THE NIGERIAN
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The Nigerian
PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 RELATIONSHIP
cmyk
Page 13
Building a lifetime marriage
SECURITY ISSUES
Page 18
Fighting terrorism in Nigeria
Evolving homegrown strategy
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
• Vol. 38 NO. 299• THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2 013 • N 100.00
Dep Gov charges journalists on accuracy
By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR BENIN CITY Journalists in Edo State have been urged to make accuracy and fairness their watchword.
The state Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu made the remark when the executive members
of Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, Edo State chapter, paid
him a courtesy visit in Benin City, yesterday. Dr. Odubu enjoined them not to hesitate to seek clarification on issues that are “ grey in nature”, so as not to Continues on page 2
Police parade 3 kidnappers, 41 others By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
BENIN CITY - Edo State Police Command has paraded 44 suspected criminals, including three persons alleged to have participated in the abduction of three female teachers at Orogbua Primary School, Upper Ekewan Road, last month. The state female teachers. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebanjo stated Mr. Foluso Adebanjo that the arrest of paraded the suspects Ebimene Puwano led to before newsmen at the the rounding up of one state Police Morrison Oyibo Gajah Headquarters, Benin (45) and Joseph Ofor City, yesterday. (54) at different locations He disclosed that in the State. operatives of the The state Police chief command acted on stated further that, intelligence report and “investigations revealed arrested one Ebimene that Morrison Oyibo Puwano (29) being one Gajah bought the guns of the kidnappers who that were used for abducted the three kidnapping the teachers
while Joseph Ofor is said to be a blacksmith, gun manufacturer and gun repairer. Compol Foluso added that arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
Morrison Oyibo Gajah claimed to be the C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t Association (CDA) Chairman in Ekewan. He denied involvement in the kidnapping, saying he acquired the guns for
the vigilante group in Ekawan Community. Morrison added that the three guns recovered in their possession were left in the custody of Ebimene Puwano. Ebimene admitted to being the armourer for
the community, but however denied knowledge of the kidnapping as their guns were stolen from his friends, now at large. On his part, Ofor stated that he manufactures guns locally and sell to Continues on page 2
Court remands 3 FAAN officials
ASUU insists on implementation of agreement BENIN CITY - Three staff of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who were arraigned yesterday before a High Court sitting in Benin City have been remanded to prison custody for failing to meet their bail conditions. The three accused persons ( Ayodele Sunday, Adeboye O.F and Aliu Isimhaipe were arraigned on a six count charge of Conspiracy to Assault, molest and hinder officers of Edo State Internal revenue Service from performing their lawful duty of enforcing the payment of due taxes, Refusing revenue officials to give effect to a distraining Order issued by a High Court of Edo State against the FAAN. The defendants were also alleged to have
conspired to remove and destroy the distrain notice, padlock and chain used by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service to distrain the FAAN Administrative Office. While Ayodele Sunday, is alleged to have conspired to refuse to pay or remit to Edo State Internal Revenue Service, the sum of N17, 473, 876.25K (Seventeen Million, Four Hundred and SeventyThree Thousand, Eight Hundred and SeventySix Naira, Twenty-Five Kobo), being amount deducted as PAYE tax from salaries of staff, offences punishable under Sections 55, 50, 48 & 49 of Edo State Revenue Administration Law, 2012. Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the six (6)
count charges. Counsel to the defendants, Emmanuel Akhigbe Esq, prayed the court to grant the defendants bail since
they came to court on their own and would be ready to stand trial. The Prosecuting Continues on page 2
MEETING: Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti; former FCT Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, at an APC leaders meeting in Abuja yesterday.
Distractions in Benin Catholic Archdiocese
Knights of St John Int’l back Akubeze By EUBALDUS ENAHORO
BENIN CITY Archbishop of the Arch
Diocese of Benin City, His Grace Bishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze has been called upon to shun
distractions by some few miscreants because he
enjoys ninety nine point nine percent solidarity of
Iguoriakhi, presently under the supervision of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural
meeting the core values of its establishment. Prof. Ihonvbere stated Continues on page 2
College of Agric may move to Education Resources, will be By QUEENNETH A moved to the Ministry of SSG Ministry OROBEDO Education toward
BENIN CITY Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof.
Julius Ihonvbere, has said that there are indication that the State College of Agriculture,
the laity and clergy of the Catholic Church who are supporting him in prayers. The advice was given yesterday by the Grand President of the Benin Grand Commandery of the Knight of St. John International, Brig. Gen. Joseph Ojobu during a solidarity visit by Grand officers, Presidents, Worthy officers and leaders of the Knight Continues on page 2
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
News
Dep Gov charges journalists on accuracy
Continued from page 1
misinform the public. The deputy governor appreciated members of the association for all they have done to partner with the state government, and urged them to continue to showcase the activities of the Oshiomhole –led administration.
The Chairman, Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, Edo State chapter, Deacon Ralph Okhiria acknowledged the cordial relationship between the
state governor and the deputy governor. He noted that the cordial relationship between the duo has in no small measure contributed to the developmental strides being
recorded in the state. The chairman appealed to the state government to accord community newspapers in the state due recognition in the scheme of things, adding that there are about 36 community newspapers in the state whose contents are mostly community based.
Police parade 3 kidnappers, 41 others Continued from page 1
hunters at N15,000.00. It would be recalled that the three female teachers, Mrs. Momodu Aisha, Mrs. Patience Okoshone and Mrs. Patience Osadolor regained freedom at the wee hours of Tuesday, August 13, 2013 after a tranmatized two weeks in captivities. The Police Commissioner assured members of the public of adequate security of lives and property in the State, as those arrested would be charged to
court. Other suspects were paraded for various criminal activities ranging from armed robbery,
College of Agric may move to Education payment. Ministry Chairman, Academic Staff
Continued from page 1 this yesterday in Government House, Benin City, when he received a delegation of the Academic Staff Union of the College,
Knights of St John Int’l back Akubeze Continued from page 1
groups from Benin to His Grace, Archbishop Akubeze in demonstration of their loyalty and to castigate those against the church. “We remain undaunted and united to stand behind His Grace, the Bishop because of the incessant distraction by some very few miscreants who are disgruntled within the clergy and religious laity calling for the removal of His Grace the Arch Bishop. “Unknown to them, the church is not an ethnocentric group. They pay some miscreants to create wrong impression that the Bishop is not wanted. We stand to say that the Bishop enjoys ninety nine point nine percent solidarity of the clergy, the religious and laity faithful,” he noted. According to him, “the people causing this disaffection are insignificant point one percent, sending wrong signal. The catholic knights have zero tolerance for this kind of believers. We condemn the activities of these miscreants who are the Anti Christ in our midst for turning the church upside down.” He said that within the short time of the Arch Bishop, he has done a lot by creating a lot of parishes and bringing catholic doctrine to the door steps of Catholics within the Benin metropolitan see, adding that his achievements has been unprecedented and this distraction is uncalled for. “We believe those behind such distractions are not Catholics and if they are, they are bad Catholics who are not supposed to be Catholics. We condemn in its entirety the attitude of those disgruntled elements causing distraction,” he added. While appealing to His Grace, the Arch. Bishop not to be distracted by the baseless
defilement, murder, attempted armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms. Exhibits paraded with them
included 678 live cartridges, 15 locally made guns, 13 handsets, cutlasses, weeds, suspected to be Indian hemp, two travelers bags and horse whips. See pictures on page 3
and frivolous allegations, Brig. Gen. Ojobu maintained that they are solidly behind him. “We are watching very keenly if any of our members are involved as we will not condone this kind of insubordination in the Catholic Church,” he noted. The Arch Bishop of Benin City, His Grace, Bishop Augustine Obiora Akubueze who thanked the Knight of St. John International for the solidarity visit assured that, “We are not distracted; it is God’s work that we are doing. We are not distracted.” Meanwhile, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe had few weeks ago addressed a press conference in Benin City, condemning what he called pro-Benin stance of the Archbishop and therefore called for his transfer from the Diocese. He said there was a deliberate plan by the Arch-Bishop to silence the Benins, thereby preventing them from producing more Bishops at the expense of Bishops of Ibo extraction, his kinsmen, who the Iyase said the number has far outweighed that of the Benin Bishops in the diocese. Chief Igbe also alleged that the Arch-Bishop by his action insulted the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa who, following complaints by the Benins that the ArchBishop was engaged in tribalism tried to intervene to forestall breakdown of law and order.
who paid him a courtesy visit. According to Prof Ihonvbere, the on-going determination by the present administration to enhance the economic fortunes of the state, and by implication, the livelihood of the people can fully achieve the desired results, when related sectors like, the College of Agriculture are thoroughly monitored and placed on sound footing. He also said that the Agenebode Campus of the College is to be made independent, while government will look into the accreditation of the Higher National Diploma (HND) programme of the institution. Towards the full realization of the vision for the college of Agriculture, the SSG announced that the white paper from the report of the Visitation Panel for the College was ready and would be implemented in the next few weeks. On complaints by the Senior Lecturers over the non-payment of their August 2012 Salaries by the management of the college, the SSG said he suspected foul play and assured of its
Union, College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi and Agenebode Campuses, Mr. Ryghtway Godstates said the visit was to draw government attention to the non-accreditation of their HND courses and the non-payment of their salaries for August last year. In another engagement, the management of Xerox H.S. Limited, led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr Femi Okunade, called on the SSG to solicit partnership with the state government in its technological innovation. Prof. Ihonvbere said document management solution is critical to the state government for effective and transparent governance. He assured of the needed partnership which he said would greatly help in the preservation of materials through appropriate technology. Managing Director, Information Communication Technology Agency, Yemi Keri, urged the body to endeavour to participate in the forthcoming third Edo Technology Day to showcase its products.
Aliyu (SAN) objected on the grounds that there was no formal bail application for the defendants. The trial Judge, Hon. Justice J.I. Acha however granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with a surety for each of the defendants who must be residents within jurisdiction of court and must own a house. Each surety must be gainfully employed and swear to affidavit. Each surety must show evidence of payment of tax, at least for the last three years. Each surety must deposit two passport size photographs of him or herself. The defendants are not
to travel out of the country without express permission of the Court. The bail conditions are to be verified by court registrar. The case was adjourned to September 25 and 26, 2013 for full trial.
Court remands FAAN Continued from page 1 officials Counsel, Augustin Aleghe
Commissioner explains subvention to trad healers By FUNMI BABATOPE BENIN CITY – Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida has said that the government decision to give monthly subvention to 14 approved traditional Lunatic Healers is part of efforts to check the rising incidence of lunatics and destitute in the state. The commissioner disclosed this yesterday during an unscheduled visit to Chief T. O. Omon Oleabhile Traditional Healing Home in Benin City. She said the visit was to enable her have a first hand information on the state of
the mentally ill persons in the home. According to her, government was not unaware of the enormity of caring for the inmates of the home. This, she said prompted government approval for the payment of monthly subvention which she said would assist in overcoming some of the challenges facing the healing homes. Expressing dismay over the ugly sight of lunatics roaming major streets in Benin City, she observed that most of them were sent from other states because of the belief that Governor Oshiomhole is a kind hearted governor, who would always care for them as less privileged people.
Edo Library Staff assassinated By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
BENIN CITY- A staff of Edo State Library Board, Mr. Ebowe Felix has been murdered by unknown gunmen in Benin City. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER learnt that the gunmen stormed his private residence at 1, Inne lane, off Ehizomwangie Street, Off Eghosa Street, Erhunmwunse Road, Benin City, about midnight yesterday. It was gathered that the gunmen, on breaking into his apartment through the window, shot him on his head, abandoned and him in the pool of his own blood and left. A tenant in the house, Mr. Osaro Abraham was wounded by the gunmen who also broke into his room, apparently to forestall possible challenge during execution of their dastardly mission. Narrating the tragedy, daughter of the deceased, Loveth Ebowe disclosed that when the gunmen started breaking the slide glass and burglary proof in the window of the sitting room, she woke up thinking the actors were armed robbers. Loveth revealed that as her father ran to the sitting room to ascertain the position of the invaders, the gunmen jumped inside the house and in a commando-like fashion shot him at chose range. She stated that the killers of her father did not take anything away from the house
as she heard them cautioned themselves not to take anything. Loverth, however appealed to the state government, the police and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute a man in their neighbourhood who had earlier threatened to kill her father over a dispute between his family and her father. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER investigations revealed that the said dispute which the elders in the street tried to resolved unsuccessfully was later taken to court. It was also learnt that the first hearing came up in Magistrate Court 1, Sapele Road, Benin City last Monday as the case was adjourned to tomorrow, Friday August 23, 2013. It could not be ascertained whether the man and his family actually took the laws into their hands as alleged by the bereaved family of Mr. Ebowe. Contacted, his colleagues at the state library complex, Sapele Road, Benin City were in sorrowful mood as they expressed shock over the sad incident. Pointing to his chair and table in the library, they mourned that the library has remained quiet without the deceased who they described as a man of the people. Spokesman, Edo State Police Command, DSP Moses Eguavoen could not be reached for coment but police from Evbotubu division allegedly took the corpse to a mortuary in Benin City.
Constitution Amendment State legislators seek financial ABUJA - Twenty-six state deepen financial management autonomy legislators ended a two-day through domestication of dialogue in Abuja with a call relevant laws, such as the on the 36 State Houses of Assembly to vote in favour of their financial autonomy in the ongoing constitution amendment process. The resolution is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum. According to the communiqué, lack of financial autonomy and independence of state legislatures hamper their effectiveness in the discharge of their duties “considering current political
realities’’. The communiqué urged states to establish a functional legislative budget office in order to adequately analysis and coordinate the budget process. “Many state Houses of Assembly do not currently have legislative budget office that will be the engine room for budget analysis, preparation and interpretation on a regular basis,’’ it stated. They called on state legislatures to provide institutional framework to
Fiscal Responsibility, Public Procurement and the Freedom of Information laws. “It is strongly recommended that a pre-budget meeting should be held between the executives and legislators in order to ensure common understanding of the budget direction and prioritisation of key development projects. “It is equally recommended that State Houses of Assembly should ensure that budgets are tailored to the medium- and long-term plans of the state.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
News Ogiadomhe Tournament Council Chairman Expresses Joy Over Victory
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (right), the DG/CEO of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. (Mrs.) Negeri Benson and Mr. Timothy Okewor during the agency’s visit to Government House in Benin City. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBOESERE
AGENEBODE: The chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Suleiman Afebua has expressed joy over the victory of the Etsako East Under 17 boys and girls in the Mike Ogiadomhe soccer tournament. Represented by the council Vice Chairman, Hon. John Alimikhena, he said that there is abundance of talented youths in the area that requires government attention.
LG Boss Seeks Co-operation Of Past Leaders AFUZE - Owan East Local Government Chairman, Hon. (Barr) Jimoh Ijegbai has sued for continued cooperation from past political Office Holders of the local government. The Council Boss made this remark when he hosted some past political Office Holders from the People Democratic Party (PDP) who visited him in his office at Afuze. He said the visit would ginger him to do more for the people, irrespective of their political parties, adding that all he has done in respect of the
LG Boss Inspects School
OKPELLA -The Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua has inspected a dilapidated six classrooms block at Afebua primary school, Awuyemi, Okpella. The council boss said that his attention was drawn to the state of the school by the community, through the Head Mistress of the school. He said that he had earlier directed the council engineer to inspect the school building noting that his visit was to have a first hand information on the state of assuring that work commence within the week. Expressing displeasure over children sitting on bare floor to learn, he maintained that his administration would provide seats and desks for primary school pupils across the entire local council. Responding, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs. G.O. Agbonmiewalen said that the school building has been in the deplorable state for long, adding that the intervention of the council chairman would improve the condition of learning in the school
payment of their outstanding claims, was in line with his promise and oath of office to be fair and just to all. Hon. (Barr) Ijebai explained that Owan East has set a precedence where every citizen is treated equally without discrimination. The Council Boss urged those on the other side of the political divide to see Owan East as their primary constituency, where the delivery of democratic dividends to the people should be their primary concern. He said, he is encouraged by the visit of the past political Office Holders who held various positions in the council between 2007 and 2010 and enjoined them to continue in that spirit. The leader of the delegation, Hon. Collins Oreruan, a former Vice-Chairman said they were in the Chairman’s Office to appreciate him over his magnanimity and all he has done for the past political office holders in the payment of their out outstanding claims soon after assumption of office. In another development, Owan East Council Chairman Hon. (Brr) Ijegbai has pledged to identify with the lofty idea of the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC).
The Council boss made this pledge when members of the Auchi Diocese of the JDPC visited him in his office. He commended the body for their assessment of his administration’ achievements within three months, and attributed the success to the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who he said
By JOEL CHUKWAGHONIM
Wire-Ake primary school. He said his community would not like to miss WireAke primary school which is the only primary school in the community. Chairman of the school’s Parents Teacher Association (PTA), Mr. James. I. Osagie said the association has shown deep concern by
ensured prudent management of council’s resources before the April Local Government polls. The council chairman reeled out his modest achievements to include the award of 15 primary School Projects, electrification and provision of transformers to some communities as well as provision of potable water to communities. He disclosed that contractors handling the various projects have been given eight weeks to complete such projects, or risk
revocation, just as he said his administration will not compromise standard. Earlier, the leader of the delegation who led other members of the JDPC from Edo North Parish, Rev. Father Paul Inomorenhe, said they were in the chairman’s office to congratulate him on his victory at the April 20 Local Government polls and appreciate him for his loft achievements within four months in office.
Security
Vigilante Boss Canvasses Govt Support By JOEL CHUKWAGHONIM
L-R: Mrs. Esther Amadasun, Mrs. Mordina Emovon, Mrs. Elizabeth Ibizugbe and Mrs. Mabel Adams pose for photograph during the confernment of awards on President Goodluck Jonathan and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by The NEWS in Abuja recently.
Community Leader Solicits Govt Intervention Dilapidated School:
IGBANKE The Odionwere of Wire-Ake, Igbanke in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State, Pa Christopher Emeghi, has appealed to the Edo state government to come to the aid of the community in renovating the
According to him government has put machineries in motion to engage youths in sports. Captain of the under 17 male team, Abraham Odianose who expressed joy over the victory, advised youths to be hardworking in order to become champions. Also speaking, the Captain of the victorious under 17 female team, Usena Bello said that it was great to become the best among 18 teams in the state. Joy Ajah who scored the winning goal for the female team promised that the team would continue to make the chairman proud in subsequent competitions. It would be recalled that while the Etsako East male team defeated their Etsako Central rival by 5 goals – 4, through penalties, the female side also edged out Etsako Central through penalties by 7 goals–6 in the finals.
renovating two of the classrooms which is presently serving the pupils and Teachers, and therefore appealed to the state government to come to their aid. Mrs. Esther Evbayiro Ekhator, the Headmistress of the school, said that during rainning period the pupils
and teachers have had to contend with the leaking roof beside been subjected to untold hardship consequent of the effects of the rains. She said that Wire –Ake primary school, Igbanke which was founded in 19555 had trained many eminent personalities within and out side the country.
ABAVO (DELTA STATE) - The Chairman of the vigilante group in Abavo Community in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Comrade Charley Gboma, has called on Delta State Government to assist them in acquiring security equipments. Such equipments, he listed as, uniforms, torch lights, vehicle for patrol, monthly stipends so as to enable them acquire other necessary logistics. Comrade Gboma, stated that since his resumption as the chairman of the vigilante group in the community, crimes have reduced drastically in several areas, including robbery . He therefore thanked Hon. Martins Okonta on behalf of his subjects for his philanthropist gesture towards the group.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
News
NMA Plans Free Medicare Week
YENAGOA - The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bayelsa chapter, said that it would offer free medical care for the Gbarantoru community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. The branch Chairman, Dr James Omietimi, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the service was part of activities marking this year’s medical week. Omietimi said the programme would be sponsored by the Bayelsa State Post-Flood Committee.
According to him, the postflood committee has already provided drugs and food supplements for kids to be used during the exercise. Omietimi also disclosed that, free insecticide-treated mosquito nets would be distributed to the community during the programme.
He said that the association’s annual general meeting would be held yesterday in the state capital at the conference hall of the State Ministry of Health. The chairman said that Gov. Seriake Dickson was be the Special Guest of Honour at the opening day of the AGM, while the Guest of Honour was the
Deputy Gov. retired Rear Admiral John Jonah. “There would equally be a lecture with the theme, ‘The Bayelsa Health Scheme.” Omietimi also disclosed that the event would witness a novelty football match between the female and male doctors to be played at the Sampson Siasia
CON To Hold Shekinah Glory Aug 25 BENIN CITY - The Christian Organisation Nigeria Incorporated (CON) would on Sunday , August 25, hold a one day power packed programme, tagged, “Shekinah Glory”. The programme which is billed for the church’s Headquarter on Kilometer 8, Benin Agbor Road, beside the NNPC Mega Filling Station from 9am to 3pm, would witness ministrations on deliverance, prayers, and sermon. According to a release made available to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER the General Overseer of the church, Rev. Dr. Alfred Opara would lead a host of other ministers of God to bless God’s Children.
“because for any doctor to practise in Nigeria, he or she is expected to have certain credit load.” Omietimi also said that the association had instituted two awards for journalists in the state to honour outstanding journalists in recognition for their contributions to health programmes.
ENUGU - The Dieticians Association of Nigeria (DAN) has called on the Federal Government to establish a regulatory board to control the training and practice of the trade in the country. The call is contained in a communiqué signed by the association’s National President, Prof. Elizabeth Ngwu, in Enugu following its annual general meeting. The association suggested that the board would help to eliminate quacks in the profession. It stressed the need to employ dieticians at the primary,
secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare to prevent and control rising incidences of diet-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. According to the communiqué, there is need to review the curriculum of nutrition and dietetics in tertiary institutions to meet the emerging challenges of diet-related noncommunicable diseases. “There is the need to establish more centres for the training of dietetic interns. “The need to implement the already approved scheme of service for dieticians in all health facilities in the country is of paramount importance,’’ it said. The association also recommended that the department of nutrition and dietetics be placed under the faculty of health sciences to ensure that dietetic students took pre-clinical courses. It appealed to the government to produce an updated scheme of service for dieticians in the country. The association held its annual general meeting in Ile-Ife, Osun on August. 14 after the attempt to merge with another dietitians association failed. It also elected a 12-member executive committee to run its affairs.
Dietiticians Call For Regulatory Board
APGA To Probe Anambra LG Primaries AWKA - The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra is to probe its local government primaries which held at the weekend, its Chairman, Chief Mike Kwentoh, has said. Kwentoh told newsmen in Awka that the party had received a number of petitions following the irregularities that marred the primaries in some parts of the state. The chairman said the results which were presented to the state would not stand as there were a lot of issues to be addressed. “Accepting them would imply presenting the wrong candidates for the council elections. “There are a lot of irregularities in the entire process. We will look into all these anomalies that took place and take appropriate decisions so that the true candidates of the party will emerge. “The exercise was mismanaged to the extent that if we allow the issues unattended, we will be presenting the wrong candidates. “We have received a lot of petitions which say that the exercise did not hold in some localities, among other complaints,” he said.
Sports Complex, Yenagoa. According to him, there will also be a symposium on continued medical education with topics like smoking (health and disease); alcohol (health and disease); stress (health and disease,) and physical activity (health and disease). The chairman said the association considered the lectures as serious topics
L-R: Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Atedo Peterside; Director-General, Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr -Benjamin Dikki; Chairman, Forte Oil, Mr Femi Otedola and the Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, at the Economic Management Team meeting with President Jonathan in Abuja on Tuesday
New Road: Communitry Commends
ORUMBA (ANAMBRA) - The leaders of Ndiowu in Orumba North Local Governmment Area in Anambra have commended Governor. Peter Obi for approving the construction of a quality road in the area. The leaders, two of whom are prominent personalities in the community, who spoke with at Ndiowu gave kudos to the governor for giving the town such a facility, the first by any administration in the state. Dr Okey Ude, a former member of the House of Representatives, told newsmen that the state government’s support for the community was
unprecedented. ‘’We will ever cherish this all important support from the Anambra State Government for the first time; even the children yet unborn will remain grateful to Obi,’’ he said. Ude said the peasant farmers from the community had suffered untold hardship trying to move their produce to the neighbouring markets, particularly during the rainy season. He said the road would change many things in the community for good, adding that posterity and history would write Gov. Obi’s name in gold. Mr Emeka Aforka, the
- Gov Obi
Chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area, who is also from the community, told newsmen that Obi’s achievements since assumption of office in every facet of life stood him out as a man of the people. He said that many communities in the state had benefited one thing or the other from the administration. He praised the governor for
the provision of electricity, health centres, roads and rehabilitation of schools in Orumba North. Aforka commended Obi for the donation of money and books to schools, as well as the recognition of traditional rulers and the improvement of security of the people and their property. ‘’Almighty God will reward Obi abundantly and we will continue to support his administration to the end,’’ he said.
