The Nigerian
PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l. 39 • NO. 078 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 20 14 • N100.00 NUTRITIONAL HEALTH AND DIETETICS Page 14
Prostate and what to do
PERSPECTIVE
Pages 16-17
Is corruption virus not deadlier than Ebola?
Nigerians told to be Ozone friendly
BENIN CITY – Nigerians have been called upon to consolidate on the gains of the montreal protocol by being ozone friendly. The call is coming on the heels of the 2014 International Ozone Day with the theme. Ozone
protection: The mission goes on. In a statement yesterday jointly signed by the Executive Director of Save the Ozone, Nigeria, Mr. Ozaveshe
Ade Balogun and the Bayelsa State Coordinator of the Nigeria Association of Refrigeration and Airconditioning Practitioners, Mr. Joseph
Boloukereya” noted that the success recorded by the montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer has helped to redress the negative impact of climate change. The statement pointed Continues on page 2
2,000 PDP members decamps to APC
BENIN CITY - The rank of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State depleted, last weekend, as the party lost over two thousand members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igueben Local Government Area of the state. The future of our state Governor Adams would be replaced from Oshiomhole who the politics of wuru wuru received the defectors to a politics of educating led by Eronmosele our people. That is why Aisabor said the we are building schools. Government has We need teachers who upgraded the College of are properly trained to Education, Igueben to a teach our children. campus of the University “We decided to of Education, Ekiadolor. upgrade the Colleges of According to him, “I Education to degree have come to assure you awarding institutions to in the next two years and give people the chance of half of my stewardship, taking teaching jobs by there is more good news upgrading Ekiadolor to for the people of Igueben. University of Education.
By that decision, the Igueben College has become a campus of the University of Education. “I have not spent eight years only six and by the
time I have spent eight years I would do more. So don’t listen to them when they tell you to decamp to a torn umbrella that has failed to produce any meaningful
development in years. Did the umbrella build schools, roads and water? So ask before you act,” he said. “I call on you to listen so that we can rescue
Nigeria. I won’t listen to anybody who wants me to do the politics of the individual rather than politics of development. I would not listen to these people because Nigeria is failing as leaders are putting themselves before their people. “You must understand the basis for political Continues on page 2
Gov Oshiomhole restates commitment to healthcare transformation’s agenda.
By FRIDAY OBANOR
BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that his administration is irrevocably committed to providing adequate qualitative and affordable Health Care Services to the people of the state. Speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 36th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference organised in Benin City by Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria (GMSON), he noted that the well-being of people of the state remains a priority in his
Represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr (Mrs) Aihanuwa Eregie, the Governor stated that the theme of Scientific Conference, “Managing Diabetes Mellitus in a resource Poor Setting” could not have been put together at a better time than now. He urged participants to utilise the opportunity offered by the conference to acquire up-to-date information for a better healthy living. In her address, President of EMSON, Professor Feyi Adeyoke said the management of
TIT BIT “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it always.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Diabetes Mellitus in a resource challenged setting is worthy because the complications of Diabetes Mellitus has continued to be an issue in low and middle income areas, where hospital resources continue to dwindle. Prof. Adeyoke Continues on page 2
RALLY: Governor Adams Oshiomhole (left) addressing APC Supporters and PDP Decampees at a rally to receive defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party into the All Progressive Congress at Igueben, Igueben Local Government Area, at the weekend. With him is Mr. Sam Oboh, Chairman, Esan North East Local Government Area of the State.
NASS resumes today, to consider $1 billion security loan
By JOSES SEDE
ABUJA - As the National Assembly resumes from its eight weeks vacation today, the legislators will consider $1billion external loan request forwarded to them by President Goodluck Jonathan in July, shortly before they proceeded on break. The president had in a letter dated July 15, 2014, explained that the external loan was urgently needed to upgrade equipment,
training and logistics of the Armed Forces and security services to enable them to more forcefully confront the Boko Haram insurgents.
However, in a chat with journalists yesterday, Chairman of Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Sen. Ita Enang added that the long
awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), would also be given attention with a view to passing it. “There was a letter
from Mr. President for fund, to fund the Police Reform Programme, that is still pending before us. We will also put that forward for consideration by the Senate, as we resume. Continues on page 2
Rainstorm Disaster: Community calls for support
By MORRISON HAYBLE
I R A O K H O R (ETSAKO CENTRAL) – The Oghieavianwu of Avianwu Clan, in Etsako Central Local
Government Area of Edo State His Royal Highness, Alhaji Jackson Dauda Etokhana entreated the state
government to provide urgent support to the Victims of recent rain storm disaster in Fugar
community in the local government area who are presently traumatized, having been rendered Continues on page 2
News
Community calls for support
Continued from page 1
homeless. The Oghieavianwu made the appeal when he received the Majority Leader, Edo state House of Assembly, Hon Philip Shaibu who paid him a courtesy visit in his palace. The Royal Father, while urging the Majority Leader to as a matter of urgency liaise with appropriate authorities to enable the victims get succour, described the disaster occasioned by the rainstorm as one of the worst in the area in the past decades. He, however thanked the Majority Leader for his
personal assistance to the victims so far with the donation of food and other items. HRH Etokhana used the medium to appreciate him for using his position to demonstrate exemplary character that politics was not just for self contentment, but a means for societal development, which, according to him, had been reflected in Shaibu’s effort to emulate the strides of the Comrade Governor. The Majority Leader, told the Traditional Ruler that the visit was to formally identify with him on his recent
described the Annual Conference as a celebration of the vibrancy of the work of clinicians and scientists. She used the occasion to laud the founding fathers of the society for their positive contributions as well as private hospitals laboratories and
pharmaceutical companies for their support. In a keynote address, a Physician and Administrator, Dr. Sunny Folorunso Kuku who spoke on the topic, “Endocronology in Nigeria; Past, Present and the Future,” commended the gallantry display by the Late Dr. Ameyo
ascension to the throne as he was unavoidably absent at the occasion. He prayed God that the reign would witness a new era of progress and favour for the people of the clan. Hon Shaibu remarked that the ancestral affinity of the Etsako people would continue to bind the people together as kith and kin, irrespective of geographical boundaries and therefore called on them to see themselves as one. The Ogieavianwu also received the Eze Ndigbo of Afemai land, Igwe Joseph Okeke and his entourage who paid a solidarity visit to the
Gov Oshiomhole restates commitment to healthcare Adadevoh who died in the line Continued from page 1
of duty, in an attempt to help curtail the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Nigeria. Dr. Kuku who was presented by a Professor of Endocronology, Prof. A.E. Ohwovoriole praised the determination of EMSON in safeguarding the health indices of Nigeria.
palace. Etokhana assured that the Ibos living in his dormain would continue to enjoy peace, harmony and good will as the indigenes and sued for sustained cordial relationship. He nonetheless appreciated the visitors for deeming it necessary to pay him the visit in spite of ethnic differences and lauded the Eze Ndigbo for his service to his people. The Eze Ndigbo of Afemai, told his host that the visit was meant to further strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the palace and his people and pledged for its sustenance. “We are happy with your ascension to the throne and pray for long reign and blessing to the kingdom for God to extend his infinite wisdom to lead your people to the promised land,” the Eze Ndigbo remarked. The Ogieavianwu of Avianwum, HRH Alhaji Jackson Etokhana was formally presented with the staff of office by the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday, August 23, 2014.
NASS resumes today, to consider $1 billion You are also aware that security loan during the vacation, the Senate We are conscious of the fact President had to intervene in the Continued from page 1
that elections will hold soon and the time table and prioritization of matters will take account of that, particularly the Electoral Act which we have passed. Other bills such as Constitution Amendment and private bills relating to electoral processes and finances, we will also take account of them and consider in priority. As we resume, this is September, we are likely, under Fiscal Responsibility Act, to receive from Mr. President the Revenue Framework. This will state how much is likely to be spent next year, how much is going to be from oil, non-oil and what is going to be exchange rate as well as, oil benchmark and the borrowing plan. It is when we consider that, that the template and the new framework for the budget would be ready. All these would have to be considered between September and November to enable Mr. President prepare and lay the budget before the National Assembly. We are taking account of all these in preparing for resumption of the Senate”, he continued. He noted that the PIB has passed Second Reading and has committed it to the relevant committees, adding, “What is ready is that the report is ready and that is what will be considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole”. On the report of the Confab, he said: “when it comes from Mr. President, we will address it in the normal legislative process but we cannot speak on the matter which is yet to be seen because we do not know the form, the time and the character it will come. So, we will only speak on it when we have received it. As at today, I am not aware that we have received it”. On the North East and insecurity: “what the National Assembly will do in respect of that is a question of national security and there is a way that the Senate and National Assembly tackles it, with all seriousness, we dispatch with decorum, with secrecy and in
the national interest. So, we will not say how we will tackle it”. On why the Senate did not reconvene to consider application for $1 billion additional budget for security: “I was not aware of the request to reconvene; and for the Senate
to reconvene, a presentation would have to be made to the Senate President, stating reasons and you aware that even during the recess, it was like a working recess, all of us were working on our different beats.
doctors strike and it was the intervention that caused the doctors to suspend strike. He also intervened in other matters that I cannot say here. So, there was no presentation requesting the urgency for the reconvention of the Senate”.
Expert identify causes of hospital induced resource allocation, Mr. Uwaifoh death however noted that the set By FRIDAY OBANOR
BENIN CITY – A medical expert and former Permanent Secretary, Edo State Health Management Board, Dr. I.U. Omoike has identified poor system design and below minimum standards as some of the factors for hospital induced death. Delivering a key note address at the opening ceremony of a two-day step-down training workshop on advocacy for Primary Health Care Reform for Coalition Group and HERFON members in Benin City yesterday, Dr. Omoike called on the state government to as a matter of urgency set up the State Primary Health Care Board that would be in line with the National Health Bill. Dr. Omoike who is also the Chairman Coalition Group for Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON), charged relevant authorities in the country to profer solution for the dwindling Health Sector in Nigeria, adding that provision of Health Care by all tiers of government must not be allow to continue the way it is presently. According to him, “States should set up Primary Health Care (PHC) Board in line with National Health Bill, while there should be enabling legislation that could give effect to the PHC
Agency”. On his part, the State Chairman of HERFON, Mr. James Uwaifoh said the goal of the two days step-down training is to strengthen the advocacy capacity of the Coalition group and HERFON that will result in strengthening of PHC system as well as contrinute to improve maternal and child services. Describing the concept and practice of advocacy as a strategy for influencing policy, position, programme and
advocacy goal and objectives for the workshop is to address PHC reforms in Edo State. He added that the forum is also to identify primary and secondary target audience and identify their concern and interest in advocacy issue. Other objectives of the workshop, according to Mr. Uwaifoh is to identify support and opposition around advocacy issue through PHC reform.
2,000 PDP members decamps to APC Continued from page 1 contestations. The times are gone when people would vote without asking questions. The times are gone when the welfare of the few is seen as the basis for the decision of the majority. This is why I ask an open question: in the ten years of PDP, what can any of you count. That was why after leaving as the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), I came to Edo state to join the other Edo politicians who were also angry for the failure of PDP thereby finding alternative platform which became ACN and today it is APC,” he said. Oshiomhole declared, “Today we have not fixed all the problems in Edo state but I want to be corrected that when I came here for campaign in 2007, to go from
Igueben to Ewohimi was impossible. Every road in Igueben was bad. It was already failing. Today how is that road? Who did it? Nobody can put cotton wool in our eyes. What is good the eyes see and what is bad the eyes also see. “Now in Igueben local government you now have many roads, classrooms and red roofs with Aluminum window and beautify tiles. We need bore holes in Igueben so that many people can get water. We are doing schools which you all know. Leader of the decampees, Mr Aisabor said he decided to pitch his tent with the APC because of the vast infrastructural development undertaken by the Oshiomhole government in Igueben Local Government Area and in other parts of the state.
Nigerians told to be Ozone friendly
Continued from page 1
out that this year’s programme is expected to hold in Yenagoa in the fourth quarter of this year, tagged Bayelsa 2014 and is being organised by the UNEP Award Winning NGO,
Save the Ozone, Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Practitioners, Bayelsa State, Ministry of Environment and other major stakeholders in
the Niger-Delta. It further explained that the programme will feature lectures, school debates and quizs, exhibition of Ozone/ Environment Friendly Products and Technologies as well as awards.
BOI calls for commercial courts
Loan Defaulters: ABUJA - The Bank of Industry (BOI) has advocated for the establishment of commercial courts that would speedily deal with default in loan repayment. This is contained in a statement by the bank’s Head, Corporate Communications, Mrs Hadiza Olaosebikan, on Tuesday in Abuja. It quoted the Managing Director of BOI, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, as saying that the court was necessary to check the trend. Olaoluwa expressed regret that most banks in the country had gone under because of non-repayment of loans by their customers. He added that there was need for efficient commercial courts to tame the menace. “We need access to funds to finance our businesses but we also need to understand what the financial system is going through. “When a bank collapses, nine out of 10 reasons why it collapsed is because they have not been able to recover their loans. “I know there are bank cases that have been in court in the last five or seven years with banks trying to recover loans that have proven very difficult because such cases are locked up in our normal courts.
“One way to address it is to have commercial courts that can fast-track the process for foreclosure of defaulting bank loans,” he said. The MD also hinted that plans were underway to appoint business development support plans for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to minimise the incidence. He said the business development support programme would help to give the necessary direction to any entrepreneur with a viable business plan. Olaoluwa said the bank was setting up a loans monitoring unit which would address the issue of non-repayment of loans. According to him, BOI is in the process of appointing business development support plans that will hold the SME right from the point of applying for a loan through repayment. He said the plan would ensure proper documentation, provision of securities, disbursement and utilisation all the way until the full recovery is achieved. “This business development support plans are at the point of being appointed and we believe that it will improve the performance of the SMEs,” he said.
ADO-EKITI - Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State yesterday directed all commissioners and other political appointees to start preparing their handing-over notes. Fayemi gave the order at the inaugural meeting of the 19-member transition committee, which he named on Sunday. Reports state that Fayemi had on Sunday released the names of the committee, comprising members from the government and the governor-elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Ganiyu Owolabi, stood inaugurated the committee on behalf of the governor. He explained that the transition committee was constituted to ensure a smooth transition between the outgoing and incoming administrations. Besides, he said the committee would facilitate information about what was needed to be known concerning facts and figures in respect to the activities of the outgoing government. This, he said, would put a stop to falsehood or misrepresentation of facts. Owolabi, who doubles as Chairman of the
committee, declared that actions and decisions would continue to be taken by the outgoing government till its last day in office. “There cannot be a vacuum in governance and it must be known that the present government has a mandate of four years during which it is expected to provide leadership without fail,” he said. According to the SSG, there are 193 ministries, parastatals and agencies in the state currently, saying members from the Fayose side would be free to ask questions or seek clarification in areas not clear to them. Responding, the head of Fayose’s nominees, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, who was also named as Cochairman of the committee, commended the outgoing governor for setting up the mixed transition committee. Anisulowo, who was represented by another member of the committee, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, said the committee would serve the dual purpose of making facts known without coloration. He, however, advised the outgoing government not to create problems for the in-coming one.
Prepare your hand-over notes, Fayemi order aides
Bakers Task Members On Stict Hygiene
Edo Legal Year Opening Ceremony Begins Tomorrow
Ebola:
LAGOS - Mr. Jacob Adejorin, Chairman, Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) Lagos Chapter, has advised bakers to maintain utmost personal hygiene to curtail the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Adejorin told newsmen in Lagos that this would be in line with the directives of medical practitioners on the EVD. He said that personal and environmental hygiene were important to efforts to stem the spread of the deadly disease. “It is high time we bakers doubled our efforts in ensuring that we operate in a clean and healthy environment to prevent the spread of the Ebola disease. “It is so pertinent that we make the advice public in order to support government’s efforts to make people aware of what to do. “All overalls, aprons, handgloves, and other necessary personal protective gadgets must be provided for use of the bakery personnel and in adequate quantity and properly maintained. “Armpits should also be covered and all nails be cut short always. “Of utmost importance is the washing of hands with soap and water, which is even preferable to the use of
sanitisers, especially after using the toilet,” he said. Adejorin also said that any bakery staff with any skin eruptions, cuts, diarrhoea or fever should be disallowed from working until he or she had taken proper treatment. He urged bakery owners to adhere strictly to the rule or be made to face sanctions by the association. He said that asides the Ebola outbreak, personal and environmental hygienne needed to be maintained to guard against other outbreak of diseases. Adejorin said that about 90 per cent of Lagos residents eat bread daily.
BENIN CITY-The ceremony marking the opening of the 2014/2015 legal year in Edo state begins tomorrow September 17,2014 and is expected to end on Sunday September 19, 2014. A statement by the Chief Registrar, Edo State High Court of Justice, Hillary Enemaku (Esq) indicated that the cermomy will begin at 6am with a fitness walk from For mer Governor of Taraba, Rev.Jolly Nyame in a handshake with Governor Danbaba the High Court premises, Sontai during the arrival of Governor Sontai from London in Abuja. Right is Minister of through the Central Hospital State for Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Darius Ishaku. Sapele Road, Oba Ovonramen Square, Airport Road, Ezoti street and back to the court premises. At noon, there will be a cancer. She said Hepatitis B was a presentation of the Chief Judges award to deserving highly contagious disease. members of staff of the symptoms and they do not know “Hepatitis B as a highly to 40 per cent of the population they have it.” infectious disease can be spread judiciary at the High Court 1, infected with the virus. She said that if more people through the exchange of body Benin City. “However, the awareness On Thursday September level is low among Nigerians; were aware of the virus, they fluids like semen, vaginal fluids 18, at 10am, there will be and blood. out of every 10 person, only two could go for screening. According to her, early “Sexually active people, swearing in ceremony of are likely to know of Hepatitis detection helps to prevent those people who share needles and recently employed B. “We need to increase the level infected from developing babies born to mothers who Magistrates at the High Court of awareness and we call on the serious liver problems have HBV have increased risk 1 (New court Hall), while of being infected with the interactive session between media to join us in our efforts associated with the disease. “Early detection is the answer virus,” the expert said. the bar and the Bench will to increase sensitisation. She said that the disease was hold thereafter from 10.30am “Increased awareness will to reducing the burden of this preventable by vaccination. “We -2pm, also at the same venue. ensure that more people are able disease.” Asaolu said that Hepatitis B encourage everyone to know to go for screening and know The ceremony will climax was a very serious disease that their status concerning Hepatitis on Sunday September 19, their status. “We say Hepatitis B is a silent could cause liver problems B. 2014 at 11am with a special “It is preventable through service to mark the formal epidemic because many people including liver damage, who are infected do not have cirrhosis, liver failure and liver vaccination for those tht have opening of the legal year at the not been infected with the virus. “For those infected, it can be High Court Premises, Benin managed to prevent it from City and special court session progressing into serious liver at the High Court 1, Benin City beginning at noon. problems”, she said.
Expert Calls For Enlightenment On Hepatitis B
LAGOS A gastroenterologist, Dr Olutoyin Asaolu, has called for enlightenment and collaboration among stakeholders in order to reduce the burden of Hepatitis B in the country. Asaolu, of works the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, told newsmen in Lagos that Hepatitis B was a major public health disease in the country. An Online Medical Dictionary says “Hepatitis B is a liver infection. The virus causes inflammation of the liver.” Asaolu said, “Hepatitis B is a major disease with about 20
Parents Bemoans Increase In School Fees
By VICTOR IMADE/ PIUS ABAH/ FAITH ISIKUEMEN
Opening of 2014 Catholic Bishops conference in Warri over the weekend.
3 Govs To Address Young Nigerian Professionals In New York
ABUJA - The governors of Akwa Ibom, Delta and Kaduna states have been picked to address young Nigerian professionals in the U.S. on the way forward for the country. Godswill Akpabio, Emmanuel Uduaghan and Mukhtar Yero are to address the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF)
at the summit slated for September. 27 in New York, U.S. A statement from Dr Nuhu Atta, the National Secretary of NYPF, in Abuja said Prof. Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, would also be a guest speaker It said the theme of the
summit was “Harnessing the Potentials of Young Nigerian Professionals toward Accelerated Development in Nigeria.’’ The statement explained that the summit aimed to bring together selected young Nigerian professionals residing in the U.S. to
brainstorm on the way forward for their motherland. It quoted the Chairman of NYPF, Mr Moses Siasia, as saying that the summit would be a strategic platform for young people to objectively network, using their experience and knowledge for growth and development.
BENIN CITY-The parents of the Federal Government Girls College Benin City have raised highbrow over the rampant increment of school fees, PTA levy, Uniform, and book charges. When The NIGERIAN OBSERVER visited the school, parents were seen complaining over the notice of increment displayed on the notice board. The information on the notice board stated that new intakes (JSS1) are expected to pay N25,000 as PTA levy; N17,500 for uniform, while book charges amounted N35, 000. Parents who expressed displeasure over this development said that it did not go down well with them, especially as most states now offer free education. They also alleged that state employed by the PTA were not being paid their monthly stipends as at when due. As at September 12, the salary for the month of August was yet to be paid. All efforts to reach the principal of the school for
comments proved abortive as she declined comment, stating that she was not in the right position to brief our reporters on the development. Contacted, the PTA chairman of the school, Dr. Osarentin Aigboro stressed that the association was intensifying effort to address the situation, while urging parents to always attend PTA meetings where such grievances could be addressed be addressed. Aigbore described the Federal Government resolve to extend the resumption date of primary and secondary school as a welcome development. According to him “The President of National Association of Parent and Teachers of Federal Government College (NABTAFED) Dr. Paul Erie said there is need to shift the resumption date because of the Ebola issue. That needs to be sufficiently addressed. “Even if you keep postponing, the question is, what is government doing? what are they putting on ground so that whenever the students resume, they would be able to prevent the infection or the spread.
News Edo Lawmaker Charges Electorates On Permanent Voter’s Card BENIN CITY – The member representing Orhionmwon East Constituency at the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Patrick Aisowieren has urged the people of Aibiokunla Ward II to take the up-coming issuance of permanent voter’s cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seriously. He made the remark at Oza-Aibiokanla during the inauguration of ward executive and sensitisation of the people on the importance of the permanent voter’s card. Hon. Aisowieren encouraged the people of Aibiokunla Ward II to protect their temporary voters card from mutilation or loss until INEC commences the issuance of the permanent voters card in Edo State. The lawmaker said the permanent voters cards will not only enable them to vote during elections but it would also be useful for other crucial purposes in the public life. Hon. Aisowieren advised the people of OzaAibiokunla, Iru and other communities in the ward not to sell their voters card and urged youths in the
area who have attained 18 years to avail themselves of the opportunity to register in the forthcoming INEC registration exercise. He stressed that Aibiokunla Ward II remains the stronghold of All Progressives Congress (APC). While enumerating projects he has executed in the locality so far, he also promised to supply more furniture to schools in his constituency. The APC Chairman in the Local Government Area, Chief Matthew Ehigie also inaugurated the ward executive headed by Hon. Joshua Amadin whom he charged to live up to the party’s expectations.
