Nigerian observer 24 10 2013

THE NIGERIAN

cmyk

1

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 SECURITY ISSUES Page 18 Terrorism and global security Matters Arising

• Vol . 38 NO.339• THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 20 13 • N100.00

FG to review 2006 Gender policy

ABUJA - The Federal Government is set to review the 2006 National Gender Policy, to bring about strategic change in improving the lives of women in the country,

Women Affairs Minister Zainab Maina has said.

Maina said this in an interview with newsmen yesterday. She said that the review and its strategic implementation would

bring the much-needed peace and development in the country.

Maina said the

exercise would enable the administration to finetune its priorities on women’s development and gender balance in national life.

Continues on page 2

ASUU Strike

MAN AND NATURE Page 27 The law of reciprocal action

Senate mandates Mark to intervene

ABUJA - Senate of the Federal Republic has mandated its president and chairman, Sen. David Mark to engage President Goodluck Jonathan and leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities with a view to bringing to an end the protracted strike action of the academics that has entered it’s fourth month.

Also, the Senate relevant stakeholders to appealed to the striking proffer lasting solution to lecturers to suspend the stem further strikes in the strike and return to work education sector. to prevent further This is even as Senate devaluation of the President David Mark in country’s educational his remark preceding the fortunes. resolutions at yesterday The Senate chamber plenary, “begged” ASUU further encourage its members to return to Committee on Education classroom while dialogue to liaise with the Federal on their grievances is onMinistry of Education, the going.

National Universities He stressed that “as Commission (NUC), the long as we continue the ASUU and all other dialogue we will find

solution. While this is going on, we should avoid inflammatory statement, let me

appeal for understanding of both parties; let us shift ground in our understanding; if we

continue to dig in, we won’t find solution”.

I want to beg the ASUU to return to classroom.

They have made their point. The more they stay put on their strike Continues on page 2

... As NLC moves to resolve strike

KADUNA - The Nigerian Labour C o n g r e s s (NLC)yesterday said the union was working to proffer solution to the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The NLC President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, told newsmen after a courtesy visit to Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State that the union was in Kaduna for a crucial NEC meeting to address some of the issues.

The ASUU had been on strike for four months due to the nonimplementation of some aspects of its agreement with the Federal Government.

“We have also discussed extensively yesterday and we are going to continue today.

“I assure you that we will come out with a communiqué in which ASUU matter is going to

TIT BIT “A buldozing determination may be required in suppressing the distractions that lay on the way to our goal; but the eyes of our minds must be opened to the signs that inform us of how far we have come, and how far we need to go.

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

be part of it.

“Beyond that we are also making consultations with ASUU and government officials,

Continues on page 2

SWEARING-IN: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State flanked by Mr. Samuel Oboh, Chairman (left) and Mr. Jimmy Igene, Vice Chairman , after being sworn-in as the Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively of Esan North East Local Government Area of the State yesterday.

Oshiomhole swears-in Esan North East Chairman

By ADAMS OYIBOKE/ OYENMWEN OMOROGBE BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday in Government House swore-in Hon. Sam Abhulimen Oboh and Mr. Jimmy Igene as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area respectively.

. Accuses Police of aiding electoral fraud

Performing the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Oshiomhole

congratulated them on their victory in the keenly contested local

to travel and you have shown that you are indeed a long distant runner.

“You have proven that along with your vice and indeed the leaders of our great party, the All

government election.

According to him: “it has been a long political road Continues on page 2

N5.7b pension scam: Judge lashes ex-Director’s of the Federation.

ABUJA- Justice attempt to frustrate trial He is linked to a “Save Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High court, Abuja, has warned Sani Teidi, standing trial over missing N5.7

billion pension funds on the consequences of taking extra-judicial steps.

Teidi was a former Our Souls’’ petition Director, Pension written to the office of Accounts, in the Office of the Chief Justice of the Head of Civil Service Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

News

FG to review 2006 Gender policy

Continued from page 1 According to her, the muchneeded peace and development in Nigeria will only be achieved with quality investment in women and girls, whom she described, as the nation’s hidden treasures and resources.

“We need to review the policy implementation so as to identify gaps, challenges, and evolve strategies to strengthen it.

“Efforts are already in place, this review, therefore, is another major step to further build a true platform for the

development and real empowerment of women and other vulnerable members in our society.”

She said that the current administration under the

Senate mandates Mark to intervene Continued from page 1 they would begin to lose sympathy; in this matter, there is no victor no vanquished”, Sen. Mark continued.

Moreso, the senate president stressed the importance of education more than any other thing to national development, stressing, “our national development must be hinged on education; ab-initio people must be told the truth what can be accomplished and what cannot be accomplished”.

The Senate President however bemoaned what he described as inefficiency of federal government negotiators whose ignorance “ASUU simply took advantage of” and made spurious and impossible demands that have put the country on hold.

He noted that while the Senate Committee on Education chairman, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, was reading out items on the agreement between the federal government and ASUU, he had forever thought of them as

mere notes than they were said to have been truly endorsed by the government negotiators.

Earlier in his contribution to the debate, Sen. Chukwumerije enumerated the items on the agreement to include: Teaching Practice Allowance, External Excess Workload Allowance, Sick Leave Allowance, Post Graduate Allowance, Sabbatical Leave Allowance, Work Injury Leave Allowance, Housing Loan, Car Loan, increase of retirement age for all categories of lecturers to 70 years, Pension, and Funding the Universities among others.

Also in his comment, Sen. Ita Enang argued that since the money was not appropriated for in the current Budget, it was absolutely impossible for the federal government to pay the money as demanded by ASUU, stressing, “no money can be paid without necessary appropriation.

He further argued that Trade Unions Act section 1, proves that the demand of ASUU has

... As NLC moves to resolve strike

Continued from page 1 particularly the Vice President, who is now

handling the issue with the view to making sure that this issue is resolved as soon as possible.

“It has been unfortunate, but there are so many things people have even been misinformed of but we are particularly worried now with the lingering strike.

“Let us look at the issue, what are the challenges and come up with some kind of template on how to go about resolving or implementing these things,” he said.

During the courtesy call, Omar appealed to the Kaduna state government to allocate land for the union to establish its Harmattan school, which he said was similar to the Rain school in Cross River state.

He said that the school would enable the union improve on its service delivery to workers.

Responding, Gov. Yero appealed to striking university lecturers to resume academic activities, saying that the strike had affected students and the nation at large.

“ASUU should look at the future of this children and whatever grievances they have, they can still continue to dialogue with the federal government, call off the strike and commence academic activities,” he said.

Yero assured the union that the state government would provide land for its proposed Harmatan school in the state, as well as continue to improve on workers welfare.

The governor, however, urged the NLC to task its members on improved and more efficient service delivery to enable the state forge ahead and ensure development.

The NEC meeting had more than 300 members from across the country in attendance.

Also at the meeting were the leadership of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, who were invited to interact with the union on the union’s proposal to provide mass housing to workers.

gone beyond trade unionism to political, adding that for ASUU to conscript all lecturers willy nilly into their strike has made them dictatorial, and have committed criminal breach of laws and order.

Moreover, Sen. Enang aggregated all the demands of trade union organizations in the country to be over 500% of the national Budget, asserting “a person employed under a lawis bound by the law and he cannot be a breaker Ahmed Lawan noted that the Peoples Democratic Party has failed Nigeria, while Sen. Danjuma Goje submitted that the N500 billion ASUU demand is affordable and should be paid them.

Presenting the motion earlier, which he co-sponsored with 38 members, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba observed that despite several negotiations between the striking lecturers and representatives of the FG coupled with intervention of prominent Nigerians for the parties to reach a compromise, stressing, “the strike has persisted with no sign of a truce”.

He was disturbed that the strike action has taken a dangerous dimension with students engaging in all forms of anti-social vices, a development that may compound the precarious security situation in the country.

leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan had demonstrated unflinching commitment to ensuring that men and women had equal rights and opportunities in all spheres.

“As we undergo this phase of our policy document review, all stakeholders are being presented with another opportunity to note and correct the past wrongs,” the minister said.

Maina said that the review process was a practical demonstration of the ministry’s quest to promote not only the advancement of women, but gender equity and equality in the country.

“The ministry expects that this review will carry all stakeholders along and facilitate a better operational policy document and create an environment for government to develop mechanisms that will assist in the achievement of the national goal of gender equality,” she said.

Speaking on the upcoming 2015 general elections, the minister said that women must be each other’s keeper, stressing the need to remove the ideology of ‘pull her down’ syndrome.

Quoting the British Council’s 2011 Gender Inequality Index, she said Nigerian was placed 120 out of 135 countries in female representation in governance, adding that the trend needed to be addressed and reversed.

She called for continuous enlightenment of women in the path towards greater female participation in governance.

Oshiomhole swears-in Esan North East of Esan North East Local Chairman Progressive Congress (APC) in government, area, the newly Continued from page 1

Esan North-East that tough times may last but they may

never last as much as tough people may do and that point is very well demonstrated.

“You have shown the courage, the fighting spirit as leaders and members of APC, that our commitment to the ballot box is unshakable.”

“Our faith in the Democratic process remain strong and our commitment to one-man, one-vote is not negotiable.

He said that: “Not even the presence of the whole army in the world or the police can extinguish our commitment and our determination to ensure that democracy is enthroned in this part of the country,” he stressed.

He condemned in strong terms the militancy attitude displayed by opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its leaders and chieftains in the local government to “subvert the will of the people by intimidating, using the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to embarrass electorates and law abiding A.P.C. members in the Tuesday Local Government Election for Esan North East.

Governor Oshiomhole described the unruly action of the opposition PDP to democratic process as a national embarrassment.

According to him: “As a Nigerian, I am embarrassed that the Nigeria Police are

involved in camping election materials and coercing EDSIEC officials to do contrary to their will, while police stations turn voting and collation centres.

“A situation where a federal minister of works, federal legislator used their exalted positions to compel EDSEIC officials to write on papers who wins or do not win.

“Thank God we are in Technology age where result can be transmitted within seconds,” he noted.

He however commended APC leaders, supporters and the newly elected chairman and his vice for remaining steadfast and unshakable, inspite of the repressive and violent actions by opposition PDP to subvert the cause of justice and the will of the people.

Oshiomhole urged the new council and his vice to use the resources of the local government area to better the lives of the people and implored all public officers, irrespective of their positions, who had cause to subscribe to oath of office not do anything that would affect the goodwill of the people.

He however appealed to all Nigerians, especially political leaders to always place Nigeria first before their personal interest, adding that there is hope for the future of Nigeria.

Responding on behalf of the vice chairman and the people

elected chairman thanked the governor and expressed Joy in the victory and the support received from all APC members.

He promised that Esan North East would be fully safe in his hands, stressing that his tenure would witness a dramatic change from the past government of PDP in the local government council.

According to him: “I like to thank you all my leaders and all supports of APC in Esan North-East for remaining resolute inspite of all the violent intimidations.

Speaking with The NIGHERIAN OBSERVER after the Swearing-In ceremony Hon. Sam A. Oboh promised to liaise with the state government for the provision of bore-hole water supply within the first six months of his administration to all communities in Esan North East, beside other infrastructual facilities.

It would be recalled that the local government election held Tuesday for chairmanship and councilors in Esan North East local government was contested between the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive congress (APC) The chairman Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) declared Hon. Sam Oboh of APC winner with a total vote cast of 12,672 against 3,314 for Hon. John Yakubu of PDP.

LAPO awards N33m scholarship to 723 beneficiaries Managing Director of LAPO, Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, represented by the Associate BENIN CITY- Lift Above Director, LAPO, Mr. Moses Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Ehigiamusoe stressed that the Microfinance Bank has given scheme was borne out of the scholarship worth N33 million need to bring out a brighter to 723 beneficiaries who are future for children, particularly children of LAPO Clients those from low-income spread across the 14 LAPO households. regions in Nigeria.

Edo State Commissioner for Of the number of Secondary, technical and beneficiaries, 30 were given tertiary Education, Barr. scholarship to University level Washington Osifo represented while the rest are for children of by Mr. John Obabairibhojie, and clients in secondary schools. the Edo NDDC Commissioner, The 2013 LAPO scholarship is Barr. Henry Okunrobo, th the 5 in the series, having commended LAPO for the started in 2008; and with the scheme and urged other prolastest beneficiaries, the number poor organisations to emulate of students who have benefited the gesture. from the scheme so far has now They also advised the come to 1,198, bringing the total beneficiaries to make good use disbursement so far to about of the scheme, be studious and N55,503,900. committed to their education.

At the well attended ceremony The General Manager, LAPOat its corporate Headquarters in NGO, Sabina Idowu-Osehobo Benin City, LAPO scholarship said the MD of LAPO, Mr. Board Chairman, Prof. Godwin Ehigiamusoe was Christiana Okojie declared that passionate and committed to the the first secondary school award educational development of the in 2008 began with the seed children of clients of the fund from LAPO’s Grameen Organisation and commended Award of $10,000, stressing that all those involved in the it started with 32 beneficiaries. successful running of the She added that by 2009, the scholarship scheme. number grew to 98, and A cross-section of beneficiaries increased to 197 in 2010; in and their parents who spoke 2011, a total of 377 received the with The NIGERIANS award and by 2012, it recorded OBSERVER testified of how a total of 494 secondary students the scheme has helped them and and 30 University their families, asserting that, undergraduate beneficiaries.

“LAPO has done very well” for Welcoming guests, the them.

By TUNDE EIGBIREMOLEN

Judge lashes ex-Director’s attempt to frustrate trial

Continued from page 1

Nigeria (CJN) alleging highhandedness of the Judge.

Ademola, on June 19, slammed Teidi and Udusegbe Eric, the second accused in suit, with bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.

The petition may not be unconnected with the bail conditions which they claim is too huge to be perfected.

The judge, who expressed displeasure on the content of the petition, said “I will not allow any body to rubbish my integrity’’.

“The court in its wisdom granted the accused persons bail and I have not said I will not sign their release if the conditions are met.

“This matter has gone very far; some persons are currently before a Magistrates’ court, including my bailiff for submitting forged documents on behalf of the accused persons.

“The task clearance, certificate of occupancy, names of sureties and other relevant documents for the perfection of their bail were forged.

“The court immediately alerted the FCT Police Commissioner through the DPO and arrests were made.

“The second person that was arrested claims to be a relative of the first accused person (Teidi).

“This is how desperate they have become; how can anybody insinuate that the court is blind to the continuous detention of the accused persons.

“Let me warn that the court will not allow itself to be boxed to a corner as I have always insisted on the rule of law prevailing,” he said.

However, Mr Sunday Ameh (SAN), counsel to Teidi, expressed shock on the development, saying “I am not aware of the existence of such a letter.

“My lord, my client has also expressed shock on how the petition came about as, according to him, he did not commission anyone to write it.

“If the development has brought embarrassment to the court, I pray the judge to forgive us. “ As an officer in the temple of justice, I shall be the last person to support or encourage extra-judicial approach in the handling of this suit.

“I was indeed taken aback when the prosecution wrote to demand a copy of the petition of the letter,’’ he said.

At the resumption of the trial, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) sought the permission of the court to present Mustpaher Gaenya, a prosecution witness from the EFCC. The process was however aborted when the counsel to the first accused (Teidi) prayed the court to compel the prosecution to serve him with the statement of evidence.

Ameh further sought the court’s intervention to equally serve the defence team relevant documents as prescribed by the new rules of the court.

However, Obla argued that the demand by the defence team was out of place as the suit was instituted before the amended rules of the court were made.

The judge upheld the application of the defence team by ordering service of all processes on them.

He therefore fixed Nov.18 for continuation of the trial.

THE NIGERIAN

3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

4

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

News Court Restrains Committee From Conducting Election

By BETTY IDIALU WARRI (Delta) - THE electoral committee set up by the regent of Ogbe-Ijoh clan governing council and eleven others have been restrained by a Delta State High Court sitting in Warri from conducting any other election or selection into the council.

Justice Marshall Umukoro while presiding over the case, granted the interim Injunction sought by the plaintiff and barred any further election into the governing council, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“The defendants, Chief (Dr.) Samson Mamamu, the regent of Ogbe-Ijoh Clan for himself and or representing the Ogbe-Ijoh traditional council and 2nd to 12th defendants, for themselves and on behalf of the purported, Ogbe-Ijoh electoral commission shall be restrained in the interim, especially having regard to the pending suit No. W29772011 before this court” said the Judge.

Speaking further in his ruling, Justice Umukoro said ”Consequently, the defendants are hereby restrained from conducting any other election or selection or initiating any other process to fulfill or occupy the various offices in the Ogbe-Ijoh clan governing council pending the hearing motion on notice.

According to him, interim

order shall be effective from the October 18, 2013 for seven days vide order 39 rule 7 (3) of the High court civil procedure rules 2009 when parties shall appear in court on October 28, 2013.

The Claimant Hon. Joseph Hitler had gone to court to challenge alleged manipulation of his candidacy into the chairmanship position of the Ogbe-Ijoh clan governing council.

Hon.Joseph opined that, his family whose turn it is to produce the chairmanship of the council had endorsed him as their representative, adding this was accepted by all, and lamented that some influential persons in the clan were working against him because of selfish interest.

LG Election Holds Dec 21, PLASIEC Affirms

L-R: Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Hon. Lucky James and the Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly during the swearing-in of Esan North East Council Chairman, Hon. Sam Oboh in Government House yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

Resolutions Should Be Subjected To Referendum - Lawyers

Nat’l Dialogue:

ASABA - A cross section of lawyers in Delta state has advocated that the outcome of the National Dialogue should be subjected to a referendum to reflect the wishes of the people.

Some of the lawyers, who spoke to newsmen in Asaba, said the resolutions should not be submitted to the National Assembly.

According to them, if the outcome of the dialogue is left in the hands of the National

Assembly, the aim will be defeated.

Chief Peter Uwanoghor, former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ughelli Chapter in the state said the conference should be organised

by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said that if the outcome of the dialogue was submitted to the National Assembly, it would become mere legislation instead of the decision of the people.

Lawmaker Inaugurates 15 Constituency Projects FUGAR (EDO) - A member of the Edo House of Assembly, Mr. Johnson Oghumah, has said that he had completed and inaugurated 15 projects in his constituency.

Oghumah, who represents Etsako-Central Constituency, disclosed this to newsmen in Fugar, in the Etsako-Central Local Government Area of Edo, after inspecting projects in various communities in his constituency.

The lawmaker, who did not disclose the amounts expended on the projects, said that they were all completed and delivered between 2010 and 2013.

He said the projects included the construction of three classroom blocks, office and furniture at Uralo Secondary School in Iraokhor, the construction of four blocks of classrooms, office and furniture at Oboarekpe Primary School, Ogbona and the Ukho electrification project.

Other projects were the provision of two 500 KVA transformers, two borehole projects in Ivhieghui and Ivhiokhile, and the supply of 150 chairs and desks to the Mixed Secondary School, Fugar.

Also inaugurated were the construction of three classrooms, office and furniture at Central

College, Ogochi and the renovation of six classrooms and furniture at Aloaye Primary School, Udaba-Ekperi.

“My interest in politics is to provide basic amenities which my people lack. I assure you people of these communities of more developmental projects,” he said.

Oghumah said that the

constituency projects cut across the 10 wards in the EtsakoCentral local government.

The lawmaker said that the projects were executed to improve the lives of the people.

He, however, called on the people of his constituency to support the government in its bid to develop the state.

“This is an opportunity Nigerians were yearning for in this country. So it should not be mismanaged.

“The National Assembly can amend the constitution but we are fashioning out the basis of our existence and the structure of that existence and the inter relationship of the various components of the country,’’ he said.

Mr Patrick Oganwu, also a former NBA Chairman, Warri Chapter, holding a referendum was necessary because many Nigerians had lost confidence in some of its institutions.

He, therefore, said that the outcome of the dialogue should go to the people via a plebiscite or a referendum.

On his part, former NBA Chairman in the state, Mr Sunny Asanuye said that if the result was referred to the National Assembly, the entire exercise would be in futility.

Meanwhile, Mr. Austine

The Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Rt. Hon. Patrick Obayagbon and the Head of Service, Princess (Mrs.) Ekiuwa Inneh during the swearing-in of Esan North East Council Chairman, Hon. Sam Oboh in Government House yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBOESERE.

Icheghe, current Chairman, Ughelli NBA was of the opinion that the resolutions should be referred to the National Assembly since they were the representatives of the people.

“If the National Assembly is allowed to handle the conference, it will save time and cost and also have a binding effect on the populace,’’ he said.

JOS The Plateau Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct the local government council elections December 21, 2013, and advised members of the public to ignore any rumour to the contrary. “ There is no going back on the stipulated date of December. 21 for the conduct of the local government,” PLASIEC declared through its Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Christiana Choji.

Choji told newsmen that the commission was ready to conduct a “free and fair elections”, adding that all necessary arrangements were already in place for that.

“The Commission still stands by the election timetable released to all political parties on September. 2, 2013. PLASIEC also wishes to remind political parties that collection and return of PLASIEC form 001 by parties will end on November. 7,” she declared.

Choji also solicited for full cooperation toward a successful poll.

Medical Student Seeks Dissolution Of Marriage

LAGOS - A 29-year-old medical student, Mrs. Ariyike Adebiyi, has urged an Agege Customary Court, Lagos, to dissolve her marriage to a man she described as a dropout.

Ariyike, a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, told the court that her 33year-old husband, Femi, used charm to compel her to marry him.

Ariyike was responding to a divorce suit filed by Femi an estate agent.

The student consented to the marriage dissolution, and sought the custody of their one-year-old child.

“I can’t imagine myself married to a dropout, if not that he charmed me. My marriage to Femi is nothing but a mirage. ‘‘I wanted to use Femi as my case study when I was writing my project, but it turned out to this mess.

“My family did not allow me to go with him after our engagement ceremony.

“I packed my things to his house two months after the engagement and was

maltreated by his family.

“My husband drinks, smokes Indian hemp and comes home late at night, yet I endured because of my pregnancy, ’’ Ariyike, who lives at 11, Babatola St., Egbeda, Lagos, said.

She submitted that her mother paid the medical bills when she was delivered of her baby.

“My husband did not show up at the hospital. His younger sister beat me up barely 48 hours after I was delivered and I fainted,’’ she said.

Femi had told the court that his parents-in-law prevented his wife from following him to his house after their engagement.

He added that they prevented him from seeing his wife and child.

“I want the court to dissolve the union and grant me the access to my child,’’ he prayed.

The Court President, Mr. Emmanuel Sokunle, told the couple to maintain the peace, and adjourned the case to November. 5 for judgment.

THE NIGERIAN

5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

South South

Maritime Academy Laments Inadequate Training Facilities ORON (AKWA IBOM)- Mr Francis Kponu, the Director of Specialised Seafarers Training Centre, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, has urged the Federal Government to provide training ships for the academy to ameliorate its training challenges.

Kponu made this known to newsmen in Oron,

Akwa Ibom, after a tour of the academy.

He said that many cadets, who had completed their courses in the academy, did not have sea time exposure due to

lack of training vessels.

He also said that the academy needed funds to provide more infrastructure to cater for the increasing number of students intake into the

academy.

‘We need fund to build new structures, we have the capacity to run the degree courses, but we have not been given the

FRSC Cautions Against Under-Age Driving

PORT HARCOURT- The Rivers Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, ( FRSC), Mr Sunday Oghenekaro, has tasked parents to desist from allowing under-aged children to drive their cars.