ILORIN - An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court has remanded a drummer, Bashiru Ishola, for allegedly
kidnapping three female children. The victims, aged between six and 10 years, were
Court Remands Drumer For Kidnapping
L-R: CBN Deputy Governor, Mr Tunde Lemo; Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina and Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolemenmen, at the Economic Management Team meeting with President Jonathan in Abuja on Tuesday
allegedly lured by the accused with bread on July 26 at Popo-Giwa area of Ilorin. The prosecutor, Sgt. Alhassan Jubril, told the court that the accused was arrested at Okekere area of Ilorin while boarding a cab with the children. Jubril said the accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of kidnapping and abduction, contrary to sections 271 of the Penal Code. He objected to the bail of the accused on the ground that the alleged offences were not bailable. Magistrate Ibijoke Olawoyin ordered the remand of the accused in Mondala Prison, Ilorin, and adjourned the case to August. 30 for mention.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Across The Nation Constitution Amendment: Tambuwal Urges
State Assemblies To Respect Constituents ABUJA - As the National Assembly fine-tunes its review of the Constitution, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, urged state legislators to respect the opinion of their constituents. Tambuwal spoke at the opening of a two-day policy dialogue on “Deepening Legislative Engagement in Promoting Public Finance Management at the SubNational Level’’ in Abuja. Lawmakers drawn from the 36 state Houses of Assembly are taking part in the event, aimed at strengthening their capacities in ensuring transparency and efficiency in public finance management.
The dialogue is organised by the State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) of the British Department for International Development (DFID) in collaboration with other international development partners. Tambuwal, represented by Rep. Ahmed Mohammed, the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, urged the state houses of assembly to “hear with the ears of their constituents”. “You must abide by the dictates of the conscience of your constituents and speak with their mouths. It is only then that we can truly experience a government of the people, by
has called on the Federal Government to provide a film village to upgrade Nollywood’s standard in the movie industry. Okafor made the call in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt. He said it was disheartening for the industry to continue to hold its meetings and conferences in hotels because of lack of a befitting secretariat. Okafor, also known in the Nollywood industry as ‘Mr Ibu,’ said that movie making was constantly exposed to delays and piracy due to lack of a film village. “We need a film village so we can thrive like the Hollywood and Bollywood,” he said. He said movie producers were ready to source for sponsors who would build a film village when the land was provided. “I’m calling on the Federal Government to please give us a film village and we shall get sponsors to build structures and provide equipment for us. “Nollywood is part of the government because we pay dues to the Censors Board, we
pay as much as N50,000 to the Federal Government to censor one film. “This means, if we produce up to 100 films per month, we shall approximately pay up to N5 million to the Federal Government.” Okafor also decried the activities of pirates who take advantage of the deficiencies in
Actor Tasks FG On Film PORT HARCOURT- Mr. Village John Okafor, a Nigerian actor,
the people and for the people. “Soon, the train of constitution amendment will arrive the shores of the various state assemblies and the duty of democratic representative will be activated and the need to vote correctly will arise. “For us in the House of Representatives, we have exercised this duty and we encourage legislators at the subnational level to respect the opinion of their constituents and the Nigerian people,’’ he said. Tambuwal commended organisers of the event for their commitment to the promotion of good governance in the country. According to him, the task of efficient public finance management is a fundamental duty of the legislature. “It is a formidable instrument in activating the doctrine of separation of powers and a fulcrum of democracy. “Any legislature which fails to perform this all important duty commits a grievous act of abdication and looses the right to answer its name as representatives of the people,’’ the speaker stated.
Suspected kidnappers paraded by Edo State Police Command in connection with the abduction of three female teachers in Orogbua Primary School, Upper Ekenwan Road, Edo State. Photo: MIKE OSAROGIAGBON.
NULGE V/Chair For Burial Today By INNOCENT OKOH UBIAJA – The Vice Chairman, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Esan South East Local Government Area, branch, Mrs. Theresa Ihebale (aka Area Mama) is dead. She died following injuries
sustained in a motorcycle accident at Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, Edo State on August 18, 2013. A statement endorsed by the NULGE branch chairman, Comrade Wilson Idenre expressed the union’s shock and disbelief over the death of the NULGE Vice Chairman whom
Invest In Non-Oil Sectors, RMAFC Urges States
GOMBE Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has called on governments in the North-East zone to diversify their revenue bases by investing in the non-oil sectors of the economy. Chairman of the commission, Chief Elias Mbam, made the call in Gombe in an address he delivered at a workshop on Economic Diversification and Enhanced Revenue Generation for the North-East zone. “I wish to enjoin governments in the North-East Zone to build strong economic ties through the promotion of
regional collaboration by exploring areas of comparative advantage. “Governments at all levels in the zone should strengthen all legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks to provide the enabling environment to attract local investors and Foreign Direct Investment that would boost the non-oil sectors. “The Commission wishes to implore governments in the zone, and indeed all stakeholders, to shift their focus
to the real sectors of the economy. “Particularly agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing and tourism which have declined over the years,” he said. Mbam explained that the nonoil sectors were capable of generating substantial revenue earnings to reduce budgeting and financial challenges being faced by all tiers of government in the zone. In his remark, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe
expressed concern that despite its natural and human resource endowments, Nigeria still relied on crude oil export as its major source of revenue,its development challenges not withstanding. He urged the Federal Government to harness the resources of the country wisely by utilising the country’s abundant resources to develop the economy. “Diversification of the economy is the only panacea for the socio-economic development of our country. The governor said that he signed the Fiscal Responsibility Bill into law in order to block all leakages in revenue collection and enhance prudence and transparency in
he described as “great and vibrant comrade”. According to the statement, the burial ceremony of the late Mrs. Ihebale would commence today, Thursday, August 22, 2013 with a service of songs at her residence in Uheh Road, Ubiaja at 4 pm. On Friday August 23, 2013 at 9am, body leaves Oriaifoh Memorial Hospital, Uromi for lying-in-state at Esan South East Local Government Secretariat and funeral service and Interment thereafter at her residence. The statement therefore prayed God to grant her family the fortitude to bear the loss.
• Late Mrs. Theresa Ihebale
Glorious Life of Christ Min Convention Begins Aug 28 By OPEYEMI OLUGBEMIRO
Arms and ammunition paraded by Edo State Command yesterday. Photo: MIKE OSAROGIAGBON.
BENIN CITY – The Glorious life Of Christ Ministries Incorporated, would on Wednesday August 28 to September 1, 2013 hold her Higher Life Convention 2013.” The programme with the theme: “Heaven, A prepared place for prepared people; how prepared are you?” (John 14:13) would hold at the church hall, 3, Ohunwu Street, Off BeninLagos Express Way, Opposite S & T Barracks, Evbomore, Benin City beginning at 4 pm daily. Guest speakers at the
convention include, Rev. Dr. J. A. Okogele (District Superintendent, Assemblies of God Church, Benin City), Rev. Marcus Obamina (perfect Life Builders Ministries, Benin City), Evang S. O. Eseigbe (Solution House, Benin City), Pastor (Mrs.) A. O. Toyinbo (Redemption Gospel Ministries, World Wide, Benin City) Pastor (Mrs.) J. Ejiaren (Voice of Peace Mission, Warri) and the host, Pastor A. P. Ebesunu. The programme would feature salvation, deliverance, healing, miracles, signs and wonders, song ministration and lots more.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
North HIV/AIDS: Agency Partners Council LAFIA - The Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency (NASACA) is partnering with Lafia Local Government Council to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS in the area. The partnership was part of a resolution of a meeting between NASACA and the council during HIV/AIDS monthly review held in Lafia. Dr Umar Zachary, the Executive Director of NASACA, and Malam Alhassan Sheik, the council’s Director of Personnel Management (DPM), signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. Zachary, who was represented by Christiana Ajiloku, NASACA Data Manager, noted that the meeting was designed to review the performance of the council and development areas in the state and evolve sustainable strategies for the campaign. Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, Director of Works, Lafia Local Government Council, who represented the DPM, said the council was determined to ensure that new HIV infection was prevented and those already infected adequately taken care of. “Our role has to do with logistics to make sure they are able to reach the nooks and crannies of the local government by way of sensitisation,” he said Hajiya A’ishatu Kazeem, NASACA Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, expressed dissatisfaction with the low turnout of participants and called for a change of attitude, stressing that the fight against HIV and AIDS was a struggle that
20,304 PHCN Workers Paid Severance Benefits ABUJA - The National Council on Privatisation has said that 20,304 persons of the 40,000 staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria have so far been cleared and paid their severance benefits. In a statement, issued by Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, Head, Public Communications, Bureau of Public Enterprises, the council said N119. 2 billion was used to pay the workers up to Friday, Aug. 16. It stated that the privatisation process of the power sector was on course with the payment of severance benefit to former workers. It stated that “in line with the agreement reached with Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and labour unions dated Dec. 12, 2012, the Federal Government commenced payment of benefits due to the staff on Aug. 1. “As at Friday, Aug. 16, a total of 20,304 of the 40,000 staff of PHCN have so far been cleared and paid their severance benefits. “The payment is being handled by the Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation (OAGF),” it stated.
everyone should actively participate. On his part, Mr Abdullahi Mohammed, the Monitoring and
Evaluation Officer, Lafia Local Government Council, at the end of the meeting presented a report on the HIV situation in the area
from January to June. Mohammed said that out of 3,087 people tested, 661 were positive.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (right) discussing with the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo (left) during his condolence visit to the Governor over the passage of his father, Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola at the State House, Ikeja, on Monday.
KAITA (KATSINA) - No fewer than five persons lost their lives and six others seriously injured in a fatal auto-crash in Kaita local government area of Katsina. Alhaji Habu Dauda, Katsina State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who confirmed the incident, told newsmen in Kaita on Monday, that the tragedy occurred at about 2.30p.m near Tashar Jawara village. He said that the accident occurred when a commercial Volkswagen Passat car with registration number BTM 349 AA, collided with a Mitsibushi pick-up vehicle bearing number XC 797 KTN. He said that the driver of the Passat car tried to avoid a pothole, as a result of which it collided head-on with the pick-up coming from the opposite direction, causing the death of five persons and injury of six others. According to him, the injured persons are now receiving medical attention at
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), his Deputy, Hon. (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right) and the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Dr. Mike Okonkwo (left) during his condolence visit to the Governor.
5 Die In Auto Crash the General Hospital Katsina, while the deceased have been buried by their relations in accordance with Islamic injunctions. He appealed to road users, to be extra-careful and obey traffic rules and regulations while driving.
Kwara Speaker Condoles With Jigawa Over Lawmaker’s Death
IIORIN - The Speaker of Kwara House of Assembly, Hon. Rasak Atunwa, has described the death of the Deputy Speaker of Jigawa Assembly, Alhaji Inuwa Sule, as shocking and a blow to democracy. Atunwa, in a condolence message to the Jigawa Government, said Sule was a democrat and a parliamentarian par excellence whose leadership quality had helped in stabilising the state. He urged the state government, the people of Ringim and the family of the deceased to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a life worthy of emulation. Atunwa prayed God to grant the deceased paradise and the family the fortitude to bear the loss. The deputy speaker died in an auto crash on the KanoHadeija highway on Thursday at the age of 48.
CBN Provides Varsity Grant
SOKOTO - The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a N10 billion grant for the Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDU) Sokoto, to enhance manpower training and research. Reports say that the gesture was announced by the bank’s Deputy Director, Projects Planning and Implementation Division, Alhaji Kabiru NuhuKoko, at a brief ceremony at the institution’s main campus in Sokoto. According to Nuhu-Koko, the university was selected to benefit from the grant for the 2013 fiscal year as part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility to Nigerians. ‘’Each year, the bank selects one university or a public institution from each of the nation’s six geo-political zones, to benefit from a similar gesture and this year is the turn of UDU-Sokoto. ‘’Similarly, the bank each year, selects one secondary
school and a tertiary institution from each of the six zones for other gestures,’’ he said. The deputy director stated that the grant was aimed at building the manpower capacity of Nigerians to effectively run the economy of the country. ‘’This is aimed at taking Nigeria’s economy to the desired level and thus become among the best economies in the world. ‘’This would not be possible without adequately trained manpower . This is also in line with the vision and mission of the Federal Government, to put Nigeria’s economy among the best in the world,’’ he said. Nuhu-Koko said President Goodluck Jonathan was committed to ensuring the transformation of the country, adding that the CBN, led by its Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was working relentlessly towards realising
the dreams of the Federal Government. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, commended the apex bank for the gesture, describing it as ‘’historic and unparalleled.’’ ‘’The university has been working round the clock and
diligently too, to deliver on its mandate, in spite of the crippling financial constraints. ‘’The intervention by the bank would also help in repositioning the university to be at par with its contemporaries in Nigeria, Africa and the world. ‘’No country expects to develop fully without quality
education. The grant would be used to improve infrastructure to guarantee quality training,’’ he added. Shehu also stated that the intervention by the CBN, would enhance advanced research, reduce deficiencies and enable the university to attain greater heights in learning and research.
down rules will be banned from conducting Hajj for a period of five years. “He will also be exempted from benefiting from state government’s financial assistance of 300 Saudi Riyals and his/her name will be published in the media.” Danbaba, therefore, charged the pilgrims to be law-abiding while in the Holy Land, calling on them to continue to consult Islamic scholars on the way and manner of how to conduct proper Hajj rites.
In a remark, the Special Assistant (Protocol) to the state governor, Alhaji Rabi’u Idris, who is part of the state Hajj team, called on the pilgrims to properly check their documents, especially visas, to address any discrepancy. Reports say that a total of 4,416 pilgrims will perform this year’s Hajj from the state under the leadership of “Amirul-Hajj, Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi,” a former governor of defunct Kaduna State.
Katsina To Establish Mobile Court For Deviant misbehaves or violates the laid Pilgrims KATSINA -The Katsina State
Pilgrims Welfare Board said it would establish mobile courts to try and punish deviant pilgrims. The court will try pilgrims who abuse or violate regulations governing the operations of the exercise in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia during the 2013 Hajj. The board’s Executive Secretary, Alhaji Aminu Danbaba, disclosed this during a visit to Jibia and Bindawa local government areas to monitor ongoing sensitisation workshop for intending pilgrims. He warned that: “Whoever
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Lagos Introduction Of Strange Fish
FDF Raises Alarm LAGOS - The Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF) has raised alarm over plans by an Asian firm to introduce a strange fish specie into the country illegally. Mrs. Foluke Areola, a Director of Fisheries at FDF, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. She alleged that the firm had been sending e-mails to fish farmers informing them of its plan to visit Nigeria to distribute fingerlings of the specie called Mekong giant catfish to fish farmers. “The effect of allowing this specie of unknown origin will be to the detriment of the ecosystem in terms of biodiversity of our waters and the commercially cultured species in the country. “And obviously, this is not being planned to go through due process under an import licence and quarantine procedure of movement of live fish between countries,” she said.
Drama In Court As Accused Changes Plea
LAGOS - There was a mild drama at an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, when a motorcyclist, who had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence of theft, changed his plea on the verge of being sentenced. Raimi, 29, who resides at No. 11, Ikola St., Agbado-Ijaye, a Lagos suburb, was arraigned on Aug. 2 over alleged theft of a motorcycle. Reports say that Raimi stunned the court when he entered a plea of not guilty. The Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, had remanded the accused in Kirikiri Prisons after he pleaded guilty of the offence. Consequently, Fashola adjourned the case to Aug. 19, for facts and sentence. At the resumption of the case on Monday, Raimi told the court that his initial plea was made without an understanding of the enormity of his action. He was granted bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum. The case was adjourned to Aug. 29, for trial. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 22, at No. 10, Taiwo St., Ilupeju, Lagos. He said the accused stole a motorcycle marked QD 281SHK valued at N80, 000, property of the complainant, Mr Abiodun Oni. “The accused stole the motorcycle that was parked in the premises of the complainant. “Oni parked his bike in his compound after the day’s work and went to sleep. When he woke up the following morning, he discovered that the motorcycle had been stolen,” Olatunde said. He said when the complainant went to the police station to report the matter; he saw that his motorcycle was among those recovered that night by the police.
Areola said that the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and the Customs would be duly informed to be on the alert to frustrate any attempt to import
live fish into the country. Areola urged stakeholders not to purchase the said catfish and to lookout for all those who were trying to import the fish.
Alleged Robbery
Court Remands Mechanic IKEJA - An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded an auto mechanic, Wasiu Okanlawon, in Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos, over alleged armed robbery. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Eniola Fabamwo, said that the accused would stay in prison, pending when legal advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would be ready. She said: “Having examined the charges, there is probable cause to remand the accused in prison, pending legal advice from the DPP.” Okanlawon, a resident of Aga, Ikorodu, Lagos, is standing trial on a six-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms. Reports state that the plea of the accused was, however, not taken. The Prosecutor, ASP Barth Nwaokoye, said that the accused and others still at large, committed the offences at 10 p.m. on April 15, at Parafa, Ikorodu, Lagos. He said that the accused, armed with a gun and other dangerous weapons, snatched a Honda Accord car, valued at N1.4 million, property of Mr Afolabi Tajudeen. Nwaokoye said that the accused snatched three Toyota cars worth N3.6 million, property
of Messrs Kolapo Olarewaju, Oluwadamilare Oyeyemi and Omotayo Bello. He said that the accused unlawfully had two locally-made pistols and six cartridges in his possession— without official permit to carry such. The prosecutor also said that the offences contravened Sections 1(2) (a), 3(1) and 5 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation 1990 (as amended). Fabamwo adjourned the case to Oct. 7 for mention.
Man Docked For Stealing Diesel
LAGOS - The police in Lagos has arraigned a 30-year-old employee of Mallinson and Partner Ltd., Sunday Udor, over an alleged stealing of 2, 500 litres of diesel valued N355, 000. The diesel was said to be the property of the company. Udor, who resides at No. 27, Adesina St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, appeared before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on a charge of stealing. The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Aug. 3, at No 3B, Ashimowu Jibowu St., Ilupeju, Lagos.
Man, 31, Arraigned For Fraud ABUJA - The Police has arraigned one Patrick Charlie, 31, of Suleja, Niger, before a Karu Upper Area Court, Abuja for allegedly duping an applicant of N200,000. The prosecutor, Insp Philip Akogwu, told the court Charlie was arraigned on a three-count charge of joint act, criminal breach of trust and cheating. Akogwu said Magnus Ihekwere of Area 1, Garki, Abuja, reported the matter at the Asokoro Police Station on June 14. “The accused introduced one Alhaji Ahmed Bako of no fixed address to the complainant on Aug. 31, 2012. “Charlie and Bako claimed to be members of staff of National Assembly and collected N200,000 from the complainant with a promise to getting him a job at NNPC. “The duo collected the money and converted it to their personal use. Charlie was arrested on June 14 while Bako is at large.’’ The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 79, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code. Section 312 states that “whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or with fine or with both.’’
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), signing into law the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development (LSPSSDC) bill at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday. With him are: Attorney-General and Commissioner For Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye (left) and his Establishments, Training and Pensions counterpart, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase (right)
According to section 322, whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.’’ The accused, however, denied committing the offence. The presiding judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted him bail in the sum of N250,000 with a reliable surety who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction. Kagarko adjourned the case to October 7, for hearing.
Olatunde said that the accused, who was in charge of diesel in the company, allegedly diverted 2, 500 liters of the commodity valued N335, 000 and sold it to unnamed persons. The prosecutor said that the stealing was discovered when the company audited the activities of its housing department, which included diesel stock delivery. “The internal auditor discovered the theft of the diesel during the auditing of the housing department. “As a result of the audit, it was reviewed that 2,500 litres of diesel stock valued N335, 000, got missing, “ he said. Olatunde said that the accused absconded when he heard that an auditor was coming to audit the department. According to the prosecutor, when the accused was arrested and interrogated, he could not give any satisfactory answer to questions on what happened to the diesel. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 285, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 285 of the Criminal Law stipulates three years imprisonment for stealing.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, granted the accused N100, 000 bail, with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case till Sept. 19, for mention. Meanwhile, a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, has sentenced three men to seven months imprisonment each for stealing a pot of soup and other valuables valued at N234, 000. The convicts: Edet Okon, 32; Ekpo Obong, 30; and Godswill Ekong, 28; had no fixed addresses. Each of the men would serve one month for each of the sevencount charge of conspiracy, breaking into a building, stealing and receiving stolen property. Delivering the judgment, the magistrate, Mrs O. A. Ajayi said: “I have studied the facts of the case and considered the guilty plea of the suspects in my verdict.” She said that the men were arrested by a police patrol team on Epe-Lekki Expressway with some valuables, later discovered to be stolen. “The items were a pot of soup, one bag of dry pepper, a DVD player, some bottles of hot drinks, 1 kg. of chicken, a laptop
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (4th left) in a group photograph with other top public servants shortly after the signing of Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (LSPSSDC) bill into law.
and a Nokia phone. “Altogether, the items are valued at N234, 000,” the magistrate said. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Francisca Okere, said that the convicted trio committed the crime on Aug. 8, at about 2:00 a.m. at Ikota Mobil Road, Ajah, and Ikate Roundabout area, Lekki Phase1, Lagos. Okere said that the men had robbed the beverages shops of Mrs Bridget Odey, Quadri Morufat and Ajoke Adebayo respectively. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 409, 308, 285 and 326 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment. Also, two unemployed men, Emanuel Musa, 32, and Ismaila Ogunbunmi, 48, were docked at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged theft of iron pipes valued at N20 million. The accused, of no fixed addresses, were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, theft, malicious damage and receiving stolen property. The prosecutor, Sgt. Friday Ekundayo, told the court that the duo committed the offences on Aug. 8, at Broadbase Communication Nig. Ltd., located at Sura in Lagos Island. Ekundayo said that Musa, the first accused, stole the iron pipes belonging to the company, while Ogunbunmi received the stolen property. “He was trailed and arrested by the police while trying to sell the property to Ogunbunmi,” Ekundayo said. He said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 326, 337 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Reports say that anyone found guilty of theft is liable to three years imprisonment. The Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore granted the accused N10, 000 bail, with one surety each in like sum. Omisore adjourned the case till Aug. 20, for mention.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Across The Nation
Society Urges Women To Be Agents Of Peace ABUJA – Mrs. Nkechi Mba, National President, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), has urged women to always be agents of peace in their communities. Mba told newsmen in Abuja that it would be difficult for any country to progress in the absence of peace. She said that there was also the need for women to recognise that they had a role to play in the prosperity of the nation. “Women are agents of peace; we cannot afford to leave them behind in the peace process; peace is a powerful statement; if there is no peace our husbands and our children are at risk. “Peace is very important; without peace, we can’t stay in this country; Nigeria is a peace-
Ebonyi To Ensure Credible LG Polls ABAKALIKI - The Ebonyi government has taken precautionary measures to ensure that the September local government polls were credible, free and fair. The Commissioner for InterParty Dialogue, Mr Jonah Egba, told newsmen in Abakaliki that the government had sensitised the political parties on the need for hitch-free elections. “We have dialogued with the different political parties to avoid bickering and political violence during the polls. “In a state where you have different political parties with different ideologies that pursue conflicting interests, the only way to bring peace is through dialogue. “The essence of the political awareness is to make both the electorate and political parties, understand in Ebonyi, politics is not winner-takes-all. Egba said the youth needed to maintain peace and harmony as well as avoid killings, maiming and provocations that might lead to bitterness and rancour. He urged the politicians to see politics as a selfless service rather than perpetration of thuggery, kidnapping or bullying. “In democracy, the social amenities belong to everyone not just the political party in power. “Politics is not a business but about offering leadership, and leadership entails service to the nation, state, local government, community and the society at large,” he said. He explained that his office was wary of the danger inherent in violence during elections, saying the government deemed it necessary to educate the people on the need for peaceful polls. “The young ones should build themselves up for service to their father land as future leaders,” he advised.
loving country; peace equals development,” she said. Mba said that the council was working toward making women to appreciate themselves as agents of peace adding that women were key to development in any society. She called on women to be part of the political and socioeconomic transformation taking place across the world. The NCWS chief said for women to be agents of change, rather than recipients of change, they should be actively involved in the change process. She said in -spite of the progress made over the years, there was still need for the political class to get more women involved in the nation’s decision making process. The National President commended the Goodluck Jonathan administration for making efforts toward improving the lots of Nigerian women. She, however, pointed out the need for all stakeholders to pull their resources if more should be achieved in the effort to make life more meaningful for women.
She said that it was the desire of the council to see that State and Federal Governments were committed to improving the lives of women, children and the vulnerable.
ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) The Campaign for Democracy (CD) in Anambra has urged the electorate in the state to vote for the best candidates in the impending gubernatorial poll irrespective of the party. The state chairman of the organisation, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, said in a lecture in Onitsha that the electorate should
Vote Best Candidate, CD Advises Electorate
resist any attempt to manipulate the governorship election in the state. “The Anambra electorate should strictly follow their conscience in the November16 governorship election and should
Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki (left) with the Federal Commissioner National Commission For Refugees, Hadiza Sani Kangiwa at the Commemoration of World Humanitarian Day in Abuja: PHOTO BY OMOYE AMINU
Church Embarks On Community Service By KEN ABU/VICTOR OMOALU
L-R: Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA) Dr Ado Muhammed, and the Federal Commissioner National Commission for Refugees, Hajia Hadiza Sani Kangiwa, at the Commemoration of World Humanitarian Day in Abuja: PHOTO BY OMOYE AMINU
BENIN CITY - The Christ Church of Latter Day Saints, Benin Diocese has joined fellow Christian faithful of the Ministry across the African continent to participate in its annual voluntary community service as part of its corporate social responsibility to their host communities. The community service involves environmental sanitation at the school for the Blind inside Ihogbe College, areas around the King Square, Oba Market as well as Adesogbe Road, near the Oba Palace, all in Oredo Local Area of Edo State. President of Benin Diocese of the Church, Mr. Lawrence Ehijiator in an interview with newsmen said the community
A/Ibom Reiterates Commitment To Provide Potable Water
ABUJA – Mr. Ernest Usoro, the Managing Director of Akwa Ibom State Water Company, has reiterated the commitment of the State government to making potable water available to the citizenry. Usoro gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Abuja has said that the state government had attained 40 per cent in the area of water distribution to the populace. ‘’We have attained 40 per cent level of water distribution in the state. ‘’We have the facilities in the Akwa Ibom State to ensure that urban and semi-urban population of the state enjoy potable water.’’
not trust the cheap deceit of money-bags and campaign publicity. “Godfatherism makes the electorate irrelevant and as such mediocre candidates are imposed on the people as their leaders,’’ he said.
