THE NIGERIAN
The Nigerian
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PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 MOTORING Page 20 Engine cooling system
Understanding the dynamics
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
• Vol. 38 NO. 359• THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 20 13 • N100.00
Edo APC gets interim exco
BENIN CITY - The A1l Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State Chapter, has elected a five-man interim working committee to pilot its take-off in the State.
The pioneer working committee is headed by the former State Secretary of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Obazelu of Benin
Kingdom, Chief Osaro ldah, from Oredo Local Government Area, while a former national officer of defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) from Owan East, Alhaji
Saliu Momoh emerged as Secretary. A former Edo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Chairman of Continues on page 2
Edo set to battle erosion menace By KEN ABU
INTERNATIONAL FEATURES
Page 25 Abortion law Supreme Court splits on hearing case
BENIN CITY – There are indications that the threats posed by gully erosion sites across the State will soon be tackled. The indications emerged as the State Government in collaboration with World Bank through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has put in place machineries to give adequate attention to the gully erosion sites. He stated that the The State designs for Ekenhuan Commissioner for gully site and West moat Environment and Public have been completed Utilities, Prince Clem and approved while Agba made the advertisement has been disclosure during the onplaced in various media going ministerial briefing for the bidding of the by the State contract in line with the Commissioner at the World Bank criteria. Chambers of the Edo The Commissioner State House of further disclosed that Assembly. the World Bank team is Prince Clem Agba currently reviewing the stated that the state designs of Queen Ede government has gully while the design submitted five proposed for Ewu-Ibore- Emu gully erosion sites to the Gully is on-going. NEWMAP for approval, Prince Agba stated noting that the State that the state has 108 Government has met all active gully erosion conditions for the sites, pointing out that effective execution of the the Auchi – Oshogboge project.
gully erosion site is the most complicated in nature with eight fingers. He noted that the State Government has put in
place intervention line in turning the King’s Square to a cultural Centre, while the Ramat Park would be
transformed to a recreational Park. According to him an electronic Billboard is being created at the King’s square by certain Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Company in its bid to lightening up the area. Speaking on the Waste Management Scheme, the Commissioner stated
that his ministry has put in adequate machineries to make the operations of the scheme effective but noted, however that there are legal issues that needed to be resolves between government and independent waste managers. Continues on page 2
NSCDC arrests 47 pipeline vandals BENIN - CITY - The Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC has said it arrested 47 oil pipeline vandals between January and November. The State Commandant, Mr. Chike Ikpeamonwu, told newsmen in Benin City that the vandals were arrested at different locations across the state through the command
intelligence network. “Within one year of our operations in the state, we have been able to arrest more than 47 vandals, and also located and destroyed seven illegal refineries in the state. “The illegal refineries were located at FiafiaZion-Gbelebu, in Ovia South West Local Government Area Uloke and Agbede in Etsako
TIT BIT
“The most vital lesson from people’s criticisms is; how to avoid being a slave to everybody’s perception.” - Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama
West Local Government Areas of the state. “We have also raided warehouses where illegal petroleum products are being stored and destroyed them across the State. “Within the year in Continues on page 2
INSTALLATION CEREMONY: Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, (left) being welcomed by his Deputy, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu during the installation ceremony of Pa Manson Umweni Odubu, father of the Deputy Governor, as the Okaevbo of Urhomehe Community. Middle is Hon. Abubakar Momoh of the House of Representatives. Photo: MOSES OBOH.
FEC approves $100m for power in 3 states
ABUJA - The Federal Executive Council yesterday approved a loan of 100 million dollars (about N15.7 billion) from Indian Import Export Bank to boost power supply in
three states. Dr Yerima Ngama, the Minister of State for Finance, disclosed this after the council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi
Sambo. Ngama said that the loan, to be taken by the Federal Government,
the Late Chief of General Staff, Vice
Admiral Michael Okhai Akhigbe begins
Continues on page 2
Funeral for late CGS, Akhigbe BENIN CITY – The begins tomorrow funeral programme for tomorrow, Friday,
would be lent to Cross Rivers, Enugu and Kaduna states. Specifically, Ngama said that 30 million dollars (about N465 million) would be given to Cross-Rivers for the development of the Calabar independent Power Project.
He said that Enugu State government would get 40 million dollars (about N620 million) for the electrification of 96 communities. The minister said the loan would be used for the installation of 33KVA and 15KVA lines as well as the distribution of transformers and other accessories to the 96 communities in the three Continues on page 2
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
News
Edo APC gets interim exco
Continued from page 1 defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Comrade Godwin Erhahon was elected as Publicity Secretary. An international businessman, Mr. Theophilus Okoh, (formerly
of ACN from Esan central) was elected Treasurer while the immediate past chairman of ACN who is also former speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Barrister Thomas Okosun from Esan West was elected Organising Secretary.
The five-man working committee will lead thirty-one other members of the State Interim Executive Committee to mobilise for membership registration that will be followed by congresses where officers will be elected at polling units, wards, local
Continued from page 1 On the performance of his ministry regarding the implementation of the 2013 appropriation law, Prince Agba stated that the sum N12.9 billion was approved for capital expenditure for the
year under review from which the sum of N8.9 billion has been expended while the sum of N243 million for recurrent expenditure. He revealed that the ministry for the year under review, generated the sum of
N310.7 million as its …internally generated revenue against proposed target of N461.3m. In the same vein, the commissioner for Transport represented by the Permanent Secretary of the
governments and State levels. At its inaugural meeting yesterday, the working committee resolved to set up three committees to take inventory of the assets of the defunct ACN, ANPP and CPC that merged to become APC in the State for proper harmonization and utilization.
Edo set to battle erosion menace
Ministry, Mallam Alhassan Ikhelowa also delivered his brief to parliament where he disclosed that the State Executive council has set-up a committee to look into the issue of Edo Line Transport Company in a bid to resolving the underlying issues.
NSCDC arrests 47 pipeline vandals
Continued from page 1
review, the command has organised training for corps members in weapon handling, counter force and intelligence gathering amongst others,” he said. Ikpeamonwu said the command’s anti-vandals operations have yielded positive results, noting that there was a considerable reduction in the activities of vandals and bunkers. The commandant called for more collaboration from other security agencies in the fight against vandalism and oil theft. He said the suspects were
currently being prosecuted for the crime. “In line with our mandate, we have organised a stakeholder’s forum with the theme: “Zero tolerance to vandalism and oil theft in the state.” “We have also organised stakeholders’ forum for private guards companies to refresh their minds on the issues of security. “We did this because we consider them as the grassroots security operatives and there are lots to learn in the area of security,’’ he added. Ikpeamonwu said lack of operational vehicles was a
FEC approves $100m for power in 3 states Continued from page 1
Senatorial Zones of the state. He said that 30 million dollars will be given to Kaduna State government to augment the resources needed for the construction of the 70 Km transmission line from the Gurara Dam to Kaduna industrial area. Ngama said the fund would also be used for the construction of 132 KVA and 33KVA sub-stations for power supply to the Kaduna industrial area. He added that 50 communities in the state would also benefit from solar electricity project. The minister said that the facility, which is coming at a concessionary rate, was taken at 2 per cent interest rate to be repaid over a 10year period with three years moratorium. He added that there would be a commitment charge of 0.5 per cent of undrawn balance and 0.5 per cent for service charge. Ngama said that the facility had been approved by both the National Assembly in the Medium Term borrowing plan, and by the benefiting state houses of assembly. “We believe that this facility will go a long way towards transforming our industrial areas and other communities as part of Mr. President’s commitment to economic transformation agenda,’’ he said. Ngama gave assurance that the country would not be plunged into the era of huge foreign debt with high servicing rate. He said that the ratio of debt to GDP was just slightly less
than 20 per cent and that the loans taken by government were geared towards the development of infrastructural facilities. The minister explained that the credit facilities being taken by the administration were different from the previous loans that led to the pile-up of huge foreign debt. “Preponderant of commercial credits led to high interest rates, making Nigeria to pay over 40 billion dollars for debt servicing. “Under the current regime, government is getting development loans also known as multilateral and bilateral assistance,’’ he said. Ngama said that domestic debts put at about N600 trillion was of greater concern to government. He said the reason for the high domestic debt was because of high interest rate charged by local banks, which he put at about 19 per cent. The minister said that because of the high interest rate on domestic loan it was preferable to go for concessionary foreign loans.
major challenge militating against the effort on fighing against vandalism and bunkering. He thanked Governor Adams Oshiomhole for his support, cooperation and assistance in ensuring the command carried out its activities in an enabling environment.
He also thanked the traditional rulers across the state for their support and cooperation to the command. “We are particularly grateful to the Oba of Benin for graciously allocating a parcel of land to the command to build its own permanent office accommodation.
BENIN CITY - In his avowed determination to sustain the beautification agenda of the state, Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday ordered the suspension of the Head of Edo State Waste Management Board, Gilian Oshogbe, just as he directed the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, Major Oloye (rtd) to immediately evacuate the refuse at the median along Mission Road, Benin city. Governor Oshiomhole gave the order during an inspection visit to Mission Road, New Lagos Road and Forestry in Benin City. Governor Oshiomhole Expressed displeasure in the median along mission road and said Government will deal with those who want to sabotage his efforts. He frowned seriously at the indiscriminate parking of vehicles both at Mission Road, and New Benin and directed the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Omo – Ojo Orobosa to tow all vehicles to Government House.
Governor Oshiomhole stopped over at the Board of Internal Revenue where he took a guided tour of facilities at the Board Secretariat. Some of the departments visited were the ICT department, Tax Audit department, Tax Identification Number (TIN) unit, Board of Internal Revenue Training School otherwise referred to as Sunny Okundia Training Institute. Addressing the mammoth crowed shortly after his inspection of facilities at the BIRS, Governor Oshiomhole enjoined the people to partner with the State Government in its beautification efforts. According to him “please tell your parents at home not to dump refuse in the drainage system, and not to shade on the walk-ways”, he warned. He said, “We have to keep Benin City clean so that Edo people will be proud to invite their friends to Benin City” he maintained.
Oshiomhole suspends Waste Mgt boss
Funeral for late CGS, Akhigbe begins Government House to convey tomorrow Friends and well wishers to November 22, 2013. Continued from page 1
A statement yesterday signed by Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Secretary to the Edo State Government, said that the corpse will arrive the Benin Airport between 10.00am and 10.15am, and there will be Airport Ceremonies. However, the corpse moves to Government House, Benin City between 10:15am and 10:20am and lying in state at Government House, Benin City, between 10:20am and 11:00am with the corpse departing for Fugar at 11:10am. The corpse will lie in state at Okhai Akhigbe family residence
Fugar at 3:00pm with Christian and Social Wake Keeping at Okhai Aghigbe family residence at 6:00pm. On Saturday, November 23, 2013 there will be a funeral service at Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church, Fugar and at 1:00 pm interment takes place at Okhai Akhigbe family residence. However, there will be outing service at Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church, Fugar on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 10:00 am, to round off the funeral programme. The statement added that buses will be avaluable in
Fugar on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 11:00 am.
Late Admiral Mike Akhigbe
Obsequies for late Prof Omo Omoruyi begins today BENIN CITY – The Obsequies for late Statesman and political scientist, Ovbieze, Nozuwa, Professor Omo Omoruyi begins today Thursday November 21, 2013 with a service of songs at No. 1 Omoma Street, Off Oko Central Road and Gapiona Road, Benin City. The programme of activities also indicate that the Funeral Service, Commendation Service and Interment will hold tomorrow, Friday, November 22, 2013 with the commendation service to be held at the University of Benin Akin Deko Main Auditorium, Ugbowo Campus, Benin City at 10:00 am. The Funeral Service will hold at the Centre Baptist Church, King’s Square, Benin City at 1.00 pm and interment at his residence at No. 18 Oza Street, Off Sokponba Road, Ogboka Quarters, Benin City.
Other scheduled activities are entertainment of guests on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at the George Idah Model Primary School, Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City at 12 noon while the Thanksgiving Service will hold on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at the Central Baptist Church, King’s Square, Benin City. The obsequies activities rounds off with entertainment of guests at No. 18 Oza Street, Off Sokponba Road, Ogboka Quarters, Benin City.
Prof. Omo Omoruyi.
Urhomehe installs Chief Odubu as Okaevbo By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR ORHONMWON – The father of Edo State Deputy Governor, Chief Manson Umweni Odubu has been installed as the Okaevbo of Urhomehe Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the State. The Installation rites which climaxed with a grand reception for guests, friends, relations and political associates from far and near was graced by the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egbranmwen Odubu. The governor whose arrival electrified the atmosphere noted that God Almighty remains the sole giver of longevity. He rejoiced with Chief Manson Umweni Odubu and his eldest son, Dr. Pius Odubu as he, (Manson) becomes the eldest member of Urhomehe Community. The Ohonsa of Holy Aruosa Cathedral, Harrison Okao noted that the deputy governor’s father has a good character and reputation, hence his elevation and investiture as the Okaevbo of Urhomehe. He urged other members of the community to emulate Chief Manson Odubu’s exemplary life in order to enjoy God’s grace in all ramifications. Other guests and
associates of the Odubus who spoke on the installation ceremony described the event as significant and worth celebrating in view of the life expectancy in the country. Until his installation as the Okaevbo of Urhomehe which is divided into Adesogbe and Evbueben quarters, Chief Manson Odubu was the Odionwere of Urhomehe Community. In tandem with the tradition of Benin Kingdom, the installation followed the recent endorsement by the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa. It was gathered that the recipient of the title must not only be the eldest man in the community, but also must be freeborn of the community. The installation ceremony was attended by former External Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Emmanuel Emovon, the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Uyi Igbe, some members of the House of Representatives, APC woman leader, Mrs. Modino Emovon, Civil Commissioners, past and serving council chairmen, political big shots, traditional rulers, palace chiefs as well as other personalities across various states of the country.
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Across The Nation Nasarawa To Renovate 18 General Hospitals LAFIA- The Nasarawa State Government has said it would renovate and equip all the 18 general hospitals in the state to improve the general health of its citizenry. Hajia Meimuna Abdullahi, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Health, said this while leading officials from the Ministry of Works and Housing in Lafia on a facility assessment. The facility assessment was at the Nasarawa
Eguavoen Community Gets New Exco BENIN CITY – A new executive has been constituted for Eguavoen community, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The executive which has Mr. Ogbewi Emumwen as chairman, Monday Obasogie, Secretary and Charles Iserhienrhien as pomter (Bush Inspector) was sworn-in by the Odionwere of the community, Pa David Iserhienrhien at a brief ceremony in the community. With this development, Pa Iserhienrhien and Mr. Obasogie said in a statement that the dispute between the Odionwere and the community Chairman has been resolved by the Association of Community Chairmen of the local government area. The Statement indicated that the community chairman is to serve for one year.
Eggon General Hospital. Abdullahi said the aim of the facility assessment was to identify the main challenges of the available health facilities for quick and necessary government intervention. “The state government has concluded plans to provide fences, build staff quarters, provide basic equipment and manpower for all general hospitals in the state. “This will further boost health care services as well as guarantee the success of the drug-revolving scheme,’’ she said. Reports say that members of the team include Dr George Dangana, the Chief Medical Director, Hospitals Management Board, health workers and staff of the Ministry of Works.
Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Louis Odion (centre), Amb. Femi Okuo Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information (left) Mrs. Mabel Osarodion, Director of Finance, Ministry of Information during the commissioners ministerial briefing at the House Plenary on Tuesday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
NDDC Inaugurates Projects In Abia, Threatens To Prosecute Contractors PORT HARCOURT- The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said it had inaugurated three projects in Abia as part of efforts to accelerate development in the region. This was contained in a statement issued by the commission in Port Harcourt and signed by Mr Iditoye Abosede, its Head of Public Affairs. The statement listed the projects as two-kilometre Umuahala Road, one-kilometre Umuwaga internal road and onekilometre reinforced concrete drain. They include a solar-powered water project at Obuzor, Egbelu
Okimiri Ring Road and Obehie electrification project at Umuahala, all in Ukwa West local government area. Others are solar-powered street light projects at Azumiri, Ohambele, Obeaku and Akwete communities in Ukwa East local government area. The statement quoted Dr Christy Atako, the acting NDDC Managing Director, who inaugurated the projects, as saying that the projects would improve the living standard of the people in the area. She said the roads would reduce the suffering of motorists and farmers transporting farm produce to markets in the cities
offenders to learn their lesson by keeping them in custody,’’ he said. Ojo adjourned the case to December 16, for further hearing. The Police Prosecutor, Mr David Erinma, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 7 at Oke
Erinmope Street, Ise-Ekiti in Ise-Orun Local Government Area. Erinma told the court that the accused unlawfully had carnal knowledge the septuagenarian woman, which led to her severe bleeding. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 355 of the Criminal Code. No plea was taken.
Man, 45, Rapes 75-Yr-Old Woman
ADO-EKITI-An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of a 45-yearold man, Lawrence Adedapo, in prison for alleged rape of a 75year-old woman. Chief Magistrate Simeon Ojo, who gave the order in his ruling, decried the alarming cases of rape in the state. “It is high time the court made
as well as boost economic activities and growth in the communities. The NDDC boss said the solar powered-water project with 20, 000 gallons capacity tank and 2.5 kilometre reticulation would enable the residents to have access to clean portable water. Atako advised contractors handling NDDC projects to be weary of individuals and groups who sought financial favour in the pretence of facilitating contract payments. The statement said that Atako gave the warning during a meeting with contractors handling about 75 projects approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2012. “It has come to my notice that some individuals are bent to defraud our contractors by requesting for percentages to enable them facilitate payments to contractors. “Contractors should report such individuals to the commission because only projects that meet our standards and specifications will be paid for in line with the mandate given by government for such payments. “Contractors who execute their
Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Louis Odion (right) presenting the brief of his Ministry to Mr. James Omoataman, Deputy Clerk Legislative Matters, Edo State House of Assembly, during the Commissioner’s appearance at the House of Assembly on Tuesday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
projects in accordance with our standards will be promptly paid and this informs my frequent visits to sites to determine the veracity of claims before payment,’’ it said. It said that the commission would blacklist contractors who
lobbied for more jobs before completing NDDC projects. The statement said that the contractors handling the 75 projects approved by the Federal Executive Council, in spite of the payment of mobilisation, were yet to be seen on site.
Trial Of Oil Marketers Stalled Over Pending Application IKEJA- The trial of two oil marketers, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Habila Theck, was on Monday stalled, due to a pending application seeking its transfer to another judge. Reports say that the marketers were charged alongside their firm, Fargo Energy Ltd. to court for an alleged N979.6 million fuel subsidy fraud. They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court. At the resumption of proceedings, Onigbanjo said that the case file was still with the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips. Onigbanjo said the chief judge had recalled the file, following a petition written against him by Ogunbambo in June. He, therefore, adjourned the matter to February 5, 2014, for mention. Reports also say that Ogunbambo had alleged in his petition that Onigbanjo was biasd against him and would, therefore, not likely get fair trial before the judge. Meanwhile an Ikeja High Court on Monday sentenced an estate agent, Michael Olabameji, to 15 years imprisonment for defrauding 100 accommodation seekers of N29.8 million. Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo convicted Olabameji, 42, of the 99-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Onigbanjo sentenced the convict to 15 years imprisonment
on each count, which is to run concurrently beginning from Feb.1, 2010, when he was remanded in prison. The judge said: “the convict inflicted untold hardships on the victims and callously deprived them of their hard-earned money with a false promise of accommodation. “It is immaterial that he had the mind to refund the money to the victims as he had claimed in his confessional statement to the EFCC.” He said the property which was used by the convict to perpetuate the fraud was actually owned by another person who had leased it to him from 2010 till 2025. Onigbanjo said the 16apartment building, located at No. 2, Amuda St., Kirikiri, Lagos, should therefore, be managed by the EFCC till the expiration of the lease. According to him, the proceeds recovered from the rent are to be paid to the victims as restitution. The EFCC Prosecutor, Mrs Bunmi Bosede, had told the court that Olabameji committed the offences between January and July 2008. She said he had collected various sums of money from victims as tenancy and agreement fees. Mr Joseph Igwe, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of the victims, applauded the judgment. Igwe said that they had suffered both financial and psychological hardship as a result of Olabameji’s actions.
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Delta Trains 280 Youths
South -South Lawyer Wants Beneficiaries Of Amnesty Programme Engaged
Entrepreneurship: ASABA- The Delta Government says it is training 280 youths in various entrepreneurial programmes to enable them to be self-employed. The Commissioner in charge of the Directorate of Youths, Mr Ebifa Ijomah, made the disclosure in an interview with the newsmen in Asaba, Delta state. Ijomah said the training was also aimed at changing the mindset of youths in the state and actualizing “the Delta Beyond Oil” initiative of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration. He said the youth were currently being trained in piggery, fish farming, bee keeping and other aspects of farming at the Songhai Delta farm, Amukpe. The commissioner said the state government was training some of the youth in welding, auto repairs and other artisan skills. He noted that such training would also help the youth to build selfconfidence apart from making them selfemployed. “When such confidence is built among the youth, it
will provide a stable platform for them to embrace self-reliance and life skills that will make them contribute to the national economy,” he said. Ijomah called on private individuals and organisations in the state to support the state government in promoting entrepreneurial programmes for youths. He noted that such programmes would go a long way in checking youths restiveness in the state as well as the country in general. The commissioner appealed to youths in the state to refrain from all forms of anti-social behaviours capable of leading them to violence and lawlessness. “My prayer is that the youths will not in any way as leaders of tomorrow compromise the unity, peace and security of our state by allowing themselves to be used as instruments of destabilisation.” “They should keep their eyes on positive things and make progress with high esteem and selfworth,” he said.
AWARD - Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe (right) receiving award of honour from the President, National Union of Edo South Youths, Ogieriakhi Raymond Amando as the best Speaker for the year 2012/2013 for effectively collaborating with Executive arm of Government towards developing Edo State and ensuring a non-violent parliament during a courtesy call on Mr. Speaker recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
EDSG Committed To Youth Empowerment - Elamah
By VICTOR OMOALU
BENIN CITY- The Executive Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Service, (EIRS), Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah, said the Governor Adams Oshiomhole led administration is making strenuous effort towards ensuring that the future of the youths in the state is given true meaning. Chief Elamah made this known when he played host
to the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Edo State Command. He pointed out that the present administration places high premium on the development of the youth, adding that efforts have been made to take a number of youths out of the unemployment market through the Edo Youth Employment Scheme. Chief Elamah who was represented by the Executive Director (BM2) of the agency, Barr. John Obazee
Edo NUJ Visits Etsako East Council Boss AGENEBODE (EDO STATE) - The Chairman Etsako East Local Government Council of Edo State, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua played host to the project inspection team of the Edo State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). The inspection committee was led by the state chairman of NUJ, Mr. Desmond Agbama and the 2013 Press Week local organizing committee chairman, comrade Joe Apini. Mr. Agbama who congratulated Hon. Afegbua on his election victory, said they were in the area to see what the council boss has done in the past six months, to positively impact on the lives of the people. He stated that they were there to also seek the support of the council chairman towards the successful hosting of the 2013 Press week. Listing part of the activities to include lectures on topical issues, launch of
endowment fund for projects execution, assistance for the less privileged and award ceremony. As part of the fufilment of this noble objective, he said that the Union has proposed the establishment of a modern library. Responding Afegbua who thanked the NUJ officials for the visit and project inspection, described the media as undisputable Vanguard of the society and a formidable bridge between the governed and government. The council chairman who expressed delight over the teams visit said that lots of projects have been executed by his administration. The team later inspected some projects across the Entire Local Government Area. The projects included constructed and renovated schools, modern health centres, electricity
transformers, wires, and concreted poles, industrial boreholes, skill acquisition centres. Speaking with newsmen, Hon. Afegbua said that though funds from the federation account are inadequate, he had to adopt the principle of prudence in the management of available resources to execute the projects. He maintained that he had secured the cooperation of his executive, especially the Vice Chairman stressing they had to sacrifice their personal liberty in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. He disclosed that he has set up an Economic team to boost the revenue base of the council. While promising to maintain the infrastructures provided by his administration, he said he has consistently taken care of staff’s welfare though the provisions of monthly claims and other incentives. The chairman was accompanied by the vice
chairman, Hon. John Alimikhena, supervisor for works, Hon. Hijat Asunugie, Supervisor for Health and Environment, Hon. Barnabas Oshiobor, Special Adviser, Hon. Rasheed Dirisu, Head of Department of Works, Engr. Joseph Igbili, Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Isabemoeh James Roy and other top council functionaries.
applauded the organization’s objectives aimed at ensuring sustainable Peace and Security in line with the present administration. Chief Elamah said as part of efforts toward ridding the state of criminalities, the present government has spent huge resources on the provision of logistics to police and other security agencies in the state with the aim of ensuring the safety of lives/properties. While praising the organization’s set goals, Chief Elamah assured that the EIRS would partner/ collaborate with the corps in the area of education and enlightenment of the people on the need to comply with relevant tax obligations in the state. The Commandant of the Corps, Patriot Odion Habib Mutairu, said the Corps is committed to national creativity, peace and youth development with a view to educating, training and reorientating youths towards nation building.
