The Nigerian
PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 39 NO.077 • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2 014 • N 100.00
VIEWPOINT Pg. 13
Pluralistic Relativism Of Criticisms
Govt polices, programmes: HOS tasks civil servants BENIN CITY – Edo State Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Igbaekemen Jerry Obazele has tasked civil servants over government policies and
programmes. He gave the charge during a seminar for clerical officers from various Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies, stressing that
the actualisation of government policies and programmes rest squarely on them. The HOS who was represented at the occasion by the
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishment and Special Duties, Mr. Alfred O. Olaye pointed out that without an Continues on page 2
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Corruption
OPINION Pg. 18 Should There Also Be A Christian Republic In Nigeria?
Kwakwanso berates PDP
• Urges Nigerians to condemn Boko Haram By ANDY EGBON BENIN CITY – The Governor of Kano State, Engineer Rabiu Kwakwanso has berated the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), describing the party as a haven for corrupt people. Governor Kwakwanso chat in Benin City when was speaking at a media he visited Edo State as
part of his nationwide consultations ahead of the 2015 general elections. He said, he was also in the state to felicitate
with the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion on his (Igbinedion) 80th birthday anniversary as well as interact with his
former governor friends and the indigenes of Kano State who are schooling in a private university in Edo State. The governor
disclosed that one does not need to be in opposition to know what is happening in the country. Continues on page 2
Jonathan restates commitment WARRI (DELTA) to credible elections President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to free and fair elections in 2015. Jonathan gave the assurance at the opening of the 2014 Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Warri, Delta. The president was represented by the state Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan. ‘’On behalf of President Jonathan, I congratulate the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). “ The president is committed to free and fair elections in 2015; he has given us the assurance,” he said. He noted that religion was vital to the transformation of any society, saying that his administration was partnering with religious
bodies in that direction. ‘’This area had the worst experience in the Niger Delta crisis but prayers helped us to overcome the challenges. ‘’I believe that prayers will also help us to resolve the current Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East part of the country,’’ he said. Speaking on his own capacity, Uduaghan said that his administration would continue to create an enabling environment for investment. ‘’We embarked on `Delta Beyond Oil’ because we observed that oil cannot sustain the economy because of its volatility. ‘’The programme is all about the future of the youth; so, we will ensure there is security, infrastructure and human capacity to adequately attract investors,’’ he said.
TIT BIT
“You need power, only when you want to do something harmful, otherwise, love is enough to get everything done.” - Charlie Chaplain
The President of CBCN, Most Rev, Ignatius Kaigama, called for continuous prayers to sustain peace and unity in Nigeria. He said that Nigeria’s security and other challenges were surmountable. Kaigama, the Archbishop of Jos, said that those advocating for division of the country might not know the consequences. ‘’There is no guarantee that things will become better if we go our ways,’’ the cleric Continues on page 2
THANKSGIVING: L-R: Dr. Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor of Edo State and his wife, Deaconess Endurance Odubu and Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly and his wife, Mrs. Jennifer Igbe during the thanksgiving 80th birthday service of Mrs. Regina Omorose Igbe, mother of Hon. Uyi Igbe at Holy Cross Cathedral, Benin City weekend. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
Church building collapse: Death toll rises to 40,
LAGOS - The National E m e r g e n c y Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday said that 40 dead bodies had been recovered, while 130 people trapped in
the collapsed Synagogue building had so far been rescued. The Public Relations Officer of NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed this in a
130 rescued
telephone interview with newsmen in Lagos. Farinloye said that 80 per cent of people
rescued from the collapse building at Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun, Lagos,
Former IG implores Northern Elders to KADUNA - A former tackle security challenges Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, has urged Northern leaders to tackle the security challenges facing the
North. Coomassie, who is the Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum
(ACF), gave the advice at the emergency meeting of the ACF with Northern non-
g o v e r n m e n t a l organisation leaders in Kaduna yesterday. He said the security Continues on page 2
were women. He said that two female children, aged four and eight years, were among those rescued from the collapse building. According to him, the continued rescue exercise has increased the number of dead persons from 17 to 40. A six-storey building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Continues on page 2
News
Ebola scare forces postponement of tournament LAGOS - Tunji Fasimoye, Vice-President, Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), yesterday said the current Ebola Virus Disease situation in the country was responsible for the postponement of the Independence Rugby 7s tournament. Fasimoye told newsmen in Lagos that the tournament, originally scheduled for October 10, had been postponed to October 30 and would hold at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos. “The shift in date was necessitated by the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Lagos State,” he said. The vice-president explained that the postponement was necessary due to the nature of Rugby which involved physical contact. “Rugby is a free-flowing game that features a combination of strength, speed and strategy to move a ball into an opponent’s territory and rugby is a full body contact,” Fasimoye said. Fasimoye, who is also the tournament’s director, commended the Lagos State Government for its quick response to the Ebola threat in spite of its limitations. “It is good news that as at today, there is no more official case of Ebola in Lagos State. “We moved the
Church Continued from page 1 Nations, Ikotun, Lagos, collapsed on September 12. The pastor of the church, Temitope Joshua, attributed the cause of the collapse to a mysterious helicopter flying repeatedly over the building. Joshua showed a threeminute video clip to journalists in Lagos on September 13, claiming the helicopter might have been responsible for the collapse of the six-storey guest house.
tournament forward in order to observe the situation in the next few weeks. We are sure all the international teams that will participate will be pleased with this development,” he said. Fasimoye said that the tournament was an annual sporting event but that this year’s edition was being
organised to commemorate Nigeria’s independence anniversary. “The tournament which is sponsored by CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Ltd., started since 2009,” he said. He said that teams from the U.K., Egypt, Ghana and
HOS tasks civil servants Continued from page 1 informed and well articulated civil service, the service will remain a mirage, hence the training and retraining of officers by the state government. The Head of Service told participants at the seminar that the topics and resource persons for the one-day seminar were carefully selected to adequately cater for the various inadequacies observed with a view to discharging their official duties intelligently, effectively and efficiently. He therefore enjoined them to actively participate in the seminar, saying that it was the only way the funds committed to the organisation of the seminar could be justified. He added further, that their selection to participate in the seminar is anchored on the critical position they occupied in the chain of service delivery. Mr. Obazele once again thanked the Comrade Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole for his interest in the up grading of civil servants by building their capacity and assured him of the cooperation and willingness of the civil
servants to assist him to deliver dividends to the people of the state. In his lecture, Mr. Reads Alufokhai said the civil service has the capacity to deliver qualitative service and urged the Clerical Officers to be a team player, by relating well with their superior colleagues. On his part, Mr. Jim Imoisili who lecture centered on “Organisational Setting” called on the officers to learn the goals of the organisation and to also
Continued from page 1 “Infact, it becomes a mess; that is the place to go and hide and you will be protected. “Actually, PDP is still a twoPDP; one is those members of TAN (Transformation Agenda of Nigeria), the other groups are the one saying by 2015, you have six years. “We have not seen anywhere the constitution is talking about anything more than eight years,” he said.
“When all those criminal activities, stealing money, all sorts of other weaknesses are being hidden, anybody who is on the other side, they go to laboratory with microscope and look for fault”. Governor Kwakwanso said he left PDP for the All Progressive Congress (APC) because he realised that he was in a party that its ideologies were different from his, beside realising
key into it. Barr. Thomas Ulinfoh advised the officers to be diligent in the way they handle in-coming and outgoing mails and urged them not to divulge information. Over forty (40) Clerical Officers from various Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies attended the seminar. Those with the Head of Service were Mr. M. Ikhelowa, Mr. Sam Okpeaye and Mrs. M. Okoh.
Jonathan restates Continued from page 1 said. Kaigama urged the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam to be committed to religious tolerance. ‘’Very objective and sincere meetings between these two umbrellas can bring about enduring religious peace in the country,’’ he said. Kaigama urged the Federal Government to tackle insurgency with the same strength it confronted the Ebola Virus Disease. Archbishop Augustine
Kasujja (Papa Nuncio), Pope Benedict the XVI’s representative in Nigeria, decried the insecurity in the North-East, noting that many lives had been lost to it. The host, Bishop John Afareha of the Catholic Diocese of Warri, commended the bishops for their contributions to the growth of the church and the society. He noted that the event coincided with the golden jubilee of the diocese. Reports say that the programme will end on September 19.
Kwakwanso berates PDP
Former IG implores Northern Elders
Continued from page 1 challenges was a critical moment in the nation’s history. “We must salvage the North and by extension the whole nation, our success will usher vista of hope, respect, unity and cooperation in the North,” he said. According to him, if we fail to save the north, all of us will go down in history as those crops of leaders who
clubs from every region in Nigeria participated in the 2013 edition. Fasimoye said that rugby engaged youths with like minds, setting up a platform for them to do what they love doing best thereby, creating an opportunity for them to build sporting careers.
have mortgaged the future of their progeny. The former police boss called on the northern leaders to speak with one voice, adding: “we must all speak not as members of our individual groups but as members of the arewa family”. Coomassie said that the insecurity in the North could never be imagined, adding that “Northern region is
under siege and being attacked from all angles and from all field”. He said “our sons and daughter in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa are being slaughtered, raped, kidnapped and maimed. He expressed regrets that some town in the NorthEast were under the control of insurgents, adding that that even the traditional and religious leaders were not spared.
that, he can use the platform of APC to change the unpalatable situation of Nigeria. According to him, the APC is working so hard to effect a change in the problem bedeviling Nigeria. He called on everyone to support President Goodluck Jonathan to lead Nigeria to 2015 when APC will take over. Disclosing that the PDP federal government has not displayed the political will to address the security situation of Nigeria, he said about 4,000,000 Nigerians have been displaced through the activities of insurgents. He explained that there is no correlation between the sharia law and insurgency as the sharia law operates within the penal code. While calling on every right thinking Nigerians to condemn the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, he urged all Nigerians at home and in diaspora to join in the fight against insurgents and other unholy activities.
Jonathan orders special prog to honour fallen heroes KADUNA - President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the country’s military to institute a special programme to honour men and women of the armed forces who died in active service. Jonathan gave the directive at the combined passing-outparade and commissioning of the 61st regular course and short service course 42 (Army) cadets of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. He said that on no account should the nation abandon its citizens who pay the supreme price while serving their fatherland, pointing out the need to keep alive their memories. “Let me again extend my deepest gratitude and indeed the appreciation of all Nigerians to the men and officers of the Nigerian armed forces for their service to our nation. “You are out there fighting so that the rest of the country can live in peace. Our nation will not abandon you. “On this special occasion, I am directing the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs to institute a special programme to honour our men in uniform who lose their lives in active service. “On no account must our country abandon those who serve her loyally and pay the supreme price. “This honour is to ensure that their memory and service live with us and our nation forever.”
Jonathan congratulated the graduating cadets for the successful completion of the five-year training and their commissioning as officers of the armed forces. He, however, urged them to be absolutely loyal, disciplined and dedicated in their service to the nation. He also urged them to prioritise the welfare and safety of men that would be placed under their command, adding that they should also enforce the policy zero tolerance to indiscipline and corruption. “You are passing out at a critical moment for our country. Those of you who are fortunate enough to be deployed to areas of national challenge have a unique opportunity to distinguish yourselves in your chosen career. “A career in our armed forces is not the place for the heartless. Our men and women in uniform are bold and brave. “They are our pride and our nation will continue to honour and appreciate those who stand strong in defence of our country. “This administration is committed to due process, equity, merit and the rule of law, because they are the cardinal pillars of a democratic society. “As members of our Armed Forces, your constitutional responsibilities are very broad but clearly defined.
ONITSHA (Anambra) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday said that it prosecuted 519 suspected traffic offenders in its Zone 5 Command comprising Anambra, Delta and Edo states. The Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr. Nseobong Akpabio, told newsmen in Onitsha that the FRSC prosecuted the suspected offenders through its special mobile courts. Akpabio spoke to newsmen during his routine monitoring of patrol operations on the BeninAsaba-Onitsha Road. “Out of the 519 prosecuted for various traffic offences, 471 were convicted while 48 were discharged. “The special mobile courts sat on specific traffic corridors of Benin–Agbor, Iseleuku-Asaba, Asaba– Agbor, Benin–Auchi, Benin– Ore and Benin–Sapele highways. “Others are Sapele-Warri; Warri–Ugheli; AbrakaUmutum; Ihiala-Onitsha and Ihiala–Owerri highways,” he said. He said that the road users were prosecuted for traffic offences ranging from dangerous driving, speed limit violation, use of phone while driving and driving with worn out tyres. According to him, the other offences include driving with expired driver’s licence and expired vehicle documents,
and overloading. Akpabio said that establishment of the mobile courts resulted from collaboration between the corps and the judiciary in an effort to instill discipline in motorists and reduce road accidents. “FRSC commends the judiciary in the three states for steadfastness, and calls for more of such support as the corps cannot work alone to reduce road crashes on the roads,” he said. On road safety enlightenment, he said that the zonal command partnered with media houses on regular public enlightenment through television and radio programmes. “It is the same with print media houses for feature articles on road safety, while staffs were deployed to carry out public enlightenment in worship centres, communities, schools, markets and artisan workplaces,” he added. Akpabio urged motorists and other road users to obey traffic rules, warning that the corps would not spare recalcitrant traffic offenders. The zonal commander gave the assurance that the corps would continue to improve on its operations to meet up with its 2014 Strategic Goals of reducing road accident by 15 per cent and fatality by 25 per cent.
FRSC prosecutes 519 traffic offenders
News 65 Motorists Convicted For Various Road Safety Offences
Ministry Rolls Out CGES By DOROTHY EGBIEBAMWONYI BENIN CITY – The State Ministry of Agriculture and National Resources will on Tuesday September 16, 2014 roll-out cocoa Growth Enhancement Support (GES). The roll-out which will be flagged off by the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdul Oroh is billed to take place at the Owan West Local Government Council Hall, Sabongidda-Ora at 12pm prompt. According to the Director of Agricultural Services, Mr. M. I. Anogie, all registered cocoa farmers are all invited to the rollout exercise and also to be punctual.
By VICTOR OMOALU
L-R: Hon Justice Cromwell Idahosa, Chief Judge of Edo State and his wife, Mrs. Regina Omorose Igbe, mother of Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speakeer, Edo State House of Assembly and Justice Constance Momoh, former Chief Judge of Edo State during the 80th birthday reception in honour of Mrs. Regina Omorose Igbe on Saturday. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN
BENIN CITY – About sixtyfive motorists have been convicted in Edo State following the continuation of road check and vehicle particulars verification exercise being carried out by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service in collaboration with the FRSC, vehicle Inspection Officers and the security agents across the state. They were found wanting for defaulting the federal road safety laws as applicable in Edo State by driving without valid vehicle
Development: LG Legislative Arm Passes Vote Of Owan West as one of the Confidence On Chairman beneficiary of the MDGs loan. confidence on the leadership of
SABONGIDA ORA – Members of the legislative arm of Owan West Local Government Council has passed a vote of
the Cairman, Hon. Godwin Aigbodion over his effort at
transforming the area through the provision of basic amenities like,
Mrs. Regina Omorose Igbe (left) and Hon. Justice Constance Momoh, former Chief Judge of Edo State at a reception party to mark the 80th birthday of Mrs. Regina Omorose Igbe, mother of Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly in Benin City, last Saturday. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
water, education, security and agriculture. The members unanimously passed the vote of confidence while deliberating on the importance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Moving the motion for approval of N100,000 short term loan for the local government counterpart fund for the MDGs projects and for approval a bank guarantee for the sum, the Majority Leader of the legislature arm, Hon. Patrick Uduigwame Ikpefan said there is need to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the federal government and the projects already proposed by the chairman to be executed for the benefit of the people of the local government area. Hon. Festus Airende, the Deputy Chief Whip seconded the motion and commended the federal government for choosing
He urged that the projects be evenly spread round the wards in the local government area so that the people will feel the dividends of democracy. On the development of the area, the member representing Ward 3 and the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Elvis Asekhame moved for a vote of confidence on the council Chairman, Hon. Aigbodion for his effort at developing the local government area and urged him to sustain the efforts. Hon. Patrick Ikpefan, Majority Leader representing ward 4 seconded the motion for the vote of confidence passed on the chairman. Speaking on the deliberation by the legislative members, the Leader of the House, Hon. Jilfred Obadiku said the local government is lucky to be one of the beneficiary of the MDGs loan as it would help in the development of the area for the benefit of the people.
Ebola: NAS Organises Sensitisation
By VICTOR OMOALU BENIN CITY – The National Association of Seadogs (NAO), aka Pyrate confraternity, Benin 1 and 2 has embarked on a state wide sensitization awareness campaign on the prevention of the deadly Ebola virus disease with a call on Nigerians to adhere to the stipulated preventive measures. This is even as the NAS reeled out some of the preventive measure to include, avoiding contact with infected persons’ reporting any case of infected person to the nearest hospital, avoid eating bush meat or bat and regular washing of hands with soap and water. The event with the theme:
Action Plan on Preventing Ebola virus disease, kicked off with an awareness campaign rally round the Benin City metropolis. The president NAS, Benin I, Fred Aitonje said the exercise was geared by the need to raise the necessary awareness on the deadly virus and the possible means of preventing its spread as in the case in Lagos and port Harcourt. Aitonje urged Nigerians not to underestimate the spread of the virus; rather, they should be vigilant and adhere to the outlined measures with a view to containing its spread. He said the programme was a continuous one, adding that some experts have been
Programme
trained on how to take the awareness campaign to the rural dwellers with the purpose of educating those at the grassroots on the Ebola outbreak.
“It has no cure for now and the only option now is to sentize the people on how to prevent it”, said Aitonje. He however stressed that alcohol-based hand rub
should be made available at every point of care if the spread of the disease must be contained to the bearest minimum. The programme also featured the distribution of stickers to residents of the Benin City metropolis.
particulars, especially drivers licence, certificate of road worthiness hackney permit as well as other road safety laws. They were consequently convicted at the mobile various offences raging from forgery of drivers licence, expired vehicle particular, hackney permit, vehicle number plates, vehicle licence as well as certificate of road worthiness amongst other offences. Some of the motorist, including those with valid particulars, the convicted persons landed the EIRS over the ongoing verification exercise, saying “it is for our own safety.” Iziegbe Philip who was convicted for non-possession of drivers licence described the initiative as a welcome development and commendable, adding that the initiators were handling the task with utmost transparency and thoroughness. “Many people think that the road safety is disturbing us, but that is not true. It is for our own good and safety”, Iziegbe Philip stated. Addressing journalists on the exercise which was strictly monitored by the Executive Director, EIRS, Barr John Obazee and Prince Felix Isuku, the Executive Chairman of the EIRS, Chief Sir Oseni Elamah said that in and toward eradicating forgery/fake vehicle particulars informed the decision to embark on the road check/ verification exercise. Chief Elamah noted that the exercise was aimed at ensuring that people should comply with the necessary laws and also to capture in a central data with the road safety commission for easy identification. He also said that the exercise aimed at wiping out forgery/fake drivers licence which pose some challenges in revenue loss as well as security is a continuous one, adding that exercise is yielding desired results. He advised the people especially the motorists to adhere to the necessary laws as anyone driving without valid vehicle particulars will have his vehicle impounded.
Okumagbe Commends Council Boss Over Projects Execution SABONGIDDA-ORA – The Okumagbe of Iluleha, HRH Ayo Omo Bare has commended the Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area, Hon. Godwin Aigbodion for his transparency and people oriented projects he is executing in the area. The Royal Highness made the commendation when he visited the chairman at the council
secretariat recently. The Okumagbe said the even distribution of the projects across the eleven wards shows the transparency in the local government administration. He applauded the recent paper presentation calling on Owan West indigenes in Diaspora on the need to come back home and join the chairman
in developing the locality for the benefit of the people. He also commended the chairman over the arrangement and provision of vehicles to the security outfit in the area to transform Owan West local government area, the Okumagbe also used the occasion to express appreciation to the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for
his developmental strides across the state. Responding, the council chairman thanked the Okumagbe for the visit and promised not to relent in his effort at providing the basic amenities for the people and appealed for their continuous support and prayers for him to succeed.
News Improve Funding For Education, NANS Tasks Govts
A cross section of participants at the sensitisation workshop on Ebola Virus Disease prevention for senior secondary schools teachers, principals and proprietors in Benin City recently.
BAUCHI- The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has called on government at all levels, to improve the funding of the education sector with a view to ensuring the delivery of qualitative education. The National President of the association, Mr Yinka Gbadegbo, made the call when the association honoured the Provost, College of Education, Azare, Dr Abdullahi Isyaku, with an award of “Excellent Service“. The association’s call is contained in a statement, signed by the college’s
Prioritise Adult Education, Commission Urges FG
ABUJA - The National Commission for Mass Literacy (NCML) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise adult education in order to provide basic education to millions of illiterate adult Nigerians. The commission’s Governing Board Chairman, Mrs Esther Uduehi, made the call at the Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the International Literacy Day celebration in Abuja. Uduehi said that adult education, aside the formal school system, would tackle the issue of mass illiteracy in the country. She said that 63 million Nigerians were illiterate, attributing the cause to the lack of political will and inconsistent policy implementation. “Sixty three million Nigerians
are illiterate; this situation is largely due to low political will to address the issue. “This is reflected in poor funding and inconsistent policy implementation especially at the state and local government levels.’’ The chairman identified factors fuelling illiteracy to include poverty, hunger, disease, maternal death, child mortality and environmental degradation. According to Uduehi, access to literacy and education is a basic right while the lack of literacy skills emanates from little attention being paid to providing education for adults who have never been to school. She called for adequate funding of the commission to enable it to discharge its functions effectively to the
teeming population of illiterate adults in the country. Reports say that the commission was established in 1990 by the Federal Government, to ensure effective coordination of mass literacy and adult education programmes in the country in order to promote national development. Also speaking at the occasion, the UNESCO Director-General, Mrs Irina Bokova, said literacy helps to reduce poverty and enable people find jobs and boost their livelihoods. Bokova, who was represented by Prof. Hassana Aalidu, UNESCO Regional Director, said that 781 million adults worldwide could not read, write or count, adding that most of them were women. “More than 250 million
Imo To Repair Federal Roads ABUJA - Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said that the state government will re-start work on some damaged Federal Government-owned roads in the state which the federal authorities failed to rehabilitate. Okorocha made the statement at the official opening of Imo State Liaison Office, called Dee Sam Mbakwe House, in Abuja.. He said the Federal Government had stopped the state government from repairing the roads, namely Port Harcourt road and Airport Road, because they belonged to it. “The Federal Government has refused to address some of the high issues relating to Imo State. “The road is so bad and all I get is don’t construct, this is Federal Government property. “I have given them the end of this year, if they do not do it, I will do those roads for my people,“ the governor said. Commenting on the liaison office building, he said the project was part of the story of his administration’s rescue mission in Imo. He explained the rescue mission was about getting things properly done. “This project was abandoned for 17 years and unfortunately government upon government
never saw the need to complete this project,” he said. Okorocha said the state was in a rented premises for years, “but today we are proud to have this as our own. “The guest house at the back which is the major project has over 40 rooms and has been leased out and we got N75 million into the coffers of Imo State. “The basement and the first floor here have also been rented by a bank for another N75 million totaling N150 million into the kitty of Imo State.’’ He said the building was named after Chief Sam Mbakwe, the first Executive Governor of Old Imo, to ensure that his legacy was not forgotten. The governor promised not to lead the people astray, saying that N3.2 billion generated from the revitalised Imo Palm plantation in Ohaji, Egbema, had been used to build 305 schools in all electoral wards in the state. He said that it was regrettable that the people of Nigeria had been divided by religion and ethnicity and attributed the numerous challenges in the country to corruption. He said that Nigeria deserved change in leadership to address the problems of the people.