The managing director said that the state government placed priority on water in the scheme of things due to its importance to the citizenry. Usoro, who identified poor power supply as a major challenge, said inadequate power supply had hindered efficiency and the effective usage of the water equipment. The managing director, however, gave an assurance that the government was working hard to ensure the availability of water for people’s domestic, industrial, agricultural needs.
He said the state was also partnering with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and other financiers to enhance the state’s efforts in sustaining its water project. On the distribution of water through water stand pipe or cistern to the rural dwellers, Usoro stated that the system was no more fashionable due to the abuse of the facilities by the users. According to him, the system was discouraged because of the fear of the original water coming in contact with the
polluted water through broken pipes. ‘’The system was discouraged because of the incessant reports of broken pipes. ‘’This may likely have contact with any other unclean sources, thereby polluting the original water. ‘’This was done to avoid diseases which might result from the contact.’’ Commenting on the reliability of borehole water, the managing director said that uncontrolled drilling of private boreholes could be detrimental to the environment.
service is observed in the month of August every year as part of their social responsibility to their host community. Mr. Ehijiator explained that this year’s edition of the programme which is the 7th in the services with the church members concentrated on activities such as clearing refuse, sweeping and clearing of grasses. The community service which lasted 3 hours in operation beginning from 7am to 10am attracted the participation of large number of the members including youths who extended their services to the premises of the Nigeria Police Medical Clinic in Benin City. Addressing newsmen during the exercise, President of the Church, Ihogbe Stake, Okeke Romanu (CN) noted that this year ’s exercise became necessary so as to extend its humanitarian services to the physically challenged persons through its Mormon Helping Programme. The clergy man who state that the exercise took place simultaneously across African countries, said the church embarks on such programme for the purpose of touching the society through humanitarian service. Romanu used the opportunity to call on Christian faithfuls to build their consciousness on services to humanity. According to him, “We have the school of the blind, the school of the deaf, and these people can not do it by themselves due to their disabilities, so, we decided to be in this school. “There is no way we can serve God without serving humanity”, he added.
THE NIGERIAN
9
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Abuja Gana Tasks Clerics On Leadership Training ABUJA - Prof. Jerry Gana, pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos, has urged religious leaders to always design good leadership training programmes for worshippers. Gana, a former Minister of Information, told newsmen in Abuja that such leadership training would inculcate good character in participants. The former minister added that it would also contribute to the nation’s uplift and quality leadership. He said Nigeria needed leaders that would stand for what is proper, stressing, “We must emphasise to all our religious leaders to take leadership training for their followers very serious.’’ Gana noted that raising good leaders should start from the family and then move to schools, churches and mosques. He said that moral values should be taught at every stage of the leadership programme as this would spread to the larger society and contribute to economic development. “Grooming leaders is a long process, but our leaders are doing their best. “ In every situation, you don’t think you have arrived. You only keep reviving, improving, transforming, and keep moving on. “There are areas where our leaders can do better; issues of leadership are things we must always have in mind. “Leaders don’t just happen, you must raise leaders, encourage them. “In essence, the new generation must be raised at different stages ranging from the family to the schools, churches and mosques,’’ he said. Gana further said that the near extinction of some indigenous languages had posed a big challenge to the nation, adding that it deserved a lot of attention. He stressed the need for the revival of aspects of Nigerian culture that would help transform the nation in the area of leadership training. “Language is a very important
part of culture and if we allow Nigerian languages to disappear as some tend to be doing now, then a very important part of our culture will be affected and that will affect our integrity, identity and personality. “The good Lord who gave us this languages knows what He is doing and we should be proud of them.” Gana, however, called on the government to ensure the availability of adequate resources for the educational sector. He added that aside funding the educational sector, the government at all levels should also ensure that students communicate in local languages.
Police Arraign Herbalist For Fraud
L-R: INEC National Commissioners, Mrs Thelma Iremiren; Dr Abdulkadir Oniyangi and Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, discussing with the Director, international co-operation and Protocol, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, at the knolwledge-sharing and confidence-building workshop with political parties in Abuja yesterday
Woman, 25, Jailed For Asault
Chief of Defence staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim (left), in a handshake with the former I-G, Ibrahim Coomassie; during the inauguration of the renovated force criminal investigation department complex in Abuja on Tuesday. With them is the former I-G Alhaji Aliyu Attah
Jonathan To Inaugurate 2013 Christian Pilgrimage
ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan would inaugurate the 2013 Christian pilgrimage on October 28, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr. John-Kennedy Opara has said. Opara made this known to
newsmen after the signing of the Air Charter Agreement for the 2013 Pilgrimage with Atlas Jet Nigeria Ltd, in Abuja. “The first set of Nigeria pilgrims will leave Nigeria on October 28, and God willing, His Excellency will flag it off because he is going to be part of
Family Pilgrimage Begins Aug 24 ABUJA - The Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) said that it would begin its maiden family pilgrimage on Aug. 24. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr. John-Kennedy Opara, announced this at the signing of the air charter agreement on the 2013 pilgrimage between the commission and Atlas Jet Nigeria Ltd. in Abuja. He said more than 900 pilgrims from six states of the federation had been scheduled to participate in the exercise. Opara added that the commission was finalising
ABUJA - The police in Abuja arraigned a 36-year-old herbalist, Kole Kehinde, before an Abuja Magistrates’ Court sitting in Wuse Zone II for allegedly cheated a patient of N120,000. Police prosecutor Nnamani Emmanuel alleged that the accused, who resides at No. 16, Danki Village, behind Sunny Vale, Abuja, committed the offence sometime in May 2010. He said Adedokun Adekunle of Jikwoyi Phase II, Abuja, reported the case at the Garki Divisional Police Station, Abuja. Emmaunel said the complainant alleged that the accused deceived him and collected N120,000 as payment for natural medicine to cure his haemorrhoids (pile). He said the accused collected the said amount and dishonestly converted the money to his personal use and relocated to an unknown location. Emmaunel said the offence contravened the provisions of section 322 of Penal code Law.
arrangement for travel documents of the prospective pilgrims ahead of their departure on Saturday. “We have sent the list for the visas and we are trusting God that before the end of today, we will tidy up the visa issue with the Israeli authorities and the air carrier is also ready. “The intending pilgrims are ready, God willing, we are going to flag it off on Saturday. “It is a pilot scheme and it’s going to be a little bit less than a thousand this year and I know by next year many families will want to embark on this family pilgrimage.“
Opara said that Atlas Jet Nigeria Ltd. had been hired to convey the pilgrims to Israel. The executive secretary said that the prospective pilgrims would be transported in four batches for the maiden exercise, noting that other logistic requirements had been met. He said that the idea of the exercise was to encourage the reinstatement of Christian values in the family. He said that it became necessary to reinstate Christian values in family life because such values had been lost to societal influences leading to vices in the society.
the pilgrimage. “In line with the Procurement Act and the due process, we are assuring Nigerians that we have followed the law, we have followed the rules and we are signing to make sure that we give legal backing to what we are doing so that if they default or do anything, they can be sanctioned in line with the law“, he said. Opara said the carriers were selected on merit and urged them to sustain the standard that earned them their reputation. He urged the carriers to deploy their best resources for the exercise, adding that the exercise would witness high profile pilgrims’ participation, including the President. Opara said that after several rounds of discussions with operators, the commission fixed the cost of the exercise at N358, 000 for intending pilgrims to Israel, while those going to Rome would pay N421,000. He said the reduction in the
cost was among many other measures adopted by the commission to encourage private sponsorship of pilgrimage. Chairman of the commission, Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, warned against complacency on the part of the carriers. He said there could be temptation of saving cost and compromising standards, noting that the commission would take the welfare of pilgrims seriously. “We want to congratulate Atlas Jet for a good job done in the past, and now that you have been recognised and you’ve been approved by the President again, we really congratulate you. “But this type of thing can serve as a draw back in some situations when you begin to take people for granted assuming that I am already there and so nothing can happen. Please do not allow yourself to become conceited, do not take the pilgrims for granted because you are familiar with some people“, Okoh stated.
ABUJA - A Karu Senior Magistrates’ Court sentenced a 25-year-old woman, Victoria Alonge, to one year in jail for pouring hot oil on her boyfriend, Roland Nna, over his refusal to marry her. The Senior Magistrate, Omolola Akindele, summarily sentenced Alonge without an option to pay a fine after the convict admitted to committing the offence in court. Alonge was arraigned by the police on a one-count charge of causing grievous hurt on Nna, her boyfriend, who lives in Kurudu, Abuja. The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Paschal Njoku, had earlier told the court that Nna reported the incident at Kurudu Police Station on August. 11. Njoku said that Alonge went to Nna’s house at about 4:30 a.m. on the fateful day and poured hot oil on him while he was asleep, resulting in grievous hurt on his body. He said that she was immediately arrested by the police, based on the report and confession to committing the crime before the police. Njoku said that while in detention, Alonge threatened to inflict more harm on the victim. The prosecutor urged the court to summarily punish the accused since she did not deny the charge brought against her. In her defence, Alonge told the court that her estranged lover dated her for over four years and promised to marry her, only for him to change his mind after falling in love with another woman in Abuja. “I did that to teach him a bitter lesson because he refused to marry me after dating me for over four years. “He fooled me and my parents and ditched me after finding a new lover here in Abuja. I live in Lagos with my parents,’’ she said.
THE NIGERIAN
10
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Business + Economy Economist Canvasses New Science And add no value to the LAGOS - An Economist, Technologythey Concept economy. Prof. Pat Utomi, has called for the introduction of a new science and technology concept for Nigeria, to facilitate the growth of the country’s economy. Utomi told newsmen in Lagos that there was the need for new concept in science and technology in the nation. “No modern nation can compete in the global world without having a strong science and technology-based education system. “The fundamental science and technology system in Nigeria is out of place, and needs urgent reorganization,” Utomi said. He said that Nigeria needed to start remunerating people according to value and their ability to bring about an innovation, but not just on the titles acquired in school. “The implication is that our economy is title-driven and not value driven. People hold engineering professor titles, yet,
“Most technology whiz kids across the world did not go to school, and yet, they are performing wonders,” he said. The don said that Nigeria must urgently allocate more resources for technological developments and research, to achieve economic growth. “Incentives must be given to institutions to work. “The nation’s science and technology institutions must be re-positioned to perform better.” Utomi, however, urged the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to diversify its roles by absorbing interns.
Lotto Agent Docked Over Theft
L-R: Gov Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; Grand Patron, Bauchi State NUJ/Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu; NUJ National President, Malam Mohammed Garba and Council Chairman, Bauchi NUJ, Malam Dahiru Mohammed, at the inauguration of the NUJ Secretariat, Bauchi State Council in Bauchi on Monday.
Taskforce Arrests Suspected Pipeline Vandals AREPO (OGUN) - The Inspector-General of Police Special Taskforce on Pipeline Vandalism, Lagos Zone, has arrested 10 suspected oil pipeline vandals and recovered 800 jerry cans at Elepete, Arepo in Ogun. An Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the taskforce, Mr Friday Ibadin, paraded the suspects and displayed the items before journalists, at Arepo on Monday. He said that the suspects were arrested at about 9p.m., and that the 50-litre jerry cans were empty. Ibadin said that policemen led by the Zonal Commander, DSP Osayande Onaghise, had been trailing the suspects. “We got reports that the gang had been operating on NNPC pipelines in the area. “The zonal commander laid ambush against them. “Items recovered from them include 800 (50-litre) empty jerry cans with which they attempted to siphon the product, three bags of detergent, three big boats and items used in breaking pipelines. “Some of the suspects claimed they were invited to carry the jerry cans with products to designated places, while some claimed that their duties were to load the products into the boats. “They claimed they were promised various amounts of money. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,’’ Ibadin said. Reports say that the suspects have been transferred to the Police Headquarters Annex, Moloney, Obalende, Lagos.
Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Plateau, Mr. Musa Chantu, displays booklet on the Freedom Of Information Act at a news conference on Grassroots Sensitisation of the Act in Jos.
Ex-CIIN Boss Calls Awareness Campaign
Compulsory Insurance:
For
LAGOS - Dr Wole Adetimehin, a former President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), has advised insurance operators to create more public enlightenment on compulsory insurance products. Adetimehin told newsmens in Lagos that enlightenment was the only way operators could promote the Marketing Development and Restructuring Initiatives (MDRI) of NAICOM. “There is compelling need for underwriters to create more awareness about compulsory insurance products because many are not aware or have refused to take the policies. “For instance, how many builders, contractors and landlords have the builder’s liability insurance policy?
LAGOS - A Lottery agent, Chidi Nwabichie, 31, was docked in an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing a customer’s N120, 000. Nwabichie, who resides at No. 4, Yaro St., Okokomaiko, Lagos, is facing a single count charge of stealing. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Iyobosa, said that the accused committed the crime on Aug.15 at about 1p.m. at Orile-Iganmu BusStop, Lagos. According to Iyobosa, Mr. Quadri Issah played the lottery with the sum of N500, and won the sum of N120, 000. He also said that at the point of collecting the winning, Issah realised that the winning number had been deleted from the machine, and could not get his N500 or the money he won. The prosecutor said that all efforts to settle proved impossible, the police was invited, and the case was charged to court. Iyobosa said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence. Anyone found guilty of stealing is liable to three years imprisonment, according to the provision of the stated law. Meanwhile, the Magistrate, Mr. K.O. Ogundare, has granted the accused bail in the sum of N80, 000 with one surety. Ogundare also said that the surety must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. The magistrate, however, adjourned the case to Sept. 16 for mention.
“This is why a building will collapse and none of the victims will be compensated by the insurance industry. “Similarly, most employers of labour are yet to get Group
Life Assurance for their employees. “So, concerted efforts by underwriters as regards promotion of MDRI products will go a long way in
deepening penetration of compulsory insurance products to Nigerians,’’ he said. It would be recalled that the compulsory products include builder’s liability insurance,
occupiers’ liability insurance and motor third party liability insurance. Others are the healthcare professional indemnity under the National Health Insurance Scheme Act of 1999 and Group Life Assurance under the Pension Reform Act of 2004.
Presco lost N1.29 to close at N35 per share, while Lafarge Wapco dipped by N1 to close at N95 per share. On the other hand, OkomuOil led the price gainers’ chart by 0.75k to close at N44.50 per share. Academy Press followed with 0.17k to close at N1.93 per share, while Zenith Bank grew by 15k to close at N20.99 per
share. Jos International Breweries gained 11k to close at N1.27 per share, while Trans-Nationwide Express rose by 10k to close at N1.15 per share. In all, investors exchanged a total of 173.96 million shares worth N2.4 billion in 4,382 deals against the 272.14 million shares worth N3.5 billion exchanged in 4,020 deals on Friday.
NSE All-Share Index Drops LAGOS Weekly transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) opened on a negative note on Monday as major blue chips recorded price losses. Reports say that due to the losses, the All-share index depreciated by 186.25 points or 0.5 per cent to close at 36,800.68 from the 36,986.93 recorded.
Also, the market capitalisation, which opened at N11.713 trillion, depreciated by N59 billion to close at N11.654 trillion. Guinness led the losers’ chart by N7 to close at N258 per per share. ConOil came second with N3.20 to close at N29.80 per share, while UACN dropped N2.89 to close at N59 per share.
THE NIGERIAN
11
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY(21/08/13) Stocks
Open
Close
Change
Deals
Units
Value
MAYBAKER
2.4
2.4
0
19
375,084
899,374.20
7UP
72
72
0
23
70,060
4,594,958.70
MBENEFIT
0.5
0.5
0
3
138,020
69,010.00
ABCTRANS
0.9
0.81
-0.09
12
577,604
475,547.53
MCNICHOLS
1.5
1.5
0
2
14,000
18,900.00
119
119
0
30
25,942
2,900,092.13
36.14
36.14
0
6
1,005
32,692.65
ACADEMY
1.93
1.74
-0.19
5
105,132
182,934.88
MOBIL
ACCESS
11
10.9
-0.1
222
5,532,779
60,418,813.79
MRS
AFRIPRUD
1.88
1.87
-0.01
40
802,252
1,513,272.09
MULTIVERSE
0.5
0.5
0
1
11,350
5,675.00
AGLEVENT
1.41
1.41
0
2
8,000
12,000.00
NAHCO
6.3
6.3
0
36
317,124
1,972,740.08
AIICO
0.97
1
0.03
52
4,624,905
4,570,393.26
NASCON
11.2
10.7
-0.5
31
267,335
2,881,582.32
AIRSERVICE
4
4.28
0.28
21
2,012,423
7,937,597.26
NB
166
165.89
-0.11
114
490,874
81,294,376.51
ARBICO
5.6
5.6
0
1
503
2,535.12
NEIMETH
1.4
1.4
0
3
6,369
8,852.91
ASHAKACEM
22
21.26
-0.74
35
311,534
6,627,930.83
NEM
0.76
0.75
-0.01
33
2,959,547
2,175,446.29
AUSTINLAZ
2
2
0
2
1,936
4,259.20
NESTLE
935
935
0
79
73,938
69,143,759.58
BERGER
8.7
8.7
0
5
7,625
66,364.60
NIGERINS
0.5
0.5
0
2
18,369
9,184.50
BETAGLAS
13.18
13.18
0
1
4,031
48,331.69
NNFM
29.3
29.3
0
1
1,000
26,750.00
0.75
0.75
0
5
17,197,580
11,708,185.00
BOCGAS
6.5
6.5
0
2
245
1,515.90
NPFMCRFBK
CADBURY
50.9
51.25
0.35
92
1,089,554
56,319,484.13
OANDO
10.97
10.81
-0.16
271
4,541,693
49,709,478.44
CAP
43.65
43.65
0
39
168,016
7,340,585.55
OKOMUOIL
44.7
45
0.3
77
1,091,030
48,708,477.37
CCNN
9.3
9.3
0
23
247,509
2,194,720.53
PAINTCOM
1.72
1.81
0.09
7
255,000
457,940.20
CHAMPION
17.42
17.42
0
2
45,000
705,600.00
PHARMDEKO
1.85
1.85
0
1
15,000
25,050.00
CHAMS
0.5
0.5
0
3
5,085,000
2,542,500.00
PREMBREW
0.68
0.68
0
1
200
148
CHELLARAM
4.41
4.41
0
2
450
1,786.50
PRESCO
34.5
34.5
0
50
412,200
13,995,017.04
CONOIL
29.8
29.8
0
27
131,360
3,736,748.50
PRESTIGE
0.51
0.55
0.04
15
913,683
495,210.16
CONTINSURE
1.22
1.2
-0.02
9
205,000
244,200.00
PZ
37.6
37.6
0
62
305,883
10,413,719.28
4.69
4.48
-0.21
21
583,920
2,599,884.20
CORNERST
0.5
0.5
0
6
502,563
251,281.50
REDSTAREX
COSTAIN
1.12
1.2
0.08
21
876,000
1,025,685.83
RESORTSAL
0.5
0.5
0
2
402,000
201,000.00
9.06
9.06
0
3
4,106
40,895.76
0.55
0.55
0
14
1,275,493
689,043.29
CUSTODYINS
1.48
1.5
0.02
26
1,167,176
1,749,119.60
ROADS
CUTIX
1.8
1.8
0
10
109,723
197,484.15
ROYALEX
DAARCOMM
0.5
0.5
0
6
24,100
12,050.00
RTBRISCOE
1.4
1.27
-0.13
24
616,650
811,925.98
DANGCEM
190
190
0
29
425,308
80,638,600.30
SKYEBANK
3.98
4
0.02
127
6,974,661
28,059,521.06
DANGFLOUR
9.5
9.5
0
56
350,078
3,325,366.50
SKYESHELT
100
100
0
1
270
27,000.00
DANGSUGAR
11.02
11
-0.02
67
2,339,861
25,217,957.72
SOVRENINS
0.5
0.5
0
3
184,020
92,010.00
DIAMONDBNK
6.59
6.6
0.01
53
6,290,846
41,357,772.48
STACO
0.5
0.5
0
1
85,800
42,900.00
16.55
16.12
-0.43
55
769,128
12,429,761.88
DNMEYER
1.58
1.43
-0.15
4
168,182
240,500.26
STANBIC
DUNLOP
0.5
0.5
0
3
60,786
30,393.00
STERLNBANK
2.46
2.54
0.08
90
8,545,842
21,354,913.26
0.5
0.5
0
1
750
375
0.73
0.8
0.07
4
125,419
100,335.20
EKOCORP
4.32
4.32
0
1
3,893
15,143.77
TANTALIZER
EQUITYASUR
0.5
0.5
0
6
442,311
221,155.50
THOMASWY
ETERNA
2.81
2.63
-0.18
45
1,125,618
3,078,730.14
TOTAL
155
155
0
21
28,460
4,372,648.03
ETI
14.7
14.65
-0.05
68
1,462,863
21,069,631.75
TOURIST
4.08
4.08
0
1
504
2,056.32
ETRANZACT
3.47
3.13
-0.34
2
501,200
1,568,756.00
TRANSCORP
1.29
1.23
-0.06
140
38,963,975
48,002,236.44
EVANSMED
4.74
4.74
0
2
8,000
34,160.00
TRANSEXPR
1.26
1.2
-0.06
23
2,430,759
3,326,658.94
FBNH
16.15
16
-0.15
511
10,747,483
172,203,428.00
TRIPPLEG
2.29
2.29
0
1
100
207
FCMB
4.14
4.15
0.01
83
2,977,766
12,253,478.46
UAC-PROP
18
18
0
41
421,300
6,831,329.00
FIDELITYBK
2.76
2.78
0.02
142
9,818,928
25,707,941.16
UACN
59
59
0
44
297,819
16,995,165.32
7.72
7.59
-0.13
272
8,374,009
63,384,712.32
FIDSON
2.01
2
-0.01
40
1,662,588
3,364,517.70
UBA
FIRSTALUM
0.5
0.5
0
3
111,000
55,500.00
UBCAP
1.25
1.25
0
55
2,009,459
2,464,904.53
10.22
10.12
-0.1
81
988,815
10,001,189.66
62.5
62.5
0
57
362,402
22,579,318.06
FLOURMILL
76.56
69.48
-7.08
116
866,414
60,251,502.01
UBN
FO
39
39
0
61
291,265
10,249,596.07
UNILEVER
GLAXOSMITH
65
65.4
0.4
38
278,565
18,146,418.55
UNIONDAC
0.5
0.5
0
16
31,500,000
15,750,000.00
GNI
0.5
0.5
0
2
1,000,000
500,000.00
UNITYBNK
0.56
0.52
-0.04
53
7,656,543
4,011,621.17
GUARANTY
25.3
24.85
-0.45
308
4,837,432
120,893,202.70
UNIVINSURE
0.5
0.5
0
7
745,000
372,500.00
GUINEAINS
0.5
0.5
0
2
128,000
64,000.00
UPL
4.29
4.14
-0.15
17
201,761
845,848.64
GUINNESS
258
254
-4
57
307,839
78,003,167.55
VITAFOAM
4.3
4.3
0
11
41,491
163,074.30
HMARKINS
0.5
0.5
0
3
121,200
60,600.00
VONO
0.68
0.74
0.06
2
68,799
50,911.26
HONYFLOUR
3.17
3.05
-0.12
36
916,261
2,808,664.21
WAPCO
94
93
-1
33
499,197
46,461,352.75
0.77
0.75
-0.02
10
1,266,700
951,296.20
IHS
2.6
2.56
-0.04
8
560,000
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WAPIC
IKEJAHOTEL
0.79
0.8
0.01
9
314,000
252,910.00
WEMABANK
1.05
1.05
0
46
3,007,058
3,037,692.63
ZENITHBANK
20
19.9
-0.1
299
23,973,150
479,237,761.88
INTBREW
21.45
21.45
0
33
282,950
5,947,629.00
INTENEGINS
1.65
1.49
-0.16
7
157,383
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IPWA
0.86
0.86
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4
15,000
12,000.00
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0.52
0.51
-0.01
56
2,516,011
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71
71
0
14
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1.27
1.3
0.03
9
360,362
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1.39
1.52
0.13
7
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0.5
0.5
0
9
651,150
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1.7
1.55
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15
704,704
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LIVESTOCK
3.93
3.98
0.05
41
688,774
2,751,165.33
MANSARD
2.3
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0.01
21
651,200
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TOP 10 GAINERS Stock GLAXOSMITH CADBURY OKOMUOIL AIRSERVICE JOSBREW PAINTCOM COSTAIN STERLNBANK THOMASWY VONO
Close 65.4 51.25 45 4.28 1.52 1.81 1.2 2.54 0.8 0.74
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FLOURMILL GUINNESS WAPCO ASHAKACEM NASCON GUARANTY STANBIC ETRANZACT REDSTAREX ACADEMY
69.48 254 93 21.26 10.7 24.85 16.12 3.13 4.48 1.74
-7.08 -4 -1 -0.74 -0.5 -0.45 -0.43 -0.34 -0.21 -0.19
THE NIGERIAN
12
MORE than any other issue in Nigeria today, the greatest concern has been the security condition of the country. ALMOST on a daily basis, there are accounts of several security threats arising from armed robberies, assassinations, armed militancy and banditry, kidnapping, bombings and of recent, the blood-let from a religious sect called the Jaamatus Alhus Sunnah Lid Daawatis Wal Jiliad (otherwise called Boko Harm) who say they are opposed to Western education and are ready to attack every vestige of western civilization. INDEED, the rate of crime and criminality, as exemplified in the high incidence of kidnapping, bombings and other organised crimes has sadly moved from the realm of security threat to an area of real and present danger. THE frightening security condition in Nigeria has not only been a source of worry, it has also dented Nigeria’s International status. FOR instance, on August 26, 2011 the terrorist group, Boko Haram bombed the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s Federal capital city. The consequences of that attack, as of today, are yet to abate. IN the wake of the UN building attack, Nigeria, lost her hosting right of the global food security meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAQ) which was moved from Abuja, to Senegal. The meeting was an assemblage of experts and food administrators all over the globe. ASIDE the UN building bombing on August 26, 2011 that claimed 23 lives including 11 UN personnel, local Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, had until late, been orchestrating series of isolated attacks predominantly in Northern Nigeria.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013 THE NIGERIAN
Security And Intelligence Sharing The sect is believed to be targeting centres of international attraction, especially in the Federal Capital Territory. CURIOUSLY, the presidential committee on security challenges in the North East Zone has identified security lapses, inter-service rivalry and lack of collaboration as factors that have encouraged the proliferation of security crises in the Northern part of the country. It also blamed the security breaches on high level of poverty, unemployment and other social ills. THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER is however of the considered opinion that serious security collaboration and intelligence sharing must be urgently evolved to arrest security breaches and this needs to go beyond the shores of the nation. The federal government must build inter-agency cooperation through diplomatic channels/pacts, and international intelligence to ensure that crime of whatever scale is nipped in the bud. MOST importantly, there is the overriding need to promptly move to demilitarize the Nigerian society and reduce the heavy influx of arms and ammunition in the country which have unfortunately gone into the wrong hands. TO this extent, the Customs and Immigration Services, in tandem with the Ministry of Interior should work round the
clock to protect the porous Nigerian borders. SOMETHING fundamental equally needs to be done to reduce, if not totally eliminate the existence of private militias that were established, funded and used by politicians and individuals who later dumped them after having been trained to handle arms. ALSO, the various security agencies, beside the need to be technologically equipped and funded to carry out their assigned tasks, would need to be restructured. The structure and duties of our security agencies must be revisited so as to ensure that each organ very well knows its specific roles and function, while the laws establishing these agencies must be made clear on who does what. THE government at all levels, particularly the federal government, urgently needs to carry out reforms in the security sub-sector to eliminate inertia created by inter-agency rivalry and react decisively to security threats with dispatch. ON their part, the citizens must cooperate with the security agencies by supplying them with prompt, useful and relevant information on likely security breaches. This can be facilitated by the existence of a wellcoordinated biometric database of Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike indicating where people live, their nature of jobs and background. This will assist in fishing out the bad eggs in the society. DECISIVE steps should be taken to cripple Boko Haram Sect and their operations as well as end their menacing reign. If anything, a safe, secure and peaceful environment is what the present democracy needs to be strengthened and sustained, as such the government and people of Nigeria cannot afford to leave this to the whims and caprices of miscreants.