ASABA - An Asaba-based legal practitioner, Mr Franklin Oseye, has called on the Federal Government to engage all the youths trained under the amnesty programme in productive ventures. Oseye, who spoke with newsmen in Asaba, lauded the Federal Government for training some youths from the region under the amnesty programme. He advised the state governments in the Niger Delta to provide infrastructure that would facilitate qualitative primary and secondary education in the region. The legal practitioner said that only qualitative education could liberate the region from widespread poverty among the people. He said that if young people had good educational foundation, they would not likely be disposed toward social vices such as begging or being used for violence. “What I think will help us is good orientation and education; government must be ready to provide enabling environment that will help those who have talents to express themselves. He criticised the amnesty programme, saying: “granting amnesty to militants is not the answer to the challenges of the region, but good education, infrastructure and direct empowerment of the youth. According to him, today criminals who should be behind bars have taken advantage of the amnesty programme. He also urged the politicians to desist from using youths for election thuggery and malpractices. “Our politicians should stop using our youths as tools for election rigging and all sorts of malpractices,” he said.
Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe (right) presenting a letter from the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to Mr. James Omoataman, Deputy Clerk Legislative Matters, for announcement to members for the suspension of Orhionmwon LGA Executive and the Legislative arm during the House plenary session. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
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South West Insurgency: Lawmakers Advise Against Dependence On External Forces
L-R: Ag. General Manager, Edo Broadcasting Service, EBS, Pastor (Mrs) Sidi Lawal Igioh, Ag. General Manager, Bendel Newspapers Company Ltd (BNCL), Pastor Monday Aigbe and Director of Publication and Documentation, Ministry of Information and Orientation, during Ministerial briefing of Information Commissioner at the Edo State House of Assembly plenary on Tuesday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN
LAGOS - Some members of Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) have advised the Federal Government not to depend on external forces in curbing security challenges in the country. They gave the advice in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos. Mr. Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee Publicity, Security and Strategy advised that the Federal Government should take
proactive measures to tackle the problem. He said that rather than depending on external forces to fight the security challenges, the Federal Government should take the challenge head-on. “It does not speak well for us as a country; it is very unfortunate that Boko-Haram group is giving the country a very bad name. “The Federal Government should rise up to meet the security
professionals to explore its tourism potential to emerge one of the leading tourism destinations in Africa today,” she said. The Nigerian representative said that the association would be excited to hold the world congress in Nigeria to bring tourism professionals interested in doing business
in Africa. “The congress will give the tourists the opportunity to build new connections, learn about the latest industry trends, explore the country’s newest products and promote the country attraction sites globally,” Fabiyi said. Fabiyi also urged the Federal Government to support the growing trend and opportunity for tourism to thrive in the country.
Nigeria May Record 5,000 American Tourists - Association LAGOS - Mrs Margaret Fabiyi, a representative of African Travel Association (ATA) in Lagos, said that Nigeria could record influx of more than 5,000 American tourists in 2014. Fabiyi told newsmen in Lagos that the association was looking up to hosting the World Tourism Congress
in Nigeria in 2014. “The association, over the time, has been thinking of bringing the congress to Nigeria, but all steps and plans proved abortive because the Federal Government is not buying into the idea,” she said.
LAGOS - Mr. Bode Oke, President, Association of Systems Management Consultants, has urged the new investors in the power sector to deliver uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians. Oke, who addressed a press conference in Lagos, said that efficient power supply would help to improve access to quality goods and services and boost employment generation. “We are hopeful that the investors will be able to provide the citizenry with uninterrupted power supply as this is the expectation of every Nigerian. “We thank President Jonathan for the decision to privatise the PHCN by handing over of the company to 10 successor companies on Friday November 1, 2013,’’ he said. He said SON had performed well in ensuring that only quality products were available in Nigerian markets. Oke said that SON had been doing a good job by ensuring that quality products of international standard were
manufactured in Nigeria. The President said introduction of the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) for local products by SON was a good step. Oke said that SON’s Conformity Assessment Programme which, regulated imported goods into the country had helped in protecting the interest of consumers. He implored all government regulatory agencies to collaborate with SON to flush out substandard products. According the association president, quality should not be restricted to only products and tangibles. Oke said there should equally be quality in such areas as leadership, debate, discourse, security services in the public and private sectors. Oke said that ASMC currently collaborated with many organisations in government and the private sector to achieve their quality objectives. The theme for this year’s World Quality Day is “Making Collaboration Count”.
Stable Power Supply Association Tasks Independent Power Producers
Fabiyi advised the Federal Government to support the idea so that Nigeria could experience influx of over 5,000 American tourists, world tourism professionals and investors to explore the country’s tourism potential. “The association is the largest international tourism group in the world. “The congress expects to bring together over a thousand tourism leaders and professionals from government, business and non-profit sectors to promote the country’s tourism development and across Africa,” she said. Fabiyi said that ATA was a global trade association promoting travel and tourism in Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. “The association mission is to serve both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. “At 37th Congress held in Zimbabwe in May, 2012, the association brought together more than 500 industry
challenges facing the country. “Those who are behind the insurgents should know that they are doing more harm than good to the image of the country,” he said. Mr. Muyiwa Jimoh, (APC-Apapa II), also told newsmen that the problem of Boko-Haram was beyond political and religious issues, saying that the group was a terrorist group. He said that he supported the U.S. in the efforts to tackle the insurgency. Jimoh appealed to the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts to suppress the insurgents. The U.S. Department of State recently designated Boko Haram and its splinter group, Ansaru, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO).
Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. (Chief) Lucky James (right) presenting the brief of his Ministry to Mr. James Omoataman, Deputy Clerk, Legislative Matters, Edo State House of Assembly during the commissioner’s appearance at the House’s plenary session on Tuesday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
CMD Wants NHIS Extended To States, Okitipupa, said that if Government to make the OKITIPUPA (ONDO NHIS was introduced LGs NHIS cut across all STATE)-Dr Richard across all levels of Adesoji of State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa, Ondo State, has appealed to the Federal Government to incorporate the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to the states and local government areas. Adesoji, who is the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, told newsmen said in
government, all public workers would benefit from it. NHIS is a Federal Government healthcare service where contributions paid by principal employee covers the spouse and four biological children less than 18 years of age. Adesoji said that many people were not aware of NHIS at the state and
local government levels. According to him, the scheme is a good initiative, which should involve majority of the population, especially government workers. “As important as the NHIS is, it has not imparted on the lives of so many people because it is only the Federal Government workers who benefit from it. “I appeal the Federal
boards to improve the health of government workers and reduce health finances,’’ Adesoji said. The CMD said that more awareness programme should be created for more people to have the knowledge and benefits of the NHIS. The NHIS was established under Decree 35 of 1999 by the Federal Government.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
News
2014 Budget: Lawmakers Optimistic
ABUJA- Lawmakers have expressed optimism that inspite of President Goodluck Jonathan postponing the presentation of the 2014 Budget to the National Assembly for the second time, the budget would be passed this year. Newsmen recalls that Jonathan could not present the budget on Tuesday because the Senate and House of Representatives did not harmonise their positions on the oil benchmark. While the Senate approved the oil benchmark at 76.5 dollars per barrel, the House of Representatives pegged theirs at 79 dollars per barrel. In his reaction to the postponement of the presentation of the budget, Sen. Kabiru Marafa (APCZamfara) said that it was the responsibility of the National Assembly to decide the benchmark for the sale of crude oil. He said that both the executive and legislature must reach an agreement based on mutual respect to ensure that the budget scales through. “We have to agree on the same benchmark because that is what the Constitution of Nigeria says by providing for a bicameral legislature. “The issue of budget is the business of the legislature. “Furthermore, the issue of pegging the benchmark should be the work of the
legislature. “We are all Nigerians; we know what it is all about and we came up with what is realistic. It is not what the executive says that is realistic “We will go into a conference where these issues would be resolved,” he added. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Ahmed Maccido (PDP-Sokoto) expressed confidence that the two chambers would reach agreement on how to resolve the issue of oil benchmark. “The two chambers have to agree on the same benchmark because that is what the constitution says. We have to deliberate on this issue and we have not done that. “Our leadership at both chambers had sat down with the Minister of Finance but when we get to our different chambers, it’s a different ball game,” he said. Maccido, however, gave the assurance that the two chambers would set up an ad hoc committee to resolve the issue within the shortest possible time. “We still have the rest of the year to receive Mr President and I believe that at the moment, the issue is geared towards an ad hoc committee that will sit within the next one week to iron this out. “If we iron this out this week, Mr President would be able to present the budget by next week.
“God willing, we will pass the budget this year,” Maccido assured. In his reaction, Sen. Heinekan Lokpobiri (PDPBayelsa) described the 79 dollars per barrel benchmark set by the House as ‘unrealistic.’ He said that both houses must now set up a conference committee to harmonise the figure. “Normally, I don’t think that what is happening is strange. If the House passes a different version from the Senate, there will be a conference committee to harmonise both positions. “Once that is done, the president will now come and present the budget,’’ he said. Lokpobiri urged Nigerians to be patient with the two arms of government since the law to approve the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) before the budget could be passed, was relatively new. “Nigerians need to know that the law mandating us to approve the MTEF before the budget can be presented is a new law. It was not there in 1999, it came into existence only a few years ago. “The law is a pre-condition for the presentation of the budget and so Nigerians should bear with us and the president,” he said. Lokpobiri gave the assurance that as soon as the
Comrade Adams Oshiomhole addressing some pupils during his inspection visit to Mission Road, in Benin City, yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.
Enugu Police Command Promises Easier Communication With Public ENUGU- The Enugu State Police Command has promised to ease communication between it and members of the public. Its spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, was said to have made the promise following his recognition at the Sandton Convention Centre in
Johannesburg, South Africa, as the best police spokesperson in West Africa. A statement from the command said in Enugu that Amaraizu took the honour as a challenge, and had promised to put in his best. The statement said the spokesman was also grateful to
the police force for the gesture and promised never to slack in his duty. The statement also said Amaraizu praised his colleague in Ogun State, who was voted best police spokesperson in Nigeria, for the achievement and urged him to keep it up.
issue of the benchmark was settled by both houses, the president would present the budget. Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APCYobe) was, however, of the opinion that the president only used the inability of the National Assembly to pass
the MTEF as an excuse not to present the budget. He said that whether the MTEF was passed or not was immaterial and that the president should have presented the budget. “It doesn’t matter whether the MTEF was passed or not.
The president ought to have done his part by presenting the budget because several times in the past the budget had been passed without the MTEF being passed. The senator quoted Section 18 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act to buttress his point.
R-L: Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Major Lawrence Loye (rtd) and the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo during the governor’s inspection of Mission Road yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.
NASC Urges Farmers To Use Hybrid Seeds To Increase Production ABUJA- Rev. Anthony Olatokun, the Acting DirectorGeneral, National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), has stressed the need for farmers to cultivate hybrid seeds, to improve agricultural productivity . Olatokun made the call at the 2013 National Agricultural Seeds Farmers’ Field Day in Abuja. He noted that good quality seed was the most important input in crop production and critical to raising the efficiency of other inputs like fertiliser, agro-chemicals and irrigation among others. “ All effort must be made to ensure that the high quality improved seeds must be used by farmers; this will not only make farming profitable, but also increase productivity for our farmers.” Olatokun advised farmers to take advantage of the services of agricultural extension officers nearest to them, or go to any NASC office in their location for professional guidance. He urged farmers to buy seeds from registered seed companies and report fake seed dealers to the council for prosecution. latokun explained that the Farmers’ Field Day ceremony had its focus on increasing public awareness on the use of improved seed and to demonstrate the superiority
hybrid seed had over other technologies. In his remark, Mr Thaddeus Umolu, the Director, Department of Seed Industry Development of the agency, said efforts made to make hybrid seeds available to farmers had not reflected in national productivity. Umolu blamed the situation on inadequate supply of the seeds and the low level of awareness among farmers. “Through research, many varieties have been developed and released for use by farmers. However, the national productivity has not reflected the use of improved varieties because some farmers are not aware of the improved production method. “And the economic advantage derived from the use of the improved variety, hence they adhere to the use of their local easily available varieties. “The resultant effect is low yield and income, thereby making farming unprofitable and non-competitive to the farmer. Umolu stressed the need to create more awareness on the use of high quality seeds as against farmer’s own saved seeds across the country. Some of the farmers at the event, who spoke to newsmen appreciated the efforts of NASC and promised to use hybrid seeds.
Mr Umar Usma, a farmer, said: “I feel so happy that the government has made much efforts to provide us with the improved seeds; we shall stop using the former ones because we have seen that this one is better. “We shall plant this one to satisfy not only the community but the nation,” he said. Mr Yusuf Musa said: “We thank God for the new seeds the council has introduced to us; we have seen that the use of the hybrid is authentic and we really appreciate that. “ Our major problem now is that most of us are financially handicapped; we don’t have equipment to practise agriculture. “Some of us do not receive fertilisers; we do not really understand how the people who handle it work. “Even our farmlands, sometimes, people just come to say they have paid for our farmland and it has been allocated to them by the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA); we don’t know what to do. “If we don’t have money and land, even if you give us the hybrid seeds, we cannot make progress,” he said. Musa called on the government to closely monitor land developers and fertiliser distributors, so that farmers would benefit more from government programmes.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Across The Nation Police Arrest 13-Yr-Old Boy For Killing Friend
Reconstruction work in progress on Mission Road, Benin City. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.
LOKOJA - The police in Kogi have arrested a 13-yearold boy, Yinusa Halilu, for allegedly killing his friend and classmate, Mustapha Kazeem, 12, over a damaged earpiece. ACP Austin Evakhabokun, the Acting Commissioner of Police in Kogi, made this known to journalists in Lokoja. Evakhabokun said that a scuffle ensued between the suspect and the deceased, both primary school pupils, when the suspect demanded the return of the earpiece he lent to the deceased. He said that the late Kazeem said that the earpiece was damaged and Halilu demanded monetary compensation for the damaged earphone. He said that the demand enraged the deceased who reportedly called the suspect a thief, adding that this resulted
Air Chief Gives Reasons For Emergency Rule Extension In 3 States ILORIN- The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, said in Ilorin that the six months extension of the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states was to protect the lives and property of Nigerians in the affected states. Badeh said this when he spoke with newsmen shortly after inspecting the Nigerian Airforce Hanger at the Ilorin International Airport. It will be recalled that the Federal Government had on May 12, 2013 declared a state of emergency in the affected states due to the activities of insurgents in the areas. After securing the approval of the Senate, President Goodluck Jonathan had on November 2 also extended the state emergency period by six months in the affected states. ‘Due to the fact that the level of security required in those areas is not yet satisfactory, it is the sole responsibility of the government through armed forces to continue to ensure maximum wellbeing of Nigerians living there.
“They critics can only deceive themselves but not Nigerians. “Imposition and extension of the state of emergency becomes necessary and must be commended,” Badeh said. The Air Chief said he was in Ilorin for two things; firstly, to see the extent of work done at the Airforce hanger and also get update on the training of officers at the International Aviation College. “I am satisfied with the level of work done there and hope that they will expedite action to do more so as to finish up in good time. “As we all know, the Air Force is fully involved in security operations in all the states of the federation. “If you look back to the period of Joint Task Force in the NigerDelta, where we participated actively, militancy was brought to an end mainly because the Air force responded with full force “Before then, the people were doing what pleased them in the
area. It was a situation of do what you want. “The Air force stepped in and halted the decay.” Bade said that his men were also fully involved in the security operations in Jos, Damaturu, Maiduguri and other areas in the north-east region. He said that the armed forces were created basically to secure Nigeria and Nigerians. “I don’t know why people are complaining about the extension of the emergency period, and saying that government has imposed hardship on them when, in fact, government is providing security for them to go about their normal activities.” On his visit to the International Aviation College, the NAF boss commended the authorities of the college, saying: “Honestly, I am very much impressed with the standard of facilities that I have seen, the standard is comparable to the standard you find anywhere in the world.”
Bade said he was in the U.S. recently to see some Nigerian students who were undergoing training there, adding that what he saw in Ilorin was comparable to what he saw in the U.S.
“Rather than go abroad, we should come and do things so as to patronise the school because the Kwara government does not have airline of its own.” He said things could be done better if necessary facilities were put right in the country.
ordered a businessman, Sunday Nwobodo, to be remanded in prison custody pending hearing in a suit filed against him by the NDLEA. Justice Dorathy Agishi gave the order after Nwobodo was arraigned on charges of possession of 7.5 kilogrammes of cocaine. Agishi adjourned the case to December 12 for trial and
ordered the prosecutor to produce his witnesses on the adjourned date. Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Moses Onyia, told the court that the accused was arrested by NDLEA operatives in his shop at the Ogbete Main Market on March 15. Onyia alleged that the operatives recovered one white sack and a black bag and took the exhibits to their
in an exchange of hot words, as Halilu insisted on collecting the money by force. Evakhabokun said that Kazeem became furious and rushed into the house, brought out a sharp cutlass and inflicted cuts on the suspect’s head. He said that the suspect reportedly rushed to a nearby restaurant with his machete cuts and picked a sharp knife, with which he stabbed the deceased in the chest, leading to his death. In an interview with newsmen, the suspect said that he borrowed the telephone earpiece from someone, saying that he insisted on replacing it since he did not know what to tell the owner. He said that Kazeem was his friend and that they were both in Primary Five. Halilu said that the deceased hit him on his head with a machete, adding that in retaliation, he stabbed him in the chest, which led to his death. Reports say that the police also paraded 14 armed robbery suspects, including an 85-yearold man, whose nephew was involved in car robbery, and a homicide suspect.
Cocaine Possession: Court Remands office for investigation, ENUGU - The Federal Businessman adding that the exhibits were High Court in Enugu has detected to be cocaine. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. His counsel, Mr Godwin Edeh, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms. He said that his client was a well known distributor of stationeries and that he was set up by his competitors who felt that he was doing better than them in the business.
Legislators Want Policemen Deployed to Warring Communities UYO - The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly has called on the police to deploy men to Amazaba and Ikot Akpan Udo warring communities in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the State. This followed adoption of motion on matter of urgent public importance brought by Mr Aboh Uduyok, (PDPIkot Abasi/Eastern Obolo Constituency) at plenary in Uyo.
The House, after deliberating on the motion, also resolved that the State Emergency Management Agency should send relief materials to the affected people. The House further resolved that the State Boundary Committee should properly demarcate the boundary between the two communities and that the House Committee on Conflicts and Boundary Resolution should
investigate the matter and report back for action. The legislature implored the State Government to release the white paper on report of the commission of enquiry set up to investigate the communal crisis. The Speaker, Mr Samuel Ikon, directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs Mandu Umoren, to communicate the resolution of the assembly to relevant authorities for action.
Edo State Ministry of Transport officials towing some of the vehicles parked indiscriminately during the governor’s inspection of New Lagos Road, Benin City. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Across The Nation Former Daily Times Editor, Sam Ogwa BENIN CITY - Times Editor For Burial by Wife (Deaconess Esther
Ogwa for burial December 7, the body of the late editor of the Lagos weekend and news editor of daily times Mr. Sam Enaimoni Ogwa will be laid to rest December 7, 2013 at Oroguu in Ughelli local government of Delta State. Late Ogwa died on October 24, 2013 aged 68. A spokesman of the family Mr. Virgil Ogwa said in Benin yesterday that arrangements have been concluded for the burial. Samuel Enaimoni Ogwa was born in Orogun February 5, 1945. He had his primary education at Benin Divisional Council (BDC) Ebue, some 3 miles from Iguiye Village founded by his father Late father Ogwa Joseph Ogwa, After his primary education, he had secondary education at Aiyede Grammar School, Ekiti, in Today’s Ekiti State west of Nigeria. He read his A-Levels while teaching at Edokpolo Grammar school, Benin City and later Joined the Daily Times of Nigeria in 1979 as a reporter. He attended the Prestigious Time School of Journalism for a diploma in the Netherlands in 1980. He rose through the ranks after his training to top Editorial positions in the Daily Times. He was News Editor, Daily
Times. Editor, Lagos Weekend and later Bureau Chief, West Africa founded in 1917. He had the greatest challenges during these periods, he Edited West Africa Magazine as it covered the whole world with base in London. Although he wanted to read Classics, the hand of fate directed him towards Journalism where he had a fulfilled career spanning 28 years. He retired in 1999 as one of the senior Editors of the Daily Times Group, but continued in writing. He died after a prolonged illness on the 24th of October, 2013. Until his death, he was Proprietor Peace Shalom Nursery and Primary School, Lagos. He is survived
Ogwa) Nee Umukoro, Mrs. Bernice Uwouriya (daughter), Mr. Virgil Ogwa, Mr. fedelix Ogwa (Business man) Or. Omonigho Ogwa, Barrister Lander Ogwa and eight grand children. He is due to be buried on the 7th of December 2013 at his family compound in Emonu, Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. In a tribute in Benin last night, Sir Odafe Othihiwa, described the late Mr. Ogwa as a committed journalist he recalled that he and Mr. Ogwa worked with the defunct daily express before we joined the daily times. Sam Ogwa will be buried on December 7, at Orogun in delta state.
Edo North Igbo leader, Chief Igwe Okeke JC Izigbo of Edo North (2nd left), leads Hon. Austin Braimoh (right), in a traditional parade shortly after being installed as Akwamiri (Bridge) of the Igbos in Edo.
World Bank To Support Nigeria’s Data System
Mr. Sam Enaimoni Ogwa
ABUJA - The World Bank is committed to supporting and positioning Nigerian Statistical System (NSS) to enable it to contribute meaningfully to the national Transformation Agenda, an official has said. Mr Alain Gaugris, a Senior Statistician at the Bank, said this in Abuja at the 2013 African Statistics Day celebration, which had as its theme “Quality Data to Support African Progress’’.
