Nigerian observer 25 06 2013

The Nigerian

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TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 38 • NO.261 • TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013 • N100.00 PERSPECTIVE Pages 16-17 Political Governance in Edo State

1999 till date

Nigeria Deports 414 illegal immigrants

KATSINA - The Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said it has repatriated 414 illegal immigrants within the last 10 days.

The NIS Comptroller, Alhaji Umar Bulama, said during a press briefing in

Katsina that, the repatriation was carried out from June 12 to 23, adding that those deported were mostly from Niger Republic.

According to him the

bio-metric data of all those repatriated had been documented and forwarded to Immigration Mobile Patrol Officers to aid in tracking down anyone of them that may return

illegally.

He said that no immigrant would be allowed to stay in the country unless with valid documents.

Bulama said the command was working with

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Banning Governors’ Forum OPINION Page 27

Between skin bleaching and cancer

Oshiomhole faults NBA President

BENIN CITY - Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has faulted the call by the President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), for the proscription of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum saying the call negates the provision of the constitution on Freedom of Association.

While declaring open said: “recently I watched the 2013 Law Week of the President of the NBA, the NBA, Benin Branch saying in Yenogoa, yesterday, the Governor Beyelsa State, that the

Edo LG Election Tribunal strikes out two PDP petitions

By ROLAND OSAKUE/ INNOCENT OMOAKA BENIN CITY: The Edo state local Government

STOP OIL BUNKERING

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People of Edo State, Government has discovered that inspite of measures taken by security agents in the State to stop illegal oil bunkering, perpetrators of this shady business have continued unabated.

The State Government is warning all those still involved in oil bunkering in the State to, in their own interest, stop this shady and dubious business forthwith as stiffer penalties await them.

Any person or group of persons caught in the illegal business will be dealt with according to the law.

All vehicles and equipment used will be burnt.

Be patriotic, report any person suspected to be in the business of oil bunkering to the authorities concerned.

Join Government to rid the State of enemies of progress.

Edo State must continue to This message is from the Edo State Ministry of Information and Orientation

Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City yesterday struck out two applications of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed against Hon. Solomon Eromosele, the Chairman and a councilor in Esan Central Local Government area of Edo State.

The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa struck out the petition upon the application moved by the petitioner’s counsel, O.M. Eboigbe.

Counsel to the Petitioner, O.M. Eboigbe who prayed the court in petition No ED/LG/PET/2/ 13 to withdraw his application on ground of defectiveness in the Suit number. The same issues were raised in the other application for that of the

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Governors’ Forum should be discarded. I think the factor of location influenced his

conclusion. He betrayed his oath to defend Nigerians on the right to associate.

“One of the fundamental rights of every person, including Governors, Presidents, is

the right of association. If Presidents have the right to African Union, to United Nation, to all the other formal and informal gathering, how can the President of a learned community suggest that the NGF be proscribed on account of difficulties

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2013 LAW WEEK: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Mr. Joe-Kyrari Gadzama (SAN), keynote Speaker at the 2013 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch yesterday.

Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

Benin Catholic Priests back Archbishop Akubeze

By KESTER OGIESEWU BENIN CITY – The indigenous Benin Catholic Benin Priests of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City have pledged their support and loyalty to the Archbishop of Benin City, Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze and the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City for holding tenaciously to the tenets

of the Catholic faith.

Addressing newsmen

in Benin City yesterday, the chairman, indigenous

Catholic Benin Priests, very Rev. Fr. Felix

Igbineweka stated that

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Accord Okao of Ughoton his entitlements, EDHA urges Oil Coy, Council

By KEN ABU/ WINIFRFED OSASOBO BENIN CITY – Edo State House of Assembly has

adopted a resolution urging, Dubri Oil Company and Ovia North-East Local

Government Council to accord all rights and entitlements to Chief Joseph Ikponmwonba

Iyonmaha as the Okao of Ughoton Community consequent upon the

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TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

News Oshiomhole faults NBA President

Continued from page 1 the State must be seen to

whether sixteen is more than nineteen, although he is unable to provide the answer.

If we unlearned people don’t know, the learned people should know. Then if learned people don’t know that nineteen is more than sixteen, then I suggest that all of you should be proscribed.”

Oshiomhole explained that when a nation is led by characters who won’t stand by the truth, then that nation is doomed.

“I want to submit that the environment and the overall circumstances known and unknown that led the NBA President to call for the freezing of the right of Governors to associate borders on corrupt practice”, he added.

He maintained “I thought that given the role of the Bar in our history, if privileged people like the Governors went for an election and they have voted and the loser is being declared as the winner and the winner is being declared as the loser and NBA says scrap it, then there is a problem.

“Anybody who keeps quite in the face of compelling facts is not doing the nation any good. In any case, I do not need the Governors Forum to do what I have to do. All I need is the Edo Forum”, he said.

Oshiomhole disclosed “in Edo State, all men and women are equal before the law and we must demonstrate it by action. The law must be operated as if there are no rich men, big men or poor men.

Everybody, whether corporate or individual must be seen to be equal before the law and

have the capacity and the will to deal with anybody who operates in an environment” Oshiomhole argued that we can only have an egalitarian society “when those who are privileged to be entrusted with the powers of the State use those powers judiciously.

“I think in Edo we have tried to do that and before my turn is up, I intend to do more, such that by 2016 when I would be out of here, it would be said that when I was here, no one was too big to be dealt with when he infringed the law”, he added.

The Governor reiterated his opposition to the revenue allocation formula saying “we

must give Abuja less money”.

He said Nigerians should stop lamenting that fourteen years after, Nigeria’s democracy is not delivering to the people, saying the beauty of democracy is that the people have the power to hire and fire and since Nigerians know the party that has been at the helm since 1999, it is in their hands to decide if they still want the party in power.

In a keynote address delivered by Mr. Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) on the theme “Democracy and Socio Economic Imbalance in Nigeria; Rule of the Law”, he said Democracy has been rated as the best system of Government adding that it is

Edo LG Election Tribunal strikes out two PDP Mohammed met a brick wall petitions Continued from page 1 as counsel to the 3rd- 9 th

councilor, as G.E. Ugokwe Esq, Ken Mozia SAN and E.R. Emukpuoro Esq counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively did not however, object.

Also, in the petition No. ED/ LG/PET/13/13 filed by Dokpesi Abu Kenneth, the Chairmanship candidate of PDP in the April 20 th local government election against Hon. Suleiman Afegbua of the ACN in Estako East Local Government Area came up for hearing.

The Counsel to the

petitioner, A. E Mamudu prayed the court to grant his application for the change of counsel following the withdrawal of former counsel.

Justice Okungbowa however granted the application as the motion was not ripe for hearing and consequently adjourned to 26th June 2013.

However, in the petition against the Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council, Barr Hassan Kadiri by Labour Party candidate, Kesley

submission of a letter of formal introduction.

The adoption of the resolution is sequel to the consideration of the report of the House standing committee on a petition titled “Plight of Okao of Gele-gele signed by P.I. Okao Esq” during plenary session at the committee of the whole yesterday.

According to the 9-point findings and the two points recommendation of the report of the committee, the Ijaws are predominantly in Gele-gele community with an Amaokosuwel and traditional leaders while the Binis are predominant in Ughoton community which has an Odionwere and other traditional leadership amongst whom is Chief Joseph I. Iyonmaha.

It further stated that Dubri Oil Company has operation in

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the Archbishop of Benin City, His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.)

both Ughoton and Gele-gele Communities and the communities are historically linked to the ancient Benin Kingdom which is part of the Old Benin province now Edo South Senatorial district adding that the petitioner with three others initiated a suit in 1970 on behalf of Ughoton Community against the Ijaws of Gele-gele for a declaration of title over Gele-gele land and the suit was said to be decided in their favour and upheld by the Supreme Court.

Furthermore, the report reveals that His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa had in 1985 vested the title Okao of Gele-gele on the Petitioner which according to the petitioner has not received any official recognition by the Ovia NorthEast Local Government Council upon the creation of the council from the old Ovia

Nigeria Deports 414 illegal immigrants

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the Niger Republic Consul General to ensure that immigrants from that country bear valid travel papers before coming into Nigeria.

The controller defended the exercise, saying it was necessary and timely in view of the current security challenges in the country.

He said three of the aliens that were recently deported through the Dankama Border

defendants, E.R. Emukpuoro urged the Tribunal in a motion to strike out the names of some of the respondents.

Meanwhile, Counsel to the petitioner, Eki Omo- Osagie in a motion had prayed the Tribunal to grant leave of the 3rd respondent (EDSIEC) to allow the petitioner have access to the materials used for the April 20 th local government election in Edo state.

The Tribunal Chairman adjourned the case to 26 th June, 2013 for hearing.

Benin Catholic Priests back Archbishop Akubueze Augustine Obiora Akubueze is a pride to the Catholic Church and indeed the Christian

Accord Okao of Ughoton his entitlements

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a system that allows citizens to participate directly in governance.

According to him “the courts have a duty to ensure that there is no anarchy in the land.

There is a major link between law and democracy. In the first place law establishes democracy and democracy guarantees the availability of law”.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted “the impact of the economy on Nigeria is negative. For democracy to thrive we need to have a socio-economic balance. The average Nigerian does not see himself as a Nigerian, but rather as an Hausa, Yoruba or Ibo man”.

Control Post and returned to Nigeria via illegal routes on the same day, had been re-arrested by immigration officials.

Bulama said the arrest was made possible based on the verification of the immigrant’s bio metric data with the Immigration Mobile Patrol Team at the border posts, assuring that the three illegal immigrants would be prosecuted.

Local Government Area.

The committee in their findings further disclosed that Dubri Oil Company has some measure of corporate social relationship with the Local Leaders of Gele-gele and Ughoton Communities which are presently in the High Court of Benin over land dispute.

Parliament while approving the recommendation of the committee submitted that there should not be any interference in the land dispute between Ughoton and Gele-gele Communities as same is sub-judice.

While summing up deliberations, the speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe directed the clerk of the House to send clean copies of the resolution to the relevant parties.

Meanwhile, the House yesterday announced the receipt of the report of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution.

The report of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution was contained in a letter signed by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, The Deputy Senate President and chairman of the 1999 constitution review committee.

The House also observed a minute of silence for the repose of the souls of SEn. Albert Lagogie who represented Edo North Senatorial District at the Upper Chambers and Pastor Francis Shaibu, the Father of the Majority Leader of Edo State House of Assembly.

religion.

Very Rev. Fr. Igbineweka who commended the pastoral achievements of the Archbishop within the past two years, however, prayed for peace and unity in the Archdiocese of Benin City.

“The Church has always acknowledged the manifold gifts of the people of God to be utilized in carrying out her divine mandates.

However, this should be done within the structures and strategies of the church with reference to the hierarchy,” he said.

Very Rev. Fr. Felix Igbineweka also maintained that the Catholic Church is bound by Baptismal Commitments to proclaim Christ and promote the work of evangelization.

Also, speaking in an interview after the press conference, the President of Laity Council, Sir, Humphrey Best Iriabe debunked Insinuations in some quarters that the Catholic Church is calling for the removal of the Archbishop, adding that, Archbishop Obiora Akubeze has imparted positively in the lives of many Catholic faithfuls and have also contributed to the creation of many parishes.

“We have resolved to cooperate with him to ensure sincere and genuine evangelization with the Laity.

We are with the Archbishop and we are ready to cooperate with him,” he added.

Among those present at the press briefing were, very Rev. Omede, Dean, Iguobazuwa Deanery, very Rev. Festus Ogbonmwan, Parish Priest, Gabriel the Archangel and very Rev. Fr. Patrick Osagie, Dean

of Abudu Deanery.

Council Boss Tasks FRSC on Road Worthy vehicles position on the highway for the SABONGIDA-ORA - The Chairman, Owan West Local Government Council, Hon Barr Godwin Aigbodion has urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure that any vehicle on Nigeria road is road worthy to reduce carnages on the highways.

Barr. Aigbodion gave the advice when the Unit commander of FRSC Auchi, Mrs. A.A Nsobong led other members of the command on a courtesy visit to his office.

He said when a vehicle is road worthy there will not be broken down vehicles and the rate of accident on the highways will be reduced considerably and assured the unit commander that the council was ready to synergise with FRSC for the safety of the people.

Barr. Aigbodion also advised the Unit commander that road signs are placed on strategic

motorists to know when they are approaching a flash point on the road and to as well enlighten the people on the various signs.

He assured that the council will carry out enlightenment campaign to educate the people on the need to always obey road signs and the rules so as to avoid carnages on the road as well as to ensure vehicles plying Owan West route are road worthy.

The chairman then promised to look into the other issues raised by the Unit Commander in as much as it was of benefit to the people.

In her address, the Unit commander Mrs. Nsobong said the visit is to seek areas of cooperation for the benefit of the people and to save lives.

She then informed the chairman that the deadline for the drivers licence is 30 th September 2013 and the price N6,350 depending on the categories of vehicles.

Owan West renews commitment to healthcare delivery system SABONGIDA-ORA - The Chairman of Owan West Local Government Council, Hon. (Barr) Godwin Aignodion has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the total overhauling of the healthcare services in the area.

Hon. Aigbodion made this known in an interview after the tour of the three (3) primary Health Centres at Sobe.

He said the importance placed on the health of the people has compelled the council to collaborate with Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital and the newly renovated Michael Imoudu Healthcare Centre to provide quality healthcare services to the people instead of having to travel all the way to Irrua or Benin City for treatment.

He however frowned at the poor attitude of the health workers and the deplorable conditions of the centres and ordered the supervisory councilor for health and the works department to first and foremost clean up the premises and ascertain the number of qualified personnel required at the

healthcare centres.

Meanwhile the chairman has emphasized the need for continous education for nurses and those in the healthcare services for the growth of the nation.

Barrister Aigbodion made the statement when the executive members of the Forum for Local Government Nurses and Midwives of Nigeria (FOLGOMN) paid him a courtesy visit at the council secretariat.

He said apart from the continuous education and research, there is also the need for Nurses to embrace the culture of maintenance for the sustainability of the health care service and urged them to always take the treatment of their patients as paramount.

Addressing the Chairman, the state Chairman of FOLGOMN, Mrs. Catherine Eseino commended the chairman Hon. Barr. Godwin Aigbodion on his effort at improving on the healthcare facilities in Owan West Local Government Area.

She informed the chairman that Edo State will be hosting the Nurses and midwives all over the country adding that, it was mandatory that the local government nurses attend as issues affecting them will be discussed at the conference.

Anglican Church lauds Edo Govt on

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR development BENIN CITY-The Diocese of Benin, church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has eulogised the developmental strides of Edo State Government.

This was contained in a communique issued in Benin City, last Sunday, at the end of the 17th synod of the Diocese of Benin, church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

The communiqué which was signed by the Bishop of Benin Dioceses, church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Peter Imasuen, and Hon. Justice S. O. Uwaifo (Rtd) CON, RSC, Chancellor of the Diocese, appreciated the efforts of the Oshiomhole-led administration in the areas of education, road constructions and health care.

The synod therefore enjoined the state government to continue to do its best, despite criticisms.

It commended the efforts of law

enforcement agencies in the country in handling the security challenges, and in Edo state in particular, adding that the synod will continue to pray for the protection of the leaders and men of these law enforcement agencies.

The synod condemned the pervasive and destructive corruption in governance in Nigera and even in the church.

It therefore called on spiritual leaders to speak and act against the above, just as it called on government to ensure strategies for more effective inculcation of spiritual and more values in children.

The synod noted that the church needs effective disciples and teachers that are willing to suffer all things for Christ, stressing that Christians must be prepared to suffer for the gospel and endure the shame of the cross as God will continue to provide grace in the prevailing context of the persecution and killing of Christians.

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Inside Edo Security, Imperative For National Growth

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU/ GEORGE OGBOLU BENIN CITY – The Public Relations Officer, Edo Police Command, ASP Moses Eguavoen, has stated that security is imperative for national growth and therefore requires collective responsibility to manage.

He said this while delivering a keynote address at the student Union Government, University of Benin, Supreme Parliament Legislative Summit.

According to ASP Moses Eguavoen, who represented the Commissioner for Police, curbing insecurity demands that people be vigilant and develop a cordial relationship with security outfits.

He equally advised Nigerians to form neighbourhood watch and giving the police verifiable information. The

- Police PRO PRO advised youths to think positively as their actions would determine what the future holds for the country.

Also, the speaker of the parliament, Rt. Hon. Governor G. Ameh, said that the summit was put together due to the “unfortunate” security situation in the country. “We are compelled to live in a time when our hard earned democracy is faced with the impediment of a seeming lack of sustainability; which is evidence in perennial security threats, loss of lives and properties,” he stated.

The summit, which was organized by the Supreme Parliament, SUG, UNIBEN was the first ever and had as its theme: The Role of Legislature in Governance: Sustainable Democracy, National Cohesion and Security.

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in hand shake with the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, during the Governor’s visit to the Oba in his Chambers. PHOTO: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE

South Ibie Appeals To Govt For Rehabilitation rest have open roofs.

Of School On the other hand, only a

By Morrison Hayble IYAKPI SOUTH-IBIE – The people of South-Ibie in Etsako West Local Government Area have sent a “Save Our Souls” plea to Edo State Government as a matter of serious concern and urgency to come to their aid in rehabilitating the only Secondary School in the community plaqued by dilapidating accommodation facilities arising from long years of decay and rainstorm effects.

Established in 1979 through self help effort and taken over thereafter by the state government, the secondary school also has the grim challenge of having to cope with only five teachers manning both the Junior and Senior Secondary Sessions even as the leaking classroom blocks or partly severed roofs by rainstorms further compounded the problems of the students and existing teachers.

While calling for urgent intervention by the state government in its magnanimity to save the school on the verge of total collapse, the people also complained of absence of teachers in core subjects as English Language and Mathematics and urged the authorities to hearken to their cry and take it necessary to address the short comings.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER on a fact finding visit to the school witnessed a pathetic state of infrastructural decay as only five classrooms were manageable in two blocks of twelve classrooms while the

new block of three classrooms and an office, courtesy of Education Trust Fund, ETF project in 2009 although yet to be put into use for want of furniture signified human presence in the school premises.

Principal of the school could not be reached for comments after concerted fruitless efforts but one of his students who pleaded anonymity confessed that their attendance at the school was not in any way better than those not schooling in the absence of teachers and accommodation.

The student lamented that the situation was worse during WAEC and NECO examination periods as the school was temporary shut when the only five teachers go for supervision and marking adding that the ugly development had compelled many to relocate to other schools while those who could not had resigned their fate to God. A community leader and chairman, South-Ibie Development Association, Chief Saibu Omosa described the dilapidated state of the school as a set back for their children who he said had nowhere to learn even as it totally lacked teachers to provide education and moral training.

Chief Omosa while pleading with the authorities for urgent attention, regretted that the future of their children was being jeopardized as a result adding: “Many of our children now roam about when they are supposed to be in school and even those who

Some Benin Enigie who graced the occassion of the Oba’s Birthday celebration.. PHOTO: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE

UNIBEN Sacks 19 Staff Over Misconduct By ROLAND OSAKUE

THE Governing Council of the Univeristy of Benin, having considered and ratified the recommendations of the disciplinary committee set up

to look into various acts of misconduct by erring staff, have approved the dismissal, termination and compulsory retirement of 19 academic and non-academic staff of the institution.

Nation’s Vision 2010 Is On Course - Minister

By Emmanuel Egobimbu/ Oyenmwen Omorogbe BENIN CITY – The Minister for National Planning, Shamsudeen/Usman, has declared that the Nation Vision 2020 is on course as the economy is on a steady rise due to the reforms by the present administration.

The Minister who stated this while speaking at 6th 2013 ministerial platform monitored in Benin said that inflation rate

in the country is down by 9%.

According to the minister, Gross Domestic Product grew by 7.06% between 2011 and 2012 and was largely driven by the non-oil sector particularly Agriculture.

The Minister noted that some of the challenges facing the Nation’s growth include undevelopment unemployment and security.

He therefore charged Nigerians abroad to come home and invest in the available potentials in the country.

Academic staff whose appointment were terminated are Prof. Anslem Ivebego Igbafe of Chemical Engineering Department, Dr. S.E. Uwamusi of Mathematics, Dr. (Mrs.) Odimogho of Optometry, Mr. Adewale Oladipo Oduwale of Mathematics, Mr. Washington Osa Enabulele of Production Engineering Department, Mr. Emmanuel Odiaka Okoh and Mr. Solomon Ohibuenoye Ajayi, both of History and International Studies.

Other academic staff also affected in the Department of Microbiology are Dr. (Mrs.) Eugenia Agodi Akortha, Dr. Anthony Endurance Ophori, Mrs. Chinwe Christy Isitua and Mr. Christopher Uche Ajuzie.

From the security unit are Mr. Johnbull Osayemen and Mr. Richard Okokobioko.

Mr. Uyi Edoghogho Ogbian was a senior clerical officer at the office of the Director of

Physical Planning. From the Vice-Chancellor’s Office is Mr. Dickson Otobrise. Mr. Sampson Osazee Omokheyeke and Mr. Osaigbovo AmaizeAmenze were of the Estate Department. While Dr. (Mrs.) May Efeoma Nwoye, the former bursar, was compulsorily retired.

Speaking with our correspondent in Benin one of the affected persons said it was the handiwork of the devil.

According to him,” I had a very good job. In order to help my friends who were jobless, I engaged myself in the forgery of some principal officers’ signature.

Other information gathered by and confirmed that some of the former staff were also involved in admission racketeering, changing of grades and collection of money from students for various services.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Inside Edo Edo Govt To Renovate State 5AUCHI - In order to ensure with recommendations that will Medical Stores that drugs and other Health Comhelp Edo State Government modities are stored in optimum benefit hundred percent from conditions in addition to the procurement of test kits from time to time, Edo State Government has comprehensively renovated the state Central Medical Stores as Ware House.

Disclosing this while declaring open a two day stakeholders Town Hall meeting yesterday, the state Commissioner for Health Dr (Mrs) Aihanuwa Eregie said the reason for renovating the Central Medical Stores is to augument and provide space and adequate storage facilities for drugs provided by international donors and partners.

Organised by family Health International (FH1360) in collaboration with Edo State Ministry of Health, the commissioner noted that the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has done quite a lot to ensure that Edo citizens get quality Health Care delivery services.

Commending the FH1360 for partnering with the state government in its quest to rid the state of the devastating HIV/AIDS disease, Dr. Eregie expressed hope that participants in the town Hall meeting will be able to brainstorm and come out with strategies geared towards achieving the lofty goals of the state government in revamping the Health sector in the state.

In a brief remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Ugbodaga enjoined participants to show a high level of commitment to the meeting in order to come out

Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNI) project in the country.

Dr. Ugbodaga said the overall aim for the meeting was to maximize the intended outcome and impact of AHNI to strengthen the integrated delivery of HIV/AIDS services, and SIDHAS programme for the benefit of the citizens and government of Edo State.

Earlier, the state programme manager AHNI Dr. Victoria NorUgor stated that the objective of the Town Hall meeting was to formally inform all stakeholders of the Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS and SIDHAS from FH1360 to achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNI) as well as to solicit stakeholders to buy into SIDHAS’s project.

Dr. Nor-Ugor further averred that FHI has been collaborating with Edo State Government since 2004, first on Global HIV/ AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN) project and then on Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services SIDHAS project.

The programme which has participants drawn from state ministries of Health, Basic and Higher Education, Finance, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Women Affairs, Information, Budget and Planning as well as Edo SACA was also attended by the Chairman Edo State House of Assembly, Committee on Health, Hon. Bamidele Oloruntoba and Chairman AHNI Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed as well as Deputy Chief of party, FH1360 Dr. RobA member, ert Chiegil. House of Representatives, representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Momoh who disclosed this to newsmen explained that work on the reconstruction of two river bridges on the Auchi – South – Ibie – Agenebode road had also reached advanced stages and assuring that they would be completed soon.

