Nigerian observer 16 12 2013

THE NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

1

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 38 NO.376• MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013 • N 100.00

ARCHIVAL MATTERS Pg 21

cmyk

The Hole Metaphor

SOCIETY WATCH Pg. 18

Social Media:

The Down Sides

Oba Erediauwa begins annual festival

By RAYMOND OSOGBE

BENIN CITY – The Benin royal monarch, Oba Erediauwa’s 2013 annual festival commenced yesterday

at the Oba’s palace Benin City, with the revered monarch performing (Ugierhoba) ceremony indoors.

Similarly dramatic p e r f o r m a n c e

(Ikpemaba) took place, 3 p.m. at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin City to commemorate

the start of the globally acclaimed annual festival.

Meanwhile today, at 3 p.m. (Otue Igue Oba), all chiefs will come to the Continues on page 2

NMA begins nationwide strike Dec 18

ABUJA - The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday in Minna said its members would be embarking on an industrial action in public health institutions with effect from Wednesday, December 18.

The association said NMA President, Dr this in a communique it Osahon Enabulele, said issued at the end of its the intended industrial National Executive action would be for five Council (NEC) meeting days, after which it in Minna. would recommence The meeting was held after the yuletide alongside an season.

Emergency Delegates It said the action, Meeting and the First which NMA said it was Sen. Dalyop Dantong “constrained in taking’’, Memorial Lecture from was as a result of the December 8 to failure of government December 15. authorities to respond to The communique its demands. which was signed by the “This will be in

recognition of the extremely poor progress in the resolution of the

demands of the NMA, and following the expiration of our last

ultimatum issued to the Federal Government, which expired on

Saturday, December 14, 2013,’’ the communique Continues on page 2

Agency spends N200m on road rehabilitation BENIN CITY - The Edo Rapid Response Agency (RRA) has spent N200 million on rehabilitation of 49 roads in the state this year, its Managing Director, Mr. Mujaidu Dako, has said.

Dako, who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Benin, said the RRA was committed to ensuring motorable roads in the state.

He said “ours is purely

an interventionist agency; we are not building new roads. We are merely to work on feeder roads in the state capital and other parts of the state.

“This year, we utilised the fund released to us in rehabilitating 49 roads. In all, we spent a total of N200 million.’’

The agency boss added that effort to ensure motorable roads in the state was yielding

TIT-BITS “Whatever justifies our actions is the moral ladder that would someday take us higher or lower before God and man.”

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

positive results, but that it had constraints of funds to achieve more results.

He attributed the paucity of funds to the reduction in revenue accruing to the state

AWARD: The Chairman, Egor Local Government Council, Hon. Victor Enobakhare, presenting an award on behalf of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, to former Secretary to Edo State Government, Dr. Simon Imuekemhe during the 2013 NUJ Press Week in Benin City recently.

Photo: LUCKY AGIE.

Mandela laid to rest

Continues on page 2

Qunu (South Africa) - A 21-gun salute and full honour guard escorted the coffin of Nelson Mandela as his state funeral got underway yesterday in the rolling hills

of his rural boyhood home.

A Xhosa hymn, “Fulfill Your Promise”, sounded the start of the ceremony, organised to reflect the traditions of his tribe and the pride of the

country he transformed as dissident and president.

The specially constructed marquee venue held 4,500 people, with pride of place going to Mandela’s family, includ-

ing his widow Graca Machel and ex-wife Winnie MadikizelaMandela who sat on either side of President Jacob Zuma.

Mandela’s flag-draped casket was placed on

Emulate Mandela’s virtues, Catholic Bishop urges African leaders NSUKKA (ENUGU STATE) - The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, His Grace, Godfrey Onah,

wants African leaders to emulate the virtues of the late former South African President, Dr

Nelson Mandela, by shunning corruption.

Onah, in a homily yesterday at Nsukka,

Enugu State, spoke of the need for African leaders to shun the Continues on page 2

cow skins and surrounded by 95 candles — each signifying a year of his extraordinary life, which saw him make the journey from prisoner to president.

“The person who lies here is South Africa’s greatest son,” said ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Top government officials and foreign dignitaries and celebrities, ranging from Britain’s Prince Charles to US Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

News

Continued from page 1 talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, were also in attendance.

The funeral closes the final chapter on a towering public figure whose courage and moral fortitude turned him into a global symbol of freedom and hope.

And it ends 10 days of national mourning during which hundreds of thousands of South Africans turned out in torrential rain and searing sunshine to grieve, remember and celebrate the life of their first elected black leader.

The formal section of the state funeral was to last two hours and was broadcast around the world.

The public was shut out of the interment itself, which the family insisted would be a private affair with close friends.

The graveyard sits on the sprawling family estate Mandela built in Qunu after

Mandela laid to rest his release from prison in 1990.

“It was in that village that I spent some of the happiest years of my boyhood and whence I trace my earliest memories,” he wrote in his autobiography.

Overseen by male members of his clan, the burial will include the slaughter of an ox — a ritual performed through various milestones of a person’s life under the clan’s traditions.

During the ceremony, Mandela will be referred to as Dalibhunga — the name given to him at the age of 16 after undergoing the initiation to adulthood Mourners will wear traditional Xhosa regalia, with blue and white beaded headgear and necklaces.

Xhosa speakers are divided into several groups, including the Thembu people, of which Mandela is a member.

Although Mandela never

publicly declared his religious denomination, his family comes from a Methodist background.

Funeral plans were briefly overshadowed by an outcry after Mandela’s old friend and fellow Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu said he had not been invited.

The issues had bordered on what the association said was some health sector challenges, workplace conditions and the condition of service of doctors.

However, the NMA had decided to extend her ultimatum by four weeks after her emergency NEC meeting held in Abuja on September 22.

Following the expiration of the four-week extension, the association had twice extended the ultimatum on account of government’s constitution of a Presidential Committee.

Government had also promised to resolve the issues contained in the requests of the NMA. “Sadly, since the report of the Presidential Committee was submitted to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), only the re-constitution and inauguration of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) had been

realised.

“Our demand for government’s attention to other issues bordering on workplace conditions and injustice meted out to doctors in their conditions of service and funding, infrastructure and equipment upgrade of the health sector have not received any significant attention,” the association said in the communique.

In the communique, the NMA had also decried the abysmal low percentage health coverage of Nigerians.

It called on government to urgently invest more in the health of Nigerians through a Universal Health Fund.

The NMA had also restated the urgent need for a government-sponsored Hospital Development and Intervention Fund in the health industry.

“This will help to drive the development of modern and world-class health infrastructure in Nigeria and end medical tourism,’’ the association had said.

Catholic Bishop

Continued from page 1

desire to rule forever.

He noted that world leaders celebrated Mandela in death because of his patriotism, selfless service to his people and the spirit of forgiveness which he exhibited in his life time.

The cleric also noted that they were not unmindful of the fact that Mandela had distinguished himself as a Freedom Fighter and a democrat later in life.

NMA begins nationwide strike

Continued from page 1 said.

It stated that doctors in public health institutions would consequently withdraw their services with effect from 8 a.m. on December 18, 2013.

The NMA then urged members of the public and the media to “bear with the association during this period of withdrawal of services’’.

It will be recalled that on September 2, the association had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the issues it tabled before it.

Agency

Continued from page 1 from the federation account.

The managing director, however, expressed optimism that the agency would rehabilitate more roads in the state in 2014.

Oba

Continued from page 1 palace to pay homage and to re-affirm their loyalty to the most celebrated monarch in the African continent, Oba Erediauwa of Great Benin Kingdom and the Benins look forward with enthusiasm and ecstasy as the festival is unfolded every year.

Apart from the traditional programmes lined up in this year’s edition of the festival, this current edition is spiced up with other events such as Ugie Beauty Pageant, carnival and musical show, musical concert, Awards, Drama among others.

In the end Tutu did attend, and the government tried to brush off the confusion as a misunderstanding.

Tutu — who baptised South Africa the “Rainbow Nation” — has been a persistent critic of the government of President Jacob Zuma and has also spoken out against infighting in Mandela’s family.

“The best honour African leaders will give Mandela is for them to shun corruption and the evil desire to aspire to rule their countries for life.

“Mandela ruled South Africa for only four years and honourably stepped aside not minding that he was the one that brought freedom to the country.

“It is because of the love and passion to liberate his people that Mandela spent 27 years in prison during the then apartheid regime,” he said.

According to him, it will be difficult for Africa to get a leader like Mandela who believes that every citizen is entitled to freedom and respect.

“Mandela did not use his position as president to amass wealth but to ensure that South Africa was taken to the next level in development.”

The bishop noted that a good leader endeared himself to the people by being patriotic, and by showing the ability to forgive those who wronged them.

He pointed out that self perpetuation usually stemmed from fear, lack of patriotism, power drunkenness and corruption.

“Patriotic leaders do not sit-tight in leadership as their concern is how to better the welfare of their people and not how to rip them off, amass wealth and rule forever.

“Those in leadership positions should not forget that what they will be remembered for after death will be their good work and not the donkey years that they ruled,” Onah said.

Micro Credit Loan Defaulters Risk Sanction – Commissioner BENIN CITY – Edo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barrister McDonald Obasuke has ordered beneficiaries of the EDSG-BOI (Edo State Government Bank of Industry) Micro Credit Scheme to immediately step up repayment within record time or be sanctioned.

Disclosing this in a chat with newsmen in Benin City, the commissioner listed the sanction to include having their names published beside taking other legal steps to

recover the loan.

He said the loan defaulters were making it impossible for other members of the public to benefit from the scheme which is revolving in nature.

Commissioner Obasuke condemned in strong terms the action of beneficiaries who have not repaid the loans given them as required.

He said the well intended intention of the state government at boosting small and medium scale business in the state would suffer set back if the loan repayment is allowed to persist.

Coastal communities lament oil spill impact

YENAGOA - Some coastal communities in Bayelsa have decried the negative impacts of the November 28 oil spill from the Brass Oil Export Terminal, belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

According to Mr. Henshaw Oguwike, the Chief Information Officer, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSRA), the leak discharged some crude into the Atlantic.

Chief Francis Ikagi, the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs of Odioma, one of the affected communities, decried the impact in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa.

Ikagi said economic activities in the affected coastal settlements were paralysed following the incident, adding that “everything has stopped for more than two weeks now.

“Our fishermen have been forced out of the sea to pave way for Agip to commence clean-up of the waters, and nobody knows how long it will last.

“This spill has dealt a heavy blow to our people, whose businesses revolve around the water, from the traders who sell fish to those who sell nets and fishing gear.

“Our women who dry the fish and even the mechanics that repair and service outboard engines are all affected in one way or the other.’’

Also, Princess Elizabeth Egbe, the Chairperson of the Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria in

Bayelsa, said the spill had brought untold hardships to fishermen in the state.

Egbe said more than 3,000 members of the association were affected by the spill, which occurred in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

She said dead fishes had been floating in the waters of Opoama because the spill had destroyed the aquatic life in the area.

“My people are suffering, their fishing tools are all destroyed and they can’t do any fishing activity because if they do, any implement they use will be spoilt.

“They cannot make any catch until the clean-up is done. These people depend on the sea for their daily bread. They are completely devastated.’’

The chairperson said the oil spill had also polluted the St. Nicholas River, which provided fresh water to the coastal residents for domestic use.

Egbe regretted that more than two weeks after the incident, the oil firm responsible for the spill had not shown any concern for the plight of the victims.

According to her, the fishermen have notified the oil firm of the impact of the leakage on the predominantly fishing communities, but it is yet to get any feedback.

Efforts to get the comments of Agip’s Spokesman, Mr. Tajudeen Adigun, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to the calls or text messages sent to his mobile phone

Asaba Power Sub-station ready April 2014

ASABA - The Asaba power sub-station being constructed by AK-Ay Elektrick would be ready for inauguration in the first quarter of 2014, the Site Engineer, Mr. Odinaka Amobi, said.

Amobi gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen at the project site in Asaba.

He said the sub-station, with six feeders, would end the power problem in Asaba and its environ, including

Okpanam and Ogwashi-Uku, when completed.

The site engineer said the 330/132/33KVA sub-station had provisions for expansion as a hob station, for transmission of electricity to other parts of the state.

Currently, he added, only one feeder at the Obosi substation, near Onitsha in neighbouring Anambra supplied electricity to the area.

“I am not a politician and

all I can say is that the remaining materials for this project have been procured and shipped.

“If they arrive here in a week’s time, the sub-station will be completed in a few weeks’ time.’’

He explained that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was responsible for stepping down electricity from the national grid to the station.

He added that “as you can

see, the TCN power line project is also on and the company has given us their word that this power line will be ready in three months time.

“That is why I have given you the April 2014 projection for the inauguration of this sub-station.’’

Amobi, however, urged the distribution company in Asaba zone to hasten its plan and be ready to distribute

electricity from the substation to consumers as soon as the sub-station was inaugurated.

He said the call had become necessary to avoid a situation where power shortage in the area would persist after the project had been inaugurated.

“We expect the distribution company in charge of Asaba zone to be liaising with us for effective service delivery to the people,’’ he added.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

News Renovation Of Benin Airport Car Park Begins

By ERANGA ISAAC BENIN CITY – Work has commenced on the proposed ultra modern Benin Airport Car Park.

Taking our correspondent round the location of the park, the Benin Airport Manager, Mr. Sunday Ayodele said that the site has been surveyed.

He said contract for the construction of the park has also been awarded.

Mr. Ayodele said this is in line with the remodeling of the Benin Airport agenda of

government.

On completion of the car park, Ayodele said the Benin Airport would accommodate more vehicles, saying, “this is to promote the serenity of the airport environment”.

The car park, the Benin Airport Manager said would accommodate a multi-storey building, adding that it is a nonaeronautical means of generating income for the airport.

He said a five-star hotel and a business complex would also be built after the completion of the park.

CSR: UGNL Commences Grading Of Earth Roads In Host Communities EVBUOEHIGHAE – The United Geophysical Nigeria Limited (UGNL), an operator in the oil and gas sector has commenced the grading of earth roads in its host communities in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State.

This is sequel to the payment of 70 percent mobilization take-off grant of the N700,000.00 earmarked for Community Assisted Project (CAP) for each of the host communities.

This was disclosed by the Community Affairs Manager of UGNL, Mr. Philip Agudah at the final Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting of Party 101 for Oil Mining License (OML) 142 Summit Oil/Suntera Project held at Evbuoehighae in Orhionmwon Local government Area, at the weekend.

The Community Affairs Manager also made it known that the company had paid for the crops damaged as promised

Chief Priest Decries Intimidation Of Community Members

while all absentee damaged crops claimants should come with their receipts for collection of their payment .

In their remarks, the Sole Administrator of Orhionmwon Local Government Council Edo State, Sir Iyoboba Igharo, commended UGNL for managing well all situations that would have led to crisis.

Enogie of Ugo and Chairman of Enigie in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, HRH Edugie Oguigo also thanked the company for redeeming its promises as well and appealed for assistance for the annual traditional festival (Igue).

Also, the UGNL Party Chief, Steve Yeye thanked the host communities for their cooperation with the company so far.

Evbuoehighae, Ugo and Ugboko numagbae were given awards, cash prizes and plaques of honour for being the most peaceful host communities to UGNL.

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM

People queuing to enter BRT bus at Oshodi in Lagos weekend.

Lagos Issues 706 Building Permits In 6 Months - Fashola

LAGOS Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said that the State Government has issued no fewer than 706 building permits, between January and June this year.

Fashola told the members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) at the Government House in Lagos, that the issued permits showed that the government was responding well to meet the agitation for the document.

“I understand there are agitation for building permits in the state but patience must be exercised because the issue of building permits is complex.

“This is because once you give approvals for a property to be sited in a particular place, it is not only for today but for many years to come.

“The questions are will the property be taken over later for industrial use? That your house is your sweat while you are still working.

“Do you have to remove it when you are no more working because somebody made a

A car involved in an accident at Area II Junction in Abuja yesterday.

mistake when issuing you permit?

“Those are the issues at the heart of town planning urban development. And you want to build under what condition and which terrain?

“We are having an increasing number of building collapses in the state and most cases involved buildings built many years ago when no soil test was done.

“People were just building anyhow they liked and that is why the consequences are haunting us today.

“So the essence of being meticulous in the issuance of permits is to address all these,’’ he said.

Fashola assured that all applications for permits were receiving due attention, saying they would be ready in due course.

The governor said that the

State Government was doing everything to enhance the growth of businesses in the state.

Fashola said that the government was building new industrial parks and providing the necessary support for the smooth operations of industrial estates.

He, however, urged businesses operating in the state to comply with the state’s laws and operate in a sustainable manner.

The governor said the introduction of Hotel’s Consumption Tax by the government was to support infrastructure development of the state.

He urged hotels that are yet to comply with the tax to do so, saying it was in their interest and for the development of the state’s economy.

IGBANKE – The Chief Priest of Nwa-Abu Ake of Igbanke Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, Chief (Dr) Samson Igwaran Ozabor has decried the high level of intimidation of the people of Ake-Igbanke by PDP members in the area over the citing of sign board in the area.

In an interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Igbanke, Chief (Dr) Igwaran stated that his Omogun quarters rightfully owns the area in dispute.

He said the area belongs to Omogun Okalegbe quarters and decried the situation where another quarter is laying claim to it with the support of PDP members in the area. “it is not Okutor-Odale Street rather it is known from time immemorial as Omogu Road”, he added.

He accused the People Democratic Party of trying to take advantage of the road to victimize All Progressive Congress (APC) members in that area.

The APC member in the area who also spoke in an interview with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER said that the party would resist any attempt to frustrate the effort of the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in developing the area.

Knights Of St John Elects Officers

By ROLAND OSAKUE

BENIN CITY – Members of the Knights of St. John International, St. Francis Commandery 717, in Benin City weekend elected new executives that would direct its affairs for the next two years.

The in-house election which was directed by Sir Patrick Oyebobuoh as Returning Officer at the commandery’s monthly general meeting, however saw to the emergence of former executive members who were overwhelmingly returned unopposed.

The officers are sir Sylvester Egbase, Worthy President of the commandery, while sir-Julius Ikhane and Phillip Umebese were elected as 1st and 2nd Vice-Worthy Presidents respectively.

The office of the commandery’s Recording/ Correspondent Secretary went to sir Christopher Ijeghede with

Roland Osakue as his assistance.

Similarly, the position of the Financial Secretary was won by Bro. Charles Omere while sir Moses Imologhomhe and Emmanuel Uwumarogie retained their positions as the commander and Treasurer respectively.

Members of Trustees for the commandery. Sir. Moses Momoh, Anthony Oshionebo, Nathaniel Cole, Matthew Ike and Francis Udukpegheme were returned as 1st to 5th Trustees respectively.

Meanwhile, the inauguration of the officers, and those appointed by the Worthy President on account of his exclusive constitutional powers to various offices in the commandery has been fixed for the first general meeting stated for January 2014.

Earlier, in a homily, Assistant Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Benin City,

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel taking his text from Matthew 17:10-13, urged Christians to seriously prepare for the advent and avoid distractions.

The priest, who noted that the year of faith, had just been observed by Catholic faithful, however, enjoined the knights, as soldiers of Christ to shun any act of gossip as he reminded them of God’s miracles that would be shared for the living.

• Sylvester Egbase

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

News Nollywood Star Advises Delta Youths On Hard Work

PHEDC Targets 180 Days For Steady Power Supply In 4 States PORT HARCOURT - The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) has projected that it would take between 100 days and 180 days to stabilise power supply in the four states under its jurisdiction.

The states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states.

Mr Matthew Edevbie, the Managing Director of 4Power Consortium, owners of PHEDC, made the disclosure while addressing workers at the inauguration of the company in Port Harcourt.

Four Power Consortium Ltd acquired some assets of PHCN during the just concluded power sector reform.

Edevbie said the projected days would enable the company to restructure its management and put mechanisms in place towards improved electricity supply.

“We have a very challenging task ahead, but we are confident that we will succeed in satisfying customers and also make profit from our investments.

“Workers must brace up to meet the Federal Government and customers’ expectations in providing efficient and stable electricity supply to our catchment states.

“The challenges facing the company in providing stable electricity supply are enormous,

but we are equally convinced that the opportunities in the sector are enormous.

“In this transition period of 100 to 180 days, we will also focus on upgrading our network as well as harmonise our electricity billings to ensure the company’s survival,” he said.

Edevbie called on workers to abstain from acts that would derail the Federal Government’s power sector reform.

Meanwhile, the Manager of the Trans-Amadi Business Unit, Mr Romanus Chidi, has attributed the drop in electricity supply in the state to the “ongoing upgrade of facilities to boost power supply.”

He said that transmission companies were upgrading transmission power lines to meet expectations of electricity consumers.

“Works are presently replacing bad transmission cables with new ones and also upgrading the entire network to accommodate more power.

SAPELE – The Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, Austin Avuru said the company has come to make a difference in its host communities in Edo and Delta States.

He explained that Seplat would add value to their lives through the continuous provision of community development projects and programmes.

The Seplat Managing Director made the remarks in Sapele, Delta State during the recent 2013 Seplat Pearls Quiz and the commissioning of the renovated female and children ward at the Sapele General Hospital which was also equipped with modern medical facilities.

Austin Avuru, who was represented by the General Manager Health, Safety, Security, Environment (HSSE) and Community Relations, Bryte Oghor, emphasised that the education-enhancing programme and hospital project were done through the joint venture between Seplat and Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

He said they were part of the Corporate Social Responsibility

(CSR) of Seplat.

In her remarks, the General Manager, Public Affairs and Business Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Chioma Nwachuku thanked the schools that participated in the quiz, the management of Seplat and NPDC and the Seplat organizing team for their effort at ensuring the success of the academic programme and health project.

Children dancing during the end of year party of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Maitama Chapter in Abuja yesterday.

Experts Seek Nat’l Framework To Harmonise twice.

ABUJA Information “ If there is a common Citizens’ Database Technology experts on Monday national base that all the can identified the need for a framework to harmonise information database gathered by different government agencies and corporate bodies for accelerated development in Nigeria.

The experts told newsmen in

Seplat Poised To Make A Difference – MD

separate interviews in Abuja that agencies and corporate bodies were duplicating efforts in the capturing data on the citizenry.

One of the respondents, Mr Temitope Adesina, a database management expert, stressed the need for all these institutions and other stakeholders to come up with a framework for a uniform database for the country.

He said: “It is a matter of will and what do we really need this data for? Is it for security, corporate or citizens’ benefits, probability access to school, hospital, some basic need or some requirements of a citizen of a country?

“If all of these are determined, I am sure that we will come up with a reasonable framework that will make all of these organisations adopt it.

“And one of the things I have

found out is that they all seem to be using common database as a platform.

“If as a country we decide that this is the way we want to go, then we can harmonise all our databases and warehouse them within a particular organisation.

“If the country has actually agreed that we are going with NIMC, then let the NIMC house this database and let every other organization that requires information from this database have a protocol of how they will tap into the database.

“I think, that will basically solve our problems.

“If these things should be done based on state we should decide that every state register their individuals.

“However, we still need to share information in such that an individual will not be register

actually tap into; this will help us in managing our resources.