The celebrant (middle) in group photograph with some of the traditional title holders of the Ndigbo community in Ibie, Etsako West.
He said the Bank was partnering the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) because of the importance of statistics to development and poverty reduction. “The World Bank is actively involved in statistical development in Nigeria, mainly through the 10 million dollars grant for Statistics for Results Facility (SRF) project. According to Gaugris, the project, which spans 2011-2014, is focused on capacity building at the federal level for NBS and National Population Commission (NPC) staff, as well as members of staff of six pilot states. The states are Anambra, Bauchi, Edo, Kaduna, Niger and Ondo. “The objective of the threeyear project is to initiate the implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) by producing reliable statistics in participating states,’’ he said. Gaugris said the project was meant to improve the legal and institutional framework in NSS to improve vertical and horizontal coordination. ‘‘It is also meant to develop the human resources, statistical
Group Urges Police To Respect Constitutional state of corruption and Republic of Nigeria. ABUJA - Say No Campaign Role impunity in the country. The Chairman, Partners for (SNC), a civil society organisation, advised the Nigerian Police Force to respect its constitutional role of maintaining law and order. The organisation also urged the force to act within the ambits of the law in securing lives and property as well as crime detection and prevention in the country. The National Convener of the campaign, Mr Samson Itodo, gave the advice in Abuja at a news conference on the
Itodo expressed concern over the constant use of the police by some public office holders and politicians to satisfy “political hunger for power and oppression’’. He stressed the need for police to take pride in its constitutional functions to avoid being used by any vested groups. He reminded the force that the Police Act provided the police with the power to
prevent and detect crime, apprehend and preserve law and order. Itodo said “Nigerians observed the ugly role played by the police in the Rivers State House of Assembly saga and the unlawful restraints on a group of civil society activists.’’ The activist appealed to public officers to abide by the words of their oath of office when they pledged to bear true allegiance to the Federal
Electoral Reforms (PER), an NGO, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, also urged President Goodluck Jonathan to promote respect for rule of law to enhance transparency and good governance in the country. Nwagwu said that lack of compliance by some government agencies to the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) had continued to deny Nigerians of their rights to obtain public records.
framework and the Information Technology infrastructure in the NSS to professionalise statistical production in Nigeria,’’ he added. Dr Muhammad Tumala, the President, Nigerian Statistical Association, stressed the need for collaboration between producers of statistics at national and sub-national levels to avoid conflict in national data. Tumala called for sustained cooperation and collaboration of all data-gathering agencies to improve production of quality statistics in the country. The Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, said the 2013 African Statistics Day was held to promote the
importance of statistics in national planning, policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation of government projects. He said the theme was selected to draw attention to the importance of quality statistics for evidence-based decisionmaking in economic management, poverty reduction and all aspects of socioeconomic development processes. Kale was represented by Mr. George Oparaku, the Director, Real Sector and Household Surveys Department in NBS. The celebration was initiated in 1990 by the Joint African Conference of Planners, Statisticians, and Demographers, a subsidiary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Be Grateful To God, Cleric Tells Christians ABUJA - THE Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Rt. Rev. Anselm Umoren, has called on Christians to be grateful to God in spite of the challenges around them. Umoren gave the exhortation in his homily at the Harvest Thanksgiving and Bazaar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Gwarinpa, Abuja. He said the fact that they were alive was worthy of celebration, adding: “you may have food but not alive to eat. “Let everything be an expression of all that God has given to you. If you are grateful, God will bless you for appreciating His blessings in your lives,’’ he said. According to him, the essence of life is to seek the kingdom of God first and all other things will be added on to it. In his message, the Parish
Priest, Rev. Fr. Jude Nwigwe, reminded parishioners that those who sow sparingly would reap sparingly and those who sow generously would reap generously. Nwigwe encouraged parishioners to operate on the law of divine favour to reap God’s generosity. He said the parish adopted the theme “harvest of generosity’’ because “God has been generous to us in many ways, so numerous to count’’. Also, the Chairman of the 2013 Harvest Planning Committee, Mr Anthony Okure, said the occasion was another opportunity for the parishioners to express their appreciation to God for His blessings. Okure recalled that the members had embarked on the symbolic “sowing of seed” with their various intentions, petitions and prayer requests a few Sundays ago.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Business + Economy Imoke Plans Big For 2013 Calabar Carnival
LAGOS- Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River has promised to make this year’s Calabar Carnival bigger and better than the previous events. Imoke disclosed that seven countries would be participating
in the carnival. This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos. He said that Calabar Carnival was of tremendous value to the state and Nigerians.
“The truth about Nigeria is expressed in Calabar Carnival because it does not discriminate. “The 2013 edition will take on a more international flavor with more countries to participate,’’
the governor said. He said that Brazil, France, Ghana, Rwanda, Cameroon, Egypt, and Trinidad and Tobago had expressed interest that they would be sending their bands to
the carnival. Imoke said: “This (Carnival Calabar) is a reflection of Nigeria, the beauty of Nigeria, its uniqueness in design and presentation and like Nollywood, it can change the image of Nigeria. “There is opportunity for a partnership to grow in the carnival and the private sector, especially in terms of finance housing, need to understand and invest in the creative industry
because of its potential.’’ According to him, “the partnership can boost the local economy and promote the Cross River brand.’’ He said that the activities included charity shows, sports, culture, dance, singing and a carnival which is reported to be “the Biggest Street Party in Africa“, which is the icing on the cake. ‘‘ Calabar Carnival has over the years become an iconic
SURE-P Implementation
Zamfara Youths Demand Explanation
Executive Chairman, SUBEB, Edo State, Prince Stephen Alao (centre) speaking during the inauguration of a factfinding committee on suspension of teaching and non-teaching staff in Ovia North East at the Board’s Headquarters in Benin City recently.
Sokoto Pays N1.6bn Counterpart Contribution
GUSAU- The Zamfara National Youth Assembly, an NGO, has asked the state SUREP office to explain its employment policy. The group accused the state office of the SURE-P of lagging behind in meeting the employment target set for states. The Chairman of the assembly, Malam Munnir Haidara, told newsmen in Gusau that only 2,000 people had been engaged under the programme since its commencement in the state. According to him, 3,000 youths are supposed to be
Dairy Coy:
SOKOTO- The Sokoto State Government has said it had paid N1.6 billion as its counterpart contribution for the establishment of a modern livestock farm and dairy company in the state. A statement by Malam Sani Umar, Senior Special Assistant on Media to Gov. Aliyu Wamakko, made available to newsmen in Sokoto, said the company would be located in Tabani village, Rabah Local Government Area. It stated that the governor disclosed this when he inspected the site acquired by the state government for the project. The statement explained that the technical partner, an Argentine firm, South American Breeding Technology, would invest N1 billion required to complete the project. It stated that land clearance for the actual work to commence on the project would soon start, adding: “Part of the equipment had since arrived Sokoto and their installation would also start.” The statement said that the governor had directed officials of the Ministry for Animal Health to ensure effective supervision of the project. It advised those “sceptical” about government projects across the state to verify the status of such projects with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies. “This project is therefore real, just like all our numerous completed and ongoing projects across the state,” it stressed.
Member, representing Akoko-Edo I Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto moving a motion of urgent public importance on the suspension of the Chairman of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Hon. Roland Mari during plenary at the House recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
Residents, Traders Count Losses ASUU Strike:
OGBOMOSO (OYO STATE) - Residents and traders in Ogbomoso have continued to count their losses from the prolonged ASUU strike. Some residents in Ogbomoso town where Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH|) is situated, complained to newsmen about the adverse effects of the prolonged strike on their businesses. They said that the strike, apart from affecting the students nationwide, had also
badly affected their businesses. Mrs Yinka Ajewole, a trader told newsmen that her business was badly affected by the strike action, adding that her customers were drawn from the students’ populace. “My market is not moving at all. The goods are just there without buyers and this is because the students are not around. “I hardly make a quarter of what I make when the school was on,” she said. Mr Saheed Hassan, a
motorcycle (Okada) rider said that everything had been difficult since the strike started. “This Okada business was better when students were around. Now it is very hard and the income is very low,” he said. However, some of the residents, who have their children in the university, urged government to resolve the issue with ASUU for their children to return to school. They urged government to see the students as the future leaders who needed to be well
groomed for future challenges. Mr Ridwan Adeyemi, one of the residents and a parent described the ongoing strike as ‘insensitivity’ of government and the lecturers to the future of the students. Adeyemi urged government to always make agreements that could be fulfilled. The residents further called on the government and the striking lecturers to come to a compromise in the interest of the students and the nation at large
engaged under the programme. Haidara called on the office to quickly recruit the remaining 1,000 youths to meet the SUREP target of 3, 000 per state. He noted that the SURE-P programme was initiated to empower unemployed youths nationwide, advising the state officers not to sabotage the effort. Reacting to the development, the SURE-P State Coordinator, Alhaji Lawal Zurmi, dismissed the allegation as “untrue”. Zurmi explained that his office, in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) had engaged and trained 20 youths from each of the 147 wards across the state.
Register With Drivers Institute , RTEAN Urge Members
LAGOS -The Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has appealed to its members to register their vehicles with the Lagos State’s Drivers’ Institute in compliance with a government directive. The Lagos State Chairman of RTEAN, Alhaji Adefowope Olorode, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. Olorode told newsmen that the registration would sanitise the transport sector, and called for cooperation of all stakeholders. Reports say that Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, had on November 1 directed that all commercial vehicles, their owners, conductors and drivers should be registered with the institute. Opeifa said that the registration was in compliance with the Lagos State Traffic Law of August 2, 2012. The commissioner said that the registration should be done within 60 days from November 1, warning that erring commercial vehicle operators would be arrested by January 1, 2014. “The registration will help to sanitise the transport sector which has been an all-comers’ affair. “We support the idea; we embrace it, but we plead that the registration should not negatively affect the progress of our members by frustrating their efforts to get it done fast, “ Olorode said.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013 THE violation of women’s rights both at the national and domestic strata have become burning and vexatious issues. What we find happening in this country as regards the denial to women of certain privileges and rights, much more pervades other nations of the world to some varying degree and extent. In some countries women are never heard but they are only seen and are not offered opportunities to make their contributions to national growth and development. THE refrain has always been that we are in a male dominated society and as such the dominance is carried over to other sectors of life, where it becomes very obvious that the male-folks are always in the position to wield power and control. However, the tendency to keep women at the background in most societies is derived from the tradition and custom of old in predominantly medieval communities where women are consigned to basic task of up-keeping of the home and the rearing and bearing of children. AGAIN, there is the perceived social and environmental factors that women are not endowed with equal natural abilities seen against the superiority and innate physical attributes of man, which makes him the stronger sex while the women are regarded as the weaker sex. WHILE it is still in contention that women are spiritually more gifted than the men, there are however, certain, religious practices in traditional religion, Christianity and Islam and many other faith-exercising beliefs where women are barred from priestly role for reasons peculiar to those faith. OVER the years however, women have risen to these challenges to combat and eliminate these practices and to elevate womanhood to the pedestal of dignity and to take their pride of place in society. THESE situations have also given rise to such concepts as women liberation and women empowerment to such extent it appears that there has been an attempt to rewrite the English language to make it reflect the sense of womanhood were such words as “Chairman”
THE NIGERIAN
Promoting Political Rights Of Women and “mankind” are facing the challenges of some etymologists and lexical experts to make them lose their male connotations. WHILE the war to institute the female privilege and the sense of womanhood in the language sector is a continuing one, there are still other areas of human endeavour where our womenfolk are carrying on the battle. It is a matter of fact, that women more often than not now concern themselves with issues such as the problem of development, female health reproductive issues, prostitution, trafficking in women, wife-battering and the political participation of women in the affairs of state. FOR instance, a study by the population reference bureau, “conveying concerns: women write on Reproductive Health,” indicate that the global community is beginning to recognize a crucial, yet long overlooked piece of development puzzle. The study states that the ideas and participation of women are essential for planning appropriate, comprehensive and effective development programs. A DEVELOPMENT effort of particular significance to women, it says is the design of reproductive health policies and programmes to meet the needs of all women, at different stages in their reproductive lives, from different socio economic setting, of different religious and cultural backgrounds. IT also noted that efforts in the past to provide women. reproductive health services seemed to have been implanted without fully understanding the needs and sensitivities of the women they were to serve, following ‘which many women and women’s group became disillusioned with the
development process. HOWEVER, “the increasing problem that women face in our world is that of discrimination which is occasioned by traditional practices in all ramifications, even discrimination in office places and in appointments. In effect, no matter how highly placed a woman might be in respect of achievements and in office; her status is still low because of male chauvinism and its dominating characteristics not to regard a woman’s profile as worth anything not even by men who may have achieved less. WOMEN’s standing has risen dramatically in recent times due mainly to their efforts and that of the international community and many nongovernmental organizations who insist on the rights and privileges which not only they should take from society but what the constitutions and codes of human freedom had also conferred on them. IN this regard a number of international decisions which have helped to legitimize the rights and privileges of women include the 1952 convention on the political rights of women, the 1979 convention on the political rights of women, the 1979 convention on the elimination of Discrimination ‘Against Women and the 1995 Beijing Conference, China, sponsored by the Untied Nations. It was the fourth world conference on women with 189 governments and 2,600 non-governmental groups in attendance. RESOLUTIONS at the conference agreed to a set of strategic objectives and action including efforts to advance the role of women in politics and environment stewardship. BESIDES, the Commonwealth has also been committed to the problem of gender inequality and presented plan of action at the Beijing Conference as well as an update to it in 1997. AT this point, we the women groups yearning for improvements in women conditions nationally and globally to pursue the course relentlessly and not give up. Further, we implore the Nigerian government and other nations globally to address the socio-cultural factors that hinder women from the realization of their full potentials.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Issues
Vision 20:20: Application Of Key Technologies THE Federal Minister of science and Technology, Prof. Ita Okon Bassey Ewa says that the federal government has been challenged to embrace and to adopt a new technology approach, if Nigeria must attain vision 2020, which seeks to position the country to be among the top 20 Economics of the world by the year 2020. Chief Executive Officer of development Information Network (DIN), Mr. Bankole Olubamise, who gave the advice at the recently concluded 11 th International Conference of the
t e c h n o l o g y development and therefore has a lot to contend with to make the top ten list in Africa countries, be fore they can be thinking of a position within the top 20 countries in the World. Nigeria could attain its vision if the right technologies are put in place, Nigeria has the best E-govt strategy in the world but Nigeria lacks proper implementation process to achieve its set objective. Therefore the government should enforce full implementation of its E-government strategy and ensure
By GIFT ONAGHAMA
to close the gap of the digital divide. If Nigeria must attain vision 2020. Egovernment solutions are prominently
of Korea is the world leader in technology adoption and usage, following by Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK)
civil liberties education and probably one of the most wined countries in Europe. Among countries with the highest population where
where Nigeria does not even feature. In the top 10 and this is a challenge for Nigeria, because its entire industry, as well as for the government especially the ministry, where leadership is expected
“Nigeria could attain its vision if the right technologies are put in place, Nigeria has the best Egovt strategy in the world but Nigeria lacks proper implementation process to achieve its set objective.” Nigeria Computer Association in Iloko Ijesha, Osun State, He said that Nigerian government in the 21st century must embrace key technology and optimize its service delivery process, through shared vision, be fore thinking of attaining vision 2020. For Nigeria to achieve vision 2020, Nigeria must be able to displace one of the top 20 developed use and implementation of position, through the technologies in all the government activities. Nigeria, is not in the top ten list of African countries in terms of
that every nook and cranny is completely wired to enhance online activities in the country. The digital divide which Nigeria and most African countries are currently facing, is rooted in the lack of infrastructure, which has hindered information use and knowledge creation “the huge difference in brand band, band width and their subscriptions between the developing and the developed World proves that there are yet many mile stones to be reached in order
Omobola Johnson, Minister of Information Technology.
represented in efforts to improve the management and efficiency of g o v e r n m e n t i n f o r m a t i o n technology resources making reference to the 2012 United Nations E-government survey rankings a clear representation of countries that have embraced technology and have equally implemented its strategies. According to the rankings, the republic
and Denmark, with the United states, Canada, France, Norway, and Sweden following them closely, the top 20 Economics are well represented in the top ranked E-government countries. Estonia is particularly interesting because it is one of the least populous members of the European union, yet it is ranked the 20th most developed country with an advanced high income economic, economic freedom, a
Nigeria features, its ranking is not too encouraging with the ranking of 7 out of the 10 high populated countries the most surprising is the African ranking,
to fast track the adoption of Egovernment frame works and solutions at the ministries Departments and Agencies (MOAN) of the federal state, local government.
“The digital divide which Nigeria and most African countries are currently facing, is rooted in the lack of infrastructure, which has hindered information use and knowledge creation...”
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Grilling The Index
NYSC Animation: By MBA PRISCILLIA NGOZI
IF abolishing the NYSC scheme would swell the labour market, then the government should reform the schemes and make it more valuable and attractive to prospective corps members. It is ironical for corps members to be subjected to unpleasant situations simply because they have to serve their father land. Notwithstanding, the NYSC has become a yearlong summer camp of sort, loitering entry into the serious world of competition and unemployment. Thus, I would postulate that unless the corps members actually take it upon themselves to perfect and develop whatever skills they have acquired and to preserve a certain height of mental fitness by endeavouring to read, study, and educate themselves with respect to their core disciplines, the present state of NYSC actually does its best to make them increasingly unemployable after the competition of the service year. Some persons will blithely argued that since membership NYSC lasts for only period of one year, corps members ought to persevere and stomach the pains connected with disillusionment and incapable to pursue their cherished dreams and aspirations vis-à-vis their chose disciplines; “beside, it will only last for one year”, such people may say. I am completely flumoxed by the notion that a nation in such obvious need would even for a single second, be willing to give up the hope and enthusiasm of its brightest young minds on the altar of the continued animation of its redundant system. Given the already precarious and floundering educational sector and the necessity of the functionality of the said sector to our national and economic growth and development, one would think that we should not only be obstinately addressing the numerous problems within the system, but we should also be assertively nurturing and protecting whatever progress we are able to achieve in the sector. Dwelling on the posting of corps members, it should be more ameliorate if corps members are posted to the areas of their various disciplines where they will actualize their dreams. It will be precarious to the educational system if ones dream slips away from him, and also injurious to any corps member who actually read a particular course like engineering in school to be teaching while serving, such corps should be taken to his area of discipline. There is an adage that says ‘whats worth doing, is worth doing well’. Moreso, the teachers in our classrooms and Lecturers in tertiary institutions must have undergone intensive training and must also be involved in constant development before they can give precise lectures to students. Am not disputing the fact that practice makes perfect but for the sake
of serving and also to help our dreams, corps members should focus on their disciplines because there must be zero – tolerance for errors where the education of our children is concerned; we simply cannot afford to let just any one become a teacher in schools, given the colossal responsibility that they must successfully abide. Unfortunately the current state of the NYSC dictates that many graduates without any specialised training in teaching practice
whatsoever magically transformed into ace teachers overnight. This can be likened to shooting oneself in the foot because many of these graduates are themselves sad victims of a failing educational system due to the perilous situation caused by ASSU for many years now. The scheme is directing corps members to teach what they are not specialised on. I would further argue that because the scheme’s present state supports gross mismatches between corps member’s core discipline, the places of primary assignment they are posted to and directed to serve, at the end of the services year, they exhibit a marked and unmistakable decline in mental acuity and general skill level with respect to their chosen disciplines. This cannot be so hard to imagine, given that for an entire year, the corps members have not had the opportunity to actively and effectively develop and
“If the economy crumbles, we the citizens will suffer the debilitating consequences. Why then have we allowed such a crucial matter as the urgent need to restructure the NYSC to fade away from our collective consciousness? We should be boldly agitating for change much in the same way we collectively accomplished the removal of fuel subsidy.”