Hon. Momoh said concerted efforts were sustained by the Nation Assembly to ensure the fruition of the projects through personal contacts and series of motion moved during plenary session.

He appreciated the collabora-

The newly invested members of the Knights of St. John Int’l: L - R, Barr. Solomon Imohiosen, Editor, Nigerian Observer, Mr. Philip Efe Ogieriakhi, Engr. John Okovido, Sir Julius Ikhaine, Vice Chairman, Commandery 717, Prince Victor Osi Oribhabor, Mr. Hope Makpo Eju and Mr. Patrick Okoh, JP.

Knights Of St John Int’l Invests New Members

ASABA – The frills and thrills of Solemn religiousity, wore splashes of colour, pomp and ceremony at the 9th Grand Board of Trustees Meeting (GBOT) of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI), Benin Grand Commandery held in Asaba with a call on Nigerians to refrain from their bad ways and all that is unclean.

Speaking at the ceremony, which witnessed the investiture of 23 candidates into the KSJI, the Grand President,

Noble Knight, Brig. Gen. J. O. Ojobu explained that the theme of the 9th Grand Board meeting which is “Be Ye Reconciled” (2 Corinth 5 : 20) was fundamental in man’s relationship with God. According to him, attainment of righteousness is the fundamental reason why Christ took upon Himself our sins in order to reconcile God and man.

“No more love can be dis-

Construction Of Pedestran Bridge By Auchi Poly while transiting the road comtion of the Chairman, House Commences mended the federal government Committee on Works, Hon. AUCHI – Work on the multimillion naira pedestrian Bridge across the Auchi – Okene expressway by the Polytechnic gate has commenced with the dualization of the road already in progress.

The project which was earmarked before now is being subsumed on the major contract awarded for the expansion of the road.

When completed, it is expected to provide convenience for offcampus students of the polytechnic and others who need to cross the road to or from the polytechnic campus.

Ozongbochi who gave his unflinching support.

According to him, “Now that the projects execution have started, I feel highly fulfilled to be instrumental to their realization”, adding that he would ensure close monitoring of the projects till they are completed.

Meanwhile, positive reactions from members of the general public have continued to trail the on-going projects execution as they expressed appreciation to the federal authorities for the prompt response to the deplorable condition of the road.

An Army officer, Isa Yamah

and the Minister of Works for rising to the occasion when the bridges on the road were near collapsing.

He also commended the federal government for recognising the importance of the road with the comprehensive rehabilitation being carried out on it by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA. Also reacting, a resident of the community, Mr. Imonifi Tanuti Momodu gave kudos to the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abubakar Momoh for his efforts at ensuring the realization of the projects noting that he demonstrated the virtue of service to his people.

The newly invested members of Knights of St John Int’l and their spouses, members of Ladies Auxiliaries (Laux) in the same order with Lady C. Ikhaine, Coordinator, Ladies Auxiliaries, 4th from right while Lady Anna Abu is third from left.

played than by the death which Christ died to reconcile us with God. Therefore, we as Christians should take advantage of that same reconciliation to square up our own reconciliation with God and our fellow man”, he stated.

He therefore advised that preparedness is the watchword, saying “because today we may exist but tomorrow we may be no more. The only thing that will go with us to judgment is our score cards based on our good work on ‘earth’.

In her remarks, Benin Grand Respected President, Ladies Auxiliary, Lady Dr. Florence Ngozi Ugji, urged everyone to learn to practice the virtues of love, forgiveness and humility, noting that the humble man lives free of all pretence and self deception.

In attendance at the occasion were worthy presidents from the various commanderies while among those invested as members of the noble

order of the Knights of KSJI include Barr. Solomon Imohiosen, Editor, Nigerian OBSERVER, Mr. Philip Efe Ogieriakhi, Prince Victor Osi Oribhabor, Engineer John Okovido, Mr. Patrick Okoh JP, and Mr. Hope Makpo Eju, all members of Commandery 717; Professor Onimawo Ignatius, Mr. Akharume Magnus, Barr.

Tony Onwordi, among others.

However, at a separate ceremony, those invested as Ladies Auxiliary include, Mrs. Annette Imohiosen, Mrs. Helen Nkiru Oribhabor, Mrs. Anna A. Abuh, Mrs. Grace E. Okoh, Mrs. Chioma A. Okovido, Mrs. Jane Iyore Ogieriakhi and Mrs. Josephine U. Eju. Also inaugurated are Prince Charles Nnamdi Ogbechi, Akhere Clem Imuze, Mr. Egbekuse Usi Humphrey, Mr. Geoge M. Ossai, Dr. Joseph I. Uche, Mr. Lwinus Nwokegi, Mr. Okocha Anthony, Mr. Anthony Igho Ikuakpogbe, Mr. Obalim Charles Chinonye, Mr. Thomas Evwierhurhoma, Mr. Okoro-Umubi Peter, Prince Victor Nwankwo and, Mr. Alu Simon Ohio.

Drug Trafficking: Minister Urges Parents To Educate Their Childsren BENIN CITY – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, has admonished parents, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to educate their children/wards on the dangers of drug trafficking and other social vices so as to potray the country in good light.

The minister gave this charge during the 2013 Ministerial platform monitored in Benin City.

According to him, most Nigerian prisoners in Europe and Asian countries, were ignorant of the dangers of drug trafficking.

He said that the work of enlightenment should and cannot be done by government alone.

Also, he said the ministry is working hard to ameliorate the plight of Nigeria prisoners abroad.

Ashiru disclosed that it is also working in partnership with other countries to ensure that Nigerian prisoners complete their jail term in Nigeria.

He equally noted that the ministry is pursuing economic policies that would attract foreign investors by building on the existing institutional frameworks.

6

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Across The Nation Pawpaw, Remedy For Treating Various Diseases - Nutritionist

ABUJA - Hajiya Jummai Abdul, a Nutritionist at the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, said yesterday that pawpaw (papaya) was a remedy for the treatment of various diseases.

Abdul told newmen in Abuja that pawpaw prevented heart diseases and lowered the risks of many ailments, including cancer.

She said pawpaw was a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and special digestive enzymes that had a remarkable internal and external effects.

“Ripe pawpaw is a great source of antioxidant vitamin ‘C’, vitamin ‘E’ and carotenoids like beta-carotene and lycopene a naturally occurring chemical that gives fruits and vegetables a red colour.

“The rich antioxidant contents of pawpaw, particularly, were beneficial in reducing the risk of developing cancer,’’ she said.

According to Abdul, the

Oyo To Pay N1.2bn Compensation IBADAN - The Oyo State Government says it will soon commence the payment of compensation to 1,304 persons affected by the construction of dual carriage ways in the state.

A statement issued in Ibadan by Mr. Bimbo Kolade, the state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, said that N1.2 billion had been earmarked for the exercise.

According to the statement, the road projects are going on in Ibadan, the state capital and other major towns in the state.

The statement said that the displaced persons would start receiving their money in the next two weeks.

It listed the roads as: Efunsetan-Toll Gate Phase I, Efunsetan-Podo RoundaboutToll Gate Phase II, DugbeMagazine-Eleiyele and Aleshinloye-OnirekeAgbarigo Road in Ibadan, all in Ibadan.

Others are: Ibadan-OyoIseyin Junction, Iseyin-Okeho Junction, Ilorin Expressway Junction, Takie-PalaceOgbomoso Grammar School, Ibadan-Oyo Expressway Junction and Owode-AkesanPalace Road.

The statement said that the decision to pay the compensation followed the completion of valuation and verification of the affected structures and the title documents submitted by the claimants.

high levels of these valuable nutrients helped to protect the skin against free radicals known to cause damage leading to wrinkles and other visible signs of ageing.

She added that pawpaw also helped in wound healing, burns and assisted in the treatment of skin problems like acne,

blemishes and age spots.

She explained that the high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in pawpaw might also protect against developing cataracts, glaucoma and other chronic eye diseases.

“Other good sources of

lutein and zeaxanthin are spinach, broccoli and the yolks from free range eggs,’’ the nutritionist said.

Abdul said the high level of vitamins ‘C’ and ‘E,’ along with antioxidants like betacarotene and lycopene in

pawpaw, could help reduce the oxidisation of cholesterol in the arteries.

According to her, cholesterol oxidisation is considered a dangerous process, potentially leading to arteries blocking with plaque that can result in heart attacks.

“Increasing one’s intake of these antioxidants from healthy food like pawpaw may help improve blood flow to the heart and reduce the risk of developing heart disease,” she said.

Abdul also explained that pawpaw was a good source of foliate which helped control homocysteine levels in the bloodstream.

Reports say that high levels of homocysteine in the blood is known to damage blood vessels and is considered another potential cause of cardiovascular disease.

She further explained that the beneficial fibre in pawpaw helped to lower undesirable low density lipoprotein( LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood by inhibiting its absorption during digestion.

Abdul also said the enzymes in pawpaw, especially the green fruit, could improve digestion by breaking down proteins into the individual amino acids.

“There are several important compounds that make pawpaw a beneficial fruit for reducing the risk of developing certain types of cancers.”

Abdul recommended that to improve the skin, relieve digestion problems, protect the eyes, heart and possibly lower risk of many diseases like cancer; one should cultivate the habit of eating pawpaw.

Be Self Reliant, District Head Tasks Women

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu (Middle) receiving the new National Temporary drivers’ licence from the Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Kenneth Nwaegbe (left). With them is the Executive Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Service, Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah

YOLA - The District Head of Yola, Alhaji Sa’adu Bawuro, has urged women who benefited from government and philanthropic empowerment

L-R: Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Bishop of Ibadan Dioceses, Rev. Felix Alaba Job, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his wife, Florence, during the service to mark the Bishop’s 75th birthday anniversary in Ibadan yesterday.

Flood Kills 41, Displaces 122,466 In 2012 - Agency

YOLA - Forty one persons lost their lives while 122,466 others were displaced during the 2012 flood disaster in Adamawa, Mr Shadrach Barub, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Relief Agency, has said.

Barub told newsmen yesterday in Yola that the agency had begun preparations ahead of the 2013 NIMET’s predictions for the state.

He said that the agency had received a letter from NIMET notifying the government of a possible reoccurrence of heavy floods this year.

“In last year’s flood disaster, 41 persons were confirmed dead while 122,466 others were displaced from their homes.

“And from last year ’s experiences and NIMET’s warning over a possible flood reoccurrence this year, the agency has prepared well to confront a similar development,’’ he said.

Barub said that the only solution to Adamawa flood disasters was for the Federal Government to fulfil its promise to construct the Dasin dam in Fufore Local Government Area.

He said that the dam would receive and control flood waters released directly from Lagdo dam in the Republic of Cameroon.

According to him, dredging of the River Benue and early warnings from the Republic of Cameroon over Lagdo dam and Dadin Kowa dam in Gombe State,

are necessary in averting the disaster.

He said that the state government had so far established 26 camps for internally-displaced persons in seven flood-prone local government areas to ease any

possible disease outbreak.

“The major flood-prone areas include Fufore, Girei , Yola South, Demsa, Numan and Lamurde local government areas,” he said.

Barub appealed to the people, especially those on flood plains, to be cautious and avoid building and farming on dangerous waterways.

programmes to justify the gesture by being self-reliant.

Bawuro said this yesterday in Yola while receiving a cheque for assistance to women in the area to engage in petty businesses.

He commended Abdulaziz Nyako, the Sarkin Matasa (Youth Leader) of Adamawa Emirate Council, for the assistance.

He said that a committee to monitor the beneficiaries of the revolving interest-free loan in the district would soon be inaugurated.

“Beneficiaries must do the necessary things for them to prosper as well as encourage donors to extend such gestures to others’’, Bawuro said.

In his speech, Nyako said the gesture by his office was part of his contributions to reduce poverty in the society, particularly among women.

Nyako, who was represented by Hajia Hauwa Abba, said the gesture, which started with 20 women in Yola District, would be extended to the remaining 32 districts in the emirate.

Malam Shuaibu Dauda, representing Standard Microfinance Bank, which was responsible for coordinating the programme, said the bank would meet regularly with the beneficiaries to guide them on the right things to do.

Dauda said the bank would be ready to also assist those of them who would need more capital in future to boost their businesses.

Police Promote 330 Officers, Men YOLA - The Adamawa State Police Command has announced the promotion of 330 officers and men of the command.

A statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP. Mohammed Ibrahim, yesterday in Yola said

81 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) were promoted to ASP 1.

It said that 38 sergeants were promoted to inspectors. 121 corporals were promoted to sergeants while 90 constables were promoted to corporals.

The statement said that the

promotions were based on merit and were in recognition of the hard work and commitment to duty of the officers and men.

It also solicited continuous support and cooperation of the people of Adamawa in the effort of the command to ensure security of lives and property.

7

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Lagos Lagos Group Tasks FG On Cyber Security LAGOS - The President of the Nigerian Internet Group (NIG), Mr. Bayo Banjo, has urged the Federal Government to give adequate attention to cyber security in the country.

Banjo made the call during an interview with our reporterin Lagos.

He lamented that cyber crime was a major threat to the nation’s security.

Banjo noted that a safe and secure society was a prerequisite for a good business environment.

He said that security challenges in the country had assumed new dimensions, with the growing incidence of cyber-crime and identity theft on the internet.

The NIG president said

Nigerian Polytechnic Students Protesting Over the Nationwide strike in Lagos

FAAN Evacuates Abandoned Aircraft

IKEJA - Federal Airport Authority (FAAN) says it has completed the removal of all abandoned and disused aircraft from the air side of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr. Yakubu Dati, the General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, made this known in Lagos in an interview with newsmen.

Dati said that most of the abandoned aircraft were dismantled and sold as scraps to the public, while others were bought by individuals for business interests.

Dati, however, denied that N120 million was generated from the sale of the abandoned aircraft at the airport.

He said that the destruction and evacuation of no fewer than 65 airplanes abandoned by domestic airlines was taking place in eight airports across the country. ‘’We have completed that of Lagos airport; we are still working at Benin, Kano, Port Harcourt and some other few airports.

‘Once we are done with all the airports in the country, we shall let the public know. ‘’We cannot give a particular figure of the remaining aircraft in each airport, but we are almost done. ‘’FAAN has not come out to claim that it has generated money from this evacuation; the alleged money said to have been generated was a rumour.’’

According to Dati, some of the abandoned aircraft have been at the airport

Market Leader Bemoans High Prices Of Food Items LAGOS - Mrs. Taibat Borokini, the Secretary, Ojuwoye Market, Mushin, has attributed the recent increase in prices of food items to the security situation in the Northern part of the country.

Borokini told newsmen in Lagos that many people had been complaining about the increase in the prices of basic food items.

She said that most food items like pepper, tomatoes, cows, goats, onions, ginger, etc, were being brought from the North, adding that the security situation had made things difficult.

Borokini said that the reduced quantity of peppers, tomatoes, cows, goats and poultry products supplied to markets in Lagos from the North, were becoming too expensive.

She said that this had made the food items unaffordable for many.

“Before now, a mediumsized basket of tomatoes went for N6,000, now it is about N12,000 and even hard to get;

same goes for onions,’’ Borokini said.

She said that apart from the shortage of food items, high haulage taxes by the various local governments across the states, coupled with

bad roads, also led to the increase in prices of food items.

Borokini urged the Federal Government to urgently address the problem.

environment for almost 10 years. ‘’None of them is serviceable because most of their owners have closed shop; unfortunately, such owners don’t want to evacuate them for reasons best known to them. ‘’Today, we have removed everything; our air side is free,’’ he said.

Reports say that some of the abandoned aircraft belong to Bellview Airlines, Space World, Capital Airlines, IRS Airlines, EAS Airlines, Dasab Airlines and Fresh Airlines.

The aircraft models range from Fokker 28, Embraer 100 to Boeing 727 and 737.

Dati also stated that the authority had begun the removal of some billboards placed by one of its concessionaires, Bi-Courtney, at the MMA. ‘’The removal of the

billboards was on the heels of violation by the concessionaire not to place any billboard or advertisement on a property it no longer has control over. ‘’Such act of violation to place their advertisements on a property it no longer has legal status over, is enough demonstration that the firm is treading on the path of illegality,’’ the general manager said.

He said that the government would soon consider how to convert the property into a value adding asset, rather than the current insecurity it posed around the airport.

He said that the failure of Bi-Courtney to complete a four-star hotel and a conference centre on the property had resulted to the site becoming a hideout for undesirable and unauthorised persons at the airport.

Heavy Artillery “The Crab” recently reburbished by 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha and mounted at the Onitsha Military Cantonment in Anambra State.

that the privacy of transactions on the internet was no longer safe, saying that it was now constantly being threatened by cyber criminals.

“Indeed, the privacy of transactions is constantly being threatened online.

“Our laws should be upgraded to cover new areas such as electronic transactions, e-commerce and cyber security,” he said.

Banjo said that the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) industry can help establish a criminal database with exciting agency-specific graphical user interfaces, for the use of the lawenforcement agencies.

He said: “With effective ICT, the law enforcement agencies can locate criminal callers within the cellular networks.

Banjo advised Government to heighten her partnership with the international community to address the issue of network and cyber security.

“Since cyber security is a global issue, the government should engage the support of the international community to address issues of network and cyber security.

“These steps will ensure greater confidence in the use of the internet by Nigerians,” he said.

The expert advised the government to enact appropriate laws for national cyber-security and to protect critical national information infrastructure.

He said that the passage of the cyber security bill would also ensure adequate legal protection of internet users.

Banjo said that the country now had no law on cyber crime.

The NIG president said that some internet users were still victims of identity theft, privacy violation, fraud, defamation, online bullying and the abuse of confidentiality.

“The Federal Government should take all necessary steps to address the enactment of a national cyber security law.

“This will ensure adequate legal protection of internet users from identity theft, privacy violation and the abuse of confidentiality,” Banjo said.

He advised the government to establish a national network security policy, as well as standards to control and protect the nation‘s electronic environment.

8

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

North Nigeria Partners Argentina in Food Processing, Storage - Envoy MAKURDI - Nigeria’s Ambassador to Argentina Mr Chive Kaave has assured Nigeria of Argentina’s readiness to support Nigeria in food processing for improved food production.

Kaave, who made the disclosure yesterday in Makurdi during a courtesy call on Governor Gabriel Suswam, said the partnership would not only boost food production but also enhance the food value chain.

The ambassador, who led a delegation of Argentine businessmen on the visit, said the trip was in furtherance of the policy thrust of President

Goodluck Jonathan’s administration on economic diplomacy.

He said the policy was aimed at creating jobs through direct foreign investments.

The ambassador identified poor facilities in food processing and storage as the greatest impediments to food production in Benue.

Kaave said that owing to a lack of processing facilities in the state, farmers often sold their produce in their raw form.

He said that because of this, the farmers never received commensurate value on such produce.

Kaave said the partnership with Argentina would tackle such challenges by enhancing the quality of produce and alleviating the plight of farmers.

He recalled that the state once enjoyed a robust agricultural

relationship with Argentina during late Aper Aku’s tenure as governor when the state imported cattle from Argentina In his remarks, the Argentine Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Mercelo Cima, commended the

existing relationship between his country and Nigeria.

He said that both countries had “much in common, ranging from football to agriculture”.

Cima promised to give accelerated attention to visa

applications for Nigerians going to Argentina for the purpose of “doing business with our country’.

He said the flight challenges between Nigeria and his country would soon be tackled.

SUBEB Sensitises Staff On Benefits Of Housing Scheme ILORIN - The Chairman, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB), Alhaji Lanre Daibu, yesterday charged staff of the board to register for the National Housing Fund Scheme (NHFS), describing it as important.

Daibu, in an interview with newsmen, in Ilorin, explained that the scheme would afford members of staff the opportunity

2 Men Remanded For Alleged Drug Trafficking ILORIN An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded two men, Saka Yinusa and Mukaila Abodurin for allegedly selling Indian hemp.

The Prosecuting Police Officer, Sgt. Isacc Yakub, told the court that the accused were arrested on June 13 at Budo-Oke Area of Ilorin.

He said that 68 wraps of Indian hemp were recovered in the possession of the two men after the police performed thorough check on them.

Yakub said that investigation revealed that the accused abandoned their car washing business and resorted to selling Indian hemp to hoodlums.

He said that the accused were arraigned on a one-count charge of belonging to gang of thieves; contrary to Section 306 of the Penal Code.

He, therefore, objected to the bail of the accused, arguing that the alleged offence was not bailable.

However, the Magistrate, Mrs. Salimat Sambo, in her ruling ordered the remand of the accused in the Mondala Prison in Ilorin.

to own their personal houses.

He said that the scheme was introduced by the Federal Government to ensure that every civil servant had a better living condition and owned a house before reaching the retirement age.

“Government workers, in their quest to own houses, went extra length in the past by obtaining loans from commercial banks with high interest rates. That I see as unfair,” he added.

The chairman attributed the lacklustre attitude of civil servants to the scheme to poor understanding and the long processes in obtaining loans from the scheme.

He advised the authority of the Mortgage Bank to make access to fund easy for civil servants, stressing that there was a need for sensitisation of all civil servants.

Daibu commended the Kwara Government for its resolve to make life more comfortable for civil servants with the building of estates and granting of loans to civil servants.

Ministers of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsideen Usman; Information, Mr. Labaran Maku and Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja yesterday.

NEMA Canvasses Teaching Of Disaster Mgt KADUNA - The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), yesterday called for the introduction of disaster management subjects in primary and secondary schools, to expand the scope of risk reduction in the country.

The North West Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Musa Ilallah, made the call at a one day workshop organised by the agency for primary and secondary school students in Kaduna State.

The workshop has as its theme: “Children and Emergencies: Risk Reduction and Mitigation begins at schools.”

Ilallah said learning disaster management at the basic

education level would help the students to play important roles in saving lives and property in times of disaster.

He also said that the children, who were more vulnerable during disasters, would be imbued with the required resilience to confront the challenges posed by any disaster at home, school and work places.

The NEMA coordinator advised heads of primary and secondary schools nationwide to encourage the establishment

of Disaster Risk Reduction Clubs in their schools, to enhance the interest of students on the subject.

“NEMA has adopted strategies to bring together relevant stakeholders, various school authorities and students to enlighten and equip them with modern techniques and capacity to manage disaster in their surroundings.”

Reports say that 10 secondary school principals and 50 students from across the state were attending the

workshop.

In a remark, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Unguwar Sarki, Malam Musa Nayaya, advised NEMA to partner with the state Ministry of Education, to ensure the introduction of disaster management studies in schools across the state.

He assured that his school would establish the disaster risk reduction club, to enable students to grow up with the knowledge and passion to prevent and combat disaster situations.

553 Pensioners Failed To Appear For KATSINA - A total of 553 Screening - Chairman pensioners failed to turn up for verification during the just

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, presenting the ministry’s 2011-2012 Annual Report at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja yesterday.

concluded capture of bio-metric data of pensioners in Katsina State, the Chairman of the verification committee, Alhaji Salihu Kado, has said.

Kado said while submitting the committee’s report to the state Head of Service, Alhaji Lawal Aliyu, in Katsina that a total of 13, 786 pensioners were identified during the exercise.

Reports say that the committee was mandated to capture the biometric data of all pensioners under the state government, the 23 local councils and the Katsina and Daura Emirate Councils, He said that 286 of those who did not turn up for the exercise were pensioners under the pay roll of the state government while the remaining 267 pensioners were under the local councils, the local education authorities and the emirate councils.

Kado said that 6, 410 pensioners identified were under the pay roll of the state government while 7, 376 were under the local councils, the local education authorities and emirate councils.

The chairman also said that a list of 128 new pensioners, who were retired from the state service as at May this year, was forwarded to the committee.

In his response, the state head of service, who received the report on behalf of Gov. Ibrahim Shema, re-affirmed the state government’s determination to meet the demands of public servants.

He commended the committee for its diligent work, and promised that the report would be used to enhance the performance of the state civil service.

Reports say that the committee was inaugurated by the governor in November 2012.

