Nigerian observer 16 08 2013

THE NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

cmyk

1

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968

ART & CULTURE Page 19

Definitions of culture

• Vol. 38 NO.295 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 20 13 • N100.00

High Court flays action of 3 FAAN As You Earn (PAYE) from between the Edo State

By VICTOR OMOALU FAAN workers salaries, officials Internal Revenue totaling N17,473,876.

BENIN CITY- Justice J.I Acha of the High Court of Justice, Edo State, yesterday flayed the action of the three accused persons in a suit

Service and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Benin City.

The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS)

had dragged the FAAN to the court on a six count charges of conspiracy, refusal/ neglect to remit to the Edo State IRS the monies deducted as Pay

25, preventing officials of the EIRS from carrying out their lawful duty as well as preventing them Continues on page 2

Terrorist Insurgency

ISSUES Page 21

Rape Deepenig To A Deadly Depth

US offers to assist Nigeria

ABUJA - The U.S. Government is ready to work with Nigeria to develop a multi-faceted strategy that will help in tackling terrorist threats.

The U.S. Under Haram-led insurgency Secretary of State for operating in the country’s Political Affairs, Ms northeast.

Wendy Sherman, stated “Nigeria cannot fully this at the second achieve its potential as a session of U.S.-Nigeria stable regional leader Bi-National Commission until it successfully (BNC) Regional Security overcomes the challenge Cooperation Working of Boko Haram and Group yesterday in secures peace and Abuja. protection for all its “We recognise that citizens. success cannot be “Achieving success will achieved unless Nigeria not be easy, but we are surmounts the ready to work with you as challenges that frustrate one of your strongest the much-anticipated and most faithful friends progress. and partners to discuss “Nigeria faces several new ways. challenges to national “We stand ready to and regional stability; the work together to develop largest is the Boko

a multi-faceted strategy to counter the threats posed by Boko Haram that demonstrates to civilians that they will be protected,” he said.

The under secretary added that both Nigeria

and the U.S. must deepen their commitments to ensuring respect for human lives and dignity, building peace as well as preventing future atrocities.

She emphasised the need for the government to enhance security efforts at protecting its citizens and ensuring prosecutions of perpetrators of human

rights violations.

“The Nigerian government and military must win over the hearts and minds of the northern populace by protecting them and Continues on page 2

Expert hails privatisation of refineries

LAGOS The Managing Director of B r o m s h y Communication, Mrs. Rageidah Adedimeji, has hailed the privatisation of refineries in the country.

He said that the policy would enable the refineries to create more jobs for Nigerian youths.

Adedimeji, also an oil and gas expert, gave the commendation at a press conference organised by her company in Lagos.

She urged the Federal Government to hasten the privatisation of the refineries to boost socioeconomic growth of the country.

Adedimeji said that engagement of more youths in the oil industry would reduce crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

“If we have more refineries functioning, the country will have enough petroleum products for local consumption.

“We will grow our own

expertise.

“We need more youth participation in oil and gas sector, this will keep them away from delinquent acts that undermine our economy.

“We need to develop and motivate our youths; they need to be encouraged to use their talents to develop themselves as well as set up small scale enterprises.

“Our company will partner with the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) to organise a conference on youth training in oil and gas

LAGOS - Mr. Nasir Imodagbe, Head Media Relations, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), has said that the hoarding of kerosene by oil marketers was

sector.

“We expect CEOs of oil companies to relate their experience to develop and motivate youths,” she said.

Continues on page 2

MEETING: All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors at their meeting in Lafia recently.

Screening exercise to cover all pub service sectors

By QUEENNETH A. OROBEDO

- Ihonvbere

BENIN CITY- Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere said

the on-going screening exercise for Primary School Teachers across the state will be extended to other levels and sectors of the state public service.

He stated this yesterday in Government House, Benin City at a session

responsible for the high price.

In an interview with journalists in Lagos, Imodagbe said that government was making available enough

kerosene at affordable price.

“Our findings show that only the NNPC and a few outlets sell kerosene at the government approved price of N50

product from us at regulated price of N40.90k.

“By law, kerosene is not supposed to be sold Continues on page 2

PPMC blames high price of kerosene per litre. on hoarding “Petroleum products marketers purchase the

with a delegation of the state chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ASUSS) who came on a courtesy visit.

According to Prof.

Ihonvbere, the screening and verification of teachers in the state is not designed to humiliate or witchhunt anyone, but rather, it is geared towards ensuring sanity

in the education system as well as to complement the revived infrastructure in public schools across the state.

The SSG who expressed gratitude to the leadership of ASUSS for its disposition to the efforts of government to bring about credibility and transparency in the education sector, however cautioned against utterance in some quarters against the process.

Prof. Ihonvbere who Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

2

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

News

Screening exercise to cover all pub service Continued from page 1 sustain its prayers towards who appreciate Governor sectors toensuring social justice in the promised to forward their Adam Oshiomhole for the demands to the state Governor, reminded the union members that it has great role to play to help inculcate necessary moral and values in the children, particularly in the academic work.

National president, ASUSS, Comrade Charles Ossy faluyi

appointment of some of their members into political offices, the approval of the balance of 10.5% TSA for all secondary school tutors and the recent approval for their promotion, however appealed to the Governor to give less publicity to the on-going screening

exercise for teachers in the state.

At a session with leaders of the Association of Christians in Authority, the SSG stressed that acquisition of power should be championed towards giving succor to the people and urged the group

country.

President, Association of Christians in Authority, Pastor Efosa Idahosa, said the visit was to encourage the SSG to continue with his selfless service and assured of their continued prayers for enhanced peace and development in the state.

and lasting peace globally.

Sherman expressed the optimism that Nigeria’s leadership would adopt comprehensive measures to address its socio-economic challenges, and identified stability, security and prosperity as long-term goals.

“We look forward to hearing Nigeria’s unique accounts of steps taken to ensure transparency, accountability and justice, including access for civil society organisations and journalists to the north,”

she said.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Martin Uhomoibhi, lauded the achievements of the BNC, and reiterated the need for continued support by the U.S. Government.

Uhomobhi said the second regional security-working group of the BNC would review implementation of decisions reached at its inaugural session held in January.

“Given the breadth of

price, thereby undermining government efforts at making life worthwhile for the common man,“ he said.

Imodagbe said that the Federal Government would not relent on its efforts at making sure that enough kerosene was available.

Reports say that most filling stations in Lagos are selling a litre of kerosene between N150 and N200.

Nigeria-U.S. relationship, the Regional Security Cooperation Working Group should be an established platform to strengthen the capacity of our security agents to counter extremism.

“There is no doubt that deliberation between our governments on how to proceed under the BNC has been productive.

“We are also committed to close collaboration on security and other related issues with sharp focus on bringing lasting peace to Nigeria.

“The session today should allow both Nigeria and U.S. discuss current security concerns and provide us with the opportunity to share perspectives on policies, address mutual concerns, explain threat perceptions and identify new areas of cooperation,” he said.

The U.S.-Nigeria BNC was signed in April 2006 with the aim of establishing a mechanism for sustained bilateral dialogue to promote increased diplomatic, economic and security cooperation between the two countries.

justice Acha, however, adjourned the case to August 20 13.

The BNC operates on the basis of working groups on good governance, transparency and integrity, energy and investment as well as Niger Delta and national development.

The others include agriculture and food security and regional security cooperation.

US offers to assist Nigeria

Continued from page 1

providing timely and commensurate justice to both insurgents and the victims of this unfortunate conflict,” Sherman said.

She recalled steps taken by the U.S. to support Nigeria’s security sector and also secure bilateral relations of both countries.

The under secretary said the collaborative efforts would contribute to economic growth, democratic progress

PPMC blames high price of kerosene on hoarding

Continued from page 1

above N50 to Nigerians,“ he said.

Imodagbe told newsmen that it was the duty of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to enforce compliance to government approved price.

He said PPMC was supplying about 11 million litres of kerosene daily which were distributed by allocations to licensed

marketers and NNPC retail outlets.

“We at PPMC have been ensuring that allocated petroleum products reach their designated points and to consumers.

“But, cost of kerosene is high in the market because some oil marketers are hoarding the product.

“They are also inflating its

order from a competent court, an offence punishable under section 55, 48 and 49 of the Edo State Revenue Administration Law, 2012.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the three accused persons, Ayodele Sunday, Adebayo O.F. and Aliu Isimharpe, Augustine Akhigbe (Esq) told the court that his clients had gone to FAAN headquarters in Lagos with the court summon apparently for study by the FAAN head authority and pleaded for adjournment.

Counsel to the EIRS, Augustine Oyarekhua Aliyu described the accused action as an attempt to obstruct court processes on the matter.

He stressed that a bench warrant be issued on the accused person since they prefer to obey their head office rather than a court order.

In his submission, the presiding judge, Justice J.I Acha expressed displeasure over the accused persons action and described it as a disobedient on their part.

“I am not impressed that the accused persons had to take court processes to their headquarters in Lagos to show their superior”, Justice Acha stated.

“While I consider the absence of the accused persons from court as disobedient to the court summon served on them, I

will however, say, on the request of the defence counsel give a short

High Court flays action of 3 Continued from page 1 from exercising the distrain FAAN Officials adjournment”, he added .

Commissioner tasks social workers BENIN CITY - Nigeria Association of Social Workers has been urged to ensure that members are qualified social workers to preserve the credibility of the association.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Edo State, Mr. Louis Odion stated this while receiving members of the Nigeria Association of Social workers, Edo State chapter who were in his office in Benin City on courtesy visit.

Mr. Odion who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Dakpokpo said their members who are working in the ministry has demonstrated high sense of responsibility and dedication to duty assured that members who met with the scheme of service when there is vacancy.

While disclosing plans by government to up grade the centre for Community Development Education, Benin City, the commissioner urged the social workers to key into government’s enfrastructural development agenda as grass root mobilizers.

Mr. Odion noted that the Community Development department in the ministry is doing all in its power to reach the grassroots commended the

Association for their service to humanity.

On his part, the Director of Community Development, Ambassador Femi Okuo who is also a member of the Association said that one of their constrain is that the enabling law has not been passed by the National Assembly.

The Director of Publication and Documentation of the ministry Mr. Lucky Wasa told members of the Association to service hard for the passage of the enabling law and ensure that members are professionally qualified to give the Association some sense of

credibility.

Earlier, the state chairman of the Association, Comrade Christian Oseghale said the Association is an assemblage of qualified social workers charged with the responsibility of rendering professional and quality services for the benefit of mankind.

Expert hails privatisation of refineries Continued from page 1 Reports say that the conference is scheduled for Lagos on September 12.

(Continued from last week)

Alleged threat to peace:

By ROLAND OSAKUE

BENIN CITY – The traditional ruler of Evbovbioba Community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar alleging that one Edwin Aigbe Izevbokun and one Matthew Iyoha are fomenting trouble in the community.

Edwin Aigbe Izevbokun is the Enogie (Duke) of the community who was recently sacked from his position by the palace of the Benin Monarch,

Oredo Council boss gives nod to Dream Alive with Pikolo BENIN CITY – The Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Hon. Osaro Obazee has applauded the initiative of the “Dream Alive With Pikolo” in its commitment towards addressing the epidemic youth restiveness in the society through the entertainment industry.

The council chairman who formally gave his nod to the organisation during a courtesy call on him in Benin City, described it as a welcome and timely development especially as it aligns with his administration’s programme for the youth.

Hon. Obazee described the organisation as that which will go a long way in touching the lives of the youths, taking them permanently out of street and bring soccour to them.

“No doubt you need facilitate such a laudable project, employment is not only done in the Civil Service alone”, stated the Oredo Council Boss.

He, however, assured that his council will do anything possible to support the organisation.

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the Comrade Governor on Culture and Tourism/Convener, “Dream Alive With Pikolo”, Daniel Eremosele (aka Pikolo), said they were in the chairman’s office to acquaint him with the organisation, its objectives and set goal.

The SSA who spoke through the PRO, Mr. Uyi Simeon, noted the organisation was aimed at discovering young talents, groom and shape them to become economically self empowered.

He said as part of leveraging on the developmental stride of the comrade governor, the event which is a brain child of the office of the SSA to governor on Culture/ Tourism will feature the auditioning of talents in the area of comedy, music and dancing between August 27 and 29, 2013.

The SSA stated further that the ground finale which will hold on September 29, 2013 is expected to be graced by dignitaries from all walks of live.

NMA arrests 12 suspected quack doctors, shuts down 4 hospitals PORT HARCOURT The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers chapter, said that it arrested 12 suspected quack medical doctors and shut down four illegal hospitals in the state.

Dr. Ibitrokoemi Krukrubo, the state NMA Chairman, in an interview with journalist in Port Harcourt, said the suspects had been handed over to the police.

Krukrubo said the suspects were not qualified to practice medicine and did not have the requisite skills and knowledge to treat patients.

He said the arrest was part of its drive to rid the state of quack doctors so as to restore sanity and regain the public confidence in the medical profession in

the state.

“We have shut down about four clinics and we are still investigating others. There’s a way we operate; we get the information and the investigation can sometimes take up to two months.

“When we have the facts; we work with the (state) ministry of health and the Police and then shut down the hospitals.

“The public needs to be vigilant. Before you (patient) can trust a doctor; you have to be sure that the person is a doctor.

“The only way to be sure is through the NMA identification card and any other identification card should not be accepted by patients.`` Krukrubo called on patients to insist on sighting the NMA identification card from any doctor before allowing him to treat them.

Community petitions IGP

His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa on allegation of desecrating the customs and traditions of Benin Kingdom.

In his stead, the palace appointed the second in command in the community, Mr. Edward Okunzuwa and Lucky Enobabor (Okaighele) to run the affairs of the community.

However, the deposed Enogie through his counsel, Afolabi Olayiwola had last week petitioned the IGP, alleging illegal arrest and detention by the police attached to the Homicide section of the Police Headquarters, Abuja.

The petitioner accused Lucky Enobabor, Chairman of the

Community Development Association of using the police to intimidate Izevbokun and one Matthew Iyoha on the premise that the deposed Enogie had refused the Oba’s appointed leaders to run the affairs of the community.

In a counter petition to the IGP, dated August 14, 2013, counsel to Okunzuwa and Enobabor, Tom Oaikhian and Co accused the deposed Enogie of impersonation,

despite the decision of the Oba which deposed him.

The petition which appreciated the police for arresting the deposed Enogie also described as “nonsensical” the deposed Enogie’s claim that their arrest was despite that there is a subsisting suit on the matter in court.

The petition also indicated that it would be unfair to indict the police who only performed their statutory duty of arresting the suspects who were armed with dangerous weapons as at the time of the arrest.

THE NIGERIAN

3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Inside Edo Stop Mismanaging Resources, Osasuyi Urges Leaders

By RICHARD EWEKA

BENIN CITY - The Spiritual Leader of Christ’s Chosen Church of God International, (CCCG) Most SNR. Apostle (Dr.) Joshua Osasuyi has called on Nigerian leaders to stop the mis-management of the resources of this nation if the

nation must develop.

He gave the charge at the church headquarters in Benin City, while speaking at the 2013 International Convention of the church, with the theme “Amazing Love.”

Apostle Osasuyi said “Nigeria is one of the richest nations in the world but mis-

management by our leaders has brought the nation to the level we found ourself today.”

“We are blessed with a lot of resources as a nation but bad leadership is the major problem we face as a nation.

“Some of our leaders acquire wealth that they don’t need; they acquire

houses abroad and don’t visit or sleep in it up to three times a year. What do you need all these for? He queried “ If you truly love your

country as a leader, all such wealth should be used to establish industry, create jobs and employ the citizens”.

He called on the nation leaders to manage the

resources of the nation prudently and ensure a better country for the citizens saying “this is only possible when leaders truly love the nation and its followers.”

Certificate Verification

Ijaw Leader Hails Oshiomhole

By DANIEL EDOBOR

BENIN CITY – The Governor of Edo State Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has been

commended for setting up a certificate verification panel for teacher’s in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by a leader

Neighbourhood Watch Pledges Support For Community Police

IGARRA – Chairman of Edo State Neighbourhood/ Watch, Major General Charles Omoregie said the body is not meant to compete with the Nigeria Police.

Disclosing this at Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko Edo Local Government Council, when he led other officials on a courtesy visit on the Council boss, Hon. Joseph Akerejola, Omoregie said Neighbourhood Watch is meant rather as the eye of

the local communities.

The Major General Omoregie noted that the body is a creation of an Act of the State House of Assembly in 2002 during the tenure of Chief Nosakhare Igbinedion’s led government.

Since the establishment by law, he said no government had deemed it fit to make it functional until Comrade Adams Oshiomhole assumed office as governor of the State.

of Ijaw Youths nation in the state, Comrade Andrew Igiri made available to newsmen in Benin City He said teachers certificate verification has not been done in the state for a very long time now.

According to him, the revelations from the certificate verification exercise are bogey, saying that the outcome of the exercise would Sanitise Education system in the state.

Comrade Igiri said, a situation where a teacher of a foundation laying of class for a child’s education cannot read her affidavit publicly calls for concern.

He recommended that, the exercise be extended to the civil service and parastatals in the state and therefore pledged Ijaw nation support for the exercise.

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Mrs. Uwadiae Elenor at the verification of teachers certificate at the Staff Training Centre in Benin City. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

Govt To Partner Comrade Desmond Agbama had commended Hon. Osifo NUJ for his contributions to the

Capacity Building:

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU/ WINIFRED OSASOBO

BENIN CITY – Edo State Commissioner for Higher Technical and Tertiary Education, Honourable Washington Osifo, has pledged government’s resolve to partner with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Chapter to develop students in the state.

He gave the assurance when the officials of NUJ, paid him a courtesy call in his office.

According to the Commissioner, “government is committed to harnessing the potentials of students across the state.”

He noted that as a body, the NUJ has done a lot to advance education in the state.

According to him, without proper development of students, the nation is bound to fail.

The NUJ Chairman,

growth of the educational sector. He intimated the Commissioner on plans by the body to reintroduce press clubs in secondary schools in the state.

Comrade Agbama also thanked the Commissioner for his support to the NUJ and promised to justify the confidence reposed on the body by the Commissioner.

Mrs Oliveth Esenabhalu For Burial

BENIN CITY – The burial ceremony of late Mrs. Oliveth Esenabhalu, Nee Azugbene has been scheduled to begin on Friday August 23, 2013 with a Service of Songs at her family residence in Benin City beginning from 2.30pm.

A release by the

Late Mrs. Oliveth Esenabhalu (Nee Azugbene)

Esenabhalu and Azugbene’s families indicated that on Saturday August 24, 2013 the corps would be taken from the Stella Obasanjo Hospital Mortuary for a brief stopover at Emulu-Ekpoma; Esan West Local Government Area.

Thereafter internment at the Azugbene family compound at IdumeboEkpoma.

The burial ceremonies would climax on Sunday August 25, 2013 with an outing service at Church of God Mission International Inc. Ugbekun II, No 2 Igbinegie Street, Off Musheshe Road, Upper Sokponba Road, Benin City.

Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua (right), cutting the tape to officially inaugurate the four new Toyota Hiace buses recently purchased for the Council’s transport outfit. With him are the Council’s Head of Local Government Administration, Mr. Monday Oikeh and other Council officials.

THE NIGERIAN

4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Inside Edo Cleric Flays Debate On Gay Marriage

By RICHARD EWEKA

BENIN CITY – The Spiritual Leader of Christ’s Chosen Church of God (CCCG) International, Most Snr Apostle (Dr.) Joshua Osasuyi has frowned at the debate by clerics on whether to adopt gay marriage, homosexuality and lesbianism in the Christendom.

He made this position known while addressing faithful at the 2013 International Convention of the church in Benin City, Edo State.

Apostle Osasuyi remarked that instead of the church advancing in power and knowledge of God, it has got stuck to debating matters that are conspicuously alien to the tenet of Christianity.

“Is it not horrifying seeing high profile clerics debating whether to adopt gay marriage, homosexuality and lesbianism into

Christendom?, he queried.

“This is abomination and aberration, true Christians who believe in holiness should be warned that the spirit of antichrist is at work.

We need to retrace our steps and embrace the true gospel of Jesus. We should be reminded that without holiness, no one can see God”, he said.

Speaking on the theme of the convention, Apostle Osasuyi said, “love is an identification mark of true disciples of Jesus.”

“Hatred and unforgiveness are the identification marks of the disciples of Satan.”

He urged therefore worshippers to “be on the Lord’s side by imbibing the spirit of love for all mankind, irrespective of tongue, tribe, political or religious affiliation.”

“We can only repair our ailing country,” Nigeria with love, because we can never win our enemy with hatred.

We should all embrace peace and love so that we can move our country forward, spiritually, politically and economically” he concluded.

Presentation of drugs to the Owan East Local Government Co-ordinator of Primary Healthcare Centres, Dr. Monday Iraoya (left) by the Chairman, Hon. (Barr.) Jimoh Ijegbai.

Photo: ODION AFIEKHOBE.

NIPR Crisis Deepens As 2 Excos Emerge BENIN CITYTwo paralleled executives have emerged for the Edo state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) following an election

conducted in Benin City on July 24,2013 by the Registrar of the institute, Dr. Stephen Adebayo.

One of the executives is led

by Mr. Tosan Usuanlele while the second executive is led

by Prince Matthew Owobu.

Usuanlele led executive

Centres in the Local Government.

Presenting the drugs, which the Council boss said is in fulfillment of his avowed commitment to ensure healthy

life for the people of Owan East, he assured that 2 health centres in the locality will be fully stockpiled with essential drugs, to cater for their health needs.

By ANDY EGBON/ TUNDE EIGBIREMOLEN

was elected on July 24, 2013 at an election presided over by the Registrar while Prince Owobu led executive took over in 2003 after the chairman of the chapter, Idahosa opted out.

The Registrar had early in the week told The Nigerian OBSERVER that the Owobu-

LG Boss Donates Drugs AFUZE - The Chairman of Owan East Local Government Council, Hon. (Barr) Jimoh Ijegbai, has presented drugs worth N500,000.00 to the different Public Health

Consignment of essential drugs worth over N500,000 procured by the Chairman of Owan East Local Government Council, Hon. (Barr.) Jimoh Ijegbai for distribution to health centres in the local government. Photo: ODION AFIEKHOBE.

Hon (Barr.)

Ijegbai disclosed that committees will be set up to monitor the disbursement of the drugs to ensure that only the sick got them.

The council boss expressed optimism that the drugs, which are under a revolving scheme will always ensure availability of drugs in the health centres.

He enjoined the indigenes of the Local Government to avail themselves the use of the various health centres nearest to them.

Receiving the consignment at the Referral Centre, the Coordinator, Primary Health Care, Owan East Local Government, Dr. Monday Iraoya commended the Chairman for fulfilling his promise of making drugs available at the health centres.

He pledged to ensure that the drugs get to the end users through proper monitoring.

LG Transport Outfit Boosts Fleet

AGENEBODE – The Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua has commissioned four new 18 seater Toyota Hiace buses, recently purchased by his administration.

Dedicating the buses to God and the service of

humanity, the council boss said that he came to better the life of the people of the locality.