L-R: Representative of the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Mr. Oladipo Saku, Representative of the Rlector, Kaduna Polytechnic, Dr. Muhammed Aliyu and Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Bala Muhammed at a capacity building workshop lfor Laboratior Technologist in Tetfund Benefiting Institutiosn in Kaduna recently.
Kwara Intending Pilgrims To Be Screened For Ebola -Board Secretary
ILORIN - The Kwara Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board has said that 1957 intending pilgrims and 10 officials from the state for the 2014 hajj would be screened for the Ebola virus.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Hajia Fatima Abolore Jimoh told newsmen at Ilorin that the pilgrims and officials would be screened before they depart for the holy
had made two trips each from Kebbi and Zamfara, while the transportation of Niger pilgrims would commence this Monday. ‘’We have completed the transportation of pilgrims allocated to us from Jigawa and Kano states,’’ he said. Dahiru, who restated the commitment of the Airline to completing the exercise before the deadline, however, urged states pilgrims welfare boards to give the company all necessary cooperation to ensure a hitch-free operation. He warned pilgrims against carrying kolanut to the Holy land because according to
him, the Saudi authorities had banned the importation of the commodity. He said the Airline had taken all the necessary measures to ensure that no pilgrim carried the item in view of the penalty against violators. “The Saudi Authorities have introduced fines for any Airline which transports pilgrims with kolanut to the Holy land,’’ the Public Relations manager said. Reports state that the Airline is expected to transport 40, 486 pilgrims from 15 states to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.
Max Air Airlifts 15,000 Pilgrims
KANO - Max Air Ltd. said yesterday that it had transported over 15, 000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2014 Hajj, since the commencement of the exercise on September 6. The Airline’s Public Relations Manager, Alhaji Ibrahim Dahiru, told newsmen in Kano that the pilgrims were transported from seven states in 30 flights. According to him, the airline made six flights each from Katsina and Lagos, while Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto got five and four flights, respectively. He also said that the Airline
Renovated ward for the Ebola Virus screening centre at the Kuje General Hospital in Abuja.
land. She said the screening for Ebola became imperative in view of the panic caused by the outbreak of the disease in some parts of the country and the international attention it created. The Executive Secretary, who did not give a specific date for the screening, said any intending Pilgrim or official who tested positive would not make the trip. Jimoh said that the pilgrims and officials would be screened twice at the Hajj transit camp in llorin and at the Ilorin International Airport before their departure. She said the Board had consulted the state Primary Heathcare Development Agency and other medical
experts who would help in the screening. Jimoh urged the medical officers for the screening not to play politics with the exercise in order to avoid tarnishing the image of the state and the country at the holyland. “Anybody, no matter how highly placed, that test positive to Ebola, would not make the journey”, she said. It will be recalled that about three weeks ago, fear gripped several residents of Kwara over suspected outbreak of the Ebola virus disease. When newsmen visited the office of the board in llorin, screening forms were being distributed to some intending pilgrims.
Live In Healthy Environment, Lawmaker’s Wife Urges People OGBOMOSO (OYO STATE) - Mrs Oluwatoyin Odebunmi, wife of Dokun Odebunmi, representing OgoOluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency in Oyo State, has urged people of the area to always live in healthy environment to ward off the Ebola Virus Disease. She made the call on Sunday at a seminar she held at both Iresaadu and Ajaawa towns to educate women in the constituency on the deadly disease. The wife of the lawmaker implored them to be proactive at protecting themselves from being infected with the deadly disease, urging them to always be sensitive to their health status. Odebunmi said it was necessary to sensitise the people on the dangers of the
disease even though no case had been reported in the state. She appealed to the people to desist from the consumption of bush meat and to always wash their hands with soap and water. She also urged them to report any strange feeling in their body system to health workers in the communities, and not to indulge in self medication. She appreciated the women for their support and donated N500,000 to the women forum and gave out several materials like soaps and sanitisers to members of the forum. Reports state that the seminar was attended by health workers, market women and women leaders from across the constituency.
South South 1000 Women Trained In Stove saw dust you can fabricate a UGHELLI (DELTA) - No stove. Production cooking fewer than 1,000 women have “I will definitely teach other been trained in the production of environment-friendly cooking stoves in Delta State. The women were selected from Emonu, Ebor and Ugono in Ughelli North Local Government Area under the Delta Women Climate Change Adaptation Project, a partnership among the Delta State government, the UN Development Programme and a commercial bank. The two-day training featured the construction of the eco-stoves using clay, saw dust and water. Some of the women told newsmen that the eco-stoves had reduced their stress of going to the bush to look for firewood. They described the technology as the best things that had happened to them. Mrs Grace Osadjoku, a member of Emonu Orogun community, said the women had seen the difference
between using the stove and firewood, saying they could not go back to their old way. “You need to see this stove; I have two in my kitchen, one for cooking and the other for frying ‘gari.’ It does not emit smoke and our pots are always clean after cooking. “The interesting part of it is that you need only one piece of wood or two to cook with it and it will be very hot. “We really appreciate the state government and their partners for providing this simple technology to us,” she said. Similarly, Mrs Edafiesume Efe, a member of Ebor Orogun community, appreciated the stove, saying it will alleviate her suffering to look for firewood, especially during the rainy season. “You need to see the way we suffer to look for firewood during the rainy season; at times under the rain we will be in the bush but now the story has changed. “I am really excited about the development that with clay and
women from our neigbouring communities how to make it,’’ she said. For Ngozi Amechi, a member of Ugono Orogun community, the stove will help to improve the health of the women. “Some of our women have sight problem because of the effect of firewood, so with the stove, we can enjoy improved health,’’ she said. The facilitator of the training, Mr Monday Itoghor, said eco-stove was a simple technology locally fabricated with clay, saw dust and water. Itoghbor said the burner of the stove was made from red clay while white clay was used as the cooler, making it to be environmental-friendly. He said the 1,000 women were expected to train other women to fabricate the stove. The facilitator also said that some of the benefits of the ecostove included the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the communities.
Delta Closes 800 Illegal Schools
ASABA - The Delta State Government said it will close 800 illegal primary and secondary schools operating in the state. The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Asaba. Muoboghare said that the closure became necessary to improve the standard of education because the affected schools did not meet the conditions for effective teaching and learning. He said that for any school to be allowed to operate in the state, the environment must be conducive for teaching and learning while the teachers must have requisite qualifications. The commissioner explained that the state government would soon publish the names of recognised schools where parents/guardians were expected to enrol their children/ wards. Muoboh are alleged that some of the illegal private secondary schools were engaged in public examination racketeering, and added that the state government was poised to stop the practice. He said the ministry was collaborating with the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) in that regard. The commissioner said that any school not recognised by government would not write WAEC examination in the state. He decried the attitude of some parents who patronised the illegal schools, and urged them to desist. Muoboh are further advocated strong partnership between government and the private sector to improve the qualitative of education in the country. He said that it was absolutely impossible for government to provide free and qualitative education to the citizenry because of the enormous resources required. “The cost of running schools is very high and not until there is partnership between
government and the private sector, the country’s quality of education will hardly improve,” he said. He suggested that establishment and running of schools should be left in the hands of passionate and committed individuals, religious bodies and other concerns for a better performance. The commissioner added that while running of schools should
be left entirely in the private hands, government should assist in the payment of school fees. He further canvassed for a complete boarding system in the country’s secondary schools as a way of instilling morals and discipline in the youths. Muobohhare, however, noted that the measure required huge resources and time to accomplish, but added that it was imperative. “If we want our children to have morals, we must return to boarding system,’’ he remarked.
Farmers Rue Impact Of Oil Spillage
YENAGOA - Farmers impacted by an ongoing oil leak from an oil field operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) have appealed to Bayelsa government to assist them to stop the pollution. The leakage, reported on August 15 from a ruptured pipeline, has been discharging a mixture of gas and crude under high pressure into the environment. Correspondent, who visited the oil field at Kalaba and Ayambele communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, reported that the leakage impacted on nearby farmlands and Taylor creek. Narrating her ordeal Mrs MaryGold Nwanlia expressed regrets that the oil leak, which was noticed and reported to officials of Agip on August 15, was left to escalate and caused avoidable damages to her farm. “Now this crude oil and gas spewing into the environment has affected my farm again as my farm is not far from the spill site. “We plant here every year and we use to go and buy the yam seedlings for planting from far distance. “But you can see with me that with this spill my efforts and labour has been in vain because I cannot harvest any healthy yam tuber from this farm again due to the spill. “Even if we harvest them and
take home they will get rotten soon after because of the negative impact of the crude oil. “We want government to come to our assistance. I don’t have any other job, farming and fishing had been what I depend on to make ends meet,” Nwanlia said. Also, Mr Timinipre Francis, told newsmen that several bags of cassava she soaked in Taylor creek had been contaminated, following the flow of the spilled crude into the nearby swamps. “You can see the cassava I peeled and soaked here inside this bag. “This is what I usually do during the rainy season and I take the fermented cassava home when we bring canoe here. “But, as it is now I cannot take these ones home; the crude oil has condemned them. “The current spill has spread to cover this area before we could come to farm. I soaked the cassava here since last week. “And, when we came to the farm we now met the ugly situation; crude oil has spread to this environment and affected the cassava,” Francis said. When contacted, officials of the oil firm declined comments on the development within its operations in Bayelsa. Mr Filipo Cotalini, Media Relations Office Manager at Eni, the Italian energy firm which operates in Nigeria as NAOC, also declined comment.
South West Yoruba Needs Empire Builders -Alaafin
OYO (Oyo State) -The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has urged politicians to emulate the sterling qualities of Oranyan, which made him a successful builder of many states and originator of progressive ideas. Adeyemi made the call at his Palace in Oyo, during the closing of the weeklong activities to mark the 3rd Oranyan festival. Oranyan, a warrior and a leader, was one of the sons of Oduduwa and acclaimed founder of old Oyo Empire. The Alaafin said the festival was held annually to celebrate the leadership qualities of Oranyan, who established an enduring political structure for civil and military administration in Africa. “This gathering is a rallying point for enthusiasts of Yoruba history and culture. “It is also to call attention to Yoruba contribution to civilisation as empire builders long before the dawn of political sophistication in other parts of the world. “The festival is also to establish the relevance of Yoruba culture in promoting global peace, international understanding and harmony,’’ he said. Adeyemi said that the life and political career of Oranyan would provide a template for effective political system or statecraft, empire building and mass political participation.
According to him, the archetypal monarchy embroidered with central authority is a product of the wizardry of Oranyan who left the cradle of Yoruba consciousness to create a system of government. “A system of government whose effectiveness, creativity, relevance, suitability and appropriateness is not in doubt even in contemporary Nigeria. “What Oranyan did was to create a system and not personal autocracy. If it were to be a structure built around him, it probably would have collapsed immediately after his death. “It was indeed a structure built on solid foundation of idea and the best of Yoruba knowledge system, hence its capacity to endure the vicissitudes of time,’’ he said.
He called on politicians from Yoruba tribe to embrace Oranyan’s ideals in politics, and shun pretence, arrogance and selfishness. The festival featured beauty contest, cultural dances, masquerades display, and was attended by Chief Moses Adeyemo, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State. Other dignitaries were Monsurat Sunmonu, Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, former a Governor Omololu Olunloyo and Sayo Alagbe, who represented former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala. The others were a former senate leader, Teslim Folarin, Mr Seyi Makinde, Mr Femi Babalola and notable traditional rulers from within and outside Nigeria.
L-R: Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Moses Alake-Adeyemo; Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, at the Grand Finale of Oranmiyan Festival in Oyo Town on Saturday.
Chioma Okafor Wins Miss Intercontinental Nigeria Beauty Pageant
LAGOS - Twenty-one-yearold student, Chioma Okafor, who contested as Miss Bayelsa on Saturday night won the “Miss Intercontinental Nigeria Beauty Pageant 2014”. Okafor defeated 29 other contestants to emerge victorious in the competition held in Lagos. Miss Lagos, Scarlet Shotade, was the first runner-up, while
Miss Abia, Sopuruchi Onwuka, was the second runner-up. With the win, Okafor also claimed a grand prize of N2.5 million, a brand new car and the chance to represent Nigeria at the Miss Intercontinental World Beauty Pageant holding in Jordan later this year.
The first runner-up got N1.5 million, while the second runnerup received N1 million. Okafor was chosen by the panel of judges after she excelled during the “Camp” and at the grand finale, which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel,
A masquerade Entertaining guests at the Grand finale of Oranmiyan Festival in Oyo Town on Saturday.
Victoria Island, Lagos. Other winners of the night were Miss Imo, Chiamaka Maduewesi who won “Miss Amity’”, Miss Osun, Idera Johnson who won the “Best Traditional Outfit’’ award and Miss Nasarawa, Chiamaka Chukwujekwu who won “Miss Photogenic”. The rest are Miss Lagos who won “Miss Charismatic”, Miss Kebbi, Udeaku Nwankwo and Miss Katsina, Adaobi Mbonu who also made it into the Top Five contestants. Part of the events for the night
Christians Urged To Intensify Prayers For IKOLE (EKITI) Nigeria Reverend Emmanuel Ajayi of Thy Holiness Bible Church, Ikole, Ekiti, has called on Christians to intensify prayers for Nigeria to surmount its challenges. Ajayi made the call in a sermon he preached at Ikole. According to him, Nigeria
Foundation Urges Govt To Promote Arts
LAGOs - Yemisi Shyllon, founder, Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF), has urged the Federal and State Governments to create incentives for the rapid growth of arts in the country. Shyllon told newsmen in Lagos that with serious interventions from the government, Nigerian arts could be the most cherished in the world. “We have been talking and governments have been promising but the mechanism of government works very slowly. “If we all aimed at growing
the Nigerian arts, putting in more effort and letting the world know what we have, it will be significant. “We need to showcase our arts and culture to the people of the world and it will make us more pertinent,” he said. The arts’ enthusiast said that Nigerian arts are raw and it would be well appreciated and only when we do that we are contributing to civilisation. “We have lots of talented youths in Nigeria, the only thing needed is to create a platform for them and that is what we want government to do. “The youth and some other
artists are ready to go and create a lot in the area of arts and they are committed in doing that. “We do not want the present generation to be a wasted one, that is why I am calling on government at all levels to quicken their action in providing structures to help arts growth,” he said. Shyllon, however, said that the country’s economy needed to be diversified, noting that this could be achieved through the arts.
“We should be striving until we achieve what we want, even when we are not getting it right, we should not relent. “It is a long road but we are ready to travel that road to get it right. “I want to help to develop this culture of creativity for the country and in young ones; we have to catch them young,’’ he said. Shyllon ventured into arts collection since his undergraduate days decades ago; his interest in art has grown into a passion. The Lagos State government commissioned him to put sculptures in the Freedom Park
included the contestants coming on stage in swim wears, traditional wears and evening wears as well as musical performances by Jo-El and the Explicit Dance crew. Speaking on her win, Okafor promised to use her position as Miss Intercontinental to represent Nigeria creditably. “I intend to set up an entrepreneurial foundation to help the youth to showcase their talents and become independent. “This will help to reduce unemployment and childtrafficking in the country. “I will also love to work with my role model, Mrs Folorunsho
consignment of 18 life-size works. The Lagos State government after remodelling and restructuring the old colonial prison yard in Broad Street, Lagos Island, renamed it Freedom Park. Shyllon was appointed alongside, a popular artist, Mrs Nike Okundaye, into the board of the National Heritage Council and Endowment for the Arts. The National Heritage Council and Endowment for the Arts is being packaged by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism for the betterment of arts in the country.
can overcome its problems if spiritual leaders and their followers seek divine intervention. “Our political leaders cannot on their own strength and transform the lives of the people; they need God’s gifts of wisdom and grace. “It behooves on Christians to pray for God to grant wisdom to our leaders on how to solve the country’s problems. “God’s hands will restore sanity and peace to the country if we pray fervently and obey His will,’’ the cleric said. Ajayi also cautioned Nigerians against making unguarded utterances, advising that every patriotic citizen should support the government in tackling insecurity and other challenges facing the nation.
Lagos
Synagogue Tragedy: By RAHEEM IBRAHIM LAGOS - The death toll at the collapsed 6-storey building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Lagos has synagogue tragedy to 57 and over 140 people have been rescued alive so far with various degrees of injuries. The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. Femi OkeOsanyintolu claimed that 48 dead bodies have so far been evacuated from the collapsed 6-storey building at the Synagogue of All Nations, while 130 people have been rescued alive so far with various degrees of injuries But some of the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) revealed that the number is 57 as some dead bodies have been picked before the LASEMA people arrive the scene, while about three bodies wer e badly affected and could not be extracted. Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu
in a chat with The Nigerian Observer said rescue operation was still ongoing three days after the collapse of the six storey building within the premises of the church, the worst tragedy that had befallen Lagos State this year. According to him, “A total of 48 dead bodies and 130 casualties recovered. The casualties are receiving medical attention in various Lagos State hospitals. Rescue operation still ongoing but approaching ground zero as at 10pm”. An official of NEMA revealed that some of the people rescued from the incident died on the way to hospitals which was not known to LASEMA staff but his agency was informed. “We also discovered that some of the victims were badly hit and crushed to the small stone, which made the bodies not to be recover but has to be pack among pebbles from the site”, he revealed. He however added that such things always happened in
Death Toll Hits 57
occasion like this where the remains of some victims could not be retrieved due to the state they were met and
such number may not be officially announce to the public. Also, Director, Lagos State
Fire Services, Rasak Fadipe said rescue operation is still ongoing and that five more dead bodies, including three
male and two female were recovered on Sunday making the number of the dead bodies to increase.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos (middle) with winners of Lagos Mortgage homes in Lagos recently.
Vacate Site Of Collapsed Building, Fashola Orders Synagogue Staff By RAHEEM IBRAHIM
LAGOS -The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has ordered staff of the Synagogue Church of All Nation to vacate the site of the 6-storey collapsed building to allow emergency rescue workers to do their jobs. Fashola who visited the site of the collapsed building expressed sadness at the loss of lives even as he described the incident as very unfortunate. While commiserating with the General Overseer of the Church, Prophet Temitope Joshua, who came to meet him at the site of the collapsed structure, Governor Fashola, however, directed that the staff of the Church should
give way for the rescue workers to be able to carry out the job of evacuating the debris and rescuing possible victims still trapped under the collapsed building. The Governor, who was received at the site by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Town Planner Olutoyin Ayinde, told Prophet Joshua, “What you need to understand now is that this place is now an accident scene and so all your staff must leave this place. We need to take control of this place and let people who are trained to do this job to do so”. “We understand that this is
an unfortunate incident, we understand their sense of sympathy and compassion. But let them allow those who are trained to do the job take over and do the job; that is their training and it won’t make sense if they are getting in each other’s way,” he said. Governor Fashola said after the emergency workers have finished their work, it would be easier for any staff of the Church, whether an engineer or a medical personnel, whom the General Overseer wishes to be on the site with the emergency workers for the purpose of taking records, to join them. The governor added,
Participants at a short time skill acquisition programme at central business district in Lagos.
“When we finish, if you have any person, whether an engineer or a medical person you wants to be on the site with them, working with them to know what they are taking
there, then it is easier; they can report to you and then report to me. But we can’t continue rescue operations with your men hanging around here”. Meanwhile in his reaction to
the incident on Saturday, Prophet TB Joshua alleged that the incident happened due to chemical attack, explaining that the church CCTV Camera picked a strange aircraft that hovered round the church 4 times before the building caved in
Respect Rights In Ebola Response, Group Tells W/A Govts LAGOS - International rights group, Human Rights Watch (HRW), has advised West African governments to ensure rights protections as a crucial element in controlling the unprecedented Ebola epidemic ravaging the region. The group gave the advice yesterday in a statement signed by it’s Senior West Africa Researcher, Ms Corinne Dufka. a copy of which was obtained by newsmen in Lagos. HRW said there had been 4,784 confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola virus disease, (EVD) and more than 2,400 deaths across most regions. These regions, it added, were Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and in two cities in Nigeria. According to the group, cases are confirmed in seven of eight regions in Guinea; 10 of 15 counties in Liberia; and 13 of 14 districts in Sierra Leone HRW further disclosed that there were confirmed cases in the Senegalese capital Dakar, and the Nigerian cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt. It expressed sympathy to the families, friends, and
colleagues of those who had died as a result of the Ebola outbreak, and commended the courage of many health workers and others in caring for the sick. “Governments in Ebolaaffected countries should better protect health workers from infection; limit the use of quarantines, address the gender dimensions of the outbreak. “They should also ensure security forces respond to the crisis and respect basic rights,” the group said. HRW also urged donor governments, through international assistance and cooperation, to help such governments fulfill the right to health, and efforts to address the epidemic’s broader impact. It said: “Given the tragic magnitude of this epidemic, the affected governments cannot and should not be expected to fulfill the right to health on their own. “The international community must help assume this responsibility, while insisting that governments do their part by ensuring
transparency and respect for human rights as they respond to the crisis.” The group expressed concern about the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning that Ebola treatment centres were overflowing and turning highly infectious patients away. HRW said the epidemic had resulted in severe contraction of West Africa’s economies and a near collapse of healthcare systems in the worst-affected countries. “It is reducing access to healthcare for children, pregnant women, and others with chronic and acute health concerns. “Health workers have expressed concern about the lack of healthcare for, and increasing mortality from, other diseases and conditions like malaria, typhoid, dysentery, and childbirth complications. “Local non-governmental organisations need increased support to educate the population about the disease and monitor government response, including the use of humanitarian assistance”.