9

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Abuja Expert Profers Advise On Kidney Failure ABUJA Dr Dorcas Angbazo, a Nephrologist, has advised Nigerians to endeavour to treat malaria and hepatitis on time to prevent the risk of kidney failure.

Angbazo told newsmen in Abuja that people should eat more fruits and vegetables to keep the kidneys healthy.

She said that the habit of checking the blood sugar level at least once or twice a year should be cultivated by all adults.

Angbazo said that the higher the blood sugar level, the greater the chances of contracting kidney disease.

“If you have malaria or hepatitis treat it on time, if you have hypertension make sure you take your drugs regularly and control your blood pressure level.

“If you are diabetic, make sure you control your sugar level and take your drugs regularly, make sure you check your blood pressure.

“There is no reason for not checking your blood pressure and sugar level at least once or twice in a year, these are very important.

“A lot of us do not engage in physical exercises, it is very good for our kidney, at least 30 to 45 minutes, three times a week of moderate exercise.

“Again, you must reduce your salt intake; salt aids accumulation of fluid in the system.

“The more fluid you have, the more you are prone to hypertension, which can eventually cause kidney failure.’’

Angbazo said that documented study had shown that tobacco smoking decreases kidney function, which could subsequently predispose an individual to kidney failure.

The nephrologist said that alcohol could have indirect effect on the kidney, however,

no documented study had shown that alcohol had 100 per cent effect on the kidney.

Angbazo said that the prevalence of chronic kidney disease was increasing rapidly in Nigeria, adding that this was due to ignorance.

“Although in Nigeria, documented studies show that a type of chronic kidney disease called chronic glomerulonephritis is one of the major causes of kidney failure, followed by hypertension and then diabetes.

“And this chronic glomerulonephritis is usually as a result of an infection in childhood, infections like hepatitis, or malaria, which could eventually cause chronic glomerulonephritis in the future.”

She explained that glomerulonephritis was one of the causes of kidney failure usually due to infection.

The Kidney Foundation of Senior Legislative Aide, Office of the Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Mr. Athnesius Kaqka, APGA Canada says National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and National Chairman, Action Alliance, Sen. Tunde Kelani, at the 6th Electoral glomerulonephritis, also called Institute Lecture in Abuja yesterday. nephritis, is a disease of the kidneys in which the glomeruli, the tiny filters in the kidneys that help to clean the blood, become inflamed or damaged.

This allows protein and red ABUJA – The Defence advising the Federal blood cells that normally Headquarters Assessment Government on the circulate in the bloodstream to Team to Yobe and Borno and Adamawa by President insurgents. pass into the urine.

The CDS will look at the necessary legal and Angbazo said that the has returned to Abuja to Goodluck Jonathan on level of involvement of the security procedure in functions of the kidney include submit its findings to the controlling the volume of fluid May 14. insurgents, with a view to managing the situation.” in the system, removing of Chief of Defence Staff Olukolade, who was part waste product and secreting (COS), Adm. Ola Ibrahim. of the eight-man some hormones.

Brig.-Gen Chris assessment team, said it She said that one of the main ABUJA - The police has hormones the kidney secreted Olukolade, the Director of paid particular attention to arraigned a street hawker, Defence Information told the large number of Tanimu Bashir, in an Abuja discharging his lawful duty is erythropoietin.

Angbazo said that our reporter in a telephone Senior Magistrates’ Court for and causing hurt on an official captured insurgents. erythropoietin helps in the interview that that the formation of blood, “especially The team will report its allegedly assaulting a staff of of the AEPB, Mr Anzaku visited the findings to the Chief of the Abuja Environmental Francis. red blood cells and it helps in team The Prosecutor, Mr Simon vitamin B metabolism, so that operational areas to assess Defence Staff, who will Protection Board (AEPB). it controls the calcium level in the situation.

The police arraigned Bashir, Emmanuel, told the court that take necessary action on the system.’’ reported the matter to The operations followed how to sort the level of of Garki village, on a two- Francis She explained that calcium the Life Camp Divisional count charge of criminal force helped in bone formation and the declaration of a state of Police Station, Abuja, on June involvement of the to deter public servant from strengthening of the bone. emergency in Borno, Yobe 15.

DHQ Assessment Team Submits Report Hawker Docked For Assault

Chronic Diseases:Nutritionist Recommends Fruits, aside from being rich in Vegetables ABUJA - A nutritionist, breast, lung and prostate Vitamin C, have folic acid and cancer.

Ms Ngozi Eze, has stressed the need to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables instead of carbohydrate foods, because of their antioxidant content.

Eze told newsmen in Abuja that fruits and vegetables protect humans against chronic diseases, such as cancer and aneamia, Antioxidants are substances which protect the cells against the effects of free radicals, while free radicals are molecules produced when the body breaks down food.

According to the nutritionist, antioxidants help to fight and counter the harmful effects of unstable molecules in human bodies called ‘free radicals’, which can cause various types of cancers.

Eze said research had shown that due to the high level of antioxidants in apples, eating one a day would reduce the risk of

“Apples have also been confirmed to improve

memory and learning and slows down ageing.

“Apples contain pectin, a

soluble fiber that helps to lower blood cholesterol.

“Fruits such as oranges,

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega (left),welcoming the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Umaru Dahiru (right), at the 6th Electoral Institute Lecture in Abuja yesterday. With them is Prof. Lai Olurode, a National Commissional of INEC.

fibre.

“Folic acid helps in blood production, while fibre cleans the intestines and aids it to function properly.’’

Eze advised people to consume more water melon as it hydrates the body and is rich in iron that strengthens and protects all the organs in the body.

“Water melon is also essential for menstruating, pregnant and lactating women, who lack iron; lack of it results in anaemia.’’

She also suggested increased consumption of carrots as it is very rich in Vitamin A and beta-carotene, which is useful in improving vision.

“Carrots also prevent eyerelated diseases such as cataracts and also help the heart to function properly and strengthen the immune system’’, she added.

Emmanuel told the court that about 5.00 p.m., while on official duty, Francis arrested Bashir around the Life Camp junction, Abuja.

He said that the accused, and two others, now at-large, resisted arrest and allegedly stoned Francis, resulting in a deep cut on his head.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 267 and 247 of the Penal Code.

If found guilty, the court can sentence Bashir to one year imprisonment or with an option to pay a fine or with both.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Zubairu Mohammed, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 and one reasonable surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must have a means of livelihood and be living within the jurisdiction of the court.

The magistrate, then, adjourned the matter to June 28, for further hearing.

10

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

11

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY(24/0613) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

MBENEFIT

0.5

0.5

0

1

20,000

10,000.00

7UP

54.45

54.45

0

14

24,525

1,305,249.25

MCNICHOLS

1.75

1.74

-0.01

10

434,200

718,960.00

ABBEYBDS

1.5

1.5

0

1

1,000

1,650.00

MOBIL

119

119

0

19

17,869

2,017,069.30

ABCTRANS

0.93

0.91

-0.02

3

90,921

82,738.11

MRS

17.8

17.8

0

13

204,350

3,710,754.30

ACADEMY

2.26

2.26

0

8

155,092

316,387.68

MULTITREX

0.5

0.5

0

1

200,000

100,000.00

ACCESS

10.75

10.7

-0.05

1960

11,553,913

123,551,060.63

MULTIVERSE

0.5

0.5

0

1

20,000

10,000.00

AFRIPRUD

1.75

1.75

0

52

14,344,839

25,103,055.20

NAHCO

6.7

6.07

-0.63

46

569,637

3,589,759.87

AGLEVENT

1.55

1.55

0

4

37,822

56,450.12

NASCON

12.85

11.66

-1.19

49

846,089

10,011,934.67

AIICO

0.92

0.87

-0.05

46

3,015,547

2,714,117.39

NB

155

155

0

177

1,386,049

214,777,749.00

AIRSERVICE

5.2

5.2

0

11

139,764

659,815.52

NCR

18.7

18.7

0

6

9,865

166,050.56

ALEX

10.55

10.55

0

3

25,000

278,602.25

NEIMETH

1.3

1.17

-0.13

15

920,628

1,083,283.51

ASHAKACEM

23.85

21.5

-2.35

78

1,560,513

34,496,294.45

NEM

0.76

0.75

-0.01

38

4,089,221

2,970,722.39

BETAGLAS

10

10

0

4

3,332

33,820.90

NESTLE

991

991

0

103

117,326

116,161,841.28

CADBURY

55

55

0

79

687,686

37,823,012.88

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

3

2,563

1,281.50

CAP

59.89

59.89

0

17

128,980

7,392,428.00

NIGROPES

7.85

7.85

0

1

50

353.5

0.5

0.5

0

5

20,000

10,000.00

25.91

25.91

0

2

6,570

187,245.00

CAPOIL

0.5

0.5

0

1

37,000

18,500.00

NIWICABLE

CCNN

10.75

10.53

-0.22

27

487,073

5,292,690.20

NNFM

CHAMPION

5.32

5.32

0

5

50,000

292,500.00

NPFMCRFBK

1.1

1.1

0

8

332,648

360,582.80

12.85

13.05

0.2

333

16,203,763

210,205,437.11

43.1

-4.7

68

643,157

28,523,816.87

CHAMS

0.5

0.5

0

1

457,000

228,500.00

OANDO

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

1

25,000

12,500.00

OKOMUOIL

47.8

CONOIL

23

23

0

13

11,878

279,215.03

PAINTCOM

1.72

1.85

0.13

6

405,000

739,550.48

4.23

3.99

-0.24

14

4,335,000

16,525,350.00

0.68

0.68

0

1

400

296

CONTINSURE

1.2

1.17

-0.03

7

524,658

616,913.70

PORTPAINT

CORNERST

0.5

0.5

0

5

35,866

17,933.00

PREMBREW

COSTAIN

1.42

1.42

0

13

125,412

180,596.04

PRESCO

36.95

36.89

-0.06

73

2,211,660

77,202,423.64

0.59

0.61

0.02

9

1,002,000

605,864.09

45

45

0

48

221,474

9,353,794.20

COURTVILLE

0.8

0.8

0

20

3,092,500

2,572,670.00

PRESTIGE

CUSTODYINS

1.65

1.65

0

32

2,393,064

3,971,678.56

PZ

CUTIX

2.26

2.04

-0.22

6

163,614

333,772.56

REDSTAREX

4.99

4.9

-0.09

32

394,849

1,820,627.99

9.06

9.06

0

1

50

498

0.55

0.55

0

5

177,991

99,189.95

DAARCOMM

0.5

0.5

0

3

30,600

16,675.00

ROADS

DANGCEM

192

189.8

-2.2

77

145,642

27,571,143.51

ROYALEX

DANGFLOUR

9.57

9.4

-0.17

47

530,153

4,991,741.77

RTBRISCOE

1.68

1.68

0

6

18,252

29,757.12

5.42

5.42

0

1

203

990.64

4.71

4.26

-0.45

168

10,171,865

46,038,504.26

DANGSUGAR

10.5

9.83

-0.67

85

2,957,847

30,154,021.86

SCOA

DIAMONDBNK

6.23

5.7

-0.53

152

17,203,766

108,895,536.14

SKYEBANK

DNMEYER

1.32

1.3

-0.02

8

151,449

196,811.25

SOVRENINS

0.5

0.5

0

1

10

5

0.5

0.5

0

1

10

5

DUNLOP

0.5

0.5

0

7

28,187

14,093.50

STACO

ELLAHLAKES

4.26

4.26

0

1

30

115.2

STANBIC

16

16

0

37

838,278

13,113,232.70

EQUITYASUR

0.5

0.5

0

1

7,000

3,500.00

STDINSURE

0.5

0.5

0

2

35,000

17,500.00

ETERNA

3.01

3.1

0.09

59

2,198,860

6,924,601.81

STERLNBANK

2.59

2.58

-0.01

72

8,092,775

20,896,667.90

ETI

15

14.5

-0.5

75

2,826,938

41,357,235.72

TOTAL

165.07

165.07

0

15

4,940

810,764.50

EVANSMED

3.3

3.3

0

4

33,612

99,827.64

TRANSCORP

1.18

1.16

-0.02

88

10,402,003

12,146,838.72

FBNH

17.3

17.01

-0.29

422

8,262,451

142,473,637.47

TRIPPLEG

2.29

2.29

0

1

1,599

3,309.93

FIDELITYBK

3.16

2.86

-0.3

113

15,065,634

45,324,066.68

UAC-PROP

15.14

15.2

0.06

24

441,252

6,743,264.10

FIDSON

2.3

2.07

-0.23

48

2,361,435

4,940,550.91

UACN

57.8

57.25

-0.55

56

563,256

32,316,107.56

FIRSTALUM

0.5

0.5

0

1

10

5

UBA

8.4

8.5

0.1

410

181,298,294

1,535,055,833.56

FLOURMILL

93.6

93.6

0

65

191,832

16,588,707.64

UBCAP

1.26

1.2

-0.06

87

2,958,337

3,615,099.75

FO

17.02

17.02

0

44

184,262

3,301,352.35

UBN

13.03

11.9

-1.13

50

390,505

4,679,097.71

FTNCOCOA

0.5

0.5

0

2

110,590

55,295.00

UNIC

0.5

0.5

0

1

20,000

10,000.00

GLAXOSMITH

67.98

62

-5.98

20

576,473

35,706,940.90

UNILEVER

56.12

56.39

0.27

77

1,458,670

82,022,083.15

GUARANTY

25

24.2

-0.8

324

20,215,759

497,415,735.42

UNITYBNK

0.6

0.61

0.01

34

7,024,859

4,355,146.53

GUINEAINS

0.5

0.5

0

1

4,500

2,250.00

UPL

5.6

5.59

-0.01

6

262,695

1,355,303.20

GUINNESS

260

255

-5

33

42,420

10,811,570.36

UTC

0.65

0.65

0

7

28,135

18,313.25

HONYFLOUR

3.4

3.17

-0.23

58

3,506,872

11,301,250.67

VANLEER

12.68

12.68

0

1

50

571

IKEJAHOTEL

0.82

0.74

-0.08

17

1,404,430

1,068,804.00

VITAFOAM

4.35

4.35

0

28

812,640

3,540,163.90

INTBREW

26

26

0

47

342,064

8,569,428.15

WAPCO

90.75

90.75

0

48

298,394

24,879,210.90

INTERLINK

4.9

4.9

0

1

1,000

4,410.00

WAPIC

1

1

0

7

83,000

78,502.00

JAPAULOIL

0.54

0.52

-0.02

40

4,047,224

2,134,700.32

WEMABANK

1.11

1

-0.11

38

2,676,799

2,725,270.32

JBERGER

60.9

60.9

0

13

32,568

1,848,643.10

ZENITHBANK

20.22

19.1

-1.12

380

13,245,715

257,545,505.18

JOHNHOLT

1.43

1.29

-0.14

7

302,410

390,617.72

JOSBREW

1.2

1.2

0

3

4,600

5,354.00

LASACO

0.5

0.5

0

2

174,100

87,050.00

LEARNAFRCA

1.84

1.84

0

2

70,500

129,720.00

LIVESTOCK

5.39

4.89

-0.5

160

12,975,649

68,275,464.47

MANDRID

5.94

5.94

0

1

50

267.5

MANSARD

2.3

2.2

-0.1

22

508,477

1,107,472.97

MAYBAKER

2.32

2.55

0.23

74

2,441,431

6,074,606.54

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock UNILEVER MAYBAKER OANDO PAINTCOM UBA ETERNA UAC-PROP PRESTIGE UNITYBNK

Close 56.39 2.55 13.05 1.85 8.5 3.1 15.2 0.61 0.61

TOP TOP10 10LOSERS GAINERS Gain 0.27 0.23 0.2 0.13 0.1 0.09 0.06 0.02 0.01

Stock

Close

Loss

GLAXOSMITH GUINNESS OKOMUOIL ASHAKACEM DANGCEM NASCON UBN ZENITHBANK GUARANTY DANGSUGAR

62 255 43.1 21.5 189.8 11.66 11.9 19.1 24.2 9.83

-5.98 -5 -4.7 -2.35 -2.2 -1.19 -1.13 -1.12 -0.8 -0.67

12

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

THE Nigerian Education Bank Bill which has passed second reading at the Federal House of Representatives, as explained by the initiator, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila proposes to establish the Nigerian Education Bank, with the primary duty of granting interest-free loans to poor students seeking higher education in Nigeria.

THE Bill seeks to make available to each benefiting student, a sum of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000) repayable in two years after graduation. The repayment, according to the proponents would take the form of direct deduction of ten percent monthly deductions at source from salaries of beneficiaries or from the profits in the case of self employed graduates until the loan is liquidated. According to the provisions of the Bill, “applicants must have secured admission into any Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of education or any vocational school established by the Federal Government or the Government of the States of the Federation.”

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER commends the initiators and promoters of the Bill, which we consider progressive in a country where more than 70 percent of its population live below the I USD per day poverty line. For most Nigerians who have had to go through hell to obtain higher education, this is a watershed Bill not only welcomed by the poor, but groups marginalised by society such as orphans, physically challenged persons among others who do not have anywhere to turn to for higher education.

IT is not much of news that students of tertiary school-Universities, Polytechnics,

Prospects of Nigerian Education Bank Bill

Colleges of Agriculture and Colleges of education and others have gone through untold difficulties over the years to pass through such institutions. We are glad that the Bill is currently being considered by the lawmakers.

IT is equally heartwarming to note that, with the proposed law, Nigeria is on the right track to join the rest of the world in subsidizing education for the poor. It is important to note that Scandinavian countries such as Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have developed sound qualitative education and almost tuition-free higher education from cradle to grave. In fact, in Denmark, the tuition is free and, in fact, international students also enjoy free tuition provided they could show evidence of $6,000 feeding and upkeep fee per annum.

ALTHOUGH tuition in Australia is not free, there are a lot of grants, scholarships and bursaries instituted for both the brilliant and poor students. These are best practices that this bill seeks to emulate.

WE recognise that schooling anywhere in the world is not easy and hardly cheap, it is against this backdrop that we welcome the move by the Federal House of Representatives

to introduce a law that would take such a load off parents’ shoulders. We equally wish to call on the upper legislative chamber, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to con1ir the Bill as soon as it is passed by the lower house so that it can become a law in Nigeria.

OUR support for the bill notwithstanding, we are of the opinion that Section 22 of the bill must be re-couched to read that “beneficiaries should be made to pay back the loan as soon as they are employed”, not the two years contained in the bill, given the high rate of unemployment in the country.

IN our view, Sub-section 4 of the bill which stipulates punishments for offenders of the law in a case of default also requires a review to avoid the culture of impunity among young Nigerians who would take undue advantage of the benefits derivable from the law. Two years imprisonment or an option of fine of N500,000 being the same amount benefited by the beneficiary is not sufficient deterrence. We recommend five years imprisonment for offenders or a fine of N700,000 instead.

WE believe the Bill also throws up the need for government at all levels to take urgent steps to improve the employment market in Nigeria to absorb the army of unemployed persons roaming the streets in search of jobs. Government should redouble efforts towards guaranteeing constant electricity supply, potable water supply, roads, railway system and other infrastructure needed to boost the nation’s industrialization, as a major way of making the law work efficiently when it eventually passed and assented to by the President.

13

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Much Ado About Nothing THE deafening noise that emanated from the opposition camp in the wake of the conclusion of the recently held Local Government Council Elections in Edo State is a classic example of the extreme lengths over ambitious politicians will go in their vain pursuits of fast-receding dreams.

All of a sudden, known demagogues are metamorphosing into democrats, squealing for the cancellation of elections that were adjudged free and fair by most objective observers, despite the normal challenges of conducting polls in a democratising society that were experienced at some polling centers on voting day.

What is most worrisome and at the same time annoying about the whole drama is the character of individuals spearheading these misplaced calls for “justice”; characters that are sadistically opposed to the pure precepts of democracy and good governance; hollowminded incarnates of stupidity who have constituted themselves into stumbling blocks to the progress of Edo State; mingy monks whose legendary goofs have become proverbial; neophytes who have turned opposition politics into a pantomime of sorts – into a boring comic show – into a dreary activity orchestrated by pantaloons who have become boring to their audience.

Of all the opposition political parties that fielded

candidates in the LG polls, only the former ruling party in the state seems to be the most aggrieved. I wonder why a party that came from the rear in virtually all the LGs where polls were held should be the one screaming blue murder. Is it not amusing that a party that has become an alsoran in Edo politics is the one crying Wolf the most?

If not anything else, the outcome of the LG polls has re-defined opposition politics in the state; a reconfiguration of the tilt of relations among the political forces in the state, resulting in the relegation of this party to the position of a marginal party in the state: Maybe that’s the reality the fundamentalists in this party cannot come to grips with.

When this party made a clean sweep of all the available council seats during the council polls held in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, and the Federal Capital Territory, nobody raised eyebrows, considering the brazen irregularities that accompanied the said elections. So, how come the same party is the one complaining most of irregularities in elections in which its half-baked candidates were roundly dusted by more popular and acceptable candidates from other political parties? Why does this party expect to come tops in every electoral contests in which it fields candidates? Why can’t the members of this party be magnanimous in defeat,

as is the tradition in truly democratic climes? I think we all know the answers to these rhetorical questions.

That the ruling party in the state, the Action Congress of Nigeria garnered majority of the total votes cast in all the LGs where results were declared should not surprise any perceptive

individual – it was expected. The outcome of the polls was an overwhelming indication of the people’s general acceptance of the ACNs pedigree as a champion of their aspirations and expectations. Considering the heartwarming developments induced by the current order of bliss sweeping across the length and breadth of the state, nothing short of total

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victory was expected for the party and its candidates. That the party even lost a single ward – Ward 6 in Oredo LG – was a misnomer, taken its gleaming records over the

of a process that accompanies the recent LG polls.

The truth is that the sorry-losers in the now relegated marginal opposition party in the

most qualified to govern them, through the ballot.

That is the beauty of democracy. But when a fraction of an entire population form the habit of constantly holding the

years into cognizance.

During the July 14, 2012, Gubernatorial Polls in Edo State it is on record that the ACN won in all LGs: All wards in Edo South; every ward in Edo North; and 85 % in Edo Central. With this intimidating precedent, I see no reason why any right-thinking person would engage in rhetoric about the fairness, openness, and credibility

state, both at the Federal and State levels, have obviously refused to accept the paradigm shift in Edo politics. In their greed-driven quest to remain politically relevant, they have developed the proclivity for attacking any political development in the state, using the most arcane methods they can devise.

This unsportsmanlike attitude is completely shameful and unacceptable. These shibboleths of the past are throwing us back to the dark ages when change was seen as taboo by the drivers of that era.

It is the people’s prerogative in any democratic society to decide those they feel are

larger body politic to ransom, in order to satiate their cathedral-like egos, it becomes a matter of serious concern.

Democracy is supposed to be a people-driven system of government. Anything short of this is a crisis of democracy.

If the members of the bested opposition group in the state feel genuinely aggrieved by the outcome of the LG polls, there are several legal avenues through which they can seek redress. I would advise such persons to avail themselves the use of such means and desist from further heating up the polity. Enough of the noise! I sign off.

“The truth is that the sorry-losers in the now relegated marginal opposition party in the state, both at the Federal and State levels, have obviously refused to accept the paradigm shift in Edo politics.

In their greed-driven quest to remain politically relevant, they have developed the proclivity for attacking any political development in the state, using the most arcane methods they can devise.”

14

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Nutritional Health And Dietetics

With

Food Combination For O.C. Madu Health And Longevity

FOOD combination means what to eat with what. Eating foods that are not compatible in the stomach causes fermentation.

This fermentation produces alcohol, sugar and yeast feed off these sugars and multiply rapidly, creating more toxins in the body (Fere, 1991).

People with candieliasis according to Dr. Dulley Wright, have weak digestive tracts improper food combining further weakens the digestive tract by causing it to work inefficiently until it slowly breaks down.

