Nigerian observer 16 05 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 FEMINIQUE Page 20

So What?

It’s Dame Jonathan’s Maternal instinct!

• Vol. 38 NO.483• FRIDAY, MAY 16, 20 14 • N100.00

UNIBEN car passes Int’l evaluation

ABUJA - Nigeria has recorded a major feat in automotive technology innovation with a car called “Tuke-Tuke’‘, produced by students of the University of Benin.

The car has passed

international technical evaluation in R o t t e r d a m , Netherlands, a statement said.

The statement was signed by the Media Manager of Shell

Petroleum Development

Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr Precious Okolobo yesterday in Abuja.

It said that the car was now qualified to race at the 2014 Eco Marathon in Netherlands with cars

from 25 countries, mostly advanced countries.

It said that the SPDC Joint Venture (JV) was sponsoring University of Benin and University of Lagos to the event in Dutch

Continues on page 2

Police foil bomb explosion in Lagos

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM

REFLECTION Page 23

Every war must come to an end

LAGOS -Three substances suspected to be grenades were discovered in the centre of Lagos Island in the early hours of yesterday by the Police, just as a foreigner suspected to be connected with the bombs was arrested by official of Central Business district (CBD).

The bombs which have discovered by one of been programmed to the Police Mobile explode around 1pm security men attached when traders and to the Homes at about commuters who will board 8.10am. the Lagos State Sources revealed that Government bus was taken away by the Police bomb squad from Ikeja Police command.

According to eye witness, the grenades which were planted in front of the Union Homes company gate along Nnamdi Azikwe road, Tom Jones area, opposite Access Bank branch and LSDPC house was

the policeman became suspicious about a man who came with a Jeep and started distributing N1, 000 notes to baggers at the spot and later asked them to

vacate the area before he drove off.

The Policeman investigated and discovered the grenades and immediately alerted other policemen around

as well as officials of CBD to chase traders and passers-by away from the spot.

The Police on the Island were immediately alerted and occupants at different offices and shops within the area were evacuated by the police so as to prevent casualty, while the Police Anti-Bomb Units were also informed.

APC members in Odiguetue pledge loyalty to Gov Oshiomhole ODIGUETUE (OVIA N/E) - All Progressives Congress members in Odiguetue Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area in Edo State have pledged their unalloyed support for Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole led government in Edo State.

This was made known when a high powered delegation from the community visited the Commissioner for Information and Orientation Edo State, Mr. Louis Odion in his office in Benin to convey the community’s loyalty to government.

All Progressives Congress, APC, member representing Uhiere, Mr. Hilary Omoregie said that the community populated

by APC members will not embrace another party as they have the confidence that the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will deliver the dividend of democracy to Odiguetue Community and Edo State in general.

Also speaking an Elder of the community Lt. Corn. Anthony Ogie (rtd) thanked government for deeming it fit to initiate a water project in the community and sued for Continues on page 2

TIT BIT

“Evil gets sweeter when the doomsday is nearer”.

- Kinglsey Ogbeide-Ihama

NEWS CONFERENCE: L-R: Chief of Staff, 7 Division, Brig-Gen. Enobong Udoh, Director of Defence Information, Brig.-General Chris Olukolade and Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Mohammed Dole during a news conference yesterday on the attack on the GOC, 7 Division, Maj.General Ahmed Mohammed by soldiers under his command in Maiduguri Wednesday.

It was during the exercise that a foreigner suspected to be an indigene of Niger or Sudan came out of the crowds and was heading towards the grenades when the CBD man named Kareem Saidi asked him to go back, a directive which he refused.

“I asked him to go back, he refused and insisted ongoing to the spot of the grenades, I then arrested him and handed him over to the Policemen from EbuteEro station who took him away to their station”, Kareem said.

One of the Anti-bomb squad men who took away the grenades around 10.45am told our correspondent under anonymity that the bombs have been programmed to explode around 1pm and could have caused heavy disaster.

He added that if the bombs were not discovered and it went off, all the structures within 70 metres would have been highly affected.

Business activities in the area which were disrupted for about four hours later came back after the bombs had Continues from page 1

Emergency Rule Extension

Senate meets service chiefs, postpones debate

By JOSES SEDE

ABUJA The Senate yesterday resolved to do more consultations, after a 3hour closed door meeting with service chiefs on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for extending emergency rule in the three North-East states of Yobe, Adamawa and Borno.

The lawmakers subsequently deferred

debate on the issue till Tuesday next week to allow other stakeholders’ imput on the matter.

Presiding Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu announced at resumption of plenary that “the Senate met with the Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police and the DG SSS, and we are fully briefed on the operations of the

state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa over the last twelve months”.

“Thereafter, when they had left, we analysed our conversation with them

and as responsible and patriotic Nigerians, we are looking at it from a very diverse angle to ensure that the security in those States improve at the shortest possible Continues on page 2

School Girls Abduction

Jonathan to visit Chibok, 32 days after

By JOSES SEDE ABUJA - Barring any last minute change in plan, President

Goodluck Jonathan will today, visit Borno State, one of the centres of violence being orchestrated by the

Boko Haram sect.

His visit is coming 32 days after the Chibok schoolgirls were Continues on page 2

News

UNIBEN Car passes Int’l evaluation Continued from page 1

city of Rotterdam from May 15

to May 18.

The statement said that the marathon would start on Friday with an opening ceremony and the cars would race for the winning price on Saturday, May 17.

According to the statement, the two Nigerian universities are

participating in the 2014 edition of Shell Ecomarathon Europe, the first teams from Sub-Saharan to enter the global event.

It said that the car built by students from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was still undergoing thorough technical evaluation and its results would be

announced on Friday.

The company was optimistic that the UNILAG car would also do well, the statement said.

“Shell Eco-marathon challenges student teams from around the world to design, build and test ultraenergy efficient vehicles. The winners are the teams that go the furthest using the least

APC members in Odiguetue pledge loyalty to their Primary School as Continued from page 1 Gov Oshiomhole its completion. earlier promised.

Lt. Com. Ogie (rtd) said that the community will continue to support APC and Comrade Oshiomhole government expressing confidence that he will deliver on all his promises to Edo people.

On his part, Sir Paul Erhunse, a Special Assistant to the former Governor of Edo State commended Comrade Oshiomhole for his developmental strides in Edo State stressing that the

community will continue to support him.

Responding, Mr. Odion thanked the community for sustaining their support for comrade Oshiomhole and APC adding that modalities are in place to reticulate the water so there can be up to six drawing points to avoid overcrowding.

The Information Commissioner assured that arrangements are being made by government to renovate

Further to that, we’ve also ag reed to do further

journalists shortly after the closed doors meeting, Sen. Esther Nenadi Usman (Kaduna South), argued that announcement by Sen. Dahiru was not what the NSF agreed, but that the northern senators only appealed to the federal government to explore options other than the emergency rule extension.

Sen. Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) who was also at the meeting volunteered that: “Well I must confess to you that, when the service chiefs came and they spoke at length to us, quite a number of people changed their opinion”.

On the alleged rejection of the presidential request by the NSF, Sen. Adeyemi, who is also the vice-chairman of the NSF, explained, “as it is, many of the legislators have not really made up their minds as to whether they are going to support it or not; but, what is important is the safety of life and property of the people” Also speaking with journalists, Secretary of the NSF, Sen. Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), vehemently rejected the presidential request asserting that insurgency does not end, which according to him, translated to mean imposing emergency rule on the three northern states forever.

“We are against state of emergency! What we require is effectiveness of those who are there and that does not require state of emergency. What we need to do is to ensure that whatever resources are appropriated are utilized properly.

The military had conducted very massive operations in Nasarawa, in Benue, in Zamfara and recently in Katsina. Those

The Commissioner expressed government’s determination towards delivering on all promises made to the Edo people and leaving Edo State better than he met it.

Mr. Odion who said that as election draws near, the community should be wary of politicians who would come to make empty promises he urged them to be steadfast in their belief in APC

Senate meets service chiefs, Continued from page 1 postpones debate time.

consultations with all the necessary stakeholders, to ensure that everybody would buy into whatever needs to be done to secure those states and to defeat insurgency in those states.

This is exactly what transpired in the closed door session. So, by Tuesday (20/ 05/14), we would continue our deliberation on the issue of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States”, the DSP stated.

This is even as some northern senators, we learnt, were swayed by the service chiefs explanations, in favour of the Emergency rule extension and disowned their chairman, Sen. Umaru Dahiru (Sokoto South) in his Wednesday announcement that the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) had resolved to reject and resist the presidential request.

Leading serving Senators under the eagles of Northern Senators Forum (NSF) after three-hour closed doors meeting, Sen. Dahiru announced the resolve of the senators to frustrate the presidential request to extend emergency rule in the three North East States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

“Our meeting this afternoon discussed basically, the issue of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Everybody in attendance made contributions and a lot was said; the majority position is basically that, we are not going with the state of emergency; that is our categorical position”, Sen. Dahiru declared.

However, in a chat with

Police foil bomb explosion

Continued from page 1 been taken away, while police vehicles including Anti-bomb truck were stationed at the area.

Efforts to get more information from some senior police officers who

were at the scene proved abortive, while the cellphone number of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Lagos, Ngozi Braide could not be assessed as at the time of filing this report.

states were not under a state of emergency before those operations were conducted and let me tell you insurgency does not end.

In Turkey, over 30 years, the PKK, in Colombia over 50 years, the FARC. insurgency doesn’t end. What you need to do is to continue to get the right arms and re-strategize until you get to the situation where people would feel better”, Sen. Lawan stressed.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has approved Mr. President request for extension of the emergency rule, while the Senate is expected to take a decision on the matter on Tuesday.

amount of energy.

“The events spark debate about the future of mobility and inspire young engineers to push the boundaries of fuel efficiency.

“All cars are expected to pass a strict technical inspection to check that they are fit for purpose and safe before they are allowed to race,” the statement said.

It said that students from the Ahmadu Bello University, University of Lagos and University of Benin attended Shell Eco-marathon Europe as observers of the 2013 edition on SPDC JV sponsorship.

“Since then, the students from Lagos and Benin have successfully built cars that are being sent to Rotterdam this week in line with the main objective of Shell Ecomarathon.

“The objective was to challenge students from around the world to design, build and race fuel-efficient vehicles,’’ it said.

The statement said that the judges would be looking to reward the cars that would drive farthest with the least amount of fuel.

According to the statement, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Mr Ben Van Beurden, commended Nigerian students for the innovation.

“We have been doing this for over 30 years. It started in France and it has gone all around the world. It is fantastic to see the scale that we have now.

“The energy, the enthusiasm and the innovation that has taken place, and the fact that we have a Nigerian team here participating is an incredibly milestone,” Beurden said.

Jonathan to visit Chibok, 32 days afterr

Continued from page 1

abducted from the Government Secondary School.

We gathered yesterday, that Jonathan would use the opportunity of the trip to the state currently under emergency rule to visit Chibok, where over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped on April 14.

The visit is coming more than a month after the kidnap that has attracted global attention.

At the time of filing this report, members of the President’s advance team had left Abuja for the troubled state.

A Presidency source said Jonathan would use the opportunity of the visit to see for himself the carnage done by the sect members at the school and hear from eyewitnesses.

He is also expected to travel to Paris, France later in the day where he hoped to meet with his counterparts from Benin Republic, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The talks will centre on how Nigeria and the neighbouring countries can strengthen and intensify collaboration against Boko Haram and other criminal organisations.

Meanwhile, Some traditional rulers from the oil producing communities yesterday, visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to discuss current situations in the country.

During the closed door

meeting, they expressed worries over the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State and the escalating activities of Boko Haram in the country.

The leader of the delegation and paramount ruler of Mgbirichi/Abakuru Land of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, HRH Eze Akunueze Raphael Eze Ahurunkwe II, spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

“This is a solidarity visit to the President and discuss some issues affecting our nation. Of course, we are worried about the issue of Chibok girls and the activities of Boko Haram in general. We are very prayerful that Mr. President, as he has been working assiduously to make sure they are released.

We are very prayerful”, he volunteered.

According to him, the delegation thanked Jonathan for convening the national conference and developing infrastructure across the nation.

The issues of oil bunkering and pipeline vandalisation, he said, were also raised at the meeting.

“Of course, there are pipelines in our domains and that is why we are advocating a forum so that the traditional rulers in the oil communities will be empowered to provide security against illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation,” the monarch stated.

Governor Oshiomhole lays foundation stone of Ulemon Police Station BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has commended the people of Ulemon Community, Iyekogba in Oredo Ward 02, for their developmental efforts aimed at complementing the rural transformation agenda of the present administration.

The governor spoke through the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Hon. Osaro Obaze, during the foundation stonelaying ceremony of the Ulemon Ultra-modern Police Station. He stated that the issue of security was everybody’s business, maintaining that a society can only develop when the security of lives and property is adequately guaranteed.

Comrade Oshiomhole expressed delight at the rate and level of infrastructural development in the community, and assured of government’s assistance in completing the police station project. He enjoined other rural communities in the State to emulate the developmental initiatives of Ulemon people so as to

attract investors to their localities.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Ulemon Community Development Association, Comrade Julius Iredia-Adun, noted that the idea to build the police station was borne-out of the desire of his people to contribute their own quota towards securing lives and property within and around the community, emphasizing that government alone, cannot provide for the infrastructural /developmental needs of the citizenry.

Comrade Iredia-Adun stressed that Ulemon people will continue to complement the infrastructural transformation agenda of the Comrade Governor, while soliciting support from the government and other wellmeaning Nigerians at ensuring the timely completion of the police station project.

The event was witnessed by the representatives of Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Folunsho Adebanjo, the Oba of Benin as well as other notable dignitaries from all walks of life.

knowledge Application

HOS tasks workers BENIN CITY - Participants in a one Day Seminar Organized by the Edo State Government have been enjoined to bring to bear the knowledge they acquired to enhance productivity in their work place.

Edo State Head of Service, Mr. lgbaekeman Jerry Obazele made this demand on the participants at one day seminar tagged “Budgeting as Tool for Financial Management” organized for Senior Staff in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Mr. Jerry Obazele disclosed that the Workshop which was jointly organized by his Office and POLA Consultants was burned out of the need to up-date the official knowledge in the field of budgeting and financial management with a view of achieving optimum benefits.

Mr. Obazele remarked that the selection of the officers was premised on their strategic positions which they occupied in their various offices as desk Officers, hoping that the knowledge gained at the seminar will help to curb wastages which sometimes occur in some Offices.

The Head of Service who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Establishments, Mr. Alfred Omorogbe Olaye maintained that Government policies in the face of dwindling resources can only be actualized if the resources available to Government is

efficiently and effectively utilized.

He expressed his profound gratitude to the Edo State Government under the dynamic and able leadership of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole for his avow commitment to the training and retraining of the workforce with a view to enhancing their service delivery in the State.

Mr. Jerry Obazele also used the opportunity to thanked the organized labour and the workers for ensuring peaceful industrial harmony in the State and sued for its sustenance.

Earlier, Mr. Peter Abizu of POLA Consultants stated that the choice of the topic was quite timely and appropriate, taking into consideration the global economic climate.

Mr. Peter Abizu hinted that if the Government must get the best from the Civil Servants, the only way is to ensure that the workers are trained and retrained, because according to him, the society is becoming more and more complex by the day.

He thanked the comrade governor for his quest to update the knowledge of the workers to meet with Modern trend, saying that the Ideas of yesterday is obsolete for today and the future.

He thanked Mr. Jerry Obazele, the Head of Service, for his penchant to up-grade the Civil Servants by ensuring that they are trained.

Participants were drawn from Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals of Government.

Inside Edo Edo MDGs Boss Advises Health Workers

Diligence:

Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Mr. Peter Adoror, Chairman Ex-Okada Riders Association test-drive a cab after the commissioning of 300 Comrade Cabs distributed to exokada riders in Benin City yesterday.

EKPOMA- The Executive Director .Focal Person of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Edo State Princess Theresa Erediauwa has advised village health workers to be deligent focused and devoted to their duties with a view to attaining MDGs in the state.

Princess Erediauwa gave the advise at Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state during opening ceremony of training programme for Health Workers in the state.

She disclosed that four local government areas including Akoko-Edo, Esan West, Etsako East and Ovia South West are benefiting from the 2012 Conditional Grant Scheme projects.

According to her the Village Health Workers programme was designed to establish a link between communities and health services as well as provide avenue for generating demand for ease of access to and increased coverage for health services.

She noted that the urgent need to improve the health of women and children requires strong community engagement in all aspects of national health systems, especially for those least likely to be reached through the current national health strategies as the rural poor.

The Executive Director charged the Village Health Workers to embark on house- to-

health care for the individual and families they deal with, stressing that their need for continuity of care is disregarded while development aid often add to the fragmentation.

“Unsafe and poor quality care, poor system design, unmet minimum standards lead to hospital, induced deaths, complications and abandonment of public health facilities while misdirected care, resource allocation cluster around curative services at great cost, just as the roles of other sectors in improving health is often not appreciated”, he lamented.

In an address, the State Chairman of HERFON, Mr. James Uwaifoh said the vision of the organisation is to be the leading independent NGO advocating for Health sector reforms, better health outcomes and development in Nigeria.

He noted that the body’s main focus as a change agent movement is to define reform agenda within the health sector in Nigeria.

its main approach, in addition to partnership. Capacity-building and evidence based interventions opting that the foundation strives to be a valuable resource thinktank to all professionals working in the Health sector.

According to him, “HERFON is commencing Implementation of Advocacy for PHC reform project in Edo State.

This project, he said is aimed at garnering political support to ensure adoption, legislation and establishment of state Primary Health Care development Agency (SPHCDA), as well as Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) and Free Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (FMNCH) services at the state and local government levels”.

He therefore concluded by saying that it is in the efforts and strategies to actualize this project in the state, that various organizations were invited to participate in the meeting of “Health Reform Advocacy Coalition Group (HRACGY) under the auspices of the state chapter of HERFON.

Traditional, Orthodox Medicine Practitioners Can Partner Mr. Uwaifoh further stated focus of many control programs meeting organised by Health Expert

By FRIDAY OBANOR that HERFON uses advocacy as discourage a holistic approach to Reform Foundation of Nigeria, BENIN CITY – Former Permanent Secretary in the Edo State Health Management Board, Dr. I.U. Omoike said yesterday in Benin City that orthodox medicine practitioners and its Traditional Counterpart can work together in harmony even though there are some charlatans amongst Tradomedical doctors.

Delivering a lecture entitled, “Building Coalition for Primary Health Care (PHC) Reform Project in Edo State” at a

(HERFON) Edo State chapter, Dr. Omoike said there are some areas of medicare where Tradomedical Doctors can perform optimally well above the orthodox doctors.

Dr. Omoike who defined coalition as a collection of people or organisations who have come together with common objective of pulling resources to improve the status quo of the poor health indexes of Nigerians however noted that Primary Health Care (PHC) is

Enogie Plead For Leniency THE Association of Enigie in Benin Kingdom have pleaded with the Oba of Benin not to suspend His Royal Highness Iyi-Ewuare Eguavoen, the Enogie of Orovie in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State, over his alleged disobedience of the Palace decision on the boundary dispute between his community Orovie and Evboumodu.

In a Joint statement, six Enigie, including the chairman of the Panel, which presided over the matter, His Royal Highness Edugie Ogiugo, the Enogie of Ugo N’Iyekeorhionmwon said before the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa and Chiefs in Council that the Enogie of Orovie should comply with the recommendations contained in the Palace Panel report to the effect that Aruovia shrine should be the boundary between Orovie and Evbuomodu with each of the

communities giving to the shrine on either side, a piece of land measuring 200 feet.

The Enogie of Orovie who had denied that nobody informed him of the palace invitation on three occasion, promised the palace and the Association of Enigie that he will abide by the palace decision.

the key to health system performance.

He disclosed that social justice centered around right to better health for all, equity, putting people at the centre of healthcare and ensuring that the people’s voices and choices influence healthcare design and operations.

Dr. Omoike hinted that the present concern of both developed and developing countries is not only to reach the entire population with adequate health care services but to reach an acceptable level of health for all through the application of PHC programmes.

According to the Resource person, “Nigeria, including Edo State is lagging unacceptably behind other nations in the world in addressing the challenge which has further made her have one of the worst health statistics in the world”.

Continuing, Dr. Omoike averred that fragmented and fragmenting care, excessive specialization, vertical programmes and the narrow

house campaign with a view to improving key household practice like hygiene and sanitation, preventive diseases and illnesses and promoting healthy living lifestyles for the family, as well as reducing morbidity and averting mortality in mothers, newborns and children, especially in vulnerable settings where the overall primary health care delivery system is weak and under-utilized where available.

In her address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, who was represented by Mrs. Ijeoma Ekweozor, noted that the village Health Workers Scheme was another impetus towards achieving the health aspects of MDGs. The training programme featured prominent resource persons who delivered lectures on, “Village Health Worker”, “Community Outreach”, “Household Practices”, “First Aid”, “Referrals” and “Record Keeping”.

The newly trained village health workers were provided with working materials for the ease of their operations.