Across The Nation Chinese Firm To Establish Cassava Processing Plant
Fake Licenses: FRSC
Threatens Syndicates ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission in Anambra, Mr Sunday Ajayi, has threatened syndicates issuing fake drivers’ licenses and number-plates in the state. Ajayi told newsmen in Obosi near Onitsha on Saturday that any motorist found patronising the hoodlums would also be penalised. The commander said the commission was collaborating with security agencies to clampdown on black spots noted for the unscrupulous activities. Ajayi said that henceforth any syndicate or person caught selling fake drivers’ licenses or number-plates would be handed over to law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution. “Any motorist caught with a fake driver’s license or numberplates would pay a N10,000 fine or have an option of imprisonment,” he said. “The offender would be liable to both fine and imprisonment if the person is found to be a repeat offender. “The commission is ever ready to deal with this age-long issue in Anambra and with the help of both motorists and security
agencies, we will rid the state of these economic saboteurs. “Our unit offices and licensing offices are located in major towns in the state – Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka — for anyone to go and within some time get his or her genuine and datacaptured license,” he said. Ajayi also said that the numberplates could be obtained through the same offices or through direction from the unit offices in Onitsha, Nnewi, Nteje, Ihiala, Oraifite and Igbo-Ukwu. There are syndicates that specialise in the sale of readymade licenses and number-plates in Nnewi, especially to motorcyclists.
Patrol vehicles donated to Nigeria Police, Sokoto Command by MTN Foundation to support security patrol in the state recently.
NBC Tells Businessmen To Start Importing Digital TVs
PANKSHIN (PLATEAU) - The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has implored businessmen to start importing digital television sets as the country prepares to switch over to digital broadcast in 2015.
The Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Dr Chris Mba, made call at an enlightenment forum on Digital Switch Over (DSO) in Shendam, Plateau South. Mba, represented by
Director of Public Affairs, Mr Auwalu Salihu, said businessmen should start importing digital television to replace the analogue sets. According to him, digital sets will improve reception
Executive Secretary, Plateau Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Salisu Musa; Chief Imam of Jos, Shiekh Balarabe Dawud and Village Head of Naraguta, Muhammed Bello, at the Seminar for intending muslim pilgrims in Jos recently.
DCCIMA Urges Delta To Provide SME’s Loan
ASABA - The Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (DCCIMA) has urged the state government to encourage Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) by ensuring access to loans and other financial grants. The President of DACCIMA, Chief Uju Udeme, told newsmen in Asaba that this would go a long way in ensuring the
growth of SMEs in the state. Udeme said that the growth of SMEs would lead to the creation of more employment and reduce poverty in the state. “There are lots of persons who have suffered to acquire various skills and managed to set up something with little money they were able to gather. “These people should be encouraged to expand their
businesses by giving them soft loans and grants and they will in turn create employment for others and boost the economy.’’ The DACCIMA president, however, commended the state government for its micro credit programme. According to him, a lot more still need to be done as many SMEs in the state are closing down due to the
inability of the entrepreneurs to access funds to sustain them. Udeme also appealed to the state government to provide more infrastructure, especially roads and steady power supply. He assured that the association was willing to work with the state government for the development of small businesses in the state.
and the viewing of programmes of all TV stations across the country. “The whole world will go digital by June 2015 and only digital TV sets will be reigning, so we don’t want a situation where people will be struggling with antennas to get signals. “Our businessmen must stop importing analogue television sets because their era is over not only in Nigeria but the world over’’, he said. He said the commission would not take it lightly with businessmen who might indulge in selling analogue sets to unsuspecting members of the public in the name of digital sets. Mba called on the public to be vigilant when buying new TV sets henceforth. He said the commission planned to ensure that all digital TV sets had NBC special stickers/seals for easy identification by the general public.
CALABAR - The Coordinator of Fadama III Project in Cross River, Mr. Bassey Elemi, has said that a Chinese firm will establish a ca processing plant in Yakurr Area of the state. Elemi told newsmen in Calabar yesterday that the plant, when established, would be fed by produce by User Groups clusters the area. He said that, under the World Bank Fadama extension project, Cross River wou1d engage in cassava production with each cluster cultivating a minimum of 20 hectares of cassava. . Fadama III project ended in February but the World Bank extended the progs2nimein some selected states in the federation, including Cross River. He said: “we are looking at each cluster having a minimum of 20 hectares of cassava farm and it can be as large as 100 hectares. “You know we have a very large expanse of land for cultivation in Cross River state. “The areas with such expanse of land, include Akpabuyo Awe and. of course Yakurr; where a Chinese company plans to establish a factory. “So, under the Fadama extension programme, you can have as many as nine clusters in a state. “Each cluster will have a factory to process the cassava that is produced in the catchments area.” According to him, World Bank has set aside $200 million for Fadama III extension project. He said that the state government targeted to get 10million dollars from the grant as an additional financing for cassava production. Elemi said that under Fadama 111 project, the state government paid its counterpart fund for five years -2008 to 2013. The coordinator, however, said that the 18 local governments in the state had not paid theirs completely. “The 18 councils are collectively owing N108 million for three years. We are making efforts to see that the outstanding funds are paid,” he said. “I am sure that as we present our case for additional financing, the issue will be resolved.” -
TAN Rally: Gov Aliyu Condoles
Victims Of Collapsed Pavilion MINNA - Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger has condoled with those injured at a collapsed pavilion during a rally on Saturday in Minna. Mr Israel Ebije, Chief Press Secretary to Aliyu, disclosed this to newsmen during the governor’s visit to some victims at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna. “As the Chief host, the governor feels highly concerned on the sad incident during the rally. “As usual with the Chief Servant (Aliyu), he is going
round the hospitals to commiserate with our visitors. The medical bills will be footed by the state. “Some of the victims of the unfortunate incident have been discharged, while the others are still receiving treatment,” he said. Newsmen report that many dignitaries were involved in the collapsed pavilion during the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria North central rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015.
Abuja
Ebola Virus: ABUJA - The Federal Government has formally requested for the experimental drugs being developed by the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the treatment of Ebola disease. The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
FG Seeks Assistance From US
meeting presided over by VicePresident Namadi Sambo. Chukwu said that he was in constant communication with the director of the centre with a view to getting the drugs to try on Nigerians already infected by the disease. “We are doing everything possible; this morning I sent an email to the Director of the U.S. Centre for Disease Control; we
have been in communication in the last 36 hours by e-mails as well as talking. “And I asked that ‘we are getting report that the experimental drug seems to be useful, is it also possible that we can have access for our own people who are presently being treated under isolation’. “We are making efforts, we are relating with them and we are
doing everything possible to ensure that we contain this disease. “But it is serious; it is an emergency, but with the cooperation of all with government leading, and God blessing our efforts, we shall contain it,“ he said. The minister stated that as at Wednesday morning, five Nigerians were confirmed to
have contacted the disease and were being treated at an isolation ward in Lagos. Also addressing the correspondents, the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, emphasised that all the country needed do to contain the virus was being done professionally at the level of government. He, therefore, solicited public support and cooperation in containing the spread of the disease. “Every effort that this country should make is being made, both from the point of view of specialist intervention from the Ministries of Health and
Communication; we are putting all into practice. “But we need public cooperation, this is important for the country and for public health,“ Maku said. The Director of CDC, Dr Thomas Frieden, had said on Sunday that the American doctor who contracted the Ebola Virus in West Africa seemed to have improved after he was treated with the experimental drug. The Ebola virus has claimed two lives in Nigeria including the 40-year old Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who died of the disease in Lagos and a female nurse who attended to him.
Coy Advises Girls To Embrace Science, Technology
L - R: Chief of Staff of the President, Mr. Jones Arogbofa, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde and Executive Director, Editorial Matters, News Agency of Nigerian (NAN), Mr Isaac Ighure at a meeting of the Federal Government Revenue collecting agencies with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.
Capital Importation Valued At N9.5 Trillion -NBS
ABUJA - The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the capital imported in the second quarter of 2014 was recorded at a value of 5.8 billion dollars (N9.5 trillion). This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the StatisticianGeneral of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale.
DHQ Confirms Alpha Jet Missing ABUJA - The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says an Alpha Jet NAF 466 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force has disappeared in Adamawa. This is contained in a statement signed by Maj.Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, in Abuja on Sunday. Olukolade said that the aircraft, with two pilots on board, left Yola at about 10.45 a.m. on Friday, Sept.12 on a routine operational mission and was expected back at noon the same day. According to him, all efforts to establish contact with the aircraft have not yielded any positive result. Olukolde, however, said that a search and rescue effort was ongoing to establish contact with the crew.
Kale said the figure increased by 1.9 billion dollars (N3.1 trillion), representing 48.64 per cent from the 3.9 billion dollars (N6.4 trillion) recorded in the first quarter of this year. “Relative to the 5.6 billion dollars recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2013, capital importation demonstrated positive year on year growth of 1.8 billion dollars, representing 3.32 per cent. “Capital importation prior to 2013 was rising steadily, recovering from the lows recorded post the 2008 financial crisis. “It reached its peak in the first quarter of 2013, where 6.7 billion dollars was imported into Nigeria,” statistician-general said. He said capital importation however declined in the following quarter, dropping to 3.9 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2014. “This is a year-on-year decline of 2.6 billion dollars, representing 40.85 per cent. “The second quarter value brought the total capital imported through the first half of 2014 to 9.7 billion dollars, which was still 2.2 billion
dollars, representing 20.54 per cent lower than the 12.2 billion dollars recorded for the same period in 2013,” he said. According to him, Capital Importation can be divided into three main investment types: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Portfolio Investment and Other
Investments, each comprising various sub-categories. “Portfolio Investment stood at 4.9 billion dollars, making up 84.72 per cent of the second quarter, 2014 total,” Kale said. He said the second greatest investment type was FDI, which constituted 472 million dollars, representing 8.15 per cent, while the remaining; 7.13 per cent.
ABUJA - Mr Kevin Li, the Public Relations Manager, Huawei West Africa, has, urged Nigerian girls not to shy away from science and technology or regard it as an almost exclusive male sector. Kevin made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. He said Huawei had embarked on training of 1,000 girls in Information Technology in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology “to encourage girls to delve into the exciting ICT world. “Huawei, a global information and technology solution provider, is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology in encouraging girls to delve into the exciting world of ICT. “This programme is to train 1,000 girls from all over Nigeria in Information Communication Technology
Senate President David Mark (right) in a handshake with Executive Chairman, Otukpo Local Government Area, Mr Innocent Onuh during the visit of ALGON Zone C, Benue South Senatorial Zone in Abuja. With them is Executive Chairman, Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Ojo.
and empower them with ICT skills and thus increase their interest in pursuing careers in ICT. “Already, 600 of the girls have undergone training as at the end of August. We gave them intensive training in basic ICT skills. “Out of the 1,000 girls who would have completed the training, we are going to select the best 200 girls for an advanced training to be certified as Huawei Certified Datacom Associates (HCDA),”he said. The Chinese company spokesman said the Ministry of Communication Technology had earlier emphasised the transforming power of ICT to accelerate the development of women by helping them to be more efficient and effective in their jobs. He also said that ICT had unlimited potential to significantly contribute to the social welfare of women. “The programme will ultimately reduce the imbalance in ICT adoption and appropriation between men and women in the country. “This training is part of Huawei’s commitment to technology transfer to Nigerians, as well as employment promotion, which it considers as one of its social responsibility. “The programme will bridge the digital divide and reduce the imbalance between men and women in ICT as information communication technology skill is a tool for better employment and businesses. “Nigerians, especially girls, should embrace ICT. It is central to almost everything we encounter in our daily human endeavor,” Kevin said.
Across The Nation L-R: Alhaji Nuru Jumba; Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh and Bauchi State Chairman on Polio immunization and Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu, at the Bauchi State Primary Health C a r e Development Agency Workshop for District heads in Bauchi recently.
Sensitization workshop of District heads in Bauchi at the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency workshop for districts heads in Bauchi recently.
Okorocha Wants Failed Portion Of Port HarcourtOwerri Road Fixed OWERRI - Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has appealed to the Federal Government to repair the Umuapu portion of the Port Harcourt-Owerri expressway. A release from the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, in Owerri said the Umuapu axis of the road had become a death trap because many travelers had been killed through accidents and armed robbery attacks. He called on the Federal Government to fix the road without further delay to save the users from further deaths. He frowned at a situation where the contractor handling the project got to the point where the road connects Imo and stopped work. Okorocha said there was need for that part of the road to be done so that its users would enjoy the dividend of democracy. He said the neglect was not political as being insinuated, adding that
Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations, use the road. “It is regrettable that the contractor doing the road could get to the Imo side of the project and stop work for quite a long time now. “The implication is that the area has become not only a nightmare but a death trap so much that the people of Imo now go to Port Harcourt through Aba to link home,” he said. Okorocha called on the Federal Government to ensure that the contractor completed the job. “When the road is completed, the government and the people of Imo will be happy and the commendations will go to the Federal Government,” he said. The governor also called on the sons and daughters of the state in politics to bring their connections to bear by ensuring that the Umuapu portion of the road was fixed without further delay.
“The way the students with hearing impaired impress us is quite wonderful, this should serve as a wakeup call for the government to do more for them. “You will be surprised how intelligent they can be, we have a lot to do in handling the situation which includes lack of adequate teachers and the need to train and retrain existing ones,” she said. According to her, mathematics is a key curriculum subject that all young people deserve to be taught at the highest standard. She said, “I have travelled to other European countries and there is no difference between our children for special education and the ones there, except for the opportunities those in
Europe have.” The educationist also appealed to the government to give total encouragement to students with special needs, adding that government would be surprise at the outcome and performance of such students. Olaleye observed that the performance of students in the 2014 WAEC in the country was not too impressive. She called on teachers and government to erase the fear of mathematics in the minds of students. The government, she said, should provide small allowance for mathematics teachers and other incentives such as scholarship to enable them access teaching resources and professional development.
Provide Maths Teachers,Educationist Urges FG ILORIN - Dr Olufunke Olaleye, a senior lecturer, Federal College of Education, Special, Oyo,
has appealed to the government to provide more mathematics teachers to boost the
country’s special education. Olaleye, a Fellow, Mathematical Association
parents to be more committed to the education of children and the less privileged.
of Nigeria (MAN), made the appeal when he spoke with newsmen at the University of Ilorin. She said that students in special education were brilliant and eager to learn, but express regrets that limited teaching apparatus had militated against their effective learning.
prepare for the 2014 Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. “We are dismayed by media reports regarding the emir’s departure from Mubi for Yola on September 7, 2014. “Let me put the record straight here; the Emir did not leave Mubi for Yola to escape from the insurgents. “He left Mubi to attend a meeting with members of the committee for the 2014 pilgrimage to the Holy
land,” he said. Elias said the Boko Haram insurgents did not attack Mubi as the reports claimed, adding that those who fled the town did so as a result of fear of attack. Meanwhile, the senator representing Adamawa North senatorial district Alhaji Bindow Jibrilla, has expressed sympathy with the people of the state over the recent insurgent attack on Michika and Madagali.
NGO Calls For Education Of KADUNA - A NonStreet Children Governmental organisation governments, teachers and (NGO), Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation, has called for education of street children and illiterate adults. The founder of the organisation, Pastor Yohanna Buru, said in a statement in Kaduna that such children and adults would be able to contribute meaningfully to societal development, if educated. He urged enrolment of street children in schools as well as establishment of more adult education classes to reduce illiteracy. Buru advocated that orphans, the physically challenged and the destitute should have access to
education for the advancement of the society. He called on all
Emir Denies Absconding
YOLA - The Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Isa, has debunked media reports that he fled his palace in Mubi as a result of threat of attack by Boko Haram insurgents. Spokesman of the Emir and the Danruwata Mubi, Chief John Elias, made the statement in Yola during a press briefing. He said that the emir, who is state Amirul Hajj left Mubi last Sunday for Yola to attend a meeting to
NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY (15/09/2014) Stocks
Open
Close
Change
Deals
Units
Value
NB
177.19
176.13
-1.06
0
604,527
7UP
134
134
0
0
45,555
6,727,731.15
107,076,591.80
ABBEYBDS
1.3
1.3
0
0
300
390
NEIMETH
1.08
1.08
0
0
74,800
77,044.00
0.76
0.76
0
0
3,415,000
2,596,490.00 52,479.00
ABCTRANS
0.7
0.67
-0.03
0
348,524
234,121.08
NEM
ACADEMY
1.55
1.55
0
0
25,200
37,296.00
NESF
552.2
552.2
0
0
100
ACCESS
9.59
9.59
0
0
585,366
5,613,659.94
NESTLE
1010
1010
0
0
39,81940,246,805.06
AFRIPRUD
3.25
3.19
-0.06
0
749,028
2,448,013.33
NEWGOLD
1948
1945
-3
0
25
48,625.00
AGLEVENT
1.52
1.52
0
0
12,750
18,487.50
NIG-GERMAN
7.36
7
-0.36
0
50,000
350,000.00
AIICO
0.83
0.83
0
0
3,013,767
2,496,470.46
NIGERINS
0.5
0.5
0
0
85
42.5
AIRSERVICE
2
2
0
0
33,658
67,391.00
NNFM
21.99
21.99
0
0
23,738
496,346.60
ASHAKACEM
32.31
33.29
0.98
0
2,516,752
83,122,391.86
NPFMCRFBK
1.03
1
-0.03
0
273,700
273,700.00
AVONCROWN
1.75
1.75
0
0
300
501
NSE30
1856.96
1857.14
0.18
0
BERGER
8.6
8.6
0
0
1,850
15,898.28
84,398,9741,814,008,035.00
BETAGLAS
18.85
18.85
0
0
1,520
30,078.60
NSE50
2010.73
-1.55
0
BOCGAS
5.48
5.48
0
0
500
2,605.00
NSEASI
40672.94
40769
96.06
0135,455,0791,973,344,130.00
CADBURY
55.01
55.01
0
0
43,691
2,330,403.34
NSEBNK
434.35
429.79
-4.56
0
42,875,257 753,622,599.60
CAP
39.4
39.4
0
0
62,640
2,451,135.40
NSECNSMRGDS
997.92
995.07
-2.85
0
4,151,002
276,466,933.10
CAVERTON
4.89
4.83
-0.06
0
650,526
3,147,694.02
NSEINDUSTR
2629.45
2674.66
45.21
0
4,100,807
149,360,603.40
CCNN
14.5
14
-0.5
0
417,587
5,862,914.23
NSEINS
142.41
142.19
-0.22
0
8,812,398
6,721,227.79
2631.96
2653.24
21.28
0
5,083,803263,576,505.60
2012.28
97,714,2661,884,587,647.00
CHAMPION
8.29
8.29
0
0
18,808
155,918.32
NSELOTUSISLM
CHAMS
0.5
0.5
0
0
190,000
95,000.00
NSEOILGAS
467.06
456.62
-10.44
0
9,535,386381,160,993.60
CHELLARAM
3.95
3.95
0
0
2,250
9,296.00
NSLTECH
0.5
0.5
0
0
500
CILEASING
0.5
0.5
0
0
2,050
1,025.00
OANDO
25.21
24.99
-0.22
0
8,293,309207,334,992.70
CONOIL
53.16
53.16
0
0
45,869
2,324,235.89
OKOMUOIL
33.25
33.25
0
0
159,701
5,303,405.00
CONTINSURE
0.98
0.97
-0.01
0
245,000
238,010.00
PORTPAINT
5
5.09
0.09
0
726,050
3,696,122.50
CORNERST
0.5
0.5
0
0
144,000
72,702.00
PREMBREW
4.22
4.43
0.21
0
66,300
293,709.00
COSTAIN
1.06
1.05
-0.01
0
1,039,998
1,075,486.18
PREMPAINTS
10.93
10.93
0
0
1,200
12,468.00
37
36
-1
0
186,333
6,711,508.33
250
COURTVILLE
0.53
0.54
0.01
0
214,900
114,546.00
PRESCO
CUSTODYINS
3.95
3.88
-0.07
0
1,428,900
5,594,856.00
PRESTIGE
0.5
0.5
0
0
19,798
9,899.00
CUTIX
1.82
1.82
0
0
40,400
76,730.00
PZ
34.99
34.95
-0.04
0
206,755
6,999,972.86
CWG
5
5
0
0
500
2,500.00
REDSTAREX
4.34
4.55
0.21
0
3,435,61214,504,757.88
DANGCEM
215.1
219.99
4.89
0
140,794
30,951,805.00
REGALINS
0.5
0.5
0
0
1,700
850
DANGFLOUR
6.97
6.97
0
0
42,902
284,714.00
ROYALEX
0.53
0.53
0
0
62,540
32,641.29
DANGSUGAR
8.8
8.37
-0.43
0
909,023
7,622,349.81
RTBRISCOE
0.89
0.89
0
0
96,262
87,070.56
DIAMONDBNK
6.34
6.39
0.05
0
2,700,490
17,081,187.37
SEPLAT
670
675
5
0
23,579 15,914,444.26
DNMEYER
1.1
1.1
0
0
37,792
39,731.60
SKYEBANK
2.97
2.83
-0.14
0
4,069,380
ETERNA
3.87
3.81
-0.06
0
406,510
1,559,169.19
SOVRENINS
0.5
0.5
0
0
1,000
ETI
19.32
19.82
0.5
0
2,510,560
50,106,457.93
STANBIC
30
30
0
0
421,218
20,300.00
STERLNBANK
2.3
2.19
-0.11
0
2,147,970
4,719,375.60
STUDPRESS
2.4
2.4
0
0
500
1,140.00
THOMASWY
0.79
0.79
0
0
500
380
EVANSMED
2.1
2.1
0
0
10,150
FBNH
14.52
14.57
0.05
0
8,687,732
126,413,368.90
11,583,898.35 500 12,632,984.30
FCMB
4.18
4.2
0.02
0
7,688,052
31,146,595.00
TOTAL
180.01
180
-0.01
0
69,784
FIDELITYBK
2
1.95
-0.05
0
2,093,122
4,154,506.55
TRANSCORP
5.98
5.87
-0.11
0
15,402,983
FIDSON
3.34
3.28
-0.06
0
1,440,949
4,717,053.26
91,230,652.89
FIRSTALUM
0.5
0.5
0
0
400
200
TRIPPLEG
1.88
1.88
0
0
500
895
FLOURMILL
64
64
0
0
271,871
17,068,923.87
UAC-PROP
15.18
15.18
0
0
152,888
2,317,117.12
FO
235.6
223.82
-11.78
0
653,775148,128,590.00
UACN
58
57.99
-0.01
0
747,801
FTNCOCOA
0.57
0.55
-0.02
0
6,606,640
3,654,031.99
UBA
7.19
7.08
-0.11
0
4,322,611
GLAXOSMITH
65
65
0
0
18,353
1,139,575.99
UBCAP
2.02
2
-0.02
0
4,305,157
12,559,587.28
43,306,530.66 30,765,050.45 8,676,913.72
GUARANTY
29.15
28.26
-0.89
0
12,225,160348,415,588.10
UBN
10.27
10.75
0.48
0
1,092,97411,436,778.59
GUINNESS
172.99
172
-0.99
0
390,761
67,153,909.00
UNHOMES
0.5
0.5
0
0
1,200
600
3,537,597.75
UNILEVER
48.01
48.01
0
0
188,899
9,027,252.15
HONYFLOUR
4.06
4.03
-0.03
0
878,807
IKEJAHOTEL
1.49
1.56
0.07
0
1,698,800
2,648,028.00
UNIONDICON
13.41
13.41
0
0
400
5,364.00
INTBREW
28.26
28.16
-0.1
0
224,600
6,335,520.40
UNITYBNK
0.5
0.5
0
0
661,541
330,770.50
INTENEGINS
0.55
0.55
0
0
1,692,338
961,209.23
UPL
4.13
4.13
0
0
58,214
219,542.50
JAPAULOIL
0.5
0.51
0.01
0
1,571,187
798,304.58
VETGRIF30
18.58
18.57
-0.01
0
210
3,917.70
JBERGER
63.99
63.99
0
0
27,354
1,706,379.00
VITAFOAM
4.3
4.3
0
0
150,874
636,344.42
JOHNHOLT
1.08
1.08
0
0
6,600
6,798.00
VONO
1.1
1.15
0.05
0
483,899
555,483.85
LAWUNION
0.5
0.5
0
0
152,200
76,100.00
WAPCO
118.5
120
1.5
0
193,21423,153,527.52
LEARNAFRCA
1.6
1.6
0
0
10
15.2
WAPIC
0.73
0.72
-0.01
0
1,331,390
959,110.15
LINKASSURE
0.5
0.5
0
0
79,685
39,842.50
WEMABANK
0.9
0.9
0
0
1,238,380
1,115,399.32
LIVESTOCK
3.09
3.09
0
0
288,560
874,120.10
ZENITHBANK
24.84
24.2
-0.64
0
11,127,624269,746,096.70
MANSARD
2.5
2.5
0
0
200
516
MAYBAKER
1.38
1.42
0.04
0
732,888
1,000,375.64
MBENEFIT
0.53
0.54
0.01
0
661,956
357,386.68
MOBIL
180
180
0
0
45,729
8,168,606.59
MRS
56
56
0
0
20,410
1,085,812.00
MTI
0.5
0.5
0
0
500
250
NAHCO
5.19
5.2
0.01
0
2,589,611
13,405,938.78
TOP 10 GAINERS
TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS
Stock
Close
Gain
Stock
Close
Loss
NSEASI NSEINDUSTR NSELOTUSISLM SEPLAT DANGCEM WAPCO ASHAKACEM ETI UBN PREMBREW
40769 2674.66 2653.24 675 219.99 120 33.29 19.82 10.75 4.43
96.06 45.21 21.28 5 4.89 1.5 0.98 0.5 0.48 0.21
FO NSEOILGAS NSEBNK NEWGOLD NSECNSMRGDS NSE50 NB PRESCO GUINNESS GUARANTY
223.82-11.78 456.62-10.44 429.79 1945 995.07 2010.73 176.13 36 172 28.26
-4.56 -3 -2.85 -1.55 -1.06 -1 -0.99 -0.89
THE need to conserve our forest through scientific research to improve the quality of forest trees in Nigeria becomes more important than ever. Forests area source of wealth and beauty which we should collectively conserve. FOR Instance, there Is the need for governments at all levels to encourage the planting of neem frees. The neem tree, particularly in the Northern part of Nigeria, is one of the most economic trees you can find anywhere. RESEARCH has revealed that apart from using It to reduce the effects of desertification, it has been discovered in the last ten years that there are so many things that can come out of the neem tree. FIRST, there is the neem oil. Sold all over the world and used by most cosmetic industries, the neem oil is a by product of the neem free. The neem seed when crushed, produces one of the best cosmetic oils anywhere in the world. THERE are also other byproducts which come out of making the oil and many of them are being used at the moment for making soap, detergents and paints, it has been discovered lately that a good part of local paints used all over the North for painting mud houses, are also byproducts of the neem tree. BASED on the above, deliberate efforts need to be made, more than ever before, to conserve our forests, for the economic, social and agricultural value. FORESTS are an important
THE NIGERIAN
Imperative Of Forest Conservation component of the national environment which play a significant role in water and soil conservation. The importance of forest lies In its ability to hold rain water, which is gradually released to the soil below and streams which flow through them. BESIDES, forests act as protective cover for the soil against the action of rain and wind. It also reduces the speed of wind and devastating effect of erosion. Forests any where in the world provide home for wild life. INDEED, forests, especially the luxuriant rain forest in Nigeria is being depleted at an alarming rate. Apart from serving as a source of timber, forests are daily destroyed for farming activities. Added to the above is the destruction of this natural environment for the sitting of industries, residential buildings and road construction. WHEN the forests are destroyed the soil is left bare and consequently exposed to erosion and in some cases, flooding. Therefore, many plant species are lost and the natural home of wild life destroyed. The above factors conspire to reduce the number of wild life available. THIS accounts for why some hitherto
thick forested regions of Nigeria are now left as a barren semi desert today. HOWEVER, there is the urgent need to strengthen the selective felling of frees WHAT we have seen over the years were mere rhetorics rather than pragmatic tree planting policies by government at all levels. T1 efforts towards forest conservation will be far from success unless the issue of bush burning is addressed. Bush burning has led to the destruction of forests, wild life and loss of soil fertility. Sometimes, this damage and soil degradation become irreversible. GOVERNMENT should therefore introduce protective legislative measures to prevent the incidence of bush burning. HOME to several plants and wild life, conserved forests will serve as tourist centres as it is obtainable in a country such as Kenya. TOURISM will help to diversity the economy of Nigeria, provide employment and provide huge revenue required for national - development FINALLY, the conservation of our forests should not be restricted to the confines of government alone. Traditional rulers, Non Governmental Organisations (N.G.Os), private firms and the public should adopt the culture of preserving the work and gift of nature bearing In mind that not every country of the world has this same blessing. Therefore the duty lies on all of us to protect and preserve our forests for future generations.