AJUWAYA TODAY hone whatever skills they garnered as a result of their tertiary education. According to Leonardo da Vinci, “Iron rusts from disuse, water loses its purity from stagnation even so does inaction sap the vigour of the mind”, no wonder many employers today has generally disregard the service year on a fresh graduate’s curriculum vitae, with the only significance of the period to them being that the applicant has completed the service year as mandated by the law of the land and has been awarded a certificate by
the appropriate authorities as proof. This state of affairs is clearly detrimental to the plight of corps members and it is certainly injurious to an economy that is already beleaguered by the crisis wrought staggering rates of unemployment across the entire federation. If the economy crumbles, we the citizens will suffer the debilitating consequences. Why then have we allowed such a crucial matter as the urgent need to restructure the NYSC to fade away from our collective consciousness? We should be boldly agitating for change much in the same way we collectively accomplished the removal of fuel subsidy. Conclusively, it should be completely reasonable for us to insist that posting be made on the juxtaposition of proper need assessment to be carried out in the communities corps members are posted to, the respective disciplines and areas of specialization. Let those corps members trained to and deemed capable of teaching effectively do so. Let corps members be afforded the opportunity to serve in area of endeavours where their knowledge and skills vis-à-vis their respective discipline will be creatively applied and positively exploited to the advantage of the various communities in which they serve and ultimately to the national economy.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Health
Ensuring Their Survival
World Prematurity Day:
THEY are born too soon! They are born with a plethora of difficulties and challenges!! They are born with a compromised chance of survival!!! They too, as any other creatures made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26 and 27}, also have a right to survive and a right to live!!!! These are the products of conception that are delivered much earlier than their Expected Day of Delivery (EDD) or Expected Day of Confinement (EDC). In medical terms, they are referred to as Premature Babies. They are born before 37 completed weeks of gestation or pregnancy. The normal duration of pregnancy is computed from a formula that assumes a 40week period of gestation with the expectation that the products of such normal duration are already well-formed and equipped with the relevant structural and functional ‘readiness’ to survive outside the womb. Therefore, those born as premature babies are delivered without the adequate ‘preparedness’ or ‘readiness’ to cope with the stresses and challenges of life outside the womb; indeed survival outside the womb. Over the years, and with extensive research and scientific inquiry, cutting-edge technologies have been evolved and developed to recognize such premature babies together with their various and varied difficulties and challenges and, indeed, interventions to facilitate their survival, growth and development. In order to insure the survival, growth and development of premature babies, the world has set aside a day to be celebrated as the World Prematurity Day (WPD) desirably for a myriad of justifiable reasons with salutary objectives. Every year, 17th of November is set aside and now designated the WPD to draw attention deservedly, locally, nationally and internationally, to the plethora of challenging issues concerning the peculiar matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future outcomes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies. The effective celebration of the WPD is the Premium for this Insurance. The story of WPD and 17th of November is instructive and remarkable. Globally, there exists the World Prematurity Network (WPN) which is a conglomeration of various international groups and bodies interested in, and connected with, the matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future outcomes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies together with
support for the research and future scientific inquiry into the composite and holistic survival, growth and development of premature babies. The WPN includes several Companies concerned with various aspects of prematurity. These include, among several others, critical care equipment for premature babies, intervention drugs for their critical care, facilities as adjuvant to critical care of these babies and state-of-the-art rehabilitative care devices. Among WPN are also Consumer Groups that ensure equity and quality, and best practices and also Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), in the production, marketing sale, purchase and use of the critical care products geared towards the survival, growth and development of premature babies. Also included in the WPN are several international Parent Groups that have also become formidable in drawing global awareness and attention to the bothersome problems confronting the world’s enlarging population of premature babies. Through the joint and collaborative efforts of the global members of the WPN, the world is mobilized to participate in actions/ activities that are geared towards the prevention of prematurity, critical care of these babies, rehabilitation of the survivors of premature births and, indeed, the comprehensive attention to the plethora of issues related to the emerging difficulties and challenges confronting these unique population of human beings who deserve no less entitlement to survival and decent productive life. Several media moieties also collaborate under the bigger canopy of Global Social Media Outreach that help in effective information communication of the matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future outcomes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies. The powerful influence and impact of the media, particularly the growing sphere of social interactive and network media, cannot be overemphasized. The media represents the force and voice of the voiceless but remarkably vulnerable population of premature babies deserving of world attention and awareness drawn to their plight to excite the desired empathy and support for their total and holistic wellbeing. Remembering that information is power and that information is strength, the media have an enormous global responsibility to communicate the appropriate health messages to garner a global critical mass
for the benefit of premature babies. Effective Communication of the peculiar circumstances of the premature babies should deservedly muster the desired global action and
United States of America (USA) committed to the pervading matters of newborn infants particularly premature newborn infants, the March of Dimes, was also strategising towards
unique difficulties of premature babies and their encumbered families. These International Groups included, among others, March of Dimes in the USA, the National Premmie Foundation in Australia and the Little Big Souls in Africa. Thus, the second International Prematurity Awareness Day celebration was, indeed, an
force to confront and hopefully surmount the challenges and difficulties of premature babies in the world. A very important and unique member of the WPN is the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI). In 2008, the EFCNI convoked the first Meeting of Parents’ Organizations in Europe, specifically in Rome, Italy, to sensitize and draw attention to the peculiar circumstances of premature babies. The Meeting decided to adopt an ‘Awareness Day’ to highlight the peculiar problems of premature babies and the unique difficulties of the families of such infants. The 17th of November was remarkably chosen as the day has an emotional significance for a veritable founding member of the EFCNI who, after the death of his preterm triplets in December 2006, successfully became the father of a healthy female newborn infant delivered on the 17 th November 2008. Thus, the 17th November 2008 appears to be the date of the initial original birth of the need to have a date set aside for the institutionalization of awareness to the plight and peculiar needs of the population of premature babies and their burdened families. As the EFCNI was crystallizing the Initiative for awareness to the peculiar needs and circumstances of premature babies, another body in the
the same Initiative and circumstantially also chose the 17 th November 2008 for its initial intervention with the idea of a day for the celebration. Indeed, in the USA, the MARCH OF Dimes celebrates November as Prematurity Awareness Month. The Initiative to celebrate the awareness drawn to the peculiar difficulties and challenges of premature babies and their families heightened and culminated in the celebration of the first International Prematurity Awareness Day by the EFCNI on the 17 th November 2009. This celebration involved several activities and events that uniquely and innovatively drew attention to the peculiar circumstances of premature babies and their families relating to prevention, care, rehabilitation and attention to survivors with their unique burden on society and the challenge to address these infants and their peculiar difficulties. By the 17th November 2010, the momentum of the celebration of the International Prematurity Awareness Day had become phenomenal culminating in the second International celebration on that day. Instructively and of note was the nominal internationalization of the 2010 celebration with the participation of other relevant interest groups committed to the
international collaboration nominally and programmatically. The Australian and African Organizations were both members of the ‘Global Alliance’ for the commitment to prematurity and its myriad of difficulties and challenges. The World Prematurity Day was first jointly founded in May 2010 in New York by EFCNI of Europe, March of Dimes of USA and the Little Big Souls International Charitable Foundation for Africa. Further progress on the celebration Initiative culminated in a nomenclatural metamorphosis with the birth and formal launching, together with the Australian National Premmie Foundation, of the first World Prematurity Day (WPD) on the 17 th November 2011. The Global Alliance also galvanized the world impact of the celebration through the social interactive and networking media using the ‘Facebook’. Effective Information Communication on the matters related to the prevention, critical care, peculiar difficulties, the unique challenges of survivors of premature births and the unenviable burden of the families of these infants was facilitated through the Facebook and such other celebration activities and innovative events. The second WPD was celebrated on the 17th November 2012 with more global participation and the desired
By PROF. C.O. EREGIE
impact. More countries actively got on the campaign to celebrate the heightening of the awareness to the peculiar circumstances and the unique needs and demands of premature babies. The critical situation of the families of these premature infants occasioned by the birth of such babies was also highlighted. Also brought to the fore is the comprehensive support needed by these families, and their premature babies, to achieve the desired quality of life denominated in useful and productive life. In different countries, the WPD is celebrated with imaginatively innovative activities, actions and events that are capable of drawing public attention to the peculiar problems of premature babies. These include public sensitization lectures/ seminars, video shows, road walks, visits to Intensive Care Units for Premature Babies, Prematurity Awareness Campaigns and Shows by Performing Artistes and Celebrities, Media Shows and Poster Displays. Also, the use of various Social Network Media, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, among several others, has increased the thrust and impetus of the celebration of the WPD. These interactive media add an international dimension to the celebration with an effortless ease and with a seamless overlay. The Institute of Child Health, University of Benin, Benin City participated in the celebration of the World Prematurity Day for the first time in 2012. In collaboration with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), the Institute was featured on the 17th November 2012 on a National Network Programme: ‘AM Express’. During the Programme, the discourse on Prematurity was comprehensively addressed and effectively communicated by the author of this presentation, a Professor of Child Health and Neonatology in the University of Benin and a Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, for the desired effect on the public; the rekindling of the awareness regarding the peculiar issues of premature babies. The NTA, in collaboration with the Institute, featured other similar presentations of the author on Prematurity for continued and enhanced impact to address the problems of premature babies and their families. The Institute discharged this celebration of the 2012 WPD under its innovative Intervention: the Public Enlightenment and Mobilization Programme (PEMP) through its Action Network, the Perinatal Action Network for the Newborn (PANN).
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Spotlight
In Memoriam: Festus
On Electoral Practi
Being a paper delivered at the NBA Conference in Abuja on 24th August, 2004 by late Dr. Festus Iyayi, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, NIGERIA. Introduction “THOSE who make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable.” To a very large extent, elections and electoral practices shape the fate of the modern nation state. The reason for this is not difficult to establish. Elections provide the medium, by which the different interest groups within the modern nation state can stake and resolve their claims to power through peaceful means. Elections therefore determine the manner and methods by which changes in the social order may be brought about. Where this method fails, individuals and groups may be left to their own means — including assassinations, coup detats, revolutions, insurgency and bush wars — to press their claim to power. It is this fact more than any thing else that makes the subject of elections and electoral practices in Nigeria so crucial today. As we are aware, the controversial elections of 1965 produced the coup detat of January 1966. Again the flawed elections of 1983 produced the military coup of December 31, 1983. Finally, Babangida’s flawed elections of 1993 produced the Abacha palace coup of that year and paved the way to his memorable dictatorship. As we look now towards 2007 against the background of the failed elections of 2003 and 2004, the question naturally arises as to whether our country can arrive there in one piece or survive it in whatever form thereafter. In order to answer this question or suggest ways in which it can be answered so that we can arrive there, as one country with a renewed faith in the democratic process, there is a need to examine the nature of elections and its place in furthering democracy and development in a bourgeois social order such as ours. 2. ELECTIONS, B O U R G E O I S DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT
Almost everywhere, the enlightened self-interest of the ruling class dictated that autocracy be replaced first by the classical form of democracy and that next, the classical form itself be replaced by its liberal form within the context of representative democracy. This is not to say that members of the ruling class voluntarily, willingly and at their own initiative conceded the right of elections. Even in the Greek city state with which the classical idea of democracy is most closely associated, only free men could participate in the debates and therefore influence the mode of governance of the city. Thus slaves were not allowed to participate in the debates — as the Greek city was divided between the nobility and subjects and freemen and slaves. The emergence of bourgeois society, not only produced struggles to redefine the meaning but also the practice of democracy. From the bourgeois point of view, democracy becomes: …a political method, that is to say, a certain type of institutional arrangement for arriving at political, legislative and administrative decisions. It is a method by which the individual acquires the power to participate in decisions by means of a competitive struggle for the people’s vote., it is the competition for votes that is the distinguishing character of the democratic method..” Further, democracy ensures: …meaningful and extensive competition among individuals and organised groups (especially political parties, either directly or indirectly, for the major positions of governmental power, a “highly inclusive” level of political participation in the selection of leaders and policies, least through regular and fair elections, such that no major (adult) social group is excluded, and a level of civil and political liberties- freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom to form and join organisations -
sufficient to ensure the integrity of political competition and participation.. (Diamond, 1988:4) It can be seen that the concept of elections or the vote and the processes associated with it are seen to lie at the heart of a system of representative democracy. The other elements are the guarantee of civil and political liberties and the existence of an institutional arrangement or government whose function it is to maintain the aforementioned elements through] among other things, the rule of law. This is not the place to undertake a critique of the theoretical postulations and hence practical implications and applications of the bourgeois concept of democracy (we have undertaken such a critique elsewhere - lyayi, 1995). What is important is that elections play a crucial role in the bourgeois understanding of democracy and that the stability of the bourgeois order is premised upon the credibility of its elections. Further, this understanding has provided the benchmarks against which democratic and hence electoral practices have been measured in all bourgeois contexts in the world (Dye and Zeigler, 1971). As an index of the culture of politics in a context, these benchmarks also indicate that the integrity of the electoral process has major implications for the level of economic and social development that are possible or attainable in that context (Fayemi, Jaye and Yeebo, 2003). As Ake (2001: 16) has pointed out, that both the failure of development and the failure to put development on the agenda in Africa are largely attributable to political conditions. One of these more salient conditions is the conception of politics as warfare by the politically active segment of the ruling class. The implication of this however is that there is a recursive relationship between political practices as engendered by the political system and
development. A political culture that is defined by violence makes development impossible because by its very nature, such a political culture is destructive of the need and motivation for achievement. A culture of elections a is marked by violence and warfare is thus totally anathema to the possibilities of development. In speaking of elections, it is important that we do not reduce the process to the vote. As Okoye (2OO3: vii) has pointed ‘Do the Votes Count? Final Report of the 2003 General Election in Nigeria …elections are a complex set of activities with different variables that act and feed on one another. It can be defined as an act of collective decision that occurs in a stream of connected antecedent and subsequent behaviour. It involves the participation of the people in their act of electing their leaders and their own participation in governance. Elections are not necessarily about Election Day activities, although it forms an important component. It includes the legal and constitutional framework of elections, the registration of political parties, party campaigns, the activities of the electronic and print media in terms of access; it includes campaign financing, the activities of the security agencies and the government in power. It includes the authenticity and genuineness of the voters register; it includes the independence or lack of it of electoral agencies and organs. It includes process in the country and the independence of adjudicating bodies of election. An examination of the character of elections in Nigeria must thus deal with these issues, not simply in a theoretical sense but more in terms of the way in which they have functioned over the period. It is particularly important in this regard that such an examination deals with not one but all elections that have occurred in the context in order to discover underlying dynamics and thus to be sure that suggesting the way forward, it deals, not with symptoms but with causes. For this reason we shall examine elections and electoral practices in Nigeria in four phases. These will be: v Elections in the colonial period 1922-1959 v Elections in the first years
• Late Prof. Festus Iyayi of independence (1960-1965) v Elections during the years of military rule and autocracy v Elections under civilian regimes in between the years of military rule and autocracy 3. Elections in the Period of colonial rule A number of elections were held in Nigeria in the colonial period. These elections began with the legislative councils in Lagos and Calabar from 1922 (Akerele, 2003). The growth of the labour movement and the development of towns led to concessions by colonial authorities that culminated in these cities and legislative council elections. By 1938, for example, the Nigerian Youth Movement, an organisation that was hostile to British colonial interests in Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general was able to win three out of the four available seats in the city council elections. In the same year, it also won all three legislative seats in the legislative council elections. Several other elections took place between 1951 and 1959.
While the 1951 Regional Legislative elections took place under the McPherson constitution of the same year, the 1954 elections took place under the new Federal Constitution. Whereas all constitutions up to 1954 limited the right of elections to certain members of the population, the Federal Constitution granted universal adult suffrage. According to another account given by or. Iyayi in a paper he presented at the NBA conference in Abuja on 24 th August 2004 stated that In the book, ‘British Administration in Nigeria: 1900-1950 -A Nigerian View’, Okonjo has provided a graphic account of the motives for and electoral practices of the period. In the 1951 and subsequent elections for example, the British colonialists worked assiduously to tilt the political scale in favour of the Coordinated by Sir Bryar who was to become the Lieutenant Governor and Governor of northern Nigeria during the crucial run off period to flag
“The other elements are the g liberties and the existence of a government whose function it is elements through] among othe
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Spotlight
Iyayi’s Viewpoint ce In Nigeria (1)
independence, these efforts ensured that the genuine prodemocracy forces in the country did not acquire political power. For example, Sir Bryan confessed that in the elections of 1951, he not only helped to prepare NPC’s manifesto, slogans and strategies but that “in the case of more than a dozen, I had to hold and guide the pen hand, after cajoling from them the names of those for whom they wished to vote”. He also confessed to election manipulations “even in areas where Muslims were in a minority” so that the Northern Peoples’ Congress could win 90% of the votes. Commenting on the 1951 elections and Sir Bryan’s role in it, Okonjo (1974:331) has observed that: ‘An American scholar has described Sir Bryan’s account of the 1951 elections in Kano over which the latter presided, as revealing as it is obtuse.’ Sir Bryan became, in the last ten years of his Northern Nigeria service ‘the chief pillar of the administrative establishment’ in that part of the country. Under
him and his other British associates in power, the defense of the status quo became much more than an official preoccupation. In the face of the threats from within the North represented by such “lunatic fringe” anti-British parties as the Northern Elements Progressive Union and the Middle Zone League, and represented from without by such parties as the Action Group or the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon, the British residents decided to throw their weight in support of the fledging Northern Peoples Congress, the only party in Northern Nigeria dedicated to the preservation of the status quo. The 1951 elections to the regional legislature, conducted’ under the McPherson constitution, were conducted with the resident of each province as the chief electoral officer. Sir Bryan was the Resident of Kano province at this time, a province which had to select twenty of the ninety seats of the new Northern House of Assembly”. This pattern of electoral practices was repeated in the subsequent post 1951 elections. Against the background of the Richards and McPherson constitutional provisions which stipulated that 50% of the seats in Parliament be reserved for the Northern part of the country, it is not surprising that the Northern People’s Congress assumed control of political power at flag independence in process by the British ensured as Chief Anthony Enahoro (1985:21,22) has succinctly observed that Nigeria became the only country that those who fought for independence were not those who had the privileged and the historic duty of meeting the challenges of independence. The truth of the matter, which determined efforts to falsify history cannot forever conceal, is that the nationalists who were prepared to work, to fight, to risk, to dare — to die if need
guarantee of civil and political an institutional arrangement or s to maintain the aforementioned er things, the rule of law.”
be—so that a new and democratic nation might be born, these people lost control of the situation and were displaced or succeeded by those who had remained untouched by the unifying and modernising flames of the new nationalism... When independence came in the fullness of time, neither the goodwill of progressive forces... nor our trade unions, nor our youth could prevent the inevitable course of events when those who were least disposed towards democracy became the official guardians of our fledging democracy”. 4 Elections in the first years of independence: 1960 — 1965 Three sets of elections were held in the period from 1960 — 1965. These were the elections in the newly created Midwest Region in February 1964, the Federal elections of December 1964 and the Regional elections of 1965, The prelude to the December 1964 Federal elections was provided by the census exercise and the creeping crisis in the Western Region from 1962 onwards. The census results released in March 1961 had shown that the South had a higher population than the North. As the time of the Federal elections approached, the Balewa NPC government not only cancelled the 1961 census results but also stated a recount for 1963. Then just before the elections in 1964, the new census results were released. The results declared that the North had 55% of the population of the country. For the NCNC which had gone into alliance with UMBC, NEPU and its old adversary, the AG to form the United Progressive Alliance and therefore hoped to win the Federal elections because it anticipated the census results to revalidate the 1961 results, and because it was already in control of virtually three out of the four Regions in the federation, the census figures provided the last straw in a litany of pre-election measures by the NPC government that were aimed at frustrating the opposition. Ademoyega (1981:19) recounts that: As the elections approached, the NPC government of the North did not hesitate to frustrate the UPGA candidates in the North, so that many of them could not file in their
nomination papers. Hence, before the elections, sixty-seven NPC candidates had been declared elected unopposed. That did not go down well with the UPGA leadership who called for an immediate postponement of the elections. But the Balewa Government rejected the idea of postponement. Thereupon, the UPGA led by Dr. Okpara, the Premier of the Eastern Region, called for a mass boycott of the election by its supporters. Again, the Balewa government ordered the election to go ahead in spite of the boycott. Thus, the elections of December 1964 turned out to be a farce. It was completely boycotted in the Eastern Region, where the NCNC Government used its powers to ensure that no election was held. It was also
impasse at the centre, the resulting mass revolt in the Western Region by the people who felt rightly that they had been cheated at the polls set the stage for the first military coup of January 15, 1966. 5. Elections during the years of military rule and autocracy 1979-1999 The military rulers conducted three elections during their period of misrule. These were (i) the elections of 1979, under the first coming of Obasanjo, the 1992-1993 elections under General Babangida and the 1999 elections under General Abdusalami Abubakar. Commenting on these elections, especially on the first and the last, the EU Election Group, which monitored the 2003 elections has suggested that, the
civilian government was responsible for organising elections to hand over power to a successor regime. The failure of these elections to consolidate democracy (each led in fact to disruption and eventually a return to military rule) was due to the reluctance of the incumbent regime to allow a level playing field, in case they lost their grip on power.” Both the assessment of these elections and the reasons advanced for the judgement are greatly at variance with the historical facts, some of which we have already provided. The assessment is also greatly flawed by the assumption that voter behaviour dn voting day is indicative of the fairness and peacefulness of elections. The colonial and military regimes were rooted in force and repression. Thus arrangements for voting were also highly militarised. The 1993 elections, for example, produced the 12 2/ 3 controversy, which the Obasanjo military regime resolved in favour of its interests. The elections of 19921993 were frequently delayed, cancelled, postponed and adjusted to produce a result predetermined by the military. In the event that this did not happen, the results of the June
“All these processes occurred with flawed electoral rules, without legitimate and valid constitutions, with electoral agencies under the firm jack boats of military rulers, Thus it was public knowledge that Professor Henry Nwosu who replaced Prof. Awa as head of Babangida’s electoral agency was brutalized by security agents on account of the fact that he dared in 1993 to announce some of the authentic results, In 1993 as in 1999] the political parties were the creatures of the military despots.” partly boycotted in the West, North, Mid-West and Lagos, with the effect that the election results lacked credit and were nationally unacceptable. However, while the UPGA rejected them, the NPC and its allies of the NNA, which singlehandedly carried out the elections, accepted them. There followed a national stalemate. The October 1965 elections into the Regional Government of the West were no less farcical. Although the people clearly rejected the Akintola government at the polls and voted massively for the AG opposition party, the Akintola government publicly (interfered) with the results of the elections. In very many cases, AG candidates who held certificates that they were duly elected in their constituencies later heard their names mentioned as defeated candidates through governmental news media” (Ademoyega, 1981 :21-22). These developments, including the simmering TIV revolt in the Middle Belt, the political
most free, fair and peaceful conducted elections in Nigeria were those in 1959,1979, 1993 and 1999, and the most chaotic, violent and disputed were those in 1964 and 1983. The reason for this is that the first three were ‘transition’ elections in which the regimes in power and responsible for organising the elections had to hand over power to a democratic civilian regime. So, in 1959 the British colonial regime wanted a smooth transfer of power to Nigerian self-government, in 1979 the military government of General Obasanjo viewed itself as an interim fixture to ensure stability and then hand over to elected officials, in 1993 a combination of internal and external pressure forced General Babangida to organise the elections and in 1999, after the disastrous rule of General Abacha the military had no political credibility and wanted only to disengage as quickly as possible. In contrast, the other elections can be viewed as potential ‘consolidation’ elections, in which an elected
12, 1993 were brazenly annulled by General Babangida on the excuse that the military was uncomfortable with them. The 1999 election results were also predetermined. Acting in concert with neo-colonial and imperialist interests, the dominant coalition within the local ruling class drafted General Obasanjo into a political process that ended with him being declared the winner of the process. All these processes occurred with flawed electoral rules, without legitimate and valid constitutions, with electoral agencies under the firm jack boats of military rulers, Thus it was public knowledge that Professor Henry Nwosu who replaced Prof. Awa as head of Babangida’s electoral agency was brutalized by security agents on account of the fact that he dared in 1993 to announce some of the authentic results, In 1993 as in 1999] the political parties were the creatures of the military despots. They were, as the late Ige characterized them, all leprous fingers on the same leprous hand.