“Because every organisation or state that is buying a particular database, either oracle or other data base is paying for it.

We can harmonise all of these resources and have a single database without wasting money.’’

According to them, the Federal Road Safety Commission, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), INEC, banks, Nigeria Population Commission and the telecom companies are neck deep in this exercise.

They stressed that the volume of data required central pool for common use as the need arises, saying the existing situation amount to waste of time and public funds.

ASABA - A Nollywood film maker, Mr Fred Amata, has advised talented youths in Delta to be hard working, so as to reap the benefits of their talents.

Amata, who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Asaba, said it was not enough to be talented without striving to be successful in life.

He said “my advice to youths is that having talent is not enough, they have to work very hard to develop those talents.”

The actor added that Delta had produced lead actors and actresses in Nollywood, who championed the course of the industry.

He urged those who have the talent from the state to work hard to sustain the trend, noting that the movie industry had contributed to job creation in the country.

“What the Delta State Government is doing in the ‘Talent Quest’ programme through the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Richard Mofe-Damijo, is commendable,” he said.

Amata said the programme had helped in identifying and grooming talents from the state in the entertainment industry, saying the industry had a lot to offer in curtailing youth restiveness in the Niger Delta area.

“There are various segments in the film industry; it is not only acting, as directing, producing and script writing are also part of the job.

“I want to say that Nollywood is the second employer of labour, apart from government in Nigeria.”

The actor, who said he was planning to establish a film village in the state to enhance talent development, added that “Delta is my home and I must come back someday to contribute my own quota to its development.”

Dereliction Of Duty Bayelsa Gov Suspends 9 Teachers

Captain of Big Shorers of Barnawa Volleyball Club, Mr. Amos Nathan receiving a trophy from Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika during the closing ceremony of 1 Division Nigerian Army Open Sports Tournament yesterday.

YENAGOA - Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has suspended nine teachers in Community Secondary School, Aleibiri, Ekeremor Local Government Area, for dereliction of duty.

A statement by Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, said the teachers were not at their duty posts when the governor paid an unscheduled visit to the school.

The statement, released on weekend in Yenagoa, said that Dickson, who was on a thankyou tour, expressed dismay at the attitude of some teachers to duty.

It quoted Dickson as saying

that his administration would not condone indiscipline and that the teachers would remain suspended pending the outcome of the findings of a disciplinary panel.

“Too often teachers in our various schools, especially those in the communities, have a record of not showing up in classrooms to carry out work for which they are being paid.

“The same is true for nurses and doctors who are employed to provide medical services in our communities.

“We will no longer condone this wanton negligence of duty going on in the state civil service.”

THE NIGERIAN

5

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

South-South Democracy: Lawmaker Urges Media

Spinal Cord Inquiry:

Patient Appeals For Aid

Professionals To Be Vigilant BENIN CITY – The members representing Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, Hon. Abubakar Momoh had charged media professionals and those in similar bodies to be vigilant in order to ensure that the nations democracy is defended from those who are opposed to its tenets.

Hon. Momoh disclosed this at the weekend in Benin City on the occasion of his conferment of an award the as Best National Assembly Legislator in Edo State for 2013’ by the Association of Community newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Edo state.

He also expressed the need for Nigerians to live lives of sacrifice that would enhance the Nigeria Nation summount all the challenges that serve as cog in its progress.

Citing the South African’s President, Dr. Nelson Mandela as reference point, he said people

BY JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM IDUMUESAH (AGBOR)- A 23 year old indigene of Idumuesah in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Miss. Juliet Ozueh that is suffering from spinal cord injury has appealed to members of the public for assistance that would enable her go for surgery.

Juliet who had been bedridden for a very long time now had her case worsened by the death of her parents.

She had been bedridden not long after birth as a result of illness which crippled her initially.

She told newsmen from her No 4 Osuya street, Idumuesah, on her sick bed that she has not been able to bring her case to the attention of Delta State government except through the media because her present condition does not make it possible for her to move.

Donation(s) to her should be sent to Mrs. Gabriel Esther Mekiri; fidelity Account No. 6019142792.

Egor Council Boss Orders Demolition Of Illegal Structure

Miss Juliet Ozueh

Prices Of Frozen Chicken, Turkey Rise In Asaba

ASABA- As the yuletide approaches, Prices of frozen chicken and turkey have increased in Asaba, forcing some of the consumers to resort to frozen fish, it was gathered.

A market survey by our correspondent in the two major markets in Asaba revealed that one kilogramme of frozen chicken which was sold for N800 some weeks ago now sells for N900.

A carton of the commodity which sold for N8000 at Ogbeogonogo and Abraka markets, now sells for N10,000.

The survey showed that the price of turkey has also recorded some increase as a kilogramme of the commodity now sells for N1000 as against N900 last month.

Some of the dealers who spoke with newsmen attributed the price increase to the increase in the exchange rate of the dollar.

According to Mrs Jane Ewere of the Zanvic Frozen Foods, the prices of frozen chicken and

turkey went up recently due to the increase in the exchange rate.

“The recent increase from N8000 to N10,000 for a carton of frozen chicken was not intentional and we never intended to increase the price on our own,” she said.

Another dealer, Mrs Oluchi Okolie said “the yuletide season has nothing to do with the increase in the price of frozen chicken; it is the exchange rate.

WHARC Parleys Journalists On WHARC programme officer, Health Information Toyin Owolabi gave an update

BY BERNADETTE IDALU BENIN CITY – The Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC), a Benin based Non-Governmental Organization, (NGO), has held a media parley to help speed up dissemination of evidence based information on maternal and reproductive health.

Speaking with newsmen in Benin City, the Deputy Director, Maternal Health and communications, Dr. Wilson Imongan stated that awareness on sexual and reproductive health was still at a low ebb in contemporary Nigerian Society due to cultural and social inhibitions.

Elaborating, practitioner observed that society still frowned and stigmatized youths who openly walk into Primary Healthcare Centres to get pregnancy preventing devices, and on how best to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, due to their age.

Dr. Imongan observed that this attitude prevents youths from being able to make informed choices on issues bothering on their sexual and reproductive health.

Also, he noted that women mostly lack the confidence of coming forward to voluntarily make themselves available for cervical cancer test because of dis-information going on in the society.

Based on research, Dr. Imongan said WHARC came to the conclusion that there was a lack of information, inadequate knowledge in communities on issues relating to sexual and reproductive health, hence the need to partner with the press to help with informing, educating and enlightening society with evidence based information as to bring about a positive change in the society.

As members of the press touched on various issues of interest, Professor Friday Okonofua enlightened on some areas of interest while a

could be celebrated, not due to the abundance of things they possess, but for their service to humanity.

According to him, the case of Nelson Mandela should serve as a lesson for all, especially political office holders “to make sacrifices to solve our nations woes”.

“On my part, I will do my utmost best in the service of Etsako people whom I hold in very high esteem and whose interest I represent at the National Assembly”, he said.

While appreciating his colleagues at the National Assembly and the State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for their cooperation in ensuring that the people of his constituency get dividends of democracy, Hon Momoh said he has so far sponsored seven motions that culminated to in resolutions and five bills besides co-sponsoring several bills and motions.

on the activities of WHARC.

“There is increase in the various charges we pay from Cotonou to this place. My prayer is that since the yuletide season is fast approaching, it does not increase further,’’ she said.

Okolie said the increase in the price of the commodity had affected the patronage by consumers, adding that before the increase, she could sell as many as 50 cartons a day.

“Since this recent increase, we hardly sell up to 25 cartons a day and I have observed that most of my customers are now buying frozen fish which is cheaper,’’ she explained.

A housewife, Mrs Gloria Uzodinma, told newsmen that the price increase had forced her to be consuming frozen fish which she noted was by far cheaper.

EGOR- The chairman Egor Local Government Council, of Edo State, Hon Victor Enobakhare has ordered the demolition of illegal structures, including fence on Adolo College Road not later than tomorrow.

He gave the order when he led officials of the council far on the spot inspection of the road ahead of its construction.

The council boss said that demolition order has became necessary so as to pave way for the construction of the road.

He said the contractor would mobilize men and instruments to site today with a view to commence work tomorrow.

According to him, the construction of the road has been a major source of concern to him since assumption of office in view of its strategic importance to people in the locality.

He said the construction work would be done in phases and

Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General, Azubuike Ihejirika (left), discussing with GOC 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major-Gen. Garba Wahab at the closing ceremony of 1 Div. Nigerian Army Open Sports tournament in Kaduna on Saturday.

assumed that he would personally supervise the construction as a mark of commitment to completion.

While urging landlords/ landladies and residents in the area to complement the government efforts in maintaining roads in the locality, he acknowledge the very bad state of many roads across the area.

He noted that many landlords/ landladies through their activities encroached on public roads thereby denying other road users of maximum benefit.

According to the council boss, tax payers deserve benefits for their money and one way of getting the benefits is through democratic dividends in form of good roads, portable water supply, good health care facilities and electricity supply.

Speaking at the occasion, a community leader in the locality, Pa. Moses Agbontaen appreciated the council boss for giving people in the locality greater sense of belonging.

Chairman, Tricycle (Keke NAPEP) Riders Association, Mr. Marcus Isabu thanked the local Government for creating jobs for his members and the conducive environment for them to operate by given attention to the Adolo College Road.

Victor Enobakhare, Egor LG Chairman

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Abuja DFID Advocates Financial Empowerment Of Women ABUJA - The Department for International Development (DFID), on weekend advocated financial empowerment of women saying it will reduce poverty in Nigeria.

Mr Simeon Kenny, Leader of Economic Growth Team in the DFID, made the call at the Fortis Women Fair 2013 in Abuja, tagged: “ Celebrating the Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Nigerian Woman.’’

He said women were expected to perform the roles of wife, mother and supporter in their homes, with very limited resources.

He noted that in the lower class, the women were the

major bread-winners, which was why they needed to be empowered through various ways to boost their businesses. “ If Nigeria is to address poverty and inequality, it must improve women businesses as they are currently constrained by capital.

“These women need to be empowered by having easy access to finance because they are the most financially excluded. “ There is need to invest more in women and that is why government and private corporations need to work together to this effect’’, he said.

Also, Mr Kunle Oketikun,

FCT Urged To Provide Health Centre In Jahi ABUJA FCT Administration has been called upon to bring health care facilities to Jahi community to save them from problems associated with travelling long distances to get medical attention.

Head of the village Alhaji Saliu Adamu made the call in Jahi on weekend at a free medical service organised by Joseph Amuta Adeyi Foundation (JAAF) for the residents of the community.

Adamu said more than 400,000 people lived in the community and that many deaths were recorded during child births due to lack of health care facilities.

He said that apart from pregnant women, most people who suffered from one ailment or the other, also die because the village cannot boast of any health centre.

Some of the residents said they always had to go to Mabushi in the metropolis to seek medical attention.

Aisha, 17, said she could not go for ante-natal care because of the absence of health facility in the community, adding that she could not afford the transport fare to the metropolis.

Mr Albert Adeyi, Chairman, JAAF, said he was moved by the plight of the

community to organise the free medical service.

“If you can find this in the nation’s capital, what then will be the lot of people living in the rural areas, who are not in the FCT?’’ Adeyi urged well-meaning Nigerians to lift the plight of the downtrodden by showing concern and contributing their quota to their happiness.

“We are all to blame for the rot in the society, you don’t have to be the president or governor to make any changes in the society, all of us should be involved’’, he said.

Sekimo Shuaib, a beneficiary of the free medical service, praised the foundation for the kind gesture, adding that she had been suffering from malaria without means of treating herself.

She added that the free medical service provided by JAAF had given her relief.

Muhammed Yusuf, a farmer, said he came to avail himself of the opportunity provided by the foundation since there was no health care facility in the community.

“If we are sick, we go to Maitama or Garki Hospitals and it can be very disastrous before some of us get there’’, he said.

the Chief Executive Officer, Fortis Micro Finance Bank, said the bank had set up a micro credit scheme to meet the financial needs of women.

He said the bank was spurred to intervene in the plight of women based on a report by Efina, a financial sector development firm in its 2012 report. ketikun quoted the report on access to finance in Nigeria as indicating that only 4.4 million women had regular source of income, compared to 7.2 million men.

“It further revealed that 18.2 million women are traders or business owners, which is significantly higher than men at 14.7 million.

“It is based on the need to increase the access of our women to finance that has brought us here’’, he said.

Oketikun said there were over 60,000 women on the bank’s micro credit scheme with access to loans ranging from N30,000 to N250,000 per head.

The Managing Director, Mobile Money, Fortis, Mr Henry Nwauba, who spoke on the importance of mobile

money, said it was a tool for achieving financial inclusion.

“We have a population of about 160 million and only 20 million are formally included in banking system which is very low. “ We have over 100 million

mobile phone subscribers.

That is why this concept seeks to put basic money transaction on the mobile phones, for broader outreach.

He said mobile money would enhance their businesses because it reduces

cost, more convenient, speedy and more secured transactions.

Report states that the fair was attended by 5,000 women and representatives from the Bank of Industry, Ministry of Women Affairs, and Pro Health, amongst others.

L-R: Wife of the Minister of Agriculture, Mrs. Yemisi Adesina; the Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and the Senior Pastor, Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Babajide Olowodola, during a thanksgiving service at Foursquare Gospel Church, Asokoro in Abuja yesterday.

NCP, 3 Other Political Parties Form Alliance - NCP Boss

ABUJA - Dr Yunusa Tanko, National Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), said the party has formed an alliance with three other political parties to provide a third alternative for the electorate.

Tanko said this at the party’s National Executive

Committee (NEC) meeting, held weekend in Abuja. ‘’This will be the third alternative for the people’s choice towards 2015 general elections. ‘’That is why we resolved

as a party not to be part of any merger but in working alliance with other likeminded political parties,’’ he said.

The chairman listed the parties as the Labour Party

Nigeria’s New Business Environment and CAC’s Intervention,’ said it had been able to reduce the period of registration of companies from five days to 24 hours.

The registrar-general, at the 3rd Annual Seminar for Trade and Investment Correspondents and Editors, said that its activities had helped to expose “the wonder banks“ in the country.

“Our collaboration with the EFCC, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial agencies have exposed over 370 ‘wonder banks‘ out of 400 ones that were investigated.

“We are developing our electronic registration in phases and we are planning to be able to get companies registered within two hours before first quarter of 2014,“ he said.

Mahmud said that the CAC was investing hugely in electronic registration of companies and in making its operations fully ICTcompliant.

He newsmen that the CAC had inaugurated a committee to review “contemporary law and practices“ both nationally and internationally.

“This change is necessary because in the contemporary world, globalisation is increasingly blurring business boundaries,“ Mahmud said.

“The committee’s findings will soon be made public. We want to bring our operations at the same standard with some of the best company registries.”

He noted that the CAC was the agency charged with the responsibility of registration and regulation of the formation, management and winding up of companies, business names and incorporated trustees.

“Until 2004, registration services were manually carried out in the CAC. Now, we are able to reduce the incidence of mistakes and duplication of names and numbers in registering companies,” Mahmud added.

CAC Aims To Register Companies In 2hrs ABUJA - Alhaji Bello Mahmud, Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), said weekend in Abuja that the CAC’s goal was to be able to register companies within two hours, anywhere in Nigeria.

Mahmud in a lecture:

Participants at the Annual dinner of the 18th Regular Course of the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy in Abuja.

(LP), Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

He said that details of their alliance would be presented to the public early next year.

Tanko urged other parties to join the alliance which, he said, was aimed at ameliorating the living conditions of the citizenry. ‘’The leaders of this country must show purposeful leadership then every other Nigerian will follow their footsteps. ‘’Nigerians on their part must come out to fight for what they believe in,’’ he said.

Tanko urged the government to ensure ‘’it tackles insecurity and the neglect of youths in the running of it affairs’’.

In a goodwill message, the National Women Leader of the LP, Mrs. Ebere Ifendu, said that the party had always had a good working relationship with the NCP. She explained that that was why the LP decided to be part of the alliance.

The representative of the ACD, Yusuf Buba, said that the alliance ‘’will help to form a formidable force which will provide Nigerians an alternative.’’

The National Secretary of the SDP, Dr Sadiq Abubakar, said: ‘’The alliance will help proffer solutions to the many challenges in Nigeria.’’

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

South West Ijebu East CDA Promises Grassroots IJEBU-ODE (OGUN) - reiterated its commitment to disclosed this during a Devt The Community continually enlighten people meeting with its members in Development Association (CDA) in Ijebu-East Local Government Area has

at the grassroots about government programmes and policies for improved service

delivery.

Mr Michael Akinjo, the Chairman, Ijebu-East CDA,

Ogbere.

Akinjo said that the CDAs in the zone had embarked on

Special Adviser to the President on Protocol Matters, Mr. Ben Okoyen (right), dancing with other members of the 18th Regular Course of the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy during their 2013 Annual Dinner in Abuja weekend.

Man, 71 Docked For Raping Minor AKURE - An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded a 71-year-old man, Alhaji Ganiyu Kolawole of Oba-Ile, Akure, in prison custody for raping a 7-year-old girl.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Charity Adeyanyu, directed the accused to be kept behind in prison custody pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Adeyanju said that the prosecutor should duplicate the case file and forward it to the DPP and the Ministry of Justice for legal advice.

The Prosecutor, Mr Okai Felix of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), had earlier told the court that the accused had unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor without her consent.

Okai said that the accused committed the offence on December 2, at about 1:30 p.m. at Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area.

The offence is punishable under Section 218 of the criminal code ACT L.F.N, 2004.

The plea of the accused was not however taken by the court and the magistrate adjourned the case to February 27, 2014 for legal advice.

viable self-help projects to better the lots of the people socially and economically to complement government’s efforts.

According to him, the projects include construction of culverts, provision of potable water and community electrification through the active participation of the people.

Akinjo pleaded with the chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government Area to consider some members of the CDAs for future appointment as supervisors or advisers based on their track record in community service.

Responding, the local government boss, Mr Patrick Ogunde, implored the CDAs in the council area to educate the people on the need to always pay their levies and taxes.

Ogunde, who was represented by the Secretary to the Ijebu-East Local Government, Mr Gbenga Odufuye, said that the current administration had always supported the communities.

He particularly cited grants given for the execution of community development infrastructure and provision of transformers.

Ondo Shuts Down 13 Sawmills

IDO-ANI (ONDO STATE) - The Ondo State Government closed down 13 sawmills for illegal access to government forest and flouting the timber laws.

The Commissioner of Natural Resources, Mr Tunde Atere, made this known to the newsmen at Ido-Ani in Ose Local

• Governor Olusegun Mimiko

Government Area of the state.

“It is appalling to see these unlawful acts being perpetrated by saw millers and some timber contractors in spite of several warnings to desist from such acts.

“I hereby announce the closure of all these sawmills until further notice.”

Atere said that some logs found in the sawmills were not even indicated in the log books as stated by the law, and that the state government

had not given anybody approval to access Ose River Park.

“The eight sawmills here have been found guilty of violating forestry laws because some logs found here could not be traced and we know from our own understanding that they were gotten from Ose River Park.

“This park is a no-go-area for timber operators because the state government has not approved access to it.

“Also, some logs are not hammered, which means a loss to government revenue and some logs are not even recorded in the log book and this is a precondition which provides for every log to be indicated,” he said.

At Owoani Area of the town, the commissioner decried the rate which some timber contractors were operating without licences.

“It is unfortunate to see these five sawmills here operating without operationing licences, let alone renewing their papers.

“This is a great loss to the state government coffers, the commissioner said.

Clergy Cautions Women Against ‘Wonder Pastors’ OYE (EKITI) - An Ekitibased Clegy, Pastor Emmanuel Olagunju, has appealed to miracle seekers, especially ladies searching for husbands and women with infertility problems, to stop patronising ‘wonder pastors.’

Olagunju, who heads the Christ Salvation Ministry, Oye in Ekiti State, said this in an interview with newsmen.

He said the advice had become necessary in order to prevent innocent women from being duped by false prophets.

According to Olagunju, some media reports have shown that people no longer believe that their personal prayers can be answered unless they visit wonder pastors, without minding the sources of their powers.

“The development has made many people to fall into the hands of fraudsters, with some losing money, property and other valuable things, while seeking for solutions to their problems.

“People, especially women, who are looking for the fruit of the womb and those searching for husbands should realise that only the Creator has solution to every problem,’’ he said.

Ogun Earmarks N1.4bn WAEC Fees, Others ABEOKUTA - The Ogun State Government said it had earmarked N1.4 billion for payment of examination fees for students sitting for the West African School Certificate in 2014.

Mr Segun Odubela, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, made the disclosure in Abeokuta while defending the 2014 budget proposal of the ministry at the House of Assembly.

Odubela said the money would take care of 54,944 final year senior secondary school students at the rate of N10,400 each.

“The money will also take care of the 70,000 final year Junior Secondary School students and the conduct of the Unified Examinations for secondary school students in the state.

“Payment of bursary to 57,600 students in tertiary institutions is also from that amount, while N239.9 million will be used for maintenance of public schools.’’

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Across The Nation

I Have Accomplished My Campaign Promises - Gov Orji

UMUAHIA - Governor Theodore Orji of Abia said that he had accomplished “all major promises” made during his electioneering campaigns to the people of the state.

Orji made the statement during the 2013 prayer summit organised by an

Umuahia based political pressure group, Ochendo Grassroots Solidarity Movement, in Umuahia.

He was represented by Mr. Godwin Nna, the Commissioner for Urban Renewal and Physical Planning.

Orji expressed joy that

Abia now had environment that enabled key infrastructure to drive development.

“My administration has restored peace and security through total combating of kidnapping and other

Gov Elechi Urges NASS To Proscribe ASUU ABAKALIKI Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi has urged the National Assembly to immediately proscribe the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for “sabotaging the nation’s education sector’’.

The governor made the call in Abakaliki during an interactive session with journalists.

Elechi blamed the National Assembly for failing to proscribe the union in the past.

“I blame the National Assembly for not proscribing ASUU; that union is due for proscription.

“The way they are going about the strike is sabotage,’’ he said.

Elechi said that the union was deliberately sabotaging the government and country with incessant strikes.

Describing the current situation in the university sector as unfortunate, the governor stressed that the strike could also have dire consequences on the security of the country.

“The ASUU strike is unfortunate; I hope that common sense will prevail.

“If you say a lot is lacking in the university sector, you are correct; but it is like that in almost all other sectors of the country.

“The major victims of the strike are not government but the students. When you go on strike, you have to be reasonable so that you do not destroy everything,’’ he said.

Elechi reiterated that the way ASUU had been going about the strike amounted to sabotage.

On the disengagement of Ebonyi indigenes from Abia State Civil Service, the governor said that his

administration was not obliged to absorb the affected workers into Ebonyi State Civil Service.

“What is necessary for the state to do is to ensure that their retirement benefits are duly paid,” he said.

It would be recalled that over 80 indigenes of Ebonyi were compulsorily retired from Abia State Civil Service in 2010.

• Governor Martin Elechi

criminal activities across the state.

“We have equally tackled epileptic power supply, constructed workers’ secretariat, built several roads and renovated the three major markets in Umuahia,” he said.

