Nigerian observer 19 06 2014

THE NIGERIAN

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The Nigerian

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

P U B L I S H E D S I N C E MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l . 39 • N O . 016 • THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2 0 14 • N100.00 ISSUES Page 18

Tackling security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea

2016: Ogbemudia urges

Edos to prepare early

BENIN CITY - Elder Stateman, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia has called upon the people of Edo State to start searching early for dependable candidates for the elections into the state

and National Assemblies.

In a statement released by him yesterday, Dr. O g b e m u d i a acknowledged the

intense yearning of Edo people for Good Governance and pledged to work with Organisations, men and women of good intentions to also

initiate a thorough and rigorous preparation for the Edo State Governorship of 2016 as a popular, and moral investment in Good Continues on page 2

Defected Lawmakers

SPIRITUALITY Page 21 Lesson from the lives of Saints

Saint Rita

I won’t be distracted

By ADAMS OYIBOKE

BENIN CITY - Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said he will not be distracted by the impunity and disregard for the rule of law by some lawmakers in the state House of Assembly in the onerous task of bringing development to every part of Edo State.

Speaking during the those people who are inspection of the storm fighting in the House of water masterplan project Assembly, trying to in Benin City, cause trouble, who want Oshiomhole said, “like us to bring government they have told me, money for them to between now and share, we will not give December, we will lay them. We will use Edo asphalt on this upper money for Edo people.

Siluko road; it will be six And with your prayers, lanes and between then we are not afraid. We and the middle of next know that for as long as year we will put street we work for Edo people, lights on the road. the devil is a liar.”

“Let me assure you, all Some of the residents

of the Upper Siluko road area who responded, hailed the Governor for the drainage system and road network in the area and said they stand firmly behind him

- Oshiomhole

as they see the good works his administration is doing.

A resident, Mrs. Nonye Umezurike, said “a saviour

has come to us, we are very happy. For many years now, we who are doing petty business

here were finding it difficult to earn our daily bread, but God has come to our aid; he has answered our prayers.

For years, there was no road for us to get to our Continues on page 2

Enunuedo felicitates with APC National Chairman BENIN CITY – The Benin Community O r g a n i s a t i o n ENUNUEDO, has felicitated with its founding trustee and former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on his emergence as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In a letter signed by E N U N U E D O ’ s Honorary Secretary, Dr. Okunzuwa Osawaru, ENUNUEDO said Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s election is a fitting

recognition of his durable and dogged belief in the need for a viable opposition as a political counterpoint.

While wishing him a memorable tenure ENUNUEDO stated its trust that the new Chairman’s ideological consistency shall find profound expression.

Similarly, as the recent launching of EDO MASS MOVEMENT in Afuze continues to generate interest across the State, ENUNUEDO has congratulated Chief Patrick Imonikhe the Co-

TIT BIT

“By the time the poor realises that some rich people have discovered easier ways of making the camel pass through the eye of a needle, most of them would stop regarding being poor as the only attitude to gain entrance into heaven.”

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

ordinator of the movement and his members in Edo North.

ENUNUEDO noted the nobility of the objectives of Edo Mass Movement and pledged to collaborate with it.

EDO MASS MOVEMENT, a nonpartisan organization, Continues on page 2

INSPECTION: L-R: Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Engineer Jean El Sabbagh, Project Manager and Prince Clem Agba, Commissioner for Environment during the inspection of the stormwater system at Ewah Road and its environs in Benin City, on Tuesday.

Govt to employ 3,000 into civil service

BENIN CITY - The Edo government said it has c o n c l u d e d arrangements to employ no fewer than 3,000 qualified persons into the state civil

- HOS

service.

The State Head of Service (HOS), Mr. I g b a e r e m e n Obazelewho, the disclosure while fielding questions from

newsmen in Benin City.

He said the exercise would address the challenges of inadequate

development of the E d o - A z u r a Independent power plant.

Secretary to the State

Government, ( SSG), Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere who signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on behalf of the state

human resources in some of the state’s parastatals and ministries.

Obazele, who said that the vacancies had since been articulated and

Edo signs agreement with Azura Power West Africa

By QUEENNETH A. Power Plant limited for the OROBEDO BENIN CITY - Edo State Government has signed a share subscription Agreement with Azura

government said the initiative will no doubt help address the power generation problem in Continues on page 2

costed, added that “once the memo is finalised and approved by the governor, an advertisement will be placed for the vacant positions.”

The Head of Service, however, differed with the alleged drastic reduction of Edo State work force, saying, “no civil servant has been issued any form of retrenchment letter.

“Most of the alleged Continues on page 2

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

News

Ogbemudia urges Edos to prepare early Continued from page 1 Governance.

He declared that in a democracy, authority is held and exercised on behalf of the people for the welfare of the people, and the selection of suitable

candidate for offices is a key ingredient of Good Governance.

While pleading for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ogbemudia thanked all those who have increasingly been

making contacts with him through personal visits, letters, telephone calls, and sending of emissaries and delegates for their kind references to the years of his formal and active stewardship.

He stated that initiating preparation for the 2016 Edo Governorship is seasonable because a period of two years is only deceptively distant but actually nearer than most people appreciate.

Upper Siluko road area for over forty years before the intervention of Governor O s h i o m h o l e ’ s government”.

According to him, “in 1974, when my father went to lay the foundation of that house, he told me that we should build that house far off the old road. He said anytime a good government comes, there will likely be an expansion

of roads. I’m happy today that my father who is now 116 years is inside and he is witnessing the good government he predicted forty years ago.”

“My father reminded me a few days ago about what he said in 1974 and I said, daddy, your dream has come true. It shows that you are a very good governor.”

The governor had earlier

inspected the storm water project at Ewah road and said the contractor will be asked to raise the height of the water barrier to prevent the spillage of floodwater on the roads. He said this became necessary after he was told by residents of the area of the high volume of water that passes through the channel.

I won’t be distracted

Continued from page 1

homes, we were trekking

and swimming inside flood, but today, even when it rains, we move on solid ground. I know that after his tenure, his successor must also work for the people because Oshiomhole has set the precedent.”

For Mr. Augustine AjayiObanor, “flood ravaged the

Govt to employ 3,000 into civil service Continued from page 1

downsizing of the state workforce from 15,000 to 3,000 is natural; people are retiring naturally.

“This could be the reason, but one thing we should be thinking of is, to replenish the system with massive employment.

“What I am trying to say is that government has been fair to civil servants in the state and I am not aware of any sack.”

Obazele, said that some of the pending labour issues were being accorded priority

attention since he assumed office as HOS. He listed some of the issues as health of workers, salary increment, promotion, reconstitution of the State Civil Service Commission, outstanding pension arrears, training and retraining of civil servants.

He added that the governor had directed the reinstatement of some of the workers who went on years of study leave, whose names were recently deleted from the payroll.

Association rejects training allotment

By BETTY IDIALU

WARRI -The National Association of Ilaje Graduates, NAIG, has joined their Ijaw and Itsekiri brothers to reject Chevron Nigeria Limited recently allotted Ogere Vocational Training Programme, stating that the entire 35 person who participated in the interview should be admitted into the training.

In a press statement issued in Warri, Delta State, the President and Secretary of NAIG, Mr Ikuesan Ademola and Temidunmi Adeyemi Akins respectively, stated that Ilaje people completely rejects the 12

Edo signs agreement with Azura Power Plant he country.

Continued from page 1

t

Prof. Ihonvbere and the Managing Director, Azura power West Africa limited signed the share subscription agreement.

The SSG remarked that reliable and efficient power supply is critical to the development of the nation’s economy, hence Edo State g o v e r n m e n t collaboration with the private organisation.

Executive Director,

Enunuedo felicitates with APC National Chairman

Continued from page 1 had earlier pledged its allegiance to Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia in the 2015 and 2016 rounds of election.

Public Private Partnership, Mr. Igbinidu Inneh said the project which is situated at Ihiovbor, Idunmwonwina Community, initially conceptualized in 2010.

He said it is a 1,000 mega watts gas powered independent power plant to be developed in the first phase as a 450-500 mega watts facility and scaled up in the second phase to 1,000 mega watts.

According to him, the project has been jointly incubated by the state government and Ameya Capital, the key promoters of Azura Power West Africa Ltd, as a Privatly Financed Initiative under strategic public private

partnership.

He affirmed that the execution of the share subscription agreement is a demonstration of the commitment of the state government to public private partnership Initiative.

Managing Director, Azura Power West Africa Limited, Dr. David Oladipo asserted that with the consistent support his company has enjoyed from Edo state government, the unique geographical location of the state and the gas supply in the area, hopefully the ground breaking ceremony for the Edo Azura IPP project is expected to come up at the end of July.

slots allocated to them.

The group, however, threatened to shut down Chevron Nigeria Limited operations in their area if their demands were not met According to the group, the 12 slots from 35 persons that went for the interview is inadequate and unaccepted.

It therefore called on the leadership of the Ilaje Regional Development Commission, IRDC, to swing into action to address the injustice and underdevelopment of Ilaje people of Ondo and Delta States.

“We the entire Ilaje graduates and Ilaje Youth Congress are using this opportunity to inform the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron Nigeria Ltd to invite the entire Ilaje graduates that attended the interview to resume at the VTP6 programme in Ogere, Ogun State for the sake of peace.

“Chevron Nigeria ltd (CNL) should call all the graduates that participated in the interview from the three ethnic graduate’ bodies – Itsekiri, Ijaw and the Ilaje.

“If not, there is going to be a great problem; CNL should wait for us, we are coming. A word is enough for the wise”, the statement added.

It also described a situation where provision was not made for transportation , accommodation and feeding for those who attended the recent chevron vocational training programme interview VTP6 as barbaric and falling below standards.

Efficient power supply Transmission Coy to partner BENIN CITY- The Gen. BEDC Manager Benin region, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Engr. G.V. Adewumi and Managing Director, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Mrs. Funke Osibodu have agreed on how to promote mutual relations between TCN Benin Region & Benin Electricity Distribution Company with a view to improving and rendering efficient service delivery of Power supply to numerous customers spread across Edo, Ekiti, Ondo & Delta States.

The meeting took place yesterday when the General Manager (T) Engr. G .V. Adewumi and his Management team paid a courtesy call on the Managing director at her office located at 5 Akpakpava Road in Benin-City.

At the Occasion, Engr.

Adewumi Officially congratulated the managing Director of BEDC on her successful taking over the Benin Electricity Distribution Company. The General Manager enumerated various On -going Projects spread across Benin Region. Benin Region comprises of Edo, Delta, Ekiti, Ondo, & Parts of Kogi State.

“BEDC happens to be one

of my esteemed customers in the Region and I would do everything possible to Support the Distribution Company”.

According to Engr.

Adewumi, plans have reached advanced stage to upgrading facilities at Agbor in Delta State, Okada, lrrua & Okpella in Edo State and Okene in Kogi State.

Engr. Adewumi promised to resuscitate the existing inter- sectoral meeting between Heads of Generation Companies & Distribution Company in Benin Region.

In her response, the Managing Director Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Mrs. Funke Osibodu thanked the General Manager (T) Engr.

G.V. Adewumi and his Management team for the visit.

According to her, major issues confronting the Distribution Company is how to provide uninterrupted power supply to over 14 Million Electricity consumers in her Company, huge losses incurred as a result of uncollectible Debt owned by her customers, technical problems such as line tracing etc.

Odubu urges good eating habit

BENIN CITY – Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Deaconess Endurance Odubu has enjoined adolescents in the state to embrace good eating habit and maintain environmental hygiene in order to enjoy a healthy life.

She gave the advise in Benin City at a sensitization programme on the challenges of adolescents.

Declaring the occasion open, Deaconess Odubu said though good health does not necessarily imply the absence of disease, she stressed the need for a sound mind in a sound body at all times.

She remarked that the sensitizations programme tagged, “Healthy Adolescent Forum” organized by the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) is an indication that doctors are sensitive to their environment while caring about the medical needs of the populace.

She stressed that the programme complements government’s health care delivery system.

The deputy governor’s wife who described adolescence as a critical stage in the development of any child urged parents and health care professionals to always guild adolescent children during the period of their transition from childhood to adolescent.

National president of the association, Dr. Valerie Obot said children, especially the girl child face health an social challenges resulting from female genital mutilation, sexual violence and mental health disorder.

State president of the body Dr. Amina Okhakhu stated that if children are armed with appropriate knowledge, they would be able to make informed choices in the face of adolescence.

The sensitization and empowerment programme for secondary schools in Benin City featured paper presentation on various topics affecting the change to adulthood.

FG urged to link major airports to rail lines

By JOSES SEDE

ABUJA - The National Conference has urged the Federal Government to ensure that every major airport in the country is linked to functional rail lines to boost easy access to airports across the country.

Government was also asked to initiate and construct a rail line from Lagos to Enugu through Ore to ease movement of goods and passengers from the Western flanks of the country to the East and South South.

It was also resolved that all rail lines in the country be dualised to allow for mass movements of trains as obtained in developed rail systems in other parts of the world.

In order to reduce road accidents and other associated hazards, the Conference urged

that effective rail system should be developed such that petroleum products can be transported from one part of the country to the other.

The Conference further resolved that government should as a matter of urgency, complete the National Hanger Project at Uyo Airport in Akwa Ibom State, so that, it would serve as a repair and maintenance hub to airlines operators.

These were part of the recommendations adopted by the Conference during the debate and consideration of the Report of the Transportation Committee headed by Senator Musa Adede with a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ralph Ola Osanaiye, as deputy chairman.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Inside Edo Red Cross Inaugurates Unit In School

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR

BENIN CITY- The formal inauguration of Patricia Private School Junior Red Cross (JRC) Unit of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRC) took place in Benin City yesterday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Edo State branch Chairman of NRCS Mr. Moses Obazee said the initiative was aimed at inculcating the Spirit of rendering humanitarian service into the children as they grow.

He explained that the children would be trained on how to render first aid treatment to the needy, both at home and outside the home.

The chairman thanked the school’s authority for providing the enabling environment for JRC unit to the formed in the school, while appreciating parents of the children for their support and understanding.

Head Teacher, Patricia

Nursery/ Primary School, Mr. Michael Ibeh, said the decision of the school’s authority to encourage NRC to form JRC Unit in the school was borne out of the school’s desire to reach out to humanity.

He commended the NRCS, Edo State branch for the various steps and efforts that eventually led to the formal inauguration of JRC in the school.

The JRC Unit programme is an extracurricular activity of the Nigerian Red Cross Society aimed at teaching children (ages 5-12) on basic health and hygiene, first aid, humanitarian values and avoiding risky behaviours.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Prince Clem Agba, Commissioner for Environment at the site of a stormwater system during his inspection of the project in Benin City, on Tuesday

Assembly Crisis: Edo Compol Appeals To

Politicians

By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

BENIN CITY- The Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo has appealed to politicians in the state to sheathe their sword in the over-all interest of peace and

development in the state Mr. Adebanjo who assured that the police would continue to remain apolitical in maintaining law and order in the state, however noted that there can never be meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancor.

Mr. Adebanjo stated this while addressing a handful of journalists in his office, yesterday.

He enjoined politicians to jettison their differences and tow the path of wisdom as, “Edo State belongs to all of us”.

The State Police boss appealed to political groups and interest

BENIN CITY- The remains of the late principal of Immaculate Conception College, Benin City, Rev’d Father Cyril Ofoegbu has been interred in Benin City.

Rev’d Father Ofoegbu who passed June 5, 2014 at the age of 58 years was ordained a Catholic Priest on February 14, 1982.

Preceding the interment was a requiem mass at the St Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin City.

In his sermon, Monsignor Awoyemi of the Diocese of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State admonished Christians to live fruitful and faithful lives.

Paying tribute to the late Ofoegbu, Monsignor Awoyemi while describing life as a temporary arrangement, said the

NDE Recruits 70 Youths For Training BENIN CITY- The National Directorate of Employment in Edo State has recruited over 70 youths of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area to be trained in its Rural Agricultural Development Training Scheme (RADTS) of Rural Employment promotion Programme (REP).

State Co-odination of

NDE, Mrs. Ayo Edegbai gave the figure in Benin City at the inauguration ceremony of trainees of RADTS. She said the training has become important, “given the level of commitment and seriousness” Federal Government attaches to agriculture, especially as the demand for crude oil which has been the nations main source of income is fast

declining as a result of alternative sources of energy.

According to her, directorate uses training as its main strategy for job creation as a means to ensuring that both quality and quantity of jobs are enhanced for national development.

For a country to attain economic stability, she said its agricultural sector must be vibrant as latest development

however warned political thugs to steer clear of the crisis as the police would not fold their hands and see to the disruption of peace and security in the state.

He further stated that 47 suspected political thugs arrested so far have been charged to court an subsequently remanded in prison custody.

significance of death is not about age but how life goals are accomplished.

He admonished the congregation to emulate the virtues of the late Ofoegbu whom he described as a “man of many parts who displayed love to all who came across him.

Late father Cyril Ofoegbu no doubt affected lives of many, he

was a perfect gentleman whose good works were speaking volume even as he lie still here”, Awoyemi stated present at the ceremony were the Bishop of Benin City Metropolitan see, Most Rev’d Augustine Akubueze and the Archdiocesan Bishop Emeritus, Bishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu as well as priests and catholic faithful from other diocese.

Late Rev Father Ofoegbu Interred

By FAITH ISEKWEME

Secretary to The State Government, Edo State, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (right), Managing Director, Azura Power Plant West Africa Ltd, David Ladipo (left), in a handshake during the signing of the share subscription agreement, for the development of the Edo Azura Independent Power Plant, yesterday in Government House, Benin City. PHOTO: QUEENETH A. OROBEDO.

to yield to the advise of the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa and called their supporters to order, as the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly is already impending development in the state.

The Police Commissioner

in other part of the world have shown.

She said the NDE Management is very much aware of the significant position agriculture holds in the economic growth and development of the nation and is therefore focused on using the Directorate Rural Empowerment Promotion Programme to serve the national interest.

Madam Omoruyi For IDUMWUNGHAThe Burial programme for the burial

2014. ceremony of late Madam Esther The burial ceremony will Ozemwongie Omoruyi (Nee climax with a thanksgiving Aimuamwonsa) begins service at Faith Foundation tomorrow at her Idumwungha Church of Christ. local Government Area of Edo Thereafter, the grandchildren State. of the late Omoruyi will entertain Madam Omoruyi, a guests with dance in the community leader and social afternoon. philanthropist passed on at the The statement however, age of 100 years. enjoined all members of the She is survived by four family, friends and well-wishers children, 25 grand children and to attend without fail.

14 great grand children.

A statement signed by her eldest son, John Omoruyi stated that the late madam Omoruyi’s corpse will be taken from Guobadia Hospital Morgue tomorrow, Friday June 20, 2014 to her Idumwungha residence, where service of songs will be held before a social wake –keep which begins at 8pm.

The statement further indicated that family rites and night social wake-keep will also be held on Saturday June 21st, Late Madam Esther Omoruyi

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

News Invest In Computer Education, Parents Urged

Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, (Mrs) Deaconess Endurance Odubu, addressing participants at Adolescent Health Forum organised in Benin City by the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Edo State Branch. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Exam Malpractice, An Organised Crime -NGO

ABUJA A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Exam Ethics, has described examination malpractice as an organised crime that should be promptly addressed.

The Founder of the NGO, Mr Ike Onyechere, told newsmen in Abuja that examination malpractice had gone beyond sanctions and punishment.

He described the menace as a big racket that had devalued the educational standard of the country, noting that examination malpractice was no longer a student affair, but an organised crime.

“If the menace was not promptly addressed, it would destroy the educational system in the country.

“It has grown to an institutional malpractice which

had permeated the country’s educational system.

“Government itself is culpable because they allow unaccredited courses to run in our schools.

“The roles played by some stakeholders in the education sector also called for caution.

“They pretended not to see that courses which hitherto had been disaccredited by the National University Commission (NUC) were still allowed to run in schools.”

Onyechere the stakeholders often encourage illegal accreditation of unqualified courses, which had brought the country’s education to a state of concern.

He said that examination malpractice found its way into the polity when people who were

Government Council of Edo State, Hon. (Barrister) Lucy Omagbon has presented an Appropriating bill for a budget estimate of N2,698,545,039.63 for the 2014 fiscal year to the council’s legislative arm.

The amount is 2.6 percent higher than the N2,628,243,385.07 budgeted for the 2013 fiscal year.

It is made up of a recurrent expenditure of N963,900,000 representing 35.81 percent of the total budget estimate and capital expenditure of N1,734,645,039.63, representing 64.19 percent of the total estimate.

The revenue profile indicated Internally Generated Revenue of N76,135,000, statutory Allocation, (State), N50,000,000, statutory Allocation (federal), N1,555,000,000, Excess Crude/ Augmentation, N521,689,000, SURE-P, N98,576,000, Value Added Tax, N390,250,000 and

opening Balance of N6,895,039.063.

The budget christened: “Budget of Total Consolidation”, Omagbon said is intended to consolidate on the Local Government past years’ achievements.

She said it is in consonance with the overall transformation agenda of Edo State government infrastructural and human capacity development.

Omagbon appreciated the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, the Enigie and Okao, all traditional rulers as well as other stakeholders for their support to the local government.

Receiving the appropriation bill, Leader of the legislative arm, Hon. Alex Uwagboe Agbonayinma, while appreciating the council boss for transforming the area, urged her to continue in that stead.

He assured that the appropriation bill would be given speedy passage.

2014 : Ovia N/E Budgets OKADA – The Chairman, N2.7bn Ovia North East Local

supposed to correct the anomaly looked away.

“Examination malpractice was not checked when it started and today it has boomerang and the level of ignorance about its aftermath is worrisome.

‘Exam malpractice is not only the matter of students cheating, it is now an organised crime because, the lecturers and parents also encourage and aid this menace.’’

Onyechere said some people had devised means of making a livelihood out of examination malpractice by organising special centres and selling question papers before the examination date.

He blamed parents for aiding and abetting their ward in such heinous act, adding that there was need for public awareness on the danger posed by examination malpractice.

Onyechere said that said that the NGO would train one million marshals to champion the fight against examination malpractice.

