Nigerian observer 21 10 2013

THE NIGERIAN

1

The Nigerian

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 38 NO.336 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013 • N100.00

ISSUES Pg 15

Much Ado About Edo House

Oshiomhole holds stakeholders meeting BENIN CITY on security, Edo House today Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State wishes to invite all stakeholders, including members of the security agencies in the state, civil society groups,

labour unions, market women association, student groups, NonGovernmental Organization, community leaders and indeed all

men of goodwill to a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the state of security in the State and the status of the Edo House in Lagos.

The meeting will hold today, October 21, 2013 at the Idia College Hall, Benin City at 12:00pm.

Attendees are expected to be seated at 11:30am

cmyk

N255m Cars Scandal

DISCOURSE Pg 25

Twice A Child:

A Case For The Upkeep Of The Elderly

Group blasts aviation minister

BENIN CITY - Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has berated the Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua for compelling the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to purchase two BMW cars worth N255 million for her. the demands of striking In a press statement lecturers and one signed by the Executive person in the name of Director, ANEEJ, Aviation Minister will Reverend David Ugolor, spend a whooping ANEEJ said it is N255m in the purchase annoying that at this of cars.” critical time in the ANEEJ described the country in which Minister as a woman of unemployment, poverty insincerity, adding that are staring many in the she had earlier told face and university Nigerians during the lecturers on strike for National Assembly more than a semester public hearing on the over monetary issues grounding of the Rivers which the same State Government government claimed it airplane that she does does not have to meet

not control the operations of the NCAA, the same agency she

collected the N255 million worth cars from.

ANEEJ condemned

the Minister of Aviation for the profligacy and corrupt use of public

funds to purchase two BMW armoured cars.

It presents the Minister as Janus, the Italian god of wine with double-face, speaking with two mouths.

ANEEJ said it is sad Continues on page 2

Pope tasks Catholics on evangelisation

ABUJA - The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has told Catholic faithful to be courageous and supportive of the work of evangelisation, in spite of the challenges facing missionaries around the world.

The Pope’s message is contained in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja on the occasion of the ‘World Mission Sunday’.

The World Mission Sunday, is a day set

aside by the Catholic Church, to celebrate and acknowledge the efforts of the clergy and other missionaries in the work of evangelisation.

On the day, Catholic communities around the world make donations to support the cause of evangelisation.

According to the Pope, “this year’s celebration presents an important opportunity to strengthen our friendship with the Lord and our journey as a

TIT BIT “At the level of some persons’ material reasoning, it would be very difficult for them to catch up with any spiritual or moral reasoning that does not make any material sense.”

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

church that preaches the gospel with courage’’.

The statement said that faith was God’s precious gift, which opened the mind to know and love Him, and allowed man to strengthen his Continues on page 2

ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY: Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan (centre) flanked by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Chief Oseni Elamah, Executive Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Service (right) at the 15th Priestly Ordination anniversary of REv. Fr. Andrew Obinyan at St. Albert Catholic Church, Benin City.

Orhionmwon ‘ll not cede land to Delta - Summit

ABUDU - Leaders of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Edo State has vowed not to cede any part of its land to neighboring Delta state while calling on the

National Boundary Commission (NBC) to as a matter of urgency resolve the boundary disputes between the two states.

Arising from the first

Orhionmwon People’s Summit held in Abudu, the administrative headquarter of the local

government area, speakers at the event also identified leadership failure as the

after Lokoja, involved two cars, carrying 11 people.

AH 47 KAA going to Lokoja and a Honda Accord car (Baby Boy) Continues on page 2

Presidential motorcade rescues accident rescue LOKOJA The emergency A Nissan Almera car victims Advance Team of services to accident with registration number village, few kilometres victims on the LokojaPresident Goodluck Jonathan’s Entourage, Returning from Ado-Ekiti yesterday rendered

Abuja highway.

The accident which occurred at Okpu

root cause of the underdevelopment, poverty and the criminal abandonment of the local government area over the years.

President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and founder of the only higher institution in the Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

News Pope tasks Catholics on evangelisation

Continued from page 1 relationship with God. It stated that the missionary spirit was not only about geographical territories but about people, cultures and individuals hence the need for Christians to be strong in faith.

It stressed that the “boundaries of faith do not only cross places and human traditions but the heart of each man and each woman.

“Each community is therefore, challenged, and invited to make its own contribution to the spread of the word of God. “ That is the mandate entrusted by Jesus to the apostles, to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

“This, not as a secondary aspect of Christian life, but as its essential aspect: “We are all invited to walk the streets of the world with our brothers and sisters, proclaiming and witnessing to our faith in Christ and making ourselves heralds of his gospel.

“The work of evangelisation often finds obstacles, not only externally but also from within the ecclesiastic community, sometimes there is lack of fervour, joy and courage; “We must always have the courage and the joy of proposing, with respect, an encounter with Christ and being heralds of His Gospel,’’ Francis was quoted as saying.

The Pope acknowledged the difficulties posed by

emerging technologies, insecurity, attack on Christians and other obstacles to freedom of worship around the world, as challenges that must be addressed.

It urged the church community worldwide not to despair in the face of the difficulties but to strive to emerge stronger and more courageous in support of the mission.

It called for prayers and support for bishops, priests and other leaders of the church in their task of

that the resources that ought to be used to secure Nigeria airspace for the betterment of all is being deployed for self service by the Minister.

“We are shocked at the level of provocative extravagance of Mrs. Stella Odua who described the two recent major air crashes that have occurred under her watchful eyes as “inevitable acts of God.” “We deplore a situation where energy and resources that ought to have been used to secure Nigeria airspace, as being canvassed by all stakeholders is being unwittingly deployed for self service and preservation by the minister.”

Furthermore, ANEEJ called on President Goodluck Jonathan to check the excesses of his cabinet members following the emerging trend of the nation’s serving ministers’ financial mismanagement and undue interference in the operations of the agencies under their ministries.

“Nigerians are obviously worried over emerging trend where serving Ministers

faith.

“More and more people who by accepting the Lord’s call, leave their homelands to serve the gospel in different lands and cultures must be appreciated,” it stated.

The statement urged faithful to pray for peace all over the world, especially in areas where Christians are not allowed to openly profess their faith for whatever reasons.

It expressed the Pope’s hope that the clergies and faithful would someday be fulfilled and glorified in their works of evangelism.

Orhionmwon ‘ll not cede land to Delta

Continued from page 1 local government area (Light House Polytechnic), Evbuobanosa, Dr Felix Omobude, however called for concerted efforts from all Orhionmwon indigenes in helping to develop the local government area.

Omobude who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event urge participants to be open minded; speak without fear, favour or bias in order to bring out a workable solution to the myriad of problems facing the local government area.

Speaking at the occasion, one of the conveners and member representing Orhionmwon South constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Friday Ogierhiakhi, said the summit was aimed at making far reaching decisions and reach article of faith on the way forward for the people.

N255m Cars Scandal

Continued from page 1

evangelisation.

“In this complex situation, the horizon of the present and future seems threatened by menacing clouds.

“It is necessary to proclaim courageously and in very situation, the gospel of Christ, a message of hope, reconciliation, communion, proclamation of God’s closeness as well as his mercy for mankind.

“I would like to encourage everyone to be a bearer of the good news of Christ and I am grateful, especially to missionaries, the priests as well as men and women of

financially strangulate and unduly interfere in the smooth operations and efficient running of agencies under their ministries.

“This scenario is also playing out between the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources without necessary checks by the presidency or the national assembly.

“It is detestable that government keeps shielding these officials as sacred cows while corruption flourishes under their nose.”

“Now that the wind has blown open and the rot in the aviation sector exposed, we call on the Presidency and the National Assembly that is statutorily charged with oversight duties to swing into action and bring all those involved in the car scandal to justice.”

ANEEJ however called on the Aviation Minister to resign immediately and as well called on the relevant authorities to probe the scandal and ensure that all those involved are brought to book.

According to him, “Orhionmwon must reconnect with her glorious past and towards the realization, among other things, we will deliberate on the desirability of the Faculty of Agriculture of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) being ceded to one of the communities in Orhionmwon”.

Also speaking, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who delivered the keynote address, while commending the conveners described the Council as one of the poorest

in the state, in spite of its abundant God- given resources.

He said, “ It is unfortunate that Orhionmwon with its land mass of about 41,319 square Kilometers and a current estimated population of over 250, 000 persons remains one of the poorest in the state.

“According to him, “The fund accruing from the federation account is barely sufficient to pay the huge wage bill of teachers and other salaries and overhead cost”

Continued from page 1

A team of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), led by one Mohammed Haruna, came to the scene of the accident about 30 minutes into the rescue operation.

The victims were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja in an FRSC rescue van for further medical attention.

An eye witness, Aliyu Sadiq, said that the accident was caused by overspeeding, dangerous driving and the poor state of the road.

Sadiq appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on completing the dualisation of the Lokoja-Abuja highway.

The eye witness, who is a commercial bus driver, said he plied the road on daily basis, adding that “there is a hardly a day that an accident is not recorded on the road.”

Presidential motorcade

with registration number BG945BWR en-route Abuja, were involved in the accident.

The two vehicles had a head-on collision with serious impact, causing varying degrees of injury to the occupants of the vehicles.

The accident occurred few minutes before the presidential motorcade came to the scene.

The security team in the convoy swung into action by rescuing trapped victims in the two cars.

The front door of the passenger seat of the Nissan car was axed before a middle aged woman, who was trapped inside, could be rescued.

The medical team, led by Dr Aliyu Usman of the State House Clinic, rendered emergency medical treatment to the victims, aided by two nurses.

Rev Fr Obinyan Marks Priestly Ordination Anniversary BENIN CITY – A Special Church Service took place at St. Albert’s Catholic Church, University of Benin, to mark the 15th Priestly Ordination Anniversary of Rev. Fr. Andrew Aigbe Obinyan at the weekend.

In his homily at the church service which was attended

by Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu and his wife, Deaconess Endurance, Rev. Fr. Benedict Etafor stated that Rev. Fr. Obinyan has shown strength and zeal in his service to God as a priest.

He observed that the celebrant has made remarkable progress in the past 15 years in the vine yard of God, which he noted has brought succour and relief to

many.

The man of God pointed out that Rev. Fr. Obinyan who is the Parish Priest of St. Albert’s Catholic Church, has entered another phase in his sojourn as a priest, and prayed God to give him the strength and grace to continue to live up to expectation.

He urged Catholic Faithful to respect their priests, as Catholic Priesthood is a gift from God, and that God choses man to become priest among men The Special Mass to mark the anniversary was also attended by the speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Uiy Igbe; the state Head of Service (HOS), Prince Ekiuwa Inneh, and Chief Oseni Elamah, chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue, Service EIRS

Former Edo SSG expresses concern over unemployment BENIN CITY - A former Secretary to Edo Government, Dr Simon Imuekemhe, has expressed concern over the high level of unemployment in the country, saying that it has resulted in insecurity.

Imuekemhe expressed the concern yesterday in Benin while speaking with newsmen.

The former secretary to Edo government said that the situation had now forced Nigerians to now live in fear.

He urged the three tiers of government to take measures that would practically address the problem of unemployment for the citizenry to feel secured.

The former SSG, who described the current level of unemployment in the country as “acute”, said that as long as the problem persisted, security could not be guaranteed in the country.

“We understand that the problem is a global issue.

Even in the UK, there is serious agitation for job opportunities for the youths.

“This is not different from the situation in Nigeria except that the UK government has a way of cautioning the effect of unemployment on the people,” he said.

Imuekemhe said that the situation in Nigeria had assumed a dangerous

dimension because the university and other institutions of higher learning were churning out graduates yearly.

“I have seen many holders of Master ’s and Ph.D. degrees roaming the streets of Nigeria in search of jobs for years without finding any.

“The problem is when you leave an intellectual, a welltrained person for so long a time without a job, he uses his intellect to find a means of survival.

“One of the ways of survival to them is possibly going into crime,” he said.

Imuekemhe said that as long as the youths were unemployed, people that worked hard to attain some level of comfort in the society would not have peace.

“That is why most of us are now suffering from selfimprisonment; you cannot stroll to take fresh air or simply buy something along the road because you could be kidnapped,” he said.

He urged government to invest heavily in agriculture, adding that agriculture had the potential of providing jobs for the youths.

The former SSG also called on government to train youths in various skills and grant them loans to enable them to establish small-scale businesses.

assured that the stock level covered marine, inland and strategic stock.

It added that as at Thursday, the marine stock offshore stood at 19 cargoes translating to 25- day sufficiency as part of the national strategic reserve.

The statement said the aggregate strategic reserve had been misrepresented in some media as marine stock lying offshore.

Strategic reserve is an alternative product reserved

to cushion the effect of unexpected scarcity of the petroleum products in the country.

The statement said that the NNPC had taken proactive measures to ensure stable supply of petroleum products across the country, especially as the end of year festive period approaches.

A section of the media had reported that NNPC had stopped petrol importation due to glut and challenges at the various ports.

NNPC denies stopping fuel importation ABUJA - The management of NNPC says it has not stopped importation of petroleum products as reported by a section of the local and international media.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by NNPC’s acting Group General Manager (Public Affairs), Ms Tumini Green.

The statement said petrol supply in the system was in line with the approved quota for the national demand to

ensure “seamless supply especially in the last quarter of the year.”

“The NNPC as supplier of last resort has responsibility for maintaining a robust strategic reserve with additional reasonable buffer in line with the nation’s energy supply policy,’’ it said.

The statement said that the corporation’s petrol stock holding was in tandem with the approved PPPRA allocation to NNPC and

THE NIGERIAN

3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

News ANEEJ Facilitates Oversea Training for Edo Journalist

Patience Jonathan’s Mum For Burial Oct 31 ABUJA - The final burial ceremonies of the late Madam Charity Oba, the mother of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, will commence on October 31.

A statement by Mrs Ayotunde Adesugba, the Director of Information in the Presidency, made this known in Abuja.

The statement said that the ceremonies, which would take place in Port Harcourt and Okrika, were expected to attract dignitaries and people from all walks of life.

“On Thursday, October 31, there will be a brief Service of Songs at the Port Harcourt Polo Club in

GRA at 9 a.m. “ Thereafter, the body will leave immediately for her husband’s compound in Okrika, Rivers.

“On Friday, November 1, the lying-in-state will be at her husband’s residence at Ambemebiri, Okrika, while the funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. at the National Field, Okrika.

“This will be followed by the interment at her husband’s compound,’’ the statement said.

Madam Charity Oba, who died on July 22, is survived by many children, grandchildren, in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Gov Aliyu Commends Jonathan’s Decision On Outcome On Nat’l Dialogue MINNA - Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger has commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to send the outcome of the National Dialogue to the National Assembly.

Aliyu spoke at his residence in Minna when intending Christian pilgrims to Israel led by Mr Abraham Isah paid him Sallah homage.

“The President is right that everything discussed at the forum must go to the National Assembly.

“Sending the report of the dialogue to the National Assembly will be in line with the prevailing political arrangement in the country where there is presently sovereignty.’’

He was optimistic that the final document that would

emerge from the National and State Assemblies after the national dialogue “would be a Nigerian constitution made by Nigerians.’’

The governor said the country would remain as one even after the dialogue, adding that the nation would be better strengthened democratically.

Aliyu promised to continue to give equal treatment to Christians and Muslims in the state.

He urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and its members to continue to pray for the peace of the country and live in harmony with other religious groups in the state.

Isah commended the governor for his nondiscriminatory attitude.

L-R: Princess Ekiuwa Inneh, Head of Service, Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Rev. Fr. Andrew Obinyan, celebrant and Chief Oseni Elamah, Chairman, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue at the 15th Priestly Ordination anniversary of Rev. Fr. Obinyan at St. Albert Catholic Church, Benin City.

Edo Assembly Not ‘Rubber Stamp’

By AUDU ADAMA

IKAKUMO (AKOKOEDO) - The member representing Akoko Edo II Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto has defended the non confrontational stance of the Assembly against the state executive arm of government.

The lawmaker who spoke against the backdrop of criticism of the state legislators over speedy passage of executive bills said it was aimed at fastracking the transformation of all sectors of the state.

Adjoto in his sallah goodwill message to the muslim community in his country home (Ikakumo) in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area said the House has not been and does not intend to be a “rubber stamp” who dance to the

- Lawmaker

whims and caprices of the state executive arm of government.

According to him, “we have only rubber stamped the development of Edo State” and not sharing of the state resources that are meant for the development of the state.

“Therefore, if rubber stamping of The Executive Bill is currently putting smiles on the faces of most Edo people, then, we are on the right track”.

Hon. Ajodto who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Youths and Sports emphasized that as a human being the Governor may have his short comings but however appealed to his (Oshiomhole) critics to pray for him instead of criticizing him saying “only the Almighty Allah is perfect” He emphasized that in spite of the criticisms of the present Administration, the

Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s – led administration has touched more lives than previous administrations in the State.

In the mean time, Governor Oshiomole has again enjoined Muslims and non – Muslims alike in Akoko – Edo to fear the Almighty Allah in their daily undertakings and sacrifice all they have to serve Him and advance humanity.

The Governor message was made public by Hon. Kabiru Ajodto while delivering his Eid – El – Kabir Message to his people at his Country Home, Ikakumo shortly after the Sallah prayer was held at the Ikakumo prayer ground.

While congratulating Muslims on the occasion of this year Eid – El – Kabir celebrations.

Governor Oshiomhole also enjoined them to eschew bitterness and “not to see Politics as a - do or - die affair”

BENIN CITY - Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has planned to boost journalism practice in Edo State.

According to the Press Release signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Mr. Osazuwa Akonedo, ANEEJ has already facilitated foreign media training entirely funded

by Swiss Government for Mr. Sebastine Ebhuomhan Usifo of the NATIONAL MIRROR newspaper who left the country at about 09:06 pm on Saturday to Switzerland for the refresher course.

The Edo State Correspondent of the NATIONAL MIRROR newspaper, according to the Press Release will also on Tuesday October 22, 2013 cover the activities of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review holding in Geneva for Nigeria.

The ANEEJ Boss, in the press release thanked the Government and people of Switzerland for the opportunity which includes staff training benefits.

Reverend David Ugolor said he would continue to look for more opportunities and better ways to appreciate the efforts of journalists especially in contributing to their human capacity development for the betterment of all in the country.

He called on the general public to contribute to the motivation of journalists, adding that such will help the media practitioners to always be at the middle as it is expected of them in any societal issue.

I’II Not Seek Elective Office confidence.

Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (right), cutting the tape to officially declare open Hon. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie’s Constituency Free Health Care service Mobile Clinic at the palace of Eguagie-Ewan in Ewan village, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State. Hon. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie (left), Hon. Festus Ebea, Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly during the ceremony recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

OGBONICHA - Former governor of Kogi, Prince Abubakar Audu, has declared that he has no intention to contest governorship position in the state in 2015.

Audu announced this while addressing newsmen at Ogbonicha-Alloma, in Ofu Local Government of Kogi on Thursday.

The former governor said that all he wanted now was to remain a relevant political leader committed to the development of the state and the country. ‘’I have no ambition for 2015 or 2020, but I have ambition for the state to grow. ‘’ I want to be a very relevant political leader to guide and support elected

- Ex Kogi Gov Audu

leaders to achieve good governance.’’

Audu said as one of the founding fathers of APC, he was a leader of the party both at the state and national levels.

He said he decided to remain in politics to protect the interest of the less privileged and give everybody the opportunity to develop.

Audu, however, blamed political and socio-economic woes of the country on “fraudulent electoral system”, saying: ”Our electoral system is very bad.”

He said that a leader genuinely voted into position by the electorate would strive and work hard to earn their

He noted that until proper electoral system was put in place, development would continue to elude the nation.

On the proposed National Conference, Audu cautioned against tinkering with the unity of the country ‘’at this stage of development and independence’’.

The former governor said there could be some other motives behind the call for the conference adding: ‘’To the best of my knowledge, National Conference is not the best for the country’’. ‘’The three major tribes cannot do without the other.

God has put us together and our strength is in our unity’’, he said.

THE NIGERIAN

4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

News

NDLEA Arrests 20 Persons For GOMBE- The National Drugs Law Enforcement Drug Offences Agency (NDLEA) said it has arrested 20 persons, including a 27-year-old woman, Yabi Ibrahim for suspected drug offences.

The Gombe State Commandant of the agency, Mr Aliyu Adole disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gombe.

Adole said Ibrahim, a resident of Karofin Bolari quarters, Gombe metropolis was arrested with 275 blocks of cocaine and 108 pinches of heroine in the state recently.

“We arrested a female drug trafficker by name Yabi Ibrahim, 27 years of age of Karofin Bolari, Gombe with 275 blocks of cocaine.

“She was one of the 20 suspected traffickers arrested by the command recently”, he said.

The NDLEA commandant said the command had commenced investigation into the matter and promised to arrest other persons who were in the same business.

“We have identified three people who were selling cocaine in that axis, we also have their identity and we are after them, very soon, we shall apprehend them”, he said.

According him, the suspect told the agency that she was getting her supply from Kano State through one Onyebuchi.

“We have sent our intelligence team after him, by the time we arrest him, I can assure you that the business of cocaine in Gombe will be over.

“The 19 drug suspects were arrested between July and September with a total of 53.41 kilogramme of psychotropic substances recovered from them.