In an address, the Imo State Liaison Officer in Abuja, Ms Rosemary Okeke, said the piece of land was acquired in 1997 by then Military Administrator of the state, retired Col. Tanko Zubairu, who also laid the foundation stone.
children are unable to read a single sentence, even though half of them have spent four years in school.
Public Relation Officer, Malam Suleiman Shehu, made available to newsmen in Bauchi. The statement quoted Gbadegbo as saying that in order to achieve the desired result and ensure better performance, the education sector must be well funded, from the primary to tertiary level. The President reiterated newsmen resolve to continue to mount pressure on governments to ensure better funding of the education sector. He said the award was in recognition of the provost’s commitment to ensuring improved welfare and comfortable learning environment for students. “We particularly commend your effort in providing 24 hours free medical services to all members of staff and
students, and free commuter services to all students. “We also applaud your effort in improving sanitary condition of the school environment, provision of comfortable hostel accommodation, ensuring well equipped library and other facilities, for conducive teaching and learning in the college, “ he said. Responding, the Provost thanked the association for the recognition, and promised not to relent his efforts in making learning easier and interesting in the college, to ensure better performance. He attributed the availability of the needed facilities in the institution, to the efforts of the administration of Malam Isa Yuguda, which was poised to improve the standard of education.
No Sectional Agenda In Distribution Of Polling Units - Jega ABUJA - The INEC chairman,
Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said there was no sectional or parochial agenda in the commission’s decision to re-configure the structure and create additional of polling units nationwide. Jega told newsmen in Abuja that INEC’s decision was driven by collective aspirations to improve upon electoral process for credible elections in 2015 and beyond. He said since the current structure of polling units created in 1996, there had been an exponential growth in Nigeria’s population and several demographic shifts, resulting in over-crowded units while new settlements were not serviced. “This rise in population, with corresponding increase in the number of eligible voters was clearly manifested during the 2011 fresh voter registration,’’ he said.
Having subjected the data gathered from 2011 election to Automated-Finger Identification Software (AFIS) to eliminate duplicate registrants, Jega said that INEC certified the number of registered voters in Nigeria at 70,383,427. “This gives an average of number of polling units to 119,973.’’ He said that 150,000 units were approved by the commissionin to have less than 500 voters per polling unit. He said that the simplest way to distribute the 150,000 units was to divide the number of registered voters in each state by 500 voters which is the maximum of registered per polling unit. Jega said when the method was adopted based on existing polling units, statistics showed that some states already had excess polling units but were allowed to retain
them. “In fact the commission went on to give further relief to such states by providing that 15 per cent of the 30,027 additional polling units be distributed equally across all states, including the states that had already exceeded their numbers. “This was in the spirit that each state should have, no matter how small, some additional polling units during this exercise in order to cater for new settlements due to demographic shifts. “As a result, even the states that had exceeded their numbers, received additional 121 poling units over and above their retained excess,’’ Jega said. The chairman said from the forgone, it was clear that the commission had used very scientific, rational and equitable criteria to distribute the 150,000 pulling units.
The Lords Vessels Mass Choirs of the Lords Sanctuary Ministries Church International Inc. entertaining the congregation at the church service yesterday during their thanksgiving to round up their three days convention.
UNIVERSITY OF BENIN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA ADMISSION INTO FULL-TIME DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES FOR 2014/2015 ACADEMIC SESSION Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into the following Full-Time Diploma Programmes for the 2014/2015 academic session. AVAILABLE PROGRAMMES 1. Diploma in Maritime Studies, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) 2. Diploma in Health Administration and Management (DHAM). 3. Diploma in Nursing Administration and Management (DNAM) 4. Diploma in Primary Health Care and Statistics (DPHICS) ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS The General University Admission Requirements that apply uniformly across the Faculties as well as the Specific Faculty Admission Requirements are displayed on the University websites: https://uniben.waeup.org or uniben.edu To qualify for the entrance examinations into the various full-time diploma programmes, candidates must satisfy the stated general and specific requirements for admission. METHOD OF APPLICATION All applications should be done between Wednesday 10th September, 2014 and Saturday 18th October, 2014 (12 Midnight). The procedure for the application is as follows: 1. Visit www.uniben.edu or uniben.waeup.org 2. Candidates are advised to have a valid e-mail account before starting the applicationprocess (not the cyber-cafe’s mail). 3. Click on “DIPLOMA FULL-TIME PROGRAMMES 2014/2015 4. Click on ‘Register for Application’ at the top left of the displayed page to proceed. 5. Provide all necessary information. Note that * means compulsory fields. 6. An immediate mail will be sent to the provided e-mail address. 7. Open your mail to get your system generated ID and Password that you will use to login. 8. On the https//uniben.waeup.org, click on ‘Login’ (top right of front page) 9. Enter your user name and the password from the mail to login. 10. To start the application process, click on ‘Application record’, provide all required information and upload your passport photograph. 11. Upload a RECENT and CLEAR “1 x 1” COLOUR PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH WITH RED BACKGROUND IN JPEG FORMAT ONLY. NOTE that the photograph uploaded will be the only valid ID for all admittedcandidates throughout their stay in the University of Benin. FAILURE TO UPLOAD THE SPECIFIED PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH WILL LEAD TODISQUALIFICATION AND FAILURE/FORFEITURE OF ADMISSION. 12. To pay for the Application, click on “Add online payment ticket” at the bottom of the page, then click on “College Pay” on the top left corner of the page. Follow the instruction to pay the application fee of N10,500.00 with an ATM-Enabled Verve or Master Card from any Commercial Bank. 13. PREVIEW AND CONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION ONLINE. (No correction will be accepted after the closing date). 14. Print out the Application slip. NOTE: Any application form not properly filled by the closing date will not be treated.
Signed: G. O. Ogboghodo (Mrs.) Registrar
South-South Lasting Peace Imminent In Ugborodo Community - Navy By BETTY IDIALU WARRI (Delta) -The Commander NNS Delta ,Captain Musa Gemu has said that though the peace process in the crisisridden oil rich Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, may seem slow, but lasting peace will be achieved at the end of the day. Gemu , who gave this assurance while briefing the press on the latest development in the Ugborodo crisis at the Warri Naval base yesterday, however expressed displeasure about a few people who are out to scuttle the peace process despite their achieving about 80% of the peace resolution implementation in Ugborodo.
According to the naval chief, as part of the peace process and with the collaboration and assurance from all stakeholders including the youths, men of the Nigerian Navy on the 6th of September embarked on a peace mission to return the internally displaced people back to their various communities but this time ,the internally displaced persons did not follow the military, this he said was to build confidence in indigenes. Speaking further the Commander NNS Delta said the military was given a superb reception and his troops were even given accommodation by the community when they arrived Ugborodo about 4.30 before the youths led them to the palace of the traditional ruler (Olaraja) of Ugborodo for a brief
discussion on the said day. This he said had never been. He however said there was dramatic twist of event at about 2am on the 7th of September when one Mike Logde mobilised the the Aruton Community putting women and children in front and asking the navy to leave Ugborodo. Gemu said on hearing about the twist of event,he ordered his men to withdraw .He said due to poor visibility arising from the heavy down pour of that early morning,another boat collided with the boat conveying his men while returning,leading to two of his men sustaining minor injury from the mishap. He emphasised that there was no weapon used to attack his men,adding that peacekeeping as in other climes is an herculean
tasks that requires utmost carefulness ,transparency and openness so as to not to recording avoidable casualties or being misunderstood by the warring parties. He said part of the issues raised had already been addressed,confirming for instance that those detained at okere prisons have been released and efforts are on to released the corpse of one those killed in the crisis.The issue of sacrilege he maintained was purely traditional and it will involve the people concerned to be physically on ground to carry out the purification and that he said was not the work of the navy. He said communication gap could also be responsible for part of the crisis as the people are not getting adequate information from the EPZ interface committee about the efforts of the state Government in bringing about lasting peace.He added that
Mike Logde will be invited through one of the factional leaders for interrogation. Explaining why the navy is exercising restrain in the use of force Gemu said “the community had to put in extra efforts,use of force will lead to casualties. They are our brothers,they are Nigerians. If I were them,I will ensure that peace returns especially with the spread of the Ebola Virtus Diseaes(EVD) and security challenge in the North East part of the country. There is no fighting in Ugborodo now, it is only the issue of returning the internally displaced persons. Vowing that the Joint Task Force(JTF) will not be deterred. ,Gemu emphasized the neutrality of the Navy in bringing about lasting peace in Ugborodo. C o r r o b o r a t i n g Gemu,Executive Officer NNS Delta,Captain David Rotimi Oderemi,said they do not want to create another security problem
making reference to the odi crisis in Bayelsa State and the Zak Ibiam crisis. Meanwhile, a member of the EPZ Interface committee, Mr. Alex Eyeghon, has alleged that the Navy is foot dragging in bringing those that are fomenting trouble in Ugborodo to book. According to Eyeghon,who also alleged the military of ‘criminal silence’ ,wondered why the same approach used in Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, cannot be used in tackling the Ugborodo. He maintained that the only solution to the crisis in Ugborodo is complete militarisation. Captain Gemu was flanked at the press briefing by Area Commander of Warri Area Command ACP Rabiu Hussain, Captain Adekunle Okeniyi( Forward Operational Base ,Escravos)Air Cadre Ayodele Dudusola.
Judiciary Gets Financial Autonomy By OTAS OSAYANDE
L-R: Special Assistant to the Governor on Education, Mr. Matthew Kwaza; Chairman, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Ishaya Akau and Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Ali, at a workshop on Ebola Virus Disease preventive measure for primary and secondary school teachers in Kaduna State recently.
Delta To Withdraw Old C of Os ASABA -Delta State Government has said it will withdraw all old certificates of Occupancy that had been issued to land owners in the State This was made known by the State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Sir Patrick Ferife at the formal presentation the newly approved High Security Certificate of Occupancy to stakeholders at a meeting in Asaba. Sir Ferife informed that a Certificate of Occupancy is being issued to evidence the grant of statutory rights of occupancy. “This document, according to the Land Use Act, is the legal document upon which titles to land interests are vested.”, the commissioner
By OTAS OSAYANDE stated. Sir Ferife, who met with stakeholders to sensitise them on the new C of O, described it as a highly treasured and specially packaged document that will restore public confidence in the integrity of C of O. Some of the stakeholders in attendance were, the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Financial Institutions, Security agencies, land/property owners and general public. He noted that his Ministry shall immediately commence the issuance of the new security C of O and subsequently, all old C of Os
already issued will be systematically withdrawn and replaced with the new one.
ASABA - Judiciary in Delta State has been granted financial autonomy by the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, thereby ensuring the complete independence of the third arm of government. Governor Uduaghan whose administration had ensured the Judiciary in the state run its capital budget independently gave legal backing to the practice by signing the Delta State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Bill into law. Another bill on Delta State Model Primary Schools Bill 2014 was also assented to by the governor after they were presented to him by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya. Dr. Uduaghan who threw light on the relevance of the bills at the ceremony which was attended by principal officers of the Delta State House of Assembly, members of the
Judicial arm of government and the State Executive Council, stated that his administration was giving legal backing to its programmes to ensure their sustenance. He explained that the Judiciary financial autonomy bill besides guaranteeing the financially independence of the Judiciary would reduce industrial actions in that arm of government. The Governor disclosed that funds to the Judiciary under the law are to be released quarterly based on revenue that actually accrued to the state. He stated that the Model Primary Schools law was very important as sound education was very necessary for the youths of the state, adding , “government is about laws and what we are doing as a state is to ensure that those programmes that we have put in place are not jettisoned when we leave office. “As much as possible, we are giving legal backing to our programmes,”Governor Uduaghan stated, noting that the
law on Model Primary Schools was very important as the schools were designed to match the best in the world. “We need to protect these schools to ensure that the standards were maintained, we need to provide quality education, use Montessori method of teaching at that level and promote the culture of discipline and hard work in our schools.” Dr Uduaghan disclosed that the model schools would not be supervised by the Ministry of Education but would bedirectly under the Governor’s office to ensure that the desired standards were maintained. The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onwusanya while presenting the Bills, informed the Governor that they passed through a rigorous process in the legislature and lauded the good working relationship between the three arms of government in the state.
Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Misan Ukubeyinje (2nd left), presenting two cartons of day-old chicks, three bags of feeds and vaccines to a beneficiary of the Federal Government Agricultural Transformation Agenda Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) on poultry value chain in Asaba recently.
Lagos Ebola: IPMAN Tasks Members, Oil Firms On Preventive Measures LAGOS - The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on members and oil companies to acquire infrared equipment to detect employees and clients infected with Ebola virus. Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, National President of IPMAN told newsmen in Lagos that the advice was necessary to check the scourge of the disease. Okoronkwo said the national body had organised series of sensitisation workshops on preventive measures for members and
urged other state executives to follow suit. He advised proprietors of schools as well as religious leaders to introduce cleaning of hands with sanitisers by their pupils and worshippers to avoid the spread of Ebola virus. “This preventive measures are also applicable to health workers as well as market women to ensure the disease is wiped out of the country. “Barbers and hairdressing saloons should also ensure proper sterilisation of their tools to curb the spread of Ebola virus,’’ the IPMAN president said.
Man, 21, Docked For Raping LAGOS - A 21-year-old man, Minor Onyebuchi Ebili, who allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl, was arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful sexual intercourse and stealing. The prosecutor, Insp. Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the accused and others still at large, conspired and raped the 17-year-old girl on August 31 at No. 5, Church St., Ilaje, Ebute-Metta. Osuji alleged that the accused always trailed the victim and asked her to be his girlfriend, but got angry when she turned
down his offer. He explained that the accused and two of his friends, conspired and lured the victim to No. 5, Church St.,Ilaje, and took turns to rape her. The prosecutor also said that the accused stole her Nokia phone worth N17, 000 after raping her. He added that the matter was reported to the police by the minor ’s parents after she confessed of being raped by the accused person. Ebili, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
R-L: Executive Director, Marketing, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Jide Adebayo; Director Marketing, Mrs. Kate Poopola, condoling with the widow of Pastor Dimgba Igwe, Obioma during their condolence visit in Lagos recently.
New Tejuoso Market: LASG To Give Former Shop Owners Preference LAGOS - Mrs Ganiyat Dosunmu, the Chairperson, Surulere Market Women Association in Lagos State, has said that former shop owners at the rebuilt Tejuoso market would be given consideration in the allocation of shops. Dosunmu told newsmen that Governor Babatunde Fashola had agreed to the association’s
Reps To Meet NMA, Minister On Schools’ Resumption Date
Ebola:
LAGOS - The House of Representatives Committee on Education, has said that it had invited the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to a meeting over the resumption date for schools. Rep. Aminu Suleiman, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education disclosed this to newsmen on the sideline of oversight tour to some tertiary institutions in Lagos.
Suleiman said that the committee would meet with the minister and NMA officials on September 15 to discuss the resumption date for public and private schools in the country. He added that “it is true that government has reviewed the position earlier taken on the resumption; government may have some reasons that are not available to us. “But since the Minister of Health has initially justified the reason for the review, the legislature decided to abide by
that position. “Now, a superior, more professionally position has been taken by those supposed to drive the project in the first place. “The NMA advised that the review of the date will not be in the best interest of the country healthwise.” The lawmaker said as representatives of the people, the House decided to invite the executive through the minister and the NMA, “which we have done.
Widow of Vice Chairman of the SUN Newspapers, Mrs. Obioma Igwe, being condoled by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State who paid a condolence visit in Lagos recently.
demand that owners of shops at the old market would retain them. Lagos State Government had in 2007 embarked on the rebuilding of the market after it was destroyed by fire. The ultra-modern Tejuoso market, located in the heart of Yaba on the mainland, has modern facilities and parking lots. Dosunmu said:“I am happy that our shops at Tejuoso market have been rebuilt and ready for us to occupy.
“We have discussed with the governor and he has assured us that former shop owners will be given consideration while allocating the shops. “Governor Fashola has accomplished something we shall forever cherish. “As you can see the new market is indeed beautiful and in a class of its own. We thank the governor for his efforts. “The burnt market, according to a popular Yoruba proverb, has finally given way to a better one.’’ Dosunmu, however, said that
only former shop owners would be allowed to pay for the shops by instalments. “I have organised the entire market leaders according to their trades toward shop allocation for orderliness. “With inflation and higher prices of building materials in the country, the cost of the shops is expected to go up and so we understand that. “Instalmental payment will help our members to secure shops at the new market complex,’’ she said.
Non-Payment Of Pension Benefits
PHCN Retirees Protest
LAGOS - Retirees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), protested in Lagos against the nonpayment of their accumulated pension benefits. They called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently come to their assistance by ordering relevant ministries and agencies to pay up their allowances. They include the Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General of the Federation, and National Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO). The reports state that the protesters carried placards with various inscriptions including: “Finance Minister, where is our money? “Agbogun and NELMCO pay PHCN pensioners our entitlements,’’ “who is holding our pension? NELMCO or ..?’’ Others read “President Jonathan, please order the release of our pensions, arrears, hamonisation, monetisation, and electricity rebate, pensioners are dying.
Sam Agbogun, release our money.’’ Chairman of the pensioners in Alimosho, Mr Lawrence Aremo who led the protest, told newsmen that they were being owed for four months (May to August). Aremo said that they were also owed other outstanding benefits spanning over several years. “Some of these entitlements are: gratuities, Electricity Rebate Arrears since 2009, and
especially since NELMCO under Dr Sam Agbogun took over payment of our pensions in August 2012. “Others are harmonisation and monetisation arrears, 133 per cent and the 33 per cent increase which was granted since 2013 to all federal pensioners amongst others,“ he said. He said the pensioners were paid haphazardly and usually delayed.
Aviation Sector
Group Seeks Increased Participation Of Women IKEJA - Women in Aviation International, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Chapter, encouraged more women to come into the industry. The group’s President, Mrs Ify Megwa, gave the encouragement at a news conference in Ikeja while announcing plans to honour an African, Capt. Irene Mutungi, for her achievements in the industry.
Megwa said that the industry gave women a platform to reach extraordinary heights in their career and more of them needed to come on board. According to her, the honour, to be bestowed on Mutungi in October, should encourage young women to consider aviation as a career. She said the honour was in recognition of Mutungi’s pioneering role in Africa’s aviation industry.
South West Aregbesola Mourns Late Osogbo therefore prayed for the repose OSOGBO - Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has said Chief Imam of his soul. that the late Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheik Mustapha Ajisafe, was an embodiment of knowledge. Aregbesola made the remark at the burial of the Imam held at the Osogbo City Stadium. The governor, who reflected on Ajisafe’s life and his
immense contribution to the development of Islam, described the deceased as the epitome of knowledge. “Ajisafe should have been a professor by virtue of his vast Islamic knowledge,” he said. Aregbesola noted that death is the only certain thing in life and
Reports state that scores of Muslim leaders, including chief imams from the South-West, Edo and Delta, were present at the occasion. Ajisafe, 87, who died last Monday, was also the President of the League of Imam and Alfas, South-West, Edo and Delta.
Nigeria’s Global Competitiveness Impetus For Development - Don LAGOS - A university lecturer, Dr Ovat Oyama, has urged the Federal Government to use Nigeria’s global competitiveness rating as an impetus for sustainable economic development. Oyama, who teaches Economics at the University of Calabar, Cross River, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. He advised the government to constantly track its economic policies, saying that such measure would assist in immediate and long-term national economic objective. It would be recalled that the World Economic Forum recently rated Nigeria’s economic performance 127th
out of 144 economies in its Global Competitiveness Index. In the rating, Nigeria slipped from its 120th position in 2013, and the GCI attributed it to high corruption rate, low infrastructure level, and weak public finances occasioned by low oil exports as well as security challenges. According to Oyama, the decline in the global competitiveness ranking has the capacity to discourage foreign investors from investing and doing business in Nigeria. He said that contrary to other opinions, government’s sustained focus on infrastructure development, accountability, development of health sector and human capital,
would shore up the nation’s global economic competitiveness. “The key infrastructure, especially constant electricity, expanding of roads as well as functional railway networks will reverse the trend,” he said.
L-R: Chairman Odofin Local Council Development, Comrade Ayodele Adewale; Acting Dean, School of Management Sciences, National Open University, Prof. Kayode Oguntuase; Chairman, Lagos Conference of Local Government Chairmen, Mr. Akeem Sulaiman and guest speaker, Prof. Alaba Adenuga at a workshop on Security Strategies for Grassroots Awareness and Information Management for key Stakeholders in Local Governments in Lagos recently.
Ogun: Secondary Schools
To Study Insurance
ABEOKUTA - The Ogun State government has announced plans to introduce insurance as a subject in the curriculum of public senior secondary schools as from the 2014/2015 academic session. The state Commissioner for Education, Mr Segun Odubela, said this when he received 900 copies of insurance text books donated by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN). Reports state that the books were donated for use in public secondary schools in the state. Odubela promised that the state would soon commence recruitment of teachers for the proposed subject. The commissioner, who expressed delight at the donation, urged the institute to assist the state in training teachers after the recruitment exercise.
“While commending you for this donation, I urge you to be ready to make members of your institute available for the training and retraining of our teachers whenever the need arises,” Odubela said. He promised that relevant departments in the ministry would review the books and make appropriate recommendations. Earlier, the President of the institute, Mr Bola Temowo, said the need to promote the study of insurance in public secondary schools in the country informed the donation. “It is also part of the campaign strategy by the institute to promote teaching of insurance by members of the institute,” he added. He pledged the readiness of CIIN members to render assistance to the government whenever the need arose.
Some youths from Amuwo Odofin Local Council Development Authority, protesting over the arrest of their colleagues by police in Lagos recently.
Ajimobi Seeks Empowerment Of Girl Child
IBADAN - Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State urged government at all levels to focus on the empowerment of the girl child. He spoke in Ibadan at the opening of a three-day National Women’s Summit organised by the Oyo State Officials’ Wives Association (OYSOWA). The summit had as theme: “ Girl Child Empowerment, a Challenge for all.” The governor said focusing on the empowerment of the
girl child would produce a better society. Ajimobi said the society had been unfair to the girl child, adding that their humiliation had been systematic. He, however, said that his administration had taken steps to ensure the empowerment of the girl child in the state. “ I believe in the empowerment of the girl child; this administration also believes that the call to empower the girl child is a call
Cook, Trader Face N1.4m Theft Charge LAGOS - A 26-year-old cook, David Ebok and a 27-year-old trader, Nasiru Abubakar, were brought before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged theft of jewellery worth N1.4 million. Ebok is a resident of Agungi, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos, while Abubakar lives at Iju Ishaga area of Agege, also in Lagos. Ebok is a facing a charge of stealing, while Abubakar is being tried for conspiracy.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Babaji Ishaku told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in July at 9.00 a.m. at Plot 11b, Otunba Adeleke St., Lekki Phase 1. He said Ebok, who had just spent a week working as a cook with his employer, allegedly stole a gold wristwatch and a gold necklace both valued at N1.4 million, property of Mr Emmanuel Okereke. According to Babaji, at 6.00
p.m. on the same day at IjuIshaga, Abubakar conspired with one Ishaku Abubakar, still at large to receive the stolen wristwatch and necklace. The prosecutor added that Abubakar and his accomplice were aware that the items were stolen by Ebok from the complainant. The offences violated Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, he said.