He said that the group had embarked on school sensitisation on the danger of examination malpractice, adding that it would produce one million marshals by

December 2014.

“We also have exam ethics Website, a platform where students come to expose these lecturers who demand money or sex from them,” he said.

He, however urged the general public to do their best by abstaining from “this cankerworm’’.

BWARI (FCT) – Mrs. Anna Bamaiyi, Principal, Federal Government Girl’s College, Bwari, has urged parents to invest more in the acquisition of computer skills by children to improve learning.

Bamaiyi gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Bwari, FCT. She expressed support for the recent call by the supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, on examination bodies to use Computer Based Test (CBT) to conduct examinations.

She said it was the right step in the right direction.

Bamaiyi said “investing in computer education is key to teach children valuable knowledge and skills required in terms of the operation and knowledge-based application”.

She observed that the attitude of parents in some parts of the country who think that the introduction of the CBT would make education more expensive was an expression of fear.

Bamaiyi, therefore, advised parents to see investment in their children’s computer education as important to ensure effective learning and also ensure self reliance.

She said: “Parents must have no fear at all in investing on their children’s education, especially in the area of computer studies, because it is a trend in schools today.

“Quite a number of schools have taken steps to integrate Information Communication Technology training centres in their study curriculum.

“Parents only need to encourage their children to see acquisition of computer operation skills as means of learning fast in this digital age where exams are written through the Computer Based Test.”

She, however, advised students preparing to write the 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination to read widely and learn computer skills to be able to pass their examination.

Users Lament Dearth Of books.

BENIN CITY - Readers Books “If this trend continues and users of the Edo Library She urged the state Library:

in Benin City have lamented the poor infrastructure and outdated books stocked in the state-owned library.

Some readers told journalist in Benin City that people had no interest to read in the library due to shortage of reading materials, outdated books and poor infrastructure.

Miss Love Edomwonyi, a student of the National Open University, said the lighting of the library was poor and there was no alternative source of light when there was power outage.

government to invest in books so that students could be encouraged to visit the library to read.

Also, Mr Victor Ofor, an undergraduate studying law in Enugu and currently on court attachment in the state decried the theft of books in the library.

“I was here in 2005, and the library was well stocked with chairs and books but when I returned in 2014, I discovered that some of the books are missing.

“I complained to the librarians and they told me that readers were stealing the

unabated, it will affect people who come here to read,” he said.

Contacted, one of the Liberians who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the last books purchased by the library was over 22 years ago.

“For the past 22 years, we have not got money for books and we have not been able to assess our capital base,” the official said.

It was observed that most of the readers in the library were students who were reading their lecture notes and personal text books.

BUDGET PRESENTATION Chairman, Ovia NorthEast Local Government Council, Hon. (Barr.) Mrs. Lucy Omagbon, (right) presents the Council’s 2014 Appropriation Bill to the Leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon. Alex A. Uwagboe at the Council’s Legislative Chamber in Okada on Tuesday.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Across The Nation Anambra To Empower Youths

Children Want Improved Security In Schools ENUGU Children parliamentarians in Enugu State have called for improved security in primary and secondary schools in the state.

The Speaker of the parliament, Miss. Winifred Maduko, made the appeal in Enugu in an event to mark the Day of the African Child tagged ‘A Child: Friendly, Free, Quality and Compulsory Education for All Children in Africa’.

Maduko said that improved security in schools was necessary because of the current security challenges in the country.

“I think there should be more security in schools so that children can go to school because if we do not get educated, there is no way we can live up to our responsibilities as future leaders of this country.

“We are expected to be secured in order to go to school.

“We are also joining other children in crying for the release of our Chibok sisters kidnapped

by Boko Haram insurgents.

“One of those girls might be the saviour that Nigeria is longing for. Let us all join the government in the fight for a peaceful Nigeria.

“We should not leave it for the government alone. It is the responsibility of all, including the children,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Young African Stars, Nigeria, Miss. Amanda Onunze urged the state government to extend its free education policies to senior secondary schools.

Onunze said it would encourage more children to benefit from the quality education provided by the present administration.

Master Ugochukwu NnajiEzeoku, a parliamentarian, appealed to the government to create a platform where children affected by insecurity could

receive both moral and financial support for their educational pursuit.

“The governments should create more awareness on national integrity and consciousness.

“They should also improve their partnership with foreign countries to fight insecurity,’’ Nnaji-Ezeoku said.

In a message to the event, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State pledged his commitment to the protection and security of every child in the state.

Chime, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chris Okoro, called for the release of the school children kidnapped in Chibok, Borno on April 14.

Minister of State for Power, Mr. Mohammed Wakil (left), with the leader of Investors from the US, Mr. Ron Yefeez, during their visit to the Minister in Abuja recently.

Islamic Scholar Cautions Politicians

2015 Polls:

SOKOTO - Sheikh Yusuf Alibawa, a Sokoto-based Islamic scholar cautioned politicians seeking elective offices in the forthcoming general elections against engaging in desperate measure to actualise their ambitions.

Alibawa told newsmen in Sokoto that posterity would not

forgive any politician or group of politicians “if they put the country into political crises”.

He urged politicians to play politics with a high sense of political understanding by embracing the winner for the overall political growth of the country.

He said anything short of that would not be tolerated, hence

the need for the political class, especially those seeking elective offices, to regard election as opportunity to contribute to the political growth of the society.

Alibawa also wants Nigerian politicians to borrow a leaf from developed nations for the common good of the country.

NDE Embarks On Graduates Attachment Programme

Court Remands Cultist

ILORIN - An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court remanded a suspected cultist, Ibrahim Ganiyu, 25 of Oke-Ipo area of Ilorin for allegedly writing a threat letter to a school principal.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Bilikisu Adu, said that the accused was alleged to have on May 14, conspired with others, now at large, to commit the crime.

According to the prosecution, the accused and others pasted a threat letter with insignia of Alora Secret Cult Confraternity on the office door of the principal of Ilofa Grammar School, Ilofa, Kwara.

She alleged that the accused also pasted same letter on the entrance door of the school laboratory.

The prosecutor said that investigation revealed that the accused is a member of the Alora Secret Cult Confraternity.

She said that he and others, now at large, were the persons that placed the said letter.

The prosecutor said that the accused had been arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and being member of a secret cult.

He called for political tolerance and understanding among the various political parties, to ensure peaceful conduct of political activities.

He said that free, fair and credible elections would only be possible in an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence.

He said that Nigerians desired to have credible and committed leaders that would ensure good democratic governance.

AWKA - The Anambra Government has said that it will collaborate with the United Anambra Youth Assembly, the umbrella youth organisation in the state, to empower the youth and ensure adequate security of the people.

The Senior Special Adviser to Gov .Willie Obiano on Youth Mobilisation, Mr. Chinedu Obidigwe, made the commitment on Monday during a meeting with the youth organisations and ward councillors.

He said the meeting was to sensitise the youth on their role in creating a more secure Anambra in line with the programme of the governor.

He said his office was using the councillors because of their reach with the people in the various communities as they had better knowledge of the environment.

Obidigwe said the government was working out good programmes for massive employment of youths and urged them to embrace the opportunities in the agricultural sector.

“The meeting was called to mobilise the youth to ensure that people in the rural areas were aware of the government activities as it concerned their welfare.

“We want the councillors to nominate candidates to participate in the on-going youth mobilisation so that through such mobilisation we can combat crime via prompt response and intelligence gathering.

District Head of Doka Ngimah, Prince Moses Giwa (left), with the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, at the celebration of completion of 100km of track laying for Abuja-Kaduna Rail Project at Doka in Kaduna State.

YENAGOA - The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced six months Graduate Attachment Programme (GAP) as part of efforts to leverage the nation’s employment profile.

The Bayelsa Cocoordinator of NDE, Mr. David Apakasa, said in Yenagoa that the programme would also provide the participants an enduring working experience Under the nationwide programme, 20 graduates from each state were recruited and attached to the various government and private companies.

According to Apakasa, Bayelsa NDE has commenced its GAP as part of efforts to manage the level of unemployment in the state.

Graduates will be attached to companies for a period of six months; it is an opportunity to

Physically Challenged Persons Seek Inclusion In Election Process

DUTSE - The Jigawa chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities has called for the inclusion of its members in the current electoral system.

Malam Muhammad Usman, the chairman of association in the state made the call in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.

Muhammad said that there was a need for electoral bodies at all levels to include its physically

challenged members in the electoral processes.

He explained that the gesture was to give persons with disabilities a sense of belonging in the society.

The chairman said that it would also ensure the protection of the interest of the physically challenged persons in the country.

Muhammad noted that most political parties in the country

had nothing categorical in their manifesto for the disabled persons compared to what they had for women, children and youths.

He said that persons with disabilities (PWD) also had less or no representation in the leadership structure of the political parties.

Muhammad said noninclusion of PWD’s associations by electoral bodies in organising

elections was also another serious challenge.

He noted that non-inclusion of its members as election observers during election is also a serious challenge.

Muhammad lamented that most non-governmental organisations did not include physically challenged persons while sensitising people on the importance of elections.

inculcate good enterprise quality in them before being employed.

“It is also a way to bridge the gap between the periods a graduate finished school and the period he waited before securing job.

“It will equip them with the opportunity to gain employment as well as developing managerial skills that will enable them to be self-employed after the training period.

“You know many organisations make use of acquired experience as criteria for recruitment; so, cognisance experience is very crucial for job seekers.

“The graduates on attachment are entitled to receive a stipend from NDE as a kind of encouragement for them,” Apakasa said.

The coordinator further urged the people to take advantage of the programme and build themselves and support the federal government effort in job creations.

“Try to build yourself on willingness to accept responsibilities from your superiors; learn how to be punctual to work; always remember that punctuality is good moral to start with,” he said.

Mr. Margate Jackson, one of the graduates, commended the Federal Government for the programme, adding that it strengthened individuals’ capacity to create wealth and employment.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

South-West

Osun To Fill Vacant OSOGBO – Mr. Stool Kolapo Alimi, the Osun

Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and C o m m u n i t y Development, said the state government would soon fill the vacant stool of Elerinmo-Ijesha.

Alimi, who said in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo, noted the government had set in motion the necessary machinery for it.

Erinmo-Ijesha, an ancient town in Oriade Local Government Area, L-R: Chairman, Planning Committee of the Pharmacy Week, Mr. Joseph Olukorode, Chairman, Pharmacist lost its monarch in 2010 The commissioner said Society of Nigeria, Oyo State, Mr. Yinka Ishola and Secretary, Mr. Abiodun Ajibade, at a News Conference the government would to mark 2014 Pharmacy Week in Ibadan recently. follow all due process according to the tradition and the enabling law in filling the vacant stool.

LAGOS - Striking resident He said his ministry doctors in the Lagos University officials had met with Teaching Hospital (LUTH) rose from an emergency meeting with has yet to meet ARD’s demands stakeholders and palace management. been set up to review and reduce a resolve to continue their and issue new letters. the pricing of services, especially Olubunmi said that Dr Jubril chiefs who were indefinite boycott of work.

“We are asking for new letters Abdullahi, the national president for minor surgical procedures,” appointed to identify the Dr Omojuowolo Olubunmi, for all people whose letters do of the ARD, came to address the Olubunmi said. the President, Association of not conform to the August 2013 next ruling house.

He said that shortage of house and steer the doctors Resident Doctors (ARD), LUTH Alimi said the circular that management toward a quick resolution. resident doctors in some branch, told newsmen in Lagos signed,” he said. government had utmost According to him, since the departments had also been that members were unanimous in The ARD president said that respect for traditional addressed as the management onset of the strike LUTH the decision to continue the while the management had taken management had taken steps to released a list of doctors for institution as well as the strike. steps to address the issue of understaffed departments. appease the resident doctors. for mutual NAN reports that the indefinite telecommunication, what had so need “Although we have not Olubunmi, however, stated strike has entered the third week resolution of issues. far been done was still a far cry received anything official, we that on the issue of tenure of and started after an initial threefrom their expectation. are aware that a committee has residency training, management NAN reports that some

LUTH Resident Doctors Continue Strike

day warning strike in April.

The doctors are demanding a review of LUTH’s policy on cost of services and the tenure of residency training.

They also want an upgrade of infrastructure among other issues.

“After careful deliberation, we have decided to remain on strike and give the LUTH management 48 hours to try and resolve some of the issues raised,” Olubunmi said.

He said the decision was based on what transpired at the Ministry of Labour and Productivity on Friday between ARD leaders and the LUTH

Shun Violence, Stakeholders Urge Politicians

OSOGBO - Some Nigerians in Osogbo have advised politicians, especially those seeking elective offices to shun violence during campaign rallies.

They told newsmen in separate interviews that such contestants should be in the forefront of promoting peaceful elections.

Mr. Timothy Adesanya, a public relations consultant, said politicians should engage in violent-free campaigns.

“In the course of political rallies and campaigns, those who are contesting should make violent-free election messages

Court Adjourns N500m Suit Against Ajimobi IBADAN - Justice Olajumoke Aiki of the Oyo State High Court has fixed October 15, for hearing or settlement in a N500 million damage suit instituted against Governor Abiola Ajimobi by a lawyer, Mr. Fatai Adeosun.

Aiki fixed the date after the state counsel, Mrs. Olumide Ojo, informed the court that the parties were still discussing the terms of settlement.

Adeosun had told the court that on March 5 when the case came up before the court, the defence counsel pleaded that June 16 should be fixed for settlement.

He said the parties would meet

members of the community have staged a protest in front of the government secretariat in Osogbo asking the government to fill the vacant stool.

In a petition signed by three traditional chiefs Daniel Agbedu, Sunday Ayeni and Isaac Omoniyi - the community restated its desire for a substantive ruler.

“In accordance with the tradition and custom of Erinmo Ijesha, not less than seven to nine kingmakers must decide who will be the next Elerinmo,” the chiefs said.

“Presently, only three of us are the surviving kingmakers in Erinmo.

We have submitted names of other kingmakers to be appointed so that there will be enough kingmakers.

“Erinmo is a big ancient city, where the tradition and custom of being ruled by an Oba is greatly cherished.’’

this week to deliberate on the settlement terms and urged the court to fix a date for settlement or hearing of the case.

Adeosun had filed the suit against Ajimobi following damages he allegedly suffered as a result of the actions of police officers attached to the governor’s convoy.

Other respondents in the suit are ASP Adesoji Adedosu, Sgt. Abubakar Mude and Sgt. Paul Audu.

Adeosun alleged that Adedosu, Mude and Audu attacked, harassed, intimidated and beat him up on the instruction of the governor.

the foundation of their manifestoes.

“When those who are to benefit directly from the electoral process make it known to their followers that they should shun violence, there is likelihood the electorate will listen.

“It is however unfortunate, if politicians will mount the podium and charge their supporters to go into elections with the aim of winning at all

cost,” Adesanya said.

Mr. Bode Famobuwa, a businessman, was of the opinion that the electorate is always at the receiving end when there is violence at campaign rallies.

“Many bigwig politicians have police escorts while ordinary Nigerians are on their own.

“The victims of electoral violence, in most cases, are the ordinary people, while political office holders continue to enjoy

the goodies of office.

“This is why it is important for prospective office- holders to serve as change agents in respect of promoting non-violent electoral process,” Famobuwa said.

Miss Bimpe Oyegbade, a student, said that “once the electoral body is seen as an unbiased umpire, it is also the responsibility of politicians and political parties to give the right kind of enlightenment.

“Any politician that sings the tune of violence should be disregarded by the people. There are cases of students and ordinary people that have lost their lives during elections.

“It is my right to exercise my franchise by voting, that does not mean my life should be endangered,” she said.

Oyegbade however called on law-enforcing agencies to be ready to prosecute any person or group of persons found culpable of electoral violence.

M e m b e r , Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Chief Tunji Amole (left), with Guest Speaker, Prof.

Mbang FemiOyewo, at a lecture on expanding role of Pharmacists in patient care in Ibadan recently.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Lagos

JAMB Tasks Stakeholders On More CBT Centres LAGOS - Alhaji Kamaldeen Adedeji, the Coordinator, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Lagos Zone, has urged stakeholders to collaborate with the board to prepare more centres for its Computer Based Test (CBT) in 2015.

Adedeji told newsmen in Lagos that the board had already started making moves that would ensure there were more well-equipped centres for the tests by 2015.

He said that collaboration of

stakeholders was, however, necessary to ensure that adequate centres, with necessary logistics, were fully on ground before the 2015 examination.

According to reports, JAMB had said that it would phase out the Paper/Pencil Test and the Dual Based Test modes of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) It had said that there was no going back on its plan to migrate fully to the computer-based platform in 2015.

Adedeji said that the board had commenced the creation and commissioning of new ICT centres in various parts of the country, in preparation for the fully CBT examination.

He said the centres were put in place to complement the existing ones in schools and other places used for the examination in the past.

“This examination has come to stay because it is the future.

“We are not going to allow anything to chance and that is why we have embarked on this project of building more centres for the examination, come 2015, in various states.

“What we have put in place will pass for model centres that have all it takes to contain a

sizeable number of candidates, as well as back up, to ensure uninterrupted conduct of the examination,’’ he said.

The coordinator called on stakeholders to join hands with JAMB in increasing the number of centres.

“All we are soliciting for is to get stakeholders across the

False Pretex: Woman,

60, Docked

LAGOS - A 60-year-old woman, Abibat Shittu, who allegedly obtained property worth N164,000 under the pretext of her daughter’s wedding, was brought before an Itire Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, who resides at No. 22, Koilo St., Tinubu Bus Stop, Lagos Island, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretences and theft.

The prosecutor, Inspector Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court that the accused had in February 2013 obtained eight bundles of lace and eight cartons of frozen turkey at No. 8, Oshinowo Close, Mushin, Lagos.

He alleged that the accused fraudulently obtained these property from one Alhaja Olufowobi Iyaoge and Funmilayo Owokoniran and

absconded since then.

He submitted that the complainants were able to drag the accused to court following a tip-off that she was spotted in Mushin.

The prosecutor said the offence committed contravened Sections 312 and 278 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Abegunde Davies, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till July 7, for substantive trial.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote D’Ivoire, Ifeoma Akabogu-Chinwuba (left) and members of International Society for Oral Literature of Africa (ISOLA), during their meeting in Abidjan on Monday.

Lack Of Standard Facilities Hinder Cricket Devt -NCF

Traffic Violation

Court Sentences Driver LAGOS - A Suru-lere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, has sentenced a driver, Barnabas Agwu, 37, to 200-hours community service for flouting traffic law.

The magistrate, Mrs. Adenike Adeeyo, said that the driver would also pay N3,000 fine on each count, amounting to a total of N12,000.

Agwu, who resides at No. 48, Agbamu St., Amukoko, faced a four-count charge of dangerous driving, picking and dropping passengers on the highway.

Other charges are failure to obey traffic warden to stop, and driving without a driver ’s license, Agwu pleaded guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Jimah Iseghede, told the court that Agwu committed the offences on June 13 along Orile-Iganmu bus stop.

Iseghede said that the driver drove his LT Volkswagen bus with registration number KRD 955 XC dangerously, thereby causing obstruction on the highway.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections

L-R: South-East Zonal Coordinator, Foundation of Ethics and Values, Dr. Mike Okpara, Enugu State Coordinator, Ozo Chris Akam and Anambra State Coordinator, Chief Vin Ikelie, at the Committee’s Zonal meeting in Enugu recently.

LAGOS - The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has identified lack of standard facilities as a major factor militating against the development of cricket in the country.

A board member of NCF, Okon Ukpong, told newsmen in Lagos, on telephone, that facilities at cricket ovals were obsolete and could not enhance its development.

He said that the federation had not been able to solve the issue of a turf wicket because of its relevance to cricketers’ skills development.

“What is really a

Theft: 8 Employees Docked

LAGOS Eight employees, who allegedly broke into their employer’s warehouse and stole goods valued at N46.8 million, has appeared before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused are Donatus Nwosu, 44; Bolton Eyan, 21; Stanley John, 29; Charles Akurieme, 29; Lucky Ozorchor, 34; Chidi Onuma, 34; John Okon, 36; and Ifeanyi Duru, 23.

country to join hands with the board in building more of such centres to ensure the conduct of a hitch-free examination.

“We are also advocating that all schools in the country should intensify efforts in ensuring that they go elearning.

“We all know that apart from e-learning, external examinations such as NECO and WAEC are being conducted in these schools.

“So, it becomes necessary that these schools are equipped with computers and backups, which will subsequently be used for the CBT,” the coordinator said.

Adedeji lauded the successful conduct of the just concluded UTME across the country, noting that the application of the CBT mode by the candidates was even more encouraging.

He said that the conduct of the 2014 examination was almost perfect and candidates were getting more disposed to the CBT mode.

“We are glad with the level of impact that our sensitisation for the all-CBT mode has created on the candidates and prospective candidates,’’ he said.

They all reside in Apapa area of Lagos and are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, burglary and receiving stolen property.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Kalu Umeh, told the court that the accused conspired and stole goods valued at N46.8 million, property of one Jude Iloka.

Umeh said the accused committed the offences on

May 8 at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 285, 305, 326 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 326 stipulates 14 years imprisonment for receiving stolen property, while Section 285 prescribes a three-year sentence for stealing.

Also Section 409 provides two years jail term for conspiracy.

All the accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The senior magistrate, Mr. M.O. Olubi, granted them bail in the sum of Two Million Naira each, with two sureties each in like sum.

He adjourned further hearing in the case to July 14.

challenge to a full fledged development of the sport, aside issues of publicity, is the problem of standard facilities.

“This is also hindered by inadequacy of funds.

“The fact that we are still using a concrete wicket other than the turf wicket is not really helping.

“Because it makes us to go for training tours outside the countries without them, wanting to do same, because, we have a concrete wicket that is outdated.

“Also, it does not allow experiences and skills gathered at international tournaments by cricketers to be sustained.

“After a while, the inadequacy of standard facilities will affect the cricketers,” he stressed.

Ukpong said that the federation was doing all within its powers to ensure that a turf wicket was acquired, in spite of the financial challenges of getting one.

The board member hinted that the federation intended to organise competitions for secondary school students during their next holidays.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Across The Nation Pipeline Vandalism

Minister Tasks Youths On Skills Acquisition ABUJA- The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, urged youths to acquire skills required in the industrial sector to reduce unemployment in the country.