Currently, 40 village health workers have been recruited and trained, and have been assigned to the wards in each of the four benefitting local government areas.

Previously, village health workers had been recruited and trained to work in Esan South East, Etsako West and Orhionmwon local government areas under the 2011 CGS Scale up to LGA projects.

Present at the ceremony were representatives of the benefitting four local government area, including the Secretary to Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Irene Akhimien who represented the Chairman of the Council.

Deaconess Aisien Buried A social dance was held in her In Benin

A fuel attendant, Benedicta Okhihie, dispenses fuel into a Comrade Cab driven into the petrol station by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole after the commissioning of 300 Comrade Cabs distributed to ex-okada riders in Benin City, yesterday.

BENIN CITY- The remains of Deaconess (Mrs.) Umweni Ogbebor Aisien (nee Ebowe) who died recently at the age of 105, have been laid to rest.

The remains were interred last week Thursday at No 83 Lagos Street after a service of songs.

The late Deaconess Aisien, who was a devout Christian during her life time is survived by six Children, 28 surviving grand children and 52 great grand children amongst whom are Chief James Oriri Ogbebor (late); Mrs. Veronica Ekhator; Mrs. Roseline Idehen; Mr. Philip Ogbebor (late); Mrs Josephine Ogoigbe, Mrs. Helen OsaOsawaye (children) and Mr. Chadril Ogbegbor, grandson.

honour last Saturday at Edokpolor Grammar School, new Benin while the outing service was held last Sunday at Jesus Breeds Ministries International, Incorporated, 4-16 Osayi Street, Off Ewah Road Benin City.

Late Deaconess Aisien

News Oba Erediauwa Orders Suspension Of Odionwere

By VICTOR IMADE/FAITH ISIKHUEMEN

BENIN CITY- The Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa has ordered the suspension of Odionwere of Ekowe Community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo Sate.

According to the Oba’s representatives, Chief Idada Erinwionghae, the Ailefoba of Benin Kingdom and Chief Aighobahi, the suspension is sequel to the anti-palace activities embarked upon by the Odionwere (Mr. A i g b o n t a e n Aguanomwan) and his alleged appointed youth chairman in the community.

Chief Idada Erinwionghae and Chief

Aighobahi of Benin Kingdom who were at Ekowe Community to effect the suspension stated that the Odionwere refused to honour the palace invitation over a misunderstanding with the Oweoba N’Iguiko of Ekowe community, Chief Eghaghe Richard Osamudiamen.

The misunderstanding it was gathered arose following a tussle over the youth chairmanship position and the administrative Head of Ekowe Community.

Chief Aighobahi of Benin Kingdom indicated that the Oba has appointed the next in hierarchy, Mr. Idemudia Sheldrack to act as the Odionwere while other members of the Ekowe community are to assist Chief Oweoba in administrating the community.

Council Boss Refutes Media Report

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 1, Professor Viola Onwuliri (left), holding a lighted candle symbolising the light that will drive away darkness in Nigeria during a protest over abducted Chibok School Girls in Owerri recently.

National Policy On Science

UNESCO, FG Collaborated - Official ABUJA - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) collaborated with the Federal Government to revise the National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) toward

The State Chairman, Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, Mr. James O. Uwaifoh (left) and Dr. Aunwa Joseph Oteri, Zonal Co-ordinator, NPHCDA South South Zone during a meeting with the leadership of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Benin City. Photo: OSADEBAWMEN SUNDAY.

N5bn Property Theft: Court

Remands Ex-Chevron Accountant IKEJA - An Ikeja High Court has remanded a former accountant with Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Michael Adenuga, in prison over an alleged fraudulent conversion of landed property worth N5 billion.

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya remanded Adenuga, 50, at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Apapa, Lagos, after his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Adenuga was arraigned alongside his company, Covenant Apartment Complex Ltd. The defendants are facing a

three-count charge bordering on stealing, forgery and use of false documents.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Jamiu Musa, alleged that they had between February 2008 and September 2011, fraudulently converted to their own use, a land measuring about 22.68 hectares.

Musa said the property, situated at Ayetoro, Ikota in the Lekki area of Lagos, was jointly owned by Covenant Sugarland Property Development Ltd and Messrs Sunday and Joseph Oyeniran.

He also accused the defendant of forging a document titled,

UBIAJA - The Chairman, Esan South East Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Ikpea has advised politicians to stop playing politics that destroy fellow human beings in the name of politicking.

Hon. Ikpea was speaking in his office in Ubiaja, the headquarters of the Local Government Area while reacting to a newspaper publication alleging that he and his councilors intends to dump the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Hon. Ikpea who described the publication as the handiwork of his opponents who want to be the council chairman by all means said, though Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is his family friend, he (Ikpea), as the council chairman on the same page with the comrade governor does not intend to follow Ize-Iyamu to the PDP. The council boss also stated that he loves the ideology of the comrade governor and prefers to be a student of the governor’s political college, saying his loyalty for the comrade governor is unalloyed.

“Contract of Sale between Covenant Apartment Ltd and Kingview Realty Ltd,” to facilitate the theft.

According to him, the said document was later presented by Adenuga to an EFCC officer, Mr James Buzugbe, as genuine.

Jamiu said the defendant’s alleged offences contravened Sections 278 (1) and 285 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Adenuga, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His counsel, Mr, Ehis Badmus, told the court that he had filed a bail application and pleaded that he should be remanded in EFCC custody.

poverty alleviation and sustainable development, an official said.

Mr Osu Otu, the UNESCO National Officer on Science, made the information known to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

“One of the key results achieved in the last biennium was the role of UNESCO in the production of the revised National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) System,” he said.

According to him, the revised policy is now in use in the country.

Otu said the organisation collaborated with the National Centre for Technology Management to assist policy makers in appreciating the significance of effective policy formulation for sustainable development and how to design an all-encompassing STI policy.

He said the collaboration had promoted participatory governance and created synergy between the legislature, academic and research institutions to promote science, engineering, technology and innovation systems for sustainable development.

“It also promoted the development of effective legal framework for the reform of science, technology and innovation systems in Nigeria,” he said.

On climate change, he said UNESCO had collaborated

with the Energy Commission of Nigeria and other stakeholders in the energy sector to strengthen the capacity of local people to cope with the effects of climate change.

“This is to strengthen the capacity of local people on tackling and coping with the effects of climate change and combating environmental degradation

in rural communities.’’

He said the effort was “also to strengthen the capacity of research centres and universities within the Niger Delta and Sahel region of Nigeria.”

He said the measure had led to the development of appropriate policies and climate change copying strategies using renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency best practices.

Women For Change, Non Partisan - Coordinator

By RICHARD EWEKA

BENIN CITY- Edo State Co-ordinator of Women for Change and Development Initiative (W4CDI), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Hon. Mrs. Sera Adetugboboh said the organisation is nonpartisan but structured to serve as a strong and unifying voice for women in Nigeria.

She made this known at a press briefing in Benin City, Edo State.

Hon. Adetugboboh said W4CDI is a brain child of the first lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan and the only grand patron of the body.

According to her, W4CDI is committed to

the creation of a movement that will engender mass awareness of women at all level to their human rights and obligations as citizens of Nigeria.

“W4CDI strives to ensure that all issues and concerns of women and the girl- child in Nigeria are given priority.

The movement will mobilize all available resources to ensure that those concerned are fully integrated in all spheres of National development.

The objectives of the body according to her include promoting women’s economic empowerment through provision of microcredit and entrepreneurship skill.

South/South Fulfill Campaign Promises, Politicians BWARI (FCT)-The Emir of Bwari in Abuja, Alhaji Musa Urged Ijakoro, has urged politicians to imbibe the fear of God by fulfilling campaign promises, to promote community development.

Ijakoro gave the advice on Wednesday in Bwari in an interview with newsmen.

He said that failure by some politicians to fulfil their promises during political campaigns has hindered community growth.

According to him, instead of fulfilling their campaign promises, they rather amass wealth and engage in heating up the polity due to cravings for tenure elongation.

He, therefore, advised politicians to always respect the feelings of the electorate who voted them into office, by fulfilling their promises, to enhance growth of Nigeria’s democracy.

“Politicians must always remember that they emerged winners at the polls through

votes from their electorate; as such they must give back to the communities.

“As elected officers, be it legislator, chairman or governor, you must develop your community or state; that is the only way to ensure that democratic dividends get to people at the grass roots.

“During campaigns politicians come and say they will provide water, establish hospitals, create access roads; but immediately they assume office they forget all they have promised.

“The political class must imbibe the fear of God by having it at the back of their mind that they will give account of their stewardship.”

The community leader observed the increasing incidence of abandoned projects by the political class which posed as challenge to national growth.

“The practice by politicians starting new projects, instead of continuing with existing ones, with the aim to benefit from it is wrong and should not be encouraged.

(L-R): Idehen (middle), Pa. Osadloiye Osamuonyi and Pa Joseph Igbineweke during a meeting of Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Area Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) at Okada recently.

My Wife Threatens Me, Husband Tells Court

Professional Fees: Court

Delivers Ruling May 19 IKEJA- A High Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, will now deliver its ruling in a case filed by a lawyer, Mr. Debo Adeleke, against the PDP over non payment of N10.55 million professional fees on May 19.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye had fixed Wednesday to deliver a ruling but the court could not sit due to his absence.

The court’s registrar informed the parties in the suit that the ruling had been adjourned till May 19.

In the suit, Adeleke’s counsel, Mr. Benson Akeredolu, claimed that his client handled seven cases for the PDP at the Lagos State Local Government Elections Petitions Tribunal.

According to him, the legal services were provided by the claimant to the PDP between November 2011 and August 2012.

He said that the party only paid Adeleke N1.45 million, out of the N12 million agreed fees for the handling of the cases.

However, the PDP counsel, Mr Chukwuma Nmesirionye, urged the court to dismiss the suit.

Nmesirionye argued that the claimant was not instructed to take up the cases by the national leadership of the PDP. According to him, Article 22(2) of the PDP states that the party usually maintains legal relationships with any person only through its national officers.

He said that none of the correspondences tendered by Adeleke was between the national headquarters of the party and the claimant.

Retirees of Defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) protesting over unpaid pensions in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Family Wants Killers Prosecuted

Murdered Farmer:

ENUGU- The family of late Mathew Aniugo, allegedly killed

by Fulani herdsmen in OguiAgu, Eke in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, has called for the prosecution of his killers.

A member of the family, Mr Sergius Aliozor, told newsmen in Enugu that Aniugo was murdered in his farm on May 1.

Aliozor said the deceased was

working on his farmland with his wife, Mrs Nnneka Aniugo, and their four children when the incident occurred.

He said the herdsmen invaded the farm with their cattle and when the deceased, who spoke Hausa fluently, challenged them, a little

Avoid Gaseous Foods, Dietician Advises ABUJA- Hajiya Hauwa Pregnant Women Suleiman, a Dietician with the FCT Public Health Department, has advised pregnant women to eat more of nutritious foods, and avoid gaseous foods to prevent complications.

“While all foods are usually right for pregnant women, some women still found it difficult to adjust to some foods during pregnancy.

“This may be due to the hormonal changes which make them to throw up as some foods and fruits are gaseous,’’ Suleiman told newsmen in Abuja.

She said such foods and fruits included beans, moi-moi, orange, lime, among others.

“Pregnant women need to take all foods, even in certain excesses, because they are not eating for themselves alone, and should stay away from those ones which will affect them.

“Once a woman is pregnant, she eats for three people or even more.

That is, eating for herself, for the placenta to supply nutrients to the baby, and also for the baby.

“Excess foods are needed because when the delivery day comes, the baby and the mother would need enough energy to

work,’’ Suleiman said.

The dietician explained that if the mother ate well, the baby would be nourished and would have the strength to assist the mother in pushing out the baby.

Suleiman said all foods were important to pregnant women, adding that they should not restrict themselves to carbohydrate or protein foods alone.

“We encourage them to take nutrient dense foods which have complete meal with all the energy in it,’’ she advised.

argument ensued but did not lead to any form of fisticuffs.

He said the herdsmen left their cattle only to return after about three hours with a pump action gun, a cutlass and a stick.

Aliozor said the deceased made to run away on hearing a gunshot but was demobilised with shots on both legs.

“The one with the machete gave him a deep cut on the right arm,” he said, adding that Aniugo later died after efforts to save his life failed.

“The police had been to the scene of the incident and had indeed made some arrests,” he said.

Aliozor said the wife of the deceased had since identified the man who shot her late husband as well as the one that gave him the cut.

“This is not the first time this type of incident is happening in our community.

“Two years ago, one

Roderick Nzekwe died under a similar circumstance, but there was nobody to identify the perpetrators.

“On October 5, 2013, the Fulani herdsmen attempted to rape one lady in our community. The women in the community mobilised for demonstrations but nothing came out of it,’’ he said.

Aliozor appealed to the government to save the community from the herdsmen who had taken over the community.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Enugu Police Command, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the report.

Amaraizu said that three suspects had been arrested and that investigations were ongoing.

He said the police had held talks with the herdsmen to ensure peaceful co-existence with their host communities.

ILORIN- A man, Alhaji Sule Toheeb, told an Ilorin Area Court that his wife, Saidat Toheeb, was always threatening to kill him.

Toheeb, 36, who resided at Amilegbe area of Ilorin, prayed the court to dissolve his four-year-old marriage to Saidat for being a threat to his life.

“My wife gets angry at any slightest provocation and always promise to kill me whenever I try to correct her wrong attitude,’’ he said.

He told the court that his wife always refuse to carry out his orders, and would at times threaten to arrest him if he disturbed her life.

Toheeb said that their marriage was contracted in 2010 and was yet to produce any child.

“My Lord, I want an end to this marriage because I cannot withstand my wife’s threat because my life is in danger,’’ he said.

However, the defendant objected to the prayer, saying she was still interested in the marriage.

“My husband always provoke me to threaten him due to his rigid nature; but I promise to be submissive to my husband,’’ she said.

She prayed the court for an adjournment to enable her make a reconciliatory move.

The presiding officer, Mr Yusuf Abdulkareem, adjourned the case to June 5 for a report of settlement or continuation of hearing.

South-West Aregbesola Makes Case For Clean Environment

Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Plateau chapter and Civil Societies Organisation protesting over the abduction of Chibok school girls in Jos recently.

Highway Robbery:

Guilty

ISEYIN (OYO STATE)Twenty-year-old Manu Buba has pleaded guilty at the Iseyin Chief Magistrates’ Court, Oyo State, to a threecount charge of conspiracy, stealing and highway robbery.

Police prosecutor, Friday Sule, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the crime on April 4, at Alubata village on the IseyinOkeho road at about 5.00 p.m.

He said that Buba and others now at large conspired to rob innocent travellers on the road and dispossessed them of their possessions.

Suspect Pleads

“Buba and others who are yet to be apprehended committed felony by robbing and snatching two motorcycles, and N14,000 cash from three different people.

“People in the area alerted the police of what was going on and our Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), led

by SP Suara Olaide, swung into action.

He said that the intervention of SARS led to the arrest of Buba, while others fled into the bush with bullet wounds, adding that the police were able to recover the items stolen from the travellers.

Sule put the total value of the items and cash recovered at N250, 000, adding that the

police were doing their best to arrest other members of the gang.

He stated that the offences contravened Sections 516 and 402(A) of the Criminal Code Laws Vol. II, of Oyo State.

The accused, who had no legal representation, pleaded guilty to the three-count charge, and pleaded that the

court should be lenient with him.

In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Abiola Richard, said further action on the case must await the advice of the Department of Public Prosecutions.

She, however, adjourned the case until June 5 for mention.

OSOGBO - Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, the wife of Osun governor, in Osogbo charged Osun Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency workers to redouble their efforts to make the state clean.

Aregbesola gave the advice at a training programme on Community-Led Total Sanitation organised to select communities in the 30 local government areas of the state and Ife-East Area Office.

She said that in order for people to live healthy, they needed to be orientated on open defecation-free environment and the importance of potable water for the communities.

According to her, the programme is aimed at training

the communities to stop open defecation through provision of household latrines and safe water.

Mr Adekunle Ige, the Special Adviser to the governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, lauded Gov. Rauf Aregbesola’s promotion of environmental health.

Ige also commended the governor for supporting the state government’s six-point action plan aimed at bettering the lives of the people.

The Special Adviser, who enlightened the people on healthy living, emphasised the need for regular washing of hands, as well as personal, food and environmental hygiene.

ABEOKUTA - The police arraigned Adegbesan Muritala, a 35-year-old commercial driver, at Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for reckless driving and causing the death of two men.

The prosecutor, ASP Banji Sangotokun, told the court that the offence was committed on May 6 on the Abeokuta-Ibadan Road in Agbetu, Odeda in Abeokuta.

Sangotokun said the accused drove a truck with registration

308XA and conveying five passengers.

He said Muritala’s reckless driving caused the death of one Lateef Biodun, 32, and an unknown trader.

The prosecutor said Biodun was the driver of the car conveying the five persons.

Chief Magistrate Anthony Araba, however, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till July 7 for mention.

Reckless Driving Commercial Driver LSR 979XH into a car Arraigned number with registration number FMT

Marketing Manager, Grand Cereals Limited, Mr. Tope Banjo (2nd right) and Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Plateau State chapter, Mr. Julius Gusan (middle) sharing eggs to school children during Egg Eating Awareness campaign in Jos recently.

Osun Poll: Security Expert Tasks Contestants EDE (OSUN)- A security expert, Alhaji Hassan Hussein, urged contestants in the August 9 gubernatorial election in Osun to cultivate the spirit of sportsmanship.

Hussein gave the charge in an interview with newsmen at his residence in Ede, Osun.

According to him, the peace and tranquillity of the state should be the paramount aim of the contestants. “ No serious politician will sacrifice the security of lives and property of the people for any position whatsoever; the security of the people must come first in any contest. “ Like sportsmen and women, I am imploring all contestants to see the race as mere sporting activities in which all the contestants play

according to the rules and take the outcome in their stride,” he said.

He also advised the electorate not heat up the polity with inflammatory statements about the performance and pedigree of politicians.

Hussein further urged residents to desist from the undemocratic practice of selling their voter card for a token, describing this as myopic and primitive. ‘’The electorate also have a key role to play by eschewing all form of undemocratic attitudes that are capable of threatening the peaceful coexistence of the state during and after the elections,’’ he said.

7 Jailed For Drug Trafficking IBADAN - Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Adeoyo, Ibadan, has sentenced seven men to various jail terms for unlawful dealing in Indian hemp.

The seven convicts who were sentenced in seven separate judgments, were Wale Bakare, Abdulahi Danbuzu, Taofeek Gbadero, Mustafa Bello, Emmanuel Alani, Rahaman Salami and Ismaila Akorede.

Mr Ayokunle Morakinyo, counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said the convicts were arraigned by the Agency for unlawful dealing in Indian hemp.

He said that the convicts were separately picked up between January and April at different locations in Oyo State, adding that they were caught with the substances weighing between 1.4kg and 19kg.

Sentencing the accused person, the judge said they had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.

“The convicts shall in addition to their various jail terms, forfeit the money found on them at the time of their arrest.

“The money shall be paid into the Federation Account.

“You are all warned to desist from further engaging in crime

after your jail terms, for I shall not be lenient with you if you are brought before me again,’’ Emmanuel said.

The convicts bagged jail terms ranging from six months to two and half years.

He said that the offence contravened Section 11 (C) of the NDLEA Act, No. 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Lagos NDLEA Nabs Suspected Drug Trafficker LAGOS- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it has arrested a 51-year-old man for attempting to smuggle 3.87 kg of substances believed to be methamphetamine to Nairobi, Kenya.

This is contained in a statement by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr Ofoyeju Mitchell, and made available to newsmen.

It said the suspect was arrested with the substance worth N2.25 million at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, during an outward screening of passengers on a Kenyan Airways’ flight.

Reports state that Methamphetamine, often called ice or meth, is a crystal-like powdered substance that comes in large rock-like chunks.

It is usually odourless, bittertasting and dissolves easily in water or alcohol.

“The drug was found in the suspect’s luggage.

“The drug was packed in white transparent polythene and hidden in the suspect’s bag.

“The bag contained soup ingredients like pepper, melon and crayfish,” the NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, was quoted as saying.

The suspect, the statement added, would have made a profit of 15,000 dollars (about N2.25 million) from the drug deal.

“I cannot sleep because of debts. I would have made a profit

of about N2.25 million from selling the drug in Nairobi.

“As a result of my condition, my senior wife had gone to live with her parents. I intended to pay my debt and start a business from the money.

“Kindly help me, I am married to two wives with three children,” the statement also quotes the suspect as saying.

The agency’s Chairman, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, suggested stiffer penalty to deter drug traffickers.

“Getting money from drug trafficking is criminal and must be discouraged. We need stiffer punishment to deter people from drug trafficking.

“The pain of spending 15 years in prison will prevent more people from getting involved in drug smuggling.”

The statement said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

LAGOSVictoria Kimani, a budding Nigerian musician, has joined the global campaign — “Bring Back Our Girls – in her latest song.