Reports state that Section 285 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 409 provides a minimum of two years for conspiracy. The accused, however, denied the charges. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, granted the accused bail in the sum N150, 000 each with a surety each in like sum. The case was adjourned to October 20 for trial.
to service, a call to build a great future and a call to humanity, “ he said. The wife of the governor and chairperson of the occasion, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, said the group was created to help give focus to the efforts of wives of all political and public office holders in the state. “This is in order to complement the activities of our husbands and to advance the cause of the women folk and children in Oyo State,’’ he said. She said the forum was to create a platform for women to discuss issues affecting women and offer practical solutions and recommendations. Speaking at the occasion, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, the spokesperson of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations,
said the condition of the girl child remains critical to the survival of any nation. She said the challenges of the girl child include early marriage, physical sexual abuse, child labour and child prostitution. “ It is 149 days today since our girls were abducted by terrorists, the rescue effort remains the collective efforts off all,’’ she said. She called on the Federal Government to further strengthen the law enforcement agencies in rescuing the girl child. Okei-Odumakin commended the governor ’s wife for working tirelessly to ensure that the girl child was empowered. An award of leadership role and development was presented to the governor’s wife.
Abuja Creation Of Additional States: Senate President Reaffirms Resolve ABUJA - The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, has restated his commitment to ensure that the quest for creation of additional states in the country was brought to a logical conclusion. This is contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, in
Abuja. The senate president made the remarks while receiving four members of the House of Representatives and nine local government chairmen from Benue. It stated that the president’s desire for creation of additional states was due to call by some
Asset Declaration
Bureau Decries Poor adding, “to us, it Repsonse isis prosecution, cheaper to engage public ABUJA - The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has decried the poor compliance of public servants with the law on the declaration of assets as provided for in the constitution. Speaking at a meeting with Federal Permanent Secretaries in Abuja, Dr Ademola Adebo, a Federal Commissioner in the bureau, said that the forum was aimed at strengthening awareness on assets declaration to ensure that all public officers complied with the provision of the constitution. Adebo solicited the support of permanent secretaries at the federal and state levels to ensure compliance. He identified ignorance, inadequate information and deliberate refusal to declare assets among public officers as challenges militating against the work of the bureau. According to him, the consequence for non-compliance
officials to comply than prosecution. “The CCB is not looking at compliance from the point of view of charge and bail or how much we are able to collect from defaulters. “The bureau believes in corruption prevention because prevention saves time, money and energy.” he commissioner acknowledged that the assets declaration form was a bit technical, but said that the bureau had no other means of simplifying it. ‘Because of the technicality of the form, we think it is better we come together and fashion a way of making public officials to understand the process of completing the form. “The law says we must comply and it does not care whether you know how to complete the form or not and to us in CCB, we must enforce the law,” Adebo said.
Nigerians to correct some imbalances that existed in state creation, to give Nigerians a sense of belonging. “Even if it takes my last breadth, I want to pursue the creation of state. I will put in my last breadth to ensure the creation of Apa State for my people,” it stated. Responding to calls on him to contest the 2015 senatorial seat, Mark said he would make his intention known as soon as the guidelines for the elections were released. “I am a loyal, faithful and dedicated party man. I will only make my intention known when the Peoples Democratic Party
environmental and natural resource exploration and exploitation,’’ he said. According to him, satellite data possesses the capacity to provide information on the weather, climatic shifts and geophysical changes from anywhere and
seat . Ojo, who is the Chairman of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue, stressed that the Idoma community had no better candidate than Sen. Mark. He noted the achievements the senate president’s representation had brought to the people of the zone. Ojo noted that Mark’s achievements on roads, healthcare, scholarship and rehabilitation of schools, including National Open University Complex and JAMB Centre were welcome. Also the Chairman, Ado Local Government Area, Alex Ogaba, commended the senate president
for the stability he brought to Nigerian politics. Ogaba, who is the Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Benue South, said all the tiers of government were working harmoniously for the good of the citizenry. He assured that the people of the zone would do everything possible to re-elect the senate president. Speaking on behalf of the members from the House of Representatives from Benue South, Hassan Saleh said the Idoma people were ready to return Sen. Mark unopposed in 2015.
President Goodluck Jonathan (right), welcoming the outgoing Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria, Mr. Hugo Ramos Milanes to the presidential villa in Abuja recently.
NASRDA Reiterates Commitment everywhere in the world. To Development He stated that Military ABUJA - The GeneralDirector, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Prof. Seidu Mohammed, says the agency is intensifying efforts to boost economic development of the country. Mohammed said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. According to him, the vision of the agency is to make Nigeria competent in the indigenous development, design and building of appropriate hard and software in space technology. He said that several national and international sectors were benefiting from the agency’s satellite images. “NASRDA has provided relevant satellite datasets for resource monitoring, socioeconomic and intelligence mapping across Nigeria and other parts of the globe. “The images are being used by 18 universities, six MDAs and more than 100 academic researchers across Nigeria, Africa, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. “It is our belief that the satellites will prove effective and efficient in the provision of solutions to human questions,
(PDP) releases the guidelines and programme for the elections,” the statement noted. Mark urged the people to remain steadfast and loyal to the PDP because there were good reasons to remain in the party. He, however, cautioned aspirants to political offices to base their campaigns on issues that would positively impact on the citizenry, instead of engaging in mudslinging or character assassination. The leader of the delegation, Sunday Ojo, said the visit was necessitated by pressure from citizens from Benue South Senatorial District to compel Mark to contest 2015 senatorial
intelligence reports and other information could be obtained from various satellites orbiting high above the planet. Mohammed said many of the satellite data could provide people with real-time information that could impact on their lives.
ABUJA - An FCT High Court has ordered the State Security Service (SSS) to release Mr Olaoluwa Olawoye held in its custody for alleged manipulation of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) website. Olawoye, a businessman, was said to have been arrested by the service since May 1 and has been in its custody for more than 135 days.
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State with the second batch of female students sponsored by the State Government for a 5-year MBBS degree programme at El Razi Medical College, Khartoum in Sudan in Maiduguri recently.
Court Orders Release Of Man In SSS Custordy He was said to have been arrested in Abuja with JAMB software with the intention of hacking into the organisation’s website. Justice Valentine Ashi, who gave the order, said he had examined the affidavit and counter affidavit before him on whether the applicant should continue to be detained by the SSS. According to Ashi, the provision of the constitution does not support the continued detention of the applicant without trial. The Judge said the continued detention of the applicant was a violation of his personal liberty and ordered his release. He said that the applicant should be released with two sureties, who must be members of his family, without any further arrest. According to the Judge, if the applicant must be re-arrested, it must be done with an arrest warrant that must be duly signed by a chief magistrate. Earlier, the Counsel to the applicant, Mr Sayo Odumosu, had filed a motion on notice, praying the court to declare that the continued detention of the applicant was a violation of his human right.
He also said that if the respondent was not willing to release the applicant, the court should declare an Order of Mandamus to arraign him before a competent court of law for trial. Odumosu supported his argument with Section 35 and 36 of the 1999 constitution and Article 4, 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human Rights. He told the court that he had filed a statement and a 15paragraph affidavit upon which the reliefs were sought. “The National Security Agency Act is not above the constitution. The constitution also specified that there is no way a person’s liberty could be contained for 135 days,’’ Odumosu said. The Counsel to the respondent, O. J. Odu had also tendered a motion for the enlargement of time for the SSS to enable it to look into the matter and take the necessary steps. Odu told the court that he had filed a written address and counter affidavit that the applicant should not be released until the service had concluded it investigations. He told the court that the National Security Agency Act empowered the service to arrest and detain whoever it felt had committed an offence.
Business + Economy
Agro Business: FG To Inaugurate Nigeria-Kenya Partnership
ABUJA - The Federal Government is set inaugurate the NigeriaKenya Agribusiness Partnership that would further strengthen agribusiness between both countries. This is contained in a statement signed in Abuja by Dr Tony Bello, the Senior Technical Adviser, Agribusiness, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. According to the statement, the Minister, Dr
Akinwumi Adesina, would lead a delegation of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) and officials of the ministry to Kenya for the inauguration of the forum. The statement said the forum would be inaugurated after a conference holding from Sept. 10 to Sept. 14 in Nairobi Kenyan top government functionaries and stakeholders in the nation’s agribusiness sub-sector are expected at the conference,
the statement said. The objectives of the
proposed partnership include fixing agricultural
value chains, ensuring sustainable supplies, affordable financing, instituting good agricultural
practice and instituting the certification of programmes with international recognition
TETFUND: Registrar Decries Exclusion Of Monotechnics OYO - Mr Gbade Adesola, the Registrar, Federal School of Survey (FSS), Oyo, Oyo State, has described the exclusion of monotechnics as beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) activities as unfair. Adesola said in an interview with newsmen in Oyo that FSS offered specialised training in surveying and awarded ordinary and higher national diplomas like polytechnics. He said that the institution last accessed the fund in 2010. “The board of the institution wrote a letter on the exclusion from the fund but was told that there was an existing law which excluded the institution from such fund. “The institution can only access it if the law is amended. “We collected a sum of N10 million annually when we were accessing it and we utilised it for projects on ground,’’ he said. “If the fund is meant for tertiary education and we offer
courses like other beneficiary institutions, such as polytechnics, colleges of education and universities, then we deserve to be included. “We also offer post-HND certificates that lead to the registration of students as surveyors,’’ he said.
People patronising second-hand clothes at Madalla market in Niger State on Thursday.
FG To Designate Container Depots
ABUJA- The Federal Government will designate the six approved Inland Container Depots (ICDs) as Ports of Origin, according to the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar. Umar made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council had approved the construction of ICDs at six locations in the country under the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement. The approved depots are located at, Isiala Ngwa in Abia, Funtua in Katsina, Ibadan, Kano, Jos, and Maiduguri.
Umar said the decision to designate the depots as Ports of Origin was sequel to the request by financiers of the projects. The minister said that the operators of the ICDs were faced with the challenge of finance because the financiers of the project requested that the depots be designated Ports of Origin before they could make funds available. “We are working assiduously to ensure that the declaration is made on the depots. “The financiers are insisting that the ports must be designated as ports of origin and destination for export and import of cargoes
as a pre-condition to extend any financial indulgence to the operators. “This means that cargoes can be generated from the ports, and then cargoes can be charged and cleared from the ports without going through the regular cost in clearing cargoes. “As soon as approval is granted that cargoes can be generated and indeed discharged and cleared in the ports, they will be in operation.’’ Umar recalled that he was in Funtua for the ground breaking ceremony of the ICD located in the town. He said the concept of the
An orange seller answering the call of nature at flyover in Zaria, Kaduna State on Thursday.
development of inland dry ports in some locations in the country was in line with the Federal Government’s port reform measures. The minister said that the measures were designed to decentralise port services and strengthen port operations. He said It would promote the movement of goods with minimal delays and cost and eliminate trade barriers,’’ he
said. Umar said that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the implementing agency, would regulate, monitor and coordinate the project. The ICDs, according to the minister, are dry ports equipped to handle and temporarily store containers and empty cargoes. The depots are equivalent of seaports or airport which can receive goods directly from their points of origin.
Indigenous Ship Owners Seek Control Of Coastal Trade LAGOS - The Secretary of the Nigerian Ship owners Association (NISA), Capt. Niyi Labinjo, has urged the Federal Government to enforce the Cabotage law, otherwise known as the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act. Labinjo told newsmen in Lagos that the enforcement of cabotage law would enable domestic ship owners to effectively participate in the coastal trade and commerce. According him, the implementation of the laws would enhance the capacity of indigenous ship owners grow and dominate coastal business in the country. “Enforcement of the Cabotage law can be better; we must continue to appreciate the fact that the Cabotage Act is meant for Nigerians. “We must not be afraid as maritime administrators in
ensuring that our domestic trade is reserved for only our people and that is the essence of the law,’’ Labinjo said. He also urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to assist in ensuring that the Cabotage laws “function effectively in Nigeria”. Reports say that the Cabotage law enacted in 2003 was patterned after the United States of America’s Jones Act of 1938, which had helped developed the country’s indigenous capacity in shipping. The law was also designed to enable indigenous shipping companies acquire adequate tonnage to enable them participate in the coastal trade. In all, the Cabotage Act primarily is meant to stimulate the development of indigenous capacity in the Nigerian Maritime industry.
NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT FRIDAY (12/09/14) Stocks
Open
Close
Change
Deals
Units
Value
NAHCO
5
5.19
0.19
0
1,016,311
5,217,830.36
ABCTRANS
0.73
0.7
-0.03
0
386,000
274,270.00
ACCESS
9.75
9.59
-0.16
0
29,991,653
283,392,137.30
NASCON
9.9
9.42
-0.48
0
684,796
6,478,567.96
NB
177.06
177.19
0.13
0
924,155
163,714,763.70
AFRIPRUD
3.25
3.3
0.05
0
1,983,239
6,617,966.47
NCR
13.5
13.5
0
0
1,000
14,170.00
AGLEVENT
1.52
1.52
0
0
20,000
29,000.00
NEIMETH
1.05
1.08
0.03
0
181,780
195,513.42
AIICO
0.8
0.83
0.03
0
677,742
552,290.04
NEM
0.77
0.76
-0.01
0
2,173,946
1,678,845.74
AIRSERVICE
2
2
0
0
3,000
6,300.00
NESTLE
1010
1010
0
0
40,802
41,346,421.87
ALUMACO
7.75
7.75
0
0
1,000
7,370.00
NEWGOLD
1958.99
1948
-10.99
0
50
97,400.00
ASHAKACEM
33
32.31
-0.69
0
472,366
15,262,006.92
NIGERINS
0.5
0.5
0
0
3,000
1,500.00
AVONCROWN
1.75
1.75
0
0
14,834
24,772.78
NPFMCRFBK
1
1.03
0.03
0
75,200
77,860.00
BERGER
8.6
8.6
0
0
16,100
135,651.00
NSE30
1857.6
1856.96
-0.64
0
131,898,195
2,472,025,410.00
BETAGLAS
18.85
18.85
0
0
26,850
501,668.00
NSE50
2012.7
2012.28
-0.42
0
148,793,887
2,580,688,277.00
40757.2
40672.94
-84.26
0
263,855,559
2,798,678,371.00
BOCGAS
5.48
5.48
0
0
28,255
147,208.55
NSEASI
CADBURY
55.01
55.01
0
0
98,099
5,194,930.98
NSEBNK
431.29
434.35
3.06
0
87,253,721
1,293,404,973.00
997.18
997.92
0.74
0
7,868,709
379,683,519.70
CAP
39.4
39.4
0
0
87,474
3,471,316.59
NSECNSMRGDS
CAPHOTEL
4.5
4.28
-0.22
0
69,200
296,176.00
NSEINDUSTR
2646.06
2629.45
-16.61
0
1,480,876
77,852,994.86
142.56
142.41
-0.15
0
9,720,097
7,970,559.10
2644.02
2631.96
-12.06
0
5,775,089
329,844,974.60
CAVERTON
5.14
4.89
-0.25
0
404,900
1,991,221.00
NSEINS
CCNN
14.5
14.5
0
0
134,878
1,936,045.00
NSELOTUSISLM
CHAMPION
7.9
8.29
0.39
0
82,339
682,300.31
NSEOILGAS
458.88
467.06
8.18
0
8,222,735
380,098,233.30
CHAMS
0.5
0.5
0
0
1,445,000
722,500.00
OANDO
25.48
25.21
-0.27
0
6,589,769
166,054,031.70
CILEASING
0.5
0.5
0
0
1,322
661
OKOMUOIL
33.25
33.25
0
0
176,556
5,921,765.45
CONOIL
53.16
53.16
0
0
216,495
11,135,695.77
PAINTCOM
1.6
1.6
0
0
100,000
160,000.00
CONTINSURE
0.98
0.98
0
0
3,088,315
3,031,048.70
PORTPAINT
5.1
5
-0.1
0
300,200
1,500,986.00
CORNERST
0.5
0.5
0
0
309,709
155,499.50
PREMBREW
4.02
4.22
0.2
0
71,317
300,957.74
COSTAIN
1
1.03
0.03
0
1,943,381
2,025,835.44
PRESCO
36
37
1
0
522,297
19,313,217.52
COURTVILLE
0.55
0.53
-0.02
0
275,000
146,550.00
PZ
35
33.92
-1.08
0
872,098
29,756,250.32
CUSTODYINS
4
3.95
-0.05
0
185,480
731,908.00
REDSTAREX
4.56
4.34
-0.22
0
8,030,646
34,914,038.29
CUTIX
1.82
1.82
0
0
45,700
82,710.00
REGALINS
0.5
0.5
0
0
12,000,000
6,000,000.00
DAARCOMM
0.5
0.5
0
0
1,000
500
ROADS
8.46
8.46
0
0
25,000
222,000.00
DANGCEM
218
215.1
-2.9
0
198,661
43,107,361.33
ROYALEX
0.61
0.58
-0.03
0
2,001,151
1,171,504.45
DANGFLOUR
6.97
6.97
0
0
72,672
482,211.80
RTBRISCOE
0.92
0.89
-0.03
0
114,562
102,336.58
DANGSUGAR
8.9
8.8
-0.1
0
2,928,766
25,804,743.60
SCOA
4.91
4.91
0
0
166
775.22
DIAMONDBNK
6.2
6.3
0.1
0
3,084,081
19,269,900.69
SEPLAT
670
670
0
0
10,972
7,235,914.90
2.92
2.88
-0.04
0
2,713,692
7,885,016.37
DNMEYER
1.1
1.1
0
0
55,998
59,297.90
SKYEBANK
EQUITYASUR
0.5
0.5
0
0
500
250
STACO
0.5
0.5
0
0
600
300
30
30
0
0
398,219
11,946,595.52
ETERNA
3.85
3.87
0.02
0
514,427
2,012,802.35
STANBIC
ETI
18.4
19.32
0.92
0
2,662,099
50,840,207.09
STERLNBANK
2.25
2.3
0.05
0
4,888,286
11,148,619.35
0.5
0.5
0
0
195,300
97,650.00
EVANSMED
2.1
2.1
0
0
98,899
207,228.00
TANTALIZER
FBNH
14.52
14.52
0
0
6,163,663
89,719,436.88
TOTAL
180
180.01
0.01
0
31,789
5,754,332.92
FIDELITYBK
1.98
2
0.02
0
2,891,130
5,776,924.34
TRANSCORP
6.29
6.05
-0.24
0
29,345,216
177,455,408.10
FIDSON
3.4
3.34
-0.06
0
442,359
1,488,205.04
UAC-PROP
15.3
15.18
-0.12
0
203,810
3,093,813.82
FLOURMILL
64.76
64
-0.76
0
456,323
29,249,931.05
UACN
59.05
58
-1.05
0
1,039,574
60,415,908.40
FO
225
235.6
10.6
0
821,470
190,917,701.50
UBA
7.3
7.19
-0.11
0
5,932,342
42,510,622.23
FTNCOCOA
0.6
0.57
-0.03
0
6,762,406
3,876,171.42
UBCAP
2.08
2.02
-0.06
0
58,838,534
121,005,656.70
GLAXOSMITH
65
65
0
0
1,214,831
78,928,205.60
UBN
9.79
10.27
0.48
0
879,385
8,716,374.54
GOLDBREW
0.77
0.77
0
0
20,000
16,000.00
UNHOMES
0.5
0.5
0
0
10,000
5,000.00
GUARANTY
29.8
29.15
-0.65
0
7,234,199
211,613,301.60
UNILEVER
48.01
48.01
0
0
91,908
4,390,478.82
GUINNESS
172.99
171.99
-1
0
252,498
43,165,772.25
UNIONDICON
14.11
13.41
-0.7
0
215,735
2,893,064.35
HONYFLOUR
4.04
4.06
0.02
0
801,327
3,257,903.02
UNITYBNK
0.5
0.5
0
0
366,200
183,100.00
IKEJAHOTEL
1.36
1.42
0.06
0
1,104,201
1,552,096.54
UNIVINSURE
0.5
0.5
0
0
3,900
1,950.00
INTBREW
28.26
28.26
0
0
18,681
534,195.20
UPL
4.13
4.13
0
0
10,170
40,038.29
INTENEGINS
0.51
0.53
0.02
0
3,704,803
1,952,703.55
VETGRIF30
18.55
18.58
0.03
0
60
1,119.30
4.28
4.3
0.02
0
381,460
1,606,452.20
IPWA
0.5
0.5
0
0
2,375
1,187.50
VITAFOAM
JAPAULOIL
0.51
0.52
0.01
0
4,759,883
2,388,834.32
VONO
1
1.05
0.05
0
352,566
355,551.80
118
118.5
0.5
0
98,647
11,695,250.02
JBERGER
63.99
63.99
0
0
42,102
2,627,247.78
WAPCO
JOHNHOLT
1.08
1.08
0
0
225
231.75
WAPIC
0.73
0.73
0
0
1,556,513
1,136,632.96
0.93
0.9
-0.03
0
781,331
703,489.01
24.13
24.6
0.47
0
26,976,854
652,251,869.50
JOSBREW
2.46
2.46
0
0
202
472.68
WEMABANK
LAWUNION
0.5
0.5
0
0
11,200
5,700.00
ZENITHBANK
LEARNAFRCA
1.6
1.6
0
0
91,078
138,870.74
LINKASSURE
0.5
0.5
0
0
50,685
25,342.50
TOP 10 GAINERS
LIVESTOCK
3.18
3.09
-0.09
0
918,925
2,840,300.35
Stock
MANSARD
2.5
2.5
0
0
204,000
510,250.00
MAYBAKER
1.45
1.38
-0.07
0
890,347
1,280,460.65
MBENEFIT
0.54
0.53
-0.01
0
1,701,872
901,992.16
FO NSEOILGAS NSEBNK PRESCO ETI NSECNSMRGDS WAPCO UBN ZENITHBANK CHAMPION
MOBIL
180
180
0
0
13,498
2,433,140.70
MULTIVERSE
0.5
0.5
0
0
83,200
41,600.00
TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS
Close
Gain
235.6 467.06 434.35 37 19.32 997.92 118.5 10.27 24.6 8.29
10.6 8.18 3.06 1 0.92 0.74 0.5 0.48 0.47 0.39
Stock NSEASI 84.26 NSEINDUSTR 16.61 NSELOTUSISLM 12.06 NEWGOLD 10.99 DANGCEM PZ 1.08 UACN 1.05 GUINNESS FLOURMILL 0.76 UNIONDICON
Close 40672.94 2629.45 2631.96 1948 215.1 33.92 58 171.99 64 13.41
Loss -2.9 -1 -0.7
View Point
Pluralistic Relativism Of Criticisms By BOBSON GBINIJE
ENCAPSULATED in rhapsodic ebullience hallmarked by serendipity were Christopher Columbus on discovery of the Western Hemisphere, Luigi and Lucia Galvani on the theory of galvanism, Volta on the production of electric current by conduct of two dissimilar metals- and thus the invention of the battery, Faraday on Magnetism, Archimedes on his mathematical principles, Cyrus W. Field on his projection of the first Atlantic cable, William Penn the British Quaker who founded the colony of Pennsylvania, Leonardo da Vinci on Mona Lisa and others too numerous to mention. In his poem “The Volunteer Day”, C. Lewis took an emotional and retrospective glance at the travails, trauma and tribulations of the volunteers of war for ancient England, “It was not Fraud or Foolishness, glory, revenge or pay! We came because our eyes could see no other way. There was no other way to keep man’s flickering truth alight; these stars will witness that our course burned briefer, not less bright”. So also the altruistic zeitgeist of these inventors. They stood between Scylla and Charybdis, Critics and Kill –sports, but with dogged pertinacity, the punctiliousness of a Spaniard and Trojan perseverance they were able to move mankind forward, critics were their best friends and their worst enemies in the journey. Man is Hegelianly imperfect, perfection is nowhere within the purview of man –hence imperfection is a uniovular
twin with man. Giving this state of imperfection – mistakes, defects, shortfalls, indispositions, and even death becomes a concomitant of man and his activities. Longfellow asserted that “No man is an Island unto himself”. In the light of this, social, political, cultural and educational engineering heightened a concatenation of events that gave rise to “The Society” and “The Social Contract.” In professions, men, women, students and critics contribute their quota towards ensuring a viable “social contract.” Ideally, the critic is the argo – eyed spectator who sees a better part of the game. He mirrors- in and mirrors-out activities through communication engineering, information technology and information management, seeing the world as a global village. A critic should have a profound and all- embracing understanding of his profession and goings-on in society and the world, to enable him form informed opinions and views. A critic, say in “Architecture” must have and know the nuts and bolts of the architectural profession, the basics of “Architectonics” – construction, designs, planning, framework, and style and History of designs. He should have hindsight, cognate experience, formal and informal training. He should be master of situations and not situations mastering him. Karl Popper a foremost authority on criticism asserts in his book “ The Open Society and its’ Enemies”- chapters 22,23 and 24 and Conjectures and Refutations” chapter 10 [Rout ledge and kegan Paul,
1963] that “the institutionalization of criticism is the basic precondition of improving social and political theories and society” popper recognizes that politically, there are good and bad rulers and also good and bad critics, but that in any situation criticism must be institutionalized. Which good critic will want to work under a bad or dictatorial ruler and vice
he cannot appropriately deliver. Though many have climbed to the pinnacle of martyrdom in it and they changed the world for the better. No critic would have liked to work against Hitler during the slaughtering of the Jews, Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Stalin , Mobutu, Abacha and Tsars of Soviet Russia. ETC. Apart from dictatorship another problem the critic
versa?. The courage or foolhardiness of the critic is brought to the fore here. A good critic must espouse the good course to enable society move forward. The Aristotelian concept of the pursuit of the greatest good for the largest number should be his diadem and garlands of honour with which he is festooned even unto death. Is there such a critic? “Few”. A critic is a human being and unless he is given the enabling environment
faces is lack of tools to do his work and democracy. But he should not develop, in Marxian dialectics, “An inverted attitude to an inverted world.” The profession and every facet of life is literally closed because there is no mirroring-out. There is communication Erebus as there is no way to get information except from government propaganda machinery and literary hirelings. Nobody knows what is going on except
“A good critic must espouse the good course to enable society move forward. The Aristotelian concept of the pursuit of the greatest good for the largest number should be his diadem and garlands of honour with which he is festooned even unto death. Is there such a critic?”