Aganga, who was represented by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Samuel Ortom, gave the advice at the graduation of Students of Model Skills Training Centre (MSTC) in Abuja.

The reports state that 30 trainees have graduated in areas of electronics, computer networking and information and communication technology.

The minister, who said Nigeria could only reduce unemployment through industrialisation, urged the youths to acquire skills in order to fill the skills gap in the industrial sector.

“What we are seeing here today is the effort of the Federal Government to try to reduce unemployment.

“We have skills gap in the industrial sector and the focus of the ministry of industry, trade and investment is to industrialise Nigeria by filling this gap.

“And through this, we believe that a lot of our youths who are roaming the street will cue in and begin to participate in the industrial programme,’’ Aganga said.

NSCDC Tasks Govt

L-R: Registrar College of Agriculture, Bauchi, Alhaji Muazu Iliyasu, Pioneer Provost of the College, Prof. Ladan Shehu and the Bursar, Alhaji Lamaran Gidado, at the 2013/2014 Maiden Matriculation of Students of the College in Bauchi on Saturday.

Cross section of first set of students of College of Agriculture, Bauchi taking oath of allegiance during their matriculation in Bauchi recently.

Shops Allocation: Govt

YOLA- The Adamawa Government has said that some members of State House of Assembly were among those who defaulted in payment for shops allocated to them five years ago at the Yola Central Market.

The state Commissioner for Commerce, Alhaji Ahmed Gorko, said while testifying before the House, on activities of the market that, the defaulters had resisted all attempts to recover the money.

Gorko said the ministry was considering revoking the allocation.

He told the lawmakers that the market, also known as “Jimeta Modern Market”, has 3,894 shops out of which 2,060 were allocated to

ENUGU- The Enugu State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has asked the government to be more decisive in its handling of cases of pipeline vandalism.

The Commandant of the corps in the state, Mr Nathaniel Ubong, made the call in Enugu on Tuesday during an interactive session between officials of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and stakeholders in the petroleum industry.

The commandant, represented by Mr Eweka Edenabuo, the Assistant Commandant in-charge of Operations, said until the

Indicts Lawmakers Over Payment

the 21 local government councils of the state, while 1,000 went to traders.

The commissioner said the remaining shops were issued out on “special allocation” to civil servants, political appointees and lawmakers.

Gorko said out of the number, under special allocation, members of

the state assembly were given 128 shops.

He said whereas the 21 local councils had fully paid for the 2,060 shops allocated to them, traders and those who benefited from the special allocation, including the lawmakers, were yet to pay.

ABUJA- The National Sports Commission (NSC) has said that it would partner some universities to establish the National Antidoping Centre.

The Director-General of the commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, told newsmen in Abuja that Nigeria had experts in the campaign

against doping, but lacked the edifice to work.

“We ought to be the pilot ground for the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) syntax in the West Africa region, but we don’t have the capacity, we only have the equipment.

“What I feel we can do now is to have a research

He said the shops cost between N800,000 and N1 million, depending on the type.

When a member, Mr. Jibrin Yelwa (PDPGanye) asked the commissioner to furnish the assembly with the list of the defaulting lawmakers, Gorko sought

for time to compile and forward the names to the house.

The Speaker, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, while granting the request, however, admitted that he was among those that defaulted in payment.

The speaker said he had only paid half of the money for the shops since it was allocated to him five years ago.

Anti-Doping Centre: NSC To Partner Universities centre like in a university to be the centre and hub for this thing.

“We don’t want it to be at the National Stadium because it is supposed to be a daily thing that will be managed by experts.

“Although we have the experts here, we don’t have the edifice that they can work with.

“So, if we try to partner universities by giving them our equipment, then we will use that as the anti-doping centre and that is what we want to do now,’’ he said.

The DG added that the initiative was because the commission saw the need for the centre, but had no capacity to have it.

government expressed the political will to tackle the menace of vandalism, the acts would continue unabated.

He said the fight against pipeline vandalism had not been successful “because relevant government agencies have not found it necessary to prosecute those caught in the act.

“Our traditional rulers and the management of the NNPC know the people who are destroying our pipelines.

What have they done to these people,? he asked rhetorically.

“Sixty per cent of the people engaged in the vandalism of our pipelines are also among us in this meeting but nothing has happened to them.

“And this encourages others to join the act,” he said.

Ubong, who decried the act of vandalism and described it as an economic sabotage, said the NSCDC had it on good authority that their benefactors were within the community.

“Until the government shows the political will to prosecute these vandals, this evil will continue to stare us in the face,” Ubong said.

The traditional ruler of Nohme-Unateze, Igwe Isreal Mba, corroborated Ubong’s claim the vandals “live among us’’.

But Mba said the traditional rulers were determined to stop their activities only if officials of the PPMC cooperated with them.

“The problem we have is the non-payment of the boys that provide security along the pipelines.

“When you mobilise us to pay them, we can assure you that the problem will be over,” he said.

Mba took a swipe at the PPMC security agents whom he accused of treating vandals with kid gloves.

“We have arrested several vandals in our communities and brought them to the PPMC. “But after two days you see them back in our communities and they will be threatening us.

In his response, the PPMC Area Manager, Engr. Bassey Anam, said the agency was desirous of bringing the Enugu NNPC depot, which had been inactive in the past nine years, back on stream.

Anam assured the gathering that the PPMC would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective policing of the pipelines.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Abuja Ekiti Guber Poll

INEC Promises Credible Election ABUJA - Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will ensure a credible governorship election in Ekiti State on June 21.

Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission, gave the assurance on Monday in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He said adequate preparations had been put in place, including the deployment of election materials and other logistics to ensure fair and peaceful election.

“By now the non-sensitive materials have been deployed, while the non-sensitive materials that are usually distributed few hours to the election would be done this week.

“Election officials have been trained and the permanent voter’s cards have been issued.

“Also the stakeholders’ meeting that usually holds close to the election will be held this week; so the commission is set,” he said.

Idowu said the commission had also customised its election’s result sheet, making it impossible to deploy a result sheet from one ward to another.

“Then the issue of people not finding their names on the voters’ register will not happen this time because we are using permanent voter’s card.

“Anybody who has a permanent voter ’s card is guaranteed that his name is on the register at the polling unit where he registered,” he said.

Idowu said that although the commission was optimistic that it would have a successful election in Ekiti State, collaboration of all stakeholders would be needed.

He said while the commission would deploy a substantial number of its commissioners to Ekiti State on Saturday for supervision, the chairman would anchor the election from the Situation Room in Abuja.

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin (middle) decorating a Naval Personnel, Ikevude Anthonia with the Gold Medal she won at the 2014 All African s h o o t i n g championship in Cairo-Egypt, in Abuja recently. With them is the President, Nigeria Shooting Federation, Mr. Wole Madariola.

National Confab: C’ttee Faults

ABUJA - The National Conference Committee on Power has presented its report to the plenary with a recommendation that the power privatisation process should be reviewed over observed lapses.

The committee, in its71-page report, noted that power was strategic to development and urged government to participate actively in its management.

It stressed that power should not be left entirely in the hands of the private sector alone.

Reports say that the committee’s report was presented at plenary by its Chairman, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, a former Governor of Oyo State.

The committee in its recommendations, observed: “The privatisation contracts between the Federal Government and GenCos and DisCos is observed to be on the brink of collapse.

“There is the need for an agonising re-appraisal of the whole contract as originally formulated.

“More transparency is needed in all future privatisation of the nation’s assets. All parties to the agreement must respect agreements drawn up as part of any sale of public assets.’’

In his contributions, Brig. Gen. Jeremiah Temlong, criticised the power privatisation process and called for a commission of inquiry into it.

“I suggest that this honourable conference recommends that the whole privatisation exercise be probed. A judicial commission of inquiry should be set up to probe

Power Privatisation

this privatisation process.

“Our common patrimony has been sold to people who are not able to manage them and who are friends and cronies of those in authority.

“They have not been able to put these privatised companies into optimal use. Rather, we have decreased output from the various DisCos now,” Temlong said.

Chief John Momah, remarked that “trying to compare the power sector with the telecommunication sector is illogical; the MTN and Airtel, Etisalat and Glo to contend with.

“However, there are no similar competitors in the power sector to compete with either in the generation or distribution.

“There should be alternatives to which customers can switch if they

are not satisfied with the services they are getting.”

Similarly, Sen. Anthony Adefuye queried the continued sale of national assets to the same members of the public, saying “it is not healthy for the country.

“We have sold all these public assets to the same people.

“We sold the telecommunications to the same people; we sold the banks to the same people.

“We sold the insurance companies to the same people and we sold the hotels to the same people,” he said.

However, these positions were countered by a “point of observation’’ raised by Yusuf Abubakar who remarked that the power privatisation process was

“very transparent”.

“Everybody who has been in this country is quite aware of the privatisation process of the power sector. It is one of the most elaborate.

“It is there on record that everything was done clearly, transparently; everything was done openly before the public and the records are there for everybody to see.

“It is something that has been adjudged both locally and internationally as a very transparent process,” Abubakar said.

Chief Joshua Fumudoh, in his remarks, said that the committee’s observation that the power sector privatisation was on the brink of collapse was not substantiated.

Student protect

UNIABUJA shuts

GWAGWALADA - The management of the University of Abuja has shut down the institution following students protest over the ongoing indefinite strike embarked upon by the academic staff of the school.

This is contained in a circular signed by the university’s registrar, Mallam Mohammed Modibo.

The circular said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Adelabu, had on behalf of the senate, approved the closure of the institution until further notice.

“I am directed to inform you that given the prevailing situation in the university, the Vice Chancellor, has on behalf of the senate, approved that the university be closed down until further notice,’’ it said.

The circular directed the students to vacate hostels and university premises immediately, adding that further development would be communicated to them.

The newsmen report that the circular was pasted at the university gate late on Monday.

The protesting students had earlier gathered at the university staff quarters at Giri, near Gwagwalada, with mats insisting to see the Vice Chancellor.

They said they would not leave the area until the strike was called off.

Some of the students, who spoke to newsmen, said they were always at the receiving end whenever there was a strike.

FG To Improve Access To Potable Water, Sanitation A BUJA - The Federal Government said that in collaboration with its development partners it would do its best to ensure that the citizenry have improved access to potable water and sanitation.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, said this in Abuja at a meeting on the implementation of the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene

Programme in Nigeria (RUSHPIN).

The meeting also witnessed the signing of MoU by implementing parties in the programme, which is being supported by Water Supply Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), an NGO. “If the issue of sanitation and hygiene is squarely addressed in Nigeria it will have far reaching impact globally.

Representative of the Executive Secretary, Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Juni Dabin (right), with other officials of the Agency inspecting havoc caused by Rainstorm at Tudun-Wada in Jos recently.

“Without access to potable water supply and basic sanitation the development and wellbeing of the populace will be in jeopardy.

“It is in view of this that the three tiers of government in Nigeria have put in place a collaborative mechanism to improve access to water and sanitation.

“The population of Nigeria with access to basic sanitation and hygiene has been fluctuating.

“For us to reach the stated MDG targets massive investment is needed.

“It is on this note that we welcome the support and participation of our development partners in scaling up access to water and sanitation.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Geneva-based WSSCC, Dr Chris William, said that no fewer than 30 million Nigerians defecate in the open.

“After India, Nigeria is the largest population of people who defecate in the open. It is estimated to be between 30 million and 35 million people.

“If one gets Nigeria right, one gets the bigger population very much correct; so Nigeria is an important strategic place in addition to strong partners.

“I think now is the time to build on sanitation and hygiene as “Nigerians should take up this

challenge and look at what other countries are doing,” he said.

The UN Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Ambassador, Ebele Okeke, in her speech said stakeholders should pool their resources in the fight against open defecation.

She called on Nigerians to stop urinating in the open as it had negative effect on the environment.

Journalists report that the project is being implemented in Benue and Cross River.

Highlight of the event was the signing of the MoU by Ochekpe, Williams and Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam, who was represented by Dr David Salifu, Secretary to the State Government.

The MoU was also signed by the Cross River Governor, Mr. Liyel Imoke, who was represented by Mr. Patrick Imoreh, General Manager Cross River Rural Water Supply and sanitation Agency (RUWASSA).

The parties are working on WSSCC’s five million dollars donation to Nigeria to improve access to safe water and sanitation through its Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) project.

WSSCC is a global multistakeholder partnership and membership organisation that works to save and improve livelihoods.

THE NIGERIAN

10

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Business + Economy Capital Requirement

Market Operator Seeks Review

LAGOs - Mr. Sehinde Adenagbe, the Managing Director, Standard Union Securities Ltd, has called for the review of the new capital requirement for market operators introduced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Adenagbe told newsmen in Lagos that SEC needed to review the capital base, in the interest of the retail investors.

It was reported that SEC on December 19, 2013, issued a new capital requirement for capital market operators with December 31, 2014, as deadline for operators to recapitalise.

A breakdown of the new capital requirement obtained by newsmen showed that a Broker/ Dealer now requires a minimum capital of N300 million or an increase of 328.57 per cent, as against the initial capital of N70 million.

A broker is now required to increase his capital to N200 million from N40 million, while a dealer’s minimum capital now stands at N100 million, against N30 million, among others.

He said that the policy, if not reviewed, would affect retail investors’ participation in the market, as brokers at the end of the exercise would concentrate on high net worth individuals.

Adenagbe said that brokers would become major players in the market, noting that with N300 million capital, most of them would concentrate on the buying and selling of shares for their various firms.

He said that the policy would affect the commission’s campaign for increased retail investors’ participation in the market.

The managing director said that brokers were working to ensure compliance, nothing that majority of them would scale through, while others would embrace mergers.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 2.73 billion shares worth N22.17 billion were traded by investors in 26,074 deals last week, with 1.88 billion shares valued at N32.90 billion achieved in

28,408 deals in the previous week.

The conglomerates sector led the activity chart with 1.20 billion shares worth N5.45 billion, traded in 2,315 deals.

It was followed by the financial services sector, which accounted for 1.06 billion shares worth N8.81 billion, exchanged in 12,506 deals.

The third place was occupied by the ICT sector with 208.09 million shares valued N106.09 million in 64 deals.

However, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE’s) All-Share Index dropped by 12.01 points or 0.03 per to close at 41,517.10 points, against the 41.527.11 points recorded in the corresponding week.

The market capitalisation depreciated by four billion naira or 0.03 per cent to close at N13.709 trillion, compared with the N13.713 trillion achieved in the previous week.

Adenagbe also attributed the market indices decline to profit taking embarked upon by some investors, as a result of the low prices of the equities.

L-R: Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’Ad Abubakar III and Sarki of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Adamu, at the 7th Annual National Conference of Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria in Abuja recently.

Oil Theft: EFCC Recovers 11

Vessels, 16 Trucks

ABUJA - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said that it recovered 11 vessels and 16 trucks between January 2013 and June from suspected oil thieves.

The EFCC Spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, stated this in Abuja at a monthly media briefing.

He said that the commission investigated 21 oil theft cases, and charged 81 suspects to court within the period.

He said that the commission secured the conviction of two Indians, Salilesh Singh and Chadrashe Sharma, after successfully prosecuting them over oil theft.

According to him, the suspects were among the 12 suspected oil thieves arrested by the JTF in Brass, Bayelsa, in 2012 with 157,822 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

He said that the commission also declared two suspects in the oil subsidy scam, Seun Ogunbambo, Managing Director, Fargo Energy Limited, and one Amzat Mahmood, an international petroleum trader, wanted.

“Ogunbambo, who was accused of stealing N979.6 million and N4.5 billion in bogus subsidy claim, had absconded from trial.

“Mahmood, an international oil trader, is also wanted because of the involvement of his company, Nimex Petroleum Limited, in the case for which three suspects are standing trial,” he said.

Uwujaren said the company was accused of receiving N1.3 billion as subsidy for products it never supplied.

He, therefore, urged anyone

with information on the whereabouts of the accused persons to report to the EFCC headquarters or its zonal offices across the country.

He said that the commission had also recorded a landmark achievement in the effort to stamp out Internet fraud in the country.

He described the arraignment and conviction of one Daniel Okpara who defrauded people

through a Facebook account he opened in the name of the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, as a great achievement.

“He lured the victims by promising them jobs in the commission, and as I speak to you, he is in the prison serving a three-year jail term,” he said.

Uwujaren pledged the commitment of the commission to continue its collaboration with local and foreign partners in combating financial crimes.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) holdings, Mr. Bello Maccido and Group Managing Director, FBN, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, at the FBN Holding’s behind the figures in Lagos recently.

Kwara Pledges To Assist the government’s Investors restated resolve to revitalise the

ILORIN - The Kwara Government has pledged to

Special Programme

NDE Trains Women

KADUNA - The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) said it had trained no fewer than 30 women in Kaduna State under its special programme for women.

The State Coordinator, Alhaji Isa Tandama, told newsmen in Kaduna that the directorate had special interest in women and as such designed the special programme for them.

Tandama said that the programme, under one of its schemes, the Small Scale Enterprise Unit in the women employment branch, was a new initiative.

“The branch is specifically designed to train women in various skills that are related to their needs, like fashion designing, tie and dye, hair dressing, soap and beads making,” he said.

Tandama said the directorate had been commended for the results achieved and that the programme would soon go

national.

He said that during the programme the beneficiaries acquired necessary skills within a period of five days and that they were guided step by step on how to perform certain tasks.

According to him, training women becomes necessary to actively engage them in ventures that will make life more meaningful for them.

The coordinator said the directorate had an important role to play in addressing unemployment in the country but could not do more because of limited resources “My superiors in the ministry have been trying to convince the present administration to look at it seriously and they will soon, increase funding to the directorate,” he said.

He further urged wealthy individual to come forward and collaborate with the directorate to help in creating

employment.

“Let us see a way that we can survive not only in terms of getting Naira and Kobo but also in terms of providing skills and smile on the faces of the unemployed youths,” he said Tandama said the directorate was now approaching wealthy Nigerians and politicians and other concerned citizens who have the funds to support training programmes for the youth.

“We approach them and sell the concept to them to embrace like the Kaduna State government,” he said He said some nongovernmental organisations were also collaborating with the directorate.

“This will also help to reduce unemployment in our midst because of the menace it constitutes and we all know the consequence.

“This is critical because the directorate can not do it all alone,” he said.

continue encouraging investors’ through sustained provision of infrastructure and creation of enabling business environment.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Tunji Moronfoye, gave the assurance while fielding questions with journalists in llorin.

According to him, the policy was part of the strategic plans of the government aimed at boosting the state’s economy and for sustainable development process.

Moronfoye urged both local and foreign investors to take advantage of the policy to harness the mineral resources available in the state.

He said the state government would continue to facilitate a viable business platform for all stakeholders.

The commissioner

informal business sector as a way of ensuring even development.

He said the administration would always observe due process and best global standards in its developmental strides.

The commissioner attributed the state’s low youth restiveness and unemployment rate to the innovative wealth creation ideas of the government.

Moronfoye also described the position of the state as the third accident-free state in the country as declared by the Federal Road Safety Corps as credible.

He said the state’s accident status was due to strides of its Ministry of Works and Transport and traffic agencies.

The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the government in ensuring that all roads in the state were motorable and safe.

THE NIGERIAN

11

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Issues

Getting Sensitized On Electoral Matters

By IJEOMA UMEH

AS soon as the monetary votes allocated to it regarding the 2015 General Elections are out in the coffers, INEC and its

subsidiaries or related working groups would begin to inundate the populace with information regarding the citizens’ expected behavioural patterns, input, comportment and or duties during the 2015 General Election, however, you hardly hear about the duties of INEC towards the electorate. It is mostly perceived by intuition.

Sure, both the electorate and INEC are dutybound to make any elections work.

This also concerns state Independent Electoral Commissions in their own capacities as electoral agencies.

Nigerians have over the time witnessed hiccups in conduct of

elections at all tiers of government – federal, state and local government and they range from the inefficient handling of

matters by relevant electoral agencies – nonavailability of election materials, insufficiency of those available, late arrival of both materials and agencies/agents, polling booths not captured in relevant polling charts, lack of electoral guidelines, nonaccreditation of voters, etc, to the conduct of the electorate themselves.

It is therefore imperative that as Nigeria approaches the next very important phase in her democratic experimentation, that she gets these issues right or nearly so, more so as the international communities watch or ‘spy’ on our development processes and hope to cash in on them.

Aside that, it is very important that we get it right, if not for our present then for our future, for posterity sake.

FUNCTION

OF

INEC The 1999 constitution of Nigeria, as amended spells out the functions of INEC, which are specific:

Representatives, and the House of Assembly of each state of the federation.

Register political parties in accordance with what the constitution says as well

as the law laid down by the National Assembly. ! Monitor the organization and operation of the political parties, including their

18, and revise the register of voters for the purpose of any election under the constitution. ! M o n i t o r political campaigns and provide rules and regulations to guide the political parties. ! Ensure that all e l e c t o r a l commissioners’ electoral returning officers take the oaths of office prescribed by law. ! Delegate any of its powers to any resident Electoral Commissioner. ! Carry out any other function under the Act of the National Assembly.

Registration of voters ! INEC has the mandate to compile, maintain and update a National Register of voters on a continuous basis. !

The registration of voters and the revision of the register of voters shall stop not later than 60

Voting Article 12 of the Electoral Act 2010 states that: A person shall be qualified to be registered as a voter if such a person. a.

Is a citizen of Nigeria; b. has attained the age of 18 years; c. is ordinarily resident, works in, originates from the local government/area council or ward covered by the registration centre; d. presents himself/herself to the registration officers of the commission for registration as a voter; and e. is not subject to any legal incapacity to vote under any laws rule or regulations in force in Nigeria.

Display of the copies of the voters’ list A copy of the voters register for each local government area council or ward shall be displayed for public

“It is therefore imperative that as Nigeria approaches the next very important phase in her democratic experimentation, that she gets these issues right or nearly so, more so as the international communities watch or ‘spy’ on our development processes and hope to cash in on them.”