The international community has joined Nigeria in the effort to free the more than 200 school girls abducted from their school at Chibok.Borno by Boko Haram insurgents.

The reports state that the song titled “Emotions’’, is a passionate plea by the

chocolate city singer for a safe return of the girls.

The diva sang about Rebecca, Naomi and Sarayah, which were part of the names of the abducted girls in Chibok, as released to the global media.

On her twitter page, she tweeted that “if I were one of those girls, I will fight hard. And I hope that everybody’s prayer hits heaven hard.

“I will run so fast for my

Manslaughter

Lagos BRT Driver Charged

Director of Administration and Finance, Lagos Central Business District (CBD), Mrs Bolanle Owolabi; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on CBD, Mrs Derin Disu and her counterpart on information and strategy, Mr Lateef Raji, at a News conference on activities of CBD in the last one year in Lagos on Wednesday.

International Nursing Day: LAGOS- As Nigeria marks the International Nurses Day, some nurses criticised the attitude of the public toward nurses as being inferior to doctors in the health sector.

They said the public’s perception about the nursing profession was not encouraging the nurses to discharge their responsibilities in healthcare delivery well.

Mrs Taiwo Adetayo, the Zonal Chief Nursing Officer, Lagos

Nurses Seek Better

Public Perception University Teaching Hospital, Idi- Araba, told newsmen that patients looked down on nurses.

“Without nurses in the health sector, there is nothing. We are the ones that are closest to the patient.

“But Nigerians believe that the doctor is all in all, which is not supposed to be.

“We are close to the patients and we will listen to their

Nigerian Singer, Victoria Kimani Joins Bring Back Our Girls Campaign

future and pray that God’s angels keep me in the wings of the Lord,’’ she said.

Part of the lyrics said:“If I were Rebecca, Naomi, or Sarayah, I will pray to God that my captors don’t burn in hell fire.

“I will pray that their hatred do not cause me to hate also, but forgiveness in my heart that would make them change their ways.’’

complaints, taking care of them.

“A doctor will not come now and give bed bath to a patient, doctor will not come now and carry bed pan or urinal, and they won’t touch it “Their own is to prescribe and see that prescription order is being carried out.

“So, we are the ones that are very close to the patients and we are the ones carrying out the major job concerning patient care.”

Adetayo said that people were often rude to nurses and disregarding their instructions unless it came from a doctor.

The chief nursing officer added that the attitude was improper to the training of nurses who unlike doctors were involved in the day-to-day part of a patient’s recovery.

She explained that nursing could not be done by everyone because it required passion, otherwise patients would suffer needlessly.

“I’m proud to be a nurse; the job satisfaction should be there.

“If you are into a profession and you don’t have job satisfaction, I don’t see any

L-R: Deputy Director, International cooperation, National Population Commission, Mr Samuel Eloho; Chief Planning Officer, Mr Sanjo Famiro and Deputy Director, Primary Healthcare Department, Ministry of health, Mrs Chito Nelson, at a National task Force on Reproductive Health, Population and Development meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

reason why you will love doing it.

“But there are some people that believe it is a calling, where even there is job satisfaction or not, because souls are supposed to be taken care of.

“And you must put in all your effort to make sure that person receives healing.”

In her own contribution, Mrs. Grace Fakiye, Chief Nursing Officer, Clinical Teaching Unit, LUTH told newsmen that the job of a nurse had grown in recent years.

She said that nursing had a scientific aspect that exceeded the act of merely following instructions by doctors.

“Nurses give systematic care to their patients, they look at the patient in totality and see what they can do or say to drive that person towards wellness,” she said.

LAGOS- A 32-year-old driver with the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Giwa Nurudeen, who knocked down a 45-year-old man, was charged before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Nurudeen, 54, who lives in Iganmu-Orile, is charged with manslaughter and driving without a driver’s licence.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Inedu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 4 at 7.15 p.m. at Oduade Bus Stop on LagosBadagry Expressway.

According to him, the accused hit one Mohammed Sule of No. 28, Alafia St., Amukoko with his BRT bus, who was later confirmed dead.

Inedu alleged that Nurudeen drove the bus with registration no. XR 135 AKD recklessly and without respect for other road users.

He said the accused also drove without a valid driver’s licence.

The offences contravened the Road Traffic Act, Lagos State, 2003.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Adeyemi Amos, admitted the accused to a bail of N50, 000 in addition to one surety in like sum.

He said the accused should also show an evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

Amos adjourned further hearing in the case until May 22.

Govt To Address LASU Fee LAGOS- The Lagos State Hike

Government has said that it would soon make a pronouncement on the lingering issue of tuition fees hike at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Commissioner for Education, told newsmen at the 2014 Ministerial briefing in Lagos that the government was making effort to end the ongoing crisis in the institution.

“We are looking into the crisis in LASU holistically as a responsible government; very soon you will hear our pronouncement on the fees issue.

“We are not insensitive to the plight of the students, we are working on it,’’ she said.

On projects, Oladunjoye said that it had completed LASU School of Transport, while seven others were still under construction.

According to her, the projects under construction are LASU ultra-modern Senate Building, LASU Central Library, Student Union Arcade and Faculty of Management Sciences complex.

Others are Faculty of Law

Lecture Hall, LASU Radio Station and Faculty of Science Complex.

She said that 2,784 candidates were offered admission in the 2012/2013 academic session out of which 2,008 were cleared for matriculation.

Also speaking, Dr Fatai Olukoga, Special Adviser to Governor. Babatunde Fashola on Education, berated the lecturers for threatening to embark on strike because of the fees hike.

Olukoga said that the lecturers were using the fees hike issue to stay away from classrooms.

He said that the demands of the union could not be addressed without due consultation.

The adviser said that the union’s demands of retirement age to be increased to 65 years could not be decided on by the State Executive Council.

“The EXCO cannot decide on the retirement age on its own; we told ASUU members to write to the House of Assembly so that they can call a public hearing before a decision can be made.

“We are at the point of talking, so, maybe they will not embark on strike,’’ he said.

Across The Nation Polytechnic Workers Suspend 7 Month “We have been on strike for suspension was “conditional”, as Strike seven months now, but when the the union would resume its strike

By JOSES SEDE

L-R: Sales Manager (North), Somotex Nigeria Ltd, Abhishek Sadhya; Vice President, Ajay Singh; Regional Business Manager, Sridhar Doraiswamy and Commercial Air Conditioning (CAC) Project Sales Manager, Stephen Olorunleke, at a seminar on Commercial Air Conditioning in Abuja recently.

ABUJA - Nasarawa State Polytechnic chapter of Non Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics on Wednesday suspended its seven months-oldstrike.

The Chairman of the union, Mr. David Ayitono-Goshi announced the suspension in Lafia while briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting they had with the management of the polytechnic.

Ayitono-Goshi said that the suspension followed the intervention of respected personalities who pledged to pursue the union’s grievances to the appropriate authorities.

Minister Pledges To Tackle Metering Deficit, Gas Shortage ABUJA- The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has pledged to tackle the huge metering gap and gas shortage militating against stable power supply in the country.

The minister made the pledge during an over-sight visit to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s headquarters (NERC) in Abuja.

He said some stakeholders in the electricity sector had raised concerns on the issues of inadequate pre-paid meters for electricity consumers and gas shortage to the power plants.

He said that the nation’s power sector was still suffering from a huge metering deficit which was seriously affecting the operations of the electricity distribution companies.

He said that the nation’s power sector still had a metering gap of about 2.7 million and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to reverse the trend.

“Now, we have an estimated shortfall in meters or metering gap of 2.7 million; the whole issue of metering is suffocating and there is no doubt about that, so we must find a solution to it’’, he said.

On gas, Nebo said the ministry was working closely with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to ensure availability of gas for power generating plants.

He said that the Federal Government was exploring the possibility of getting gas from the export quota to compliment local need. “ I have firm commitment from my colleague, Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison Madueke, that gas would be available.

“We must ensure synergy in all our operations, all in the three electricity value chain must be happy, including our esteemed customers.

“She has even assured on gas for power that if need be, she will order that gas meant for export is diverted to power,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Egbin Power Plc, Mr Mike Uzoigwe, who spoke on behalf of the electricity Generating Companies at the meeting, said GENCOs and DISCOs were losing a lot of revenue as a result of gas shortage and inadequate metering.

He said the management of the company had invested about N7 billion in strengthening the plant for optimal performance but had lost about N570 million in revenue since the privitisation in November, 2013.

He said that the GENCOS and DISCOs could not continue to run their businesses at a loss.

He called on the Federal Government to help tackle the issue of gas, metering and others that would ensure smooth running of the sector. “ Our experience after privatisation is undesirable. This is because as at end of last month, our books showed that we are losing revenue to the tune of about N570 million. “ The revenue profile in the electricity industry is very poor.

And if any further investor should look in, it will give results that may not be desirable for the country. “ Whatever could be done to help grow the profile would be desirable and help us in going forward.

“Two factors are impinging on our moving forward; one is the fact that consumers are not metered and the second is the issue of gas; we can never overemphasize the problem the lack of gas is causing in the industry,’’ he said.

Uzoigwe said that Egbin power plant which had capacity of 1.80MW was currently

generating about 600 megawatts as a result of gas challenge and had adversely affected its revenue.

NERC Chairman, Dr Sam

Amadi, in his remarks, said that the commission would continue to work with all stakeholders in the sector to solve some of the post-privatization challenges in the sector.

new members of the governing council came on board, they requested that we should appeal to the national headquarters of the union to suspend the strike.

“They also assured that they will continue with the negotiation from where it stopped,” he said.

The chairman said that the

if the state government fails to address the issues within six months.

He directed all members of the union to resume work immediately. Meanwhile, some of the union members have complied with the directive, as they were seen in their places of work.

Confab C’ttee Recommends The “List of Proposals for States Creation State Creation” was signed by ABUJA- The National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government on Thursday, recommends the creation of more states based on merit.

In its final report made available to newsmen the committee attached a list of requests for additional 32 states and one for a change of name.

The committee resolved by consensus that “there shall be created an additional State for the South East zone.

“That all other requests for state creation should be considered on merit.’’

rapporteur of the committee, Chief (Mrs) R.I. Chris-Garuba.

The 32 proposals for state creation include Aba, Adada, Amana, Apa, Anioma, Anim, Orimili, Oduduwa, Ijebu, Yemen, New Delta, Okun, Edu and Lagoon.

Others are South Plateau, Confluence, Etiti, Njaba, OkeOgun, Toru-Ebe, New Oyo, Hadejia, Ose, Ogoja, Okura, Ugwuaku, Ghari, Sombreiro and Old Calabar, Savannah, Ogoja and Warri.

Reports state that there was also a proposal for “Change of Name of State” from Adamawa to Gongola, its former name.

Uniform For Almajiri Schools: FG,

UBEC Share Cost

ABUJA- The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has disbursed 50 per cent of the cost required for the provision of school uniforms for children in Almajiri schools.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr David Apeh, Public Relations Officer of UBEC, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The statement said the Federal Government initiative was aimed at redressing the out-of-school children syndrome at the grassroots.

It said the initiative was also to ensure that children at the early childhood stage had access to education which was one of the statutory functions of the commission.

It said that 125 Almajiri model schools were being constructed by the Federal Government under the National Almajiri Education Programme (NAEP).

According to the statement, 103 of these schools have been completed and handed over to the SUBEBs while 22 were at various stages of completion.

The measure became necessary because of the importance of taking the campaign to the grassroots where challenges of girl-child

education, boy-child drop out and Almajiri education were identified.

It said that the UBEC had would set aside some funds from the Teachers Professional Development Fund (TPDF) on an annual basis for the training of quality assurance officers.

The statement said the fund would be used to finance the ongoing projects and subsequent special training in schools across the local government areas nationwide.

“Five out of the 13 junior girls model secondary schools under construction in states with the challenge of girl-child education had been completed and handed over to the beneficiaries.

“UBEC has concluded arrangement to carry out lowlevel advocacy to communities with varied educational challenges,’’ it said.

According to the statement, UBEC and SUBEB have also condemned in strong terms the abduction of the

Government Secondary School students in Chibok, Borno, by insurgents.

Meanwhile, the UBEC and SUBEB condemned the activities of the sect during their 12th quarterly meeting in Owerri, the statement said.

The delegates called on Nigerians to support the Federal Government in the fight against all forms of terrorism in the country.

According to the statement, the abduction of school children has far reaching implications on accessing and maintenance of basic education delivery.

Christians protest over abduction of Chibok girls in Lagos recently.

Abuja C’ttee On Chibok Abduction Meets Foreign Officers ABUJA-The Presidential Committee on the abduction of Chibok’s schoolgirls interacted with officials of some countries that had pledged assistance towards the search and rescue of the girls.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the spokesperson of the committee, Kingsley Osadolor.

The statement said that the interaction, which lasted for

Christians, Muslims Urged To Unite Against Boko Haram ABUJA - Christians and Muslims have been urged to continue to unite against the Boko Haram group in order to put an end to their activities.

The Chief Imam of AlHabibiyyah Islamic Society of Nigeria, Alhaji Fuad Adeyemi, made the call at a news conference in Abuja.

Adeyemi also urged religious leaders and politicians to desist from politicising the abduction of school girls in Chibok, Borno.

“We are very saddened by the abduction of nearly 300 school girls in Chibok.

“Many of our members have been fasting from that day. We don’t care if the girls are Christians or Muslims, they are Nigerians and most importantly, they are human beings’’, he said.

Adeyemi stressed the need for all Nigerians to rally round the federal government in the bid to rescue the girls.

The Imam called on the Federal Government to continue to explore all meaningful ways to end the insurgency.

Adeyemi said that both Muslims and Christians were always the target of the terrorists, adding that nobody should be deceived by the antics of the terrorists and their cohorts.

He held that the call by some individuals for the removal of Governors of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, was unconstitutional and retrogressive.

hours, took place in Abuja and covered issues within the terms of reference of the fact-finding committee.

It said the Chairman of the committee, Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (rtd), thanked the officials and their governments for obliging to back the Federal Government in its bid to free the abducted schoolgirls.

It said Sabo acknowledged the global response to the abduction as a reflection of common humanity.

The statement said the officials expressed their enthusiasm in joining the search for, and freedom for the schoolgirls.

It said that the representatives of Borno State Government, who were absent at the committee’s inauguration last week by President Goodluck Jonathan, attended the session.

The statement also disclosed that the committee would hold further interactions with Defence and Security agencies.

It said that the meeting was to ascertain the veracity of speculations that had been making the rounds since the abduction.

It will be recalled that over 200 girls were abducted on April 14 from their school dormitories in Chibok, Borno.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Minister of Mines and Steel, Mr. Musa Sada; Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja recently.

Man, 31, Arraigned For Assault, Extortion ABUJA - The police have arraigned an applicant, Ikechukwu Okoro, 31, in a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, charged with criminal

force, assault and extortion.

The prosecutor, Francis Tanko, told the court that the matter was reported by Emmanuel Ernah, of Aso Mararaba, Nasarawa State,

on April 16 at the Wuse Zone 3 Police Station, Abuja.

He said that the accused and three others, now at large, conspired and assaulted Emah in 2012.

Tanko added that the accused and the three others lured Ernah to a bush and forced him to buy chemical for producing counterfeit currency.

The prosecutor said that Ernah was subjected to de-humanising assault when he failed to buy the chemical from the accused persons.

Obasanjo Establishes hypertension, cancer, Foundation diabetes, sickle cell and malnutrition in

L-R:Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Aji; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Vice President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja recently.

DUTSE - Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said in Dutse that he had established a Foundation to fight some health challenges in Nigeria and Africa.

Obasanjo told newsmen that the Foundation was established to address non communicable diseases like

Confab C’ttee Recommends Labour Remains On Exclusive List ABUJA - The National Conference Committee on Civil Society, Labour, Youth and Sports, has proposed that labour issues including minimum wage, remained on the exclusive list to avoid setting labour backward in the country.

The Sub-Committee Chairman on Labour, and delegate representing Organised Labour at the conference, Dr. Peter OzoEson, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Ozo-Eson said moving labour issues to the concurrent list, would disorganise the unions

The accused person and the three others forcefully collected N100,000 from Ernah, which were contrary to the provisions of sections 265 and 294 of the Penal Code.

If found guilty, the accused person is liable to not less than 14 years jail term.

However, the accused person pleaded not guilty and the presiding judge, Mr. Shuaibu Usman, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety in like sum.

He said the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and a civil servant of not below GL 10, as he adjourned hearing in the matter until June 4.

and cause incessant strikes, adding that labour issues ought to remain on the exclusive list to maintain national standard.

“We are aware that the Committee on Devolution of Power has proposed that labour issues, including minimum wage be moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.

“When we first got wind of this, organised labour in the conference formally requested to meet with the committee and we tried to impress on them the need to maintain the status quo by

retaining labour issues in the exclusive list.

“Subsequently, we heard in the press that Obong Victor Attah, who is a co-chair in that committee, informed the public that they still maintained the position that theywere recommending it should be moved to the concurrent list.

“The sub-committee on labour which I chair, has recommended to the committee on civil society and sports, that the position has been adopted that labour issues need to be retained in the exclusive legislative list,” he said.

Ozo-Eson said labour should not be moved to concurrent legislative list, given the fact that

it was one of the organisations in the country that promoted unity.

He also said that labour had contributed immensely to the economic development of the nation and should not be tampered with.

“There are examples of other nations where labour is on the exclusive list and I don’t think we should be going back on this issue. We should be taking steps that will move us forward positively and strengthen our national cohesion.’’

Ozo-Eson, who is the Chief Economist to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), equally disclosed that the committee made recommendations on

casualisation of workers and unemployment.

He said the committee agreed on the need to come up with enabling laws to regulate casualisation of workers.

According to him, having laws in place will help regulate and set a minimum standard to protect domestic workers who are often taken advantage of.

He said the committee equally recommended employment policies that would re-invent industries, particularly manufacturing industries to allow them blossom, while citizens should be encouraged to go into skills acquisition.

Africa.

The pilot project of the Foundation was inaugurated

by Obasanjo on Monday at a Primary School in Kudai, Dutse in Jigawa.

He said the Foundation would also promote girl child education in Nigeria.

According to him, girl child education is paramount to the foundation because of the role of women in the society.

The former president said that the Foundation would give special attention to youth unemployment, adding that unemployment was not only a problem in Nigeria but all over Africa.

“Today, about 60 percent of our youths are unemployed, these people are either wholly unemployed or partially employed.

“If we do not pay attention to this problem, we are all sitting on a keg of gun powder,” he said.

Business + Economy CIBN Releases Code Of Conduct For Banking Sector

LAGOS The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has released a new code of conduct to guide banking operations in the country.

The President of the institute, Dr Segun Aina, announced the release of the code at a news conference in Lagos.

The new code was entitled “Professional Code of Ethics and Business Conducts”.

The Bankers Committee had established a Subcommittee on Ethics and Professionalism on December19, 2000.

Aina said the objective of the code was to instil discipline in the banking profession.

“It has become imperative to combine key factors of three former codes of conduct to produce a single and virile comprehensive code.

“The provisions in the code governs the

behaviours of both individual and corporate bodies in the banking industry.

“It applies to all strata and cadres of employee in the industry, including executive directors, mangers, officers and supervisors, whether fulltime or part-time.

“It enunciates the guidelines on the handling of reported cases, petitions and complaints “The code shall be read and implemented in tandem with subsisting statues,’’ Aina stated.

The Registrar of the CIBN, Dr Uju Ogubunka, said the Ethics and Professionalism Division of the institute received a total of 113 petitions with petition claims amounting to N185.4 billion in 2013.

According to him, 98 cases have been fully resolved with total claims of N5.9b.

He said, however, that

N2.7 billion had been awarded to petitioners as refunds.

The registrar explained that the sub-committee had received a total of 1,504 petitions with N227.7 billion claims out of which 1,350 had been resolved and N12.7 billion refunded.

The First VicePresident of the institute, Mrs. Debola Osibogun, said the code guaranteed that those who had ulterior motives had no hiding place

MAKURDI - Farmers in Makurdi Benue State have applauded the State Government for promptly supplying fertiliser to all farmers for this year’s farming season.

Some of them who spoke with newsmen in Makurdi, particularly commended Governor Gabriel Suswam for the timely launch of the distribution process and said that it would enhance better yields.

Reports say that the sale and distribution of the input took place at Zaki-Biam in Ukum Local Government

Area.

Suswam was quoted as saying that the product would be sold to farmers at a subsidized rate of N3,300 per bag, as against its current market price of N6,000 per bag.

Mr. Iordye Gbakon, one of the farmers, told newsmen it was the first time he was receiving fertiliser.

“Over the years, we have had to apply fertiliser to our farms when it is almost too late, due to the delay in

procurement and distribution of the product.

“Supplying the product this year is a complete departure from such past experiences.

For many or us, this is a thing of joy,” he said.

Mr Wondoo Tyoban, another farmer, said that the state government deserved commendation for making fertiliser available to farmers on time in the 2014 farming season. ‘’This is really a major boost; it will spur us to work

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State (left), presenting a sourvenir to European Union delegate to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Michel Arrion, during his courtesy visit to Government House in Bauchi recently.