Oghenekaro told newsmen in Port Harcourt that it was wrong for affluent parents to allow their under-aged children to drive their vehicles.

He said that some of the road traffic crashes that occurred involved underaged motorists.

The commander advised parents not to risk the lives of their children by giving cars to them to drive when they were not qualified and matured to do so.

He said that any person below the age of 18 was not qualified to drive.

“Even if someone is up to the age of 18 and above, such person has to be trained by a certified driving school and issued a certificate of competence by a vehicle inspection officer.’’

Oghenekaro said that after undergoing the above processes, the person had to apply for driver’s license.

He said that it was only when a person had been issued a driver’s license that such person would be deemed to have qualified to drive.

He advised that even if one had been found to be qualified such person had to learn and imbibe positive driving attitude to ensure safety on the road.

approval due to dearth of infrastructure,” Kponu said.

Earlier, during the tour with journalists, the director said that a school certificate holder or primary school certificate could work in a ship after obtaining a mandatory one-week course. ‘’The one-week training is compulsory in line with the Standard of Training Certificate and Watch

keeping (STCW) to be able to go on the sea. ‘’The certificate given to such a person is valid for only five years. The person is expected to take higher courses to be upgraded,” he said.

According to him, the four compulsory courses are on personal survival techniques, first aid, personal safety and social responsibility as well as fire fighting.

Academy Seeks Support To Produce Buoy For Commercial Use

Middle, Edo State Governor and the Esan North East Council Chairman, Hon. Sam Oboh, his Vice and their spouses in a group photograph shortly after their swearing-in in Government House yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE

ORON, (AKWA IBOM)- Mr Ime Umanah, the Principal Technical Officer, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, has said that the academy could manufacture a large

L-R: Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Seun Abimbola, Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Badejoko Adeniji and Justice Mukthar Abimbola during the lecture on the “Future of Law and Legal Practice in Nigeria” recently in Ibadan.

Scientist Warns Against Consumption Of Roadside Foods

Food Poisoning: PORT HARCOURT- A Port Harcourt-based food scientist, Mrs Helen Anderson, warned Nigerians against consuming food sold on roadsides to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

Anderson told newsmen in Port Harcourt that careless consumption of foods especially from roadsides had caused avoidable deaths.

“Many of the foods they sell at bus stops, motor

parks and during traffic jams are substandard for human consumption.

“Our people rush such foods because they are often cheap; you know an average Nigerian goes for quantity instead of quality,’’ she said.

The food scientist said that some people resorted to the sale of substandard and expired foods due to poverty.

Anderson, who is also a nutritionist, described the

development as criminal and inhuman.

She said that Nigerians should be careful of what they “take into their body’’ in order to avoid diseases such as cholera.

“We cannot afford to allow some greedy and wicked individuals to depopulate us in the name of struggle for survival,’’ she said.

The food scientist urged the National Agency for

Food Drug Administration and Control and other regulatory agencies to initiate measures to deal with the situation.

According to her, it is very important to subject food vendors to strict supervision so as to ascertain the quality of their foods.

The nutritionist said that it was time for regulatory agencies to apprehend and prosecute sellers of substandard foods.

number of navigation buoy if properly funded.

Umanah told newsmen in Oron, Akwa Ibom, that local production of buoy would reduce the nation’s expenses.

The reports state that buoy is used to mark the water channels to enable the captains locate shallow or deep areas in the water body.

He said that the academy could produce the machine in large numbers if given the opportunity.

Umanah said that the academy had met the standard of International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

“We have only one buoy in the academy produced by a cadet as practical in his study.

“We are confident of the quality of our production because it meets the IMO standard. “‘It cost about N65, 000 and it takes between three and four days to produce one navigation buoy.

“We can produce for commercial purposes if given the support “, he said.

Umanah, who had earlier taken journalists round the engineering department, said that the students produced most of the plugs, nuts and bolts used in the departments.

THE NIGERIAN

6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Forgery: 2

Men Remanded

ADO-EKITI- An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court has remanded two men, Simon Oramulua, 57, and Okaforcha Augustine, 50, in prison custody for alleged forgery.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr. David Erinma, told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 29, 2012, at 52 Ajilosun Street, Ado-Ekiti.

He alleged that the accused unlawfully forged the official receipts of the Animo Timber Buyers Association.

The prosecutors added that the accused also plotted among themselves to sign documents testifying to the contents of the said association.

He said the offence contravened section 107(3) of the Criminal Code cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti of Nigeria, 2012.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge while their counsel, M. Ade Akanle, prayed the court to grant bail to his clients.

Forte Oil Declares N2.7bn Profit

LAGOS - Forte Oil Plc has announced a N2.7 billion profit after tax for the nine months ended Sepember 30.

This was contained in a statement issued by the company in Lagos and obtained by the newsmen.

The profit after tax represented a growth of 317 per cent when compared with N700 million declared in the comparative period of 2012.

The report showed that profit before tax rose by 258 per cent to N3.2 billion from the N900 million recorded in corresponding period of 2012.

Its turnover increased by 29 per cent to N92 billion compared with N71 billion posted in 2012.

Mr Akin Akinfemiwa, Forte Oil Group Chief Executive Officer, attributed the performance to business transformation initiatives, enhanced safety health and environmental practice across its business lines and superior customer service delivery.

“We remain committed to our mission of building a long-term successful company; boosting investor confidence by making Forte Oil the investment of choice in Nigeria and globally,” Akinfemiwa said.

Mr. Julius OmodayoOwotuga, the Group Chief Financial Officer, said that the company would continue with its diversification to increase shareholders’ value and market share.

South-West

Chief Magistrate Simeon Ojo, however, remanded the accused in prison and adjourned the case to November 28 for further hearing.

Murder Court Remands Land Speculator

LAGOS- An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has remanded a 32-year old land speculator, Olasiga Owolewa, at the Ikoyi Prisons, over alleged murder.

The accused, of no fixed address, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

The Magistrate, Mrs. A. F. Botoku, gave the order, pending the outcome of the legal advice from the Office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Abiodun Animashaun, had told the court that the offences were committed on August 8, at Ile Epo-Oba Filling Station, Ikorodu, Lagos.

“The accused, with a gun, unlawfully shot and killed one Samson Onabajo,’’ Animashaun said.

The prosecutor said that Owolewa and Onabajo were fighting over a land matter, which led to the death of his victim.

“Investigation is still ongoing and the case file has been forwarded to the DPP, for legal advice,’’ he said.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 221 and 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

L-R: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Vice President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on yesterday.

Robbery: IKEJAAn Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has remanded a 24-year-old man, Ndubuisi Nweke, at the Kirikiri Prisons, Apapa, alleged to have robbed some residents of valuables worth N389, 500.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Margaret Dan-Oni, ordered that the accused should be detained, pending legal advice from the State

Man, 24, Docked

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The accused, who resides at No. 4, Badalu St., MazaMaza, Lagos, is facing a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.

Reports state that the plea of the accused was, however, not taken.

The prosecutor, Insp Edet Okoi, had earlier told the

court that the accused, with others still at large, committed the offences at 2.30 a.m. on September 6 at No. 22/24, Alhaji Kareem St., Olodi-Apapa, Lagos.

He said that the accused and others, while armed with a gun and other dangerous weapons, robbed the residents of the building.

Okoi said that the gang went from flat to flat and dispossessed the residents of

phones, recharge cards, pieces of jewellery and cash, all worth N389, 500.

The prosecutor said the offences committed contravened Sections 1(2), (a) and 5 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation 1990 (as amended).

The case was adjourned till Deember 3, for mention.

Theft: 3 Men Remanded In Prison Custody

SANGO-OTA (OGUN)An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun has remanded three men in prison custody for allegedly robbing a man of his motorcycle at gunpoint.

The accused — Wasiu Lasisi, 21; Ismaila Saheed, 20; and Olalekan Olaleye, 20 — whose addresses are unknown, are being tried for armed

robbery and conspiracy.

The Magistrate, Alliu Soneye, who gave the order,

L-R: Minister of State for Niger-Delta Affairs, Mr. Darius Ishaku; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, Minister of State for Works, Amb. Bashir Yuguda and Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja yesterday.

said the accused should be kept behind bars pending legal advice from the State Director of Prosecutions (DPP) on the matter.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Olumide Ajayi, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 18 at 5.10 a.m. at No. 3, Olaoluwa St., Wazobia in Adiyan area of Agbado near Ota. Ajayi alleged that the accused, who were armed with guns, robbed one Mr Oluwadamilare Ajewole of his motorcycle with registration no. FST 933 QA worth N110, 000 and a mobile phone valued at N9,500.

The offences, he noted, contravened Sections 1(2), (a) and 6 (b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The magistrate adjourned the case to November 20 for mention.

THE NIGERIAN

7

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Lagos NGO Wants Children’s Use Of LAGOS - Mr. Charles Internet Monitored Osezua, Chairman, Institute for Work and Family Integration - a nonprofit organisation has advised parents and guardians to monitor the use of internet-enabled gadgets by their children and wards.

Osezua gave the advice while speaking at the 2013 Society and Technology Conference organised by the institute in Lagos.

“Technology has, no doubts, come with so many advantages for businesses, families and the society at large.

“However, we are concerned about the rate at which vices are being promoted and escalated through mobile technology, especially with phones.

“As we are told by the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), two out of three

people in the world keep mobile devices within reach at all times.

“Countless young people spend more time with gadgets than with people in the same room with them.

“It is expedient for parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children as we have so many cases of cyberbullying, assault and rape due to uncontrolled exposure to internet gadgets.

“The duty of every parent is not just to provide formal education, but also social education; this is not the duty of governments or housemaids,” he said.

Mr Pius Onobhayedo, Head, Design and New Media, School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, urged business establishments to

embrace digital marketing.

Onobhayedo said that under-utilisation of the internet also constituted its abuse.

“Social media sites, email and telephone were innovated purposely with the aim of easing business transactions, and not chatting.

“There are so many business organisations in Nigeria that have yet to tap into the opportunities to digitalise their marketing through new technologies.’’

L-R: Representative of the Zonal Commanding Officer, FRSC, Mr. Jide Fehintola, Commander, NDLEA, Oyo State Command, Mrs. Omolade Faboyede, Caretaker Chairman, Oluyole Local Government Area, Mr. Abas Aleshinloye, representative of Oyo State Governor, Col. Olumide Ishola, representative of 2 Div., Col. Chima Okafor and FRSC Oyo State Sector Commander, Mr. Godwin Ogagaoghene, at the inauguration of 2013 Ember months safety sensitisation in Ibadan yesterday.

Subsidy Of Fraud: Marketer Forged Documents To Obtain N963.7m - Witness IKEJA - A prosecution witness, Mr. Ihechukwu Ireogbu, on Tuesday testified that an oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril, forged some documents to fraudulently obtain N963.7 million subsidy payment from

the Federal Government.

Ireogbu, Managing Director, MGI Inspection Ltd., gave evidence at the resumed trial of Jubril before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court.

Jubril was charged to court

L-R: Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, explaining a point during the familisation visit of members of the Board to the Agency’s South-East-Zonal Laboratory at Agulu in Anambra yesterday. With them are: Head, South East NAFDAC Laboratory, Mr. Charles Nwachukwu, members of the council, Dr. Michael Daramola, Mr. Paul Enebeli, Chairman, Prof. John Ibru and Dr. Bolanle Njoku, member.

Youths Challenges ECOWAS Wants Collaboration

LAGOS - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), called on its member-countries to collaborate and confront the challenges of youths in the subregion.

Mr. Jefferson Kanmoh, ECOWAS Parliament Committee Chairman on Communication, Information and Technology, made the call at the opening of a 5-day ECOWAS Joint Committee meeting in Lagos.

The theme of the meeting is “Promotion of Youth Organisations and their

participation in Community Activities: Challenges and Prospects”.

Kanmoh noted that the peculiarities of the challenges confronting youths in our region today urgently required diverse partnerships and collaborations.

“Young people represent approximately 3.3 per cent of the population of West Africa.

“If we agree that youths are indispensable partners in the development of the sub-region, we need to jointly support them to bring about positive change in our various communities,” he said.

Kanmoh said that the meeting, holding in Lagos for the first time, would focus discussions on ECOWAS sectoral youth policies and programmes, as well as youth participation in civil society organisations and activities.

The ECOWAS official added that the meeting would also dwell on youth job opportunities and challenges, as well as their integration into the dynamics of ECOWAS. The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, represented by a Nigerian member of the Parliament, Sen. Olugbenga

Obadara, noted that youths in the region were “increasingly finding themselves insecure and vulnerable to unemployment”.

Ekweremadu said that the situation of youths today had become “more precarious” than in the past.

He, however, stressed the strategic importance of the youths to the integrative goals of ECOWAS. The Speaker added that the “Community’s Parliament” was working on proposals aimed at transforming the parliament from an advisory institution to a legislating one.

alongside his company, Brila Energy Ltd. They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ireogbu, who was crossexamined by Jubril’s counsel, Mr Raphael Oluyede, said that his firm had a prior business relationship with the defendant.

He, however, testified that MGI Inspection Ltd. did not participate in the inspection of the 13,500 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) purportedly imported by Jubril.

The witness said that the claim by Jubril that the company inspected the product on Jan. 26, 2011 and January.

27, 2011 at off-shore, Cotonou in Benin Republic, “was completely false.”

Ireogbu said that he instructed Mr Felix Iweka, an employee of the Port Cargo Services - a subsidiary of the company - to go to Cotonou to carry out the inspection.

According to him, Iweka later confirmed that he did not inspect ship-to-ship transfer of the product between the mother vessel, MT Overseas Lima, and the daughter vessel, MT Delphina.

“He only carried out a survey on another vessel and not this particular transaction,” the witness said.

Also testifying, Mr Akinwunmi Olarenwaju, an employee of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), said that the agency made fruitless efforts to contact the purported supplier of the product.

Olarenwaju, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr. Seidu Atteh, said that the defendant had claimed that he purchased the product from Napa Petroleum Trade Incorporation, Panama.

He said: “The EFCC requested a tripartite meeting

between the suppliers, the oil marketers and the PPPRA in respect of the transactions.

“We invited Napa Petroleum, Mercurial Trading and Namax Petroleum for the meeting.”

The witness testified that Napa Petroleum did not respond to its letter and failed to attend the said meeting.

The case has been adjourned till Jan. 21, 2014 for continuation of trial.

Oando Seeks Partnership To Boost Power Supply LAGOS -The management of Oando Plc has pledged to partner with indigenous investors to boost power supply in the country.

Mr Kevin Johnson-Azuara, the company’s Corporate Communications Officer, said in a statement in Lagos that Oando was glad to be part of the 10.4 mega watts Alausa Independent Power Plant project.

The plant powered by Gaslink, a subsidiary of Oando, was inaugurated recently by the Lagos State Government.

The statement said the plant, which uses environmentalfriendly gas, would drastically reduce noise pollution within and around the state secretariat at Alausa.

“This is due to the displacement of over 100 diesel generators and reduction of carbon emissions by 3.4 million annually,” it said.

It said the project financed by Fidelity Bank Plc further demonstrated that Nigerians were capable of finding solutions to their challenges.

THE NIGERIAN

8

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Across The Nation

FCT Indigenes Deserve Special Attention

JOS - The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), reaffirmed its commitment to a united Nigeria, but called for special attention to indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The FCT belongs to the middle belt; we gave it out to Nigeria out of sheer patriotism, but the status of development there has thrown away the indigenes,’’ the group’s

spokesman, Prof Jerry Gana, said in Jos. The Forum, an amalgam of northern minority groups, made the submission at the North-Central sitting of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue.

It frowned at the continuous neglect of the original owners of the FCT, and declared that

the situation was a time bomb that would be “catastrophic’’ when it burst.

Gana said that the national dialogue being proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, must examine ways to take care of that group of people by making a special provision for them.

According to him, their neglect has constituted some massive national tension that

should not be allowed to explode.

While reaffirming the desire for one Nigeria, he said that such should be built on justice for all groups so as to guarantee peaceful, orderly, and sustained development that would transform Nigeria.

He said that the national dialogue should serve as a platform for solutions to lingering issues that had bred

Senate Committee Chairman on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left), with Bishop of Gboko, Bishop William Avenya, at the National Catholic Health Summit in Abuja yesterday.

Court Dismisses Alao’s Bid To Quash N1.1bn Fraud Charge IKEJA - An Ikeja High Court dismissed an application by an oil marketer, Abdullahi Alao, seeking to quash the fuel subsidy fraud charge against him and four others.

Report says that, the application was dismissed by Justice Lateefat Okunnu, for lacking in merit. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Oct.10, 2012, charged Abdullahi, son of a prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arisekola-Alao, to court.

He was charged alongside two other oil marketers, Olarenwaju Olalusi and Opeyemi Ajuyah, and their companies -Majope Investment Ltd. and Axenergy Ltd. The defendants were alleged to have obtained N1.1 billion from the Federal Government for the importation of 15,000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

Okunnu, while ruling on the application to quash charges filed by Alao’s counsel, Mr. Oluwaseun Awonuga, held that the charge before the court was

competent.

The judge dismissed the defence submission that the fiat obtained by the EFCC from the Attorney-General of Lagos State had “expired”.

She held that the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were empowered to prosecute criminal offences under state laws, even without a fiat from the state’s attorneygeneral.

Okunnu said: “Section 211 (1) of the Constitution allows for circumstances in which any other body other than the

to enjoy micro-credit facilities and other forms of largesse from government. “Formulation of cooperative societies or aligning with one will enable members enjoy various government programmes of poverty alleviation, ‘’ he said.

Olabode, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Cooperative Societies Service, Mr. Dayo Falua, stressed that cooperative societies would also improve the standard of living of the people.

He added that their membership of the societies would increase the marketability of their various trades, adding that the societies were major employer of labour.

The commissioner, however, urged officials of the societies to

intensify efforts to recover all outstanding debts to make them economically buoyant.

In his address, the patron of Federation of Ekiti State Cooperatives, Mr. Adeola Ayoola, expressed gratitude to Gov. Kayode Fayemi for creating a ministry that would coordinate the activities of societies.

The President of the AwoIfelere Cooperative Multipurpose Union, Mr. Ganiyu Omoboriowo, promised to work with the government.

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of prizes to three outstanding cooperative societies with highest number of shares and the best three cooperative societies on loan repayment.

Commissioner Urges Residents To Join Cooperative Societies AWO (EKITI) - The Ekiti State Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Empowerment, Mr. Folorunsho Olabode, urged residents, especially those in rural communities, to join cooperative societies.

Olabode said this while speaking at the 24th Annual General Meeting of Awo-Ifelere Cooperative Multipurpose Union in Awo-Ekiti, Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that joining various cooperative societies that abound in the state would enable them take advantage of government’s efforts at eradicating poverty.

The commissioner said that such efforts would enable them

Attorney-General can institute criminal proceedings against a person.

“The EFCC Act, which is an Act of the National Assembly, also empowers the agency to prosecute criminal matters under a state law,” she said.

The judge noted that the EFCC Act and the Constitution were superior to any law passed by a state House of Assembly.

She also held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2011 gave powers to the EFCC to prosecute the defendants before a state high court.

- Gana

mutual distrust and suspicion, and suggested that all ethnic groups should be represented in it.

Gana said that Nigerians should be allowed to choose the terms on which to live together, especially the type of federation that was most suitable for them.

“Nigerians should be allowed to decide whether they still want the current three tiers of government or whether to return to the six regional groups.

“We should also be allowed to decide on the issue of devolution of powers; let’s decide on whether the centre has more powers which should be devolved to the states and local governments so as to make governance much closer and accounting,’’ he said.

Gana also emphasised the need to protect the rights of the minority groups, and pointed out that many had been under so much pressure “for a very long time’’.

“Because of environmental factors, many Nigerians are shifting from the south to the middle belt; gradually, owners of those areas are being deprived of their only heritage.

“Many middle belt communities have no place to stay and this has led to all

manners of tension. The national dialogue should examine these situations because they are largely responsible for the current violence in central Nigeria.

“As a people, we in the middle belt are depressed and such depression is certainly not good for progress and stability,’’ he said.

Gana also called for a more reliable population figure that would ensure fair sharing of resources, and noted that allegations of unfair sharing of resources was usually at the centre of most conflicts.

He said that Nigerians had always expressed misgivings over the cost of democracy and suggested the need to dialogue over whether the country should sustain the current bicameral legislature or go for a unicameral one.

The MBF called for the establishment of more states so as to correct injustices suffered by minority communities, stressing that giving more voices to the voiceless was a sure way to promote peace.

It declared its abhorrence for any conference that would “tear Nigeria apart’’, and observed that many nations that once separated, had again reunited toward a stronger force. “But should Nigerians resolve to disintegrate, we, in the middle belt, shall want to remain in Nigeria and be known as Nigeria with our capital in Abuja,’’ he declared.

Don’t Use National Dialogue For Politicking -Monarch

JOS - The Gbong Gwon Jos, Jacob Buba, has called on the Presidential Advisory committee on National Dialogue and Nigerians not to use the forum for politicking.

He said this in Jos, when members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, led by the Chairman, Sen. Femi Okurounmu, paid him a courtesy call in his palace.

Buba said that the conference was very timely as it would provide an avenue for all Nigerians to air their issues and differences so that they could be resolved.

“I appeal to Nigerians not to use this forum for politicking

because this committee is not a political committee. “It is a committee that wants to listen to and help advice those in authority on what areas to address and on how to address them so that peace and tranquillity would reign in Nigeria and we may enjoy the true dividends of democracy.

“We must address issues in sincerity and do away with politicking because we are accountable to the coming generation of what becomes of Nigeria” he said.

Buba prayed that the committee would have the wisdom to undertake the task they were saddled with.

L-R: Representative of Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Deji Adekunle, Executive Secretary, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related Matters (NAPTIP), Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Aba, National Public Prosecutor on trafficking in Human Beings, Netherlands, Mr. Warner Ten-Kate and Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Roberto Colamine, at the NAPTIP Seminar on International Co-operation in Abuja in Abuja yesterday.

THE NIGERIAN

9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

News EFCC Prays Court To Revoke Bail ABUJA - The Economic and Granted Accuse Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja prayed an FCT High Court to revoke the bail it granted to one Daniel Edet.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Cosmas Ugwu, made the prayer at the resumed hearing at the court in a case the anti-graft agency instituted in 2012.

The news reports say that Edet was charged with issuing a N9.5 million dud cheque.

The EFCC had filed a onecount charge against Edet, the Director of Global Concept Limited, for allegedly issuing a dud cheque to one Ifeanyi

Okoye.

Ugwu urged the court to grant an order revoking the bench warrant for the bail of the accused.

He alleged that the accused, while on bail, issued another N5 million cheque to the complainant.

“This action violates the conduct of this court and we submit that the second dud cheque issued by the accused is an offence.

“We, therefore, urge the court to revoke the bail, granted the accused in line with the

Shell, PETAN Partner On Technology Transfer LAGOS - The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) in collaboration with Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) is championing technology transfer in the oil and gas industry.

This is aimed at boosting Nigerian content development and employment A statement issued by Mr Valentine Obidi, the Public Relations Officer of PETAN, disclosed this in Lagos.

The statement said that Shell and PETAN, at the 2013 Global Nigerian- Aberdeen Forum, created joint venture alliances with the Nigerians in the Diaspora in the UK and the UK Trade and Investment to realise this objective.