The governor also listed other achievements in the area of health, youth empowerment, education and workers’ welfare, noting that Abia was now closing in on other mega cities in Nigeria.

Orji, who attributed his success in office to prayers from people of the state, commended the leadership of the movement for supporting his administration.

Reports say that the group bestowed the award of “Father of Modern Abia” on

Governor Orji.

It also honoured Chief Sam Onuigbo, the immediate past state’s Commissioner for Finance as the patron of the group.

Onuigbo commended the group for organising series of prayers and fasting for the spiritual strengthening of Abia since 2006.

He stressed the need for government to enhance effort in effective planning.

He said that effective planning, anchored on sincerity of purpose, made Gov. Orji to accomplish several “milestones in office”.

The founder of the group, Mr. Godwin Ogbonnaya, said the group was founded in 2006 during the “inglorious days of kidnapping in Abia, to seek God’s intervention in the affairs of the state”.

LG Procures N6.7m Learning Materials

BIRNIN KEBBI - The Birnin Kebbi Local Government Council in Kebbi has procured learning materials worth

N6.7million for distribution to primary and junior secondary schools, to raise the standard of education in the area.

The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Musa DanIllela, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the

materials would soon be distributed.

Dan-Illela said the materials include exercise

Officials of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), cutting the cake at the end of year party of the NIM Maitama Chapter in Abuja yesterday.

CLO Advocates Financial Autonomy For LGs

PORT HARCOURT - Mr Livingstone Wechie, the Publicity Secretary of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has said that local governments’ autonomy was necessary for community and civil empowerment.

Wechie made the observation in an interview with newsmen while speaking on the level of poverty in rural areas.

He said that financial autonomy of the local councils would enhance development in

the rural areas as well as create jobs.

“Poverty in the rural areas is very worrisome; it has really undermined the fundamental rights of the people.

“Violation of human rights is not only by war of physical violence, it could be done by impoverishment and denial necessities of lives,’’ Wechie said.

The CLO scribe stressed that autonomy of councils was imperative for improved

empowerment of rural economic dwellers.

He described the local councils as the economic foundation of every nation, saying that its fiscal independence would usher in economic innovations.

Wechie decried the level of poverty in the rural areas and said that the situation was capable of reducing the nation’s international rating.

According to him, we cannot be claiming to be the giant of Africa when majority of our children lack the basic necessities of live.

The CLO official called on the Federal Government to devise ways of rescuing those in the grass root from economic backwardness.

He also appealed to the National Assembly to review the constitutionality of the councils’ financial dependence on state governments.

and text books, chalks and other teaching aids.

He said the local government’s committee on education would intensify efforts to develop education facilities in the area to meet the quest for education by the people.

He said the council would provide scholarship, enhance teachers’ welfare through training and promotion, as well as provide other support services to the schools.

The chairman commended the efforts of the state government at promoting education, saying that,“ our efforts would compliment the giant strides recorded by the state government”.

According to him, the state government has in the last six years constructed 250 primary and junior secondary schools and upgraded 60 other schools to boarding secondary schools.

He also said that students’ feeding and scholarship allowances had been reviewed upward by the state government.

Dan-Illela called on parents to enrol their children in school, saying that education was the bedrock of development of any society.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

EDO STATE

MINISTRY OF SECONDARY, TECHNICAL & TERTIARY EDUCATION P.M.B 1058 BENIN CITY EDO STATE OF NIGERIA

INVITATION TO TENDER The Edo State Government in continuation of the transformation of Educational Institutions in the State invites competent and reputable contractors to submit pre-qualification bid documents and if qualified to tender for the transformation of the under listed projects.

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Akuku Secondary School, Akuku Epe Mixed Grammar School, Epe Idoa Secondary School, Idoa Ayua Sec. Commercial Sch., Ayua-Uzairue Comprehensive High School, Auchi Illeh Senior Secondary School, Ekpoma Auchi College, Auchi College of Education, Ekiadolor Lecture Hall/ Block R College of Education, Ekiadolor Construction of hostel block Completion of Adolor College, Benin City Hostel Block Erediauwa Grammar School, Obarenren Ojirami Secondary School, Ojirami Ogbona Secondary School, Ogbona Utese Secondary School, Utese Ozalla Secondary Commercial School, Ozalla Completion of Army Day Secondary School, Agenebode Igarra Girls Grammar School, Igarra Okokhuo Secondary School, Okokhuo Evbareke Secondary School, Evbareke Uzeah Secondary School, Uzeah Apana Secondary School, Apana Orruah Mixed Secondary School, Orruah Elawure Secondary School, Usen Ekpedo Comprehensive High School, Ekpedo Ugo Grammar School, Ugo Completion of Uku Secondary School, Iyuku Okpokhumi Secondary School,Okpokhumi Government Science & Technical College, Afuze Girls Model Secondary School, Abudu Completion of Army Day Secondary School, Auchi Island Secondary School, Ifeku Esan Model Secondary School, Uromi Emaudo Secondary School, Emaudo Okpameri Secondary School, Okpameri Iguogbe Secondary School, Iguogbe Use Secondary School,Use Okelo Secondary School, Okelo Ewure Secondary School, Atte Ogugu Secondary School, Ogugu Unea Secondary School, Unea Ugboha Secondary School, Ugboha Ewu Grammar School, Ewu Government Science & Technical College, Igarra Agba Secondary School, Uromi Government Science & Technical College, Irrua Abiokunla Grammar School, Abudu Ambrose Alli University Construction of 108 beds female and male Hostels, Renovation of Faculties of Law, Management Sciences, Library, Lecture Halls, Completion of Moot Court.

Ojah Comm. High School, Ojah Evbuotubu Secondary School, Evbuotubu Institute of Continuing Education,Benin Uselu Secondary School, Uselu Government Science and TechnicalCollege,Benin Eweka Grammar School, Ugbowo Ohonre Grammar School, Ugbowo; Uwelu S/S, Uwelu Boys Model Secondary School Evboneka Opoji Grammar School, Opoji Ebhoiyi Secondary School, Uromi Okaigben Secondary School, Ewohimi Agadagba Secondary School, Ewohimi Completion of Ewatto Grammar School Iruekpen Grammar School, Iruekpen Ujiogba Secondary School, Ujiogba Uhiele Grammar School Fugar Mixed Secondary School, Iruru Fugar Mixed Secondary School, Ivakpa Uzanu S/S, Uzanu Igiode S/S, Igiode

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Oghe Community S/S, Ivioghe Weppa S/S, Weppa Egori Community S/S, Egori Completion of Ikpomaza Grammar School, Awoyemi-Okpella Ogute-Oke S/S, Ogute-Okpella Comprehensive High School, Okugbe-Okpella Ekuri S/Commercial School, Imiekuri-Okpella Afokpella S/S, Afokpella-Okpella Okpekpe S/S Ugun Secondary School, Ugun Anglican Girls’ Grammar School,Benin City Ogbe Secondary School, Benin City Esigie Comprehensive Secondary School, Abudu Igbanke Grammar School, Igbanke Esigie Girls Model Secondary School, Abudu Iru Grammar School, Iru Omolua Secondary School, Igbanke Orogho Secondary School, Orogho Ogan Secondary School, Ogan Oheze Secondary School, Oloten Obanosa Secondary School, Evbuobanosa Oza Grammar School, Oza Okogbo Secondary School, Okogbo Mixed Secondary School, Ugboko-numagbae Mixed Secondary School, Ugboko-niro Oben Secondary School, Oben Ikobi Secondary School, Ikobi Ugu Secondary School, Umoghunmwun-nokhua Umoghunmwun Secondary School, Umoghunmwun-Uzuagbor Ehengbuda Secondary School, Urhonigbe Urhonigbe Mixed Secondary School Owe Secondary School, Owe Evbuokabua Secondary School, Evbuokabua Sokponba Secondary School, Sokponba Ezomo College, Ora-Ifon Erah Grammar School, Erah Ugiamen Secondary School, Ugiamen Obadan Mixed Secondary School, Obadan Ugieghudu G/S, Ugieghudu Ugonoba Mixed Secondary School, Ugonoba Uteh Secondary School, Uteh Aduwawa Secondary School, Aduwawa Umelu Secondary School, Umelu Oguola College, Benin City Itohan Girl’s Grammar School, Benin City Obasuyi College Obayantor Ozolua Grammar School Conditions for Pre-qualification and Tendering Interested companies should submit applications for pre-qualification with the underlisted requirements to the HonourableCommissioner,Ministry of Secondary, Technical and Tertiary Education Iyaro, Benin City not later than four weeks from the date of this publication: i) Evidence of Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) ii) Evidence of Registration with the Edo State Ministry of Works. iii) Current three(3) years tax clearance iv) Company Profile v) Evidence of previous work done vi) Company’s financial capability and Bankers reference

3.

Only pre-qualified Companies would be allowed to submit Tenders for the projects.

4.

This publication supercedes our earlier publication dated 5th October, 2013 on the same subject.

Signed: Barr. Washington Osa Osifo Honourable Commissioner

THE NIGERIAN

10

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Business + Economy Rep Urges Media To Promote Green Economy

IBEDC Reasures Communities Of Constant Power Supply OMU-ARAN (KWARA) The Omu-Aran Business District of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has assured communities in the area of uninterrupted power supply before and during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The affected areas are of Ekiti, Oyun, Isin, Offa, Oke-Ero, Ifelodun and Irepodun Local Government Areas.

The District Manager, Mr Emmanuel Ilesanmi, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Omu-Aran, Kwara.

He said the re-assurance become imperative because of the rumour of an imminent blackout in the district.

Ilesanmi also assured the communities of the committment of IBEDC to provide pre-paid metres and recharge vouchers to meet the objectives of the new policy on electricity distribution.

The manager, who solicited the understanding and cooperation of the communities, said the company would address the challenges that arose from the recent acquisition of the defunct PHCN by new investors.

“We are assuring our customers in the district that the company is working round the clock to ensure that regular power supply in the district is sustained not only for the festivities, but throughout the coming year “So, the issue of power disconnection to the district does not arise at all,” he said.

Ilesanmi said that workers, especially those in the fault detection unit, had been mobilised to IBEDC installations to avoid disruption of power supply.

The IBEDC boss, who did not disclose the profile of indebtedness in the district, expressed the optimism that the bulk of the debts would be collected before the end of the year.

He also urged residents to stop erecting structures under IBEDC high tension cables, stressing that rules guiding erection of structures must be observed.

“We have severally warned the people on the dangers inherent in putting up structures under high tension cables, but the people seem to be unyielding.

“Such a practice is suicidal and those under such structures are at a great risk of electric shock and imminent death.

“IBEDC management should not be blamed or held responsible for any unpredictable circumstances that may befall such occupants,” Oyewole said.

L-R: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of State, Dr. Samuel Ortom and Deputy President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, at the close of the 3rd Annual Seminar for Trade and Investment Correspondent and Editors in Abuja weekend.

ABUJA - Hon. Zakari Mohammed, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, has called on the media to promote green economy, to enhance development in the country.

Mohammed made the call at a media event organised to mark the 4th Annual Nigeria Renewable Energy Day in Abuja.

Mohammed, in a paper titled: ‘The role of the Press in the growth of Renewable Energy Sector’, said the media had a role to play in reporting renewable energy.

Reports say that green economy results in the wellbeing of people while reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.

The chairman said the media should be interested in reporting environmental issues now that the world was going green.

He, however, called on the media to be knowledgeable about the issues in the sector, saying, “as professionals, you need to be well informed.

“Your role is very important in promoting green economy, because people are not aware about the alternative energy sources that are available to them.

“You need to let the citizens know the benefits of using renewable energy; you need to sensitise homes on the need to embrace renewable energy,’’ he said.

According to him, renewable energy can help prevent death resulting from the use of cooking with firewood.

“It can help to solve the problem of erratic power supply and can serve as foreign earning.

Minister Launches Widows Empowerment Scheme

Officials of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), dancing at the end of year party of the NIM, Maitam Chapter in Abuja yesterday.

Agri-Business: NAICOM Decries Low Particiption Of Insurance Coys ABUJA - The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) in Abuja has rated low the willingness of insurance companies to participate in agribusiness in the country.

The Director, Authorisation and Policy, NAICOM, Mr. Leonard Akah, made this known in an interview with newsmen.

The situation to the misconception that only the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) had the authority to operate in the sector.

Akah, however, explained that insurance companies were allowed to provide insurance cover for all aspects of agriculture including crops, livestock, tools, and farm buildings, as long as the farm was not government funded.

“There is this misconception that everything agriculture insurance can only be handled by the Nigerian Agricultural

Insurance Corporation (NAIC).

“They feel NAIC has the monopoly; but truly speaking, that is not the true position.

Private insurance companies can underwrite any product for agriculture practitioners with the commission’s approval.

“NAICOM, at a point, issued a press release, trying to clarify the true position of the law.

“There are some aspects of agricultural insurance you can underwrite apart from the ones being underwritten by NAIC, because the statutory one being handled by NAIC is actually a no-go area.

“The reason is simple.

Government will eventually fund part of the premium and this will not be possible, if the insurance is being done by private insurance.

“NAIC is government-owned, so, it is easier for them to do that,” he said.

He said that if there was a serious claim and the amount was more than 100 per cent of the premium, government would pay the balance.

Akah also identified the inadequate number of existing agriculture insurance specialists in the industry as another factor.

He underscored the need for the training of more agricultural insurance experts.

Akah said the commission had

introduced policies such as the micro-insurance product and “Takaful’’, an Islamic insurance product, which insurance companies could use to underwrite insurance cover for clients. “ We have two types of farmers. Those doing it in smallscale, then the large-scale ones, though very few, but they are the ones that make more impact.

BIRNIN KEBBI - The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has launched Widows Empowerment Scheme in Kebbi.

The minister, who was in Birnin Kebbi for a two-day advocacy visit, distributed 1,000 refrigerators and 400 grinding machines to some widows.

During the distribution ceremony, she urged the beneficiaries to utilise the facilities to improve their economic status and support their children.

Maina commended the state government for appointing women in political offices and called for the implementation of the affirmative action by placing more women in government.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Hajiya Hafsat Gulumbe, said the state government would continue to support women, children, people with disabilities and the vulnerable in the society.

Board To Conduct Census Of Grazing According to him, the board Reserves consists representation from the

DUTSE - The Jigawa Farmers/Herdsmen Board said it would conduct a baseline survey to identify grazing reserves in the state.

Dr Rabiu Miko, the board’s Executive Secretary, said this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.

Miko said that the board would also develop and demarcate the grazing reserves, animal’s water

points and stock routes in order to prevent encroachment.

He said the decision was taken after series of meeting with relevant stakeholders in the state.

Miko urged farmers and herdsmen to refer to their respective local government’s branches whenever they have issues to settle

SSS, Police, NSCDC, Immigration, Farmers Association, Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association, among others.

Miko said that the agency had established branches in all the 27 local government areas of the state.

THE NIGERIAN

11

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Politics

The Clarion Call To Senate Hon Abubakar Momoh:

HON Abubakar Momoh, the honourable member representing Etsako Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, wears several caps that fit him so admirably like second nature. Of all, however, his political is the one he wears with so much staccato and pride and in all honesty, thatís also the one that has won for him numerous accolades as a star in Etsako political firmament. His conquests and record of steadwardship to his people is difficult if not impossible to imitate.

Hon Abubakar Momoh although not born with silver spoon however, hard work and providence made all the difference for him. So, despite deprivations suffered as a Youngman trying to make a decent living, Hon Momoh took on life challenges with the heart of a lion.

Make no mistakes at all, appearance can be deceptive. Hon Momoh, like most of his peers, had his fare share of life vicissitudes but what helped him overcome were his dogged nature as well as his acute knowledge of the consequences of failure. In this wise, he made some hard and deliberate choices that paid handsome dividends. Perhaps, Momohís popularity is best measured by the fact that he holds the all time record of being the first Etsako to be a two-term member of the House of Representatives, a feat he accomplished under two different political parties; First

on PDP platform and now on APC. Some people claimed that the feat is a testimony that the Etsako people hold him in high esteem by identifying with him irrespective of the political platforms he pitch tent with.

An alumni of both the university of Benin and Ambrose Alli university Ekpoma, where he obtained 1st and 2nd degrees in Engineering, Hon. Momohís foray into politicsí hugely profitable but, then, what makes his so unique is the fact that he began his political adventure from the grassroots as a councilor and gradually worked his way up to the political ladder by becoming a LGA chairman and later as member of Edo state House of Assembly between 1999 to 2003.He got elevated as Etsako representatives in the House of Representatives between 20032007 and 2011 to date.

Thus, one can say without fear of contradiction that Hon. Momoh has surely paid his dues while relishing a flourishing political career, one that saw him go through the whole gamut of Etsako political structure.

For starter, this approach may seem long and tedious. What day, however, fail to note is that the road to success is strewn with thorns and only the strong can survive. Thus, Hon. Momohís life, political pursuits, his passion for service as well as his disposition to people ori-

By SAM DADA AYOKHAI

ented issues is clearly in sync with Winston Churchillís saying that ìthe pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity while optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.î Being an in-

well as continuous efforts to attract government presence to Etsako in addition to the donation of empowerment items at regular intervals to the needy are very much acknowledged. As

• Hon. Abubakar Momoh

curable optimist with deep affection for the masses and issues that beset them and his concern for improved welfare of the people had really endeared him to his people.

His novel idea of regularly briefing his constituents on legislative matters in the House as

a legislator, his accomplishments are numerous but a few such as lawmaking, constituency projects, which includes provision of bore holes, Primary Health Centres (PHC), construction of blocks of classroom across Etsako, leading robust

motions and debates on national issues and ensuring that delivery of democracy dividends were delivered unencumbered to his constituents will suffice for the moment.

Hon. Momoh Abubakar would be best remembered at the National Assembly for bringing to the floor of the House under matters of urgent public importance, the surreptious manner in which the former president Obansanjoís regime hiked fuel price overnight and urged his colleaugues to resist the move since it was capable of imposing more hardships on the people.

That singular effort by Hon Momoh changed the scenario as it compelled the House Leadership, to take action.

The motion later joined by the coalition of progressives forces and they were able to force the government to buckle and reverts the price of fuel.

As the 2015 elections approaches, Hon. Momoh Abubakar is presently under intense pressure from his Etsako constituency to take a shot at the Senate. Hon.

Abubakar Momoh is one of the most qualified, accessible and available Etsako politician whose popularity and wealth of legislative experience is well respected across Edo North Senatorial district. It is expected that he will succumb to pressure and do the needful to his people who claim that in the spirit of equality and brotherliness conceded the Senatorial Seat for eight years to the Owans and Akoko-Edos that together make up the Senatorial district. So, the political strategy to retrieve the Senatorial slot back to Etsako is built on Momohís political shoulder.

Hon Abubakar Momoh in spite of his political accomplishments holds traditional institution in high esteem and in reciprocation was conferred with traditional titles across Etsako and Akoko ñ Edo lands.

Among the titles are the Otse of Okpella, Ezomoh of 3 Ivies, Udi of Auchi and Obadan of Okpe.

• Sam Dada Ayokhai is a Media Consultant based in Benin City, Edo State.

“His novel idea of regularly briefing his constituents on legislative matters in the House as well as continuous efforts to attract government presence to Etsako in addition to the donation of empowerment items at regular intervals to the needy are very much acknowledged.”

THE NIGERIAN

12

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

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

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

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

IT is quite reprehensible that the CPI 2012

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

Nigeria’s Feeble War Against Corruption confirmed recent media reports that President Goodluck Jonathan lied to the citizens when he claimed in his Independence day broadcast on October 1 that Nigeria was rated second after the United States by TI. TI denial of issuing such a report even paints Nigeria in black colours.

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

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

IT is obvious that ranging from the monumental fuel subsidy scam to the massive corruption uncovered in pension administration as well as the scams at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the

Bureau of Public Enterprises, many Nigerians have already rated the Jonathanled administration very low in the fight against corruption.

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

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER expects the President’s aides to face the issues raised by Transparency International. The Ministers of Finance and Information, Dr. Nngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Labaran Maku should stop insulting Nigerians who they accuse of volunteering information used by the watchdog. The present administration should rise up and progressively fight corruption in Nigeria, NAME calling, back biting accusations and counter accusations would not in any way help at this time. The anti-corruption agencies should be made independent and autonomous so that they can get their revenue directly from the consolidated federation account. They must be allowed to do their jobs and stop being used as instrument for the persecution of perceived political enemies.

THE NIGERIAN

13

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

View Point

Official Oppression, Institutionalised Injustices Suffered By Nigerian Migrants INJUSTICE anywhere is injustice everywhere. The last is yet to be told of the woes, official oppression, intimidation and injustices suffered by Nigerians abroad.

Tales of how many Nigerians who are illegal migrants are robbed, harassed and enslaved as they journey through the Sahara desert countries is no longer news.

Their oppressors usually take advantage of their unfortunate status as illegal migrants or sojourners to despoil them, and yet they cannot report to the local law enforcement agencies in their host countries for fear of being arrested or deported for breaching migration laws.

Hence, many are suffering in silence. it appears that the Nigerian foreign ministry has not been able to do much in the area of protecting Nigeria’s illegal migrants; who are more or less Economic Refugees.

However, it was in the news recently that some “legal” migrants who are Nigerians, resident in Libya and even India to mention a few, are continuously being molested, not only by the locals of their host countries, but even from the hands of law enforcement agents and government officials. Such news is particularly worrisome as migrants, especially legal migrants and residents are protected under several bilateral and multilateral international treaties such as the United Nations Geneva Convention, African Union Treaty and other instruments on international humanitarian law. One might blame the attitude of Libyans and other African and developing countries on unchecked xenophobia, discrimination and premeditated bias and jealousy, and based on the fact that the average local may not be as exposed and civilised or tolerant up to the

same standard expected of an average Briton or American, considered to be generally more civilised.

The shocker, however, is that presently in Europe, in the Kingdom of Sweden, which is not too far from the United Kingdom, many Nigerians and indeed other foreigners (mostly those who are from countries that are not members of the European Union) are consistently suffering untold corruption, discrimination, bias, i n t i m i d a t i o n , maladministration and other vices, what can be properly described as Official Oppression and Institutionalized Injustice in the hands of government agencies, apart from the normal harassments from the hands of some unrepentant parochial Swedes. This is probably due to chronic xenophobia and protectionist tendencies on the part of a syndicate of judges, police officers, government officials and other criminally and inhumanly minded locals.

Prince Utabor, a Nigerian who hails from Edo State but has been legally resident in Sweden for over three decades now, is one of several victims of the above vice.

According to confirmed report from him, some members of the Swedish law enforcement agents, judges, ombudsman and other public officials strongly discriminate against complainants, parties in cases or applicants for government benefits on the basis of one’s nationality, place of origin or colour. Things like legal aid and unemployment benefits could be refused simply because an applicant is not a Swede by birth or by naturalisation. Police refuse, fail or neglect to prosecute cases because the complainants are not Swedes or because the culprits or

“One must give kudos to the many fearless and just judges and magistrates that preside over courts in Nigeria, giving justice to both Nigerians and foreigners alike.”