“Out of those arrested three were jail birds that were convicted to five years imprisonment each, while six were convicted to one year imprisonment.

“Two of the suspects are in

detention, another two were at the counselling and rehabilitation unit of the agency.

“As am meeting with you now, the remaining ones were released to their parents and directed to report to the agency twice a week”, he said.

Adole advised the people in the state to always report any person who engaged in such business and assured them that the information would be treated with confidentiality.

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State; Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe State during the arrival of the President for the inauguration of NIPP 500MW Omotosho II power station in Akure at the Akure Airport weekend.

160,000MW Possible By 2014

ABUJA - The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said Nigeria was capable of generating 160,000 megawatts before the end of 2014.

Nebo made the remark in Abuja at the Nigeria International 4th Power Expo and Conference

- Minister

organised by the Ministry of Power and BKG Company.

“Two weeks ago, the Geregu Power Plant was commissioned by Mr President and he would commission all the 10 NIPPs’ power plants by the end of 2014.

ANA Blames Poor Reading Culture For Exam Failures KEFFI (NASARAWA)Mallam Al-Bishak, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Nasarawa State chapter, has attributed the mass failure of Nigerian students in national examinations to their poor reading culture.

Al-Bishak told newsmen in Keffi that Nigerians generally had a poor reading culture which impacted negatively on their intellectual abilities.

“Our secondary school students’ attitude to reading is what is responsible for

their failure in their examinations,’’ he said.

He said that Nigerian students needed to change their attitude to reading to excel in their academics.

He said that the overall development of Nigeria was tied to the pursuit of academic excellence.

“For students to excel in their studies, they must read hard enough and widely too.

“Not until we address our poor reading culture,

Nigerian students will continue to perform poorly in any examinations,’’ he told newsmen.

“And this our unimpressive reading habit cuts across our primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education,’’ he said.

Al-Bishak urged educationists in the country to help stimulate a reading culture in Nigerian students at all levels.

He said that reading

voraciously was as a tool for promoting society’s development.

He said that any student that developed a reading culture would be able to achieve his or her career ambitions, adding that such a student would be able to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s transformation.

The chairman also called for more philanthropic gestures geared toward the advancement of Nigeria’s education sector.

“I also want to urge our teachers and lecturers to stimulate students’ love to read not only to pass their exams,” Al-Bishak said.

“Nigeria produces and consumes 4,000 mw of electricity, only 2.5 per cent of what South Africa is producing and consuming.

“Nigeria needs to increase electricity generation by 40 joules before the end of 2014, then it would be talking of 160,000 mw”, he said.

Nebo stressed that opportunities to make this happen abound in the country, adding that this also depended on investors venture into power sector by utilising the 4th expo conference.

Nebo added that the services companies generation, transmission and distribution network - were to ensure that all the plants were running very well.

He stated that the ministry was partnering with investors to ensure that rural areas not connected to national grid were connected even to renewable sources of electricity.

He listed the renewable energy sources as biomass, solar, gas turbine, hydro turbine and wind, among others.

Nebo said that when the rural communities of Nigeria had been electrified, it would have multiplier effects on development, stressing that income, standard of living and job opportunities would increase.

He said that President Goodluck Jonathan in inaugurated Power Sector Roadmap in Aug. 2010 in order to liberalise the sector from public driven economy to private driven one.

He said there were only 150,000 telephone lines for over 150 million people when NITEL was not privatised, but with privation, the country now had over 120 million lines.

Earlier, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, the Executive Director of BKG, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring that the power sector was privatised.

Theft: Man, 25, Jailed 3 Months

President Goodluck Jonathan cutting the tape to inaugurate the NIPP 500MW Omotosho II power station in Akure at the Akure Airport weekend. With them are Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo (2nd left), Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo (left) and the Managing Director Niger Delta Power Industries Company, Mr. James Olotu.

KUJE (FCT)- A Grade One Area Court in Kuje in the FCT has sentenced a 25-year-old businessman, Aminu Musa, to three months imprisonment for stealing a motorcycle.

The convict was arraigned on a two counts charge of criminal trespass and theft.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Nuhu Ibrahim, said the convict was guilty as charged and sentenced him to three months’

imprisonment with an option to pay N6,000 fine for each count.

“You have the option to pay N6,000 fine for each count, totaling N12,000 or face three months in prison,’’ he said.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Cpl. Samuel Ocheche, had told the court that Suleiman Gambo of Pegi village, Kuje, reported the case at the Kuje Police Station on Oct. 14.

He said that Musa of the

same address with the complainant, went to Gambo’s house on October 13 at about noon and stole his motorcycle valued at N195,000.

Ocheche said the stolen motorcycle was recovered from the convict during investigation and the accused pleaded guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 342 and 187 of the Penal Code.

THE NIGERIAN

5

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

South South SUBEB: Chairman Restates Commitment To Improving Basic Education BENIN CITY – Basic Education has been described as the pivot to the development of any nation. The Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Prince Stephen Alao made the assertion during an interactive session with Education Secretaries and Heads of Personnel Management (HPMs) in the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State in his office.

Prince Alao said that as change agents in the transformation of Basic Education, they should be part of the change and play a very critical role to achieve the desired result at the grassroots level.

The Executive Chairman maintained that it is not going to be business as usual, stressing that they should be ready to add value and complement government effort in transforming Basic Education.

He asserted that Education Secretaries are the drivers that will implement Board policies in order to reposition Basic Education in the state.

Prince Alao emphasized the need for a synergy between the Education Secretaries and the Board in the area of routine

monitoring of schools across the State in order to deliver the mandate given the Board by the Comrade Governor.

The Executive Chairman noted that the present administration led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has given much thrust to the growth and development of Basic Education in the state. He stated that the rapid transformation of public schools across the state by the Comrade Governor can only be complemented when the Board’s standards are attained and sustained.

The Board Chairman assured of regular training and retraining of the Education Secretaries and Heads of Personnel Management (HPMs) on Information Technology (ICT) in order to fit into the modern educational system. He therefore implored them to contribute positively to the development of education in the state.

In attendance at the meetings were Mr. Dove Momodu, member representing Edo Central, Dr. Aisosa Anne Amadasun, member representing Edo South, Mallam Sulayman Ali and Board Secretary, Mr. Christopher Ekhator.

Prince Stephen Alao, Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) (2nd right), and full-time Board Members during the interactive session with Education Secretaries and Heads of Personnel Management (HPMS) in the LGAs at the SUBEB headquarters, Benin City last Thursday.

Chairperson Organises Sallah Party For Orphanages OKPELLA – The chairperson, Women Development Programme, Etsako East Local Government Council, Mrs. Aishat Afegbua recently had a sallah party for Orphanages in the locality.

Mrs. Afegbua said she organised the party for the children because of the love she has for them.

While stressing her

Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, signing the condolence register of Late Prof. Omo Omoruyi, former Director General, Centre for Democratic Studies, Abuja during Mr. Speaker condolence visit to the family House in Benin City last week Thursday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

determination to play the role of a mother to the children, she adjoined them to enjoy themselves in the spirit of celebration, adding that God will continue to take care of them.

Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Benedicta Atloh who commended the innitiative of the chairperson, prayed for better days ahead stressing that the success of the programme largely depends on the support of the Council Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Afegbua.

Coordinator, Women Development Programme, Etsako West Local Government Council, Mrs. Osumah Maria stated that she was touched with what she saw and appreciated Mrs. Afegbua for identifying the course of the poor and fatherless in the society.

She called on people in authority to emulate the Etsako East chairperson.

Chairperson, Etsako West Local Government Council Hajia Rabiat Kadiri said that the programme has given the less priviledged children in the

ASUU Strike: NANS Barricades Niger Bridge ASABA - The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) barricaded the Asaba axis of the Niger Bridge for more than two hours, it was gathered.

The action, which was jointly carried out by some university students and their polytechnic counterparts was in protest of the protracted strike by ASUU. The aggrieved students blocked the bridge at about 1 p.m., which resulted to a traffic gridlock that stretched from the bridge to Okwe junction

about five kilometres to Asaba town.

They also lamented the recent decisions of polytechnic lecturers under the auspices of ASUP to also embark on a similar strike, saying it would further cripple the education sector and send a wrong signal to the international community.

NANS National Public Relations Officer, Victor OlaOgun, said that the students were tired of the strike and appealed to ASUU to call it

off.

He said that the students had embarked on the peaceful protest and taken it to Kano and “now they are in Zone B, that is Delta and the Anambra area of the country.’’

He said that if the lecturers refuse to call off the strike, the association would further move the protest to Zone C and D, comprising the middle Belt areas and South West of the country.

“We do not want a situation where our ladies will become

prostitutes and the men armed robbers.

“We are always there to fight for the lecturers’ welfare and now that the Federal Government has decided to meet some of their demands, they should consider for our sake and go back to work,’’ Ola-Ogun said.

The students, which were drawn from different parts of the country, came in large number.

They will leave Delta to their various destinations at the weekend.

locality a sense of belonging.

She however called on Mrs. Afegbua to continue in her effort to make life meaningful for the poor.

Popular comedian, Mr. Roland Igbadumhe (a.k.a) Youngest old man described the day as an important one in the history of the area noting that it was a reflection of good governance and quality leadership.

While stressing that money spent on children in orphanage is not lost, he called on politicians and those in positions of authority to champion the course of the

poor.

He added that Etsako East Local Government is really working for the people it is meant to serve.

Speaking on behalf of all the Orphanages Mrs. Vero Oshiotse thanked God for the life of Mrs. Afegbua, praying that she lives to reap the seeds she has sown.

High point of the programme was the presentation of various food items to the four orphanage represented at the ceremony.

The programme which featured dancing, drama, cultural display and entertainment attracted several dignitaries, including Chairman Etsako West Local Government.

PDP Chieftain Criticises Relocation Of Party’s Secretariat

UYO - A PDP chieftain in Akwa Ibom, Mr Enefiok Ekefre, has criticised the relocation of the party’s secretariat from Ikot Ekpene road to Edet Akpan Avenue in Uyo. Ekefre, who is also the pioneer chairman of the party for Uyo Local Government Area, told newsmen in Uyo that the secretariat had been in Ikot Ekpene since 1998.

He questioned the rationale behind the relocation from a more spacious place on Ikot Ekpene road to Edet Akpan Avenue, which he described as more congested.

The PDP chieftain said that it would have been better for the party to build a permanent secretariat as promised by Gov. Godswill Akpabio, when he was elected in 2007, instead of relocation.

According to him, the new location is smaller than the one

previously occupied and will not accommodate members during meetings.

“Apart from the lack of space in the new environment, the new location could bring traffic gridlock to the adjoining street and Osongama Estate.

“It is also a busy street in the state because it serves as a gateway to the only five star hotel in the state on Nwaniba and Airport Road,” he said.

Ekefre appealed to the national leadership of the party to intervene and bring back sanity to the party to avoid losing its potential members.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr Paul Ekpo, confirmed the relocation in a telephone interview with newsmen.

Ekpo said that the party had a right to relocate its office to wherever it desired.

He said that the party relocated because it was necessary to do so.

THE NIGERIAN

6

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

South-West Wife Seeks Dissolution Of Marriage

Suspected Defiler Of Niece Gets N500, 000 Bail SANGO-OTA (OGUN)An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun has slammed a N500, 000 bail on a welder, Rafiu Adeyanju, who allegedly raped his 13-yearold niece.

The Magistrate, Mr Adenariwo Soneye, granted the accused bail with two sureties after he had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He said one of the sureties should be a civil servant in the state, while the other surety should be a blood relation of the accused.

In addition, Soneye said the sureties should be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

The reports that Adeyanju, 39, who lives at No. 41, Ishashi Road, Akute, Ota, is facing a three-count charge of breach of peace, indecent assault and rape of a minor.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Olumide Ajayi, had told the court that the accused, who is the husband of the complainant’s sister, committed the offences on December 24, 2012.

Ajayi alleged that the accused raped the teenager at his apartment and also threatened to “deal with her if she informed anybody about it.

The offences, he noted, contravened Sections 249, 360 and 363 of the Criminal Law of Ogun State.

The case was adjourned to November 25 for mention.

Acid Bath Threat:

President Gooduluck Jonathan (3rd right), cutting the tape to inaugurate the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan College of Engineering Building of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti weekend. With them are founder of the University, Aare Afe Babalola (4th left), his wife Modupe (2nd right); Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti (2nd left) and other dignitaries.

OSOGBO - A house wife, Temitope Arowolo, has urged an Osogbo Grade III Customary Court to dissolve her 15-year-old marriage to Kareem over an alleged acid bath threat on her life.

Temitope had accused Kareem of beating and maltreating her, claiming that her husband would not provide for her needs.

“He beats me often and does not provide for our needs. He is always making troubles with me and sometimes would not supply us food.

“I stopped the business I

L-R: Founder of the University (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola 2nd right); Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to ABUAD weekend.

was doing because of debts he made me to incur. He does not trust me, he thinks I am unfaithful to him,’’ she said.

Temitope also said that her husband had once used charms on his private part and attempted to have intercourse with her.

“There was a time he wanted to have intercourse with me, I felt so uneasy with him, only to realise he had used a shear butter like cream on his male organ.

“It was then I realised he wanted to charm me by having intercourse with me, apart from the fact that he had threatened many times to bath me with acid.

“He called my mother a witch. I am tired of his incessant troubles, I pray the court to separate us,” she said.

Kareem in his response said: “I leave all to God to judge. I don’t want to say much, all she had said I take it as the truth.

“Although, she has not in any way offended me, but if she wants us separated, I am ready to let her go.’’

The President of the court, Chief Nasiru Odelola, said since it was the first hearing of the case, he would give the couple a week to think about their decision.

Odelola adjourned the case to October 24, for further hearing or judgment.

Return To Classrooms, Jonathan Appeals To ASUU ADO-EKITI - President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classrooms in the interest of their students.

He made the appeal at the inauguration of the College of Engineering Complex at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State.

The reports say that threestorey college complex was also named after the President.

Jonathan urged ASUU members to heed his appeal saying that whatever their grievances might be, keeping students out of school for four months was unpatriotic.

“I once again appeal to the entire membership of ASUU to pause and ponder on the adverse effect of their action on the future of the vibrant youths of this great nation.

“The collective destiny of tens of thousands of tomorrow’s leaders should not be held hostage to vagaries of labour disputes.

“As long as we are humans, as long as we are a developing society, this labour dispute must come up.

“I always say that even in the developed societies we hear about labour dispute; and there is no society, even the most developed, that has provided the facilities for every worker.

“Our security services, the Police, the Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force and para-military, intelligent services are also operating in an environment that is not the best.

“If all of us should go on long strike because our environment is not at its optimum, then definitely we can never get the Nigeria of our dream.

“So, let me use this unique

opportunity that I am interfacing with our future leaders, our students, to plead with ASUU members.

“If it is a genuine strike keeping students out of classrooms for almost four months, by that they have demonstrated to everybody that they have a case.

“And if the strike is motivated by some other interests, they have also achieved that by keeping students out of schools for more than a semester,” he said.

The President emphasised that the freedom of association and the right of workers to go on strike should not be abused to harm the country’s interest.

“I believe that labour has the right to go on strike, but in that strike, any action taken must be built on patriotic zeal.

“In as much as you can go on strike, you must be patriotic to

our country.

“No matter how and what you feel about Mr president and the Federal Government, I plead with ASUU that for the sake of our students, they should resume classes,” he said.

President Jonathan assured all that the government would continue to work with all Nigerians to build a better country for all and future generation.

He noted that as long as government had shown commitment to improving the qualities of infrastructure in the universities and the operating environment, ASUU should reconsider its stand.

Jonathan noted that if students of private universities could get their degrees within three and half years as witnessed in ABUAD, “it is unacceptable that students of public institutions are kept for extra

one or two years”.

The President congratulated the founder and President of ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), for the feat achieved in the institution.

He said he was deeply humbled by the decision to name the College of Engineering of the institution building after him.

“It is often said that great minds live great history behind them and this history is built on a very great vision.

“The vision of Chief Afe Babalola, founder of this promising institution, is a noble one.

Jonathan noted that historically, some of the greatest institutions of learning in the world were shaped by the vision, foresight and personal experience of their founders.

He described Babalola as “a

man of unassailable character, profound vision, an epitome of the highest ideals and a quintessential Nigerian patriot” The President charged the pioneer graduating students of the institution to become good ambassadors of the school and decent citizens that would make Nigeria proud.

In a welcome address, Babalola said the institution built some three and half years ago worth over N60 billion in private investments.

He said that with more than 4,000 students from 36 States of Nigeria and FCT, the institution was reputed to be one of the fastest growing private universities in Africa.

The renowned lawyer and educationist said ABUAD was the second best private university in the country and the 14th best among all public and private universities in Nigeria.

THE NIGERIAN

7

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

8

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Across The Nation Nat’I Confab: Yakasi Supports FG’s

Decision To Forward Report To NASS

Talba Adamawa, Mr. Daniel Bwala (centre), being turbaned by Lamido of Adamawa in Yola recently.

KANOElder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has threw his weight behind the Federal Government’s decision to forward the outcome of the proposed national conference to the National Assembly.

Yakasai conveyed his support, while speaking with newsmen in Kano.

He said that the decision was in order because the National Assembly was the only body empowered by the constitution to effect any change in the constitution.

Maku Urges Cath Church To Use Internet For Evangelism

ENUGU- The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has called on the Catholic Church to embrace the use of internet for evangelism.

Maku made the call at a teleconference with students of Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu .

He said the church should also use the medium to counter unwholesome messages being spread to young people through same channel.

He called on the church to set up a special services unit with priests trained in information and communications technology to handle such issues and to attend to young people online.

The minister said that such messages easily got viral if not challenged, saying that the church was in the right stead to counter such messages.

“Today, evangelism is going on at a level we never imagined. The Catholic Church should make these facilities available in its institutions, not only at the level of the leadership.

“If we do this, the majority of mankind will get to know more about the gospel.

“We no longer need to be limited by communication because God in His infinite mercies has provided these facilities’’, he said.

The minister, however, said that the challenge was how to deploy the facilities to good use, saying that the church should take the initiative to deploy them to the service of humanity.

“Today, you can use your handset to access any version of the bible. You can use it to teach, you can use to preach.

“You can go from chapter to

chapter and from verse to verse. That is the new era we are talking about’’, he said.

On his part, Rev. Fr. Walter Ihejirika decried the way the universal church had treated communication in its pastoral work.

In his paper: New Media and Effective Pastoral Ministry – Practical Lines of Action for Catholic Priests in Nigeria, he said the church had been slow in appreciating the role of mass media in evangelism.

Ihejirika, the Head of Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, said communication was central in the life of the church.

He stressed that anything not communicated was incomplete.

Mrs Miriam Menkiti of Purity FM, Awka and Rev. Fr.

Patrick Chibuko of the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, also presented papers at the conference organised by the Mission Club of the seminary.

It was part of its 12th Mission and Pastoral Weekend with the theme: Evangelism in the Face of Modern Communication Media.

“The decision to forward the outcome of the national dialogue to the National Assembly is in order because the constitution empowers only the National Assembly to effect changes in the nation’s constitution.

“The National Assembly members are elected representatives of the people and they have the mandate to adopt or reject the report of the proposed national dialogue.

“However, where one arm of the National Assembly rejects some aspects of the report, it would be very difficult for the report to scale through.

“We recall what happened during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo when the issue of third term dominated the report.

“It was the Senate that rejected the issue and the whole report was rejected

because the tenure elongation formed part of the report.

“The Senate should have separated the issue of tenure elongation but the senators rejected the whole report instead,’’ he said.

Yakasai said that President Goodluck Jonathan had the constitutional right to gather people from different parts of the country to discuss matters of national interest and importance.

He, however, said that it was up to the National Assembly to avoid past mistakes and consider issues that were of great national importance whenever the report finally got to them.

Yakasai was the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters to former President Shehu Shagari during the Second Republic.

Foundation Inaugurates N20 Million ABUJA- The Okotayo Foundation for Orphans, Widows and the Vulnerable has inaugurated two buildings worth over N20 million to cater for orphans in Abuja.

The eight room structure, located within the Kurudu community of the Federal Capital Territory, was donated by Pastor Bayo Ayinla.

Ayinla told newsmen that the gesture was to appreciate God’s blessings to his family by sharing it with the less privileged.

“The donation was to appreciate God’s love and care to our family and to extend a helping hand to the vulnerable to benefit from the goodness of God. “We decided to set up the orphanage to provide a happy and conducive home for the orphans and the less privileged in the society.

“Through the running of the

orphanage, we shall also care, guide, train and educate the orphans, abandoned children and the less privileged’’, he added.

He said the orphanage would also render social and economic services to the community, including the empowerment of widows and provision of fee vocational and skills training.

“The foundation is an NGO, non-faith based, non-profit organisation, founded in February to cater for orphans, widows and vulnerable in the society.

“The foundation also has ongoing projects in the FCT and Nasarawa State to provide medical assistance, educational materials and sundry items to identified orphans, widows and vulnerable people.”

He said the foundation has secured 23 plots of land in Abuja to build a permanent place for the orphanage.

Orphamage

Also speaking, Mrs Roselyn Ayinla, the wife of the proprietor, told newsmen that foundation was also assisting students with scholarship, and supporting widows to be self reliant.