THE NIGERIAN
18
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Of Primordialism And Security Issues Nationalism Security With
WHEN Adolf Hitler, the potentate of the Third Reich, in the heat of the Xenophobia against the Jews and other coloured peoples of Europe, launched a massive pogrom against these so-called “weaker species”, it was justified on the grounds of Aryan supremacy. When Rwandan Hutus launched a genocidal war of attrition against their Tutsi brothers’, there was a reason for it. When the four wars of Yugoslav secession broke out, it was based on long-held, deep-seated animosities among the groups constituting the country. When the Nigerian Civil War broke out in 1967, something triggered it off. It is against the backdrop of the aforementioned cases that I interrogate the hate-filled expletives hurled at Indigbo by Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, a prominent Nigerian of Yoruba extraction, some months ago, and their implications for the country’s security. In three highly abusive, derisive, and derogatory articles (“LAGOS, THE IGBO AND THE SERVANTS OF TRUTH”, “THE BITTER TRUTH ABOUT THE IGBO”, and “A WORD FOR THOSE WHO CALL ME A TRIBALIST”) circulated in both social and regular media – national and international FFK deliberately stoked the fire of violent conflict by exhuming long-buried divisive issues bothering on why Nigerians should be wary of Igbo domination; the same fears that activated the Volcano that almost pulverized the entire country between 1967-1970. His, is the latest in a long tradition among prominent Nigerians that stretches back to the onset of the much-vaunted Nigerian project (?). The implications of FFK’s highly prejudicial statements for national security are legion – thorny issues that are capable of blowing the country into smithereens several times over if not properly handled. At delicate times like these, when the country is already battling with other centrifugal forces threatening its continued
existence on several fronts, it can ill-afford the divisive issues raised by FFK in his highly controversial and reproachful write-ups. For a country with a woeful history of very internecine and intractable conflicts: one major Civil War (1967-1970) and (approximately 38) sundry other low intensity insurgencies (CRESNET, 2001:1) – political, ethnic, religious et al – and where conditions on ground are volatile, Nigeria can ill-afford another major national crisis. FFK’s vituperations constitutes criminal incitement; unguarded statements that are capable of heating up the polity several times over and further endangering the already fragile unity among the heterogeneous groups domiciled within the country’s borders, if not summarily and properly addressed. It is only Nigeria that people make uncensored statements that threaten public peace without concerned authorities taking commensurate steps to check the likely deleterious effects of such careless pronouncements on the larger body politic. In saner climes, a trouble shooter like FFK would have been arrested and prosecuted for inciting the public against another indigent group. His words are not only criminal, but pose a major security threat to the continued existence of Nigeria as a united sovereign state. The World War II Holocaust was preceded by massive propaganda against the Jews and other coloured people on the grounds of racial superiority. But under the caveat of racial superiority lay the real reason for this mass murder – the fear of increasing Jewish domination of all facets of German national life – industry, arts, academia et al. Thus, before the commencement of the war proper, there was already deepseated, widespread xenophobia against the Jews living in Europe. It took the breaking out of hostilities for Hitler and his
bloodthirsty goons to commence the practical expression of their long-held animosities towards the Jews and other coloured groups in Europe. The events in Rwanda and Yugoslavia are two contemporary cases of how massive propaganda preceded genocidal attacks by one group against other indigent groups. FFk’s threat that “history will repeat itself in this country”, if the Igbos living and making their living in Lagos “continue to denigrate and belittle the Yorubas” is as careless as it is
JUDE OBUSEH
bulwark against the outbreak of violent conflicts in Nigeria. Unlike the usual practice where the authorities wait until a conflict escalates before reacting to stem it, I am calling on concerned authorities – at national and state levels - to immediately step into this brewing crisis between Igbos and Yorubas living in and around Lagos. The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northern part of the country has already exerted a massive toll on the country’s resources
help in building confidence among the Igbo population residing in Lagos, and assure other groups in the country that they can reside and subsist in any part of the country. It will also go a long way in discouraging other chauvinists like him from acting in like manner in the foreseeable future. This will, in no small way, ensure that the nationbuilding process continues
• Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, IG-P
provocative, and should be speedily addressed by the authorities to avoid ugly scenarios of any kind. Such careless pronouncements are capable of triggering off violent confrontations of massive proportions between Igbos living in Lagos and its environs, and their Yoruba hosts. I have always argued for the adoption of a more proactive response mechanism to act as
and security capabilities to breaking point. The likely consequences of another major crisis on the South-Western front must be averted. To forestall this likely scenario, it is advised that Mr. FFK be immediately called to order by the authorities, and warned to desist forthwith from firing further disparaging salvos at Igbos, before he leads this country into an avoidable catastrophe. Such a move will
“The World War II Holocaust was preceded by massive propaganda against the Jews and other coloured people on the grounds of racial superiority. But under the caveat of racial superiority lay the real reason for this mass murder – the fear of increasing Jewish domination of all facets of German national life – industry, arts, academia et al.”
unfettered. However, a more comprehensive step towards checking the general pandemic of ethnic bigotry and all other forms of prejudice posing security challenges to the country’s continued existence would be for the Nigerian Government to do a thorough review of the country’s moribund constitution, especially as it concerns the definition of who is a Nigerian. All the incongruities in the explanation of who qualifies to hold Nigerian citizenship in this parent law must be corrected. The ambiguous definition of who is a Nigerian as captured in the several constitutions the country has had since 1960 is largely responsible for the animosities that have defined relations among the several groups constituting Nigeria – a development that has acted as
the major stumbling block to the nation-building process, and one of the greatest threats to national security. This issue has been consistently pointed out by both experts and casual observers of political developments in Nigeria in the past without concrete efforts made to address it. All the past attempts at constitutional review have tended to relegate this primary issue to the background in preference for secondary issues. Again, Nigerian leaders must wake up to the realities of the times and commence the processes that will ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of primordial considerations, is properly catered for. All injustices of the past that have seen the citizens of one of the potentially richest country on the African continent living like Serfs in the land of their ancestors must be corrected. Nigerians are naturally among the most peace-loving and productive people in the world. All they need to bring out their best is encouragement from those at the helm of affairs. Most people resort to whipping up ethnic or other kinds of sentiments when they feel the collective interests of their subnational groups are not being properly addressed by the larger body politic. Responsible, accountable, transparent, and peoplecentered leadership will go a long way in inculcating true nationalism and patriotism into the citizenry. The truth is that good governance can become a major resource for peace, if well utilized. In conclusion, the phantom of violent conflicts will continue to loom large over this country until those operating the system are able to guarantee Nigerians that, regardless of their ethnic, religious, social, and economic backgrounds, they can reside and subsist in any part of the country without fear. A collective security arrangement that takes cognizance of the peculiarities of the different groups constituting the contemporary Nigerian State is the only ironcast solution to the cancer of insecurity in the country. All square pegs must be put in square holes for peace to reign unfettered in this country. Failure by all concerned to make hay while the sun still shines is a careless and open invitation to chaos. There is no short cut to positive peace. God save Nigeria!
THE NIGERIAN
19
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Development
Why States Should Be Favoured (2)
Revenue Allocation Formula: ANY plan to give state autonomy to control their resources in their domain must also bear in mind that some states were created in vacuum with no consideration for economic viability. In spite of the fact that the military knew some of these states would not survive without them being a burden on other states in the country they daftly went ahead to create them, the result is what we are experiencing now. We cannot avidly follow a seemingly best path of action which is state’s autonomy and control of own resources for the interest of the whole country simply for the reason that some state cannot stand on their own feet and therefore would not survive the test of the day. The consequence of state’s autonomy for the country would be dire and devastating both in human terms and statehood survival. Derivation, whatever, is recommended for sure, must not be lower than the current 13% and must favour all natural resources producing states provided it constitutes foreign earnings account. The state should be straight enough to stand to be counted upon. They tend to baffle everyone that cares about the economy of the state and that of the country as a whole, but the local governments are in a league of their own, when it comes to mystery money and performance to their local people. Perhaps there is a need to give them a chance because not only that they are dwarfed in many areas of capital development and human development, they are equally not given the chance to actually flaunt themselves, they are therefore on a learning curve path. As far as fiscal federalism survives in Nigeria, states are bound to look forward to receiving their hand- outs as some state life depends on the hand-outs. But realistically the excessive dependency on monthly handouts by the states from the Federation
Account, is lamentably and must be discouraged as state should do all in their powers to look inwards to their domain to source for more resources because before oil came to the fore in 1958 and into dominance in 1970 till the present time there were other resource commodities in agricultural products such as: cocoa, rubber, peanuts, palm oil, maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, yam, sheep, goat, foul, cow, pig, timber, wood, fish. Today instead of agricultural products, oil is now the main stay of the country and a monolithic product that constitutes over 85% of the country’s 95% foreign earnings. If we could survive and be so proud when agricultural products were the economic mainstay, imagine how it could be like with the inclusion of oil, but the government’s foolishness to strategically concentrate on oil production alone has put the country on a high alert for abject poverty. For sure, it is definitely a shame to advise a state, to wear a new garb: because oil is just one of several resources in the country. There are a lot of untapped resources which states could be encouraged to look inwards. These untapped resources could be tapped and put into proper use to boost the state’s total revenue derivation. As for the population in the formula, population should be discarded and removed from any new formula. Population is based on census of population, and we all know the pains and havocs that result from census of population. Everyone would also agree that census of population is not an accurate measure of the country’s population, yet the government pegs annual average population growth at 2.75% throughout the country. We all know that this is not reflected in all the states as some states have more tendencies to grow in population faster than others. Again see a quotation by Northern Member of Parliament during my recent
interview stunt with them on this matter: “In the North we are predominantly Muslims and we are allowed to marry up to five wives but in the South that are predominantly Christians, they can only marry one as their religion permits, therefore logic tells us that the northern Muslims’
Charge” in national priority project funds: External Affairs, Education Tax funds, WNDC Joint Ventures Account, Petroleum Trust Funds. These funds and Accounts breed their own problem. In year 2000, the total money raised to the Federation Account stood at N1,906,159,000,000 and
than 37% percent of the total nationally derived revenue in the Federation Account. This is not healthy for democracy and for the spirit of federalism. Please let the review take notice of these anomalies when coming out with their recommendation. The federal government has lost all claims to the largest
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister for Finance states are likely to produce or have more children per five wives as compared to one wife allowed by the religion in the South. Therefore the growth rate sets by the federal government is myopic and blur.” (Northern Nigerian MP 10.4.2013) Where the federal government is fraught with suspicion of cynicism is not the 52.68% which they receive from the Federation Account, but from what they withdraw to settle debts. The federal government after settling her debt in what is called “Specific First
“Currently the federal government is allocated (40%), states (35%) and local government (25%).But hang on, why should the present formula endure for twenty years despite the fact that most part of the twenty years has been a democratic rule?”
after the federal government had dipped hand in the Federation Account, to settle their so called First Charge Account, the Account stood atN1,262,468,000,000representing 66% and in 2005 from N5,597,500,000,000 (N3,203,300,000,000)which represents 57% that was left for sharing, 2006, out of the sum total of N6,061,000,000,000(N3,315,100,000,000 ) representing 55% was left for sharing, 2007, out of N5,715,600,000,000(N3,878,500,000,000) representing 68% was left for sharing, and in 2008, out of N7,866,600,000,000(N4,552,800,000,000 billion) representing 58% was left for sharing (CBN: Statistical Bulletin and Annual Report and Statement of Account (Various Issues). Evidence also shows that five states out of the thirty six states in the federation including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja have since the year 2007 receive more
share in the formula, considering that they have failed to deliver on all fronts of asking, the last straw that broke the camel’s back is the fact that they swindled and depleted the Federation Account by almost 50% of its real worth before leaving it for sharing. It does not take a blind person to visualize why states and local governments are suffering; they will do under this nail biting circumstances which the federal government placed them. The states and local governments as the mirrors of the people should please be well favoured. The mathematics of the allocation would be easier if the allocation percentages are reversed in this order; for the state, 52.68%, Local government 26.72% and federal 20.6%. The federal government should be left to discharge their First Charge
Account duties, which is where most of the dirty rumps come from. In 1994 VAT was introduced to replace the Sales Tax which also has a first charge to federally collected revenues and are paid into Special Funds called the VAT Pool Account and subsequently shared among the three levels of government. Currently the federal government is allocated (40%), states (35%) and local government (25%).But hang on, why should the present formula endure for twenty years despite the fact that most part of the twenty years has been a democratic rule? Like the anti-graft law that has been in place since 1928, the unscrupulous law makers only think of themselves and don’t bother about the society or who they represent. Was it not the ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo that frustrated the RMAFC, that was chaired by Hamman Tukur in 2003? The President Olusegun Obasanjo claimed he withdrew the recommended formula after it was sent to the Parliament claiming there were two in circulation. Rakadede, Mr. Ex-President. The withdrawn formula awards 33% to the states, local government20.7% and minimized the federal government purse to43.63%. The RMAFC should please avoid undermining the wishes of the people and allow the voices of the people to rein supreme in any ensued formula recommendation to avoid the Justice Tobi’s of Abdusalami Abubakar and that of the Constitutional Drafting Committee under the late General Murtala Mohamed. Whatever comes out from the debate and subsequent recommendation will not be a panacea to solving Nigeria’s problem emanating from revenue sharing, many states will still cry hallow, cheating and unfair but it will show the courage of Nigeria’s attempt to put a crisis right in a difficult situation of asking. Hopefully more heads are better than one especially when the heads are drawn from different parts and the final outcome in the name of -God Almighty will be better than subsequence ones.
THE NIGERIAN
20
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Engine Cooling System
Understanding The Dynamics WITH this system, it is not necessary to check the water level in the cooling system from the radiator pressure cap end provided water is not allowed to dry up in the overflow tank and the level of water is maintained at the maximum level inside the overflow tank and there is no leakage in the rubber hose connecting the radiator with the overflow tank, because the level of coolant will always be maintained at the brim of the radiator neck. But it is known that this system is open to some abuses due to ignorance. The motorist may not know which to open either overflow tank or radiator cap, to fill the system daily. Secondly,
there is need for a positive sealing facility to stamp out leakages which allows oxygen into the system via atmosphere air inlet to promote corrosion and sedimentation and thirdly, though the leakage, active anti corrosion elements for preventing corrosion are out, hence the need to seal the system and open up the system through an expansion tank. This is the system now employed in most high performance engines, whether fitted with carburetor or fuel injection system. With the sealed system, the radiator does not have pressure filler cap, it only has a screw plug which should only be opened up when refilling the cooling system with a mixture of water and anti corrosion solution after the radiator must have been removed for a major engine repair work or radiator repair or replacement work in the service workshop. The pressure cap is fitted to the expansion tank without coolant and this should be at the designed level marked maximum. The tank should not be filled to the brim as this action will eventually allow active anticorrosion element to flow out of the overflow hose.
The procedure for filling this sealed unit cooling system is slightly different from the others. It should be done as follows:(a) Mix the coolant in the ratio of one litre of Anti corrosion solution to four litres of pure clean water. (b) Open up the interior heater flaps to allow complete filling of the system cooling and interior heating system to prevent corrosion and sedimentation and to ensure free flow of coolant in the engine cooling system. (c) Unscrew the bleed screw to allow air escape as the system is filled with coolant.
(d) Lock all drain tops on the engine and radiator (e) Unscrew and remove the filler plug on the radiator
and remove the expansion tank cover. (f) If the expansion tank is positioned below the radiator filler plug level, unstrap it and pull it up to a level fairly higher than the plug level. If it is permanently fixed, it will surely be at a higher level to the radiator filler plug level and in this case, you need not remove it from this position. (g) fill the system with coolant already mixed through the opened radiator operators until coolant is filled to the brim. (h) Screw back the radiator filler plug and tighten it as adequate. (i) With the expansion bottle or tank positioned at a higher level, fill it with coolant up to the minimum level noting continuous free flow of water out to the bleed screw aperture.
“This is the system now employed in most high performance engines, whether fitted with carburetor or fuel injection system. With the sealed system, the radiator does not have pressure filler cap, it only has a screw plug which should only be opened up when refilling the cooling system”
Motoring With OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452
Auto Tips
Automatic Transmission 1. P and R must never be selected when the car is moving forward 2. DL and ‘R’ must not be selected when the engine is running at high speed. 3. Except in an emergency ‘L’ must not be selected at speed above 85 km/h. 4. At above 4800km intervals check the level of oil in the unit NOTE: The need for frequent topping up indicates leakages which must be rectified immediately. CAR COOLING SYSTEM — CAUSES OF ENGINE OVERHEATING On most cars, although daily topping up of the radiator is unnecessary, it is good practice to check the level, in the same way that the engine oil should be verified each day. The reason for this check is that a shortage of water is not immediately noticeable, until some symptom such as loss of power is apparent. By then distortion of the cylinder head may have occured, bringing in its train badly heating values. Cold water should not be added in such circumstance until the engine has cooled down. Topping up also checks if the overflow pipe is clear, as by overfilling the radiator, water should flow from the overflow outlet. A choked over flow may cause a burst hose owing to there being no escape for the steam. Soft or rain water should be used, as hard water contains calcium and magnesium salts, which form a scale in the water jackets and radiator. If you notice that your car engine runs at higher temperature than normal, points to be checked are: (1). Water level (2). Water pump, check if in order (3). Correct tension of fan belt (4). Radiator block, clean externally (5). Hoses free from licks which may cause restricted circulation (6). Flush out system. Flushing the radiator, this should be done about every six months, and in any case if over heating occurs, it is desirable to flush out the radiator. The drain cock should be opened and the water allowed to run out whilst warm, which ensures that most of the foreign matter will be in suspension. If the water refuses to flow, the drain cock can be cleared by means of a piece of wire. A hose pipe should then be inserted in the filter orifice and water allowed to now until the water emerges clean from the drain tap. A more thorough flush can be obtained by means of the reverse method. To carry out this process the bottom radiator hose should be disconnected and the pipe inserted. The pressures of the water will be forced in upwards and through the filter, thus dislodging particles deposited by the normal downward circulation of the water. Over heating is detrimental to the performance of an engine, running it too cool will also have serious consequences. Cooling system is a means of controlling the engine temperature between certain limits, rather than merely preventing the engines running too hot.
THE NIGERIAN
21
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Perspective
Understanding The Role Of The Financial Sector: A Critical Analysis
THE financial sector of any economy can be seen as market for exchanging money. Paul Frampton offers a definition: the financial sector refers to the market, the creation and exchange of financial asset such as money, stocks and bond. It is very interesting to note that, it is the financial sector which stimulates and facilitates transactions in the real world. The real sector is referred to as the creation and exchange of goods and services. The financial sector therefore plays a central role in almost all aspects of macroeconomic activities. It is so important in our every day economic transaction such that it cannot be ignored. As properly framed by economists, that “for every real transaction, there is a financial transaction that mirrors it”. Most often, when people think of the economy, they tend to focus on the real sector not appreciating the role and the influence of the financial sector. That is an incomplete view of the economy. The financial sector plays a central role in organizing and coordinating our economy; it makes economic transactions possible. A human cannot live without life, an economy cannot operate without a financial sector. It is practically impossible unless may be we want to go back to the era of burter trading system. This shows how important the financial sector is to the operation of the economy. The financial sector serves as the lubricant that facilitates the operation of trade that exists in our markets. Let’s consider an example of how the financial sector facilitates trade. Say you walk to a shop and buy a television. You shell out GH100.00 and the sales person hands you the
TV. Easy right? Right, but why did the salesperson give you the TV for the little piece of pagers? The answer to that question is because the economy has a financial sector that has convinced him/her that, that piece of papers have value. To convince him (and you) of that requires an enormous structural system called financial sector underlying the TV transaction and all other such transactions. That financial system makes the transaction possible, without it the economy as we know it, would not exist. The intriguing aspect is that because the financial sector, underlying the TV transaction possible, without it the economy as we know it would not exist. The intriguing aspect is that, because the financial sector is running smoothly, you hardly know it’s there, but should the financial system break down, the entire economy would be disrupted, and would either stagnate or go into recession. This is the more reason why it is very important to under line the impact of the financial sector in our modern day economic transactions. For every real transaction there is a financial transaction that mirrors it. For example, when you buy a CD, the sales person is buying GH$1.00 and the real transaction is the transfer of the CD. Because there is a financial transaction, the financial sector is then considered very important for the proper functioning of the real sector. Every time there is a flow of both goods services or factors of production from or sector to another, there is financial flow in the opposite direction. If the financial sector doesn’t work, the real sector doesn’t work. All market transaction requires both the real and the financial sector to be able to function effectively.
By IGHARO ROSELYN
The financial sector is again important because of its role in channeling flow of the circular flow chart such as saving back into the circular flow in the form of loans. The financial sector which comprises of financial markets and institutions
supply and demand in the real sector. The willingness of individuals and firms to incur financial liabilities is greatly influenced by the interest rate on those financial assists and liabilities. Interest rate in simple terms is the price paid
channels savings back into spending. This is extra ordinarily complicated and requires years of study to understand fully. However it can be understood in the simplest form. If the financial sector expands the flow too much, you get inflationary pressure. If it contracts the flow too much, you get a recession, and if it transfer just the right amount, you get a smoothly running economy. While understanding the underpinnings of the financial sector, the role of interest rate cannot be ignored. Interest rate is the mechanism that equilibrates
for the use of a financial asset. For instance, you deposit cash into an account, the bank pays you interest for the use of your financial asset. In the same vein, when you borrow cash from the bank, you pay interest plus the amount borrowed. When the rate of interest rises, people are less likely to borrow (sell a financial asset) and more likely to save (buy a financial asset). Thus when interest rates falls, there is more borrowing and the opposite is the case. In order to appreciate the financial sector and the recent in global financial flows, perhaps it would be
“The Bretton wood system was designed to ensure that domestic economic objectives were not subordinated to global financial pressures under the bretton woods system, all countries were required to fix exchange rate to the US dollar, and the dollar was fixed in terms of gold at $35 an ounce.”
appropriate to have a look at some of the major incidence in history - the bretton woods system in July 1994, the precedure for fixing exchange rate and managing international financial system was worked out at a conference held in Bretton woods, a town in New Humpshire in the US.
The Bretton wood system was designed to ensure that domestic economic objectives were not subordinated to global financial pressures under the bretton woods system, all countries were required to fix exchange rate to the US dollar, and the dollar was fixed in terms of gold at $35 an ounce. Since the Us emerged as the leading power after world war II, the dollar replaced the sterling as the dominant currency for exchange under this system, private financial flows were regulated by capital controls and an international institution, IMF, was set up to monitor the international financial system that was not universal in its outreach as the communist bloc was not part of it. However the rise of Eurocurrency market in the 1960s put strains on the Bretton woods system. The system suffered a major breakdown on August 15,
1971 when the US, which was unable to deal with a massive speculative attack on the dollar in the wake of growing balance of payments deflicts largely caused by the protracted Vietnam war unilaterally declared that it would no longer honor its commitment to exchange dollars for gold. For some
time, a few countries attempted to create alternatives (eg the smith sonian agreement) to the defunct brettons woods systems. But on February against the dollar, and on March 16, 1973, the European community followed suit. There after, the remaining countries took recourse to either floating or flexible exchange rate system. Undoubtedly, this system was based on the hegemony of the US as it served the country’s foreign policy and economic interest. Surely, the motive was not altruism on the part of US but was based on expectation that the country had much more to gain from managing international financial system. Despite its several short comings, this system provided adequate financial stability and economic growth for a considerable period.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Education Issues
Education: Hope Of Tomorrow’s Leaders By AKAR MOVAN MARVELLOUS
EDUCATION has played a significant role in the development of human civilization, it is the process of acquiring knowledge be it in a formal or in an informal setting. Education is universally referral to as the light of the earth while a man living in ignorance is termed as one living in darkness. Education is a serious affair which highly sorts after our best focus, and it needs to be guided by a deep sense of obligation and a great sense of responsibility. Education is an investment that really pays off anytime, anywhere. And in a world of economic recession where the economies of nations are crumbling, where investors spend sleepless nights in trying to figure out how their socks are doing, all these therefore pulls the drive that investing in education is now very paramount, this is why it is best said that education is the best legacy a parent can give to his child, apart from a parent it also implies to the government. In Nigeria today, investing in education, government, corporations, communities,
action taken by ASUU that is Academic Staff Union of University. The question is still floating; Is strike the only way out? Strutinizing back to the past, it has been visible noted that the union, ASUU, has undertaken a whole lot of strike actions, but usually the strike leads to another strike in future. It is no longer news to say students who would on a normal circumstance enjoy the environment outside classroom are always fed up and they become eager to want to go back to school. Students are lacking greatly in their academics, their sense of hardwork is always cut short at the peak, a very good illustration is the on-going strike which institution in general is on a geometric progression. Basically research has been gathered that students spend more than one year at home taking University Matriculating Examination (UME) year after year diligently seeking for admission. In general overview gaining access to Nigeria universities (especially the public universities) is very tedious
• President Goodluck Jonathan
“It is quite imperative to know that the Nigeria society of large is still contradicting the earlier noted importance of education. Nigeria public universities have been on stand still in the academic activities due to the strike action taken by ASUU that is Academic Staff Union of University.” Non-Government Organisation and individuals can help prepare the youths for the challenges ahead, if the young generations that is children and youths are the leaders of the future then it is time we start investing positively in them. It is quite imperative to know that the Nigeria society of large is still contradicting the earlier noted importance of education. Nigeria public universities have been on stand still in the academic activities due to the strike
and complex not withstanding the other bulk of difficulties they have to face when they have finally gained the admission or access into the tertiary education system. Another problem is that of indiscipline, this problem is simply an intractable one in the educational system, indiscipline comes in diverse forms, it could be in form of secret cults, examination malpractice, bribery and corruption. The problem of indiscipline has eaten deep into the fabrics of our
educational system, both staff and students of our schools are affected from the least level of educational system or schools to the highest level. All rubbed of the same problem and this has left a lot for a nation to worry about. Not to talk on the problem of underfunding of educational sector, this problem has left a lot to be desired it therefore cannot be underestimated. This problem exist not only in public sector but also in the private sector of education. The managers of primary,
secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria are in the consensus that these institution are grossly. Gang back to ASUU, the reasons of most of the strikes they undertake is wrapped basically on the issue of underfunding, this problem cause poor remuneration of workers, poor infrastructural development, inadequate teaching aid, the level of dilapidated buildings in schools: primary, secondary, tertiary schools especially public schools. Considering the enormous
challenges facing the educational sector is a clear prediction that the future of the nation, Nigeria is in jeopardy if this challenges are not immediately dealt with. Let us consider the proliferation of education in Nigeria. The Universal Primary Education (UPE) which was given legal muscle in 1976, embarked on by Nigerians, this programme engaged on a free primary education programme, it was proposed in the days of the oil boom but before long the
programme collapsed on account of poor planning faulty statistics, inadequate funding. We will find out that all these problems are repeating themselves, and it was during this period that the formal standard of educational system was changed to the 63-3-4 system of education that is the 6-3-3-4 involves three levels of institutional learning process has lasted for over five (5) months, the strike took effect when students where very close to taking the semester examination.