According to the statement, the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development for Shell, Igo Weli said that the fallout of the forum is an urgent need to develop a knowledge sharing framework.

“Already, I am happy to hear that PETAN is saying they want to link their platform to that. So, it is getting bigger. So, the first thing we are going to do is to develop that platform. “ We have already started talking to a consultant to develop the platform. When we develop that platform, we need subject matter experts from among the Nigerians in the Diaspora.

“We want volunteers, we are not going to appoint or steer or pinpoint anybody. We are going to be asking those of you who are interested to volunteer to help us,’’ the statement said.

The Managing Director, SNEPCo, Mr Chike Onyejekwe, was quoted as saying that “today’s event marks the beginning of a collaborative knowledge sharing network.

He said that the network would help both PETAN and Nigerian companies to access technical knowledge and

unleash a new level of competence for the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

Dr Paul Eke, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) UK North Chapter, said that the organisation was formed in 2000 by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

He said that organisation was to replicate the success story countries like Israel, China, India witnessed through technology transfer from their citizens in Diaspora.

“This concept is what Nigeria needs at a time like this, the government needs to incorporate Nigerians in Diaspora if we want to make progress to ensure technology transfer.

“In those countries, their citizens in Diaspora travelled far and wide, acquired lots of experience, came back home and implemented all those things, helped the government, helped the industry, helped every other sector of the economy.

provisions of Section 341 (c) of the Criminal Procedure Code,’’ the counsel argued.

However, the accused’s counsel, Mr. Casmir Nwachukwu, opposed EFCC’s application, and submitted that the accused did not commit any offence that would warrant a revocation of his bail.

He argued that the prosecution did not prove the fact which shows that the accused committed an offence.

“We urge you to discountenance the application, as it lacks merit,” he said.

After arguments for and against the revocation of bail, Justice Abubakar Umar, adjourned the case to Nov. 5 for ruling and continuation of hearing.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Folashade Esan (left); the Minister Labaran Maku speaking and Acting Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Otunba Jide Adebayo at the Minister of Information’s monthly World News Conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

L-R: Former Minister of Education, Prof. Jubril Aminu, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof.

Julius Okojie and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Mackjohn Nwaobiala at the National Universities Commission (NUC) at 50+1 anniversary lecture in Abuja on Tuesday.

Driver Remanded For Assault ABUJA - An Upper Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, has ordered the remand of a driver, Ikechukwu Ede,of Uke Town, Nasarawa State in prison custody for allegedly assaulting two police officers.

The Presiding Judge, Mr. Vincent Gwehemba, gave the order after the prosecutor, Insp. Joseph Ahua, prayed the court to order that Ede, 24, be remanded.

Gwehemba said the accused should remain in prison custody until October 23, to enable the police to conclude investigations.

Earlier, Ahua had told the court that the two police officers, Abdul Monday and Musa Gabriel reported the matter at the ‘A’ Division

Police Station, Nasarawa State.

The prosecutor said that on October 18, the two officers were performing their lawful

duty under the pedestral bridge, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, when the accused assaulted them.

He said the offence was

contrary to provisions of Section 171 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, the accused is liable to serve a prison term

of five years or be given an option to pay a fine or both.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

3 Men Arraigned For Negligent Conduct ABUJA - The police in Abuja have arraigned three men in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of joint act and negligent conduct.

The men are Titus Dawnson, 28; Jacob Ipah, 25 and Amos Icheme, 26, all of CEDPA Organisation, Cairo Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Francis Tanko, told the court that Ibrahim Ogwuche of the

same address reported the accused at the Wuse Police Station on Oct.8.

Tanko said Dawnson, Jacob and Icheme worked for Ogwuche as security man, office assistant and receptionist, respectively.

He said that at about 6 a.m. on the same day, Ogwuche discovered that some unknown persons had broken into his office while his employees were sleeping within the premises.

The prosecutor said that properties worth N650,000 were stolen from the office and that the accused could not give a satisfactory account of them.

Tanko said the offence contravened sections 79 and 196 of the Penal Code.

If convicted under these sections of the code, each accused could be imprisoned for a period of up to six months or be fined or be punished with both.

The accused however pleaded not guilty to the two counts of joint act and negligent conduct.

The magistrate, Mr. Aminu Eri, admitted each of the accused persons to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two reasonable sureties each in like sum.

Eri said that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case to October 29 for hearing.

THE NIGERIAN

10

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

News

Multichoice Pledges To Support Charity Homes

ENUGU - The Enugu branch of Multichoice Nigeria Ltd., owners of the South Africabased cable television, DSTV, pledged to support charity organisations in the state.

The Branch Manager, Mrs Vivian Odenigbo, made the pledge in Enugu while presenting gift items to the Daughters of Divine Love Charity Home in Abakpa Nike, Enugu, as part of activities to mark its customers’ week.

Odenigbo said the organisation would be involved in the activities of some less-privileged homes to give the inmates a sense of belonging.

“This charity home will be part of Multichoice agenda. We will do our best to make life better for the inmates.’’

Guest Speaker, Mrs. Rehab David (left), with the Plateau Co-ordinator, The manager commended Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN), Mrs. Jessica Vonkat, the management of the home for taking care of the inmates during the World Rural Women Day celebration in Jos recently. and urged them to keep up the good work.

FG Evolves National Strategy On Mass Housing ABUJA - A housing expert, Mrs. Nkechi Enekebe, said the Federal Government has commenced the development of strategies to evolve a national strategy on mass housing delivery and slum upgrade in the country.

Enekebe, a town planner, who is also an Assistant Director in the Housing and Urban Development

Department in the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Abuja.

She said that experts in the housing sector were discussing modern strategies to upgrade slums in cities across the country with a view to evolving social housing strategies.

Kwara To Distribute N100m Loan To Artisans IIORIN - The Kwara Government on Monday in Ilorin has said it had earmarked N100 million for distribution as loan to 5,000 artisans in the state.

The Kwara Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Tunji Moronfoye, told newsmen that the gesture was meant to boost the potential beneficiaries’ trading activities.

“In due course, the loan, which is a revolving one, will be extended to all artisans in the state,’’ he said.

Moronfoye told newsmen further that the

Kwara government was committed to improving the well-being of the people of the state.

He advised the first set of the scheme’s beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money to improve their economic fortunes.

The commissioner told newsmen that the state government planned to put into full operation a vocational training centre in November.

“The centre will be an avenue to fully engage youths in the state on entrepreneurship skills’ acquisition,’’ he said.

According to Enekebe, the most appropriate way to deal with housing challenges is to provide enabling policies.

She said that there were also plans to also provide new approaches that would not only address housing delivery but emphasise city development, introduction of new communities and massive infrastructure development.

Accordingly, we will continue to develop new technologies because massive urbanisation has been identified as the major cause of slum creation in cities across Nigeria.

“This is why stakeholders in the housing sector are meeting in Abuja to brainstorm on ways cities can be developed and slums upgraded,” Enekebe said.

In her response, the Head of the home, Rev. Sr. Kate-Mary Nnamonu, thanked the organisation for the gesture.

Nnamonu said the home was housing orphans, old people and persons with disabilities, who were abandoned by their relatives.

She appealed to governments and well meaning Nigerians to

Monarch Urges Govt Intervention

Erosion :

OBOSI (ANAMBRA) Igwe Chidubem Iweka, the traditional ruler of Obosi in Anambra, has appealed to the federal and state governments to intervene in the erosion menace in the community.

Speaking at the close of the 2013 Obiora Festival in Obosi, Iweka said the community had made various oral and written presentations to the two levels of government concerning the menace but that their intervention was still awaited.

“I seize this opportunity to call on all sons and daughters of Obosi Kingdom to assist in whatever capacity they can to help curb the erosion menace.

“Many houses have been swallowed by erosion and many more are still being threatened.

“If no major action is taken, one day this silent monster will ravage and desolate a greater part of our kingdom

Kwara LG Poll: Council

Boss Sues For Peace

YASHIKIRA (KWARA) The Chairman of Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara, Dr Lafia Kora-Sabi, urged residents of the council to embrace peace during Saturday’s council elections.

The chairman made the call in an interview with newsmen in Yashikira.

He called on the people of the area to turn out en mass to cast

assist the home in renovating its structures and building new ones was as provide them with funds to pay school fees for the inmates.

Items presented to the home included two bags of rice, 10 cartons of indomie Noodles, two jerrycans of vegetable oil, toiletries and a DSTV decoder for its common room.

their vote for the party of their choice during the council poll.

According to him, youths in particular must perform their civic responsibility and shun any act of violence.

The council boss commended Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for the approval given to the construction of Okuta-GwanaraIlesha-Baruba road, describing this as a welcome development.

Women celebrating World Rural Women Day in Jos recently.

and beyond.

“We still continue to make our fervent pleas to the state and federal governments to come to our aid and save our town from total ruin,’’ the Eze Obosi said.

Also speaking, retired Col. Emma Nwobosi, the Ogene Obosi Kingdom, called on the Anambra government to set up a skills acquisition centre in the community.

Nwobosi said such a centre would help engage the jobless and check youth restiveness and crime.

“We urge our successful and highly placed sons and daughters to help place our young people in jobs. Employ a youth and bring about a bright future for his family and others,’’ he said.

Earlier, Mr Olajide Omokore, who was given a chieftaincy title by the monarch, said the title depicted the unity in diversity in the country.

“We promise to oil this unity in such a way that Nigerians will come to terms with the fact that all Nigerians are but one, bound by the special love of God Almighty,’’ Omokore said.

The three-day festival was attended by Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra, who led a delegation of APGA members.

Also Col. Taritimiye Gagariga, the Commander of Onitsha Military Cantonment, led officers of the cantonment to pay homage to the monarch.

THE NIGERIAN

11

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

How Not To Meet Mr Wrong THE most important part of finding the right person is honestly defining yourself and your needs in life. Defining the things that matter most to us and evaluating the importance of a potential partner’s level of concern for those same issues is something many of us don’t do until after we’ve invested significant time and energy in a relationship.

Perhaps the most important thing you need to know is who you are.

Sounds simple. But sometimes people observing us can see things about us that we’ve grown so used to, we no longer even notice.

Think about what you know about yourself.

Make a list.

•Do you like to get up early, or do you like to sleep in? Do you like to party until the bars close, or would you rather spend an evening in pajamas watching TV •Are you religious or not?

•Is family important to you? Would you like to have children? If so, how soon, how many?

•What hobbies do you enjoy? Are you an active outdoors person, or do you prefer doing things indoors and leisurely?

•Are you a health nut or a smoker?

Most of us are very open-minded about what we like. If a person we are dating is different, it can seem exciting and become a fun opportunity to try new things. We might even learn we like something we’d never thought of trying before.

But sometimes we allow our initial excitement to cloud potential conflict areas. It’s fine to be openminded. But it’s very

important for us to know which things are important to us—which things we won’t compromise—prior to engaging in a romantic relationship with another person.

Both women and men are waiting longer and longer to get married for the first time, according to the Census Bureau, and fewer women are having babies before their 40th birthdays, the Centers for Disease Control reports.

Interestingly, more and more women are having babies well into their 40s.

Could it be that it has become more difficult for couples to connect romantically?

Finding Mr. or Ms. Right requires taking your eyes off of work and focusing on yourself more. What can you do to become the person you would want to date? She offers some tips for finding “the one.”

Figure out what you’re looking for. Have you thought hard about what kind of person you’re looking for? One trick is to visualize your perfect day.

Are you at the beach?

Traveling? Is the man with you quiet or chatty? Is the woman serious or funny?

Does he want children?

Does she go to church?

This will help you identify the characteristics and values of your Mr. or Ms. Right so you can recognize them when he or she comes along.

Get happy in your own head. Once again, it’s all about attraction. Putting out positive, confident energy will attract the same. Besides, it’s never a good idea to rely on other people to make us happy.

If you need to recover from

old hurts, lose weight or find a job, take care of that business first.

Think you’re ready?

Test yourself with this quick quiz.

1. Are you happy with yourself? (Or are you miserable because you’ve put on 50 pounds since your divorce?)

attract the man (or woman) who is perfect for me?” It’s not about changing you; it’s about being your best you. Part of that is your mojo – your self-esteem. If your mojo is slipping, you’ll attract control freaks, players and jerks.

Pump it up with a makeover, a workout, a sincere inventory of your

2. Are you looking for someone to rescue you or take care of you? (If you answer “yes” to this one, you may not be ready.)

3. Is there room in your life for a relationship? (Or do you have three kids and work a 60-hour week?)

4. Has enough time passed since your last relationship? (Or are you still wounded?)

Now, get yourself fabulous. Rather than, “Why can’t I find a good man?” ask yourself, “Who do I need to become to

attributes.

Get out there! Put on your sexy jeans get yourself out the door.

Where to start looking? If you enjoy working with your hands, volunteer for a Habitat for Humanity project. If you’ve always wanted to learn Italian, take a class. If you love to do \t “_blank” yoga, check out a new studio (ladies, you’ll find a surprising number of guys there.)

Perhaps you find a new church or take a class on blank” Buddhism. The list

“Part of the criteria for any “Mr. Right” should always be: “He really wants to be with me.” If he doesn’t—he can’t possibly have been Mr. Right for you. If he choses to end the relationship, he likely has done you a favor. Respect his right to decide what is best for his own life. And have faith in your ability to find the man best suited to your needs.”

Relationship With IMOISILI EDITH 07089364470

of meeting spots for singles is a long one: bookstores, dance clubs, supper clubs, book clubs, gyms, golf courses, rowing clubs, dog parks.

It’s not the end of the world. Remember your evaluation process? Well, if he’s wise, he has one as well. And even if he’s everything you think you want or need, he may have

best for his own life. And have faith in your ability to find the man best suited to your needs.

Get to know your partner.

You’ve gone out for a few months now, and it seems to be going well.

You are getting to know one another very quickly, and all the listed requirements are being

noticed something about you that won’t work for him. That’s OK. You can be a bright, beautiful, dynamic person, and still not be “right” for every man out there. Nobody is right for everybody. If someone doesn’t see you as compatible, that’s not rejection, it’s a fair evaluation. Just as you know you’re not suited for every job that’s out there in the world, you’re not suited for every lifestyle, either.

Part of the criteria for any “Mr. Right” should always be: “He really wants to be with me.” If he doesn’t— he can’t possibly have been Mr. Right for you. If he choses to end the relationship, he likely has done you a favor. Respect his right to decide what is

met. He’s everything you defined, and he says you’re what he’s been looking for.

What now?

Be sure to meet Mr. Right’s friends and family before investing too much in the relationship. It’s very easy to be Prince Charming when he’s away from those who know him best. How does he act with his; mother, his brother, his friends and his coworkers?

Is he the same man you’ve been seeing for the last three months? Or is he someone you don’t recognize?

When associates make jokes about him, do you wonder who they’re talking about?

Or do you laugh because you’ve seen the same endearing shortcomings in him already?

THE NIGERIAN

12

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

THE media have been awash with assorted commentaries since the United States based online publication, Sahara Reporters blew the lid on the aviation minister that she compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to purchase two BMW cars worth N255 million for her. As has always been the case with big political cases as the one making the rounds, there were denials from the ministers quarters until the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Mr. Joe Obi confirmed that the two armoured BMW cars were truly purchased by NCAA to protect his boss from “imminent threats.”

WE are surprised that in a country with chronic poverty statistics where 70 per cent live on less than $1US and disturbing human development index, a serving minister could authorise the spending of a whooping N255m on two bullet proof cars. It further reinforces our positions on rising profligacy and corruption in the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

From all indications, it is a case of outrigh corruption and stealing because the same brand of armoured cars are said to sell for N76million, so why the inflation to N255million?

THE nation in general is today facing serious security challenges and we wonder why Ms. Stella Oduah feels that it was now her responsibility to secure herself by dipping her hands into the public till. What about the security of the rest 160 million Nigerians whose lives are daily being threatened by Boko Haram, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Egbesu, Oodua and Bakassi Boys insurgency, armed robbery, kidnapping and others ? Who will purchase their bullet proof cars for them? The story making the rounds, to say the least is condemnable.

WE are pleased that the National Assembly statutorily charged with oversight duties have swung into action by ordering its Aviation committee to probe the allegations giving the committee one week to come up with a report.

This is what was long expected of the parliamentarians given the commitment of the present administration to war corruption.

ALSO, we are pleased with President Goodluck

THE NIGERIAN

Aviation Minister’s N255m Car Scandal Jonathan raising a panel of inquiry to also carry out a quick investigation into the scandal that was already taking something away from the office of the president as his silence in the face of the issue going viral in both conventional and social media was suspect, necessitating fresh allegations by analysts that he may be shielding Oduah as one of the sacred cows of his regime.

FURTHERMORE, we are worried over reports that the whistle blower on the minister is being declared a criminal by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority who are said to be on a manhunt for the whistle blower in spite of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the United Nations convention and Freedom of Information Act. We condemn the management of NCAA for their action which seeks to punish the whistle blower, instead of seeking ways to reward him for his anticorruption efforts and patriotism.

IN the same vein, we are concerned about what appears to be very desperate moves by the aviation ministry at cover-up. Spokesperson of the Nigerian Airport Management Authority (NAMA), Mr. Supo Atobatele has only recently described the reports on purchase of cars as “frivolous, malicious, and mischievous.” He came up with an explanation that “for the avoidance of

doubt, “this evil story, as being promoted is patently false in its enirety and is calculated to put the agency and the office of the minister into disrepute.” This assertion in our considered view is an afterthought and runs contrary to the confirmation from the personal aide of the minister who said the bullet proof cars were purchased to save the minister from persons who plan to eliminate her because of “her reforms.”

BUT most importantly, we need to know what has become of the due process office in our country given the astonishing figures. The committees probing the scandal need to know who authorised the purchase of the cars, who benefited from the inflated figures and other piercing issues.

NIGERIANS are saddened that the alleged fleecing of the aviation sector by those in charge of affairs with such impunity at a time when university teachers are on strike for more than three months over poor funding of the Nigerian public universities with the same Federal Government complaining of lack of money to respect agreement it entered into with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

WHETHER innocent or otherwise, we expect the Minister of Aviation who is at the centre of the storm to tow the path of honour by stepping down from office. That is what is done in civilised societies. It will be wrong for her to seat in the same office while investigations are going on as that could afford her the opportunity to cover her tracks, if she is truly guilty as alleged.

It is for this reason that we call on President Goodluck Jonathan to suspend her from office immediately pending the outcomes of the various probe panels investigating the matter.

We equally call on all agencies probing the sleaze to be very thorough in their task with a view to ascertaining the veracity of the allegations and come up with various recommendations that will ensure that all those found wanting are made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to all those managing public resources.

THE NIGERIAN

13

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Discourse

The Struggle To Tame Africa’s Beast Of Megacity

A WALK along the two kilometres of light rail that Lagos authorities have managed to build in three years gives a sense of how hard it is to impose order on one of Africa’s most chaotic cities.

From either side of the concrete structure - no track has yet been laid - the crowded slums and highways of Nigeria’s lagoon-side commercial hub teem with activity.

Its trademark yellow buses overtake, undertake and force their way down impossibly narrow side streets, where women stir pots next to canals clogged with rubbish.

With between 15 million and 21 million people - the upper estimate is the official one, though no one really knows and generating a third of GDP for Africa’s second biggest economy, Lagos has become almost as alluring to yieldhungry investors as it is to the 4,000 or so economic migrants who turn up each day.

Violent crime, mushrooming slums, police extortion and widespread fraud have often held investment back, but in the past decade, authorities have started trying to tackle some of the obstacles, especially maddening traffic bottlenecks.

“Just keeping Lagos roads moving without rail, pushing that kind of tonnage just through our road network, now that’s the eighth wonder of the world,” says Governor Babtunde Fashola.

Fashola and his predecessor, Bola Tinubu, have tried to turn the city from a byword for squalor into a glitzy business hub. Their success will rest on projects like the light rail, which has involved massive and controversial slum clearance.

If they manage, it could become an investment hub in Africa and a model for fasturbanising African nations. If not, it might face a dystopian crime-ridden future not unlike its past.

“WE CAN’T STOP THEM COMING” If Lagos were a country its GDP would make it Africa’s seventh biggest economy more than twice the size of Kenya’s. Its large consumer

market is already well established for firms like Unilever, Heineken and Nestle.

One of Africa’s biggest stock markets sits here, as does its second biggest market in government bonds. Industry is hampered by poor power generation, but the service sector is booming.

Lagos accounts for more than half the non-oil economy of Africa’s leading energy producer, says economist Paul Collier, who sees it as key to breaking the country’s dependence on oil.

“Lagos is Africa’s best chance of a productive megacity,” he wrote in The Plundered Planet. “As oil runs down and is replaced by a new economy ... Nigeria’s economic future lies in Lagos.”

But it faces a daily challenge just trying to keep up with the pace of population growth, much of it on the edge of water.

Nigeria, already pushing 170 million people, will be home to 400 million by 2050, making it the world’s fourth most populous country, according to the global Population Reference Bureau (PRB). Lagos will have roughly doubled in size by then, Fashola and demographers agree.

On top of Nigeria’s high birth rate, there is migration.

“The more successful Lagos is, the more people it attracts.

That’s the Catch-22,” said Kayode Akindele, partner in a Lagos-based consultancy.

“Social services can’t keep up.”

Fashola’s planning commissioner Ben Akabueze thinks Lagos could have 35 million people by 2025 on current growth rates. In 1970, authorities say, there were just 1.4 million Lagosians.

“We can’t stop them from coming,” Akabueze told Reuters from his office in mainland Lagos’s noisy, heaving Ikeja district. “There’s been a net positive migration almost on a daily basis.”

To try to cope better, the government is rolling out a compulsory residents’ registration. “Everybody is welcome,” Akabueze says.

“But we want to document the

people who stay.”

VEHICLES FOR CHANGE The influx puts pressure on inadequate housing, and spawns unemployed youths with few options for making a living outside the street gangs - the infamous ‘area boys’ who informally control territory and extort money from passers by.

But the biggest headache is travel. The transport authority says there are 9 million road trips a day in the city. Some Lagosians get up at 4.30 a.m. to make the office by nine.

Things are improving; highways were widened and police stationed at bottlenecks.

New ferry services now beat traffic by crossing the lagoon in a state one fifth of which is water.

Tutu Adewale, an assistant to a financial professional, used to spend three or four hours each way commuting by bus along a tangle of bridges. Now it takes her 45 minutes by boat.

“I made do with it, but it’s such a relief now,” she said.

The $2.5 billion light rail project will take more time.

China’s state-owned China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) began work in 2010, but there are still 25 km left to build on the $1.3 billion eastwest line, and no work has started on the 35 km northsouth one.

The project is behind schedule because there is

barely a stretch of land on which someone isn’t living or trading.

Thousands of illegal settlements erected by slum dwellers have been destroyed this year. No one has been compensated, because they were never supposed to be there to begin with.

Amnesty International in August condemned the eviction of 9,000 residents of Badia East and the razing of their homes in February, leaving many to sleep in mosquito-infested streets.

In one incident, 72 traders from the Igbo ethnic group were deported to their ancestral lands after their houses were bulldozed. That appeared to give slum

“Everything Fashola’s done can easily be reversed. You’d just have to do nothing, it would be reversed,” said Akindele. Yet a growing number of business people feel the state’s efforts to bring some kind of order to Lagos may be becoming irreversible.