Organize, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the president, vice president, the governor and deputy governor of a state, and to the membership of the Senate, the House of

finances. ! Audit the funds and accounts of political parties and publish a report on them for public viewing ! Conduct the registration of eligible voters from the age of

days before any election. ! Anyone who wants to register as a voter must appear in person at the registration venue and present himself/herself to the Registration Officer.

Qualification for

scrutiny for a period of not less than 5 days and not more than 14 days and during which period any objection or complaint in relation to the voters’ register or in relations to any necessary correction shall be raised or filed.

THE NIGERIAN

12 THE crushing poverty level in today’s Nigeria has become so overwhelming that over 70 percent of Nigerians have unwittingly bowed to the pangs of biting hardship.

POVERTY is today a generic term and has been so since attempts at its classification by various study and academic groups with Non Governmental organizations (NGOs) ever more vehement and critical on the problems associated with large scale poverty and ways to improve the economic status of those classified in the group.

SOCIAL scientists in attempt at plausible stratification and definition of the term find it necessary to contrast it with such opposite terms as richness, wealth, comfort, affluence and the likes as the terms carry inherent semantic undertones that most climes solicit sympathy, empathy and compassion from those afflicted with the plague which poverty has come to symbolise.

HOWEVER, by daily interactions within society and among communities and nations, it is clear that poverty has striking universal perception and similarities because of its cross country feature and characteristics. The basic feature being that people suffer hunger and deprivation with not enough to eat, lack shelter and clothing as well as basic necessities required for human existence.

FOR instance, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights aptly sums up poverty as a “human condition characterized by the sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of all adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights”.

THERE is, as a result, conscious efforts by many organizations to mitigate the harsh effect of poverty which is more endemic in developing countries and many parts of Asia while in

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014 THE NIGERIAN

Mitigating Harsh Effect Of Poverty Nigeria, government’s effort at providing palliatives and putting in place workable measures from some of its economic policies that cause poverty shocks are yet to yield the desired impact.

IT is the concern for the world’s poor and to find solution to speeding poverty crisis that the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) is celebrated worldwide in order to push people up the ladder of comfort where health care, food, shelter, clothing’s among others are assured the citizenry without experiencing the pain of deprivation.

IN Nigeria, however, government has put in place social programmes as National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategies (NEEDS), the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to tackle problem of youth unemployment, a crucial poverty indicator among the socio cultural stratification.

IT presents a sad scenario that despite several policy initiatives the menace of poverty is a staggering reality and may have accounted for the loophole in myriad of social vices, most notably are high incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping, corruption, advance fee fraud (419), prostitution Rings, human trafficking and “the likes perpetuated and perpetrated by the authors as the quickest route to scale the poverty barrier.

THE United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) in its 2000/2001 Human, development report on Nigeria, states that 70 per cent of Nigerians are in abject poverty while massive unemployment of people and the under utilization of resources are the order of the day. Since the report, nothing about the poverty level changed dramatically.

IN assessing Nigeria’s poverty level, based on its oil wealth which it described as a mixed blessing, the report explained that it was not the oil resources that are the problem, but the management of those resources.

A general overview of Nigeria’s poverty crisis indicates therefore that there is a fundamental problem which the Federal Government needs to identify and tackle in order to address the continuing poverty level in Nigeria.

The NIGERIAN OSERVER urges the government to re-appraise some of its economic policies and those geared towards poverty eradication. Beside, it is remarkable that government insensitivity to suggestions put forward to it is increasing and is not being addressed as they should.

A holistic reappraisal is therefore inevitable at all sectors of the economy and mitigating measures put in place if government is to succeed in its poverty eradication drive.

IN the face of glaring discontent at the increasing poverty level, the World Bank proffered in its report that “oil and natural gas will generate continuing wealth for many years on which Nigeria can build, if it manages this wealth well.

If it channels more of this wealth to the development of its people and to the productive use of its land and other resources, then Nigeria has a promising Future”.

WE implore the Federal Government to continue to put policy measures in place to scale down poverty level. Corporate bodies and organisation can play a part by partnering with the various governments to alleviate poverty in the land.

THE NIGERIAN

13

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Issues

WHENEVER I look back in time, and remember that Nigeria was one of the highest exporting cocoa product in the 90’s comparing it to the level of exporting in this present day, I end up in shaking my head for my darling Nation, Nigeria. The question that keeps crossing my mind is; how come agriculture receive less attention from the government, when it is one of the major sector that could boost the economy of our nation?

Agriculture in Nigeria is a branch of the economy of the nation that plays a critical role in the life of millions of people in the country. Agriculture is the backbone of a nation’s economic system, because without it, it is highly difficult for a nation to survive.

Thus, agriculture has defined as the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of crops and livestock products, has marketing and distribution of crops and livestock products, been sustaining the economy of the nation not until the emergence of petroleum, which made the agricultural sector to be neglected.

The emergence or discovering of oil would have strongly increase Nigeria economy if agriculture still received the level of attention it gained in the early period of independence. But due to the mismanagement of the agricultural sector and the massive profits that oil generates, this

Backbone Of Nigeria’s Economy

Agriculture: created a great level of terror and conflict for the economy and those living in the country because agriculture receive less or no attention anymore.

The agricultural sector suffers from extremely low productivity and has failed to keep pace with Nigeria’s rapid population growth because of the lack of attention it has received from the federal government.

This shameful activity has lowered and positioned the country which was once the major exporting in farm produce, to heavily rely on imported agricultural produce to sustain herself and the citizens.

The high income or revenue that oil generates cannot be over emphasis but how can one explain the nature of the agricultural sector of Nigeria, a nation that was once ranked sixth worldwide and first in African when it comes to farm output. Agriculture has extremely suffered from years of mismanagement, inconsistent and poorly conceive government policies, neglects and lack of basic infrastructure that would have been used to improved the sector.

Due to it negligence, Nigeria is no longer a major exporter of cocoa,

By OGWAMENHLU VICTORIA .O

groundnut (peanuts), rubber and palm oil.

Cocoa production, mostly from obsolete varieties and overage trees, is stagnant to around 180, 000 tons

provided to restructure the Nigeria agricultural sector to its glory days.

Corruption is one of the major problem destroying the progress of this country and as we

annually, 25 years ago, it was 300,000 tons Aud even more dramatic decline in groundnut and palm-oil production have also taken place.

We can continue to mention the setbacks that have rocked the agricultural sector of the country, but that will bring us to no good if solutions are not

all know it, corruption is a canker worm that has crept into all the sector of the nation. If corruption is not eradicated totally or reduce to the nearest number, it’s a pity that the glory of the Nigeria agricultural sector will be lose for life. This is the time for the Nigerian government to rise up against this menace that

“We can continue to mention the setbacks that have rocked the agricultural sector of the country, but that will bring us to no good if solutions are not provided to restructure the Nigeria agricultural sector to its glory days.”

has almost succeeded in degrading the economy of the nation. The government needs to remember that it is never too late to mend. Proper and adequate steps have to be initiated in order to move the sector forward.

must now be drawn to the agricultural sector, because of the economic growth it gives to the nation.

Agriculture, a saviour of a nation’s economy, the backbone of a nation’s economic system is

Agriculture has been neglected and suffered for too ling, ultimate attention should be given to the sector. Every other stakeholders, that is both private and public form must join hands in looking for ways that agriculture can be practiced in the best appropriate manner that will eventually increase productivity in the nation and eventually increase the nation’s economy.

Thus, not that petroleum or other sectors do not need attention, because they all have their usefulness of important resources they provide in boosting the nation’s economy, but attention

greatly important to a

country’s (Nigeria economic growth. It is a known fact that agriculture is a source of livelihood, and it contributes to the national income, supply of food and fodder, creating of long-lasting international trade, produces raw material, i m p r o v e s transportation, contributes to foreign exchange resources, provide vast e m p l o y m e n t opportunities, and above all, it overall the economic development of a country like NIGERIA.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Ajuwaya Today I am The Number One Corps Member

“ALL work and no play, makes Chris a dull boy”. This particular extract indicates that the ever vibrant and highly intelligent Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilization, Hon. Chris Okaeben has served in different spheres of life in truthfulness, humility and ultimately in a relaxed manner, striking a balance between work and leisure period.

Prior to his appointment as Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilization on 29th January 2014, Honourable Christopher Ewere Okaeben has acted in different capacity since he began his political career in 2003, both at local and state level.

The commissioner, whose name is a household name in Benin, was born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Efosa Okaeben of Oredo Local Government Area in Edo State.

Honourable Chris, as he is fondly called by his colleagues, is in his 40’s and he is married with four lovely children.

As an incumbent chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Edo State, the commissioner who is saddled with the responsibility of driving the youth sector and NYSC scheme of the state forward, had a very warm, interesting and interactive session with some Ajuwaya crew of The NIGERIAN OBSERVER. Excerpt How did you see your appointment as the NYSC chairman Governing Board in Edo State?

Considering my assumption of office, I think it became natural that I was also going to function as the chairman governing board of the National Youth service Corps, NYSC, as the tradition demanded. I see it as the act of God not mine. Though the civil service rules or the government rules of engagement empowered the commission for Youth and Sports at every state level to be chairman governing board. I see it as an act of God and an opportunity to also contribute my quota in terms of offering advice, adding values in the area of government policies and decision, as it affects the welfare of corps members posted to Edo State. Most importantly, the security of lives and properties of our corps members who have been deployed here, I see it as a task which naturally should be driven by passion. Passion in the sense that you get very concerned and interested in the lives of our corps members for me, it is a welcome call to offer

By ERUKUBAMI OMOLADE/UDORJI ANTHONIA/OGUNYEMI ADEBAYO

service and it is also a welcome call to add value.

Sir, what effort are you making to ensure that the NYSC permanent orientation camp comes to reality soonest?

On assumption of office, that basically was one of the very first project I got very interested in. When I came on board, I had a management meeting between myself and my directors, to take a close look at the challenges confronting the ministry and what possible solution to be proferred. In the course of our discussion at the meeting, I realised that the NYSC camp permanent site was under construction and precisely, the female hostels, as I was informed was almost completed. When I went for the official visit at the camp during the last batch, the state of the camp was very appalling. I felt very emotional because it was not even befitting for people who are supposed to be in military camps. I recall suggesting to the state coordinator that, could it not be better that we move to the permanent site and mange whatever we have there, because we must have a reason to drive the government to actually bring their attention to the hostel. And that, if we wait for the facilities to be ready, we may not use that place in time, and the government believes that all is well. The more we keep that place abandoned, without putting it into use, the villagers and some miscreants in that environment will see it as an abode where they can come and take refuge. The passion for the completion of that camp is there for me. I have sent memos to the governor’s desk and it has been indisposable for the past couple of months. I have also send memos to the SSG of the urgent need for us to really address the completion of the male hostel, because the female hostel is ready, the clinic is almost ready. It is something that is passionate to me and something I consider doing during my time.

What are the challenges facing you as the NYSC chairman governing board?

Challenges! I don’t think there is none. The only challenge I can see is what we have already death with, which is the fact that I cannot actually look at my corpers’ faces and expecting that the new batch coming will go back to that same old camp where the old corpers came out from. That is the only challenge I have right now and the only place I am seeking God’s intervention for.

I will also continue for appeal

to the Comrade Governor to get his attention towards the completion of that camp.

What are your expectations from corps members serving in Edo State?

In terms of expectations, nothing more than to see corps members working by the rules of their engagement, abiding by the rules and regulations guiding you as a corps member working with the provision of the law. Once you do that, seeing you outside that you portray the core values of a corps member, that becomes my joy, and I can be proud to be the chairman governing council.

they have been very wonderful, I must confess. I have seen some billboards erected by corps members, I have also seen a corps member who made a sculpture of corps member in Benin City. Infact, it cannot be over-emphasized that the NYSC Edo State Chapter, has been wonderful asset to the development of Edo State due to the numerous projects being executed by corps members.

Sir, having considered the enormous task in your ministry as the Hon. Commissioner for Youth and Social Mobilization, how have you been tackling the challenges of youths in Edo

Hon. Chris Okaeben, Edo State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilization Sir, as the Hon. Commissioner for Youth Development and Social Mobilisation what measures are you putting in place towards the betterment of youths in Edo? Talking about the betterment of the youths in Edo State, we have put in place some entrepreneurship programmes for those who want to learn one trade or the other. In the ministry, we have been able to train people and even identified talents. We have seen a youth who constructed a local inverter, we sampled it and it worked. My ministry is also committed to the youths in rural areas. We are also committed in discovering talents through some sports festival set aside for the development of youth in the state.

In what area can you identify that corps members have contributed to the development of Edo State?

I can say without mincing words, that in terms of the roles of corps members in Edo State,

State?

It is not enough for us to take the glory alone because this is made possible through the timely intervention of our Comrade Governor. Upon his assumption of office in 2008, the governor made a public declaration that he was going to engage not fewer than 10,000 youths in Edo State in different sectors of the economy. True to his words, he kept those promises and up to 7000 were employed and engaged through the youth employment scheme project.

In the Ministry of Youths and Sports, we have 128 youths that have been employed. We ensure that the minds of our youths are so busy that they don’t remember to eat and even when they do, they will probably eat and go to bed. By the next day, they will think of what positive thing to do that will also add values to their environment. The state government also introduce a micro-credit scheme through the Ministry of Commerce, that help in giving soft loans to

-Chris Okaeben younger ones who are interested and committed to building a future for themselves and this has been able to warehouse a lot of these youths.

Hon. Sir, what are the welfare packages you have for corps members as their board chairman?

I will start by saying that mine begins with prayers and from the other end of the government, the needful will always be done. And of course, I do know that between the state government, the management of NYSC, and you the corps members, there is a connect. As I have always say, whenever I am with corps members, am no longer the commissioner, am the chairman governing council. I only assume the garment of the commissioner when am not in the presence of corps members.

Like I say to the state coordinator at a time, I am the number one corps member in Edo State. Therefore, we are committed to the welfare of corps members and in the usual tradition, we will always do the needful.

Since inception till date, would you say the NYSC scheme is fulfills its mandate and is still relevant?

The biggest regret I have is the insecurity of Nigeria that allow this country to loose some corps members in the Northern part some years back and that was when the menace of Boko Haram started. It was treated with feeble gloves and at a point in time, it was that bad that they said they were not going to post corps members to the North again, after loosing several corps members. It is still evidently there to they are in the archives.

Anybody could have been a victim. It is something we always pray to God that not to ever experience anymore in the history of the NYSC scheme.

It was a terrible moment and was a dark day for every corps member or anyone who has passed through the NYSC scheme wherever they are in the world.

So seriously, response as to whether the NYSC scheme is fulfilling it mandate, I will say it has fulfilled its mandate even more than the President of the country. It has fulfilled its mandate even more than the leadership of this country.

Corps members go to villages and rural areas to perform their primary assignment in the midst of all confrontation challenges and risks. The risk of our innocent ladies getting raped because they are going into an environment where they know nobody they are

going into a village where they don’t have relation, and they will be forced to live with the people they are going to meet in all manner of harassment.

And for the male counterpart, they are going into an environment where there are some cabal of cultists that will be giving them signs in order to lure them to their occultic group.

“All of these, government cannot even pay corps members enough for the risk of their first primary assignment to their nation. And am saying, in terms of the scheme meeting its mandate and fulfilling its mandate, NYSC scheme has done excellently well”.

What farewell message do you have for the out-going Batch B corps members that are passing out?

My farewell message is that, we have one nation called Nigeria and it is written on your T-shirt, ‘National Youth Service Corps’, and to further arrest you all and including me as your chairman governing council, ensure the Nigerian project is tied all over you. So, what are we left with? We are left with ‘no option’ than to continue to market the Nigeria project. Until one day, God will give us a leader, will give us that person who we bring us out of this dungeon. It is not to say that those who are there now are so worse, because we have some leaders who are not committed to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

I have faith and I will continue to say, while some of us advocate for generational change so that we can make Nigeria better and safe for us all, some are still hoping to stay around the pillar to mislead the President of the country.

Therefore, Batch ‘B’ corps members should have it in mind that they can all add values in their little way. We must all be committed and be part and parcel of the process of rebuilding the nation, Nigeria. And like I say to people, you being proud to wear the NYSC uniform wherever you go, people will give you your deserved compliment because you all are part of the process of building Nigeria. Furthermore, with utmost sincererity and truthfulness, if there is a transformation agenda, the NYSC scheme is the first major investor of the transformation agenda of Nigeria.

Thank you for your time sir.

The pleasure is all mine and thank you for the privilege and honour given to me.

THE NIGERIAN

15

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

View Point

Who Is An Agent Of Change?

THE developing nations of the world have remained stagnated in the muddy waters of maladministration since their independence.

Corruption has fed fat the stomach of past and present administrators leaving their rational political selves to the mercy of greedy political intentions. More so, these administrators have

political economic situation in the third world. Leaders have failed in their responsibility to lead with public power and have given-in to the bandwagon of political theft. In the 2013 Global C o r r u p t i o n Barometer- by the Anticorruption n o n p r o f i t

By OMORAGBON JACKSON

to bare the tyranny and ravenous greed in politics, daring citizens have taken to revolution as an agent of change.

Over the years, citizens have manipulated the might of togetherness in resisting the cruelty of dictators.

Some extremists have taken the matter to a different

consequences. Among the developed countries such as the United States, ‘human collateral has been the cost of freedom’. This in same vain seems worthy of confidence among the Civil Societies of the global south. Egypt and Libya are now redressing the

level. But in a single word, revolution is the ulterior motive A revolution seems the only medium for the ‘oppressed’ to ventilate pent- up anger no matter the outlay or

issues of Fundamental Human Rights. To them and the like of them, a revolution which is a process of change compelled by human or non human factors is an agent of

Barack Obama, US President

clenched to political power for decades, taking the affaires of the State as though ‘do or die.’ The gospel of transparent, just and good governance falls to the impaired ears of the ‘Gaddafis’, the ‘Mugabes’ and the ‘Mubaraks’ of Africa.

The Transparency International (TI) which has since 1995 engaged in the publication of the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) defines corruption as the misuse of public power for private benefit” This definition best captures the socio

Transparency International, the highest number of corrupt countries are in the continent of Africa. Eighty six to ninety four percent of public officers in these countries are corrupt, while sixty nine to ninety two percent of the police officersvarying from countries- are also corrupt The aftermath of such moral decadence bites hard so that the economic wheels of the third world struggles in clog of depression. Unable

the socio political change they need.

Precisely, an agent of change is an important unit in the cause of a change.

In the developing countries, revolution has become that important unit in the cause of socio-political change. It is the whirlwind that has begun; it is the furnace through which transformation is perceivable. Tunisia was the first to embrace a piece of it in the 21st century Africa. But Libya would certainly not be the last In developing nations, with about 79% of illiteracy rate, ‘just and transparent governance’ is but a dream. Literacy data published in 2007 by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UlS), covering the year 1985 — 2005 shows that the lowest literacy rate is in Africa.

Consequently, the Few who have privilege in education suffer the countless and vast Majority with intimidation.

However, while tyrannous regimes trample on citizens with bullying feet, the street is watching and a momentum is gathering among jobless youth.

The internet is a great tool and instigations

front the interest of local and international war mongers. Again, while helpless beggars have abandoned the street for better offer from heartless politicians, suicide bombing is no longer an option.

A revolution is the hope for the emerging world where accountability and transparence are not far fetched. A revolution is the hope for a world where merit has an overwhelming attraction. A revolution is indeed the hope, if we must speak up... to be heard, stand up... to be appreciated, and engage on a job well done other than a word well said.

A revolution is the salvation and there is the need to begin the gospel, yet the gospel of peaceful, mental and character revolution and not of violence. It begins with you; Individuals, Spouse, Parents, Community Heads, Traditional Leaders, Royal Fathers, Clergy men, Councilors, Local Government Chairmen, Governors, Party Leaders, Head of States etc. with you the onus of c h a r a c t e r transformation begins, because it is you who must say ‘NO!’ to corruption.

“A revolution is the hope for the emerging world where accountability and transparence are not far fetched. A revolution is the hope for a world where merit has an overwhelming attraction. A revolution is indeed the hope, if we must speak up... to be heard, stand up... to be appreciated, and engage on a job well done other than a word well said.”

THE NIGERIAN

16

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Media

Photo Journalism As Branch IN this chapter, we attempt to bring to broadcasters and mass communication students the importance of photography in journalism. According to Bittner (1989) notes that the first record of images being reproduced with light dates to the ancient Greeks”.

He further says that “Aristotle described light waves and how they behaved when projected through a small opening called an APERTURE. It is also known as the principle of the pin-hole camera.

Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian,, was reported to have used a camera obscura to project images which was later adapted by other Italian painters, in the fifteen and sixteen centuries. An Arabian scholar Alhazen discovered the principle of “optics” meaning how light rays travel in a straight line at a definite speed, the speed of light which when the rays go through a denser medium, they are retracted or bent which gives the principle of light rays passing through the lens will be retracted to the opposite direction and gives off an upside down image.

The Aristotle’s principles recorded in the middle ages, was picked up by Francis Bacon who used the dark room with tiny opening in one wall to permit light to enter from the outside and to project an image on the opposite wall.

This is known as camera obscura meaning “darkened chamber” in Latin. In 1986 in their book titled, The Book of Photography John Hedgecoe and Adrian Bailey observed that the first step in the history of photography was the practical application of the camera obscura as an aid to artists by the Italians.

In 826 a Frenchman Joseph .N. Nicpce succeeded in producing a permanent photography. He was joined later by another Frenchman Lovis Daguere by attempting to create permanent photographs using sensitive materials when exposed light through a camera obscura which produced quicker and better quality photographs which led to the present day photography.

Photographic Terms Let us look at some photographic terms commonly in use, which are trade terms. Such are — pin hole camera, the box camera, the single lens reflex camera, the town — lens reflex camera, the view camera, the lens, the shutter, the focal plan shutter, the aperture and the view finder.

1. The Pin Hole Camera: This is a light box containing a film for recording the image and a small pin hole for allowing light into the camera. It has a flap for cutting off light as soon as enough has been admitted in. If the size of the hole is small, the sharper the image. The interior of the box is usually painted black to minimize reflections. Materials such as cardboard or wood can be used for its construction.

2. The Box Camera: This is an improved version of the pin hole camera. The box camera has a lens, which is placed in the position of a hole for focusing.