“We sunk a bore hole worth N1 million and a structure worth over N2 million for the widows at Pelesi village in Nasarawa state,’’ she said.

She called on Nigerians to be their brothers’ keeper, adding that, “one should not wait to get millions to help the needy, with just N1, 000 a life could be turned around”.

The Head of Gwagwalada Dunamis Church, Pastor David Majiyebo supervised the inauguration of the structures and advised the community to use the building for the purpose it was meant for.

NYSC Band entertaining guests at Ikire Day celebration in Osun State.

70-Yr-Old Sokoto Pilgrim Dies In S/Arabia

SOKOTO- The Sokoto State delegation to the 2013 Hajj Pilgrimage in Sokoto said one of its male pilgrims, Amadu Achida, has died in Saudi Arabia.

Labaran Dundaye, the Chairman of the delegation’s Publicity Committee, disclosed this to newsmen in a telephone interview.

He said the 70-year-old Achida, died on October 16 at Muna, two days after observing the Arafat.

“Achida, who hailed from Wurno Local Government of Sokoto State, died after the Arafat which is considered to be

the peak of the annual Islamic pilgrimage,’’ Dundaye said.

The delegation official, who is also the Chairman of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said the deceased died after a brief illness.

“The incident took place at Muna, near Makkah, two days after the Arafat and he was complaining of minor body pains and other bodily discomforts.

“Shortly after, he was confirmed dead, and this made

him so far the only pilgrim from the state who died during this year’s Hajj exercise,’’ he said.

Dundaye said Achida’s remains had since been buried by the Saudi authorities at Makkah, after a funeral prayer at the Grand Mosque at the Ka’abah.

He, however said all the remaining pilgrims from the state were hale and hearty, while the family of the deceased had since been duly informed about his demise.

THE NIGERIAN

9

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Abuja

PCRC Chairman Advises Residents On Collaborative Security

G WA G WA L A D A (FCT), - Chiwendu Williams, the Gwagwalada Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee

(PCRC), has advised residents of the area to always collaborate with

the police in providing security for lives and property.

Court Sentences Plumber, 36, To 4 Months September 23.

ABUJA - An Abuja Grade Jail Term Idi prayed the court to try 2 Area Court has sentenced a 36-year-old plumber, Suleiman Mohammed, of Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja, to four months in prison for criminal breach of trust and stealing.

The presiding judge, Mr Ahmed Ado, sentenced Mohammed after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

Ado, however, gave the convict an option to pay

N3,00 in fine.

He also ordered the convict to pay N120, 000 in compensation to the complainant on or before October 20.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Idi, told the court earlier that Mrs Etan Bulouk of Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja, reported the matter at Gwarinpa Police Station on

the accused summarily under Section 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

He told the court that the convict bought building materials valued at N120, 000 with the pretence of paying cash on delivery which he failed to do.

According to him, the offence contravenes sections 287 and 312 of the Penal Code.

Williams gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Gwagwalada.

“Such collaboration is now necessary in view of the rising number of crime cases, especially daylight burglary,’’ he said.

The committee chairman said community policing was a collective responsibility, and advised residents of Gwagwalada to always furnish the police with

useful information on activities of suspected persons.

“Security is everybody’s business, and providing regular information on criminal activities to the police is very crucial,’’ he said.

Williams said that with over 100 trained vigilantes in the Gwagwalada Area Council, the PCRC was only rendering night services on request by any group in the community.

“We have over 100 trained vigilantes and we do not operate during the day but we only render our services on demand.

“Our job is to ensure adequate security for lives and property in any community we find ourselves and to make sure that people go to their beds with their two eyes closed.

“Any community which needs the services of the PCRC should officially write to the Gwagwalada Divisional Police Officer, who will in turn forward the request to the PCRC’s office,’’ he said.

Williams said the PCRC worked with all the security arms in the country and was like a bridge between the communities and all the security arms.

The PCRC chairman said that the committee would employ personnel and train them before the end of December, in order to enhance its services in Gwagwalada and its environs.

“We will soon employ as many personnel as we can, and then train and post them out on demand.

“For every 10 houses, we intend to post about three vigilantes,’’ he said.

IGP Seeks Collaboration Against Terrorism

Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (right), welcoming Ragnhild Nordland, Advisor, Immigration Appeals Board, Norway (left) while Geir Skogseth, Country Analyst, Landinfo, Norway (middle), looks on during a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin City recently . Photo: QUEENETH A. OROBEDO

ABUBA - According to a statement issued by CSP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, in Abuja, Abubakar is expected to visit UN headquarters in New York between October 21 and October 25.

“The I-G is expected to discuss the challenges militating against effective

Don Tasks FG On Climate Change

ABUJA-Dr Obadiah Omope of Real Water Consult Ltd., has called on the government to partner with other stakeholders to protect Nigeria from the looming dangers of climate change.

Omope, an expert on environment made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He said that the partnership would help to create more awareness at the local and national level.

According to him, knowledge on the health

impacts associated with climate change would have limited value without effective communication and education strategies to increase public awareness.

He said that beyond organising annual meetings, environmental health experts should endeavour to create more awareness on the impact of climate change on people’s health.

Omope said that environmental health professionals should use their influence at the local, national and international

level to advocate more resources for work on climate change.

He, however, said that the influence could also be in the form of preparing national communications, national action plans on adaptation of international agreements.

Omope said that it required man should to be at the centre of solving the problems associated with climate change since the problems were man-made.

He stressed the need for proactive measures in combating the effect of

climate change in the country.

He noted that the incident of drought, desertification, crop failures and deep-seated poverty required prompt intervention.

“No nation whether wealthy or poor can escape the impact of climate change.

“The rising sea level threatens every coast line causing flooding with devastating damage to properties and the ecosystem in every continent.

“The security and stability of each community, every

nation and all peoples, our prosperity, our health, our safety are in jeopardy and the time to act is now,’’ he said.

He said that his NGO was committed to developing programmes and activities to educate Nigerians on the causes and effects of climate change as no nation could escape its effects.

He said “ environment is very important for our survival and the way we manage it affect the way we live and the way we do everything.’’

and efficient deployment of the Nigeria Police personnel and equipment for peacesupport missions.

“He will seek the support and collaboration of the UN towards addressing these challenges,’’ the statement said.

According to the statement, efforts being made to improve the performance of the Nigeria police contingents in sub-regional, regional and UN peacekeeping missions will be discussed.

The statement said that during the visit, the I-G would meet with officials of U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and New York Police Department.

It said that he would also meet with State Department officials to exchange ideas and strategies on intelligence gathering and counterterrorism measures.

It said the visit followed an agreement reached earlier by the Nigeria-U.S Bi-National Commission.

THE NIGERIAN

10

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Business + Economy Mexican Envoy Commends FG’s Policies On Reducing Unemployment

Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere in a handshake with Geir Skogseth, Country Analyst, Landinfo, Norway after a meeting regarding their fact-finding mission on issues of immigration to Government House, Benin City recently . Photo: QUEENETH A. OROBEDO

NTDC To Develop Tourist Sites ABUJA Sally Mbanefo, the DirectorGeneral of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), has said the corporation would aim at developing two tourist sites in each of the country’s six geopolitical zones.

Mbanefo, who stated this in Abuja at the FRSC monthly jogging in the FCT, said the move would help take tourism to the grassroots in the country.

She called on state governments and other relevant stakeholders in the areas where those sites were located to further develop and have access to them.

“In Nigeria, we have over 500 sites. But we cannot have access to all of them at once. So, the strategy is to identify two tourist sites in each geopolitical zone.

“We shall partner with the state governments and ministries in charge to make sure that there is access to these ones.

“This is because we want to take tourism to

the grassroots. It is not just about the big cities, it is about nature, it is about eco-tourism and the beautiful things that God has given us,’’ Mbanefo said.

She said her focus as director-general was to rebuild the NTDC, reevent the tourism industry and grow its value chain in the country.

“This is to create employment, wealth and contribute to the national GDP,’’ the NTDC official said.

She solicited the cooperation of the FRSC in this, saying “now that we are in partnership, you (FRSC) will be part of it’’.

Earlier, Mr Osita Chidoka, the FRSC Corps Marshal, had assured the corporation that the commission was ready to collaborate with it in ensuring the safe movement of tourists to sites.

“We make it possible for people to move in the country. As people are traveling during Eid-elKabir, Christmas and

Easter festivities, their movement is made easy because the FRSC is on the roads.

“The roads are getting better, our presence on the road is stronger and our ability to secure motorists

from reckless drivers is increasing.

“Moreover, our efforts to make sure that every vehicle on the road and drivers on the whole are properly identified are yielding dividends,’’ he said.

ABUJA - The Mexican Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Antonio Garcia, has commended the Federal Government for its policies, designed to reduce unemployment in the country.

Garcia gave the commendation in Abuja when he visited the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, in his office.

He said that his country would like Nigeria to participate in the forthcoming International Congress on Public Policies for Employment and Social Protection,” slated for November in Mexico City.

“We are sure that we can learn together by sharing experiences in order to face our respective challenges.

“All participants will learn from Nigeria, as your participation at the International Congress will be a valuable contribution to the conclusions of the event and a gesture very much appreciated.”

The ambassador said that his country’s willingness to work with the ministry would strengthen bilateral relationships between the two countries.

Wogu, in his response, said that the congress would

Phone Swap Dealsexchanged Thrive phones at higher ABUJA - Scores of mobile phone users now In Abuja prices.

He however said they head to the “Abuja GSM Village’’ for phone swap deals called “kankara’’, reports state.

Reports state that the deal is an exchange of phones which give the users new handsets of their choice in exchange for their old ones at little cost.

The deal has become a popular trend at the market located at the Wuse Zone One part of the federal capital city, with patronage cutting across all ages.

Reports say that the Abuja GSM Village is a bustling market for sellers of all sorts of phones and phone accessories, alongside artisanal services.

Our correspondent who visited the market on Saturday in Abuja reports that phone users who may not have enough money for new ones prefer the

exchange.

“The exchange entails a buyer handing over an old phone to a seller and getting a new or better one in return with just a little money added,’’ Mr Nonso Okoye, a trader at the market, said.

He said those involved preferred the exchange because they usually get the type of phone they wanted without paying the actual worth of it in direct cash transaction.

“Everybody wants to get a better version of handsets, but not everybody has the money to pay for it.

“So, ‘kankara’ offers the opportunity to get one’s choice phone with a little money.’’

Another trader, Mr Collins Ibe, said sellers at the market usually make good profits from such exchanges as they would normally sell the

were not giving out phones in exchange without making sure that the profit from the transaction would be worth it.

“A customer may be given a phone whose cost is N35,000 for just N20,000, if he brings a phone that is worth N25,000. By the time I sell his old phone, I would have made a gain of N10,000.’’

Miss Biola Ojo, who was at the market for a “kankara’’ transaction, said she was there because she had used her Curve 2 blackberry handset for too long.

She said she intended to exchange it for an upgraded version of Curve 7.

“The amount I will add to get Curve 7 will depend on how new the one offered to me is,’’ she said.

afford Nigeria the opportunity to showcase its policies and programmes as it related to job creation, skills development, child labour and productivity measurement and standards.

He said that the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan centered on job creation, workers’ welfare and social security.

“Nigeria has taken giant strides at tackling the issues of unemployment and we have recorded tremendous successes which we are willing to share with other participating countries,” Wogu said.

NSE: Market Index Appreciates

LAGOS - Transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed on a positive note on Friday with the market indices recording an increase of 0.23 per cent.

Reports say that the All-Share Index appreciated by 85.38 basis points or 0.23 per cent to close at 37,342.73.

This is against the 37,257.35 recorded on Thursday.

The market capitalisation also grew by N27 billion to close at N11.897 trillion from N11.870 trillion recorded on Thursday.

Nestle led the gainers’ chart with N40 to close at N1,040 per share.

Forte Oil followed with N5.97 to close at N64.30 per share, while the Con Oil grew by N3.24 to close at N34.99 per share.

The share price of Total Plc appreciated by N3 to close at N167, while Cadbury’s share price also moved up by N2 to close at N57 per share.

On the other hand, Guinness led the price losers’ chart with N3.99 to close at N246.01 per share.

Dangote Cement dipped by N3.80 to close at N186.20 per share, while Mobil lost N1 to close at N118 per share.

Okomu Oil depreciated by 82k to close N44.13 per share, while GT Bank fell by 23k to close at N25.30 per share.

Investors traded on 52.52 million shares of Unity Bank worth N29.15 million, while 29.73 million shares of UBA valued at N232.03 million exchanged hands.

In all, investors exchanged 364.73 million shares worth N4.8 billion in 5,850 deals on Friday, against N284.09 million shares valued at N3.8 billion traded in 4,950 deals on Thursday.

THE NIGERIAN

11

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

12 RECENTLY, President Goodluck Jonathan said “if Nigerians stop rewarding corrupt practices, and ensure that those who enrich themselves through dubious means are not celebrated, the country would start to make progress in the fight against corruption.”

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan made this comment at the 54th annual conference of the Nigerian Economic Society, where he further noted that in spite of institutional reforms aimed at fighting corrupt practices, Nigerians, through their actions, still reward corruption, thus making it attractive for corrupt leaders to indulge in the act.

WE agree with Mr. President that corruption is a major obstacle to growth and development of the nation and we are also on the same page with him in condemning the celebration of corrupt persons in the country.

BUT we are shocked at the quarters from where the condemnation of celebration of corrupt Nigerians is coming from. We dare note that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, has overtly or covertly been the one which has celebrated corrupt Nigerians the most, more than any previous government or citizen has done.

GOVERNMENT cannot deny the fact that its officials, including some of President Jonathan’s associates have been named in the brazen theft of public funds for which little or nothing has been done to bring them to justice. It is a fact that sons of both a past and incumbent national chairmen of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party were indicted in robbing the country of several billions of naira under the fuel subsidy regime. Oil block licensing scam and widespread corruption and stealing in the oil industry suggests that Nigeria is far from combating graft because perpetrators are allowed to escape the justice system.

A roll call of recipients of National Merit

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013 THE NIGERIAN

Celebration Of Corruption In Nigeria award show that some of those who have frittered public funds are among those honoured by government and Nigerians who watch such persons being honoured by government are encouraged by such acts to join the looting fray, unfortunately.

WHAT about the pardon granted his mentor and Governor-General of Ijaw nation, Dieprieye Alamiyeiseigha? A man who served as Governor of Bayelsa State when Mr. President was Deputy Governor was convicted by a Court of competent jurisdiction for corruption and the President granted him state pardon. But on the other hand, James Ibori who also laundered huge sums of money like Alamieyeseigha as Governor of Delta is being pursued all over the world by the Jonathan administration and currently jailed in the UK. It justifies people’s perception of the Jonathan administration that only political opponents are corrupt.

ALSO, the present administration has not created an environment where people would not be tempted to take what belongs to the public as canvassed by President Jonathan given the selective approach to war on graft by the anti-corruption agencies in the country.

FEW weeks ago, there was great public outrage in both conventional and social media over the donation of 20 en-suite flats to the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, by the mother of President Goodluck Jonathan. The President’s Mother, Mrs. Ayi

Jonathan, had on August 9, donated two buildings containing the flats to the school at a ceremony attended by the President and some top government officials, an event that have continued to draw flakes from Nigerians both at home and in Diaspora.

AS if that was not enough, Nigeria’s First Lady in partnership with National Council for Women Societies hosted women from across the country and Africa, a second in two months to a big carnival which most analysts have dubbed jamboree by the First Lady. The open display of banners of the First Family and gridlock witnessed in Abuja for the event has continued to draw condemnations. Nigerians have continued to question the sources of funds used for both projects by the President’s mother and the First Lady. but answers are not forthcoming. It shows how public funds were being spent by the present administration. Such opulence displayed by the First Family is an energiser for corruption.

THE global corruption watchdog, Transparency International, last year ranked Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt nation in the world. The Corruption Perception Index 2012 revealed that Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to clinch the 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report. Instead of taking the rating as a challenge to redouble the war on graft, Minister of the of Finance, Dr. Nngozi Okonjo Iweala and Minister of Information were busy hauling abuses at Nigerians who may have volunteered information to Transparency International. President Goodluck Jonathan administration need to aggressively tackle corruption from within his government for anyone to take his anticorruption messages seriously, after all, charity begins at home.

THE NIGERIAN

13

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Development Tackling Unemployment, Enhancing Beautification Via EDSG/TOTAN Partnership

EDO State government has commended the Telecom Operators and Technicians Association of Nigeria (TOTAN) for its efforts towards partnering with the state government with a view to ensuring the beautification and job creation in the state.

The Edo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Macdonald Obasuki made the commendation when he played host to the body in his office in Benin City.

The President of TOTAN, Lord Osas Osunde disclosed to the commissioner that the body was set up to regulate and intervene on behalf of telecom operators towards uplifting the deteriorating values associated with them.

This prompted the establishment of the Telecom Operators/ Technicians Association of Nigerian (TOTAN) arrow headed by Mr. Lord Osas Osunde as its National President with office in Lagos.

Established in 2010, TOTAN is a body that overseas the welfare of all telecom operators and supervise the activities of telecom traders throughout the country with a view to discourage the indiscriminate trading by telecom operations on the road, and to bring modernization into the system in such that it will help add

value to the beautification programme of the Oshiomhole-led administration in the state.

Since inception, TOTAN has recorded tremendous success as records indicate that hundreds of thousand of unemployed youths, including widows are now, self employed through phone businesses.

As TOTAN intensifies its efforts towards meeting its set goal, it is expected that the government partner the organisation so as to attain the goal and to also optimize the revenue profile of the state.

In a chat with newsmen during the courtesy visit to the Edo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, TOTAN President, Lord Osunde, stated that with the new transformation in the telecom operation system, there will no longer be indiscriminate phone boot operation/trading on the road side, rather in a more attractive and dignified way in government approved strategic places.

The telecom operation/trading reforms for a long time to come will remain most significant force that will impact on the development growth of Edo State.

Meanwhile, positive minded personalities including the Special Assistant to President Jonathan on job cre-

By VICTOR OMOALU

ation, Josephine Washima, Mr. Emeka Opera of Airted, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, and the Benin Monarch have praised TOTAN initiative especially with

of Information/Finance Labara Maku, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala respectively. Edo State Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Odubu, NCC Chairman Peter Ogor Governor Fashola of Lagos State, Chief of Staff to President, Chief

Lord Osunde further described the TOTAN SHELTER as a “sophisticated mobile office for telecom product vendors”, adding that it is decent, comfortable and can accommodate both the operator and its customers.

It is well furnished

tion with a space located at the mission Road junction to actualize the set goal for the overall interest of the people and to generate revenue for the state, just as he disclosed that a letter requesting for partnership with state government on urban re-

Edo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Macdonald Obasuki (4th right) in a group photograph with the Executive members of the Telecom operators/Technicians Association of Nigeria (TOTAN) during the association’s vist to the Commissioner in Benin City.

the planned unveiling and launch of TOTAN SHELTER billed to hold on Thursday October 24, 2013, at the Oba’s Palace and Da Civic centre respectively.

The Edo State Ministry of Commerce and Industry is expected to co-host the event which is expected to attract dignitaries from al strata of the economy, including the Ministers

Mike Ogiadomhe, Majority Leader, EDHA, Hon. Philip Shaibu, Executive Chairman of Edo State Internal Revenue, Chief Oseni Elamah, Esama of Benin Kingdom Chief Gabriel Igbinedion telecommunication chiefs, local government Chairmen and phone boot operators.

Briefing the state commissioner, TOTAN President,

and insulated from heat, rain, sun and durable”, stated Osunde.

He said besides TOTAN’S contribution towards tackling unemployment, it will ensure the enhancement and beautification of cities towns, villages as well as security.

He used the opportunity to appeal to the state government through the ministry to assist his associa-

newal programme has been sent to the Edo State Outdoor Advertisements Management and regulatory programme department through the Ministry of Environment.

Other dignitaries expects at the occasion include, TB Joshua as the Spiritual Father of the day, Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, Spiritual Mother of the day.

THE NIGERIAN

14

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Opinion

PDP And Edo House Saga THE Edo State Government recently advertised in leading national newspapers for the sales of Edo House in Lagos. The advertisement, as it were, is part of government policy of making the process open, transparent and accountable.

Since the decision was made public, the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party in their usual habit, launched a diabolical campaign of calumny against the state government with all the planks of their stupid campaign pointing to the fact that they do not want the property sold. The only reason they have advanced for the morbid campaign is the fact that “the property was a common heritage of Edo people.” Some talked about “sustainable development so that generations unborn could also inherit the property.”

The PDP have spent huge sums of money, enough to provide infrastructure for communities in dire straits campaigning against the planned sales of the property and misleading members of the public in the process, and assuming the holier than thou posturing.

They have also insinuated that the governor wants to even buy the property for himself! Some of them even claim that ‘they have evidence to point that it is the governor who wants to purchase the property’, saying they are themselves “lawyers.” They have, as a result of their comments and plots threatened court action against prospective buyer.

They have acted as though, Edo people have given them the mandate for them to speak on our behalf.

They have, in broad day light

By DAN OWEGIE

delusion, arrogated to themselves the authority to make decisions and choices for Edo people, forgetting that there is a sitting government in power in the state that carries the mandate, and official insignia of Edo people.