Eleme Petrochemical Targets Investment

ABUJA - The Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Ltd. (IEPL), said that it would invest 4.4 billion dollars in the company by 2019 so as to become the largest petrochemical company in Africa.

This is contained in a statement by the Bureau of Public Enterprises, signed by its Head of Public Communications, Chigbo Anichebe, in Abuja.

The statement said Mr.

Manish Mundra, the Managing Director of the company, announced this while addressing members of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, led by its Chairman, Sen. Olugbenga Obadara, who visited the company.

It said the company had so far injected 575 million dollars since its privatisation and paid N33.9 billion as

Benue Farmers Celebrate Timely Fertiliser Distribution

Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Enugu Command, Mr. Nathaniel Ubong (left), briefing newsmen on Oji River Power Station Cable vandalisation in Enugu recently.

harder. Farmers should have no complaints this year.

“We have to praise government when it does things that are worth commending. We should not wait for mistakes before we start chastising our leaders,’’ he said.

Another farmer, Mrs. Mwarga Shausu, said that the early launch of fertiliser sales would inspire farmers to engage in large scale production of food for human consumption and for industrial use as well. ‘’This step will enhance wealth creation among farmers. We expect them to do more to generate higher incomes and ensure food security,’’ she said.

Mr. Jinge Atsugh, another farmer, urged government to sustain the tempo to ensure stability in food production.

Meanwhile, a large scale yam farmer, Mr. Terzungwe Akaajime, appealed to the government to check the activities of middlemen in the fertiliser distribution chain, to avoid exploitation and sharp practises. ‘’This step is necessary to eliminate all hitches encountered by farmers in their bid to get the commodity,’’ he said.

dividend to the Federal Government and Rivers Government since its acquisition in 2006.

Giving the breakdown of the dividend, the statement said the company had paid N25.2 billion to the Bureau of Public Enterprises and NNPC while 8.71 billion was paid to Rivers Government.

It also said that N15.61 billion had been paid as taxes to both the federal and state governments which included value added tax, customs duty, withholding taxes and Pay As You Earn (PAYE).

It said that the organisation had increased its production capacity to four per cent preprivatisation to 77 per cent as well as planning to increase its production to 325,000 tonns per annum in 2014.

The statement explained that as part of efforts to diversify, the company would embark on the construction of mega-sized fertiliser project comprising 1.4 million MTPA nitrogenous fertiliser, a gas pipeline and jetty projects targeted to be completed in 2015.

“The fertiliser plant will be located within the confines of the existing site, measuring 361 hectares and will occupy approximately 38 hectares.

“The main project components involve 2,300 MTPD ammonia plant; 4,000 MTPD urea plant; 4,000 MTPD urea granulation plant, with associated off sites and utilities.’’

The statement reported the managing director as

saying that the company had begun the importation of fertiliser branded in the name Indorama, now making steady entry into the market in the country.

It appealed to the Federal Government for tax exemption and suggested that the tax regime should be based on the quantum of investment made by a company operating in the country.

At Notore Chemical Industries Ltd., Onne, the Head of Projects, Mr. Bode Agagu, said that the company would increase its production from 500,000 tonns to 750,000 per annum.

He said the company would build a new plant, in partnership with a Danish firm, adding that it had successfully carried out a Turn Around Maintenance and increased the production by 30 per cent.

Agagu said that the company was able to access 2,000,000 farmers directly in 2013 in 2,500 communities in 30 states in the country.

He appealed to the Federal Government to put in place safe guards to check gas pipeline vandalism as it was critical to its operations.

He further appealed to the government to construct a rail line to link the company to the ports, to ease the haulage of its products.

Obadara said that the committee had embarked on the oversight visit to get information on the successes and challenges of the privatised companies.

The chairman said that they had also embarked on the visit to assess their compliance with the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) and the Post Acquisition Plan (PAP) they had signed with government.

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY (15/05/14) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

NEIMETH

1.23

1.23

0

0

59,146

69,200.82

7UP

85.8

85.8

0

0

43,397

3,715,172.30

NEM

0.83

0.84

0.01

0

2,758,183

2,287,482.78

ABCTRANS

0.82

0.84

0.02

0

717,911

613,255.84

NESTLE

1070

1070.25

0.25

0

202,041

216,291,231.30

ACADEMY

1.8

1.8

0

0

20,000

34,200.00

NEWGOLD

2037

2030

-7

0

30

60,900.00

ACCESS

9.8

9.85

0.05

0

17,210,167

169,123,601.90

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,000

500

AFRIPRUD

3.28

3.32

0.04

0

1,209,533

3,959,390.20

NPFMCRFBK

0.95

0.95

0

0

162,700

151,712.00

AGLEVENT

1.52

1.52

0

0

88,360

134,122.00

NSE30

1776.51

1773.29

-3.22

0

218,050,179

4,183,458,156.00

AIICO

0.8

0.82

0.02

0

1,749,051

1,458,569.23

NSE50

1924.48

1920.74

-3.74

0

243,771,912

4,310,414,979.00

AIRSERVICE

2.25

2.36

0.11

0

296,589

691,937.00

NSEASEM

950.94

950.94

0

0

54,036

64,092.08

ASHAKACEM

19.5

19.55

0.05

0

670,274

13,206,763.04

NSEASI

39138.97

38957.46

-181.51

0

291,521,573

4,429,653,317.00

AVONCROWN

1.47

1.47

0

0

33,423

46,792.20

NSEBNK

411.02

414.04

3.02

0

120,451,415

1,633,090,718.00

BECOPETRO

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,445

722.5

NSECNSMRGDS

977.17

984.44

7.27

0

12,298,210

1,245,579,150.00

BERGER

10

10

0

0

121,430

1,192,079.66

NSEINDUSTR

2530.38

2498.02

-32.36

0

3,190,227

337,858,449.20

CADBURY

70.95

70.95

0

0

102,710

7,281,361.16

NSEINS

142.16

143.37

1.21

0

30,990,944

20,132,832.19

CAP

38.7

38.7

0

0

48,329

1,873,052.30

NSELOTUSISLM

2708.04

2687.02

-21.02

0

9,119,257

786,272,551.00

CCNN

9.3

9.3

0

0

116,179

1,095,789.40

NSEOILGAS

320.72

324.23

3.51

0

2,180,035

120,169,330.80

CHAMS

0.5

0.5

0

0

8,900

4,450.00

OANDO

15.99

15.98

-0.01

0

1,487,320

23,805,197.41

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

0

40,000

20,000.00

OASISINS

0.51

0.53

0.02

0

9,205,919

4,608,309.50

CONOIL

49.2

49.2

0

0

14,791

691,331.34

OKOMUOIL

34.33

34.11

-0.22

0

687,502

23,496,911.68

CONTINSURE

1.06

1.02

-0.04

0

170,500

173,359.39

PAINTCOM

1.5

1.5

0

0

30,000

45,000.00

CORNERST

0.5

0.51

0.01

0

2,791,900

1,397,150.00

PHARMDEKO

1.57

1.57

0

0

1,200

1,884.00

COSTAIN

1.24

1.24

0

0

65,110

83,007.00

PORTPAINT

4.86

4.86

0

0

15,000

73,702.00

COURTVILLE

0.65

0.65

0

0

35,279

21,872.98

PRESCO

35

35

0

0

442,303

15,475,465.40

CUSTODYINS

2.53

2.5

-0.03

0

3,547,935

8,911,322.63

PRESTIGE

0.57

0.57

0

0

2,113

1,162.15

CUTIX

1.92

2.01

0.09

0

176,158

350,149.36

PZ

35.5

35.3

-0.2

0

383,968

13,525,983.26

CWG

5.48

5.48

0

0

2,000

10,420.00

REDSTAREX

4.45

4.5

0.05

0

206,800

938,072.00

DAARCOMM

0.5

0.5

0

0

5,000

2,500.00

RESORTSAL

0.5

0.5

0

0

200,000

100,000.00

DANGCEM

224.98

220.31

-4.67

0

837,626

187,841,210.70

ROYALEX

0.59

0.59

0

0

40,000

22,800.00

DANGFLOUR

8

8

0

0

108,420

849,212.62

RTBRISCOE

1.09

1.08

-0.01

0

486,986

526,338.74

DANGSUGAR

9.16

9.17

0.01

0

925,234

8,504,612.57

SEPLAT

640

635.01

-4.99

0

51,693

32,958,875.99

DIAMONDBNK

6.5

6.5

0

0

7,120,522

46,289,184.90

SKYEBANK

3.59

3.45

-0.14

0

10,001,725

35,391,758.52

ETERNA

3.61

3.61

0

0

11,750

40,302.50

SKYESHELT

100

95

-5

0

399,858

37,986,510.00

ETI

14.01

14.3

0.29

0

2,326,200

33,447,058.92

SOVRENINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

326,400

163,200.00

ETRANZACT

2.32

2.32

0

0

200

442

STANBIC

22.5

22.04

-0.46

0

799,370

17,718,042.67

EVANSMED

2.7

2.7

0

0

261,311

684,810.66

STERLNBANK

2.3

2.29

-0.01

0

2,852,519

6,440,837.29

FBNH

13.6

13.1

-0.5

0

54,412,333

729,361,345.20

TANTALIZER

0.5

0.5

0

0

500

250

FCMB

4.09

4.19

0.1

0

19,909,697

80,381,498.17

TOTAL

154

155

1

0

106,661

16,505,110.56

FIDELITYBK

2.09

2.03

-0.06

0

4,732,437

9,750,978.92

TRANSCORP

3.85

3.7

-0.15

0

13,420,185

50,509,856.65

FIDSON

2.73

2.72

-0.01

0

833,634

2,225,820.19

TRANSEXPR

2.13

2.2

0.07

0

215,855

474,712.25

FIRSTALUM

0.5

0.5

0

0

500

250

UAC-PROP

18.99

18.05

-0.94

0

217,252

3,923,476.74

FLOURMILL

68.12

68

-0.12

0

307,168

20,928,698.96

UACN

56.5

56.5

0

0

355,161

19,910,993.65

FO

150

155.95

5.95

0

375,425

56,811,724.32

UBA

7.4

7.24

-0.16

0

27,687,698

203,805,653.50

FTNCOCOA

0.5

0.5

0

0

40,200

20,100.00

UBCAP

2.43

2.35

-0.08

0

3,397,295

8,064,883.83

GLAXOSMITH

68.3

68.3

0

0

30,202

2,043,417.44

UBN

10.1

10.18

0.08

0

606,502

6,170,938.90

GUARANTY

27.5

27.52

0.02

0

16,006,642

439,853,466.20

UNHOMES

0.5

0.5

0

0

2,157,983

1,078,991.50

GUINNESS

180

177

-3

0

963,615

173,380,544.60

UNILEVER

49.37

49.37

0

0

3,010,224

148,554,953.80

HMARKINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,200,000

600,000.00

UNITYBNK

0.5

0.5

0

0

726,477

363,238.50

HONYFLOUR

3.8

3.7

-0.1

0

708,266

2,642,744.14

UNIVINSURE

0.5

0.5

0

0

10,004,728

5,002,364.00

IKEJAHOTEL

0.58

0.6

0.02

0

2,116,814

1,236,981.72

UPL

3.97

3.97

0

0

111,194

442,712.65

INFINITY

1.61

1.61

0

0

17,000

28,730.00

UTC

0.5

0.5

0

0

82,062

41,831.00

INTBREW

25

25

0

0

376,218

9,457,060.91

VETGRIF30

17.91

17.9

-0.01

0

20

356.6

INTENEGINS

0.54

0.52

-0.02

0

120,300

62,556.00

VITAFOAM

4.24

4.2

-0.04

0

617,793

2,551,132.39

IPWA

0.5

0.5

0

0

21,000

10,720.00

WAPCO

112.5

111.82

-0.68

0

1,175,231

132,180,702.70

JAPAULOIL

0.5

0.5

0

0

780,807

390,403.50

WAPIC

0.81

0.85

0.04

0

8,772,107

7,208,580.68

JBERGER

71.99

71.99

0

0

160,454

11,758,288.84

WEMABANK

0.99

1

0.01

0

5,600,068

5,561,653.91

ZENITHBANK

23.3

23.5

0.2

0

29,159,454

683,696,422.10

LASACO

0.5

0.5

0

0

602,111

301,055.50

LEARNAFRCA

1.66

1.66

0

0

2,000

3,200.00

LIVESTOCK

3.28

3.29

0.01

0

296,708

965,659.97

MANSARD

2.35

2.35

0

0

120,159

293,062.46

TOP 10 GAINERS

MAYBAKER

1.74

1.82

0.08

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THE global corruption watchdog, Transparency International, has ranked Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt nation in the world. THE Corruption Perception Index 2012 released on Wednesday revealed that Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to clinch the 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER is disturbed about this ranking which has become an annual humiliating ritual. We are also disturbed about the unimpressive remarks of the anti-graft watchdog. Our worries are heightened by the revelation that Nigeria, sharing the position with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan, is said to have remained entrenched in corruption without making much progress to fight the menace.

IT is sad that Since 1995 when TI commenced annual CPI publication, ranking countries by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys, Nigeria has not fared better in fighting a menace widely believed to be responsible for the impoverishment of vast majority of its populations and underdevelopment of the nation at large.

IT is shameful that instead of facing the issue with the zeal and equanimity that it deserves, the authorities in Nigeria is grandstanding and mouthing its citizens whom they accuse of being responsible for the countries annual dismal outing.

IT is quite reprehensible that the CPI 2012 confirmed recent media reports that President Goodluck Jonathan lied

THE NIGERIAN

Nigeria’s Dismal Corruption Rating to the citizens when he claimed in his Independence day broadcast on October 1 that Nigeria was rated second after the United States by TI. TI, denial of issuing such a report even paints Nigeria in black colours.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER is displeased that the report particularly criticized Jonathan for paying lip service to anti-graft war and not showing enough drive to fight corruption, especially corruption involving past and current actors in his administration.

IT is equally shocking to note that the anti-corruption watchdog carpeted President Jonathan for his reluctance in promoting transparency by failing to publicly declare his assets. The mere claim that he declared his assets alongside his late boss, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007 is not enough ground for him not to declare his assets immediately he was sworn in as President for another four year tenure.

IT is obvious that ranging from the monumental fuel subsidy scam to the massive corruption uncovered in pension administration as well as the scams at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Public Enterprises, many Nigerians have already rated the

Jonathan-led administration very low in the fight against corruption.

GOVERNMENT cannot deny the fact that its officials, including some of President Jonathan’s associates have been named in the brazen theft of public funds. Sons of both a past and incumbent national chairmen of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party were indicted and are currently facing trial for robbing the country of several billions of naira under the fuel subsidy regime. Oil block licensing scam and widespread corruption and stealing in the oil industry suggest that Nigeria is far from combating graft.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER expects the President’s aides to face the issues raised by Transparency International.

The Ministers of Finance and Information, Dr. Nngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Labaran Maku should stop insulting Nigerians who they accuse of volunteering information used by the watchdog.

The present administration should rise up and progressively fight corruption in Nigeria, NAME calling, back biting accusations and counter accusations would not in any way help at this time. The anti-corruption agencies should be made independent and autonomous so that they can get their revenue directly from the consolidated federation account. They must be allowed to do their jobs and stop being used as instrument for the persecution of perceived political enemies.

T

his write up is of the utmost importance to both Muslims and non Muslims alike because these are the most common sins that most believers commit. Some commit them due to a personal weakness, while others commit them due to the fact that they do not understand what each one means. After reading through, you should have an understanding of what these three sins are, so that you can get on the path of removing them from your life.

The Qur’ an teaches us how to treat other Muslims and non- Muslims. First, we should not seek to find the faults of others.

If you search hard enough, you will find something wrong with just about everyone including yourself.

The Qur’ an states: ..And do not spy or backbite each other. (Qur’an 49: 32) We should be focusing on eliminating our own faults, If we are not doing so, then we are destroying our own souls by neglecting them while we try to find out what is wrong with the soul of someone else.

Next, the Qur’an states:”0 you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become regretful over what you have done” (Qur’an 49: 6) The Arabic word, translated here as ‘a disobedient one’, is fâsiq, which literally means an evildoer. According to the explanation of this particular verse, though, the word’ ‘fâsiq’ here refers to people of doubtful character, or those whose honesty has not yet been proven, or known sinners.

The verse was revealed about a noble Companion who had made a bad mistake that had serious consequences for the community; nevertheless, he was not a consistent evildoer.

Before you spread any information, you should verify it. If you hear something about a person, go to him or her and confirm it before spreading that information. This applies no matter who told you, because even the most righteous person you know may be incorrect about another person and pass on false information. How many lives have been hurt, destroyed, or ended because people have unintentionally passed on false information? You may actually cause such damage by your action. Would you want to face Allah on the Day of Judgment having spread a rumour that destroyed someone’s life, only to find out that it was not even true?

Consider how you would feel if you were on the other side. Would you want people to spread information about you without trying to verify it with you first?

Imagine that everyone in a community now believed something about you that was not true, because no one bothered to come and ask you about it. Treat other people as you would want them to treat you.

During the time of the first three generations, people lived in close-knit communities. People living in the same neighbourhood all knew each other, and they knew each other’s condition as well.

A person’s reputation could easily be ruined. If anyone lied publicly, he or she would be known to be a liar from that point on. In the modern world, many of us live

Voice Of

Islam

Every Friday With Mallam Abdulfattah Enabulele Chief Imam of Benin

The Problems Of Not Verifying Information further apart, and we are distracted by television, the Internet, homework, video games, sports, iPod portable media players and the like. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to know who is internally truthful despite their external piety and religiosity. In these trying times, it is best for us to err on the side of caution and check anyone’s story, no matter how pious the person appears to be. In my short life, I have personally witnessed very religious people (who were considered trustworthy) aid in the destruction of another Muslim’s reputation simply because they did not go back and ask that Muslim for his side of the story. They heard something about a Muslim and passed it on to another Muslim, who passed it on to another Muslim — and they all turned out to be wrong because they did not go back and verify it with that person. We have an example of this when some hypocrites accused our mother A’ishah of adultery. Word spread around the Muslim community, and it took a verse from the Qur’ an to restore her reputation. In these days, no verse is going to come down to restore our reputations, so we need to be extra careful about what we say or believe, and we need to be doubly careful to verify it.

Many people fail into this trap when talking about politics, when they recount what they heard on the news or read in the newspapers. Others go to the further extreme of relating this to some British, Masonic, or Jewish conspiracy theory for which they have no real proof whatsoever, All they have is conjecture. Islam teaches us that a person who narrates whatever he hears is not a truly trustworthy person. Muslims should not relay any information unless they know it firsthand. Even then, they should only relay information that is beneficial and permissible.

The Qur’an compares backbiting to cannibalism. Picture yourself eating a raw carcass of a human being, because this is what you are doing.

0 you who have believed, avoid much negative assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.) (Qur’an 49: 12) Backbiting means saying something about others, behind their backs, which they would not like to have said about them — even if it is true.

Abu Hurayrah narrated: The Messenger of Allah said: Do you know backbiting? They said: Allah and His messenger know best. He said: When you speak about your brother what he would dislike, it is backbiting. Someone asked: What if my brother is as I say?

“Islam teaches us that a person who narrates whatever he hears is not a truly trustworthy person.

Muslims should not relay any information unless they know it firsthand. Even then, they should only relay information that is beneficial and permissible”

The Messenger of Allah: If he is as you say, you have been backbiting; if he is not as you say, you have slandered him. (Muslim) If you engage in backbiting, reflect on the hadith of the truly bankrupt person. The Messenger of Allah (said: Do you know who is bankrupt? They — the Companions — said: A bankrupt person is the one who has neither dirham (money) nor wealth. The Prophet said: The bankrupt person among my followers is the one who would come on the Day of Judgment with prayers, fasting, and zakãh; but he would have offended one person, slandered another, devoured others’ wealth, shed the blood of this person, and hit that person.

(Consequently) his rewards will be distributed to all of them, and when he loses all his rewards before their accounts are fulfilled, then their sins will be taken and cast upon him, and he will be thrown into the hellfire. (Muslim) Think about all of the prayers, fasting, charity, and other good deeds you did in your life. The person you just talked about now has a right to take from your good deeds on the Day of Judgment. Can you afford that? Is it worth it? Reflect on this before you talk about others. Also, try to live up to this hadith: He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say what is good or be silent. (Bukhari and Muslim) In our culture, we have a similar saying: “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

There is an exercise some scholars recommended to cure one from backbiting.

Carry a notepad with you. Every time you backbite, write down what you said, when you said it, where you said it, and whom you were talking to. You may begin to notice a pattern after a week. You may find that you only backbite when you hang out with Zayd or Layla. That will teach you that you have to be extra careful guarding your tongue when you are around Zayd or Layla However, there are three occasions when backbiting is permissible. If someone is inquiring about the character of a person for a possible marriage or a business partnership, and you have witnessed firsthand that the person under consideration is morally corrupt, then you must tell the one who is asking. However, you can only relate information that you have seen personally. Also, if you are called to testify in court, you must tell the truth.