By OSOSE EIDENOJE

offenders are Swedes. Judges refuse to translate or interpret court processes from English or other foreign mother tongues to Swedish as required under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union TFEU (of which Sweden is a member), judicial precedent or case law and under the Swedish Language Act, just to favour

assert his internationally recognised fundamental human rights under the UN Declaration, EU Convention and other international instruments were ignored.

Even formal complaints he made to the ombudsman and justice chancellor/ government departments were ignored.

In another instance, Prince

their own people at the expense of foreigners. In one instance, Prince Utabor had his contract breached by a pro-government monopoly company. The company allegedly lost some highly valuable industrial machines intended to be used in the establishment of production factories in Edo State, Nigeria. In spite of complaints to the police, they blatantly refused to prosecute the culprits in order to protect Swedish interests. Other cases of burglary perpetrated by locals were similarly handled. Even civil cases instigated by Prince Utabor were openly distorted by the court’s judges and officials, with vital parts of the documents filed removed, just to ensure that there is no justice for him. At the end of the day, the court gave judgement against Prince Utubor and ordered him to pay costs to the progovernment monopoly. All attempts by Prince Utabor to

Utabor sued the government of Sweden, the commune i.e. local government and some other pro-government conglomerate for environmental negligence which led to the loss of consignments of properties belonging to Prince Utabor’s employers, Nigeria-based companies. In what appeared to be a swift reaction against him for daring to sue government interests, a government administratorlawyer was appointed without his consent that took over the case and promptly settled out of court with the government for a ridiculously meager amount compared with the actual losses suffered. Recently, a Swedish appeal court in one of the several cases gave a premeditated judgement against him in a suit without hearing any argument, filing of pleadings or response from the respondent (a Swedish company). This was in breach of the twin pillars of natural

justice and fair hearing (nemo dat in causa sua; no man, a judge in his own cause and audi aiterom partem; hear the other side), as the court in open conspiracy with the respondent, acted as lawyer to the respondent and judge at the same time. This goes to show that it is not all foreign courts that are as bold as the United Kingdom court which decided ex-Governor Ibori’s case. In this regard, one must give kudos to the

against humanity), the international court of justice (being grave breaches of human rights) and other international tribunals; of which steps have been taken by his lawyers in that regard.

The Government and people of Nigeria, the Nigerian Foreign Ministry and the National Assembly are by this medium advised to promptly intervene by engaging the Swedish

many fearless and just judges and magistrates that preside over courts in Nigeria, giving justice to both Nigerians and foreigners alike.

Meanwhile, under Nigeria-Sweden Bilateral Agreements, European Union-African, Caribbean and Pacific (EU-ACP) Treaty (Cotonou Agreement 2000), European Union laws, Vienna and Geneva UN Conventions, the persons and investments of Nigerians are protected and guaranteed in Sweden and other countries, and vice versa. Year after year, many Nigerians keep travelling to Sweden and other European countries in search of greener pastures or in furtherance of their education etc. This calls for caution to ensure that such Nigerians do not end up in hostile territories. Prince utabor’s case is typical of cases to be heard before the international criminal court (being apartheid and crimes

government in productive dialogue in order to put an end to the serious crimes against humanity and grave breaches of human rights under international law being suffered by this bona fide Nigerians in Sweden. It is interesting to note that there seems to be an increasing rate of indictments against Sweden in cases of international human rights/ humanitarian rights abuses; including Agiza v. Sweden (Communication NO 232/ 2003; judgement of May 20, 2005) and Mohammed Aizery v Sweden (CPR/C/88/ d/1416/2005), to mention a few of the notorious judgements of the United Nations Human Rights Committee/Tribunal in which Sweden has been advised to pay colossal sums of money as compensation for breaching the human rights of foreign migrants within her territory.

THE NIGERIAN

14

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

View Point

Is President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda Still Realistic?

AT the time, the late former President Musa Yar ’Adua became the President of Nigeria after Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The former came up with Seven Point Agenda which many saw as a mere formality to clutch out the campaign rhetoric of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their usual hoisting of leaders. As expected the government of the late President Yar’Adua did not put any serious study to what the agenda was all about and how it could see the light of the day. Hence, it was just formality and never materialized till the demise of the President.

Today, we have President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan with his own rhetoric that is tagged “Transformation Agenda” which according to many is worse rhetoric than the Seven Point Agenda of the former President Musa Yar’Adua as the impact of the muchtalked Transformation is yet to be felt by Nigerians since the inception of the present administration in the country.

Judging from the plethora of challenges that the country is currently grappling with which the administration has not taken proactive measure to tackle with attendant consequences on lives of the masses, one would be forced to ask whether the “Transformation Agenda is still realistic?”

Infact, the notion of Transformation by Jonathan led administration is not a new rhetoric in all respects and in the history of the country. Today, every sector of our national life is bedeviled with one challenge or the other. It is true that no economy all over the world is immuned to economic doldrums but it appears that Nigeria economy is the most affected as the inflationary rate continues to rise and the apex bank is busy with what

many called anti-people policies like the redenominating the country’s currency that has now been put on hold.

The dwindling fortunes of security of lives and property in the country is taking its toll on the investment proclivity of the country’s economy as many foreign investors have taken to their heels largely due to insecurity of lives and property in the country, yet the administration is busy with its rhetoric of Transformation Agenda. Is it not surprising that a country that wants to be among the fastest growing economy by 2015, is faced with these enormous challenges that makes one to wonder whether there is a government or administration managing the country’s resources.

It is a well known fact that economic and social development cannot take place in an atmosphere that is not peaceful and stable which is currently lacking in the country. And there seem not to be a foreseeable plan and political will on the part of the government and the ruling party to bring them about. If the government is thinking that a continuous and consistent public propaganda on the Transformation Agenda of the government will bring about the much desired peace and stability then, the present administration under Goodluck Jonathan is putting the cart before the horse.

The administration of Goodluck Jonathan seems not to know that it is only when there is peace and stability that the Transformation Agenda, whatever it means, can be executed.

To all intents and purposes, it would appear that almost all of our policies are today great failures. Hence, since the inception of Jonathan’s administration, challenges of the country appear to be growing at

unmanageable proportion.

The country is still stagnantly underdeveloped with all attendant traits-illiteracy, and ignorance, poverty and deprivation, famine and starvation, epidemics and health crises, high child mortality, low life expectancy, high rate of corruption and general disregard for public utility and dishonesty in public services. Weak institutions, and bad governance, decaying infrastructure and moral decadence, crime and

By NDUBUISI UMORO

to give Nigerians in his Transformation Agenda?

Where is the breath of fresh air blowing that he promised us? is it not astonishing that a government with Transformation as its objective is not only the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria, it is also the most corrupt government in the history of Africa. When he promised Nigerians a breath of fresh air during his

vehemently opposed whose objective according to the President was in line with his transformation agenda is yet to bring about the pledge made by the President. The most worrisome is that even the proceeds of the subsidy is nowhere to be found as it has been embezzled by the present administration in the country.

The education sector which is widely

functions of government serve local foods, especially our local rice and cassava bread and other foods. In the State House, I am faithfully keeping to my promise of eating cassava bread and local rice.” This statement by Mr. President further buttresses the mere rhetoric of his transformation agenda because the fact he eats local food or does not in any way improve on the sector. It is true that Nigeria has a large population that could make up a large market, but out of

President Goodluck Jonathan

violence, civil unrest and genocide, electoral fraud or outright threat to state failure.

In fact, the administration is yet to give us hint as to how it will drive the agenda.

The question one need to ask is, does President Jonathan and the members of his cabinet have something else better and more concrete

campaign, very little did Nigerians know that Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have their own meaning of the term “Transformation”.

For instance, the fuel subsidy removal that the President announced its implementation early this year which Nigerian

“Today, we have President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan with his own rhetoric that is tagged “Transformation Agenda” which according to many is worse rhetoric than the Seven Point Agenda of the former President Musa Yar’Adua as the impact of the much-talked Transformation is yet to be felt by Nigerians since the inception of the present administration in the country.”

acknowledged as a road to transformation is receiving the least attention. Education at all levels in the country is facing the worst of time and it is not yet a priority of government to address the rot in the sector.

The Agriculture sector that the President promised Nigerian that he would turn around is yet to be felt by Nigerians as the problem of hunger and starvation is still on the increase. The President in his Democracy Day broadcast said “we must have, must use our population to create markets for what we produce. We must grow, local, buy local and eat local.

To promote this, I have directed that all official

the 160 million people of this country today, official figures say that about 112 million are wallowing in poverty. It is the purchasing power in the hands of the individual, the disposable income that make up a market not the population that is living below poverty line. Today, massive production of cassava and rice is hampered by lack of access to finance and the lack of technology to drive commercial farming.

The President should know that the key driver to his transformation is massive investment in Agricultural sector. His directives to buy Nigerian and eat Nigerian food are not in any way baits for foreign investors to come to the country.

THE NIGERIAN

15

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Lifestyle

Planning To Live Your Life Your Way

Personal Goal Setting: MANY people feel as if they are adrift in the world.

They work hard, but they don’t seem to get anywhere worthwhile.

A key reason that they feel this way is that they haven’t spent enough time thinking about what they want from life, and haven’t set themselves formal goals.

After all would you set out on a major journey with no real idea of your destination?

Probably not!

Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You will also quickly spot the distractions that can, so easily lead you astray.

WHY SET GOALS? Goal setting is used by toplevel athletes successful business; people and achievers in all fields. Setting goals give you long-term vision and short-term motivation. It focuses your acquisition of knowledge, and helps you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life.

By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals, and you will see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind. You will also raise your selfconfidence as you recognize your own ability and competence in achieving the goals that you will set.

STARTING TO SET PERSONAL GOALS You set your goals on a number of levels: • First you create your “big picture” of what you want to do with your life (or over, say the next 10

years), and identify the largescale goals that you want to achieve.

• Then, you break these down into the smaller and smaller targets that you must hit to reach your lifetime goals.

• Finally, once you have your plan, you start working on it to achieve these goals.

This is why we start the process of goal setting by looking at your lifetime goals. Then, we work down to the things that you can do in, say the next five years, then next year, next month, next week, and today, to start moving towards them.

According to mindtools.com step in achieving personal goals in life. How to set your goals in step 1: setting lifetime goals The first step in setting personal goals is to consider what you want to achieve in your life time (or at least, by a significant and distant age in the future). Setting life time goals gives you the overall perspective that shapes all other aspects of your decision making to give a broad, balanced coverage of all important areas in your life try to set goals in some of the following categories (or in other categories of your own, where these are important to you).

• Career-what levels do you want to reach in your career, or what do you want to achieve?

• Financial-how much do you want to earn by what stage? How is this related to your career goals?

• Education- is there any knowledge you want to acquire in particular? What information and skills will you need to have in order to achieve other goals?

• Family- do you want to be a parent? If so how are you going to be a good parent? How do you want to be seen by a partner or by members of your extended family

“By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals, and you will see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind.”

By HAUWA ISMAILA

• Artistic –do you want to achieve any artistic goals?

• Attitude –is any part of your mindset holding you back? Is there any part of the way that you behave that upsets you? (if so, set a goal to improve your behavior or find a solution to the problem) • Physical –are there any athletic goals that you want to achieve or do you

consider what he or she wants however, make sure that you also remain true to yourself?

Step 2: Setting smaller Goals Once you have set your lifetime goals, set a five-year plan of smaller goals that you need to complete if you are to reach your lifetime plan.

Then create a one-year plan, six month plan and a one month plan of progressively smaller goals. Each of these should be based on the

want good health deep into old age? What steps are you going to take to achieve this?

• Pleasure –how do you want to enjoy yourself?

(You should ensure that some of your life is for you) • Public service –do you want to make the world a better place, If so how?

Spend some time brainstorming on these things and then select one or more goals in each category that best reflect what you want to do. Then consider trimming again so that you have a small number of really significant goals that you can focus on.

As you do this, make sure that the goals that you have set are ones that you genuinely want to achieve, not ones that your parents, family or employers might want (if you have a partner, you probably want to

previous plan.

Then create a daily to-do list of things that you should do today to work towards your lifetime goals. Finally review your plans, and make sure that they fit the way in which you want to live your life.

Staying on course Once you are decided on your first set of goals, keep the process going by reviewing and updating your to-do list on a daily basis.

A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART Mnemonic.

While there are plenty of variants come of which we have included in parenthesis) SMART usually stand for.

S – Specific (or significant) M – Measurable (or Meaningful) A – Attainable (or Actionoriented)

RRelevant (or Rewarding) T-Time-bound (or Trackable) The following broad guidelines will help you to set effective, achievable goals.

State each goal as a positive statement Be precise Set priorities Write goals down Keep operational goals small Set performance goals, not outcome goals achieving

goals When you have achieved a goal, take the time to enjoy the satisfaction of having done so. Absorb the implications of the goal achievement, and observed the progress that you have made towards other goals. If the goal was a significant one, reward yourself appropriately. All of these helps you build the selfconfidence you deserve.

With the experience of having achieved this goal review the rest of your goal plans: • If you achieved the goal too easily, make your next goal harder.

• If the goal took a dispiriting length of time to achieve, make the next goal a little easier.

• If you learned

something that would lead you to change other goals, do so.

• If you noticed a deficit in your skills despite achieving the goal, decide whether to set goals to fix this.

It is important to remember that failing to meet goals does not matter much, just as long as you learn from the experience.

Key points. Goal setting is an important method of • Deciding what you want to achieve in your life • Separating what is important from what is

irrelevant, or a distraction • Motivating yourself • Building your selfconfidence, based on successful achievement of goals.

Set your lifetime goals first.

Then, set a five-year plan of smaller goals that you need to complete. If you are to reach your lifetime plan keep the process going by regularly reviewing and updating your goals. And remember to take time to enjoy the satisfaction of achieving your goals when you do so.

If you don’t already set goals, do so starting now. As you make this technique part of your life. You will find your career accelerating, and you will wonder how you did it!

THE NIGERIAN

16

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Focus

Lessons To Learn Fro

IT was on the 5th December, 2013 that the president of South Africa broke the news to the whole world that Nelson Mandela the world acclaimed leader and father of the South African Nation was dead.

No sooner the pronouncement was made, world leaders like U.S. President Barack Obama, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerian President, Robert Mugabe of Zambabwe etc stood still for a man that based a clunk of his life span to see that his people were released from the hard grip and evil machinations of the former apartheid regime in South Africa.

It was a battle against racism differentiation and separation of people according to the pigmentation of their skin or colour of their skin in getting opportunities by the minority white against the blacks who are the majority.

Except for Mandela, strong will determination to exterminate this evil perpetrated by the colonialist against the homes in South Africa little world we have known about that country.

Nelson Mandela brought and made South Africa to stamp its feet on the world map. The struggle for freedom started in earnest with others in minds like Steve Biko who was killed by electrifying his iron bed while in prison and his indomitable wife Winnie Mandela who stood with him during the trying period.

All these are part of history that has really gone down well with everybody in every nook and cranny that is habitable on this earth.

Winnie Mandela and other gave credence to this fact by saying that the struggle then was worth it since they were determined not only to make sure that the name Nelson Mandela would not only be out on the lips of even small kids but this name and the country are written in an indelible mark of the stone of history.

These and others have been achieved and worthy of mentioning and emulation.

Nelson Mandela was not a revolutionary and if the way and manner the racist white regime dealt with him was not anything to go by and his resilience to contain their excesses even in prisons for 27 years then we could still regard him as a silent revolutionary though not armed with arms and ammunition but with venom like a python snake ready to strike and poison his and his people detractors.

The great lessons to learn from the late world Elder State man were self determination, courage, strong will, perseverance, tenacity, popularism, unselfishness, unself-centeredness, the opposite which a lot of our leaders are burn with and for their winner takes all attitudes in their bloods especially in Africa where the essence of governance and procedure for good governance is yet to be imbibed and accomplished in

there devastated regions.

It is very easy for anybody to praise and admonish the personality traits of the late legend and hero not only of South Africa but the whole world.

What he, his wife and other leader and member of the party he was one of the co-founders and great leader of the party, the (ANC) Africa National Congress. Perhaps and judging from his person as Nelson Mandela of our time can be likened to Dr. Nkwame Nkrumah of Ghana of those times. They both looked beyond Africa as a continent but their philosophies, ideologies cover the whole of Africa and extend to the length and breadth of the whole world where men are equal, society is built on egalitarianism without segregation whether black or white, good governance, love, peace, prosperity, and happiness by the people God created in his own image made every other thing or creature to be under or subdued by him. So what are we talking about.

So if the almighty God and good people like Nelson Mandela, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Murtala Muhammed, Late Geater Leader of Venezuela, Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former president of Zambia (author of Zambia shall be free) Kenneth Kwanda, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Mohammad Gadhali to mention a few. Who is that person or bosses supposedly called leader would not want to learn and behave in conformity with the tenants, ethos in which God and these real great leaders are known for, stand or stood for.

This writer is not interested in the way Nelson Mandela was arrested with others, incarcerated for so many years with or without this colleagues who are either old now or have equally died like him, the struggle before, during and after south Africa’s liberation after he, Nelson Mandela was made the 1st black president of South Africa, what happened between him (Nelson) and his inestimable jewel in person of Winnie Mandela resulting in separation that later culminated in him getting married to the wife of the late president of Mozambique who died in plane crash, because though those are the thick and thins, laughter, cries, shock that he went through as ingredients that cooked him to become a palatable soup everybody would want to smell and possibly have on his dinning table, they have some with him and part of his and south Africa history.

What are the things to learn from this great pate is of the greatest concern of this writer.

Other as an individual, or leader heading a government or country we shall now consider the factors that are responsible

for Nelson Mandela.

1.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ALMIGHTY GOD God is all you need to have all your needs met. Whether as an individual, groups of individuals, leaders of government, nations, or organization of nations, we need not only to be closer to him but to work in faith, good rapport and understanding with our Almighty father.

No matter the condition, situation or circumstances, so far you have that relationship with God, every other things would be possible. Of course, we all have our desires, needs, wants, ambitions to achieve in life according to their hierarchy of needs.

The divine wisdom, creative idea, ingenuity to pass through the vicissitudes of life is with him. In fact nothing you are looking for that is not with our Baba God in the heavens, the I am that I am, the one who says yes and no man born of a woman dare says no. the benevolent, the omnipotent, the omniscience, the one who speaketh with fire open ways where there seems to be no way, the creator of heaven and earth, ocean divider. We can go on and on enumerating his greatness.

The person of Nelson Mandela, his virtues, ethos, beliefs, philosophy, character, behavior and attitudes, what he went through in life, his pains, his cries, his joys, unsurpassed in the history or annals of any human being in any country, his achievements, problems, his legacies cannot be devoid of his personal relationship with his creator whom I believe he is meeting in his bosom by now.

No person becomes great, famous popular, rich, wealthy without the knowledge of Almighty God. The manacled of Nelson Mandela as a phenomenon as the man of the moment cannot be ostracized from the blessing grace, valour that God had bestowed on him and his own understanding to complement Gods efforts. This is where I stand. Can you imagine that despite the long years of incarceration - a chunk of the years he was supposed to live and live more than the one he actually lived — he remained uncompromised, and unwavering, determined to see his dream come alive or true.

Shout Alleluyah The lesson here to learn and possibly adopt by every human being is to emulate both spiritually and physically what Nelson Mandela though dead physically but not dead spiritually stand for. No matter what experience you have on this earth either positive or negative, don’t forget God is there for you. It is to be remembered for life.

2.

SELF DETERMINATION There is direct relationship between you and your selfconcept. You perform as well as you believe yourself capable of

By ABAYOMI OLUGBOLAGA SHOYOMBO

performing. You are as effective as you believe yourself to be in whatever you do. You can never be better or different on the outside than you believe yourself to be on the inside.

Nelson Mandela was an embodiment of self ideals, selfimage, self-esteem, self efficacy all leading to one thing - his determination not only to succeed as a South Africa. An African, a leader, head of family, head of political party, head of government but as a person that God really sent to do things he did with his support and be what he wanted or was destined to be.

Nelson Mandela was not born with a golden spoon in his mouth. It is self-conceptual action and formation thereafter was as a result of what has happened to him since he was an infant.

The same thing can be said about Barack Obama - the 44th president of U.S.A. He was born an average child by an American woman and a Kenyan father. In US just like in Ghana too, you can claim your mother’s country.

He grew up there, having the attributes and qualities we have been talking about till he clinched the presidential trophy of the 1st black American to sit on the coveted presidential seat in the government white house of Washington in U.S.A. Each child comes into the world as pure potential with a particular temperament and certain unborn attributes but with no self concept at all. Every attitude, behaviour, valued opinion, belief and fear you have today has been learned.

Therefore as an individual who looks up to God and copy from Nelson Mandela and will to be successful like him must leave behind and unlearn elements of his self concept that do not serve our purpose. Just like any other great person, Nelson Mandela in his life time copied some good qualities of life from some notable great men and women and infuse them in his personal self concept to make a whole of him. Let me quickly add here that no matter the level of the mountain, that is not surmountable by the kind of Nelson Mandelas person especially with Almighty God. The sterling qualities, strong will and self determination to refuse to compromise good for

the bad and the bad for the worst would always see people like Nelson Mandela did. And that is what he epitomized while on this earth.

I doubt if anybody for now can be determined, strong willed, courageous, perseverance, and tenacious like that of Nelson Mandela.

That is why I wrote in my previous write up that “a hopeless youthfulness beget useless adulthood” our youths need to learn a lot on this factor from the great man — Mandela and get themselves cracking by not self-indulgent, associating with negative people, restiveness, and blaming their woes on any body or the government.”

The “secret of success is so simple that it is overlooked by most people. Whatever you want you can have if you want it badly enough, and if you are willing to persist long enough and hard enough in doing what others have done to accomplish similar things before you.”

It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, male or female black or white. It doesn’t matter if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth or if you came from a deprived background. Nature is neutral.

She is no respecter of persons.

She plays no favoritism. She gives you back what you put in, no more no less. And you can determine what you put in.

Goethe once wrote, “Nature understand no jesting, she is always true, always serious, always severe, she is always right and the errors and faults are always those of man. The man’s incapable of appreciating her? She despises and only to the apt, the pure, and the true, does she resign herself and reveal her secret” So it depends on where you stand that nature gives its side.

Unsuccessful people have a hard time with this idea because they are so accustomed to looking for the reason for their lives outside themselves. But the roof is all around the successful people, men and women everywhere you look from every background, young and old, black and white, educated and uneducated, accomplishing great things and making valuable contributions to the societies they hoe in.

Late Nelson Mandela 3.

COURAGE PERSEVERANCE AND TENACITY Nothing good comes easy for one to achieve a great feat in this life, he must be courageous, persevering and very tenacious.

These great qualities flow and mix freely in the marrows, in the bones with the blood and water of Nelson Mandela “Rome, they said was not built in a day”. For Nelson Mandela to achieve such a great feat while on earth speaks volumes of who he is whether you have met him or not.