He noted that his administration is committed towards improving the councils revenue base, adding that government deemed it necessary to

generate revenue internally through transportation.

He stated that the present fleet of three vehicles was purchase 12 years ago, stressing that machineries have been put in motion to purchase more buses by next week.

While promising to revive

the Etsako East Auto Line, the council chairman expressed joy over the level of cooperation that he is receiving from the executive, legislative and the council staff.

He assured the people of a viable Transport System and more dividends of democracy.

led executive was dissolved because it failed to call for election having been in office since 2003 on interim basis.

Reacting to the development, Prince Owobu “called on distinguished members of the professional Institute and the general public to disregard the July 24, 2013 purported election”.

Prince Owobu position was contained in a release, he jointly signed with JamesWisdom Abhulimhe, who signed as state secretary of the chapter Addressing a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre in Benin City, Prince Owobu described the election as an illegality and a breach of laid down procedures.

He said he remains the bona-fide Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Edo State Chapter, until a proper election is conducted to elect a new executive in the state.

Prince Owobu noted that he had called the Registrar, Mr. Stephen Adebayo in May 2013 to inform him that he planned handing over the chairmanship position of the state Chapter to the executive as he has a lot of other activities demanding his time and attention emphasized that he was not interested in any of the vacant positions but was only insisting on the process in the conduct of the elections.

He explained that a threeman Electoral/Membership Mobilization Committee, headed by Rev. Anthony Oligbo, was constituted to authenticate the financial and active members preparatory to the planned election initially scheduled to hold in June.

He said it was while the Chapter was still waiting for the report of the committee that they saw on NTA Benin 7pm news on June 25. That the Registrar has illegally

nominated and constituted a new executive at a meeting attended only by seven out of our total membership strength of 121 persons in the state.

“Consequent upon exchange of correspondence and phone calls, it is very clear that there was no agreed date set for the election before the Registrar came to Benin City.

“After the emergency meeting of July 17 he said he conveyed to the Registrar that the July 24 tentative date was not feasible since the committee’s report that would enable the House ascertain the eligibility status of members was not ready.

“It was while we were still waiting for the report of the committee that we saw on NTA Benin 7pm news on June 25. That the registrar has nominated and constituted a new executive at a meeting attended only by seven out of our total membership strength of 121 persons in the state”.

“This is an excerpt from the July 17 emergency meeting: PREPARATION FOR THE FORTHCOMING STATE NIPR ELECTION: Mr. Tosa O. Usunalele briefed the House on the activities of the Membership Mobilization and Electoral Committee, adding that the committee was yet to conclude its assignment”.

“Responding, Elder Sam Eboigbe thanked the committee for their effort and challenged it to produce a comprehensive list of eligible/ paid-up members to ascertain their eligibility status as well as enable the House determine a feasible date for the election)” Prince Owobu who described the executive constituted during the election as Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) faction of NIPR alleging that five of the seven elected persons, including the Chairman, are staff of PHCN.

THE NIGERIAN

5

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

South South Agip, Bayelsa Unite Against Oil Thieves YENAGOA - The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Bayelsa Government have commenced talks on measures to curtail oil theft in Bayelsa, newsmen reports.

NAOC told the meeting initiated by Bayelsa Government that it was forced to suspend operations in May due to the high incidence of oil theft as it was recording a loss of 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

According to him, the discussion will explore ways to tackle the menace.

Reports say that Bayelsa Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), representatives of NAOC and surveillance contractors engaged by the company to tackle oil theft, attended the meeting.

In his address, Jonah said that the government was losing a lot of revenue due to crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

He said that the menace was impacting adversely on the economy of the nation, which was dependent on crude oil export.

The Federal Government, he said, was worried over the situation and was making efforts to ensure that the menace was curtailed.

The deputy governor also expressed concern over the

damage done to the nation’s environment from the activities of international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta.

He said that the Federal Government had constituted a committee headed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta to deal with the issue of crude oil theft.

In his remark, the Bayelsa

Commissioner for Energy in Bayelsa, Mr. Francis Ikio, said that oil theft required complex skills found only in the oil sector.

He urged international oil companies to look inwards, adding that oil thieves were likely to be insiders.

In his comments, Mr. Albert Ijuwe an official of NOAC, commended the Bayelsa

Government for its efforts to combat oil theft.

He said that the menace had compelled the oil firm to shut down production to effect repairs on 162 leakage points on its pipeline network in Bayelsa.

He said that the development had led to a production loss of 20,000 barrels per day since May 2013.

L-R: Govs Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti; Shettima of Borno; Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa; Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and Rauf Aregbesola of osun, arriving for All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors meeting in Lafia on Wednesday

Corps Members Donate To Orphanage UGEP (Cross River)Some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Cross River have donated foodstuffs and other items to Virtuous Woman Orphanage Home, Ugep, Cross River.

The items included two bags of rice, one carton of tomatoes, clothes and toiletries.

The corps members, who belong to the Community Development Service (CDS) Group on Charity, said the donation was part of their reach-out programme.

The President of the Group, Mr. Maduabuchi Mba, said the visit was one of the ways through which the NYSC reached out to the needy and

orphans, who needed help, love and care in the society.

A member of the group, Ms Chinyere Ogba, said the children needed care and support.

Members of the group, who were accompanied on the visit by an official of NYSC, Mr. Effagha Effagha, thanked the children for receiving them.

Mrs. Catherine Arikpo, the officer in-charge of the home, thanked the group for its support and said the materials would add value and enrich the nutrition of the children. ‘ I am very happy that corps members in the state have shown love to the less privileged in the society,’’ she said.

JTF Arrests Suspected Oil Thieves YENAGOA - The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Niger Delta said it arrested 11 suspected oil thieves and destroyed 27 illegal refineries in multiple raids.

This is contained in a statement issued by Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the JTF Media Coordinator, concel in Yenagoa.

Nwachukwu said the raids were carried out between July 26 and August 9, on land and maritime locations in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta.

He said that five of the suspects were arrested while siphoning oil from pipelines in Otokomabie Creek in Rivers.

“Troops of the 146 Battalion of Sector 2 of the JTF deployed in Bonny Island intercepted the suspects on the Trans-Niger Pipeline where PPMC and SPDC pipelines are laid.

“The suspects were arrested with three fibre speedboats and three barges with which they carried out their illicit activities.

“In another development, youths of Ogala Community in the Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers facilitated the arrest of a truck used for illegal bunkering activities.

“The truck, laden with illegally-sourced crude oil was reported to JTF land patrols that promptly swung into action and impounded the vehicle,” he said.

He said that JTF troops on patrol on waterways in Mbikiba and Lagosbene in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa raided and destroyed 11 illegal crude oil distilleries.

The spokesman said the team also destroyed seven open wooden boats used by oil thieves.

Nwachukwu said that the antioil-theft operation in Delta uncovered and destroyed 16 illegal crude oil distilleries in Ugbokodo, Ajudigho, Saghara, Obegugu and Oghara in the Warri South and Ethiope West Local Government Areas.

He said that the troops intercepted 10 wooden boats conveying adulterated automated gas oil (AGO).

The spokesman said three of the boats were laden with 15,000 litres each; six had contained 20,000 litres each, while one was laden with 33,000 litres.

L-R: Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Kashim Shettima of Borno, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara, Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Deputy Governor of Imo, Prince Eze Madumere, at the APC Governors meeting in Lafia on Wednesday

FCC Inaugurates 14 New Commissioners

ABUJA - Mr. Lawal Funtua, the acting Chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), has inaugurated 14 new commissioners.

Funtua also inaugurated seven reappointed commissioners, with a call on them to enforce the mandate of equitable distribution of posts in the public service.

The 14 new commissioners are Dr. Iboko Imo Iboko (Abia), Dr. Shetima Abba (Borno),

Mr. Harry Ezoke (Cross River) Chief Emmanuel Ebimami (Delta), Dr. Nte Mbam (Ebonyi) and Mr. Ojo Christopher (Ekiti).

The others are Mr. Emeka Ani (Enugu), Prof.

Elijah Sokomba (Niger), Mrs. Jokotade Odebunmi (Ogun), Mr. Bukar Bello (Plateau), Mrs. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide (Rivers), Alhaji Nasiru Zarumai (Sokoto State), Mr. Julius

Kaigama (Taraba) and Mr. Salisu Jawi (Yobe).

Mr. Mathew Ukpo (Akwa Ibom), Alhaji Mamuda Gadam (Gombe State), Alhaji Saidu Adamu ( Kaduna State) and Mr. Ahmad Ishaq (Kano State) were reappointed.

The rest are Alhaji Sule Iyaji (Kogi State), Chief Adebayo Williams (Lagos

State) and Mr. Thomas Oyelade (Oyo State).

Funtua called on the commissioners to work towards resolving the “nagging” problem of marginalisation, lopsidedness in distribution of socioeconomic amenities.

He said their tasks had been made easy because the National Assembly is solidly in support of

enforcement of the commission’s mandate.

“You are aware that we cannot work without a legal backing, but we have the assurance of the National Assembly; we can now bark and bite in order to implement this mandate successfully,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the new commissioners, the c o m m i s s i o n e r representing Delta, Ebimami, expressed the commitment of his colleagues to acualising the mandate.

THE NIGERIAN

6

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

South West Antenatal Care: Gynaecologist

Advises Expectant Mothers

OSOGBO - Dr Adegboye Isawumi, a gynaecologist at Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital (LATH), Osogbo, has advised expectant mothers to embrace ante-natal care to save their lives.

Isawumi told newsmen in Osogbo that the ante-natal sessions would go a long way in ensuring smooth delivery.

The gynaecologist disclosed that in critical cases of delivery complications, the affected women were discovered to have shunned ante-natal clinics.

“For those who regularly

attend pre-delivery clinics, medical personnel will discover likely problems that may arise.

“When problems are discovered early enough, trained personnel will naturally rise to the occasion to prevent complications at child birth.

“In Nigeria, presently, medical personnel, even in the hinterland, can successfully handle birth challenges if such an expectant mother has a medical record.

“The only way to have a credible medical record is to attend the ante-natal sessions,’’

Isawumi advised.

He said the government and medical personnel were doing everything possible to reduce mother and child mortality rate in the country.

According to him, one sure way to win the battle is for expectant mothers to be available for medical check-ups and advice.

“Ante-natal sessions are not to waste people’s time, even the dancing is good exercise that should not be missed,” Isawumi noted.

“Although we are physically-challenged in one form or the other, we still have our quota to contribute to the national development,’’ he said.

Adesuyi also urged

governments to ensure improved welfare package for physicallychallenged persons adding that such persons also had the right to enjoy the dividends of democracy as other citizens.

AWKA - The CBN has met with banks and Bureau de Change operators on the need for them to sensitise their customers on the cashless policy.

Mr. Tunde Lemo, a Deputy Governor in CBN, told the audience that it was time Nigeria updated its payment system to enhance her global competitiveness.

Lemo said that the effectiveness of the policy would depend largely on the collaboration of all stakeholders and the government.

“Some of the benefits include safety of cash from robbers, electoral malpractice and the promotion of financial inclusion.

“Others are the reduction in cost of credit, transparency and it curbs corruption and leakages,” Lemo was represented by Babatunde Ajiboye, a Deputy

Manager in the bank.

Earlier, Mazi Azubuike Okoro, the Branch Controller of CBN in Awka, said that Anambra was strategic because of her high commercial activities.

Okoro said that the policy was also a good option for the people in view of the high volume of cash transactions in the state.

The controller said that the apex bank would soon embark on sensitisation campaigns in the commercial cities of Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwuluobia.

According to him, the campaign, which will include street shows, will also be taken to all communities in the state.

It will be recalled that the cashless policy, which was earlier scheduled to begin in Anambra and five other states on July 1, was rescheduled till October 1.

Group Admonishes Pol Parties Over Challenged Persons Women and children protesting against child marriage at NUJ Press Centre in Abeokuta recently.

Corruption: Akinola Tasks

ABEOKUTA - Most Rev. Peter Akinola, the former Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has stressed the need for Nigerians to eschew corruption to ensure a better future for the country.

The cleric said this in Abeokuta at a media round table on “Breaking the Corruption Jinx in Nigeria.”

Reports say that the programme was the concluding part of the ‘Wake-Up-Call’ series of discussions organised by the Peter Akinola Foundation.

“If there must be hope of a better country, Nigerians must break the corruption jinx,” he said.

The former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) noted that from the beginning of Nigeria’s tortuous journey to Nationhood, corruption had been “an accompanying baggage.’’

“For Nigeria, endemic corruption constitutes a huge challenge and remains the biggest obstacle to her development.

“Its overall harmful effect is the reason why Nigeria, a country that is so endowed, has

Nigerians become a crawling beggarNation with millions of poor, miserable and unhappy citizens,” he said.

Akinola said that urgent measures must be taken to strengthen the fight against corruption in order to ensure a bright future for the Nation.

Institute Wants Cancer Registry

ABUJA - Dr Patrick Dakum, the Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, called for the establishment of a cancer registry in every hospital in the country.

Dakum told newsmen in Abuja that the registry would provide accurate and comprehensive data on the prevalence and nature of the disease in Nigeria.

The doctor, who called for a systematic approach in effects

Deputy Gov’s Impeachment

Ondo Assembly Denies Rumour AKURE - The Ondo House of Assembly has described as untrue the rumours that they are planning to impeach the state Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi.

Hon. Dare Emiola, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, disclosed this in a statement issued in Akure.

According to the statement, issued by the assembly’s Press Officer, Mr. Anota Adebayo, the rumours are the handiwork of some media organisations that engage in sensational reportage.

It said that the issue of impeachment of the deputy governor was never discussed in the House.

The statement said that “the House is on recess currently and

He said that an honest, relentless and redemptive war on corruption was necessary for the country to have a new lease of life.

The cleric also stressed the need for strong political will as well as a courageous and sincere leadership to confront the endemic and systemic nature of corruption in Nigeria.

members have never converged to debate on any impeachment.

“To peddle such false information is unpatriotic and I see it as another ploy by the enemies of the state to create confusion.

“If the health of the deputy governor is not sound, then, such complain must come from the executive, but not as a rumour.”

The statement also said Mr. Oye Aladetan, Chairman, House Committee on Information and Orientation, had dismissed the rumour describing it as a figment of the imagination of evil doers.

It said that there was nothing related to such development, and at no time was such issue discussed either in the house or by members.

for tackling cancers, said that prevention was important in the disease control, considering that the causes of the disease were not known.

He said that providing adequate screening centres, reducing cost of treatment and carrying out enlightenment campaigns were some procedures which could be used in curtailing the disease.

Dakum identified cervical cancer as one of the most common diseases affecting women and said the institute would provide support in terms of screening for early detection and prevention of the disease.

“Cancers are where the tissues or body cells just start multiplying abnormally and the causes are varied but generally, a lot of the causes are not known.

One of those we think - from a public health point of view - we can prevent and we can do something about, is cervical cancer.

“That is the cancer that affects women; now it affects (the) cervix of the womb, which is like the tip of the womb and it has contributed to the death (of women) in Nigeria.

“In order for us to address this, the Institute of Human Virology is working with the University of Maryland (in the U.S.) to ensure that we begin to address the issue in a systematic way.

IJEBU - The Ogun chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disability has appealed to political parties in the country to allow physicallychallenged persons the opportunity to participate in politics.

Mr. Adebesin Adesuyi, spokesperson of the association, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ijebu-Ode. Adesuyi said that politics was a no-go-area for members of the association because they were discriminated against and neglected by political parties.

He said that members of the association included educated persons who could seek election into political office.

“We want to urge political parties in the country to give us the opportunity to participate in politics so that we can contribute our quota to national development.

“Just the way political parties created a unit for women and the youth, the same thing should be done for physicallychallenged persons.

“This will not only encourage some of us who are educated to go into politics, but it will also give us a sense of belonging.

Stakeholders Meet On Cashless Policy

L - R: Consultant Gynaecologist, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Prof.

Osaretin Odid; President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele; Chairman, Rivers NMA, Dr. Ibitrokoemi Korubo and Chairman, Bayelsa NMA, Dr. James Omietimi, at the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the Rivers NMA in Port-Harcourt recently.

THE NIGERIAN

7

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Lagos Kudirat’s Murder: Lagos IKEJA - The Lagos State Government has challenged the acquittal of Maj. Hamza AlMustapha and Lateef Shofolahan over the murder of Kudirat Abiola at the Supreme Court.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, told newsmen on Tuesday at Alausa, Ikeja, that the appeals against the judgments

were filed on Aug. 12.

Reports state that the Court of Appeal in Lagos had on July 12 freed the duo of the murder charge in two separate judgments.

The trial of Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan began in 1999 for allegedly killing Kudirat, the wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of

LAGOS - An Ebutte-Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, has granted bail to three men standing trial for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl, after they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The three men were coowners of a pharmaceutical store at Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, where the alleged rape was committed on August 3.

The accused, Ijezie Chidebere, 24; Okechukwu Eze, 25; and Chikezie Ejesi, 25, are facing a four-count charge of defilement, false representation, and administering of a noxious substance.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Cousin Adams, had told the court that they committed the crime at No. 9, Kekere-Ekun St., Orile Iganmu, in their shop, where the girl had gone to buy some drugs.

According to the prosecutor, the crime was committed at about 9:00 p.m. when she was locked up and administered with a noxious substance, then defiled.

Adams said that after the defilement, she was given a substance, suspected to be anointing oil to drink by the accused, who pretended to be pastors delivering her from some spiritual bondage, and calling her derogatory names in the process.

Magistrate K.O. Ogundare granted bail to the trio in the sum

of N100,000, with two sureties each in like sum.

Earlier, Mr. Ike Okafor, counsel to the third defendant, had told the court that the accused had an agreement with the complainant to withdraw the case from the court.

But Okafor said the police refused the out-of-court settlement, hence, the case was brought to court.

According to the prosecution, the offences contravene sections 137, 166, 247 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Reports say that anyone found guilty of the offence is liable to life imprisonment.

the 1993 presidential election, on June 4, 1996.

The appellate court had upturned the judgment of Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court which sentenced them to death by hanging on Jan. 30, 2012.

Al-Mustapha, a former Chief

Appeals

Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and Shofolahan, an aide to the late Kudirat, had since regained their freedom following the judgment.

Ipaye said there were good grounds of appeals against the two judgments which should be considered by the apex court.

“I can report that we have appealed the judgments; one in respect of Al-Mustapha and the other in respect of Shofolahan.

“Both have been studied closely and we came to the conclusion that there are good grounds for appeals and we have since filed all the necessary

Court Grants 3 Alleged Rapists Bail

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (right), with his Zamfara State counterpart, Hon. Alhaji Dr. Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar (2nd left), Emir of Anka and Chairman Zamfara State Council of Emirs, Alhaji Attairu Mulid Ahmed (2nd left) and the Emir of Kaura, Alhaji Mulid Ahmed Asha (left), during his condolence visit to Governor Fashola over the passage of his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola at the Lagos House, Marina recently.

papers.

“We did that yesterday (Aug. 12). Officially, we have indicated that we want to contest the judgments at the Supreme Court.

It will end all speculations on the matter, ” he said.

According to Ipaye, the appeals will give the Abiola family, the defendants and the society the last window of opportunity provided by the constitution for the resolution of the case.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General has faulted a recent report by Amnesty International — a human rights group - which accused the state government of forcefully evicting residents of Badia in Ijora area.

Ipaye said:“The report is false because Gov. Babatunde Fashola personally led senior state officials on visits to the area and discussed government’s plans with the people on April 26, 2009 and October 2, 2012.

“So, there were consultations.

We have had stakeholders’ meetings with the residents to see how those affected can be compensated.”

He said the government’s decision to build 1,008 housing units on the reclaimed land was aimed at curbing insecurity and threats of terrorism in the area.

LG Boss Seeks State Police

LAGOS - Mr. Ayodele Adewale, the Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area (AOLGA) of Lagos State, has appealed to the authorities to have a rethink on the creation of state police across the country.

He told newsmen in Lagos that if such an approval was eventually granted by the authorities’ security arrangements in local government areas would be properly coordinated.

LAGOS - Mr. Olajide AlexOni, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre (AMDRC), has said that the facility was established for advanced research in science and technology in Nigeria.

Alex-Oni told newsmen in Lagos that the facility, located within the Akoka Campus, University of Lagos (UNILAG), had digital resources for post-graduate research works.

“The facility is actually

He spoke against the backdrop of the incessant security challenges in Festac Town, the administrative seat of the AOLG. It would be recalled that the recent clamour for the creation

of state police by the various interest groups across the country, were quashed, after the National Assembly rejected the demand.

In spite of the refusal by the National Assembly to assent to

Digital Reasearch Centre: CEO Explains Use Of

Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar signing the condolence register opened for Pa Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola during his condolence visit to Governor Fashola over the passage of his father at the Lagos House, Marina recently.

Facility

strictly for post-graduate students, because we do not have the capacity to take care of the undergraduate community.’’

He said that the facility’s digital materials were concentrated in the areas of Science, Technology and Medicine (STM), as that was the focus of the online publishers they had agreements with.

“Some of the online publishers are specialised in handling materials in the areas where we have focused our energy, and this makes materialsourcing and availability encouraging.”

Alex-Oni said that the centre had an agreement with Gale, which had over 13,000 indexed journals, 1,000,000 articles, and 7,000 peered-reviews, to enhance the quality and wealth of digital resources.

He said that the facility also liaised with the Wolters Kluwer Heart/Ovid, with 740 full text downloads, over 280 journals in Medicine, Nursing and Allied

Health; Hinari, with over 15,000 journals.

Reports say that owing to the quality of research works, for which the facility was established, a broadband Internet connection was provided to facilitate work speed.

“This facility has its own VSAT, providing direct, uninterrupted Internet access.

With the Wi-Fi available, people can be in the courtyard and still enjoy Internet connectivity,” Alex-Oni said.

He said that researchers could access online real-time selected data from their collaborators’ databases, including e-journals, e-books, recordings, citations, and other materials for research and acquisition of knowledge.

The CEO also said that there was vast material for research in biotechnology, cell technology, molecular energy, and other areas, where advanced 3D technology, came in handy for researchers.

He said that only registered individual and corporate members would have access to the facility.

the creation of state police, the demand had continued to simmer.

“The advice for government is that they should give more power to the states, to allow them have their own police force— to frontally address the issue of insecurity at the grassroots.

“The issue of hoodlums and miscreants will also be reduced considerably.

“Although I do not have the power over the Nigeria Police, they are doing their best but could perform better if they are well motivated,’’ he said.

He said that the main perpetrators of the crimes were youths, who according to him, have no viable means of livelihood.

On what could be done to curtail the proliferation of drinking pubs in every nook and cranny of Festac Town, Adewale told newsmen that steps were being taken to address the issue.

‘We have made compulsory regulations that by 10:00 p.m., such fun spots must be shut down, with the help of the neighbourhood watch in the community and the Nigerian Police,’’he added.

He, however, said that the AOLGA would continue to work with the neighbourhood watch to curb crimes within and around the vicinity.

THE NIGERIAN

8

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Across The Nation Anambra Polls: INEC, UNDP Begin Training Of Electoral Officers ENUGU - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has began a week-long training for electoral officers in Anambra.