For earlier control of light, a flap 3. The Single Lens Reflex Camera: This is the most highly developed and the most popular for advanced work in photography. It consists of a

By OSAYAWANBO ERO hinged minor to reflect the image formed by the camera lens unto a viewing screen until the moment of exposure originated with the 19th century plate camera. When the viewing is going on, the image travels through the lens and is reflected by a mirror which finally sits on a ground gross for clear viewing and as the shutter is tipped, to record the image, the minor flips up to allowed the image register on the film. Attributes of single lens reflex camera are: It is compact It is easy to handle and operate It has an eye level viewing It has a built — in exposure meter and variety of interchangeable lenses, Dept of field can be checked visually. Critical focusing is possible for any object at any distance.

4. The Twin-Lens Reflex Camera: This is popularly referred to as the “TLR”, the twin-lens reflex camera. It has two lenses mounted on a movable panel, one above the other but coupled together. The book of photography (1986) by John Hedgecoe and Adrian Bailey described the twinlens reflex camera as follow. “The top lens carries the viewing image upright and laterally reversal on a ground glass seven. The bottom lens incorporate a diaphragm on the shutter and carries the image unto the film. Both lenses have same focal length and focusing is usually with a knob on one side of the camera body, which moves the lens panel backward or forward. A folding metal hood shaded the viewing screen and holds a retractable magnifier for fine focusing”.

The advantages of the twin-lens camera includes: (i) Its generous view finder (ii) Its quite easy to operate (iii) Its uses roll-film with a square negative format of the same dimensions as the ground glass screen. This enables the user to hold it vertically for viewing irrespective of the shape of the subject or image. (iv) Its negatives make fairly large contact print and pictures can be cropped in the enlarger.

Its major disadvantages is that: (i) If lacks interchangeable lenses (ii) Parallax error must always be born in mind (iii) The square body and double-lens system

makes the camera comparatively bulky for its size (iv) Monotonous waste level shots view point could be a cure because it is so convenient to look into the camera.

5. The View Camera: This type of camera is,

designed essentially for professional photography or its focusing is by means of bellows while a groundglass screen receives the images. The camera size requires large format sheet film and tripod or monorail mounting. It is very flexible hence the front and the back panels can be made to slight, rise and fall, tilt and swing making possible infinite corrections to the image. The features of the view camera includes its numerous adjustments and bellow which also makes it very useful in portraiture, architectural, and scenic photography. The viewing lens is also the picture taking lens. When the image is in focus, the ground-glass is removed and replaced by either a sheet of film or a plate. The view camera is delivered from parallax error problems.

Camera Parts and Functions The camera is made up of various parts that manipulation to produce sharp prints. These are:

T T th sa

N ii. iii iv v.

Th ima Od T T or i exp shu stri as t hol the ma

“Photojournalism is a highly speci branch of the field. This is beca organization, it also requires comp journalism.”

THE NIGERIAN

17

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Media

h Of Mass Communication

The Lens The most important part of camera that picks up he image to be photographed with the aid of light ays K. Oduh

Normal angle lens . Wide angle lens i. Narrow angle lens v. Telephoto lens and Zoom lens he most important part of a camera that picks up the age to be photographed with the aid of light says K. duli (1999) are: The Shutter This is a mechanism located within the lens elements in front of the file plane, which covers the film before posure and rapidly uncover it during exposure. The utter controls the time interval during which light ikes the film. The first mechanical shutter is known the guillotine or drop shutter, a metal plate with a le in it which fell-past the lens by varying the size of hole different exposure time could be achieved. Two in types of shutter exist viz:

Between the lens shutter The between lens shutter derives its name from the way it is located normally within the lens. It is some kind of blade or leaf obstruction between the actual components.

The types are: Sector Shutter, which is the simplest form of between. Lens Shutter is the most commonly used.

Between lens shutter are fairly complicated in construction and have variable speeds.

Diaphragm shutter have the advantage of being compact offering a useful wide range of speeds

combination of two GREEK words “photos” which means light and “graphos” meaning drawing or writing and the French word” “journal” meaning newsbook or diary.

The combination produced the word journalism which is the visual presentation of the events of each day using the camera as its reporting or writing, tool.

As a branch of mass communication it belongs to the creative visual arts family. It is the method of producing photographs in films using action of light on a light sensitive material known as photo sensitive

“This type of camera is, designed essentially for professional photography or its focusing is by means of bellows while a ground-glass screen receives the images. The camera size requires large format sheet film and tripod or monorail mounting.” (usually 1 second 1/300) and an acceptable reliability for professional work.

The Focal Plane Shutter This shutter, fitted to the most SLRS and interchangeable lens viewfinder camera, is positioned as close to the focal plane as possible.

It consists of a system of blinds and tensioning drums. The primary blind has a rectangular aperture similar in size to the film gat; the secondary blind, attached to tapes, is used to cover part of this aperture to form a slit. The narrower the silt, the shorter the exposure.

For speeds between 1/125 seconds and 1/1000 seconds, the slit itself exposes the film, whereas for speeds lower than 1/60 second, the primary blind uncovers the entire frame before the secondary blind begins to cover it” (John Hedgecoe and Adrian Bailey 1986).

The focal plane shutter is found in most modern cameras the advantages of focal plane shutter includes: Because it is an independent mechanism, it can be used for a complete range of unshuttered lenses. It allows the use of minor systems between the lens and film.

Field of Photo Journalism Photo journalism is a new concept or phenomenon in the field of journalism or mass communication. It derives it’s name from the

paper to compliment or tell the story.

Wainwright (1982) in Ojo Idowu (2003) describes photo journalism as a short hand expression of photographic journalism. He adds “it is the communication of news, information, education ideas or thought to the target audience with the aim of influencing such target audience to act in a particular manner or direction”. He also sees it as journalism is the distillation of the events of the day into pictures via mechanic and technology of communication to satisfy the human curiosity of a world that is always eager to know what is going on.

Photojournalism is a highly specialized form of journalism. It is also a very difficult branch of the field.

This is because in addition to the high degree of personal organization, it also requires competence and skills in two field of photography and journalism.

Generally, photography is regarded as the forerunner of the subject. It however has a difference between them. Essentially, photography aims at arts portraying the beauty of a scene or objects while the overriding purpose of photojournalism is to communicate a point of action.

It is expedient that this position be clearly understood from the onset. This difference not withstanding the two subjects share a lot in common in the areas of principle and technology. A good knowledge of photograph is imperative to the proper understanding of the subject of photojournalism.

ialized form of journalism. It is also a very difficult use in addition to the high degree of personal petence and skills in two field of photography and

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Issues

NAVAL chiefs from the Gulf of Guinea countries, the United States of America, United Kingdom and other collaborating nations met recently at Tinapa Resort, Calabar, to strategise on how to tackle security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Gulf of Guinea is made up of the maritime areas of the western parts of the African continent, and harbouring the Atlantic coastlines of 11 west and central African countries.

The countries include Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Congo, among others.

Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, said that the conference was convened to address challenges and threat to the economic interest of the states in the gulf.

The theme of the conference was: “Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Systems: A Key for Enhancing Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea.’’

Ezeoba stressed the need for collaboration to tackle the security challenges in the region because of its strategic importance.

He listed the challenges to include piracy, drug and human trafficking, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, unregulated and unreported fishing, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and environmental degradation.

“Regrettably, these threats constitute serious challenges and adversely impact on the collective maritime governance imperatives and economic wellbeing of nation states in the Gulf of Guinea.

“It is, therefore, imperative to emphasise that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of insecurity

Tackling Security Challenges In The Gulf Of Guinea

By DIANABASI EFFIONG

within the global community.

“As discomforting as these threats would appear, they are not insurmountable; hence the clarion call for enthronement of

potential.

“Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Conference (RMACC) has become the sure way for

UK. “RMACC presented opportunities which if carefully managed will facilitate tremendous improvement in the security of the Gulf of Guinea.’’

He said that the Nigerian

constructive, proactive, sustainable and holistic maritime security architecture.

“Such structure would ensure a secure and safe maritime environment for optimal exploration and exploitation of the abundant maritime resources,’’ Ezeoba said.

Dr Olusola Obada, Minister of State for Defence, urged states in the region to “come together to effectively patrol their exclusive economic zones (EEZ), territorial waters and ports.

“The losses translate into huge opportunity cost in terms of both unrealised national revenue and untapped human

Nigeria to enforce maritime governance and prevent illegal activities from occurring in her maritime domain,’’ the minister said.

She listed the security lapses in the gulf to include “lack of basic maritime awareness which creates ungoverned maritime environment for criminals to operate, inadequate national and regional capabilities to monitor maritime surface traffic in a timely manner’’.

Rear Adm. Joe Aikhomu, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, said that the RMACC was introduced with the assistance of the US and

Navy was determined to continually provide “a holistic operational framework, anchored on surveillance, response initiative and enforcement in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

“Accordingly, the Nigeria Navy is taking the lead in increasing existing regional maritime domain capability through surveillance systems located along Nigeria’s coastline in order to improve total awareness of the environment.

“This effort has already started yielding tangible results with the arrest of over 40 vessels engaged in illegal

“It is estimated that piracy in the Gulf of Guinea cost the world economy between $740 million and $950 million last year, and that figure is expected to increase in 2013. The economic implication of this insecurity presents a stark realisation of the gravity of the situation...’’

activities in our waters.

“How to extend this coverage to the entire Gulf of Guinea, through collaboration of other member states, is what this conference is set to address,’’ Aikhomu said.

Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River said that the world economy might lose more than $950 million in 2013 due to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

Imoke, who cited a study published by Industry Alliance, said it was also estimated that the total insurance cost for insecurity in the gulf was between $423 million to $437 million in 2012.

“It is estimated that piracy in the Gulf of Guinea cost the world economy between $740 million and $950 million last year, and that figure is expected to increase in 2013.

“The economic implication of this insecurity presents a stark realisation of the gravity of the situation,’’ he said.

According to him, insecurity in the region’s maritime domain was traceable to “proliferation of low-intensity resource induced attacks mostly led by criminal gangs, warlords and other non-state actors’’.

In a communiqué issued after the conference, the participants resolved to institute effective legal regime for maritime law enforcement in the region.

They also called for the establishment and activation of a common maritime information sharing mechanism, through the establishment of Inter-Regional Coordination Centre by March 2014.

The communiqué was endorsed by naval chiefs of Angola, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Gabon, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and Sao-Tome and Principe.

Ezeoba, who spoke before the communiqué was issued, urged signatories to the document to be committed in its implementation.

“In the past, there had been the penchant for people to walk away after such talk shops, but in this case we have agreed through our endorsement to implement the agreement,” he said.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Furthermore, we need to bear in i.e a2 + 3ab - 2ab - 6b2 mind that: a2 - ab - 2ab + 2b2 (a). If the sign of either the numerator a(a + 3b) - 2b(a + 3b) = or denominator is negative, the entire a(a -b) - 2b(a - b) fraction takes a negative. a + 3b = i.e. -yx is the same as - xy and -xy Answer a-b

Algebraic Fractions II is the same as - xy

Example 3

Simplify: (4 - a2)(a2 + 4a + 3) -x x x y = -y =- y (a2 - 9)(a2 - a - 2) (UME, 1994) (b). If both the signs of the numerator and the denominator are negative, Solution: then the entire fraction remains Hint: Express both the numerator and denominator in their factor unchanged forms to get: x (the -ve sign cancels out) -x = (2 - a)(2 + a)[(a + 1)(a + 3)] i.e. y -y (a - 3)[(a + 1)(a - 2)] (c). If a negative is introduced to - (2 - a)(2 + a) either the numerator or denominator, = (a - 3)(a - 2) the quantity in the bracket is interchanged. For e.g., introducing a Introducing a -ve to the numerator, -ve to the numerator of the fraction we have - (a - 2)(2 + a) (a - 3)(a - 2) x-y -(y - x) we have 3y - x 3y - x -(2 + a) = a-3 Similarly, for the denominator, we Answer have x-y Example 4 -(x - 3y) (2m - u)2 -(m - 2u)2 Simplify: FURTHER EXAMPLES 5m2 - 5u2 Example 1

Simplify:

x3y - 2x2 y2 2xy3 - x2y2

Solution: Factorising out common term, we have: x2y(x - 2y)

Mathematics With Stanley Osobase 08023454887 Osobase2001@yahoo.co.uk

(2).

(3).

(4).

(5).

p2 - pf f2 - pf x2 - y2 y2 - xy x2 - 2x - 15 x2 - 3x - 10

-p f Ans = x + y y x+3 Ans = x+2

(a + c)2 - b2 (b + c)2 - a2

Ans = a + c - b x+2

Ans =

C]. ADDITION & SUBTRACTION OF ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS. Hint: To add or subtract two algebraic fractions, is to make the resulting algebraic fraction the sum (or the difference) of the numerators as its numerator, and the common denominator as its denominator. The lowest common multiple (L.c.m) of algebraic fractions is found as for ordinary numbers. However, we need to note the following, when finding the L.c.m: (a). Take the product of the denominators if they are different. e.g (x + y) and (x - y) (b). Take one of the denominators if (UME, 1994) the denominators are the same. e.g. (a Solution: + b) and (a + b); Using difference of two squares, (c). Take the greater multiple if one of we have: the deniminators is a multiple of the (2m - u)(2m - u) - (m - 2u)(m - 2u) other. e.g. (x + y) and (x + y)2

5(m - u)(m + u) 4m2 - 4um + u2 -m2+4um-4u2 5(m-u)(m+u) 3m2 -3u2 = 5(m -u)(m + u)

Example 1 Calculate 3 + 4 x+ 3 x-2 Solution Since denominators are different, L.c.m. of the denominators = (x - 2)(x + 3) 3(m - u)(m + u) 3 + 4 = 3(x + 3) + 4(x -2) = 3 (x - 2)(x + 3) x-2 x + 3 5(m -u)(m + u) 5 Ans 3x + 9 + 4x - 8 = 7x + 1 Before we get on to the next stage, try the (x - 2)(x + 3) (x - 2)(x + 3) exercise below and crosscheck with the answers provided.

Exercise or 27x + 1 x +x-6 Answer Simplify

xy2(2y - x) Introducing a negative to either the numerator or denominator, we have: x2y(x - 2y) -xy2(x - 2y) = x x = or [on cancelling (x - 2y)] y -y Example 2

Simplify:

a2 + ab - 6b2 a2 - 3ab + 2b2

Solution: Hint: Rewrite the fractions to give four term so we can group in pairs.

(1).

15xyz3 20x3yz

Ans =

3z2 4x2

(To be continued)

Until next edition, keep solving Maths & remember to watch EBS TV Thursdays at 4pm!

THE NIGERIAN

20

Understanding Motor Insurance

MOTOR INSURANCE THE law compel all motorists to have insurance policy to cover them should they be involved in an accident. The type of insurance can be divided into four groups.

ROAD TRAFFIC ACTS POLICY Under this policy, the insurance company will pay anyone who has legal claim against the insured person, but not for any damages claimed relating to the persons property including vehicles THIRD PARTY ONLY POLICY This covers claims by other persons for damages sustained to their vehicles, or for any injuries received. It does not cover damage to the insured persons’ vehicle.

THIRD PARTY FIRE AND THEFT Although basically similar to third party, it extends the cover to cover policy holders vehicle should it be damaged or destroyed by fire or should it be stolen. The amount paid .by the insurance company should the vehicle be stolen or totally destroyed will be equal to the market value of the vehicle which is usually less than the value put on the vehicle by the insured person COMPREHENSIVE POLICY This policy cover all required by law and in addition the policies holders’ car, and includes the benefits of third party fire and theft cover, also various other benefits according to the wishes of the insured person.

THE BRAKING SYSTEM WITH ABS To start with, there is a general mis-interpretation of the real meaning of the abbreviation “485”. it is not automatic braking system as it is generally interpreted. It is anti-lock braking system or antiskid braking system.

To understand the function of this extra device in the car braking system, one needs to know and appreciate what happens when the brake pedal is applied whilst the car is in motion.

As you apply the brakes, the brake shoes or brake pads try to grip and stop the disc or brake drums from rotating. Since the road wheels are attached to these components (brake disc and brake drums) the road wheels will consequently be stopped from rotating but the reactions to this action of the brake shoe or brake pads will depend on the grip of the tyres on the ground and the friction between the tyres surface and the road surface.

If the road is dry and the tyre has good or satisfactory thread, the stopping or braking efficiency will be good and the vehicle will be brought to a stand — still at the shortest distance and time without any skidding or loss of control of the direction of the vehicle.

But, if either the road is wet or flooded due to rain, the grip of the tyres on the ground will be affected or a situation in which the tyres have been raised by a thick column of water and not making contact with the road surface again but the layer of water (called aquaplaning may cause immediate brake when applied, the road wheel to just lock solid with the brakes and skid or swerve in any

direction and water column directs the tyres without any braking action or reduction in the speed of the vehicle.

The faster the vehicle speed the sharper the skidding and therefore, the greater the danger of an accident that may ensue. Hence, motorists are advised to exercise restrain and to slow down when driving in the rain or on wet roads.

However, with vehicle having anti-lock or antiskid braking systems, the dangerous situation catalogued above will be prevented. How is this prevention of skidding accomplished? It is through

“This policy cover all required by law and in addition the policies holders’ car, and includes the benefits of third party fire and theft cover, also various other benefits according to the wishes of the insured person.”

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Motoring With OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452

the application of this method motorists are taught to apply to physical control skidding tendency through gradual application and release of brake pedal when driving in the rain, instead of sliming on the brakes in case of emergency.

With vehicle fitted with “ABS”, when the brakes are applied, the braking pressures at each wheel is computed by the electronic control unit in the car and adjusted automatically to provide progressive “release and apply brake pressure that will not allow locking of the brake pads or shoes with disc or drum and as a result prevent skidding reaction

when brakes are applied irrespective of the road condition. However, this is not a guarantee for the use of worn tyres because the final braking efficiency will depend on the amount of gripping effect of the tyres on the road.

BLEEDING OF BRAKING SYSTEM WITH ABS It is important that the engine is kept working throughout the bleeding operation or when you are replacing brake pads to ensure that the electronic system is active during the servicing operation.

Bleeding must be done only through the nipple provided.

Don’t bleed by slackening any pipe. Start the bleeding operation from the farthest nipple to the brake pedal.

SAFETY TIP: MORE LIVES ARE SAVED WITH LESS NIGHT TRAVELLING. THE LIFE SAVED MAY BE YOURS! AVOID NIGHT TRAVELLING.

THE NIGERIAN

21

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Spirituality HOW many women there are who married in good faith and found out their husbands were just a step above beasts.

How many mothers there are who have wayward teenagers and wonder how to cope. For all of them there is a fine model in Saint Rita who lived about 600 years ago.

Her parents, Antonio and Amata Mancini were pious simple folks who worked the land. They could not read or write but they listened well to what was preached to them and made it part of their daily life. They had few happinesses as they had to work hard on the land for their daily bread; life was even more cruel because they had no children. Who would carry on their name, who would help them with the animals and crops, who would care for them in their old age? Amata was past the age of childbearing and they resigned themselves to a dismal future. But by Christmas of 1380 Amata knew she was pregnant and on May 22, 1381, a healthy little girl was born to them.

This little jewel was called Margarita in Baptism (it means ‘pearl’ in Latin) and ‘Rita’ for short.

We know little of her childhood. We know her parents were poor and we know how the poor of that day lived. A small plot of ground, a few small animals like chickens, geese, rabbits and maybe a goat. A cow or a horse would be a sign of affluence and a pig would mean an exceptionally good crop to have money to buy it. Animals were treasures and lived on the first floor of the house so they were guarded and, also, the animal heat would warm the house in winter. For sure Rita was taught to care for the animals, to help in the fields and learned to cook and sew. This one item we do know, she was deeply religious and at the age of twelve made a secret vow of virginity.

The age in which she lived was a troubled one. There was much unrest in every sphere of life much as there is today. Politically, the countries were not settled, religiously many abuses had crept in and the morals of the day left much to be desired.

In Rita’s town lived a young man who was complete a man of his age, one Paolo

Lessons From The Lives Of Saints: Saint Rita She was forty years old.

Ferdinando. He drank, brawled and lived by violence. It was he who sought Rita’s hand in marriage it seems strange that her pious parents agreed to marriage with such a one.

We must ask why?

was fired with a deep love of God and would win her husband’s soul for ‘God So patiently she put up with him, in his soft moments she would plead with him; she knew one day her prayers would be heard.

Testament: a mild answer turneth away wrath”. So she opened the door and saw him at the table eating his meal.

She went up to him fully expecting to be struck —she took his hand and kissed it.

His hand began to tremble and then he stammered to

They had two children, both boys, Giacomo Antonio and Paolo Maria. These she hoped would respond to her training but instead they followed their father. Now poor Rita had three wayward males to bring to God! The first break came in a strange way. One time Rita heard Paolo cursing and carrying on; she expressed her scorn and when he rushed at her with a clenched fist, she bolted to her room and locked the door. Her anger had made her react. As she quieted down she thought of the words of Christ to forgive those who offended you and also the precept of the Old

Rita: “Forgive me Rita, I was unworthy of you, but now that is finished. Your great goodness has saved me and makes me understand how life should be lived”. But it was no instant cure and he did revert now and again to his former habits, only gradually reforming till finally he was what could be called a Christian gentleman.

With her husband returned to God, she sought to win her two boys for Christ. But things seemed to go all wrong. Some people her husband had unjustly injured sought revenge they fired with rage at the two boys

St. Rita

History has left us with no answer but it could be that he threatened them, it could be that he promised and simulated reform. It could be that they were not aware of his brutal life. In any case, they agreed and Rita Mancini became .Mrs. Paolo Ferdinando.

Paolo was intrigued with his pious spouse and at first sought to be some what of a good husband but as the saying goes, the honeymoon soon was over. He reverted to drinking and brawling and his frustrations and anger he took out on Rita. She had every reason to leave him and probably most women of today would —but she

(now in their late teens) swore revenge and poor Rita couldn’t soften them; they were determined.

But they figured without God and His willingness to answer a good mother’s prayers. She wanted to give back to God the souls He had entrusted to her at their birth and so God allowed them to get sick, receive the Sacraments and die. It appears to be a drastic solution but which one of us wouldn’t be willing to die if we were sure of heaven — and these two young men were!

