place in the UBEC, which was aimed at improving the wellbeing of the physically challenged children.

The items, according to a source,

By DR. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE

included wheelchairs, Braille, hearing aids and other audiovisual devices. The funds were said to have come from an Education Trust Funds, ETF, grant.

According to Sahara Reporters: “The ministerial tenders board at its meeting of Friday, 19th December, 2008, approved the award of the contract for the procurement of instructional materials for children with special needs in favour some contractors – Al-Mala Nig. Ltd – N29, 286,000 (North west), Triangular Communications Ltd. – N35,

“The company’s incorporation took place on 7th May 2009, with its registered address, as 17 Atiku Abubakar Road, Jimeta, Yola. According to the CAC records in the possession of Saharareporters, three persons were listed as directors. According to CAC records, the company has 1,600,001 in total share capital. Of these, Aishatu Dahiru (Modibbo’s wife) owns 1,600,000, her sister, Hauwa Dahiru, has one share, whilst the third director, Ali Biu Adams, has none. Even though Binwa Press Ltd. had

453,000 (North east); Binwa Press Ltd. N36,721,300 (North central), Infinity Telecoms N24, 703, 000 (South east), Isani Ventures N31, 104, 000 (South-south) and Giniyike Ltd-N30,704 (South west),” concluding, “You are pleased (sic) requested to award the contract accordingly”.

The source continued: “The total contract sum came to N167 million.

Our investigations revealed that not a single pin was supplied to the physically challenged children, in whose name the ETF grant was drawn.

Besides, a certified copy of a search report of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed that Binwa Press Ltd., RC816457, one of the six companies that benefited from the December 19th, 2008 contract awarded by UBEC, was not even incorporated until five months later.

not been registered as at December 19th, 2008, Dukku and Modibbo nonetheless awarded the ‘company’ a supply contract in the sum of N36, 721, 300...”

The level of racket in the UBEC goes unscathed. Only in January this year, in a matter that commenced in 2009, N787m alleged case of fraud was discharged and acquitted and the legal team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was thrown into a muddled situation over the judgment.

The accused persons were given as four directors of UBEC – Molkat Mutfwang, Michael Aule, Andrew Ekpunobi and Prof Bridget Sokan – who were given as “all members of the commission’s Bid Evaluation Committee”, as well as an American contractor, Alexander Cozma and two companies allegedly used to

siphon the funds, Intermarkets USA LLC and Intermarkets Nigeria.

Spectators are of the view that the fingered sums meant for UBEC that have seemingly gone into the pocket of few individuals are alarming. One commentator exclaimed: “Nigeria is finished with this kind of financial recklessness! It is disheartening to note the level of decay in the system.” The sad side of the matter is that all those who are players in the UBEC’s purportedly scams have not been really made to cough out the money and face the wrath of the law of the country.

Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau freshly decried in Jos, while receiving the Senate Committee on Education, the discrepancy in policies as what have been destroying the country’s education sector.

He, however, admonished that the National Assembly must quickly rise to this challenge before it gets out of control and destroys the future of the younger generation.

Giving instances, he said: “Nations like Germany practise the 6-3-3-4 (system) like Nigeria, but they have gone far because they have been very consistent with it.’’

He avowed that each administration in Nigeria should stop discarding the old policies for the introduction of new ones. Professor Pius Adesanmi, a Professor of English, French, and African Studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada also warned in a discussion

with a Gbenga Adeniji.

Adesanmi said that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, says any country that wishes to become part of the 21st Century should be devoting 30-40 per cent of her total annual budget to education.

Authorities are, however, of the analysis that the disconnect between the education sector and the educated is enormous laced with the spiteful attributes of politicians and elites that have set the pace of improving on education in the country back for too long. Experts have deprecated such as not the way to run a country.

Adesanmi further revealed that these groups run the public education like they are rigging elections or stealing public funds on a “stratospheric scale that suggests mental illness”.

He wept that these groups have seen using impunity of ignorance and poverty among the majority as the raw materials they think they need to manufacture a followership ready to defend their perversities to death on the basis of ethnicity or religion.

“You will weep for Nigeria if you knew how much Europe and America are currently devoting to education... Sadly, only the elite have the means and the resources to impose their own meaning of education on Nigeria. Hence, they underfund and destroy it while sending their kids abroad to acquire that which they deny the people at home,” Adesanmi lamented.

Odimegwu Onwumere writes from Port Harcourt.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Politics AS the nation’s political parties strategise ahead of the forthcoming general elections, analysts say that one major headache is how to address the challenge of conducting credible and acceptable elections in 2015.

The origin of election in Nigeria can be traced to the pre-independence period, when the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) was established for the purpose of conducting the 1959 general elections.

In 1960, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) also conducted the postindependence federal and regional elections of 1964 and 1965, respectively.

The Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) was constituted by the military regime of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, which organised the 1979 general elections that ushered in the Second Republic.

FEDECO also conducted the 1983 general elections before the military interruption.

Besides, the National Electoral Commission (NEC), which was established by the former Military President Ibrahim Babangida , also conducted the June 12, 1993 election, annulled by the same administration.

Also, in December 1995, the military government of late Gen. Sani Abacha scrapped NEC and established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), which also conducted local government councils and National Assembly elections.

However, the sudden death of Abacha on June 1998 aborted the process of inauguration of the elected officials.

In 1998, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar-led military administration dissolved NECON and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which ushered in the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999.

To consolidate its existence as a truly independent electoral body, INEC has so far conducted three major general elections – 1999, 2007 and 2011.

Pundits, however, argue that most of the previous elections conducted by INEC were either marred by allegations of rigging, ballot snatching, ballot stuffing, bribery and corruption or outright irregularities, thereby casting doubt on their credibility.

Available records show that while the 2007 election was generally described as flawed, the 2011 election was marred by electoral violence.

It is, perhaps, against this background that the President of the Senate, David Mark, urged INEC to do everything within its powers to conduct credible elections in 2015.

Mark gave the advice in his contributions on a motion for the extension of ongoing voter registration and distribution of permanent voter cards in the country.

He said that the 2015 elections were very critical and charged the commission to take the preparatory stages as voter registration and permanent voter cards distribution, seriously.

According to him, if people are disenfranchised from the early stages of election preparation, then there will be problem with the general elections.

He said that INEC did not give adequate publicity to the permanent voter cards distribution, adding that the quality of the card also needed to be improved upon.

“I think that the publicity given by INEC is not enough.

We must get it right and if there are complaints, even if from only two persons, INEC should look into it.

“Some wards are very far from local government headquarters; so, between now and Dec. 5, they must rectify all these issues. The quality of the card is even very poor,” he said.

Mark advised INEC to embark on massive publicity at the local government and ward levels, of its ongoing activities, adding that the publicity should be continuous.

To allay the fears of people like Mark, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, assures Nigerians that the 2015 elections will be the best ever conducted in the country.

He said his optimism was

Addressing The Challenge Of Credible Election In Nigeria

By SANI ADAMU

based on the strategies put in place by the commission well ahead of the elections.

Jega spoke in Paris, France, at a luncheon in his honour by the staff of the Nigerian Embassy, saying that the commission would spare no effort to make the 2015 elections, not only the best in Nigeria’s political history, but also the most acceptable to the citizenry and the international community.

“Between now and 2015, INEC will put many structures in place to ensure that the 2015 elections are not

before the 2015 elections,” he said.

Jega said INEC had set up databases at the national level and in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory, aimed at institutionalising a system of continuous voter registration.

“We are now working very hard to clean up that data and consolidate it and to ensure that both the states’ data and the national data are well integrated.

“Our hope is that before

election.

On the conduct of the 2015 general elections in the three northern states under emergency, Jega says the successful conduct of byelections in Yobe is an indication that the commission will be able to conduct elections in the affected states.

The by-election was for the Nangere Constituency of the State House of Assembly, when the seat became vacant after the member

only the best in the history of our country but also the most accepted by our citizens,” Jega said.

According to him, among the measures put in place are the ongoing consolidation and updating of the voter register and the issuance of permanent voter cards to all eligible voters.

“I assure Nigerians that INEC will achieve a seamless integration of the data of voters and institutionalise continuous voter registration

the end of this year, we will have the technology sorted out so that people can register continuously.

“And it will not just be fresh registration; but people who have changed their addresses can apply, following a stipulated procedure wherever they are, to have their registration status updated,” he stated.

He said if INEC could achieve that, there would be no need to continue to do a major registration before an

representing the constituency, Adamu Degubi, was killed by gunmen in June 2012.

“From all the reports that we received, the by-election was one of the best elections that we have conducted so far in terms of turn out and in terms of commencement on time. All polling units were ready for the election before 7.30 a.m.” Jega said.

“If anybody had any doubts as to our preparedness to conduct any election in the three states, this is clear evidence that we are prepared to do it and do it well under any circumstances,” Jega said.

Re-enforcing the optimism of Jega, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, says the 2015 elections will hold in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, in spite of the emergency rule in the

“We just extended the state of emergency and it will expire in November. We hope that by then, we would have contained the insurgency. If elections come and there is still insecurity, we will still hold election because we have had local government elections in the North-East despite the state of emergency.”

affected areas.

Ekweremadu, who spoke recently in Abuja when a delegation from the European Union visited him, said the right to vote is fundamental human rights, even under emergency rule.

“We just extended the state of emergency and it will expire in November. We hope that by then, we would have contained the insurgency.

“If elections come and there is still insecurity, we will still hold election because we have had local government elections in the North-East

despite the state of emergency,” he said.

Perceptive observers, nonetheless, advise INEC and the security agencies to also look at the issue of pockets of insecurity in other parts of the country particularly in the Niger Delta region.

Political analysts, however, insist that Nigerians cannot abandon the issue of election credibility to INEC and the government alone, adding that the citizens must see themselves as stakeholders in making it work.

They say that Nigeria needs credible election in 2015 for the country to survive beyond 2015, noting that the fight against corruption and bad governance will also be a mirage as long as the legitimacy of elected leaders is questionable.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Midweek Magazine WITH Recent reports that the North and its Northern delegates at the just concluded National Conference are subtly scheming to ensure that the final report of the National Confab, when submitted to the National Assembly, will be obstructed and rendered void by the lawmakers, we seriously fear the impact this ‘selfcentered’ and disuniting move will have on the Nigerian polity. Considering the already fragile atmosphere in the country, no thanks to the insurgency perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect, any further move from any northern interest to water-down and scuttle the outcomes of the Confab report, will spell doom for all and sundry. Aside the fact that such ill-advised move will render useless “all the efforts, precious time and resources” expended in having the National Conference in the first place, it will also spiral grave unanticipated crises between the North and South divide.This is something the National Assembly will have to come over board and treat with wisdom and maturity for the overall interest, sanity and unity of this great nation.

It has become evident that the majority of Nigerians no longer believe in the present structural arrangement of the country and the way things are going. Therefore, there was the need to come together to fashion out a way of living with one another. There is no doubt that a country that has become as fractions as Nigeria needs to put its acts together.

It is not for nothing that the country is bedeviled by challenges, some of which touch dangerously on its ‘unity’ and ‘oneness’. It was against this backdrop that in his October 1, 2013 Independence Day broadcast, the President told Nigerians he would convene a conference to provide a platform for a national conversation.And indeed, the National Conference, which was a convergence of various delegates representing the interest of its people to highlight and address a whole lot issues that have been stunting the growth and development of the nation.

And we, like many other Nigerians, were happy with some of the resolutions of the Confab which include: creation of new States, Parttime Legislature for our lawmakers, the adoption of a Modified Presidential System of Government, the upward review of the derivation formula (which is still being

addressed), and others. It is therefore foolhardy and a very unpatriotic move that, notwithstanding the fact that the final report of the Confab is yet to be reviewed, adopted and consequently presented to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Northern delegates are already making subtle moves to use the National Assembly to void the recommendations.

This is a clear recipe for disaster.

Already, the South-South delegates to the conference have warned that any attempt to scuttle the resolutions would be detrimental to the nation’s unity. The delegates, including the former president of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, and President of Agape Birthright, Ann KioBriggs, said they were optimistic that if the conference produces a report reflecting the wishes and aspirations of a majority of Nigerians, those scheming to scuttle it would be doing so in vain. Reacting to the reported plot by some northern delegates to scuttle the report, Mitee noted that it would be preposterous for anyone or group of people to attempt to scuttle the confab report because decisions were taken concerning constitutional amendment, legislative intervention and policy issues that ought to be beneficial to the entire country. According to him, since the contentious derivation principle has been referred to the Presidency, it would be futile for anyone wanting to scuttle the report after delegates’ painstaking efforts to move Nigeria forward.