By following the principles of proper food combining, you avoid fermentation in the digestive system and the yeasts starve to death. The healing process begins by allowing the over worked digestive tract begin to function as it should and a healthy digestive tract is an important first step toward the total renewal that restores your body’s balance system.

Basic rules of Fruit combination Eat fruits alone and on an empty stomach. Fruits encourage the growth of yeast in the body, so as you begin the body system diet. The only fruits allowed are the lemons, limes and unsweetened barriers. These are acidic or sour fruits, low in sugar, they do not create yeast overgrowth. All other fruits are too sweet.

Dr. Bireh-Benner asserts that fruits pass through digestive system very quickly. They usually leave the stomach within 30 minutes and enter the small intestine, where they continue to digest. But, if you eat them with other foods such as protein or starches that take three to five hours or more to digest, the fruit is held up and starts to ferment. This means poor assimilation of nutrients but, more importantly, it sets up a perfect environments for yeast overgrowth as they feed off the sugar produced from the fermentation.

While it is best to eat fruit alone, proper food combining allows you to eat acidic or sour fruits with protein. Fat foods such as yoghurt, nuts and seeds or even raw, nonstarchy vegetables. For example, you could combine your break fast grape fruit

with plain yoghurt and a handful of raw sunflower seeds etc.

The only time your digestive tract is truly empty is when you wake up in the morning, so that, it is the best time to eat fruits. Fruits are ideal breakfast because, it contains a lot of water which your system needs after been asleep without fluid all night.

I strongly recommend drinking a glass cup of water with some lemon juice. When you wake-up. It is an age-old way to stimulate the peristaltic action of the colon.

Protein – Always eat protein in flesh foods, such as eggs, meat, poultry, fish etc, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called pepsin. When you eat starch such as potato, yam, eba, rice etc an enzyme called ptyalin is secreted and alkaline condition develops.

But if you eat protein and starch together, the acidic and alkaline conditions neutralize each other and effectively stop all digestion, non of the enzymes can do their work or job, resulting in poor digestion fermentation occurs and a field for your yeast to thrive.

Non Starchy Vegetable And Ocean Vegetables – No starchy vegetables and ocean vegetables are the most compatible foods to eat with protein meals. They require neither a strong alkaline nor a strong acid condition to digest properly, so, by eating protein foods with non- starchy vegetables, you can achieve optimal digestion.

Non-starchy vegetables and ocean vegetables are the most compatible foods to eat with protein meals. Nonstarchy vegetables go with just about everything you can eat them with, oil, butter, glee, animal flesh, eggs, grains, starchy vegetables like squash

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and potatoes , lemon, lime and raw sun-flower, caraway, flax or pumpkin needs etc.

Combine fish with stir fried or steamed vegetables.

Chicken with a leafy green vegetable and all vegetable soups such as cream of cauliflower and large

the secretion of digestive juice, so, when they are eaten with protein, it is inhibited causing discomfort.

Protein fats – Avocado, olive, cheese, yoghurt, sour cream, seeds and nut’s belong to a category classified as protein fats. These foods combine

and soybeans are both protein and starch, so, you can see why they are difficult to digest and cause gas. You can combine them with nonstarchy green vegetables and ocean vegetable, e.g, beans

is 80 per cent full leaving 20 percent available for digestion. If you overeat on grains, bread and pasta, fermentation of the natural complex will occur – sugar encourages candida over

vegetable salad with sliced, hard boiled egg and oil free salad dressing.

An onion, red pepper and omelette or ocean vegetable, omelette with steamed as paragus and garlic.

Grains and starchy vegetables – Always eat grains and starchy vegetables with non-starchy and or ocean vegetables. Grains that is starchy vegetable should be combined with non-starchy vegetables or ocean vegetables.

Fat – The only fats allowed are vegetable oil. Fats delay

best with non-starchy and green vegetables, ocean vegetable and acid fruits.

Dairy foods also, belong to the category of protein fats.

They should always be eaten alone and on an empty stomach. The sugar (lactose) in them feeds the yeast. So, the body system diet prohibits them until your body system is restored.

If you are not type ‘A’ or AB blood, you can combine dairy foods with acidic fruits and non starchy vegetables especially raw leafy greens.

Pulses – Dried beans, peas

cooked with onions and garlic, served with sauted carrots, steamed greens.

Sugar, Honey and Molasses – The diet forbids all types of sweeteners except herb – stevia etc because sugars feed the yeast. Natural sweeteners such as honey, barley, malt, rice or maple syrup or molasses should be eaten alone.

Sugars do not combine with anything, that’s why you can get gas from cookies, since, they combine starches, fruits and sugar.

Rules: Eat until the stomach

growth.

Alkaline forming – land or ocean vegetables – 80 per cent of the food on your plate should be land and or ocean vegetable. The remaining 20 pr cent can be animal protein, grain or combination of grains, starchy vegetable or a combination of starchy vegetables.

Water – Drink at least eight glasses per day, but not with meals, since it dilutes your digestive enzymes. Drink water especially, when you get up in the morning to restore liquid to your system.

At other times, drink no closer than 10 – 15 minutes before meal and then wait again an hour or longer after you eat.

Drink water at room or body temperature, ice-cold water shocks the system too much.

Try to have at least half your daily water intake by midmorning. It really revitalizes your system.

Thanks for reading.

“Drink at least eight glasses per day, but not with meals, since it dilutes your digestive enzymes. Drink water especially, when you get up in the morning to restore liquid to your system. At other times, drink no closer than 10 – 15 minutes before meal and then wait again an hour or longer after you eat.”

15 EDUCATION and educational process from elementary to higher education is a place we can learn and identify character and integrity in people. In our secondary school days a certain student was known to be a notorious thief. He was a torn in the flesh of every body around him. The school had a great relief when he withdrew from school voluntarily. Surprise! The next thing we heard was that he had joined the police force. We thought it was a lie or a joke or a funny “April fool” until we saw him in full police uniform collecting money from taxi drivers along the road of a busy market. One day, he was not on duty but he mounted a road block and was aggressively forcing money out of every driver. On another day, he forced money out of a person who turned out to be a police officer who arrested him and eventually sacked him from the force. After his release from detention, he continued to use the police uniform to rob until luck ran out of him and his gang. He was arrested and sentenced to death. This was later commuted to life imprisonment.

It is interesting that the present leadership of the police force is insisting on academic qualifications and moral integrity as part of the requirements for recruitment into the police force. On December 22, 2012, Premium times reported that “Nigeria Police College sacks 500 trainees for theft, forgery,” stealing, health challenges and indiscipline. “The recruit intake Batch 1/2011 course was inaugurated in October 2011.

This was revealed by the Acting Commandant of the college, Adekunle Oladunjoye, a deputy Commissioner of Police during the graduation of 4,484 recruits in Kaduna. The Inspector General of the Police, Mohammed Abubakar charged the new graduates to diligently discharge their primary duty of protecting people’s lives and property.

I was reading Eugenia Abu’s “In the Blink of an Eye, 2007” with gusto until I got trapped in her reflection on “As if it isn’t London.” Eugenia narrated her experience in London and what some Nigerians do with themselves in “oyibo” empire. In Page 103104, see how she reacts to the attitude of some Nigerians with

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

post graduate degrees and professionals who are employed to sweep gutters, clean public toilets and serve as “oyibo” gardeners: “Is this London? Give me a break.

London is an illusion. Would you not rather earn N500.00 a month (which to us Londoners is a mere £25 and have a messenger greet you “Morning Madam” than clean London streets for £500 a month. There

will be easy to identify, good, honest, patriotic and selfless citizens who can add candour and honour to the various communities and the nation at large. The problem however, is that Nigerians keep shouting corruption without identifying the corrupt and shameless people who prefer worldly gains to their names and the attendant reputation. This is often crowned by giving

BOTTOMLINE With Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua GSM: 08034006260

Integrity And Nation Building is a word for one of the options: Integrity. For those who chose integrity, home is where to be!”

Given that “home is home” and that it is difficult to “be a king in another person’s land” the lingering question is to what extent we have made our communities an enviable home that one would love to return to.

Our traditional societies have a modus operandi and a mode of law to instil discipline and integrity in the community. Our communities in the past rewarded virtue and punished vice.

Children where questioned by their parents about where and how they got things that were not provided by the parents. The greed for wealth was minimal because the value of name and integrity was held in a very high esteem.

Even in marriage, enquiries and investigations were carried out, to ascertain the integrity of the man and the moral probity of the woman before marriage.

There were checks and balances in our various communities.

It is obvious that no one can be intelligent without maintaining one’s integrity.

Intelligence that is devoid of integrity can at best be classed as cleverness that is couched in trick and masking of a person’s true identity. Such a person lives in fear of being discovered and so live a life of deception.

The fact however is that one may succeed in deceiving the people around but can not deceive oneself.

This schizophrenic life style that is devoid of integrity marks a person as a walking corpse.

These are the kind of people that should revisit the saying of Socrates: “man know thyself!”

Integrity is like “good palm oil” that needs no advertisement. If Nigerians believe that “there is no discrimination in excellence”, it

Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Chairman

chieftaincy titles and honorary degrees to people that are known to be spiritually, intellectually and morally bankrupt. This is not the best way to teach the future generation the value of life and the honour that should be a reward for people of true integrity and moral probity.

The word “integrity” is derived from a latin adjective, “integer” meaning “whole” and “complete”. The ingredient of integrity is honesty and consistency that defines the content of a person’s character.

A person of integrity is accountable and responsible for his or her actions. Integrity is often manifested in the way and manner a person maintains principles that do not contradict human nature.

It is easier to dialogue with people who are conscious of

“It is easier to dialogue with people who are conscious of integrity, respect and honour in nation building. It is becoming very obvious that no nation can be built on deceit and hypocrisy which is the opposite of integrity. It means that any nation that cares about a transformation agenda must test the attitude and aptitude of her citizens by giving honour to whom honour is due and encourage those who are striving to be men and women of integrity by creating various types of job opportunities where the citizens can contribute to the nation in their different areas of expertise.” integrity, respect and honour in nation building. It is becoming very obvious that no nation can be built on deceit and hypocrisy which is the opposite of integrity. It means that any nation that cares about a transformation agenda must test the attitude and aptitude of her citizens by giving honour to whom honour is due and encourage those who are

“It is obvious that no one can be intelligent without maintaining one’s integrity. Intelligence that is devoid of integrity can at best be classed as cleverness that is couched in trick and masking of a person’s true identity. Such a person lives in fear of being discovered and so live a life of deception.”

striving to be men and women of integrity by creating various types of job opportunities where the citizens can contribute to the nation in their different areas of expertise.

When people are challenged with meaningful responsibilities, they tend to use the given space to display and manifest their professionalism.

Otherwise we shall remain in a world for a very long time where people are not proud of who they are. We may continue in a situation where for instance, a medical doctor would prefer to be a politician or a business man at the expense of his professional fulfilment. Today some professional teachers are shy to be seen as teachers because of

the attendant poverty in the teaching industry. Today many people prefer the political industry for solace and succour whereas they are trained professionals in various fields who should be given a space to build up their capacity with a high sense of professional fulfilment instead of looking else where for their sustenance.

I wish every profession is given the true value to such an extent that every worker will have a sense of belonging.

Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua is the Director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja; and Consultor of the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims (C.R.R.M), Vatican City.

16

Being a Keynote Address delivered by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on the occasion of the Leadership Conference and Achievement Award 2013 organised by EDO POLITICAL FORUM on the 8th Day of June 2013 at Best Western Homeville Hotel, Benin City.

I thank the promoters and entire members of Edo Political Forum for this leadership conference and achievement award 2013 with the theme “Rewarding excellence, promoting freedom and leveraging opportunities”. Those who are been selected by the EPF for their active on the social network outstanding contributions to the would attest to the fact that the growth of Edo State and Nigeria Edo Political Forum otherwise in their different fields and callknown as EPF has become a veri- ing. I would specially appreciate table source of information gath- Dr S O Ogbemudia who is ering with lively, intelligent and widely regarded as the architect critical political discourse on the of Midwest region, Bendel State state of affairs in Edo State by and now Edo State. His legacies Edo people, especially those in in office are still visible for all to see and appreciate. Professor the diaspora.

I am also grateful and humbled Ambrose Alli, of blessed that I have been invited to speak memory, must also be applauded on the topic “Political govern- for the bold steps he took to make ance in Edo State from 1999 till Bendel State the number one date”. I presume that my choice State in Nigeria.

In addressing the main issue of as speaker must have been largely influenced by the leading role I today, “Political Governance in have, by the grace of God, been Edo State: 1999 Till Date”, it is fortunate to play in the govern- important that we remember that ance of the State from the time between 1991 when the state was under reference till now. I was created and 1999, Edo State, like Chief of Staff to the PDP Gover- other parts of the country, had a nor of Edo State from 1999 to brief stint of democratic rule of 2003 and Secretary to Govern- less than 23 months with the ciment from 2003 to 2007 under vilian administration of Chief the same administration. I have John Odigie-Oyegun of the SDP, also played an active role in the who defeated Chief Lucky emergence of the ACN Adminis- Igbinedion of the NRC, at the tration that took over from the 1991 gubernatorial polls. The PDP government from 2008 till military junta of late General Sani Abacha in November 1993, date.

It is important to note that in sacked all democratic institutions talking about Edo State as it is and returned the country to dictoday as a political entity, credit tatorship that spanned another six must be given to our founding years. In that period, Edo State fathers, who in 1981 started the had a fair share of military reckmovement for the creation of the lessness and poor vision in govstate; a dream that came into re- ernance with the periodic ality on 27th August, 1991, when postings of Military Officers to the then Bendel State was split hold forte in states. These officinto Edo and Delta states by the ers displayed glaring indifference military administration of Presi- to the development of the States dent Ibrahim Babangida. It is with the attendant lack of comcommendable to note that Oba mitment to the welfare of the Akenzua II, of blessed memory, citizenry, industrial development spearheaded the creation of Mid- of the states, and refusal to lay west Region from the then West- foundations for long term susern Region, while his son, Our tainable investment in the States.

Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, The various Military Governors the Oba of Benin coordinated the or Sole Administrators did not creation of Edo State from make any pretence of being reBendel State. My late Father, sponsible to the people, and Chief R. O. Ize-Iyamu, the then rather utilized the advantage of Esogban of Benin Kingdom, do- the fear of the gun to suppress the nated his building at number 32 collective desire of the citizenry Erie Street, Benin City, as the to a good life and improved welState Secretariat for the Move- fare.

In effect, Edo State was left ment for the creation of Edo prostrate by military rule after State.

Edo state is peopled largely by 1975. The gains of the the Benins, Esans, Etsakos, Ogbemudia years, which made Owans and Akoko-Edos, with all us the envy of all others in the the ethnic groups genealogically federation, were laid waste. Intracing their origins to the ancient frastructure decayed, and other kingdom of Benin, which shows critical structures and institutions in the relative homogeneity of the of governance shrank to base levpeople in the cultural and linguis- els. Thus, Edo State lost its label tic affinities. The Benin-speaking as the “happening place”. It was people occupy the South senato- during these locust years that the rial district; the Esans are domi- Anini Saga gripped Benin City ciled in the Central Senatorial and its environs. But even after district; while Afemai land com- Anini, the crime situation never prising Etsako, Owan and really abated. Besides the poor Akoko-Edo are in the northern performance of the military administrators who presided over segment of the State.

I congratulate the awardees the state, there was also the very who are illustrious sons and serious impact of some critical daughters of Edo Land and have macro-economic policies that

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Political Governance In Edo Sta created social dislocations in ways Edo people had never previously experienced.

There was the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), which the military regime introduced in 1986. It caused brain drain not only among the elite class, but among other classes as well, such that the young and notso-young lost faith in the country, and voted with their feet, in search of greener pastures abroad. Crimes such as “419” grew during the period. Young persons stole, or fraudulently sold other people’s property, just to raise funds with which to travel outside the country. Many persons of Edo origin died in the course of the sojourn, wiped out in the harsh conditions of the Sahara Desert, or drowned in the seas in small boats filled with desperate illegal immigrants packed like sardines.

But, perhaps, the most unsalutary consequence of the terrible state of the socio-economic profile of Edo State at the time was the rise of international prostitution as the identity of the Edo woman. Our girls, and women, were lured from the towns and villages; they were made to undergo various kinds of rituals, and then flown to Italy, where they endured the hazards of trading their bare bodies even in the coldest winter season. Ignorant family members at home, who received remittances, were happy that, at last, they were leaving the poverty trap. Marriages broke up as wives deserted their husbands, and then went to Italy.

Government, in the eyes of the military junta ruling Edo State, was simply to sit over the affairs of the state, design ways and means of relating with the civil servants, and make new friends among the elite using the state resources to leverage such relationships. The state deteriorated, stagnated and was almost ruined, as parastatals and government– owned companies were ordered, overnight, to commence self-sustenance policy without any form of short-term planning and trial periods to test-run the efficacy of such policies, thus forcing the immediate downturn of commercially-oriented parastatals and industries which had thrived few years before then, and leading to forced closures.

The immediate implications were that the economy of the state took a sharp nose-dive; workers were sacked as a routine, while those retained in service were owed several months of unpaid salaries and allowances.

The elderly in our society, the pensioners, were in financial agony over unpaid monthly stipend. The citizens watched helplessly as public infrastructures such as roads, public primary,

By PASTOR OSAGIE IZE-IYAMU secondary and tertiary schools, hospitals, transportation facilities, and rural electricity projects were abandoned and those in use slid into a state of decay due to complete absence of Government maintenance. Contractual obligations were not met and even the elites felt the pain of a system of government that was not responsible and accountable to the people.

The level of disenchantment in the people was very high and by the time the last military administrator was leaving Government House in Edo State, he had left a huge debt burden of N500 million and the irrevocable cheques issued for urgent payment was N300 million, while the actual cash balance was just N105 million. It was in the throes of this economic quagmire, bastardization of the citizens’ morale and decay in public infrastructures that the democratic administration came on board in 1999.

The structure of governance since 1999 has been benchmarked by the constitutional demand of public elections and majority rule. The candidate that scores the highest number of votes and with the appropriate spread in votes cast across the local governments becomes the elected Governor of the State.

Politics therefore, took centre stage in the quest for public political offices. This was the legal and constitutional foundation that led to the emergence of Chief Lucky Igbinedion, the PDP candidate as the Executive Governor of Edo State in 1999.

Chief Lucky Igbinedion, was voted as Governor primarily on the basis of his highly successful tenure as the youthful Chairman of the old Oredo Local Government Area of the State (which today comprises Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha council areas), and was expected to perform and bring about a complete turnaround in the fortunes of the State. This huge expectation was hampered by serious challenges.

The rot in the State inflicted by long years of military rule or conquest had left the State postrate with huge deficits and liabilities.

The first four years of the administration were therefore used in the payment of salary arrears, pensions and debt servicing. The revenue profile of the State did not permit the execution of any serious capital project; hence the approved budgets were mainly devoted to recurrent expenditure.

Internally generated revenue, for example, which today thanks to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s government is over a billion naira a month, was then around 27 million naira a month.

“I would specially appreciate Dr S O Ogbemudia who is widely regarded as the architect of Midwest region, Bendel State and now Edo State. His legacies in office are still visible for all to see and appreciate. Professor Ambrose Alli, of blessed memory, must also be applauded for the bold steps he took to make Bendel State the number one State in Nigeria.”

During this period under review, I functioned as Chief of Staff to the Governor; what was my contribution you might ask?

To appreciate my role, you must understand my function. I was not in charge of any ministry or parastatal, neither did I have any financial authority. As Chief of Staff, I was the political clearing house, ensuring equitable sharing of political appointments to party faithfuls, interacting and interfacing with the ruling political party to avoid conflicts between it and Government I however, expanded my scope by dialoguing with labour unions on the recurrent issue of wage arrears and stagnated promotions; constantly liaised with the House of Assembly to ensure a harmonious relationship between it and the executive arm of Government and opened up my office as a place for public complaints and redress.

Another serious challenge to the administration was the ruling party itself. The Peoples Democratic Party that produced the Governor of the State between 1999 and 2007 had no manifesto, blueprint or plan for governance and in Edo State was actually personified by one lead character that was literally worshipped as the owner and giver of political power. The pressure and subtle threat from the godfather and his supporters were excessive and distractive in the process of project planning and execution, as well as management of the resources of the State. When the Governor resisted the trend, especially during his second tenure, and altered the power relations in government, he was harassed by the Abuja henchmen of the political party and even deregistered from the party, along with his rebellious aides who sought to keep the Edo resources as a common wealth for all. Edo people did not know the magnitude of the internal political battle that raged between the Governor and the greedy godfathers. Definitely, the Governor did not have the combative and no nonsense posture of the incumbent Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who with his progressive mentality as an activist, also had to contend with the godfatherism syndrome and ruthlessly dismantled their structure.

There were, as you may recall, a few open quarrels within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which resulted in the formation of parallel executives, and the operation of parallel secretariats, one of which was declared open with the force of arms, as though Benin City were under siege of an occupation force. Attempts at reconciling the differences were either rebuffed, or failed altogether. There were threats of political castration, such that one faction boasted about rendering the other impotent. One step in this dreaded direction was the wholesale deregistration of members of the other faction. After that, the die was cast, and the factions returned to their trenches, and got ready to face each other in the general elections of 2007.

Nevertheless, I think I should underscore one important fact,

which relates to the impact of acrimonious factional partisan politics on governance. No political group deliberately seeks extinction; members of a political group, therefore, seek to survive and to be relevant. And because those who are in government, in particular, elected officials and some of their aides, belong to a political party, tension and crisis within the party generate their own heat and distraction. In some cases, the acrimony degenerates to political warfare. And in war, fair is foul, and foul is fair. The

nair crui coun sala know duri trati 2007 200 mon Chie istra four Th how

Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu factions deploy various means and resources to outdo each other.

Those who have access to higher authority in the context of our federalism do not hesitate to invoke those powers that have sometimes be derided as “Abuja Might,” which includes the misuse of security forces and the launch of a relentless witch-hunt by certain government agencies, particularly those that are capable of embarrassing and harming the reputation of members of the opposing faction. A man with his roof on fire can barely be expected to have the presence of mind to confront the daily challenges of governance. All this, to a large extent, can explain why governance was hamstrung in Edo State, especially from the second half of 2004 until May 2007 when the issue of who succeeds the Governor, became the main agenda.

The third major challenge that seriously affected the performance of the Government was the finances available to it at that time. We had earlier mentioned that the internally generated revenue when the administration came on board was 27million

is th mee tion serio in th tatio the infra the erno Osh a lot into ther in a be u Chie istra · twen mill clea whe · wer serv mot · had quar was nam (AA the U

17

ate:

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

1999 Till Date

ra a month. The revenue acng from then Federation acnt was barely enough to pay aries. It would interest you to w that the total funds received ng Prof Osunbor’s adminison that commenced 29th May 7, and ended 9th November 8, a period of just eighteen nths was a lot more than what ef Lucky Igbinedions admination received totalling his last r years; 2003-2007. he prevailing public verdict, wever, especially in the media,

for the first time since the University was established in 1981, graduates from its Medical school were inducted into the Medical profession. · The moribund College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi; and College of Education Igueben were resurrected and made functional.

A new College of Technology was established at Usen. · Handing over of mission schools like Baptist High School (BHS) and Immaculate Conception College (ICC), both in Benin

hat the administration failed to et the developmental expectans of the citizens, who yearned ously for a new lease of life he reconstruction and rehabilion of public infrastructures in state. The current massive astructural transformation of state by the incumbent Govor, Comrade Adams hiomhole, who has brought in t of courage, vision and drive political governance, has furr put the past administrations dimmer perspective. It would unfair, however, to say that the ef Lucky Igbinedion admination achieved nothing.

The IGR moved from nty seven million naira to 300 lion. Salaries arrears were ared and salaries paid as and en due.

Stagnated promotions re reviewed and some civil vants got three to four step protions.