Now she had absolved herself of all responsibility; she had fulfilled the request of her parents to marry; she had delivered her husband and children to God. Now she was free to follow her own desires, to vindicate the vow of virginity she made as a girl of twelve. She disposed of all her belongings to the poor and trudged wearily to the city of Cascia to the convent of the Augustinian nuns. She would enter and spend the rest of her life united with God in a convent. Mother Superior was kind and questioned her. Learning that Rita had been married, she had to refuse her admittance, the convent was only for virgins. Crestfallen she returned home. A second time she sought entrance and again the doors were closed to her. One night she was praying and heard her name called out. She was alone — S-who could it be ? Was it her imagination? Again she heard her name and this time she looked out the door and saw three figures in the shadows —at least she thought she saw them. Could they be the three saints to whom she had been praying —St. John the Baptist. St. Augustine and St Nicholas of Tolentine? Spurred by an impulse she followed them they led her to the convent n Cascia and when she went to knock she found herself inside: how she got in she did not know. It was time for chapel, the night office.

Somehow the Superior’s mind was changed, Rita took her place among the nuns, she was now in the house of her Spouse, Jesus Christ.

For years Rita had lived a life of closeness to God so she fitted in well with all the nuns. In due time she made her vows publicly, she was now consecrated to God as she had hoped for so many years ago.

We know little of her life in the convent but there is one incident that all the chroniclers relate. Rita had always had a deep devotion to Christ and His holy passion. She was especially moved by the pain of the crown of Thorns, In Lent of 1443 —she was sixty-two years old — she has praying one night and asked the Lord to let her share in the passion He had suffered for us. A thorn fell from the Cross and imbedded itself above her right eye. The pain was excruciating but because she was sharing with her Loved One it had its element of sweetness. This wound she carried all her life except for one short time. 1450 was the jubilee year and all flocked to Rome. Rita too wanted to go —but the ugly wound on her forehead prompted the superior to refuse. So she prayed that the wound be taken away, only let the pain remain. This prayer was answered and she went to Rome all the time suffering intense pain where the wound had been. When she returned, so did the wound.

Back to Cascia, she retired to a solitary cell on the convent grounds and lived there six more years. People came to petition her prayers and found healing; one little girl who was paralyzed walked away, a woman possessed of the devil was freed of Satan’s yoke. But age and illness were too much -one night she heard a voice: “In three days you will be in heaven with Me”. And three days later she died. At the moment she died, the bells started to toll -but there was no one near the bells: one of the nuns, Sister Catherine whose arms were paralyzed embraced her and she was cured. It was May 22, 1457, Rita was seventy-six years of age; She is called the Saint of the impossible because in her life the impossible took place. Who could have dreamed that her life would have turned out as it did? She is known for obtaining from God impossible requests.

She, who so many women today can imitate because their lives are lust as tangled as hers. Rita was smart enough to make her problems bring her heaven. How smart are the women of today?

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Let’s Talk Gender!

GENDER refers to socially given roles, attributes and responsibilities that are related to being male or female in any society. 1t dictates the relationship between men and women, how they are socialized to think and act. Studies have shown over the years that the relationship between men and women could be one of connection, conflict, inequality, Competition, separation, support and indifference, or a combination of these. Men and women are also socialized to think, act and perceive themselves in particular ways in any given society. In sum, gender is the ensemble of the experiences of an individual based on the fact of biology, as sex is the basis for gender roles and responsibilities Gender is not synonymous with women and as such, gender

contributes, to a very great extent to the inability of women to fulfill their potential. In Nigeria, it is characterised by.

• Harmful traditional practices - Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) -Widowhood rites and practices - Male child preference -Early and forceful I marriages • Discriminatory laws and practices in the public sphere • Gender-based violence - Domestic violence - Sexual assault - Sexual harassment -Exploitation and trafficking

concerns should not he Misinterpreted to refer to women’s concerns only.

The emphasis is on women though because it has a more limiting impact on them and it is therefore imperative to level the playing field and facilitate equality of access.

Distinctions between Gender and Sex Sex differences are basically the biological differences between men and women they are connected with the bodies of men and womensperm production, pregnancy, lactation, etc Unlike sex roles, which are universal and unchangeable, gender roles, attributes and responsibilities are dynamic and context- specific as they change over time for different reasons and across generations.

Manifestation of Gender In all countries, gender is characterized by unequal power relations between women and men. The manifestation varies from place to place in degree and form, although it is reflected mostly in discrimination against women in all spheres of life -social, political, economic and cultural. This

• Double standards for men and women vis-a-vis morality (for example infidelity and virginity issues) • Low value for women -Subordinate position of women -Stereotyping of professions -Low participation of women the public sphere Social Construction of Gender Family: The first venue for learning about gender is within the family, which is a child’s first contact with culture. We begin to pick up hints about what

Gender Advocacy With Ijeoma Umeh e-mail: genderadvocate@gmail.org.

08182382839

is acceptable or not as males and females from the home by learning from older family members. This usually is done by observation and imitation and through lectures and reprimands.

Religious Institutions: Although respect for human dignity is one of the fundamental Principles of all religions, religious institutions constitute the major site for reinforcing the unequal status of men and women. Most religious preaching are fashioned around roles and responsibilities of men and women and the perpetuation of gender inequality.

Educational institutions: Gender roles and responsibilities are learnt in schools through the assignment of tasks and responsibilities.

Government: Patriarchal societies such as Nigeria and most parts of the world, espouse male supremacy. This is often reflected in framing and implementation of public policies.

Media: News reports and features, articles in the print and electronic media aid the transmission of the culture of a group. This is by emphasizing ‘appropriate’ behaviours, gender stereotypes, roles and attributes Culture: Values, stories, proverbs, myths, sayings of particular societies serve to create and maintain gender stereotypes and inequality. Most of our proverbs and sayings are constructed in a language that is discriminatory and sexist. In our day-to-day use of language, we discriminate against women.

Relevance of Gender for Everyday Life • It highlights the relationships between men and women and the inequalities therein • It analyses the influence of male dominance and stereotypes in everyday life • It explains women’s lack of access to opportunities and resources • It shows the difference in the perception of males and females • It analyses the influence of culture within a given society • It helps to analyse the effect of intervention activities — How do they affect women and men?

How do they benefit women an men? Which category of men/women benefits from them? Who are the losers?

• It sharpens our analytical skills and sense of judgment • It brings an awareness of how domestic issues interrelate with national regional and international Issues (interface between private and public)

“In all countries, gender is characterized by unequal power relations between women and men. The manifestation varies from place to place in degree and form, although it is reflected mostly in discrimination against women in all spheres of life -social, political, economic and cultural.”

THE NIGERIAN

23

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Religion

With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA

Taking The Sword Of The Spirit THE “ sword of the spirit” is mentioned as the sixth item for spiritual battle. The sword of the spirit is further explained as the “word of God”. What does the Bible say about the word of God? The book of Ephesians chapter six describes the word of God as the “sword of the spirit” therefore identifying the ‘word of God’ in spiritual warfare as a “with factor”. Remember earlier in

forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. The devil had sought to defeat him therefore destroying the work of redemption and the salvation mission of our lord. But remember Jesus defeated the devil by the word. Matt. 4:111. Let us rehearse the weapon” of word Jesus used to defeat the devil.

I. The devil told him first to turn stones into bread but Jesus said “It is written man shall not live by bread alone”

(iii) The meditated word - The word of prayers for binding and loosening.

(1) THE “WRITTEN WORD” is powerful because Jesus is in the word and the name of Jesus is the epitome of power. The Book of Revelation says: “His name is called the word of God” Re 19:13 That Jesus is the epitome of power is seen in these verses: “And Jesus came and spoke to them saying: All authority has been given to me in heaven and on

well” and “immediately he received his sight” (Mk 10:52) Moses spoke the word and the earth opened and buried the rebel korah and his cohorts alive (Mum. 16:31 33) Elisha spoke, cursing his servant to inherit the leprosy of Naaman and it was immediately so, for “he went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow” (1Kgs. 5:27)Peter spoke the word and Ananias and saphira who lied against the Holy spirit

this pamphlet I categorised the seven biblical elements for spiritual warfare into a tripartite structure the “on factor” which is indemnificatory; the “In Factor” which is for confidence building or for motivation and the “with factor’ which is for attack or defence.

Now in spiritual warfare the word of God described as the “sword of the Spirit” is an attack or offensive mechanism hence a “with factor” in spiritual warfare.

The Book of Hebrew describes the word of God thus: “For the word of God is living and active, shaper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints end marrow” Heb. 4:12.

Jesus was doing battle with the devil after he had fasted

Matt. 4:4 (Deut. 8:3) ii. Secondly the devil asked him to throw himself down from the pinnacle but Jesus said “Again it is written you shall not tempt the Lord thy God” matt. 4:7 (Deut. 6:16) iii. Thirdly the devil told him to bow down and worship him but Jesus charged at the devil “Be gone, Satan for it is written you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” Matt. 4:10 (Deut. 6:3.)

You see how our Lord Jesus used the written word to defeat Satan the chief Devil.

Now in spiritual warfare the word of God as a catalyst is used in three forms: (i) The written word which are scriptural quotations or references (ii) The spoken word which are anointed word backed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

earth” Matt. 28:18 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those on earth and of those under the earth” Phil. 2:10.

(2) WHAT IS IN THE SPOKEN WORD Take these examples; Jesus spoke to Satan “Begone Satan!

(Mat. 4:10) and he fled. Jesus said to the storm on the sea “Peace I Bestilll” and it was so, done (Mk. 4:39) Jesus spoke to the blind Bartimaeus; “Go your way, your faith has made you

fell and died Acts 5:3-11.

Paul spoke the word “You son of the devil... now behold the hand of the Lord is upon you and you shall be blind and unable to see the sun for a time,” and immediately it was so with Elymas the magician Acts 13:10 Elijah was hungry but he could not use the “word power” or “spoken word” to attract food to himself: he prayed he was sent to the widow at Zarephath (1 Kgs. 17:1-16)

Here the widow had the last meal to cook for herself and the son and die but Elijah said: “thus says the Lord the God of Israel, the jar of meal shall not be spent and the cruse of oil shall not fail until the day that the lord sends rain upon the earth” 1Kgs. 17:14 And according to the word of the prophet “the Jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the lord which he spoke by Elijah” 1st Kgs. 17:16.

This example of Elijah unravels the mystery in the spoken word. Paul spoke and Elymas the magician who was an obstacle to the propagation of the gospel went blind; yet he faced far greater obstacles from his environment and other people: he did not use the “spoken word” to clear the obstacles but resorted to meditative prayers, patience and faith in Christ.

Paul himself wrote: “I am talking... with far greater labours, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death danger in the wilderness danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship ... in hunger and thirst often without food” 11 Cor. 11:23-28. While the people of Israel in hunger enjoyed “manna” from heaven Paul suffered hunger and thirst with equanimity, why?

This is the mystery of the spoken word - though it is spoken through the mouth of man it must come from God: (otherwise it will fail!) in the Elijah example it is written “according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by Elijah”. i.e. though Elijah spoke it was ordered by God! Moses wrote: “And if you say in your heart. How may we know the word which the Lord

has not spoken When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken presumptuously.

Deut. 18:21 -22. In effect whatever God has commanded spoken by the mouth of his servant is what will come to pass and no man has the right to arrogate that power to himself... spoken word therefore is the word of God which God has commanded spoken through the mouth of his servant; or a word which the Lord has placed in the heart of his servant which is spoken out in the name of the Lord, This is the mystery of the “spoken word” it works wonders in that same manner in spiritual warfare. “Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched by mouth, and the Lord said... Behold I have put my words in thy mouth” Jereh. 1:9-10.

(3) “ MEDITATED WORD” This is the word of prayer for binding or loosening in spiritual warfare which shall be discussed elaborately in the next chapter as the seventh and last spiritual welfare item mentioned in the scriptures “Pray at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication” Eph. 6:18 meditated words are no special revelatory words or unspeakable words (2 Cor.12:4) for spiritual warfare but words that make a positive confession of your faith to enable you resist the devil that he would flee. The Bible admonishes that the devil be resisted - “Resist him firm in your faith” 1 Pet. 5:8 and he will flee. Meditated word brings about positive thinking, positive action, casting out fear and doubt and claiming victory until victory is actualised.

“This example of Elijah unravels the mystery in the spoken word. Paul spoke and Elymas the magician who was an obstacle to the propagation of the gospel went blind; yet he faced far greater obstacles from his environment and other people: he did not use the “spoken word” to clear the obstacles but resorted to meditative prayers, patience and faith in Christ.”

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

International US Captures Ring Leader Of Embassy Attack

WASHINGTON - The United States said on Tuesday it had captured a suspected ringleader of the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans including the U.S. ambassador and ignited a political firestorm in Washington.

President Barack Obama said in a statement he had authorized the operation in Libya in which U.S. special operations forces captured Ahmed Abu Khatallah.

He told an audience later in Pittsburgh that Khatallah was being transported to the United States.

“Since the deadly attacks on our facilities in Benghazi, I have made it a priority to find and bring to justice those responsible for the deaths of four brave Americans,” he said in a statement. He said Khatallah would “face the full weight of the American justice system.”

Khatallah’s capture was a victory for Obama, who has been accused by Republicans of playing down the role of al Qaeda in the 2012 attacks for political reasons and being slow to deliver on promises of justice.

Republicans also said thenSecretary of State Hillary Clinton had failed to take steps to ensure the safety of American diplomatic personnel, an issue that is still resonating as Clinton considers running for U.S. president in 2016.

Clinton defended the decision to put diplomats in dangerous situations but noted that incomplete information increased the risk in Benghazi in 2012.

“We send Americans into perilous dangerous places all the time, and I believe that’s the right decision,” Clinton told CNN. “We have to do it prudently, of course, but we need to be where things are

happening that can affect us.”

Khatallah was being held aboard the USS New York, an amphibious transport dock, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He was grabbed on the outskirts of Benghazi in an operation carried out by U.S. special operations forces, including some members of the Army’s Delta Force, another U.S. official said.

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. troops had acted with “extraordinary skill, courage and precision” and that the complex operation resulted in no casualties. Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said all U.S. personnel involved had left Libya.

A U.S. official said Khatallah would be charged and prosecuted through the U.S. court system and would not be sent to the prison for suspected al Qaeda militants in Guantanamo, Cuba.

That is in line with Obama’s policy of prosecuting suspected militants caught abroad through the U.S. justice system rather than trying them in the military tribunal system at Guantanamo Bay prison, which he is trying to close.

A criminal complaint released by the U.S. district court for Washington, D.C., accused Khatallah of killing a person in the course of an attack on a federal facility, providing material support to terrorists and using a firearm in commission of a crime of violence.

The U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames during a protest by an armed group said to have bee …

It was the second time the administration has said U.S. special operations forces have gone into Libya to detain a militant. A U.S. Army Delta

Syria Bombing Kills 20 In Refugee Camp DAMASCUS - Syrian army helicopters bombed a refugee camp along the Jordanian border killing at least 20 people, mostly children and women, residents and opposition activists said.

They said the army dropped several barrel bombs - highly destructive improvised explosives, use of which has been condemned

by Western powers as a war crime - on the camp in the village of Shajra, 2 km (1 mile) from the Jordanian border.

“Women were wailing hysterically as they saw their dead children lying on the floor,” said Abu Mohammad al-Hourani, a farmer in the village who said he had helped to remove bodies after the dawn raid.

Hundreds of families fleeing

intensified fighting between rebels and the army in southern Syria in recent months had taken shelter in the town near the border, which Jordan closed last year after taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.

Authorities now allow only a trickle of refugees into Jordan from a U.N.-funded border crossing in a desolate area close to the frontier with Iraq, where relief agencies say they have to endure days of hardship before arriving. More than 160,000 people have been killed in Syria’s conflict, which started in March 2011 with peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule and became an armed rebellion after a government crackdown.

Force team grabbed al Qaeda suspect Nazih al-Ragye, better known as Abu Anas al-Liby, in Tripoli in October 2013 and sent him to a U.S. Navy ship for interrogation.

Al-Liby was later charged in a U.S. federal court in New York in

connection with the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Kenya, which killed more than 200 people.

Khatallah was expected to be questioned by an elite inter-

agency interrogation team created in 2009 to seek information from suspects to prevent future terrorist attacks, a U.S. official said. The official could not say whether members of the U.S. High Value Detainee Interrogation Group, which is housed at the FBI’s National

Egyptians hold portraits of former Army Chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as they celebrate in front of the presidential palace in Cairo.

Security Branch, were already in place to question Khatallah aboard the ship where he was being held.

Lawmakers welcomed Khatallah’s capture, but Republicans said they were concerned that prosecuting him in the court system rather than through the military tribunals at Guantanamo would hamper efforts to interrogate him for his intelligence value.

“I want him to be held a sufficient period of time under the law of war to gather intelligence,” said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, adding he didn’t care where Khatallah was prosecuted. “We’re shutting down intelligence-gathering.

We’re turning the war into a crime, and it will bite us in the butt.”

The White House defended the use of the U.S. courts to prosecute Khatallah, saying in a statement that the justice system had “repeatedly proven that it can successfully allow us to gather intelligence, handle the threat we continue to face and prosecute terrorists.”

Iran Vows To Defend Iraq Shi’te Sites TEHRAN - Iran’s president vowed to defend Shi’ite holy sites in Iraq, where Sunni militants battled their way into the biggest oil refinery in what is rapidly turning into a sectarian war across the frontiers of the Middle East.

Sunni fighters were in control of three quarters of the territory of the Baiji refinery north of Baghdad, an official said there, after a morning of heavy fighting at gates defended by elite troops under siege for a week.

A lightning advance has seen Sunni fighters rout the Shi’ite-led government’s army and seize the main cities across the north of the country since last week.

The fighters are led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

which aims to build a caliphate ruled on mediaeval precepts, but also include a broad spectrum of more moderate Sunnis furious at what they see as oppression

by Baghdad.

Washington and other Western capitals are trying to save Iraq as a united country by leaning hard on Shi’ite Prime Minister to reach out to Sunnis. Maliki met Sunni and Kurdish political opponents overnight, concluding with a frosty, carefully-staged joint appearance at which an appeal for national unity was read out.

But so far Maliki’s government has relied almost

entirely on his fellow Shi’ites for support, with officials lashing out at Sunni political leaders as traitors. Extra-legal Shi’ite militia - many believed to be funded and backed by Iran - have mobilized to halt the Sunni advance, as Baghdad’s millionstrong army, built by the United States at a cost of $25 billion, crumbles.

Overt participation by Iran, the Middle East’s main Shi’ite power which fought a war that killed a million people against Iraq in the 1980s, would transform the fight into a conflict spanning the frontiers of the region.

Speaking on live television to a crowd, Iran’s President Hassan

Demonstrators chant pro-al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as they wave al-Qaida flags in front of the provincial government headquarters in Mosul, 225 miles (360 kilometres) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq.

Rouhani made the clearest declaration yet that Tehran was prepared to mobilize.

“Regarding the holy Shia shines in Karbala, Najaf, Kadhimiya and Samarra, we announce to the killers and terrorists that the big Iranian nation will not hesitate to protect holy shrines,” he said.

He said many people had signed up to go to Iraq to fight, although he also emphasized that Iraqis were prepared to defend themselves: “Thanks be to God, I’ll tell the dear people of Iran that veterans and various forces - Sunnis Shias and Kurds all over Iraq - are ready for sacrifice.”

Millions of Shi’ite pilgrims visit Iraq’s holy sites each year.

Iraqi government forces are holding out against Sunni fighters in the city of Samarra north of Baghdad, site of one of the most important Shi’ite shrines. The Sunni fighters have vowed to carry their offensive south to Najaf and Kerbala, seats of Shi’ite Islam since the Middle Ages.

The Baiji refinery is the fighters’ immediate goal, the biggest source of fuel for domestic consumption in Iraq, which would give them a firm grip on energy supply in the north where the local population has complained of fuel shortages.

The refinery was shut on Tuesday and foreign workers flown out by helicopter. Elite Iraqi troops have repeatedly repelled attempts to capture it, even as the towns and cities in the area rapidly fell to the ISIL advance last week.

THE NIGERIAN

25

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

International PUBLIC NOTICE

STOLEN TITLE DOCUMENTS The general public is hereby notified that the title documents in respect of the Four-Flat Storey Building, known and described as No. 414, Upper Siluko Road, Egor, Benin City, have been stolen. They are Building Plan with Reg. No. MLS/BC No. 580/84 dated 17th September, 1984; Deed of Conveyance/Transfer to Mrs. Vera Isoken Enobie (Nee Irorere); Oba’s approval and all documents related thereto. If found, kindly contact Elder S.A. Irorere, JP, Telephone No. 08056460700 or the nearest Police Station.

Signed: Elder S.A. Irorere, JP PUBLIC NOTICE

ITOHAN HEALTH CARE TRUST The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1.

Prof. G.I. Akenzua – Chairman 2.

Prof. Nimi Briggs – Vice Chairman 3.

Dr. P. Ugbodaga – Secretary 3.

Elder .A. Agenmonmon - Member AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. The Trust is aimed at being independent fundraising organization that would assist University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in funding priority capital, research and training projects.

2. To raise funds for vital healthcare needs such as purchasing medical equipment.

3. To fund specialist training programs for doctors, nurses and other relevant health workers from the Hospital.

4. To build projects and upgrade existing infrastructure.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Dr. P. Ugbodaga – Secretary

Kenya President Blames ‘Local Political Networks’ On Attacks NAIROBI - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed “local political networks” for the killings of dozens of people in two attacks in the coastal region that have been claimed by Somalia’s Shebab militants.

“The attack in Lamu was well-planned, orchestrated and politically-motivated ethnic violence against a Kenyan community with the intention of profiling and evicting them for political reasons,” he said in a televised address to the nation.

“This therefore was not an alShebab attack. Evidence indicates that local political networks were involved in the planning and execution of a heinous crime,” he said.

“This also played into the opportunist network of other criminal gangs,” he added, without identifying the local groups he said were responsible.