About The Federal Cutting Edge Republic Of Nigeria (2)
WE the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Having firmly and solemnly resolved: To live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign Nation under God dedicated to the promotion of inter-African solidarity, world peace, international co-operation and understanding: And to provide for a constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, and for the purpose of consolidating the unity of our people: DO HEREBY MAKE AND GIVE TO OURSELVES the following constitution:PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERRIA 1999 Equally, laughable is the assumption that Nigeria is a “Republic”; a supposition that sounds as hollow as a clanging cymbal. Like federalism, it is simply an idea without a firm practical base. A republican system of government in actual sense is based on the idea that the people, through their elected representatives, are supreme. At the head of a republican system is a popularly elected president who is expected to work for the common good of all members of the polity. The legislature is supposed to ensure that the president does not become tyrannical, and that the original articles establishing the republic are adhered to. These principles of popular rule are based on the ideas that spurred the American and French Revolutions, and which subsequently formed the foundations of the new republics; principles that have since been borrowed by other states. Truly speaking, can the circus show currently being played out in Nigeria, where elections are brazenly rigged and candidates standing for political offices handpicked and forced on the people, be said to be based on republican principles? Can Nigerians be said to be truly supreme under the current cosmetic political arrangement where, despite being Nigerians, they are debarred the rights of Nigerians? How representative are representatives who hardly consult their various constituencies - made up of people who supposedly elected them to protect and project their interests - before contributing to the lawmaking process? Can legislators who hardly visit their constituencies to ascertain the wellbeing of their electors be called true representatives of their people? Can a lawmaker who collects constituency allowances running into billions of naira over a period of four (4) calendar years without executing a single, laudable project be called a representative of his people? Can a legislator whose preoccupation is fighting for committee
With Obuseh Jude
portfolios, furniture and other beggarly allowances be termed a representative of his people? Legislative bodies at the various levels of government in Nigeria qualify as assemblies of fowls; they are simply cocoons of caterpillars, where the grandest schemes against the people are concocted and executed. The parliament should naturally be the protector of the people’s liberty in a true republican sense. A virile parliament checks executive excesses and is the only hope of the common man. It is the closest arm of government to the people, and is the only forum through which they can participate in governance. The American and French republics are founded on the ideals of popular representation. This is in recognition of the novel role played by the people in the independence struggles of
independence. But what am I even jabbering about? Why should we expect anything productive from a pack of Wolfhounds who get into office through the back door? We all know how floored the processes of political succession in this country are. We know how skewed the conduct of elections from the primaries to actual voting are. So, why should we expect manna from those who ceaselessly defraud and circumvent the system at will to become our rulers? We have politicians who become arrogant once they are in office, forgetting all their post-election promises (empty slogans they impudently call manifestos), and assuming the garbs of demigods. They transform themselves into emperors, who develop egos as large as cathedrals and become encapsulated in self-love: that allnatural poison. To worsen issues
absolute monarchy; a system of government run by a few people with practically unlimited powers. At all the three cadres of government – federal, state and local - you have principalities aping republican federalism. At the head of this hierarchical structure is the president who acts as the potentate, ably assisted by an advisory council of elders made up of “selected” members of both the legislature and “appointed” top members of the bar. At the state level, you have a
both countries. These ideals have continued to drive citizenstate relations in these countries. That is why the security of the lives of Americans is treasured above those of other nationals. That is why America is ready to go war to protect the common interests of its people globally. That is why American leaders listen to the opinions of their people before hashing out policies – domestic and foreign - that will affect them in the long run. But the truth of the matter is that Nigeria represents a poor copy of these original models. Parliaments in Nigeria have generally been speech-making forums where passing references are made to the supposed needs of the people. This is very unfortunate considering the significant input of Nigerians to the achievement of the country’s
some of us aid and abet these malpractices either by omission or commission. When you help a politician to rig himself into office, and get paid for your indiscretions, how can you expect anything from him once he consolidates on his position? Has he not paid his dues to you already? Have you any moral grounds to ask anything from him in return once he is in office? No wonder the culture of impunity has continued to fester in this country. No wonder those who ultimately succeed to political offices become impassive to the demands of the people to deliver the much-vaunted dividends of democracy. Why not? Have they not paid the pipers? Why shouldn’t they dictate the tune? The federal republic of Nigeria is in reality an oligarchy that operates in the full mode of an
similar formation with the governor, together with an advisory council of Satraps performing the same functions as its counterpart at the centre. The local government, at a lower level, replicates the scenarios at the top of the ladder. Our political system is simply a kingdom arrangement that is based on hereditary succession, where parents build political structures and live them to their children and children’s children; an establishment that is closed to the ordinary Nigerian without financial or any clout whatsoever; a political Cosanostra in which important decisions of public importance are deliberated upon and the innocent citizens are compelled to swallow the quack prescriptions of these physicians of death. Forget all the doctored
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“The federal republic of Nigeria is in reality an oligarchy that operates in the full mode of an absolute monarchy; a system of government run by a few people with practically unlimited powers.”
consultative sessions that are held from time to time by government and its agencies before policies are pronounced: they are mere public show-offs. Most decisions are taken before they are brought to the public realm. Have you ever wondered why most government policies are decreed into existence whether the public likes it not? Flash back to the adoption of various economic policies prescribed by Breton wood institutions - International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank et al - such as the asseverating Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the Ibrahim Babangida years, the belt-tightening Austerity Measures of the Shehu Shagari era, etc. The most annoying part of the whole mess is that ordinary citizens are forced to bear the brunt of the careless actions of the blind bats misleading this country whenever these policies fail; which they always do. From poorly conceived economic policies, profitless foreign policy initiatives, to visionless development plans, the princes of this country have continued to act with daring effrontery; they have continued to test the will of Nigerians, pushing them closer daily to the wall. What they have created is “their” republic, not “our” republic. The ricochet effect of this impunity is better not imagined. Our oppressors have no legitimate authority whatsoever to rule over us because what they claim as authority was invented and foisted on us by the precedent set by the first generation of spoilers that ever set foot on our soil. This precedent assumes the right to rule forever, which has been firmly embedded in our politics; a precedent that has been copied to perfection by succeeding generations of hitchhikers who have bestrode this country’s political landscape like colossuses. That is why the “kings” of Nigeria see their positions as divinely ordained and their children – political and biological - as the rightful heirs to their imperial positions. When you hear of political godfathers “anointing” their protégés for political positions, they are simply expression their assumed king-making powers which should not be challenged by mere mortals, for challenging them is said to be the same thing as challenging God. Talking of kings, the Nigerian president is reputed to be the most powerful president in the world. He is the Zeus to whom other lesser divinities must bow - the boss of all bosses whose decisions must never be questioned. Ironically not even the American president, the natural claimant to that exalted position possesses the degree of powers exercised by his Nigerian counterpart. Our president has maximum powers at his disposal. Despite the sterile attempts in recent times - especially since the return of civil rule in 1999 – to check this ugly trend through
constitutional reviews, judicial proclamations, and other feeble moves, not much has changed. Our president has powers comparable to that of an absolute Monarch. He literally controls the flow and exercise of power among the three arms - executive, legislature and judiciary - and levels of government – federal, state and local government. He virtually does no wrong. We are well aware of how the presidency controls the ruling party, consistently influences elections into the national assembly (senate and house of representatives), determines who becomes governor in all the states controlled by the ruling party, appoints, controls and removes principal judicial officers at the national level at will, controls all other significant agencies (public and private) outside its core jurisdiction, appoints and – covertly - controls all principal electoral officers at both the national and sub-national levels, and influences the whole political process - both during and after elections - using the currency of corruption, subterfuge, and naked force at its disposal. This coupled with the dependency toga foisted on its constituents and other related bodies through a sickly federal structure, results almost in complete fusion - or concentration of powers - in just one man and his gang of courtiers. These overbearing attitudes are replicated at all levels of government by the chief executives in office. Only almighty kings exercise such omnipotent authority. In the Nigerian republic there are two classes of citizens: the “real citizens”- that is those who control the machinery for the authoritative allocation of values - and the “associate citizens”- the larger population. The real citizens control all aspects of national life. They decide those that are qualified - or not qualified - to hold public office; decide the kind of policies that best suits the state; and own, control and distribute the resources of the state. The real citizens are the only ones who enjoy full human rights, for the republic is theirs. For the associate citizens, their membership of the state is a privilege and not a right. They are supposed to follow the orders of the real citizens and to refrain from complaining. The few privileges they enjoy are premised on how obediently they kowtow to the whimsical dispositions of their betters. That is why our laws are discriminatory in their application. That is why when a poor man commits a crime he is made to feel the full brunt of the law either through jungle justice or by other damnably punitive measures deemed necessary by our apostles of moral correctness.
Perspective THE Holy Bible, in the book of Matthew chapter 23 verse 23 has it written that “Woe unto you Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone”. The implication of this statement by Jesus Christ is a reflection that religious leaders as at that time, gave prominence to trivial issues at the expense of indispensable issues that impinged on the people negatively: this, obviously, is the case in Nigeria where the fear for contracting Ebola virus is given a pride of place above deadliest corruption virus, which the government have consciously ‘turn a blind eye’ to. Recently, the deadly Ebola virus was smuggled to Nigeria by a LiberianAmerican Patrick Sawyer. That single encounter is responsible for the widespread pandemonium that
has swept through the minds of over a hundred and fifty million Nigerians, thereby, bringing about a cataclysmic eruption that has threatened the ‘who is who’ in the society, and those who are usually referred to as “common man”. Nigeria became the fourth West African country to be hit by the Ebola epidemic after Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has received their piece of the poisonous arrow. After the index case was reported in Nigeria on July 20, 2014, and the infected person subsequently dying, Nigerian government decided not to leave any stone unturned by “taking the bull by the horn” in order to ensure that the presence of the deadly disease is totally obliterated from the country. As part of the attempt by Nigerian government to fight and possibly quench the fiery flame of this deadly disease, a whopping amount of N1.9bn was said to have been released by the federal Government to tackle the spread of the deadly disease
Ag. I.G of Police, Suleiman Abba
Is Corruption Virus Not By OMEIZA ROBINSON OFUJE
in all ramification. This step is a true reflection that government have given prominence to the dangers of Ebola virus and it’s spread among Nigerians. Another attempt by the government to fight Ebola virus in Nigeria, the Nigerian Police in Abuja, organised a one-day training workshop in response to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria. The training was declared open by the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, and the workshop was organised by the Police Medical Department in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health. The workshop had resource persons from the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and World Health Organisation, and was well attended by Police Officers from across the nation. In another development to curb the menace of this ravaging epidemic, Nigeria had trained 800 volunteers to help fight the deadly Ebola virus and its spread among the entire citizenry, which has already claim several lives in the country. Even in Lagos State, there was an appeal for volunteers to make up for shortage of medical personnel in bid to combat and conquer Ebola. According to the spokesman for Lagos State Governor Hakeem Bello, he said that “people have heeded our call for service… We have trained some 800 volunteers in the area of contact tracing, sensitization and treatment of the Ebola disease… Volunteers have so far been deployed to 57 districts of Nigeria, and more are needed to contain the out break, particularly to treat those infected with the disease”. In a press statement that was released, Nigerian Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu announce that the money giving to the Lagos State government by the Federal Government was a separate fund from the N1.9bn release
to the ministry. This money joins millions donated by Corporations in Nigeria, including the Dangote Foundation and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. The ministry said that “ The N200 Million (two hundred million naira) is a distinct and direct Federal Government support to Lagos State and does not preclude other assistance that may be rendered to State through the Federal Ministry of Health”. In another humanitarian effort to curb the spread of Ebola virus, Aliko Dangota Foundation donated N152 million (one hundred and fifty two million naira) to sponsor the Ebola Emergency Operation Centre in Lagos. The ANAP Foundation founded by Mr. Atedo Peterside informed the Minister of health that the foundation would be supporting affected private hospitals to the tune of N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira) per bed space. He also disclosed to the minister that First Consultant Hospital in Lagos where the index case was managed would be the first beneficiary and that the hospital would have receive N4million (four million naira) since its bed capacity is forty. The Tony Elumelu Foundation has pledged a donation of N 50 million (fifty million naira) to support the Federal Government’s containment efforts. Shell Petroleum Limited donated an ambulance to the Ebola Emergency Operation Centre in Lagos. Meanwhile, the Minster of Health has also clarified that the N200 million (two hundred million naira) approved by President Goodluck Jonathan to support the Lagos State Government is not part of the initial N1.9 billion (one billion, nine hundred naira) that was released to the Federal Ministry of Health. These various attempts, and many more, which may either
be implied or express, has become empirical evidence to the world that the Nigerian government have been swift to respond to this recent threat that visits its victims with the cold hands of death to snatch them away one after another. It should therefore be noteworthy that so much attention have been give to the fear for contracting Ebola virus than a more deadly virus which cannot be medically confronted, by name corruption. Some Nigerians have
They hold that it may either have been an agreement by selected individuals in Nigeria who are grossly corrupt, that affiliated with another country to bring about Ebola Virus in Nigeria so that they could use that means to generate funds for their private pocket and that other country also having their own Chunk of the dividend. Others argue that, the Aviation Minister, prior to the entrance of Ebola virus in Nigeria, along side with other Aviation Personnel, allowed that ‘loophole’ consciously, so
Ebola Virus argued that the index case of Ebola virus presence in Nigeria has its foundation on the very nature of corruption that could be traced to the bones of most Nigerians. In some people’s opinion, it has gone beyond the blood and veins of most Nigerians, thereby becoming an integral part of the people which cannot be easily dealt with. Corruption indeed, responsible for Ebola virus in Nigeria as some Nigerians have noted in their opinion.
that the terms of contract between them and where Patrick Sawyer came from, would be properly formalised and strictly adhered to. Whether or not this assertion by some Nigerians is true, it obviously becomes a crystal clear pointer to Nigerians that the issue of corruption is something that calls for urgent attention in such that if it
“Some Nigerians have argued that the index case of Ebola virus presence in Nigeria has its foundation on the very nature of corruption that could be traced to the bones of most Nigerians. In some people’s opinion, it has gone beyond the blood and veins of most Nigerians, thereby becoming an integral part of the people which cannot be easily dealt with.” EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde
recei like rece econ story turn Un corru stake Fede the t the N conta the d T Asso lawy
some Federa divert funds. Th Gener Alaya should of seei Ebola oppor thems P Jonath 2014, of N1 interv weeks directi be rele Th genera had be fund diseas users. Ala seen a money
Perspective
Deadlier Than Ebola?