Clearly, Edo people must understand that the Dan Orbih-led PDP in Edo State is out to politicise a harmless decision of Edo State Government for a number of reasons: First, we are aware that the ten years misrule of PDP in Edo State, witnessed the unrestrained sales of Edo State government property, even to themselves without any form of advertisement. The records are there with government. They were surreptitiously sold and some of them were bought by PDP members making noise today. What that has led us to, is a situation where we do not have any Edo State owned guest house in Benin City or elsewhere owned

by Edo State people.

Secondly, we have uncovered plans by the PDP to desperately win the 2015 election in Edo State by hook or crook and one strategy is one playing out in the sales of the Edo House in Lagos. They have perfected plans to politicise every action of the APC-led Government in the state and do maximum damage, politically to the fortunes of the ruling party in the state and have been promised huge sums of money in return by Abuja-based politicians of PDP stock. The other point is that the PDP is frantic on winning the 2016 governorship election in Edo State when our peoples Governor, Adams Oshiomhole would

have completed his tenure.

We have it on good authority that one of the PDP governorship aspirant who is currently serving the Federal Government is anxiously itching to occupy Denis Osadebey avenue in 2016 was the one that sponsored a large delegation of Edo PDP members number-

cert with some serving Federal Government officials of the party in Abuja to utterly damage the reputation of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his executive before the 2015 general elections. We have it that they are determined to use all sorts of strategies to malign the APC government in the state and that over 50 of such activities are under-

star hotel in Benin which will employ at least 1000 Edo people, particularly the youths. The hotel will boost foreign investment in the state and bring international attention to Edo state. Besides, it will trigger the establishment of a number of cottage industry and boost the revenue profile of transporters, artisans and other small-scale businesses in the state.

As it stands today and from every records in gov-

Dan Orbih, Edo State PDP Chairman

ing over 150 including reporters and cameramen from a private broadcast media owned by a PDP chieftain and lodged them in a five-star hotel in Lagos just to campaign against a popular decision of the Edo State Government.

Thirdly, we are aware that what Edo people are witnessing is just one of the major activities lined out by the Edo PDP acting in con-

way. So, Edo people must watch out for these planned negative propaganda aimed at casting aspersions on a performing government in the state.

However, it is important to note that Edo people own the house in Lagos and not PDP. The plan of the APC government in the state is to use the proceeds from the sales of the property to build an ultra-modern five-

“It therefore makes very good sense to sell off the property in Lagos, where it serves only the interest of a few tenants, some of whom, as we saw on television are PDP members who do not want to vacate the property, hence their threats of court action. Edo people must look and appreciate the honesty of the governor and his team as well as the transparent process put in place by government to ensure that nobody serving in the present government buys the property and that the proceeds are positively deployed for the development of the state.”

ernment, the Edo State House in Lagos has become a liability to the state as over sixty million naira is paid annually as Land use tax on the property in Lagos. This figure is sure to rise anytime the tax is reviewed in line with the appreciation of the value of the property in the location. Compared to the income on rents by the current occupants, the property does not yield even the money to pay for tax in the location of the property.

Even as individuals, nobody would want to leave a property that is more of a liability for his children and generations unborn. It is stupid for any man to leave a liability of such magnitude for unborn Edo children.

Edo State today has a befitting House in Abuja, the

nation’s capital just like every other state government in the country. Owning a sprawling mansion that brings only liability to Edo people in Lagos, is therefore, an issue that should not be given a second thought besides outright sale for other developmental purposes.

It therefore makes very good sense to sell off the property in Lagos, where it serves only the interest of a few tenants, some of whom, as we saw on television are PDP members who do not want to vacate the property, hence their threats of court action. Edo people must look and appreciate the honesty of the governor and his team as well as the transparent process put in place by government to ensure that nobody serving in the present government buys the property and that the proceeds are positively deployed for the development of the state, after all, a local Nigerian adage has it that “ when the head of the he-goat is severed and thrown into the bag of the he goat, all belongs to the he-goat.”

Generations unborn will come to appreciate that once upon a time, an administration took the bold decision of selling a property once wasting away in Lagos to build an enviable 5-star hotel for that would certainly outlive every administration in the state. The hotel will also remain a common patrimony of Edo people, not the man sitting on the headship today.

Edo people must see through the prism of honesty and trust which we have all collectively given to our Governor and his team to lead us aright in taking key decisions that will shape our future courageously and discountenance the media hype of Edo PDP and their pay masters.

Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Edo State.

THE NIGERIAN

15

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Issues Much Ado About Edo House EDO House in Lagos is in the news. Like every subject lapped upon by political opponents of the Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole administration, it is in the front burners for reasons of mischief as some fifth columnists have gone to town with claims that the property situated on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos is being disposed off by the state government not only at a ridiculously low price which they did not mention but that it was also being dubiously handled by croonies of the administration.

They also alleged that selling the edifice from which the state was earning tens of million monthlyno figure mentioned eitheris a proof that against the acclaimed quality performance recorded by the current administration, it is deliberately short changing the people of the state by turning the people’s common wealth into personal property. Even where they had no evidence to back up their claims, the group concluded that the ultimate reason for putting the facility up for sale is for the governor to buy it himself.

It does not matter that unassailable facts on ground present a different picture altogether.

Leading the pack of the protesters is the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, headed by Chief Dan Orbih, its state chairman.

In his usual ebullient manner, the opposition party chieftain was at his dramatic best, describing the proposed sale as “satanic.”

A few days after addressing a press conference in

By ERNEST OMOARELOJIE

Benin City, he was again in his element when he went to Victoria Island, Lagos, location of the property with a collection of his co traducers and staged another drama piece that would make Nollywood protagonists go green with envy. Like he did in his Benin City press conference, he reeled out cultural and sentimental reasons in projecting a purely business case.

But the state government has since come up with the reasons it decided to put the facility up for sale. In a chart with mediamen on Wednesday, the state governor pointed out that his administration decided to sell the structure because it was no longer a viable asset. It adduced sundry other reasons, among which is the fact that the state erected the structure primarily as a liaison office when Lagos was the nation’s administrative and political capital. Ostensibly, the reason was defeated the moment the city lost the status. For that reason, most of the other federating states decided to put their liaison offices in the market and like Edo, built new ones in Abuja, the nation’s new political and administrative capital. For the same reason, the federal government sold its sprawling eye-catching secretariat located at another prime point in the city.

But for reasons better explained by those in charge then, Edo house was leased out to a private concern which rented it out,

piece meal, to others, effectively turning it into a business concern. But over the years however, the facility recorded consistent poor business performances prompting the administration to subject it a viability test. Findings convinced the administration

records indicate that under the lease arrangement, the state has been on a losing streak. For instance, Lagos state is asking for about N60m as tenement rate for the property whereas its declared revenue is less than N30m. For all intents and purposes, the point to be made here is that even

swer they ought to answer first is whether the state should continue to run it in the order highlighted.

The protesters also alleged that the processes leading to the proposed sale is less than transparent.

They are livid over a clause purported to be self evident that it was a dubious deal.

According to them, no one need any further evidence beyond the clause in the

Gov Adams Oshiomhole

that it was in the interest of the state to put it up for sale.

Indeed, on purely economic terms, there is just no way any serious business minded person or group, including governments, can continue to retain a business concern in the same condition as Edo house, particularly it is not viable. Indeed, available

though the state is paying high premium on running the edifice as a prime estate, it is getting far less in return. Sadly, non of those protesting the sale of the facility ever bothered to bring out figures in support of its so-called viability as a business venture. In any case, if beyond rabble rousing, their concern is that it must be retained, the an-

“Beside partisan reasons, the only other tangible explanation one can hazard as a motivation for the protests against the proposed sale of Edo house is that they want it to remain a symbolic and cultural reference point. The point to be made here is that a monument of significant relevance to the people of the state is, for all intents and purposes, better situated within the state.”

advertorial heralding the sales which states that the final buyer may not necessarily be the highest bidder.

This, according to them removes every doubt that the process is not going to be transparent. The position however, is that the caveat only seek to impress on all bidders that only those with verifiable financial muscles to back up their will be seriously considered because instances abound where higher bidders end up not having the financial wherewithal to back up their biddings. The process is not peculiar to Edo state as the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, is also known to run its biddings along same principles. In any case, the state government

is still battling to retrieve public facilities from PDP party members in the state who offered higher bids for public properties but ended up paying just N1m. Some of them are among those protesting the sale of Edo house.

Beside partisan reasons, the only other tangible explanation one can hazard as a motivation for the protests against the proposed sale of Edo house is that they want it to remain a symbolic and cultural reference point.

The point to be made here is that a monument of significant relevance to the people of the state is, for all intents and purposes, better situated within the state. That explains why the state government is convinced that proceeds from the sale of the facility will be channelled into erecting a benefitting property in a strategic location in the state capital. In other words, it is essentially divesting from Lagos and bringing it into Benin City, a gateway to the south east and other south south states since the administration’s mandate is to develop not others but Edo state.

As it were, Edo house requires so much money to be put back into viable business frame. Unfortunately, the state does not have the resources and even if it had, it would be foolhardy to deploy same to such a venture given the likelihood that it would remain a drain pipe. The point here is that governments are hardly known to make profit in commercial ventures as they are bad business managers. More often than not, those appointed to manage the businesses end up ruining same as their concern is, in the main, how to enrich themselves at the expense of public interests.

Those protesting against the sale cannot claim ignorance of this fact.

Ernest Omoarelojie, a social commentator writes from Benin City.

THE NIGERIAN

16

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Focus THE ongoing government shutdown entered its fourteenth day at midnight the 15th of October, 2013, making it the 3rd longest shutdown in history of the United States of America.

Democrats and Republicans have been proposing bills and amendments left and right to end the standoff and bring hundreds of thousands of federal workers back to work, but so far, there does not seem to be a real end in sight.

On the Thursday the 15th of October, 2013, the shutdown began its fourteenth day, becoming the 18th time there has been a spending gap. Here is how it compares to the lengths and issues of shutdowns in the past.

DECEMBER 15, 1995 – JANUARY. 6, 1996 LENGTH: 21 DAYS The longest government shutdown in history happened when Democrat President Bill Clinton and Republicans in Congress, who controlled both houses, disagreed over funding on Medicare, education and the environment.

Republicans wanted to curb government spending, clashing with Clinton over his ideas. This shutdown came just a month after a previous 5-day shutdown over similar squabbles Congress used the Congressional Budget Office projections; Clinton used the Office of Management – which resulted in a temporary spending bill. But the parties still disagreed, and the second shutdown took place a month later.

It was resolved when Republicans passed legislation to keep the government open.

Later, Clinton agreed to use CBO’s projections for a seven-year balance plan.

SEPT. 30 – OCT. 18, 1978 LENGTH: 18 DAYS Despite the Democrats controlling the presidency and both Houses of congress, they couldn’t agree on spending on public works or defense. President Jimmy Carter vetoed bills for public works appropriation and for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, calling them wasteful.

Carter and Congress eventually came to an agreement on funding for both departments excluding the parts he thought were excessive.

SEPT. 30, 2013 – PRESENT LENGTH: ONGOING The major players in this shut down are President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid The current government shutdown started over a continuing resolution to fund the government past the end of the year. But Republicans, who have long opposed the Affordable Care Act, wanted to include a portion in the budget bill to eliminate its funding, of which Senate Democrats and Obama disapprove.

A stalemate of opposing proposals grew worse, and neither house’s leader could negotiate any bills to prevent a shutdown. As of Tuesday the 15th of October, 2013, it is in its fourteenth day.

A small but growing number of Republicans have backed a clean continuing resolution, that is, removing the Obamacare section, to reopen the government, but neither party has taken it up for a vote yet.

SEPT. 30 – OCT. 13, 1977 LENGTH: 12 DAYS The House and Senate, both controlled by Democrats, disagreed on using Medicaid funding to pay for abortions concerning when the mother’s life was at stake: The Senate wanted to allow it, and the House did not.

The issue was related to funding for the Departments of Labour and Health, Education, and Welfare, which complicated the issue and led to the shutdown.

In the end Congress agreed to continue the ban on Medicaid funding for abortions temporarily, which gave everyone more time to work out a longer deal.

SEPT. 30 – OCT. 12, 1979 LENGTH: 11 DAYS Major players: President Jimmy Carter, House Speaker Tip O’Neill, Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd Abortion emerged again as a contentious issue in another shutdown during President Jimmy Carter’s tenure (he had five total), along with Congressional pay.

The House wanted to increase pay for Congress and senior civil servants by 5.5 percent, but the Senate opposed. The House also

Past O

US Government Shut Down:

By SUCCESS OSAYI (WITH AGENCY REPORTS)

wanted to limit federal abortion funding in cases where the mother’s life was in danger, while the Senate did not.

The shutdown ended when houses agreed on pay increases, but they disagreed on abortion – the House had to allow abortion funding in cases of rape or incest, but not when the mother’s health (rather than life) was at stake.

SEPT. 30 – OCT. 11, 1976 LENGTH: 10 DAYS The biggest budget conflict of this first shutdown stemmed from President Gerald Ford’s veto of a funding bill for the Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare.

He thought the bill presented by the House and Senate, both of which were controlled by Democrats, failed to cut spending enough.

Congress overrode Ford’s veto on Oct. 1, allowing the bills to become law. But it took more than a week for the shutdown to end because that’s when the continuing resolution for other parts of the budget officially became law.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SHUTDOWN The partial U.S. government shutdown is now a nervous watch on how close the world’s largest economy comes to its first-ever debt default. What you need to know as the shutdown begins Day fourteen are explained below.

Some Republicans are skeptical about warnings that failing to raise the debt ceiling

by October the 17, 2013 would result in a financial catastrophe. Sen. Tom Coburn, Representative from Oklahoma, and other GOP lawmakers contend the United States could prioritize its debt payments and not default. House Speaker John Boehner, Representative from Ohio, wants to couple a bill to end the government shutdown with one to increase the nation’s borrowing authority, plus other concessions. President Obama is refusing to negotiate until the government reopens and the debt limit is increased to remove the possibility of default.

Thousands of civilian em-

ployees were back on the job at the Pentagon on Monday, but about 500,000 federal workers are still idle in the government shutdown. Many of these idled workers keeping themselves busy with home projects, looking for part-time work or just enjoying their free time until official Washington returns them to their jobs. A bill to ensure furloughed government workers receive back pay, passed by the House this weekend, has not yet been scheduled for a Senate vote.

Stocks fell last week Monday amid hardening political stances. The Dow Jones industrial average, Standard & Poor’s 500 index and the Nasdaq composite index all dropped as the government shutdown began its second week. Markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Europe also saw losses.

“Expect more market volatility and downside pressure if a deal is not reached this week,” said Joseph Quinlan, an investment strategist at U.S. Trust.

Polls: GOP takes more blame for shutdown impasse Seven in 10 adults disapprove of the way Republicans are handling the wrangling over funding the government, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll.

That’s a 7-point jump since last week. More than half say they don’t approve of the way President Obama is handling the budget standoff, and 61% say the same about congressional Democrats. The blame more closely divided in a Pew Research Center poll. Nearly 4 in 10 Americans point fingers at the GOP, compared with 30% who blame Obama and 19% who say both the White House and Republicans share responsibility.

OBAMACARE: THE CAUSE OF THE FUSS. It is no secret that the republicans in congress want to eliminate the OBAMACARE bill out of the proposal for government funding which the democrats and the Whitehouse want included and hence the standoff. No party as at yet have

shown any sign of shifting grounds and the shutdown looks very like to continue in the short run Perhaps one fearful future consequence the republicans in congress are considering is the effect it will have on jobs. In an attempt to picture this, effect, many economists have delved into an investi-

able health insurance or pay a fine of $2,000-3,000 per worker. That is a daunting prospect for firms that do not already offer coverage. But for many, there is a way round the law.

Mr Clark says he is “very careful with the threshold”.

To keep his full-time workforce below the magic number of 50, he is relying more on part-timers. He is not

part is rig a lot Am and enta Wor ing scar emp erin Com ance

U.S. President, Barack Obama

gation and from their collective findings and conclusion one can say the ObamaCare may not be very auspicious for the employment process, both for the employers and the employess.

Before the recession, Richard Clark’s cleaning company in Florida had 200 employees, about half of them working full time. These days it has about 150, with 80% part-time. The downturn explains some of this. But Mr Clark also blames Barack Obama’s health reform. When it comes into effect in January 2015, ObamaCare will require firms with 50 or more full-time employees to offer them afford-

alone. More than one in ten firms surveyed by Mercer, a consultancy—and one in five retail and hospitality companies—say they will cut workers’ hours because of ObamaCare. A hundred parttimers can flip as many burgers as 50 full-timers, and the former will soon be much cheaper.

Opinions are furiously divided as to whether the unintended harm caused by health reform will outweigh its benefits. Republicans, who have always hated the whole package, howl that it will destroy jobs. Nonsense, say Democrats; it will promote growth and boost employment. Since the law has so many moving

ers li tive i vidua the s Th stran mark jobs ance rises Heal hirin from that o saw than such indu peop ance Int Obam

THE NIGERIAN

17

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Focus

ccurences And Trends

ts, it is hard to predict who ght. But there is a risk that t of workers will be hurt. merican health insurance employment are uniquely angled. During the Second rld War, firms began ushealth insurance to woo rce workers. Some 57% of ployers now offer it, covng nearly 150m people. mpany-provided insure is not taxed, and work-

next year insurers will no longer be allowed to charge the sick higher rates. If only the sick were to seek coverage, costs would explode, so the law requires everyone to be insured or pay a fine. To make this easier for those not already covered, ObamaCare will create online shopping places for health insurance, called exchange. People who cannot afford coverage will

ike it because the alternais abysmal. On the indial market, insurers charge ick exorbitant rates. his arrangement has had nge effects on the labour ket. Workers stay in bad for fear of losing insur. As the cost of insurance , employers lower wages. lth costs seem to depress ng, too. A study found that m 1987 to 2005, industries offered health insurance jobs grow more slowly those that did not. No pattern was seen in those stries in Canada, where ple receive health insurfrom the government. to this jumble comes maCare. From January

receive generous subsidies.

Mr Obama has said that workers who like their company-provided insurance will be able to keep it. This is like promising that if you like sunshine, it will not rain.

Actually, it is even more misleading. When he shakes up the health-care market, employers will have no choice but to respond Last month Mr Obama delayed the employer mandate by a year, to give firms time to comply. For the moment, large firms that already cover workers are unlikely to stop doing so, predicts Mercer. But coverage is changing nonethe-

less. Many firms are making workers pay more of their health bills. ObamaCare includes a tax on generous health plans, starting in 2018, which is making some employers reconsider lush benefits. Unions, which fought for them, are livid. At the other extreme, some low-paid workers may want their employers to drop insurance, so they can receive subsidies on the exchanges.

More worrying, though, is the possibility that ObamaCare may kill jobs. In 2010 the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that it would shrink employment by 0.5%. The law’s many provisions would pull in opposite directions. Some would raise employment, the CBO predicted. For example, by expanding Medicaid (health care for the poor) to those with higher incomes, ObamaCare would remove a disincentive to work. People who might have turned down extra work for fear of losing their Medicaid would now take it, ran the argument.

Other provisions would reduce employment. Partly, this would be because employers like Mr Clark will cut jobs and hours to avoid being subject to the law. (Unions publicly fret about the threat to the 40hour week.) But mostly, the CBO thinks it would be because people will choose to work less. ObamaCare’s subsidies will boost the finances of poor workers; they may therefore work fewer hours.

After examining patterns of employment and subsidized insurance in Tennessee, Craig Garthwaite of Northwestern University and his colleagues estimate that Obamacare’s subsidies will prompt up to 940,000 workers to leave the labour force.

Many will be older people, keen to retire early.

Another concern is that ObamaCare will lower wages.

For example, if firms that do not now offer insurance comply with the mandate, their costs will jump. Nearly 60% of such firms say they will offer coverage, according to Mercer. As health costs rise, they may pay their staff less.

A study in Massachusetts found that, roughly speaking,

every extra dollar spent on insurance comes out of wages.

The White House, however, points to various ways in which ObamaCare might boost employment. By making it easier for individuals to buy health insurance, it should make it less frightening for them to switch jobs or start their own companies.

Democrats claim the law will lower health costs for firms.

Tax credits for small businesses will make it cheaper for them to offer health insurance.

Measures to reward efficient health care will reduce the cost of treatment. If insurance becomes cheaper, firms will have more money to hire workers and raise wages. In 2010 David Cutler of Harvard University estimated that ObamaCare’s cost-control measures would create up to 400,000 jobs each year.

However, Casey Mulligan of the University of Chicago contends that ObamaCare’s distortions to the labour market will outweigh any growth from lowering health costs. By adding his estimates to those of Mr. Cutler, Mr. Mulligan predicts that Americans will work 3% less in 2015 than they otherwise would have.

Interestingly, the number of jobs in sectors most affected

by ObamaCare, such as retail, leisure and hospitality, has grown relatively quickly, notes Alec Phillips of Goldman Sachs. But the hours worked in such industries have grown more slowly, suggesting a reluctance to add more full-time jobs.