Solving The Problems Committed By The Seven Limbs Our problems are rooted in sins. Sins are manifested on the seven limbs, which may refer to a physical or spiritual nature.

This write up contains exercises developed by our predecessors to help us kick the habits of sin from the seven areas we use to commit sins.

Exercises for the private parts For forty days straight, give up fornication, adultery, and being in a room alone with an unrelated woman. If you can do it for forty days, you can do it for life.

Exercises for the hands For forty days straight, give up all the ways that you can harm other human beings with your hands, such as stealing and fighting (except as necessary in selfdefense, martial arts class, disciplining

your children, or other similar situations).

If you can do it for forty days, you can do it for life.

Exercises for the feet For forty days straight, give up walking or driving to anywhere that you may commit sins. If you can do it for forty days, you can do it for life.

Exercises for the stomach For forty days straight, give up eating pork, drinking alcohol, and accumulating wealth through interest, gambling, or any other forbidden means. If you can do it for forty days, you can do it for life Exercises for the ears For forty days straight, give up listening to backbiting, slander, spying, and any music or television programs that promote sins, If you can do it for forty days, you

can do it for life.

Exercises for the tongue For forty days straight, give up lying (except in situations when it is permissible, when you are trying to protect someone from physical or mental danger or to reconcile two people who are quarreling), backbiting, slander, gossip, arguing, being nosy and not minding your own business. If you can do it for forty days, you can do it for life.

Exercises for the eyes For forty days, give up looking lustfully at members of the opposite sex, watching other people sin or being in their environments, or watching television programs that show people committing sins. If you can do it for forty days, you can do it for life.

Insight

Bombings And Need For Ext I had sometime written on the need to seek for external assistance based on the various bombings in Nigeria that is not only denting but denigrating the image of Nigeria locally, nationally and internationally. The bombings have become like a one-time Minister of Petroleum Resources, Professor Tam DavidWest would say “enough is more than enough”. The issue of these bombings need to be adequately and genuinely addressed once and for all. The frequent bombings have left many Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora in a stupor of surprise, pangs of anger and righteous indignation. It is therefore condemnable and despicable. How on earth will a sect continue to bomb schools, kill students and teachers? Where do we go from here according to a popular musician? What was the offence of these innocent students and teachers or is it because Boko Haram believes that western education is a sin/evil? The frequent bombings are serious national and international embarrassment. To this end therefore, it has continued to raise fundamental issues about national security, governance, as well as Nigeria’s corporate existence. As far as I am concerned, Boko Haram is a group of school drop-outs and those who

could not in the first instance commence western education.

Members of a religious sect with a forbidden name as claimed by them, Boko Haram while their true name according to their leader, Abubakar Bin Mohammed popularly known as Shekau is Jama’atu Ahli Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad that is, people Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad.

Following all the bombings with loss of lives and properties and trying to make the country which is the giant of Africa ungovernable for President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR and his team, I think it is most appropriate to seek for external assistance to find out the members of the deadly sect and their sponsors, whether individuals, corporate organisations, etc. The governors in the North East as the Chief Security Officers in their various states and the Chairmen of the Local Government Councils should be able to assist to identify the members by going “penetration deep down” courtesy of Zobridaya alias Nwodo how past four (a play Wright) but the reverse is the case. Frequent visits by the Governors of the North East to Aso Rock on the Boko Haram thereby abandoning their responsibilities without

By CHARLES I. SOEZE

proper home work is not the best. They should study what is happening within their immediate vicinity and proffer solutions especially how and why the bombings

who are interested to continue with their academics. It is a truism to say that they enjoy fully what western education has brought for us. Many of their

month of February 2014 it has been hectic. Why must it be so? On February 11, Boko Haram killed 39 civilians in Kondoga, February 15, members of the deadly sect invaded Izedge, a town in Gwoza

unknowingly to their superior officers and the country in general. One may wish to recall at this point, the notorious criminal, Lawrence Anini and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Iyamu (both from

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Council, near the border between Borno and Adamawa States where they killed more than 106 civilians. It was rumoured that over 400,000 persons lost their lives since the sect started their suicide mission.

It seems to me that whatever restructuring carried out at the top hierarchy of the nation’s security operatives will not assist in this direction or bring sanity for the crushing of members of the sect. This is because it will only be putting a new wine in an old calabash or bottle. In other words, there must be people at the lower and middle cadres winning and dinning with members of the sect

Edo State).

Anini terrorised the nation for months both men and officers of the police were killed or maimed

by Anini and his corroborators. Later, it was discovered that DSP Iyamu was aiding and abetting Anini and his team. Was this not ridiculous? Boko Haram has caused a lot of damage and economic hardship especially in the North East of Nigeria. In this connection therefore, we should go for external assistance and I think it has no security implication.

The way members of the sect are going, if not urgently addressed, Nigeria will become hell on earth and a ‘no-goarea’ for visiting

e a h o c p r L g l p s t a G a p d

t f a c c a

President Goodluck Jonathan

are always taking place but the reverse is the case. In some cases, we say we want to negotiate with them. How can we negotiate with faceless people? What are their demands or annoyance?

Negotiate with people who say western education is a sin/evil who also want Nigeria to become openly a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). They don’t want western education to continue in Nigeria. Let them know that education is not compulsory for them they should allow those

people enjoy seniority in the public service based on quota or federal character principle as introduced by General Murtala Ramat Mohammed (of blessed memory) then head of junta while addressing the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) on Monday, 20th July 1975.

Another big question is, Are they really Nigerians? If not how do they enter the country freely for their frequent suicide mission?

The sect appeared to be having their operations executed without molestation. In the

“Following all the bombings with loss of lives and properties and trying to make the country which is the giant of Africa ungovernable for President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR and his team, I think it is most appropriate to seek for external assistance to find out the members of the deadly sect and their sponsors...”

f s c t c d h p

Insight

ternal Assistance

personalities though I am not a prophet of doom.

However, let this be the time for sober reflection for us all. As Nigerians and international c o m m u n i t i e s condemned the wicked and barbaric act, let

a most exemplary manner to serve as a deterrent to others who would ever think of engaging on destructive act.

In my opinion all progressive and articulate Nigerians

that the falcon can no longer hear the falconer and that things will fall apart. This is not the best for Nigeria’s democratic structure. In the words of Desmond Mpilo Tutu, “Justice must be done to the poor and oppressed

those engaged in the dastardly act must be under sponsorship by God or Allah knows whom or group. Like Pope Benedict XVI, while appealing for peace in a message to commemorate the 2007

US President, Barack Obama

everybody look inward and reappraise what happened. Injustice and oppression (if any) cannot but ultimately produce a desire for revenge and or rebellion.

Let our deep sympathy go to all who lost their lives, persons, properties, and sense of security. Nigeria needs to be made safe for all; and the Federal Government should lead and show the way to this, purposefully and decisively.

Furthermore, the federal government should rise to the challenge of unmasking those behind the cowardly, deadly and dastardly acts no matter how highly or lowly placed and crush them in

irrespective of religion and tribe must dislodge the idea of being agents of darkness and destruction. As a result, it is absolutely necessary with due respect, humility, and sense of responsibility to appeal to all Nigerians no matter the status to remain steadfast, focused on the path of truth, honour, fairness and justice so that Nigeria can make meaningful progress economically and politically.

With these continuous bombings in the month of February 2014, one may boldly say that Nigeria’s democracy is therefore dangerous if not properly investigated. The way some are seeing these, it might lead to an extent

and if the present system does not serve the purpose the public conscience must be roused to demand another”. In other words, the federal government needs to investigate thoroughly if there was crassa negligentia that is, gross negligence by any person no matter how highly or lowly placed in the society with political god-father or godmother.

It appears that some of

World Peace Day (WPD) said “Those with greater political, technical, or economic power must not use the power to violate the rights of others who are less fortunate”. One may say that Nigeria appears as a weak state in the fight against violence and terrorism. What have made the sect to have stormed the Federal Government College (FGC), Buni Yadi, Gujiba Local Government, Yobe State and killed 43 students?

“It is no exaggeration to say that the activity of the terrorist group has brought hardship to the entire people in the North East and this has affected the socio-political and economic life of the people. It has further affected the inflow of foreign investments.”

Buni Yadi is 60 kilometres from Damaturu, the state capital. In January 2010, the US (most powerful nation) once more put Nigeria on a Terror Alert Watch List (TAWL) following the attempt by a Nigerian, Mukhtar Abdulmutallab, to blow up a Delta Airlines plane over Detroit, USA in December 2009.

It is no exaggeration to say that the activity of the terrorist group has brought hardship to the entire people in the North East and this has affected the sociopolitical and economic life of the people. It has further affected the inflow of foreign investments.

The Federal Government should address the issue of violence and terrorism where possible or necessary seek for external assistance for Nigeria needs peace and we need to end the war.

The latest bombing in Nyanya at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where innocent people lost their lives is further condemnable.

We should address the issue of security with speed and alacrity.

I wish to say with

humility to the sect of the 21st century, Rabbig-Fr Warham Wa “Anta Khayrur-Raahimin”.

Meaning, “O my Lord!

Grant thou forgiveness and mercy”! For thou art the best of those who show mercy (Qur ’an Surah 23, Verse 118).

This is because of their ignorance as a result of lack of basic and western education in the 21 st century, which is a big shame and set back. The sect should have this great mind and think of how to manipulate and improve on the environment for the betterment of the society not engaging in suicide mission. They have done a lot of massacre and let them change from Boko Haram that is deadly sect to Biko Haram meaning in Ibo “I beg leave me”.

Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, fswca, cpae, chnr, son, ghnr, emba, ksq is a mass communication scholar from first degree to doctoral level and a retired Director (Administration)/Head, Academic and Physical Planning (A&PP) at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun 0 8 0 3 6 7 2 4 1 9 3 (charlessoeze@yahoo.ca)

“With these continuous bombings in the month of February 2014, one may boldly say that Nigeria’s democracy is therefore dangerous if not properly investigated. The way some are seeing these, it might lead to an extent that the falcon can no longer hear the falconer and that things will fall apart.

Art Alive Kente: FOR thousands of years, skilled artisans have employed the ancient craft of weaving. They used threads that were spun from flax, cotton as a ready source of weaving materials. Basic colours were extracted from roots and plant leaves, giving weavers the ability to create simple designs and patterns in their work.

Weavers among the nomadic people of Africa devised looms that were small and easily transported from place to place, known as strip looms, they produced a narrow strip of cloth only three to five inches in width.

These long, narrow lengths of fabric were them sewn together, edge to edge, to create a larger cloth that could be wrapped around the body as a garment. Portable strip looms were carried on the backs of pack animals across deserts, through rivers and over high mountain ranges. Transported along ancient trade routes, the strip loom had a profound influence on the peoples it touched. What prompted the desire for cloth-kente? For many centuries West African Kings and chiefs controlled the mineral-rich kind that the Europeans explores called the Gold coast which is the present-day Ghana. Here a large amount of Gold were mined, bringing wealth to the ruling Ashanti kings and their royal households.

Adorned with heavy gold jewelry and wrapped in specially woven cloth, these kings and their prominent chiefs made a display of their wealth, power, and authority before their subjects. The

With Francis U. Odupute

An Ancient And Modern Craft unique cloth these rulers wore came to be called KENTE, a word that may have alluded to the cloth’s similarity to the weave of a basket. Other Gold coast tribes also practiced strip weaving, but for the Ashanti kings, KENTE cloth came to represent prestige and royal

produce high-quality material. The weaving technique was a jealously – guarded and well-kept secret. All other weavers were forbidden to weave exclusively for the king and his royal court. The king accumulated hundreds of cloths, each with its own

slaves. The imported cloth contained threads of bright, eye-cat ching colours. Soon, this imported cloth, woven richly with red, yellow, and green threads, became a valued trading commodity.

Few had the wealth to obtain such expensive cloth from the European traders. Only

threads were them rewoven on the strip looms of the royal weavers. As the colour range of materials increased, so initiatives and innovation blossomed, prompting the craftsmen to express their creative to express their creative and technical skills in cloth as never before. Skill

status. Gold coast strip weavers used locally spun cotton. Only yarn dyed blue was available. These blue threads were woven into the dull white of the cotton cloth to produce lines and blocks in simple geometric patterns for the local people.

The finer weaving of the kings royal kente cloth was restricted. Skilled royal weaving groups were established to create and

unique design and pattern.

Traditionally, the king would never wear the same cloth in public more than once.

There was quest for colour when in the 16 th century another type of cloth began to appear on the Gold coast.

This new cloth was not woven on African strip looms but produced in distant lands and brought by the first European sailors searching for ivory, gold, and

the rich Ashanti, who controlled the flow of gold, Ivory and slaves to the sailing ships waiting at the coast, had the means to obtain it. But the woven cloth was not what the Ashanti king and his chiefs desired.

Once cloth was obtained, weavers painstakingly unraveled and removed the coveted coloured threads, discarding the cloth that remained. These precious

weavers from other tribes were employed by the Ashanti kings, resulting in the production of kente cloth of unskilled quality.

Geometric patterns that resembled fish, birds, fruits, leaves, sunsets, rainbows, and other spectacles of nature formed a textile art that was minutely detailed and contained symbolic meaning. Cloth inter-woven with golden threads

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represented wealth, the colur green conveyed the idea of freshness and newness, black symbolized sadness, red showed anger, and silver pictured purity and joy.

Weavers worked patiently and without haste for many months on a single cloth, knowing that their finished would be judged as a measurement of their skill and creative genius. Demand was low for such exquisite workmanship, as few could afford to purchase rare and expensive kente cloth. Now for modern kente, the influence of kings and power chiefs began to wane with the passage of time. No longer was there a need to separate royalty from commoner by a cloth.

Demand for this beautiful fabric increased, at it began to be used for non royal purposes.

Woven quickly to meet a greater demand, kente cloth began to decline in quality workmanship and price.

Today the majority of kente weaving is done with synthetic thread and is then used in the mass production of bags, ties, belts, harts, and clothing. Few weavers are interested in the production of kente cloth employing labour-intensive, time – consuming methods of the past. Old kente of superb quality is now treasured and passed on from generation to generation within families.

But is kente still the cloth of kings like it used to be in the cloth of kings dike it used to be in the past? Indeed, gone are the days when kente cloth of unrivaled excellence and dazzling craftsmanship was produced on simple wooden looms and acclaimed as the cloth of kings because every one is qualified to wear kente cloth. You can purchase kente cloth from any where provided you have the money. You do not have to be from the Ashanti ruling families of the Gold coast (the present day Ghana) for you to put on kente. You do not also need to be a Ghanaian to choose kente cloth as your attire. Are you planning to visit Ghana soon?

You could include checking out how modern kente cloth is made or produced in your trip as an adventure!

Art And Culture THE mechanism of language culture is the construction, arrangement and action by which a result is produced; a philosophy that regards the phenomena of life as the means adopted unconsciously towards a subconscious end in culture.

Language is a vehicle of culture, expands and makes known the manner of expressing thought, feeling, speech, artificial system of signs and symbols with rules for forming intelligible communications.

Culture is transmitted from one generation to other generation through language. It moves and promotes culture.

Language is a genetically determined mechanism and core of culture, the social existence holding people together, housing them in art, music or functions of the same universal mechanism of expression.

Language stores up information as the way cells store up energy; deposited all it has built up, and accommodated in the way of mental, memories resources of the sacred realities and material tools; therefore, for a culture to be known and understood its language must be originally known and able to reflect all the realities as it really is.

Nowadays, language can be documented, and written for clarification. The levels of classification are usually orthographic, nasal, letter combination and word combination systems.

The English Language is spoken by about four hundred millions people in the World. Most of the Peoples of Britain, North America, Australia and New Zealand speak English as a first language. English is also spoken in Africa, India and other parts of Asia.Many people who speak other Languages Learn English as a second language. After Chinese, English is spoken by most people than any other Language.

The English language grew out of German dialects spoken by the angle and Saxon tribes who conquered England many years ago.

The first Anglo-Saxon English is known as old English.

It has many different dialects and sounded like German.

After the Norman conquest of England in 1066 C.E, a new kind of English developed. The Normans spoken French and also used Latin in churches.

The language that emerged from this mixture of old English, French and Latin is known as Middle English.

Spoken nowadays but has some different spelling.

The Edo Language is the spoken dialects of Edo people.

Pronunciation of the alphabet, spoken words, sound and speech would tell the dialect- Vernacular of the person.

The writing system would enable the user to write the language precisely and to be able to speak the Language clearly, fluently, distinctively expression and exhaustiveness would clearly identify the person.

With AMBROSE EKHOSUEHI

The Mechanism Of Language Culture The progression is focused on the literacy of the people, ability to read and write the Language, to move from the elementary level to catch up with the international literacy in the study of Languages.

Edo language has come in contact with Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish and English Language which added to its vocabulary.

A person cannot be called an educated or international acclaimed person when the person cannot speak, read or write the vernacular termed mother tongue clearly, the ancestral Language of origin.

It is universally accepted that a child Learn best in mother tongue of the ancestral languages because it is natural to the child.

Some linguistic scholars observed that different languages are bound to interact when people of different cultures come together and this contact gives rise to Linguistic borrowing.

“A person cannot be called an educated or international acclaimed person when the person cannot speak, read or write the vernacular termed mother tongue clearly, the ancestral Language of origin.”

In fact, the main reason for borrowing lexical. item lies in the need to find names for people, places, objects, ideas, notions and the concept with which the language has come into contact.

The broadcast of such Language enjoys wider consumption. The language that draws advantage from contact with other culture is a pride of history to be acknowledged; but some people do ask questions about how original the language is, and how the native people speak or use the language in their daily, socio linguistic interaction and expression.

There are evidence that Languages has gained some positive aspect through contact with other languages. The transcription of ancestral language makes it possible for scholars to translate most of the foreign languages and is now possible to keep record of much of traditional oral literature and heritage into further action.

The use of vernacular language may be frequently being of great advantage to the people, especially in readings, directives, prayers and charts.

Anything in the peoples’ way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error should be studied with sympathy and if possible, preserves intact.

Language is a kind of mechanism in human speech. It gives pride to certain parents in seeing their children speak native language as well as foreign language with the joy and hope equated that the language won’t be lost, to some extent that writing helps to preserve the original character, literatures and folk of the culture.

WHILE the entire globe is beaming its searchlights on Sambisa, the hitherto unknown forest in the North-East of Nigeria which has in a most unfortunate manner found itself on world map, frantically fine-tunning modalities on how to save over 200 hapless young school girls from the grip of demoniacs from the pit of hell who have held them hostage for over one month now, some other busybodies are eating the bread of idleness over the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan Goodluck’s outward expression of her natural mother’s or maternal instinct.

The maternal instinct, according to the Collins English Dictionary, is the natural tendency that a mother has to behave or react in a particular way around her child or children.

Even if the over 140 million Nigerian people become nidifugous , that is, behaving like a particular specie of birds, leaving the nest very soon after they are hatched, we ought to know that the English Language is not our mother tongue and being a mother herself, Patience Jonathan acted on the spur of the moment on the negative experience of the abduction of over 234 young birds snatched away from their mothers’ nests before the age of maturity.

If Nigerians would put aside sentiments and politics, we would realise that the maternal instinct is a spontaneous reaction; it is not time –bound, it is not language specific; it has no

So What?

It’s Dame Jonathan’s Maternal Instinct!

regard for the personality or image of the mother, it is not attached to the office, constitutional or otherwise, it is emotion – laden and confined, it is a biological reflection of the true feelings of the moment and it exudes all the pain, all the joy, whatever emotions that are bottled up at that very moment …and it cannot be bothered with grammatical innuendo and semantics, nor with education or lack of it.

Just last Sunday in church, at the end of service, a gorgeously dressed woman, a top notch banker, joined other worshippers in saying the benediction and as soon as she was done with the exchange of pleasantries and banters with others, she went to the children’s section to pick her little son. Behold, he was not there!

All hell let loose! The woman ran from the children’s section, tripped on the staircase, back into the church auditorium, from exit to entrance, into the vestry, into the Pastor’s office, back to the children’s section, tripped on the stairs again, into the children’s rest room, out in the open gallery, outside the church building, down the street, back into the church premises, she drew

crowds as she ran amok, she got everyone tailing her, church security was immediately dispatched, phones were ringing, the

car, sucking on a lollipop, while the dad was on the other side of the car, easing himself. He had gone ahead of his wife to pick

FEMINIQUE With IJEOMA UMEH email: ladywithegoldenpen@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 08182382839 shoes, a single piece of wrapper, a phone, and other vitals were seen littered in and around the church premises.

For the mother of Nigeria who is also proving by her

insecurity in Nigeria and acted as a force for all people to be united in the common struggle for peace and unity as she called on both northern women and their

inimitable charitable work across Africa and beyond to be a global icon for peace and development, Patience Jonathan’s maternal instinct has its antenna spread wherever her children are and if ills are befalling her children, the maternal instinct would react.