Corruption is rife, but institutions function; rubbish is collected, streets are swept, hedges trimmed.”

clearance an ugly ethnic dimension, and Fashola made a reluctant public apology.

“My shop was just right in front of that bridge,” said Igbo trader Uche Okonkwo, 43, surveying the wreckage of a market trashed to make way for the rail. “They demolished the warehouse, the shops, the offices, the showroom, everything.”

Fashola’s defenders say slums have to be removed if projects like the light rail are

to happen, but critics say the heavy-handed approach shows a lack of sensitivity to the poor.

The governor is fixing the city for the besuited business types, they say, but has been slow on things like low-cost housing to help those sleeping under bridges or on rubbish tips.

“Much as I admire Fashola, I don’t see enough being done to help those at the bottom,” blogger Tolu Ogunlesi told Reuters in a chic art cafe in the prestigious Victoria Island, an area housing one the world’s highest concentrations of millionaires.

“They’re talking about building 1,000 low-cost housing units a year, but we need hundreds of thousands a year,” he said.

There’s no shortage of housing projects for the rich.

Moss-dusted colonial-era houses in leafy Ikoyi district are becoming rare as they get torn down and swapped for luxury flats.

At Bar Beach on the Atlantic Coast, tonnes of sand is being poured into the ocean to reclaim it for the proposed Eko Atlantic city, a Dubai-style gated community that will

have chrome skyscrapers, business parks, palm trees and a marina.

Being on water is the only thing it will have in common with the Makoko slum a few miles away, where 100,000 fishing people live in houses on stilts with no sanitation.

At his desk piled high with papers, Fashola resents the notion he has neglected the poor. He points to projects like massive mains water provision, which will when finished provide 10-20 litres a day to Lagosians, even if the city swells to 35 million, he says.

But the state’s message is: if you leave the poverty of your village to live on the streets in Lagos, that’s your lookout.

“If you have nowhere to stay, then stay in your village. You can’t simply jump on a bus and come live under a bridge,” Akabueze says.

The governor has won praise for dealing with crime. Many area boys have been co-opted - some as yellow-shirted traffic cops, while others keep order in bus terminals.

Violent crime has steadily fallen since he took office in 2007, though there was been a spike in kidnapping this year.

“There was a time security was a big problem, especially robbery, but you have to hand it to them, things got a lot better,” said Lagos tycoon Tony Elumelu.

Many fret about what will happen when the governor steps down in 2015.

“Everything Fashola’s done can easily be reversed. You’d just have to do nothing, it would be reversed,” said Akindele.

Yet a growing number of business people feel the state’s efforts to bring some kind of order to Lagos may be becoming irreversible.

Corruption is rife, but institutions function; rubbish is collected, streets are swept, hedges trimmed.

“Lagos is depersonalising politics,” United Bank for Africa CEO Philips Oduoza said. “Institutions are becoming more important than people, and that could outlast the governor.”

Reinforcing this are rocketing tax receipts; 65 percent of state revenues are now non-oil.

The governor, who gets up at 7 a.m. and works until 3 a.m., says his to-do list isn’t getting any shorter.

“In a football match, the last 15 minutes can be the most decisive,” he says, creaking back in his leather chair. “So I intend to finish with as much pace as we started.”

• Courtesy: Reuters

THE NIGERIAN

14

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Pull The Trigger! Ajuwaya

HMM! This to me is my main concern as a writer.

Indeed worrying is what we all are guilty of most of the time. Oh! Pardon my manners. Corper we! Corper we!! Corper’ We’o!!!. I phantom your response –of course, we are one and will unconditionally remain one, for we are but questers in quest for a common goal on a parallel plane and I pray that the plane we stand shall be smooth and solid that we may attain that higher height.

Few days back, desire drove me through the lane of imagination, visualzing, which almost turned into hallucination, and I wished not to come to terms with reality. But for how long will I continue swimming in fantasy? There was always one lump, infact a force that stands between my dreamhallucination and my dreamreality and that almighty force is called. DOUBT She is a killer of time. Yes, doubt kills more dream than failure ever will. Doubt is not a pleasant condition but certainly is absurd. Now you understand why I ranked doubt as almighty.

It is true that we are all graduates serving our father land right now, but the reality stares us in the eye. At this point, I ask us; After now what next? Maybe you do not understand me, I mean, after our serving year what follows? Reality sets in.

I got the inner urge to discuss this issue because of the rate of unemployment that threatens our nation and that of course brought shivers of fear to my ambition. Our predecessor of two, four, ten and more years after graduation and passing out parade (POP) have become street walkers and has acquired M.A in application letters and Phd in Cv’s, tests and interviews. That is our country for us, so disheartening and discouraging. But yet there is still glimpse of light in the turnel (Hope).

The privilege has been given to us by the NYSC body. An opportunity to acquire knowledge in various skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Development (SAED) in orientation camp and still more with divers objectives coming to our group CDS on separate days of the week.

Ours (my follow corp members) is to grab, take

By EZE NNENNA ADA

advantage and exploit these opportunities.

Digesting the meal set before us, that is, speaking of our discussion, let me borrow a leaf from the NYSC security tips (handbook) given to us in the orientation camp, page(5) of it, with the sub –head: Be Focused; we were advised to be “determine, persevere, be painstaking and diligent” which are essential ingredients to achieve a higher height in life. Though all these ingredients in place, there is yet another essential prerequisite to attain your dream goal, ‘Believing in oneself. Sometimes you just have to be your own HERO and save your own little world.

Indeed, doubt is a killer of time, that is why we have to push through against all odds, like the chronic youths unemployment which like a cult, initiating and drowning our graduates into undesirable and illegal occupation, cybercrime, which ordinarily should have been a technological innovation channelled towards technological advancement.

“Unemployed youths in Nigeria is a clear case of failure of leadership to utilize abundant human natural resources in the country to create jobs that will engage the youths in productive and meaningful economic activities” (Adejumobi, 2011).

The point here is that when large numbers of youths are unemployed their quest to survive may make them become willing tools in the hands of maverick and disgruntled politicians who want to use them for antisocial and clandestine political activities. What am I saying. I am therefore encouraging my fellow corp members here in Edo State and beyond.

The batch C’s whose train of goodbye has already kicked off, and batch A’s and B’s that are still here and those that are yet to join in the brotherhood and even those graduates who will not or did not pass through the ritual of NYSC, to brace up and develop a thick skin to the temptation of being that negative graduate due to the disease of unemployment.

Instead, believe in yourself,

Today

believe in your ability, believe in the skills and acquisition knowledge you have acquired and put it to use. Whatever you set yourself to do, do it well. Do not fear, panic or doubt your inner strength, then you will see yourself doing more than you can imagine.

The biggest reason why we have bad experiences and failures in any area of

where you still haven’t got what you wanted at a time you expect to get it and you start to question and doubt that what your doing works.

When you think, “why isn’t this working yet” or why hasn’t it happened yet, you are moving away from your desires. When you have negative feelings of fear, worry or doubt, all you have to do is ‘stop’ in that moment and change your focus onto what you want.

“saving Grace”, he sings, ‘You are confident but not sure’.

Yes, as life goes on in segments, we catch our self in grapple with self-doubt.

Sometimes it has its benefit, as in Robert Sutton in’ ‘Good Boss Bad Boss’ says, “the best boses dance on edge of

alertness in you.

MOVE THROUGH SELF-DOUBT WITH DEADLINE Give yourself reasonable time to explore options and then pull the trigger.

You can make it, I can make it, together we can make it, creating a nation of

life is doubt. We doubt when we worry and fear the future, that is what causes failure in our work, marketing, business, relationships, health, dreams and everything else. Do you know why? Because we become what we think most. All actions are effects and the only cause is thought. Our beliefs create reality. When conflicting beliefs exist, we sabotage our reality creation. That is why we fail to manifest what we want.

Through the process of manifesting your desires, you may encounter situations

If you don’t believe that something won’t work or doubt it, then you will push the things you want away from you. Your believe that you can’t have what you really want will be created in your life as that thought energy goes to work to make sure you don’t get what you want.

Apart from trying to attain our goals and dreams in life, one way or the other if you find yourself in position of being a leader or having the desire to be in leadership of any sector, then you have to empower self-belief and paralize self doubt.

Tom Petty, captures the experience of many in

over confidence, but a healthy dose of self doubt and humility saves them from turning arrogant and pigheaded”. What am trying to bring to your attention is that you should believe in yourself enough to bring selfdoubt with you into your decisions and commitments.

The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment however, is healthiest when it’s not without doubt but in spite of doubt.

Pressing into paralyzing self-doubt as a leader or aspiring leader. Fear of making mistake is healthy when it raises intensity or

our dream. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.

Margaret mead.

We are the youths, and the youth is the wheel of the motor. Be the change you want to see in the society.

Protect your dignity.

I can never be left out from enjoying the prayers, blessing and prophesies rained on me and my comrades every morning on the parade ground before the morning daily physical training and drills in camp by our beloved mama, the camp director, Pastor Mrs. M.A. Williams.

Long live NYSC, long live Edo State, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I remove Hair Dressing.

“Indeed, doubt is a killer of time, that is why we have to push through against all odds, like the chronic youths unemployment which like a cult, initiating and drowning our graduates into undesirable and illegal occupation, cybercrime, which ordinarily should have been a technological innovation channelled towards technological advancement.”

THE NIGERIAN

15

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Science

Report Slams Continued Antibiotics Use In US Livestock

US regulators and livestock producers have failed to curb the use of antibiotics in cattle, pigs and poultry despite concerns that excessive use in meat production will reduce the drugs’ effectiveness in humans, a panel of experts said.

“Meaningful change is unlikely in the future,” concluded the 14member panel, assembled

by Johns Hopkins University, in a report released on Tuesday that quickly drew protests from livestock industry groups.

The release marked the fifth anniversary of a landmark 2008 Pew Charitable Trust report that called for an end to the sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics by livestock producers, as well as an end to practices such as tiny cages for laying hens.

Congressional hearings followed the release of that report, and the livestock industry went into damage control mode.

The Johns Hopkins’ report said “additional scientific evidence has strengthened the case that these (non-therapeutic) uses pose unnecessary and unreasonable public health risks” of allowing bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics.

“We have even better science to support the recommendations we have made,” said Mary Wilson, an

epidemiologist at Harvard University. “We are, in fact, running out of antibiotics. We are seeing infections that are untreatable.”

More than 2 million Americans are sickened by antibiotic-resistant infections each year and 23,000 of them die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control And Prevention.

Livestock industry leaders said the new report was a scaremongering attack that did not provide a clear link between antibiotic use in livestock and the rise of antibiotic-resistant illness in humans.

Critics of antibiotic use are “just pushing a pre-set agenda,” said Scott Hurd, an associate professor at Iowa State University who works on risk assessment.

Different antibiotics are prescribed for people than those used on livestock, industry groups noted.

They tied drug-resistant bacteria strains to overuse of antibiotics by people.

Antibiotics are routinely sprinkled into U.S. cattle, hog and poultry feed to promote growth and are also used to prevent and treat illness. Agriculture accounts for 80 percent of antibiotic sales, according to the limited records available.

Robert Lawrence, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, which

produced the report, blamed “the political power of industrial agriculture” for lack of action on antibiotics and other reforms.

Legislation to expand the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s power over antibiotics use in livestock has stalled repeatedly in Congress.

“Antibiotics were invented to cure sick humans, not to compensate for unsanitary conditions on the farm or fatten animals up so they could sell for more at the market,” said Rep. Louise Slaughter, a New York Democrat.

Former Kansas

Governor John Carlin, who chaired the review for Johns Hopkins, said growing public interest in food production eventually will outweigh today’s anti-government mood, and “I would say to my friends in production agriculture the next few years would be a good time to cut some deals.”

James Merchant, the former dean of public health at the University of Iowa, said research on antibiotic resistance was “getting much stronger and more specific.” As well, he said, the incidence of antibiotic resistance declined in

“In one study in Pennsylvania, researchers said people have a greater chance of one type of antibiotic-resistant infection if they merely lived near fields fertilized with hog manure or high-density hog farms. The study was published on September 16 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.”

countries, such as Denmark, that restrict antibiotic use in livestock.

In one study in Pennsylvania, researchers said people have a greater chance of one type of antibiotic-resistant infection if they merely lived near fields fertilized with hog manure or highdensity hog farms. The study was published on September 16 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

A 2012 study published in a journal of the American Society for Microbiology concluded that the routine use of antibiotics by cattle feed lots may facilitate the emergence of antibioticresistant pathogens.

While the FDA has altered its guidelines to say antibiotics should be used only under the guidance of a veterinarian for prevention, control or treatment of disease, the Johns Hopkins report said there was a loophole.

Drugmakers can ask for FDA approval of their products for disease

prevention at the same dosages as when they were used to speed animal growth.

“This means that while antimicrobial approvals may change ... antimicrobial use may not,” said the report.

Richard Raymond, a former agriculture undersecretary for food safety, said in a report for the Animal Agriculture Alliance, a livestock group, that antibiotics are part of an array of biological tools for livestock producers.

Among them are betaagonists, a type of feed additive that helps animals gain weight more quickly, and man-made bovine hormones used to boost dairy production.

U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co. suspended U.S. and Canadian sales of Zilmax, the leading betaagonist, on August 16 following concerns about cattle that appeared to be sore-footed or were having difficulty walking after being fed the additive.

• Courtesy: Reuters

THE NIGERIAN

16

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Spotlight THE theme is, “Modeling Christ in our world” with text taken from Philippians 2:111. Our world is far from being perfect as it presents all known vices capable of tearing apart the fabric that welds the society together.

In a nutshell, the world manifests all kinds of evil and there is no peace anywhere. Peace have eluded the world and people in the world are getting disillusioned about it and can hardly find meaning in their lives.

CHRISTIANS who are expected to provide solutions to vices now endemic in the country because their exemplar, Jesus Christ, is the Prince of peace, the light of the world and the Salt of the earth. As most Christians do not match belief with action, it has become necessary to draw their attention to model the social, political, economic life after Jesus Christ, their role model, and author and finisher of their faith. It is in such modeling that our Christian praxis will truly reflect the values of the kingdom and put us in proper and fitting perspective of being in the world and not of the world.

We must therefore avoid the pitfalls of economic determinism and materialistic conception of history. The aptness of the theme lies in directing our attention to the fundamentals of Christian praxis.

CLARIFICATION OF CONCEPTS The following key terms constitute the theme Modeling, World and Christ, and these are here explained from relative perspectives: (a) Modeling: According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the term ‘modeling’ is the verb form of model and it has several meanings among which are the following- “a copy of something, usually smaller than the original object; something such as system that can be copied by other people; a person or

thing that is considered an excellent example of somebody or something; etc” Modeling relatively, therefore, means the process of showcasing something that is an exact copy of the original; something or somebody that is a perfect example of another that is greater and higher in worth.

It means an example for imitation and emulation. (b)World: The term ‘world’ is very comprehensive in meaning and often connotes the earth, with all its countries, people and natural features.

Relatively, “in a few biblical passages the word ‘world’ (kosmos) is in the sense of mankind. In John 4:16, for instance, we are told of God’s love for ‘the world’ in this sense. When this is what is meant, then Christian duty to love mankind is clear. It is in the other, and more usual, sense that there are problems. In this wider sense ‘the world’ usually means ‘the environment of humanity’ This is to say, it includes not only the natural environment and all its varied resources, but also the cultural and social environment brought into being by sinful humanity. In this sense, the evil is described as the ‘prince’ or ruler of this world’ who was condemned and cast out by the power and work Christ (John 12:31; 16:11; Ephesians 6:12). ‘The whole world lies in the power of the evil one’ (1 John 5:19). “By implication, therefore,

Modeling Christ In O

By MOST REVD F. J. IMAEKHAI, JP PHD, FNIM “When these passages about the rule of the devil over the world are added to verses like 1 John 2:15-17, where we are warned to love neither ‘the world nor the things in the world’ there is a prime facie case for a negative attitude to both material goods and to man’s cultural and other natural abilities such as marriage.

On the other hand, ‘everything created by God is good’, even in a fallen world. We are to receive all these gifts with thanksgiving if we ‘believe and know the truth’. A negative view of food and marriage, and even money and the things that it can buy, is roundly condemned by the New Testament, especially in the Pastoral Epistle (notably l Timothy 2:1-4; 4:1-10;5:823;6:17-19, and Titus 3:814).

According to Akogu, “the biblical world refers not only to ‘universe (‘cosmos’ ‘space’) as an invisible source and principle of power, but also to world as we know it in the sense of ‘earth’ in the history of mankind. ‘World’ according to hagiographers of the New Testament and in Greek thinking is the personalized might ‘Aeon’ which also means as much as ‘time’, ‘flesh’, ‘all’, ‘everything’, .“The ‘word’ has, since the ‘Fall’ (‘Sin’) of Adam and Eve also fallen from God’s primordial grace. God cursed the earth, human nature itself and the whole created nature, ‘world’.

(Genesis 3:l4ff’). From this point in time the world manifests -in its appearance - a sinful nature; it has acquired a structure, which is ‘against God’. This

ungodly characteristics is the main content of the arduous expression ‘sin of the world’, or ‘root-sin’ (‘original sin’), inherited from the first human parents, Adam and Eve”. Jesus did not partake in this sinful nature because He was not conceived like the rest of men and that qualified Him to be their Saviour by becoming the perfect sacrifice. (c) Christ: The title ‘Christ which in Greek is ‘kristos’ means ‘Messiah’ and is used exclusively for the Jesus of Nazareth in whom all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Saviour of the world have been and are being fulfilled, in the parlance of theology, the doctrine of Christ, His person and natures, is called Christology.

“The importance of Christology for Christianity is obvious, since without Jesus Christ, the religion named after Him would not have emerged.

Modern scholars debate the role of the historical Jesus in the formation of Christianity, but there is no doubt that He occupies a place given to the founders of other religions.

Christianity is Jesus Christ in a way which is quite unique”. It was from this unique title ‘Christ’ that the nomenclature Christians’ ascribed to the followers of the Jesus of Nazareth derived. “Luke, who clearly knew the Church there well, places the first use of the name at Syrian Antioch (Acts 11:16), “However, “the three occurrences (Acts 11:16; 26:28; l Peter 4:16) all imply that it was a generally evident that there were other names which the Christians

“Testament prophecies concerning the Saviour of the world have been and are being fulfilled, in the parlance of theology, the doctrine of Christ, His person and natures, is called Christology.”

themselves used, and perhaps preferred” for example brethren, beloved, brothers and sisters, etc.

THE MISSION OF GOD (MISSIO DEl) Beginning with the act of creation, where God is seen as the one making something out of nothing, God has been on mission. He called things that are not as though they were and at His command, things that are now-existent came into being. This has been a point of sharp disagreement between the Christian faith and some other schools of thought like the Evolution Theory of creation, but “creation is the sovereign act of the Triune God who was ‘before the foundation of the world’.

The fact of God’s sovereign creation ex nihilo (‘out of nothing’) is the greatest biblical teaching. There is no eternal matter or eternal evil spirit. The sun is a mere creature, not a god Genesis 1:1 includes the whole of reality, including time, as God’s creation. This key truth has far wider importance than is always realized’. The holistic mission of God is principally in three major phases with each phase chiefly associated with particular person of the triune Godhead (the Trinity -Father, Son and Holy Spirit). These phases are (1) Creation associated with God the Father; (2) Redemption of the Creation associated with God the Son, Jesus Christ; and (3) Sanctification / Sustenance of the Creation associated with God the holy spirit altogether active in each of these phases.

THE PLACE OF CHRIST IN THE MISSION OF GOD The person, life and activities of Christ will ever remain central to the mission of God in the world. It was

by Christ that the mission was initiated and by Him also that it was and will be accomplished -i.e. the mission of holistic and eternal salvation of mankind. Christ is never to be equated with any religious founder or great

biblical characters and this is where Christianity gains superiority over all other world’s religions. In the account of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17: 1 -8), Peter went into the error of taking Jesus to be coequals with Moses and Elijah but God had to repeat what He said earlier at Jesus baptism; “Then answered

mis com cla rep Ma the dec T the Ch Ch dif

• Most Rev. F.J. Imaekhai

Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee and one for Moses, and one for Eliajah. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud, overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

(Matthew 17:4 & 5 Cf 3:17).

Even the Creeds clearly expressed that the Son is co—equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit; He was not created but begotten of the Father and of one being with Him. In the text above, Moses and Elijah represented the Law and the prophets and they came to Jesus to surrender their ministry to Him so that Jesus will become the ultimate revelation of God to man.

Hence, the Apostle Paul said; “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth”.

For God to ensure that the position of Christ is His

rel scr told tru can exc “Th els in to (Jo Suc are opp oth pro plu acc tim Ch Wa eve bec ma wh the hop hav hel to e rel Ho Lo

THE NIGERIAN

17

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Spotlight

Our World

ssion to the world is not mpromised, He added the ause “hear ye him” in the peat declaration in atthew 17:5 which was not ere in the initial claration in Chapter 3:17 The presence and work of e person of Christ in hristianity made hristianity uniquely fferent from other

ligions. Hence these riptural sayings: “Jesus d him, “I am the way, the uth, and the life: No one n come to the Father cept through me” and here is salvation in no one e! There is no other name all of heaven for people call on to save them” ohn 14:6 & Acts 4:12). ch positions of the Bible e always vehemently posed by those without, her religions and oponents of religious urality.

However, cording to Obuh, “this meless declaration of Jesus hrist of Himself as the only ay to God is held erlastingly credible cause that which separates an from God - sin, over hich all other religions of e world have proved to be pelessly powerless and so ve no form of efficacious lp to offer their adherents enable them enjoy a living ationship with the Most oly. Most Mighty, Most ving and All Sufficient

God of all creation, Jesus Christ dealt with by His sacrificial death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead on the third day.

Therefore, in Christianity, Jesus Christ offers man what other religions and religious founders cannot — forgiveness and victory over sin and restoration to God. What a peculiarity”.

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH What could rightly be described as the Church never really existed before Christ because the Church is the band of those united by their confession of faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, their racial, social, geographical, economic, language, political. etc differences notwithstanding.

Hence, the church is often referred to as the Body of Christ. The Church is a product of the mission of Christ (a mandate He received from the Father ‘Mission’ Dei’) which He accomplished through His death, resurrection and subsequent ascension, and that was why the Church could not be born until the day of Pentecost. The early apostles formed the immediate nucleus of the Church and their chief mission immediately became the propagation and consolidation of the essence of the holistic mission of Christ through missions and evangelism. This mission of Christ is succinctly captured in His Nazareth manifesto; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.” He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue stared at him intently. Then he said, “This Scripture, has come true today before your very eyes!” (Luke 4:1821 Cf Isaiah 61:lf). The agenda of Christ became the mission of

“What could rightly be described as the Church never really existed before Christ because the Church is the band of those united by their confession of faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, their racial, social, geographical, economic, language, political. etc differences notwithstanding.” the early Church because He said “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21).

Therefore, when the world observed the Christians modeling Christ in every aspect of their lives and conversation, they simply nicknamed them ‘Christians’. Now the times may change but the mission of the Church remains the same — to model, showcase, manifest Christ to the world to the end that the word is liberated by the power of Christ. The Bible says, “For the earnest expectation of the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21).. The world is indeed waiting whether consciously or not.

THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD It was Jesus Christ Himself who first gave His immediate disciples the right description of their relationship henceforth with the world, likening it to His own relationship to the world when He said, “They are not part of this world any more than I am”. (John 17:16). He went further to expantiate on this by warning them not to expect friendliness from the world when He said “if the world

hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the word, it would love you as its own.

As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” (John 15:1821). The Church is in the world but not of the world.

The Church is in the world, not for what it can gain from the world but for what it has to offer the world. When Jesus said the Church is not to conform to the system of the world by adopting worldly standards of judgment. Hence the warning of Apostle Paul to believers in Romans 12:1 & 2; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The Church is never to get into competition with the world because the former will

never beat the latter in their own game. Even Jesus Himself acknowledges this fact while telling the parable of the shrewd manager when He said; “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light”. (Luke 16:8). The Church is still left in the world because of the Great Commission that the Church may model Christ to the world and bring about their salvation. The Church should, therefore, never expect the hostility of the world to cease until she is ruptured from the world.

Jesus said “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:20-22). You cannot have God as your Father except you have the church as your mother.

THE CHURCH AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE There is something that will remain constant in the course of the Church

modeling Christ to the world and that is the clash of cultures.

There is no race of men that is qualified to be described as having the heavenly cultures such that it has nothing to change in order to concur with the Gospel of Christ; there are always areas of conflict between what God wants and the realities prevalent in any human society. In all such cases, the Church is not to give in to the pressures from the world; it should be the other way round because the Church is God’s agent of divine change. the Church must realize that while she make efforts, the world would always put up resistance but she is not to be deterred because the Bible says “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5). There are the challenges of individual and communal cultures which varies from place to place that the Church has got to grapple with the divine agent of change in the world in her efforts to model Christ is the growing universal culture of post-modernism with its imposing overt biblical heterodoxy. The target is to relegate the Bible and frustrate the mission of the Church but the Church must rise to the challenge with the weapons of righteousness so that with the victory of Calvary, she will overcome the god of this world and set his captives free.

“There is no race of men that is qualified to be described as having the heavenly cultures such that it has nothing to change in order to concur with the Gospel of Christ; there are always areas of conflict between what God wants and the realities prevalent in any human society. In all such cases, the Church is not to give in to the pressures from the world; it should be the other way round because the Church is God’s agent of divine change.”

THE NIGERIAN

18

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Security Issues Terrorism And Global Security

Matters Arising IN September 2001, during the first year of the new millennium, the cities of New York and Washington D.C, were attacked by what most political and military leaders in the West described as ìterrorist groups. The loss of lives in a single day due to theses attacks (about three thousand civilians) was exceeded in American history only by battles during the Civil War. After the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C, many Americans evidently agreed with pronouncements by many senior political figures that the united states was at war with terrorism Yet, for many disempowered people in other regions, Americans are the worst terrorists in the world (According to Osama bin Laden, the late leader of Al Qaeda in a 1998 television interview with the American Broadcasting Company).

Following the Attacks, President George W Bush announced that the US would make no distinction between terrorists and the countries that habour them. For many frustrated, impoverished, infuriated people who view the U.S as a terrorist country attacks on American Civilians were justified in precisely the way: making no distinction between a terrorist state and the citizens who aid and abet that state.

Since the 9/11 debacle, a massive paradigm shift in security thinking seems to have occurred, as attested to by the increasing collaborations among countries with similar security threat indicators in attempts to check the burgeoning dimensions of the violent activities of extremist groups across the globe. The globalization of security has resulted in massive alliances between the security establishment of the US and those of other countries - a colossal move from national to international/global/collective security. The response of states to 9/11 shows that in the postsovereign global world, states remain crucial agents of security. The U.S seems to have successfully mobilized the world against terror.

The American-led war on terrorism has been confrontational in its execution; a winner takes all approach that is aimed at

defeating all terrorist threats around the globe. The subsequent reprisal bombing of Afghanistan, which was targeted at Osama Bin Ladenís Al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban for aiding and abetting them, the invasion of Iraq due to the purported threat posed to global security by that country’s possession of Weapons of Mass Destructionthis claim is to be substantiated and other concerted global security initiatives, are practical demonstrations of the zero-sum anti-terrorism strategy preferred by the U.S and its allies in the aftermath of 9/11.

However, despite its seeming effectiveness in checking the activities of extremist groups, the war on terror seems to have created new terrorists. While AlQaeda may have been weakened, the radical Islamic movement worldwide seems to be strengthening with the formation of new groups and cells who are obviously inspired by Osama Bin Laden, whose legendary image while alive, and heroic death in a purported shootout with US security forces in Pakistan, have turned him into a martyr of sorts; a role model for extremists the world over.

Thus, several years after the commencement of the global war on terror, there seems to be no practical indicators to measure the progress of the war on terror no standard metrics to show whether the war on terror is being won or lost. The question is: are more terrorists being captured, killed or deterred every day than the Madrassas and radical clerics are recruiting, training and deploying more foot soldiers across the globe?

For the U.S, the world’s policeman and arrowhead of the global anti-terrorism campaign, the backlash from its much-trumpeted war on terror has been loud and clear.

According to Jim Lobe (Inter Press Service, September 8, 2011) Al-Qaeda appears to have largely succeeded in its hopes of accelerating the decline of U.S global power, if not bringing it to the brink of collapse. That appears to be the strong consensus of foreign-policy elite which, with only a few exceptions, believes that the administration of President George W. Bush badly over-

reacted to the attacks and that over-reaction continues today.

Continuing in the same vein, Jim Lobe (Ibid) estimates that the costs of war on terror have been staggering in almost every respect. The estimated

(emphasis added).

The ongoing American-led global war on terror, while having been quite commendable, has failed to extinguish or even check the spread of this phenomenon.

Rather than decline, it keeps accelerating at an alarming pace, rearing its head even in once peaceful sections of the

With Obuseh Jude GSM: 08033510173

always argued for a paradigm shift in the current context in global security thinking: a move from confrontation to constructive engagement. My views have not changed.

Deliberate attempts must be made by all concerned both at

of positive peace to these troubled parts of the globe.

Talking of globalization, the American-led west (the current chief driver of the vehicle of globalization) must be more transparent and humane in its relations with

the national and global levels - to engage in processes of constructive dialogue where practical solutions can be proffered to the crucial issues at stake. No matter how painfully true it might seem, some of the extremist groups operating in the world today have reasons even if some of them sound irrational for their violent conduct. Addressing some of these issues (such as the several cases of structural violence and other forms of globalization-induced injustices) will go a long way towards allaying their fears and setting the tone for a return

the rest of the world. It must forthwith desist from its tendency to deride the economies, demean the cultures, control and manipulate the political systems of other less powerful nations to satisfy their capitalist appetites. Justice must be seen to be done by all concerned for positive peace to return to the world.

Recognition and respect for the rights of other people to self determination is one of the surest guarantees in order to return to a word naturally inclined towards disorder. God save the world!

• Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General

three to 4.4 trillion dollars Washington has incurred either directly or indirectly in conducting the global war on terror accounts for a substantial portion of the fiscal crisis that transformed the country’s politics and brought it to the edge of bankruptcy last month of August 2011.

And while the U.S military remains by far the strongest in the world, its veil of invincibility has been irreparably pierced by the success with which rag-tag groups of guerrillas have defied and frustrated

world. The rise of new extremist groups across the globe such as Boko Haram et al (Western education is evil) ñ a group whose apocalyptic activities have turned the Northern part of Nigeria into a theatre of war ñ has exposed the banality and ineffectiveness of the ongoing war on terror. The truth remains that the world has never been as unsafe as it is currently, despite all the noise being made about fighting terrorism. Force cannot be defeated with force.

In some of my previous write-ups on this page, I have

“The ongoing American-led global war on terror, while having been quite commendable, has failed to extinguish or even check the spread of this phenomenon. Rather than decline, it keeps accelerating at an alarming pace, rearing its head even in once peaceful sections of the world.”

THE NIGERIAN

19

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Opinion Uduaghan: The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose O f government………..”

1 9 9 9 CONSTITUTION OF THE FED. REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (SECTION 14) “With malice toward none, with charity for all; with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in” Abraham Lincoln- 18091865) Second Inaugural Address.

BY Jeffersonian, Aristotelian, Benthamist Principles and normative standards, “The pursuit of the greatest good for the largest number remains the cardinal plinth and matrix upon which visionary leadership, good governments and altruistic governance fulcrumises”. This is glaringly corroborated and explicitly articulated in the Book of Books ‘THE HOLY BIBLE’ that, “When a great and righteous King rules, the people jubilate”. Are Deltans jubilating?

How has it been with Deltans ever since his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan came on board in 2007 vis – a- vis his three – point agenda and palpably tangible strides.

Has the lot of Delta State and Deltans improved on the educational, economic, sociopolitical front. Do we have pragmatic structural evidences on ground to realistically, not hypocritical propandistic hype show that Governor Uduaghan is now walking the talk?

There are and will always be multidimensionality of opinions on these issues. But it must be laid bare from the beginning that Uduaghan’s electoral victory over Chief Great Ogboru was a pyrrhic victory, some say fraudulent and others called it a stolen mandate. He was not therefore given a place to stand, “damihi locus standi etare et mowebo”(give me a place to stand and I will move the world - Archimedes).

Uduaghan’s electoral victory made him an infrangible legalis homo and a litigant. This scenario

Now Walking The Talk?

By CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE affected his settling down to the rudiments of governance.

Delta State gravitated and cascaded down the slop and labyrinth of dilapidated roads, hospitals without drugs, rickety school buildings, teachers without salaries as at when due, no light, no water, no good roads, kidnappings, sea piracy, armed robbery, ethnic schisms, extra judicial killings and assassinations, etc. Indeed, there was total structural decay and lethal insecurity.

Delta State became cocooned in the toga of momentum without movement. INDEED, A FAILED STATE. A failed state according to ‘The Crisis States Research Centre of the United States’ is “a state that can no longer perform its basic security and developmental functions and has no effective control over its territory and borders.” Delta State became the quintessential epitomisation of a failed state, broken promise, fraudulent agenda and dashed hopes.

Indeed, Uduaghan became enshrined in the throes of the Goliathic Complex and the Alice in wonder land syndrome. In visionary lapses and tantrums, he started organizing and sponsoring all sorts of conferences, talk shows, seminars, colloquiums, gala nights, award shows, carnivals and symposiums, etc, spending billions of tax payers money as if the use of money was going out of fashion. And like Emperor Nero who slept whilst Rome burnt, Uduaghan luxuriated in Barmecidal- Dish projects, whilst millions of Deltans suffered under the strangle hold and aspluxiating cliffhangers of scorching poverty, bad roads, massive unemployment, hunger, halfbaked Micro- Credit schemes, instituting behemoth economic advisory team, kidnappings, assassinations and wanton payment of pension and gratuities to an ex-convict former governor who is in jail – Chief James Onanefe Ibori. What a socioeconomic and financial rascality?

But, recently and like thunder out of celestial realm Uduaghan has started walking the talk of development. A drive through Warri, Sapele,

Koko, Ugbuwangue, Orerokpe, Effurun, Eku, Abraka and some other towns in Delta State will reveal that Governor Uduagha has just woken up from a lethally deep somnambulistic slumber and has partially started walking the talk of his three- point agenda.

On the education front most Delta towns and cities are littered with Model school structures. WHAT A GREAT BEAUTY TO BEHOLD! He has started macadamising,

kilometer road project that runs through Oginibo- ObiAyagha, ErhuwarenAgbowhiame communities, in ughievwen kingdom, Ughelli south LG A, Delta State must be commended.

Delta State has budgeted N398.31 billion for the 2013 fiscal year with N145.94 or 36.64% for recurrent Expenditure and 252.3% billion or 63.36% capital Expenditure.

These achievements are indeed a minuscule microcosm in the macrocosm of real development, a tip of

Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan

patching, tarring, filling, constructing many roads including the Airport road round about, the Enerhen junction round about and the Delta Estate culverts and many others in Asaba and creating culverts in some towns and cities. There are think–tanks, syndicated institutions to drive the developmental agenda of Delta State to de-emphasize our over dependence on oil revenues through partnership with the private sector as well as to improve access to education, water, shelter and health as a conduit to dovetailing into the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).

The flagging –off the construction of the 12

the iceberg and a molehill in a mountain. Deltans want to see all-embracing and palpably tangible development in the provision of real total free Medicare, free education at all levels, construction of 2,000 Blocks each of Low Cost Buildings in the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State, building of hospital annexes in every 3 Miles Radius, massive construction and repairs of roads to 65% of villages and farm locations in Delta State.

Attack the menace of sea piracy, kidnapping and assassinations by the creation of Marine and Land Farm Locations to employee all jobless artisans, unemployed graduates and artisans, pay monthly stipends to the sick

“The time has come and it is now for Governor Uduaghan to consign propagandisticskullduggery and Goebbelian narcissism to the incinerator and start charting the course of true palpable development for Deltans and Delta State. He must start by making his Assets public, because what we read about him and the EFCC is not palatable at all and he should treat sagaciously because of the “Ibori Saga.”

and senile old people above 70 years. Endeavour to create the tourism socio- economic, political template and environmentally conducive auibience to make Delta State the investor’s Mecca. Let us make use of the carbon black from the Warri Refinery as industry stimulants. The dead industries should be brought back to life. The Asaba Textile Mills, Ughelli Glass Factory, AT&P Sapele, Bendel Steel Structures etc.

The Laodicean attitudinal orientation of Deltans has been the major catalyst to our undevelopment in the past and present. Hence, Senator Williams E. Borah (1865 – 1940) observed that “the marvel of history is the patience with which men and women submit to the burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their Governments”. Our suffering in Delta State did not start today, from Air Commodore Luke Ochulor – 1991- 1992, Olorugun Felix Ibru- 1992- 1993, Col. Bassey Asuquo- 1993- 1994, Col. Ibrahim Kefas- 1994-1996, Col. John Dungs – 19961998, Navy Capt. Walter Feghabo- 1998- 1999, Chief James Onanefe Ibori 19992007 and now Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan 2007-20…

Our story and struggles continues to remain the same, reminiscent of the comrades of Ulysses who loved their servitude, brutish and slavish conditions.

Delta State receives over N400 Billion Federally Generated Revenues and over N50 Billion from Internally Generated Revenues every year, exclusive of the 13% derivation earnings. Yet we have little or nothing to show for it. It is against this scorched background that the respected Itsekiri woman, Chief Rita Lori, the Igba of Warri Kingdom, whilst rejecting Uduaghan’s Xmas gifts said “By now you already know my stands on the way you run the administration of Delta State. I feel unhappy and depressed to see the State, and Itsekiri land particularly declining from the time you have been in government.

Severally, I have spoken to you as a brother and son, stressing that the Itsekiri Riverine Areas are declining educationally and economically. The way our land is today shows no planning or foresight. There is no creation of jobs, neither is there adequate security of lives and property. For many years, there has been fighting and bloodletting in Escravos. In fact, things have got worse since you became Governor.

Yet, you have not used your position to bring peace to this very important Itsekiri town.

Indeed, what we have are cases of Itsekiri sons killing one another.

Also, it is sad to know that

when people are saying we have a Governor as a son a place like Ugborodo, which people know as the terminal for Nigerian oil, can boast of nothing but mud and water.

There is no infrastructure, no houses, no roads, schools or hospitals…………..”

Chief Rita Lori has with laconic brevity spoken the minds of 90% of Deltans. She is a formidable Itsekiri opinion leader, highly venerated Itsekiri Nationalist and Mother – like person to Governor Uduaghan. If she could speak like this, notwithstanding the principles of familiar piety and ethnocentric sensibilities, what will other Deltans who truly really feel the lacerating and scorching hell of economic hades and social doldrums talk about. If wet leaves should burn, what will dry leaves do and if gold should rust what will iron do?

The time has come and it is now for Governor Uduaghan to consign propagandisticskullduggery and Goebbelian narcissism to the incinerator and start charting the course of true palpable development for Deltans and Delta State. He must start by making his Assets public, because what we read about him and the EFCC is not palatable at all and he should treat sagaciously because of the “Ibori Saga.” He should reconstitute all Delta State Agencies across the gossamer of integrity trajectory, provide jobs, all–embracingly engage in massive construction of roads across the state, pay teachers 27 % minimum wages and stop clandestine and furtive subtraction from their salaries, declare true and pragmatic free education and free Medicare of all levels and let the Warri industrial park and the tourism projects etc work.

Finally, we passionately appeal to Governor Uduaghan to find work for idle hands and our cries about kidnappings, sea piracy assassinations, terrorism, armed robbery and thuggry will reduce to its barest minimums. The essayist Thomas Carlyle posited that “A man willing to work, and unable to find work, is perhaps the saddest sight that fortunes inequality exhibits under the sun, blessed is he who has found his work, let him ask no other blessedness” and that “work is the grand cure of all the maladies and miseries that ever beset mankind.”

This is substantiated by the great poet Voltaire, he sad “work keeps us from three evils. Boredom, vice and need” and Virgil said “labour omri vincit” (work conquers all). UDUAGHAN THINK!!!

Chief Bobson Gbinije Mandate Against Poverty (MAP), Warri.

08023250378.

THE NIGERIAN

20

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

International Features

CRAMMED into conference rooms with pizza for dinner, some programmers building the Obama administration’s showcase health insurance website were growing increasingly stressed. Some worked past 10 p.m., energy drinks in hand. Others rewrote computer code over and over to meet what they considered last-minute requests for changes from the government or other contractors.

As questions mount over the website’s failure, insider interviews and a review of technical specifications by The Associated Press found a mind-numbingly complex system put together by harried programmers who pushed out a final product that congressional investigators said was tested by the government and not private developers with more expertise.

Project developers who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity - because they feared they would otherwise be fired - said they raised doubts among themselves whether the website could be ready in time. They complained openly to each other about what they considered tight and unrealistic deadlines. One was nearly brought to tears over the stress of finishing on time, one developer said.

Website builders saw red flags for months.

A review of internal architectural diagrams obtained by the AP revealed the system’s complexity.

Insurance applicants have a host of personal information verified, including income and immigration status. The system connects to other federal computer networks, including ones at the Social Security Administration, IRS, Veterans Administration, Office of Personnel Management and the Peace Corps.

President Barack Obama on Monday acknowledged technical problems that he

Builders Of Obama’s Health Website Saw Red Flags

described as “kinks in the system.” He also promised a “tech surge” by leading technology talent to repair the painfully slow and often unresponsive website that has frustrated Americans trying to enroll online for insurance plans at the center of Obama’s health care law.

But in remarks at a Rose Garden event, Obama offered no explanation for the failure except to note that high traffic to the website caused some of the slowdowns. He said it had been visited nearly 20 million times — fewer monthly visits so far than many commercial websites, such as PayPal, AOL, Wikipedia or Pinterest.

“The problem has been that the website that’s supposed to make it easy to apply for and purchase the insurance is not working the way it should for everybody,” Obama said. “There’s no sugarcoating it. The website has been too slow. People have been getting stuck during the application process. And I think it’s fair to say that nobody is more frustrated by that than I am.”

The online system was envisioned as a simple way for people without health insurance to comparisonshop among competing plans offered in their state, pick their preferred level of coverage and cost and sign up. For many, it’s not worked out that way so far.

Just weeks before the launch of HealthCare.gov on October 1, one programmer said, colleagues huddled in conference rooms trying to patch “bugs,” or deficiencies in computer code.

Unresolved problems led to visitors experiencing cryptic error messages or enduring long waits trying to sign up.

Congressional investigators have concluded that the government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, not

private software developers, tested the exchange’s computer systems during the final weeks. That task, known as integration testing, is usually handled by software companies because it ferrets out problems before the public sees the final product.

The government spent at least $394 million in

2012 show how officials designated a “data services hub” — a traffic cop for managing information — in lieu of a design that would have allowed state exchanges to connect directly to government servers when verifying an applicant’s information. On Sunday, the Health and Human Services Department

gain coverage during the first year the exchanges were available.

Instead, officials have selectively cited figures that put the insurance exchanges in a positive light. They say more than 19 million people have logged on to the federal website and nearly 500,000 have filled out applications

start this week. And the government tweaked the website’s home page so visitors can now view phone numbers to apply the oldfashioned way or windowshop for insurance rates without registering first.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee was expected to conduct an

for insurance through both the federal and state-run sites.

The flood of computer problems since the website went online has been deeply embarrassing for the White House. The snags have called into question whether the administration is capable of implementing the complex policy and why senior administration officials — including the president — appear to have been unaware of the scope of the problems when the exchange sites opened.

Even as the president spoke at the Rose Garden, more problems were coming to light. The administration acknowledged that a planned upgrade to the website had been postponed indefinitely and that online Spanishlanguage signups would remain unavailable, despite a promise to Hispanic groups that the capability would

oversight hearing Thursday, probably without Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testifying.

She could testify on Capitol Hill on the subject as early as next week.

Uninsured Americans have until about mid-February to sign up for coverage if they are to meet the law’s requirement that they be insured by the end of March.

If they don’t, they will face a penalty.

On Monday, the White House advised people frustrated by the online tangle that they can enroll by calling 1-800-318-2596 in a process that should take 25 minutes for an individual or 45 minutes for a family.

Assistance is also available in communities from helpers who can be found at Local Help Health Care governor.

Courtesy:AP

US President, Barack Obama

contracts to build the federal health care exchange and the data hub. Those contracts included major awards to Virginia-based CGI Federal Inc., Maryland-based Quality Software Services Inc. and Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. CGI Federal said in a statement that it was working with the government and other contractors “around the clock” to improve the system, which it called “complex, ambitious and unprecedented.”

The schematics from late

said the data hub was working but not meeting public expectations: “We are committed to doing better.”

Administration officials so far have refused to say how many people actually have managed to enroll in insurance during the three weeks since the new marketplaces became available.

Without enrollment numbers, it’s impossible to know whether the program is on track to reach projections from the Congressional Budget Office that 7 million people would

“Just weeks before the launch of HealthCare.gov on October 1, one programmer said, colleagues huddled in conference rooms trying to patch “bugs,” or deficiencies in computer code. Unresolved problems led to visitors experiencing cryptic error messages or enduring long waits trying to sign up.”

THE NIGERIAN

21

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Issues Criminal Justice: Between AU And ICC

DURING a recent visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Kenya, he implored African leaders to get rid of policies that are capable of obstructing intra-African trade and the unity of the continent.

At a joint press briefing with his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, he faulted those angling for the trial of President Kenyatta by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, saying it would further compound the political crisis in the country.

Few weeks afterward, in an address at the Extraordinary Session of African Union Heads of State and Government, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Jonathan said African nations are ‘disappointed’ with the ICC over African affairs. He therefore called for an amendment of the laws governing the International Criminal Court, ICC, to allow serving African leaders to enjoy immunity from prosecution for war crimes, genocide, and war against

humanity.

Two serving African presidents, Sudan and Kenya, have been accused of war crimes by the ICC. The president, who expressed Nigeria’s support for the existence of the ICC, said, “While the work of the International Criminal Court is immensely useful for the achievement of a world without crimes against humanity, genocide and other acts of impunity, it would be fair to say that in Africa today, the wave of democratization has engendered greater commitment to the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights.”