THE NIGERIAN
13
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Building A Lifetime Marriage THE bestselling Gold Medallion winner Love for a Lifetime has brought hope, harmony, and healing to millions of homes worldwide, giving men and women powerful and biblical insights for building lasting marital harmony. Encouraging and practical, this proven classic is perfect for every husband and wife who wants to strengthen and celebrate their marriage relationship. The joining of husband and wife in marriage is the most fulfilling human relationship possible. There is nothing like being loved unconditionally and intimately, decade after decade, by someone who promises to be there for better or for worse for the remaining days of your lives. For this reason, nurturing and celebrating each other is the most important investment of time and energy you can make as a couple. And millions around the world can testify, the surest way to preserving a marriage is by applying the principles outlined in God’s Word. To begin with, believe that it’s possible. A growing number of people today have such bad attitudes about marriage that they go into it—if they get married at all—expecting the worst. This is tragic, since fears and negative expectations have a way of becoming self-fulfilling; as Job said, “The thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me” (Job 3:25). So set your hearts and minds in a positive direction. If you do, we predict that your marriage will beat the odds of today’s sorry statistics. After all, many psychologists believe that the greatest predictor of a lasting marriage is a commitment to marriage itself. You can maintain that attitude by remembering that marriage is a relationship, not a possession. Yes, we do say “my wife” and “my husband,” but that’s simply a way of setting boundaries for others outside your marriage to recognize and respect. It’s all yours—to protect and nourish. Look at your marriage as the longest relationship you’ll ever experience on purpose, and you’ll be well on your way to reaching the goal. It’s also important to keep your faith strong and lively. The deeper your relationship with God, the more motivation you’ll have to love and cherish one another. Faith produces gracious attitudes and kindly behaviour. And a good sense of humour doesn’t hurt either. How do you apply these principles in everyday life? What do they look like in the context of practical marital interaction? Some experienced couples have provided the following suggestions. First, committed marriage partners go beyond words in expressing their love for one another. Smiles and hugs will help your spouse know that the “I love you” is genuine. Something about the warmth of a caring embrace generates a sense of acceptance and worth. Second, communicate with one another honestly and straightforwardly. Keep your disagreements healthy and constructive. Drop the barbs—cleverness is too tempting to be profitable, especially in the thick of a disagreement. Avoid negative, self-centered and destructive styles of interaction, such as blaming and accusing, withdrawing, locking one another out and avoiding the subject. Remember that emotional traffic flows more smoothly when you honour the “Yield” signs. Nobody is right all the time. Stop viewing your relationship as a “competition” that one or the other of you is required to “win.” If you don’t, you may find that the “victor” ends up crushing the “loser,” and that the ultimate casualty is your marriage itself. Third, don’t get smug. Make humility your highest aim. Deny yourself the sour satisfaction of gloating. Without fail, it creates festering resentment. If you do start moving in that direction, apply the brakes at once and make a U-turn. It takes courage to make amends, but trouble can be an opportunity wearing work clothes.
Obviously, these suggestions aren’t especially complicated. At heart, they’re simply expressions of your dedication to go the distance. Husbands and wives who have made a journey of many years together know that theirs is a marriage of more than mere pleasure or convenience; it’s a commitment in which divorce has never been considered an option. Every house needs a good foundation, well laid out plans, good materials and builders. Most of us don’t think about the foundation of our house we just take it for granted that our house will stand on it. Then there are the studs behind the walls that we see, unless we have a need to open the wall for a repair we take for granted that they are there. Hidden in the walls are wires and pipes all strategically located. We know they are there because we have power and water but we don’t think about how they got there. Ok you get the idea. A wise builder knows exactly how important all these things are and is skilled at perfecting each one without any faults.
We need to use this same line of thought for our marriages. Be wise in building so that it will endure and last a lifetime. First and most important is the foundation. Think for a moment about the foundation of your marriage. Some would say a marriage should be built on trust, others would say mutual respect. I say the only foundation is Jesus Christ. While the others are important, if you do not build on the ROCK and the storms come, you will find that your marriage has fallen into a sinkhole. Trust, respect, love, peace and every other thing you can think of are no replacement for building on the ROCK, they still must be part of the building process but not the foundation. So, how does that apply to you as a wife? The verse from Proverbs says unless the Lord builds the house you work is not worth anything. Commit your own life to the Lord and allow him to lead you. Give your marriage to HIM and ask for guidance, then follow what the Lord tells you to do. HE is the Master Builder; HE knows where the wires and pipes go and how to make them function and peak efficiency. If
“Every house needs a good foundation, well laid out plans, good materials and builders. Most of us don’t think about the foundation of our house we just take it for granted that our house will stand on it.”
Relationship With IMOISILI EDITH 07089364470 you don’t follow HIS plan, you will have a relationship that will blow fuses, causes damaging floods, and sinkholes. When we follow HIS plan we also understand it is a continuous work of perfecting, it will not be complete until we are taken home to be with HIM. So Ladies, roll up your sleeves and get to building, following the Master’s Plan. There are three foundational components of an Oneness Marriage. aKing Solomon spoke of the mortar of the marriage merger in Proverbs 24:3-4: “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” An Oneness Marriage needs wisdom. Wisdom is skill in
everyday living. It means that we respond to circumstances according to God’s design. A wise home builder recognizes God as the architect and builder of marriages. As we ask God for wisdom and search the Scriptures, He supplies the skill to build our homes. King David warns, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1). For many the architect and builder of their marriage is “self”-it’s no wonder so many marriages fail. An Oneness Marriage needs understanding. Understanding means responding to life’s circumstances with insight-a perspective that looks at life through God’s eyes. Understanding your mate from God’s perspective results in acceptance of your differences and beginning to learn how God uses your mate to complement you. Understanding produces compassion for your partner. It will give you insight to lead wisely or to follow prudently. An Oneness Marriage needs knowledge. Today we are an informational culture. We worship information. But information without application is an empty deity. The point here is that Solomon is talking about “a knowledge that fills homes with precious and pleasant riches.” It’s more the mere information-it’s a knowledge that results in convictions and application. It’s a true teachable spirit that applies God’s blueprints amidst the raw reality of life. What many of us need in order to apply what we’ve learned to our marriage is accountability. We need someone who will break through the fences we build and our crowded loneliness and ask us if we are applying in our marriages what we’re learning.
THE NIGERIAN
14
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Issues
The Magnitude And Burden Of Rape In Nigeria VIOLENCE against the girl child in the society is on the rise and victims of such act are at the mercy of the perpetrators who commit this evil against their fellow being damning the consequences of their action and in most cases escaping the long arm of the law, thereby creating room for others to follow suit believing that nothing will happen. RAPE is now a trend in our society and it has dented the already bad image of the country as all efforts to put an end to this evil in Nigeria have proved abortive. Due to the magnitude of this act, a lot of Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) and other relevant agencies including IPAS have joined forces together to tackle this cankerworm called rape. IPAS a non-governmental organization with its headquarters in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in United State of America is dedicated to improving the lives of women across the globe through a focus on their reproductive health. This body works through country programmes in most parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America. IPAS as an organization have a country office in Nigeria led by a country director concentrating on preventing unsafe abortion, treating its complications, reducing its consequences and increasing women’s access to a broad range of reproductive health service. The organization’s work is based on the principle that every woman has a right to the highest attainable standard of health, to safe reproductive choices, to high quality care and an enabling environment that promotes her fundamental human and reproductive rights. Based on this principle of the group, the Country Director of IPAS in Nigeria Dr. Ejike Orji honored an invitation earlier in the year from International Federation of Women Lawyers
(FIDA) Benin branch to mark FIDA Edo week 2013 with the theme “Zero Tolerance to Rape and Defilement-End to violence Against women”. Presenting a seminar paper to participants, on the magnitude and burden of rape in Nigeria. Dr. Ejike Orji said, “rape refers to the intentional penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth of another person with any other part of the body, or anything else where the other person does not consent to the penetration or the consent is obtained by force or means of threat or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm, or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act or the use of any substance or addictive capable of taking away the will of such person or in the case of a married person by impersonating his/her spouse/ partner……(VAPPBILL)”. Dr. Orji said, “sexual violence according to WIKIPEDIA is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or act to traffic, or otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality using COERCION, by any person, regardless of their relationship to victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work”. FORMS OF RAPE: - Rape by strangers, acquaintances (Even with dating Relationship), rape of minors, elderly, youth, mentally challenged person, physically challenged persons etc. These are some of the prevalent forms of rape we have been experiencing in this country. According to statistic provided by IPAS Nigeria, more than 32,000 pregnancies result from rape every year. A minimum of 3,800 rape cases has been reported in the print media in the last 3 years. (IPAS media tracking report). The report stated further that perpetrators of rape cut across class, status and religious
By RICHARD OKORO-EWEKA
orientation comprising pastors, imams, traditional rulers, teachers, police, military and ordinary citizens. The percentage of rape by acquaintance is far higher than rape by strangers and rape victims’ cuts across ages with the rape of minors and the elderly on a startling increase in Nigeria. This scourge can have significant harmful and lasting physical, psychological and reproductive health consequences for victims, families and communities. 2002-2006 RAPE STUDY IN KANO STATE:- 306 rape cases were recorded at this period. This statistics shows that one out of every 13 gynecologic presentations at the hospital is a rape victim. The age range of survivors was one to forty-five years while assault was either
penile (86%) or finger (14%). Statistics shows that children between the ranges one to nine years are the most affected with 41% followed by those in the age bracket of 10-14 years with 31%. The experience for rape is not palatable and survivors lives with the trauma of the incident for the rest of their lives as the government, law enforcement agencies and concerned authority make the matter worst as perpetrators, still walk our streets free, planning their next victim. Result from IPAS statistic shows that more than one-third (37%) of the survivors presented with sexually transmitted infections, while (21%) presented with varying degrees of injuries in their genitals. Although, almost all (97%) of the survivors received antibiotic
“Survivors of rape suffers some physical burden and consequences from the violent act melted on them. Some of the burden and consequences includes: migraines and other frequent headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, back pain, facial pain, disability that prevents work, easily startled by noise or unexpected touch and even death.”
prophylaxis, only (1%) received HIV prophylaxis. In a similar study that was conducted in Benin City, Nigeria, shows that (48%) of rape survivors were less than thirteen years of age. D O C U M E N T E D EVIDENCE:- IPAS has been able to document some evidence of rape cases to show that this scourge cuts across all religions and statues in our society and those that ought to protect the victims are now even involve in the crime themselves. This statistic shows the burden of the trend on the nation. The evidence presented by the country director of IPAS Nigeria, shows that even police officers are now perpetrators of the act of rape, as a police officer was alleged to have raped a 3 year old child. A 24 year old man was also arrested for raping an 80 years old woman old enough to be his grandmother. In these two situations above it, would beat your imagination what these men enjoyed from this act with this child and the elderly woman? Five men were caught on video raping a woman at a Nigerian University while she pleaded with her violators to kill her. Two men were arrested for drugging and raping their friend’s daughter. A traditional ruler was charge over the rape of a youth corper serving in his domain. A father was arrested for raping his 14 year old daughter and also allegedly raping a 12 year choir member of his church. What manner of men do we parade today as a nation? BURDEN AND CONSEQUENCES:Survivors of rape suffers some physical burden and consequences from the violent act melted on them. Some of the burden and consequences includes: migraines and other frequent headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, back pain, facial pain, disability that prevents work, easily startled by noise or unexpected touch and even death. Aside the physical burden, survivors can also suffer from chronic psychological burden such as depression, attempted or completed suicide, alienation, frigity, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) such as emotional detachment, sleep disturbances and mental replay of the violence. Social burden is another consequences from rape cases, these burden includes: strained relationships with intimate partners, less frequent contact with friends and relatives, delayed or no marriage, sexual violence undermines women’s capacity to participate fully in society. There is also burden on the reproductive health of the woman which includes: premenstrual syndrome, sexual dysfunction (Afraid of/ avoiding sexual activity, decrease in sexual interest and desire), genital injuries and gynecological complications (Bleeding, Infection, Chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, and urinary tract infections), sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. THE BURDEN OF UNSAFE ABORTION IN NIGERIA:- Rape incidence has in no small way contributed to the large and increasing rise of unsafe abortion in the country. Due to the shame attached to pregnancy resulting from rape, survivors do all within reach to terminate such pregnancy even if it will lead to physical, mental or bodily damage to their system, they don’t really care about it. It would shock you to note that cassava plant leaf and stem, alligator pepper, native chalk and native alum are some of the ingredient used, forcing it into their genital to terminate such baby. IPAS statistic shows that Nigeria experience 760,000 induced abortions annually and 60% of this figure are unsafe. More than 140,000 women hospitalized for abortion complications and we experience up to 10,000 maternal deaths annually due to unsafe abortions. The lives of the girl child will always be and is certainly in danger of rape and its consequent health and physical complication which in some circumstances she carries for the rest of her for no fault of hers. A stiffer penalty like life imprisonment and death sentence should be the punishment of the perpetrators if not we will continue to record more rape and consequent death cases.
THE NIGERIAN
15
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Community Watch When The Royal Father With Shuts Down A Community Ijeoma Umeh Shrine It’s A Rare Occurence - Isekhure PENULTIMATE week, Edo people woke up to the news of a royal pronouncement, with all the ceremony and vestiges of royalty intact, by the Benin Monarch on the Oguedion and Arhovia, the Elders’s Porch or shrine at Uteko Community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. For elders of the community, those who are groomed in the knowledge of the workings of the revered tradition of Edo people and sacred matters such as this, the royal pronouncement could be understood, although it stings like peppered horse whip, more like a severe sanction or reprimand of an equally revered patriarch and father figure, but for the younger generation, a greater percentage of what this mortal hegemony is all about, the pronouncement by the Oba of Benin should be better and more clearly understood, hence this write up. What then, is the traditional implication of a royal pronouncement such as this? What does the closure of the Oguedion mean? Community Watch had a brief but insightful chat with an erudite scholar, veteran Journalist and writer of repute , as royal arrowhead, Honourable Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, the Isekhure of Benin Kingdom on these issues. Excerpt:-
Tell us About The Oguedion in the Benin Tradition and Culture. In our tradition, the Oguedion are temples of the elders where they meet to discuss salient issues or matters of traditional importance or relevance. It is quite synonymous to a synagogue. It is a place where the spiritual light of the community is beamed,
where curses are placed. It is more of a spiritual centre and the most elderly person in that community presides, or where there is a Priest, joins to administer the spiritual needs and affairs of the place. What is its Strategic Place in a Community Strategic place, yes, because the Oguedion shows a level of independence, a
level of autonomy by the particular community. It shows that the community is on its own and not under any other community
determined to cause positive change for themselves and for posterity at the grassroots. Leading in all this efforts are the Community Development Associations (CDAs) which have become great platforms for attaining lofty heights, as well as being formidable rallying points for political crusades both at the local and national frontiers. However, the communities most times erupt in major breakdown of law and order and youths and ‘mischievous’ elders are said to be brains behind such erosion of public peace and progress. How many such communities abound? Certainly Oko community would no longer be captured in the statistics of such ‘boiling lava’ areas, says the CDA Chairman, Fred Omoruyi. He however agreed that greed, selfishness and reckless living, including shady dealings in land mattersw, cultism and the like could
revolve round sacredness and tradition which the Benin people hold to high esteem. It suggests that the people may hyave committed an offense that breaks the rules, those fundamental traditional systems of the Benin people. Therefore, in order to avoid further crisis, the Palace could order that it be closed pending when the issues are resolved. So the Closure May Not Be Permanent Such closures are never permanent, but only for a time, but that is dependent on the people’s demeanour. After a time, the people have the right to go to the palace, show remorse and give cogent reasons why such an occurrence may not be required in future. Since the assumption of the Benin Monarch to the Throne of His Forefathers, How Often Hasn this incidence Occurred? These are rare incidences. It is not what people experience in every life time.
It occurs only when there is a serious issue of breach of traditional protocol and laid down rules that have survived years of traditional heritage. Most of them could be moral rules governing the interdependence of humans on their fellow humans or human relations with, and among, their likes. This could be second or third time in this reign. Has Ignorance of Relevant Rules Anything to do with Closure? People know the consequences of whatever action they took and whatever they did. What Shrines are not under the Royal Father’s Domain The Shrine itself must be the one that the Oba has authority over and the operative word is ‘breach’, therefore , when there is a breach of the rules and it comes to the notice of the Oba, the Palace could order a closure and that is what transpired in the Uteko case.
• Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, the Isekhure of Benin Kingdom
Communities: Taking
LOCAL Communities in Nigeria have evolved beyond farming and building town halls. There is palpable quest to attain heights which were hitherto the exclusive reserve of government to help attain. Communities are now doing what the communal life of old entailed: reaching the unreached and setting inimitable standards, building health centres, markets and even schools, empowering the youths, giving micro credit support to women, scholarships to students and expanding and grading earth roads, even building befitting homes for traditional heads (Iyekogba Community in focus) coupled with its traditional role of maintaining law and order and keeping the peace by organizing local vigilante. The list of efforts by people at the communal levels is long, yet there is no stopping the leaders, including youths, of these communities who are
What Results in the Closure of such Sacred Edifice Closing down of Oguedion suggests that there is crisis; there are issues which
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Heat Off Government
culminate in the breakdown of law and order which has seen members, especially youth of several communities falling under the long arm of the law. The Chairman told Communit Watch that Oko Community is virtually free of all the said misdemeanor and criminality. He spoke to Community Watch on sundry issues. Excerpts. May we meet you, please. I am Fred Omoruyi, Chairman, Oko Community Development Aassociation. What is the length of your tenure and your service? We operate a three-year tenure here and I have served three years. Your Tenure Has Expired, so to Speak. Yes, we will have an election and I hope to retain my position. Which Means You Enjoy Your People’s Support? Are they Happy with your leadership? Is there Peace under your leadership?
Yes, I am a happy person and my people are happy too. You may find out from them. Yes, we have peace too. The
• Fred Omoruyi
only distress we feel is from what happens at the national spheres; Boko Haram, insecurity, poverty and
others. What Would You say your Administration is Popular for? What Have Been the dividends of your leadership. Well, in my tenure we opened a foodstuff market which has empowered our women and youths; we have other developments going on, grading of roads and so on. In terms of youth empowerment, we approached NPDC because we are its host community, and now we have over fifty youths employed there as casual staff, among other moves we are making. What is Your Relationship with the Local Government Council We are under Oredo Local Government Council. We paid courtesy call on the council chairman, Hon. Osazee Obazee and told him that we need a health centre, and we already have a plot of land allotted for it; he promised he was going to address that issue soon and we will remind him again.