“Nobody knows what is going on except what they want you to know. Wherever information is hoodwinked, teleguided and unnecessarily classified, it precipitates information imperialism, news autocracy and the messiah complex.” what they want you to know. Wherever information is hoodwinked, teleguided and unnecessarily classified, it precipitates information imperialism, news autocracy and the messiah complex. This first tool of a good
evaluator, a judge of formal standard, professional analyst and an authority on the subject then he is a critic. But when a critic resorts to being a paid hack, penoutrage, an animadversionist, Bad press, Brickbats, Disparaging flak, querulous
critic, be it in philosophy, politics, Religion, Mathematics, the Arts and the sciences etc. is the “fact” yes the raw facts. Not deductive and speculative reasoning, researched and proven truth. This is the one basis and inobliterable plinth on which the “Art” of Criticism” rotates. A critic must be an effervescence of information and not exiguous of it. He should not hide under the “capacious umbrella” of generalization, social forces, livid analogy, kierkgard’s existentialist determinant, bias and subjectivity. If he appears as a newspaper columnist, commentator, an arbiter, wine connoisseur, book reviewer, arts pundit, an expositor in a colloquium, seminar and symposia, an
fault –finder, a detractor, Momus and stricturepossessed. Then, there is paradigm shift and normative gap in the practice, he is a bad critic, but in a bad society he is a “Heroic Critic”-the plural impasse. The French philosopher Rene Descartes asked himself “what is that we know certainly? The answer is obvious. But he asked conclusively that he was certain he could think and from that he inferred his existence- cogito ergo sum [I think: therefore I exist]. So also do I wish to state with unmistakable exactitude that society has bad and good critics, but a pot-pouri of bad governments and the larger society made them what Continues on page 14
View Point
Continued from page 13
they are? Since perfection is outside the reach of man what is the middle of the road approach and personality of the “Dynamic critic” of the modern era that will be able to move society forward. It is an unacceptable over simplification to assert that he is either good or bad. No, that betrays uncompromising intransigence. He should be near-good or near bad not perfectly bad or perfectly good. In his “Ideology and Utopia” Professor K. Mannheim was greatly rebuffed by Dr. Bhikhu Parekh lecturer Department of political studies university of Hull for his taking Sociology of Knowledge as his answer to Ideology and criticism. He asserted”………….like moral ideals that cannot all be achieved these demands cannot all be met. In heightening up its concept or achieving
comprehensiveness, a theory or criticism may lose in empirical richness. In trying to be “absolutely accurate” it might become as chaotic as the reality itself losing in coherence what it gains in suggestiveness. As no criticism possess all the qualities one ideally expects in it, beyond a certain point, the choice between them is a matter of individual discretion. Objectivity or partiality, therefore is not the only or even always the highest virtue in criticism. If a discipline is dominated by a single body of assumptions that its professionally socialized practitioners unconsciously assume to be self-evidently true, there is much to be said for advancing or accepting an extreme criticism in order to stir them into critical self-reexamination and to encourage a radical reappraisal of concepting tools of the discipline since objectivity and impartiality are achieved as a result of
... Relativism Of Criticisms the clash of subjectivity and partiality , falsehood and extremism often make most worthwhile contributions to the discovery of “truth”. Dennis J.O. Haan in his treatise “HASTY CONCLUSIONS” said “ A Persian King wanted to teach his four sons never to make rash judgment. So he told the eldest to go in winter to see a mango tree, the next to go in spring, the third in summer and the youngest in fall , after the last son had returned from his autumn visit, the king called them together to describe what they had observed. “It looks like a burnt old stump said the eldest”. No “said the second, “ it is lacy green”. The third described it as “beautiful as a rose., the youngest said, “No ,its fruit is like a pear”. Each is right, “said the king”, for each of you saw the tree in a different season “. This
didactic jeremiad serves to caution the critic that given the multi-dimensionality of thought we can only see a portion of the truth at any point in time and hence can not be “completely Right. The “Dynamic critic” of the modern era should be able to develop a comprehensive basis of vision , a dynamic and synthetic viewpoint that encompasses, explaining and integrates conflicting perspectives with truth and the love of society as the signet of his actions. Critics have always been buffeted by parochialism in government. Religion and philosophical cycles etc Socratecs, Plato, Aristotle ,Isaac Newton, Gallileo,, Sigmund Freud, Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Voltaire, Helvetius, Bentham and Adam smith were Victims. Why do men criticize? There are two schools of thought in this regards. One
“The Dynamic critic of the modern era should be able to develop a comprehensive basis of vision , a dynamic and synthetic viewpoint that encompasses, explaining and integrates conflicting perspectives with truth and the love of society as the signet of his actions.”
says men generally do what they do because of selfish interest and the other says for the general good. In the psychological theory of human interest and action as initiated by Hobbes, refined by Locke , and perfected by the thinkers of the French Enlightenment. Man , it was argued, was essentially a practical being, to make the world a habitable place. Reason, it was argued further, was set in motion by Human desires; indeed, it was created by desires, so that the more a man desired the greater the stimulus he had to think and therefore the greater his reason .As Voltaire in his “Treatise of Metaphysics” remarked “the passions are the wheels which make all these machines go round”. Vauvenargues reflected the same attitude in his “introduction to knowledge of Human mind”. When he concluded that the true Nature of man did not lie in reason but in passions. Helvetius observed in his “Treatise of man” that reason in itself was insert and was set in motion only by desire. Bentham argued, further, that of all Human passions
the concern for personal interest was the most powerful, most important, most uniform, most lasting and most general. Adam Smith corroborates this view in his belief that it is natural for man to prefer himself to mankind; indeed, he argued that this desire comes with us from the womb and never leaves until we die. It is clear, that, man acts out of personal interest, but in some cases man acts out of a genuine desire to improve- his kind and move the world forward. In all the critics endeavour let him allow conscience, nurtured by truth to be his guiding light, Shakespeare agrees thus “To thine ownself be true, and it must follow as the night the day. Thou canst not then be false to any man”, for it is only this that can salvage the critic from the “plural impasse” and lay bare the pluralistic relativism of criticism and critics CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE MANDATE AGAINST POVERTY (MAP) WARRI: 08023250378.
Discourse
Towards Curtailing Corruption In Nigeria By KINGSLEY MBADUGHA/OMEIZA ROBINSON/AYOBAMI OGUNGBE
MANY Nigerians were tranquillized when the global anti-corruption watchdog announced that our country is one of the 35th most corrupt countries in the world. To some people, the situation in the country is worse than what was reflected in the latest corruption perception table. Most people believe that in Nigeria, all kinds of evil act corrupt act is obtainable in the country life wire. Corruption is the major hindrance, a big obstacle to the development across all sectors in Nigeria, this is because virtually all sectors in the country are all corrupt. It has eaten deep into the life wire of the country and that is why it seems as nothing is been done about it. Nigerian government, police, civil service and businesses are plagued by bribery, extortion and other forms of corruption. While many points to a failure of leadership; corruption is largely a product of an economy fueled almost exclusively by petroleum with no vested interest in developing Nigeria’s infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. The wealthy simply profit from oil while the country wallows deeper into economic chaos. Nigeria’s roads are dominated by check points where law enforcement agents often demand that their palms be greased before travelling. They’ve turned check points into bribe collecting points and that is more reason terrorists, kidnappers and other hoodlums are not caught in most of their activities. What do you expect when a security man whose attention supposed to be on the individuals that look suspicious is focused on the drivers hand hoping to get N20. Nigeria as a nation is falling deeper into corruption day by day, can you tell me any sector in this country that is free from bribery and corruption? I doubt because even in football, players most times bribed coaches for them to play for the next game. Moving aside entirely to the education sector where most times students who are not qualified at the time of the examination are the ones that are referred to as undergraduates. There have been complaints that the Nigerian education sector is poor; why won’t it be, when money is being collected to admit students into higher institution. Have you asked yourself why students mostly score higher in Jamb and
when it comes to PUME, reverse is the case; that will show the level of corruption, bribery and exam malpractice in education system. Very soon in Nigeria the poor who cannot afford to pay up to #150,000, cannot be admitted into the university. The main issue about corruption in Nigeria does not lie with our government or civil service alone, citizens are also involved in this act. An electorate sells his/her vote for just a thousand naira that not is even enough for air time subscription as a result of poverty. The focal point about corruption in Nigeria to a large extent lies right in Aso rock with those that wine and dine with the people in the floor of power both at the national and the state to local level. Embezzling public fund is no more news in the country, it has become a normal daily activities. In this country, abnormality has become normality and that is more reason why all efforts to curtail corruption in the country has become negative. The country has become so corrupt that the public servants have totally lost trust in the government. The public servants hardly believe anything that the government says which are yet to be implemented. This is because the leadership in the country so far has been treading and is still treading on the ground of promise and fail. ASUU embarked on strike for a period of 6months last year, even when the government promised to meet up with their demands. There seemed to be no credibility in what government dishes out to the public anymore. Nowadays we hear such comments likes “ I pray o” whenever it’s heard that the government has embarked on one project or another, the citizens have doubts about that. It would be difficult to identify any Nigerian leader who can be said to be
successful in fulfilling his promises to the country. No doubt, the country is in this current depressing and distasteful state because her leaders at various levels of
corruption within the bureaucracy is equally as virulent, commenting on this issue in his article “are we really winning the war Against corruption” Uche Igwe said. That , “a major chunk of public sector corruption happens within the
Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Chairman government over the years have perfected the art of saying something and to an extent doing another almost at the same time. Even when any effort or whatsoever are made, it is, almost always contrary to the promise made. Human right watch estimated that the epidemic nature of corruption led to the loss of $380bn worth of revenue between 1999 and 2007in Nigeria. Then about 47 percent of companies that do business in Nigeria till date are Said to be experts to make facilitation payments to public officials in order to get them to do their work. To the observers, the parliament and the political parties are the most corrupt institutions; in line with this, I believe that
Nigerian civil service. The civil service is meant to be the bureaucracy that services the policy implementation process, but today it has been turned into an arena of looting. Corruption in the civil service is the rule rather than the exception, Uch Igwee added. There is this popular saying “wait for your turn” that is to say that one has to patiently wait till he/she gets to higher position and only then and only then can he join the club of bribe collectors and money embezzlers. But this is what happens in a state where abnormality has become normality. Most persons enter offices with goodwill but after some time, they begin to understand
that one cannot bite more than he can chew. Even at the house of assembly and others at the local level, anyone who fights against corruption in his office stands a risk of being impeached. In most cases, they set the person up. Nigerian offices are dens of lions where three things are involved; it’s either you join the club, resign or face allegation that could lead to your impeachment, that is the situation of things in Nigerian politics and other sectors in the country. The country has presented a bad image of herself in the eyes of other countries. Nigerians in other countries of the world are often suspected because of the evil deeds that those in power are not willing and ready to stop. So far, the main avenue for war against corruption in Nigeria is through .the establishment of anticorruption agencies. There are multiple versions of these agencies, each pursuing after complex, competing, divergent, and often overlapping mandate in Nigeria. All well and good but what has been their impact? Some of those agencies have turned out to be the biggest channels for corruption themselves. Some of these agencies when they apprehend someone, instead of charging the person to court, their pocket would be charged with money and that’s the end of such cases. The anti-corruption agencies have failed. Money controls their minds, even those who wish to fight corruption, their ‘oga at the top’ would suppress their efforts. Lest we forget, in time past, agricultural and economic indices have largely dictated a country’s growth and increases in complexity and development. Today, these variables are not all together rendered negligible, but they can hardly match the autocratic nature of influence handled by the political factors within the political sector that weave the fabric of country’s internal development and external relationships with foreign nations. That is why Nigerians have lost all available faith in the possibility of a legitimately elected representative of the people as
“The country has presented a bad image of herself in the eyes of other countries. Nigerians in other countries of the world are often suspected because of the evil deeds that those in power are not willing and ready to stop.”
it concerns the elective process for change of government. The unending corruption which has eaten deep into the fabrics of our system has helped no one either as both the government and the governed seemed to have been carried away by the turbulent sea of western dependency. Nigeria is wallowing in corruption, even the coming generation now subconsciously prepare fertile ground for the seed of corruptive influences like grafting, misappropriation and illicit propensity of for wealth. It is in Nigeria we have, though in small number, members of the so called ‘CABAL’ who seems to be in absolute control of the electoral process, which according to concerned Nigerian citizens has ironically become ‘selection’ as opposed to an election process. It is regrettable to realize that the dreams and counsel of our founding elders has been forsaken for many years to embrace corruption and the profit of greed. Our national anthem reads “arise o compatriots”, how many of our leaders are patriots, you as an individual, how patriotic are you?Feigning ignorance to this prevalent attitude of our rulers and the “chop as I chop” concept a present part and reality of the Nigerian government administration. Should Nigerians resign to a fate of failure and hopelessness without repair? Answer to this question is cryptic for it would only lead to more questions. However, there is a plausible possibility for a purge of all impurities from our present polity even though a change has never been a welcome verb for discussion where poorer and politics are concerned. But since, “nature is change is nature, then nature is the part of existence we can affect or effect”. The limited success in the war against corruption has bred deep cynicism among the Nigerian people capable of subverting trust in a democratic system of government. Conclusively, in a bid to curtail corruption in Nigeria, an effective anti-corruption agency must command public respect, be credible, transparent accountable, and fearless. It must mobilize the necessary political will as well as enjoy considerable operational independence. Since the war against corruption formally resumed in Nigeria for years, the verdict is that it has been less than effective. Our leaders should restore purity and sanity into the system and reduce the rate at which they perpetrate evil in the country and other sector officials should as well refine and redefine their minds of corruption and bribery.
Foot Print
Contiuned from last week
FRENCH Revolution, which had begun in 1789, soon brought on the general European conflict known as the French Revolutionary Wars. American sentiments were deeply divided. The Hamiltonians generally supported Britain while the Jeffersonians sided with America’s ally, France. In North America not only were the British constantly at work stirring up trouble and distributing arms to Native Americans on the northwestern frontier, but their allies, the Spanish governors at New Orleans, kept close contact with the southwestern Native American peoples and intrigued with various American adventurers who dreamed of wilderness empires. Washington realized that the United States was still too weak to risk war if it could honorably be avoided. “The public welfare and safety,” he declared, “enjoin a conduct of circumspection, moderation and forbearance.” Most Americans resented British hostility. Washington hoped for eventual conciliation with Spain, expansion of trade with the Spanish West Indies, and free navigation of the Mississippi River. France was a special case. By the wartime treaty of 1778, France and the United States were allies. But France was now in the throes of revolution, and its future was uncertain. Moreover, by 1792, the excesses of the revolutionary party in France seemed likely to result in war between France and Britain. For Washington this situation was complicated by strong partisan enthusiasm among many Americans for the cause of the French Revolution. On Washington’s 60th birthday, which was marked by nationwide celebrations, he seems to have hoped that he was about to enter on his last year in public office. He
sought to persuade himself that the deepening differences between his two principal advisers, Jefferson and Hamilton, did not imply personal animosity, though he had to admit that these differences were fundamental, representing basically differing philosophies of government. This realization troubled Washington all the more because in his own concept of federal government public servants should work in amity for the public good, whether in the executive branch or in Congress. He regarded partisan contests, which he called faction, with horror. However, during 1792, Washington became convinced that faction was becoming an established element of American political life and that his two chief advisers had to be regarded as rival leaders whose political differences could not be reconciled. The Hamiltonians evolved into the Federalist Party, and the Jeffersonians organized what was to become the Democratic-Republican Party. As the 1792 election drew near, the President’s advisers were unanimous in their opinion that the times were too perilous for the nation to risk a transfer of the executive power to a new president. Washington must be president for a second term. About this time an event occurred that caused him to agree. He vetoed a plan to reapportion seats in the House of Representatives because, he believed, it was unconstitutional. It favored the Northern states over the Southern and, although Washington carefully avoided any mention of this in listing his objections, a congressional uproar resulted that was divided along sectional lines. Washington told Jefferson that he was anxious over this growing tendency of the North and South to part ways on political matters. He expressed fear that this might eventually bring about the
George Washington: P dissolution of the Union. Jefferson’s answer was firm: “North and South will hang together if they have you to hang on.” Washington saw himself as an impartial administrator whose enormous personal popularity could be used to channel sectional feeling into a trust in the federal government. Therefore he could not allow himself to do what he most wanted to do: publish a farewell address and retire from public life. Instead he said nothing on the subject, with the inevitable result that he was again the unanimous choice of the electors in the 1792 presidential election. Adams was again elected vice president. On March 4, 1793, in a brief ceremony, Washington was inaugurated for his second term of office. Just two weeks after the inauguration, news reached Philadelphia of the execution in France of King Louis XVI. Two weeks later came the word that Washington had feared: Revolutionary France had declared war on Britain, Spain, and the N e t h e r l a n d s . Already the president had indicated the course he desired to take by asking both Jefferson and Hamilton for suggestions on how to maintain strict neutrality and to prevent “the citizens from embroiling us with either France or England.” He propounded specific questions: Should he issue a proclamation of neutrality? Should the treaties of 1778, concluded with Louis XVI, be renounced or suspended? Should he receive Citizen Genêt, the newly appointed diplomat from the French republic? See Genêt, Edmond Charles Édouard. As Washington must have foreseen, his advisers did not agree. The result was uneasy compromise. American neutrality was proclaimed in
a document that did not actually use the word. The new diplomat would be received. The treaties stood, but they should be cautiously interpreted. A storm of criticism beset these decisions from every quarter. Genêt did not add to Washington’s peace of mind. After landing at Charleston, South Carolina, he commissioned some privateers and set up a French court of admiralty to dispose of British prizes. These proceedings enraged Washington and brought furious protests from the British diplomatic representative. Genêt arrived in Philadelphia as a celebrity. He was soon busy organizing groups called democratic societies, which he cheerfully described as a means of appealing to the people of the United States against the “unfriendly” attitude of their president. Probably nothing in his public life aroused Washington’s opposition more than these societies, the aim of which, he said flatly, was “nothing less than subversion of the Government of these States.”He treated Genêt with icy courtesy during three months of Genêt’s mounting insolence and effrontery. When Genêt, against specific prohibition, sent an armed French privateer to sea from the port of Philadelphia, Washington demanded that the French government recall the diplomat to France. This was done; but Washington, fearing that Genêt would be executed by his own government on returning home, let him stay in the United States as a private citizen. In late August 1793 a dispatch arrived from the American diplomat in London, Thomas Pinckney. It informed Washington of a British order in council of June 8, 1793, that directed
“As Washington must have foreseen, his advisers did not agree. The result was uneasy compromise. American neutrality was proclaimed in a document that did not actually use the word. The new diplomat would be received. The treaties stood, but they should be cautiously interpreted.”