To say the least, the First Lady’s maternal instinct, aside heightening the flaws in her spoken English (which is not our mother tongue anyway) helped detect ‘spies’ among the female protesters, a security breach which would have been costly.

Again, her intervention in the abduction saga helped draw global attention to

counterparts in the rest of the country to forge a common front against insurgency.

FEMINIQUE also uses this platform to call on Nigerians to respect that natural, innate impulse of the First Lady. The maternal side in all women should be valued as a force to be reckoned with. “The mother considers her children and cares about their survival – unless she is a reptile and eats them” says Toni Nagy.

By the way, let us ‘waka come’ for peace and stop ‘sharing bloods’! Indeed, there is God o. Bring Back Our Girls!

Dame Patience Jonathan.

woman was everywhere like split mirror images, she was screaming and pulling at her hair and she was speaking in tongues!

Someone only said, “Have you checked your car?” and the crowd headed in the direction of the car lot, the woman led the way in a run!

The six year old boy was standing by the mother’s

the child and it didn’t occur to her in that moment of ‘madness and hysteria that her husband could have gone ahead of her!

It was the maternal instinct, it could even prove to be dire in certain circumstances. At the end of it all, while everyone laughed in relief, the woman’s gele, her fashion accessories, one leg of her

“To say the least, the First Lady’s maternal instinct, aside heightening the flaws in her spoken English (which is not our mother tongue anyway) helped detect ‘spies’ among the female protesters, a security breach which would have been costly.”

One Lay Woman

Protecting The Rights Of Nigerian Women

By SABINA IDOWU-OSEHOBO

“TOADS for supper” is the title of a book written

by Chukwuemeka Ike. The very first time I saw that title, I was repulsed. What is this business of eating toads at super? How disgusting! For me, my reaction was not strange considering that toads are slimy; decidedly ugly squat creatures founded around creeks, ponds and other bodies of water especially the stagnant, smelly ones. I have never found anything attractive, tempting or inviting about toads and I am positive I never will.

But these sentiments of mine does not erase the fact that toads for certain people are delicious and very good for food. For some others they are beautiful. I will not be surprised to come across people who go into rhapsodies over toads as the most intelligent animals in the world! Talk about one man’s meat being another’s poison.

By the time I finished reading the book, my understanding was: “Toads for supper,” refers to any situation of debasement, indignity, injustice, name it. The negatives are either self-inflicted or othersinflicted. But the good news is that it is a reversible situation based on facts and choices made.

Women’s rights issues fall squarely into this. Yes, it is indeed a very big “toads for supper” issues, depending on what side of the divide you are.

Women’s rights issues elicit strong responses. For one group there is absolutely nothing wrong with women and their treatment in our society.

For this group the issue of women’s rights is a scandalous piece of frivolity, which the world, and especially Africans, particularly Nigerians can, should and must do without to ensure “even

development and progress.”

To those on the other side of the divide, the most burning issue in human progress right now is the women question. Until properly addressed, real progress cannot be made in any area.

This second school of thought has been vocal and persistent enough to bring gender to the fore of discuss around the globe.

Now the two schools of thought have reasons for their positions.

The most common of which are: School One: God in his infinite wisdom created the man to be the head and have dominion over the woman. That is why she is the helpmate and “weaker vessel.” Culture, knowing the mind of God has through the socialization process defined the role and positions for the woman beyond which she should not venture. The survival of the family is dependent on the maintenance of this status quo. Any deviation

amounts to a departure from the divine will and subsequently a destruction of the family unit. Since the family is the cell of the society, automatically a collapse society is being called for.

School two: God made all of us equal. God is sexblind and that is why the

women’s humanity.

The argument is that not only can this be done without harm to the fabric of society but is essential to ensure the continuation of society.

Change is constant in human existence. Change, we know does not come easy. It is never wholly

universal declaration of human rights are just those; human rights, not man’s rights. But overtime, the interpretation and enforcement of these rights have tended towards “ men” not “human.” So comes the need to reorient, interpret and establish women’s rights within the context of

acceptable to everyone at the same time because whatever the existing situation, it is beneficial to somebody. Change again should never be indulged in just for its own sake. The best option is change for the positive. This is the only acceptable change.

In the YES to change and NO to change in women’s

rights issues, which voice is louder? Whose voice are we hearing? What reasons are behind the voices?

What purpose do these voices seek to achieve?

How will the dominant voice contribute to building or destroying the fabrics of our society?

It has been well demonstrated that women’s empowerment and contributions to

decision making guarantees progress, development and peace in societies. The reverse of this is the case when women are prohibited from full participation in all spheres of life of any society.

The current situation in Nigeria where women and girls have their rights to

“To those on the other side of the divide, the most burning issue in human progress right now is the women question. Until properly addressed, real progress cannot be made in any area.”

bodily dignity and integrity violated routinely as they have become the target of blind, brutal violence alongside the discrimination and injustice which has been their lot will no doubt produce a harvest of greater sorrow for this country. A situation where young girls are abducted from their schools and no doubt abused or even killed, women are raped

maimed and nothing seems to happen, no culprits are apprehended not to talk of justice being served is to say the least appalling.

What we are seeing now across Nigeria where women and girls are bearing the brunt of the physical, mental and psychological violence of terrorists, insurgents and “normal” males, we should not forget that discrimination, and marginalization are also acts of violence against women. Public outcry must be great and government must move beyond “empathy and sympathy” to take concrete action that will protect women and girls and promote their rights.

Religion Baby Dedication

With

REV. OLU GEORGE

A Wrong Religious Practice “And so in obedience to the Law of Moses, In Christianity

YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE –JOHN 8:32.

IN the previous publications of this series, we did mention that Idolatry is a big tree with so many branches. We have talked about I C O N O L AT RY, RELICOLATRY, and NECROLATRY. To-day, we shall talk of HARLOTRY in Christianity which is another major branch of Idolatry.

Harlotry is trafficking with strange spirits, or trafficking with the world and its system, or trafficking with wrong doctrines or doctrines of the devil. It is worthy of note that all unbiblical practices or teachings, in the church are tantamount to Harlotry.

Apostle Paul, identify these as receiving another spirit, or as preaching another Jesus, or another gospel, and I quote “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him” – 11 Corinthians 11:4. Harlotry therefore is another spirit, another Jesus, and another gospel. And the Bible warns all heaven-bound Christians not to believe every spirit, but to try the spirits whether they are of God, as written in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not

every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world”. It is only the Truth which is the sword of the Spirit that tries all spirits whether they are of God. And so, BABY DEDICATION is another “harlotry” that is being practiced in most churches to-day.

What is baby dedication?

It is the act of setting apart and consecrating a baby to some sacred purpose, or an act of giving up a baby wholly or earnestly to God, or to other ‘gods’ for a sacred purpose, just as the traditional kings in Nigeria, will dedicate their heirsapparent to their ‘gods’.

For us Christians, this practice should not be so.

This erroneous practice must have probably taken its roots from the presentation of the child Jesus to the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem as written in Luke 2:22, which reads “And when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him (Jesus) to Jerusalem, to present Him to the LORD”.

Presenting Him to the LORD is synonymous with setting Him apart for a sacred use. I presume, this is where the church, in ignorance, got it wrong. If we search the scripture there is no other baby in the bible that was presented to the Lord, in Jerusalem, or anywhere else apart from

the child Jesus. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, even though a male child that opened the womb was never presented to the Lord in Jerusalem, or in any of the Jewish synagogues. The law of Moses in Israel even before Christ was born, commanded that every first male or female child, or first off-spring of any beast that opened the womb of the mother, must be wholly given up for God’s use, as a first- fruit as written in Exodus 13:2 “Sanctify unto Me all the first born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast. It is Mine”. It was ‘only Jesus’, being the first male, who opened the womb of Mary, that was presented to the LORD in Jerusalem.

There was no biblical record to show that the other children born of Mary were presented, to the LORD in Jerusalem.

Mary gave birth, to other biological children, having had sexual relationship with her husband, Joseph after the birth of Jesus as written in Matthew 1:25 “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS”. None of Mary’s biological Children namely James, Joses, Simon, Judas and other daughters were presented to the Lord as written in Matthew 13:55-56. “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his

as written in Leviticus 12:6, 8, Mary offered sacrifices as written in Luke 2:23-24 “As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons”.

sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?”

And so in obedience to the Law of Moses, as written in Leviticus 12:6, 8, Mary offered sacrifices as written in Luke 2:23-24 “As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons”.

Jesus being taken to Jerusalem to be presented to the LORD, was a divine act of God, to redeem all babies that will thereafter open the wombs and their mothers from the ‘curse’ of this ceremonial law of Moses. And so, all the ceremonial laws of Moses were finally abolished by the death of Jesus, as written in Ephesians 2:15 “Having abolished in His flesh, the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances; for to make in Him of twain one new man, so making

“Harlotry is trafficking with strange spirits, or trafficking with the world and its system, or trafficking with wrong doctrines or doctrines of the devil. It is worthy of note that all unbiblical practices or teachings, in the church are tantamount to Harlotry.”

peace.”

You may want to mention the case of Samuel, who was brought to Eli, the servant of God. It was a vow that Samuel’s mother made to God. And Samuel was already a young child when he was brought to stay with Eli the servant of God, to fulfill her vow. 1 Samuel 1:2425.

All Christian parents are therefore warned in Galatians 5:1 to stand fast in the liberty where Christ has made them free from this ceremony and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Why this warning? It is because “for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: For it is written, cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” Galatians 3:10. If any Christian parent chooses to obey this Law of Moses which is a curse, then such a parent is bound to fully obey the Law of Moses by offering the sacrifices as written in Leviticus 12:6-8. And even such sacrifices, if performed at all, in this dispensation of grace, are ‘sacrifices’ to devils and not to God; and such babies are not dedicated to God as written in 1 Corinthians 10:20 “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God; and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils”.

Even this Law of Moses is specific about the first child male or female that opened the mother’s womb.

But what is being practiced in the church to-day, is that most Christian parents, out of ignorance of this Truth, present every child born of them supposedly to the Lord.

Baby dedication is a subtle plan of satan, who deceives the whole world, to bring Christian parents, and their babies under a ‘curse’, and under bondage of the law. Baby dedication is not a guarantee for any future salvation of such babies. Many armed robbers, and cultists must have come out of Christian homes and most of them might have been taken to churches for dedication when they were born. Baby dedication has not hindered such children who refuse to be born again from being used as tools by the devil.

The duty we as Christian parents owe to our children is to intercede in prayers for them that they make know the way of the True God as written in Proverbs 22:6.

The salvation of all children is solely the work of grace as exemplified by the lives of Jacob and Esau who were twins from the same womb of Rebecca.

Jacob found grace in the sight of God but Esau did not as written in Romans 9:13.

COURTESY: REV. OLU GEORGE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL CHURCH ( The Truth Centre ) BENIN CITY.

Reflection Every War Must Come To An End

MAY 8 is the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It was precisely on May 7th 1945 that the Nazi Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl, center, signs the instrument of surrender ending Nazi Germany’s involvement in World War II in Rheims; a war that lasted for six good years.

Most People, especially people like Adolf Hitler, his National Socialist and the Nazi Party thought that the war will continue until the Germans conquer the universe. But when Hitler saw that the defeat of the Germans was imminent, he committed suicide, leaving Karl Dönitz to carry out the surrender of the Nazis. If this global war could come to an end every other war must surely come to an end. What happened to Hitler will soon happen to the enemies of Nigeria.

Did anyone ever believed that the reign of Idi Amin of Uganda will ever come to an end? His regime lasted for eight years (1971 - 1979). He was globally known as a military dictator. When Idi Amin was the President of Uganda he committed all kinds of atrocities. His rule was characterized by corruption, abuse of human rights, nepotism, political repression, ethnic persecution, extrajudicial killings, and gross economic mismanagement. It was even rumored that Idi Amin was feeding on human flesh. Idi Amin never believed that he will ever cease to reign as the President of Uganda. He even declared himself “president for life”: He attributed the following litanies of titles to himself “His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Alhaji Dr. Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, CBE”.

He attempted to take possession of the Kagera province of Tanzania in 1978.

This led to the Uganda– Tanzania War and the demise of his eight-year regime.

When Kampala, the capital city of Uganda was captured he was forced to flee into exile by helicopter on 11

April 1979. He escaped to Libya and Saudi Arabia, where he lived until his death on 16 August 2003. If the reign of Idi Amin of Uganada could come to an end who says the reign of terror in Nigeria will not come to an end? What happened to Idi Amin of Uganda will soon happen to all the dictators and terrorists in Nigeria. Very soon they will all flee into exile and never to come back again.

What of our own Late General Sani Abacha who reigned from September 20, 1943 to June 8, 1998? His regime was characterized as one of the most controversial regime in the history of Nigeria.

Abacha’s government was accused of human rights abuses, especially after the hanging of Ogoni activist Ken SaroWiwa by the Oputa Commission. So many people were jailed or exiled during his regime. Moshood Abiola and Olusegun Obasanjo were jailed for treason, and Wole Soyinka was even charged in absentia with treason.

He was listed as the most corrupt President of Nigeria.

In March, 2014, the United States Department of Justice revealed that it had frozen more than $458 million believed to have been illegally obtained by Abacha and other corrupt officials.

The death of Abacha was the most humiliating death in the history of the Nigerian presidency. It was reported that the night when he died he was in the company of two Indian prostitutes imported from Dubai.

These prostitutes, according to general speculations, must have poisoned his drink, making him feel unwell around 4:30am. He retired to his bed and was declared dead by 6:15am. He was quickly buried according to Muslim’s tradition without an autopsy. http.

If people like Abacha could leave all the money he looted just to answer the call of nature; who says the reign of

corrupt leaders will never come to an end? It is a question of time. What happened to Late General Sani Abacha will soon happen to all the corrupt and immoral leaders in Nigeria.

“There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). “The wicked shall vanish away like the smoke” (Psalm 37:20). “As the

forward to attack the Israelites, Moses raised his voice and told his fellow Israelites, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you shall see no more” (Exodus 14:13). The Boko Harram you see today, you shall see no more!

God sent Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh that in forty days time Nineveh will

tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up to the dust” (Isaiah 5:24).

Every nation that is facing terrorists’ attack should learn from the story of the Israelites in the bible. When the Israelites felt the pitch of their slavery they did not cry to America or the world super power for help; they cried to God: “the people of Israel groaned under their bondage, and cried out for help, and their cry under bondage came up to God. And God heard their groaning” (Exodus 2:23). God did not send foreigners to save them. He raised a liberator among them in the person of Moses. As the Egyptians were matching

be destroyed. When the news reached the king of Nineveh he arose from his throne, removed his robe, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast taste anything; but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them cry mightily to God; let everyone turn from his evil way and from violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we perish not?” That was exactly what happened. “When God saw what they did, he repented of the evil which he said he would do to them; and he did

“If the Nigerian government should humble themselves before the Lord and declare a national week of Praying and Fasting, there is no way God will not answer our prayer and restore peace in our nation.”

With REV. FR. JOHN DAMIAN ADIZIE PHONE: 08076635886

not do it” (Jonah 3:6-10).

This is one aspect the Nigerian government has consistently taken for granted. They do not believe in the power of prayer. They rely so much on human security agencies. Whereas the psalmist says, “Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no help. When his breath departs he returns to his earth on that very day his plans perish” (Psalm 146:3, 4). It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8, 9).

agreement to ensure the safety of these innocent girls.

Having said this, we should also consider the other side of the coin. When you consider the effect of American-Iraq war you will understand what I mean. When two elephant fight the grass suffers.

Besides, few months ago Nigeria signed a bill against the American gay marriage policy. This same Nigeria is appealing to the Americans for military support. You cannot reject people’s policy without rejecting their police.

Under what condition will the

Human being may fail but God can never fail!

If the Nigerian government should humble themselves before the Lord and declare a national week of Praying and Fasting, there is no way God will not answer our prayer and restore peace in our nation. No amount of violence or weapon can solve the problem of Nigeria. Apart from prayer, the government should take the issue of youth employment seriously. An idle mind is devil’s workshop. Most of the people that are involved in these terrorists attack are unemployed young people.

Honestly, I intensified my prayer for Nigeria last Tuesday night when I saw the breaking news that the American government in a quick response to President Jonathan’s appeal, has agreed to send Special Forces to Nigeria who will assist in the war against terrorism. The idea is a good one, especially in the case of the abducted girls. Almost every Nigeria will be ready to sign any

American soldiers fight for Nigeria against Nigerians?

Do you expect the Nigerian government to stand against any of the American policies after this war? You cannot eat your cake and have it. No one is expected to bite the finger that feeds him. Only God knows the prize that Nigerians will pay during and after this war.

Where there are two evils the wise ones would naturally take the lesser evil. If the American soldiers are invited to fight a war that is meant for the Nigerian soldiers what does that say concerning the Nigerian security agencies?

Were they only trained to mount road blocks and terrorize motorists in most Nigerian roads? Ironically, Nigeria has been sending troops to Liberia, Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa to help restore democracy to those countries.

Do we need someone to tell us that charity begins at home? My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth!

International Afghan Presidential Election Goes To Second Round KABUL— Afghan voters will return to the polls next month to choose a successor to outgoing President Hamid Karzai, whose refusal to sign a deal permitting U.S. troops to stay beyond the end of the year has raised security concerns as the Taliban press their deadly campaign of bombings and attacks.

The second round of voting was announced yesterday in Kabul and the balloting was set for June 14. It will likely feature a tight race between two top vote-getters from the first round,

former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and exFinance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

But it is also cause for concern since the second round will coincide with the height of the Taliban spring offensive that was launched earlier this week. The insurgency has renewed its campaign of attacks on the Afghan police and military — increasing fears over security when voters head to the polls.

The Taliban have pledged to disrupt the vote with bombings

Iran Prisoners Beaten:

NICOSIA - Inmates at Iran’s Evin Prison were blindfolded and handcuffed before being dragged and beaten by baton-wielding guards, Amnesty International said in a report released yesterday.

The international rights monitor said the events of April 17 at the north Tehran jail, described as “Black Thursday” by local activists, represented an “unwarranted use of force”.

“Security officials responded with an appalling level of brutality to the protest at Evin prison, dragging them along the floor and verbally insulting them,” said Said Boumedouha, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Amnesty said its report, “Justice is an Alien Word: ill treatment of

and other attacks, although the first round on April 5 passed relatively free of violence.

Abdullah garnered 45 percent of votes in the first round while Ahmadzai came in second with 31.6 percent, Independent Election Commission Chairman Ahmad Yousuf Nouristani said.

The final results announced by Nouristani were almost exactly the same as the preliminary results released late last month.

Over 7 million Afghans voted in the first round, considered a strong turnout in an election

plagued by Taliban threats and logistical hardships for both voters and poll workers.

The head of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan commended the candidates for running “a hard-fought but positive campaign.”

“I hope that the prevailing respectful tone seen in the first round is preserved in the weeks ahead,” said Jan Kubis, the U.N. secretary general’s special

“The quality of the first-round campaign was good, the candidates were moderate and positive, treated each other courteously and didn’t appeal to ethnic, religious or sectarian issues,” Dobbins said Tuesday in Tokyo, where he was taking part in a meeting of the International Contact Group on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“The second round could

Amnesty Report

political prisoners in Evin Prison,” documented that dozens of inmates at the jail’s Section 350 were subjected to assault, beatings and other ill-treatment.

Some of those injured were denied access to adequate medical care, Amnesty said in a statement launching the report.

“Prisoners were blindfolded and handcuffed before being shoved through a ‘tunnel’ formed of security officials carrying batons, who repeatedly struck them on their backs, heads and faces,” it said.

At least 32 inmtes were taken to a solitary confinement area shortly after the incident, Amnesty said yesterday, with some being forced to strip naked before being locked in cells.

Iran on Wednesday said an official inquiry would probe claims that guards at Section 350, which houses political prisoners, had acted improperly.

“The justice and intelligence ministries will prepare a report about the incident at Evin,” Vice President Mohammad Baqer Nobakht told ISNA news agency.

“We are waiting to receive that report and people will be informed about it.”

At the time of the incident Iranian officials dismissed accounts published on opposition websites as inaccurate and said it was the prisoners who resisted an inspection and started a fight with the guards.

Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe stands during celebrations to mark his country’s 34th Independence Day in Harare.

Afghan presidential candidates Abdullah Abdullah (left), and Zalmai Rassoul, listen during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Turkish Coal Mine Deaths Rise at mines around the SOMA, Turkey — Rescue To 282 conditions country. Turk-Is, Turkey’s teams recovered eight more victims of Turkey’s worst mining accident yesterday, raising the death toll to 282 in a disaster that has thrown Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s presidential ambitions off stride.

Hundreds of people were attending funerals for the victims; dozens and dozens of graves have been dug, ready to receive the bodies.

Although 363 miners were rescued in the western mining town of Soma, some 150 more have not been accounted for. No miner has been brought out alive since early Wednesday.

Erdogan, who is expected to soon announce his candidacy for presidential elections in August,

Mugabe On Another ‘Routine’ Singapore 2008 but has remained in the job.