“Let us consider the proliferation of education in Nigeria. The Universal Primary Education (UPE) which was given legal muscle in 1976, embarked on by Nigerians, this programme engaged on a free primary education programme, it was proposed in the days of the oil boom but before long the programme collapsed on account of poor planning faulty statistics, inadequate funding.”
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Political Platform Issues SENATOR Aisha Jummai Alhassan who is representing Taraba North in the upper legislative chamber is one of the aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that openly aligned with the Abubakar Baraje faction since the split in the ruling party on Augustt 31, 2013. senator Alhassan had every reason to be aggrieved with the national leadership of the ruling party. She was one of the members of the Taraba state chapter of PDP that were sidelined during the flawed congresses in Taraba State and has explored everything avenue within the provisions of the constitution of the party to seek redress. Senator Alhassan was one of the members of the party that sent petitions to the leadership of the party to revisit the Taraba congresses which even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a letter to the PDP national chairman dated March 5, 2012 acknowledged congresses took place. The other affected states with flawed congresses are Sokoto, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Lagos, Yobe, Anambra, Yobe aid Katina States. PDP national secretariat tactfully ignored the INEC letter and the electoral umpire had to write several reminders to PDP. The commission insisted that for the state congresses to be constitutionally recognized, the wards, local government and states congresses in the affected states must be conducted afresh. The commission, in a letter dated April 2, 2012 signed by its Secretary, Abduallhi Kaugama, reminded PDP of the need to conduct fresh congresses in the affected states. The third letter from INEC on the flawed congresses read: “you may recall in the course of recently conducted wards, local government, states and zonal congresses of your party, the commission wrote to advice on the non-compliance with relevant provisions of the PDP constitution and guidelines in some states. “I am to further remind you that your party is yet to reschedule the congresses in the affected states except Lagos and Nasarawa. You are accordingly advised to reschedule the ward, local government and state congresses in Sokoto, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Jigawa, Anambra, Katsina and Yobe States including part of Cross River State for the emergence of a constitutionally recognized party executive at al1 levels.” Unfortunately and coincidentally, the leader of the “New PDP”, Alhaji Ahubakar Ikawu Baraje, on whose watch a the PDP Acting National chairman the flawed congresses were conducted never attended to INEC letter and complaints arising from the kangaroo congresses. When Bamanga Tukur took over from Baraje he only conducted fresh congresses in a few states. including his own Adamawa, and like his predecessor, ignored all entreaties by senator Alhassan and other aggrieved members of the party to revisit the Taraba congress. Early this year when members of the Taraba PDP led by the former state chairman, Alhaji Abdulmumini Vaki stormed the national secretariat of PDP to again lay their complaints Tukur promised to attend to their complaints but ten months down the 1ine he never did anything about it In the meantime PDP Senator Alhassan, naturally illegal executive committee joined the 21 other senators in in Taraba state led by Victor the New PDP since they Bala Kona (who was a cannot get justice in the member of ANPP until 2007) mainstream PDP. The decision to demolish at every turn have been attacking Senators Aisha A-Class Park, located in a Alhassan and Abubakar hitherto black spot used by Tutare (Taraba central) and criminals to terrorize residents their supporters. They are of the nation’s capital before completely alienated by the the site was given to Senator party leaders in the state and Alhassan jar a garden/park in are neither invited to PDP March 2010, was taken 24 meetings or functions. Any hours after Baraje and member of the party who members of the New PDP the national associates with these two stormed incumbent senators are assembly. The following day promptly sanctioned by a demolition notice was Taraba state chapter of the served on her to quit the site party and lose any position despite the fact that the letter they hold either within the of approval for her to develop party or the state government. and manage the site gave her Not even their ward chairmen minimum of “five years in the are allowed to associate with first instance, renewable after these people they gave satisfactory performance”. Senator Alhassan was mandate to represent them in originally allocated park the national assembly. When Abubakar Atiku, G7 number 102 A00 located Governors and other opposite command Guest aggrieved members of the House, a predominantly party rebel led about the military environment, on injustice they have been February 8, 2010 by the parks suffering within the PDP and Recreation Department of
Politics Of Persecution
PDP Crisis: By MUSA AGYO
the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council vide letter reference number AMMC/P&R/S.500. Unfortunately, when she started developing the plot the Nigerian Army stopped work at the site on the ground that the land belongs to them. When she went back to the FCDA authorities to report they gave her another site on March 17, 2010.
permanent buildings like toilets are being constructed on the site. In the letter to the Director, Park and Recreation dated April 29, 2010 with reference number FCT/TS/ DOT/709/37 signed by Engr. K.N. Okafor, the transport secretariat wrote: “Our recent visit to the site revealed that the allottee is constructing permanent buildings on the site which may be difficult to
they will “remove all building at the site whenever the Authority deems it fit at your own cost without any form of compensation” The following day, May 20, 2010, Senator Alhassan sent the letter of undertaking to remove all structures as requested to the Development Control Department and continued with the development of the park. Along the line -the matter and all contentious
Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman The approval with the caption ‘Letter of Intent to develop and Manage a Park site in the FCC’, which was signed by the Director, Parks and Recreation, Isa M. Shuaibu for the Honourable Minister FCT, read in part: “I am directed to convey to you approval to develop and manage the park on a site measuring approximately 3.0 Hectares on the transit way corridor in Maitama A06 District. “The new site -is a replacement for Park number 102, ADO District earlier allocated to you but found to be encumbered. “Please note that this is a temporary allocation pending identification of an alternative site. “All conditions contained in the earlier letter apply in this case! When Senator Alhassan eventually commenced development of the A- Class Park the FCTA Transport Secretariat made an observation that some
remove in the nearest future. “In order to confirm the temporary nature of the allocation there is urgent need to secure a letter of undertaking from the developer M/S A-Class Event Management Services Ltd that they will remove all buildings constructed on the site whenever the authority deems it fit to develop the Transit way at no cost to it.” Based on this letter, the FCTA Development Control department sent a letter to the Manager of A-class on May 19, 2010 with reference number AMMC/DC/54244 requesting for undertaking that
issues were amicably resolved and the Park commenced business and engaged almost 200 unemployed Nigerian youths in the past three years. The sudden decision of the FCT Authorities to demolish the park on the excuse that they want to start the Maitama light rail from the spot A-Park is located smacks of political persecution for aligning with the Baraje faction of PDP. The FCTA claimed that they want to commence work for the maitama light rail when they have not even done 50
percent of the Outer rail that will connect all the Area Councils in Abuja. The Maitama rail site job will only commence after the Outer rail has been completed. In addition to that no money was appropriated for the Maitama transit line in the 2013 budget that may warrant issuing such a quick demolition order even when the allocation is expiring in two years time. Assuming the FCTA actually wants to commence work on the Maitama railline, Nigerians expect the FCTA to fulfill their own side of the agreement by giving her an alternatives site as contained in the letter of allocation dated March 17, 2010 earlier quoted above, since the allocation is for five years initial period. The move to demolish Senator Alhassan’s Park also runs counter to the position of the - National chairman of the PDP that nothing should be done by members of the party to jeopardize the on-going peace talks in the party. Tukur even emphasized when he inaugurated the PDP National Disciplinary committee headed by Umaru Dikko that members of the Baraje faction will not be dragged before the panel since this will adversely affect the reconciliation efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan and the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih. No matter the excuses given by the authorities of the FCTA to demolish A-Park; it will be almost impossible to convince Nigerians that this lady is not being persecuted for belonging to the Baraje faction of PDP. It is not by happenstance that the quit notice came 24 hours after she and the other- 21 New PDP Senators received Baraje in the national assembly. FCTA authorities will also succeed in panting President Jonathan as an undemocratic vindictive leader if they go ahead on the pernicious mission, moreso, since the President is constitutionally the governor of the Federal Capital Territory on whose behalf the FCT Minister acts on delegated powers.
“The decision to demolish A-Class Park, located in a hitherto black spot used by criminals to terrorize residents of the nation’s capital before the site was given to Senator Alhassan jar a garden/park in March 2010, was taken 24 hours after Baraje and members of the New PDP stormed the national assembly.”
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
International
Bombs Kill 23 In Baghdad BAGHDAD - Seven bombs exploded across Baghdad yesterday, killing 23 people and wounding scores, police and medical sources said, part of the worst wave of violence to hit Iraq in at least five years. The Shi’ite-led government has blamed Sunni Muslim insurgents linked to al-Qaeda for the increased bomb attacks, which have mainly targeted Shi’ite civilians. The explosions early yesterday took place as people shopped in crowded markets. Among the most deadly, a roadside bomb near a market in the mainly Shi’ite neighborhood of Sadriya killed four and wounded 14, while a bomb in a minibus in the central commercial district of Karrada, killed 3 and wounded 12. Black smoke billowed from the scene of the
Taliban Kill Afghan District Police Chief K A N D A H A R , Afghanistan — An Afghan police official says the Taliban have ambushed a police convoy in the south, killing a district police chief. The police official says the ambush took place in Helmand province early yesterday morning and that the Marjah police chief, Hajji Tooryalai Jan, died instantly in the attack. The police chief ’s bodyguard was wounded. The police official giving the details of the attack spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. In recent years, Marjah district has been the scene of some of the largest joint assaults on Taliban strongholds by U.S. and Afghan troops. But the insurgents still have a strong presence in much of southern Afghanistan, the birthplace of the Taliban, despite heavy deployments of international troops.
explosion on a main road in Karrada where ambulances weaved through the traffic to reach the wounded, video footage showed. The minibus was shown with its main door blown off and shattered windows. Hundreds of Iraqis have been killed each month in similar attacks since the start of the year. The growing violence has raised fears of a return to the heights of bloodshed seen in 2006-2007, when tens of thousands died. Nearly 1,000 Iraqis were killed in October, according to figures from the United Nations, which has called on political leaders to cooperate to end the violence that has escalated since U.S. troops withdrew in December 2011. Elsewhere in Iraq on Wednesday, gunmen killed
an off-duty bodyguard of President Jalal Talabani. The gunmen broke into the bodyguard’s house in Sulaimaniya, 260 km (160 miles) northeast of
Baghdad. Talabani has been in Germany for medical treatment for several months.
Wave Of Attacks In Iraqi Capital Kills At Least 24 BAGHDAD - A wave of attacks, mostly by car bombs, hit mainly Shiite and commercial areas of Baghdad yesterday morning, killing at least 24 people and wounding
A Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLA-N) rebel soldier looks out toward Talodi, in South Kordofan, a region of Sudan.
Sudan Rebels Fired At Sputh Kordofan Capital KHARTOUM - Sudanese rebels have fired mortar bombs into the capital of South Kordofan state where they rose up against the government two years ago, the insurgents said yesterday.
The shelling of Kadugli on Tuesday was in retaliation for an air raid two days earlier that killed two children, said Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, spokesman for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N).
“We targeted military positions” with five mortar rounds, he told AFP. It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties in the town, where a local resident confirmed the
Sinai Car Bomb Kills At Least 10 Cairo - At least 10 soldiers were killed and 35 wounded as Egypt Soldiers a car bomb targeted an Egyptian army convoy yesterday in the Sinai where security forces are battling Islamists, a security official said. The bombing took place near El-Arish, regional capital of North Sinai where attacks on security forces have mounted since the army’s ouster in July of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. A parked car blew up as the military convoy passed, the security official said. Yesterday’s bombing was the deadliest since an August 19 ambush by gunmen on a convoy of security forces that killed 25 policemen in the town of Rafah in North Sinai. That attack was the bloodiest in the Sinai Peninsula in several years. Dozens of soldiers and policemen have been killed in near daily attacks in Sinai, especially since Morsi’s July 3 ouster by the army. Egypt’s army has poured troops and armour into the restive peninsula to crush militant activity.
Egypt’s security forces are also engaged in a sweeping crackdown on Islamist supporters of Morsi in other parts of the country.
The crackdown has resulted in more than 1,000 people being killed and more than 2,000 arrested nationwide since midAugust.
shelling but had no details. Government troops were responding yesterday with outbound fire against rebel positions, Lodi said. Two children, aged 10 and seven, were killed on Sunday when a government Sukhoi jet bombed Tanasa village, near Buram town southeast of Kadugli, according to the rebels. A “citizen reporter” for Nuba Reports website based in South Kordofan witnessed the aerial bombing, the website’s founder, Ryan Boyette, told AFP.
The traditional marriage ceremony between former Miss Winifred Ehizefua Ukeke and Mr. Arnold Obadiaru took place on June 21, 2013 at the Bride’s family, Prince John Ukeke’s compound, in Benin City. Photo shows Mr. & Mrs. Obadiaru shortly after the traditional marriage ceremony. Courtesy: TUNDE EIGBIREMOLEN.
87, Iraqi officials said. The bombings were part of a surge in violence that has rocked Iraq over the past months as insurgents seek to thwart the Shiite-led government’s efforts to stabilize the country. Five of Wednesday’s attacks were carried out by parked car bombs while at least one was carried out by a remotely detonated bomb, police officials said. The deadliest attack was in the central Sadria neighborhood, where a parked car bomb went off at an outdoor market, killing five shoppers and wounding 15, they said. Other attacks took place in Hurriyah, Shaab, Tobchi, Karrada, Azamiyah and Amil neighborhoods. Medical officials confirmed the causality figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to media. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but suicide and largescale bombings — especially against security forces or crowded markets — are a favorite tactic of al-Qaida’s local branch and Sunni insurgents. The surge of attacks followed a deadly security raid on a Sunni protest camp in the country’s north in April. Since then, more than 5,500 people have been killed in attacks by insurgents in Iraq, according to the United Nations. Wednesday’s attacks bring the death toll across the country this month to 233, according to an Associated Press count.
Italy’s Government, Citizens Were Not Spied On - PM Letta
ROME - International intelligence agencies have not spied on Italy’s government and embassies and there is no evidence of mass surveillance of citizens, Prime Minister Enrico Letta said yesterday. Press reports had accused British and U.S. intelligence agencies of monitoring Italy’s telecoms network, targeting the government and companies. Similar allegations regarding France and Germany, in the wake of leaks by former U.S. security contractor Edward Snowden, raised diplomatic tensions between Washington and its European allies last month. “We found no breaches of the communications security of the government or of our embassies,” Letta said during a parliamentary session dedicated to the allegations.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
International Features
Yemen Fighting Risks Deepening Sectarian Divisions
A deadly assault by Shi’ite Houthi rebels on a Salafi Islamic school planted in their mountain heartland could ignite wider sectarian conflict in Yemen, where instability has already helped al Qaeda militants to take root. The Houthis, who belong to the Zaydi branch of Shi’ite Islam, have bombarded the sprawling Dar al-Hadith seminary in Dammaj village for two weeks, killing at least 100 people. Late on Tuesday, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsular (AQAP) pledged revenge for the assault. Political rivalries may have helped to start the violence, but the struggle over a Salafi outpost deep in Houthi territory is also part of a regional contest between Shi’ite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia that has been sharpened by the war in Syria. Zaydis have for years been alarmed by young Sunnis flocking to Dar alHadith, in the northern province of Saada, to study ultra-orthodox Salafi doctrines that cast Shi’ites as heretics. Houthi militants, whose rebellion is fuelled by the
accumulated grievances of many Zaydis, dominate Saada after fighting government forces on and off for nearly a decade. They detest Dar alHadith, proclaiming on October 30 that the Salafis had “turned Dammaj into a launch-pad for their criminal actions and a training center (for) thousands of armed foreign elements from more than 120 countries”. Dar al-Hadith’s leaders, who deny any such activities, have condemned al Qaeda, but some militants, including the “American Taliban”, John Walker Lindh, have been through the school, and its founder was linked to a 1979 Islamist uprising in Mecca. The Dammaj fighting is one of many crises besetting Yemen, where state failure could further empower an al Qaeda wing that has targeted Western ships and airliners in the past. JOCKEYING FOR POSITION Yemen’s best hope may lie in national reconciliation talks begun in March to draft a new constitution and defuse threats from Houthis, southern secessionists and Islamist
insurgents. That effort followed the negotiated removal of veteran President Ali Abdullah Saleh after mass protests against his rule that began even before a wave of Arab revolts in 2011. Under the deal, interim President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi must hold elections next year and try to reach a workable compromise among Yemen’s myriad tribal and political factions. The Houthis’ onslaught on Dammaj may be a gambit to strengthen their bargaining power before any such deal. “We are coming to the conclusion of the dialogue and each party is trying to consolidate its presence on the ground,” said Yemeni analyst Abdul-Ghani alIryani. “Dammaj is deep in Zaydi territory. The Houthis are trying to capture it militarily.” Houthi-Salafi strife could further poison the oncerelaxed relations between Shi’ites and Sunnis in Yemen, already strained by Iranian-Saudi rivalry and feelings heated by the sectarian hatred that now imbues Syria’s struggle
between Sunni Islamist rebels and a president whose Alawite sect derives from Shi’ism. “Yemenis don’t hate each other for sectarian reasons,” Iryani said. “But that does not preclude this outcome, down the line, if this crisis is not fixed quickly.” Saleh, the former president, exploited sectarian sentiments during his successive wars with the Houthis, according to Ibrahim Sharqieh, a Yemen expert at Doha Brookings think-tank. “This conflict did not start last week,” he said. Zaydis dominate the rugged highlands of Yemen, which their Imams ruled for 1,000 years until a 1962 military coup. They are well-represented in Yemen’s political, military and tribal elites, but have generally kept their faith out of national politics - even as Salafi influence began to rise in mosques funded by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf neighbors. SAUDI ROLE The Houthis emerged in the north in the 1990s in response to economic deprivation and waning Zaydi political influence, as
well as Salafi inroads in the area, symbolized by Dar alHadith. Saleh’s military attempts to crush the Houthis from 2004 to 2010 prompted Iran to adopt their cause as fellow-Shi’ites, albeit from two very different branches of the sect, although Tehran denies Saudi accusations that it armed them. In 2009 Saudi Arabia even fought a brief war with the Houthis, who control territory just over its southern border. Riyadh’s links to Yemen go deep. It has long subsidized the government, as well as funding unruly tribes in a complex quest for influence in its impoverished and more populous neighbor. Wealthy and often wellconnected donors from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations have bankrolled Sunni religious centers in Yemen, including Salafi ones such as Dar al-Hadith. The seminary’s founder, Sheikh Muqbil al-Wadi’i, studied in Saudi Arabia in the 1970s after converting from Shi’ism. He fell in with radical preacher Juhayman alOtaybi, who led the twoweek seizure of Mecca’s Grand Mosque in 1979 by militants seeking an
would be to simply leave out of any accord any reference to a “right to enrichment,” but this option reportedly does not suit the Iranians, who want to see the right enshrined in any agreement. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who has spoken for months of Iran’s right to enrichment, vowed again Sunday that Iran will never give up its “nuclear rights,” including enrichment. “The rights of the Iranian nation and our national interests are a red line,” Mr. Rouhani said. “So are nuclear rights and the framework of international regulations, which include enrichment on Iranian soil.” Obama administration officials from the president on down have spoken of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy, but they almost always twin that “right” with an obligation to offer verifiable guarantees that any nuclear activities are not being diverted to military purposes. “There is no right that is specific within the NPT about enrichment,” Secretary of State John Kerry said flatly in an interview Monday with the BBC. Repeating later that “right” is the “wrong word,” Mr. Kerry went on to speak of “standards” that, if met, could allow the Iranians some level of nuclear activity. “What they have to see is that … there is a standard by which they might be able to do something, provided they meet certain standards in order to do it,” Kerry said.
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month, Wendy Sherman, the administration’s chief negotiator with the Iranians, was even more adamant, saying “it has always been the US position that [the NPT] does not speak about the right of enrichment at all, doesn’t speak to enrichment, period.” The US position, she added, is to look at each country individually and on its merits. President Obama offered a further nuanced interpretation of Iran’s rights when he said in September that the US respects “the right of the Iranian people
to access peaceful nuclear energy in the context of Iran meeting its obligations.” By “obligations,” Mr. Obama was no doubt referring to the safeguards that the NPT also calls on countries to accept to ensure that nuclear fuels are not being diverted to non-peaceful purposes. Beyond the Iran nuclear stalemate, how the “right to enrichment” question is resolved will influence global perceptions of the big powers and their handling of other issues. NPEC’s Mr. Sokolski says he realized this several years ago
Islamist revolution. Otaybi and dozens of his followers were beheaded after the revolt was crushed. Sheikh Muqbil, who did not take part in the attack but was accused of writing a statement for Otaybi, was deported to Yemen, where he set up Dar al-Hadith. Within a few years it began drawing thousands of Yemeni and foreign students. According to Mohammed alAhmadi, a Yemeni expert on Salafis, up to 7,000, including hundreds from the United States, Canada, Europe and southeast Asia study there, some living with their families on the compound in Dammaj, a complex of white-washed concrete buildings in a lush valley surrounded by mud houses. Former students describe a monkish lifestyle of memorizing the Koran and studying the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad. The books of medieval theologian Ibn Taymiya, those of the founder of Wahhabism, Sheikh Mohammed ibn Abd alWahhab, and of Sheikh Muqbil himself, fill the seminary’s library. While many students pay for their education, donations by Gulf businessmen helped fund Dar al-Hadith, although these were curbed after Courtesy: REUTERS
Does Iran Have A ‘Right’ To Enrich Uranium? By HOWARD LAFRANCHI
THE Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty does not explicitly cite a ‘right’ to enrich uranium, and how the US and other powers resolve this dispute has implications beyond Iran. Iran’s assertion that it has a guaranteed international “right” to uranium enrichment – and its demand that this right be formally recognized in writing – have emerged as key factors in the failure of negotiators to reach a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear activities. Yet what sounds like an easily answered question – Does Iran or any other country have such a right or not? – turns out to be far from clear, with fervent believers on both sides and some in between. The US now says Iran has no such right – but that was not always the case. Less than a decade ago, during the Bush administration, some officials held that it did. The source of the confusion is the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, or NPT, which says that its 190 signatories (of which Iran is one) have an “inalienable right … to develop, research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.” No mention is made of uranium enrichment, an activity that can serve as a crucial part of peaceful nuclear energy production – or lead to production of fuel for a nuclear
weapon. Yet supporters of Iran’s position say a right to enrichment is implicit in the treaty’s stated right to production of nuclear energy. How this question is resolved may well determine whether or not a deal on Iran’s advancing nuclear program can be reached when negotiators from six world powers meet with Iran again next week in Geneva. And as important as the question of a “right” to enrichment has become to the Iran talks, how it is resolved will also have far-reaching repercussions around the globe, some nuclear experts say, because of its potential for setting off a chain reaction of destabilizing enrichment activity. Countries from Saudi Arabia to Vietnam and South Korea, either contemplating or in varying stages of nuclear development, could seize on any “right to enrichment” that was set in stone. “The problem is that the US and others want this [Iran accord] to be a one-off, and the truth is it won’t be,” says Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (NPEC) in Washington. “They know very well that whatever they agree to in the Iran case is going to have collateral impact well beyond the Iranian issue.” One solution in Iran’s case
Hassan Rouhani, Iran President
when a high-ranking Iranian official told him that establishing the “right to enrichment” was important to Iran for more than just the nuclear issue. “What he told me was, ‘If we are doing what it is our right to do, then you look like you are beating up on us and being the bully,’ ” Sokolski recalls. For senior officials like Kerry to be pointing out that a right to enrichment “is not in the NPT is a good start,” Sokolski says, as it suggests the US may not be afraid of looking a bit like the bully if it means getting the looming program of nuclear fuels proliferation right.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
International Features Hope For Syria Peace Conference PROSPECTS of a Syria Arabia, Turkey and the Fades Peace Conference in United Arab Emirates and
Arab and Western Foreign Ministers in London meeting of the friends of Syria Core Group at Lancester House in London recently.