The training, according to the organisers was part of efforts to ensure free and fair local government elections in the state.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Enugu, Dr Mourtada Deme, UNDP’s Director of Democratic Governance for Development, said the training was also to empower the officers with the skills and knowledge needed for the conduct of a successful election slated for October 5.

Deme, represented by Mr. Adebowale Olorunmola, an election consultant, said the training tagged ‘Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections’ (BRIDGE) was to ensure the

smooth conduct of the elections.

He said the training was put together with the assistance of the UK Department for International Development, Canada International Development Agency and other international agencies.

“Today, we started a one weeklong intensive training for the officials of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).

“It is a specialised training that is aimed at building the capacity of the officials of the commission to be able to conduct an election that is free, fair credible and meeting international standard come October 5.

“At the end of the day, we believe that they will get to understand the planning for election, of civic and voter education, of understanding and what it entails to carry stakeholders along,’’ he said.

Speaking with newsmen, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agoha, INEC’s Assistant Director of

International Liaison and Outreach, said the training was to strengthen electoral officers in Anambra to be able to train

other participants in the electoral process.

He said the training would expose the officers to the

electoral guidelines and regulations that would be binding on them.

“For us from INEC, we are

here as the father to the state independent electoral commission to assist in strengthening their work force so that they can be in a position to give the electorate a good council election.

Gov Elechi Assures Youths Of Improved Welfare ABAKALIKI - Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi has restated his determination to make policies and programmes that would enhance the welfare of youths in the state.

Elechi, represented by Mr. Chukwuma Nwazunku, the Speaker of the state assembly, made the pledge in Abakaliki during the closing ceremony of the 2013 International Youth Day celebration “The training of youths in agriculture at Songhai Farms in Benin Republic, loans given to them as take-off grants and the provision of micro credit to enable them to set up businesses are among such programmes,” he said.

In his speech, Chief Sam Mgbada, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, noted that the consequences of the migration of youths from the rural to urban areas were enormous and negatively affected them.

Mgbada noted that as beginners, they would grapple with the problem of accommodation, education, and healthcare services, among others.

The commissioner said the state government had designed programmes and policies to check rural-urban migration by youths through the provision of basic amenities in the rural areas.

He enjoined the youths to reciprocate the government’s good gestures by being law abiding, protecting basic infrastructures in their

communities and engaging in productive ventures.

In their response, some of the youths urged the government at all levels to make the provision of employment opportunities their priorities to check the rising wave of crime in the country.

They noted that engaging the youths in meaningful ventures would keep them busy thereby diverting their attention from acts capable of disrupting the peace and security of the nation.

Mr. Ephraim Obi, a member of the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ebonyi chapter, said the high rate of youth unemployment posed a serious threat to the security of the country.

The representative of the Minister of Works, Amb. Bashir Yuguda (L) discussing with the Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Garba Rikiji at the 2013 Survey Coordination and Advisory Board on Survey training conference in Gasua, Zamfara State.

Nasarawa Assembly Invites Gov Al-Makura LAFIA - Mr. Godiya Akwashiki, the Majority Leader, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has alleged that the State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Al-Makura, has breached some laws and resolutions passed by the assembly for the development of the state.

Akwashiki said this while briefing newsmen in Lafia on

the Assembly’s invitation to the governor to appear before it on August 27.

Akwashiki, who is also the Chairman, Committee on Bills, Resolutions and Appraisal, said the governor should not have breached the laws passed for the good people of the state.

“Al-makura breached the law establishing Nasarawa

Transport Service by terminating the appointment of staff without following due process.

“The law says that before terminating the appointment of any staff, one month notice or one month salary in lieu should be paid to the affected staff.

“But Al-Makura did not consider that, instead, he went ahead to terminate their appointments without following due process.

“The governor also refused to respect some of the resolutions passed by the Assembly. We asked him to reinstate the

affected staff and the management of the state University, Keffi, but he refused to respect our resolutions.

“Al-Makura should follow due process before taking any decision in the interest of the state,” Akwashiki said The majority leader said the decision to invite the governor had no political motive, adding that he was only invited to explain why he failed to respect resolutions of the assembly.

He said the house invoked section 100 (4 and 5) of the Nigerian constitution to invite the governor.

Food Poisoning

1 Dies, 7 Hospitalised

L-R: Plateau Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Paul Wai; Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Danjuma Dadu and Commissioner For Information, Pastor Yiljap Abraham, at an interactive forum of stakeholders in the film industry in Jos recently.

NSUKKA (ENUGU STATE) - A member of family of eight in Uvuru, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area in Enugu State, has died of suspected food poisoning while the others are still hospitalised.

It was learnt that the family of Mr. Clement Alumona was thrown into confusion after a meal made from cassava flour as they began to vomit blood and stool frequently.

Dr Oji Chimaroke of the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka in Enugu State, told newsmen that the family was

brought in by family members while one of them, Bridget, 4, died on Monday.

Chimaroke said the other members of the family, save for Clement’s wife, Veronica, had come out of intensive care and were now recuperating.

The doctor said Veronica’s case was still serious as of Tuesday afternoon.

Family source told newsmen that Veronica bought dry cassava tubers, which were ground into flour for the preparation of ‘alibo’, which they consumed.

THE NIGERIAN

9

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Abuja Council Commences Screening Of Teachers KUJE (FCT) - The Kuje Area Council of the FCT has commenced Hybrid Biometric Identification Exercise (HBIE) for the staff of the Local Education Authority (LEA) in Kuje.

Mr. Ado Babatakwa, Head of Administration at the LEA, told newsmen that the objective of the exercise is to screen and get the actual number of staff members in the LEA. Reports say that the routine exercise, organised by the Civil Service Commission, is aimed at finding lasting solution to the issue ghost workers in the civil

service.

Babatakwa said the exercise had to be done when the schools are on holiday in order to have full attention of the teachers.

“The screening exercise is a normal routine for screening of teaching and non-teaching staff of LEA. “We have 1, 300 as teaching staff and 480 as nonteaching staff and we intend to use only three weeks for the exercise.

“Anybody that is not physically present will not be identified as a staff member of the LEA,’’ he said.

L-R Acting Director, Procurement, Ministry of Defence, Mr Victor Igboanugo; Chairman, Presidential Committee on Barracks Rehabilitation, Mrs Binta Muazu and Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Abdulrazak Salau, at the opening of bids for barracks rehabilitation in Abuja on Wednesday

Stolen Item

Police Arraign Bizman

ABUJA - The police have arraigned Orji Chike, 28, of Gwarinpa, Abuja, in an Abuja Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone II for allegedly receiving stolen property.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Emmmaunel Adiku, told the court that Cpl. Gilbert Agwa, who is attached to the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, said the incident happened sometime in May. According to him, Agwa alleged that Cesse Barry of Block C, S.P.O. Quarters, Wuse II, Abuja, stole a Samsung fridge belonging to the Commissioner of Police and sold it to the accused person for N20,000.

Adiku said the accused knew the fridge was stolen, adding that the offence contravened Section 317 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.

Section 317 stipulates a maximum of 14 years imprisonment with an option of fine or both.

When the charge sheet was read, the accused pleaded not guilty, saying, “there is an error in the mentioned clause, I wasn’t aware that it was a stolen property.’’

The Senior Magistrate, Nafisat Ibrahim, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with the two

sureties in like sum.

She ordered that one of them must be a senior civil servant in the Federal Civil Service, and should reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

She adjourned the case to August 22 for further hearing.

NEMA Records 80 Distress Alerts

ABUJA - The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that its Mission Control Centre (MCC) received 80 distress alerts in 2012 from maritime, aviation and land users.

This is contained in the

agency’s 2012 report made available to newsmen in Abuja.

According to the report, the computer-based satellite aided search and rescue officers to respond promptly to distress calls within and outside the country.

The report said most of the distress calls received at the mission centre in 2013 were from the sea.

It further explained that the mission centre was designed to detect distress alerts and aid search and rescue operations through the use of

ABUJA - The Kiri Agriculture Dam Project, is to be converted to a hydro-power project, according to Mr. Anthony Reuben, an Assistant General Manager at the Adamawa State Water Board.

Reuben told newsmen in Abuja that the project was originally created for agricultural purpose.

According to him, the Adamawa Government, in collaboration with the Federal Government and an American company, are working on the project.

Reports say that Kiri

Dam, built on River Gongola, is located in Kiri Village about 20 kms from Numan town in Shelleng Local Government Area of the state.

“The Kiri dam project was originally created mainly to give water to the Savanna Sugar Company, but it will be converted to a hydro-power facility that will supply about 70 per cent of its water to the state.

“This is in a bid to tackle the challenge of power supply. We are supposed to operate between 12 hours and 15 hours a day

“Now, averagely, we are operating at eight hours a day and you know using diesel is so costly.

“Because it costs so much, the problem of power is what is making us not to supply water as we like to consumers; but when this facility is put in place, we will operate maximally.’’

The assistant director identified other constraints of the board besides power supply as the human capital development and the lack of spare parts.

“These problems as evident in all the state water agencies; but as I said, it’s not a private company but a government institution, so we are bound to suffer one time or the other.

“At times, the release of funds will not be forthcoming, and when it comes, might not be enough to tackle the issue it was meant for.’’

On revenue collection, the assistant manager praised the people for paying water bills promptly. “ What we should do is to reform and modernize our data collection mechanism because collection of data is the bane of all water agencies.

“We have to modernize and create even sub-units and encourage workers to imbibe the spirit of data collection.

“We also need to hasten the construction of the hydro-

spacecraft and ground facilities to detect signals form distress beacons.

“It also facilitates the speedy location of distress alerts even in remote locations.

“The centre, since its inception in 2003, has

Dam Set For Conversion To Hydro-Power Facility

Opening of bids for barracks rehabilitation in Abuja on Wednesday

power station so that through it, the board can also fund itself and not depend on government.’’

It would be recalled that Adamawa State was among the 12 states which the World Bank commended for doing well during a performance assessment workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

contributed to the overall operations of the search and rescue department of the agency,” it said.

It would be recalled that the MCC received 121 distress calls in 2011, out of which 59 were from aviation and 62 from maritime.

The report, however, noted that most of the distress alerts received at the MCC in 2011 were declared false.

It said the distress calls were generated from beacon users who mishandled the equipment installed in their vessels and aircraft.

It stressed the need for the agency to collaborate with relevant organisations to educate beacon owners on the proper use of the equipment.

Police Arraign Man For Snatching Handbag

ABUJA - The police have arraigned a motorcyclist, Kabiru Suleiman, 18, of Tudun Wada Village, Abuja, in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly snatching a woman’s handbag.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Paul Anigbo, told the court that on August 6, the accused was dragged to the Lugbe Police Station, for allegedly snatching a handbag belonging to one Ms Faith Ufomadu.

He said that at about 6:45 a.m, the accused snatched Ufomadu’s bag which contained seven thousand naira and some documents.

Anigbo informed the court that when the accused was apprehended, he was found in possession of the handbag.

He said that the accused was standing trial for the offence of theft which he said was contrary to Section 287 of the Penal Code.

Section 287 of the code stipulates that, whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs. Nafisat Ibrahim, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N5,000 with one reasonable surety in like sum who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

She adjourned the case to August 22, for hearing.

THE NIGERIAN

10

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

11

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY(15/08/13) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

LINKASSURE

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50 3,951,995.94

7UP

74.2

74.2

0

27

53,156

3,841,351.60

LIVESTOCK

4.4

4.58

0.18

40

950,845

ABBEYBDS

1.53

1.53

0

1

100

153

MANSARD

2.11

2.29

0.18

7

122,560

281,494.90

2.65

2.45

-0.2

33

1,574,567

3,947,962.40

ABCTRANS

0.87

0.93

0.06

12

408,400

373,540.86

MAYBAKER

ACADEMY

1.95

1.76

-0.19

5

181,100

318,754.00

MBENEFIT

0.5

0.5

0

2

25,100

12,550.00

ACCESS

11.15

11.2

0.05

234

10,506,303

117,287,388.83

MCNICHOLS

1.5

1.5

0

1

100

147

AFRIPRUD

1.85

1.88

0.03

66

1,684,231

3,236,958.84

MOBIL

119

119

0

28

26,796

3,033,624.75

AGLEVENT

1.4

1.4

0

5

44,774

67,348.26

MORISON

2.01

2.01

0

1

100

181

AIICO

0.91

0.93

0.02

47

6,328,113

5,769,679.94

MRS

36.14

36.14

0

1

1,000

32,530.00

AIRSERVICE

4

4

0

4

4,777

18,508.00

MULTITREX

0.6

0.66

0.06

2

100,000

65,500.00

ARBICO

5.6

5.6

0

2

88

443.52

MULTIVERSE

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

6.08

6.2

0.12

47

484,612

3,022,367.19

ASHAKACEM

23.07

23.07

0

32

225,868

5,144,575.02

NAHCO

ASOSAVINGS

0.5

0.5

0

2

1,000,100

500,050.00

NASCON

11.01

10.42

-0.59

89

4,587,552

47,919,435.73

BECOPETRO

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

NB

167

167.9

0.9

145

11,870,600

1,978,079,045.33

BERGER

9.61

9.61

0

5

4,832

43,983.50

NCR

18.7

18.7

0

1

50

841.5

BETAGLAS

13.18

13.18

0

6

19,433

274,989.00

NEIMETH

1.35

1.4

0.05

10

215,345

294,076.42

BOCGAS

6.77

6.5

-0.27

4

389,631

2,456,838.00

NEM

0.64

0.66

0.02

19

1,731,589

1,158,412.74

CADBURY

52.19

48.31

-3.88

105

4,777,428

235,076,525.55

NESTLE

930

930

0

139

136,685

127,042,196.84

CAP

48.5

43.65

-4.85

28

229,076

9,999,741.51

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

CAPOIL

0.5

0.5

0

2

104,510

52,255.00

NIWICABLE

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

CCNN

9.21

9.3

0.09

17

175,101

1,624,980.56

NNFM

29.7

29.7

0

8

72,728

2,345,284.26

CHAMPION

19.48

19.35

-0.13

30

194,366

3,690,498.47

NPFMCRFBK

0.88

0.8

-0.08

7

602,100

488,219.00

CHAMS

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

OANDO

12.75

12.8

0.05

177

2,775,773

35,507,032.31

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

3

189,150

94,575.00

OKOMUOIL

47

43.75

-3.25

46

321,550

14,120,078.12

CONOIL

33

33

0

23

84,834

2,588,096.50

OMATEK

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

CONTINSURE

1.13

1.15

0.02

14

1,755,101

1,940,268.02

PORTPAINT

5.56

5.56

0

8

217,000

1,198,845.00

CORNERST

0.5

0.5

0

4

177,030

88,517.00

PRESCO

37

36.29

-0.71

40

2,841,516

104,970,689.15

COSTAIN

1.18

1.18

0

14

224,546

265,750.03

PRESTIGE

0.55

0.55

0

8

179,666

94,570.98

COURTVILLE

0.72

0.66

-0.06

36

3,676,923

2,422,111.95

PZ

40.18

37.6

-2.58

149

1,345,750

52,005,939.71

CUSTODYINS

1.51

1.58

0.07

21

857,692

1,255,669.21

REDSTAREX

4.49

4.84

0.35

32

1,691,436

7,634,155.70

CUTIX

1.99

1.99

0

3

19,874

36,766.90

RESORTSAL

0.5

0.5

0

2

50,100

25,050.00

DAARCOMM

0.5

0.5

0

1

10,000

5,000.00

ROYALEX

0.51

0.52

0.01

9

149,931

77,476.41

DANGCEM

193.5

192

-1.5

36

319,979

61,054,326.97

RTBRISCOE

1.5

1.55

0.05

12

153,988

235,791.81

DANGFLOUR

9.38

9.5

0.12

47

311,931

2,948,434.93

SCOA

5.32

5.32

0

1

250

1,197.50

DANGSUGAR

11.05

11.06

0.01

79

1,192,324

13,214,331.54

SKYEBANK

4.18

4.06

-0.12

123

7,928,102

32,131,572.58

0.5

0.5

0

4

162,299

81,149.50

DIAMONDBNK

6.7

6.8

0.1

107

6,356,866

43,002,115.80

SOVRENINS

DNMEYER

1.58

1.58

0

2

19,100

27,340.00

STANBIC

17.25

17.5

0.25

71

773,351

13,292,408.11

DUNLOP

0.5

0.5

0

1

2,300

1,150.00

STERLNBANK

2.8

2.75

-0.05

101

18,196,182

48,882,936.11

ETERNA

2.91

2.87

-0.04

20

499,879

1,427,996.46

TANTALIZER

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

ETI

14.7

14.68

-0.02

66

568,280

8,313,193.06

THOMASWY

0.73

0.67

-0.06

2

151,101

101,237.67

ETRANZACT

3.47

3.47

0

1

100

313

TOTAL

155

155

0

11

15,196

2,348,213.23

EVANSMED

4.74

4.74

0

7

112,200

479,324.00

TRANSCORP

1.3

1.37

0.07

80

6,879,890

9,283,089.28

FBNH

16.1

16.62

0.52

708

30,343,143

498,752,798.96

TRANSEXPR

0.88

0.96

0.08

2

52,214

49,948.32

FCMB

4.39

4.4

0.01

48

913,309

4,018,125.66

TRIPPLEG

2.29

2.29

0

1

100

207

FIDELITYBK

2.79

2.84

0.05

105

11,504,558

32,522,795.88

UAC-PROP

16.6

18

1.4

25

493,556

8,465,653.00

FIDSON

2.12

2.05

-0.07

18

431,300

885,814.00

UACN

57.01

61.89

4.88

72

461,846

28,174,100.40

FIRSTALUM

0.5

0.5

0

2

1,100

550

UBA

7.58

7.85

0.27

270

27,595,083

209,984,271.62

FLOURMILL

86.3

78.56

-7.74

95

542,389

43,276,304.53

UBCAP

1.26

1.26

0

102

9,201,486

11,641,371.44

FO

38.91

38.91

0

39

130,563

4,754,677.33

UBN

10.71

11

0.29

87

999,748

10,887,553.65

FTNCOCOA

0.5

0.5

0

2

1,100

550

UNIC

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

GLAXOSMITH

63.5

65

1.5

25

274,402

17,731,410.76

UNILEVER

63.05

65

1.95

65

645,952

41,172,335.21

0.5

0.5

0

8

1,500,100

750,050.00

GNI

0.5

0.5

0

2

500

251

UNIONDAC

GUARANTY

25

25

0

317

11,164,343

279,111,444.08

UNITYBNK

0.57

0.52

-0.05

50

10,078,299

5,370,853.41

GUINNESS

248

265

17

79

153,227

38,980,508.22

UPL

4.1

4.1

0

22

669,444

2,747,138.40

HMARKINS

0.5

0.5

0

1

1,000

500

UTC

0.8

0.8

0

4

16,079

11,576.88

HONYFLOUR

3.2

3.2

0

69

903,031

2,891,710.08

VITAFOAM

4.3

4.3

0

10

56,520

221,974.60

IHS

2.56

2.67

0.11

13

486,000

1,311,950.00

VONO

0.62

0.62

0

2

15,075

10,251.00

IKEJAHOTEL

0.79

0.79

0

4

17,100

14,535.00

WAPCO

98

94.1

-3.9

85

1,490,835

136,559,281.90

INTBREW

21.5

21.45

-0.05

58

706,091

15,082,819.04

WAPIC

0.81

0.75

-0.06

9

643,621

510,396.27

INTENEGINS

2.25

2.03

-0.22

2

55,000

111,650.00

WEMABANK

1.1

1.09

-0.01

49

2,754,976

2,913,001.25

IPWA

0.95

0.95

0

2

300

271

ZENITHBANK

21

20.95

-0.05

282

27,867,008

585,015,909.92

JAPAULOIL

0.52

0.51

-0.01

52

3,822,666

1,951,422.19

JBERGER

72.84

73

0.16

30

247,410

17,783,155.00

JOHNHOLT

1.16

1.16

0

8

8,255

9,845.80

JOSBREW

0.97

1.06

0.09

1

150,000

159,000.00

JULI

1.93

1.93

0

1

100

174

LASACO

0.5

0.5

0

2

25,100

12,550.00

LAWUNION

0.5

0.5

0

1

100

50

LEARNAFRCA

1.7

1.7

0

7

104,961

177,807.01

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock GUINNESS UACN UNILEVER GLAXOSMITH UAC-PROP NB FBNH REDSTAREX UBN UBA

Close 265 61.89 65 65 18 167.9 16.62 4.84 11 7.85

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain 17 4.88 1.95 1.5 1.4 0.9 0.52 0.35 0.29 0.27

Stock FLOURMILL CAP WAPCO CADBURY OKOMUOIL PZ DANGCEM PRESCO NASCON BOCGAS

Close 78.56 43.65 94.1 48.31 43.75 37.6 192 36.29 10.42 6.5

Loss -7.74 -4.85 -3.9 -3.88 -3.25 -2.58 -1.5 -0.71 -0.59 -0.27

THE NIGERIAN

12 MORE than any other issue in Nigeria today, the greatest concern has been the security condition of the country.

ALMOST on a daily basis, there are accounts of several security threats arising from armed robberies, assassinations, armed militancy and banditry, kidnapping, bombings and of recent, the blood-let from a religious sect called the Jaamatus Alhus Sunnah Lid Daawatis Wal Jiliad (otherwise called Boko Harm) who say they are opposed to Western education and are ready to attack every vestige of western civilization.

INDEED, the rate of crime and criminality, as exemplified in the high incidence of kidnapping, bombings and other organised crimes has sadly moved from the realm of security threat to an area of real and present danger.

THE frightening security condition in Nigeria has not only been a source of worry, it has also dented Nigeria’s International status.

FOR instance, last Friday, Boko Haram slaughtered over 40 people while praying in a Borno mosque.

Also, three primary schools teachers were kidnapped by unknown gunmen while on duty at Orogbua Primary School, Upper Ekenwan Road in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. They were released only on Wednesday after some undisclosed huge ransom was paid by their spouses.

ASIDE these incidences, local Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, had until late, been orchestrating series of isolated attacks predominantly in Northern Nigeria.

The sect is believed to be targeting centres of international attraction, especially in the Federal Capital Territory.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 THE NIGERIAN

Security And Intelligence Sharing CURIOUSLY, the presidential committee on security challenges in the North East Zone has identified security lapses, inter-service rivalry and lack of collaboration as factors that have encouraged the proliferation of security crises in the Northern part of the country. It also blamed the security breaches on high level of poverty, unemployment and other social ills.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER is however of the considered opinion that serious security collaboration and intelligence sharing must be urgently evolved to arrest security breaches and this needs to go beyond the shores of the nation. The federal government must build inter-agency cooperation through diplomatic channels/pacts, and international intelligence to ensure that crime of whatever scale is nipped in the bud.

MOST importantly, there is the overriding need to promptly move to demilitarize the Nigerian society and reduce the heavy influx of arms and ammunition in the country which have unfortunately gone into the wrong hands.

TO this extent, the Customs and Immigration Services, in tandem with the Ministry of Interior should work round the clock to protect the porous Nigerian borders.