THE NIGERIAN
16
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Insight
IT was late in January 1897. The historical episode referred to by the British as “The Benin Massacre” had taken place three weeks earlier in UGBINE village, on the Benin-Ughoton road. Benin soldiers had ambushed a party of British Colonial officers on their way from the Ughoton Waterside to Benin City. The British officers were members of the Government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, a colonial entity created by Britain six years earlier and encompassing the Niger Delta territories. It also included the Benin territories, which extended to the Akure and Ekiti areas of the hinterland. The acting Head of the Protectorate Government was James Robert Phillips, a Lawyer and graduate of Trinity College, University of Cambridge, England. He was 34 years old, and was the leader of the visiting team. James Phillips, had refused, against the repeated advice of the Benin authorities, to reschedule his visit to Benin. Oba Ovonramwen, had sent to inform him that he, Ovonramwen was involved in a yearly religious ceremony which involved his going into a Retreat. This would prevent him from playing host to any visitors at that material time. The obduracy of the visitors in deciding to press ahead with their visit provoked strong suspicions in Benin that the intentions of the visitors were decidedly not honourable. Moreso when Benin took into account the fact that this same Niger Coast Protectorate Government had made war on Nana Olomu, an Itsekiri chief of the Benin river, friendly to Benin, three years earlier, and had conquered and exiled him from his country. The European visitors ran into the ambush at Ugbine village as they trekked from Ughoton towards Benin. Seven of the nine members of the Government party died in the ambush. The remaining two white officers succeeded in escaping from the ambush. They made their way back into the Benin river, into Government — controlled waters, and ultimately returned home to England. The authorities in Benin knew that a state of war now existed between the Benin kingdom and Great Britain, and Ovonramwen, the Oba of Benin, who was eight years on the throne of his fathers, set about marshalling the resources of his kingdom to meet the onslaught which was known to be on the way. Early in February 1897 royal Messengers, the Ukoba, arrived in Evboesi town in the Iyekorhionmwon territories of
the kingdom. They were from Oba Ovonrarnwen. They went to the Palace of the Enogie, the Duke, of the village. His name was Osahon, son and successor of his father Enogie Ikhinmwin. The message brought by the ukoba concerned AISIEN, the son of ERHUNMWUNSEE, a citizen of Evboesi, of the Ernodti Quarters of the village. Aisien was summoned to the Enogie’s Palace, and there the message from Benin City was delivered to him. It was clear, said the royal message, that there was going to be a war between Benin and Britain, as a consequence of the Ugbine episode, and the king needed Aisien’s attention in Benin. Aisien was an Iyekorhionmwon man, from the UGU district of Iyekorhionrnwon. By nurture he was an Evboesi man, having grown up in that village from baby-hood into his late teens. But by birth he was a man of Oben village, both his parents being natives of Oben. Evboesi and Oben are dukedorns in the Ugu territories, with each principality having its own Enogie. The message brought by the ukoba concerned AISIEN, the son of ERHUNMWUNSEE, a citizen of Evboesi, of the Ernodu Quarters of the village. Aisien was summoned to the Enogie’s Palace, and there the message from Benin City was delivered to him. It was clear, said the royal message, that there was going to be a war between Benin and Britain, as a consequence of the Ugbine episode, and the king needed Aisien’s attention in Benin. Aisien was an Iyekorhionmwon man, from the UGU district of Iyekorhionmwon. By nurture he was an Evboesi man, having grown up in that village from baby-hood into his late teens. But by birth he was a man of Oben village, both his parents being natives of Oben. Eboesi and Oben are dukedoms in the Ugu territories, with each principality having its own Enogie. Due to the interplay of family fortunes young Aisien had grown up in Evboesi, a community with a strong martial tradition, a tradition which, even today, is put on display at the Isiok,io festival, celebrated every three years. In vboesi Aisien grew up in this martial tradition, a military ethos by which he would become known later in life. In his late adolescence young Aisien had left Evboesi and journeyed to Evbonogbon, a river-side village on the banks of the Ethiope river, near the
1897 War: A Erhunmwunse By DR. EKHAGUOSA AISIEN
present-day Boborokun town. The village had been founded by his father Erhunmwunsee. On the death of his father Aisien, being Erhunmwunsee’s eldest son, became the
some calabashes of palm wine — (Ogoo) from the rapphia palm trees growing by the banks of the river. The Itsekiri fleets took the young man to Brohimi and sold
patriarch of the village. At Evbonogbon a conflict had broken out between Aisien and Nana Olomu, the Itsekiri chief of Brohirni village situated in the lower reaches of the Benin river. In this conflict two battles were fought, in both of which Aisien was victorious, vanquishing the troops sent against him by Nana. The cause of the quarrel was that Nana’ s canoe trading fleets, which were engaged in the palm oil trade with Urhoboland, abducted one of Aisien’s servants, by name Ogbçmudia, mid-stream on the Ethiope river as the fleets swept by the Evbonogbon village on their homeward journey. Ogbemudia had been sent by Aisien across the river, in a little canoe, to bring home
him into slavery. Aisien took severe reprisals against other Nana fleets passing by, capsizing the boats and sinking them, along with the merchandise contained in the vessels. He took their crews captive, and sent a sizeable number of them as war-booty to Oba Ovonramwen in Benin. Nana Olomu decided to make war on Evbonogbon. A memorable incident is said to have occurred during the first of the two battles which Aisien had to fight with Nana’s invading troops. The invading forces, which came in a flotilla of canoes, had attacked evbonoghon at night and had already been put to flight. One of Nana’s fleeing soldiers, in seeking concealment from Aisien’s rampaging troops ran
towards a plantain tree growing nearby, and measured himself full-length with the plant, using the plant as a camouflage. Aisien saw him and rushed at him. Wielding his sword with both hands, he sliced, with a single swipe, both the soldier
and the succulent plantain tree, each into two separate halves! Before Nana could send a third wave of attack against Evbonogbon, Aisien abandoned the village, and returned to Evboesi. There in Evboesi he gave birth to his first surviving son, Idemudia, who later in life became the first Oba’s Clerk in the Palace of Oba Eweka II. He continued his career as a Court Clerk in the Benin Native Administration of colonial Benin, and later became an Ohensa of the Holy Aruosa Church in Benin City. Aisien had earlier, in 1vbonogbon village, given birth to his first daughter Iriagbonse, the mother of Julius Amenaghawon Oviahon. Soon after Aisien
abandoned his settlement of Evbonogbon, the British of the Niger Coast Protectorate made war on Nana Olomu, in 1894. They destroyed his town of Brohimi, and Nana escaped to Lagos through the creeks and the lagoon. He later handed himself over to the conquering British who exiled him, first to Calabar the Capital of the Protectorate, then later to the Gold Coast, now Ghana. At the time therefore that Aisien returned to Evboesi with his house-hold and his chattels he had acquired a reputation as a warrior. He was also already a known figure in the Palace of the Oba of Benin. He had acquired his second wife Imadiyi, the mother of his children Idemudia and Ariowa, as a fall-out of an incident which originated in the Palace of Oba Ovonramwen, an incident which was mediated by Chief Igieber, the then Uwaizgue of Benin. This was before the Uwangue was assassinated, in 1895, by some of his fellow Iwebo chiefs for daring to solicit Ovonramwen to make the Uwaizgue title hereditary to him and his descendants, in perpetuity. Two days after the message from Benin was delivered to him, Aisien left Evboesi for the City, accompanied by his two servants and comrades-inarms. Their names were Oduduru and Tuoyo. In Benin Ovonramwen received Aisien in audience. The king briefed him on how matters stood at that point in time regarding the developing British affair. He gave Aisien the information that intelligence gathered suggested that the British were mounting their approach against Benin City through two routes: the expected Ughoton route, and a more southernly route, through Ologbo village, on the lower Orhionmwon river. (There was actually a third route planned by the invading Force, an eastern route through Sokponba village on the Igbaghon (Jamieson) river.) Ovonramwen told Aisien that troops had been despatched to the two Fronts, under Commanders, to hold and defend them. Then he suggested that Aisien might want to take a look at how things were developing at the Ologbo Front, and then return
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Insight
Aisien, Son Of ee And The British to give him a full, up-to-date briefing. Aisien left for the war-front. He met the Benin army of the Ologbo Front in the village of Qbagie n’Evbosa, not far from Iyanomo village which nowadays houses the Nigerian Rubber Research Institute. Qbagie n’Evbosa village had been founded some decades earlier by Oba Adolor, Ovonramwen’s father, with prisoners-of-war from the Benin campaigns in the near — Yoruba areas, and also from the campaigns to suppress the Prince Ogbewçkon rebellion in the eastern Ishan territories. The Oba had appointed a man from Urhonigbe, a town also with a strong martial tradition in the Orhionrnwon territories, to be the Odionwere, the head of the new settlement. Many of the villages in the Benin Kingdom bearing the name “Qbagie,” which literally means: “By Royal Command,” had similar origins. Qbagie n’Unuarne village is near the town of Orogho, in Iyekorhionmwon. It obtained its adjective because it is a river-side village, near the banks of the Ethiope river. Obagie n’AkQnkporo village lies in the forests of Ikpe village, in the basin of the Orhionmwon river. It acquired its descriptive name because an Itsekiri man, of giant stature, was closely associated with its origins, hence the Itsekiri phrase: “onokenren kporo. The Commander of the Benin army on the Ologbo Front was a man called Urugbusi. One of his principal lieutenants was called Amure, of the City Guild of the Ewaise-Obornwan, located along the present-day Forestry Road, Benin City. These Commanders requested the villages around hagie n’Evbosa to snare a large number of the rodent can an animal larger than a squirrel, with a bushy tail and a spotted fur, like that of a leopard. With these erin pelts Urugbusi and Amure sewed camouflage battle-dresses consisting of an adaegho (tunic), usegen (shorts) and a tall hat called oro. The personal weaponry of these Commanders consisted of an ovbiosegba — a flint-lock pistol manufactured by the Blacksmith guilds of the City,
• David Cameron, British Prime Minister
especially the Ugboha guild along Sokponha Road. Each of them had a dagbodagbo, a sword elaborated by one or the other of the five Blacksmith guilds in the City. Their troops possessed the standard Dane gun, manufactured also by the City Blacksmith guilds. It was a flint-lock weapon, not different in sophistication from the “Dane gun” brought to Edo-land three centuries earlier by the Dutch as part of the articles of merchandise with which they traded with Benin. The gun-powder, ekhae, for these fire-arms still had to be obtained from Europe. The Edos did not possess the knowledge of the Chemistry needed for the manufacture of the ammunition. An assortment of warcharms, in little gourds called ukokogho, were tied to the tassels of their adaegho tunics. Other war-charms, in amulets, and also impregnated on bracelets — egba - which were slipped up the arms, completed the readiness for battle of the Benin fighting man. Six Benin City Palace chiefs were with the army in the Ologbo Front, to over-see the preparations of the army in the field. Amongst the Chiefs was Agho, the Obaseki of Benin. Agho had been one of the rough-house boys, or bouncers, of the Crown Prince Idugbowa, before the Prince ascended the Benin throne as
Oba Ovonrarnwen. Agho had been the third in the ranks of Idugbowa’s security — outfit, whose leader bore the Yoruba nick-name of: Oriza: Orija bi ogun! “The Head is fighting as if it were a Talisman!” When the Prince ascended the throne of his fathers, he elevated Agho into the ranks of the titled chiefs of the land as the Obasçki of Benin. The Benin army at Obagie n’Evbosa was busy preparing a hot reception for the enemy. The main preparation consisted of cutting two parallel ambush tracks, one on either side of the Benin — Ologbo road, which of course was itself a forest track. These ambush tracks, recessed some yards from the main highway, and then cleverly camouflaged, were to he lined, alternatively, by the troops, from where they would mow down the British army marching in a single file along the main road. The alternate
manning procedure was of course to prevent “friendlyfire” casualties amongst the Benin troops. The double parallel ambush paths were called UHI, and were laboriously cut, many kilometers long, through the dense jungle, between Qbagie n’Evbosa and the approaches to Ologbo, by the defending army. But paradoxically this UHI system greatly facilitated the conquest of Benin by the British army. For soon after the invading army moved from Ologbo to fight its way to Benin, the Reconnaissance Unit of the army, headed by one Captain Scott, quickly discovered the existence of these ambush tracts. Soldiers of the invading army moved into both tracts denying their use to the Benin soldiers, and giving protection, from both sides, to the main colunrn of the invading army as it marched
along the main Ologbo — Benin road. Urughusi’s troops were left futilely to attempt battle rnanouvres in the impenetrable undergrowth of the track-less jungle. Odionwere Osagie was the host of the Benin army camped in his village. He had his own fighting men, captained by one Ogunluyi, and ably supported by two lieutenants with the exotic names of Afamu and Ehiata. These Obagie soldiers had the responsibility of making the Benin army in their midst as comfortable, and as provided for, as it was possible, in terms of victuals. In this regard it was the cows, the goats, the sheep and the fowls of the villages of Obagie, Ohoghobi, lyanomo, Okha and the other near-by communities which suffered an alarming diminution in their numbers during those trying harmattan weeks of mid-January to midFebruary 1897. In the actual fighting in the defence of Benin which occurred a short while later Ogunluyi died by British bullets as Admiral Harry Rawson’s army got to Obagie n’Evbosa in its march on the City. In the march on Ben in City the British Expeditionary Force spent its last night in IVBUKHU village, near Amagba. Marching into the deserted village in the early evening the “Hausa” soldiers — the Niger Coast Protectorate troops — slaughtered the wandering village cows and goats for food, roasting them on fires. They made the fires by using, as firewood faggots, the many uktwrhe, the carved rattlesticks, in the Qguedion — the little temple of the collective ancestors of the village - which served as the village Town
Hall. And as Admiral Rawson and his troops moved out of Vbukhu village on the morning of Thursday the 8th February — to occupy Benin City later in the afternoon of that day — the awesome sounds of a modern army on the march, which began with the Six o’clock REVEILLE Bugle call which woke up the troops — were all clearly audible in Amagba village. The British army bombarded Ologbo village from the southern bank of the Orhionmwon river, which they called the ILOGI Creek, then crossed the river in a motley assortment of river- craft, and occupied the village. They then cleared a large expanse of forest for their Camp. Dotting the clearing were tents erected for the Officers. The troops, white and black, were disported all about the cleared landscape, in addition to the over one thousand Carriers who, by headporterage, carried everything which the army on the march needed — from drinking water, to food, to uniforms, ammunition and weapons— for the various cadres of the fighting men. Neither side, Benin nor Britain, employed horses in this contest. Benin had no horses, and Britain did not deploy any cavalry in this “bush-fighting” campaign. The Carriers were recruited in, and brought mostly from, Sierra Leone. A sizeable number of them were also obtained from Opobo and Bonny in the Niger Delta. And a few were supplied by the Itsekiris of the Benin river. Sentries were posted at intervals round the perimeter of the Camp. And a lot of to-ing and fro-ing went on between the Camp and the Orhionrnwon river, where water was collected and boiled, for the drinking water supplies of the Expedition. The British Expeditionary Force was large and modern, a measure of the respect that London had for the Edos. The Force had been assembled from all parts of the Atlantic Seaboard, and also from the Mediterranean Sea, the West Indies, and from many areas of Britain herself.
“Odionwere Osagie was the host of the Benin army camped in his village. He had his own fighting men, captained by one Ogunluyi, and ably supported by two lieutenants with the exotic names of Afamu and Ehiata. These Obagie soldiers had the responsibility of making the Benin army in their midst as comfortable, and as provided for, as it was possible, in terms of victuals. In this regard it was the cows, the goats, the sheep and the fowls of the villages of Obagie, Ohoghobi, lyanomo, Okha and the other near-by communities which suffered an alarming diminution in their numbers during those trying harmattan weeks of mid-January to mid-February 1897.”
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Security Issues
With Obuseh Jude 08033510173
Evolving Homegrown Strategy
Fighting Terrorism In Nigeria: SINCE the onset of the insurgency in the Northern part of Nigeria, spearheaded by the fundamentalist Islamist sect, Boko Haram (Western Education is Sin), against the Nigerian State, the Nigerian government, through the instrumentality of its security establishment, in tandem with contributions from other local and international stakeholders, have applied plethora of strategies in efforts aimed at whittling down the activities of this group. Some of the measures so far taking to check terrorism in Nigeria include: signing into law on June 3 rd , 2011, the Terrorism Prevention Act (TPA) 2011, and the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011; forwarding a bill seeking amendment to the Terrorism Prevention Act, in order to strengthen the legal framework for fighting terrorism; creation of the position of a CounterTerrorism Coordinator in the National Security Adviser’s Office, to coordinate efforts of the counter-terrorism units in all security agencies; setting up a Fusion Center to serve as processing point for all-source intelligence and deployment of appropriate technology; coupled with other steps that have been taken outside public domain for security reasons. However, despite all the efforts, time and resources that have been expended by the authorities in fighting terrorism, the phenomenon continues waxing stronger. According to available statistics, since the commencement of the insurgency in the Northern part of the country, more than 1,000 lives have been lost to Boko Haram attacks on drinking joints, places of worship, military and police facilities, media houses, buildings housing multinational organizations, et al (Nigerian Punch, Monday 4, March, 2012). The recent (Monday 19th of March 2013) multiple bomb blasts in the Sabon Gari section of the ancient city of Kano, which left over 100 persons dead and maiming several others in their wake, are the latest classic cases of the obduracy of this group. The major reason that can be adduced for the escalation of this crisis is the slow response and poor strategic thinking on the part of government and other stakeholder organizations towards addressing this conflict at its
embryonic stage. With the exception of the recent, and rather belated, attempt by the Nigerian government to engage this group in dialogue, through the setting up of an “Amnesty Committee”, all initial peace initiatives have tended to be confrontational. The present scenario could have been avoided had dialogue been adopted as the chief conflict handling strategy to address all the pertinent issues raised by the Bokites, at both the latent and manifest stages of the insurgency. G o v e r n m e n t ’ s confrontational approach to the resolution of the insurgency - which is a conflict handling style borrowed from the West - has revenge as its driving force. The state of Israel, United States of America, Britain, and Russia adopt the Confrontational method in their war on terrorism. Apart from the ability to punish perpetrators of terrorist acts, the confrontational approach is also a very proactive style of countering terrorism, as countries adopting this method leverage on their “First Strike” capabilities to sniff out and annihilate wouldbe terrorists and their backers. It involves taking the fight to the turf of terrorist groups, and not waiting to be struck before reacting. Using mostly clandestine methods, which involve massive intelligence gathering and the use of advanced technology, terrorist activities are closely monitored and appropriate action expedited to stop them from executing their missions. Had they critically examined the effectiveness of this strategy in the countries adopting it, those at the helm of Nigeria’s security establishment would have seen a not too encouraging picture. The U.S and Israel, for instance, have been fighting both covert and overt wars against Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas and sundry other apocalyptic groups across the globe for decades, spending billions of dollars in the process, with no seeming end in sight to these conflicts, despite the snatches of success they have recorded overtime against these groups. Rather than abate, these conflicts have tended to escalate as these groups, rather than
surrender to force, have become more emboldened and determined to further spread terror. However, one basic fact about the confrontational conflict handling style , which the eggheads of Nigeria’s security establishment are obviously oblivious of, is that
manner the U.S, Israel and other rich Western countries have done? Does Nigeria have a huge chest of funds to prosecute a capital intensive anti-terrorism campaign like these countries? Does it have the patience to wait out on the siege currently being laid on its citizens and institutions in
averted. Boko Haram is one of the contemporary questions surrounding the sanctity of the Nigerian state system as currently constituted; a question about the authenticity of Nigeria by a group of persons who feel estranged from the system by the current
President Goodluck Jonathan it has the disadvantage of causing collateral damage in the event of a terrorist act, as the perpetrators of most terrorist acts usually die in such attacks, leaving no one for the victim country to physically punish, as has been the case in the North since the Bokites commenced their attacks. Thus, in their war against the insurgents, the Nigerian security forces have on some occasions unwittingly cut down innocent bystanders – including women and children. So, in the quest to punish terrorist offenders, innocent lives are sometimes lost. Separating the actual perpetrators of terrorist acts from casual onlookers continues to pose the greatest challenge to Nigeria’s security operatives. The questions that spring forth at this stage are: Does Nigeria possess the resources to engage in long-drawn guerrilla warfare with a terrorist group that continues to exhibit its mastery of the use of violence in the same
the same manner these countries have so far done? The blanket answer to these questions is a resounding “no”! With a little bit of hindsight, the adoption of the confrontational model by the authorities in dealing with the issues in the North obviously stems from a poor assessment and understanding of the true issues at stake – the lack of proper analysis’ of the history, dynamics, and dimensions of the conflict. Questions such as: What is the genesis of the conflict? Who are the real stakeholders? What are the real concerns raised by these stakeholders? What are the true positions, interests and needs of these stakeholders? Who are the shadow parties? Had proper care been taken by the authorities to understand the core nuances of this conflict from the onset, before deciding on the intervention strategy to be adopted in addressing it, the worst case scenarios we are witnessing today would have been
political arrangement; an attempt by some Nigerians to gain recognition in the present political configuration by force. They are the same questions millions of Nigerians ask every day: What is the Nigerian State system all about? What is our stake in this system? How well are our interests being represented in the scheme of things? How can these interests be improved? What is our future in this system? That is why any approach to finding solutions to the insidious effects of the activities of this group to the health of the Nigerian State must be located within the realities of its politics. No solution can be found outside the purview of the practical realities of the country’s politics. In all, dialogue remains the only way out of the bloody spectacle currently facing Nigerians. The use of force to confront force has obviously failed, thus, necessitating a new approach. The setting up of a Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful
Resolution on Security Challenges in the North (Amnesty Committee) to negotiate a peace agreement with the insurgents is a welcome development. My only advice to government is to be transparent in its dealings with this group - it must desist from any attempt to turn the peace process into another comical affair as has been the case in the past. Care must be taking to painstakingly address all the issues that will be raised in the course of negotiations to ensure that any agreement reached at the end of the day is comprehensive enough to snuff out the monster of violence currently gnawing at the very soul of this country. There is need for the authorities to immediately engage the services of seasoned peace practitioners to help drive the peace process. Political expediencies, as has become the tradition in this country, must be completely jettisoned in choosing those to animate the processes of transforming this conflict. A multi-track approach will suffice in this wise; an approach that will draw individuals from different spectrums of the society. The present committee overseeing negotiations with the insurgents has to be reconstituted to pave way for more professional hands to contribute their quota to the peacemaking process. The use of force is only but a short-term solution to the insurgency in the North, whether anybody accepts this assertion or not. Agreed that so many innocent lives and properties have been lost to the violent activities of this group, thus, eliciting calls for a more forceful stance by the authorities, a negotiated settlement seems to be the only light that can ride really this country of the dark clouds of death that currently enshrouds it and its citizens. If things are done right, this phantom of violence currently hunting the Nigerian State can be summarily sent back to the abyss where it belongs, and Nigerians can continue the nation-building process that has been stunted by the sad events of the past couple of years. God save Nigeria!
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
View Point
A Tale Of Two Cities Harare And Bamako:
“… THERE was no inkling that after 35 years the man would still be pursuing the same passion of wresting power from those he perceived as enemies of his country. He sounded like one in such a hurry to get the enemies out of the way not one that would perpetuate himself in office. Then he was neither sophisticated nor grandiose. He was plain, the rough and hard-looking freedom fighter who had been made to look so by years of fighting the enemies from the trenches.” This was the summation of a columnist in Nigerian Observer, Mike Osunde, about the man, Robert Mugabe, after he won another five years tenure to extend his 35 years rule. “In little more than a year, the sleepy West Africa Nation of Mali has seen an ethnic uprising, an Islamist insurgency, a military coup, a series of air strikes, the arrival of thousands of foreign troops, including UN peace keepers, and at last, an election on July 28th to reestablish democratic government.” – The Economist, August 3rd, 2013. The African countries of Zimbabwe and Mali, have come to the limelight recently as they went to the polls to decide who will govern them in the next dispensation. For the West African nation of Mali, after going through an ethnic uprising, Islamist insurgence and what could be termed by some as war, they marched to cast their vote for a president that will lead them to the promise land. The two men, former prime minister, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and ex-finance minister, contested the election in July, 28, went for a runoff on
By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU
August 11, after they failed to secure a majority of votes. According to the result of the second-round ballot released on live television by the Interior Ministry, “Keita won an overwhelming 77.6% of the vote, with his rival, soumaila lisse trailing on 22.4%”. For the Southern African country of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe who has been in power since 1980, battled it out with rival and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangarai for the presidency. According to the result, 89year-old Mugabe had 61% of vote to claim presidency with unionist, Tsvangarai getting 34%. Also, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Political Front (ZANU-PF) which Mugabe contested under, won 160 seats in parliament as against 49 seats clamed by the Tsvangarai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). During the wake of independence in most African nations, Former Ghana President, Kuame Nkrumah was once quoted as saying, “The independence of Ghana is of no effect until Africa is truly independent”. For the UN SecretaryGeneral, Ban Ki-Moon, said, though the election in Mali was not perfect, the result has to be accepted. The result, even if election is imperfect, must be respected by all parties, he said. According to Observers, the Mali election took place without major incident. The Christian Cience Mirror Magazine, noted “vote was peaceful and orderly”. In the morning, Malians in Bamako braved torrential downpours in the early morning to cast
their votes. However, the Zimbabwean experience was different. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) stopped short of declaring it “fair” but said the election was free and peaceful.” According to them, “we did not say it was fair…we didn’t want to jump
voters were prevented from voting. For the Malian and Zimbabwean polls, another striking contrast was shown. Even before official results were released, in Mali, the rival to Boubacar Keita, had gone to Keita’s home to congratulate him “president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has won this election gracefully. It is my duty to congratulate
Ban ki Moon, UN Secretary General to a conclusion”, a top SADC observer, Bernard Membe explained. Similarly, another election observing group, the Zimbabwe Elections support Network (ZESN), corroborated what many observers have said that the election was not free and fear. Speaking, ZESN Chairman, Solomon Zwana, noted that they are “concerned about some cases of irregularities that have occurred in some area” as up to a million of the country’s 6.4 million eligible
him,” he said. Even the masses, could not help but laud Cisse’s concession. “For us, it is really good because if you realize you have been beaten and you go and congratulate the others for his victory, that will make our democracy better,” a taxi driver, Boubacar Diarra, said. As previous polls in the country, the 2013 Zimbabwe election, created more enemies than friends,. The losing candidate in the election, Tsvangirai,
“As these two countries who have gone to the polls, continue to get attention globally, it seems like different stroke for different folks. While Mali will have to piece their country back together again, following the insurgency last year, Zimbabweans have to deal with what “really seems to have reached a dead end in knowing how to deal with Zimbabwe and knowing how to deal with a president who is absolutely determined to stay in power.”
described the election as a “farce”. He said that “our conclusion is that this had been a huge farce. The credibility of this election has been marred by administrative and legal violations which affected the legitimacy of its outcome. It’s a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people.” Morgan Tsvangaria has even taken the election victory of Mugabe to court where he says he will get victory. Apparently referring to his opponent, the 89-year-old Robert Mugabe said “those that are depressed about losing the elections can go
of key reforms that will lay the foundation for sustainable peace, stability and development to the benefit of all the Malian people”. Again, Mali’s election is a cleared path to more money by donor nations who have tied some $4 billion to the completion of a fair elections. A US State Department statement noted that the elections would “normalize our foreign assistance to Mali.” However, donor nations have threatened nay to cut off aids to Zimbabwe and have since described the reelection of Mugabe as against populist demand. Mugabe has even called Tsvangirai as
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe President and hang themselves if they wish so. Even if they die, dogs will not eat their flesh.” He insisted that the result reflected popular opinion. “We are delivering democracy on a platter. We say take it or leave,” but the people have delivered democracy.” Moreover, the elections in Mali, are seen as an important step towards recovery after the turmoil. Already, international bodies and some nations, have promised to throw their weight behind the Keita-led government in its quest to restore the country to its glory. According to a statement credited to the UN’s Banki Moon. “The United Nations also stands ready to support the reestablishment of state authority in the north of Mali, the protection of human rights and the implementation
a “stooge” and “toy” of foreign or Western countries and vowed to stop “Western” domination. Who have described his rule as dictatorial and tyrannical in nature. As these two countries who have gone to the polls, continue to get attention globally, it seems like different stroke for different folks. While Mali will have to piece their country back together again, following the insurgency last year, Zimbabweans have to deal with what “really seems to have reached a dead end in knowing how to deal with Zimbabwe and knowing how to deal with a president who is absolutely determined to stay in power”, according to Deputy Director of the Africa programme at the center for strategic and international studies.