THE ISSUE OF INDIVIDUAL MANDATE In a speech at a Maryland community college last two weeks, promoting his namesake health reform law, President Obama mentioned the word “benefits” 10 times. Free preventive care, coverage for children up to age 26, a better drug plan for seniors. “We’re giving more benefits and protections,” he said. However, there was one word Obama didn’t mention once in his entire 51-minute talk. And that word was “mandate.”

That is despite the fact that a central feature of ObamaCare is the requirement that all those young

people buy insurance or pay a fine, and that is the key to whatever chances of success it has.

Obama’s silence about the mandate was not some aberration. He rarely brings the subject up when he talks about ObamaCare. Nor do other administration officials.

The below are some examples: A 2-minute, 48-secondlong video produced \t “_blank”by the White House — which deputy senior adviser David Simas says “unpacks the law, piece by piece, in an incredibly simple way” — never once mentions the individual mandate.

On a Health and Human Services Web page devoted to the \l “2014” \t “_blank””Key Features” of ObamaCare, the mandate is buried at the bottom of a long list, and then referred to vaguely as “Promoting Individual Responsibility.”

An ad produced by Obama’s campaign spinoff group — \t “_blank”Organizing for Action — talks about the rebate a family got, with the wife proclaiming that “the law works.”

There still was no mention of the mandate.

A promotional website sponsored by \t “_blank”Walgreen (WAG) and Blue Cross & Blue Shield highlights four things people need to know about the ObamaCare. None of them includes an explanation of the mandate. Ads in several states do not go anywhere near the mandate question either.

The reluctance to even discuss ObamaCare’s individual mandate is understandable.

Polls consistently show it to be one of the most widely despised parts of the law but the worrying fact according to a recent \t “_blank”Pew Research Center survey is that nearly 40% of the uninsured do not know that ObamaCare requires them to buy a government-approved insurance plan next year or pay a fine,. Among young people, awareness of the mandate is even lower.

That should be seen by ObamaCare backers as a troubling information gap, since the mandate is central to making the health reform plan work.

The administration itself argued as much before the Supreme Court last summer, when it was defending the constitutionality of the individual mandate. Solicitor General \t “_blank”Donald Verrilli told the justices that without the individual mandate, ObamaCare will “make matters worse, not better. There will be fewer people covered; it will cost more.”

The reason for this is simple: ObamaCare bars insurance companies from denying coverage to people because of their health condition, or charging them more if they are sick. The health law also bars insurers from charging older enrollees more than three times as much as younger peers, even though the older patients tend to cost far more.

The combination of these rules may be a win for those with serious medical problems. But those rules create problems of their own. They raise rates insurance companies have to charge the young and healthy, who already are least likely to buy insurance. And the guarantee that anyone can get coverage regardless of health status can encourage people to game the system, buying insurance only after they need it.

The problem is that if the young and healthy do not sign up, the remaining insurance pool gets sicker and more expensive, causing premiums to skyrocket in what the industry calls a “death spiral.” That’s precisely what happened in states that have already imposed these ObamaCare-style insurance regulations.

The ObamaCare mandate is supposed to prevent this by forcing everyone — young and old, sick and healthy — into the insurance pool. By ignoring this unpleasant feature of the law, the administration and its backers may be doing ObamaCare more harm than good When the final diagnosis is done, ObamaCare may have negative side-effects for the general American people, economy and the world economy at large.

THE NIGERIAN

18

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Political Platform

Gov T.A. Orji And The

THE 2013 Abia State Appropriation bill, also called “budget of hope”, which was signed into Law

by Governor T.A Orji on Friday February 4, is not only a desecration of time and hope of our people, but also discouraging.

Though, many of us observers of the Governor Orji government knew that the law was going to be ineffectual, and did not take the governor’s comment seriously, when he assured that the “budget of hope” will be efficiently employed and ensured that the state would see sensible utilisation of its resources, for the general growth of all that are in our state.

Conversely, such law needs commendation, but only if it were implemented in those states, where their governors think with their heads and enforce works that are people-oriented; not in Abia State, where Governor T.A Orji thinks with his mouth and executes numerous projects, but only in the media.

Owing to the waddled nature of Abia State, due to mis-governance it has to be deduced that all the efforts of the state legislators in reviewing and analysing of the budget, are just like water sprinkled on the shell of melon.

While the governor had commended the state legislators, for what he termed as, all the key sectors of the government are accommodated without discrimination, it is dishonourable that he is not

‘Budget Of Hope’

By ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE

accommodating our people without discrimination.

With the state of infrastructural ruins in Abia State, any sound mind would always question what this government has done with the total budget outlay of N134,148,037,590.00, which was initially presented and laid before the Abia Legislature, but after due and careful consideration, according to a comment credited to the Speaker, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, it was adjusted to N137,172,537,600.00, for the 2013 fiscal year.

With the non-performance of Governor Orji government, his assurances that the implementation of the overall macroeconomic policies in the bill as topmost priority of the government, have not only ridiculed his administration and himself, but have shown how this government lacks the aspiration for the provision of welfare and infrastructure to our people.

The hopelessness of this “budget of hope” started that day, as Gov. Orji said that he observed that the state needed strong internally generated revenue (IGR). Since then, our people who were suffered with high volume taxes, saw fifty folds of levies that were being imposed on them by the government, to enable Governor Orji meet

‘the financial demands’ of the state’s developmental challenges.

The irony of it all is that while our people are being coerced to pay these voluptuous taxes with the aid of intimidation by security operatives in Abia State, Governor Orji who prom-

even when many of us have become strong advocates of reconciliation between the governor and his opponents.

Governor Orji lacks the peculiarities of a good leader, he sees the ability to reunite with those that he offended, as a matter that belongs to the blues.

Don’t tell the governor that

Governor T.A Orji is glimmering on reading or hearing his goons called media aides, making commodities of every of his inglorious speeches or moves he made. They show their loyalty with lies, which invariably, are sponsored from the much amplified “budget of hope”.

As unpromising as the administration in Abia State is, Governor Orji does not care about who is telling him lies for the gratification of his or her pocket, as far as the person is making much desperate noises

Gov Theodore Orji of Abia State

ised that the government would be receiving at least N1 billion monthly IGR, has declined to perform his government’s civic duties through the paid taxes.

Instead of initiating development that would uplift the state, Governor Orji is busy fighting dirty his perceived political foes,

reconciliation is the key word, for the establishment of purposeful driven government, else he bars you from entering the state, as he has barred Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who billed to celebrate his birthday at Aba, a big city in Abia State, on 12th October 2013.

Rather than reconcile,

“Governance ought to be a complete public business, not a complete personal business. Our people would have suggested to the governor that borrowing is part of governance, but only when it is done reasonably, if he had been doing something reasonable to improve our people’s lot.”

in the media, against his perceived political enemies.

From the look of things, it is presumable that the government apparatuses create unnecessary issues around the governor, understanding that he does not forgive. So, they enjoy such, because of how much money to be derived from nuisances.

The government of Governor Orji operates a ‘budget of hopelessness’ and the outcome is the non-performance we can see everywhere in the Abia State.

But Governor T.A Orji

wouldn’t in earnest pervade the moonlight tales that he does not want to borrow money to execute projects. He ought to have known that he had limitations in governance, due to the level poor performance has exposed him to peoples’ contempt, and resign.

Governance ought to be a complete public business, not a complete personal business. Our people would have suggested to the governor that borrowing is part of governance, but only when it is done reasonably, if he had been doing something reasonable to improve our people’s lot.

On-the-contrary, because Governor Orji sees governance as a personal business, he resolved not to borrow, according to him, thinking that he would be the one to pay back. He forgot that any government that borrowed money did that for the state, because the people are to pay. Although, it is better that the governor does not resolve his decision not to borrow, because our people who are to pay, are not seeing any dividends from the IGR. Hence, the “budget of hope” farce would have been factual if the government did not lay its foundation with lies and negative propaganda. The civil service in the state is owed months of salary and months of arrears. Then you wonder where the ‘hope’ lies in the budget, as the workers are subjected to chronometer system.

The hopelessness in the Governor Orji government continues in the sense that he wants our people to pay their taxes, when at the end of the month, he doesn’t pay workers.

• Odimegwu Onwumere is a Poet/ Writer, who writes Rivers State.

THE NIGERIAN

19

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013 With ADO ERHIRHI 08167600251

Success World

People Resist Change I’ve met s few fine men like Mr. Uju Onyechere, Columnist, Author, Speaker and Chief Executive, Benson & Edwards. I dedicate this series to him for his expertise in story telling.

Hippocrates, a pioneer in medicine described scurvy in ancient times. He said the disease seem to especially plague armies in the field and cities that were under siege for long periods of time.

Later, following the discovery of America, when long sea voyages became common, scurvy became rampant among sailors. Very little was known about the cause of the disease and much less about its cure.

Although elaborate theories and remedies were prescribed, none of them was completely effective and most were worthless.

In 1553, Carter made his second voyage to Newfoundland. Of his 103-man crew, 100 developed agonizing scurvy and were in great anguish when the Iroquois Indians of Quebec came to their rescue with what was described s a “miraculous cure.” The Iroquois Indians gave the sick sailors an infusion of bark and leaves of the pine tree.

In that same year, Admiral Sir Richard Hawkins noted that during his career of the high sea, ten thousand seamen under his command had died of scurvy. He also recorded that in his experience, sour oranges and lemons had been most effective in curing the disease. Yet those observations had no sweeping effect in bringing about an awareness of what could prevent scurvy, and the observation of this admiral went unheeded.

James Lind, a British na-

val surgeon, who later became the Chief Physician of the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, England, published a book in 1753 in which he stated explicitly that scurvy could be eliminated simply by supplying sailors with lemon juice. He cited many case histories from his experience as a naval surgeon at sea. He proved that such things as mustard cress, tamarinds, oranges and lemons would prevent scurvy.

In fact anything that contains enough vitamin C, which is most abundant in citrus fruits, tomatoes and to a lesser degree in most green vegetables and other fruits will prevent scurvy.

You might rightfully expect that Dr. Lind would have been highly honoured and praised for his great contribution but the reverse is true. He was ridiculed. He became frustrated and remarked bitterly, “Some persons can not be brought to believe a disease so fatal and dreaded can be cured or prevented by such easy means.” They would have more faith in an elaborate exposition dignified with the title of an “antiscorbutic golden elixir” or the like.

The same persons to whom Dr. Lind referred were physicians. In fact, they ignored Dr. Lind’s advice for forty years. One sea captain did take his advice. The now famous Captain James Cook, who stocked his ships with an ample supply of fresh fruits.

The Royal Society honoured Captain Cook in 1761 for his successful voyage but the officials of the navy ignored his report. Not until 1794, the year of Dr. Lind’s death was a British Navy squadron supplied with lemon juice before a voyage. On that voyage,

which lasted twenty-three weeks, there was not one case of scurvy, yet another decade passed before regulations were enacted requiring sailors to drink a daily ration of lemon juice. With this enactment, scurvy disappeared from the British Navy.

Stereotypes

are found to diseases we refer to as incurable, even beliefs we once hold dear are proven to be wrong. Let us all open our minds and embrace positive change in our lives, business, family, our community and the church. Positive change brings improvement.

Aristotle was believed to

them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first, but no one steppe forward until nearly 2000 years after Aristotle’s death.

In 1589, Galileo summoned learned professors to base of leaning tower of Pisa, then he went to the top and pushed off two weights; one weighing ten pounds and the other weighing one pound. Both landed at the

• Galile Galileo As humans we truly resist change. Our hearts are closed to any movement away from what we used to. We hold to our comfort zone and term any other place outside it as toxic.

Life is dynamic; people invent things, others innovate things we know, cures

be right when he said the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. He was regarded as the greatest thinker of all times and surely he could not be wrong.

All it would have taken was for one brave person to take two objects; one heavy and one light and drop

“In 1589, Galileo summoned learned professors to base of leaning tower of Pisa, then he went to the top and pushed off two weights; one weighing ten pounds and the other weighing one pound. Both landed at the same time. But the power of belief in the conventional wisdom was so strong that the professors denied what they had seen. They continued to say Aristotle was right.”

same time. But the power of belief in the conventional wisdom was so strong that the professors denied what they had seen. They continued to say Aristotle was right.

With his telescope, Galileo again proved the theory of Corpenicus that the earth was not the center of the universe; the earth and the planets revolve around the sun. Yet when he tried to change people’s belief, he was thrown into prison and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. Today, these theories are held as true.

Change is inevitable. It might take some time to be accepted, but surely it will.

Worldwide change has brought about development and advancement through the globe. In 1910, automobiles became the change in mobility. In 1920s, radios were the rave of the moment. In 1930s, telephone took the center stage. In 1940s, commercial air travel became affordable. In 1950s, television took over our living rooms. In 1960s, industrial robots were introduced. In 1970s, personal computers took over. Today, our technological advancement is unprecedented.

It is impossible to progress without change.

You must recognize that change is your greatest ally.

A person who never changes his opinion never corrects his mistakes and never progresses.

In 1940, the Swiss watch was the most prestigious and best quality watch in the world. Consequently 80 percent of watches sold in the world then were made in Switzerland. In the late 50’s the digital watch was presented to the leaders of the Swiss watch company.

They rejected this new idea because they knew already that they had the best watch and the best watchmakers. The man who had developed the digital watch subsequently sold the idea to Seiko.

In 1940, Swiss watch making companies employed eighty thousand people. Today they don’t have up to half of that in their employment. In 1940, 80 percent of the watches sold in the world were made in Switzerland. Today 80 percent of watches are digital.

We must stay open minded and sensitive to embrace change. In our business, accepting change is the bedrock to innovativeness, and this can lead to increase market share for us.

Please let me know how you have dealt with things to overcome a crisis change in your life and business. I solicit your opinion.

Till we talk again.

THE NIGERIAN

20

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

View Point

Nigerians Deserve An Apology “WILL all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red” (SHAKESPEARE: MACBETH).

We need not be adepts in the art of synthetical hermeneutics and titular nomenclature to be able to put in proper perspective the ethical, physical, spiritual and structural builders of man’s god-like idiosyncrasies, mind and character. Perfection is not an attribute of mortal man; therefore, in our daily activities we make mistakes, step on toes and err in multidimensional ways. But a little apology of “I AM SORRY” goes a long way in making amends. But how many people can show remorse by apologizing which brings out the sublimity and nobility in the homosapien.

An apology is a conscientious, remorseful, contrite and formal acknowledgement of error, wrong, offence and incivility etc. Within the context of usage; it is regret, pity and being sorry for our wrong doing. Indeed, he who offers an apology admits, himself at least emotionally, technically and seemingly to be wrong.

The attitudinal orientation of most people tilts toward arrogance, shame, pride, braggart- like mien, braggadocio and rodomontade conduct-a pot-pourri of the messiah, goliath, inferiority, superiority complex and the solus lpse syndrome. These psychological make-ups determine to a large extent why some people tender and or refuse to tender apologies when wrong.

Some tender apologies out of contriteness, because they are broken in spirit precipitated by a sense of sin, penitence sorry out of a deep and sincere sorrow for wrong doing. In theological submissions, perfect contrition is a feeling of apology and repentance for sin with an intention

to amend, arising from reverence, love of God and consideration of his goodness.

But imperfect contrition is apology and regret stimulated by base, mundane and selfish motives.

In all, an apology brings out the bliss, beauty and sublimity inherent in man. The late Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI used apologies as veritable instruments of crises management and schism resolution in their various dealings with sexually abused men and children by pedophile, pederasty and homosexual Priests. Recently, NATO apologized for the inadvertent killing of some children in Afghanistan etc.

In the proverbial “Toronto Certificate Saga”, the former Speaker and Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Salisu Buhari in his resignation speech, gave a Homeric and Philippic treatise on the mechanics and dynamics of apologies. He said” I am bound under all circumstances, to live above suspicion. It was wrong therefore, for my conduct to be open to justifiable suspicion as it has been. I apologise to you. I apologise to the nation, I apologise to my family and friends for all the distress I have caused them”.

Buhari, who understood the power of perfect and imperfect contriteness as a formidable weapon of penance and rabble-rousing said, “I was led to error by the zeal to serve the nation. I trust therefore, that the nation will forgive me and give me another opportunity. I still have faith in the nation and my commitment to her is greater now, seeing that I have wronged it …. Permit me to use this opportunity to express my regrets and offer my unreserved apologies to all Nigerians at home and abroad for the embarrassment this controversy has generated”, Before all these sumptuous and profuse apologies, Buhari had said when react-

By CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE

ing to “THE NEWS MAGAZINE” publication on the floor of the House of Representatives on July 14, 1999 that “my attention has been drawn to a false publication against my person in the News Magazine. I wish to assure you that there is no truth in the story.

My integrity is very much intact as I have already briefed my lawyer Chief Rotimi Will-

dation I will never step aside or be cajoled into resigning my election as Speaker of the House of Representatives”.

But when push came to shove, Buhari was forced to resign with ignominy and with profuse apologies to all, thereby vindicating THE NEWS MAGAZINE, NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS, THE TRUTH AND NIGERIANS IN

iams who is taking it up with Publishers of this Magazine”.

In murderously diabolical remorselessness Hon. Buhari said in an interview on BBC Hausa Service, July 16, 1999, “it is the handiwork of a few inconsequential enemies of democracy, people who are not happy with the progress being made by the present government. They are the people fanning this fire and using their money to bribe journalists to publish all these. There is no iota of truth in it “…… I wish to unequivocally state that as a result of the unwarranted media intimi-

GENERAL. He went on to buttress the assertions of Martin Luther king (JNR) that “it is still one of the great tragedies of human history that the ‘children of darkness’ are frequently more determined and zealous than the ‘children of light” and that “we shall have to repent in this generation, not so much for the evil deeds of the wicked people. But for the appalling silence of the good people”.

The institution and establishment of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in South Africa, Nigeria and other Nations of the world is

“The Nigerian masses have been subjected to unspeakably horrid spiritual brutality, horrendously wicked leadership corruption and eidritchly genocidal poverty right from independence in 1960 till date. Our politicians and leaders in the past and present contributed to the sordid theatrics of oppression against the Nigerian people. But the leadership has not thought it fit and proper to apologies to the Nigerian people through verbal acknowledgement of wrongdoing and the establishment of projects to alleviate scorching poverty amongst the citizenry.”

with a view to ensuring peace and forgiveness after a cataclysmic turmoil through apologies. At domestic levels, husbands forgive their wives and vice versa through apologies to maintain continuity and stability in matrimony and at various strata of life apologies are being used as bulwark and bastions of solidarity to ensure a peaceful world. But the overwhelming ambition and Luciferous

Ulysses who luxuriated in their state of slavish penury.

We have, through systematic indoctrination become energumens, bovine and dunderheaded noodles. The menace of police brutality, extra-judicial killings, gross food insecurity, kidnappings, assassinations, grave unemployment, psychotic corruption, no drinkable water, bad roads, no light, no houses, the production of certificated

adacity for power by Macbeth and his wife consumed them beyond the apology index.

The Nigerian masses have been subjected to unspeakably horrid spiritual brutality, horrendously wicked leadership corruption and eidritchly genocidal poverty right from independence in 1960 till date.

Our politicians and leaders in the past and present contributed to the sordid theatrics of oppression against the Nigerian people. But the leadership has not thought it fit and proper to apologies to the Nigerian people through verbal acknowledgement of wrongdoing and the establishment of projects to alleviate scorching poverty amongst the citizenry.

The Nigerian leadership has an uncanny predilection and knack for socio-economic and political catalepsy and idiogliossia that has reduced the vast majority of Nigerians to the comrades of

illiterates from our educational institutions, religious fundamentalism, fuel scarcity and dilapidated hospitals etc still prevail after over 52 years of our so-called independence.

Don’t Nigerians deserve an apology through a re-evaluation of our developmental strategies and a leadership verve reorientation? An apology is the locus classicus and the initium et finis of our leadership and National Renaissance in Nigeria. The greatly suppressed anger is already ascending the combustibility height for the Nigerian revolution and the present leadership must heed the admonition of Charles Spurgeon that “The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is knowledge of our own ignorance”. NIGERIA BEWARE! Chief Bobson Gbinije Mandate Against Poverty (M.A.P) WARRI -08023250378

THE NIGERIAN

21

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Archival Matters

Cruel Disconnections Of Faith

FATE, sometimes, can be very, very cruel given what played out on October 3, 2013.

Imagine former Nigeria’s aviation minister Dr. Olusegun Agagu, who had passed on some weeks ago, was being conveyed to his hometown in Ondo State for burial. Then, fate broke a mantelpiece.

The Associated Airlines’ charter plane conveying his casket crashed at 9.15 am a few minutes after take-off. A case of double wahala for deadi bodi, to use FELA’s afrobeat musical phraseology. True the dead are supposed to rest in peace from the mundane worries of the world. However, the cruel fatalism of the ugly scenario didn’t allow this to play out as we have seen. To add fuel to the raging, fiery disconnect of fate, the Muritala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja didn’t pay its last respects to a man who was a former aviation minister on the day it mattered. The airport “allowed” the crash.

Now, let’s look at the Number 13. From all psychic indications this number is one that Olusegun Agagu’s relatives should have taken note of. See!! Technically, psychics observed that 13 people died in the fatal crash … on October 3, 2013. Also, they are aware that the crashed plane is 23 years old.

They know the Associated Airline’s plane that crashed has 23 letters just like Muritala Mohammed Airport from where the plane took off.