SOMETHING fundamental equally needs to be done to reduce, if not totally eliminate the existence of private militias that were established, funded and used by politicians and individuals who later dumped them after having been trained to handle arms.

ALSO, the various security agencies, beside the need to be technologically equipped and funded to carry out their assigned tasks, would need to be restructured. The structure and duties of our security agencies must be revisited so as to ensure that each organ very well knows its specific roles and function, while the laws establishing these agencies must be made clear on who does what.

THE government at all levels, particularly the federal government, urgently needs to carry out reforms in the security sub-sector to eliminate inertia created by inter-agency rivalry and react decisively to security threats with dispatch.

ON their part, the citizens must cooperate with the security agencies by supplying them with prompt, useful and relevant information on likely security breaches.

This can be facilitated by the existence of a well-coordinated biometric database of Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike indicating where people live, their nature of jobs and background. This will assist in fishing out the bad eggs in the society.

DECISIVE steps should be taken to cripple Boko Haram Sect and their operations as well as end their menacing reign. If anything, a safe, secure and peaceful environment is what the present democracy needs to be strengthened and sustained, as such the government and people of Nigeria cannot afford to leave this to the whims and caprices of miscreants.

THE NIGERIAN

13

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Religion

Of Zakah And Sadaqat

By IMONOFI TANUTI MOMODU

O you who believe shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from grievous suffering (in this world and in the life to come)?

You are to believe in Allah and His messenger and strive hard in Allah’s cause with your possessions and your lives: this is for your own good-if you had known it (as-saff 1011) (0 Muhammad) also mention (to the) in the Book (the story) of Ishmail. He was always true to his promise, and he was a messenger (of Allah) and a prophet, was enjoined upon his people prayer and Zakah, and found favor in his sustainer’s sight (Maryam:54).

And remember we took a covenant from the children of Israel: Worship non but, Allah, treat with kindness your parents and relatives and orphans and destitute, speak fair to people, be steadfast in prayer, and give Zakah. Then did you turnback, except a few among you…(al-BeqAarah 83).

He (Jesus) said “I am indeed a servant of Allah. He has given me revelation and made me a prophet; and he has made blessed wherever I be, and had enjoined upon me prayer and Zakat as long as I live” (Maryam:30).

It seems the words sadaqah and zakah have been use interchangeably which more often than not cause confusion in some of our readers mind.

Linguistically, sadaqah is derived from the root sadq or sidq, which means “ to speak the truth, to be sincere” It can also mean, candor or candid (quality of being honest and telling the truth, even when truth may be unpleasant or embarrassing) and efficiency”.

The Quranic lexicon transfigures (change) this verbal root in to sadaqah- a term applicable to the concept of a gift offered some one from one’s rightfully owned holdings without regret or remorse or without any ulterior motives, in short for the pleasure of Allah, the Exalted.

The messenger of Allah, sallalahu alehi wasallam, took our oaths of allegiance (on the points) that we would abide with him under all circumstances, that in riches as well as in poverty we will spend in the way of Allah, that we will enjoin goodness and for bid evil, and that will tell the truth for Allah with least regard to consequences.

Sadaqat provided a safety net for the newly intiated into Islam who are alienating themselves from their kafir society and thus facing economic hardship and humiliation. It has no specified amount, according to the ahadith a sadaqt could be any thing, size, amount, or form is immaterial. A flicker of smile that comes on a believer’s face at the sight of another believer’s or removal of any hazardous material from a road is as valvable as a big donation could be.

Sadaqat is peculiar to the spirit of Islam that it took upon itself the reconstruction of a new society where the poor were not to be despised or ignored, and were people felt bound to each other because of responsiveness and care.

In a very remarkable hadith, Abu Musa al-Ash’ari reported Allah’s messenger, upon whom be peace, as saying that every Muslim must give sadaqah (charity). He (the messenger) was asked how this could apply to one had nothing, and he applied that he should work with his hands, gaining benefit for himself thereby and giving sadaqah.

Asked what would happen if a person was unable to do this or did not do it, the messenger replied that he should help one who is in need and sad. Asked what he should do if he did not do that, he replied that he should enjoin what is good. Asked what he should do if he did not do that, he

replied that he should refrain from evil, for that would be sadaqah for him.

On the other hand, zakah is a sadaqah of a compulsive nature which the rich have to pay to an Islamic state in order to help it create an economically conducive environment where its citizenry could live in love and friendship and whereby it could realize its ideological imperatives. In other words zakah, in its broad scope, deals with the fiscal policies of a state as it affects its moral and spiritual climate-a vehicle for social change, a source of its continuity, and a device for the safeguard of its ideological frontiers in a world not very friendly.

DEFINITION: Zakah or alms tax can be defined as that portion of a man’s wealth which is designated for

the poor. The term is derived from the Arabic verbal roat meaning “to increase” “to purify”, and “to bless” it finds it origin in Allah’s command to “Take sadagah (charity) from their property in order to purify and sanctify them” (at –Taubah 103).

Zakat-ul-fitr: It is obligatory on every muslim who has food that is surplus to his needs and the needs of his family members on the last night of Ramadan and Eid-Day. Zakatul Fitr is two and a quarter kilos of staple food of the country in which it is being given.

This amount is person, male or female, and his dependants. It is beloved to give it out on the Eid Day before the prayer of the Eid. It is not before Edi. One also give to one person an amount of food that is enough for a group and vice versa.

It is obligatory to distribute zakah immediately as it becomes due and the guardian is responsible to give zakah on behalf of children and the insane.

It is sunnah for the responsible people to distribute it personally and let it be known to the people intention of the person on whose behalf the zakah is given is necessary.

It is important to note that voluntary charity would not

“Sadaqat provided a safety net for the newly intiated into Islam who are alienating themselves from their kafir society and thus facing economic hardship and humiliation. It has no specified amount, according to the ahadith a sadaqt could be any thing, size, amount, or form is immaterial. A flicker of smile that comes on a believer’s face at the sight of another believer’s or removal of any hazardous material from a road is as valvable as a big donation could be.”

suffice for obligatory zakah, even if the person gave all his wealth away. It is preferable to give the amount of zakah to the poor of the country where the person lives but in case of some over whelming need, sending it to other countries is also allowed. Given zakah two years in advance is proper and allowed if the wealth reaches the amount where zakah becomes due.

FIVE CONDITIONS

THAT MAKE ZAKAH OBLIGATORY When the following five conditions are met, zakah becomes obligatory: (1) Islam. Zakah is only obligatory on muslims (2) freedom from slavery zakah is not obligatory on slaves (3) ownership of the Nisaab (ownership of the amount upon which becomes due) (4) complete and stable ownership (5) completion of a year, except in the case of produce.

PEOPLE WHO DESERVE ZAKAH The following people deserve zakah (1) For the poor and utterly destitute (2) For the poor who are needy (3) for the officials who collect and distribute it (4) for those who need additional attraction to Islam, whether muslims or non-muslims (5) for the liberation of slaves and captives (6) for helping who are burdened with legal debt (7) for those who are strdsggling in the way of Allah in Jihad. (8) for the travellers who are

cut off from their home land.

THE NIYYAH (INTENTION) Since the payment of zakah is an act of worship, its validity depend upon the expression of one’s intention. That is, the zakah payer should pay it for the sake of Allah, he should make up his mind, with all his heart, that zakah is an obligation to be discharged.

Allah says “And they are commanded not more than this to worship Allah, sincere in devotion in Him alone” (al-Bayyinah5) it is related in al-Bukhari and Muslim that the prophet, upon who be peace said the value of (one’s) deeds is determined by (ones’) intensions, and thus for each shall be according to his intentions. Malik and Shafi say that the intention is to be made at the time of rendering zakah. Abu Hanifah hold that the intension must be present at the time of payment or when zakah is being set aside from one’s asset.

Ahmad’s view is that it is permissible to express the niyyah a little earlier before the payment.

PAYMENT OF ZAKAH IN DUE TIME Zakah must be paid immediately at its due time.

Deferring payment of zakah is prohibited, unless the payer for some valid reasons cannot pay it on time.

PAYING ZAKAH IN ADVANCE It is permissible for zakah to be paid for even two years in advance Azzuhri did not see any problem in paying his zakah before the hawl-Al-Hassan was once asked if a man who had paid his zakah for three years in advance fulfilled his obligation. Al-Hassan answered in the affirmative of this view, ash –Shaukani said. ‘ this was the view of ash-Shafi, Ahmad and Abu Hanifah. It is supported by al-Hadi and al-Qasim” I N V O K I N G BLESSING FOR THE ZAKAK PAYER It is desirable that the recipient invoke blessing for the zakah payer at the time of its payment, for Allah say “ Take alms of their property that you may purify and sanctify them and pray for them verily your prayer is a comfort for them” (at-Taubah 103).s

THE NIGERIAN

14

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

CLASSIFIED:CHANGE OF NAME ETAKIBUEBU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Martha Etakibuebu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Martha Oghale Ilevbaoje. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHUKWU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Eunice Chika Chukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eunice Chika Itse.

All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the general public should please take note.

EHIAKHAMEN – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ehiakhamen Maria now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Areghan Enoguekhian Maria. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OHENHEN – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Evelyn Osasere Ohenhen now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Evelyn Osasere Cole.

All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OGIOBA – I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Ogioba Cecilia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogioba Beatrice. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OMOARUKHE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Priscillia Omoarukhe Aina now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Priscillia O m o a r u k h e Ikponmwoba. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) and the general public should please take note.

AIGBEROMWAN – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aigberomwan Juliet now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odeh Ernest Juliet. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, Local Government Service

Commission, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the general public should please note.

EBHOJIE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebhojie Maria now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maria Ayele. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Local Government Service Commission, and the general public should please take note.

JATTO – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Jatto Iyabo Elizabeth now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iyabo Elizabeth Linus Ajayi. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

AGHADUEKI – I, formerly called Miss Franca Adesuwa Aghadueki is now known and called Mrs. Franca Adesuwa Guobadia. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OGBEIDE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Julie Ogbeide now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Julie Eghomwan. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the general public should please take note.

DANIEL – I formerly known and addressed as Augustine Daniel now wish to be known and addressed as Augustine .D. Odemwingie. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ENYENIHI – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Arit Ulo Enyenihi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Arit Udofot Iwatt. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ALORDIAH – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Freeda Erezi Alordiah now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Freeda Erezi Asenoguan. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities,

University of Benin and the general public should please take note.

ODIGIE-ATU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odigie-Atu Aizeyosabor Lilian now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omorefe Aizeyosabor Lilian. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

MOMODU – I formerly called Momodu Rabietu is now known and addressed as Mrs. Momodu Rabietu Kabiru.

All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

EBHOMIELEN – I formerly Irenose Ebhomielen now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Irenose Okpiabhele. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ESANGBEDO – I formerly Miss Blessing Esangbedo now wish to be known as Mrs. Blessing Ewohimen.

All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

EKOH – I formerly Miss Ekoh Maureen now Mrs. Anegbode Maureen Omotohamen. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

EBARE – I formerly Miss Ebare Itohan now Mrs. Akhelumele Itohan. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ABIU – I formerly Miss Latifatu Abiu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Momodu Latifatu. All former documents remain valid. Edo State Rapid Response Agency, Ministry of Budget, concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OMUEKWU – I formerly known as Miss Ethel Ngozi Omuekwu now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs.

Ethel Ngozi Omorogieva.

All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

valid. Concerned authorities, Edo Development Property Authority (EDPA) and the general public should please take note.

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the general public should please take note.

EVBAGHARU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Evbagharu Jane Osayawe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Giegbefumwen Jane Osayawe. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

AGBONKHESE – I formerly called Miss Obehi Patricia Agbonkhese is now known and called Mrs. Obehi Patricia Oyemonlan.

All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ENAKHIMION – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Awawu Nora Enakhimion now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Awawu Nora Odigie.

All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, Local Government Service Commission and the general public should please take note.

IDAHOSA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Idahosa Enomwen now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eregie-Idurobo Enomwen. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

JIBRIL – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Amina Jibril now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Amina Okogun. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma and the general public should please take note.

PREST – I formerly known and addressed as Aninor Prest now wish to be known and addressed as Aninorisewarami JuliusDavid. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

IKPONMWOSA – I formerly known and addressed as Ikponmwosa Sunday now wish to be known and addressed as Ikponmwosa Harrison Osaretin. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) Edo State and the general public should please take note.

IKPEA – I formerly called Miss Queen Ofekelu Ikpea now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Queen Efekelu Okouzi. All former documents remain valid.

NIFOR, other concerned authorities and the general public take note.

IMASUEN – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Imasuen Izegbuwa now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Izegbuwa Iyonu. All former documents remain

SULEIMEN – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adama Arobuye Agianaku Suleimen now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adama Arobuye Koffi Mel. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

AKHIGBE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss E m m a n u e l a Aimiemeleoghena Ramota Akhigbe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. E m m a n u e l a Aimiemeleoghena Ramota Odijie.

All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, formerly Miss Precious Opu wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Sunday Felicia as appeared in my first school leaving certificate. It should be known therefore that I am properly known and addressed as Precious Opu. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and State Universal Basic Education Board should please take note.

OGBEKILE – I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Rose Ogbekile now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rose Ihionukwuagu Ogbekile.

All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OFILI – I formerly known and addressed as Ofili Eziokwuarizi now wish to be known and addressed as Ofili Francis. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ODEGHA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odegha Enamhe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajie Onime Bola. All former documents remain valid.

RECONCILIATION OF NAME Charity I, Osatohanmwen Ehizogie wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Sunday Ehizogie as appeared in my Primary School Leaving Certificate. It should be known therefore that I am properly known and addressed as Osatohanmwen Charity Ehizogie. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and Rapid Response Agency (RRA) should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AKHARAIYI FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS GLORIA ONOFUA - CHAIRMAN 2. HON. MORRISON EHIEMUA - SECRETARY 3. MR FRANCIS EHIEMUA - MEMBER 4. BUKOLA EHIEMUA - MEMBER 5. ANTHONIA EHIEMUA - MEMBER 6. JOAN EHIEMUA - MEMBER 7. BENEDICTA EHIEMUA - MEMBER 8. JENNIFER EHIEMUA - MEMBER 9. ESTHER EH1EMUA - MEMBER A1M& OBJECTIVES 1. To render humanitarian services to the society.

2. To empower youths to develop their capacities.

3. To propagate cull ural values among the youths.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar- general, corporate affairs commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: V.0. IDIAKHOA ESQ BARRISTER & SOLICITORS NO.110 BENIN/AUCI II ROAD, EKPOMA, EDO STATE.

THE NIGERIAN

15

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

CLASSIFIED:CHANGE OF NAME Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the general public should please take note.

OSEMWEGIE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Osemwegie Isoken now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Isoken Osemwegie Omorodion.

All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OHUNWU – I formerly Miss Magaret Ohunwu, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Magret Odia. All former documents remain valid, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and the general public should please take note.

IMARHIAGBE – I formerly Miss Evelyn Oghogho Imarhiagbe now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Evelyn Oghogho Oseghe. All former documents remain valid.

University of Benin Teaching Hospital, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the general public should please take note.

ARIYO – I formerly Miss Rebecca Kikelomo Ariyo now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Rebecca Kikelomo Oshiomha. All former documents remain valid, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the general public should please take note.

IYAYI – I formerly Miss Iyayi Augustina, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Ebigie Augustina. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

MUSTAPHA – I formerly Miss Mustapha Sefinat, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Misbahu Sefinat. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, other concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

ITSEDE – I formerly Miss Itsede Rita now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Eichie Rita. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

YUNUS – I formerly Miss Yunus Abibat, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Bashiru Abibat. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, other concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

SALIU – I formerly Miss Satiu Nana Fatima, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Mustapha Nana Fatima.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

KADIRI – I formerly Miss Kadiri Nana Awawu now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. John Nana Awawu. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

MOMODU – I formerly Miss Momodu Khadijat, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Musa Khadijat. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, other concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

EBOESOMI – I formerly Miss Eboesomi Igwaomo Esther, now wish to be known, called and

addressed as Mrs. Odoziobodo Igwaomo Esther. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, other concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

MICHEAL – I formerly Miss Michael Angela, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Sadat Shaka. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, other concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

JOHN – I formerly Miss John Christiana Chinwe, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Ejike Chinwendu Cheery. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

JACOB – I formerly Miss Jacob Blessing, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Ufayo Blessing Okogbe. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

JUSTINA Weds SAMMY The solemnization of marriage between former Miss Osariemen Justina Oshodin (A hair stylist) and Mr. Sammy Briggs (based in UK) took place on Thursday 15th August, 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Mr. Anthony Uwaila, Mr. Paul Omorogbe, Mrs Juliana Aworunse, Mrs. Elizabeth Oshodin, family members, relations, friends and well-wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations. Photo: SONNIE .E.

AKPOCHAFO – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Anita Vurinrin Akpochafo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anita Vurinrin Ifidon. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the general public should please take note.

RAPU – I, formerly called Miss Victoria Uchechukwu Rapu is now known and called Mrs. Victoria Uchechukwu Obidi Oraegbunam. All former documents remain valid. University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ALICE Weds

FRANCIS The Solemnization of marriage between former Miss Sobiecki Caisela Alice (based in Germany) and Mr. Udo Obum Francis (a Trader) took place on Wednesday 14th August, 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City.

Amongst those present were Mrs. Grace Udo, Mr. Chibest Eze, Mr. Obinna Onuorah, Mrs. Marian Onuorah, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple a t the Registry. Congratulations. Photo: SONNIE .E.

THE NIGERIAN

16

A country of about 160 million people, 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas (LGA), palliative care in Nigeria is disheartening, given-that in 1996, a-small-amount-of Nigerians initiated a crusade for palliative care.

This promotion included opioids, which was aimed to manage pain. After that palliative care sponsorship there are only two centres across the country, where services to victims of chronic ailments like cancer and HIV/AIDS, renal failures, are being rendered.

These centres are the Palliative Care Initiative (Ibadan), and Hospice Nigeria (Lagos). The management of victims in these centres is not unconnected without man made discomfitures, unalloyed to what victims are suffering from.

Harangues are that Nigeria is too far to redeeming the burdens of this sector, incomparable to what obtain in other African countries and the United Kingdom (UK).

Six years after the few Nigerians made that move to introduce palliative care in Nigeria, it was finally made public in 2003, through the Palliative Care Initiative of Nigeria (PCIN), now known as Centre for Palliative Care, Nigeria (CPCN). The year 2003 was when palliative care was properly established to the Nigerian government, policymakers and general public. On-theother-hand, palliative care is still novel to the country owing to the fact that it is not included as an area of acquisition for health professionals across the country. This could be as a result that in the time past, such non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart and kidney problems, stroke and so on, were farheard than they are readily

Insight

experienced among the people today.

There are just two universities in Nigeria that offer the palliative course.

One offers it in a revised undergraduate curriculum; while the other has prepared measures to offer it in a post-graduate diploma.

Many just operate workshops. These schools are the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, which swaggers as the first unit in West Africa and has received students for clinical posting from Sierra-Leone, Gambia and Canada. The other is in Ilorin, Kwara State. Against that backdrop, accounts are that there were only 5 RT centers, 60 qualified pathologists, and 20 radiation oncologists serving the entire country, as in 2008. There was a team for RT, which did not include radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiation technologists, and radiation nurses, which were supposed to be in partnership through the process of planning and the time to deliver RT to cancer patients.

Physical approach: Authorities have bemoaned the need to progress on palliative care for patients with lethal infirmity in the country. It is believed that the first approach is to establish a communication link with the victim, investigate to know the beloved one that he or she would be comfortable to stay with, and how aware he or she was with the ailment. It is based on these findings that palliative care professionals can hint the enduring the content of information that he or she wants to be intimated. And, such threats from the patient like anger, remorse, meditation, a feeling of culpability and mood genuflections are

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Perils Of Operating Palli

properly handled.

Many victims of terminal diseases have died as a result of lack of knowledge about the palliative care. A professor of medicine in Nigeria on August 15, 2012, said that patients are referred late for care and by the time they get to the palliative care centre, most of them were already down.

Lack of money is given as the major physical factor that endangers the patients from acquiring even their pain medications. The professor gave other problems associated with terminal illness as fatigue, shortness of breath, bowel and bladder problems, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, anxiety and preparatory grief.

Spiritual impact on patients: Nigeria is one dodgy religious country. Apart from persons caught-up with old age and did not have extended family members to take care of them, many persons who are unfortunate to be befell by terminal diseases, attribute their predicaments to being spiritual. Such statement like, “God forbid, it is not my portion to suffer this disease”, “Holy Ghost fire”, are often heard among patients. Coupled with aboriginal philosophies, victims relent from going to visit experts. Many would rather prefer going to their religious organisations in what they call, “For divine healing”, instead of going for palliative rather than elusive curative approach.

Many Nigerians, though, support this thinking, because it was said by the authorities that the toughest pain medication, which had been advocated for dealing with harsh pain in terminal illness is at-present, not

accessible in the country, unlike Uganda said to have been only the third African country to have made morphine obtainable and reasonably-priced to her patient residents.

“One major hindrance in rendering palliative care in our environment is the taboo of speaking of an impending death. There seems to be a culture of “death denial” among patients, their relatives, and healthcare professionals.

The Igbo of Eastern Nigeria have a culture of celebrating life (“Ndu bu isi”), while despising and fearing death, especially if the dead was younger than 60 years.

Where death is accepted, Nigerians prefer natural prolongation of the dying process and want to be at home so that they can make their peace, say farewell, and give final instructions to immediate relatives.

Hence one finds that many terminally ill keep away from medical treatment for fear of hospitalization,” say connoisseurs.

Social and Psychological impacts: Many Nigerians would not want to be associated with terminal diseases.

They believe that if the public comes to know about their state of health, it would bring dishonour to them and family. Because of stigmatisation, family and friends are not informed by many victims, to avoid family self-motivation, which would be troubled; and hopelessness, unalleviated superficial suffering that are associated.

In a testimony of May 2004, a Professor of Anaesthesia & Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of

“Authorities have bemoaned the need to progress on palliative care for patients with lethal infirmity in the country. It is believed that the first approach is to establish a communication link with the victim, investigate to know the beloved one that he or she would be comfortable to stay with, and how aware he or she was with the ailment.”

Ibadan, argues that such behaviour is very detrimental. He hinges his point, saying: The members of the palliative care team include physicians (family, surgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists, Palliative care/ pain experts), nurses (hospital, communitybased, private duty),

pharmacists, social workers, therapists (physiotherapy, occupational, music and recreational), chaplain, families, friends, volunteers. The hospice provides palliative care to meet the entire patient’s needs (emotional, social and spiritual) as well as the needs of the family.

Further, experts argue that as a result that health practitioner/patients have poor knowledge of palliative care, individualistic approach becomes fad to the management of terminal cancer patients, unlike in few countries – South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Egypt – where established care, support/pain control exist.

An account also adds that upon that diseases are global perils, the stigmatisation that is being

By ODIMEGWU O

shown to victims of deadly diseases in Nigeria, affects the socio-eco progress of the country, as the sufferers probably miss work, and are unemployed or stopworking early.