By OBUSEH JUDE
British warships to seize cargoes of grain or flour bound for France in neutral ships. This was, from the British viewpoint, a perfectly logical act. To Americans, however, the British order was an outrageous invasion of neutral rights. When the news spread, angry mobs demonstrated near Washington’s house in
Hamilton beca complete. Willi Bradford, Pennsylvanian, took o Randolph’s post attorney general. In the spring of 1794 danger of war with Brit increased. British warsh were seizing all neu vessels trading with French West Indies, Washington approve
George Washington
Philadelphia. However, these riots ended with the sudden outbreak of yellow fever in the city. Washington took a house in Germantown for his temporary use and carefully considered whether he had the constitutional right to ask Congress to meet in any place other than that appointed by law. The last days of 1793 brought the end of Jefferson’s service as secretary of state. His desire to retire from public life could no longer be denied. He was succeeded by Edmund Randolph, who had developed into Washington’s closest adviser after the breach between Jefferson and
30-day embargo on sailings from U.S. por avoid further encoun However, a report soon c that the British governm had rescinded the o affecting trade with French West Indies. dangerous situation produced one desir result: Congress agree authorize the constructio six frigates. These wer first additions to the n since the revolution. Tensions still ran high a constructive effor preserve the peace see urgent. Washington reso to send a special envo London to try to find s basis of agreement with British ministers. His ch fell on Chief Justice
Foot Print
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Jay. There were immediate protests from Jeffersonians, and Secretary of State Randolph insisted that Jay should not be empowered to negotiate a commercial treaty. Washington stood firm and left Jay free to use his own judgment, though he himself seems to have laid strong emphasis on securing British agreement to evacuate the northern frontier posts. Jay sailed from New York on May 12, 1794. A week
district inspector of excise was burned, and gatherings of armed people took place. Washington could not “suffer the laws to be trampled upon with impunity, for there is an end to representative government.” He saw the threat of western uprising as “the first formidable fruit of the democratic societies.” Governor Thomas Mifflin of Pennsylvania reported that the state could not muster enough militia to suppress the rebellion. Washington
later came news that the British commander at Detroit, one of the posts in question, had sent troops to erect a fort on the Maumee River in northwestern Ohio. Farther south, the frontier difficulties followed familiar patterns: Kentuckians were clashing with the Spaniards in the Mississippi River Valley, and Georgian squatters were pushing ever deeper into territory that by treaty belonged to the Creek. Bad news also came from western Pennsylvania, where three of Genet’s democratic societies had become focal points of rebellion over the excise tax on whiskey. Officers collecting the tax met with increasing resistance. The house of the
therefore summoned the militias of New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, providing a total force of some 15,000. When these troops moved into the affected area, resistance immediately collapsed. The Whiskey Rebellion was over by the end of November. Meanwhile, Washington was cheered by the news that Major General Anthony Wayne won a decisive victory over a coalition of northwestern Native American peoples at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, near the present site of Toledo, Ohio, on August 20, 1794. This battle and the systematic devastation of their fields and villages that
followed broke the power of these nations for a generation. As Congress adjourned in March 1795, Washington was still anxiously awaiting word from Jay. Unofficial word from ship captains and travelers indicated that a treaty with Britain had been negotiated. Speculation in Jeffersonian newspapers about the terms of the treaty proclaimed it a sellout of U.S. interests. When Washington received the text of Jay’s Treaty, together with Jay’s bleak statement that “to do more was not possible,” he realized that the treaty would be exceedingly unpopular. Viewed in terms of meeting U.S. hopes, its only real accomplishment was a firm promise to evacuate the northwestern forts by June 1, 1796. But, in Washington’s view, the treaty accomplished his basic purpose in sending Jay to Britain. It provided solid insurance against a disastrous war with Britain if only the Senate could be induced to ratify it. Its concessions to British maritime policy were heavy, but, with Wayne’s victory, the treaty consolidated the U.S. hold on the great Northwest Territory. Improved relations with the world’s greatest sea power in turn provided assurance of American commercial prosperity and preservation of Hamilton’s structure of national credit. On June 8, 1795, Washington called the Senate into special session to consider the treaty. After 16 days of fierce debate behind closed doors, the treaty was approved by a vote of 20 to 10, exactly the two-thirds majority needed. Meanwhile the country was swept by a violent outburst against the treaty as its provisions became known. But all of this was unimportant compared to the terrible blow that now befell Washington. It came without
warning, on his return to Philadelphia from a brief visit to Mount Vernon. He was confronted by Secretary of War Timothy Pickering and Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott, Jr., with what seemed irrefutable proof that Secretary of State Randolph, his lifelong friend, had been secretly seeking money from the French diplomat Joseph Fauchet in return for using his influence against Jay’s Treaty. Washington decided that he must sign the treaty at once, before bringing Randolph’s guilt or innocence under examination. He signed it on August 18, 1795, against Randolph’s strong objections. The next day he presented Randolph with the evidence against him in the presence of Pickering and Wolcott. Randolph resigned, angrily proclaiming his i n n o c e n c e . Later that year Fauchet found out why Randolph had left. He protested that Randolph had done nothing dishonest and that his report to his government, from which the suspicion of betrayal had come, had been misunderstood. But this was not enough to remove the cloud of suspicion, and Randolph never again held federal office. He returned to his successful law practice and continued to be a leading figure in Virginia. His name was not completely cleared until after his death in 1813. On February 22, 1796, Washington received the Treaty of San Lorenzo, concluded with Spain by Thomas Pinckney the previous October. By the terms of this document the Spanish government granted U.S. citizens unrestricted use of the Mississippi River “in its whole breadth, from the source to the ocean,” with a privilege of tax-free export of goods through the port of New Orleans. Spain also
made a satisfactory agreement on the boundaries of West Florida and promised to discourage Native American raids on the frontier. This complete reversal for Spanish policy was a diplomatic triumph. Delivered to the Senate on February 26, it was approved by unanimous vote on March 3. Washington was less happy over the conclusion of a treaty with the Dey of Algiers. Algiers was one of the Barbary States, which had practiced piracy against ships on the Mediterranean Sea for nearly 300 years. The Dey had held ten captured American sailors for ransom since 1785. The treaty accomplished the release of American captives and bound the Dey to cease attacks on American shipping in the Mediterranean. However, it subjected the United States to the humiliation of paying a ransom of $800,000 for the prisoners and an annual tribute of $24,000 as the price of continued security against piracy. When some in Congress saw in this an excuse for suspending work on four of the six new frigates, Washington declared grimly that he regarded the paying of bribes to pirates as a national degradation that could only be removed by sufficient naval armament. Still another treaty that was ready for submission to the Senate was the one concluded by General Wayne with the Shawnee, Miami, and other Native American peoples of the northwest. In it the tribes gave up their long-maintained claim to the Ohio River as their eastern boundary and opened vast areas of Ohio and southern Indiana to white settlers. As Jay’s Treaty approached, its last congressional hurdle, the appropriation of the necessary funds for its implementation, the
Jeffersonian majority demanded that Washington submit to the House of Representatives (Congress’s lower chamber) copies of Jay’s instructions and all related correspondence. To avoid setting a precedent, Washington replied, “It is perfectly clear to my understanding that the assent of the House of Representatives is not necessary to the validity of a treaty .... A just regard to the Constitution and to the duty of my Office ... forbids a compliance with your request.” Debate on the appropriations dragged on until April 29. On that day the question was voted on by the House sitting as the committee of the whole, with the result a tie, 49 to 49. The deciding vote of the chairman, Frederick Muhlenberg, himself a Jeffersonian, carried the m e a s u r e . Although Washington did not announce it publicly until September 1796, he was determined that under no conditions would he allow his name to be put forward for a third term. He had guided his country for eight years, averted the danger of a ruinous war, opened the economic gateways of the West, and established precedents that would prove true bulwarks of the Constitution. It was time for the transfer of power, by constitutional means, to other hands. Early on the morning of December 14, 1799, Washington awoke with an inflamed throat. His condition rapidly worsened. He was further weakened by medical treatment that included frequent blood-letting. He faced death calmly, as “the debt which we all must pay,” and died at 11:30 that night. In the national mourning that followed, many tributes were paid to Washington. President Adams called him “the most illustrious and beloved person which this country ever produced.” Adams later added: “His example is now complete, and it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age but in future generations as long as our history shall be read.” Concluded.
“But, in Washington’s view, the treaty accomplished his basic purpose in sending Jay to Britain. It provided solid insurance against a disastrous war with Britain if only the Senate could be induced to ratify it.”
Opinion
Should There Also Be A Christian Republic In Nigeria? WHEN one is faced with the strength of a radical fundamentalist Islamic world in terms of outlandish and violent ideas and the conspiracy on how it can control the political climate and policy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, one could well wonder if any force on the face of the Earth is sufficient to withstand the radical Islamist onslaught against freedom and the fundamental right to life of a citizen of a hitherto secular society where there is divergent views on both religion and social- cultural belief of the larger society. Some time ago there was an advertorial in the Sunday Vanguard by one self made activist who goes by the name Shehu Sani whose preoccupation is basically to protect the interest of the North. In the harshly worded Advertorial he castigated the South as not being politically matured and that power must return to the North by all means adding that they are the ordained political leaders of Nigeria. In the said advert, he categorically profiled the South-West as intellectual power house and the SouthEast as business and the North as undisputed political leaders of Nigeria who were born to rule. The South South where President Goodluck Jonathan came from, was not a force to be reckon with apart from the vast natural resources which is being exploited indiscriminately to develop other part of Nigeria. The minority Christian South South producing a president is like an abomination to the Islamist core North . Most of the time I sympathize with President Jonathan performing Islamist rites as a Christian president that is not his portfolio. It is the Vice President, a muslim who should perform those rites because there is no pretence in the belief that majority of muslims across the world regard a Christian as infidel or unbeliever that has no right to he alive or live together with them, although the progenitor of the covenant child Isaac and Ishmael a child of the bond had the same ancestor which was Abraham yet there was no affectionate relationship between the two brothers and apart from pretence and diplomacy which have glued
By OSAWE SHOLA MARTIN
them together, the amalgamation which was a colonial conspiracy on the entity called Nigeria, failed woefully between India and Parkistan. One Hindu/Sikh State and the other a Muslim majority State both Nations became very hostile to each other that later slided them in a fierce religious war, claiming over three million (3,000,000) death on both sides. In analysing the ISIS new monsters organization created in Iraq whose purpose is to exterminate pockets of Iraqi Christian community even though they are bonafide Iraqi. As Iraqi this write up goes to press the Christians are fleeing enmass into the mountainous areas with no hope of surviving the Islamic onslaught. A famous historian once told this writer that Jihadist movement was pushing fiercely down South with obvious destruction of ever stand on the way right from the Sokoto caliphate. Although there were pocket of resistance along the route they were able to conquer many parts of middle belt towards Ilorin, Makurdi, Jos even down to part of SouthWest to Auchi in Edo State. They were however stopped by the military might of the British colonial masters. The aim was to push us all into the ocean in the name of Islam. This writer’s mum was also an Islamist convert but not the new dimension of the present day Islamist fundamentalism which gave birth to the dreaded Boko Haram, Al Queada, El shahab. e.t.c. Today come Islamist nation are allegedly developing nuclear arsenal which they are expected to use on the Jewish State of Israel. One could note with nostalgia that all the flash points of the world are m Islamist nation of the Middle East, North Africa part of West and East Africa, and they are bent on killing their neighbors to the extent that it has become a kind of strange bed follows, i.e. the extent that their women folks after many years of oppression, have been transformed into walking human bombs, ready to explode any moment with unquantified collateral damage to lives and properties.
Shall we observe the phenomenon of the establishment of a Christian republic in Nigeria? I believe we will be filled with a sense of wonders that God has exercised such sovereignty over the rise and fall of the w to accomplish hi purpose in human history. This struggle for the soul and de of mankind has spanned all of
the generations. Since Adam, will see its incredible conclusion in he next event of the next decade, after all, Ishmael was highly favored as the covenant child by God, it was Isaac that was highly favored as the covenant child no matter how fiercely or dreadful Ishmael might prove to manipulate a false covenant of terrorism, onslaught, insurgency whose purpose is to intimidate the covenant children. On that day, God made a covenant saying “unto thy seed have I given this land from River Niger to Benue down to the Atlantic, the great river that it should be inhabited by Abraham’s children” Abraham, the father of the chosen people, was removed from his home and led to a strange land which God promised to Abraham’s descendants forever, aside ‘from the obvious obstacle of strong nations occupying this territory, an even greater obstacle seem to be standing in the way of God’s promise,
giving the threat by Ishmaelite terrorist. Should we have a Christian Republic where the land is tilled with Christian institutions proclaiming the message of truth and is effectively meeting the social needs of the poor, creating beautiful and meaningful life training intellectual leaders in every field from Theology to Politics. A land creating a grassroots political
organisation which is striving for .a just and fair government and is educating the masses through the mass media on patriotism, selfless service and commitment to basic quality of life for the masses then the ground wok o it Christian Republic will be realised and there is no hidden agenda just progress in all it’s ramifications. The goal will be reached when Christian institutions are effectively managed and touching the lives of the vast majority of people and a Christian Consensus is achieved, then the government will be filled with Christians or those who arc intellectually reflected with Christian ideas. The society may still not be perfect but it will he repentant of its many sins and try to please God. It will provide religious liberty for all and the protection of individual rights by a just and fair ru1e. Economically, such a state would reflect a compassionate and free
economy which will allow growth and solve many of t problems of the poor by creating jobs and new industries. As the number of individual Christians, Christian Institutions and Christian Republic increase we must revive our faith and strength existing Christian institutions where more Christian agencies need to be established and we must do all we can with the resources we now have to make them successful as possible. It is an abomination iii the eyes of God to watch the destruction of a civilian population by a terrorist group just for the fun
chronology of God dealings with mankind, from the birth of Abraham to the final setting up of Christ Kingdom on Earth and Nigeria in particular is marked with startling precise period of four hundred and ninety years. The Christians solution to our multi— ferrous problems is by establishing a Christian Republic, creation of Godly lasting institutions, sharing .with others the good new of God’s salvation, voluntary compliance with God’s law, motivated by faith, hope and love. Thankfulness for the free gift of salvation to us through
of it or with bogus and mad ideology which can never be realised. Generally, the battle of this world will be definitely won by the Christians. It will be all en-compassing and all inclusive because truth is not for those who are unworthy or unable to receive it or would rather pervert, it. Truth becomes deadly to those who arc not strong enough to contemplate it in all its brilliance. Truth must be kept sacred and the masses need a teaching proportional to their imperfect teachings of calumny, anarchy, hatred, hatred, rational acrimony, violence and killings of innocent citizens this is not God purpose for Abraham’s descendants, his promise is to give us an expected end, a nation flowing with milk and honey. Our present state where nation rise against nation are the beginning of sorrows which is bound to he eliminated with the manifestations of a Christian Republic. The entire
Jesus personal commitment to Jesus as divine Priest, king and God’s acknowledgement as creator and ruler of the world. We need to wake up and realise that radical Islamist will use any movement whether secular or religion as a strategy in its deadly game to conquer many parts the world. France a liberal western nation whose doors were open wide to Islamist infiltration is now curbing its excesses; first by banning the hijab. It is not enough to be against radical fundamentalist Islamist movement, we must support the establishment of a just and fair government. Christian Republic view is to bring change to the world through love, truth, patient, courage, fairness, even distribution of wealth, destruction of poverty and corruption, the dreaded evil. Take note, this write-up is not against True Islamic Practice.
With Eranga Issac 08059233001
Family Planning
“However, there are notable exceptions to the above generalization. In particular, fertility has declined rapidly in a few countries with unfavourable development conditions (e.g. in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and Sri Lanka). These are traditional, poor, rural, and agricultural societies, yet fertility had declined to low levels.” of social sciences), who aim to maximize the utility derived from array of decisions they make in the course of time and other resource constraints. These include choices related to conventional goods and services as well as to children. In making decisions concerning family size, parents have preferences not only for the number of children but also for their “quality” (i.e their health and education). As countries develop, parents want high-quality children. Providing the means to raise
Advancing Reasons For Fertility Decline
MANY theories have been propounded for the decline of fertility especially in the developing countries. Among these theories are: Conventional theories and Revisionist theories. Conventional theories – Davis Kingsley in this “The world demographic transition”, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 237 (January), 1945: 1 – 11, and Notestein, Frank’s “Population – the long view”, in Theodore W. Schultz (ed.), Food for the World, pp. 36 – 57, the oldest and best-known demographic theory was
formulated to explain the fertility decline that occurred in the West from the late nineteenth century through the 1930s. According to Population Council’s Family Planning Programs for the 21st Century: Rationale and Design, authored by John Bongaarts, John Cleland, John W. Townsend, Jane T. Bertrand and Monica Das Gupta, “In traditional rural, agricultural societies, fertility was seen as necessarily high to offset high mortality and ensure population survival. According to them, as a society modernizes,
economic and social changes such as industrialization, urbanization, new occupational structure, and increased education first lead to a decline in mortality, and subsequently also to a decline in fertility. The rising costs of children (e.g., for education) and their declining economic value (e.g., for labour and old-age security) were the central forces believed to be driving the decline in desired family size. This in turn led to a rise in the demand for the adoption of birth control. This conventional
framework, still regarded as largely valid, has been the basis for various elaborations by economists, sociologists, and demographers. In his “economic and analysis of fertility, in Demographic and Economic Change in Developed countries, Becker Gary 3, in 1960, said ‘Contributions by economists to fertility theories focused on the micro-economics of reproductive decision making’. Parents being the human they are, are known to be rational actors (as established by philosophy
“The explanation for these unexpected trends are the priority given by governments to social development (e.g., schooling and women’s empowerment) and the implementation of family planning, and health programs.”
such children increases their cost, thus leading parents to want smaller families. This school of thought is usually referred to as “demand theory”. In his “Theories of fertility decline and the evidence from development indicators”, in Population and Development Review 33 (1): 101-127, Bryant John in 2007, established that empirical evidence is broadly consistent with demand theories: countries fertility levels are inversely related to socio-economic indicator such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, child survival, literacy, school enrollment, and urbanization. According earlier to John Bongaarts etal, quoted earlier, there is little doubt that, as countries develop, fertility behaviour changes more or less along the lines demand theories propose. This is the course taken by the new-developed world,
where fertility declines began in the late nineteenth century. These historical reductions in birth rates were accompanied by slow decline in mortality, hence population growth remained modest throughout the demographic transition. In contrast, in contemporary developing countries, public health programs (often implemented with external assistance and funding) have produced large declines in child mortality at an early stage in the development process while fertility remained high. The result has been very rapid population growth that is likely to continue if development takes its natural course of steady but slow fertility declines. However, there are notable exceptions to the above generalization. In particular, fertility has declined rapidly in a few countries with unfavourable development conditions (e.g. in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and Sri Lanka). These are traditional, poor, rural, and agricultural societies, yet fertility had declined to low levels. The explanation for these unexpected trends are the priority given by governments to social development (e.g., schooling and women’s empowerment) and the implementation of family planning, and health programs. No fertility decline has been observed in a poor and largely illiterate country in the absence of a strong family planning program. To be continued
Send your comments and opinion on family planning to 08059233001 or Isaac_editorial@yahoo.com
Issues It’s A Legal Duty For Victims To Testify Against Suspected Kidnappers -Idahagbon THE kidnapping prohibition (Amendment) Law 2013, duly enacted by the Edo State House of Assembly states that any body caught in the act of kidnapping shall be sentenced to death without any option of fine and the kidnappers will forfeit all their assets and properties to the state. Amending section 7 of the principal Law deletes the words immediately after “and” the words: “Shall be liable on conviction to life imprisonment without an option of fine and substituting same with: “shall on conviction be sentenced to death. It is glaring fact that the Edo State Government led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is doing its best to protect the lives of citizens in the state by recommending the passage of the Law. Recently, the level at which kidnapping activities have reduced in the state may be as a result of the passage of this bill, which recommends death sentence for any body caught in the act of kidnapping. The government from its inauguration in 2008 has been doing its best to the fullest to ensure that kidnapping, arm robbery, rape and other crimes are eradicated from the state, little wonder, did he donate so many patrol vehicles to security agencies in the state as a way of fighting these numerous crimes. In an interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, recently, through Ikponmwoba Osazee Joel, Hon (Barr) Idahagbon, the Commissioner for Justice and the Attorney general of the state disclosed that the reason why issues of demolition of houses of suspected kidnappers that have been arraigned are not heard is as a result of the fact that the Edo State Government is a government that operates under the rule of Law. Section 12 of the kidnapping prohibition Law 2009, as amended clearly provide that the state can destroy or deal with the property of any person convicted for the offence of kidnapping, so it is only after conviction that the property of a person convicted of the offence can be destroyed, confiscated,
seized or as deemed fit by the state, not just when the person have been arrested by the police or arraigned in court by the police. Unlike some of the eastern states in the country, that pull down houses especially when suspects are arrested and arraigned in court the Edo State Government cannot destroy properties of suspected kidnappers until after conviction. For the avoidance of doubt, section 12, of the kidnapping prohibition Law states that; “the state shall be at liberty to destroy and or do any such thing as it desires appropriate against the properties of any person convicted on the offence of kidnapping.” So, conviction must come before destruction of property. However, the last conviction of kidnappers in Edo State was in April and May 2014, 2 males and 1 female, who were convicted for the offence of kidnapping under the 2009 Law which prescribed life imprisonment, but under the Amended Law in 2013, it is a death penalty but this three convicts were lucky that they were arraigned and tried under the 2009 Law which prescribed the life sentence and they are serving their life sentence at the prisons in Benin City. There had not been any case of conviction on the new amendment, however, there are many cases ongoing because the court have been on vacation and also due to the strike by Judicial Workers. As the courts resume on September 14, the trials all over the courts in the state will continue and before the end of the year, it is our expectation that one or two judgements will be passed. Hon. (Barr) Idahagbon further said that the public should not judge by the rate at which suspected kidnappers are arrested, because arresting is one thing, arraignment in court is
By IKPONMWONBA OSAZEE JOEL
another thing, and many of those people paraded by the police, eventually do not get arraigned in the court of Law and if they are not arraigned, prosecution can not be done, Prosecution and getting conviction is not an easy job. Many kidnap victims are reluctant to come to court to testify against accused persons because they are afraid that other gang
convinced beyond reasonable doubt before the conviction can be obtained, so it may appear slow to the public, but judgement should not be made based on mere allegations. Also, concerning suspects paraded by the police, very many of them, after they have been paraded do not end up in court and when they eventually end up in court,
The government have a political will to do any thing that is good for the generality of the Edo people. If the government can sign the death warrant for convicted criminals, pulling down houses is a tea party compared to taking life, all for the good of the innocent people of Edo State to guard and protect their lives and property. Anyone that allows his or her house to be used as a den
Barr Henry Idahagbon, Comissioner for Justice
members in town could come and kill them. Without witness or evidence produced before the court of law, you can not get conviction. Proper devotion are given to cases of serious crimes; murder, kidnapping, arm robbery because it is not an easy job. It takes time. The judicial process in this part of the world is slow because of many factors. Judgements are gotten from time, to time, especially the kidnapping, now that the penalty is death and a lot of efforts must be put into prosecution. The court must be
there is some degree of meticulousness in doing the prosecution before you can get conviction. It is the responsibility of the police to arraign and after arraignment, it becomes the responsibility of the ministry of justice to render legal opinion and it is in that process the offence is determined for the accused persons. It’s never true that when persons are charged for kidnapping, it is changed to cultism or related crimes in order to reduce the punishment, now that it is life sentence.
for kidnappers, Edo State Government have the will to pull down the house with no apology and it will be in obedience to the lawful provisions of the law duly enacted in the Edo State House of Assembly. Anyone who can not take the heat, should never go near the kitchen, so if anyone does not want his/her property to be destroyed, then they should not allow kidnappers to use it as a den for kidnapping. It should be made clear that if any suspect was not arraigned to court, that means the person came out successfully
“However, ignorance of the law is no excuse. What the law ensures is that landlords must know the jobs their tenants do. There is no reason why a landlord will give his house to four (4) young men who have flashy cars, none of them is working for multi-nationals or CBN. If they are caught for kidnapping, that landlord’s house will be destroyed without appeal.”
from the police. It is very evident that since the administration of Edo State Government and his appointees, no body have collected any bribe to release accuses persons, rather, it is always the duty of the government at all time to ensure that offenders are punished. Victims of kidnappers have the legal duty not only to report to police but to testify against suspects; that is the only way perpetual kidnappings would be discouraged. However, when they don’t speak out, kidnappers are bold to kidnap the next person. There is a task before the ministry of justice to persuade, and cause people to come and testify and reluctancy to testify is what make the case of kidnapping slow in the law court. The public should do their bit to make sure that kidnappers do not go back to the society and kidnap other persons. However, ignorance of the law is no excuse. What the law ensures is that landlords must know the jobs their tenants do. There is no reason why a landlord will give his house to four (4) young men who have flashy cars, none of them is working for multinationals or CBN. If they are caught for kidnapping, that landlord’s house will be destroyed without appeal. Although, there is no witness protection programme to ensure the safety of witnesses in Nigeria, the only thing the judicial workers could do is to convince witnesses to be bold and speak. However, in America, they have a witness protection programme, because they know that the mafia you have testified against can hurt you. They even go to the extent of doing facial surgery to protect you but not in Nigeria. This protection council should have been under the Attorney General’s office. In conclusion, the Edo State Government is a special, unique and concise government who would always protect the lives of it citizens and continue to warn kidnappers and other crime offenders to desist from it or they will be caught up by the law.