In the words of Mitee: “I am not worried about anyone attempting to scuttle the report.

No one is losing sleep. If we come out with recommendations and Nigerians feel they are things that will help our democracy, Nigerians themselves will counterbalance the effort of those who want to scuttle the report of the conference.”

Member of the confab’s devolution committee, Briggs, said it was quite disheartening that some delegates have worked assiduously to resist and thwart anything they perceived to be in the interest of the south at the confab.

According to her, the stance of some northern delegates was not in the interest of the country. “If they scuttle the conference report, it will not only affect the South-South and the rest of the south, they should bear in mind that the

Scuttling Confab Resolutions: whole country will be adversely affected. Those plotting to scuttle the report should remember, too, that they are not the owners of Nigeria. We all own Nigeria.

If they are resisting resource control and 50 percent derivation, what makes them think we will not resist the oil companies and the Federal Government’s access to the oil in our land?” Briggs said. It was also observed that those opposed to the conference have been manipulating delegates to abandon national interest for sectional objectives. She insisted that the only way to sustain Nigeria’s unity is through justice and equity.

It will be recalled that the National Conference, in considering the report of its 20 committees, had a smooth sail on 19 reports, but the issues of local government administration, state police and derivation tore the delegates apart. Northern delegates were reported to have bickered over the desirability of the recommendation, passed through a voice vote, to have local government administration transferred from the exclusive list to the residual list. They also expressed misgivings over the resolution, also passed through a majority voice vote, to allow for the establishment of state police “for states that want it” some of them also expressed concern over the resolution to create additional 1 states, with a special one for the southeast zone. As the conference rose, most of the northern delegates vowed to ‘fight’ to ensure that the report does not see the light of day. Even before the conference adjourned, the Northern Delegates Forum (NDF) had through threats and subtle blackmail attempted to halt the adoption of some of these decisions by the conference.

The most contested report was that which was submitted by the Committee on Devolution of Powers chaired

by Victor Attah, one-time Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and Co-chaired by Ibrahim Coomasie, leader of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and former Inspector General of Police. Though, most items on the report were adopted by plenary, the issue of derivation became contentious despite the Committee recommendation that the status quo be maintained with a further call

for the creation of a fund to address destruction brought about by the insurgency in the country.

To resolve the matter, however, leadership of the conference expressed the need for more time for mediation by leaders of the six geopolitical zones which could result to an agreement that the derivation benchmark be raised to “not less than 18 per cent” while the fund for insurgency destructions reconstruction was pegged at five per cent with the proviso that the fund be made open to every state of the federation where terrorists had caused destructions, beginning with the north east.But this recommendation did not meet the desire of North central and North West delegates who insisted that specific mention be made that the fund is exclusively for the three northern geopolitical zones while southeast and southwest delegates asked that it be expanded to accommodate every state of the country where terrorism had occurred.However, some delegates called for the increase of the National Intervention Fund, which is currently at 1.5 per cent, as captured in the constitution, to five per cent, to address the problem of reconstruction.Disagreements generated by these forced the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi-led conference, to refer the matter to the Federal Government for resolution, after several efforts at finding a middle ground acceptable to all, failed.

It is obvious that the northern delegates are not happy that they were unable to frustrate efforts by the conference to alter “the status quo”, especially as it affects resource control and the structure of governance. But they must realize that the national conference can best be described as a gathering of very important different strata of the Nigerian society. It is assumed that the various delegates of the National Conference were representing the interest of its people, which they consulted to harmonize issues they wish to bring to the conference. We therefore believe there is need for all concerned to mutually respect and treat one another equally, irrespective of which tribe, ethnicity, religion, geopolitical entity one belongs to.

We need to respect one another

A Recip

views, and in this case, there is need to respect the views of the people of Southern Nigeria whose oil and gas resources have been the rallying-point of our national economy from which other states have been benefiting and feeding from.

We believe in the ‘unity’ and ‘oneness’ of the country known as Nigeria, irrespective of our differences. But that should not mean we should forget history on how the ‘broad day robbery’ known as derivation formula, has been used to deprive the

Nigeria that should decide the percentage of derivation it wants to contribute to the central government for the benefit of all. This is what is obtainable of every nation that practices true Federalism. The fact that our Nigeria Federalism is skewed and has not been what is expected of a true federal statedoes not mean the status quo should remain.

There is need for the right things to be done, and for the right changes to be made. More so, what the Southern Niger

By ZIK

econ No that t subt outc thro Asse conc such prop crise exis Sout

National conference in progress

Niger Delta region of what is rightfully theirs. Let us not forget that it the lands, rivers, streams, air and the entire environment of the Niger Delta region, plus their socioeconomic environment, that have been bearing the brunt and adverse impacts of the extractive industry since oil and gas exploration activities started over 50 years ago.

So, we therefore find it appalling and unfair that some persons of Northern Nigeria, that has no idea of the adverse impacts of the extractive industry, are now the ones trying to decide for the South on the percentage of what should be given to us. When in fact, it should be the Niger Delta region of Southern

Delta region is asking for is not a 100 percent ownership of resources (which they have every right to), but merely 18 per cent, which is just an increase of 5 per cent from the present 13 per cent. And it is the same 5 per cent increase that the North are now scheming to allocate to themselves in the name of “National Intervention Fund” to rehabilitate Northern areas that were affected by insurgency. But as most Southern delegates have noted, this is an “attempt to divert money” (that should service overall national needs) to backers of terrorists in the areas to the disadvantage of the oil producing areas - the mainstay of the Nigerian

Nigeri as one for som The so remain are in overdu The disagr for pre the co delega sent to transm Assem would the p biased Howev there i to be issue w

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Midweek Magazine

e For National Disaster

K GBEMRE

nomy. ow that it has been reported the Northern delegates are ly trying to scuttle the come of the conference ugh the National embly, there is need for all cerned to apply caution, as h moves have the ensity to stir unanticipated es and further worsen the ting divide between thern and Northern

ia. If we are to live together e nation, then there is need me level of compromise. o called status quo cannot n. The proposed changes nevitable and are long ue. re were also some eements on the modalities esenting the final report of onference. While some ates wanted the report to be o the president for onward mission to the National mbly, others warned that it d be dangerous to do so as arliament was already d against the conference. ver, on a more serious note, is need for the lawmakers objective in treating this with wisdom and maturity.

The interest of the citizenry should be paramount to the lawmakers. Hence, we strongly advise that every aspect of the resolutions reached by the National Conference should be harmonized and adopted by the Presidency without delay.

Rather than allowing the Confab resolutions to pass through another rigorous process of plenary readings on the floors of the National Assembly, they should promptly adopt the Confab

reports and forward to the Executive for onward implementation without delay.

Any further delay in adopting the resolutions of the confab will amount to ridiculing and making useless all the efforts put to make the conference come to pass.

Before now, we have noted that it will be foolhardy and absolutely ‘unwise’ for constitutional and legislative steps not to be taken to ensure that all decisions/resolutions and outcomes of the National Conference are implemented to the latter. Hence, we had advised that what the National Assembly can do for Nigerians is to enact a law suggesting that whatever will be the outcomes/ resolutions/decisions of the

National Conference, such should be binding on every dick and harry in the polity.

They should also make the necessary amendments in the nation’s Constitution to give room for a referendum. But in the area of allowing the lawmakers to be the ones that would ratify the outcomes of the National Conference, we do not believe this is a step in the right direction. The National Assembly is already bedeviled with the complexities of party politics and divergent interests that are most times, not in the good interest of the common masses.

Given them that responsibility to ratify the decisions of the National Conference is futile and fruitless. It will somewhat rubbish or ‘water-down’ the decisions arrived at the National Conference. We all know how our lawmakers can be when it comes to approving anything that concerns the lot of Nigerians. It is better for us as a nation to pay the cost/ sacrifice of conducting a referendum that would ratify the decisions of the National Conference, than to leave such responsibility in the hands of our current lawmakers as constituted.

A cross-section of Nigerians of all walks of life has urged the Federal Government to subject the outcome of the ongoing National Conference to a referendum.A nationwide opinion survey of personalities conducted recently indicated that most respondents preferred ratification of conference decisions by referendum rather than the Presidential or National Assembly endorsement.It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan said while inaugurating the conference that its outcome may be subjected to a referendum.“If the outcome of the National Conference is to be binding on Nigerians, the people must have a say in the final outcome,’’ said a Sokotobased lawyer, Mr. Ferdinand Okotote.

According to him, such an action would legitimize the decisions of the conference.

Though, some stakeholders were of the opinion that asking the National Assembly to ratify the conference decisions would be less expensive and bear no cost to the economy, the fact is that “the people”, who are the reason for the conference in the first place, should be given that

opportunity to make their input through a referendum before the outcomes of the conference will be binding on all.

Nigerians must have the final say on the outcome of the National Conference, and they can only do so through a referendum. a referendum would not be seen as an imposition, but a collective decision and a democratic process.At least, we can boldly say that the generality of Nigerians have contributed, or made their input to the conference. A Port Harcourtbased lawyer, Mr. Edward Obiokor opined that a referendum was the best option rather than subjecting the outcome of the conference to presidential approval or ratification by the National Assembly.Obiokor expressed fears that the National Assembly might not vote for a constitutional amendment to pave way for a referendum as its members may fear losing their seats.“Nigerians have been advocating for the parliamentary system of government because it appears better and cheaper compared to the present presidential system.But for the country to move forward, our legislators should put aside their personal interests and allow for a constitutional amendment that will pave way for a referendum,” he said.He urged the National Assembly to go ahead with the constitutional amendment process, saying it is only then that the ongoing National Conference would have meaning and possibly change the fortune of the country for the better.

For Dr. Emmanuel Ejere of the University of Uyo, subjecting the outcome of the conference to the National Assembly or the Presidency would amount to making the exercise a jamboree.He said that the agitation for a national conference was actually a call for a sovereign national conference.“This also means that whatever is the outcome of the conference shall be subjected to the will of the people and not the Presidency or the National Assembly,’’ he said.Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kwara State Chapter, Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, said that the only way the outcome of the conference could be acceptable to the people was to subject it to a referendum.He said it was proper that Nigerians were given a chance to contribute to

the conference by subjecting the outcome to a referendum.He said that since the delegates to the conference were not elected, decisions by them would not carry any legal weight unless they went through a popular referendum.

There may be justifiable reasons to be cynical and incredulous over President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to convene a national conference, but there is no doubt that the country is in an unhealthy state that needs urgent redress. And having regard to the country’s complexities – in terms of population, multiple ethnic nationalities, languages, diverse culture, interests, and various natural resources located in different places – a more acceptable way to bring about the redress is to engage in a discussion that will involve all stakeholders, which a referendum provides.

The delegates in the ongoing National Conference are just a ‘tiny speck’ of the whole population when it comes to deciding the future of the country.

Democratic governance has not delivered the desired dividends.

Nigerians remain largely poor; in fact, among the poorest in the world. Yet, there was a time when the country, indeed worked; when the federating units competed fairly for development; when the states were economically vibrant and had no need to depend on the central government for financial assistance; and the Federal Government itself was less attractive, compared with the all-powerful entity that it subsequently became, to the detriment of the states.

Taking the above steps will prevent the reoccurrence of the failures we have witnessed in the past when it comes to national dialogues.

Government in the past did not utilize the positive outcome of similar national conferences, a most recent example being the 2005 event under former President OlusegunObasanjo, out of which nothing came after consuming huge public resources. Of particular note is the seeming rejection by the government of the report of the National Political Reform Conference, inaugurated by President Obasanjo on February 21, 2005 in Abuja.

It is true, as former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu noted, that the conference had wide representation and extensive

consultation which culminated in 118 recommendations. It is equally true that the only ‘toxic item’ of those recommendations was the provision of Obasanjo’s third term, which Nigerians vehemently opposed, thus

compelling the government to virtually abandon the report and its remaining 117 resolutions.

The very idea of submitting the conference outcome to the National Assembly fuels the grounds for cynicism and a perception of the conference as a fruitless exercise. Against the wide perception by the public that “the National Assembly has become selfserving”, those making such suggestion are going against the sensibility of the general public. It ultimately provokes the question as to whether the conference is worth the troubles.