South Africa without him o, if God had not created him and threw him to that part of the world may be, maybe not the images of himself and the country wouldn’t have been like this, that is why God made sure that we mortals don’t

dictate to our par height, nation — nothing As he us, he instrume positive Examp Sukar D Blaise Babatun much d relations goals in availabl you succ equal imagina would st achieve would b the soc mankind So Ne

“Nelson Mandela brought and made Sou feet on the world map. The struggle for free with others in minds like Steve Biko who wa his iron bed while in prison and his indo Mandela who stood with him during the tr are part of history that has really gone dow in every nook and cranny that is habitable o

THE NIGERIAN

17

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Focus

om Nelson Mandela

o him where we are born, rent, background, size, weight, tribe, colour, — because he said he has to do with them. knows what is good for makes use of us as ents in his hands either ly or negatively. ple Adolf Hitler, Bukar imka, Illiya Deshi Bisalla compaore, Oyenusi, nde Folorunsho, Anini etc. depends on you, your ship with him and your life. If you make yourself e to him he makes use of cessfully other than being beyond your wild ation and if otherwise you till be used negatively to some other means that e detrimental to yourself, ciety at large and all d. elson Mandela chose the

hearing the kind of bullish treatment being meted to him while in gulag That notwithstanding he was focused, determined to succeed.

And here we are today celebrating the life of a worthy son of South Africa, and the whole world in general.

Problems would come and they would leave you. In fact all problems have an expiring date.

So we should not be deterred or faltered from achieving our aims in anything we believe in and work and live for. Peter Drucker the well known management expert and author of the EFFECTIVE EXISANCE. The greater the problem, the greater the sift and ‘whenever you find something golfing done anywhere, you will find a monomaniac with a mission.

Whenever you find great achievement, you find an individual who is absolutely clear about what he/she wants to do and who is willing to do whatever it takes, for however long it takes, to achieve it”.

right part. No matter the inevitable crucible, hazards, problems, difficulties, he was able to wade through, summon courage hoping fully that one day South Africa shall be free from the evil modulations of Apartheid relist regime of Peter Botha, the rest is history.

Like Jesus he was arrested though with others, well acclaimed as he was and who could stand the test of time not because of their fault or short coming, but the invisible handwork of Almighty God who singled him out and bestowed greatness on him. He could have died while in prison but God in his infinite mercies kept him alive until he breadth the last breadth on December 5th 2013.

He knew where it pained but everybody was aware exhibiting spasms of fear on

uth Africa to stamp its edom started in earnest as killed by electrifying omitable wife Winnie rying period. All these wn well with everybody on this earth.”

3. SELFLESS SERVICE There is nothing dignifying and putting one aside from the ground as electrifying and magnifying as being unselfcentred and unselfish.

Nelson Mandela did not fight Apartheid war against the racist government of the minority in South Africa for his own selfish ends.

He did not see and fight for freedom and liberty for himself and his immediate or extended families but for the larger society cutting across Africa and the whole world. The killing of Apartheid was not negotiable.

The president generation of Africa, indeed South African generations yet unborn were being fought for it to stay so that real owners of the land do not become slave in their father or mother land.

After he was released from prison, he went back to the drawing board and his constituency which was the political party on which he was initially arrested of— ANC. As expected for one that had laid his life to achieve such feat there was no need to look elsewhere not only for a leader in the party a leader of the country who has show great exemplary examples in the school of leadership.

He changed the portion of a presidential candidate of his party the ANC. He voted and he was voted for as the constitution allowed and in the result that came out he won and automatically the first black president of South African.

He saw to the need for equity, peace and justice, the equitable distribution of wealth chances and opportunities. He improved on the legacy of the white minority, regime putting kinds where to whom it belonged and spotting the baric areas where much is needed to clean.

The riotous life that preoccupied the lives of many especially the youth there in

South Africa was put into a stop. He did not use his position for any selfish advantage, gain or opportunities. He did not put up relations, family in position of luxury or power. He did not loot the treasury of South Africa and steal their money in foreign bank accounts but he was not a pauper and was very comfortable. He was like late Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, General Murtala Mohammed, Mahatma Gandhi and a host of other. He lived and led a good responsible larger than life.

He was out for the truth.

I remembered on so many occasion he talked and advised his colleagues world leaders on what to do in any situation to avoid problem. In fact most of the vices like corruption, money laundering, espionage, fueling inter ethnic/tribal wars to cause confusion amongst subjects for him to achieve either his political, social, economic, religious motives.

The glaring one that really solidify world wide acceptance to the people of the world is not SEEKING REELECTION FOR 2ND! SECOND TERM NOT TO TALK OF 3RD/THIRD TERM UNLIKE OUR FORMER PRESIDENT AND TWO TIME HEAD OF STATE, GENERAL OLUSEGUN OBASANJO OR HEAD OF STATE LIKE LATE MUAMMED GADHAFI WHO USED THE GREATER PART OF HIS LIFE ON EARTH FOR 49 YEARS TO RULE PEOPLE FANING THEIR ACCEPTANCE BEFORE HE WAS KILLED, HOSNI MUBARAK OF EGYPT WHO IS CURRENTLY FACING CHARGES OF MISRULE, LATE SADDAM HUSSEIN WHO WAS ALSO HUMILIATED LIKE HIS BROTHER IN A SITUATION LIKE A MOVIE AND THE PRESENT RULER OF MOZAMBIQUE ROBERT MUGABE TO MENTION A FEW. Now that the chips are down and the man that had been advising then and cooling their subject down have gone they should be sensible enough to learn a great lesson from him and step down or step out for peace and good reign to come.

The one singular attitude of his of unselfishness endeared him to the hearts of a lot of people. To in the heart of people is to live forever 4. THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS Of course, the minority regime who heat, named, killed handed power, though not willfully, to a populist who contested and won the

election on platform of a popular party ANC to rule the country for 4 years.

Now that the baton of government was handed over to him he did not use it against the white. He went to stretched the hand of friendship not only his opponents in the election but also the racist regime that brutalized him and his people.

He obeyed one of the tenet of our lord Jesus Christ who said we should forget and forgive our enemies and foes so that he, the almighty we also forgive us our sins and iniquities.

He forget the past, look forward to the future and conscious of the present situation not forgetting that he would never be there forever not for talk of living for ever.

Both the whites and the blacks are living together now peacefully without fear or favour though relatively there could be sketches of Clark sports of white/black competitiveness that could be regarded as unhealthy.

5. LEGACY That is the legacy he had laid for the present and before governments immediately he retired from public office and rested. He forewarned Mbeki and Zuma that on no account should they see the presidential seat as their birthright and personal possession but allow people to have their way in who occupies the coveted seat or on any issue of national importance whether alive or dead the state of South Africa must be a pleasant place for people in and outside to live in without any trait of fear, intimidation, oppression, but for love, peace understanding and development.

It is the code of unwritten statement that serves as guide to the present government official, in that state.

The upcoming youths, adults alike would take on this for a better tomorrow of South Africa.

6.

GENERATIONAL IMPACT This is closely related to the point mentioned above. The legacy Nelson Mandela bequeathed to the adults and the younger ones in South Africa and the whole world can be viewed under subdivision namely(a) LOVE GOD AND HIS WORD This Part of the scripture is saying that the closer we get to God, the more we will be changed, in fact, you cannot change into anything else but the best. In order to encounter change in life, you have to make God first in everything you do. (b) DESIRES AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES What you desire of will come to you. What you don’t desire earnestly, you can never have.

Therefore desire is very powerful, if you desire change for a good life, you must start by desiring it first, otherwise God won’t give you a good life.

If you desire a change, it will come to you, especially as you began to change the necessary things around you. But if you

don’t desire change, God won’t give you anything. (c) DEVELOP CHARACTER One quality of world changers is this world changers are never linked with race, Greed or color prejudice. They have character and are ethical people. World changes don’t ask where somebody comes from instead they base their dealing, with everyone on honesty and integrity.

World changers are not tribalistic racist or bigoted in any way. Desire therefore, to be a person who will affect the world by having a broad and liberal mindset. Do not be frozen in your thinking. (d)KEEP THE RIGHT COMPANY You can not be world changer while keeping the wrong company. Iron sharpen iron.

Don’t be friends with somebody who is going nowhere. Not everybody at the motor park is travelling, you have to identify the destination of the company you’re keeping, otherwise, if they’re going nowhere, you also will end in obscurity, with them. (e) HAVE THE POWER OF COMMITMENT This is about making the commitment to pay the price for change. Without commitment you cannot accomplish anything big or great. (f) SELF REALIZATION Self realization is the key to moving beyond the squalor of the present change does not take place unless you have a deep down talk and with coarsely. A time comes in life when you talk to yourself, a time to grace tact’s. Consist down, call yourself with yourself sit down and face reality. Most people are living in fantasy, and that is not going to help them get a head in life. (g) POSITIVE THINKING. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is Good and pleasing and perfect. (h) BREAK OFF LIMITATION Don’t allow anything to be a barrier to your life. Never say something in impossible.

Remove impossibility from your life. Determine to undertake what other have not done before. Be always willing to undertake what other are afraid to do. Focus on possibilities and not on limitations Be willing to take up new challenges. (i) BE DARING Dare to do what others are afraid to do. You can’t be a world changer doing what everybody also is doing. You have got to do the extra. so that you become extra ordinary.

When you succeed the world will celebrate you. Nations will welcome and celebrate you just like the father of South Africa — Nelson Mandela.

THE NIGERIAN

18

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Society Watch

Social Media: TECHNOLOGY as any device which people use to multiply their energy, has been upgraded in the aspect of communication amongst people, friends, family, both far and near, worldwide.

Unlike before when we used only our mobile phones to interact with people, through texting of messages and receiving of calls, technology has brought about the new media for communication, that comprises of the internet, 2go, Face book, E-mail, Skype, Twitter, Badoo, Instagram, What Sapp, Linked in, Blackberry messenger, My space, Blogs, Wikipedia, Video, fodcasts, Photo showing discussion forums and so many others, the numbers are quite large.

People from all parts of the world make use of the social networking and media sites, it is from these people that we frequently hear their testimonies of both the good and bad part of social media.

Taking the definition of some scholars, social media is a group of internet – based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of web 2.0, that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content. Breaking down the whole big grammer, definition, social media is simply the interaction among people in which they create, share, organize, edict, combine, comment on and exchange information and ideas via networks.

International communication works together with the social media, since both of them reach across nations from all medications so far, it is obvious that the.

Social media is not just used by friends or people who want to chat and make new friends, but is also used by companies organisations, schools, churches, to make business deal, pass out information to a person or persons worldwide, as a medium of preaching the gospel of Christ, sending invitations to people thereby making communication amongst people, easier and faster through the various social media.

Checking out the way social media has been operating can we really say that it has

impacted our lives positively or negatively, are there really deficiencies in social media?

Although the social media has done some good things, such as people learning how to build relationships with other people within and across the nation, making use of your mobile phones as easy access instead of going to the cyber café before you can interact with your friends, helps to keep in touch with friends and family nationwide, to keep up with what’s trending and some other advantages, the disadvantages of the social media still out-ranks that of its advantage.

Taking one of the social networks, face book, for example, with the rate at which it has spread worldwide, it has become a distraction for some and a bonafide waster for many with people spending more time on social networking sites than others.

These media have grown something that we crave for fundamentally shifting and even bastardizing how we communicate. There’s no lack of examples on how communication has changed as a result of social media.

Most importantly, we are witnessing how social media is helping to foster a society that values frequent communication more than meaningful communication.

We are now also communicating different types of information that are often more personal in nature, and shouldn’t be shared with the world at large.

Taking an example of the story of the general’s daughter in Lagos, Cynthia, who was drugged and murdered by the crooks she met through one of our social media, face book, her mindset was to go make a business deal with those people she was to meet for the first time, but she ended up being killed, became a victim of the many disadvantages of the social media.

This to a large extent show that no matter how free we are with the people we interact with, through the social media, it is not safe for us to visit them or even share personal information with them, especially if we have never met them before and are not

The Down Sides

By DEBORAH OLAOYE ARAOLUWA

sure of who they are, it is very dangerous and can even cost us our lives, almost 75% of those who fell prey to these crooks, were either drugged raped or killed or even used for

on the middle and eventually find it difficult to break free.

Most people post personal information all for the purpose of appealing to the new generation, and it is mostly the

ritual making.

Generally, people share personal information’s, details and I mages that are not supposed to be for public consumption, people just share any kind of information, especially on the social network sites, not minding if its personal or not or if there are enemies waiting to get those information in other to use it against you.

Addiction has become one of the outcome of the dements of the social media, because as the social media becomes more popular and available on phones, people cannot live without chating, browsing, sending messages and other things anymore, they get stuck

youths and teenagers, little wonder they can’t even communicate their answers well during an interview for a job or speak boldly in front of a large number of people, it is possible to chat very well and often with various people through the social media but it doesn’t mean you can, face-toface, boldly speak to people or even communicate your feelings well, outside.

As more and more people make use of the social media more, there is a possibility for those people to be antisocial and unapproachable in physical.

The electronic mail has also been abused in various ways.

Students from some private

“Most importantly, we are witnessing how social media is helping to foster a society that values frequent communication more than meaningful communication.

We are now also communicating different types of information that are often more personal in nature, and shouldn’t be shared with the world at large.”

institutions have complained about co-ladies like them have been sending love messages to them, wanting to have an affair with them and promising to take good care of them, those might sound absurd but its true and is happening everywhere

say that when they are boned they resort to porn movies to loft their spirits. It is so open that institutions and schools have to be watchful on the kinds of things their students browse, putting a limit to what they can browse out through

even other media like 2go, what Sapp, face book, internet, badoo, are places where lesbians go to find new partners for themselves. You even find crooks who claim to love you through the social media and wants to get married to you without ever seeing you on reality, when you investigate you will discover that those people are either married or just players looking for a part time company. It is a disaster to be having social media relationships, they don’t last and are realistic, so there’s no need to deceive ourselves, because at the end of it all, its either you get hurt or even defrauded.

The social media is really something to be watchful about. Even the internet is one social media we have to be careful about, watching of pornographic movies and pictures by today’s youth and teenagers have be come more rampant, you find people who

the school’s wifi.

The list of the negative of the social media are numerous, that the only thing we can do is to be careful and disciplined, knowing the kind of friends we make online, been sure that the information’s you put as public are not those that are supposed to be kept secret and those that people cannot use to harm you in any way, be careful not fall into the sweet talk of people because it could lead to your downfall, be disciplined enough to know when to make use of the social media and when not to, to avoid addiction and usage for the wrong things.

Interacting in such a way that discourages intimate or personal information been said. Avoid being victims of wrong usage of the media, seeing all the wrong ways social media is used, let’s be sure to be careful and look before we leap!

THE NIGERIAN

19

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Gender Issues

University Undergraduates As Culprits Sex And Its Misuse:

THERE is a basic reason why God allowed humans to learn about sex, even if they learnt it through disobedience, permit my sounding religious. It is because He intended that one day, humans would fill the earth and subdue it.

However, it appears that the knowledge is our undoing, for humans apply it with reckless abandon and sex is being misused and abused. People can now afford to ‘have’ sex in whatever way and manner it pleases them, shunning the out come. And to say the least, young undergraduates would shock adults with their sexual escapades right there on campus, even in the schools we consider ‘missionary’. It’s getting absurd It is well known that youths belong to the sexually active class of the society and as such precautions should be taken so they don’t go haywire.

In mission-based universities, sexual activities take place and this is due to the fact that students don’t use their strength in recreational activities, rather they wake up every morning for lectures after which they are back again to their hostels and this same routine is continuously done. In order for them to exhaust some of their energy, it is my candid advice that they be engaged in sporting activities and random fellowship in the house of God. Students are also advised to abstain totally from sex so they don’t contract some diseases that are dangerous to their health, like HIV/AIDS, Gonorrhea, Tuberculosis, syphilis and the rest of them.

More parental control should be of great importance as parents play special role in forming their children’s sense of

By OKORIE NOYE ANWULI

impact morals and fear of God in students. It is my advise that mission based institutions should re-inforce reproductive health education among students and provide convenient and optional services that are easily accessed.

Also peer influence is one of the factors that affect sexual behaviour in youths as majority of young people easily gets carried away with the kind of clothes, make up items their friends have and they feel they don’t fit in when they see their friends keeping out late, partying and keeping numerous boy friends and as such they begin to exhibit certain behavioural pattern and before anyone can say “Jack

In most cases, lecturers are also involved in this behaviour as they threaten students with low grades if they refuse to indulge in sexual behaviours with them and out of fear the ignorant student give in to their demands. It is my benevolent advice, that students should always report such cases to the authority rather than being subjected to their selfish desire and unethical conducts.

Youngmen and women come to school to learn and acquire knowledge on how to contribute to the members of their immediate and global society. They go to school to be good citizens, good human beings. They go to school to develop many skills including critical thinking skills. And though many show up in all their naiveté and gullibility, still it is not a

“ In my own opinion, abstinence is the safest way of preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases but in a case where abstinence becomes void, I would suggest some protective measures like the use of condoms, monogamy, diaphragms and oral contraceptives to be adopted.” social and moral value. Language and communication are essential for reproducing cultural values, including sexual values which parents transfer to their children values not only through communication. Children’s normative behaviour is also defined by observing their parents behaviour and sexual values can be conveyed through non-verbal communication such as parental role-modeling and supervision. Higher level of parental monitoring are related to later sexual initiations and as such, parents partake in majority in building up their children’s thoughts and attitudes.

Parents should assist their children by coaching them on the peer group psychology, attitudes towards love, and behaviours. Parents also can have talks with their children on how to communicate with opposite sex and in relationships in general.

In the past, parents were highly strict about relationships between men and women. Men and women dare not sit close to each other, now the society seems to be more open yet acts as if it does not approve any rash lifestyles.

In some cases, parents should interfere strongly into their children’s choice of partner and his or her conduct and behaviour towards the partner. These right thinking parents may prohibit, or monitor closely their children’s behaviour so that they do not have any sexual behaviour at a young age that will affect their performance in school and also their emotions.

Mission-based universities take it upon themselves to

Robinson”, they have already gone haywire.

In my own opinion, abstinence is the safest way of preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases but in a case where abstinence becomes void, I would suggest for some protective measures like the use of condoms, monogamy, diaphragms and oral contraceptives to be adopted.

Students engage themselves in sexual behaviours not minding the risk involved. Moreover, research recommends that adolescents should abstain from sexual intercourse.

Secondly, it was obtained from research analysis that contraceptive use increases adolescent sexually active behaviours.

Also students should always seek medical parental or religious counselling so that costly mistakes can be avoided as a result of their ignorance.

Sexual behaviour patterns among Nigerian university students and factors influencing them were studied. While premarital cohabitation is common, a large percentage (48%) had their first coital experience between the ages of 22 and 27. Religion does not appear to have a strong inhibiting influence on premarital sex, although it does affect the frequency of changing partners. Contraceptives, although known to almost all the respondents are not widely used. The use of contraceptives had little influence on premarital cohabitation.

reason or an excuse for them to be taken advantage of. Sadly, there are some of the horrors that happen to many Nigerian students, especially the girls sadder is the fact that millions girls are being abused and exploited on a daily basis. Many are denied their human and civil rights and have no access to education, to medical care, or to a caring home and environment, they are the “wretched of the earth”.

In essence no one sends his or her daughter to school to be abused and exploited by defrayed minds. Consequently, the learning environment should be a safe and enriching one for all. No society can be great and prosperous if that society refuses to treat her women population with love, respect and dignity. A health learning – teaching environment is a human and civil right for all – especially for our young women.

“Also students should always seek medical, parental or religious counselling so that costly mistakes can be avoided as a result of their ignorance.”

THE NIGERIAN

20

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Development

Role Of The Media In National Development

IN one of its programme of events with the basic objective of charting a positive course towards grooming and initiating tomorrow’s good and viable leaders in the African continent and Nigeria in particular, the media threw a searchlight on the main objective of Leadership E f f e c t i v e n e s s Accountantability and Professionalism (LEAP) the event was geared at coaching the younger generation about the glorious art of good leadership with a view to replacing the current statuesque in African leadership, as well as to inject the monetary discipline of budget management in leadership. It was viewed not only as a high time reasoning but also an obligation on the present generation of the youth.

I share the line of thinking of LEAP Africa of imparting skills and vision of leadership effectiveness and accountability to the youths who are future leaders, for the fact that the required moral norms of effective leadership have to be acquired and learnt over time, they are not just to bump in spontaneously into the leadership exercising justice, fairness, accountability and transparency over night unless and except he was taught, bred and trained morally to exert these ideals in his personality as well as official interactions.

The good ideal of morality, loyalty, sincerity, selflessness and patriotism and discipline have to be seriously taught and practically demonstrated to the up coming leaders of Africa before the continent could rise from its slumber and progress.

It is time we break from the myth that certain people alone were born leaders by virtue of their family background, blood or root.

Leadership is attainable by everybody and its art can be

By HUSENAT MOHAMMED

acquired through training experience and practice but the cherished and required type of leadership is the charitable one, the one full of feeling and sensitivity for the people and full of moral guidance and spirit of accountability.

It is also time that African youths began to look inwardly and source leaders for among themselves and relieve the elderly statesmen of the burden of leadership, as most of them have repeated leadership over and over. Some have gone round all the cadres and departments, reviewing age and seem not yet ready to abdicate, while millions of young graduates stay idle in waiting for positions to occupy, (when the elders might die).

While charting our path to a viable leadership by the youth generation in Africa, we ought to reflect upon and borrow a leaf from such past patriotic Africans, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed of Nigeria, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Thomas Jankara of Burkina Faso, to serve as our touch-bearers and role models.

Luckily on the key watchwords of LEAP Africa – leadership, effectiveness, accountability and professionalism is similitude of the basic ethics of media practice as well as reflect upon the role of media as an exemplary organ of shaping social norms and values as this paper would discuss further.

The media – the media has been variously defined by scholars of masscommunications among which media is referred to as a collective means of communications by which general public or populace is kept informed about the day to day happenings in the society. The media is also said to be an aggregation of all communications channels

that the techniques of making a lot of direct personal communication between the communicator and the public.

While talking of massmedia however, the word “mass” means a large number of people or collection and “media” is a collection of organs of communication and information dissemination that reaches out a large number of people.

The information circulation

magazines, journals and periodicals. (b) The electronic media includes the radio, television and all related modern means of communication such as the computer and the internet.

These are the conventional social functions the media render to the public, but which is equally

is not only confined within members of the public but the media also serve to coordinate the information between the government and the public and vice- versa, in our own case, between leaders and the led and vice versa, more importantly, the media is also referred to, as “the fourth realm of the estate”. i.e.

The two broad categories of media. (a) The print media comprises of newspapers,

applicable in broader sense in national development pursuit.

It could be said that through educating, informing and entertaining, the media thereby make the society, society members or the nation as well as the leadership of the very society aware of the importance and need to undertake certain process or processes of national development. Also attached to these three basic roles of media is another role of persuasion, where media

“The information circulation is not only confined within members of the public but the media also serve to coordinate the information between the government and the public and vice- versa.”

are seen as virile tools of applying persuasive efforts to influence people’s actions towards a particular direction.

These roles of media in national development lie in their capacity and capability to reach, manipulate, sensitize and mobilize people through information dissemination.

time in history of the country.