Moreover, don’t forget the name Olusegun Agagu has 13 letters. Neither should you ignore to notice that the Ondo State Government declared 3 days of mourning, fasting and prayers in the state after the plane crash.

Can’t you see the psychic ring of figure 13 in all these events?

Finally, enter Deji Falae, the late scion of the Falae’s family and former Ondo Commissioner for Tourism and Cul-

By MICHAEL ODIGBE

ture, who died in the crash.

Spell the name. If you do, you will discover the name has 9 letters. Much more, he would have been 43 on October 9, 2013 were he alive!! A double psyche connection between him and the numbers 9 and 3 exists.

What do all these suggests?

It is that numbers sometimes play a psychic role in our lives determining whether fate connects or disconnects our lives for good or bad.

All said, it is not only to Dr. Olusegun Agagu and Deji Falae that fate has been cruel to in life. A lot of people have come under its sledge hammer, also. First of all, let’s examine the life of one family in Benin I know. Some years ago, one of its member, Osaro, lost all his four limbs in an accident. Here, fate displayed its nuisance value again.

Rather than take Osaro’s life, it cut off his two hands and two legs making survival difficult for him in today’s Nigeria where even hustlers with four legs and six hands die in penury!!

Of course, there is equally this horrendous pain fate inflicted on another family in a rank file of seniority were struck with stroke on the same day in December 2011. One of them died immediately. The other two managed to escape death on the first day of the stroke. Among this duo was one survivor who lived and worked in Lagos who was struck by stroke when he came home to celebrate Christmas. So, all he did was to relocate to Lagos quickly where he recovered from the ailment later.

The second survivor of death was my friend. He was based in Benin. We battled to save his life with the little

resources at our disposal. No dice. Therefore, he finally bowed to death this year. Fate won the mortal league match.

It annihilated two out of three men in a family within 18 months, leaving only one male descendant too far away in Lagos to manage the family assets in the jaws of a feuding polygamous home.

visit it, today, you will weep when you encounter the level of depraving neglect there.

Kalama the birthplace of Isaac Boro, a dogged pioneer in the Niger Delta struggle, has equally been left to rot away. No meaningful development has taken place there even though, also, the place hosted the seminal meeting where the Ijaw nation’s Bill of Rights was formulated and made known to the world.

Unfortunately, further disconnections of fate made Isaac Boro to die a poor man in the Nigeria civil war. In

Indeed, the disconnecting sting of fate can be foreboding. Or, aren’t you aware too it was this same fate that visited Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State recently with a flood disaster unprecedented in over 50 years. At the end of the day. The flood left telltale destruction but not after snatching the life of Kelvin the 6 year-old only child of a woman in the community.

Again, evil fate in 1986 visited Dele Giwa in his Lagos residence arranging his death in a macabre way. Billy, his son, was used by fake to collect the killer mail from unknown post runners for de-

Late Olusegun Agagu

On other occasions, fate does not only dispense skewed death, it has a poor reward system. For instance, remember Oloibiri, a community in Bayelsa State where crude oil was first struck in 1956. The community has been abandoned by faith after its oil wells dried up while Nigeria, politicians, as well as elites in the military and civil population reaped trillions of naira from the area. If you

contradistinction, the socalled inheritors of his militancy are millionaires by default today who now use Niger Delta struggle as a meal ticket. Without too much elaboration, Ken Saro Wiwa is suffering the same abysmal neglect today in Ogoni-land which his uncompromising struggle for it emancipation led to his death in the cruel hands of the military despot Abacha.

livery innocently to him. Had fate connected well, these events wouldn’t have been allowed to reach such a climactic end resulting in Dele Giwa’s death.

In politics, you also find fate exuding its disingenuous foul disconnections. Imagine Gani showed through his legal practice, human rights activism and humane lifestyle that he was a true defender of the masses. Babangida, his arch-enemy, has even attested to this fact. However, when the hour of reckoning came, only a few Nigeria

“What do all these suggests? It is that numbers sometimes play a psychic role in our lives Art determining whether fate connects or disconMy Ponects our lives for good or bad.” joined

him

in

h

etic Dia r y :

T he Clandes-

tine Truths By

Cel As A Liv-

IKHUENBOR

OSARUMENScience

VIKRAM

THE NIGERIAN

22

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Science

Cell As A Living Unit IT has come to a conclusion after many years of intensive studies by scientists to say that all living things were made up of cells.

And a cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life. While the protoplasm is the complex materials in which all living cells are made up of all the characteristics a living thing is made up of.

Living things that are living an independent life is referred to as one celled and also noncellular examples of unicellular-organisms include Amoeba, paramecium, plasmodium, Euglena and chlamydomonas.

Those that are made up of many cells (multicellular) are made up of different cells.

They include hydra, Earthworm, bird, Elephant, Orange tree and man.

A branch of biology primarily concerned with the study of cells is referred to as cytology.

FORMS IN WHICH LIVING CELLS EXIST The forms in which living cells exist are as below.

(A) Independent life (B) As a colony (C) As a filament INDEPENDENT ORGANISM

The organisms here exist as a free and living entity of its own, some may live individually as parasites, e.g. plasmodium, the malaria parasite and trypanosoma, the sleeping sickness transmitted by tsetse fly, while the others may just live on their own. Examples of independent organisms include, Amoeba paramecium, Epiridium, Euglena and chlamydomonas.

AS A COLONY Organisms, here have similar undifferentiated cells that are loosely attached together to form a colony of cells that are motile meaning they are able to move on their own. Examples here, include volvox, Eudorina, pandorina, Goivium and scenedesmus.

AS A FILAMENT The organisms here have a filament that is composed of a group of cells that are joined from one end to another end. Examples here include Spirogyra and Zygnema.

CELL STRUCTURE The discovery of cell cannot be attributed to only a biologist, many scientists went through a research process. And this took a gradual long period of time.

Robert Hooke was an English man in 1665

With Oyakhilome Clementina

who use a 30 power microscope that was developed by a Dutch man Anton van leewenhock, to examine this slices of cork tissue, this cork tissue had many neatly arranged little cavities or chambers which he named “little rooms�.

Mirbel in 1802 also concluded that plants were also made up of cells.

Lamark in 1809 also insisted that cellular tissue was the common matrix which both plants and animals had.

Diyardin in 1835 a French biologist also examined this slice of living plants, this time under a much improved version of another kind of microscope and discovered that cells had contents which he referred to as Sarcode.

In 1938 there was also a German botanist named Mathias Schleiden, he worked independently on his own on the structures of plants. He came up with a conclusion to say that all living things were made up of cells.

In 1939, Purkinje named Sarcode protoplasm and protoplasm is the organised complex material which living cells are made up of, that possesses all the charge treaties of living things.

Also in 1939 Theodor Schwann a German Zoologist also concluded that plants and animals were aggregates of cells which is the basic unit of life.

In 1946 Von Mohl also named Sarcode protoplasm.

From all these findings through research work, by various biologists led to the formation of the cell theory.

CELL THEORY The cell theory states that 1.All living things are made up of cell or cells. (2) The cell is the structural and functional unit of all living things. (3) New cells arise from pre-existing cells by cell division.

(4) the activity of an organism the outcome of its constituent cells.

5. All cells are basically similar in chemical composition.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN A PLANT CELL AND AN ANIMAL CELL Both plant and animal cell, constituent, cytoplasm, nucleus, cell membrane, ribosomes, mitochorndria, golgi bodies,

THE NIGERIAN

23

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Art My Poetic Diary:

The Clandestine Truths

By IKHUENBOR VIKRAM OSARUMEN

MY FRENZY THE worse of men may just be the best they call offer While the best they can offer may just be the worse of them.

But nonetheless, all hope is not lost in the desert-sea of life Please do not despair, don’t be despondent.

It is all in passing, the bright days are just yet to come.

Sometimes, our greatest strength comes from our deepest resentments.

A sand storm does not vanquish the traditional appeal of a clay pot However, I have lost my touch and appeal on the petals I love most Life may not be fair to man but man can choose to play the game of fairness with the strictest jokers.

I am a soul mate to destiny, but have encountered so much of internal strife, just to say but a few.

I love the axis of fairness, just that sometimes life does not play fair to the fairest often thousand.

This phase of life is just in passing. It will all come to an end.

Please trust in your eternal values.

I am a boy and a man full of the throes of emotional fear with just the reins of hope to control it.

Let us stand strong in the farmland of pretentious people bathing with so many tricks.

Back to the stables of both self distrust and confusion, my only hope for the future is God. I will cover this mileage. It’s all for me and please do not cry, whenever this is brought before you.

It is my covenant tale of expressing self calibrated disgust.

I love you all.

Stay exalted.

CHILDREN OF WAR Alas! The very essence of war is lost.

Take my children home at no cost.

Oh! Oh! Please we need a gale of changes.

The dunes of a war child have covered us thus.

In the midst of a troubled world with loose hinges.

We live in a less humanitarian world.

We have a chance of peaceful, but divided fine lines.

Vietnam is lost, Nazism has been submerged I hear the high sounding effect of drones, Causing so much of tears with nowhere to run.

Children have become both fathers and mothers The ironical situation warmongers find so external like the ruana People are now planted in supplanted homes of false protecting powers Scavengers in times of armed conflicts they have become Deliverers in the time to come they shall beget As bullets are about to rebel against the trigger Child soldiers will never die to death But die to the very reason of our living ancestors Invisible but artful state of war they have introduced The crimson is no longer red to a child of war Oh Gas chambers and crematoriums have taken the haven of our passage to the great beyond Shall I despair? Shall I be hopeful? Perhaps I should.

Lets together treat the wounds like the fire woods to be fetched Protect the children till they come to full bloom to be clenched Live a life to fill the very culture of life’s drench Fly like the seabird that hardly perch We must see them as the notochords of peaceful existence They are the spotted winged birds in war Thus the agony of the child; the painless torment of a war child The pitiful moments of a crying man, let alone a child of war War children and children, who experience war, are not one and same Time and again, I hear the whimpering of a tormented child soul Finally divulging the secrets of the hearts in beads of perspiration My painless sleep, their hopeless dreams Their tasteless meal, my delightful meal My blissful night is here, while they pray for a night to heal Drenched in the morning mist of thought As we walk with them till the end, The Rivery and Fiery Chefs Bays of thoughtless but virulent actions Pretending to be the ace of all inactions The gulfs twitch in resounding conundrums Like the abyss of wasted cymbals Playing amidst the school of swimming spectrums

The fishes no longer swim as they now sail To a far away land, where the fiery chefs bed rid them for all eternity Ah! It’s all but a play let alone an avenger And a meal to a chef As the fiery furnace is no more THE IMPULSE I feel the groaning impulse in her Retiring to the very nature of her being And plating the threshold of insensitivity around him As I watch from a far place, how things unfold themselves.

Let’s promote a good life together, she says But what she truly means is that I give a verbal assent So lean push you to the wall for all I care ….

My coordinates tailor any consent to any man, she says Can you take me on a midnight cruise, just to say but the least?

Please broker a good life with me But what she really means is that you commit yourself to her In the very essence of her womanly control Is this an up switch to the abnormal?

Or a template of allurements for our death Please tell her to take heed lest she is devoured And plead for my wrath which is much better than her deceptive nectars OUR CLASSICAL ANCESTORS Stitch a healing wound of lost daffodils Play and pluck the notes of gain from the green The oak is not yet ripe for the harvest But the oaf will always descend on the creed and The chance for our fans will lay the state of our dreams Ancestors of past but living spiritual beings Taking the pace of an ace for an official suitcase Dancing along a scrubby hillside of relentless agony As the plain of our glory forbid the smile of our galaxy We classical ancestors will forever cause untold scuttlebutt Who will stand on the way of a raging ant? I ask, I will staid, though not on its way but on its elusive trail And focus on its seductively impeded specters I fear not even the devil in the abyss of our caucus spectra Because, the darts of a virulent but slimy investor Has no incline of my fortified dacha The Glittering Diamond (PT 1) I am taking a stroll with my son Little kusuma blurts out a goodbye to me in the arms of a mother.

Then, I sojourn to a flowery land in the crevices of memories.

Just to uncover a dovetail to the relics of the past.

Thus, I have to bide my time in the scrubby hill of life.

Suckling the very paramount cream of motherhood He stretches out the hands and cries for a release of falsehood My mother took the road of wetness from the sky of uncertainty The path of sunny humidity kept her enraged for days in profanities But still will not let me out of her fort of enduring care A child vaunting a cradle talent of tears By paying tributes to the enthronement of care Kusuma’s kind suffers the vagaries of resentments From a mother who would not allow him a deserving breath of life Carved out of the gory vault of cashless bloodbath My deepest thoughts fall to the day I grow to full bloom Little kusuma is in the arms of a mother hawk Preparing to settle in a world of eternal decision As I become sore in my heart to see the mother cry for help In the very agony of her painless torment.

I felt my heart limber for the return of the gods Just to comfort a glittering diamond of loving kindness Oh woman of the earth, where is thy comfort?

Show me the cushioned heart of a dying mother antelope Amidst the breathless sound of death.

Who shall escape the care death offers? Not even the holiest.

We once thought that as children Our ignorance of the world took torments from us Little did we know, it was just the nascent of it all.

While the mother cared little or less about a suckling child In readiness for the battle ahead Yet, I blame her for not teaching me to fend for myself from birth Am I thinking well at all? Or the world has so many unreached points, That men crave to outreach for all their lives?

But soon realize that it was all but a fairytale And that the huers of wood are not back from the farm Because all that jives underneath time is vanity upon ignorance When the huers of wood come back The world would have been long gone I stand to break ease of my love towards you As under an oak tree to believe the hardness Of your worth tome kusuma I die to the gods of hate to the very essence of your universe In that children do not fall to men But to battle little kusuma knows So he fears the dates that never end in days The day breaks the night in halves just to play the appearance Of a goddess for a one well treasured by an enchanter The mirrors no longer picture my reflection Due to the palm of life which has slapped me Oh! Am back from the land of futile memories Good enough for only tales of inflection.

AT A CROSS ROAD It’s morning and the evening mist is upon us Casting the spell of diversities along the channels of life But the terrestrial birds have just awaken the break of day With a fiery voice of a sunken man Awake! Awake! It says with no interpretation for the day Now, all eyes are open to a brand new day of hopeful moments Believing to sing back and forth on the isle of success As they will for the day parade a broken realm of dreams On a saddle waiting to cross the elliptic hurdles of life Just to ridicule the moments of a crying freeman A critic as critical with the time of crossing Like a sower waiting to cross the road of sowing to harvesting A reaper waiting to cross from espionage to reaping in an untilled land The ants waiting to cross from end to end.

This channel in itself is a cross road of denominators Waiting for the cowardly wise to cross I was unaware that the fowls roost To belittle the shocking reality of lives ruse ISHHHHH Ikoko knows that the straw on a farm land is for use And also cares about the bales of hay Because it also lies in wait for use So to what end is the fate of a palm vine taper With all his tenacious guts of absolute misuse?

1shhhhh!

A masquerade does no dance of silence As it strongly believes in the cord notes of beats From a cymbal of rhythmic strokes Talking the very steps of glossy tantrums In a unique fit of mindful reins of gain Ishhhh!

The world does not leak its wounds But imposes it on the inhabitants of the earth With an endless rippling effect that births a new regime What regime it is? I do not know Perhaps Ikoko knows Ishhhhh!

Ishhh! Ishhh! The world is full of Ishhh The Iroko does not cast the spell of palm-nuts on a palm tree Because there are phases of nonsense and sense Which together make-up wisdom And on the whole sum up personal truth Ishhhh! A sand storm does not vanquish the traditional appeal of a clay pot

THE NIGERIAN

24

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

25

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Discourse

Twice A Child: A Case For The Upkeep

BOB Marley in his song entitled “Real Situation” once said: “Once a man and twice a child…” It is my conviction in the truth encompassed in this musical phrase that has inspired the writing of this article. Unfortunately, some people do not experience the privilege of living a second childhood considering the unpredictable nature of life itself. This group of people experience childhood once, and manhood once. This is because death denies them the chance of experiencing the naturally evolving processes of birth, growth, development and steady demise. Those people that are privileged to live long enough to become old anticipate this stage with fear and anxiety. This is the unfathomable irony of the second childhood.

Children represent the future, while the aged represent the past and in the patterned process of society, both the past and present are relevant for the overall progress and meaning in the society. The second childhood in most times, is a period in a man’s life that that is full of pain, loneliness, despair, anguish and even abandonment. It is a period in which the vibrancy in health and living condition that he had been accustomed to from the early stage of development to adulthood, begins to recede and he finds himself dwindling in all aspect of the human condition. At the stage of the second childhood, he finds himself dependent on other people like a child will depend on his parents for everything. Unlike the child, at this stage, he finds himself without a parent to cater for his needs and to look up to with eyes of innocent, dependence and plea for love and care. This compounds the state of a man in the second childhood as he realizes to his chagrin that there is no father or mother at this period in his life. The only guarantee of parenthood and care he has at this time especially if he or she is widowed is the parenthood and care provided by his children who are now adults and have their own families to cater for in addition.

An axion among our people says, “After a father had given birth to a child, the child would give birth to the father”. This saying by our

fore fathers is true as long as it is appropriated within the thought process and living condition of the society of their times, a society which gave birth to this saying and many others like this. There is no doubt that contemporary society has gone miles away from the ancient society that gave birth to these sayings. The ancient society was a society where the family unit was closely knit. It was a society where old age was protected and revered, and children took care and responsibility of their aged parents. Within the traditional society, they (the community) ensured that at old age, when people lose the strength and ability to provide for themselves, the children or community takes up the responsibility.

They ensure that there is always food for them to eat, and in their infirm and sickly state, the appropriate herbal tonics are provided. There is always somebody around to support him whenever he needs to get up on his feet for one reason or the other.

They ensure that his dirty clothes are replaced with clean ones. They also ensure that in their usual evening gatherings where they chat over the events of the day or relieve themselves with story telling or mere singing, they keep these aged ones involved by asking them questions that dates back to the past or requesting them to tell them stories. These aged people have been known to respond with interest and zest to these requests which give them joy and sense of belonging instead of the isolation they suffer in our modern and glamorous sitting rooms in the midst of their children and grand children that often get themselves absolved in viewing movies, soaps or cartoons on the television sets.

Today, the fate of the aged is that of despair and abandonment by even the children whom they brought into this world. Most aged people today in the society are living a life of deprivation, pain and seclusion. They have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves in sickness and in weakness.

Due to the paradigm shift in our sensibilities and societal priorities, children find it difficult, if not impossible to effectively accommodate the

Of The Elderly

By DAN OMORUAN

needs of their aged parents in their over stretched incomes. In some cases, the children of a parent are resident in different cities where

demand for complementary technological devices and service charges that are contending with our grossly inadequate incomes. The impli-

employment necessity and mobility has trapped them.

The result is that their old parents remain in their villages or homes to slug it out alone, or in some occasions survive at the mercy of benevolent neighbors or unpredictable house helps in cases where their children are well to do or when the aged person is well off himself. It is true that in our country today more than eighty percent of the population are low-income earners whose incomes are barely enough to meet their needs.

In this circumstance, what will be the fate of an aged parent whose children are struggling to cope with myriads of needs ranging from domestic, social and educational needs of their children not to mention other peripheral but necessary needs.

The improvement in technology has placed at our disposal the presence of contending utilities for our daily needs and well-being. The concept of globalization on its own has brought about the

cation is that in most peoples’ scales of expenditure preference, the care for their aged parents hardly make the list or when they do, they come up at an insignificant rare.

In some developed countries of the world, provision for the weak and helpless is encoded in the constitution.

This is in realization of the fact that the weak and aged cannot generate funds for their sustenance but at the same time have right to food, shelter, clothing and medicine as any able bodied person. That is why in some of these countries nursing mothers get monthly allowances whether they are working class people or not. They do this to ensure that the basic rights of the child are protected under their parents, and in the process of growing up children get all that they need for a steady growth and development. If we acknowledged that in the process of man living a full life on earth, he encounters childhood twice then it is imperative that his second childhood be protected like in the first childhood because in this hood, he also demonstrates all the features of the first hood.

This is where we are concerned about the plight and misery of more than eighty percent of the aged ones who for one reason or the other find themselves incapable of providing for or having their sustenance provided for in their second childhood stage.

A walk around the streets today will reveal the plight of some of these aged ones who have become destitute in their

“It is pathetic to see these elderly ones suffer the way they do because their children have been overwhelmed by the harsh reality of the times and are unable to provide for them or are out rightly unconcerned about their welfare and plight.”

communities. They stagger along the road with no clear direction. Some walk down the streets by leaning on perimeter fences for support haven been subdued by hunger and unattended ill health.

Some are lucky to have di-

sheveled rooms given to them by some relatives where they manage to lay their heads.

Some are not that lucky as all they have for a place to rest is an attached cul de sac at the back of the house.

It is pathetic to see these elderly ones suffer the way they do because their children have been overwhelmed by the harsh reality of the times and are unable to provide for them or are out rightly unconcerned about their welfare and plight. This becomes even more worrisome in a society where there is arrant display of wealth by public and private officers, wanton embezzlement and unrivaled fraud. It is time for the government to institute a law towards the care of the elderly.