A way around this, we wish to emphasize, is to ensure that once the report of the conference is approved by a referendum, the assignment of the National Assembly is no more than passing the approved report into law, without any delay or any amendment whatsoever. In line with this, like we stated above, it will also be imperative for the National Assembly to first pass a resolution that the outcome of the National Conference is legal and binding to all Nigerians. This is to avoid a repeat of the same fate of past reports on national issues; that were dumped. The national dialogue will be a fruitless exercise if the National Assembly does not ensure the legality of the outcomes of the conference.

The members of the National Assembly must come over board away from partisan politics and be patriotic in doing what is expected of them. It is this mindset that has made many skeptical about the intentions of the Presidency in calling for a National Conference.

Like the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), had noted, the just concluded National Conference that was initiated by the Federal Government will fail like similar exercises whose resolutions were never implemented in the past. To douse the minds of Nigerians, there is need for the National Assembly to take initial steps towards legitimizing the outcome of the national conference- by making the necessary constitutional amendment and passing the resolution suggested.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Issues “The technology was inaugurated in Abuja about three months ago and right now, the mobile laboratory for testing water is working. We have used it in scanning and testing water; we will move all over the country to test the quality of water being sold to the public.”

“The technology was inaugurated in Abuja about three months ago and right now, the mobile laboratory for testing water is working.

“We have used it in scanning and testing water; we will move all over the country to test the quality of water being sold to the public,’’ he added.

Jimoh said that the essence of testing sachet water was to safeguard the health of Nigerians by ensuring the safety of the water being sold to the public.

However, in some places,

sanctions will be imposed on the factory,’’ he said.

Fagboyo reiterated the commitment of NAFDAC to ensuring the eradication of counterfeit drugs, foods and cosmetics in the state.

“What we did in 2013 was to appeal to the conscience of sachet water producers in the state through a workshop we organised for them on the need to strictly adhere to production standards.

“Henceforth, any person caught producing or selling sachet water without NAFDAC approved

where the technology has yet to be introduced, NAFDAC is using other methods to ensure the safety of the sachet water on sale.

For instance, Mr Kayode Fagboyo, the NAFDAC Coordinator in Osun, said that some sachet water factories were recently shut in the state because they failed to meet with the required standards.

He said that the agency had to close down the sachet water factories, following complaints by some consumers over the quality of the water produced by the affected factories.

“Through our field survey, we have discovered that many of the factories are no longer producing sachet water under the conditions which made us to grant them the approval to produce in the first instance.

“We have now made it clear to all sachet water producers that we will be visiting their factories once in a month unannounced.

“If we get to any factory and we find out that the conditions which existed when the production approval was given no longer exist; we will withdraw the approval and appropriate

registration number will be made to face the wrath of the law,’’ he warned.

He emphasised that routine inspection of sachet water factories by NAFDAC officials would continue in all parts of the state.

Fagboyo advised the owners of food and drug factories to comply with NAFDAC’s production guidelines, urging the public to also be conscious of the products they bought.

He, however, vowed that NAFDAC would make concerted and pragmatic efforts to stamp out the sales of unregistered sachet water across the country.

Although some concerned citizens have proposed a total ban on the production and sale of sachet water, observers insist that the inadequacies in public water supply and economic benefits of sachet water production should also be considered.

They, however, recommend that in the meantime, NAFDAC should be encouraged to intensify its efforts to ensure strict compliance with the standards set for the production of sachet water and other food items.

NAFDAC And The War Against Unregistered Sachet Water BY most accounts, that the production of sachet water, popularly called “pure water’’, has been a major source of income for many people across the country.

Economists note that the production, marketing and consumption of sachet water have recently increased tremendously, as the moneyspinning business how has several brands on sale.

Attesting to this, Dr Paul Orhii, Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said that a lot of money was realised daily from the sales of sachet water across the country.

Due to the lucrative nature of the business, Orhii, during a visit to Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, the DirectorGeneral of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja, said that a lot of

people had ventured into sachet water production.

He, nonetheless, expressed regret that in spite of the prospects of the business, some sachet water producers had wilfully decided not to follow the regulations prescribed for sachet water production by NAFDAC. He lamented that the environment in which some of the sachet water producers operated was not hygienic, while some of them had not registered with the agency.

In view of this, Mr Olatunbosun Adeoye, an environmentalist, argued that NAFDAC should be more proactive in determining the prerequisites for sachet water production so as to ensure the safety of the public.

He alleged that some sachet water producers packaged untreated water from various sources and labelled it as “pure water’’ with fake

By VICTOR ADEOTI

NAFDAC registration number on the sachets.

Another environmentalist, Mr Lekan Agboola, noted that in some cases, consumers had expressed concern with the appearance and taste of some sachet water with NAFDAC numbers.

He said that in recent years, some research had been carried out in various parts of the country to determine the purity of sachet water.

He stressed that the results of the research revealed that the “pure water’’ might not be completely “pure’’ and safe for human consumption because of the unhygienic conditions in which the water was processed.

In the light of this, NAFDAC says that it has begun a nationwide assessment of sachet water

factories, as part of efforts to ensure the wholesomeness of the water, Mr Abubakar Jimoh, the Director of Special Duties in NAFDAC, said that the agency had introduced modern mobile laboratory equipment for the survey.

He said that the equipment was used for onsite physicalchemical microbiological test analysis to ensure that the sachet water being sold to the public met safety standards.

Jimoh said that the agency had carried out the exercise in Nasarawa State, adding that the sachet water analysis was going on in some parts of the country.

“We are still trying to build on the latest technology; we have introduced another technology called modern mobile laboratory equipment used for testing the quality of water.

“Through our field survey, we have discovered that many of the factories are no longer producing sachet water under the conditions which made us to grant them the approval to produce in the first instance. We have now made it clear to all sachet water producers that we will be visiting their factories once in a month unannounced.”

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Natural Medicine

Women And Their Brassiere (2)

GENERALLY, there are two types of brassieres or bras if you so wish to use a psychedelic, sexy term to address them. You have the push-up and padded brassieres. Both of them can contribute to breast health in their different, own ways.

For instance, push-up brassieres as the name implies give a lift to the breasts. In other words, they make the breasts to stand more firm on the bust, thus eliminating any noticeable natural sag. Such brassieres are functional for fat women with heavy/big breasts.

Also, pregnant or nursing mothers need this type of brassiere.

This is because during pregnancy a woman’s breasts grow in size, bulk and volume following their stimulation by estrogen and prolactin hormones. Hence, her breasts become not only bigger, they are heavier and weightier.

Similarly, a nursing mother has a lot of fluids and milk in her breasts which make them more voluminous. For all these reasons, she now needs a push-up brassiere for breast support. If she ignores this rule, her breasts will tend to sag faster than it would have been the case had she worn the push-up brassiere.

It should be emphasizes here that women with small breasts may not need push-up brassieres during pregnancy or while breast-feeding their babies. Why? The reason is simple. Their pregnancies or nursing status may have only functionally enhanced their breasts’ volume without making them too

bulky and heavy to predispose them to strain downwards as well sag.

However, there is always an exception. So, if you notice that, although you have small breasts that is ballooned by pregnancy or “overfilled” with milk while nursing your baby, go for push up brassiere keep your old one aside for the time being.

Now, let’s look at padded brassieres. They are lined with foam or other materials that give artificial shape, firmness and volume to small or flat breasts. So, always take your pick of brassiere wisely. Don’t wear one because you need a piece of clothing to cover your breasts.

Wear a brassiere: either for breast/bust appeal.

Lifting up your breasts; hiding away their small size or flatness; or preventing sagging.

All said this next observation is critical.

You should not wear brassieres every hour of the day. Use them only occasionally, may be during an outing. Avoid always putting them on white home. Most especially, when going to bed, put the brassieres away. Allow the breasts to “relax” and “breathe”.

Studies say breast cancer risk increases when you wear brassiere daily for

With Dr Mao 0803071734

long hour without giving respite to your breast.

Furthermore, researchers have affirmed that overuse of brassiere may contribute to sagging breasts. How? Here is what the researchers discovered.

Too much brassiere

band does around the waist. And, so, the breasts also sag.

Therefore, follow the law of nature which says that too much of everything is offensive.

Use brassieres sparinglynot always. Afterall,

smoking, aging, abortion, pregnancy, baby nursing, participation in sports among other factors unrelated to disease.

Let me explain further, so as to clarify these issues but let’s start from the beginning. At puberty, a woman does not need any brassiere support. Her breast can support themselves without the need for artificial brassiere aid. If at all, she wants to wear

support for the breasts, makes the muscle fibres and ligaments, naturally holding up the breasts, to lose their tones over time since the brassieres have taken over their function.

Because of this tone loss of the muscle fibres and ligaments, they weaken and just as an elastic

sagging or small breasts are not signs or symptoms of a disease.

Small breasts are nature’s gift. Then, of course sagging breasts similarly may be triggered and quickened by obesity, fatness, weak bust, toneless muscles fibres/ ligaments,

a brassiere, it should be for accessory effect since a brassiere is also a piece of body ornament like ear-rings, necklace, hand bangles or wrist watches.

Alternatively or in addition, she could use a brassiere for breasts coverage to keep them from sending wrong,

“Beyond puberty and as a woman is in her twenties, it is then some of them may need a brassiere to slow down, not stop sagging because all breasts sag as a woman age ending up dropping during her menopausal years.”

sensual signals to men, some of whom have become rapists.

Beyond puberty and as a woman is in her twenties, it is then some of them may need a brassiere to slow down, not stop sagging because all breasts sag as a woman age ending up dropping during her menopausal years. If you see a woman with firm, upright breasts in her mid life or menopause, then suggestively she may be on breast bilding estrogen-based breast stimulants. Or, she has undergone breast enlargements. All these medical procedures have their side effects.

Therefore, it is more preferable to allow your breasts to sag naturally and if need be to use brassieres sparingly to slow down the sagging process.

You may be wondering why I said smoking, abortion and sports activity can trigger and/or facilitate breast sagging.

Here are the reasons.

Smoking damages collagen in the muscle fibres/ligaments holding up the breasts. It is this collagen that gives the muscle fibre/ligament strength to function properly.

Secondly, abortions or miscarriages are abbreviated pregnancy.

They contribute to breast size, volume, bulk and weightiness which trigger/quicken sagginess. Thirdly, a sporting activity like athletics contributes to sagging breasts that overstretch the muscle fibres and ligaments holding up the breasts. On the contrary, sports like shot put and weightlifting strengthen as well as firm them.

On a final note, let me give you this take away.

Don’t lie on your breasts in bed. The acts squeezes them, hampers circulation in them and make them prone to sagging; as well as disorders.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

New Horizon

Background Of Spirituality

Celibacy In Focus: BESANT once said, “Only when pleasures disappear and banished, then there comes upon us a boundless joy that is firm and unalterable.

All relations in this material world, even the most ideal — are under the sway of time.

They are doomed to end. We come together momentarily, like bubbles in the great ocean, then scatter, never to meet again. Yet the desire to love something is forever within us because it is our spiritual nature. We all have this eternal, loving urge. The attraction we have for this material world is indeed, but a perverted reflection of this eternal spiritual urge for the absolute. The attractive qualities that we see in another human being are the minute reflections of God’s limitless attractive qualities.

To realize this, all we need is a turnabout in our consciousness.

Our consciousness must be elevated to the point of seeing the One Supreme Absolute everywhere and in Everything, surrounded by His infinite parts serving Him eternally. Our total energies must be redirected to this end by disciplined practice and unflinching devotion. The great vedic philosopher, Parasara Muni noted that “Everyone is attracted to six fundermental qualities, wealth, fame, beauty, strength, knowledge and renounciation”. These are found in some degree in every particle of God’s creation. Some people excel in strength, some in beauty, some in knowledge, some in fame and some in wealth and some in renounciation. All beings partake of these qualities to some degrees.

The source of attractive qualities is God Himself, who is Supreme and complete in everything. Only the

Supreme Personality of Godhead has everything in full. He is even complete in His renouciation because He remains as He is, even after rejecting His own opulence’s, which are but his own energy.

Secondly, God does not question any country nor individual about how we - utilize the abundant gifts of nature from Him. We His parts and parcels, derive great pleasures from contemplating the opulences of God our Father. “The spiritual man feels spiritual joy which is superior to material pleasure, exceeding it a thousand times.”

(Swedenborg). Better to say, countless times. In the material world, pleasures bring pain because they are finite. They last for a season.

But God is eternally beautiful, wealthy without end, all — knowing beyond limitation, famous everywhere at all time, allpowerful without diminution, and independent always as the very source of creation.

Perfect and complete happiness is found in Him alone.