It should be understood the relevance of media in almost all spheres of human endeavour cannot be overemphasized, moreso in the area of national development, as equally reasoned by organizers of this discussion forum, LEAP Africa. Also the exigent need for good governance,

Policies of the millennium goal touch on different aspects of health, education and children, and woman and the likes. The programme could also be said to be part of the globalization pursuit which any nation left out in its pursuance and implementation stands the possibility of being alienated in the country of nations.

Another instance of development role of Nigerian media was the recent killing of the unconstitutional move to install a third term government by the recent past President Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as the contribution by the media towards making Nigerians to come out and vote during the April 2007 general elections, in order to enable a successful transition from civilian to another civilian rule, the first

responsible and accountable leadership goes hand in hand with the need for active role of strong and equally disciplined media towards enlightening mobilizing and sensitizing both the public and the stakeholders in this concern.

It should also be understood the impossibility of having totally unbiased media, because even in the developed European countries, media were seen for conducting opinion polls or making comments that favour certain political parties or candidates.

However, the conscience of the media itself needs reorientation to shed off characteristics of the ravanging societal malaise which in some ways, affect the media themselves.

National development is no longer a matter of dispute.

THE NIGERIAN

21

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Archival Matters

HERE is the news!! Each passing day, our leaders sermonize to Nigerians on the need for patriotism and why we must buy Nigeria.

According to them, it is only through patriotism we can aspire towards millennial development. Good talk.

Nobody doesn’t want progress.

But the question is: Do our leaders mean what they talk about? Do most of them walk the patriotic talk? No, of course. Because for these set of leaders, their dysfunctional patriotism is on the high side, there is no better area to demonstrate this truism than in medical tourism abroad.

Yes, our public leaders always demand that we purchase Nigerian wares in abeyance to the spirit of patriotism. But, deceptively, they shop abroad for medical care at the slightest opportunity with public funds and with selfish abandon.

Remember late President Musa Yar’Adua who passed on in 2011. When he fell ill during his presidential election campaign, he was flown to Germany for medical attention. Later on, as president of Nigeria, his handlers secretively rushed him to Saudi Arabia for treatment. From there, he was smuggled back to Nigeria under the naked cover of darkness.

Not long afterwards, he passed on.

While this cinematographic comedy lasted, some of us wondered aloud at its unpatriotic and shameful content. We felt that had our public leaders invested in the medicare industry at home or encouraged investors to do so by creating the enabling environment, such a laughable incident wouldn’t have occurred. Afterall, we have enough petro – dollars to build cut-edge hospitals and infrastructure in the country if only our public leaders had the patriotic will power at heart.

Well, the leopard can never shed its spots. About a year after Yar’Adua’s medical dramaturgy, Nigeria once again relived its unpatriotic lust for trips abroad to seek treatment at a time the rest of us are decimated by our graveyard hospitals at home.

Nna, all animals are equal but some are more equal than others. Na so e be for Nigeria.

So in 2012 our first family decided to buy medicare

abroad. Hey Abracadabra!!

Her Excellency, Dame patience Jonathan, was flown for treatment to Germany in an air ambulance without our knowledge. The presidency denied at the time that she had gone abroad for treatment.

Well, no fropblem, says the hausa man. No secret, including a pregnancy is hidden for long. For on February 17, 2013 our first lady herself revealed to us that she, indeed, went abroad to seek medicare. This wasn’t all. She even recounted details of her tragic experience in the Whiteman’s land in Vanguard newspaper of February 18, 2013.

Hear her at thanksgiving service at the State House Chapel, Abuja: “I actually died. I passed out for more than a week. My intestines and tummy were opened, I am not Lazarus but my experience was similar to his.

My doctors said all hope was lost… Infacts, I had nine surgeries in one month and I passed out for 7 days.”

Enter Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State. He was not on official duty when his plane which he was personally flying crashed. All the same, following public service protocols, he was flown abroad for treatment.

He spent 6 months in Germany after which he migrated to America to get rehabilitation therapy, all at the expense of tax payers. Yet most of whom cannot even afford panadol, safe water and food with which to drink the tablet for their headaches got from misgovernance.

Finally, however, while still sick in America he “discharged” himself from hospital and scrambled back to his Taraba State on six legs.

Since, he was too fragile to walk the earth surface and so performed the chameleon unginerly swagger, he needed two m+ale helpers to steady his gait. That is six legs in all for Governor Danbaba Suntai.

With them he de-boarded the plane that brought him from America on August 25, 2013. The next day, without bed rest, he started the war to reclaim his lost “mandate” to his deputy Alhaji Garba Umar in a show of executive shame, recklessness and disrespect for the moral sensibilities of Nigerians!!

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State early this year had a car accident.

The Hole Metaphor

By MICHAEL ODIGBE

A “bloody civilian” ran into his car. Trust, Okorocha didn’t disappoint. As usual, he was flown overseas for treatment. Meanwhile, some of us have tried to reach him in vain to offer assistant to Mr. Ifeanyi Mba, the young

That explains why Governor Sullivan Chime spent 140 days abroad on medical tourism. To add magi seasoning to the cooking drama, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State

Cuban former president, Fidel Castro, fell sick and even required complicated invasive stomach surgery in early 2000, he was operated on in cuba, not abroad. Since 1956, when he assumed power in his country, he hasn’t traveled abroad for medical treatment.

continue his treatment at home. At no time was the NO 1 world citizen flown abroad for medicare.

Fidel Castro, Kristine Fernadez, Attah Mills and Mandela are a great epitomes of patriotism by their behaviour, not preachments.

President Goodluck Jonathan man without hands and without legs, who like Okorocha’s executive peers need overseas treatment.

You cannot talk about medical tourism abroad by our public leaders without spicing this article with the garlic fairy tale of Governor Sullivan (Chime’s tantalizing exploits. See, in September 2012 he left for abroad in search for medicare without officially handing over to his deputy or informing his people who voted him into office of his trip. Anyway, how would he perform these tasks, even perfunctorily?

Isn’t Enugu State his personal possession for the 4 years he will be in office? It is, of course, Nigerian style.

abandoned his duty post in Uyo and traveled abroad with an air convey to London to visit Governor Sullivan Chime on his sick bed. After the visit, Akpabio, his new emergency PRO informed us, all ignoramuses, that Chime would be back in Nigeria within 10 days. He was dead right. On February 7, 2013, Chime arrived in the country, leisurely passing through Abuja enroute Enugu, capital of his state. Yes, government business in Enugu State can sleep walk while he is away on medical trip abroad!!

In contrast, here is how serious countries have managed their public leaders’ health problems with patriotic flourish. When the

“Our public leaders always demand that we purchase Nigerian wares in abeyance to the spirit of patriotism. But, deceptively, they shop abroad for medical care at the slightest opportunity with public funds and with selfish abandon.”

In October 2013 Kristine Fernadez, the delectable female Argentina President, had a health challenge. More specifically, she needed surgery to remove a blood clot from her brain. Out of patriotic zeal to buy medicare in Argentina, she opted for the surgery at home.

Similarly, former president of Ghana, Prof Attah Mills, didn’t go overseas for medical attention even though he had the dreaded cancer. He treated it and died of it in a military hospital in Ghana.

Mandela, like his transcontinental compatriots, hasn’t travelled abroad for the lung tuberculosis he contacted in 1980 while serving his 27 year jail term in South Africa. Recently, he was in and out of hospital in Pretoria thrice within four months before he was discharged from hospital to

Unlike them, most of our public leaders in Nigeria are parodies of patriotism.

Already, lots of people don’t believe in them anymore as agents of development. Yet they are still worsening their profile by scrambling abroad alone to treat only themselves whenever they fall ill. And, so, here in lies the hole metaphor they represent as explained by chief Richard Akinjide, former Nigerian’s Minister of Justice. Hear Akinjide: “When someone falls into a hole, he shouldn’t start digging it but attempt to get out. But in Nigeria’s case, you find Nigerians digging the hole deeper and deeper.

Hence, they become further trapped.” In other words, when most of our public leaders alone go abroad for medicare, they worsen the electorate’s perception of them as the biblical Pharisees. Period.

THE NIGERIAN

22

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Point Blank

Keeping Hope Alive!

By GIFT ONAGHAMA

THINGS are difficult now in Nigeria, with tension here and there. The homes suffer it the most. In everything, it is advisable and very germane that the home keepers should be focused on the stability of the home. It is unfortunate that today, we are having internally displaced people due to riots, and various forms of insurgencies and uprising, and this latest development, no doubt will affect most families.

There is scarcity of money, food and lack of employment for thousands of youthful graduates, there is a palpable lack of jobs, but “man no die, and man no rotten”. It is important that the little we have as food and money should be judiciously used for the good of the entire family.

People should not lose hope for the future because as the future is known, it is unknown and no matter the circumstances, who knows things may turn out better and good for tomorrow.

The home being the basis of everything is where we should pay attention to, not because there is tension here and there, then we would allow the situation get into the home.

It is a known fact that a family that prays together, stay together translate the home of being peaceful and stable.

At times like this, positive mental attitude plays very important role to our lives. Therefore, we should develop it. It behoves on all of us to maintain a sense

of belonging to the betterment of the whole society by being each other’s

“The home being the basis of everything is where we should pay attention to, not because there is tension here and there, then we would allow the situation get into the home.”

“There is scarcity of money, food and lack of employment for thousands of youthful graduates, there is a palpable lack of jobs, but “man no die, and man no rotten”.

keeper. It is difficult now to have anyone to fall back on financially, but a little help will keep hope alive.

The parents and children make the house a home and to this extent, keeping hope alive at home involves the love that radiates within human beings. This will definitely make the home better and love will help keep hope and the home alive!

THE NIGERIAN

23

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Issues

Drug Abuse: A drug is any substance used in medicine. It can also be any substance taken by any person to get certain effect, such as happiness and excitement. Deducing from the definitions above, drugs can be classified into two categories. The soft drug example; Antibiotic and analgesics and the hard drugs which include; Cocain, Marijuana heroin etc.

Consequently, a drug addict is said to be someone whose of life has become dependent on drugs, hence drug abuse. Today drug abuse or drugs addiction is one of the most vexing and pervasive problems that almost all the countries have faced in the world including Nigeria. The consequence of such addictions, abuse, trafficking or even cultivation can be devastating, unfortunately the youth are the most vulnerable on hard drugs and this brings a lot of adverse effects on the community.

There are two primary causes of drug abuse among the youths. They are: Peer pressure and Depression Peer pressure: Youth associates with different types of people otherwise known as friends. Through the pressure from their friends who are into drugs, the person tend to have a taste of these drugs and once this is done, they continue to take it and becomes addicted to it at the long run.

Depression: Another primary cause of drug abuse is depression. When certain things happen to someone that is considered very sad, the person start thinking of the best way to become happy once more, hence the use of hard drugs will come in. This later turns into a habit.

Another major causes of drug abuse is said to be the rate of unemployment among the youth. Furthermore, drugs is abuse when a youth don’t keep to the prescribe dosage and a continuous use of a particular drug for a long time without doctor ’s approval. This kind of abuse is associated with soft drugs.

Effect of Drug Abuse: The effect of drug abuse on youth is going to be viewed from three aspects and these are; social, financial and

Bane Of Youth Development

health aspects.

Social aspect: The hard drug makes the taker hyperactive at the point of taking this drug. Many drug users engage in criminal activities, such as burglary and prostitution, armed robbery, to raise money to buy drugs, and some drugs are associated with violent behaviour. Drug addiction also leads to psychological and physiological dependence.

Financial aspect: drugs

Moreover, it is most heartaching to know that there are tons of drugs in circulation which are either adulterated or have Old NAFDAC numbers on them, or are outdated and still being consumed by ignorant and unsuspecting Nigerians.

These drugs do not undergo severe presentations and as a result lose their potency.

Crucial moment when credit crunch is seriously

abusers tends to spend more money on the purchase of these drugs. This can make the taker to become bankrupt or start searching for money by all means. This will eventually increase the problem of the taker.

Health effects: Drugs abusers are generally immature, suffering from mental and physical hazards emotionally disturbed and psychopathic in nature. A drug abuser is infiltrate with a lot of diseases and can eventually lead to death.

taking toll on the people, which makes some of them to find it difficult to afford fees for consulting doctors, they are left with no option than to go on self medication which is another channel of drug abuse. Another dimension is that most youths that take drugs to boost their immune system in some way are causing damage to their body. And also in universities, there are cases where science students experiment with some chemical formular to produce

By EZIDI MERIT ULUMA

certain drugs, and they use it as energized, so as to help them reduce their fatigue and give them a chance to have more time for reading at night, the use of codeine by Nigerian youths is now the order of the day, they use it as a way of getting high and not to serve as the main purpose which it was produced and prescribed by a doctor.

Too bad that many people

factor before making this law.

Another prevention measure is the continuous campaigns against the use of hard drugs and this campaign rally should be done in public places like motor parks, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, NYSC camps, and other learning institutions because these are where we have youths populated. This rally should also be done at the federal, state and local levels.

Apart from this, there should be a structured distribution network through partnership wholesaling and also set up a giant company responsible for ensuring smooth distribution of safe, effective and affordable drugs throughout the country.

Governments have a responsibility to counteract both drug trafficking and drug abuse. Stiff penalty should be meted against anybody found dealing on hard drugs, but communities

in Nigeria still have access to buying and selling of drugs and that is the reason why we have drug abuse in high condition.

Remedies/solution to drug abuse The first preventive measure that should be taken is to stop the normal access to these drugs and then begin issuance of certificates by certified medical practitioners. But in doing this, regulators have to put some medical scientists to sit and discuss the risk benefits

Indeed, effective system of distributing pharmaceutical products will largely help to improving healthcare and reducing mortality in the country.

There are some drug selling channels that are not meant to be in the system and these are open markets, kolanut sellers, inside buses etc, the right channels ought to have been patent medicine stores, community pharmacies, private and public hospitals, wholesale/importers and pharmaceutical companies.

can also make a major contribution, families, civil societies, schools and religious organizations can do their part to rid their communities of drugs.

However, with the right attitude and with the quest to rid our society of drug abuse is what I truly believe its achieveable unless we reduce demand for illicit drugs, we can never fully tackle drug abuse.

Other remedies are: Aggressive extinction of all the source of those hard drugs including the farms where they are planted by a joint force of the U.N.O. Parents should monitor the kind of friends their children keep and guide them against bad company.

Rehabilitation of the affected persons, consent of a doctor should be sought before a prolong take of a particular soft drugs.

“Moreover, it is most heart-aching to know that there are tons of drugs in circulation which are either Adulterated or have Old NAFDAC numbers on them, or are outdated and still being consumed by ignorant and unsuspecting Nigerians. These drugs do not undergo severe presentations and as a result lose their potency.”

THE NIGERIAN

24

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

International

Insight: Syria Uses Red Tape, Threats To Control UN Aid Agencies

IT is a 15-minute drive from the five-star hotel that houses U.N. aid staff in Damascus to rebel-held suburbs where freezing children are starving to death.

Yet it is months since convoys from the United Nations and other agencies have delivered food or medical care to many such areas - prevented by a Syrian government accused of using hunger as a weapon of war against its people.

As the United Nations launches an annual appeal on Monday for funds to help more than 9 million Syrians who need aid, divisions among world powers that have crippled peacemaking are also denying U.N. staff the power to defy President Bashar alAssad’s officials and push into neighborhoods now under siege.

“In government-controlled parts of Syria, what, where and to whom to distribute aid, and even staff recruitment, have to be negotiated and are sometimes dictated,” said Ben Parker, who ran the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Syria for a year until last February.

“According to the Syrian government’s official position, humanitarian agencies and supplies are allowed to go anywhere, even across any frontline,” he wrote last month in the journal Humanitarian Exchange. “But every action requires time-consuming permissions, which effectively provide multiple veto opportunities.” Fighting and rebel groups are also obstacles.

The United Nations estimates about a quarter of a million Syrians are living under siege as winter bites, most of them encircled by government forces, but also including 45,000 in two towns in the north that are besieged by antiAssad rebels.

A binding Security Council resolution could formally oblige the authorities to let aid agencies into areas like the Damascus suburbs and the old city of Homs, where local doctors say children are dying of malnutrition. But divisions between Western powers, backing the rebels, and Russia, have paralyzed the world body over Syria since the conflict began in 2011.

As a result, international agencies are legally obliged to work with a government which aid workers say has

used threats - say, to deny visas to foreign staff or hinder efforts to help millions of people outside besieged districts - as a way of muting criticism and discouraging attempts to break the sieges.

“It is a fundamental flaw in the international system that it is possible for a rogue state to hold its own people hostage,” said a Western diplomat who works on aid issues.

“Syria ... can threaten access to its own population and say ‘millions will starve if my instructions are not followed’.

“The reality is there is a risk of being thrown out,” he said.

“You have to look ultimately at what the moral obligation is to serve as many as you can.”

As far as Assad’s government is concerned, said former U.N. Syria staffer Ben Parker, aid operations are “a Trojan horse to delegitimize the state, develop contacts with the opposition and win international support for military intervention”.

To criticism that they should complain more loudly, aid workers speaking privately cited the case of a U.N. agency chief who ended a posting in Damascus last year after clashing with Syrian officials over access for aid distribution.

Syria had made clear that the official’s visa would not be renewed.

An internal U.N. document seen by Reuters last month said visa applications for international staff were more likely to be turned down or put on hold in 2013 than to be approved.

It described Syrian bureaucracy hampering operations, as well as difficulties posed by fighting and a lack of cooperation from numerous, often rival, rebel groups across the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said this month that both sides have blocked medical aid to the sick and wounded. “Where we haven’t been particularly successful is in increasing our medical activities in Syria, which remain below our expectations,” ICRC President Peter Maurer said.

“On both sides we are struggling with the argument that whatever medical aid is brought to one part or the other is interpreted as an indirect military support to the other side.”

Syrians in areas where little or no aid is getting through say

they feel abandoned and blame world powers for not only extending a war that has killed over 100,000 by backing warring parties but also failing to ease the impact on civilians.

An opposition activist in Damascus who uses the name Tariq al-Dimashqi and works in a field hospital in the besieged eastern suburbs of the

misery of the war into often fragile neighboring states, while 9.3 million need help inside Syria.

Two million of these are in areas that are hard to reach.

This year’s U.N. appeal for $1.41 billion to finance aid work in Syria has reached only 62 percent of its target. U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie

- largely based in some of the areas hardest hit by fighting collapsed in August 2012 and has virtually halted production, the WHO added. Rights groups say the Syrian air force has deliberately bombed hospitals.

The WHO said last month that polio, which is incurable and paralyses children within

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

capital says that he has seen no medicine or food from the United Nations for more than a year.

“The United Nations should do something to save civilians,” he said. “They have to force the regime to end the siege.”

Some medicines are smuggled in to the area, he said, but the hospital is very low on supplies.

Lack of access for independent agencies makes it hard to verify food and medical supplies in many areas. But opposition activists have posted video of the bodies of several skeletal children who local doctors say died of malnutrition.

In September, footage of the body of one-year-old Rana Obeid, ribs protruding and belly swollen, was accompanied by statements from doctors saying she was the sixth child to die from malnutrition in Mouadamiya, about a quarter-hour drive from the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus.

More broadly, providing aid across a patchwork of front lines across Syria has proved a struggle. Of a population of 23 million, the United Nations says 2.3 million refugees have fled the country, taking the

Amos will launch a funding appeal for 2014 on Monday, potentially seeking even more cash.

Twelve U.N. staff and 32 staff or volunteers of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have been killed and 21 U.N. staff remain in detention, last month’s U.N. document seen

by Reuters says - without specifying which groups were holding them.

In a country in the grip of a population explosion before the war began, half of Syria’s needy are children.

“The time will come that whatever aid you bring it is far too late and the scars on children will be far too deep to repair,” said Maria Calivis, Middle East and Northern Africa director for the U.N. Children’s Fund UNICEF. This month the U.N. failed to deliver food to 600,000 out of its monthly target of 4 million, a goal never yet reached.

Of 91 public hospitals in Syria, 36 are not functioning and another 22 have been damaged, while almost half of the 658 ambulances have been stolen, burned or massively damaged, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The domestic drug industry

hours, had spread from the eastern city of Deir al-Zor to the major city of Aleppo and around Damascus. It is the country’s first outbreak since 1999.

The WHO must work through the government and a vaccination drive has not reached all areas, although the agency says 600,000 people have been reached in contested areas.

“The pressure has to be kept on” for access for medical supplies, said Elizabeth Hoff, the WHO representative in Syria.

Lebanon-based public health researchers Fouad Fouad and Adam Coutts criticize the local and international response: “The outbreak and now spread of Polio Type I in Syria represents more than just a breakdown of a public health system during a time of conflict,” said Coutts.

“It is symptomatic of a humanitarian response in which public health has been neglected and which remains underfunded and poorly coordinated.”

Fouad said more than 70 percent of medical staff have left Syria due to the crisis and that no data is being collected on mental health inside Syria.

Mental health care is a neglected area and a “heartbreaking” challenge, the WHO’s Hoff said.

Leishmaniasis, a disease transmitted by sand flies which causes sores on the skin, is spreading so fast it has earned the local nickname the “Aleppo boil”.

In Aleppo, once Syria’s most populous city, Fouad said no one had had heart surgery in more than a year: “This is not a new crisis. This is not the first conflict,” he said.

“The U.N. should be doing better.”

Peggy Hicks, the head of advocacy for lobby group Human Rights Watch, said that U.N. efforts have lately made some modest progress in eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to aid.

“But with winter fast approaching, these grudging steps by Syria are nowhere near enough,” she said.

“The U.N. should keep emphasizing that the real test is a change in the situation on the ground, particularly for the 280,000 Syrians in besieged towns.”

On October 2, the U.N. Security Council urged the Syrian government in a non-binding statement to allow immediate cross-border aid deliveries. U.N. aid officials said that access has improved somewhat since then.

U.N. aid chief Amos said this month that there had been “modest progress” with Damascus, such as issuing 50 visas for international staff and permitting the setting up relief hubs to store and distribute supplies. But U.N. convoys from Turkey are still forbidden and besieged communities are still blocked off.

Last week, the U.N. announced that Damascus had approved a first airlift to Syria from Iraq to supply the mainly Kurdish northeast, though snow has so far delayed the start of flights. The breakthrough followed secret talks chaired by Amos with countries including Syria’s allies Iran and Russia.

Hicks at Human Rights Watch said more should still be done to press world powers to demand humanitarian access in Syria.

“There is always room for more vocal engagement,” said Hicks. “I think there is more room for explicit movement and to pressure the Security Council to act on their words.”

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

International In New Role, Kerry Back In Vietnam’s JOHN Kerry returned Sunsea levels and planned Mekong Delta rising day to the winding waterways upstream construction of dams

ADVT

of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region where he once patrolled on a naval gunboat in the search for communist insurgents.

But nearly 50 years later, Kerry is promoting sustainable aquaculture and trade in a rapidly expanding economy rather than hunting Viet Cong guerrillas, as he was at the height of the Vietnam War. As Kerry’s boat eased off a jetty onto the Cai Nuoc River, the secretary of state told his guide: “I’ve been on this river many times.” Asked how he felt about returning to the scene of his wartime military service for the first time, Kerry replied: “Weird, and it’s going to get weirder” On this tour, Kerry was clad in drab olive cargo pants, a blue-and-white plaid longsleeved shirt and sunglasses instead of the uniform he wore as a Navy officer in 1968 and 1969. In a new role, Kerry was revisiting the delta’s rivers that made a vivid impression on him as a young lieutenant.