HARARE - Zimbabwe’s 90Check-Up In an interview ahead of his year-old President Robert Mugabe is in Singapore for “another routine eye check-up”, his spokesman said yesterday, playing down concerns about the health of the veteran African leader who has no obvious successor.

Mugabe had a cataract operation in Singapore on the eve of his 90th birthday in February, officials said, and his visits to the southeastern Asian state have become more frequent over the last couple of years amid fears for his health.

Spokesman George Charamba said Mugabe - who denies he has

representative for Afghanistan.

“Candidates have a responsibility to call on their supporters to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation, and threats.”

James Dobbins, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said there’s a risk that the cordial tone between candidates in the first round could sharpen in the second round.

prostate cancer or any other serious illness - would be away for a week and would undergo a “routine eye check-up following a recent procedure on the same”.

When he addressed an independence anniversary rally on April 18, a squinting Mugabe struggled to read his speech and his eyes appeared swollen when he removed his spectacles.

His health is a concern for Zimbabweans who fear instability if Mugabe dies in office without resolving a succession battle raging in his ZANU-PF party, which has ruled

the southern African country since independence from Britain in 1980.

Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa are seen as the front-runners, but Mugabe, Africa’s oldest president, recently confirmed that the contest was open to other ZANU-PF leaders as well.

A June 2008 U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks said Mugabe had prostate cancer that had spread to other organs.

He was apparently urged by his physician to step down in

89th birthday last year Mugabe said he felt he had a “divine task” to lead. He went on to contest and win another five-year presidential term last July that will end in 2018, when he will be 94.

He denies opposition charges that he rigged the election.

Critics say Mugabe, revered in his first decade in power as a liberation hero and pragmatic leader, has clung to power through violence and intimidation and turned one of Africa’s most promising economies into a basket case.

was forced to take refuge at a supermarket during his visit to the area Wednesday after angry crowds called him a murderer and thief and clashed with police.

Turkish newspapers Cumhuriyet, Milliyet and others yesterday printed photographs they said were of an Erdogan aide kicking a protester who was on the ground and being held by paramilitary police during the scuffles. The papers identified the aide as Yusuf Yerel.

Erdogan had earlier downplayed the disaster, calling mining accidents “ordinary things” that also occur in many other countries, after giving examples of 19th-century mine accidents in Britain.

Erdogan has made no secret of his desire to become Turkey’s first popularly elected president.

His party swept local elections in March despite a corruption scandal that forced him to dismiss four government ministers in December and later also implicated him and family members. Erdogan denies corruption, calling the allegations part of a plot to bring his government down.

A man prays beside a grave of a dead miner while workers dig graves and locals accompany the praying …

Protests broke out in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities over the deaths and poor safety

largest trade union confederation representing some 800,000 workers, joined a one-day strike by other unions to demand better conditions for workers.

Workers in the mining region of Zonguldak, obeying the strike, gathering in front of a pit but did not enter it. In Istanbul, a group chanted anti-government slogans and carried a large banner that read: “It’s not an accident, it’s murder.”

With hopes for the missing miners fading, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told reporters that rescue efforts were focusing on two areas inside the mine.

Rescue operations have been suspended several times as burning coal inside created toxic fumes and too-risky conditions for the rescue teams. he government has said 787 people were inside the coal mine at the time of Tuesday’s explosion. Scores of those rescued suffered injuries.

The death toll has topped a 1992 gas explosion that killed 263 workers near Turkey’s Black Sea port of Zonguldak.

Authorities said this week’s disaster followed an explosion and fire at a power distribution unit, and most deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Erdogan promised the tragedy would be investigated to its “smallest detail” and that “no negligence will be ignored.”

International 21 Die, As Anti-China Riots Spread In Vietnam

Sudanese Woman Sentenced To Death For Converting To Christianity KHARTOUM - A Sudanese court has sentenced a 27-year-old woman to death for converting to Christianity, judicial sources said.

Mariam Yahya Ibrahim had been ordered to abandon her newly adopted Christian faith and return to Islam. She had also been charged with adultery for marrying a Christian man.

Judge Abbas al Khalifa asked Ibrahim whether she would return to Islam. After she said “I am a Christian” the death sentence was handed down, the judicial sources said.

Outside the court, about 50 people held up signs that read “Freedom of Religion”, while some Islamists celebrated the ruling, chanting “God is

Greatest”.

Young Sudanese university students have mounted a series of protests near Khartoum University in recent weeks asking for an end to human rights abuses, more freedoms and better social and economic conditions.

Western embassies and Sudanese activists have condemned what they said were human rights abuses and called on the Sudanese Islamist-led government to respect freedom of faith.

An anti-government protester stands in front of Air Force Military Personnel holding shields, after protesters broke into the grounds of an Air Force compound in Bangkok.

July Election Unlikely As Renewed Unrest Grips Bangkok

BANGKOK - A Thai general election is unlikely to go ahead in July after renewed unrest, officials said as the acting prime minister was forced by protesters to flee a meeting with electoral officers and gunmen killed three people in Bangkok.

The turmoil comes as a government loyal to ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra squares off with opponents backed by the royalist establishment over who should be prime minister

in the latest phase of nearly a decade of rivalry.

Anti-government protesters broke into the grounds of an air force compound where acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan was meeting the Election Commission to fix a date for new polls, which had been tentatively set for July 20.

Commission member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn later told Reuters that date now looked improbable. “We may have to push back the polls,” he said.

The government sees a general election as the best way out of a crisis that threatens to tip Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy into recession and has even raised fears of civil war.

Its enemies know the ruling party would be highly likely to win a poll and want electoral changes aimed at ending the influence of former telecommunications tycoon Thaksin before another vote is held.

The renewed tension on the streets raises the prospect that the military - which has stayed out of the crisis so far - could intervene, with the army chief reiterating that an escalation in violence could force it to step in to avoid further bloodshed.

Hundreds of protesters converged outside an air force school in north Bangkok after word spread that Niwatthamrong was meeting election officials there. They had put off talks at another venue the previous day because of security fears.

“We are here to tell Workers wave Vietnamese national flags during a protest at an industrial zone in Niwatthamrong that there is no point standing in our way,” Binh Duong province.

Chumpol Jumsai, a leader of the anti-government protesters, told the crowd from on top of a truck shortly before hundreds of protesters evaded police and streamed through a side entrance into the compound.

Somchai and other commission members met protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to discuss whether demonstrators would accept a new poll, but failed to reach an agreement.

“Even if you set a timeframe of six months or two years (for reforms), I don’t believe you can bring about change quickly,” Somchai told Suthep.

“Will you allow an election to happen in the not-toodistant future?” he asked Suthep, who stuck to his position and emphasized the need for an overhaul of the electoral system.

Hours earlier, a small group of men armed with guns and grenades attacked antigovernment protesters near Democracy Monument in Bangkok’s old quarter, killing two people on the spot, with a third dying later of his wounds. More than 20 people were injured, police said.

HANOI - More than 20 people were killed in Vietnam and a huge foreign steel project set ablaze as anti-China riots spread to the centre of the country a day after arson and looting in the south, a doctor and company officials said yesterday.

A doctor at a hospital in central Ha Tinh province said five Vietnamese workers and 16 other people described as Chinese were killed on Wednesday night in rioting, one of the worst breakdowns in SinoVietnamese relations since the neighbors fought a brief border war in 1979.

“There were about a hundred people sent to the hospital last night. Many were Chinese. More are being sent to the hospital this morning,” the doctor at Ha Tinh General Hospital told Reuters by phone.

Local media has, however, said only person was killed, while China’s state news agency Xinhua reported that at least two Chinese nationals had died and more than 100 hospitalized.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung called on police and state and local authorities to restore order and ensure the safety of people and property in the affected areas.

“Appropriate measures should be taken immediately to help businesses stabilize quickly and return to normal production activities,” he said in a statement, without elaborating.

The Planning and Investment Ministry blamed the clashes on “extremists” and warned that they could seriously affect the investment environment in Vietnam.

Formosa Plastics Group, Taiwan’s biggest investor in Vietnam, said its upcoming steel plant in Ha Tinh was set on fire after fighting between its Vietnamese and Chinese workers. One Chinese worker was killed and 90 others injured, it said in a statement in Taipei.

It was not immediately clear if the casualties were among those admitted to the Ha Tinh hospital.

The plant is expected to be Southeast Asia’s largest steel making facility when it is completed in 2017. No details of fire damage or financial losses were immediately available, the company said.

Mounting Anger As Turkey Mourns Mine Workers

SOMA, Turkey Loudspeakers broadcast the names of the dead and excavators dug mass graves in this close-knit Turkish mining town yesterday while protesters gathered in major cities as grief turned to anger following the country’s deadliest industrial disaster.

Rescuers were still trying to reach parts of the coal mine in Soma, 480 km (300 miles) southwest of Istanbul, almost 48 hours after fire knocked out power and shut down the ventilation shafts and elevators, trapping hundreds underground.

At least 282 people have been confirmed dead, mostly

from carbon monoxide poisoning, and hopes are fading of pulling out any more alive of the 100 or so still thought to be inside.

Anger has swept a country that has boasted a decade of rapid economic growth under Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted government but which still suffers from one of the world’s worst workplace safety standards.

Furious residents heckled Erdogan and jostled his entourage on Wednesday as he toured the town, angry at what they see as the government’s coziness with mining tycoons, its failure to ensure safety and a lack of information on the rescue effort.

Access to the mine entrance was blocked by paramilitary police roadblocks several kilometers away ahead of a visit by President Abdullah Gul yesterday as officers searched cars.

“We came here to share the grief and wait for our friends to come out but we were not allowed. Is the president’s pain greater than ours?” asked Emre, an 18-year-old trying to get to the mine who said friends from his village were still trapped.

Erdogan, who announced three days of national mourning from Tuesday, expressed regret for the

disaster but said such accidents were not uncommon, and turned defensive when asked if sufficient precautions had been in place.

Newspaper Radikal published an amateur video clip on its website appearing to show Erdogan saying “Come here and boo me” as he walked through a hostile crowd in the town on Wednesday.

A picture of one of his advisers appearing to kick a protester, doing the rounds on social media, did little to help his image. His office was not immediately available to comment.

But his fractious handling of a disaster hitting the sort of working class, conservative community which makes up the core of his supporter base is further evidence, his opponents say, that he is a leader

increasingly out of touch.

Four of Turkey’s labor unions called for a national one-day strike, furious at what they see as a sharp deterioration in working conditions since formerly state-run mines including the one in Soma were leased to private firms.

“Hundreds of our worker brothers in Soma have been left to die from the very start by being forced to work in brutal production processes in order to achieve maximum profits,” a statement from the unions said, calling on people to wear black.

Several thousand people staged a sit-down protest in front of police water cannon in Istanbul, holding banners with

slogans including “It is not accident, It is not fate, it is murder” and “Our hearts are burning in Soma”.

Police fired water cannon to break up a demonstration in Izmir, the nearest large city to Soma, and there were reports of protests in the southern cities of Mersin and Antalya.

Around a thousand people from various trade unions gathered in Ankara to march on the labor ministry, some wearing miners’ helmets and waving banners showing the image of Che Guevara.

“The fires of Soma will burn AKP,” and “AKP murderers” they chanted, as police looked on.

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Eden Hazard Aiming Chelsea player of the season Eden Hazard wants to take the advice of manager Jose Mourinho and move his career onto another level next season.

Mourinho has suggested the Belgian midfielder has the potential to be among the top players in the world, with his performances this season winning him persistently glowing public reviews from his manager.

After Hazard was crowned as the Blues star turn for the 2013-14 season, he told the club’s website that he is not satisfied with his or the team’s

Eden Hazard

United Take Comfort From Cash Boost Manchester United received small consolation for surrendering their Premier League title to Manchester City by earning almost 30 million pounds more than when they lifted the trophy last year. the top earners with 97.5 United received 60.8 million million pounds as a pounds in winning the 2012- consequence of more of their 13 title and 89.1 million games being screened live by pounds in finishing seventh a broadcasters. year later as City triumphed for Manuel Pellegrini’s men a second time in three years. appeared in 25 games broadcast Thanks to the 5.5 billion in the UK by either Sky Sports pound broadcast deal, Cardiff or BT Sport, compared to earned more from finishing Liverpool’s 28. bottom of the standings this Third-placed Chelsea, United season than United earned as and Arsenal also appeared in 25 champions the previous live televised games and campaign, the Premier League Cardiff were one of eight teams announced on Wednesday. to appear in 10 live matches.

The Bluebirds received The season was arguably the 62.08 million pounds in most exciting in recent finishing 20th in their one- memory, with the lead season stay in the top flight — changing hands 25 times and over 22 million pounds more 1,052 goals scored alongside a than QPR did in finishing last record stadium occupancy of in the 2012-13 season.

95.9 percent.

City earned 96.5 million The total dividends paid out pounds as champions — to the 20 competing clubs was almost 36 million pounds more 1.56 billion pounds, compared than United’s last term — but to 972 million pounds the second-placed Liverpool were previous year. The ratio

between the top and bottom earning club was 1.57:1.

The Premier League Founder Members’ Agreement dictates 50 percent of UK broadcast revenue is split equally, 25 percent is paid in merit payments depending on the finishing position in the final table — 1.2 million pounds was paid for every place — and 25 percent is paid in facility fees each time a club’s matches are broadcast, while all international broadcast revenue, and central commercial revenue, is split equally amongst the 20 clubs.

City received 24.72 million pounds for finishing first and facility fees of 19.68 million pounds; their predecessors as champions United earned 17.30 million pounds for finishing seventh and facility fees of 19.68 million pounds in a total of 89.1 million pounds.

The equal share was 21.6

Pardew Stays With Mappies

Newcastle officials have confirmed Alan Pardew will remain the club’s manager against a backdrop of fan unhappiness.

Minutes of the latest fans’

Alan Pardew

forum meeting include the confirmation after the 52year-old came under intense pressure from disgruntled supporters as a difficult Barclays Premier League season - or at least the second half of it - drew to a close.

Answering questions submitted on behalf of fans, the board admitted the latter part of the campaign had been a disappointment despite Pardew and his players achieving the minimum requirement of a top-10 finish.

However, they also reiterated that the Premier

League will remain the priority going forward with many unhappy at the Magpies’ failure to progress to the latter stages of the domestic cup competitions.

Pardew, chief scout Graham Carr and managing director Lee Charnley are currently working on summer recruitment plans with owner Mike Ashley, and while club officials revealed money will be available after two transfer windows without a single permanent signing, they insisted that it was only be spent on the right players at the right price.

million pounds (a rise of 63 percent on the 2012-13 value of 13.8 million pounds), overseas TV revenue was 26.29 million pounds and central commercial income of 4.27 million pounds to equal 31 million pounds (up 61 percent on the previous year).

For Ballon d’Or

performances after a season that ended without a trophy.

“I know I have to do better, in training and on the pitch,” stated Hazard, who is set to play in his first World Cup finals this summer. “If I can score more I will score more and next season I hope I will be better.

“I want to be the best, I hope one day I can win the Ballon d’Or, maybe not now but if I work every day and take pleasure from my game then why not?

“The Champions League and the World Cup are the best competitions in the world. For a young player like me it’s good to play for a club who can reach the semifinal or the final because that’s why I play football, for the big games.

“In the English Premier League you play Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal and Man United every week and it’s very good, but I came here for trophies.

“This season was good for me, but not collectively because we didn’t win anything, and last season we won the Europa League,” he explains.

“Individually it’s been good because I was able to play in almost every game, be on the pitch and do what I enjoy doing most, which is to play football.”

Hazard suggested Chelsea’s near misses in a host of competitions should inspired them to reach greater heights next season, as he summed up the mood in the Blues camp after they came up short in their hunt for silverware.

“This season was an ‘almost’ season,” he added.

“Almost in the Champions League final, almost champions in the Premier League. I hope next season it will better and we can go to the next level.”

can’t wait to get back in,” he added. “Perversely I like doing it. To want to do that job you must be crazy, but I knew what I was going into.

There’s a lot of tension and pressure occupies your mind totally. I was waking up in the night thinking of teams, who you should play.

“It was a massive learning curve, my first opportunity to manage. I’ve seen wins, defeats and draws and I’ve seen a few tantrums and the sack, which I didn’t want to see. I’ve seen a lot in those

five months and I will learn from it.

“Would I do anything different? Probably not. I want to adapt what I have learned. Another door opens.”

Sherwood’s failure to guide Tottenham into the Champions League was believed to have played a role in the club’s decision to replace him, with the former Blackburn midfielder now being linked with vacancies at Championship sides Brighton and Norwich.

Tim Sherwood Not Surprised Former Tottenham coach To Lose Job Tim Sherwood has spoken publicly for the first time since he lost his job on Tuesday, with the youthful tactician confirming he was not surprised when he was told he would not continue in the post.

Sherwood’s departure from Spurs had been widely expected after months of speculation suggesting his days in the job were numbered.

“Put it this way, I didn’t fall off my chair when he told me, it wasn’t that much of a shock,” Sherwood told ITV Sport. “Obviously I was disappointed to lose my job.

A job I thought I did reasonably well in.

“Obviously, I have to respect the decision of the football club. It’s a massive football club and it’s going to be bigger than any manager who comes in or any players there. I have full respect for their decision.”

Sherwood admitted his spell as Spurs boss was ‘a massive learning curve’ after he took over from Andre Villas-Boas last December, but he insisted he has not lost his enthusiasm to be a manager after his turbulent stint in charge of Tottenham.

“I really enjoyed it and I

Tim Shrwood

Best Team Lost Europa Final - Jesus

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus was left bitterly disappointed by his side’s Europa League final defeat to Sevilla, claiming that the Portuguese champions were the better side on the night.

Sevilla won their third UEFA Cup/Europa League in the past eight years, claiming the title on a penalty shootout after the scores had finished level at 0-0 after 120 minutes.

Benfica, for whom Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo missed from 12 yards, had gone into the match as favourites having narrowly last year’s final to Chelsea and already won two domestic trophies this season.

But they fell at the final hurdle again — the eighth time in a row the club have lost a major European final — with Jesus claiming Sevilla were the team with more belief, not more quality.

“It was a great final even though there were no goals,”

Sevilla’s players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Benfica in the Europa League final

Sevilla Snatch Victory In Shootout After Thrilling Stalement

Sevilla snatched the Europa League trophy in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Benfica following an enthralling goalless draw at Juventus Stadium. poured forward in a thrilling Substitute Kevin Gameiro second half with Sevilla perhaps fired his spot-kick home to hand fortunate to survive a series of the Spanish side a 4-2 victory – penalty shouts and a mad their third European triumph in goalmouth scramble. nine seasons – and end the The tempo inevitably slowed Portuguese champions’ hunt for in extra-time with Carlos Bacca a historic quadruple. going closest to a late winner Defeat stretched Benfica’s before a shoot-out ensued. losing run in European finals to Sevilla stopper Beto the hero as eight as the curse of former he palmed clear two hesitant coach Bela Guttmann, who Benfica penalties before claimed in 1962 that the club Gameiro stepped up to smash would go 100 years without home the winner.

European success, continued to KEY MOMENTS haunt them.

45+1’ – BETO SAVES A cagy opening period was TWICE! Maxi Pereira is all quickly forgotten as both sides alone in the centre, six yards from goal, but he can’t poke the ball past Beto. Shortly after, Rodrigo crashes an effort at goal from 15 yards. Beto beats it clear.

45+2’ – CONTROVERSY! Gaitan goes down inside the penalty area. Felix Brych’s decision? Goal-kick. Benfica are Few teams can have taken furious. more tortuous routes to 49’ – CHANCES GALORE! European success than Sevilla Benfica break at pace, and the this season and coach Unai ball finds its way to Lima on the Emery hailed his team’s inside-left channel. His shot is “capacity to suffer” after they hacked off the line and sparks a beat Benfica on penalties to win crazy 20 seconds as Sevilla hurl the Europa League.

Sevilla played 19 matches on their way to winning the Sevilla won a penalty shootcompetition for a third time and were lucky to be taking part at out to beat Benfica and lift the all.

Europa League trophy in Turin.

After finishing ninth in La WHAT HAPPENED Liga last season, Sevilla would Sevilla defended doggedly in not normally have qualified but a 0-0 draw before beating won a place after Malaga and Benfica 4-2 on penalties to win Rayo Vallencano, who finished the Europa League for the third above them, were both barred after falling foul of UEFA time on Wednesday as the final licensing regulations. curse of Bela Guttmann Having progressed to the appeared to continue to haunt the round of 16, Sevilla overturned Portuguese side. a 2-0 first-leg deficit before Beaten 2-1 at the death by beating neighbours Real Betis Chelsea in the same game 12 on penalties and another onemonths ago, Benfica slumped to goal first-leg deficit against Porto in the quarter-finals. their eighth successive European Their semi-final win over final loss, putting a dampener on Valencia was even more what had been a triumphant dramatic as they squandered a season. two-goal first-leg lead, fell 3-0 Benfica’s losing run is often behind in the second leg and referred to as the “curse of Bela scored in stoppage time to sneak Guttmann”, the Hungarian coach through in stoppage time.