Spiritual comforts exceed all the delights of the world and all pleasures of the flesh (Thomasokempis). Love, real love, is intended for God alone. Love is God’s monopoly. He is the only loveable object. Real love is experienced with God, through God, and by God, person to person. We His infinitesimal parts, can relate spiritually to Him as servant, friend, child, parent or lover.

Such love, like God is eternal.

It does not perish when the material body dies. It goes on forever either in direct relationship with God in His Kingdom, or in future

lifetimes of devotional service in the material world.

We are all originally liberated spirit souls — eternal, pure and full of knowledge. We should not only know this but show it through our actions.

It is our birthright. A perfect celibate fulfils his destiny and enjoys the inheritance. He is therefore blissful while rendering service to God and mankind, while looking,

cleaning, building or speaking. He does not necessary retire to a lonely mountain cave. He engages in the dynamic active service of love of God, wherever he is.

Although the world is under the sway of lust, the celibate is gloriously free, for he has learned to control the mind and senses, and his intelligence is fixed by God consciousness. Indeed by controlling the tongue and

genitals, the celibate is the most glorious human being.

In all circumstances, be a perfect servant of God. Among all servants of God, he who always abides in God with faith, worshiping God in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with God and is the highest of all. “Continence is the greatest wealth” (Pythagoras). Blessed and

glorious is one who has vowed to observe celibacy for the rest of his life.

Twice blessed and glorious is he who sincerely struggles to uproot lust and attain real purity. Thrice blessed and glorious is he who has completely conquered lust and attained pure devotional service. All glories, All glories to such victorious souls. May they forever inspire us. (Swami Nityananda). Celibacy

“Spiritual comforts exceed all the delights of the world and all pleasures of the flesh (Thomasokempis).

Love, real love, is intended for God alone. Love is God’s monopoly. He is the only loveable object.”

With VICTOR ANIUKWU

remains a sinequanon to both married and unmarried beings. And to remain firm and fixed in celibacy, we would do well to remember the great examples of celibacy — e.g Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary and her sponse Joseph, St. Paul, Lord Caitanya who was Lord Krishna, all of who were in a humble role of a pure devotee.

Also in hindu tradition there is one called Bhishma, one of the heroes of Mahabharata. Just to please his father, he vowed never to have sex. Hearing this outstanding vow, the

the body — did he agree to die.

Laksman the brother of Lord Rama, was also very powerful because of celibacy.

He defeated the demon indrajit, who was so powerful that he could be killed only by one who could abstain from all sensual enjoyments, including sex. Similarly, Hanuman’s power of celibacy enabled him to carry mountains, jump hundred of miles in a single leap, and defeat thousands of demons single handedly. Also Samson the strong was a powerful celibate who fought a whole city with a jaw bone,

demigods in the high heaven cried out; “Bhishma” — meaning “The one of a terrible vow”. By virtue of his long life celibacy, Bhishma possessed superhuman powers. At the battle of Kuruksetetra, he even defeated the great warrior, Arjuna after only an hour’s combat. Bhishma’s body was so strong and hard as a result of celibacy, and his character so determined, that he was not under the control of Yamaraj, god of death. Infact he laid on a bed of arrows shot all over his body during the war for fifty-five days before he gave up his life air.

During this time, he gave wonderful instructions to King Yudisthira and his brothers. Only when the sun began its northern journey, an auspicious time for leaving

and conquered. Indeed there is nothing that cannot be obtained by the power of celibacy. A celibate’s intelligence becomes keen, and his consciousness clear and steady. He becomes strong like a lion. He possesses an iron will and the determination needed for self-realization, longevity, glory, virility, strength, knowledge, truthfulness, peace and devotion are but a few of the qualities that are his. The Vedas tells us that liberation personified stands before the door of a celibate, waiting to serve him. Even death itself is afraid to approach a perfect celibate.

Verily, the glories and powers of a celibate are inexhustible.

Celibacy is the background of spirituality, without it, one Continues on page 24

THE NIGERIAN

21

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Place Of Prayer Continued from last week

AFTER you hear God’s promise, what do you do? The right thing to do is to stop praying and start praising. In 2Chronicles 20:20-25, 27-30, we see an intriguing story that portrays the power of worship in the midst of strong antagonism.

praise God. As they praised God in their wilderness, God set ambushments against their enemies and they destroyed themselves with their own hands. The enemies ran away and left their riches for Jehoshaphat. At the end of the bathe, the enemies began to fear him and God gave him rest

With Pastor Samuel O. Osaghae

from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

It is a situation of

It means Anointed, yet no miracle to prove the anointing.

It means qualified academically, yet no employment. It means talented and gifted yet not demanded for. In the midst of all these frustrating situations, the Lord admonishes us to break forth into singing. Force yourself to

hopelessness, but rejoicing in the Lord will make your feet like hind’s feet and He will make you walk upon your high place feet imply divine ability and grace to run with speed.

This means unhindered progress and acceleration.

Walking upon your high places implies divine grace and ability to walk upon your obstacles.

Your obstacles become

praise Him (Break forth); because it is not easy to sing in the midst of contradiction.

If you praise God in the wilderness, you will be lifted above those that went a head of you.

Weeping, grumbling and laming about your wilderness experience will not bring you out of it. In the scripture above, we are admonished to take up

by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the

transformed from being stumbling blocks to stepping stones. They become your ladder for climbing to your next level. Hallelujah!

In Isaiah 54:1,9, the bible says- Sing, 0 barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cay aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as (have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

Barrenness is a wilderness.

Barrenness means puffing effort and not seeing evidence.

It means struggling and yet no dividend. It means preparing for, and writing examination and yet no success. It means beautiful, yet no marriage. It means fertile yet no pregnancy.

an instrument of praise and praise God in the midst of our wilderness, You are searching for a miracle, a husband, a baby, yet the Lord says take an instrument of praise and praise Him. It does not sound logical, but it is Gods pattern of coming out of the wilderness.

As you break forth into singing in the midst of your contradictory situation, a rainbow of remembrance will be set up for you just like in Noah’s time.

The last hope of the Church for revival in this end time is worship. Worship is what will make us stand out from the unbelievers. See Amos 9:1115- In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.

That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called

waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. Jesus has paid the price yet the world is not saved.

Sickness is still present.

Poverty is still the order of the day. There is war, affliction, diseases, pain, famine and every evil in the world that Jesus came to save. However, there is a way out of this wilderness. The way out is to raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen. The tabernacle of David is celebration. David was a worshipper: Praise and worship of the Lord was his delight. If you can take your eyes of the issues that make up

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Coming Out Of Wilderness (5)

And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, 0 Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet for his God gave him rest roundabout.

Jehoshaphat chose to praise God in his wilderness. Rather than succumb to the intimidation of the great army that had come against Judah, he encouraged the people to

on every side. Are you surrounded by enemies?

Worship will bring about your escape. Praise and worship is what will bring the manifestation of your victory from the realms of the spirit to the physical realm.

The New Testament believer is not a prayer warrior but a praise warrior. The reason is that Christ has defeated the enemy on our behalf and has made us more than conquerors (Romans 9:37).

The implication of this is that we do not have any fresh battle to fight; we are victorious already. It was in the Old Testament that we prayed against enemies. In the New, we worship God and leave our enemies in His hands. The New Testament law is love: Love your enemies. “Fall down and die by fire” is not love. When you do this, you break the law of the New Testament which is Love. Your enemies will not go unpunished because according to the law of God, you reap what you sow. However, it is not your responsibility to pass judgement on them: leave judgement to God. The sinner shall not go unpunished.

Have you been in that wilderness experience for too long? Sincere, heartfelt worship will make God remember you and come to your rescue. The bible says in Isaiah 23:16- Take an harp, go about the city thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. In 1Samuel 1:19, we see that after Hannah had prayed, they worshipped before the Lord, and the Lord remembered her.

In 2Kings 3:14-15, Elisha lost the anointing because he was angry. He had it before, but he lost it. It was celebrated, but now it was no longer available. Elisha knew how to come out. He worshipped and his anointing was restored.

Whatever you have lost in the past can be restored. The key to restoration is worship.

In Habakkuk 3:17-19, the bible says: Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off

your wilderness experience and shift gear to praise and worship from a sincere heart just like David, you will enjoy the following benefits revealed in the scripture above: * You will possess the remnant: You will receive whatever is left in your expectation that you have not received. * You will become an example of God’s glory. Unbelievers

will know God through you. * You will overtake those who went ahead of you. Although you just started planting, you will catch up with and overtake those that are already in their harvest time: Quick fulfillment destiny. * Those in captivity will be delivered. * You will enjoy the fruits of your efforts and labour: you will not labour and others enjoy. * That ever is yours will be given to you and God will take you wherever you ought to be.

Every vacancy that is your own, you will occupy it.

Beloved, I admonish you to take this fourth key of coming out of the wilderness very seriously. As you begin to celebratively praise and worship God inspite of contradictions, you will be brought out of your wilderness.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

International Features

Power Tussle In Baghdad As Maliki Refuses To Go

IRAQ’S president named a new prime minister to end Nuri al-Maliki’s eight-year rule on Monday, but the veteran leader refused to go after deploying militias and special forces on the streets, creating a dangerous political showdown in Baghdad.

Washington, which helped install Maliki following its 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, congratulated Haidar al-Abadi, a former Maliki lieutenant who was named by President Fouad Masoum to replace him.

Maliki said in a televised speech the president’s decision to name a replacement for him was a “dangerous violation” of the constitution and, flanked by political allies, he vowed “we will fix the mistake.”

Maliki’s son-in-law, Hussein al-Maliki, called the move “illegal” and said it would be overturned in court. “We will not stay silent,” he said.

Washington delivered a stern warning to Maliki not to “stir the waters” by using force to cling to power.

A Shi’ite Muslim Islamist, Maliki is blamed by his erstwhile allies in Washington and Tehran for driving the alienated Sunni minority into a revolt that threatens to destroy the country. Leaders of Iraq’s Sunni and Kurdish communities have demanded he go, and many fellow Shi’ites have turned against him.

U.S. President Barack Obama said the naming of a new prime minister was an important stride for Iraq toward rebuffing Islamic State militants, who have overrun large swathes of northern Iraq.

Obama said he spoke with Abadi to congratulate him and to urge him to quickly form a new cabinet that is broadly representative of Iraq’s different ethnic and religious communities.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also praised the naming of Abadi and urged him to seek a broad-based government acceptable to all components of Iraqi society, the United Nations said.

The new political crisis comes just days after Washington launched its first military action in Iraq since pulling its troops out in 2011. U.S. warplanes have bombed Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State, who have marched through northern and western Iraq since June.

Washington says it is taking limited action to protect a Kurdish autonomous region and prevent what Obama called a potential “genocide” of religious minorities targeted by the militants.

The Pentagon said U.S. airstrikes conducted since Friday have slowed the operational tempo of the Islamic State but are unlikely to substantially weaken the group.

U.S. aircraft on Monday hit four Islamic State checkpoints and destroyed several of the group’s vehicles near Mount Sinjar, where thousands of people of the Yazidi religious sect have taken refuge, the Pentagon said.

Washington is also directly supplying weapons to Kurdish fighters, U.S. officials said. The weapons were supplied by the Central Intelligence Agency but the Pentagon may soon start arming the Kurds, the officials said. They declined to specify when the supply program

began or what sort of arms it included.

Islamic State fighters made new gains against Kurdish forces despite four days of U.S. airstrikes, while Baghdad, long braced for the Sunni fighters to attack, was now tensing for possible clashes between Maliki and rivals within the Shi’ite majority.

President Masoum asked Abadi to form a government that could win the support of all groups in a parliament elected in April. In remarks broadcast on television, Masoum, a Kurd, urged Abadi to “form a broader-based

Shiite Lawmaker and Deputy Parliament Speaker Haider al-Ibadi speaks to the media after an Iraqi Parliament session in Baghdad recently.

government” over the next month.

Abadi urged national unity against the “barbaric” Islamic State, which has driven tens of thousands from their homes as it swept aside Baghdad’s troops to consolidate a “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria.

“We all have to cooperate to stand against this terrorist campaign launched on Iraq and to stop all terrorist groups,” he said in broadcast remarks after meeting Masoum.

As police and elite armed units, many equipped and trained by the United States, locked down the capital’s streets, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry aimed a stark warning at Maliki against fighting to hold on to power.