Kerry, standing next to the captain and surveying the brown water and muddy banks, recalled the smell of burning firewood as his boat passed through small fishing villages.

At one point, a family in a sampan traveling in the opposite direction smiled and waved. Kerry waved back, and noticing the family had a dog on board, remarked with a smile: “I had a dog, too. Its name was VC.” VC was the abbreviation for the Viet Cong forces fighting the South Vietnamese and their U.S. allies.

Stopping in the village of Kien Vang, Kerry visited a riverfront general store and bought candy for a group of children.

Kerry addressed a group of older students and scientists, delighting them first with a few words of Vietnamese before speaking strongly about the need to combat climate change.

“It is obviously amazing for me to be here today,” he said.

“Decades ago on these very waters, I was one of many who witnessed the difficult period in our shared history.”

“Today on these waters I am bearing witness to how far our two nations have come together, and we are talking about the future and that’s the way it ought to be.”

That future, especially for the water-dependent economy of the millions who live in the Mekong Delta, is threatened by

ADVT

in China and Thailand.

Kerry said he would make it a personal priority to ensure that none of the six countries that share the roughly 2,700mile-long Mekong and depend on it for their survival exploit the river at the expense of the others.

“No one country has a right to deprive another country of a livelihood, an ecosystem and its capacity for life itself that comes from that river,” Kerry said. “That river is a global asset, a treasure that belongs to the region.”

The Mekong’s resources must “benefit people not just in one country, not just in the country where the waters come first, but in every country that touches this great river.”

Forty-four years ago Kerry first set foot in Vietnam as a U.S. Navy officer who volunteered for service because, as he has said, “it was the right thing to do.”

He was decorated with three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for fighting in a conflict that he came to despise and call a “colossal mistake,” one that profoundly influenced his political career and strategic view.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

International

South Africa Holds State Funeral For Mandela QUNU, South Africa Songs, speeches and the boom of artillery rang across Nelson Mandela’s home village during his funeral yesterday as a tribal chief draped in animal skin declared: “A great tree has fallen.”

South Africa was saying goodbye for the last time to the man who reconciled the country in its most vulnerable period.

Several thousand guests, some singing and dancing, gathered in a huge tent at the family compound of the antiapartheid leader, who died Dec. 5 at the age of 95 after a long illness. When the funeral service began, they sang the national anthem in an emotional rendition in which some mourners placed fists over their chests.

Mandela’s portrait looked over the assembly in the white marquee from behind a bank of 95 candles representing each year of his re-

markable life. His casket, transported to the tent on a gun carriage and draped in the national flag, rested on a carpet of cow skins below a lectern where speakers delivered eulogies.

“A great tree has fallen, he is now going home to rest with his forefathers,” said Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, a representative of Mandela’s family. “We thank them for lending us such an icon.”

The songs and speeches in the tent ceremony were broadcast on big screens in the area, including at one spot on a hill overlooking Mandela’s property. Several hundred people gathered there, some wearing colors of the African National Congress ó the liberation movement-turned political part that Mandela used to lead ó

and occasionally breaking into song.

Nandi Mandela said her grandfather went barefoot to school in Qunu when he was boy and eventually became president and a figure of global import.

“It is to each of us to achieve anything you want in life,” she said, recalling kind gestures by Mandela “that made all those around him also want to do good.”

In the Xhosa language, she referred to her grandfather by his clan name: “Go well, Madiba. go well to the land of our ancestors, you have run your race.”

Ahmed Kathrada, an antiapartheid activist who was jailed on Robben Island with Mandela, remembered his old friend’s “abundant reserves” of love, patience and tolerance. He said it was

painful when he saw Mandela for the last time, months ago in his hospital bed.

“He tightly held my hand,

“How I wish I never had to confront what I saw. I first met him 67 years ago and I recall the tall, healthy strong man, the boxer, the prisoner who easily wielded the pick

• Candles are lit under a portrait of Late Dr. Nelson Mandela before his funeral ceremony in Qunu yesterday.

it was profoundly heartbreaking,” Kathrada said, his voice breaking at times.

• US Secretary of State John Kerry rides a boat yesterday.

and shovel when we couldn’t do so.”

Some mourners wiped away tears as Kathrada spoke, his voice trembling with emotion.

Mandela’s widow, Grace Machel, and his second wife, Winnie MadikizelaMandela, were dressed in black and sat on either side of South African President Jacob Zuma.

Guests included veterans of the military wing of the African National Congress, the liberation movement that became the dominant political force after the end of apartheid, as well as U.S. Ambassador Patrick Gaspard and other foreign envoys.

Britain’s Prince Charles, Monaco’s Prince Albert II, U.S. television personality Oprah Winfrey, billionaire businessman Richard Branson and former Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai were also there.

3 Dead In Renewed Violence In Bangladesh DHAKA, Bangladesh - Police in Bangladesh opened fire Sunday to try to stop rampaging activists of an Islamist party who were protesting the execution of one of its leaders, leaving at least three people dead and wounding scores, a doctor said.

The violence took place in Lalmonirhat district in northern Bangladesh as Jamaat-e-Islami party enforced a daylong general strike across the South Asian nation following the ex-

ecution of Abdul Quader Mollah for war crimes committed during the country’s 1971 indepedence war.

A doctor at a government-run hospital in Lalmonirhat, Praful Kumar, said three men died of bullet wounds after they were taken to the hospital following the clashes.

The new violence took place amid growing political tension.

At least 24 people have been killed in clashes involving opposition and pro-government

activists and police since Thursday, when Mollah was put to death.

His party says the execution was politically motivated. Authorities said he was tried and convicted according to law.

Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators including Mollah, killed at least 3 million people and raped 200,000 women during the nine-month war against Pakistan.

On Sunday, thousands of busi-

More than an hour into the service, people were still filling empty seats in parts of the marquee. Soldiers moved in to occupy some chairs.

Earlier, South African

nessmen lined up the streets of Dhaka, the capital, and other major cities calling for peace and shunning violence. They carried white flags symbolizing reconciliation. Many of their businesses suffered because of a string of general strikes and blockades enforced by the opposition in recent months.

While Jamaat-e-Islami protested the execution, many among the 160 million Bangladeshis have praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for trying and executing Mollah.

Opposition parties are also protesting the government’s decision to move ahead with Jan. 5 elections. The opposition wants the government to resign and hand over power to an independent caretaker to oversee the vote.

Hasina has vowed to continue the trials of the war crimes suspects and push ahead with the elections despite calls from opposition leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to resign.

honor guards from the army, navy and air force marched in formation amid rolling green hills dotted with small dwellings and neatly demarcated plots of farmland.

Clouds cast shadows over the landscape. Mandela’s casket, covered by a national flag, was transported on a gun carriage to the tent.

After the funeral ceremony, a smaller group of guests was to attend Mandela’s burial at a family grave site on the estate in Qunu, a rural village in Eastern Cape province. A 21-gun salute and a flyover by planes were among the final acts planned before the casket was put into the earth.

The burial will end 10 days of mourning ceremonies that included a massive stadium memorial in Johannesburg and three days during which Mandela’s body lay in state in the capital, Pretoria.

Mandela spent 27 years in jail as a prisoner from apartheid, then emerged to lead a delicate transition to democracy when many South Africans feared that the country would sink into all-out racial conflict. He became president in the first all-race elections in 1994.

While South Africa faces many problems, including crime, unemployment and economic inequality, Mandela is seen by many compatriots as the father of their nation and around the world as an example of the healing power of reconciliation.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Healthy Living

Garlic: The Power Plant!

GARLIC is a natural herb that is known to be used by our fore-fathers and fathers till this present day. According to science they describe the plant as the most powerful root plant ever know to man.

Scientifically, it was proven that the plant can be used to cure and prevent most diseases and sicknesses than any natural herb in the world.

Also the plant was known as the only natural herb that contain enough power potent enough to fight cancer cells in the human body.

Garlic is very rich in sugars, protein, calcium potassium, phosphorus, iodine, silicone, vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, Sulphur compounds, and oil soluble nutrients. Other compound also found in garlic are Allicin, Ajoene, Selenium, Saponin and Fructose etc. Below are the numerous health benefits of Garlic: 1. It helps to reduce fat in the blood, it has been demonstrated and proven that garlic promotes a decrease of low density protein lipoprotein (dangerous) from about 7% to 22% and increases high density protein (Favourable) from 15% to 31%. In addition, it also helps to lowers cholesterol and triglycerides from 15% to 20%.

2. Garlic helps to prevent HYPERTENSION. According to scientist, they believe that garlic acts as a vasodilator which helps to widen the blood vessels, making blood flow smoother. Also it helps to lower blood pressure.

3. It regulates HEART RELAXANT: According to research, it has been shown that garlic helps to regulates the cardiacrhythm of the heart, helping to avoid Arrhythmia. This is beneficial for people who have accelerated heart rate and cardiacarrhythmia.

4.

It serves as ANTI-DIABETIC: Garlic is a huge help with people living with diabetics and also helps to prevent it as well, because it helps to lower the glucose in the blood. This is due to the fact that it increase the secretion of insulin which is in charge of regulating normal sugar level in the blood.

5. It serves as DIGESTIVE AID Taking garlic prevents the blockage of gastric pancreatic

By OKEKE IFEANYICHUKWU FRED

and intestinal. Juices, which are responsible for digesting the nutrients. It also helps to promote, relax, and tone the digestive system.

6. It helps in muscle toner muscles can be toned by taking garlic, which then can sustain an extra amount of work. It is also a great muscle relaxant.

7. LUNGS DECONGESTANT. According to research, it has been proven that garlic works as a great lung decongestant in helping to loose the harmful, infectious secretion of bronchial tubes. Further more, it helps to prevent head colds and flu.

8. It serves as ANTIBIOTIC AND

“Scientifically, it was proven that the plant can be used to cure and prevent most diseases and sicknesses than any natural herb in the world. Also the plant was known as the only natural herb that contain enough power potent enough to fight cancer cells in the human body.�

GERMICIDAL POWER. According to scientist, garlic is very effective in destroying bacteria like staphylococcus, streptococcus, salmonella, and other germs that cause diarrhea, gastrointestinal and bronchipulmonary infection. It also works on fungi like ringworm and candidacies.

9. It helps to fight against HYPERTHYROIDISM. According to research, garlic contains a lot of iodine, which helps people who suffer from hyperthyroid.

10. ANTIRHEUMATIC. According to herbalist, ground garlic mixed with hot aloe lotion helps to calms and eases pain caused by inflamed and aching joints, this is as a result of rheumatism.

11. DIURETIC. According to research, garlic is highly diuretic due to its essentials oils and its low molecular weight sugars.

12. PARASITIC WORMS. According to research studies, the cloves of garlic have been used to get rid of oxyuriasis (intestinal worm) in children working quite well to completely eliminate amoebas.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Ex-La Liga Star Agree Sunshine Switch

Spanish La Liga

Neymar Takes Barca Clear

Barcelona moved five points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga with a 2-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday thanks to a double from Neymar.

Madrid, meanwhile, had to fight back from 2-0 down with 10 men to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw at lowly Osasuna in a game which saw Gareth Bale taken off.

Following on from his first Barca hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Celtic in midweek, Neymar made the difference once more as he converted from the spot after Mario Gaspar had blocked Jordi Alba’s cross with his hand.

Villarreal were level just three minutes after the interval when Mario Musacchio bulleted home a Manu Trigueros corner.

But Neymar had the final word as he smashed into an empty net from Alexis Sanchez’s cut-back 22 minutes from time.

Barca boss Gerardo Martino had made five changes from the side that thrashed Celtic and it was one of those recalled to the side, Alex Song, who had the first opportunity as he smashed a shot off the post from Neymar’s corner.

The hosts’ dominance in possession throughout the firsthalf was finally rewarded on the half hour when Mario handled inside his own area and Neymar coolly dispatched the spot-kick for his ninth goal of the season.

Sergio Asenjo then produced a wonderful save from Sanchez to keep his side in the game six minutes before the break.

And it took the visitors just three minutes after the restart to level as Musacchio took advantage of some awful marking to head high past Jose Manuel Pinto.

Cesc Fabregas had a great chance to put Barca back in front 15 minutes later when he was played in by Sanchez, but Asenjo was off his line quickly to turn the midfielder’s effort over the bar.

However, the keeper was left helpless when Sanchez latched onto Fabregas’ pass behind the Villarreal defence and squared for Neymar to finish from close range.

Earlier, Madrid looked set for their third league defeat of the season after two headed goals from Oriol Riera put Osasuna 20 ahead inside 39 minutes.

Real’s task became even tougher when Sergio Ramos was sent-off for two bookable offences moments later, but Isco halved the deficit a minute before the break to give Madrid hope.

Despite being in desperate need of a goal, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti substituted the in-form Bale just 10 minutes into the second period.

But after Osasuna were also reduced to 10 men following Francisco Silva’s dismissal, Pepe headed home an equaliser 10 minutes from time.

“We lost a bit of control of the game after the first goal because we had played very well and with a lot of quality in the first 20 minutes,” said Ancelotti.

FORMER Spanish La Liga ace Muyiwa Lawal has agreed personal terms with Sunshine Stars ahead of the forthcoming season.

Lawal, 33, was part of Sunshine pre-season training camp in Rojenny, near Onitsha, last week and he impressed to be given a contract by the Akure club.

The talented forward, who is a younger brother of former Nigeria international Dimeji Lawal, featured for Atletico

Madrid in the 2000/2001 season.

He also featured for several other Spanish clubs including Albacete and Xerez before he moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2005.

However, he has had to battle injuries in his time overseas.

Shooting Stars Tony Edjomarigwe and Kingley Eduwo are also set to join Sunshine for the new season.

Last season, young striker Eduwo impressed at 3SC while on a short-term loan.

Rooney Hurt By Poor United Form WAYNE Rooney says he is “hurt” by the way Manchester United’s title defence has started and has told his team-mates they need to start delivering.

The champions currently sit ninth in the Premier League and are nine points behind Everton who occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot.

With David Moyes still adapting to life in Sir Alex Ferguson’s place as manager, the transition has been a long one

Aminu Maigari, NFF’s Chairman

El-Kanemi Warriors Recruit Players

The El Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri said it had recruited nine players to beef up its squad, ahead of the commencement of the 2013/2014 premier league season.

The Chairman of the club, Zannah Mala, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.

Mala said the club had also dropped six players as part of efforts to overhaul the team.

He added that the new players would join the 23 others who played in the last football season.

“The club management has approved the recruitment of nine players to beef up the team in some critical areas; this is in addition to the 23 players retained from last football season.

“The management also dropped six players from the team as part of the preparations for the league,” Mala said.

The chairman said the club was working toward picking a continental ticket next season.

He noted that “the management has approved the appointment of Coach Salisu Yusuf as the team’s new Technical Adviser, following the exit of Coach Zakari Baraje at the end of last season.

“Our target is to secure one of the continental tickets at the end of the season.

“We believe that the team

has all the potential to take us to the dream land.”

Mala, who commended Baraje for leading the club to a successful outing last season, explained that “we played at the lower division without getting promotion for nine years, until Coach Kelechi Emetole took us to the elite division.

“Unfortunately, Emetole had to leave due to pressures from his immediate family following concerns over his safety.

“Baraje came and turned around the fortunes of the club within six months, we end up at 4th position on the league table.

Pillars Stars For Bayelsa, PILLARS stars Samuel Tswanya and Ikechukwu El Kanemi last season on arrival from Gabriel are trying out with Bayelsa United, while goalkeeper Sani Haliru is

with El Kanemi.

Tswanya established himself at leftback for Pillars

DEFENDER Jonathan Mensah scored in his French Ligue 1 outfit Evian TG’s 11 draw with Reims at home on Saturday.

The centre-back celebrated his first goal in the French top-flight since joining Evian two seasons ago.

Mensah put the home side in the lead on 75 minutes at

the Parc des Sports but an injury time equalizer from Togo striker Floyd Ayité The Ghana international is gradually picking up his top form after recently returning from injury.

The 23-year-old is a sure bet to make Ghana’s squad for next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

Mensah Scores Ligue1 Goal

Enyimba.

And Pillars have moved quickly to replace him with the signing of another leftback Nura Mohammed from Enyimba.

Central defender Gabriel, on the other hand, returned to Pillars last term after a stint with warri Wolves.

Haliru was mainly second choice goalkeeper at Pillars with Joel Afelokhai top choice as Pillars retained the league championship last season.

He is now expected to reunite with Coach Salisu Yusuf, who first signed him for Pillars.

“We are in the process of commencing two weeks closed camping for the team in Maiduguri.

“We plan to have a short break during the Chrismas before embarking on another two weeks camping in Kano.”

The club chairman said the team would play a number of international friendly matches with clubs in Benin and Togo Republic to further sharpen its skill for the league.

He commended the state government for its numerous supports and particularly thanked Gov. Kashim Shettima “for being a strong pillar in terms of providing moral and financial support to the club.

“I also wish to commend members of the supporters club for standing by the club in spite of the security challenges facing the state.”

Wayne Rooney

and questions have been asked of where United are heading on and off the field.

For Rooney, though, the players need to do their bit.

“We all have to step up,” he told a number of national newspapers ahead of Sunday’s away game with Aston Villa.

“It hasn’t been good enough of late and we all have to come forward and show why we were champions last year and do better. We have a good run of games now and hopefully we can do that.”

Rooney is one United player who could be admonished of blame for United’s form. The England international has been the club’s stand-out player this season, but still considers himself culpable.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the team. If the team isn’t doing well then my form is not important - we have to do well as a team and roll our sleeves up and really pull ourselves together,” he added.

“It’s not nice (the table). We are all proud players and it’s not nice being there. It hurts.

Hopefully there will be a reaction.”

Much has been said about the transfer business Moyes did in the summer and how much he is expected to do in the forthcoming window.

Some have criticised the Scot for his dealings, with others claiming United no longer spend big, but he is adamant that the money is there for him to freshen things up should he so wish.

“We can definitely find the money for a big deal, 100 per cent,” he told national newspapers.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

2014 World Cup: Brazil Hit By Fourth Stadium

BRAZIL was rocked Saturday by a fourth fatal World Cup stadium accident as a young construction worker fell to his death, heightening safety worries barely six months from kick-off.

The latest fatality, at the Manaus Arena in the northern Amazonia region, will add scrutiny to the host nation’s preparations, with some stadiums behind schedule and extra shifts being worked in a push to be ready for the football extravaganza.

Marcleudo de Melo Ferreira plunged 35 meters (115 feet) in the early hours while working on the roof of the $200 million, 42,000-seat capacity arena. He was taken to hospital but died before dawn.

Brazilian media reported that the 22-year-old fell after a cable broke as he prepared to finish a night shift. The venue is currently 93 percent complete and has around 1,900 people working around the clock to finish its construction.

The accident brought to five the number of deaths at event sites, and comes two weeks after two people died at the Sao Paulo stadium scheduled to host the June 12 opening match between Brazil and Croatia.

In an unrelated incident, a construction worker died of a heart attack while working on a new convention centre near to the stadium amid allegations from his family that he was overworked.

Saturday’s stadium death was the second fatality at the Manaus Arena, which will host England’s opening match on June 15 against Italy, plus three other World Cup matches.

After the first death in the tropical city’s stadium, the state public prosecutor demanded dozens of upgraded security measures, but there has been no word on any progress.

A January report found

working conditions were unsatisfactory amid claims workers had not been issued with sufficient safety equipment.

FIFA, which has played down concerns over stadium delays, expressed its sadness at the latest construction death.

“We would like to send our most sincere condolences to his family, relatives, colleagues and friends,” football’s governing body said in a statement.

In addition to the two Manaus accidents and the double fatality in Sao Paulo — a venue that organizers say will only be completed in mid-April — a further death occurred at a new stadium in Brasilia last year.

Stadium of many controversies Manaus was a controversial choice for a new multimillion-dollar stadium, not least because there is no top club in the area to attract fans after the 2014 event.

In September, one local official suggested the venue might even be turned into a processing center for prisoners for fear it could otherwise become an expensive relic.

Further controversy came following last week’s World Cup draw when the mayor of Manaus criticized England coach Roy Hodgson for saying he wanted to “avoid” the venue.

Hodgson indicated he in fact wanted his team to be spared the strength-sapping humidity of the region, particularly given the game has been brought forward from an evening start to late afternoon to suit European

Accident

television schedules.

Construction firm Andrade Gutierrez promised to immediately open an investigation into the latest accident.

“We reiterate our commitment to (ensuring the) security of everyone working at the site,” the company said in a statement, noting that work had been halted as a

Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s President mark of respect to the dead man.

“We deeply regret the accident.”

A spokesman added that the dead man had been working for a company subcontracted to build the venue’s overhead covering.

Local construction union leader Cicero Custodio told the G1 news portal that workers were ready to strike

FIFA Black Market W/Cup Ticket Alert

AROUND 130 companies are being investigated for selling World Cup tickets on the black market with football’s governing body FIFA claiming that some are being offered with a staggering 300 percent markup.

Match Services AG, which is the FIFA-sanctioned commercial outlet, confirmed reports in the Brazilian media that some 130 companies and operators are under investigation for offering unauthorised deals.

Some of these already face judicial action in their own countries.

Match Services AG indicated to AFP it was aware of companies offering packages on the black market at vastly marked up prices.

The Estado de Sao Paulo daily quoted their legal counsel Imran Patel as saying “we are seeing a huge black market with prices of up to 300 percent above face value”.

Tickets for next year’s World Cup are available solely via the FIFA website.

Match Services, which is offering VIP packages, many to companies, had indicated prior to last week’s World Cup draw that it believed around 100 firms were seeking to scalp punters.

However, they claim they have since uncovered evidence of another 30 cases.

According to Estado de Sao Paulo, authorities in

if conditions did not improve.

“Workers at the Amazonia Arena are being ill-treated,” said Custodio. “We are being ignored by the authorities. I have been talking about conditions at the arena and the risks of night work for some time.

“Ideally, there would be a general strike to show how things really are,” said

Costa Rica have already fined four agencies in the country for claiming they could offer packages to fans wanting to follow the Central American team at the event.

A dozen Mexican operators have been issued with warnings to stop while consumer protection authorities have launched legal action against six.

Other unauthorized operators are at work in several other countries, including Australia and China, Estado reported.

Patel said FIFA is aware which firms are involved and is ready to take legal action in Brazil where necessary.

Custodio.

Manaus coordinator Miguel Capobiango Neto has promised that the venue

would be ready by December 20 in time for an inauguration on January 15.

In addition to hosting England’s game with Italy, Manaus will welcome

Cameroon’s pool match with Croatia on June 18, Germany versus the United States on June 22 and Honduras’s match against Switzerland on June 25.

Bayern Head To Club W/Cup With More Records BAYERN Munich flew to Morocco to begin their assault on the Club World Cup title with coach Pep Guardiola demanding improvements from the European champions.