ives positive attention Ebola virus has in ent times, the socionomic cum political y in Nigeria would have a new leaf. nder the arrangement of uption in Nigeria, some eholders have urged the eral Government to shun temptation of diverting N1.9bn set aside for the ainment of the spread of deadly Ebola virus. The Nigerian Medical ociation, Human Rights yer, Femi Falana, and
activists warned the al Government against ting the intervention . he NMA Secretary ral, Dr. Adewunmi aki, said that people d avoid the temptation ing the outbreak of the a virus as an rtunity to enrich elves. resident Goodluck han has on August 8, approved the release 1.9bn as the Ebola ention fund. But two s after the presidential ive, the fund had yet to eased. he NMA Secretaryal claimed that there een instances in which allocated to fight e did not get to the end
it will not get to the end users. Whatever is allocated to fight Ebola, let that money be used for that purpose… people will want to take advantage of what is going on to enrich themselves. That is not the best. What we are saying is that the money should be released to the end users.” Also, Falana and other activists have asked Nigerians to demand accountability from the government on how the money would be spent. They condemned the delay in
disbursing the fund to various state governments. They believe that the money can be diverted for funding the President’s re-election bid, the same concern which they expressed about the $1bn loan being requested by the Federal Government to fight insurgency. Another Nigerian Lawyer, Agbaje, expressed doubt if the money would be used for fighting Ebola virus. He said “The fund must reach the state government as soon as possible and the state governments must tell us what they have judiciously used the money”. It is explicit however that even people who are closer to government than the ‘common man’, still express fear for corruption among government officials in such that Femi Falana was also recorded to ayaki said “We have have said that “The Federal a lot of cases in which Government should release the y will be released and funds to the state governments
in the interest of the health of Nigerians which requires the full attention of the government. If that is not done as soon as possible, some of us may compel the government to release the fund”. Fashakin, another legal luminary in the country, was also recorded to have said that “Granted that it could not have been the fault of the government as to how Ebola got into this nation, but when we are talking about the containment of the disease, a lot of shenanigans and chicaneries, that is, the secrecy and the deception that the Jonathan government is known, calls for concern”. During a press conference, Prof. Chukwu, denied the money was for management of the virus, saying it was for the ministry of health and will be used to buy cars and other things. He said that “The N1.9bn approved by the president was for the Federal Ministry of health. It is not for Ebola fund. It will be used to procure more vehicles for working which have been ordered. It would be used to procure more drugs that have been ordered… and other items”. In a strict sense, this is
totally contrary to the announcement that Presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati made on August 8 th 2014, to the effect that “President Jonathan also approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of N1.9billion for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing, deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items and facilities”. When will Nigerians have a rethinking change of attitude and value for quality life as against corruption? Live have been lost to Ebola virus outbreak for quite a while. Every Nigerian have been embraced with fear for contracting this deadly disease, yet, others are easily embezzling, mismanaging and stealing funds from the money that has been said to have been released by Federal Government. Though the ‘thieves’ within this context may also be engulfed with fear, they do not share the pain of having sleepless nights like
“Another Nigerian Lawyer, Agbaje, expressed doubt if the money would be used for fighting Ebola virus. He said “The fund must reach the state government as soon as possible and the state governments must tell us what they have judiciously used the money”. some who have been quarantine in connection to this epidemic. The fund that was said to have been released by the federal Government was meant for prevention, treatment and eradication of the deadly disease, but some people who have ‘past feelings’, have decided to retain the wickedness in their hearts against their fellow Nigerians who are equally at risk of being infected. If the position of the assertion that the funds that have been released by the Federal Government have truly been diverted by some people to gratify their selfish ambition, how then does the government seek to curb this menace and being the culprit to book so that the long arms of the law will catch-up with them thereby making it obvious to Nigerians that the rule of law still stands. This present administration should endeavour to exhaust
all the avenues through which corruption could be completely ostracized so that the decaying system will receive the breathe of life and return back to active process of being named among the developed nations of the world. Enjoying the benefits of impunity will continue to suppress Nigeria to remain under the ‘lock and key’ of being named among the third world countries. The president and members of his cabinet however, should see this medium as an opportunity to vehemently fight and demonstrate strong determination to counter corruption because it is evident that the deaf can hear it, and the blind can see too, that the bane of corruption is far more deadly than the pride of place that has recently been given to the fear of contracting Ebola virus in Nigeria; corruption is what we should fear and fight most
“The president and members of his cabinet however, should see this medium as an opportunity to vehemently fight and demonstrate strong determination to counter corruption because it is evident that the deaf can hear it, and the blind can see too, that the bane of corruption is far more deadly than the pride of place that has recently been given to the fear of contracting Ebola virus in Nigeria; corruption is what we should fear and fight most”
Drumbeats
None Shall Be Barren (4) A discovery in life will always help one to recover what he or she has lost in the past. Jesus discovered that we were heading for destruction and without any hope of salvation required and this led him to offer his life as a substitute for our redemption. What have you lost in the past or present as a result of barrenness in your life? Is it a son, daughter, wife, husband, property or a company? If you can discover what led to those loses, then you are heading for the top and I can see success beckoning on you and you are next on line for a major breakthrough and testimony. “And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire. And had taken the women captives that were therein; they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city and behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelites, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed. For the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters, but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God And David said to Abiather the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the Ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired of the Lord, saying, shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue: for thou shall surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. And when he has brought him down, behold, they were spread ‘abroad’ upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. So David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day, and
there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughter, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them, David recovered all’ 1st Samuel 30:1 8, 16 19 If David could recovered all his great loses, then I see no reason why you cannot recover all that the enemy may have taken away from you through barrenness or mistake of yours in the past or even now. Note that you cannot by your might and strength recover all that you may have lost except you ask God for assistance, direction and help. God is our Creator, and as such he knew what led to our loses and he alone can help us discover and recover all that we have lost through barrenness, carelessness and all that the enemies have taken away from us forcefully. Wherever the enemy may have taken your possession to; either in this country or outside Nigeria, God can help you and I to recover them all. Believer’s Right and Privileges in Christ In the secular world, if you know your right, you cannot be easily cheated. So it is in the spiritual realm. Your ability to know your right and privilege in Christ will help you to overcome every barrenness the enemy may bring across your way. Many Christians are poor, defeated, wretched and miserable today, because they don’t know their right in Christ. In April 26th, 1998, the Lord spoke this word into my spirit when I was going to our evening church program. “He said, son, if you are poor, the fault is yours.” I was shocked to hear that from God, I then asked him to please explain to me what he meant by that word. “He said, everything that will make you rich in this world and be envied by sinners, I have put all inside of you; so if you are poor, the fault is yours.” Friends, God was very right. If you know me very we1l, you will know that God has invested many gifts and potentials in my life, It is what I have which I fail to utilize
that will lead to my poverty and your poverty. In March 17th, 2007, I was going in company of some group of people in a vision when the Lord send a woman to give me some vital information. This woman was driving a jeep and the moment she saw me, she stopped and called me out of the group I was going out with. She told me God had given me a big field and that everything I desired in life are inside the field, including gold, diamond, silver, dollars, nairas, pounds, are all in the field which God had given to
to lose in the past. Majority of us are like Adam and Eve, we are quick to blame God for our problem and difficulties in life and to remind him of what we have not achieved. Don’t allow the devil, ignorant, doubt and fear to rob you of your right in Christ. It is your right to vote and be voted for, it is your right to buy a car, build a house, and above all, it is your right to ask God for anything and to receive them. It is your right to live a healthy life, let’s look at what Apostle John said: “I wish above all things that
me and that the more I till the land, the more I will reap what is in the field, but if am not willing enough, lazy and disobedient to go and preach, help others and heal those who are sick and afflicted, God said he will take away that field from me and give it to someone who is more worthy and willing. Friends, do you know who was that field, which God was talking about? That field that is full of all minerals, gold, diamond, dollars, naira is me. If I fail to obey God and exercise my right in achieving all that God had given to me, I will never be relevant in this world. Majority of believers in Christ had lost their wealth, son, daughter and their lives because of failure to exercise their right judiciously and claim what the enemy, friends and ignorant had made them
thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth 3rd John 2 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty where with Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” Galatians 5:1 The knowledge of what you know and have will help to give you the desire of your heart. Many Christians will not make heaven, not only because of the sin of adultery, fornication, murder, lying and stealing, but also the sin of disobedience and inferiority complex. The bible made us to understand that the wealth of the unbeliever is laid in store for the righteous. God has never intended unbelievers to rule or have power more than his children, the right of inheritance is yours forever. Don’t live like a slave on earth.
With Apostle Dr. Raphael O. Ayemere 08035459593
“When he was come down from the mountain, great multitude followed Him. And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying Lord, if thou will, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Matthew 8:1-3
word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this man, go, and he goeth, and to another, come and he cometh, and to my servant, do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, verily I say unto you, I have not found so
If Jesus Christ did not delay in showing and demonstrating God’s will in the life of this leper, why did you think he will rejoice over your sickness, poverty, lack, attack from Satan and his agents? It is not your tears and complain that will help to restore your lost glory and make you to be fruitful, but your ability to know your right and utilize it judiciously will help you to sit upon the throne of your destiny here on earth. “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching and saying, Lord my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof but speak the
great faith, no, not in Israel And I say unto you that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness, there shall be weeping, and gnashing of teeth” And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done onto thee, And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour”. Matthew8:513 God is still very sad in heaven when he sees his children being marginalized, beaten, abused, isolated and rejected by people who are supposed to be their slaves on earth. It is time you wake up to your responsibility and take that which is rightfully yours.
Law Matters
Lawyers, Heaven And Moral High Ground “A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns” (Mario PuzoTHE GODFATHER). AS the fraternal and identical twins are cantankerously different, so also idiosyncratic incompatibilities transverse the totality of most societies. But the mechanics and dynamics of consultative initiative, sound education, good laws and sociopolitical engineering processes help to build multidimensional bridges aimed at making society a better place and man a more civilised and conscientious homo-sapien. In building good societies all hands must be on deck towards ensuring justice, equality, rule of law, freedom, peace and progress for all. But the Lawyer and the Judiciary have a fundamentally crucial role to play through the instrumentality of the law and fear of God. But not all lawyers and judges believe in God. Those who believe know that the ultimate judge is Jehovah God Almighty and that ultimately there will be a judgment-(Heaven and paradise on earth for the adjudged good ones). The ethics of the legal profession is fulcrumed and matrixed on the principles of equity, fairness and transparency in the dissemination of justice. Hence, it is the “NOBLE PROFESSION” and sunken in the groundswell, the moral high ground and grundnorm of NOBLISSE OBLIGE(Noble men must do noble things and all who must go to equity must come with clean hands). The United States Supreme Court Judge Antonio Scalia said “the good societies are not achieved by good laws, but are built upon the effect of one good person upon another and to expect more from law/Lawyers than good behaviour demeans virtue” All religions believe that there is reward for good and for evil. Religions and moral philosophy share a common concern with the question of what is good life for humanity?. - That is with morality. However, the ways in which philosophy and the religions of the world answer this question differ. Whereas contemporary philosophers tend to discuss morality without reference to anything beyond the human, religions see good and evil within a wider cosmological framework. The cosmological super structure transcends humanity and revolves around the
placebo laws, poor and ludibrastic court verdicts and legal crash helmets are being provided for criminals by lawyers-stimulated by pecuniary inducements. There is consummate dearth of conscience and fear of God amongst many lawyers in their pursuit of mundane ideals. They capitalize on the ignorance of clients, and have become 419
in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and the Need for Reforms”. Lawyers in a lighter mood talked on this question of “Lawyers, the Moral High Ground and Heaven”. Hon. Justice Niki Tobi, harped on the issue off integrity. He said “if at all any profession needs integrity, that one is the legal profession. A person cannot be a successful practitioner unless he is a person of integrity. A person of integrity is the one who has
forward, he suggested that, the only way to ensure integrity amongst legal practitioners is to step up disciplinary action against erring legal practitioners in the performance of their professional duties. They should either be removed from the Bar list or suspended for a period, depending on the gravity of the professional misconduct. When bad eggs are flushed out, the profession will maintain the required integrity and that should be our goal. We entirely agree with the submissions of Hon. Justice Niki Tobi, but wish to add that when the fear of God and the desire to make heaven becomes the driving force behind our lawyers and their actions, it will make lasting impact on them.
king pins, political crooks and defenders for pecuniary reasons of confessed assassins, armed robbers, land speculators, ritualists and rapists etc. They put their knowledge to illegitimate, immoral and criminal use under the guise of a criminal is innocent until proven guilt. Hence, Napoleon Bonaparte observed that “doth the wolf tamely relinquish his prey or the fox his booty? How then expectest thou to rescue thy goods from the fangs of the man of law?” The Warri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association on Friday January 29th 2010 at the Dr. Mudiaga Odje Hall- Law Centre, Warri held its anniversary lecture in honour of John Alele Esq-50years of private legal practice. The occasion was simply glorious as legal gargantuans from all walks of life graced the occasion with their brilliant presence. Although the keynote address delivered by Late Hon.Justice Niki Tobi, JSC, OFR was titled “Legal Practice
sound moral fortitude, faithfulness, honesty, fidelity, moral soundness, probity, propriety, righteousness, truthfulness, uprightness of character are all synonymous with integrity in the strict or large content of the word”. The way and manner in which lawyers and the judiciary compromise integrity remains sordidly eldritch. Hence, Napoleon Bonaparte said “justice is blind, but not always deaf, for in many cases she loveth to listen to the sweet ringing of gold and silver”. Most lawyers, legal officers and judges are quintessentially corrupt. Hon Niki Tobi further stated that “A legal practitioner who is interested in both the briefs of the plaintiff and the defendant is a person of no integrity. So also is one who is interested in both the briefs of the prosecution and the accused. A legal practitioner who is paid fees for a case but refuses or fails to appear for the client is one without integrity.” As a palliative on the way
But who is the ultimate decider as to who goes to heaven. It is our good works, faith and the grace of God. in Jeremiah chapter 9 verses 23 and 24, the Bible said, “ Thus saith the LORD, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which excersises loving Kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord”. In the Grail Message ABDRUSHIN posited thus, an eternal law operates in the Universe: That in giving can one receives where lasting values are concerned; like a sacred legacy of its creator, this law deeply permeates the whole of creation. To give unselfishly, to help where help is needed and to understand both the suffering and the weakness of your fellowmen; means to receive because it is the simple and true
By BOBSON GBINIJE
activities of supernatural beings- God Almighty , gods, angels, ancestors, Satan, demons etc. Religions also maintain that the full significance of good and evil can only be appreciated in terms of beliefs about the continuance of human life beyond the grave. A bad and wicked life is rewarded with evil, some say Hell. The Eckists, Buddhists, Confucianism, Rosicrucian teachings and Freemasons etc are sunken in esoteric nirvana, karmic laws, meditations , transcendentalisms and transmogrifications etc. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism see human life in terms of an eternal cycle of birth and rebirth operating according to the moral laws of Karma. Under this law, observance of religious duty is rewarded by good birth, while nonobservance is punished by a bad birth. It is now clear that all religions agree that the only way to divine upliftment is through good works. Heaven is heaven, but the expressivity index varies from one religion to another. However, heaven is the dwelling place of God Almighty, faithful spirit creatures, spiritual bliss and afflatus. A place and realm invisible to the human eye. The nuts and bolts of the legal profession make a lawyer prone and vulnerable to evil and good. But the modus operandi of carrying out his job makes the vast majority of lawyers to lean towards fraudulent manipulations, lying, deliberate falsehoods, Machiavellian legal technicalities to frustrate good judgment, double speak and apocryphal dealings with plaintiffs and defendants, frivolous application for adjournments, legal acrobatics, and manipulating evidences to truncate justice and constitutional pettifogging, etc. Heuristically didactic books on legal philosophy and ethics like, ‘Dejure belli ac pacis’ by Hugo Grotius, ‘De Justica et De Jure’ by Lessius, De Jure Naturae et Gentium’ by Pefendorf and Tractatus De Legibus’ by Suarez have dealt consummately with the doctrine of necessity’ and the jurisprudential grundnorm of probity and integrity amongst lawyers and the judiciary . But in our society, certified criminals in high places are being protected by lawyers, unsound and eldrichtly manipulated judgments from some judges. The noble profession is becoming a failed and depraved one because of
way to the Highest. Without obstructing the trajectory of this discourse with a gossamer of skewed objectivity, sentimental patitio principi, judgemental fallacies and prejudicial projectiles, it is clear that salvation and the path to heaven is an individual albatross which everybody must work out with fear, respect and reverential apotheosization of God through keeping his commandments. We have seen a thousand and one lawyers and members of the judiciary who have committed themselves to defending the defenseless, being voice for the voiceless and through philanthropic and altruistic gestures touched the lives of the helpless and the poor thereby bettering our society. We have also seen lawyers and other legal practitioners who have stood and still standing with unweanable proclivity for the nicety and without any nitty-gritty for the truth and transparency of the law and good conscience. They do not resort to establish their averments. It is recorded in one of the synoptic gospels that James and John the sons of Zebedee asked Jesus Christ to grant them a place, one on his left side and the other on his right, when his kingdom shall come. Jesus answered and said “to sit on my left side or on my right is not mine to give, it is meant for those for whom they are prepared”. Yes, it could be meant and prepared for our lawyers and judges too, if they uphold the truth, display integrity, serve humanity themselves, shun corruption, 419, client manipulations, unnecessary arrogance and luciferous quest for material abundance. Lawyers are by training noblemen, adjudicators, leaders and societal path finders, but when they fail, the oracular counsel admonishes them, thus “As the volcano bursts with a louder explosion, when the combustible matter is confined within his bosom, so will a nation’s revenge find vent, the more their wrongs are repressed”. Finally, the shipwrecked mariner may escape the raging billows, and the thief the gallows-tree, but not the wrath of God by their names being struck out from the Book OF Life. Lawyers must listen to this ‘CALL TO ORDER’ and revert to the ethics of their profession through fear and reverences for God to enable them make Heaven.
“But the Lawyer and the Judiciary have a fundamentally crucial role to play through the instrumentality of the law and fear of God. But not all lawyers and judges believe in God. Those who believe know that the ultimate judge is Jehovah God Almighty and that ultimately there will be a judgment-(Heaven and paradise on earth for the adjudged good ones).”
Issues Issues “In Nigeria for instance, we cannot say that productivity is what it should be; we cannot say that corruption is less; so to do a review at the end of every three years will be difficult because the indices may not be there.’’
National Confab Delegates during their delebration.
Revisiting National Confab’s ‘Nay’ Vote On Minimum Wage
ONE of the resolutions at the just concluded National Conference that continues to attract reactions is the rejection of a proposal to increase the national minimum wage. The Confab committee on Public Service had recommended the review of national minimum wage every five years to keep it in tune with cost of living and realities of the time. A delegate from River, Chief Sergeant Awuse proposed an increase of the national minimum wage from N18, 000 to 40,000. He said that going by the economic realities; N18, 000, “ is not a living wage’’ and asked his colleagues if any of them could survive with such meagre salary. Mr Clement Mgbada, a delegate from the South East, said N18, 000 minimum was too paltry for public servants, adding that endemic corruption in the system was as a result of poor remuneration. He also said that the issue of minimum wage should continue to be in the Exclusive List of the
By CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO
constitution. In spite of the views expressed by some delegates on the need to increase the national minimum wage, when it was put to vote, an overwhelming majority of the delegates said ‘nay.’ Though the conference had submitted its reports, the rejection of hike of the national minimum wage has continued to elicit reactions from Nigerians of all walks of life. They say that the issue should be revisited; stressing that salary should be based on cost of living index. Mr Gerald Ukeni, the General Secretary, Nigeria Civil Service Union, said it was wise for any progressive
economy to periodically review the salary of its workers. Ukeni said that workers are always the ones affected by inflation; hike in house rents, hike in school fees and other adverse economic trends without a corresponding increment in their wages. “Reviewing of workers’ wages every five years is a healthy thing for industrial peace and democracy; the wage that was implemented in 2011 is no more relevant going by the economic trend and price of goods. “In Nigeria, there is price abuse; while the wage remains fixed, prices cannot be fixed because of the economy we run here.
“People fix prices for their commodities in whichever way they want; prices are not regulated by the forces of demand and supply. “Immediately there is a wage increase, the landlord will skyrocket house rent; the market women will skyrocket prices of goods; so, it makes a mincemeat of the increment.’’ He said that as trade union members, they knew that workers were at the receiving end of stagnant wages, adding that it would be proper to review workers’ wages every three years in order to cushion the effect of rising inflation. According to Ukeni, there is need to set up a committee of experts who will always
be monitoring the economy and give out indices that can help for planning. He however said that it was imperative for any economy to review its performance in terms of productivity and other economic factors before reviewing wages. “In such economy, there must be productivity; there must be minimal corrupt practices; there must be a national consciousness and respect for the institutions. “In Nigeria for instance, we cannot say that productivity is what it should be; we cannot say that corruption is less; so to do a review at the end of every three years will be difficult because the indices may not be there.’’ Besides wage increase, Ukeni said that providing facilities such as houses, good environment for workers and subsidising school fees in both public and private schools could reduce agitation for wage increase. Ukeni said that in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, many workers struggle to pay for accommodation with their meagre salaries. Mr Martins Oche, a civil servant, who commented on the upward review of the national minimum, said the rejection was unfair. He said that they should have borrowed a leaf from countries that review their national minimum wage every three or five years.
“Reviewing of workers’ wages every five years is a healthy thing for industrial peace and democracy; the wage that was implemented in 2011 is no more relevant going by the economic trend and price of goods. In Nigeria, there is price abuse; while the wage remains fixed, prices cannot be fixed because of the economy we run here”.
n his part, the National Chairman, Progressives People Alliance (PPA), Mr Peter Ameh, faulted the rejection of increase in the national minimum wage. The national chairman said the welfare of Nigerian workers should be accorded priority, because of their enormous contributions to national development. “Proper housing and transportation schemes should be put in place to better the welfare of workers,” he said. Ameh, however, lauded the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and called on the Federal Government to enhance the scheme, quoting the old adage that “a healthy workforce is a better nation.” Sharing similar sentiments, the National Secretary, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Mr Gilbert Agbo, said government should put in place sustainable welfare scheme for workers. Agbo who was not comfortable with the Confab’s resolution on national minimum wage, said that “Nigeria has the resources to take care of the needs of her workers.” He said there was the need for government to enhance the standard of living of its workers with a good salary scheme in tune with the economic situation in the country. “Government should provide a more realistic wage level that will alleviate the difficulties experienced by Nigerian workers,” he said. Stakeholders say that workers’ welfare is a sine qua non for increased productivity and overall economic growth; therefore, it must be given adequate attention by government through periodic wage review. (NAN).
Political Platform AS the nation’s political parties strategise ahead of the forthcoming general elections, analysts say that one major headache is how to address the challenge of conducting credible and acceptable elections in 2015. The origin of election in Nigeria can be traced to the pre-independence period, when the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) was established for the purpose of conducting the 1959 general elections. In 1960, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) also conducted the postindependence federal and regional elections of 1964 and 1965, respectively. The Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) was constituted by the military regime of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, which organised the 1979 general elections that ushered in the Second Republic. FEDECO also conducted the 1983 general elections before the military interruption. Besides, the National Electoral Commission (NEC), which was established by the former Military President Ibrahim Babangida , also conducted the June 12, 1993 election, annulled by the same administration. Also, in December 1995, the military government of late Gen. Sani Abacha scrapped NEC and established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), which also conducted local government councils and National Assembly elections. However, the sudden death of Abacha on June 1998 aborted the process of inauguration of the elected officials. In 1998, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar-led military administration dissolved NECON and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which ushered in the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999. To consolidate its existence as a truly independent electoral body, INEC has so far conducted three major general elections – 1999, 2007 and 2011.