The president also said that intelligence on the Mpeketoni attack had been made available to local security officers but that “unfortunately, the officers did not act”.

“Accordingly, all concerned officers have been suspended and will be charged immediately in a court of law,” he added.

His comments came even though the Shebab said they were responsible for Sunday night’s attack on the town of Mpeketoni, in which around 50 people were killed, and

Monday night’s attack on a nearby village that left 15 dead.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group said the attacks were further retaliation for Kenya’s military presence in Somalia as well as the Kenyan government’s “brutal oppression” of Muslims.

“It was our commandos who were taking care of things over the last two days in the Lamu area, and they will continue to do so,” a Shebab official told AFP by telephone after Kenyatta’s speech.

“We are fighting there because Kenyan troops are in our country and occupying parts if our nation.”

The Shebab had also claimed responsibility for last September ’s siege of the Westgate shopping mall in the capital Nairobi, in which 67 people were killed.

Militants ‘Shock’ Restored Unity

BAGHDAD - Iraq’s prime minister said yesterday that his government has regained the initiative after the “shock” defeat of its army and security forces in a lightning attack by Sunni militants in the country’s north. Meanwhile, diplomats said they were investigating claims of some 100 foreign workers being kidnapped in areas under militant control.

Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite who has been in office since 2006, said in a televised address that the loss last week of a large swath of territory has helped Iraq restore its national unity.

“We were able to contain the strike and arrest deterioration. ...

We have now started our counteroffensive, regaining the initiative and striking back,” alMaliki said.

Al-Maliki’s upbeat assessment came as news break of government forces regaining parts of a strategic city near the

- Iraq Premier

Syrian border that was captured of Monday by fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

It also came hours after the chief military spokesman, Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, said government forces yesterday repelled an attack by militants on the country’s largest oil refinery at Beiji, north of the capital. He said 40 attackers were killed in fighting there overnight and yesterday morning.

The Beiji refinery accounts for a little more than a quarter of the country’s entire refining capacity — all of which goes toward domestic consumption for things like gasoline, cooking oil and fuel for power stations. Any lengthy outage at Beiji risks long lines at the gas pump and electricity shortages, adding to

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the chaos already facing Iraq.

In New Delhi, the Foreign Ministry said that 40 Indian construction workers have been kidnapped in Iraq. Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said its diplomats were investigating claims that militants abducted 60 foreign construction workers, including some 15 Turks, near the oil city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said the government has been unable to contact the workers.

There are about 10,000 Indian citizens working and living in Iraq. Akbaruddin said only about 100 are in violent, insecure areas.

That includes the construction workers near Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, as well as 46 Indian nurses working in a

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Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta attends the signing of the Standard Gauge Railway agreement with China at the State House in Nairobi.

hospital in the Iraqi town of Tikrit. Both Mosul and Tikri were captured by the Islamic State last week.

Akbaruddin said humanitarian organizations have been in touch with the nurses, who are safe and have been advised to avoid travel by road.

India sent a senior diplomat to Baghdad yeaterday.

Near Kirkuk, which Kurdish fighters took over from fleeing Iraqi soldiers amid the militants’ advance, the Islamic State kidnapped 60 foreign construction workers building a hospital, Turkey’s private Dogan news agency reported yesterday.

The agency based its report on an unnamed worker who was reportedly freed by the militants.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry could not immediately confirm the report but said its embassy was investigating.

Ukraine President Offers Cease-Fire

KIEV, UKRAINE Ukraine’s President said yesterday that government forces will unilaterally cease fire to allow pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country a chance to lay down weapons or leave the country, a potential major development to bring peace to the country.

Petro Poroshenko’s plan, announced following conversations with Russian and German leaders, aims to end two months of fighting in eastern provinces that form the nation’s industrial heartland. It could also help ease the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War, which was triggered by Moscow’s annexation of Crimea that followed the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Russia president.

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a possible cease-fire in a phone conversation with Poroshenko late Tuesday.

Poroshenko’s office said he also discussed his peace plan with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“The plan will begin with my order for a unilateral ceasefire,” Poroshenko told reporters in Kiev. “I can say that the period of the ceasefire will be rather short. We anticipate, that immediately after this, the disarming of the illegal military formations will take place.”

He said that those who lay down arms and haven’t committed grave crimes will be granted amnesty, and there will be joint patrols against looters and other criminals.

Poroshenko didn’t say when the cease-fire could be declared, but the country’s defense minister, Mykhailo Koval, was quoted as saying the cease-fire could begin “literally within days.”

Any such cease-fire would raise the question of whether the separatists would respect it, and whether Russia had the desire or the ability to persuade them to do so.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

International Features

ISRAEL’S prime minister has urged the international community to demand the Westernbacked Palestinian president break off ties with the militant Hamas group over the abduction of three Israeli teens, the latest sign that Israel’s massive five-day-old search in the West Bank has broader objectives than finding the missing.

Israel said it also wants to destroy the Hamas infrastructure in the West Bank and apparently hopes to reclaim international support after the latest failure of U.S.led peace efforts.

Israel has launched its most significant military ground operation in more than five years since the three Jewish seminary students went missing last Thursday at a West Bank hitchhiking junction.

Troops have arrested more than 200 Palestinians, most of them Hamas activists, blocked roads and searched homes.

There has been no sign of life from the missing or demands issued by purported kidnappers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has alleged that Hamas was behind the abductions, but has offered no proof, while the Islamic militant group has praised the deed, but not claimed responsibility.

The abductions, accompanied by wall-towall Israeli media coverage and prayer vigils, have created unexpected diplomatic openings for Netanyahu, who only last week had found himself

Israel Seeks World Pressure On Palestinians

increasingly isolated in the international arena.

At the time, the United States and Europe were ignoring Netanyahu’s appeals to shun the Palestinian unity government, a 17member Cabinet of technocrats largely loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, but backed by Hamas.

The Israeli leader had also lost international goodwill after the latest failure of talks on

confrontations with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu has also used the episode to try to discredit the Palestinian unity government.

The international community “has to condemn Hamas for its terrorist activities and ... must call on President Abbas to end his pact with Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a meeting with Mideast

after it became clear in April that there is not enough common ground between him and Netanyahu to reach a peace deal.

The unity government also was to give Abbas a foothold in the Gaza Strip, the territory Hamas had seized in 2007 and where it remains the de facto power.

Even before the

Israeli soldiers search for three missing teenagers including an American who they fear have been abducted by Palestinian militants during a military operation in the West Bank city of Hebron.

Palestinian statehood, with Israel held partially responsible because of its ongoing settlement expansion on occupied lands.

Since the kidnappings, Israel has been able to crack down on Hamas in the West Bank — in the context of the search for the missing teens — without an international outcry or drawing allegations that it is provoking unnecessary

envoy Tony Blair.

“Anybody who supports peace must tell the Palestinian Authority that they cannot build a government that is backed by the kidnappers of children and the murderers of innocents,” he said.

Abbas, meanwhile, is finding himself increasingly boxed in.

Reconciliation with Hamas had provided him with an alternate strategy

abductions, reconciliation efforts were off to a bumpy start, with key issues unresolved.

However, it would be exceedingly difficult for Abbas to walk away from the unity deal in response to the kidnappings. That would go against Palestinian public opinion shaped by widespread speculation that the purported kidnappers were somehow trying to press for the release of

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Abbas has condemned the kidnappings.

Abbas’ next move will depend on whether Hamas was in fact involved, as Israel claims, said Hana Amireh, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, who attended a meeting chaired by Abbas over the weekend.

“If it is true that Hamas is behind this abduction, then this is a position we don’t understand,” he said. He stopped short of saying that even then, Abbas would dismantle the alliance.

Ali Barake, a Hamas representative in Lebanon, said Tuesday that “we do not have any information on the kidnapping.”

Netanyahu, meanwhile, has strongly signaled that he is upset over what, in Israel’s eyes, has been a tepid international response to the kidnapping. He has said he “expects” strong i n t e r n a t i o n a l condemnations, while complaining about the uproar over Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank or east Jerusalem.

Last Tuesday, five days after the crisis erupted, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the abductions “in the strongest terms” and called for the release of

“Netanyahu, meanwhile, has strongly signaled that he is upset over what, in Israel’s eyes, has been a tepid international response to the kidnapping. He has said he “expects” strong international condemnations, while complaining about the uproar over Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank or east Jerusalem.”

the teens. The U.S. and other allies have also spoken out against the kidnappings, though they have stopped short of explicitly blaming Hamas. The West has shown no signs of ending its readiness to work with the new Palestinian government.

Tamir Sheafer, an expert in political communication at the Hebrew University, said the international response was “definitely not as strong” as Israel had hoped.

He said Israel’s leadership may have had unrealistic expectations, especially since it is not certain that Hamas was involved. He also noted that other crises, such as the heavy fighting in Iraq, are attracting most of the world’s attention.

But he also said Israel’s own policies may be to blame. He said the Israeli government expects international support in times of crisis, but has rebuffed international demands when it comes to ending its longtime occupation of the West Bank and reaching peace with the Palestinians.

Ben Caspit, a liberal newspaper columnist in the Maariv daily, this week questioned the wisdom of continuing to settle the West Bank and allowing teenagers to hitchhike in the territory late at night.

“There are other people who think that to choose to live in the territories among millions of Palestinians who regard you as an occupier and who yearn for you to die an agonizing death is a form of irresponsibility,” he wrote. “No, we are not blaming the boys, since they acted in keeping with the accepted norm. We were only wondering about that accepted norm.”

Courtesy AP

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Holy Grail And Out Pouring Man And Of The Holy Spirit Nature

MANIFOLD are the interpretations of the legends which exist about the Holy Grail. The most serious scholars and investigations have occupied themselves with the mystery. Much of their work has high moral value, but it all shows one built from the earth upwards while the essential thing, the ray of light from above, which alone could bring animation and enlightenment, is missing.

All who strive from below upwards must come to a halt at the boundary line of the material sphere, even if they are granted to conceive the greatest possible heights. In most case, however, even under the most favourable conditions, barely half this road can be conversed.

These feeling that it is so unattainable, finally grows upon the investigators, with the result that they try to regard the Grail purely as the symbolic expression of an idea, so as to give it the high place they rightly feel in its properly due. But in so doing, they actually, go backwards, not forwards, downwards instead of upwards. They deviate from the right way, which is already indicated to some extent in the legends.

No human spirit, even if it has attained its greatest perfection and immortality will ever be able to face the Holy Grail itself. It is for this reason that, unless a messenger is sent from there, no detailed tidings about it can ever reach the World of Matter. Thus, the Holy Grail will remain a mystery to human spirit for all eternity (Abd-ru-shin in the light of truth).

Abd-ru-shin admonishes man to keep to what he can grasp spiritually and above all, he should try to fulfill what lies in his power and develop it to its most noble state of perfection.

Unfortunately, Abd-ru-shin says, man is always too anxious to reach out far beyond these limits without developing his essential abilities. There by he is guilty of a negligence which prevents him even from reaching what he otherwise could, whereas, in any case, he could never attain the goal of his desires. He thus, deprives himself of the most

beautiful and sublime part of his true being with the result that he completely fails to fulfill the purpose of his existence.

Abd-ru-shin the author of “Grail Message”, in the light of truth says the immutable lawfulness of Divine Will decrees that everything, after it has complete its cycle of development and reached it highest state of perfection, may return to the starting point of its original substance, but never beyond it. Thus, also the human spirit.

The human spirit He says originated as a spirit-germ in the sphere of spiritual substantiality to which it may

sublime is God Himself in His Divine Insubstantiality.

Next and somewhat lower, comes Divine substantiality.

Both are eternal Adjacent to this, going deeper and deeper, follows the work of creation which, descending in planes or spheres, becomes denser and denser down to the World of Gross Matter, which is finally visible to mankind.

The Ethereal part within the World of matter is what men call the beyond. Thus, what lies beyond their earthly or physical capacity the work of creation and are not eternal with regard to their form, purpose of renewal and regeneration.

as well as clearly realizing His mission.

This mission will also, bring redemption to those who are seriously seeking and goes hand in hand with a stern judgment (Abd-ru-shin-in The Light of Truth).

At the summit of the eternal sphere of spiritual substantiality stands the castle of the Grail, spiritually visible and tangible, because it is still of the same species of spiritual substantiality.

The castle of the Grail contains a sanctuary which lies on the outermost boarder adjacent to the Divine sphere and is still finer consistency

return as a conscious spirit embodied in a substantiate form if, after its course through the world of matter, it has achieved its highest state of perfection and attained a living purity. No spirit belonging to this sphere, however sublime, pure and radiant, can cross the boundary line into the Divine sphere. The boundary line here and the impossibility of crossing it, as in the spheres or plains of material creation, is in the nature of things simply a question of the difference between the species.

The highest and most

Parsifal is a great promise.

The defects and errors which the poets have added to the legends through their too earthly way of thinking distort the true essence of this figure. Parsifal is identical with the son of man, whose coming the son of God Himself proclaimed.

As a Divine Messenger with His spiritual sight blindfolded, He will have to go through the most hardships on earth, outwardly a man among men. After a certain time, when His spiritual sight is restored. He will inevitably recognize His origin and therewith Himself,

than the rest of spiritual substantiality.

In this sanctuary, as a pledge of the eternal Goodness of God the father as His purest Divine Love and the point from which Divine Power issues stands the Holy Grail (Abdru-shin-in The Light of Truth).

Abd-ru-shin says, there is a chalice in which it bubbles and surges unceasingly like red blood without overflowing. Enveloped as it is in the most humanous Light, it is granted only to the purest of spirits in the Realm of spiritual substantiality to look into the light. There are

“As a Divine Messenger with His spiritual sight blindfolded, He will have to go through the most hardships on earth, outwardly a man among men. After a certain time, when His spiritual sight is restored. He will inevitably recognize His origin and therewith Himself, as well as clearly realizing His mission.”

With O.C. MADU 08056379608 the guardians of the Holy Grail.

No human spirit, Abd-rushin says can enter this Holy sanctuary. Even in its most perfect state of spiritual substantiality.

The Guardians of the Grail Abdru-shin says are Eternal Primordial Spiritual Beings who never were human beings. They are the highest of all in the Realm of spiritual substantiality. However, they are in need of Divine unsubstantiated power and

great happiness, vibrate through all the spheres. Only the spirit of earthman still stands aside, without intuitively sensing what is happening particularly, to him at that moment or in what a dull-witted manner he accepts such an immeasurable gift, because, the limitations he imposed upon himself through his intellect no longer permit him to grasp such greatness.

It is the moment when a new supply of vital energy is sent

are dependent upon it as well as it is dependent on Divine insubstantiality, the source of all power, God the Father.

Do you know that creation is Renewed once Every year?

From time to time on the Day of the Holy Dove, the Dove appears above the chalice as a renewal token of the unalterable Divine love of the father. It is the hour of communion which brings about the renewal of power.

The Guardians of the Grail receive it in humble devotion and can then transmit this magic power. On this Abdru-shin says depends the existence of the whole creation?

It is the moment in which the love of the creator radiantly flows forth in the Temple of the Holy Grail, bringing new life and a new urge to create, pulsating downwards and diffusing itself through all the universe.

A trembling and a holy awe, with forebodings of joy and

out into the entire creation.

Abd-ru-shin says that it is the necessary, ever-recurring ratification of the covenant between the creator and His work. Should this supply ever be cut off, should it ever fail to come, inevitably all that exists would slowly dry up, grow old and disinter-great.

The end of all days would then come and only God Himself would remain, as it was in the very beginning, because He alone is life. The human spirit, however, owing to its nature Abd-ru-shin says can never behold it. But the blessing radiating forth from it, which can be and is being passed on by the Guardians of the Grail, can be absorbed and enjoyed by those human spirits who open themselves to it.

Abd-ru-shin says the appearance of the Dove on the special Day of the Holy Dove indicates the sending of the Holy Spirit on each occasion, for this Dove stand sin very close connection with the Holy Spirit.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Mexico Hail ‘Our Saviour Ochoa’

MEXICO held on for a goalless draw against the powerful World Cup hosts Brazil on Tuesday, and they have their goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to thank for the valuable point. score and it went high and they Ochoa just managed to keep had a couple of shots as well and Neymar from scoring in the 26th couldn’t score. minute, with the Brazilian’s “But what I have seen gives header set to fly just inside the post when Ochoa dived to his me reason to remain calm. It is a key step in showing us that we right to push the ball wide. are where we need to be.”

Ochoa also made three other difficult saves to keep the hosts Ochoa finished with six saves, the first Mexican goalkeeper to from breaking the deadlock — a shot by Paulinho, a second-half save that many in a World Cup effort by Neymar and a closegame since Antonio Carbajal kept a clean sheet against range header by Thiago Silva in Uruguay in 1966. the 86th minute which produced “Memo was our saviour,” a remarkable block at close Mexico defender Rafa Marquez range.

“He responded as we figured said after the match. “We put in he would,” said Mexico coach all our effort, but we knew it was going to be tough.”

Miguel Herrera. “Three Brazil and Mexico now each extraordinary saves. We tried to

Belief High In USA Camp ALTIDORE hurt his hamstring in the USA’s 2-1 win over Ghana on Monday and appears likely to miss Sunday’s Group G clash in Manaus.

Klinsmann revealed that he had urged his men to move on from their opening-game triumph at the FIFA World Cup, and believes they can overcome a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal.

“We only talk now about how

Klinsmann

Klinsmann

we can beat this Portuguese team with all these amazing players they have,” the German said.

“This is our goal and we believe in it and believe we can go to Manaus and beat them. We want to get in the next round and if it takes beating Portugal then this is what we have to do.”

Klinsmann was unwilling to say whether Altidore would miss the encounter as the 24-year-old awaits the result of scans.

He is keen to keep Portugal guessing, but admitted that the Sunderland foward’s absence would be a blow.

“I don’t want to go too deep into details because obviously we want Portugal to guess a little bit as well but when one of your key players is not available does it change certain things?

Absolutely it does,” Klinsmann said.

“Jozy is a very strong and key player in our group so we will

think about the right way to handle the situation.

“We still can field 11 and we are not a man down, we have somebody coming in and we will make it very difficult for Portugal in Manaus and find solutions.”

Klinsmann feels goal difference could be key after Germany thrashed Portugal 4-0 in their opening game, but he will not go into his team’s second match looking for a draw.

“We have very good players in this squad and we have the confidence to go into that game and say, ‘we are here and want to beat you and get into the next round’,” Klinsmann said.

“Our approach is not to go to Manaus and defend for 1-1 or 00 or whatever it is, but we go there and want to win this game.”

have four points in Group A after they each won their first games against Croatia and Cameroon, who play on Wednesday.

Guillermo Ochoa preserved a clean sheet by stopping Thiago Silva’s late header on Tuesday.

Ochoa said he was satisfied with the draw.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult match,” the goalkeeper said. “Brazil is always tough and in their home stadium. We knew they would give twice the effort but it is good point for us and good for us in this group.”

When asked if it was his best performance of his career, Ochoa said, “I think yes. To hold the

Ochoa

Pele Misses Brazil KickOff In Traffic

We Still Have Hope ALGERIA winger Sofiane Feghouli believes his side can still qualify for the knockout stage despite going down 2-1 to Belgium in their 2014 FIFA World Cup Group H opener against Belgium.

The Valencia midfielder fired the Fennec Foxes ahead from the penalty spot midway through the first half but second-half strikes from Dries Mertens and Marouane Fellaini saw the Belgians walking away with all three points.

“We are disappointed by this defeat, which is quite logical because not only did we play well, we also led for most of the game,” Feghouli told APS. “That said, there is nothing to be ashamed of because we lost a tight game against one of the tournament favorites. In my opinion, that is an important fact that should be taken into account.

“The best we can do now is

- Feghouli

to build on these positive points we found against Belgium, to move forward and achieve better results against Russia and South Korea.

“This means that nothing is lost yet to Algeria and after what we have shown today (against Belgium), we still have hope.”

Vahid Halilhodzic’s side will now take on Korea Republic on June 22 before facing Russia on June 26.

Algeria celebrate after scoring a goal against Belgium

Muller Backs Muller To Break Record

GERMANY legend Gerd Muller has backed his namesake Thomas to become the World Cup’s all-time top goalscorer.

Muller scored a hat trick as Joachim Low’s side began their World Cup campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Portugal on Monday, taking his World Cup tally to eight goals in just seven appearances.

World champions to zero it isn’t easy, I am happy with that.

“I think the shot I stopped with my head was the best of the three.”

Herrera said El Tri were worthy of the point ahead of their final group-stage match against Croatia.

“This has the taste of a tie,” he said. “Yes, it was a great match against a great rival in their home stadium and country but this shows what we are up against.

“It was a very equal match obviously they had the fans but we showed we are ready for what is coming.”

Ronaldo holds the all-time World Cup record with 15 goals — a tally veteran Germany attacker Miroslav Klose is only one behind, with his 14-goal haul the same as Gerd Muller’s.

Klose, playing in his fourth World Cup, was an unused substitute against Portugal, with Thomas Muller taking his place.

And namesake Gerd told Sport

Bild: “I am convinced that Thomas Muller will nab the World Cup goal record, because he still has two or three more World Cups in him.”

He said he had his “fingers crossed” that Muller, who won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the 2010 tournament, could defend that title.

German Chancellor Angela

Merkel, who was at the Portugal match, visited the Germany dressing room where she praised the players — and told Muller to keep on scoring goals.

“We exchanged a few words,” the Bayern player told Bild. “She does expect a couple more goals.

But I don’t have to score three in every match — she’d prefer it if I divided them into several games.”

TRAFFIC stopped Pele from seeing some of Brazil’s goalless draw against Mexico. Pele missed the first half of Brazil’s 2014 World Cup Group A game against Mexico as he was stuck in traffic.

Luckily the three-time World Cup winner did not miss any goals as the Selecao were held to a goalless draw.

Pele told Globo TV: “For the first time I had to listen to the first half of a Brazil game inside a car, we were stuck in traffic.”

Transportation authorities in Sao Paulo reported that 302 km of roads and highways suffered from traffic backlogs in the city as scores of residents attempted to make it home in time for the game.