And that despite the Bavarian giants adding still more Bundesliga records to their already impressive tally.

The 3-1 win over Hamburg at Munich’s Allianz Arena left Guardiola’s side with a new record of 93 points for the calendar year and they remain unbeaten in the league in 2013.

Bayern bounced back from the 3-2 Champions League defeat at home to Manchester City with goals by Mario Mandzukic and Mario Goetze before Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri added the third deep into added time.

But Guardiola said the European champions have weaknesses to work on.

“Perhaps the players already had their holidays and Morocco in their heads,” said Guardiola.

“We had problems in the second half, just like against Manchester, we lost the ball too easily.

“We have good players, but

we have to cut those actions out.

“2013 was an unbelievable year for FC Bayern.

“Now we’re flying to Morocco to try and win our next title.”

Four hours after the final whistle against Hamburg, Bayern jetted out of Munich with Guardiola looking to win the Club World Cup for the third time, having already lifted the title with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.

China’s Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande set up a semi-final against Bayern on Tuesday in Agadir after seeing off Egypt’s Al Ahly 2-0 in Saturday’s quarter-final.

No German side has ever won the trophy, but having become the first Bundesliga side to win the treble of league, cup and European titles last season, Bayern want to add another piece of silverware to their 2013 haul.

“We want to get the last title we’re lacking this season,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after the club broke or equalled 25 Bundesliga records last season.

Ramos 18th Red Card Hard To Understand - Ancelotti REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he couldn’t understand referee Clos Gomez’s decision to send off Sergio Ramos as Madrid fell five points behind Barcelona after drawing 2-2 at Osasuna on Saturday.

Two first-half headers from Oriol Riera had put the hosts in control and things went from bad to worse for Madrid

Sergio Ramos

when Ramos was shown his 18th red card for the club a minute before half-time.

However, Isco pulled a goal back for the visitors before the break and after Osasuna had also been reduced to 10 men by Francisco Silva’s dismissal, Pepe headed home the equaliser 10 minutes from time.

Ancelotti’s men did have legitimate reasons to complain about the performance of Gomez as both of the yellow cards shown to Ramos appeared harsh, while he also waved away a strong penalty claim after Alejandro Arrbias had upended Luka Modric with the score at 1-0.

And the Italian said he felt Ramos in particular had been hard done by.

“I don’t like to talk about the referee’s decisions, but it was a difficult decision to understand. The first (card) is not even a foul. I don’t know what happened.”

Real keeper Diego Lopez was stronger in his criticism of the referee for not spotting the foul on Modric inside the area.

“We knew that coming here was going to be difficult.

It wasn’t our best match, but the game was conditioned by the referee’s decisions, or rather the ones he didn’t make. I have seen that it was a penalty on Luka,” the told reporters.

THE NIGERIAN

30

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

Defensive Mistakes Cost Us - Wenger

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger felt his team lost their defensive discipline as the Barclays Premier League leaders were blown away 6-3 at Manchester City.

And on a day to forget for Wenger’s men, midfielder Jack Wilshere was facing possible censure after appearing to make a crude gesture to home fans during the second half at the Etihad Stadium.

The Gunners struggled to handle the hosts’ attacking threat but Wenger claimed his sides were still the equal of City, despite the clear implications of the result in title terms.

Wenger said: “It was a difficult game. We had the best defence in the league and we conceded many goals today.

“Honestly, we could have scored at least six as well, it was a very open game.

“I think we made too many mistakes. Our strength until now was our defensive discipline but that went as the game went on.

“We were in a position where we could see the legs were tired a little bit and we had to run after the score.

“What hurts me more was that we had the opportunity to put Man City at nine points and now they are three points (behind).

“That is very different. That is a team that was not unbeatable today.”

In a moment of controversy, Wilshere was caught on camera gesturing towards supporters.

The matter could be looked at by the Football Association, who will await referee Martin Atkinson’s report.

Wenger said: “I didn’t see that. I don’t know if he did it. If he did it and is banned, we will have to accept it.”

Playmaker Mesut Ozil also appeared to head for the dressing room straight after the final whistle without joining his team-mates to applaud the visiting fans.

An argument with fellow German Per Mertesacker reportedly ensured but Wenger played down the incident.

He said: “That is the Germans, they will sort that out between themselves. Don’t worry.”

Arsenal had gone into the Saturday lunchtime game at a perceived disadvantage after playing in the Champions League on Wednesday night, 24 hours after City had been in action.

But Wenger said: “I don’t want to look for excuses after a defeat like that but it doesn’t help.

“I said before the game I would not use it as an excuse and I won’t do it now, but it was not ideal.

“You could see we were not as fresh as we should be for a big game.”

City’s victory, which maintained their 100 per cent home record in some style, is certain to see their status as title favourites strengthened but Wenger did not necessarily agree.

He said: “They are one of the teams to beat, but not more than any of the other ones we have played until now.

2013 Chess Tourney:

By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE

THE initiator and organizer of the first Benin Chess Tournament ‘Oba’s Cup’ which ended on Saturday at the National Gymnasium in Benin, Princess Omoyemwen Adeyinka-Afolabi lauds His Royal Majesty Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin for his support.

According to Princess Adeyinka-Afolabi, the Royal

father gave her the desired inspiration which made the

Princess Omo Lauds Oba Erediauwa tournament a grand success.

She promised that the tournament will be an annual

one adding that the 2014 edition will be better than the just concluded one.

However, in final ranking of ladies section, Osagie Mercy emerged first with 3, 5, Erabor Felix Joy placed second with 3,5 while Enosegbe Katherine clinched third position courtesy 3,0.

In the Under 16 boys, Favour Amuele scored 6.5 to grab to the

first position, Odigie Nomamien was second with 6.0 Nweke Precious Peterson Evidence and Uyoho Emmanuel settle for the third with 5.0 each.

In the under 16 girls, Igboko Comfort was first with 4.0 scores, followed closely by Alamu Maryam who scored 3.0 to get the third position amongst others.

Tired Everton Flattered

By Victory EVERTON manager Roberto Martinez felt mental fatigue played a part in a disjointed performance against Fulham which was turned around late on to win 4-1. aving gone ahead through Leon Osman’s 18th-minute goal, the Toffees failed to press home their advantage and Dimitar Berbatov equalised from the penalty spot midway through the second half.

However, just when it seemed the visitors were threatening a winner Seamus Coleman, Gareth Barry and Kevin Mirallas all scored in the last 17 minutes to make the scoreline look somewhat harsh on the Cottagers.

Martinez felt his side suffered after a significant victory at Old Trafford and a well-deserved

His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin

Eagles Can’t Beat Argentina - Eguavoen

2014 World Cup:

By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE

FORMER Super Eagles Coach and Captain, Austin Eguavoen has stated without mincing words that it would be difficult for the Eagles to defeat Argentina in the 2014 World Cup which will hold in Brazil.

Cerezo as Eguavoen is popularly called by his admirers stated during a training session cum screening of players for Bendel Insurance at Emotan College in Benin thus “we cannot over-ride Argentina.”

He is optimistic that the Eagles

will book a place in the second round of the tournament in Brazil.

As he analyzed it “if we can beat Iran and Bosnia Herzegovina, we will qualify from the Group F for the second round.”

Eguavoen who is now the Coach of Bendel Insurance asked the Coach Stephen Keshi tutored Eagles to be very determined in order to be able to prosecute their matches successfully.

He expressed gratitude to God

that some of them who brought honours to the country in the past have been given opportunity to serve their fatherland.

“That’s exactly what Stephen Keshi is doing now. The Nigeria Football Federation, and all the stakeholders of football in the country should give him the required support so he would

succeed.

He said the Eagles may surprise the world during the World Cup by surpassing the second round this time.

“We have the materials with the right potentials to do well in the World Cup. Keshi knows what to do. Nobody should disturb him. He knows the players that can deliver!

Ozil Sorry For Fans Snub MESUT Ozil has apologised for failing to acknowledge fans after Arsenal’s 6-3 hammering at Manchester City.

The German playmaker headed straight for the dressing room after the final whistle at the Etihad Stadium while his teammates went over to applaud travelling supporters.

His actions appeared to incur the wrath of defender Per Mertesacker, who remonstrated with his fellow German as he left the field.

Now Ozil, who has had a huge influence since his deadline-day arrival from Real Madrid, accepts he should not have done

as he did.

In a statement on his website, www.mesutoezil.com, the 25year-old said: “Sorry I didn’t thank the fans at the end of the game!

“You have been brilliant to me and I know you had travelled a long way and spent your money to support us.

“I was upset with the result and know I should have come to you to say ‘thank you’ and I know it is a big Arsenal tradition win, lose or draw.”

The defeat at City saw the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League cut to two points.

Coach Austin Eguavoen

draw at Arsenal last weekend.

“It wasn’t one of our best days. I was a bit fearful before the game as mentally we were going to be fatigued after the two away games which were very demanding,” said the Spaniard.

“Physically we were fine but mentally the way we moved the ball it wasn’t as sharp as usual, we couldn’t see our normal patterns going forward.

“The first half we controlled the game and had we scored the second goal (earlier) it would’ve changed the game.

“Second half you have to give great credit to Fulham. They were well organised, pressing us high up, stopping us from playing.

“Once you get that equaliser I have seen many times before the home team collapse and you start panicking and you lose the game.

“What we did really well was the mindset changed. We didn’t have anything to lose, we just wanted to win the game and we were brave, adventurous and creative in the final third.

“I don’t think it was a 4-1 performance but we deserved the three points.”

The only downside was a hamstring tear to youngster Gerard Deulofeu which is likely to rule him out for several weeks.

“Gerard is the big negative.

He is a sprinter and those players are exposed to those injuries and he has pulled his hamstring,” said Martinez.

“We don’t know how big the tear is going to be but we expect Gerard to be out for some time.

“It is unfortunate because I thought he was ready to play a big role in the side but we are going to have to be patient and wait for him to come back in the final third of the season as strong as he can be.”

Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen was in full agreement with Martinez about the scoreline flattering the hosts.

“I do think it didn’t reflect the actual game,” said the Dutchman.

“I thought we came back really strongly in the second half, changed a few things, put them under pressure, and that resulted in a few early chances.

“We got the equaliser and then conceded too soon after.

That took the wind out of our sails.

“The 3-1 settled the game from that corner. We spoke about it, to concede another for 4-1, it didn’t reflect the game.”

THE NIGERIAN

31

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

West Brom Sack Manager Clark STEVE Clarke was sacked as West Brom manager on Saturday just hours after the team’s 1-0 defeat at Cardiff.

The loss, which was their fourth in a row in the Premier League, left the Baggies two points off the relegation places.

“We have reluctantly come to the decision to relieve Steve of his duties after very careful consideration,” said West Brom technical director Richard Garlick.

“It has been well documented that we have not had the rub of the green in certain games this season but that does not cloud the generally disappointing points return during this calendar year, culminating in today’s fourth-successive defeat at Cardiff.”

The 50-year-old Clarke, a former assistant coach at Chelsea and Liverpool, took over at West Brom in June 2012.

West Brom have won only seven of their 34 Premier League games during the calendar year although they did finish eighth last season, their best performance in the top flight.

Joint-assistant head coach Keith Downing will assume control of first-team affairs until a new full-time appointment is made, the club

Steve Clark

said in a statement.

“This club’s track record proves we do not take such decisions lightly, having only enforced a change in this position three times in approximately 14 years,” added Garlick.

“But with key games coming thick and fast, we felt it was important we acted now to give the club the best possible chance of a successful outcome this season.

“Our player wage bill is the highest in the club’s history and we feel we have built a squad capable of being very competitive in the Premier League.

“We now begin the search to find a new head coach who will work within our existing structure, which has been in place for the past six years.”

Clarke’s team lost their season-opener 1-0 at home to Southampton at the Hawthorns.

But under his guidance, West Brom went on to celebrate a 2-1 victory against champions Manchester United, their first win at Old Trafford in 35 years.

Clarke admitted after Saturday’s game that his team were not enjoying great fortune.

“We created some chances as we normally do, but at the moment things aren’t quite going for us,” he admitted.

“I don’t think it’s a lack of confidence. We tried to pass the ball but Cardiff started brightly and put us on the back foot.

“We resisted them and stayed in the game. The longer the game went on, the more we played and the more chances we created. It’s difficult.”

Clarke becomes the fourth Premier League manager to lose his job this season.

Paolo Di Canio was the first to go at Sunderland followed

by Ian Holloway at Crystal Palace and Martin Jol at Fulham.

Terry Target Top Spot

Andres Iniesta

United Target Iniesta MANCHESTER United are targeting Barcelona superstar Andres Iniesta while Wayne Rooney could be staying at Old Trafford - all today’s rumours from the papers. huge coup in January by Manchester United target targeting Barcelona’s Barcelona superstar: The midfield magician Andres Independent on Sunday Iniesta. With Moyes claiming makes for exciting reading “there is definitely money for for United fans with the paper a big deal, 100 per cent”, the reporting that ‘Desperate’ paper also links the club with David Moyes could be Atletico Madrid midfielder attempting to orchestrate a Koke, who has been scouted

But Allardyce feels his contribution while on loan from Liverpool last season meant it was a sensible deal to conclude.

“David Sullivan said that only at the end of the season will we be able to judge if Andy Carroll is a good player or not,” Allardyce said.

“Understanding the size of the investment I can understand why he (Sullivan) said that.

“We have got to get Andy fit and Andy has got to do what he did for us last season. It is not his fault he is injured - we have just got to get him fit and keep him fit.

“He is the difference between us winning more games and not, he certainly was last year. If you look at our win ratio with Andy Carroll to our win ratio without him it was pretty significant and

by United recently.

Paper Round’s view: Good luck with that, David. Iniesta is one of the all-time greats and there’s surely no way he will be leaving his one and only club. Koke is a more realistic target but why would he leave Atletico Madrid in the middle of what could be their best season in a long time? Time to look elsewhere.

their best form.

“We’re clearly not firing on all cylinders at the moment,” Terry said.

“I think we’ve got another gear to go, which is still encouraging, being the position we are at the minute.

“So we’re not too disappointed, we just know as a group we can get better.

“It’s not only us who have suffered defeats and draws against teams where you would expect us to win. Hopefully we can knock that out of our system sooner rather than later while other teams are still struggling.

“Manchester United are still struggling, Cardiff beat Man City, there’s been all sorts of results that have been big upsets.

“It’s important like (against Palace), even though you’re grinding it out and it’s difficult, you have to see those games out.”

Chelsea play at Sunderland in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night with a place in the semifinals at stake.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech said: “It’s great to be in the position we’re in: we topped the group in the Champions League, we’re two points off the Premier League leaders and we can be in the semi-final of a domestic cup if we win on Tuesday.

“All of this, and we know that we haven’t reached our peak, so it’s great.”

Mourinho plans to rotate his options at the Stadium of Light and would like to give Terry a night off, if Gary Cahill is deemed fit to play after missing the Palace win as a precaution.

“I would like to give John a rest for that match,” Mourinho told Chelsea TV. Branislav Ivanovic is suspended, so Cesar Azpilicueta will switch to his favoured rightback role, with Ashley Cole returning on the left.

Mourinho’s men will not be practising penalties, despite the fact the match could be decided on spot-kicks.

He added: “I practice a lot and we always lose on penalties. This time we don’t practice.”

...Moyes May Sell Players In January DAVID Moyes has dropped the biggest hint yet that he is

Allardyce Defends Carroll Signing WEST Ham boss Sam Allardyce was left frustrated as his side failed to beat Barclays Premier League bottom club Sunderland, but moved to defend the summer signing of Andy Carroll.

Club-record signing Carroll may have been the sort of individual who could have turned the goalless draw in Allardyce’s side’s favour, but the England international remains sidelined with the heel injury which has kept him out of the team since August.

West Ham’s co-chairman David Sullivan suggested in an interview with Football Focus on Saturday that he would not have sanctioned a big-money move for the 24-year-old if he had been aware of how long his absence would have lasted.

JOHN Terry is targeting a win at Arsenal to take Chelsea top of the Premier League at Christmas.

The Chelsea captain recognises there is still room for improvement for the Blues, who won 2-1 against Crystal Palace to cut the gap at the top of the table to leaders Arsenal to two points.

Consequently, Jose Mourinho’s men travel to the Emirates Stadium on December 23 to play an Arsenal side beaten 6-3 by Manchester City, knowing a win would put them top of the pile heading into Christmas.

“We’ve got an opportunity to go away to Arsenal next week and go top of the league,” Terry told Chelsea TV. “They got a bit of a thumping, but they’re a really good side and really good at home as well.

“It’s going to be tough, but I think the motivation for us is to go there and beat them and go top of the league, which, just before Christmas, is a really good place to be.”

Fernando Torres’ opener was cancelled out by Marouane Chamakh before Ramires scored what proved to be the winner in the first half against Palace.

Chelsea had numerous chances to make life easier for themselves, but also might have conceded an equaliser, and Terry knows they are still to find

pretty obvious that we had to sign him.”

David Moyes

ready for a clear-out at Manchester United.

The Premier League champions have struggled so far under Moyes’ reign, with certain players failing to find

form in a season which has so far seen United lose five of their opening 15 league games.

And with 27.5 million pound summer signing Marouane Fellaini the only new face at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down, Moyes is looking to freshen up his squad and get through the transitional period as quickly as possible.

“A few could go if we got the right offer,” Moyes is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

“I’ve tried to give an opportunity to everybody.

Would we sell? If the right offers were there we’d probably look at it.

“We’ll be balancing trying to move people on but also trying to bring people in.”

Underperforming players under scrutiny include wingers Ashley Young, Nani and Antonio Valencia, while England pair Tom Cleverley

and Danny Welbeck have also struggled this campaign.

Javier Hernandez, Anderson and Alex Buttner are among those that reportedly could be on the way out, as well as veterans Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, who will apparently not be offered extensions at the end of their current deals.

Meanwhile, United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward and Wayne Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford are said to have opened negotiations on a four-year contract which, according to the paper, could be worth up to 50 million pounds for the striker.

Moyes watched Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke and Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala when the sides met in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Everton leftback Leighton Baines remains a target.

THE NIGERIAN

CMYK

32

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013

“IT was the height of arrogance, wickedness and Odua case came up, I selfishness of the political godfathers in Edo State. wrote on this column that They indeed operated like absolute monarchs. nothing will happen to her.

Olusegun Obasanjo incredibly descended into the I have been vindicated. I arena of political struggle in Edo State. He ignored have equally written laid down constitutional provisions and the electoral profusely here that Act, he had to visit Benin City to actualize his nothing will touch the diabolical aim”. – Quoted in Conqueror of the likes of Michael Otedola of the subsidy fame and godfathers (page 31).

General Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated December 2nd 2013, but mind-boggling. But, Mrs. Allison-Madueke. made public on credit must be given to What have we not written for his or predicted accurately Wednesday, December Obasanjo 11th 2013, has done one fearlessness, courage and here because the present significant thing. The ability to confront Government at the centre Goodluck has presented itself as the well worded letter has president simply exposed the stark Jonathan eye ball to eye most wayward and insensitive to the plight of rot within the seat of ball.

Honestly, a man of the the common man on the power in the Federal caliber of ex-president streets?

Republic of Nigeria.

God almighty in his own infinite wisdom just used General Obasanjo to expose what is happening at the highest level of power in Nigeria today. Only God knows why he used General Obasanjo to write his letter to the President titled: “Before it is too late”. Because Obasanjo is like a ‘Kettle’ calling President Jonathan ‘black’.

The antecedent of Obasanjo is a sad commentary, because we know who he is and what he did while he was in power was. I discussing with colleagues few days ago about the state of the nation, when one of them Late Nelson Mandela quickly reminded me Now, for five months, the that Comrade Adams Olusegun Obasanjo, to me is an insider in Academic Staff Union of Oshiomhole of Edo State and Dr. Olusegun government; because he Universities (ASUU) Mimiko of Ondo State knows so much and hears locked the doors of their would never have so much. The point I am offices and took the keys become Governors if trying to make here is that away, while students General Olusegun Obasano’s recent outburst roamed the streets, only the Federal Obasanjo was still in against president Jonathan for control at the Aso Rock must be taken seriously. Government to look the Presidential Palace in When Obasanjo said that other way. It took the 2008 and 2009 when the our country “Nigeria is tragic death of Comrade and the Festus Iyayi, a former above mentioned bleeding Governors were sworn hemorrhage must be ASUU President before into office. That is to say stopped.” I think that is the Aso Rock decided to do what took the lecturers out that General Olusegun stark reality.

As a regular of their offices.

Obasanjo operated like commentator on the state General Olusegun an absolute president while in office. Many of of the nation, I know Obasanjo, only succeeded the sordid things which perfectly well that Nigeria in giving us graphic Obasanjo executed are is stinking and heading for details, we know too well under this heart wrenching and the abyss. When the Stella that

government, corrupt practices have been devoted to the heavens, while impunity has been institutionalized. We know that elections are still being rigged recklessly. I know that

Between Mandela And Obasanjo under this government, we have never had it so bad and cruel. If a person like Olusegun Obasanjo that equally engaged in corruption on a gigantic scale is worried about the state of things, then all of us must be concerned and worried too?

on, on Thursday December 5th 2013, after a protracted battle with his health. According to President Barack Obama of the United States, the Madiba no longer belong to us, he belong to the ages.” Nelson Mandale

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo

Agreed that Olusegun Obasanjo has his personal and selfish plans but he has succeeded in alerting all of us to weep for Nigeria.

Listen to Obasanjo: “The serious and strong allegation of nonremittance of about $7bn from the NNPC to Central Bank occurring from the sales of some 300,000 barrels per day …with no sale proceeds paid into NPDC account is incredible.”

The Madiba, Nelson Mandela, an icon of the struggle against Apartheid in South African passed

now belong to the ages because the virtues that Nelson Mandela showcased were restraint, justice, hope and faith in his life time. Mandela exhibited endless courage, humility and dignity.

Born on the 18th of July 1918, Nelson Mandela rose to be a symbol of equality and freedom. For 27 years, he was imprisoned by the Aperthied Lords on the Robben Island in South Africa. He never betrayed the struggle, nor dumped the masses of black people in South Africa who suffered humiliatingly

under the Apartheid regime. When he regained freedom on February11, 1990, he helped massively to mid wife a return to multiparty and multiracial democracy in South Africa.

In a nutshell, Nelson Mandela helped to bury Apartheid in South Africa, and he was rewarded with the first presidency of Multiracial South Africa. A man of magnificent principles and honour, he served only one tenure as the president of Republic of South Africa. It was credit to his passion for reconciliation, peace, forgiveness and progress that he was awarded the noble prize for peace in 1993.

Between Nelson Mandela and Olusegun Obasanjo, the difference is astronomically far.

While Mandela paid great sacrifices for his people and country, Obasanjo make spirited efforts to abandon the greatest number of his country men in the abyss of poverty, disease and want; he had the opportunity but he failed woefully twice.

What he is doing today, to me is shedding crocodile tears. Nigerians must rise to reclaim our country from the likes of Jonathan and Obasanjo.

Good bye Madiba!

Nowinta, wrote “Adams Oshiomhole: Conqueror of the godfathers”.

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