Edo State University that become the national headrters for cult related activities sanitized, improved and remed Ambrose Alli University AU). The Medical school of University was accredited and

City to their original owners restored the lost glory of those schools. · Also a new modern hospital, built and furnished with state of the art equipment in Benin City, was commissioned by the then President and named Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital. · The Edo House Abuja was also successfully completed and commissioned. · Edo State regained its lost glory in the area of sports, the Sam Ogbemudia Sports Complex was massively renovated to host the 13th National Sports Festival, which was won

by Edo State. · Several electrification projects were successfully completed and they include the 33/ 415 KVA Ewohimi / Iyagun electricity scheme in Esan South East; the 11/415 KVA Uhen project, Jagbe electrification project in Etsako West, the 33/ 415 KVA Ikpekhi and Somorika electrification projects in Akoko Edo and the 11/415 KVA Idogbo electricity scheme with a network to Oka, Egba, Obazagbon,

Uteze, Ulegun and Ukhirin 2 in Ikpoba Okha Local Government area amongst others. · Many roads were rehabilitated but unfortunately, without proper drainage. Interlocking tiles were used in the construction of Igun and Evbareke Street.

The cry of poor infrastructure in the State had to do with roads, and all blame was heaped on the State Governor, notwithstanding whether the roads in question belonged to the state, local, or federal government. Whenever the State Government pleaded paucity of funds, the people got even angrier.

Another area where the administration really received public condemnation was the mass retrenchment of workers in the year 2000. Government unable to cope with salary payment was misled to believe that downsizing the workforce will reduce the huge wage bill and give Government some respite. When I learnt of this plan, I pleaded passionately with the Governor not to implement it because of the consequences that lay ahead. Apart from the trauma to be suffered by those prematurely retired, and the unpopularity the action would bring to the Governor, I knew government could not at that time pay the gratuity and pensions of those affected. I was however overruled by the then Attorney General, who surprisingly had both the support of the then Head of Service and the Chairman, Civil Service Commission. The Governor believing that he had gotten expert advice implemented the plan, and like I feared, the outcome was disastrous.

Thousands of workers lost their jobs and when they demanded for their gratuities or even monthly pensions, government was unable to pay. Naturally, they laid siege at Government House and everyday became one demonstration or the other. The Governor, to be fair to him, later apologized to Edo people confessing that the decision was a mistake but the damage had been done When the administration announced the launch of a vigorous campaign against human trafficking, and the then First Lady, Mrs Eki Igbinedion formulated it into her pet project; there were loud voices of resistance, claiming that the government had come to deny people of their means of sustenance, since they were dependent on the remittances from Italy.

Considering the pervasive ignorance of the wider implications of human trafficking, and on the culture of Edo people, the resistance was understandable. But it produced many other consequences. It conditioned people to resist, and to at the least oppor-

tunity attack the state government, and in particular, the Governor. There were snide remarks then, that the Governor had not flushed out those in the red-light district opposite his father’s house, across the road from a well-known hotel, yet he was concerned about those abroad, who were “feeding” those at home.

The government was not deterred. A law was passed against human trafficking; an aggressive reorientation programme was launched throughout the State, while skills acquisition centres were established to train returnees, and also equip others, so they could fend for themselves, rather than trade their bodies. Today, far fewer Edo girls are involved in international prostitution than was the case in 1999.

Although some of the girls routinely arrested and repatriated these days claim to be from Edo State, on more rigorous interrogation, they are found to be impostors, from elsewhere other than Edo. In any event, Edo families no longer wear it as a status symbol that they are sending, or have sent, their daughter to Italy, or anywhere else for that matter, to go and earn money with their bodies.

The administration equally ventured into industrialisation, although I will admit that, in the end, the outcome was not satisfactory. The administration at the time evaluated the economy, and reached the conclusion that, rather than being primary producers, it was imperative to have value-addition, in order to markup the value of goods. That way, instead of wholesale reliance on importation, we could have some finished products in our local economy. Towards this end, the administration took the equitable decision of establishing one industry in each of the three senatorial districts in the state.

A Fertilizer Blending Plant was established at Auchi; a Cassavita Plant at Uromi; and a Fruit Juice Factory at Ehor. In deciding on the ventures, the guiding principle was to demonstrate what is possible, and not necessarily for the government to begin to run businesses, at a time when the vogue was privatisation. The government intended to set up the industries, run them for a while, and then put them up for sale. Regrettably, owing to poor feasibility and execution, the policy did not yield the intended beneficial results.

On industrial harmony, it is useful to note that by the time of the administration’s exit in May 2007, the NLC and JNC, the Industrial Unions in the state organised a send-forth event for the

state Governor, showering him with praise for his workerfriendly policies, including the prompt payment of salaries and allowances, as well as the payment of gratuities and pension benefits. This was in stark contrast to the years when workers and pensioners wielded placards and blocked highways in the state capital, because their demands were unmet by the State Government.

On the pursuit of social peace as a priority by the administration, it is important for us to recall some of the deadly incidents that threatened the nation’s fabric in the early years of the Fourth Republic. There were frequent Inter-ethnic clashes that were as bloody as they were deadly.

Towns and villages in some neighbouring states were evacuated while the wars lasted; businesses closed; oil companies scaled down their operations drastically. But Edo remained an oasis of peace, because the government worked assiduously to ensure that peace reigned. In fact, it was while other states were set ablaze by inter-ethnic conflict, and Edo was a safe haven, that a number of businesses fell for the lure of setting up in the state.

Since then, they have remained and grown.

What has however made it difficult to defend the past administration is the silence of the former Chief Executive himself to correct false and malicious accounts of his stewardship. The Former Governor has always been a man of few words but silence is not always golden. In the world we live in, silence can easily be misconstrued.

Edo people have however come to see a new style and level of political governance since Oshiomhole came on board, after upstaging Professor Osunbor at the Court of Appeal. It has become very clear that personality, political dynamics and availability of resources all combine to define the different era of political governance in the State since 1999. Oshiomhole’s administration has opened up the three senatorial areas in the state with quality roads and massive renovation of primary and secondary schools, shut down the influence of political godfathers and expanded the tax net to improve internal resources and attract funds to pay contractors executing projects statewide. The success story has been tremendous, the feelings of Edo people profound and the impact on Edo political equation very definitive as the governor was voted massively back into office for a second term earlier this year.

It is important for me to state that despite my political activism and involvement in the administration, I was initially not among those appointed to serve in the government when it came on board in 1999. It is on record that

I was only appointed, when the pioneer Chief of Staff, Hon Victor Ebomoyi, was made a commissioner.

Yet, a lot of political pundits and media practitioners have repeatedly described me as very powerful in the administration.

The answer is yes and no. First, I would declare no, because I had no ministry or parastatal under my supervision or powers to award contracts in any form, and my advice was subject to the discretion of the Chief Executive.

But I would humbly concede yes, to the extent that I deployed the goodwill in the offices of Chief of Staff and SSG to help resolve knotty problems for the Administration and ensured improved labour relations with Government. I ensured the regularity of payments of the backlog of the salaries and allowances, assisted to resolve issues on promotions of civil servants, and became the frontline officer in Government to trust by stakeholders, traditional rulers, students and even market women in negotiations. The labour unions later gave me an award for outstanding service at the end of my tenure.

Besides, I deliberately utilized the goodwill in both political offices to jointly initiate, with the then Commissioner for Health, Late Pharmacist Ovbiagele, the construction, equipping and commissioning of the magnificent state-owned Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital, off Sapele Road, Benin City: · I was the Chairman of Edo College rehabilitation committee that raised funds from public spirited persons for the complete rehabilitation of Edo College, the premier secondary school in Edo State, which incidentally I also attended and which was in a deplorable state and supervised the utilization of the funds realized in the renovation of the college; · I also championed the construction of an imposing library complex in Benin City, equipped with internet facilities and well stocked with books, journals and literature. The complex was also able to accommodate the office of the Stock Exchange in Edo State, while one of the floors was leased to a bank for commercial purposes.

I confess that I deliberately made the offices of the Chief of Staff and SSG very accessible to all, because I realized that political office holders added to the public negative impressions of politicians by shielding themselves from the electorates with security aides and overzealous political hangers-on. This public accessibility was widely acknowledged and brought me and the office to political prominence, which pundits and the media misconstrued when they perceived me as being very powerful.

To be continued

“Edo people did not know the magnitude of the internal political battle that raged between the Governor and the greedy godfathers. Definitely, the Governor did not have the combative and no nonsense posture of the incumbent Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who with his progressive mentality as an activist, also had to contend with the godfatherism syndrome and ruthlessly dismantled their structure.”

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TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

The Osazua 08188922449

Ivbaze Column On Foreign Affairs

“Mutual respect is crucial in any bilateral relationship. For China and the US, whose social systems and ideologies are so different, it is particularly true. Mutual respect in this case includes respecting each other’s core interests and major concerns as well as respecting each other’s social system, value set and development path.”

CHINESE President Xi Jinping and US President Barak Obama held “ranch talks” recently in California. The meeting lasted more than eight hours, in which the two heads of state thoroughly exchanged views and reached common understanding on a wide range of big issues of strategic importance in a candid and straightforward manner. What is most important is that the two heads of state made a firm pledge to build a new type of major power relations between the two countries and discussed pragmatic ways to realize the new positioning of the bilateral ties, pointing the direction in which the two nations should develop their relations.

President Xi reiterated that China would follow the path of peaceful development no matter what. President Obama welcomed China’s commitment to peaceful development as a major power. Xi emphasized that China and the US should be able to forge a new type of major power ties that is not all about confrontation and rivalry and cited five reasons, which are all convincing and also explain sufficiently why it is not a passing thought to bring up the new major power relations issue now.

Obama agreed with Xi’s summary of their talks. He said the two countries are looking at a unique opportunity to take their bilateral relations to another level and he would try his best not to miss it.

The pledge is of historical significance to China-US

relations. It marks a new chapter in the history of Sino-American relations and will inspire future generations.

The two leaders also discussed the connotation of the new type of major power relations. Xi summed it up in three incisive phrases: no confrontation or rivalry, mutual respect and cooperation for win-win results.

The new type of major power relations is meant to blaze a new trail away from the tragic path the world has seen repeated time and again in major power politics where an established major power competes against and later clashes with an emerging power but ends up fighting each other in war.

No confrontation or rivalry naturally is the essence of the new major power relationship. To achieve it the two sides must first understand each other as best they can, regarding each other’s strategic objectives rationally so as to avoid misunderstanding or misinterpreting them.

Currently, the two countries have more than 90 platforms for exchanges and communication that should be able to facilitate deeper mutual understanding well.

However, there is the need to manage and control d i f f e r e n c e s .

Confrontations are invariably caused by differences, but differences do not necessarily trigger clashes. Differences should be resolved

Barack Obama, US President

XI Jinping, Chinese Leader

Power Relations Between China & U.S.

through dialogue to prevent confrontation.

When an unexpected incident occurs the two sides should do their best to keep it from damaging the integrity of their bilateral ties and keep its impact as brief as possible. Also, it is always the best to turn differences into cooperation. The two nations have already seen success in joint efforts to respond to climate change. On the issue of cyber security President Xi told his US counterpart that the two countries have formed working groups and should put aside their differences and focus on cooperation in making Internet security a new highlight of Sino-US cooperation. The two countries should be able to

achieve no confrontation or rivalry by handling differences properly.

Mutual respect is crucial in any bilateral relationship. For China and the US, whose social systems and ideologies are so different, it is particularly true. Mutual respect in this case includes respecting each other’s core interests and major concerns as well as respecting each other’s social system, value set and development path.

Since President Nixon’s ice-breaking visit to China, the two countries have reached the understanding that China and America have very different social systems and ideologies and do not like the other’s system or values, but both recognize

the other side’s system and value set will stay in the foreseeable future and their ability to influence the other side is limited.

This common understanding still stands today.

Cooperation for win-win results is an outstanding characteristic of foreign relations in the era of globalization, as opposed to those of yesteryear. The 19th century was the era of carving out spheres of influence and national interests when China was divided into several spheres of influence by some major powers. Much of the 20th century also saw major powers or superpowers vie for global domination. Since the Cold War ended the world has entered the era of

peaceful development and globalization has gradually led nations to a new form of foreign relations characterized by cooperation for win-win results. Now, China and the US find themselves relying on each other more than ever. Building a new type of major power relations requires continuous efforts to break new grounds for cooperation and develop common interests so that both peoples can benefit from their countries’ bilateral relations.

By Tao Wenzhao, a Researcher for the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

19

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Drumbeats

How To Prepare For One’s Death (2)

ANOTHER way in which you can successfully prepare for your death gracefully and joyfully is to make Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour of your life.

You can never have peace, joy and comfort with the owner of a house whom you castigate and abuse daily. God is our maker and the only way to have access to Him is by repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus into our lives as our Personal Lord and Saviour. You can continue to refuse Jesus offer of salvation, peace and comfort which he freely gave to humanity and expect to die in peace and comfort. Your peace and comfort start manifesting in your life from the day you give your life to Jesus Christ.

Any man who consistently serves and follows God faithfully will certainly live happily on earth and die joyfully and peacefully.

“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.

For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that Believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God”. John 3v16-18.

If a man offers you one billion dollars will you refuse it? I am sure the first thing you will do is to organize a party and call your friends and neigbours to come and rejoice with you. Maybe you might even beg your pastor and priest to create a space for you during church service in order for you to thank God and the person that gave you the money that has brought back joy and peace into your life and family. I am also very sure that you will remain grateful and loyal to the man or woman that gave you the money the rest of your life.

If one billion dollars will affect your destiny positively, don’t you think that the free gift of salvation which God gave you through the death of Jesus Christ is worth more than one billion dollars?

It is a common knowledge that men value what they pay for. That of course, is the foolishness of men. The wealthy and the most successful men and women

would have found it comfortable to serve God faithfully, if they were giving the opportunity by God to pay for their salvation.

There is no repentance in the grave, The only time and period for your repentance and forgiveness of sin is now.

Now that you still have opportunity to live, do your business activities and see the next day is the time of your remorse and repentance of sin.

Won’t you be glad to see and reign together in heaven with Moses, Abraham, David, Samuel, the twelve disciples of Jesus and with all the saints that died in Christ? As for me and my house we will serve the Lord all the days of our life and die gracefully and reign with Jesus Christ in heaven forever.

Make Restitution Any man or woman who is willing and ready to die peacefully, gracefully and joyfully must be willing to make restitution of his or her past or present activities on earth.

What have you stolen or taken from anybody forcefully? Is it money, property, gold, silver or your friend’s wife or your neigbour’s husband? This is the time and place to make restitution of all that you have taken from your neigbour forcefully. The right time to say sorry for your bad behaviour is now and the right place is here on earth, Restitution don’t exist in heaven; neither does repentance of our sins exist in heaven. You cannot make other people sad, unhappy and in lack of shelter, money and comfort and expect God to receive your soul in peace, joy and gracefully in heaven.

God is not the author of confusion. You cannot take away the joy of a widow or a widower and expect God to be happy with you. Go and make restitution of that child you killed during your armed robbery operation, make restitution of that innocent man and woman you killed.

In making restitution it could even jeopardize your life or expose you to treath of death and discomfort, but obey the Lord and see if God will not fight for you and defend you.

“And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheuss, which

was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was pass that way.

And when Jesus came to the place he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him Zacchens, make haste, and come down, for today I must abide at thy house.

And he made haste, and

came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying; that he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner’: And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the lord, behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore

him fourfold.

And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also is a son of Abraham.

“Luke 19v1-9.

From the above passage of the scripture you can see that Zaccheus made restitution to God and also declared to Jesus that he was willing to restore publicly to anybody he had wrongfully or forcefully taken anything from. You and I are no exception to restitution which God demands from everybody after salvation and repentance of sin.

I totally agree that the blood of Jesus had washed

your sins away the moment you repented of your sins and made Jesus Christ the Lord and saviour of your life, but the truth is that God also requires us to make peace with those we have offended and wrongfully taken their possessions and joy.

FORGIVE

PEOPLE

With Apostle Dr. Raphael O. Ayemere 08035459593

WHO HAVE OFFENDED YOU AND ASK THOSE WHO YOU HAVE OFFENDED TO FORGIVE YOU Heaven is not like our earthly Universities that require our intelligence, connection or manipulation to enter, neither is it like our church thrown open to the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.

One of the major requirements for entering heaven is your ability to forgive people who have offended you, insulted you, abused you, castigated your name publicly and misunderstood you.

Your ability to forgive people of their offences against you also make God to forgive you. During the period of Jesus crucifixion, with pain and blood rushing out from his body he still had the courage to ask his heavenly father to forgive the people who had offended him, crucified him innocently and disgraced him publicly. If you were Jesus that had the power to kill and make alive would you have allowed yourself to die for the sin of others and asked for forgiveness for your creatures? If I were Jesus my first reaction would been to kill my enemies before they killed me.

As you show mercy to others by forgiving them of their offences against you, also seek for people who you have offended and ask for their forgiveness and mercy toward you.

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven liked unto a certain

“Any man or woman who is willing and ready to die peacefully, gracefully and joyfully must be willing to make restitution of his or her past or present activities on earth. What have you stolen or taken from anybody forcefully? Is it money, property, gold, silver or your friend’s wife or your neigbour’s husband? This is the time and place to make restitution of all that you have taken from your neigbour forcefully.”

king which would take account of his servants.

And when he had began to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

But for as much he has not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, amid all that he had and payment to be made.

The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, amid I will pay thee all.

Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants which owed him and hundred pence, and he had laid hands on hint, and took him by the throat, saying, pay me that thou owest.

And his fellow servant fell down on his feet, and besought hint, saying, have patience with me, and l will pay thee all.

And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt So when his fellow servant saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their Lord all that was done Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, o thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me.

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?

And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him So likewise shall my heavenly father do also unto you, if ye from your heart forgive not every one of his brother their trespasses”.

Matthew 18:21-35 From the above passage of the scriptures you can see the danger that awaits people who fail to genuinely forgive anyone of their trespasses or sin against them.

You are very much aware that Jesus Christ never joked with any of his words? He says what he means and means what he says.

I urge you to shun any act of unforgiveness in your life and live a life worthy of emulation.

20

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Arts: The

Essence, Values And Misconception

NDIDI Emefiele, an artist, is the first to admit that most Nigerians do not view art as a prestigious field of endeavour.

“I remember after putting in for art in the university, someone told me that I was going to become one of those artists selling their arts and prints by the roadside.

“At that point in time, the public appreciation for art was negligible, compared to what it is right now, but I was so determined,’’ she said.

Besides, Emefiele recalled that at a point in time, she was persuaded to study archeology which, according to some people, is similar to art because she had high grades in science subjects.

“Along the line, I quickly realised that archeology and art were two completely different things. At that point, I left the science class after three weeks and switched to the arts class but my parents supported me.

“I’ll always appreciate the fact that my parents gave each and every one of their children the power to do what we wanted to do,’’ she said.

Nowadays, artists like Emefiele are reaping the benefits of not succumbing to the general perception that people could only be successful and fulfilled if they engage in certain vocations such as medicine and accounting, among others.

Since Emefele began to practice, she had taken part in over 30 group exhibitions and she said that she would hold her second solo exhibition in July.

“Out of about 47 paintings displayed during my first solo exhibition, only three or four are still around; the rest have been sold to Nigerians,’’ she said.

Emefiele said that there was a period when art was purely

a pastime of the elite, adding, however, that nowadays, everyone wanted to own an art piece, as Nigerians loved good things.

She stressed that the fact that one of her paintings, which was displayed during an auction with a starting price of N300,000, was eventually sold for N650,000 somewhat illustrated the dramatic growth of the art industry.

She said that in spite of the several feats recorded by the old Nigerian arts, the rest of the world still needed contemporary Nigerian arts.

Emefiele recalled that she participated in a career day, recently organised by a school in Abuja, adding that she was then convinced that many children were actually considering taking up a career in art.

She cited the African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC), recently held in Abuja to promote art among young talents, as another illustration of the spectacular growth of Nigeria’s art industry.

Mr. Steven Eruada, the Public Relations Officer of the Abuja Arts and Craft Village, said that increasing public awareness at the grassroots had stimulated several budding artists to showcase their works during the exposition.

Eruada said that the expo served as a tool for promoting and forging the country’s unity as well as national identity.

“The public and private sector should concertedly work for the improvement of the country’s arts and culture sector because art works from all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria would aid efforts to revamp the country’s tourism sector,’’ he said.

Contrary to opinions in certain quarters as to the government’s apathy toward the promotion of the art

By OLAYEMI OKENIYI

industry, President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly determined to use arts as a tool for national development.

“The president is determined to diversify sources of revenue generation, with a view to

effectively respond to the challenges of job creation and rural economic transformation,’’ Chief Edem Duke, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, said.

Duke said that AFAC had showcased a structured exhibition of talent and creativity, particularly in the

areas of product design, finishing, packaging and presentation.

“All these are aimed at meeting the global market standards and bringing the benefits accruable from the crafts industry to bear on the

national economy.

“The expo will help exhibitors to share idea and network with other practitioners in areas relating to their competence; the exhibitors will also be able to meet prospective investors,’’ he added.

Stakeholders, nonetheless, insist the government’s efforts

“Artists look at people and their ways of life; it is what the artist sees that he translates into their canvases, paper and even sculptural pieces. Art tells the story of our heritage; so, if we lose it, we lose our heritage and if artists today do not portray our stories, what will we give to the future generations?’’

to promote arts should be complemented with committed and sustained investments in arts’ preservation.

At a recent book launch, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, urged stakeholders in the arts and culture sector to undertake proper archiving, evaluation and preservation of their works.

The Obi urged all the citizens to imbibe the culture of documentation and evaluation of Nigerian arts

inspired by African sculptures.

“Look at the masks and objects we have had in our shrines for decades, they are similar to art installations in museums abroad today.

“Contemporary European arts are similar to our arts years ago and when you look at our paintings today, you will see that some of the inspiration comes from the Western world.

“There are some people who believe that art is solely for decoration, while another group has passion for art

and culture; insisting that the sector ought to be guarded jealously.

However, Mr. Ovie Omatsola, the Exhibition Director of Thought Pyramid Art Centre, noted that the maintenance and upkeep of art institutions required considerable government support.

He suggested that children should be exposed to art in museums and galleries, saying that such exposure would engender a better appreciation of arts and cultural heritage in the country.

Omatsola, nonetheless, rejected the notion that contemporary Nigerian arts somewhat imitated Western art traditions, saying that the influence of the two art traditions on each other was bi-dimensional.

“They influence us and we do the same to them, we have been doing that for centuries.

For example, the legendary Picasso’s paintings were

works; the second group collects art pieces, not just for decoration but because they love art.

“More recently, in schools they are attaching more value to art than they used to because art is part of our heritage.

“Artists look at people and their ways of life; it is what the artist sees that he translates into their canvases, paper and even sculptural pieces.

“Art tells the story of our heritage; so, if we lose it, we lose our heritage and if artists today do not portray our stories, what will we give to the future generations?’’ he asked.

All the same, industry watchers underscore the need for the government to initiate specific programmes aimed at enhancing the development of Nigerian arts.

They also urge the government to promote the development of museums across the country so as to boost the growth of the arts and culture sector.

21

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Issues GLOBALLY, June 23 every year is set aside to mark the International Widows Day. It is a day adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the 21st December, 2013 “to give special attention to the situation of widows and their children”.

According to UN Secretary-General, Ban KiMoon. “We must recognise the important contribution of widows, and we must ensure that they enjoy the rights and social internationals they deserve”. He continued thus: Death is inevitable, but we can reduce the suffering that widows ensure by raising their status and helping them in their hour of need.

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article I states that all humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Article 2 went further to that these rights are entitlements to everyone irrespective of race, sex, religion and other affiliation.

However, despite these fundamental rights to all humans, widows have over the years experienced unpleasant treatments that have reduced them to objectives of abuse. Every woman goes into marriage after saying. “I do” with his heartthrob not to suffer from abuses. However, in most cases, this dream of a happy marriage is cut short by death. This results in widowhood that often comes with unbearable.