The ICC has opened investigations into eight cases, all of which are in Africa including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), Darfur, Kenya, Libya, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. Five of the eight cases were referred voluntarily by the African governments in question; two through a UNSC

CULTURE is one significant aspect of our everyday life as Africa and whatever culture which we are identified with is not taken for granted but held in high esteem and celebrated by various group across Africa especially in Nigeria because it is a form of identification.

Nigeria as a nation has over 250 ethnic groups across the land with diverse cultural heritage which from time to time has continued to attract both foreigners, indigenes and non-indigenes alike across the globe to visit places with significant cultural heritage.

Our culture as Nigerians especially as Edo indigenes where the first black civilization started is of unique nature and is made up of various ethnic groups. This culture is by the people who are ready to protect it at all cost because it keeps the society moving.

For example, Utese community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State is a peaceful community and her people are predominantly farmers. It is a community that takes its culture very seriously because the people believe their heritage and destiny lie in its culture, traditions, norms and

value of its founding fathers and as such every year they celebrate and upheld this culture especially the new yam festival celebration.

Talking about new yam festival, the Utese people devote a whole week for various activities to celebrate the festival showing how important the festival is to them and the entire people of the community. It is a time to look forward to, where all sons and daughters of the community travelled from all around the world back to their native land to felicitate with their people and ancestors.

Utese is made up of 20 villages and these villages all come together in unism to celebrate this festival where various traditional rites are observered in the cause of the festival. The festival is done to re-awaken and re-orientate the youths of the various village on the importance, necessity and relevant of the festival to the entire community.

The festival affords the indigene and non-indigene the opportunity to pay homage to the traditional ruler of the land, the enogie of Utese His Royal Highness Idahosa Ogidigbi and his chiefs. The subject will equally have a rare opportunity to see the enogie and the

By SUNNY OSAZE

resolution supported by all but one African member in the council at the time and the Kenyan case was opened at the ICC prosecutor ’s request.

On his own Kenyatta blasted the ICC of “bias and race-hunting as it has been reduced into a painfully farcical pantomime, a travesty that adds insult to the injury of victims. The court, according to him has stopped been the home of justice the day it became the toy of declining imperial powers, performing on the cue of European and American governments against the sovereignty of African states.

While urging the AU to unite in the face of a “divide and rule” policy, he said “Africa is not a third-rate territory of second-class people. We are not a project, or experiment of outsiders.”

Meanwhile, the Sudanese foreign minister said that the meeting had drawn strong support for a withdrawal

from the ICC including from his own government.

However, he added that while some countries expressed a readiness to pull out, they believed the time was not ripe for such a move.

There have been many opposition to the clamour from Africa itself. In the forefront is the Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa who said granting such immunity would mean giving permission to African leaders to commit war crimes.

Most countries not only in Africa, have constitutions or laws that provide immunity from all kinds of prosecution while in office. While the work of the International Criminal Court is valuable for the achievement of a world without crimes against humanity, African leaders should not be targeted by the ICC but also so-called superpower leaders with UN veto-power who arbitrarily invade weaker nations. We are living witnesses to how

some powerful nations annexed and terrorised poor and weaker nations with impunity, where thousands of innocent souls are killed and their leaders not only humiliated but are killed in most embarrassing carnage in modern history.

Notwithstanding the ICC’s universal jurisdiction, it devotes more energy and to the prosecution of cases from Africa, while ignoring other powerful leaders who commit worst crimes against humanity against other citizens. Even though some Africans are in the ICC, the allegation of bias is so glaring and yet it never deem it feat to allay the fears and sentiments of other nations.

International organisations were created to resolve problems rather than compounding them, especially in developing countries.

The fact is that African nations under the umbrella of African Union share common principles on war crimes and crimes against

humanity with ICC. African leaders should maintain the unity of the continent and speak with one voice on issues affecting any of the countries. They should intensify efforts in strengthening the capacity of national and continental judicial systems.

The meeting ended up calling on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to defer the trials of Bashir and Kenyatta under Article 16 of the court’s Rome Statute which allows for a delay of up to one-year subject to renewal. The African leaders also declared that no sitting African head of state should come before any international court or tribunal.

The positions of African leaders reinforce the importance of the ICC even as they didn’t withdraw. A resolution for withdrawal could have been reactionary, but a clear message has been sent that Africa desires to be treated fairly and justly not as inferior continent.

Celebrating New Yam Festival In Utese

By DANIEL EDOBOR

chiefs’ dance before their very eyes. The festival takes seven days where various activities will take place and many rituals perform.

The festival is as old as Utese and it is very significant and important to the people of the community especially

farmers to give thanks to God for fertile land, bountiful harvest. Both the farmers, the ruler of the community, chiefs and all the indigene comes together to thank God for blessing their cultivation.

The tradition forbids men and women from wearing

shirts. The men are to leave their chest open while the women tie rapper and bra and move on a procession round the major streets in the town on the last day of the festival.

The God of Agriculture (Uwenmworo) is the provider of bomber harvest. Sons and daughters are expected to come home for the celebration and in return get ancestral blessing.

The first day of the festival

is a time to offer prayers to the ancestors for a wonderful, peaceful and a successful celebration with the ancestors accepting every scarifces offered during the cause of the celebration. Items used include assorted wine, kolanut and the likes.

The second day is dedicated to the able youth in the town who all come out and in unism to tidy or clear all the weeds or bushes on the road or foot path that the villagers take to their farms.

This act is very important as all the youth must ensure they are part of the exercise.

This is followed up on the third day by hunting activities.

This act is also carried out by the youth of the community where they all go hunting to kill animals which are used during the celebration proper.

This is followed by harvesting of yams on the fourth day of the festival while all roads leading to the community will be closed for five hours on the firth day as various traditional rites are done. The last day of the celebration is for merriment, eating and dancing, as it marks the end of the week long festival.

THE NIGERIAN

22

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

View Point

Can Bursary Save Abia Govt?

GOVERNOR Theodore Ahamefule Orji of Abia State is known to be doing everything he couldn’t do to attract the support of people to like his battered government. He likes launching different projects in the media that do not in the reality reach the people. If not, how could a government like this be too boastful of going to pay bursary to students of Abia origin in all institutions of higher learning in the country, without specifying how much the students are going to be paid and how many they are.

The gibberishes of Gov. Orji administration are tiresome to think about. The dishonorable aspect of the buffoonery is to note that the much hyped bursary would take effect from this October.

This make-belief statement by the government was coming when the government has not resolved its matter with a higher institution in Aba, Abia State; and you wonder who the students are that Gov. Orji is going to pay the bursary.

This government has made its numerous comments very cheap. Gov. T.A Orji has not

told the world who the beneficiaries of the (N10billion?) it mouthed some months ago that was meant for farmers are. And today, it is talking about relying on “available database to work out the amount” for the bursary to s t u d e n t s .

Hahahahahahahaha. Which committee worked or is working on the database. We can see where a government relies on cheap publicity to draw public attention.

It was the same way we were told of the state government’s youth empowerment scheme, but what turned out to be the empowerment, were Kekes and buses donated to mainly select of university graduates.

And the government’s hack and rented writers went berserk in their unprofessional manner of writing, to sell the project to the media. But our good people refused to buy their crassness, because we already knew that the man at

WHENEVER you pass through a busy street in Nigeria now, this is what you will see; out of every ten persons, about four are thin or have an average body mass with a lot of allowances in their dresses, and then the remaining are so big to the extent they will need thrice the material size of the thin ones to make a comfortable dress.

The general, crude and uninformed conclusion of most Nigerians is that the thin and average-bodied ones are either malnourished or have a bad health condition and so may need attention. While the big ones are living very alright without any stress (maybe they’re even rich).

The word ‘Obesity’ might be a good guide before one should conclude. Obesity simply means excessive fat accumulation in the body that can cause adverse effects on health & is even life

threatening.

There is the societal impression of living well when one is fat. So people want to impress and show others they are ok because in Nigeria, when a man is looking thin, people will conclude he is either drinking too much gin or thinking too much and when a woman is thin, they will say she will not fit into her blouse and two wrappers.

Using the Body Mass Index (BMI)—a comparison of the weight & height of an individual—people can be classified as overweight if their BMI is between 2630kg/m2 and obese if their BMI is greater than 30kg/m2.

After this calculation, (may be including others like ‘Body Fat Percentage’, ‘Waist - Hip ratio’), you will find that most people are either overweight or obese without knowing it.

Although there are genetic

By ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE

the top in Umuahia, would always betray. An archexample was his betrayal to the hand that fed him and the man whom he has done everything possible and

Gov. Orji knew or refused to realise that there is no such thing as well groomed and good governance. In such a government, you don’t empower people with mentioned objects; the system empowers them. Such a system must have pipeborne water, good roads, electricity, employment,

Gov Theodore Orji

impossible today, to witchhunt and humiliate. Yet, no way!

infrastructure and a sincere government. But regrettably, these are in dire dearth in

Gov. T.A Orji’s Abia State, except noise-making.

Remember the government once said that white-collar jobs are elusive in the state; hence the provision of Keke and Taxis for our teeming university graduates. Not even those who were inopportune to be university graduates are remembered.

As shameful as it sounds, but shameless to the proponents of the bursary bazaar, they believe that only “through such diverse approaches that the objectives of touching the lives of all the youths can be achieved” in our Abia State.

Hocus-pocus!

The government is using this hoodwinking method to calm the youths of the state not to revolt, whereas their aged parents cannot be paid their pensions, as pensioners they are. A matter they have handed over to their destinies and have resorted to prayers.

Their supplication is for nature to smelt the hardheartedness of Governor Orji to pay them. The governor is hardly talking on how to address this, but here his government is telling us another story of bursary to students.

A state that would pay bursary to Abia students across the country is the one

that was in 2012 (and till date?) unable to pay the six percent and 15 percent increase in pension, which most states in the country have effected, but was yet to be implemented in the Gov. T.A Orji’s Abia State. Is the government also talking about the non-payment of the arrears and the increment of members of the union, which members of the union have said that it could not be justified?

What the governor has most times done is to commend the pensioners for what he sees in his periscope as, their positive contributions to the development of the state.

Instead of pay them, he uses his lackadaisical method of assuring them that he was concerned about their welfare.

It behooves every Abia person to rise to the occasion and condemn this deluding government of Gov. Orji and tell the youths to speak out and up that their parents who spent the better part of their lives in the service of their fatherland and are now pensioners, are being treated with impertinence. We are tired of the government’s untiring methodology of lying.

Addressing Problem Of Obesity

By SUCCESS OSAY

and hormonal influences on body weight, the bottom line is that obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through exercise and normal daily activities. Your body stores these excess calories as fat.

Obesity usually results from a combination of causes and contributing factors, including: INACTIVITY: if you are not very active, you don’t burn as many calories. With a sedentary lifestyle, you can easily take in more calories every day than you burn off through exercise or normal daily activities. Watching too much television is one of the biggest contributors to a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain.

UNHEALTHY: diet and

eating habits. Having a diet that’s high in calories, eating fast food, skipping breakfast, eating most of your calories at night, consuming highcalorie drinks and eating oversized portions all contribute to weight gain.

PREGNANCY: during pregnancy a woman’s weight necessarily increases. Some women find this weight difficult to lose after the baby is born.

LACK OF SLEEP: getting less than seven hours of sleep a night can cause changes in hormones that increase your appetite.

C E R T A I N MEDICATIONS: some medications can lead to weight gain if you don’t compensate through diet or activity.

“Although there are genetic and hormonal influences on body weight, the bottom line is that obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through exercise and normal daily activities.”

MEDICAL PROBLEMS: obesity can sometimes be traced to a medical cause, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, and other diseases and conditions. Some medical problems, such as arthritis, can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight gain.

Looking at the causes, one can easily take personal steps to control or manage the disease by exercising, taking a weight loss program and adjusting diet, although, obesity caused by genetics may prove much more difficult to avoid or manage.

Some people know they are already overweight or obese and also know the consequences, but they cannot discipline themselves enough to control it, others do not even know it. They think their eating and lifestyle is very healthy and so the weight gain, some say it is “rest of mind”.

When one is obsessed, problems such as cardiovascular diseases, type

2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea (moments of breathing difficulty or absence), osteoarthritis, some types of cancer, difficult sleeping, snoring, pain in your back or joints, excessive sweating, rashes or infection in folds of your skin, daytime sleepiness or fatigue, depression and consequently, low life expectancy.

Statistics has also proved the rate and mortality of obesity in other parts of the world like the US and Europe, not just Nigeria.

Studies have shown hundreds of thousands of deaths per year that are associated with obesity.

It is a shame that in this modern Nigerian society, men still look at a potbelly as a badge of pride and success.

Obesity is a silent killer. It joins the ranks of malnutrition, malaria, hypertension, diabetes, HIV/ AIDS, etc.

Watch your weight and your diet. For all you know, you may be eating your way to the grave.

THE NIGERIAN

23

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Religion

With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA

A Treatise On Divine Prosperity Continued from last week

OCCUPY TILL I COME LKI9: 13 JESUS told a parable to his disciples as he began to approach the end of his earthly ministry called the parable of the pounds (Lk19: 11) This is the parable. Jesus said, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. And he called his ten servants and delivered to them ten pounds and said unto them occupy till I come” Lk 19:12-13. Each of these ten servants was gives a pound. What happened when the nobleman returned?

“And it came to pass that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, that he commended these servants to he called unto him to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much everyman had gamed to trading” Lk 19:15.

When each of the servants appeared before him to them lie commended as follows: “then came the first saying, lord thy pound bath gained ten pounds” Lk 19:15. And to this the master said “well thou good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities” Lk 19:17He also commended the second servant who invested his pound and gained five pounds. He gave him authority over five cities in commendation Lk 19:18-19.

But the third did not invest the money rather tied it up ‘‘And another came saying, lord behold, here; thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin” Lk 19 :20. The noble master rebuked him for not investing it or putting it into the bank to yield some interest and took his pound and gave it to the first faithful servant. Lk 9: 20 -24. Then Jesus said; “1 say unto you, that unto everyone which hath shall he given, and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him” Lk19: 26. This is a financial parable; probably the only financial parable among the forty six parables in the new testament scriptures in which the lord used financial investment

benefits resulting from faithful. labour to describe our spiritual state. The faithful servants invested their pounds and gained more pounds and they were commended for their faithfulness but the unfaithful servant did not do so: he was reprimanded.

Christ is obviously the nobleman who traveled to a far country: the pounds he gave each servant is the gift both spiritual and natural talents given to children of God: and the lord expects each faithful child of God to utilize the gifts and talents for kingdom expansion. The gifts and talents must not be kept docile but utilized to enhance Gods kingdom on earth. Jesus Christ would return and would bless each faithful servant who did righteously with his talent and spiritual gifts.

WHY THE P R O S P E R I T Y THEOLOGY? (Gods game plan for our salvation) Many persons even Christian and Christian ministers are usually against the prosperity theology. This is because it has been seriously abused and used for egocentric pursuits. Many insist that, “You stop the prosperity theology and teach salvation theology” I was very much in support of this idea. I was initially and antagonistic against anything having to do with prosperity theology; and for years I shunned it and would not teach it— but it dawned on me that having closely studied the scriptures, I was undoing my ministry and not properly directing the congregation.

I was presenting God wrongly before my congregation.

Why have I said so? Yes because the church did not prosper and the congregation did also not pro per and I presented God as a suffering God worshiped by suffering children. But as soon as I took a closer look into the concept of Christian prosperity and related it with our salvation, I began to see a new light dawn on my congregation and the ministry. The new message put a new hope and

galvanized them to aspire to succeed in their endeavors and to see Gods blessing as part of his salvation plan for mankind. You may be like me as I was before I took a closer look at the prosperity theology. Now I think the prosperity theology is clearly part of the salvation plan of God. While Jesus came to save yet he came also to bless.

For what do you think of a man who says he is saved yet in penury? Would that not affect his faith. Jesus came

theology is that teachers teach it isolatedly. It is not so. It is to be taught as part of the salvation plan of God. Christ did not come principally to prosper but to save; yet the saved must not only find satisfaction for their souls, but also satisfaction: for their spirit and body. The Apostle John wished same to the elder Gaius when he wrote; “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be n health, even as thy soul prospereth” 3Jn2

LORD BE MAGNIFIED WHICH HATH PLEASURE IN THE PROSPERITY OF HIS SERVANT” PSALM 35:27 We are told here God is magnified in the prosperity of his children. Don’t you also think so? Do you see the son of a rich man on earth suffering hunger and poverty? Then the world would say either the son is “a prodigal son” or the man is a spendthrift or a wicked man.

I think in the same way we

asked a question on behalf of other disciples who had accepted Jesus as their lord and personal saviour, what would be their reward. They had already been saved; they had worked assiduously for the faith, what would be their outcome?

“Then peter began to say unto him, lo, we have left all and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, verily I say unto you, there is

principally to save; yet as part of the salvation plan he came to bless the saved.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life’ Jn3:16. This is the primary reason Jesus came to save the would, But part of the salvation plan is to bless the saved, that they having being saved, their destiny changes for good also.

“1 am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” Jn 10:10.

You see that Christ came to save yet that the saved might also enjoy abundant life. The problem with the prosperity

Reader do you now agree with me that the prosperity concept is part of the salvation plan of God? Do you rationally think that God, being so good and who controls all the resources in the world: for he says “the world is mine and the fullness thereof,” (P 24:1, Ps 50:12) would such a kind father bestow hunger, poverty and disease on his children?

Would that glorify the lord?

Would that not portray him in had light? Look at what the Bible says about God being delighted in the prosperity of his servants; “Let them shout for joy and be glad, that favour my righteous cause, yes let them say continually LET THE

paint a just and magnanimous Jehovah when a child of God continually experiences suffering, disease, hunger and poverty, and presumes that it is Gods wish for his life, How can that be? Through the prosperity theology God is making us to know that he is God; of we are saved and deal righteously with him and we listen to him and obey his directives; he will bless us as abundantly. The property theology portrays God as a very benevolent father who blesses the genuine effort of his children.

It does not teach laziness nor nouveau riche’ ideas as some try to portray it. Of a truth I believe opposition to the prosperity theology is not that it is not biblical but the teaching approach is faulty.

Some preachers just teach it, they fail to present it as God’s given plan for our salvation, pari-pasu. Peter he Apostle of Jesus; while he remained a very faithful disciple of Jesus

no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospel’s. But he shall receive in hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come ETERNAL LIFE” Mk 10:28-30.

Did you hear what Jesus said to the disciple Peter? Did he say to Peter: “now you are saved; you got to suffer and suffer then wait for your reward in heaven.” But rather he said he would be blessed on earth here a hundred fold and receive eternal life after death. Praise God! If you are a child of God, born of the spirit: rise up and challenge every obstacle to your blessing. The lord shall cause new doors to be opened for your prosperity if you believe; “1 have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it” Rev3: 8 my God is the God that saves and prospers!

“Did you hear what Jesus said to the disciple Peter? Did he say to Peter: “now you are saved; you got to suffer and suffer then wait for your reward in heaven.” But rather he said he would be blessed on earth here a hundred fold and receive eternal life after death.”

THE NIGERIAN

24

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

International EU Revives Membership Talks With Turkey

BRUSSELS - The European Union will launch a new round of accession talks with Turkey next month following a threeyear hiatus after Germany dropped opposition prompted

by Ankara’s crackdown on street protests.

Turkey began negotiations to join the EU in 2005, 18 years after applying, but a series of political obstacles, notably over Cyprus and resistance to Turkish membership in Germany and France, have slowed progress.

The new “chapter” of negotiations with the 28member bloc will open on November 5 and the process should be accelerated to help Ankara implement democratic reforms, EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele said.

“Recent developments in Turkey underline the importance of EU engagement and of the EU remaining the benchmark for reform in Turkey,” he said.

Many EU capitals want to take the long-awaited step on Turkey’s path towards the EU, arguing Europe should

capitalize on Ankara’s rapid growth and rising influence in the Middle East. Others are nervous about an expansion that would see the bloc bordering countries including Syria, Iraq and Iran.

Earlier this month, the European Commission praised recent judicial reforms in

Turkey and the government’s announcement last month of a package of laws designed to salvage a peace process with Kurdish insurgents.

In its progress report it accused Turkish police, however, of using excessive force to quell protests that started at the end of May,

urging the government to strengthen oversight of the police and press ahead with investigations into their conduct.

Six people were killed and about 8,000 were wounded in violence as the protests against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s government swept

Turkish cities and police used teargas and water cannon to disperse a sit-in in an Istanbul park.

EU governments, led by Berlin, had postponed plans to launch new talks in June as a rebuke for the handling of the unrest.

The newly opened negotiating chapter - one of more than 30 that need to be discussed before Turkey can join the EU - covers issues dealing with how a country spends EU aid targeted for poor

regions.

Turkey’s EU affairs minister, Egemen Bagis, welcomed the decision and said he hoped it would mark a new beginning in stalled relations between Ankara and the bloc.

“We hope Turkey’s relations with the EU will become more orderly and we will experience a period where illogical, unnecessary and meaningless political obstacles are removed,” he said at a lunch for the EU’s outgoing ambassador to Turkey.

Vatican Confirms Communion Ban On Remarried Divorcees

• Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (right), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a joint news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday.

VATICAN CITY- The Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that Catholics who have remarried after divorce are barred from receiving communion, dashing hopes that the ruling could change soon.

Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, head of the Holy See’s doctrinal office, said in a long article in the Vatican newspaper that such couples could receive communion only if they had a Church annulment.

Prince George To Be Christened; Godparents Named

SUSAN Weds

SAMUEL The solemnization of marriage between former Miss James Susan Annette (based in Florida USA) and Mr. Nyemnkem Samuel Chidube (A Welder) took place on Wednesday 23rd October 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Mr. Oscar Adams, Mrs. Anna Nyemnkem, Mr. Thomas Nyemnkem, Mr. Michael, John William Hard, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations.

Photo: SONNIE. E.

LONDON - Prince William and his wife Kate have asked seven people to be godparents to their son, Prince George, who will be christened at a major royal family gathering yesterday palace officials said.

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip plan to attend the christening Wednesday at the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace, along with Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, Prince Harry and other royals.

Kate’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton and her sister Pippa and brother James are also on the guest list.

The godparents include close friends from their university days, a friend of William’s late mother, Princess Diana, a childhood chum of William, and a school friend of Kate’s.

They are: Oliver Baker, a friend from St. Andrews University; Emilia JardinePaterson, who went to the exclusive Marlborough College with Kate; Earl Grosvenor, who is the son of the Duke of

Westminster; Jamie LowtherPinkerton, a former private secretary to the couple; Julia Samuel, described as a close friend of the late Princess Diana; Zara Phillips, who is William’s cousin, and William van Cutsem, a childhood friend of William.

Charles and Camilla plan to host a private tea afterward at their Clarence House residence.

George, who was born July 22 and is third in line for the British throne, will be christened by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

Some royal watchers have camped outside the palace for more than 24 hours to obtain a good vantage point for watching the guests arrive, but the ceremony will be private.

William and Kate have hired photographer Jason Bell to take official pictures of the events, which are expected to include a historic multi-generational photograph of the queen with three future monarchs: her son Charles, her grandson William and her great-grandson George.

LOSS OF CERTIFICATE

I, Okolie Chidimma Sandra of No. 23, Saliu Lawani Street, Igando, Lagos State wish to bring for the information of the general public that my original Degree Certificate Issued to me by the University of Benin has been declared missing since on 2nd day of October 2013 in Benin City.