Archival Matters
Criminals Road To Armageddon
THERE is one thing the media must be commended for. It is reporting copiously on crime as a social responsibility to society. If only these reports are studied, people would realize that criminality is the ultimate road to selfdestruction and Armageddon. One of such reports was published recently on the busy front page of “the Nation” of September 4, 2014. Behold, a herbalist called Ajana Onyibor (68) with all his charms was still arrested by the police in Anambra State. He confessed to being the spiritual adviser to a gang of armed robbers and kidnappers. In their last outing they were demanding for N100m ransom from a victim before the police swooped on them. The paradox in the story is that the herbalist was nabbed in his shrine in Igbankwu also used for keeping kidnap victims. So, if charms can fail to save a criminally –minded herbalist, then of what value are such charms to criminals? The answer is simple. Charms don’t add value to criminality. They only give a person false protection. This is because there is really no charm that guarantees you freedom from the arms of the law when you infringes it. For instance, here again is a story about how charms misled a herbalist into crime for which he was arrested by the police. On July 10, 2014. The nation informed us that a herbalist, Mr. Sunday Asika, collected N500,000 from a client John Nwosu who wanted him to prepare a business charm for his brother in South African. The charm didn’t work. So John Nwosu on his brother’s instruction, demanded a refund from the herbalist.’
By MICHAEL ODIGBE
What happened later? The herbalist killed John Nwosu and buried him in a sitting position on November 6, 2013 in the village of Obinabo in Anambra State. The icing of the story is that the herbalist is in the police net. Yet, he used to be so boastful about his charms. Now, let’s come back home to our Edo State. About five days after the Nation carried the story of the arrested herbalist Sunday Asika in Anambra State, a similar scenario played out in Edo State the police commissioner in the state, Foluso Adebanjo on July 25, 2014 paraded 46 suspects involved in one hideous crime or the other,. Among the suspects was Mr. Joseph Otoide, a herbalist from Ubiaja town in the state. He confessed to receiving stolen cars for resale to unsuspecting buyers. Also he told police investigators that he had given N70,000 as an advance payment to car snatchers for another stolen car before his arrest. Alas, his charms failed him. In the command’s police cell- now aware that Armageddon had come for him- he transformed into a canary, lachrymose song bird bemoaning his lot. He began to sing tearfully of the evil of crime in a croaky Ishan language. Two songs spilled from his drooping, listless lips. In the first song, he lamented his ordeal in the cell. And, in the second one, he sermonized to other herbalists to be cautious in all they do by keeping away from crime. Finally, he said “Any tin when person get, make di person manage am. E no good for a person
to commit crime. E no good at all. One day police must catch you”. Jeje Kariuwa, the wizard of Igbinse and a great herbalist was wiser. In his biography written by late Dr. J.O Mume (Ph.D in Natural Medicine), the Urhobo herbalist recounted how he acted as a
Dr. J. O Mume rehabilitated him at his hospital. It was here Jeja Kariuwa was employed as healing/ spiritual consultant in charge of patients with unconventional ailments. During his lifetime, he used his vast knowledge of esoteric science to help people with “home troubles”, he died a happy herbalist unlike other ones
bullets. But these charm soon failed him. He was arrested in Benin City with his right foot battered with police bullets as he tried to escape from a building where he was holed up with a bevy of girls. At the time of his arrest, charms were wound around one of his ankles and waist. Well, this is first part of the ANINI saga. In the second and final part, he was begging for pardon from the society he gave sleepless nights during his reign of terror. People wondered at his pronouncement because they though that with all his charms he would disappear
Folunso Adebanjo, Edo State Commissioner of Police
spiritual adviser to criminals while he was living in Igbinse town in Yoruba land in the seventies. However, his conscience soon pricked him. There after he turned his back on the pastime when he met Dr. J.O Mume. After genuine penance and spiritual self detoxification,
making charms for criminals, today. Now remember ANINI, the notorious armed robbery gang leader who terrorized Bendel State in the eighties. He had charms allegedly imbued with the dual functions of making him disappear and invincible to
“So, if charms can fail to save a criminally –minded herbalist, then of what value are such charms to criminals? The answer is simple. Charms don’t add value to criminality. They only give a person false protection. This is because there is really no charm that guarantees you freedom from the arms of the law when you infringes it.”
from police custody to reappear in his home town Orogho in Orhionmwon Local Government Council Area in today’s Edo State. This never happened. ANINI and his cohorts were subsequently tried and condemned to death by firing squad. Still, all the herbalists they recruited to save them couldn’t do so. Finally, they were brought to the firing range to be executed. ANINI and Osunbor his second –inhand, were a sorry sight be behold on his fateful day. They looked frightened and had to rely, on a cigarette, shared between them, for psychological support, before the end came in a hail
of bullets. All their charms failed them. In the same vein, charms didn’t work for a man popularly called KILLER in Edo North Senatorial District of Edo State. He was into diabolical practices which included ritual killings and digging up corpses to harvest bones as well as body parts from burial grounds. One day, he met his waterloo, in the early part of the millennium Anonymous youths in his clan (name withheld) pounced on him for involvement in the ritual killing of a six year old child. Before the police arrived the scene, he was set ablaze in the clan’s market square. And he burnt like a heap of papers soaked in petrol. No charm saved him. Yet, here was a man who could hold a conversation with people from a distance using a charm he got from Idah town in Benue State. Once again, the Nation of July 10, 2014 informed us that three Hausa men with charmed monkeys in port Harcourt swept through Ikoku, an area in the city. One of the Hausa men consciously used his own monkey to touch a broken down vehicle. Incredible!!. The vehicle owner’s N500,000 vanished into thin air. He raised an alarm. A crowd gave chase. It recovered N100,000 from the Hausa man piloting the monkey that touched the vehicle. Thereafter, the monkey were shot dead by the police while the three Hausa men were arrested. Indeed, there is no charm that hinder police work. Last Line Vanguard of August 27, 2014 reported how a ritualist touched a teenage girl with a charm in Bauchi town. She immediately collapsed but promptly, also; he was apprehended by a crowd and handed over to the police. From the foregoing, therefore, it is high time criminals realize that charms cannot save them, Never. Hear Prof. Wole Soyinka in his poem Abiku: “I am Abiku calling for the first and repeated time. Yams do not sprout in charms to whet Abiku’s feet; “Who is this Abiku? Find that out yourself if you are an unrepentant criminal.
Science
With Oyakhilome Clementina
Characteristics Of Classification Dicotyledonous Plant Of Crops THEY have one main root which is the tap root and other lateral roots. They have two colyledons which sprouts out during the seed germination. They stem they produce are usually branched.
Because they are dicotyle donous plants their leaves have not venation. They have broad shaped leaves with narrow petiole. They undergo epigeal germination, the flowers they produce are usually in fours, or fives or multiples of four and five.
Differences Between Monocotyledonous And Dicotybedonous Seed
Germination
Pollination Flowers Leaves Stem
Root
Monocotyledonous plant It has only one seed that do not split into two during the coarse of germination It exhibits hypogeal kind of germination a situation whereby the seeds remain below the soil level It is usually wind pollinated flowers hence not attractive They are usually green in colour and not do not have scent Their leaves are long and narrow with parallel venation When cut and viewed with a powerful micros cope, the vascular bundles are scatted randomly They have fibrous root system
Dicotyledonous Plant It has two seeds that split into two during the coarse of germination It exhibits epigeal kind of germination a situation whereby the seeds remain above the soil level It is usually insect pollinated flowers hence very attractive They are usually colourfull and have fine scent Their leaves are short and broad with net venation When cut and viewed with a powerful micros cope, the vascular bundles are arranged in a radial pattern like the spoke of wheel. They have tap root system
Crops are plants that are cultivated by man for various uses, the most important is for food. Crops can be classified according to their (A) Number of their cotyledons (B) Life cycle (C) Economic uses Classification based on economic use of crops They are mainly based sometimes on their main food content, like groundnut which is a legume of family leguminaceae is also an oil crop. Cereals They are grown mainly for their small edible seed. They belong to family graminae. Examples are maize millet, oat barley, guinea corn. They are highly rich in carbohydrate. But wheat and oat are highly rich in fibre, hence people these days especially old go for wheat flour instead of eba and pounded yam. Legumes They are crops grown mainly for their high protein level. They are known for nitrogen fixation because they have root nodules example is groundnut, co-opea, pigeon pea, soya beans and bambara, they belong to the family leguminoseae. Vegetables They are herbaceous plants they contain a lot of victims which is useful to the body examples are okro, water leaf, tomato, onions, lettuce, cabbage, garden egg and bitter leaf.
Society
Curbing The Growing Trend Of Promiscuity OVERTIME, promiscuity has been discovered to be a social vice that has been commonly associated with the human population. In a generic term, promiscuity is considered as a human sexual behaviour which involves the habit of having casual sex frequently with different partners. It is also considered as being indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners. This social vice is practiced among both sexes. A common example of behaviour viewed as promiscuous within the main stream of social ideals of many culture is a “one night stand”. Historically, stereotypes of the promiscuous woman have tended to be negative such as ‘sex worker’, while male stereotype have been more varied. Some expressing approval such as the ‘stud’ or the ‘player’ while others imply societal deviance such as a ‘womanizer’. Research has shown that women respond more negatively to casual sex than men. But the stigma that goes with promiscuous sexual behaviour is often branded with the woman than the men. In our society, it is fine for the men to be sexually promiscuous even indiscriminately. In an interview, Dr. Daniel Ekhareafo, a lecturer in University of Benin said “If you look at the history of creation uptill today, societies have always been patriarchal in nature, men have always been the ones that make the laws. Because men make the laws, the laws are meant to favour men to the detriment of the women.
By OMEIZA ROBINSON
“You may ask me, what do I mean by this? If you are familiar with the story of the adulterous woman, the Bible gave a picture of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery and they threatened to stone the woman to death. Nobody mentioned the man who committed the adulterous act, but the woman was the one that was the object. I will say the simple reason why men castigate women more is the fact that men are jealous of their own; so a man cannot afford to see another man share his wife but he can afford to go and look for other women outside. “So it is a case of, if you give opportunity to women to have multiple men friends, just as their husbands do, it is like you will destroy the value of the society, so a man is free to go outside but the women should stay so that the peace of the family can stay. So those laws were made by men. So society condemn women who are promiscuous without making reference to the men. Our tradition believes that men are free to have many wives but the woman cannot have more than one husband. That is why I said that we are a participial society where everything is based on what the men defines it to be”. In another interview with Barrister Obarisiagbon, who is also a psychologist and a lecturer in University of Benin, he told The NIGERIAN OBSERVER that “Unfortunately in our society the men are often more condoled when they
are sexually active. In other words, I am saying the cultural values that we have, gives the men the ‘go ahead’ subtly, to continue in sexual activities. “That is why at the local level, customary law level, a woman cannot file for a divorce on the ground of adultery because at the customary law level a man
go into sexual activities. Looking at the first point already made, I want to say that persons who have low self esteem are move likely to engage in multiple sexual activities or indiscriminate sex with multiple persons. Here the person has low self worth and he believes that in order to show that he is a man, he goes out looking for different women to have sex with. That is one of the
cannot commit adultery. It is only a women that can commit adultery. “So when you have such cultural values that a man cannot commit adultery, then it makes them to be more promiscuous. We would look at two basic cause, this relates to individuals who in a way have low self esteem and the other point of note is that there are some persons who in order to avoid depression,
cause. Then we can also begin to look at the way men are weird. It’s quite different from that of the women. Men are weird in such a way that just the looks make them to have thoughts in their mind. If a woman exposes her vital parts and the man sees it, something goes into his brain and immediately what next is sex. But for a woman, a woman can see 10 naked
“I will say the simple reason why men castigate women more is the fact that men are jealous of their own; so a man cannot afford to see another man share his wife but he can afford to go and look for other women outside.”
men just out there and would not have any sexual feelings. But for a man, just seeing the lap of a woman make him to have thoughts flying through his mind and he is more likely to go after such person. And then there is this feeling among men that the more sexual partners you have, you have arrived. And you see somebody in school or out there in town, these men who are promiscuous have a feeling that until they achieve multiple sexual relationship, they have not gotten to the stage they want. I personally believe that promiscuity has to do with
could include infidelity, rape, high risk of exposure to deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDs, and other STDs, early marriage and poverty among others. Barrister Obarisiagbon also added in his statement that “ The ultimate price for promiscuity is HIV/AIDs. A man who goes around having indiscriminate sex will do so in most cases without protecting himself or the partner and he is more likely to be infected with the virus HIV/AIDs, that is the ultimate price. “But besides that, you have several venereal diseases that are out there in town
the mental state of an individual, I feel it is a social psychological problem and such person needs advice from those who are in the position to attend to them”. Biologically, it has been proven that sexual hormones in men and women heightens sex drive. These hormones which are referred to as androgen in male and estrogen in females are present in both sexes. Overtime, it has become clear that androgen heighten sex drives in both sexes while estrogen do not further more, biologists have proven that male have ten times more circulating testosterone which is an androgen than women do, hence making the male folk most receptive to promiscuity. Promiscuity among men
like syphilis, gonorrhea, to mention but a few. When you have indiscriminate sex, you are more likely to be infected. When a man is promiscuous, there are two outlets for him to explore, he goes to the ‘call girls’ or he ordinarily would approach a girls and talk with a girl and maybe she agrees. But where the girl does not agree and he does not have the financial backing to go meet a ‘call girl’, then the only other outlet that is left is for him to go into raping of young ladies…” As the growing trend of promiscuity continues to unfold, it now behooves on society to either shawn this social rise that is beginning to eat deep into the fabrics of the society or keep condoning it.
International
DR Congo: Opposition Pledges More Protests Against Third Term
KINSHASA - Democratic Republic of Congo’s opposition pledged to escalate its campaign against a possible third term for President Joseph Kabila after police dispersed a protest march with teargas in the capital Kinshasa on Saturday. Anti-government protests were suppressed in at least three other towns, the opposition said. In Butembo, in the eastern province of North Kivu, police fired teargas and threw stones at protesters, according to Fabrice Kakubuzi, a local civil society coordinator.
Provincial authorities in Kinshasa refused to authorise the march in the capital, organised by a coalition of leading opposition groups, arguing they had already permitted another rally on Saturday and could not secure two of them. The international community has spent billions of dollars and deployed a
21,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo in the wake of a 19982003 civil war in which millions of people died mostly from starvation and disease. However, stability has remained elusive in the giant
nation at the heart of Africa and dozens of armed groups still prowl its mineral-rich east. Vital Kamerhe, president of the Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) opposition party, said that police had teargassed protesters near
Venezuela Arrests 64 For Anti-Maduro Protests
During a brief interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang last week, Miller said he had written a letter to President Barack Obama but had not received a reply. Fowle, a 56-year-old equipment operator for the city of Moraine, Ohio, said his wife, a hairstylist from Russia, made a written appeal on his behalf to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said the Russian government responded that it was watching the situation. The U.S. has repeatedly
offered to send its envoy for North Korean human rights issues, Robert King, to Pyongyang to seek the freedom of the detainees, but without success. Former President Bill Clinton came in 2009 to free a couple of jailed journalists. Jimmy Carter made the trip in 2010 to secure the release of Aijalon Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labor for illegally crossing into the country to do missionary work.
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s elite anti-terrorism squad arrested seven suspected militants, including four Turks believed to be planning to join a jihadist group in eastern Indonesia with possible links to the Islamic State group, police said yesterday. The four Turkish men were captured late Saturday in Parigi Moutong town in Central Sulawesi province on their way to Poso, a neighboring mountainous district considered to be Indonesia’s terrorist hotbed, said national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy
Rafli Amar. He said authorities were tipped to the men’s whereabouts after police arrested three Indonesian suspected militants hours earlier during a separate raid near Parigi Mountong to search for the country’s most wanted terrorist suspect, Abu Wardah Santoso. Police seized Islamic State symbols and documents in that raid, Amar said. Santoso is sought in connection with several attacks on Java island and Poso, where a MuslimChristian conflict killed at
least 1,000 people from 1998 to 2002. He also faces charges of running a terrorist training camp. Amar said that all of the suspects were flown to the capital, Jakarta, yesterday and that police were questioning them to determine their possible ties to terrorism and international jihadist groups. “We have strong indications that the four Turkish men are part of an international jihadist cell,” Amar said without elaborating.
• Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro attends the handover ceremony of the Secretary General of the Union of South America Nations (UNASUR) in Caracas recently.
N/Korea Sentences US Man To 6 Years Of Hard Labour PYONGYANG — North Korea’s Supreme Court yesterday sentenced a 24year-old American man to six years of hard labor for entering the country illegally and trying to commit espionage. At a trial that lasted about 90 minutes, the court said Matthew Miller, of Bakersfield, California, tore up his tourist visa at Pyongyang’s airport upon arrival on April 10 and admitted to having the “wild ambition” of experiencing prison life so that he could secretly investigate North Korea’s human rights situation. Miller, who waived the right to a lawyer, was handcuffed and led from the courtroom after his sentencing. The court ruled that it would not hear any appeals to its decision. Earlier, it had been believed that Miller had sought asylum
when he entered North Korea. During the trial, however, the prosecution argued that it was a ruse and that Miller also falsely claimed to have secret information about the U.S. military in South Korea on his iPad and iPod. Miller is one of three Americans now being held in North Korea. A trial is expected soon for Jeffrey Fowle, who entered the North as a tourist but was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at a provincial club. The third American, KoreanAmerican missionary Kenneth Bae, is serving out a 15-year sentence for alleged “hostile acts.” All three have appealed to the U.S. government to send a senior statesman to Pyongyang to intervene on their behalf.
gusts of 160 kph (99 mph), blew into the boundary of Cagayan and Isabela provinces yesterday. It was forecast to barrel northwestward through the mountainous north at 22 kph (14 mph) before blowing out Tuesday into the South China Sea.
monsoon winds that whipped up big waves and caused a stalled ferry to sink in the central Philippines late Saturday. Cargo and passenger ships plucked at least 110 survivors from the rough waters and recovered three bodies after the ferry sank.
Typhoon Slams Into Northeastern MANILA - A fast-moving The storm has been typhoon has slammed into Philippines blamed for enhancing the northeastern Philippines, sparking warnings of possible landslides, flash floods and storm surges. Government forecasters say Typhoon Kalmaegi, with sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (81 miles per hour) and
CARACAS - Venezuelan security forces have arrested 64 people during renewed demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro’s government in the capital as well as the city of Barquisimeto, a rights group said on Saturday. The detentions came on Friday when mostly student demonstrators organized protests to coincide with seven months since the Feb. 12 start of a major wave of demonstrations. “The protests have died down but are still sporadic, as we saw yesterday. Obviously the discontent continues,”
Alfredo Romero, head of the Penal Forum group, told Reuters, saying 47 people were arrested in Caracas and 17 in Barquisimeto. The Venezuelan government has not given figures for arrests on Friday, but Maduro ordered police and National Guard troops to show zero tolerance toward any so-called troublemakers. The successor to the late Hugo Chavez says the protests are promoted by opposition politicians and backed by the United States to destabilize his socialist government. “We are not going to have even a minimum of tolerance with the protests ... I will have no hesitation in ensuring peace and justice, which is what the people want,” Maduro said in a speech on Friday night, referring to the latest flare-ups. Images on social media showed masked protesters facing off with security forces who fired tear gas - a common image earlier in the year during the violent clashes that rocked the South American OPEC nation daily between February and May. Since then, there have only been the occasional small protest, with anti-Maduro activists’ hopeful talk of promoting a “Venezuelan Spring” evaporating.
Pakistan Militant Attack On Army Fort Kills 3 THREE paramilitary soldiers were killed when a group of militants launched a rocket attack on a mountain fort in Pakistan’s troubled northwest early yesterday, security officials said. The midnight attack took place in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan tribal district on the Afghan border, where the military launched a major offensive against the Taliban and other insurgents in June. Officials said both military and paramilitary troops were inside the well-protected fort at the time. “An unknown number of militants started firing rocketpropelled grenades from all sides. Three FC (Frontier Corps) men embraced martyrdom when one of the rockets landed inside the fort,” an official in Peshawar said. The attack was apparently staged in revenge for the ongoing military operation, he added. An intelligence official confirmed the attack and the casualties. Pakistan began a longawaited push to clear insurgent bases from North Waziristan after a bloody raid on Karachi airport finally sank faltering peace talks with the rebels.
Kinshasa’s central train station. Several protesters were injured or arrested by police, he said. Opposition supporters had voiced anger after UNC General Secretary JeanBertrand Ewanga was sentenced to one year in prison on Thursday for insulting Kabila at a protest
in August. Authorities accused Ewanga of inciting tribal tensions by demanding at the rally that Kabila return to Rwanda when his second term expires in 2016 — repeating an opposition accusation that the president was born in Congo’s tiny eastern neighbour. “We know that they have imprisoned Ewanga but they haven’t imprisoned the spirit of Ewanga,” Kamerhe said, vowing more protests.
Indonesia Nabs 4 With Suspected Islamic State Ties
International Cameron Chairs Emergency Meeting
Islamist Threat: LONDON/EDINBURGH Prime Minister David Cameron chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency response committee yesterday under growing pressure to sanction air strikes after an Islamic State video showed the beheading of a British hostage. Footage of the murder of David Haines by IS militants fighting in Iraq and Syria means Cameron, who is also trying to persuade Scotland to reject independence in a referendum on Thursday, is under pressure to get much tougher with IS. He has said he isn’t ruling out any options to degrade IS, with the exception of putting boots on the ground, but is facing increasingly loud calls from
• David Cameron, British Prime Minister
Uganda Foils Imminent Terrorist Plot KAMPALA - Ugandan security forces stopped a cell of Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents apparently “planning for an imminent attack,” the US embassy has said. Arrests were made, police said, in raids two weeks after Ugandan troops, fighting in Somalia, reportedly provided intelligence that helped US special forces kill the Shebab’s chief in a devastating air strike. “Ugandan authorities reported the discovery of an Al-Shebab terrorist cell in Kampala,” the US embassy said in a statement, adding that forces were working to see “whether there are members of the cell still at large.” Citizens were urged to stay at home on Saturday. “We remain in close contact with our Ugandan counterparts as investigations continue into what appears to have been planning for an imminent attack,” the US added. Police spokesman Fred Enanga said forces had “made arrests” but gave no details of how many people had been detained. “Joint security agencies in Uganda have foiled a terrorist attempt at one of its installations,” Enanga told AFP, without giving any further information. Security forces have boosted patrols around major sites, the US said, in a warning statement to its citizens in the east African nation. “At this point we are not aware of specific targets, and the Ugandan authorities
have increased security at key sites, including Entebbe International Airport,” the embassy said. - ‘Retaliatory attacks’ Last Monday the US embassy warned that Shebab insurgents may try to exact revenge for a US air strike that killed the militant group’s commander. “Stay alert to the ongoing potential for terrorist attacks in Uganda,” it said. “We also caution US citizens of the possibility of retaliatory attacks in Uganda by Al-Shebab in response to the US and Ugandan military actions in Somalia last week which killed AlShebab leader Ahmed Godane.” Uganda’s government said the country — a major contributor to AMISOM, the African Union (AU) force fighting the Shebab — was “happy” at death of Godane, and had provided the US with key intelligence on his whereabouts.
Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said immigration officers had carried out an “operation on illegal immigrant workers in different parts of Kampala” on Saturday morning, with 69 people arrested. It was not clear if the raids were connected. The Shebab insurgents have claimed recent attacks in Kenya and Djibouti, and at home in Somalia. During the World Cup final four years ago, Shebab insurgents killed at least 76 people after setting off explosions that ripped through two restaurants in Kampala. In July, the US embassy warned of a “specific threat” by an unknown group to attack Entebbe international airport, which serves the capital Kampala. It also warned its citizens of a general threat of attacks which could target hotels,
restaurants, clubs, malls, diplomatic missions, government buildings and transport. The Shebab claimed responsibility for the assault on the Westgate shopping centre that killed at least 67 people in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in September last year as well as for attacks on coastal regions. The strike against Godane came days after AU troops and Somali government forces launched “Operation Indian Ocean”, a major offensive aimed at seizing key ports from the Shebab and cutting off multi-million dollar exports of charcoal, one of their key revenue sources. AU troops in Somalia said Saturday in a statement they had attacked a Shebab base in the south of the war-torn country, inflicting “heavy losses” on the extremists, including killing several foreign fighters. It was not possible to independently verify the report.
some of his own Conservative lawmakers and from former military chiefs to join the United States in launching air strikes. Cameron’s last attempt to get the British parliament to back such air strikes, against Syria last year, ended in failure when lawmakers voted against such action. With Scotland his domestic priority, he is aware that many Scots have traditionally been more skeptical of British military action overseas and that proposing air strikes now could risk alienating them before Thursday’s independence vote. Cameron, who returned to London ahead of schedule on Saturday night to chair the emergency meeting, has called the murder of Haines, a 44 yearold Scottish aid worker, an act of pure evil and vowed to bring his killers to justice. “This is a despicable and appalling murder of an innocent aid worker,” he said in a statement on Saturday. “We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice, however long it takes.” Britain’s Foreign Office said the video showed “all signs” of being genuine. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage, but the images were consistent with those of the filmed executions of two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, in the past month. Haines’s executioner appears to be the same man who featured in videos with Foley and Sotloff. The man, nicknamed “Jihadi John” by Western media, seems
to have a British accent. At the end of the same video, another hostage is shown and threatened. Security services in Britain have been trying to identify the executioner. A British security source speaking on condition of anonymity said an investigation was underway into the killings and that senior intelligence officials had attended the meeting of the COBR emergency committee that Cameron chaired. The source declined to go into detail about what, if any, progress the investigation had made. Faced with the rise of IS, Britain has so far confined itself to delivering humanitarian aid, carrying out surveillance, arming Kurdish forces who are fighting IS militants and promising training in Iraq. On military action, London supports U.S. air strikes while keeping its own options open. Sir Richard Dannatt, former head of the British army, said on Sunday IS executions should not deter the government from taking military action against the militants.
CHANGE OF NAME ABU – I formerly known as Miss Abu Fatimah now wish to be known as Mrs. Braimah Abu Fatimah. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, NYSC and the general public please take note.
LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE EDO STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY BENIN CITY WHEREAS the persons whose names as set out in the first column hereunder died testate on the date and at the place stated in the column; AND WHEREAS the persons whose names, addresses and claimed relationship to the deceased are set in the second column hereunder have applied to the Probate Registrar, High Court of Justice, Edo State of Nigeria for a grant of Letters of Administration of the real and personal property of the deceased. NOTICE IS BY THIS GIVEN that Letters of Administration Will Annexed be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE to prohibit the grant is filed in this Registry within Twenty-One (21) days from the date of the publication of this notice. NO
NAMES
1.
Pa Sunday O. Faluyi, late of Benin City Oredo L.G.A. who died on the 3rd day of January, 2014 in Benin City
APPLICANTS FOR GRANT PED/258/2014: Chief Joseph E. Ogieva and Mr. Joseph Ohenzuwa of No. 49, Aruosa Street, Benin City, cousin and nephew respectively of the Deceased.
DATED THIS 12TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2014.
• Ugandian soldiers and police patrol streets of Kampala
SIGNED H.I. ENEMAKU, ESQ. PROBATE REGISTRAR
International Features
Coalition Must Battle Islamic State, Others - Sisi
EGYPTIAN President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that any global coalition against terrorism should battle not just Islamic State but other groups as well, the presidency said on Saturday. Egyptian security officials have said Islamic State has established contacts with Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, the country’s most dangerous militant group, which has killed hundreds of security forces since the army toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi last year after mass protests against him. Egypt would certainly welcome strong action against Ansar as well as Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which it has declared a terrorist group. Sisi said any international coalition to combat terrorism “should be comprehensive and not exclusively target a specific organization or eradicate a certain terrorist hotspot”, the presidency said in a statement. “Rather, the coalition should extend to encompass combating terrorism wherever it exists in the Middle East and African regions.” Sisi also expressed concerns about foreign fighters in Islamic State and the danger they posed to their home countries because of Western passports that can get get them through airports undetected. The statement added that Sisi “warned of the repercussions from the involvement of foreign militants in ongoing regional conflicts”. Egypt’s foreign minister, backing Washington’s call for global action to counter the
threat, said earlier in a news conference with Kerry that Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria were forging ties with other extremist groups in the region. Militant groups that share Islamic State’s ideology and “take Islam as a cover” must be dealt with, said Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri. Egypt’s strong public support for the U.S. campaign against Islamic State contrasts with a mixed response elsewhere in the region and demonstrates how far Cairo has come in restoring its place as a premier U.S. partner in the Arab world since its authoritarian crackdown and military takeover last year. “We will take all measures that are intended to eliminate this phenomenon altogether, whether in Libya or any other part of the Arab world or in the African continent in particular,” Shukri said. Egypt’s call for international action gives a needed boost to Kerry’s bid to build global support for President Barack Obama’s plan to strike both sides of the Syrian-Iraqi frontier and defeat Islamic State Sunni fighters. Kerry won backing on Thursday for a “coordinated military campaign” against Islamic State from 10 Arab countries - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and six Gulf states including rich rivals Saudi Arabia and Qatar. But the specific role of many countries in the coalition remains unclear. Few have publicly committed to military action or other steps, particularly in Syria where a three-year civil war still rages. Europe’s response has been mixed. But Islamic State stirred
new outrage on Saturday with a video purporting to show the beheading of British aid worker David Haines. British Prime Minister David Cameron called it “a despicable and appalling murder,” and vowed to bring the killers to justice. Egypt’s role is potentially crucial. Egyptian security officials fear they face a threat from Egyptian militants based across the border in Libya and from the Sinaibased Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. Both are linked to or inspired by Islamic State. Islamic State, fighting to redraw the map of the Middle East, has been coaching Ansar, which has carried out bombings and shootings, a senior Ansar commander told Reuters this month. “Ultimately this extremist ideology is shared by all terrorist groups. We detect ties of cooperation between them and see a danger as it crosses borders,” said Shukri. At the news conference, Kerry suggested Egypt, regarded as an intellectual hub in the Arab world, could exert enormous influence in countering Islamic State’s ideology from its sheer size as the Arab world’s most populous state to its powerful clerics. The United States wants Egypt to use its leading Islamic authority Al-Azhar, a 1,000-year-old seat of religious learning, to send a message of moderation across the Middle East to counter Islamic State’s extremist ideology. “As an intellectual and cultural capital of the Muslim
world, Egypt has a critical role to play in publicly renouncing the ideology ISIL disseminates,” said Kerry,
Obama’s plan to fight Islamic State simultaneously in Iraq and Syria thrusts the United States directly into the
concerned about strengthening Kurds in Iraq and Syria. Lebanese Foreign Minister
US Secretary of State John Kerry (left), listens while Egyptian President Abdel Fattah alSisi talks before a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Cairo recently.
referring to the group by its former name Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Kerry’s message in Cairo came two days after he urged Gulf Arab foreign ministers to suppress all financing of Islamic State, including private money in countries such as Qatar and Kuwait where U.S. officials say enforcement has been weak. The United States called on each country to work with clerics to convey a message that Islamic State’s ideas are contrary to Islam, and to use their influence on regional television stations to broadcast anti-extremist programming.
midst of two different wars, in which nearly every country in the region has a stake against the backdrop of Islam’s 1,300-year-old rift between Sunnis and Shi’ites. Islamic State is made up of Sunni militants, who are fighting a Shi’ite-led government in Iraq and a government in Syria led by members of a Shi’ite offshoot sect. In Syria, Turkey has backed mainly Sunni rebels fighting against President Bashar alAssad. Although it is alarmed by Islamic State’s rise, Turkey is wary about any military action that might weaken Assad’s foes, and is
“Kerry’s message in Cairo came two days after he urged Gulf Arab foreign ministers to suppress all financing of Islamic State, including private money in countries such as Qatar and Kuwait where U.S. officials say enforcement has been weak. The United States called on each country to work with clerics to convey a message that Islamic State’s ideas are contrary to Islam, and to use their influence on regional television stations to broadcast anti-extremist programming.”
Gebran Bassil told Reuters some Arab states at talks in Jeddah on Thursday had proposed expanding the campaign to fight other Islamist groups besides Islamic State, a move Turkey would also probably oppose. Egypt would welcome any move that would further isolate the Muslim Brotherhood, which has faced one of the fiercest crackdowns in its history. Egyptian authorities have killed hundreds of members and jailing thousands of others. Qatar has asked seven senior figures from Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to leave the country, the movement said on Saturday, following months of pressure on the Gulf Arab state from its neighbours to stop backing the Islamists. On Monday, Kerry will attend a conference in Paris that will bring Iraqi authorities together with 15 to 20 international players. The talks come ahead of a U.N. Security Council ministerial meeting on September. 19 and a heads of state meeting at the U.N. General Assembly later this month. (Courtesy Reuters)
Religion “The bible make us understand that God is not very much interested in our money, material gift and other earthly things, but our true worship. It is only by our true worshp with true mind and heart that we can move God to do something unimaginable for us.”
What Is True Worship?
NOWADAYS, where abnormality has become normality even in christiandom it’s difficult to ascertain what actually constitutes true worship! The word “worship” as a spiritual discipline means to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission (Webster’s dictionary). True worship, in other words, is defined by the priority we as individuals place on who God is in our lives and where God is on our list of priorities. It is a matter of the heart expressed through a lifestyle of holiness. Thus, if your lifestyle does not express the beauty of holiness through an extravagant or exaggerated love for God, and you do not live in extreme or excessive submission to God, then I invite you to make worship a non-negotiable priority in your life. The Apostle Paul described true worship perfectly in Romans 12:1-2 “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and prefect”. Looking at this passage, it contains all the elements of true worship to a large extent. First, there is the motivation
By KINGSLEY MBADUGHA
to worship. “The mercies of God”. God’s mercies are everything and he has given us that we don’t deserve, that include, enternal love, enternal grace, the Holy Spirit, everlasting peace, enternal joy, saving faith, comfort, strength, wisdom, hope, patience, justification, reconciliation, freedom, sanctification, intercession and much more. Also in the passage is a description of the manner of our worship. “It says present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice”. In presenting our bodies, we should understand that there is no exception, that is to say that we are going to give God all of ourselves that is the body, mind and soul. Giving God the totality of our humanners is what Apostle Paul was talking about. In other words, we are to give up control of these things and turn them over to God.
The person of God Some people sometimes asked who are actually worship and why we worship him. The answer is simple, we worship God because he is God, period. He is our maker, our creator, the reason for our existence. If any one comes up to you with such question just tell him/her that the only person that made his existence possible is God. That will the person understand that our extragant love and extreme submission to the Holy one flours out of the reality that God loved us first and it is highly appropriate to thank him for all the things he has done for us. However, true worship is shallow if it is solely an acknowledgment of God’s word. Psalm 96:5-6 says, “for all the gods of the nations are idols, but the lord made the heavens. Splendor and
majesty are before him, strength and glory are in his sanctuary. In other words, our worship must be toward the one who is worthy simply because of his attributes as the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent one, and not just because God is wealthy and able to meet all our needs and answer our prayers. We must concentrate and focus our practice or worship on the worthiness of God and not his wealthiness. Lets we forget, we are talking about true worship; now think about this, would you continue to worship God if from this day forward, God’s miraculous signs and wonders were not so profoundily evident in your life? Would God still be worthy of your worship? Or is your worship completely dependent upon the abundance of God’s blessings upon your life? Do you only worship God for what he can
do for you? There are questions we should be asking ourselves. For one to give God a true worship, his/her level of faith must be strong. You cannot give what you don’t have so ask yourselves the category you belong, whether you will seize to worship God when things isn’t going well with you or the other way round. The promise of worship It is because of our God’s unimaginable generosity toward us, God in all of his glory, chooses to respond to us through our worship. This is the promise, that when we worship God with extravagant love and extreme submission, God will come and commune with us. The bible make us understand that God is not very much interested in our money, material gift and other earthly things, but our true worship. It is only by our true worshp with true mind and heart that we can move God to do something unimaginable for us. The promise is not that we will feel great or that our heavy load will be lifted, but that God will come. And when he comes in his own time as a response to our worship, psalm 96:13 declares, “let all creation rejoice before the lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness”. In line with this, when we worship our God, he will inspect our hearts first; the other benefits that we tend to expect because we lift our feeble hands and shout with our weak voices are worthless if our hearts are not right with God. There is a saying that it you must come with equity, you must come with clean
“Lets we forget, we are talking about true worship; now think about this, would you continue to worship God if from this day forward, God’s miraculous signs and wonders were not so profoundily evident in your life? Would God still be worthy of your worship? Or is your worship completely dependent upon the abundance of God’s blessings upon your life”.
hand and for that reason one who is yet to acknowledge his disobedience to God which is sins cannot make a true worship. Brethrens, we must not forget that when we offer God our true worship, we are inviting him to inspect our hearts for anything that is not like him. This is the promise of worship, that we can be transformed into God’s likeness because he will reveal the truth about the condition of our hearts as we worship him. John Mac Arthur said “I’m afraid that most people come to church for what they can get. There are some people, who just check the church page or programmes for Sunday fellowship and see who is going to preach, play or sing. If you can come to church for what you can get out of the music, or what you can get out the sermon, if you come to church for the fact that you are like to get blessed, you have missed the point. Because we’re here to worship God and that’s giving not getting. We have come to offer something, not to receive”. It is only with this kind of mindset that the promise of been transformed into God’s likeness will be feasible. God is not a man that we can deceive and for that reason there is a need for us to renew our mind. We do daily by cleansing our mind of the world’s “wisdom” and replacing it with true wisdom that comes from God. A true worship is worship with our renewed and cleanses minds, not with our emotions. Emotions are wonderful things but unless they are shaped by a mind saturated in truth they can be destructive, out of control forces. There is only one way to renew our minds, and that is by the word of God. It is the truth, the knowledge of the word of God, which is to say the knowledge of the mercies of God and we’re back where we began. To know the truth, to believe the truth, to love the truth, to hold convictions about the truth will naturally result in true worship. Christians should never underestimate the importance of the worship of God in their lives.
Casillas Accepts Fans Whistles After Real MadridheLoss told his postmatch news
REAL Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has told Canal Plus the fans were “entitled to complain” after he was whistled at the Bernabeu during the 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid. Casillas and Karim Benzema were the focal point of the frustration from a significant portion of the supporters during the derby defeat, which leaves the European champions — who were also beaten by Atletico in the Super Cup — with three points from their opening three games. “The fans are disappointed with the team and a defeat for Madrid hurts them as much as it hurts us,” Casillas said, according to AS. “We’re disappointed for the club and for the supporters. We didn’t play as well as we needed to and it was the same situation in San Sebastian against Real Sociedad.” He added: “The fans’ views are to be respected. If they feel the need to whistle then
we need to accept this and keep working hard. We need to change the dynamic. They’re entitled to complain and my way of responding is the only way I know — playing football.” Atletico were once again able to hurt Real through their use of set-pieces, and Casillas — whose place in the team is under threat from new signing Keylor Navas — said he accepted his part in the defeat. “I understand the paranoia that we are suffering as we’re conceding goals from deadballs and as goalkeeper I accept responsibility,” he said. “I’ll take my portion of the blame. We as a team, however, need to find the answers as the problems are starting to accumulate.” Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, though, insisted Casillas was not to blame for Tiago’s opening goal. “When you lose a goal at the near post, the last one responsible is the keeper,”
Ancelotti Defends His Tactics, Blames Real’s Lack Of Intensity REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his side’s lack of intensity and energy, not tactical failings, were to blame for Saturday night’s 21 La Liga defeat to local neighbours Atletico Madrid. Madrid went behind early when conceding yet another set-piece goal, hit back through a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, but were then outplayed during the closing stages as Atletico deservedly sealed a second consecutive La Liga derby win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu through Arda Turan’s smartly taken 15 yard strike. The result came after Madrid had also lost the preseason Super Cup to their neighbours, and also in the wake of an embarrassing 42 defeat at Real Sociedad’s Estadio Anoeta in La Liga last time out, meaning Los Blancos now have just three points from their first three 2014-15 games. The Italian coach told his
• Carlo Ancelotti
post match news conference that this was not a crisis situation, but some hard work and self-analysis was now required from his players. “We played well in first half, not so good in second half, just like Anoeta,” Ancelotti said. “In second half our rhythm dropped. To beat Atletico you need intensity, we had that first half when we made chances. In this moment, we are paying for making small errors. That happens sometimes in football, things do not go for you. “We reacted very well to their goal and used a lot of energy to equalise. We paid for that a bit in the second half. “I am concerned as it’s clear that our start to the season has not been good. Fortunately it has only begun. The situation was the same last year and we fixed it with hard work and self-criticism.” Carlo Ancelotti said a lack of energy and intensity cost Real Madrid against Atletico on Saturday. The defeat again drew attention to Madrid having sold midfield workers Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria during the summer transfer window, with new galacticos James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos struggling when Atletico turned the screw towards the end of the game. Ancelotti denied that he needed to change the 4-3-3 system, which worked well with Alonso and Di Maria last year, or else play without so many attack-minded players in his XI.
conference. Ancelotti also claimed he “didn’t hear” any whistling directed at the goalkeeper. “I don’t know if he was whistled,” he added. “I’m focused on the game, thinking about tactics, not what’s happening in the stands.” Ancelotti had said he could not understand the fans’ whistles when they were directed at Cristiano Ronaldo during a match in March this year.
• Rio Ferdinand (right) and John Terry
Race Row
‘Rio Ferdinand Cannot Forgive John Terry’ RIO Ferdinand finds it “impossible to forgive” John Terry over his handling of the racism row involving his brother Anton but would still have been prepared to play alongside Terry for England if he had been given the chance. Ferdinand and Terry became estranged after the Blues skipper used racist language towards Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match between QPR and Chelsea in November 2011. Terry was banned for four matches by the Football Association in relation to the incident, having been cleared of any wrongdoing in an earlier court case. Writing in his new autobiography “#2sides,” serialised in The Sun on Sunday, Rio Ferdinand hit out at Terry for not holding his hands up to his error and for never apologising directly to him or his brother. “For me, the biggest idiot will always be John Terry,” he said. “As England captain and my centre-back partner, he could have saved every-
• Badstuber
one a lot of pain by admitting immediately that he had used the words in the heat of the moment but was no racist. “I think that’s probably what happened and what the truth is. Anton and I would’ve accepted that — instead, he never gave us the chance. I’ve never actually spoken to John about the case. I no longer talk to him, but even three years later I find it impossible to forgive or forget the pain he put my family through.” Ferdinand said the incident led to Anton receiving death threats and to their mother having her windows smashed, receiving bullets in the post and ending up in hospital due to a stress-related virus. “We weren’t best mates, but we were football bud-
dies,” he added of his relationship with Terry prior to the racism incident. “Yet he just sat there and watched as my brother went through all that because of his stupidity. That was the betrayal. He tried to run away from what he’d done.” The former Manchester United defender, now with QPR, officially called time on his international career in May 2013, having not played for his country since 2011, but he insisted he would have had no problem playing alongside Terry despite the off-field issue. “Strange as it might sound, I would’ve been happy to play for England alongside him,” the 35-year-old added. “I’ve played with people I
didn’t like for years. There were some at Manchester United I wouldn’t go for a drink with, call or text, but I played with them. “The England coach Roy Hodgson should have at least asked: ‘Could you play with John Terry?’ If I said ‘No’, then OK, one of us is out of the equation. They can pick the other. But that conversation never took place. It could all have been handled much better.” Ferdinand also spoke of the end of his childhood friendship with Ashley Cole after the former England left-back spoke for Terry in court, saying the brothers heard the news through their lawyers and felt betrayed by Cole.
Bayern Munich Confirm Badstuber Injury Setback BAYERN Munich have announced that defender Holger Badstuber is facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a
thigh injury. Badstuber, 25, had returned to training in May after 17 months out following an anterior cruciate ligament injury and had made three appearances for Bayern in the Bundesliga and one in the DFB-Pokal so far this season. However, he sustained a tendon tear in his thigh during the 2-0 victory over Stuttgart on Saturday and Bayern announced on their official Twitter account that he is “set to be out for a long period again.” Badstuber told Bayern’s official website: “I am very disappointed right now, but I also have learnt how to cope with such a situation. But no worries — I will be back, and will then continue where I was now after my long injury break. I’m not giving up.”
Jose Mourinho Hails Diego Costa As ‘A Special Player’
CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho hailed Diego Costa as “a special player” after he fired a hattrick in the 4-2 win against Swansea to take his tally to seven goals in just four games since his summer arrival from Atletico Madrid. Costa’s goals dragged power and quality for their Chelsea out of a tricky po- rivals if they maintain their sition as they fell behind to focus for longer periods in a confident Swansea side games. “It is difficult to stop our at Stamford Bridge, with Mourinho oozing with team, not just Diego [Costa],” he added. “In praise for his lead striker. “He is a special player,” said Mourinho. “He is one of the best strikers in football at this moment. We have an attacking team, a team that creates a lot and we have a team that creates a lot of chances for a striker. “Seven goals is a surprise. No one expects one player to score seven goals in four matches, without penalties. It is fantastic. “Everyone was expecting him to be comfortable and to adapt to our Premier League, but to score seven goals is a fantastic record.” Mourinho went on to suggest his Chelsea team will have a little too much • Cesc Fabregas
these four games, we have had some good and bad periods, but when we are focused we are hard to stop. “It is only four matches, four matches is nothing, it is just the beginning, but
obviously it is better to have 12 points that four, five, six or seven. “I didn’t like the first half. We couldn’t press and we gave too much freedom to the Swansea players, they were too comfortable. Half
Rodgers Defends Resting Sterling For Liverpool Defeat To Aston Villa
Jurgen Klopp Open To Future Job In England
JURGEN Klopp has expressed an interest in working in the Premier League at some stage in his career but insists he has no intention of leaving Borussia Dortmund in the foreseeable future. Klopp, 47, is one of the most highly sought after coaches in Europe after an impressive stint with Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles and leading the club to a place in the 2013 Champions League final. He has been linked with a number of top jobs in England and Spain in the past but, while he would consider moving abroad at some stage, the former Mainz coach is fully focused on matters at the Westfalenstadion at this stage. “Of course one day I’d perhaps like to work in England,
• Jurgen Klopp
but that doesn’t mean I think about it,” he is quoted as telling The Sun. “I think about solving Borussia’s problems. I don’t think about my future.” Klopp last won the Bundesliga in 2012 and has had to cope with the loss of several key players, with both Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski now having moved on to current German champions Bayern Munich. There has also been speculation about Marco Reus and Mats Hummels’ futures but Klopp, who is under contract until 2018, said the frustration of losing star players will not lead him to walk away. “It’s not frustrating. It’s a normal situation. It’s my challenge. But I don’t think about this,” he said. “This player goes and that player goes. No matter. That doesn’t decide whether I stay in Dortmund or not. I have to feel I am the perfect coach for this team. As long as I feel like this, there’s no way out. I stay. If they let me.” This summer, Dortmund were able to bring back one of the most important players in the BVB side that won back-to-back Bundesliga titles as Shinji Kagawa ended his disappointing spell with Manchester United.
time was important for us and we could change a few things. “In the second half, we change and we start pressing them. They had no space, there was no time for them to play. We
started to accelerate our attacking process and we score four, could have been five or six, but Swansea showed why they came here as leaders. “We play against a team that had fantastic quality in their football. They are a good side, but anyone can play if they have space. When we pressed, them they were in trouble.”