The all-time high occurred on May 23 when 344 km of road suffered traffic jams.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Carragher Warns Of Suarez Threat URUGUAY striker Luis Suarez is a phenomenon who will be at “full throttle” against England today, according to his former Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has warned England to expect Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, pictured, to be at “full throttle” today The South American forward has been sidelined since a minor knee operation late last month and sat out his nation’s surprise defeat to Costa Rica in their opening match of the World Cup. However, earlier this week Suarez claimed he was fully fit and Carragher warned England of the danger he will pose in Sao Paulo.

“You wouldn’t expect him to be 100 per cent fit but Luis Suarez is different from others players in world football - he’s a phenomenon,” said the former Reds centre-back.

“It is one of the few times I can remember him being injured as he’s played the last four summers on the bounce.

“I’m not expecting a 100 per cent fit Luis Suarez, but not far from it.

“He’s a winner and I don’t think he will be going into the game worrying about his injury.

“Some players go on to the pitch when they’re coming back from an injury and they’re not the same

physically and mentally.

“He won’t have that in his head though. I know what type of character he is and he’ll be full throttle.

“Whether he’s as sharp as he normally is remains to be seen but he will not be worried one iota about his injury.

“It won’t stop him harrying people and trying things. That is what makes him a great player.”

Today’s game is one neither side can afford to lose after both suffered defeats last week.

England’s loss against Italy saw Wayne Rooney, played out of position on the left, come in for significant criticism.

But Carragher does not expect England boss Roy Hodgson to make any kneejerk reactions.

“I don’t think there will be too many changes from the starting XI. I think there’ll be a light tweak with Wayne in the middle and Raheem (Sterling) out wide,” he told talkSPORT. “People criticised him (Rooney) on the left-hand side as it is not his favourite position but as players we all know you have to do a job for

the team.

“We know he is better centrally but that is not the argument; he was involved in a good team performance and he created the goal.

“He is not playing at his absolute best but he is not playing poorly.

“It looks like he has become a scapegoat and his performances don’t warrant that.”

Mascot

Kerzhakov celebrates

Capello Unwilling To Blame Akinfeev

Drogba Lauds Aurier’s IVORY Coast captain, Impact

Didier Drogba, has applauded the impact of right-back Serge Aurier that saw the Elephants make a comeback against Japan in their first World Cup of 2014.

The Toulouse man supplied crosses to both Wilfried Bony and Gervinho to reverse the 1-0 deficit and beat Alberto Zaccheroni’s side 2-1 last Saturday.

“Serge brought us energy and balance, and he had a fantastic game,” said the 36-year-old.

“He’s the best right-back

Didier Drogba

in all of France. I think he’ll do well at the next level too, in the Premier League.

“It’s good to see we have a new generation coming through.

“This is what we need and it’s good for our football. It gives us energy. It gives us spirit.

“We’re trying to bring all the young ones up the right way, to bring them along in the spirit of this team.”

Lee

WITH the first half of Tuesday’s game in Cuiaba ending scoreless, Hong waited just 11 minutes after half-time to throw Lee on up front in place of Park Chuyoung and the Sangju Sangmu striker opened the scoring in the 68th minute.

Lee needed some luck to score with Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev letting the 29year-old’s long-range shot slip through his hands and into the net but Hong claimed

he always believed the forward could make an impact against the experienced Russian back four.

While South Korea have the fifth-youngest squad at the FIFA World Cup, Russia are in the top 10 for average age and started with a back four including three players in their 30s.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Hong explained that he told Lee

Lee’s Impact Was Planned -Hong Russia’s defenders ‘would be tired and slowing down and he should prepare for that and be more aggressive’.

Although Russia’s substitute striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov equalised six minutes later, Hong was pleased with the 1-1 draw to open South Korea’s World Cup campaign.

“We didn’t get the win but we can be happy with the draw,” the 45-year-old said.

“It was our first match of

the competition and opening matches are always difficult.

Even so, I’m happy with what I saw.

“We studied Russia and their coach’s tactics carefully and we prepared very well for the game. My players have given their very best and showed how good they are in both a tactical and physical sense.”

South Korea’s next match in Group H will be against Algeria in Porto Alegre on Sunday.

AKINFEEV fumbled a longrange Lee Keun-ho strike into his own net but Aleksandr Kerzhakov rescued a draw for Russia with an equaliser in the Group H clash at the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.

Capello said it was just an unfortunate error from his shotstopper and was pleased his team were able to fight back.

“Goalkeepers can make mistakes like any other player and today it happened to a great champion like Igor Akinfeev,” he said.

“Fortunately we were able to make up for his mistake.”

Capello, who turns 68 on Wednesday, said he was content with his team’s performance despite them being below their best.

“We played a solid match and I’m satisfied with our performance,” he said.

“My players reacted well after the opening goal and it was the best possible birthday present they could have given me. Even so, I’m a little disappointed because we could have won the game.

“We were very edgy at the start and we weren’t able to play our usual football. Even so, we still created danger, without ever really managing to be at our best.

“The South Koreans did some good things as a team, especially in terms of possession, but we were able to keep them at a distance.”

THE NIGERIAN

30

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Eagles Need Flexibility To Overrun Opponents

Today’s Matches

- Fans

SOME soccer fans on Tuesday said that the Super Eagles game against their Iranian counterparts lacked needed flexibility to overrun opponents.

The fans, who watched the match in a viewing centre in Okokomaiko in Lagos, bared their minds after the goal-less match.

“I expected them to display some beautiful skills that are traditional with our national team.

“The current crop of Eagles needs to buckle up to fit into the likes of Austin Jay-Jay Okocha in order to advance in the tournament.

Mr Jaccob Ishola, who expressed dissatisfaction at the team’s 5-3-3 formation, said that it created disconnection among the players.

“There was always a disconnection between the midfield and the attackers; this made it difficult for them to score,” Ishola said.

Mr Tobi Arowolo described the players as ‘heavy footed’, saying that the players were not ‘enterprising’.

“They lack the skills needed in a match of this level; it is obvious that Nigerians overrated them,” Arowolo noted.

He said that the match would have been a morale booster for the Eagles if they had won.

Arowolo appealed to the coaches to work more on the team before its next match with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday.

According to Arowolo, this will enable Nigerians at home to have something to celebrate.

Colombia

vs

Côte d’Ivoire

Uruguay

vs

England

Japan

vs

Greece

Stephen Keshi

THE defender copped an injury during Monday’s game against Iran and failed to train with the team in Campinas on Tuesday evening Nigeria await scan results to determine if defender Godfrey Oboabona will still play in the World Cup. The 23-year-old has an injury on his foot as a result of being stamped on by an opponent’s studs, during Monday’s goalless draw with Iran in Curitiba. He was replaced in the 29th minute by captain Joseph Yobo.

The Caykur Rizespor man failed to train with the team on Tuesday night in Campinas where they are based. There is

word that he could miss the rest of the tournament.

“We are waiting for scan results on Wednesday to determine the state of the injury,” team media officer Ben Alaiya told Goal.

Regarded as the backbone of the Super Eagles backline, Oboabona’s loss would be a great blow to their World Cup campaign.

Nigeria will play BosniaHerzegovina in their second match in Cuiaba on Friday. It is a game both sides need to win in order to stand a chance of reaching the second round.

Oladipo Urges Nigerians To Remain Steadfast In Prayers

Oboabona in a friendly match between Nigeria and USA

THE President-General, Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rafiu Oladipo, on Tuesday urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in prayers for the Super Eagles to overcome the disappointment of Monday’s goalless draw against Iran.

Oladipo told newsmen in Sao Paulo, Brazil that Nigerians should not despair over the chances of the Eagles

Eagles Can Still Soar

A former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Taiwo Ogunjobi, on Tuesday said that the Super Eagles should focus on how to qualify from the group stage.

Ogunjobi, in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, said that the team should put the disappointing goalless draw with Iran behind them.

“The players and the technical crew should put the disappointment of their inability to secure the maximum three

points in their match against Iran behind them.

“We need to move on, what the team needs to do now is to focus on the second match against Bosnia. They did not perform badly in the match against Iran.

“I’m sure the handlers of the

Says Ogunjobi

team know how to get the boys to convert their opportunities into goals.

“The truth is that I believe Eagles can still soar with support from all angles,’’ Ogunjobi said.

Ex-International, Peter Rufai, said that the Nigerian team was anxious to score in the match.

Rufai, a former goalkeeper of

Keshi Targets Bosnia Scalp

THE Netherlands romped to a 5-1 win over defending champions Spain while Costa

Nigeria Await Oboabona Scan Result

Rica defeated Uruguay 3-1 as the opening round of fixtures

at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil served up plenty of eyecatching results.

And Keshi has challenged his players to produce a polished performance against a Bosnia side who frustrated Group F favourites Argentina before slipping to a 2-1 loss in their opener.

Despite being tournament debutants, Bosnia sit 21st in the world rankings – Nigeria are 44th – but Keshi is confident of springing a surprise.

Keshi said: “I’m not God, I’m just a coach and I will do what I have to do and that’s it.

“Even the best coaches in the world cannot tell you they will win before the game.

“We will try to prepare ourselves, we will work together and see what happens.

“We saw (a surprise result from) Costa Rica, we saw (another surprise result) Holland and Spain.

“With football you never can tell, whatever comes my way, I will take it.”

Saturday’s crucial clash in Cuiaba will be the first meeting between the two countries, with Nigeria having started their World Cup campaign with a dour goalless draw against Iran.

the Super Eagles, also said that the team’s defence, midfield and the attack did not connect well.

He urged the players to believe in themselves and not rest on their oars.

Segun Oguns, a former national team goalkeeper trainer, also said he believed that the connection between the midfield and the attack needed to be strengthened.

He said that they should go back to watch the video clips of the match to identify their mistakes in order to correct them ahead of their next match.

“The lapses they observe in the video clips should be used ahead of training in consequent matches to be played,’’ he said.

Festus Allen, a former coach of 3SC Football Club of Ibadan, said that the result of the match could affect the country chances of getting to the next stage of the tournament.

Allen urged the players to lift up their game in the next match against Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure the three points at stake.

“The result of our match against Iran can affect our qualification to the next round from the group.

in the World Cup. “Pray without ceasing, and God in His infinite mercies, will see us through,’’ he said.

Oladipo noted that the Eagles on several occasions, started competitions on a slow note only to pick up in subsequent matches.

The President-General said he was optimistic that the Eagles would improve on their performance in subsequent matches.

He said that with the belief in God, the prayers of Nigerians would not go unanswered and the team would not crash out in the group stage.

Oladipo, who is also the President-General, African Football and Other Sports Supporters Union (AFOSSU), also urged the Eagles to brace up in their matches against Bosnia and Argentina.

“Eagles should brace up against their opponents in their next matches, they should not be complacent.

“The statistics of the match against Iran showed that Nigeria had an upper hand in the match, but our boys could not convert opportunities before them.

“They should go all out against Bosnia and Argentina; the two matches are winnable.

“They should be courageous and should not nurse any form of fear or intimidation against their next opponents.

“They should not allow the outcome of the first match dampen their morale and determination to advance,’’ he said.

Nigeria will meet Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday and Argentina on June 26 in their remaining Group F matches.

THE NIGERIAN

31

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

National Deaf Football Invites 30 Players To Camp KAMILUDEEN Oladimeji, Head Coach of the National Deaf Football Team yesterday said that 30 players had been invited to camp in preparation for the 4th West African Football Championship.

The championship is billed to hold from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14 in Togo.

Oladimeji told newsmen in Lagos that the camp would commence in the second week of July at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

He added that the camp ought

to have commenced before now, but lack of funds was responsible for the delay.

“For now, we have invited 30 players and they are expected to resume camping next month in Lagos.

“We proposed to resume camp earlier before now, but we were unable to raise funds to commence preparation on time,’’ Oladimeji said.

According to the coach, the country had won the three previous editions of the

competition.

Oladimeji noted that the team could also retain the title for the fourth time, if given the needed support and encouragement to excel.

“It will be remarkable to win the fourth edition of the competition but the only way is to prepare well and also get support that would motivate the team,’’ the coach said.

Oladimeji appealed to private bodies and influential Nigerians to identify with the team by supporting it.

THE International Paralympic Committee (IPC), on Tuesday announced that some track and field events expected to feature at the 2016 paralympics Games could be delisted due to insufficient athletes for the sports.

IPC, in a statement, said that 27 of the 177 scheduled events are currently not meeting the minimum eligibility criteria as of June 6, due

2014 Commonwealth Games

NSC Tasks Federations On Doping

THE Director-General of the National Sports should be able to win at least Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has charged 15 gold medals.

“This is because we have federations whose sports would be featured at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, to avoid doping while representing started preparations early enough, since all federations the country.

“Do not hide anybody who Elegbeleye said this in you see as suspicious, just have started camping now Abuja on Tuesday, during a because you see such as a and the Athletics Federation has started trials in Calabar. sensitisation programme on potential medallist.

“We started the camp not Anti-doping for Secretaries, “There is no competition Head Coaches and Technical for federations on who comes because we got the funds as Directors involved in the first in terms of the number at then, but we believe we 2014 Commonwealth of medals won and your jobs need to prepare on time,’’ Elegbeleye said.

Games. are not at stake.

He added that as part of Team Nigeria will feature “So, we want you to win some in eight sports at the Games honourably,’’ the NSC preparations, federations would be going scheduled to hold in director-general said. outside Nigeria for foreign Glasgow, Scotland from July Elegbeleye said the camping.

23 to August. 3. commission was in the “Some federations will be The director-general said process of inviting the though, he expected Nigeria Secretary of the World Anti- going outside Nigeria in the to put up an impressive Doping Agency (WADA), to next two weeks for foreign performance, the athletes ensure that Nigeria was not camping because there are should do the country proud blacklisted in combating some areas we don’t have the facilities for training. without using performance doping.

“For example, para-power enhancing drugs.

He expressed optimism that “We lost one of the 11 Nigeria could surpass its lifting, the last time the team medals we won at the 2010 previous achievements at the went to South Korea before edition to doping and by 2010 edition of the Games the 2010 Commonwealth Games, they won all the records, we had three athletes held in New Delhi, India. available medals. that tested positive to doping “We won 11 gold medals at “And I was there at their at the same edition. that edition but now, we “But this time around, we don’t want to have such records, so we believe that the sensitisation starts from the federation coaches and technical directors.

“They should monitor the athletes because they can be caught, but may just want to try it out. So, we want everyone to take the issue of doping seriously.

“We want to win because of good preparations and we have the ability to do it, without enhancing drugs because it tarnishes the image of the country,’’ Elegbeleye said.

He said the coaches should not hide any of the athletes on the assumption that they were prospective medallists.

Tammy Danagogo, Sports Minister

camp and saw their facilities, which we do not have here.

“So, for us to go and do well, we need to take them there to get them prepared and probably get the same results,’’ the NSC DG added.

Newsmen reports that Nigeria will feature in wrestling, para-power lifting, power lifting, boxing, athletics, weightlifting, table tennis and shooting at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Rio 2016 Games

IPC Delists 27 Paralympic Events to the population of athletes.

According to the statement, Ryan Montgomery, Head of IPC Athletics, urged national federations to ensure that all athletes are registered and licensed, in order to provide an accurate data for proposed events.

It added that the events would be removed and replaced, in line with the RIO 2016 Event Replacement Policy, if it failed to meet the criteria.

“When we announced the initial Rio 2016 Medal Event Programme last August, our aim was to create greater gender equality and a wider spectrum of events for all classes.

“We still believe we can achieve this alongside the

work of National Paralympic Committees.

Currently, some events are in jeopardy of not making the programme due to the population of athletes.

“Before we make a final decision, we want to ensure that all athletes with the potential are registered and licensed for the Rio Games.

“This step will ensure that we have the exact numbers because at the moment, we do not think this is the case,’’ the statement quoted Montgomery as saying.

The statement said that out of the 27 events currently not meeting the eligibility criteria, just six are men’s events, while 21 are from the women’s side of competition.

Spurs face each other in a North London clash at the Emirates, while Liverpool and Everton face off in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

The first Manchester derby of the season takes place on Nov. 1, when Van Gaal takes the Red Devils to the Etihad.

The final day of the campaign sees City host Southampton, while United go to Hull, Liverpool visit Stoke, Arsenal host West Brom and Chelsea are at home to Sunderland — the

club that ended Jose Mourinho’s long unbeaten Stamford Bridge run as Blues manager.

Meanwhile, the three teams relegated from the Premier League last season all begin their campaigns to bounce back to the top flight away from home.

Norwich travel to League One winners Wolves, Fulham visit Ipswich and Cardiff are at Blackburn Rovers, with the Championship season kicking off on August 9.

City Begin Title Defence At Newcastle

PREMIER League champions Manchester City begin their defence of the title at Newcastle on Aug. 16 — and then take on runners-up Liverpool at the Eithad Stadium a week later.

The opening day fixture list gives Louis van Gaal a home debut as Manchester United manager, taking on Swansea at Old Trafford, while third-placed Chelsea travel to newlypromoted Burnley.

FA Cup winners Arsenal begin their campaign at home to London rivals Crystal Palace before facing a tough first away game against Everton at Goodison Park.

Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert is reunited with his former club Southampton at Anfield on day one, and West Ham and Spurs begin their campaigns with a London derby at Upton Park.

Leicester City start their return to life in the top division with a home game against Everton, and playoff winners QPR do so at home to FA Cup runners-up Hull.

Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool’s tough start to the season continues with a visit to Spurs on the third weekend, when Everton and Chelsea meet at Goodison and Burnley take on United at Turf Moor.

The weekend of Sep. 27 brings a double derby showdown — Arsenal and

Manuel Pellegrini, City manager

THE NIGERIAN

32

THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014

Who Owns The Purchase Price Solo: I heartily congratulate the APC on a most successful National Convention, which culminated in the election of Chief John Odigie Oyegun as the party’s First Citizen.

Bravo! A better choice, none could be! APC is now set to make history.

Mac: I join in congratulating the party and the newly elected officers. I was just thinking that we should invite Professor Godfrey to come and organize a refresher course on Pol. Science 101 so that we can be reminded of the rudiments of representative democracy.

Our legislators ought to know that they are there to represent us because it is practically impossible for all of us to be there at the same time.

Solo: You are damn right! They must be told that the fat salaries and the sundry allowances they collect belong to us.

Whatever they get must be kept in trust for us.

Mac: Well, that argument is right only for strict constructionists. To the extent that we all have our different callings where we earn a living, we should allow them to keep their salaries and allowances. After all, the labourer is deserving of his wage. Besides, he is entitled to all those summer trips abroad along with the “man-nobe-wood” fringe benefits.

Again, we must constantly remember that every occupation has its hazards that must be borne by those

engaged therein, which cannot be shared by those outside. With the chamber of the legislative assembly virtually becoming a boxing arena, we cannot easily rule out the possibility of a member coming out any day with a broken head from a flying maze. And there is always the threat of Boko Haram invasion. In the

who elected him; to speak to their convictions and uncertainties; to protect their interests; and to defend his actions before them. To the extent that in a marriage situation, the bride price is paid to the family instead of the bride, the purchase price of a decamping legislator must be eaten by the generality of the electorate.

the “commodities” did not say what would have happened had Comrade upped his offer to say N60 million. Who can really out-give the federal might?

We hear they are gearing up to offer more than N200 million as 2015 gathers momentum. Is this the type of money we are expecting those blokes to chop alone? The money must be

event of such an invasion, the legislator can only count himself lucky if he is taken to a faraway evil forest and not killed outright. These are risks that cannot be shared with anybody.

Solo: OK. The points have been well canvassed and properly articulated.

But where does this leave us with the purchase price of the defecting members?

Should they also keep that?

Mac: Emm… We are not unmindful of the obvious fact that the legislator is expected to look continually to the people

Strangely enough, these things are not hidden anymore, thanks to our electronic age. In the particular case of the “Edo Four”, Comrade announced that each of them got N50 million from the federal might. Did they quite deny this? They only spoke in a tone that suggested that Comrade was offering them N30 million not to go. This Comrade must be tightfisted. He must have some glue in those palms. How could he be offering N30 million to people who were already on display for N50 million? All the same,

brought home before it begins to purge them.

Solo: And whether we like it or not, that money is already becoming stale.

In the next few months, those guys are unlikely to be flamboyant in their expenditure patterns since their purchase prices are

already commonplace.

They will recoil into their shells.

Mac: Did those decampees really need to rush to the court to prevent their seats from being declared vacant? They perhaps concentrated their attention on Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a member shall vacate his seat if he decamps from the political party that sponsored his election. The framers of the Constitution realized that a member could be thoroughly oppressed and he would have no choice but to remain in the party.

Beyond this point, a continued stay in the party would be nothing short of slavery, hence they provided that the member may not vacate his seat if his departure is as a result of a rift in his former party.

It is an established fact that the APC in Edo State has been factionalized beyond measure for some time now. Ideally, no one wants to leave a house in which he is comfortable.

From a distance, it is clear that the “Edo Four” lost their comfort in that Assembly since the days of the turbulent debates on the Property Tax Bill. They had been mere hangers-on.

That’s why the Court had no problem in granting

their request. They were granted an empty power, the power they already had.

Solo: The court ruling did not, however, buy them the right to behave in any way that is unbecoming of Honourable members. If they did, the House would deal with them with its Rules and there is hardly anything the court can do about that. That’s where we are now.

Mac: Come to think of it, we are faced with more questions than answers.

Have these members really decamped from the APC? It appears to me that they have merely given notice of their intention to decamp. These are people who came into the party individually.

At registration, they made individual applications on the basis of which they were admitted and given personalized membership slips. What justification do they have to form themselves into a trade union at the exit point?

Essentially, all those motions about “We are fed up with the APC and we must move en-masse to the PDP… Those of the opinion say Aye. Contrary say Nay” are motionless motions. They are therefore illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever. I beg to move.

“Again, we must constantly remember that every occupation has its hazards that must be borne by those engaged therein, which cannot be shared by those outside. With the chamber of the legislative assembly virtually becoming a boxing arena, we cannot easily rule out the possibility of a member coming out any day with a broken head from a flying maze. And there is always the threat of Boko Haram invasion.

In the event of such an invasion, the legislator can only count himself lucky if he is taken to a faraway evil forest and not killed outright.

These are risks that cannot be shared with anybody.”

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