All effort to trace the said certificate proved abortive. University of Benin and other concerned authorities should please take note.

But he said “even if there is no possibility of admitting remarried divorcees to the sacraments,” priests must show particular pastoral concern for people in difficult circumstances.

The question of married divorcees is a major issue in Catholic Churches in a number of developed countries, particularly in Germany, where bishops say it is a growing problem.

Earlier this month the Vatican blocked a move by a German diocese to allow some divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion. The Vatican said local dioceses could not enact reforms on their own.

The Church teaches that marriage is indissoluble. It does not recognize divorce but only a Church-sanctioned annulment, which is a ruling that the conditions for a marriage, such as free will and psychological maturity, did not exist when it took place.

RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, Omoba Omokhafe Purity wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Omoba Omokhafe Endurance as appeared in my various documents.

Henceforth, I am now properly known and addressed as Omoba Omokhafe Purity. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and Rapid Response Agency (RRA) Edo State should please take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

I, Imolore Omolegho Deborah wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Imolore Deobrah. Henceforth, I am now properly known and addressed as Imolore Omolegho Deborah. All former documents remain valid. University of Benin, concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

THE NIGERIAN

25

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

International

13 Jailed Syrian Women Released - Activists

DAMASCUS - The Syrian government has released 13 jailed women, a right group said yesterday - a move that is likely part of an ambitious regional prisoner exchange.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the women were released Tuesday morning from the headquarters of the Damascus provincial government, but said they had not been able to contact the women. The Observatory relies on a network of activists on ground for its information.

The women may have been released as part of a threeway exchange that began on Oct. 18. It saw Syrian rebels

• Vladimir Putin

release nine Lebanese men held for a year and a half.

Lebanese gunmen simultaneously released two Turkish pilots held since August.

Lebanese officials had said a number of imprisoned Syrian women were meant to be released to meet the demands of the Syrian rebels.

They were not immediately available for comment yesterday.

It’s unclear how many women are held by Syria’s government, nor how usual it is for 13 to be released simultaneously.

Syrian

government officials would not comment.

The deal underscored the extent of how far Syria’s civil war, now in its third year, has spilled across the greater Middle East. It appeared to represent one of the more ambitious negotiated settlements to come out of the war, in which the rival factions remain largely opposed to any bartered peace.

The toll of the Syrian war has been crushing. Almost a third of the population has fled its homes to escape

security there is improving too slowly. Volgograd, where the female suicide bomber struck, is due to be a World Cup venue.

Attacks by insurgents from the North Caucasus include a suicide bombing at a Moscow airport that killed 37 people in 2011 and subway bombings that killed 40 in 2010.

Putin deflected any responsibility for ethnic and religious strife, putting the blame partly on local

authorities which turned “a deaf ear to the people”.

The president also depicted Russia as a force for peace in the Middle East at what he said was a time of meddling by other countries.

The Kremlin takes pride in a diplomatic initiative brokered with Washington last month to eliminate Syrian chemical arsenals following attacks on civilians blamed by other countries, but not Moscow, on President Bashar al-Assad.

violence or the resulting economic hardships. Of a prewar population of 23 million people, at least 2 million Syrians have fled abroad, becoming refugees. Another 4.6 million are internally displaced within Syria.

Around 100,000 people have been killed, the economy is in tatters, and the country’s delicate community fabric woven of different religious sects has been destroyed.

Even fleeing is no guarantee of safety. The Observatory reported yesterday that a Syrian woman trying to escape to neighboring Jordan was raped and killed, along with her daughters aged one and three, allegedly by the man who was supposed to take her across the border. The Observatory said the incident occurred in the Zizon valley on the Jordanian-Syria border on Monday.

The man also stole all her cash: $87. Syrian residents found the bodies days later.

The Observatory said Syrian rebels captured and killed a suspect who they said confessed to the crime.

against the man found alive in a morgue facing execution for a second time.

“The convict who survived (the death penalty) will not be executed again,” PourMohammadi said late Tuesday in remarks reported by the official IRNA news agency.

“After putting much effort to prevent the second execution of this convict, we have received a positive response,” he said without elaborating.

All judicial affairs and decisions in the Islamic republic rest with the judiciary, which constitutionally operates independently from the government.

The convict, identified only as Alireza M., 37, was pronounced dead earlier this month by the attending doctor after hanging for 12 minutes from a noose suspended from a crane at a jail in northeast Iran.

But the next day, staff at the mortuary in the city of Bojnourd where his shrouded body was taken discovered he was still breathing.

Media later reported that he had fallen into a coma.

Pour-Mohammadi implied that a second execution would be damaging for Iran’s image.

“If he survives, it is not expedient to hang him again,” said the minister.

The incident led to a heated debate between jurists, with some arguing against a repeat hanging and others for.

According to the media, a petition signed by jurists and attorneys was sent to judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, appealing for a stay in the exceptional case.

Amnesty International also called for an immediate stay of execution for Alireza M. Iran has one of the highest rates of execution in the world, with more than 500 cases last year and some 508 executions so far this year, according to Human Rights Watch.

Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and that it is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.

Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are among the crimes punishable by death in Iran, based on its interpretation of sharia law in force since its 1979 Islamic revolution.

Foreign Foes Use Radical Islam To Weaken Russia - Putin

UFA, Russia - President Vladimir Putin accused foreign rivals on Tuesday of using radical Islam to weaken Russia and appealed to Muslim clerics to help reduce tensions after a deadly suicide bombing and nationalist riots.

The comments, his first on this month’s riots in Moscow, were delivered in the mainly Muslim region of Bashkortostan and underlined Kremlin concerns that ethnic or religious tensions could threaten the unity of the Russian state.

Monday’s suicide bombing, blamed on a Muslim woman from the North Caucasus, killed six people on a bus in Volgograd and raised fears about attacks as Russia prepares for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

“Some political forces use Islam, the radical currents within it ... to weaken our state and create conflicts on Russian soil that can be managed from abroad,” Putin told Muslim clerics meeting in Ufa, Bashkortostan’s capital, in southern Russia.

“Tensions between the West and the Islamic world are rising today, and someone is trying to gamble on that by pouring fuel on the fire,” he added.

Putin did not say which foreign rivals could be fostering Islamist separatism.

But he has often accused other countries, including the United States, of interfering in Russia’s affairs and sought to deflect blame for problems onto other nations since securing a six-year third term as president last year.

The Moscow rioting began over suspicions that an ethnic Slav was stabbed to death by an Azeri national. Russian

police later responded by rounding up hundreds of migrants.

Putin urged the clerics to help Muslim immigrants adapt to life in Russia to reduce the likelihood of such violence.

“They need to hear your voice,” he said. “Otherwise they become the objects of propaganda by various fundamentalist groups.”

ISLAMIST INSURGENCY The former KGB officer became president after directing a war against separatist Muslims in power in the Chechnya region of the North Caucasus in 1999 when he was prime minister.

But Russia is still struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency in the North Caucasus and the Kremlin is concerned violence could spread to other mainly Muslim

regions of Russia.

A bomb was discovered and safely detonated by Russian security forces near a trade center on Tuesday in Khasavyurt in Dagestan, in the North Caucasus, law enforcement officials said, underlining the daily threat of violence in the region.

Russia’s 20 million Muslims make up around 15 percent of the population of more than 140 million, and the percentage is expected to grow.

The threat of violence spreading is a particular concern for Putin because Russia hosts the Winter Olympics in February and the soccer World Cup finals in 2018.

He has staked his reputation on hosting a safe and successful Olympics in Sochi, on the Black Sea, but has said

• Hassan Rouhani, Iran President

Iran Spares Life Of Hanging Survivor

TEHRAN - Iran has decided to spare the life of a convicted drug trafficker who survived a hanging, media reports yesterday quoted Justice Minister Mostafa PourMohammadi as saying.

The reports follow calls from within Iran and appeals from international rights groups

THE NIGERIAN

26

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

International Features Hope For Syria Peace Conference PROSPECTS of a Syria Arabia, Turkey and the Fades Peace Conference in United Arab Emirates and

Arab and Western Foreign Ministers in London meeting of the friends of Syria Core Group at Lancester House in London recently.

Geneva next month looked dim yesterday after key opposition leaders spurned efforts by Western and Arab powers to persuade them to attend.

A meeting in London between the opposition leaders and 11 key countries of the so-called Friends of Syria on Tuesday produced little more than an accord that Syrian President Bashar alAssad should play no future role in government.

But leaders of the National Coalition — the main opposition umbrella group — insisted they would not take part in a

Syrian Minorities Keep Low Profile In Exile

IN a small park on the edge of old Istanbul’s Eminonu square, women sit begging, Syrian passports in their outstretched hands, “Please help in the name of God” on sheets of paper at their feet.

In this bustling city, where fisherman line the shore of the Golden Horn and tourists mingle with traders in the alleyways of the spice bazaar, the war raging just over Turkey’s southern border feels very distant.

But as Syria’s conflict takes on an increasingly sectarian dimension, a growing number of those fleeing to Turkey are shunning the refugee camps on its southern border and venturing instead to its major cities, as far from the war as possible.

“We can’t be comfortable at the camps. Yes, they give them food regularly, and conditions are maybe better, but we hear that they send all the men to fight at night,” said Tariq, 27, cradling his young son in his arms, his wife at their side.

“We don’t want to fight. I escaped the fighting, why would I go back again?” he asked, sitting in a cemevi - an assembly house used by Alevis, Turkey’s biggest religious minority - in Istanbul’s working-class Gazi neighborhood.

Tariq and the roughly 40 Syrian refugees he is sheltering with are mostly Alawites, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam and the same minority sect as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

It is not an identity they readily reveal.

Perceived, often wrongly, as die-hard Assad supporters, they say they fear retribution in Turkey’s refugee camps, which are thronged by Sunni Muslim opposition supporters, including rebel fighters and their families.

“I’d rather go and die in the war in Syria than stay in a

camp,” said Miran, 29, smoking a cigarette on a shredded mattress in a tent in the courtyard of the cemevi.

“They don’t like Alawites in the camps and they know we’re Alawites. We are neither opposition members nor Assad supporters. We are just citizens,” he said.

Syria’s civil war has killed more than 100,000 people, sent millions fleeing from their homes and divided the Middle East between Sunni Gulf states and Turkey, which mostly support the rebels, and Shi’ite Iran and Hezbollah, which back Assad.

Turkey has kept its borders open to refugees throughout the 31-month-old conflict and denies any sectarian agenda, insisting its camps are open to all. But its staunch support for the opposition puts some refugees in a difficult position.

“Turkey says it doesn’t make a distinction between Alawites and Sunnis, but people do, and we can feel it even here,” said a Syrian refugee in Eminonu, declining to give his name.

“We just want to work, make a living, but they don’t give us a job,” he said, emphasizing that he always told prospective employers he was Sunni when looking for work.

SECTARIAN TENSIONS Turkey shelters more than a quarter of the 2 million people who have fled Syria’s war, 200,000 of them in the official camps dotted along its 900 km (560 mile) border.

But twice that number live outside the camps, including almost all the refugees who have arrived over the past few months. While many have the means or family ties to find lodging, the numbers of those forced to sleep rough appear to

be growing in cities, including Istanbul and Ankara.

Zeynal Odabas, head of the Pirsultan Abdal Cemevi hosting the refugees, said Turkey should consider the diversity of Syria’s population and set up separate camps for different groups.

He criticized the government for allowing fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army and factions such as the al Qaedaaffiliated Jabhat al-Nusra to shelter in the camps.

“While people from Nusra and the Free Syrian Army are being hosted in the camps, these poor people have been living on the street,” Odabas said, citing the fighters’ presence in the camps as a reason many refugees preferred to go it alone.

Turkey has long championed more robust backing for Syria’s fractious armed opposition, arguing it would bring a quicker end to Assad’s rule and give moderate forces the authority they needed to keep more radical Islamist elements in check.

But Ankara’s critics say that its policy has in fact allowed Islamist militants, some of them accused of committing atrocities against Alawite communities, to gain ground in Syria.

Turkey denies arming the rebels or facilitating the passage of foreign fighters who have swollen the ranks of al Qaedalinked factions, but the border is difficult to police. Rebels, refugees and smugglers have been able to cross illegally.

BRACING FOR WINTER Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) says it is aware of the influx of Syrians who bypass the camps, but that it can do little for those who decline its help.

“We do the best we can within the rules of a state of law, but

we can’t simply force people,” said spokesman Mustafa Aydogdu, adding that there were Alawites living in the camps and that there had been no reports of disputes.

“We haven’t received a specific demand from Syrians coming to Turkey to set up a separate camp for any particular group. If there is such a demand, it may be considered,” he said.

The agency does not register refugees by their religious affiliation in the camps, he said.

With the United Nations expecting another 2 million Syrians to become refugees in 2014 and 2.25 million more to be displaced inside Syria, Turkey’s open-door policy means the numbers of destitute Syrians on its streets is only likely to rise.

“We can’t go back until the war is over,” said Ahmed, 15, who has lived in a makeshift tent near an Ankara shantytown with no access to water, electricity and heating for four months.

“We are more comfortable here, we hear there are a lot of disputes, disagreements at the camps. People complain, so we don’t want to go,” he said.

He is among around 150 largely Syrian Kurdish refugees, many of them barefoot children, living in tents on a muddy hillside, near where property developers are building highrise blocks.

Temperatures are already dropping and will soon fall well below freezing. When a car occasionally drives by, the children run behind it, cheering and hoping it is one of the local Turks who regularly bring food and clothing.

“We are just holding up now,” said Samer, 31, who had worked as a keyboard player in Aleppo before fleeing. “They say the first snow will fall in a couple of months. God help us then.”

conference in late November if any regime members were there, sticking to their demand that Assad’s departure was essential.

But a defiant Assad has shown no sign of backing down after a two-and-ahalf-year civil war that has left more than 115,000 people dead, saying he was ready to run for re-election in 2014.

Assad has systematically refused to recognise the Coalition as a legitimated negotiating partner and has rejected its demand that he step down.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the London meeting had urged the Coalition to “commit itself fully” to the so-called Geneva 2 talks.

He said the Friends of Syria agreed that they would put their “united and collective weight” behind efforts to form a transitional government and that “Assad would play no role in that future government of Syria.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry took a similar position, saying Assad had “lost all legitimacy.”

But he too urged the opposition to go to Geneva, saying Syria was at risk of “implosion” if the civil war continued and said the only alternative to a negotiated settlement was “continued if not increased killing.”

The opposition is due to meet at the start of November to finalise its position on the Geneva talks, which would be a follow-up to a peace conference held in the Swiss city in June 2012.

Coalition head Ahmad Jarba appeared to be in no mood to compromise on his demands.

“There will not be negotiations at all without making sure that this meeting, Geneva 2, is basically to make sure there’s a transitional period and for Assad to go,” said Jarba.

‘I don’t see why I shouldn’t run in the next election’ The London talks grouped Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi

the United States, together with Syrian opposition leaders.

Notably absent from the meeting was key Syria ally Russia, which has dismissed such gatherings in the past, saying they do not represent all Syrian people.

Washington and Moscow have been trying to organise the Geneva conference on the heels of the deal they reached for the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons in the wake of a deadly poison gas attack in August widely blamed on Damascus.

But Assad dealt an early blow to peace hopes, saying in an interview Monday that the factors are not in place for the conference to succeed.

“No time has been set, and the factors are not yet in place if we want (Geneva 2) to succeed,” Assad told Lebanon-based satellite channel AlMayadeen, adding that there was no guarantee about “which forces are taking part.”

UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will meet again on November 5 with US and Russian officials to prepare for the Geneva talks, the UN announced Tuesday.

That meeting will be followed by one with the other three permanent members of the UN Security Council — Britain, China and France, according to UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.

In other developments, prominent human rights activist Sema Nassar told AFP Wednesday that Syrian authorities have released 14 women detainees as part of a weekend hostage exchange but that dozens of others are still being held.

Nine Lebanese Shiite hostages held for 17 months by a rebel group in northern Syria were exchanged on Saturday for two Turkish pilots held in Lebanon since August.

“Fourteen of the women whose names were on the list” were freed late Tuesday, Nassar said.

THE NIGERIAN

27

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

The Law Of Reciprocal Action Adamantine Is The Law ADAMANTINE stands the law. “What a man sows he will reap many times over”.

Thus, man bears spiritually the responsibility for everything he does. This responsibility begins already with the making of the resolution, not just with the accomplished deed, which is simply a consequence of the resolution. And the resolution is the awakening of an earnest volition.

Men speak of deserved and undserved fate, of reward and punishment, retribution and karma. All these are only part –designations of a law resting in Creation. “The Law of Reciprocal Action”.

A law which lies in the entire Creation from its earliest beginning, which has been inseparably interwoven with the great, never ceasing evolution as an essential part of creating itself and of development. Like a gigantic system of the finest nerve – strands, it supports and animates the mighty Universe and promotes continual movement an eternal giving and taking. But the law of Reciprocal Action also, stipulates that whatever a man sows, thus, where he causes an effect or consequence, he must also, reap. Only at the beginning of every matter is man free to resolve, free to decide where the omnipotent power flowing through him is to be guided, in what direction. He must then bear the consequences arising from the power that was set in motion in the direction willed by him. Inspite of this, many persist in assertaining that even so man has no free will if he is subject to fate.

This foolishness is only meant to serve as a narcotic or to be a grudging submission to something inevitable, a discontented resignation, but mainly a self –excuse, for each of these consequences falling back on

him had a beginning and at this beginning the cause of the consequences effect lay in a previous decision by man.

Therefore set to work without delay. The creator has placed everything in creation into your hands. Make use of the time. Every moment holds disaster or gain for you.

Among all creatures in creation the human spirit is the only one to have free will.

His free will lies solely in the decision, of which he may make many every hour. In the independent weaving of the laws of creation however, he is unswervingly subject to the consequences of every one of his responsibility, which is inseparably connected with the gift of free will to make decisions, which is peculiar to and an absolute part of the human spirit.

Abd-ru-shin says its effect does not always takes account of the short span of only one earth-life for a human spirit, but here, there are entirely different conditions.

The Divine Laws Abd-rushin says are true friends in everything, they are helpful blessings from the will of God, who thus, opens the paths to salvation for everyone who strives towards it.

The whole of Creation is the language of God, which you should earnestly strive to read and which is by no means as difficult as you may think.

You belong to this Creation as a part of it and therefore, you must swing with it, work in it and mature in learning from it and thus, through gaining in understanding, you must rise ever higher, from step to the next, drawing along through the radiation in order to ennople everything that comes in contact with you on your way.

There will then spontaneously develop around you one beautiful miracle after another, which through reciprocal action will

raise you ever higher.

Learn to recognize your path in Creation and you will also, know the purpose of your existence, Then you will be filled with grateful rejoicing and greatest happiness a human spirit is able to bear, which lies solely in the recognition of God. The supreme bliss of true recognition of God, however, can never grow out of an acquired blind faith, much

recognition of your goal. In no other way can you find either.

The laws of God, thus the will of God, do not concern themselves with the opinions of these earthmen, which they have laid down in their mundane laws, even though, the whole world has now considered them to be right.

Whatever is not in harmony with the Divine Laws, there also, the blow of the sword

less come to flower, but convinced knowledge, knowing conviction, alone gives to the spirit what is necessary for this Abd-rushin says.

You earthmen Abd-ru-shin says are in this Creation to find supreme happiness. In the living language which God speaks to you. And to understand this language, to learn it, and to sense inwardly the will of God in it, that is your goal during your journey through creation, In Creation itself, to which you belong, lies the explanation of the purpose of your existence and at the sametime, also, the

will now strike judging in the process of redemption.

Only the man who lives in the laws of God is free. Thus and not otherwise, does he stand unopprressed and unconstrained in this creation. Everything then serves him instead of obstructing his path it serves him because he uses it in the right way.

God’s Laws is Creation are in truth simply, all that every man needs for a healthy happy life in Creation. They are, as it were, nourishment for his well being. Only he who knows the will of God and lives accordingly is really free. All the others must bind

“The whole of Creation is the language of God, which you should earnestly strive to read and which is by no means as difficult as you may think.”

Man And Nature With O.C. MADU 08056379608 themselves in many threads of the laws of this Creation, because they entangle themselves.

Creation originated only in the will of God, in His laws.

Working together, the threads of these laws sink deeper and deeper, everywhere enforcing movement towards development and inevitably branching out more and more in the course of development,

to mankind. In the beginning was the word.

And the Word was with God. And the word was God. The word came out of God. It was and is a part out of Him. Heed your word let your speech be simple and true.

In accordance with the Holy will of God, it contains an ability to form in an upbuilding or also, in a

while in the continuous movement new creations are perpetually formed around threads. Thus, these laws provide at the sametime the support, the possibility of continued existence and the further expansion of creation.

Nothing exists without this will of God, which alone gives movement. Everything in Creation conforms to it.

Abd-ru-shin says that only the human spirit has not adjusted itself to these threads. It has tangled them and thereby, entangle itself, because it wanted to follow new roads according to its will and disregarded those already prepared in existence.

You know that all creation swings in the word of the lord.

Does this not make you think Creation vibrates in Him, as also do you yourselves, who are indeed part of Creation, for it arose out of Him and is maintained through this word.

It has been clearly proclaimed

destroying way, depending on the nature of the words and of the speaker.

Do not squander those sublime gifts which God so mercifully granted you, but seek to recognize them aright in their full value. Up till now the power of speech has been a curse to you through such people, who as Lucifer’s stalellities have misused it under the evil influence of the distorted and one –sidedly developed intellect.

Therefore, beware of people who talk much, for with these goes disintegration.

You, however, are to become upbuilding ones in this Creation not talkers.

Therefore, guard your word.

Pay careful attention to your speech, for the human word is also, a deed which however can only produce forms in the plane of fine Gross matter, that into and have an effect on everything earthly.

THE NIGERIAN

28

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Keane Hits Back At Fergie FORMER Manchester United captain Roy Keane has hit back at Sir Alex Ferguson for certain revelations in his new autobiography. by the time the pair fell out Ferguson insists Keane was living in a world of fantasy and had lost the respect of his team-mates when he was forced out of Manchester United.

The former manager has used his new autobiography to claim Keane, now a pundit, “thought he was Peter Pan”

spectacularly in 2005 and that his departure “was the best thing that could have happened” to United.

His animosity towards Keane has shown no sign of subsiding in the eight years since their row erupted.

Their relationship began to fracture as the midfielder

Roy Keane

Wenger Left To Rue BVB Defeat ARSENE Wenger was left to rue a late lapse in concentration as Arsenal were undone on the counter against Borussia Dortmund.

The Gunners had hauled themselves back into an eagerly-anticipated UEFA Champions League clash, with the scores locked at 11 as they pushed for a winner.

They were, however, to leave themselves open at the back and Dortmund swept forward eight minutes from time, allowing Kevin Grosskreutz to provide the delivery for Robert Lewandowski to volley home a dramatic clincher.

Wenger admitted afterwards that his side had become too adventurous and were left to pay the price.

He told Sky Sports: “It’s

difficult to take because I would agree that we were maybe not at our most fluent tonight going forward, but at that moment we were on top.

“We lost the game because we maybe wanted so much to win it that we forgot that if you cannot win it, don’t lose it.

That’s what is most annoying because we put a lot of effort in.

“We started hesitant. At the end of the day, we went 1-0 down and when you don’t start well it is difficult to get back into the game.