THE NIGERIAN
20
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Motoring
With OSAGIE AIFUWA 08023412452
Driving At Night Or Day Time
Car Air Conditioner
AIR-conditioning system In a car is simple and not very expense Car Air condition An air- conditioning system is a mechanical device, which used various equipment and a chemical medium to absorb heat from inside and remove it to the outside air. The maintenance equipment employed the compressor, condenser, receiver/ dryer, expansion valve and evaporator. The chemical medium in the system is from R-12 or simply the refrigerant. The compressor, which is belt driven by the engine draws in the refrigerant vapour and
compress it. The compressed gas, now of high temperature and pressure, is forced into the condenser located in front of the engine cooling radiator. The refrigerant vapour traveling inside the tubes of the condenser gives up its heat to the air flow drawn by the radiator fan. The result is that vapour condenses a cool liquid, which is forced on the receiver and dryer. The reserved/ dryer, amongst other functions, filters and soaks up any traces of moisture from the refrigerant before it flows into the expansion valve located at the inlet of the evaporator.
The· liquid refrigerator metrix located in the air conditioning unit; because of the high temperature of air blown over the evaporator by the fan, the refrigerator boils up (vapourises) and absorbs the heat in the air leaving stream of cold air which is sent into the car. The temperature inside the car can be controlled by stopping the refrigeration cycle using a compressor clutch. When the electrical circuit to the clutch is closed, the compressor starts compression and the refrigerant cycle is
engine oil · Lower knocking, better stability due to higheroctane value DIFFERENCES IN PERFORMANCE OF CNG & PETROL Power Output: In case of a Petrol vehicle converted to CNG in bi-fuel mode, it has been experienced that the Petrol engine will produce less power on CNG and customer may feel that the vehicle’s performance on CNGis slightly low. This is because natural gas burns more slowly and this reduces the power produced. Difference in available energy and combustion characteristics between Petrol and natural gas under any condition are considered unavoidable, even with
optimized ignition timing, unrestricted air flow etc. careful maintenance and driving practices are,’ therefore, a pr-e-requisite for the success of ’ a CNG converted vehicle. In case of a Dedicated CNG vehicle (fitted with a Gas Engine), the performance of the vehicle is better than that of Petrol vehicle as the petrol. Octane Rating of CNG is higher than Petrol.
Introduction Of CNG As Alternative Fuel Vehicles
CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) is a mixture of hydrocarbons consisting of approximately 80 to 90 percent Methane present in gaseous form. Due to its low energy density, it is’ compressed to a pressure of 200 to 250 kg/ cm? (to enhance the vehicle on-board storage) in a cylinder and ‘hence’ the ‘name’ compressed Natural Gas is’ colourless; oduorress ‘non-toxic but inflammable and lighter then air. CNG is not a liquid fuel and is not same as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), which consists of propane and butane in liquid form. · Advantages of CNG · Economical · Environmental friendly · Less consumption of
operational. If the circuit is opened, the clutch will disengage and the compressor will stop working: The dash board control consists of a three-speed fan switch and a thermometer switch. The thermometer switch controls the compressor clutch circuit, and works together with the temperature switch. The position of the temperature switch determines the rate of cooling and the “on” or “off” Operation of the compressor clutch. To prevent over heating of the gas, a pressure switch is provided on top of the receiver/dryer. This switch also prevents excessive high pressure in the system. To ensure efficient air conditioning, the dash board controls need settings as follows: Put the vent controls to “off” Put the temperature controls lever to “cold” or area coloured “blue” Car control lever should be put at recalculating position usually marked “FREE”. The speed of the fan which blows across the evaporator can be controlled to the desired position.
MAKE sure all your lamps work and that your headlamps are properly adjusted, badly adjusted headlamps can dazzle other- users and lead: to accidents. VIEWING DISTANCE Make sure that you drive in such a way that you always stop well within the distance you can see to be clear ahead with your headlamp. REMEMBER: Accidents which occur at night times tend to be more fatal because help may not get you in good time as other road users may not see you, or may not stop. Also there are fewer road users. your life is in your hands, exercise extra care! DIPPING HEADLAMPS: dip your headlamps when meeting other users vehicles or road user before dazzle driver your vehicle traveling in the same direction in front of you. DAZZLING LIGHTS: IF you are dazzled by approaching headlamps slow down or stop and keep an eye on the right kerbed and stay close to it. Do not stare into headlamps. IN BUILT -UP AREAS: Dip your headlamps at night in built-up areas. FLASHING HEADLAMPS: Flashing of headlamps has the same meaning as sounding your horn-to let another road user know you are there. You should not sound your horn at night except in case of extreme emergencies.
“The thermometer switch controls the compressor clutch circuit, and works together with the temperature switch. The position of the temperature switch determines the rate of cooling and the “on” or “off” Operation of the compressor clutch. To prevent over heating of the gas, a pressure switch is provided on top of the receiver/dryer.”
THE NIGERIAN
21
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Society
Understanding Friendship
IT is quite sad when you look around the world today and see what people call friendship. The true definition of a friend has lost its value in the man to man relationship. The value of friend or friendship can only be found in the definition, the actual act of friendship has gone sour. What is being called friendship today is defined by how much money you have, what design of clothes (perfume, shoes etc.), the kind of food and wine on your table, if you have strong economic or political power and other good things of life. No wonder some people now choose to live in self deception in order to get friends that will approve of them. They borrow cars, clothes, jewelleries, shoes, money and all other things that they feel will make them acceptable to other highclass people. This is the period when what you have in possession, defines your friendship with others and others with you. No wonder the bible says, the friends of the rich gathers around him, but the poor has no friend, although he pursues after them, the further they go away from him. There are many definitions for who a Friend is. According to free online dictionary, a friend is a person whom one knows, likes, and trust. Another definition says a friend is a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations. While another definition went further to expatiate on who a real friend is; it says; a real friend is someone who it’s okay to fart in front
of, you don’t mind talking to on the bus for at-least 20 minutes, you can borrow #750 and never have to pay it back. Many persons today have boxed the real content of friendship and have thrown it into the deep blue sea, where it can never be recovered. As it stands, people now call their sex partners friend, including the ones they are not dating and the ones they paid to have sex with. These days friendship is nothing less than what they call ‘‘friends for benefits.’’ Gone are those days when a friend will come to your house, and assist you to wash clothes if you have so much to wash and also follow you to the market. When the friend want to finally go home, you guys will gist along the way to the friend’s bus stop and still come back to your street and then finally back to the bus stop. This is so because you never wish to separate from each other, but today everyone is in a hurry to part-ways. One of the principles of friendship is that you must be friendly before you can have friends. Be nice, open minded about things then you will see people flock around you. A true friend would not try to steal your girl/ boyfriend, your job, or personality and for you to be a true friend, you should not think of doing these things to who so ever you call friend. Being a good friend is not always easy, but taking the time to nurture a lasting friendship is worth every ounce of effort. As the years pass, some people will stay by your side, but many would not and you will realise that each friendship you keep is priceless. For sure you
By EGHWRUDJE PRAISE have to be a good friend, in order for you to make and have good ones too and it takes a lot of effort and care. To be a good friend, you have to establish a trusting friendship, be there for
dependable is one of the most important aspects of being a good friend. A good friend should be able to stick out his/her neck for you when there is need and he or she should be able to count
you need to do is to have a conversation with that friend and talk everything through. Calling him/her a liar before everyone, would only build a bad image for that your friend and you are making that friend of yours vulnerable to attacks
your friend during hard times, and deepen a friendship to make it last. A true friend would always or most times keep his or her promise. True friends never make a promise that cannot be kept except when something beyond their capacity crops up and this is not often. A true friend will always explain why they could not carry out their promise. They are dependable; being
on you for something. A true friend will always apologise when they make mistakes and not just apologise, but do the apology with a sincere heart. Good friends are honest about their feelings towards the other partner, and the partner’s actions. It is of essence to state here that being honest is different from being blunt. For instance when you have a friend that lie a lot, what
from other people; this action is not being honest rather, it being blunt. In trying to be honest with your friend, be real, original, connect with the person whom you value on a deep level if you want to have sustainable, long-term friendship. Invest in people you can be yourself around. If your behaviour lacks sincerity, your friendship would not last. Anybody that uses you
cannot really be a good friend. A friend is not supposed to use or make the other person feel used at any point in time. Some persons go to the extent of becoming friend with another person, in order to be accepted into a clique and this is not friendship rather its opportunism and eventually a shallow nature of your
involvement will reveal itself. Friendship is about give and take. Sure, it may be really convenient for your friend to be helping you do one or two things, but make sure you do something in return. It might not necessarily be immediately, but do something so as to prevent your friend from developing the ‘‘I have been used mind set’’ unintentionally.
“One of the principles of friendship is that you must be friendly before you can have friends. Be nice, open minded about things then you will see people flock around you. A true friend would not try to steal your girl/boyfriend, your job, or personality and for you to be a true friend, you should not think of doing these things to who so ever you call friend.”
THE NIGERIAN
22
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Health
JUNE 26 every year has been set aside by the International Organization, the UN to celebrate World Drugs Day. The day oil over the world is being celebrated and various nations use the platform to wage War against drug abuse which is gradually becoming a problem facing the youth of this generation. Looking at drugs from the World Health Organization (WHO) view, it is defined as a substance abuse, “the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances including alcohol and illicit drugs” It is estimated that about 76.3 million people struggle with alcohol use disorder, contributing to 1.8 million on death per year. The United Nations reported that around 185 million people globally over the age of 15 were consuming drugs by the end of the 20th century. Drug addiction involves compulsively seeking to use a substance, regardless of the negative psychological, social and physical consequences. Most times drugs such as narcotic and cocaine are more physically addicted by individuals than
alcohol and cigarette. There are lots of reasons why people take illegal drugs. For some people smoking marijuana make them “feel good”. Within minutes of inhaling the user begins to feel high or pleasant sensation” while for others it is to escape from problems like boredom, frustration, stress and the likes. An addiction cannot just be measured by how many times a person uses drugs. Some drugs are so addictive and very effective that they might only be used once or twice before the user “loses control”, when he /she is longer trying the drug to have fun but, have come to depend on it. People can become addicted to illegal drugs a well as unprescribed by doctors. When prescription on drugs are taken the right way, they are safe and there is usually no chance of additiction. Parents and guardians often administer drugs to their children instead of going to a health specialist or hospital. This is also drug abuse. The more worrisome drugs being abused in our
Drug Abuse And The Nigerian Youth
environment is marijuana, cocaine and alchol. The drug abusers are mostly youth. This should be a source of concern to every one of us. While casual use of marijuana exists among the affluent, it is more common among school dropout, homeless and unemployed and unemployable that is acutely sensitive to all sort of
By WINIFRED OSASOBO criminal behaviour. In Nigeria, it is common to see youth smoking around uncompleted buildings and rural areas. Addicts can also be seen hanging out in these
Curbing Spread Of Hepatitis
THERE are a lot of deadly disease, which have left people with no choice because of their inability to control or cure them. They are not as common as the most well know diseases like HIV/ AIDS, typhoid, cancer and intestinal worm. Hepatitis is one of such diseases. According to World Health Organization (WHO), Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver causes by viral infection. Hepatitis is of different main viruses, which according to WHO are types A,B,C,D, and E. These types are of great concern because of the burden of illness and death they inflicted on patients during outbreaks and epidemic spread. Kids health. Org says that Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) is transmitted through the faeces (POOP) of an infected individual. People usually get Hepatitis from
By WINIFRED OSASOBO
food or drinking water that have been contaminated by faeces. As disgusting as that sounds, hepatitis A is actually considered less destructives than some other hepatitis virus. Hepatitis B is a serious infection, that may lead to condition called cirrhosis (permanent scarring of the liver) or liver cancer, both causes severe illness and even death. Hepatitis B is transmitted from person through blood or other body fluids. Also having unprotected sex, sharing needles leaves one at of risk of becoming infected. It is likely that the needles used are net sterilized. Similarly, hepatitis C is transmitted from person to person through body fluids. Hepatitis B, C, leading to cirrhosis liver cancer, is now known as
one of the most common reasons for liver transplant in adults. Every year, thousand of people in developed and developing countries die of Hepatitis C and B viruses while Hepatitis. A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water, Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of fluid. Common modes of transmission of these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood products, invasive medical procedure using contaminates equipment. Hepatitis B can be transmitted from mother
to child at birth. Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms. But the most common symptoms include fever, yellowish skin and eye known as jaundice, nausea, vomiting lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and dark colour urine. The medication currently used to treat Hepatitis B and C according to research is not easy to get due to the deadly effect and damage it has done on the individual. According to WHO, antibiotic vaccines and injection have been made specially for the suspension of this killer
areas with “weed” and bottles of gin after smoking to their heart content; they then engage themselves in menial jobs in obvious belief that on idle youth puffing away on fat wraps of Indian hemp is not all that is necessary survival. The places they are for mostly seen include Agege areas in Lagos populated by many street Urchins (area boys) Upper Sokponba and Ikpoba Hill, both in Benin City Edo state. It is important to Illustrate what drugs such as marijuana does to the body and mind of the Users. Drug addiction has been known to cause mental illness in later stages. These include society, depression, phobia psychosis (a situation where the addicted hears voices) and also can lead to serious disorders like cancer according to medi a report.
disease and the microorganisms in the individual. This vaccine is prepared to produce immunity for the antibodies. As the saying goes “prevention is better than cure”. Research has provided ways for prevention of the different types of Hepatitis Hepatitis A • Washing hands with soap after going to toilet. • Consuming food that has been cooked • D r i n k i n g portable bottle water or boiled water • Eating unripe fruit • Hepatitis B and C
The negative effects also include confusion, acute panic reaction, fear and loss of self control. Aside, smokers every passive smoker is a potential victim of some of the ill-effect yet there is hardly any area in Nigeria free of this drug problem. No doubt, when you give people foothold, they take a strong hold. To achieve a free marijuana state. Agency must step up damped down on the production, control of sale and distribution. Most especially parents need children and the government as a matter of urgency should help to fight against this nuisance and attitude that our youth is trying to emulate as a result of peer pressure and of employment. The government needs to engage the youth to help reduce the intake of drugs among youth.
•
Practicing safe sex • Using clean syringes that have not be used on someone else • Covering open wounds • Going easy on alcohol; avoiding too much alcohol, while Hepatitis D can be cured using the same guideline for B. for type E, use the same for A. With the provision of portable drinking water, by the government especially in rural area, healthy life style been practice by individuals, among others, hepatitis can be reduce to the barest minimum.
“Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms. But the most common symptoms include fever, yellowish skin and eye known as jaundice, nausea, vomiting lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and dark colour urine.”
THE NIGERIAN
23
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Religion
With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA
Let My People Go Continued from last week
“BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS, WHICH COME TO YOU IN SHEEPS CLOTHING …YE SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT” MATT. 7:15. IN every human endeavour there are “Flukes” the fake must be clearly distinguished from the genuine: just as there are fake doctors, there are fake lawyers, fake teachers, there are also fake deliverance ministers, but we cannot lump all together; as you are able to distinguish a genuine Doctor from a fake Doctor; so we must distinguish a genuine deliverance minister from a “Fluke” We cannot allow the counterfeit to prejudice the sincere “abusus-non tollit usum. . The deliverance ministry is one of the ministerial areas most counterfeited in the present generation. The reason is obvious that the present generation believes more in seeing; and are easily carried away by outward manifestations than the written word of God, so every minister coming into the ministry; and wanting to have a niche for himself and an attractive ministry; describes himself as a deliverance minister; yet cannot identify which class he belongs among the four categories earlier mentioned in this book whether, “a commissioned deliverance minister or a “nominal deliverance minister; or an imitator or a fluke”. The fake deliverance minister is so easy to identify if you understand the scriptures. Firstly, he is not of God, that is why he is a fake; because he is not of God he does not have the Holy Spirit; therefore he cannot manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit. What he would manifest are “the works of the flesh. This is why Jesus said by their fruit ye shall know them (Matt. 7:16). . “But the fruit of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is No law” Gal. 5:22. The scripture says “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” Gal. 5:24. But it is not so with the fake deliverance minister. He has not crucified the flesh or the lust of it watch and see if he manifests the works or the flesh which are these: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, Fornication,. uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings and such like Gal. 5:1-21. The fake deliverance minister behaves unscripturally; He tells you “go and bring money before I pray for you”. This is not biblical. He tells you. “I will lake you to the river to bath you” This is not biblical He may tell you. “Naaman went to the river to bath” yes; but did Elisha go to bath Naaman?; let alone these unscriptural ministers take another man’s wife to the river to bath in name of deliverance! He will tell you, “go and bring one item or the other and throw on road junctions seven junctions?” How is this different from animism? He will tell you, “your mother or father who is dead is not happy with you; you have to appease them with a sacrifice”; this is spiritism not Christianity; He will look at your palm or forehead to predict This is palmistry, physiognomy chiropody and clairvoyance:- the occult sciences not Christianity; then you will instantly know he is fake He is not using the clean power of God which is the Holy Spirit. You should never consult such a person. He will tell a single lady to lie with him for blessing; He would defile a married woman; He will drive away his legal wife and begin to change wives; don’t be carried away by he outward signs but his ethics; His ethics identify him as true or false. Kindly flee from such a person; the Bible warns us thus: “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire or that useth divination or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or witch, or a charmer or a consulter with
familiar spirits, or a wizard or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the lord” Deut 18:1 012. So he is different in social and spiritual ethics from the genuine who operates by the source of the Holy Spirit and works in the perfect fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit who is a super-spirit can operate in diverse manifestations we should not be confused about this; only watch out for the ethics of the man operating the diverse gifts if he be of God or of satan. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit. And there are differences of administration but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations “1 Cor. 12: 4 6. If you accuse a man of God full of the spirit of God as satanic would you not be accusing the Holy Spirit like the Pharisees did to Jesus? But Jesus rebuked the blasphemy of
given to .all believers in Christ to go into the world and preach the gospel and baptise and set the captive free . . “Go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature ... And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall theycastoutdevits”Mk.16:15,17. Yes, in the scriptures whatever you do. must come by faith: It is not that the commissioned deliverance minister does not work by faith He does indeed even by a more pragmatic faith but backed up by an obvious super-anointing, arising from the direct commissioning by Christ. Anointing breaks the yoke (Isa. 58:6) Remember without faith we cannot please God: “But without faith it is impossible to please God” Heb. 11 :6. And everything not out of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).
the Pharisees saying: “But if I cast out devils by the spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God is come unto you …..wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto you; but the blasphemy against the. Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men ..... Neither in this world, neither in the world to come “Matt. 12:28,31·32. You must be careful the way you condemn the ministry of the Holy Spirit operating through an anointed servant of . God It can be a serious blasphemy! They are those who enter the’ deliverance ministry as an exercise of faith. Yet these have ethics they are born again and have read the scripture concerning the great commission
Hence the disciples of Jesus wanting to do exploits , for the Lord cried to him saying “Lord increase our faith” Lk 17:5. And Jesus instantly replied: “If ye had faith as a grain of mustards seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you” Lk. 17:6 But the commissioned deliverance minister would say Lord I have faith and I have anointing from thee for anointing is God’s fire in the life of the minister or the power of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of the servant of God. With faith and anointing from God more exploits are done for the Lord; anointing is simply the grace of God, and anointing varies from one minister to another as God wills. So the commissioned deliverance minister; and the minister who exercises deliverance: ministry by fait have ethics’ They have integrity but not so with the fluke or the imitators. The imitators are the real problem in the deliverance ministry for why ‘you can easily identify the fake through unscriptural actions but you may need the spirit of discernment to identify the imitators. They are usually Christians half baked or fullbake who speak in tongues, who simply use the deliverance ministry as an act of Showmanship. Because they can speak in tongue and can quote scriptural verses very profusely even though the imitation spirit in them will not allow them live, fully the Bible standards; they are easily able to mislead’ people, Usually they don’t end up well because they attempt to foul the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Usually they don’t have ethics or integrity.
“The fake deliverance minister is so easy to identify if you understand the scriptures. Firstly, he is not of God, that is why he is a fake; because he is not of God he does not have the Holy Spirit; therefore he cannot manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit. What he would manifest are “the works of the flesh. This is why Jesus said by their fruit ye shall know them (Matt. 7:16). . “But the fruit of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is No law” Gal. 5:22..”
THE NIGERIAN
24
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
International Egyptian Authorities Arrest 2 Islamist Figures Brotherhood and its allies by arresting two more high-profile Islamist figures, while officials said
that they had started a closed hearing in a prison outside Cairo on whether to release jailed expresident Hosni Mubarak. The arrested Islamists include a preacher known for his fiery sermons who was reportedly caught as he tried to flee to neighboring Libya in disguise, and a spokesman for the Brotherhood said to be on his way to catch a flight out of the country. They are the latest allies of President Mohammed Morsi, who hails from the Brotherhood, to be arrested. On Tuesday authorities detained the Brotherhood’s supreme leader and spiritual guide, Mohammed Badie, dealing a serious blow to an embattled movement now struggling to keep up its protest campaign against the military’s overthrow of Morsi and subsequent deadly assaults on pro-Morsi sit-ins. Security officials meanwhile said that a court was conducting hearings in Tora prison The solemnization of marriage between former Miss near Cairo over whether or Alice Monteiro and Mr. Monday Igbinomwanhia took not Mubarak could be place on August 16 th, 2013 at the Oredo Local released. CAIRO -Egyptian authorities yesterday continued their crackdown on the Muslim
Alice Weds Monday
Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. The occasion was graced by dignitaries from all walks of life. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Happy Married life.
A court ruling earlier in the week raised the possibility that Mubarak could walk free, a move that would fuel the unrest roiling the country after the autocratic leader ’s successor was removed in a military coup. Mubarak, in detention since April 2011, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison last year for failing to stop the killing of some 900 protesters in Egypt’s 2011 uprising. His sentence was overturned on appeal and he is now being retried, along with his security chief and six top police commanders. He is facing a number of other corruption charges. Judicial officials have ordered Mubarak’s release pending trials. His lawyers argue that he should be let go after Wednesday’s hearing into charges of having received gifts from the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper — the last case that has kept him in
Weds
BENTLY The solemnization of marriage between former Miss Kornelia Onunkwo Geb Waldemade (based in Germany) and Mr. Bently Onyenweli (An I.T Engineer) took place on Wednesday 21st August, 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Mrs. Helen Onyenweli, Mr. Emmanuel Akuba, Miss Mercy Akuba, Miss Clara Akuba, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations. Photo: SONNIE. E.
allied Anti-Coup Coalition appealed to their supporters to continue street demonstrations in their neighborhoods and to stay home from work. “The detentions and terror operations carried out by coup-makers should not demoralize you,” the statement said. “It is your duty to continue daily activities undeterred.”
PUBLIC NOTICE FAMILY AFFAIRS CHARITY ORGANISATION The general public is hereby notified that above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Pastor (Mrs) Lisa Amen Ehonor - Chairperson 2. Deacon (Barr) Macaulay Usianene Ehonor - Trustee 3. HRH Samuel Iwono Obade - Trustee 4. Pastor Henry Ose Ewoigbokhan - Secretary 5. Dr. Monday Howiks Iraoya - Trustee 6. Dr. Christopher Iyamu - Trustee 7. Mr. Samuel Monday Osezele Okodugha - Trustee 8. Mr. Emmanuel Ehiaguina - Trustee 9. Bro. Kingsley Ojiekhodion - Trustee 10. Pastor Clement Omobhude Ohis - Trustee AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To empower youths in the area of intellectual development 2. Embark on campaign on moral, cultural and ethics 3. Promote awareness on education, health and social values Any objection to the registration should be directed to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, P. M. B. 198 Garki, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: TRUSTEES
CHANGE OF NAME
OBIANKE – I, formerly called Miss Amaka God’swill Obianke is now known and called Mrs. Amaka Okafor God’swill. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT FORESTRY ROAD, BENIN CITY
GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
CHANGE OF NAME
KORNELIA
detention. Many analysts have expressed skepticism that he would be let out, saying the political cost of freeing the former leader, who was widely hated for widespread abuses and repression during his 29 years in power, could keep him in jail. Meanwhile, in a late night Tuesday statement, the Brotherhood and the
OSAGIE – I formerly known and addressed as Osagie Desmond Eguavoen now wish to be known and addressed as Osagie Osmond Eguavoen. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME
OSEMWENKHAE – I formerly known and addressed as Osemwenkhae Precious now wish to be known and addressed as Omigie Precious Osarugue. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
This is to inform the general public and in particular Tricycle Operators (popularly known and called Keke Napep) that the Edo State Government has commenced the registration of tricycle operators in the State. 2.