Government:

people good p their s debase gover palliati of the appro

The Head, Centre for Palliative Care, Nigeria, once remarked that palliative care increases excellence of care in all non-communicable diseases, stressing that

enabled unavai inacces that ar palliativ “The opioid a don’t h

Prof Chukwu Onyebuchi, Minister for He

THE NIGERIAN

17

Insight

ative Care In Nigeria

ONWUMERE

e can die in peace with palliative care, while self dignity is not ed. It’s evident that nment took the ive care with a pinch e salt and lack of ach, which have

d the bothersome, lability and sibility to patients re in entreaty of ve care. problem with analgesics is that we have a system in

ealth

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

place to monitor its constant availability and accessibility to patients that need them. The opioid analgesics stock expired since May, 2010 and many representations were made to the Federal Ministry of Health after which the Health Minister directed that some be imported for

trauma and surgery but no morphine,” the Head, Centre for Palliative Care, Nigeria, had said.

It’s obvious that government has not grownup in this palliative care

direction, because accounts finger that individuals of poor status, are supposed to be treated without measure, if only government had addressed the issue of inadequate facility to train medical experts and acquire adequate health facilities, to enable everyone, irrespective of financial status, have excellent health care. They say that government is oblivious or swimming in deceit to not noting that the continuous restraints of people with the chronic diseases from having optimum health care, is betrayal to their human rights’ faithfulness.

There is a depressing detail that Opioid importation rates about 15 times the cost in the developed world. As a result, there are strict laws in Nigeria to avert the misuse of opioid, with the Federal Ministry of Health as the sole importer of opioids, while the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is the dictatorial body. But these approaches have much succeeded in making the purchase of opioids for medical utilisation very boring.

“At present, there are no parental preparations of morphine and pethidine available for use in the country. A ban placed on the compounding of oral preparations of drugs in our hospital several years ago was only lifted recently to allow for the preparation of liquid oral morphine used in the treatment of cancer pain in our patients,” says a report.

Remedy: Palliative care involves the physical, emotional, practical, and spiritual aspects of the patient’s suffering in the course of the illness, say powers-that-

be. Nigeria has to improve on the hospice movement and modern-day palliative care, which credit was said, goes to Dame Cicely Saunders, who started it in 1967. It was said also that she was first a nurse, then a social worker, and finally trained and qualified to be a doctor; while a Canadian physician Balfour Mount, was credited as the first that coined the term “palliative care,” being a foremost in the Canadian hospice movement.

Policymakers are of the opinion that sociobehavioural attitudes in our country must be drastically reduced, which invariably fosters the increase of terminal illness.

U r b a n i s a t i o n , industrialisation, and westernisation of dietary, are other factors that have been mentioned that must be reduced. These were believed would reduce the ratio in HIV/AIDS commonness and death rate, which accrue from them annually. A large number of patients with terminal diseases and needing palliative care, should be encouraged to take solace in palliative rather than in religious homes.

Sustainability: Palliative care has come to stay in Nigeria, as the story goes. A testimony says that a few privateowned and missionary hospices, which existed in murkiness in the country, before the official introduction of palliative care in the country, should not be obliterated. The CPCN, which launched its day-care hospice in 2007, within the UCH, must be upgraded to embrace the modern technologies, as are wont in the physicallydeveloped countries. ‘Our

Pain and Palliative Care Unit’, its policies and operations, have to be reviewed after it was established in September 2008, as fraction of the Multidisciplinary Oncology Centre of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu.

An investigation reveals that physicians-anaesthetist and nurses from the multidisciplinary oncology unit, apart from being in services, they have to also be on a missionary journey to the localities to redeem patients, who are not informed that there exists a counteractive in palliative care, and encourage them of receiving conventional western medical treatment, than most of them are dispirited from looking for western medicine. The inculcation of traditional healers into palliative care education was said to be obligatory, since many patients prefer their advise.

And, this will help to penetrate communities to accept palliative care.

Authorities say that seeking for donours is indubitably and the donations should be judiciously utilised and, untrained professionals in this area must be eschewed.

With the escalating patient fill, it has become imperative that palliative care should be integrated into the healthcare configuration. “A leaf should be borrowed from the Ugandan government that has prioritized palliative care, making it accessible to the population of her people,” says information. The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Nigeria (HPCAN), must endeavour to making-sure that palliative care sooner-orlater has a place in medical education throughout the country.

Drug unavailability, lack of

referrals, fears of mistreatment of compelling narcotics/underprescribing, lack of public awareness and inter alia, have to be re-addressed.

Professionals are nonetheless saying that the attitude of Nigerian healthcare professionals inthe-direction-of the use of morphine and other opioids, and the fear to recommend strong opioids, the false beliefs about morphine side effects, addiction issues, and legal constraints, should be discarded to improve on the practice of palliative care; hence health professionals’ beliefs and narrowmindedness must be remodelled. “Terminally ill people have a right to be pain free, share quality time with family and friends and put their affairs in order.

Hospice and Palliative Care Team can offer the required comfort and peace of mind as people get near to end of life’s journey. These must be incorporated into our national health plan,” says a professor.

Another description says: Government support is needed to educate health professionals and to incorporate palliative care into health care curriculum and health care services in Nigeria. Also, government should make palliative care drugs available, especially oral morphine for severe pain. Awareness can be increased through incorporation of palliative care awareness into cancer and HIV awareness programme. This will help fund raising efforts and provide financial support for indigent patients. More non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations and individuals, should develop interest in establishing hospice and palliative care centres especially, in their communities.

“An investigation reveals that physicians-anaesthetist and nurses from the multidisciplinary oncology unit, apart from being in services, they have to also be on a missionary journey to the localities to redeem patients, who are not informed that there exists a counteractive in palliative care, and encourage them of receiving conventional western medical treatment, than most of them are dispirited from looking for western medicine.”

THE NIGERIAN

18

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Art Alive

With FRANCIS ODUPUTE

Dr Uhunmwagho Unveils ‘Ewu Iwu Ikhuo’ Design

THE Edo woman, in order to catch up with the fashion trend in the world today, add variety to her clothing of national identity and provide her with appropriate clothing for all occasion while preserving her cultural outlook, began to think out of the box. Ewu Iwu project was one milestone of her innovativeness and creativity, as Dr. Helen N. Uhunmwagho explained to all at its official unveiling on August 6, 2013. Hear her: “What we celebrate today is an infinitesimal part of that rich legacy.

Ewu Iwu Ikhuo is a derivation from Iwu body marks that we all know. Many of our parents and grand parents were cicatrized with these marks/ this work of Art, not just for aesthetic reasons, but as mark of citizenship of the great ancient Benin kingdom, which was one of the great cultures of the world, widely studied in history and the history of Art today. No mention of the origin of the modern art can be made without reference to Benin art. I wish to at this point inform us that, the Art of Benin which were carted away by European Art thieves arid traders, turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it exposed our art to the world as it was at that time and as it is today.

It was one of these art pieces that Pablo Picasso encountered, that led to his production of his masterpiece Les demoiselles d’ Avignon (the girls of Avignon), which became the turning point in the history of art that gave rise to Cubism a modernist movement in art (a European break from the classical conception of beauty in Art, which the African Art represents).

“Iwu, which we celebrate in this gathering today, is one of such art which emanated From this artistic legacy. This time, it is not a sculptural piece or a painting but a body art, which was so unique, that it could not be mistaken for any other in the world. Today Body art is one of the forms of art of study, creating waves the world over and Iwu having preceded it can be seen as one of the roots of this movement.

“Iwu was a painful fashion which every Benin citizen of marriageable age had to be subjected to, riot just for aesthetic reasons but for recognition and relevance. Every male citizen had a universal body mark, with the exception of Isiemwenro citizens, who have an arrow pointed (ovbiwu) under their left breast in variance from other citizens. For the female citizens, there are some variances which culminated in there being five different for five different groups of women in the Kingdom. This includes N’Ikhuo (body marks of Princesses), Iwu Ikhuo Edo (body marks of the general Benin Women) “These body marks without words identify every female citizen and like the Benin family salutation, it tells in a nutshell, who you are. There is the need to steadfast to the design you qualify for. This is a case of not wearing what you like, because wearing the wrong design gives a wrong impression of who you are.

“Iwu clothing has been designed into blouses and robes, which can be worn at work or play, at formal or informal settings. It is

Dr. Helen Uhunmwagho worthy of note that Ewu Iwu has not come to do away with the Notable Benin attire of wrapper and beads, but to enhance it, as any one who feels exposed wearing the wrapper alone, can wear the blouse inside the wrapper with the marks showing on the shoulder and the chest, at the point where the blouse is visible.

“This new clothing can be worn corporately in formal English or traditional outfits as shall be displayed in the fashion show and the accompanying exhibition..

“As we wear this new clothing of social political identity we proudly tell the world that we are citizens of great Benin. Let us spread it to Benin Citizens in the Diaspora and make Benin an envy of the world. We have what it takes so let us flaunt it I wish to use this medium to thank Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo. Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, for the innovation which brought about Ewu Erediauwa, as designed by Dr. Ekhaguosa Aisien, who is our special guest today. This occasion honours I him because we are building on what he started. Can Dr. Aisien please stand for recognition?

As the models take the runway, I will beg you to please seat back relax and savor the works on display.

Once again I thank you all for finding time to be here.”

Silk -The Queen Of Fibres

SOME of the most beautiful garments in the world have something in common: often, they are made of silk, a lustrous fabric that has been called the queen of fibers. From royalty of the past to commoners of the present, people worldwide have been captivated by the elegance of silk. But it has not always been so widely available. In ancient times for instance, the production of silk was an enterprise exclusive to China. No one else knew how to produce it and anyone in China who divulged the secret of the silkworm could be executed as a traitor.

For this reason, (monopoly on manufacture) silk was quite expensive. For example, silk was worth its weight in gold throughout the Roman Empire.

In time though, Persia came to control all silk coming out of China. The piece was still high and efforts to by pass Persian merchants proved futile. Then, Byzantine Emperor Justinian devised a plan. About 550 E.E, he sent two monks on a covert mission to China. Two years later, they returned. Concealed in the hollow of their bamboo canes was the much – awaited treasure – silk worm eggs. This was how the secret of silk came to be known and the monopoly came to an end. That secret? Silk is produced by silk worm, or caterpillars of the silkworm moth. There are hundreds of types of silkworms, but the scientific name of the one that

produces the finest quality silk is Bombix Mori.

It takes quite a number of silk worms to make silk fabrics which has given rise to sericulture, the raising of silkworms.

How then is this queen of fibers made? The process of unwinding silk from a cocoon onto a reel is called reeling. How did silk reeling get started? Myths and legends abound. One has it that the Chinese Empress Hsilyingshi noticed that a cocoon had fallen from a mulberry tree into her cup of tea.

As she tried to retrieve it, she saw that it came out on a delicate silk thread. This gave birth to reeling a process that today is automated.

The pupas inside the cocoons must be killed for them to have market value. Heat is then applied to accomplish this task.

Defective cocoons are sifted out, and those that remain are ready to be processed.

First, cocoons are put in hot water or steam to loosen up the filament. Then, the start of filament. Then the start of filament if caught with revolving brushes. Depending on the thickness desired, filaments from two or more cocoons are combined to form a single yarn.

The yarn is dried as it is wound on a reel. The raw silk is reeled again onto a larger reel to form a skein of desired length and weight. Silk is so smooth that one is some times tempted to stroke his/her cheeks with it.

What determines its distant texture? One factor is the deguming or removal of sericin which coats the fibroin. If this removal does not take place, there is no way the silk can be supple or smooth the way it is.

The second factor is how much turn or twist, the yarn gets.

Another important process of silk making dyeing. Silk is easy to dye. This is because the structure of fibroin allows dyes to penetrate deep, resulting in

excellent colour fastness. In addition, unlike synthetic fibers, silk has both positive and negative ions, meaning that virtually any dye will produce good results. Silk can be dyed as a yarn before it is woven or as a piece afterward.

While most silk production is now done in countries such as China and Indian, haute couture of France and fashion designers of Italy still lead the world in silk designs. Today, of course, artificial fibers such as

rayon and nylon provide the apparel market with many in experience bafrics. However, silk has no equal still. The curator of the silk museum in yokohama, Japan, said: “Even with the present advancement in science, silk, cannot be synthesized.

We know everything from its molecular formula to its structure. But we cannot copy it. That is what I call the mystery of silk.”

In conclusion, silk is still as useful and as qualitative as it was

in the days of the Emperors. It is for anyone who cares to use it. It absorbs ultra-violet rays and thus protects the skin. It does not burn easily and does not give off toxic gas in the event of fire. It keeps one dry and cool in the hot season. It is also as strong as steel filament of comparable size. Try it!

By Mary Young, Art History Section, Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Benin

FRANCODUS RHETORIX

THE NIGERIAN

19

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Art And Culture

CULTURE has complex definitions or meanings, cultivation, refinement and type of civilization. A cultured person is a cultivated, well educated and refined person; therefore culture is the whole way of Life, material and non-material of human society.

Culture is a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, moral, law, custom, any other capability or habits acquired by human beings and learned aspects of behaviour.

Culture is a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms on which human beings communicate, perpetuate and develop their knowledge towards life; stories, set of symbols, myths, norms for conduct that orients society and behaviour to the world.

Culture is also collection of ways of thought, feeling, learned and shared by number of people which serve objectively and symbolically to make them collectively distinct.

Culture defines the extent to which people are attracted to certain ideas and norms. It emphasizes the dynamic nature of culture and stresses the mental character of culture and the manner in which it shapes human perception.

Culture is made up of invention and convention, refers to the appropriation of culture by individuals or groups of individuals, who thereby contribute to its ongoing development and to what is held in common, agree upon in society respectively.

Culture is therefore a dynamic cluster of concepts and norms, the form of which is historically specific.

Individuals and groups drawing on institutional resources and on local,

With AMBROSE EKHOSUEHI

Definitions Of Culture

national, global links, often impose their own definitions on these clusters.

Modern travels and communications have brought into contact, the variety of patterns of thinking and action that distinguish groups of people.

People belonging to different cultures are able to communicate with and borrow from one, another.

Cultures are systems of symbols and operate at imaginative level.

I n t e r c u l t u r a l communication takes place at the imaginative or symbolic order, because there is common factor in human nature, common mental structures and common symbolic forms based on body symbolism or human life crises which underlie many cultural images.

Culture learning is enculturation in the social control of perception through adaptive learning.

Inculturation is the theological concept of dialogue between faith and culture.

Enculturation teaches individuals to perceive reality according to established patterns, and initiates people into the invention of cultures.

Culture is an aspect of what it means to be human and a basic human right.

Cultural incapsulation is a form of political manipulation of culture in order to close alien cultural influences.

Human beings learn

their cultures through socialization process and grow into the culture.

People do not learn their cultures by heart as set of ideas and norms that are committed to memory, but are usually thought to

Convention remains an essential characteristic of culture by which other cultures are learned as an extension of own culture.

Colonization had an imperfect understanding of culture. They placed

Urban culture exists as such, traditionally multicultural. Traditional cultures are modified by mutual contact by the demands of modernization.

Micro-cultural

correspond to material and non-material aspects of culture, which are resistant to changes in varying degrees.

Inter-cultural influences are studied in the light of historical evidence by ethno-historians, and are limited to areas for which there is historical evidence, while comparisons are made on limited scale between cultures that have already known historical links and are geographically adjacent.

great emphasis on language learning, language recording and translation works, made vernacular literatures global communication.

They learnt how to use and adapt culture, how to play, pray, talk, walk, sing, work, and act the game of culture.

Outside influences give innovators the opportunity to bring change, and various adaptive mechanisms assist migrants to conform to people’s culture.

environments are created in towns, where urban areas in which community shares given materials Life style.

Human civilization is associated with the rise of town, being on the threshold of international life and are gateways of new ideas and techniques.

Rapid urban growth is based on rural-urban migration, rather than on the natural increase of urban populations.

Towns are attractive because they are power

“Culture defines the extent to which people are attracted to certain ideas and norms. It emphasizes the dynamic nature of culture and stresses the mental character of culture and the manner in which it shapes human perception.�

centres, political power centres, religious centres, education centres, medical centres, communication centres, information centres, cultural centres and are characterized by job mobility, job competition or job improvements.

There are basically three

types of urban growthconglomeration which means the enlargement of single urban growth over a continuous area; the multiplication of satellite towns at distance from the original urban conglomeration, and the rural integrated growth of an urban periphery.

Art is a living tradition and homo-genization of culture, associated with religion, palace, societies, commercial and popular entertainment.

This understanding, finally place religion on its proper place as a root of genuine normal behaviour, explicit in all human cultures, for none of them could be actually be explained without the others, by the way of several definitions of culture.

THE NIGERIAN

20

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

I am glad, and heartily rejoice with the families of the three female teachers who were penultimate week abducted right in their classroom, by dare devil denizens of the dark and having gone through untold harrowing experience, finally released 48 hours ago. Indeed, as my tears mixed with the tears of these families in their days of gloom, anxiety, pain and frustration, it also mixes now with their tears of joy as they regale in freedom regained and peace restored.

FEMINIQUE With IJEOMA UMEH email: ladywithegoldenpen@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 08182382839 “The Comrade Governor’s intimidating mien, his hard, unsmiling stance, his persistent demands: ‘Who is the teacher between you and I?’ He simply rattled and unnerved the woman, or what else should we say? Do we need market women to teach us how to approach the Comrade Governor?

However, let’s not regale in those ugly relics. Let’s move ahead!”

Whoosh! That’s Not My Teacher!

WE are grateful to God who made all the crooked paths straight and didn’t give us cause to powder our faces with ashes and mourn, adorning sackcloth, We are indeed grateful.

However, it is mixed feelings for me and I am sure, for many others who feel the impact of what is presently happening in the education sector in Nigeria as a whole and Edo State in particular. No sooner had the three teachers regained their freedom than a teacher sat beside the Comrade Governor, and stuttering over an affidavit she had presented in defence of her right to be a teacher, smacked all those who stood in solidarity with teachers right in the face!

Parents, guardians and their wards and probably well over one third of the population of the nation sat glued to their television and watched the soap opera, super story of the day as it played out before their eyes.

And those eyes bled blood!

Afterwards, we heard neighbourhood children teasing themselves: “That is your teacher!” One child would say to another, to which the defendant would say with a vigorous shake of the head, “Whoosh! That’s not my teacher!”

That buttresses the point that no one wishes to be associated with something of negative report. And talking about reports, was it not the negative report unwittingly brought by an unwary young student that first started this…?

Since that day when young Amarachi ( to be fair, the teachers who taught Amarachi were better teachers than this

other one, only that they had issues with dereliction of duty) appealed to the governor to implore on their teachers to be available for them, the education sector in Edo State has not stopped hiccupping. It is now a very conscious, thriftspending governor who realizes that good education goes way beyond building red-roof ultra modern schools everywhere in the state. He now realizes that for those red roof schools to be optimally functional, those who form the bedrock of its output must be seen to be optimally functional too. And those people are the teachers.

So, from stealthily barging in on the teachers to directly supervise what took place there when no one was watching, the Comrade Governor also directed that those teachers be screened. When that directive was issued, not a few people saw it as witch-hunting, even those who played politics with everything that happened and called it being a formidable opposition; those whose children are tucked in some high-sounding, highbrow colleges abroad, they toyed with our collective heritage and called it politics. For those of us whose children are beneficiaries of popular education however, there is basically no logic in the witchhunting propaganda, or whatever they may call it. We want the best from our local content.

Events that are now unfolding would attest to that illogical sequence of argument that because the teachers protested by a strike action the non-

“Forget it, that teacher failed woefully (that word again!) because no one can give what they don’t have and she didn’t get as much as a smile or a cheek-to-cheek grin from her pupils; rather, she got frowns.”

• Governor Adams Oshiomhole

payment of their allowance, the Comrade Governor becomes vindictive and is determined to humiliate anyone referred to as a teacher.

That is not tenable as far as arguments would go. At least, we would not also argue that as a result of the governor ’s vindictiveness a teacher, encountered right at the venue of the screening failed woefully (woefully was a major word in the vocabulary my primary school teacher held in repute in those days), to read her own affidavit. Thank God, a mix up in handling at the oaths and affidavit section of the court did not exchange her affidavit with someone else’s, it would have been even more woeful if she had tendered it due to her failure to decipher the legible words on the document.

That, of course, wouldn’t also have been the governor’s fault as it is no fault of his that those who have been, and still remain, our role models from time immemorial, those who we consider as deserving rewards only packaged in heaven, those to whom we ascribe the whole and impartial custody of our intellect and knowledge, are now the very same persons who could not look at the Comrade Governor in the eyes (even market

women are more abrasive, brazen and forthcoming in confrontation) and say, “Ah! Comrade Governor! You want me to read my own affidavit out loud to you? That’s way beneath me and my expectations, however, let me suit your fancy……” and with head proudly and elegantly thrown back, go on ahead and read the words in smooth Queen’s English and make her pupils and students, even parents and guardians, equally proud!

Forget it, that teacher failed woefully (that word again!) because no one can give what they don’t have and she didn’t get as much as a smile or a cheek-to-cheek grin from her pupils; rather, she got frowns.

She disappointed everyone, and I felt for every child who had been under her tutelage. I felt for her, too. How would she begin to explain that matter away to everyone who is acquainted to her? And I do not judge her now; I do not have any such right, beyond being a parent and a caregiver towards children who are also in school.

She could have been my wards’ teacher! Oh, what manner of teaching that would be! But….

I feel that public humiliation and it cracks my bone. And… there may still be a defence for

that teacher’s poor showing.

The Comrade Governor ’s intimidating mien, his hard, unsmiling stance, his persistent demands: ‘Who is the teacher between you and I?’ He simply rattled and unnerved the woman, or what else should we say? Do we need market women to teach us how to approach the Comrade Governor? However, let’s not regale in those ugly relics. Let’s move ahead!

Now, without intending pun, I consider this the opportunity, a salient one for that matter, that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo State has to right the wrongs that threaten to rattle and debase the foundation of the teaching practice and the pride of place it occupies, if not in the hierarchy of social order, then in the minds of those who are beneficiaries of a good and sound teaching process and those who are yet hopeful beneficiaries.

There’s no witch hunting the innocent one, except there’s an element of guilt, and as far as we know today, there’s an element of guilt! Let all the guilty teachers go back to the classroom, not as teachers, but as students, for that is the true beauty of the human being: to be amenable and amendable!

To be flexible enough to admit wrong and consciously willing to submit to change. And change is the only constant thing that abounds in the dynamics of life. Change is now.

Thank God, the Comrade Governor also sees the necessity for change. Teachers have been left forlorn for too long in Edo State without attention to their special needs in the area of upgrading and

updating their capacities through training and retraining. The Governor has promised, and even put machineries in motion, to ensure that after the ongoing screening, those who will emerge qualified to go back to the classrooms will be trained and re-trained! Oh! What goodness! That is what I think the Patrick Ikosimi-led NUT should be focused on now, currying enough favour and support from government to ensure its members are given requisite training that would impact positively on the future generation, and also give integrity to the teacher as a human being and as a professional. It is not our wish to leave a terrible legacy, as far as academics go, for our future generation. God forbids!