But we did well and in the second half we were on top of it.

“We just forgot to be cautious. We were not cautious enough and we paid for it.”

Drogba Wants Four More Years

IVORY Coast hit-man Didier Drogba insists he wants to continue with his professional career for at least four more years.

The Ivory Coast captain was awarded the prestigious Golden Foot prize last week in Monaco – an accolade given to football players aged 29 and above who are still active and contribute to the development of the sport.

Upon receiving the prize, Drogba revealed he hopes to

continue to be active for the next few years which would see him equal the record of Cameroon’s Roger Milla who retired from football at the age of 39.

“I hope God will grant me the required health and conditions to be able to play four more years,” said the 35year-old.

Drogba earlier announced he would retire from international football after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

became increasingly outspoken about his teammates during a lengthy period on the sidelines due to injury and finally broke down when he gave an explosive interview to the club’s TV channel.

The now infamous MUTV interview has never been aired on the channel but Ferguson claims that Edwin Van der Sar, Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy were among the players who walked out when they were shown it privately.

The 71-year-old recalls Keane and Van Nistelrooy having to be pulled apart in a separate incident: “His [Keane’s] eyes started to narrow, almost to wee black beads. It was frightening to watch, and I’m from Glasgow.”

But after the MUTV interview, Ferguson says he could not get Keane out quickly enough.

He told his assistant, Carlos Queiroz, at the time: “He

needs to go, Carlos. 100 per cent. Get rid of him.”

Ferguson, in his book, said: “In one deep sense, him leaving was the best thing that could have happened, because a lot of players were intimidated by him.”

Keane responded on ITV on Tuesday night by saying: “I’m okay, quite relaxed. I remember having conversations about loyalty when I was at the club and I don’t think he knows the meaning of the word.

“To constantly criticise other players that brought him success...I won’t be losing any sleep over it.

“I just don’t think the manager needs to do it. I don’t know how many books he’s written now. A lot of these players helped win a lot of trophies. It’s just part of modern life.

People like to do books and criticise ex-players.

“I’ll have to do another book!”

Mourinho To Accept FA Charge

Arsene Wenger

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho will not contest his improper conduct charge and said he will “accept the fine”.

Mourinho was charged by the Football Association as a result of his behaviour during the 4-1 victory over Cardiff on Saturday.

The Blues boss had been sent to the stands over a disagreement with the officials, which appeared to be sparked when referee Anthony Taylor warned Branislav Ivanovic against time-wasting when taking a throw-in.

At a news conference on Monday, Mourinho had

Didier Dragba

Torres Delighted With Double CHELSEA striker Fernando Torres has admitted his delight after scoring a brace during Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Schalke in a Champions league encounter.

The former Liverpool striker celebrated his 100th start for the Blues in style as he opened the scoring early in the first half before completing his brace midway through the second half.

Torres brace sinks Schalke.

“I’m delighted with the win and of course my two goals,’ he

told reporters.

“The three points were important after our opening defeat by Basel.

“We’re first in the group now and still have two home games to come, so you could say we’re well on track.

“The result doesn’t really reflect the flow of the game.

It was a lot more even than the scoreline suggests and Schalke had a lot of possession in the first half.

“They just failed to score. In

the end I think it was our individual class that made the difference.

“All teams in the group are still in with a chance, which is both good and bad for us. It’s nice to have beaten arguably our strongest rivals, though.”

The Spaniard has managed just two Premier League starts this season and will be hoping to be back in the starting lineup when Chelsea host Manchester City on Sunday.

expressed his frustration at Cardiff’s own time-wasting during the match but, after reading the referee’s report, he confirmed he will not dispute the charge.

He is now set to be given a fine rather than a touchline ban and expects to be on the touchline for Sunday’s meeting with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

“What the referee wrote is true,” Mourinho said after Tuesday night’s 3-0 win against Schalke. “I was not aggressive, I was not offensive. I just had a disagreement. That in the game is resolved with ‘shut up and sit down’. [You] don’t need to go to the stands.

“I accept the fine and against Manchester City I can work.”

He said Taylor’s report is “honest and fair” and added: “What he writes is exactly what happened and exactly why I didn’t understand why I went to the stands, and it’s exactly why the punishment is just a fine.”

THE NIGERIAN

29

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Agent Suggests Balotelli Is Unsettled

Klopp Delighted With Arsenal Win JURGEN Klopp has expressed his jubilation at Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 win at Arsenal in Tuesday’s Champions League clash.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s opener was cancelled out by Olivier Giroud’s equaliser before Robert Lewandowski sealed the three points for BVB with a late winner. And Klopp, who was forced to watch from the stands due to a suspension, was thrilled that the Gunners were largely kept at bay.

“It was a great performance,” Klopp told Sky. “We won away at Arsenal who are in a sensational form.

“It was an open game we won thanks to a fantastic attack which made it 2-1.

Arsenal are too strong to keep them away from our goal the whole time. They didn’t have that many chances.

“From up in the stands you have a better view! A

totally new perspective.”

Lewandowski’s goal ended Arsenal’s 100 per cent streak in Europe this season and consigned them to their first defeat since the opening day of the season against Aston Villa, which the Pole believes could be crucial in qualifying from a tough Group F. “I ran many metres before I scored my goal and finished it,” he said. “It is an important goal and an important win.”

• Jurgen Klopp

Lionel Messi Ready For Clasico - Martino

BARCELONA coach Gerardo Martino feels Lionel Messi’s performance in the 1-1 draw at AC Milan shows he is fit and ready for Saturday’s Clasico against Real Madrid.

Messi completed his first 90 minutes in almost a month at the San Siro and got on the scoresheet with a well-taken

Sevilla’s Rakitic Out Of Slovan Clash

SEVILLA captain Ivan Rakitic has been left out of the squad for Thursday’s Europa League encounter against Slovan Liberec due to injury.

The Croatian midfielder did not feature during Sunday’s 2-2 La Liga draw against Real Valladolid after returning from national duty with a thigh injury.

He resumed training late last week but Unai Emery have decided not to rush him back into action and may look to reintroduce him against Osasuna on Sunday.

German midfielder Piotr

AC Milan fans should cherish Mario Balotelli for as long as they can, according to the player ’s agent, who claims his client is unhappy with the bad press he is receiving.

During Balotelli’s time at Manchester City the striker was often the centre of attention — and with that focus continuing at Milan, Raiola says the point has been reached where he may decide enough is enough and leave Italy.

“There is an exaggerated amount of attention on him,”

Trochowski and Argnetine defender Federico Fazio have also been excluded from the traveling 20-man squad as they are nursing minor injuries.

Emery will take three goalkeepers to the Czech Republic with Julian Cuesta being included alongside Beto and Javi Varas.

Romanian striker Raul Rusescu, who hasn’t featured since scoring a brace during a Europa League playoff against Mladost Podgorica, has also been included in the squad which will be trimmed down to 18 on Thursday.

strike from inside the area, but also struggled at times to make an impact against the massed ranks of Milan’s defence.

Nonetheless, Martino told reporters after the game that the forward had played well and his thigh problem was now behind him. “[Messi] looked fine to me,” Martino said. “He got the equaliser for us. He played with speed, intensity, looking for one-on-ones. With Cesc [Fabregas] on the pitch, he played on the wing and did it well. I believe there is now no doubt about his physical condition. He is over his injury.”

Following the 0-0 draw with Osasuna in La Liga, Barca have now drawn twice in four days after having won their previous ten games in all competitions — but Martino said he did not think the team had started to stutter ahead of Saturday’s clash with Madrid at the Camp

who was outmuscled by Milan attacker Robinho for the game’s opening goal, added that his side could make a huge step towards retaining the league title should they win the weekend’s game.

“The Clasico is a different kind of match, and even more so this year, because the title has been between the two teams over the last couple of seasons,” Pique said. “It can mark a turning point in the season. If we win, we will be six points clear.”

Nou. “I always say you must separate the result and the analysis,” he said. “We are coming into the game after two draws, which is not the best, but I believe our performances are still improving.

“We give few options to our opponents. We are lacking a fine touch and speed, but playing against opponents who sit back 25 yards out is difficult.

I am not concerned about the group’s performances, although I would have liked to win the last two games.”

Blaugrana captain Xavi Hernandez told his club’s official website that, after a slow start against Milan, Barca had dominated the game, and were now set up well for Saturday’s clash with their big domestic rivals.

“With the exception of the first 15 minutes, when we conceded a goal, we dominated and we created chances to score, [but] we were lacking in front of goal,” he said. “We are in good shape coming into the Clasico. We are playing well.”

Barca defender Gerard Pique,

• Lionel Messi

managers throughout my career, but it’s a very different job and life,” he said. “I’ve always reflected on the game.

To pass on your ideas and have an influence on a team really interests me.

“Maybe next year I’ll become a manager. I’m thinking about starting to get my coaching badges next year.”

Ballack, who won 98 caps for his country, has not missed playing as much as he thought he would.

But having been a runner up in the Champions League with

both Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea — as well as in the World Cup and European Championship with Germany — he says it is only natural to think about what might have been.

“I played at the highest level throughout my career and I’m happy about that,” he said. “I was able to play for and captain my country.

“There are always matches that you lost that would have allowed you to win more titles.

I never won the European Championship or the World

Raiola told Mediaset prior to Milan’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona, in which Balotelli came on as a second-half substitute. “It’s not on. I don’t know if I’d be able to stand it all personally. We all need to calm down and we’ll analyse things with Milan.

“Certainly Italy will not be the final stage of his career, but we still have lots of years on his contract here and we don’t want to think that he has to leave for this reason.”

Less than a year after arriving, though, it is hard to see Balotelli leaving Milan already, and the club’s general manager Adriano Galliani has laughed off the suggestion.

“Raiola’s a sly guy,” he said. “He likes to be provocative. I’ve known Mino for many years so I’m not worried.”

Galliani was not worried about finding out that Raiola had been in the Barcelona dressing room after the game either.

“Then we can do a swap,” Galliani joked. “They’ve got two forwards [Lionel Messi and Neymar] who aren’t bad.

They can chose — we’d take either the Brazilian or the Argentine.”

Michael Ballack Keen On Mgt

• Michael Ballack

FORMER Bayern Munich and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack says he could move into coaching in the near future.

The ex-Germany captain, 37, retired a year ago this month after returning to his homeland for a second spell at Bayer Leverkusen.

The four-time Bundesliga winner told French radio station RMC that he has been thinking about becoming a coach for a long time.

“I’m still thinking about it after having spoken to a lot of

Cup and they are competitions that I really would have liked to win. But that’s the way it goes.”

As for the present, Ballack thinks that Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery deserves to be named the world player of the year.

A shortlist for FIFA’s Ballon d’Or award is set to be unveiled next week. Ribery, 30, is sure to feature after already being voted European Player of the Year ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

THE NIGERIAN

30

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

31

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

Sacked Vipers FC Coach Rules Out Litigation

Commissioner Promises To Return Kwara Utd To GPL THE Kwara Government on Tuesday assured the people of the state that the relegated Kwara Utd FC of Ilorin would return to the Glo Premier League next season.

Hajia Ramat Abaya, the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmens in Ilorin.

Abaya said that it was sad to see the team that was contending for the league title relegated at the end of the season.

The commissioner thanked Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed and all that supported the team during the outgone season.

She urged the supporters of the club to learn from what happened to their darling club, this season.

“I think part of our plans is to embark on the education of our fans, especially to let them know that the game is either you win or you lose,” Abaya said.

She called on the club’s fans to be calm during matches, to avoid a repeat of what happened in Week 29.

Kwara Utd, until the Week 29, was in contention for the league title, before their fans attacked an official in a

game involving the club and Warri Wolves.

Consequently, the League Management Company ruled that the match be replayed in Ilorin, a decision Warri Wolves challenged before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The NFF Appeal Committee ruled in favour of Warri Wolves and gave the club the match’s 3 points.

Kwara Utd was relegated when it failed again to defeat Akwa Utd last Saturday.

Abaya said that the government would retain the technical crew and majority of the players, if they wished to stay.

Aminu Maigari

Amun Hails NFA Over Ogunjobi, Baribote Ban

FANNY Amun, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), on Tuesday commended the leadership of the NFA over the ban imposed on two Nigerian football administrators. level of offences committed by the Taiwo Ogunjobi, a former individuals.

Secretary-General of the NFA According to Amun, the Maigari and Victor Baribote, a former leadership should have extended Chairman of the Nigeria Premier the ban to 60 years, to serve as a League (NPL) Board, were deterrent to others who may want banned by the association for to introduce indiscipline into the indiscipline. country’s football.

While the Chris Green “If I was in Maigari shoes, I investigating Committee would have banned them for sixty slammed a 10-year ban on years; you know what that means.

Ogunjobi, the Committee It means banning them for life. headed by Emeka Inyama which “Sometimes, it is good to take investigated Baribote, banned certain actions that will serve as a him for 15 years, from all deterrent to others. football matters.

“Who is involved does not Amun told newsmen in an matter; after all, Amos Adamu, a interview in Abuja, that the ban former CAF and FIFA executive was in order, considering the

HFN Invites 20 Players For NO fewer than 20 male have been eager to be Camping in“Wecamp players and three officials because the have been invited by the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) for camping, ahead of the Intercontinental Handball Trophy, slated for Mexico.

Fidelis Obi, Head Coach of the team, told newsmen in Lagos that training would commence immediately on Oct. 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The HFN junior male team would be flying the country’s flag at the netball competition

organised by the International Handball Federation (IHF), scheduled to hold from Nov. 25 to Nov. 30.

He expressed delight over the commencement of the camping, adding that: “I am very happy that at last, we are going to begin camping in Lagos“.

According to him, the players have been undergoing routine training, as a buildup to the proper camping, which he said, will help the players to be more committed.

competition we are going for is highly demanding and we must be adequately prepared to ensure that we can excel.

“Now that we are going into closed camping, players will be more focused and there will not be room for distraction, so we the technical officials will also be dedicated, “ he said.

The national junior team clinched the ticket to the intercontinental event after its victorious outing at the continental competition held in Djibouti in March.

committee member, was banned by FIFA from football related activities for three years.

“So, if Adamu was banned, any other person can be banned too. There is no personal attachment to it.

“One must be able to obey the rules and regulations and must strive to be upright at all times. I don’t support Illegality at all,’’ Amun said.

He said the criticism trailing the ban was uncalled for, pointing out that the ban imposed on the football administrators appeared to have met FIFA standards.

Amun urged Nigerians to evaluate the matter which led to their ban before condemning the NFA’s action.

The NFA had said that the individuals had the right to appeal to FIFA or the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

Meanwhile, Amun has commended Amos Adamu

for serving out his three-year FIFA ban from all football related activities.

“If FIFA says the ban is ended, it is; it means he has served out the punishment which he was banned for.

“Adamu should not be killed for the ban because he is a human being and anybody can go wrong.

“If the punishment is over, then he is free,’’ he said.

Amun, however said that the NFA had the right to clear Adamu through its congress.

Adamu was banned from all football activities in 2010 by the FIFA Ethics Committee and was later fined $10,000 for asking for $800,000 as gratification.

The bribe was in return for voting on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting rights awarded to Russia and Qatar, respectively.

The former CAF and FIFA executive member whose ban ended on Sunday, was caught on video by undercover reporters, while asking for the money.

He was subsequently not allowed to take part in the 2010 voting.

Secretary of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), has assured of a bright future for the sport in the country.

Ajao told newsmen in Lagos that everything possible would be done to take the sport to the next level.

The secretary spoke against the backdrop of the just-concluded second edition of Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) International Taekwondo

Open.

The competition held from Oct. 19 to Oct. 20 in Abuja.

The two-day tournament featured 302 fighters for the N2.8million prize.

Participants were drawn from Mali, Gabon and Cote d’Ivoire and host Nigeria.

Ajao said the event was a graceful one that held much potential for the federation and the sport in Nigeria.

“We just had the second edition of the CCSF taekwondo open in Abuja and

SACKED coach of Vipers FC, Ambrose Duru Chukuma, has said although the club terminated his contract and did not pay his benefits, he will not sue them.

“They changed clauses in the contract and they know that they did that because they did not want to pay me my entitlements,” said a bitter Chukuma before he left the country for Lagos on Tuesday.

The former coach said as per the contract he would pay the team US$40,000 if he terminated the contract, but the leaders of the team made sure they do not pay him the remaining months in the contract.

The ex-Nigerian international, who featured in only one match, said although he was earning very little money coaching Vipers FC his interest was to develop his career as a young coach.

“I know I might come back to Uganda or even in the East African region,” said Chukuma.

The coach said Vipers FC gave a very stupid reason for the sack, claiming that he was not performing.

“They did not even invest in the team for pre-season training and we managed to play six games lost two, won two and drew the same number,” explained Chukuma.

He said it is a shame that the likes of Lawrence Mulindwa, a former FA president for eight years and patron of Vipers SC, could refuse to pay him.

“We started poorly last season and after the first round we were first and eventually finished third in the league and were finalists in the Kakungulu Cup,” he added.

Haruna Kyobe, the Vipers SC secretary, said they fulfilled all that was in the contract and even bought Chukuma a return ticket back to Nigeria.

But Chukuma has called upon the FA to become tough on clubs so that they hand in their contracts with coaches and also ask clubs to learn how to treat players and coaches better.

Chukuma has been the only foreign coach handling a team in the FUFA Super League.

Taekwondo Scribe Assures Of Bright Future I must say I am highly FEMI Ajao, the impressed by the event.

“It shows that taekwondo has so many prospects in Nigeria. The turnout was very impressive; so we are going somewhere’’, he said.

The secretary also said the major highpoints of the competition was the participation of 32 kids and the discovery of remarkable talents.

“Taekwondo is part of the five major sports in Nigeria and I know that we will live up to expectations’’, Ajao said.

THE NIGERIAN

32

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

CMYK

This Is The Beginning; This Is The End We shall be very liberal with the use of names in this essay, except in the very rare case where anonymity would save the subject some embarrassment. In our political career, we have seen politicians.

There are organizers and there are disorganizers.

Between the spring of 1990 and the winter of 1992, this writer had a wonderful internship under Chief Tony Anenih. Reference here to an internship, as opposed to apprenticeship, is deliberate as I was already a successful politician, having represented the Greater Orhionmwon Federal Constituency as an elected member of the Constituent Assembly, before I met the elder statesman. Those years further sharpened my life.

Anenih inculcated in me, the virtues of hard work. In terms of party organization, he was most effective. A greater workaholic, none could be! He hardly slept. During the organization for late General Shehu Yarí Adua, we would hold marathon meetings in Port Harcourt lasting from 6:00 p.m. to 4: 00 a.m. the following day; we would be in Uyo in the present Akwa Ibom State at 10: 00 a.m. to begin another meeting that would last far into the night. Yet, we would be in Warri for another meeting that would start at 10:00 p.m. and last till 5: 00 a.m. the following day.

In all this, we did not disappoint the people at the home front who were expected in Benin City for another marathon meeting scheduled to begin at 10: 00 a.m.

On occasions, Anenih would abandon the luxury of his

healthy cars, hop into my jalopy and say, “Joe, let’s go”. We were heading for Okhoro Road area or Uptown Ikpoba Hill, to see some of those ìTalakawasî, the type some people would never allow into their premises.

This way, Anenih easily agreed with members at

could produce the biggest tubers.

In the ill-fated Third Republic, the meticulous selection of candidates supervised by Chief Anenih, which sometimes lasted all night, produced the fantastic results we saw for the SDP everywhere.

Anenih also provides a reminder of Thomas

make trial after trial until it comesî. For these men, work does not mix with women and wine.

On the debit side, Chief Anenih has a kinsman who is disorganizing everything in the opposite direction. To this kinsman, every season is harvesting season. He eats the tuber and the seed yams,

Edison (1847-1931) who remains a genius of technology that held over 1000 patents, including patents on the incandescent electric lamp and motion picture projectors.

For Edison, ìGenius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspirationÖ None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I

oblivious of the coming of any planting season. Give him N100 to organize. He would eat N99 and organize with N1. To him, immediate personal gratification rather than organizational group success is the name of the game. In local parlance, such is called “Tako-tako”.

Enter late Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido (19632013), a man who be-

• Chief Tony Anenih

the general meeting that there was no reason to see those lowly grassroots people, unknown to those members that he had seen those ones the previous night. In essence, everyone was irreducibly important. His was a policy of separate but equal.

He did not eat seed money. In times of organization, Anenih would rather add his own money to whatever was brought to ensure victory. He provided a quick reminder of my late father who was one of the greatest farmers in Isi land of then Benin East Division. My father could give you the biggest tuber of yam but he would not allow you go with the smallest seed yam because in due season, that small seed yam

lieved in hard work and commanded tremendous followership wherever he went; a man who on a short notice, moved from the PDP to the DPP to compete for the Delta Central Senatorial seat in the April 2011 election; and in the end, he dusted an adept in political engineering, Chief Amori Ighoyota, securing 102,313 votes to Ighoyotaís 85,365.

Shortly before Ewherido died, he moved to the APC, bringing with him, an enviable asset in tremendous goodwill. All that we have now rubbished, no thanks to Tako-tako master. As it were, Ewherido asked for rain and we gave him a rainbow. We certainly owe him an apology wherever he is.

Tako-tako believes that politics is ninety-nine percent inspiration and one percent perspiration. So, between poor or absolute non-preparation and imposition of APCís candidature to the highest bidder; at the recent by-election for Delta Central Senatorial District, the PDP ran away with 263,024 votes to APCís miserable 29,077.

In our university days, a student was usually quick to say, “I got an ‘A’ in the course” but if the result was otherwise, he would

say, “The lecturer gave me a ‘D’” That explains why the APC must now shout to the high heavens that the election was rigged. Let them tell that to the Marines! Who should have least imagined that the APC might be dead on arrival to the South-South, no thanks to Tako-tako? He still holds the empty chips to his chest and he is using them to ferment pockets of divisiveness everywhere. This essay should serve as the first point of order on him before he finds that he is left alone in that party, the party we all celebrated before its birth!

There is unity in disunity.

On Election Day, members of opposing factions would fight to the polling station but they would still end up casting their votes for the same candidate.

They struggle to outwit each other. Immediately after votes are counted, factional heads rush to Headquarters to impress on the winner that they were responsible for the outcome.

If morning shows the day and if this played out at the Delta Central election, it is also reasonable to expect a national spread of the same phenomenon. Where that happens, this is the beginning; this is the end!

“Shortly before Ewherido died, he moved to the APC, bringing with him, an enviable asset in tremendous goodwill. All that we have now rubbished, no thanks to Tako-tako master. As it were, Ewherido asked for rain and we gave him a rainbow. We certainly owe him an apology wherever he is.”

Printed and published by Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, 24, Airport Road, P.M.B. 1334 Benin City. Telephone; Lagos: 01 4930929, Benin: 052 257492, 257531 Editor. BARR. SOLOMON IMOHIOSEN (KSJI) - (07030699646), Deputy General Manager (Marketing) (08023457566), Assistant General Manager(Advertisement) (08023808856) Lagos Office: 3/4 Amode Close, Kudirat Abiola Way, By Olushonsun Bus Stop, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Abuja Office: Floor 1, Edo House, 75 Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business District, Abuja. Tel/Fax: 09-5237631. All correspondence to: 24 Airport Road, Benin City. E-mail: nigerianobserver@yahoo.com (ISSN 0331-2674)