Geneva next month looked dim yesterday after key opposition leaders spurned efforts by Western and Arab powers to persuade them to attend. A meeting in London between the opposition leaders and 11 key countries of the so-called Friends of Syria on Tuesday produced little more than an accord that Syrian President Bashar alAssad should play no future role in government. But leaders of the National Coalition — the main opposition umbrella group — insisted they would not take part in a
Syrian Minorities Keep Low Profile In Exile
IN a small park on the edge of old Istanbul’s Eminonu square, women sit begging, Syrian passports in their outstretched hands, “Please help in the name of God” on sheets of paper at their feet. In this bustling city, where fisherman line the shore of the Golden Horn and tourists mingle with traders in the alleyways of the spice bazaar, the war raging just over Turkey’s southern border feels very distant. But as Syria’s conflict takes on an increasingly sectarian dimension, a growing number of those fleeing to Turkey are shunning the refugee camps on its southern border and venturing instead to its major cities, as far from the war as possible. “We can’t be comfortable at the camps. Yes, they give them food regularly, and conditions are maybe better, but we hear that they send all the men to fight at night,” said Tariq, 27, cradling his young son in his arms, his wife at their side. “We don’t want to fight. I escaped the fighting, why would I go back again?” he asked, sitting in a cemevi - an assembly house used by Alevis, Turkey’s biggest religious minority - in Istanbul’s working-class Gazi neighborhood. Tariq and the roughly 40 Syrian refugees he is sheltering with are mostly Alawites, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam and the same minority sect as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It is not an identity they readily reveal. Perceived, often wrongly, as die-hard Assad supporters, they say they fear retribution in Turkey’s refugee camps, which are thronged by Sunni Muslim opposition supporters, including rebel fighters and their families. “I’d rather go and die in the war in Syria than stay in a
camp,” said Miran, 29, smoking a cigarette on a shredded mattress in a tent in the courtyard of the cemevi. “They don’t like Alawites in the camps and they know we’re Alawites. We are neither opposition members nor Assad supporters. We are just citizens,” he said. Syria’s civil war has killed more than 100,000 people, sent millions fleeing from their homes and divided the Middle East between Sunni Gulf states and Turkey, which mostly support the rebels, and Shi’ite Iran and Hezbollah, which back Assad. Turkey has kept its borders open to refugees throughout the 31-month-old conflict and denies any sectarian agenda, insisting its camps are open to all. But its staunch support for the opposition puts some refugees in a difficult position. “Turkey says it doesn’t make a distinction between Alawites and Sunnis, but people do, and we can feel it even here,” said a Syrian refugee in Eminonu, declining to give his name. “We just want to work, make a living, but they don’t give us a job,” he said, emphasizing that he always told prospective employers he was Sunni when looking for work. SECTARIAN TENSIONS Turkey shelters more than a quarter of the 2 million people who have fled Syria’s war, 200,000 of them in the official camps dotted along its 900 km (560 mile) border. But twice that number live outside the camps, including almost all the refugees who have arrived over the past few months. While many have the means or family ties to find lodging, the numbers of those forced to sleep rough appear to
be growing in cities, including Istanbul and Ankara. Zeynal Odabas, head of the Pirsultan Abdal Cemevi hosting the refugees, said Turkey should consider the diversity of Syria’s population and set up separate camps for different groups. He criticized the government for allowing fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army and factions such as the al Qaedaaffiliated Jabhat al-Nusra to shelter in the camps. “While people from Nusra and the Free Syrian Army are being hosted in the camps, these poor people have been living on the street,” Odabas said, citing the fighters’ presence in the camps as a reason many refugees preferred to go it alone. Turkey has long championed more robust backing for Syria’s fractious armed opposition, arguing it would bring a quicker end to Assad’s rule and give moderate forces the authority they needed to keep more radical Islamist elements in check. But Ankara’s critics say that its policy has in fact allowed Islamist militants, some of them accused of committing atrocities against Alawite communities, to gain ground in Syria. Turkey denies arming the rebels or facilitating the passage of foreign fighters who have swollen the ranks of al Qaedalinked factions, but the border is difficult to police. Rebels, refugees and smugglers have been able to cross illegally. BRACING FOR WINTER Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) says it is aware of the influx of Syrians who bypass the camps, but that it can do little for those who decline its help. “We do the best we can within the rules of a state of law, but
we can’t simply force people,” said spokesman Mustafa Aydogdu, adding that there were Alawites living in the camps and that there had been no reports of disputes. “We haven’t received a specific demand from Syrians coming to Turkey to set up a separate camp for any particular group. If there is such a demand, it may be considered,” he said. The agency does not register refugees by their religious affiliation in the camps, he said. With the United Nations expecting another 2 million Syrians to become refugees in 2014 and 2.25 million more to be displaced inside Syria, Turkey’s open-door policy means the numbers of destitute Syrians on its streets is only likely to rise. “We can’t go back until the war is over,” said Ahmed, 15, who has lived in a makeshift tent near an Ankara shantytown with no access to water, electricity and heating for four months. “We are more comfortable here, we hear there are a lot of disputes, disagreements at the camps. People complain, so we don’t want to go,” he said. He is among around 150 largely Syrian Kurdish refugees, many of them barefoot children, living in tents on a muddy hillside, near where property developers are building highrise blocks. Temperatures are already dropping and will soon fall well below freezing. When a car occasionally drives by, the children run behind it, cheering and hoping it is one of the local Turks who regularly bring food and clothing. “We are just holding up now,” said Samer, 31, who had worked as a keyboard player in Aleppo before fleeing. “They say the first snow will fall in a couple of months. God help us then.”
conference in late November if any regime members were there, sticking to their demand that Assad’s departure was essential. But a defiant Assad has shown no sign of backing down after a two-and-ahalf-year civil war that has left more than 115,000 people dead, saying he was ready to run for re-election in 2014. Assad has systematically refused to recognise the Coalition as a legitimated negotiating partner and has rejected its demand that he step down. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the London meeting had urged the Coalition to “commit itself fully” to the so-called Geneva 2 talks. He said the Friends of Syria agreed that they would put their “united and collective weight” behind efforts to form a transitional government and that “Assad would play no role in that future government of Syria.” US Secretary of State John Kerry took a similar position, saying Assad had “lost all legitimacy.” But he too urged the opposition to go to Geneva, saying Syria was at risk of “implosion” if the civil war continued and said the only alternative to a negotiated settlement was “continued if not increased killing.” The opposition is due to meet at the start of November to finalise its position on the Geneva talks, which would be a follow-up to a peace conference held in the Swiss city in June 2012. Coalition head Ahmad Jarba appeared to be in no mood to compromise on his demands. “There will not be negotiations at all without making sure that this meeting, Geneva 2, is basically to make sure there’s a transitional period and for Assad to go,” said Jarba. ‘I don’t see why I shouldn’t run in the next election’ The London talks grouped Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi
the United States, together with Syrian opposition leaders. Notably absent from the meeting was key Syria ally Russia, which has dismissed such gatherings in the past, saying they do not represent all Syrian people. Washington and Moscow have been trying to organise the Geneva conference on the heels of the deal they reached for the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons in the wake of a deadly poison gas attack in August widely blamed on Damascus. But Assad dealt an early blow to peace hopes, saying in an interview Monday that the factors are not in place for the conference to succeed. “No time has been set, and the factors are not yet in place if we want (Geneva 2) to succeed,” Assad told Lebanon-based satellite channel AlMayadeen, adding that there was no guarantee about “which forces are taking part.” UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will meet again on November 5 with US and Russian officials to prepare for the Geneva talks, the UN announced Tuesday. That meeting will be followed by one with the other three permanent members of the UN Security Council — Britain, China and France, according to UN spokesman Martin Nesirky. In other developments, prominent human rights activist Sema Nassar told AFP Wednesday that Syrian authorities have released 14 women detainees as part of a weekend hostage exchange but that dozens of others are still being held. Nine Lebanese Shiite hostages held for 17 months by a rebel group in northern Syria were exchanged on Saturday for two Turkish pilots held in Lebanon since August. “Fourteen of the women whose names were on the list” were freed late Tuesday, Nassar said.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Between Divine And Human Miracles
THE miracles of Jesus came about neither through interventions in the order of nature nor through annulment of the laws of nature. In His miracles, Jesus had to keep strictly to the laws of creation or the laws of nature, which in their immutability allow of neither exceptions nor arbitrary acts. Thereby, he fulfilled the law of his father. When Jesus raised the dead. He could do so only as long as the connection the so-called “silver cord,” between the physical body and the soul still existed. This was the case with the raising of the daughter of Jairus. Hence, the words of Jesus. “Weep not, she is not dead, but sleepeth” and later the statement “and her spirit came again”. At the same time we recognise that body and spirit are of two different species. The spirit, the eternal with its fine cloaks called soul, which lives on after death and the earthly body, the transient, which disintegrates when the spirit leaves it. Only Jesus in His Divine power could recall the soul into its earthly body and as a human spirit, it had to obey the Divine will. The process was exactly the same with the raising from the dead of Lazarus and the young man of Nain. In the case of possession, the alien spirit also, had to obey the Divine will and leave its victim. When the spirit of earthman is indolent or weak, it is for a spirit in the beyond to take possession of his physical body in order to work on earth through his brain. The “casting out” of such an “unclean” spirit is described in the Bible, Mark 1, 23-26. The miraculous healings of Jesus took place in accordance with the same Laws of Nature. Therefore, in each case, the physical
organs to be healed had to be still functioning to such a degree that through the increased pressure of the healing power, the fine calls of the body – parts affected could be stimulated into healthy activity again, enabling the body to regain its full health. In addition, the supplicant had to be filled with trusting faith and open himself humbly to healing power. The words of Jesus. “According to your faith be it unto you,” point to the law of Balance between giving and taking. Giving oneself in all humility and simplicity, prepares the way for the taking, the receiving of gracious help. Where this condition was lacking the healing power could not be absorbed. Even at the present time miraculous healings are possible. It happens that here and there a human spirit endowed with grace is given special power with which he accomplishes miraculous healings, thus the healing of diseases hitherto regarded as incurable. But this power bestowed is not divine. It cannot be measure or compared with the Divine Power in its original state in which Jesus worked and which far exceeded what is humbly possible. The human spirit, which has within it nothing of the Divine but only of the spirit, has as at its disposal only the powers in creation, thus, out with the Divine, which in comparison with the Divine power have a greatly reduced working potential. One of these creation powers is magnetism, an animistic force of nature which called ones have been using for a long time now, for the blessing of mankind. All these genuine healing powers however, are given only to those who, being called for the purpose, receive and pass them on in
purity and humility. But there are also, other ways that lead to wonderful recoveries of diseased bodies. Let us mention those miracles that take place at springs or other places they are connected with genuine “heavenly vision”, relating not to Mary of Nazareth, but to the spiritual radiation – picture of the Queen of Heaven Vollmann said who has her origin in the Divine
anything but a miracle. Vollmann said, it has to do with the invasion of the personal sphere, which brings about a binding of the spirit and there with a forcible elimination of the free will. Its place is taken by the alien will of the hypnotist, who imposes his will upon the one hypnotised, thereby, making him dependent on himself. Hence, through this alien
Realm. With trusting faith and prayers intuitively perceived in purity, Vollmann said the way to this spiritual radiation sometimes opens for supplicants, making them receptive to wondrous healings and dispensations. This explanation leads to the recognition that all healing and strengthening powers always come from without, thus, they are not within us and can only be received. There is much talk of miraculous healings through hypnosis. Yet the process is
intervention only a temporary artificial healing is brought about, which in certain cases has to be maintained through repeated hypnosis, until one day the treated illness or addiction appears again, as itself or in some other form. In any case, the will of the one hypnotised is thereby weakened and valuable time lost for him in which, through the very experiencing of his illness, he would have been in the position to nature spiritually by it. Moreover, it is possible
“. . . this power bestowed is not divine. It cannot be measure or compared with the Divine Power in its original state in which Jesus worked and which far exceeded what is humbly possible. The human spirit, which has within it nothing of the Divine but only of the spirit, has as at its disposal only the powers in creation, thus, out with the Divine, which in comparison with the Divine power have a greatly reduced working potential.”
Man And Nature With O.C. MADU 08056379608
that during the time in question he has missed valuable opportunities of genuine healing which he himself could have brought about voluntarily through personal effort of will. Therefore, it is not easy for man to face himself from this hypnotic binding because to do so, he must set to work with all the strength of his
beings, the servants of God, who are active in the elements of air and water, thus, a quite natural happening. They belong to the same nature beings as are mentioned in Psalm 104… “who walketh upon the wings of the wind who maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire”. The so-called miracle of
spirit. Most people have hardly any idea of how dangerous the application of hypnosis is because, they do not know its final effect in the beyond. For as stated, it binds the spirit and the free will is thereby, suppressed, regardless of whether the one treated has consented or not. Even with consent he is unable to eliminate the working of the laws of creation, because, hypnosis is opposed to these laws and thus, is a sin against the spirit, which has grave consequences for all who practise it. Jesus other “miracles” while out on lake gennesenat, Jesus calmed the turbulent waters. “And he arose and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, peace, be still. And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mark 4, 39) Actually, Jesus was speaking to those nature
the feeding was no mistake, but a parable. Through men’s imagination, it became a rumour, which like many another wrong was later recorded in the Biblical traditions. Jesus meant not earthly but spiritual food, the Word of God. He said of himself: “I am the bread of life” (John 6, 35). Men absorb but little bread of life, the spiritual power, most of it they allow to pass by heedlessly scattering it like crumbs, which alone would suffice to give spiritual food to thousands of human beings indeed to many more still. Jesus was not in a position to create suddenly from a few loaves and fishers a quantity of food for thousands of people. According to the laws of creation, that was impossible, To be rounded up next week.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Wilshere Set For World Cup Squad Battle
ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere admits he faces a fight to secure a place in England’s squad for the World Cup. Just 12 months ago, “You are never guaranteed Wilshere was regarded as the anything and can’t rest on hottest young talent in your laurels. England and a key member “You are only as good as of the national team for years your last games. When the to come. time comes I have to be on But the 21-year-old has top form. endured a difficult period of “I’ve got big games coming late marred by injury up for my club and you have problems and a loss of form. to play well to get in the He has been in and out of squad.” the Arsenal team and started A wave of optimism on the bench for England’s 1- surrounded England after 0 friendly defeat against their bid to qualify for the Germany at Wembley on finals came to a successful Tuesday. conclusion with victories Manchester United’s Tom over Montenegro and Poland Cleverley was selected ahead last month. of Wilshere, who made little Wilshere admitted back to impact when he eventually back defeats against Chile came on as a second half and Germany — the first substitute. time in 36 years that England With England having just a have lost successive games at handful of friendlies left Wembley — had shattered before boss Roy Hodgson the feelgood factor. names his final squad for the But he remains confident World Cup, Wilshere England are capable of acknowledges he still has to making an impact in Brazil. prove he is worth a seat on “I think they have lowered the plane to Brazil next year. expectations. When you lose “I’m definitely not nailed games that is what happens,” on for the squad,” Wilshere he said. said. You have seen over the “They were two tough last couple of months the games. We had chances to talent coming through, with score against Germany but the likes of Ravel Morrison couldn’t take them. and several others in the “But we had two good England Under-21s. results last month so we can’t
be too hard on ourselves. “We will go over it again when we meet up for the Denmark game in March and look at the positives. We won’t want to lose again at
• Jack Wilshere
• Graham Wallace
Rangers chairman David Somers told the club’s official website: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Graham to the role of chief executive of Rangers Football Club. “Following an extensive recruitment process the Board interviewed several high calibre individuals and determined that Graham was by far the outstanding candidate for the position. “His first class business and financial experience combined with his extensive knowledge of football operations at the highest levels of the game, will be of huge benefit to Rangers as we strive to take the club forward in preparation for our return to the top of the Scottish game. “Graham’s appointment will also help provide the club with further stability and leadership and we are certain that everyone connected with the Club will wish him every success as he embarks on the job ahead.”
CARDIFF City striker Fraizer Campbell says he has no regrets about leaving Manchester United earlier in his career. Campbell will come up against his former club on Sunday when the Premier League champions make the trip to Wales. Having spent 12 years with the Red Devils as a youngster, Campbell admits it was hard to move on - but he decided in 2009 that he needed regular football and made the switch to Sunderland. Campbell joined Cardiff in January and, reflecting on his time at United, he is certain that it would not have benefited his career to stay at Old Trafford. “It was difficult to leave United. I’d been there since I was 10,” Campbell said in the Daily Star Sunday. “But I wanted to be playing. I have no regrets, though, because you have to be realistic. “Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were in front of me. “Then they brought in Carlos Tevez. I had to be worth £25million to be playing in that
Fabregas Hopes For Long Barca Stay MANCHESTER United target Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he wants to stay with Barcelona for the rest of his career. In recent weeks reports had surfaced that the 26-year-old could one day play again for Arsenal as he is not a regular in the Blaugrana starting line-
Rangers Name New Chief Executive
RANGERS have announced the appointment of Graham Wallace as their new chief executive. Wallace, 52, has previously spent four years at Manchester City, most recently as chief operating officer, following eight years as chief financial officer in media organisations. The Dumfries-born businessman will also join the Rangers International Football Club Plc board of directors as well as the club’s board with immediate effect.
Wembley that’s for sure. “These games will be forgotten about when the World Cup comes around. “And if you want to win the World Cup you have to play the best teams.”
Campbell Has No United Regrets
Wallace believes Rangers can come become stronger than ever before following their recent turmoil. He said: “I am delighted to join Rangers Football Club as chief executive as the club continues its journey back to the pinnacle of the game in Scotland and beyond. “For more than 140 years, this club has been recognised throughout world football and whilst the last few years have been distressing, there is no reason why Rangers cannot be even stronger than we once were before these challenges presented themselves. “That strength will be built upon strong leadership of the club and the continuing support of the fans. “I watched from afar as the Rangers support came to the club’s aid during the times of turmoil and now it is the turn of the board and management to provide the stability and governance to drive Rangers’ recovery forward and ensure further football success.
up. However, Fabregas has now declared that he has no interest in going back and is aiming to stay at Camp Nou until he hangs up his boots. Fabregas was also strongly linked with a switch to Manchester United in the summer, but the player remained at Barcelona and he would be happy to hang up his boots at the Spanish giants. “It would be a dream come true to retire with Barca,” he told fans on Facebook.
“I will continue to work very hard to make that happen. “Playing here is a dream and means everything to me because I have always been a huge fan.” Fabregas still remembers his time at Arsenal fondly and answered one Facebook fan who asked him for his favourite football moment with a response to make all Gunners’ fans smile. “Scoring against Spurs,” he replied.
against Bayern Munich following injuries to defenders Mats Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer in Germany’s 1-0 victory at Wembley. Hummels limped off the pitch just 20 minutes after coming on for Bayern’s Jerome Boateng, and after the game Germany coach Joachim Loew told ZDF TV: “Mats twisted his foot.” Schmelzer was replaced by Marcell Jansen at half-time with a suspected calf injury, meaning Dortmund boss Juergen Klopp potentially faces a selection headache, with the coach already without Neven Subotic. “That didn’t really go well,” Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller said of the injuries
after his Germany debut. With Subotic ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, former Leverkusen defender Manuel Friedrich, 34, could return to Bundesliga action on Saturday — although Bild reports he is struggling with knee problems. Ahead of the game against Bayern, who lead the league by a four-point margin, Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc wants “proof that their development is a sustainable one.” “Everyone knows that our economical preconditions are not the same as Bayern’s. We have now lost two games against Arsenal and Wolfsburg,
team! “I had a great time there. I didn’t play many games but it was nice to be part of the club.”
• Fraizer Campbell
Barca, Spain Face Wait On Valdes SPAIN and Barcelona face a nervous wait over the fitness of Victor Valdes after he sustained a calf injury during La Roja’s shock 1-0 friendly defeat to South Africa on Tuesday. Valdes replaced Iker Casillas at half-time but was then forced off with 13 minutes remaining after complaining of a strain in his right calf. The Barca goalkeeper will undergo tests when he returns to his club on Wednesday, although the early diagnosis suggests he suffered a tear. A medical statement on the Spanish football federation’s website read: “Victor Valdes, possible calf tear of the right leg. This Wednesday he will have new tests at his club to determine the exact extent of the injury. The national team doctors treated the goalkeeper immediately after he retired from the game in the 77th minute.
Injury Problems Mount For despite of that our aspiration has BORUSSIA Dortmund have be that we want to win every Dortmund tohome concerns ahead of their game game — also against Bayern. Of course, we want to keep the league interesting.”
• Mats Hummels
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Africa’s World Cup Quintet Emerges • Algeria • Ghana, • Cameroon • Ivory Coast • Nigeria To Hoist Continental Flag
ALGERIA and Ghana on Tuesday completed the five African qualifiers for next year’s World Cup, joining Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast, who all qualified at the weekend. This quintet is identical to resolute in defence, but Africa’s ambassadors at the offered very little going 2010 World Cup in South forward. Africa. Despite losing 2-1 in Algeria did just enough to Cairo, the Black Stars of book their ticket to their Ghana qualified for a third fourth World Cup by beating successive World Cup, 7-3 Burkina Faso 1-0 to go on aggregate. through on the away goals’ Egypt could not overcome rule after the first game the 6-1 humiliation they ended 3-2 in favour of the suffered at the Baba Yara west Africans. Stadium in Kumasi last It needed a scrambled month. effort in the 49th minute by The Pharaohs, who last skipper Madjid Bougherra appeared at the World Cup in for Algeria to book their 1990, scored through Amr flight to Brazil next year. Zaki and Mohamed Gedo in Burkina Faso, beaten either half, before substitute finalists at this year’s Africa Kevin-Prince Boateng Cup of Nations, were pulled a goal back for Ghana
late on. It was a huge disappointment for the seven-time African champions, whose American
coach Bob Bradley is now expected to quit his post. Ghana became only the third African team to reach the last eight of a World Cup
• Stephen Keshi
‘Super Eagles Defence Suspect’ MIKE Umeh, the First ViceChairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), on Tuesday said the Super Eagles’ defenceline needed to be fortified ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Umeh’s call followed Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Italy in an international friendly played at the Craven Cottage stadium in Fulham, London on Monday night. He said the Super Eagles’ defenceline must be worked on if Nigeria must do well at the FIFA World Cup scheduled for Brazil between June 12 and July 13, 2014. Nigeria had on Saturday qualified for Brazil 2014 after a 4-1 aggregate defeat of Ethiopia in the African final round playoffs. “We still need to inject more players into the team, because our defence is not too good. It needs to be worked on,’’ the former Eagles’ Team Manager said.