In several places, widowhood is association with ignoble acts. It is not even the widows alone that face these challenges, their children are also affected.

In a report on AlertNet, a Thomson Reuters Foundation Service, many

Addressing Challenges Of Widowhood

women’s loss of husband is only the first traumatic step in a long-term ordeal that will see them lose status, income, personal safety and security.

In most parts of the country, once the husband (woman’s) dies, her hair is shaved. The widow is accused as the one behind the death of her husband.

In other scenario, the widow might be killed by the community or family members of her husband for “killing their brother”.

Furthermore, in some parts of Nigeria, widow are forced to bathe with or drink the water used to bathe the corpse and may even be locked up with the corpse in locked up rooms (Amaechina Sopulu).

While in Northern Nigeria, widows become the “inheritance” of their husbands relatives. This, does happen within two or three weeks after the burial rites. According to Aliu Ahmadu, “she is not given the opportunity to fully recover from the shock of her husband’s death before she starts to play conjugal roles to another husband, also a member of her late husband’s family”.

Again, immediately after the death of husband’s some widows are stripped of their husband’s properties. The lands, houses and other properties owned by some widows husband, are fought for by relatives of the husband. To these relatives, the “woman did not come with anything to the house, so why going out or having anything?”

The tussle is so much that

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU

heads are made to roll in some instance. The widow is left without anything to take care of her household.

This leaves her at the

or economic resources. The situation is so terrible that even when they are given the loans, the interest rates and collateral are not

“Furthermore, in some parts of Nigeria, widow are forced to bathe with or drink the water used to bathe the corpse and may even be locked up with the corpse in locked up rooms”

Hajia Zainab Maina, Women Affairs Minister

mercy of anybody and everybody.

Similarly, poverty is a big problem facing widows.

AlertNet reported that in most countries, widows are not granted access to loans

commensurate with the loan(s).

As the world marks the International Widow Day, it is imperative to address these horrible situations that they (widows), pass

“Again, immediately after the death of husband’s some widows are stripped of their husband’s properties. The lands, houses and other properties owned by some widows husband, are fought for by relatives of the husband.”

through. These ones (widows), are humans like

other people and should therefore be treated as such.

This writer would end this piece of work with a poem he composed.

It is their right to see the light.

Ah, it is the fight that all must fight to give them life that have not been made all right.

Take up the mantle to make them chuckle.

Give them the chance by stripping them of the violence.

Fight the ignorance that brings them annoyance.

Fight against the ignorance to raise awareness about the anomalous conditions of widows!.

22

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Environment Climate Change And Environment: AS a country, Nigeria has its fair share of ecological challenges. The most obvious indicator is that there are in each of the six geo political zones evident manifestations of the devastation which is more or less threatening to overrun a huge chunk of the country’s landscape. In particular while the North is contending with an unprecedented challenge despite having a tougher landscape with greater level of resistance, the more erosion prone South East and South - South are having their very existence threatened by the menace.

The case with Edo state is, for several reasons, very peculiar.

Situated along the country’s slow lying belt, he state has had its fair share of the destructive impact.

However, for reasons of the much talked about rise in global temperature, which resulted in warmer climate, it became one of the recipients of a massive volume of rainfall that recently inundated not just its coastal belts but also a number of areas in the hinterland hitherto free from erosion. Thus, the state has had to contend with attendant challenges that left a number of communities’ previously conversant mild erosion becoming so ravaged that residents were forced to relocate to safer grounds. Whereas the state was in the past able to handle the challenge, the scale of the challenge under review was so overwhelming that it practically put the state on its kneels. This is evident in case of Queen Ede, in Ogbesanwan quarters, within Benin City, the state capital.

Determined to find a lasting solution to the

By ERNEST OMOARELOJIE

menace, the government set aside the sum of N500 million to fund a rescue project. However, due to the fact that the amount is grossly inadequate for the project, it began the search for a viable partner counterpart with the ability to provide counterpart funding. It approached the federal government with an appeal to have the project bankrolled with counterpart funding from the ecological funds. But like many of its other requests, the federal government turned it down.

The state governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, made this point while receiving officials of the bank. According to him, “We have also talked with the federal government to draw from the ecological fund to deal with it. Again that has not been successful.

Our final hope now is the bank. We are hoping that you sill help us out and have it fixed.”

Next, the state went in the direction of the World Bank, the global financial institution not known for giving consideration to frivolous administrations.

Thankfully, the bank received the request with open hands and as a mark of its readiness to do the needful, sent its assessment team to Benin City, the state capital, with a view to ascertaining the required level of assistance. So far, if the team’s timeous visit, inspection of the affected areas and comments made thereafter are anything to go by, it appears clear that the state’s request for assistance is not only receiving prompt and favourable responses, hope is rising that at last, succour may be on its way.

Interestingly, the

The Edo Option

partnership interest shown by the global financial institution may not be unconnected with its conviction that the state government is genuinely committed to carrying out development programme with direct impact on the lives of the people. Not least important is the seriousness with which the governor has undertaken the search for a viable partner. Put mildly,

assistance, it can be deduced that both factors played important roles that swayed the bank into declaring its readiness to assist the state.

According to Bosque, “Edo state is among the first runners. You are doing your bit. There are still a few steps to be taken. I am sure that soon most of the state level actions would have been taken by ensuring that full management of the state would be in place and the effectiveness condition

reassuring gifts the people of Edo state can hope for in terms of real time governance. It is doubly assuring because in accepting to assist the state government, the global financial institution is passing another important vote of confidence on the comrade governor ’s administration, further reinforcing the widely held belief that in terms of impact, the state under his leadership has witnessed the

generator. You need to carry out proper study before you can start to address the problem. There is no overnight solution.”

The governor ’s determination to find a viable partner goes a long way in proving that his commitment to delivering quality development services to the people is limitless. This is a position in which many observers of the state’s development evolution are united. In the

both qualities are no doubt the stuff required to instill confidence on discerning partners.

Given the statement made by Benoit Bosque, leader of the bank’s visiting team that the state has proven its seriousness by being one of the few to seriously approached it for

would be met very soon. We expect that next week, Edo would receive the first installment of the preparation advance and finally, the cash will start flowing from Washington to Benin City.”

Such comment cannot but be seen as one of the most

greatest number of real time people-oriented development projects.

Indeed, the expectation now is that besides upping the ante in the governor ’s confidence vote, the expected assistance will provide a permanent solution to the gully that is threatening to drive Queen Ede and its environs into extinction. Certainly, the task will not be an easy one but as the governor puts it, the task is before the bank.

“I have come to show them the problem and they are coming to carry out a full study. This is not like putting up PHCN or

main, they have often likened his performance to that of Chief Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, the man given the credit for laying the foundation for the present Edo state. Until his coming, they observed, those who held democratic leadership positions simply chose to pursue selfish interests rather than build on the legacies of the former military administrator as the comrade is doing. Indeed, his decision to solicit the assistance of the World Bank is another proof of his resolve to make the state the cynosure of all eyes in terms of real development.

“Interestingly, the partnership interest shown by the global financial institution may not be unconnected with its conviction that the state government is genuinely committed to carrying out development programme with direct impact on the lives of the people.”

23

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Agriculture What is snail farming?

SNAIL farming is a very important business that does not require much labour, capital, drug or vaccine and feeding. It is possible to combine snail farming with other forms of farming especially rubber farming which has closeness to natural habitat condition of snails.

Simply put, snail farming is the domestication or rearing of snails in an artificial environment. It entails provision of good housing and feeding for snails to achieve optimum growth and reproduction.

Snails are invertebrates with a soft flesh but with a hard shell at its back that moves very slowly and feed on green leaves.

Snails are haema phrodite having both the male and female organs in one annual.

Some breeds of snails are:1.

African giant snail (Archachatina marginata. Yoruba name: Igbui apininre, Igbo name; Ejior Ejila, Edo name; Egile, English name; African giant snail.

It can lay between 4-8 or more eggs per clutch. It can grow to a size of 0-5

Understanding Snail Farming (1) kg – 1kg at very mature age.

2.

Archatina archatinal Yoruba name; Ilako, Isan name; Agimisu. The breed is mostly common on the Eastern Nigeria and the republic of benin. It can lay between 100-300 eggs per clutch. It can attain 35g at mature live weight Archtina papy racae: it is small in size and lays between 4-16 eggs per clutch and weigh between 20-40g at maturity.

3.

Limicolania species: It is the smallest edible land snail of the imoist forest bell of magevia and weighs between 7 to over 14g at maturity, laying between 20 to over 50 eggs per site selection for snail rearing: It is advisable to select good soils with high organic matter that could support good growth and development of snails. In addition, the calcium and water content of the soil should be high and such sols should be loose in texture. Heavy clagey soil that be comes water

By OLUMESE MARK logged in rainy seasons should not be selected for rearing snails sources of foundation stocks for breading snails.

It is recommended for any one who want to rear snails to contact these sources for foundation stocks namely: (a) Snail farmers (b) Research institutes (c) Markets (d) Hawkers (e) Direct from the bush.

Housing of Snails.

Type of snail will depend on scale of the snail farming enterprise, in-door and outdoor snail evy, the stage of development and habits of the snail.

Individuals can construct their snailenes according to the available materials at their disposal and their financial capabilities.

The ADP, we recommend these types of houses for rearing snails: (1) Basket (2) Tiers of tyre (3) Used drum (4) Used Tank (5) Low fenced pen (6) High fenced pen (7) Pot under intensive

system of rearing snails.

Breeding pen: This is a single or multi chamber wooden box with lid using

strong planks as floor, and raised on four legs of 2ft high. The lid is an opening covered with wire melting or nylon mesh to improve aeration and visibility of content. The bottom is perforated to permit drainoff. The floor is filled with sieved black soil to a depth of slightly limed (caco 3).

The soil should be changed once every two or three months. The four

legs are cupped in empty tins placed on larger container in which disinfectant solution or kerosene is poured from time to time to present

covered with nylon mesh on the sides, the mesh extends over most of the top, leaving an opening for access. A fold of mesh suspended from the top

insect from intruding.

The pen could be placed under rubber trees or under a shade palm fronts.

Breeding pen is used as a laying unit, hatching unit and as intensive rearing unit for young snails.

2. Mini-padelock pen: Is a type of housing for snails. This can be built with either nylon mesh or concrete blocks. For the nylon type, the sides and top are covered with nylon mesh upon timber frame.

One roll of nylon mesh will be sufficient for a minipaddock pen measuring 6ft wide by 21ft bag, and 2ft high.

Floor shelter such as pieces of abbestors roofing sheets should be provided. Large leaves spread in the pens will serve the same function.

The concrete type is covered with wooden door on which is a covering of wire meshing or mosquito nettings for adequate ventilation and temperature regulation.

The floor should be filled to a depth of 6 – 8 cm with craving soil. Minipaddcok pens are ideal as fattening pens.

3. Moveable pen: This is made of wooden frames

access way prevents snails from escaping the bottom may be covered with 1x12 expanded metal with wire mesh. This is used as exhibition pens.

4. Free – range pen: This is a large fenced area, which can be built by using wire meshing and mosquito netting. A door is constructed at the entrance of the pen. The pen is about 2.5-3.0 cm high. It can contain between 200 – 5000 matured snails, depending on the size of the pen.

Cocoyam, water leaves and sweet potatoes could be planted inside to serve as food and shelter for the snail. The snails are allowed to move over the entire area.

However, because of their large size, there is difficulty in locating eggs laid and small snail cannot be properly accounted for.

In the next edition, the author will focus on economic importance of snails, feeding and routine.

The writer is the zonal manager of Edo State Agricultural Development Programme, Central Zone Irrua, Nigeria.

To be continued.

24

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

International

Compiled by

OKHUELEIGBE FAITH

Syria Rebels Renew Fight For Islamist al-Farouq DAMASCUS - Syrian rebels Aleppo moderate Brigade, said six rebel fighters battled President Bashar alAssad’s forces in and around the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday, seeking to reverse gains made by loyalist forces in the commercial hub over the last two months, activists said.

The fighting, by a variety of insurgent groups, happened as France urged moderate rebels to wrest territory back from radical Islamists whose role in the fight to topple Assad poses a dilemma for Western countries concerned that arms shipments could fall into the hands of people it considers terrorists.

The 11 Western and Arab countries known as the “Friends of Syria” agreed on Saturday to give urgent military support to the rebels, channeled through the Western-backed Supreme Military Council in a bid to prevent arms getting to Islamist radicals.

But radical forces showed they remained formidable on

Sunday when the Islamist Ahrar al-Sham brigade detonated a car bomb at a roadblock at an entrance to Aleppo killing at least 12 loyalist soldiers, according to the opposition Aleppo News Network and other activists in the city.

Aleppo, 35 km (20 miles) south of Turkey, has been contested since July last year, when rebel brigades entered the city and captured about half of it. In recent weeks, Assad has focused his military campaign on recapturing rebel-held areas.

He has also been expanding control of the central province of Homs after capturing a strategic town on the border with Lebanon, and has used heavy bombardment and siege warfare to contain rebels dug in around the capital, according to opposition sources and diplomats monitoring the conflict.

Firas Fuleifel, with the

were killed in fighting in Aleppo in the last day.

French President Francois Hollande, whose country has been at the forefront of Western efforts to re-organize and back the opposition, said moderate rebels must take territory held by radical Islamists whose involvement in the conflict, he said, gives Bashar al-Assad a pretext for more violence.

“The opposition needs to win back control of these areas ... they have fallen into the hands of extremists,” Hollande told a news conference in the Doha a day after the Friends of Syria met in the Qatari capital.

“If it seems that extremist groups are present and tomorrow they could be the beneficiaries of a chaotic situation, it will be Bashar alAssad who will seize on this pretext to continue the massacre,” Hollande said.

Free Syrian Army fighters prepare mortars at the frontline in the Sidi Meqdad area in the suburbs of Damascus,

Germany Investigates Commander Of Nazi-Led Unit BERLIN — German prosecutors said yesterday that they opened a formal preliminary investigation of a Minnesota man who was a commander of a Nazi-led unit during World War II, to determine whether there is enough evidence to bring charges and seek his extradition.

The Associated Press found that 94-year-old Michael Karkoc entered the U.S. in 1949 by lying to American authorities about his role in the SS-led Ukrainian Self Defense Legion, which is accused of torching villages and killing civilians in Poland. AP’s evidence indicates that Karkoc was in the area of the massacres, although no records link him directly to atrocities.

Kurt Schrimm, the head of the special German prosecutors’ office responsible for investigating Nazi-era crimes, said prosecutors “have opened a preliminary investigation procedure to examine the matter (and) seek documentation.” It was unclear how long their examination might take.

Schrimm’s office is responsible for determining whether there is enough evidence against alleged Nazi war criminals for state prosecutors to proceed with a full investigation and possible charges. The only charges that can be brought in such cases are murder and accessory to murder, as all other offenses fall under the statute of limitations under

German law.

Germany has taken the position that people involved in Nazi crimes must be prosecuted, no matter how old or infirm, as it did in the case of retired Ohio autoworker John Demjanjuk, who died last year at age 91 while appealing his conviction as a guard at the Sobibor death camp.

Poland’s National Remembrance Institute, which investigates Nazi and Soviet crimes, has said prosecutors are reviewing files on Karkoc’s unit for any evidence that would justify charges and an extradition request.

It says the files were gathered during separate investigations into the killings of civilians in the village of Chlaniow, in southeastern Poland, and into Nazi suppression of the 1944

Warsaw Uprising against German occupation. The AP found documentation showing that Karkoc’s unit was involved in both.

Karkoc’s son, Andriy Karkos, has said that his father “was never a Nazi,” and pointed to the portion of the AP story that said records don’t show Karkoc had a direct hand in war crimes. He has said the family won’t comment further until it has obtained its own documents and reviewed witnesses and sources.

Cameron Wants Probe Into New Claims On Racist Murder LONDON - David Cameron called yesterday for an investigation into claims that police spied on the family of a black teenager whose murder 20 years ago exposed what an inquiry called “institutional

UK Police Arrest Brother In LONDON -The brother of a Alps Killing British-Iraqi man slain with three other people last year in a remote area of the French Alps has been arrested, according to British media reports yesterday.

The media, including the BBC and Sky News, identified the man arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder as Zaid al-Hilli.

Police would not mention alHilli by name but did confirm that a 54-year-old man had been arrested. Authorities in Britain rarely identify suspects who haven’t been charged — but such statements are routinely understood as confirmation of media reports.

Saad al-Hilli, his wife, an elderly relative and a cyclist

Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron speaks at the Conservative Party’s annual Spring Forum, in central London

were killed in the attack near Annecy last September but the couple’s two young daughters survived. One was shot in the shoulder and severely beaten; the other was not physically harmed.

The young British sisters are the only known witnesses to the crime.

Family friends have described a dispute between Zaid al-Hilli and his brother Saad al-Hilli over their father’s estate.

In France, prosecutor Eric Maillaud told French TV that “overwhelming and written evidence leaves no doubt about a violent family conflict that pitted the two brothers against each other in the question of their inheritance from their father.”

racism” in London’s police force.

In one of Britain’s highestprofile racial killings, Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at a bus stop in southeast London in 1993. An inquest ruled it had been an unprovoked attack by a gang of white youths.

Not until last year was anyone convicted for the murder.

Now a former undercover police office has said he was asked to infiltrate the Lawrence family’s campaign for justice in the years following the murder.

Cameron’s spokesman said in a statement: “The Prime Minister is deeply concerned by reports that the police wanted to smear Stephen Lawrence’s family and would like the Metropolitan police to investigate immediately.”

In the Guardian newspaper, former undercover officer Peter Francis said he spent four years posing as an anti-racist campaigner after his superiors

tasked him with trying to uncover information that could be used against the 18-year old student’s parents.

Francis said senior officers were afraid that anger at the failure to launch a more thorough investigation into the murder would spiral into disorder on the streets.

He monitored several campaigns, involving relatives of mostly black men who had died in suspicious circumstances in police custody.

He never met the Lawrence family but said he passed back “heresay” about them to his superiors.

He also said senior officers witheld his undercover role from Sir William Macpherson, who headed a public inquiry to examine the police investigation into the death.

Macpherson said in a damning 1999 report that that investigation had been “marred by a combination of

professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership by senior officers.”

The case still weighs on London’s police, despite an overhaul of policies and an attempt to recruit more officers from ethnic minorities.

Francis’ claims follow a joint investigation between the Guardian and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme. A related programme is scheduled to be broadcast in Britain yesterday evening.

London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement that an investigation into its past use of undercover police was already under way.

“At some point it will fall upon this generation of police leaders to account for the activities of our predecessors, but for the moment we must focus on getting to the truth,” it added.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Stephen Addison)

25

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

International

Compiled by

OKHUELEIGBE FAITH

Pakistan: Musharraf To ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’sFace Treason Trial prime minister said yesterday that the government plans to put the military ruler who ousted him in a coup over a decade ago on trial for treason, setting up a possible clash with the country’s powerful army.

But the government stopped short of declaring officially that it was filing charges against Pervez Musharraf, saying it would first consult with other political parties.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke in parliament as the Supreme Court held a hearing on a possible treason case against Musharraf. The former military ruler can only be tried for treason if the federal government presses charges against him.

Sharif said the government agrees with the Supreme Court’s decision that Musharraf committed treason under Article 6 of the constitution when he declared a state of emergency in 2007 and suspended the constitution.

“The prime minister is under oath to protect, preserve and defend the constitution and it is implicit in his oath that his government ensures that persons guilty of acts under Article 6 are brought to justice,” Sharif said in parliament.

The premier was reading from a statement that was submitted to the Supreme Court by Attorney General Munir Malik yesterday. The statement did not mention Musharraf’s ouster of Sharif in a coup in 1999 when he was serving as army chief, perhaps because the move was retroactively approved by the Supreme Court and parliament at the time.

“Musharraf has to answer for all his deeds in court,” Sharif said in a separate part of the speech.

Musharraf would be the first military ruler tried for treason in a country that has experienced three military coups in its nearly 66-year history.

Sharif said the government would consult with other political parties on bringing Musharraf to trial, leaving open the possibility that it could still choose to abandon the case if it faced opposition.

“The federal government will proceed in accordance with the law and also take political forces into confidence through a consultative process so that the collective will and wisdom of the people of Pakistan is duly reflected in further process in this behalf.”

Senior lawmakers from the two main opposition parties, the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, said they supported the government’s plan to try Musharraf for treason.

“If we are going to strengthen democracy in this country and establish democratic norms, the only way is to follow the constitution and abide by the law,” said Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf lawmaker Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Musharraf, who is currently under house arrest in connection with a separate case, could face the death penalty or life in prison if he is convicted of treason. But some analysts doubt the army, which is considered the country’s most powerful institution, would allow that to happen and could intervene to prevent it. Musharraf

RECONCILIATION OF NAME

RECONCILIATION OF NAME

I, Agbonghese Osalumhense Augustine wish to bring for the information of the general pubic that I am the same person as Agbonghese Osa Augustine, Agbonghese Augustine, Agbonghese Osalumhense as appeared in my various documents. It should be known therefore that I am properly known and called Agbonghese Osalumhense Augustine.

All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and Rapid Response Agency (RRA) should please take note.

I, Ighorowho Joel Believe wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Joel Believe Edirwhea. It should be known henceforth that I am now known and addressed as Ighorowho Joel Believe. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and First Bank Plc should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OSAZEE – I, formerly called Miss Osazee Amen Joy now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Joy Amen James. All former documents remain valid.

University of Benin, Benin City, NYSC, other concerned authorities and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME JOSEPH – I, formerly known as Miss Edith Joseph now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Edith Akhator. All former documents remain valid. Edo State Waste Management Board, Ministry of Environment and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OKHUAROBO – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Izehiuwa Okhuarobo now wish to be known and addressed as Barr (Mrs.) Izehiuwa Osadayi. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

has maintained his innocence.

Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March after years in selfimposed exile, with the hope of running in the national election that was held in May. But he was disqualified from participating in the vote because of his actions while in power and has spent most of his time battling legal cases. The government has barred him from leaving the country while the cases are in progress.

CHANGE OF NAME OSEGHALE – I, formerly known and called Miss Esther Oseghale now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Esther Egbodo. All former documents remain valid. Edo State Waste Management Board, Ministry of Environment and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AMAH – I, formerly known as Miss Blessing Ngozi Amah now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Ngozi Ugbor.

All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EKHOGUE – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekhogue Mercy Imuetinyan now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okonkwo Mercy Imuetinyan. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EDWARD – I, Formerly known and addressed as Miss Hannah Oshua Edward now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Hannah Oshua Ezewele. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, NYSC and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EYENIYAN – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eyeniyan Omawumi Sylvia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omawumi Sylvia Aghanenu. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the general public should please take note.

OWAN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT SABONGIDDA-ORA EDO STATE OF NIGERIA INVITATION TO TENDER Tenders are hereby invited from reputable contractors currently regis tered with the local government for the execution of the under listed projects on behalf of the Local Government: i.

Construction of 3 classroom/HM’s office and store at Odeije Primary School, Eme— Ora. ii.

Construction of 3 classroom/HM’s office and store at Eruere Primary School, Eruere. iii.

Construction of 3 classroom/HMs office and store at St. Eugene Primary School, Sobe. iv.

Construction of 3 classrooms at Ekweran Primary School (Camp). v.

Perimeter fencing/parking lot of Evbiobe Central Market, Sabongidda-Ora. vi.

Perimeter fencing of Sobe Market. vii.

Perimeter fencing of Obe Primary School, Sabongidda-Ora. viii. Construction of 3 classroom/HM’s office at Orueren Primary School, OzaIla. ix.

Construction of creche at Secretariat (Council compound). x.

Construction of 3 classroom/HM’s office at Evbiobe Central School, SabongiddaOra xi.

Supply/installation of Transformers in the L.G.A. xii.