It is a good thing too, quite cheering, to hear the education minister, Ruqayyatu Rufa’i talking about the Jonathan administration’s strategic fouryear plan for the education sector. The sanitation process is gradually seeping through. Edo State will be counted among the forerunners among the comity of nations who took teachers’ qualification seriously and did so much in their upgrade. This administration truly deserves accolades.

Now, I also consider it time for every woman in whatever profession (it appears women are in the fore-front of this debacle, sadly) to do a selfaudit, self-screening. Stare at your curriculum vitae for as long as you could and dissect those credentials that you parade and think you truly deserve. Go on and make sure you deserve them. Now, when you are truly equipped if the Comrade Governor asks you: are you the teacher? Look him straight in the eyes and boldly tell him, ‘off course, my Comrade Governor, I am!’

Words on Marble If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.

- Marcus Aurelius In the last analysis, our only freedom is the freedom to discipline ourselves - Bernard Baruch

THE NIGERIAN

21

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Issues

“IN the last few weeks, no fewer than five children have allegedly been raped in Benin City by men old enough to be their fathers.”

This was the headline recently in a national daily.

On the incessant rape recorded in the country.

Cases of rape have become a recurring factor in the nation. Hardly does a day pass by without rape cases making headlines in various media outlets. It is most alarming, to say the obvious, that rape has been taking place without adequate measures put in place to stem the tide.

According to a report on Nigeria Police Watch Website, about 1,952 rape cases were recorded in Nigeria in the year 2009. In Lagos State, 678 people were reported to have been raped between March 2012 and March 2013. statistics also show that the number of people who report rape cases, is not heart warming.

Victims are often left traumatized with the adverse effects hugging them.

However, the reign of these randy men, has taken a different dimension recently. The situation is deepening to a deadly depth and digging to a deeper depth. The worse of it all is reports revealing that some randy parents have been raping their children. These are children that are supposed to be in their watchful eye. These men are to cover the children as the mother hen does to the chick. But what is the situation on ground?

Shepherds have become lions/wolves in sheep clothings. They have devoured those they are expected to fend for and defend.

Media reports, recently exposed the shameless act of rape committed by 49year-old Sylvester Ehijire of

Deepening To A Deadly Depth Rape:

13, Kolawole Street, Ejigbo in Lagos. The man was alleged to have had carnal knowledge of his sevenyear-old daughter.

As if raping her daughter was not bad enough, he equally extended his “rapes capade” to his 15-months old-grand-daughter. This is most disheartening, as shepherds have become wolves among sheeps they are meant to shield. Why would a father descend to such a bestial level? What will such a supposed “guardian” tell the child in the future? Are people no longer ashamed of the despicable act that they even extend it to “their blood?”

What about schools, orphanages and the likes?

The strong is not quite different. Going into the archieves to dip up rape cases involving school heads, orphanage home owners and all that, will take a large chunk of this piece of mind. However, it is akin to note one here. An orphanage home owner, Atunde by name, allegedly had carnal knowledge of one of the children in the reformatory center. The orphanage, Light of Hope Orphanage Akute in Ogun State was established in 1996. The owner was said to have been raping the girl since she was 10; and now she is 14 years old.

Well, it would come to many as a surprise but the question again: are schools/ orphanage homes in safe hands? Yes, no thought about it, there are numerous orphanage centers that have changed the story of many

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU a doom-faced young people.

This role, they are still playing. It is only a fact that some unscrupulous individuals among them, have exploited the situation

charge of their wards/ children, are doing the opposite!

Again, looking at rape cases, one is started by the fact that the act is mostly

most orphans find themselves in.

Can teachers/workers in schools be equally trusted?

How can the wolves and roaring lions, seeking for whom to devour in most centers of learning be fished out? Indisputably, many good teachers have transformed the lives of their pupils/students, the writer of this work being one of them.

It will be most abnormal for parents to come to knowledge that those who they have taken to be in

targeted at people, nay kids.

It is either babies that are months old or those below 10 years. It seems that the randy men take pleasure in defiling people that have “just been hatched.” It is appalling that these kids are most often threatened hail and storm if they dare speak out. These “Victors,” normally lure their victims with items as sweet, chewing gum and indomie.

Others even buy clothes and phones for them (victims).

As has been the defence

“As has been the defence mechanism, indecent dressing, is most times used as a carmourflage for rape. But, what will someone say about people that have had carnal knowledge of kids as young as oneyear, three years, to mention but a few?”

mechanism, indecent dressing, is most times used as a carmourflage for rape.

But, what will someone say about people that have had carnal knowledge of kids as young as one-year, three years, to mention but a few?

Similarly, the scandal involving a Port Harcourt Pastor, is still fresh in the mind of Nigerians. It appears that these religious

leaders have forgotten what Jesus Christ told Peter: “Feed my sheep.” They have failed to take the injunction exemplified by Joseph to flee from all appearance of evil. How would people not haul criticisms on them? What legacies are the religious mentors leaving behind for the flocks? It is time they heed the Biblical injunction of taking heed by those who think they stand and not regretting later that “it is the devil.”

Another disgusting trend is the rape of people who are pratically grand-mothers. It is no news again that young men, unleash their creative energy on aged people. In Ogbozalla Community of Opi, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, there were instances of rape involving aged people. Findings noted that

the scenario which has played out for about three years, was orchestrated by teenagers. Their victims were usually people that are 60,70,80 and upwards.

Why, would young people channel their energies to such a dastardly act? Are these old people also “showing off” their sensitive parts.

Of course, when the Indian gang rape that hug media headlines took place, tongues were wagging.

Some must have been thinking that such a thing will never take place in Nigeria. Far from it! A woman was raped by hoodlums at Afaha Market in Ibesikpo/Asuntan Local Council Area of Akwa Ibom State. The report explained that the robbers, who attacked her when she went to ease herself at a nearly bush, was raped one after the other (by men of the under world).

Seemingly not wanting to be exposed, they strangled the woman to death. This is not the only case were rape victims were either killed or left dead.

Chijioke Nwakor, according to media reports, raped a nine-year-old girl to death in Okuku-yala, council area of Cross Rivers State. The victim was said to have slumped and died later in the hospital.

Indeed, it is an eye opener that Rapists, most often do not just stop at having carnal knowing of their victims but go further to show their “machoism” by killing them (victims).

As an African proverb noted, a man may not be able to stop the birds from flying over his head, but he can definitely prevent it from making a nest over his head. Most Nigerians might as well wish away the raising tide of rape as not too serious or important because victims may not report. But one thing needs to be borne in mind: “What if the person is close to me?

If this deadly dimension that rape is assuming is not checked with appropriate measures by all and sundry, then there would be more hues and cries in no distant time. Indeed, these randy men’s reign must be repulsed.

THE NIGERIAN

22

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

View Point

Curbing Teenage Pregnancy In Nigeria

TEENAGE pregnancy is pregnancy in human females under the age of 20 when the pregnancy ends. A pregnancy can take place before menarche (the first menstrual period), which signals the possibility of fertility, but usually occurs before menarche. In healthy wellnourished girls, menarche normally takes place around the ages of 12 or 13. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy depends on certain societal and personal factors.

Teenage pregnancy rates vary between countries because of different level of sexual activity, marriage among teenagers, general sex education provided and access to affordable contraceptive option.

In developed countries, teenage pregnancy is associated with many social issues, including lower educational levels, higher rates of poverty, and other poorer life outcomes in children of teenage mother.

Teenage pregnancy in developed world, is usually outside of marriage, and carries a social stigma in many communities and culture.

The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized world. 35 percent of girls get pregnant at least once by age 20 in this nation, nearly 850,000 teen pregnancies annually. Teen childbearing costs taxpayers at least $7 billion each year in direct costs associated with health care, foster care, criminal justice, and public assistance, as well as lost tax revenues. Although overall teen birth rates have declined dramatically in the last decade, additional births to teens that are already mothers are disturbingly common; nearly one-quarter of teen mothers have a second birth before turning twenty.

In Nigeria, the national population commission (NPC), reported that the occurrence of teenage pregnancy may soar to over 60 million by 2015. The federal commissioner of NPC in Kogi State, Mr.

Mohammed Akubo Aikoye disclosed that according to Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (HDHS), adolescent fertility rate in Nigeria in 2008 was 121 live births per 1,000 births, which was the highest rate in Nigeria. He also disclosed that teenage pregnancy rates varied greatly between the northern and southern geopolitical zones and rural areas. In the north, one in every three teenage girls, whereas in the south one out of 10.

Mr. Aikoye pointed to teenage pregnancy, health, social and economic implications, stressing that this are the major cause of teenage girl’s death in the world. Among other dangers are pregnancy complications, unsafe abortion, poor antenatal care, weak pelvic bones, high fertility rate, curtailment of education attainment, and unstable marital life. He also pointed at the cause of teen pregnancy being, poverty, sexual abuse, cultural and religious beliefs, as well as ignorance.

EFFECTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY MOTHER: Being a young mother in an industrialised country can affect one’s education. Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of secondary school. Studies have found out that many of these mothers had already dropped out of school prior to becoming pregnant, but those in school in time of pregnancy, were as likely to graduate as their peers.

Many teen parents do not have the emotional maturity or intellectual that is needed to provide for another life.

Often, these pregnancies are hidden for months resulting to lack of adequate prenatal care and dangerous outcome for the babies.

CHILD: early motherhood can affect the psychosocial development of the infant.

The children of teen mothers are more likely to be born prematurely with a low birth weight. The children are at higher risk and are usually plagued by intellectual,

By EGHWRUDJE PRAISE

language, and socioemotional delays. Low birth weight raises the probabilities of infant death, blindness, deafness, chronic respiratory problems, mental retardation,

more likely to repeat a grade, are less likely to complete high school than the children of older mothers, and have lower performance on standardized tests.

mental illness, and cerebral palsy; low birth weight doubles the chance that a child will later be diagnosed as having dyslexia, hyperactivity, or another disability. Children of teen mothers do worse in school than those born to older parents. They are 50 percent

The children of teen parents also suffer higher rates of abuse and neglect than would occur if their mothers had delayed childbearing. Research has also shown that sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison.

The daughters of teen parents are 22 percent more likely to

“In developed countries, teenage pregnancy is associated with many social issues, including lower educational levels, higher rates of poverty, and other poorer life outcomes in children of teenage mother.

Teenage pregnancy in developed world, is usually outside of marriage, and carries a social stigma in many communities and culture.”

become teen mothers themselves.

OTHER FAMILY MEMBER: teen pregnancy can influence younger siblings. A study has shown that the younger sisters of teen mothers were less likely to emphasize the importance of education and employment and more likely to accept human sexual behaviour, parenting, and marriage at

decisions about sex, far more than their friends or the media. This is important because it has been discovered that teenagers have been misinformed by their peers and some members of the society on the risk of premarital sex, thereby allowing themselves to be abused sexually.

Advice from doctors to parents about practicing safer

younger ages. Younger brothers, too, were found out to be more tolerant of nonmarital and early births, in addition to being more susceptible to high-risk behaviours.

Ways to prevent teen pregnancy and support teen parents Parents should read literatures and attend seminars in-order to gather information on the important role parents play in preventing teen pregnancy.

They should support and encourage their children about sex, love, and relationships. Some teens themselves report that parents, most influence their

sex and making responsible decisions will also help prevent teen pregnancy.

Society should provide information to teen parents on child development, parenting skills, and social services; they may be eligible for such as welfare and childcare assistance.

Teenagers should also be taught the importance of abstinence from sex: if people are educated on total abstinence from pre-marital sex, over 90 percent of the people will be free from teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections as well as allied problems.

THE NIGERIAN

23

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Reflection

With REV. FR. JOHN DAMIAN ADIZIE PHONE: 08076635886

What Has Assumption Of Mary To Do With My Salvation?

ONE of controversial celebrations in the Catholic calendar is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary which they celebrate every 15 th day of August. The Catholics believes that it was on this day that Mary was taken up body and soul into heaven. Is the Assumption of Mary real or is it an ordinary myth as some people argues?

How does this feast contribute to the salvation of the faithful? What is the significant of this feast?

The bible does not have a direct story of how and when Mary was assumed into heaven; however, there are some scriptural passages that support the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. For instance in the book of Revelation chapter twelve St. John narrates how Mary gave birth to the Saviour of the world after which she fled to a place prepared for her by God (Rev 12:1-6). According to this passage it was God himself who prepared a place for Mary.

This place God prepared for Mary must be a glorious place. Even the text affirms it, “the woman fled into wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand and two hundred and sixty days (Revelations 12:6). The text describes the place as a place of nourishment. The place of divine nourishment is nothing less than paradise.

In his vision, John said, “a great sign appeared in heaven a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with a child and she cried out in pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery” (Revelation 12:12). One thing you must understand is that this sign took place in heaven: “a great sign appeared in heaven.”

And no other woman in the bible or in the history of salvation has that kind of description except Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus

Christ.

Mary was the one that cried out in pangs of birth. She was the one that was in anguish during her delivery. Think of where and how Mary delivered her son, Jesus Christ. “She gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). There was no midwife to cut her umbilical cord. She must have done that by herself through the help of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. She had no one to celebrate with except the goat and sheep that surrounds her during her delivery. Imagine the kind of anguish this poor woman went through when she delivered her child. The vision that John saw about heaven is a true image of our Lady, the mother of Jesus Christ.

Another description given

by John concerning this great woman whom he saw in heaven was the way she was decorated. According to him, he saw a woman “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, on her head a crown of twelve stars.” I can’t imagine any other woman that is so favoured and honoured by God. Before Mary even gave birth to Jesus, God sent the Angel Gabriel to her with the greetings, “Hail, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!”

(Luke 1:26) Mary was the only woman in the bible that got the title “favoured one.”

This title was given to her by God. When Elizabeth heard the voice of her greetings she exclaimed with joy, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my

womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:42-45).

By addressing Mary as Blessed among women, Elizabeth was declaring her the First Lady of the entire universe.

Mary is the universal First Lady! She is favoured in the sight of God and she is

own generation and generations yet unborn must acclaim her blessed.

With these instances you can agree with me that Mary is in heaven. She is in a glorious place prepared for her by God. Imagine what must have happened the day this great woman was taken up to heaven. Think of the reception that was given to her by the angels and saints

earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in the Apostolic C o n s t i t u t i o n Munificentissimus Deus. The solemnity of Assumption is marked as a Holy Day of Obligation.

Why does the Catholic Church give such

blessed among women.

In addition, Mary was decorated with the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High God. The angel Gabriel assured her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

This is the highest honour any human being can get from God; namely, to be possessed by the Holy Spirit and to be covered by the power of the Most High God. Mary said of herself, “henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1.48). Our

the first day she arrived in heaven. Think of the first day she was clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and the crown of twelve stars on her head. I believe these were the circumstances that the Catholic Church considered when they declared the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Assumption therefore is the belief in the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. The Roman Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Blessed Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her

preeminence to the solemnity of the Assumption? What has this feast to do with the salvation of the faithful?

Does it have any spiritual significance? By this time last year when Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his last public solemnity of Assumption in the parish of San Tommaso da Villanova at Castel Gandolfo. He said, the Assumption of Mary is important for personal life as it unites man with God: “In the Assumption we see that in God there is room for man, God himself is the house with many rooms that Jesus tells us: God is man’s house.

Opening up to God we do not lose anything. On the contrary, our life becomes more rich and great.”

Jesus assures us that in his father’s house there are many rooms. “I go and prepare a place for you. And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I

“In addition, Mary was decorated with the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High God. The angel Gabriel assured her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). This is the highest honour any human being can get from God; namely, to be possessed by the Holy Spirit and to be covered by the power of the Most High God.”

am you may be also” (John 14:2-3). Mary was among the first beneficiary of this promise.

With the Assumption of our Lady into heaven, we are hopeful. As Mary was taken up into heaven one day, as Christ promised, we shall be taken to this glorious place where he prepared for us.

The Assumption of Mary is also a victory over death.

With the Assumption of Mary death is swallowed up in victory: “then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Mary’s assumption into heaven has completely changed the Christian’s idea of death. For Christians, therefore, death is no longer seen as disaster but a transition into glory.

For those who still find it difficult to believe the dogma of the assumption of Mary, it will interest you to know that Mary was not the only person in the bible that was taken up body and soul into heaven.

Enoch walked with God and God took him to himself Genesis 5:24. “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrew 11:5) Elijah was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind.

“Behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them (Elijah and Elisha) and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). Elijah did not taste death. He was taken up to heaven body and soul.

Even Moses himself, no one knew where he was buried (Deuteronomy 34:6). The event of the transfiguration in (Luke 9:28-31) confirmed that Moses and Elijah actually came down from heaven.

If people like Enoch, Moses and Elijah were assumed into heaven, how much more the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the woman who was greatly favoured by God. With the assumption of Mary the gate of paradise that was shut because of Eve’s sin has now been opened because of Mary’s righteousness.

Through the intercession of our Mother Mary, and all the saints in heaven, I wish you heaven at last.

THE NIGERIAN

24

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

International News

Egypt Violence Death Toll Rises To 525

CAIRO - Egyptian authorities yesterday significantly raised the death toll from clashes the previous day between police and supporters of the ousted Islamist president, saying more than 500 people died and laying bare the extent of the violence that swept much of the country and prompted the government to declare a nationwide state of emergency and a nighttime curfew.

The death toll, which stood at 525, according to the latest Health Ministry figures, makes Wednesday by far the deadliest day since the 2011 popular uprising that toppled longtime ruler and autocrat Hosni Mubarak — a grim milestone that does not bode well for the future of a nation roiled in turmoil and divisions for the past 2 + years.

Health Ministry spokesman Khaled elKhateeb put the number of the injured on Wednesday at 3,717.

Near the site of one of the smashed encampments of ousted President Mohammed Morsi’s supporters in the eastern Nasr City district, an Associated Press reporter on Thursday saw dozens of blood soaked bodies stored inside a mosque. The bodies were wrapped in sheets and still unclaimed by families.

Relatives at the scene were uncovering the faces in an attempt to identify their loved ones.

Many complained that authorities were preventing them from obtaining permits to bury their dead.

El-Khateeb said 202 of the 525 were killed in the Nasr City protest camp, but it was not immediately clear whether the bodies at the mosque were included in that figure. Another Health Ministry spokesman, Mohammed Fathallah, said he had no knowledge of the bodies

at the el-Iman mosque.

Victims’ names were scribbled on white sheets covering their bodies, some of which were charred. Posters of Morsi were scattered on the floor.

“They accuse us of setting fire to ourselves.

Then, they accuse us of torturing people and dumping their bodies.

Now, they kill us and then blame us,” screamed a woman in a head-to-toe black niqab.

Omar Houzien, a volunteer helping families search for their loved ones, said the bodies were brought in from the Medical Center at the sitin camp site in the final hours of Wednesday’s police sweep because of fears that they would be burned.

A list plastered on the wall listed 265 names of those said to have been killed in Wednesday’s violence at the sit-in.

Funerals for identified victims were expected to take place later yesterday.

Meanwhile, a mass police funeral — with caskets draped in the white, red and black Egyptian flag — was held in Cairo for some of the 43 security troops killed in Wednesday’s clashes.

Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim, who is in charge of the police, led the mourners. A police band played funerary music as a somber funeral procession moved with the coffins placed atop red fire engines.

Wednesday’s violence started with riot police raiding and clearing out the two camps, sparking clashes there and elsewhere in the Egyptian capital and other cities.

Cairo, a city of some 18 million people, was uncharacteristically quiet yesterday, with only a fraction of its usually hectic traffic and many stores and government offices shuttered. Many people hunkered down at home for fear of more violence. Banks and the stock market were closed.

The Brotherhood has called for fresh protests on Thursday, raising the specter of renewed violence. However, there were no reports of any large gatherings by early afternoon.

The latest events in Egypt drew widespread condemnation from the Muslim world and the West, including the United States, Egypt’s main foreign backer for over 30 years.

Baghdad Bomb Attacks wounding 12 people.

Kill 33 The central zone is a highlyfortified area housing Western embassies including the U.S. mission and the nearby Iraqi ministry has been a frequent target of attacks.

“Cowardly terrorists targeted unarmed citizens in seven places in Baghdad,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement. It put the death toll far lower, saying only three people were killed and 44 wounded in the violence.

Since the start of the year, attacks using multiple car bombs have become an almost daily occurrence, killing scores of people in Iraq, including during a religious holiday last weekend when bombers targeted families celebrating outside.

Each of the past four months has each been deadlier than any in the previous five years, dating back to a time when U.S. and government troops were engaged in battles with militiamen.

The government has launched a security sweep to

try to round up suspected militants and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said yesterday the crackdown would continue.

The Interior Ministry described the conflict last month as “open war”, although officials have since said the violence is not as severe as media reports suggest and have said they are in control of the country.

The United States has said it will work closely with the Iraqi government to confront al Qaeda and will discuss this during a visit of Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari yesterday to Washington.

Bombers targeted districts in central, eastern, northern and southern Baghdad, including Shi’ite areas, police said.

An attack in Baladiyat, eastern Baghdad, killed five people and wounded 17 when a car bomb exploded near a traffic police station. Pictures showed the blackened shells of cars with their roofs caved in and their wheels splayed on the ground.

THE NIGERIAN

25

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

International Features

Japan Shrine Still Flash Point 68 Years After

IN the steamy heat of mid-August, the tranquil, cherry-tree shaded grounds of Yasukuni Shrine in the heart of Tokyo seem an unlikely hotbed of provocation.

But visits by senior Japanese government officials to the shrine, whose grounds also house a war museum glorifying Japan’s wartime past, routinely anger neighboring China and South Korea, highlighting lingering resentments 68 years after the end of World War II that Japan marked Thursday.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose hawkish views have raised concerns in the region, appeared unlikely to visit the shrine on the anniversary, but had an aide present an ornamental offering bought with his own money.

Two of his Cabinet members, decked out in morning suits, did pay their respects at the shrine Thursday morning, prompting China to summon the Japanese ambassador in Beijing to register a protest.

A shrine of Japan’s indigenous Shinto religion, Yasukuni evokes bitter memories across Asia of Japan’s colonial and wartime aggression. It honors 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including Class A war criminals such as Hideki Tojo, a prime minister during the war, who was executed in 1948.

Japan has repeatedly apologized for its wartime actions, but the shrine remains a flashpoint nearly 70 years after Emperor Hirohito issued his proclamation surrendering to Allied forces on Aug. 15, 1945.

North and South Korea marked the surrender anniversary Thursday with ceremonies of their own celebrating their independence from Japan’s 1910-1945 colonization of the peninsula. South Korean President Park Geun-hye urged Japanese

leaders to “show brave leadership in healing wounds of the past.”

Abe joined Emperor Akihito at a ceremony at a Tokyo indoor arena where they bowed deeply before a backdrop of white and yellow chrysanthemums in paying respects for the war dead.

“I pray for world peace and our country’s further prosperity,” Akihito said.

who traveled early in the morning from a distant Tokyo suburb to pay his respects with his wife and one-year-old daughter.