All commercial tricycle operators are by this announcement advised to visit the Ministry of Transport and comply with the on-going registration process.
3.
All payments regarding number code and other registration process should be made at the Accounts Department at the Ministry of Transport, No. 4 Forestry Road, Benin City between 8.00am and 4.00pm, Mondays through Fridays. Signed: BARR. ISIMEME IRIOGBE Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Transport, Benin City.
THE NIGERIAN
25
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
International Features
AN American journalist who has written stories based on documents leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden said Monday he’ll publish with more fervor after British authorities detained his partner. London police detained David Miranda under antiterror legislation as he arrived at Heathrow Airport in London airport Sunday. Miranda, who is in a civil union with reporter Glenn Greenwald, arrived Monday in Rio de Janeiro, where he lives with the journalist. A defiant Greenwald, who reports for the Guardian newspaper in Britain, promised he was going “to write much more aggressively than before” about government snooping. “I’m going to publish many more things about England, as well,” he said in Portuguese at Rio’s international airport when Miranda arrived. “I have many documents about England’s espionage system, and now my focus will be there, too. I think they’ll regret what they’ve done.” In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. government was tipped off by British counterparts that Miranda would be detained, but the U.S. had not requested the action. The spokesman didn’t respond to a question about whether U.S. officials may have discouraged British officials from stopping Miranda. n’s Metropolitan Police defended the decision to detain Miranda, saying the examination was both “necessary and proportionate.” The statement said an attorney had been offered to Miranda, but the Brazilian later told the Guardian in an interview that he refused to use the lawyer out of fear of the British government. Miranda told the Guardian that agents questioning him “were threatening me all the time and saying I would be put in jail if I didn’t cooperate.” Miranda said he was seized
Snowden Reports: Won’t
Be Slience By Detention almost as soon as his plane landed at Heathrow. “There was an announcement on the plane that everyone had to show their passports. The minute I stepped out of the plane they took me away,” he said. Agents confiscated Miranda’s computer, external hard drive, cellphone, DVDs, memory sticks and some paper documents. Miranda was held for nearly the maximum time that British authorities are allowed to detain individuals under the Terrorism Act’s Schedule 7, which authorizes security agencies to stop and question people at borders. Keith Vaz, chairman of Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee, told the BBC that “you have a complaint from Mr. Greenwald and the Brazilian government — they indeed have said they are concerned at the use of terrorism legislation for something that does not appear to relate to terrorism. So it needs to be clarified, and clarified quickly.” Vaz said it was “extraordinary” that police knew that Miranda was Greenwald’s partner and that the authorities were targeting partners of people involved in Snowden’s disclosures. The case drew the ire of watchdog groups. “It’s incredible that Miranda was considered to be a terrorist suspect,” said David Mepham, the British director at Human Rights Watch. “On the contrary, his detention looks intended to intimidate Greenwald and other journalists who report on surveillance abuses.” Greenwald has written about NSA surveillance programs based on files disclosed by Snowden, who now has temporary asylum in Russia. The Obama administration wants
“I’m going to publish many more things about England, as well, he said in Portuguese at Rio’s international airport when Miranda arrived. I have many documents about England’s espionage system, and now my focus will be there, too. I think they’ll regret what they’ve done.”
David Cameron, British Prime Minister Snowden sent back to the United States to be tried for the leaks. Miranda, a 28-year-old university student, was traveling home to Brazil after visiting Germany, where he met with Laura Poitras, a U.S. filmmaker who has worked with Greenwald on the NSA stories. A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said that “Schedule 7 forms an essential part of the U.K.’s border security arrangements,” but added that it was for the police to decide “when it is necessary
and proportionate to use these powers.” Brazil’s Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota and his British counterpart, William Hague, spoke by phone Monday, the British Embassy in Brasilia said in a statement. “They agreed that Brazilian and U.K. officials will remain in contact on this issue. This remains an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police,” British Ambassador Alex Ellis said in an emailed statement. “As Glenn Greenwald’s partner, he often assists him in his work,” the newspaper said in a statement. “We
would normally reimburse the expenses of someone aiding a reporter in such circumstances.” In an email Monday to The Associated Press, Greenwald said that he needed material from Poitras for stories he was working on with her relating to the NSA, and that he had things she needed. “David, since he was in Berlin, helped with that exchange,” Greenwald wrote. Greenwald didn’t specify what material Miranda might have been carrying. He said that only he and Poitras “have copies of the full archives of
NSA documents which Snowden gave to journalists.” David Anderson, Britain’s official independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said he had asked authorities to explain why Miranda was detained and held for so long. In most cases, those questioned under Schedule 7 are detained for less than an hour. “It is such a wide power that it would be surprising if it was used perfectly on every occasion,” Anderson told the BBC. “It is a very extensive power and this just points up the need to have it properly controlled.”
“Keith Vaz, chairman of Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee, told the BBC that “you have a complaint from Mr. Greenwald and the Brazilian government — they indeed have said they are concerned at the use of terrorism legislation for something that does not appear to relate to terrorism. So it needs to be clarified, and clarified quickly.”
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Economy
As NSE Launches Alternative Security Market
By SYLVESTER AKELE
NEWS emanating from the stock market is that the Nigerian stock Exchange (NSE) is set to launch the Alternative Securities Market (ASeM). The ASeM, according to the exchange, is intended to enable emerging companies with high potential for growth, but unable to be listed on the main board because of its stringent listing requirements, to be on a specialized board. This specialized or Junior Board is expected to accommodate mid-sized companies to enable them raise, under less stringent rules and requirements, long term, low cost capital. The flexible rules that will recognize growth potential of companies, rather than size, will enhance the ability or the companies to inject long term capital into their business, according to NSE officials. The initiative sounds very familiar as one remembers the Second - Tier Securities Market (SSM). The exchange has in fact appointed Designated Advisers (DA’s) to help ensure compliance by the prospective companies and advice them on securities - related matters. Who will bear the cost of the DA’s. Definitely the companies that apply to be listed. The effect of this will be to increase the cost of listing, one of the disincentives to companies seeking listing. Congratulations to the
NSE on this “new” initiative. In December 2009, the NSE scrapped the Second - Tier Securities Market (SSM), which had been on several years had failed dismally and was supposed to achieve the same objectives that the ASeM is now being assigned. The name that emerged thereafter was Alternative Securities/Private Placement Exchange, (ASEM/PRlPEX). This change arose from the fact that “the usefulness of the Second-Tier Securities Market has continued to dwindle with performance below expectations in terms of profitability and return on investment; also trading activities in this sector is so low that so far its contribution to total market capitalization is less than one percent”, according to officials or the exchange then. The exchange promised then that the new platform would provide unrivalled access to companies who could not list on the main board. It also promised that companies that raised funds through private placement between 2005 and 2008 would be listed on the ASeM/ PRlPEX. The listed companies under such platform were expected to enjoy access to pool capital, enhanced profile, increased status, credibility and integrity. All these did not happen. Have the fundamentals now changed [or them to happen or will another change of name now make the Second - Tier Securities Market, exactly what it is, viable? I doubt. For the avoidance of doubt, I am a staunch supporter of market
development and the improvement of infrastructure and market facilities. But I believe that the fundamentals must be right. By this I mean the business environment, the incentives to list, the cost of listing and the benefits
to compel listing of some companies but I am not one of those to support interference in free markets. Alternative markets, for example the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange,
that some companies listed on the main board have over the years transferred to it. In 2005 alone, 40 c o m p a n i e s moved from the main board to AIM. AIM has significant tax advantages f o r investors as well as less regulatory burden for companies. A generous
derivable by companies that list. They must be so much that whatever you call the Second-Tier Market, the companies will be there. There are presently some 200 companies listed on the stock exchange. There is no doubt that the incentives for listing are not there hence the oil and telecommunications companies are largely absent from the exchange. That is also why many SME’s are not there. There has been advocacy or a law
which was established in 1995 is a very successful platform and indeed worthy of emulation. It allows smaller companies to float shares under a more flexible regulatory system than is applicable to the main board. AIM has raised well over $24Billion for more than 2,200 companies. Flexibility is provided by less regulation and no requirements for capitalization or number of shares issued. The AIM is so successful
tax, holiday for prospective companies could encourage listing on the main board and the proposed ASeM. But it is the government that can give that. The successors of AIM in the UK have encouraged foreign companies to be l i s t e d on it. In 2005, over 70 foreign companies were admitted to it. In 2006, India related companies raised 2.7 million dollars on AIM. India - focused Wind
“The exchange promised then that the new platform would provide unrivalled access to companies who could not list on the main board. It also promised that companies that raised funds through private placement between 2005 and 2008 would be listed on the ASeM/ PRlPEX. The listed companies under such platform were expected to enjoy access to pool capital, enhanced profile, increased status, credibility and integrity. All these did not happen. Have the fundamentals now changed [or them to happen or will another change of name now make the Second - Tier Securities Market, exactly what it is, viable? I doubt.”
f a r m operators, Indian Energy Limited, raised 9.7million pounds on AIM. The c o m p a n y owns a 24.8 megawatt wind farm in Gadag, in Southern India. There is no doubt that the ASeM will offer a lot of possibilities for i n d e p e n d e n t Power Producers (IPPs)
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) Real E s t a t e C o m p a n i e s , Manufacturing and other companies in Nigeria. It could also be a platform for such companies in the West Africa sub-region the worry is that the prevailing productive conditions that have negatively affected the real sector of the economy, which are external to the stock exchange, will also affect the prospects of AScM. And in due course, it will head in the same direction as SSM and ASEM/PRIPEX, unless the environment for doing business changes dramatically. Mr. Sylvester Akele, CEO, Soakel Consulting Ltd., Wrote from Abuja.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Man & Nature
With O.C Madu
The Recognition of God MAN or human being can never really see God, be cause his nature is in no way endowed with the capacity to do so, yet he does carry within himself the gift to recognize God in His works. But this does not come to him overnight, nor does it fall to him in his sleep, but it requires earnest efforts, a great and strong valition which must not lack in purity. Abd-ru-shin the author of “Grail message” –In the Light of Truth says that human beings have the unquenched longing for the recognition of God bestowed upon him/ her. It is so implanted within human beings that they, cannot find peace during their wandering through subsequent-Creation, which they are permitted to undertake for the purpose of their development. In becoming self –conscious you learn gratefully to enjoy the blessing which the worlds hold for you and offer to you. If during these wanderings you were to find rest within yourselves, then this rest would ultimately bring about stagnation, which holds exhaustion and decay for your spirit and finally inevitable disintegration, because, it does not thereby obey the Primordial law of necessary movement. The working of the self-acting laws in Creation, however, is like a conveyor belt which pulls the human spirit along without interruption. But all those who do not know how to keep their balance, however, will slip and thus, stumble and fall. Keeping the balance in this case is equivalent to keeping the harmony in Creation. He who wavers and falls, he who cannot keep himself up-right therein, will be dragged along, because the machinery does halt for his sake even for a single second. This being dragged along, however, causes injury. And to be able to stand upright again demands increased exertion and still more effort is needed to find the necessary balance again. It is not so easy in an environment where there is continual movement. If he does not succeed in doing so man will be flung completely out of his course right into the middle of the machinery and be crushed. Therefore, be grateful, you men, that the longing for the recognition of God does not leave you in piece during your wanderings. In this way without realising it you escape all sorts of dangers in machinery of the world. But man has not understood the longing which lies within you, this you has also distorted, making only a low kind of restlessness out of it. The restlessness you again strive to calm or satisfy in the wrong way be some means or other. As you only use your intellect to do this you naturally reach out for earthly desires, hoping to satisfy this urge by accumulating earthly treasures, through the rush of work, by pleasurable diversions, in weakening comfort or at its best, perhaps through a pure bind of earthly love for a women. Abd-ru-shin say that this, however, brings you no benefit, nor does it help you onwards. It may perhaps for a short period deaden the longing which you have perverted into disquietude, yet this distorted longing cannot be
obliterated for ever, only repressed here and there. This unrecognized longing Abd-ru-shin says spur son on the human soul ever again and unless earthman finally tries to grasp its meaning, it drives him through many earthlives without achieving that maturity which will enable him to ascend, as is willed to the lighter, more luminous and more beautiful fields of this sub-sequent creation. The fault according to Abd-ru-shin lies with man himself. He pays far too little attention or even none whatever, to all the help given to him, suffering under the delusion of his desire to be sufficient unto himself . Those through the snares of the intellect, with which he bound the wings of his spirit. Now he has come to the end of his strength. He is exhausted through being driven by power he has not yet recognize, the help of which he has stubbornly opposed in his obstinate attitude of childishly thinking he knew and could do everything better himself, which manifests itself as a result of the enforced and self-inflicted crippling of his brain. Yet, it would have been so easy for every man, had he but simply and modestly permitted all those gifts to mature within himself, which the creator bestowed upon him for his wandering through all the planes of subsequent Creation, gifts which are absolutely necessary for the development of the human spirit. He would have become great thereby, much greater and much wiser than he ever dreamed of being. But without humbleness and modesty these gifts can never blossom into abilities. It is a childish plaything, this knowledge of which you
“Now, at last, men seek the recognition of God in Creation, of which you are the smallest part of that species which is allowed to develop to selfconsciousness through the Grace of the creator, in fulfillment of the longing that lies within it.”
are so inordinately proud. A speck of dust compared with what you could know and above all with what you could achieve and what already today you should achieve. What do you earthmen know of this wonderful Creation, which manifests inviolably everywhere in its respective species and beauty, but above all in its laws? It is with dull indifference that you stand before, all this greatness. Now, at last, men seek the recognition of God in Creation, of which you are the smallest part of that species which is allowed to develop to self-consciousness through the Grace of the creator, in fulfillment of the longing that lies within it. Do not merely seek to satisfy your vanity in this matter, as you have hitterto done through being the slave of your intellect. You have come to an end of this. You and your imagined abilities are about to collapse. And you are very far from real ability. The results of your actions will now prove what little bunglers you have been. In obedience to the Divine Laws in Creation these results will now return like heavy waves to their originators, either greatly uplifting them or burying them beneath with all their works. It will then become quite definitely evident as to what was right and what was wrong. That which in recent times you could have already seen clearly enough if you had only wished has already set in-should have been a warning to you to turn back while there was yet time. And at last to think about examining yourselves. But men neither hear nor see, despair drives them never more frantically to the belief that help can come through their own abilities. The Lord says he who does not stand and work in the Laws of God will no longer receive help from the light. The condition is the knowledge of God’s law in Creation. And without help from the Light the real up building is utterly impossibly today. The belief of a man in his own mission and the belief of those who follow him are of no avail to any human being. Everything will break down with him at that point where the effect of the Divine Laws in Creation touches him. Abd-ru- shin says that every person is now confronted with these effects in accordance with Holy Law of God. There in lies the judgment which all the believer dread.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Coyle Wants Change To Wigan Mindset
OWEN Coyle wants his Wigan squad to adapt from being perennial underdogs to a team on the front foot after they had to fight back from two goals down to earn a point against unfancied Doncaster. Rovers nearly spoiled the party in Coyle’s first home game in charge thanks to first-half goals from Theo Robinson and Chris Brown. However, Shaun Maloney’s smart free-kick 12 minutes after the break halved the deficit before Leon Barnett’s 90thminute leveller saved Coyle’s blushes, making it 2-2 in the end. Wigan’s eight-year stint in the top flight ended last season and Coyle believes the current squad must switch their mindset when they fall behind now they are frequently expected to win games. “When all too often in the Premier League you’ve been second favourites and you lose a goal against a quality team there’s a tendency to think you might not get back into it,” said Coyle. “What we’ve got to understand is even when that happens to ourselves in the Championship, we’ve got enough quality at any given time to come back in any game against any opposition and I felt the reaction wasn’t good enough.” Despite that, Wigan’s ability to salvage a draw in the second half pleased Coyle, who added: “When we came in at half-time there was certainly one or two words spoken. “The character, the resolve, the desire, everything I ask of teams of mine was there in abundance. “The spirit they showed, the desire, the work-rate for each other in the second half is very pleasing. Obviously we need to make sure we’re not giving teams two-goal head-starts but there were a lot of positives to take.” The outcome could have been entirely different too had the hosts been awarded a 15thminute penalty when Grant Holt was hauled down by Reece Wabara right in front of goal. “I’ve seen it back and it’s the biggest stonewall penalty you’ll ever see in your life,” said Coyle. “Grant’s a yard in front of the lad and the lad’s just dragged him to the ground. I’ve got no doubts if we had gone that goal in front tonight we’d have gone on to win that game with a couple of goals to spare. “But, fair play to Doncaster, they got a 2-0 lead... second half it was like that old movie ‘The Alamo’. It was waves of attack, we kept coming and coming and it’s a great characteristic to have in your team.” Doncaster boss Paul Dickov was delighted to earn a share of the spoils against the FA Cup holders, although he acknowledged Rovers’ misfortune with both Bongani Khumalo and Billy Paynter hitting the woodwork. “To come here against a team that I consider one of the best if not the best squad in the division and compete the way we did and get a point is really pleasing,” said Dickov.
Open Transfer Window Distracts Players EVERTON boss Roberto Martinez continues to insist that Manchester United’s continued bids for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini is a waste of time. Manchester United have had two bids for the duo rejected as Martinez plans to hold onto his best players despite what may be offered for them. With that in mind he addressed the media and urged the two players not to waste their time
Arsene Wenger
Wenger Issues Rallying Call ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has challenged his players to rise above the negativity surrounding the club’s disappointing start to the season and deliver the required performance in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie against Fenerbahce in Istanbul. Following the opening-day 3Newcastle manager Alan 1 home defeat by Aston Villa, Pardew hitting out over the heading to the Sukru Saracoglu timing of a formal bid for Stadium with qualification for midfielder Yohan Cabaye, the lucrative group stages on the believed to be £10million. line is hardly ideal. “You just want to prepare as However, it presents a test of well as you can and bounce back character Wenger is confident his very quickly from Saturday with men can overcome in the wake a good performance which is of criticism of a lack in depth and what I think we will do,” said lack of summer spending, with Wenger, who will have to do
Paul Lambert
without England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for up to three months because of a knee injury. “Everywhere we go we try to win the game and that is the attitude we have. Again, we will try to play our game as we do everywhere. “We have been everywhere in Europe in all the big stages and seen heated atmospheres, but we always try to play.” Fenerbahce’s place in European competition is yet subject to a full hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being found guilty of match-fixing by UEFA. Wenger, though, is not going to let any possible repercussions impact his team’s preparations. “Honestly we don’t really know the story so we don’t want to speak about that. We want to win on the pitch. That’s all we want to focus on,” said Wenger, whose side won 5-2 here on their last visit in the group stages during October 2008. Wenger has so far missed out on his main transfer targets Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez, while north London rivals Tottenham again look set to smash their transfer record with an ambitious £30million deal for Anzhi Makhachkala forward Willian. Arsenal were booed off after losing to Villa, with plenty of calls for Wenger to quickly spend some of the £70million transfer war chest, while one supporters group has written to the board demanding
all contract talks with their long-serving manager be put on hold. Wenger, though, will not let any outside influences deflect his determination to bring the current group through. He said: “I cannot listen every minute to every state of mind for everybody. You cannot look all the time in life at what others do. You do what is right for you. “I would just like to reiterate to you that in the last 16 years we have been very successful with transfers.”
We Have Plan B And C
CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho says although his side are still chasing Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, they have left other options open. The Blues have already seen two bids for the England international rejected by the Red Devils but Mourinho is hopeful that they can still make a successful offer, although the ball remains in United’s court. Mourinho to continue in
Lambert Hits Back At Bullying Claims PAUL Lambert has increased the pressure on Arsene Wenger by refuting allegations that his side kicked their way to victory over Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday. Wenger tried to deflect criticism of his failure to spend and improve his squad in the wake of the 3-1 defeat by questioning Villa’s over physical approach to the game. The attack on Villa has left manager Lambert with a sour taste as he prepares to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night and the Scot has totally rejected the Frenchman’s
claims. “Bullying? Have you seen my midfield. They’re about five feet, four inches tall. They’re footballers,” said Lambert. “I don’t have a dirty player in my side and we have never bullied anyone. We played hard but fair. We never got a chance to kick anyone. I don’t have the players to play that way anyway. I thought we were excellent and a threat on the counter-attack. I don’t buy into that. “Football is a physical game. You have to be prepared to put tackles in and be prepared to get hurt. But it was never over-the-
top. We pressed when we could. If anyone says it was bullying then they are seeing a different game what what I’m seeing.” Despite his willingness to challenge Wenger, Lambert has refused to enter into a feud with Darren Bent, after the striker’s caustic comments over his final year with Villa, since joining Fulham on loan for the season. Bent claims he was completely ostracised by Lambert and last season was “horrible”. The 29year-old has revealed he was omitted from first-team training and had his locker cleaned out as he became a first-team outcast.
thinking about the transfer speculation, but to rather focus on their football. “It’s been well documented what happened with the transfer speculation (regarding Baines and Fellaini),” said the Everton manager. “That’s been dealt with and it was all a little bit of a waste of time, time I don’t want the players to waste.” Martinez feels that the transfer window should have closed before the season started as the rumours of players coming or going only serve in disrupting teams. “I’m not a big believer in having the window open while the games are starting. I don’t believe in getting involved in the transfer window when the games are underway and we are in a very, very important moment of our season,” said Martinez before touching on his side’s opening 2-2 draw against Norwich in the league. “I think the start of the season was important for us at Norwich and I won’t come out now and carry on talking about the speculation.
Asked about Bent’s comments, Lambert refused to respond to Bent, saying: “Talk about the game. Talk about Chelsea. I’m concentrating on my team and this club.” Villa’s win at Arsenal on Saturday was only their first in 11 visits to London and they still have painful memories of their 8-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last season, but Lambert is hopeful of handing Jose Mourinho his first ever home league defeat as Chelsea manager.
- Mourinho
Rooney pursuit. “When you think that you’d like to have one player and the market is open, the official bids are not forbidden,’ he told reporters. “Official bids are always accepted in an ethical way – you try because nobody forbids you to try. “Of course, the players’ owners can do exactly what we did with David Luiz and Barcelona. It’s simple.” Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o, who worked under Mourinho at Inter Milan, has also been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as his side Anzhi Makhachkala are looking to offload their highest paid players. Mourinho has not ruled out the possible reunion, saying he is looking at other players should the Rooney proposal fall through. “We have Plan B and C,” he added. “Don’t ask me names because it is difficult to speak about players from other clubs. Chelsea have already signed goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and attacking midfielders Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Bale Is Expensive - Raul
Sevilla Determined gbia ondogbia To Keep Kondo SEVILLA president Jose Maria del Nido has reiterated that the club have no intention of selling Geoffrey Kondogbia during the current transfer window. The 20-year-old Frenchman has been linked with top European sides like Real Madrid, Manchester City and Juventus throughout the offseason but his side have insisted that he is not for sale. Nonetheless, French newspaper L’Equipe reported this week that Monaco have tabled a bid of around 15 million euros for the midfielder, but Del Nido says the offer was rejected as they are looking to offer the player a longer contract. Kondogbia – Defending, skills and goals. “This year there is no possibility of Sevilla negotiating the departure of Kondogbia,” he told reporters. “If a club were to deposit the player’s clause then it would be an act of aggression, against the club and its president. The contract says that the clause must be paid for the footballer. “We have already made an offer through sporting director Monchi to improve and even extend his contract.
We are not thinking about the possibility of him leaving. “The conversations that Monchi has had with the player’s father and agent have moved between two possibilities, his departure and his staying and fortunately in recent days they have been talking just about him staying. “We have received many offers and the last one of +15m has been rejected.” Del Nido also spoke about Thursday’s first leg of their Europa League play off against Slask Wroclaw, a clash he views a must-win. “To not pass this round would be a disaster for us, with respect to the opponent,” he said. “Sevilla has to win on Thursday and eventually win the tie to progress to the Europa League.”
Gareth Bale
Milan, PSV Tie ‘All Open’
AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri said the Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven was now “all open” after his side failed to beat the Dutch giants in the first-leg. Milan and PSV head to the from a long range effort. And Allegri said that after San Siro locked at 1-1 after Stephan El Shaarawy’s struggling to take their opening goal was cancelled chance in the Netherlands, out by PSV’s Tim Matavz, Milan have left the door open the Slovenian striker taking for the young Eredivisie club. Miguel Delaney: An full advantage of goalkeeper Christian Abbiati’s fumble opening day defeat can be misleading, a comforting statistic for Arsenal fans.Read Michael Cox: Oscar is becoming a key player in the Chelsea team, with and without the ball. Read 2010 Serie A, Coppa Italia “We struggled a little at the and Champions League start, losing the ball and Treble with the Nerazzurri, allowing them easy chances,” Jose Mourinho. A move to Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. London hinges on whether or “In the second half we not Wayne Rooney arrives at controlled the ball better and Stamford Bridge. above all defended better, as Were the England in the first half we were too international to head south, wide between the sections United would then emerge as the frontrunners for Eto’o’s services. Should a move to JOE Ledley is bullishly Old Trafford also fail to confident that Celtic will bounce materialise, then Inter would back from their shock 2-0 defeat be next up. to Shakhter Karagandy to reach “I’d say there is a 30% the Champions League group chance of Eto’o returning to stages. Inter,” Vigorelli said. Neil Lennon’s men have it all Eto’o enjoyed a successful to do after the first-leg of the two-year spell at Inter, play-off against the Kazakhstan scoring 33 goals in 67 games champions at the Astana Arena. before making a big-money The home side found switch to Anzhi, but now he themselves ahead against the is no longer wanted by the run of play in the 12th minute Russian club because of costwhen Andrei Finonchenko cutting. scored from close range. Meanwhile, Inter did Celtic might have scored complete one deal on twice before then and the Hoops Tuesday with Saphir Taider proceeded to create and miss arriving from Serie A rivals more opportunities before and Bologna. “I’m very happy after Shakhter’s powerful striker and I want to thank Bologna Sergei Khizhnichenko headed in and Inter for giving me this a second in the 77th minute to opportunity,” the midfielder leave the Hoops chasing the tie said on his new club’s official in the second-leg in Glasgow website. “Inter are a great next Wednesday night. club who have won Asked why he was confident everything and I’m delighted of turning the tie around, the to be here.”