“There should be no use of force, no introduction of troops or militias in this moment of democracy for Iraq,” Kerry said. “The government formation process is critical in terms of sustaining stability and calm in Iraq and our

“The new political crisis comes just days after Washington launched its first military action in Iraq since pulling its troops out in 2011. U.S. warplanes have bombed Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State, who have marched through northern and western Iraq since June.”

hope is that Mr. Maliki will not stir those waters.

“There will be little international support of any kind whatsoever for anything that deviates from the legitimate constitution process that is in place and being worked on now.”

Under Iraq’s post-Saddam governing system, designed to avert conflict by giving all groups a stake, the speaker of parliament is a Sunni and the largely ceremonial president a Kurd. Most authority is wielded by the prime minister, a Shi’ite.

Maliki’s opponents accuse him of abusing the system by keeping key security posts in his own hands instead of sharing them with other groups, alienating Sunnis in particular by ordering the arrest of their political leaders.

Islamic State fighters were able to exploit that resentment to win support from other Sunni armed groups.

Maliki’s Shi’ite State of Law bloc emerged as the biggest group in parliament in the April election, but does not have enough seats to rule without support from Sunnis, Kurds and other Shi’ite blocs, nearly all of which demand he go.

He has nevertheless stayed on in a caretaker capacity while arguing that the constitution requires his bloc to be given the first opportunity to form a government. He has used courts before to keep power: in the previous election in 2010, when State of Law was second, a court let him form a cabinet.

A U.S. official insisted Washington had not been involved in the selection of Abadi but said “everybody is pretty relieved that they have chosen somebody and that it was not Maliki”.

Maliki also appears to have alienated his supporters in Iran, the regional Shi’ite power, which has sent military advisers to help organize the battle against the Islamic State. Iraq’s most influential Shi’ite cleric, Ali Sistani, all but ordered Maliki to leave power on Friday, declaring that politicians who cling to power were making a “grave mistake”.

Obama says a more inclusive government in Baghdad is a pre-condition for more aggressive U.S. military support against the Islamic State. He has rejected calls in some quarters for a return of U.S. ground troops, apart from several hundred military advisers sent in June.

The Islamic State, which sees Shi’ites as heretics who deserve to be killed, has ruthlessly moved through one town after another, using tanks and heavy weapons it seized from soldiers who have fled in the thousands.

On Monday, police said the fighters had seized the town of Jalawla, 115 km (70 miles) northeast of Baghdad, after driving out the forces of the autonomous Kurdish regional government.

On Sunday, a government minister said Islamic State militants had killed hundreds of people from the small, Kurdish-speaking Yazidi religious sect, burying some alive and taking women as slaves. No confirmation was available for the killings.

Thousands of Yazidis have taken refuge in the past week on the arid heights of Mount Sinjar, close to the Syrian border. The Islamic State considers the Yazidis, who follow an ancient faith derived from Zoroastrianism, to be “devil worshippers”.

A U.N. official said on Monday that thousands of Yazidis have been able to escape in the past three days with help from Kurdish security forces and others. But the official said many are still trapped on the mountain.

The bloodshed could increase pressure on Western powers to do more to help those who have fled the Islamic State’s offensive. They have already dropped supplies and U.S. aircraft have been bombing the militants since last Friday.

Courtesy:REUTERS

THE NIGERIAN

23

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

International

Turkey To Select New PM TURKEY’S governing party said Monday it will select a new prime minister at the end of August to replace Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who won the country’s first direct presidential election in a historic vote.

The Justice and Development Party, or AKP, will hold its party congress on August. 27 to select the new prime minister, who will also be the new party head.

Turkey’s constitution stipulates that the

president has to cut ties to any political party after being elected.

No specific name for the premiership was discussed during on Monday’s meeting, AKP spokesman Huseyin Celik said.

Erdogan won on

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood raise four fingers, the symbol known as “Rabaa”, remembering those killed in the crackdown on the Rabaa al-Adawiya protest camp in Cairo last year, during a demonstration in Cairo in January 2014.

Sunday’s election with 51.79 percent, according to election board figures released on Monday. Challenger Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu got 38.44 percent and Selahattin Demirtas, a young Kurdish politician, got 9.76 percent. Turnout was 74.13 percent — a relatively low figure for Turkey, where voting is mandatory.

A three-term prime minister who has dominated Turkish politics for more than a decade, Erdogan has been a divisive figure.

He was hammered by antigovernment protests over a redevelopment project in Istanbul’s Gezi Park last year, as well as over a mining disaster that killed 301 people in May. He was also implicated in a corruption scandal, along with his son, earlier this year, but rejected the accusations as an attempted coup. The judicial officials involved have been reassigned to other posts or fired, and dozens of police have been arrested.

His critics accuse him of an increasingly autocratic style of governance and for allegedly

Egypt Bars HRW Head Ahead Of Rabaa Killings Report

CAIRO - Egypt has barred the head of Human Rights Watch from entering the country ahead of the release of a report on a mass killing of protesters, HRW officials said on Monday.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of the New York-based NGO, and HRW Middle East director Sarah Leah Whitson were held overnight in Cairo airport before being denied entry, Whitson wrote on Twitter.

“It’s official - shortest visit to Cairo ever - 12 hours before deportation for ‘security reasons’the new Egypt certainly ‘transitioning’,” Whitson wrote.

The rights activists had flown to Cairo for the release of a report to mark a year since the mass killing of an estimated 700 opposition protesters, in one of the deadliest incidents of its kind in decades.

The protesters, supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, had been camped out around the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo for weeks when police moved in to disperse them on August 14, using tear gas and live ammunition.

The United States, which has cooperative ties with Egypt’s armybacked government, said it was “disappointed” at the exclusion of Human Rights Watch.

“We continue to have serious concerns regarding the events from last August and encourage the government of Egypt to conduct transparent investigations,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in Washington.

“A strong, vibrant civil society is important to the success of Egypt’s ongoing transition and we will keep making that very clear to Egypt,” she said.

A government official last year estimated roughly 700 protesters were killed in the dispersal, along

with eight policemen.

Rights activists say the number of dead could have been significantly higher.

“Rab’a massacre numbers rank with Tiananmen and Andijan but Egypt gov’t wouldn’t let me in to present

report on it,” Roth wrote on Twitter.

The interior ministry late on Monday defended the decision to bar the two activists.

“The authorities had notified them that their visit had been

postponed to September as the suggested dates were not suitable,” the ministry said in a statement.

“It stressed (to HRW) that the delegation won’t be allowed inside the country on tourist visas since it did not match the purpose of its visit,” it said, indicating that the two activists had not taken prior visas from Egyptian consulates before arriving to cairo.

trying to impose his religious and conservative mores on a nation built on secularism.

But his supporters revere him as a champion of the people who has steered Turkey to years of economic prosperity.

“Given the anti-government protests last summer in response to Erdogan’s perceived authoritarian tendencies, political tension is likely to remain high as Erdogan seeks to extend the power of the presidency,” said the Fitch international ratings agency.

Erdogan, 60, has vowed to transform the presidency from a largely ceremonial post into a powerful position.

Although a bid before the election to achieve this through a constitutional amendment failed, he has said he will activate the post’s dormant powers — a legacy of a 1980 coup — including the ability to call parliament and summon

Cabinet meetings.

“Erdogan got what he wanted,” Murat Yetkin, Editor-in-Chief of the Hurriyet Daily News, wrote in an editorial Monday. “He wanted to consolidate all the executive power in his hands and now he has the chance and capacity for that.”

Whoever replaces Erdogan as premier would hold the position until next year, when a general election is due. There is no official contender, although several names have emerged in the media, including outgoing President Abdullah Gul and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Gul, who co-founded the AKP with Erdogan, said on Monday he would “return to my party” after the end of his term, which expires on Aug. 28. But he refused to be drawn on whether that meant he would consider the premiership.

CHANGE OF NAME

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ONOYOMARIE – I, formerly Miss Onoyomarie Orobomuvie Stella now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Ikhenoba Orobomuvie Stella.

All former documents remain valid.

Auchi Polytechnic Auchi and the general public should please take note.

IGWE – I, formerly known as Miss Igwe Ndidiamaka Sylvia now wish to be known as Mrs. Okuse Ndidiamaka Sylvia. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, NYSC and the general public please take note.

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IDEMUDIA - I, formerly known and addressed as Florence Idemudia and Florence Omoghan now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alice Aigbedion Afrifa. . All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

MOKWUNYE – I, formerly known and addressed as John Mokwunye now wish to be known and addressed as John Osadebay Ikwunne. . All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Associate Corporate Servers (A.C.S) Lagos, FEDEX Red Star Ltd, Delta State Government, C & M Exchange Nig Ltd (Lagos), Christ Anointing Prayer Ministry, Diamond Bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE ISAIAH 58 MANDATE FOUNDATIONS Fighters from the Islamic State group on top of a military vehicle with anti-aircraft guns in Raqqa, Syria recently.

Fatah Militant Killed In West Bank NABLUS (Palestinian In the early hours of Monday Shootout Territories) - A Palestinian morning, soldiers had militant was shot dead early on Monday in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops in the northern West Bank, witnesses and a Palestinian security source said.

Zacharia Akra, a 24-yearold militant allied to the Fatah movement of president Mahmud Abbas, was killed in a shoot out in Qabalan village some 10 kilometres (six miles) south of Nablus, they said.

surrounded the house where Akra was staying with this brother, provoking an exchange of fire in which he was killed, they said.

The Israeli army confirmed the incident saying troops had gone to apprehend a man wanted for questioning in connection with a shooting incident against Israel troops two weeks ago.

“The terrorist barricaded himself in his location despite

repeated calls for him to turn himself in. Following gunfire from the suspect, the troops responded with lethal force,” a military spokeswoman said.

During subsequent searches, troops uncovered several “improvised antitank missile launchers,” she said.

A 17-year-old Palestinian boy died later Monday in an accidental explosion of a mine left by Israeli troops near Nablus, a Palestinian security official said.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation with headquarters in Benin City has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. HARRY SYLVESTER IZEVBIGIE 2. CHIEF (MRS.) VESA IGBE 3. KEVIN UGUWOKE 4. DR. IGHIWIYISI ERIMONA 5. BARR. RITA OIFOGHE AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To identify and support vulnerable children 2. To support the physically challenged.

3. To review inmate cases for those who cannot afford legal fees.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: CHRIS AWILI & CO., 08035024275

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014 With VICTOR ANIUKWU

New Horizon Continued from Pg 20

can only make little progress in God consciousness. How foolish to miss the very purpose of life just for the transitory enjoyment that goes with this body. The body is complete in itself just as every other part of the creation is complete. Sriishopanishad teachers that the Supreme Lord is perfect and complete in Himself, and every thing emanating from Him, including this material world is also complete. If we surrender to Him and perform our prescribed duties, all needs will be automatically satisfied. By nature, we are complete in God consciousness. At birth, the human body is beautiful.

People admire the beauty of small children. This beauty increases as long as the rules of celibacy are not violated.’

When a child is born, he is situated in celibacy. The baby in devoid of sex indulgence and how long can that be sustained? We are all eternal servants of God, and the body is His temple. How fortunate we are to have the Supreme Lord dwelling in our hearts.

And so if we keep the body at fit for Him, we shall never regret it. He is the reservoir of all pleasure. Is it not logical for His servants to derive a Supreme pleasure from serving Him? In His service we experience unlimited joy and pleasure.

Such pleasure completely satisfies, for it is sat-citananda — full of bliss knowledge and eternity. “The mortal shall put on immortality when trained to everlasting chastity” (clement of Alexandria).

Ofcourse, the celibate, being humble, knows that it is vain to think that he can attain the Supreme Lord by celibacy alone. God cannot be mechanically purchased.

Celibacy is, however, symptom of surrender, and the Lord reveals Himself, as

He is, in full, to the surrendered soul. Indeed surrender to God cannot be complete without celibacy.

Ultimately, everything including the power of celibacy, rests upon the mercy of the Lord. Without His grace and mercy, we cannot accomplish nothing.

His mercy is manifest in His holy name and His grace is manifest in our desire to chant them as a wakeup call to the Father. God is everywhere and everything is His energy. The lover of God knows nothing but God. It is only due to the impurities arising from lust that one fails to perceive God. We are eternal citizens of the spiritual world. And to return home, we must learn truth and be established in truth.

We must control the mind and senses and uproot lust.

We must master thoughts and desires so that our goal will be the Supreme Lord and our actions will lead us to Him. Above all, we must work hard to be pure in celibacy.