Towards this, homes for the elderly should be opened where those who wish can go and leave and be attended to by people designated for that purpose. Homes for the elderly should be institutionalized and funded as any other organ of government or corporate body. The world of the elderly is another world that the elderly can appreciate and enjoy if they are given adequate care and attention.

Such a center should be equipped with recreational equipment, gardens and lounge where they can come together to socialize and reminiscence over old times. This is how the society can fully tap from the resources of the past, which these old ones represent.

Managing the elderly is a sensitive and professional vocation. Private individuals,

Corporate bodies, Churches and Government can invest in the establishment of centers for the elderly to enable people with the means but not the time to lodge their elderly ones into these facilities. With the gradual shift of the society towards westernization with all its attendant hazards and changes in sensibility, we should begin to legislate on the management and welfare of the elderly because it is becoming a social concern and like all social problem, early attention will prevent it from becoming a social catastrophe. Doing this is honorable and progressive than the occasional calls for pension acts for legislators in the various Houses of Assembly and the Senate. At the end of their tenures in office as lawmakers, they would have acquired sufficient financial empowerment and government patronage that their welfare for the rest of their lives will be assured. By the nature of the constitution of the political office holders, an individual could serve two tenures of three years each in Local Government Council or House of Assembly and go on to serve another double tenure of three or four years in the national assembly as the case may be.

This will give him an incredible Local or State or Federal Government first class patronage for a minimum twelve years out of his adult life; this short life.

Churches on their own owe the society more responsibility in the total upkeep of the elderly. The present scanty attention by churches is not enough. The church in all respect ought to have a higher stake in the care of the elderly than even the government when we consider the wide range of responsibility of the government. The government can encourage churches to do this by providing them with land for building homes for the elderly. The super blessed churches like the Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Apostolic Church, Baptist church, Redeemed Christian Gospel Church, Church of God Mission, Christ Embassy, Winners Church and many others in this clime should as a matter of fact take up this challenge and do something to institute permanent help, comfort and sustenance for the aged and needful.

Such services should not be restricted to denominations but rendered purely as service onto God and humanity.

Churches should endeavor to invest their excess funds into visible humanitarian ventures instead of channeling them into profit-oriented ventures such as schools, universities, hospitals, airplanes and lonesome mansions. The elderly ones deserve our care and attention because in this state, they are mere children and their closing hour will be meaningless and painful if we do not show concern.

THE NIGERIAN

26

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

27

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Reproductive Health

Family Planning Saves Lives

IT has been established that not less than two hundred million women in developing countries would like to avoid a pregnancy but are not using any form of family planning.

The reason deduced for this is that women don’t know about it, can’t afford it or are prevented from using it by cultural or religious constraints. Yet meeting the needs of women for family planning could reduce unintended pregnancies by 53 million per year.

This would in turn reduce the number of unsafe abortions, and the number of higher risk pregnancies there are risks for both mother and baby if birth intervals are too short, or if a woman is very young or over forty. It would also save children’s lives as newborns and children are less likely to survive if born less than two years before or after a sibling.

If family planning was available to all, it would prevent each year: Newborn deaths that amount to 64,000 per year Pregnancy – related deaths that amount to 150,000 per year, and Children from losing their mothers this amount to 600,000 per year.

Poor women and those living in rural areas have particular difficulty in accessing services. Adolescents also face many barriers – unmarried adolescents in particular may be prevented from seeking

family planning by stigma, poor staff attitudes, or indeed in some countries may be barred from using public reproductive health services.

“The good news is that, uptake of family planning is increasing in many regions – and there is a growing demand for it in many more. Meeting the need for family planning offers a real opportunity to improve the lives and health of women and their children – at the very modest average cost of only $8 per user per year,” says the White Ribbon Alliance.

For all too many girls around the world, pregnancy happens when they are themselves children.

However, the repercussions of early motherhood can have a disastrous impact on a young woman’s life. Studies in family planning have it that women who give birth between the ages of 15-19 years are twice as likely to die from pregnancy and birth related causes than women in their 20s, and for girls under 15, the risk is five times higher than women in their 20s.

Studies also show that babies under one with adolescent mothers are 50% more likely to die than those with mothers in their 20s, and the younger the mother, the higher the risk.

Potential disadvantages are not limited to health.

When girls start having babies in their early teens, they miss out on school, which means they also miss opportunities to escape poverty.

As a result of unprotected sex, teenage girls are also at high risk of contracting sexually transmit-

ted diseases including HIV. Young girls may feel unable to ask to use condoms – and in many cases, they may be forced into sex.

Causes And Prevention Of Newborn Death More than 10,000 new-

born babies die everyday; almost four million deaths each year. An additional 3.2 million babies are stillborn, one third of whom die during labour. Many infants die at home, without receiving any formal health care, unrecorded, and invisible to all but their fami-

lies.

Almost three – quarters of all newborn deaths occur in South Asia and subSaharan African; 15 of the 20 countries with the highest neonatal mortality are in Africa. Even without these countries, national

“A delay of even a few hours can make the difference between life and death for a baby with neonatalsepsis or a mother experiencing postpartum haemorrhage. Because various factors – including distance from health facilities, service fees, and cultural traditions – contribute to low usage of post-delivery health care services, it is important to reach mothers and newborns with affordable postnatal care at or close to home.”

averages hide sub-stantial internal disparities: almost where in the developing world, the poorest families have the least access to care, so their newborns bear the most risk.

The health of newborns is inextricably linked to that of their mothers. Providing good quality care during and after pregnancy and childbirth will substantially reduce newborn mortality.

MDG 4 (Reduce child Mortality) sets a target to reduce the under-five mortality rate by two thirds by 2015.

Top 3 direct causes of newborn death according to Lawn, J.E. Cousens, and Zupan, J. for the Lancet Neonatal Survival steering Team (2005), include: Infection Such as Sepsis, pneumonia, tetanus, and diarrhea – and they cause more than one-third (36%) of newborn deaths worldwide.

Preterm birth – this causes 27% of newborn deaths. Preterm birth refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age. It is usually termed a premature birth.

Birth Asphyxia – causes

With Eranga Issac

23% of newborn death.

Birth asphyxia is the absence of breathing at birth.

Birth and the first 24 hours of life represent the highest risk of death for a mother and her newborn, yet coverage of care is lowest.

Three – quarters of the four million newborn deaths occurring annually happen within the first week of life, with the highest risk of death on the first day. For mothers, the risks of death and illness are also highest at birth and in the immediate post-partum period.

Prevention of Newborn Deaths (Early Postnatal Care) A delay of even a few hours can make the difference between life and death for a baby with neonatalsepsis or a mother experiencing postpartum haemorrhage. Because various factors – including distance from health facilities, service fees, and cultural traditions – contribute to low usage of post-delivery health care services, it is important to reach mothers and newborns with affordable postnatal care at or close to home. Through these services, women can learn to care for themselves and their babies and to recognize danger signs of complications, and can be referred to a health facilities if more advanced care is needed.

Prevention Of Too – Early Childbearing Access to family planning is important to preventing risks associated with tooearly childbearing, including increased risk of maternal death and newborn death.

Infants of early adolescent mothers are more likely to die before their first birthday than infants of older mothers ages 23 – 29.

Source: WOMEN DELIVER

THE NIGERIAN

28

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Wenger Wowed By Arsenal Wonder Goal

ARSENE Wenger hailed Arsenal’s opener in the 4-1 win over Norwich City as one of the best goals he has ever seen at the Emirates Stadium.

England midfielder Jack Wilshere finished a fluid passing move as the Gunners swept across the half-way line and put the Canaries on the back foot in the 18th minute on Saturday.

Wilshere started and then ended the attack that involved Spaniard Santi Cazorla and a sublime one-two with France striker Olivier Giroud to lift the ball over the back four into the path of Wilshere who ghosted in and tucked home.

“It was certainly one of the best and one I enjoyed the most,” said Wenger, whose side cruised to victory after Wilshere’s strike thanks to Mesut Ozil’s double and an Aaron Ramsey goal.

“It was the combination and speed I like to play. It was a mix of technical quality, speedy thinking and quick reaction. It was a great goal.

“I think we have scored some good goals already this season, but the first was exceptional.

“I think their keeper played well and they played well. We had a period where we struggled to keep out game going too.”

The introduction of Ozil has energised Arsenal and the Germany midfielder is bringing the best out of his team-mates, especially Ramsey and Wilshere.

Ozil cost a club record £42.4 million ($66 million, 50 million euros) to lure from Real Madrid, but it already looks like money

well spent.

The Gunners have managed to move to the top of the Premier League, two points ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool, without a number of key players such as Theo Walcott, Alex OxladeChamberlain and Lukas Podolski “Everybody will play,” added Wenger who could be without Mathieu Flamini against Borussia Dortmund for their Champions League tie on Tuesday after he got came off with concussion.

“We have a good attitude and are hungry. We have a good solidarity level and quality. We have belief and that is strengthened by every win.”

Jonny Howson gave Norwich a life-line at 2-1, but it only went on to inspire the Gunners to hit more.

With just two wins from eight games to their name, the

Canaries are in the midst of an early season relegation battle, with the pressure increasing on boss Chris Hughton.

“Arsenal certainly have got the squad to sustain this. They are a side that can score goals,” said the Norwich boss.

“There are a lot of positives in our last two games though and our level of performance have been good.”

Even Hughton was willing to pay tribute to Arsenal’s formidable opener.

“I think on the first one there aren’t many teams that can score that type of goal,” he said.

“It got a bit of fortune off Alex Tettey in the way. If I looked at that goal it was from a ball we gave away high up the pitch.

“We had to be better at that. But overall, the biggest disappointment for me is that I don’t think 4-1 is a true reflection of the balance of play.”

Any Trophy Fergie An Achievement Tells Struggling Moyes

SIR Alex Ferguson believes it would be a “fantastic achievement” for his Manchester United successor David Moyes to win any trophy this season.

It means United have won just Moyes has endured a rocky three of their opening eight start to life at Old Trafford after Premier League matches to fall taking over from Ferguson, and eight points behind early was frustrated again as leaders Arsenal — but they Southampton scored a late have begun their Champions equaliser to draw 1-1 at Old League campaign well and Trafford on Saturday. defeated Liverpool to advance in the Capital One Cup. In an exclusive interview with MUTV, Ferguson said any kind of silverware should be no matter what he has done in regarded as a success this his career, and he has scored season. goals in the top level throughout “For David, winning a trophy Europe in all of his career.

“He’ll still be feeling happier to have that first one. It’s something the staff and players have seen in many days in training. Quality is permanent.

“Physically you can change as your life moves on but quality is permanent and we’ve seen that finishing in training for a good few weeks now and hopefully it’s something we’ll see more often in the future.

“I think all strikers like to be scoring goals, it’s what makes them tick, and to get off the mark is something he’ll be happy about. And hopefully we get the benefit of it Sir Alex Ferguson immediately.”

Eto’o Set To Lead Chelsea’s Euro Attack SAMUEL Eto’o is set to lead the Chelsea attack in their Champions League Group E game at Schalke on Tuesday after scoring his first goal for the Stamford Bridge club.

Eto’o, 32, has taken time to adjust to life in England following his August move from Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala.

But the Cameroon striker was handed a starting spot in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Cardiff, despite the return to fitness of Fernando Torres, and responded in style.

Eto’o delivered an assist for Eden Hazard’s first half equaliser, although it was a controversial moment as he cheekily stole possession away from Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall, who was bouncing the ball in preparation to launch it downfield.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay was furious with referee Anthony Taylor’s failure to rule the goal out for a foul, but Eto’o was unaffected and put Chelsea ahead in the 66th minute as Jose Mourinho’s side went on to secure a 4-1 victory.

Mourinho has spoken about the need to give Eto’o time to adapt to his new surroundings and Chelsea assistant coach Steve Holland believes the former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward will go from strength to strength after getting off the mark with an excellent right foot finish.

“It’s always difficult when you change clubs and to change countries and leagues increases that,” Holland said.

“I’m sure Samuel will feel that,

Eden Hazard scored twice for Chelsea against Cardiff.

would be a fantastic achievement no matter what it is — the League Cup, FA Cup, European Cup or Premier League,” he said.

“We’ve always had priorities obviously, and David is aware of that, but I hope he achieves it.”

United, who have never finished lower than third in the Premier League era, are currently eighth in the table, but Ferguson stressed: “The key for David is not to look to do

anything better or less but just to maintain what the club has been for 20-odd years and keep the success going.

“It is not easy winning a trophy in our league because you could say there are six teams fighting for the league.”

He said he believed Moyes would be given the space and time to do the job, saying: “He has great support at the club. It is a fantastically-run football club.

“I remember saying to the board back in David [Gill]’s time that the manager is the most important person at the club.

“He always will be, whether it’s Alex Ferguson, David Moyes or Matt Busby. The most important person in the club is the manager, and that must always be sacrosanct. In fairness, the club have always stuck by that rigid belief.”

He said he believed his ability to adapt had been crucial to his managerial success, explaining: “You must embrace the change.

“I’ve said it many times: The bus is leaving. If you’re not on

the bus you’re left behind, and that applies to the manager as well.

“I think I did that very well, particularly in my last decade.

You must have the humility to do that and not think the world should never change because you’re stuck with your ideas and philosophies.”

But he said the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in his final season at the helm had left him with a sense of frustration, adding: “I always felt our record in Europe should have been better. Last year sums it up.

“The Nani sending off was a kick in the teeth for me. From a winning position against Real, the game was taken away by a really, really ridiculous decision.

“I knew [it was my last chance of winning the Champions League]. I just couldn’t go to the press conference. I was gutted for everyone.

“I loved the European final [when United beat Chelsea in 2008], I must admit, but it’s not an easy tournament now because all the best teams are in there.”

Pellegrini Thrilled By Match Winner Aguero

MANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini praised Sergio Aguero after the Argentine helped his side finally pick up their first away win of the season in the Premier League.

Aguero scored twice either side of half-time and then set up David Silva for a late goal as City moved up to fourth place in the table with a 3-1 win at West Ham United on Saturday.

They had come into this game looking to throw off their ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ image so far this season after three previous away matches had yielded just one point.

And after Aguero’s heroics ended their away hoodoo, Pellegrini is hopeful they can now build on that success.

“One point from nine is not a good average and before we started the game, Chelsea and Arsenal had both won their matches, so it was important not to lose any more points,” he said.

“I’m very pleased. The most important thing was to win, but we continued to play the same way as we have been. I told the players to have patience and keep moving the ball. I think we did it very well and deserved our victory.”

Pellegrini added: “Sergio is a top player who makes an important difference. He didn’t play the second game with Argentina in mid-week, so he was fresh.”

Pellegrini took a gamble by naming a completely new back four with Javi Garcia partnering

Matija Nastasic in central defence, but in truth, they were never really tested by a West Ham side who once again lined up in a free-form 4-5-1 formation with Mohamed Diame as a ‘false nine’.

Aguero had already put the visitors 2-0 ahead with two excellent finishes by the time Sam Allardyce’s side came alive when Ricardo Vaz Te pulled a goal back with a spectacular overhead kick in the 57th minute.

Yet the lack of a striker to lead the line meant that all too often their pressure down the flanks ended with no-one on the end of crosses.

City continued to look dangerous throughout and only a string of superb saves from Jussi Jaaskelainen prevented

them from wrapping up the points earlier.

Their third goal eventually came 10 minutes from time when Aguero unselfishly backheeled the ball into Silva’s path and he curled home.

Now, with a trip to face CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday night to come, Pellegrini is confident he has a big enough squad to challenge on all fronts.

“I trust all the players,” he said.

“That’s why at the beginning of the season I spoke with the owners and said I wanted to have a squad with two players for each position because we have a lot of matches and we need to have the same quality.”

For Allardyce, it was back to the drawing board after his tactical triumph in the 3-0

victory over Tottenham Hotspur in his side’s last outing.

The West Ham manager acknowledged that his strikerfree system had failed to fire this time and also admitted that his team struggled to recover from two defensive mistakes.

“We didn’t look anything like we did at Tottenham,” he said.

“Our attacking was limited to a 20-minute spell after they were 2-0 up, but it was too late. Man City were better than we were and to get a result against them you need to play your best.

“They frightened us a little bit with the passing between Aguero and Yaya Toure, but we made two basic errors for their first two goals. We gave it a go and I’m at least pleased with the response the lads showed.”

THE NIGERIAN

29

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Zlatan Ibra Leads PSG’s Win

ZLATAN Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani scored spectacular goals as unbeaten Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bastia 4-0 to provisionally move ahead of Monaco at the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday.

On PSG’s first goal, Lucas’ cross from the right inadvertently struck Hervin Ongenda and the ball looped up and behind Ibrahimovic, who showed flexibility to volley it over his shoulder with the back of his heel.

Moments later, Ibrahimovic made it 2-0 after 15 minutes when Lucas’ cross went in off his shoulder.

Cavani replaced Ibrahimovic at half-time and dribbled past three players down the left before slotting in from a tight angle. He added a late penalty for 4-0.

“Ibra doesn’t surprise me, we know he’s capable of scoring goals like that. We’re very lucky to have a player like this, who is able to break the deadlock in any match,” PSG coach Laurent Blanc said. “Cavani’s goal was just as good, it wasn’t easier to score. I’ll be perfectly happy if he scores more like that.”

Monaco, the only other unbeaten side, can retain top spot on goal difference if they win by three goals at Sochaux on Sunday.

Lille remained in third place, four points behind PSG after winning 1-0 at Montpellier thanks to an early goal from defender Pape Souare.

Nantes beat Ajaccio 1-0 to

jump above Marseille and into fourth place with American midfielder Alejandro Bedoya scoring a late winner.

Guingamp 2-0 won at Evian and moved up to eighth spot thanks to goals from Thibault Giresse and Ladislas Douniama after Nicolas Benezet had given the home side the lead.

Midfielder Foued Kadir, on loan from Marseille, scored twice for mid-table Rennes before striker Anthony Le Tallec and Marco Da Silva netted for Valenciennes, who moved off the bottom of the table with the 2-2 draw.

• Robert Lewandowski

• Mario Balotelli

Martino Not Panicked As Barca Firs Blank

BARCELONA manager Gerardo Martino blamed an off day in front of goal after his side dropped points for the first time this season in a 0-0 draw at Osasuna.

With Lionel Messi only introduced as a substitute 22 minutes from time, Marc Bartra, Neymar and Cesc Fabregas all missed clear chances as Barca failed to score for the first time in 64 league games.

However, Martino insisted he was satisfied with the performance of the team other than their finishing in front of goal.

“In the first-half I thought we missed a bit of accuracy in the final pass. Pedro, Neymar and Cesc all tried and all just missed the pass by milimetres,” said Martino.

Arsenal And City To Fight For Lewandowski

THE Polish striker’s widely-reported deal with Bayern may not be a done deal after all, plus the rest of the day’s best stories.

Arsenal and City to fight for Lewandowski: Borussia Dortmund’s Polish star Robert Lewandowski had reportedly agreed a move to Bayern Munich next

Balotelli Doubtful For Barca, Says Gilliani

summer, but that turns out not to be the case - and has sparked huge Premier League interest, according to the Sunday Mirror. “City have been alerted by Lewendowski’s claim that his proposed move to Bayern Munich when his contract expires next summer is not a done deal,” the paper reports.

“Etihad boss Manuel Pellegrini may even be prepared to sacrifice Edin Dzeko in a swap deal for the 25-year-old Pole if City are given further encouragement by the player. Arsenal remain cash rich and keen to sign a world class striker. The Gunners are prepared to pay £25 million to land Lewandowski in the January window before he becomes a free agent next summer.”

seven months out due to knee surgery.

The 35-year-old completed the 90 minutes without ever looking flustered and is looking forward to a prolonged run in the side after a frustrating few months.

“I have had a number of days training with the team, every day I feel better,” he told Canal Plus.

“I am happy about what I felt during the game, albeit not the result. The past few months were tough but that is now in the past. Now the good part comes

“In the second-half we had at least four clear chances, but the good thing is we didn’t concede.

The movement of the ball and rotation of players on the pitch was all good, but we just couldn’t find the goal.”

It was a disappointing start to a crucial week for Barca as they face AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Real Madrid next weekend.

Martino, though, doesn’t believe the setback against Osasuna will affect their preparation for the next two games.

“I would be worried if I saw deterioration in the performance of the team, but I didn’t see that.

“It is obviously a big week with firstly Milan then Madrid, but I am not annoyed because I am happy with the performance of the team.”

The one positive piece of news for Barca was the return of captain Carles Puyol after

• Lionel Messi

BAYERN Munich battled from a goal down to beat Mainz 4-1 and move back to the top of the Bundesliga.

Shawn Parker grabbed Mainz’s one and only serious chance of the game, just before half-time, but the Bavarians responded in the second half with Arjen Robben and Thomas Mueller turning the game on its head in the space of two minutes.

Mario Mandzukic added a third before Muller’s second this time from the penalty spot - completed the rout to lift the champions back to the summit after they had been displaced on Friday night when Bayer

Leverkusen won 2-1 at Hoffenheim.

A Marco Reus penalty in the fourth minute was enough to earn Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 win against Hannover.

The Germany international converted from the spot early on, but Jurgen Klopp’s men made life difficult for themselves by not adding a second.

Hannover grew in confidence as the game wore on, but were unable to find an equaliser as Dortmund held.