Samuel Eto’o’s Future Undecided INTER Milan are still in the hunt for Anzhi Makhachkala forward Samuel Eto’o, although they only have a one in three chance of getting him, according to the player’s agent. Claudio Vigorelli, who represents the Cameroonian, revealed to Italy’s Sportmediaset TV that three clubs currently come into question for the 32-year-old. Inter are one of them, although they will have to take their place in line behind Chelsea and Manchester United. Vigorelli is reported to be touting his client to the Blues, where he would link up with his coach from the
Samuel Eto’O.
and that allowed passes through. “It’s a shame, as we had so many chances to seal the win even after the equaliser, so now it’s all open ahead of the second leg. “If we had won and especially with a two-goal cushion then we would be looking at this match differently. “Now we have to think about Saturday’s Serie A opener with Verona and only after that worry about the
Dorlan Pabon Nears Valencia Switch
COLOMBIAN forward Dorlan Pabon is set to join Valencia for around +7 million from Mexican club Monterrey. Pabon, who impressed on loan during the second half of last season at Real Betis, reportedly underwent a
Ledley Confident Despite Defeat
Wales midfielder said: “We
second leg.” Meanwhile, PSV coach Phillip Cocu said he was “very happy” with his side’s ‘dominant’ performance. “I’m definitely satisfied by the way we’ve played. We’ve dominated the game,” Cocu said. “From the first minute we’ve put a lot of pressure on Milan. Our defence pushed forward. We have also created a lot of chances. So I’m very happy with that.”
REAL Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez says although Gareth Bale is a good player, he believes Tottenham Hotspur have overestimated his value. The Welshman has been linked a move to the Santiago Bernabeu throughout the transfer window but Spurs are said to be asking for a 100 million pounds for his signature. However, Raul, who scored 323 goals in 741 appearances for Madrid, believes this is an outrageous figure even for such a talented player. “He (Bale) a brilliant player and would bring a lot to Madrid, but he’s very expensive,” Raul told reporters. “Tottenham have overestimated his price.” Spurs edge closer to keeping Bale Raul will be honoured by his former club on Thursday night during the Bernabeu Trophy encounter against his current club Al Sadd and he believes the Whites are on the right track following the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti. “The board are professional and are working to achieve good things for the team,” he added. “(Jose) Mourinho did well with the team and Carlo Ancelotti is one of the best coaches in the world and he’ll win trophies.”
should have scored six goals easy, that’s why. “To be fair to them, their keeper was on fire but we dominated possession and had more chances but lost sloppy goals. “It is definitely frustrating, we dominated them away from home and two sloppy goals killed the game. “Away from home you need to keep the door shut and it just wasn’t good enough today “But we believe we can score against them.” Ledley played down the pressure Celtic will be under to rescue the tie. He said: “There is always pressure in the Champions League, it is a massive tournament and fantastic to be in. “Hopefully the fans will behind us and we will need to put on a good show.”
medical in Mexico last weekend. He is now due in Valencia this week to complete the deal, after Los Che paid the $10 million [+7.2 million] buy-out clause in his Monterrey contract. The Mexican outfit’s president Luis Miguel Salvador told Superdeporte that his club had wanted to keep Pabon but were powerless to stop the transfer happening. “We have to look at things so that what has to be done is done,” Salvador said. “The payment must be with us in the coming days and once that is done, as is stipulated, the player is free to join somebody else. “From the start, we were clear that we would not negotiate with Valencia, but we can do nothing if the club pays the release clause and have the consent of the player.” Valencia had apparently been tracking the former Parma player for some weeks, but waited until August 20 to make their move after being made aware that the clause kicked-in on
that date. Pabon, 25, who can play wide or as a second striker, scored eight times in 17 games at Betis. He will now help cover the vacuum up front at Mestalla left by Roberto Soldado’s +30 million move to Tottenham. When asked about the possible move after Saturday’s 1-0 Primera Division opening weekend win over Malaga, Los Che coach Miroslav Djukic admitted his interest. “He fulfills the profile,” Djukic said then. After that game Valencia president Amadeo Salvo also suggested that a new signing was imminent with the club having freed up space on their wagebill by sending left-back Aly Cissokho on a seasonlong loan move to Liverpool. Argentine winger Pablo Piatti is also expected to leave the Mestalla before the end of the summer transfer window. Piatti himself rejected a move to Ligue 1 side Rennes last week after the two clubs had agreed a +2.5 million fee, and La Liga clubs Getafe and Celta Vigo now reportedly head the queue for his signature.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Local Black Stars Name 22 For Libya Friendly
Edubiase Seek Partnership In Germany NEW Edubiase United Vice President Alex Ackumey has arrived in Germany to meet Bundesliga clubs for partnership deals. Ackumey is expected to meet officials of Hannover 96 and Bayer Leverkusen in the coming days. He will meet former Ghana U17 captain Sebastian Barnes who is now a youth team coach at Leverkusen. “We are a small club but I think we can achieve something if partner foreign clubs,” Ackumey told MTNFootball.com “Edubiase have the talents here and we can trade with others who are interested in them. We are thinking big but starting on a small note.” Edubiase are determined to improve their fortunes both on and off the pitch.
Zimbabwe Must Fall
HERVE Renard says beating Zimbabwe to CHAN qualification this Saturday would cap their 2013 Cosafa Cup triumph over them. Zimbabwe returns to Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on August 24 for the CHAN final leg decider for the first time since July 20 where they fell 2-0 to Zambia in the 2013 Cosafa Cup final. Zambia and Zimbabwe head into the final leg qualifying decider tied at 0-0 from the first leg played at Rufaro Stadium in Harare on August 18. Renard said after Tuesday morning training at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka that they have to finish the job off this weekend in Ndola. “After winning the Cosafa it will be perfect to qualify for the CHAN,” Renard said. “We are working very hard and are going to work hard in Ndola.” Renard added that returning home to play on a familiar grass surface after his player’s struggled on the plastic pitch at Rufaro last Sunday was a great relief. Meanwhile, Zambia shifts camp to Ndola late Tuesday after spending the day in Lusaka following their arrival from Harare earlier on Monday.
Herve Renard
LOCAL Black Stars coach Maxwell Konadu has invited 22 homebased players to prepare for an upcoming international friendly against Libya. Asante Kotoko and Ebusua Dwarfs are with the highest quota of players called up from the Ghana Premier League into the latest Black Stars squad. Foli Adade, Francis Morton and Richard Gadze are the three players from Dwarfs while Kotoko trio Kwabena Adusei, Michael Akuffu and Michael Helegbe were also named in the squad.
Neil Lennon
Celtic Manager Bullish Over Chances Of Reaching Group Stage CELTIC manager Neil Lennon says his side’s Champions League hopes are far from over after they suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Kazakh minnows Shakhter Karagandy in the first leg of their play-off match. The Scottish champions League. dominated possession in the However, Lennon was bullish Astana Arena with Kris about his side’s chances and says Commons hitting the woodwork he saw enough in their and James Forrest seeing his performance to know they have effort clawed off the line by a great chance to turn things ‘keeper Alexsandr Mokin as the around at Celtic Park. Hoops came close to a crucial “It was a disappointing result, away goal. but we should have scored and But they struggled to contain then that would have put a Shakhter’s counter-attacking different complexion on the tie,” style and went behind to a 12th he said. minute Andrei Fionchenko strike “However, it’s not over yet. before Sergei Khizhnichenko We have to go back to Celtic doubled their lead in the 76th Park and there was plenty there minute when he headed past for me to chew on in terms of Fraser Forster from close range. chances. The defeat leaves Celtic, who “Shakhter didn’t surprise us reached the last 16 of the with the way they played. We competition last season, with a knew they would throw balls lot of work to do in next forward and we should have Wednesday’s return leg in dealt with the first goal a lot Glasgow and puts Shakhter in better and the second goal they the driving seat to become the had a bit of luck with. first Kazakhstan side to reach the “I didn’t really feel group stages of the Champions uncomfortable in the game at all.
I thought we would score and that would put a totally different complexion on the tie, but the fact that we didn’t just makes it that little bit more difficult now. “I don’t know how many chances we had tonight - clear cut ones as well - and if you don’t take your chances then you make life difficult for yourself. “But we’re not down and out just yet.” Celtic have lost a number of key players in the summer including influential midfielder Victor Wanyama, defender Kelvin Wilson and last season’s top-scorer Gary Hooper.
even in the Nigeria game; I don’t think we played badly, we just couldn’t convert our chances,” said Bartlett. “Against Burkina Faso we did manage to score two goals but we created a lot more. “If you want to have success at any level of this game; you need to be a lot more clinical and that’s one thing that Bafana need to learn very quickly. “In order to qualify for any competition, we need to score goals; pretty play alone is not going to get points, the ball has to hit the back of the net. “We need players who are willing to make the right decisions and also willing to take the responsibility when we have possession in those crucial areas; that goes for strikers and all the players on
the team.” Bartlett, who scored 28 goals in 74 appearances for Bafana Bafana, had a run for the South African Legends as they went down 2-0 to the Italian Masters, but he says he was delighted with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “It was an honour to be part of a unique event in celebration of our former president Nelson Mandela and it’s one of those special days I can add to my career,” he said. “It’s always good to get together with my former teammates and I felt privileged to be on the same park with the likes of Jomo (Sono) and Prof (Ngubane) and all the others that I never played with. “We enjoyed the game; it was quite evident that we weren’t up there in terms of fitness but it was a great occasion.”
Galaxy Sink Cartagines On Keane Double
CARSON, Calif - Robbie Keane scored two second-half goals to lift the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-0 victory Tuesday night over Costa Rican club Cartagines in their group opener in the CONCACAF Champions League. Keane gave the Galaxy the lead in the 66th minute, taking
Bafana Need To Be More Clinical LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows assistant coach Shaun Bartlett says Bafana Bafana have to take more responsibility in the final third in order to convert their chances. Gordon Igesund’s men played two international friendlies last week, losing 2-0 to Nigeria at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday before beating Burkina Faso by the same margin at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Bafana Bafana enjoyed decent ball possession and created numerous opportunities in both matches, but Bartlett believes at times they let themselves down by poor execution and being overelaborated. “That was a major problem
But Lennon was reluctant to blame their loss as a contributing factor to his side’s performance in Kazakhstan and warned his current crop of stars that he wanted to see an instant improvement. “There were a few players who will be disappointed with their performances and they better get better very quickly,” added Lennon. “I think I’ve still got enough in the squad to come through the tie, so that’s what we’ll endeavour to do.”
Aduana Stars and Berekum Chelsea follow in that order with two players called from their stables in Stephen Adams, Godfred Saka and Jackson Owusu and Jordan Opoku respectively. Hearts of Oak’s Moro Abubakar also made the squad as well as King Faisal’s Suleimana Mohammed. The 22-man squad will begin residential camping in Obuasi for ahead of an international friendly match against Libya to be played on August 30 in Tunisia. Full squad: Goalkeepers: Joseph Addo (Heart of Lions) Foli Adade (Dwarfs) and Stephen Adams (Aduana) Defenders: Godfred Saka (Aduana) Francis Morton (Dwarfs) Tijani Joshua (Wa All Stars) Kwabena Adusei (Asante Kotoko) Henry Enchil (Medeama) Abeiku Ainooson (Edubiase) and Nuru Sulley (Hearts of Oak) Midfielders: Moro Abubakar (Hearts of Oak) Asiedu Attobrah (Edubiase) Jackson Owusu and Jordan Opoku (Berekum Chelsea) Latif Mohammed (AshantiGold) Michael Helegbe, Michael Akuffu and Richard Mpong (Asante Kotoko)
a pass from Landon Donovan and firing toward the goalmouth from a tight angle on the left. The ball went off goalkeeper Wardy Alfaro’s hands and rolled slowly into the net. Keane netted his second 3 minutes into stoppage time, beating Alfaro oneon-one after taking another feed from Donovan. “You see the difference when Landon came on,” said Keane, who scored three in the Galaxy’s MLS victory Saturday night over Real Salt Lake. “We’re very in tune with each other. We know each other’s runs and where we want to be, so it was the case with the two goals, and lucky enough for us we got the two goals. It was a decent performance. It wasn’t brilliant, but it was decent.” The Galaxy don’t play in the regional club championship until Sept. 18, when they’re home against El Salvador’s
Isidro Metapan. Cartagines, which beat Metapan in the Group 8 opener two weeks ago, is home next week against the Salvadorans. The winner of the three-team group advances to next year’s eightteam knockout stage. “Our team played very well tonight. Against a good opponent,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. “(Cartagines) defended well, they defended with numbers for 90 minutes, and the second goal is going to be big (for goal differential) in the competition.” Former Los Angeles midfielder Paolo Cardozo came closest to scoring an equalizer for Cartagines, firing over the crossbar with an open shot in the 72nd minute. Galaxy winger Robbie Rogers, who returned to the lineup after he was left off the roster for the past two league games, exited just before halftime after straining his left hamstring chasing a loose ball.
THE NIGERIAN
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
International Boxing Challenge
Alex Ekhorowa To Thrill Benin Boxing Fans Soon By MATHEW OKAGHA
BARRING any unforeseen hitches, boxing fans in the Edo state capital, Benin City, will soon be treated to a robust international bout as former national lightweight champion, Alex Ekhorowa has been billed to trade punches with a yet-to-be named opponent from Burkina Faso next month. Universal Boxing The international boxing Organisation (UBO) challenge which is being put Lightweight championship together by the Nigeria fight which had been on hold Boxing Board of Control due to lack of sponsorship at (NBBC) may likely hold home. inside the Oba Akenzua “This is good news not only Cultural Centre in the State to my fans but also to all capital. lovers of boxing, as the Alex Ekhorowa who has NBBC is determined to host been itching for action for the the international challenge past twelve months, told here in Edo state. OBSERVERSports in an “Although, my opponent exclusive interview in Benin whom I have been informed City that the international will come from Burkina Faso bout will serve as a possible has not been named, but I am tonic, preparatory to his very optimistic that the fight
No Two-Bedroom House Reward
THE Ghana Premier League Board chief Welbeck Abra-Appiah has shockingly announced that there is no house reward for last season’s Most Valuable Player. The retired banker claimed there is no existing contract between the Real Estate firm Blue Rose Limited and the Football Association. In January this year, a publication on the Ghana FA’s website said a twobedroom house valued close to GH¢ 70,000 (US$ 35,000) will be presented to the league’s best performer. This was after a press conference at the Ghana FA secretariat.
“To the best of the of my knowledge, there is no contract between the Ghana Football Association and any company to reward the best player of the league with a house,” AbraAppiah said on Happy FM. “You can crosscheck with the company if there is a commitment like that. What happened was that the company made a proposal.” It is widely speculated that last season’s top scorer Mahatma Otoo will win the award after some exhilarating performances. The former Hearts of Oak striker, now with Norwegian top-flight side Sogndal, scored 20 goals.
Okon Is Falcons Caretaker Coach
FALCONETS coach Edwin Okon has been recommended to act as caretaker coach of the Nigeria women’s team, the Super Falcons. Acting general secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, stated that the NFF technical committee made the recommendation pending the ratification of the NFF Executive Committee ahead of the two friendlies against Japan, on September 22 and 26. Okon, who led the U20 women’s team, the Falconets, to the semi-finals of last year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, incidentally
hosted by Japan, will be assisted by Christopher Danjuma, with Bala Mohammed as goalkeeper coach. Ikpeme said: “The duo will have charge of the team for only the friendly games, as substantive coaching crews for the Super Falcons, Falconets (U20) and Flamingos (U17) will be constituted in due course.” The committee also recommended that the NFF executive committee has approved for four-time African Woman Player of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha to proceed on a coaching course.
will hold right here in Benin City. “Edo state is the cradle of sports and the bastion of boxing. It is only unfortunate that people, especially corporate organizations and some wealthy individuals have not made the corresponding investments to promote professional boxing in this part of the country. “I am however grateful to the Benin monarch for his moral and financial support to me in particular and other athletes as well. “I have informed the palace of the upcoming international challenge and His Royal Majesty has graciously given me his royal blessings. “I hope to draw the attention of the comrade governor through the sports Ministry to the event and the need for the state government to support the fight. “It is my strong belief that such sporting event will help to inspire our youths to direct their energy and talent in the right perspective.
“Therefore, I plead with the comrade governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who has demonstrated inspiring leadership not only in Edo state but also in Nigeria as a whole, to kindly support this renewed drive to revive professional boxing in Edo state”. The Edo-born pugilist turned professional in 1996 and became Nigeria’s undefeated Lightweight champion in 2001 when he defeated fellow compatriot, Kelly Ikhuoria at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in an epic bout. He later moved to Europe where he competed in the Germany international Dutch Masters, and other international fights.
Alex Ekhorowa
Keshi Shocked By NFF Order On COACH Stephen Keshi when you Call-Ups Isaydo not33understand has said he is shocked that players for only he should cut down his list of call-ups to 33 for next month’s qualifier against
Stephen Keshi
Malawi. Keshi has picked 42 players made up of 24 players from the domestic league and 18 from overseas, but the NFF technical committee has asked he prune it down to 33 for better focus. However, Keshi told MTNFootball.com from Benin City that 33 players for a game is a crowd. “I have not heard from the technical committee, but if the information you are giving me is true, then I am surprised,” Keshi said “I released a list of 24 homebased (players), who would resume camp next week so we can bring the home boys’ fitness level to that of the European boys when they join us in the upper week. “It’s not any different from what we used to do before so
Malawi game, because I intend to pick at least five players from the 24 homebased to join the 18 foreign boys.” The Eagles handler added that using 33 players for the Malawi game would be a crowd and waiting to start camp on the first of next month would compromise the importance of next month’s game. “Thirty three players is a crowd for one game. What am I going to be doing with 33 players for one game? I only need 25 players,” he argued. “You see this game is very important and I know my bosses understand the importance of the game to suggest that we start camp six days to the match. Anyway they have not communicated me, but we will see how it goes.”
for Wednesday night’s game against Aston Villa.” Omeruo undergoes surgery Akujobi further told MTNFootball.com Omeruo watched Tuesday’s Chelsea training and even had a chance to take pictures with Ghana star Michael Essien along with compatriots Mikel Obi and Victor Moses. Essien will then post a picture of the four of them on the internet with the statement – “With my nija
brothers at training this morning. Kenneth, Mikel & Victor...One love still” “I will be in London next week to see him as we continue to prepare for the setting up of a football academy in Abuja next month,” Akujobi informed. “He has insisted that all the plans for the academy continue even though he is on the treatment table because it is his sincere wish to touch lives by giving back to the community.”
Injured Omeruo In High Spirits
INJURED Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo has been in high spirits as he recovers from a shoulder injury in England, according to his adviser. Last Wednesday, Omeruo underwent surgery for a niggling shoulder and he is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks. He has been overlooked for next month’s 2014 World Cup qualifier at home against Malawi.
“Kenneth is in very high spirits after his operation,” said the player’s adviser Chika Conleth Akujobi. “You would not even know he is injured, but for the big strap around his shoulder because he is quickly integrating into the Chelsea set-up. “They have really welcomed him at the club and rate him very highly. “He was at Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea beat Hull City 2-0 and he wil also be at the stadium
CMYK
THE NIGERIAN
32
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013
Pension: Waiting For The Dead Man’s Shoes WITH the virtual collapse of the African welfare system, it was thought that the pension scheme would cater for the welfare needs of the worker at old age. The pension was therefore a covenant between the employee and his employer: while young, the worker would serve his nation with everything he had: his strength, blood and sweat; and in the evening of his life, his country would cater adequately for him. Initially, this covenant was respected by both sides, with the result that at retirement, while the letter of disagreement was given to the retiree with one hand, his gratuity was given him with the other hand. And pension was paid to him regularly. Soon, there was a complete departure from the original agreement. The stronger partner, the employer, began to shift the goal posts at will. Consequently, of all the service queues, the pension queue became the longest and most tortuous. Government soon began to devise various tactics to cope with its default, including endless screening, in the process of which many died. For too long, government attempted to play Father Christmas with the pension issue. It has since become clear that government was not playing the selfassigned role well. We all heaved a sigh of relief when the National Assembly enacted the National
Pension Reforms Act, 2004 whose major thrust was to encourage savings among employees so that on retirement, they would not be impoverished. It is too early in the day to totally condemn the Pension Reforms Act, 2004 but from what we know, it is clear that the Act was, at
Commission, the Act provides for an interim “penalty of not less than 2 percent of the total contribution, which ought to have been remitted.” This is where we think that the Act could at least have added a line to include sanction against delayed payment of pension to retirees.
was ready. The mother used unbroken elephant head for his soup. Towards the end of the meal, he asked, “Mother, why is there no meat in this soup?” The mother retorted, “There was a whole elephant head in that soup.” It then dawned on him, “Maybe that was what scratched my throat
• Senator David Mark, Senate President
best, a revenue drive for government. It has not, and will not, improve service delivery to pensioners. Under the Act, a deliberate attempt was made to ensure that “remittance of contribution is made as the employer is required to deduct the employee’s contribution from his salary, and within seven days thereafter remit the sum deducted together with the employer’s contribution, to the Pension Fund Custodian of the employee’s choice.” In furtherance to the government protection strategy, the Act sates that penalty for late– and non– remittance under the scheme shall be prescribed by the National Pension Commission. But pending the stipulation by the
The Pension Reform Act has reformed nothing. What it has successfully done is to increase the volume of lootable funds available to the system. Before the Reforms Act, looting of pension funds was in the range of thousands and the lower millions but after the Act, looting blew up into the billions, while the suffering of retirees remained unabated. Here we intend to call only two witnesses: First, we invite Alhaji Yakubu Yusufu: Your honest confession that you stole “only N23 billion” from the Police Pension Fund simply reminds us of the case of that hardworking farmer who also ate big. One day, he went to farm and before he returned, his pounded yam
in one of the swallows.” He had pressed it into the pounded yam, the same way as some of us deal with the crayfish. The Reforms Act has perhaps brought surplus money into the system. At the judicial level, you were fined N750,000 (0.003% of your loot)! The moral message we get from this is: if you must do it, do it big!
Second, Abdulrasheed Abdulahi Maina: You were the Acting Director of Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office. The National Assembly smelt a rat that all was not well with close to N200 billion in your care. The National Assembly wanted you to come and shed some light on this. When you failed to appear, a warrant of arrest was issue from the Senate but the Inspector General of Police was reluctant to execute the warrant. The Executive Branch of our national government dilly-dallied on the issue until you vamoosed from Nigeria. Congratulations! All these sordid affairs have perhaps been consigned to history. But the rightful owners of the money are suffering and dying on the pension queue. But why has the pension fund suddenly become the easiest money to steal? The answer is simple: our system regards the retiree as a dead man. Who would have dared point to Strongman Sani Abacha’s money when he was alive? That person’s portion would have been “Danburuba Shege”, with appropriate bullets pumped into his head. Since
Abacha’s death, his repatriated loots have been re-looted over and over again. The only language that our system understands is that of strike and withdrawal of service. To the extent that the retirees can neither strike nor withdraw any service, the system regards them as ineffectual; mere walking corpses. Two quick measures are recommended here: Our lawmakers must devise stiffer penalties to discourage this reckless embezzlement of pension funds; and today’s workers cannot remain nonchalant when retirees are being maltreated because they, too, will soon fall into the category of the neglected. In local parlance, only the foolish messenger would say that his colleague, and not himself, was beaten. Labour unions must establish units charged with the responsibility for defending the rights of retirees. Receiving pension cannot continue to look like waiting for the dead man’s shoes. For now, the retiree should be able to claim his benefits at a bank nearest him and as the system improves, his money should get to him in the comfort of his home.
“It is too early in the day to totally condemn the Pension Reforms Act, 2004 but from what we know, it is clear that the Act was, at best, a revenue drive for government. It has not, and will not, improve service delivery to pensioners. Under the Act, a deliberate attempt was made to ensure that “remittance of contribution is made as the employer is required to deduct the employee’s contribution from his salary, and within seven days thereafter remit the sum deducted together with the employer’s contribution, to the Pension Fund Custodian of the employee’s choice.”
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