Then all good qualities will follow. We must awake to spiritual battle. Armed with the invincible names of God, we will be victorious The perfect celibate, freed from bodily duality need never fear anything. All fears arise from identification with the body. Established in celibacy, we can transcend bodily consciousness and take the joy of knowing our real self-pure spirit. We will then know that when our real self finally leaves this material body, we will truly enter into the joy of the Supreme Lord — full of bliss, knowledge and eternity.

Once again, in a limited specific sense, celibacy means controlling the sense of touch in relation to the genital organ. The sense of touch applied to the genitals produces pleasure. In this way, the pleasure principle assures the continuation of the species. People are eager to reproduce and take on the

... Background Of Spirituality responsibility of children because the sex act is pleasurable.

All sexual attraction and stimulation lead to organism, the release of sperm. If a man engaged in sex does not experience organism, he does not feel satisfied. After organism, however, he often feels cheated because orgasmic pleasure lasts only a few seconds. Moreover, he often feels guilty because he yielded to the allurements, of the flesh. And he feels

the greatest pleasure in the material world is sexual. The price of this pleasure, however is a high one, for at organism the entire system is drained. When properly used, sexual energy enables us to enjoy good memory, artistic imagination, and spiritual perception and not based on hallucination.

Great Works of art, literature, music, architecture and philosophy were produced by men who channeled their sexual energy

intelligence, photographic memory, an iron determination, and a steady desire for self-realization arise from Ojas Shakti. If however the senses are restrained, intelligence increases.

The power of celibacy brings success in all endeavours. Men of great genius have apparently been completely continent throughout life (Havelock Ellis). By celibacy one becomes a better poet, artist,

realization in the quest for the Supreme truth. If an athlete cannot remain celibate during training, he cannot perform his best.

Similarly, a student or scientist cannot concentrate on his studies if his mind is always dwelling on sex. Note here that “The abstinent scientist can devote more of his energy, to study”. And if a religious man cannot control his sexual desires, he is called a hypocrite.

Celibacy is indispensable for

drained of strength because he has wasted his vital fluid.

During organism, both mental and physical energy are lost, much more than in other forms of sense indulgence. Indeed, all the senses — touch, smell, sound, taste, and sight — are brought into play in the most intense manner. Sexual excitement is furnished from all the sense organs of the body. It is therefore said that

into creative endeavour. If sexual energy is allowed to flow upward, it feed and enlivens the nerves and brain, opening the door to heightened intellectual and spiritual power. And if allowed to flow downward, it weakens us spiritually and physically. When celibacy is strictly observed, sexual energy is converted into immense spiritual powers, called Ojas Shakti. A sharp

religious man, athlete, musician, mathematician or scientist. Even politicians benefit. Mahatma Chandi attributed his political power to celibacy. Regardless of our field of endeavour, our powers of concentration and retention are adversely affected by seminal loss.

Celibacy on the other hand, sharpens the ability to concentrate and helps us retain what we have learned.

Success in any field requires concentration. “Energy is gained by the establishment of continence”. (Patanjali).

Athletes transform sexual energy into physical prowers, scientists transform sexual energy into intellectual insight, Yogis transform sexual energy into spiritual

self-realization, said Gandhi.

All maximum endeavours and success requires the discipline of celibacy. In his “Exhortation to chastity”.

“Tertullian pointed out that “if an athlete is willing to practice celibacy for the sake of games, how much more should we be willing to be celibate for spiritual purposes of upliftment”. Finally, “There are enough sexual stoics in the world to prove by experience that continence is not only possible but also practical.” “Celibacy shuns all negative vices linked to sex, including — HIV/AIDS, contraceptives, rape, abortion, homosexuality, lesbianism, etc. It makes one an “IDEAL HUMAN BEING”.

“Great Works of art, literature, music, architecture and philosophy were produced by men who channeled their sexual energy into creative endeavour. If sexual energy is allowed to flow upward, it feed and enlivens the nerves and brain, opening the door to heightened intellectual and spiritual power.”

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Spiritual Platform

Dealing With Evil Powers Of Marriage

Marriage is one of the earliest human organisations, ordained

by God in Genesis 2:24

“THEREFORE a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh”.

It is as old as the human race and is expected by God to be a holy Institution which must, in the words of the new liturgy of the Anglican Communion, “Not be undertaken carelessly, lightly or selfishly, hut reverently, responsibly, God’s ordained marriage is monogamous, not to be broken by man. It is true that in the Old Testament, references were made to polygamous marriages on the strength of which many people have unwisely entered into polygamous marriages. This booklet gives an opportunity to examine the scriptures and see that from the word go, God never approved polygamous marriage.

Although polygamy was practised in the Old Testament dispensation, God never endorsed it, Hebrews 8: 7-9 says “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, he says: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judahnot according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord”.

Scripture just quoted above “I REGARDED THEM NOT ... “it was the time of ignorance at which God “winked’ (Acts 17:30).

Two instances further establish this:The Case of Abraham and Hagar Hagar was Sarah’s handmaid. Sarah gave her to Abraham and she conceived, when Sarah and Hagar could no longer agree, Hagar fled into the wilderness. And the Angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness and he said, Hagar, Sarah’s MAID, whence camest thou” (Gen. 16:7-8). Here, although Hagar had conceived for Abraham, she was not recognised by God as Abraham’s wife, but “SARAH’S MAID.” Even after the birth of Ishmael, God speaking to Abraham referred to Hagar as “thy bondwoman” (Gen, 21:12 -13) compare Gen. 17:15,19 where “God said unto Abraham, as for Sarah THY WIFE. (ii) The commandment God issued to the Kings of Israel.

‘When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee and shall possess it and say I will set a king over me ... he shall not multiply horses to himself., neither shall he multiply WIVES to himself..” (Deut’ 17:17,).

In view of this commandment, what a sad example of self pleasing was exhibited by such kings as David, Solomon etc. and what far-reaching results! still well, we know that this sin left its indelible mark all the way down upon them. See 2 Sam. I2:9-l2 and Neh. 13:26.

There are so many problem afflicting marriages such as distresses, fights and arguments. barrenness, problem children, attacks by spirit wife! Husband, witchcraft attacks disobedience to God incompatibility lack of love destructive family influence invasion by strange women/men attacks by demonic in- laws demonic attacks spirit of anger anti-marriage curses.

Jealousy /envy hatred pre-mature deaths attacks by spirit of poverty inability to many or return to sender marriages divorce curses /covenants. marine attacks occultism unfaithfulness/immorality.

These evil seeds come from the origins of marriages, This is the foundational problem. Psalm 11:3 says: “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Jesus was teaching us a fundamental truth that a house built upon a rock cannot collapse when the floods come. Matthew 7:2427,says “Therefore, whoever hears these saying of Mine, I will liken him to a wise man who build his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who build his house on the sand and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and fell. And great was its fall.”

The unfortunate thing is that many people build their lives on false foundation. There are so many marriages which are built on weak foundations. These foundations are the origins of their marriages.

Marriages contracted when both partners were strangers to God; - Marriages based on accidental pregnancy;

- Lustful marriages in which sex before marriage was the motivating force; - Marriages contracted after demonic consultation, e.g visit to soothsayers, occultic churches where love portions are prescribed: - Marriages contracted under the influence of satanic prophecies in certain arms of the so- called churches; - Marriages enforced by ignorant parents; - Marriages contracted through rape: - Marriages contracted under blood covenants, that is, in which blood was exchanged or licked; - Marriages based on physical attraction; - Polygamous marriages; (already discussed); - Postal or photograph marriages;

These marriages give rise to Satanic attacks on such marriages and their products, ie children. Marriage is the underbelly of the society. ‘When Satan attacks families, he is attacking the society.

Evil foundations give Satan the legal right to attack marriages and their products. Today we have distress, agony and other evil seeds identified in this chapter.

Marriages are under attack from Satan and his agents. These include.

- witches/wizards - marine spirits, particularly spirit wife/husband - occultism (soothsayer. sorcerers, native doctors, white garment herbalists. Marriages are actually endangered species or institutions which need our constant prayers.

T I A lady came for deliverance. the man of God asked her to go and bring all the fetish powers she was using to attack marriages. This woman was a marriage destroyer, she brought a bag full of all sorts of things including a broom, the man of God asked her what the broom was used for, she confessed that it was used for sweeping the feet of the woman they want to drive away from her matrimonial home.

She explained that they would wait by the door of the woman (victim), waiting for her to come out first from the door, sweep her feet away! Then problems would start for her in her home and the demonic strange woman would take over her husband.

This is one example. There are married men who are attacked through food, drink, charmed private parts, etc. Men who cannot control their appetites easily fall victims. These problems are compounded in urban areas. attacks by spiritual wives and husbands are many and varied. These marine spirits are many and as already discussed elsewhere, they can paralyse existing marriages or prevent spinsters from getting married.

T. 2 A couple came for a wedding in a church. Everything went on smoothly until the officiating minister asked the bride: Will you have this man as thy wedded husband, to live together according to God’s law in the holy estate of matrimony? Will thou love him, comfort him. honour and keep him, in sickness and in health? And forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?

- She replied ‘No’. All entreaties to make her change her mind failed.

-Unseen by others in the congregation was a spirit husband which was threatening her, telling her “If you say you will, you will die.”

The marriage could no longer be contracted.

With Rt Rev (Dr.) C. I. Umane GSM: 0803579951 Couples should constantly pray for their marriages. There are many forces working against marriages and it is your duty to pray for the survival of your marriage, especially if it was a product of a faulty foundation. Spinsters should pray what we call preemptive prayers against evil marriages.

Root Warfare Prayers You must subject your marriages to root warfare prayers designed to uproot the evil foundation from it. You can pray the following prayers at any time but you get better results if you can pray them between 12 midnight 3 am in the night, when demonic traffic is highest.

1. You marine powers working against my marriage fall down and die in Jesus name.

2. O Lord forgive me where I have dealt treacherously with my wife / husband In Jesus name.

3. Every foundational marriage bondage break in Jesus’ name.

4. You powers that withdraw joys from my marriage be roasted by fire In Jesus’ name.

5. Enough is enough, henceforth I refuse to share my husband / wife with any strange woman man In Jesus’ name.

6. I use the broom of the Holy Spirit to sweep away strange legs that have walked into my matrimonial home in Jesus name. “I sweep away”.

7. I break and loose myself from the curse of bitterness existing in my marriage in Jesus name.

8. O Lord bring back the initial love between my husband/wife and I In Jesus’ name.

9. Every Satanic hole created in my marriage, blood of Jesus block it. Lord, walk and plan ahead of me in my marriage in Jesus’ name.

10. Every demonic in-law fuelling problems in my marriage. I destroy your power in Jesus’ name.

11. Every Satanic magnet pulling my spouse away from me be roasted by fire in Jesus’ name.

12. Every evil spiritual consultant working against my marriage, I command your oracle to turn against you in Jesus’ name.

13. Listen to me Satan, you shall not convert my partner to my enemy in Jesus’ name.

14. Every inherited marital pattern be dissolved by fire in Jesus’ name.

15. Every problem in my life working against my home with my own mouth be cancelled in Jesus’ name.

16. Every unconscious curse issued against my home with my own mouth be cancelled in Jesus’ name.

17. Father Lord, let the problems that I am facing in my marriage through evil/wicked counseling be shifted back to the evil counsellers in Jesus’ name.

18. Every vow of the enemy against my marital life scatter by fire In Jesus’ name.

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Premier League Returns With A Stronger Man United

THE return of the Premier League this weekend cannot come quickly enough for English fans still lamenting their national team’s worst-ever World Cup showing. With the league’s riches, global reach and non-stop drama, it remains England’s projection of footballing power.

But as the waning impact of Liverpool cashed in around English sides in Europe last $130 million for the Uruguay season demonstrated, the striker, who is banned from Premier League’s allure football until the end of remains under threat from October for biting an Spain. Gareth Bale left opponent at the World Cup in Tottenham for Real Madrid Brazil. But Liverpool is now last year, and the new season without the player who led the begins with Luis Suarez at club to a rapid return to the Barcelona rather than elite, and the Premier League Liverpool. marketing machine is without

one of its most recognizable names.

Replenishing the Liverpool squad with a trio of players from eighth-place Southampton at a cost of $80 million doesn’t seem the obvious way of turning last season’s second-place finish behind Manchester City into

a first championship since 1990. The 27-year-old Suarez, whose 31 goals earned him the player of the year titles, has been replaced by 32-yearold Southampton striker Rickie Lambert, who played just three minutes for England at the World Cup.

“(Suarez) left Liverpool after his time as a world-class talent,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. “But we will move forward.”