The NFA first vice-chairman, however, commended the team for its brilliant performance against the Italians, and said the team’s preparation for the 2014 World Cup was on course. “The team played to expectations against Italy, in
spite of the logistic problems they had before the match. “I can’t remember the Super Eagles losing any match in recent times, except at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. The worst we have got is a draw. So, we are working
finished in a goalless draw in Tunis. The Indomitable Lions became the first African team to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 1990 and would now hope to improve on their first round exit at the last tournament in South Africa. “Cameroon are back after we were written off,” declared Roger Milla, who featured at three World Cups. “We need to work now, set up friendlies not against small teams, we must not be scared to play against top teams like England, Portugal and Germany. It will be good for the players.” The Ivory Coast will also hope to go beyond the first round of the competition in Brazil after they out scored fellow west Africans Senegal 4-2 on aggregate. The Elephants led by inspirational skipper Didier Drogba were eliminated in the first round in 2006 and 2010 and in both cases they were drawn in very tough first round groups. The draw for the 2014 World Cup will be conducted in Bahia, Brazil, on December 6.
Stakeholders Hail Eagles 2-2 Draw of the Azzuris’ early With Italy spite scare.
• Mike Umeh
Onazi Fancies Liverpool NIGERIA international Ogenyi Onazi has revealed he would love to make a switch from Lazio to Liverpool if the opportunity arises. The Lazio midfielder has become an important and regular figure in the Serie A side since 2012 and has been linked with a move to Everton.
on the boys. “We have started in the right direction. We were able to play the Italians less than two days after our match against Ethiopia. “The more the team plays friendly matches, the more it will discover which department needs to be worked on. “If we don’t get friendlies like this, we will not pinpoint the areas we need to work on.
four years ago, And they will again be fancied to do well in Brazil with the return of several of their top stars like Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng and the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan. Nigeria became the first African team to qualify for Brazil on Saturday when they beat Ethiopia 2-0 in the southern coastal town of Calabar to go through 4-1 on aggregate. Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi admitted nerves affected his team’s belowpar showing in front of the home fans. But Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has promised the African champions will cause surprises in Brazil after they were held to a thrilling 2-2 draw by Italy in a friendly in London two days later. “The potentials are obvious, but we must avoid arrogance and complacency. With that, this team will go places,” he said. Cameroon put aside their internal squabbles to qualify for an African record seventh World Cup in style when they trounced Tunisia 4-1 in Yaounde after the first leg
Brendan Rodgers is reported to be one of the managers interested in the 20-year-old, and the Jos-born star has now opened the door for Liverpool following his declaration. “I would jump at the chance to play in the Premier League,” said Onazi, according to Metro.
“Liverpool? They are a huge team and are attractive to any footballer. I could see myself playing for them.” The Metro further report that Liverpool scouts watched him in international action on Monday night, when the Super Eagles drew 2-2 with Italy at Craven Cottage in London.
FOOTBALL stakeholders in Enugu have hailed the Super Eagles for Monday’s 2-2 draw with the Italian national team in a friendly match in London. They told newsmen that the game showed that the Eagles were gradually blending and maturing into a strong side. A Director in the Enugu State Sports Council, Edwin Eze, said the match was encouraging, considering the time limit available to prepare for it. “The Eagles played two matches within three days; besides Italy has always been a world class football nation. “The Azzurris took advantage of our teams’ fatigue from the Ethiopian match in the first 20 minutes before the Eagles showed determination to prove their mettle. “The draw was not a bad result considering the level of our backline exposure,” Eze said.
Also reacting, former Rangers FC of Enugu player, Earnest Ufele, said the match was a good one for the Eagles. “The Eagles were determined to carry the day but met a determined and skilful side in Italy and that was why we drew the match. “As the African champions, the Eagles were determined to show it to the world as they got 2-2 in such a high profile match after 48 hours of the Ethiopian match “It is the Eagles determination that saw them through in the match,” he said. Ufele said that Eagles made Africans proud and urged the technical team led by Stephen Keshi to strengthen the Super Eagles defence before the World Cup. On his part, Charles Otunwa, a football fan, expressed satisfaction with the draw in
“Nigeria is growing in maturity everyday; I could not believe the result if I did not watch it myself. “The Eagles playing two high profile matches in three days without being shattered is unbelievable; come Brazil 2014 World Cup, the whole world will know that Nigeria is back,” Otunwa said. Also reacting, the Secretary of the Enugu State Football Association, Sunday Ugwu, said the Eagles surprised him with their game. He also said the friendly would help the technical crew to correct the lapses in the team. On his part, Foster Chime, an official of the Rangers of Enugu FC, said he was happy with the draw. “Without doubt, the Eagles will be a team to reckon with at the Brazil 2014 World Cup,’’ Chime said.
THE NIGERIAN
30
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
2014 World Cup
Finals Without Me Not Worth Watching - Ibra
SWEDEN striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed the World Cup will not be worth watching without him after his side lost to Portugal in Tuesday’s qualifying play-off. Ibrahimovic scored twice “Congratulations to but his performance was Portugal but both teams topped by a hat-trick from deserved to get to the Cristiano Ronaldo in the World Cup. much-anticipated battle “The disappointment of between the star forwards, course is great now that the sending Portugal through World Cup in Brazil will with a 3-2 win on the night remain a dream for the and 4-2 on aggregate. Swedish national team.” At 32, it seems Ronaldo, who had given Ibrahimovic’s last chance Portugal a 1-0 lead in the to play on the world stage first leg, scored first in has now passed. Stockholm to increase “It was probably the last Portugal’s advantage attempt to reach the World before two quickfire Cup with the national team Ibrahimovic goals briefly for me,” he said on his app, levelled the tie. Zlatan Unplugged. “One It was then the Real thing is for sure, a World Madrid star again with two Cup without me is nothing further strikes to send to watch so it is not Portugal through. worthwhile to wait for the After the match, Ronaldo World Cup. insisted he had not taken
any motivation from the much-hyped clash with Ibrahimovic, focusing only on his own desire to reach the World Cup finals in Brazil. “I do not compete against Zlatan, he is a fantastic player and biggest star in Sweden, but I do not compete against him,”
Ronaldo said. “I play for my team. Now the team is to be congratulated. “What we wanted was to qualify. Now (we) have to sit back and enjoy it. We can go back to our clubs with a clear conscience, make a great season and then look forward to the World Cup.”
FRANCE overcome their deficit and advance to Brazil next summer. France boss Didier Deschamps believes Les Bleus has enjoyed the
“magic of football” as they created history by securing their place at next year’s World Cup. France became the first European nation to overcome a two-goal first-leg deficit when
... Magical France Secure Historic Win
Liberia Replace Gabon For WAFU Cup LIBERIA will take their place in Group B of the GOtv Wafu Cup which starts today as Gabon withdraws from the competition. Gabon were initially entered into the draw for the eight-team competition which starts from 21-28 November, 2013 in Ghana but have had to pull-out due to some problems back home. In their place, Liberia come in and will compete
in the group which includes defending champions Togo, Niger and Senegal. Hosts, Ghana, who play Sierra Leone in the opening fixture are paired in Group A with Benin and Burkina Faso. The competition is reserved for only homebased players of member nations. Winners of the two groups will progress to the final while the second placed team in each group will vie for third position.
FIFA Extend ‘Ballon d’Or Deadline’
FIFA have extended the voting deadline for the Ballon d’Or until November 29 to increase participation in the award, according to a report in the Daily Mirror. The British newspaper says FIFA decided to change the final day of
Sepp Blatter, FIFA President
voting from Nov. 15 to Nov. 29 due to a lack of involvement from coaches, captains and media voters. All eligible voters have until next Friday to submit their top three for the player of the year prize, while those who have already submitted theirs now have the power to change their preferences. Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged as a clear favourite for the Ballon d’Or after his hat-trick against Sweden on Tuesday booked Portugal’s place in the 2014 World Cup.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Didier Deschamps
they rallied to beat 10-man Ukraine 3-0 in the conclusion of their World Cup play-off in Paris. And Deschamps hailed his players performance as they showed “heart and enthusiasm” to book their spot in Brazil. “It’s the magic of football,” Deschamps told TF1. “Four days ago we were bad, very bad, but the players responded well. Tonight we played very well. “It was very important for French football that we are in Brazil next summer. We will be there, that is very good. “We were up against a good team and we showed a lot of heart and enthusiasm. When you have these basic ingredients, you can achieve good things.” France attacker Franck Ribery echoed his manager’s sentiments, believing France had “realised something extraordinary” against Ukraine. “It’s beautiful, amazing, we realised something extraordinary,” the 30-year-old
told TF1. “The fans have been with us. We suffered so much sorrow, and this is great, beautiful. “It’s been a long time since I have seen this kind of support at Stade de France. We had a good slap in Ukraine and tonight it was tense to the end. “We are very happy, very happy to go to our clubs like this. This would have been difficult not to go to Brazil. We played with our guts and everyone had fun.” Meanwhile, goal scorer Mamadou Sakho said the spirit of the team helped them fight back from the first-leg loss. “I am happy. The team spirit was there,” Sakho said. “My first (sic) goal gave us hope and we were all together in the dressing room, you need that collective spirit. “We also have to acknowledge the fans who cheered us on. All the French public were behind the team.”
SAFA Urged To Protect Youngsters From Agents
AJAX head coach, Muhsin Ertugral, has publically preached to SAFA to protect young emerging families from falling victim to agents’ business dealings. The Turkish tactician feels that players are being taken advantage of by the promise of money and status at a bigger team and, as a result, are being swept away to bigger clubs before they have finished developing. “We are in a situation where generally talented and young players are speaking with managers at the age of 14 or 15years-old,” he tells MTNFootball in an exclusive interview. Ertugral has been a pioneer
amongst PSL coaches when it comes to giving young players a chance and this season he has once more brought through several talented young diamonds. “These managers go into the market and take advantage of the players and the parents or the poorness of the children. This is my preach to Safa, the PSL or our organizing bodies to look into it deeper. “We need to protect the young South African players and their families from the people who are taking advantage of them.” Ertugral expressed that the problem not only lies in South Africa and admits he is concerned in seeing his youngsters being taken
away before they are finished developing. “For instance, I have a friend in Europe, who is also a manager, and he has one of the greatest talents in Belgian football. He is 14-years-old and he has already been approached by Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich,” continued Ertugral. “The top teams are behind him and, what is happening in Europe, is that the families are already getting so much money to buy the rights of this player for the next ten years. “We are speaking about nearly +5m for the family. He gets his teaching, his academic and
transport to school and training. “Unfortunately, in South Africa, we need to find measures how to protect these players. “It worries me a bit as a person who wants to grow his players, but who can see that the families don’t have a financial background and people are coming with these figures that aren’t healthy. “The PSL and Safa needs to instil a certain code of conduct where managers are controlled in their movements.” What are your views on this hot topic? Join the debate on our Facebook page: MTNFootball
THE NIGERIAN
31
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Sports Development: NSC Appoints Two Foreign
NATIONAL Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja announced the appointment of two Americans as National Performance Director and Athletics Performance Director for five sports federations in the country. Reports say that the experts, financial implication of the Angie Taylor and Eric contract or how long the Campbell, are to develop high appointments would last. performance programmes in Taylor, a former coach of athletics, weightlifting, the University of Minnesota, wrestling, boxing and had also worked with the taekwondo. United States track and field, Reports say that the NSC while Campbell was the failed to announce the Athletics Head Coach of Georgia State University. Don Wants The Minister of Sports, Consistency Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, while presenting the experts In Sports the media in his office, said Development to the recruitment was geared Programmes toward enhancing the growth of Nigerian sports. A DON and member of the Nigeria Tennis Federation “The role of Angie Taylor (NTF), Prof. Philomena is that of a national Ikulayo, has called for performance director to put consistency in development together and run a high programmes to consolidate on performance programme that the growth in the country’s can deliver podium success sports. Ikulayo, who is of the for Nigeria at global Department of Human Kinetics competition. and Health Education, “This will be carried out in University of Lagos, made the athletics, weightlifting, call while evaluating the justwrestling, boxing and ended NNPC/Shell Junior Open Tennis Championships in taekwondo. Lagos. “The job of Eric Campbell She told newsmen in Lagos as the performance director of that inconsistency had been the athletics is to work with bane of sports development in Taylor to design and run a Nigeria. programme for athletics, The professor said young players’ development specifically that will deliver programmes needed to be podium success in that sport. constant for them to be “What we are doing today internalised. is revolutionary and we are “Competitions like the confident that this will go NNPC/Shell Junior Open down as a turning point in the Tennis Championships are supposed to be quarterly to history of sports in Nigeria,’’ enable the kids get acquainted Abdullahi said. with the skills being imparted to According to him, the NSC them.
Technical Directors
has also put in place technical facilities that will be required to drive the process of high performance system. The minister said that the move was expected to start yielding positive results from the Commonwealth Games scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, next year. “We believe that starting with the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, we will begin to see a manifestation of this process. “It is not going to be a bullet effect but we are going to start gradually to build from the grassroots level, a consistent and sustainable system that will turn talents into champions. “With the roadmap we are laying out, we are going to turn things around.’’ He said “we will deliver on the mandate President Jonathan has set for us to be the best in Africa and among the best in the world.’’
that the revival of traditional sports would make it attractive. “It will also challenge idle and restive youths to seek career paths in the sports,’’ she said. Reports say that traditional sports have sports such as Kokowa (wrestling), Dambe (kick-boxing), Abula (tennis) and Ayo.
Traditional wrestling in action. Photo: LUCKY AGIE.
“We thank God that Nigeria is doing very well in football and this is an attempt to face other areas we know we have potential of becoming world champions,’’ he said. Responding, Taylor assured that Nigeria could be a powerhouse going by the numerous talents at its disposal.
• Bolaji Abdullahi, Sports Minister
19 Weightlifers For Commonwealth Championship In Malaysia The Head Coach of the National Weightlifting Team, Emmanuel Oshomah, in Abuja selected 19 weightlifters from the 32 invited to camp for the C o m m o n w e a l t h Weightlifting Championship
Traditional Sports Need Adequate Support To Grow In Nigeria - Official
Abiola Lawal, the ViceChairman, Lagos State Traditional Sports Council, has solicited the support of government and corporate organisations in their efforts aimed at reviving traditional sports. Lawal told newsmen in Lagos
Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Director-General of the NSC, said the development was a new beginning for the country’s sports after its disgraceful outing at the London 2012 Olympics. Elegbeleye said the process would enable Nigeria to midwife, harness and nurture its abundant talents.
“We want to show the rest of the world that Nigeria has the talent to rule the world,’’ she said. Campbell on his part said Nigeria had the best potential in athletics going by the countries he had worked with. He gave assured that the glory days of athletics in Nigeria would be restored as he hope to replicate the success of athletics in the U.S., in Nigeria.
“Traditional sports are one of the best games in the world, as it involves our African culture. “It’s time our governments and corporate bodies give more consideration to traditional sports, in order to improve the lives of our teeming youths by catching them young,” Lawal said. She said traditional sports should be adequately and progressively managed to ensure meaningful goals. Lawal said traditional sports were being introduced to various secondary schools across the state, while competitions would be organised to catch talents when they are young. “We just introduced traditional sports to many secondary schools and we are planning to host competitions that will be targeted towards building young talents,” she said.
in Malaysia. He told newsmen that the weightlifters in camp in Abuja had worked tirelessly and were ready to make Nigeria proud by winning medals at the competition. It would be recalled that the camp had opened on October 20 at the Abuja National Stadium with 32 weightlifters to prepare ahead of the championship billed for November 24 in Malaysia. Oshomah however said some of the weightlifters dropped were invited as second option and did not improve during the training sessions while some sustained injuries which needed thorough medical attention. “Right now, we are fully prepared for the competition and I believe that we are going to bring home medals for the country. “But some of those who were decamped suffered that fate on the basis of the fact that they were the second option in the category they wanted to compete in, while some had injuries,’’ he said.
The coach however disclosed that the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) would soon be holding trials. “This is to enable us see if some of those dropped can retain their positions ahead of the African championship next year,’’ he said.
On those selected for the trip to Malaysia, Oshomah said 11 were selected for the female categories while eight were to represent Nigeria in the male categories. He said the final squad would depart Abuja on Thursday, November 21 for Malaysia.
Coach Advises Boxers To Incorporate Jogging, Healthy Dieting Into Daily Routine A N T H O N Y Konyegwachie, the National Coach of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), has advised boxers to incorporate jogging and healthy dieting into their daily routine for strong bones and stamina. Konyegwachie told the newsmen in Lagos that the two habits would help in developing strong bodies and minds to deliver results in the ring. “If you train consistently on a regular basis and eat right, you will indefinitely develop the physical and mental capabilities of a professional fighter. “It is not only enough to spar in the ring from time to
time. You need to jog in order to burn off excess calories and build strong cardiovascular muscles. “Strong cardio-vascular muscles will keep you fighting for a long time in the ring and eating right will give your body the necessary posture you need as a boxer,” the coach said. He said Nigerians were naturally strong and only needed little training and motivation to get the required results of a professional boxer. Konyegwachie said this had helped the country to produce indomitable fighters in the past.
THE NIGERIAN
CMYK
32
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
As Casualisation Kills Nigeria SOME organizations, public and private, are hanging perilously on the balance, waiting to drop dead, and die they will, except urgent steps are taken. The idea we have here will benefit from predictions: There are some media outfits in Nigeria. Some day, soon, their General Manager will be picked from among the casual workers. The Editor-in chief will be a Youth Corper, and down the line, every worker in the establishment will be a contract staff or temporary employee, by whatever name called. This much we owe to government policy of attrition — workers are leaving, dying and retiring but they are not being replaced. Rather, establishments have conveniently chosen the path of casualisation, which is cheaper in the short run but hopelessly more expensive and destructive in the long run. We are now busy mortgaging the future of our labour force to casualisation. The practice of casualisation is pervasive. At the Local Government level, there is what they call ìHire and fireî. Under this scheme, some highly unskilled staff are employed on a paltry wage of some N3000 a month. They are to be found as auxiliary workers at the health centers. They do all the dirty jobs and get peanuts. Incidentally, too, the Youth Employment Schemes (YES) that they parade at the State and Federal levels are all euphemisms for casualisation. There is really no alternative to a regular employment where the employee can take part in union activities
and fully express his constitutional rights of free movement and association with all the privileges apartaining. The major industries have since arrived here. The practice at that level is to firm out the major operations — production, bottling, security, catering,
employees as contract staff right from the very beginning. These contract staff are expendable at will. They are also paid slave wages while the employments last and it is only the lucky ones among them that ever get elevated to the permanent
are real workers. For them, it is work, work and work. They end up dying in penury — no health facilities, no retirement and its benefits, no housing, no houses, no homes. Their journey through life has been one of suffering and smiling.
• President Goodluck Jonathan
etc — to the Shylocks around who in turn, take advantage of the heavy unemployment in the system to engage these youths and pay them slave wages while they work under conditions that are sometimes not good enough even for lower animals. The Banks are the worst culprits. The young girls are employed under what passes for corporate prostitution scheme. Whereas in government, contract staff are older people who have worked and retired from the system but either because of their competence and the essential nature of their assignments, they cannot be easily dispensed with, they are therefore retained on a small stipend; the banks engage their
status. We cannot continue to take everything out on labour. Over the years, tariffs have risen astronomically and the general cost of production has also skyrocketed. The easiest way out for most organizations has been to cut down on employment by resorting to casualisation. This is unacceptable. Under the employment statistics, a casual worker is an unemployed person. He is supposed to take the temporary job while looking for a permanent one. But what do we find in Nigeria? Some casual workers have remained so for upwards of 20 years. After some time, they get used to their misfortune and they live and die as casual workers, under the illusion that they
From time, organized labour in the Construction sector has been crying out that the abuse of expatriate quota and casualisation are killing the industry and denying Nigerians of jobs. There is a complete disregard of the Nigeria Content Development Act and a refusal by most employers from China, Korea and
other Asian countries to respect our labour laws. In the educational sector, many Institutions — public and private — are now resorting to the use of auxiliary teachers. What we are now faced with is modern day slavery and exploitation. The saddest aspect of it all is that we are not even developing for the future, the type of vibrant labour force, which we inherited from our founding fathers. In the past, a man was either employed or unemployed — no hangers-on and no midway . Without the necessary training and development, who would blame this casual employee if one day he sends out a circular, signed on behalf of the Chief Executive that ìtwo Communities is fightingî? A nation gets the type of public service it deserves and it is easy to foresee the type of public service we are bequeathing to the future. If we must survive the apocalypse ahead, the buck must stop with the labour unions. The problem is real and urgent. It is no longer enough for the labour unions to watch on and only call out their members on strike if the salary arrives late. They must be interested in the full structure and welfare
of the hangers-on. The problem at hand is pressing and should not be left for when you pulp Champaign at annual general meetings. The Unions must constantly be on the neck of the legislators to put in place definite regulatory framework to revive this dying labour force. We cannot continue like this. Contract and casual employments must be viewed as crimes against humanity. Those jobs are exploitative and dehumanizing. Our laws must ensure fair and sufficient compensation as well as good welfare packages for all categories of workers through unrestricted legitimate rights to union activities, collectives bargaining and other statutory engagements. These cannot be achieved by cheap shots but by consistent engagements with the lawmakers. It is relatively easy to enact laws but implementation is where the major problem lies. The labour unions must also be constantly on the throats of the various organizations to ensure full compliance. Until every situation stabilizes, the courts cannot also be at rest. Casualisation should not be allowed to kill this country!
We are now busy mortgaging the future of our labour force to casualisation. The practice of casualisation is pervasive. At the Local Government level, there is what they call ìHire and fireî. Under this scheme, some highly unskilled staff are employed on a paltry wage of some N3000 a month. They are to be found as auxiliary workers at the health centers. They do all the dirty jobs and get peanuts.
Printed and published by Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, 24, Airport Road, P.M.B. 1334 Benin City. Telephone; Lagos: 01 4930929, Benin: 052 257492, 257531 Editor. BARR. SOLOMON IMOHIOSEN (KSJI) - (07030699646), Deputy General Manager (Marketing) (08023457566), Assistant General Manager(Advertisement) (08023808856) Lagos Office: 3/4 Amode Close, Kudirat Abiola Way, By Olushonsun Bus Stop, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Abuja Office: Floor 1, Edo House, 75 Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business District, Abuja. Tel/Fax: 09-5237631. All correspondence to: 24 Airport Road, Benin City. E-mail: nigerianobserver@yahoo.com (ISSN 0331-2674)