Adrian Ramos’ goal earned Hertha Berlin a 1-0 win at home to Borussia Monchengladbach which took them above their

and I have to enjoy it.”

The draw leaves Barca just three points ahead of Real Madrid heading into next Saturday’s El Clasico.

Madrid managed to cut the gap on Saturday with a comfortable 2-0 win against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.

And after admitting this week that Real could only improve after poor showings against Elche, Atletico Madrid and Levante, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti was happier with what he saw against Malaga.

MARIO Balotelli is set to miss AC Milan’s Champions League Group H clash at home to Barcelona on Tuesday, according to club vice-president Adriano Galliani.

Milan had hoped Balotelli would return from a three-game league ban against Udinese on Saturday.

But after playing in Italy’s final World Cup qualifier against Armenia last week the 23-year-old striker was diagnosed with a thigh problem.

Balotelli was absent for Milan’s precious 1-0 win at home to Udinese and although expected to recover in time for Tuesday Galliani suggested the striker could again be sidelined when Barca visit the San Siro.

Goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, who picked up a knock hours before Saturday’s game, is also likely to be missing.

“According to our medical staff, it will be difficult for Balotelli and Abbiati to be ready in time for Tuesday,” Galliani was quoted as saying by Sky Sport Italia.

It means Milan will be without arguably their strongest player against the Spanish giants. Although Balotelli failed to score in a 2-0 home win over Celtic, the Italian won and scored a late penalty to secure a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw away to Ajax.

Although Brazilian ‘keeper Gabriel made his Serie A debut for Milan following Abbiati’s late pull-out, he was not included in Milan’s list of Champions League players as he was sidelined with injury at the time.

It means Marco Amelia is set to step in for Abbiati on Tuesday when Barca, who on Saturday settled for a scoreless draw away to Osasuna, failing to score a league goal for the first time since January 2012, will be looking for their third group win on the trot.

Bayern Fight Back To Top Again opponents and into fourth place.

Ramos scored 10 minutes before the end of a first half largely dominated by Lucien Favre’s visitors, who were unable to turn their possession into goals at the Olympiastadion.

Gladbach couldn’t find a reply in the second half either as they fell to their fourth away defeat of the season, losing their captain Martin Stranzl to a red card in stoppage time.

Schalke came from behind twice to snatch a 3-2 victory at Eintracht Braunschweig and go fifth.

Orhan Ademi gave Braunschweig their first lead of

the season at home, but Max Meyer brought the Royal Blues level within 10 minutes.

Karim Bellarabi then raised the home fans’ hopes that they would finally see their team win, but Leon Goretzka replied before Roman Neustadter clinched victory for Jens Keller’s men in stoppage time.

Managerless Nurnberg picked up a point at Eintracht Frankfurt, although a 1-1 draw still leaves them inside the bottom three.

Vaclav Kadlec’s fourth goal of the season was not enough to earn Frankfurt all three points with Josip Drmic levelling late on for Nurnberg, who are expected to appoint their new coach in the coming days.

THE NIGERIAN

30

World Cup: ANDROS Townsend claims that he owes his amazing surge into the England team to the lowest moment of his career: the moment he was banned from the game for making illegal bets.

The Tottenham winger was reported by a bookmaker earlier this year for placing bets on Spurs in a Europa League match.

Though Townsend didn’t play in the game, FA rules prohibit players from betting on teams in competitions that they have been directly involved in. His participation in a game earlier in the season thus made him fall foul of the rules, resulting in a ban and an £18,000 that he did not contest.

The player admitted openly what he had done, not realising that he’d broken the rules - and after it cost him his place in the European U21 Championships over the summer, he knew it was time to smarten up his act.

“Summer was bad for me. I had the chance to go to the Under-21s tournament and obviously, it didn’t happen,” he said.

“But it gave me the chance to relax, to think about the season ahead, to get my head right - I have come back stronger. That’s what I had planned to do.”

Despite those plans, Townsend admits that he never thought he could achieve so much, so quickly after spending several seasons out on loan with nine different clubs in four years.

“It has been fantastic,

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

Betting Ban Kickstarted My Career, Townsend Claims

beyond my expectations. But now it’s down to me to keep my performances going,” Townsend added.

“I have had to wait a long time to get my chance in the spotlight. I have had nine loans in the lower leagues, so I am not going to get carried away and then let my form dips. I want to try to stay at the top for as long as possible.”

The overnight stardom has

taken him completely by surprise - but he’s determined that it won’t tempt him into other indiscretions as he is determined to make the most of his opportunities.

“Even in the summer, when I was on my holidays, I never dreamt I would be playing week-in, week-out for my club as well as having two caps for England under my belt,” he said.

“I am a grounded boy. I have

ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has dismissed claims the UEFA Champions League has grown bigger than the World Cup. Hodgson’s Three Lions side qualified for Brazil 2014 during the recent international break.

However, their qualification came amid claims that Europe’s top club competition is now the pinnacle of world football.

It is an argument which Hodgson believes carries little weight.

“That must be propaganda from the Champions League,” he said. “I think you will find most players, at the end of their careers, would say going to the World Cup was their best moment.

“Not many will be saying it was playing in the group stages of the Champions League against Standard Liege on a Wednesday night.”

That is not to say Hodgson has no time for the Champions

- Roy Hodgson

World Cup Trumps UCL

Khan Talks Up Germany Prospects

FORMER Germany captain Oliver Kahn feels there is a “high probability” that Joachim Loew’s side will lift the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

Germany have dropped just two points in qualifying and Kahn, who skippered his country when they lost in the 2002 final against Brazil, is confident about the prospects of the Nationalmannschaft lifting the trophy for the first time in 24 years.

The goalkeeper believes

Mesut Ozil

got a good family. They won’t let me get ahead of myself.

“I have seen it before where players have had great starts to their international careers and then they have faded — so I can’t let that happen.

“I live for football. I am not one of those who goes out drinking or partying. On a Saturday night, I go home and watch the Spanish football on TV. It’s all about the game for me.”

Bayern Munich’s Champions League triumph in May demonstrates that Germany are in a strong position ahead of the finals, telling Bild: “Successes like in the Champions League give the players the decisive kick, “That gives them the conviction that, by getting the better of the best in Europe, then they can also become world champions.’’

Kahn is keeping a particularly close eye on Germany’s goalkeeper situation and tipped Borussia Dortmund’s Roman Weidenfeller to push Manuel Neuer hard for the No. 1 spot. “[Rene] Adler is a good goalkeeper, but he’s not playing in [European competition]for Hamburg,’’ Kahn said. “Weidenfeller, on the other hand, is playing every Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday and he’d more than deserve a call.

“He also has a great character. He’s a total professional and would be anything but a spoilsport.

League. Just that, in his view, there is no comparison with a tournament that rivals the Olympic Games as the biggest show on earth.

“Statements that the Champions League knocks the World Cup into a cocked hat

Boxing ‘Siberian Rocky’ Wins WBO Title RUSLAN Provodnikov, nicknamed the ‘’Siberian Rocky’’, won the WBO junior welterweight title from Mike Alvarado in a bruising encounter.

Provodnikov knocked Alvarado down twice in the eighth round and finished him off in the tenth with the American unable to answer the bell in the eleventh. ‘’I made him not want to fight me anymore,’’ Provodnikov said through a

translator. ‘’This is the best way I could become the champion.’’

Alvarado, who suffered from a puffed up eye from the midway point, said that Provodnikov threw the hardest punches that he had ever encountered. ‘’It was not worth taking more punishment because the damage could be permanent,’’ Alvarado said. ‘’It just wasn’t my night. I have a lot of heart. I’m not a quitter.’’

knock me for six,” he said.

“I like the Champions League. It is a great competition. But the World Cup is often described, in sporting terms, as the greatest show on earth.

“It is certainly watched by the most number of people, there is no question about that.”

Ruslan Provodnikov

Roy Hodgson

Golf...Golf...Golf

Simpson Stays Four Ahead In Vegas FORMER US Open champion Webb Simpson moved closer to a fourth victory on the US Tour as he maintained a commanding four-shot lead after Saturday’s third round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.

Though not quite matching the high standard of play he produced over the first two days at the TPC Summerlin, the American finished strongly with

Webb Simpson

four birdies in the last seven holes to card a four-under-par 67.

That left Simpson at 19-under 194 in the second event of the US Tour’s 2013-14 season, with

26-year-old rookie Chesson Hadley alone in second place after shooting a 67.

Ryder Cup player Jeff Overton (68) was a further stroke back at 14 under, one ahead of fellow American Jason Bohn (69).

Simpson, however, commanded the spotlight as he remained atop the leaderboard on another ideal day for low scoring in the high Nevada desert where there was barely a breath of wind.

Four ahead of the chasing pack overnight, Simpson briefly dropped back into a tie for the lead with Bohn at 14 under after running up a three-putt bogey at the par-four third.

However, he immediately recovered with birdies at the fourth and fifth to move two strokes clear, then parred the next four holes to reach the turn with a three-shot advantage at 16 under.

Simpson made another misstep at the par-four 11th,

finding the left rough off the tee and failing to reach the green in two on the way to a bogey for his lead to be cut to two.

Once again, though, he quickly rebounded with consecutive birdies, sinking a 12-footer at the par-four 12th and a 25-footer at the par-five 13th to regain a fourstroke cushion.

Simpson picked up further shots at the driveable par-four 15th, where he two-putted from the fringe, and at the par-five 16th, where he narrowly missed an eagle putt from 32 feet before tapping in for birdie.

Simpson safely parred the last two holes to remain four strokes clear in pursuit of his first USTour win since the 2012 US Open.

Sean O’Hair fired a best-ofthe-day 63 to finish at 12-under 201, level with five others including fellow American William McGirt (64), Scotland’s Russell Knox (69) and Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa (68).

THE NIGERIAN

31

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

302 Storm Abuja For Taekwondo Tourney

Wrestler Inspires Iheanacho Goal Dance EAGLETS four-goal hero Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed that his goal celebration was inspired by his favourite wrestler Daniel Bryan.

Iheanacho raced to corner flag whenever he scored, raised and pumped his arms, extending his fingers to the heavens. His knees followed along in rhythm to celebrate his goals.

“This is the celebration move of my favourite professional wrestler,” Iheanacho told FIFA.com.

Daniel Bryan is this Nigerian boy’s favourite wrestler, a bearded American from the outskirts of Seattle who occasionally goes by the moniker, the American Dragon.

“I watch him on TV and I love the way he whips up the crowd this way, so I decided to copy it. The fans seemed to like it, too,” he added with a broad grin.

“I was totally over the top with joy when that first goal went in.

“I’ve scored four goals in a game many times, but only in the streets with my friends,” he insisted with a beaming smile, the confidence of youth and a huge successful day spilling from his pores. “But never in an international match, never for my country. The feeling is amazing.”

NO fewer than 302 athletes are in Abuja for the Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) International Taekwondo Championship.

Reports say that 45 of them are from eight African countries.

The championship, second in the series, is featuring 293 male and female athletes in the -49kg -57kg,58kg,67kg,-68kg, 80+kg,-80kg categories, as well as nine children from the kids category.

The Chief Executive Officer/Founder of CCSF, Chika Chukwumerije, told newsmen that the aim of organising the tournament was to build a strong taekwondo team that would gain recognition by the

Kelechi Iheanaeho

U-17 World Cup

Eaglets Seek Place In Knockout Stage

RAMPANT Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will seek passage to the next round of the U17 World Cup when they face debutants Sweden tomorrow. in Group F with 3 points, Both teams won their first same points as second placed games, the Eaglets smashed Sweden but have superior past defending champions goal difference of +5 as Mexico 6-1, while Sweden against Sweden’s +3. beat Iraq 4-1.

Three points in the next Nigeria thus set the pace game in Al Ain will propel the

Nwofor Debuts For Heerenven NIGERIA international striker Uche Nwofor finally debuted for Dutch Eredivise club Heerenveen on Saturday.

Nwofor was an 80th minute substitute when he was thrown into the fray by coach Marco Van Basten to replace Rajiv Va La Parra.

Uche Nwofor

Heerenveen lost 3-2 at home to Vitesse Arnhem.

They are 10th on the table with 15 points from 9 games.

Nwofor played his firstever game in Heereveen jersey when he was used as a substitute in a test game with the reserves in

September against Hercules reserves.

The former Enugu Rangers hitman joined Heerenveen on a season-long loan from VVV Venlo this summer.

In Belgium, another former Rangers and U20 star Michael Uchebo was the hero of his Belgian club Cercle Brugge on Saturday, when he scored the goal that gave them a point at home to Zulte Waregem.

Uchebo put his side ahead in the 44th minute, but they could not hold on as the game ended 1-1.

This is former VVV Venlo striker’s first goal in the league this term. He has made nine appearance so far in the 11-week-old league.

Cercle Brugge are 11th on the league table with 10 points.

Uchebo, who once played for Enugu Rangers, scored two goals in the league last season.

Eaglets to the next stage of the competition.

Sweden debuted in the UEFA U17 European Championship this year, where they reached the semifinal and lost 10-9 on penalties to eventual winners Russia.

The most dangerous player in the Sweden rank is striker Gustav Engvall, who scored a brace in their opening game against Iraq.

Eaglets coach Manu Garba has insisted they will not underrate Sweden as there won’t be any easy game at the tournament.

“There is no and won’t be any easy game at this tournament and we are not going to underrate Sweden because we beat Mexico 61,” he said.

“We are going to approach the match against Sweden with the same manner as we did against Mexico because our objective is to win the fourth title for Nigeria.”

The Nigeria strike force of Isaac Success and Kelechi Iheanacho has already caught the eye with a total of five goals between them from their opening game.

But the discipline and doggedness of the skipper Musa Mohammed-led defence must also take some credit as they had to soak the early pressure from Mexico before the goals began to rain.

The kick-off of the match is 5pm Nigerian time.

world taekwando body.

According to him, the championship will help to discover athletes that can represent Nigeria at the Rio Olympics in 2015.

He said the foundation was providing an opportunity for athletes that could not afford to travel for such international competition to gain the experience in the tournament.

“We have a total of 302 athletes, 45 of them foreigners from eight countries, 25 Nigerian states, five universities and seven private clubs, as well as from the paramilitary.

“We are trying to celebrate our youths. We want to use this tournament to discover athletes that will be able to represent Nigeria in Rio Olympic; that is our aim”, he said.

Chukwumerije stated that the foundation was giving out N2.8 million as price money for winners in the championship.

He said that gold medalists would go home with N150,000 each, silver medalists N100,000 each and bronze medalists, N50,000 each for all categories.

In the female -57 kg category, Nwosu Chinazum of NSCDC defeated Nakia Toure from Mali while Chukwumerije Precious, also from NSCDC beat Suileman Peace from Bayelsa to qualify for the finals.

In the female +67kg, Onumonu Chiamaka from NSCDC defeated Otuadinma Uzoamaka from Delta and Uzoukwu Esther from Lagos beat Baridam Lekan from Kano to also qualify for the finals.

Chika Chukwumerije will compete against popular comedian and MTN brand ambassador, Oyetoro Hafiz a.k.a Saka for the grand finale on Sunday.

NFA Lifts Ban On Ado Ekiti Stadium

THE Emergency Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) lifted the ban placed on Ado-Ekiti Township Stadium after its meeting in Abuja.

A statement signed by the Media Officer of the NFA, Ademola Olajire, said the decision to lift the ban followed a special appeal by the Ekiti State Football Association and other stakeholders in the state.

The Disciplinary Committee of the NFA had placed a ban on the stadium following disturbances during a Nigeria National League (NNL) match between Fountain FC of Ekiti and Prime of Osogbo.

The statement said the decision was taken in the interest of football and the teeming youths of Ekiti State who should not be denied access to the playing facility due to no fault of theirs.

It said the NFA President, Aminu Maigari, VicePresident, Mike Umeh, and five members of the Executive Committee were present at the meeting where the decision was taken.

The statement said that the decision was in line with Article 41 of the NFA statutes.

According to the statutes, an

emergency committee shall deal with all matters requiring immediate settlement between two meetings of the Executive Committee.

The committee shall consist of the President of NFA and five members chosen from the Executive Committee for a period of two years.

The statement also said that the committee had dissolved the Forum of Zonal Coordinators.

It quoted the Chairman of the NFA Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama, as saying that the dissolution was with immediate effect, adding that it would be reconstituted soon.

THE NIGERIAN

32

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013 CMYK

Dialogue: Time Will Tell “Instead of the National Political Reform Conference to give the nation a new clean foundation for our political framework and constitution, Olusegun Obasanjo deliberately interfered in the proceedings, tried frantically but unsuccessfully to browbeat, cajole and intimidate outspoken and patriotic speakers using his hatchet men in the conference and his foot soldiers. In the end, the conference failed miserably and woefully, because of government’s chronic in sincerity” Quoted in WHERE WE ARE (page 113) As the powers that be celebrated Nigeria’s fifty three years of nationhood recently, many of them certainly did not know that the price of kerosene has gone up astronomically. How would they know or care to know because the welfare of the ordinary folks is not on the priority list of our rulers?

The powers that be should know that instead of the official price of N60 per litre for kerosene, it is now being sold for N140.

I simply cannot comprehend the fact that at fifty three years of nationhood, kerosene usually used by the masses has become an essential commodity. What is responsible for this ugly development?

Sometimes ago, the presidency attention was drawn to the problem of kerosene scarcity and its sky rocketing price. I think a committee was put together to liase with

those in charge at the level of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)? It is sad and regrettable that uptill this minute the issue of

eased out to pave way for new set of managers who will see to the smooth generation and distribution of electricity nationwide, a chunk of

workers before October 1 st 2013. I hope this case will not result into another endless queues for exiting electricity workers for many years

President Goodluck Jonathan

availability of kerosene for the benefit of the masses has been left to fate.

We must resist this ugly trend.

Something must be done to sanitise this sore area of our national life. Who are those saddled with the responsibility of marketing this product?

We must demand a reversal of this present situation. Kerosene must be made available and those blocking the path of smooth availability of kerosene should be fished out and disgraced. This is a challenge to the Jonathan Presidency.

Even as power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is being

the PHCN workers who are exiting along with the privatization arrangement are yet to be paid their entitlements. Why is our country always like this?

Why is it that things are usually done zig-zagly to put the citizens in precarious angle?

What is the minister of power up to? Inspite of mountains of promises that money has been released to pay electricity workers, what is blocking blanket payments of all those affected?

It is a shame that the presidency has officially transferred ownership of PHCN to a brand new set of manager without concluding payments of exiting electricity

to come.

I have even read that electricity tariffs are being reviewed upwardly to further improverised the masses of this country, because they are the ones to normally bear the brunt of all sorts of conscienceless increases in our country.

Why increase electricity tariff when new managers are yet to take off effectively?

Nigerians must urge Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to carry this matter to logical conclusion. We all must resist new increase in electricity tariff.

Even as Academic staff of Universities (ASUU) are currently on strike, members of

House of Representatives are perfecting their schemes to seek immunity in our land. I heard that the bill seeking immunity clause for the lawmakers has passed second reading on the floor of the Green chambers what type of lawmaker are these?

Matters that supposed to be of urgent national importance like ASUU, and other issues have been put aside for agenda of personal and parochial affairs what a country!

I can go on and on but for space constraint on this page today, yes!

The idea of national dialogue is a welcome development. Though, my constituency is clamouring for Sovereign National Conference (SNC) but personally, the inauguration of senator Femi Okoroumi led National Dialogue Advisory committee by the president few days ago is a welcome development.

The National Dialogue Advisory committee chairman has said no ‘no go area’ but I still have my fear. When I was researching for my book: WHERE WE ARE published in 2009) I discovered that past rulers like General Abacha, Obasanjo, Babangida and Abdusallam were incredibly insincere about meaningful dialogue for the progress of this stunted nation. I saw that our rulers usually operate with certain hidden

agendas. Honestly speaking, I don’t see a president Goodluck Jonathan navigating a different tactic. I see the present National Dialogue being thrown at us as a ploy by the president to win some sympathy from many quarters of the country because he is being attacked from within his People Democratic Party (PDP) and without as 2015 presidential election gets closer.

The national Dialogue to me is a political carrot from the presidency to cajole, deceive and keep everybody busy for the time being. I dare declare that ultimately if the dialogue sees the light of day its p o s i t i v e recommendations will never be implemented. We have gone through this road before.

President Jonathan is using this dialogue thing to buy space, time and credibility for his personal hidden agenda.

Time will tell if this National Dialogue will take us anywhere.

We need to talk but will the people of the federal Republic of Nigeria ever be allowed to have their ways in the midst of cabalism, mafiaism and parochialism? only revolution will pave way for sovereign National Conference.

Nowinta Wrote WHERE WE ARE

Printed and published by Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, 24, Airport Road, P.M.B. 1334 Benin City. Telephone; Lagos: 01 4930929, Benin: 052 257492, 257531 Editor: BARR. SOLOMON IMONHIOSEN (07030699646), Deputy General Manager- Marketing (08023457566), Assistant General Manager- Advertisement (08023808856) Lagos Office: 3/4 Amode Close, Kudirat Abiola Way, By Olusosun Bus Stop, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Abuja Office: Floor 1, Edo House, 75 Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business District, Abuja. Tel/Fax: 09-5237631.

All correspondence to: 24 Airport Road, Benin City. E-mail: nigerianobserver@yahoo.com (ISSN 0331-2674)