Pundits, however, argue that most of the previous elections conducted by INEC were either marred by allegations of rigging, ballot snatching, ballot stuffing, bribery and corruption or outright irregularities, thereby casting doubt on their credibility. Available records show that while the 2007 election was generally described as flawed, the 2011 election was marred by electoral violence. It is, perhaps, against this background that the President of the Senate, David Mark, urged INEC to do everything within its powers to conduct credible elections in 2015. Mark gave the advice in his contributions on a motion for the extension of ongoing voter registration and distribution of permanent voter cards in the country. He said that the 2015 elections were very critical and charged the commission to take the preparatory stages as voter registration and permanent voter cards distribution, seriously. According to him, if people are disenfranchised from the early stages of election preparation, then there will be problem with the general elections. He said that INEC did not give adequate publicity to the permanent voter cards distribution, adding that the quality of the card also needed to be improved upon. “I think that the publicity given by INEC is not enough. We must get it right and if there are complaints, even if from only two persons, INEC should look into it. “Some wards are very far from local government headquarters; so, between now and Dec. 5, they must rectify all these issues. The quality of the card is even very poor,” he said. Mark advised INEC to embark on massive publicity at the local government and ward levels, of its ongoing activities, adding that the publicity should be continuous. To allay the fears of people like Mark, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, assures Nigerians that the 2015 elections will be the best ever conducted in the country.
Addressing The Challenge Of Credible Election In Nigeria By SANI ADAMU
He said his optimism was based on the strategies put in place by the commission well ahead of the elections. Jega spoke in Paris, France, at a luncheon in his honour by the staff of the Nigerian Embassy, saying that the commission would spare no effort to make the 2015 elections, not only the best in Nigeria’s political history, but also the most acceptable to the citizenry and the international community. “Between now and 2015, INEC will put many structures in place to ensure
before the 2015 elections,” he said. Jega said INEC had set up databases at the national level and in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory, aimed at institutionalising a system of continuous voter registration. “We are now working very hard to clean up that data and consolidate it and to ensure that both the states’ data and the national data are well integrated. “Our hope is that before
On the conduct of the 2015 general elections in the three northern states under emergency, Jega says the successful conduct of byelections in Yobe is an indication that the commission will be able to conduct elections in the affected states. The by-election was for the Nangere Constituency of the State House of Assembly, when the seat became vacant after the member representing the constituency,
that the 2015 elections are not only the best in the history of our country but also the most accepted by our citizens,” Jega said. According to him, among the measures put in place are the ongoing consolidation and updating of the voter register and the issuance of permanent voter cards to all eligible voters. “I assure Nigerians that INEC will achieve a seamless integration of the data of voters and institutionalise continuous voter registration
the end of this year, we will have the technology sorted out so that people can register continuously. “And it will not just be fresh registration; but people who have changed their addresses can apply, following a stipulated procedure wherever they are, to have their registration status updated,” he stated. He said if INEC could achieve that, there would be no need to continue to do a major registration before an election.
Adamu Degubi, was killed by gunmen in June 2012. “From all the reports that we received, the by-election was one of the best elections that we have conducted so far in terms of turn out and in terms of commencement on time. All polling units were ready for the election before 7.30 a.m.” Jega said. “If anybody had any doubts as to our preparedness to conduct any election in the three states, this is clear evidence that we are prepared to do it and do it well under any circumstances,” Jega said. Re-enforcing the optimism of Jega, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, says the 2015 elections will hold in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, in spite of the emergency rule in the affected areas.
“We just extended the state of emergency and it will expire in November. We hope that by then, we would have contained the insurgency. If elections come and there is still insecurity, we will still hold election because we have had local government elections in the North-East despite the state of emergency.”
Ekweremadu, who spoke recently in Abuja when a delegation from the European Union visited him, said the right to vote is fundamental human rights, even under emergency rule. “We just extended the state of emergency and it will expire in November. We hope that by then, we would have contained the insurgency. “If elections come and there is still insecurity, we will still hold election because we have had local government elections in the North-East
despite the state of emergency,” he said. Perceptive observers, nonetheless, advise INEC and the security agencies to also look at the issue of pockets of insecurity in other parts of the country particularly in the Niger Delta region. Political analysts, however, insist that Nigerians cannot abandon the issue of election credibility to INEC and the government alone, adding that the citizens must see themselves as stakeholders in making it work. They say that Nigeria needs credible election in 2015 for the country to survive beyond 2015, noting that the fight against corruption and bad governance will also be a mirage as long as the legitimacy of elected leaders is questionable.
View Point “The technology was inaugurated in Abuja about three months ago and right now, the mobile laboratory for testing water is working. We have used it in scanning and testing water; we will move all over the country to test the quality of water being sold to the public.” “The technology was inaugurated in Abuja about three months ago and right now, the mobile laboratory for testing water is working. “We have used it in scanning and testing water; we will move all over the country to test the quality of water being sold to the public,’’ he added. Jimoh said that the essence of testing sachet water was to safeguard the health of Nigerians by ensuring the safety of the water being sold to the public. However, in some places,
sanctions will be imposed on the factory,’’ he said. Fagboyo reiterated the commitment of NAFDAC to ensuring the eradication of counterfeit drugs, foods and cosmetics in the state. “What we did in 2013 was to appeal to the conscience of sachet water producers in the state through a workshop we organised for them on the need to strictly adhere to production standards. “Henceforth, any person caught producing or selling sachet water without NAFDAC approved
where the technology has yet to be introduced, NAFDAC is using other methods to ensure the safety of the sachet water on sale. For instance, Mr Kayode Fagboyo, the NAFDAC Coordinator in Osun, said that some sachet water factories were recently shut in the state because they failed to meet with the required standards. He said that the agency had to close down the sachet water factories, following complaints by some consumers over the quality of the water produced by the affected factories. “Through our field survey, we have discovered that many of the factories are no longer producing sachet water under the conditions which made us to grant them the approval to produce in the first instance. “We have now made it clear to all sachet water producers that we will be visiting their factories once in a month unannounced. “If we get to any factory and we find out that the conditions which existed when the production approval was given no longer exist; we will withdraw the approval and appropriate
registration number will be made to face the wrath of the law,’’ he warned. He emphasised that routine inspection of sachet water factories by NAFDAC officials would continue in all parts of the state. Fagboyo advised the owners of food and drug factories to comply with NAFDAC’s production guidelines, urging the public to also be conscious of the products they bought. He, however, vowed that NAFDAC would make concerted and pragmatic efforts to stamp out the sales of unregistered sachet water across the country. Although some concerned citizens have proposed a total ban on the production and sale of sachet water, observers insist that the inadequacies in public water supply and economic benefits of sachet water production should also be considered. They, however, recommend that in the meantime, NAFDAC should be encouraged to intensify its efforts to ensure strict compliance with the standards set for the production of sachet water and other food items.
NAFDAC And The War Against Unregistered Sachet Water BY most accounts, that the production of sachet water, popularly called “pure water’’, has been a major source of income for many people across the country. Economists note that the production, marketing and consumption of sachet water have recently increased tremendously, as the moneyspinning business how has several brands on sale. Attesting to this, Dr Paul Orhii, Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said that a lot of money was realised daily from the sales of sachet water across the country. Due to the lucrative nature of the business, Orhii, during a visit to Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, the DirectorGeneral of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja, said that a lot of
people had ventured into sachet water production. He, nonetheless, expressed regret that in spite of the prospects of the business, some sachet water producers had wilfully decided not to follow the regulations prescribed for sachet water production by NAFDAC. He lamented that the environment in which some of the sachet water producers operated was not hygienic, while some of them had not registered with the agency. In view of this, Mr Olatunbosun Adeoye, an environmentalist, argued that NAFDAC should be more proactive in determining the prerequisites for sachet water production so as to ensure the safety of the public. He alleged that some sachet water producers packaged untreated water from various sources and labelled it as “pure water’’ with fake
By VICTOR ADEOTI
NAFDAC registration number on the sachets. Another environmentalist, Mr Lekan Agboola, noted that in some cases, consumers had expressed concern with the appearance and taste of some sachet water with NAFDAC numbers. He said that in recent years, some research had been carried out in various parts of the country to determine the purity of sachet water. He stressed that the results of the research revealed that the “pure water’’ might not be completely “pure’’ and safe for human consumption because of the unhygienic conditions in which the water was processed. In the light of this, NAFDAC says that it has begun a nationwide assessment of sachet water
factories, as part of efforts to ensure the wholesomeness of the water, Mr Abubakar Jimoh, the Director of Special Duties in NAFDAC, said that the agency had introduced modern mobile laboratory equipment for the survey. He said that the equipment was used for onsite physicalchemical microbiological test analysis to ensure that the sachet water being sold to the public met safety standards. Jimoh said that the agency had carried out the exercise in Nasarawa State, adding that the sachet water analysis was going on in some parts of the country. “We are still trying to build on the latest technology; we have introduced another technology called modern mobile laboratory equipment used for testing the quality of water.
“Through our field survey, we have discovered that many of the factories are no longer producing sachet water under the conditions which made us to grant them the approval to produce in the first instance. We have now made it clear to all sachet water producers that we will be visiting their factories once in a month unannounced.”
International UN Chief Urges C.African Ceasefire, Political Transition
UNITED NATIONS (UNITED STATES) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged all sides in the Central African Republic’s unrest “to put an immediate end” to fighting and advance the political transition. As African-led peacekeeping forces (MISCA) transferred authority to the United Nations mission (MINUSCA), Ban urged “all Central African stakeholders to sustain their commitment to an inclusive political process to ensure the successful completion of the country’s transition.” Sunday’s “transfer of authority marks the successful completion of MISCA’s mandate and the beginning of MINUSCA’s CHANGE OF NAME
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military and police action in the Central African Republic,” Ban said in the statement. He expressed “his great appreciation to MISCA, which has saved and protected many lives, alongside the French Sangaris forces and the European Union Force” — also present in CAR. The UN chief also praised “the exemplary collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union.” Currently, the UN said its peacekeeping mission in CAR includes 6,500 soldiers, 1,000 police officers and a civilian CHANGE OF NAME
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component. The mission “will prioritize the protection of civilians, as well as support to the political process and state-building efforts,” the statement said. The UN force, created under Security Council authorization in April, has a mandate for up to 12,000 soldiers and police, and is due to operate through April 30, 2015. The peacekeepers are charged with re-establishing order and security in a country plunged into chaos and violence between militias since the overthrow of president Francois Bozize in March 2013. A transitional president, Catherine Samba Panza, took office in January, and she has overseen the signing of a ceasefire pact between the mainly Muslim Seleka forces and the largely Christian “anti-balaka” militias that emerged to wreak vengeance against Muslims for atrocities by ex-rebels. CHANGE OF NAME
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KIEV - US-led military exercises began in Ukraine yesterday as fighting rumbled on in the restive east between government forces and proRussian rebels, despite a 10-dayold ceasefire. Civilian casualties were reported in heavy shelling around the rebel stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine yesterday, with Kiev accusing the separatists of jeopardising the truce by intensifying attacks against government positions. In a show of solidarity for the pro-Western leadership in Kiev, soldiers from 15 nations including the United States began military exercises dubbed “Rapid Trident 14” near the western city of Lviv yesterday, about 620 miles (1,000 kilometres) from the conflict in Donetsk. The United States was expected to send around 200 troops, the first such deployment since the proMoscow uprising erupted across eastern Ukraine in April. Defence Minister Valeriy Geletey said on Sunday that NATO member states were sending weapons to Ukraine, although this has been previously been denied. A NATO official said he could neither confirm nor deny the claim “as any such delivery would be done on a bilateral basis”. Ukraine’s new leaders have nevertheless announced they want to begin taking steps to join the Western military alliance, a red line for Kiev’s former Soviet masters in Moscow. The conflict in industrial eastern Ukraine has sent ties between Russia and the West plunging to their lowest point since the Cold War and raised the prospect of a wider confrontation
Ukraine Hosts US-Led Military Drills
on Europe’s eastern flank. The warring sides signed up to a 12-point ceasefire in the Belarussian capital Minsk on September 5, but there have been reports of violations almost daily. President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel “expressed concern” about the breaches in a telephone call late Sunday, his office said. It also said Merkel backed Poroshenko’s plans to introduce legislation in parliament this week, offering limited self-rule for the eastern regions that form the economic backbone of Ukraine, a key provision of the truce. The pan-European security body the OSCE, which brokered the accord, said its monitors witnessed shelling in a district of Donetsk on Sunday and that rebels had reported four people killed. Donetsk city council also said there had been civilian casualties but gave no further details. “The terrorist actions are threatening the realisation of the Ukrainian president’s peace plan,” said Volodymyr Polyovy, a spokesman for the national security and defence council in Kiev. He also took aim at comments by two rebel leaders who both signed the truce deal but declared on Sunday that they were mere “observers” at the talks. Sunday’s fighting appeared to be heaviest near Donetsk airport where the Ukrainian military said it had driven back an assault by insurgent fighters on Friday.
Dozens Of Migrants Drown Off Libya Coast
CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Oaikhi Patrick Kate wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Oaikhi Kate and Patrick Kate as appeared in my voter’s card. Henceforth, I am now properly known and addressed as Oaikhi Patrick Kate. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
US President, Barack Obama arrives to look at a copy of the original manuscript of Francis Scott Key’s “The Star Spangled Banner” (left) at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland recently.
Obama To Detail Plans On Ebola Offensive
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama will detail today a plan to boost his country’s involvement in mitigating the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The plan would involve a greater involvement of the U.S. military in tackling the worst recorded outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the proposal. The outbreak has now killed upwards of 2,400 people, mostly
But the separatists accused Kiev’s forces of failing to halt fire. “From our side, nobody is shooting but they are breaking the rules, everybody in the world knows it,” said a rebel commander defending a checkpoint near a village south of Donetsk. The ceasefire is seen as a first step in efforts to draw up a longer term peace deal to end a conflict that has cost more than 2,700 lives and sent at least half a million fleeing battered towns and cities across the east. The truce halted a rebel surge across the southeast last month with the alleged support of Russian paratroopers and heavy weaponry, turning the tide against Ukrainian forces. NATO and Kiev say at least 1,000 Russian soldiers and possibly many more remain on Ukrainian soil. The Kremlin denies this, although it has said that regular army members taken prisoner in Ukraine were simply lost on the border, while a rebel official said other Russian soldiers had come on “holiday.” Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk echoed deep Western suspicions about Moscow’s ultimate territorial ambitions when he accused President Vladimir Putin on Saturday of seeking to “eliminate” Ukraine as an independent country. Poroshenko heads to Washington this week to meet President Barack Obama, seeking to secure a “special status” with the United States as he steers Ukraine further out of Russia’s orbit. Obama has rejected direct military involvement but unveiled tougher economic sanctions on Moscow that — together with similar EU measures — effectively lock Russia out of Western capital markets and hamstring its crucial oil industry.
in Liberia, neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone as poorly resourced West African healthcare systems have been overrun. The U.S. government has already committed around $100 million to tackle the outbreak by providing protective equipment for healthcare workers, food, water, medical and hygiene equipment. Obama could ask Congress for an additional $88 million to fund his proposal, the WSJ reported.
Plan details are expected during Obama’s visit yesterday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The move would come just days after Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appealed to Obama for urgent aid, saying that without it her country would lose the fight against the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the epidemic is spreading exponentially in Liberia, where more than half of the deaths have
been recorded. The U.S. military said recently it would build a 25-bed field hospital in Liberia to care for infected health workers but it would hand it to Liberians to run. Last Friday, the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Deborah Malac said Washington would train security forces in isolation operations, after a boy was shot dead last month when Liberian soldiers opened fire on a crowd protesting at a quarantine in a Monrovia neighborhood.
TRIPOLI - The spokesman of Libya’s coast guard has said that a boat carrying at least 250 African migrants to Europe capsized before leaving the coast near the capital, Tripoli, drowning dozens. Qassim Ayoub told newsmen that Libyan coast guards are retrieving dozens of bodies still floating 18 kilometers (11 miles) off the coast in the Tajoura district. He added that 36 African migrants, including three women — one of them pregnant — were rescued on Monday. Libya has grown increasingly lawless since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi, making it a migration hub for subSaharan Africans seeking a better life. Scores are killed every year on the dangerous journey to Europe.
International UTAH, USA - As anti- of Hate,” names the most gay rights leaders export prominent individuals and ideas abroad, Human groups—Brown among Rights Campaign ‘names them—working to pass and shames’ them anti-gay rights legislation Starting in 2012, the abroad. leader of the most “With anti-LGBT losses prominent American anti- mounting in the United gay marriage organization States, and with strong unexpectedly began indications of increased adding a ton of stamps to activity abroad, more must his passport. be done to expose this As federal judges struck work and the people doing down gay marriage bans it,” the report says. left and right at home, The report calls out Scott National Organization for Lively, an American Marriage President Brian missionary who traveled to Brown appeared at Uganda to warn about what meetings and marches for he described as the evils of French President Francois Hollande (right), Iraq’s President Fuad Masum and US Secretary various anti-gay rights gay people in the run-up to of State John Kerry (front left) arrive to attend the opening of an international conference causes in France, Trinidad the passage of the bringing together about 30 countries to discuss how to cooperate in the fight against and Tobago, Russia and country’s law that punished Islamic State Militants in Paris yesterday. Australia—a surprising uptick in travel for the stateside activist. The under the radar and they result: This June, Brown’s homosexuality with death. report have mask their intentions,” National Organization for group began discussing (The law was later toned the Marriage (NOM), which rebranding itself as the down so that the maximum acknowledged in their own Rahlan said of the was pivotal in passing the way that the line has moved American activists. “ I n t e r n a t i o n a l punishment is life in same-sex marriage ban in That’s why it took some 2008 in California, had Organization for prison, before the nation’s irrevocably in the U.S. Marriage,” according to highest court invalidated debate over gay rights. It’s piecing together for the gone international. materials from a “March it.) Benjamin Bull, the been more than a decade group to notice that the for Marriage” meeting in chief counsel of the since the U.S. Supreme Washington, D.C. conservative legal group Court struck down laws Brown is just one of the Alliance Defending allowing states to punish many in the American Freedom, is also cited for same-sex sex acts with “traditional marriage” the Alliance’s 2011 prison, and the U.S. debate PARIS With movement who are announcement that it now revolves around reconnaissance planes already in diplomatic conference Monday intended to come up with an whether LGBT people action, France’s president said international strategy against the aggressively pushing their would take its legal have a right to marriage there was “no time to lose” in the message abroad now that arguments against gay group. “There is no time to lose.” global push to combat extremists Iraq’s President Fouad they face an increasingly marriage overseas; it now everywhere in the country, from the Islamic State group as with anti- he opened an international Massoum called for a tough sell at home. In so supports groups that are along coordinated military and doing, he is making working to uphold bans on discrimination protections conference to attack the problem humanitarian approach, as well minus the two countries who as regular strikes against territory common cause with same-sex marriage all over at work. Groups like the — Alliance Defending share most of Iraq’s borders. in the hands of the extremists and foreign activists whose the world. With memories of the 2003 the elimination of their funding. Freedom have given up on U.S. invasion of Iraq still fresh, anti-gay rights crusades “Our primary focus is “There can be no sanctuary,” are more robust—and naming and shaming,” arguing that same sex the U.S. has so far been alone in Massoum said. “We have to dry out airstrikes and no up their sources of financing.” more resoundingly Jason Rahlan, global activities ought to remain carrying country has offered ground criminal in America, and Muslim-majority countries are s u c c e s s f u l — t h a n engagement press troops. But French considered vital to any operation are instead focusing on reconnaissance jets made their America’s homegrown secretary at the Human prevent the militants from same-sex first sorties yesterday, French to gaining more territory in Iraq and one. Among them are Rights Campaign, said of preserving officials said. An American Americans who actively the report. “My sense is a marriage bans. But in many official said several Arab Syria. Western officials have made clear they consider Syrian other countries, including worked behind the scenes lot of Americans and even countries had offered to conduct President Bashar Assad part of the 80 that outlaw being airstrikes. The officials spoke on the problem, and U.S. officials to support the passage of a lot of folks in the LGBT of anonymity to discuss opposed France’s attempt to Russia’s law preventing community have openly gay, the landscape condition the sensitive issues. invite Iran. is completely different— gay people from adopting, absolutely no idea this is “The terrorist threat is global Ahead of the conference, and much more welcoming and the response must be global,” France’s foreign minister as well as Uganda’s law going on.” French President Francois acknowledged that a number of that punishes Some of the to their arguments. Hollande said, opening a the countries at the table Monday “Oftentimes they work homosexuality with up to organizations profiled in had “very probably” financed a lifetime in prison. Islamic State’s advances, and The U.S. involvement in Iraq’s president appeared ambivalent about Arab anti-gay rights participation, saying his country international activity has needed the support of its become so intense that one neighbors — but not necessarily their fighter jets or soldiers. of the premier gay rights “Ultimately, this is a fight groups in the country, the within Islam, within Sunni Human Rights Campaign, Islam,” White House chief of staff Denis McDonough told started up a special “global journalists on Sunday. engagement program” last The gathering itself was set to year to track their activities last just a few hours. Hollande and help gay rights French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said quick action was activists abroad. The vital, insisting there was no program has a $1 million comparison with the 2003 U.S. budget for its first year and invasion of Iraq, which France vocally opposed. five full-time staffers, and “It’s the same geographic area on Monday released its but that’s the only similarity,” most comprehensive Fabius told France Info radio report on the yesterday. “When you are a political leader you have to internationalization of the measure the cost of inaction.” American anti-gay rights In an interview on Sunday movement. Brian Brown, President of the National Organisation for Marriage, speaks during a rally with The Associated Press in Paris, Massoum — a Kurd, The report, “The Export for the opponents of gay marriage at the Utah State Capital. whose role in the government is
“They are a lot more active in the international space but are being very quiet about it,” said Becky Parks, the Human Rights Campaign’s Associate Director of Global Engagement. “I have been so excited to be part of this new international solidarity movement in defense of marriage, children and family,” Brown wrote on NOM’s blog last year. He did not respond to an interview request about N O M ’s i n t e r n a t i o n a l expansion. Many of these overseas groups and individuals are expected to send
America’s Gay Marriage Battle Goes Global
representatives in October 2015 to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a World Congress of Families summit. The Human Rights Campaign will be watching the event closely, Rahlan said.