Abe’s support for revising Japan’s pacifist constitution and raising the profile of its military are compounding the unease at a time of

Agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei as saying.

In Seoul, South Korea, women who had been forced to work in wartime brothels of the Japanese army, and their supporters, rallied outside the Japanese

a brief protest a few blocks from the shrine.

Despite its apparent tranquility, Yasukuni remains a focus of nationalist pride and is closely associated with the monarchy, although royal family members have rarely visited. Akihito

Japanese men clad in outdated military costume march in to pay respects to the nation’s war dead at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo yesterday.

Abe has said he regrets not visiting Yasukuni on the anniversary during his first, one-year term in 20062007. When asked if he would go this year, he told reporters, “Since it would become a political and diplomatic problem, I cannot tell you that.”

Past public opinion polls have shown majorities of those asked support visits to the shrine by Japanese leaders, though the shrine is not as popular as other major Shinto sites.

“There are different opinions, but I am here today to honor the war dead because I believe we are here now thanks to those who fought for our country,” said Akira Fujisada, a Tokyo resident,

rising tensions over a cluster of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea claimed by both Japan and China.

Hackles rose also at the unveiling earlier this month of Japan’s biggest warship since the end of the war.

The Izumo, a flat-top destroyer, shares the same name as a warship in the Imperial Navy destroyed in an American attack in 1945.

“We call upon the Japanese side to honor their commitment to admit and reflect upon their history of invasion, act with care on relevant questions, and through concrete actions, win the trust of the people of Asian victim nations and international society,” the official Xinhua News

Embassy, demanding apologies and compensation.

A group of four South Korean lawmakers traveled to Japan, planning to visit Yasukuni in protest Thursday. Police kept them away to prevent possible trouble with rightists in the vicinity. They instead held

visited the shrine in 1975.

He became emperor in 1989.

Yasukuni was created in 1869 to honor 3,588 loyalists who died the year before, when imperial forces overthrew centuries of feudal rule. Standing sentry is the bronze statue of the founder of Japan’s

modern army.

Its museum recounts in unapologetic detail Japan’s military exploits over the past 150 years, including its occupation of much of Asia in the early 20th century.

The outbreak of war in East Asia in the late 1930s is attributed to attacks by Chinese partisans. Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor came after Tokyo concluded war was inevitable.

A very short display on the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, when the Japanese army invaded the city then called Nanking, raping, torturing and murdering tens of thousands of Chinese, mentions none of those atrocities. It instead emphasizes that Japanese troops were ordered to observe “strict military discipline” or be severely punished, and shows a picture of what it says are local residents “joyously welcoming the Imperial Troops.”

Estimates on the number of dead in Nanking range widely, from 20,000 by right-wing Japanese historians to 300,000 by Chinese scholars.

Many Christian, Buddhist and civic groups also view visits to Yasukuni as a violation of the postwar Japanese constitution, which mandates the separation of church and state and limits the role of the emperor to that of a symbolic figurehead.

Even today, the spirits of soldiers who die in the line of duty are enshrined in Yasukuni’s “Symbolic Registry of Souls,” whether they accept Shintoism or not.

“Hackles rose also at the unveiling earlier this month of Japan’s biggest warship since the end of the war. The Izumo, a flattop destroyer, shares the same name as a warship in the Imperial Navy destroyed in an American attack in 1945.”

THE NIGERIAN

26

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

International Features

Another Nuclear Stumble By Airforce ANOTHER embarrassing stumble by the U.S. nuclear missile force, this time a safety and security inspection failure, is raising questions about the Air Force’s management of arguably the military’s most sensitive mission.

The head of nuclear air forces, Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski, revealed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., had failed what the military calls a “surety” inspection — a formal check on the unit’s adherence to rules ensuring the safety, security and control of its nuclear weapons.

The 341st is one of three units that operate the Air Force’s 450 Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs. Kowalski, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said a team of “relatively low-ranking” airmen failed one exercise as part of a broader inspection, which began last week and ended Tuesday. He said that for security reasons he could not be specific about the team or the exercise, although he said the team did not include missile launch crew members.

“This unit fumbled on this exercise,” Kowalski said by telephone from his headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., adding that this did not call into question the safety or control of nuclear weapons at Malmstrom.

“The team did not demonstrate the right procedures,” he said, and as a result was rated a failure.

To elaborate “could reveal a potential vulnerability” in the force, Kowalski said.

In a written statement on its website, Kowalski’s command said there had been “tactical-level errors” in the snap exercise, revealing “discrepancies.”

Without more details it is difficult to reliably judge the extent and severity of the problem uncovered at Malmstrom.

On Capitol Hill, a spokesman for Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said McKeon believes that “two troubling inspections in a row at two different missile wings is unacceptable.”

“It is his sense that the Air Force must refocus on the nuclear mission,” spokesman John Noonan said. “The Air Force should hold failed leadership at the group and wing level accountable, recommit itself from the top down to the nuclear deterrent mission, and ensure a daily focus on its centrality to our nation’s security.”

In response to word of the failed inspection, the press secretary for the Pentagon, George Little, said the bottom line for nuclear forces hasn’t changed: “Our nuclear forces remain fully capable and ready.”

“While the fact that the unit made errors during this exercise is disappointing, this

Raises Doubt type of exercise is designed to push people to their limits and learn how to improve,” Little said.

Asked whether the Air Force intends to take disciplinary action against anyone for the inspection failure, Kowalski said the Air Force is “looking into it.”

Overall, the 341st wing “did well,” he said, earning ratings of excellent or outstanding in the majority of the 13 areas in which it was graded by inspectors. Those areas include management, administration, safety, security, emergency exercises, worker reliability and other facets of a mission that relies on teams of officers and enlisted personnel.

The acting secretary of the Air Force, Eric Fanning, will meet with Kowalski at his Barksdale headquarters on Wednesday to discuss the Malmstrom situation and other aspects of the broader nuclear mission, according to Brig. Gen. Les Kodlick, the top Air Force spokesman.

Kodlick said the visit had been scheduled for “some time” and not in response to the failed inspection.

ICBM wings undergo multiple types of inspections.

The one at Malmstrom was a “surety” inspection, which the Pentagon defines as “nuclear weapon system safety, security and control.”

The point is to ensure that no nuclear weapon is

accidentally, inadvertently or deliberately armed or launched without presidential authority.

Kowalski said his command’s inspector general has conducted 14 such inspections since early 2010 with just two failures — both involving the 341st wing. The first was in February 2010.

The second was this week.

The 341st also failed a safety and security inspection in 2008.

A different type of inspection of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., in March of this year led the deputy commander of the wing’s operations group to complain of “rot” in the force.

Technically, the wing passed that inspection, but its missile crews earned the equivalent of a “D’’ grade when tested on their mastery of Minuteman 3 launch operations using a simulator.

The following month the 91st temporarily removed 17 officers from launch control duty — the first time such a large number had been pulled from duty.

In April the Pentagon reissued a public directive on responsibilities for ensuring nuclear weapons security. “Standards, plans, procedures, and other positive measures will be developed and maintained to ensure the (Pentagon) can accomplish its nuclear mission in a safe, secure, and reliable manner,” the directive said.

In June, the commander in charge of training and proficiency of missile crews at Minot, Lt. Col. Randy Olson, was relieved of duty. The Air Force cited a “loss of confidence” in his leadership.

Launch operations were not part of the Malmstrom inspection failure, Kowalski said.

The trouble at Minot was the latest in a longer series of setbacks for the Air Force’s nuclear mission, highlighted by a 2008 Pentagon advisory group report that found a “dramatic and unacceptable decline” in the Air Force’s commitment to the

mission, which has its origins in a Cold War standoff with the former Soviet Union.

Following a series of nuclear embarrassments in 2008 — including the inadvertent transport of six nuclear-tipped missiles on a B-52 bomber, whose pilot did not know they were aboard when he flew from Minot to Barksdale Air Force Base, La. — then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates fired the top two Air Force officials.

Kowalski’s command was created in late 2009 as part of an effort to fix what was broken in the nuclear force. In Tuesday’s interview, he said he is encouraged that inspections after 2009 began finding an increasing number of problems at the ICBM wings, followed by a decrease since 2011. He said this tells him that the Air Force has come up with more rigorous, effective means of inspecting, and that they are spurring change.

“This is a difficult inspection,” he said, so occasional failures do not point to a systemic failure to adhere to safety and security regulations. In this image released by the U.S. Air Force, a Malmstrom Air Force Base missile maintenance team removes the upper section of an ICBM at a Montana missile site.

“In April the Pentagon reissued a public directive on responsibilities for ensuring nuclear weapons security.

“Standards, plans, procedures, and other positive measures will be developed and maintained to ensure the (Pentagon) can accomplish its nuclear mission in a safe, secure, and reliable manner,” the directive said.”

THE NIGERIAN

27

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

EVERY FRIDAY WEEK 05, 2013 LAST SEASON RESULT Anderson Richwell 1.2. X. Forecast

WEEK 05, 2012 NOS. OF DRAWS 15

10 18 43

By SAM EHEBHA GSM: 08056626091

} } }

A

WEEK 05 DRAWS LIKELY AT

6 7 19 23 43

10 26 30 32 41

26 32 B SEAMAN NAP 35 6 30 32 C 10 19 41 26 Pair 23 25 X X 43 FACE TO FACE U.K EDITION

} }

For One X?

10

43

THE NIGERIAN

28

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Winter World Cup Unrealistic

PREMIER League chief executive Richard Scudamore has told Sky Sports News that moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter would not be realistic due to its impact on domestic leagues.

Qatar was named as the host of the 2022 tournament nearly three years ago, but a decision has yet to be made as to when the competition will take place.

Temperatures in the Gulf state can reach 50°C during the summer and, although stadiums can be cooled, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said it was “not rational to play in June-July” as “you can’t cool down the whole country”.

Blatter confirmed he would request that the World Cup be held in winter, and has the support of UEFA president Michel Platini, but the switch would force a number of domestic leagues to make significant calendar changes.

The Premier League has already made its opposition to a winter World Cup clear, and Scudamore said yesterday that FIFA should reopen the 2022 voting as Qatar had bid on the basis that it would stage a summer tournament.

“At the end of the day, FIFA made a decision which is for none of us to comment on,” Scudamore said. “They decided the World Cup will be in the summer in Qatar.

“Our view is, if that is deemed not possible by FIFA, they need to move the location. We can’t just, on a whim, decide to move to the winter. It’s extremely difficult — nigh-on impossible in our view.’’

Capoue Completes Tottenham Transfer ETIENNE Capoue has completed his transfer from Toulouse to Tottenham Hotspur, signing a four-year contract with the club.

Toulouse confirmed last week they had agreed to sell Capoue to the north Londoners and personal terms have since been agreed and a medical passed by

• Capoue

the midfielder.

Capoue, who has only played for Toulouse in his professional career, confirmed on Wednesday to Sky Sports News that he would visit Hotspur Way on Thursday to finalise the terms of his contract.

“There are only some paperwork to sign now. I will be at the training ground tomorrow,” he said on Wednesday evening.

“Tottenham is a super club. It’s the best club to continue my career. It should be official very quickly now.”

Tottenham announced the agreement on their official website on Thursday, as did Toulouse, with the France international joining Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli in arriving at White Hart Lane this summer.

Capoue could be available for Tottenham’s opening match of

He added: “Where they award the World Cup to is a FIFA executive committee decision and not our business, but the international football calendar has to be consulted. FIFA can’t just decide.

There’s a whole series of complications and consultation has to be separate with leagues on a global basis to make sure it works for everyone before a decision is made.”

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said last week that it would be “impossible” to hold the tournament in the summer in Qatar but added: “I understand the reaction of the Premier League to not want to move it. I have some sympathy with them.

“They didn’t have to choose to give it to Qatar in the summer but that’s where it is. It will either have to be moved out of the summer or to another location. I suspect the former is more likely than the latter.”

There has been a mixed reaction to the prospect of a winter World Cup in Germany, with German Football League (DFL) executive Christian Seifert questioning the “credibility of FIFA” in May, while former German Football Association (DFB) president Dr Theo Zwanziger said in 2011: “I deem the Qatar decision false.”

However, the DFL’s Andreas Rettig has since said the league would “welcome” a winter tournament, and Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has also expressed his support for the plans.

Rummenigge, who also acts as president of the European Club Association (ECA), has proposed a “Lego system” that would see domestic football broken up into blocks of fixtures to permit the staging of a winter World Cup. It remains unclear whether a change in schedule — which has yet to be discussed by FIFA’s executive committee — would

Puyol Could End Signing Search

BARCELONA have suggested that Carles Puyol is nearing a return from his long standing knee injury, just as reports in Catalonia say the club have decided against signing a new centre-back this summer.

Barca had been widely expected to sign a new defender this summer, given Eric Abidal had left the club and with Puyol now 35 and having had his entire 2012-13 season wrecked by ongoing knee problems.

As recently as early August blaugrana sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta indicated the club were working on defensive targets, amid apparently well-sourced speculation that a +20 million plus bid had been made for Chelsea’s David Luiz.

However a ‘summit’ meeting

between Zubizarreta, new coach Gerardo Martino and club president Sandro Rosell at the Camp Nou on Tuesday reportedly decided against signing a new centre-back.

Martino is apparently happy to go into the new campaign

• Carles Puyol

with Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano as his first choice pairing at the back, with Puyol, Marc Bartra, 22, and Frank Bagnack, 18, as cover.

- Scudamore

• Richard Scudamore

FIFA Announces Host Cities For U-20 World Cup

THE Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has announced seven host cities for the FIFA U-20 World Cup billed for New Zealand from May 30 to June 21.

A statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from the association’s Website said the announcement was made yesterday in Auckland, New Zealand in the presence of John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

“The other people present at the announcement were Dave Beeche, CEO of the Local Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015, and Frank van Hattum, President of Zealand Football Inc. “And the host cities and stadia named are: Auckland (North Harbour Stadium), Christchurch (Christchurch Stadium) and Dunedin (Otago Stadium).

“The other cities and stadia are Hamilton (Waikato Stadium), New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki), Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium) and Whangarei (Northland Event Centre),íí the statement said.

The statement quoted FIFAís President, Sepp Blatter, as say-

Ronaldo Refuses To Discuss CRISTIANO Ronaldo has Mourinho again declined to speak about his relationship with Jose Mourinho, saying it is “not worth” commenting on his former Real Madrid coach.

Relations between the two are thought to have cooled significantly towards the end of their final season together at the Bernabeu, and the Chelsea manager told Punto Pelota in June that his former charge “thinks he knows everything”.

Mourinho’s recent remarkduring an interview with ESPNthat he had coached “the real Ronaldo” when he worked at

Barcelona was also seen as a dig at the Portugal star.

The Madrid forward responded by telling ESPN Deportes the comment did not deserve a response and later added that holding grudges is “for losers”.

Nonetheless, speculation over the ‘feud’ continued around Wednesday’s friendly game between Portugal and Netherlands, which finished 11 after Ronaldo scored a late equaliser to cancel out Kevin Strootman’s opener.

ing “bringing the FIFA U-20 World Cup to New Zealand will enhance the image and popularity of the beautiful game in the countryíí.

“New Zealand hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1999 and the FIFA U-17 Womenís World Cup in 2008 and enjoys a proud history of successfully hosting FIFA events.

“The host cities play an essential role in delivering a FIFA competition and football fans in cities across the whole country will have the chance to become a part of it,íí Blatter said.

The statement said Beeche was full of praises for all the cit-

ies that were involved in the bidding process.

“To have seven stunning venues locked in nearly two years out from the first match, gives us a great planning time-frame and we will use all of it to ensure that a stand-out event is delivered.

“This tournament has a huge global following and that is the opportunity we have with this event.

“It will deliver exposure for New Zealand and host regions both directly during the tournament and via a massive international television audience,íí Beeche said.

JAMES Peters, Assistant Technical Director, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), yesterday assured that Nigeria will do well at the forthcoming FIFA under-17 World Championship His assurance came amidst fears of poor performance by football fans after 11 players failed the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test.

The Eaglets are scheduled to participate in the 15th Edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirate between Oct. 17 and Nov. 8.

The football fans are of the view that with 11 players failing the test, it will be difficult to blend the old and new players, with a few months to the world championship.

Peters, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that cohesion would not be a big problem since the coach was left with 11 players to start with.

“At least we have 11 players remaining who have played together, others will join later and by the time they play one or two

matches together, cohesion will come.

“The coach won’t just change the team and bring in a new 11 and play them; he can play two or three from the new ones, they may be better than the old ones.

“With the mixture of eight old players and three new ones, it will be easy to build cohesion in the team.

“It depends on the assimilation of the boys and I know that with the kind of technical crew the Eaglets have, we will be able to play well in the World Cup,” Peters said.

The former Super Falcons coach said the NFA should not be blamed for the Eagletsí MRI failure as the development was a natural occurrence.

“I don’t think itís a mistake from the football federation since the players were within the age bracket during the CAF championship.

“Before the tournament those boys went for MRI test and they all passed. They passed the CAF MRI test and every one of them that played in the CAF competition passed the test.

No Cause For Alarm Over Eaglets MRI Failure - NFA Technical Director

THE NIGERIAN

29

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Moyes Confident Over Signings DAVID Moyes has said Manchester United are making efforts to sign several players and is confident they will be able to add to their squad before the end of the transfer window.

Guillermo Varela, the 20-yearold right back from Uruguay, remains the only addition to the United squad this summer.

While Moyes has identified central midfield as a problem area in his squad, United have so far failed with two bids to land Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona, and had earlier missed out on Thiago Alcantara, who opted to move to Bayern Munich.

Moyes is now believed to have turned his attentions to prising Marouane Fellaini from his former club Everton, although it has emerged that the midfielder’s release clause has expired.

Another bid for Fabregas is now rumoured to be in the offing, despite the player announcing he has no intention to leave Barcelona this summer. With Barcelona set to play four league games before the end of the window, United are reportedly hopeful of exploiting any doubts Fabregas has over his prospects of playing regular first-team football this season.

There have also been claims United are pursuing Real Madrid’s Luka Modric.

Moyes, speaking at the Premier League Season Launch at Bacon’s College in Canada Water, told Sky Sports News: “I’m confident we’ll have players in before the start. We’re involved in several players we’re looking at and that will continue.

“Will we get them before the deadline? I hope so, but we’re working very hard to do so. It was always going to be a difficult window for me personally. I joined on July 1, which has given me a short period.

“It’s never the same until you’ve worked with the players, but we’ve got a great group of players — they won the Premier League last year.”

David Luiz Not For Sale

Dannyy Welbeek in an action Man United.

Man United Begin Title Defence Tomorrow

MANCHESTER United will begin the defence of their Premier League title with a tough trip away to Swansea on Saturday evening. Kick-off at the Liberty Stadium is at 18h30 CAT. The Red Devils’ trip to should have recovered in time Wales will mark the first to take his place in central competitive fixture in charge midfield, while wingers Nani for new manager David and Ashley Young are both Moyes, and the Scot is already doubtful due to minor injuries. coming under pressure over Rafael, who would have been United’s lack of a major suspended anyway, is out for signing and his handling of the a month with a hamstring strain.

Wayne Rooney saga.

United at least look in good Quite whether want-away Rooney will feature against the form, having beaten Wigan Athletic 2-0 on Sunday in the Swans remains to be seen.

The striker is clearly fit Community Shield, and it will enough to play a role after be interesting to see whether featuring for England in their Moyes throws youngsters such 3-2 win over Scotland on as Wilfried Zaha, Adnan Januzaj and Jesse Lingard into Wednesday night.

Michael Carrick, who the fray.

Defender Chris Smalling withdrew from the England squad due to an eye infection, believes that winning the Shield will have inspired the youngsters in the squad to push for more silverware in the new season.

“Winning a trophy said Rodgers. galvanises everyone and really “What I want to concentrate on helps you kick on,” the is the players that are available defender told ManUtd.com. for this weekend so I won’t be “Celebrating in the dressing speaking any more about Luis room afterwards is always a Suarez until he is available. fantastic feeling and it just

Rodgers Wants To Put Suarez Saga To Bed

LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers said yesterday that he will not talk about Luis Suarez until the unsettled striker is available to play after weeks of speculation about his future.

Arsenal have had two transfer bids for the Uruguay international rejected and Suarez has been forced to train on his own by Rodgers after he went public about his desire to leave.

Liverpool’s principal owner John W Henry has declared that Suarez will not be allowed to leave the club, while captain Steven Gerrard has urged him to stay.

Suarez will miss the first six games of the new season as he completes a 10-game suspension for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in April, and Rodgers says he does not want to discuss the 26-year-old until he returns at the end of September.

From our perspective, there is a standpoint from the club and myself that has not changed,”

JOSE Mourinho has warned possible suitors, including Barcelona, that Chelsea will not sell David Luiz for “any price”.

Luiz, 26, has been linked with a move to Spain as new Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino assesses ways to improve his defensive options.

But speaking to BT Sport, Mourinho played down the chances of the Brazil international defender leaving Stamford Bridge by claiming he is a very important figure in his plans for the club.

“He is a player with four years [on his] contract, he just signed a contract last year,” Mourinho said.

“We like him. He is an important player for the club and the club is not ready to sell him for any price.”

Of reports that Luiz has said he would be interested

... Suarez Denies Liverpool LUIS Suarez has been quoted U-Turn

by Kyodo News as denying quotes attributed to him yesterday that claimed he was set to stay at Liverpool.

Uruguayan newspaper El Observador alleged that Suarez had performed a U-turn regarding his future, following a number of statements about his intent to leave Merseyside.

Suarez was reported to have said to El Observador: “For now, due to all of the people’s affection (for me), I will be staying.”

However, speaking after scoring in Uruguay’s 4-2 win over Japan in Tokyo, the Guardian and Times quotes Suarez as saying to Kyodo News: “I didn’t say that, maybe someone else did.

“The main thing is that I am here

now with the national team.”

Suarez, who is currently serving a ten-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, has been the subject of a £40,000,001 bid from Arsenal, while Real Madrid have been credited with an interest.

But Liverpool have been adamant that they will not be selling the forward, and Wednesday’s quotes seemed to indicate a line was set to be drawn under the saga.

Yet the latest quotes attributed to Suarez emanating from Japan mean conjecture will be renewed about whether he will be a Liverpool player when the transfer window closes on September 2.

makes you hungrier to do it again and again.

It’s great for some of the new lads like Wilf and the younger players to experience the feeling – it really gets you in the zone and shows you what you’re fighting for.

“The likes of Wilf, Adnan and Jesse have done really well.

The manager is the same as the previous manager when it comes to giving young players a chance.

He gave them a good opportunity on tour and

they’ve shown what they can do.

It can be quite daunting when you go away with the first team for a few weeks but they’ve really bedded in and they’re great lads to get on with.

We know there are four more trophies up for grabs this season and winning trophies is what this club is all about,” he added.

“We want to make sure we’re there at the end of the season competing for those honours.”

MANCHESTER United striker Danny Welbeck says it was great to play alongside Wayne Rooney for England on Wednesday night.