Manchester United seems more likely to make a big jump forward than Liverpool.

Louis van Gaal has replaced

Wenger Issues A Trophy Flood Warning

NOT impressed by Arsenal beating Hull City to win the FA Cup and end the nine-year trophy drought that everyone thought was soOOOooooo hilarious?

Well WA-BAM! How about stomping the Premier League champions 3-0 to win the Community Shield? Is that a good enough start to the season for you? Trophy drought demolished! And I’ve gone ahead and bought every cabinet at the Wembley Ikea for Jose Mourinho to assemble for me because this is only the beginning.

Cups are nice, but we’ve gone all Game of Thrones on everyone and now we’ve got shields. “Oh, it’s just a glorified friendly and it doesn’t really matter,” says everyone who didn’t just win the Community Shield. Well tell it to the shiny plate currently reflecting me giving everyone the finger.

It’s like I’ve taken a trophy laxative and now they’re all flowing out of me with the force of one of those hydro jet packs.

My players are even winning World Cups when they’re on break from winning trophies with me. Remember when Olivier Giroud first came to Arsenal and couldn’t finish to save Fernando Torres’ life? Well now he’s doing this...

If you still haven’t caught on to the theme here, it’s that you’re done. I am now a silverware hoarder and no reality show on the planet is going to make me stop. I will not be satisfied until Alexis Sanchez has to jump over a pile of super cups to score a goal at the Emirates. All of the stadium’s toilets will be replaced with Capital One Cups and instead of flushing them, we’ll just tell visitors to throw them in the direction of Tottenham so we’ll have space for the next ones.

As you might have figured out by now, I am a very sick man.

I’ve got a fever. And the only prescription is more trophies.

Prepare yourselves for the season of Arsene. This is the year of the puffy coat.

In: Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Mario Pasalic (Hajduk Split), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Didier Drogba.

Players out: David Luiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Ashley Cole (Roma), Demba Ba (Besiktas), Samuel Eto’o, Henrique Hilario, Frank Lampard (all released).

United spent about $90 million on signing Spanish midfielder

Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao and teenager defender Luke Shaw from Southampton, which has seen an exodus of players to rival clubs and manager Mauricio Pochettino leave to take over at Tottenham.

Dithering in last summer’s transfer window contributed to United’s unexpected fall. The unwillingness of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to spend early in previous off-seasons has contributed to title challenges collapsing since 2004. Jolted by the failure to claim the trophy last season — finishing fourth after spending more time at the top than any rivals — Wenger seized the chance in July to take Chile striker Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona for $60 million.

Wenger opens the season without the burden of failure, having ended a nine-year trophy drought in May by winning the FA Cup. Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski went on to become World Cup winners with Germany, but must now swiftly return to the Arsenal fold.

“It always makes it difficult mentally to be sharp and hungry straightaway again,” Wenger said.

It is a challenge Manchester City must also confront in trying to defend its second title in three years. By winning the Premier League and League Cup, City enjoyed its most successful season since 1970, but only sustained success will confirm the Abu Dhabi-bankrolled team as England’s new force.

Louis Van Gaal

Mourinho Can’t Afford Another Trophyless Season

PERHAPS only Jose Mourinho could survive as Chelsea manager following a trophyless season. Surely another year of failure would stretch the patience of owner Roman Abramovich again.

When his six years in exile from Stamford Bridge ended last year, Mourinho could reasonably claim that time was required to rebuild the squad he inherited

from the years of chaotic management.

Still, finishing just four points behind Manchester City in the title race showed that Chelsea was far from being a spent force.

Unexpected setbacks against lower-ranking sides denied Mourinho a third Premier League success to add to the 2005 and 2006 titles, with an envied 78match unbeaten league run at

league in the world. It is a very intense and very aggressive competition. There are plenty of goals, so it is also really nice to watch and I can’t wait to get started!

“The fact that Fernando is here is better because I played with him at Porto but there is also other players that I know like (Bacary) Sagna, (Gael) Clichy and (Samir) Nasri.”

City manager Manuel Pellegrini added: “I’m delighted to have added a player of Eliaquim’s quality in the squad ahead of the new season.

“He is already a fine player

technical and tactical attributes to become one of Europe’s very best defenders.

“Eliaquim is a player I believe will make an immediate impact in the Premier League, thanks to his physicality, his reading of the game and quality on the ball.

“I think he will prove to be a great signing for us.”

Mangala made his France debut in a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay in Montevideo in June 2013.

Although included in the World Cup squad, the defender didn’t make it off the bench in France’s run to the quarter-finals.

Man City Snap Up Mangala From MANCHESTER City on but in my opinion, he has all Porto Monday announced the Premier League is the best of the mental, physical, signing of France central defender Eliaquim Mangala from FC Porto.

The 23-year-old Paris-born Mangala becomes the sixth signing of the summer, and will quickly re-join his old Porto teammate Fernando at the Etihad Stadium.

“City is a top club in Europe. For me, it was an important step to leave Porto and join Manchester City in order to continue my progress. I want to win titles and I believe I can do this. I am ambitious and this is why I am here,” Mangala said.

“I’m very happy to come to England because for me, the

David Moyes, who took over from Alex Ferguson as manager last season but wilted in the Old Trafford spotlight as the team fell from champions to seventh place.

Moyes arrived a year ago without a trophy to his name, but Van Gaal already has an aura of authority gained from years at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. He also led the Netherlands to a thirdplace finish at the World Cup last month. With United out of the Champions League for the first time since 1995 — and out of Europe completely — the 63-year-old Dutchman can focus on returning United to the top four.

“He’ll find the competition in this league will be different to any other league that he’s worked in,” Rodgers said.

“This is a league where the top team plays the bottom team and on any given day you can lose.”

Van Gaal has set about repairing a squad he described as imbalanced and “broken” in a summer that has seen veteran defenders Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic leave and Ryan Giggs retire.

Stamford Bridge ending.

A more clinical strike force was necessary. Diego Costa signed from Spanish champion Atletico Madrid — the Spaniard’s inability to score at the World Cup overlooked by Mourinho — and 36-year-old Didier Drogba re-joined two years after clinching the Champions League for Chelsea.

“Didier’s still the same. He’s been a nightmare to play against in training,” Chelsea captain John

Jose Mourinho

Terry said. “He’s still physically strong, sharp and hungry as well.”

Spain striker Fernando Torres has survived at Chelsea despite more than three years or inconsistency and contributing just five league goals last season.

But Romelu Lukaku was allowed to make his loan to Everton permanent despite confirming his goal scoring prowess with 15 in the last league campaign.

THE NIGERIAN

29

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

U-20 Women’s World Cup

Falconets Target Maximum Points Against England THE Head Coach of Super Falconets, Peter Dedevbo, on Monday said that his team was determined to secure victory in its last group match against England.

Nigeria is in Group C at the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, alongside Mexico, South Korea and England.

Dedevbo said in a statement signed by the team’s Media Officer, Elizabeth Kah, that the team would develop a new winning formula against the English side.

The Falconets are on top of Group C with four points after a crucial 2-1 victory over South Korea in their second match.

The team was forced to a 1-1 draw in its opening group game against Mexico.

“We are here in Canada to win the world cup, so, we cannot relax after winning our second match against Korea Republic.

“The English team is equally good. I want nothing less than a win against England. “ I am happy the strategy we used in the match against Korea worked; this time around I am going to introduce a new style of play.

“I must commend the girls for their fearless fight, and I am happy there are no injuries among the girls,” Dedevbo said.

He said that the Falconets

arrived at Edmonton, Canada, on Sunday ahead of their last group match.

The coach said that the Falconets had continued with their daily routine training twice a day at the Jasper Place bowl.

The team needs at least a draw against England to qualify for the knock out stage of the tournament.

The encounter against England comes up on Wednesday 6p.m. local time, which is Thursday 1a.m. in Nigeria.

THE International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) have commended the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) over its athletes’ performances, an official has said.

Omatseye Nesiama, AFN’s Technical Director, told newsmen that IAAF President, Lamine Diack, and his CAA counterpart, Kalkaba Malboum gave the commendation on Monday in Morocco.

Team Nigeria is taking part in the on-going 19th African Athletics Championships (AAC) taking place in Marrakech, Morocco.

Team Nigeria is defending its title as African champions at the

IAAF, CAA Praise AFN For Nigierian Athletes’ Performances five-day championships which began on Sunday and is expected to end on Thursday.

According to Nesiama, the leadership of the IAAF and CAA said AFN’s renewed efforts at discovery and development of new talents was highly commendable.

“The duo of Diack and Malboum made the commendation after I made a presentation on the achievements and challenges of the Developmental Centre for Regional Athletics Performance in Port Harcourt (DCRAPPH) at the CAA Congress.

“Both the IAAF and CAA presidents said collaboration between the AFN and the National Sports Commission (NSC) was a ‘major requirement’ at this stage to sustain planned developmental efforts,’’ he said.

The Centre for Regional Athletics Performance in Port Harcourt, inaugurated in February 2013, is tagged “Centre of Hope’’.

Selected Nigerian athletes had camped at the Centre in preparation for the African Youth Athletics Championships, which Nigeria eventually won its maiden edition in Warri, Delta.

These athletes, according to

Nigeria Prepares For Centenary Games

By BEN EDOKPAYI

National Sports Festival in Calabar to provide excitement, medals galore and healing for a nation As we sat in his expansive fourth floor office overlooking the lush green landscape and resplendent waters of the Calabar river snaking through the Marina area, Patrick Ugbe the Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 19th National Sports Festival marshaled out elaborate plans for the 14-day sports jamboree tagged: The Centenary Games.

Scheduled to run from through November 23 rd th, December 7 this year’s National Sports Festival is being packaged by a resourceful organizing team to leave indelible memories for Nigerians as well as the 12,000 to 15,000 athletes and thousands of visitors expected at the games in a city legendary for being good hosts.

Athletes will compete for honors in 25 events, and for the very first time since the games started in 1973 professional Nigerian athletes abroad will be allowed to participate.

“As long as you are a Nigerian you can come back home to

Falconets

participate,” said Ugbe, who also informed that a previous rule that barred athletes from further participation after featuring in three consecutive national sports festival had been waived.

“Everyone is excited about the possibilities from these new rules,” he said in measured tones as he outlined plans for the National Sports festival.

Six venues in Calabar and environs, including the U.J. Esuene stadium, the University of Calabar and an Indoor Sports Hall, have been slated to host the events.

Work on the new indoor sports hall

Ben Edokpayi

as well as refurbishment of the U.J. Esuene sports stadium are scheduled to be completed by August.

“Calabar 2014 will be a true celebration of all that is great about Nigerian sports as together, we aim to make this event a passionate and vibrant exhibition of the peace, serenity, heritage and generosity of spirit of the good people of Cross River State, not neglecting the real and long-lasting legacy of the festival in form of the sporting infrastructure and the

tangible sense of pride and fulfillment amongst the citizenry after a successful hosting of the festival,” said Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, at a ceremony in March to unveil the games logo, song and mascot.

“The Centenary Games is a culmination of all efforts towards re-establishing Calabar as the true home of Nigerian sports. We will deliver the best festival in Nigeria’s history,” Imoke promised at the March ceremony which attracted top brass including the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, officials of the National Sports Commission and prominent Nigerian athletes including track star Mercy Nku and former Super Falcons midfielder, Effionwan Ekpo.

Elaborating on some of the new rules for the upcoming festival, governor Imoke at the March ceremony informed that: “We are working in conjunction with the National Sports Commission and we intend to raise the bar, not in terms of infrastructure and the management of the games, but we intend to acknowledge the fact that this will also be the first

open sports festival. What this means is that competition must be transparent, integrity must rule and we must ensure that we produce games that is satisfactory to everyone at the end.”

As the host state, expectations are high for the Cross River State contingent to surpass its 8th place finish at the last games in Lagos State. Edo State, which finished with 17 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 23 bronze medals at the last sports festival in Lagos also hopes to improve on its 4th place finish in 2012 in the Calabar games. “ As the hosts we know we will have a good outing. We are taking part in all the sports,” said Ugbe, adding that, “even if we don’t win as hosts we will have a very credible outing.”

The other interesting aspect of this year’s festival is that it will be an entertaining transition to the annual Calabar festival, a combo expected to guarantee an economic windfall for local businesses during the months of November and December. The Calabar festival also tagged “Africa’s Biggest Street Party”, was created as “part of the vision

of making the Cross River State the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourist all over the world.”

“We believe both events will be a windfall for businesses.