‘No Time To Lose’ In Global Push Against Militants
largely ceremonial — expressed regret that Iran was not attending. He also seemed lukewarm to the possible participation Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in airstrikes in Iraqi territory. “It is not necessary that they participate in airstrikes; what is important is that they participate in the decisions of this conference,” he said, underscoring Baghdad’s closeness to Iran and how tensions among the regional powers could complicate the process of forming a Sunni alliance. Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have some of the region’s best-equipped militaries, and they could theoretically provide air support to a broader international coalition. U.S. officials say the Emirates and Egypt were behind airstrikes against Islamist-backed militants in Libya last month. Speaking in his first interview since becoming Iraqi prime minister, Haider al-Abadi told state-run al-Iraqiyya in comments aired Sunday that he had given approvals to France to use Iraqi airspace and said all such authorizations would have to come from Baghdad. The killing of David Haines, a British aid worker held hostage by the militants, added urgency to the calls for a coherent strategy against the brutal and wellorganized group, which is a magnet for Muslim extremists from all over the world and rakes in more than $3 million a day from oil smuggling, human trafficking, theft and extortion, according to U.S. intelligence officials and private experts. British Prime Minister David Cameron said his country would continue offering logistical help to U.S. forces and that counterterrorism efforts will increase, describing the Islamic State group as a “massive” security threat that cannot be ignored.
International Features THE jihadis of the Islamic State beheaded another hostage on video this weekend in Syria, as the US and other western states vowed to destroy the group. But the militants are well dug in. In a hospital bed in southern Turkey, lies a Syrian volunteer rescue worker who had his kneecap blown off in an airstrike in Raqqa, the Syrian bastion of the selfstyled Islamic State (IS). His story - and that of others who have made their out of Raqqa - sheds light on what life is like under the group’s rule, and of how difficult it will be for a USled coalition that President Barack Obama insists will “destroy” IS to make headway with airstrikes alone. The Syrian government’s use of airpower so far, according to survivors, has killed many civilians while leaving the jihadi group largely unscathed. “The situation in Raqqa is tragic,” says a pale Zakharia, in pain after several operations on his knee and a fractured right arm. “The hospitals are out of supplies. It is hard for people to leave Raqqa and flee to Turkey. We don’t have the means to house and feed ourselves here. The nearest border crossing is closed.” Zakharia was allowed to cross into Turkey via the usually-sealed Akcakale border gate due to his critical state. But for members of IS, access to healthcare in NATO member Turkey doesn’t appear restricted. The group has established control of smuggling routes between Syria’s Tal Abyad and Ackakale in Turkey over the past month. Just a few doors down from Zakharia a wounded IS fighter is being treated in a private room. The Syrian regime has ramped up its campaign against IS-strongholds like Raqqa in a bid to convince the West that it is a vital partner in the campaign to
eradicate IS militants. But Raqqa residents and activists say that the majority of those killed in regime attacks have been civilians. “From mid-August until today, we’ve documented more than 150 air strikes and 10 scud missile attacks against Raqqa Province,” says Syrian activist Abu Ibrahim, who fled the country due to a crackdown on his network, which documents atrocities committed by IS. “Almost all the casualties are civilians,” he says, asking that his real name not be used. He’s a member of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, which estimates that 225 people have been killed in regime strikes in Raqqa the past month. By all accounts, the regime’s bombing of Raqqa City began after IS militants
IS Militants on parade in Iraq.
From IS-Controlled Raqqa, Tales Of The Group’s Resilience
seized Tabqa Airport. The battle for the base reached its climax on August 24 in one of the bloodiest direct confrontations between IS fighters and troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar alAssad. Tabqa represented the regime’s last foothold in the area. Local activist says the Islamic State killed 400 regime captives on August 28 in three separate executions, one of them held as a rite of passage for new IS fighters. While shaky video footage posted online and witness testimony appears to support this claim, lack of access limits what can be verified. “Before the regime would come once a week and strike. Now they are doing five to seven sorties in a single day,” says Abu Ahmed, a resident of Raqqa who moved to Akcakale this month with his wife and childre after a regime air strike claimed the lives of his neighbors, a family of five. “Every day a plane comes and people die but no one knows about it because (IS) forbids filming,” says Umm Ali as she arranges a colorful
hijab and a set of beads on her youngest daughter. “Now that the regime has lost all its bases in Raqqa, they are hitting left, right and center. They don’t care what they hit.” One of the worst strikes in Raqqa City came on September 6 in Tal Abyad Street, where residents shop for vegetables. The attack hit IS-run Al-Andalous Bakery and killed more than 50 civilians, according to a toll compiled by a local activist group. The attack wounded 15 members of the Islamic State, according to the same source. But regime-issued reports and tolls compiled by the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights paint a different picture. The Observatory says nine Islamic State activists were killed and that some of its buildings were hit. Raqqa, a city of half a million people on the banks of the Euphrates River, has been largely off limits to journalists since the Islamic State took
over earlier this year. The militant group has beheaded two American journalists, James Foley and Steve Sotloff, and murdered UK aid worker David Haines this weekend. In their videotaped murder of Mr. Haines, IS threatened British hostage Alan Henning with the same fate. Many Syrians and foreign analysts blame the rise of the Islamic State on the Assad regime, which released high profile Sunni militants from its prisons at the start of the civil war and gave priority to fighting moderate groups over extremists. Damascus has sought to narrow the choices for the country: The regime or IS. “The regime is trying to convince the Syrian opposition and its allies that it is fighting the Islamic State, when in reality everything that the regime has done benefited the Islamic State,” says Youssef Daais, 45, a journalist from Raqqa now
“Local activist says the Islamic State killed 400 regime captives on August 28 in three separate executions, one of them held as a rite of passage for new IS fighters. While shaky video footage posted online and witness testimony appears to support this claim, lack of access limits what can be verified. “Before the regime would come once a week and strike. Now they are doing five to seven sorties in a single day,” says Abu Ahmed, a resident of Raqqa who moved to Akcakale this month with his wife and childre after a regime air strike claimed the lives of his neighbors, a family of five.”
based in Turkey. “Assad wants the West to believe he is the only one tackling Daash (IS). If this happens, the next stage will be even worse,” he says. “The issue is deeply linked with the fall of the regime. If the United States is serious about tackling terrorism then they must tackle Assad because he is the root of this whole crisis.” President Obama on Wednesday outlined his strategy to eradicate the group, heralding a new phase of US involvement in Syria to complement efforts to squash IS militants in Iraq. A senior US defense official who asked not to be identified says that the military is “ready to conduct direct action against (IS) targets in Syria.” The timing of such action remains unclear but what appear to be US surveillance drones have been sighted in Raqqa this week. For its part, the Islamic State is said to be taking no chances. The group has evacuated its family members from the city to the outskirts, according to activists and residents. The Odessa Hotel, said to be housing IS families, was also emptied in a narrow escape from a regime hit. Hundreds of Syrians fleeing IS held areas cross into Turkey at the border gate of Kilis. Those from Raqqa say the 200-mile journey now takes 17 hours zigzagging across back roads to avoid clashes around Aleppo. Families with valid documents face long wait
times and must register their entry a day in advance. The rest turn to smugglers. The trip costs a minimum of $100 per person to cross and carries the risk of being turned back or fired on if caught by Turkish troops The prospect of US air strikes is a source of both dread and hope for many Syrians who are living in or fleeing IS-controlled areas. “Please, please tell them to focus their strikes on their bases, not to hit civilian areas,” a man living in Tal Abyad whispered in a phone interview. Not everyone wants to see IS defeated. A woman covered in black at the Kilis border gate rejects the idea of US strikes wholeheartedly. “This is a war on Islam. If it was not a war on Islam, the US would have stepped in to save Muslims in Syria a long time ago,” she roars. Many others welcomed the shift in US policy – hopeful that strikes would be surgical and pave the way for a respite form the arbitrary bombings of the Assad regime. A new arrival from Raqqa, a young man in a stripped t-shirt and sunglasses, brims with optimism. “Let them hit, let them hit and let us be done with these problems,” he says. A man in his forties who made the same journey was quick to admonish him: “You want Syria to become like Iraq? Have you even seen what became of Afghanistan?” The young man broke into a broad smile and said: “Maybe third time lucky.”
Education
Edo State Needs More Than Science To Develop
I have seen – and experienced — the worst and best of education in Nigeria. Being a beneficiary of the Awolowo-inspired free education programme in the defunct Western region, I experienced learning under a mango tree, before graduating to learning in an uncompleted classroom. Part of my secondary education – at the old Iyekeorhionmwon (now Urhonigbe) Grammar School – was received in the old assembly and recreation halls of the defunct Iyekeorhionmwon District Council, which were converted into classrooms when the Ogbemudia development revolution unfolded in the old Midwestern region. Later, I had the good fortune of receiving education in what I consider to be one of the most conducive learning environments when I had to complete my secondary education at the famous Ika Grammar School, Agbor. In the two years that I spent in the institution, I can’t remember ever feeling homesick – until a few days
to vacation. And although it only 30 minutes separated Agbor and Urhonigbe, there was no incentive to go home if it was not inevitable – such as was occasioned by a student unrest some time in 1971. I missed the chance to reconnect with the institution a couple of years back when I couldn’t make it early enough to Agbor for an alumni reunion. So I don’t know what the school looks like these days, but will soon go and find out as part of my inspirational encounters for the next personal activist engagement with development process. Here was a school established by the Ika community but run by the Anglican Mission with grants-in-aid from the regional government. Ika Grammar School had everything – an expansive compound with a surfeit of classroom blocks, hostel accommodation, staff quarters, laboratories, a wellstocked library and an endless array of playgrounds for different sports – including even cricket! But its greatest asset was a
By TOMMY ODEMWINGIE
staff strength that included fathers and friends of the students under their watch – inside and outside the classroom. It was where I was taught English Literature by Emeka Okeke-Ezigbo, one of the literary prodigies unleashed on the Nigerian public by the civil war, who was involved in Okike journal. He would go on to teach at the University of Benin. But the most compelling of my teachers was Obi Anene from Ubuluku, the author of Thunder, a 35-page poetry collection publishe in 1977. With a B. Sc in political science from the University of Lagos, Anene made his apartment available to students, who used his typewriter to produce a magazine named Mermaid. Mr. Anene, who would go on to join the Benin Citybased Nigerian Observer as features writer, used less than
one year to prepare a set of students to earn distinctions in Government at the 1972 WASCE! The scienceinclined among the students have similarly sweet memories of their teachers, notably Mr. Ikeji the maths master, who was also the games master. He was the one who recruited a couple of hardened footballers from Zikson College, Ozubulu (now in Anambra State) from the Easter region to take Ika Grammar school to the verge of emerging as the schoolboy champions in Midwest. Indeed, only a handful of the more than a hundred candidates that Ika Grammar School enrolled for the 1972 WASCE failed to make the mark. Going by the recent results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Edo, which emerged as the third best performing state –
“But perhaps, as the example of the Ika Grammar school of old would show, the most critical area is the development of new leaders and the provision of the enabling environment for the education sector to thrive.”
with 57.82% —, would appear not to be doing too badly in the delivery of secondary education. But what it means is that 42.18% of the candidates from Edo State who sat the examinations were unsuccessful. I have just read a vacancy advertisement in the Vanguard newspaper of today (4 September 2014) wherein the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) are seeking to recruit teachers in the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, interScience (Integrated Science?) and Agricultural Science. Notice that teachers in the humanities (arts and social sciences) are not being recruited, although English language is the major hurdle for most Nigerian pupils. Neither is there any mention of physical education. You can say it underlines the state’s commitment to improving the state’s position on the WASSCE performance league, looking at a scientific/ technological/industrial revolution on the horizon. Those are very desirable goals, no doubt. However, the state government must be encouraged to recruit teachers across the broad spectrum of high school subjects. The humanities have as much potential to take the
development of the state to its development destination as the science subjects. Sports have provided more alternatives to the teaming youth of the state than government-created employment opportunities. At the height of its greatness, America led the world as much in nonscientific exploits — entertainment, music, drama, etc – as in the technological field. The Chinese resurgence that is challenging the combined strength of the Western world is both about technology and arts and entertainment, not to mention the food business. So, beyond the imperative of improved WASSCE performance, Edo SUBEB and PPEB should also recruit teachers in catering, carpentry; cabinet making (or woodwork, if you like); bricklaying (or masonry, if you like); fashion designing; plumbing; automobiles; handicraft; fine art; barbing and hairdressing; etc. But perhaps, as the example of the Ika Grammar school of old would show, the most critical area is the development of new leaders and the provision of the enabling environment for the education sector to thrive. Odemwingie, a former Features editor of The Guardian, was Education Team Leader at ActionAid International, Nigeria, from 2005 to 2008.
the result is just speculation. “I have no doubt that he will sign new contract; I know it’s critically important that the coach signs his contract to secure his future and to know exactly what is due to him. “I am sure we will be
able to sort out things before the next two games against Sudan,” Amadu said. On the forthcoming NFA congress, the NFA scribe denied issuing a statement that the forthcoming elective congress would hold in Warri, Delta State. He noted that the first NFA Extraordinary Congress would take place on Sept. 20. “As far as election and the two congresses are concerned, I have made the agenda clear that the executive committee will propose to the congress a roadmap. “I can confirm to you that the first extraordinary general assembly will take place on Sept. 20 in Warri Delta State. “On that day, as I said earlier, the NFA board will propose a roadmap, leading up to the election for the congress to endorse. “For now, the venue, date and roadmap are very tentative until the congress endorses the programme; it is the congress that will ratify them as they deemed fit,” he added.
ahead of big games. Before facing Ghana in Kumasi, the Cranes lost 2-0 away to Niger. “We have to keep focused ahead of the four games remaining in the Afcon qualifiers because
against big teams in the continent,” reasoned the Coach. He said he expects to start training later this month with the home based players before the professionals can join on October 6.
AKWA United have said they have called off a pay strike after the intervention of their fans. The players have not been paid for four months. The Uyo club embarked on a two-week strike during the break caused by the referees’ boycott to press home for the payment of their outstanding salaries. But an influential player of the premier league club has now revealed that they decided to call off the strike after the team’s fans begged
them to resume as they promised to intervene in the matter. “We have suspended the strike because our fans and supporters came to the camp to beg us to resume that they will do their best to see that we get paid soon,” the player disclosed. “The management then told us we will be paid next week, we don’t trust the management but we are doing this for our fans and supporters because they are the reason we called off the strike.”
Stephen Keshi
Keshi To Sign New Eagles Contract Before Sudan Tie - NFA
THE Nigeria Football Association (NFA) said on Sunday that Stephen Keshi would sign a fresh contract to manage the Super Eagles before the team’s Africa Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier with Sudan. Nigeria will play Sudan in Omdurman in continuation of the AFCON 2015 qualifiers
of Oct. 11, before the return-leg in Abuja on Oct. 15. Musa Amadu, the Secretary-General of the
NFA, told newsmen that the deal would boost the morale of the team in securing a ticket for the competition to be hosted by Morocco in 2015. Amadu dismissed the insinuation that the delay in the contract was
Lawmaker Decries Massive Interest Of Nigerian In Foreign Football
OTUMBA Abayomi Ogunusi, the Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, has decried the massive interest of Nigerian football fans in foreign league matches. Ogunusi said the development was impeding the growth of local leagues. The lawmaker said this while addressing newsmen in Lagos on Sunday on the upcoming finals of the Ogunusi Unity Football Cup
for Ifako/Ijaiye and Ojokoro constituency of Lagos State. He said that the preference of Nigerian football fans for foreign league matches had affected many clubs in the country. He added that “many people no longer want to invest in Nigerian home leagues because most Nigerians no longer show interest in local clubs.” He stressed the need to revive the nation’s leagues to compete with global league
matches. “The Ogunusi Football Cup competition has created stars and has been a unifying and empowerment programme for youths in Ifako-and Ijaiye Ojoko Coucil since its inception. “I am a sports man. I love football and I think the best way we can grow in the sport is to encourage it locally.” The legislator urged Nigerian youths to shun hooliganism and develop interest in sports.
Hamburg U19 Coach Addo Eyes EX-Ghana midfielder Ghana Job Otto Addo is interested in becoming the next Black Stars coach. According to a Graphic Sports publication, sources close to the Hamburg U19 coach say he would consider putting in his application. The 39-year-old holds a UEFA License B coaching certificate and a German Football Federation
coaching certificate. He was hired as a scout for Ghana during the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals. Addo playing career, which saw him represent Hannover 96, Mainz 05, Borrusia Dortmund and Hamburg, was hampered by injuries. He played at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
Otto Ado
responsible for the poor result Eagles got against visiting Red Devils of Congo in Calabar and the 0-0 draw in South Africa. “I don’t see how the coach’s contract will affect the performance of the team; that the inability of the coach to know his fate was responsible for
Cranes Target Ivory Coast, Mali Build-Ups we are the underdogs pitted UGANDA Cranes tactician Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic says they are trying to secure a friendly match with either Ivory Coast or Mali in a buildup game ahead of their next game in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers. The Cranes top Group E after their 1-all away draw to Ghana and a 2-0 win over Guinea last week in Kampala. “Facing either Ivory Coast or Mali will give us the best test since they play almost same kind of football like Togo whom we shall play on October 11,” Sredojevic told MTNFootball.com. The Serbian who also helped Uganda qualify for the 2014 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) said these build-up games have helped his team a lot
Akwa United Call Off Pay Strike For Fans
Bayern Faces Injury Woe Ahead Of City Clash
Basel Game A Good Chance For Real Revival -Ancelotti
REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Tuesday’s Champions League Group B opener at home to Basel will be a good chance for the holders to put a poor start to their domestic campaign behind them. Real were beaten 2-1 by champions Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday, their second successive La Liga reverse, and some of the club’s notoriously demanding fans made their anger clear by roundly whistling captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas. The experienced Ancelotti, one of only six people to win Europe’s elite club competition as both player and coach, noted on Monday that Real also stuttered at the beginning of last season before securing a recordextending 10th European title and winning the King’s Cup. “I feel like a coach who has to fix things in the team, the same as happened last year,” he told a news conference. “This match comes at the right time as it is a chance to show a positive reaction and demonstrate the good things in the team,” added the Italian. “Starting this competition well is very important. I believe we will be competitive and we will try to win it again.”
Ancelotti
Ancelotti’s immediate task is to integrate new signings Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez in midfield, where they have replaced the departed Xabi Alonso (Bayern Munich) and Angel Di Maria (Manchester United) respectively. Real appear to be missing the control Alonso provided in his central holding role, while Di Maria was often the player with the energy and skill to break down stubborn defences. Ancelotti said he was happy with the squad at his disposal, assembled at a cost of hundreds of millions of euros by Real president Florentino Perez. “The problem is clear, it’s not that complicated. We need more consistency over the 90 minutes,” he told reporters. “We have analysed together what is happening and we all agreed that we lack consistency and we are working to improve that. “I have a very, very good squad, very competitive, and I think the players all think the same way.
Di Maria
Di Maria Sinks QPR
AFTER making a disappointing start to life in England, Louis van Gaal won his first Premier League game as Manchester United manager with a 4-0 win against Queen’s Park Rangers. His team had looked and gave debuts to new nervous and uncomfortable signings Marcos Rojo and during his opening four Daley Blind, while Radamel games in charge, particularly Falcao also made his United as they struggled to adapt to bow as a second-half the 3-5-2 system introduced substitute. However, the key to the win by the former Netherlands manager. It was a completely was arguably Angel Di Maria. different story against QPR The Argentina international though, as Van Gaal switched showed glimpses of what he to a 4-4-2 diamond formation, will bring to the side during
Bruce Appeals To Fans For Calm MANAGER Steve Bruce has appealed to Hull fans to put all their energies into supporting their side against West Ham on Monday night - not protesting against owner Assem Allam. Sections of the club’s support have been at loggerheads with the Egyptian businessman since last year’s controversial proposal to rebrand the team Hull Tigers and ditch their 110-year-old moniker Hull City AFC. That was eventually dismissed by the Football Association Council in April, though the chanting, bannerwaving and mutual antipathy continued. Tensions did at least simmer down from their peak in November, when a televised home match against Crystal Palace saw clashes between fans eager to make register their objections in front of a global television audience and embattled stewards. With Allam having stoked old fires with the announcement that he was taking the issue to arbitration, the TV match against the Hammers threatens to be another flashpoint. But Bruce, as was the case several times last season, cast himself in the role of peacemaker.
“My appeal to all of the fans is that they can have their thoughts but once it gets to matchday, we need them to get behind the team,” he said. “We need them to do that because if it becomes fractious then it becomes difficult. “When it becomes difficult then it can affect the team. That is why I appeal to the fans. “We don’t want any protests even though I know nothing’s changed on their behalf with the name-change issue. “We want the supporters to get behind the team, that’s my concern, and I’m sure they will. “The protests hit their peak against Crystal Palace last season, and it seemed to wane after that. We lost that game and we should have won if I remember. “We need all the supporters, if they can, to support the team. Of course they can keep their opinions - but not on a match day because that just harms everybody.” Ironically, Bruce’s best chance of drawing fan focus back on the pitch and away from the boardroom lies in the string of exciting signings Allam agreed to finance on transfer deadline day. Bruce swooped for club record
signing Abel Hernandez, former Hammer Mohamed Diame, Southampton’s Gaston Ramirez and Newcastle playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa. Of those deals, the seasonlong loan for Ben Arfa is the one that could thrill fans the most despite the messy end to his stay at St James’ Park. “There might be a bit of a maverick in him, but there’s a few mavericks around here so he’s in good company,” said Bruce, with Allam surely not far from his thoughts. “I think he might just have something to prove and when someone has got a fire burning inside them to prove people wrong then sometimes you can benefit from that. Let’s hope so.”
Steve Bruce
his debut against Burnley, and he was excellent throughout his first game at Old Trafford as a United player. He was vital to Real Madrid’s Champions League success last season, and he United paid £59.7 million to sign Di Maria this summer, breaking the British transfer record. Some have argued they overpaid to bring him to the club, but United have lacked the pace and incision that characterised Sir Alex Ferguson’s best sides for several years, and he provides those qualities they have sorely missed. He started on the left of United’s midfield diamond, staying fairly narrow when QPR had possession, and moving out wide when United won the ball back to stretch play. The 26-year-old was slightly fortunate to open the scoring, and his account at United, after 23 minutes when his crossed free-kick ended up in the back of the net. While he didn’t intend to score himself, he delivered the ball into a very dangerous area, and any touch from a teammate could also have led to a goal. He only completed two take-ons throughout the game, though his speed allows him to surge forward when presented with open space, bringing impetus to United’s play that was noticeably absent last season. The midfielder was integral to United’s second goal, as well, as he ran down the left flank before playing a clever reverse pass to Wayne Rooney, who set up Ander Herrera to score from the edge of the area. In addition to possessing
great speed, Di Maria is one of the most gifted creators in world football. He registered 17 assists for Real Madrid last season, more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues, and he showed his vision on numerous occasions against QPR. Di Maria created three chances during the game, including a sublime flick over the defence that Robin van Persie failed to make ideal contact with. Di Maria set up Juan Mata for the fourth goal, though he may have known little about it. He appeared to be going for goal, but his mis-hit shot fell to Juan Mata in space in the area, and he fired into the roof of the net from close range. Van Gaal’s side dominated the ball from start to finish, and they averaged 61% possession during the game. Di Maria had the worst pass accuracy of United’s outfield starters (80%), though that was because he was constantly looking to make things happen. His radar was slightly off for some of his longer passes, but he will improve his distribution as he develops an understanding with his teammates. Not everything came off for him, but United fans will be very encouraged to see him so eager to take on responsibility already. And though QPR didn’t offer much attacking threat, Di Maria also won the ball through the only tackle he attempted. United’s win against QPR could be the platform they need to turn their form around after a difficult year, and it’s already clear that Di Maria is one of the most accomplished players in the top flight. Much was made of the transfer fee, but the club will consider it a smart investment if he can produce displays like this on a regular basis.