Kagawa showed signs of promise during his debut season under Sir Alex Ferguson but was unable to realise his potential under David Moyes, and Louis van Gaal ultimately allowed the midfielder to move on. Klopp said he had met Ferguson at a UEFA coaching forum and Nyon and revealed the Scot is “still in love with Shinji.” “He told me, ‘Shame we didn’t manage this well so that it worked out for him. We were satisfied in the first year,’” he added. “And in the second year you usually
make the next step but he didn’t manage to do it, but Sir Alex was saying: ‘Shame — we should have made this work’.” Kagawa excelled on his return to action for Dortmund, scoring and providing an assist in a 3-1 victory over Freiburg, and Klopp said the Japan international could compensate for the loss of Reus to injury ahead of next week’s Champions League meeting with Arsenal. “It’s an unbelievable blow to lose Marco ahead of Arsenal,” he said. “It was a heart attack but then I thought: ‘OK, I have Shinji.’ On his first day back, we saw ‘Shinji,’ second day ‘Shinji,’ third day ‘Shinji.’
LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers says he would have started Raheem Sterling in Liverpool’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday had the youngster not featured for England on international duty. The hosts lacked a killer touch up front, hitting 18 shots at goal, but just one on target, with 19-year-old Sterling only appearing as a second-half substitute. The Reds kick off their Champions League campaign by hosting Ludogorets Razgrad on Tuesday, and Rodgers says the added demands of European football means he has to trust more of his squad players. “I said at the beginning of the season that I need to trust all the players we have,” he told the club’s official website. “We’ve got a big couple of months — a really exciting couple of months — coming up. Looking at it, I felt this was a game we could [rest Sterling]. If he didn’t have international football, it would have been a different case. “He came on and was bright. He’s going to be, and already is, a big player for us, but we’ve built a squad
Kagawa Scores On Dortmund Return
JAPAN international Shinji Kagawa sparkled on his return to Borussia Dortmund, scoring one goal for the Ruhr Valley club and helping set up another in a 3-1 win over Freiburg on Saturday. Champions Bayern Munich beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0, with Frenchman Franck Ribery scoring on his season debut as they prepare for their Champions League match against Manchester City next week. The 25-year-old Kagawa, who had spent two seasons at Manchester United after winning consecutive
Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 with Dortmund, was welcomed back with roaring applause and he instantly rewarded the fans. First he set up Kevin Grosskreutz, whose cutback found Adrian Ramos for the lead. Dubbed the ‘Lost son’ by German media, the attacking midfielder fired in from 12 metres in the 41st minute as hundreds of Japanese flags were unfurled in the stands. Substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed Dortmund’s successful dress
rehearsal for their Champions League group opener against Arsenal next week, with a scintillating 50-metre sprint and a superb chip for their of the afternoon in the 78th. Freiburg scored a late consolation goal with Oliver Sorg. Dortmund have six points from three games, one behind Bayern who never hit top form against Stuttgart. The Bavarians, missing several players through injury, were rarely threatened and Mario Goetze made the most of a bad Stuttgart clearance to fire in for the lead in the 27th minute.
here and I trust all of the players. “As a team and a squad, we just didn’t deliver today. He will certainly play on Tuesday night.” The Villans left Anfield with a win for the second time in three years, and Rodgers knew things would be tough for his side once Gabriel Agbonlahor scored with the visitors’ only shot on target. “As a team we probably didn’t quite have the intensity in our game and the speed in our game,” he said. “When they get a goal and go 1-0 up, you’ve got to get around the sides and switch the play a bit quicker. We were just unable to do that. “Apart from [Philippe] Coutinho hitting the post, we never really created anywhere near what we normally would do. We started slowly and gave away a poor goal. We picked up the tempo after that. “The players gave everything but we just lacked that bit of quality in the final ball and you’ve got to give Aston Villa credit. “They defended well once they got the goal, kept their lines tight and defended with a low block. We just couldn’t get the final pass it was really frustrating for us. “They defended well; the back four and midfield five were in, and with Agbonlahor on the counterattack they are always a threat. “We have found a problem with Aston Villa in my time here. We have won away from home but again today the bit of quality in the final third let us down. “There is nothing better after a disappointing performance and result like today than to get going again on Tuesday night in a competition we love. Hopefully we’ll start that competition with three points.”
Boxing: Pacquiao Fight, ‘Let’s Make It Happen’ - Mayweather IT took just minutes after Floyd Mayweather Jr had scored a dominant win over Argentine Marcos Maidana on Saturday before the undefeated welterweight champion faced the inevitable question. Will Manny Pacquiao be his next opponent? Still in the ring, still covered in sweat, Mayweather had barely time to catch his breath following a bruising 12-round battle with the hardhitting Argentine when he was asked about the fight that has fascinated and obsessed the boxing world. Mayweather’s unanimous decision over Maidana that improved his perfect record to 47-0 immediately renewed speculation about a longawaited super-fight between the 37-year-old American and the Filipino great. “I got to go back and talk to my team, I’m not ducking or dodging no opponent,” Mayweather said from the ring. “If a Pacquiao fight presents itself, let’s make it happen.” A duel between the defence-minded Mayweather and the aggressive Pacquiao, the biggest drawcards of their genera-
tion, has long been savoured by boxing fans, if only to decide the mythical title of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter. Filipino Pacquiao lost some of his appeal after successive defeats to American Timothy Bradley and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, prompting talk of his possible retirement, though he has since bounced back with two impressive wins. Five-division world champion Mayweather had been expected to meet Pacquiao in 2010 until negotiations collapsed over the American’s demand for random drug testing. Mayweather, who has hinted at illegal methods by often questioning how Pacquiao could have won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight classes. “I don’t think about Pacquiao, I don’t even know him. I wish him the best but that’s not my focus,” said Mayweather. My focus is Floyd Mayweather that is how I got to where I got to. “I try not to focus on anyone else’s business. “If it happens it happens. You guys can keep asking
the same questions overand-over and I will give you the same answers. “That’s not my focus. “My business model is I am my own boss. I call my own shots.” Mayweather announced last week that he will retire in 2015 when his Showtime contract ends in two more fights. His next fight is expected to come in May but Mayweather said no date has been set and would consider a number of opponents, including Pacquiao. “We don’t know what the future holds for Floyd Mayweather,” said the champion. “What realistic is I am 47-0.
Atletico Stun Real Madrid At Bernabeu
ARDA Turan’s late winner gave last year’s Liga champions a 2-1 win over the Champions League winners in a pulsating Madrid derby. Atletico Madrid secured a magnificent away 1-2 victory to consign their great
• Arda Turan celebrates his winner with teammates against Real Madrid
Villa Stun Liverpool To Move Up starved of service on an unGABBY Agbonlahor fired a eventful home bow. scrappy winner as Aston Villa To Second moved up to second and continued their impressive early season form with a surprise 1-0 victory at Liverpool. The 27-year-old forward, who signed a new four-year contract earlier in the week, reacted quickest to stab in from close range on nine minutes after Philippe Senderos’ knock down was not cleared by a static Reds defence. The Swiss centre back was a constant menace to Brendan Rodgers’ men as they struggled to cope with
set pieces throughout and he should have doubled the Villans’ tally when he somehow ballooned a free header over the bar from eight yards out. He was also fortunate to avoid a possible red card in the first half when he appeared to kick out at Mario Balotelli off the ball. The hosts had been hoping to build on a superb 3-0 triumph at Tottenham prior to the international break but struggled to carve out chances with Balotelli
• Floyd Mayweather
Adam Lallana, who was making his full debut for Liverpool, did go close with a rasping 25 yard drive while Philippe Coutinho hit the post late on, but in truth Villa were full value for their hard-fought win as the Reds struggled to find a cutting edge without the injured Daniel Sturridge. Debuts galore! Liverpool hand full debuts to summer signings Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic (first start) while Mario Balotelli makes his home bow.
rivals Real Madrid to their worst start to a league campaign in nine years, leaving manager Carlo Ancelotti under huge pressure. The visitors took the lead after just 10 minutes when Tiago was left unmarked to head home Kokeís corner delivery. Real Madridís vulnerability at set pieces was once again highlighted, they have now conceded three goals in their last two games. But Ancelottiís side bounced back on 26 minutes when Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot. The Ballon díOr winner fell under the challenge of Guilherme Siqueira and he stepped up to net his fourth goal of the season so far. Real dominated the remainder of the first-half, but looked rather lacklustre in the second period and, inspired by a host of changes, Atletico grabbed all three points when Arda Turin slammed in the winner 14 minutes before time after a clever dummy from Raul Garcia allowed the substitute space and time to slide the ball into the bottom corner. Atletico now have seven points on the board having won two league matches and drawing one, but the pressure grows on Ancelotti and his team as they trail leaders Barcelona by six points.
In their last league outing, Real let slip a two-goal lead and lost 4-2 at Real Sociedad at the end of August and it was another disappointing display from the European champions, who have just spent heavily to bolster their star-studded squad. Atletico’s latest victory over their crosstown rivals suggests they are genuine contenders for silverware again this season despite losing top scorer Diego Costa to Chelsea. The superstar missed out on Real’s last match - which ended in a 4-2 loss to Real Sociedad - and Ancelotti will be delighted to welcome him back to the fold, despite his recent controversial comments to the media regarding transfer policy. Kroos and Rodriguez will play alongside Modric in a midfield three with Bale and Benzema joining Ronaldo in attack. Real Madrid 0-1 Atletico Madrid: And the champions
have taken the lead! Real’s vulnerability highlighted from set-pieces once again as Tiago simply drops in at the near post unmarked to head home Koke’s corner delivery! Moya makes a fantastic save to deny Bale whose powerful free-kick was destined for the back of the net. Ronaldo falls under the challenge of Siqueira and the referee points to the spot and also gives the defender a booking! Ronaldo scores his fourth goal of the season as he sends the goalkeeper the wrong way! Ronaldo takes two Atletico defenders out of the equation and then plays through Benzema but his first touch is too heavy and Moya is able to collect. What a chance. Benzema is denied at point blank range after he climbed high to meet Ronaldo’s cross but Moya done brilliantly to parry the ball from goal.
Davis Cup: France wrap up
Czech Republic tie with 4-1 win FRANCE wrapped up their Davis Cup semi-final tie against holders Czech Republic 4-1 on Sunday, a day after securing their final spot on home soil. Julien Benneteau lost 64 6-3 to Jiri Vesely before Gael Monfils beat Lukas Rosol 5-7 6-4 7-5 in the reverse singles at Roland Garros. Richard Gasquet and Jo-
Wilfried Tsonga secured the winning point in Saturday’s doubles by beating Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych 6-7(4) 64 7-6(5) 6-1. On Friday, Gasquet defeated Berdych 6-3 6-2 63 while Tsonga defeated Rosol 6-2 6-2 6-3. Les Bleus will take on Switerland in the final at home on Nov. 21-23.
Playing The Blame Game
Keshi Or The Glass House? “We had a good team on paper, unfortunately, the game was played on grass.” That famous quote by legendary coach Brian Clough feels very appropriate for the first two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches played by Nigeria. The Super Eagles managed a well-deserved 3-2 loss in Calabar and an undeserved point gained against Bafana Bafana of South Africa, who can only blame their poor finishing and inexperience for failing to take all three. While the South Africans lacked composure and clinical finishing, Claude Le Roy’s Congo had Thievy Bifouma to rely on, although Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona were all complicit in making the former West Bromwich Albion loanee look like Thierry Henry. Against the Congolese and the South Africans, The Super Eagles were, as usual, predictable, useless at set pieces, opted for kick-andfollow football, and could barely string meaningful passes together. Is it safe to say that Stephen Keshi has reached his peak with the national team and that itís time for fresh ideas in the dressing room? Or is it the administrative disaster at the Glass house that is impacting performances on the pitch? There’s no perfect answer to either question, but two things are clear. 1.Keshi’s team has not improved since their Afcon triumph. 2.Aminu Maigari and Chris Giwa are not in charge of the Super Eaglesí dressing room. Brian Clough was one of the greatest managers of all time so itís logical to refer, to another of his most famous quotes “Rome wasn’t built in a day. But I wasn’t on that particular job.” Keshi said, after the South Africa game, that the team has not been together for long and that it is taking time for its various components to gel which is a fair comment
to a certain degree. Taking a closer look, however, itís hard to give too much weight to the managerís observations. He’s been in charge of this team for three years and yet there’s been no significant improvement in playing style. Despite having a core group of players to call upon, it remains difficult to describe how the team play. In simple terms, they lack identity and three years is more than enough time to forge that. Not many can explain the role of John Obi Mikel in the team, for example, while Ogenyi Onazi is a decent player who could run all day but his weight seems to be developing faster than his technique. It is hard to understand if Nnamdi Oduamadi is a midfielder or a striker, and only the Big Boss has a clue as to why Ramon Azeez is a better playmaker than Nosa Igiebor. Gbolahan Salami ahead of Sone Aluko for the South Africa game was another odd decision; the latter is a pure winger and the former, an out-and-out striker. Emmanuel Emenike remains a powerful presence in the penalty box but often shunted wide to accommodate strikers of lesser ability and reputation. Nigeria seems to be the only team suited to a back three but persisting with a back four. In international management, there’s no better candidate for the “most baffling selections of the year award” than Stephen Keshi. Is it fair to say that his inability to find a third midfield man for the Onazi/Mikel pairing makes him tactically incompetent? Yes, he’s matched Clemens Westerhof’s achievements by winning the Afcon and reaching the second-round of the World Cup finals, but the greatest managers don’t just equal records, they break them. While it would be cynical to solely lay the blame at Keshi’s feet, there’s no doubt about who conducts the training sessions and make selections. Morale is undoubtedly low within the Nigerian foot-
• Federer reacts
Davis Cup
Federer Fires Switzerland Into Final SWITZERLAND reached the final of the Davis Cup after Roger Federer gave the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead over Italy by beating Fabio Fognini 6-2 6-3 7-6 (4) on Sunday. Roared on by a capacity crowd in the Palexpo Arena, Federer dismantled the world number 17 Fognini 6-2 6-3 76 (4) in just under two hours. Switzerland, who lost to the United States in their only other Davis Cup final appearance in 1992, set up a title round with France, who beat holders Czech Republic at Roland Garros. “It’s really nice to share it (victory) with my team members,” Federer said. “I think I really struggled today. I think Fabio struggled all weekend. “It’s tough conditions, pretty quick court, so it’s always going to happen especially if you are not serving so well. “I thought today wasn’t the best performance from both of us but then again you’ve got to fight with what you’ve got and in the end I’m happy to make the difference.” Federer gave the Swiss the first point on Friday by easing past Simone Bolelli before Stanislas Wawrinka doubled their advantage with a straight-sets victory over Fognini. But Fognini and Bolelli combined brilliantly in Satur-
day’s doubles match to beat Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli in five sets and put the pressure back on the Swiss. Having been rested for the doubles match, a refreshed Federer broke Fognini in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead
have now taken seven points from their opening three league outings but have yet to reach peak form as they continue to struggle with injuries, some of which are linked to Germany’s triumphant World Cup campaign. Gotze, however, believes both he and the team will hit their stride as 2014-15 progresses. “We know that we need to
improve,” the attacker, 22, told reporters. “But for now the important thing is that we picked up all three points. That was our priority and so we can be satisfied. “Of course we have a few injured players but every club has the same situation. The players we have available are fit and we’ve got a very good side.
before snatching another break to claim the first set. Federer, who has now won all five of his Davis Cup singles rubbers this year, continued to trouble the Italian with his precision hitting and broke Fognini in the eighth game of the second set to take control of the match.
Fognini rallied in the third set and took Federer to a tie break but the 17-times grand slam champion held his nerve, claiming it 7-4 to reach the first Davis Cup final of his illustrious career. The final will be played in France from Nov. 21-23.
Fabregas added on Chelsea TV: “Just trying to do my job. That’s it. “We have a good team, strong, young, with a lot of courage. We showed it again.” Chelsea will have to show more in Wednesday’s Champions League Group G opener with Schalke, a match which comes ahead of a trip to Premier League holders Manchester City. The Blues have scored 15 goals in four Premier League games but, unusually for a Mourinho team, they have conceded five times in the last two games following the 6-3 win at Everton. “I don’t like (conceding), but we were analysing the goals against Everton and trying to identify the mistakes and we’ll do the same thing with these two goals (against Swansea),” Mourinho added. “If you score more goals than the opponent you win, but you want to be more consistent behind because it’s not possible to always score four, five, six or three. “There will come a time when we need a point and a 0-0 is a point or we need a victory and 1-0 is also a victory.” Mourinho will demands his defence improve, but in
Costa it seems Chelsea have an added cutting edge this season. Mourinho has spoken of his upgraded strikeforce following the departures of Fernando Torres (on a twoyear loan to AC Milan), Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba, with Costa, the returning hero Didier Drogba and Loic Remy coming in. Remy took just nine minutes to open his Blues account after coming off the substitutes’ bench in place of Costa. “For me it was amazing,” the striker signed from QPR said on Chelsea TV. “I’m a striker and a striker wants to score. I was very happy after the goal and after the result. “Diego Costa is on fire at the minute and that’s good for the team. It’s good for the team to have his quality. “I really hope we’re going to stay at the same level. Even if I’m on the bench I try to do my best and score goals.” Drogba is a doubt for the Schalke clash with an ankle injury. Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was beaten by Costa and Remy, but reflected positively on City’s performance.
Fabregas Always Makes The Right CHELSEA manager Jose Choice - Mourinho Mourinho believes playing in front of Cesc Fabregas is a dream for Diego Costa. Costa struck a hat-trick taking his tally to seven goals from four Premier League games - as Chelsea beat Swansea 4-2 on Saturday to extend their 100 per cent winning start to the season. Midfielder Fabregas, the former Arsenal captain signed from Barcelona, laid on two assists for Costa, who joined in a £32million deal from Atletico Madrid after long being coveted by Mourinho. “To play with Fabregas is the dream of every striker,” Mourinho told Chelsea TV. “The guy sees the movement, sees the pass, is not selfish, makes always the right choice.”
Bayern must get better - Gotze MARIO Gotze is confident that both he and Bayern Munich will reach top form as they look to shake off a jaded start to the season. Two months on from his winning goal in the World Cup final, Gotze was on target again on Saturday as Bayern overcame Stuttgart 20 in the Bundesliga. The defending champions
• Stephen Keshi
ball community right now due to the continued soap opera at the Nigerian Football Federation. However, it is the job of a manager to get the best out of his players on the pitch and make sure they’re not distracted by off-field shenanigans. If the Super Eagles are to make it to Morocco and defend their title in 2015, the obvious cracks at the Glass House in Abuja need to be fixed and not papered-over. Important personnel decisions have to be made regarding the technical crew. The first assignment for whoever resumes office now is to decide if Keshi ought to be the man to take the team forward.
CMYK
Gani Fawehinmi On My Mind
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How can anybody imagine a situation where confirmed looters with the abundance of evidence against them are allowed to roam the country and leave for Europe, America and Asia to savor their loots in foreign vaults and yet return to the country and nothing happens to them? Therefore, all these talk about anti corruption crusade is nothing but balderdash; what the Americans call bullshit? - Gani Fawehinmi, quoted in Nowinta’s bookWHERE WE ARE (Page xiii). Many Nigerians, know about Bankole-how especially the ordinary he was humiliated and people of Nigeria will chased about (both in the agree with me that the life of Chief Gani Fawehinmi is an inexhaustible and classical subject. Also, many citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will not dispute the fact that when chief Gani Fawehinmi succumbed to the cold hands of death on September 5th, 2009, the masses wept uncontrollably. With the death of Chief Gani Fawehinmi on September 5th, at the age of 71 years, as a result of complications from lung cancer, the entire nation indeed witnessed the exit of a mighty fighter for freedom, human rights and democracy. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for me to say a few things concerning my former political leader and extraordinary activist on the occasion of the 5th year anniversary of his painful demise. On this column today, the great Gani Fawehinmi is on my mind, even as there are Chief Gani Fawehinmi lots of issues to be a d d r e s s e d . law court and outside) Nevertheless, readers immediately the House of will permit me to divert a Representatives ended its bit to raise these issues sitting in 2011, it is absurd as the indefatigable Gani and really out of place that had done when he was such a guy will be given the around with us, before I opportunity to govern Ogun will resort to the original State so soon. It is really tragic that most topic for today’s of our so called politicians discussion. If Gani is with are shameless, parochial us today, he would have and brazen in their selfish furiously spoken against and bravado agenda to a character like Dimeji always be in position where Bankole, the former they will be accessing speaker of the Federal public funds without House of regards to the wishes and Representatives, who is aspirations of the greatest presently eyeing the number one position in number of the ordinary Ogun State in the forth people who are languishing coming general elections in untold hardship. If we are truly in a society in 2015. Giving what we
where the electoral system is sanitized and fool proof, where votes of the ordinary citizens count at every stage of election, the likes of Dimeji Bankole dare never to aspire to be governor of an enlightened people like Ogun State? Agreed that Bankole has been able to “settle” many of the accusations leveled against him in and outside
So much for Bankole and Ogun politics, Gani Fawehinmi would have raised eyebrows too about the recent revelations making rounds about those that have been alleged to be sponsoring Boko Haram’s heinous and unfathomable brutality. Gani would have threatened hail and brimstones against the duo
the court by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others, it offends common sense that he is now aspiring to rule Ogun State so early, after his much publicized ‘persecution’.
of Ali Modu Sheriff (Former Governor of Borno State) and General Azubuike Ihejirika (former Army Chief). Personally, I think the recent allegations against Sheriff and Ihejirika are too
weighty and far reaching to be waved aside by those who hold the reins of power at the Presidential Palace in Aso Rock, Abuja. If the crimes being committed against the Nigerian nation by Shekarau and his evil gang are simply beyond pardon, which is the more reason President Jonathan must apply every stringent procedure to investigate and ultimately bring all sponsors of Boko Haram to book? Well, if nothing serious comes out of the latest revelations by Davis Sampson then, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) must be held responsible at all times for the unspeakable atrocities being unleashed against our country? Gani Fawehinmi reminds me of the great tasks ahead that of salvaging our nation from insane politicians who are putridly corrupt, and who do not care a bit about the accelerated development of the country. Indeed, Gani’s steadfastness, integrity and commitment to the cause of the oppressed and the general good of the society are unbeatable in the sands of time in Nigeria. Who is this icon of the struggle, which operated within the confines of the law; who proved marvelously as a girdle to the weak and a scourge to the wicked? Chief Gani Fawehinmi decided to enter this world on Friday, 22 of April 1938. He hailed from Ondo State, precisely Ondo town. He
was at An sar udeen Primary School, Iyemaja, Ondo State, where he had his elementary school, from 1947 and 1953. He had his secondary school at Victory College, Ikare from 1954-1958, also in Ondo State. Having acquired his secondary school certificate in 1961, he sojourned to United Kingdom, where he was to read law at Holborn College of Law. With a law degree in 1964, he was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar on the 13th of January 1965, after he had graduated from the Nigerian Law School. Gani started the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports in 1985 as founder and editor-inchief. Nigerian students bestowed on him ‘Senior Advocate of the Masses’ (SAM) because of his unprecedented commitment to the cause of the ordinary people. Chief Gani Fawehinmi founded the National Conscience Party (NCP) on October 1st 1994. I met him several times, when I was chairman of NCP Edo State. Our country is still in a very deep mess, only if progressives can remain consistent like Gani, then the revolution which he shouldered ceaselessly will become stunning reality in no distant time. That is why Gani is on my mind today.
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