Supply/installation of 300KVA Transformer at Sobe. xiii. Supply/installation of 300KVA Transformer at Ozalla xiv. Construction of Two Borehole of 5,000 litres overhead tank, each with structural stand at Council premises, Sabongidda-Ora. xv.

Supply of Toyota Camry 2013 Model xvi. Supply of Toyota Corolla 2013 Model xvii. Supply of Toyota Corolla 4x4 by l Hlux xviii. Construction/supply of padded tables and chairs for H/M’s offices in newly constructed primary schools. xix. Perimeter fencing of Oruen Primary School, Ozalla xx.

Supply/installation of intercom in the Secretariat xxi. Construction/Supply of 2-seater desks/chairs in St. Stephen Primary School, Sobe. xxii. Construction of 2-seater desks/chairs in luleha Primary School, Avbiosi. xxiii. Construction/Supply of 2-seater desks/chairs in Obe Primary School, Sabongidda-Ora xxiv. Construction of 2-seater desks/chairs at Ulenboje Primary School, Okpuje. xxv. Construction/Supply of 2-seater desks/chairs at Umehi Central School, Uzebba. xxvi. Construction/Supply of 2-seater desks/chairs at Uben Primary School, Uhonmora. xxvii. Construction/Supply of 2-seater desks/chairs at Olegama primary School, Uzebba. xxviii. Completion o Shopping Mall, Uzebba xxix. Construction of parking garage, Sabongidda-Ora Market. xxx. Construction/Supply of 5000 No 2-seater desks/chairs for primary Schools in Local Government Area. xxxi. Construction of Abattoir at Sabongidda-Ora. 2.

The tender is to be accompanied with: i.

Evidence of current business registration with Owan West Local Government as a contractor in the appropriate category. ii.

Tax clearance certificate for the immediate past three years. iii.

Current bank guarantee of credit worthiness. iv.

Evidence of job previously executed with the Local Government or other government agencies v.

Evidence of registration with Corporate Affairs Commission. vi.

Evidence of Personal Income Tax clearance certificate of the Director of the company. vii Evidence of payment of non-refundable tender fee of N50,000.

3.

Documents showing the drawing and specifications of the above listed project are available for inspection between 8am to 4pm Monday- Friday in the office of the Director of Works, Lands and Survey, Owan West Local Government, Sabongidda-Ora

4.

Tender should be addressed and submitted in a sealed envelop and marked “CONFIDENTIAL” at the top left hand corner of the envelop and addressed to: THE CHAIRMAN OWAN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT SABONGIDDA-ORA EDO STATE To reach him not later than Two (2) weeks from the date of this publication.

5.

Owan West Local Government is not bound to accept the lowest of any tender, nor is it bound to give reasons for rejection of any tender.

Signed: EDWARD EHIZOJIE Secretary: Owan West Local Government, Sabongidda-Ora.

26

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

International

Compiled By FAITH OKHUELEIGBE

Czech President May Appoint PRAGUE - Czech President Technocrat As PM Milos Zeman confirmed yesterday he would announce the name of a new prime minister today and gave strong hints he would opt for a technocrat rather than a political nominee, a move that may spark an early election.

Petr Necas resigned a week ago following bribery and illegal spying charges against his closest aide. As head of state Zeman, a leftist, has the sole right to appoint a new prime minister.

The ruling centre-right coalition has proposed forming a new cabinet. But Zeman said on Sunday he was considering a technocrat cabinet instead to make good on his pre-election pledges to fight the centre-right administration.

Yesterday, Zeman gave further indications that he would take that path. Asked if an expert government should include various representatives from a platform for dialogue between employers and trade unions, he said: “Under the constitution, the prime minister chooses his colleagues, and I am convinced that an expert government should directly or indirectly include both sides of the social spectrum. What form this will take will depend on the new prime minister.”

Zeman declined to comment on media speculation that former Social Democrat finance minister Jiri Rusnok was a candidate.

Asked whether an expert cabinet should raise the minimum wage, a topic of discussion with the unions yesterday, he said: “A cabinet of experts, however long its mandate is...can resolve the question of the minimum wage.”

The main political parties, including the opposition centreleft Social Democrats who lead opinion polls, have made clear they will not back in a vote of confidence a cabinet forced upon them by Zeman, which raises the prospect of an early election.

An election would be called if 120 out of the 200 lower house deputies supported dissolving parliament.

The Social Democrats and the far-left Communists have already supported the plan as well as a small opposition party, Public Affairs. The conservative TOP09, a member of the ruling coalition, has said it would add its votes to push for an election if Zeman appointed his preferred candidate.

“I understand from the statements made ... so far that there is a big chance to reach an agreement with TOP09 on having an early election,” Social Democrat official Jeronym Tejc said.

An early election could be held in September, ahead of the regular vote planned for May 2014.

A cabinet appointed by

Zeman could govern until the election - early or regular - in a caretaker capacity, even if it fails to win a vote of confidence.

The new cabinet will have to prepare the budget for next year, which must be submitted to parliament by the end of September. It may also have a say in an ongoing process to pick the winner of a tender to build a $10 billion-$15 billion nuclear power plant at Temelin, in the south of the country.

In the scandal that toppled Necas, police have charged eight people including the prime minister’s closest aide Jana Nagyova. Some are accused of bribery and some with illegal spying on people including Necas’s wife.

Lebanon Clashes Rage Overnight, 12 Soldiers Dead

BEIRUT — Lebanese army units battling followers of a hard-line Sunni Muslim cleric closed in yesterday on the mosque complex where they were holed up in a southern coastal city, the national news agency said. It said a total of 12 soldiers had been killed since fighting erupted a day earlier.

The clashes in Sidon, Lebanon’s third-largest city some 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Beirut, is the latest bout of violence in Lebanon linked to the conflict in neighboring

Man Arrested Over British Family Murder In French Alps LONDON - Police in Britain have arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to murder a British family of Iraqi origin who were killed in a high-profile murder in southern France last year.

“The 54-year-old man was detained at an address in Chessington, Surrey at around 7:30am and is currently in police custody where he will be interviewed,” police said in

a statement. There were no further details of the suspect.

Husband and wife Saad and Ikbal Al-Hilli, also from the county of Surrey, southwest of London, were killed in September 2012, along with Ikbal’s mother, Suhaila alAllaf, prompting a joint murder investigation between British and French authorities.

A French cyclist, Sylvain

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R), on his first visit to India as secretary, poses with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid for photographers at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Mollier, was also found dead near the scene.

The killings happened on a remote mountain road near the French town of Annecy, close to the Swiss and Italian borders.

The pair’s four-year old daughter survived the attack, spending several hours cowered among the bodies of her dead parents and grandmother.

Syria.

It is the bloodiest yet involving the army — at least three of those killed are officers.

The Lebanese media has depicted the clashes as a test for the state in containing armed groups that have taken up the cause of the warring sides in Syria, whose sectarian makeup mirrors that of its smaller neighbor.

The fighting between troops and armed supporters of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir has transformed the city, which had been largely spared the violence plaguing border areas near Syria, into a combat zone.

The National News Agency said the clashes also left fifty wounded. The report said it was not clear how many gunmen were killed or wounded in the clashes, nor whether there were civilian casualties. Local media said several gunmen on alAssir’s side had also died, but did not give specifics.

Machine-gun fire and rocketpropelled grenade explosions caused panic among residents of Sidon. Residents reported power and water outage.

The city streets appeared largely deserted yesterday, and local media reported many residents were asking for evacuation from the area of the fighting, a heavily populated neighborhood in the city. The

news agency said a government building was hit. The local municipality said that the city is “a war zone,” appealing for a cease-fire to evacuate the civilians and wounded in the area.

Many people living on upper floors came down or fled to safer areas, while others were seen running away from fighting areas carrying children.

Others remained locked up in their homes or shops, fearing getting caught in the crossfire.

Gray smoke billowed over parts of the city.

The clashes erupted Sunday in the predominantly Sunni city after troops arrested a follower of al-Assir. The army says supporters of the cleric opened fire without provocation on an army checkpoint.

It tied the attack to the war in neighboring Syria and said it will hit back at attempts to sow strife with “an iron fist.” AlAssir is a virulent critic of the powerful Shiite militant Hezbollah group, which along with its allies dominates Lebanon’s government. He supports rebels fighting to oust Syria’s President Bashar Assad.

A few Hezbollah supporters in the city were briefly drawn into the fight Sunday, firing on al-Assir’s supporters. At least one was killed, according to his relatives in the city who spoke

Conditions For Taliban Talks Not Met Yet - Kerry

Medics transport an injured Lebanese soldier, after clashes between followers of a radical Sunni cleric Sheik Ahmad al-Assir and Shiite gunmen, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon,

NEW DELHI - Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday that conditions for talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan had not been met yet, after a spat over a new Taliban office in Qatar threatened to derail peace negotiations.

Kerry was speaking at a joint press conference with the Indian foreign minister in New Delhi.

The United States and

Taliban insurgents are exploring peace talks in a fresh effort to end Afghanistan’s 12-year-old war, helped behind the scenes by the support of neighboring Pakistan’s powerful military.

India, which jockeys for influence with arch rival Pakistan in Afghanistan, last week warned that any reconciliation should not confer legitimacy on insurgent groups.

anonymously out of concerns for their security.

But the group appeared to be staying largely out of the ongoing clashes. Last week, alAssir supporters fought with pro-Hezbollah gunmen, leaving two killed.

Early yesterday, al-Assir appealed to his supporters through his Twitter account in other parts of Lebanon to rise to his help, threatening to widen the scale of clashes.

The tweets did not give a clear statement on how the battle began. It came after a series of incidents pitting the cleric’s followers against other groups in the town, including Hezbollah supporters and the army.

Fighting also broke out in parts of Ein el-Hilweh, a teeming Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, where alAssir has supporters. Islamist factions inside the camp lobbed mortars at military checkpoints around the camp. Tension also spread to the north in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second largest city.

Masked gunmen roamed the city center, firing in the air and forcing shops and businesses to shut down in solidarity with alAssir. Dozens of gunmen also set fire to tires, blocking roads.

The city’s main streets were emptying out. There was no unusual military or security deployment.

The army announced late Sunday additional force deployments around Beirut.

Sectarian clashes in Lebanon tied to the Syrian conflict have intensified in recent weeks, especially after Hezbollah sent fighters to support Assad’s forces. Most of the rebels fighting to topple Assad are from Syria’s Sunni majority, while the President Bashar Assad belongs to the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

In Syria, activists reported fighting Monday between Syrian troops and rebels in the northern province of Aleppo as well as districts on the edge of the Syrian capital and its suburbs.

27

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Opinion

Between Skin Bleaching And Cancer

AFTER carefully washing her face, legs and arms, she vigorously rub cream over her body. She is meticulous and makes sure she covers her entire face. She is bleaching her skin. She believes fairer skin could be her ticket to a better life. So she spends her meager saving on cheap black market concoctions that promise to lighten her pigment.

This has been a daily routine for the past 15 years.

Now she says her lighter skin makes her feel more beautiful and confident.

Of recent, the number of fairer people have rapidly increased in our society. This has made one to wonder if all of a sudden the citizens now eat good foods, do exercises, and drink lot of clean water amongst others. On a closer look, one would see these ladies and gentle men with different patches of colour both on their faces and skin.

Some appear to be fair on their faces and dark on their hands and other body parts.

The menance of skin bleaching has reached an alarming in rate in our society.

Wikipedia says bleaching, popularly refered to as skin whitening skin lightening is a practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to lighten skin tone or provide an even skin complexion by lessening the concentration of melanin. Several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening while some have proved to be toxic or have questionable safety profile.

Gradually, skin bleaching is taking over Africa and the ease at which skin bleaching products can be obtained has made it worse. The stigma attached to skin bleaching which usually prevent others from engaging in the act has died off –and today, you cannot even tell if a person is bleaching or not as most opt for untraceable modern creams/pills.

To Femi Kuti no matter what they call it “skin toning is the same thing as skin bleaching”. Many Nigerian celebrities who are engaged in the illicit act and many other Nigerians out there are trying to avoid societal criticisms by calling their sort of skin bleaching skin toning!

I have heard people say, I don’t bleach, I just tone my skin. I have seen people buy the so-called toning cream and they think it is cool. You know what, the application of

bleaching process to cut off its supply, the skins protection against the sun is voluntarily withdrawn, and it’s not like you won’t go out again so as not to meet the sun.

But then, when usage is prolonged the health risks are even worse. When those products are used for a long time, it accumulates in the skin exposing the user to a

want to sleep one night as a black woman and wants wake up the next morning a fair or white woman? Well many things.

Investigations revealed that inferiority complex is chief amongst them.

Just a psychoanalysts argue, the predominant desire or drive in humans is the drum major instinct the desire to stand out, to be desired, respected and be important.

No wonder people can give anything, procure anything or do anything to feed a

high risk of kidney failure, liver failure or even worse mercury poisoning.

This problem seems to be peculiar to Africa, but then, what drives that hideous desire to completely change or slightly alter one’s colour type? What makes a woman

repressed ego.

Somehow due to the colonial nature of our past, the inferiority complex mentality has been imprinted in our mentality so deep that some how we will find ourselves entangled in the mealstrom it often churns up (of course we

By MICHAEL EDEKO anything/cream to your skin to change its colour or transform your skin from the original state to a new state (no matter how little the change will be) is skin bleaching.

Only recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that 77% of Nigerian women use bleaching cosmetics or materials, the world’s highest percentage. The figure compares with 59% in Togo, and 27% in Senegal.

The temptation to lighten up the skin colour keeps increasing amongst young ladies and women and even the male folks too. While on the surface it looks fashionable and trendy but, Only if they know the health implication of bleaching, even the most obsessed of them would not consider altering the tone of their color one bit.

Let me explain here again that bleaching is a process.

When a person is ‘black’, it is because there is melanin in the body that is produced and it gives the person its colour. So when you apply the cream to your skin or in the form of injection or tablet, it simply cuts off the production of melanin, so the ‘blackness’ to the skin is not supplied anymore and it begins to pale.

But then around the knees, toes, ankles, fingers the individual soon notice rings of different shades of black and pale.

Naturally, the individual thinks he has not applied enough and he or she is tempted to apply more cream to the toes and fingers so that the degree of pales it exhibits will be uniform with what is obtain in the face region, but that’s where experts say the danger is.

Most bleaching cream are made up of either hydroquinone or mercury which either way are cancer causing substances. So you accumulate so much amount of mercury on your skin, which will react with ultraviolet radiation from the sun, greatly increasing the risk of skin cancer and increasing the rate of aging. At this point I must mention that melanin is what God has put in our skins, knowing the intensity of the heat of the sun in this side of the Sahara. By using any

are always too quick to dismiss the possibility so we catch ourselves time and time again battling with a self inflicted ideology that tells us deep within that the next girl in white skin is better than we are no matter who we may be.

But the truth is if we are proud of our colour we would not try to change it.

Some others argue that although they don’t approve of outright color change, but bleaching helps in enhancing and improving their skin condition provided they don’t aver do it. Well if the cream you are using is the one you bought from a market or supermarket, you must also remember that cancer does

not understand English Language.

Many engage is skin bleaching to look more funky so that their boyfriends/ girlfriends and husbands will appreciate them more. Some too bleach to be like the celebrities they see on MTV

base, channel O and the rest TV channels.

The average African and Nigerian in particular is never tired of being the spineless follow, follow we have become. So we try to shed or hide our personality to become a clueless duplicate of some other persons just to feel good. They have brought tattooing and we copied, they brought low waist and we copied, weavons and human hairs and we are buying, they brought aids and untold millions are dying, only heaven knows what next they will bring tomorrow.

To get a naturally lighter skin, experts recommend lemon remedy amongst others, buy a few lemons, alive oil and same sugar from the market. Make sure you squeeze the lemon juice and olive oil. Put sugar last. Then rub it on your skin in a circular motion you can rub it in your face, hands, arms, and your legs.

After, let it absorb in your skin for 5 to 10 minutes for best result. Then fake a quick shower or just use a kitchen tissue with water on it. For extra whitening after finishing put another juice of lemon and rub it in your skin. This time, do not put water. Just let the lemon juice absorb and dry in your skin. Repeat this 2 times every week (but if you want fairer skin in less time then advise use 2 times a day or 3 for best results and do not go out in the sun without a long sleeve or an umbrella.

National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) should embark on an enlightenment campaign to sensitize the populace on the dangers of skin bleaching which has become a menace in our society. Campaigns should be taken to market place, higher institutions and motor parks.

There is the urgent need to curb this trend so as to save guard the health of our citizens. Toning bleaching, in general is neither healthy nor advisable. If you must do it do it professionally with the guidance of a dermatologist.

“The average African and Nigerian in particular is never tired of being the spineless follow, follow we have become. So we try to shed or hide our personality to become a clueless duplicate of some other persons just to feel good.”

28

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Ramos Talks Up Isco Signing SERGIO Ramos has welcomed Real Madrid’s interest in Isco, as the Malaga forward moves closer to completing a switch to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Reports in Spain suggest that a concerted campaign by the Bernabeu outfit has persuaded the youngster to choose their offer, rather than reunite with former Los Boquerones coach Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.

Los Blancos representatives met again with Malaga executive Vicente Casado late last week, while Isco’s Spain Under-21 team-mate Alvaro Morata also kept the pressure on as both starred at the Under-21 European Championship this month.

The final transfer should be worth in the region of +30 million, however, some financial details have yet to be ironed out and Real Madrid Castilla’s Russia Under-21 international Denis Cheryshev could spend next season on loan at Malaga as part of the arrangement.

The La Rosaleda club had been keen on including Morata or Jose Callejon in the deal, but Madrid

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi Pays 10m Euros In Back Taxes

BARCELONA striker Lionel Messi, who is under investigation in Spain for tax fraud allegations, paid Euros10 million ($13.1 million) to the Spanish tax authorities to correct tax returns for 2010 and 2011, according to Spanish media reports.

The news, reported by La payment to the Spanish tax Vanguardia newspaper and authorities for “image citing unnamed sources, rights income,” La comes one week after Vanguardia reported on Messi and his father, Jorge Monday, adding that a Messi, were summoned to source told the newspaper a September 17 court date Messi seeks a deal that complaint alleging that the would allow him to clarify duo defrauded the Spanish what occurred over the tax office of +4 million three years in question. earned from image rights Messi has denied on Messi’s income tax wrongdoing. He has returns from the years received public backing 2007, 2008 and 2009. from Barcelona club Messi in recent days president Sandro Rosell made the 10 million Euros and former president Joan

Laporta, who was in charge during the years of the alleged fraud.

The 25-year-old Messi is widely considered the best player of his generation and one of the best in history after winning an unprecedented four straight FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

Messi, who is rated by Forbes as the world’s 10th highest-paid athlete, reportedly earned $41.3 million to June this year; with $20.3 million coming from his club salary and $21 million in endorsements.

State prosecutor Raquel

Amado alleges that from 2006-09 Messi “obtained significant revenue derived from the transfer to third parties of his image rights, income which should have been taxed.”

Messi is not the first athlete to be investigated in Spain for taxes.

Last year former Portugal star Luis Figo was forced to pay +2.45 million in income tax pertaining to image rights from 1997-99 while playing for Barcelona. In 2009, former top-ranked women’s player Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario had to pay millions in back taxes.

Milan Reject Sevilla Bid For Montolivo MILAN have 20mEuros offer made by reportedly turned down a Sevilla for the signature

Ricardo Montolivo

of Riccardo Montolivo.

The midfielder has only spent a year at the club after he arrived from Fiorentina in the summer of 2012 and is currently part of Italy’s impressive Confederations Cup squad.

Fichajes.net have reported that Sevilla have

made an official offer for the 28-year-old as they look to bolster their squad.

However, it is said that the Rossoneri turned down the Spanish giants as Montolivo is expected to skipper the side next season following Massimo Ambrosini’s departure from Milan.

President Florentino Perez was not prepared to release either player.

Ramos told radio show Al Primer Toque after Spain’s 3-0

Confederations Cup win over Nigeria on Sunday night that his fellow Andalucian was a great player who would be a good addition at the Bernabeu.

Spain Sweating On Fabregas Fitness precautionary measure,” Del CESC Fabregas is a doubt for Spain’s Confederations Cup semi-final with Italy in Fortaleza due to a muscle problem.

Fabregas started Sunday’s 3-0 group win over Nigeria, hitting the post in the first half, but leaving the pitch on 54 minutes having earlier come to the sideline to talk to his team’s medical staff.

It was first thought the midfielder had suffered nausea due to the oppressively hot and humid conditions inside the Estadio Castelao, but the Spanish FA tweeted an update after the game suggesting a more serious issue.

“Cesc was substituted in a precaution due to muscle problems,” it said.

“Tomorrow [Monday] Dr. Celada will carry out a new examination.”

Speaking after the match, coach Vicente del Bosque said that the move had been a precaution, as Fabregas himself had been wary of doing more serious damage.

“He was taken off in a

Bosque told Marca. “Now the doctors will give their word.

It does not seem anything important, but in case it might have become more serious he asked for the change.”

Manchester City’s David Silva replaced Cesc on Sunday, and looks the most likely replacement against the Italians should the Barcelona man not recover in time.

Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez is another option if Del Bosque prefers to stiffen his midfield against the Azzurri, who will be out for revenge having lost 4-0 to Spain in the Euro 2012 final.

The conditions in Fortaleza appeared to play a role in a less than sparkling Spanish performance, where the Nigerians caused regular problems to the Spanish defence, especially during the opening 45 minutes.

Fabregas’ blaugrana teammate Sergio Busquets reportedly vomited before the game but subsequently got through the 90 minutes, while centre-back Sergio Ramos also reportedly felt the effects of the conditions.

Guardiola Ready For Bayern Pressure PEP Guardiola has said he is ready for the next chapter of his career as he prepares to deal with the pressure of managing Bayern Munich.

Guardiola was unveiled as Bayern’s new boss in his first press conference yesterday as he replaced Jupp Heynckes at the Allianz Arena.

Heynckes led Bayern to a historic Treble last season as they clinched the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFBPokal.

Pep Guardiola

The post is Guardiola’s first since he left Barcelona - where he won a number of trophies - in 2012, and the Spaniard is eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.

He said in German: “I am happy to get this opportunity.

Bayern is a big club. The great players and the history of the club have convinced me to come here “I am ready. My time at Barcelona was wonderful, but I was searching for a new challenge. I am ready to give my best.

“I have to live with the pressure. I know that in big clubs there is always big pressure. I take over a team that has played extraordinary last season. If you are coach at Bayern Munich you have to win no matter what.”

Guardiola said he has had no contact with Heynckes yet, but “it would be good to hear his opinion”.

He added: “I have huge respect for his achievements not only in the last year but throughout his career. It is an honour to be his successor.”

29

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Buffon Enjoying Attacking Azzurri

S/Korea Named Former Skipper National Coach SOUTH Korea named former skipper Hong MyungBo as the new coach of the national side, tasked with preparing the out-of-form team for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Korea Football Association said Hong, 44, had been given a two-year contract to replace Choi Kang-Hee, who quit as manager last week after South Korea scraped through to qualify for an eighth straight World Cup. As a player, Hong represented the national team at four consecutive World Cup finals from 1990 and became a national hero as captain of the side that reached the semifinals of the 2002 competition

Dortmund Deny Gundogan Exit Talk BORUSSIA Dortmund CEO Aki Watzke has quashed rumours in the Spanish press that Ilkay Gundogan could be on his way to Real Madrid this summer.

At the weekend, Marca reported that Madrid were back in the hunt for Gundogan, 22. According to the newspaper, the midfielder’s representatives met with officials from the Spanish side last Friday to discuss a potential summer transfer.

Los Blancos had been linked with the Germany international, who is under contract at Dortmund until 2015, earlier this year.

Despite such speculation, however, Gundogan stated just last week that he would definitely be playing for the Bundesliga club in 2014, and that talks regarding a new contract were about to get under way.

in South Korea.