As for the sports festival we are expecting 12, 000 to 15,000 athletes and you know how much they are going to be spending on this economy on a daily basis,” said Ugbe.

In addition to the economic windfall, the 19 th National Sports Festival is expected to go along way in helping to forge unity in the nation, and enhance the goals of the founding fathers of the National Sports Festival, whose twin objectives for the games were: Promoting mass participation in amateur sports from the grassroots level throughout the country with a view to discovering hidden talents.

Promoting healthy and keen competition amongst the competitors and states under a climate of sportsmanship and friendly interaction, thereby enhancing and strengthening unity.

Ben Edokpayi, a strategic communications consultant, began his journalism career at the Nigerian Observer. He can be reached at benedo1218@yahoo.com

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Photospeak The burial ceremony of Late Mrs. Iguokundia Asemwota, mother of Barr. Joseph Asemwota, Legal luminary based in Lagos took place last weekend (August 1, 2014) at Eguaholor-Isi in Uhunmwode Local government Area of Edo State.

The ceremony attracted dignitares from all walks of life, including top government functionaries, Captains of Industries, business associates, affluent citizens, traditional rulers, families and well wishers, amongst others.

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Mr. Osasere Asemwota and wife Olabisi.

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Barr. Joseph Asemwota (middle) dancing with family members during the occasion.

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Barr. Joseph Asemwota with family member during the ceremony.

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Apostle Steven Asemwota and wife Mrs. Imade Asemwota dancing during the occasion.

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Mrs. E. O. Asemwota (right), wife of Barr. Joseph Asemwota and Mrs. Imuetinyan Aigbe, at the occasion.

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Some guests at the occasion.

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Some guests at the occasion.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

We Need To Go Back To The Drawing Board To Revive Boxing - Okoh

MR. Wellington Okoh is an enigma who is passionate about everything good in life.

He is at the present, chairman Edo State Boxing Association, a director with EDSOGPADEC and a serving officer in the US Army.

A one –time national and international boxing champion, Mr. Wellington Okoh dreams and talks boxing almost everyday of his life.

In this interview, Mr. Okoh takes a look at Nigeria’s performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and concludes that the nation needs to go back to the drawing board to revive boxing which he described as the once power house of Nigerian sports.

He spoke with our Group Sports Editor, MATTHEW OKAGHA and JUDITH ONYEME, an intern from the University of Benin.

What is your assessment of Nigeria’s performance at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games otherwise known as Glasgow 2014?

Our performance was fantastic. I believe our athletes should be heralded and celebrated because since 1982, Nigeria has not done this well in the Commonwealth Games. I am very pleased particularly with the feat recorded by Blessing Okagbare. She is the Modupe Oshikoya of our era. She has done what a lot of athletes could not do for Nigeria and she is still young; just 25 years old. So, I believe that with time she is going to rule the world, probably in the next Olympics she is going to rule the world barring any major injury and we do not pray for that.

The athletes in general performed very well. The weight-lifters did fantastically well. The boxers, well that is another story and I think we have to go back to the drawing board because boxing used to be the power house of Nigerian sports like in the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane Australia we had six boxers and they all won medals for Nigeria from gold to bronze but in this last outing, we had only three bronze medals in boxing. So, it is a far cry from what it used to be and we need to do something drastically and quickly to revive boxing in Nigeria.

In your own view what do you think went wrong?

I believe that preparedness is one of the things. Secondly, nepotism and favouritism may have eaten into the fabric of sports in Nigeria, where people are not chosen based on their talents but based on who recommends them or who favours them.

Back in the days when you are called to the camp, all the

coaches and the technical advisers would watch you and everybody appraises your performance so it’s not left for one person to say “this is the one going and this is the one not going. If we bring back all those things like technical advisers being there during the selections which run from the trials to camp and from camp to competitions, boxing would also come back to life.

foreign coaches.

What we need are good facilities, good equipment and exposure. We need international meets, we need international invitation to take our boxers out for international training and international boxing competitions.

Most importantly, we need good equipments for our boxers.

Nigeria’s national boxing coach, Tony Konyegwachi has attributed the poor performance of our boxers at the 2014 Commonwealth Games to the late release of funds to

enable the boxers move into camp early prior to the games. Do you agree that the late release of funds was a major factor which contributed to the poor performance of our boxers?

To some degree, yes! Late release of funds would affect performance but in the overall it shouldn’t, because if you have your boxers who are sound and who are training everyday, sacrificing themselves in training, it wouldn’t matter when funds are released. But don’t get me wrong it is better when you know you have money to spend to feed your boxers, get

them the right equipments and put them in the right frame of mind because as they say; a hungry man is an angry man.

If you are not well fed, perhaps, you won’t perform optimally I believe that if the Nigerian government is going to be in this business they should be in it wholly. Government should release funds when it is right for them to do so and they shouldn’t wait till the last minutes to adopt the fire brigade approach. It is not right for sports in general.

of boxing in Edo state, are you not worried by the trend of events in boxing in this country?

As the man at the helms

The National sport festivals is drawing close: How prepared is Edo state boxers?

They have been talking about the National Sports Festival and the state Commissioner for Sports has also hinted of plans to hold the state sports festival but we don’t know yet when that is going to happen. I pray it happens because if we do that it will be an avenue to discover more talents, then put them in camp before the National Sports Festival. But if that doesn’t happen, God willing am planning some ways to see if I can get some corporate bodies to join hands with me so that we can organize a boxing competition hopefully between now and the end of October.

That way we are prepared for the national sports festival in November.

In the past, we had experienced Nigerian coaches such as our own Isaac Ikhuoria who took Nigerian team to the Olympics and won medals for the country. Don’t you think that the problem now has to do with technical deficiency?

There is no doubt about that I am not trying to take away anything from Tony Konyegwachi, but I don’t think Tony Konyegwachi has everything to bring our boxers to par. He needs people like. Sir Isaac Ikhuoria, people that have been there and have gone to win medals for Nigeria, people that have taken boxers from this shore to other shores and brought home laurels.

Those are the people we need to kind of serve as technical advisers to some of these young coaches.

Finally sir, what do you have to tell those in charge of sports in Nigeria so that we can begin to raise the standard of our games and the quality of a our athletes?

Would you advocate that Nigeria hire expatriate coaches, probably the Cubans to ensure that we shore up our standard in boxing?

Honestly, I think Nigeria has enough coaches to take care of our boxers, we don’t need

Well, I wouldn’t say I am worried, but I was disappointed with the outcome. But if some of the things that I have talked about; releasing funds as at when due and providing the right equipments, the right facilities, the right technical advisers for the sports, if all these things are put in place we can shine again and I truly believe that.

Mr. Wellington Okoh

““ “I believe that if the Nigerian government is going to be in this business they should be in it wholly. Government should release funds when it is right for them to do so and they shouldn’t wait till the last minutes to adopt the fire - brigade approach. It is not right for sports in general.”

Well, you have said it, the standard needs to be raised and it is either we are in it or out of it, either we have to part of the grooming and funding of sports or we leave it in the hands of maybe private or corporate bodies like in the United State where Mobil is sponsoring track and fields. If government wants to be involved in it, they should be involved in it totally.

If they don’t want to be part of it then they should stay away from sports but they can help to put laws in place that would compel corporate organizations to fund sports as part of their corporate social responsibilities.

And what is your advice to boxers in Edo state?

I will tell them to hang in there, come to training all the time and be focused because better days are yet to come.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Ebola: Of Vulnerable Media And Gullible Citizenry

By NASAMU JACOBSON

THERE is no doubt panic among the citizenry over the ebola virus disease which presence in some West African countries of Guinnea, Sierra Leone and Ghana is reaching a pandemic dimension.

This panic among Nigerians explains the zeal and enthusiasm with which we embraced the rumour of a preventive therapy in a warm-saltwater bath on Friday morning. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the rumour but the substance of it was so pungent that it was difficult not to give to a thought in practice.

It was early, about 4.00a.m., that my wife received a phone call asking her to rouse the whole family for the early morning ritual of a warm salt water bath to ward off the ebola virus disease.

The caller said he had received a call from Benue state without mentioning his informant that the magic remedy of a warm salt water bath must be applied before 6.00a.m. to be effective. I must admit that I would not ordinarily succumb to such unintelligent and medically unscientific and unsubstantiated talk but I did take the bath as I regarded it as an

Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T.B. Joshua, who gave the prophesy that only a warn salt water bath could keep the ebola virus disease, with no known cure at the moment, away from Nigerians.

It was not difficult to fathom why Nigerians fell flat for the prank ebola prevention rumour. In the wake of the spread of the deadly virus to Nigeria two weeks a go through one Patrick Sawyer, a Sierra Leonean-American, now late, the Federal and Lagos State Governments sent a delegation to meet with Prophet T.B. Joshua to discuss possible ways of assisting the federation in the prevention of the spread of the disease. It was reasoned that since the disease has no known cure at the moment, preventive measures must be taken to ensure that it did not spread further than the known Lagos area where Sawyer’s case was discovered and dealt with.

Such measures include the suspension of religious activities like crusades which usually drew large crowds at a time. It would eliminate the contact element in the spread of the disease.

Nigerians were, therefore, rightly believed by those who originated and spread the rumour of a preventive warm salt water bath to be gullible enough to believe that the government had surrendered

panicky citizenry.

The full health implication of a salt water bath may not dawn on us all now but I dare say that while engaged in a spirited attempt to stop contacting ebola, Nigerians may have thus exposed themselves to another health hazard like skin cancer or hypertension.

its responsibility for the care of Nigerians to Prophet Joshua whose pronouncement on the subject of the dreaded ebola disease was sacrosanct.

As it turned out, it was a huge hoax, a prank played by a demented mind, spread by a gullible populace among a

applications and platforms have become tools for blackmail, fraud and the spread of outright lies and falsehood, sometimes against political opponents and competitors. Some Nigerians, out of frustration, see and use social media only as a

Prof.Onyebuchi Chukwu, Health Minister I think the citizenry has enough reason to panic even now. In a country where health care delivery system is very poor, where

“The full health implication of a salt water bath may not dawn on us all now but I dare say that while engaged in a spirited attempt to stop contacting ebola, Nigerians may have thus exposed themselves to another health hazard like skin cancer or hypertension.” inexpensive exercise which, if ignored, could turn out to be fatal after all. I think an element of possible truth and credibility in the rumour was the introduction of religious origins in it.

Some text messages and phone calls said it was the Spiritual Head of The

How ready is our nation to deal with the disease where it to surface, say in Auchi, Orlu or Gusao? It is not enough to seek to quarantine a known ebola virus disease victim.

Such victims, even if we know they would surely die, must be fed, comforted and given a semblance of good

By NASAMU JACOBSON

doctors are on strike for months on end and the sick are left to die, where drugs, medical supplies and other medicaments and facilities are in short supply and not affordable where they exist, the thought of a ravaging disease with no sure cure is debilitating and shocking.

treatment by health workers.

Which health workers are ready to risk their lives in the face of the rampaging disease? It is, however, commendable that some effort is being made in this direction with the new life insurance policy for medical care-givers engaged in the ebola containment effort.

The Edo State government, for example, has already designated medical personnel and facilities for handling ebola cases should any be found in the state.

The warn salt water bath hoax not only displayed the gullibility of the citizenry but, more importantly, shows how vulnerable the social media can be in the hands of those who have manipulative tendencies. For example, Facebook, Twitter, Istagram and other social media

platform to haul insults and abuses at others. I have seen disclaimers on Facebook with respect to the origin of the hoax. One Adesewa, a user of Nairaland forum, confessed to have originated it and apologised. The damage had been done enough not to

worry about such disclaimers or apologies for spreading falsehood on social media.

The important thing is that this incident has brought to the front burner of national discourse the need to regulate the use of social media in Nigeria.

Users must take full moral and legal responsibility for what they post particularly with respect to matters concerning the security of lives and property.

Facebook particularly has become a platform for mudslinging, smear campaign and spread of libellous innuendoes against innocent persons, some of them holding high political, business, traditional or religious positions in the society. It is a general belief that anything or whatever libellous material that is posted (or published) on Facebook or Twitter is not actionable. It is not so.

Such posts may not have been tested in court here yet, but I hold the view that such a test may, as has happened elsewhere around the world, prove that posters are liable for any act of libel or defamation posted or published by them. As responsible citizens, we must exercise caution in all that we do lest we endanger public health and safety.

Comrade NASAMU JACOBSON, a Public Affairs Commentator, wrote from Benin City.

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