BAYERN Munich are struggling with fitness and injury problems ahead of their Champions League group opener against Manchester City on Wednesday. Dutchman Arjen Robben is doubtful after missing training on Sunday with a knee problem and fellow winger Franck Ribery made his season debut on Saturday, coming on as a substitute and scoring in the 2-0 win over VfB Stuttgart. Coach Pep Guardiola, however, will need to reshuffle his defence with Holger Badstuber tearing a thigh muscle tendon during the game and set to undergo surgery. The 25-year-old, who had only recently won back his starting spot after a 20-month absence following consecutive cruciate ligament tears, will be out for months. With the addition of Xabi Alonso, however, Guardiola has one player who has seamlessly integrated into the Bayern game. “With Xabi we had a lot of possession against Stuttgart,” Guardiola said of the former Real Madrid midfielder. “He knows his job in this position. He has an eye for short and long passes but we have to help him because if he does everything then he will be dead.” Bayern, who won the Champions League in 2013, have yet to hit top form this season, with many players tired after the World Cup and others, including Thiago Alcantara, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Rafinha, out injured. Their attacking game was far too static for Guardiola’s taste ahead of the game against City who beat them at home in the same stage last season to end Bayern’s record 10-game winning streak. “We know we have to improve further against Manchester City,” captain Philipp Lahm said. “They are a top team, they are English champions and we want to start the competition well. We are still missing a bit of rhythm.” City have also not had an explosive start to their season with seven out of 12 possible points and Martin Demichelis’s late header rescued a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday. Coach Manuel Pellegrini will not be on the bench at the Allianz Arena as he serves out a touchline suspension following an outburst at the referee in last season’s defeat by Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola
Demichelis Eyeing New Manchester City extremely emotional for Contract MARTIN Demichelis has told the Manchester Evening News that he has set his sights on earning a new contract with Manchester City and hopes to stay at the Etihad Stadium until 2016. The centre-back has entered the final season of the two-year deal he signed when he joined from Atletico Madrid in 2013. While defending champions City have made Eliaquim Mangala the most expensive defender in the history of British football, Demichelis has been an ever-present in the Premier League this
Milan Progression Encourages Inzaghi
Milan players celebrate a goal.
THE head coach recorded his second competitive win since replacing Clarence Seedorf thanks to Jeremy Menez’s brace and goals from Keisuke Honda, Nigel de Jong and debutant Giacomo Bonaventura.
However, it was tough for Milan as they continually allowed Parma back into the match, including a red card to Daniele Bonera and Mattia De Sciglio’s comical own goal. The latter saw the full-back send a 30-yard back pass towards Diego Lopez, but the goalkeeper misjudged the flight and allowed it to roll into his net to give Parma a late boost. Milan held on and Inzaghi was delighted with the
battling qualities they showed to stay top of the table. “We must be very, very happy, as this is an extraordinary group,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Let’s not forget where we are coming from. “I saw the moves that we tried out in training used to score great goals, but I also saw that we conceded on every chance that we allowed. It was a very open game, but I think there can be few doubts that Milan deserved to win.
Wilshere Prefers Advanced Role “Naturally, I want to go
ARSENAL man Wilshere was given mixed reviews for his performance in England’s 2-0 victory over Switzerland in their Euro 2016 qualifying opener last week, when he played at the back of a diamond formation. The 22-year-old answered his critics in superb fashion with an allaction display in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City last Saturday, including a superb finish to make it 1-1. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger employed Wilshere in a more attacking role against City and Wilshere said he is more at home playing further up the pitch, but is happy to play anywhere.
forward more,” he said. “You saw with England that -sometimes I lost a bit of concentration when I do go forward. “But in our formation it’s nice to play forward and in the England one it’s different. I’m happy to play either.” Wilshere scored just three goals in the Premier League last season and, after opening his account for this term, he is determined to hit the back of the net on a more regular basis. “In the formation we play, I should be scoring more goals,” he added “We play with one holding and two going forward and I’m one who gets forward. Hopefully that will be one of many.”
“At the final whistle I was thinking it would’ve been a shame to not win a game we were always in control of. “This is the spirit of Milan. I don’t know how far we can go, but I am very proud to be
the coach of this team.” The victory ensures Milan are one of just three teams to have a 100 per cent record, along with Roma and Juventus, through two league matches.
season, continuing his partnership with captain Vincent Kompany. The 33-year-old, who played for Argentina in the World Cup final, feels he can carry on operating at the highest level for another two years. He said: “I am playing every game, every two to three days, so I am just enjoying it and taking it game by game. “I would be happy to stay this year and then one more year because I think I will still have the quality to play at this level.” Demichelis, who helped City win the Premier League and the Capital One Cup in his first season in Manchester, returns to his former club Bayern Munich on Wednesday. He won four Bundesliga titles for Bayern, for whom he played between 2003 and 2010, and was part of the team that reached the Champions League final under Louis van Gaal. He added: “It will be
me because Bayern were the club that gave me the chance to come to Europe and play, and I was there for seven-and-a-half years. “I am looking forward to going back to the stadium and playing against old teammates.” City have never been beyond the round of 16 in Europe’s premier club competition, and Demichelis said: “The aim of this club is to improve year after year, and the next big step is to get out of the group stages and take it from there. We have the quality to do it.”
Martins Demichelis
Donadoni Rues Errors In Milan Loss
IN an action-packed Serie A clash which included two red cards as well as nine goals, Milan came out on top thanks to Jeremy Menez’s brace. Milan led 1-0, 3-1, 4-2 and 5-3 but continually had to fight off Parma’s responses at the Stadio Ennio Tardini. Donadoni said there was no difference in class between the two teams, rather his side’s errors proved costly. “We were naive on two or three occasions and conceded goals more due to our errors than the quality of our opponents,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Milan did not outclass us tonight and this game must make us even prouder of what we can achieve when we put our minds to it. “We only made a few individual errors, as did the
referee.” Giacomo Bonaventura put Milan ahead with a clever turn and finish before Antonio Cassano headed in an equaliser. Milan were 3-1 up at half-time thanks to a Keisuke Honda header and Menez’s clinical finish from the penalty spot. Felipe pulled a goal back for Parma, who looked on track to take something out of the clash when Daniele Bonera was sent off for Milan. Nigel de Jong and Alessandro Lucarelli traded goals before Felipe saw red, and Milan won after Menez’s second goal despite Mattia De Sciglio’s unusual own goal. Donadoni said the red card to Felipe cost his side and was a wrong decision. “I would like for certain incidents to be commented on, as
they can change the course of a game,” he said. “It looked as if Felipe did absolutely nothing and when fighting back for the result this red card undoubtedly penalised us. “If we also look at Felipe’s first
Anelka Joins Indian Club
FORMER Real Madrid and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has announced he has joined Mumbai City in the Indian Super League. It had been reported that the 35year-old, without a club since leaving West Brom following his ban for using the quenelle gesture, has agreed a short-term deal with the new ISL franchise, managed by Peter Reid. “I’m pleased to join Mumbai City FC & very exciting in joining Indian Super League,” Anelka wrote on Twitter. “ Talented international players
Fiorentina, Cuadrado At Odds Over Buyout Clause FIORENTINA and Juan Cuadrado are both
Juan Cuadrado
keen for a buyout clause in his contract, but there are differing valuations. On from closing the summer transfer market still on the club’s books despite interest from Manchester United and Barcelona, the Colombian has been seen as in early negotiations for an improved contract. La Nazione today update on the progress of those
yellow card, I honestly don’t realise how a referee can make such a big mistake. It’s incredible, not just for us, but for anyone in this sport. To see that many errors in one game really gets you angry.”
talks and suggest a sticking point has arrived in the form of a potential buyout clause being included. Whilst both La Viola and the 26-year-old are reported as open to the clause being included, it is believed that the two parties do not agree yet on the value set. Fiorentina are apparently after a clause set at +40m (£31m), but the player and his agent are seen as angling for a lesser amount.
& top Indian talent will make matches thrilling affairs. “I look forward to using my ability to do well for my team in the matches we will play.” Anelka, capped 69 times by France, began his career with Paris St Germain before joining Arsenal as a youngster, going on to play for Real Madrid, Manchester City, Fenerbahce, Bolton, Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua, Juventus and West Brom in an often nomadic career marked by highs and lows. Anelka is one of a number of high-profile players attracted by the pay day on offer in India, with his former Arsenal team-mates Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg - as well as Alessandro del Piero and David Trezeguet - among the others. The league kicks off in October with a short season ending in December.
Nicolas Anelka
Scoring Spree For Chelsea Can’t Last -Costa FREE-SCORING Chelsea striker Diego Costa has warned that his sparkling burst of goalscoring will come to an end sooner rather than later. Costa scored a hat trick as Chelsea beat Swansea 4-2 to open up a two point gap at the top of the Premier League on Saturday. That takes his goal tally to seven in four games since his arrival from Atletico Madrid this summer, with the Spaniard admitting to reporters his scoring rate is beyond his own expectations. “I try to play in the best manner, and hopefully things will continue like this, but there will be a moment when I cannot score. That is football,” said Costa. “Every striker has their way of playing and their strengths and a different team behind them. That is very important. If you do not have the team behind you, then you can’t do things on your own. It all depends on the team. “I am adapting very well, although it’s not just me. The key is the group that we have. It is like a family. The squad and all the people around the team are united in our cause.” Diego Costa has reinvigorated the Chelsea attack in his brief stint there. Blues manager Jose Mourinho spoke in glowing terms when quizzed about Costa’s impact since his 32 million-pound move from Spain. He said the striker’s desire to play every game has helped him overcome persistent niggling injury doubts. “He was a risk and a doubt before Everton [two weeks ago],
a risk and a doubt before Spain’s game [last week], and a risk and a doubt before this game [against Swansea], and he played all three,” stated Mourinho. “The most important thing of a player’s character is what affects his performance as a player. Nobody can stop him. I’ve tried. I tried to be sure, but he keeps going. “It is not about the modern player, it is about the modern society, where people tell them to be selfish, in the sense of themselves first and the team second. But with Diego it is, ‘The team first — they need me — and me second. I am ready to go for the team.’ “When you get guys with this mentality they become special and they can be an influence to the people around them. He is a leader, who knows exactly what the team needs and is ready to give it.”
Ribery Delighted With Goal On Bayern Return
Diego Costa
My Dortmund Performance Will Keep my best performance, it Getting Better -Kagawa wouldn’t have been that SHINJI Kagawa has said he believes his form will improve as he returns to full match fitness after celebrating his second Borussia Dortmund debut — and 50th Bundesliga match — with a goal in the 3-1 win over Freiburg. The Japan international, who rejoined the club from Manchester United in the summer, said he had been boosted by the huge welcome
he received from an 80,000 crowd at the Westfalenstadion. “The fans gave me a warm and fantastic reception before kickoff. That’s why I really
wanted to win this game today and I’m happy that it worked out,” Kagawa, who was substituted on the hour, told the club’s official website. Bild reported him as saying: “I feel that I can get much better. I will continue to work hard so I can put it even better performances. If today was
Rio Ferdinand Blasts Moyes Performance side. Moyes set us up not to lose. As Embarrassing We’d been accustomed to playing to win.”
RIO Ferdinand has lifted the lid on the David Moyes era at Manchester United and described some of the tactics used by the former Old Trafford manager as ‘embarrassing’, in comments taken from his new book “#2Sides”. Ferdinand returned to Old Trafford on Sunday for the first time since his 12-year stay at the club ended last May, only to see his QPR side beaten 4-0 by a revived United. Yet it was his comments surrounding Moyes that will dominate the agenda after that game. No United player has spoken
out against Moyes in the months since he was sacked as Old Trafford boss, but Ferdinand climbed over that wall of silence with a highly critical assessment of the Scot’s tactics during his troubled ten-month reign as the club’s manager. “He tried to impose a vision, but never seemed to be completely clear what that vision should be,” writes Ferdinand in his book that is being serialised by the Sun. “Unintentionally, he created a
negative vibe where, with Fergie, it had always been positive. He’d slowly lost us. I didn’t enjoy playing under him. “Sometimes our main tactic was the long, high, diagonal cross. It was embarrassing. In one home game against Fulham we had 81 crosses! I was thinking, why are we doing this? Andy Carroll doesn’t play for us! “Moyes’s innovations led to negativity and confusion. It was always how to stop the other
Ferdinand also revealed how Moyes dropped him for last season’s Champions League quarterfinal clash against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, after the coach told his veteran centre-back in front of his teammates that he was leaving him out because he wanted more pace in his defensive line. “It killed me,” added Ferdinand. “Inside I wanted to scream and grab him. I’m a team player, so I just had to bite my tongue and stand there. “It was probably the worst single moment I ever had at United. I’d never been dropped for a big game like that - and to drop that on me in front of everybody.”
good.” Kagawa’s swift turn and pass set up Dortmund’s first goal and, four minutes before half-time, he scored his 22nd Bundesliga goal for the club. Former captain Sebastian Kehl said: “Shinji is good for us, very good, especially considering our injury problems. But you could also see that he still needs a bit of time when he came off the pitch totally exhausted after 60 minutes. He still has a bit of catching up to do to keep pace with us.” BVB midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz told Ruhr Nachrichten: “I have a really good understanding with Shinji on and off the pitch.” Elsewhere, Dortmund captain Mats Hummels is expected to return to team training on Wednesday, but will sit out the Champions League first leg against Arsenal on Tuesday. “My plan is to train with the team on Wednesday,” he told the club’s official website. “This week, I took a big step forward. Now I need to catch up and get fully fit.”
BAYERN Munich winger Franck Ribery scored on his return from injury as his side beat Stuttgart 2-0 and said he was looking forward to getting back into the rhythm of firstteam football. Ribery, 31, last featured for Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final in May. He missed out on a place in France’s World Cup squad through injury before announcing his decision to retire from international football. While his decision to focus on Bayern and leave international football behind did not go down well with UEFA president and former France captain Michel Platini, it stands and has been discussed with France coach Didier Deschamps. And speaking after his club return, Ribery told kicker: “He [Platini] can voice his polemics — I am not really interested in it. I decided to retire, and people have to accept that. I won’t reconsider this decision. The winger came on for Mario Gotze in the 68th minute, and wrapped up the game with a late second goal. “I was happy, and felt great relief. The goal did me good after the long injury break,” he said. “I am just very happy to back on the pitch after all this time. But one thing is clear: I am not at 100 percent. I need games and rhythm, but step by step.” Meanwhile, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola urged his players to offer more help to Xabi Alonso, man of the match in the Stuttgart victory. Alonso excelled in his role as Bayern’s deep-lying playmaker and ran 11.82 kilometres — more than any other Munich, and Guardiola told kicker: “Xabi is 32, and if he tracks back and forth all the time then he’ll be dead in a month.”
Frank Ribery
Casillas To Remain Madrid’s Top Choice
Rio Ferdinand
IKER Casillas’ place in the Real Madrid team is not under threat, reports in Spain say, and the captain will play against Basel in the Champions League. Casillas was the target of part of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd’s condemnation as Los Blancos lost at home on Saturday night to Atletico Madrid. The goalkeeper was criticised for failing to deal with a corner for Atletico’s
first goal and there have been calls for Carlo Ancelotti to turn to Keylor Navas. But AS reports that the coach will keep faith in Casillas for the midweek fixture, and doesn’t feel Casillas has been at fault for any of the goals Madrid have conceded this season. Ancelotti is though concerned about the amount of goals going in - six in League two games - and if the defence doesn’t improve,
Casillas’ place will eventually be in doubt. Navas is still considered the cup goalkeeper and Casillas’ back-up, a position Casillas found himself in last season as he covered for Diego Lopez. Lopez was sold to Milan over the summer having kept goal for most of the league campaign, with Casillas wearing the gloves in Europe and the Copa del Rey.
Abortion Of An Ambition?
Mike Oghiadomhe: THE people of Fugar in Etsako Central local government area of Edo State woke up last week Thursday morning to find posters on walls, trees, poles and other such places announcing the senatorial ambition of their illustrious son, Chief Mike Ayegbeni Oghiadomhe. But no sooner had they appeared than they were yanked off every where they were pasted. No one could tell how and by whom the posters were put out in the first place. Those who should know, however, insist that the printing, distribution and pasting of the posters did not have the imprimatur of the ‘’aspirant’’. Everyone seemed not to have known anything about the posters. Nigerians are, however, all too familiar with the story told by Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abatti, earlier this year when Chief Oghiadomhe ‘’resigned’’ from his exalted office as Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The story was that he resigned to pursue higher political relevance. It meant, in very simple terms, that Chief Mike Oghiadomhe resigned to seek an elective political position. Such office could only be Governor, Senator or Member of the House of Representatives. Chief Oghiadomhe is eminently qualified to occupy any of those offices having served us well in the past. He could simply pick any ticket of his choice not only by relying on his past good deeds but also by pulling strings at the Presidency where he again served meritoriously for six years. I am disappointed that Chief Mike Oghiadomhe’s ambition to represent the people of Edo North in the senate come 2015 seems to have been aborted with the hasty withdrawal of his campaign posters. No one running around us now merits the position better than Chief Mike Oghiadomhe. His eight
year tenure as Deputy Governor from 1999 to 2007 brought unprecedented development to the whole of Edo North, including Fugar his home town. He gave us several kilometres of asphalted roads, built for us many health centres, boreholes and electricity. The six years he spent in the presidency brought federal presence to Kukuruku land. Many more roads were built, at least one higher institution came to our land. It is in recognition of how impactful he has been that our traditional rulers and all rolled out the red carpet to receive him back home when he resigned from being our only eye on the Presidency. This warm reception accorded Chief Mike Oghiadomhe for resigning to seek higher political relevance cannot be said to be a fitting way of saying ‘’thank you, sir’’ to a man whose combined fifteen years in public office has brought unquantifiable improvement to our senatorial district and ourselves. I had expected that he would do our people the honour of presenting himself for election to the senate. That, I am sure, would have given us the opportunity to show to Chief Oghiadomhe how very grateful were all are for his selfless service to humanity which has enabled us, our children and those unborn to enjoy better lives. I am disappointed that he will not seek to break the record he set in 1997/1998 when he became the only living human being to be elected to the House of Representatives unopposed. Yes, unopposed. Our people of Etsako Federal Constituency elected Chief Oghiadomhe to the House of Representatives unopposed as a way of thanking him for the good he had done to them. Edo North people would do the same in 2015 if Chief Oghiadomhe would only present himself for such honour. I am disappointed that Chief Oghiadomhe seems not to be following up the
reason Reuben Abatti told us he left his exalted position in the Presidency. I should have thought that pursuing higher political interest had the strong backing of Mr.President, who I must say, still has some gratitude left to express to his former Chief of Staff.
MATTERS IN FOCUS With Nasamu Jacobson
the impression that he ran away when a group of youths who style themselves as SAVE AFEMAI GROUP blew air across his face. Three days before the posters surfaced, the group had addressed a news conference in Benin City. The said: ‘’It has come to our
culated attempt to steal Afemai Senatorial Seat. While we await his declaration, we are ready to resist, refute and rebuke him with every weaponry of our intellectual arsenal which includes holy ghost fire, yasin, stones, catapult, brooms and firewood.
notice that one Mike Oghiadomhe and a former Chief of Staff to President Jonathan is lobbying Governor Adams Oshiomhole and giving the ‘Fayose Rice Treatment’ to some of the traditional leaders who he has promised to invite to a profitable meeting with President Jonathan in a cal-
While we are politically ready to put our legs in one trouser with Oghiadomhe if he opens his mouth to say he wants even councillorship in Afemai, the people of Afemai should be prepared for a social tornado and physical tsunami’’. I am disappointed that the Okakagbe, the Ekpe, the
Chief Mike Oghiadomhe The friendship between both men started in their days as deputies to their state governors and blossomed when the former Bayelsa state governor and Jonathan’s boss, Depprieye Alamiesigha, got on the wrong side of President Olusegun Obasanjo. A mace procured at Igun street in Benin City swiftly elevated Jonathan to the position of governor of Bayelsa State. Jonathan, being a man who knows how to pay his debts, took Mike Oghiadomhe with him to assume office as his Chief of Staff in Abuja. This was a time when President Goodluck Jonathan would have sufficiently repaid his debts if Mike Oghiadomhe had allowed him to do so. I am disappointed that this hasty retreat of Chief Oghiadomhe would give
Asiwaju, the Wali would succumb to intimidation by a group of rascals whose membership may not be more than his household. I am sure that these youths would have been thumping their chests on Thursday afternoon, boasting and drinking their local brew that they had succeeded in scaring away the legendary Chief Mike Oghiadomhe. I am also disappointed that Chief Oghiadomhe may never afford the traditional leaders the opportunity to be ushered into the mighty presence of Mr. President, a meeting which many of them would have hoped would change their lives. Afterall, the last set of 20 renegades who visited Aso Rock came back with about one hundred and sixty million naira. The affected traditional rulers must be utterly disappointed, or even angry for missing such a life-time opportunity to break away from poverty. I am especially disappointed that Chief Mike Oghiadomhe will not run in 2015. I had hoped he would give me the opportunity to work with him to re-inflate his deflated political structure made more so by the charlatans he calls aides. The outrage that greeted his posters on Thursday morning is a reflection of the fact that our people are not impressed with him. It was a vote of no confidence, if you like. Need I say more? NASAMU JACOBSON, a Public Affairs Commentator, wrote from Fugar, Edo State.
“I am disappointed that Chief Mike Oghiadomhe’s ambition to represent the people of Edo North in the senate come 2015 seems to have been aborted with the hasty withdrawal of his campaign posters.”
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