He faces a tough challenge in injecting fresh confidence and motivation into the current national team that only managed to qualify for Brazil on goal difference.

In their last four qualifying games, they were beaten twice by Iran, drew with Lebanon and were lucky to scrape through with wins over Qatar and Uzbekistan.

Hong began his coaching career as an assistant on the senior national team from 2005 to 2007.

He coached South Korea to bronze at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and led an under-23 team to a bronze medal at the London Olympics last year. It was the country’s first Olympic football medal.

GOALKEEPER Gianluigi Buffon believes Italy’s leaking backline is due to their ‘new attacking mentality’ - one which he enjoys seeing.

Last year’s European runnersup have let in eight goals in their three Confederations Cup games so far, with the latest result coming in a 4-2 defeat to Brazil.

Buffon has admitted that he was disappointed in some of the goals he let in, but has likened this current crop of Azzurri players to the 1978 World Cup squad.

“Fred’s goal? Well we were at the 90th minute chasing an equaliser, so you can get something wrong!” laughed the goalkeeper.

“I’m more annoyed by the Neymar free-kick, as I shouldn’t have conceded it on ‘my’ post.

If you really want to know, I didn’t even see the ball leave his foot, as there were at least seven or eight players in front of me.

Sara Errani

Wimbledon Open

Errani In Shock First Round Loss

Real To Appoint Ancelotti Today SARA Errani became only the second top-five seed defeating the 2012 French (Serbia) beat Virginie to lose in the first round of the Wimbledon women’s singles in the last 12 years when suffering a shock 3-6 2-6 defeat to Monica Puig.

Errani is not a natural grass-court player and struggled against her Puerto Rican opponent, who was making her Wimbledon debut.

The fifth seed wilted in

the face of 38 winners from the world number 65 and Puig took her sixth match point when claiming a forehand winner.

Puig allowed herself an emotional celebration after

Open runner-up.

Twelfth seed Ana Ivanovic fared better on Court Two as she saw off France’s Virginie Razzano 7-6(1) 6-0.

First-round results: Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) beat 5-Sara Errani (Italy) 6-3 6-2 12-Ana Ivanovic

Confed Cup: Spain Wary Of Vengeful

SPAIN boss Vicente Del Bosque insists Italy will be focused on revenge when the two sides meet in their Confederations Cup semifinal.

La Roja booked their

Vincente Del Bosque

Gianluigi Buffon

place in the knockout stages with a convincing 3-0 win over Nigeria on Sunday, which saw them emerge undefeated from Group B. A Jordi Alba brace and

Italy

Fernando Torres’ goal sent Nigeria home from the tournament and set up a rematch of Spain’s 4-0 rout of Italy in the Euro 2012 final.

Del Bosque will take no chances in his approach to the match and expects the Azzurri to be a changed side 12 months on from the embarrassing defeat in Ukraine.

“Italy will be a very difficult opponent,” Del Bosque said. “It is going to be a re-match for them. We want to get to the final though.”

Alba netted his first goals of the tournament and heeded his manager ’s caution heading into the semis.

“The match against Italy is

sure to be different from the final of the Euros,” he said.

Defender Gerard Pique has urged his team-mates not to think about a potential final against Brazil as Spain attempt to avoid a repeat of their semifinal exit at the 2009 Confederations Cup. “Let’s not talk about a potential final, it happened to us at the last Confederations Cup in 2009 and we lost to the United States in the semifinals,” Pique said. “Let’s talk about the game that comes next against Italy.

“It’s a totally different match, the tournament is different, the heat is different and they come in [to the game] after a nice tournament so far. They won the first two games and lost to Brazil but they played hard at all times.”

Razzano (France) 7-6(1) 60 27-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) beat Lauren Davis (U.S.) 6-4 6-0 Silvia Soler Espinosa (Spain) beat Misaki Doi (Japan) 1-6 6-4 6-1 Flavia Pennetta (Italy) beat Elena Baltacha (Britain) 6-4 6-1 Karin Knapp (Italy) beat Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-4 Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) beat Lara Arruabarrena Vecino (Spain) 6-1 6-3.

Carlo Ancelotti

WIDESPREAD reports in Spain claim Carlo Ancelotti will be confirmed as Real Madrid’s new manager on Tuesday.

Ancelotti has already announced his departure from Paris Saint-Germain having won the Ligue 1 title last season and is believed to be meeting lawyers on Monday to formally release him from his contract at Parc des Princes.

The former Chelsea and Milan boss will then be free to take over as Jose Mourinho’s replacement at the Bernabeu.

30

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

Balotelli Ruled Out Of Spain Clash STRIKER Mario Balotelli has been ruled out of Italy’s Confederations Cup semi-final against Spain on Thursday with a thigh injury.

The 22-year-old AC Milan striker, who has two goals to his name at the tournament of continental champions in Brazil, had been expected to lead Italy’s attack against Spain in Fortaleza.

“The examinations carried out this afternoon (Sunday) in Fortaleza on Mario Balotelli showed a grade-one tear in the quadriceps muscle of the left leg,” the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said in a statement.

“The player will not be available for the semi-final against Spain on Thursday, June 27 and in the coming days his condition will be evaluated for the match on the 30th (either the final or third-place play-off).”

I’ll Never Disrespect Ghana Coach - Muntari GHANA midfielder Sulley Muntari says him questioning head coach Kwesi Appiah over his substitution in last week’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho does not connote disrespect.

The AC Milan ace angrily approached Appiah and asked why he had to be replaced in the second half by Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.

Muntari stormed off into the dressing room and later rejoined them to celebrate the 2-0 win which sent Ghana to the top of the table.

He has criticized by fans for his unprofessional act but the 28year-old watered down the severity of his “I asked him why he changed me and he told me it was a tactical reason which I did understand him,” Muntari said.

“If you want to win or have something good you have to respect everyone and that’s what is happening in the national team.

“Coach Appiah is a cool person and I will never disrespect him.”

3SC Stars Survive Cup Scare SHOOTING Stars laboured to see off determined lower league side Gateway FC 3-2 in a 2013 Federation Cup round of 16 game.

In the explosive game played at the Akure Township Stadium on Sunday, 3SC broke the deadlock with a first minute strike by Ighodalor Osagona.

The Abeokuta lads did not relent as Kingsley Ediwo equalised seven minutes later, before Gbolahan Salami restored 3SC lead in the 24th minute from the penalty spot.

Kingsley Ediwo completed his brace with another equaliser in the 34th minute, before Tony Edjomariegwe scored the winner for the premier league outfit in the 67th minute.

Azubuike Egwuekwe (left) challenge Spain’s Andres Iniesta in Confederation Cup game at Fortaleza on Sunday.

FIFA Confed Cup Fall-Out

Keshi Blames Injuries, Poor Finishing NIGERIA’S coach Stephen Keshi was left to rue the legacy of untimely injuries and wayward shooting after his side’s Confederations Cup challenge came to an end in a 3-0 loss to Spain.

The African champions attractive football at times at needed to win Sunday’s Fortaleza’s Estadio Castelao game to stand any chance of and created a clutch of clearsqueezing into the semi- cut chances, only for their finals, but Spain took the forwards’ composure to honours through a pair of desert them at the crucial goals from left-back Jordi moment.

Brown Ideye and Alba and a Fernando Torres substitute Muhammad header.

Prior to the defeat, Nigeria Gambo both spurned good had beaten Tahiti 6-1 before opportunities in the second losing 2-1 to Uruguay — a half, and Keshi said that law of diminishing returns Nigeria’s failure to convert in keeping with a pre- such chances had cost them tournament run in which dearly.

“There’s so much anxiety they had scored only six in front of the goal-line times in six matches. when we get there,” he said.

Keshi’s side played “The good thing is we create chances, but we’re not finishing them. That’s something we need to work on. Hopefully it’s going to come quickly.”

Keshi said his players had become “unprofessional” after Torres doubled Spain’s lead shortly after coming on as a 60th-minute substitute,

but he admitted that the injuries that have afflicted his squad were beyond his control.

Nigeria lost Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and Ogenyi Onazi prior to the tournament, while Nnamdi Oduamadi was injured against Uruguay and centreback Kenneth Omeruo had to go off with an injury against Spain.

“You look at the other teams in the tournament, and they have a complete XI of first-team players here,” he said.

“I lost four, five key players in the team at the last minute. And today I lost one of my key players at centrehalf, which is damaging. But it’s football. You have to live with it.”

Spain advance to a semifinal with Italy in the same arena on Thursday, but Keshi said he did not know

if the world champions had a stronger chance of success in the tournament than Group A winners Brazil.

“I cannot say if Spain is the favourite or Brazil,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s not the best team that wins the tournament. You have to wait until the end of 90, 95 minutes to see who wins.

Today might turn out good for Italy, and tomorrow is not.”

Despite their Confederations Cup disappointment, Nigeria remain on course to return to Brazil for next year’s World Cup. The Super Eagles will move into the third round of African qualifying if they avoid defeat at home to Malawi in their next competitive fixture on September 6.

Dolphins Want 500,000 Euros For Ajagun NIGERIA premier league side Dolphins have placed a 500,000 Euros price tag on Flying Eagles skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun who has shone at the U20 World Cup. Ajagun, who could play as playmaker or attacking midfielder, scored twice in the Flying Eagles 3-2 loss to Portugal in Kayseri, Turkey, on Friday.

Several sources confirm to MTNFootball.com that the Port Harcourt club will only transfer the midfielder for 500,000 Euros.

“Right now I have a club who are willing to pay for the player, but Dolphins have demanded for 500,000 Euros,” a Europe-based agent informed MTNFootball.com Another agent who claimed to have some serious offers for the player in Turkey was also told he would need to pay 500,000 Euros to get his man.

The 20-year-old Ajagun has generated a lot of interest especially in Turkey and local club Kayserispor, where the flying Eagles train, are reported to be keen to sign the former U17 international.

Dolphins are believed to have sold another Flying Eagles star Chidi Osuchukwu for about 350,000 Euros to Portuguese club Sporting Braga recently.

The transfer fee will be paid in tranches and Osuchukwu has signed a four-year contract pending a medical.

Ndidi Only Flying Eagles Change

Sulley Muntari

U17 ace Wilfred Ndidi will be Nigeria’s only change from the team who lost 3-2 to Portugal in their opening game at the U20 World Cup. The highly-rated Ndidi will replace Chizoba Amaefule in the heart of the back four and play alongside Ikechukwu Okorie.

Ndidi is athletic, a smart and intelligent defender who

has made the smooth transition from U17 to U20 within weeks.

Otherwise, coach John Obuh has kept faith with the starting XI against Portugal.

Samuel Okani will be in goal and upfront Chidi Osuchukwu will play from the left side of attack with

Olympiacos new signing Michael Olaitan keeping his place in midfield.

Flying Eagles vs Cuba Samuel Okani – Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Madu, Wilfred Ndidi, Ikechukwu Okorie – Ovbokha Agboyi, Michael Olaitan, Abduljaleel Ajagun – Kayode Olanrewaju, Umar Aminu, Chidi Osuchukwu

Abduljaleel Ajagun

31

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

City Cool Cavani Interest MANCHESTER City’s interest in Napoli striker Edinson Cavani seems to have cooled after the Partenopei president Aurelio de Laurentiis claimed th e English club cannot afford him.

City were said to have made two offers to Napoli for the services of the Uruguayan, one which included a cash plus Edin Dzeko exchange.

However, De Laurentiis has told reporters that City will not buy Cavani unless they ‘sell first’.

“City said they can only

afford Cavani if they sell first,” De Laurentiis was quoted telling The Sun. “I could accept a partexchange deal if the players proposed are attached with a figure that represents the actual value of the player.

“Edin Dzeko for example, is no longer what he once was, he was not a starter last season.”

Dzeko reportedly turned down a move to the San Paolo late last week.

Ferdinand Inspired By Giggs Success

MANCHESTER United defender Rio Ferdinand says sharing a dressing room with Ryan Giggs makes him hungry for success.

Ferdinand will soon embark on his 12th season with the club, during which time he has six Premier League titles, a Champions League and two League Cups to look back on.

His August 9 testimonial against Sevilla will be the first

game in charge for David Moyes at Old Trafford and Ferdinand hopes United can mark the Scot’s arrival in Manchester with first-season success.

With Paul Scholes having retired, Ferdinand only trails Giggs in the medal stakes, and that motivates him to

Zaha ’ll Take Time To Settle At Utd - Freedman FORMER Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman says Wilfried Zaha will be a success at Manchester United after he settles in at the club.

Zaha was signed from Crystal Palace by United in January, before being loaned back to Selhurst Park for the remainder of the season and helping the Eagles gain promotion via the play-offs.

Nasri Given A Chance

NEW coach Manuel Pellegrini is expected to give Manchester City’s troubled winger Samir Nasri a chance to prove himself next season.

The Frenchman joined City from Arsenal in 2011 for £25million, but has not found his best form since the move, resulting in previous manager Roberto Mancini admitting he finds Nasri’s inconsistency frustrating.

The Daily Mail is now reporting that Nasri, whose future at the Etihad has been cast in doubt, is expected to be handed one more chance by the club.

It is being reported that despite Pellegrini having brought in Jesus Navas to the club, he is willing to wait and see whether or not Nasri can improve his form before shipping him out elsewhere.

Samir Nasri

Taiwo Ogunjobi

secure further success when the Wales legend finally hangs up his boots.

“I’m not happy with what I have won, not when I can look around at people in the changing room and know they have got more than me,” Ferdinand said.

“You always aim for the people above. That is what I did the day I walked through the door. I looked around and saw people with three, four, five titles and thought ‘I want to have that’.

“You set yourself targets all the time. I am never going to sit in that changing room and think ‘I am happy with what I have done’.”

Ferdinand hopes the fact that Moyes has so many multiple title-winners in his squad will help make his transition from life on the verge of European football with Everton much easier.

“The new manager is going to want to put his own imprint on the team. That is what you would expect as players. We are open-minded to that,” he added.

“But hopefully the fact he

Confed Cup: Ogunjobi

Declares Victory For Prime

By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE

THE former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association and Chairman Osun State Football Association, Taiwo Ogunjobi is optimistic that his team, Prime FC of Oshogbo will beat their counterparts, Bayelsa United in today’s Round of 64 Confederation Cup match at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

“This is Confederation Ogunjobi disclosed that Cup and not the League game. his team won bronze in the last year’s Confederation Cup I know that our opponents, competition and that they want Bayelsa United is a first to forge ahead by winning the division or Premier League clubside. We will not have trophy this time.

problem playing against them. We want to win today’s match.

He said the team have what it takes to prosecute matches and win.

“We are not afraid of any opponent. We will take the matches as they come. We pray the officiating will be fair since it is a neutral ground.

The Osun FA boss was highly elated that the match

would be played in a good field and thanked Governor Adams Oshiomhole for providing the astro turf.

“I used to read about the good works of Governor Oshiomhole in the media.

When I got to the mainbowl of the stadium, I saw the lurch green synthetic field or turf and of course, the Ring road and some others, I discovered that he has done a lot for Edo people.”

-

has got people in there who know how to get the job done will give him a little bit of time.

“The team can be on autopilot, with the manager just tinkering with things to make sure it is done in the right way.

If we need to change tactics, that is when the manager comes into his own, with whatever training methods he wants to use.

“In terms of going out on a Saturday and getting games won, a lot of us have been doing it for years. That is why we have been here for so long and won so many things.”

Arsenal In Higuain Talks

GONZALO Higuain’s father says talks are still ongoing over his sons’ prospective move to Arsenal from Real Madrid.

Jorge Higuain told The Sun that his son had received interesting offers from both Arsenal and Juventus.

“Nothing has yet been signed but I assure you the negotiations between the clubs are at an advanced stage,” Jorge said.

“We won’t agree a contract before the clubs reach a transfer deal. I’m sure Arsenal made a big offer, and Juventus.”

Real has valued the 26year-old Argentine midfielder at £22million.

Arsenal have struggled without an impact player this past season following the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

Arsene Wenger is hoping the successful signing of Higuain will help revitalise his attack that has suffered since Van Persie’s departure.

Higuain joined Real from Argentine side River Plate in 2006 and has scored 48 goals in 80 appearances for the Spanish club over the last three seasons.

Liverpool In Control Of Suarez LIVERPOOL coach Brendan Rodgers says the club are completely in control of Luis Saurez’s situation and that they will decide his future in whether or not he will be sold.

The volatile striker’s future has come under a cloud of uncertainty after he frequently expressed his desire to leave the Premier League following yet another controversial year at the club.

Liverpool have, however,

declared they are in control of the situation and that he will not be sold.

“I will always listen to players. I always work closely with players and always listen to their point of view but the biggest word is with the club,” Rodgers added.

“We’re in a situation where we’ve got a player who we don’t want to lose.

We’re trying to build something here and he’s a very important part of that

and because of the type of player he is, he will always give his best.”

His eight-game suspension the previous season for racial abuse has meant that stellar performances for Liverpool have been offset by a barrage of criticism in the media for his regular misbehaviour.

“Sometimes interviews get put out there and highlighted but parts of Luis’s interviews have

been about how much he loves Liverpool, but of course that doesn’t get highlighted,” Rodgers added.

“It’s something that happens. I’m quite relaxed about it.

“What I know is that the support Luis has had from the people here in Liverpool, the city and the football club, has been phenomenal and I know he feels that and respects that.”

CMYK

32

O

N assumption of office in 2008, Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, left no one in doubt that the Airport Road, a major gateway to Benin City, the state capital, was one of his prime projects sitting atop others in terms of priority.

Among other things, he was emphatic that its old dilapidated ambience did

administration, mostly members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, went to town with loads of rumor, concocted to undermine not just the relevance of the project, but also to create the impression that the governor had nothing but contempt for the culture, tradition and indeed, the entire Bini people.

First, they went to town

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013

reserved for outcasts, they managed to hold on to their claim that state government officials deliberately over inflated the contract by designing it as a conduit for sucking life out of state funds. To give credence to their claims, they attempted to force the people into accepting their position by harping the delay in its completion, caused primarily by the

ERNEST OMOARELOJIE ByByOKHAREDIA IHIMEKPEN democratic norm in which every voice, no matter how discordant it is, must be allowed to be heard. In doing so, it equally but i n a d v e r t e n t l y

necessary features, including extensive primary, secondary underground drains and other niceties.

For

Market, Golf Course Road, Airport Road Alignment and Oba Market Road.

Unfortunately, this

Much Ado About Airport Road

not speak well of a state in need of investments that will help overhaul its economy. In truth, the road leading to the airport, beginning from the historic Ring Road, now Kings Square, was in such a bad state that as the first real image of a state in quest of real economic development, merely beholding it could induce would-be investors into doubting the seriousness of the state government’s avowed commitment to its investment drive. In other words, if one was to seriously consider the importance of first impression, there was no doubt that on seeing the state of the road, wouldbe investors would pass an on the spot vote of no confidence on the state government’s investment drive.

The road was important for another reason. Benin City, the state capital was, before the coming of the O s h i o m h o l e administration, a sight to behold whenever it rained. The situation was so bad that an average rainfall would, for hours on end, bring the metropolis to a standstill due largely to the fact that it had insufficient drainage system to evacuate the deluge into the Ogba and Ikpoba rivers, its major exit routes. For these obvious reasons, the administration decided to leave nothing to chance in its determination to reconstruct the road by making it functionally relevant both as an erosion evacuation route and a welcoming sight.

Hence there was no need for the services of a rocket scientist to conceive it as a dual carriage way, complete with huge drainages, walkways and other niceties that would make it serve those relevant purposes. But opponents of the O s h i o m h o l e

with the grossly debilitating and unfounded tale that in reconstructing the road in the manner the state government envisaged, a

unwarranted demand by the first contractor for an upward review of agreed contract cost as a proof

accommodated the reality in which the voice of a largely misinformed group can sometimes get so loud it gives the impression that

Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State large chunk of the wall bordering the palace of Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa, the revered Benin monarch, would needlessly, be hacked down. Bent on whipping up ethnic sentiment against the government snd in particular, the governor, they concluded that the action, deliberately designed by the him, amounted to a taboo no sane true born of the land should condone it is contemptuous of the Benin culture, tradition and race.

In other words, they were desperate to also create the impression Oshiomhole had no regard for the same people that made it possible for him to become governor in the first instance. But for the intervention of the monarch, who gave his goahead, having received assurances that no such demolition plan was in the offing, the reconstruction would probably have become a still birth.

Not fazed by their failure to whip up ethnic sentiments, they cooked up more caustic tales. Though each was dismissed with a measure of ignominy

that the project was a white elephant project. So pervasive was the claim that it became a campaign issue during the 2011 governorship election in their governorship candidate, General (Rtd) Charles Airhiavbere, declared unequivocally that his first task in office as governor, assuming he won the contest, would be to probe the Oshiomhole administration in respect of the contract. Though the election has been won and lost, they have not given up on their desire to continue spreading pervasive and deliberate rumours meant to misinform the general public about the road contract.

Thus far, the position of the state government is to live with an inherent

every other voice has acquiesced to whatever position it is canvassing.

The result is that like a lie told too many times, the opposition false tales took the semblance of truth.

Obviously, the only option for setting the records straight is to put its details in public space.

The road in question is an open secret 7.1 kilometre six lane asphaltic dual carriage way running from the historic Kings Square to Ogba river. For reasons of its strategic importance both as an impressive gateway to the state capital and intrinsic part of the Storm Water project built to successfully evacuate erosion from many some parts of the metropolis,it was designed to incorporate many

instance, besides the 18 kilometre1, 1.8 diametre underground primary drain, some of its other features include a 20 kilometre walkways, 15 kilometres of service ducts, 252 units of dual arm street light poles to cover the entire length of the road and an 83 metre long 1.2 x 1.2 rectangular secondary underground drainage. Also included are 6 kilometres of drains on associated roads, 14.2 kilometres of secondary drains, trees, hedges, grasses and five boreholes.

Beyond the major road itself, the state government also included the reality that without correcting the state of adjoining link roads and streets, the aim of using it to evacuate water out of the city centre would never be achieved. For that important reason, it designed the contract to cover 27 connecting link roads and or streets, covering 3197.32 metres.

The affected roads/streets, also there for all to see, include Adesogba Road, Ezote, Reservation Road, Akenzua Road, Boundary Road, Airport entrance, Ihama, Oni Street (Off Ihama), Giwa Amu Road, Airport exit, Adesuwa Street, Ijebuor Street and Benoni Hospital Roads junction. Others are Ighiwiyisi/Eweka Way, Owamarovia Street, Esogban Avenue, Oko Central Road, Oko Prison Road, Omoregbie Way, Irhirihi/ADP Junction, Princess Ukponwan Street, Ogiesoba Street, Aimuomwosa, Vegetable

reality has failed to make any sense to members of the opposition in the state and so, have remained so fixated in their refusal to be objective in their assessment of the O s h i o m h o l e administration’s performance record because it opened the people’s eyes to their years of robbery. Thus, while every discerning observer has many reasons to sing praises to the efforts of the administration for changing the look of the city, opposition members continued to see blank.

Little wonder then that while the people of the state marvel, in particular, at the transformation the Airport Road and other roads have gone through, members of the opposition see white elephant projects. It does not matter to them that people are wondering where they found the moral courage to question empirically verifiable performances when rot was the best word to describe everything they stood for during the decade they were in charge.

For those still in doubt, a visit to Benin City will be helpful. In particular, it will be useful to those who live outside the city and have not been around in recent times. At least, it will help put the lie on the pervasive tales bandied by members of the opposition on just about everything that is going on in the state.

“Thus far, the position of the state government is to live with an inherent democratic norm in which every voice, no matter how discordant it is, must be allowed to be heard. In doing so, it equally but inadvertently accommodated the reality in which the voice of a largely misinformed group can sometimes get so loud it gives the impression that every other voice has acquiesced to whatever position it is canvassing.”

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 (07030699646), Marketing Manager (08023457566), Advertisement Manager (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)