Sevilla coach Unai Emery with the Europa League trophy

Sevilla stopper Beto saves hesitant penalties from Cardozo and Rodrigo! Lima and Luisao keep Benfica in it, but strikes from Bacca, M’Bia, Coke and a winning effort from Gameiro ensure it’s Sevilla who are the 2014 Europa League champions!

Sevilla stars revel in glory Sevilla’s stars were delighted to lift the Europa League trophy in Lisbon.

KEY STATS Benfica equal Juventus on losing a record eight finals in European competitions and they do this in the... Juventus Arena Only two clubs in European history have a 100 per cent win record in three or more finals played: Sevilla and Feyenoord (excluding Super Cup) Benfica are without a win in their last 15 European games against Spanish opponents Benfica have lost their last eight major European finals; they have not won a European trophy since the 1961/62 European Cup Stats courtersy of Infostrada and Opta

who led them to successive European Cups in 1961 and 1962.

On leaving the club in acrimonious circumstances, Guttmann said they would never win another European title without him. Benfica went on to lose finals to AC Milan (1963), Inter Milan (1965) and Manchester United (1968).

Guttmann died in 1981, yet the run of defeats continued as they lost further European Cup finals to PSV Eindhoven (1988) and AC Milan (1990), and UEFA/Europa league finals to Anderlecht (1983) and Chelsea last year before last night’s loss.

Sevilla’s Unai Emery and Valencia’s Juan Antonio Pizzi reflect on an amazing game at

anticipation of Sunday’s Portuguese cup final against Rio Ave. Curse or no curse, Benfica’s need to secure a European trophy to get over what is now becoming a major psychological stumbling block.

WHAT THE MEDIA SAID James Riach (Guardian): Benfica, though, may not have a better chance to end the barren run for some time. [Coach Jorge] Jesus, has been strongly linked with a move away from the club this summer, had already seen his team wrap up the Portuguese title by a seven-point margin, [and] add the League Cup to their trophy cabinet, with the Portuguese Cup final to come against Rio Ave.

their bodies on the line as Rodrigo and Lima blast shots into towards goal. Somehow, the Liga side survive.

52’ – REYES MISSES! Rakitic scoops the ball into the direction of Reyes. The former Arsenal man can’t find the bottom corner under pressure from Luisao. The game has come alive!

56’ – ANOTHER PENALTY SHOUT! Moreno catches Lima inside the penalty area after miscontrolling a long ball.

Again, no penalty.

84’ – SPECULATIVE LIMA EFFORT! Lima cuts inside, spots the keeper marginally off his line, and blasts a shot at goal from 30 yards. Great save from Beto.

101’ – BOCCA BLOWS CHANCE TO WIN IT! Rakitic plays an outrageous pass to Bocca on the right wing. The forward cuts inside and drives at Oblak’s goal before sending a shot narrowly past the post.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT –

Emery Proud Of Sevilla’s ‘Capacity To Suffer’

Has The Curse Of Guttman Struck Again? the Mestella.

While the run is extraordinary, last night’s loss had much more to do with absolutely atrocious penalty taking and some liberal interpretation of the laws of the game by the officials. While the stuttered run ups and penalties of Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo were poor, Sevilla keeper Beto was approaching his six-yard box when he made the saves – so the penalties should have been re-taken. The result has nothing to do with a curse but with each loss the pressure to claim a European trophy grows.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Benfica - who have already secured the Portuguese league crown and league cup - need to dust themselves down in

Jesus told his postmatch news conference. “It was an open game. Sevilla started better but as the match progressed we improved and were the better team. We showed our power and had a number of opportunities to score but weren’t able to.

“In extra time, the team that played with more belief ended up winning. The best team did not win the Europa League. I congratulate my players and there is nothing I can criticise.

We leave with our heads held high and there is no point dwelling on this. We have another final on Sunday [the Portuguese Cup vs. Rio Ave].”

“There’s no point hiding that we were without important players. I would have had more options after [Miralem] Sulejmani went off injured [in the first half]. All of our changes were forced, but the way the team responded was pleasing.

“In football, the best team does not always win. We have to be pragmatic, though, and keep our heads held high. It was an emotional experience that we need to shrug off in time for the next final in Lisbon. In the end Sevilla won so I offer them my congratulations.”

Benfica captain Luisao felt fortune was smiling on Benfica at Turin’s Juventus Stadium, saying: “We know how football is, but nothing cancels out the brilliant campaign we have had.

We lacked luck, but Sunday we have another final to win.”

He also offered his commiserations to Cardozo and Rodrigo, adding: “We have full confidence in them. They have already decided many games, but today was not a happy one.”

Sevilla coach Unai Emery said his side’s ability to “suffer” was the key to their victory.

The Spanish side, who finished ninth in La Liga last season, only qualified for the Europa League due to financial problems at Malaga and Rayo Vallecano.

Sevilla have often found themselves with their backs against the wall in this season’s competition, requiring comebacks against Real Betis, Porto and Valencia in the knockout rounds.

And Emery felt his team’s ability to handle the high pressure of the situation was what helped them lift the trophy for a third time in the club’s history.

“Benfica were — like us — fitting finalists,” Emery said in his postmatch news conference.

“The game was quite even for large parts while towards the end they gave a harder push. You could really see the tiredness out there, the physical niggles. If there is one thing we have learned how to do, it is to suffer.

“The players were prepared for this. I dedicate the win to my family and friends, the technical staff and the players who deserve this for their hard work and dedication.”

2014 World Cup Count-Down Scolari Denies Neymar Reports BRAZIL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has denied reports Barcelona star Neymar is being pressured to sit out Saturday’s La Liga title decider with Atletico Madrid for fear he will suffer an injury setback.

Neymar, who is expected to play a leading role for Brazil at this summer’s World Cup, has not played since the Copa del Rey final defeat to Real Madrid on April 16. He is close to a recovery but is struggling to prove his fitness in time for this weekend’s decisive match at the Camp Nou. Marca reported this week that the Brazilian FA (CBF), as well as sponsors plus the player’s father and agent, were concerned that the 22year-old could be risked for the match and that he is being urged not to take part.

However, Scolari issued an official statement via the CBF website insisting Neymar’s participation could be a major positive for Brazil.

“I do not just want him to play, I want them to be champions,” Scolari said.

“That will lift his morale and his self-esteem and, with that, the Brazil team also wins. It would also help him get back his match-fitness.”

The CBF’s medical chief, Jose Luis Runco, added that any decision on the player’s

fitness to play against Atletico was a matter for Barca to decide.

“This is a decision that is exclusively down to the club,” Runco said in the statement. “In some moments there were concerns about an escalation of Neymar’s problem, but we are fully aware of his condition and there is now no reason for fear.”

Barca’s medical staff are due to carry out more tests on Neymar’s foot on Thursday and make a decision on whether it is possible he can play some part.

Marcelo

Spain Still Best In The World, Insists Marcelo

MARCELO says home support will be a plus for Brazil in the upcoming World Cup finals but that holders Spain remain the best side in the competition.

Brazil beat Spain 3-0 in team during the last June’s tournament, but he did Confederations Cup final not expect any level of at the Maracana stadium vocal support to in Rio de Janeiro, and intimidate 2010 winners that result has helped Spain. install Luiz Felipe “You can see now that Scolari’s side as the whole country is bookmakers’ favourites caught up in the World this summer.

Cup, and to be involved Real Madrid star is something priceless,” Marcelo said in AS that Marcelo said. “The the whole of Brazil Maracana will give us an would be behind their

extra push, but it will not intimidate the Spanish team, which is still the best in the world.”

Spain’s all-conquering side has continued to evolve through recent years, with emerging Madrid defender Dani Carvajal named in place of his club colleague Alvaro Arbeloa in the preliminary 30-man squad announced this week.

Carvajal, 22, has become first choice rightback at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in

Premier League title, but was overlooked when Deschamps named his provisional 30-man squad this week.

Explaining his decision, Deschamps suggested that Nasri, who was suspended for three games after Euro 2012 for swearing at a journalist, could be a disruptive figure in the dressing room.

Vieira, however, said it was a mistake to leave one of France’s most creative players at home.

“If you want to have a chance, you have to take your best players,” Vieira, who works with Manchester City as head of the elite development squad, said.

“I think this year Samir has played fantastically well.

He was one of our best players at City.

“He did everything to go to the World Cup. He has

“I need to take time now to think about the national team,” he was quoted in The Times. “Because it’s been twice that they take a World Cup away from me.”

Nasri also missed the tournament in South Africa in 2010.

Nasri’s Exclusion Will Hurt France’s FORMER France captain Patrick Vieira says Samir Nasri’s Chances, SaysVieira future. omission from the World Cup squad could return to haunt Coach Didier Deschamps at next month’s tournament in Brazil.

“I hoped it was a mistake,” Vieira, who played in France’s 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, said in an interview with ITV, for whom he will work as a pundit during the finals.

Manchester City playmaker Nasri ended the season in fine style, helping his club reclaim the

Patrick Vieira

been scoring goals, making assists. The way he has grown up is his influence on the group and the team.

“He is a positive lad, he has been working really hard and he is taking more responsibility on his shoulder. He has got personality, and a strong personality.

“We’ve never heard anything about him (being disruptive) at City. I think in France sometimes they’re not strong enough to deal with personalities.

“That is quite surprising, because Deschamps has personality and experience.”

Nasri’s girlfriend Anara Atanes was less eloquent in her reaction to his World Cup snub, hurling abuse at Deschamps via Twitter on Wednesday.

Nasri, signed by City from Arsenal, said he would have to consider his international

recent months, but his inclusion was still a minor surprise considering the 32year-old Arbeloa’s greater experience, having gained over 56 national caps and participated in both the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 successes.

Carvajal told reporters at a commercial event that, while he was happy to have been called up, his focus for now is the Champions League final against city rivals Atletico Madrid on May 24.

“Now I’m trying to make the most of the moment,” he said in quotes reported on Madrid’s official website.

“I’m delighted to be part of the provisional list for the World Cup and will do everything I can to make it into the final list, but the most important thing right now is the Champions League final.”

Messi Not Focused On Matching Greats LIONEL Messi says his motivation to win the World Cup with Argentina does not come from the desire to prove himself an all-time great like Pele or Maradona.

The Barcelona star has claimed every trophy available with his club and won the Ballon d’Or on four occasions, but he has yet to achieve success on international football’s biggest stage, with Argentina failing to get past the quarterfinals in either the 2006 or 2010 tournaments.

Argentina captain Messi has told ESPN he did not feel any personal motivation to emulate past individual greats and was simply seeking to triumph in the sport’s most prestigious competition.

“I do not want to be world champion with Argentina so that people can say that I will be a great like Pele or Maradona,” Messi said. “I want to do it to achieve this objective with the national team, and to add this title to my list of trophies.”

Messi admitted to having regularly asked Barca teammates such as Xavi Hernandez, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta what it had been like to lift the trophy in 2010 with Spain.

“I feel some healthy envy towards my teammates at Barca who have won it,” he said. “No matter how much I ask, they cannot explain what it feels like.”

Argentina sailed through qualification under coach Alejandro Sabella, who has been confident enough in his current side to decide against recalling Juventus attacker Carlos Tevez to the preliminary 30-man squad for the finals.

“We are coming into the tournament in good form,” Messi said. “We have a nice opportunity to do something big. We are relaxed and excited about being able to achieve our objective.

Falcao ‘60 Percent’ Ready For World Cup speed; the coordination, the

THE father of Radamel Falcao revealed his son is “60 percent recovered” as the striker races to return from a knee injury to boost Colombia’s World Cup bid.

Falcao, 28, has not played since January after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a Coupe de France game with his club, Monaco, but has been included in Colombia’s 30-man provisional squad for the tournament in Brazil.

With a six-to-seven-month

layoff expected, the former Porto and Atletico Madrid forward’s participation in Brazil looked unlikely, but there now appears to be a good prospect of seeing him feature for his country after Radamel Garcia sounded optimistic on Colombian radio station RCN. “He’s practically 60 percent recovered,” said Garcia. “Now, he is just lacking the rest: the resistance; the strength; the

fundamental things for a toplevel athlete.

“Clinically, he’s very good.

The problem is that he isn’t in football terms. Up till now, what he has got back is his physical shape. So we’ll have to see what happens between now and the World Cup.” Falcao scored nine goals in 17 Ligue 1 appearances before his knee injury, with Monaco certain of finishing second behind title-winners Paris Saint-Germain

6-Man NVBF Contingent Departs For World Championships Qualifiers

ABUJA - A six-man contingent of the national under-19 beach volleyball teams who left Kaduna yesterday, May 15 for Niger Republic.

Musa Nimrod, the Chairman of the Beach Volleyball Commission of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), disclosed this to newsmen in a telephone interview.

He said the contingent was going for the FIVB U-19 World Championships qualifiers.

“A male team of two players and a female team of two players, as well as a coach and an accompanying referee, will leave for Niger Republic on Thursday.

“They are going for the final phase of the 2014 FIVB U-19 Beach Volleyball World Championships qualifiers.

“Six countries are expected to participate in each of the two categories of the qualifiers,’’ Nimrod said.

The FIVB U-19 Beach Volleyball World Championships are scheduled for Porto in Portugal from July 29 to August 3, 2014.

Minister Commends Keshi On Provisional List

LAGOS - The Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo, has commended the Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, for naming a 30-man provisional squad for the Brazil FIFA World Cup. This is contained in a newsmen in Lagos and signed statement made available to by the Minister ’s Special

Adviser on Media, Patrick Omorodion.

The statement quoted Danagogo as saying that he was convinced that Keshi and his technical crew were capable of

Dr Tammy Danagogo , Sports Minister

Coach Urges Corporate Bodies To Assist Para-powerifters

LAGOS Are Feyinsetan, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF) on Wednesday urged corporate organisations and other spirited Nigerians to support lifters with personal wheelchairs.

Feyinsetan told newsmen in Lagos that this would enhance the training of the lifters even in their privacy.

According to the director, many lifters are often not regular for training due to a lack of the facility.

“The physical state of the athletes does not permit them to be jumping from one bus to another just to come for training here at the National Stadium, Lagos.

“So, in order to assist them to be effective in their chosen careers, I call on corporate bodies, NGO and

religious groups to donate wheelchairs to the lifters.

“Availability of wheelchair to the lifters will make it easy for them to come for training.

“With standard wheelchair they would no longer need any assistance for helper to wheel them to the stadium from the bus stops.’’

He said that some parapowerlifters had the vision of making waves in the sport but could not afford to buy a wheelchair because they were expensive.

“A standard new wheelchair from Germany is about N300, 000 while you can get an imported fairly used one for about N60, 000.

“Due to the high cost, some of them especially the younger ones cannot afford buying one, but the

older ones after attending some international competition can afford to buy one,’’ he said.

The director, however, appealed to corporate bodies and individuals to buy standard ones such as Supor and Quirky.

He said that standard wheelchairs would serve

the users for a reasonable period of time.

meeting the expectations of Nigerians in the World Cup. He charged the team’s handler to commence serious preparation for the assignment at hand to ensure that the players give their best at the World Cup. “It is good that he has named a provisional squad and I plead with Nigerians to give him the maximum cooperation in the discharge of his duties.

“What remains now is for the technical crew to begin serious preparation so that the players put in their best when the competition kicks off next month.”

The minister advised Keshi that the final selection of 23 players should be done without bias or sentiments as only the best players should don the colours of Nigeria in Brazil.

“After the training sessions, I will advise Keshi and his team to ensure that the final 23 players to represent the country are picked without bias or sentiments.

“They must ensure that only the best players at all times are selected to represent the country.”

He said that the team should not limit their ambition to the Semi-final but aim to get to the final and possibly lift the cup.

Danagogo assured the team of government’s support from the preparation stage to the participation.

“I want to assure the Super Eagles that they will get the full support of Mr President for their preparation and the campaign proper. ‘ This is because our target of going beyond the semi-final and even winning the cup will be achieved,’’ he said.

Garba Sticks To Flying Eagles Squad Against KADUNA - Flying Eagles beat the Ngonrongoro Heroes there will be no Tanzania and Head Coach, Manu Garba, of Tanzania at home when changes, except if the says he does not intend to make changes in the team that

Manu Garba

they play the return leg.

The Flying Eagles defeated

their Tanzanian counterparts 2-0 in the first leg of the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifier played in Dar-es Salaam on Sunday.

The second leg will be played in Kaduna on May 24.

Garba told newsmen in Kaduna yesterday that he was satisfied with the performance of the boys that played in the first leg match.

“Their performance in the last match was commendable. It is not easy to win an away game by as much as 2-0.

“I will work with them to play the return match so as to record success and proceed to the next stage.

“I believe we will do better,

players with injuries are not fit enough on the day of the match, then they may be changed.”

Garba said he was confident that the players would perform well and commended the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) for its support to the team.

According to him, the support being given by the NFA is motivating the players and will spur them to win their remaining matches.

The coach urged the players to work hard and maintain their level of fitness, so as to win the second leg match with a wide margin.

Using A Financial Or Investment Adviser MANY investors believe that they have the capability to determine the a p p r o p r i a t e investment outlets for their investments.

They end up making mistakes that may haunt them for the rest of their lives. Do I invest in the money market or in the capital market, in the real estate sector, or in other sector? This is a puzzle they often cannot answer but are led somehow to go ahead without seeking the help of professionals.

Professionals in the finance and investment world are important. They will usually consider a variety of factors including the profile of the investor, the probable return on investment, general i n v e s t m e n t environment and all other parameters before offering their advice. It is wise to use them to avoid the trauma of failed investment or scams.

It is also wise to ascertain their competence and experience. My first rule however, will be to examine the stature of the adviser. What has he done with the knowledge?

A financial adviser is a professional that helps plan and advise that on the various dimension of a clients’ finances, with the aim of achieving success in life and business.

Some of the areas where the advice of a financial adviser come in handy are income, budgeting, insurance and tax, financial

deadlines, retirement, education, risk m a n a g e m e n t , investment and debt management.

Financial or Investment advisers offer investment or financial advice usually

abundant information on the various companies quoted on the stock exchange, the adviser can at any point in time give an educated advice on stocks that are likely to yield dividends for the investor.

overall financial situation and advice you on how best to meet your goals.

This approach, which may include advice on managing your expenses so as to allow room for your investment and savings objectives, is different

The Nigerian Stock Exchange

for a fee. They often help with investment problems — information, advice or recommendations on your investment portfolio and decisions. In Nigeria, the Investment Adviser in the capital market is a capital market operator and is officially registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the apex regulatory body of the capital market, to do such business. This registration and recognition distinguishes the freelance amateur adviser from the professional adviser.

The professional investment adviser in the capital market is expected to advise clients on investments and investment outlets in the market. Since he has

In the main, investment advisers do a sound job for their clients, which include many institutions. Their services, however, are usually beyond the reach of the average investor as they have to charge their fees.

Investment advisers can also be financial planners. They do this when they assess your

from that of investment advisers who make specific securities and other investment decisions for you. In practice, the same advisers handle all issues.

Apart from insisting that your Investment Adviser is duly registered to do such business, since virtually anyone can claim to be

By SYLVESTER AKELE a financial adviser or planner, it is important to know the advisers background, including education and experience. It is also important to have references, including

clients that you can call, know of the adviser’s competence in different types of investments and the identity of the adviser. Other relevant things that you will need to know include the degree of individualization you will receive and the adviser’s method of compensation. Most professionals will charge based on the

“In using an Investment Adviser, it is important that you are prepared to discuss your personal feelings and concerns without holding any information. It is also important to insist on clear explanations for any recommendations.”

complexities of your circumstances and amount of time spent on your affairs.

However, the common methods of compensation are fee only, fee and commission and commission only.

The regulatory authorities ensure that those they register are fit and proper. It is also noteworthy that an adviser is not supposed to offer advice on a stock that he has interest in unless he reveals that he, has which interest to enable the investor take the proper decision.

How good is the advice that is provided by advisers? There is no way to accurately compile and compare as some are outright recommendations while others are hedged suggestions with all kinds of qualifications. On many occasions, investment advice, especially those sent by mail etc become stale on arrival and as such useless.

In using an Investment Adviser, it is important that you are prepared to discuss your personal feelings and concerns without holding any information. It is also important to insist on clear explanations for any recommendations.

Ask questions and do not take any action without a complete understanding of the p o s s i b l e consequences.

Mr. Akele, C.E.O Soakel Consultancy Ltd., wrote from Abuja.

Printed and published by Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, 24, Airport Road, P.M.B. 1334 Benin City. Telephone; Lagos: 01 4930929, Benin: 052 257492, 257531 Editor. BARR. SOLOMON IMOHIOSEN (KSJI) - (07030699646), Deputy General Manager (Marketing) (08023457566), Assistant General Manager(Advertisement) (08023808856) Lagos Office: 25A Alli Street, Off Tinubu Square, Lagos Island, Lagos. Abuja Office: Floor 1, Edo House, 75 Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business District, Abuja. Tel/Fax: 09-5237631. All correspondence to: 24 Airport Road, Benin City. E-mail: nigerianobserver@yahoo.com (ISSN 0331-2674)