Rooney has not featured for United in any of their preseason matches and also missed the weekend victory over Wigan in the Community Shield, as rumours of his Old Trafford exit persist.

But the 27-year-old featured for 67 minutes of England’s 32 victory over Scotland at Wembley, and Welbeck praised Rooney’s contribution.

Welbeck, who was named man of the match, said: “It’s really good to link up with him. I’ve been playing with him for a very long time now.

“Once we’re on the pitch we know each others’ games. I’m just really happy for him to get out on the pitch and get his first game of the season.

“We all know the quality Wayne Rooney possesses. To have him on the pitch for Manchester United is a bonus.”

... Welbeck Praise For Rooney

Marcuan Fettain

- Mourinho

in a move to the Camp Nou, Mourinho added: “I don’t know if he said that. What I can say is that he is not going to [leave].

“The last quotes I read were Luiz saying he is not speaking about clubs when he is with the national team, which is a fantastic quote that I appreciate.

“When they are with the national team they are national team players, they are not club players. That is the last quote I have and it is an intelligent one.”

David Luiz

Edin Dzeko To Stay At City MANCHESTER City are likely to reject any offers for Edin Dzeko despite reports Arsenal are keen on the Bosnia striker.

Arsene Wenger is said to have turned to Dzeko after failing to sign Gonzalo Higuain and struggling to prise Luis Suarez away from Liverpool.

Dzeko, 27, seemed likely to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of last season, when Borussia Dortmund were interested in him and he was disenchanted at being left on the bench by former manager Roberto Mancini.

Edin Dzeko

Fellaini Release Clause Expires

EVERTON manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed Marouane Fellaini’s release clause in his contract has expired.

It was reported that the midfielder had a release clause of £22 million in his contract, fuelling speculation that the likes of Manchester United or Arsenal could activate that term.

However, Martinez, who took over from new United boss David Moyes at Goodison Park this summer, has suggested an

exit for the Belgium international is now unlikely.

Martinez said: “Marouane had a clause that was very straightforward, but that finished on July 31. Everyone was a bit expectant. We now focused on adding to the squad.”

Left-back Leighton Baines has also been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, but Martinez is insistent that his key players will remain on Merseyside.

THE NIGERIAN

30

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Ebonyi Soccer Fans Hail Eagles Tactical FOOTBALL fans in Ebonyi on Thursday urged the Super Discipline Eagles to maintain the level of tactical discipline they exhibited in their match against Bafana Bafana to lift the Mandela Challenge Cup. The fans reacted to the Eagles 20 victory over the South African’s national team on Wednesday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.

They told newsmen that such discipline would move the team forward.

Two goals from debutant and former Enugu Rangers striker, Uche Nwofor, who replaced Shola Ameobi at the start of the second half opened the scoring with a cool finish in the 49th minute.

He capped his memorable debut with a simple tap in the 68th minute following a sweeping team move involving substitutes Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa.

The Ebonyi House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Youths and Sports, Mr Chike Ogiji, said that fans were delighted that the Eagles dominated in the match.

“The team displayed a reminiscent of its Nations Cup winning performance which endeared it to the continent’s football family.

“The Eagles should, however, maintain such a level of consistency in future matches to

Victor Moses

regain their high rating by FIFA and the fans,” he said.

Coach Sule Abubakar of Ebonyi Stars FC told reporter that the Eagles recorded tremendous improvement from their display at the last FIFA Confederation Cup. “Its greatest strength was superb reflex especially in the midfield and defence, as well as the potency of their attack.

“The players, despite a short training period, appeared fit and committed, exhibiting great cohesion which is the objective of the team’s rebuilding process,” Abubakar said.

James Aneke, a footballer, said that Coach Steven Keshi’s tactical acumen won the match for the Eagles.

3SC Blame Ref For Wikki Loss SHOOTING Stars have

Uche Nwafor (right) and Ahmed Musa celebrate Nigeria’s second goal against Bafanan Bafana, during their friendly match in honour of former South Africa President, Nelson Mandela on Wednesday night.

Mandela Cup: Nwofor

Double Makes Case For More Eagles Call-Ups

UCHE Nwofor fired a brace against South Africa on Wednesday to make a big case for players on the fringes of the Super Eagles to be given a chance sooner rather than later.

At the Confederations Cup, the Former Flying Eagles star Eagles were short of firepower, Nwofor displayed a top but on the evidence of striker’s predatory instincts Wednesday’s win against South with two well-taken goals on Africa, there are many positives his full international debut. to take away especially when the The VVV Venlo striker, who team attacked. has been recently linked with Keshi’s core team remain a move to the English Premier players from the squad who won League, most certainly a third Africa Cup of Nations in enhanced his chances of now February, but after what Nwofor being part of coach Stephen showed on Wednesday night in Keshi’s plans going forward.

Durban, he will most likely have Nwofor’s goals made sure to spread his dragnet a little that the team’s star striker further in search of more options Emmanuel Emenike was not for his team. missed as was the case at the Keshi will most likely stick to FIFA Confederations Cup in this nucleus when Nigeria host Brazil in June.

Malawi on September 7 in a Obinna Nsofor back to the decisive 2014 World Cup team after two years in the qualifier and hopefully too for international wilderness also the final qualifying rounds for looked lively and a threat going Brazil in October and November. forward to justify his return.

But it is expected that after the ticket to Brazil 2014 has been secured he will have a look at some other players who deserve to be flying with the Eagles.

Options in attack for the ‘Big Boss’ would include Michael Eneramo (Besiktas, Turkey), Macauley Chrisantus (Las Palmas, Spain), Umar Aminu (Samsunspor, Turkey), Tony Edjomarigwe (Shooting Stars) and John Chibuike (Rosenborg,

... Keshi Pleased With Performance

NIGERIA coach Stephen Keshi says he is happy with his side’s overall performance during their 2-0win over South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Wednesday night.

Substitute Uche Nwofor netted a brace in the second half but Keshi was grateful of the opportunity to give some new

World Athletics Championships

Okoro Makes Easy Progress

MARILYN Okoro admits she has new coach Johnny Gray to thank after breezing through her 800m heat at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

One year ago Okoro was close to quitting the sport for good after

controversially failing to earn selection individually for the 800m for the London 2012 Olympics.

However fast forward to the present and the outlook looks much rosier as she finished

Mariyn Okoro in front finished tap towin gold in 800m race at the ongoing World Athletic Championship in Moscow

her heat second in a season’s best time of 1:59.43minutes to qualify for the semi-finals.

And the 28-year-old knows exactly where the praise lies for her comfortable opening outing at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, at the feet of coach Gray.

And she insists Gray’s bigtime experience that saw him claim 800m bronze at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games is already proving invaluable in Moscow.

“I’m very pleased with how my heat went,” she said. “It was a season’s best and I’m just happy to have executed my race the way I did.

“It was a tough draw and I thought ‘I know how these girls run’ so I just really wanted to relax and go through the motions and use my speed at the end and try to stay really calm.

“Johnny’s a front runner and that’s what works best for us when we’re trying to go get those fast times. This is a championships though so he’s definitely been beasting me and making me strong.

“Of the little stuff we’ve done together I’m really pleased with

Norway).

In midfield, the Eagles still need more creativity and so a call be put through to Raheem Lawal (Mersin, Turkey), Emmanuel Ekpo (Molde, Norway) and Abdullahi Hassan ‘Muazam’.

Competition in the defence could be improved with invitations to Akeem Latifu (Aalesund, Norway), Wilfred Ndidi (Nath Boys) and Kingsley Madu (El Kanemi).

blamed referee Garuba Hamsa from Kano for their 2-1 loss at Wikki Tourists in Bauchi on Wednesday.

3SC media officer Jubril Arowolo told MTNFootball.com that referee Hamsa deliberately made 3SC lose the game for over-ruling Osagona’s 90th minute goal to deny 3SC a valuable point.

“Referee Garuba Hamsa was a spoiler, he made us to lose the game after he overruled Osagona’s goal which came off a free kick taken by Femi Oladapo just outside the box, thus making the scoreline to stand at 2-1,” Arowolo lamented.

Solomon Jabason scored the opener for Wikki in the fourth minute before Alaba Johnson made it 2-0 for home side in the ninth minute.

Taofeek Adepoju then pulled a goal back for 3SC in the 43rd minute.

Arowolo also revealed that the game was watched by appreciable crowd despite the behind the close door order by the league slammed on Wikki for crowd trouble.

3SC will formally complain to the league on the attendance of spectators at a game that was to have been played without any fans.

Admin secretary of the club Demola Alabi told MTNFootball.com that if a game is ordered to be play behind closed doors, it should be so.

how it’s going, but mostly he’s teaching me how to run the race well.”

Okoro will be joined in the 800m semi-finals by fellow Brit Laura Muir, who celebrated her maiden World Championship outing by finishing her heat third in 2:00.80.

However 18-year-old Jessica Judd will not join them as she saw her own World Championship bow end prematurely as she could only manage 2:01.48 to cross the line fifth in her heat.

“I’ve come a long way this season,” said Judd. “It’s been my best year so far and it would have been a dream if I could have made it into the final, or at least a semi-final.

“Going out in the heat wasn’t on my agenda at all, that’s why I am so disappointed. I know I could be a finalist, I can run so much quicker, I think I’m in 1:58 shape so to run over two minutes is just a disaster in my opinion.”

There was more disappointment for Anyika Onuora in the 200m as she finished fourth in her heat in 23.36 seconds, missing out on a place in the semi-finals.

faces like Shola Ameobi a run in the first half before unleashing his regulars after the break.

“We had some new players in the team who didn’t really understand our movement with and without the ball and the way we want to play,” he said. “We didn’t keep the shape of the team well in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

“But in the second half we came back and tried to use the older players in the team who understand how we play and it paid off. I think it was a good game; we saw some entertaining attacking movements.

“With a lot of respect for Bafana Bafana, I think there’s a lot of potential in their team that

they can build on and get the best out of the players.”

The Super Eagles will now switch focus to the all-important World Cup qualifier against Malawi in Calabar onSeptember 7 and Keshi believes his side will benefit from the competitive sparring match against Gordon Igesund’s side.

“The scoreline is not what is important for me; it’s about the unity, how we played and the attitude of the players because the most important game for us is on the 7th of September against Malawi,” he added.

“This is a great reunion factor for us, just to build our confidence to go on and get ready for that game.”

BAFANA Bafana coach Gordon Igesund believes Nigeria deserved their 2-0 win over his side as they were more clinical in front of goal.

Substitute Uche Nwafor netted a second half brace to help the Super Eagles lift the Nelson Mandela Challenge trophy at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday.

“I’d like to congratulate Nigeria; they beat us convincingly and I think they deserved their victory,” said Igesund.

“Throughout the game, especially in the last third, they were much better than us; they used the ball better and they were more patient.

“I think we created a couple of chances, especially in the first half, but we just couldn’t get on the end of them.

“In the second half they scored the goal that made us chase the game and after that the second goal game.

“We kept trying to get back into the game but I think the difference between the two teams was our play in the last third.”

Nonetheless, Igesund believes his side can take some lessons from this encounter ahead of the crucial qualifier against Botswana in September.

“It was a good exercise for us because we need to play teams like Nigeria,’ he added.

“They are a very strong team with very good players who play at a high level and it was a good test for us.

“We can only improve; you can see they’ve been playing against good opposition and we need to continue doing this in order to grow.”

Igesund Says Nigeria Deserved Victory

THE NIGERIAN

31

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Final Hillsborough PreInquest Set For Oct 7 A THIRD and final preliminary hearing ahead of fresh inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster will be held in London on October 7.

The pre-inquest hearing, chaired by coroner Lord Justice John Goldring, is expected to clarify exactly where the inquests will be held.

Lord Justice Goldring announced at a first hearing in April that the inquests would be held in the North West of England, closer to Liverpool, rather than in London - although an exact venue was not specified.

At a second pre-inquest hearing, in June, he confirmed that the new inquests would begin on March 31, 2014.

Families had hoped to learn over the summer where in the North West the inquests would be held. But they now believe they will have to wait until the October hearing, at which Lord Justice Goldring will also set out a timetable for the inquests.

Margaret Aspinall - chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, which campaigns of behalf of the disaster victims and their families - told the Liverpool Echo: “We think we will probably have to wait until then.

“It is quite frustrating as we had hoped it would be sorted out by now, but as long as it goes ahead we will be satisfied.

“We expect this will be the last one before the full inquests themselves get under way.

“There will be a lot of

significant new information to take in and directions made by the coroner.”

Ninety-six supporters were crushed to death at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday, on April 15, 1989.

The original inquests, conducted by Dr Stefan Popper, returned verdicts of accidental death in March 1991.

Campaigners have maintained that those verdicts, and the manner in which the inquests were conducted, prevented a proper investigation into the role of the police and emergency services on the day of the tragedy.

An independent report, published last September,

Gareth Bale Backed For Move Abroad

WALES manager Chris Coleman is sure that “superstar” Gareth Bale would have no problem adapting to plying his trade in La Liga, as a move to Real Madrid continues to be mooted.

Bale joined up with the Wales squad this week but was not involved in their 0-0 draw with Ireland due to an injury which has hampered his pre-season preparations.

The Tottenham forward has

• Gareth Bale

UGBOR COMMUNITY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT This is to notify the general public that: HRM Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin had on 25th July, 2011 resolved the boundary dispute between Ugbor and Amagba Communities whereby the relics of Ire Valley and Hill located was adjudged to be the natural boundary mark between Ugbor and Amagba Communities.

2 This ruling was re-enforced by a ratification from the Palace on 25th May 2013, published by the Benin Traditional Council in the Nigerian Observer Newspaper of Tuesday 11th June, 2013.

Consequent upon the said final ruling by the Palace, the Elders and people of Ugbor Community hereby give notice to all persons who are claimants to landed properties affected by the said ruling, which landed properties were wrongly imagined to be part of Amagba Community, but which historically forms part of Ugbor Community, to meet with the Ugbor Community Lawyers, Messrs Osagie Obayuwana & Co., (Unity Chambers), 13, 2nd Ofumwengbe Street, Off Owoseni Street, New Benin, Benin City, within one month from the date of this announcement, for necessary discussions.

Any affected property claimant who fails to heed this call does so at his or her own risk.

SIGNED: PA IGBNOVIA UHUNAMURE ODIONWERE OF UGBOR COMMUNITY

been strongly linked with a 100 million Euro move to Real this summer, but his current club are apparently determined to fend off the interest.

It is suggested in The Sun, though, that Real are “confident” of securing his services, and Coleman has backed the attacker to impress should he move abroad.

“I have no reservations about how he would handle it,” Coleman, who used to manage Real Sociedad, said in the Independent.

“When you move to another country you have to embrace the culture and you can’t expect everybody else to change for you.

“For Gareth as a player wherever he goes he will have to learn the language and the culture, but his ability will always be there.

“His mentality is fine. He is a superstar, he is, he is a super talent, but he is not caught up with that.

“The best players don’t stop and think how well they have just done, they are always striving.

How can I do better? How can I improve?

“That’s why the best stay there for so long, players like him and Ryan Giggs don’t care about how much money they have got, what fancy car he’s driving, or what big house he is living in or the stardom of it. It is all about being on the pitch and producing because they love football, genuinely.”

cleared fans of any blame for the disaster and highlighted the extent to which the police and emergency services had attempted to cover up their own culpability.

The original inquest verdicts were quashed in December, two months after the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the UK’s police watchdog, announced that it would carry out a two-year investigation into both the role played by officers on the day and the subsequent cover-up.

A second investigation, focusing on possible criminal behaviour by any people or

• Vitali Klitschko

Kutschko Eyes Ukrainian Presidency VITALI Klitschko plans to run for the Ukrainian presidency in 2015 according to the WBC. Kiltschko, now 42, is still the WBC heavyweight champion but has increasingly turned his attentions away from the boxing ring and into the political arena.

Last year he was elected to the Ukrainian parliament and is considered a key figure in the opposition party Udar (Punch) who are known for their proWestern policies.

Earlier this week he pulled out of his mandatory title defence against Bermane Stiverne because of injury and rumours are increasing he may be on the

brink of ending his boxing career.

“The champion has stressed he won’t be able to fight Stiverne on the date scheduled for his mandatory defence,” the WBC said.

“He wants to keep participating in politics and run for the presidency.”

The next Ukrainian presidential election is due in 2015.

Kiltschko has not fought since stopping Manuel Charr in September of last year.

Soon after that fight he was forced to clarify comments in which he appeared to announce

his retirement from boxing.

Klitschko had said: “The Ukrainian flag will keep flying high and our national anthem will keep playing when Klitschko comes onto a ring.

But if you’re talking about me, I’m not going to box.

“I’ve got a brother who looks like me but he’s younger and more talented than me. So I mean that will be Vladimir” After the reporting of those quotes he said: “There is no talk about the end of my career. I’m sorry if I didn’t put enough emphasis on this at the news conference.”

tennis world by announcing her retirement from the sport at the age of 28.

After a second round loss to Romanian Simona Halep at the Western and Southern Open, the Frenchwoman, ranked seventh in the world, walked into the media room and told stunned reporters: “I just can’t do it anymore”.

Her surprise announcement comes just six weeks after she beat Germany’s Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon final to claim her one and only Grand Slam title.

“Well, it’s never easy and

obviously there is never a time to say it or whatever, but that was actually the last match of my career,” said Bartoli, wiping the tears from her eyes. “It’s time for me to retire and to call it a career.

“I feel it’s time for me to walk away.”

Bartoli had given no hint that she was considering retirement and in fact seemed focused on preparing for the North American hardcourt season and the upcoming US Open.

She played last week in Toronto and was seeing her first

But a 3-6 6-4 6-1 loss to Halep looks to have been the last straw.

“It’s been a tough decision to take,” said Bartoli, an eight-time winner on the WTA tour.

“I’ve been a tennis player for a long time and I had the chance to make my biggest dream a reality.

“You know, everyone will remember my Wimbledon title.

No one will remember the last match I played here. I made my dream a reality and it will stay forever with me, but now my body just can’t cope with everything.”

Marion Bartoli Announces Shock WIMBLEDON champion action in Cincinnati having Marion Bartoli has shocked the Retirement received a first round bye.

. . . AVB Says Bale ’ll Miss Season Opener

GARETH Bale will not be involved in Tottenham’s start to the Premier League season, manager Andre Villas-Boas has announced.

The Welshman’s future has been the subject of much speculation throughout the summer, with Bale closely linked with a world record move to Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old sat out Wales’ goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday night with a foot injury and manager Chris

Coleman admitted questions over Bale’s future had dominated the build-up to the game.

Spurs open their new campaign at newly promoted Crystal Palace on Sunday before they take on Dinamo Tbilisi in the Europa League the following Thursday.

When asked if Bale would feature at Selhurst Park on Sunday, Villas-Boas told Sky Sports News: “No, because he’s been out injured for most of preseason.

• Marion Batoli

THE NIGERIAN

CMYK

32

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Local Govt Autonomy

FEED How Relevant? BACK

IT is not surprising to find some persons opposing the now touted Local Government autonomy.

Even at the time Colonial Masters were being pressured to grant independence to Nigeria, there were some interests who opposed the demand.

They opposed not because freedom was a taboo to them. They opposed because of ‘fear of the unknown’.

After all, as it is with the saying that when it is not broken, it should not be fixed, those who opposed the granting of independence to Nigeria must have seen it as a very unnecessary endeavour to attempt doing things for oneself when there are other persons to take up the task.

Just as a friend recently told me that while being a child, he wished so much to be a grown man experiencing all the full pleasures of adulthood.

Especially, he secretly thought about being an adult who would enjoy the marital candid of a wife constantly by his side to do all things with as he feels pleasing. However, my friend did not understand that growing up to become a married man is not only about having adorable children.

It also means taking up the responsibility of having to pay their school fees at great personal discomfort.

As it stands today, my friend is so agitated when he considers that he might have to live with this discomfort for the rest of his life.

It is from such regrets that some persons as well as my friend would have wished to remain permanently in infancy to avoid the everyday problems that emanate from taking up such natural responsibilities of having to attend to human challenges.

A lot agree that the local government still remains the best platform to

commence physical and human development because it the closest to the people. But they also fear corruption is so entrenched in the local authority that development would never rise up to the people’s desires. It is for this reason those against local government autonomy want the States to continually be positioned as the ‘big brother ’ in ensuring all is well at the various local government areas.

This to me, is not a bad arrangement if most of the states’ governments were not known to be eating more than half of the entire food meant for the local government all in the guise of tasting for the ideal quantity of salt, pepper, oil, sweetness they feel ‘medically’ appropriate for the local governments.

Insofar as the above line of thought begs for consideration, we should however never forget that the only way to get things right is by engaging in it.

The local government authority is never going to get better if it keeps abdicating its responsibility for the states which have shown far less competencies in handling some of their critical challenges. Further on this is for us to understand that there is no portion of our constitution which provides for seemingly more intelligent persons for states’ administration than the local government. And I believe there is also no such differentiation in God’s creation of human beings.

Yes! The states crave for total autonomy for themselves in all manners of control by the federal government. While the Federal government would dare not create a Federal Ministry of States to oversee proper administrating of the states; the States establish their individual Ministries with the name; Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to

control the matters of the local government councils.

Local government autonomy is not squarely about forgoing control over the recklessness of a seeming incorrigible bad administration. It is about creating a healthy rivalry where each local

needs of different areas.

Even when the state governments claim to be everywhere with the councilors and chairmen documenting all the promises made to the people during electioneering, it would still not amount to much when the realisations of such

By KINGSLEY OGBEIDE-IHAMA their strength and weaknesses. The local government councils are never going to get better in administration if the states’ government would not let

• Senator David Mark, Senate President

government area would be allowed to strive for excellence separate from a model which the states impose to create a uniform pattern of development regardless of the divergent

promises are centrally controlled.

This is where the actual realisation of true federalism ought to commence by allowing each area develop through

them be. Through fits and starts the local governments would learn, improve and become appreciated.

Perhaps the most plausible argument for

local government autonomy is its ability to free the local government from the grid lock of the states governors. As it stands today, there are a lot of local government council chairmen who are not well known in their local government areas, but by having a good relationship with the states’ governors, they have been imposed as rulers.

With local government autonomy, a person does not have to wield a statewide influence to vie for any elective position outside being the governor of the state. Local government autonomy would take political and financial power back to the people. A prospective member of the states’ or national Assembly could concentrate on his constituents using any preferred political party irrespective of the governor’s support to win an election.

Even as the National Union of Teachers (NUT) are expressing fears about the irregularity of their salaries if solely controlled and dispensed by the local governments’ authority, the Union cannot also boast of having a very healthy relationship with the states’ governments in other matters bordering on their welfare. A holistic approach is not about their relationships with states or local governments; it is about what and how the right things ought to be done.

“Local government autonomy is not squarely about forgoing control over the recklessness of a seeming incorrigible bad administration. It is about creating a healthy rivalry where each local government area would be allowed to strive for excellence separate from a model which the states impose to create a uniform pattern of development regardless of the divergent needs of different areas.”

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: 3/4 Amode Close, Kudirat Abiola Way, By Olushonsun Bus Stop, Oregun, Ikeja, 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)